Daily Archive: Friday, August 19, 2011

The ringleader of a US$2 million mortgage scam targeting members of New York’s Guyanese community was sentenced to up to 12 years in prison on Wednesday, the New York Daily News has reported.

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Lawyers for the woman who  accused former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn of sexual  assault have explored a deal in which they would scuttle the  criminal case in exchange for a monetary settlement in the  civil lawsuit, the Wall Street Journal reported today.

A US federal grand jury in Brooklyn, New York today returned an indictment charging Guyanese businessman Edul Ahmad with participating in a mortgage fraud scheme in which he and others fraudulently obtained more than US$50 million in loans.

Bollywood and reality TV star, Shilpa Shetty arrived today for  the Jamzone Bollywood event tomorrow.

The Guyana Police Association today released a statement on the ongoing row surrounding the alleged relationship between senior members of the force and drug lords.

(Trinidad Express) George Nicholas will stay as chairman of Caribbean Airlines (CAL) after Transport Minister Devant Maharaj did not accept his resignation.

(Trinidad Express) Olympic bronze medallist George Bovell III was injured in a vehicular accident in Mayaro early this morning.

Faizul Razak’s morning devotion was disrupted today by a speeding car which jumped his fence and landed in the living room of the upper floor of his building.

The owner of the well-known 75 Robb Street, Rachpaul Pharmacy was this morning discovered murdered in his living quarters behind the pharmacy.

Faizul Razak’s morning devotion was disrupted today by a speeding car which jumped his fence and landed in the living room of the upper floor of his building.

(Barbados Nation) The hierarchy of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) yesterday apologized for comments made  by one of its members Wednesday night in the House of Assembly.

NEW DELHI,  (Reuters) – A vast and jubilant crowd  cheered as Gandhian activist Anna Hazare walked out of jail in  New Delhi today to carry on a hunger strike in public, the  latest act in a drama of popular fury over corruption that has  put India’s government in a bind.

KABUL, (Reuters) – Five Taliban attackers laid siege  to a British cultural centre in the Afghan capital today,  killing at least nine people during an hours-long assault on the  92nd anniversary of Afghanistan’s independence from British  rule.

JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) – South Africa’s ruling  African National Congress today charged controversial youth  leader Julius Malema with “sowing divisions” in its ranks and  bringing the party into disrepute.

A miner was shot then buried while reportedly still alive while his son was hacked to death in a brutal attack at their mining camp in Konawak Backdam, Mahdia on Wednesday.

President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday  approved a grant of $10 million to the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) to support its activities to mark the International Year for People of African Descent (IYPAD), the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

A $152M contract to repair and upgrade 4.5 kilometres of road in Enmore- Hope, Region Four was inked yesterday.

Police yesterday arrested a well-known businessman and are on the hunt for the owner of a Lusignan car rental service in connection with Tuesday’s multi-million dollar cocaine bust at Block 20 Enmore/Haslington New Scheme, East Coast Demerara.

WPA co-leader Dr Rupert Roopnaraine says APNU hopes to finalize its list of candidates for the upcoming elections, including who will be the representative and deputy representative of the list, by next month.

Four Guyanese, who have criminal convictions in Canada, were yesterday listed among persons wanted by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has agreed to accept a 5% pay raise for sugar workers, retroactive to January 1st, 2011, in light of GuySuCo’s “cash-strapped” state, which includes over $6B in debts.

No one should be allowed to build any structure beyond the seawall given the potential threat to sea defences, says engineer Bert Carter. 

APNU’s presidential candidate David Granger yesterday called for an independent probe of the alleged links between senior policemen and drug lords, saying that the police cannot be depended on to investigate themselves.

An overseas-based organization with ties to Linden has given a boost to the electronic capacity of the Linden Museum of Industrial, Socio and Cultural Heritage (LMISCH) by furnishing them with a computer system complete with printer and scanner, valued in excess of $500,000.

