Daily Archive: Friday, July 22, 2016

Several hinterland communities in the Pomeroon River, Region Two were visited by Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock and his team on July 20-21, GINA said.

(Reuters) – Virat Kohli made history by scoring his maiden test double century as India played their way into a virtually unbeatable position on the second day of the first test against West Indies in Antigua today.

The Preliminary Report of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) to probe the fire at the Hadfield Street Drop In Centre, which resulted in the deaths of two young children, was today handed over to Minister of State,  Joseph Harmon, at the Ministry of the Presidency by Commissioner, Retired Colonel Windee Algernon.

The National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) on Wednesday inked two contracts totaling $21.5M with S&K Construction Services to improve river defence on the coastland, a release from the Ministry of Agriculture said.

Three persons, including a father and his teenage son were discovered dead this morning in Mibicuri Creek, Black Bush Polder with gunshot wounds about their bodies.

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s (MPI)  Procurement Symposium for new entrants/contractors kicked off this morning at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal.

Residents in Campbellville, Georgetown will soon be relieved of drainage problems as the Ministry of Public Infrastructure is currently working along with the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to address this issue, GINA said.

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) today lambasted Town Clerk Royston King over Tuesday’s barricading of a number of city wharves.

MUNICH,  (Reuters) – Gunmen attacked a busy mall in the German city of Munich on Friday evening, killing at least eight people and sending shoppers running for their lives from what police said was a terrorist attack.

PARIS, (Reuters) – France’s highest appeals court ruled today that International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde must stand trial for her role in a 400 million euros ($440 million) state payout in 2008 to businessman Bernard Tapie.

(Trinidad Guardian) As more dead fish continued to wash ashore along the Mosquito Creek yesterday, president of Fishermen and Friends of the Sea, Gary Aboud, put the blame squarely on Petrotrin’s shoulders.

President David Granger has said that he will be guided by the National Assembly and the public on the retention or abolition of the death penalty, while noting that government is willing to go to a referendum on the issue.

A 70-year-old Crane, West Coast Demerara man was chopped to death  around 10:30 am yesterday and a 16-year-old who has admitted to committing the horrendous act is in police custody.

The waiving of interest on outstanding loan payments for former students of the University of Guyana may be among the considerations being looked at by government in a bid to ensure repayment.

Following a meeting with Town Clerk Royston King, the Shipping Association of Guyana (SAG) yesterday instructed its attorneys to withdraw a court action challenging the city’s move to charge fees for the parking and transport of containers on the streets of Georgetown.

Attorney General Basil Williams has been mandated to review a technical report on the Kato Secondary School project to ascertain if anyone should be held responsible for the many defects found.

Improvement works totalling $123.5m are to begin shortly for the Bureau of Statistics.

Ravinas International has secured a $36.8m contract for the procurement of uniform-related materials for schoolchildren in several regions.

An early morning fire yesterday gutted an apartment complex at Ogle, East Coast of Demerara, leaving seven persons in search of new homes.

Marlon Callender, the guard accused of the fatal shooting of a fisherman at the Pritipaul Singh wharf last year, was on Monday committed to stand trial in the High Court.

A Kitty bus driver, who was brought to a city court by his wife for allegedly pulling a gun on her and threatening to end her life, was yesterday granted $20,000 bail after he denied the charge.

Two men were yesterday refused bail and remanded to prison after being accused of trafficking ganja in the interior.

The trial of the three accused in the Ramada Princess casino robbery was yesterday put on hold at the request of the lawyer for one of the men.

The role of robotics in an evolving world—particularly in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture and governance—was highlighted yesterday at Guyana’s first ever robotics camp, held at the Saint Rose’s High School.

(CPLT20) On the night that the Beauséjour Stadium was renamed in honour of Daren Sammy, the Zouks captain celebrated with a match winning half-century against the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Private Sector Commission (PSC) believes that the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) is ill-equipped to effectively execute its mandate at this time and is unlikely to be able to do so unless it becomes free to attract its own international funding.

Rehabilitation of the North #1 well, located in South Ruimveldt Park, has left several streets in the area flooded, with Kaikan Street and Well Road being the most severely affected.

NORTH SOUND, Antigua, CMC – Captain Virat Kohli produced a sublime exhibition of batting to carve out his 12th Test hundred and first against West Indies, as India dominated the opening day of the first Test here yesterday.

After expressing concerns about the overlooking of local contractors and the lack of consultations, the General Contractors Association of Guyana (GCAG) yesterday said it has met with a key minister and is encouraged by the efforts made by the administration to address their issues.

Guyana continued their unbeaten run in the Boys and Girls Junior Caribbean Squash Championships, downing hosts Cayman Islands and Trinidad and Tobago respectively yesterday in the Cayman Islands.

