Daily Archive: Thursday, December 14, 2017

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, today,  denied saying that the entire Cabinet approved the deposit of the US$18 million signing bonus from ExxonMobil in an escrow account at Bank of Guyana (BoG).

(Trinidad Guardian) Over 2,000 school janitors are threatening to stay off the job in the new school term in January if they are not paid outstanding salaries owed since October.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo needs to address behavioural challenges among  his party’s parliamentarians as their actions in disrupting his speech to the National Assembly last month and last Monday’s ruckus in the House are disrespectful and vulgar, President David Granger says.

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan says the US$10M purportedly paid by Canadian oil company, CGX Energy, to lawyers for the state in the maritime boundary dispute between Guyana and Suriname, under the PPP/C administration, should have been recorded in the public accounts.

Two plainclothes policemen were at the press table at parliament yesterday apparently pretending to be reporters and one was ordered away by his superiors after several journalists complained to the Clerk of the National Assembly.

A 30-year-old machine operator is currently battling for his life in a city hospital after he was shot minutes after midnight yesterday by armed bandits who invaded his Kaneville, East Bank Demerara house where a birthday dinner had just been held for his wife.

Eighteen-year-old Ranella Benfield whose body was discovered in a cemetery at Triumph, East Coast Demerara on Monday died as a result of crushing injuries to her face which were inflicted by a blunt object.

Demerara Distillers Ltd (DDL) and newly-founded Natural Gas Company, Icon, have completed two months of a small pilot venture  using natural gas to provide energy and Chairman of DDL, Komal Samaroo says that the progress so far shows the project’s technical feasibility.

Now that President David Granger has disclosed that he made the decision to place the US$18M ExxonMobil signing bonus in a special account at the Bank of Guyana, the transaction should now be regularized, according to former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran.

The National Assembly on Tuesday evening approved a budgeted 2018 expenditure of $32 billion for the Ministry of Public Infrastructure but not before the subject minister was peppered with questions on how it could be designing and supervising projects and paying itself for them.

A 31-year-old East Ruimveldt man was yesterday remanded to prison on a ganja trafficking charge.

The Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) has concluded consultations  on a proposed legislative amendment which provides legal protection from discrimination in relation to the right to work for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Guyana.

Guyana’s hopes of excelling at the Caribbean Development Boxing tournament now rests on the shoulders of young but competent pugilists, Keevin Allicock, Colin Lewis, Joel Williamson and Desmond Amsterdam.

The Office of the Auditor General is working together with police on the investigation into multi-million dollar school feeding fraud in Region Eight and according tao Auditor General Deodat Sharma conclusions will not be made any time soon.

Dear Editor, In the Accountability Watch article of November 13, 2017, I had stated that the United States withdrew from the membership of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) on the grounds that “domestic implementation of the EITI Standard will conflict with the U.S.

The Ministry of Social Cohesion collaborated with the Fusion Fitness gym to host its first obstacle course fitness challenge on Sunday. 

Armed bandits on Tuesday night attacked and robbed two sex workers in the vicinity of Bourda market, who managed to disarm them during a scuffle.

Dear Editor, The world is aware that I have been suspended from the National Assembly and that I cannot ask questions or participate in the scrutiny of the 2018 Estimates of Expenditure.

The policeman who was involved in an accident along the Canefield Public Road, East Canje, Berbice, on Thursday afternoon is expected to be “disciplined departmentally.”

Saturday’s upcoming showdown between two-time defending champions Sparta Boss and Gold is Money is the perfect conclusion for the record-setting 2017 Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Georgetown Zone.

Abosaide Cadogan and Kirsten Gomes secured hard-fought wins in group-B, when the Farfan and Mendes Junior Skill Level Squash Championship, commenced Tuesday at the Georgetown Club Facility, Camp Street.

Dear Editor, I fail to understand the logic behind the closure of the main thoroughfares to vehicular traffic during sittings of Parliament.

Three men posing as passengers in a Route 42 minibus were yesterday morning arrested shortly after they allegedly robbed the driver and several passengers at gunpoint of a quantity of cash and valuables at McDoom, East Bank Demerara.

The past year has been a “decisive” one for the education sector, according to Minister of Education Nicolette Henry, who told the National Assembly last week that for the first time in more than two decades more than 47% of students were able to secure greater than 50% in Mathematics at the grade six level with similar increases in other subject areas.

MUMBAI, (Reuters) – Opener Rohit Sharma smashed his third one-day international double century to set up India’s comprehensive 141-run win against Sri Lanka in the second match of the series at Mohali yesterday.

Dear Editor, The extension of greetings to the Guyanese religious communities on the occasions of religious events of deep significance can be expected from politicians and political parties as routine public relations; patronizing interventions with the aim of scoring political points, however cheap.

LONDON, CMC – West Indies have taken another blow to their Test ranking, following their 2-0 series defeat to New Zealand.

Dear Editor, In the news article ‘President says he took decision on placing US$18m at BoG’ (SN online,  December 13) President David Granger has taken full responsibility for the US$18M ExxonMobil signing bonus not being placed in the Consolidated Fund claiming that the money was in escrow for national security emergency reasons.

The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry on Tuesday hosted their annual donation and 2018 calendar launch at their Corporate office in Kingston.

