Daily Archive: Friday, January 4, 2013

CARACAS,  (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s formal swearing-in for a new six-year term scheduled for Jan.

The New York Post today said that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is probing former New York State Senate Majority Leader, John Sampson following its investigation of convicted Guyanese mortgage fraudster Ed Ahmad.

“Deep satisfaction” was today expressed by the Private Sector Commission (PSC) on the security plan unveiled by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee on Monday but the umbrella body also warned that for the measures to be successful pay levels for all personnel in the police, prison and fire services have to be lifted.

Amid dozens of domestic violence murders in recent years, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee on Monday said that a “new preventative and pro-active approach” is required on this scourge and child abuse.

PERTH, Australia,  CMC-Chris Gayle’s horror tournament continues as his Sydney Thunders laboured through another dismal performance, crashing to a 9 wicket defeat to the Perth Scorchers in the Australian Big bash League today.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn says her office will apply the usual professional and objective standards in analysing and researching the unprecedented referral of Cabinet for prosecution by the Office of the Contractor General (OCG).

CARACAS, (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is still suffering a “severe” respiratory infection that has hindered his breathing as he struggles to recover from cancer surgery in Cuba, the government said yesterday.

(Trinidad Express) Trinidad and Tobago’s fifth President will be elected on February 15 and some of the top candidates in the race, according to sources, are House Speaker Wade Mark, former head of British Petroleum (BPTT) Robert Riley and political analyst Dr Hamid Ghany.

The National Assembly last night passed the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill which saw the support of the entire House as the Administration moved to correct what is being called an oversight on the part of the persons who were involved in the passage of the landmark principal 2010 Act.

A father of Ruby, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) wants a thorough investigation into the death of his 15-year-old daughter, refuting claims that she hung herself on December 18.

One of the two men who police say was involved in the $4M Robb Street armed robbery was yesterday remanded to prison.

The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) yesterday said that eight of its garbage collection trucks are down for repairs.

A man drowned on Monday evening after jumping into the Essequibo River, reportedly to salvage a 50-pound weight at the Parika Wharf,  East Bank Essequibo.

The Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Ground, Bourda known for hosting many historic test matches with spectators witnessing great performances by cricket’s elite saw what would have been a record-breaking crowd on January 1, when the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) hosted the final of the Banks Beer/GFA Cup.

Jamaican dancehall star Beenie Man yesterday donated needed school items during visits to the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre and the Child Care and Protection Agency.

Following  complaints and concerns regarding land management, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment has mandated the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission to host Regional stakeholders’ consultations to discuss land disputes and other matters regarding sustainable land management.

ESPN Caribbean will air the annual Caribbean Twenty20 cricket tournament throughout the West Indies beginning this Sunday January 6 with Trinidad & Tobago, who won 2012’s tournament, coming up against Jamaica at the Queen’s Park Oval, in Port-of-Spain, a release from the network said yesterday.

Guyana is depending heavily on documentation from Curacao to determine its interest in last November’s gold heist on the island, but so far no information has been forthcoming.

Scotiabank customers at home or abroad can now pay their phone, light or water bill through its Scotia Online, Scotia Mobile or Telescotia service.

Government has once again delayed debate on the Telecommunications Bill 2012 and Prime Minister Sam Hinds said that the Administration is still locked in talks with the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Limited (GT&T) over issues of liberalisation.

Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh yesterday tabled Financial Paper 6/2012 covering a total of $2 billion in capital expenditure for the Ministry of Housing and Water and the Ministry of Agriculture.

Members of the Opposition quizzed government ministers yesterday in Parliament on flooding in the city and other issues.

After leading Buxton United to victory and the $4M prize in the Annual Kashif and Shanghai Football Tournament, national forward Dwain Jacobs hopes to ink a contract with an overseas club.

Guyana Goldfields Incorporated on December 28, donated 20 million dollars to several non-governmental organisations (NGOs), across Guyana as part of its holiday children needs and development assistance initiative, a release from the company said.

Dear Editor, I should like to highlight two issues that were discussed at the last sitting of the Regional Democratic Council Meeting of December 14, 2012.

The ban on mercury exports from the United States from January 1 this year is unlikely to have an impact on the country’s gold mining industry “for some time yet”.

