Daily Archive: Friday, March 30, 2012

(Jamaica Observer) Defending four-day champions Jamaica were dismissed for 196 on the opening day of the regional semi-final match against Guyana at Sabina Park.

1. Introduction   1.1              Mr. Speaker, I rise to move the motion for the approval of the Estimates of the Public Sector and the Budget for the Financial Year 2012 and, in so doing, I wish to indicate that, pursuant to Article 171 Paragraph 2 of the Constitution, the Cabinet has recommended that the National Assembly proceed upon this motion.

(Reuters) – Dwayne Smith smashed a half-century before Fidel Edwards and Marlon Samuels bowled superbly to lead West Indies to a 14-run win over Australia in their second Twenty20 international today.

Presenting a $192.8 billion budget in the National Assembly this afternoon, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh announced, among other things, that old age pension will be increased to $8,100 per month,up from $7,500 and public assistance would increase to $5,500, up from $5,100.

Police say that the body of a man identified as Rakeshwar Narinepersaud was found at about 1730h on March 23, 2012, on the roadway at Light and Fourth Streets, Alberttown, Georgetown.

ZURICH, (Reuters) – FIFA, stung by a string of corruption cases, approved plans to give its ethics committee more bite today although further reforms suggested by a independent governance expert were put on hold.

President’s College defeated Mae’s Secondary School yesterday in the final of the GT&T `Know your stuff’ quiz.

(Jamaica Gleaner) The Court of Appeal has sentenced convicted killer Jeffrey Perry to life imprisonment for the 2005 murders of three children in Killancholly, St Mary.

The University of Guyana Library, Turkeyen Campus says it will be launching its online library services on April 2, 2012 at 11:00 h in the Education Lecture Theatre.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Workers on French energy company Total’s North Sea Elgin platform repeatedly raised safety concerns about rising gas pressure but were told a leak “could not happen” only hours before one took place, a trade union leader said today.

A section of the Paradise/Foulis  road, East Coast Demerara sank sometime last night.

(de Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – Pertjajah Luhur (PL) will vote for amendment of the Amnesty Act.

(de Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the international press freedom watchdog, is strongly against the proposed amendment to the 1989 Amnesty Act.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says Dominica will join the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as its final court of appeal, the Caribbean Media Corporation reported yesterday.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) said that St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Ambassador to the United Nations, Camillo Gonsalves, was arrested and placed in handcuffs yesterday after he refused to identify himself, according to the Caribbean Media Corporation.

(Barbados Nation) Barbados’ next generation of cricketing stars have been told that they have wonderful opportunities which should not be wasted but which should be fully exploited to better themselves and the region.

(Trinidad Express) The people of this country can expect better times ahead as State- owned Petrotrin has struck “black gold” with the discovery of 48 million barrels of crude oil, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said yesterday.

Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang yesterday ruled against the advice by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to charge Police Commissioner Henry Greene with rape, finding that it was irrational as the circumstantial evidence did not present a realistic prospect of a conviction.

The woman who accused Police Commissioner Henry Greene of raping her is standing by the allegation, while saying she went public to set a good example to her young daughters.

Mortgage charges brought by authorities in New York against US cricket captain and former Guyanese player Steve Massiah were dropped last week Monday following a motion by the prosecutor before Judge Joan M.

Desiree Jeffers, accused of murdering her reputed husband and dumping his body in the septic tank aback their 622 Parfait Harmonie, West Bank Demerara home between January 19 and 20 of last year was yesterday committed to stand trial in the High Court when she appeared at the Wales Magistrate’s Court.

Attorney Nigel Hughes has written Chief of Staff Commodore Best requesting an immediate investigation of an allegation that the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) was involved in “setting up” three persons who  were charged with treason.

Women’s rights activists are disappointed at the decision to overturn a recommendation that Police Commission-er Henry Greene be charged with rape, and a call was made for him to answer for professional misconduct over the admission that he had sex with his accuser.

The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) at the behest of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment has initiated an investigation involving the Audit Office and Police into the fraudulent conversion of funds related to prospecting and mining permits for an overseas mining company.

