Daily Archive: Tuesday, June 25, 2013

LOS ANGELES,  (Reuters) – R&B singer Chris Brown, on probation for beating his former girlfriend, was charged today with a hit-and-run and driving without a valid license in connection with a May 21 traffic accident in Los Angeles.

The United Kingdom today launched a £1,300,000 ($413m) agricultural diversification programme which is projected to create over 1,000 new jobs.

BEIJING, (Reuters) – The mysterious Chinese businessman behind a $40 billion plan to build a canal through Nicaragua pledged transparency today — but refused to reveal where he attended college.

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court today gutted a key portion of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965, ruling that Congress used obsolete reasoning in continuing to force nine states, mainly in the South, to get federal approval for voting rule changes affecting blacks and other minorities.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament Joseph Harmon believes that there was severe underestimation of the works to be done at the Amaila Falls road project and believes that the final cost of it could be as high as US$30 million.

JOHANNESBURG,  (Reuters) – Former South African president Nelson Mandela remains in a critical condition in hospital after being admitted more than two weeks ago with a lung infection, the government said today.

(Trinidad Guardian) Canadian High Commissioner to T&T Gérard Latulippe says a contract has not yet been awarded to SNC-Lavalin to build the Penal hospital because a due diligence review of the company is still ongoing. Latulippe,

(Jamaica Gleaner) The sounds of violence pierced the morning sky in the volatile area around Pechon Street in the heart of the commercial district of downtown Kingston yesterday, leaving three dead, after five persons were shot.

(Trinidad Express) Escaped murderer David John Pierre, 33, remained at large last night after escaping from Carrera Island Prison on Sunday.

A popular Corentyne businessman was robbed of $5.5 million when armed bandits attacked his employee who was carrying the cash on the Albion access road, around 1:50pm yesterday.

Residents of Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara woke up to about eight inches of floodwater in their yards yesterday after a problem with one of the pulleys on the village’s koker door prevented its closure during a pre-dawn high tide.

Incumbent Private Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman Ron Webster is justifiably proud of the gains the organisation has made since he took the helm, while President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Clinton Urling is all for change.

UG staffers yesterday staged the first of what is to be a week-long series of picketing action on the university’s Turkeyen campus to protest a myriad of issues including the tardiness with which their salaries are paid and the non-payment of NIS and other contributions and benefits.

Deputy leader of main opposition APNU Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine yesterday said that government is arranging for a meeting between opposition Members of Parliament and technical officers of the Guyana Power and Light Company Inc (GPL) about the running of the company and how it spends its money.

In the face of serious charges that the PPP’s leadership has been compromised by private interests, central committee member Anil Nandlall yesterday said the party would respond to the “damning” allegations of corruption in due course.

The Small Business Development Finance Trust (SBDF) of Guyana hopes to plough lots of cash into kitchen gardens to grow them into viable businesses but wants government to provide better agriculture infrastructure and management.

The two compactor trucks that were donated to the Mayor and City Council (MCC) last month by the Ministry of Local Government are not working owing to electrical problems.

Quinn Neblett, the 17-year-old who was shot in the abdomen by a policeman in Albouystown last Thursday, is showing signs of improvement, according to a hospital source. 

Almost two months after an accident at Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara involving siblings Shane and Tulsidai Prahlad, and which claimed Shane’s life, his sister Tulsidai has recovered significantly from her injuries and has been released from the hospital, her mother said.

Ryan Henry, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) employee, who was burned while working on a utility pole at Parika last Tuesday, had another part of his left hand amputated on Sunday evening.

The circumstances surrounding the death of Vanessa Seeram, the 31-year-old mother of three whose lifeless body was found in her De Hoop home on June 8, remains a mystery as police investigations have not seen any developments.

Head of the Government Information Agency (GINA) Neaz Subhan said yesterday that the letter the agency had sent to Opposition Leader David Granger was to bring the evidence to him that there was an effect from the budget cuts made by the joint opposition.

City Hall has refunded the Japanese Embassy the over $700,000 balance from the grant it received 2009, but not in US currency as requested by that embassy.

The Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) in collaboration with the world body, Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) spiked off their five-day Beach Volleyball grassroots course at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports ground, Carifesta Avenue, yesterday.

Fresh off a pulsating two-week training stint dubbed ‘the shredder’ with Guyana’s world renowned bodybuilder, Hugh Ross in New York, Kerwin ‘Chisel’ Clarke feels  that he is the man to beat at next month’s Senior National Championships.

LONDON, (Reuters) – From a green and pleasant land, Wimbledon’s grasscourts must now resemble a minefield for Rafa Nadal who, for the second year in a row yesterday, suffered a shock defeat by a modest opponent playing the match of his life.

Two women charged separately with using abusive and threatening language to other women were yesterday released on self-bail.

Region Four’s Institute of Professional Education (IPE) yesterday afternoon edged out Soesdyke Secondary 5-4 in the Digicel Schools Football nationwide tournament at the Grove Community Centre ground yesterday.

Raul De Souza, the son of the woman who died at the Georgetown Public Hospital after suffering three heart attacks during an over 12-hour wait for critical medical attention, is disappointed with the explanations given about her care, including that she was beyond saving owing to prior damage to her heart.

The fourth annual Trophy Stall chess competition run by the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) will get underway Sunday at the Carifesta Sports Complex, Carifesta Avenue, a press release from the GCF stated.

In wake of APNU’s announced plans to contest the court’s decision to strike out Opposition Leader David Granger and Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh as defendants in the budget cuts case, PPP MP and Attorney General Anil Nandlall has accused the opposition of attempting to stall a final ruling.

Guyana’s Lionel D’Andrade finished second to Barbados’ Matthew Wright in the ninth annual Neal and Massy Rainbow Cup 5K race at the Turtle Beach, Tobago last Sunday.

All Guyanese must demonstrate greater care, appreciation and consideration for the disabled, Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee said yesterday while noting that there are too many complaints, particularly from the visually impaired, about mistreatment.

Twenty-two-year-old Sandy Jackman who had a noxious substance thrown in her face on Friday night is expected to have an operation today on one of her eyes, her relatives said yesterday.

The Pepsi Sonics Basketball Club will host an Open five-a-side and three point shoot-out competition this weekend at the National Gymnasium.

By Jeff Trotman Blueberry Hill displayed greater stamina to defeat the much vaunted Top Twenty Football Club 3- 0 when the Canvas City Vasco Under Twenty Football Tournament finally got going on Sunday at the Bayrock Playfield.

The policeman who allegedly hit down and killed an elderly man on Sunday was yesterday charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and released on $10,000 bail.

LONDON, CMC- India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has been ruled out of the Celkon Mobile Cup tri-series in the Caribbean, starting Friday, due to a hamstring injury.

Den Amstel Pork Knockers led by a Jeffrey Perreira five-goal haul pummeled De Kinderen FC by a 6-1 score line as action in the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) Stag Beer Senior League continued at the Den Amstel Ground on Sunday.

Officials still have not been able to determine the cause of the fire, which last Thursday, razed the Golden Lion Chinese Restaurant at the intersection of D’Urban and Camp streets and the nearby Supreme Snacks.

Dear Editor, I refer to a letter written by Mr Hydar Ally and entitled, ‘Guyanese should get involved in the Grow More Food campaign,’ (SN, June 19) in which he compliments Guyanese farmers for increased food production, claiming that this has kept agricultural produce prices relatively stable.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Australia have sacked their coach Mickey Arthur and replaced him with Darren Lehmann just over two weeks before the start of the Ashes series against England.

For the sixth successive year the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHYSC) will host their annual Republic Bank Summer Camp at its Area “H” Ground, Berbice.

Police are still investigating the death of David Persaud after his body was found at approximately 21:30 hrs on Sunday slumped over in the driver’s seat of his Toyota Mark II car at the South Dakota Circuit, Timehri, East Bank Demerara.

The man who was accused of killing his uncle was freed by a jury yesterday after he was found not guilty of both murder and manslaughter.

All systems are in place for the annual two-day Guyana Cycling Federation’s (GCF) National Cycling Championships this weekend.

KABUL (Reuters) – The Taliban claimed responsibility today for an early morning attack on the presidential palace and nearby government and other buildings as fighting raged in the area.

