Daily Archive: Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Acting on a tip-off today, police captured a high-profile Brazilian fugitive who was among several inmates who escaped from a Boa Vista prison in July.

(WICB) Bridgetown, Barbados — Windward Islands are the champions of the West Indies Cricket Board’s Under-19 50-over tournament.

Police are working on the theory that a soured car deal may have led to the brutal murder of taxi driver Sean De Freitas Sookdeo, after new information surfaced that threats were made to his life about a month ago after he failed to deliver a promised car.

TRES MARIAS, Mexico,  (Reuters) – Two U.S. officials shot and wounded by Mexican federal police just south of the capital were CIA officers, security sources say, and the attack could badly hurt U.S.-Mexico

Cuban state media say an explosion at a gas station in the eastern city of Santiago has injured 31 people, five seriously, the Associated Press reported today.

(Jamaica Observer) The Customs Department says it will not interfere with the importation of sex toys into Jamaica until the attorney general makes a ruling on their legality.

BERLIN,  (Reuters) – Samsung Electronics launched the world’s first smartphone using Microsoft Corp’s latest mobile software today, only days after losing a crucial patent battle with Apple Inc.

BEIRUT,  (Reuters) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad blamed the Turkish government today for violence in a 17-month-old uprising in the country, in which thousands have died.

NEW ORLEANS,  (Reuters) – Floodwater from Hurricane Isaac jumped a levee on the outskirts of New Orleans today, but the multibillion-dollar barriers built to protect the city itself after the 2005 Katrina disaster held firm, officials said.

A post-mortem examination was today performed on the body of Shoala Gilgeous of South Sophia, Georgetown, by Government Pathologist Dr.

(Jamaica Observer) Lottery scam inflows may be Jamaica’s third largest foreign exchange earner.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Seeking to breathe new life into his long legal struggle to reverse drug-related convictions, Grammy-winning Jamaican entertainer Buju Banton has hired fresh legal muscle to take over his appeal.

(Barbados Nation) Former Attorney General Dale Marshall thinks that Commissioner of Police Darwin Dottin has been given a raw deal and should not allow himself to be transferred to another section of the public service.

(Barbados Nation) The international financial institution which approved US$35 million in funding for Barbados’ HIV/AIDS fight is not very satisfied with what has been done so far.

(Trinidad Express) Collin Partab may have been the latest minister to get axed by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, but he was not the first.

(Trinidad Express) Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal said yesterday that the police have another six months in which to lay charges against former minister in the ministry of national security, Collin Partap, for failing to take the initial breathalyser test.

NEW ORLEANS,  (Reuters) – Hurricane Isaac drove water over the top of a levee on the outskirts of New Orleans today, triggering life-threatening flooding seven years to the day after Hurricane Katrina, authorities said.

LONDON, (Reuters) – England captain Andrew Strauss, who oversaw back-to-back Ashes wins over Australia and took England to the top of the test rankings, announced his retirement from professional cricket today.

The government yesterday accused the rejected specialty hospital bidder, Fedders Lloyd Corporation of orchestrating a campaign against the work of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) committee that awarded the contract to Surendra Engineering.

The bullet-riddled body of a taxi driver was yesterday morning discovered at Thomas Lands and from all indications he was also tortured and badly beaten before he died.

By Emmerson Campell The five-fight all-pro card dubbed ‘Redemption’ which was scheduled to box off on September 8 at the Banks DIH Thirst Park Ground has been rescheduled to October 27 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).

The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) yesterday announced that the immediate cessation of all operations except essential services at the Blairmont Estate, West Coast Berbice, after workers went on strike to press demands over payments.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environ-ment has written to A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) Joseph Harmon on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) saying that an impact study was done 12 years ago for a proposed airport project hence a new one was not necessary.

Acting CEO of the state-owned National Communica-tion Network (NCN) Michael Gordon has said that the corruption debates produced and aired on the network will continue in the current format despite the boycott by main opposition APNU.

The Canadian oil exploration company, Groundstar Resources Limited will have until May 2014 to drill on its Takutu site and will invest US$7 million in the first phase under the new terms of its licence which was recently extended.

By Neil Barry Malteenoes Sports Club continued their imperious, unbeaten form heading into tomorrow’s semi finals when the latest round of matches of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) David Persaud Investments Cup one day tournament was contested yesterday.

Dozens of vendors have resumed their operations along Regent Street after given permission to do so by Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green—one day after they were instructed to move by the city constabulary.

Former Caribbean shooting champion Ransford Goodluck fired his way to victory in the second recorded shoot as the National rifle shooting squad continued preparation for the regional championship in October last Sunday.

A 14-year-old boy died yesterday after he reportedly plunged from the top of the Uitvlugt koker into the river.

– Home Ministry The Home Affairs Ministry says that a work permit for an independent ballistics expert will be “favourably considered” once he lands in Guyana but the AFC’s Nigel Hughes while welcoming this move said that there is no guarantee that the integrity of the evidence recovered from the dead and injured thus far has not been compromised.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment says that 400 mining blocks for miners will be released shortly and it also offers tax concessions in new proposals for small miners.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC-Outside favorites Jamaica and Windward Islands are expected to come out blasting from all cylinders if they are to upstage front runners Guyana as the final round of the WICB Under-19 one-day Championship bowls off in Barbados today.

