Daily Archive: Wednesday, December 28, 2011

(Reuters) – Allen Stanford, accused of running a $7.2  billion Ponzi scheme, today lost his bid for a  three-month delay in his criminal fraud trial, clearing the way  for jury selection to begin on Jan.

With the entire Republic looking forward with bated breath to the first sitting of the National Assembly, one has to wonder as to the reason why – at least according to President Ramotar – APNU has called for the postponement of the summoning of the august body.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UN-ECLAC) says growth in private sector credit is expected to be moderate as a result of the new parliamentary dispensation which it said may lead to uncertainty about government’s policy agenda.

CARACAS, (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Hugo  Chavez speculated today that the United States might have  developed a way to give Latin American leaders cancer, after  Argentina’s Cristina Fernandez joined the list of presidents  diagnosed with the disease.

The police say they are investigating a fatal accident that occurred at about 2030h on December 26, 2011, at Devonshire Castle, Essequibo Coast, and which resulted in the death of motor cyclist Gordon Coates, 38 years, of Henrietta, Essequibo.

(Jamaica Observer) Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) yesterday declared that it had not received any funding from any gay rights organisation locally or overseas, and dismissed such claims as propaganda generated by the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

(Jamaica Gleaner) A Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporter has been shot dead while three others are now hospitalised, one critically, after they were attacked at a political meeting in Westmoreland around 9 p.m.

(Barbados Nation) It was a sad and disturbing Christmas for St John farmer Nigel Daniel.

(Barbados Nation) It is Barbados’ tight exchange control regulations which would have put the brakes on any major outflow of funds from CL Financial subsidiaries here – CLICO International Life and British American Insurance Company.

(Trinidad Express) West Indies cricket did not have a merry Christmas, with several outstanding issues in the air, most notably the love/hate relationship between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA).

(Trinidad Express) The skeletal remains of a decapitated and charred female were discovered by police yesterday at Dookhan Trace, Aranjuez, in the vicinity of Aranjuez Villas.

(Trinidad Express) With eight persons being murdered in separate incidents over the long Christmas weekend, Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs yesterday expressed concern over the incidents but assured the police will continue to do all in their power to deal with such incidents.

MOSCOW, (Reuters) – Russian Prime Minister  Vladimir Putin said today that he was ready for dialogue  with the opposition but said he did not know who to hold talks  with, responding to the biggest protest against his 12-year rule  over the weekend.

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – India struck back with four  late wickets while Australia’s Mike Hussey posted a defiant  half-century to leave the first test delicately poised at the  close of the third day today.

Police in Berbice have launched an investigation of the alleged involvement of the No 66 Fisheries in piracy and a former chairman of the body has flatly denied that it was engaged in any wrongdoing.

US cricket captain and former Guyanese player Steve Massiah is hoping for a plea deal with US authorities on mortgage charges by January 13, 2012.

A 29-year-old fireman lost his life on Christmas Eve after he was shot by one of three gunmen who confronted him at the home of his girlfriend at Alness, Corentyne, Berbice during a robbery.

Twenty-two-year-old Naresh Khemraj Seenauth was killed on the spot at around 1:25 am Christmas Day after motor car PKK 9011 driven by a drunken driver hit him from behind while he was attempting to cross the road at Triumph, East Coast Demerara.

A Guyana and Trinidad Mutual, Fire and Life Insurance Agent is now a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) after he was shot in the leg during a foiled robbery attempt on Christmas Eve Day.

A Christmas Eve decorating ritual turned frightening on Saturday night, after a food vendor’s home was invaded by armed men, who shot her brother and robbed her of $155,000 in cash and some jewellery.

MELBOURNE,  (Reuters) – Australia paceman Peter Siddle deflated a nation of a billion people when he bowled Sachin Tendulkar for 73 in the last over, but India’s fluent batting helped the tourists seize control of the first test  yesterday.

A Corentyne, Berbice resident is now a patient at the New Amsterdam Hospital, after he was mysteriously shot while in his backyard early Christmas morning.

Festive season action in the 22nd annual Kashif and Shanghai tournament continued on Christmas and Boxing Day’s at the Blairmont and Mackenzie Sports Club grounds respectively, with Mill Ballers, Caledonia AIA, Amelia Ward and Milerock securing victories of varying difficulties.

Mining company First Bauxite Corporation has signed a Letter of Intent with an unidentified company which could see the miner supplying bauxite to that company when it starts producing around 2014.

SYDNEY, Australia,  CMC-IANS – A half-century from Dwayne Bravo inspired the Sydney Sixers and was one of the cornerstones in a two-run victory over the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash Twenty20 League yesterday.

Five companies on Tuesday submitted bids to supply the Georgetown Public Hospital with dietary supplies with one company bidding a whopping 150M more than the lowest bidder.

Dear Editor, It is with interest I read of the Monday, December 26 Stabroek News online article titled ‘Norway deal likely for review by new Parliament’with the views attributed to AFC leader Raphael Trotman who is reported as saying that “reviewing the LCDS to remove conditions that are excessively adverse to small miners and loggers are among the priority issues for the party,” and that the “opposition dominated new Parliament plans to review several deals and miners have in the past called for a percentage of land to be exempted from the Guyana-Norway deal since they feel they cannot meet the standards.”

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Rookie West Indies One-Day International batsman Jason Mohammed says he is bent on maintaining his place in the side despite failing in his solitary match on the recent tour to India.

A 38–year old man who allegedly had narcotics in his possession for the purpose of trafficking was on Friday remanded to prison after he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ court.

