Daily Archive: Saturday, February 6, 2016

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is convening a meeting with the private sector on February 16 to discuss FATCA, the US extra-territorial law governing accounts held by US taxpayers overseas.

BENGALURU, India,  CMC – Rising West Indies star Carlos Brathwaite made headlines at the Indian Premier League auction here Saturday when he was snapped up by Delhi Daredevils for US$626 000.

MUMBAI,(Reuters) – Australia’s Shane Watson attracted a top bid of $1.4 million and will join the Bangalore franchise for the next edition of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament, while former England skipper Kevin Pietersen was bought by newcomers Pune.

With the El Nino drought deepening, some farmers in Mahaica are angry that their crops are at risk of dying because others are pumping water indiscriminately despite a rotation schedule instituted by the Mahaica, Mahaicony, Abary-Agriculture Development Authority (MMA-ADA).

Two suspected money launderers were arrested and millions of dollars in local and foreign currency seized following raids conducted by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) early yesterday morning.

Gunmen on Thursday stole roughly $30M in raw gold when they ambushed a gold miner near his home at Craig, East Bank Demerara and two workers that had been accompanying him are now in police custody for questioning.

The Ministry of Social Protection yesterday condemned the Guyana Post Office Corporation’s use of sprinklers to disperse homeless persons and said it will soon begin a collaborative programme to have them receive care for their specific needs.

The Georgetown Football Association (GFA) in collaboration with Ansa McAl officially launched the 2016 Stag Beer Premier League yesterday at a simple ceremony held at the entity’s Beterverwagting (BV) Headquarters.

Billing clerk Ian Timothy Andrews, 22, was apparently attempting to connect a bulb to the end of a loose wire when he was electrocuted at his home at Palmyra Village, East Canje on Thursday.

SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Not even a sensational beaver-trick by former Jamaica and West Indies left-arm seamer Krishmar Santokie could prevent Gemini Arabians from pulling off a 12-run victory over Sagittarius Strikers in the Masters Champions League here yesterday.

Residents in four Neighbourhood Democra-tic Councils (NDCs) will not be required to vote at the Local Government Elections (LGE) on March 18 as only one list of candidates has been approved to contest the polls in each constituency.

National Road Race and Time Trial Champion, Hamza Eastman departed Guyana on Tuesday for his second annual stint on the US racing circuit.

According to Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan, he is unaware of any intention to invite international observers to scrutinise the upcoming local government elections.

While City Hall has announced fees for operators using city minibus parks, many of them say they had not signed on to the proposal.

The 2016 rugby season continues this weekend at the National Park with the GTT/GRFU 15s league.

Voluntary group Team Legacy which is seeking to win several seats on the Georgetown City Council at the March 18th local government elections, says it will focus on reviving the city’s “forgotten” wards.

At the age of three, Gulliver’s godfather bought her a pink lunch-kit.

(Reuters) – Las Vegas casinos aren’t against Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning winning a Super Bowl in what is likely his final game but prefer the Carolina Panthers deny him a fairytale finish without covering the spread.

KIGALI, (Reuters) – Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa gained a major boost in his bid to become the next FIFA president when he received endorsement from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Friday.

“Women were not made to be beaten. Use your hands to love her, not hit her,” Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan yesterday implored Matthew Johnson, who was charged with assaulting his wife.

Forty-six patients of the Oncology Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) died last year, according to statistics released by the unit.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Superstar opener Chris Gayle made an inauspicious start to the Pakistan Super League with a failure but Lendl Simmons hit an unbeaten half-century to propel Karachi Kings to a seven-wicket victory in their opening game of the Pakistan Super League here yesterday.

A refurbished neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) was reopened on Thursday at the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Afy Fetcher has emerged as the most successful player in the two warm-up matches put on by the West Indies women’s team as they prepare for the tour of South Africa.

Once completed, the Merriman’s Mall Recreation Park will feature among its facilities a petting zoo, according to plans released by City Hall on Thursday.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Veteran batsman and former captain Tamar Lambert has been axed from the Jamaica Scorpions squad for their sixth round clash against minnows Leeward Islands Hurricanes in the Regional Four-Day Championship which resumes next week.

Called on to lead a defence in the killing of Plaisance minibus driver Gavin Fiffee, accused Orin Jerrick yesterday relied on a statement he gave to the police in which he said the victim and others had attacked him with a cutlass.

Dear Editor, Even using the Chief Statistician’s own measures create serious doubt about the claimed GDP growth rate for 2015.

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – India have gambled on the fitness of Mohammed Shami by including the injury-prone paceman in the 15-man squad named yesterday for next month’s World Twenty20 tournament on home soil.

WELLINGTON, (Reuters) – Left-handed batsman Henry Nicholls is in line to make his test debut against Australia next week with Ross Taylor ruled out of the side for the match at the Basin Reserve with a side strain.

