Daily Archive: Friday, May 10, 2013

(Reuters) – A brazen gang of cyber criminals, who stole $45 million from bank ATMs in 27 countries, exposes an Achilles heel in the global financial industry: prepaid debit cards.

GUATEMALA CITY,  (Reuters) – A Guatemalan court today found former dictator Efrain Rios Montt guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity during the bloodiest phase of the country’s 36-year civil war.

(Jamaica Observer) KELLY Tomblin yesterday reiterated the dire financial state of the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), and expressed disappointment that two State-owned sugar companies in Clarendon and Westmoreland allowed residents of neighbouring communities to steal electricity amounting to more than $100 million.

The badly burnt remains of a city cambio dealer and his wife were early this morning discovered in the bedroom of their gutted home and authorities are treating their deaths as suspicious.

Two families are in mourning as they await the post-mortem examination results for Vijay ‘Kevin’ Arjune, 24, and Parbattie ‘Priya’ Mangroo, 19, who were found dead in a suspected murder/suicide late Thursday night.

(Trinidad Express) Shinelle Nelson, 21, left her Diego Martin home on Carnival Saturday, February 9, to attend the Trini Posse fete in Chaguaramas, following which she was supposed to attend the Insomnia Breakfast party in O2 Park also in Chaguaramas.

DHAKA,  (Reuters) – A woman was rescued today after spending 17 days trapped under the rubble of a Bangladesh factory building that collapsed on April 24, killing more than 1,000 people, police and military officials said.

The police say they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Vijay Arjune, 24 years, of Land of Canaan, EBD; and Parbattie Mangru, 19 years, of Soesdyke, EBD, whose bodies were found in a motor vehicle on the public road at Pearl, EBD last night 2013 with suspected gunshot injuries.

In what appears to be the copycatting of a vigilante killing in Sophia on Wednesday morning, a man accused of theft was beaten to death and a young woman injured, by 12 men in Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice yesterday morning.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon at his weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President yesterday announced that the new national minimum wage of $35,000 monthly will take effect from July 1, the Government Information Agency said.

The occupants of the house where the brutal attack on Nigel Lowe began are among those in police custody even as the man’s relatives continue to seek answers as to why he was beaten and chopped to death before being tied to a utility post in ‘B’ Field, Sophia.

No interviews were held for the post of Town Clerk at the Mayor and City Council (MCC), as the persons who applied for the position did not meet the requirements and the vacancy will have to be re-advertised, according to Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green.

Seebachan ‘Ganesh’ Seepersaud, 46, a carpenter of Huntley, Mahaicony lost his life after his head was crushed by a truck, that fled the scene, around 11:45 pm on Wednesday.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Environ-mental Assessment Bureau (EAB) will in seven days say whether BK International will be getting the go ahead to open a sand mine in Yarrowkabra, on the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway following a fiery public hearing yesterday which saw residents of the area and workers of BK almost coming to fisticuffs.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Speedster Miguel Cummins crippled Trinidad and Tobago with his third five-wicket haul of the season before opener Kraigg Brathwaite helped put the hosts in a commanding position, on the opening day of the Regional Four-Day final yesterday.

President Donald Ramotar has called for the creation of a Central Investment and Export Promotion Agency in Guyana aimed at improving the mechanisms to foster international and regional investments in Guyana.

Ulele Burnham, daughter of the late president Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham (LFSB), has said that objections to her father’s receipt of the O R Tambo Award (OTA) based on his “assumed role in the death of Walter Rodney” are moot unless and until a frank, full and formal public inquiry by an international tribunal is convened into the matter.

MOHALI, India,  CMC- West Indies medium pacer Kevin Cooper delivered a masterful death bowling effort to help consolidate Rajasthan Royals’ place in the top four, as they beat Kings XI Punjab by eight wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL) here yesterday.

Sandspring Resources Limit-ed is holding to its projected 2015 deadline for production of an estimated 228,000 ounces of gold per annum from its Cuyuni-Mazaruni operations, a release from the Ministry of Natural Resources said yesterday.

The murder trial of Abickie Ferguson, who is accused of killing her stepfather, began before Justice Navindra Singh in the High Court yesterday.

After a five-year hiatus, Guyana’s first world boxing champion Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis will be in the ring in the not too distant future.

Police yesterday said that Germaine Anthony Rose and Caleb Habeed Caesar are wanted for questioning

Four years after the opening of the Water Street Vendors Arcade, the jury is still out on the impact which it has had on the lives and livelihoods of the stallholders who occupy the facility.

Phillip Da Silva, natural sciences senior lecturer and former assistant director, Berbice campus of the University of Guyana, is the new deputy vice-chancellor of the University.

Dear Editor, Last week’s Plain Talk so angered some top leaders of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) that they began a buzz with email exchanges describing that programme and another on Channel 9 as constituting a “blistering attack” and “serious attempt to discredit the PSC.” 

President of the Georgetown Cricket Umpires & Scorers Association (GCU&SA) Shannon Crawford says this year’s annual clinic will benefit both aspiring and seasoned umpires.

