Daily Archive: Saturday, February 20, 2010

-crops burn, losses mount As current El Niño weather conditions persist, rice farmers along the West Coast of Demerara have already suffered huge losses, while others remain optimistic that their crops will survive the dry spell.

Four Enmore men, including one who has a disability, were yesterday charged with having sex with a nine-year-old girl on several occasions over a seven month period.

Woman had forgiven husband for slashing her throat – relative Ten months after Maria Ward’s throat was slashed by her reputed husband Christopher Haynes, she forgave him and took him into her Trinidad apartment where they were both found dead on Wednesday morning.

Justice Roxanne George ordered that the Police Commissioner Henry Greene present Barry Dataram in her court today.

Two gunmen snatched $1M from a businessman in a daring afternoon robbery at Bel Air, Greater Georgetown yesterday.

A Detective Sergeant and a Detective Lance Corporal attached to the Sparendaam Police Station were yesterday charged with accepting a bribe in exchange for dropping charges against a woman.

A man was shot in his thigh during a robbery at Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara on Thursday night.

Two women were remanded to prison yesterday, after they were allegedly found with separate quantities of cannabis and cocaine in their possession for the purpose of trafficking at the Bartica Police Station.

US prosecutors in a case involving a Guyanese murder accused, who allegedly tracked his rape victim down and slashed her to death days before she was to testify against him, have been given the green light to use the DNA tracking technique that can nail criminals with a speck of blood or the mere touch of a finger.

Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson yesterday ordered that a carpenter of Huston Housing Scheme be remanded to prison for allegedly robbing a woman of a gold ring and a quantity of cash and afterwards raping her.

A 45-year-old man was on Wednesday remanded to prison after pleading not guilty to stealing a cell phone from A&N Electronics.

Saying that residents of riverain communities such as Bartica continue to suffer from neglect, PNCR-1G MP Judith David-Blair has referred to the 2010 budget as the one with the biggest promises from which Guyanese can expect very little.

– It’s a heavy loss to boxing – Peter AbdoolVice-President of the World Boxing Council (WBC) Roy Van Putten passed away Wednesday at his Aruba home and the entire boxing world has hailed his death as a major blow for the sport.

– govt notes significant benefits to GRA, private sector The two-year US$6.7 million Guyana Threshold Country/ Implementation Plan (GTCP/IP) aimed at reducing Guyana’s fiscal deficit by boosting its ability to collect revenue has been completed.

Quincy Dundas, 25, of Amelia’s Ward, Linden was yesterday remanded to prison when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for being involved in the Valentine’s Day fatal accident on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway.

By Marlon Munroe National under-15 opening batsman Christopher Sattaur stroked an unbeaten 89 worthy of emulation by any batsman at every level in Guyana at present as East Coast Demerara (ECD) romped to a comfortable eight-wicket win over East Bank yesterday in the NALICO/NAFICO 50-over tournament.

Action in the Toucan Industry Squash Tournament will heat up as the event climaxes tomorrow evening at the Georgetown Club Squash Courts.

The Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) has taken one step closer to realizing the Burnham Basketball Court enhancement project with  its President Trevor Rose disclosing yesterday that they have secured the necessary funds.

Text: Tiffny Rhodius Photos: Jules Gibson A display of colourful costumes brought down the curtains on the national finals of the Children’s Mashramani Competition yesterday, with many schools highlighting the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

– opposition distorting visionary strategy, Persaud counters Opposition Chief Whip PNCR-1G MP Lance Carberry harshly criticised the government’s drive to a low carbon environment yesterday, saying that long after its introduction there has been no publicly articulated policy on how the country will get there.

By Oluatoyin Alleyne There is something about John ‘Slingshot’ DrePaul’s music that is contagious, resulting in the involuntary tapping of the feet and nodding of the head to the beat of his songs.

In the inaugural Demerara Distillers Limited Topco Juice Mashramani tournament, Taffim Khan, then a junior player, came close to beating then national champion Kriskal Persaud of Berbice.

Jason Montgomery, the Australian shot during the robbery six weeks ago at Safraz’s Bar, is now set for the final leg of his journey to Australia after treatment in London but his condition is still listed as critical.

Guyanese cricketers continue to shine in the twin island Republic of Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) professional leagues.

Culture Box I have had the “luck” of having to work every Mashramani Day for the past three years.

