Daily Archive: Wednesday, October 31, 2012

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, (Reuters) –  Authorities in the Dominican Republic today arrested a former police colonel accused of being a “powerful drug trafficker” responsible for sending tons of cocaine to the United States.

ZURICH,  (Reuters) – Former FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed Bin Hammam has lost his appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against his latest ban from football, soccer’s governing body said on Wednesday.

A second man, Edward Castello, 23 years, of La Belle Alliance, Essequibo Coast, was today charged with the murder of businessman Herman Ramnarine of Lima, Essequibo Coast, which occurred on October 24, 2012, at Lima, police said.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Approximately 3,000 Caribbean Airlines passengers have been displaced by Hurricane Sandy.

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – New York City’s subway system will resume limited operations on Thursday, four days after it was shut down ahead of the arrival of Sandy, the massive storm that brought unprecedented flooding to the world’s financial capital, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – British Prime Minister David Cameron lost a parliamentary vote on the long-term European Union budget today after members of his Conservative Party rebelled, dealing a damaging blow to the government.

A bodyguard of Ricardo Rodrigues died this afternoon after he was shot several times as he reversed out of a yard in Laluni Street, Queenstown by gunmen who were in two cars.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Fresh allegations emerged today of sexual misconduct by late BBC presenter Jimmy Savile, further damaging the corporation’s reputation and increasing pressure on its management.

Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee this morning denied that he was in any way responsible for the death of the three Lindeners on July 18th and charged that there is a campaign of “vilification” against him that is politically motivated.

The autopsy scheduled to be performed on Canadian, Jean Pierre Le Blanc, who was shot in the  buttocks when Ricardo Rodrigues was gunned downed on October 15th and who died suddenly last Friday at the Georgetown Public Hospital was again postponed  today.

Caribbean Airlines will resume flights in and out of JFK Airport at 12.45 today,   following the New York Port Authority announcement that limited service can begin at JFK as of noon today.

In a surprise move, the government today confirmed Deodat Sharma to the post of Auditor General after he had been acting in the position for seven years.

(Trinidad Guardian) Minister of Transport Chandresh Sharma has maintained he has no details relating to Caribbean Airlines flight HER72-600 which made an emergency landing because of a detached engine casing last Friday.

(Jamaica Observer) Bishop of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, Rt Rev Howard Gregory has lashed out against successful members of society who live in isolation, saying that their selfishness has done nothing for nation-building.

(Jamaica Gleaner) KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Constabulary Communications Network (CCN) has confirmed that the burnt body found near Port Royal on October 17 is that of missing postal worker Tandy Lewis.

(Trinidad Express) The attack by Communications Minister Jamal Mohammed was “highly troubling” and indicative of a pattern of abuse by Government officials against the media, according to executive director of the International Press Institute (IPI), Alison Bethel-McKenzie.

SYDNEY,  (Reuters) – South African bowling great Allan Donald believes the pace attack of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel which will take on Australia in a three-test series next month is the best the country has ever produced.

NEW YORK,  (Reuters) – Millions of people across the U.S. Northeast stricken by massive storm Sandy will attempt to resume normal lives today as companies, markets and airports reopen, despite grim projections of power and mass transit outages lasting several more days.

Government will today announce a multimillion dollar deal with several publishers to procure original textbooks for distribution in public schools—just over a month after it tried to justify buying pirated versions.

While the plane  found abandoned at  an illegal airstrip in Region Nine on Monday had nothing illegal on board, sources say it was apparent that it was a part of a “guns-for-drugs” trade that has being ongoing in Guyana’s underworld.

Miner Royston Moore, 34, was found murdered on Monday in White Creek, Matthew’s Ridge, North West District.

At the Blairmont Court yesterday, Magistrate Roby Benn denied a 20-year-old cane harvester his pre-trial liberty when he appeared before him charged with murder.

-accomplice in Bel Air heist Rabindranauth Seemangal, who admitted his involvement in the July 12, 2011 Bel Air heist, yesterday testified in court that he and his former co-defendants were told by Chandraradha Rampersaud to scare businessman Malcolm Panday’s children or kill him if necessary to get the money.

-driver relates how truck was burnt Executive Director of NICIL Winston Brassington yesterday testified before the commission inquiring into the July 18 events at Linden and made representation for compensation for the destroyed Linmine Secretariat, which he said is owned by the company.

The Government of Guyana and  China Harbour Engineer-ing Company (CHEC) will today sign an expansion agreement for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport amidst controversy surrounding the relocation of residents of Timehri and Government’s secrecy in signing a deal for the project nearly one year ago.

