Daily Archive: Friday, February 3, 2017

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry says it is deeply concerned about the  escalating impasse between the Mayor and City Council and citizens regarding the implementation of parking meters “without appropriate consultation and transparent procurement”.

The Private Sector Commission today called on the Government to intervene in the current impasse between the citizens of Georgetown and the Mayor and City Council over the controversial parking meters which it says has virtually crippled retail business in the city.

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) today said it read with consternation the pronouncements of the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon as these relate to the introduction of stricter regulations and closer monitoring of the foreign exchange market in Guyana.

What was intended to be a silent, apolitical protest by members of the Movement Against Parking Meters, turned into a politicized, verbal war on the side of those in support of the project, who initiated a counter-protest.

A forensic audit of the Guyana Office for Investment by Nigel Hinds has found numerous problems and said that after over twenty years of operations the agency has failed to fulfil its mandate and the organisation is plagued with poor governance, mismanagement, no strategic plan, an absence of Standard Operating Procedures for the various departments of Go-Invest and no policy for Investment Agreements.

LUANDA, (Reuters) – Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos confirmed on Friday he will not run in this year’s presidential election, calling an end to 38 years as head of state, but he will retain control of the powerful ruling party.

Dear Editor, I would like to commend former President Donald Ramotar on the sudden recovering of his faculty of memory with regard to necessary imprimatur on the Red House ‘lease’. 

Mark Royden Williams, called `Smallie,’ and Dennis Williams, called `Anaconda,’ were last night sentenced to death after being convicted on seven of the twelve counts of murder in the February 17, 2008 Bartica massacre.

ExxonMobil will not be investing in the onshore oil and gas facility announced by the government for Crab Island, Berbice, according to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who said this was disclosed at a meeting he had on Wednesday with company officials.

Members of the executive have no business commenting on judicial officials and verdicts in cases, according to Alliance For Change (AFC) leader, Raphael Trotman.

An overseas-based entity has remitted over US$100m to its foreign accounts and will  be sanctioned, according to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon.

The young woman who has accused soldiers of raping her at a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) base has positively identified her alleged assailants, according to police.

With no diversification ventures yet in place, GuySuCo has agreed to offer continuous employment to hundreds of Wales workers who would have been out of a job following the end of sugar cultivation on the West Bank Demerara estate on December 31, 2016.

Although enforcement of Georgetown’s new metered parking system has started, the bylaws are still being vetted by the office of the Attorney General and are expected to be presented to Cabinet for approval after which they will be gazetted.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has condemned Attorney General Basil Williams’ attack on Deputy Solicitor-General Prithima Kissoon, while saying that persons should not be targeted based on their perceived political affiliation.

The Guyana Police Force last evening issued an advisory to all taxi drivers particularly those operating Toyota Allion and Toyota Premio motor cars to be on the alert for potential hijackers The police said that the modus operandi of the hijackers has been to direct one or two female accomplices to hire cabs in Georgetown en route to destinations such as Liliendaal, Lower East Coast Demerara, East and South Ruimveldt, Georgetown and upon arrival at their requested locations, the drivers are attacked and robbed by two men armed with guns of their personal belongings as well as their motor cars.

Toshao of St Cuthbert’s Mission, Lennox Shuman has been suspended to enable an investigation into allegations against him.

The search for the suspect in the 2014 murder of Debra Blackman, the waitress who was shot dead at the Chinese Delicious Restaurant on D’Urban Street, came to an end on Wednesday when police arrested him at his mother’s home at Better Hope, East Coast Demerara.

After a Cevons Waste Management truck was caught dumping sewage  on Wednesday in Linden, the company has blamed the incident on a “rogue driver” and has promised to clean the entire area.

An amateur footballer was fatally shot yesterday morning in Albouystown after he chased behind two men who robbed him of a gold chain and cash.

Although not informed of the decision to replace him as Chairman of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) Board of Directors, former prime minister Hamilton Green yesterday said that he would abide by it.

