Daily Archive: Tuesday, November 20, 2012

(Barbados Nation) Tempers flared earlier today in Parliament when debate degenerated into a verbal assault on a Government MP, while an Opposition member was barred from continuing his presentation and threatened with further sanction.

NEW YORK,  (Reuters) – Kevin Clash, the puppeteer behind the “Sesame Street” character Elmo, resigned today following new allegations that he had sex with an underage boy, adding to an ongoing controversy involving one of America’s most popular children’s brands.

NEW YORK,  (Reuters) – Authorities on Tuesday broke up a $7 million, three-state prostitution and money laundering ring, rescuing two human trafficking victims and arresting more than a dozen people, New York’s attorney general said.

(Reuters) – Four men with ties to Southern California have been arrested and charged with plotting to kill Americans overseas by joining up with al Qaeda to engage in “violent jihad” or Islamic holy war, the FBI said on Monday.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – The Church of England voted today against allowing women bishops after it failed to win the support of enough lay members for the reform, leaving the Church facing more internal strife over an issue that has divided it for years.

(Jamaica Observer) SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — An ex-cop was arrested after being caught with hundreds of pounds of ganja in St Elizabeth last night.

Police today said that Salim Bacchus called ‘Black Salim’ who was wanted for questioning by the police in relation to the murder of a cop turned himself in accompanied by his lawyer Ramesh Rajkumar.

GAZA,  (Reuters) – Israel and militants from the Gaza Strip have agreed to an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire that will come into force at midnight local (2200 GMT), Hamas official Ayman Taha said, speaking to Reuters from Cairo.

The Guyana Revenue Authority  (GRA) says that motor vehicle owners can now pay for the renewal of their vehicle licences at Demerara Bank Ltd, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry and Bank of Baroda (Guyana) Inc.

(Trinidad Guardian) Another low-cost air carrier is flying into T&T. This time, it’s WestJet from Canada.

(Jamaica Gleaner) The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) doled out J$188 million more to get out the vote during its failed 2011 general election campaign, than it expended in its run to power four years earlier.

The police say they are investigating a fatal accident which occurred at about 2230h last night  on the Agricola Public Road, EBD,  that resulted in the death of  Rishi Baksh, 38 years, of 114 Thomas Street, Kitty.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Former UBS trader Kweku Adoboli was convicted today of one count of fraud related to a loss of $2.3 billion.

(Barbados Nation) In an unusual case, two British women who were raped in Barbados two years ago have not only secured legal representation for the man charged with attacking them but will appeal to a magistrate today in an attempt to help clear his name.

SYDNEY,  (Reuters) – Australian limited overs international Dan Christian has been suspended for one match by South Australia for smashing up three dressing rooms this season.

SINGAPORE,  (Reuters) – A coalition of the world’s largest investors called on governments today to ramp up action on climate change and boost clean-energy investment or risk trillions of dollars in investments and disruption to economies.

(Trinidad Express) Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar did not meet with Dr Wayne Kublalsingh yesterday but she issued a statement saying she shared a deep concern for his health and welfare.

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo,  (Reuters) – Congo rebels have taken control of the eastern city of Goma after days of clashes with U.N.-backed

A coast guard officer survived a deadly ambush yesterday morning which left two of his friends dead.

(Trinidad Express) BP Trinidad and Tobago (bpTT) has made an estimated 1 trillion cubic feet (tcf) natural gas discovery off Trinidad’s south east coast, the company said in a release yesterday.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – British prosecutors said today they would charge Prime Minister David Cameron’s ex-media chief and Rupert Murdoch’s British former newspaper boss with making payments to public officials in the latest charges to stem from a tabloid scandal.

– woman in custody A city resident was stabbed to death early Sunday morning at Arimu Backdam, Cuyuni while relieving himself and a female acquaintance, who is the main suspect, is in police custody.

In the first charges stemming from last month’s unrest in Agricola, two men were yesterday accused of property damage amounting to millions.

Members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) told a team from the Ministry of Legal Affairs that stronger measures should be taken to remove 30 tenants of the First Federation Building—17 of whom had tenancy agreements which expired since 1991, and 13 of whom never had agreements, and who owed rent amounting to the sum of $1.246 million.

The Malaysian news agency Bernama yesterday reported that a container from Guyana was intercepted with cocaine in coconut milk and that a Nigerian drug syndicate is believed to be behind it.

– driver held A traffic officer yesterday morning made an unexpected discovery while carrying out his daily routine at Line Path, Corentyne, Berbice.

The Chinese man who was shot on Saturday evening when he rushed to the aid of his employer who was being robbed outside her Regent Street store, had to have one of his kidneys removed and is said to be in an unconscious state.

