Daily Archive: Saturday, September 24, 2011

MIAMI, (Reuters) – Tropical Storm Ophelia swirled  across the open Atlantic toward the Caribbean today on a  path likely to take it well off the northeastern coast of  Puerto Rico, U.S.

CARACAS, (Reuters) – Venezuela and Iran postponed a visit to Caracas today by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez recovered from a fourth round of cancer treatment, officials said.

PARIS, (Reuters) – A corruption investigation is circling closer to President Nicolas Sarkozy as a third ally comes under pressure in the so-called “Karachi Affair”, accused of alerting a friend in police custody to secret witness testimony.

President Bharrat Jagdeo was worried that the 2007 JFK International Airport terror plot arrests would be a “big, black eye” for Guyana and he told Washington he was prepared to have suspects extradited to the US.

A Brazilian miner is now a patient of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH), after he was shot in the back at a mining camp at Butterfly Backdam, Port Kaituma.

(Trinidad Guardian) “Would you now shut up?” was the sharp rebuke from Clico inquiry chairman Sir Anthony Colman to Martin Daly, SC, yesterday.

(Trinidad Express) “Outraged, flabbergasted and appalled,” is how Peter Permell, chairman of the CLICO Policyholders Group, describes the group’s reaction to disclosures about insurance company CLICO and its parent conglomerate CL Financial which have come out of the ongoing Commission of Enquiry into the collapse of these companies.

(WICB) London, England – Ravi Bopara returned outstanding figures of 4-10 – England’s best in Twenty20 cricket – and openers Alex Hales and Craig Kieswetter shared their side’s highest partnership in the shortest format as West Indies were beaten by 10 wickets in the first of two T20 Internationals at the Kia Oval.

LONDON, England, CMC – A novice West Indies team were no match for World champions England and slumped to a 10-wicket defeat at the Oval, in the first Twenty20 International of the two-match series here yesterday.

MOSCOW, (Reuters) – Vladimir Putin declared today he was ready to return to the Russian presidency after current head of state Dmitry Medvedev announced he would bow to his mentor at March’s election.

A six-month old infant was among two killed along the Mabura Road, when a minibus collided head on with a truck yesterday morning.

Eight persons, including six Guyanese nationals, are currently in a Surinamese jail on drug-related charges after they were intercepted with drugs by members of a joint army and police patrol while crossing the Corentyne River on Wednesday.

Bourda Market stallholders were the target of bandits in a bold daylight attack yesterday, which prompted calls for better security.

ZURICH, (Reuters) – Guyana FA president Colin Klass became the second high-ranking official, and the fourth in all, to be banned for their part in a bribery scandal when world soccer’s ruling body FIFA suspended him yesterday for 26 months.

Dr Roger Luncheon yesterday said he could not verify that President Bharrat Jagdeo’s failure to set up an appeals tribunal to offer redress to aggrieved public servants most affected Afro-Guyanese, who make up the majority of the workers.

Presidential candidate of The United Force (TUF), Valerie Garrido-Lowe is set to continue as leader of the party following a High Court ruling in her favour by Justice James Bovell-Drakes on Thursday.

Football officials in Guyana yesterday gave varying reactions to the news that former president of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Colin Klass had been banned for 26 months by FIFA for his role in the votes-for-cash scandal.

Mark Anthony Deygoo, the Guyanese businessman shot multiple times by robbers in St Maarten on Wednesday evening, succumbed yesterday.

The importance of the police and the community working together was the key message at the commissioning of the New Police Outpost at Amelia’s Ward Linden and the Linden Station Management Committee (LSMC) came in for high praise from Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee and Commissioner of Police Henry Greene.

Look out Couva, cycling is coming to Central Trinidad. Minister of Sport Anil Roberts made the announcement on Thursday during the official opening ceremony of the newly-paved road circuit at Samaan Park, Chaguaramas.

The Coca Cola sponsored East Bank Football League will kick off tomorrow with two matches at the Diamond Community Centre ground as eight teams battle for supremacy and prizes totaling over $700,000 dollars.

