Daily Archive: Thursday, December 10, 2015

Nineteen Officer Cadets, currently undergoing training on the Standard Officers Course (SOC) # 48 were promoted to the rank of Ensigns yesterday at an Ensigncy Parade held on the Drill Square, Base Camp Stephenson BC(S) Timehri, a release from the GDF said today.

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) donated fifty-nine, 21-inch television sets to the Ministry of Education today, GINA said.

Under the Bharrat Jagdeo administration, controversial businessman Ed Ahmad was leased 3.1 acres of land in 2008 at the corner of Thomas Lands and Irving Street to build a 150-room hotel and casino.

MUMBAI, (Reuters) – An Indian court today overturned Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s conviction in a 13-year-old hit-and-run case, scrapping a lower court’s sentence of five years in jail for running over a homeless man.

(Trinidad Guardian) One of 11 men charged with the murder of Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal has given a statement implicating the others and admitting to his role in the crime, and may likely be used as a witness against the others.

(Barbados Nation) THERE IS WILD CELEBRATION on the streets of Kingstown as the Unity Labour Party (ULP) had won an unprecedented fourth term in office.

A dramatic early morning shootout yesterday in South Ruimveldt Park ended with two of four bandits dead, while the other two escaped; they had beaten and robbed a woman in her home and tried to break into another house two corners away.

State funds amounting to $257 million were expended on the development of the Sparendaam housing project and conservatively, the value of land there should have been $82.8 million per acre but it was sold for far less, the forensic audit into controversial government holding company, NICIL, says.

President David Granger yesterday met with the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo and proposed that Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards serve as Chief Justice when Justice Ian Chang proceeds on pre-retirement leave on December 15.

Balram Singh was yesterday sentenced to 80 years in jail after a jury found him guilty of murdering taxi driver Bhomeshwar Sukhdeo, whose burnt remains had been dumped on the Mocha Access Road in January 2010.

Guyana and the United States yesterday signed a Memorandum of Under-standing for the operation of a vetted counter-narcotic investigative unit programme.

-size of hotel was reduced, green energy certification abandoned Controversial government holding company NICIL’s investment in the Marriott Hotel is US$41.6 million, above the US$36 million publicly stated by NICIL’s Executive Director Winston Brassington, according to the forensic audit into the entity’s operations which also says that state agencies such as the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) violated the law by transferring funds to NICIL.

A sand truck driver is now dead after an accident on the East Coast Demerara just after midnight yesterday.

Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday blasted Stabroek News’ bloggers and other critics saying that not only was he a credible messenger on corruption issues but that with time even his worst critics will recognize this.

GTT yesterday confirmed Justin Nedd as the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

The National Task Force Commission (NTFC) for the Rehabilitation, Restoration and Renewal of Guyana has submitted its preliminary report to Minister of Public Infra-structure David Patterson for revision.

(Reuters) – Adam Voges scored 174 and Shaun Marsh 139 in an unbroken partnership of 317 runs to give Australia a commanding 438 for three at the close of play on the opening day of the first test against West Indies in Hobart yesterday.

Steve Mohamed, 28, is wanted by the police in relation to investigations into the murder of Quacy Thompson which occurred on July 15, 2014, at Mowasi Landing, Konawaruk.

A new champion will be crowned in the Guinness of the Streets Georgetown Championship on Saturday at the National Park as Sparta Boss and newcomer Channel-9-Warriors recorded hard-fought semi-final wins over North Ruimveldt and Back Circle respectively on Tuesday.

Guyana’s powerlifters returned home on Monday with a treasure chest of gold medals after dominating their rivals at the 6th Commonwealth Power-lifting Championships which concluded in Vancouver, Canada on Sunday.

Two murder accused escaped from the Mackenzie Police Station on Tuesday and up to press time yesterday there was no trace of them as ranks of the Guyana Police Force continue their investigations.

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) has installed streetlights in the community of Timehri North, a week after Minister David Patterson visited the area.

DHAKA, Bangladesh, CMC- Chris Gayle unleashed a blazing unbeaten 92 as Barisal Bulls flattened Chittagong Vikings by eight wickets in the 28th match of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) here yesterday.

The sixth edition of the Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) Titan Bowl will officially commence tomorrow December 13th at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Charitable organization, the Beacon Foundation is celebrating its 30th anniversary having been founded in December 1985.

The Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown (M&CC) is taking up its traffic mandate.

(Reuters) – Australian left-arm quick Mitchell Starc has decided to undergo surgery on his ankle and is likely to miss the World Twenty20 in India early next year, Cricket Australia said yesterday.

Minister of Governance, with responsibility for Natural Resources and the Environment, Raphael Trotman, yesterday, signed a US$300,000 grant with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) on the side lines of the United Nations Frame-work Convention on Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) in Paris, France.

