Ex-cop hacked to death

Aug 09, 2010 News

The police are investigating the murder of one of their former colleagues whose brutally mutilated body was found on a dam, close to a roadside shop in Kildonan village, early yesterday morning. Sheldon Matheson, 32, called “Mosey” of lot 40 Alness Village, Corentyne, Berbice, a former policeman turned taxi driver, was found by passersby early on Sunday morning about a mile and half away from home with what appeared to be multiple chop wounds about his body. His throat was slashed and he had wounds across his belly, his back and across his arm. When he was found he was in a crouching position.

Ex cop Sheldon Matheson

According to information received, Matheson had left the force some time back, after which he worked for a while in the interior, before returning to his home village some time last year and was working as a taxi driver.
According to his cousin, Diane Hintzen, with whom he resided, Matheson left home around 19:00hrs on Saturday to go to a family reunion in the same village. She said that he called home around 03:00 hrs on Sunday and asked if someone could come and collect him. Around 03:30 hrs he called again and repeated his request and told them he was at Limlair and was walking, about a mile away. No one was available to collect him and relatives never heard from him again. Hintzen said that about 07:00 hrs, her brother Shawn was on his way to work and saw a crowd at Kildonan. He stopped to enquire and recognised his cousin lying in a pool of blood. His wallet, one side slippers, drivers licence and a chain were found nearby.
Relatives described Matheson as quiet, very helpful, mannerly and hard working.
According to his uncle, Earl Matheson, who also resides at Alness, he last saw his nephew around 19:00 hrs when he passed by him and gave him a call. They again met at the reunion and that was the last he saw him.
Matheson is survived by his mother, a sister and brother, and his father, who live in Suriname. He has one son, Osafo, who is eight years old.
Meanwhile, the police are also investigating the circumstances in which 46-year old Marcy Mc Donald, a housewife of 22 Kildonan, was also chopped about her body. According to information received, the woman had just returned home, when her ex-lover (Mark Brewster) kicked down her front and bedroom door, before chopping her about the body. He then made good his escape and is still on the run. She was picked up and rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital where she was treated and later discharged.
According to a source close to the investigation, the police are looking at the similarity of the two incidents. It was understood that Matheson was out with some friends, both male and females in a neighbouring village and was on his way home when he was ambushed by a jealous partner of one of the females.
One person has been arrested and police are looking for a few others.

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Private Sector split on tax-payers’ money in Marriott deal

…Dookhoo’s comments legitimise NICIL abuse of monies

While the Chairman of the Private Sector Commission Ramesh Dookhoo has come out in support of the proposed Marriott Hotel and the use of tax-payers money in the project, it appears that his position may not reflect the true position of the Private Sector in Guyana.
“Sometimes when Ramesh speaks, he speaks for himself,” was among some of the comments made by key Private Sector officials speaking to this newspaper on the condition of anonymity.
The fact that Dookhoo supports the use of the money by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited through share holdings and privatisation deals, legitimises the abuse by that entity.
One member of the PSC said that there is a serious problem, given that the monies garnered by NICIL are supposed to be transferred to the Consolidated Fund and isn’t.
As such, the member questioned how is it that Winston Brassington, who is that body’s head, gets to decide how the monies earned should be spent.

Chairman of the Private Sector Commission Ramesh Dookhoo

The official said that monies earned through NICIL or the Privatisation Unit belong to the people of Guyana and as such should be spent using the right processes.
Dookhoo recently, whilst calling for a greater disclosure on the Government’s involvement in the project, said that the PSC believes that the introduction of the Marriott Brand will be significant to the tourism, airline, and generally the service and other sectors of the economy.
“The impact of additional international branding will have a positive result for the country as customers loyal to their brand will be attracted,” Dookhoo said in the PSC statement.
Dookhoo had said that, “We would also like to applaud local, foreign and potential investors/operators in the tourism and hospitality industry and to assure these groups of our continued support while we look forward to the continued development of the sector.”
As it relates to persons who have a grouse with the fact that the Government may invest money into the project, Dookhoo had said that it is not uncommon for governments to invest in such projects as is the case across the Caribbean.
The opposition parties as well as Chief Executive Officer of the Pegasus Robert Badal had questioned the use of taxpayers’ money in the project.
Another prominent member of the business community, in an invited comment said that any business person that supports the Marriott does not understand business and should take some lessons.
“I honestly believe that there is more in it…it is not just a Hotel that would boost tourism but a business that is known throughout the world as a means of washing and cleaning up dirty money.”