LIBREVILLE, (Reuters) – It is a script that would require a cast-iron suspension of disbelief, but film makers would have no shortage of material to document the exploits of 44-year-old goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, whose heroics helped Egypt reach the African Nations Cup final on Wednesday.

Attorney General Basil Williams and his opposition shadow Anil Nandlall are finally expected to meet next Wednesday to discuss the criteria for nominations to fill the vacancy of Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom) as was recommended by President David Granger.

In light of a large build-up of scrap metal across Region Four, Cabinet has approved a temporary restart of the scrap metal trade so that exporters can ship out the existing stock over the next three months.

FRANCEVILLE, Gabon, (Reuters) – Cameroon reached the African Nations Cup final as a second-half goal from defender Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui and a stoppage-time effort from Christian Bassogog secured a 2-0 win over Ghana in their last-four clash on Thursday.

After yesterday denying that he drove in a dangerous manner and caused the death of former world champion boxer Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis, Manx Powers now awaits a verdict.

The Sports Xchange) Warriors 126, Hornets 111 Stephen Curry bombed in six 3-pointers in the first quarter, paving the way to a 39-point performance that propelledGolden State to a thumping of Charlotte.

The Overseer of the Port Mourant Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) yesterday pleaded not guilty to a charge that she assaulted a reporter attached to Inews, the Guyana Times Newspaper and TVG News.

After much anticipation, the 3rd Annual Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ West Demerara/East Bank Demerara zone commences today at the Pouderoyen Tarmac with 10 matches.

In a move to ensure safety on the rivers and waterways, the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) has officially opened a Maritime Safety centre at Bartica.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Novak Djokovic will be a notable exception this week after clocking on for Davis Cup duty for Serbia when a host of other big names are resting up after their Australian Open exertions.

The Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is to launch a composting project with a $28m capital outlay that will target 25 tonnes of waste daily from the Stabroek  and Bourda markets and create jobs for 25 persons.

(Reuters) – Tiger Woods felt the pain, figuratively at least, after the former world number one failed to make a single birdie in recording a miserable five-over 77 on the opening day of the Dubai Desert Classic on Thursday.

A 90th minute goal from Domini Garnett propelled Grove Hi-Tech to a 1-0 win over defending champion Milerock when the 2nd Annual Petra Organization/Limacol Football Championship continued on Wednesday.

Guyana’s painfully ponderous journey towards a vibrant and lucrative tourism industry notwithstanding, newly elected President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) Andrea de Caires is upbeat about the prospects for the sector.

Dear Editor, Recent decisions in the transportation sector and the subsequent public outcry have made it clear that open government is increasingly becoming a necessity.

NAPIER, New Zealand, (Reuters) – New Zealand Cricket (NZC) and local authorities have agreed to an urgent inquiry to determine why the second one-day international between the hosts and Australia was abandoned on Thursday without a ball being bowled.

Dear Editor, The removal of Justice Cecil Kennard as Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority on the grounds of his age is a clear case of discrimination.

This week’s initiative at Imbaimadai in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni District to mobilize miners without claims into groups known as syndicates will be extended to other regions of the country as part of government’s plan to broaden access to mining lands and by extension to the economic opportunities afforded by the mining sector.

NORTH SOUND, Antigua, CMC – Spinners Joshua Bishop and Bhaskar Yadram combined to stun English County Kent and hand West Indies Under-19s their first success of the Regional Super50, with a 28-run victory here Thursday.

Dear Editor, This country needs a person with a radical vision to transform its environment from a garbage laden one to a clean and decent place.

This is the sixth of an eight-part series on changes to labour employment in the future, causes of this upheaval, and some possible measures to mitigate their disruptive effects.

Dear Editor, The introduction of parking meters in any jurisdiction in the world attracts opposition.

(WICB) ST JOHN’S, Antigua – West Indies Cricket legend, Sir Curtly Ambrose will be part of the commentary panel as ESPN brings exclusive coverage of the West Indies Cricket Board’s Regional Super50 Tournament.

Governments all around the world, with a few rare exceptions, have been notoriously bad at preparing and inspiring innovative technology business leaders and innovators.

