Daily Archive: Thursday, April 14, 2016

Statement by Minister of State, Hon. Joseph Harmon on mode of travel while in China Georgetown, Guyana – (April 14, 2016) I visited the People’s Republic of China on official Government business in March 2016.

Statement by Minister of State, Hon. Joseph Harmon on the appointment of Brian Tiwarie as Advisor   Georgetown, Guyana – (April 14, 2016) After the General and Regional Elections of 2015, many persons, who indicated their deep interest in assisting the Government and fulfilling its campaign promises were appointed to various positions.

President David Granger, today, convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee at the Ministry of the Presidency to discuss recent developments at the Camp Street prison, where only two out of the 15 prison officers on the roster for the day shift, reported for duty this morning.

Officials of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) yesterday visited Harlem, West Coast Demerara where an on-the-spot commitment was given to include that area in the US$30M sea and river defence resilience  project, GINA said.

The main sugar union GAWU today said GuySuCo’s plans for the integration of the East Demerara Estates will effectively see the end of operations at the LBI estate and repercussions for around 800 employees.

About 0240h. today, the police say that ranks of the City Constabulary received a report that a man was seen breaking into an electronics equipment store in the Stabroek Market.

(Trinidad Guardian) A second man, who went to the police yesterday to “clear his name” in connection with the murder of British national and aspiring cricketer, Adrian St John, has been arrested.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon will today provide a written account of his controversial appointment of businessman Brian Tiwarie as a business advisor, according to President David Granger who disclosed yesterday that Harmon’s private jet trips in China were paid for by the Chinese government.

With Bartica set to be declared a town on April 23, community leaders say a range of activities are planned and the community aims to become a model for the country.

The trial of Nykose Gritten who is accused of the 2014 murder of moneychanger Wendell Liverpool began yesterday before Justice Navindra Singh and heard dramatic testimony about three men running down the road firing shots.

Former police sergeant Colin Bailey and another man, Colin Grant who were charged with the murder of businesswoman Sirmattie Ramnaress will now jointly face the capital offence.

An airport employee who was caught driving a stolen car by police at a roadblock was yesterday remanded to prison by Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul.

The parties making up the APNU+AFC coalition government are expected to present their views on the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) report later this week, according to President David Granger who still has not said when the document will officially be made public.

Two of the three friends of Premnauth Samaroo yesterday supported  his testimony that he was with them and not the quartet accused of robbing Justice Nicola Pierre and her family on July 9, 2015.

MADRID, (Reuters) – Holders Barcelona crashed out of the Champions League after being stifled by a brilliantly well-organised Atletico Madrid and undone by two goals from Antoine Griezmann in a 2-0 quarter-final second-leg defeat yesterday.

The five members of the Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy was yesterday afternoon sworn in by President David Granger who urged that they be guided by the need for mercy and compassion for those who have broken the law.

According to Garfield Benjamin, Section Leader of the Guyana Fire Service, by the time the firefighters arrived on the scene at the Camp Street Prison on March 3, and were able to assess the situation, the majority of the damage had already occurred and most of the lives had already been lost.

KOLKATA, India, CMC – West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell produced a whirlwind knock but then conceded 17 runs in the penultimate over as Mumbai Indians pulled off a six-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders with five balls to spare in the Indian Premier League here yesterday.

LONDON, CMC – The family of slain cricketer, Adrian St John, hope to have West Indies superstar Chris Gayle available to play in a memorial match, which will form part of the late player’s sendoff.

Following the death of a 21-year-old motorcyclist when he collided with a horse along the Mocha Access Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD), residents of the community say it was poor lighting and the frequent presence of stray animals on the road that caused the accident.

The Guyana Police Force is seeking the assistance of the public in locating a man who is wanted for questioning in relation to the recent abduction of a businessman.

A collective bowling effort from the Demerara bowlers enabled them to seize control over the Under-17 Select XI on the rain affected opening day of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) U19 Inter-County three-day tourney played at Wales.

With some 5.4 kilometres of critical and poor sea and river defences set to be reconstructed around the country under a joint Caribbean Development Bank (CDB/Government of Guyana (GoG)) project, a two-day workshop was convened yesterday to highlight the significance of the project and its timeliness.

Dear Editor, Comments made by a party representing the management of the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) and Minister Keith Scott who has responsibility for Labour, on matters relating to workers of BCGI are a flagrant violation of universal tenets.

Ministers Joseph Harmon’s and Volda Lawrence’s reluctance to provide answers to the public regarding recent controversial actions is at odds with at least two provisions of the Code of Conduct for government ministers, which the David Granger administration is yet to officially implement.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, CMC – Pakistan’s cricket authorities are hoping to convince the West Indies Cricket Board to play limited overs fixtures here later this year, in an attempt to end the country’s seven-year hiatus as an international venue.