Lethem has been enduring load shedding for almost a week, which has started to affect the water supply in the Region 9 community.

The decomposing body of 18-year-old Jermaine ‘Kevin’ Anthony of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice who was missing at sea since Sunday afternoon was found around 2 pm yesterday at the No 4 Village foreshore.

National table tennis players Trenace Lowe, Nigel Bryan and Joel Alleyne along with Edinho Lewis, Denzel Hopkinson and junior Caribbean cadet silver medalist Priscilla Greaves recently completed an intensive training programme at the Lily Yip Table Tennis Training Centre in Dunellen, New Jersey.

The communities within the Mabaruma sub-region of Region One have been without electricity for almost two weeks, following the break-down of the generating set there.

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has appointed pilots Lieutenant Miguel Benjamin and Patrick Nichols as captains of the army’s Twin Panda Y-12 aircraft.

Minister of Public Service Jennifer Westford says 69 medical students who have finished their fifth year of training have returned from Cuba to complete their final year of studies here at seven faculties across the country.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC-The ICC is reporting progress in the production of a device to be worn by cricketers to detect illegal bowling actions.

The Guyana Water Incor-porated (GWI) will be installing water meters outside of customers’ fence to facilitate meter reading as it continues its verification exercise this week for customers served by the Pouderoyen and Fellowship Water Treatment Plants.

Seventy-six karatekas graduated recently when the Guyana Karate Collage (GKC) held its annual mid-year grading examination at the Malteenoes Sports Club dojo in Thomas Lands.

NEW ORLEANS, (Reuters) – Hurricane Isaac crashed ashore in southeast Louisiana yesterday, bringing high winds and soaking rains that pose the first test for multibillion-dollar flood defenses put in place in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina devastated the U.S.

The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) last evening said that Kaieteur News had misunderstood the  facts presented on the Enmore packaging plant, and so the corporation  “vehemently” refuted the report that the newly-constructed packaging plant is not being utilized.

TAMPA, Fla., (Reuters) – Republicans nominated Mitt Romney yesterday to challenge President Barack Obama for the White House, kicking off their storm-delayed convention with a barrage of sharp attacks on the president’s economic leadership.

The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) says it is paying keen interest to the Linden/Region Ten struggles and will hold the government accountable to the timeline set out in the agreement for its delivery.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC-West Indies under 19 cricket captain Kraigg Braithwaite says his team performed well despite its failure to capture the ICC under 19 world cup.

NEW DELHI,  (Reuters) – Ruling Congress Party leader Sonia Gandhi accused the main opposition party yesterday of holding India to ransom in a stand-off over coal deals that has paralysed parliament.

MOSCOW, (Reuters) – Vladimir Putin once compared ruling Russia to being a “galley slave”, but four yachts that come with the job, as well as a string of palaces and a wealth of luxury perks help explain his refusal to quit the presidency, leading critics said yesterday.

Dear Editor, In August 2010, the Juvenile Offenders Amendment Act and the Training School Amendment Act were passed in the National Assembly.

NEW YORK,  (Reuters) – American  Andy Roddick led a cavalcade of seeded players into the second round of the U.S.

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – Keanu Reeves’ latest film, “Side By Side,” has no car chases, explosions or slow-motion bullets like those in “The Matrix.”

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has said that the decision by the main opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) not to participate further in the current public debates organized by NCN on corruption is “an admission” that their charges of corruption against the PPP/C government are unfounded.

Dear Editor, The case of the contract award pertaining to the construction of the specialty hospital already begins to assume the silhouette of the Amaila Falls project. 

(Reuters) – South Africa made light work of England in the second one-day international in Southampton yesterday, defeating the hosts by 80 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series after being set up by Hashim Amla’s 150.

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – Fans of country singer Taylor Swift looking for new clues on the subject of her hit song, “We Are Never Getting Back Together,” may want to watch the video premiering this week on MTV and sister TV network CMT, the television channel said yesterday.

Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton yesterday remanded two persons on a joint charge of narcotics possession for the purpose of trafficking.

SAO PAULO, (Reuters) – Brazil appears to have the best long-term prospects among rising economic powers, thanks to its stable policy framework, ample natural resources and good relationship with its neighbors, former U.S.

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Venus Williams clocked the fastest women’s serve of the U.S.

Harry Narine Nawbatt, Guyana’s High Commissioner to Canada, is representing Guyana at the Non-Aligned Movement’s 16th summit currently on in Tehran, Iran.

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – A swashbuckling West Indies and a talented Pakistan will pose the biggest threats to India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s dream of lifting his second Twenty20 World Cup title, according to former skipper Sourav Ganguly.

PARAGUANA, Venezuela,  (Reuters) – Venezuelan firefighters put out a blaze at the country’s biggest oil refinery yesterday, paving the way for a restart of the facility and an investigation into the world’s deadliest refinery accident in fifteen years.

