Daily Archive: Sunday, December 30, 2012

CARACAS,  (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez suffered more complications linked to a respiratory infection that hit him after his fourth cancer operation in Cuba, the vice president said in a sombre broadcast today.

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was sent to the hospital today with a blood clot stemming from a concussion she suffered earlier this month and was being assessed by doctors, a State Department spokesman said.

(Barbados Nation) The calm of the densely populated community of Crab Hill St.

Sugar production to date is about 219,000 tonnes and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) will not meet its revised 2012 production target of 236,000 tonnes, Minister of Agriculture, Dr.

PESHWAR, Pakistan,  (Reuters) – Pakistani militants, who have escalated attacks in recent weeks, killed at least 41 people in two separate incidents, officials said today, challenging assertions that military offensives have broken the back of hardline Islamist groups.

NEW DELHI,  (Reuters) – The body of a woman, whose gang rape provoked protests and rare national debate about violence against women in India, arrived back in New Delhi today and was cremated at a private ceremony.

(Trinidad Guardian) This country’s new lead national security agency, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), is expected to be in operational mode sometime next year.

(Jamaica Observer) Blue Caprice, a movie recalling the DC sniper murders in Maryland and Virginia 10 years ago, premieres next month at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.

(Barbados Nation) The Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) has called on Government to implement immediate initiatives which would stimulate business while improving Barbados’ image as a place in which to invest.

(Barbados Nation) The lawsuit by gun owners against Commissioner of Police Darwin Dottin just got bigger.

(Barbados Nation) Warehouse chain Cost-U-Less is in line for major concessions when it opens in Barbados in the New Year.

(Barbados Nation) Chief Justice Sir Marston Gibson is ready to lay down the law on court practice as he seeks to halt a spiralling backlog of cases.

(Trinidad Express) It was to be a celebration, instead, family members spent the day planning Hassim Ramjohn’s funeral, which will most likely take place on New Year’s Day.

(Trinidad Express) Despite efforts by the police to reduce violent crime in the downtown Port of Spain area, a 29-year-old Morvant man was gunned down near the police office at the corner of Independence Square South and George Street last Friday night.

(Trinidad Express) Convicted killer Darryl Charles-Bissoon was recaptured in San Juan yesterday, almost a week after he escaped from the Port of Spain prison when he and two other men scaled the walls of the complex.

The export of mercury from the United States will be banned from January 1 and could result in higher prices for the chemical here as well safer usage.

Over the years the name Bamia has been associated with one thing – its creek.

The Maritime Administra-tion Department (MARAD) yesterday said that the December 18 Pomeroon River boat accident that claimed six lives was caused by one or both of the captains failing to observe international regulations and it disclosed that it has advised the `G’ Division police to proceed with charges.

As the year draws to a close, the main opposition, A Partnership for National Unity, remains hopeful that some agreement could be reached among the parliamentary parties to stave off a budget crisis next year and a meeting to discuss this is planned for within the next few days.

It is the desire to entertain with top-notch performances of classical and harmonic music that keeps the members of the Georgetown Chamber Chorus (GCC) together, even though the only payment they receive is the gratitude of their audiences.

Northern Rangers Football Club dismantled Santos Football Club 2-0 while the Guyana Defence Force crushed Netrockers 4-1 Friday night at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda to reach the semi-finals of the Georgetown Football Association/Banks Beer Knockout Cup competition.

Two police constables are under close arrest after they were caught red-handed returning a stolen laptop computer to the owner who had given them a sum of money for the return of the article.

Elton `The Bully’ Dharry says that despite his win over Ricardo Blackman of Barbados he is still hoping to engage Jamaican Rudolph Hedge to silence his critics.

We asked some politicians about what their expectations, hopes and wishes were for 2013.

When I began my last series of Sunday columns (September 2, 2012) on the topic ‘Revisiting the political economy of the Guyana sugar industry’, which I concluded last weekend  (December 23),  I did not anticipate it would take as many as 17 weekly columns for a reappraisal of the industry with recommendations for its reform.

