Daily Archive: Monday, August 20, 2012

LOS ANGELES,  (Reuters) – More than three years after being beaten up by then-boyfriend Chris Brown, R&B singer Rihanna has admitted that she still loves him, calling Brown possibly “the love of my life”.

YARE, Venezuela, (Reuters) – Well-armed inmates in one of Venezuela’s notoriously overcrowded prisons rioted over the weekend, killing 25 people, the government said today.

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – Senior Republicans distanced themselves today from Missouri U.S.

The official signing ceremony for the agreements reached last Friday between the Region Ten delegation and the government with regards to the Linden crisis was today postponed following a last minute glitch.

At about 1630h yesterday, police say that Veeraj Persaud, 32 years, of Goed Fortuin, WBD, who was at Double Day Hotel and Bar at Tuschen, EBE, was shot to his left knee by a licensed firearm holder during an issue over a female.

The police say they are investigating a fatal accident that occurred at about 1845h yesterday at Land of Canaan Public Road, EBD, and which resulted in the death of Rafeek Mohamed, 53 years, of Friendship Squatting Area, EBD.

The Caribbean Community this afternoon confirmed that the three Caricom nationals have been recommended to serve on the Commission of Inquiry into the protests at Linden on July 18 which resulted in three deaths.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – South Africa replaced England at the top of the world test rankings today after defeating the home side by 51 runs at Lord’s to win their three-test series 2-0.

(Trinidad Guardian) A police investigation has been launched into a series of threats made against High Court judge Mark Mohammed and several members of staff at the judiciary.

(Jamaica Gleaner) The Barbados Government has objected to an application by the Jamaican Government to become a party to the suit brought by Jamaican Shanique Myrie.

(Barbados Nation) The CLICO forensic audit report was stolen, says Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, and its contents did not accuse him, Government or late Prime Minister David Thompson of anything.

The Ministry of Home Affairs today expressed sadness at the passing of former Police Commissioner, Laurie Lewis and said that he had served with distinction.

(Trinidad Express) Trinidad-born hip-hop artiste Nicki Minaj cancelled her appearance at yesterday’s V Festival in the United Kingdom because of damage to her vocal cords.

The Vivienne Parris Health Centre at Central Mackenzie, Linden went up in flames early this morning leaving Lindeners in disbelief and disgust.

(Trinidad Express) More than 31,000 people have applied for 5,000 positions of special reserve police (SRPs).

(Trinidad Express) Even as the body of a murdered man lay nearby, the lime did not stop for dozens of bar patrons in San Fernando yesterday morning.

(Trinidad Express) Dethroned as Chutney Soca Monarch in February, entertainer Rikki Jai on Saturday night won the 50th anniversary Independence Chutney Soca Monarch finals.

(Trinidad Express) A 64-year-old Barrackpore mother was bludgeoned to death in bed yesterday while her visually impaired husband slept in the downstairs section of their home.

LOS ANGELES,  (Reuters) – British-born filmmaker Tony Scott, director of such Hollywood blockbusters as “Top Gun” and “Crimson Tide,” jumped to his death yesterday from a bridge over Los Angeles Harbor, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office said.

YANGON,  (Reuters) – Myanmar abolished direct media censorship today, the latest dramatic reform by its quasi-civilian regime, but journalists face other formidable restrictions including a ban on private daily newspapers and a pervasive culture of self-censorship.

Britany van Lange gathered four more medals yesterday in brilliant performances that culminated with her anchoring the girls’ 15 – 17 relay team to another gold medal this time in the 4x50m relay as the Goodwill Swimming Championships came to a close at the National Aquatic Centre.

The senior Caribbean Squash Championships got off the ground on Saturday in Trinidad and Tobago with the men’s and ladies individuals events which saw Guyanese players winning eight of their nine first round matches.

The political parties have essentially agreed on the composition of the Commission of Inquiry into the July 18 Linden protestor killings and it is for President Donald Ramotar to formally approve the names even as the remaining issues are being worked out.

By Neil Barry The Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) defeated Bel Air Texaco by 118 runs as the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) David Persaud Investments Cup under-19 competition continued yesterday at the GCC ground, Bourda.

Government continues to defend its decision to award the road construction contract for the Amaila hydro project to Fip Motilall in the face of heavy criticism yesterday from Opposition members of a panel during a televised debate on the National Communications Network, the first in a seven-part series addressing the issue of corruption.

