Daily Archive: Tuesday, January 18, 2011

PORT-AU-PRINCE, (Reuters) – Haiti today briefly  detained former dictator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier, back  from exile in France, and charged him with corruption, theft  and abuses of power allegedly committed during his 15-year  rule.

Two persons were this afternoon critically injured following a two-vehicle collision on the Mabura trail.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – A magnitude 7.4 earthquake  struck southwestern Pakistan, the U.S.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, (Reuters) – Haitian police escorted  former dictator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier today from  the hotel in Port-au-Prince where he had been staying since his  surprise return from exile on Sunday.

The Jakarta Post today reported that Indonesian police have found two passports purportedly issued by Guyana carrying the photographs of a corruption suspect and his wife.

TIKRIT, Iraq, (Reuters) – A suicide bomber wearing a  vest filled with explosives attacked Iraqi police recruits today in former dictator Saddam Hussein’s hometown of Tikrit,  killing at least 42 and wounding over 100, officials said.

WELLINGTON, (Reuters) – Pakistan need 274 runs on the  final day to win the second test and complete a 2-0 series sweep  against New Zealand after bowling the hosts out for 293 late on  the fourth day.

SYDNEY, (Reuters) – Mike Hussey was included in the  final Australia squad for the World Cup today despite  undergoing surgery for a hamstring injury, while his brother  David has earned a first call-up for cricket’s showpiece event.

A British woman who was freed after spending five weeks in jail in Guyana on suspicion of drug smuggling faces imprisonment for dealing heroin in Southend, UK.

(Trinidad Express) Another woman has been killed as a result of domestic violence.

Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh yesterday announced that the economy is projected to grow by 4.6% this year as he unveiled a $161.4 billion national budget in the National Assembly.

A light Cessna aircraft crash landed this morning at the Baramita airstrip in the North West District (NWD).

Former finance minister Carl Greenidge yesterday dubbed the 2011 National Budget a well-crafted election tool which fails to address critical issues such as widespread poverty and unemployment.

The city peddler who was shot outside the Bourda Market died last night at the Georgetown Hospital Corporation.

Personal income tax allowance Personal income tax allowance will rise from $420,000 per annum to $480,000 per annum or from $35,000

Guyana Elections Commis-sion (Gecom) Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally said yesterday that he would not knowingly do anything to undermine the public’s confidence in either the elections body or his post, particularly in the current election year.

A sum of $10.1 billion has been allocated for roads and bridges this year with $1.8 billion budgeted for upgrading 85 kilometres of existing roadway and the construction of 110 kilometres of new roads from Linden to Amaila Falls.

The economy is projected to grow at 4.6%. ●  Inflation is pegged at 4.4%.

A 24-year old East Coast Demerara man was last evening in a critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) following a vehicular accident at the Carifesta Avenue and Vlissengen Road junction.

A motorcyclist and his pillion rider were injured after being struck by a car close to the East La Penitence Police Station at Mandela Avenue last night.

A Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice man who tried to save his sister during an attack by her estranged husband ended up being stabbed yesterday and he is now battling for his life at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).

With growth of 2.5% recorded in the ‘other crops’ sector and rice recording its highest output in over a decade at 360,996 tonnes last year, $1.5 billion has been allocated in this year’s budget to accelerate diversification and modernization of the agricultural sector.

With a budget of $14 billion this year the health sector is expected to improve and expand on services countrywide, but training appears to be the focus in 2011.

Gold recorded its highest level of output in any one year by small and medium scale miners last year at 308,438 ounces but bauxite production contracted 9.8% resulting in the mining and quarrying sector as a whole contracting 6.9%.

Government has allocated a total of $56 million to establish an Educational Televi-sion Broadcasting Service this year, as part of its drive to push education through ICT.

Newly accredited Iranian Ambassador to Guyana, Abdolreza Mesri said that his country has no limitations in helping Guyana and is interested in finding out what areas it could offer assistance.

The government is expected to spend some $15.9 billion in the security and justice sector this year while greater emphasis will be given to serious crimes and activities that adversely affect the lives of citizens, Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh said yesterday.

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh has referred to last year as a “disappointing” one for the sugar industry saying yesterday that several factors contributed to the weak performance, including the continuing problems at the Skeldon factory.

By Marlon Munroe The Amazon Conquerors find themselves in a must-win situation to secure a clear passage to the semi-final round of the Caribbean Twenty20 tournament when the Barbados round commences today.

By Marlon Munroe A stormy meeting of the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) held yesterday afternoon in the boardroom of the Guyana Cricket Board’s Regent Street office ended with executives deciding on the date for the annual general meeting of the DCB and of the delegates that  will represent the various area boards.

An argument between two fish cleaners at the Meadow Bank wharf yesterday morning ended with one being fatally stabbed to the neck.

Pump attendant Jenny Davis, 20, was yesterday charged with stealing $2.3 million from the Lethem Gas Station.

Mark’s Jewellery darts team emerged victorious in the four-man team tournament held Friday at Mark’s Darts Club, 72 Brummel Place, Stabroek.

A policewoman was yesterday admitted to bail in the sum of $125,000 after she denied charges that she solicited a bribe and demanded money to forestall prosecution of a man in a criminal case.

Look out for Christopher Ram’s Budget Review in tomorrow’s issue.

By Kizan Brumell A Jolyon Harry double was the back bone of the Fruta Conquerors victory over Riddim Squad on the opening night of the inaugural BK International Western Tigers Super Eight Knockout Competition at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Ground on Sunday night.

“It hurt me ah lot ya know because ya gun go at the back deh and people ain’t gun know you at the back deh.

NEW YORK, CMC – CONCACAF says it will fight for a fourth spot at the FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil, with the organisation contending Sunday that it had merited the increase based on its growth in recent years.

