Daily Archive: Tuesday, November 5, 2013

TORONTO, (Reuters) – Toronto Mayor Rob Ford admitted on Tuesday that he has smoked crack cocaine, probably “in one of my drunken stupors,” but insisted he’s not an addict.

(Trinidad Guardian) A murder suicide has rocked the quiet village of Mt Grace, Tobago.

(Jamaica Observer) MUNICH, Germany — ‘Jamaica’, ‘Blue Mountain Coffee’, ‘Cannabis Sativa’ (ganja); ‘Jamaica Rum’, ‘Jamaican Patties’, ‘Boston Jerk’, ‘Jamaican Ginger’ and ‘Trelawny Yellow Yam’ are among names and brands that Jamaica is moving to protect against misuse or false use.

Police are investigating a report that three children over the weekend fell ill after consuming what appeared to be cocaine-laced sweets which they had purchased from a shop at Wauna, Region One, crime chief Seelall Persaud has confirmed.

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – India launched its first rocket to Mars today, aiming to put a satellite in orbit around the red planet at a lower cost than previous missions and potentially positioning the emerging Asian nation as a budget player in the global space race.

PARAMUS, N.J., (Reuters) – A gunman opened fire in a crowded New Jersey mall late on Monday before killing himself, officials said, sparking a mass evacuation of the complex by police who did not realise he was dead for several hours.

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, November 05, 2013 – LIAT wishes to advise its passengers that due to  action taken  by its airline pilots’ trade union LIALPA, the following flights have now been cancelled: * LI 361 – Antigua-Guadeloupe-Dominica-Barbados-St.

(Trinidad Express) The People’s National Movement (PNM) staged a roller-coaster ride to victory last night, with its candidate Terrence Deyalsingh defeating the United National Congress’ (UNC) Ian Alleyne by 779 votes on a nail-biting path to become the new Member of Parliament for the constituency of St Joseph.

The Sea and River Defence Division hopes that within the coming months the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) will approve a US$25 million loan to assist with various proposed projects under the Public Works Ministry.

The extension of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri runway has “begun in earnest” with the contracting firm – China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) – tackling a trial section in the Timehri North area, according to a press release last evening from the CJIA Corporation.

Squibs and other pyrotechnics are still illegal in Guyana yet on the nights of and leading up to Diwali the air was filled the sounds of exploding firecrackers and other such devices.

The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) continues to benefit from the current favourable weather conditions, as the second crop exceeds 104,000 tonnes of sugar.

By Kenesha Fraser Triplets Radha, Rajshri and Reenica Mansaran of Land of Plenty, Essequibo Coast turned 19 on Saturday last and celebrated on Sunday with a church service and the donation of a food hamper to a less fortunate family in the area.

The families of the three Albouystown men, who died after being shot by police on South Road, are awaiting updates from investigators this week to determine their next course of action.

(Cricinfo) India worked desperately hard to defend 383 against Australia in Bangalore.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Guyana (ICAG) has not responded to a June, 2012 request by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament for guidance on whether the appointment of the wife of the Minister of Finance to the number two position in the Auditor General’s Office is a threat to the integrity of the public audit process.

West Indies cricket administration has transitioned into changed leadership, but as the great writer/philosopher Alphonse Karr once remarked, “The more things change the more they are the same.

Leader of the Opposition David Granger has challenged Prime Minister Sam Hinds to provide answers on the Venezuelan incursion on August 31 on the day that President Nicolas Maduro paid Guyana a State visit as to whether there was any breach of Guyana’s laws.

President Donald Ramotar told beneficiaries of new houses in Region Nine to expect more enhancement projects as the economy improves and expressed his delight that the Second Low Income Settlement (LIS-2) programme is moving apace allowing persons to own new or rehabilitated homes.

Queen’s College student Shemar Britton yesterday smashed his way to the boy’s U-18 title as the fourth annual Digicel-sponsored, Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) 2013 schools tournament concluded at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The Leonard Cheshire Disability Young Voices Guyana group is urging parliamentarians to support and hasten the implementation of the Persons with Disability Act, as this group continues to be marginalised.

“Who is he?” The answer to that question could land a man now serving a ten-year prison sentence in the United States Federal Correctional Institution in Jesup, Georgia on a plane to Guyana.

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) overcame Linden side Winners Connection 3-2 when action in the inaugural Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Premier League continued on Sunday at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground, Bourda.

President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Clinton Urling is urging Members of Parliament to ensure that the Anti-Money Launder-ing legislation is passed in the National Assembly not only avoid international sanction but also to ensure local transparency and accountability.

Caricom and Cariforum Secretary-General Irwin LaRocque urged Cariforum ministers to ensure projects agreed upon address challenges faced by member states, in his speech at the Twenty-first Meeting of the Cariforum Council of Ministers held in Grenada on Thursday.

