Daily Archive: Friday, May 3, 2013

The PNCR tonight confirmed that the OR Tambo award which was to be conferred on the late Guyanese President, Forbes Burnham has been postponed indefinitely.

(Reuters) – The United States is watching “crackdowns on the opposition” in Venezuela, President Barack Obama said in a television interview aired on Friday when asked if he considered newly elected Nicolas Maduro to be the country’s legitimate president.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The Department of Homeland Security, criticized for failing to check the student status of a Kazakh man charged in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing, has tightened procedures for admitting foreigners with student visas, a U.S.

CAMARILLO, Calif., (Reuters) – A fierce, wind-whipped brush fire spread on Friday along the California coast northwest of Los Angeles, threatening several thousand homes and a military base as more than 1,100 dwellings were ordered evacuated and a university campus was closed.

BRASILIA, (Reuters) – Amazon Indians on Friday refused to end their occupation of a building site that has partially paralyzed work on the world’s third largest hydroelectric dam for two days.

(Reuters) – PepsiCo Inc severed ties with rapper Lil Wayne on Friday over a graphic reference to slain U.S.

A Post Mortem Examination was today performed on the body of Renaldo Tinnie of D’Urban Street, Georgetown, by Pathologist Dr.

A Post Mortem Examination was today performed on the body of Basdeo Mangra of North Vryheid’s Lust, ECD, by Pathologist Dr.

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – U.S. employment rose more than expected in April and hiring was much stronger than previously thought in the prior two months, easing concerns belt-tightening in Washington was dealing a big blow to the economy.

(Trinidad Guardian) Attorney General Anand Ramlogan said yesterday that former Clico executive chairman Lawrence Duprey is now considered a wanted man and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard has assembled a specialist team of criminal investigators, including an international auditing firm and experienced lawyers, to start a probe of the businessman.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Two female high school students are now in police custody in connection with the chopping death of a man in Seaforth, St Thomas last night.

Following investigations into reports received, the police yesterday arrested a man at Triumph, ECD, with the travel document and monies collected from the victim of a visa scam.

PRETORIA,  (Reuters) – South Africa suspended four top security officials today, including two brigadier-generals, in a widening scandal over a plane chartered by a family with close ties to President Jacob Zuma using an air force base without proper permission.

ISLAMABAD,  (Reuters) – Gunmen on a motorcycle today shot dead a prosecutor investigating the 2007 assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, one of the most shocking events in the country’s turbulent history.

(Trinidad Express) They yesterday described as a “travesty of justice” the decision of former CL Financial executive chairman Lawrence Duprey and group financial director Andre Monteil to not testify at the commission of enquiry into the failure of CL Financial and the Hindu Credit Union (HCU), and lack of sanctions against Duprey and the slap on the wrist for Monteil.

Carolyn Paul is hoping that her venture into a major commercial enterprise with four Surinamese business partners can, in its own way, contribute to cementing relations between the two South American republics.

A state-of-the-art Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was yesterday opened at the Linden Hospital Complex with the aid of a Canada-based charitable organisation, Guyana Help the Kids Foundation.

Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) General Secretary Seepaul Narine on Wednesday told sugar workers that the union is working diligently with the “severely broke” Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to ensure that delayed payments to them are honoured.

Close to 200 concerned citizens, vendors and officials of City Hall took to the streets yesterday marching from City Hall to the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development offices in Kingston where they protested against the inability of the ministry to address the issues affecting the council as well as the Town Clerk (ag) Carol Sooba.

United States Ambassador to Guyana Brent Hardt yesterday called for the National Broadcasting Authority to “promptly review and approve” qualified applicants for radio licences, even as Attorney General Anil Nandlall considered the possibility that the “right methodology” might not have been used in the allocations made by former president Bharrat Jagdeo.

A baby boy, believed to be new born was yesterday morning discovered abandoned at the Albion koker on the Corentyne.

As Guyana joins the world in celebrating World Press Freedom Day, the Guyana Press Association (GPA) is encouraging media workers to be fair and fearless in reporting the truth.

Artist and humanitarian James Elliot Holder will be cremated tomorrow after passing away on April 28 at the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

Traffic Chief Superintendent Hugh Denhert escaped unhurt yesterday after his vehicle collided with a minibus early yesterday morning at Little Abary, East Coast Demerara.

Silver Bullets were crowned the Guinness Greatest of the Streets Linden Edition Champions compliments of a second half brace by Damion Williams, as they shot down Silent Assassins 4-0 in the grand finale held on Wednesday last at the Wisroc/Amelia’s Ward Bus Park.

(Cricinfo) With 92 IPL games to his name, Suresh Raina, even more than MS Dhoni, is the tournament’s most experienced campaigner.

