Daily Archive: Saturday, June 6, 2009

The first batch of recruits from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Basic Recruit Course 2009 completed their training yesterday at the Tacama Battle School, Berbice River.

The Guyana Sugar Corporation yesterday signed a US$12M ($2.4B) contract with an Indian firm to upgrade the Enmore factory for packaged sugar within the next year in an effort to reduce the dependence on bulk sugar exports.

-prosecutions drop sharply There has been a marked decrease in the number of prosecutions for smuggling of illegal fuel in recent times and the  Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) says it has been finding fewer samples of illegal fuel.

Backer: ‘The facts are incontrovertible’ Authorities do not have to await disclosures by the US about Roger Khan to investigate his criminal activities in Guyana, including his links to government, the main opposition said yesterday.

-Bail refused By Ayanna Blair After eight weeks and over ten hearings in the Preliminary Inquiry into the alleged rape of a 19-year-old girl, Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson yesterday ruled that a prima facie case had been made out against Colin Mack and he should be tried in the High Court.

The post-mortem examination on Fazal Hoosain, the Number 69 Village businessman found dead in the Corentyne River, will be conducted today pending information from the Surinamese police.

The quality of used tyres imported into Guyana has improved over the years and while a ban is being considered, the Ministry of Commerce will be meeting importers of new tyres shortly to determine whether these could be retailed at a cheaper price.

A group of women from Red Thread and Help and Shelter on Thursday again conducted a protest in front of the Office of the President (OP), which they said will continue until they are satisfied that everything possible was being done to stop all forms of violence against children.

The Region Nine ‘One Stop Shop’ held last weekend at the Arapaima Primary School in the Rupununi  resulted in close to 300 transactions being done by housing ministry officials, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

A Public Education Forum on ‘domestic violence in Guyana’ is scheduled to commence from 4 pm today at the Georgetown City Hall.

– Mayor City Mayor Hamilton Green said yesterday the discovery of a fresh fraud at City Council must be investigated in full to weed out corrupt officers.

A 28-year-old man was shot in his left thigh at Laing Avenue last evening and was receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) up to press time.

2008 bill was US$400M The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) has rejoined the conservation drive and has launched its own campaign to promote energy saving and awareness.

Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee on Thursday met with residents and Community Policing Groups (CPGs) in Leguan, Wakenaam, Hog and Fort islands to listen to concerns affecting their livelihoods and called for more policing groups.

–unions up in arms, company says they were fully informed The modernization of the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) bottling plant has left 19 persons jobless from June 1, prompting action by the unions who said that they were caught by surprise.

Personnel attached to the Guyana Defence Force benefited from a two-day Mass Casualty Scenario training course which was conducted by a visiting United States military team.

Tax-related issues on Guyana’s side of the Takutu Bridge have already been addressed and certain arrangements will be implemented upon completion of the multi-purpose centre at Lethem since the Guyana Revenue Authority has completed arrangements there.

A man who was charged with murdering his friend following an argument over a compact disc (CD) walked free earlier this week when Justice Diana Insanally upheld the submissions of  his lawyer and ordered the jury to return a not-guilty verdict.

Fourteen recorders specifically designed to be used in courtrooms have arrived in Guyana and will soon be handed over to the judiciary to be used in 14 courtrooms.

LONDON (Reuters) – The Netherlands scrambled an  overthrow from the final ball of the match to upset hosts  England by four wickets at Lord’s yesterday in a spectacular  start to the Twenty20 World Cup.

About a year ago The Scene had identified Christ-like Soldiers as an ‘up and coming’ local gospel group that was looking “to spread the message of Christ in various musical genres”.

A 19-year-old man was yesterday placed on bail to the tune of $225,000 by Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson when he appeared before her at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court to answer to three counts of break and enter and larceny.

Suriname demolishes Guyana 5-1 Guyana continued its losing ways in the 2009 Parbo Bier Cup when it lost 5-1 to host Suriname last night at the Andre Kampervene Stadium.

Culture Box I take the bus to work, so I try to avoid being late or, if my morning cup of coffee was half full, being not early.

Tastes Like Home Hi Everyone, When I wrote three weeks ago asking whether Barbados and Guyana can meet on a plate, a friend and regular reader, commented, “There’s always going to be tension on these issues, as people think their national identity will change…” I completely understand the fear.

LONDON, England, CMC – West Indies will meet Australia in their opening match of the ICC World Twenty20 Championship today desperate to turn the page on a wretched last few weeks and save a campaign that promised so much at the start.

