secretariat@globalinitiative.net Avenue de France 23 – Geneva, CH-1202 – Switzerland Fronteras ilícitas: Gobernanza Criminal en la Región de la triple frontera Amazónica Click here to register Criminal disputes over the local illicit ecosystem have transformed Leticia and Tabatinga into some of the most violent urban centers in the Americas Tabatinga registered a staggering homicide rate of 95.9 per 100,000 people in 2023 making them critical points of concern for regional security The report emphasizes the connections between urban criminal governance and environmental destruction with organized crime now being a key player in driving deforestation and biodiversity loss in the Amazon The CV currently holds the ascendancy in Leticia and Tabatinga The group oversees a wide range of illicit activities in the area The report stresses that understanding the urban dynamics of the Amazon is essential not only for tackling organized crime The study calls for cross-border cooperation and intelligence sharing between Brazil greater government support for violence reduction programs that revolve around career mentorship for local youth and drug rehabilitation initiatives are essential for reducing the influence of criminal organizations on local communities This publication marks the debut of GI-TOC’s Observatory of Illicit Economies in the Amazon Basin (Amazon-Obs) in its mission to support governments and researchers in addressing transnational crime in this critical region El crimen organizado transnacional ha convertido a ciudades de la región amazónica como Leticia (Colombia) y Tabatinga (Brasil) en puntos estratégicos para la gobernanza criminal que históricamente habían sido paradas logísticas para el tráfico de drogas ahora funcionan como bases permanentes de grupos delictivos como el Comando Vermelho (CV) y el Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) de Brasil los cuales operan en diversos mercados ilícitos en la región Las disputas entre organizaciones criminales por el control del ecosistema ilícito local han hecho de Leticia y Tabatinga dos de las ciudades más violentas de América Tabatinga registró una impactante tasa de homicidios de 95,9 por cada 100.000 habitantes convirtiéndolas en puntos clave de preocupación para la seguridad regional Este informe destaca cómo la gobernanza criminal urbana está estrechamente ligada a la destrucción ambiental ya que el crimen organizado es ahora un motor principal de la deforestación y la pérdida de biodiversidad en el Amazonas controlando actividades ilícitas como el tráfico de drogas el contrabando de fauna silvestre y la minería ilegal de oro El documento subraya la importancia de comprender las dinámicas urbanas de la Amazonía no solo para combatir el crimen organizado sino también para fortalecer los esfuerzos globales de conservación hace un llamado a una mayor cooperación entre Brasil mediante el intercambio de inteligencia y acciones conjuntas También destaca la necesidad de más apoyo gubernamental a programas que busquen reducir la violencia ofreciendo oportunidades laborales para los jóvenes y reforzando iniciativas de rehabilitación para personas con problemas de adicción como estrategias clave para debilitar la influencia de las organizaciones criminales en las comunidades locales Esta publicación marca el lanzamiento del Observatorio de Economías Ilícitas en la Cuenca Amazónica (Amazon-Obs) de GI-TOC medios de comunicación e investigadores en la lucha contra el crimen transnacional en esta región crítica O crime organizado transnacional transformou cidades da região amazônica como Leticia (Colômbia) e Tabatinga (Brasil) em pontos estratégicos para a governança criminosa que historicamente foram paradas logísticas para o tráfico de drogas agora funcionam como bases permanentes de grupos criminosos como o Comando Vermelho (CV) e o Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) do Brasil que operam em diversos mercados ilícitos na região As disputas entre organizações criminosas pelo controle do ecossistema ilícito local fizeram de Leticia e Tabatinga duas das cidades mais violentas das Américas Tabatinga registrou uma chocante taxa de homicídios de 95,9 por 100 mil habitantes tornando-as pontos críticos de preocupação para a segurança regional Este relatório destaca como a governança criminosa urbana está intimamente ligada à destruição ambiental uma vez que o crime organizado se tornou um dos principais motores do desmatamento e da perda de biodiversidade na Amazônia controlando atividades ilícitas como o tráfico de drogas o contrabando de animais silvestres e a mineração ilegal de ouro O documento enfatiza a importância de compreender as dinâmicas urbanas da Amazônia não apenas para combater o crime organizado mas também para fortalecer os esforços globais de conservação faz um apelo por uma maior cooperação entre Brasil por meio da troca de inteligência e ações conjuntas Também destaca a necessidade de mais apoio governamental a programas que busquem reduzir a violência oferecendo oportunidades de trabalho para jovens e fortalecendo iniciativas de reabilitação para pessoas com problemas de dependência como estratégias fundamentais para enfraquecer a influência das organizações criminosas nas comunidades locais Esta publicação marca o lançamento do Observatório de Economias Ilícitas na Bacia Amazônica (Amazon-Obs) da GI-TOC meios de comunicação e pesquisadores na luta contra o crime transnacional nesta região crítica secretariat@globalinitiative.net Avenue de France 23 – Geneva, CH-1202 – Switzerland Design e Creative Coding by Café Colombia and Peru are leaving children cut off from education food supplies and other life-saving services as rivers reach devastating lows 7 November 2024 - More than 420,000 children are currently affected by dangerous levels of water scarcity and drought conditions across three countries in the Amazon region The record-breaking drought – which has been ongoing since last year and has left Amazon basin rivers at an all-time low – is severely impacting riverside and indigenous children and communities in Brazil where families rely on the rivers to transport and access food as well as agriculture and fishing livelihoods “For centuries the Amazon has been home to precious natural resources We are witnessing the devastation of an essential ecosystem that families rely on leaving many children without access to adequate food health care and schools,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell “We must mitigate the effects of extreme climate crises to protect children today and future generations The health of the Amazon affects the health of us all.” the Amazon spans nine countries in South America more than 1,700 schools and over 760 health centres have either been shuttered or become inaccessible due to low water levels According to UNICEF’s latest field assessment across 14 communities in the Southern Amazon in Brazil half of families said their children are currently out of school as a result of the drought river water levels have dropped by up to 80 per cent restricting access to drinking water and food supplies and leading to the suspension of in-person classes for children at more than 130 schools this has increased children's risk of recruitment use and exploitation by non-state armed groups and has also led to increased respiratory infections and acute malnutrition among children under age 5 the North-Eastern region of Loreto is most affected by the ongoing drought leaving remote communities – most of them indigenous and already vulnerable – at risk More than 50 healthcare centres have become inaccessible while wildfires – often manmade but whose spread has been facilitated by the droughts in the past two