Daily Archive: Friday, February 22, 2013

(Reuters) – One FBI employee was fired for sleeping with a drug dealer and lying about it under oath, while another got the boot for bugging the boss’s office.

LONDON/NEW YORK,  (Reuters) – Britain suffered its first ever sovereign ratings downgrade from a major agency on Friday when Moody’s stripped the country of its coveted top-notch triple-A rating, dealing a major blow to finance minister George Osborne.

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada,  CMC – Opener Johnson Charles struck his second consecutive One-Day International hundred while Darren Bravo notched his first ever, as West Indies brushed aside a ragged Zimbabwe by 156 runs in the opening one-dayer here today.

Police say that at about 1420h today,  Manageress Zang Ling Ling, 26 years, of Celina’s, Kitty Seawall, Georgetown, was about to enter a motor vehicle outside of the business place when two men rode up on a motor cycle.

Speaker Raphael Trotman today ruled that Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee will be allowed to fully participate in all facets of parliamentary life despite a successful opposition motion of no confidence against him.

Two men today appeared in separate courts charged with causing the deaths of two teens by dangerous driving.

PRETORIA,  (Reuters) – A South African court granted bail today to Oscar Pistorius, charged with the murder of his girlfriend, after his lawyers argued the “Blade Runner” was too famous to pose a flight risk.

BRUSSELS,  (Reuters) – Allies are discussing keeping a NATO force of between 8,000 and 12,000 troops in Afghanistan after 2014, the United States said on Friday in the first official indication of how many foreign troops will stay in the country after most combat troops leave.

(Trinidad Guardian) Chairman of the Police Service Commission Prof Ramesh Deosaran yesterday said crime-fighting efforts had failed.

(BBC) Australia captain Michael Clarke struck an unbeaten 103 to guide his team to 316-7 after the opening day of the first Test against India in Chennai.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Noranda Aluminum Holding Corporation plans to double its initial investment plan for its Discovery Bay port expansion to US$20 million.

(Barbados Advocate) DEMS now, DEMS again! That was the refrain which sounded across the island last night as the reigning Democratic Labour Party (DLP) resisted a serious challenge from the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to retain power with a 16-13 advantage with a recount taking place up to press time in the St.

The search of the container of cocaine-filled logs, in which almost 800 pounds of the drugs were found on Tuesday, was delayed to ensure the proper procedure was followed for the examination, according to Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Khurshid Sattaur.

With Guyana already helping Trinidad and Tobago to meet its coconut water needs, the two countries are now looking at new areas for agricultural trade and cooperation, with the ultimate aim of reducing their food import bills.

Relatives of slain miner Gavin McNeil say there is nothing to suggest that robbery was not the motive of the fatal attack on him on Wednesday night, during which both his wife and mother-in-law were wounded.

The police force yesterday arrested 48 persons in an early morning raid in ‘Tiger Bay,’ Georgetown, in which residents said several of them were detained without explanation.

Seon Scott, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) linesman who sustained severe electrical burns after being struck by a live wire on the job, succumbed yesterday in the Intensive Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).

The police have not identified any suspects in the case of Guyanese Marisha Cheong, whose bound body was found washed up on the beach in Breezy Point in New York after she disappeared nearly two months ago; and the woman’s boyfriend said he had been doing everything he could to find her.

Police Corporal Sherwin Smith is to stand trial in the High Court for the September 15, 2011 murder of drug counsellor Ralph Turpin.

St Lucia Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony has called for a `big conversation’ on the sagging Caricom economies and he also warned that the relationship between the region and the European Union (EU) is becoming increasingly one-sided.

Haiti would like to take full advantage of its accession to the Caribbean Community and its President has called on the region for it to seen  and treated as an opportunity.

In the near future, the European Union (EU) hopes to partner with the Government of Guyana in the area of security.

The Natural Resources Ministry has said the permission given to persons to establish shops in some areas of Region One should not have been granted by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), which has since ordered them to demolish the business structures and vacate areas in Big Creek, Masawini and Arakaka.