Constable Osafo Timmerman, who was responsible for taking notes on behalf of the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) at Linden on July 18, yesterday faced questions over his failure to record body checks made on the deployed ranks for extra ammunition, which was only mentioned in a statement he gave the next day.

Police yesterday released Mark De Abreu who had been called in for questioning in the recent execution-style killing of Ricardo Rodrigues.

Bourda Market vendor George Khan was yesterday accused of using a hammer to carry out a brutal attack on a friend.

A Berbice teenager is now hospitalised after an attack at last Saturday’s after party for the New Amsterdam Town Day, which is believed to have stemmed from his refusal to buy a drink for his eventual assailant.

-Police nine points ahead after day one of Inter Services Athletic Championship Twenty-seven-year old long distance champion Cleveland Forde managed to etch his name next to yet another record on day one of the Inter Services Athletics Championships (ISAC) held at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ground Camp Ayangana yesterday.

Guyana and Cuba signed several bilateral agreements in the areas of sport and public health, during President Donald Ramotar’s recent three-day visit to that country earlier in the month.

President Donald Ramotar encouraged regional executive officers to adhere to the procurement and financial regulations in the interest of accountability, at a meeting convened at the Office of the President on Thursday.

-says Chris Matthias   By Iva Wharton The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) had it in its powers to end the current impasse between the GFF and the Georgetown Football Association (GFA).

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC-Darren Bravo smashed a half century to lift West Indies out of trouble against the High Performance Centre 2 on the first day of their three day practice match at the three W’s Oval yesterday.

The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) on Monday hosted a farewell ceremony  for Commissioner Karen Livan who worked for 37 years with the Commission and the Government of Guyana.

Eight Cariforum states have taken steps to reduce tariffs in accordance with a trade pact with the European Union and the region has expressed concern over the planned differentiation in EU development policy which could see some countries losing aid as they are classed as middle income.

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad,  CMC-Talks are set to resume later this week over a contentious transfer fee issue between the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA).

By Cosmo Hamilton Even as foliage in brilliant gold and bright yellow, and burgundy and bronze bid spectacular farewell as they dominate the autumn landscape, there is an authentic august and an effusive exhibition of the color pink in this month of October that focuses a laser-like spotlight on breast cancer awareness.

De Sinco owner Frank De Abreu, who was involved in an accident with a fire tender almost two weeks ago, remains in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Hospital officials at the hospital stated yesterday.

Companies from eight countries yesterday submitted bids to supply, install and furnish Guyana’s first forensic laboratory.

Although he has been jumping for just about a year, Patrick King copped his second straight Inter Services Athletic Championship (ISAC) long jump title with an emphatic win ahead of Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Troy Williams  at the Guyana Defence Force ground Camp Ayangana yesterday.

-despite company’s denial Region 7 Chairman Gordon Bradford has made public his conviction that employees of Countrywide Disposal Service (CDS) intended to dump sewage from their trucks along roads, footpaths, and near populated areas in Bartica, while the company’s proprietor maintains that the dumping was only done to free a truck that had gotten stuck in sand.

The Guyana Relief Council expressed appreciation for its many donors in the business community and in the wider Diaspora, at the Annual Luncheon and Dutch Auction it held recently at the Pegasus Hotel.

Eighteen-year-old middle distance campaigner Devaun Barrington is tired of silver and bronze medals.

Dear Editor, There is need for the Guyanese public to closely observe the process of the Linden Commission of Inquiry. 

SHENZHEN, China, (Reuters) – The sponsors of this week’s WGC-Champions event have criticised world number one Rory McIlroy and 14-times major winner Tiger Woods for turning down the chance to play in the tournament.

The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development distributed five solar systems to Region Two riverine communities over the weekend, under its 2012 work programme.

Nigel Alexander was on Monday fined and ordered to do community service after he pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana, which he claimed was prescribed for him by a bush doctor.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Arsenal battled back from 4-0 down to beat top-flight rivals Reading 7-5  yesterday, powering their way into the League Cup quarter-finals after one of the most extraordinary matches in the competition’s 52-year history.

Dear Editor, Help & Shelter wishes to make it clear that it has no connection to or affiliation with newly established NGO Helping Hands, which has placed banners at various locations prominently containing the words ‘help and shelter’.

A 67-year-old painter was on Monday remanded to prison on a narcotics possession charge stemming from a drug bust at his home.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC-World’s football governing body, FIFA, has ordered Jamaica to install back up power generators at the National Stadium in time for next year’s final round of CONCACAF’s World Cup-qualifying campaign.

Dear Editor, Congratulations to all those students who were outstanding at their CSEC examinations this year.

PNCR Leader David Granger lauded the Ebenezer Congregational Church as “a beacon of Christianity” when he attended the 150th anniversary of the East Coast Demerara church on Sunday.

