Daily Archive: Thursday, March 5, 2009

– lawyer shipped it from Guyana;  to use transcripts in drugs trial The computer telephonic surveillance equipment, which drug accused Roger Khan reportedly used to intercept the calls of officials and alleged criminals, was shipped from Guyana to his lawyer’s office in New York and is now in the possession of the US government.

In a dramatic twist, the fisherman, who jumped off a fishing vessel in Suriname, re-surfaced on Tuesday and hung himself in the Number 51 village police station-lock ups yesterday after making a court appearance.

The Bank of Guyana says that at the end of December 2008 the licensed financial sector was adequately capitalized with a capital adequacy ratio (CAR) of 15.34% which is well above the minimum requirement of 8%.

– to open food courts at airport, post office Bread and pastries company Bakewell continues to expand its operations with the acquisition of the Rituals Coffee House franchise as well as leases to open food courts at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri and in the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) building.

-gas lobbed at man A man has been arrested as the police investigate the death of a 17-year-old boy at the Georgetown Hospital a week after he sustained severe burns while clearing a plot of land in Linden.

In Tuesday’s edition of the Stabroek News a photograph was carried with the caption `Kean Byas’ accompanied by an article headlined “Duo remanded on drugs charges”. 

– no capable relative found to look after them The four Mahaicony Creek children who the Ministry of Human Services had rescued from dire circumstances in January, have been enrolled in schools in the city and are still in the ministry’s care, Minister of Human Services and Social Security Priya Manickchand has revealed.

No approval was issued for the drilling of a well to the owner of Lot 52 Grove New Housing Scheme, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Hydrometeorological Services said yesterday.

A 44-year-old man who allegedly robbed another at knifepoint of gold jewellery, cash and other items at Stabroek Market was granted $200,000 bail when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

“I am afraid of jail. That is why I get away,” a 25-year-old man who received a one-year sentence for escaping from lawful custody admitted to Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson yesterday.

Two masked bandits, one armed with a hand-gun, robbed the owners of an internet café at Main & Charles Place, New Amsterdam and two customers around 6:45 pm on Tuesday of more than $400,000 in cash, a laptop and cell phones.

Three persons are now homeless, following a fire yesterday afternoon which gutted the top storey of a Kitty house. 

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico, (Reuters) – Mexico’s army    will take over the local police force in the border city of  Ciudad Juarez where it helped quell a deadly prison riot yesterday in its widening war against drug gangs.

– Broad LONDON, (Reuters) – International Cricket Council  (ICC) match referee Chris Broad said he and colleagues were left  like “sitting ducks” by a lack of security in Tuesday’s attack  on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore that left six players injured.

Republic Bank has introduced its Blue Machine services at the CJI airport and at Bosai Minerals Group in Linden.

A security guard accused of attempted murder yesterday told Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson that the virtual complainant (VC) “wanted” his woman and it resulted in a fight.

LAHORE, Pakistan,  (Reuters) – Pakistani police were  searching yesterday for a breakthrough in their investigation  nearly 48 hours after gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket  team and then melted away.

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – New York state’s top legal  officer issued subpoenas on Wednesday to seven executives who  received tens of millions of dollars in 2008 pay from Merrill  Lynch & Co before it was taken over by Bank of America Corp, a person familiar with the investigation said.

The controversial Annual United States State Department Report on Human Rights Practices around the world has come to be regarded in some quartets as an index for measuring the political preferences of the world’s most powerful state rather than as a reliable ‘report card’ on respect for human rights in those countries that are assessed.

MADRID, (Reuters) – A video of Spain’s prime  minister became one of the world’s most talked about internet  clips yesterday after he accidently uttered the F word in a  news conference with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

In CARICOM with one of the highest rates of emigration of skilled persons in the world, there is an exceptionally  urgent need to train and retrain the region’s foreign policy experts, says CARICOM Deputy Secretary-General Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Manchester United were given an  early scare at Newcastle United yesterday before hitting back  for a 2-1 victory that restored their seven-point cushion at the  top of the Premier League.

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – The 2010 Commonwealth Games  will adopt security methods similar to those used at the Beijing  Olympics, its chief said yesterday, allaying fears the attack  on the Sri Lanka cricket team could scupper the event.

THE HAGUE, (Reuters) – The International Criminal  Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar  Hassan al-Bashir yesterday for war crimes in Darfur, a  decision that could spark more regional turmoil.

The annual United States Department of State Report on Human Rights Practices usually triggers selective interpretation and hype from the state media and angry reactions from the Government of Guyana.