Phyllis Luckie, one of the two women struck down by national football player Colin Edwards in a recent accident on Norton Street, succumbed to respiratory fatigue on Monday night.

St. Helen University (SHU), School of Medicine, based in Vieux Fort, St.

Bus driver Rampersaud Seepersaud, also known as ‘Marlon,’ was on Wednesday released on $350,000 bail after he denied causing the death of security guard Mahadaiw Hemraj by dangerous driving.

The confession of Mark Thompson, who admitted to fatally stabbing his cousin, was yesterday admitted as evidence in his trial.

The Guyana Girl Guides Association (GGGA) is seeking to raise awareness about reducing child mortality and improving maternal health through a series of activities during this year.

After concerns were raised by residents about the construction of the $28M Kumaka-San Jose Bridge, Minister of Local Government Ganga Persaud said that an engineer from the city has been dispatched to evaluate the works.

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada,  CMC– Captain Dwayne Bravo says the West Indies will be seeking to rebound from a white wash in Australia when their new series against Zimbabwe bowls off in St.

The Caribbean Community (Caricom) is mourning the death of Ambassador Henry Gill, former Director General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM).

Another tournament, another exit as goals from William Europe and Kishern Lovell, powered Santos FC to a 2-1 upset victory over a complacent Fruta Conquerors FC, in the latest action in the Namilco One Love Football Classic.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment has established a Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) as the national committee for the Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) to promote a high level of transparency in the activities of the local extractive industries.

A bus conductor accused of stealing $9,000 from his driver was on Tuesday granted $10,000 bail when he appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

KINGSTON, Jamaica,  CMC – A responsible all round effort from Captain Tamar Lambert led defending champions Jamaica to a four wicket victory over Combined Campuses and Colleges in their second round match of the Super50 Championship at Sabina Park here yesterday.

GOVHU, South Africa,  (Reuters) – Roger Federer was back in South Africa for the first time in eight years and it was not long before he was surrounded by a swarm of three-year-old toddlers tugging at his shirt and hankering to play a game of tennis.

The Alliance For Change yesterday upped the pressure on President Donald Ramotar for not taking action on irregularities at state TV NCN which implicated two senior officials of the network.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds on Wednesday handed over a Jialing motorcycle to Radio Paiwomak, 97.1 FM, which operates out of Annai, North Rupununi to assist in gathering of community news.

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, , CMC – Trinidad and Tobago defeated Windward Islands by 14 runs in their second round Regional Super50 Championship match at Arnos Vale Stadium here yesterday.

A prisoner, who is currently serving an 18-month sentence for burglary, yesterday appeared before Magistrate Sueanna Lovell at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

MARANA, Arizona, (Reuters) – Ireland’s Shane Lowry beat world number one Rory McIlroy 1 up to pull off the biggest upset in the snow-delayed first round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship yesterday.

Dexter Marshall, on trial for gunning down Mark Caesar, called ‘Lil Mark,’ is expected to learn his fate on Monday.

Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture Alli Baksh, and team continued their efforts to reach out to farming communities by recently visiting farmers in Lesbeholden and Yakusari in Black Bush Polder, Region 6.

(Reuters) – New Zealand opening batsman Martin Guptill will miss the final one-day international and test series against England to undergo surgery on his left thumb, the country’s cricket board said yesterday.

LOS ANGELES, , CMC- The Rose Bowl, an iconic sporting venue in Los Angeles, will host the opening double header of the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup Sunday July 7.

SYDNEY,  (Reuters) – James Magnussen and his team mates from the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay squad have admitted using sedative Stilnox in a bonding session before the London Olympics.

North Ruimveldt Steel Orchestra won the first prize in the School Band Category of the Republic Bank Mashramani Pan-o-rama Steel Band Competition held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Sunday evening.

(Reuters) – The big names rumored to be on the move at the National Basketball Association’s trade deadline went nowhere on Thursday as teams opted for tweaks over blockbusters.

