Daily Archive: Friday, April 24, 2009

In unanimous criticism of the backlog of cases in the judicial system and the sloth at which decisions are handed down, the National Assembly yesterday passed a bill setting time limits for judicial decisions and imposing penalties if judges fail to comply.

A teenage taxi service dispatcher was shot in the neck after two bandits pounced on him and his driver on D’Urban Street last night.

Masked pirates struck several miles from the mouth of the Pomeroon River in a brazen afternoon attack on Tuesday leaving those operating three fishing vessels counting their losses, but thankful to have escaped uninjured.

A 22-year-old mother of two was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) early yesterday morning after she was slashed in the abdomen, by her reputed husband.

-IAST director Professor Suresh Narine has lauded President Bharrat Jagdeo’s initiative on avoided deforestation particularly his proposal that countries whose industries pump huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere reimburse countries that conserve their forests.

A contentious election law amendment fixing a system for payment of scrutineers was passed last evening with major division among the opposition parties.

A twenty-nine-year-old mason who allegedly broke and entered another man’s home and stole over $3.7M in tools and other household appliances was granted bail by Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson yesterday  when he appeared before her at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

A fifty-year-old man  was jailed after being found with a quantity of cannabis while the police were conducting a search at his home and he later escaped from police custody as they were taking him  to the police station.

Air Traffic Control has been classified as an ‘essential service’,  in a Bill to amend the Public Utility Undertakings and Public Health Services Arbitration Act, which, if passed, will prohibit strikes in that sector.

After months of preparation the first leg of the 2009 Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) will commence today in Georgetown featuring male and female teams from French Guiana, Suriname and Guyana, competing at football, athletics and swimming.

Frequent power outages over the past few days, sometimes as often as six times a day, have been affecting citizens in sections of the city, the lower East Coast and East Bank Demerara.

Camptown ousts Golden Stars in penalty shoot-out Sunburst Camptown eliminated Golden Grove’s Golden Stars from the Mackeson Stout/Digicel Sweet 16 Football Competition in a nail biting encounter at the Plaisance Community Centre Ground last evening.

Former Guyana and West Indies cricketer 74-year-old Ivan Madray died at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) yesterday, after being admitted the previous day, suffering from hypertension.

Teen still in custody The 17-year-old who allegedly fatally stabbed her stepfather on Wednesday evening remained in police custody up to press time yesterday; her relatives were silent on the incident.

Guyana welcomed German Grand Master Rainer Buhmann yesterday on a three-day visit, the first by a Grand Master in 32 years.

Minister of Sport Dr. Frank Anthony gave some words of encouragement to the female football squad who will be representing Guyana over the next few days against French Guiana and Suriname in the Inter Guiana Games (IGG) Competition.

MIAMI, (Reuters) – A Florida pharmacy said yesterday it had incorrectly mixed a medication given to 21 polo  horses that died this week, as investigators awaited the result  of toxicology tests that could reveal what killed them.

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad has said that while he is pleased with the decrease in flour prices, reports from the ministry’s monitoring of international prices show that the price should be reduced further.

Led by a solid all round performance from Anand Bharat, Bhaiya XI secured a five-wicket victory over Banks DIH when action in the Guyana Softball League (GSL) Trophy Stall sponsored nationwide 15 overs-a side competition continued on Sunday.

City officials are awaiting the release of funds to commence repairs to the run-down East Ruimveldt Municipal Market, this newspaper was told yesterday.

President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) Godwin McPherson says Guyana will not be represented at this year’s Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championship in the British Virgin Islands because the time given for preparation was too short.

A Le Destin, East Bank Essequibo mother whose 26-year-old son, Mario “Ameen” Bernard has been reported missing after he set off to work in the interior has still not gotten any word on his whereabouts.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Belgium-based teenaged midfielder Khaleem Hyland is expected to be called up for Trinidad & Tobago’s Under-20 squad which is preparing for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Egypt later this year.

MONTPELLIER, France, (Reuters) – France’s Alain  Bernard clocked a world record for the 100 metres freestyle in  46.94 seconds in the semi-finals of the French swimming  championships yesterday.