Grantley Culbard on Sunday was unanimously reelected for his fifth consecutive term as president of the Guyana Darts Association at the association’s annual General Meeting at the Malteenoes pavilion.

Dear Editor, The public is well aware of the controversy which has erupted with my appointment to the Chairmanship of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA).

A lance corporal in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) died on Sunday evening after he reportedly lost control of the motor bike he was riding on the West Bank Demerara (WBD) Public Road and ended up in a trench.

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – Roger Federer fired up the  Australian Open with a blistering start to his title defence yesterday, bringing some welcome warmth to an unseasonably cool  Melbourne Park on opening day.

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) supports the authorities in restoring the historic Stabroek Market Square and stands ready to assist affected stakeholders.

Dear Editor, After reading about the land being offered to remigrants (only a fool would pay US$35,000 for a house lot in Guyana that’s less than ¼ of an acre), I went to the Central Housing & Planning Authority’s website to have a look at the application form.

Dear Editor, There are some events which will always be larger than the agenda of any of the parts making up the whole to which that larger event relates. 

The Planning Committee for the International Society of Family Law Caribbean Regional Conference is advising participants that early registration for the conference hosted by the Council of Legal Education Eugene Dupuch Law School in the Bahamas will close at month end.

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – The revitalized Los Angeles  Clippers showed their grit by staging a fourth-quarter comeback  to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 99-92 on Sunday in a testy  game that featured four late ejections.

LONDON, (Reuters) – England will go on from their  Ashes ‘annihilation’ of Australia to overtake India and South  Africa and become the world’s top-ranked test nation within 18  months, according to former captain Alec Stewart.

A man yesterday appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded not guilty to a drug trafficking charge.

Dear Editor, Strike is a function of modern trade unions, mostly used as a last resort when issues submitted as grievances are not favourably considered by management.

PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) – Rights groups demanded yesterday that Haiti arrest former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier for crimes against humanity after his surprise return from 25 years in exile, which strained an edgy political atmosphere in the volatile Caribbean state.

NOVA FRIBURGO, Brazil (Reuters) – Brazilian army helicopters stepped up rescue and supply operations yesterday in areas hit by floods and landslides that have killed at least 665 people, reaching residents who had been cut off from help for five days.

A woman was yesterday ordered to pay $10,000 costs after she declined to proceed with a case of unlawful and malicious assault allegedly meted out to her by a man.

Dear Editor, Ilan Pappe, Israel’s bravest, most principled and most incisive historian and former senior lecturer of Political Science at Haifa University and Academic Director of the Research Institute for Peace, with access to the Israeli military archives gives in his book The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine a completely different account to the one summarised by Mr Williams in his letter ‘Recognising Palestine as a sovereign state is an act of folly’ SN, January 15).

MUMBAI, (Reuters) – India will gamble on the fitness  of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Praveen  Kumar after the four injured players were included in the final  15-member squad yesterday for next month’s World Cup.

Dear Editor, President Bharrat Jagdeo’s successful travel schedule during the past year adequately demonstrated why the presidential candidate of the People’s Progressive Party for the 2011 general elections must be a member of the young brigade.

JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) – Former South Africa fast  bowler Allan Donald has accepted a temporary position as bowling  consultant to the New Zealand national team under recently  appointed head coach John Wright.

There was an 18% reduction in serious crimes last year as compared to 2009 even though there has been an increase in murders, Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee reported, with some 2,613 serious crimes being recorded as oppose to the 3,176 the previous year.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak broke away from his centre-left Labour Party yesterday in a move Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said made his government stronger and more stable.

Miami (Reuters) – Police found empty containers for explosives detonators on Monday in the belly of an American Airlines passenger plane at Miami’s international airport, triggering a security alert.

KARACHI, (Reuters) – Day-night test matches moved a  step closer to acceptance after cricket’s governing body  endorsed a trial first class match in Pakistan held under lights  with a coloured ball.

Dear Editor, At a recent Bath Settle-ment, political meeting Mr Ramjattan of the AFC pointed out that Indians should not be afraid of African people and even spoke of them living and doing well outside of Guyana, particularly in the Caribbean where there are predominantly black populations.

President Bharrat Jagdeo gave assurances to boat operators plying the Stabroek to Vreed-en-Hoop route that there are no plans to sell the two stellings.

The first thing that crosses your mind when you see the massive mountain of garbage encroaching on the resting places of the departed in Le Repentir Cemetery is not which agency should be held responsible but how on earth such an unpardonable environmental atrocity could occur in a country aspiring to become a global advocate for a cleaner environment.

Dear Editor, Albert Bolo Joseph, the Linden businessman who succumbed to a gunshot wound some weeks ago, was never known to be associated with any political party. 

Library conference

Politikles

Bridgetown, Barbados – Four bowlers – Royston Crandon, Hamza Riazuddin, Alfonso Thomas and Ravi Rampaul – have taken five wickets apiece in this year’s West Indies Cricket Board’s T20 tournament after the Antigua leg of matches.

BEIJING (Reuters) – China has lent more money to developing nations than the World Bank in the past two years, the Financial Times said today, underlining Beijing’s ambitions to increase its global influence.

Lucky Dollar Guyana hosted its final presentation ceremony for the fourth and fifth batches of winners in the Santa’s sleigh promotion last week at its Regent Street store.

Government has allocated $1.5 billion for the water sector this year to improve the supply and expand access countrywide to potable water.

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh said government has allocated $3.6 billion to continue its housing drive this year, particularly with the development of housing schemes.

– $1.8B for laptops project The continuation of infrastructure works for the fibre optic cable from Brazil has been allocated $2.5 billion in this year’s budget for while $1.8 billion have been allocated for the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) initiative.