Daily Archive: Wednesday, November 30, 2011

The Guyana Elections Commission will hold its next press briefing tomorrow which means there will be no declaration of the winner of Monday’s general election tonight.

Head of the Organisation of American States (OAS) Electoral Observer Mission, Professor Gordon Shirley called the 2011 polls an improvement over past elections and lauded the Guyana Elections Commission’s “significant” preparations ahead of voting, although he pointed out areas of concern such as the slothfulness of results and polling place irregularities.

President Bharrat Jagdeo this afternoon said that security forces are fully mobilised and on alert in the city to prevent any violence and he also announced that the PPP/C has withdrawn its request for the recounting of ballots in some areas.

Police today said that the body of the man who was fatally shot during an armed confrontation with police ranks carrying ballot boxes at Maripa Dukwari Landing, Cuyuni River, on November 27, 2011, was identified by his mother to be that of Dwayne Little known as “Tattoo Man”.

The Alliance For Change (AFC) this afternoon said that it will hold the balance of power in the next parliament saying that no party is likely to win a majority when Gecom makes the official announcement about the winner of Monday’s poll.

Opposition coalition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) this morning said it will not accept the elections results unless several anomalies in the process were explained by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom) Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally said today at an 11 am press conference that the winner of the 2011 General Elections will be declared tonight, provided that calls for a recount of some 73 boxes by a particular party “do not interfere with the planned schedule”.

(Jamaica Observer) Telecommunications firm LIME has signed an agreement with the CARICOM secretariat to provide videoconferencing equipment and services to Jamaica and seven other member countries, as well as five other territories in the region.

(Jamaica Gleaner) The final straw has broken the camel’s back. Transport and Works Minister Mike Henry last night submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Andrew Holness as the flood of concerns over the management of projects by the National Works Agency (NWA) continued.

Head of the Commonwealth Observer Mission Denis Marshall says the group has concluded that Monday’s general elections represented a further strengthening of the democratic processes but the playing field for the poll campaign was not level, given that state resources, including state media, were used in the interest of the ruling party.

Everall Franklin, the leader of the Guyana Action Party (GAP) and Member of Parliament died this morning at a city hospital following a period of illness.

(De Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – The National Kidney Dialysis Centre (NNC) of the Academic Hospital Paramaribo (AZP) has the potential to become the best in the CARICOM.

(De Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – The judicial authorities in Suriname have not been officially informed yet by the Netherlands about the detention of a group of Chinese who wanted to travel to Suriname with forged documents.

Results for 12 polling stations in Skeldon and Crabwood Creek, Corentyne show solid voting for the PPP/C.

(Trinidad Express) Port of Spain merchants are complaining that a new Customs system is causing congestion and delays in the clearing of goods at the port in the capital city.

One of eight more persons served with detention orders in Trinidad yesterday in connection with an alleged assassination plot had been found hiding out in Guyana in 2006.

(Trinidad Express) Eight more people have been served with detention orders signed by National Security Minister John Sandy, bringing the total number of detainees to 12.

The major parties appealed for calm yesterday as results from the elections continued to trickle in and figures from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the AFC pointed to a possible close race for the presidency between the ruling PPP/C and opposition coalition APNU.

(Editor’s note: The following results from Monday’s elections are those which have been posted up outside of polling stations and which have been transcribed by Stabroek News reporters.

By Johann Earle Recounts were underway last evening in three regions after requests by the ruling PPP/C and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) said the process would have an impact on the timeliness of the declaration of official results.

Polling agents for the ruling PPP/C walked out as recounting of votes got underway in Region 3 last evening.

Fire of unknown origin destroyed three houses at Grant 1803 Crabwood Creek, Corentyne just after midnight yesterday resulting in millions of dollars in losses and eight persons homeless.

Onika Beckles, the Presiding Officer who has accused presidential advisor Odinga Lumumba of physically assaulting her, has made a report to police, while he maintains that it was an accident.

The man shot dead in the Cuyuni/Mazaruni on Sunday, after he and two others attacked law enforcers who were carrying ballot boxes to two interior areas, is suspected to be a fugitive.

CUTTACK, India, CMC – India withstood a lethal early burst from pacers Kemar Roach and Andre Russell, to sneak home by one wicket with seven balls to spare, in a tense opening One-Day International against West Indies here yesterday.

