Daily Archive: Monday, May 25, 2015

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) concluded its nurses’ week of activities on Saturday with a grand concert at the Guyana Nurses Association Hall.

Minister within the Ministry of Communities Dawn Hastings being sworn in by President David Granger today at the Ministry of the Presidency.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Newly-installed West Indies head coach Phil Simmons says veteran batsman Shiv Chanderpaul did not “fit in” to the best squad to face Australia in the two-Test series next month, and does not believe that his exclusion means he has been shabbily treated.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge receiving his instrument of office after being sworn in by President David Granger today as a Vice President.

Acting Town Clerk, Carol Sooba was today sent on leave by the City Council, the latest move in a long-running battle.

President David Granger meeting with his Ministers of the Cabinet for the first time at the Ministry of the Presidency since they were sworn in.

The PPP today said it had declined an invitation from the Office of the President to participate in tomorrow’s independence anniversary observances at Independence Arch, Brickdam.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) say they were informed at a meeting this afternoon by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Dr Rajendra Singh along with members of GuySuCo’s Industrial Relations Department that the Corporation is unable to pay Senior and Junior staffers of the Corporation this month’s salary (May, 2015).

At about 1330h. today, police say that two men who had joined a mini-bus as passengers, one of whom was armed with a handgun, stopped the vehicle at Eccles, EBD, and held up the other occupants.

President David Granger has announced that the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government intends to annually grant presidential pardons to prisoners who were sentenced for minor misdemeanors (non-violent crimes.)

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon and Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin are now scheduled to address the Guyana-China Business Council (GCBC) at its first meeting for 2015 on Thursday at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Liliendaal, GINA said today.

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo this morning appeared in the Whim Magistrate’s Court on a charge of making racially divisive statements in contravention of section 139D of The Representation of the People Act, Cap 1:02 and was sent off on his own recognisance and instructed to return to court on June 23 for the beginning of the preliminary inquiry into the matter.

The Guyana Police Force is informing the general public that due to the Inauguration Ceremony for President David Granger, which will be held tomorrow at the National Stadium, Providence, EBD, the flow of road traffic would be restricted and delays are expected along Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, and the East Bank Demerara Public Road between 1200h.

(Trinidad Express) THE Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) intends to call on the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to provide observers for the next general election in Trinidad and Tobago, PNM leader Dr Keith Rowley said yesterday at the party’s Sports and Family Day at Nelson Mandela Park in St Clair.

Announced with much fanfare in January, a US$8 million grant from New Delhi for Guyana to buy a ferry from India as well as other funding is now “curtailed” due to a slash in the country’s Ministry of External Affairs’ (MEA) budget.

Cooperation with the government for development and constitutional reform is the best course for the PPP, former party stalwart Ralph Ramkarran says though he warned that a domineering former president Bharrat Jagdeo at the helm could result in the ruin of the party.

The several government ministries renamed by the David Granger administration will have to keep their former names for financial documentation purposes until the Budget is passed and funding allocated.

The Police have deployed a team to the Lion Mountain area in Region 7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) after receiving reports of an accident there that may have claimed the lives of five miners.

Flooding as a result of heavy rains is currently threatening several areas on the Essequibo Coast and over 1000 acres of rice lands have been affected while Lima residents are worried after a major pump in the community stopped functioning on Saturday.

President David Granger is to address a meeting of the Guyana-China Business Council (GCBC) on Thursday, a release from the council said yesterday.

Former President Donald Ramotar has been invited to participate in this year’s Independence Day observance and the new administration is hopeful that he will attend in the spirit of national unity.

The Ministry of Communities will probe allocations of housing land done under the previous administration to determine if there are any improprieties, Minister Ronald Bulkan says.

The historic Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church on Main Street requires another $30M to complete its restoration.

The APNU+AFC government is examining making the Bartica Hospital into a regional facility, Minister of Public Health Dr.

The much-vaunted Hope Canal on the East Coast is still to undergo trials to test the functionality of the $3.6 billion drainage project although Head of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, Lionel Wordsworth has stated the project is in its final stages.

The case against Regan Pollard, who is locked in litigation with Puruni LLC Company, which claims he owes it US$198,386, has been adjourned to Wednesday after attorneys on both sides made the request.

The Guyana Sugar Corporation on Friday confirmed that it had fallen below its first crop target of 86,201 tonnes but it noted that the production was eight percent over the 2014 first crop figure of 75,000 tonnes.

The temporary bypasses to facilitate traffic flow at Miles 1 and 12 on the Lethem road- which was eroded- have been completed, a release from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure said yesterday.

A security guard who the police accused of stealing a radio from his employer was on Friday released on $30,000 bail after appearing at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court where he denied the allegation.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Veteran left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul’s illustrious 21-year career appeared all but over after he was dumped from the West Indies Test squad for the upcoming two-Test series against Australia starting next month.

A plumber was remanded to prison after denying that he shot at another man when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

KOLKATA, India, CMC- A brilliant half century and a late onslaught from West Indies cricketers Lendl Simmons and Kieron Pollard set the stage for Mumbai Indians to complete a commanding 41 run win over Chennai Super Kings to reclaim their title as champions of the Indian Premier League here yesterday.

Dyna’s Ravens continued their dominant showing in the Open Division of the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) ‘King of the Hard Court’ Championship, crushing home side Plaisance Guardians by an 87-54 margin on Saturday.

Congratulations from a number of local associations continue to pour in for the governing APNU/AFC coalition with the Upper Demerara Cricket Association (UDCA) joining the list of well-wishers who have signalled their support for the new government.

