Daily Archive: Friday, November 13, 2009

WASHINGTON, Reuters) – The White House squeezed  Afghan President Hamid Karzai yesterday to show more resolve  in fighting corruption and said President Barack Obama’s war  plan deliberations included an exit strategy for U.S.

The body of 23-year-old Aliya Bulkan was successfully retrieved from a pond at the foot of Kaieteur Falls  yesterday afternoon bringing an end to days of hard work and trekking through extremely rough terrain by Special Forces ranks of the Guyana Defence Force.

– police arrest Clarke’s friend – berated over bulletin for ‘Crack head’ One of the six men wanted in connection with last Wednesday’s attacks in the city, yesterday turned up at the Brickdam Police Station accompanied by a lawyer and the mother of another lashed out at the police for releasing photographs and other information without “stating the facts”.

Nicola McDonald aka ‘Zeeta’, who was chopped allegedly by her irate husband on Wednesday, remains in severe pain as she recuperates in the Georgetown Public Hospital.

A Form One student is nursing a stab wound in the Georgetown Public Hospital after accidentally “jamming” another student during a music “clash”.

Sugar earnings down by US$10M In the wake of slumping sugar production, the government is projecting growth in the economy of only 2.5% this year compared to the originally estimated 4.7%.

The Government of Guyana, NICIL and the Privatisation Unit in a response to a Kaieteur News article on Wednesday, entitled `Controversy looms over Duke Lodge neighbour’, have asserted that in any tender, Government is not bound to sell or sell to the highest bidder or any bidder.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon yesterday said that there are “ideas” as to the identity of the “terrorist mastermind” in the US who was said to be behind last week’s attacks in the city and the Ministry of Health fire and attempts continue to have the US assist in the confirmation of the individual’s identity.

Government has records in its possession to prove that the parcel of land at the corner of Vlissengen Road and Thomas Lands belongs to the state and not the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), according to Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon.

PNCR-1G Members of Parliament (MPs) yesterday walked out of the National Assembly after a request for a debate on the police investigation of the alleged torture of suspects, including a teen boy, while in police custody was denied.

-sector employs 5,398 guards The National Assembly last evening passed long-in-the-works legislation for the licensing and regulation of private security services.

– Guyana’s unilateral waiver compounded bad situation A recent report on the regional cement trade prepared by the TCL Group of Trinidad and Tobago maintains that “unnecessary imports of cement” by Caricom member states including Grenada between September 2008 and August 2009 resulted in an estimated production loss to the company of 357,515 tonnes of cement and a revenue loss of US$30 million.

– new fee structure provides greater access for small businesses – to launch new investment magazine in January Efforts by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) to secure a meeting with the Customs and Trade Administration (CTA) ahead of the approaching Christmas season to expedite bottlenecks associated with the clearance of goods arriving at local ports are yet to be responded to by the CTA, according to the Chamber’s Executive Director Candace Fields.

The government’s repeated insistence that the Guyana economy has been less affected by the global economic and financial crisis than those of other countries in the region does little to obscure the fact that 2009 has been another difficult year for ordinary Guyanese, particularly the unemployed and wage earners.

Customer Service and the psychology of acquiescenceJacquelyn Hamer While I do not accept that a lack of resolve on the part of consumers to insist on their right to fair, just and efficient service justifies poor customer service, I have been compelled to take account of points-of-view that have been expressed to me regarding what I will describe as a psychology of acquiescence on the parts of a surprisingly large number of Guyanese consumers.

By Andre Griffith In previous weeks we looked at the boring science, mathematics and technology underlying securing the characteristics of authenticity, confidentiality, integrity and non-repudiation in business transactions in the digital realm.

– can range from 15 to 50 per cent of agricultural produce The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is calling for significantly greater investment in cold and dry storage infrastructure and first stage processing equipment in the agricultural and agro-processing sectors in order to considerably reduce what it says is a significant amount of post-harvest food losses.

A 33-year-old woman accused of wounding another was yesterday admitted to bail in the sum of $60,000 when she appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

– offering ‘higher standards’ of service Two Guyanese technicians with related skills have teamed up to establish a service company which they hope will help to raise standards in their respective professions and contribute to higher levels of safety in the quality of installations in public buildings, private homes, offices and factories.

