Daily Archive: Friday, March 23, 2012

WELLINGTON,  (Reuters) – South Africa batsman Hashim Amla has had emergency surgery after he was hit in the groin with the ball on the opening day of the third test against New Zealand, the team said today.

LOS ANGELES,  (Reuters) – The public meltdown of the man behind the viral “Kony 2012” video has thrown his campaign into turmoil even as the film succeeded in turning the world’s attention to capturing an elusive and brutal Ugandan warlord.

RIO DE JANEIRO,  (Reuters) – A judge in Campos, Brazil, could shift the criminal charges filed against Chevron and drill-rig operator Transocean to Rio de Janeiro, a decision that would remove a crusading prosecutor from the case.

SAN FRANCISCO,  (Reuters) – A woman living near the U.S. base of a soldier accused of killing 17 Afghan civilians remembered him on Friday as an “obnoxious drunk” who pressed her hand into his crotch and picked a fight with her boyfriend.

KARACHI, (Reuters) – Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi attacked and slapped a fan at Karachi airport after he returned home from Dhaka where Pakistan won the Asia Cup final against Bangladesh today.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Embattled dancehall entertainer Vybz Kartel was this afternoon granted J$3 million bail in the Home Circuit court in relation to the murder case of businessman Barrington ‘Bossy’ Burton.

(Barbados Nation) Former Prime Minister Owen Arthur is again warning that Barbados has the most to lose from the failure of the regional integration movement.

(WICB) GROS-ISLET, St. Lucia – Big-hitting Kieron Pollard produced an extraordinary second One-day International hundred, as West Indies piled up an impressive 294 for seven from their allocation of 50 overs in the fourth Digicel ODI today.

BRUSSELS, (Reuters) – The European Union banned the wife of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from travelling to the EU or shopping with European companies in a move to stop her buying the Chanel dresses and Louboutin shoes she apparently craves.

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE, (Reuters) – Pope Benedict said on Friday communism no longer works in Cuba and that the Roman Catholic was ready to help the island find new ways of moving forward without “trauma”.

The Guyana Human Rights Association has written to the acting Top Cop in connection with the David Ramnarine case pointing out that policing standards engender, among other things, that police officials who refuse unlawful superior orders shall be granted immunity.

(Trinidad Guardian) Foreign Affairs and Communications Minister Dr Surujrattan Rambachan insists Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has strong family values which can enrich the lives of citizens.

(de Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – International human rights organizations are being mobilized to take a stand against amendment of the 1989 Amnesty Law, which will allow the perpetrators of the December murders to go unpunished.

(Jamaica Observer) The Norman Manley Law School beat more than 30 other law schools from across the world last Friday when the institution won the Frankfurt International Investment Law Mooting Competition in Germany.

The results of a post-mortem examination yesterday proved that Canje businesswoman Bibi Shameena Khairoodin died of “shock and haemorrhage due to gunshot injuries, laceration to the brain and fractured skull.”

Acting Auditor General Deodat Sharma has officially launched an investigation into the $90 million allocation made to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) near the end of last year.

Police Commissioner (ag) Leroy Brummell yesterday said that he has noted the call by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee for C ‘Division’ Commander David Ramnarine to be disciplined over recent public statements about the $90M in funds allocated to the police force for elections duties last years.

Investigators are today expected to know precisely how the two-month-old, who was used a shield during a violent confrontation between his parents, died.

Newly appointed Indigenous Relations Specialist Ashton Simon says resolving long-standing issues related to mining and the natural resources sectors will be his top priority.

The third suspect in last Friday’s execution of Diamond businessman Leonard Mahadeo has been released from police custody and according to Crime Chief Seelall Persaud there has been no further development in the case.

Food for The Poor (FFTP) hosted over 500 nursery and primary school students from Mahaicony and West Coast Berbice as part of the schools observances for Republic Day.

Attorney-at-Law Jaya Devi Manickchand was sworn-in as the newest commissioner of the Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom) yesterday and government said her appointment is evidence of the administration’s commitment to empowering women in decision-making.

Khemraj Ramjattan, the lawyer for the teen boy tortured while in police custody, yesterday said that he is only trying to ensure that his client gets justice, while denying claims by Attorney General Anil Nandlall that he wants money awarded to the boy for himself.

The University of Guyana and Trevor Hamilton & Associates of Jamaica last week Friday signed a contract under which the firm will conduct a consultancy titled “Review and Enhancement of the Regulatory Framework for the Improvement of Operations at the University of Guyana”.

GROS ISLET, St Lucia, CMC – With their five-match One-day International series tantalizingly locked at 1-1 following a pulsating tie in Tuesday’s third game, West Indies and Australia will clash again here today, chasing a victory that will hand either side a huge advantage ahead of Sunday’s finale.