Guyana’s male and female singles competitors sealed their spots in the final round of the singles competition of the 53rd Caribbean Table Tennis Championships which continued at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall yesterday.

Police on Wednesday found over 25 rounds of ammunition while searching a house at Bagotville, West Bank Demerara.

The Kashif & Shanghai Organisation has made an appeal to clubs to be more patient as it continues negotiations with foreign company, Plus One for it to honour its commitment in a deal last year to hand over sponsorship kits.

4The AFC has urged new Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker to intervene to resolve the “crisis” at the Bartica Market, which has been without water and electricity for two months because the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) defaulted on payments to the utility companies.

Police have determined that robbery is the motive in Wednesday’s brutal slaying of security guard Mohammed Haniff, according to Crime Chief Seelall Persaud.

A contract has been signed for the first phase of construction of a playground at Area ‘B’ Lusignan, East Coast Demerara. 

The temporary removal of the popular radio broadcast series Merundoi was an attack on freedom of expression and an infringement of the right of persons to access information, says APNU’s Dr.

A saw operator accused of making a false declaration to secure a new passport was yesterday admitted to bail in the sum of $60,000 after appearing before Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton. 

Residents from hinterland communities in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six on Friday last completed a five-day training session aimed at teaching them how to install and maintain the 65-watt solar systems that are to be distributed soon.

The Upper Mazaruni, Region Seven community of Jawalla is benefiting from $1M from Government towards the improvement of sport and the provision of equipment, according to the Government Information Agency.   Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai during a recent outreach to Region Seven attended the village’s football finals

A minibus conductor accused of wringing a police officer’s hand and fingers behind her back while she was executing her duties was yesterday remanded to prison when he appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton.

Indian national, Groopanan Kumar, was yesterday sentenced to six months imprisonment and fined $30,000 for overstaying his time in Guyana.

(Barbados Nation) Defending champion Ryan Brathwaite will lead a four-member Barbados team to the IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, from August 27 to September 4.

A miner accused of stealing a motor pump from another was yesterday admitted to bail in the sum of $25,000 when he made his appearance before Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

(WICB) Bridgetown, Barbados – The two newcomers in the West Indies Women’s team are focused on the same thing.

A man who the prosecution said was nabbed by police ranks with a quantity of cannabis in his possession was yesterday remanded to prison when he appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton. 

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) Estranged West Indies opener Chris Gayle will meet with West Indies Cricket Board chief executive Ernest Hilaire next Tuesday to hash out lingering issues that have kept the Jamaican out of the regional side.

Guyana celebrated its first International Youth Day with a youth rally and march last Friday under the theme ‘Change Our World’ at the Carifesta Sports Complex.

MASON, Ohio, (Reuters) – Grand slam title holders Li  Na and Petra Kvitova were knocked out of the Cincinnati Open yesterday while Russia’s Maria Sharapova and Vera Zvonareva  moved into the quarter-finals.Australia’s

The Ministries of Local Government and Regional Development and Housing and Water on Monday hosted a Monitoring and Evaluation Sensitization seminar that focused on the Community Roads Improvement (CRIP) programme.

(Trinidad Express) Errol Ashby has been fired with immediate effect as chief executive of the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SPORTT).

Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) secured a convincing seven-wicket victory over their Everest Cricket Club counterparts in the opening match of the Queensway-sponsored 2011 Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Open 50 overs Knockout Cricket Competition yesterday at the Everest Cricket Club, Camp Road.

Gandhi Youth Organization (GYO) ‘A’, Georgetown Cricket Club and Demerara Cricket Club each recorded commanding victories over their respective opponents on day three of the Inaugural De Sinco Trading, GCA Under-13 cricket competition.

