Guyana News

The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) said yesterday that it was forced to prematurely close the second crop because of low turnout of harvesters across the estates which were still grinding.

PNCR leader Robert Corbin yesterday accused the ruling party of creating a slush fund for electioneering with the recent moves to secure billions of dollars for the housing sector—a charge that PPP General Secretary Donald Ramotar has firmly rejected.

As Guyanese wake to another general election year, President Bharrat Jagdeo in his New Year message called on them to demonstrate their will by way of the polls on who they want to govern them and to do so in a mature manner.

PNCR Leader Robert Corbin has labeled 2011 “The Year of Redemption,” saying it offers Guyanese “an opportun-ity…to take relevant action” that would ensure the nation’s progress towards genuine development in a peaceful and free environment.

The Guyana Police Force yesterday offered an “unqualified apology” to actor and stand-up comedian Lyndon ‘Jumbie’ Jones for his incarceration last weekend, which they described as a case of mistaken identity.

Former Senior Director in the CARICOM Secretariat’s Office of Trade Negotiations (OTN) Carl Greenidge says the recent decision against renewing his contract came as a surprise.

The death of an elderly American man at Sand Creek, Rupununi was being investigated yesterday by police but Divisional Commander David Ramnarine said that as far as he was aware, no foul play was involved.

A police officer accused of bribery was yesterday granted $50,000 bail when he appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Remedial works to the bungled ferry stelling at Good Hope on the Essequibo Coast are expected to commence as early as this month, Works Minister Robeson Benn has said.

On Thursday, the National Assembly passed amendments to the Defence Act, raising the minimum age for entry to the regular Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to eighteen.

Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Khurshid Sattaur yesterday launched one of three status monitors at the John Fernandes Wharf.

Twelve-year-old Clinton Warde Jr of Paradise, West Coast Berbice is recovering from successful surgery for a brain tumour in Canada and is thankful that his wish for good health in 2011 has been granted.

As part of its plans for the 2011, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) is to meet with the leadership of the political parties to ensure polls are conducted in a peaceful manner.

ABIDJAN/GENEVA, (Reuters) – A senior United Nations  official warned incumbent Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo  and other senior officials yesterday they may be held criminally  accountable for human rights violations.

NEW YORK/LONDON,  (Reuters) – World stocks ended 2010  at their highest levels in 28 months yesterday and oil touched  a 26-month peak as expectations of a further recovery in the  global economy supported investors’ appetite for risk heading  into the new year.

ABUJA,  (Reuters) – At least 4 people were killed and  more than a dozen injured in an explosion at a crowded market in  Nigeria’s capital Abuja late yesterday, the police said.

BEIJING/NEW YORK,  (Reuters) – The popular Internet  telephone service Skype could be dealt a major setback in one  of the world’s largest markets as the Chinese government cracks  down on what it called illegal Internet telephone providers.

MOSCOW – Russia rejected yesterday criticism by the West of  a ruling to keep jailed tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky in prison  until late 2017, saying foreign states had no right to try to  influence Russian courts.

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s ascension to the BRIC group of major emerging economies was more about politics than economics and reflects expectations it will be the gateway for investment in the fast-growing continent.

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, (Reuters) – A bomb killed 21 people  outside a church in the Egyptian city of Alexandria early today, and the interior ministry said a foreign-backed  suicide bomber may have been responsible.