Daily Archive: Tuesday, March 26, 2013

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida, one of the leading sex symbols of the 1950s and 1960s, is selling some of her diamond jewelry to raise money for stem cell research, saying now is the time to give back for the fortunate life she has had.

MATURIN, Venezuela,  (Reuters) – Emerging from his bus, Venezuela’s opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles is engulfed by frenzied female supporters who push past bodyguards to hug, kiss and photograph their idol.

DOHA,  (Reuters) – To applause from Arab heads of state, a foe of Bashar al-Assad took Syria’s vacant seat at an Arab summit today, deepening the president’s diplomatic isolation and diverting attention from rifts among his opponents.

(Trinidad Guardian) Soca, dancehall and hip-hop music are said to be influencing youths into criminal behaviour. This

(Jamaica Observer) KINGSTON, Jamaica – Telecommunications firm LIME will lay off more than 300 employees as it partners with international service provider Ericsson to upgrade customer service.

Police say that the captain and two crew members of a fishing boat, who are resident on the Corentyne, Berbice, have been arrested by the Police after they made a false report of robbery under arms allegedly committed on them on March 12, 2013, off the No.

 (Jamaica Gleaner) The Government of Jamaica is to auction two licenses for use of the 700 MHz band, with a view to attracting new entrants to the mobile telecommunications market.

Two employees of Guyana Timber Products Inc were today charged in connection with the 359.8 kilos of cocaine discovered in a container destined for Holland last month.

Fire of unknown origin this morning destroyed part of the Parfait Harmonie Primary School, West Demerara affecting the more than eighty students who were in the process of writing the Grade Six Mathematics assessment paper.

(Trinidad Express) Political scientist Dr Selwyn Ryan said yesterday that the report which was laid in Parliament last Friday by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was “in effect a draft report”.

AUCKLAND,  (Reuters) – Wicketkeeper Matt Prior produced a belligerent century to ensure England saved the series-deciding third test against New Zealand at Eden Park today, despite Kane Williamson taking two late wickets that almost snatched victory for the hosts.

(Trinidad Express) Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said last night that there were “rogue” reporters in the media who were not fair to her People’s Partnership Government.

ROME,  (Reuters) – Italy’s top court today ordered a retrial of American Amanda Knox and a former boyfriend for the murder of British student Meredith Kercher, re-opening a case that prompted harsh criticism of the Italian justice system.

Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh has unveiled a $208,8 billion national budget blueprint, including plans to trim personal and property taxes, prop up the troubled National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and inject funds into both the ailing Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Guyana’s economy is projected to expand by 5.3 per cent in 2013 and inflation is expected to be contained at 4.3 per cent, with VAT collections expected to outstrip last year’s performance by almost eight per cent, Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh announced yesterday.

The University of Guyana (UG) has been allocated $1.7 billion out of the $28.7 billion government has budgeted for the education sector for 2013 and of this figure $450 million is for student loans.

A total of $1.9 billion has been proposed to continue the diversification of the agriculture sector in this year’s budget blueprint, and emphasis is to be placed on fulfilling the international trade requirements for both crops and livestock.

With plans to invite expressions of interest for the construction of a new bridge across the Demerara River and a parallel secondary roadway on the East Bank Demerara, government yesterday announced that $12.6 billion will go towards sustaining and improving roads and bridges across the country.

Empty, disappointing, and a joke were some of the words used by the lead opposition spokespersons to describe the $208.8 billion budget blueprint unveiled by Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh yesterday as they lamented that the poor will continue to suffer.

He got up, buttoned his jacket and Dr Ashni Singh was set to read the ‘largest’ ever budget – $208.8B – but not before  a mini lecture to his colleagues on the opposition benches who he upbraided for their “unproductive, and oftentimes counterproductive pursuits” in the National Assembly.

Justice Diane Inshanally yesterday refused to grant an injunction filed by secretary of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Anglea Haniff which sought to prevent two executives from the Guyana Cricket Board from voting at the West Indies Cricket Board elections which starts tomorrow and concludes on Thursday in Barbados.

A 53-year-old double amputee was yesterday struck down after he reportedly fell out of his wheelchair and into the path of lorry at Mandela Avenue and the Houston Bypass.

A Sunday night accident on the Tain Public Road, Corentyne has claimed the life of a farmer.

Just over one billion has been budgeted for sport in the 2013 budget which was presented to the National Assembly yesterday by Finance Minister Dr.

Fifteen-year-old Mercury Fast Laners’ sprinter Tirana Mitchell is hoping to excel at her first overseas competition, the XLII CARIFTA Games which will be held in Bahamas March 28- April 1.

A seafood vendor was on Sunday night pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital after he was struck down on the Bee Hive Public Road, East Coast Demerara, by a Canter, which then drove off at top speed.

The driver of the boat which ran over a smaller vessel on Saturday night, resulting in the death of two persons including a nine-year-old girl, turned himself over to police late Sunday night.

Guyana-born and bred power lifter Gumendra Shewdas, who was ranked number eight in the world last year in the 53kg sub junior category, is now a strong contender to lift the number one spot later this year after shattering national and Caribbean records earlier this month.

Government is looking to pump $17.5B into the security sector this year and among the new initiatives envisioned are floating bases to help in the fight against drug trafficking and piracy.

US Ambassador to Guyana, Brent Hardt underscored the critical role of women in economic and societal development at the launch of the Guyana Chapter of the Women Entrepreneurs’ Network Caribbean (WEN Caribbean) recently at Roraima Duke Lodge.

Guyana’s quarter-mile, Stephan James on Sunday evening placed second in the men’s 400m at the Falcon Games held at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Trinidad and Tobago.