The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC)  said yesterday that it is not aware of a company called REE International doing business in Guyana with respect to mining or mineral properties.

A man who was employed at the Guyana Revenue Authority was sentenced on Wednesday to one year’s imprisonment by Magistrate Sueann Lovell when he appeared before her at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to answer a charge of larceny by clerk or servant.

By Emmerson Campbell The three-day International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens World Series, known officially as the HSBC Sevens World Series, will kick off today in Hong Kong with Guyana facing Portugal in the opening match.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago will be eyeing semi-final spots when the seventh and final round of matches in the Regional Four-Day Championship bowls off today.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in collaboration with Arizona State University and the Guyana Energy Agency on Wednesday hosted a Clean Energy Workshop aimed at helping solar energy initiatives in hinterland areas.

GROS ISLET, St Lucia, CMC – Chief selector Clyde Butts believes the inclusion of opener Adrian Barath will give West Indies added stability at the top for the two remaining One-Day Internationals against Australia.

Dear Editor, I am in a position to do more than agree with Charles Ceres (‘Engineers giving poor service to projects’, SN March 19, 2012) where he says that the country is experiencing no more rain than in the past.

Magistrate Sueann Lovell on Wednesday postponed the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder of Anfernee Bowman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court after the prosecution stated that investigations into the case were not yet completed.

Declaring that the days of the PPP/C using the National Assembly as a rubber stamp are over, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) yesterday called for national support as it moves to enact laws for constitutional and electoral reforms.

(Reuters) – Serena Williams made a triumphant return to the WTA Tour yesterday, crushing China’s Zhang Shuai 6-2 6-3 in the second round of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.

Chief Executive Officer of Roraima Airways Captain Gerry Gouveia has told Stabroek Business that Caribbean Airways has served Guyana well enough over the years to allow for the regional airline to be accorded flag carrier status.

Dear Editor, It is amazing how a newspaper can easily gulp down a piece of information that came its way through the grapevine or a deep throat source and pretend that that information is credible and deemed publishable.

The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) has set the mining industry a production target of 400,000 ounces in 2012, the year in which the association is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary.

Dear Editor, Thank you for sending us the letter from Mr.

Magistrate Judy Latchman yesterday remanded a minibus tout to prison when he appeared before her at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to answer the charge of unlawful and malicious wounding.

The Golden Jaguars lost the opening match of their first of two back-to-back encounters against neighbouring French Guiana 1-0 Wednesday evening at the Stade de Baduel, Cayenne.

Two men, who are accused of a knife-point robbery in the vicinity of Stabroek Market, were remanded to prison yesterday by Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Dear Editor, SN of Wednesday, 14 March 2012, reproduced publication of a development in the sister Caricom Country of Trinidad & Tobago that should not go unnoticed at responsible levels of management of either the local public or private sector: ‘T&T Top Cop challenging job evaluation’.

A former boxer was early yesterday morning burnt to death when fire ravaged his home at Farm, East Bank Essequibo, in what authorities suspect was an arson attack.

Potential London Olympian and joint Junior Sportsman of the Year, Imran ‘Magic’ Khan along with Stefan Gouveia and Eon Bancroft registered victories in their respective bouts at the invitational box-off competition currently underway in Trinidad and Tobago.

Stronger Economic Ties No one seems to be quite sure of the reason China has increased its participation in the Caribbean.

Dear Editor, A letter in the Stabroek News of March 15th 2012: `BOSAI’s proposed expansion should be viewed with concern given its history of environmental non-compliance’, by Charles P.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales, accused of killing Afghan civilians in a shooting rampage in Kandahar province last week, will be charged with 17 counts of murder, a U.S.

Chief Cooperatives and Community Development Officer Kareem Abdul Jabar has told Stabroek Business that he intends to proceed with an exercise aimed at regularizing the operations of the Guyana Defence Force Credit Union following a letter sent to him by registered members expressing concern over the functioning of the credit union.

The Railway View Parent Committee (RVPC) on the West Coast of Demerara has won the Rotary Club of Georgetown’s coveted Vocational Service Award for its literacy project.

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has partnered with the Neal and Massy Group of Companies to stage the first ever Intermediate Second Division tournament for teams in the Ancient County.

Dear Editor, Red Thread activist, Karen DeSouza challenged the Ministry of Home Affairs on the handling of matters pertaining to that ministry.

Representatives of Latin American and Caribbean countries on Monday urged that the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) be better equipped to help them face natural disasters and potential economic downturns.

TOULOUSE, France,  (Reuters) – A 23-year-old gunman who said al Qaeda inspired him to kill seven people in France died in a hail of bullets yesterday as he scrambled out of a ground-floor window during a gunbattle with elite police commandos.

