Daily Archive: Wednesday, June 6, 2012

(Reuters) – U.S. prosecutors urged a judge today to send convicted financier Allen Stanford to prison for 230 years, calling him a “ruthless predator” whose $7 billion Ponzi scheme was among the most egregious frauds ever undertaken.

olice say that at about 1115h today, a police rank went to the lock-ups at the Mahaicony Police Station to take out prisoner Colin Sealey, 53 years, a fisherman of  Zes Kinderen, Mahaicony, ECD, in order for him to be conveyed to the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court.

(Barbados Nation) The University of the West Indies Cave Hill campus has managed to reduce its dependency on public funding for its operations by more than 35 per cent.

(Barbados Nation) Not only is REDjet not getting any financial assistance from the Antigua and Barbuda government, it doesn’t appear to be receiving any moral support either, with Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer declaring that the airline was “doomed to failure”.

Police today said that Conrad Joseph Wright called ‘Ring Leader” and “Blackie” is wanted  for questioning in relation to a series of armed robberies.

Amid the challenge by the government to the budget cuts, Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman today warned that continued recourse to the courts to challenge legitimate decisions of the National Assembly point to the growing danger of a constitutional crisis.

The Pegasus Hotel today said that it had been left out of the Guyana delegation for this week’s Caribbean Tourism Organisation Caribbean Week event in New York.

NEW YORK,  (Reuters) – Ray Bradbury, a giant of American literature who helped popularize science fiction with works such as “The Martian Chronicles,” died yesterday at age 91, his publisher said today.

(Trinidad Guardian) Prof Selwyn Ryan is denying Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is paying him TT$2 million to come up with a crime plan.

(Jamaica Gleaner) It appears Contractor General, Greg Christie may have been late off the mark in relation to the barring of China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) from receiving World Bank funded contracts.

Police say that at about 0005h today ranks of a mobile police patrol stopped and searched two men who were walking along Broad Street, Charlestown.

(Trinidad Express) Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler and Opposition Leader Owen Arthur yesterday clashed on economic policy, with Arthur likening the Government’s taxing of allowances to the controversial eight per cent public servants’ pay cut of 1991.

(Trinidad Express) Senior Counsel Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj — one of the attorneys representing the CLICO United Policyholders Group — has called on Finance Minister Winston Dookeran to provide evidence that TT$9 billion has already been paid out to policyholders.

(Trinidad Express) The “Patrick” referred to by Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal was Patrick Caesar, a former manager of Nipdec and not former prime minister Patrick Manning.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Drug-resistant strains of gonorrhoea have spread to countries across the world, the U.N.

(Trinidad Express) State-owned Caribbean Airlines (CAL) is in danger of being downgraded, People’s National Movement (PNM) Senator Lester Henry said yesterday.

The Donald Ramotar administration yesterday moved to the court to challenge the recent cuts made to the national budget, arguing that the opposition-controlled National Assembly had no power to reduce or set public spending.

The father of a 17-year-old, who died earlier this year from a suspected cocaine overdose, is calling for a full investigation of her death as there is suspicion that she was murdered to prevent her testifying in a cattle rustling case, in Moco Moco, Lethem, Region Nine.

The China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC), the company designated to expand the Timehri airport, yesterday said that its parent company inherited a 2009 World Bank  blacklisting when it took over a company in 2005 that had been sanctioned for a 2002 project in the Philippines.

Last Friday, hundreds of persons across Guyana woke up to discover that their attempts to connect to the internet via dial-up resulted in repeated failures.

A young mother was on Monday night beaten in the streets of an East Coast village by her common-law husband because she left their house without his permission.

Police yesterday issued a wanted bulletin for Pooran Jaundoo for questioning in connection with the murder of US-based Guyanese Abdul Majid on April 27, 2012.

Burglars carted away millions from a Stabroek Market jewellery store and officials believe that other market stallholders may be involved.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados,  CMC – A superb unbeaten 96 by India A captain Cheteshwar Pujara condemned West Indies A to a heart-breaking two-wicket defeat on a tense final day of the opening four-day Test match at Kensington Oval yesterday.