South Korean Ambassador to Guyana Won-Sun Choi pledged to strengthen ties between his country and Guyana, during a brief ceremony when he presented his credentials this week to President Bharrat Jagdeo.

BAGHDAD, (Reuters) – Two suicide bombers wearing  vests full of explosives blew themselves up in separate attacks  yesterday, killing 76 people, including many Iranian pilgrims,  in what appeared to be Iraq’s bloodiest day in over a year.

A teenager was shot in his right hand on Wednesday night while awaiting transportation at Oleander Gardens, East Coast Demerara.

HOUSTON, (Reuters) – Allen Stanford says he is  innocent and intends to fight any fraud charges against him.

but impending rains could spoil the party For several weeks now urban consumers have been taking advantage of significant reductions in the prices of a range of fish in the city’s municipal markets while vendors have told Stabroek Business that exporters for retail outlets in some Caribbean territories have also been cashing in on this unexpected windfall.

National Under-19 wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble has been chosen to lead defending champions Berbice in their campaign to defend their Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/GTM sponsored Under-19 Inter-county title.

GCB to meet with management team today Prior to the Guyana national cricket team’s departure for their first of four away matches in the just-concluded West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) sponsored Headley/Weekes Regional four-day competition, this reporter asked the question “How will they fare?”

JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) – Thousands of ANC  supporters celebrated with Jacob Zuma in Johannesburg yesterday as the ruling party took a commanding lead in an  election that seemed certain to make him president.

Private sector forum talks must be taken to ‘different level’ – Chintamani President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Chandradat Chintamani has told Stabroek Business that the private sector forum that formed part of the recently concluded Fifth Summit of the Americas in Port-of-Spain can lay the foundation for enhanced United States private sector investment in the region if the interaction that took place at the summit is taken beyond mere discourse.

Dear Editor, The Board of Directors of the New Building Society Limited (NBS) has reviewed statements appearing in some sections of the media attributed to particular spokesperson(s) calling themselves “Concerned Members.”

A national policy for senior citizens is being drafted by the Commission on the Elderly, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Priya Manickchand says.

Rajasthan in super over win DURBAN, (Reuters) – AB de Villiers blasted the  first century of the second edition of the Indian Premier League  (IPL) to lead the Delhi Daredevils to a nine-run victory over  the Chennai Super Kings at Kingsmead in Durban yesterday.

Dear Editor, As we were doing our daily monitoring of the newspapers we read the accounts of the young woman whose throat was slashed by her child-father ‘Jealous man stabs woman, slashes her throat,’ SN April 21).

Police yesterday arrested a man, heading to Trinidad with more than two kilograms of cocaine in his luggage at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – President Barack Obama  urged U.S. credit card company executives on Thursday to stop  unfair rate increases and be more transparent and accountable,  tapping into popular outrage over abusive lending.

Agriculture: Seizing the moment, grasping the opportunity This newspaper has already commented on what it believes to be the enhanced significance of Guyana’s agricultural sector as a critical element in the national response to the impact of the global economic crisis.

Dear Editor, The letter written by Charles Sohan titled, ‘The city needs a plan of action quickly to deal with flooding’ (SN 22.4.09) is useful, and provides helpful information for the council, the citizens, the government, the international community and all who are concerned about the welfare of our capital.

GENEVA, (Reuters) – The United Nations has expelled  three activist groups for “unacceptable disruptive behaviour” at  its Geneva conference on racism, including noisy protests during  a Monday appearance by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

ATLANTA, (Reuters) – Dwyane Wade returned to form  with 33 points to lead the Miami Heat to a 108-93 road win over  the Atlanta Hawks and tie their Eastern Conference playoff  series at 1-1 yesterday.

(Trinidad Express) – Police on Wednesday arrested 17 people after raiding several homes in the Factory Road, Covigne Road and Dillon Street, Diego Martin, areas between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.

Dear Editor, It was too good to believe and the honeymoon is over.