Unless government and the private sector work together to ensure that the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, ceases to be regarded as an exit port through which illegal drugs can easily be smuggled, the private sector could be denied important international markets, Chief Executive Officer of Roraima Airways Inc Captain Gerry Gouveia told Stabroek Business earlier this week.

Dear Editor, I have read Mr Ramkarran’s column of December 2, 2012 captioned ‘The PPP and the challenges ahead,’ and must acknowledge his bravery in making so public and seemingly honest an assessment of the PPP’s attitude to the political realities of Guyana and his attempts to suggest and recommend a path forward for his party’s resurrection. 

While calling for a united labour movement, the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) is hoping that this year will see the restoration of the right of workers to unionise, strict observance of labour agreements and democratic negotiations when disputes arise.

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad,  CMC-A match winning performance from Barbados captain Dwayne Smith led them to a commanding 77 run win over Trinidad and Tobago’s ‘B’ team in a practice match here yesterday.

COLOMBO, (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court said yesterday parliament does not have the legal authority to investigate accusations of misconduct against senior judges and an impeachment proceeding against the chief justice was against the law.

Dear Editor, With reference to Mr Vishnu Bisram’s letter in Tuesday’s issue of this newspaper (‘Guyana should have a Christmas market’), I would like to confirm that a Christmas Fair has already been taking place in the Rupununi for the past three years.

The carnivalesque GFA/Banks Beer Tournament reflected both highs and lows which will enthuse the organizers and also send them back to the drawing board.

A soldier who allegedly pelted a man, suspected of stealing his sister’s cellular phone, with a brick, injuring him in the process was yesterday granted $20,000 bail when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

This newspaper has, over the years, been blitzed with stories of businessmen who, for one reason or another, have been denied licences to possess firearms.

A young man, said to be a repeat offender, was yesterday refused bail and remanded to prison, after he appeared before Magistrate Sueanna Lovell to answer a robbery-under-arms charge at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad,  CMC- Trinidad and Tobago fast bowler, Ravi Rampaul, will miss this year’s Caribbean T20 tournament due to injury, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) announced yesterday.

Dear Editor, I just read your Sunday editorial ‘2013 anniversaries‘ (thanks to Enrico Woolford who posted it on his Facebook page).

CARACAS,  (Reuters) – Vice President Nicolas Maduro returned to Venezuela  yesterday after visiting Hugo Chavez in hospital in Cuba, but gave no new details on the cancer-stricken president as rumors grow about his condition.

NEW DELHI,  (Reuters) – Five Indian men were formally charged in court yesterday with the gang rape and murder of a physiotherapy student in a case that has generated widespread anger about the government’s inability to prevent violence against women.

(de Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Lackin confirms the European delegation in Suriname is about to leave the country.

PORT-AU-PRINCE,  (Reuters) – Former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide yesterday won a delay until next week in a court hearing to address accusations he exploited former street children for political gain.

Dear Editor, I would like to thank the Government of Guyana, and the Courtney Benn Construction Company for doing the street bridge and the President’s College Road at Golden Grove Village on the East Coast of Demerara which has virtually transformed our village into a beautiful township once again.

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad,  CMC-Trinidad and Tobago all-rounder, Dwayne Bravo, says his new year’s resolution is to regain his place on the West Indies test team.

The head of a local security company has criticised what he says are practices in the sector which he believes are not only unfair and take advantage of consumers’ unfamiliarity with hi-tech security equipment but also compromise the security of the people and property this equipment is intended to protect.

The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) in a press release yesterday, expressed concern about the attitude of some businesses that have appropriated alleyways and drains by blocking and covering them for their personal use.

The ANSA McAL Trading `Ariel Christmas Surprise Promotion’ ended on Monday with Karen Inniss grabbing the grand prize of $1M in the final drawing

(Jamaica Observer) Gordon  ‘Butch’ Stewart on Wednesday urged Jamaicans to hold each other’s hands and face the challenges of 2013 in an exemplary spirit of unity and teamwork.

CAPE TOWN,  (Reuters) – An unbeaten 69 from Dean Brownlie helped New Zealand reach 169 for four in their second innings on the second day of the first test against South Africa yesterday.

