Daily Archive: Friday, March 25, 2016

Amid the prolonged drought, residents of Charity Back Street, Essequibo Coast woke up this morning to see about 6 inches of water lodged in the lower flats of their houses and yards.

NAGPUR, India, (Reuters) – West Indies beat South Africa by three wickets in a low-scoring thriller in their World Twenty20 Super 10 match today to join New Zealand in the semi-finals.

During yesterday, the police say that miner Shawn Sandy, 40 years, of Alexander Village, Georgetown, allegedly found a handgun and was showing it to dredge owner Feroze Khan, 30 years, of Bartica, at King Buoy Hole, Mazaruni, when a round was discharged.

(Jamaica Gleaner) The Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados has been forced to close because of protest action by air traffic controllers.

(Jamaica Gleaner) A former Jamaican beauty pageant contestant was yesterday arrested after trying to smuggle seventy pounds of cocaine through security at the Los Angeles International Airport in California.

During 2012-2015, the PPP/C government granted logging company Baishanlin concessions amounting to $1.8 billion despite its failure to fulfill obligations under its investment agreements and this figure is likely to be significantly higher as the firm has been here since 2006.

The body of fugitive Steve Mohamed, a murder accused, was found riddled with bullets early yesterday morning at Le Repentir Cemetery in Georgetown.

A forensic audit says major irregularities were found in GuyOil’s charge system for fuel sales to customers along with abuses of the tendering system and it accused former Managing Director Badrie Persaud of conflict of interest transactions with relatives including a $62m transportation contract with a brother-in-law.

One of the suspects in the murder of Oriley Small, who was gunned down in front of his Smyth Street home last Saturday, was yesterday charged with the crime and was remanded to prison.

A Wales Estate labourer is now dead after being stabbed on Phagwah night and two people, including his common-law wife, have been held by police in connection with the crime.

According to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, the numerous audits being conducted by the present administration are nothing but political tools being used to damage the reputation of professional persons.

Camp Street Prison inmate Collis Collison yesterday testified of his knowledge of the door to the Capital A block being obstructed by inmates two days in succession.

The Guyana Court of Appeal yesterday upheld a stay of execution granted by Justice B.S.

With a projected total loss of over $2B, the Board of the Central and Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) wants the current 50th Independence anniversary discount being offered to some house lot awardees halted.

The ruling APNU+AFC coalition has still not communicated its decision on candidate Winston Harding, who won a seat on the Georgetown council despite its withdrawal of support for his candidacy over allegations of child molestation and his sister says he should quit.

A convicted carjacker was found guilty and sentenced to 18 months in jail yesterday for another armed carjacking he committed last year.

Through single-sourcing, Cabinet on Tuesday gave the green light for six contracts for medical supplies and said this was due to time constraints.

Government is waiting on the report of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the public service before commencing negotiations for wage increases with the unions representing public service workers, President David Granger says.

Nearly two months after former Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur was axed, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) yesterday advertised for a replacement and a deputy.

A Corentyne man was yesterday sentenced to three years in jail after he admitted to having two grammes of cocaine in his possession.

A second half blitz led by a Hubert Pedro hat-trick and a Dennis Edwards double powered Fruta Conquerors to a 6-2 rout of the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) when the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Stag Beer Elite League continued yesterday.

Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) President Komal Chand says government should find a way to ensure sugar workers are not denied wage increases, following GuySuCo’s decision against awarding pay hikes for last year.

DHARAMSALA, India,  CMC – Wicketkeeper Merissa Aguilleira missed a run out as Natalia Sciver and Rebecca Grundy scrambled a bye of the final ball of the game to lift England Women to a one-wicket thriller over West Indies Women in their Group B contest of the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup here Thursday.

Keon Brewster, who pleaded guilty last year to trying to smuggle cocaine hidden in rum out of the country, yesterday testified that neither of his alleged co-accused had any involvement in the crime.

Even as controversy persists over the extent to which gold mined in Guyana is smuggled abroad through neighbouring countries, figures recently compiled by the Guyana Geology & Mines Commission (GGMC) indicate that gold declaration for January this year reached 94.6 per cent of what was officially projected.

NAGPUR, India,  CMC – West Indies are anticipating a tough battle with South Africa in their third game of the Twenty20 World Cup here Good Friday, but captain Darren Sammy says his side will be gunning for the win especially with a spot in the semi-finals on the line.

The financial deprivation which public servants have had to endure on account of decades of having to be satisfied with wages and salaries levels that have failed to keep pace with the cost of living is a “historic injustice,” the responsibility for which has to be placed at the feet of the employer,” President of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) Patrick Yarde said on Monday.

Dear Editor, For five successive days it was publicly announced that the President (I repeat, the President) would be holding a rally in Lethem six days before the recent municipal election.

For all the official discourse and the various initiatives undertaken to talk up the value-added potential of Guyana’s agricultural sector there is no question that the country continues to be way below its potential in this regard.

(ICC) Australia and Pakistan approach their cricket as differently as a scientist and an artist go about their jobs.