months – are also causing unprecedented devastation and biodiversity loss in 22 of the 26 regions in the country and increasing air pollution locally and regionally Food insecurity caused by drought increases the risk of malnutrition while water scarcity made worse by droughts can lead to poorer access to clean water Research has also found that pregnant women who experience droughts are likely to have children with lower birth weights UNICEF estimates that US$10 million is needed during the upcoming months to address the most urgent needs of communities affected by the droughts in Brazil including the distribution of water and other essential supplies and strengthening the resilience of community-based systems and local public services in affected indigenous communities UNICEF is calling for leaders to deliver four critical actions for children and young people: children face devastating consequences of climate crises,” added Russell Children must be at the center of our climate negotiations” Learn more in UNICEF’s recent report A Threat to Progress. Log in for full access to stabroeknews.com Only one active session is allowed per subscriber Police in Regional Division #9 are probing an incident that occurred on Monday at Tabatinga Central Rupununi which has left Dornell Thomson hospitalised with suspected gunshot wounds it is unknown at this time which set of individuals opened fire Thomson visited the Lethem Regional Hospital to seek medical attention for gunshot wounds to the right side of his back and right arm One of the known suspects who was on the motorcycle was subsequently arrested by police ranks His hands were swabbed for gunpowder residue He remains in custody as further investigations are ongoing A FREE roundup of top news from Guyana you might otherwise miss the Brazilian city of Tabatinga faces significant challenges including the presence of organized crime and drug trafficking Tabatinga was selected as the venue for the Binational Meeting between Brazil and Colombia on 'Security and Social and Community Development at the Borders.' Additionally the city will host the launch of the 'Federal Public Defender's Office (DPU) on the Borders' project promoted by the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP) through the National Secretariat for Drug Policy and Asset Management (SENAD) The Center for Studies on Drugs and Community Social Development (CDESC) a collaborative project between SENAD/MJSP the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) participated in the event by presenting research and data on drug trafficking in the Amazon and its effects on indigenous peoples and territories which gathered government representatives and civil society stakeholders to propose solutions for the region also featured a series of discussions and listening sessions with indigenous leaders and members of various ethnic groups These sessions aimed to understand and incorporate local demands ensuring that psychosocial care initiatives are effectively tailored and that access to rights and justice is guaranteed Carried out by SENAD in partnership with the Federal Public Defender's Office (DPU) the "DPU on the Borders" project provides mobile legal assistance to individuals incarcerated in prisons located in border cities "The significance of this project lies in its ability to deliver legal services and conduct inspections in prisons within border regions where there is a high rate of incarceration for drug trafficking particularly among women and other vulnerable groups including indigenous populations in many of these municipalities," explained Letícia Torrano legal assistance will be offered one week each month Brazil/Colombia/Peru — When teenager Isaías was offered work in the coca fields along the Javari River To endure the rigors of the rainforest and a heavy workload the pay was double what he could get in the nearby towns of Santa Rosa Atalaia or Tabatinga — all part of the tri-border area between Peru Isaías would be paid 500 Peruvian soles in advance or the equivalent in Colombian pesos or Brazilian reais that was the story Isaías told his mother in August 2023 months after the last time he contacted his family Isaías’s mother has seen him on only one occasion They crossed paths by chance when he was getting off a motorcycle carrying packages in the port of Tabatinga Between these towns and the opposite bank of the Amazon River lies the island of Santa Rosa making this site the confluence of three countries and two rivers: the Amazon and the Javari and said “I’m going home soon” — a promise never fulfilled The teenager’s last known whereabouts are believed to be somewhere in the rainforest between the Amazon and Javari where his mother knows people rarely come back from “Bosses,” “dealers” or “businessmen” are usually behind these job offers and who take young people like Isaías away from their homes and turn them into invisible untraceable workers in a burgeoning criminal underworld at the heart of the world’s greatest rainforest The Brazilian side of the Javari Valley made headlines two years ago when Brazilian Indigenous rights advocate and expert Bruno Pereira and British journalist Tom Philips were murdered here Pereira and Phillips had encountered into a gang of illegal fishers and were shot dead in an ambush in June 2022 Our team traveled along the Javari River to the main towns of the triple frontier and the city of Iquitos in Peru to report on the expansion of drug trafficking in the region and its impact on locals and nature Most of the interviewees asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons since the tri-border region between Peru Colombia and Brazil is one of the most dangerous parts of the Amazon which forms a natural border between Brazil and Peru is one of the most pristine places in the rainforest drug traffickers groups have entered the Javari Valley (known in Brazil as Vale do Javari) and expanded the production and transport of cocaine and its derivatives (such as crack) The latest official data from the Peruvian government show that coca farms in Mariscal Ramón Castilla province which covers the lower and middle part of the Javari River more than doubled from 2020 to 1,211 hectares (2,992 acres) in 2022 helping to make Peru’s Lower Amazon region the third-largest coca-producing area in the country The coca expansion has driven deforestation 16,987 hectares (41,976 acres) of native forest were lost in Mariscal Ramón Castilla with nearly a third of this occurring in Yavari district Experts and locals say cartels center their drug production on the Peruvian side of the border due to a relatively weaker state presence there Drug kingpins have also established cocaine-producing laboratories near the coca farms often in small villages along the Amazon and Javari rivers are connected with large Brazilian cartels with international reach the residual armed groups that walked away from the Colombian government peace agreement in 2016 with the FARC the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia The cocaine expansion has called for a new workforce and gangs are recruiting Indigenous and mestizo youths They persuade them to drop out of school to work on the farms and in drug-trafficking logistics frequently against the wishes of their parents and community elders the youths spend weeks or months isolated from their families Once they start working for logging or drug-trafficking groups many are threatened with death if they express the wish to leave Sources from the Peruvian antinarcotics police force said this recruitment method has spread across a large swath of the border region taking advantage of the poverty of communities here for the promise of a very