Daily Archive: Saturday, April 30, 2011

TRIPOLI, (Reuters) – Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi  survived a NATO air strike on a Tripoli house that killed his  youngest son and three grandchildren, a government spokesman  said today.

Protesters in New York against President Bharrat Jagdeo also invoked the name of imprisoned drug trafficker Roger Khan and his alleged involvement in the deaths of numerous persons.

Protesters yesterday in Queens, New York outside the Tobago Club also took aim at President Bharrat Jagdeo’s much criticised One Laptop Per Family Programme.

Bridgetown, Barbados – The WICB Selection Committee has announced one change to the West Indies 13 man squad for the 4th Digicel One Day International against Pakistan.

Protesters gathered outside of Club Tobago in Queens, New York yesterday where PPP/C Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar and President Bharrat Jagdeo spoke.

(Trinidad Express) Trinidad and Tobago has more than 100 years’ experience in the oil and gas sector and has local experts in the industry, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has said in her bid to get Brazil to partner with this country in the energy sector.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Prince William and his new wife  flew out of Buckingham Palace today after tying the knot  in a dazzling display blending centuries-old royal tradition  with the private moments of any young couple.

Widening the trade union base to include various groups of currently unorganised workers could be the key to bridging the racial and political divide pervasive in the local labour movement, social activist Andaiye believes.

Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Dr. Steve Surujbally said yesterday that preparations are moving “inexorably towards elections” and thousands are set to register when the Claims and Objections period begins in another week.

Miners earlier this week again damaged the pipeline taking water to Mahdia, leaving the Region Eight community struggling with a limited supply.

Good Hope businessman Ramdat Balkarran was shot to the abdomen by one of two men who attacked him and his family early yesterday morning.

Rural Constables from the Montrose Community Police Group (CPG) nabbed two robbers, hours after they attacked employees at the LAHAGO Supercentre and made off with an undisclosed sum of money.

PPP/C presidential candidate Donald Ramotar’s proclaimed satisfaction with the constitutional arrangements for the country’s political system is worrying, according to AFC leader Raphael Trotman, who believes that such a position shows disregard for those who currently feel excluded.

Rehabilitation and maintenance works are expected to begin within the next few days on several streets within the city, following the signing of $418M worth of contracts yesterday at the Public Works Ministry.

West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Chief Executive Officer (CEO)  Dr Ernest Hilaire has denied making any reference to dependable West Indies middle order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

The Kitty Market today is a shoddy reflection of what it was in its heyday and many of its vendors only continue to operate there because they have few other options to make a living.

Left out of the West Indies team so far for the Pakistan tour of the West Indies, the experienced West Indies pair of Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been named in the Guyana team to oppose the touring Pakistan cricketers  in  their two day practice match next weekend.

NEW ORLEANS, (Reuters) – Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol  exploded for 23 of Los Angeles’ 29 points in the third quarter  to propel the two-time defending NBA champions to a 98-80  victory over Western Conference rivals the New Orleans Hornets  on Thursday, sending them into the next round of the playoffs.

Former West Indies under-19 skipper Leon Johnson has been named captain of the Georgetwon Cricket Association’s  team to contest tomorrow’s Arrival Cup Twenty20 tournament.

Alcohol fuelled a fatal row last Sunday, when a Moruca man was shot by his drinking buddy and then dumped into the river.

Some persons who were taken into custody following the shooting of a Fyrish resident have been released, including a man who sold a house to two men who are wanted by Suriname authorities.

ST. LOUIS, Missouri, CMC – Nicolette Fernandes was knocked out of the US $11,800 Racquet Club Invitational on Thursday.

Football action will resume this weekend with matches in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Under-17 Inter-Association and Super League  Top Four knockout tournaments.

Ex-Swiss House Cambio cashier Patrick Pompey was yesterday sentenced to four years imprisonment, after being found guilty of fraudulently converting US$13,000, equivalent to G$2.6M, to his own use.

JAIPUR, India, (Reuters) – South African Johan  Botha took three wickets for six runs in two overs and made 45  with the bat to earn Rajasthan Royals a seven-wicket win over  Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) yesterday.

A Camp Street Prison inmate was yesterday sentenced to three years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Joel Grannum, 22, and Akeem Holder, 19, were yesterday remanded on charges that they shot and robbed Malali Mission Toshao Wibert Hall in Linden two weeks ago.

