Daily Archive: Friday, April 24, 2015

Despite the burgeoning condemnation which has also seen Western missions here voicing their revulsion, the ruling PPP today would only say that Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran’s remarks to rights activist Sherlina Nageer on Monday “appear unwarranted” and that the incident had been “clearly blown out of proportion”.

Canada today joined the chorus of critics of Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran’s verbal assault on rights activist Sherlina Nageer.

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Opener Kraigg Brathwaite fashioned an outstanding, unbeaten hundred that headlined strong West Indies resistance, shackled England’s zeal and set up a riveting final day of the second Test on Saturday.

Guyana Defence Force Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips, urged some 301 recruits to stay the course and become worthy protectors of Guyana, at the formal opening of the first Basic Recruit Course (BRC) for 2015, a release from the GDF said today.

Addressing a crowd of hundreds of Herstelling residents last evening, Head of State, Donald Ramotar, described the political opposition as not only lacking developmental plans to take Guyana forward, but also being anti-developmental.

Addressing a crowd of hundreds of Herstelling residents last evening, Head of State, Donald Ramotar, described the political opposition as not only lacking developmental plans to take Guyana forward, but also being anti-developmental.

At about 1350h. today, the police say that rice farmer Fyusa Hussain, 63 years, of Good Hope, ECD, had just parked his motor vehicle at Water Street, Georgetown, when he was confronted by two men, one of whom was armed with a firearm.

GINA this afternoon said that President Donald Ramotar has strongly reprimanded the Minister of Health Dr.

The women’s arm of the PPP, the WPO today said that it was “extremely disappointed” at the utterances by Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran against rights activist Sherlina Nageer.

MUMBAI, India, CMC – Embattled West Indies off-spinner Sunil Narine has been reported yet again for having a suspected illegal bowling action, further tossing the limited overs superstar’s career into deeper turmoil.

APNU+AFC last night said that is concerned about the dissemination of an incomplete and unofficial document purporting to be the coalition’s official manifesto.

Just a day after apologising for abusing rights activist Sherlina Nageer, Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran disparaged her at a meeting with Regional Health Officers (RHOs), telling them that she was a “miscreant” and in need of “psychiatric help”.

Alarmed at the heightened rhetoric on the campaign trail for the May 11 general elections, US Charge d’Affaires Bryan Hunt yesterday warned that comments being made by politicians are “very dangerous for Guyana and its future” and has urged leaders to tone down.

The Carter Center has deployed its team of medium term observers as of yesterday according to Team Leader and Assistant Director of the Center’s Global Development Initiative, Jason Calder.

Robbers yesterday struck at the People’s Pawn Shop in New Amsterdam, where they tied up staff and stole approximately $8M in cash and jewellery before riding off on bicycles.

The High Commissioner of India to Guyana, V. Mahalingam, yesterday presented to the Chief Election Officer, Keith Lowenfield a cheque to the value of $10, 250, 000.

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has removed the Lethem Location Commander who was involved in an altercation with another man earlier this month and are currently proceeding with disciplinary action against him.

Gladstone George, the Agricola man who was gunned down on Wednesday night, had an attempt made on his life before.

Shakir Mohamed, on trial for the murder of Shewraney Doobay, yesterday testified that he repeatedly denied killing the woman during police interrogations but eventually signed a confession after being tortured by lawmen.

George F. Jones, a former U.S. Ambassador to Guyana who served here during the pivotal 1992 general elections and later led an electoral observation mission for the 1997 elections, died on Monday in Fairfax, Virginia.

A mentally-disabled man is currently in police custody in Berbice, following a fatal chopping at Rose Hall, Corentyne, on Wednesday.

The policeman who fled the scene after accidently shooting Albouystown resident Shequena Anderson on Wednesday is now under close arrest, ‘A’ Division Commander Clifton Hicken said yesterday.

The police are currently finalising their investigation into a report that objects were thrown into a truck transporting people home after Sunday’s PPP/C rally at Albion.

Army Chief-of-Staff Brigadier General Mark Phillips urged servicemen and women of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and its civilian staff to display exemplary conduct in the run-up to and in performing their role and duties during the upcoming national elections.

Minister of Housing Irfaan Ali is using his ministry to distribute letters to persons that obtained house lots to appeal for votes for the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) at the general elections.

A 61-year-old New Amsterdam woman was remanded to prison yesterday on charges of possession of cocaine and cannabis for drug trafficking.

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Joe Root hit his sixth Test century and first overseas as England survived a spirited West Indies display, to grab the advantage on the third day of the second Test here yesterday.