Amanda Sooklall, the woman who had sustained the brunt of an attack launched by bandits at Magic Mall at La Grange, West Demerara on May 28, has been discharged from the hospital and is recuperating at home.

North Ruimveldt to tangle with Wortmanville/Werk-en-Rust American economist and political writer Thomas Sowell said: “If the battle for civilization comes down to the wimps versus the barbarians, the barbarians are going to win.”

Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy on Thursday assured that his ministry is taking the necessary precautions to deal with the HINI flu and he said while Trinidad has announced  one case of the flu there is no need for Guyana to do anything further.

After winning the bid to host matches in next year’s International Cricket Council (ICC) 20/20 World Cup which will be held in the Caribbean for the first time, members of the local organizing committee (LOC) held their first meeting yesterday at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport on Main Street.

A hip-hop duet performed by dancers Avasa Jagan and Gabriel Thijs captured the attention of the audience and kept them at the edge of their seats when the Let’s Dance, Dance Studio held its fourteenth annual dance recital at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) last Saturday.

In last week’s edition of The Scene we published two photographs of models who we said were wearing the creations of designer Pat Coates.

LIMA, (Reuters) – Up to 33 people died and 100 were  wounded as Amazon tribes clashed with Peruvian police yesterday  in escalating protests against the government’s drive to lure  foreign energy and mining companies into the rain forest.

(Jamaica Observer) – After nearly three decades of chart dominance, there is no new musical genre waiting in the wings to dethrone dancehall, yet stakeholders are split on the meaning of its longevity.

Ballentyne and Morgan to defend titles The local organizing committee (LOC) for this year’s CARICOM 10K road race has confirmed that all systems are in place for the June 28 event.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The Obama administration’s  top drug cop plans to spend more money on treating addiction  and scale down the “war on drugs” rhetoric as part of an  overhaul of U.S.

Hikers secure first win Everest Hikers scored their first victory in the Farfan and Mendes sponsored First Division Hockey tournament when they came from behind to stop Old Fort 2-1 at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground (GCC) yesterday.

By Nicosia Smith The days of going to the cinema, for many in the town of Linden, are distant, but one computer and video service is attempting to bring that back through a big screen show.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Labour saw its popular support  evaporate yesterday after it lost control of all the English  county councils it was defending following heavy defeats in  local elections across the country.

DUBLIN, Ohio, (Reuters) – Three-times champion Tiger  Woods was let down by his approach play at the Memorial  tournament yesterday as fellow Americans Jim Furyk and Jonathan  Byrd moved into a tie for the lead after the second round.

The Brazilian Embassy, the Brazil-Guyana Cultural Centre and the University of Guyana’s Department of Language and Cultural Studies will host a Brazilian film and documentary festival starting next week.

Jaicko Lawrence, a 17-year-old Barbadian, whose stated mission is to expand the Caribbean’s pop brand has reportedly been signed by Capitol Records of the US.

ROME, (Reuters) – Italian Prime Minister Silvio  Berlusconi said yesterday photos in a Spanish newspaper of  topless women sunbathing at his seaside villa were an invasion  of privacy and his lawyer said he would take legal action.

The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) has short-listed teams for five upcoming international track and field competitions during the period June 18 to August 2.

CARACAS, (Reuters) – Venezuela stepped up pressure  on television station Globovision yesterday, slapping a $2  million fine on the anti-government channel a day after  pressing charges against its president and raiding his house.

PARIS, (Reuters) – World number two Roger Federer  kept his dream of a maiden French Open title alive when he  battled past Argentine fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro 3-6 7-6  2-6 6-1 6-4 in a nail-biting semi-final yesterday.

(EUR) – For the first time in a bajillion years, Oprah Winfrey is not ranked No.

Food for the Poor has once again lent its assistance to those in need, this time to the Aliki Woman’s Group of the Essequibo River, which received a quantity of kitchen utensils on Wednesday at the organisation’s headquarters in Festival City.

ISLAMABAD, (Reuters) – A suicide bomber killed  around 40 people at a mosque in northwest Pakistan yesterday,  as U.S.

-part of school improvement plan The Tucville Primary school on Thursday launched its new reading room as part of its five-year School Improvement Plan (SIP), in an impressive ceremony that stressed the importance of reading.

NOTTINGHAM, England, (Reuters) – Bangladesh opener  Tamim Iqbal has every reason to look forward to his side’s  opening Twenty20 World Cup match against defending champions  India today.

After an opening which included a diverse audience including Minister of Human Services Priya Manickchand, the SASOD film festival continues its second week at the Sidewalk Café, with a documentary from the USA, a comedy from India and a drama feature based in Egypt.