Chief Instructor of the Guyana Karate College (GKC) Master Frank Woon- A-Tai is pleased that the institution’s membership has increased since his last visit to Guyana, and he also noted that the newly-formed Canada-based International Karate Daigaku (IDK) is thriving.

Donations are flowing in as 20 persons out of the 55, who are now homeless as a result of the Easter Monday Barrack Street, Kingston Fire, are now being housed at the Guyana Relief Council’s (GRC) temporary shelter.

The Millie Lewis Memorial Female Cricket Tournament organised by the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) will bowl off today with the county’s only two female teams Rose Hall Town Metro and Tucber Park clashing in the opening match at the Area “H” Ground.

While it is still not clear if the new container scanner installed by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is up and running, the agency has published notices informing exporters and shipping agents of the need for containers to be scanned before they depart for the US and the requirements for such.

Former national junior player Conan Belle showed that he has lost none of his skill when he defeated Warren Hackshaw in the 21 years and under final recently at the Bartica Community Centre.

Several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will tomorrow be marching through the streets of the city calling for “a living income” for unrecognised caregivers and low-waged workers in Guyana.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Ravi Rampaul said West Indies can avoid a One-day International series sweep against Pakistan in their current series.

Several awards have already been won in the Guyana Festival of Musical Arts (GFMA) 2011 and winners will face off in the championship competition set for today—the final day of the festival—at the National Cultural Centre.

ASUNCION, (Reuters) – Sepp Blatter said he was  fully confident of winning another four-year term as FIFA  president as he secured the backing of South America’s soccer  chiefs on the campaign trail yesterday.

(BBC) Floyd Mayweather’s hearing on domestic violence charges, for which he could be jailed for 34 years if found guilty, was postponed a third time on Thursday.

LISBON, (Reuters) – Former U.S. Open champion Juan  Martin del Potro staged a remarkable second-set comeback to beat  top-seeded Swede Robin Soderling 6-4 7-5 and reach the last four  of the Estoril Open yesterday.

NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The Bahamas will host the men’s and women’s editions of the Caribbean Championships this year.

Dear Editor, As our societies evolve, notions of what is right and wrong change, sometimes they change between generations, or from one year to another or from one day to another; or as in our politics from one regime to another.

BELGRADE, (Reuters) – World number two Novak  Djokovic settled an old score with a childhood rival when he  beat Slovenian Blaz Kavcic 6-3 6-2 yesterday to reach the Serbia  Open semi-finals.

Nineteen pairs of mothers and daughters will grace the stage of the National Cultural Centre next Saturday May 7, for the 20th edition of the Mother and Daughter Pageant.

Dear Editor, I have read critiques of the current pitches available in the West Indies.

Colonel Bruce Lovell and Competitions Coordinator of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Lawrence Griffith have refuted reports that they are interested in contesting positions on behalf of the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) at the upcoming elections on May 27.

The Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) Organization will be staging the YBG Girls Basketball Development Jamboree today and tomorrow from 12:30hrs at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

It was one of the few Mondays when I didn’t have to deal with the annoying traffic on King Street.

Dear Editor, We refer to the letter in your letter column of Wednesday April 27, 2011 captioned `Given the poor support from the gov’t, the artists community is shocked by the size of the budget allocation to the Culture Ministry’.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Britain’s Prince William and  Kate Middleton married at Westminster Abbey yesterday in a  sumptuous show of British pageantry that attracted a huge world  audience and breathed new life into the monarchy.

Dear Editor, The Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee has carried out his threats of getting the police to question me about the refugee case I won for the IT specialist in Canada.

The Guyana Cricket Tapeball League (GCTL) will host a Tape- ball Knockout Cricket Tournament on May 7 and 8 at the National Cultural Centre Tarmac.

Mother of the bride

Hi Everyone, people the length and breath of the Caribbean have a serious love for smoked Herring aka red Herring.

Local rock band Feed the Flames is hoping to fuse a new sound with the reggae genre and this weekend fans will be treated to sounds that will leave a lasting impression.

AMMAN, (Reuters) – Security forces killed more than  60 people across Syria yesterday during demonstrations demanding  the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, and the United States  imposed new sanctions on key figures.

CASTRIES, St. Lucia,  CMC – A St. Lucian contingent of six boxers and three officials left the island for Ecuador on Thursday.

