Daily Archive: Monday, October 5, 2009

-Chartered accountant says de-policitise the scheme Total contributions to the NIS rose 117% between 1999 and 2009 while the increase in the payment of benefits for the same period was 224% and annual contributions are not sufficient to cover current expenditure, according to NIS General Manager (ag) Doreen Nelson.

-Carlton Wheelers Annual Cycling Meet By Tiadi Blair Yesterday’s Carlton Wheelers Cycling Track Meet at the Everest Cricket Club ground saw an unlikely champion.

RIO DE JANEIRO, (Reuters) – Rio de Janeiro’s 2016  Olympics has raised the tantalizing prospect that Brazil’s  faded former capital, known for its beauty and high crime, will  be rejuvenated into a modern, thriving city.

Demerara took care of Berbice by seven wickets in the final preliminary round match of the El Dorado Inter County limited overs competition at the Wales Community Development Centre ground yesterday.

A 53-year-old seaman who allegedly stabbed his former lover to death may have fled the country to neighbouring French Guiana but almost seven months later his victim’s relatives have accepted that they would probably never get justice and if they did it would not bring the woman back.

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Martinus Durrant was a star performer as Barbados emphatically outmuscled their rivals and emerged champions at the 37th Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships on Saturday night.

-Luncheon While saying there would be a thorough investigation of University of Guyana (UG) lecturer Evan Persaud and the claims that he engaged in victimisation and inappropriate behaviour, Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon is assuring that no corners would be cut on due process.

Dear Editor, David Jessop’s ‘View from Europe’ has zeroed in on a very pertinent issue of the gap between Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in Europe’s dealing with that bloc.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Reigning champions Trinidad and Tobago and regional four-day title-holders Jamaica will clash in one of four matches opening the WICB President’s Cup One-Day tournament in Guyana from October 28.

Kevin Pietersen has joined the growing band of players voicing concerns over the gruelling international calendar and said that with lucrative IPL deals on offer, they would not be as keen to accept central contracts from their boards.

Wednesday, October 28 Trinidad and Tobago vs Jamaica at Providence – V Bullen, D Somawaru (Standby: Clancy Mack) Windward Islands vs CCC at Everest – N Malcolm, L Kelly (V Johnson) Barbados vs West Indies Under-19 at Bourda – G Greaves, K Barrsingha (C Duncan) Guyana vs Leeward Islands at Enmore – P Nero, L Abraham (D Holder)Friday, October 30 Windward Islands vs Trinidad and Tobago at Uitvlugt – C Mack, V Johnson (D Somwaru) CCC vs Jamaica at Bourda – C Duncan, D Holder (K Barrsingha) Guyana vs Barbados at Albion – P Nero, L Kelly (G Greaves) West Indies Under-19 vs Leeward Islands at Providence – L Abraham, V Bullen (N Malcolm)Saturday, October 31 Jamaica vs Windward Islands at Enmore – D Somwaru, K Barrsingha (V Bullen) Trinidad and Tobago vs CCC at Everest – G Greaves, V Johnson (L Kelly) Leeward Islands vs Barbados at Uitvlugt – C Duncan, N Malcolm (P Nero) Guyana vs West Indies Under-19 at Bourda – D Holder, C Mack (L Abraham)SEMI-FINALS (day/night) Monday November 2 Winner of Zone A vs Runner-up of Zone B at Providence – officials to be announcedTuesday November 3 Winner of Zone B vs Runner-up of Zone A at Providence – officials to be announcedFINAL (day/night) Thursday, November 5 Winner of Semi-final 1 vs Winner of Semi-final 2 at Providence – officials to be announced.

Dear Editor, The AFC’s recent statement on the rice sector in Guyana lacks ingenuity and several of the so-called proposals are a rehash of aspects of the Rice Sector Strategic Plan which is currently being implemented.

After 30 years delivering the babies of St Cuthbert’s Mission, Amanda Mahadeo still has that drive to succeed.

Dear Editor, I am replying to your Guyana Review commentary captioned ‘Politics: Bharrat Jagdeo and the future of the People’s Progressive Party’ (SN, September 29) assessing the prospects of the top six contenders of the ruling party in getting the nomination as its presidential candidate.

Gordon Mosley, the television journalist who was barred from entering Office of the President last year, was elected President of the Guyana Press Association (GPA) last evening at the group’s annual general meeting.

Dear Editor, Many may disagree with me when I say that the government is not investing as it should in teachers.

CENTURION, South Africa, (Reuters) – Adrenalin and desire will fuel tired New Zealand’s dreams of beating Australia in the Champions Trophy final today, captain Daniel Vettori said.

Police up to late last evening were yet to locate the Island Princess, a boat they described as a “cargo vessel” reported missing last Tuesday, or its fourth crew member suspected to have been murdered in the same fashion as his three companions.

LONDON, (Reuters) – England midfielder David Beckham  is close to clinching a return to AC Milan for a second loan  spell, he was quoted as saying in an interview yesterday.