-warns residents also at risk While the Timehri North Community Development Council maintains assessments made by local engineers have proven that the community does not hamper the Cheddi Jagan Inter-national Airport (CJIA) expansion project, a US-based engineer has said that it does, emphasising also that it could pose significant danger to the residents.

-Natural Resources ministry The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment said it continues to make decisions to maximise and add valu3the bauxite industry based on “sound technical and national considerations” despite claims to the contrary by the APNU.

-ministry claims ‘no real issue’ with living quarters As head teacher of the Mahdia Secondary School awaits the renovation of her assigned quarters, she yesterday rejected claims by the Local Government Ministry that she asked for 44 additional items other than the basic amenities provided for by the government.

-swimming, cycling, 10km road race and field events among today’s schedule The 52nd edition of the Guyana Teacher Union (GTU)/Ministry of Education/Digicel National Schools Track and Field, Swimming and Cycling Championships will commence today at the various venues with action scheduled to take place in all three disciplines.

A man was yesterday sentenced to three years imprisonment after he admitted to buying a pistol with nine rounds of ammunition from a friend.

Programme Manager for the Tuberculosis (TB) Programme Dr Jeetendra Mohanall says there has been no increase in tuberculosis cases this year, noting that to date there has been 56 reported cases, compared with 70 last year.

A man was shot by bandits who robbed him as he sat at a car wash at Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara yesterday morning.

After decades of going close to winning a Berbice cricket championship, Blairmont on Sunday, upset Albion by four wickets to win the Elizabeth Styles Under-21 tournament.

Some REDjet customers are expected to start receiving refunds from this week when payments will be made by officials from the Ministry of Public Works.

Sixty-six youth successfully completed training in seven areas under the Youth Entrepreneurial Skills Training (YEST) programme, which held its 23rd graduation at the Sophia Training Centre last week.

President of the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) Shiv Nandalall and Maria Thomas are the early leaders of the Dr.

Tradewind Tankers International Invitational Volleyball tournament … The Inaugural edition of the Tradewind Tankers International Invitational Volleyball Tournament came to a thrilling conclusion early yesterday morning as Brazilian state club Roraima overcame Big South East Port of Spain (SEPOS) in the final at the National Gymnnasium.

Wayne ‘Master’ Austin led from the front making 17 blistering games as his team won the Azad Hussein birth anniversary dominoes competition  at the Everest Sports Club pavilion recently.

A fire, suspected to be arson, destroyed an ‘A’ Field Sophia, home around 8 am yesterday leaving one man homeless.

Nineteen-year-old long distance sensation Nathaniel Giddings knows that he is heavily favoured to win the 10km road race at the Guyana Teacher Union (GTU) National Schools Athletics Cycling and winning Championship this morning.

President of the Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) Lennox Shuffler said that the success of the inaugural edition of the Tradewind Tankers International Invitational Volleyball tournament is an indicator of the progressive development of the sport locally in the near future.

Occupational Safety and Health (OS&H) Specialist Anthony Rocheford said one of the many challenges in implementing proper OS&H practices is the number of unskilled persons who are not empowered to challenge errant employers to protect employees.

Georgetown’s top first division club Ravens racked up its second win on Sunday evening easing to a comfortable win against Eagles on the third night of the Phillip George Legacy Basketball tournament on the Burnham outdoor basketball court.

The US$2 million home at Onverwagt for street dwellers is expected to be completed before the end of the year but will await the presence of a Venezuelan envoy for its commissioning, since the project is a collaborative one between the two countries.

Fifteen year-old junior sprint sensation Tevin Garraway is hoping to miraculously overcome a hamstring injury to compete at the 2012 Guyana Teacher Union (GTU) National Swimming, Athletics and Cycling Championships this week.

The Ministry of Human Service and Social Security in collaboration with UNICEF yesterday launched the Tell Scheme, through which it is hoped, children who are victims of sexual abuse will be encouraged to speak out.

Six football clubs affiliated to the Upper Demerara Football Sub Association (UDFSA) will participate in the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Banks Beer end of year football extravaganza.

Former human resources officer of the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association Yonette Romao-Scarville was on November 9, admitted to the bar. 

The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has commenced its old age pension book distribution exercise around the country for the year 2013 yesterday.

Twenty-one-year-old Safrawz Sharief achieved a perfect GPA of 4.0 in his Civil Engineering degree and said he owes this accomplishment to his drive to succeed and the encouragement he received from close relatives and friends.

-aims to protect mangrove seedlings from wave erosion Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy says he is confident that the $26 million geotube/breakwater technology being tested at the Victoria mangrove site will be a significant boost to sea defence.

Albouystown resident Sean Peters, 28, who stole a haversack with items valued over $200,000, was yesterday sentenced to a one-year jail term after pleading guilty to larceny.

