Daily Archive: Friday, March 29, 2013

PARAMARIBO – One of the biggest buyers of gold in Suriname, Ourominas, has been caught by the authorities siphoning foreign currency to Brazil.

SEOUL,  (Reuters) – North Korea said today it was entering a “state of war” with South Korea in a continuing escalation of tough rhetoric against Seoul and Washington after coming under international sanctions for its nuclear test.

(Trinidad Express) The Ministry of Energy has said in a media release that the nation-wide power outage was as a result of a malfunction of the emergency shutdown system at the Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited plant at the Point Lisas Industrial Estate.

(Jamaica Gleaner) The police are now searching for the mother whose two children perished in a fire that destroyed their one-bedroom house in Chapelton, Clarendon last night.

NICOSIA,  (Reuters) – Big depositors in Cyprus’s largest bank stand to lose far more than initially feared under a European Union rescue package to save the island from bankruptcy, a source with direct knowledge of the terms said on Friday.

(Trinidad Express) Members of the People’s Partnership Government have been asked to keep mum on media reports linking National Security Minister Jack Warner to a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) probe.

At about 0450h today, police say that, a female security guard attached to a Private Security Service was on duty at the Guyana Forestry Commission Building at Kara Kara, Linden, when she was attacked by two men, one of whom was armed with a firearm.

(Trinidad Express) In response to the nation-wide power outage, the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in her capacity as Chair of the National Security Council ordered an increase in the national security alert.

(Trinidad Express) Executive Director of the International Press Institute (IPI), Alison Bethel McKenzie, yesterday expressed “grave disappointment” over Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s statement that “rogue elements” in the media were “either wilfully or unwittingly misinforming the society”.

SOWETO, South Africa,  (Reuters) – South African former President Nelson Mandela is in good spirits and making progress, doctors said today, after the 94-year-old anti-apartheid hero was taken to hospital for the third time in four months for a lung infection.

The army has announced that it will court martial an officer for his role in criminal attacks on miners in the Cuyuni mining district, and four junior ranks were already disciplined for their involvement.

First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar presented three electrical fans to the New Amsterdam Prison to be installed in the recreational hall of the women’s prison.

27-year-old Shawn McKenzie was remanded to prison on a larceny charge when he appeared before Magistrate Sueanna Lovell at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

The Doobay Medical Centre yesterday turned the sod for the expansion of its Medical Centre at 9 Public Road, Annandale, E.C.D.

The annual Mother and Daughter Pageant is in its 22nd year and will be held at the National Cultural Centre on Saturday May 11, under the theme ‘Love’s Showtime.’

The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) yesterday welcomed 23 Surinamese, who are visiting for the Rupununi Rodeo to be held this weekend, in Lethem, Region Nine.

Over 30 children from neighbouring communities of the Berbice Bridge Company Inc.

The National Parks Commission and the Protected Areas Commission have acknowledged that a few of their ponies have fallen ill and are receiving veterinary care.

The Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has given its advice to police on whether to charge the police corporal videoed beating miners and a woman and her child at Marudi, in Region Nine, earlier this month.

Bai Shan Lin Forest Development Inc president Chu Wenzhe said plans are progressing to establish its wood processing plant in Region Ten and multipurpose park, in a meeting held on Monday with President Donald Ramotar.

A city businessman who was arrested in relation to last month’s 359 kilogramme timber cocaine bust at Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara has been released, Customs and Anti-Narcotics (CANU) boss, James Singh has confirmed.

The Crabwood Creek farmer Phagoo Maniram aka Radesh, who was found dead, on his farm on Wednesday morning died by asphyxia due to drowning.

Officials at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) yesterday said that both ranks involved it the smash-up at Strathspey on Wednesday evening were fully conscious and improving.

A D’Urban Street resident was released on $60,000 bail after he was charged with discharging a loaded firearm, when he made an appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

An accident on the Turkeyen Public Road, near to the Liliendaal pump station, on Wednesday has left one man dead.

A father of two was granted bail in the sum of $50,000 after he was charged with committing an armed robbery, when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

Vacancies have been advertised to fill the post of director and 13 other positions in the Guyana Police Force’s Forensic Science Laboratory.

Murder accused Sherwin Anthony Hyle will stand trial for the 2008 murder of Joel Savory even though a doctor in his report which was read before a judge and jury said that the man was suffering from schizophrenia/ paranoia and as such was unfit to plead to the charge.

