Daily Archive: Saturday, March 4, 2017

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump accused predecessor Barack Obama on Saturday of wiretapping him during the late stages of the 2016 election campaign, but offered no evidence for an allegation which an Obama spokesman said was “simply false”.

On Wednesday, ranks in ‘A’ Division acting on information received went to Long Creek, Linden Highway and carried out a search in two farm houses and found in excess of 11 kilograms of dried cannabis, an unlicensed shotgun and five cartridges.

While City Hall still refuses to state how much was earned from metered parking over the last six weeks,  it has reported nearly $400 million in earnings for January from other sources, 51% of which was paid to garbage contractors.

A 15-year-old boy was yesterday arrested for killing Hemant Persaud, the brother of Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud, who was stabbed to death almost two weeks ago at the Stabroek Market.

Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman has pledged that $100 million would be given to the University of Guyana (UG) to better prepare the institution for training and development in light of the incoming oil and gas industry.

A seamstress was killed on Thursday evening after she was hit by a truck while walking along the Hubu Access Road, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

A Lamaha Park man died yesterday morning after he collided with a van at the intersection of Hadfield and Smyth streets, in Georgetown.

As institutionalized elderly care becomes more normalized, the St Joseph Mercy Hospital has invested in making the experience as comfortable and homey as possible for its residents.

Businesses in the commercial district of the city will be required to pay a separate fee for garbage collection from June, Director of Solid Waste Management at the Georgetown Municipality Walter Narine has said.

Former Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally has called for the process used to constitute the Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom) to be revamped, while saying that drawing nominees from political parties is a recipe for partisanship and polarization.

Minor changes have been made to the 1999 agreement reached between the then government and ExxonMobil in the wake of the huge offshore oil discovery in 2015.

Dear Editor, I write in response to Magistrate Dylon Bess’s recent assault on the human rights of transgender Guyanese when he prevented them from entering ‘his’ courtroom at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on March 2nd, 2017 and dismissed a physical assault case in which a transgender individual was victimized.

Attorney General (AG) Basil Williams is seeking leave from the Guyana Court of Appeal (GCA) to approach the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in a case where the state is fighting a US$2.2m judgment in favour of Trinidad road construction company, Dipcon.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Jason Mohammed hit a maiden One-Day International half-century and Jonathan Carter gathered his third but West Indies failed to come to grips with a challenging run chase, and slumped to a 45-run defeat to England in the opening game of a three-match series here yesterday.

Contractor Courtney Benn yesterday disputed the Ministry of the Presidency’s announcement of an award of a contract to his company for works on the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

Dear Editor, I accompanied the Leader of the Opposition to the consultations held on March 1 at State House with the President in respect of the appointment of personnel to act in the positions of Chancellor of the Judiciary and Chief Justice.

Recently crowned Stag Nations Cup football champions Western Tigers collected their winnings yesterday at a simple presentation ceremony held at the Ansa McAl Boardroom, Beterverwagting (BV).

By Royston Alkins   National youth cricketer Sheldon Charles will lead Essequibo in the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Under-15 limited overs Inter-County competition starting March 14.

As part of its mandate to control the use of tobacco in order to minimize its effect on populations, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/ World Health Organization (WHO) has instituted a hiring policy that favours non-smokers.

Dear Editor, I refer to your article titled ‘Gov’t sacks health ministry PS -Harmon says more changes to come’ that was carried in your March 3 publication, with particular reference to the statement, “Harmon also stated that while Thomas’ services as Permanent Secretary was terminated, he still remains employed in the public service”.

The 2016/2017 Guyana Cricket Board/Demerara Mutual Life Assurance Society/ Ministry Of Education/National Secondary Schools League (GCB/DMLAS/MOE/NSSCL) is set to advance to the next stage which will see  the amalgamation of players from the various schools and districts  across the country.

A gang of bandits have left the workers of a Chinese restaurant traumatized after they invaded their home at Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara early yesterday morning.

Dear Editor, The Ministers of Natural Resources are on record as stating that the Mining Syndicate is a mechanism to assist all miners who are having difficulty accessing mining lands.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates,  CMC – Darren Sammy’s Peshawar Zalmi defied cameo knocks from the West Indies pair of Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard, to beat Karachi Kings by 24 runs here Friday and storm into Sunday’s final of the Pakistan Super League.

A man was yesterday sentenced to 18 months in jail after he was found guilty of having illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Dear Editor, Guyanese media have recently made multiple references to an article ‘Graham, McCain want answers on Sessions-Russia report’ published by CNN on March 2, 2017 containing insinuations about Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak.

The biggest derby in Georgetown Football takes center stage tonight when Western Tigers battles the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in the grand finale of the Petra Organization/Limacol Football Championship at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground.

Anthony Nester, the Trinidadian national who was charged with incurring over $250,000 debt at the Brandsville Hotel last year, was yesterday found guilty of the crime and fined.

A Kitty man was on Thursday sentenced to three years’ imprisonment after being found guilty of armed robbery.

Dear Editor, I am finding it extremely difficult to read what is in some sections of the press about the Fake statement of poll (SoP).

The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) in collaboration with the Trophy Stall will stage a one-day FIDE Rapid Chess tournament.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Singapore has emerged as an option to host this year’s Caribbean Premier League finals if no viable alternatives are forthcoming from the region, organisers have revealed.