The Ministry of Health has taken steps to ensure that regional health centres and hospitals under its immediate purview will be free of administrative glitches.

Caribbean Container Inc (CCI) is celebrating the milestone of a modest profit at the end of 2012, a feat which it has been unable to achieve in more than 15 years.

The murder trial of Al Wilson began with a voir dire (trial within a trial) in the High Court yesterday.

Alex Rodrigues, Nyota Rodrigues, Xavier Arjoon, Shawn Naughton and Shaun Singh graduated to the Shodan level last Saturday when the Japan Karate Association/World Federation (JKA/WF) grading concluded at the dojo’s headquarters, National Park, Thomas Lands Georgetown.

Dear Editor, I refer to the recent overtopping of the sea wall as well as the earlier overtopping earlier this year, and state that the situation is indeed serious and in my opinion was caused by scouring of the foreshore from the earlier overtopping, with severe wind.

One of the realities that is increasingly being driven home to small business owners and aspirants, Business Support Organisations (BSOs) and the government is that it really makes no sense standing around and bellyaching over the lack of access which SMEs must endure in their efforts to secure funding from local commercial banks for the expansion/ upgrading of small businesses or for the creation of new ones.

Dear Editor, At the 45th Anniversary of the Guyana Association of Professional Engineers (GAPE), President Trotman delivered the feature address and informed his gathering that the engineering industry was unhappy with the quality of engineering graduates from the University of Guyana (UG) and that its benefactor, the Government of Guyana should enhance the capacity of the institution to enable future graduates to acquire the necessary skills and quality to meet the needs of the engineering industry.

The first monthly disbursement of the $25,000 stipends was distributed to six elite amateur boxers yesterday.

Pink foam slipping from a horse cart along Public Road, Ruimveldt yesterday presented a traffic hazard (Photo by Arian Browne)

The Business Cartoon

Linden Bauxite Flyers Cycling Club (LBFCC) dominated at the second edition of the Baker’s Memorial Cycling Classic which was held last Sunday around the Amelia’s Ward Circuit, Linden.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – North Korea’s continuing development of nuclear technology and long-range ballistic missiles will move it closer to its stated goal of being able to hit the United States with an atomic weapon, a new Pentagon report to Congress said yesterday.

Dear Editor, The great flood of 2005 signalled that Guyana was not ready for disasters of that type and since then the effects of the raging Atlantic Ocean on the eastern corridor of Georgetown have seen thousands of residents and businessmen suffering with absolutely no positive action being proffered by the relevant authorities to address this critical issue.

Flags flying:

The Interim-Management Committee (IMC) of the Bartica Neighbourhood Democratic Council, in Region Seven, has withdrawn permission it recently granted to a sanitation service to dump garbage at the still under-construction landfill site in the community.

Dear Editor, It is sad to hear about the passenger who died after a scuffle with the conductor of a bus.

CORONADO, California (Reuters) – The US Navy introduced its first squadron that combines combat helicopters with unmanned aerial vehicles at an air base near San Diego yesterday, calling the approach the future of warfare.

Berbice’s Becian Stars on Wednesday afternoon retained their athletic title with 226 points ahead of Excelicius (146) and Fecund (30) in the third edition of the Inter-Federation Goodwill Relay Festival at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary.

Ambitious A review of the 2013 budget shows that an estimated $370 million are being directed towards small businesses this year. 

Dear Editor, The Stabroek Business article published May 10, under the caption ‘PSC, Georgetown Chambers at odds over seawall lime ban’ reveals a mindset of the (GCCI) President Clinton Urling that is very troubling.

Local exporters of food products (agricultural produce and processed foods) who either access US markets or aspire to do so still appear far from seized with a sense of urgency associated with the two-year-old Food Safety Modernisation Act (FSMA), a United States law that seeks to protect its citizens from food-borne diseases but which, simultaneously, could spell trouble for all food exporters to the US.

GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) – A Guatemalan judge yesterday restarted the genocide trial of former dictator Efrain Rios Montt following a two-week suspension due to a fight over who should oversee the case.

The Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, the Bartica Islamic Association and the religious community of Bartica hosted a meeting on Tuesday to address the trafficking in persons (TIP) issue which is affecting the Bartica and neighbouring communities.

Horsepower

Dear Editor, I read that remittances accounted for some 17% of Guyana’s 2012 GDP, according to the IDB (SN, May 2). 

Universal DVD Club Titans were crowned the new Berbice Softball Alliance (BSA) 10/10 softball cricket champions after wins in the four team organised matches held at the Bath Settlement ground on Labour Day.

BONN, Germany (Reuters) – A US-led plan to let all countries set their own goals for fighting climate change is gaining grudging support at UN talks, even though the current level of pledges is far too low to limit rising temperatures substantially.

