Daily Archive: Wednesday, April 18, 2012

PORT OF SPAIN, (Reuters) – Australia were confident they could still win the second test against West Indies despite losing most of the fourth day today to rain.

(Barbados Nation) The Caribbean Court of Justice has granted Jamaican Shanique Myrie leave to bring her case against the Barbados Government.

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – “American Bandstand” host Dick Clark, whose long-running television dance show helped rock ‘n’ roll win acceptance in mainstream America, died today at age 82, a spokesman said.

(Barbados Nation) Dr Charles Grant, age 50, and his 52-year-old wife, Carole-Ann have been arrested and charged with the theft of over Bds$500,000 from the Sandy Crest Medical Centre in St.

The old age pension will now be $10,000 per month from May 1st, 2012 following talks today at the Office of the President between a government team and the opposition.

Police say that at about 0805h yesterday, Lloyd Prince, 18 years of Port Kaituma, NWD, was sitting on top of the cab of a motor lorry that was ascending a hill, when the vehicle stalled.

Several hundred public servants today turned out to protest what they called ‘AFC thieving’ of their jobs in response to a motion by AFC MP Khemraj Ramjattan for cuts to some ministries’ contract jobs.

(Trinidad Express) A Rio Claro money lender was gunned down on Tuesday night during a financial transaction that went sour, police believe.

(Jamaica Observer) Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn said the decision to charge broadcaster Wayne Whyte with wounding with intent and illegal possession of firearm, instead of attempted murder in the shooting of his co-worker Jody Ann Gray, was made in the interest of justice.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Haiti’s President Michel Martelly was being treated for a blood clot in his lung caused by an earlier surgery, a presidential adviser said yesterday.

The Caribbean Media Corporation is reporting that police have arrested and charged Newspaper Editor, George Worme for stealing sand.

Just over a year after giving Barbados a failing grade for not fully complying with international tax standards, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) now says the country is up to scratch.

Lindeners in large numbers are today showing solidarity with the movement against the proposed increase of electricity tariffs for the mining town as announced by Minister of Finance Ashni Singh during the reading of the 2012 National Budget.

SEOUL,  (Reuters) – A bristling North Korea today said it was ready to retaliate in the face of international condemnation over its failed rocket launch, increasing the likelihood the hermit state will push ahead with a third nuclear test.

(Barbados Nation) It’s anticipated that all eyes will be on the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) today as judges turn their attention to the high-profile Shanique Myrie case.

AFC MP Khemraj Ramjattan has proposed budget reductions of $3.824 billion from programmes under three ministries, sparking the ire of the ministers yesterday at a hastily called press conference in Parliament.

Government met last night with the parliamentary opposition to iron out concerns about this year’s $192.8 billion national budget and ensure that it is passed by the National Assembly and will be meeting again today prior to the commencement of the examination of the estimates.

Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh has signalled that government has no intention of reducing the 16% VAT, saying such a move would benefit the wealthy and not the poor.

While labelling this year’s national budget as one that is “badly out-of-touch” with the needs and conditions of Guyanese, Opposition Leader David Granger yesterday stated that the main opposition APNU will not be supporting it in its present form.

The body of a 32-year-old man was found lying a short distance away from his truck on New Road, Mosquito Hall, East Coast Demerara yesterday morning.

AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan yesterday accused the government of unlawfully stashing billions in bank accounts held by numerous state agencies and he called for a full disclosure.

From Colin Benjamin in Trinidad A five-wicket haul from South Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon late in the final session aided in curtailing the West Indies fight-back and maintained the visitors’ strong position midway of the second Digicel test at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, yesterday.

The Police on the West Coast of Demerara were commended for their prompt apprehension of three men who were about to break into the business place of Abdool Hamid at Lot 97 Meten-Meer-Zorg, WCD yesterday.

Amid concerns that the high-profile Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC) here had bungled by not making it affordable for Guyanese and youth in particular to participate, Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali yesterday said that many young people will be participating in one of today’s sessions before the confab wraps up.

The annual Caribbean Tourism Organisation conference heard on Monday of the threat that sea-level rise poses to port-dependent countries like Guyana and the rest of the region.

By Emmerson Campbell Two second half goals by Hubentut Fortuna FC of Curacao saw them securing a two-one victory over Milerock FC in the first game of a double header of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championships which kicked off at the Providence National Stadium yesterday.

Alpha “The Hammer” United suffered a 0-1 defeat against Surinamese nemesis Inter Moengotapoe in their opening match of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Group Two playoffs at the National Stadium, Providence yesterday.