Yesterday, the national cyclist beat the heat and the cream of Guyana’s wheelsmen to cart off the spoils of the inaugural United Bike Shop sponsored 70-mile road race after a thrilling four-man sprint finish.

Former Linden resident, Whiddon Sibdhannie, who now resides in Brooklyn, New York has thrown his support behind the 24th edition of the Kashif & Shanghai tournament which will see 24 of the nation’s top secondary schools vying for top honors.

SYDNEY, (Reuters) – Australia all-rounder Shane Watson has backed himself to be fit for the first Ashes test in two weeks and dimissed an untimely hamstring injury as a “niggle”.

Guyana imported 13.42% more oil in 2012 compared to 2011 and the transport sector accounted for the single largest amount of 38%.

Dear Editor, As I skimmed the articles about last week’s National Education Awards ceremony, I repeatedly encountered the trope of inclusivity in the speeches of the Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, and Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds.

(Reuters) – Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man, joined world high jump champion Bohdan Bondarenko and double Olympic and world 10,000 and 5,000 metres champion Mo Farah on the shortlist for the male Athlete of the Year award announced yesterday.

DUBAI, (Reuters) – World 1,500 metres record holder Hicham El Guerrouj has called on athletics’ world governing body to bolster public interest in middle-distance running which has been overshadowed by the feats of Jamaican sprint king Usain Bolt.

Dear Editor, The Environmental Community Health Organization (Echo) is paying careful attention to the media reports that the Guyanese authorities are contemplating granting licences to Chinese fishing vessels to operate in Guyana’s waters.

Dear Editor, Diwali Night 2013 offered something more than the usual to residents of Enmore and its immediate neighbours – compliments of the Enmore Youth Development Group.

(Trinidad Express) Coast Guard officers last Friday searched a fishing boat near the north coast island of Saut d-Eau and found marijuana with an estimated street value of $280,000.

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexican armed forces have taken charge of security in the Pacific port of Lazaro Cardenas, a major cargo hub in a part of the country struggling to contain violent drug gangs.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Stanislas Wawrinka got first use of one of illustrious compatriot Roger Federer’s favourite stages  yesterday and seized the spotlight to open his ATP World Tour Finals campaign in style with a 6-3 6-7(0) 6-3 victory over Czech Tomas Berdych.

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – Alastair Cook’s captaincy is “negative” and “boring”, and could cost England the Ashes if the hosts lift their game, according to former Australia spinner Shane Warne.

Dear Editor, Well Diwali 2013 has come and gone and all that is left is the shattered nerves of the old, the young and the poor defenceless animals who were all subjected to the unceasing barrage of bombs in the form of squibs.

CAIRO (Reuters) – Ousted Egyptian leader Mohamed Mursi, given his first public forum since his overthrow in a trial where he could face execution, declared yesterday he was still Egypt’s legitimate president and shouted: “Down with military rule!”

MANAGUA (Reuters) – Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega’s ruling Sandinista National Liberation Front party will seek to change the constitution by year-end to remove presidential term limits, lawmakers said yesterday.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC- Antigua and Barbuda’s cricket chief, Zorol Barthley, has reacted with outrage after one of the monuments of the country’s lone living national hero, Sir Vivian Richards, was vandalized.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Nobel Peace laureate Shirin Ebadi yesterday called on the European Union and United States to ban Iran from using US and European satellites to broadcast what she described as the Islamic Republic’s propaganda.

Dear Editor, The best written blueprint in the hands of those who don’t understand their role, care about the document’s intent and the people/community it sets out to serve, presents the opportunity to decry or abuse it.

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s Prince Charles should face greater tax scrutiny of his multi-million pound income from his centuries-old Duchy of Cornwall estate, an influential committee of lawmakers said today.

Dear Editor, A little late doesn’t hurt.  Deliberately not to be left out and be part of the well promoted literacy enhancement drive beseeching all and sundry to drop/stop whatever at 11:00am on September 9th and read something, anything; I gladly took part in the exercise. 

(BBC) England opener Joe Root insists he will be ready for an examination of his technique and mental strength in the Ashes series down under.

TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisia’s ruling Islamists and opposition parties suspended talks yesterday over forming a new caretaker government to end the country’s crisis after the two sides failed to agree on naming a prime minister.

China continues to attract international attention mostly for the right reasons, not least, the phenomenal growth of the country’s economy which has seen Beijing’s aggressive excursion into ambitious global economic diplomacy initiatives that has witnessed a combination of billions of dollars in development projects and investments – primarily in forestry, minerals, oil and gas – in regions as far apart as Africa and the Caribbean.

Westbrook leads OKC past Suns in NBA return (The Sports Xchange) In his first game back from a knee injury, Russell Westbrook scored 21 points to lead Oklahoma City to a 103-96 points win over previously undefeated Phoenix.

Dear Editor, This ninety-year-old senior has just returned to my homeland. 

This article was received from Project Syndicate, an international not-for-profit association of newspapers dedicated to hosting a global debate on the key issues shaping our world.