Daily Archive: Friday, June 4, 2010

DHAKA, (Reuters) – At least 114 people were killed  in a fire that razed a crowded, centuries-old Dhaka  neighbourhood overnight as rescue workers scrambled today  to pull bodies, many charred beyond recognition, from  smouldering debris.

-AFC on the upswing The governing PPP/Civic continues to command the single largest bloc of voters but has lost significant support since the last general election, according to a new poll that also shows that an alliance between opposition parties could see a result in their favour.

It was the lowest bidder in the tendering process who received the contract to build the cricket hostel at LBI even though there were some objections and his price went up significantly thereafter.

The government last night used its majority in the National Assembly to reject a no-confidence motion moved against Labour Minister Manzoor Nadir, regarding his performance in the impasse between the GB&GWU and the RUSAL subsidiary BCGI.

Republic Bank (Guyana) Ltd yesterday presented winners of its ‘Low Cost Mortgage Campaign’ with $1 million at the bank’s head office in New Market Street.

A 33-year-old man was discovered dead on Princes Street, Georgetown yesterday morning.

-opposition queries absence of guidelines A Bill which grants a tax waiver to lending institutions on income earned from loans given to small businesses in a specified manner could potentially benefit 5,000 vulnerable persons, Finance Minister, Dr.

A seven-year-old girl of Hopetown, West Coast Berbice has been admitted a patient at the Fort Wellington Hospital after her stepmother physically abused her yesterday midday and police are looking for the woman.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – West Indies failed to hold their nerve, and were unsuccessful in their bid to prevent South Africa from making a clean sweep of their One-day International series, when they lost the fifth and final match by one wicket in a tight finish yesterday.

Massive Joint Services operations last evening in Canje and New Amsterdam led to the recapturing of a prisoner, Chetram Singh who escaped from the Reliance Police Station on Wednesday.

President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Julian Hunte has said the decision taken by Minister of Sport, Frank Anthony to have the finances of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) audited should help “in clearing all the issues in contention”.

– efforts being made to find his mother Little Eon Shurland is now more open with probation officers who are still trying to locate his mother and are working to have him enrolled in school, Ann Greene, the director of the Child Protection Agency which is caring for the him says.

–DPP found ‘nothing criminal’ Former Region Four REO Shafdar Alli, who was implicated in a multimillion-dollar fraud against the state, says he has since been informed that no charges will be instituted against him.

MANCHESTER, England, (Reuters) – Lancashire chief  executive Jim Cumbes has warned an English county club could go  bankrupt after he announced a post-tax loss of 546,000 pounds  ($804,900) for 2009.

The old wooden home of a Campbellville family came crashing down last night while the occupants were inside the building, briefly trapping them under the rubble but within minutes everyone managed to escape without any serious injuries.

Hikers put down GCC Tigers 4 – 3 The ladies game gave a subtle indication of what was in store for the night when Hikers displaced GCC Tigers 4 – 3 at the reconvening of the Mr.

Government yesterday condemned Israel for its May 31 commando raid on an international flotilla to Gaza that led to the killing of ten persons and injuries to dozens of others.

– outcomes could shape private investment in regional food production Regional and international organisations responsible for development aid, the promotion of agriculture and disaster emergency management will partner with Caribbean public and private sector agencies, insurance companies, bankers and other stakeholders at a four-day symposium on agriculture insurance at the Jolly Beach Resort in Antigua from June 16 – 19.

Direct flights from Georgetown to Venezuela will commence when the Ogle International Airport is completed by the end of this year,  Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Manniram Prashad said.

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Santos football clubs made it to the final of the annual Mayor’s Cup Knockout Football Tournament on Wednesday when they defeated their opponents in the semi-final at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Ground.

Dear Editor, Permit me to briefly respond to the statements by the Attorney General contained in an article in the Stabroek News captioned ‘Poor work ethic among judges plagues criminal justice system’ (May 30).

Dear Editor, On May 7, a group of Chinese persons came into my store (Fazia Collection Sales Centre, America Street) taking photographs.