GASCI (www.gasci.com/telephone Nº 223-6175/6) reports that session 329’s trading results showed consideration of $71,836,053 from 612,099 shares traded in 13 transactions as compared to session 328 which showed consideration of $2,825,832 from 156,054 shares traded in 10 transactions. 

A 43-year-old man accused of stealing scrap metal valued in excess of $1M was yesterday placed on $100,000 bail when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

A 30-year-old woman accused of providing false information to an immigration officer for the purpose of acquiring a passport was yesterday placed on bail in the sum of $100,000 when she appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn and Norwegian Minister of International Development and the Environment, Erik Solheim on Tuesday toured the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) for a first-hand look at some of the areas most vulnerable to climate change.

A collision between two vehicles on the Ogle, East Coast Demerara highway last evening saw three persons taken to the hospital for check-ups.

– govt acquires equipment Soon the Government of Guyana would no longer have to fly in experts to administer polygraph tests as there are plans to train two persons here to conduct such tests, Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon said yesterday.

The Ministry of Health will soon acquire two mobile dental clinics following Cabinet’s no-objection to a $73.2M contract for their purchase, according to Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon.

Police are on the hunt for a man who set fire to the one-bedroom, two-flat house belonging to his former reputed wife at the Bath Experiment Scheme, West Coast Berbice around 11 pm on Wednesday.

By Rawle Toney At Albion After the completion of 73 events defending champions Upper Demerara (District 10) remained in control of the National Schools Track and Field Championships which wraps up today at the Albion Community Center Ground in Corentyne Berbice.

First Vice-President of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) Genevieve Allen has been appointed Acting President of the Guyana Teachers Union following the resignation of Colwyn King.

L.A. airport scuffleLOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson was arrested on Wednesday after brawling with a celebrity photographer at Los Angeles International Airport and injuring the man’s head, police said.

– Camptown and Western Tigers contest NAMILCO football final tonight The final showdown of the Fruta Conquerors organized NAMILCO Football Festival has been decided and Sunburst Camptown and BK International Western Tigers will go head to head for top honours tonight after defeating their opponents in the semi-finals on Wednesday night at the Tucville playfield.

The burnt pump that resulted in a water shortage at the West Demerara Secondary School has been fixed according to school officials.

LAS VEGAS,  (Reuters) – Manny Pacquiao’s trainer  Freddie Roach says the Filipino southpaw has never been in  better shape and has predicted a knockout when he challenges  Miguel Cotto for the WBO welterweight title tomorrow.

`I’ve represented the West Indies with one leg and one hand before the majority of people wouldn’t have done those things’ BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – A defiant Chris Gayle has defended his reappointment as West Indies captain and says his passion for and commitment to West Indies cricket has remained unwavering.

Dear Editor, It cannot be denied that in May 2008 the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport fell victim to a vicious terrorist attack.

In yesterday’s edition of the Stabroek News, a report headlined ‘Girl shoots self’ was accompanied by an incorrect photograph.

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCY&S) cricketers will take on Floodlights XI tonight at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda, bowling  off at 6pm.

Dear Editor, In a recent discourse (‘Torture and Accountability: where does President Obama go from here?’

-Banks DIH Ltd. presents beverages, bottled water to  organizers of National Schools Athletics, Cycling and Swimming C/ships Local beverage giants Banks DIH Ltd.,

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – H1N1 swine flu killed an  estimated 3,900 Americans from April to October, including more  than 500 children, U.S.

A packed domestic programme has precluded the West Indies from having more than one first-class match outside the Tests on their forthcoming tour of Australia.

MADRID/LONDON, (Reuters) – British Airways and  Spain’s Iberia announced yesterday a preliminary agreement  for a $7 billion merger to create the world’s third-largest  airline by revenue.

Dear Editor, Response is made to F. Skinner’s letter on African empowerment published in Stabroek News on November 10, 2009, titled ‘Social activism is needed now more than political activism.’

HOUSTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. Army has charged a  military psychiatrist with 13 counts of murder in last week’s  shooting spree at the Fort Hood Army base, which shocked the  country as it prepared to celebrate Veterans Day.

Rip-rap sea defence work being undertaken by the government at Line Path, Corentyne (GINA photo)

Dear Editor, In your Thursday, November 12, 2009 edition, Ms Vanita Jaipaul, in a letter to the editor, expressed her displeasure at the service she received at the GPO parcels counter (‘Lack of information, courtesy at GPO parcels section’). 

