Daily Archive: Thursday, May 7, 2015

During a press briefing today at Cara Lodge, Kate Wilkinson, chairperson of the Commonwealth group which is here to observe the May 11 General and Regional elections, stated that, “they are only here to observe and not to supervise the electoral process”, GINA said.

Today, members of the Caricom observer mission paid a courtesy call on Head of State, Donald Ramotar, at the Presidential Complex.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservatives are on track to govern Britain for another five years even though they are likely to fall just short of an outright majority at Thursday’s election, an exit poll showed.

Repairs to the Old Mahaica Bridge are completed and it has been open to restricted vehicular traffic since April 29, 2015, the Ministry of Public Works says.

A controversial bid by the government to have the mines commission (GGMC) loan money to the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) was today declared as ultra vires and null.

The Esso exploration well, the Liza-1 on the Stabroek Block has found Hydrocarbons, according to Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud during an interview, a release from his ministry said today but he added that it was too early to say whether it is in viable quantities.

The Guyana Police Force is informing the general public that members of the Force will be participating in a security exercise between 0600h.

(Trinidad Express) Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley was suspended from the Parliament at 9.15 last night and therefore will not be allowed to return to the House for the remainder of the session.

A 24-year-old father of three was surrounded by at least three gunmen yesterday as he sat outside a shop in `Warlock’, East Ruimveldt and riddled with bullets, less than a month after he was freed of a number of charges stemming from an ongoing feud.

The man accused of causing the death of former WBA World Welterweight champion Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis, by dangerous driving yesterday appeared in a city court and was granted $250,000 bail.

Six witnesses, four police officers among them, testified yesterday when the trial of former police constable Terrence Wallace, who stands accused of the September 2012 murder of 17-year-old Shaquille Grant at Agricola, East Bank Demerara opened before Justice Navindra Singh.

President Donald Ramotar on Tuesday joined Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy, officials from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the Rice Producers Association (RPA) to commission the modern $70M rice seed facility in Number 56 Village.

In his first local political run, rights activist Mark Benschop isn’t delusional about his chances of winning the presidency.

Clayton Johnson, the prison officer who was charged less than two months ago after he was allegedly found with a quantity of cannabis and cigarettes at the Camp Street Prison, had two matters against him dismissed yesterday.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) says it will today be meeting with the People’s Progressive Party to give clarity on a number of issues raised by the party about alleged infractions when the Disciplined Services voted last Saturday.

The trial of Shakir Mohamed, who was charged with the murder of Shewraney Doobay, has ended in a hung jury and he has been remanded to prison pending a retrial.

One month after gunmen shot Linden businesswoman, Shevon Gordon dead during an armed robbery, police have arrested three suspects.

One day after Dr Cheddi ‘Joey’ Jagan endorsed the APNU+AFC coalition, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) released a letter it said was written by his late mother, former president Janet Jagan, in which, among other things, she said he had humiliated his late father, Dr Cheddi Jagan.

In response to criticisms by PPP/C prime ministerial candidate Elisabeth Harper, APNU+AFC presidential candidate David Granger yesterday maintained his position that Guyana’s response to the 2013 seizing of the oil exploration vessel Teknik Perdana by Venezuela was lacking and more should have been done.

Two residents of Providence, East Bank Demerara were yesterday refused bail when they appeared in a city court facing two joint charges involving the possession of narcotics.

A large crowd was on hand to witness the Gregory Richardson show as Sparta Boss were crowned the inaugural Guyana Beverage Company sponsored Busta 5-a-side football champs, dismissing West Front Road 4-2 on Tuesday in the grand finale.

Guyanese Jenell Pierre is among a group of 12 Caribbean entrepreneurs shortlisted for the next round in the keenly contested Caribbean Call to Action Entrepreneurship Challenge.

Dear Editor, I wish to inform the public that I was admitted a patient at the New Amsterdam Hospital which is being referred to as the state of the art hospital for two days 27th and 28th of April, instant, with a serious condition and for those two days not a meal was offered to me.

Lance Walters, who was allegedly found with cocaine, walked out of a city court a free man yesterday after the charge against him was dismissed.

Calvin Roberts, senior sports journalist at the Guyana Chronicle newspapers and a former member of the From the Heart Church Ministries, was laid to rest at the Le Repentir Cemetery yesterday.

Dear Editor, Solar Home Systems are intended for households that are too far away from an electricity grid or too far apart to make the installation of a grid feasible.