Crime Chief Seelall Persaud yesterday confirmed that a man is in police custody after he was found holding a ballot box at the Camptown Community Centre on Monday, Elections Day.

HARARE, Zimbabwe, CMC – Estranged West Indies opener Chris Gayle smashed a whirlwind unbeaten century but his Matabeleland Tuskers crashed to a seven-wicket defeat with three balls to spare in the domestic Twenty20 Championship here yesterday.

The 10-year-old Mon Repos Primary School student who was struck down by a minibus on Agriculture Road on Sunday evening succumbed to his injuries on Monday around 10 pm.

Canadian oil exploration company, CGX Energy Inc. has contracted a rig to drill its Eagle-1 well offshore Guy-ana, the company announced yesterday.

Guyana’s Under-17 Lady Jags football team was beaten 8-0 by Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Princesses in the first game of the second round of the  CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifying competition yesterday.

A contingent of seven amateur boxers, including one female and four officials will wing out today for Barbados to compete in the inaugural Ronald Wilson Memorial tournament.

The Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) on Friday hosted an exhibition to educate the public on foster care and encourage Guyanese to become foster parents.

The semi-finals of the 2011 Carib Beer/Pepsi nationwide Twenty20 competition bowls off today at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Ground, Bourda from 9:00am.

NEW YORK,  (Reuters) – Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of  Life” and the Christopher Plummer film “Beginners” shared the  top prize for best feature film on Monday at the Gotham Awards,  a key event for independent movies which also marks the start  of the film-awards season culminating in the Oscars.

A 23-year-old homeless man pleaded guilty yesterday to simple larceny charges and was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment after he appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – In director David  Cronenberg’s new film about Carl Jung, Sigmund Freud and the  birth of psychoanalysis, “A Dangerous Method”, Keira Knightley  plays Jung’s formerly hysterical patient and lover Sabina  Spielrein.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – West Indies A manager Colin Borde has reiterated the value of the High Performance Centre, noting it played a key role in the recently concluded A series against Bangladesh.

CARICOM senior officials with responsibility for Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) will meet in St George’s, Grenada, tomorrow and Friday  to put the finishing touches on the draft implementation plan for the Regional Digital Development Strategy (RDDS) for submission to the CARICOM Heads of Government,  and to develop the framework for a Regional Broadband Policy.

(Reuters) – Fatigue among Spain’s players could help a well-prepared Argentina spring a surprise at this week’s Davis Cup final in Seville.

Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry yesterday remanded two men to prison after they appeared before her to answer to two counts of forgery.

(Reuters) – “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part  1” broke the $500 million mark at worldwide box offices on  Monday after its release only 12 days ago, film distributor  Summit Entertainment said yesterday.

DHAKA, (Reuters) – Off-spinners Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik grabbed two wickets apiece to lead Pakistan to a comfortable 50-run win over Bangladesh in a low-scoring, one-off Twenty20 international yesterday.

Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry yesterday granted a technician $250,000 bail when he appeared before her in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court to answer to a charge of simple larceny.

TEHRAN, (Reuters) – Iranian protesters stormed  two British diplomatic compounds in Tehran yesterday, smashing  windows, torching a car and burning the British flag in protest  against new sanctions imposed by London.

(Reuters) – American Airlines, the third-largest  U.S. carrier, and its parent AMR Corp filed for bankruptcy  protection yesterday to cut labor costs in the face of high  fuel prices and dampened travel demand.

LONDON, (Reuters) – The British Olympic Association (BOA) has “wrapped itself in a cloak of righteousness” in behaviour unworthy of Olympic hosts as it tries to defend its unilateral approach on doping, former world anti-doping chief Dick Pound said yesterday.

CARACOL, Haiti, (Reuters) – Haiti and its  international partners broke ground on Monday on a $257 million  industrial park that represents the largest foreign investment  since the Caribbean nation was hit by a catastrophic earthquake  nearly two years ago.

Caricom’s Social Develop-ment and Crime Prevention Action Plan has the potential to make a significant dent in youth violence across member states, based on the results of its implementation in Trinidad and Belize as part of a pilot project designed to reduce violence in four member states.

