Daily Archive: Saturday, February 27, 2016

The Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) met with Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence and Ministerial Advisor on Social Protection, John Adams in the company of the Minister’s Personal Assistant, EzelynTaton-Williams on Thursday last at the Minister’s office on Lamaha Street, Georgetown.

GROS ISLET, St Lucia, CMC – Guyana Jaguars, replying to Windward Islands Volcanoes’ 216, reached 310 for seven at the close on day two of their eighth round game in the Regional Four-Day Championship at the Beausejour Cricket Stadium here today.

SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates, CMC – A Dwayne Bravo half-century was enough to lift West Indies to an 18-run victory over Zimbabwe, in their first unofficial Twenty20 warm-up in preparation for the T20 World Cup here today.

The main sugar Union, GAWU today defended industrial action on Tuesday in the face of charges by GuySuCo on Wednesday that it had coerced Uitvlugt sugar estate workers to strike in the ongoing protest action over the planned closure of the Wales estate.

LONDON, (Reuters) – British actor and comedian Sacha Baron Cohen unveiled his latest fictional alter-ego at the premiere of “Grimsby” on Monday night, an English beer-drinking soccer fan called Nobby.

(Trinidad Guardian) Former government minister Jack Warner’s extradition proceedings took another turn yesterday when the United States government attempted to intervene in his judicial review lawsuit challenging Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi’s decision to sign off on its request to have him extradited to face charges in the ongoing Fifa bribery scandal.

The government yesterday used its one-seat majority to pass a bill for increased fees for vehicle licences, which had not been reviewed for two decades.

Higher fees for a number of firearms licences were yesterday approved by the National Assembly despite concerns by the opposition PPP/C that poor farmers will be affected and the smuggling of weapons will rise.

The Tax (Amendment) Bill 2016 was passed by acclamation last night even though the number of MPs on both sides of the House was equal.

APNU+AFC ministers Winston Felix and Keith Scott yesterday took up seats once again in the National Assembly yesterday after Attorney-General Basil Williams secured an interim stay of execution on a recent ruling that they could not hold sit as non-elected members.

Shortly after Jermaine Jerrick, 35, was identified as the bandit who was accidentally shot and killed by his accomplice during a robbery on Thursday evening, his wife, who is suspected to have aided in the gunman’s getaway, was arrested and she remains in police custody.

The National Assembly saw consensus yesterday on the passage of a bill that government says will ensure that the abuse of the remigrant scheme, particularly the granting of duty-free concessions, is brought to an end.

Rape accused Linden Isaacs yesterday walked out of the High Court a free man after a jury unanimously found him not guilty of raping an eight-year-old girl.

The Guyana National Youth Council (GNYC) and Youth Challenge Guyana yesterday launched their ‘Vote Like a Boss’ campaign to rejuvenate the energy surrounding the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) and increase the number of youth, women, and special interest voters.

Team Benschop for Mayor yesterday outlined five pillars for the restoration of the city with emphasis on transparency at every level as it launched its manifesto ahead of next month’s local government elections.

Route 40 (Kitty/Campbell-ville) minibus operators yesterday held a mini-protest at their bus park as they claim “hotplaters” continue to break the turn system rules.

While former presidential press officer Kwame McCoy is claiming that he is the victim of efforts to assassinate his character, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum on Thursday said that he and others were detained in connection with the Courtney Crum-Ewing murder investigation as a result of new information received by police.

As police look to enhance their capacity to tackle crime and violence, this year will see the introduction of bicycle patrols, the establishment of two new police locations in the interior and the creation of a serial crime investigations section at CID Headquarters, Eve Leary, according to Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud.

Local police are seeking the help of their overseas counterparts to arrest and extradite former Deputy CEO of the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) Aeshwar Deonarine, who was charged as party to a multi-million theft from the company last month.

A man was arrested yesterday after a failed bid to smuggle suspected marijuana to a prisoner in a holding cell at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts complex.

A Leguan woman was yesterday charged for the alleged cultivation of cannabis and possession of the drug, for which her lawyer said both she and her two children, ages two and two months, had been held in lock-ups.