Action in the Mayor’s Cup football tournament continues today at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground Bourda with quarterfinal fixtures scheduled to commence at 18:30hrs.

A new 110cc Jailing motorcycle will be awarded to the MVP of the New Era Entertainment/Cell Smart Super Eight basketball tournament compliments of the management of Bakewell.

Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee officially commissioned the $20 million Diamond Fire Station at a ceremony held on Thursday.

Guyana and the United States yesterday concluded a bilateral air transport agreement to liberalise aviation services between the two countries.

Everest Hikers defeated Old Fort 3-0 as league action in the John Fernandes Insurance Service (JFIS) second division hockey tourney continued at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground on Sunday with one fixture beginning at 14:30hrs.

A would-be robber is now in police custody after he was apprehended by a senior City Constabulary officer when he snatched a bag containing some $4.5 million outside the Guyana Revenue Authority, Camp Street yesterday.

A policeman was granted bail in the sum of $5,000 after he was charged with assault when he made an appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

(The Sports Xchange) – If Dwyane Wade had to pick a game to sit out with a bruised right knee, this was the one.

● $1 billion will be given to GuySuCo to modernize the sugar industry.

A man was yesterday released on $15,000 bail after he was charged with assaulting his blind uncle, when he made an appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Bottom-of-the-table Leeward Islands were kept winless this season when they crashed to their third loss with a 170-run defeat to Jamaica on the third day of their fifth round match in the Regional Four-Day Championship here yesterday.

The Berbice Football Association (BFA) will be holding fresh elections on April 9.

AUCKLAND, (Reuters) – Part-time spinner Kane Williamson took two wickets, including that of Alastair Cook, just before stumps to put New Zealand firmly in charge of the series-deciding third test against England at the end of the fourth day at Eden Park yesterday.

After collecting his Junior Sportsman-of-the-Year award on Saturday, Paul DeNobrega celebrated his achievement by storming to an emphatic victory in the third and final leg of the Dr.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – West Indies off-spinner Shane Shillingford routed Barbados with an eight-wicket to propel leaders Windward Islands to an emphatic 216-run victory inside three days in their fifth round Regional Four-Day Championship contest here yesterday.

Irate EZjet passengers turned up at the Ministry of Public Works yesterday for their refunds only to be further angered by a system which they described as “long and drawn out”.

President Donald Ramotar and First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar on Friday evening hosted a Phagwah samelan at their State House residence,

A woman was granted $5,000 bail after she was charged with assault when she made an appearance before Magistrate Alan Wilson at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Chart climbing West Indies off spinner Shane Shillingford says he plans on remaining a permanent member of the regional side following an outstanding performance in the just ended two match test series against Zimbabwe.

An employee of Toucan Industries was yesterday arraigned before Magistrate Alan Wilson, after it was alleged that he stole $111,065 from the company.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad,  CMC – Chadwick Walton produced a belter but seamer Rayad Emrit’s magical spell undermined Combined Campuses and Colleges and help set up an easy 10-wicket win for Trinidad and Tobago here yesterday.

The Mayor and City Council has made another appeal to citizens not to dump garbage on roadsides, parapets and alleyways.

The Enterprise Nursery School on Friday received a donation of five bins as part of an initiative by the Pan-American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) to improve environment and sanitation conditions in schools around the city.

The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha says Holika Dahaan will take place tonight countrywide. 

(BBC) – The main group representing supermarkets in Brazil says it will no longer sell meat from cattle raised in the rainforest.

Dear Editor, The health situation of Nigel Hughes is a continuous subject for discussion among lawyers.

The Ministry of Home Affairs says the owners of vehicles that boast a manufacture’s tint must first apply for a tint waiver which can be accessed via its website.

BANGUI (Reuters) – The leader of rebels in Central African Republic pledged to name a power-sharing government in a bid to defuse international criticism of a coup that killed 13 South African soldiers and has plunged the mineral-rich nation into chaos.

(Barbados Nation) – Compulsory drug testing of schoolchildren in this country has come up for discussion by stakeholders including the National Council on Substance Abuse (NCSA).

Dear Editor, I was driving down Carifesta Avenue yesterday morning when I happened to glance over at the National Park where I was stunned and horrified to see the most emaciated cream-coloured pony standing there looking as if it was about to drop dead from starvation. 

Dear Editor, We have been an independent country for close to 50 years, but we remain the disgrace of the Caribbean region and that disgrace has now been accentuated in the last decade under the Jagdeo/Ramotar regime.

(Trinidad Guardian) Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) is continuing to explore prospects for a code-sharing agreement with Air India.

LONDON (Reuters) – Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky, whose body was found in the locked bathroom of his luxury mansion near London over the weekend, died by hanging, British police said yesterday.

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda makes his first public appearance before the International Criminal Court in The Hague today after evading arrest on war crimes charges for seven years – a boost to the court following a string of setbacks.

(Trinidad Guardian) – Police officers threatened to walk off the job yesterday if their demands under the Occupational Safety and Health Act are not met.

Dear Editor, This festival is called by two names—‘Holi’ and ‘Phagwah’.

Nigel James, 29, was yesterday placed on a total of $15,000 bail at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court, after he pleaded not guilty to resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer.

(Jamaica Gleaner) – Resident Magistrate Althea Nembhard yesterday ordered a psychiatric evaluation for Shanika McKellar, the St Elizabeth mother alleged to have killed her 11-month-old daughter a month ago.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Rengan Rajaratnam, the younger brother of imprisoned hedge fund manager Raj Rajaratnam, pleaded not guilty yesterday to insider trading charges.

By now this newspaper runs a serious risk of sounding like a stuck record on the subject of violence among schoolchildren and in schools.

Dear Editor, Is Guyana’s political integrity as a state cause for concern?