Daily Archive: Tuesday, June 4, 2013

A man accused of defrauding another of $13M in a land sale transaction was today remanded to prison when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

At about 0730h today, the police FN Rifle that was taken away from a Constable during an armed robbery at the Wismar Post Office yesterday was recovered off the roadway in the vicinity of the “Millie’s Hideout” turn leading into Linden, police said today.

MUMBAI, (Reuters) – Bollywood actress Jiah Khan was found dead at her home in Mumbai, police said today.

CARACAS,  (Reuters) – A Venezuelan state is testing a system to limit purchases of food and other staples, local media reported today, in a move that officials defended as necessary to stop contraband trade but opposition critics slammed as Cuban-style rationing.

(Reuters) – Australia were bowled out for 65 by India in a Champions Trophy warm-up match today in a blow to their morale ahead of their title defence.

(Reuters) – West Indies beat Sri Lanka by 17 runs in their Champions Trophy warmup match at Edgbaston in Birmingham today.

Sources have informed Stabroek News that the Commissioners of the Guyana Elections Commission will have a meeting on June 11 and it is expected that the fate of Chief Election Officer Gocool Boodoo will be decided at that meeting.

(Barbados Nation) The elderly man charged with the death of his 12-year-old granddaughter also faced two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse when he appeared in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

PARIS/ZURICH,  (Reuters) – Switzerland’s permanent representative at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, Stefan Flueckiger, has been arrested for drunk-driving by French police after a high-speed car chase, police sources said on Tuesday.

(Trinidad Express) A father of five was shot dead and his two sons wounded when masked men entered their home and opened fire on Sunday night.

(Trinidad Express) The Anti-Bullying Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ABATT) is calling on local fast food restaurant chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) to immediately remove an advertisement for one of its newest sandwiches that depicts a “love triangle”, in the wake of the murder of a teenage boy by a schoolmate allegedly under similar circumstances.

MIAMI,  (Reuters) – The Miami Heat reached their third straight NBA Finals with an emphatic 99-76 game seven win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday to set up a mouthwatering clash with the San Antonio Spurs.

(Trinidad Express) Embarrassing! This was the reaction yesterday of former diplomat and head of the Public Service Reginald Dumas to what he described as “particularly glaring protocol lapses” which occurred during the three-day visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan.

An Albion, Corentyne mother of three was allegedly strangled by her husband on Sunday evening following a domestic argument.

Action on key recommendations for witness and victim protection and mutual assistance at the state-to-state level remains uncertain in government’s efforts to comply with requirements to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

A Mahaicony miner died early yesterday morning at the Georgetown Public Hospital, two weeks after he was doused with gasoline and turned into a human torch during a confrontation at Chinee Landing, Cuyuni in Region Seven.

A Berbice farmer who allegedly raped his 13-year-old stepdaughter around 3.45 am on Thursday was arrested the following day and released from custody yesterday without any charges being instituted.

Shortly after the Wismar Post Office opened for business yesterday morning, bandits assaulted the lone uniformed police officer and made off with his gun and an undisclosed sum of money.

Opposition party AFC has warned of a plan to install current GuySuCo Chairman Raj Singh as “Executive Chairman” of the troubled company, saying this is intended to bypass reporting by the CEO to the Board of Directors.

The Kitty woman who was badly burnt when a noxious fluid was thrown on her last Saturday said the police are yet to visit her, even as the businesswoman who she suspects is the mastermind is continuously throwing hints at her.

Georgetown earned nearly $3 billion in 2012 from the collection of rates and taxes, yet little has been done in terms of rehabilitation and upkeep, Minister of Local Govern-ment Ganga Persaud said yesterday, but he warned that it was unlikely that local government elections would be held this year.

The directors of the New Building Society (NBS) Ltd have decided to reduce mortgage interest rates effective July1, 2013.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall yesterday expressed frustration over the leader of the opposition’s position to not support the appointments of the current acting Chief Justice and acting Chancellor of the Judiciary.

Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry remanded a father of two accused of having a quantity of cocaine and unlicensed ammunition in his possession, when he yesterday appeared in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court to answer to the charges.

Minister of Local Government Ganga Persaud will stand behind Region Four’s Regional Executive Officer Deolall Rooplall and will not approve his dismissal by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

Unhappy with the combined opposition’s revisiting of contentious issues during the ongoing parliamentary review of the local government reform bills, Local Government Minister Ganga Persaud yesterday warned that the window is closing for the holding of long delayed polls this year.

A boat captain, en route to the Mazaruni with seven passengers, yesterday opted to steer his jet boat in a clump of riverside bushes, averting what could have been possibly another river tragedy in Region Seven.