A sign painter yesterday afternoon cheated death when he was miraculously pulled out alive, but with serious injuries, from under a truck which had crashed into the signboard he was designing at the National Cultural Centre.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua,  CMC – Chairman of selectors Clyde Butts has welcomed Chris Gayle’s return to the West Indies team for the one-day tour of England and says the big-hitting left-hander will bring a “quality dimension” to the Caribbean side.

There were 35 cases completed in the criminal sessions up to last month, according to the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

WARSAW,  (Reuters) – Spain will try to become the first team to win three successive major international titles while Germany will hope to lift their first trophy since 1996 when Euro 2012 kicks off on Friay.

Shellon Gillian was found to be a credible witness yesterday  in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and  was reprimanded and discharged on a charge of common assault.

Sandy Freeman and Derek Norton who are neighbours appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday following a fracas that reportedly involved wounding and assault and were granted bail by Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton.

President Donald Ramotar has said builders and contractors should seek alternative materials as a means of buffering the rising costs of traditional building materials.

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in collaboration with the University of Calgary, Canada and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) is providing training for staff in radiography and neonatal intensive care.

A jury was yesterday empanelled in the High Court for the trial of Sherwin Barnwell, who is accused of a murder on Christmas Eve in 2006.

A man who threatened to chop off his wife’s head because he was hungry and she had not finished cooking was fined $15,000 yesterday and put on a one-year bond by Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton.

BASSETERRE, St Kitts,  CMC – Champions Antigua and Barbuda came from behind to beat St Kitts by seven wickets and start the defence of their Leeward Islands Cricket Association title in style here Sunday.

The Electra’s Institute cricket team was selected as one of the teams to represent Guyana in the annual Sir Garfield Sobers School Cricket Tournament scheduled to  be played in Barbados from July 8th to 25th.

The second Regional Advisory Group (RAG) meeting for the German Technical Cooperation (GIZ)/PANCAP project “Improving Access to HIV Services For Mobile and Migrant Populations in the Caribbean” started on Monday in Trinidad and Tobago.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad,  CMC – David Williams, overlooked for the post of West Indies assistant coach earlier this year, has been appointed head coach of the Trinidad and Tobago senior side.

Terrence Wills, who faced an indictable charge of larceny from the person in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Monday, was denied bail by Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton.

WASHINGTON/PESHAWAR, (Reuters) – A U.S. drone strike in Pakistan killed one of al Qaeda’s most powerful figures, the U.S.

PARIS, (Reuters) – Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer danced with danger at the French Open yesterday but there was to be no last tango in Paris as both emerged victorious to set up a repeat of last year’s semi-final.

TRIPOLI,  (Reuters) – Invading Libya’s biggest international airport was embarrassingly easy: the attackers cut the wire perimeter fence in broad daylight, and then drove onto the tarmac while airport security chiefs stood and watched.

Jermain Johnson was on Monday fined $3,000 and committed to do three months community service for possession of one gramme of cannabis.

Nigel Bryan and Trenace Lowe blew away  Paul Meusa (11-5,12-10,11-9,11-6) and Jody-Ann Blake (11-4,11-9,11-5,5-11,11-13,14-12) respectively to win the Men’s and Women’s Singles titles on the closing day of the National Sports Commission’s Annual Independence Table Tennis Tournament on Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The man who is accused of stabbing and hammering a mother of ten failed to appear at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday where he was expected to answer to three charges after he suffered a relapse and had to be readmitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Despite one loss to seasoned junior player Anthony Drayton, Maria Thomas prevailed over the other players to win the senior category of the TOPCO Independence Anniversary one-day Rapid Chess Tournament on Sunday  at the KEI-SHAR’S Sports Club.

BOSTON,  (Reuters) – Herb Reed, the last of the founding members of 1950s R&B crooners The Platters, known for hits such as “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” and “The Great Pretender,” has died in Boston age 83.

