Daily Archive: Sunday, December 6, 2009

– also to address ‘house cleaning’ Berbice’s new Commander, Stephen Merai, is “up and running” with a new strategy to bring crime under control but says he needs to do some “cleaning out” of the force.

A miner who has reportedly been missing for a week is believed to have drowned in the gorge below the Kaieteur Falls.

A  West La Penitence resident last evening had his home go up in flames, reportedly for the second time in less than a year.

– Ramjattan, Franklin The conclusion of the trials of two key figures in Roger Khan’s operations ups the ante for an independent probe of the drug trafficker’s activities here, according to opposition MPs who say the government’s actions will test its sincerity in seeking assistance from the US.

– as gunmen fire at him Popular businessman Maxwell Thom escaped injury or possibly death when he came under gunfire from armed men early yesterday morning at his home. 

– Hanoman says talks ongoing with govt, union Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Sugar Corpora-tion (GuySuCo) Errol Hanoman said the mechanism is yet to be worked out with government as regards the sale of the Diamond lands, but the aim is to sell despite strong objections from the union.

– Persaud Remarks by Surinamese Minister of Forestry and Land Michael Pierre Jong Tjien Fa on Guyana’s forest agreement with Norway are “unfortunate and ill advised”, Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud says.

The Vincentian people’s rejection of a new constitution at last month’s referendum is being heralded as a “wake-up call” to suitors of extensive executive power in the region.

The government is seeking to have the National Assembly approve over $4.6 billion in supplementary provisions for current and capital expenditure including $50 million for the climate change office and the low carbon development strategy At Thursday’s Parliamentary sitting, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh tabled Financial Papers No.3 /2009 and No.

In this column last week I started what I hope will be a fairly full assessment of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

Class of 2009: University of Guyana  graduands seated at the Turkeyen campus yesterday at the start of the 43rd Convocation.

Adelaide, Australia: Everything which transpired on day two of the Second Test at the Adelaide Oval suggested that the West Indies will come to a creeping realisation that they will be spending a fair period of time in the field as the Australians pile on the runs.

Part 3 Introduction This is the third and penultimate instalment of a short series reviewing the mid-year financial and economic report presented last month by the Minister of Finance.

Climate change is a key issue today.  Consumers International has made some recommendations on Climate change and energy.

Dr Winston McGowan (right) being installed as Emeritus Professor by Chancellor of the University of Guyana Dr Compton Bourne at the Turkeyen campus’s  43rd Convocation yesterday.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Veronica Campbell-Brown is getting used to her new training routine and home in the American city of Atlanta.

Emeritus professor Dr Mary Noel Menezes (second right) was one of three installed yesterday at the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen campus’s 43rd Convocation.

Edward Beharry and Company has been in business in Guyana for the past 79 years and their support for sport in the country started way back then.

Many records exist of colonial and pre-independence Guianese poetry, but they are in different forms and different types of resources, and for the main part one has to seek them out in various places. 

ContinuedNutrition and dental health Last week, we spent some time discussing the cleaning (brushing) of dogs’ teeth.

The procession:  Mace Bearer Alwyn Thomas precedes Chancellor of the University of Guyana Dr Compton Bourne bringing up the rear of the procession at the start of the 43rd Convocation at the Turkeyen Campus yesterday.

Like football, basketball since its creation in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith is one of the most popular games in the world.

Writing about the threat that soaring levels of crime pose to Caribbean stability, in a week in which most columnists are offering their opinion on rising sea levels may seem perverse. 

Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said Guyana quit using the AIDS drug, stavudine several years ago and is offering a drug regime which is similar to the treatment available in developed countries.

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – The Nobel Foundation might   have to reduce the money it awards winners of its prestigous  prizes due to the effects of the global financial crisis, its  director said yesterday.

Cozier on Sunday It seemed a good idea at the time but, like the Federation, daylight saving time and the West Indies Cricket Board website, Test cricket’s “Umpires’ Decision Review System” – the UDRS, in the modern way of text-speak – simply isn’t working in practice.

Savannah Beauty: Eighteen-year-old Michelle Joseph copped the Miss Rupununi Queen title at the recently concluded Rupununi Expo held at the Triple R Rupununi Rodeo Site.

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – Kobe Bryant made a  sensational buzzer-beating three-pointer to give the Los  Angeles Lakers a 108-107 victory over the Miami Heat on Friday.

As investigations continue into the murder of Ram Kanniah, the man whose body was recently found in a septic tank at Crabwood Creek, police have issued a wanted bulletin for a woman wanted for questioning.

History often saddles people with reputations that are undeserved. Take Florence Nightingale.

Its official: Santa and his elves lead Fogarty’s annual Santa Parade in the city yesterday.