Police on Wednesday released the driver of the boat which ran over a smaller vessel on Saturday night and killed two persons.

Consultations are currently ongoing into the drafting a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) policy that will govern the Caribbean Examination Council’s inclusion of the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) into the secondary system.

The suspects who were held in connection with the murder of US Army doctor, Captain Max Kungel, 42, have been released from police custody as investigations are “going quiet.”

The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment in partnership with the University of Guyana’s School of Earth Sciences and other groups planted 10 trees at the Botanical Gardens on Friday, as part of observances for World Day of the Forests.

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has endorsed the proposed $17.5 billion allocation and legislative plans for the security sector in the government’s budget blueprint and it says it is looking forward to a constructive parliamentary consideration that would yield consensus.

Stephen Andrews, the second accused in the murder of retired school teacher, Dulsie Trim was freed yesterday after a jury returned with the  unanimous verdict of not guilty.

The 10 civilians who will serve on the Strategic Management Department (SMD) of the Guyana Police Force have been selected and their names are to be announced shortly, the Ministry of Home Affairs said yesterday.

Seven of the nine associations and three associate members affiliated to the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) are still eligible to vote pending approval of the requisite documentation outlined in the Constitution of the federation.

The Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Ladies hammered the Transport Sports Club team by eight wickets when the Brainstreet Under-15 cricket tournament continued yesterday at the Muslim Youth Organization ground.

As expected, the section of the Budget Speech from which this is taken takes up the largest part of a very long speech.

Sustained lobbying by local aircraft owners and by the private sector as a whole has been gradually loosening the state’s purse strings as far as effecting repairs and renovation to the country’s ageing domestic aviation infrastructure is concerned.

Guyana Football Federation presidential hopeful and professional coach Ivan Persaud says he believes he can make a huge positive input to the game here.

The success of the Ogle International Airport project represents “a startling reminder” of how private investment can be used to take the country forward by sharing with government the burden of infrastructure development costs, Chairman of Ogle Airport Inc (OAI) and Chief Executive Officer of Trans Guyana Airways Michael Correia Jr has said.

Having said little in the previous months about the continual unfolding of restrictive regulations in the United States arising out of that country’s enactment of its new food safety legislation and the implications for food exports to the United States, the Government of Guyana has used its 2013 budget presentation to the National Assembly to provide the first significant indication that it is aware of the legislation and its implications.

By Clifton Ross As the Guyana National Cricket team undergoes final preparations for this weekend’s match against Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) they will be without Christopher Barnwell who will be heading to India for his debut stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL) which kicks off on April 3rd.

Banks DIH limited has teamed up with the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) for Guyana’s sixteen-member junior team to participate in the Suriname Easter International tournament.

TORONTO (Reuters) – BlackBerry reported a surprise quarterly profit on Thursday and said it shipped 1 million of its all-new Z10 smartphones in the period, but the company has yet to convince some investors that its turnaround plan is succeeding.

Dear Editor, It was with special interest that I read your article captioned T&T unemployment at five per cent—Trade Minister in your newspaper of 23 March, 2013.

Dear Editor, This coming week-end will provide a reasonable test for the `Pick it up Campaign’ as the Sea Wall, National Park, Botanical Gardens and other public spots would be a hive of activity for kite flying and picnics.

Sudden willingness Without getting into the merits or demerits of the case, it is reasonable to say that the 2013 Budget has an unusual orientation towards the individual taxpayer.

PARIS, (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande declared yesterday that companies would have to pay a 75 percent tax on salaries over a million euros after his plan for a “super-tax” on individuals was knocked down by the constitutional court.

The following is a minimally edited address to the 2The surge in crime in Guyana started at the dawn of the new millennium– coinciding with the implantation of the transnational trade in illicit narcotics.

Dear Editor, Those women from the Red Thread organisation have done a very, very good thing: stripping the obscene awards (which were referred to as a favour) given out as compensation by the Linden Commission of Inquiry bare, “so that the travesty of justice becomes clear…” They were smack on target in thinking that the zeroes in the number “million” are hiding the reality.

SYDNEY,  (Reuters) – A one-degree rise in temperature could spell doom for a rare Australian possum within a decade, potentially making the tiny, long-tailed marsupial the continent’s first victim of climate change, researchers said.

SEOUL/WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – North Korea put its missile units on standby yesterday to attack U.S.

