Daily Archive: Wednesday, November 20, 2013

JAMAICANS breathed a sigh of relief last night as Tessanne Chin made it into the top eight on the NBC televised talent show, The Voice.

(Jamaica Observer) COMPILATION of the range of bank fee fluctuations that will inform a report to Parliament is currently underway.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon at his weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President today informed that Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee will resume duties on November 25, GINA said.

Guyana’s first Spirometry Lab and Asthma Education Programme will be open at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) tomorrow, according to a release from the hospital.

The Ghanaian Navy yesterday detained a vessel travelling from Guyana carrying 21 bags of substances suspected to be cocaine, according to today’s edition of the Ghana Business News quoting the Ghana News Agency.

The Government of Guyana (GoG) yesterday withdrew the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it had signed with Natural Globe Guyana Inc for the construction of a recycling plant.

The Guyana Water Incorporated today said that it will remove the entire service of delinquent customers in a move to reverse a decline in revenue collection.

(Barbados Nation) Complaining about his treatment at Dodds Prisons, accused drug trafficker Sean Gaskin surprised the High Court last week by announcing that he was abandoning all of his appeals against extradition to the United States.

Guyana and Sri Lanka are usually categorized as bi-communal societies, and recently the latter has been in the international news because some countries boycotted the Commonwealth Heads of Government conference which was being held there, and the British Prime Minister used his presence in the country to call for an international investigation into the recently concluded civil war between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

STOCKHOLM, (Reuters) – A sublime second-half hat-trick by Cristiano Ronaldo took Portugal to the World Cup finals with a 4-2 aggregate victory after he stunned battling Sweden in their playoff on Tuesday.

(Trinidad Express) The Integrity Commission has hit back at Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, labelling his recent statements against the commission as “misleading and inaccurate”.

WELLINGTON, (Reuters) – Oribe Peralta scored a first half hat-trick as Mexico beat New Zealand 4-2 in the second leg of their intercontinental playoff on Wednesday to earn a place at the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil.

(Trinidad Express) With 2,500 people being charged for drunk driving between January 1, 2011, and September 30 this year, 125 people dying as a result of road traffic accidents between January 1 and September 30, 2013, and 289 murders during the same period, National Security Minister Gary Griffith yesterday detailed a number of initiatives to deal with the crime problem.

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is to receive a gift of a US$4 million container scanner from the government of the People’s Republic of China, which Commissioner-General Khurshid Sattaur says will boost its export surveillance capacity, thereby ensuring revenue collection and detecting drugs being smuggled through the ports.

A Sophia miner died on Monday after he was dealt a blow to his head by a fellow miner at the mining camp they were working on at West Park Backdam Cuyuni, the police said yesterday.

Police ranks in Region Five are under scrutiny for their handling of a case involving a 14-year-old, who is now four months pregnant, including their failure to report the situation to the Child Care & Protection Agency (CC&PA).

Satrohan Mannaru was yesterday found guilty of murdering his 14-year-old ex-girlfriend abd was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.

Local cricketer Carlyle Barton is now a free man after the murder charge against him was discharged at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

President Donald Ramotar lauded the contributions the Commonwealth has made to strengthening democracy and hailed the reconstituted Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) as an opportunity for leaders to recommit to the values and principles of the organisation, at the CMAG meeting held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Sunday.

A major drug interdiction earlier this year is being touted as one of the successes of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) for Guyana and a US State Department official yesterday assured of his government’s commitment to the continuing partnership with Caricom member states and the Dominican Republic.

As the world marks Universal Children’s Day today, UNICEF is urging much stronger attention to be paid to the millions of children around the world, in every country and at every social level of society who are victims of violence and abuse that continue to go unnoticed and under-reported.

Attorney at law and chartered accountant Christopher Ram has filed a $100,000,000 suit against Guyana Times and its editor, following the publication of at least nine articles, which he said smeared his character.

Residents of Matthew’s Ridge and neighbouring communities in Region One are closer to finally having a proper morgue to store the bodies of the dead with the opening of tenders yesterday for construction of the facility.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds lauded 15 officer cadets being trained at the Camp Stephenson, Colonel Ulric Pilgrim Officer Cadet School for their commitment to serving the nation, at the Officer Cadets’ Day event held on Sunday.

Distribution of annual old age pension books started off smoothly in Region Five on Monday when recipients turned up at the Probation and Social Services Department in Fort Wellington.

In an effort to improve communication with the citizens of Guyana and to effectively inform them, 10 staff members of the Government Analyst – Food and Drug Department (GAFDD) are undergoing a 4-day training programme in collaboration with the Centre for Communication Studies department of the University of Guyana.

Former Director of the Univer-sity of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC) at Tain, Professor Daizal Samad who recently tended his resignation, is ready to serve in that position again.

North Georgetown (District 11) yesterday once again asserted their aquatic supremacy by winning the swimming event of the 53rd edition of the National School’s Athletics, Swimming and Cycling Championship held at the Castellani Pool.

Ryon Mentore is now a remanded prisoner after he was denied bail on a charge that he attacked another man with a metal pipe.

The Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) in-creased its postage rates for domestic and international services from November 18.

A stray catcher attached to the Ministry of Home Affairs was placed on $80,000 bail yesterday after he denied being one of 10 persons who assaulted a man.

One month after numerous persons appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates Court to face charges over $52 million owed to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) for rates and taxes, Jennifer Green has paid $10 million and had her matter withdrawn.

A skater was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) by public spirited citizens on Monday, after he was involved in an accident, in the vicinity of Lucky Dollar.