high salary compared to their household income,” an anonymous officer said Although the recruitment isn’t violent at first the young workers are detained if they decide to leave A common practice is to threaten them or their relatives with death The hard days of logging are paid for with low wages and some alcohol or drugs Women brought to the camps as cooks end up being forced into sex work as well Recruitment is a daily occurrence in the tri-border area but people fear reporting it to the authorities A source from the Special Prosecutor’s Office for Trafficking in Persons in Iquitos said there isn’t a system for reporting this kind of crime in Peru and that when families look for the police the crime isn’t recorded as people trafficking but rather as crimes against honor and other criminal offenses Brazil and Colombia also don’t have a public record of this type of crime in the region “There is a clear underreporting of human trafficking cases,” said Gabriel Arriarán an anthropologist who conducted a study on the issue in the tri-border area “This crime is part of the criminal chains supported by drug trafficking and money laundering.” He added that human trafficking operations have strong connections to the sex and drug trades the cocaine travels through a maze of trails mastered by the gangs from Brazil and Colombia Narcotrafficking overlaps with other illegal activities in the region Locals report that drug trafficking is increasingly funding these other crimes the tri-border region faces high levels of violence according to Peruvian police officers in two border towns Loreto is one of the departments with the lowest homicide rates in the country according to the government statistics agency with fewer than three homicides per 100,000 inhabitants Tabatinga has the second-highest murder rate in the state of Amazonas That makes this Brazilian tri-border municipality five times more violent than the rest of the country a small island at the end of the Javari River are aware of the problem of human trafficking and the estrangement of Indigenous people caught up in the illegal trades “We have managed to recover more than 14 people while they were being taken away from their communities,” said a nun who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons We tell people to look for the missing person Sometimes we get on boats or go to the businesses in the ports We have been lucky with these 14 young people “It is sad to see how the schools are empty in some communities along the river Javari,” she added “The children are all working in la raspa [harvesting coca leaves] hoping to earn a little more to leave.” Colombia and Peru all say there’s a shortage of funding to maintain a successful crime-fighting strategy in the tri-border area “We should have helicopters [flying over the region] all year round but the budget is only enough for short windows of time,” said Jose Rengifo a police colonel in charge of antinarcotics operations in Loreto if we cover this strategic part of the operational logistics the results [in the fight against drug trafficking] would be four or five times more conclusive than what we have today.” the problem isn’t just about fighting crime through law enforcement efforts; clear government responses are needed to improve the local economy and tackle the lack of basic services “Every young man or woman who leaves school has the option of working in timber but in many cases they will fall into the same traps,” he said “There will be no change if the countries’ development policies for these territories do not improve.” Isaías’s mother says she still hopes to find her son in the Tabatinga port She says she wishes to see him again and ask his forgiveness for not taking better care of him for not being able to put him through school and for neglecting him when she had to take care of the other children but sometimes I think he is better off,” she said “Now I have to make sure that his 14-year-old sister doesn’t leave Banner image: Two young people ride a motorbike on the street that divides Tabatinga in Brazil from Leticia in Colombia Crime rates have risen sharply in the region This story was funded and supported by the Consortium to Support Independent Journalism in Latin America (CAPIR) led by the Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR) Cross-border Indigenous efforts in Peru & Brazil aim to protect isolated groups The “fortress conservation” model is under pressure in East Africa as protected areas become battlegrounds over history and global efforts to halt biodiversity loss Mongabay’s Special Issue goes beyond the region’s world-renowned safaris to examine how rural communities and governments are reckoning with conservation’s colonial origins and trying to forge a path forward […] a truck driver hailing from Tabatinga in Central Lethem died around 11:30 am yesterday on the Hunt Oil Stretch who was then taken to Lethem Regional Hospital where he is currently in serious condition and the victim was declared dead at 1:34 pm by Dr His body was transported to the Lethem Hospital Mortuary where it is set to undergo a post-mortem examination a 42-year-old beekeeper from Culvert City in Central Rupununi was called to the scene and used smoke to drive the bees away You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed Tabatinga was crowned the Lethem Mayor’s Cup Football Champion defeating Moco-Moco in the final at the Culvert City Community Ground Gladiators defeated Snatchers 5-3 in the third-place playoff “We witnessed a fantastic display of our local talent who died on Sunday after he was attacked by a swarm of bees on the Hunt Oil Stretch is asking the public to provide support for the 10 surviving children relayed that his nephew informed him that his brother and his son were returning to Tabatinga from Georgetown on a motor cycle and while they were in the vicinity of Hunt Oil Stretch they ran off the road and were attacked by bees “They were coming from Georgetown on a motorbike and on the Hunt Oil Stretch and they hit the culvert and raise up the bees’ nest The son fell on the road and the father fell on the dam.” Darrell Jr managed to escape the attack but was taken to the Lethem Regional Hospital and was later transferred to a hospital in Boa Vista Anyone willing to help Riechie can contact her on 603-9411 Mahaicony died after he was attacked by a swarm of bees while clearing some bushes on a plot of land opposite his home were clearing the bushes at about 11.00 hours on October 1 when the men came into contact with a bee nest Alli was later taken to the Mahaicony Public Hospital and Snipers recorded easy wins in the men’s division when the Rupununi Football Association Senior League continued All-Star Blazers clipped Falcons by a 9-2 score-line Snipers grounded the Potarinau Sky Kings 3-1 Moco-Moco crushed Borderline 5-2 in the men’s division while Snipers and Potarinau Sky Kings battled to a 2-2 stalemate in the women’s segment Paiwomak and Tabatinga recorded wins in the men’s division while Hiawa was victorious in the women’s segment when the Rupununi Football Association Senior Leagues resumed on Saturday while Tabatinga squeaked past Far East 2-1 Kanuku Warriors defeated Hiawa 2-1 in the men’s segment and Far East recorded wins in the men’s division while Gladiators United was victorious in the women’s section when the Rupununi Football Association Senior Leagues commenced at the Culver City Community Centre ground The combination of Toney Cabral and Ishmael Gaskin recorded one goal each while Elijah Simon and Kevin Alcides recorded one goal apiece the duo of John Mieuel and Ethan McLennan registered one goal each Michelle Mandoor bagged a brace while Ursuline Primus recorded the other conversion Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker This was the third time Themebuilders had worked with the rainforest-themed play centre multi-level play structure and ‘Tinga Ninja’ course it boasts some colourful jungle style birthday rooms As well as tables and chairs for the celebrating kids there is also a throne for the mascot Ranger Tabatha and her friends Themebuilders produced decoration and signages for the climbing structure exterior decor of the snack bar and a photo opportunity with Tabatha From sculpting to finish, all decorative elements were developed meticulously in the Philippines. As with Themebuilders’ recent work at the Toukiparc FEC in Canada fire-retardant polyester resin was used for safety and parents’ piece of mind Get the latest attractions industry