Dear Editor,   The Guyana Times of Sunday May 24 (New Ministries created by Granger illegal – PPP/C) reports former President Bharrat Jagdeo and former Attorney General Anil Nandlall as stating that “the formation of new Ministries is illegal since monies cannot be released to those entities, which are not represented in the Appropriation Act.”

Dear Editor, It’s been quite a first week for Guyana’s new Coalition government.

The executives of the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) on Friday presented plaques to Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) President Drubahadur and Richard Jodah, the former national Under-19 player for their contributions towards the club.

Dear Editor, GuySuCo has declared that they have completed an extended first crop in 2015 of 81,194 tonnes.

Dear Editor, And they are off. Local politics is like a keenly contested horse race.

The President and executive members of the East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB), has extended heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the newly elected President of the Republic of Guyana His Excellency President David Granger and the honorable Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

Roger Federer enlivened a routine day at the office with a violet and pink outfit and a several dabs of brilliance to launch another French Open quest but his mood darkened after a security breach yesterday.

Dear Editor, There was a lapse in protocol at the official swearing-in of President David Granger at Parliament Buildings on Saturday, May 16.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC- A clash between champions Barbados Tridents and Guyana Amazon Warriors will set in motion the 2015 edition of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in Bridgetown next month The contest between Tridents and Amazon Warriors is set to be played under lights at Kensington Oval on June 20th, organisers have announced.

Dear Editor, The recent reports about the successful massive blood donation drives conducted by the Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN) High School at Cornelia Ida, West Demerara under the direction of the revered Swami Aksharananda Ji must not go unnoticed; it is deserving of our utmost praise and encouragement as a true model of selfless service to humanity and more so, for an educational institution, as an example of practical teaching/learning of civic responsibilities for the students involved.

Dear Editor, I am happy to see democratic turnover in Guyana with the coalition’s victory, but this new government will get no free passes from me.

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC- New West Indies head coach Phil Simmons says he wants to meet to discuss test cricket with five West Indies players who are among the top performers in the cash rich Indian Premier League.

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – The south Asian neighbours may not share the best of relations but Pakistan would like to play their home matches in India, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Shahayar Khan said.

Dear Editor, Chief Justice Carl Singh and Justice of the Appeal Judge, Ian Chang have been acting as Chancellor and Chief Justice respectively for the past decade.

CANNES, France, (Reuters) – French film “Dheepan” won the top Palme d’Or prize for director Jacques Audiard at the 68th Cannes International Film Festival yesterday, crowning a good night for French cinema but a bad one for Italy and actress Cate Blanchett.

Dear Editor, I have read in the newspapers that Mr Granger has appointed his son-in-law Mr Dominic Gaskin of the AFC as Minister responsible for Business and Investment.

PARIS, (Reuters) – Favourite Novak Djokovic will not be unduly alarmed by the prospect of facing defending champion Rafa Nadal in the quarter-final of the French Open, according to twice winner Jim Courier.

(Reuters) – The Golden State Warriors are one victory away from the NBA Finals after routing the Houston Rockets 115-80 in Game Three of the Western Conference finals on Saturday.

(Trinidad Express) Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Saturday categorically denied influencing the Integrity Commission in its decision to terminate its Emailgate probe.

MARKALA, Mali, (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Malian farmer Balima Coulibaly and his fellow villagers watched with dread as 100,000 hectares of fertile land they have farmed for generations were handed to Libyan investors with no discussion about the impact on their impoverished communities.

By Hollis France   Hollis France teaches at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina   For many homeland and diasporic Guyanese the euphoric dynamic of the election of a representative government projects great rays of hope.

Dear Editor, I am very unhappy and frustrated at GT&T’s continued monopolization of the internet.

Dear Editor, We the Guyanese people are outraged to learn that former President Ramotar pardoned a convicted child killer before he left office.

LA PAZ, (Reuters) – A former advisor to the Peruvian president who was awaiting extradition to Peru to face corruption charges has fled from house arrest in Bolivian capital La Paz, the Bolivian government said yesterday.

MONACO, (Reuters) – Nico Rosberg took a surprise hat-trick of Monaco Grand Prix victories yesterday after Mercedes blew championship-leading team mate Lewis Hamilton’s chances with a late pitstop while he was leading.

Monday, 11 May 2015, was a historic day for Guyana, as citizens across the length and breadth of Guyana came out in their numbers to cast their votes for the political parties of their choice.

LOS ANGELES, (Variety.com) – There weren’t as many fireworks at the Memorial Day weekend box office this year as newcomer “Tomorrowland” disappointed with a $32.2 million debut.

PARIS, (Reuters) – Stan Wawrinka reacted angrily yesterday after an article on the French Open website mentioned his private life.

Dear Editor, The heralding of a new government has heightened expectations that it will promote goodwill and equal opportunities, including a level playing field, and make a concrete commitment to provide adequate resources for the advancement of our sportsmen and women.

As was said in the May 17th Sunday Stabroek editorial, it is high time for former President Ramotar and his associates to put country before party.

BUENOS AIRES, (Reuters) – The two frontrunners to win Argentina’s presidential election in October have roughly equal levels of support, a poll published yesterday showed, with the pro-business opposition challenger gaining on the likely candidate for the governing Peronists.

CLEVELAND, (Reuters) – Some 71 people were arrested in Cleveland overnight during protests that flared after a police officer was found not guilty in the shooting deaths of an unarmed black man and a woman following a high-speed car chase in 2012, police said yesterday.