Daily Archive: Wednesday, April 24, 2013

The police say they are investigating the murder of Shondella Samuels, 14 years, of Plastic City Squatting Area, Vreed-en-Hoop, WCD, which occurred at about 2045h.

(Reuters) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has developed a hand-held device capable of identifying counterfeit or substandard malaria drugs and has signed a letter of intent with Corning Inc to manufacture the product.

TORONTO, (Reuters) – One of two men accused in an alleged al Qaeda-backed plan to derail a passenger train in Canada appeared in court today and disputed the authority of Canadian law to judge him, saying the criminal code was not a holy book.

BOGOTA, (Reuters) – Colombian lawmakers today rejected a polarizing bill to allow same-sex marriage in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation, as hundreds of people took to the streets to demonstrate for and against the measure.

(Jamaica Gleaner) The government is to spend J$850 million to provide students and teachers from 35 schools with tablet computers.

(Trinidad Express) Former People’s National Movement government minister Rennie Dumas was today convicted on two charges of assault in the Scarborough Magistrate’s Court.

(Trinidad Express) THE man who captured and handcuffed Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev at the end of a city-wide hunt last week, is a Trinidad and Tobago national now a police officer living in the United States.

The opposition last night utilised its one member majority to completely cut the $5.63 billion Air Transport Programme of the Ministry of Transport and Hydraulics budget.

Police say that investigations are being conducted into the suspected drowning of Quacy Rover, 37 years, and Dwayne Thomas, 31 years, of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, which occurred at about 1500h.

(Trinidad Express) Two Highway Patrol police officers were in police custody last night after they were arrested in connection with the rape of a woman two weeks ago.

DHAKA, (Reuters) – An eight-storey block housing garment factories and a shopping centre collapsed on the outskirts of the Bangladeshi capital on Wednesday, killing nearly 100 people and injuring hundreds more, officials said.

The policeman implicated in transporting a 14-year-old girl into the Puruni Backdam, in Region Seven, where she and others were forced to be sex workers, is now custody after he was picked out by the girl during an identification parade.

Guyana and Venezuela are due to sign a new PetroCaribe Agreement by the end of the week, which is expected to allay fears in the rice sector.

A 62-year-old man was yesterday morning stabbed about his body in an attempted robbery during which the car he was travelling in ended up in a ditch at D’Urban Street and the perpetrator was captured Injured is Orin Braithwaite of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown

A man who cuffed and kicked his niece was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment after he was charged with unlawful wounding, when he appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) yesterday launched a US$65,000 Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade Programme (FLEGT) Support Programme which may enable timber traders to expand to new international markets.

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has ruled that summary judgment appeals of High Court decisions must be made to the Full Court rather than the Court of Appeal, despite a long established practice of doing so.

Chris Gayle can shatter dreams. Ask Ishwar Pandey, the highest wicket-taker in this year’s Ranji Trophy, who got smashed for 21 in his first over this IPL.

The Regional Conference segment of the National Schools Basketball Festival (NSBF) National Championships 2013 was officially launched at  Marian Academy Carifesta Avenue yesterday.

Berbice will take on the President’s XI while Demerara will oppose Essequibo when the Guyana and Trinidad Mutual Fire and Life Insurance Company (GTM) in collaboration with the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) U19 Inter County, three-day competition bowls off today at two venues.

(Reuters) – World number six Tomas Berdych was given a tough workout by Nikolay Davydenko at the Barcelona Open yesterday before seeing off the former number three 3-6 7-5 6-4 to secure a berth in the last 16.

Another river collision occurred early yesterday morning in the Essequibo River in the vicinity of Leguan and according to the police there are no reports of injury.

The government has moved to strengthen the anti-money laundering legislation—as recommended by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)—while opposition members say more needs to be done in the area of enforcement.

The Committee of Supply has approved the estimates for Region 6 and Minister of Local Government Ganga Persaud said measures are in place to ensure fuel and lubricants are delivered to the right places.

The Committee of Supply last night approved proposed budget allocations for regions 8 and 9 to the tune of $150.7 million and $279.4 million, respectively, despite concerns over whether the size of the expenditure reflected the will of the regional administrations.

(Reuters) – Disgraced Pakistan trio Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir should stop “misleading the public” and instead help cricket in “the fight against corruption”, International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Dave Richardson said yesterday.

BANGALORE, India,  CMC Chris Gayle says it was too soon to grasp the significance of his history making accomplishment after setting a new record for the fastest century in the history of professional cricket yesterday.

Guyana, with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), is currently working towards finalising a strategy framework for the collection of non-traditional agriculture (crops) production data and the enhancement of the National Agriculture Market Information System for the country.

Estimates proposed for current and capital expenditure for Region Seven were yesterday passed in the National Assembly after a flurry of questions from Alliance for Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) MPs, who then abstained from the vote.

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC-Former West Indies wicketkeeper Deryck Murray says the right combination of players needs to be selected for Trinidad and Tobago’s four-day semi-final against Jamaica which begins next Thursday at Sabina Park.

Guyana has drafted legislation to support the Single Window Automated Processing System (SWAPS), which could halve processing times for trade transactions once in place.

Ituni residents agreed to halt the protest to highlight their concerns on forest land allocation, with the removal of the blockage on the Ituni trail to allow traffic to traverse, after a meeting was held last Wednesday with the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) to discuss their concerns and to agree on the way forward.

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad,  CMC-Trinidad and Tobago’s Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott will open his 2013 season at the inaugural TnT Elite Twighlight Meet at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on May 3.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, CMC- World and Olympic 400m hurdles champion Melaine Walker has been confirmed for the 100m hurdles at the Jamaica International Invitational (JII) Meet set for May 4.

GT&T yesterday launched the BlackBerry Z10 at its Blackberry Office on Brickdam.

