Daily Archive: Monday, December 17, 2012

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – U.S. Democratic Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, a decorated veteran of World War Two and one of the longest-serving members of Congress, died today at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

(Jamaica Gleaner) The St Catherine South police are reporting that they have seized another illegal high-powered weapon.

(Jamaica Gleaner) The Police High Command has condemned the murder of Police Corporal Ransford Durrant.

Dwayne Jordan, who was found guilty of chopping his wife to death, was sentenced to death by Justice Navindra Singh in the High Court today.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Global funding for the fight against malaria has stalled in the past two years, threatening to reverse what the World Health Organisation (WHO) says are “remarkable recent gains” in the battle to control one of the world’s leading infectious killers.

The Alliance For Change today urged that candidates for the top two positions in the Judiciary be identified and confirmed so as to avoid this branch of the state falling victim to the current difficulties and suspicions that have enmeshed the executive and the legislature.

(Trinidad Guardian) Investigations are continuing into the seizure of more than TT$2 million worth in cocaine.

(Trinidad Guardian) The spiralling crime situation in Laventille and nearby districts in east Port-of-Spain is impacting negatively on the development of those communities.

(Jamaica Observer) The Ministry of Labour and Social Security says it is unable to implement an annual five per cent increase in the wage ceiling for contributions to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), due to losses suffered under the Jamaica Debt Exchange (JDX).

At about 0015h today, police say that Rohan Simon, 18 years, of Vevay, Mahaica, ECD; and Indar Singh, 31 years, of De Hoop, Mahaica, ECD, were travelling in the tray of an open-back motor pick-up vehicle along the Airy Hall Public Road, Mahaicony, when they fell out as the driver was negotiating a turn.

BRUSSELS,  (Reuters) – The European Union’s executive Commission will propose larger health warnings on cigarette packs and a ban on flavourings such as menthol, a draft revision of EU tobacco rules seen by Reuters today showed.

JOHANNESBURG,  (Reuters) – South Africa was plunged into crisis today just a month before it hosts the African Nations Cup finals with the suspension of its football association president and other top officials following a report into match fixing involving the national team.

(Trinidad Express) Atlanta-based rapper Trinidad James has signed a record deal rumoured to be valued US$2 million with Def Jam Recordings—home of superstars such as Rihanna and Kanye West.

CARACAS,  (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s battle with cancer and the possibility of a new presidential election look likely to delay key economic policy decisions including a sharp currency devaluation needed to shore up public finances.

(Trinidad Express) Peter Permell, chairman of the Clico Policyholders Group (CPG), says the group has accepted an invitation to attend today’s annual general meeting of Republic Bank Ltd (RBL).

(Trinidad Express) “I can’t tell you. I have an accountant, he will tell you.”

(BBC) England completed their first series victory in India for 27 years as Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell both hit centuries on the final day in Nagpur.

Monies for the building and equipping of the specialty hospital at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara by the Indian company, Surendra Engineer-ing have not yet been released by the Exim Bank of India and the project seems to be in limbo.

Managing Director of Republic Bank (Guy-ana) Ltd John Alves says that the Bank continued to demonstrate its strength and dominance in the market place “as total deposits grew by 10.7 percent to $101.7 billion during fiscal year 2012” and the bank registered after-tax profit of $2.013 billion.

Nine persons were yesterday air-dashed to the city from Port Kaituma, North West District after the truck they were in turned over on Saturday.

A 52-year-old woman, Salina Butts, was on Saturday afternoon chopped to her head after what relatives said was an argument between her and her reputed husband.

Shadow Minister of Finance Carl Greenidge is debunking acting Cabinet Secretary Gail Teixeira’s assertion that he cannot bring a bill to the National Assembly to address the former Presidents benefits and other facilities Act since a select committee has been tasked with examining the same legislation.

Chairman of the Region 10 Regional Democratic Council, Sharma Solomon says that the region and Government are to meet tomorrow to settle on names for the chairmanship of various committees set up as part of the August deal to end the Linden electricity protests.

CARICOM Member States have taken a major step in meeting their obligation under Article 11 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), a release from the Caricom Secretariat said on December 12.

An eight-year-old Lima Sands, Esse-quibo lad is nursing third degree burns at the Suddie Hospital after his home was destroyed by a fire which started as he attempted to sell kerosene using a candle for illumination.

By Iva Wharton and Yonalla Dalrymple Prime Minister Samuel Hinds yesterday said he was glad to see the  resurgence of the game of football adding that he hopes to see football teams in every school in the future a move he deemed necessary for the further development of the sport.

Guyana’s Nicolette Fernandes came back from the brink of defeat to topple former world champion Rachel Grinham of Australia by three sets to two in the Cayman World Open championships in the Cayman Islands yesterday.

The suspect in the October killing of Deon Manderson remains on the run and according to relatives this is as a result of police dragging their feet on the investigation.

The Mangrove Reserve Producers Cooperative (MRPC) says it has arranged for supplies of mangrove honey to be on sale at Lily’s Cafe, 87 Barrack Street, Kingston.

National player Edinho Lewis showed off  a wide repertoire of strokes whilst playing unbeaten to win the men’s Open singles when the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) senior and `C’ Class tournaments  sponsored by Hopkinson Mining Company concluded last night at the National Gymnasium.

Three days after he was stabbed in his neck and back by a man said to be of unsound mind, Kevin Layne, was yesterday said to be doing well but the horror of the attack lingers.

It’s an easy guess to determine the type of spin the West Indies Cricket Board  (WICB) will use to cover up the team’s recent embarrassing  One- Day International series loss to lowly Bangladesh.

The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) has called attempts by government to “de-legitimise” the National Assembly infantile and insists they must stop.