Dear Editor, As per usual, I planned inviting a number of my work colleagues to make a trip to the Caribbean for the Easter holidays.

Government is seeking more support from the private sector in creating opportunities for the fostering of entrepreneurial skills among women.

LAHORE, (Reuters) – Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker in all three forms of the game for the past two years, could require surgery for a suspected hernia after suffering stomach pains for the past two months.

NICOSIA – Cyprus conceded on Thursday that tight capital controls would remain in force longer than expected as the island’s banks reopened for the first time after the government was forced to accept a tough EU rescue package to avoid bankruptcy.

Dear Editor, I share the thrust of both Mayor Hamilton Green’s letter (What must be debated is the need for Justice, Equity and Decency to be all-pervasive) and another by Abu Bakr (A discourse of provocation), which appeared in in the March 28, 2013 edition of Stabroek News.

(The Sports Xchange) – The Miami Heat’s quest for history fell short, but it didn’t end quietly.

LOS ANGELES,  (Reuters) – Justin Timberlake’s first album since 2006 made a bumper U.S.

Madame Deputy Mayor: President Donald Ramotar (right), Minister in the Ministry of Local Government Norman Whittaker (second from left) , and Mayor Hamilton Green (left) with newly sworn-in Deputy Mayor of Georgetown, Patricia Chase-Green.

A recent announcement by a senior official of the South Korean technology giant Samsung suggests that Guyana could be one of several Caribbean countries targeted for a major marketing blitz by the company.

CASTRIES, St.Lucia, CMC- St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony has paid glowing tribute to former President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Dr.

LIMA, Peru,  CMC-Trinidad and Tobago co-head coach Hutson Charles has expressed disappointment with his team’s 3-0 defeat to Peru at the Estadio Nacional in Lima Tuesday night.

Dear Editor, I have a Post Paid Cellular Telephone Account with GT&T.

KANDY,  (Reuters) – Tillakaratne Dilshan’s 17th one-day century proved in vain yesterday as Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka by three wickets under the Duckworth/Lewis rain rule to win the third and final one-day international and share the series one-all.

New Brazilian military attaché: President Donald Ramotar (second from left) with new attaché for Defence, Naval and Army in the Brazilian Embassy, Colonel Ronaldo Pacheco, (right) outgoing attaché Colonel Wilson Mandes Lauria (second from left) and Brazilian Ambassador to Guyana Luiz Seixas De Andrade.

SAO PAULO, (Reuters) – After decades as second-class citizens under Brazil’s constitution, maids and caretakers have won labor rights unmatched even by U.S.

WELLINGTON,  (Reuters) – Police have arrested and charged a 20-year-old man in connection with the assault on New Zealand cricketer Jesse Ryder that has left the batsman in a critical condition in a Christchurch hospital.

(Trinidad Guardian) The phenomenal rise of social media platforms is altering the way organisations engage the public.

Dear Editor, The recent excellent letter by Major General (ret’d) Joe Singh on the impressive work done and still being done by the ‘navigation pioneers’ in Guyana spurred this question in my mind: “Is there a case for Industry, Government, NGO’s et al to consider their ‘retired staff’ as a ‘Reserve Corps’ who can be deployed/redeployed for service as the needs for their proven competencies arise after they have exited formal/full-time employment?”

Tutorial High School students plant an almond tree in the Botanical Gardens as part of a tree planting exercise held last Friday to mark World Day of Forests (Government Information Agency photo)

MUMBAI,  (Reuters) – Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt said yesterday that he will return to jail for his conviction linked to the 1993 Mumbai bombings, giving up a long-running legal battle for his freedom.

LAHORE,  (Reuters) – Pakistan’s under fire captain Misbah-ul-Haq has ruled out quitting one-day internationals.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Cheltenham racecourse plans to build a new grandstand complete with an upgraded royal box in a 45 million pound ($68 million) makeover of the venue, home to one of the most prestigious festivals in jump racing, its owners said yesterday.

JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) – South Africa were officially rewarded for their number one test status yesterday after being handed the International Cricket Council Test Championship mace and a cheque for US$450 000.

Dear Editor, I am not at all sure that the indicative conclusion being suggested by the quotes from the study referred to by my friend and colleague Nowrang Persaud’s letter (in SN Saturday 23rd  March, 2013,) applies to the exceptionally under- populated economies like Guyana’s.