TEHRAN (Reuters) – UN experts will inspect Iran’s  newly disclosed uranium enrichment plant on Oct 25, the IAEA  nuclear agency chief said yesterday, praising a shift “from  conspiracy to cooperation” between Tehran and the West.

Dear Editor, I noticed an article in the Stabroek News about a new asphalt plant which would boost roadworks.

A 41-year-old man was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital on Saturday afternoon after being injured in a hit-and run accident. 

Dear Editor, I keep observing the much ballyhooed claims of democracy, and return to democracy, in Guyana, and continue to be amazed at the disingenuousness of the rulers, their imported mercenaries, and their bottom-feeding sycophants. 

A fire destroyed the upper flat of a two storey house at Beterverwagting (BV), East Coast Demerara late yesterday afternoon.

BEIJING, (Reuters) – Serena Williams made a stuttering  start to her bid to topple Dinara Safina from the world number  one spot with an error-strewn 7-5 6-4 win over Estonian Kaia  Kanepi in the first round of the China Open yesterday.

ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece’s Socialists yeterday won  a landslide election victory on promises they would tax and  spend to battle an economic crisis that the incumbent  conservatives failed to get to grips with.

Out of control: In this Orlando Charles photo a fire, suspected to have been started by a burning rubbish heap which got out of control, can be seen consuming the vegetation in the area  behind the head office of the Guyana Forestry Commission in Kingston, Georgetown.

(Trinidad Express) Outrage continues to build, both within the People’s National Movement and in the wider community, over the decision to stop for four months the Commission of Enquiry into UDeCOTT and the Construction Sector established by the Cabinet; a decision which came at the insistence of the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT), in clear defiance of the wishes of Attorney General John Jeremie, conveyed first to the company’s attorneys in the Parliament chamber during a House of Representatives meeting and confirmed to the Senate on Thursday during the debate on the Validation Bill.

Dear Editor, When I read the report of the battle between De Groot and Alfred I just could not understand how a fighter could be knocked down four times and come back to win the contest on points.

-dossier on government’s human rights abuses nears completion Rejecting President Bharrat Jagdeo’s position that the police force is the sole authority to investigate his administration’s alleged links with drug trafficker Roger Khan, AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan has said an international probe would offer a “non-partisan” solution.

This week we publish the thoughts of some of the exhibitors about the trade fair which is scheduled to end its six-day run tomorrow.

BEIJING (Reuters) – North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-il  made a rare appearance to greet visiting Chinese Premier Wen  Jiabao at the start of a trip which swiftly yielded a statement  that North Korea was willing to discuss its nuclear weapons.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Chelsea returned to form with a  powerful 2-0 win over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge to move two points clear at the top of the Premier League yesterday.

Members of the Davis Youth Club of Lodge, assisted by staff from the Ministry of Public Works repainted the zebra crossing and the road signs outside St Sidwell’s Primary School on Saturday.

Over the next three months, Guyana would begin to take steps to make the implementation of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) “a real possibility,” President Bharrat Jagdeo said on Thursday.

(Jamaica Gleaner) More than half of the students who left secondary school last year in Jamaica have no subjects and no skills.

So It Go By Dave Martins From time to time I notice something, or experience something that leaves me wondering in a kind of bemused or intrigued way about it. 

Dear Editor, Having read all these stories in the press about Mr Ram and the NBS, including the footnote to the ‘Business Page’ of Stabroek News dated September 27, which states that Mr Ram is a former Director of the Society, you get the impression that he is really peeved about something.

NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenyans want their coalition  government to take concrete action on impunity and political  reforms to avoid a repeat of last year’s post-election violence,  former United Nations chief Kofi Annan said yesterday.

SUZUKA, Japan, (Reuters) – Sebastian Vettel won the  Japanese Grand Prix to roar back into the Formula One title  reckoning yesterday while Jenson Button had his overall  advantage trimmed to 14 points with two races to go.

Camping in Roxanne Burnham Gardens (Photo by Jules Gibson)

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Peace talks with Israel are in  deadlock and tear gas and rocks are flying at Jerusalem’s holy  sites, but for all the mounting frustration in the West Bank  talk of a Third Intifada seems premature to most Palestinians.

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – Mauritius’ government and  private sector delivered the best services and public goods to  its citizens, ranking first in an African-wide governance survey  released today by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.

Dear Editor, I refer to Mr Robin William’s letter in the Stabroek News on October 2 captioned, ‘Fluctuating principles.’

As we reported in yesterday’s Sunday Stabroek, the Guyana Times which was launched in June last year is already receiving 19.5% of state advertisements through the Government Information Agency (GINA).

Guyanese cousins, scheduled to be booted out of Canada after entering on fake passports, were granted a temporary reprieve in the form of an order that their cases be heard by a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) officer, after claiming they were being abused by their stepfathers in Guyana.

PARIS, (Reuters) – Sea The Stars, ridden by Mick  Kinane, swept to a majestic victory in the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe yesterday to be crowned Europe’s champion racehorse.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Jamaican dancehall act Bounty Killa was denied entry to Trinidad and Tobago on Friday and sent back to Jamaica by Immigration authorities upon arrival at Piarco International Airport.