Daily Archive: Wednesday, January 11, 2012

In the wake of serious concerns about aviation accidents here, two safety seminars were hosted here by the civil aviation authority last month.

The crash-landing of a Caribbean Airlines plane here on July 31, 2011  was primarily due to the pilot making a “long landing” and having insufficient room to come to a safe stop, a statement from the civil aviation body here today said.

The police say there was a decrease of 8% in murders during last year when figures of 140 for 2010 and 129 for 2011 are compared.

(de Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – Haiti is the first stop of President Desi Bouterse’s upcoming tour of CARICOM countries as the regional block’s chairman.

(de Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – The Jamaican paper Jamaica Observer harshly criticized President Desi Bouterse as CARICOM chairman in its edition of yesterday.

(Trinidad Guardian) Caribbean Airlines (CAL) has spent over a quarter-million dollars to fly one its directors — Abhedanand Persad Sharma and his wife, Lisa Ramnarine-Persad — to India to accompany Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on her trip.

(Trinidad Express) Planning Minister Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie was part of a three-member audit team mandated to ensure good governance at CL Financial and must accept some responsibility for the conglomerate’s collapse.

(Trinidad Express) Acting Minister of National Security Herbert Volney yesterday described as “treachery” the leaking of a report by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley to discredit the alleged plot to assassinate Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and three other ministers.

The main opposition, A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) has agreed to support Alliance For Change leader, Raphael Trotman as the Speaker for the 10th Parliament, a source confirmed this morning.

(Barbados Nation) Almost 500 pounds of cannabis have been seized in a drug exercise which took place yesterday at the Crane in St Philip.

Police at the Central Police Station at New Amsterdam,  Berbice, are probing  a report that US$4,900 (around $1M) was stolen from a bag which was left in the office of the officer-in-charge of the  station.

(Reuters) – Senior batsman Rahul Dravid has  batted down suggestions of a rift in India’s struggling test  team and said he was working hard to correct flaws in his  defence which has been repeatedly breached in the series against  Australia.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), though still locked in negotiation over a candidate for Speaker of the National Assembly, said that they are both ready for the first sitting of the 10th Parliament scheduled for tomorrow.

The bloated bodies of fisherman, Pooran Mathoor, 39, of Cromarty Farm and his worker, Fernando ‘Rakesh’ Singh, 17, of Bush Lot, Corentyne were found on Monday and yesterday respectively; the fishing boat remains missing.

Dr Moti Lall, a stalwart of the PPP and a former Member of Parliament died on Monday night of a suspected heart attack at his Republic Park, East Bank Demerara home surrounded by his family.

The cancellation of several flights are being seen as signs that Barbados-based REDjet may be facing financing trouble, but the airline yesterday said that changes in its flight schedules are part of a planned expansion of its services.

Businessman Roger Hinds was last evening shot two times and robbed of an estimated $10 million, inclusive of gold and diamond jewellery.

By Frances Abraham and Shabna Ullah The Subhan family of Bel Air, West Coast Berbice was yesterday attacked by four bandits who invaded their home and business and stole almost $800,000 before abducting a male family member and escaping in the family car.

Four masked gunmen invaded the Fung-Fook Supermarket at Vryheid Village, West Canje, Berbice on Monday evening and stole an undisclosed sum of cash and a quantity of jewellery.

A New York-based Guyanese has lost his kidney after he was shot in a late night robbery on Monday at Savage Street, North Ruimveldt.

Story by Lakeram Bhagirat and photos by Brenon Sookram The death of a Norton Street, Lodge man, who was hit near his home by a bus that was reportedly swerving from a pothole, yesterday triggered a protest by residents who blocked the road and set garbage on fire to press authorities for repairs.

Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry yesterday committed Balram Singh to be tried in the High Court for the murder of taxi driver Bomeshwar Sukhdeo, while the case against his co-accused, Bharrat Narine, was discharged.

Two charges against attorney at law James Bond following a fracas in East Ruimveldt on January 7 were dismissed yesterday in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Vreed–en-Hoop roadside vendors yesterday bemoaned the dismantling of their stalls and complained that the action by the authorities had threatened their livelihood.

Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton sentenced a man to three years jail and imposed a fine of $10,000 on him after he admitted that he had unlawful possession of a .32 pistol and five matching rounds.

Guyana is named among 61 low or middle income countries that depend on minerals for more than 25 percent of their tangible exports and is also identified among 20 which might be especially vulnerable to the “resource curse,” where substantial changes in commodity prices could severely affect their development.

By Emmerson Campbell Guyana’s welterweight champion Iwan ‘Pure Gold’ Azore and Simeon ‘Candy Man’ Hardy proved yesterday at their contract signing at the Abdool and Abdool building that there is indeed have bad blood between them.

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) dynamic sprint duo of  Rupert Perry and Quinse Clark,  is looking forward to making their Olympics debut when the 2012 London Olympics runs off from July 27 to August 12.

While identifying the time it takes to have pending cases heard and determined as the most fundamental problem facing the system, new Attorney General Anil Nandlall has said that the appointment of part-time judges, lay magistrates and the setting up of a night court are among the possible solutions.

U.S. President Barack Obama has sent a congratulatory message to President Donald Ramotar on his victory at Guyana’s general and regional elections on November 28, 2011.

NORTH SOUND, Antigua, CMC – For different reasons, Leon Johnson and Darren Sammy, the star performers on the opening day of the Caribbean Twenty20 tournament, said they were glad to play a part in their sides securing victory.

Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn says that outstanding lease payments for the Celina Atlantic Resort were made and he is not aware of any change of ownership.

