Daily Archive: Saturday, June 8, 2013

(Jamaica Observer) THE Jamaican dollar plunged to its lowest value ever yesterday, trading at an average $100.08 to its US counterpart, a development that is in keeping with a recommendation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The police say they are investigating the murder of Shaneeza Ramdat called ‘Rishina’, 23 years, of Kuru Kuru Squatting Area, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, which occurred at about 1150h.

(Reuters) – England struck the first blow at the start of an eight-month campaign against Australia involving 26 matches in all three formats of the game by winning their Champions Trophy Group A game in Birmingham today.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Four men were shot and killed by gunmen in Seaview Gardens in South St Andrew last night.

The Guyana Power and Light today signalled that it is moving for a 26.7% tariff hike amid a feud with the opposition over a cut of $5.2B in its budget for this year.

Bids are again being sought for a warm-up, warm-down pool for the National Aquatic Centre at Liliendaal, 18 months after the facility opened amid concerns about its cost and planning for it.

PARIS, (Reuters) – Serena Williams proved an irresistible force once more as she powered past Maria Sharapova 6-4 6-4 to win the French Open for the second time on Saturday – 11 years after her first triumph.

LONDON, (Reuters) – West Indies wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin was charged by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Saturday with “conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game”.

There are about 140,000 Guyanese immigrants living in New York City, according to the latest American Community Survey figures, published in today’s New York Times.

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif.,  (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama and China’s President Xi Jinping agreed on Friday to work together to try to resolve disputes over cyber security, a major irritant between the world’s top two economic powers.

BEIJING,  (Reuters) – A suicidal man started a fire on a bus in China that killed 47 people, state media said on Saturday, a disaster that came just days after 120 people died in a fire at a poultry plant.

JOHANNESBURG,  (Reuters) – Former South African president and anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela was in a “serious but stable” condition today after being taken to hospital with a recurrence of a lung infection, the government said.

(Trinidad Express) Gary Griffith, national security adviser to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, yesterday slammed the protocol blunders which occurred during the recent three-day visit of the President of China, Xi Jinping.

In what has now become a continuing trend, private primary schools claimed almost 50% of the top results of this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), with Mae’s Under 12 students earning five of the top ten spots as well as some 12 more among the top one per cent.

LONDON,  CMC – West Indies made heavy weather of a paltry target but held their nerve in the end to beat Pakistan by two wickets and make a winning start to their ICC Champion Trophy campaign here yesterday.

Salma Majeed, of the ISA Islamic Academy, emerged the top performer out of the 16,811 students who sat this year’s National Grade Six Assessment,

The executives of the Guyana  Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) will meet tomorrow to discuss changes to the draft legislation as well as other matters concerning the ‘Sport of Kings’ at the Kennard’s Turf Club, Bush Lot.

The national under-19 ruggers commenced preparation on Thursday for the North American and West Indies Rugby Association (NACRA) 15s tournament which kicks off on July 6 in Trinidad and Tobago.

Long under fire for not reducing losses, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) yesterday touted the reduction in electricity theft by 80% in Cummings Park through a US$5 million pilot project that has seen the installation of prepaid meters and a significant increase in paying customers.

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Opener Assad Fudadin and skipper Kirk Edwards  smashed centuries as West Indies `A’, responding to Sri Lanka `A’s 472 all out, reached 496 for five in their first innings at the close of the third day of the first four-day “Test” at Warner Park here yesterday.

A trek by Kato students for logs on April 17th, 2013 to keep their school’s kitchen going was less than half a mile, according to a report by the Regional Education Officer (ReDO) for Region Eight, amid concerns about exploitation of the children.

The woman who died during child birth this week at the Georgetown Public Hospital was given a pill to induce labour, according to her husband and sources say that the subsequent management of the patient is what investigators will have to look at.

With  great improvement in the weather golfers will tee off today in the annual Trophy Stall sponsored Golf tournament at the Lusignan Golf Club.

Activist Mark Benschop has moved for the charge against the blind man accused of approaching him to hire hit-men to be dropped because of the man’s failing health.

LONDON, CMC- Pacer Kemar Roach says a boost in confidence helped him to rip through the early Pakistan batting as West Indies launched their ICC Champions Trophy in triumphant fashion yesterday.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC- The Jamaican government signaled its commitment to the world-wide fight against doping in sports by announcing a 16 million Jamaican dollar budget for drug testing of athletes and says the figure represents a significant increase.

Canadian national Johal Magnet, who was nabbed at the Cheddi Jagan Inter-national Airport (CJIA) with a quantity of cocaine concealed in the false bottom of his suitcase, was yesterday sentenced to a three-year jail term after pleading guilty to narcotics trafficking.

A 22-year-old motorcycle pillion rider died while being treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) after the bike he was on crashed into a car at an intersection on Mandela Avenue yesterday morning.

