Daily Archive: Friday, September 27, 2013

A Child Advocacy Centre (CAC) to provide services to children who have been physically and sexually abused, was officially launched this week.

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK, (Reuters) – President Barack Obama and new Iranian President Hassan Rouhani spoke by telephone today, the highest-level contact between the two countries in three decades and a sign that both sides are serious about reaching a pact on Tehran’s nuclear program.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Former 100-metre world record holder Asafa Powell and his MVP teammate Sherone Simpson are to face the disciplinary panel of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission in January 2014.

The current situation is not sustainable. That was the stark warning today by the Chairman of the National Insurance Scheme, Dr Roger Luncheon that major changes would have to be made to the social security system.

In the face of a threat by Florida-based Cuban exile groups to mount a tourism boycott, The Bahamas today agreed to review the status of undocumented Cubans.

Crime Chief Seelall Persaud has confirmed that police are investigating a shooting death which occurred early this morning on Mandela Avenue during a $500 gambling row.

(Trinidad Guardian) A watch list of gang members who receive contracts from any arm of the State has been prepared and such individuals will be “blacklisted” if they fail to give up a life of crime, National Security Minister Gary Griffith said yesterday, after revelations that a gang member has been given a contract to repair a police station.

  Vickram Persaud, also known as ‘Lil John,’ was this morning charged with the murder of policeman Michael Cumberbatch, who was gunned down at his North Sophia home on Monday evening.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Eighteen-year-old Surrey batsman Dominic Sibley was bowled out for 242 against Yorkshire today after entering the record books as the youngest double centurion in English county cricket.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller was forced to halt her exit from the 68th United Nations General Assembly in Manhattan, New York, yesterday afternoon, as a group of gay activists protested outside the Ford Foundation offices.

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan on Monday met ailing thespian Dilip Kumar, 90, who is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Mumbai.

(Jamaica Gleaner) IN A prayerful tone, former Junior Minister for Transport and Works Richard Azan yesterday indicated that his exoneration by the director of public prosecutions (DPP) proved that “God is God”.

(Barbados Nation) Health officials are investigating two deaths associated with respiratory illnesses and awaiting on test results from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) to determine whether the H1N1 virus has surfaced in Barbados again.

(Barbados Nation) Police investigators were yesterday working with the Customs Department to determine from which country 18 disassembled firearms were shipped into Barbados.

Residents of St Ignatius dressed in traditional garb welcoming Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and his wife Yvonne Hinds to the Region Nine village yesterday.

Bulgaria will forgive USD 2.9 million of the debt of Guyana, according to a report in the Bulgarian media.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds (in red shirt) being escorted into St Ignatius village, Region Nine.

OSLO, (Reuters) – Leading climate scientists said today they were more certain than ever before that mankind was the main culprit for global warming and warned the impact of greenhouse gas emissions would linger for centuries.

By Erica Williams A mother of eight, who had labour induced when she was scheduled to give birth via caesarean section (C-section), died last week at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) along with one of the twin babies she was carrying.

The Alliance for Change (AFC) will not be “swayed into a pre-election coalition with either the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) or A Party for National Unity (APNU), but remain independent, its Treasurer Dominic Gaskin said.

The fire that claimed the life of octogenarian Margaret London on Wednesday night was fuelled by a kerosene lamp, Berbice fire chief Compton Sparman told Stabroek News late last evening.

Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo’s 6-wicket haul set up a convincing 10-wicket win  for Berbice against Essequibo yesterday in the third round of the  Senior Inter-county 50-overs-a-side tournament and they will clash with Demerara in the final on Sunday.

President Donald Ramotar yesterday warned against the “graduation and differentiation” policies by the developed world, saying they are wrongfully denying developing countries access to concessionary financing.

(cricinfo.com) An ebullient finish from MS Dhoni that built on Suresh Raina’s consummate half-century set up a 12-run victory for Chennai Super Kings over Sunrisers Hyderabad in Ranchi.

Amateur pugilists, Imran Khan and Dennis Thomas were scheduled to wing out to Kazakhstan this morning on a month-long sojourn which encompasses a two-week training stint as well as competing for medals in the World Amateur Boxing Championships.

The suspect in the murder of policeman Michael Cumberbatch will be making his first appearance at the Georgetown Magis-trate’s Court today, according to Crime Chief Seelall Persaud.