There appears to be a difference between the Government of Guyana and informed industry opinion regarding the number of jobs which call centres are contributing to the overall tally of jobs being provided for Guyanese in the country’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector.

Dear Editor, I am responding to a Stabroek News story captioned ‘No-confidence vote against Harsawack was not in keeping with council mandate –Local Government Minister’ (May 8).

Twenty-six single parents and youths in Region Five are now geared for the “world of works” after completing a five-week empowerment training programme during November and December 2012 in basic office ethics.

The recent publication of the 2012 Report of the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) throws a further positive spotlight on a local small business sector which, in recent months, has already been illuminated by two important recent developments; first, there was the announcement by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) that it was opening a membership window to small businesses which, hitherto, could not become members of the Chamber.

A teenager was remanded to prison on simple larceny charges when he appeared before Magistrate Sueanna Lovell yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The Civil Defence Commis-sion (CDC) says that measures are being put in place to address drought, at the second in a series of public consultations on the drafting of a National Multi-Hazard Preparedness and Response Plan held recently at the Culture ministry.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida, (Reuters) – Unheralded Roberto Castro fired a 63 to tie the course record for a three-shot lead over Rory McIlroy and Zach Johnson with Tiger Woods lurking after Thursday’s first round of the Players Championship.

Dear Editor, I thought I would share some information with those who are still to build their homes in the Diamond Housing Scheme.

(Reuters) – The Joao Havelange Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro might not be named after the once-powerful former FIFA president by the time of the 2016 Games, IOC presidential candidate Thomas Bach hinted yesterday.

Dear Editor, Hats off to Mr Robson Benn for taking a no nonsense approach concerning the dirty garbage situation on our beautiful seawall, and the strong stale smell of urine the morning after the lime.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has warned livestock owners to ensure proper supervision of their animals so as to prevent traffic accidents and loss of life on the roadways and it announced that its stray catching unit has snared a total of 4529 animals since March 2011.

The Guyana Squash Association (GSA) served off its National Junior Squash Cham-pionships sponsored by Woodpecker Products Limited on Wednesday evening at the Georgetown Club Courts.

Following yesterday’s meeting with Minister of Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, Honorary President of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA), Cecil Kennard is optimistic of positive change in the ‘Sport of Kings’.

Dear Editor, There is this unholy haste by the government to force-feed anti-money laundering legislation through Parliament. 

MADRID,  (Reuters) – Roger Federer’s hopes of claiming a second straight Madrid Open title were dashed when the world number two suffered a surprise 6-4 1-6 6-2 third-round defeat to Japanese young gun Kei Nishikori yesterday.

The Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) in a memorandum issued to all member states and associations on Tuesday May 7th following a FIBA Americas Central Board meeting on Saturday May 4th stated that the 2013 CBC Seniors Championships will be postponed until June 2014.

The Alliance For Change (AFC) welcomes the renewal of the rice deal between Guyana and Venezuela and urges government to set aside an escrow sum to pay farmers promptly should millers fail to do so. 

Upbeat news In the space of two days, Guyanese got a series of upbeat news about the economy. 

Courts Guyana Inc yesterday handed over a $300,000 cheque to the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha to assist with the construction of a shelter in Berbice for abused children and parents.

Dear Editor, I have no other choice than to name the television Channel 67, a cowboy channel, since there is no scheduled programming for birthday greetings or death announcements.

ROME/MOSCOW,  (Reuters) – If Russia has decided to make a new diplomatic push to drag Syria’s warring parties into peace talks, it may be because of signs that the United States could slowly get sucked into the conflict.

The inner circuit of the National Park will become a cycling speedway today when national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed and Banks DIH Limited under the Powerade energy drink brand team up to host an 11-race youth cycle programme.

The local gold-mining industry appears to have quickly come to terms with the sudden change in the direction of gold prices, which began with the biggest one-day decline in several years in mid-April, falling by US$140.30 or 9 per cent to US$1,361.

(Trinidad Express) A 17-year old San Fernando girl reported missing three days ago was found dead yesterday in Princes Town.

Jerry Bacchus, owner of the popular Jerries food outlets in Georgetown, says openly that the popular axiom about good help being hard to find applies as much to his enterprise as it does to any other.

Dear Editor, In November, 2011 the people spoke at the election.

Minister of Health, Dr Bheri Ramsaran has lauded Canada’s support to the local health sector via the Canada/Guyana Partnership for Health Care Development Initiatives particularly in the areas of cardiology and urology.

NEW YORK/BOSTON,  (Reuters) – In one of the biggest ever bank heists, a global cyber crime ring stole $45 million from two Middle Eastern banks by hacking into credit card processing firms and withdrawing money from ATMs in 27 countries, U.S.

LONDON, CMC- Former Trinidad and Tobago International, Dwight Yorke, says Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure as manager of Manchester United will be a blow to the club.

The Wado Ryu Karate Association of Guyana continues to receive support from past students.

Small and micro businesses across the country that have, over the years, grown used to operating in an informal, even illegal environment, neglecting to register as a business, failing to comply with the requisite safety and health regulations and evading taxes will have to agree to a much higher level of compliance if they are to benefit from the financial and other forms of support that will soon be on offer under the provisions of the 2004 Small Business Act.

