Daily Archive: Friday, April 4, 2014

Youth Challenge Guyana in association with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) today held seminar to prepare youths to effectively participate in the upcoming VYBZING Photo Story Challenge, that will allow for youths between the ages 16 to 29 to highlight the importance of climate change through photo story telling under the theme “Youth Voices for Climate Change”.A

The Government of Guyana says it is eagerly awaiting a response from the Chairman of the Council of Legal Education on a request by Caricom Heads of Government for the admission of 25 2014 graduates from the UG law programme to the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago.

Smoke rising over Port Kaituma during today’s waterfront fire.

A fuel boat this morning exploded at Turn Basin, Port Kaituma and so far at least three smaller boats and six nearby building have been destroyed.

(Trinidad Express) Two Trinidad nationals were allegedly held by US Customs officers with close to TT$2 million worth of cocaine, four days apart, on Caribbean Airlines flights entering John F Kennedy Airport in New York.

In a surprise move, APNU Member of Parliament Jaipaul Sharma yesterday resigned from the National Assembly over a comment made about his father by Education Minister Priya Manickchand during the budget debate even as Speaker Raphael Trotman lifted a ban he had earlier imposed on the minister following her refusal to apologise to her fellow MP.

It was high drama in West Berbice yesterday when a woman and her 15-year-old daughter doused social workers and police officers with hot water and verbally abused and threatened them.

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy yesterday denied drug lords were the major investors in Guyana’s development and instead said that small scale rice farmers were actually the largest investors domestically.

Murder accused Redrick Alexander, who was on trial for the 2010 murder of his childhood friend, was yesterday sentenced to 56 years in prison after he was found guilty of the crime by a jury.

Digicel yesterday acquired a third of the bands on Jamaica’s 700 MHz spectrum for US$25 million whereas it is still unclear what benefits are flowing to Guyana from the granting of the 2.5 GHz band frequencies in 2010 to two companies close to the PPP/C government.

A sports and fitness enthusiast died after he was struck by a minibus on Carifesta Avenue on Tuesday during his routine cycling regimen.

AFC MP Cathy Hughes on Wednesday signalled that her party will not approve of the use of taxpayers’ money if the National Communications Network (NCN) and the Government Information Agency (GINA) were to remain as “propaganda agencies” of the ruling PPP/C administration.

DHAKA, Bangladesh, CMC – West Indies’ defence of their World Twenty20 title ended disastrously here yesterday after a furious rain and hail storm ruined their semi-final, handing Sri Lanka a 27-run victory under the Duckworth/Lewis method.

The prosecution yesterday closed its case against Tenza Lane, who allegedly brandished a knife at the Prime Minister’s son and his fiancée, after three witnesses, including the young woman’s sister, testified against her.

MIRPUR, Bangladesh,  (Reuters) – India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes he has entered that phase of his career when he can skip practice and does not care if the ball in his hand is old or new.

The nation’s cyclists are in for a hectic weekend as two events organized by Hassan Mohamed are scheduled to pedal off tomorrow and Sunday.

A keenly anticipated match-up between Sophia and Lodge will be the feature showdown when the first annual Grassroots Foundation Inter-ward Knockout Football Tournament continues today at the Georgetown Football Club ground.

DERBY, England, CMC – Veteran West Indies left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul missed out on his 70th first class century on Wednesday, when he fell for 91 in Derbyshire’s game against Durham MCCU.

A jury was yesterday empanelled before Justice William Ramlal to preside over the murder trial of three Little Abary men who are accused of killing Maxwell Watson in 2010 during a family feud.

Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai says that the 2014 Budget offers a practical set of measures to meet the needs of Guyanese inclusive of the Amerindians who have benefited tremendously over the years under the present government.

Dear Editor, City Hall is a national treasure, one of our most elegant and beautiful buildings, admired by all who visit.

Left-handers Robin Bacchus and Leon Johnson were yesterday drafted into the Guyana Amazon Warriors T20 team ahead of the upcoming 2014 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) which starts in July.