The Ministry of Education yesterday showed off Guyana’s current and future potential in the fields of science and technology at the National Science and Technology Fair held at the Carifesta Sports Complex.

BANGALORE, India, CMC – Discarded West Indies opener Chris Gayle sparkled but only briefly as his Royal Challengers Bangalore started their Champions League Twenty20 campaign with a three-wicket loss to Warriors here yesterday.

New Delhi (dpa) – The cricketing fraternity and Indian leaders yesterday paid glowing tributes to cricket legend Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi who has died aged 70 following a respiratory illness.

Banks DIH and the General Workers Union (GWU) yesterday signed a three-year wage and salary agreement that would see their lowest paid workers earning more than some teachers.

‘Controversially Yours’. There couldn’t have been a more apt title to the autobiography of Shoaib Akhtar, arguably the most controversial cricketer of modern times.

Jamaican dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel has dropped Guyana from future travel plans, saying that he would rather tour Iraq than land here.

Manager of the Inter Guiana Games (IGG) Basketball team and president of the Youth Basketball (YBG) Organisation, Chris Bowman, yesterday expressed confidence in the national squad that will represent Guyana at the IGG games which is scheduled to take place from September 20 – 23 in Suriname.

Dear Editor, GWI wishes to express gratitude to your publication for highlighting the statements made by Jocelyn Morian regarding the Kwakwani water supply in the Tuesday, September 20, 2011 edition of the Stabroek News.

Another Canadian mining company has launched exploration activities for gold here and has identified areas on its property where it feels gold deposits are located.

Guyana Fashion Weekend (GFW) 2011 was yesterday officially launched with a fashion market at the Georgetown Cricket Club, Bourda, showcasing the work of designers from across the region.

For those who are cynical, including this card-carrying member, Ron Artest’s recent name change to Metta World Peace was an eye roll.

Dear Editor, In December 2010, the New Guyana Marketing Corporation, in response to “hoarding” by greedy shopkeepers, set up a number of distribution points for sugar and rice as part of the Ministry of Agriculture’s “anti-price gouging” exercise. 

Dear Editor, I understand the President of the WICB visited Guyana not so long ago.

To the ordinary eye, eight-year-old Lekeziah ‘Kizzy’ Grant is just a pretty little girl who can dance; those who know her are continually amazed by her talent considering the way she was born.

An 18-year-old man who said he slapped, but did not cuff his girlfriend because she wanted to end their relationship was yesterday jailed for 14 days when he appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

By Iva Wharton Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) president Phillip Fernandes said the sport ministry will only make available a plot of land to build an artificial hockey pitch when the Board has secured the $20M needed to build it.

Overseas-based Guyanese Sazie Rahman, debuts her evening wear line, titled ‘Modern Elegance’ at Guyana Fashion Weekend (GFW) which kicked off yesterday.

Two men were yesterday placed on a bond to keep the peace after appearing before two magistrates on a charge of unlawfully assaulting another man.

Eight schools will be grappling for top honours when the Neal & Massy Group of Companies Schools Rugby Tournament start today at the National Park Rugby Ground.

Dear Editor, On public roads or highways, it is imperative that drivers, pedestrians and all other persons using same be guided by signs, being traffic or otherwise.

Dear Editor, The residents of the entire Essequibo Coast are without electricity since 4 am this morning (Thursday).

Hi Everyone, The salt war has come home. Last week, Canadian Professor of Nephrology, Euan Carlisle, while responding to a question about the possible cause of the large number of renal failure cases in Guyana (at the opening of The Doobay Renal Centre), said that a contributing factor might be that our diets are loaded with too much sodium.

The National Basketball Association (NBA)  yesterday announced that training camps for its 30 teams, which were scheduled to open Oct.

Marian Academy students on Wednesday participated in a number of activities advocating for a more peaceful community during observances for World Peace Day—efforts the school said have been included in its curriculum since its establishment.

