Daily Archive: Wednesday, March 7, 2012

(Jamaica Gleaner) The killing of 21 people by Jamaican police in just six days must be subject to a thorough inquiry, Amnesty International said as it called for the authorities to mount an effective investigation into recent and past police operations.

SAN PEDRO, Belize, (Reuters) – Belize’s centrist government seeks a second term today in elections which could seriously affect scope for borrowing in the tiny Central American nation, best known for its pristine beaches and the world’s second-longest coral reef.

(Barbados Nation) A clash of dates is likely to force key West Indies players to miss part of the upcoming Test series against Australia and a subsequent tour of England.

At about 2000h yesterday, police said that student Isha Jones, 19 years of Fifth Street, Campbellville, was held up by two men armed with knives at Church Road, Subryanville, Georgetown, who took away $5,000 and a computer bag and escaped.

Former first lady Varshnie Singh was this morning robbed of valuables by men armed with a knife and a cutlass as she was overseeing work at a construction site on D’Urban Street.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall has filed a notice of motion in the Supreme Court of Judicature seeking to have the recent composition of Parliament’s Committee of Selection declared null and void.

The Guyana Government has condemned the West Indies Cricket Board for the manner in which it responded to Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and called on it to apologise to her.

(Jamaica Gleaner) The Independent Jamaica Council for Human Rights (IJCHR) has called for a “survey” to determine the status of the “thousands” of police killings that have been investigated by the Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI).

(Jamaica Gleaner) At least 150 Caribbean Airlines employees are to be sent home as of April 30, 45 in Montego Bay, St James and more than 100 in Kingston.

(Barbados Nation) A Government minister yesterday promised his administration would eventually end the use of pit toilets across Barbados.

(Barbados Nation) Chief executive officer of Almond Resorts Inc., Ralph Taylor, is leading an initiative to stop the financially troubled hotel chain from going under.

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio, (Reuters) – Mitt Romney eked out a close victory in Ohio but failed to land a knockout blow against rival Rick Santorum on the Republican presidential nominating contest’s biggest night, raising the chances of a drawn-out battle between the party’s establishment and its grassroots conservatives.

Once a high-flying Texan billionaire,  Allen Stanford was yesterday found guilty in a Houston court of running a 20-year, US$7B Ponzi scheme during which he bilked investors in 113 countries – including Guyana – and he faces spending the rest of his life in prison.

A 17-year-old St. Rose’s High School student was shot to her left shoulder during a robbery yesterday around 19:05 hours on Thomas Street, Kitty.

Alliance For Change (AFC) executive Khemraj Ramjattan yesterday expressed disappointment that Government has not set a meeting to allow Opposition parties to discuss the national budget and said he would not be surprised if the Minister of Finance presents the budget at the next sitting of Parliament.

Local singer Jessica Xavier yesterday appeared in court charged with causing death by dangerous driving and was released on self bail.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday said it could account for $90M allocated to the police during the general elections last November, stating that the monies received were allocated to feed ranks and for policing activities.

A six-member team from the People’s Republic of China is here to train Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Air Corps pilots and engineers to operate the Y-12 aircraft—the first such programme conducted by the Chinese air force outside of China.

Guyana Chronicle reporter Leroy Smith was placed on self bail yesterday after answering charges of assault, disorderly behaviour and unlawful and malicious damage to property.

The body of a missing security guard yesterday washed ashore at Den Amstel, on the West Coast of Demerara.

The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) on Monday launched the new National Building Codes.

The AFC will move a motion in Parliament for a full inquiry into the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), the party announced yesterday, saying that dissatisfaction with its operations was highlighted by aggrieved Blairmont sugar workers.

A man was yesterday charged with beating his wife with a piece of iron, after accusing her of stealing from him.

Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretary General Ambassador Irwin La Rocque says the Caricom market continues to offer opportunities for the Guyana private sector, noting that the country ranks third in exports to the regional trading bloc.