Dear Editor, As part of the larger community improvement programme in Georgetown and other municipalities, I have joined many others in noting the enormous, concerted efforts over the years by government agencies, NGOs, diplomatic community groups, private citizens and, more recently, a clean-up campaign orchestrated by an “implementation committee” headed by Mr Keith Burrowes.

(Reuters) – Salman Khan continues to bring in the big bucks for Bollywood.

(Trinidad Guardian) Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams is expected to answer questions today about his involvement in last Saturday’s incident involving former minister in the Ministry of National Security Collin Partap.

Dear Editor, The ferry crossing from Manhattan to Staten Island in New York is a very important service on which millions depend each year.

Vice-Chairman of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine says Government’s preoccupation with the Opposition has sullied its stance on Syria and has manifested itself in the statement last week by Guyana’s Ambassador to the Organisation of American States (OAS) Bayney Karran.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Europe captain Jose Maria Olazabal was right to ignore triple major winner Padraig Harrington’s claims for a wildcard pick and his 12-man team is just about perfect, said former skipper Bernard Gallacher.

(Reuters) – Avtar Kishan Hangal, one of Bollywood’s best known character actors, died on Sunday, media reports said.

(Trinidad Express) Tamper-proof driver’s licences are coming. This was announced on Monday by Transport Commissioner Reuben Cato who said that the first phase of the Motor Vehicle Authority had been completed.

Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Officer Cadet Carlos Jordan left for China last weekend to pursue specialist training to qualify as an aircraft pilot, under an agreement between the People’s Liberation Army and the GDF.  

ATHENS,  (Reuters) – The trophy won by the marathon winner at the 1896 Olympics has gone on display for the first time in Greece, and the new owners and prime minister said they hoped it would help inspire Greeks to overcome economic crisis.

Dear Editor, Based on the recent 2012 CSEC results, students from Marian Academy performed excellently.

The US Embassy says a team of water purification specialists under the Florida Army National Guard conducted an assessment of water purification systems, equipment status and operations to assist the GDF to draft a plan that can be used to direct future resources.

Teenage labourer Brian Leitch was yesterday placed on bail after he denied committing a simple larceny.

A former employee was yesterday charged with stealing almost $200,000 from the Survival Supermarket.

(Reuters) – Former NBA all-star Yao Ming has called for China’s school system to invest more in sport at the grassroots level, claiming much was needed to be done in his homeland to prevent further stagnation.

(de Ware Tijd) PARMARIBO – Plans by national airline SLM to expand its operations in Brazil are delayed as the agreement between the two countries containing the details of this expansion is lost.

The PPP likes to tell the story of how Arthur Schlesinger Jr.,

BEIRUT,  (Reuters) – A prominent figure in the Syrian National Council (SNC), resigned yesterday, the latest of several senior members to leave the leading Syrian opposition group this year.

A political succession after a death of the head of government in Ethiopia, certainly does not have the same resonance in the Caribbean today, that it would have had either when Haile Selassie was removed (some claim smothered to death) in 1974, or even when his successor Haile Mariam Mengistu was overthrown in 1987, after a civil war led by forces effectively under the command of Meles Zenawi who assumed power as Prime Minister in 1991, and died in the course of medical attention in Brussels last week.

(Reuters) – New Zealand’s bowling coach Damien Wright will step down after the World Twenty20 tournament in Sri Lanka next month after just a year in the job, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said yesterday.

(Jamaica Gleaner) A Caribbean Airlines (CAL) flight had to be diverted to Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands last Sunday, owing to a medical emergency which resulted in the death of an elderly passenger.

In last Saturday’s edition of the Stabroek News, the headline of a story on the nullity of the paper committal to the High Court for trial of teacher Ronald Forde on four counts of sexual activity with a child incorrectly stated that he was accused of sexually assaulting a boy.

Dear Editor,       It is my firm belief that the new Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) must divert from its old ideology of semi-dictatorial governance.

Hoda Badran is President of the Egyptian Feminist Union. By Hoda Badran CAIRO – This summer, as the dust of the Arab Spring revolutions begins to settle, women – who stood shoulder to shoulder with men in defying tyranny – are finding themselves marginalized and excluded from decision-making.

In a letter captioned ‘The moral weakness of this country is expediency’ which was published in our edition yesterday, the name of the signatory was given as “Kenneth A Whyte.”

Linden’s two top performers at this year’s National Grade Six Examinations, Modesty Hossanah and  Ashmar Angel were the proud recipients of cash rewards yesterday from an overseas-based organization, the Edward  Richmond Foundation.

(Trinidad Express) Former minister in the Ministry of National Security, Subhas Panday, is calling on the Government to ban alcoholic beverages at Government functions and to rescind the decision which allows Ministers to drive State vehicles.

(Trinidad Express) Port of Spain Mayor Louis Lee Sing yesterday broke his silence on the now contentious private meeting between National Security Minister Jack Warner and “gangsters” from Laventille two weeks ago.