Amelia’s Ward Jets defeated Half Mile Bulls 71-64 when action in the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) /Trophy Stall Championship continued at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) Hard court on Wednesday.

Fisherman Satyanand Persaud, whose boat was stolen by pirates last week, said yesterday that he has no choice but to return to the high seas but will ensure that in the future he installs proper devices such as tracking systems.

Finance Minister Ashni Singh has invited the opposition parties to take part in consultations on the 2014 budget.

MYSORE, India, CMC-A half century from Assad Fudadin ensured West Indies A remained in control against India A on the second day of their unofficial four-day test match yesterday.

A minibus driver and another man were yesterday remanded to prison after they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to answer causing death by dangerous driving charges.

Minister of Natural Re-sources and the Environment Robert Persaud yesterday warned that the stalled passing of amendments to anti-money laundering laws will affect the mining sector, even as it is producing more gold.

A young woman said to be suffering from a nervous condition was yesterday refused bail and ordered to seek medical attention after she allegedly set fire to a house.

DOHA,  (Reuters) – Qatar government authorities are investigating allegations in the Guardian newspaper that dozens of migrant Nepalese workers have died in recent weeks, the committee managing preparations for the 2022 World Cup said yesterday.

The Akawaio penak, a previously unknown genus of electric fish, was recently identified by a team of international scientists in the waters of the upper Mazaruni River.

Two men were yesterday placed on $900,000 bail each after they were charged with dangerous driving which caused the death of 22-year-old Tavel Gilbert.

Managing Director of the Trophy Stall, Ramesh Sunich has donated the first place trophy ahead of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc (GSCL) organised 12/12 tournament which concludes this weekend.

An East Coast Demerara man was yesterday refused bail when he appeared in the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court accused of having had a quantity of cannabis sativa concealed in a milk tin at Ogle.

With no movement towards the enactment of the local government reform legislation, the AFC is now accusing President Donald Ramotar of demonstrating a lack of respect for the constitution and the people’s right to elect their local government authorities.

A man was yesterday remanded to prison after he allegedly assaulted his wife with a plastic bucket, reportedly violating a restraining order previously obtained against him.

Wresting control of the local pork market from profiteering middle men and raising production standards in the sector are among the primary objectives of the recently established Guyana Swine Producers Cooperative Society (GSPCS).

AHMEDABAD, India,  CMC- Trinidad and Tobago Red Force have arrived in Ahmedabad for their third game of the Champions League T20 but their first scheduled practice session was called off because of a waterlogged outfield.

Dear Editor, The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) dispatched a press release on Tuesday, September 24, 2013 with the headline ‘GRA introduces additional motor vehicle services at its Regional offices.’

Dear Editor, Harvesting of the present rice crop has commenced in Regions Two, Three and Six and Essequibo farmers are making full use of the sunny weather.

The recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago under which the government of Guyana has allocated thousands of acres of land to Trinidadian investors for agricultural purposes continues to give rise to controversy among key farming support organisations in Port of Spain and more recently in political circles in the twin-island Republic.

BERLIN, (Reuters) – Germany forward Miroslav Klose could miss the World Cup qualifiers against Ireland and Sweden next month after undergoing foot surgery late on Wednesday, Germany coach Joachim Loew said yesterday.

Dear Editor, From time to time there bursts onto the public scene a comment from one of our Guyanese activists lamenting the retrogression or lack of progress of one of the two major racial groups.

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Ending weeks of diplomatic deadlock, the United States and Russia agreed yesterday on a UN Security Council draft resolution that would demand Syria give up its chemical arms, but does not threaten military force if it fails to comply.

For the second consecutive year, Lawrence Chung, the proprietor of the Lethem-based Ebony and Ivory an enterprise that crafts jewellery from semi-precious stones, will not be participating in GuyExpo.

HAMILTON, Bermuda,  CMC — Out-of-contract Bermuda goalkeeper Freddy Hall has returned to the United Kingdom, where he previously played, hoping to resurrect his professional career.

Uruguay defeated Guyana by 6-0 in their battle of the bottom four finishers when action in the Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF) Cup continued yesterday in Mendoza, Argentina.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – The thrilling climax to the America’s Cup in San Francisco has put the event and sailing “in a strong place commercially”, according to Oracle Team USA tactician Ben Ainslie.

