Daily Archive: Thursday, January 15, 2015

On Tuesday, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) handed over three Honda All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to assist the Secretariat with its work at its various interior locations in Guyana.

The Ministry of Education said that it was brought to its attention that sessions were disrupted at the Stella Maris Nursery and Primary Schools earlier today after a swarm of bees from a nest outside the schools’ compound entered the buildings.

Police say that the man whose body was found in the Demerara River in the vicinity of West Watooka, Linden, on January 08, 2015, has been identified as Quincy Johnson, 25 years, of Half Mile, Wismar.

In the wake of a statement by the British High Commissioner here that Guyana is in breach of the Commonwealth Charter by virtue of its suspension of Parliament among other things, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has established with the Commonwealth Secretary General that there has been no discussion about the situation in Guyana.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., (Reuters) – Show business satire “Birdman” and colorful caper “The Grand Budapest Hotel” led the Academy Award nominees today with nine nods apiece, including best picture, in the quest for Hollywood’s top film prize.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The United States rolled out a sweeping set of measures today to significantly ease the half-century-old embargo against Cuba, opening up the country to expanded travel, trade and financial activities.

The British High Commission today announced that Leroy Phillips from Guyana is one of 60 young people from across the Commonwealth who are being recognised as exceptional leaders in their community.

(Trinidad Express) Posts and opinions from users of Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites are being monitored by the Government.

Calling for a commission of inquiry into the sugar industry, GAWU has slammed GuySuCo over last year’s “disappointing” performance and accused it of producing the sweetener at a whopping US$40 cents per pound, harvesting young canes during the second crop and failing to negotiate a better sales deal with Tate and Lyle.

Banks DIH registered a profit of $2.265b for 2014, down by 10.7% from 2013.

Patricia Sanasie, who was gunned down on Monday night in front of her daughter at their home in Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara, died of multiple gunshot wounds, a senior police officer said yesterday.

In 2014, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corpora-tion (GPHC) had more than 6,000 babies delivered at its institution and examined more than 10,000 women through its Obs-tetrics and Gynaecology Antenatal Clinic.

A Warlock man is now hospitalized after he was gun butted and shot twice by another man in the community last night, following an argument over “hustle”.

The taxi driver, who fled the scene after allegedly hitting three young men and killing one with his car on the Providence public road a month ago, has been arrested, a police source said.

The police are probing the death of an 83-year-old bedridden man, who was allegedly beaten by a relative with a piece of wood late Tuesday night at his Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) home.

DURBAN, South Africa, CMC – West Indies failed in their bid for a clean sweep, conjuring up a familiar ragged all-round performance to slump to a 69-run defeat to South Africa in the third and final Twenty20 International here yesterday.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Barbados Pride will look to navigate the pressure that comes with the defence of a title when they bowl off their NAGICO Super50 campaign against the dangerous Combined Colleges and Campuses at the National Cricket Centre here Thursday.

As a two-day business summit begins today with its Surinamese counterparts and government officials, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) here hopes that a way will be found to curb the smuggling of goods which is hurting the local manufacturing sector.

Relatives of Asif Rahim Khatoon, the Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara fisherman who was allegedly fatally beaten in police custody are finding it hard to cope with his death and are “looking for answers.”

A Partnership for National Unity yesterday began drafting terms of reference (TOR) for its negotiating team as it prepares for talks with the Alliance For Change (AFC) for the establishment of a pro-democracy alliance against the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

Former national football captain, Chris Nurse spoke of his delight to be back in the international fold and looks forward to leading the plummeting Golden Jaguars in an upward trajectory.

The trial into a robbery committed on Sherry-Ann Hope allegedly by Colwyn Harding commenced yesterday before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud has announced that government has granted a 10% reduction in the tax for diesel fuel imported for use in the mining sector, among other concessions.

Dear Editor, I wish to join in supporting all who contributed meaningfully and sensibly to decry the act of cowardice against our brother, Mr John Adams, a qualified maths teacher of Aishalton Secondary School, Region 9.

Government has already submitted a design for the passenger ferry vessel that will be purchased with a US$8M line of credit secured from the Government of India to serve the North West District (NWD) in Region One.

Guyana Squash Association (GSA) President David Fernandes said he will be seeking re-election when the entity stages its election for office bearers this year.

The PPP says that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has assured it that steps will be taken to avoid as far as practicable, the use of private residences as polling stations.

HOLLYWOOD, Florida, (Reuters) – Former Brazil forward Ronaldo said on Wednesday he will try to get back into shape with an eye on coming out of retirement to play for North American second division club Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

“I have forgiven him and I think he just needs counselling,” Ariana Caesar told the court yesterday as she refused to offer any evidence against the man charged with assaulting her while also dismissing applying for a protection order.

Dear Editor, Please permit me to respond to Freddie Kissoon’s letter of January 12, captioned ‘UG Council had never before fired an academic on its own,’ in which he states, “Prior to my contract termination by the Council of the University, there has never been a single instance where the council since the birth of the university in 1963 fired an academic without a request for such coming from the academic/administrative organs of the university.”

Chairman of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Normalization Committee Clinton Urling said that they have not yet decided who will be the coach of the national U-23 programme for the impending 2018 Olympic Qualifiers.

Dear Editor, I am not impressed by the response published by Republic Bank to my earlier query for information requested by longstanding existing customers who wish to continue doing business with the bank (‘Republic Bank seeks to adhere to new local laws…’ SN, Jan 13).

