Daily Archive: Saturday, August 1, 2009

The Government last night rejected the testimony of UK executive Peter Myers in a US court that his company sold the spy equipment linked to drug trafficker Roger Khan to the administration, declaring again that it was not a party to any activity with the firm or US authorities in the purchase and or importation of the equipment.

–fourth friend in custody Three men from Covent Garden died yesterday morning when the vehicle they were in slammed into a light pole on the East Bank Demerara Highway near Providence.

President of the Caribbean Development Bank, Professor Compton Bourne O.E. has been appointed as the new Chancellor of the University of Guyana.

Two gun-toting bandits escaped with $6M cash intended for old age and National Insurance Scheme pensioners from the Rose Hall Post Office on the Corentyne at around 2:30 pm yesterday.

“I dare anyone, manufacturer or newspaper owner to prove that I bought a spy equipment!

As traffic flowed between Guyana and Brazil with the provisional opening of the Takutu Bridge yesterday, a Brazilian official expressed the hope that the Lethem to Linden road could be asphalted.

RIO DE JANEIRO, (Reuters) – Former world champion  Arturo Gatti committed suicide and was not murdered as  initially suspected, a Brazilian police spokesman said on  Thursday.

Two bandits on Thursday night robbed a Mahdia businessman of $1.2M and a quantity of raw gold and escaped.

Atlantic Tele-Network (ATN) on Thursday reported that revenue for the second quarter ending June 30, 2009 was up 20% over the same period last year but long distance call revenue for its local subsidiary, GT&T fell by 20% while wireless revenue grew by US$200,000.

Basseterre, St Kitts: (Digicel) With the efficiency of what has – on this tour of the Caribbean – metamorphosed into a well oiled winning machine, faintly reminiscent of the Australians in their recent pomp, Bangladesh made a clean sweep of the Digicel One Day International Series, with a comprehensive three wicket win in the Third Digicel ODI at Warner Park.

The Guyana swim team had a fair day in the pool yesterday at the 13th FINA World Championships as Fabian Binns swept to the first heat win for Guyana at the championships.

Government is spending in excess of $1M to conceal pipelines that were exposed in Region Eight as a result of the actions of miners so that the flow of traffic on the Salbora Road, Mahdia,  could see a major improvement.

STOCKHOLM, (Reuters) – American world champion Tyson  Gay produced a storming run to win the men’s 100 metres in 9.79  seconds at the Stockholm Super Grand Prix.

Former President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF),  Colonel (ret’d) Godwin McPherson was laid to rest yesterday at Litchfield Village, West Coast Berbice following a church service at the Church of the Transfiguration in Georgetown.

The Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) last evening recognised the winners of round two of the National Race of Champions which concluded last Sunday at the South Dakota Circuit.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP)  has extended best wishes to all Guyanese and in particular to African Guyanese countrymen on “this Freedom Day celebration.”

The PNCR is contending that the 171st Anniversary of Emancipation finds Guyana on the brink of possibly its worst crisis in its post-independence history but the party is urging Guyanese, however, to be resilient and not be overcome by the challenges which beset them.

The Alliance For Change (AFC) says that this year’s commemoration of Emanci-pation should be more focused on the significance of freedom and the high  price that has to be paid to maintain it and less on revelry and celebration.

-affirms Auditor General’s position on town clerk, treasurer Commissioner of the Inquiry into City Hall, Keith Burrowes, says that the findings of the probe have shown widespread financial and procedural irregularities regarding the operations of the Council, and confirmed what was noted by the 2006 Auditor General Report, which prompted the investigation in the first place.

As the country observes Emancipation Day, staff of Courts Guyana Inc yesterday joined in the celebrations with their annual emancipation dress competition at the company’s Main Street store.

Who will wear the crown? Tonight the inaugural Futsal champions will be crowned when Flamingo and Uprising Football Clubs clash for top honours in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport/Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Guinness Futsal Competition at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Dear Editor, We have noted over the past few weeks that there have been several articles in your newspaper that the LEAP comes to an end, today, July 31, 2009.

PPP/C MP, Gail Teixeira on Thursday denounced what she described as donor countries’ interference in Guyana’s internal affairs.

