Daily Archive: Saturday, December 28, 2013

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, is calling for more involvement by civil society to foster and promote social programmes aimed at developing Guyana.

At about 1415h today, police say that a Police Constable who was on duty at the Enquiries Office at the Fort Wellington Police Station and who was armed with a service .38 revolver, is reported to have been in the process of taking off the firearm when a round was accidentally discharged.

(Trinidad Guardian) St Vincent Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves says his country has been hit by a disaster the likes of which citizens have never seen and the island will need hundreds of millions of dollars to rebuild.

The police say they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Rudranauth Jeeboo, of Craig Avenue, C’Ville, Georgetown, whose body was found at about 0700h.

At about 1000h on Thursday, police say that a dredge owner from the Essequibo Coast was driving an ATV along a trail at Sulphur Road, Cuyuni River, when he was confronted by two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun.

At about 0730h. today police say that Tom Mentis, 37 years, of Republic Avenue, Linden, was driving a motor pick-up over the Mackenzie/Wismar Bridge when he apparently lost control of the vehicle which crashed through the railing and plunged into the Demerara River.

(Trinidad Express) Police are investigating the cause of a fire at the Red Cross building on the outskirts of the capital that destroyed items scheduled to be distributed to victims of the floods that devastated several parts of the island over the Christmas holidays.

(Trinidad Express) CHUTNEY singer Rajin Dhanraj died yesterday at the hospital where he had been warded since September.

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – Australia moved within 201 runs of victory in the fourth Ashes test with all 10 wickets in hand after routing England’s second innings for 179 to wrest back the momentum on a roller-coaster fourth day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.

The Public Works Ministry yesterday defended the demolition of a fence and building it said was obstructing the construction of the four-lane road project at Success, East Coast Demerara.

Charged with stealing over $17 million in an armed robbery, three men were yesterday not required to plead when they appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

A 22-year-old accused of murdering another man during the course of a robbery yesterday appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The USAID-funded $300m Leadership and Democracy (LEAD) project to be implemented by the International Republican Institute (IRI) will be of great value, according to Opposition Leader David Granger Granger, also leader of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) was speaking  to reporters yesterday on the government’s rejection of the project on the grounds that it was insufficiently consulted.

The driver accused of causing the death of Chief Librarian Gillian Thompson on Christmas Eve was yesterday placed on $500,000 bail after he appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on four charges.

Junior Bourne, who was charged with the murder of Canada-based Guyanese Rawle Harding three years ago, was yesterday found not guilty in the High Court.

The construction of more turnkey homes and allocation of 6000 houselots are among key projects that will be pursued by the Ministry of Housing in 2014.

A three-year-old Amerindian girl was brutally attacked and dragged from the steps of her home by a jaguar yesterday at Isseneru in Region 7.

Courts (Guyana) is scheduled to launch their online sales website in January 2014, according to Director of Marketing, Molly Hassan.

Heavy rainfall over the past two days has caused flooding in the Pomeroon River area and some parts of Charity on the Essequibo Coast, but the water has started to recede in some places.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) MP Deborah Backer has taken ill and has been hospitalised, Opposition Leader David Granger says.

Columnist Ralph Ramkarran has defended the award of the mining survey permission in the south east of Guyana to Muri Brasil Ventures Inc.

Another phase of construction will soon begin for Guyana’s first synthetic Track and Field Facility.

Chairman of the national selectors of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Rayon Griffith said yesterday that today’s fitness sessions to be held at the Guyana National Stadium will be used as a stepping-stone towards getting the players primed and ready for next month’s Regional tournament.

Another march organised by the Guyana Public Service Union was yesterday called off and First Vice President Mortimer Livan said this was due to the late response of the police in granting permission.

The bridge on the Lethem trail which collapsed last week, virtually bringing the community to a standstill, has been repaired.

Guyana has the worst road fatality ranking of all Anglophone Caribbean countries, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has said.

Derrick ‘Lights Out’ Richmond scored a sensational knockout over James Walcott (3-7-1) to clinch the vacant national super middleweight title on Boxing Day when Nation’s Promotions staged the ‘Linden Showdown’ at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground.

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) expends over $100 million annually to care for seriously injured traffic-related accident victims APNU member Dr George Norton says.

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, CMC-West Indies One Day International (ODI) captain Dwayne Bravo says he is relying on his bowling attack to give his side an advantage in the current five match ODI series against New Zealand.

Radio Guyana Inc (RGI) announcer, Oswald Singh, 55,  died of a massive heart attack on Monday and will be buried today.

As we say goodbye to 2013, The Scene presents quotes from the 12 most inspiring artists featured in these pages for the year.

ST.JOHN’S Antigua, CMC- President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Dave Cameron, has praised veteran middle order batsmen Shivnarine Chanderpaul for achieving several miles stones in his career this year.

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – A resurgent England attack tore through Australia’s batting lineup with six wickets in the final session to leave the hosts reeling at 164 for nine at the close of an attritional second day of the fourth Ashes test yesterday.

The way the season started, I just was not feeling it.

The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sport Club (RHTYSC) came to the rescue of a person in dire circumstances and presented a quantity of items to accident victim, 33-year-old, Goobraj Durjan.