Dear Editor,   It is safe to assume that the vast majority of citizens at home and abroad share the sentiments expressed by Commissioner of Police, Mr Leroy Brumell, when with the top echelon of the Force he met with a West Demerara Community recently; his plea for them to be involved and help is commendable.I

With services continuing to account for a mounting share of Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), economist and business consultant Joycelyn Williams believes that local service providers are likely to discover an increasing need for training in disciplines related to enhancing the quality of customer service.

BUDAPEST, (Reuters) – Hungarian league club Ferencvaros’s Trinidad and Tobago national defender Akeem Adams is in a critical condition after a heart attack, the club said yesterday.

UNITED NATIONS (Reu-ters) – Iran and the United States held their highest-level substantive talks in a generation yesterday, saying the tone was positive but sounding cautious about resolving the long-running standoff over Iran’s nuclear programme.

(Reuters) – Maverick AC Milan forward Mario Balotelli has apologised for a sending-off against Napoli which earned him a three-match ban but claimed he was provoked.

Dear Editor, As a former student of Cotton Tree Primary now residing in Sweden, I attended a Parent Teacher Association (PTA) meeting for my nephew in Grade 5 on Thursday, September 12 at the said school.

For sheer congestion and chaos the Sunday morning La Penitence Market is unmatched in the capital and its environs.

NAIROBI (Reuters) – Interpol issued a wanted persons alert at Kenya’s request yesterday for a British woman who has been cited by British police as a possible suspect in the attack on a Nairobi shopping mall that killed at least 72 people.

PANAMA CITY (Reuters) – Panama’s Canal Authority yesterday slapped a fine of up to $1 million on the owners of a North Korean ship seized in July for smuggling Cuban weapons under 10,000 tonnes of sugar.

ZURICH, Switzerland,  CMC- Jamaican footballer Jermaine Hue was yesterday suspended for nine months after testing positive for a banned substance at a World Cup qualifying match.

Dear Editor, As the PPP/C continues to flout Guyana’s laws including the constitution, choosing instead to govern by whim, I hope leaders are prepared for the inevitable reaction of Guyanese citizens.

The local private sector was again a no show at a regional business forum facilitated by the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export)  under the European Union-funded 10th European Development Fund Regional Private Sector Development Programme, having missed out on two major product promotion opportunities created by the same agency just over two years ago.

LIMA (Reuters) – The Catholic Church has yet to help authorities in Peru who are investigating whether a defrocked bishop sexually abused children before Pope Francis forced him from his post in a poor Andean region, a prosecutor said yesterday.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The presidents of Colombia, Peru and Chile, and Mexico’s minister of economy agreed on Wednesday to liberalize 92 per cent of their countries’ goods and services as part of the nascent regional economic integration bloc, The Pacific Alliance.

Dear Editor, This is in reference to your editorial ‘Westgate Mall’ (Sep 25).

MAPUSA, India,  CMC-Trinidad and Tobago striker Cornel Glenn has announced his arrival in the Indian I League Premier Division with a brace that inspired Shillong Lajong to a three-nil win over former champions, Dempo.

GASCI (www.gasci.com/telephone Nº 223-6175/6) reports that session 530’s trading results showed consideration of $29,988 from 1,666 shares traded in 1 transaction as compared to session 529 which showed consideration of $3,772,863 from 72,443 shares traded in 17 transactions. 

There can now be no doubt that the realization of the Guyana/Trinidad and Tobago land-for farming deal reached a few weeks ago by the two governments may well be in some measure of doubt.

Business Cartoons

Those readers interested in this column would no recall that some six months (25 Fridays) ago, I penned a piece captioned ‘Inclusionary Democracy My Eye!’

Dear Editor, I believe one person can make a difference. Here are some examples from history where one person made a difference: In America, Rev Dr Martin Luther King; in South Africa, Nelson Mandela; in Germany, Dietrich Bonhoeffer; in India, Gandhi and Mother Theresa; and in Israel, King David made a difference.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Minerva Schools of KGI doesn’t yet have accreditation, a campus or even a full faculty roster, but it is offering something even Harvard can’t – four years of free tuition for its first matriculating class.

AHMEDABAD, India,  CMC- Coach David Williams says Trinidad and Tobago were deprived of victory in their second match of the Champions League T20 because of an unstoppable Tisara Perera and an expensive spell from medium pacer Rayad Emrit.

Last week, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff became the first head of state ever to postpone a state visit to the United States of America.