The Embassy of Mexico in Guyana is inviting graduate students and professionals in the arts, media and academic fields to apply for the 2016 Scholarships Programme for International Students and the 2015 edition of the Special Programmes of Scholarships.

The quiet of Canal No. 1 Polder, West Bank Demerara, was shattered by gunshots on Wednesday evening when a businessman was shot and robbed in an attack carried out by two bandits, who escaped with his car and an undisclosed amount of cash.

A Linden man was yesterday released on bail when he appeared in a city court accused of discharging a loaded firearm.

The Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) u-19 50 over defending champions, Demerara defeated Essequibo by 47 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method in yesterday’s final round of the tournament played at the Enmore Community Centre Ground.

On Sunday the Lusignan Golf Course (LGC) will come alive when local golfers compete for top honours at the 18th Annual Scotiabank Charities Golf Tournament.

A fish vendor was shot in his buttocks during a robbery at the Meadow Bank Wharf early yesterday morning.

TGH Pacesetters opened their Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) ‘King of the Hard Court’ Championship in fine style, crushing Melanie Patriots 103-70 in their Open Divisional matchup on Wednesday.

Glendon Cadogan, the 83-year-old UK-based Guyanese who was shot multiple times by bandits on Tuesday, is currently in a stable condition at a private hospital.

A new champion in the Linden edition of the Guinness Greatest of the Streets tourney will be crowned as holders Eagles were booted on opening night, losing to Attackers via penalty kicks at the Mackenzie Market Tarmac on Wednesday.

Dear Editor, By questioning Dr Bheri Ramsaran, the Minister of Health, on his record, Ms Nageer was doing what all of us should be doing.

The Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) successfully completed their unbeaten run in the Farfan & Mendes Men’s first Division two round League, defeating the National u-21 men’s team in the final fixture on Wednesday at the GCC ground.

The Maritime Administration Depart-ment (Marad) recently distributed 192 life jackets for children in Region Two as part of its continuous safety campaign.

Dear Editor, As the election campaign continues, the daily reports are on topics reflecting the most degraded aspects of our society’s leadership.

An electrician who reportedly answered a phone he had allegedly stolen was on Wednesday remanded to prison.

Dear Editor, A quick apology from an abusive spouse is almost a cliché.

The round of 16 stage in the inaugural Guyana Beverage Company Busta Football tourney commences today with four fixtures at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground in Bourda.

A grocery store owner was on Wednesday remanded after he was charged with having a quantity of cannabis in his possession.

Dear Editor,   The Friday April 10, 2015 edition of Stabroek News featured a letter captioned `NIS benefits suddenly stopped’.

In preparation for the 2015 Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championship, the Guyana national men’s team will face off with rivals Suriname in a three-match international series in the neighbouring country.

Guyana ranks 93rd on The World Economic Forum’s Network Readiness Index in its 2015 Global Information Technology Report.

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, , CMC – West Indies managed just six wickets on a gruelling day three of the third Test here yesterday as England prospered, but team bowling consultant Sir Curtly Ambrose has praised the bowling group for sticking to their plans on a difficult pitch.

Dear Editor, In the interests of transparency and accountability I am calling on the Minister of Education to reveal the cost of the rescheduled CSEC and CAPE examinations. 

The Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) is disturbed by the intimidation tactics it has observed ahead of the general elections.

A new World Economic Forum report on the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in growth and development is placing the onus on governments to step up population access to the internet, as a means of accelerating economic development and the emergence of startup companies in their countries.

The United States Embassy has announced that 43 Peace Corps trainees arrived in Georgetown on Wednesday to begin two years of service to Guyana.

At face value it may not sound like a great deal and, moreover, it is only one of a multitude of initiatives required to address the varied challenges facing the local craftspeople and artisans and their industries.

Dear Editor,   I note that the PPP will launch their 2015 election Manifesto on Saturday 25 April at the Marriott Hotel.

BUJUMBURA/NAIROBI, (Reuters) – Any move by Burundi’s president to run for a third five-year term risks undermining a peace deal that has kept the African nation calm since civil war ended a decade ago and could stoke tensions in a region blighted by ethnic conflict.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – A U.S. drone strike in January targeting an al Qaeda compound in Pakistan near the Afghan border inadvertently killed an American and an Italian who had been held hostage for years by the group, U.S.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., (Reuters) – Former U.S. military commander and CIA director David Petraeus was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay a$100,000 fine but was spared prison time yesterday after pleading guilty to mishandling classified information.

Dear Editor, For the sake of basic decency and good sense, someone in the People’s Progressive Party needs to rein former President Bharrat Jagdeo in.