BERLIN/COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – Climate activists  staged protests yesterday to add pressure on leaders,  including US President Barack Obama, to agree a strong deal to  combat global warming at talks this month in Denmark.

SAO PAULO (Reuters) – A top Brazilian official said  the presidential election in Honduras should be considered  separately from the June coup, the first indication that Brazil  may recognize the candidate who won the Sunday election.

MUMBAI,  (Reuters) – India tightened their grip on the  fourth day of the third and final test against Sri Lanka yesterday despite an unbeaten century from visiting captain Kumar  Sangakkara.

Health By Dr Santosh Mhetre, MD (Paediatrics) Most people, including children, infected with the H1N1 virus (swine flu), have had mild disease, but some have had more severe illness.

Proof that there’s still a child in every one of us: The guards on duty at the Prime Minister’s residence, Main Street yesterday watching the annual Fogarty’s Santa Parade.

The doctor has told the parents and relatives of eight-year- old Jasmine Harding that there is no hope, but her family is holding on to every hope that the child will recover.

The tribunal presiding in the arbitration proceedings between GuySuCo and GAWU is expected to make its ruling on Saturday.

Jubilation time:  Children dancing in the street as they followed this year’s annual Santa Parade to Fogarty’s yesterday.

Christmas has become associated with a whole range of traditions, some of them fairly ancient, and others of more recent vintage.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados,  CMC – Dave Callaghan’s pivotal all-round performance blasted South Africa past England by eight wickets Friday night and into the CLOBI Cup International Masters Twenty20 final.

ROME (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of Italians  chanting “resign, resign” marched through Rome on Saturday  demanding that Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who they  accused of corruption, step down.

This month’s Classic Tuesday’s film is John Landis’ anarchic comedy tale The Blues Brothers.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – The grandmother of a Russian  cocktail waitress who is dating Rolling Stone guitarist Ronnie  Wood has told him to leave her granddaughter alone after he was  arrested on suspicion of assault.

Dear Editor, I wish to refer to the article ‘Mexico to grant 10 scholarships’ published on Friday, December 4, 2009, in your prestigious newspaper relating to the scholarships offered by the Government of Mexico to the countries which are members of Caricom. 

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – One glance into Gleason’s Gym  reveals a snapshot that recalls the glory days of boxing, a time  when the Sweet Science ruled the sporting landscape and New York  was the centre of its universe.

A Gardener’s Diary I suppose that introducing the subject of worms just after breakfast on a Sunday morning is not quite the done thing, but the interesting thing is that they are very garden friendly. 

It’s Christmas time in the city… The Christmas masqueraders were out in full force as the Fogarty’s annual Santa Parade hit the streets yesterday.

Dear Editor, The PPP/C’s record on governance and human rights has been sordid. 

ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Police arrested two navy  officers yesterday on suspicion of conspiring to overthrow   Turkey’s Islamist-rooted government and three retired military  commanders testified in an investigation into a separate plot.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No its… Children thronged Main Street yesterday as part of the Fogarty’s annual Santa Parade.

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey,  (Reuters) – The New  Jersey Nets ended the NBA’s longest season-opening losing  streak on Friday, notching their first victory after 18 defeats  by beating the Charlotte Bobcats 97-91.

The Dharm Shala has issued an appeal for financial assistance to help it continue its humanitarian service.

by Jean-Michel Severino Jean-Michel Severino is the CEO of the Agence Française de Développement and a member of the blog www.id4d.org.

HARADHEERE, Somalia (Reuters) – In Somalia’s main  pirate lair of Haradheere, the sea gangs have set up a  co-operative to fund their hijackings offshore, a sort of stock  exchange meets criminal syndicate.

Ms Alexis Crawford, marketing representative of Topco Juices, DDL, presents national chess champion Wendell Meusa with his first prize in the presence of Dr Frank Anthony, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport.

Almost two weeks after the grisly Mahaica crash that left six persons dead, eight-month-old Jonathan Bourne is now breathing on his own.

Schoolchildren across the country who play chess are eagerly awaiting the commencement of the National Schools Chess Championships this Saturday at the Carifesta Sports Complex, Carifesta Avenue.

QUITO (Reuters) – Oil companies operating in Ecuador  have until March to sign new contracts or the government will  “change the rules of the game” to give the state more control over  the sector, President Rafael Correa said yesterday.

Dear Editor, I write on a few randomly selected stories to close out another demanding year. 

(BBC) Mohammad Asif took all three wickets as New Zealand managed just 70 of the 405 runs required for victory in the second Test against Pakistan in Wellington.

“…when you finish writing your memoir I would like to read it,” said US Judge Raymond Dearie to David Clarke prior to sentencing him.