Marcia Andrews and Mark Williams, the two Grove residents who were charged separately on Monday with cultivating ganja, were yesterday each granted their release on $100,000 bail.

The four-month wait for boxing starved fans is finally over. Get ready to be served a scheduled 38 rounds of fistic fury tonight when the ‘Gentleman’s Sport’ returns to the ornate splendor of the Giftland Mall as the GBBC presents ‘Hostile Territory’.

The final group stage round in the 4th Annual Milo Schools u-20 Football Championship will continue today with three matches at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue.

Sheila Veerasammy yesterday took the oath of office as the newest People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament.

Riddim Squad and Sunburst Camptown secured hard-fought wins when the GFA/Stag Beer League continued Thursday at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground.

Renuka Anandjit and Travis Spellin are the newest civil society representatives of the Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM), which provides grants to aid in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculo-sis (TB) and Malaria.

Jovanka Williams, Hanani Ben Lewi and the Fantastic Six B were among the winners on Thursday evening, when Pan-O-Rama kicked off at the Theatre Guild in Kingston.

The Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) will stage a 10-overs-a-side one day knockout softball tournament at the Carifesta Sports Complex tomorrow.

A family is now pleading with the public and authorities to assist in locating a 13-year-old girl, who has not been seen since Wednesday.

The UG Wolves will be looking to stay atop the points table when the GTT/GRFU 15s league continues today at the National Park.

GROS ISLET, St Lucia, CMC – Fast bowler Ronsford Beaton snared his first-ever five-wicket haul in first class cricket to engineer a Windward Islands Volcanoes collapse on the opening day of their eighth round contest here yesterday.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Wicketkeeper/ batsman Jahmar Hamilton kept up his good form with a half-century as he held the Leeward Islands Hurricanes batting together against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force here yesterday.

ZURICH, (Reuters) – Gianni Infantino vowed yesterday to lead FIFA out of years of corruption and scandal after the former UEFA general secretary was elected to succeed his Swiss compatriot Sepp Blatter as president of football’s world governing body.

ZURICH, (Reuters) – World number three Roger Federer has delayed his ATP World Tour return by a month and plans to make his comeback from knee surgery at the Monte Carlo Masters in April.

(Trinidad Guardian) Central Trinidad Steel Limited (Centrin) terminated the services of over 200 employees on Thursday, prompting the Steel Workers Union of T&T (SWUTT) to call for the intervention of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.

Dear Editor, I am writing to you in reference to the article published last December 28th on the relations between Argentina and Guyana and to the existing sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the Malvinas Islands, South Georgias and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas, entitled ‘Interesting times ahead for Guyana/Argentina relations’.

(Trinidad Guardian) Police are working on the theory that teenaged friends—Daniel Halls and Stephan Singh—were killed in a dispute over the torching of a car.

SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates, CMC – West Indies Twenty20 captain Darren Sammy says the unofficial warm-up games against Zimbabwe and Warwickshire will be used to help tour selectors determine the best XI for the upcoming T20 World Cup in India.

Dear Editor, During the course of the last week, the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry Report was leaked to the press and made public.

The Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) will open its 2016 competition season with the annual Junior and Novices Powerlifting Champion-ships tomorrow at the Rosignol Primary School.

(Jamaica Observer) Andrew Holness returned the favour, handing Portia Simpson Miller’s People’s National Party (PNP) its first one-term government on Thursday in the country’s 17th general election that ended with the tightest majority in Jamaica’s history — 33 – 30 seats.

DHAKA, (Reuters) – Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga marked his return from injury with four wickets against the United Arab Emirates in the Asia Cup on Thursday but did little to dispel doubts about how long he will continue playing international cricket.

Dear Editor, It may be dangerous to be an enemy of the United States, but in recent times it often has been almost as risky to be a friend.

Ten finalists have been selected to vie for the Miss World Guyana 2016 title in a pageant to be held on May 27.

