Daily Archive: Saturday, March 14, 2009

The operations of a recently formed Guyanese/Brazilian sand exporting company, which has built a 150 feet wharf and an adjustable conveyor belt at the cost of US$2 million, were yesterday officially launched by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds.

-despite acrimonious row over McCoy The National Assembly late Thursday approved the candidates to serve on the constitutional Rights of the Child Commission, despite a major dispute between the government and opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) on the inclusion of Kwame McCoy among the nominees for appointment.

Hotel Tower has strengthened its security and procedures governing entrance to the building after gunmen attacked employees on Wednesday night, management said in a press statement yesterday.

$50M allocated this year Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee says Community Policing Groups (CPGs) continue to provide a valuable service and have, over the last two years, effected over 1000 arrests, initiated over 500 charges and conducted over 300,000 patrols.

The motor car which was stolen from outside Coney Island on Carifesta Avenue was recovered minus some parts at a D’Urban Street vulcanizing shop on Thursday night; four men are in police custody assisting with investigations.

The new Skeldon factory is grinding cane for the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) expected bumper crop this season with 330 tonnes declared in forty-eight hours last week and sustained production up to yesterday, signalling the start of its commercial operation after a string of hiccups.

-after unanimous approval of motion Working towards consensus to protect policyholders and investors in the wake of CLICO (Guyana)’s financial exposure, the government and opposition have directed a parliamentary committee to monitor the developments at the company.

Shawn Chatram, the husband of Shakiela Chatram, who was found hanging from the rafter of the couple’s patio at their Nevis home on Wednesday, said that his wife had clinical depression tendencies.

This year the Le Repentir Cemetery is “under consideration for rehabilitation including the trimming of trees”, according to Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn.

A delegation of high-ranking officials from Chongqing City, China is expected to visit Guyana by mid-June to explore business and investment opportunities in several sectors.

– Crime Chief Two recent murders “may have contributed” to Tuesday’s massive raid in the Sophia/Turkeyen area, which saw over 71 homes being searched and 53 persons being detained, Crime Chief Seelall Persaud said yesterday.

The 34-year-old mother of two who was stabbed to death on Thursday by her former reputed husband moments after she left home for work, died from haemorrhage and shock due to a stab wound, police said yesterday.

An 18-year-old miner yesterday pleaded not guilty to the charge of break and enter and larceny when it was read to him by Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magi-strate’s Court.

…after Cheryl’s invitation Three Suriname nationals yesterday pleaded guilty to the charge of entering Guyana illegally when it was read to them by Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

A 33-year-old man yesterday pleaded not guilty to two counts of larceny of cattle when they were read to him by Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

-as US-funded HIV programme winds down Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy yesterday urged HIV programme donors to avoid duplication and opt for sector-wide implementation so that beneficiaries could be treated not only for HIV but all other diseases prevalent in Guyana.

The Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) says it is “extremely concerned” about the effects of the global financial crisis on its member companies and urged them to diversify into new markets.

At its last meeting on Monday, Cabinet cleared some five contracts including one for $79.9 million for the supply of fuel and lubricants to the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority.

-latest in series of attacks on family A joyous Phagwah day for a family at Cumberland, East Canje, ended in distress when they discovered that bandits had ransacked their home and carted off a small amount of cash.

-three men held Three men are in police custody after they allegedly stole a quantity of zinc sheets from the playfield at `C’ Field Sophia and are expected to appear in court shortly.

Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud on Saturday hosted an outreach exercise in Region Two where seeds were shared out and farmers urged to diversify their crops to boost livelihoods.

Belize has joined seven other Caricom member states in establishing a Coalition of Service Providers to increase the export of services within the CSME and provide technical and other inputs into negotiations for the trade in services.

President of the Guyana Football Federation Colin Klass said that the long-awaited FIFA goal project will officially be brought to light on April 25 when world governing body FIFA holds their Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Zurich, Switzerland.

Heavy overnight and early morning rainfall prevented any play on the first day of the 10th round West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) regional four-day cricket match involving Guyana and Leeward Islands at the Albion Community Centre ground, yesterday.

Dear Editor, Politics continues to play a role in every decision made in this country.

One week after Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson inked his contract with Major League Soccer (MLS) club Colorado Rapids, Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Colin Klass yesterday sent the Guyanese striker congratulations for making history and setting an  example for others.

HORSHAM, England, (Reuters) – More spending will  give only a brief “sugar high” if G20 nations fail to clean up  their banks, the World Bank said yesterday as economic powers  struggled to agree a response to the worst downturn in decades.

The 2009 Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) first and second division cricket competition gets underway today with matches around Georgetown.

Dear Editor, I write in response to the letter in the Stabroek News of Thursday, March 12, 2009 captioned ‘Perhaps the Environmental Protection Agency mandate is too limited,’ written by Mr Tony Rampersaud.

