Daily Archive: Wednesday, March 2, 2011

FRANKFURT, (Reuters) – German police arrested a man  today after two U.S.

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Serena Williams was  recovering at her Los Angeles home after undergoing emergency  treatment for a blood clot in one of her lungs, the former  world number one confirmed today.

The police say they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man identified as Rahein Meirs of Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice, whose body was found on the pavement at Longden Street, Georgetown at about 0730h yesterday.

Quite why information on the government’s One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) project is being released in ‘dribs and drabs’ is anyone’s guess.

Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud is expected to be a late nominee to the contest to be the PPP’s presidential candidate at this year’s general elections, sources say.

BANGALORE,  (Reuters) – Kevin O’Brien smashed the  fastest ever World Cup century to propel Ireland to a stunning  three-wicket win over England in a Group B match today.

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – A resurgent West Indies will  have a stronger opposition to try their Plan B when they take on  an ambitious Bangladesh in Friday’s World Cup Group B match in  Dhaka.

(De Ware Tijd)  — Thrice the amount of gold has been found on the concession of Rosebel Goldmines LLC over what has been mind up till now.

(De Ware Tijd) — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised to implement a social programme to support vulnerable groups suffering from its improvement measures.

DHAKA, (Reuters) – Bangladesh’s central bank said on  Wednesday it had removed Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus from the  post of managing director of microlender Grameen Bank, following  allegations of irregularities in its operations.

ISLAMABAD, (Reuters) – Gunmen shot dead Pakistan’s  only Christian government minister today for challenging  a law that mandates the death penalty for insulting Islam, the  second top official killed this year over the blasphemy law.

Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh has invited the Office of the Auditor General and the police force to investigate certain suspected unauthorized and irregular transactions allegedly executed in the Accountant General’s Department of his ministry.

A US-based Guyanese who was convicted of attempted robbery 17 years ago, faces deportation and has been held without a bail hearing since November simply because he was nabbed at an airport.

Marcelle Joseph, the junior-level worker sacked from the Office of the President (OP), had written the Ethic Relations Commission (ERC) last month, saying that she was victimised and in need of representation.

A joint effort between the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) and insurance company, GTM will see a long-awaited fire station being established in Lethem.

One of the men suspected of robbing a senior citizen in a knife-point attack was shot by the police in an Albouystown alleyway yesterday.

A man was attacked by cutlass wielding bandits after visiting a Western Union outlet yesterday afternoon.

The pump at Trafalgar, West Berbice which had been vandalized last month is back in operation, bringing relief to flood-affected residents of No.

Users of the Linden/Lethem trail have expressed concern about the state of the road and they are calling on the authorities for an upgrade before the rains begin.

PNCR Chairman Bishwaishwar Ramsaroop has said that  the party’s Congress last weekend is the  de facto start of the PNCR election campaign for 2011 and  it also marked a new dimension and manifestation of democracy within the party.

A woman who said that the father of her children had taken them “somewhere,” denied the charge of child-neglect yesterday after being arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The Department for International Development (DFID) has announc-ed key shifts in UK funding to international organisations and country programmes, saying its budget aid is now more focused and effective.

Drilling of an exploratory oil well in the Takutu Basin in Region Nine is progressing smoothly, Petroleum Division Manager at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Newell Dennison says.

Former participant in the PNCR presidential candidate race Dr. Faith Harding yesterday pledged unreserved support to victor retired Brigadier David Granger.

A Guyanese man was found dead at his Handsome Bay, British Virgin Islands apartment on Monday and police there are treating the death as suspicious.

Regional airline REDjet, the Caribbean’s first low cost airline, yesterday conducted a “proving flight” at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri as it moves closer to setting up operations here.

Ranks of the Police Narcotics Branch yesterday destroyed 100 kilogrammes and 644 grammes of cocaine accumulated between June 2007 and December 2010, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

A 21-year-old man who was charged with felonious wounding appeared yesterday before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates Court.

Monty Blake, of Richmond Village Essequibo Coast, has been charged with dangerous driving death of a 16-year-old boy at La Belle Alliance, Essequibo Coast.

By Tony Cozier At the ICC World Cup In DHAKAThere were always three teams in their group the West Indies needed to beat to be sure of advancing to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

Roger Harper returned to the helm of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) on Monday evening after gaining a landslide victory over former president Alfred Mentore.

