Daily Archive: Wednesday, January 27, 2016

The capacity of the enforcement and investigative division of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) will be enhanced following the donation of several pieces of equipment by the United States Government, GINA said.

Investigations are being conducted into the circumstances surrounding the death of Kurt Burke, 41 years, of Drill, Mahaicony, ECD, whose body was found at about 0930h.

In the 2015 Transparency International rankings released today, Guyana is still perceived as a very corrupt nation, its score of 29 hovering around the same position as in the 2014 report.

(Trinidad Guardian) Embattled T&T off-spinner Sunil Narine has been included in the West Indies team for the upcoming World T20 in Sri Lanka, pending test results on an alleged illegal bowling action.

BRASILIA/SAO PAULO, (Reuters) – Brazil’s Federal Police today launched the latest stage of a sweeping investigation into corruption at state-controlled firms, with six arrest and 15 search warrants issued in the states of São Paulo and Santa Catarina.

Almost 22 years after local government elections (LGE) were last held here, political parties, groups and individuals yesterday submitted their nominations to contest for seats in municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) across the country.

Trade union leader Carvil Duncan was yesterday charged with stealing almost $1M and conspiring to steal over $28M from the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL), where he had been serving as a board member.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) yesterday advised that charges be laid against the three suspects now in custody for the robbery of the Bank of Baroda branch at Mon Repos.

By Shabna Ullah   Nomination Day for long-awaited local government elections appeared to go smoothly yesterday with no immediate complaints from those submitting the names of candidates for the May 18th polls to the Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom).

The Mayor and City Councillors of Georgetown have instituted legal action against several defaulting ratepayers who collectively owe the council in excess of $2B.

Leon Khan and Quincy Khan are wanted by the police for questioning in relation to investigations into the murder of Dennis Martin which occurred on December 15, 2015, at Farm, EBD.

Long-time City Hall employee Waynewright Orderson was on Monday dismissed from his post as head of the city’s Information Technology department.

Global energy giant Repsol has applied to government for an exploration licence close to the Stabroek Block, where ExxonMobil reported a “significant oil discovery” at its Liza-1 well offshore Guyana last year.

A policeman yesterday corroborated testimony by a fellow officer that Warren McKenzie, one of the five accused in the attack on Land Court Judge Nicola Pierre and her family, had implicated himself during questioning.

President David Granger left yesterday for the Fourth Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Ecuador today with the intention of ensuring that Guyana’s concern on the security of small states is placed on the agenda of the meeting.

The wall of a store was smashed while two vehicles were badly damaged in a collision yesterday morning at the corner of North Road and Wellington Street.

The government is investigating reports that residents of the Orealla and Siparuta settlements were arrested last week by Surinamese coastguards for fishing in the Corentyne River.

Grove Hi-Tech successfully retained their U17 championship title downing Soesdyke Falcons 4-2 margin in the final of the Sunburst-sponsored East Bank Football Association’s U17 League Sunday at the Grove Community Centre ground.

The three persons who were taken into police custody in relation to the shooting of University of Guyana (UG) law student Glenfield Dennison have been released on station bail.

The retrial of Shakir Mohamed, who is accused of murdering Shewraney Doobay, commenced yesterday before Justice Navindra Singh and a 12-member jury at the High Court, in Georgetown.

In Monday’s edition of Stabroek News under the headline `Inside job suspected after robbers grab $1.7M from Lands and Surveys’ it was erroneously reported that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission was Doorga Persaud.

A five-year Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) has been signed under which AMJ Agro-Processors will use the processing facility of the National Agricultural Research & Extension Institute (NAREI) at Hope Estate.

Star T20 all-rounder, Dwayne Bravo will replace fellow Trinidadian Evin Lewis for Saturday’s Legacy/007 Promotions Unity T20 match at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC-West Indies selectors have retained T20 Captain Darren Sammy for the upcoming International Cricket Council World T20 tournament, according to reports in the Trinidad and Tobago media.

Two men were yesterday remanded to prison after each being charged in a city court with having an unlicenced gun.

ST.JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC- Four West Indies cricketers have been given permission to play in the inaugural Masters Champions League (MCL) T20 scheduled to start tomorrow in the United Arab Emirates.

Well-known criminal defence lawyer Hukumchand has passed away after a brief period of hospitalisation.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Keeper Simon Mignolet proved the shootout hero as Liverpool reached the League Cup final on penalties after a gripping last-four second leg tie at Anfield ended 1-1 on aggregate yesterday.

Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Irfaan Ali has revealed that there were only six nominees for membership of the Public Procurement Commission prior to the recent month-long extension for submissions.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC- Leading Trinidad and Tobago female badminton player, Nekeisha Blake, who was banned for life from the sport, has been granted a reprieve.

The Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder charge against Richard Stanton, the man accused of the killing of businesswoman Patricia Sanasie, continued yesterday with Detective Samuel Headley completing his evidence-in-chief.

A Mahaica man was yesterday released on a total of $50,000 bail after he denied charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Cordel Martins and Gopaul Applesammy bowled Hope Secondary to a 15-run victory over Bygeval when the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) National Secondary Schools Cricket League (NSSCL) continued yesterday.

Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL) says it has corrected a defect in its sawmill and will soon resume operations and re-engage the 45 workers it was forced to temporarily layoff.

(The Sports Xchange) – The Golden State Warriors recorded a first round knockout in their battle with the San Antonio Spurs for Western Conference regular-season superiority, riding Stephen Curry’s 37 points to a 120-90 victory in Monday’s highly anticipated showdown.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC- Former world champion Kim Collins says he was nervous but happy with his opening performance of his outdoor season following a blistering run at a meet in Jamaica over the weekend.

PRETORIA, (Reuters) – Mercurial paceman Kagiso Rabada produced the second best match figures by a South African to propel his side to a consolation 280-run victory over a feeble England on the last morning of the fourth and final test yesterday.

Mon Repos resident Rohit Persaud yesterday found himself in court on a charge that he wounded another man, while his lawyer claimed that he was being wrongfully prosecuted.

The PPP on Monday blasted government for its use of its parliamentary majority to suppress an opposition motion seeking to have all Members of the National Assembly make public their tax returns to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) over the last 10 years.

(Reuters) – Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin is expected to miss four to six weeks of action after breaking his hand while throwing a punch, the National Basketball Association team said yesterday.

Guyana-born, Canadian Football Hall of Famer, Alexander Bunbury recently called on Minister of Education, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and discussed plans for a youth academy.

Dear Editor I refer to a letter from Mr Tulsie in the SN of January 24, captioned ‘Phased restructuring of the sugar industry is better than some of the other choices,’ and I offer three comments below.

One month after being the victim of a hit-and-run at Stevedore Housing Scheme, technician Michael Phillips says he has been receiving death threats and he is now under guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).

Dear Editor, The Guyana Teachers’ Union makes reference to its letter to Mrs Leila Ramson, Chairperson, Teaching Service Commission, dated 14th January, 2016, on the topic ‘Appointment Of Mr Imram Ally’ (see copy attached).

Straightened out: After a report in the Stabroek News yesterday that PPP members were flouting the law by parking diagonally outside Freedom House on Robb Street, their vehicles are now being parallel parked.

KUALA LUMPUR, (Reuters) – Malaysia’s attorney-general cleared Prime Minister Najib Razak of any criminal offences or corruption on Tuesday, closing investigations into a murky multi-million-dollar funding scandal that his opponents had hoped would bring him down.

CAPE TOWN, (Reuters) – For the first time in a decade, South Africa have been forced to acknowledge they are on the decline following back-to-back series losses to India and England that have knocked them off the top of the test rankings.

A freelance reporter and his girlfriend appeared before a city court yesterday where he was charged with assaulting her while she was charged with stealing from him.

Dear Editor, I always look out for Dave Martins’ wonderful pieces in the Sunday’s Stabroek.

RIO DE JANEIRO, (Reuters) – As Rio de Janeiro prepares to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors for upcoming Carnival festivities and the Olympic Games in August, the city is scrambling to expel one unwelcome new arrival: the Zika virus.

(Trinidad Guardian) The UK Privy Council has ruled the repeal of the controversial Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act was lawful.

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – The founder of the Bikram yoga practice was ordered to pay $924,500 on Monday to a former legal adviser who said she was fired for investigating sexual misconduct charges against her employer, media reported.

CARACAS, (Reuters) – President Nicolas Maduro is unlikely to complete his six-year term, and could even be replaced this year, as Venezuela’s economic crisis worsens, the head of the new opposition-led congress said yesterday.

(Reuters) – Virat Kohli’s elegant unbeaten 90 and some crafty bowling by their spinners secured India’s comprehensive 37-run victory over Australia in the first Twenty20 International at the Adelaide Oval yesterday.