A Vigilance North, East Coast Demerara (ECD) businessman who was robbed of a substantial amount of cash and his firearm on Saturday night is calling on the police to investigate a recent spate of  robberies in which market vendors have been targeted.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Stafanie Taylor underlined her supreme talent with another pivotal, all-round performance, guiding Jamaica to a 16-run victory over main rivals Trinidad & Tobago to win the Regional Women’s Twenty20 on Saturday here.

A fire, reportedly started by a lit candle, gutted two businesses and substantially destroyed another at Market Square, Matthews Ridge on Saturday night.

The 29-year-old man who was shot on Saturday evening in what seemed to be an execution-style attack has been admitted as a patient of a private hospital while one of the three suspected perpetrators who was shot by police is being treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana on Saturday said that the Muslim scholar who had been charged with sexually abusing several boys remains suspended from the CIOG.

Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Carl Greenidge disagrees with the statement by Transparency International Guyana Inc (TIGI) that there is no requirement for political parties to nominate persons for the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) and said he expects parties to submit names by the restart of Parliament in October.

Former Guyana Open champion Alfred Mentore rolled back the years when he emerged winner of last Saturday’s Ray’s Auto Sales Medal Play Golf tournament at the Lusignan Golf Course.

By Iva Wharton First-timer Riddim Squad will be making its debut in the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Premier League Super Eight tournament which commences on September 7.

The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs says that the rapporteurs’ reports of the recent National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference would discredit the statements by the Region 7 toshaos that attempts were made to silence them on issues affecting their communities.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Fast bowler Steven Finn produced an inspired three-wicket burst to revive England’s fading hopes of a series-equalling victory as South Africa reached 306 for seven at tea on the fourth day of the third and final test at Lord’s yesterday.

National long jump champion Leon Bishop jumped his way to glory when the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) held a mini meet to compensate for the postponed under-23 championships trials yesterday at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary.

Preparatory works for the reconstruction of the One Mile Primary School started yesterday with many Lindeners participating to the sounds of a recently produced song recounting the events in the mining town over the past 33 days of protest.

A Brazilian woman accused of producing forged immigration entry stamps to police and conspiring with others to do the same was on Friday remanded to prison after appearing before Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

MASON, Ohio, (Reuters) – World number one Roger Federer underlined his dominant position in the game by securing his sixth ATP title of the year with an impressive 6-0 7-6 win over Novak Djokovic in the Cincinnati Open final yesterday.

BAYFIELD, Barbados, CMC – An invaluable 47-run fifth wicket stand steadied Guyana and helped them to a cautious five-wicket win over Jamaica in their opening match in the Regional Under-19 one-day Championship campaign here yesterday.

Dear Editor, In the Stabroek News dated Wednesday, August 15, 2012 I saw an advertisement that asks:  ‘Why should one ethnic group own more than 1/3 of Guyana?

The authorities will undertake special initiatives in the mining sector to advance small miners’ access to properties.

GROS ISLET, St Lucia, CMC – West Indies captain Darren Sammy warmed up for next month’s Twenty20 World Cup by blasting a typically high tempo half-century but St Lucia suffered another defeat in the Windward Islands Twenty20 Championship on Saturday night.

Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn said on Friday that his ministry is standing by its assertion that the contract for Lot 1 of the East Coast four-lane road expansion being executed by Falcon Transportation and Construction Services was terminated for fraudulent practices and failure to follow guidelines.

Dear Editor, I have utmost respect for the mission and purpose of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit of Guyana.

FRIENDSHIP, Barbados,  CMC – A stunning century from Nicholas Pooran and contrasting half-centuries from Stephen Wharwood and Anthony Simmons enabled Trinidad and Tobago to open the one-day phase of their Regional Under-19 campaign with a comfortable 171-run victory over Leeward Islands here yesterday.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Barbados’ captain Shai Hope transferred his rich vein of form to the One-Day segment of the Regional Under-19 Championship when he unfurled a sparkling unbeaten century to set up his side’s 78-run win over ICC Americas here yesterday.

Dear Editor, I am not interested in being wordy or to test the capacity for people to read and as such I shall get right into my view which I believe to be missing from most of the debates I have seen and heard on the current Linden and its associated issues from a developmental context.