The Western Union Hikers junior hockey teams indoor tournament concluded Sunday afternoon at the National Gymnasium with Everest Hikers and the Georgetown Cricket Club teams standing out.

The Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) Challenge Series has been rescheduled to March 11-13 from its original February 25-27 date, according to a release from YBG  yesterday.

Former national junior player Jonathan Sankar turned in a stellar performance to cart off the prestigious men’s singles title from a quality field Sunday evening as the National Sports Commission sponsored annual Mashramani tournament climaxed with a crescendo.

The preliminary inquiry (PI) into the murder of schoolgirl Neesa Lalita Gopaul continued yesterday with witness Bharrat Samaroo being cross-examined

By Treiston Joseph International Table Tennis Federation Level One Coaching Conductor Sydney Christophe last Sunday acknowledged the success of his training programme at the awards ceremony held following the conclusion of the annual Mashramani table tennis tournament at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Veteran marksman Ransford Goodluck started the 2011 season on a winning note when he won last Sunday’s Recorded Shoot held at the Timehri rifle ranges over 300, 500 and 600 yards ranges.

CARICOM Heads of Govern-ment see a need to reassess approaches that would re-energise the regional integration endeavour, pointing out that the most urgent need is not for broad new decision-making but the implementation of decisions already made.

Merceline Small, charged last week with taking a cell phone into the Camp Street prison, was granted $100,000 bail on Friday after an application was made to the High Court.

Junior Cyclist, Neil Reece of The Flying Ace cycling club delivered a top class performance to capture victory in the Mashramani cycle road race Sunday in New Amsterdam.

By Treiston Joseph Director of Sports Neil Kumar on Sunday evening said he was heartened by the progress of table tennis otherwise known as ping pong.

Region 2 Chairman Ali Baksh said the region has recently started to develop agricultural lands so that persons residing in the nine new housing schemes can gain employment.

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Ryan Hinds was the only player that ran afoul of West Indies authorities during the fourth round of matches in the WICB Regional first-class championship, which ended on Monday.

LONDON, CMC – Nicolette Fernandes is on the move again in the Women’s International Squash Players’ Association rankings.

The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) on Monday signed several contracts for developmental works in new and existing schemes.

Dear Editor, We wish to thank Dr K Mangal for highlighting that the Kurupukari pontoon service does not routinely operate as advertised, that is, every hour from 6am to 6pm.

A man yesterday appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to charges of larceny and break and enter.

Off-spinner Amit Jaggernauth who played a crucial role in T&T winning their last regional first class clash against Windwards says his team can go all the way and win the title this season.

Guyanese players Troy Cornelius and Devon Clements both struck half centuries in the Sunday League cricket series in Trinidad on the weekend.

TRIPOLI, (Reuters) – Two U.S. warships were to pass  through the Suez Canal today heading toward Libya as  Western nations sought to keep up pressure on Muammar Gaddafi  to end a crackdown on a popular uprising and to step down.

Dear Editor, Reference Demerara Waves’ email release of February 28, 2011, the following quote: “Only delegates with picture identification, accompanied by their party membership cards, were issued with delegate cards.

Production on programmes for the Education Television Broadcasting Service (ETBS) is on schedule and set up of a broadcasting satellite and transmission expected to begin at month-end.

Dear Editor, I couldn’t avoid overhearing an interesting conversation by some vocal folks, on the importance of our national identification cards, particularly on election day.

COLOMBO, (Reuters) – Demolition man Lasith Malinga  became the first bowler to pick up two hat-tricks at World Cups  as he led Sri Lanka to a nine-wicket flattening of Kenya yesterday.

CARICOM Heads of Government had bemoaned the lack of progress in the implementation of the Haiti Action Plan last July and they are again expressing regret that eight months later nothing has changed while the second hurricane and rainy season since the earthquake catastrophe is upon the people of Haiti.

MADISON, Wis., (Reuters) – Wisconsin Republican  Governor Scott Walker unveiled a two-year budget with deep  spending cuts yesterday and warned Democrats more reductions  could be needed if his plan to curb the power of public sector  unions remains blocked.

