Daily Archive: Saturday, April 18, 2009

  The performance tradition of Ramlila returned to Guyana with last week’s production by the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha at the National Cultural Centre. 

…in new pitch to Americas PORT OF SPAIN, (Reuters) – U.S.

A man is currently being grilled as the police intensify their investigations into Thursday’s attempt on the life of Maria van Beek, while the government has beefed up security for the injured woman, her relatives and the employees of CLICO (Guyana).

Jagdeo to lead Caricom discussions US President Barack Obama yesterday said he is seeking a new chapter of engagement with hemispheric leaders at the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and is ready to move forward with a renewed sense of partnership.

DUBAI, (Reuters) – Pakistan has been stripped of hosting rights for the 2011 World Cup because of the ‘uncertain security situation’ in the country, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said yesterday.

Saying that human rights abuses and issues such as domestic and sexual violence are among escalating concerns in countries meeting at the Fifth Summit of the Americas, civil society groups yesterday called on their respective governments to follow up on agreements that arise from such fora and bring an end to the growing lack of implementation.

The US$60 million Guyana/ Suriname Submarine Cable Project between GT&T and Suriname’s national telephone carrier Telesur is set to continue with near shore surveys slated to commence here shortly.

Determined to be a queen with a difference, this year’s Miss Bartica Regatta is already planning ways in which she can give back to her community.

…too young for Italy championshipsJevina Straker, Guyana’s lone gold medallist at the recent Carifta Games won’t be going to the world junior championships in Italy this year after all as she is too young.

-demands clubs back up accusations Saying that Travis Dowlin has been unjustly accused, the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) is demanding that two county boards provide evidence supporting allegations of racism they made about his captaincy.

Cultural Box The concept of using music to promote peace in these trying times seems wonderful, but it is largely ambitious by any measure.

-in Trinidad ad Sounding an alarm over what it calls “political oppression” here, the AFC has launched an ad campaign to bring its concerns about the Bharrat Jagdeo administration’s governance to the attention of Caribbean and Latin America leaders attending the ongoing Summit of the Americas.

Large scale gold mining at Marudi in Region Nine is a step closer as the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and mining company, Romanex Guyana Exploration Limited, yesterday inked a licence for the company to mine there.

Tastes Like Home Hi Everyone, I’ve never been one to back away from a challenge.

12,000 to benefit The Government and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) yesterday inked a loan deal totalling $5.7B for the housing sector, which is expected to benefit about 12,000 people, representing 8% of the country’s households.

Of the endless string of Jamaican music imports landing here every other month for local entertainment, the presence of Freddie McGregor and Tarrus Riley was a rare blessing; a combination of fresh and enduring reggae sounds worth soaking up.

Conservative captaincy, negative selection almost cost Test series By Reds Perreira The West Indies/England series is now safely behind us.

–VC testifies A Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the rape charge against promoter Colin Mack started yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court with the 19-year-old virtual complainant (VC) and another witness taking the stand.

Live From Abbey Road, a 12-part one-hour performance series/documentary filmed at Abbey Road Studios in London has returned for its second season on DIRECTV, and is available on Sony Entertainment Television, Channel 210 in the basic package.

The Guyana Amateur Power Lifting Federation (GAPLF) has selected a three-man team to compete in the North American Powerlifting Federation’s (NAPF) third annual Caribbean Islands Bench Press and Power lifting Championships set for the US Virgin Islands from May 14 to 16.

The Rotary Club of Georgetown in partnership with three Rotary clubs in the USA and other entities are engaged in a project aimed at boosting the quality of the local ambulance service.

LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK (Billboard) – The Black Eyed Peas’ “Boom Boom Pow” led Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart for a second week on Thursday, while box office champ “Hannah Montana: The Movie” accounted for six tunes on the tally.

The pilot and businessman who was reported as missing in the Chi Chi area, Upper Mazaruni, has been found, police have said.

Next Tuesday, tennis great Venus Williams joins Grammy winner Wyclef Jean on episode five of Iconoclasts at 1 pm on DIRECTV Channel 999.

