Daily Archive: Friday, February 19, 2010

Trinidad police suspect a suicide pact in the death of a couple whose bodies were discovered in an apartment in Longdenville, Chaguanas, yesterday.

As a parched Guyana struggles in El Nino’s dry grip, President Bharrat Jagdeo has promised to visit areas along the coast affected by the weather phenomenon to assess the situation even as he said that the administration is doing its utmost to assist affected farmers.

Police are seeking a “tall and well-built” man who was the last person seen exiting the Parika Health Centre office of HIV counsellor Seeraj Persaud moments before his lifeless body was found on Monday afternoon.

Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson yesterday deferred her ruling on whether to grant Crime Chief Seelall Persaud’s application for a provisional arrest warrant for Barry Dataram on a trafficking in narcotics matter.

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Former New York Police  Commissioner Bernard Kerik, once selected to the U.S. 

–new phase of development, Rodrigues-Birkett counters Members of the opposition and government benches yesterday clashed over the $847 million allocated towards the installation of a new fibre optic cable exclusively for e-governance, with PNCR-1G MP Aubrey Norton describing the proposed expenditure as a “waste” of valuable resources.

Two men died on Wednesday morning after their motorcycle collided with a motor lorry along the Takutu Road, Mazaruni.

Region Four Chairman Clement Corlette is calling on leaders of the PPP/C and PNCR to re-examine the initial arrangements put in place regarding the formation of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

Second Lieutenant Texine Daw of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) made history yesterday when she became the first woman to finish in the runner-up position of the Standard Officers Course.

The preliminary inquiry into the 2007 Lusignan Massacre is still ongoing and according to one senior police official, there is still a long way to go.

A 26-year-old man was yesterday sentenced to eighteen months imprisonment when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court for beating his father with a length of wood that contained several nails.

By Tiffny Rhodius The national finals of the children’s Mashramani competition continued yesterday with the calypso and dramatic poetry competitions at the National Cultural Centre.

The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) says it equipped over 3,000 citizens with conflict resolution and negotiation skills in its efforts to promote unity, during its Neighbourhood Conference Project.

-court hears Twenty-three-year-old Collis Felix of Lamaha Gardens yesterday appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court to answer  charges of unlawfully assaulting his girlfriend and breaking her spectacles in a confrontation with her.

–after bloody week at Lodge Secondary A bloody week at the Lodge Secondary School has once again placed the upsurge of violence among the school population in the spotlight, prompting some authorities to call for a collaborative effort involving the ministries of Education and Human Services and the Guyana Police to address the problem holistically.

A Guyanese convict, who was able to re-enter Barbados after being deported and obtain Barbadian national identification and national insurance cards has pleaded guilty to fraud and will be sentenced next Wednesday.

PNCR-1G Shadow Housing and Water Minister, Keith Scott has proposed that the Housing Ministry revamp fire hydrants in the city by developing a new system that allows access to water from the Demerara River.

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Twenty20 World Cup yesterday unveiled a massive 20×4 bat with the logo ‘Bring it Guyana’ as part of its countrywide promotional campaign for the event which bowls off at the Guyana National Stadium on April 30.

By Marlon Munroe Cricket’s nursery of players will clash in the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) NALICO/NAFICO 50-over tournament that bowls off today with defending champions Georgetown taking on West Demerara at Canal No.

Barticians gathered on Wednesday at the Transport and Harbours Department Stelling, Bartica for an interfaith service held in memory of the 12 persons who were slain when gunmen attacked the community two years ago.

In our report on the Guyana Elections Commission’s workshop on “the new electoral system” for local government elections 2010, published in yesterday’s edition, the People’s Progressive Party and the People’s National Congress Reform were inadvertently left out of the list of parties/groups from which participants were drawn.

Despite the school’s initial challenges, Queen’s College returned to Guyana with a gold, silver and bronze medals from the renowned Barbados Relay Fair held at the Barbados National Stadium last week.

Dr Anthony says no room for any contribution The Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) has made a proposal to Minister  of Culture Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony that one per cent of this year’s national sports budget of $550 million be allocated to lawn tennis.

COUVA, Trinidad, CMC – Strugglers Guyana and inconsistent Leeward Islands are out of contention, but they will seek to enhance their place in the standings in the sixth round of matches in the WICB regional first-class championship, starting today at the National Cricket Centre.