“I have forgiven him and I think he just needs counselling,” Ariana Caesar told the court yesterday as she refused to offer any evidence against the man charged with assaulting her while also dismissing applying for a protection order.

All-rounder Steven Jacobs wants to cement his position in the national side as he aims to improve his cricket as well as contribute to the Guyana Jaguars future success.

BK International has condemned “in the strongest possible terms” every effort being made by the Public Works Ministry to publicly shift blame for the delays in the East Bank Demerara public road four-lane extension project from the said ministry and GT&T to it.

Bridgetown, Barbados – Barbados’ opponents in the Nagico Super 50 limited overs tournament which bowls off in Trinidad and Tobago this weekend had better watch out, as Test opener Kraigg Brathwaite has set himself some goals which could spell trouble for the other teams.

Dear Editor, Last Thursday morning, January 8th, at approximately 7:15hrs, I was driving along the western carriageway on the East Coast of Demerara on my way to Georgetown during a heavy downpour of rain when the driver in front of me suddenly made a left turn into the Industry area, causing me to apply brakes.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Tottenham Hotspur stormed back from 2-0 down to beat Burnley 4-2 in their FA Cup third-round replay on Wednesday despite mirroring the other Premier League sides by resting their main striker.

A man who allegedly punched his wife in the face and choked her until she began to faint after she told him she intended to end their marriage was released on $75,000 bail when he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Dear Editor,   Farmers have sold paddy for more than 5 months now and have not been paid.

The retrial of the duo accused of the murder Lakeram Bishundial, who was fatally shot during a robbery at Hope, East Coast Demerara in 2010, began yesterday in the High Court.

Dear Editor, Clement Rohee must be told that the wellbeing of this nation is for the people to determine.

While boxing fans around the world are buzzing from the news of an impending mega fight involving pound for pound kings Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.,

Dear Editor, I tried not to make this letter about an incident that ended 2014 and started 2015 reflect a sour note since it is my first for the year.

PARIS, (Reuters) – Charlie Hebdo’s first edition since an attack by Islamist gunmen sold out within minutes yesterday, featuring a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammad on a cover that defenders praised as art but critics saw as a new provocation.

COLOMBO, (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s new government yesterday asked the police to investigate what it called a “diabolical conspiracy” by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa to hold on to power even after he was defeated in an election last week.

Guyana’s role in the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) was discussed when President Donald Ramotar and Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon met yesterday with the agency’s Executive Director, Ronald Jackson at the Presidential Complex.

Guyana and French Guiana have started talks that can lead to the realization of an Inter Guiana boxing tournament.

OSLO, (Reuters) – Sea level rise in the past two decades has accelerated faster than previously thought in a sign of climate change threatening coasts from Florida to Bangladesh, a study said yesterday.

Dear Editor, In a recent letter, Mr Sase Singh disagreed with a statement that I had previously made, calling it “hogwash.”

(The Sports Xchange) — Phoenix forward Markieff Morris had a career-high 35 points as the Suns spoiled Cleveland forward LeBron James’ return to action with a 107-100 victory over the Cavaliers.

(Jamaica Gleaner) In addition to not having a formal risk-management framework, the PetroCaribe Development Fund (PDF) has been breaching its own guidelines, making US$100 million in unsecured loans available to entities, while at the same time charging commitment fees that are lower than the rate approved.

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – Australia paceman Pat Cummins has backed opening batsman David Warner to carry his blistering test form into the one-day arena at the cricket World Cup.

GENEVA, (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Jawad Zarif held intensive talks on Tehran’s disputed nuclear programme yesterday, returning for an evening session before handing off to their deputies, officials said.

CARACAS, (Reuters) – Governors in three Venezuelan states have banned nighttime queuing as huge lines continue to snake around shops across the scarcity-plagued OPEC nation.

A senior citizen was yesterday placed on $5,000 bail after he appeared in court charged with verbally abusing a police officer.

Dear Editor, Lloyd and Walsh are legends. Their records speak for themselves.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, (Reuters) – Pope Francis paid a surprise visit to a Buddhist temple yesterday, capping a trip to Sri Lanka where he told huge crowds that religions must unite to heal the country’s war wounds.

  KARACHI, (Reuters) – The Pakistan Cricket Board has extended the central contracts of 31 players and retained suspended off-spinner Saeed Ajmal in the top category.

On Tuesday, Food For The Poor Incorporated (Coconut Creek Florida) hosted 12 contestants of the Miss Universe pageant at their Florida office.

Dear Editor, I salute Sandra Hanover and Sharon Chase, the two city council nurses who have been denied their salaries for five long months.

Introduction: Stabroek News has invited the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change to submit a weekly column on governance and related matters.

In the 2014 national budget read in Parliament towards the end of March last year, the government allocated $1 billion towards a campaign called ‘Clean-up my Country’.

(Jamaica Observer) KINGSTON, Jamaica – Professor Brendan Bain yesterday lost his application to extend an injunction that was preventing the University of the West Indies (UWI) from terminating his service as director of the regional co-ordinating unit of the Caribbean HIV/AIDS Regional Training Network (CHART).

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph  (GT&T) company on Monday launched a coffee table book titled “Panorama, a Portrait of Guyana” featuring pieces from the National Collection.

WELLINGTON, (Reuters) – Kane Williamson’s absence for possibly the next three matches against Sri Lanka could be a blessing in disguise for New Zealand, with the batting order given the opportunity to fine tune plans for the World Cup.

Dear Editor,   Perhaps the most frequently asked question in Guyana these days is, ‘When you think is elections?’