Frequent blackouts from the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) have been attributed to line maintenance and network rehabilitation work that was being done during the course of the past week.

A fire of unknown origin yesterday ripped through the upper flat of a home at Mocha Arcadia leaving four persons, including two children displaced.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett says government has sought clarity the exact nature of the US$3 billion in financing President of China Xi Jinping announced for the region at a high-level meeting in Trinidad over the weekend and it now has to determine which projects get financed.

Police at the Turkyen Police Station are yet to arrest the man accused of brutally raping a 14-year-old girl two weeks ago and the child is now scared to remain at home or venture out on the street alone.

Residents who had called for the upgrading of the deplorable Burma Road at Mahaicony will soon have their requests granted following the signing of the first set of contracts in Region Five.

Current renovation to the floor of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) which began on March 14 is approximately three weeks away from completion according to contractors.

A young father of Shieldstown, West Bank Berbice is pondering his next move, claiming that the application he made for a house lot since 2004 has been denied and he has to apply all over again.

Masters Two 74-kilogramme World deadlift record holder Winston ‘Little Master’ Stoby impressively warmed up for upcoming international competitions by breaking his own deadlift record on Sunday when the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) staged its 2013 Intermediate and Masters Championships at the University of Guyana Campus.

Guyanese veteran journalist and former editor of St Maarten’s Daily Herald newspaper Courtney Gibson died on Sunday evening, at a United States hospital, where he was being treated for an advanced brain tumor.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) yesterday upbraided the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and the Ministry of Finance for their carelessness in not having old age pensions ready to be paid on Saturday.

BIRMINGHAM, England,  CMC- Lion-hearted allrounder Darren Sammy says the West Indies are genuine contenders to win the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy which features the eight top One-Day teams in the world.

Following Saturday’s 20-nil thrashing at the hands of Trinidad and Tobago in the NACRA Senior Men’s 15s Southern Championship game, the focus of the national ruggers now shifts to domestic competitions and international seven-a-side rugby.

A sales manager at Electronics City was yesterday charged after being allegedly caught on camera stealing an iPod Touch from the store.

The pedestrian crossings from Hopetown to Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice were on Sunday given a sprucing-up by members of the community.

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Gym was declared the top gym and Rose Hall Jammers (RHJ) Tyron Lashley the best boxer when the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) brought the curtain down on its National Novices and Intermediate championships on Saturday.

Marian Academy was presented with their Youth Basketball Guyana’s (YBG) Georgetown U14, U17 and U20 conference titles at a simple presentation ceremony held at the school’s auditorium, Carifesta Avenue on Sunday.

Murder accused Rudolph Williams was found not guilty of murder or manslaughter by a jury in the High Court yesterday.

Death row inmate Brian Vandeyar had his death sentence commuted to life imprisonment by acting Chief Justice Ian Chang last Thursday.

The Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) has officially suspended all ongoing competitions until the end of the current May/June rainy period.

A seminar that promises informative discussions on the world of social media and online advertising, including how to convert fans to sales; how to effectively build brand awareness; best practices; and how to launch a successful online ad campaign, is billed for tomorrow morning at the Pegasus Hotel.

To help combat iron deficiency anaemia, the Food Policy Division of the Ministry of Health will hold anaemia education sessions at the Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary School, West bank Demerara, Region 3, today from 10 am to 1 pm.

Dear Editor, Residents of the new Herstelling Scheme completed in 2011 and handed over early 2012 are upset about the deplorable state of the roads.

Hikers Generals were crowned the Kellogg’s first division champions  when they came from behind to defeat Hikers Cadets 4-3 in a pulsating finale as the Bryden’s Super Classic Indoor Hockey Championships concluded on Sunday at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Anti-government protesters responsible for Turkey’s worst riots in years are “arm-in-arm with terrorism”, Prime Minister Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said, in a defiant response to three days of unrest in dozens of cities across the country.

Dear Editor, On May 27th, US Vice President Joseph Biden, visited Trinidad and Tobago for bilateral talks with several Caricom leaders, including Guyana’s President Donald Ramotar.

LONDON, CMC- Anti-drugs campaigners have blasted Olympic sprint king Usain Bolt for a picture posted on the internet which appeared to be promoting the use of Cannabis.

Headquarters male team and ‘A’ Division female team successfully retained their titles on Friday when the Guyana Police Force Inter-Division Dominoes tournament ended at the Police Sports Club, Eve Leary.

A woman who admitted to having eight grammes of cannabis in her possession was yesterday sentenced to three years imprisonment.