-dismisses ‘pressure group’ as unlawful Faced with growing dissatisfaction over prices being offered by rice millers for paddy, the Guyana Rice Producers’ Association (RPA) yesterday urged farmers to consider the effects of the “global crisis” on pricing.

As President Bharrat Jagdeo prepares to celebrate the tenth anni-versary as Guyana’s longest-serving head of state, the manner in which he selects and rejects persons to fill the seats of power in the cabinet will determine the destiny of the country.

Guyanese businessman and promoter Ghalee Khan and his alleged co-conspirator Danvor Griffith, who are both on drug trafficking charges in the US, have also been charged with jumping bail.

DALLAS,  (Reuters) – Dallas Mavericks mercurial owner  Mark Cuban threatened a player clearout and accused the team of  a lack of effort after defeat to the lowly Oklahoma City  Thunder.

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK, (Reuters) – The Obama  administration yesterday launched a $75 billion foreclosure  relief plan, as new data showed one in five U.S.

The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) yesterday issued an urgent call for blood of all types since it is  now experiencing a severe shortage.

A muted but intense rivalry is raging between Guyana’s two telecommunications service providers The arrival of DIGICEL in Guyana two years ago after the company had, more or less, swept aside most of the competition in the rest of the Caribbean, heralded the dawn of a brand new era in national telecommunications.

LAHORE, Pakistan, (Reuters) – Pakistani police were  searching yesterday for a breakthrough in their investigation  nearly 48 hours after gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket  team and then melted away.

A Man-of-the-Match performance from all rounder Ravindra Dasrat guided Berbice to an eight-wicket victory over Essequibo at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground, yesterday in the Guyana Cricket Board/Castrol-sponsored U-15 tournament.

LAHORE, (Reuters) – Driver Zafar Khan was with the New Zealand cricket team in 2002 when a suicide bomber struck  outside their hotel in Karachi.

President Bharrat Jagdeo came to power nearly 10 years ago. What public safety lessons can be learnt from the extraordinary events that occurred during the most dangerous decade in this country’s history?

Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton yesterday remanded a man who allegedly had over 17 kilograms (kg) of cocaine in his possession.

RAMALLAH, West Bank,  (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of  State Hillary Clinton criticised Israel yesterday over plans  to demolish Palestinian homes in Arab East Jerusalem and said  Washington would engage Israeli leaders on Jewish settlements.

Dear Editor, Permit us to respond on behalf of Mr Robert Persaud, Minister of Agriculture, on the letter captioned ‘Wauna farmers cannot sell their peanuts’ published in the March 4, 2009 Stabroek News.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – The Commonwealth said yesterday it would take tougher action against Fiji in September  unless it had moved to hold elections by then.

CALI, Colombia,  (Reuters) – Colombian soccer  champions America de Cali are first to admit cocaine dollars  had a hand in their sporting heyday.

Opening address by his Excellency Edwin W Carrington, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community, on the occasion of the Ministerial Conference on Security, Drug Trafficking , Transnational Organised Crime and Terrorism as challenges for development in the Caribbean, 19 February 2009, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The Animal Health Department of the Ministry of Agriculture has seized two pregnant animals that were about to be slaughtered at the Georgetown Municipal Abattoir yesterday morning, a release from the ministry said.

Dear Editor, The Clico crisis follows closely the story of the global financial meltdown. 

ORLANDO, Florida,  (Reuters) – The Orlando Magic  rallied for a 111-99 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday,  the home team winning a game highlighted by a physical tussle  between Dwight Howard and former favourite son Shaquille O’Neal.

The Government Technical Institute (GTI) recently renamed Barclay’s Wing the GBTI Wing in honour of the bank’s contribution to the renovations of that section and other support.

2009 marks the 30th year since the Caribbean Examinations Council offered the first ever indigenous examination to students in the region.

CARACAS, (Reuters) – President Hugo Chavez  threatened yesterday to expropriate Venezuela’s largest  private company, Polar, in a dispute over the major food  producer’s rice output.

United States Ambassador John Jones on Friday commissioned a $1M incinerator at the Bartica Hospital, which will improve healthcare waste management practices in the Region Seven community.

(Antigua Sun) – Prime Ministers Baldwin Spencer and Dr Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines, have attempted to further reassure the public of the soundness of Bank of Antigua Ltd (BOA) by opening, and reactivating personal chequing accounts there.

Richmond Hill and Eastern Leguan Primary Schools are the winners of the Leguan Island Mashramani eight-a-side Windball cricket competition.

The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) says urgent reform of the sexual offences laws is needed to curb escalating crimes against women and girls and a task force is required to steer it.

