Daily Archive: Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Guyana and Norway yesterday signed an agreement that will see Oslo paying US$30 million ($6.2 billion) next year and potentially up to US$250 million ($51.7 billion) by 2015 for Guyana to preserve its forests.

– apparently strangled The body of a 26-year-old woman was fished out of a trench at Silk Cotton Dam, Zeelugt, West Coast Demerara (WCD) at approximately 06:30 hrs yesterday with marks of violence around the neck and other areas.

Police indicated yesterday that the 16-year-old student of New Amsterdam Multilateral School was fatally beaten at Number 63 Beach on Sunday after he had picked watermelon from a farm located close to the beach.

The attorney for the teen tortured by police says that his client denied being involved in the murder of retired Region Three Vice-Chairman Ramenauth Bisram and said he was burnt because he refused to sign a statement admitting to the murder.

– Ramsammy finds criticism unfair The Periwinkle Club The Periwinkle Club was formed in 2006 to assist cancer survivors, offering a forum for advocacy and sensitizing the public to the risks of cancer.

The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) has accused Police Surgeon Mahendra Chand of ignoring the abuse of a teen who was tortured while in custody and yesterday called for him to be relieved of duties in the police force and the prison service.

The Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI) yesterday announced the inclusion of a resident interventional cardiologist on its local team, a step which it hailed as significant because the institute now has the ability to handle emergency cardiac problems.

– youth leader hopes skills training will help Residents of Moraikobe, Mahaicony Creek are concerned about the prevalence of teenage pregnancy and substance abuse in the area especially among school drop-outs who are not engaged in meaningful activities.

-prosecution seeking key witness Magistrate Hazel Octive Hamilton last Thursday adjourned the trial of Fred Sukhdeo for the US$2 million GuyFlag insurance fraud allegedly committed on the Sacred Heart Church, to allow the prosecution to locate a key witness who is based in Barbados.

Residents of the Onverwagt Compound, West Berbice have lamented the deplorable condition of the streets and drains and are calling for them to be fixed urgently before they get worse.

Six hundred and seventy-nine young people graduated from the President’s Youth Award Republic of Guyana (PYARG) programme as it celebrated its 11th anniversary at a ceremony held two Saturdays ago at the National Cultural Centre.

Search for Aliya continues For a third consecutive day, the search for Aliya Bulkan, who plunged off the Kaieteur Falls on Saturday morning, was unsuccessful.

Colwyn King, president of the Guyana Teacher’s Union (GTU) was further remanded to prison when he made yet another appearance before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Three-year-old Rani Lall who was struck down by a vehicle belonging to the Guyana Prison Service last Tuesday, died yesterday in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).

Red Cross representatives from several countries the region yesterday began a workshop on capacity building as the organisation and its affiliates work on a new strategy to meet the needs of communities.

Justice James Bovell-Drakes yesterday sentenced Mark Samuels to hang for the murder of his reputed wife.

– defence seeks to block caution statement A mother, who was accused four years ago of murdering her two children, is currently on trial at the High Court before Justice Brassington Reynolds.

A Wakenaam man was yesterday denied bail on the charge of carnal knowledge when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson.

Parents closed the doors of the St Ignatius Primary School in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) last Friday because of the lack of potable water.

Asks Rawle Toney The Beepat Scorpions Basketball Club hosted its annual All-Star Weekend which saw Guyana and senior ballers competing in the Three-Point and Slam Dunk contest and also the All-Star games, held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall November 7-8.

The top four teams of the recently-concluded Georgetown Football Association (GFA) organized, Western Union First Division League were awarded for their performances in  Western Union’s main branch building yesterday.

A two-day Teacher Education Workshop was launched on Thursday to help reform the delivery of teacher education across Guyana in both technical and vocational areas to ensure efficient and effective practices in the classroom.

Wendell Meusa dethroned defending national chess champion Kriskal Persaud winning the national men’s Closed chess tournament with two rounds to spare.

SYDNEY, Australia,  CMC – More players from the Caribbean may get a chance to play domestic Twenty20 cricket in Australia.

British boxer David Haye hopes to have two London title defences in 2010 after becoming new WBA heavyweight champion.

PARIS,  (Reuters) – Former world number one Marat  Safin, in his final tournament before retiring, squeezed past  French qualifier Thierry Ascione 6-4 4-6 7-6 in a Paris Masters  first-round match yesterday.

BASSETERRE, St Kitts,  CMC – West Indies maintained their stranglehold over England yesterday, beating them by four wickets in the opening Twenty20 International of the three-match series at Warner Park.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates,  CMC – Exciting teenaged West Indies opener Stefanie Taylor yesterday burst into the top 10 of the ICC One-Day International batting rankings, on the heels of her impressive form in recent weeks.