More efficient legal framework, tax reform, streamlining of commercial court, financing for small business development listed as high priorities The creation of a more efficient legal framework better equipped to facilitate the expansion of the private sector and the acceleration of foreign private investment, the provision of enhanced access to funding for small business development, the realization of an enhanced regime of consumer protection and the realization of tax reforms are among the strategic initiatives targeted by the newly elected Executive Management Committee of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) for 2010.

– responds to Panday’s claims The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) issued a statement yesterday in response to the allegations by head coach of  Scorpions Basketball Club, Vijay Panday.

-World Bank working on creative instruments By Gaulbert Sutherland Following difficulties in agreeing a mechanism through which money from the Guyana-Norway forest protection agreement will flow to this country, President Bharrat Jagdeo is optimistic that the issue will be resolved soon.

Brimming with confidence, ‘Stealth Bomber’ Gwendolyn O’ Neil has already claimed the vacant Light Heavyweight Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) title belt as hers.

Dear Editor, I could not believe I read (SN, June 2) that Minister Irfan Ali pronounced the Lamaha Canal water “safe” while “detailed investigation” is still being conducted.

Business Editorial The newly elected executive of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has outlined a raft of strategic initiatives, which it says will be on the front burner of its 2010 agenda.

–Ali-Hack says in affidavit Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack has acknowledged in an affidavit that there was an incident involving her and pink suitcase cocaine accused, Maurice Smith at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on October 15, 2009, but said it had no bearing on the present case.

President of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), Kit Nascimento said yesterday that the squad for the 21st Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games will be named on June 13 following an intensive training session to be held that same weekend.

Dear Editor, Congratulations on Rory Westmaas’ article on architecture (second part) published in the Guyana Review Vol 17 Issue, May 5, 2010.

Rawle Lucas is a Guyanese-born Certified Public Accountant and Assistant Vice-President of the Lending Services Division.

–Cabinet outreach President Bharrat Jagdeo told Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo residents on Wednesday that $3.7B is being spent in Region Three this year on drainage and irrigation, roads and the construction of recreational facilities.

Dear Editor, I applaud Minister Anthony’s move to address the problem of the two constitutions of the Guyana Cricket Board.

Four cricketers have been selected to receive benefits under the  Junior Ambassador Programme and  Western Union is plugging $256,000 into this year’s initiative.

VENICE, La., (Reuters) – BP  inched ahead yesterday with a painstaking attempt to cap its ruptured oil  well in the Gulf of Mexico and to safely siphon off some of the  billowing crude in a high-stakes bid to curtail the 45-day-old  deep-sea gusher.

Jacquelyn Hamer is a retired Guyanese diplomat and a Director of the skills training organization Visions of Excellence.

Dear Editor, Passengers travelling the Bartica-Parika route by speedboat are fed up with the high freight cost  they have to pay for personal luggage and boxes and cartons; the price is soaring.

OSLO, Norway, CMC – Asafa Powell is again heavily favoured to win the men’s 100 metres dash, when the IAAF Diamond League continues today.

The Preliminary Inquiry into a charge of carnal knowledge by Colwyn King of a girl under the age of 15 did not resume on Wednesday as the magistrate was said to be unwell and the matter was put down for another date.

–to launch restoration fund in August The Mayor and City Council is advising the public that its Concert Hall is closed to all public events and activities because of the state of the building.

Dear Editor, I refer to a post that was made on June 2 on the website http://liveinguyana.blogspot.com/

– new centre likely to be opened in Berbice Just over 12 years after opening its doors to students interested in entering the world of information technology, Global Technology Inc is anticipating the incremental advancements in the field opening up opportunities that allow for the significant expansion of the services that it offers.

GENEVA, (Reuters) – A United Nations investigator  called on Wednesday for a halt to CIA-directed drone strikes on  suspected Islamic militants, warning that killings ordered far  from the battlefield could lead to a “Playstation” mentality.

JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) – Nelson Mandela met South  Africa’s national soccer team Bafana Bafana yesterday, wearing  the captain’s number 4 shirt, to help inspire the team in this  month’s World Cup which the country is hosting.