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immediately assumed something “fishy” was going on because since living in that area he never known anybody to throw garbage in the creek at that hour He immediately called the police and told them of his suspicions he said he went with them to investigate what was thrown into the river and upon close inspection they found a dead body of a man He said the man was stabbed once to the neck and multiple times about his lower body Upon further investigations during the morning they noticed a trail of blood leading from where the murder occurred to the creek where the body was dumped “So it look like they drag him from all the way where they killed him to the creek,” he added Region Nine Commander Keithon King said that he could not have disclosed details of the investigation at this stage but confirmed that they indeed found a dead body in the Tabatinga Creek and investigations are currently ongoing He said several persons who are suspected to be involved in the crime were taken into police custody to assist with the investigation which is at the Lethem Mortuary of the Lethem Regional Hospital remained unidentified up to last evening A trail of blood can be seen leading to the point where the murder occurred Three men were on Tuesday busted in Lethem with 48 grammes of cannabis by the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) in an operation aimed at combating narco-trafficking within various communities the drug enforcement agency said during the operations in Tabatinga the men were busted with 31 small Ziplock bags weighing a total of 48 grammes CANU said the narcotic was tested and the result proved it was cannabis the agency reported another bust involving three persons Those men were identified as 21-year-old Mark Opie 23-year-old John Lee Edmond and 23-year-old Okemmey Jervis all of Tabatinga They were busted with 260 grammes of cannabis Investigations are ongoing in both cases and the men are currently in custody at the Lethem Police Station during an outreach in Karasabai village in South Rupununi Superintendent Raphael Rose was informed of an incident of a student being caught with the illegal drug A similar incident was reported in Annai as well The authorities have since been trying to target the persons behind the trade Tabatinga FC and Guyana Rush Saints won the 2023 Rupununi Football Association (RFA) male and female titles on Saturday Watched by a large crowd at the Wadapna ground Tabatinga FC whipped Strikers FC 4-1 in a fast-paced men’s final The win earned them the right to represent the RFA at the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) National Playoffs Dielson Da Silva sent Tabatinga into the lead in the eighth minute before Werberth Sousa scored the second goal to give them a 2-0 half time lead Felix Berthcomea reduced the deficit in the 75th minute but Jonas returned to complete his brace during injury time Guyana Rush Saints defended their crown with a 3-1 victory over Kanuku Warriors Glorciene Assis opened the account for Guyana Rush Saints in the fifth  minute with a well- timed strike before Amanda Cabral scored in the 37th minute to secure a 2-0 lead at half time Alea Pedro placed her team further into the lead in the 51st minute but the Warriors bounced back to score a consolation goal in the 67th minute off the boot of Josephena Leonard The tournament attracted a record 53 teams – 29 male and 24 female teams praised the large number of teams for the 2023 season “The RFA is extremely proud of this turnout this might be a largest participation of teams ever in any association in Guyana,” he declared Williams said the GFF has been very supportive of the RFA by providing financial assistance and equipment towards the development of the sport in the region He also expressed appreciation to the sponsors for their continued support who stood in for GFF President Wayne Forde said that the RFA continues to be a torchbearer in the development of football locally Also in attendance was GFF Director of Competitions Troy Peters Jason Clement was yesterday sentenced to three years’ imprisonment after he was busted earlier this month with ganja at Tabatinga A release from the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) yesterday said that he was found guilty of the possession of 48 grammes of cannabis on May 5th Tabatinga and Paiwomak were crowned the men’s and women’s champions following wins in the respective divisional finals when the RDC Republic Football Cup concluded on Saturday evening at the Wadapna Sports Ground Paiwomak squeaked past the Potarinau Sky Kings 2-1 Carlos Isaacs of Tabatinga was adjudged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and the Highest Goal Scorer while Djarlie Gomes of Paiwomak Warriors copped the MVP and Highest Goal Scorer accolades of the women’s segment Tabatinga and Gladiators recorded quarterfinal wins in the men’s and women’s divisions when the RDC Republic Football Cup continued on Sunday evening at the Wadapna Sports Ground Tabatinga dismissed the Paiwomak Warriors by a 5-2 score The tournament continues on Saturday at the same venue was on Thursday found in a well in Tabatinga Lethem with cuts to his head Ranks from the Lethem Police Station were summoned to the scene they saw Adolph’s body in about 7 feet of water The deceased’s body was then retrieved from the well and examined for marks of violence Two small cuts were seen on his head and forehead The man’s body is presently at the Lethem Hospital Mortuary the police also said that Adolph’s 23-year-old daughter reported that she last saw her father on Monday at about 05:30hrs when he left home A 19-year-old motorcyclist died on Sunday night after he allegedly collided with a hire car on the Tabatinga Bridge Police in a press release yesterday said that enquiries revealed that motorcar HC 2059 was proceeding north along the western side of the Tabatinga Public Road at  20 kmph the police said that the driver observed Ferreira who was coming from the opposite direction in a “reckless” manner the motorcyclist (Ferreira) applied brakes and subsequently lost control (and) collided with the front right side of the motorcar,” the statement said causing him to sustain injuries about his body He was picked up in an unconscious state by public-spirited citizens and was taken to the Lethem Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival A breathalyzer test was done on the driver but no trace of alcohol was detected Three men are now in Police custody after they were discovered with 260 grams of cannabis at Tabatinga The men have been identified as 21-year-old Mark Opie CANU said the men were apprehended with a parcel which was later tested as cannabis They are currently in custody at the Lethem Police Station Finding the sentence of three years for trafficking 16 grammes of cannabis to have been unduly harsh the Full Court