Members of the Scout Association of Guyana turned out in their numbers on Sunday to celebrate Founder’s Day with a grand parade on the West Coast Demerara, on the occasion of the 156th birth anniversary of Robert Baden Powell, founder of the global scout movement.

“Judo is my life and I want us to be able to compete at the international level,” Shichidan (7th Dan) Charles Ambrose said in an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport.

A porter was on Wednesday placed on $20,000 bail after he denied assaulting another man.

The top brass of the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) yesterday visited the Bent Street home of deceased national footballer, Colin Edwards to offer their condolences as well as financial support to Edwards’ family to aid in his funeral expenses.

ST.GEORGE’S, Grenada,  CMC- A large crowd is expected at the Chinese built state of the art national stadium in St.George’s

ST.JOHN’S, Antigua, , CMC- One of Antigua & Barbuda’s leading athletes, golfer Kimesha Anthony, has been arrested in Atlanta for credit card fraud, according to media reports here.

Dear Editor, I was just reading about our President, Mr Donald Ramotar,  and Foreign Minister Rodrigues-Birkett meeting with the Vice-President of Surinam Airways, Clyde Cairo, in Haiti.

KINGSTON, Jamaica,  CMC-The Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) says it will back Whycliffe Cameron’s bid to unseat Dr.

Dear Editor, I refer to the letter in Stabroek News, dated Monday, February 18, 2013, captioned ‘No public library on the Essequibo Coast in twenty years’ and would like to inform the writer that there is a National Library Centre at Anna Regina, situated in the compound of C V Nunes Primary School.

ST.GEORGE’S, Grenada,  CMC- West Indies wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin says he has been working overtime with bat and gloves to bolster his preparation for the three-match One Day International (ODI) series against Zimbabwe which bowls off at the national stadium here today.

Dear Editor, Mr Vishnu Bisram claimed that “In his letter … Dr Henry Jeffrey is deceiving readers by insinuating the current constitution is a PPP one simply because the PPP has not taken measures to amend or replace it.” 

Dear Editor, We the farmers of the Hope/Dochfour area support the farmers in Cotton Tree Village, Region Five, and feel they should be compensated for loss of their crops due to flooding.

LONDON, (Reuters) – A Georgian townhouse in a genteel, leafy London suburb houses a team of gambling experts huddled round dozens of computer screens showing match results from around the world.

PRETORIA,  (Reuters) – The lead detective in ‘Blade Runner’ Oscar Pistorius’ murder investigation was taken off the case yesterday after it emerged he was facing seven attempted murder charges for opening fire on a minibus full of passengers.

Dear Editor, Microscopist Philbert Mitchell Pierre Jr died under suspicious circumstances on the night of Wednesday, January 23, 2013 in the Koberimo Creek Barima-Waini, Region No 1.

Magistrate Judy Latchman granted $10,000 bail to a man accused of assault, when he on Tuesday appeared in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court to answer the charge.

CARACAS,  (Reuters) – Venezuela’s cancer-stricken president, Hugo Chavez, is still suffering respiratory problems after surgery in Cuba two months ago, the government said yesterday in a sombre first communique since his homecoming this week.

BEIRUT,  (Reuters) – A car bomb killed 53 people and wounded 200 in central Damascus yesterday when it blew up on a busy highway close to ruling Baath Party offices and the Russian Embassy, Syrian television said.

TORONTO, (Reuters) – The Memphis Grizzlies, playing against Rudy Gay for the first time since trading their top scorer to Toronto, scored an 88-82 victory over the Raptors on Wednesday.

Dear Editor, The Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Clement Rohee, loomed large as a figure in the July crisis of 2012 in Linden, Guyana.

Director, Playwright and Author of several short films and books about the Caribbean, Michael Gilkes,  explains the inspiration for the short film “Maira and the Jaguar People: A Story from the Guyana Rain Forest.”

JOHANNESBURG,  (Reuters) – Graeme Smith is confident Rory Kleinveldt will show South Africa’s strength in depth when they take on Pakistan in the third and final test at Centurion starting today.