Dear Editor, An obvious and serious violation of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly was allowed by the Honourable Speaker, Mr.

–granted self bail Archie Poole, who was initially held by police for questioning in relation to the Ministry of Health fire, yesterday appeared before the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court accused of having a cell phone in the lock-ups.

ROME, (Reuters) – Nadja Higl and Daniel Gyurta  produced shock 200 metre breaststroke victories yesterday to  show that fairytales were still possible at a swimming world  championships dogged by the controversy over hi-tech suits.

Minister of Education Shaik Baksh says his ministry, through the Cyril Potter College of Education’s (CPCE’s) Distance Education Secondary Academic Certificate Programme at the college’s campus, will upgrade teachers via distance education delivery.

Dear Editor, I’d like to thank Mr Sean Brignandan (GC, July 26) for his interest in my IT article on Windows Vista, SN Business July 24.  

A man who allegedly had carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of 15 was on Thursday remanded to prison when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

World Boxing Council (WBC) Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) champion Leon ‘Hurry-Up’ Moore and WIBA Iberian-American bantamweight champion Shondel ‘Mystery Lady’ Alfred have both inked their respective contracts for the September 26 title fights which will be staged at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Dear Editor, A recent article in SN (‘Bringing Kanuku Mountains water to Lethem, other villages not feasible,’ July 31) has stated that a question had been asked in Parliament about using the Moco Moco hydro dam as a water reservoir.

A 38-year-old labourer who used threatening language to his former wife was on Thursday remanded to prison when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Dear Editor, As we mark Emancipation Day, we should reflect on our history of perseverance and struggle through those years. 

The body of a 53-year-old watchman of Limlair, Corentyne was discovered at around 8:30 am on Thursday at Fort Ordnance, Canje where he was employed with a contracting firm.

Dear Editor, With reference to Business Page under the caption ‘A review of the low carbon development strategy Part 2’ in your issue of July 26, Mr Ram stated that there were “captive audiences” at the recently held  LCDS consultations and that “the  average attendance… [was] generously, less than 20.”

BIRMINGHAM, England, (Reuters) – England fast  bowlers James Anderson and Graham Onions ripped out Australia  for 263 on the second day of the third Ashes test yesterday.

If Tevera Franklin has her way in the next few years she might well be found strumming a guitar or plucking a harp By Tiffny Rhodius A “normal teenager” who is “funny, outgoing and down to earth” is how Tevera Franklin, a soft-spoken 14-year-old Bishops High student describes herself.

(Reuters) – A list of the leading runscorers in test  match cricket after Ricky Ponting passed compatriot Allan Border  to become the highest Australian scorer and third overall on the  second day of the third Ashes test against England yesterday: Player               Country            Span              Runs 1.

Culture Box Wait a minute, did we get this straight. Did GT&T publicize the finals of the jingle and song competition this year as slated for July 23 at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) and then unashamedly announce a second final?

Dear Editor, My payment bills were completely ignored by a two member crew from the GPL office at Anna Regina which resulted in my business place at Suddie being wrongfully disconnected on Wednesday (July 22).

Tastes Like Home Hi Everyone, Conversations that trigger a memory of one’s upbringing and how it has influenced or impacted our lives often yield two reactions – we marvel at the freedom some people had or we are astonished by the discipline enforced.

Dear Editor, For years now hire-car drivers have been complaining of the deplorable state of the East Bank Berbice road which terminates at Mara some twenty-five miles from New Amsterdam.

MIAMI, (Reuters) – The U.S. government and Swiss  bank UBS AG struck an 11th-hour deal to settle a dispute over  tax evasion and Switzerland’s bank secrecy yesterday, heading  off a showdown that had threatened to sour relations between the United States and Switzerland.

Dear Editor, The recent alleged racial profiling by a white policeman of black professor Louis Gates in Cambridge, USA, has evoked worldwide attention, moreso as President Obama has recently commented on the matter and now we have a peace pipe, or rather beer drinks, to broker peace and of course undertake damage control from the White House.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Throughout a life spent almost  entirely devoted to football, former England manager Bobby  Robson shone like a beacon of decency and old-fashioned values,  of all that is good in the game.