Georgetown Football Association (GFA) President Vernon Burnett says that preparation for the third edition of the annual GFA/Banks Beer Knockout Cup has been progressing smoothly.

A water vendor and a minibus tout found themselves in court yesterday to answer assault complaints they made against each other.

A larceny accused was placed on $100,000 bail on Friday after facing four separate charges at the New Amsterdam Court.

The defiance displayed by West Indies selectors in the face of withering criticism and shame in light of the latest annihilation of the West Indies senior team in the just concluded Test series in India is mind-boggling.

Ronell France and Neko Devonish, accused of robbing a man of all his valuables including his shoes during an armed hold-up, were remanded to prison yesterday.

The ninth edition of the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) Diamond Mineral Water International Indoor Hockey Festival was officially launched yesterday at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda.

A vendor was placed on bail yesterday after denying using abusive language and behaving disorderly at the East La Penitence Police Station.

Half-centuries from Albion Community Centre players Jonathan Foo and Devendra Bishoo and another from Universal Solutions Bermine Shemroy Barrington steered their respective teams to the second round of the 2013 Ramcharitar Construction Services first-division limited overs knockout competition last weekend.

Dear Editor, I have followed the letters between Senior Counsel Mr Rex McKay (SN Oct 31 and November 11) and the Attorney General Mr Anil Nandlall (SN Nov 4 and 17).

Dear Editor, We have been listening very carefully to the Minister of Health Dr Bheri Ramsaran and other senior members of the PPP who have spoken about the need for a better public health care system but have not done anything substantial to improve the poor conditions at the public hospitals.

Philbert London on Saturday won the Wartsila sponsored golf tournament held at the Lusignan Golf Club.

(Reuters) – England batsman Kevin Pietersen believes his self-confidence is often perceived as arrogance but says he can live with that public image.

TORONTO (Reuters) – Toronto Mayor Rob Ford vowed yesterday he would stay away from drugs, alcohol and “bad company” as he tries to rebound from a drug scandal that prompted city council to strip away much of his power.

Left-hander Vishal Singh stroked an unbeaten half-century for the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) team, inspiring an eight-wicket win over the Ontario Cricket Association (OCA) yesterday in the third T20 match organised by the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB).

MUMBAI, India, CMC- Fast bowler Jason Holder says the players joining West Indies for their One-Day Series (ODI) against India are helping to bring a new focus to the side following their heavy losses in the just concluded two-match test series.

Dear Editor, Stakeholders  are calling for an inquiry into the Good Hope/Pomona Neighbour-hood Democratic Council (NDC).

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC- Former West Indies test player Bryan Davis has suggested a change in the captaincy of the regional side following their lopsided defeats against India in the just concluded two-test series.

Marlon Nicholson of District 5 West Coast Berbice defeated a seasoned field to win the 10k Road Race yesterday in the first event of the Ministry of Education/Guyana Teachers’ Union Digicel-sponsored National Schools’ Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships.

Dear Editor, Radio Demerara, the Voice of Guyana, needs to do a number of simple things to improve itself and give a better service to listeners: (1)  Programme schedules should be published and should be strictly followed – this is standard procedure in all proper radio stations.

KABUL (Reuters) – The Afghan government said yesterday it had reached a deal on the framework of a security pact with the United States after receiving assurances that President Barack Obama would issue a letter acknowledging US mistakes made during the 12-year war.

Dear Editor, With respect to the bizarre events which unfolded on Middle Street last Tuesday, from indications, there seems to be limited public sympathy for the police following the death of two officers, even among foreign nationals.

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – A UN General Assembly committee yesterday condemned Syria for widespread human rights abuses and expressed concern about such violations in Iran, North Korea and Myanmar, but also welcomed pledges by Iran and Myanmar’s presidents to improve some areas.

(Reuters) – Australia’s fast bowling stocks got some welcome news on Tuesday after James Pattinson suggested he could be fit in time for matches later in the Ashes series against England.

PUNE, India, CMC- Former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd has blamed a heavy diet of T20 cricket for the regional side’s humiliating defeat to India in the just concluded two-match test series.

Dear Editor, From the outset, I need to disclose two factors: the first is that I am an African-American Guyanese businessman who owns and operates medium-sized businesses in both Guyana and North America; secondly I have an ongoing concern about the apparent unwillingness of African-American persons to seek involvement in the private sector within Guyana and other countries around the world.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla (Reuters) – Despite budget uncertainties, NASA yesterday issued a solicitation for a commercially operated space taxi to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station, an attempt to break Russia’s monopoly on crew transport by 2017.

Introduction   Recently Minister Ashni Singh declared that the PPP will only implement the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) if cabinet gets an influence in the public procurement of goods and services.

LONDON (Reuters) – “Selfie” – a self portrait usually on a smartphone or webcam – was selected word of the year yesterday by the Oxford Dictionaries, based on a 17,000 per cent rise in its usage from a year ago.

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan lawmakers granted President Nicolas Maduro yearlong decree powers yesterday that he says are essential to regulate the economy and stamp out corruption but adversaries view as a power grab.

MUMBAI, India, CMC- Former West Indies Captain Brian Lara has questioned the decision by selectors to ignore Dwayne Bravo and Sunil Narine for the Test leg of West Indies’ tour of India.

Amid dissatisfaction on the part of the host government, Sri Lanka, in the face of criticisms of its human rights record, the Commonwealth met last week at another of its biennial meetings, the last of which was held in Austraila.

Dear Editor, I had the privilege several nights ago to view Attorney General Anil Nandlall’s presentation of the views shared by his party and government on the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill as well as opinions they share om the majority of the people’s representatives (opposition).