PARIS, (Reuters) – ‘If at first you don’t succeed try, try, try again’ could be David Ferrer’s personal motto after the Spaniard reached his maiden grand slam final yesterday at his 42nd tilt at a major.

A couple and their son were yesterday all remanded to prison on a charge of narcotics trafficking that stems from a police raid on their home during which 1,100 grammes of cannabis were allegedly found.

TRELAWNY, Jamaica, CMC- Wellesly Bolt, the father of sprint legend Usain Bolt was robbed of cash amounting to a little less than half a million Jamaican dollars, Jamaica’s media reported yesterday.

United States of America-based sprinter, Adam Harris, says he is expecting a good performance when he competes in the men’s 100m at the 27th New Jersey International Invitational at the Colts Neck High School.

Despite a murder rate that is on par with the preceding year, the police force yesterday reported a 1% drop in serious crimes up to the end of last month.

The One Laptop per Family (OLPF) initiative conducted its final distribution for Region Four yesterday, handing out 1,050 netbooks.

With Bushy Park’s Circuit in Barbados under renovations, the second leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC) billed for September will be staged in Jamaica or here in Guyana.

LONDON/NAIROBI,  (Reuters) – Britain expressed regret yesterday for the abuse of Kenyans by colonial forces during the 1950s Mau Mau insurgency and announced compensation for 5,228 survivors, but stopped short of apologising.

From rags to riches, that’s the story of Abdullaw Shawnpey, a hip hop artiste who uses the struggles he once faced in life to motivate him towards his ultimate goal of becoming a great rapper.

On Tuesday evening, the Georgetown International Academy staged The Lion King – (the musical).

Tutorial High School’s female team will looking to turn the tables on New Campbellville Secondary when the two sides meet today in the final of the  Scotiabank/Pepsi Schools football tournament at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue.

Spindly mangrove seedlings scattered in the grey-brown waters of the Atlantic Ocean sway gently in the tiny currents lapping the foreshore at Victoria, East Coast Demerara.

Hi Everyone, There is very little if anything that needs to be done to fried sweet ripe plantains.

Georgetown recorded an easy nine-wicket victory over East Bank yesterday in the first match of the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) Inter-Association Under-17 40-overs-aside tournament at the Everest Sports Club ground.

SAN JOSE, Calif.,  (Reuters) – President Barack Obama yesterday staunchly defended the sweeping U.S.

The Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) is celebrating its 10th anniversary and is marking the occasion with a number of events, including a concert featuring award winning gay Guyanese artiste Nhojj and a photographic exhibition.

By Jeff Trotman The Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security is moving to establish a White Zone in Region Ten, Hymawattie Lagan, Administrator of the Women’s Affairs Bureau (WAB), said on Thursday.

With the international leg of the Miss Jamzone Pageant on the horizon, Hits and Jams (HJ) Entertainment has announced the names of the three young beauties who will be vying for the opportunity to represent Guyana in what has become one of the most popular annual events.

MOSCOW,  (Reuters) – Russian police rounded up 300 people at a Muslim prayer room in Moscow yesterday after President Vladimir Putin ordered a crackdown on radical Islamists ahead of next year’s Winter Olympics in Sochi.

MIAMI, (Reuters) – Tony Parker led a masterful fourth quarter performance from San Antonio as the Spurs beat the Heat 92-88 in the opening game of the NBA Finals in Miami on Thursday.

MIAMI,  (Reuters) – Miami guard Dwyane Wade said the Heat may have paid the price for their gruelling seven-game series against the Indiana Pacers as the San Antonio Spurs took advantage of late turnovers and missed opportunities to win game one of the Finals 92-88.

The Canada-based Mahdia Gold Corp (MGC) says its local subsidiary has executed a term sheet with Republic Bank here for the equivalent of US$3 million in gold-mining equipment to be used at its Omai site.

On Sunday, June 2, local hip hop artiste Aisha Taylor Jones who goes by the stage name A-TayJah made history by being the first female Guyanese rapper to have a single reach number one on the local music charts.

CHARLESTON, S.C.,  (Reuters) – Cyclone Andrea made its way up the U.S.

(Jamaica Gleaner) The Port Authority of Jamaica is pushing for speedy divestment of the Kingston Container Terminal (KCT) partly because it plans to use the proceeds as financing for dredging the Kingston Harbour.

Dear Editor, With the advent of World Environment Day, I salute all those persons, groups, companies, organisations, etc, which try to make an effort to safeguard our environment.

Training for law enforcement officers was the main focus of the bilateral meetings that Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee had at the 30th International Drug Enforcement Conference in Moscow, Russia.

PARIS, (Reuters) – Serena Williams gives pet names to her various character traits whereas Maria Sharapova, who will try to prevent the American claiming a 16th grand slam title in today’s French Open final, usually sticks rigidly to the ice maiden routine.