University of Guyana (UG) staffers and students will be lobbying all Members of Parliament (MPs) to support a petition to replace the current university council, which they blame for presiding over the institution’s deterioration.

The Electoral Assistance Bureau (EAB) wants voter education to be taught in schools, saying that Guyanese are largely unprepared for elections because of the absence of a sustained civic education programme.

Residents of the Whim/ Bloomfield Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Corentyne complained bitterly about the deplorable condition of the cemetery road at Whim and called for it to be fixed immediately.

The APNU has rebuffed statements coming from Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr.

APNU front bencher Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine is defending the move by the opposition for a majority on the Parliamentary Management Committee (PMC), while dismissing criticism that it would harm cooperation with government.

Guyana will face off with defending champions Jamaica in one of two scheduled semi-final matches of the 2011/12 Regional four-day competition today at the world famous Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica that is  known as the ‘Holiday Home of Cricket’.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) said that there was never any agreement among the Opposition groups to exclude the Parliamentary Management Committee from those whose composition they are attempting to change through motions seeking to amend the Standing Orders.

By Emmerson Campbell The Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) will come alive tonight when the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) presents the 21st edition of the Guyana Fight Night Pro Am card.

The Guyana Revenue Authority yesterday said that on March 23, 2012 its enforcement arm seized $15M of uncustomed alcohol at Mahaica and five persons were arrested.

The  attorney representing a D’urban Street taxi driver who is on charges of discharging a loaded firearm, illegally entering Guyana and committing a common assault told the court that this may be a case of mistaken identity.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago will be looking to go one better this year when they clash with perennial archrivals Barbados in one of two semi-finals in the Regional Four-Day Championship starting at Queen’s Park Oval here today.

By Iva Wharton The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company yesterday presented a cheque for $1 million to the tennis association.

General Manager of the Transport and Harbours Department Marclene Merchant says the Lady Northcote is back in operation and sailed to the North West District event free.

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Out-of-sorts opener Devon Smith has been named in a WICB President’s XI to face Australia in three-day tour match starting in Barbados on Monday.

A vendor who admitted to damaging the front windscreen of his half brother’s bus was ordered to pay a fine of $30,000 or serve six weeks imprisonment by Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

A 12-member team of  Guyana’s  foremost  powerlifters is currently in St Thomas,  United States Virgin Islands (USVI)  competing in the two-day sixth annual North American Powerlifting Federation Caribbean Powerlifting Championships which commences today.

A taxi driver on a charge of fraudulent misappropriation was placed on $75,000 bail  yesterday by Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Suriname Airways’ April 3 inaugural flight between Georgetown and Miami ushers in what promises to a ground-breaker in the relationship between the two South Ameri-can Republics, the airline’s Guyana Repre-sentative Rudi Westerborg told Stabroek Business in an exclusive interview on Wednesday.

A Bangkok-based company is seeking to establish a multi-million-dollar company in Guyana to manufacture mercury-free mining equipment which it says it hopes to sell not only to Guyana but to other gold-producing countries in South America.

Nominations for the position of president of the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) will be made when the body hosts its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and elections of office bearers today from 5:30pm at the Georgetown Sports Club, Camp Street.

Dear Editor, Please permit me the space in your newspaper to reply to Minister Priya Manickchand’s letter in the March 29 edition of your newspaper entitled ‘Funds for legal aid in Linden were provided under the GOG/UNICEF Country Programme.‘

A US Army veteran who is accused of assaulting a peace officer, disorderly behaviour and resisting arrest by a peace officer during an incident at the US Embassy was placed on $50,000 bail  by Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

There was no mistaking the sense of optimism and enthusiasm in the tone of Suriname Airways Guyana Representative Rudi Westerborg during the briefing which he gave this newspaper earlier this week on the airline’s new twice weekly service between Georgetown and Miami which commences on April 3.

Dear Editor, With respect to the letter by Ms Sherlina Nageer published on March 27, 2012 under the caption ‘The stereotypes perpetuated in Ghansham’s ad for Alesie still play a huge role in oppressing Guyanese women today,‘ we took good notice and explain hereunder: The Alesie Group of Companies is a three generations old company and is deeply moved by the farmers’ plight and supports all movements for equality.

