Daily Archive: Saturday, April 28, 2012

(Jamaica Gleaner) A man accused of being a rapist was beaten and stabbed to death by an angry mob in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew, yesterday.

(Barbados Nation) The quiet of the Ferniehurst, Black Rock, St Michael district was shattered just after midday today when neighbours learnt of the unnatural death of one of their own.

(Trinidad Guardian) CL Financial chairman Gerald Yetming said yesterday that the Government will soon be making a claim to the conglomerate for the cost of the January 2009 intervention and will request an extension of the three-year Shareholders’ Agreement to allow the negotiations for the claim, expected to be more than TT$10 billion, to be concluded.

(Trinidad Express) The Trinidad and Tobago Contractors Association has objected to the proposed award to build the new UWI South Campus project at Debe to foreign firm China Jiangsu International Economic Technical Corp.

(Trinidad Express) Government may decide to give jurisdiction to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) for constitutional appeals on criminal matters, particularly murder cases.

(Trinidad Express) Relatives of three teenage sisters who disappeared from their Laventille home on Thursday afternoon are seeking the public’s assistance in locating them.

(Trinidad Express) Members of one of the most dangerous gangs in the world, MS-13, are currently in this country working on construction sites, says Opposition MP Dr Amery Browne.

Police say that at about 0740h yesterday, the body of a so far unidentified man was found at the foreshore at No.56 Village, Corentyne, with the scalp missing and other injuries to the body.

(Jamaica Observer) Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies Prof E Nigel Harris has dismissed suggestions that Jamaica or any other country in the region should pull out of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and pursue its development on its own.

(Jamaica Observer) Contractor General Greg Christie has labelled the Administration’s establishment of an Independent Oversight Panel (IOP) to oversee three major projects “as a brazen but futile attempt to usurp, undermine and circumvent the lawful government contract monitoring authority and mandate” of his office.

(de Ware Tijd) THE HAGUE – The Dutch Lower House rejected all three resolution submitted by the Partij voor de Vrijheid (PVV) on Suriname.

(Jamaica Gleaner) The United Nations Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) resident representative, Robert Fuderich, has given Jamaica a less-than-impressive grade for efforts made to satisfy the requirements of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Several prominent attorneys yesterday welcomed a move by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to create a new post that will have responsibility for streamlining criminal prosecutions involving the police.

(Trinidad Newsday) The 25-year-old suspect  being sought in connection with the brutal murder of Nikita Ramischand, 18, the  daughter of prominent attorney Odai Ramischand fled Trinidad five hours after he  is alleged to have killed the teen.

BEIRUT, (Reuters) – Gunmen in inflatable dinghies attacked a military unit on Syria’s Mediterranean coast, state media said today, the first seaborne assault in a 13-month-old uprising against President Bashar al-Assad.

(Barbados Nation) Barbados may have avoided a dreaded downgrade from the powerful international rating agencies.

President Donald Ramotar last night assailed the opposition for slashing the 2012 budget and accused the main opposition – APNU – of reneging on agreements reached with his administration but said that he remains committed to dialogue.

The police in Trinidad & Tobago believe that the killer of Nikita Ramischand, the 18-year-old daughter of prominent Guyana-born attorney Odai Ramischand, left the island on a Caribbean Airlines flight and has returned to Guyana.

The governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP) said yesterday that an email address linked to the party had been hacked into and a missive sent from it allegedly threatening the life of columnist and talk show host Christopher Ram; the party has initiated a police investigation.

Two baggage handlers have been charged with drug trafficking over the cocaine find on Thursday at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Timehri (CJIA).

Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS) Dr. Roger Luncheon says that the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) may have to apply for a tariff increase as a result of not getting a $1 billion in subsidies which was intended to cushion fuel costs.

Residents of Lethem, in Region Nine are planning to picket the offices of the regional administration as well as the power company as the community and nearby villages remain affected by power outages since last Sunday.

In a rotting Grove Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara shack, Rickford McKenzie spends most of his good days in a chair in front of the television.

PPP/C executive members yesterday slammed the joint opposition for the $21 billion cut to the national budget, saying that the move was made out of revenge and not in the best interest of the nation.

ROSEAU, Dominica,  CMC – Captain Darren Sammy posted his highest Test score but it proved in vain as West Indies plunged to a 75-run defeat in the third and final Test here yesterday.

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee yesterday said that Thursday’s $20 million cut of the Custom Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) budgetary allocation by the joint opposition sends the wrong message to drug traffickers and the international community.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua,  CMC – Trinidadian fast bowler Shannon Gabriel has been rewarded for an impressive first class season with a call-up to the West Indies Test squad for the tour of England starting next week.