Dear Editor, Chief Justice Mr Ian Chang in his decision of the case of Cedric Richardson v AG and Raphael Trotman HC – DEM – CIV – CM – 10 of 2015 Demerara (the Presidential term limit case) stated: “The articles of the 1980 Constitution, having received the favourable vote of the electorate in a referendum, represent the direct voice of the people.”

Dear Editor, There is a positive side and a negative side to granting licences to foreign fishing companies to engage in deep sea fishing off the coast of Guyana.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Former England international soccer player Adam Johnson was jailed for six years yesterday after being found guilty of sex offences involving an under-age, 15-year-old girl.

Eighteen-year-old Stanford University freshman Ima Christian is considered an over-achiever by any measure.

Dear Editor, We wish to refer to the letter by Mr Ganga Persaud that was published in the Stabroek News on March 19, titled ‘GuySuCo has more water than it needs on the West Coast but is not sparing any for the rice farmers’.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Barbados claimed a hard-fought victory when they defeated Curacao 1-0, in their opening game of the CFU Caribbean Cup qualifiers here Wednesday night.

In the face of sluggish oil prices and a consequential reduction in the availability of foreign exchange, oil-rich Trinidad and Tobago is once again being warned of its high-dependency on imported foods and the longer-term consequences for consumer affordability.

Dear Editor, The media report that the Mayor and City Council plans to create a Presidential Park on the Merriman Mall is a beautiful concept, given that it is reported the intention is to reflect a unity theme.

NEW DELHI,  (Reuters) – Leading a cricket team may not be rocket science but India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni proved it involves a bit of physics in Wednesday’s World Twenty20 heartstopper against Bangladesh.

Dear Editor, I wish to refer to Mr Vincent Alexander’s letter under the caption ‘Four Vice Chancellors ruled on the matter’ in your issue Wednesday, March 23.

Jamaica is hoping that the recent partnership initiative involving the island’s Scientific Research Council (SRC) and its food-manufacturing giant, Grace Kennedy to broaden the range of food items developed from local agricultural produce will both increase the range of options for local food consumers and its market share on North American and other markets.

THE HAGUE,  (Reuters) – Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic was convicted by U.N.

Dear Editor, Phagwah like other religious festivals has its origin in deep religious values.

(The Sports Xchange) – Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 18 third-quarter points, allowing the Golden State Warriors to break open a close game en route to a 114-98 victory over the rival Los Angeles Clippers.

NEW DELHI,  (Reuters) – Australian allrounder Shane Watson will bow out of international cricket after the World Twenty20 in India, cutting the team’s last link to their golden era in the early 2000s.

While the Guyana economy is still some distance away from beginning to factor oil revenues into the country’s economic fortunes, it is not too soon for the administration here to learn critical lessons from its close Caricom sister country, oil-rich Trinidad and Tobago.

GASCI (www.gasci.com/telephone Nº 223-6175/6) reports that session 660’s trading results showed consideration of $10,472,966 from 480,630 shares traded in 13 transactions as compared to session 659’s trading results, which showed consideration of $11,181,068 from 536,391 shares traded in 19 transactions.

Dear Editor M Maxwell is not a real person. He is not in Gecom’s database.

(Reuters) – The recent wave of positive tests has thrust sports doping back in the headlines but it is not just athletes seeking to enhance performance who are taking banned substances, a Norwegian anti-doping official has told Reuters.

 – Remembering Thomas Didymus Thick, fast and sustained the comments, criticisms, suggestions flow via the media, recreational spots, “workshops” and from government and opposition. 

On Saturday, people travelled from as far away as Linden to be part of the experience shopping—in some instances simply browsing—inside the new Massy Stores Supermarket on its first trading Saturday.

Dear Editor, Harvesting of the present rice crop has commenced in Region Two, where farmers are making full use of the dry and sunny weather.

ZURICH, (Reuters) – In a widening corruption probe into Venezuela’s state oil company by the U.S.

AMSTERDAM,  (Reuters) – Johan Cruyff, one of soccer’s greatest players and most influential and visionary coaches, died aged 68 yesterday after a five-month battle with lung cancer.

Kite Time: These vendors on the Camp street pavement are anticipating a windfall over the weekend.

Laughter abounded yesterday when Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, distributed 400 kites to children across four communities.

Which one will fly better? Kite shopping on Camp Street yesterday.

Dear Editor, Holi or Phagwah, the Hindu festival that marks the beginning of Spring and that also signifies the triumph of good over evil, will be celebrated on Saturday, March 26, by the greater New York based Guyanese Hindus and their friends.

(The Sports Xchange) – Atlanta had its five-game winning streak snapped Monday by the Washington Wizards.

The owners of Roraima Duke Lodge consider it their good fortune to have secured the services of Tamby Murphy and Melissa Gill in the kitchen of the high-profile hotel.

Throughout his presidency, Barack Obama has always given the impression of trying to hold true to the principle that one should heed the lessons of history and take actions that are grounded in a deep awareness of history, without allowing oneself to be shackled by history.