CARICOM Secretary-General, Irwin LaRocque, said yesterday that the impatience of the region’s citizens to enjoy the benefits of integration should serve as an impetus to ensure the urgent resolution of  outstanding issues that hinder Community nationals, including the private sector, from taking full advantage of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). 

The inner circuit of the National Park will become a cycling speedway tomorrow when national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed and Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) team up to host the seventh annual Diamond

OTTAWA,  (Reuters) – Canada, intent on boosting development of the oil-rich tar sands, will speed up the process for approving big energy and industrial projects such as pipelines.

Air Fares

Dear Editor, The price of gold fell to US$1,667 an ounce mid-March thus reversing the upward trend experienced when the price continued to rise to reach US$1788 in February 2012.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Usain Bolt, already the world’s fastest man, could lop another 0.18 seconds off his 100 metre sprint world record even without running any faster.

A woman and her young male neighbour were placed on $15,000 and $12,000 bail respectively when they appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday to answer charges of unlawful wounding, common assault and malicious damage to property.

GALLE, Sri Lanka, (Reuters) – Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath claimed a career-best match haul of 12 wickets to propel Sri Lanka to a 75-run victory in the first test yesterday as England slumped to their fourth defeat in a row.

An Alliance For Change (AFC) team in a recent outreach to Region Five was told by residents about problems they are encountering with the National Insurance Scheme, Guyana Water Inc.

Dear Editor, I have been following the debate on performance appraisals by Earl John and recently, Nowrang Persaud, both well recognized human resources professionals.

Public Accountability Most times when there is an appeal for public assistance, it is the Police seeking help finding a suspect or some vulnerable community or needy individuals in search of government aid. 

TEGUCIGALPA, (Reuters) – At least 13 people were killed in a prison fight in northern Honduras yesterday, spotlighting the country’s dysfunctional prison system just weeks after a fire in a different jail killed more than 300 inmates.

Dear Editor, ‘Under the Microscope‘ is the name of a TV programme on which the Minister of Agriculture appeared distinctly oblivious of being under the microscope of facts better known to several listeners than he pretended to be.

Stacy Thomas is assertive about her skills as a cake maker.

BEIRUT, (Reuters) – President Bashar al-Assad said yesterday Syria would spare no effort to ensure the success of international envoy Kofi Annan’s peace mission but warned it would not work without securing an end to foreign funding and arming of rebels opposing him.

GALLE, Sri Lanka, (Reuters) – Captain Andrew Strauss was at a loss to explain what had gone wrong for his England team after they were beaten for the fourth test in a row yesterday.

The International Qaseeda Competition 2012 will be held on April 6 and 8 at the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC).

Dear Editor, Please allow me a brief comment on Sherlina Nageer’s letter captioned, ‘The stereotypes perpetuated…‘ in SN of March 27.

Stakeholders in Guyana’s multi-million dollar cosmetics industry may have noted the recent disclosure by the Ministry of Health’s Food and Drugs Department (FDD) regarding the presence in skin lighteners and other beauty products of potentially harmful levels of mercury, but are not prepared to go public on an issue which Head of the FDD Marilyn Collins says we have every reason to worry about.

Professional Guard Service will be hosting a special award ceremony for several members of its staff who served with distinction during the last quarter of 2011 and the first quarter of this year.

GUATEMALA CITY,  (Reuters) – Guatemalan President Otto Perez accused Washington yesterday of pressuring Central American leaders to boycott a summit he convened last Saturday to discuss changes on drug policy in the region, including decriminalization of narcotics.

A Camp Street prisoner was yesterday wounded during an early morning fight and after being treated at the Georgetown Hospital was returned to the correctional facility.

BRASILIA,  (Reuters) – Brazilian lawmakers on Wednesday moved a step closer to passing a long-delayed measure key to preparations for the 2014 soccer World Cup, breaking a gridlock in Congress that threatened to delay President Dilma Rousseff’s legislative agenda this year.

