Daily Archive: Thursday, June 13, 2013

CAPE TOWN,  (Reuters) – South Africa pace bowler Dale Steyn has been passed fit for Friday’s winner-takes-all Champions Trophy Group B clash against West Indies in Cardiff.

MANAGUA,  (Reuters) – Nicaragua’s national assembly today approved a 50-year concession to a Hong Kong-based Chinese company to design, build and manage at an estimated cost of $40 billion a shipping canal across the central American nation that would compete with the Panama Canal.

An International Commission of Inquiry is to be set up to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of renowned Academic and Historian Dr Walter Rodney.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – A chanceless unbeaten 134 from Kumar Sangakkara inspired Sri Lanka to a seven-wicket win over an overly cautious England today to leave Champions Trophy Group A wide open ahead of the final two matches.

OSLO,  (Reuters) – Olympic champion Usain Bolt produced a dominant performance to win the 200 metres at the Bislett Diamond League in a world leading time of 19.79 seconds today.

(Trinidad Express) Police scrambled to the Port of Spain General Hospital this afternoon after three persons, among them a nurse, were shot.

A 41-year-old outgoing passenger at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri was early this morning found with 2.2 kilogrammes of cocaine hidden in his suitcase, Customs and Anti-Narcotics head James Singh has confirmed.

(Reuters) – At least one person died and more than 30 were injured today in an explosion and fire at the Williams Olefins chemical plant in Geismar, Louisiana, state police said.

(Reuters) – News Corp Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch has filed for divorce from his wife Wendi, the company confirmed today, just days before News Corp itself splits into two.

GCCI president Clinton Urling is calling on government to liberalise the telecommunications industry as the chamber is taking steps to develop ICT as a productive sector critical to the nation’s long-term economic development.

BUENOS AIRES,  (Reuters) – More than a decade after Argentina’s epic financial collapse of 2001-02, many investors are rushing for the door once again.

PRAGUE, (Reuters) – Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas said today he had no intention of resigning from his post after a series of police raids on government offices threatened to expose a web of corruption.

(Trinidad Guardian) Attorney General Anand Ramlogan has temporarily relinquished his responsibilities for the Central Authority, paving the way for the police investigating the e-mail matter to seek foreign assistance if they need it. Sources

(Jamaica Observer) A high-tech hydroponic ganja farm was yesterday discovered inside a rented house belonging to the Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU) on Old Stony Hill Road in St Andrew.

Just five days after celebrating her 17th birthday, a young woman was killed last evening after she was struck by an airplane propeller.

A policeman was yesterday accused of shooting at a man during a confrontation and then substituting his own ammunition for some of the rounds he discharged when he later returned his service weapon.

Residents of Aishalton,  (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) yesterday blocked an excavator owned by the Romanex Mining Company from heading to the Marudi Mountains where they claimed it would be used in unauthorized alluvial mining.

Police told residents of Station Street, Kitty yesterday that they are working hard to deal with the numerous complaints of noise nuisance and the other issues associated with the numerous drinking spots located in the area.

The Ministry of Education yesterday said that Bounty Hall, Essequibo schoolchild Ryan Livan died of diabetes and there was no evidence that he had suffered injuries during a fight at his school as alleged by his relatives.

The Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce is alarmed at the “outrageous increases” in ticket prices by Guyana’s flag carrier Caribbean Airlines (CAL) and accused it of trying to rake in profits from the high demand in the Guyana market.

The 28th edition of the Guyana Fight Night Pro Am card which was scheduled to box off on June 28 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) will now be staged at the Uitvlugt Community Centre ground one day later.

Four gunmen yesterday invaded the North Ruimveldt home of Guyana’s Ambassador to UNASUR Audrey Waddell in a brazen early morning attack.

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – Sri Lanka A reached 268 for six at the close on the opening day of the second four-day “Test” against West Indies A at Arnos Vale here yesterday.

Former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coastguard and murder accused Sherwyn Hart admitted to police that he and fellow coastguardsmen ordered Bartica gold dealer Dweive Kant Ramdass to take off his clothes before they lifted him and threw him overboard into the Essequibo River.

A 72-year-old man was discovered dead in a trench yesterday at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara.