RALEIGH, North Carolina,  (Reuters) – United States sprinter Tyson Gay will put aside the pain of a nagging hip injury and run his first race in nearly a year at this weekend’s Adidas Grand Prix in New York as he scrambles to be fit for Olympic trials, he told Reuters on Monday.

Dear Editor, Guyana and the rest of the world celebrated World Environment Day on June 5, 2012.

The East Berbice Life Savers group is appealing to the Ministry of Human Services to augment its counselling and other services aimed at arresting domestic violence, by providing a full-time counsellor, a hotline and a small subvention to help it fulfil its mandate.

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – A U.S. lawyer who worked for some of the country’s most prestigious firms was sentenced on Monday to a record 12 years jail for an insider trading scheme which lasted 17 years and netted more than $37 million between 1994 and 2011.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds extended felicitations to employees at the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission for their contribution to development and urged them to continue their dedicated service to the entity, in his address at a ceremony held on Monday to recognise its 11th anniversary.

(Reuters) – The Oklahoma City Thunder are one win away from the NBA championship finals after stunning the San Antonio Spurs on their home court with a 108-103 victory on Monday.

Dear Editor, Coming from me this letter and the opinions in it may surprise many because of my 41-year stand-off with the People’s National Congress.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The United States has cancelled funding for Pakistan’s version of the children’s television series “Sesame Street,” saying yesterday it had received credible allegations of fraud and corruption in the production of the popular Muppet program.

LEICESTER, England,  CMC – Head coach Ottis Gibson says embattled West Indies have played well in patches on the England tour but were still being hampered by “poor decision making” at critical moments.

Dear Editor, I am forced to write this letter to you out of desperation, since I have been frustrated in my efforts to obtain legitimate representation for my just cause.

ASUNCION, (Reuters) – Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo admitted yesterday fathering a second child when he was a Roman Catholic bishop, in an apparent effort to limit damage from the latest paternity scandal to emerge during his four-year-old presidency.

Food for the Poor (Guyana) Incorporated as part of its 21st anniversary celebrations continued with its Meals on Wheels programme last Sunday, a press release from the organization said.

MILWAUKEE,  (Reuters) – Wisconsin Republican Governor Scott Walker will become the first governor in U.S.

Dear Editor, Any decision as to who the next PNCR leader will be of course is of significant concern to all Guyanese.

MIAMI, (Reuters) – The U.S. subsidiary of Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht has filed a lawsuit challenging a recently signed Florida law barring local governments from hiring companies that do business in Cuba or Syria.

(WICB) BIRMINGHAM, England – Adrian Barath said West Indies still had a strong desire to collect their first Test victory in England for more than a decade, when they face the hosts in the third and final Test, starting on Thursday at Edgbaston.

CARACAS,  (Reuters) – Hugo Chavez’s voice booms out from loudspeakers singing the Venezuelan national anthem.

If they were unaware of it before, the recent hoopla about the cuts that were made to the 2012 budget by the opposition has certainly enlightened the citizenry as to the limitations on the role of the National Assembly in the budget process.

Guyana Elections Commission Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally was unanimously elected Chairman of the Association of Caribbean Electoral Organisations (ACEO) last week just before the organization concluded its 6th Annual General Meeting at the Princess Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

A father of two appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday to answer the charge of possession of utensils used in the preparation of cocaine and Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton placed him on $50,000 bail.

Dear Editor, There is sufficient evidence to conclude that the cricketers in Essequibo do not conform to a proper work ethic as it relates to training and respect for authority.

GDANSK, Poland,  (Reuters) – Germany forward Miroslav Klose is days away from turning 34 but competition for places and a desire to play at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil keep him motivated despite the occasional twinge, the player said yesterday.

Somewhat surprising news has been coming out of some of the BRICS, concerning their diminished rates of economic growth in recent times.

(Barbados Nation) Jamaican Shanique Myrie, who accused immigration officials of indecently and verbally abusing her when she tried to get into the country last year, wants Barbados to pay – in dollars and cents – for the humiliation and prejudice she said she suffered.