The selections have been made and the contestants are going through their paces as they gear for the Miss Jamzone Pageant 2009 scheduled for the Splashmin’s Resort on August 30.

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, (Reuters) – Nigerian authorities  collected hundreds of bodies from the streets of the northern  city of Maiduguri yesterday following days of clashes with  members of a radical Islamic sect.

Seven years ago overseas-based Guyanese Mary Mc Aulay, in returning a gesture of kindness decided to dedicate her time and energy towards organizing a fund-raising concert for the Mission Chapel Congregational Church.

Dear Editor, In July 2006, at a stakeholder meeting at the Hotel Tower on the hydropower project, President Jagdeo said he was very excited that Guyana was going to have a hydropower facility by 2010.

DALLAS, (Reuters) – A U.S. judge said yesterday the receiver  overseeing the assets of Allen Stanford may sue to recover  almost $1 billion from 600 investors who bought certificates of  deposit in the accused swindler’s Antigua bank.

ISLAMABAD, (Reuters) – Pakistan’s Supreme Court  ruled yesterday that former president Pervez Musharraf trampled  the constitution when he imposed emergency rule two years ago  and all actions taken by him then were illegal.

Guyana Post Office Corporation staff dressed yesterday for the emancipation celebrations.

The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha promises an exquisite and unforgettable evening of dance next Saturday at the National Cultural Centre, when Naya Zamana 15 – Dancing through the Ages will be held.

BUDAPEST, (Reuters) – Injured Formula One driver  Felipe Massa is doing “very well” and will be flown back to  Brazil on Monday, his personal physician said yesterday.

Dear Editor, The death of retired Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Colonel Godwin McPherson, has robbed Guyana of its share of true patriots; his love for country was unquestionable.

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – Los Angeles Lakers forward  Lamar Odom has reached a verbal agreement on a multi-year deal  to stay with the NBA champions, the player’s agent said on  Thursday.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Her platinum white hair is long gone, replaced by silky smooth, dark brown locks.

Dear Editor, With reference to a letter ‘LCDS will not fly in its current form’ (SN July 30), I must thank the writer for putting the LCDS in such a clear perspective.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Britain’s court of appeal ruled  on Friday that Russian entrepreneur Michael Cherney may sue  Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska in Britain over a disputed  stake in Russian aluminium company UC RUSAL, Cherney said.

CHENNAI, India, (Reuters) – India’s top cricketers  are reluctant to sign up to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s  (WADA) controversial ‘whereabouts’ rule with just one day  remaining before the Aug.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – A Disney starlet crushed an “American Idol” champion on the US pop album chart Wednesday, but Michael Jackson managed to outsell both.

MANILA, (Reuters) – Former President Corazon Aquino, whose “people power” revolution swept dictator Ferdinand Marcos from power in the Philippines, died yesterday after a 16-month  battle against colon cancer, her family said.

Dear Editor, Quite clearly, the death of murder accused David Leander, aka ‘Biscuit’ was suspiciously sudden, in particular because it occurred while he was incarcerated in the Georgetown prisons, but was being treated as inmate in the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he expired.

Dear Editor, The Government of Guyana is in a mid-term crisis at the moment with local government elections postponed till some time next year, the Ministry of Health fire, and the Robert Simels trial in New York which is adding fuel to the fire.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The Black Eyed Peas set a record on Thursday for the longest successive No.

HAVANA (Reuters) – Cuban President Raul Castro has postponed what was to have been the ruling Communist Party’s first congress in 12 years, saying it may be the last under the aging “historic leadership of the revolution” and must be done right, state-run media reported yesterday.

PARIS, (Reuters) – Spaniard Mikel Astarloza, 11th in  the Tour de France, has been provisionally suspended following a  positive out-of-competition test for the banned blood booster  EPO, the International Cycling Union (UCI) said yesterday.

While the English weather does its best to hold Australia to a draw, a surprising number of Englishmen seem genuinely willing to hazard playing for a proper result in the third Test of this year’s Ashes series.

(Antigua Sun) – The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda has renewed efforts to track down the sources of illegal guns entering the country.