Dear Editor, Some of your news stories, and much more your letter columns, are lately focussed on the misuse of racial loyalties.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The US State Department offered rewards yesterday of $3 million to $7 million for information leading to the location of “leaders of terrorist organizations” in West Africa, the first time it has used the rewards programme in the region.

Poor turnout by residents in the Eccles community saw the public consultation on the Haags Bosch sanitary landfill being rescheduled, as those present complained that adequate notice was not given.

EUGENE, Oregon,  2013 – World and Olympic 400 metre champion Kirani James has conceded that it was a tactical error which cost him a first win over the former World and Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday.

SAN JOSE (Reuters) – China lent Central American ally Costa Rica nearly $400 million yesterday during a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to a region where Beijing has traditionally vied with rival Taiwan for influence.

Guyana yesterday signed the Arms Trade Treaty as the world seeks to put an end to international weapons transfer.

 Dear Editor, After spending the entire morning of Friday, May 31, 2013 in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court to offer some testimony in a personal matter before the Court, I observed a particularly troubling practice related solely to the procedural management of evidentiary recording that I wish to briefly highlight and expound upon.

PARIS, Reuters) – All the complaints about lousy weather, windy courts and rotten schedules were forgotten as the sun finally shone on birthday boy Rafa Nadal’s pursuit of a record eighth French Open title yesterday.

(Trinidad Express) Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Portia Simpson-Miller, has said the relationship between Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) and the carrier it acquired in 2011, Air Jamaica, is a “great cause of concern for the Jamaican people”.

Squeegee man: This character who stands at Sheriff Street near the Railway Embankment makes a nuisance of himself rushing up to cars and ‘cleaning’ their windscreens with water of dubious origin. 

(Reuters) – Former All-Star point guard Jason Kidd is retiring after 19 seasons in the National Basketball Assoc-iation (NBA), the New York Knicks player said yesterday.

Dear Editor, A news item in your newspaper  (May 31st, `US in talks on $300M democracy project here’) reported a big meeting between APNU’s leaders  and U.S.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Excellent swing bowling from Wahab Riaz and Asad Ali set up Pakistan’s six-wicket victory over South Africa in a Champions Trophy warm-up match at The Oval on yesterday.

(Daily Mail) A Jamaican father of three has been jailed for six years after he smuggled £160,000 worth of cocaine into the United Kingdom in patties.

CAIRO (Reuters) – An Egyptian court sentenced five foreigners to death by hanging yesterday for smuggling drugs, an official said.

Too close for comfort? A cyclist shadowing a laden truck along the East Coast Demerara Public Road yesterday –  perhaps a tad too close.

BUCHAREST, Romania, CMC-Romania’s head coach Victor Piturka says he will not be taking Trinidad and Tobago for granted as both teams prepare to meet in a friendly international in Bucharest today.

LIMA (Reuters) – Two 400-year-old warships that sank in the Pacific Ocean after being attacked by a Dutch admiral and pirates may once again see land if researchers in Peru successfully raise them.

PARIS (Reuters) – The spokeswoman for Nicolas Sarkozy’s re-election campaign last year won a primary election yesterday to become the conservative UMP party’s candidate for the 2014 Paris mayoral race.

Dear Editor, I refer to Christopher Persaud’s letter in Stabroek News of May 28, 2013, where he pointed out that the obituary of Ayube Hamid in the Sunday Stabroek,  January 25, 2009 was erroneous as regards him being a life member of the Gandhi Youth Organization (GYO).

Rising water:  These painters were on Sunday morning forced to abandon their job of painting in front of this store on King Street after water started to mysteriously rise.

Child labour? These school-aged boys were seen loading and fetching sand in Fifth Street, Alberttown yesterday just after 2 pm when school would have been in session.

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II will go back to the scene of her coronation today to mark a reign that has weathered six decades of social transformation and the end of her country’s global empire.

Until very recently one could be forgiven for looking perplexed at the mention of the name Caribbean Press.

(Trinidad Express) Former People’s National Movement government minister Rennie Dumas was yesterday sentenced to pay fines totalling $18,500, after being convicted on two charges of assault in the Scarborough Magis-trate’s Court.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC-Goal-starved Jamaica faces CONCACAF giants Mexico in the first of two World Cup Qualifiers at the national stadium in Kingston today.

Dear Editor, Local singers currently competing in the GT&T jingle and star competition have indeed caught my admiration and while their progress towards international stardom will depend on the existence of a viable local industry, there is serious talent on show here  especially in the English genre.

Last week’s Ministry of Home Affairs statement in the matter of the role of the police in the investigation into the  November 2012 death of a young man named Sadeek Juman is deserving of public comment if only because the content of the missive ventures beyond the type of official admonition of the performance of the Force to which we have grown accustomed.