(Trinidad Express) Four men held by police last week in connection with the alleged plot to assassinate Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and three government ministers were on Monday served with detention orders signed by National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy.

The women of Linden were last week decked in green, some with the APNU campaign T-shirts, others with semi-casual wear, hairstyles of various shades of green, and scarves to  complete their outfit, giving a clear indication that it was  A Party for National Unity (APNU) activity in session in the conference room of the Linden Business Centre/Linden Enterprise Network (LEN).

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – Republican presidential  contender Herman Cain told aides yesterday he would reassess  the viability of his struggling campaign after an Atlanta woman  accused him of conducting a 13-year extramarital affair.

MUMBAI, (Reuters) – The Indian cricket board (BCCI) is under investigation for violating the country’s foreign exchange laws, sports minister Ajay Maken said yesterday.

The fire before it engulfed the two other buildings at

The PPP/C has promised to take further steps to stamp out domestic violence and create a society which not only respects women and is violence free, but where gender equality reigns supreme.

(Trinidad Express) Ashmeed Choate, 56, an Islamic scholar is also the principal of the Darul Qur’an Wal Hadith Islamic School, of Calcutta No 2, Freeport.

(Reuters) – Britain’s David Haye, who announced his retirement last month, has been offered the chance to fight WBC world heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko next year.

ABIDJAN, (Reuters) – Former Ivory Coast leader  Laurent Gbagbo was on a flight to the Hague-based International  Criminal Court yesterday to face an arrest warrant issued by  the global body, his lawyer said.

Several stores along Regent and Camp streets were abruptly closed for

Teacher Myrna King can be described as one of the more successful ladies who were able to balance her commitment to her profession with that to her family, fondly recalling her days moulding young minds.

LONDON (Reuters) – England soccer captain John Terry has been questioned by police investigating allegations he racially abused Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand during a match last month.

(Trinidad Express) In light of a weekend report that the low cost carrier REDjet is in jeopardy of maintaining its mandate due to exhaustion of its US$8M funds, the management of the airline is pointing finger at the Barbados Air Transport Licensing Authority for the unusual and excessive delays. These

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – Michael Jackson’s personal  physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, yesterday was sentenced to four  years in jail and denied probation for his conviction on a  charge of involuntary manslaughter in the pop star’s death.

KABUL/LAHORE, Pakistan, (Reuters) – Pakistan pulled  out of an international conference on Afghanistan yesterday, its latest angry riposte after an attack by NATO killed 24 of its soldiers and plunged the region deeper into crisis.

LONDON (Reuters) – Didier Drogba has refused Chelsea’s offer of a one-year contract extension and will go wherever he is offered the most money next year after also turning down a loan move to AC Milan, his agent said yesterday.

The Ministry of Local Government stressed that NDC councillors and representatives from the regions must cooperate with each other, the community and the ministry in order to achieve set goals, when they presented their 2012 budgets for scrutiny at a recent meeting.

(Trinidad Guardian) Empowering citizens and lowering the country’s food import bill are behind “Agriculture Now”, the Ministry of Food Production, Land and Marine Affairs’ latest farming initiative.

As the Eurozone crisis has continued, an interesting development has been the interest of the so-called emerging economic powers of what has hitherto been called the Third World in a positive outcome, and hints of a willingness to help achieve that, given appropriate conditions.

After the election: The scene outside of

Dear Editor, There have been many calls for peace during this election.

LONDON, (Reuters) – BSkyB independent  shareholders dealt James Murdoch a heavy blow yesterday with  over 40 percent failing to back his re-election as chairman,  venting their anger at his handling of a phone hacking scandal.

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – Former Brazil striker Ronaldo has been invited to take a leading 2014 World Cup role and a formal announcement is expected in the coming days, a local organising committee (LOC) source told Reuters yesterday.

Politikles

Haitian President Michel Martelly and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) president Luis Alberto Moreno have announced the completion of the US$70M, 80km-long Route Nationale 1 (RN1) one of Haiti’s principal highways.

BEIJING,  (Reuters) – Rising trade protectionism  and frustration over its domestic subsidies spell trouble for  China and could lead to more friction within the World Trade  Organization than Beijing has grown accustomed to over the past  decade.

This article was written to clarify my own views of some of the pitfalls and possibilities that may result from the 2011 elections, given my orientation towards shared governance.