Dear Editor, I refer to the editor’s note to my letter on March 4, 2009 of Stabroek News with the caption ‘Heritage Foundation did not use Ram and McRae as a “source” for the economic freedom index.’

The following is the text of an address delivered by Sir Courtney at a tribute held in honour of Dr Trevor Farrell by the Economics Department, UWI, St Augustine on Wednesday, October 8th, 2008.

Dear Editor, I once again express utter consternation at the refusal of President Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP/C government of Guyana to pay the pension owed to the late former President of Guyana, Hugh Desmond Hoyte, to his surviving 76-year-old widow and former First Lady of Guyana, Mrs Joyce Hoyte.

Local golfers will be in action on Saturday in the General Equipment Medal Play tournament billed for the Lusignan Golf course.

Council set for Haiti The UN Security Council is heading to Haiti next week to assess the country’s progress.

-court told A 28-year-old man, who was allegedly caught by the police throwing away a purse that contained a quantity of cocaine and cannabis, was remanded to prison on Tuesday when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

CARIBBEAN ECONOMIC RECESSIONS IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE ADDRESS by PROFESSOR COMPTON BOURNE, PH.D,

Dear Editor, At a time when the US as well as the wider world community is faced with a serious financial crisis, and, by extension, an economic recession, I am really curious to know why US President Barack Obama is taking with him a 1,000-member delegation along with 25 jets, to the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad next month.

The African-Guyanese The British Guiana Centenary Year Book, 1831-1931, edited by E Sievewright Stoby, was published in 1931 to celebrate the centenary of the unification of the colony of British Guiana in 1831. 

Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali on Monday hosted an outreach exercise with Sandvoort, Angoy’s Avenue, West Canje and Fort Ordnance, Region Six residents to inform them of the plans for the area for this year and to garner feedback on issues affecting their livelihood.

Smallbore captain of the Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA) Dale Hing won last Sunday’s first Practical Pistol competition organized by the section for 2009 at the Timehri Ranges.

Dear Editor, Benjamin Franklin, a founding father of America, said that the surest guard against tyranny and arbitrary power was free expression, the free flow of ideas and a free press.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday warned that the global crisis had shifted to the world’s poorest nations and 22 countries may need as much as $25 billion in additional funding in 2009 to cope with the downturn.

Mendonca’s Legend of The Swan Children is one of six new novels in the prestigious Macmillan Island Fantasy Series.

Buxtonians pulled out all the stops and came out adorned with colourful headwear and costumes to celebrate Mashramani on Sunday, according to the PNCR.

Dear Editor, With reference to Frederick Kissoon’s letter ‘Why the reduction to Guyana when this country is poorer than the rest of the Caribbean?’

Legal Permanent Residents and Returning Residents Installment Seventy Eight Q: I am a Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) of the United States so can I travel freely between Guyana and the United Staes?

(Trinidad Guardian) – There was a complete shutdown of the Port-of-Spain Port on Tuesday as rumours spread throughout the country that a container with missing children had been discovered.

By Rawle Toney It seems as though the Dyna’s Ravens will soon be fighting the battle of their lives when they face the Amelia’s Ward Ballers on the opening night of this year’s Next Level Entertainment (NLE) tournament which bounces off tomorrow at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Yuvraj Singh bats in the nets during India’s training session before the second one-day cricket match of their five match series against New Zealand in Wellington today.

Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai has assured residents at Number 59 Village that the community’s primary school will soon be rehabilitated.

For Punishment or Pleasure: A Synopsis of the Life of the Enslaved Africans in Guyana under the Dutch Part 2 By Lloyd Kandasammy This article is the second of a two part series that examines the lives of enslaved Africans during Dutch rule.

Dear Editor, I would like to express my deepest sympathies to the bereaved family and loved ones of Mohamed Irfan Habib, who recently passed away in Essequibo.

The jury remains out on the use of referral system in Test cricket The decision by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to implement the use of a refererral system as part of the adjudication process in Test cricket represents an acknowledgement that the present system that leaves decision-making mostly to the two on-field umpires has resulted in an increasing level of controversy creeping into the game. 

National fullbore captain Mahendra Persaud fired his way to victory in last Sunday’s Record Shoot over 300, 500 and 600 yards as the 2009 rifle shooting season commenced at the Timehri Rifle Ranges.

The global financial crisis, the global economic slowdown/downturn; it has many names.

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged the Brazilian government yesterday to push for the return of an 8-year-old boy to his US father, who says his son was abducted illegally more than four years ago.