  By Tony Cozier   Given the well-documented background, it is tempting to dismiss West Indies’ triumph in the engrossing, fluctuating, nerve-wracking final Test over England as simply a one off against opponents suddenly overtaken by internal problems that mirror their own.

Although police are following leads, there has been no arrest as yet in connection with the murder of shopkeeper Shawn Anys, who was shot in his Sophia home in front of his children.

Dear Editor, The Official List of Electors (OLE) according to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is 570,786, with many politicians and citizens expressing concern about the seemingly incomprehensible increase in the voters list for the 2015 General Elections.

The untimely death of Guyana’s first world boxing champion, Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis has left a deep void in the boxing world as tributes continue to pour in.

Dear Editor, Unlike some of my Guyanese compatriots who are so embittered, filled with anger and hatred around this election period, the content of my letter has more to do with national reconciliation around our own common historical experience.

A pregnant woman was yesterday granted bail by Magistrate Ann McLennan after being charged with the illegal possession of ammunition.

Dear Editor, I truly and deeply pity Ryhaan Shah for the way she defines herself in her letter published in yesterday’s SN.

Veteran squash coach and long serving junior national tactician Carl Ince said the recent training clinic in Trinidad and Tobago was well organized and is part of the nation’s push towards the development of local coaches.

A man was yesterday sentenced to three years imprisonment after he was found guilty of possession of cannabis for trafficking.

  Defending champs Christianburg/Wismar Secondary School will tackle Wisburg Secondary today in the final of the 7th Edward ‘Screw’ Richmond Memorial Football tourney following semi-final victories on Monday at the Wisburg Secondary School ground.

Dear Editor, In 1926 Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow and other Caribbean trade union leaders began the fight for every person at the age of 21 to be given the right to vote; the chance to vote.

A miner was yesterday refused bail after being charged with possession of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Dear Editor, I write to endorse the contents of Ms. Ryhaan Shah’s letter (SN, May 6, 2015).

People’s Progressive Party executive, Dr Roger Luncheon last evening urged Kitty residents to vote for the incumbent party based on its track record and futuristic development plans.

Starting today at the Wales Community Development Centre ground some 36 players will compete in the first of two Trial matches for a place on the Demerara squad ahead of the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) senior inter county competition.

Dear Editor, The way forward is not to be based on ancient history, but on a careful re-evaluation of recent history, and proper planning for the future.

(The Sports Xchange) – Mike Conley outplayed NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry and defensive ace Tony Allen harassed All-Star Klay Thompson into an off-shooting night as the Memphis Grizzlies stunned the top-seeded Golden State Warriors 97-90 on Tuesday.

Supporters at a PPP/C meeting at Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara were last evening reminded of government’s plans to develop the rice and sugar industries and told of a price stabilization fund for paddy farmers.

Dear Editor, A great future for Guyana beckons. It is for us as a nation to take advantage of the enormous opportunities that are before us by ensuring that the economic and social gains we have made over the years are consolidated and accelerated.

BARCELONA, (Reuters) – Cometh the hour cometh the man and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi stepped up to the mark in sensational fashion yesterday.

BUJUMBURA, (Reuters) – Burundi’s president, confronted by violent protests that have left a dozen people reported dead and driven thousands to flee the country, said yesterday that if he is re-elected in June he will not run for office again.

BRASILIA, (Reuters) – A measure that reduces the cost of social welfare benefits narrowly cleared the lower chamber of Brazil’s Congress last night in a tense victory for President Dilma Rousseff’s efforts to cut a fiscal deficit and restore investor confidence.

At the Vreed-en-Hoop court on Monday, a 22-year-old man pleaded guilty to being in possession of a quantity of cannabis sativa and is awaiting sentencing while another accused pleaded not guilty to the offence.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Deep beneath the Atlantic Ocean between Greenland and Norway, scientists have found microorganisms they call a missing link connecting the simple cells that first populated Earth to the complex cellular life that emerged roughly 2 billion years ago.

UNITED NATIONS, (Reuters) – Yemen urged the international community “to quickly intervene by land forces to save” the country, specifically in the cities of Aden and Taiz, according to a letter sent to the United Nations Security Council yesterday.

Dear Editor, In recent letters and newspaper columns, Mr. Frederick Kissoon has singled out and viciously attacked Swami Aksharananda for exercising his right, as an Indian, to express certain political ideas in the public domain.

SANTIAGO, (Reuters) – Chile President Michelle Bachelet said she will reshuffle her entire cabinet in the next few days, a surprise announcement that indicates the depth of her concern about a collapse in her popularity.