Saying that the country is at crossroads, Presidential Advisor on Governance Gail Teixeira on Monday evening urged the parliamentary opposition parties against withholding support for the national budget.

The Oldendorff Carriers Guyana Inc., contracted to ship bauxite for the Russian Aluminium Group (RUSAL) which is opening two new mines, may have to look at establishing another port to accommodate more ships.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — When Narsingh Deonarine went to the crease with West Indies in deep trouble yesterday morning, he knew he had a huge fight on his hands.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad,  CMC – West Indies coach Ottis Gibson was left lamenting yet another “one bad hour” after his side lost five wickets for 19 runs in the last session to slide against Australia, late on the third day of the second Test here yesterday.

The casting stages of the 1823 Slave Revolt Monument are winding down, according to the Ministry of Culture, which says completion of the monument is scheduled for well before Emancipation Day this year.

Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy says he is disheartened after threats by opposition MPs to withhold support for the $75B capital works budget, saying they are misguided.

By Iva Wharton Hubentut Fortuna of Curacao is on its way to advancing to the other round of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Championship with is 2-1 victory over Milerock at the Providence Stadium yesterday.

Come Saturday, a workshop sponsored by a law firm and rights groups will be convened to address the impact of Chief Justice Ian Chang’s ruling in the Henry Greene matter and the operation of the Sexual Offences Act on victims of sexual offences.

LIMA, (Reuters) – Like many athletes in Peru, Raul Pacheco has had to train without the proper nutrition and equipment due to a lack of financial support, but at least he will not be running the marathon in soccer boots at the London Olympics.

(Reuters) – Stuart Law, who announced he was quitting the Bangladesh national coach’s job on Monday, has taken up a coaching role with Cricket Australia’s Centre of Excellence (COE).

Former president Bharrat Jagdeo says the Caribbean must combine its traditional tourism products with other kinds of services in order to become a more sustainable and viable tourist destination, in his address at the 13th annual Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) Conference.

Ambassador Robert Kopecky says the sustainable tourism development and fisheries management project the European Union (EU) is undertaking in partnership with Iwokrama in the North Rupununi is seeing tangible results as it nears completion.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Despite his controversial role in the Guyana cricket impasse, cricket’s world governing body, the International Cricket Council, has asked West Indies great Clive Lloyd to continue as chairman of the its committee until June.

BANGALORE, India CMC-IANS – Estranged West Indies batsman smashed five sixes in one over as Royal Challengers Bangalore pulled off a sensational six-wicket victory off the last ball against a resilient Pune Warriors in the Indian Premier League here late yesterday.

Parliament in session

Dear Editor, In light of the absence of locals and young people at the current Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) conference at the Conference Centre, it is beyond astonishing to read the Secretary General of the CTO, Mr Hugh Riley, saying he “cannot speculate” as to the reason. 

The City Council is advising business-owners against carrying out construction and other unauthorised works to its pavements and bridges, which is illegal.

BEIRUT, (Reuters) – A United Nations mission to oversee an end to violence in Syria may need to bring in its own aircraft and deploy more troops to ensure that a firm ceasefire takes hold throughout the country, U.N.

CHONGQING, China, (Reuters) – Chinese politician Bo Xilai initially agreed to a police probe of his wife’s role in the murder of a British businessman before abruptly reversing course and demoting his police chief, causing upheavals that led to the downfall of both men, sources said.

Only one bid has been received for an over $100M consultancy contract for updating of the feasibility study and designs for the West Demerara road improvement project, covering the section from Vreed-en-Hoop West to Parika East.

Dear Editor, The context within which Prime Minister Sam Hinds is using the 1976 electricity statement by then Prime Minister Forbes Burnham to justify a single supplier and electricity hike in Linden, is a total fabrication.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Kew Gardens on an English spring morning will host the first in a series of celebrations today to commemorate the 100 days’ countdown to the London Olympics.

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) recently hosted a capacity building workshop for its current 20-member Volunteer Corps, which will be formally launched later this year.

TORONTO/OTTAWA, (Reuters) – Canada will streamline the way it reviews major industrial projects in a bid to speed the development of mines and pipelines, a move opponents said could trigger an environmental disaster.

Dear Editor, In order to justify a ‘level playing field’ for electricity costs,  Lindeners were informed (SS April 15), by Mr Samuel Hinds, Prime Minister of the Republic of Guyana, that their power supply costs now heavily subsidized will have to be standardized with the rest of the country, since their continued sound growth and development without constraint is dependent on this necessary reform. 

Literature DVDs: GT&T on Thursday donated DVDs of the just concluded Know Your Stuff Literature Quiz Competition to the Guyana Learning Channel.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, chasing her third straight Olympic gold medal at the London Games this year, says the strain of training will force her to retire in two years.