Leader of the PNCR David Granger has pledged his party’s continued support for the people of Linden and Region 10 in their quest for social and economic justice and a higher quality of life, while expressing disappointment that one month on there is no justice for the slain three in Linden.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico,  (Reuters) – Puerto Rican voters on Sunday unexpectedly rejected a pair of constitutional amendments that would have limited some defendants’ right to bail and shrunk the legislature in the U.S.

Dear Editor, The Queen’s College Old Students’ Association of Guyana expresses its profound regret at the passing of alumnus and former Commissioner of Police Laurie Leyland Lewis. 

The Indian Science Exhibi-tion which is scheduled to open at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall today will showcase Indian ancient science and technology and the progress that India has made as it relates to science.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Calls for changes to the procurement rules for government transactions have increased as Jamaica stumbles in its attempt to take advantage of developments in critical sectors such as energy.

Dear Editor, I thank heaven that the barefaced and cowardly attack on Mr Freddie Kissoon did not come from the typical street person, who gets the bad name for everything bad in Guyana. 

HEFEI, China, (Reuters) – A Chinese court on Monday sentenced Gu Kailai, wife of ousted politician Bo Xilai, to death with a two-year reprieve for murdering a British businessman, witnesses to the closed-door hearing said, in a scandal that has shaken China’s leadership transition.

Rohanie Ramsood, the Cane Grove, Mahaica resident who set herself on fire on Thursday, is said to be recovering well at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Kevin Pietersen’s woes continued yesterday when he was bowled for a first-ball duck playing for county team Surrey having been dropped by England for the third test against South Africa for sending provocative text messages.

Dear Editor, I have seen many views on the crisis in Linden but none from the Guyana Bar Association thus far.

A man was arrested in connection with an unlicensed .38 revolver with matching round that was discovered at a house at Sand Reef, Annandale, East Coast Demerara after police searched the premises around 10:20 hrs on Saturday, the police stated in a press release.

SINGAPORE,  (Reuters) – Call it CSI: Singapore. Unlike the Crime Scene Investigators from the popular TV series, these detectives are hired to look for evidence of rogue wood from stores increasingly worried about being duped by a global trade in illegal timber now worth billions.

(Jamaica Observer) The leadership of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) is fuming in the wake of calls for an enquiry into whether it is to be blamed for the significant decline in pass rates for English Language and Mathematics among students throughout the Caribbean in May this year.

BEIRUT, (Reuters) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad made his first appearance in public since a July bombing that killed four top security officials, attending prayers at a Damascus mosque yesterday to mark the start of the Muslim holiday of Eid, state TV showed.

Reunion Manganese Inc. recently sponsored a medical team from the United States to conduct clinics in Guyana and they treated some 141 persons at Baramita and 121 at Matthews Ridge in the North West District.

Dear Editor, During my years as a youth leader/activist in Guyana I was always hesitant to fully support a political party or the government of the day.

(Jamaica Observer) Attorney Clover Maxine Graham, 56, was found with her throat slashed in the middle of the field at the Caymanas Polo Club yesterday morning.

On July 18, 2012, the entire community of Linden – including religious and business leaders as well as grassroots people, women, men and children – began a peaceful protest after the government announced an 800% increase in electricity prices, without consultation and with total disregard for its impact on the survival of an already impoverished population suffering from massive unemployment.

There will be a genuine sigh of relief on the expected conclusion today of a deal between the government and a delegation from Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice) on a raft of economic issues for Linden.

Dear Editor, It has been more than eight months since Donald Ramotar was sworn in as President of Guyana.

(Part II) Introduction In my article of 30 July 2010, I discussed the crucial role the Audit Office plays in the public accountability process.

Photos and interviews by Frances Abraham and Lakhram Bhagirat This week we asked the man and woman in the street their thoughts on the London Olympics 2012, the highlight for them and their views on how the Guyana team can improve their performance in the future.

(Trinidad Guardian) Legal Affairs Minister Prakash Ramadhar is being asked to refund more than TT$300,000 in legal fees to a client he represented at the Chaguanas Magistrates’ Court two years ago.

LONDON, (Reuters) – WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange berated the United States yesterday from the balcony of the Ecuadorean embassy where he has sought refuge from arrest, challenging President Barack Obama to end what he called a witch-hunt against his whistle-blowing website.

Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Brigadier David Granger has expressed the party’s sadness on the death on August 13 of former Commissioner of Police, Laurie Lewis.