By Mandy Thompson Taxi driver Neil Boucher goes where a lot of other taxi drivers won’t—the potholed roads of Industry, on the East Coast of Demerara.

By Iva Wharton The developmental programmes earmarked by the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport will go ahead as planned since none of the programmes identified for funding in the 2012 national budget were cut, Director of Sports, Neil Kumar said yesterday.

By Emmerson Campbell London Olympic Games hopeful, cyclist Alonzo Greaves will look to return to top form in order to turn in impressive performances at the 30th annual three-stage road race which pedals off on May 12 in Corriverton.

Shrimp drying along the Zeeburg seawall has been suspended for a week.

Linden Technical Institute (LTI) came from behind to down Christianburg Wismar Secondary School 63-50 to claim the Victory Valley Royals Schools Championship at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Courts in Linden last Thursday evening.

A recent inspection of 50 schools in Georgetown found various public health defects, according to the Mayor and City Council.

The Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) has shortlisted 30 players to participate in trials for possible selection on the team to the Southern Caribbean Qualifying Round of matches for Rugby World Cup 2015.

The pilot of an Air Services Limited (ASL) Britten-Norman Islander was forced to abort a take-off from the Region Nine airstrip, at Aishalton, after one of the aircraft engines caught fire yesterday.

The Ministry of Commerce is advising the public not to pay any increase in minibus fares for the various routes, saying that the price structure remains the same since the last increase in 2005.

(Reuters) – The Miami Heat and LeBron James begin an all-or-nothing campaign for an NBA title while defending champion Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki face a tough start to the opening weekend of the playoffs.

The Local Government and Regional development Ministry is hoping to help Region Eight Chairman Mark Crawford and Regional Executive Officer (REO) Ronald Harsawack put aside their differences for the good of their constituents.

LUCAS STREET, Barbados,  CMC – West Indies Women lost the second One-Day International here yesterday after Sri Lanka women held their nerve to seal a one-wicket win with two balls remaining.

For those of you who are not yet familiar with the name Gordon Andres, he is a Guyanese musician and song writer currently residing in New York.

National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) CEO Lionel Wordsworth yesterday there is no $200 million missing from the Community Drainage and Irrigation Project (CDIP) as far as the agency is aware, while explaining that persons were reassigned while others were sent on leave to enable restructuring of the programme.

Talented striker Vurlon Mills has expressed his pleasure at returning to the national team for the first time in five months.

Football in the ancient county of Berbice on Wednesday last  received a massive boost when the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) in conjunction with Food for the Poor handed over a collection of items to the Berbice Football Federation (BFA).

Two nurses were yesterday put on a bond to keep the peace after one of them was charged with assaulting the other.

As we approach the final weeks of the Feel the Beat Competitions, the dance floor is beginning to heat up.

Hi Everyone, I couldn’t possibly reveal the subject of this column in the headline for fear that you might not buy the paper.

Anthony Bouchard, of Eagles Resources, pleaded guilty to twelve charges of tax evasion at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

LONDON, England,  CMC – On the same day West Indies announced their squad for the Test tour of England, discarded former vice-captain Brendan Nash stroked his maiden County Championship century to put Kent in control against Yorkshire yesterday.

A $9.32 million tennis court at President’s College Secondary School, Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara, was officially declared open on Wednesday and sponsor of the project, Bakewell, was praised for the significant contribution.

Limbo

Scotiabank (Guyana) recently won five of seven international awards for promote volunteering and it is set to continue its activism with a charity golf tournament planned for today.

Dear Editor, Shiv Chanderpaul has just passed 10,000 runs in Test cricket, and there have been, and will continue to be, many plaudits from a variety of sources.

SANTIAGO, (Reuters) – Chile will gradually eliminate general import tariffs by 2015, Finance Minister Felipe Larrain said yesterday, detailing a proposed sweeping tax reform aimed at helping fund an education overhaul.

Dear Editor, The Falkland Islanders have recently found themselves being used for propaganda purposes by the Argentine government.

The Music Development Unit (MDU) of the Ministry of Culture is hosting a gala Evening of Jazz at the Umana Yana on Monday evening, to join the world’s jazz-loving music community in celebrating International Jazz Day.

ROSEAU, Dominica,  CMC – The Dominica government Friday named West Indies off spinner Shane Shillingford a Goodwill Ambassador, saying it hopes his achievement in the just concluded Test series against Australia would serve as a motivating factor for young people here.

Caricom Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has identified the need for World Bank assistance, among other areas, in developing a regional Information and Communication Technology (ICT) space to allow for more and cheaper broadband access.