By Tony Cozier West Indies  cricket in 2012 could at last swap the fixed frown of despair that had long since been its troubling trademark for the semblance of a smile.

Apart from swimming no new sporting disciplines will be undertaken by the University of Guyana says Sports Co-ordinator Lavern Fraser-Thomas.

Sunday Stabroek asked various workers in the social field what their wishes were for the New Year, and they gave the following responses: Coordinator of Help and Shelter, Margret Kertzious: “The staff of Help and Shelter has really appreciated the support of the Guyanese society this year and extends greetings to all Guyanese and hope for a New Year with less violence and more joy.

NEW DELHI/SINGAPORE (Reuters) – A woman whose gang rape provoked protests and rare national debate about violence against women in India died from her injuries yesterday, prompting promises of action from a government that has struggled to respond to public outrage.

Georgetown, Guyana – Newly-appointed Guyana captain Veerasammy Permaul insisted that his team will be “at their very best” when they play in the Caribbean Twenty20 Tournament next month.

Number one seed Kashif and Shanghai Kings will this evening take on number four seed Victory Valley Royals while number two Half Mile Bulls face their number there rivals Amelia’s Ward Jets in the semi-finals of the Linden Amateur basketball Association (LABA) Malta Supreme tournament at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court.

Good musical sense is the ability to know, without being directed, what to play and where to play it and, just as importantly, when not to play at all.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – A Russian airliner flying without passengers broke into pieces after it slid off the runway and crashed onto a highway outside Moscow upon landing yesterday, killing four of the eight crew on board and leaving smoking chunks of fuselage on the icy road.

The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) welcomes the idea of a modern crematorium being established in Le Repentir Cemetery.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad,  CMC – Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board chief executive, Suruj Ragoonath believes the Caribbean Premier League will augur well for the development of regional players, and will also help bring a more professional approach cricket in the Caribbean.

Chairman of the Carib-bean Community (Cari-com), Dr. Kenny Anthony, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, has intensified calls for a halt to the shipment of hazardous waste through the Caribbean Sea, given the risks such shipments pose to the lives and livelihoods of people of the region, a release from the Caricom Secretariat said.

A new rice seed facility will be commissioned next month at Number 56 Village Corentyne, Berbice, Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy said yesterday while hailing major improvements in the agricultural sector.

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – Former England captain and respected commentator Tony Greig, one of the architects of cricket’s World Series revolution in the 1970s, has died at the age of 66 after suffering a heart attack at his Sydney home yesterday.

MOSCOW/AZAZ, Syria (Reuters) – The international mediator touting a peace plan for Syria warned  yesterday of “hell” if the warring sides shun talks, and Moscow accused enemies of President Bashar al-Assad of blocking negotiations.UN-Arab

St. John’s, Antigua –Leeward Islands are on a mission to see them go where they have never gone before in the Caribbean Twenty20 Tournament.

A man died after being stabbed in the chest at Coomacka Mines, Upper Demerara River late Friday night.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Theo Walcott evoked memories of the great Thierry Henry when his dazzling hat-trick inspired Arsenal to a 7-3 win over Newcastle United yesterday in one of the best Premier League games of the season.

PERTH, Australia,  CMC – West Indies stroke-maker Marlon Samuels suffered the indignity of a first ball ‘duck’ as his Melbourne Renegades crashed to their first loss of the Australian Big Bash here yesterday.

CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi said yesterday his country supported the Syrian revolution and that President Bashar al-Asasd’s administration had no place in Syria’s future.

The Community Policing Organisation of Guyana under the Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with Help and Shelter hosted a series of seminars on Domestic Violence between June to December this year.

PARIS (Reuters) – France’s Constitutional Council yesterday rejected a 75 per cent upper income tax rate to be introduced in 2013 in a setback to Socialist President Francois Hollande’s push to make the rich contribute more to cutting the public deficit.