One week after Ramsey Ali relinquished his position as President of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) following a search at his home by members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the other nine executives of the embattled board have now followed suit.

A 19-year-old man was shot to his right hand on Monday while walking along the Georgetown seawalls with his girlfriend around 10:20pm.

The Guyana cricket team will play its final two four-day games versus Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago in the ongoing 2011/12 regional first-class competition.

Forensic analyst Superintendent Stephen Greaves yesterday faced cross-examination when the Neesa Gopaul Preliminary Inquiry (PI) continued at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Minister of Local Govern-ment Ganga Persaud has said despite the warning about persistent rainfall, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) failed to ensure that the drainage system was functioning effectively, resulting in the city becoming inundated.

Hikers Hockey Club honoured its founders as well as veteran  hockey administrator Chris Fernandes at its inaugural Awards Dinner and Presentation ceremony Monday evening at Guyana Pegasus.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Fiery Barbados fast bowler Tino Best has been recalled to the West Indies side for the first three One-Day Internationals against Australia starting later this month.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) presented 50 graduates from the Kuru Kuru Training College (KKTC) with micro grants to help them put their training into good use.

Mark King, who pleaded not guilty to robbery with the use of a dangerous weapon and subsequently caused a raucous in court, was remanded to prison by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

A man was yesterday fined $15,000 for assaulting a 14-year-old boy.

Guyana’s golfers are coming out of hibernation after several months of inclement weather, as the 2012 season gets off to a late start with this week’s opening tournament sponsored by Stag Beer.

The Landell Mills review of the Caricom Secretariat and the strategic direction of the 15-member community are expected to be among the priorities when Heads of Government meet in Suriname this week for their 23rd Inter-Sessional Conference.

APNU’s Leader of the Opposition, David Granger, in his presentation last Saturday to the PNCR’s first General Council for this year highlighted as an imperative the reforming of the PNCR, the NCW (National Congress of Women – the women’s arm of the party,  and the GYSM (Guyana Youth and Student Movement – the party’s youth arm) in order to ensure that they get in tune with the times.

Three overseas coaches will begin a two-day coaches course today ahead of the start of the tournament phase of the Scotia/Pepsi Schools football Academy this weekend.

By Cosmo Hamilton At the dawn of a new year a hopeful populace is entitled to not just mundane resolutions to lose weight, exercise, and shed myriad bad habits like smoking and drinking in the interest of becoming more wholesome, healthy human beings.

Acting Commissioner of Police Leroy Brumell has noted the challenge posed to the police force by crime in the sprawling mining areas and said a number of measures have been taken including setting up roving patrols.

Thirty persons graduated from the first Information Training Course at the Buxton/Friendship Practical Instruction Centre and Finance minister Dr Ashni Singh encouraged them to empower others by sharing their knowledge with them.

Later this month the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) will conduct a referees/judges seminar, a boxing competition, and will also send a team of seven  boxers to Trinidad and Tobago for a box off.

Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud lauded Guyana’s partnership with Canada in the mining sector and invited investors to consider Guyana, at the first Guyana Day event at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) held in Toronto over the weekend.

With the inclement weather seemingly over after forcing the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) to postpone its annual Carifta trials to tomorrow, the meet is expected to be a fiery one when it runs off from 10am  at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary.

Dear Editor, The recent OAS report on the Guyana elections has highlighted the call for reform of the Elections Commission.

Hope was fading yesterday as search efforts continued without success to locate the two missing occupants of the MV Crissan–V, which sank off the Waini Coast in the North West District (NWD) last week.

The Rose Hall Youth and Sports Club (RHYSC) has stepped forward to open its cricket developmental programmes to females despite a number of challenges facing female cricketers in Guyana.

Dear Editor, The Stabroek News Monday editorial `Onion results in T&T’ (05.03.12) has given much food for thought as countries in the region scramble for ways and means of reducing their high food importation bill.

THE chiseled physique of the heavyweight champion who gave him the early nickname of “Smokin’ Joe” remained unmistakable.