KEY BISCAYNE, Florida,  (Reuters) – World number one Victoria Azarenka’s 26-match winning streak finally came to an end on Wednesday with a 6-3 6-3 defeat to France’s Marion Bartoli at the Sony Ericsson Open.

A miner who is on a charge of breaking and entering  was placed on $130,000 bail  when he appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Dear Editor, We refer to the letter from Mr Cheddi Berret Jagan II published in the Stabroek News of Saturday, March, 24, 2012 (‘Passengers were never offered an explanation as to why this EZjet flight was cancelled’).

More buyers at EXPO Jamaica this year The Jamaica Promotions Company (JAMPRO) has announced that that is is bringing at least 60 per cent more overseas ‘buyers’ to the Expo Jamaica trade show this year.

OTTAWA,  (Reuters) – Canada plans to eliminate a backlog of stale immigration applications by skilled workers, in a potentially controversial move designed to enable immigrants whose skills are in greater current demand to enter the country faster.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Accusing the Permanent Secretaries Board (PSB) of attempting to muzzle the Office of the Contractor General (OCG), head of the oversight body, Greg Christie, on Tuesday rebuked the board for trespassing on the lawful authority and jurisdiction of his office under the Contractor General Act.

A man was arrested when police ranks responded to a report of threats at Anarika, Essequibo River on March 28.

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – Leaders of the BRICS group of emerging market nations pressed Western powers to cede more voting rights at the IMF this year and flayed the rich world’s reflationary monetary policies for putting global economic stability in jeopardy.

(Reuters) – Blake Griffin soared through the air in a spectacular third-quarter move that helped the Los Angeles Clippers take flight in a 103-86 triumph over the visiting Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.

Dear Editor, I was in Trinidad during the Guyana v Trinidad match at Queens Park Oval two weeks ago, and again last week when W Indies played Australia in St Lucia. 

(Jamaica Observer) Popular bush remedies, or ‘bush teas’ widely consumed in Jamaica and other Caribbean nations have been found to be potentially harmful in recent scientific studies and appraisal by the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, St Andrew.

Guyana is seeking to position itself to take advantage of the potentially lucrative wedding tourism niche in the regional visitor arrival market currently being enjoyed by other countries in the Caribbean though the initiative will require amendments to the country’s existing Marriage Act to reduce the length of time which visitors are required to be in Guyana before they can tie nuptials here.

The Government Analyst Food and Drug Department is advising all manufacturers and repackagers of drugs, cosmetics and medical devices to submit applications to renew their licenses before Saturday.

Baroda branch

GASCI (www.gasci.com/telephone Nº 223-6175/6) reports that session 453’s trading results showed consideration of $1,059,385 from 78,653 shares traded in 10 transactions as compared to session 452 which showed consideration of $6,886,610 from 297,214 shares

BAMAKO/ABIDJAN,  (Reuters) – Jets carrying West African presidents for a meeting with Mali’s new military leaders were forced to turn back mid-flight yesterday after hundreds of supporters of last week’s coup invaded Bamako’s main runway.

Dear Editor, I would like to bring to your attention to the problem of cows in the Diamond Grove community.

Treason

A man was arrested by police in connection with the finding of an unlicensed .38 Colt revolver along with six rounds.

“Quality” is intended to refer to the standard of living we here “enjoy”.

President’s College (PC) and Mae’s Secondary School will vie for the championship title at the finals of the “Know Your Stuff” quiz series tonight.

A little means a lot

From his arrival in Cuba’s second city, Santiago, on Tuesday, to his departure from the capital, Havana on Wednesday, Pope Benedict XVI, spoke with all the moral authority and diplomatic skill befitting the spiritual leader of the world’s one billion Roman Catholics.

KEY BISCAYNE, Florida,  (Reuters) – World number two Rafa Nadal was pushed all the way by France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga before finally emerging with a 6-2 5-7 6-4 victory to earn a place in the semi-finals of the Sony Ericsson Open on Wednesday.

(Jamaica Gleaner) The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) says a bombshell autopsy report on the body of Dianne Gordon, the 45-year-old Cassava Piece resident killed by the police two weeks ago, has added some urgency to its probe.