Eight years after joining the staff of the Roraima Group of Companies as a front desk clerk, Shamaine Davis believes she has positioned herself to significantly enhance the quality of service which the company offers to the tourism sector and to raise service delivery standards in the industry as a whole.

The Roraima Bikers Club is teaming up with Humphrey’s Bakery to pedal off the sixth annual George Cumberbatch Memorial 10-race cycle meet tomorrow at the National Park Circuit.

DUBLIN,  (Reuters) – Former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern failed to give a truthful account of the source of payments he received, an inquiry concluded yesterday in a long-awaited report into the dealings of one of the architects of Ireland’s ill-fated economic boom.

Guyana is the ideal location for the hosting of the much-anticipated 13th Annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development (STC 13) according to a report on the website of the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

Dear Editor, On the 20th of March, 2012 at 2:55 pm I went to the Banks DIH Outlet (Arapaima) in Main Street to have something to eat. 

University of Guyana Inter-Faculty Twenty20 defending Champions, Social Sciences batted their way to a positive start to the 2012 Inter-Faculty T20 tournament yesterday on the campus ground.

BRASILIA,  (Reuters) – Brazil’s oil regulator said Chevron was not negligent in the drilling of a well that caused an offshore oil spill in November, a finding that may help the company to fight criminal charges and an $11 billion lawsuit.

A forester with  knowledge of forestry issues here has written to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature protesting its appointment of former President Bharrat Jagdeo as its high-level envoy for sustainable development in forest countries.

(Reuters) – The financier Allen Stanford yesterday lost his bid for a new trial, 16 days after being convicted for running an estimated $7 billion Ponzi scheme.

BAMAKO,  (Reuters) – Mutinous soldiers said they seized power in Mali yesterday and ordered its borders closed, threatening to reignite conflict in a Saharan region shaken by the turmoil in Libya.

Dear Editor, In the late 1970’s a close PPP/PYO comrade and I used to regularly visit parliament to listen to Forbes Burnham, Cheddi Jagan, and off course, the witty Boysie Ramkarran.

Police remove crime scene tape from the

DHAKA,  (Reuters) – Pace bowler Aizaz Cheema grabbed three wickets at key moments to help Pakistan beat Bangladesh by two runs in a thrilling final to win the Asia Cup for the second time yesterday.

The Ministry of Finance on Monday started a five-day workshop which aims to strengthen government’s monitoring and evaluation systems with the view to improving public financial management.

Steven Jackson,  Business Writer Jamaicans now own more mobile phones – 3.1 million – than there are people in the country.

Business Cartoons

Recent reports emanating from some Caricom countries would appear to suggest that a greater measure of official emphasis is now being paid to refocusing national attention on agriculture after a period during which it was felt that food security had, in some cases, been shifted to the back burner.

Dear Editor, As reported in SN of March 20, the Deputy Mayor for the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) chaired a meeting of the Finance Committee to consider the City’s Budget for 2012 and in her brief remarks she admitted that for over twenty years the budget catered for notational balances rather than provisions for satisfactory services for the citizenry in all areas under its mandate. 

Two Fridays ago I admitted being out of my depth when I conceded to being “Perplexed by justice”, in this column.

GASCI (www.gasci.com/telephone Nº 223-6175/6) reports that session 452’s trading results showed consideration of $6,886,610 from 297,214 shares traded in 13 transactions as compared to session 451 which showed consideration of $4,665,636 from 181,176 shares traded in 9 transactions. 

SANFORD, Fla.,  (Reuters) – A local police chief and a Florida state prosecutor overseeing the case of an unarmed black teenager shot dead by a neighbourhood watch captain stepped aside yesterday following withering criticism and national outrage that police have declined to arrest the shooter.

TORONTO,  (Reuters) – The NBA-leading Chicago Bulls remain wary of complacency as they look to close out a dominant regular season, mindful of their premature exit from last year’s playoffs as the top seed.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called the gunman who killed three French paratroopers and a rabbi and three young children in Toulouse, a “monster.”

LOS ANGELES,  (Reuters) – Pop star Whitney Houston died of accidental drowning due to the effects of cocaine use and heart disease, a Los Angeles County coroner’s spokesman said yesterday.

Politikles

(Trinidad Express) Trinidad Cement Ltd (TCL) has withdrawn its offer of a seven per cent wage increase to striking workers and has refused to continue negotiations with the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU), blaming the union for acts of violence and terror tactics against the company.

(Trinidad Express) The Heritage and Stabilisation Fund now stands at US$4 billion, Finance Minister Winston Dookeran said yesterday.

(Trinidad Express) Vice president of Operations at Caribbean Airlines (CAL), Thomas Lawrence, has been demoted and chief pilot Jagmohan Singh is now acting in his position at the State carrier.