yesterday imposed a one-year suspended sentence on Tabatinga youth The 21-year-old was sentenced in December of last year and fined $10,000 after pleading guilty to the charge when he appeared before Magistrate Allan Wilson at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court Khan had advanced that his young client was gainfully employed “and was never caught in a commercial transaction selling the narcotic.” who was unrepresented when he pleaded to the charge had told the Magistrate that the narcotic was for his personal use Khan said acting Chief Justice Roxane George SC and Justice Sandil Kissoon allowed the appeal and imposed the one-year suspended sentence after finding the three-year sentence to have been excessive This newspaper had previously reported that on the day in question It was reported that in conducting a search lawmen uncovered a bulky transparent plastic bag in Winter’s crotch The police stated that the young man was cautioned and admitted that the illicit drug was his Tabatinga and Moco-Moco Football Clubs secured wins when the Theresa and George Bobb/Rupununi Football Association [RFA] Under-17 Women’s Championship continued at the St Tabatinga clinched their first win of the event following two earlier draws relegating Gladiators to their third consecutive loss via a 2-0 score Malaika DeCamp opened the scoring in the eight minute for Tabatinga only for Rihana Alcides to level proceedings in the 15th minute the winner would be fashioned in the 34th minute via a Thalisa Bernard effort Moco-Moco handed Guyana Rush Saints their first loss of the event Luana Prudencio recorded the fixture’s only goal as she found the back of the net in the 15th minute More than five months since 26-year-old Dinish Ramcharran died after reportedly falling from a moving truck his mother remains convinced that there is much more to his death and as a result the police are conducting further investigations died on May 14 after he reportedly fell from the truck along the Kumu shortcut trail told Stabroek News that after receiving information she did her own investigation and she is now convinced that there is more to his death I did believe the story but then I got some new information and I went out there and do my own investigation and I obtain some evidence from eyewitnesses and so and I pass that on to the police,” Waheeda said the police did not do no proper investigation They just say it’s an accident because me son fell off the truck and that was it but… I was told my son was pushed off of the truck and another vehicle behind them run he over,” she said calling on the relevant authorities to intervene Commander of ‘F’ Division Ravindradat Budhram told Stabroek News that the police have already received legal advice and recommendations were given “The file has been completed and we were already given advice to take certain actions,” Budhram said While he did not go into details about the recommendations this newspaper was told that the driver is expected to be re-arrested soon for further questioning the driver was arrested but was subsequently released Waheeda added that she has since written several officials including the Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan with the information she has gathered but she has not received any responses as yet Budhram explained that Waheeda has provided the police with names and they have since uplifted more statements A post-mortem examination performed on Dinish Ramcharran’s remains had revealed that he died due to multiple injuries sustained Waheeda recalled that on the morning of her son’s death they were having breakfast when four persons came to their house in a truck and called for him went outside and had a conversation with the men and they subsequently left She said later the same day one of the men returned with some friends she said she was told that the men wanted to borrow Dinish’s truck battery she said she received a call from one of the men who informed her that Dinish fell off the truck and died The woman said she immediately left for the hospital but when she arrived there her son’s body had not yet arrived she noted that after much delay in arranging an ambulance to transport Dinish to the hospital ‘They had my son there long and ain’t even pick he up and take he hospital If they didn’t up to something and did want save he life They had other vehicle around to take he hospital,” she noted Guyana Rush Saints and Tabatinga earned semi-final berths in the female and male divisions following quarter-final victories in the second leg of the Rupununi Football Association Champions League on September 16th Tabatinga defeated the Titans 7-2 at the Wadatna ground in the second leg to advance to the male semi-final round 10-7 on aggregate The first leg ended 5-3 in favor of the Titans Strikers defeated Paiwomak Warriors 2-0 in the second leg of the men’s division to advance 3-1 on aggregate The remaining second leg of the other quarterfinal fixtures will be contested tomorrow despite losing 0-1 to Strikers in the second leg of the female segment advanced 2-1 on aggregate to the semi-final section after winning the first leg 2-0 Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit  (CANU) officers conducted an operation in Tabatinga where they intercepted a motor vehicle with licence plate # HD 5840 A subsequent search of the vehicle in the presence of the sole occupant led to the discovery of four parcels of suspected cannabis A further investigation led to the search of a residence at 274 Tabatinga Lethem in the presence of Helena Rodrigues fourteen suspected cannabis parcels were discovered The cannabis seized in the motor vehicle weighed a total of 600 grams The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has recommended that a Coroner’s Inquest be held into the death of Dinish Ramcharran the Tabatinga porter who died more than six months ago after he reportedly fell from a moving truck Commander of ‘F’ Division Ravindradat Budhram confirmed to Stabroek News that the case file was sent to the DPP’s Chambers for legal advice and it was subsequently recommended that an inquest be held The police had said that the driver was proceeding north along the trail with two other occupants in the vehicle’s cab and Ramcharran perched on the roof he stopped and on checking discovered Ramcharran was not in the vehicle A post-mortem examination that was performed on Ramcharran’s remains had revealed that he died due to multiple injuries sustained Waheeda Ramcharran had told Stabroek News that after receiving information she did her own investigation and was convinced that there was more to her son’s death “They just say it’s an accident because me son fell off the truck and that was it but… I was told my son was pushed off of the truck and another vehicle behind them run he over,” she added Waheeda had recalled that on the morning of her son’s death A 42-year-old labourer was yesterday placed on $75,000 bail after he denied having in his possession a quantity of narcotics on Sunday night he had in his possession 44 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking Pearson pleaded not guilty to the charge which was read to him by Magistrate Allan Wilson at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court Reports are that the police were on patrol duty around 10.15 pm  on Sunday in Lethem Central Rupununi when they noticed Pearson standing on the road A search was carried out on his person during which a transparent bag containing a quantity of leaves seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis was found in his pants pocket Pearson was subsequently taken into custody The suspected cannabis was weighed in his presence As development