Daily Archive: Tuesday, March 22, 2016

President David Granger (centre) took part in Holi festivities last evening on the lawns of State House where members of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangha led a  Chowtal session.

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) says it has uncovered a revenue leakage racket at its branch at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Timehri involving several customs officers who are being investigated for their role in a scheme to defraud the Authority of millions in state revenue.

HAVANA, (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama challenged Cuba’s Communist government with an impassioned call for democratic and economic change today, addressing the Cuban people directly in a historic speech broadcast throughout the island.

The police say that investigations are being conducted into a fatal accident that occurred about 2330h last night on the Le Destin Public Road, EBE, and which resulted in the death of motorist Derron Elexey, 30 years, of De Kinderen, WCD.

At about 2120h. last night, the police say that Satyhatram Karran, 36 years, of Parfait Harmonie, WBD, who is attached to a fast food restaurant, was making a delivery in Lamaha Gardens, Georgetown, when he was confronted by a man who was armed with a firearm.

About 2100h. last night, the police say that mini bus driver Alvin Lorrimer, 53 years, of Kara Kara, Linden, was standing on the roadway at the Linden Bus Park, Hadfield Street, Georgetown, when two men drove up on a motor cycle, one of whom discharged rounds at Lorrimer and they drove away.

(Trinidad Guardian) Two longtime friends were murdered yesterday afternoon at Guaratta Hill, Upper Maracas, St Joseph, in what police believe was a hit ordered from behind prison walls.

BRUSSELS, (Reuters) – At least 26 people were killed in twin attacks on Brussels airport and a rush-hour metro train in the Belgian capital today, triggering security alerts across western Europe and bringing some cross-border transport to a halt.

The Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom) said yesterday that of the 507,584 people eligible to vote in Friday’s Local Government Elections (LGE) 239,070 people (47.1%) chose to exercise their franchise.

Another fire was lit in the Georgetown Prison, Camp Street yesterday afternoon, this time in Capital Block C, but was quickly extinguished.

An elderly woman was yesterday morning discovered dead in her home at Triumph, East Coast Demerara, just hours after alerting family that bandits were trying to get into her home.

The PPP yesterday said that it has made a “massive sweep” of the just-concluded local government elections, having won 48 out of the 71 local authority areas it contested.

The suspects in the murder of farmer Anthony Breedy are expected to make their first court appearance today, according to Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum.

  With Local Government Elections (LGE) over, residents of Bartica are hoping that the historic vote rejuvenates their community and addresses key problems like unemployment.

Diplomats representing the American, British and Canadian (ABC) governments in Guyana said yesterday that low voter turnout was par for the course in Local Government Elections (LGE) the world over.

The further examination of inmate Owen Belfield by the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) established to investigate the March 3, prison unrest, which saw 17 inmates perishing as a result of a fire, was yesterday deferred.

Members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community and supporters took to the streets outside the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts yesterday to protest a magistrate’s decision to bar transgender persons from cross-dressing in his courtroom.

Twenty-nine-year-old Stacy James walked out of the High Court a free woman yesterday after a 12-member jury found her not guilty of attempting to murder her neighbour.

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) is seeking consulting services to establish a shoreline change monitoring programme, and facilitate knowledge transfer for coastal zone management as it implements a US$30 million sea defence project.

Fresh from winning the Masters title at this year’s Masters tournament in Florida, United States of America, Floodlight Masters softball cricket team will be the spearhead of three teams representing the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association Easter Sunday in Berbice.

Benjamin Mekdeci Sunday was crowned category A champion after defeating Alec Melville in straight games 11/4, 12/10, 11/8 in the final match on Sunday as the curtain came down on the Kraft Toucan Industries Limited Junior Skill level tournament organized by the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) in collaboration with its corporate sponsor Digicel.

The New Building Society Limited (NBS) registered a profit for 2015 of $1.259 billion, 12.9% down from the $1.446 billion in 2014.

A new pursuit of regional glory will begin today as Guyana open its Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Caribbean Cup qualifying campaign against lowly Anguilla at the National Stadium in Providence from 19:00hrs.

A lawman was arraigned on four traffic charges yesterday and fined $107,500 after pleading guilty.

A large amount of gunpowder residue was found on the hands of Morris Prince, who is the suspected triggerman in the killing of Smyth Street resident Oriley Small, who was gunned down last Saturday.

The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) has apologized for the abandonment of the Road to Mecca III championship match on Sunday noting that the decision made by the official which led to fracas was incorrect and that the fixture will likely be replayed utilizing better officials locally and from overseas.

Low turnout, no problem for Kristian Jeffrey. The two-time CMRC Group 4 champion driver put on a show and lit up the South Dakota Circuit on Sunday when the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) hosted the National ‘Race of Champions’ Meet.