SYDNEY, Australia, CMC – Chris Gayle deflected comments that the Sydney Thunder was a one-man show following his outstanding form in the Big Bash Twenty20 League for the franchise.

Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali has said the development of a re-migrant housing scheme at Providence is on track and it expects to have at least 500 lots completed by March.

(Reuters) – Carmelo Anthony swooped in to score eight of his 22 points in the last three minutes and deliver the New York Knicks a 91-87 home victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Monday.

Detective Assistant Superintendent Hugh Jessamy continued his testimony yesterday when the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder of 16-year-old Neesa Lalita Gopaul was heard.

The Environmental Community Health Organisation (ECHO) is advancing its green education programme, which includes plans to build several “eco-learning centres” to conduct training on good environmental practices.

NORTH SOUND, Antigua, CMC – Sussex Sharks overcame feeble batting, undermined by a career-best spell from Tim van der Gugten, to fashion a 34-run victory over the Netherlands in the Caribbean Twenty20 tournament yesterday.

By Emmerson Campbell The Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) has chosen national amateur flyweight champion and road to London pugilist, Imran ‘Magic’ Khan as their boxer of the year 2011.

The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) will be focusing on strengthening corporate relationships with the aim of boosting blood donation as the local public health system needs 12,000 units of blood annually to meet its needs.

Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy says his technical people are confident that interventions implemented in farm areas that flooded after persistent rainfall last month will hold up and prevent similar damage if rain continues.

Dear Editor, I refer to a letter published in the letter column of Sunday Stabroek, January 8, under the caption ‘Appointment of Sita Ramlal as Solicitor General is unconstitutional.’

SYDNEY, (Reuters) – There is no closely guarded secret to Caroline Wozniacki’s grit, no private belief she clings to in moments of despair on a tennis court.

CAPE TOWN, (Reuters) – Mike Brearley, one of England’s most successful cricket captains, said yesterday that eradicating corruption from the game was probably impossible but that was no reason to stop trying.

Dear Editor, As the relative of a prisoner committed to stand trial in the High Court, a recent newspaper article has been the source of great anxiety and concern for me and my family.

Dear Editor, Warmest greetings to you and your staff for 2012!

Dear Editor, I want to kill two proverbial birds with one stone.

(Reuters) – India’s cricketers are the most vulnerable in the international game and wilt when subjected to sustained pressure, Australia wicketkeeper and vice captain Brad Haddin said yesterday ahead of the third test between the two countries.

DUBAI, (Reuters) – Pakistan cricket team manager Naveed Akram Cheema said he was “absolutely clear and confident” there would be no repeat of the spot-fixing controversy when his team play England in the United Arab Emirates over the next two months.

MANCHESTER, N.H., (Reuters) – Mitt Romney took  a crucial step toward the Republican U.S.

Dear Editor, Several times during the past two weeks Mr Mark Benschop made reference to President Donald Ramotar both in the print and electronic media as the ‘Minority President.‘

BEIRUT,  (Reuters) – Syrian President Bashar  al-Assad vowed yesterday to strike  “terrorists” with an iron  fist and derided Arab League efforts to halt violence in a  10-month-old revolt against his rule.

Lodge residents block road in protest

(Trinidad Guardian) Dr Bhoe Tewarie—who served as a director for 14 years at the Lawrence Duprey-helmed conglomerate—sought the confidence of Central Bank Governor Ewart Williams.

The Guyana Cricket Board  has sent a congratulatory message to the Christopher Barnwell-led national Twenty20 cricket team for its victory over the Leeward Islands at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Monday night.

Dear Editor, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate telephone giant GT&T for offering Guyanese and particularly Berbicians the opportunity to witness the first ever Bollywood Jingle and Song competition at the Albion Community Centre ground.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, CMC – Night-time Tests may be just around the corner if a leading English official has his way.

DHAKA, (Reuters) – Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief executive officer Manzur Ahmed has died of a heart attack at the age of 57, his family and the board confirmed yesterday.

Dear Editor, One of the most educational annual magazines promoting Guyana’s eco-tourism product has again lived up to expectations –THAG‘s annual Explore Guyana 2012: The call of the wild.

(Jamaica Observer) Contractor General Greg Christie has asked the new People’s National Party administration to declare its hand in negotiations with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) for completion of the US$600-million North-South Link Highway 2000, and for the consequential granting of a 50-year toll concession to that company is concerned.

Lodge residents block road in protest

PARIS,  (Reuters) – A French probe into what  sparked the 1994 Rwandan genocide appears to exonerate current  President Paul Kagame and his Tutsi allies after Paris had  previously accused him of triggering the killing of 800,000  people in 100 days.

Politikles

Dear Editor, Please allow me to give my sympathy to the family and friends of the late Karen Badal, who passed away at the Georgetown Public Hospital after a doctor performed a botched and illegal abortion at his residence. 

BRASILIA,  (Reuters) – Brazil will grant  residence visas to thousands of poor Haitian migrants who  entered the country illegally from Bolivia and Peru looking for  work, government officials said yesterday.

(Trinidad Express) Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs on Monday confirmed the police have not found enough evidence linking 17 men to an alleged assassination plot against Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and three Government ministers.

The current discourse about the election of a speaker for our new National Assembly has been variously described and assessed but here I will discuss the opportunity it presents us to identify and contemplate some important issues, the nature of which are likely to stay with us as we go forward in the present political context.

Indications by the new Governments of St Lucia and Jamaica that efforts will be made to have their countries join the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) will have once again raised popular hopes that our governments are willing to implement the commitments that they make – even if belatedly.

Lodge residents block road in protest

KARACHI, (Reuters) – Teenage Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir, serving six-months in jail for spot-fixing elements of a test match, could still have a future in international cricket, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf said.