GREENSBORO, North Carolina, (Reuters) – Americans  Jeff Quinney and Tommy Gainey carded seven-under 63s to share  the first round lead of the Wyndham Championship yesterday,  while others scrambled to qualify for the FedExCup playoffs.    Quinney, chasing his first PGA Tour win, held the lead  alone for much of the day thanks to five consecutive birdies  from the 12th at a steamy Sedgefield Country Club.    He was joined late in the day by Gainey, who signed off  with an unblemished round that included five birdies and an  eagle on the par-five fifth.  

BIRMINGHAM, England, CMC – Shiv Chanderpaul’s inauspicious start to his stint with Warwickshire continued yesterday when he was dismissed for one on the opening day of the County Championship match against Hampshire at Edgbaston.

Guyana struck gold in the under-14 category of the first Citizens Investment Services International Junior Lawn Tennis Tournament in St.

Dogged by intermittent difficulties that have considerably delayed the completion of Guyana’s second international airport, the Ogle Airport Inc (OAI) the conglomerate comprising the five passenger and cargo aircraft operations and seven other investors appears to have hit yet another hurdle.

REDjet flights between Guyana and two destinations in neighbouring Brazil, Boa Vista and Manaus could be introduced from early next year.

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Prodigious teenager Kirani James will spearhead Grenada’s three-member squad to the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea later this month.

For some years now President Hugo Chavez in Venezuela has been raising the spectre of nationalizing the country’s gold industry.

ALBA Games bronze medallist Imran ‘Magic’ Khan will make his third appearance on the Pro Am Friday night fights boxing card at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall slated for August 26.

Dear Editor, On Wednesday we collected from the Office of the President the most recent batch of Official Gazettes.

The Business Cartoon

LAHORE, Pakistan, CMC – Regular captain Sana Mir will lead an experienced 14-member Pakistan side on the upcoming tour of the Caribbean.

Unilateral Sometime this year, the PPP/C administration will unilaterally pass a Telecommunications Bill that will see a change in the size, structure and management of the information and communications sector. 

Dear Editor,  Guyana Chronicle reported that the Minister of Amerindian Affairs (MoAA) and Ministry staff, with some members of the National Toshaos Council, visited eight communities in Region 7 (‘Minister Sukhai completes five-day outreach to Region 7 communities,’ GC August 17). 

MASON, Ohio,  (Reuters) – World number two Rafa Nadal  scraped into the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Open after  beating fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 7-6 6-7 7-6 in a  fierce battle yesterday.    It was a gruelling contest in the heat for the Spanish pair  that lasted three hours and 38 minutes and was decided by a  mistake-filled third tiebreak.  

AMMAN, (Reuters) – The United States and European  Union called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down  yesterday and U.S.

RIO DE JANEIRO,  (Reuters) – Brazilian fans plan  match-day protests against Ricardo Teixeira, the head of the  country’s football association, to demand he step down from his  role at the 2014 World Cup.  

Dear Editor, I have contributed to the National Insurance Scheme from 1970-1987 and from 1989-March 1998.

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Rising fears of another  recession hammered U.S.

For the second successive quarter, the performance of the Guy-ana operations of the Trinidad and Tobago-based Neal and Massy Group of Companies has been singled out by Group Chair-man Arthur Lok Jack for its contribution to the company’s overall revenue increase.

Dear Editor, I refer to Mr Freddie Kissoon’s letter on Vishnu Bisram in the August 18 edition of Stabroek News (‘SN should make a decision on Bisram’).

CHICAGO,  (Reuters) – Black researchers are  significantly less likely to win grant funding from the  National Institutes of Health than white applicants, according  to a study published yesterday, and the director of the U.S. 

Jamaica would appear to be following Guyana’s lead in continuing to place its faith in sugar production with last Thursday’s announcement by the Ministry of Agriculture and fisheries in Kingston that the upgrading of irrigation and drainage facilities in the industry has been

(Trinidad Express) It’s official! All-rounders Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo will not represent Trinidad and Tobago at the 2011 Nokia Champions League T20 tournament in India in September.