Dear Editor, The gold mining industry has been the subject of many articles recently.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump is poised to impose new sanctions on multiple Iranian entities, seeking to ratchet up pressure on Tehran while crafting a broader strategy to counter what he sees as its destabilizing behavior, people familiar with the matter said yesterday.

When Stabroek Business met with 85-year-old Bernard ‘Bonnie’ Young at Henrietta on the Essequibo Coast last weekend he was ‘chilling’ in his fifth floor apartment at the Arabian Atlantic Hotel looking out into the ocean from which it borrowed its name.

Plaisance Guardians edged  Republic Bank Nets in the Open division while Eagles soared past Ravens 78-74 in the U23 section, when the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) ‘League of Champions’ continued on Wednesday.

Dear Editor, In 2007, I wrote a column on the topic of ‘Oil and Guyana’. 

(Jamaica Gleaner) South Jamaica Power Company, a subsidiary of the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS), is to spend US$330 million to construct a 190 megawatt power plant in Old Harbour Bay, St Catherine.

UNITED NATIONS, (Reuters) – U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley blamed Russia yesterday for the recent surge of violence in eastern Ukraine and warned Ukraine-related sanctions against Russia will not be lifted until Moscow returns Crimea to Kiev.

An explosive rugby tournament awaits after competing teams were announced yesterday at Thirst Park during the official launch of the inaugural Guinness 7s.

With several regional banking institutions yet to put in place Inter Governmental Agreements (IGAs) with the United States on that country’s Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), the Caribbean Association of Banks is again urging Caribbean countries to enact the necessary legislation for the implementation of FATCA.

Gold Prices for the three-day period ending Thursday February 2, 2017  

For more than 20 years, Desiree McKenzie has been making her way to the Bourda Market three or four times a week to run her modest stall offering an assortment of books and magazines for sale.

(Trinidad Express) Angelo Bissesarsingh has passed away. The beloved historian, researcher, author and national treasure died at his home in Siparia yesterday morning.

MELBOURNE,(Reuters) – Jamaican sprint great Usain Bolt has no plans to extend his career beyond this year’s world championships in London and has ruled out a return to Australia for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

SYDNEY/WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – U.S. ties with staunch ally Australia became strained yesterday after details about an acrimonious phone call between its leaders emerged and U.S.

-WhitmoreCHATTANOOGA, United States, CMC – Reggae Boyz head coach Theodore Whitmore says preparation for Friday’s international friendly against United States was not what he had hoped but says the ultimate goal is the side’s preparation for their important outings in the Caribbean Cup finals and CONCACAF Gold Cup.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Reigning champions Trinidad and Tobago Red Force ended Leeward Islands Hurricanes’ unbeaten streak in the Regional Super50 when they inflicted a narrow 11-run defeat here Thursday.

Sydney Gonsalves – Guyana’s Memory Man By MARGARET KENDALL SYDNEY Holbert Gonsalves, also known as the ‘Memory Man,’ is something of a legend in Guyana.

*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.

SACRAMENTO, Calif., (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump does not have the authority to withhold funding from the University of California at Berkeley where violent protests led to the cancellation of a speech by a far-right editor, academics and experts said yesterday.

Accelerated moves towards a thaw in relations between Havana and Washington (though we must wait and see how the relationship unfolds under the Donald Trump administration) have triggered consequential developments here in the Caribbean where a number of Caricom countries are beginning to take a closer look at the economic opportunities that might be on offer in a liberalized Cuban economy.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – A veteran CIA clandestine service officer who ran one of the agency’s “black site” prisons set up after the 9/11 attacks was named deputy director of the U.S.

Dear Editor, There is a long established convention in the private security industry which holds that no entity or individual operating in the sector should use any markings or present themselves in such a way that is mistaken for any branch of the state’s security apparatus.

The day before yesterday, Town Clerk Royston King held a meeting in City Hall’s chambers with wash-bay operators, during which he announced that those located in Queenstown would no longer be permitted to operate and that they had two weeks in which to cease work.

-Leadership, service, lust and greed First a brief background on Newton -called Newt by his close buddies – would be useful.

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