Dear Editor, Permit me to make a few comments on Mr Dennis Wiggins’ letter  ‘The actions of heads of state should be viewed in their totality not in isolation’ (SN, May 8).

Dangerous: This truck was last night seen driving on the Linden Highway without any lights.

The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) expects that several European tour operators will now be selling Destination Guyana following a Familiarisation (Fam) Trip that a group just completed here.

(Jamaica Observer) ST JOHN’S, Antigua — Chief Executive Officer of the West Indies Cricket Board, Jamaican Michael Muirhead, hailed the WICB Scotiabank Kiddy Cricket Programme as critical to the overall development of West Indies Cricket.

Hinterland bound: Traffic was stalled for hours on the MacKenzie Bridge yesterday and saw the build-up of a long line of vehicles waiting to get into the hinterland.

Dear Editor, Reference is made to your very sympathetic editorial titled ‘Burnham Award’ (Sunday Stabroek, April 28) endorsing a planned South African Oliver Tambo honour for the struggle against apartheid (that was subsequently withdrawn) to the late oppressive dictator Forbes Burnham.

By Kelly Mekdeci Participants in a survey of 400 US employers identified professionalism, work ethic, oral and written communications, teamwork and collaboration, critical thinking, and problem solving as the most important proficiencies for secondary school and university graduates to possess.

(Reuters) – South Africa opener Graeme Smith has been ruled out of next month’s Champions Trophy with a left ankle injury, the country’s cricket board said yesterday.

President Donald Ramotar urged participants at the Indian Arrival Committee’s (IAC) mela in commemoration of the 175th Anniversary of Indian Arrival to Guyana, to stand united with government in its objection to the opposition cuts in the budget.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad & Tobago, CMC- Losing Caribbean Cup finalist Trinidad & Tobago will resume training later this month ahead of two friendly internationals in Europe next month.

Collision: An accident occurred at the corner of Shiv Chanderpaul Drive and North Road yesterday involving two vehicles.

BRASILIA, (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro got strong backing from regional heavyweight Brazil yesterday on a tour of South American allies to cement his legitimacy as political heir to the late Hugo Chavez.

Run for kokerite: These Bamia, Linden girls were yesterday racing against each other as part of their afternoon leisure activities.

NASSAU, Bahamas,  CMC- Jamaica was blown away by El Salvador, 7-2, in their opening match of the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship in Nassau, Bahamas, on Wednesday.

MIAMI,  (Reuters) – Miami Heat bounced back from their series-opening loss to Chicago to thrash the Bulls 115-78 on Wednesday and level their Eastern Conference semi-final at 1-1.

Dear Editor, Rawsi Williams stated: “To do what nobody else will do, a way that nobody else can do, in spite of all we go through, is to be a nurse.”

Enterprises benefiting from loans and other services provided by the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) last year provided employment for approximately 9,628 persons including the owners of those enterprises, according to the recently released report of the Board of Directors of the entity.

Over 30 persons have been employed in Linden, including a number of skilled workers from the area, as the US$12.3M Government of Guyana/Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Linden Water Supply Rehabilitation Programme (LWSRP) progresses.

Brazil’s ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Roberto Azevêdo, is to be approved by acclamation, as the Geneva-based organisation’s new director-general, at next Tuesday’s meeting of its general council.

Europe Day:  President Donald Ramotar (right) and EU Head of Delegation to Guyana,  Robert Kopecky sharing a toast last night on the occasion of Europe Day at the Ambassador’s Bel Air Springs residence.

(SportsDirect) – Klay Thompson scored 29 of his 34 points in the first half and added 14 rebounds for his first career double-double as the visiting Golden State Warriors beat San Antonio Spurs 100-91 on Wednesday to level the Western Conference semifinals at 1-1.

Not a Priority! While there has been an unending stream of official backing for the construction of a Marriott Hotel in Guyana a recent survey of business opinion undertaken by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry placed the hotel almost at the bottom of what it felt ought to be on any list of national priorities.

Without even being asked, I repeat that it is not laziness which makes me repeat some views and themes. 

Twenty-one-year-old Carlos Bharrat was yesterday sentenced to 12 months imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to stealing over $200,000 in electronic items from his ex-boss when he appeared before Magistrate Sueanna Lovell at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Dear Editor, Despite the fact that the AFC is part of the combined opposition, it would sometimes stand independently and stick to its decisions on some parliamentary issues, being guided by its democratic principles, policies and vision, relative to change for a better Guyana.

DUBAI, (Reuters) – Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor is taking over a training licence at the doping scandal-hit Moulton Paddocks operation temporarily until a new trainer is appointed, the racing stable said yesterday.

The 47-man national rugby squad continues to prepare assiduously for the NACRA senior men’s 15s Caribbean championships home game against Barbados on May 18.

A sharp difference of opinion has arisen between the heads of the local Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) over the banning of the popular seawall ‘lime’.

(Trinidad Guardian) A Miami-Dade police department bomb squad was called out to check a suspicious package yesterday afternoon outside the gate of a Caribbean Airlines (CAL) flight at Miami International Airport.