Daily Archive: Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugh Todd this evening confirmed that the 12 Guyanese fishermen detained in Venezuela have been released and will begin their journey home at first light.

A teenager was today charged with the attempted murder of his parents, whom he allegedly chopped in an attack at their Best Village, West Coast Demerara home on Saturday.

HOUSTON, (Reuters) – Exxon Mobil Corp today posted a historic annual loss after the COVID-19 pandemic hammered energy prices and reduced the value of the company’s shale gas properties by more than US$20 billion.

The Ministry of Human Services today said it is investigating an allegation that one of its officers may have assaulted a pensioner at its Cornhill Street location and the officer in question has been sent on administrative leave to facilitate the probe.

(Jamaica Observer) After 12 years, a case the police say had gone cold has been revived and a charge laid yesterday against Portland businessman Everton “Beachy Stout” McDonald for the murder of his first wife, Marlene McDonald.

MOSCOW,  (Reuters) – Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine was 91.6% effective in preventing people from developing COVID-19, according to peer-reviewed results from its late-stage clinical trial published in The Lancent international medical journal today.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez described being terrified for her life during the storming of the U.S.

 (Reuters) – Hal Holbrook, an award-winning actor acclaimed for his one-man portrayal of American literary legend Mark Twain and whose film work included portraying the mysterious “Deep Throat” in “All the President’s Men,” has died at the age of 95, the New York Times reported today.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony yesterday said  that Guyana is expected to receive around 104,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine as the WHO-led mechanism, COVAX has increased its allocation to the country.

 A Corentyne mother is now left to mourn the loss of her two sons after her husband’s brother stabbed them to death on Sunday, an attack which also left the woman hospitalised at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital. 

After two months of defiance, the Ministry of Agriculture yesterday finally released the name of the owner of two trawling licences, the issuing of which had roiled the industry and raised questions about transparency.

A 49-year-old employee attached to Gaico Construction and General Services Inc.

More than nine months after Pomeroon River farmer Ryan Khayum lost his life in an accident involving a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) vessel, a soldier was yesterday formally charged with manslaughter and released on $300,000 bail.

Finding that their defence was insufficiently put to a jury, the Guyana Court of Appeal yesterday quashed the convictions against Ray Yokum, Steffon Campbell and Faisal Moore; while ordering that they face a fresh trial for the 2012 murder of Glen Xavier.

As food supplies on Lady Nayera and the Sea Wolf dwindle, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is hoping to utilize Guyana’s embassy in Caracas to fund supplies for the 12 fishermen still detained in Venezuela.

President Irfaan Ali yesterday received Letters of Credence from Mark Berman, accrediting him as High Commissioner Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to Guyana.

Stafrei Alexander was yesterday acquitted of the murder of Terrence Maxwell Thomas, with whom he had previously been charged for the 2015 murder of Linden businesswoman Shevon Gordon.

A man was yesterday remanded over the murder of Mark Benjamin, a vagrant who was bludgeoned to death with a brick while he slept.

Commissioner of Police, Nigel Hoppie, DSM at a simple ceremony recently, commended Rural Constable and national cricketer, Kemol Savory, on his selection to the Guyana Jaguars Super50 squad.

The operation of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament was left in limbo yesterday after opposition members refused to entertain a motion seeking to remove APNU+AFC MP David Patterson as Chair.

Head coach Phil Simmons is pleased with the work of the West Indies players have put in towards what they have been looking to achieve ahead of the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh.

A mechanic was yesterday found dead, hanging from a step at his Meten-Meer-Zorg, West  Demerara residence.

Candidate Master Taffin Khan defeated Anthony Drayton in their top-of-the-table clash to assume sole lead of the Guyana Chess Federation’s National Chess Championship following Sunday’s play at the National Stadium, Providence.

CHATTOGRAM, Bangladesh, CMC – Interim Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite believes the drawn tour game here Sunday has provided West Indies with the ideal warm-up for the first Test, and says the side must now focus on executing their plans in the upcoming series.

President Irfaan Ali on Sunday says that he is open to constructive criticism and committed to engaging all stakeholders for the development of Guyana.

Rupert Marshall,  convicted three times for driving under the influence, was on Thursday permanently disqualified from having a licence.

When Kevin Sinclair turns out for Guyana Jaguars in this year’s Regional Super50, consistency will be his main focus as he looks to better his performances of the previous season.

Sentenced back in 2016 to 88 years for the murder of his former girlfriend, Jermaine Maynard currently has an appeal pending before the Guyana Court of Appeal where he is challenging the sentence which he describes as severe.

The Amateur Athletic Association’s (AAG) first Developmental Meet for the year is expected to get cracking this weekend at the Leonora Facility.

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) said that it is investigating reports of the launch of an unsanctioned football tournament on the East Coast of Demerara.

Guyana yesterday recorded its 177th COVID-19 fatality even as new cases were recorded.

Russell Westbrook hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 4.3 seconds remaining as the host Washington Wizards posted an unlikely 149-146 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday night.

Dear Editor, The independence vision of Guyana beckoned all Guyanese to high ground: one nation, one people, one destiny.

Twenty-four hours after a 5.7 magnitude earthquake rocked the Deep South Rupununi, communities close to the epicentre are still experiencing aftershocks according to reports from the region.

Dear Editor, Hats off to the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development for ordering a forensic audit of the Georgetown Municipality!