Vice President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and Chief Execu-tive Officer of Brain Street Lance Hinds wants local small and medium-sized enterprises to look to the Caribbean Export Develop-ment Agency (Carib Export) to fill the gap in support of local businesses arising out of the difficulties associated with securing funding from commercial banks and high interest rates being charged by other lending agencies.

Dear Editor, My observation and experience in the use of the roads in and out of Georgetown, leaves me to wonder what is next, what will happen in the next decade? 

Winners of the Tropical Rhythms ‘For the Fun of Life’ promotion

A newly-formed agricultural cooperative working with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture through the Guyana Livestock Development Association (GLDA) is seeking to mobilise pig farmers from across the country in an effort to raise pig-rearing standards, increase production and improve market access for local pork and pork products.

  Dancers from the Indira and Nadira Shah Dance Troupe performing a cultural item at the Indian Commemoration Trust’s Arrival Day celebrations at the Indian Monument Gardens, Church and Camp streets in Georgetown on Wednesday evening.

Dear Editor, If GINA’s report (SN, April 19) of Minister’s Manickchand’s address at CXC’s 40th anniversary brunch is accurate, then some of the comments attributed to the Minister ought not to remain unchallenged.

LOS ANGELES | (Reuters) – After enduring a roller-coaster season described by Hall of Famer Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson as “one of the worst” in franchise history, Los Angeles Lakers fans are scratching their heads over what may happen next.

The main opposition APNU yesterday signaled that it would push for the government’s proposed amendments to the anti-money laundering laws to be examined by a parliamentary select committee, in order to get political consensus and ensure what is passed is right for the country.

BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said on Wednesday she has sent lawmakers another proposal to earmark all oil royalties collected by the state for public education after Congress shelved an earlier effort.

Three power outages experienced in the Demerara county on Wednesday were as a result of several complications after a vehicle crashed into a utility pole in Kingston, Georgetown, the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) said yesterday.

HOUSTON (Reuters) – A man sparked a panic at a busy Houston airport terminal yesterday when he pulled out a gun and shot at the ceiling, then either shot himself or was killed by a security officer who confronted him.

Small business owners and aspirants at a Pegasus workshop. The advent of the Small Business Bureau and the support being offered by Carib Export may provide local small businesses with a new lease on life

Incumbent Houston Stars Football Club President Charles Greaves was reelected to office unopposed when the club held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday last at the Saints Recreational Facility, Carifesta Avenue.

Dear Editor, As we observe this historic occasion, we recognize how significantly the ancestral presence from India that started 175 years ago, has left its unique stamp of ‘Indian-ness’ on Guyana.

Stock market updates

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles challenged President Nicolas Maduro’s narrow election victory before the Supreme Court yesterday, prolonging what appears to be a futile effort to overturn last month’s vote.

Dear Editor, It is sad to hear about the passenger who died after a scuffle with the conductor of a bus.

(Trinidad Guardian) – The International Press Institute, the T&T Publishers and Broadcasters Association and the Association of Caribbean Media Workers on Wednesday hailed the government’s move to drop criminal libel from the law books, further enhancing T&T press freedom.

(Prepared by the Guyana Marketing Corporation and published by Stabroek Business as a public service)

 This opportunistic vendor is one of several persons who have been turning steaming hot days into a commercial virtue by offering ice-cold bottles of water to passers-by.

It was on Sunday of this week, during a nine-hour blackout, that I persevered with the notes of this (type of) Frankly Speaking mini-lecture you’re reading here.

Republic Bank Ltd has recorded a profit of TT$552.5 million, for its half year ended, March 31.

Eight teams kept their five alive while their opponents were sent packing when the third annual Mackeson ‘Keep Your Five Alive’ knockout football competition kicked off Wednesday night at California Square, East Ruimveldt.

By Ian Buruma NEW YORK – Barring any unexpected new revelations, there is not much to be learned from the Tsarnaev brothers, better known as “the Boston bombers.”

Dear Editor, As a long-standing supporter of the GTM Fire Insurance Company Ltd, I was extremely disappointed to learn that GTM has partnered with the illegal Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) by sponsoring the 2013 Under-19 Competition.

Perusing the statements by West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) chief executive officer Michael Muirhead and newly elected Board president Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron regarding Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies this year, which will comprise five One Day Internationals (ODIs) and two Twenty20 (T20) matches, one is left none the wiser as to what precisely were the “circumstances” Mr Cameron was referring to that “dictated” that no Test matches would be played.

WASHINGTON/WELLINGTON (Reuters) – A trip to New Zealand will put America’s chief prosecutor on the same soil as a flashy internet mogul who is fighting extradition to the United States on charges he assisted massive piracy of copyrighted movies and music.