– Calif. official LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – Former Playboy model and  television star Anna Nicole Smith was given massive amounts of  prescription drugs illegally by her boyfriend and two doctors  for years before her death from an overdose, California’s  attorney general said yesterday.

Dear Editor, Is it the desire of Starlite Drive-In’s management to drive the citizens of Atlantic Gardens, Happy Acres, Montrose and other areas mad?

West Indies’ opener, Andre Fletcher, has spoken of his lasting gratitude to Allen Stanford, the disgraced former bankroller of West Indian cricket – even though the collapse of Stanford’s financial empire has caused him  to lose a significant portion of the US$1million prize money that he picked up for his match winning role in November’s Super Series in Antigua.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The Obama administration  stopped calling Guantanamo inmates “enemy combatants” yesterday  and incorporated international law as its basis for holding the  prisoners while it works to close the facility.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Prolific West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul continued his successful run when he walked away with the West Indies Players Association Cricketer-of-the-Year honour at the annual awards ceremony on Thursday.

Dear Editor, It is with deep regret that I mourn the death of a friend and close colleague, Dr Roy Ibbott, a great Guyanese patriot.

MONACO, (Reuters) – After six years of being  outwitted by the so-called “Pink Panther” jewel thieves, police  from 16 countries have met in Monaco to coordinate efforts to  capture the gang that has bagged loot worth up to $200 million.

Dear Editor, On Wednesday, March 4, 2009 around 7.45 am I visited the Forest Hills food outlet in Camp Street to have some breakfast, only to be told that the kitchen staff had not arrived.

Selflessness, conviction and the strong desire to contribute toward youth development, led Lindener and national footballer Kayode McKinnon, to display considerable sacrifice and mental endurance to complete a 13 hours and 20 minutes run in support of youth affected by and infected with HIV.

NEW YORK,  (Reuters) – U.S. stocks scored their  best week since November yesterday as a broker upgraded Merck &  Co, saying its deal to buy a rival was shrewd, and Citigroup  said it did not need any more government aid.

Part 1 – The Recipes Tastes Like Home Hi Everyone, Never before have I ever been so frustrated, confused and at times angry in the kitchen as I have been this past week.

Dear Editor, When will this unacceptable mood of extremely poor governance end, and where will it lead us?

By Orin Davidson `Hard work’  must  be the most used words  in the West Indies team in the after-glow of  their deserving 1-0 cricket series victory over England.

Dear Editor, I have noticed many times, not only now, that the children of Anna Regina Multilateral School are unconcerned about how they use the road.

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Lawyers for jailed swindler  Bernard Madoff argued for his release pending sentencing and a  list of assets put he and his wife’s net worth between $823  million and $826 million, according to court papers filed yesterday.

The Guyana Karate College held its first grading examinations for the year on Monday at the Malteenoes Sports Club.

Culture Box If a fan of West Indies Cricket were to write a book today detailing his/her experiences following the team, despair, heartbreaking, disenchantment, anguish, and relief would be some of the most used words.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – It has been a long time coming, but Tamar Lambert hit his second first-class hundred to help front-runners Jamaica post a respectable 272 in their first innings in their 10th round match against Barbados in the WICB regional four-day competition yesterday.

Dear Editor, Undoubtedly health care is of great importance, second only to our spiritual well-being.

(BBC) – The United Progressive Party of Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer has been re-elected with a reduced majority after Thursday’s general elections.

Dear Editor, In my four score years plus as a Guyanese I never saw a budget for Guyana and the Guyanese people which was as harsh as the one presented to us for the year 2009.

Arts in Motion’ for Thirst Park Designer Donna Ramsammy-James is offering a sneak preview of a show-stopping cultural and fashion event later this month that is set to open in Jamaica in April as part of an international fundraiser for a Bishops High School reunion.

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, CMC – Veteran Floyd Reifer compiled a 12th first-class hundred and stood firm for Combined Campuses & Colleges (CCC) against in-form Windward Islands on the opening day of their 10th round WICB Regional Four-day match day.

(Trinidad Express) – An injunction barring the CL Financial Groups from divesting the assets of its insurance subsidiary Clico has been extended to March 24 by Justice Judith Jones.

The West Indies Rugby Union (WIRU) has announced one change to the Rugby West Indies team for the iRB Sevens World Series in Hong Kong later this month.

EU urges banana deal The European Union has urged Latin American nations to agree to a banana deal and end the world’s longest-running trade row. 

Fed up with the routine condescension shown to the man in the street by reporters on the business channel CNBC, the comedian Jon Stewart recently aired an eight minute compilation of the station’s most famous and notoriously well-paid analysts making asses of themselves.

Representatives from Community Policing Groups of the six policing divisions yesterday participated in a route march as part of activities to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of community policing in Guyana.

Dear Editor, The 2009 budget that was presented by the Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh was a good one.

After a five-night run to rave reviews and a two-night hold over, Link Show 25 goes to Linden this weekend and then will have its final performances from Saturday March 21 to Tuesday March 24 at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) at 8 pm.