-Vishal Singh scores unbeaten 97 The Rest XI team stormed to first innings points and at stumps on Day Three of the Guyana Cricket Board Inter-County match against Demerara at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary, held a commanding 347-run lead going into final day today.

Dear Editor, I refer to a newspaper article dated November 10, 2009 captioned ‘Has the All Star Weekend lost its mojo,’ where a number of issues were highlighted about the Beepat All Star Basketball Weekend which was held on November 7 and 8, 2009. 

SAN ANTONIO, Venezuela, (Reuters) – If South  American neighbors Venezuela and Colombia are about to go to  war, you would never guess it on the “Simon Bolivar” bridge.

-B’ce triumph by innings and 371 runsBy Marlon MunroeSpin twins Veerasammy Permaul and Devindra Bishoo combined to rout Essequibo for a paltry 77 and defeat to Berbice by an innings and 371 runs on the third day of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) senior four-day tournament at the Anna Regina ground yesterday.

The Georgetown Cricket Club’s under-21 indoor ladies hockey team (GCC) jets off to the twin-island republic of Trinidad and Tobago today to compete in this year’s annual Carib Magnolias Indoor Hockey Tournament.

BRASILIA, (Reuters) – Destruction of the Amazon rain  forest in Brazil has fallen to its lowest annual level in 21  years, the government said yesterday, in a boost to the  country’s green credentials ahead of a global climate summit.

Dear Editor, Given the record of the PPP government on providing a basic element of the modern economy, ie, a reliable electricity supply, and given what we know of Government of Guyana corruption and links to big-time crime and their inability to listen to persons who are not members of the Central Committee of the PPP, Guyanese have to keep their eyes open, and insist that the government does not have a veto on how the funds from Norway are spent, and that there is robust and verifiable accounting for these funds.

MIAMI, (Reuters) – Federal agents investigating a  prominent Florida lawyer suspected of running an elaborate  Ponzi scheme said yesterday the amount involved could exceed  $1 billion, and they asked bilked investors to come forward.

Dear Editor, I refer to the ‘What the people say’ column on the subject of relieving stress in your publication of November 9.

MELBOURNE, Australia,  CMC – Aussie coach Tim Nielsen says his charges will not be underestimating the West Indies when they come calling on their three-Test tour here later this month.

SAO PAULO (Reuters) – United Nations peacekeeping forces will not leave Haiti any time soon as the country, one of the world’s poorest, remains fragile, the Brazilian general in charge of the UN troops told Reuters.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Buoyed by healthy returns in the two-Test series against minnows Bangladesh, West Indies pacer Kemar Roach is chomping at the bit to face the mighty Australians Down Under.

Cuba must make human rights gestures The European Union’s development commissioner wants Cuba to show signs it’s serious about protecting fundamental human rights.

Dear Editor, Change is indeed inevit-able, but death can we say is certain.

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – U.S. prosecutors filed a civil  lawsuit yesterday to seize control of a New York City  skyscraper they say is owned by companies illegally funneling  money to the Iranian government.

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Opener Pamela Lavine stroked a delightful half-century but could not deny England a consolation, four-wicket win over West Indies in the third and final Twenty20 International at Warner Park yesterday.

Frankly Speaking…    By  A.A. FentyThe culture or thievery grows If you were fortunate enough to have grown up with a sense of moral values; of knowing instinctively, right from wrong and with respect for laws that are reasonable, you certainly would not appreciate the tedium of having to be in attendance at the Georgetown Judicial District’s Magistrates Court(s).

In Guyana, we seem to lurch from one crisis to another.

Dear Editor, Ten years after Independence, in the presence of Dr Jagan and other patriots at the National Park, Forbes Burnham made two significant statements which are of relevance today.

HAVANA (Reuters) – Cuba has ordered all state enterprises to adopt “extreme measures” to cut energy usage through the end of the year in hopes of avoiding the dreaded blackouts that plagued the country following the 1991 collapse of its then-top ally, the Soviet Union.

LONDON, (Reuters) – The founder of hedge fund manager  Dynamic Decisions denied its main fund has been involved in any  wrongdoing as Britain’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) opened an  investigation following investor complaints.