Dear Editor, I wish to record my annoyance with some television stations which air BBC News as a filler (filling airtime until time to air scheduled programme).

Carlotta Meusa, the Plaisance woman who was charged last year with falsifying her passport application, was yesterday freed due to insufficient evidence against her.

Dear Editor, The executives and members of the Clerical & Commercial Workers’ Union (CCWU) wish to extend their deepest sympathy to the sorrowing relatives and friends of Kenneth Joseph who died on February 23.

If you are a fan of CrossFit style competitions, then the National Park is the place to be tomorrow.

The police are currently pursuing a man who set two vehicles belonging to a prominent New Amsterdam, Berbice businessman on fire early yesterday morning.

When Paramdai ‘Vanita’ Willie rocked a gold and red sari (her two favourite colours) to sing her original piece “Powah” and was eventually crowned the queen of chutney it was more than just a crown, but it was triumph after years of trying and overcoming difficult periods in her life.

Daredevils get ready, the local motor racing season gets off to an explosive start on March 19th with the staging of the ‘Reaction’ Dragz Meet at the South Dakota Circuit.

Dear Editor, Relatively high production costs for rice and sugar could eventually result in a sharp reduction in the amount of land under cultivation, and loss of generational farming skills.

Hi Everyone, Although I eat fish all year round, during Lent – the 40 days leading up to Easter – I tend to eat even more fish and seafood, mostly because of tradition.

As the probe continues into an attempt to smuggle an AK-47 rifle out of the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) Compound, Eve Leary, three of the five ranks implicated in the plot have been placed under open arrest.

TEGUCIGALPA,  (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – The killing of land rights campaigner Berta Caceres has unleashed a wave of activism in support of women and the environment, said friends, colleagues, and family commemorating the first anniversary of the Honduran’s death.

In an era where image combined with the fitting use of social media garners immense likeability and public approval, it should come as no surprise that politicians are using this recipe to grow and strengthen their political careers.

Top players Nicholas Ali, Jonathan Mangra and Avinash Odit are through to the men’s Open semi-finals of the National Sports Commission, Mashramani badminton tournament which commenced Thursday at the National Gymnasium.

Dear Editor, I am an ardent cricket fan and a fanatic of Berbice cricket who has been following the intricacies  of the Guyana Cricket Board and the Berbice Cricket Board cricket saga, not to mention the court matter between two representatives of Berbice cricket namely, Mr Godwyn Allicock in his capacity as secretary of the Port Mourant Cricket Club, Mr David Black in his capacity as President of the West Berbice Cricket Association and the Berbice Cricket Board.

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions will reply in writing to Senate Democrats’ questions about his meetings with Russia’s ambassador last year, the Justice Department said yesterday after a top Republican denied Democrats’ request for a public hearing.

A new eco-tourism initiative, the Wet Savannah Drive, which involves adventurous two-day trips through the trails to explore indigenous communities, is set to begin on March 12.

Sixty persons were sworn-in by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) on Thursday to serve as traffic wardens under the city constabulary.

BENGALURU,  (Reuters) – India have learnt their lessons from the debacle in Pune and will not repeat the mistakes in the second test against Australia, captain Virat Kohli said yesterday.

Guyanese gospel artiste Samuel Medas, a week ago, won the new artiste of the year award at the Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards in Nassau, Bahamas and was last Thursday honoured by Gizmos & Gadgets.

PORT-AU-PRINCE,  (Reuters) – Former Haitian President Rene Preval, 74, the first leader in Haiti’s history to win a democratic election, serve a full term and peacefully hand power to a successor, died on Friday after falling unconscious at his home.

(Trinidad Express) The silence at the murder scene was broken by the piecing screams of family members of the men shot dead in Debe on Thursday night.

Dear Editor, The appointment of two women to act as Chancellor and Chief Justice in Guyana certainly did not come as a surprise to some in the legal fraternity.

Toolsie Persaud Limited yesterday rewarded 13 customers with gift prizes as part of its Grand Mashramani Promotion.

Country Placed On Alert GOVERNMENT and the Health Ministry virtually placed the country on Red Alert last week as the growing thallium sulphate poisoning assumed new and alarming dimensions.

I suppose people have always been fascinated with the element known as fire.

Sarney Is Here Road, debt rescheduling may be on the Agenda PRESIDENT of Brazil Jose Sarney ar­rived here yesterday on an official visit ex­pected to deepen ties between the two countries.

DAR ES SALAAM, (Reuters) – Tanzanian President John Magufuli ordered the confiscation on Friday of passports belonging to foreign employees of an Indian infrastructure company managing a water project that is running late.

Dear Editor, Two headlines in the Guyana Chronicle caught my attention late last week:  ‘Unity achieved through diversity -President says the Republic started shaping a culturally diverse society (Feb 23); and ‘Ethnic division began with colonizers -Alexander says education vital to achieving social cohesion’ (Feb 24).

As a part of a state visit, President David Granger met the Guyanese diaspora in The Bahamas on Thursday evening and urged them to invest here, particularly in the areas of ‘green’ tourism, education and Information and Communication Technology.

Action in the fifth annual Milo U18 Secondary Schools football championships will continue today at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue with four group matches.

(Barbados Nation) Standard & Poor’s has lowered its long-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on Barbados to CCC+ from B-.

Two days ago the parent company of the popular messaging application Snapchat, ended its first day of trading on the New York Stock Exchange 44 per cent above its initial offering price.