Daily Archive: Friday, June 2, 2017

President David Granger today rejected the second list of nominees for chairmanship of the Guyana Elections Commission as provided by the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo.

The PPP today condemned the government over Sunday’s arrests of Chenapau residents for alleged illegal mining.

The Government today said that as an act of good faith it won’t prosecute the persons recently held in the Kaieteur National park for alleged illegal mining.

BERLIN/BRUSSELS, (Reuters) – China and Europe pledged today to unite to save what German Chancellor Angela Merkel called “our Mother Earth”, standing firmly against President Donald Trump’s decision to take the United States out of the Paris climate change pact.

(Trinidad Guardian) The Law Association last night called on Chief Justice Ivor Archie to step down after passing historic no-confidence motions against the CJ and members of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC) over its handling of the short-lived appointment of former chief magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar.

Following reviews of the technical and environmental aspects of the Liza Project Development Plan that was submitted by Esso Exploration and Production (Guyana) Ltd (EEPGL) in December, 2017, the Government is expected to grant a production licence to ExxonMobil for production of petroleum to move ahead in 2020.

The National Toshaos Council (NTC) yesterday declared that the Kaieteur National Park (KNP) is an infringement on the rights of the Patamona community and it called on President David Granger to address this matter and to have all charges recently brought against persons mining in the area dropped.

Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson yesterday said all systems have been activated to mitigate any flooding after the Hydrometeorological Service predicted heavy rainfall.

Current floods in the upper and middle Mazaruni are being linked by residents with mining activity, the Guyana Human Rights Association said yesterday in a statement.

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) yesterday announced that Brigadier George Lewis has been appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer at the institution with effect from June 01, 2017.

Two years after it entered office, the APNU+AFC government is yet to fulfil key promises on constitutional reform, a revived integrity commission and a code of conduct for senior officials, while even commitments such as lowering VAT have been diluted.

During intense interrogation by B Division’s investigators, Adesh Mulloo of Number 58 Village, Corentyne yesterday confessed to beating his wife to death, the police said.

The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) is seeking the arrest of a former accountant of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Peter Ramcharran, in order to for him to stand trial on charges that he allegedly falsified the organisation’s accounts.

Although cleared of causing the death of traffic policeman Nakosi ‘Kelvin’ LaFleur, driver Ron Cole was yesterday sentenced to six months in jail on the lesser charge of dangerous driving.

  Defending champions Demerara remained unbeaten and will square off with the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Select Under –17 XI in the GCB/Hand-in-Hand Inter-County U19 50 Over tournament today.

Two Chinese nationals were yesterday fined and ordered deported after they admitted to spending almost a year more than the time granted to them to stay in Guyana.

(Reuters) – The owners of a Mexican hotel using the name Hotel California on Wednesday said a trademark infringement lawsuit by the Eagles, whose song “Hotel California” is arguably the band’s most famous, should be dismissed.

Funding for the South American U-20 Championships have been trickling in at the 11th hour but the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG) is still “very much in the red” ahead of the two-day event which starts tomorrow.

Academic and constitutional lawyer Harold Lutchman has said that the conflict of interest created when union leader Patrick Yarde was appointed as acting head of the Public Service Commission (PSC) shows that a need exists for discussion and possible amendment to the constitutional requirement for membership to the body.

The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) is examining ways to reduce the cost of its housing units, whilst maintaining quality.

OXON HILL, Md.,  (Reuters) – Ananya Vinay of Fresno, California won the Scripps National Spelling Bee yesterday, taking home a $40,000 cash prize after 12 hours of picking her way along a precarious lifeline of consonants and vowels.

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Batting coach Toby Radford has backed West Indies’ power-hitters to come good against Afghanistan but has warned them against taking the minnows for granted in the three-match Twenty20 International series starting here today.

Former Natural Resources Minister under the PPP/C administration, Robert Persaud yesterday said that there was never any contemplation of mining in the Kaieteur National Park.

CARDIFF (Reuters) – Real Madrid’s irresistible attack slams into Juventus’s seemingly immovable defence tomorrow when the free-scoring Spanish aristocrats hope to become the first club to win the Champions League in successive seasons.

BASSETERRE, St Kitts,CMC – New boy Ronsford Beaton says he is thrilled with his call-up to senior West Indies colours and is now focussed on delivering in order to cement his spot in the squad.

A Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara businesswoman is calling for daily police patrols in the community after she and her 81-year-old mother were victims of a brazen daylight robbery.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor says her side will need to make adjustments from the Twenty20 format if they are to be successful in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup.