LONDON,  CMC-New West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo has praised former ODI captain Darren Sammy for an explosive half century that revived the Caribbean side to a respectable total in their eight wicket loss to Indian in the ICC Champions Trophy Tuesday.

Police yesterday said that Constable Dorwin Pitman, who was discovered dead while chasing after a prisoner in North Sophia, died as a result of cardiac arrest.

LONDON, CMC-A director of the West Indies Cricket Board, Baldath Mahabir, has criticized the penalty meted out to West Indies wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin for claiming a catch off Misbah-ul-Haq during the Champions Trophy game against Pakistan at The Oval.

ARDMORE, Pennsylvania,  (Reuters) – Merion Golf Club has been linked with some of the most iconic moments in championship golf and Tiger Woods will aim to add a chapter of his own at this week’s U.S.

The ten top students from Region 6 at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) are proud of their achievement and believe that their hard work and long hours of study were rewarded.

MADRID,  (Reuters) – Barcelona’s Argentina forward Lionel Messi and his father denied wrongdoing yesterday after the Spanish tax authorities accused them of defrauding the state of more than four million euros ($5.3 million).

A man accused of robbing another man of $3M in phone cards was remanded to prison yesterday.

DERBY, ENGLAND – A fine 145-run partnership between Wayne Madsen and Shivnarine Chanderpaul has put Derbyshire into a strong position after a rain-affected opening day against Nottinghamshire.

Elson Washington, accused of causing the death of another man by dangerous driving, was yesterday admitted to $150,000 bail when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

Dear Editor, Respecting territorial integrity is a key cornerstone of diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and other Members of the United Nations.

Andre Percival and Garvin Nedd were both outstanding cricketers at the youth level with Percival going on to become skipper of the West Indies Under-19 team.

Telford Layne, who was last week remanded on a charge that he defrauded another man of $13M in a land deal, has had the charge against him dropped on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Dear Editor, We refer to Mr Christopher Ram’s letter of Monday  June 10, 2013 in the Stabroek News captioned  ‘GPL cannot be allowed to continue operating with a failed model and incompetent management.’ 

The AFC yesterday called on government to seek tax waivers for the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL), reform its management and make advance payments by state agencies as alternatives to the 26.7% tariff increase proposed to keep it financially viable.

FARM, EAST BANK DEMERARA, GUYANA: New GPC/Limacol is very proud of its acquisition of the Guyanese franchise of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

A new publication has been launched to empower Amerindian communities through knowledge of their land rights.

Dear Editor, On June 12 John Mair offered his take on what can only by now be described as the Caribbean Press scandal in which serious questions have been raised about financial and other dimensions of accountability (and whatever one’s position on this matter, one cannot but be completely blown away by the degraded and shameful level to which the holder of one of the country’s top diplomatic positions descended in his letter to the newspaper defending the press.

The City Mall at a presentation ceremony on Tuesday officially confirmed its continued partnership with the Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic IV which is scheduled to be held at both the Police Sports Club Ground in Georgetown and Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) Ground, Linden on August 17th-18th.

(Reuters) – The Champions Trophy Group A match between Australia and New Zealand was abandoned because of rain at Edgbaston, Birmingham yesterday.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall is hoping to avoid presenting witnesses to support government’s challenge to last year’s budget cut, saying it is unnecessary and that the evidence contained in affidavits filed with the action should be used as evidence.

Dear Editor, I wish to respond to a letter by Noel Antone published in the Guyana Chronicle of  June 7, 2013 captioned ‘Strange happenings in South Rupununi’ in which he makes several misleading and mischievous statements about me.

The world’s leading operator in digital TV and video experience, DIRECTV has added another sports channel (ESPN Caribbean) to its Caribbean line-up Basic Package at no extra cost.

SAN ANTONIO,  (Reuters) – The San Antonio Spurs moved two wins away from an NBA title with a stunning 113-77 blowout victory over the Miami Heat on Tuesday but may have lost leading scorer Tony Parker to a hamstring injury.

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – The head of the National Security Agency said yesterday that extensive U.S.

Over 2,000 North Rupununi residents are expected to benefit from the installation of a cellular site in the Aranaputa Valley, North Rupununi District by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T).

Dear Editor, Kindly permit me space in your letters’ column to openly congratulate all the pupils who have recently gotten their National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) results.

