Daily Archive: Saturday, February 13, 2010

– stricter rationing ahead, citizens urged to conserve A water shortage looms as levels in the conservancies are at an all-time low and citizens could face stricter water rationing with Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) already reducing water flow in the city during off-peak hours.

-Lawyer says US rescued children after threats here David Narine, the man who played a key role in the arrest of Peter Morgan, was yesterday sentenced to time served by Judge Edward Korman in a New York Federal Court.

A nine-year old boy met a tragic end yesterday after he fell and drowned in rough waters outside the foreshore in the Bushy Park, Parika area.

As Hindus observed Maha Shiva Raatri yesterday, thousands showed up at the Cove and John Ashram to worship and take part in various activities held in observance of the annual festival.

By the end of 2010, Guyana’s external debt is likely to exceed US$1 billion.

– H1N1 workshop told PAHO representative in Jamaica Dr Ernest Pate believes communication lines were crossed when the WHO declared the H1N1 flu-virus a pandemic last year. 

-Rohee tells police conference After a year of what he called mixed results, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee yesterday urged senior officers of the Guyana Police Force to focus on intelligence-led policing, improved community relations and professional conduct.

Accused freed because of insufficient evidence Almost three years after the Guyana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) $70M liquor bust, the case against the eight men accused of fraud and evading taxes has been dismissed because of insufficient evidence.

-moved $2M in goods before arrest Four burglars, including a woman, were caught red handed by police early yesterday morning with bags of medicine and other items they had just stolen from the Ram’s Pharmacy and Photocopying Centre on Cummings Street.

Constitutional redress is being sought for murder accused Trion Sumner whose rights were reportedly breached because he was not afforded a fair hearing within a reasonable time.

The second half of the last two decades saw the biggest increase in turtle nesting with the Leatherback and Greens seeing their highest recovery although the Hawksbill and Olive Ridley showed the lowest recovery trends.

The discovery of a slightly burnt vinegar bottle containing gasoline on the home of Linden businessman Bernard Hodge has led police to suspect that an arson attempt was made on his property.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) annual review conducted last year has found the need for better management and monitoring of its projects, particularly the National Implementing Programmes here.

The Georgetown Public Hospital yesterday announced new visiting hours for the weekends and holidays.

A man was killed at Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast on Tuesday night when he fell out of the speeding tractor trailer in which he was travelling.

-Region 1 Chairman says issues being addressed Following a recent outreach to communities within the Matakai-sub-region in Region One, the main opposition PNCR is calling on the authorities to create a development plan to “rescue” the area.

-Williams, Straker take junior honours Flashy Guyana and West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan and world-rated squash player Nicolette Fernandes were named the 2009 Sportsman and Sportswoman by the National Sports Commission (NSC) when a panel of 14 met yesterday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Three days after he was held for questioning into the murders of political activist Ronald Waddell and former boxing coach Donald Allison, ex-policeman Lloyd Roberts was released on $100, 000 station bail and he is to report to the police regularly.

By Marlon Munroe Barbados were sitting pretty after the first day of their fifth round clash of the West Indies Cricket Board regional four-day tournament against Guyana at the Albion Community Development Centre ground yesterday.

Ram and McRae apologises for the following errors in its `Focus on Guyana’s National Budget 2010’ published in the February 11 edition of Stabroek News.

The sight-seeing under the bright lights of Sin City is over for Guyana’s ruggers who will today begin their quest for glory in this year’s International Rugby Board (IRB) United States of America Sevens World Series in Les Vegas.

The police force is awaiting advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in connection with 50 pounds of cocaine that slipped past officials at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri on January 12, according to Police Commissioner Henry Greene.

Former health minister and PNC parliamentarian Dr Richard Van West Charles yesterday handed over copies of parliamentary records dating back to the 1950s and 60s to Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran.

Evergreen Guyanese leg-spinning all-rounder Mahendra Nagamootoo continues to impress in Trinidad and Tobago.

Cabinet on Wednesday signalled its “no objection to” several awards, including two totaling over $850 million for construction of buildings to house technical institutes in Regions 5 and 3, Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon says.

Winner of last week-end’s A. H and L Kisson sponsored medal Play golf tournament will be among the favourites for today’s Elisha Bacchus sponsored medal Play event at the Lusignan Golf Club.

An Essequibo Coast man died last Friday night after he lost control of his vehicle, which plunged into a creek, trapping him under water.

-Coach Roberts rewarded for decades of contribution to cycling The Flying Ace Cycle Club of Berbice recently held its annual awards ceremony at the New Amsterdam Town Hall where cyclists, the club secretary and two media operatives received awards.