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is presently conducting investigations to ascertain if any members of its Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) are involved in the trafficking of narcotics, Commissioner General Godfrey Statia told Stabroek News yesterday.

PARIS(Reuters) – Andy Murray’s struggles on clay this season came back to plague him on Thursday as he ground out an unconvincing 6-7(3) 6-2 6-2 7-6(3) win against Slovakian big-hitter Martin Klizan.

The Guyana Bar Association (GBA) held its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday the 31st day of May, 2017 at Court 1, Victoria Law Courts, Georgetown where the following persons were elected to serve for one year as prescribed by the Rules of the Association :- Executive: President                             –              Kamal Ramkarran Vice President                   –              Robin Stoby, S.C.

Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) Owen Verwey has proffered an upbeat assessment of the recent visit to Brazil by a delegation of functionaries from a number of state agencies at the invitation of the Federation of Industries of the State of Roraima, which, his assessment suggests, points to the likelihood of a closer cooperation between the two countries in various key areas of key mutual economic interest.

PARIS,(Reuters) – Ninth seed Agnieszka Radwanska lived up to her nickname as the ‘Professor’ when she dug deep into her toolbox of tactics to repel tenacious qualifier Alison Van Uytvanck 6-7(3) 6-2 6-3 in the French Open second round on Thursday.

Following a recent pirate attack on fishermen in the Waini River, a call has been made for coast guards to widen their patrols.

PARIS,  (Reuters) – Gael Monfils cantered into the French Open third round, easing concerns he had going into his home grand slam with a 6-1 6-4 6-1 victory over Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro on Thursday to set up a mouth-watering clash with compatriot Richard Gasquet.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – President Donald Trump said yesterday he would withdraw the United States from the landmark 2015 global agreement to fight climate change, a move that fulfilled a major campaign pledge but drew condemnation from U.S.

Concerns expressed by members of recently created gold mining syndicates arising out of what they say are delays in the processing of applications for the allocation of state lands for mining were expected to get the attention of Cabinet this week.

The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited (GBTI Ltd) yesterday commissioned an ATM  at the Medicare Building at Lot 22 Mon Repos, a press release from the bank said.

Dear Editor, I welcome the statement issued recently by the Women & Gender Equality Commission (WGEC) calling for the repeal of archaic and discriminatory laws.

HOUSTON,  (Reuters) – Exxon Mobil Corp investors will push to meet with oil company officials this summer to hash out elements of a climate-impact analysis following a shareholder vote calling for studies of technology and climate-related risks to its business.

The potential, opportunities and challenges inherent in the development of river fronts as an economic opportunity and as a development that will contribute to the building of a viable tourism infrastructure in Guyana will be the focus of a June 30 development forum as part of the broader Linden River Front Festival.

The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) wrapped up its 15th anniversary celebrations on Tuesday at the Umana Yana by honouring its longstanding employees with awards for their service and achievement.

DOCKYARD, Bermuda, CMC – Sir Ben Ainslie’s British boat Land Rover BAR enjoyed a day of fluctuating fortunes as America’s Cup qualifiers continued in the Great Sound yesterday when winds remained light, barely above the six knots required for racing.

Dear Editor, The Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has noted a letter appearing in your Monday, May 29 edition by Mr Ganga Persaud titled ‘Rice farmers are being exploited by millers’ and wish to make the following clarification: The GRDB is a semi-autonomous agency under the Ministry of Agriculture that regulates and provides services to the rice industry.

SAN FRANCISCO, (Reuters) – California Governor Jerry Brown said yesterday he will discuss merging carbon trading markets in his state and China when he travels to Asia later this week, a sign of the governor’s ambition to influence global climate change policy.

The Ministry of Social Protection’s Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit yesterday began training of frontline operators from Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine to better address this scourge.

A 60-year-old Richmond Hill, Linden man is now nursing minor injuries after his house collapsed on him yesterday afternoon.

(Reuters) – Swede David Lingmerth and American Jason Dufner emerged from hibernation to share the first round lead at the Memorial tournament on Thursday as world number one Dustin Johnson stumbled with a six-over-par 78 in Dublin, Ohio.

Caribbean territories seeking to take their respective tourism industries to a higher level will have to prepare to service the market in the future by adapting to transformation in the requirements of the market according to the recently released Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) study, ‘Tourism Industry Reform: Strategies for Enhanced Economic Impact’.

Dear Editor, Many hopeful citizens are extremely upset with the Ministry of Communities right now. 

CARACAS,  (Reuters) – Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro pledged yesterday to hold a referendum on a new constitution he is proposing in response to two months of protests by opponents who call him a dictator and want an end to socialist rule.