– six cases of theft recorded in south Georgetown since April Metal thieves continue to target the critical insulated copper cable used by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) to provide its landline telephone service and the company’s Security Manager Edgar Blackman told Stabroek Business earlier this week that the recent spate of thefts has targeted the company’s installations in a section of south Georgetown where several scrap metal dealerships are located.

DETROIT, (Reuters) – The billions of fans of  soccer’s World Cup, globally the premiere sporting event, will  increasingly turn to mobile phones to track the action,  according to a Nielsen survey released yesterday.

Dear Editor, The Guyana Power and Light’s (GPL) rotten service of poor electricity delivery is once again coming to the fore and the picture looks very bleak again for Berbicians.

Magistrate Ann McLennan remanded a One Mile Extension man and placed his reputed wife on $5,000 bail after they were cross-charged for assaulting each other, resulting in bodily harm.

SANTIAGO, (Reuters) – Chilean police yesterday  detained a Dutch man linked to the mysterious disappearance of  a U.S.

(Jamaica Observer) – Jamaica is seeking US$1 billion in loans and grants to help remove dons and rebuild the poor communities they have long dominated, reports Bloomberg News.

Dear Editor, When an incident that appears tragic turns out to have a happy ending, it is something to rejoice over since these happy endings are indeed rare.

GASCI (www.gasci.com/telephone Nº 223-6175/6) reports that session 358’s trading results showed consideration of $4,897,893 from 344,824 shares traded in 17 transactions as compared to session 357 which showed consideration of $2,092,623 from 213,000 shares traded in 8 transactions. 

LUXEMBOURG, (Reuters) – EU countries can ban online  gambling if their aim is to combat fraud, Europe’s highest court  said yesterday, dealing a blow to the multi-billion euro  online betting industry seeking to break domestic monopolies.

PARIS, (Reuters) – Gustavo Kuerten once etched a  heart on centre court at Roland Garros, Francesca Schiavone just  knelt down and planted a kiss on its red dust surface yesterday as a career spent in the shadows finally blossomed.

In the wake of reports that he has been sent on leave, Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Khurshid Sattaur yesterday called on the public not to jump to any conclusion.

Laparkan Financial Services Ltd (LPSL) has reported a significant net reduction in after–tax profits for the financial year 2009/2010.

RUSTENBURG, South Africa, (Reuters) – A cluster of  local workers, police and security guards and a pack of  television crews welcomed the England World Cup squad to their  Rustenburg base in warm sunshine yesterday.

Dear Editor, The story in Wednesday’s issue of SN (June 2) on the alleged police abuse of Mr Kwesi Smith is most disgusting and disgraceful behaviour unbefitting of law enforcement.

LONDON, (Reuters) – British author Iain Banks called  for a cultural and educational boycott on Israel yesterday  following its deadly raid on a flotilla of ships carrying aid to  the blockaded Gaza Strip.

The Mayor and City Council has recommenced its anti-mosquito campaign which began on Monday and will conclude on June 15.

(Barbados Nation) – A Roman Catholic priest on Wednesday lauded the late Norman Faria as a sincere man who sought justice for all.

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters Life!) – Actress Rue  McClanahan, best known for her award-winning role as a  man-crazy Southern belle on television comedy “The Golden  Girls”, has died after suffering a massive stroke.

Golding tours Tivoli Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding has met residents of Tivoli Gardens, one week after gun battles between security forces and supporters of alleged drug lord Christopher Coke.

MANCHESTER, England, (Reuters) – England face a trial  by spin in today’s second test at Old Trafford after Bangladesh  coach Jamie Siddons said he felt a couple of their batsmen  including Kevin Pietersen were vulnerable.

(Prepared by the Guyana marketing Corporation and published by Stabroek News Business as a public service)

Frankly Speaking – by A.A. Fenty My AFC Manifesto –Of Sorts This first portion of today’s offering will be noticeably brief, moralistic (?)

Dear Editor, No pollster or political analyst predicted the exact outcome of Trinidad May 24 elections. 

Last Friday, we observed that Kamla Persad-Bissessar had created history in Trinidad and Tobago by becoming the country’s first female prime minister.