Dear Editor, We all agree that the economic crisis has affected nearly every country in the world and has had a negative impact on the well-being of youths, but like many Guyanese I have doubts that the world economic crisis is the reason for the state of youths in Guyana.

For all the stumbling blocks that have been placed in the way of the transformation of the Ogle aerodrome into Guyana’s second international airport, the management of Ogle Airport Inc.

JERUSALEM,  (Reuters) – Gunmen killed seven people in  southern Israel yesterday in  attacks along the Egyptian  border and Israel responded with an air strike in the Gaza Strip  that killed six Palestinians, including the leaders of a group  it blamed for the violence.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Rain frustrated England’s bid for  a series whitewash over India yesterday when play was washed  out after lunch on the opening day of the fourth test at the  Oval.     Openers Andrew Strauss (38 not out) and Alastair Cook (34  not out) put on 75 in an unbroken first wicket partnership  against an under-strength attack when the rain which had been  lurking around south London all morning finally descended.   

Dear Editor, As I read Vishnu Bisram’s third lengthy letter, ‘Mehta’s letter was neither biased nor arrogant,’ (SN, August 15), denying my assertion that a member of President Jagdeo’s staff sought an invitation from the Federation of Indian Americans (FIA) for the president to attend the FIA activities, I was reminded of the quote from Sheakespeare’s Hamlet, “The lady doth protest too much.”   Mr Bisram stated that he was proud of his Indo/Hindu-centric identity and even goes on to justify it giving the analogy of David Hinds, Eusi Kwayana, Clive Thomas and a few others.

(Trinidad Express) Trinidad is in the middle of a dengue outbreak, Dr Rai Ragbir, the chairman of a special purpose State-board involved in the Government’s fight against dengue, has said.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is  confused about UEFA’s rules covering touchline bans after he was  ordered to stop communicating with his team during a Champions  League playoff win over Udinese.   

DIGICEL Chief Executive Officer Gregory Deane says the company is not ruling out post-liberalization investment in the country’s domestic landline telephone service though he says that the first order of business once the monopoly comes to an end would be to move to reduce the rates for overseas calls by providing competition in that area.

CARACAS,  (Reuters) – Osmar Herrera is the kind of  Venezuelan that President Hugo Chavez had in mind when he  launched his flagship health program eight years ago: sick,  impoverished and in need of a break.

ZAWIYAH, Libya,  (Reuters) – Libyan rebels seized an  oil refinery in the city of Zawiyah and took control of Sabratha  further west on the main highway from Tripoli to Tunisia as NATO  aircraft struck targets in the capital.

-Good Police, Bad Police If we consider this pre–season of the Elections Campaign we may want to evaluate, even recommend, certain actions and activities related to that campaign.

The former President of Cuba and revolutionary legend, Fidel Castro, turned 85 last Saturday, a milestone marked by a range of cultural festivities on the island, from which he was noticeably absent.

(De Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – Suriname will receive a hospital as a gift from China.

Dear Editor,   President Bharrat Jagdeo on August 11, 2011 at the Convention Centre said that young people needed to look back at the country’s history in order to defend its current progress. 

Politikles

Stock market updates

RIO DE JANEIRO,  (Reuters) – Ronaldinho, who has been  in fine form for Brazilian championship contenders Flamengo, was  recalled to the Brazil squad today.     The former Barcelona forward, a World Cup winner with Brazil  in 2002, won his first call-up since returning home in January  from Europe where he played last for AC Milan.    The 31-year-old was included in a 24-man squad for a  friendly against 2010 World Cup quarter-finalists Ghana in  London on Sept.

(Trinidad Express) Blows were passed and several obscenities and threats were exchanged during a fracas among members of the Public Services Association (PSA) at their Abercromby Street, Port of Spain, headquarters yesterday.

(Trinidad Guardian) Nearly eight years after McDonald’s closed its stores in Trinidad due to low sales, the world’s largest chain of fast food restaurants is due to restore its famous golden arches signage and its world famous Big Mac to T&T.