Leon Duncan, who is accused of murdering Imtiaz Roopnarine at the Cool Square Hotel, yesterday told the court that he had nothing to do with the crime.

Dear Editor, We live in a globalized world. If Guyana no longer has the comparative advantage in sugar production, it has no choice but to find alternative crops to produce.

WELLINGTON, (Reuters) – In-form batsman Usman Khawaja has been selected to play his first one-day international in three years when Australia meet New Zealand in the second match of their series in Wellington today.

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and Dynamic Airways’ local handler Roraima Airways are working with the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) in its investigations into how cocaine got into the baggage compartment of one of the airline’s planes that left here for the John F Kennedy Airport, New York on Tuesday.

Dear Editor, I make reference to a letter from Tony Vieira captioned ‘It is not true that there are no plans for the relief of Wales workers’ that was carried in your February 3 edition.

Moves by international banks to cull their relationships with banks in the Caribbean represent the “potentially most devastating threat” to the region’s development, according to former Barbadian Prime Minister Owen Arthur who warned that it could restrict Caribbean economies from access to global finance and impact negatively on remittances.

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – New Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla ground has three more days to acquire the necessary paperwork to retain hosting rights for matches at the World Twenty20 tournament starting next month, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said yesterday.

RIO DE JANEIRO, (Reuters) – Authorities in Brazil said yesterday Zika has been detected in patients’ saliva and urine, adding to the concern over the spread of the virus, while U.S.

Stanleytown fisherman Richard Bourne was on Thursday cleared of an armed robbery charge by a city court.

Dear Editor, I agree with attorney at law Jonas Coddett that outstanding female lawyers should be considered for membership of the inner bar and should not be sidelined because of their gender.

WELLINGTON, (Reuters) – New Zealand named the following squad to face Australia in the first of their two-match series at the Basin Reserve in Wellington from Feb.

Queacy Benjamin believes music is a gift and it is one that he shares willingly and often.

LONDON/NEW YORK, (Reuters) – As global health chiefs try to bring a Zika virus epidemic under control, aspiring Olympic athletes are weighing their lust for gold against health fears surrounding the mosquito-borne virus in Brazil.

The unidentified body of a man was found at the Whim Foreshore, Corentyne yesterday morning.

Dear Editor, It was so refreshing to see that there are still among us people who are willing to express views with candour like Audreyanna Thomas, GHK Lall, Pastor Wendell Jeffrey and a few others.

VATICAN CITY, (Reuters) – Pope Francis and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church will meet in Cuba next week in what could be a landmark step towards healing the 1,000-year-old rift between the Western and Eastern branches of Christianity.

The second group stage of the fourth annual Milo Schools U20 football championships will commence today at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue with four fixtures.

Dear Editor, The Minister of Finance/ Commissioner General (ag) of the GRA should put in place appropriate measures to require that every holder of a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) certificate file tax returns on or before 30th April each year.

Hi Everyone, There is something indescribable about the combination of freshly grated coconuts, flour, sugar, a little butter, ground cinnamon, grated nutmeg and a few drops of essence, all brought together by milk or water.

With dry weather conditions “taking a heavy toll” on Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo), the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs says it is implementing a number of support measures to bring relief to residents.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – U.S. employment gains slowed more than expected in January as the boost to hiring from unseasonably mild weather faded, but rising wages and an unemployment rate at an eight-year low suggested the labor market recovery remains firm.

Dear Editor, I saw a newspaper report two days ago in which the city council’s Public Relations Officer boasted that “The AG’s office is to help the M&CC to audit its Treasurer’s Department.”

(The Sports Xchange) – Highlights of Thursday’s National Basketball Association games: Lakers 99, Pelicans 96 Cheered on by a road crowd, Kobe Bryant nailed three three-pointers in the final 6:07 to score a team-high 27 points and lift the Los Angeles Lakers to a 99-96 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on Thursday.

Come tomorrow night at the Pegasus Poolside, the now annual reggae concert celebrating the birthday of Bob Marley will be staged with the added dimension of the Golden Jubilee celebration.

Despite the UN’s stalemate with peace negotiations for Syria and continuing turmoil in other parts of the Middle East and North Africa, attitudes towards refugees are hardening throughout Europe.

Politikles

If I have ever asked you when are you planning on having a baby, I sincerely apologize.

Dear Editor, Many people I conversed with endorse the view expressed by former House Speaker Ralph Ramkarran in a column captioned ‘Jagdeo and arrogance to blame for PPP/C loss’ (Sunday Stabroek, Jan 17), excerpts of which were also extracted as a news item in SN the following day.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Manchester City are likely to field a young side in their FA Cup fifth-round tie at Premier League champions Chelsea after organisers decided yesterday that the match would take place Feb.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, (Reuters) – Haiti slipped deeper into unrest on Friday as gangs of former soldiers roamed the capital and a mob of protesters beat a man to death with stones, following a botched election that has left no successor for outgoing President Michel Martelly.