Daily Archive: Friday, September 9, 2011

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Guyanese Stanley Praimnath still  remembers the roar of the engines, the stench of the jet fuel  and the thunderous impact in his 81st floor office as United  Airlines Flight 175 hit the south World Trade Center tower.

In the wake of fresh allegations stemming from WikiLeaks cables about links between government officials and drug lord Roger Khan, presidential candidate David Granger today called for an independent investigation of Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy and former Home Affairs Ministers Ronald Gajraj and Gail Teixeira.

  The US Embassy Georgetown today announced the arrival of new Ambassador D.

  Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) today blamed voltage fluctuations for disruptions in the water supply to residents along the East Bank and East Coast of Demerara.

According to Marketwire,  CGX Energy Inc. (TSX VENTURE:OYL) (“CGX” or the “Company”) has announced that trading in the Company’s shares was halted this morning following the reaction to an announcement by Tullow Oil plc of oil discoveries in their Zaedyus well offshore French Guiana.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – London-based explorer Tullow Oil   said it had struck oil offshore French Guiana, raising  the prospect of the opening of a major offshore oil producing  province in South America and boosting its shares.

(Trinidad Express) Blanchisseuse police yesterday during an early morning exercise unearthed a cache of arms and ammunition which was buried in a forested area off Rincon Road, Las Cuevas.

(Jamaica Observer) NEGRIL, Westmoreland — Popular western Jamaica cabaret singer Shandy Man has secured the services of a lawyer to assist him in getting back the United States visitors visa held by him since January 3 this year which was in July revoked by the US Embassy.

(Jamaica Observer) Police Commissioner Owen Ellington, has warned members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to be careful in their use of social media such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) today announced that it has approved a US$5 million loan ($1B) to  boost the efficiency of Guyana’s power system via electricity loss reduction measures and improvements in the operation and maintenance of the distribution network.

  AFC Vice-Chair Sheila Holder has announced her withdrawal as the party’s Prime Ministerial Candidate, as she prepares to undergo urgent medical treatment.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Virgin Holidays passengers and Virgin Unite will pump US$3.5 million (J$300 million) into the new Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship – Caribbean, which opened at the ATL Bogue City Centre in Montego Bay, St James, yesterday.

Car Care (right of photo) at 43 Hadfield Street and a guesthouse next to it were gutted by fire around 1 am today.

(Barbados Nation) Gusty winds and heavy rains are forecast for today as Barbados faces its closest brush with a tropical storm for the year.

PARIS, (Reuters) – Interpol has issued arrest  warrants for Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam, and  intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi, it said in a statement  today.

(De Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – Despite the fact that police forces in the Caribbean invest much more in police officers, much more has to be done to make the transition more effective.

(De Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – The government does not react on US drug allegations against NDP-leader Desi Bouterse in the recently leaked Wikileaks-cables of the US Embassy in Paramaribo.

PPP/C presidential candidate Donald Ramotar says that he is not in favour of the Skeldon factory being completely managed by foreigners and said that such personnel should only be relied upon for technical advice.

Based on his record, Henry Greene should have been fired, not promoted to Police Commissioner, opposition coalition APNU said yesterday, while charging that the US DEA allegations against him could likely snare President Bharrat Jagdeo.

The Ogle Municipal Airport’s development works are likely to be completed by mid-2012.

An ex-police officer who pleaded not guilty to the charge of robbery under arms was yesterday remanded to prison after he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

A carpenter from Tuschen New Scheme, East Bank Demerara succumbed yesterday at the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was being treated since Saturday September 3, when he was beaten and robbed of over $200,000 at Apaika Backdam, Enachu, Cuyuni/Mazaruni.

The National Assembly has voted against a controversial motion which sought to institute legislation to hold persons criminally responsible for wilfully infecting others with HIV.

The Kashif & Shanghai Organisation is expected to meet with representatives of Alpha United and Pele FC again in two weeks for an amicable solution to the matter of  the long overdue Plus One kits from the 21st K&S Football tournament last December.

The Pastor presiding over the Reaching the World Ministry Church remains in a critical state after he was on Tuesday night severely beaten by two armed men at his Lot 15 Helena No.

LONDON, England, CMC – Big-hitting West Indies opener Chris Gayle will ply his trade in Durban next year when he turns out for Dolphins in South Africa’s Twenty20 Pro20 series.

Los Angeles (Reuters) – Two men were charged with animal cruelty after 15 monkeys they were shipping from Guyana to Thailand were found dead at Los Angeles International Airport, prosecutors said yesterday.

ZURICH, Switzerland, CMC – World champions Yohan Blake and Kirani James sustained their purple patches from the recent Daegu showpiece, clocking personal bests to dominate the Weltklasse Zürich Diamond League meet yesterday.

US Charge d’Affaires Karen Williams told Washington that links between Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy and drug kingpin Roger Khan were strong and that the latter had once proposed Ramsammy as a mediator between him and the US government.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Two new players have been called up to the West Indies Under-19 squad for the Quadrangular series in India, starting at month end.