Dear Editor, Your Saturday, May 30, 2009 edition carried a letter captioned ‘Scorecard on sport and culture’ over the name Sasenarine Singh.

(EUR) On the same day his ex-wife Whitney Houston made news with the announcement of her new album’s release date, Bobby Brown grabbed headlines by announcing the arrival of Cassius, his newborn son.

BISSAU, (Reuters) – Military police in Guinea-Bissau  yesterday killed a government minister who was to be a candidate  in presidential elections and two former ministers in what the  authorities said was a bid to foil a planned coup attempt.

(Trinidad Express) – Caricom Governments are examining the issue ‘of reciprocal’ arrangements for the deportation of criminals.

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – Kobe Bryant and the Los  Angeles Lakers produced a dazzling display at both ends of the  floor to crush the Orlando Magic 100-75 in the opening game of  the NBA Finals on Thursday.

Dear Editor, I would like to chide my colleagues at the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) for the sloppy work they submitted for publication in the June 5 edition of the Stabroek Business titled ‘The Current status of Guyana’s Trade Agreements, including Free Trade Agreement.’

UNITED NATIONS, (Reuters) – Any credible accusation  of human rights violations committed during the final bloody  phase of Sri Lanka’s war against Tamil Tiger separatists should  be investigated, U.N.

‘Scratch and Win’: Fernleaf and Digicel have launched a six-week-long promotion that will allow consumers who buy this brand of milk to collect scratch cards for a chance to win free minutes.

(Trinidad Express) – A ceiling contractor and his employee were gunned down while buying food at a bar in El Socorro on Wednesday night.

Dear Editor, Your editorial on Thursday, June 4, 2009 entitled, ‘Nurture, not nature,’ was supportive of the results of a study which concluded that females were equal to males is mathematics, a surrogate for analytical sciences. 

NOTTINGHAM, England, (Reuters) – India captain  Mahendra Singh Dhoni took the unusual step yesterday of leading  his team into a news conference where he publicly denied reports  of a rift between himself and Virender Sehwag.

(EUR) The video for Amerie’s new single “Why R U,” from her forthcoming Def Jam debut ‘In Love & War’, will premiere on Monday, June 8 on BET’s “106 & Park.”

EUGENE, Oregon, (Reuters) – Having raced a zebra and  a giraffe, American Shawn Crawford is in a unique position to  gauge Jamaican sensation Usain Bolt’s explosive impact on  sprinting.

MONTEVIDEO, (Reuters) – Uruguay’s interior minister  was sacked yesterday after television channels showed her  making vulgar comments about the opposition and months after  she drew criticism for a controversial photograph of herself on  the Facebook social networking Internet site.

Link Show 25 returns to the National Cultural Centre next Saturday for a charity performance, the proceeds of which will go to Kids First Fund.

(Antigua Sun) – Several airline officials have expressed concerns over rumours of a possible merger between Caribbean Airlines and regional airline LIAT.

Dear Editor, In response to Dr Richard Van West Charles’s call for Guyanese to demand a probe of government’s ties to Roger Khan (see Thursday’s SN), following new information that indicates a link between government and the supplier of the spy equipment – from authorization to purchase the equipment, to personnel from the supplier conducting training on how to use the equipment – what exactly does he expect Guyanese to now do to satisfy the requirement of demanding a probe?

Culture Minister Dr Frank Anthony said Monica Chopperfield who was also known as Lady Guymine was a cultural icon, in his message of condolence on her passing.

(Trinidad Express) – Gail Joseph was strangled with the bare hands of her killer.

By Kishore Mahbubani SINGAPORE – It is unwise to underestimate the near-metaphysical significance of the recent Indian elections.

President Obama’s candid and reasonable speech in Cairo has generally been taken as a sign that American foreign policy in the Middle East may finally be coming of age.

School of the Nations and Queen’s College (QC) emerged winners in the second round matches of the GBTI impromptu speaking contest for fourth formers.

NOTTINGHAM, England, (Reuters) – Sri Lanka captain  Kumar Sangakkara has urged his team to show “mental strength and  fortitude” at the Twenty20 World Cup after the trauma of Lahore  this year when the team bus was attacked by armed militants.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama  had a blunt, “tough-love” message for Arabs and Israelis that  thrust him deeper into Middle East peacemaking — a tangled web  that bedeviled his predecessors and carries risks for him.

Dear Editor, In making the case for an apology by the PNC, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Ralph Ramkarran (GC, June 2), repeats his view that Guyana needs a strong opposition.