HAVANA,  (Reuters) – Russia will lease eight jets worth $650 million to its Cold War- era ally Cuba and will partially write off the country’s multi-billion-dollar, Soviet-era debt under agreements signed during Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Havana yesterday.

Leader of the New National Party (NNP), Dr Keith Mitchell, was sworn in on Wednesday as prime minister of Grenada less than 24 hours after his party swept aside the National Demo-cratic Congress (NDC) in general elections, the Caribbean Media Corporation reported.

Dear Editor, Regarding the publication of a rather confusing letter (‘Chinese anti-corruption measures’ SN, Feb 20) written by a diehard PPPite, Mr Hydar Ally, I thought for a moment it had been written as a comedy script for the next upcoming show at the National Cultural Centre.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Former Australia cricket captain Ricky Ponting will play for Surrey in June and July, the English county side said yesterday.

  Nailed it! Contestant 150 was overjoyed at his performance yesterday during the GT&T jingle audition at Duke Lodge, Kingston.

ROME – Silvio Berlusconi’s resurgence and the rise of a foul-mouthed populist comedian have thrown Italy’s weekend election wide open, with deep uncertainty over whether the poll can produce the strong government the country needs.

UNITED NATIONS, (Reuters) – The United Nations said yesterday it would not pay hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation claimed by cholera victims in impoverished Haiti, where an epidemic has killed thousands of people and been blamed on U.N.

Dear Editor, The BBC News Business dated 20 February 2013, carried the following report:- “The Zambian government has taken over the running of a Chinese-owned coal mine after revoking its licence because of safety lapses.

By Vikas Pandey BBC Monitoring India will look to redeem themselves when they face Australia in the opening Test of the four-match home series in Chennai today.

PORT-AU-PRINCE,  (Reuters) – Former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude ‘Baby Doc’ Duvalier defied a judge’s order to appear in court yesterday to face charges he was responsible for corruption and serious human rights violations during his 15-year rule.

Dear Editor, A casual glance of the Guyana press these days portrays a dismal landscape beset with all manner of unbelievable scenarios.

HYDERABAD, India,  (Reuters) – Two bombs placed on bicycles exploded in a crowded market-place in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad yesterday, and the federal home minister said at least 11 people were killed and 50 wounded.

Those with an eye for coincidence and irony might have observed that, just as we were warning in last Friday’s editorial, that “a high academic title alone is no guarantee of personal achievement or, indeed, integrity” and that we should not “take anyone’s curriculum vitae at face value,” a mini-drama involving the appointment of Dr Naresh Singh to the post of Caricom Deputy Secretary-General was beginning to unfold.

JOHANNESBURG,  (Reuters) – Pakistan will resist the urge to experiment with their side in the final cricket test against South Africa at Centurion starting today, captain Misbah-ul-Haq said.

LAS VEGAS,  (Ruterse) – Three people died in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip early yesterday when one or more gunmen in a Range Rover sport utility vehicle opened fire on a Maserati, killing the driver and touching off a fiery multi-car crash.

A name sake, Allan, as in Allan Fiedkou contributed, for the consideration of Linden’s Jaycees, the description Mashramani, when that organization wanted an appropriate name for their series of events to usher in Guyana’s Republican status in February of 1970.

Dear Editor, From the banks of the Berbice River − Bai Shan Lin Investments, stretching across to the Potaro-Kuribrong Rivers − the Amaila Hydroelectric project, going on to Corriverton − Skeldon Sugar factory to the streets of Georgetown − commercial stores and Chinese products − and I can go on and on − Chinese influence can be felt everywhere.

 (Reuters) – And the Oscar for best pickup line in a movie goes to – Audrey Hepburn in the romantic thriller, “Charade.”

24

(Trinidad Express) A 70-YEAR-old San Fernando grandmother, whose family and neighbours said “would not hurt a fly”, was found dead in her house on Wednesday night.