While the risk-averse nature of commercial banks’ lending policies have helped to keep the country’s financial system viable and sound in the face of banking crises in other countries, “rigid central bank restrictions” on commercial bank lending have limited expansion, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) says.

MEGEVE, France,  (Reuters) – Britain’s Chris Froome put the hammer down in his bid to retain the Tour de France title when he won the 18th stage, a 17-km mountain time trial, to extend his overall lead to almost four minutes yesterday.

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Board has recommended that Matron Collene Hicks be sent on administrative leave to facilitate a probe into allegations against her.

The recent announcement that Guyana will be hosting a high-profile coconut industry forum in October this year will probably not attract much sustained interest beyond the direct stakeholders in the industry though in his briefing on the forum and the industry as a whole provided to this newspaper, Mr Raymond Trotz, Chairman of the National Stakeholders Forum for Coconut Development hoped otherwise.

Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Pitbulls and Old Fort Vintage secured commanding wins when the Lucozade Indoor Hockey Championship continued on Tuesday at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue.

Business Cartoon

Dear Editor, So lightning has struck again, this time the new Mabaruma Radio Station (SN, July 21).

The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) has lauded the role played by the late Bishop Randolph George in fighting oppression.

BYDGOSZCZ, Poland,  CMC – Tiffany James became the first Jamaican to win the women’s 400 metres title at the IAAF World Under-20 Championships when she copped the gold medal in the final here last night.

By David Falconer Three years into its introduction the local Credit Bureau seems set to reshape the country’s financial landscape, more particularly, to forever alter the procedures associated with lending.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland/MOSCOW, (Reuters) – Sport’s highest tribunal rejected yesterday Russia’s appeal against a doping ban for its entire athletics team from the Rio Olympics starting in 15 days’ time, drawing swift and angry condemnation from Moscow.

Volunteer Youth Corps (VYC) is recruiting participants for a four-week programme intended to empower women by fostering their confidence in saving money and business management.

Dear Editor, In relation to City Hall’s Parking Meter Project (PMP), I would first ask the question whether there is traffic congestion in the city centre, and what the possible solutions are.

Dear Editor, Having reached to the point of complete frustration, I am forced to seek the medium of your respected publication to hopefully encourage a response from the management of GTT to my company’s complaints regarding a GTT sign that is hanging in the balance between advertising GTT’s services and doing some serious damage.

(Reuters) – The NBA is moving its 2017 All-Star Game out of Charlotte, North Carolina, given its objections to a state law decried as discriminatory against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, the league said yesterday.

The dredge, Steve N is back in service after being repaired by the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC).

What has come to be known as Parliament View Mall—the description could hardly be more inappropriate—is a hotbed of muted but ill-concealed resentment amongst the more than 100 vendors evicted from the Stabroek Market Square three months ago to their new, decidedly unappealing location.

The stepfather of the three minor girls, who were found sleeping on the seawall at Berbice early last Thursday morning, was yesterday charged with engaging in sexual activity with the eldest child, who is 10.

(CPLT20) The Jamaica Tallawahs have secured a place in the knockout stages of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a win over the Barbados Tridents at Sabina Park yesterday.

Dear Editor, The top level of the Hope Canal concrete bridge should have been designed to be in line with the natural adjacent ground level to enable the base and sub-base material of the roadway and bridge to be at the same level.

(Reuters) – England pacemen Jake Ball and Steve Finn have been left out of the revised squad for the second test against Pakistan starting on Friday, captain Alastair Cook said yesterday.

Dear Editor, Your excellent editorial of July 21 was yet another important and urgent reminder of the horrific prevalence of child abuse both locally and worldwide.

Guyana’s first ever coconut festival, billed for October, is poised to do more than any previous initiative to raise awareness of the importance of the product, Chairman of the National Stakeholders Forum for Coconut Development Raymond Trotz has said.

First Lady, Sandra Granger on Monday met with Caribbean Airlines’ new Chief Executive Officer, Tyrone Tang and South American Manager, Carl Stuart.

A clothes vendor yesterday denied a charge that he stole foreign and local currency from his business partner.

As increasing numbers of cases of importation of counterfeit and/or expired goods, particularly milk, drugs, items of food and medical devices continue to show up on the local radar, a reliable Public Health Ministry source has told Stabroek Business that it is rife with corruption, adding that the authorities no longer appear to have “reliable control” over the integrity of several consignments of consumer goods imported into the country.

HARARE, (Reuters) – Zimbabwe have appointed Graeme Cremer as captain of a 16-man squad named yesterday for the two-test series against New Zealand starting next week.