GPOC donation: Staff members of the Guyana Post Office Corporation yesterday donated children’s books to the Leo Club of East Demerara for its children’s book drive.

Queen’s College has emerged the winner of the GT&T “Know Your Stuff” English Literature Quiz Series after an all-girl team from the school bested an all-girl team from Marian Academy.

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.

(Jamaica Observer) Corporate social responsibility (CSR) plays as much a role in driving economic development and growth as do successful business ventures says the Canadian High Commissioner to Jamaica.

(Reuters) – Pioneering journalist Barbara Walters, the first woman to co-anchor a U.S.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC-Aggressive opener Lendl Simmons says despite the loss of a number of leading frontline players Trinidad and Tobago are capable of victory over defending champions Jamaica when the two teams meet in the regional four-day championships this weekend.

(Trinidad Express) – The ANSA McAL conglomerate has recorded revenues of $5.9 billion for its 2012 financial year, a 12 per cent increase over the previous year’s $5.3 billion.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – David Haye will return to the ring against an unnamed opponent, rather than wait for one of the Klitschko brothers to give him a world title shot, the former heavyweight champion said on Thursday.

SOFIA,  (Reuters) – UEFA has recommended that referees stop matches when there are incidents of racism and says it will “fully support” them if they follow its advice.

GASCI (www.gasci.com/telephone Nº 223-6175/6) reports that session 504’s trading results showed consideration of $4,074,966 from 80,355 shares traded in 12 transactions as compared to session 503 which showed consideration of $5,233,110 from 172,245 shares traded in 6 transactions. 

It is getting to be something of a habit, writing about Shivnarine Chanderpaul in these leader columns.

  A Really Good Friday as Prophesied At my age and stage I have little enthusiasm to vilify, demonise and condemn senior public figures in our Big Beautiful Blight of a society.

Dear Editor, Sultan Mohamed has singled out Eusi Kwayana for consistent critical condemnation.

(Trinidad Express) Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar did not show up at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting which was attended by all other Cabinet members, including National Security Minister Jack Warner.

When the University of Guyana (UG) was established in 1963 by statute under the premiership of Dr.

Wings Aviation yesterday commissioned its new hangar at the Ogle International Airport and the facility is capable of accommodating and servicing aircraft of the Dash 8 variety as the airport develops into a hub for local and regional aviation.

Budget 2012 Facts and 2013 Targets. 2012 Facts Growth in real GDP of 4.8% compared to a target of 4.1% and actual rate of 5.4% in 2011.

Sectoral Performance Source: Annual budget speeches and Half Year reports. The Table shows the sectors in which the economy is divided; by what percentage they are expected to grow in 2013; how the Sectors performed in 2012 compared with how they were expected to perform in 2012, their first half year in 2012 and their actual performance in 2011.

The Government’s projected Financial Plan for 2013 is summarised and tabled on page 26.

Current Non-Interest Expenditure In this section we consider how the budgeted expenditure is allocated among the principal Ministries, Departments, Regions and Programmes.

1.  Support to the Sugar Industry $1 billion to support the company’s transformation plans on top of $39.5 billion which the Minister notes was injected to recapitalise the industry and to support its operations over the years.

Choosing the topics for inclusion in this part of Budget Focus has its own challenges.

Introduction Generations of Guyanese in this Land of Many Waters have been enchanted by the dream of Hydro-electric power with its assumed potential for lower electricity charges.

For several decades, the Standing Orders of the National Assembly preserved and protected by successive Constitutions have given to the National Assembly control over spending proposed by the Minister of Finance.

His funeral attracted an eclectic mix of international mourners: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa, center-right presidents of Chile and Colombia, Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko, President Donald Ramotar of Guyana, Brazil’s former leader, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Oscar winner Sean Penn and U.S.

While US President Barack Obama may have intended his remarks about inequality in the USA he could have been speaking of anywhere when he said, “over the last few decades, the rungs on the ladder of opportunity have grown farther and farther apart, and the middle class has shrunk.”

Repetitive though it might be, we just cannot afford to ignore the state and prospects of the National Insurance Scheme as it continues some of the toughest challenges it has faced in its 44 years history.

There is a certain uneasiness if not fear about the increasing prominence and self-assurance about the rapid growth of the Chinese not only in Guyana but in the rest of the Caribbean and very particularly Africa.

The Budget contained several of the proposals made to the Minister by the Private Sector Commission.