Demerara and Berbice yesterday recorded outright victories to set up an intense final round of competition against each other in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/Igloo Ice Cream under-15 two day inter-county tournament.

Dear Editor, Kwakwani will be given paved roads for the first time as was promised by Mr Sharma Solomon, Regional Chairman of Region Ten during the election campaign of 2011 and his regular visits to the community.

Dear Editor, I have been asked to write this letter in the hope that NIS would be moved to act accordingly.

The Caricom Development Fund (CDF) has received a second contribution of US$2 million from the Government of Turkey in less than a year.

The local commercial banking sector last Friday used the Guyana Marketing Corporation-sponsored Agro-processors Forum to restate its concerns over the risks associated with lending to a weak and underdeveloped agro-processing industry.

The first South American Cup Karate Championships which was held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall under the auspices of the International Karate Daigaku saw two exciting days of martial arts performed at the highest level from the winning Venezuelan team along with Suriname and Guyana.

Dear Editor, Recent comments made by Minister of Education Priya Manickchand underscore a grave lack of understanding on the part of the Minister for the office she holds.

A labourer, who explained that he had been paid $500 to transport stolen items, was yesterday granted bail after denying a simple larceny charge.

Guyana’s predominantly small-scale, agro-processing enterprises continue to face inevitable and serious material and technical deficiencies that retard their development and slow the pace of their emergence as a major economic sector.

DHAKA, Bangladesh,  CMC – West Indies Women faltered at the semi-final stage of the Twenty20 World Cup for the third time in succession, when they went down to Australia Women by eight runs here yesterday.

Dear Editor, People living in Patentia are frequently disturbed by music played from somewhere in Grove on the East Bank of Demerara.

Great progress has been made in Guyana’s water and housing sectors over the last 10 years because the Government of Guyana has deliberately built capacity of special agencies dedicated to and focused on each of these.

The government’s proposed spending for the year will not be supported “in total” unless the government addresses opposition concerns about infrastructural development, such as the Cheddi Jagan airport expansion and the Amaila Falls hydropower project, APNU MP Joseph Harmon declared yesterday, while saying this year’s budget is the worst ever.

NEW YORK,  (Reuters) – The New York Knicks routed city rivals Brooklyn 110-81 to move a step closer to a postseason berth on Wednesday, a day after the Nets had celebrated clinching a playoff berth of their own.

The provisions in the country’s 2014 budget for the tourism sector do not reflect the various  official public pronouncements regarding government’s commitment to moving the industry to “an enhanced level of prominence,” Chief Executive Officer of Roraima Airways   and former Head of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana, Gerry Gouveia told Stabroek Business in an interview on Wednesday.

Planned government spending is continuing to neglect hinterland youth, who are leaving secondary schools with no technical and vocational skills, forcing them to turn to the dangerous occupation of mining from very tender ages, APNU Member of Parliament Dawn Hastings says.

FORT HOOD, Texas, (Reuters) – The soldier suspected of shooting dead three people before killing himself at the Fort Hood Army base in Texas was identified as Ivan Lopez, a man battling mental illness when he went on a rampage, the base commander said yesterday.

Dear Editor, The increase in fatal and serious accidents on the Essequibo coast, Region Two, must be of concern, not only to the Police Traffic Department but to all citizens as well, because road safety is everybody’s business and all must be involved.

KARACHI, (Reuters)  – Mohammad Hafeez has stepped down as Pakistan’s T20 captain after their early exit from the World T20 tournament in Bangladesh.

Dear Editor, Please allow me space for one more publication of my struggle to retrieve my transport from the Public Service Ministry.

Home-side Fruta Conquerors arrested the Guyana Police Force (GPF) by a 13-0 scoreline when the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) First Division League continued on Wednesday at the Tucville Community ground.

Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry yesterday decried the prosecution’s failure to present witnesses when the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder charge against Carolan Lynch, accused of killing her husband, Swiss House Cambio boss Farouk Razack, continued.