Dear Editor, In response to the front page article in the Stabroek News March 23, 2009 edition (‘Mining pollution continues at Arau’), a team consisting of the Mines Manager and two officers visited the Arau area from March 25 to April 15, 2009, and this letter serves to communicate the findings of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) based on their report.

–as May/June rains approach Some Regent Street businesspersons are appealing to the authorities to ensure adequate measures are in place for the upcoming May/June rains.

-basketball federation still silent Guyana’s senior national men’s basketball team received a ‘technical’ foul because the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) failed to confirm its attendance at the Caribbean Basketball Confederation’s (CBC) June 28-July 4 Championship in the British Virgin Islands BVI.

Dear Editor, Further to NICIL’s letter (SN  April 10, 2009; KN April 9, 2009; ) and Mr Badal’s response in SN (April 15), a fitting reply would be to simply advise persons to examine the just released 2008 Annual Report of GSI (Guyana).

(Jamaica Gleaner) – Dub poet Benjamin Zephaniah, who is shortlisted for next month’s selection of the UK Poet Laureate, says he would, if chosen, decline the position because of what he said were its imperialistic and anti-poetic qualities.

JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) – Australia bowled out  South Africa for 256 to win the fifth and final one-day  international by 47 runs at the Wanderers yesterday.

TOKYO, (Reuters) – Pakistan secured more than $5  billion in fresh aid over two years at a donors conference yesterday after President Asif Ali Zardari vowed to step up the  fight against militants.

The Private Sector Com-mission (PSC) has condemned Thursday’s shooting of Commissioner of Insurance Maria van Beek which it described as a “cowardly attempted murder”.

Third stage set for tomorrow The third stage in the second annual Cheddi Jagan Memorial 50 mile cycle road race will pedal off tomorrow morning from 9am.

DUBLIN, (Reuters) – Ireland plans to allow the use  in court of secret surveillance evidence to respond to gangland  murders and Northern Irish paramilitary shootings, the justice  minister said yesterday.

The University of Guyana (UG) yesterday launched its new online application process which will be operable from Monday.

(BBC) – At least 90 musicians from more than 30 different countries have given their first performance in the YouTube Symphony Orchestra in New York.

Dear Editor, Truly, I am not at all surprised at the attempted assassination of this wonderful and professional lady (Ms Maria van Beek), and a lady she is, while known to be businesslike, dynamic, and enthusiastic.

Newcomer Remy Rodrigues guided Power House to the front of the tournament in the Guyana Squash Association/Smalta Easter junior team tournament which continued on Thursday at the Georgetown Club courts.

Dear Editor, The dastardly attempt on the life of Ms Maria van Beek should be condemned by all in Guyana.

(EUR) – Rihanna is booked to perform in Dubai on May 28, which will mark her first concert appearance since the February 8 altercation with Chris Brown.

The Government of Guyana has issued a statement correcting a misleading headline in Thursday’s edition of the Kaieteur News.

GUATEMALA CITY, (Reuters) – Guatemalan police have  arrested a street gang leader on suspicion of organizing the  murders of dozens of bus drivers, part of a wave of attacks on  the capital’s public transport system.

CHENNAI, India, (Reuters) – The Indian sports minister has criticised cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and spinner Harbhajan Singh for not attending a function to receive a prestigious government award from the president this week.

CHICAGO, (Reuters) – A study using new imaging  technology found “silent” heart attacks may be far more common,  and more deadly, than suspected, U.S.

Dear Editor, I am writing in defence of my father, Mr Jinnah Rahman, following a letter by Ms Parvati Persaud-Edwards which was published in your letter column on April 4, 2009 (‘Government continues to seek ways to minimize the impact of the global economic crisis on rice farmers’).

-probe hears of other problems Residents of Corriverton want the Town Council to desist from incinerating garbage close to their homes at Princetown and from burning dead animals on the roadways instead of burying them.

Twenty years ago on Valentine’s Day the British writer Salman Rushdie was placed under a death sentence by a foreign government for writing an “offensive” novel.