Dear Editor, I note with lots of reservation the call by the international agencies and one of our own for the removal of laws permitting the death penalty, which is a legal tool to thwart crime especially murder, classified as a capital offence.

Dear Editor, A passing scrutiny of the local political scene has brought about some surprising results.

Two men were yesterday brought before a city court to answer a charge that they broke and entered the offices of P &P Insurance Brokers and Consultants.

  Minister in the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment Simona Broomes says the country’s gold-mining industry cannot afford to relax its insistence on higher all-round standards.

CLEVELAND, (Reuters) – Donald Trump accused Democratic rival Hillary Clinton of a legacy of “death, destruction, terrorism and weakness” as U.S.

JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) – South Africa’s government will appeal Oscar Pistorius’ six-year murder sentence because it was “shockingly lenient”, state prosecutors said yesterday.

 (Reuters) – Director, producer and writer Garry Marshall, who was responsible for creating sitcom hits such as “The Odd Couple” and “Happy Days” and directed hit movies “Pretty Woman” and “The Princess Diaries,” died on Tuesday, Variety reported.

SYDNEY,  (Reuters) – Usain Bolt is keenly aware of the narrative of his extraordinary career and, for the fastest man who ever lived, the only fitting way to close its Olympic chapter is with a third sprint sweep at next month’s Rio Games.

A Palmyra Village, East Canje, Berbice family was beaten and robbed on Wednesday evening, when armed bandits invaded their home.

Stock market updates

CARACAS,  (Reuters) – The Roman Catholic Church may soon join Ibero-American leaders seeking dialogue between Venezuela’s feuding government and opposition, the head of a regional bloc said yesterday.

Dear Editor, In June 2015 when the Regional Democratic Council of Region Five held its first meeting to elect a Chairman and Vice Chair, it was decided by the council that the RDC statutory meeting would be held every third Thursday of the month. 

(Jamaica Gleaner) Dr Keith Rowley, the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, says that he is “confident” that his visit this week has helped to avert a “trade war” between his country and Jamaica.

(Prepared by the Guyana Marketing Corporation and published by Stabroek Business as a public service)*Prices only represent the average Wholesale Farmgate and Retail Prices at the above mentioned markets and are NOT prices set by the Guyana Marketing Corporation or Ministry of Agriculture.

(Reuters) – Frenzy gripped southern India yesterday, a day ahead of the release of Tamil cinema superstar Rajinikanth’s crime-drama film titled “Kabali.”

A bicycle repair man was yesterday remanded to prison on an armed robbery charge.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – The Ben Johnson 1988 Olympic 100 metres final was dubbed “the dirtiest race in history” but there is a new contender for that dubious honour as the fallout continues from the drug-ravaged 2012 women’s 1500 metres in London.

Gold Prices for the three-day period ending Thursday July 21, 2016Kitco is a Canadian company that buys and sells precious metals such as gold, copper and silver.

BRASILIA,  (Reuters) – Brazil arrested 10 people yesterday suspected of belonging to a poorly organized group supporting Islamic State (IS) and discussing terrorist acts during the next month’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Dear Editor, The refusal of former Republican candidate, Ted Cruz, to endorse Donald Trump in the presidential race was the talking point on Thursday, not only in the United States, but the entire free world.

Various countries and cultures and the United Nations Organisation all define what they deem to be the World’s “youth”.

UNITED NATIONS,  (Reuters) – Former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres is the front runner to be the next United Nations secretary-general, followed by former Slovenian President Danilo Turk, after the first U.N.

Dear Editor, It is with sadness I read of the passing of Anglican Bishop Randolph George.

By Ima Christian   In the Summer of 2014, my younger siblings and I developed an app called Five-O that allows citizens to rate, review and track their interactions with law enforcement.

Politikles

When the government released the findings of a forensic audit of the University of Guyana Student Loan Agency last month, there was an expectation in some quarters that an announcement would follow of a set of comprehensive steps to address this national problem.

NEW YORK, (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Groups working to battle AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean are the first winners of grants established by singer Elton John to end discrimination and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, the singer said.

 Windies captain Jason Holder (left) and Indian captain Virat Kohli posing with the trophy on the first day of the first Seagram’s Royal Stag Test Match between West Indies and India at Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua yesterday.

RIO DE JANEIRO,  (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Like his father, Ismael Freitas spent long days cultivating fruit in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest on land that was not officially his own.

CAPE TOWN,  (Reuters) – Flying Dutchwoman Dafne Schippers is a strong contender to emulate compatriot Fanny Blankers-Koen’s golden sprint double from 1948 at next month’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics after a dramatic switch from heptathlon to concentrate on the sprints.