PARIS, (Reuters) – France’s highest court annulled  the 2008 election of a mayor in the southern town of Perpignan  yesterday, after the head of a polling station tried to change  the result by smuggling in ballots in his socks.

…as Rose Hall Club, Western Union team up The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club’s (RHTYSC) first ever Junior Cricketers Ambassador programme which is being sponsored by Western Union to the tune of $150,000, was launched at the sponsor’s office this week.

Jamaicans have been bracing for what local media’s been describing as a big tax package in the budget being presented by Finance Minister Audley Shaw.

By Rawle Lucas Rawle Lucas is a Guyanese-born Certified Public Accountant and Assistant Vice-President of the Lending Services Division.

CARACAS,  (Reuters) – Interpol has issued an arrest  warrant for Venezuelan opposition leader Manuel Rosales, who is  seeking asylum in Peru after President Hugo Chavez’s government  accused him of corruption, authorities said yesterday.

International tourism body says sector will bounce back Unfolding evidence of a steady decline in the regional tourism sector is symptomatic of a broader negative impact of the global economic downturn on both mature and emerging tourism industries that will persist in the short to medium term, according to a monitoring body set up recently by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

MIAMI, (Reuters) – Players from the rebel Indian  Cricket League and some big names from the sport’s past are to  take part in an as yet unauthorised Twenty20 tournament in New  York in October, the event organiser told Reuters yesterday.

…as part of poverty relief scheme The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Wednesday donated 46 sheep valued $1M to Maria Johanna residents to help create jobs.

MONTEGO BAY, St James (Jamaica Observer) – Contrary to reports that 21-year-old hijacker Stephen Fray slipped undetected through the Sangster International Airport’s security system, security cameras recorded a rather different train of events.

Dear Editor, The first line of our National Pledge says “I pledge myself to honour always the flag of Guyana,” but this line is not adhered to by the department of government which is responsible for putting up our national flag on lamp-posts on special occasions.

(Trinidad Express) – As police hunt for the man linked to four murders in Agostini Village, Rio Claro, Mayaro MP Winston “Gypsy” Peters is calling for a meeting with Minister of National Security Martin Joseph.

LEICESTER, England, CMC – West Indies’ strong start to their tour of England has left a smile on the face of their coach John Dyson.

Dear Editor, Let’s all work together to keep Guyana afloat.  Let us show the naysayers that they will not have the final word. 

ANKARA/YEREVAN, (Reuters) – Turkey and Armenia have  agreed on a road map to normalise ties after nearly a century of  hostility, a move quickly welcomed by the European Union and the  United States, but which could upset oil-rich Azerbaijan.

Bird feeding near the Kingston sea wall.

By Nicosia Smith Steps to economic recovery taken over the past few years have fallen back as Linden slides once more into a depression.

The file on a forgery allegation pertaining to Supreme Court Registrar Sita Ramlal is back with the police after the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) recommended further investigation for the second time in the last two weeks.

The Fifth Summit of the Americas last weekend was a big deal for Trinidad and Tobago.

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Nobel Peace Prize winner  Muhammad Yunus, known as the “banker to the poor” for making  small loans in impoverished countries, is now doing business in  the center of capitalism — New York City.

On Tuesday, the Port Mourant Cricket Club in collaboration with New York-based Legends of Port Mourant handed over some gear to young, aspiring cricketers.

Dear Editor, Both the government and FITUG have condemned UN Minority Expert Ms Gay McDougall’s report on the minority status of Afrikans in Guyana in the strongest of terms, calling it among other names offensive and divisive.

Letting our people know What? FOI Laws? Capitalism? I’m attempting to examine the issue of real, but responsible freedom of information as it relates to citizens’ rights in our own society.

Finding creative ways of bringing relief to Guyanese consumers at a time when the impact of the current economic downturn has resulted in reduced spending power ought to be one of the primary concerns of the local private sector, according to President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Chandradat Chintamani.

(Trinidad Express) – A 51-year-old woman was attacked by a caiman on Wednesday, as she made her way to work in the early hours of the morning.

Public Works Ministry workers tended to the potholes on Quamina Street yesterday.