Dear Editor, Well, I wrote on some issues some time ago concerning the four-lane road into the city and it has come to pass.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Gareth Bale’s superb double enabled Tottenham Hotspur to narrow the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester City and Manchester United to seven points with a 2-0 win at Norwich City  yesterday.

ANSA McAL Trading Limited this year continued the tradition of presenting Cheekies hampers to mothers who gave birth on Christmas Day.

Dear Editor, The dust has settled after the Guyana electorate delivered their devastating verdict on the state of the country. 

(Reuters) – The Miami Heat gained a little revenge for their loss in last year’s NBA finals, by spoiling the Dallas Mavericks’ championship celebration with a resounding 105-94 victory on Sunday’s opening day of the season.

The Commonwealth Observer Group in its final report on the November 28, 2011 general and regional elections gave the polls a passing grade but recommended the reconstitution of the Guyana Elections Commission, the setting up of an independent body to monitor the media and strengthening of laws regarding campaign financing.

Dear Editor, I would like to express utter disgust with the unprofessional, selfish, and lackadaisical attitude of a police officer (name given) who was on duty at the Turkeyen Police Station on December 26.

NEW YORK,  (Reuters) – The National Basketball Association (NBA) season belatedly got underway on Christmas Day, with the New York Knicks wrapping up a 106-104 victory over the Boston Celtics.

With the seeming loss of credibility of the Kimberley Certification Scheme nine years after its coming into being, there is less confidence in the market that diamonds are ‘clean’ but a former head of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) believes Guyana still has strong mechanisms for trading in the gem.

 (Reuters) – The Houston Rockets recruited the big man they have been looking for when they signed free-agent centre Samuel Dalembert, the NBA team said on Monday.

Dear Editor, The much anticipated 2011 election has come and gone and as we settle into the post-election reality and try to dissect the results, the aftermath, what has happened, what lessons have been learnt, what has and hasn’t changed, one cannot do so without mentioning the little party with big dreams which thought it really could, the AFC.

BEIRUT, (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of  Syrians have taken to the streets in the flashpoint city of Homs  to rally against President Bashar al-Assad and plead for  newly-arrived Arab peace monitors to bear witness to their  plight.

(Reuters) – The Los Angeles Lakers continued their stumbling start to a new era with a 100-91 road loss to the Sacramento Kings on Monday as the visitors matched their poorest opening to a campaign for nine years.

BUENOS AIRES,  (Reuters) – Argentine President  Cristina Fernandez has thyroid cancer and will undergo surgery  next month, a government spokesman said yesterday,  adding that the cancerous cells had not spread.

Dear Editor, I refer to Pro-Chancellor Misir’s letter in SN of December 25 (‘The majority opposition is not the executive’).

Odinga Edwards, a labourer who allegedly grabbed a gold chain from a woman, was on Friday remanded to prison.

West Indies fans hoping to see Jamaican batsman Chris Gayle back in the regional side may be in for a long wait.

MEXICO CITY, (Reuters) – In a nation wracked by drug  violence, this sprawling capital city of more than 20 million  has been an oasis of relative peace.

In a deep drink: The driver of this vehicle had

(Jamaica Observer) Bishop Herro Blair has warned that Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller’s pledge to review the buggery law if her party is elected to office on Thursday could lead to the legalisation of same-sex marriages in Jamaica.

The relatives of Karen Reid, the beer garden owner who was killed on Christmas Eve, are puzzled about the circumstances surrounding her death.

Dear Editor, I do like watching ‘Eye on the Issues’ on Channel 7 hosted by Yesu Persaud.

MOSCOW, (Reuters) – The architect of Vladimir  Putin’s tightly controlled political system became one of its  most senior victims yesterday when he was shunted out of the  Kremlin in the wake of the biggest opposition protests of  Putin’s 12-year rule.

Dear Editor, The collective development of this nation will remain hindered by those who can only accept as good, actions when driven by persons they support, and said or similar actions as bad when utilized by persons whom they do not support.

Xmas baby: Nineteen-year-old Kendra Richmond of Perth Village, Mahaicony received a joyous Christmas present in the form of her first child; a healthy baby boy, whom she gave birth to on

DURBAN, South Africa,  (Reuters) – Sri Lanka, looking to square the three-match series 1-1, were in complete command after 14 wickets tumbled on the second day of the second test against South Africa at Kingsmead  yesterday.

More than a decade after it was established as a community for those in need of a house, the ambitious Diamond Scheme on the East Bank of Demerara continues to grow but as the area expands residents are calling on the authorities to upkeep critical services.

CAIRO, (Reuters) – An Egyptian civilian court  ordered the army yesterday to end forced virginity tests on  female detainees in military prisons, and the woman who won the  legal victory urged other victims to press charges against the  army.

(de Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – Since November, dengue has claimed six lives, de Ware Tijd learns from an unnamed top health official.

Prime Minister, and de facto dominant leader in the Russian political system, Vladimir Putin, must have been taken by surprise at the revolt against his regime following the recent parliamentary elections in the country.

(Reuters) – Sears Holdings Corp will  close as many as 120 of its Kmart and Sears discount and  department stores after its holiday sales slumped, sending its  shares sliding more than 27 percent to their lowest level in  three years.

MADRID,  (Reuters) – Alex Corretja will be Spain’s new Davis Cup team captain for the next two years, the country’s tennis federation (RFET) said in a statement yesterday.

If President Donald Ramotar wants to represent change in and modernisation of the Guyanese political fabric, one of his first priorities must be to put a rein on the type of propaganda with which the PPP has been historically associated.

Politikles

President visits hospital on Xmas Day: President Donald Ramotar and First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar spent the early part of

Dear Editor, We suggest that our new government should put a ban on banks charging fees when people pay by credit or debit cards for goods and services.