moves apace at the recently established Tabatinga Housing Scheme in Lethem residents there are anticipating an increase to the already growing population at the small border community The community has grown over the past three years into a pivotal housing area which the regional administration is working to develop in order to market it and create opportunities in the various sectors of development residents told Stabroek News that over time the housing scheme has seen many persons setting up houses within the area while the administration has undertaken road pipe-laying and other infrastructural works to further develop the community Businessman Milton Benjamin told this newspaper that he had been living at his ‘corner lot’ close to the Tabatinga Creek for more than 6 years and he said that he has seen the community evolve into what it has become today All what you seeing in front my place here was bush.” But he noted that as the nearby Takutu Bridge drew closer to becoming a reality the regional administration as well as residents worked towards “making it more presentable so that we could benefit in some way” a father of two who operates a small grocery business at Tabatinga noted that the area has been “trouble free” to date in terms of crime adding that since most persons in the area know each other there is little room for criminal activity Benjamin said many persons from the coastland are “rushing” to purchase house lots at Tabatinga “It got its benefits but we who living here supposed to get first preference but once people in town got their money they will get through,” Benjamin said He added too that the area was lacking in several “urgent” forms of development among them were the absence of street lights Benjamin said that life for him at Tabatinga has been “mostly positive” many persons operating businesses in the area have seen their small establishments develop overtime as customers from both sides of the border are always “available” housewife Mary George told Stabroek News that since she relocated to Tabatinga less than two years ago a community located further south of Lethem said that most people within the community were “now getting to know each other” a former headmaster has been a popular figure within the Region 9 area said that she and her husband moved to the community to spend their “retirement years” The elderly woman described the area as quiet breezy and peaceful and she noted that each day she is afforded an opportunity to tend to her garden where she cultivates mainly cassava and cash crops She said that the general ambience of the community excites her longing to see Lethem as a whole develop towards being a small town George noted too that the Brazilians would travel through the housing area almost hourly and this was among the many “occurrences” that she saw as good for the community to progress A few weeks ago the authorities constructed several culverts throughout the area while the roads at the southern section of the area were paved recently although works halted temporarily to address preparations for the recently held Rupununi rodeo said that he has been living at Tabatinga for close to 14 years and never in his wildest dreams did he expect to see the community being transformed into what it is today “You have to give credit to the people who stayed here through the [tough] times,” Charles said He said that he settled in the community not knowing what the future for the area held he noted that the Takutu Bridge has “made the difference” in recent times the father of five daughters said that he lived on the eastern side of the Tabatinga Creek at Lethem for most of his youth before relocating the other side of the creek to the housing scheme in 1997 Charles said that he worked with the Baha’is in the area as a driver and over time was able to develop his skills as an auto mechanic He has since completed several courses in the field and has been the regional administration’s service man for vehicles operated by the department He said he has been happy to “pass on my knowledge to youths in the area” while his wife has been a capable assistant in his field of work He said that his community was moving towards being recognized as a developed area with the various forms of house styles and different cultures of people moving into the area While pipelines are being run through the community householders have dug their own sources of water in the form of wells which have been dug 20 to 30 feet into the earth the area receives electricity from the nearby Lethem Power station while medical and emergency services are a 5-minute taxi ride away at the Lethem Regional Hospital While a few churches have been established in the community residents believe that in time the religious community will capitalize on the growing population residents of the housing area told Stabroek News that many persons would continue to move south of the country to Lethem in larger numbers as the region as a whole has seen a significant influx of coastlanders relocating there in recent times as the area was poised to develop into Guyana’s newest town The Tikuna Indians living near this Amazon outpost long believed that their community was a portal to the supernatural to immortals who would guard them and secure their existence But lately they are finding that location may instead be a curse lies along a placid stretch of the Solimoes River less than three miles down a reddish-dirt road from Tabatinga the area has become a magnet for drug traffickers who roam the triple border here with Colombia and Peru Some Indians are accepting cash to work as drug mules using their knowledge of the rivers and dense rain forest to transport cocaine into Brazil's growing market And a growing number of young Tikunas are succumbing to drug and alcohol abuse which Indian leaders blame for some 30 adolescent suicides over the past five years these traumas represent the latest threat in a fight for tribal survival the elder generation is struggling to keep its young people from losing themselves in the vices of the white man's world and from destroying what is left of traditional Tikuna culture Alarmed by the violence and disobedience of their community's youth Mariacu's two chiefs recently made an unusual and desperate appeal for help: They asked the Brazilian police who generally do not have jurisdiction in Indian towns to enter their community and crack down on traffickers and substance abusers even if that would mean putting the Indians at the mercy of Brazilian laws "We want government officials to help us save our children so they don't take part in these ruinous practices," said Oswaldo Honorato Mendes They do not show respect for our authority as chiefs Respect and obedience to the chiefs are the pillars of tribal law which usually holds sway in Indian communities but has proved insufficient to cope with new challenges The tribal leaders reached a breaking point in early October when Ildo Mariano hanged himself while his parents were sleeping inside their tiny wood home he had been drinking and possibly doing drugs with friends who lived in Tabatinga "He would arrive from class at night and hit the books and then his friends would pick him up and take him to I don't know where," Mariano said one recent afternoon as he sat outside on a wood bench while a few feet away his wife boiled pupunha palm tree fruit the chiefs summoned officials from the federal civil and military police in Tabatinga to a meeting in Mariacu They pleaded for the police to do more to control drug traffickers and arrest lawbreakers in their communities The police officials listened politely but walked away unconvinced they could help but not one that we can legally