The decomposing body of a man was found near a koker at Supply, East Bank Demerara yesterday morning.

The inner circuit of the National Park will be a hive of activity this morning when the Roraima Bikers Club in collaboration with the Guyana Cycling Federation stages its fourth annual George `Boy Blue’ Cumberbatch Memorial cycle race.

Banks DIH dominoes mixed team suffered mixed fortunes in two matches played recently at Thirst Park.

A banking clerk of Demerara Distilleries Limited (DDL) was slapped with 16 counts of larceny by clerk or servant when she appeared before Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo yesterday at the New Amsterdam Magistrates’ Court.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, (Reuters) – Thousands of Haitians  prayed, wept and danced among tent shelters in the capital’s  main square yesterday as President Rene Preval asked his people  to ‘dry their eyes’ and rebuild a month after the catastrophic  earthquake that killed more than 200,000 people.

Hodge 61, Cornwall 23*, Shillingford 2 – 73 By Kizan Brumell The Leeward Islands reached 254 – 5 at the end of the first day’s play of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) four-day, first-class competition against the Windward Islands at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda, yesterday.

Four men, Ryan Mohan, Toney Granderson, Shawn Luther and Clyde Crawford, were each placed on $100,000 bail yesterday after they were charged with breaking into a man’s storage bond and stealing over $5.8M in items, including cash.

PROVIDENCE, Guyana, CMC – A memorable spell of spin bowling from Ryan Austin saw tournament leaders Jamaica collapse dramatically under lights against the Combined Campuses and Colleges in the WICB regional first-class championship yesterday.

NEAR MARJAH, Afghanistan, (Reuters) – U.S.-led NATO  troops launched an offensive last night against the Taliban’s  last big stronghold in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, a test of  President Barack Obama’s troop surge strategy.

Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton yesterday sentenced a man to four years in jail for cultivating cannabis, while another man who was found with the drug on his person was sentenced to three years imprisonment.

Dear Editor, As I anticipated, my views on overseas voting have elicited some rational and some irrational comments, the latter driven by mere suspicion and our accusatory political atmosphere.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – A high-powered laser aboard  a modified Boeing Co 747 jumbo jet shot down an in-flight  ballistic missile for the first time, highlighting a new class  of ray guns best known from science fiction.

ROME, (Reuters) – Only 8 percent of a $23 million  appeal to help Haiti revive food production after a devastating  earthquake has been funded, the U.N.

Dear Editor, I am a resident of the North Rupununi. I would like to bring to the attention of the relevant authorities at GT&T some rather annoying and inconvenient problems with their phone booth located at the RDC Compound, Annai Village.

KOLKATA, India, (Reuters) – South Africa aim to carry  their good form into the final test against top-ranked India starting tomorrow after taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

The prosecutor and the defence attorneys involved in the New Building Society (NBS) fraud case have agreed to begin one of the two remaining Preliminary Inquiries (PIs) next month, to allow for a speedier resolution of the matter which has been before the court almost four years.

Dear Editor, Our national flag is a symbol of our pride and sovereignty as a nation.

Petite, pretty and vivacious 17-year-old Melinda Shankar is the star of a new film, Festival of Lights, set in Guyana and the US.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates,  CMC – The Netherlands snapped Afghanistan’s unbeaten run in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifying competition yesterday and a first defeat for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) left the qualifying race wide open.

A man who admitted to breaking into a woman’s home and stealing a quantity of items was sentenced to three years imprisonment last week.

Dear Editor, The Guyana Telephone and Telephone Company (GT&T) continues to boast the slogan ‘Getting better all the time’; I doubt this.

Culture Box I was up a few nights ago thinking about what excuse I will come up with this year when people ask me if I am celebrating Valentine’s Day.

A scrap iron dealer shed ‘bitter’ tears, threw himself down and refused to return to the lockups on Thursday after being sentenced for larceny.

VANCOUVER, (Reuters) – Cricket was cleared to pursue  its bid to be included in future Games after the International  Olympic Committee (IOC) rubberstamped the sport’s recognition on Thursday.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., (Reuters) – Three people were  killed and one wounded in shootings at the University of  Alabama at Huntsville yesterday, and the suspected shooter was  in custody, a university spokesman told local television.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Injured West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo is calling on fans in the Caribbean to rally behind the battered West Indies cricket team in Australia.

The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs registered over 300 persons when it hosted an outreach exercise in Region Eight aimed at speeding-up registration for birth certificates and identifying the needs of the community.

Dear Editor, I refer to the continuing media coverage of the police torture matter and the medical doctor involved.