Rudolph Mayers, who was chopped by thieves who tried to steal several of his goats, is recovering from his injuries as he remains a patient of the Male Surgical Unit  of the Georgetown Hospital.

KHULNA, Bangladesh, CMC-Despite their convincing victory in the opening Test on Saturday, West Indies captain Darren Sammy believes his side can still improve further, as they face Bangladesh in the second Test starting  tomorrow (11:30 pm, today, Eastern Caribbean time).

The Government of Guyana has decided to make a financial contribution to the reconstruction efforts of four Caribbean countries which were significantly affected by tropical storm Sandy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.

Dear Editor, The reason for this letter is to make an appeal for a speedy solution to the problems of Lethem and St Ignatius Village, Region 9.

Dear Editor, Yesterday’s newspaper confirmed the unbelievable.  Last week representatives from ACDA, The Manumitted African Descendants Organization, Pan African Movement, and some religious bodies complained that the monument (to honour the rebels who were hanged in the Parade Ground, renamed Independence Park) will be built somewhere on Carifesta Avenue; there was no appropriate consultation.

Dear Editor, I wish to draw the authorities attention to an on ongoing noise nuisance problem at Curtis Street, Albouystown.

LONDON (Reuters) – The Church of England decides today whether to allow the ordination of women bishops when members take part in an historic vote whose result could prove the first major test for the next archbishop.

Unknown persons on Sunday night shot Jermaine Peters of Sophia and up to press time yesterday he was recovering in the Georgetown Hospital.

CHICAGO  (Reuters) – An influential US panel has called for routine HIV screening for all Americans aged 15 to 65, a change that could help reduce some of the stigma about getting tested for the sexually transmitted infection that causes AIDS.

(Reuters) – The Lakers are still waiting for coach Mike D’Antoni to take charge of his first game but Los Angeles continued their recent revival with a 119-108 win over the Houston Rockets on Sunday.

Dear Editor, Since February last year and up until today after some 20 months, GT&T has been unable to rectify a fault to my landline phone located just by the roadside at Adventure Village in Region 2.

(Jamaica Observer) – Three Bills tabled in the Senate on Friday to repeal antiquated laws providing for the flogging of criminals, have triggered another debate on whether laws out of sync with modern culture should not all be repealed.

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) – Rwanda accused UN-backed Congolese forces of shelling its territory during a battle with rebels near the border yesterday but said it had no plans to respond militarily to what it called Kinshasa’s “provocation”.

GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) – International pressure for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip puts Egypt’s new Islamist president in the spotlight yesterday after a sixth day of Palestinian rocket fire and Israeli air strikes that have killed over 100 people.

Dear Editor, I wish to convey my condolences to the family and friends of the late John Caesar, Senior Lecturer, University of Guyana who passed away recently.

SYDNEY,  (Reuters) – Shane Watson hopes to be fit to bat but will not be able bowl if selected to play in this week’s second test against South Africa, the Australian all-rounder said yesterday.

THE HAGUE (Reuters) – The International Court of Justice ruled yesterday that a cluster of disputed small islands in the western Caribbean belonged to Colombia and not to Nicaragua, but drew a demarcation line in favour of Nicaragua in the nearby waters.

Dear Editor, I am a Guyanese as well as a ratepayer, and I would like to see each Neighbourhood Democratic Council uplift its area by making its village look clean and beautiful. 

VIENNA (Reuters) – A former ice cream parlour owner confessed in court yesterday to shooting, sawing up and freezing both her ex-husband and her lover, and burying them under the cellar of her store in Vienna.

(BBC) India dismissed any chance of a famous England escape by wrapping up a nine-wicket win on day five of the first Test in Ahmedabad yesterday.

GALLE, Sri Lanka,  (Reuters) – Sri Lanka handed New Zealand a crushing 10-wicket defeat inside three days yesterday to claim the opener of their two-match series and consign the visitors to a fifth successive test loss for the first time in 57 years.

 Anne-Marie Slaughter, a former director of policy planning in the US State Department (2009-2011) and a former dean of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, is Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University.

(Reuters) The United States and China have been searching for a new way to frame their relationship. 

Last week a body named the Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces emerged out of a protracted and acrimonious discourse in Doha amongst the various factions now positioning themselves to influence the course of events in post-Assad Syria.

Dear Editor, The Wednesday, November 14 edition of Stabroek News carried an article on page l3 where David Granger is saying police failed to protect civilians in the Agricola unrest of October 11.

HAVANA/BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia’s Marxist rebels called a two-month unilateral ceasefire yesterday, the first truce in more than a decade, as delicate peace talks began in Cuba to try to end a half century of war.