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee yesterday said that no final decision has been taken on how the party would deal with a tie at the just-concluded Mabaruma town council elections.

A Bartica Hospital lab technician pleaded not guilty and was remanded to prison yesterday after being slapped with two charges of illegal gun and ammunition possession.

Dear Editor, In an SN letter of March 20, Mr Ganga Persaud, a rice farmer from Hague on the West Coast of Demerara, claimed that GuySuCo has been hogging the available irrigation water from the Boerasirie Conservancy to the detriment of other users.

KAMPALA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – As coordinator of a shelter for pregnant teenagers in central Uganda, Ritah Ssetumba has seen thousands of young girls struggling to cope with having a child but even she was shocked when an 11-year-old girl arrived pregnant and married.

HAVANA (Reuters) – US President Barack Obama pushed Cuba to improve human rights during his historic visit to the Communist-led island yesterday, publicly sparring with President Raul Castro who showed flashes of anger and hit back at US “double standards”.

CHENNAI, India, CMC- All-rounder Hayley Matthews has described West Indies Women win over Bangladesh on Sunday as ‘important’ as the team prepares for crucial matches in the Women’s T20 World Cup under way in India.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A flight attendant fled when she was selected for a random screening at Los Angeles International Airport, prompting a search that turned up 66 pounds (30 kg) of cocaine in her carry-on bags, a Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman said yesterday.

A 40-year-old man was yesterday sentenced to a total of seven years in jail after he copped to farming marijuana and having two illegal guns and an assortment of ammunition.

Dear Editor, I write in connection with what is senselessly being perpetrated on hapless motorists on the East Bank of Demerara by policemen. 

An Amatuk villager was yesterday granted her release on $50,000 bail after denying a charge that she had cannabis for trafficking.

Camptown Football Club claimed their second win in the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Stag Beer League, edging fierce rival and Kitty-based outfit Northern Rangers 1-0 Sunday at the Georgetown Football Club ground in a physical affair.

PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) – Haiti’s lower chamber of parliament on Sunday rejected a programme submitted by Prime Minister Fritz Jean, lawmakers said, throwing up a new hurdle as the politically volatile country struggles to meet deadlines to transfer power from an interim to an elected government.

HAVANA (Reuters) – US Secretary of State John Kerry was encouraged by progress in the Colombian peace process after meeting yesterday in Havana with representatives of Colombia’s Marxist FARC guerrilla group and the Bogota government, a State Department spokesman said.

Dear Editor, I am a regular visitor to the Amerindian Hostel in Princes Street Georgetown.

Dear Editor, India receives the world’s highest amount of remittances from its diaspora.

GENEVA/BEIRUT (Reuters) – The fate of President Bashar al-Assad will play no part in talks to end the Syrian war, the head of the government’s delegation said, leading the UN peace envoy to warn that lack of progress on the issue could threaten a fragile cessation of hostilities.

UNITED NATIONS/SEOUL (Reuters) – The UN Security Council agreed yesterday to a Chinese request to remove sanctions on four ships that had been blacklisted for ties to Pyongyang after China secured assurances the vessels would not use North Korean crews, a US official said.

Dear Editor, I am pleased that I did not hear the voice of Mark Nicholas in either of the two games that WI won to put them in a very strong position in their division in the World Cup competition.

COUVA, Trinidad, CMC- Windward Islands Volcanoes cruised to a comfortable seven wicket win over Trinidad and Tobago Red Force on the final day of their final round game of the Regional four-day championship at the National Cricket Centre here yesterday.

  People will assess the impact of President Barack Obama’s historic trip to Cuba for years to come, but a long conversation with Cuba’s oldest and best-known human-rights leader shortly before the US president’s visit left me skeptical that there will be significant changes on the island anytime soon.

Dear Editor, The  government should be given credit for calling local government elections one year after assuming office.

BAMAKO (Reuters) – Gunmen yesterday attacked a hotel in Mali’s capital, Bamako, that had been converted into the headquarters of a European Union military training operation, but there no casualties among the mission’s personnel.

BANGALORE, India, CMC- Opener Andre Fletcher says he was motivated by Chris Gayle before his blazing knock of 84 not out propelled West Indies to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka on Sunday.

Dear Editor, United States President Barack Obama has created history by becoming the first sitting President of the United States to visit Cuba since the 1959 revolution which brought Fidel Castro to power.

Dear Editor, This year Guyana celebrates its 50th anniversary since attaining political independence in 1966.

(The Sports Xchange) – German Dirk Nowitzki continues to pile up the years and the points.

A matter of mere months before his two terms as President of the United States come to an end, Barack Obama has undertaken the most important foreign policy initiative of his tenure.

Members of the Guyana Police Force’s Tactical Services Unit entering the Georgetown Prison at Lot 12 Camp Street yesterday in response to the fire that was lit.