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – The U.S. government created a service similar to Twitter in Cuba in a “discreet” operation intended to promote democracy on the communist-ruled island, officials said on Thursday, but denied that the $1.2 million effort was aimed at fomenting unrest.

Local commercial banks and other lending agencies ought to be in a position to access credit reports on potential borrowers through the local Credit Bureau “within a month or two,” according to Bureau General Manager Judy Semple-Joseph.

PORT-AU-PRINCE,  (Reuters) – Haiti’s prime minister announced a new cabinet, drafting in 10 new ministers in a major reshuffle designed to build political support amid controversial negotiations over long overdue parliamentary and municipal polls.

Dear Editor, Politics is about making hard choices. The 2011 elections resulted in the combined opposition having one seat more than the PPP.

Flamingo FC edged Beacons FC by a 2-1 score line when the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) First Division League continued at the Tucville Community ground on Wednesday.

Against the backdrop of mounting international pressure on the Caribbean over the perceived role of offshore banking institutions in facilitating financial crimes, including money laundering, Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Perry Christie used this week’s  opening session of the Third Caribbean Conference on the International  Financial Services Sector to defend regional offshore banks, asserting  that they were far more robust than those in countries that continue to fight offshore financial services in the region.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has reported that its stray catching programme impounded a total of 1,080 animals for the first quarter of the year.

Whisper: PPP/C Chief Whip Gail Teixeira (right) conferring quietly with Education Minister Priya Manickchand in parliament yesterday afternoon.

(Jamaica Gleaner) KINGSTON, Jamaica: Dancehall artiste, Vybz Kartel, has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams.

SAO PAULO,  (Reuters) – A Brazilian court has sentenced 15 police officers to 48 years in prison each for their roles in the deaths of four inmates in the bloody crackdown of a 1992 prison riot that left 111 people dead.

Dear Editor, The last elections for officers of the GFF saw six diverse individuals becoming the executives of football in Guyana.

Young Warriors and Achievers ‘A’ recorded wins this past weekend in the ongoing 2014 Elizabeth Styles Under-19 50-over Cricket Competition which is being contested in the ancient county, Berbice.

GASCI (www.gasci.com/telephone Nº 223-6175/6) reports that session 557’s trading results showed consideration of $5,852,934 from 180,483 shares traded in 18 transactions as compared to session 556’s trading results, which showed consideration of $5,276,113 from 40,540 shares traded in 5 transactions.

Too weighty: This truck carrying lumber sank into a loam road at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara yesterday.

When I considered exploring today’s lead issue, during last week.  I suspected that it might just generate stimulating, even animated exchanges in the Assembly.

In his 2014 budget presentation, Finance Minister Dr.Ashni Singh announced that this year growth in the manufacturing sector was projected  at 7.1 per cent, driven largely by what, in his words was an “anticipated recovery of the sugar industry.”

We met Marcia Gonsalves last Friday at a forum on agro-processing at the International Conference Centre organized by the Guyana Marketing Corporation.

Dear Editor, There is something I thought about when Nelson Mandela died, but there was something that occurred during his memorial which I think I should first get out the way. 

Even as the political uncertainty in Venezuela continues after nearly two months of protests, there are signs that President Nicolás Maduro is aware of the need to press on with a bit of high level of diplomatic activity to maintain regional and international support for his government.

Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) and Everest Cricket Club will clash this weekend in a vital game that can see the winner advancing to the semi-final as the Georgetown Cricket Association continues its weekend fixtures around the city.

Politikles

Business Cartoons

(Jamaica Observer) KINGSTON, Jamaica — Approximately 180 workers on the Golden Grove, St Ann, leg of the Highway 2000 north/south link who have been on strike since last week returned to work  yesterday.

Newly appointed Ambassador of Poland, Piotr Kaszuba (left) yesterday presented his Letters of Credence to President Donald Ramotar at the Office of the President.(GINA

PANAMA CITY, (Reuters) – The presidents of Mexico and Panama signed a free trade deal yesterday, moving the smaller nation a step closer to joining a regional pact that includes several major Latin American economies.