CARACAS, (Reuters) – Venezuela is in advanced talks for a $5 billion loan from international banks and investment funds, the head of the central bank said yesterday, potentially providing an influx of cash for the OPEC member country, which faces heavy debt payments this year.

NOTTINGHAM, England, CMC – West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell is in talks with English county Nottinghamshire to play in the upcoming Twenty20 Blast, media reports here have said.

Dear Editor, The Executive of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) crafted a recent preposterous proposal in negotiations with the Ministry of Education and made, inter alia, the following demands:an across-the-board increase in salary of 40% for 2016; 45% increase in 2017; 50% in 2018; 50% in 2019; and 50% in 2020; $7,000 monthly vehicle maintenance for those who received duty-free concessions; double salary in the month of December; $25,000 annual clothing allowance; Whitley Council Leave every three years; 200 duty-free concessions for motor vehicles up to 2700 cc to be granted annually from 2016 to 2020; one motor vehicle be given to GTU biennially; each central executive officer to be given a duty-free concession for a motor vehicle up to 2,700 cc upon election to office; 50 scholarships annually for teachers to attend the University of Guyana; all central executive officers of the union to be released every Wednesday ‒ and from time to time as the need arises ‒ to perform union duties; President and Secretary of the union to be released full-time with pay to serve the membership of the union; and an extra teacher to be assigned to each school where a central executive member is on the staff.

Hi Everyone, One fine Sunday morning, many moons ago, a mother busied herself in the kitchen making breakfast for her children.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, (Reuters) – Haiti’s provisional president has appointed economist Fritz Jean as the new prime minister, the government said yesterday, in a step forward for the impoverished Caribbean nation that is trying to quickly hold a delayed presidential election.

Anglo-Guyanese artist Hew Locke’s first solo exhibition ‘The Wine Dark Sea’ opened on Wednesday last at the Edward Tyler Nahem Fine Arts Gallery in Manhattan.

Dear Editor, On this occasion I must support the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo with his insistence that fuel prices should be reduced and should have been reduced earlier.

(The Sports Xchange) – Guard James Harden scored 46 points as the Houston Rockets rallied from a 21-point, third-quarter deficit to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 119-105 at the Moda Center on Thursday.

“You wutless!” One of the latest phrases directed to me as I stood on Lamaha Street a few days ago.

Odessa Primus’ hilarious comedy Crack Jokes is back at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) tonight for one more performance.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Fast bowler Liam Plunkett has replaced Steven Finn in England’s 15-man squad for next month’s World Twenty20 tournament in India.

(Reuters) – The man suspected of killing three people at the Kansas lawnmower factory where he worked had been served a protection order 90 minutes before his shooting spree, which also wounded 14 people, authorities said yes.

Dear Editor, I refer to the letter from my friend and professional colleague, Mr E B John, in the 23rd March issue of Stabroek News titled: ‘There is a case for the most comprehensive job evaluation ever conducted in this country…’ vis-à-vis the CoI into the Public Service of Guyana.

(The Sports Xchange) – It was a showdown between two of the best defensive teams in the NBA when Utah and San Antonio met on Thursday and despite an inspired effort from the Jazz, who are in the fight for the final Western Conference playoff spot, the Spurs won 96-78.

The Mayor of Port of Spain’s resignation, following outrage at his remarks on the killing of a Japanese tourist, shows the speed at which social media can transform information into political pressure.

Dear Editor, My theory is that Guyana is not full of bandits.

Many people associate migrating to Europe or North America with advancing in life.

In the works: Four months after a photo of this dilapidated bridge linking the areas of Tucville and Guyhoc Park was posted, work is finally underway to make the bridge safe for residents again.

BUENOS AIRES, (Reuters) – An Argentine judge has summoned former President Cristina Fernandez for questioning in a probe into the sale of dollar future contracts at below market rates by the central bank just months before she handed over power in December.

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – Italian film composer Ennio Morricone, nominated for an Oscar this year for his work on “The Hateful Eight,” was awarded a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame on Friday, honouring his diverse career spanning decades.