CTO reception: Left to right are Acting Tourism Minister, Irfaan Ali; President Donald Ramotar; First Lady, Deolatchmee Ramotar and the Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), Hugh Riley.

Opposition Leader David Granger has written Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman complaining about what he said was biased coverage of the ongoing budget debate by the Government Information Agency (GINA), Trotman revealed on Monday.

Dear Editor, On Easter Monday, April 9, 2012, to my utmost surprise I learnt that the police in ‘G’ Division, that is the Essequibo police, held a bar-b-que and lime in the police compound next to the Richard Faikal Police Training School, where loud, lewd and vulgar music was played.

(Reuters) – The streaking Los Angeles Clippers knocked Oklahoma City out of first place in the West with a forceful 92-77 victory on Monday that earned the hosts a first playoff berth in six years.

(Reuters) – Berkshire Hatha-way Inc Chief Executive Warren Buffett disclosed yesterday that he has stage 1 prostate cancer but said his condition “is not remotely life-threatening or even debilitating in any meaningful way.”

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – U.S. Secret Service agents and military personnel took as many as 21 women back to their hotel in Colombia in an incident last week involving alleged misconduct with prostitutes, a Republican senator said yesterday.

Brazilian miners complain about permits: Scores of Brazilian miners yesterday congregated at a business establishment at the corner of Robb and Cummings streets concerned over the difficulties they are encountering with regard to acquiring work permits.

Dear Editor, The incorporation of the Linden area into the national electricity grid was advocated decades ago.

(Jamaica Observer) Thousands of Jamaicans will have their personal financial information released to American authorities if local banks sign on to a new tax compliance agreement in defiance of Jamaican law.

As expected, with defending champions Georgetown missing from the field, Linden, with 292 points ran out winners of the 12th annual LinWest Games for schoolchildren held Sunday last at the Blaimond Community Centre ground, West  Coast Berbice.

The owners of the Oasis Café have ventured into fine dining with the launch of ‘Oasis Paradiso,’ a new Friday night restaurant experience.

MADRID,  (Reuters) – An incensed Spain threatened swift economic retaliation against Argentina yesterday after it announced plans to seize YPF, the South American nation’s biggest oil company, in a move which pushed down shares in Spanish energy giant Repsol, the controlling shareholder.

For sale: The building that houses the `Stretch your Dollar’ Store at Robb and Savage streets, Robbstown, Georgetown next to the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) is up

Dear Editor, Intriguing as your Sunday (April 15) editorial’s uncovering of the “undercover hassar“ was, it somehow seemed to relate to a larger mystery, in that no mention was made of the role of the Regional Administration in this project of despond, loosely termed as ‘aquaculture’ which, according to the current national budget, ‘falls’ within the Ministry of Agriculture.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – A U.S. government official at the center of an election-year spending scandal kept traveling far and wide at taxpayers’ expense – long after his boss was advised a year ago of suspected abuses, according to a congressional review released yesterday.

Mackenzie High School (MHS) chalked up its second win of the Eighth annual Victory Valley Royals Schools’ basketball tournament by  whipping Wisburg Secondary 43 – 23 when the competition continued on Monday at the Mackenzie Sports Club hardcourt in Linden.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – A British court sentenced the former governor of a Nigerian oil state to 13 years in prison today after he pleaded guilty to embezzling 50 million pounds ($79 million) in one of the biggest money-laundering cases seen in Britain.

The unbeaten Hikers have taken an unassailable lead in the John Fernandes Insurance Services second division hockey league after All Greys slumped to their first defeat against Old Fort in a second round encounter.

Dear Editor, I recently travelled to Berbice to visit my relatives and friends.

(de Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – The police are seriously considering issuing a warrant for Frans Kasantaroeno, director of the Foundation for Nature Preservation Suriname (Stinasu).

Danger: Missing planks on

The northern Colombia city of Cartagena de Indias, the location of the 6th Summit of the Americas, and once a major slave-trading port and subsequently the home of large numbers of people of African descent, would certainly have been of interest to leaders of Caribbean states attending the conference.

Politikles

Two weeks ago I said that for us to grow into a “normal” political society we should consider putting in place three transitional measures.

(Trinidad Express) The former wife of murdered US war veteran Balram “Balo” Maharaj was yesterday ordered extradited to the United States for her alleged involvement in his kidnapping in 2005.

(Trinidad Express) A racket involving a number of foreign used car dealers has been unearthed at the Licensing Office, prompting Transport Minister Devant Maharaj to call on Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs to intervene and probe it.