MOSCOW, (Reuters) – Russia and Argentina signed documents deepening energy cooperation yesterday, underlining Moscow’s drive to develop ties with South America since coming under Western sanctions over the Ukraine crisis.

(Trinidad Express) An eight-year-old boy has written a letter to the Education Ministry asking for protection against bullying from fellow classmates at the Happy Hill Hindu School in Gasparillo.

Local ceramic and pottery craft producers are to benefit from professional instruction in modern techniques for mould design and manufacturing through a workshop being delivered by the Caribbean Technology Consultancy Services (CTCS) Network in consultation with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).

Dear Editor, Kindly permit a lowly third year law student to call upon the Bar Association and the DPP to act reasonably and in the interest of Justice.

COLOMBO, (Reuters) – Sri Lankan police detained the younger brother of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday on suspicion of misappropriating state funds, the first arrest of a member of the once-powerful family.

(Reuters) – Tickets for the megafight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao finally hit the market yesterday and unless your name is Warren Buffet or Madonna you will probably have to watch the May 2 bout on pay-per-view.

MEXICO CITY, (Reuters) – Mexico’s Congress has approved an anti-corruption law that could help relieve pressure on President Enrique Pena Nieto’s scandal-plagued government.

NEW DELHI, (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – A major Indian jewellery chain has withdrawn an advert featuring Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan with a dark-skinned boy holding a parasol over her after it was slammed by activists and on social media for being racist and promoting child slavery.

Whilst formal academic training in business-related disciplines now occupies a prominent place on the curricula of local schools and tertiary institutions and increasingly as part of in-service training at several local entities, the view has long been expressed in business circles that efforts to enhance the entrepreneurial culture in Guyana must be driven much more by initiatives that provide hands-on instructional training designed to transform modest and seemingly thriving business ventures into highly successful enterprises.

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – Superior hand speed will give Manny Pacquiao a decisive edge over American Floyd Mayweather in their heavily anticipated megafight in Las Vegas next week, says the Filipino southpaw’s trainer Freddie Roach.

By Taurus – The Heckler  THE CONSTITUTION – Serious? Humorous?

Dear Editor, Two items form the centrepiece of the PPP’s campaign- Amaila Falls and hydro power and the 20 billion (100 million US dollars) for the sugar industry along with a host of big, expensive projects which will leave the populace of our country with a huge debt on our children and grandchildren.

TEGUCIGALPA, (Reuters) – The Supreme Court of Honduras yesterday struck down a law that banned presidents from seeking a second term, paving the way for their re-election, a contentious issue at the heart of a coup six years ago.

Dear Editor,   Referring to the editorial titled, “History Cam-paign” (SN April 19, 2015), kindly permit the following comments.

In the practice of medicine, as in all aspects of life, mistakes are made.

Next week Friday is Labour Day. If ever one of Guyana’s too–numerous Public Holidays was justified and valid it is this national occasion which recognizes and celebrates the local and global contributions of the working class to a nation’s development and sustenance.

The immediate-term expansion plans of the local travel and interior tours entity North West Group of Companies is but one of a number of illustrations of the positive spin-offs of the country’s gold-mining sector.

BARCELONA, (Reuters) – Rafa Nadal’s bid to get back to top form before the French Open suffered a setback when he crashed to a 6-4 7-6(6) defeat to 13th-seeded Italian Fabio Fognini in the third round of the Barcelona Open yesterday.

As last Friday’s editorial made clear, President Barack Obama, in seeing the error of the ways of previous US administrations and opting for the path of diplomacy, has opened a new chapter in his country’s relations with Cuba.

DELHI, India, CMC – West Indies batsmen Lendl Simmons and Kieron Pollard both failed as Mumbai Indians’ nightmare start to the new Indian Premier League season continued with a 37-run defeat to Delhi Daredevils here yesterday.

GASCI (www.gasci.com/telephone Nº 223-6175/6) reports that session 612’s trading results showed consideration of $22,862,033 from 278,142 shares traded in 17 transactions as compared to session 611’s trading results, which showed consideration of $21,019,063 from 726,555 shares traded in 23 transactions.

Cleaning day: Members of the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Fire Service combined to clean the Providence Police Station yesterday.

Kitco is a Canadian company that buys and sells precious metals such as gold, copper and silver.

Dear Editor, With seventeen days to go before the May 11 elections, the fight for the seat of government no longer appears to be between the PPP and APNU/AFC alliance, but between Bharrat Jagdeo, on the one hand, and the Opposition alliance and the majority of Guyanese, on the other hand.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, (Reuters) – Candidates from as many as 125 political parties in Haiti yesterday rushed to meet a deadline to register to run in the country’s long-overdue elections later this year.