The seven  accused in the Bel Air $7M heist were yesterday further remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

The hottest junior sprint rivals for the year will become teammates when junior sprint champion Chavez Ageday and 400 metres junior champion Stephan James join forces to represent the Golden Arrowhead at the upcoming Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) slated for October in Suriname.

The prosecution yesterday requested an adjournment until October into the matter for which Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Major Bruce Munroe, his wife Carol Ann Munroe and ex-soldier Leonard Wharton are accused of treason.

Guyana is well on target in achieving the 2015 Millennium Development Goals.

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka, (Reuters) – Australia pace  bowlers took eight quick wickets to skittle out Sri Lanka for  174 runs on day one of the second test in Kandy yesterday, as the home team struggled against fast bowling from the start of  the innings.

With the housing ministry already meeting its goal of allocating 17,000 house lots for 2011, Minister Irfaan Ali has announced that an additional 3,500 house lots would be distributed before year end.

BERLIN, (Reuters) – World Boxing Council heavyweight  champion Vitali Klitschko, who  faces Polish challenger Tomasz  Adamek on Saturday, will fight two or three more bouts before  retiring, his coach Fritz Sdunek said yesterday.

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) plans to host two Twenty/20 matches between the women’s West Indies and Pakistan teams at the Providence stadium tomorrow and on Sunday, despite continuing controversy over the recent GCB elections.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Brazilian Ambassador to Guyana Luiz Gilberto de Andrade on Wednesday lauded the strong ties between Guyana and Brazil, while heaping praise on the new infrastructure built to facilitate trade and other opportunities.

The Muslim Youth Organization (MYO) of Guyana and Raf’s Variety Store First Annual Hajjin Zeleena Rafeek Memorial countrywide Inter-Jamaat 10/10 knock-out softball cricket match is set for Sunday.

Dear Editor, In reading about the Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Act No 12, 2009, as presented by Alissa Trotz in the Diaspora column under the caption: ‘The distance between government and the governed: Another look at pensions in Guyana‘  (SN, July 18), reminded me of an Anancy Story in which Brer Anancy named himself ‘All of you‘ so that every time the servant brought the various foods on a platter and placed it on the table which Anancy and the other animals sat around, saying “this is for all of you,“ Anancy smiled and took it all for himself while explaining to the animals that treating him in this special way was an expression of love and appreciation.

Guyana’s unemployment rate is 10.7%, according to Labour Minister Manzoor Nadir, who admits that the figure is high, but says it represents a good performance in the region.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Mohamed Bin Hammam, handed a life  ban by FIFA on bribery charges, will have his appeal against  that decision heard next week, FIFA confirmed yesterday.

There has been a 12% increase in armed robberies and a 3% increase in murders over the first eight months of the year.

Dear Editor, The norm these days is for citizens to indiscriminately dump refuse anywhere and everywhere, and this practice has become so prevalent that the values once attached to cleanliness  (Cleanliness is next to godliness‘) are now lost to most.

Dear Editor, In response to the letter ‘NIS miscalculated pension, refuses to address matter,’ which was published in the Stabroek News dated Friday, August 19, 2011, please see the following response: Mr Nandalal Bisnauth NIS Number B-1724624 was paid a minimum pension based on 1,179 contributions.

MONZA, Italy, (Reuters) – Michael Schumacher still  has what it takes to be a winner and silence the critics, says  Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali.

The AFC is reiterating its taxation policy which resolves to reintroduce allowances in the tax system for dependents to allow parents to better provide for their families, in the wake of the rising cost of living.

Industry sources have told Stabroek Business that the Chinese telecommunications company Datang Telecom Technology & Industry Group could be favoured by government to acquire its 20 per cent shareholding in GT&T, which it had indicated an interest in selling some time ago.

A “Day of Appreciation” has been planned for President Bharrat Jagdeo as he prepares to depart office in the next few months.

MONZA, Italy, (Reuters) – Lewis Hamilton has had  enough of being an ‘easy target’ for his Formula One critics.

High employment costs as a percentage of the overall operating costs of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) point unerringly at the bind in which the sugar industry finds itself as it chases a 2011 production target of less then 300,000 tonnes, which is what senior industry officials have said is the minimum requirement to make real economic sense.

Dear Editor, A Partnership for National Unity advances an argument and poses a challenge.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama  challenged Congress yesterday to enact a $447 billion package  of tax cuts and new spending to revive a stalled job market but  he faces an uphill fight with Republicans.

Fertile Ground For many years now China has maintained a relationship with developing countries through its bilateral and multilateral diplomacy. 

A 32-year-old labourer who was charged for unlawfully wounding another at a mining operation in the interior was placed on $100,000 bail after he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine- Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Dear Editor Now that the election is in the air we are hearing about what the politicians will do if elected or re-elected.