Dear Editor, Dr Tarron Khemraj’s letter titled ‘Do not fall for the trap of personality’ (SN, Feb 28) is a message all Guyanese should heed.

ABIDJAN, (Reuters) – Youth supporters of Ivory  Coast’s incumbent Laurent Gbagbo rampaged through the business  district of Abidjan yesterday, pillaging shops owned by  foreigners.

CARICOM and the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) of the Secretariat of Multidimensional Security of the OAS are meeting with Caribbean universities on the drug phenomenon in the region.

COLOMBO,  (Reuters) – Sri Lanka batsman Mahela  Jayawardene has taken legal advice over doubts raised on a  state-run TV channel about the way he and another batsman  performed in the World Cup defeat by Pakistan.

LONDON, (Reuters Life!) – People who use cannabis in  their youth dramatically increase their risk of psychotic  symptoms, and continued use of the drug can raise the risk of  developing a psychotic disorder in later life, scientists said  yesterday.

A man was yesterday remanded to prison after he appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on charges of break and enter and larceny.

COLOMBO, (Reuters) – Pakistan, suddenly cast among  the serious contenders for their second World Cup title after  beating Sri Lanka, have the chance to fine-tune their fielding  and bowling tomorrow in preparation for tougher tests ahead.

Dear Editor, In Austin Warner’s opening address at the CFU’s 34th Congress, he referred to the failures, “In spite of the training courses, programmes and seminars funded by the FIFA and the CONCACAF, in spite of the FIFA grants received (each of you received over $1.3 million dollars and still remain the whipping boys and girls of your teams the last four years).”

BANGALORE, (Reuters) – Ireland captain William  Porterfield is taking a leaf out of opposite number Andrew  Strauss’s book by concentrating on being “cricket smart” when  they play England in Bangalore today in the World Cup.

SANAA/ADEN,  (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of  protesters flooded Yemen’s streets yesterday in a “Day of  Rage”, demanding an end to the president’s three-decade rule.

Four officers and 30 other ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) will be participating in Exercise Tradewinds in Antigua and Barbuda for 20 days.

(Trinidad Express) By a vote of 29 for/11 against, the “hanging bill” was guillotined in the House of Representatives on Monday, as it failed to secure the requisite support from the Opposition PNM to become law.

Dear Editor, Royal Challengers were scheduled to play their first game in the GT&T 10/10 competition on Sunday, February 20 against Liliendaal Legion at Success ground.

PARIS, (Reuters) – French fashion house Christian  Dior <DIOR.PA> fired its star designer John Galliano yesterday  after an online video clip spread around the world showing him  hurling anti-Semitic abuse at people in a Paris bar.

(Jamaica Observer) Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) has signed a US$60.5-million loan agreement with the French Development Finance Institution (PROPARCO) to help reduce electricity theft and construct a 6 MW hydroelectric power plant on the island.

Dear Editor, While in India to enjoy cricket, I was saddened to read of the passing of outstanding journalist Sharief Khan.

Tipperary Hall takes shape again

The Ministry of Housing and Water has committed to completing roads in the Diamond Housing Scheme as part of its works programme this year and it has revealed plans for the expansion of housing areas along the East Bank highway.

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters Life!) – Actress Katie Holmes  yesterday filed a $50 million lawsuit, accusing celebrity  magazine Star of libel for a cover story that falsely suggested  she was a drug addict.

BRASILIA, (Reuters) – Brazil’s President Dilma  Rousseff announced yesterday an increase of nearly a fifth on  financial aid under a flagship social welfare program, after  implementing a series of austerity measures in recent weeks.

Politikles

There is no doubt that the Western, or all the NATO, powers have been intensely surprised by the turn of events in the Middle East and North Africa.

Bollywood actors Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan (L) arrive at the 83rd Academy Awards in Hollywood, California February 27, 2011.

Dear Editor, I am appealing to CN Sharma not to be the presidential candidate of the Justice For All party because he has a case pending in court.

Montserrat’s Chief Minister Reuben T. Meade says CARICOM needs to follow the pattern of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and increase the use of information technology in its day-to-day operations.

(Trinidad Guardian) Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has written a letter to the late Daniel Guerra, telling him his death will lead to a rebirth of the nation of T&T. Persad-Bissessar