National racquet wielders Jason Ray Khalil, Victoria Arjoon and Deje Dias all turned in impressive performances on the second night of the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) Toucan Industries sponsored junior skill level Mashramani tournament at the Georgetown Courts.

Commodore Gary Best, Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force who was  returned unopposed as President of the Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA)  pleaded with the association members to work harder this year to ensure that the  association has its Club House and Indoor Shooting Ranges up and running.

– T&T Finance Minister The Government of Trinidad and Tobago is prepared to go to some lengths to ensure the justice is served in the matter of the spectacular collapse of CL Financial, which has sent shock waves through the region and left thousands of investors and policyholders guessing as to when, perhaps even whether they will at least be able to retrieve their investments from the ill-fated group.

Dear Editor, While the government parliamentarians shout about the billions in the budget and skilfully avoid the question of the benefits derived by citizens relative to spending, our children suffer.

Farm `C` and Providence teams are through to the semi-finals of the Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) 10 overs-a-side Inter-Jamaat softball competition recently.

Dear Editor, This is a note to clarify aspects of a letter published in your newspaper on February 14 by Dr C Kenrick Hunte (‘GuySuCo audited accounts have not been presented in Parliament’).

KOLKATA, India, (Re-uters) – South Africa batsman  Hashim Amla defied India with another remarkable century in the  second test yesterday but was unable to prevent the hosts  snatching victory with nine balls remaining on the final day.

– says some miners still not comfortable with the status quo State revenues accruable from the mining sector could take a hit this year as a result of the recent disruption in the sector arising out of controversies sparked by new state-imposed mining regulations, according to Executive Director of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) Edward Shields.

The essence of the argument made by one of our regular columnists in today’s issue is that the merits of Scotia Bank’s recently launched Small Business Banking (SBB) initiative, notwithstanding, the criteria that distinguishes ‘small’ from ‘micro’ businesses essentially means that the window the bank has opened is still far too small to accommodate the entrepreneurial ambitions that continue to mushroom all across the country.

SEATTLE, (Reuters) – Microsoft Corp’s assault on  search engine leader Google Inc took a major step forward yesterday as U.S.

Dear Editor, Some interesting questions are raised as one looks at the news reports surrounding the new 300 page report ‘Climate Cure’ released by Norway on February 17.

ST AUGUSTINE, Trinidad, CMC – Giants Jamaica and Barbados will clash today in a match that could determine the outcome of the WICB regional first class championship.

Dear Editor, Today in the hot midday sun on Sheriff Street, there were three men sitting on a horse-drawn cart.

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – Kathryn Grayson, a singer  and movie star of the 1940s and 1950s best known for MGM  musicals such as “Kiss Me, Kate,” has died at age 88, her  secretary said yesterday.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad,  CMC – Windward Islands will hope their successful appeal to play their sixth round WICB first class championship match at the Queen’s Park Oval pays dividends against hosts Trinidad and Tobago this weekend.

Dear Editor, I write with reference to a letter by Mr Anil Nandlall in SN of December 2, ’09.

LONDON, (Reuters) – People who are usually happy and  enthusiastic are less likely to develop heart disease than those  who tend to be glum, scientists said yesterday, and boosting  positive emotions could help cut heart health risks.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Regional cricketers from Barbados, Jamaica and the Windward Islands were forced to sleep on the corridors of the Cascadia Hotel on Carnival Tuesday after arriving here from Guyana on an early morning flight and being unable to check in.

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

By Jacquelyn Hamer Just over a week ago all of the various sections of the print media published reports on the launch by Scotia Bank of its Small Business Banking (SBB) an initiative which this newspaper described as ‘a suite of products which promises to help proprietors grow their businesses.”

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Predictably, there has been no change to West Indies’ position in the ICC Test Championship rankings, following the latest release yesterday.

Dear Editor, With reference to a letter by Shawn Mangru  in SN on February 17 under the caption ‘Overseas based Guyanese should be given their constitutional right to vote,’ I hope this adventurism is put to rest once and for all.