By Jairo Rodrigues Malcolm De Freitas is a predominant character in the Theatre Guild.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Al Qaeda’s core organization is likely incapable of carrying out another mass-casualty attack on the scale of Sept.

Dear Editor, With reference to an article titled ‘New US tax compliance Act still to be discussed by bankers association‘ published in Stabroek Business of the Stabroek News of April 20, 2012, we wish to voice a few concerns over inaccuracies in the piece and the alleged source of information from Scotiabank.

Helena Martin, who was born in what was then British Guiana, and now lives in Australia, has written a memoir on growing up in Guyana Walk Wit’ Me… All Ova Guyana, published by Balboa Press, covers the first 21 years of Helena’s life, in what was described as a compelling, humorous memoir.

Dear Editor, One always suspected that there was more than one ‘Juan’ Edghill.

BEIJING,  (Reuters) – Blind legal activist Chen Guangcheng, one of China’s most prominent human rights advocates, has escaped from home imprisonment, activists said yesterday, and there were unconfirmed reports he had taken refuge in the U.S.

The Junior Chamber International (JCI) Guyana yesterday launched its 52nd JCI West Indies National Convention at a simple ceremony held at the boardroom of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, on Main Street.

(Trinidad Express) There was ample precedent within the Commonwealth for a phased withdrawal from the jurisdiction of the Privy Council, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan said yesterday.

The Youth Ministries Department of the Assemblies of God (Guyana) will next Tuesday host its annual National Conference, which aims to exhibit youth talent, skill and potential for nation building.

Judges of the television reality series Guyana Model Search (GMS) and Designers’ Portfolio had what was described as a very challenging audition last weekend, but managed to pare down over 100 hopefuls to 50 for the shooting of the first episode of the show.

Dear Editor, Prior to the October 1992 elections, the Guyana Chronicle, GTV 10 and GBC (NCN today) and GNA (GINA today) only carried the government’s point of view, shutting out the views of the opposition and the wider society, just as they still do today.  

(Reuters) – A nearly three-year-long investigation by Senate Intelligence Committee Democrats is expected to find there is little evidence the harsh “enhanced interrogation techniques” the CIA used on high-value prisoners produced counter-terrorism breakthroughs.

(Trinidad Guardian) Media houses could themselves become a threat to freedom of the press.

LOS TEQUES, Venezuela, (Reuters) – President Hugo Chavez’s big poll lead puts him in a strong position ahead of Venezuela’s presidential election, but it could also convince radical opponents violence is the only way to beat him, a senior campaign strategist said.

BUENOS AIRES,  (Reuters) – Argentina stepped toward nationalizing its biggest oil company on Thursday when the government’s expropriation bill sailed through the Senate and then a lower house committee, setting the stage for final legislative approval next week.

The Central Corentyne Cham-ber of Commerce (CCCC) promised a “remarkable” experience when it launched the eighth Berbice Exposition and Trade Fair, set for July 20 to July 23, on Wednesday.

New recruits

Dear Editor, Regarding your news item captioned ‘GINA, NCN must have non-political management – APNU‘ (SN, Apr 26), I don’t think any party should have a stranglehold on the state-owned media and they should not be used for political propaganda.

From its flawless opening dance sequence, performed by Kreative Arts, to Alicia Keys’ “Fallin” (I keep on Fallin’//In and out of love//with you), which portrayed partner abuse, Front Yard promised much.

Food for the Poor Guyana (FFTP)

Reggae Royalty, Damian ‘Jr Gong’ Marley, and his band are set to headline the opening of the Guyana Food, Arts & Music (FAM) Festival billed for May 26 and 27 at the National Stadium.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – A congressional panel has approved a measure designed to search and clear the U.S.

Jolita Butkeviciene, Director of the European Commission’s Directorate for Development and Cooperation

Gimme a something

Neal and Massy Group of Companies presented a sponsorship cheque to the Linden Chamber of Commerce in support of Linden Expo 2012, at a brief ceremony at its head office on Wednesday.

Dear Editor, One has no choice but to call a spade a spade; it just is what it is.

The battle between online giants Apple and Amazon to control the lucrative ebook market took an unexpected turn three weeks ago when the US Department of Justice (DoJ) filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple and seven major trade publishers for colluding to “substantially increase the prices that consumers pay for ebooks.”

As I was casually browsing the many booths with information and goods from the various women’s organisations at the Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) Conference in Istanbul, Turkey last week, I spotted some T-shirts that grabbed my attention.

Forbes 101

(de Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – The first 1,000 government houses that the Bouterse Administration plans to build with a Chinese loan have been “safeguarded.”

The contestants for the Miss Stella Maris pageant

Foy Welcome displays a 15-foot anaconda