The body of a man was yesterday afternoon discovered in a canal in the vicinity of the Russian Embassy, in Georgetown.

For the first time in two decades Guyana will host a 20 kilometres race in honour of esteemed Mexican athlete Jose Macias Luna on Sunday at 05:30hrs from Coldingen, East Coast Demerara, to finish in front of the Mexican Embassy on Brickdam.

Paul Lewis was yesterday placed on $30,000 bail after being charged with stealing a cell phone.

Dear Editor, I should begin by stating that while I had looked forward confidently to an APNU victory, I have reconciled myself, like the majority of Guyanese to the give-and-take necessary for the functioning of the Parliament as currently composed.

BASSETERRE, St Kitts,  CMC – Women’s batting star Deandra Dottin has praised the team spirit in the West Indies side after they beat India by three wickets here Sunday to win the three-match One-Day International series.

BEIRUT,  (Reuters) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad faced growing Western anger yesterday for preventing aid from entering a devastated district of Homs and over accusations of human rights abuses, including pictures said to show torture victims at a hospital in the city.

SAO PAULO, (Reuters) – Brazil’s government promised aggressive new stimulus measures after data showed the economy expanded just 2.7 percent in 2011, raising fears that one of the world’s most dynamic emerging markets is now slipping into a new era of mediocre growth.

Approximately one month since leaving the shores of Guyana for a training stint in Jamaica to improve their Olympics hopes, Winston George, Rupert Perry and Quinse Clarke are making some progress, according to President of the Athletics Association of Guyana, Colin Boyce.

Dear Editor, Every patriot should compliment and take heed of the Sunday March 4 Stabroek News editorial `Georgetown Flood’.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Two senior journalists working for Rupert Murdoch’s News International have apparently attempted suicide as pressure mounts at the scandal-hit publisher of the now-defunct News of the World.

The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha says Holika Dahan will take place today countrywide, as it starts activities to celebrate Phagwah 2012.

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio, (Reuters) – Mitt Romney failed to land a knockout blow against rival Rick Santorum on “Super Tuesday,” raising the prospect of a drawn-out battle for the Republican presidential nomination between the party’s establishment and its grassroots conservatives.

 Dear Editor   The non-appointment of a Registrar of Deeds since at least the year 2000, must be regarded as a remarkable display of a contradiction of the usual official proclamations about the efficacious management and delivery of critical services, like those provided by the Deeds Registry to: legal personnel and institutions; financial institutions, business entities of varying categories (local and overseas) and individual clients.

Director of Sports Neil Kumar will meet with members of the national Sevens rugby team on Saturday at the Providence National Stadium where the team will hold its final practice game prior to its departure for Hong Kong.

Dear Editor, It is time the people stop depending on President Ramotar and the PPP/C to sack Henry Greene, and do themselves justice by taking action in this matter, to help in protecting the morale of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Politikles

Amid protests from his opponents and from the main organization monitoring the Presidential elections, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) of which Russia is a member, current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin registered a substantial victory in last Sunday’s general elections, amassing 64% of the vote.

(Trinidad Express) One of three police officers assigned to the Morvant Police Station, who are before a disciplinary tribunal on charges of neglect of duty, has pleaded guilty.

Animated discussions and light imbibing at the ‘parliament’ and elsewhere in Linden a few weekends ago brought up some interesting questions which attested to the fact that the Guyanese political imagination and participation are alive and well.

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – India’s Rahul Gandhi failed spectacularly to deliver a promised comeback for his Congress party in crucial state elections, casting fresh doubt on his capacity to become the next member of a storied dynasty to lead the country.

Air assault techniques: Guyana Defence Force soldiers gather around a helicopter while receiving training on air assault techniques and procedures from special operations service members assigned to

(Trinidad Express) A Housing Development Corporation (HDC) employee, who was part of a crew that went to do repairs at a St Paul Street, East Dry River, Port of Spain apartment, was ambushed and shot dead yesterday.