Daily Archive: Monday, December 12, 2011

OTTAWA, (Reuters) – Canada will pull out of the  Kyoto protocol on climate change, Environment Minister Peter  Kent said today, dealing a symbolic blow to the troubled  global treaty.

Businessman Ranjisinghi Ramroop and four companies that he is a director of have sued Guyana Publications Limited, publishers of Stabroek News and the Sunday Stabroek and Anthony Vieira.

Bishop Juan Edghill has resigned from the Ethnic Relations Commission. This was expected as he had mounted the PPP/C platform during the recent elections campaign and has now been named a minister of government.

The Guyana Elections Commission today said that the integrity of ballot boxes which are stored at Coldingen on the East Coast remains intact.

The police say they are investigating the murder of Onika Albert, 23 years of Princetown, Corriverton, Berbice, which occurred at about 1230 h.

Six persons accused of the July 12 $7 million Bel Air Gardens robbery yesterday made another court appearance before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ court, while the charges against a seventh accused, Shawn Hinds, were withdrawn.

(De Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – Cancellation of the Carolina bridge project will cost the government dearly for now bridge constructor Ballast-Nedam must be reimbursed for 3.6 million Euros.

In much the same way that there are winners and losers at general elections, so too there are winners and losers among those individuals who get a piece of the political pie.

Police say that at about 0930h yesterday, Rayn Rajkumar, 21 years of Claybrick Road, Canal No.

(Jamaica Observer) Commissioner of the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), Terrence Williams said it was illegal for police and soldiers to wear masks while on operations.

(Jamaica Observer) A University of the West Indies student who allegedly used a screwdriver to stab the mother of his child to death was on Friday offered $200,000 bail when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court.

(Barbados Nation) Political suicide! This is how outspoken parliamentarian Denis Kellman has described reported moves to oust Prime Minister Freundel Stuart.

(Barbados Nation) Barbadians could benefit from a reduction in Value Added Tax (VAT) – at least for one day – on the heels of Duty-Free Day and calls for a repeat of the initiative.

(Trinidad Express) The threats from the labour unions to shut down the country are very disturbing and are a sign of utter desperation, said chairman emeritus of the ANSA McAL Group of Companies, Anthony N Sabga.

(Trinidad Express) Businessmen are bracing for massive losses over the upcoming Christmas season after the continued stand-off between union and management left the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago crippled for four days.

(Trinidad Express) A 72-year-old car rental businessman was killed by three men posing as customers.

HOBART, (Reuters) – New Zealand paceman Doug  Bracewell took six wickets in a devastating spell of bowling to  fire his country to a dramatic first test victory over Australia  since 1993 by just seven runs today.

CHENNAI, India, CMC – Kieron Pollard lashed a sensational maiden One-Day International century but West Indies crashed to a 34-run defeat to India in the fifth and final game here yesterday.

The PPP/C has expressed concern over the security of ballot boxes after receiving reports that three containers were broken into yesterday at a GECOM storage bond located at Coldingen, East Coast Demerara.

Old Fort, Flora GCC and Trinidad & Tobago’s Fatima were crowned champions after the seventh Diamond Mineral Water International Hockey Festival ended last night at the National Gymnasium.

Guyanese and Queens, New York businessman Ed Ahmad charged with operating a US$50M mortgage fraud scheme in New York is negotiating a plea deal according to a US newspaper.

A new champion will be crowned this year after last year’s winners Broad Street were ousted 0-1 by Back Circle at the quarter-final stage of the 2011 Guinness-in-the-Streets tournament played at the East Ruimveldt Community Center Ground on Saturday evening.

The Youth Coalition for Transformation (YCT) says it is behind a call for the boycott of certain businesses – not APNU – and it yesterday said that its move is not aimed at the Indian community noting that two of its main targets are the Afro-Guyanese businessmen in Kashif and Shanghai.

Fringe West Indies Twenty20 player Christopher Barnwell celebrated his selection as Guyana captain for next month’s CaribbeanT20 competition by producing an excellent batting performance for Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) in their Georgetown Cricket Association/Carib Beer/Heroes Cup, two-day, first division match against Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) at DCC over the weekend.

When parliament is convened, the Alliance For Change and opposition coalition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) say that they will be pushing for the establishment of the Public Procurement Commis-sion (PPC) in what can be an early test of the government’s flexibility on a constitutional body that has been stalled for a decade.

Dear Editor, The private sector has been getting a lot of attention over the last few days, especially after concerns were raised about the comments made by representatives of the Private Sector Commis-sion in the public and other media about the elections. 

Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI) has said that “we must all work together to eradicate corruption whatever form it may take,” and called on  citizens to “arm themselves with sufficient courage  to hold accountable those in public office.”

Pre-tournament favourites Pele Football Club got their campaign off the perfect start as they hammered tournament newcomers Timehri Panthers 10-0 in the second game of opening night action of the 22nd annual Kashif and Shanghai football tournament at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), Bourda ground Saturday evening.

CHENNAI, India, IANS/CMC –  Century-maker Kieron Pollard said Sunday West Indies lacked the killer instinct, after he failed in his bid to help them win the fifth and final One-Day International here yesterday.

