Carolyn Rodrigues appointed new Minister of Foreign Affairs

- Pauline Sukhai-Campbell takes Amerindian Affairs portfolio
Guyana Chronicle – April 10, 2008

PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo has named Ms. Carolyn Rodrigues as the country’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs, and has handed her Amerindian Affairs portfolio to long-time activist of women and Amerindian rights, Mrs. Pauline Sukhai-Campbell.

The Office of the President made the announcement in a statement yesterday, noting that Minister Rodrigues has become the first woman and the first Amerindian to head the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Rodrigues had served as Minister of Amerindian Affairs since March, 2001 when the People’s Progressive Party/Civic was re-elected to the seat of government for a third straight term. The job of Minister of Foreign Affairs became vacant with the recent retirement of Dr Rudy Insanally, who cited medical and other personal reasons.  

GFF-WCC eyeing women’s football development in Guyana

Stabroek News – April 10, 2008

The Guyana Football Federation World Cup Committee (GFF-WCC) has approached the Guyana Football Federation with a proposal for the development of women’s football in Guyana.

The proposal by the GFF-WCC has the main goal of developing a women’s team to represent the country at the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Women’s Gold Tournament in either 2009 or 2010, according to a press release yesterday.

The GFF-WCC is currently advising the national football fraternity to embark on this venture, since they have recently learned of the notable number of Guyanese or children of Guyanese who are playing in the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and for top clubs throughout North America.

The GFF-WCC is believed to have proposed that those foreign players may stimulate local interest in the development of the programme in Guyana.  

Golden Fleece woman missing

Guyana Chronicle – April 10, 2008

A 23-year-old woman of Golden Fleece Village on the Essequibo Coast is reported missing since last Thursday.

According to reports reaching the Guyana Chronicle, the missing woman, Sarojanie Dadolall, left her home in the company of her brother at around 01:00 am on Thursday for the Adventure Ferry Stelling to travel to Georgetown.

The young woman was expected to return home by Thursday evening.

In an interview with the Chronicle, her brother, known as Romel, said he accompanied his sister to the Adventure Ferry Stelling and she travelled to Parika via the Transport and Harbours Ferry.  

Driver accused of murdering mother of his two children

Stabroek News – April 10, 2008

A 31-year-old taxi driver who allegedly murdered the mother of his two children was taken before the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Haslyn Hodge, also known as ‘Troy’ or ‘Kite’ of Lot 43 Prospect, East Bank Deme-rara (EBD) was not required to plead to the capital offence of murder when it was read to him by Principal Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle.

It is alleged that on April 4 at Kaneville, EBD, Hodge murdered the mother of his two children, Tamasha Riddle.

Hodge was remanded to prison and the matter has been transferred to Court Six for April 30.

Riddle’s body was found by a close neighbour Judy McCalmon. The dead woman’s face was in a pillow case when she was discovered but there were no telltale signs of a struggle nor were there any marks of violence on her body.

According to a police press release on Monday, a post-mortem examination was conducted on the body of Riddle by Dr. Nehaul Singh. The cause of death was given as asphyxiation due to compression injury; possible suffocation compounded by multiple blunt trauma.