Demerara Distillers Limited has issued a statement expressing its profound sadness at the passing of its Chief Accountant, Harry Barran Singh, 57, who died in an accident on June 8, 2013.

(Reuters) – Australia batsman David Warner was dropped from the team’s Champions Trophy match against New Zealand yesterday for an alleged physical altercation with an England player.

Dear Editor, The Ramotar administration’s decision to have GPL seek a 26.7% increase in electricity tariffs, by citing the combined opposition’s $5.2B cut to the corporation’s 2013 $10.2B budget, reeks of irresponsibility and insensitivity. 

MUSHAF AIR BASE, Pakistan, (Reuters) – With an olive green head scarf poking out from her helmet, Ayesha Farooq flashes a cheeky grin when asked if it is lonely being the only war-ready female fighter pilot in the Islamic republic of Pakistan.

The Ministry of Home Affairs yesterday said that residents who have been affected by noise coming from Seeta’s Bar on Station Street and the White Castle Fish Shop on Hadfield Street will get relief shortly.

ATHENS,  (Reuters) – Greek workers staged a nationwide strike yesterday, forcing hospitals to work on emergency staff and disrupting transport, in protest against the “sudden death” of state broadcaster ERT, switched off in the middle of the night by the government.

Dear Editor, Since around 2005 it has become one of the rites of Summer for Guyanese abroad, especially in the United States and Canada, to hold village reunions in one of the many scenic parks of the city in which they live.

The nation’s cyclists are in for a hectic weekend as two events organized by National Cycling Coach Hassan Mohamed are scheduled to pedal off Saturday and Sunday.

Dear Editor, Decisions in Guyana, both of the government and the opposition, are often made with motives that support their own agendas.

WARRI, Nigeria,  (Reuters) – After two days trapped in freezing cold water and breathing from an air bubble in an upturned tugboat under the ocean, Harrison Okene was sure he was going to die.

(Reuters) – Disgraced Pakistan pace bowler Mohammad Asif lost an appeal yesterday against a 2011 conviction for spot-fixing that ended his international cricket career.

Two of the sponsors for the Guyana Trade Show and Tourism Exposition slated for June 23 and 24th in Toronto, Canada and June 28-30 in New York on Monday handed over sponsorship cheques to the Ministry of Tourism at the Ministry’s boardroom on South Road.

(Trinidad Guardian) Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Attorney General Anand Ramlogan have agreed to hand over their electronic devices to the police team investigating the e-mail scandal but with conditions. The

Dear Editor, I refer to John Mair’s letter of June, 12 ‘We should stop carping…’   I suggest that Mr Mair think twice the next time he claims journalistic credentials so boldly. 

CAPE TOWN,  (Reuters) – Anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela was responding better to treatment in hospital yesterday morning after a “difficult last few days”, South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma said.

 (De Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO –It seems that Minister Ramon Abrahams of Public Works may have lost his magic when he resigned on Tuesday.

(Reuters) – South Africa paceman Dale Steyn bowled at full intensity in the nets yesterday, raising hopes he will be fit for the crunch Champions Trophy game against West Indies tomorrow.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is holding a two-day seminar on development challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean starting today at its headquarters in Washington, DC.

Politikles

(Gary Regenstreif is a Reuters columnist but his opinions are his own.)

Dogs need shelter too: This dog found shelter yesterday from the rain under a horse-drawn cart on Vlissengen Road which was also transporting what appeared to be a stuffed Jaguar. 

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Britain’s overseas territories will not sign up to an international convention aimed at tackling tax evasion ahead of the G8 summit in Northern Ireland next week, the premier of Bermuda said yesterday.

How Do I Demonstrate “Strong Ties” to Guyana? This edition of Ask the Consul addresses common questions applicants ask when refused a tourist visa at the U.S.

Ten persons have qualified to participate in this month end’s national scrabble championships following last weekend’s qualifying tournament staged at the Malteenoes Sports Club pavilion.

Yesterday the world observed International Day Against Child Labour with the focus on keeping children out of domestic work.

Dear Editor, Most of the letters to the editor concerning the late Guyanese historian, Dr Walter Rodney, are centered on who was responsible for his assassination.

“There is a literacy problem in Guyana. Indeed it is estimated that there is a 21 percent rate of absolute literacy in Guyana, and an overall functional literacy rate that is just over 50 percent.