The New Amsterdam Town Council (NATC) plans to continue to upgrade the town and officials are asking the newly formed government to review the $10M subvention.

The lifeless body of an unidentified man was yesterday morning discovered on the pavement in the vicinity of Broad and Ketley streets, Charlestown.

CHENNAI, India, IANS/CMC – While expressing happiness over India’s 4-1 series win against the West Indies here yesterday, stand-in captain Gautam Gambhir cautioned that the forthcoming tour of Australia would be a “different ball game” that will put to test both the technique and mental toughness of the players.

Jennifer Young, accused of murdering a man in her backyard, on Thursday last led her case before Justice Winston Patterson, stating to the High Court that she had remained in her house throughout a frightening ordeal on the night in question.

Dear Editor, I refer to Bud Mangal’s letter titled ‘An interesting statistic‘ (SN, December 12), and ask what is he saying or trying to say?

CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh,  (Reuters) – Younus Khan smashed an unbeaten double hundred and Asad Shafiq helped himself to his maiden test century before regular strikes put Pakistan on course for a win in the first test against Bangladesh yesterday.

HOBART,  (Reuters) – Rain stalled Australia’s pursuit of 241 runs for victory on the third day of the second test against New Zealand  yesterday, wiping out the final session after the hosts had made 72 without loss at tea.

Dear Editor, Members of the administration including the hierarchy of the police force must stop treating the citizens of the country as though they will easily fall prey to their blandishments and propaganda.

Newly-approved EZjet Air Services plans to initially operate its charter along the Guyana-New York route up to March next year.

DURBAN,  (Reuters) – Countries from around the  globe agreed yesterday to forge a new deal forcing all the  biggest polluters for the first time to limit greenhouse gas  emissions, but critics said the plan was too timid to slow  global warming.

(Reuters) – Britain’s Amir Khan lost his WBA super-lightweight and IBF light-welterweight titles on Saturday after he was deducted two points and dropped a split decision to American Lamont Peterson.

(Trinidad Express) Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has apologised to Cuban President Raul Castro who was not allowed to stay at the Hilton Trinidad, St Ann’s, for the Caricom/Cuba Summit held last week in Port of Spain.

Dear Editor, The elections are over and the changes that are likely to take place at the level of the National Assembly are welcomed by most people and are the subject of discussion throughout the country.

One person has since been arrested in connection with the Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara robbery during which an elderly couple was savagely beaten.

BRUSSELS, (Reuters) – It was billed as a summit  to save the euro.

(Barbados Nation) Eleven Government Members of parliament (MPs) – including seven senior Cabinet ministers – on Saturday affixed their signatures to a formal letter and immediately dispatched it to Prime Minister Freundel Stuart requesting an “urgent” audience.

NEW YORK,  (Reuters) – A Guyanese woman who was framed by her ex-boyfriend for armed robbery and spent more than six months in jail is suing New York City, Nassau County and a number of police detectives who she said ignored critical exonerating evidence and aided her ex-boyfriend’s “preposterous” conspiracy because of his ties to local law-enforcement agents.

Dear Editor, The omission of Ramnaresh Sarwan from the Guyana squad selected for the upcoming T20 Regional Tournament was hatched at the level of the West Indies Cricket Board in collaboration with some Guyanese cricket officials.

(Trinidad Express) The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce has called for more attention to good governance by business and government in 2012.

Dear Editor, Am I Rip Van Winkle? Have I been asleep?

Alissa Trotz is editor of the In the Diaspora column. Barbadian writer George Lamming has written compellingly of the limits of Westminster style democracy in the Caribbean, a system he sees as reducing the populace “to the dormant and abused status of electoral fodder [where] every five years, they become visible and decisive in a tribal power game which concludes with their absence from any serious consultation about their future.”

CARICOM and Cuba last week renewed their commitment to  strengthen trade and economic cooperation and it is expected that efforts will be redoubled towards the full implementation of the CARICOM-Cuba Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement.

MOSCOW,  (Reuters) – If Vladimir Putin is to  face a Russian rebellion, its spiritual leader may be a  35-year-old blogger named Alexei Navalny.

(Trinidad Express) Industrial action at the Port of Port of Spain left several departments at a standstill on Saturday.

Acting on information received, at about 2155h on Saturday night, police ranks went to Melanie Damishana, ECD, where an unlicensed .22 pistol was found.

GAMBOA, Panama,  (Reuters) – Manuel Noriega, Panama’s  drug-running military dictator of the 1980s, was extradited  home yesterday and taken straight to prison to serve a 20-year  sentence for the murders of opponents during his rule.

Dear Editor, I have started a Facebook page called Our Guyana in the hope that it will become another forum for Guyanese, at home and in the diaspora, to express and harmonise our views about the change we envision for Guyana.

Last week protesters from APNU demonstrated outside of the premises of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, Dr Steve Surujbally and Chief Election Officer, Mr Gocool Boodoo.

This week we asked the man and woman in the street about their voting experience on November 28 at their respective polling stations and their views on the results of general and regional elections.