City vendor Steve Simon was yesterday placed on $150,000 bail after he pleaded not guilty to charges that he forged an ID card and made a false statement to immigration authorities to get a passport.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, (Reuters) – His name is not on any ballot paper and he was toppled from power 12 years ago but the shadow of Jean-Bertrand Aristide still looms over Haiti and his supporters are at the center of a new crisis in the impoverished country.

Dear Editor, Please allow me to respond to Mr Devanand Bhagwan’s letter, ‘We should not attempt to smother aspects of the ethnic mosaic’ (SN, January 15).

ZURICH, (Reuters) – FIFA’s ad-hoc Electoral Committee has formally admitted five candidates to stand for the presidency of soccer’s global governing body at an election on Feb.

PRETORIA, (Reuters) – Dale Steyn’s injury woes continued yesterday as South Africa ruled him out of the five-match one-day international series against England shortly after they secured a consolation victory in the final test.

CHICAGO, (Reuters) – U.S. health officials yesterday issued interim guidelines for health care professionals in the United States caring for infants born to mothers who traveled or lived in an area with Zika virus transmission during pregnancy.

GUATEMALA CITY, (Reuters) – Guatemala’s communications minister resigned on Monday after questions arose about her business dealings, the first setback for President Jimmy Morales, a former TV comedian who came to power promising zero tolerance for corruption.

(Trinidad Express) A man on his third drunken driving charge was on Monday fined a total of $21,000 and banned from driving for life.

Dear Editor, In SN’s edition of Sunday January 17, a column by Mr Ralph Ramkarran appeared captioned ‘Jagdeo and arrogance to blame for PPP/C loss’.

WASHINGTON/HAVANA, (Reuters) – he United States approved a wider range of commerce with Cuba yesterday, making it easier for U.S.

Last week I stated that during my presentation to the Public Service Commission of Inquiry I argued that after only a few months in office, the present regime succumbed to ethnic entrepreneurship and began undercutting its stated principles of what a public servant should be.

Observers? Children of the Precious Angels Day Care looking on as APNU+AFC supporters march on Waterloo Street during Nomination Day for Local Government Elections yesterday.

Dear Editor, More than 100 countries produce sugar and every single one of them enjoys some form of government subsidy or concession.

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams faced what were supposed to be their biggest challenges to date at this year’s Australian Open yesterday but both rattled off comfortable victories to march into the semi-finals.

AMMAN/BEIRUT/GENEVA, (Reuters) – The United Nations invited Syria’s government and opposition to peace talks in Geneva on Friday, but Saudi-backed opponents of President Bashar al-Assad have yet to decide whether to drop their objections to taking part.

OTTAWA, (Reuters) – The government of Canada discriminated against aboriginal children by underfunding welfare services on reserves, a human rights tribunal ruled yesterday, a decision that could affect how Ottawa funds education, healthcare and housing for indigenous Canadians.

As the American political arena rolls down to the presidential elections due in November of this year, observers from around the world are experiencing a spectacle of contention among what some Americans refer to as “presidential wannabees”.

Dear Editor, The residents of Bartica are strongly embracing the momentum of its developmental thrust, but are displeased with a recently published letter that sought to misinform them about the administrative standards being achieved in Bartica’s preparation for becoming a town (‘BIGA is offering alternatives to the party politics which has dominated local government for years’ SN, January 18).

There has been a series of opinions for and against the closure of the Wales Sugar Estate.

(Reuters) – World number two Andy Murray, four times a losing finalist, will continue his pursuit of a first Australian Open title against eighth seed David Ferrer in a quarter-final match today.

An 18-member delegation representing the George-town Cricket Association, Upper Demerara Cricket Association, East Coast Cricket Board and concerned Cricket Stakeholders from Essequibo, East Bank Demerara, West Demerara and Berbice yesterday met with Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams yesterday to air their concerns over the present

Ithaca Hard-Liners gained a walkover from Hopetown Steelers when the Berbice Amateur Basketball Association (BABA) sanctioned Anamayah Memorial Basketball Championships continued Sunday at the Ithaca Basketball Court.

On the occasion of the eighth anniversary of the Lusignan massacre, which claimed the lives of eleven persons, including five children, Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally, pledged Government’s support and resources to promote healing and reconciliation, at an interfaith service held yesterday afternoon, at Grass Field Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, a release from the Ministry of the Presidency said.