Dear Editor, I attended the GFA/Banks Beer football finals on New Year’s Day and the event turned out to be a most memorable activity, especially in terms of the number of patrons, who literally completely filled the Bourda sward after the completion of the match, and which must have numbered among the highest congregations ever for a sporting event.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados,  CMC-Barbadian Kyshona Knight will join her twin sister Kycia in the West Indies Women’s team for the ICC Women’s World Cup in India later this month.

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad,  CMC- A Guyanese cricketer who helped his country capture the inaugural Caribbean T20 tournament is determined to use his experience to exalt influence over his team seeking to repeat that feat when the competition begins this weekend.

(Jamaica Gleaner) A proposal by the British government to remove the name of Jamaica’s Mary Seacole from the National Curriculum has been met my outrage in the UK.

NEW YORK,  (Reuters) – Wegelin & Co, the oldest Swiss private bank, said yesterday it would shut its doors permanently after more than two and a half centuries following its guilty plea to charges of helping wealthy Americans evade taxes through secret accounts.

Cabinet on Wednesday approved renaming the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) to reflect its more visible role in rescue operations, the Ministry of Home Affairs has announced.

(BBC) Opener Nasir Jamshed struck his second successive century yesterday to help Pakistan to an 85-run win over India in the second one-day international in Kolkata.

Dear Editor, Last Thursday evening the Woodside Choir, which is still celebrating their Jubilee Year, gave what is perhaps one of their best Christmas presentations, billed as ‘Night of the Father’s Love.‘

(Barbados Nation) The Barbados Workers’ Union, the union representing the 97 LIME workers sacked on Wednesday wants their termination letters immediately withdrawn and an apology made by managing director Alex McDonald for “unfair” comments on the workers’ performance.

(Trinidad Guardian) The T&T Unit Trust Corporation (UTC) has appointed former Finance Minister Wendell Mottley as its new Chairman.

Dear Editor, I would like to commend the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) and Banks DIH for running off another tremendously successful end-of-year football competition.

GASCI (www.gasci.com/telephone Nº 223-6175/6) reports that session 492’s trading results showed consideration of $1,077,240 from 41,742 shares traded in 4 transactions as compared to session 491 which showed

Haiti President Michel Martelly has begun his six-month term as Chairman of the Caribbean Community’s Conference of Heads of State and Government, vowing to contribute to Caricom‘s strengthening and to “accelerate” Haiti’s inclusion in the regional integration movement, the Caricom Secretariat has said.

SYDNEY,  (Reuters) – David Warner and Phil Hughes hit stylish half centuries as Australia’s batsmen put Sri Lanka to the sword on the second morning of the third test yesterday and reached lunch at 127 for one.

(Reuters) – Still feeling a little giddy after a barn-storming finish to his 2012 campaign, Ian Poulter is itching to plug the only hole in his otherwise glittering career resume by winning a major championship.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Offshore rig contractor Transocean Ltd has agreed to pay US$1.4 billion to settle U.S.

President Donald Ramotar’s statement in his New Year’s message that the 250th anniversary of the Berbice Slave Uprising, the 175th anniversary of Emancipation and the 175th anniversary of the arrival of Indians in Guyana “are significant to all Guyanese,” is most welcome.

Forty-five miles from Georgetown at Burma, Mahaicony, the 610-acre Rice Research Station does its work without the attention customarily attracted by other institutions, which, arguably, are of decidedly less importance to the economy.

The National Amerindian Development Foundation (NADF) says it has not authorised any person or group to solicit funds or to transact any other business on its behalf.

40 years of ties: Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues speaking yesterday in parliament on a motion in recognition of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Guyana and Cuba.

Dear Editor, On the mall between Cummings Street and Light Street, but closer to Light Street, there stands a big tree with its lower inner trunk burnt out down to the root.

Orphans hosted at Pandays’ Cinemas:  Over 200 orphans from various homes in the city were treated to two movies and snacks on New Year’s Day at the recently opened Pandays’ Cinemas on Water Street.

-The Wealth of the Wicked There are just hours before Christmas 2012-2013 formally ends.

BRISBANE, Australia,  CMC-West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach was among the wicket takers as his team Brisbane Heat scored an upset win over Melbourne Stars in the Australian Big Bash League yesterday.