The US Embassy and the Guyana Press Association (GPA) are collaborating on a training session for new and aspiring journalists, aimed at teaching them the basic skills needed to accurately and objectively report news and events.

LONDON, England,  CMC – West Indies captain Darren Sammy conceded yesterday his side needed to tighten up all areas of their game, following their 10-wicket thumping by England in the opening Twenty20 International of the two-match series.

Dear Editor, I write about my area, West Coast Berbice, but I know this happens all over Guyana.

Reigning Miss Guyana Universe Kara Lord, said yesterday that it was “truly an honour” to represent Guyana on an international stage, earlier in the month. 

Dear Editor, Balwant Persaud said he conducted an unscientific poll in August 2011.

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas asked the United Nations yesterday to recognize a state for his people, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the world body as a “theatre of the absurd” and said only direct talks could deliver peace.

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Manniram Prashad said over 300 businesses have indicated an interest in exhibiting at GuyExpo 2011 and preparations are being made to accommodate them at the trade exposition.

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez returned home on Thursday saying a fourth and final session of chemotherapy in Cuba had been successful.

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

Dear Editor, Preventing crime and reducing fear of crime, are both central to APNU’s objectives for restoring safe communities.

ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Pakistan warned the United States it risked losing an ally if it kept accusing Islamabad of playing a double game in the war against militancy, escalating the crisis in relations between the two countries.

National Cycling Coach Hassan Mohamed is hosting 11 race cycle programme at the National Park Circuit on Saturday.

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) hosted a meeting on Wednesday to select a sub-committee to start planning an exhibition to observe International Disaster Risk Reduction Day on October 13.

(Trinidad Express) – The curfew in the crime hot spot of Longdenville, Chaguanas, failed to stop an attack on a family whose house was broken into by four men who raped a mother and daughter.

(Trinidad Express) – Lawrence Duprey was paid $1.1 billion from the deposits of CLICO policyholders in the five years prior to CL Financial seeking a billion dollar bailout from the government.

A labourer who was charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking was yesterday remanded to prison after he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

COLOMBO, (Reuters) – Former Australian opener Geoff Marsh will take over as head coach of the Sri Lankan team on a two-year contract, the country’s cricket board (SLC) said yesterday.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The Black Eyed Peas and Jennifer Hudson have joined the line-up of a controversial Michael Jackson tribute concert in Britain.

Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai remembers late Toshao McLean Devair as a “mature leader,” who was committed to developing Orealla Village.

ORLANDO, Fla (Reuters) – A judge yesterday raised to $217,500 the total bill Casey Anthony must pay to compensate law enforcement agencies for lying in 2008 about the fate of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee.

Dear Editor, With reference to your editorial of Thursday, September 22, I should point out that child labour involving youngsters the same age as Rene Fernandes has been around for a long time going back to the days of British Guiana.

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) – Olympic track star Carl Lewis said yesterday he was dropping his run for political office in New Jersey after a court ruled that he had not established proper residency to run for the post he sought.

Politikles

Dear Editor, Consumers should be vigilant when spending their hard-earned cash.

The state of Georgia executed Troy Davis, America’s most famous death row prisoner, earlier this week despite a widespread international campaign for clemency, and eleventh hour appeals from the Pope, former president Jimmy Carter and Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

According to the Toronto Sun, “One of Canada’s ‘Most Wanted’ criminals, who was convicted twice of beating women, has been deemed a threat to public security.”

(MTV) Singer Vesta Williams was found dead on Thursday night in a Los Angeles hotel room.

A juvenile was yesterday remanded to prison over possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition after he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

WELLINGTON, (Reuters) – New Zealand recalled Kyle Mills and included uncapped Doug Bracewell and Dean Brownlie for the one-off away test against Zimbabwe, the country’s cricket board (NZC) said  yesterday.

BOGOTA (Reuters) – A judge jailed the suspended mayor of Colombia’s capital, Bogota, yesterday while he is on trial on charges he took bribes to award public works contracts.