MELBOURNE, Australia,  CMC – Brisbane Heat coach Darren Lehmann has been slapped with a AUS$3 000 fine (US$ 3 111) for accusing West Indies off-spinner Marlon Samuels of throwing.

MADRID,  (Reuters) – French Open champion Rafa Nadal has been forced to withdraw from next month’s Australian Open because of a stomach virus that has disrupted his recovery from a long-term knee injury, the world number four said on Friday.

After successfully competing in an exhibition tournament organised by the Guyana Squash Association (GSA), Professional Squash Association (PSA) player Christopher Gordon said squash in Guyana has a progressive future.

Introduction It is that dreaded time of the year when columnists are expected to look into and engage in attempts to predict the future.

Epipremnum aureum or Golden pothos commonly called Devil’s ivy is known worldwide.

Arguments continued in the High Court before acting Chief Justice Ian Chang on Friday over the latest suit filed by Attorney General Anil Nandlall, which seeks an order to overturn the decision by Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman to send a motion against Home Minister Clement Rohee to the Privileges Committee.

Most media lists of the most important events of 2012 are led by headlines such as the re-election of President Barack Obama, the appointment of China’s new leader Xi Jinping, the revolt in Syria, the return to power of Mexico’s ruling PRI party and Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez’s battle with cancer.

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – Australia’s second test thrashing of an injury-ravaged Sri Lanka provided some consolation after a stinging 1-0 loss in the home series to South Africa, but has left the team with much to ponder ahead of the dead rubber test in Sydney next week.

Let there be 3-D!!! For the New Year, Guyana’s first 3-D theatre will open at the Avinash Entertainment Complex on Water Street, part of a US$4 million investment by the Panday family that aims to transform the downtown area.

I would urge you, dear readers, on this last Sunday before the advent of the New Year to consider adopting a dog or cat in 2013.

Dear Editor, I read yesterday in SN (December 28) that in India the 23-year-old medical student gang raped, beaten and thrown out of a bus has died. 

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad – Trinidad & Tobago coach David Williams is confident that he has the right pieces in place to mount a challenge to win the Caribbean Twenty20 Tournament for an unprecedented third straight year.

(Jamaica Gleaner) There are indications that United States (US) law-enforcement personnel could be close to wrapping up their investigations of several Jamaicans who are considered major players in the lottery scam.

Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Khurshid Sattaur said that by the end of the first quarter of 2013 a study will be completed to determine the best way to implement the Single Window Application System (SWAPS) at Customs House.

What just happened? – A confused female driver jumping out yesterday after her vehicle skidded on some oil that fell off a truck causing her to lose control and slam into a parked grey Toyota Allion then ending up in the nearby trench.

MELBOURNE,  (Reuters) – Mike Hussey will play his final test against Sri Lanka next week and retire from international cricket at the end of the Australian summer, the veteran batsman said, citing a desire to spend more time with his family.

(Barbados Nation) Murders in Barbados are down but predatory crime is a major source of concern for police, who arrested over 200 people this year.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – West Indies off-spinner Sunil Narine has broken into the top 10 of the latest International Cricket Council Twenty20 player rankings.

Gareth Evans, Australia’s foreign minister for eight years and President Emeritus of the International Crisis Group, is currently Chancellor of the Australian National University and co-chair of the Global Center for the Responsibility to Protect.

Dear Editor, This afternoon (Thursday) I had the pleasure for the first time of travelling on the road which is south of the National Stadium and parallel to the Mocha Access Road.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Following a Friday meeting with congressional leaders, an impatient and annoyed President Barack Obama said it was “mind boggling” that Congress has been unable to fix a “fiscal cliff” mess that everyone has known about for more than a year.

There is no human experience that has not been dealt with in literature. 

Most people would have found that 2012 was not a year to heal the national psyche or lift the mood.