respond to," said Sergio Fontes the superintendent of the federal police in the northern city of Manaus "The chiefs want to resolve a social problem with the police The police generally may not enter an Indian community to carry out investigations and Indians generally enjoy immunity from Brazilian laws Brazil treats drug users as victims who require treatment They are generally sentenced to receiving drug-addiction treatment and community service in lieu of prison time And while drugs and alcohol are illegal in Mariacu store shelves in Tabatinga are lined with liquor of all kinds that their youth are mixing with alcoholic beverages who have lived in the region for centuries and migrated to this area in the early 1840s have traditionally fished and planted bananas and cassava fished them from a tributary of the Solimoes The borders with Peru and Colombia traditionally meant little to them is less than a 20-minute minibus ride away "The Tikunas are between two worlds," Fontes said Potarinau Sky Kings and Massara Strikers sealed their place in the women’s and men’s divisional finals when the RDC Republic Football Cup continued on Sunday evening at the Wadapna Sports Ground Potarinau Sky Kings squeaked past Kanuku Warriors 2-1 in their semi-final encounter the Massara Strikers brushed aside the Wowetta Thunderbolt 2-0 Tabatinga and Paiwomak Warriors also secured berths to the men’s and women’s divisional finals following semi-final wins on Saturday at the same venue Tabatinga defeated the Snatchers by a 3-1 score The final will occur at the same venue on Saturday The Canadian High Commission formally handed over flood-resistant flush toilet latrines to 10 households that were deemed most at risk in the Tabatinga Housing Scheme Counsellor (Development) Head of Development Cooperation at the mission presented the facilities to the community on Wednesday Drouin encouraged the beneficiaries to take responsibility for future repairs and maintenance of the latrines the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) project provided Cdn$21,050  ($4,210,000) to the Remote Area Medical Volunteers (RAM) it was executed entirely by the Voluntary Services Organization (VSO) The Tabatinga Housing Scheme is an impoverished suburb of Lethem that was devastated by floods in June “The flood destroyed or severely damaged outdoor latrines of homes in this area without scientific knowledge of water and sanitation requirements and incorrectly located upstream of the water wells,” the release said the damaged latrines had become a potential source of hazard and serious risk to the health and safety of the occupants particularly small children and the elderly the project used local skills and labours in building the latrines to support income generation at the same time it capitalised on the opportunity to train apprentices in carpentry skills and to teach them about good water and sanitation practices The project will be used as a pilot for improving sanitation and hygiene in other vulnerable housing areas in Region Nine The two communities of Lethem and Tabatinga in Region Nine will soon be able to benefit from easier access to goods and services as the township is working towards the construction of a $60 million access bridge by the end of the year Beckles noted that at present there is one major road that caters for both ingress and egress in Tabatinga and with the expectation of a population growth in the years to come traffic congestion in the township will become an issue the new structure will not only bridge the gap between the housing scheme and Lethem “… On forward planning there should be another entrance because Lethem is developing and there is a lot of vehicles traversing and there will be years to come that there will be traffic jams… so you will not only have one entrance coming out of Tabatinga we would have another entrance,” Beckles said He further noted that the construction of the bridge is just one of several projects that will be undertaken to prepare for the major developments in the town as there are also plans to do a major upgrade to the Tabatinga Sports Complex as well as the establishment of green spaces in the township The bridge project is to be funded by central government and Beckles noted that the construction is expected to be completed by year end The Regional Democratic Council has also opened tenders for the construction of a new Nursery School and teachers’ quarters in Tabatinga Republic Bank and the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Lethem also has an upgraded airstrip which facilitates regular flights to and from the border town a community in Central Rupununi is said to have been established and further developed by the Central Housing and Planning Authority in 2003 and is home to over 1000 persons Tabatinga has benefitted from major infrastructural development including roads and electricity the Guyana Water Inc expanded water services in the scheme with the refurbishing of elevated storage tanks securing 10 subjects at this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examinations made her the top performing student for Region Nine this year said that the distinction was never in her thoughts Parker said that preparation for the exams required her to have a study timetable and less leisure time She attributed her success to her teachers but noted that she could have done better if she had studied harder Parker is planning a career in the medical field and will be attending sixth form at a school in the city from September green top and yellow scarf reached up to hang her facecloth over a beam the whole boat had just finished eating and we were all swinging gently in our hammocks I had a view of the jungle and the muddy brown water while above was a blue sky dotted with cumulus clouds Bruce Parry spent nine months travelling along the world's longest river for his latest TV series But you don't have to be an ex-marine and an expert in indigenous tribes to get close to the Amazon and her people I bought mine at one of the many tin-shack stores selling them in Tabatinga A walk in sapping heat across the porous frontier brought us to the river moored and waiting at the river's muddy edge Five of these three-deck passenger ferries – built like old-style Mississippi steamers – ply the upper section of the river the Brazilian Amazonian capital of over a million people The downstream journey takes three nights and four days – it takes longer going upstream and we were welcomed onboard by the captain's wife who was wielding a broom – the ship was scrubbed and swept five times a day when we got moving swinging under the stars on deck was quiet The highlight of the day had been choosing a hammock and we had nothing to do but share beers with the deckhands and watch them play cards the boat was crowded with people and the card-players were hard at work This is the beauty of travelling like this along the Amazon – the people giving each person about three feet of swing space where passengers eat in shifts – 10 minutes heading to market or using the big ferry to get close to a tributary performing audacious mid-river transfers from ferry to river-taxi at full speed before waving and disappearing across the water to some unknown place with stark dead trees rising above the canopy The Amazon river is one vast highway and people live and work along its entire length then clouds would build and by 4pm they were set to storm Those who knew what to do rolled down blue plastic side-sheeting and then we sat on our hammocks and listened as the rain battered down storm clouds hung ragged and spent against a yellow sunset which launched themselves at the lights and fell buzzing into T-shirts and