Miriam Gonzalez Durantez

Dear Editor, The one laptop per family that is promised by the government has seen the opposition parties, the communications specialists and also the beneficiaries all are making comments and quite rightly so.

(Trinidad Guardian) Finance Minister Winston Dookeran believes the board of Caribbean Airlines should be dissolved.

The Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) will host a ‘Road to London’ programme on May 2 at the National Park playfield to facilitate preparations for the 2012 Olympic Games to be held in London, England.

BUDAPEST, (Reuters) – Hungary’s chief prosecutor  has asked parliament to lift the immunity of former Prime  Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany on suspicion of abuse of authority  related to a casino investment, prosecutors said yesterday.

Princess Anne

DEHIBA, Tunisia, (Reuters) – Forces loyal to Libyan  leader Muammar Gaddafi fought a gun battle with Tunisian troops  in a frontier town day as Libya’s conflict spilled over  its borders.

Dear Editor, Christopher Ram’s latest correspondence to your Sunday Stabroek (`The GLTA never demanded a percentage of the Sport Ministry’s budget” – 24 April 2011) again reeks of feigned dissatisfaction with initial responses to his original Business Page – distortions of the Ministry, its allocations and the alleged “mystery” Fund.

All members of the public are invited to the screening of Provoked: A True Story today from 5.30 pm at the Indian Culture Centre, New Haven, Bel Air.

Linden will look to defend their championship title at the 11th edition of the LinWest Games to be staged on May 7 by the New Guyana Sports Association of New York Inc.

Beres Hammond isn’t just the soulful crooner from Jamaica we’ve grown to love all these years; he is a God-like figure posing as a man.

Dear Editor, As I reflect upon statements made during the failed no-confidence motion against me from councillors Patricia Chase-Green, Gwen McGowan-French, CML John, Ranwell Jordan and Junior Garrett, it is difficult to accept declarations that this was not a personal vendetta, if not, then explain the public statements, which were clearly defamatory.

Zara Phillips

(Trinidad Express) Former prime minister Basdeo Panday will face a retrial on June 13 for failing to declare a London bank account to the Integrity Commission for three consecutive years while he was prime minister.

A private ceremony was organized in honour of the exceptional contribution to music by Geofrey Phillips, better known as the Mighty Rebel, at the National Service Sport Complex two Saturdays ago.

Arch rivals Yamaha Caribs and Hornets will clash today in a virtual final of the William Blackman 15-a-side rugby competition at the National Park playfield.

Dear Editor, I am following up the New York Times article featuring the clash between Guyanese Hindus conducting pooja at Rockaway Bay and park rangers (SN Apr 22). 

The Princesses

Bedi Ramjeiwan died of shock and haemorrhaging due to a gunshot wound, a post-mortem examination (PME) has revealed.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala., (Reuters) – President Barack  Obama promised federal aid yesterday to the tornado-ravaged  U.S.

(Trinidad Express) Representative of the Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute Boyd Reid said the Joint Consultative Council (JCC) for the construction industry supports government in its quest to reform procurement legislation.

The former Catherine Middleton

The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha has imported a few of the famous faces from the popular Indian singing show, SAREGAMAPA for a two-day celebration at the Guyana National Stadium this weekend as part of the Arrival Day observances.

Suriname’s territory has been extended by 350 sea miles on top of the exclusive 200-mile zone every country bordering with sea is entitled to, De Ware Tijd reported yesterday.

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – A U.S. appeals court ruled  on Friday the Obama administration can continue using federal  money to fund human embryonic stem cell research, a possible  avenue toward new treatments for many medical conditions.

Manduck

Nothing has been seen or heard of the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei since his detention at Beijing Airport early this month for unspecified “economic crimes.”

ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Embattled West Indies off-spinner Shane Shillingford has been named as Dominica’s Sports Personality-of-the-Year for a second straight year.

Dear Editor, I should explain that the views expressed in my letter of 29th April, 2011 `Mr Fenty’s column did not disclose that he had been hired to produce ad for Air Services’, are my personal views and not the views of Ogle Airport Inc.

(Barbados Nation) Close to 300 employees at the NCO Financial Services (Barbados SRL) will be on the breadline at the end of May.

Upscale Restaurant will host an Indian-themed night of poetry readings next Tuesday in observance of Arrival Day.

A man died on the spot after he was struck down by a minibus on the Strathspey Public Road, East Coast Demerara yesterday morning.