LOS ANGELES,  (Reuters Life!) – Move aside Madonna  and watch out Barry White.

– eating with my hands Hi Everyone, I love eating with my hands; there is something earthly and sensual about it.

Dear Editor, As a radio and local television fan it is quite embarrassing that I have to wait to be away from my home community to be able to hear local radio.

(Jamaica Observer) – The St Andrew Central Police have asked members of the public who have been robbed of gold jewellery to contact them after they caught a Haitian man attempting to smuggle about 42 pounds of gold jewellery through the Norman Manley International Airport on Thursday.

The Tourism and Commerce Ministry is finalising plans for a team from Brazil to start a familiarisation tour to Guyana next month.

CLEVELAND, (Reuters) – LeBron James put up 32 points  and 13 assists to propel the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 115-106  win over the Orlando Magic on Thursday, matching a franchise  record 13th successive victory.

BRUSSELS, (Reuters) – Fresh controversy is mounting  within the European Union over biofuels and their unintended  impact on tropical forests and wetlands, documents show.

Carib Soca Monarch 2010 will heat up the National Park next Saturday with performances by nine finalists and reigning Soca Monarch Shellon “Shelly G” Garraway.

Dear Editor, I thank Dr Joey Jagan for indulging me with his response, ‘Shared governance will surely solve a lot of our problems,’ (SN, February 10), as if shared governance is a stand alone panacea.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago’s senior cricket team contesting the WICB Regional first-class championship should be bolstered for their next match by the return of fit-again West Indies opener Adrian Barath and middle-order batsman Darren Bravo.

BERLIN, (Reuters) – Shah Rukh Khan, arguably  Bollywood’s biggest star, said yesterday he was “scared” and  “hurt” by hardline Hindu party Shiv Sena’s reaction to recent  remarks he made in support of Pakistani cricketers.

(Trinidad Express) – A Guyanese woman was taken before a Port of Spain magistrate on Thursday, charged with receiving a laptop computer belonging to former West Indies star batsman Brian Lara.

Dear Editor, With reference to the implementation of the single parents assistance programme, I feel this was not subjected to a verification process which would have ensured beyond any reasonable doubt that the persons were not living in common law relationships and were even legally married.

The main opposition has identified Dawn Hastings, of Akawaio Village of Kako, Upper Mazaruni, to fill the vacancy in the National Assembly created by the resignation of Anthony Vieira.

President Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday said that in the context of prevailing economic realities, the government had urged the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) to be cautious in their dealings in the bauxite sector.

(Antigua Sun) – Illegal immigrants in Antigua and Barbuda will be allowed to leave the country voluntarily during a six-month period.

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Former U.S. President Bill  Clinton got back to work yesterday on Haiti relief a day after  a successful heart procedure at a New York hospital to open a  blocked artery to his heart that caused him chest discomfort.

DALLAS, (Reuters) – Former NBA All-Stars and U.S.  Olympians Karl Malone and Scottie Pippen are among players,  coaches and teams selected as finalists for this year’s  Basketball Hall of Fame election, officials announced yesterday.

Residents of Berbice and Linden are expected to be in for a treat when popular Jamaican artiste Konshens arrives later this month to perform in two concerts.

The Guyana Agricultural & General Workers Union (GAWU) has asked GuySuCo to review its latest Annual Production Incentive (API) offer of five and a half days pay, on the grounds that the sugar workers were unsatisfied with the offer.

Sydney, Australia: Rain ruined the Windies chances of reversing their fortunes in the five match One Day International Series between the West Indies and Australia yesterday.

Dear Editor, I am so sad and disgusted to read that Guyanese are allegedly implicated in the robbery perpetrated on Mr Brian Lara.

Silhouette, the local fashion house recently launched by designer Sonia Noel, is offering fantasy make-up for Mashramani and interested Mash camps and individuals are asked to register at the Barr Street, Kitty office.

ORLANDO, Fla., (Reuters) – Toyota Motor Corp will  recall about 8,000 model-year 2010 Tacoma pickup trucks in the  United States, the latest in a series of recalls that have hurt  the automaker’s sales and its reputation for quality.

On June 9, 2006, three high-value terrorist suspects in Alpha Block, Guantánamo Bay, were found hanged in their cells.

(Jamaica Gleaner) – The government has agreed to ensure that Caribbean Airlines is designated the exclusive national carrier of Jamaica under the air services agreements between itself and other states.

Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues yesterday informed the Surinamese government through officials here that Guyana is “deeply concerned” over public statements made in the neighbouring country about a past plan to invade this country’s New River Triangle.