ISTANBUL,  (Reuters) – Muslim leaders yesterday condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and called on the world to respond by recognising East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.

During a visit to Region Six on Saturday morning, Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence announced that the ministry is expected to “take over” GuySuCo’s health facilities.

Dear Editor, This letter is an appeal to both my government and the opposition to take their roles seriously.

HAMILTON, New Zealand, CMC – Kraigg Brathwaite said it was important for West Indies players to go back to the drawing board and make the necessary adjustments to their game, as they looked to learn from the 2-0 drubbing in the recent series against New Zealand.

Dear Editor, Head of the sugar Special Purpose Unit (SPU), Mr Colvin Heath-London in an article entitled ‘GuySuCo operating in rogue manner’ which appeared in the Guyana Chronicle of December 7, 2017 is reported to have said “…unlike what GAWU and the PPP want others to believe, the sugar industry is not wholly an Indo-Guyanese sector”.

JAKARTA,  (Reuters) – Indonesian prosecutors charged a former parliament speaker yesterday in connection with a $170 million graft scandal after he held up proceedings for hours at the opening of his trial, saying he was ill.

(The Sports Xchange) – Kawhi Leonard made his long-anticipated season debut Tuesday and looked to be in mid-season form, although his San Antonio Spurs fell apart in the fourth quarter without him and lost to the Dallas Mavericks 95-89.

The Ministry of Public Security’s Task Force aimed at the lucrative criminal enterprise of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) is not resting on its laurels, despite its recent elevation to Tier One status in the United States Department of State’s 2017 TIP Report.

CHICAGO,  (Reuters) – Mexican-born actress Salma Hayek has joined the ranks of Hollywood women accusing movie producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct, calling him a “monster” in an article published by the New York Times on Tuesday.

A man gripped by malaria pains was yesterday brought before a city court to answer to a charge that he had damaged two window screens.

LONDON, CMC – Fast bowler Miguel Cummins has made excellent progress in the Test bowling rankings, jumping 14 places in the latest release on Wednesday.

Dear Editor, There is a house which has been on the government reserve for over twenty years.

BOSTON/HOUSTON (Reuters) – Climate activists said on Tuesday they would take a tough shareholder resolution off the table at Exxon Mobil Corp after the company agreed to provide new details about how climate change could affect its business.

JOHN’S, Antigua – There is a great incentive for all six teams to finish the second stage of the Digicel 4-Day Championship season on a successful note before the long break for the Christmas/New Year’s holidays, when they suit-up for the seventh round of matches, starting today.

An electrician was yesterday fined $75,000 after pleading guilty to damaging a windscreen.

PERTH, (Reuters) – Allegations in a British newspaper about attempts to organise spot-fixing during the third Ashes test between Australia and England were a “grave concern”, global governing body the International Cricket Council (ICC) said yesterday.

Dear Editor, The elected MP who breached the security barricade but did not enter the hallowed Chamber was arrested.

CARACAS,  (Reuters) – Venezuela’s opposition received a European Union prize for human rights yesterday and urged the world to keep a close eye on an upcoming presidential election where it aspires to end two decades of socialist rule in the OPEC nation.

The State of the World’s Children (SOWC) 2017 report was launched on Tuesday at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD).

Dear Editor, Skeldon and Enmore, once productive names and vibrant communities, tumble and fall. 

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, CMC – Captain Kane Williamson will be rested for the last two One-Day Internationals against West Indies, while George Worker will replace the injured Martin Guptill at the top of the order, for the three-match series starting next Wednesday.

BUENOS AIRES/WASHINGTON  (Reuters) – The World Trade Organization failed to reach any new agreements yesterday, ending a three-day ministerial conference in discord in the face of stinging U.S.

(Jamaica Observer) Jamaica’s music fraternity is again in shock following the murder of one of its members.

Dear Editor, Regardless of the fact that the allotted time for questions on the budget was not extended, Juan Edghill was out of order.

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence wants to push joint research activities in the use of alternative or folk medicine between Guyana and China.

CHICAGO,  (Reuters) – A new study sheds light on how the mosquito-borne Zika virus causes a rare neurological condition, and the findings could have implications for companies working on Zika vaccines, U.S.

Dear Editor, Last month the suicide by hanging of a fifty-year-old on the Corentyne made headlines.

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – Puerto Rican officials and mayors paid last-minute visits to Capitol Hill yesterday to urge lawmakers to shield the island from a tax proposal they say could destroy 75,000 jobs and wipe out a third of its tax base.

Between Tuesday, November 7 and Monday, December 11, three young women were brutally murdered, and their bodies tossed aside, much like the trash that is mindlessly strewn all around.

“Away, away, what nectar spray she flings about her bow. What diamonds flash in every splash that drips upon my brow.

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – Congressional Republicans reached a deal on final tax legislation yesterday, clearing the way for final votes next week on a package that would slash the U.S.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Four-times Tour de France winner Chris Froome has denied breaking any rules after a urine test he gave during the Vuelta a Espana in September showed excessive levels of an asthma medication.

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – Small-town dramedy “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” led the 2018 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) nominations yesterday in a list that shut out veterans Meryl Streep and Daniel Day-Lewis as well as Steven Spielberg’s press freedom movie “The Post.”