KOLKATA, India, CMC – West Indies Twenty20 World Cup star, Lendl Simmons, has been ruled out of the remainder of the Indian Premier League, after just one game for reigning champions Mumbai Indians.

Dear Editor, It was reported in the news media on April 12, that Agriculture Minister Noel Holder has flown to Costa Rica and was accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority and the General Manager of the Guyana Marketing Corporation to discuss support for the agricultural sector in Guyana.

Indigenous Ministers, Dawn Hastings-Williams and Valerie Garrido-Lowe have pledged to enhance the facilities at the Amerindian Hostel in Princes Street, Georgetown following complaints received during visits to various parts of Region Seven, GINA said on Tuesday.

The preliminary inquiry (PI) into the murder of political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing continued yesterday with the testimonies of the responding officer and a resident of Diamond.

(The Sports Xchange) – Magic Johnson posted a letter to fellow Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, who was set to end his illustrious 20-year NBA career last night.

Dear Editor, It is ironic that the PPP, which denied Guyanese their constitutional right to choose their local leaders for 18 years, now attempt to portray that party as champions of local democracy.

Dear Editor, I have noted that some brush cutter operators, whether on behalf of the Georgetown municipality or subject Ministry, when weeding the parapets around the city, would use a protective covering to prevent objects from becoming missiles and either injuring passers-by or damaging private property.

Rosignol United and newcomers Paradise Invaders FC secured convincing victories over Hopetown United Rangers and Mahaicony FC respectively when the Berbice Football Association (BFA) ‘West Berbice League’ officially commenced.

The promised code of conduct for ministers of government is likely to be delayed even longer as government is now examining its incorporation in the Integrity Commission Act.

Dear Editor, M. Maxwell `Land reparation for African Guyanese is impractical’, SN April 12th, 2016, knows very well what he is doing and whose interests he is promoting.

Santos climbed to second in the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Stag Beer League, edging Northern Rangers 1-0 on Tuesday at the Georgetown Football Club in Bourda, Anthony Hall scored in the 77th minute secure the hard-fought result.

The Guyana Police Force yesterday issued a wanted bulletin for Colwyn Croal, who is being sought for questioning in relation to the attempted murder of a Linden resident and her employer who were shot several times almost one week ago.

Testing of the DNA samples suspected to be of British teen Dominic Bernard, which were sent to Trinidad and Tobago has been completed and are expected to be uplifted today.

Dear Editor, Minister Harmon has not committed any firing offence.  He can be rightly challenged on a number of political gaffes, but none rises to the level of termination.

LONDON,  CMC – Fast bowler Ravi Rampaul grabbed three wickets to end his first first-class game in three years with an eight-wicket haul but Surrey slipped to a three-wicket defeat to Nottinghamshire in their opening game of the English County championship here yesterday.

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – U.S. regulators gave a failing grade to five big banks yesterday, including JPMorgan Chase & Co and Wells Fargo & Co, on their plans for a bankruptcy that would not rely on taxpayer money, giving them until Oct.

(The Sports Xchange) – Highlights of Tuesday’s National Basketball Association games.

PANAMA CITY, (Reuters) – Panamanian authorities seized scores of digital files after a 27-hour raid on the offices of Mossack Fonseca, the law firm at the center of the “Panama Papers” leaks scandal, but have made no arrests, officials said yesterday.

BRASILIA,  (Reuters) – Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff pledged yesterday to form a government of national unity if she survives an impeachment vote in Congress this weekend, but the odds of that lengthened as allies continued to desert her.

Dear Editor, I write in response to the Rotary Notice carried by the Stabroek News on Page 3, Monday April 11, 2016. 

There is a housing crisis in Guyana. This is obvious even from a cursory look around, which would reveal families squatting in one-room shacks on government reserves in areas like Plastic City.

Dear Editor, The letter `Guyana’s acknowledgement of its alcohol problem seems far away’ by Vidyaratha Kissoon (SN 2016-04-13,) highlights the seemingly contradictory situation society is placed in when it comes to managing legal drugs such as alcohol.

GURI, Venezuela,  (Reuters) – Drought has turned parts of the area behind Venezuela’s Guri dam, one of the world’s biggest, into a desert, but the government is optimistic of rain within weeks to drive the vast installation that provides the bulk of the OPEC nation’s power.

Politikles

MIAMI, United States, CMC – Caribbean Football Union head, Gordon Derrick, has been barred by football’s world governing body, FIFA, from running for CONCACAF president, after failing an integrity check.

Cartoons

OTTAWA/WINNIPEG, Manitoba,  (Reuters) – Canadian legislators told an emergency parliamentary session on Tuesday night that a rash of suicide attempts by aboriginal teenagers in a remote, poverty-stricken community was “completely unacceptable” and vowed steps to keep it from happening again.