BRASILIA,  (Reuters) – Brazil’s Congress yesterday chose lawmakers endorsed by President Jair Bolsonaro as speakers of its two chambers, giving the far-right leader a base among center-right politicians with whom he had once vowed never to ally.

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – After meeting with Republican senators at the White House yesterday, President Joe Biden appeared poised to push forward with his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan even if it fails to draw Republican support.

Starting yesterday, and for 14 days, 14 of Digicel’s  customers can expect to become millionaires by participating in the mobile operator’s “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” promotion.

Dear Editor, On behalf of my organization, New York Guyana Democracy Project (NYGDP), I extend warmest congratulations to Mr.

CHATTOGRAM, Bangladesh, CMC – Head coach Phil Simmons has shot down suggestions West Indies will enter the two-Test series against Bangladesh as favourites due to the fact they have played more cricket than the hosts over the last year.

(Jamaica Gleaner) The main suspect in the murder of Andrea Lowe Garwood while at church on Sunday morning has been taken into custody.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden yesterday threatened to reimpose sanctions on Myanmar following a coup by the country’s military leaders and called for a concerted international response to press them to relinquish power.

Small business owners on Thursday were awarded $1 million each by the SBB for their innovative business strategy in the Green Business Technology Fund Programme.

LONDON, (Reuters) – She was never given the chance to shine on an Olympic stage, but squash superstar Nicol David may derive some compensation from being named the World Games Greatest Athlete of All Time.

(Reuters) – Serena Williams showed no signs of rust as she began her season with a comfortable 6-1 6-4 win over Daria Gavrilova in Melbourne yesterday to reach the Yarra Valley Classic round of 16.

Dear Editor, In his letter `No ban on media, Ministry has set simple procedure for reporting on condition of stadium ground’ (SN, 31st January 2021) Minister Charles S Ramson seems genuinely concerned about mischievous reporting in the press about the state of Guyana National Stadium.

A fire yesterday destroyed a dressing room at the Shaheed’s Girls Orphanage in Oleander Gardens, East Coast Demerara.

(Trinidad Guardian) In the first month of 2021, 25 people were murdered in T&T according to official statistics provided by the Police Service.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Mitch McConnell, the top Senate Republican, said yesterday that Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene’s embrace of conspiracy theories was a “cancer” on their party, as House Democrats moved to strip her of committee assignments.

(Reuters) – The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) yesterday announced an investment deal with CVC Capital Partners to broaden the appeal of the sport.

Dear Editor, I refer to the article captioned `Detained fishermen not being mistreated –Todd’ (SN January 31). 

By Joseph E. Stiglitz NEW YORK – US President Joe Biden has proposed a $1.9 trillion rescue plan to help the American economy recover from the pandemic.

A few days ago, China’s President, Xi Jinping, addressed the opening of this year’s Davos World Economic Forum.

In more ways than one the advent of the COVID-19 global pandemic has caused the world to ‘stand still,’ awakening the human community to its collective frailties, not least, what now appears to be a dismantling of that ‘one world to share’ chimera which, over time, and influenced by the Charter of the UN,   we may have deluded ourselves into thinking of as a reality.

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has launched a campaign titled, ‘BEKIND’, to address the upsurge in what it calls ‘unkind behaviours’ which it said recently began appearing on social media.

Fifteen vulnerable women drawn from two local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were given the opportunity to empower themselves by being granted fully funded scholarships compliments of the Office of the First Lady.

(Trinidad Guardian) After decades of operations, activities at the Asa Wright Nature Centre (AWNC) & Lodge have been brought to a halt.

LONDON/TORONTO,  (Reuters) – A social media-driven buying spree lifted silver to an eight-year high yesterday but the rally cooled on doubts about the ability of retail traders who are normally focused on stocks to move prices in a bigger, more liquid commodities market.

SUN, Feb 7          Leewards Hurricanes v Windwards Volcanoes (day match) CCG MON, Feb 8        Guyana Jaguars v Barbados Pride  CCG WED, Feb 10      Leewards Hurricanes v Barbados Pride CCG THU, Feb 11        Jamaica Scorpions v Trinidad & Tobago Red Force  SVRS FRI, Feb 12          Leewards Hurricanes v Guyana Jaguars   CCG SAT, Feb 13         Windwards Volcanoes v Trinidad & Tobago Red Force CCG SUN, Feb 14        Jamaica Scorpions v Guyana Jaguars CCG MON, Feb 15      Trinidad & Tobago Red Force v Barbados Pride SVRS TUE, Feb 16        Windwards Volcanoes v Jamaica ScorpionsCCG WED, Feb 17      Leewards Hurricanes v Trinidad & Tobago Red Force CCG THU, Feb 18        Windwards Volcanoes v Barbados Pride  SVRS FRI, Feb 19          Leewards Hurricanes v Jamaica Scorpions  SVRS SAT, Feb 20         Guyana Jaguars v Trinidad & Tobago Red Force  CCG SUN, Feb 21        Barbados Pride v Jamaica Scorpions   CCG MON, Feb 22      Windwards Volcanoes v Guyana Jaguars SVRS WED, Feb 24       SEMI-FINAL 1   CCG THU, Feb 25        SEMI-FINAL 2   CCG FRI, Feb 26          Fifth placed v Sixth placed  SVRS SAT, Feb 27         FINAL CCG