Hi Everyone, You can flip all you like, I prefer my pancakes dropped; that’s way I grew up having them, and even though I’ve mastered the art of flipping, I have to tell you, there’s only one way I want my pancakes – dropped!

MELBOURNE, Australia,  CMC – West Indies spilled a flurry of catches and batted poorly as rampant Australia marched to a 4-0 series triumph after a massive 125-run victory in the fifth and final One-day International (ODI) yesterday.

Godfrey Chin certainly knows the value of looking back. “If you know where we come from,” he explains, “We are better able to plan for the future.”

MELBOURNE, Australia,  CMC – West Indies coach David Williams has slammed the West Indies for their pathetic showing against Australia in the final One-Day International yesterday but says his side needs to dust themselves off quickly and prepare to fight again.

President Bharrat Jagdeo recently accepted the credentials from Israeli Ambassador to Guyana Amiram Majid at brief ceremony held at Office of the President.

National racquet wielders Trenace Lowe and Hewley Griffith departed Guyana yesterday for the twin-island republic of Trinidad and Tobago to participate in this week-end’s Super Bowl Tournament.

Arrest them, was the message sent as Magistrate Nyasha Hatmin on Monday and Tuesday issued warrants for several persons who failed to attend court in relation to various offences.

By Alva Solomon Making healthy food choices can sometimes be difficult but for the advocates of good health, living a healthy lifestyle is all about choosing the right foods.

COUVA, Trinidad,  CMC – Pacer Esaun Crandon snatched a five-wicket haul to send the Leeward Islands crashing cheaply but Guyana stumbled in reply, leaving their sixth round WICB regional first class championship match evenly balanced after day one yesterday.

* Formally conclude U.S. Army scientist was responsible WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – Over 1,000 possible suspects  faced scrutiny before investigators finally concluded a U.S. 

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) advises employers that they must submit their 2009 Employers Returns by the end of the month.

ST AUGUSTINE, Trinidad, CMC – Jamaica were wrecked by a devastating six-wicket haul from rookie fast bowler Corey Edwards as Barbados  took a firm grip on day one of their top-of-the-table WICB regional first class clash here yesterday.

Just over a year ago, in January, 2009, The Scene visited Warren and Tracy Douglas’s refuge, Pandama Retreat, on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway and chatted with them about their vision and plans for the 17-acre refuge they were just about to open to the public.

Brand new scintillating material is promised when the curtain rises on Link Show 26 tonight at the National Cultural Centre.

Dear Editor, Mr Freddie Kissoon’s piece on Godfrey Chin’s Nostalgias (KN, February 19) was excellently written; perhaps it was his most objective in years.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad,  CMC – Rawl Lewis brought delight to the Windward Islands with his steady leg-spin that undermined Trinidad & Tobago’s batting in the WICB regional first-class championship on Friday.

The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and the Local Government Ministry are starting enhancement exercises in the city.

KHARTOUM, (Reuters) – Sudan is close to signing a  “framework agreement” with Darfur’s rebel Justice and Equality  Movement (JEM) in neighbouring Chad, Sudanese state television  reported yetserday, without giving details of the deal.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad,  CMC – A West Indies Cricket Board director has apologised for the accommodation problems experienced by three regional teams who arrived here Tuesday for the sixth round of the WICB first class championship.

-says current process is a sham AFC MP Sheila Holder is calling for the entire budget preparation and debate process to be revamped for a more consultative process, since she believes the current system is a “sham” that is not working.

MOSCOW, (Reuters) – Russia said yesterday it was  “very alarmed” by Iran’s failure to cooperate with the IAEA,  after the U.N.

Some of the pieces on show at the China Jing de Zhen Art Porcelain Trade Fair at the Chinese Association Building, Lot 3 Brickdam, Georgetown.

Dear Editor, With reference to the letter written by Mr  Laurie Greenidge and published in the February 11 edition of Stabroek News (‘Threatened by neighbours who are causing noise nuisance’), Mr Greenidge informed me that both he and his female companion were charged by the police for disorderly behaviour.

A cash crop farmer proves necessity is the mother of invention as he pours water into a contraption he set up to irrigate his farm.

RABAT, (Reuters) – A four centuries-old mosque  minaret collapsed in Morocco yesterday, killing at least 38  people and injuring more than 70 worshippers, hospital officials  and witnesses said.

The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha is reporting that Chowtaal Sammelans organised nation-wide have been attracted young devotees.

PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) – American Airlines yesterday flew the first commercial passenger flight into Haiti since the Jan.

Dear Editor, After working with the Guyana Defence Force for ten years and with Ministry of Works for five years, my father, who is now retired, went to the National Insurance to investigate what his benefits would be after making contributions to the NIS for fifteen years.

Kingston, Jamaica – Digicel would like to congratulate West Indies captain, Chris Gayle, and fast bowler, Jerome Taylor, for their ESPNCricinfo awards which were recently announced in India.

NEW YORK (Billboard) – Ke$ha’s “TiK ToK” held off the charity remake of “We Are the World” to lead Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart for a ninth consecutive week on Thursday.

CARACAS (Reuters) – President Hugo Chavez, who has nationalized much of Venezuela’s industry, made a vague threat against one of the OPEC nation’s leading private-sector companies, Empresas Polar.

-Lall tells budget debate Minster of Local Government and Regional Development Kellawan Lall says a waste management programme will be set up and waste disposal sites on the Essequibo Coast, Lethem and several other places have been identified and will soon be established.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Leonardo DiCaprio may not remind movie fans of a young Robert De Niro, but he has taken on one of the intense New York actor’s rewarding legacies.

CLEVELAND, Ohio (Reuters) – Carmelo Anthony swished a  contested jump shot with 1.9 seconds remaining in overtime to  help the Denver Nuggets snap the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 13-game  winning streak with a 118-116 victory Thursday.

Dear Editor, The Stabroek News is having a field day as the official newspaper of the opposition in Guyana.

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Recent cyber attacks on Google   and other American corporations have been traced to a top  Chinese university as well as a school with ties to the  Chinese military, the New York Times reported on Thursday,  citing people involved in the investigation.

Having fun: Students of the Nappi Primary School tramp through the streets of Lethem, Region Nine, as the community held its Children’s Mashramani parade yesterday.

(BBC) – Newly-crowned best international male at the Brits, Jay-Z’s advice to the British music industry is less is more.

(Bernd Debusmann is a Reuters columnist. The opinions  expressed are his own) By Bernd Debusmann WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The Islamic terrorists of  the Bush era are gone.

(BBC) An unbroken stand of 112 between Eoin Morgan and Kevin Pietersen saw England beat world champions Pakistan by seven wickets in the Twenty20 international.

Mexico’s ambassador to Guyana Fernando Sandoval on Wednesday presented a quantity of Spanish books to the National Library.

(Trinidad Express) – Dressed in a gold one-piece swimwear-like outfit, mega star Beyonce, in her first ever performance in Trinidad and Tobago, took the Queen’s Park Savannah stage at the b-Mobile sponsored event at 8.23 Thursday night.

-chairman Chairman of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) Clifford Marica has said that he was pleased with the recent deliberations related to the Caricom-Canada negotiations for a Trade and Development Agreement.

Dear Editor, The front page of the Zimbabwe Times of February 18 carried very contrasting images of Zimbabwe.

St Margaret’s Primary’s Karisha Charles performing ‘Inspiration’ which won first place in the 11-13 individual category in the children’s Mashramani competition at the National Cultural Centre.

QUITO, (Reuters) – Ecuador yesterday protested its  “perverse” inclusion on a list of nations accused of failing to  comply with standards against money-laundering and terrorism  financing.

By Tiffny Rhodius For Tennicia De Freitas, calypso started out as “something different.”

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla., (Reuters) – Superstar  golfer Tiger Woods set no date for his return to competition yesterday, keeping sponsors and fans in a waiting game as he  apologized to his family and fans for cheating on his wife and  said he was continuing to get treatment.

LONDON (Reuters) – Veteran Irish designer Paul Costelloe told celebrities trying their hand at fashion to pack up and content themselves with their luxury lifestyles, accusing them yesterday of stealing his thunder on the catwalk.

Less than a fortnight ago, in the middle of a national drought in which parts of the country were “enduring days, and sometimes weeks of no water,” readers of the of the Trinidad Express learned that “clear water [was gushing] from more than four plant sprinklers over the lawn grass at Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s residence…” This scoop ran beneath a damning photograph, courtesy of an anonymous “citizen journalist,” of a gardener monitoring the extravagant watering.

PM fears collapse The Prime Minister of Haiti said he fears the government could collapse because of the criticism of his government’s response to last month’s earthquake.

Dear Editor, The place of Jagan and Burnham is secure in the Guyana firmament.