LONDON, (Reuters) – The England and Wales Cricket  board announced yesterday the schedule for England’s  forthcoming series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

Dear Editor, Did Donald Ramotar really find amusing the WikiLeaks cables with their references to murder, phantom squads, anti-government criminal gangs, possible plots to assassinate prominent citizens and a US ambassador, the rise of warlord zones like Buxton terrorizing people, the murder of a government minister, PPP government officials compromised by drug cartels, the possibility of a narco-state developing and the appointment of a Commissioner of Police who the Americans alleged benefited from the profits of the drug trade, the Head of the Presidential Secretariat allegedly proposing sanctions other than prosecution for drug traffickers and allegations of corruption?

SAN JUAN, (Reuters) – Puerto Rico’s police regularly  use excessive force, conduct illegal searches and commit other  rights violations while failing to curb drug-fueled crime in  the U.S.

Figures published by the Ministry of Agriculture as part of its Second Quarter Commodity Market Update for this year indicate that tilapia farming continues to be both the most popular and the most profitable pursuit in the country’s growing aquaculture sector.

The 2011 Ramcharitar Construction Services First Division 50-Over Cricket Competition continued on Wednesday with Port Mourant Karibee Rice defeating Skeldon Community Centre by 32 runs in their second round fixture to advance to the lone semi-final of the competition.In

Minibus driver Bhagwandeen Budhram, who was charged last year with causing death by dangerous driving, has had his

MONTEVIDEO, (Reuters) – The head of the United  Nations mission in Haiti said yesterday he will ask the U.N. 

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Security has been heightened  in New York City because of a credible but uncorroborated  threat, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said yesterday, but  said city residents should go about their business as usual.

A Prashad Nagar resident was yesterday placed on $250,000 bail on a charge of procuring a woman to become a common prostitute after he appeared before  Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Head selector Nazimul Drepaul yesterday named Guyana’s female under-19 team for practice matches against a Trinidad Women’s Under-19 side on September 10 and 11.

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has sounded a warning that Asia, particularly China, may be in the process of throwing down a challenge to the United States for the title of principal trading partner with Latin America and the Caribbean.

Dear Editor, It was with great sadness I learnt of the death of King Woo Yong, known as John, on Friday evening, Hermeena relayed the tragic news that her beloved husband and my very good dear friend had passed away.

SOLOLA, Guatemala, (Reuters) – During Guatemala’s  civil war, Mayan weaver Mari Luisa Chiro was terrified of the  soldiers who patrolled her small village.

CARACAS, (Reuters) – The United States yesterday  accused four Venezuelan officials of helping to provide arms to  drug-running Colombian guerrillas, a charge that Venezuela’s  left-wing government dismissed as “abusive.”

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Top-seed Caroline Wozniacki  overcame a late wobble to defeat German 10th seed Andrea  Petkovic 6-1 7-6 yesterday and set up a U.S.

Dear Editor, Could somebody please enlighten me as to who pays for the advertisement/ announcement on NCN radio every day regarding a lecture at the Dr Cheddi Jagan Research Centre in Kingston, “this Thursday 5 pm.”

(Jamaica Observer) A seized drug boat that was being used by the Coast Guard was stolen on Sunday night from the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) base at Discovery Bay, St Ann, authoritative sources in the security ministry have confirmed.

Log production in the local forestry sector during the first half of this year fell below last year’s figure for the corresponding period by more than 34 per cent despite the significantly increased demand for wood products accounted for chiefly by the country’s accelerated housing drive.

Business Cartoons

I’m pretty sure that I used my lead caption in this newspaper a few years ago.

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – World number four Andy Murray  is already familiar with the added burden of expectation as he  has long carried the hopes of a British nation counting on him  to snap a 75-year grand slam drought.

Dear Editor, We Guyanese have come to accept low standards. Take the sitcoms for example, they are shown with such frequent repeats that it is pathetic – Golden Girls; Raymond, Jim, Family Matters, Friends, My Wife & Kids, King of Queens, Seinfeld, Cosby Show.

The occupants of these two vehicles are lucky to be alive and without any serious injury following a collision on the Houston Public Road last night.

Earlier this week during an event held to mark the launch of GuyExpo 2011, President Bharrat Jagdeo commented on the role that the annual product promotion event plays in providing a platform for the country’s small businesses to highlight their products and services.

GASCI (www.gasci.com/telephone Nº 223-6175/6) reports that session 424’s trading results showed consideration of $3,771,842 from 135,143 shares traded in 16 transactions as compared to session 423 which showed consideration of $139,632 from 11,636 shares traded in 7 transactions. 

JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) – A well-preserved set of  2-million-year-old fossils shows a part-human, part-ape species  had hands similar to man, sophisticated ankles that helped in  movement and a surprisingly tiny but advanced brain, a report  released yesterday said.

Politikles

In a response to the mindless criminality that shook London and other cities in England last month, Boris Johnson, the colourful and sometimes outspoken, Conservative Mayor of London, writing in the Daily Telegraph on August 14, proffered the view that, in addition to the necessity for robust policing, a way had to be found to give young people moral guidance and hope.

(Trinidad Express) A Trinidad woman, seduced into going on a weekend vacation trip to Tobago, was found dead on Tuesday—strangled and beaten at a guest house in Bacolet.