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC-Another legal battle is brewing between the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

NEW YORK,  (Reuters) – Millions of people faced epic flooding and lengthy power outages yesterday after the massive storm Sandy wreaked havoc in much of the eastern United States with high winds and heavy rains.

Dear Editor, I wish to respond to letters signed by Rev Gideon Cecil (‘There are serious staffing issues at the GPOC’ SN, October 27) and Eshwari Shakti Persaud (‘System at the Registrar annoying, frustrating’ GC, October 26) the last-mentioned of which stated among other things that the Registrar General discriminates against Hindu Marriage Officers. 

By Neil Barry Jr., The Georgetown Cricket Association’s (GCA) Noble House Seafoods-sponsored second division two-day competition continued last weekend with four enthralling matches.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.,  (Reuters) – In the first inventory of minerals on another planet, NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity found soil that bears a striking resemblance to weathered, volcanic sand in Hawaii, scientists said yesterday.

Richard Singh, the 20-year-old man who was involved in an accident at Plantation Hope, East Coast Demerara, on October 15 is improving and is now able to speak his uncle, Imran Khan, said yesterday.

Dear Editor, I visited Guyana on strictly personal business from October 21 to 26 and deliberately opted to spend my sparse spare time engaging in unbiased observations of areas I visited and then making comparisons to what I had observed during my previous visit in 1997.

Dear Editor, As I sat in my home I saw on the Eyewitness News update on Channel 67 a rebroadcast of a story about a house that was destroyed by fire.

President Donald Ramotar praised the ISKCON Hare Krishna movement for perpetuating the tradition of charity and community development when devotees gathered for the Ratha Yatra festival held in Cummings Lodge on Saturday night.

Dear Editor, Gold is an amazing commodity. Gold has launched wars, and destroyed and created whole societies.

President Donald Ramotar pledged government’s continued support to the Salvation Army Drug Rehabilitation Centre, at the charity’s first gala fundraising dinner on Saturday evening at the Georgetown Club.

(Trinidad Guardian) Central Bank Governor Jwala Rambarran said on Monday that the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) has been described as “a kind of US backward imperialism,” and he called on Caribbean countries to “build alliances with other jurisdictions in the Americas that are equally affected by FATCA” to address the issue that is “of immediate concern to all regulators in the Americas.”

SYDNEY, (Reuters) – Day-night test cricket, possibly played with a pink, orange or yellow ball, is an inevitability now the way has been cleared for such matches, Cricket Australia (CA) chief James Sutherland said yesterday.

KARACHI, (Reuters) – Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria will have his appeal against a life ban for corruption in English county cricket heard in Britain in early December, a source close to the former test player told Reuters.

-Region Three named most outstanding unit Over 670 youths graduated with awards at the gold, silver and bronze levels at the 14th anniversary award ceremony of the President Youth Award: Republic of Guyana (PYARG) programme held on Saturday.

(Trinidad Guardian) An American expert is high in praise of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as comprising some of the best and brightest in the region.

Dear Editor, Mr Mark Archer informs us that the “Protest at Agricola had nothing to do with PNCR or APNU” (SN, Oct 24).

ROCKAWAYS, New York,  (Reuters) – Just before dinner on Monday night, 75-year-old Bruce Bavasso was slugging back sambuca with his neighbors in a private beach community in the Rockaways in New York City.

Trinidad and Tobago is yet to abolish criminal appeals to the Privy Council which is to be replaced by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

(Reuters) – Manu Ginobili will miss the NBA season opener for the San Antonio Spurs due to a back ailment, the team said on Monday The Spurs kick off their campaign today at the New Orleans Hornets but they will do so without Argentine guard Ginobili.

Recently, tucked away in the Stabroek News editorial ‘Lacklustre performance by Opposition in Parliament’ (22/10/2012) is the suggestion that, rather than doing very little over the last session, the opposition could have established parliamentary committees to consider, inter alia, how to retain trained teachers.

Observers of the political and economic scene in Barbados will recognize increasing anxiety about the economic state of the nation, when viewed in the context of the government’s prospects in elections due next year (they were last held in January 2008).

Politikles

Dear Editor, I am a Guyanese by birth but an American by grace.

(Reuters) – John F. Kennedy International and Newark Liberty Inter-national airports, two of the three main flying hubs for the busy New York City area, will reopen today morning with limited service, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said yesterday.

(Trinidad Express) A 16-year-old boy appeared in the Chaguanas Magistrates’ Court on Monday charged with having three guns.

(Reuters) – John F. Kennedy International and Newark Liberty International airports, two of the three main flying hubs for the busy New York City area, will reopen today morning with limited service, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said yesterday.