Daily Archive: Friday, January 16, 2009

-flooded Mahaicony residents ask Even as hopes rise with the drop of the water level in the Mahaicony Creek, residents say there is nothing else for them to do to earn a living as they have lost their crops.

-as pepper cocaine probe heats up The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has forwarded photos and details of other suspects in the pepper sauce cocaine bust to CANU and these leads are being tracked down.

-says motion ‘before its time’ The government last evening vetoed a motion to have Parliamentary sittings broadcast live and unedited locally, saying that the motion had come to the National Assembly “before its time.”

A third person yesterday appeared in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court charged with the murder of Ricardo Henriques.

At the Blairmont Court on Monday, Magistrate Tejnarine Ramroop sent Mark Benschop on his own recognizance after he pleaded not guilty to charges of obstruction of traffic and failure to exhibit markings on his vehicle.

Luncheon lashes out A day after presenting a ‘Situation Report’ which said that flood co-ordination here was weak and the local relief agency was under-resourced, Oxfam yesterday clarified that the document it prepared was not meant to be comprehensive and was just a “quick overview”.

-as CCJ delivers historic judgment In a historic first judgment delivered in its original jurisdiction, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) yesterday granted special leave to two cement companies to sue Guyana over what they said was the “unilateral” suspension of the Common External Tariff (CET) on cement.

Floods inflicting heavy losseson clients in rice, poultry The experience of the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) suggests that there was no significant growth in the small business sector in 2008.

A 54-year-old tractor driver died early yesterday after being crushed by the vehicle which he fell out of at Pork Bridge in the Rupununi Savannahs.

A Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) source has told Stabroek Business that corrupt practices are a reality in the administration of  procedures associated with the levying and payment of customs duties and taxes but insists that there are many Customs Officers who are honest and conscientious workers and who resist the temptation to become involved in corrupt practices.

We begin by conceding that we may well have misunderstood the process and procedures set out by President Bharrat Jagdeo several months ago for investigating the Customs/Fidelity fraud inasmuch as we understood the President to have said that that investigation would extend beyond the occurrence itself and into other areas of Customs operations and that it would embrace, among other things, an investigation into the private bank accounts of functionaries within the Guyana Revenue Authority.

Dear Editor, On January 11, 2009, I watched the last thirty-five minutes of Ms Wanita Huburn’s programme called ‘Our Life, Our Culture’ on NCN Channel 11 with  guest Guyanese musician/ singer/ songwriter Mr Dave Martins of the Tradewinds.

Dear Editor, We have benefited from an ongoing and interesting debate about ‘shared governance’ − a chameleon term meaning many things to different people.

Dear Editor, I felt abhorrence after reading an article entitled, ‘Stabbed thrice then doused with corrosive liquid’ (SN January 13, 2009) I am horrified to read about these repeated acts of violence against women in Guyana.

The heavy rain yesterday flooded many parts of the city. This was Lyng Street, Charlestown.

Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) and former head of Conservation International, Major General (ret’d) Joe Singh has said that the longer term outlook for climate change and its implications for changing weather patterns dictate that Guyana’s response to the economic and social impact of coastal flooding go beyond the current disaster preparedness and recovery programmes that are being employed to respond to the situation.

By Andre Griffith Our article on the effects of the Internet on the traditional telephony in Guyana provoked some strong responses especially as regards the reactions of the local provider to the threats posed to its interests by Internet Café operations. 

Dear Editor, It is absolutely within the bounds of absurdity and dishonesty for the main opposition party and their acolytes to claim that the government has, in any way, neglected to do all that is within their means to prepare adequately to deal with floods afflicting the country, especially since the unprecedented heavy rainfall that occurred in 2005, reportedly the highest since 1935, when records started to be kept.

Paramakatoi in Region Eight has gotten its first resident doctor through efforts by the governments of Guyana and Cuba According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release Cuban Dr Amaury R Marce is part of a team comprising Medex Winston Williams, Nurse and Midwife Matilda Saigo-Williams, Midwife Donette Martin, Community Health Worker and Microscopist Renta Paticio, Microscopist Patrick Kemfume and Datt Nagalla and Community Dental Therapist Jefferson Robin.

A 30-year-old housewife of Port Kaituma, North West, yesterday appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson to answer the charges of possession of narcotics and possession of ammunition without licence.

Dear Editor, As we commenced a new year under the PPP administration, and in particular, the Jagdeo administration, it is expected those of us who seek to analyse, critique and highlight its usual transgressions and violations will continue to be told that Mr Jagdeo and the PPP were democratically elected.

Canadian High Commissioner Charles Court yesterday signed contribution agreements with two local NGOs that are addressing domestic violence.

Despite its reservations about the likely performance of the economy this year the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) will be seeking to increase the volume of loans this year and plans to focus attention on businesses with export potential.

In Barbados with the compliments of: Igloo Ice Cream, GT&T, Papi’s Supermarket, Oasis Water and Noble House Seafoods Limited.

Moneygram Money Transfer yesterday presented cash prizes to the winners in its promotion last year.

Statistics made available to Stabroek Business by the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) indicate a reduction in the number of loans provided by the facility in 2008 compared with the previous year, but a marginal increase in the monetary value of loans discursed during last year.

IT has been a long time on the road with 12 matches of varying types over the last three months at nine different venues.

The Region Eight Regional Democratic Council recently handed over $3M worth of equipment to the Micobie Council.

Dear Editor, Reading your recent article on the backlog of inquests (‘249 inquests were pending at end of ’07 – Attorney General,’ SN 12.1.09) has prompted me to observe that the same legal system which we depend on for justice can be used to frustrate it.

Dear Editor, In a few days we in Guyana will see the outpouring of hope in a better future for all mankind with the elevation of Barack Obama to the Presidency of the United States of America.

The Alliance For Change (AFC) says Yarowkabra residents have asked for consideration to be given to building a primary school and have voiced concerns about the current local government system.

GASCI (www.gasci.com/telephone N0 223-6175/6) reports that session 286’s trading results showed consideration of $363,125 from 26,675 shares traded in 8 transactions as compared to session 285 which showed consideration of $711,412 from 45,992 shares traded in 7 transactions. 

President Hugo Chávez, as expected, is pushing ahead with plans for an early national referendum, on February 15, to have Venezuela’s constitution amended to allow for indefinite presidential re-election – in this particular instance, his own.

– Chris Gayle credits mind games for New Zealand success CHRIS GAYLE has revealed the secret behind his high-scoring consistency in the recent series against Pakistan and New Zealand.

A 36-year-old man who was charged with having carnal knowledge of a female was granted his pre-trial liberty in the sum of $350,000 when he appeared at the Fort Wellington Court before Magistrate Tejnarine Ramroop on Wednesday.

Barack Hussain Obama — After Tuesday New leaders, old expectations One year ago, I was impressed with the views of  some contributions to the America Newsweek magazine ,with respect to Barack Obama, who was then battling  for the Democratic Party nomination in order to  challenge for the Presidency of the USA – the  nation too many still love to hate .

Fogarty’s on Wednesday held its final presentation for the annual U-turn to win contest and the top winner, Barbara Rose was presented with her $1,000,000 Platinum card.