ABU DHABI, (Reuters) – New Zealand scored a thrilling  seven-run triumph over Pakistan to win the one-day series 2-1  despite a valiant last-wicket partnership of 103 between  Mohammad Aamer and Saeed Ajmal yesterday.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – West Indies players  began arriving here late yesterday as they assemble ahead of their trip to Australia to begin their three-Test tour Down Under.

Andrew Joynauth slammed the first century of the 2009 New Building Society second division limited-overs cricket competition which enabled Shieldstown Number Four to defeat Number Two Village over the week-end.

A truck driver yesterday was not required to plead to the indictable charge of buggery when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

LONDON, (Reuters) – World and Olympic champions Usain  Bolt and Kenenisa Bekele were among five contenders shortlisted  for the male Athlete of the Year award yesterday.

Disgrace: This growing mountain of garbage sits directly behind the First Federation Building and near an alleyway behind the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

MUMBAI, India, CMC – West Indies will have their hands full when they clash with World No.

A 43-year-old woman who appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday pleaded not guilty to the charge of unlawful assault before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson.

Dear Editor, With reference to your editorial of Sunday, November 8, 2009, am I correct in my interpretation that Mr Hydar Ally is claiming that Police Standing Orders permit the police to use some measure of force to extract information from suspects?

BEIRUT – Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri formed a new unity government yesterday that includes two ministers from Syrian and Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

A 35-year-old man who allegedly damaged the door lock of a vehicle was granted $75,000 bail by Acting Chief Magistrate at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

A construction labourer pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson to answer the charge of simple larceny.

Dear Editor, Rather than providing answers, a letter from the Ministry of Works in response to one of mine, has provided the basis for more questions.

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The UN General Assembly declared yesterday that Afghanistan’s presidential election was both credible and sound, despite allegations of widespread fraud that led critics to question the vote’s legitimacy.

Dear Editor, Recently there has been a spate of letters going back and forth on what the PPP did or did not do in the bauxite industry.

Participants of the Owner/Driver Workshop held by the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) last week pose with their certificates on Saturday at the Guyana Red Cross Society building, Eve Leary.

TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iran‘s Revolutionary Guards, who helped quell protests after the June election, warned the opposition yesterday not to use anti-US rallies this week to stage new demonstrations.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds lauded the performance record of President’s College students when the Golden Grove based school celebrated its 24th anniversary and 19th graduating ceremony recently.

BEIJING (Reuters) – China has executed nine people convicted of violent crimes during ethnic rioting in the far western Xinjiang region in July, the first to be put to death over the unrest, the China News Service said yesterday.

The Ministry of Home Affairs launched a road safety booklet for students as activities are underway to observe Road Safety Month.

Dear Editor, In the midst of the overwhelming and continuing public outcry, attempts have been made to justify the latest torture incident. 

The War Memorial at Stelling Road, Vreed-en-Hoop was refurbished and the keys handed over to the Region Three Chairman last Saturday.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqis will vote in a general election on January 21 now that parliament has passed a law needed for a vote to take place, the head of the country’s electoral commission said yesterday.

Many thanks to Ms Gail Teixeira (‘I never said the gov’t had no interest in Roger Khan’ SN, Nov 4) for establishing once and for all that as Minister of Home Affairs she never stated “I am not interested in Roger Khan” when he was arrested in Suriname.

(Antigua Sun) – Guyanese Latchman “Ricky” Bhola was convicted, fined and ordered deported from Antigua and Barbuda after he pleaded guilty to presenting forged documents to immigration officials.

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Kevin Durant scored 28 points  and Russell Westbrook contributed 17 points and 10 assists as  the Oklahoma City Thunder stormed to a 102-74 home victory over  the short-handed Orlando Magic on Sunday.

Peter R. Ramsaroop, MBA CEO, AFC Introduction Minister of Tourism Manniram Prashad was very proud of an external report which said that Guyana has had the highest rate of tourism growth in the region.

Dear Editor Could the relevant authorities responsible for ticketing arrangements at the National Stadium  explain why no half tickets were returned to patrons who attended the President’s Cup Final between Guyana and T&T when they presented their tickets for entry into the stadium?

TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iran has charged three detained US citizens with espionage, the official IRNA news agency quoted a prosecutor as saying yesterday, but Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said there was no evidence to back the charges.

The murder of People’s Progressive Party stalwart and former Vice-Chairman of the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara Region Ramenauth Bisram last month has opened a can of worms in legal and political circles and in the security community.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Former England bowler Matthew  Hoggard will take over as Leicestershire captain after signing a  three-year contract with the side following his release by  Yorkshire last month.

Dear Editor, I am always amused by the histrionics I witness almost daily in Guyana’s media.

Simon Tay is chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs and a fellow of the Asia Society.

(Jamaica Gleaner) – Angry residents last night set fire to a police service vehicle in Kitson Town, St Catherine to protest against a police killing.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – A nearly 500-year-old Hebrew Bible stolen by the Nazis shortly before World War Two was returned to the Jewish community of Vienna yesterday, US officials said.