hair The day before we'd drifted through a cloud of blue butterflies After three days of this restful travelling Along the way we'd seen river dolphins and giant catfish been waylaid at muddy ports by fruit sellers and fiestas and it felt like we'd never get any closer hours before we got there – a perfect dome of orange light stretched above a dark canopy of trees We arrived at 10pm and in the hustle of docking only managed to say fleeting goodbyes to new friends – perhaps as it should be Manaus by night was charmless compared to the river At dawn we were woken by the metal clang of a big-city port at work We stepped ashore and found a breakfast of sorts Then the game of getting out of there began Tickets can be bought locally from the ferry and usually include three meals a day The journey described cost 150 Brazil reais (£41) Residents of the new housing scheme at Tabatinga Rupununi are angry over what they say “is a waste of money,” being spent on one of the roads in their community Recently a contract was awarded by the Central Tender Board to upgrade some of the roads in the community lay pipe mains and build a new road at the back of the community The new road at the back of the community is the bone of contention The back of the community lies less than 50 metres from the edge of the Tabatinga creek which flows along the community on its way to the Takutu River All along this creek there are swamps with pagasse-type soil which residents are contending erodes every time the rain falls pointed out where the marking for the new road cut into his land by some 50 feet who has been living in the area for 30 years stands to lose a considerable amount of fruit trees Leonard Cyril pointed to the new road marking in the middle of his yard He said the road will account for the loss of his “outside kitchen” and 50 feet of his land it was clear that at least 15 occupied lots will be similarly affected by way of pointing to a spot on a lantern post the level the water would rise to in the rainy season The proposed road is less than 50 feet from the post and therefore would be swamped in the rainy season I spoke to the regional chairman and he told me that he [did not have] the power to stop the road,” Barran said “So I don’t know why Georgetown is still pushing this thing.” Barran further pointed to a bridge that connects the two banks of the creek and informed SN that water would render that bridge useless in the rainy season “In fact I operate a boat service right at that bridge in the high water [season],” he said Scipio informed this newspaper that when Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) took over house lot distribution from Land and Surveys Department in 2003 a general meeting was held with residents at the Arapaima Primary School and they were given assurances that no one would be affected by CH&PA’s interventions Scipio said CH&PA did several surveys during that time and now “dey taking away we land.” When this newspaper contacted the officer in charge of Land and Surveys in Lethem he said he knew for a fact that several persons were living in the area even before a decision was made to have the area designated a housing area He said that when his department did its survey it took care not to disrupt the livelihood of the early settlers He said he knew the CH&PA did subsequent surveys but could not say what the new designs looked like since he was not privy to them He could not say if the plans were registered with the Lands and Surveys Commission in Georgetown as is required Several attempts to contact the CEO of CH&PA were unsuccessful Regional Chairman of Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) Clarindo Lucas said he had held several formal and informal meetings with residents He said he had advised them not to build until the plans were finalized Lucas said that at least four different surveys were done by CH&PA and the present one was the best option when everything was considered This newspaper has seen the plan which revealed that surveys started on  December 12 When asked about the residents’ claims in relation to the high water Lucas said he would speak to the authorities with a view to having them re-allocate the money for that road into something more useful Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson granted a father of six 000 yesterday when he appeared before her at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court pleaded guilty to the charges of felonious wounding robbery with violence and two counts of unlawful wounding Grannum unlawfully and maliciously wounded Jenelle Williams so as to maim Grannum robbed Williams of two gold chains valued $65 Grannum unlawfully and maliciously damaged a glass door valued $50 property of Carol Martin.It is also alleged that on December 19 Grannum unlawfully wounded Ashanti Bascom and Nadine Martin Granum stated that the incident was as a result of him rebuking his child mother (Williams) He explained that on the day in question he had answered Williams’s cell phone and a male had asked who he was and what he was doing with her phone He said that he and Williams got into an argument because of that “My worship she don’t want me with anybody jus like two weeks ago she beat ah woman out me house He said that after the argument he went out and “I had a lil drink to vanish these things off mey he head cause I din know what foh do” Grannum went on to say that when he returned home Williams apologised but that soon after the phone rang again and it was the same person He said that they got into an argument again and she told him “I should not tell she who to talk to on she phone” He noted that he then slapped Williams in her face but that Williams’s brother had seen when he did it and soon after approached him with a cutlass and chopped him to his back He said that Williams and Nadine Martin then picked up a piece of wood and started to beat him and that “it was while I dey fighting she (Williams’s) brother to tek away de cutlass that we crash into de glass door and it break and cut Jenelle and she sister” The magistrate then entered a not guilty plea for Grannum on the charges against him the prosecution stated that Williams sustained chops to her right thumb and lower leg while Bascom sustained a chop to her right foot They stated that Carol also sustained a chop to her right thumb The magistrate subsequently placed Grannum on bail and ordered that he return to court on March 3 Gostaria de receber as principais notícias do Brasil e do mundo O jornal Folha de S.Paulo (1921 - 2025) é publicado pela Empresa Folha da Manhã S.A President Irfaan Ali today announced that 600 persons who have received lands from the Ministry in Lethem will be given $1m The President was at the time addressing a gathering at the Tabatinga Sports Ground in Lethem the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) said in a statement He said that the Ministry will be partnering with the New Building Society and the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry as they will be offering loans to the tune of $2m at a rate of 3.5% to persons interested in the initiative the total cost for the home based on consultations is $3m The monthly repayment for the loan is approximately $14,000 per month The President added that residents in the region will also benefit from the cement and steel initiative which was announced earlier this month for coastland residents Registration began immediately as staffers of the regional housing office are at the venue The President is currently leading a three-day outreach to Lethem Several Permanent Secretaries including Andre Ally and other technical officers from key government agencies are also in the region