The Caribbean Community (Caricom) has expressed confidence that the continued goodwill, friendship and cooperation which characterised Caricom-Venezuela relations would continue under the presidency of Nicolás Maduro.

Acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba has asked the Mayor and Councillors of Georgetown to continue working until the appointment of a new Town Clerk, in the face of the mayor’s attempt to have her removed from the post.

There needs to be an increased number of protected areas, better planning of gold mining and better control for poaching and hunting.

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – Chris Paul drove right, stumbled forward, leaned back and banked in a game-winning shot that lifted the Los Angeles Clippers to a crucial playoff win on Monday and elevated his status as one of the game’s top closers.

President Donald Ramotar has sent messages of condolence to the presidents of the United States and China following tragedies in their countries.

For Roxanne Winfield, reaching the age of 49 is more than a milestone – it’s a miracle.

MUNICH, (Reuters) – Barcelona, who have changed the face of the game in recent years, were handed a footballing lesson when they were crushed 4-0 by Bayern Munich in an extraordinary Champions League semi-final first leg yesterday.

Quick work by the police and public spirited persons yesterday resulted in the capture of one of two motorcycle bandits who had moments earlier snatched a West Demerara businessman’s $500,000 gold chain.

A stevedore was remanded to prison yesterday after he was found with 60 grammes of marijuana in his possession which he claimed he uses to treat his asthma.

Traffic Chief Superintendent Hugh Denhert is currently in Florida, USA attending a Road Safety Seminar hosted by the International Road Federation.

Dear Editor, Now more than ever I lose hope and faith in our politicians whose words speak louder than their action.

A Sophia man was yesterday sentenced to 12 months imprisonment after he was charged with receiving a stolen BlackBerry cell phone, when he appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The National Library yesterday opened a three-day exhibition of Guyanese books and presentations by students from several secondary schools

The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) has extended condolences to the injured widow, Ingrid Margaret Ottman and family of the late Helmutt Frederik Ottman and to the German Honorary Consul on the death of the German tourist after an accident on the Annai to Lethem road.

Four inmates of the Camp Street prison were yesterday charged with wounding a fellow inmate, when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Dear Editor, So far as can be recalled the Mayor and City Council was in 2008-09 the subject of a very comprehensive inquiry by a commission.

Dear Editor, Last week in Kaieteur News there was an article with a picture of two coffins containing the remains of persons.

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health yesterday held a mini health fair at Narine’s parking lot opposite the GRA.

Guyana Defence Force (GDF) soldier Miguel Cort was yesterday remanded to prison after he was charged with receiving a stolen car.

Dear Editor, I refer to Mr Edward Gonsalves’ letter in SN dated April 23 and captioned ‘At least 9000 vehicles a day use the Demerara Harbour Bridge,’ which is in response to my earlier letter in SN re the above subject.

Dear Editor, I met veteran pre-independence journalist Mr Neville Annibourne a few times and learnt of his sad passing on Sunday.

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro named a new acting head of its US diplomatic mission in Washington yesterday and sent an offer of dialogue after attacking the United States for “interference” in a row over his election.

Dear Editor, The recent Budget debate in Parliament was heated, controversial, at times even confusing.

PROVIDENCE, RI (Reuters) – Katherine Russell has tried to stay out of sight in the five days since her husband, one of the suspects in the deadly Boston Marathon bombing, was killed in a shootout with police.

Dear Editor, Assuming but not necessarily agreeing, that Mr Jagdeo’s assertion about the resurgence of anti-Indian sentiments has some validity, is it then pertinent to enquire whether his perception has in any way been shaped by his analysis of the consequences, unintended or intended, of policies and programmes implemented during his presidency?

CARACAS (Reuters) – President Nicolas Maduro’s government declared a 90-day “emergency” in Venezuela’s electricity sector yesterday to speed up infrastructure work and equipment imports needed to prevent politically-contentious power cuts.

SHANGHAI (Reuters) – China will build a second, larger aircraft carrier capable of carrying more fighter jets, the official Xinhua news service reported late yesterday, quoting a senior officer with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy.

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian Federal Police have arrested the self-proclaimed leader of the international hacking group LulzSec, the collective that claimed responsibility for infiltrating and shutting down the CIA website.

Public Relations Officer of Ashmins Rose Gunraj (right) and a representative of Ministry of Labour at the launching of a banner outside Ashmins, in observance of Occupational Safety & Heath Month, April 2013.

PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) – The human rights group Amnesty International accused the Haitian government yesterday of failing to stop the forcible eviction of thousands of displaced people living in tent camps set up after the huge earthquake that rocked the capital in 2010.

Dear Editor, There were several responses to former President Jagdeo’s comments about a resurgence of anti-Indian sentiment at Pandit Reep’s funeral.

HAVANA (Reuters) – Colombia and the Marxist FARC rebels launched their latest round of peace talks yesterday in Havana after a month-long break in a process aimed at ending half a century of bloody conflict in the South American nation.

The storm that had been blowing and strengthening in the direction of Trinidad & Tobago National Security Minister Jack Warner’s direction for the last five years or so, has finally hit him with full force.

St Margaret’s Primary School pupils and members of the public accessing information at the Guyana Revenue Authority’s Mini Health Fair yesterday (Photo by Arian Browne)  

Dear Editor, Lennox J Hernandez’s educational response was indeed well received.

I thank Prime Minister Mr Samuel Hinds for taking the time to clarify some of the comments I made in this column last week, in his letter “Shared governance not shared government” (SN 19/04/2013). 

CHICAGO (Reuters) – Giant US agribusiness firm Cargill Inc confirmed that four workers died late Sunday at its grain delivery facility in Canarana, Brazil, when a silo containing soybeans collapsed.