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – U.S. employers stepped up hiring a bit in May in a show of economic resilience that suggests the Federal Reserve could begin to scale back its monetary stimulus later this year.

Dear Editor, I am sending this letter because I am a driver of a motor vehicle.

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo was conferred with a Doctor of Laws degree by Trent University of Canada in recognition of his leadership achievements and his advocacy for the environment, at a convocation ceremony held on Wednesday.

PARIS, (Reuters) – Rafa Nadal displayed the athleticism and self-belief that earned him seven French Open titles to tame Novak Djokovic 6-4 3-6 6-1 6-7(3) 9-7 in a pulsating 4-1/2 hour Roland Garros semi-final yesterday.

ISTANBUL, (Reuters) – Thousands of Turks dug in yesterday for a weekend of anti-government demonstrations despite Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s demand for an immediate end to the worst political unrest of his decade in power.

(Trinidad Express) A police officer was one of three men shot and killed Thursday night in separate attacks in north, east and south Trinidad.

The woman Yohan Greenidge was reportedly protecting on Thursday when he was shot has denied that he was protecting her from being physically abused by his brother, who is her reputed husband.

CAPE TOWN,  (Reuters) – – AB de Villiers is not only looking to skipper South Africa to success at one day international level in the Champions Trophy, he is also auditioning for the role as test captain, says coach Gary Kirsten.

Dear Editor, I will be grateful if you permit me some space in your valued letter columns to reply to Devika Persaud’s letter in your 4th June edition in order to correct what she wrote and in the sole interest of historical accuracy. 

SASOD’s 9th Painting the Spectrum Film Festival continues tomorrow June 9 with two documentaries: You Are Not Alone, produced by NYABJ Award winner, Guyanese, Antoine B Craigwell and My Wardrobe, My Right, produced by Neil Marks.

(Trinidad Express) Cabinet on Thursday approved a new policy to lend assistance to all farmers—crops, livestock and fisherfolk—who are affected by natural disasters.

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – The United States yesterday called on Madagascar to restore democratic rule through free and fair elections, after the African nation’s government said it was postponing a presidential vote by a month to Aug.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has sued Forbes magazine for libel in a British court, alleging its valuation of his wealth at $20 billion was short of the mark by $9.6 billion, Britain’s Guardian newspaper reported yesterday.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – England opener Nick Compton rediscovered his form yesterday with 166 for Somerset before being caught behind against Durham in their county clash.

An eye care outreach was held on Wednesday at the Wales Community Centre.

Timely help: The Ministry of Health yesterday received a quantity of equipment, US Embassy’s Humanitarian Assistance Programme intended to benefit operating theatres, emergency rooms and admission rooms.

Miss Guyana-India Katherina Roshana, recently back from representing her homeland at the Ms India Worldwide Pageant in Malaysia on April 27, says she is grateful for the opportunity and the international exposure.

(Trinidad Express) The Auditor General’s report on Trinidad and Tobago’s public accounts for Government’s financial year 2012 (October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012) has revealed that Government ministries paid millions of dollars in overpayments to contract employees.

Dear Editor, After a long hard year of discontent, frustration and hopelessness, more bad news has emerged for those at the bottom of the economic ladder.

Yesterday this newspaper reported that the Ministry of Human Services recorded more than 1,000 cases of child abuse in the first quarter of this year.

NEW YORK,  (Reuters) – Americans suddenly fearful that the U.S. government can easily find out who they are telephoning have software options to disguise their calling records.

Last week’s feature, ‘It’s not just comedy for Odessa Primus’, reported in the twelfth paragraph: “Her father, being a womaniser never took care of her or her siblings and he had a number of offspring with numerous women.”

A meeting of the Special Select Committee on Local Government, scheduled to be held yesterday, was postponed, even as arguments persist about the holding of local government elections this year.

In recent years there have been numerous reports about the difference between female leadership and the traditional male leadership to which the human race has been subjected for centuries.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Australia captain Michael Clarke has been ruled out of the side’s first Champions Trophy group match against England today due to injury, Cricket Australia said yesterday.

Planning for the 3rd International Congress of Biodiversity of the Guiana Shield was the main agenda item when the executive board of the International Society of Biodiversity of the Guiana Shield (IBG) met at the Anton de Kom University of Suriname (AdeKUS) in Paramaribo last month, from May 13 to May 15, 2013.

Dear Editor, I would like to take the opportunity on behalf of all Guyanese to briefly congratulate and thank the Princess Hotel chain for offering us a brand new, state-of-the-art movie theatre and arcade gaming entertainment centre.

Four Members of Parliament (MPs) were sent to Canada for training to strengthen the scrutiny of public spending estimates.

CARACAS,  (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said yesterday that former Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was trying to arrange a meeting between Maduro and his Colombian counterpart to help resolve a dispute between the South American neighbours.