LONDON, (Reuters) – British voters get to decide today who they want to rule the world’s fifth-largest economy in a tight election that could yield weak government, propel the United Kingdom towards a vote on EU membership and stoke Scottish desire for secession.

(Trinidad Guardian) People’s National Movement (PNM) leader Keith Rowley has been referred to Parliament’s Privileges Committee by House Speaker Wade Mark, over allegations recently made by Rowley against Finance Minister Larry Howai.

Toppled fire truck: Three firefighters were injured after the fire truck they were in toppled on the runway of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri yesterday.

A truck driver was yesterday placed on $250,000 bail after he appeared in a city court and denied having illegal fuel.

DHAKA, (Reuters) – Younus Khan and Azhar Ali struck centuries to punish a sloppy Bangladesh and power Pakistan to a strong 323 for three wickets on the first day of the second and final test yesterday.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Hot Chocolate lead singer Errol Brown has died at the age of 71 after suffering from liver cancer, his manager said yesterday.

BRASILIA, (Reuters) – A measure that reduces the cost of social welfare benefits narrowly cleared the lower chamber of Brazil’s Congress last night in a tense victory for President Dilma Rousseff’s efforts to cut a fiscal deficit and restore investor confidence.

Dear Editor, Over the last 24 hours remarks made by People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Prime Ministerial Candidate Ms.

HAVANA, (Reuters) – The Cuban government will send a 48-member medical team including 22 doctors to Nepal in response to the April 25 earthquake that killed more than 7,600 people, official Cuban media said yesterday, citing Health Ministry officials.

The Wildlife Scientific Authority (WSA) is advising fisherfolk and members of the public that if a marine mammal is observed to be entangled in fishing nets or stranded on land to immediately contact the Authority.

BANGALORE, India, CMC – Superstar opener Chris Gayle blasted his 14th Twenty20 century and became the first overseas player to eclipse 3 000 runs in the Indian Premier League, as Royal Challengers Bangalore crushed Kings XI Punjab by 138 runs here yesterday.

(BBC) Iconic Bollywood movie Sholay has been finally released in cinemas in Pakistan nearly 40 years after it first took India by storm, writes the BBC’s M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad.

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

MUMBAI, (Reuters) – An Indian court sentenced Bollywood film star Salman Khan yesterday to five years in prison for killing a man in a hit-and-run accident, the latest twist in the tumultuous career of one of the country’s biggest box-office draws.

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – The man accused of breaking into Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock’s Los Angeles home entered a not guilty plea to more than two dozen charges in a Los Angeles court yesterday.

One hundred and twenty private security officers were the recipients of specialised election security training hosted by the Guyana Association of Private Security Organisations (GAPSO).

(Reuters) – West Indies coach Phil Simmons believes their third test win over England can be the foundation for better things for Caribbean cricket, but warns next month’s tests against Australia represent a sterner examination of his team.

SAO PAULO, (Reuters) – Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered another engineering executive released from jail on Wednesday, complicating prosecutors’ efforts to expand a corruption investigation at state-run oil firm Petroleo Brasileiro SA .

Dear Editor,   An Oath is a pledge taken by an individual to denote his/her intention to perform truthfully and faithfully to specific tenets.

Dear Editor,   Political billboards are everywhere. Some, not all, attract and hold one’s attention.

HAVANA, (Reuters) – Cuba unveiled new data yesterday it said confirmed there were billions of barrels of oil beneath its Gulf of Mexico waters but admitted there was little interest in new exploration even with the thaw in U.S.

Three firefighters were rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre yesterday afternoon after the fire truck they were in toppled at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri.

The Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) of the Roman Catholic Church is appointed by Bishop Alleyne. 

The international charity, Save the Children releases an annual report titled ‘State of the World’s Mothers’ in which it looks at the best and worst places in the world to be a mother.

CALGARY, Alberta, (Reuters) – Canadian oil and gas shares tumbled and the country’s main stock index hit a one-month low yesterday after the left-wing New Democratic Party surged to power in the oil-rich province of Alberta on promises that included energy industry reforms.

(The Sports Xchange) – Forward DeMarre Carroll led five double-figure scorers with 22 points as the Atlanta Hawks used an 11-2 run midway through the final quarter to pull away for 106-90 Game Two victory over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday.

By Taurus – The Heckler   NO EMBRACE FOR JUMBIES Taurus could not help but be impressed by remarks made at rallies by APNU/AFC top men.