UNITED NATIONS, (Reuters) – The U.N. humanitarian  chief has chided aid agencies working in Haiti for poor  coordination and resourcing, which he said weakened confidence  in their ability to deliver, according to a leaked email.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has predicted a good run for his side in the upcoming Cricket World Cup, following their impressive showing in the Caribbean showpiece three years ago.

The Caribbean received around 800,000 less visitors in 2009 than in the previous year, a decline of 3.6 per cent in visitors’ arrivals to the 33 member countries of the Caribbean Tourist Organization (CTO) according to the organization’s Director of Research and Information Technology Winfield Griffith.

Dear Editor, “Malaysia is a role model in power-sharing and countries like Iraq can learn from the concept adopted by the ruling party coalition National Front (BN).

Dear Editor, I am still alive thanks to Drs Motilall, Doobay, Ganshamsingh, Dai, Zhu, Rambarran, Beri Ramsarran, Ram, Ramdass, Maraj, and others, who ensured me excellent hospitalisation at the Georgetown Public Hospital. 

Female guards  suffer most …Labour Ministry source Reports of transgressions by Security Guard Services most of which have to do with discrepancies in the wages and salaries of their employees continue to be made to the Ministry of Labour at the rate of “at least one a week” according to a senior Ministry functionary.

DUBLIN, Ireland, CMC – Ireland coach Phil Simmons says he is delighted to be leading his side back to a World tournament in the Caribbean.

NIAMEY, (Reuters) – Mutinous troops led by an army  colonel captured Niger’s President Mamadou Tandja after a gun  battle yesterday, and said they were suspending the  constitution and dissolving all political institutions.

(Antigua Sun) – The government of Antigua and Barbuda on the recommendation from the attorney-general has made the decision to halt proceeding in its attempt to acquire lands belonging to R Allen Stanford.

(Jamaica Gleaner) – The Jamaican Airline Pilots’ Association’s (JALPA) bid to take over Air Jamaica continues to experience difficulties and is heading for an almost certain collapse.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, (Reuters) – Living in a tent after  an earthquake left a million Haitians in the streets, Melila  Thelusma says she cannot support her two daughters and is ready  to give them away to foreigners if she can find a good home for  them.

A 55-year-old man was fined $8,000 with the alternative of four months imprisonment for unlawful assault by Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson on Wednesday.

CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC – West Indies all-rounder Darren Sammy and elite high jumper Levern Spencer have been shortlisted for the coveted 2009 Sportsman and Sportswoman title respectively.

Dear Editor, I refer to Dr Steve Surujbally’s letter titled ‘Avatar creates a two-edged sword of cultural imperialism.’

Wants government to move to take advantage of Caribbean Association of Roads The restoration of a national highway laboratory that infuses a higher level of geo-technical capability into road construction in Guyana is indispensable to the creation of a durable and cost-effective national road network according to one of Guyana’ leading civil engineers.

Dear Editor, The recent attacks on bauxite workers by President Bharrat Jagdeo and Mohamed Akeel, Labour Consultant to the Bauxite Company Guyana Inc are unjustified.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – President Barack Obama  hosted exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama at the  White House yesterday, drawing an angry reaction from China  and risking further damage to strained Sino-U.S.

The 2010 National Children’s Mashramani Competition had a fiery start literally at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) on Wednesday, followed by memorable dance performances with many schools highlighting the need to preserve the forests.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Antigua and Barbuda’s Football Association has appointed of William “Billy” McEwan of Scotland as its new technical director on a two-year contract.

The World Health Organisation has urged medical aid agencies to stay in Haiti as long as possible while health care is rebuilt following last month’s earthquake.

Frankly Speaking… How fares our Republic after forty years? Don’t, please don’t, expect lecture or analysis from me, even though I’ve raised the issue.

GASCI (www.gasci.com/telephone Nº 223-6175/6) reports that session 343’s trading results showed consideration of $2,207,685 from 103,059 shares traded in 13 transactions as compared to session 342 which showed consideration of $2,097,113 from 53,994 shares traded in 7 transactions. 

A few weeks ago, we commented on the victory of conservative businessman, Sebastián Piñera, and his “Coalición del Cambio” or “Alliance for Change” in Chile’s recent presidential election.

President Bharrat Jagdeo congratulates Cadet Officer John Barker of the Guyana Police Force during the Commissioning Ceremony at Camp Ayanganna yesterday.