LONDON,(Reuters) – Joe Root shrugged off a calf injury to hit a superb unbeaten 133 and lead England to a comfortable eight-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the opening Champions Trophy game at The Oval on Thursday.

The Lethem Municipality is gearing up for the first-ever Lethem Town Week, according to a release yesterday from the Ministry of Communities.

Having just recently completed its first major collective assignment as a body, the General Contractors Association of Guyana (GCAG) is still in the process of assessing its performance at the May 26-28 Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) Housing Solutions 2017 and Beyond event, its Secretary Neil Cort-Rogers has said.

Dear Editor, I wish to refer to the letter ‘Was Jagan a communist?’

Dear Editor, I write this letter today to remind your readers of a few modern day unsung heroes who battle an epidemic that continues to ravage Guyana and indeed, the world.

GASCI (www.gasci.com/telephone Nº 223-6175/6) reports that session 723’s trading results showed consideration of $47,404,323 from 518,235 shares traded in 16 transactions as compared to session 722’s trading results, which showed consideration of $11,389,841 from 215,659 shares traded in 18 transactions. 

(Reuters) – The cricket boards of Pakistan and Afghanistan have cancelled all proposed fixtures between the two countries following Wednesday’s truck bomb in Kabul.

HAVANA,  (Reuters) – With less than a year until Raul Castro steps down as president, Cuba’s parliament approved documents yesterday confirming the Communist Party as the country’s guiding force and banning the concentration of private property and wealth.

Twenty-two youths yesterday graduated from the third staging of the Financial Literacy and Small Business Programme at the Racquet Centre, Woolford Avenue and were urged to consider entering the technology sector by Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin.

LONDON, (Reuters) – England captain Eoin Morgan said the side injury suffered by all-rounder Chris Woakes was a major concern after his team crushed Bangladesh by eight wickets in the opening game of the Champions Trophy on Thursday.

Dear Editor, Reference is made to an article in the Stabroek News dated Monday, May 29, with the caption, ‘Appointment of Deputy REO of Region Three questioned.’

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Former FBI Director James Comey will testify next Thursday before a U.S.

Dear Editor, Recently, the media has been carrying debates and commentaries on several issues surrounding the education and training of aspirants in the critical field of nursing; major factors seem to include methodical aspects such as the formal academic attainment of students, the size of classes, teachers lacking the necessary clinical preparation, teaching aids, computers, etc, coupled with the usual ‘finger pointing’ to other persons, programmes and facilities so typical of our compatriots.

(Trinidad Express) Joint police and army patrols have been increased in central Trinidad, in response to the murders last weekend of three business owners, says Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon.

SAO PAULO, (Reuters) – Brazilian police are to investigate the possible disappearance of the bones of Mane Garrincha, the legendary winger who died in 1983 but whose whereabouts have been shrouded in mystery since cemetery officials admitted they don’t know where he is buried.

Gold Prices for the three-day period ending Thursday June 1, 2017

The second in this series of columns on Oil and gas turns its attention to the legislative and regulatory framework for the exploration and production of oil and gas in Guyana.

(Trinidad Guardian) Law enforcement officers yesterday raised concerns about the security in place at this country’s ports of entry, after they discovered three high-powered assault rifles – AK47s – in a barrel containing loose dog food at the El Socorro Bond area of Piarco Air Services.

  PANAMA CITY, (Reuters) – Panamanian authorities arrested 64 people and seized four tonnes of cocaine following a two-year investigation into a drug trafficking ring, the government said on Wednesday.

The Luminous Women’s Group, in collaboration with the Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel, on Wednesday hosted the children of the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre and the Harold B.

Compelled to return briefly to my lead issue above, I remind that I wrote in part last Friday: “From submersibles in the North-West District to light aeroplanes to sawmills to arranging US visas, which type of individual(s) is/are most “qualified” to manage such enterprise?” 

Dear Editor, Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee Chairman, Mr Irfaan Ali and his colleague Mr Juan Edghill were very disrespectful towards the CEO of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Mr Allan Johnson, who appeared before them on Monday to answer questions pertaining to the GPHC financial audit for the year 2015-16.

Our decision to embark on a series of articles on food safety particularly as it relates to street vending derived from informal discussions with a handful of readers, insights secured from the usually helpful Director of the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GAFDD) Mr Marlan Cole and what one might call street observations by writers.

It would be safe to say, given the low population of Guyana, that domestic violence has become a major scourge of this nation, contributing, along with suicide and wanton criminality to a loss of ethos.