Half-centuries from Sherfane Rutherford and Jeetendra Sookdeo bolstered by some compelling bowling, saw Georgetown cruising to a 56-run win over West Demerara yesterday in the ongoing Cricket Guyana Inc (CGI) Local Franchise League (LFL) 50 over competition.

A fire, suspected to be arson, last week Monday gutted a two-storey apartment building at Rasville in Georgetown, destroying the homes of 27 people, including children, and causing millions in losses.

Guyana is officially slated to start preparation for the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) 2016 Futsal Tournament via closed door tryouts for members of the team at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

(Reuters) – A positive doping test and questions over a contentious criminal trial in London have threatened to overshadow the first test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, which begins today.

Dear Editor, Reference is made to a letter titled ‘SN should publish contact details for small businesses’ written by Ms Jennifer Bulkan in your Tuesday, December 8 edition.

A businessman was on Tuesday charged with shooting at two policemen and a civilian but his lawyer told a city court that he thought he was being robbed.

(The Sports Xchange) – Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan was looking beyond the box score after the Thunder overpowered the Memphis Grizzlies 125-88 on Tuesday at FedExForum.

Five Cuban nationals were on Tuesday each fined $100,000 after pleading guilty to charges that they forged American passports and attempted to use them to leave the country through the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri.

Dear Editor, We welcome the government’s initiative to review Christian prayers in public schools.

Ashmali Alves, 22, a typist, on Tuesday found herself in a city court charged with stealing her ex-boyfriend’s gold chain.

MUMBAI, (Reuters) – India opener Shikhar Dhawan, who occasionally bowls off-spin, has been reported for a suspect action during the recent fourth test against South Africa, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said yesterday.

Dear Editor, While smog in Beijing is serious, it pales in comparison to the pea soup London smog events of 1952.

ZURICH, (Reuters) – An internal investigation of suspended FIFA President Joseph “Sepp” Blatter has found no evidence of corruption over a 2 million Swiss franc ($2 million) payment to European soccer head Michel Platini, the Swiss newspaper Handelszeitung said yesterday.

Dear Editor, I refer to Mr Malcolm Alves’s letter, ‘There should be a viable alternative before corporal punishment is abandoned’ (SN, December 7) in which he defends its use.

Dear Editor, The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) said there was no wrongdoing by the board Chairman when he racked up a multi-million dollar food and drinks bill at the agency’s expense.

BRASILIA, (Reuters) – Brazil’s Supreme Court yesterday suspended impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff until it rules on the validity of a secret ballot that stacked a congressional committee with opponents seeking to oust the leftist leader.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, (Reuters) – International Olympic Committee officials said on Wednesday they were confident next year’s Games in Rio de Janeiro would not be compromised by the political turmoil and economic downturn in Brazil, although preparations had “inevitably” been affected.

Dear Editor, The most important question we should be asking ourselves is what do we do to build a better Guyana?

LONDON, (Reuters) – New world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury turned to divine inspiration yesterday to answer his growing number of critics after days of courting controversy over his comments about women and homosexuality.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Israeli politicians and more than 370,000 Britons urged their governments yesterday to bar Donald Trump from their countries after the Republican presidential front-runner said Muslims should be denied entry into the United States.

PARIS, (Reuters) – A week and a half of talks produced a slimmer but still-troubled version of a climate deal yesterday, with negotiators from 195 countries divided over how far to go in curbing global temperature rises – and how to pay for it.

Dear Editor, Reference is made to Mr Khemraj Tulsie’s missive on suicide (‘Our social programmes will fare better if…’ SN, Dec 5).

(Reuters) – Manager Louis van Gaal says he cannot defend himself after coming in for fresh criticism following Manchester United’s early Champions League exit.

(Trinidad Express) The Central Bank has responded to the scathing criticism over Governor Jwala’s Rambarran’s decision to publicly disclose the names of big business and the amount of foreign exchange they consume.

Worldwide, 2015 has not been a good year for human rights.

Dear Editor, I wish to congratulate Chief-of-Staff Mark Phillips and his Education Department for highlighting the successes of his 15 ranks who graduated recently at the Government Technical Institute.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC– Jamaica says it is no longer interested in hosting the IAAF World Junior Championships in 2016, citing financial difficulties imposed on the country by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, (Reuters) – Dozens of people were killed in fighting at the airport in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar after an overnight attack by Taliban insurgents while a key district in neighbouring Helmand province fell to the insurgents, officials said yesterday.

CARACAS, (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced an imminent cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday after his ruling Socialist Party was crushed in legislative elections, but he vowed to veto opposition plans for an amnesty law for jailed politicians.