By Iva Wharton The development of chess in schools will not be left to the annual schools tournament but efforts are also being made to have vibrant chess clubs in the schools.

Minister of Agriculture, Dr Leslie Ramsammy on Friday took the media on a tour of the Guyana Shop at the corner of Alexander and Robb streets and introduced `Bengal Aromatic Rice’ just in time for the Christmas season, according to the Government Information Agency.

By Yonalla Dalrymple West Ruimveldt Primary was adjudged the best school on Saturday when the Guyana Tennis Association (GTA) staged its 10s competition at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

TORONTO,  (Reuters) – The injury-depleted Toronto Raptors won consecutive games for the first time in eight months with a 103-96 victory over the Houston Rockets yesterday.

Dear Editor, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Frank Anthony seems confused as to the real reason why he disbanded the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) or as he wants us to believe, why he acted on instructions to disband the GCB, a private unincorporated sports entity.

More than 1500 children between the ages of 1 to 16 were yesterday given gifts which were presented to them by Santa Claus in front of the Game Express Store on North Road.

Administrative Coordinator of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), Colin Sparman says that he does not believe that use of explosives in mining in Guyana is a regular occurrence and the unearthing of such explosives in a remote interior location last week is an isolated case.

(BBC) Sprinter Usain Bolt has been named the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year after winning triple Olympic gold for the second successive Games.

Dear Editor, One never ceases to be amazed by the fact that once a person invokes religion, a book, prophet or saviour he is granted automatic immunity regardless how insensitive, archaic, racist, sexist his pronouncements may be. 

HOBART, (Reuters) – Peter Siddle grabbed five wickets to help Australia to a 141-run lead at the end of the third day of the first test  yesterday but only after a brilliant 147 from Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan had stalled the hosts for much of the day.

Deputy Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite has said vulnerability assessment and mainstreaming risk management into overall development planning are among areas that need attention in the region to improve disaster management.

Dear Editor, The attention of the Berbice Cricket Board has once again been drawn to another letter in the press (Stabroek News, December 12) under the headline ‘Prize money for the finals of the Upper Corentyne T/20‘ and in the Kaieteur News on December 13, written by Dr Rishi Thakur who once famously called himself President of the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association.

TOKYO,  (Reuters) – Japan’s conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) surged back to power in an election yesterday just three years after a devastating defeat, giving ex-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a chance to push his hawkish security agenda and radical economic recipe.

(BBC) England face a nervy last day in the final Test as they seek a first series victory in India for 27 years.

Dear Editor, The organisers of the Banks Beer/GFA Cup football tournament must be commended for their effort, especially for the opportunity given to the youths of my community to participate at a higher level.

The Republic Bank Group has mobilized efforts to ensure compliance with the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) which was enacted by the US in 2010 as a means of staunching tax evasion by US persons.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Tickets for the Caribbean Twenty20 go on sale today, with organisers encouraging fans to take advantage of the “attractive” prices on offer for the January showpiece.

(Trinidad Express) Don’t expect national carrier Caribbean Airlines (CAL) to turn a profit within the next 24 months.

Dear Editor, This is in reference to ‘PPP replies to Ramkarran‘ (SN, Dec 8).

CARACAS,  (Reuters) – Allies of cancer-stricken President Hugo Chavez swept nearly all of Venezuela’s 23 states in yesterday’s regional vote, but Henrique Capriles consolidated his position as top opposition leader by winning re-election as governor.

Hundreds of children get presents from Game Express: Scores of persons  were seen yesterday at the Game Express store on North Road with their children waiting for Santa.

By Marcia Forbes Dr Marcia Forbes is a media specialist, the co-owner of multimedia production company Phase 3 Productions Ltd and former Permanent Secretary in Jamaica’s Ministry of Mining and Telecommunications and later the Ministry of Energy and Mining.

SYDNEY, Australia, CMC – Big Bash outfit Sydney Thunder have dished out the luxury again for West Indies Twenty20 mega star Chris Gayle.

NEWTOWN, Conn., (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama yesterday consoled the Connecticut town shattered by the massacre of 20 young schoolchildren and said the United States was not doing enough to protect its children.

(Jamaica Gleaner) A United States (US) court has ordered the civil forfeiture of more than US$6.9 million to an international money laundering scheme based in Antigua.

Dear Editor, May 12 is designated Nurses Day annually, but I personally feel that on graduation, all nurses and nursing assistants should be applauded and congratulated because they supplement a valuable resource in the provision of healthcare.

BEIRUT,  (Reuters) – Syrian fighter jets bombed the Palestinian Yarmouk camp in Damascus yesterday, killing at least 25 people sheltering in a mosque in an area where Syrian rebels have been trying to advance into the capital, opposition activists said.

Politikles

(Trinidad Express) They have been labelled the “devils” of the deep blue sea, but today local trawlers are willing to leave the business if the State agrees to buy them out.

For the last four weeks, we took a break from reviewing the Auditor General’s report for 2011 to focus on a number of other issues.

In what was a fruitful encounter, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) on Friday breakfasted with the media during which it laid out its priority projects and issues it would like to be addressed.

Members of the public on Saturday viewing entries in the Guyana Visual Arts Competition at Castellani House.

In yesterday’s Ian on Sunday column entitled `Becoming a Legend’, two corrections which should have been done to the column did not appear.

SYDNEY, Australia, CMC – Off-spinner Sunil Narine’s miserly spell was not enough to prevent Sydney Sixers from defeat to Perth Scorchers, in the Australian Big Bash League here yesterday.

Dear Editor, The cold-blooded massacre of innocent children at an elementary school in the US state of Connecticut is one of the most despicable and bizarre actions imaginable.