Black Immigrant Daily News

Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd has clarified that Charrandass Persaud is no longer representing the Government of Guyana in India, and is currently wrapping up his affairs in that country in order to return home.

This statement was made in response to claims that have been made on Wednesday by the Alliance For Change (AFC), minority party in the Coalition Opposition, that Persaud continues to function as Guyana’s High Commission to India, and is slated to attend an upcoming event even after being recalled.

Persaud is a former AFC member and Member of Parliament under the APNU/AFC administration. He was expelled after he took that infamous “conscience vote” on a no-confidence motion that toppled the Coalition Government in December 2018.

The AFC has said it confirmed that Persaud continues to function as Guyana’s High Commissioner to India. “The AFC received reports of this, and was able to confirm that Persaud is scheduled to be a “guest of honour” at the India Economic Trade Organisation’s (IETO) reception on Friday, November 25, 2022,” the party stated in its missive.

The IETO is an official organ of the Government of India, and according to the AFC, both President Dr Irfaan Ali and Minister Todd are allegedly “aware” of this, and have even “approved” Persaud’s attendance at the event.

When contacted on Wednesday for a response, the Foreign Affairs Minister told this publication that the invite being circulated is not accurate, since Persaud is not aware of the event or who is hosting it. He added that Persaud has already ceased attending events on behalf of the Guyana Government.

“Mr Charrandass is not attending any event. In fact, he is not even aware of such an invitation, because he is really not checking the office emails. He is not representing Guyana, and has not represented the Government of Guyana at any function following his conversation with His Excellency the President,” Todd related.

According to the Minister, Persaud is in the process of wrapping up his engagements and preparing to return home. However, he explained that this is a process that takes some time. Nevertheless, the Minister is hopefully that Persaud would be able to have this done at the earliest opportunity in order that he might return home.

Persaud, who also served as Guyana’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, was recalled from his diplomatic postings last month by President Ali after a video began circulating of him verbally abusing a Muslim Indian woman at his official residence in New Delhi.

The Head of State has said that Persaud has agreed to accept “full responsibility” for his actions, and will return home.

The incident reportedly occurred in August 2021, and Persaud claimed, during his conversation with President Ali, that it was not a complete demonstration of what exactly had taken place, and that this matter was already dealt with by the relevant authorities in India, and he was vindicated of any wrongdoing.In the video which made its rounds on social media, Persaud, while standing at the gate of his residence in India, is heard telling a woman: “You probably want the dog to f**k you, that is what you want. And I don’t care. I don’t care who you are…f**k you.”

This issue had sparked widespread condemnation of Persaud’s action and behaviour, with agencies such as the Women & Gender Equality Commission not only expressing its utter dismay at Persaud’s “vile and disgusting” actions, but also bashing the Foreign Affairs Ministry over its handling of the matter. Nevertheless, the Commission said it was pleased with “swift and decisive” action taken by President Ali to immediately recall Persaud from his post.

Meanwhile, President Ali’s announcement on Persaud’s recall has also been lauded by some APNU/AFC Opposition members.

Out of fear for his life, after he had received death threats, Persaud had departed Guyana immediately for Canada on the night the coalition Government was toppled.

Persaud returned to Guyana following the swearing-in of President Ali, and was subsequently accredited as High Commissioner to India in March 2021. He was accredited as Guyana’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka last December.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

A 36-year-old man who absconded his trial several days before the jury was set to deliberate was on Tuesday found unanimously guilty of raping a girl who has a disability.

Rondell Chappel, called ‘Devil’, a 36-year-old resident of Section “A” Sophia, Greater Georgetown, has been charged with the offence of engaging in sexual penetration of a child under the age of 16. He had been on trial for the offence at the Sexual Offences Court in Demerara before Justice Sandil Kissoon.

This publication understands that the man got away from his trial sometime last week, causing the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to issue a wanted bulletin for him.

Following deliberations on Tuesday, a mixed 12-member jury found Chappel unanimously guilty of the crime. He raped a 15-year-old girl between September 5 and 6, 2020.

Chappel was represented by Attorney-at-Law Ravindra Mohabir, while State Counsels Cecilia Corbin, Caressa Henry and Marisa Edwards prosecuted the matter.

According to the prosecution’s facts, the teen girl is a special needs child. Chappel broke into the girl’s home between the dates mentioned in the charge, while she was at home alone, held her at knifepoint, and then raped her. At the time of the incident, the girl’s mother was at work.

A sentencing hearing for the convicted child rapist has been set for December 16. Anyone who has information on the whereabouts of Chappel is asked to contact the Police on telephone numbers: 225-6940, 225-8196, 225-2317, 226-7476, 227-1149, or at the nearest Police Station.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

PARAMARIBO — De ambassadeurs Virjanand Depoo van Guyana en Abdelkader Hadjazi van Algerije hebben woensdag in het presidentieel paleis hun

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Rédaction web

Medecin • SHUTTERSTOCK

Lancé par le Président de la République le 8 septembre dernier, le Conseil National de la Refondation vise à trouver des solutions afin de répondre aux différents besoins des territoires.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Shares in Everything Fresh dipped by double-digit amounts with heavy volumes on Wednesday’s session of the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE).

Investors sold down Everything Fresh shares by 16 per cent with 10 million units trading hands. The volumes led the market with Wigton Windfarm shares in second place at 1.9 million units. Everything Fresh distributes fresh fruit and frozen foods to hotels mainly along the north of the island. Its shares generally trade in small volumes.

The trades on Wednesday were the third-largest daily volume in at least two years for the stock. The other two were another 10 million units earlier on November 11 and 11.8 million units on September 22. Looking at the market overall, on the winning side, JMMB Preference shares gained 14 per cent to close at $3.38 and Kingston Wharves gained 13 per cent to close at $34. The JSE Main Index declined by 2,865.97 points ( 0.85 per cent) to close at 335,632.44 points and the volume traded amounted to 6,016,425 valued at $56,503,511.88.

Meanwhile, the Junior Market Index declined by 21.45 points ( 0.56 per cent) to close at 3,797.82 points and the volume traded amounted to 14,142,422 valued at $24,762,456.41.

The JSE Combined Index declined by 2,871.67 points ( 0.82 per cent) to close at 347,960.41 points and the volume traded amounted to 20,158,847 valued at $81,265,968.29.

The JSE USD Equities Index advanced by 0.35 points ( 0.16 per cent) to close at 225.11 points and the volume traded amounted to 43,378 valued at $18,047.80.

Also on the day, JSE Cross Listed Index declined by 3.53 points ( 5.86 per cent) to close at 56.70 points and the volume traded amounted to 5,350 valued at $291,165.92.

The JSE Financial Index declined by 1.43 points ( 1.76 per cent) to close at 80.00 points and the volume traded amounted to 2,472,838 valued at $25,467,337.49.

The JSE Manufacturing & Distribution Index declined by 0.25 points ( 0.26 per cent) to close at 95.18 points and the volume traded amounted to 12,573,912 valued at $44,262,102.99. Overall market activity resulted from trading in 101 stocks of which 45 advanced, 42 declined and 14 traded firm.

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