Norman Madhoo played unbeaten at last Friday’s Peter Baker’s darts Tournament held at Clerico House.

The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) says that it has done much to reduce non-technical losses (those associated with defective meters and theft) amidst continuous claims by the Alliance for Change (AFC) that the company’s losses in this regard remained constant for two years resulting in a $2.4 billion loss.

MILAN (Reuters) – Silvio Berlusconi was handed a seven-year jail sentence yesterday for abuse of office and paying for sex with a minor, adding to the complications facing Italy’s fragile left-right government.

Waramadong Secondary, propelled by a Kevon Richmond first half brace in the 18th and 32nd minutes, defeated Bartica Secondary 5-2 as action in the Digicel/Powerade National U18 Schools Football championships continued at the Bartica ground on Sunday.

Dear Editor, I am writing to bring to your attention the behaviour of a police officer on the Essequibo Coast. 

SAO PAULO/BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff sought to overcome a sudden wave of national discontent with a surprising call yesterday for a referendum on what would be the country’s most ambitious political reform in decades.

The fourth edition of Guyana’s premier track and field meet, the Boyce & Jefford Track and Field Classic is approaching and in sustaining the standard of the annual event, Johil Commercial on Friday renewed their sponsorship with the organisers.

I can push this thing now! This little boy shows that he is all grown up as he pushed his former mode of transport along at Den Amstel yesterday (Photo by Arian Browne)

Dear Editor, D Backer has done it again. This time she has branded me a “nuts and bolts man.”

Donald Mopp, the elderly man accused of the fatal stabbing of miner Winsel Edwards at the Tucville Squatting Area, was yesterday committed to stand trial for murder in the High Court.

A man accused of stealing a quantity of raw gold and a magic mat was yesterday placed on $100,000 bail after denying the charge at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

(Trinidad Guardian) – The family home of Trinidad-born novelist VS Naipaul, known as the model for the eponymous house in Naipaul’s 1963 novel A House for Mr Biswas, will be opened to the public as a literary museum in October.

Dear Editor, A letter by Jennifer Bulkan, ‘It is the moral duty of the gov’t to ban styrofoam’ (SN, June 3), got my full attention, more particularly the last paragraph when she asked the question, “Can the President please tell us exactly what is the salary of the Chairman of GuySuCo?” 

Eccles Primary School, the Institute of Professional Education (IPE) and Vryheid’s Lust were crowned champions when the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport/National Sports Commission/All Sport and Tour Promotions 16th annual end of school year Windball cricket competition continued last Thursday at the National Park, Thomas Lands.

WASHINGTON/MOSCOW (Reuters) – The United States increased pressure on Russia yesterday to hand over Edward Snowden, the American charged with disclosing secret US surveillance programs, and said it believed he was still in Moscow.

By David Rohde David Rohde is a columnist for Reuters, two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize and a former reporter for The New York Times.

By Jorge G. Castañeda MEXICO CITY – Latin America and the United States have experienced what one could call a series of “marijuana moments” over the past few weeks.

Politikles

Several organisations and individuals were yesterday presented with awards by the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) as part of the tenth anniversary celebration of the organisation.

Trinidad and Tobago were crowned the 2013 Guinness Caribbean Street Football champions as inaugural runner-ups Guyana failed to advance beyond the group stages as the regional tournament concluded on Sunday  in St.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – An immigration bill endorsed by President Barack Obama easily cleared an important test yesterday when the US Senate backed new border security steps seen as essential to the legislation’s fate.

(Trinidad Express) – Two teenage brothers of Aranguez were stabbed to death on Sunday as they attempted to defend a friend from cell phone thieves.

The government of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has been mindful not to go down the same road as others – that of Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan being the most recent – that have opted for bullish, often brutal responses to popular protest.

Joseph Chancellor, who is accused of breaking into the house of another man with intent to commit a felony, was yesterday released on $100,000 bail after denying the charge against him. 

Dear Editor, While the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development is responsible for overseeing the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs), the Minister has to recognize that the RDC councillors are the elected representatives of the people and thus have moral superiority over the selected government contract workers.