Residents of Wakenaam were thrilled on Saturday to have a ‘Santa Claus Parade’ for the first time on the island, compliments of a former resident and the Aditya Kids Trust Fund Foundation (AKTFF).

Hi Everyone, It’s been another memorable year for Tastes Like Home.

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – England paceman James Anderson has no intention of following good friend Graeme Swann into retirement and said there were other “big characters” in the dressing room to compensate for the loss of the banter-loving spinner.

The Scene Cartoon

When two-year-old Vishal of Nigg, Corentyne was born, his mother, Jenita Seyhodan noticed that his head had an unusual shape but she still hoped that he would be normal.

Tournament favourite, Wismar Christianburg, along with Ash Education, St George’s High and the Region Seven outfit, Waramadong all clinched semifinal berths yesterday in the Chico/Kashif and Shanghai Elite Next Generation Tournament.

Dear Editor, This government has announced the repeat performance of the recycling circus.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC– Michael Hall has tendered his resignation as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The West Indies Players Association (WIPA), officials have confirmed.

NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden’s recent remarks on the perils of mass surveillance — broadcast by the UK’s Channel 4 television as an “alternative Christmas message” — are an eloquent reminder of the fragility of fundamental political freedoms, even in societies that pride themselves on being open and democratic.

In keeping with its New Year’s Eve tradition, Palm Court will host its annual year-ender and for the second time, it will be a Masquerade Ball.

With the anticipated regular flights of the Venezuelan national airline, CONVIASA Airlines between Venezuela and Guyana, Guyana Government officials as well as officials from the Venezuelan national airline say the new service will not only enhance the travel opportunities between the two nations but will also boost trade and economic cooperation.

DURBAN, (Reuters) – South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn ripped through the India batting lineup on a rain-reduced day two of the second test at Kingsmead to claim six wickets and hand the momentum to the hosts in the series decider yesterday.

Dear Editor, I’m shocked and beyond a loss for words over Chris Ram’s jab at me for the position I have taken on the Muri PGGS.

BANGUI,  (Reuters) – Mariam watched in horror as militiamen burst through the gate of her home in Central African Republic’s capital Bangui and demanded her husband say whether he was Muslim.

In spreading the goodwill of the Christmas season, the Region Five Probation and Social Services department feted 160 children.

Nine time Grammy award winner John Legend is set to headline next Saturday’s Night of Love Concert, an event organised by McNeal Enterprises in collaboration with Hits and Jams Entertainment at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Beyonce held onto the top spot on the US Billboard 200 album chart for the second consecutive week as her new self-titled album sold 374,000 copies in the lead-up to Christmas, according to figures released Thursday from Nielsen SoundScan.

West Coast Berbice women who participated in a health and fitness programme organized by the Guyanese Families Unite in Service and Education (GuyFuse) have expressed satisfaction at the experience gained.

Dear Editor, I am penning this letter to the basketball fraternity, in fact to everyone who is genuinely concerned about the state of the game in Guyana.

DURBAN, (Reuters) – South Africa have included the world’s number one test bowler Vernon Philander in their preliminary 30-man squad for the World Twenty20 tournament to be played in Bangladesh in March and April next year.

JUBA/NAIROBI, (Reuters) – South Sudan said on Friday it was ready for a ceasefire and would release eight of 11 senior politicians arrested over an alleged coup plot, raising hopes it was edging towards a deal to end ethnic-based fighting ravaging the world’s newest nation.

(Trinidad Guardian) In the aftermath of the destruction and despair caused by a powerful weather system, Dominicans have been piecing their lives back together, says the island’s acting National Disaster Co-ordinator Don Corriette. 

The demolished BM Soat Office

NEW YORK,  (Reuters) – A federal judge ruled that a National Security Agency program that collects records of millions of Americans’ phone calls is lawful, calling it a “counter-punch” to terrorism that does not violate Americans’ privacy rights.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – From Shakespeare to Harry Potter to the new head of MI6 in the James Bond film franchise, Ralph Fiennes has mined the complexity of his characters.

MADRID, (Reuters) – Staying fit is more important to Rafa Nadal in 2014 than adding to his 13 grand slam titles, the world number one was quoted as saying yesterday.

Dear Editor, Alcohol is the most common mood alleviating drug, used at social gatherings including holiday parties without much consideration being given to its addictive potential. 

(Trinidad Express) A police officer attached to the Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU) killed himself on Thursday  shortly after he attempted to kill a female relative.

BEIRUT,  (Reuters) – Former Lebanese minister Mohamad Chatah, who opposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, was killed in a massive bomb blast on Friday which one of his political allies blamed on the Shi’ite Hezbollah militia.

Politikles

(Reuters) – Former world number one Roger Federer has made his “childhood hero” Stefan Edberg part of his coaching team and will use him on an occasional basis next year, the Swiss said yesterday.

One thing our political leaders do well is articulate how eager they are to work together.

(The Sports Xchange) –Recent setbacks to the Spurs in general, and San Antonio guard Danny Green in particular, mattered little in a bounce-back 116-107 victory over the rival Dallas Mavericks.

Old and new reggae: Jamaican reggae legend Freddie ‘Big Ship’ McGregor (left) and new reggae sensation Denyque (right) at the 94.1 studio after they came off the air where they were promoting the ‘Captain meets the King’ reggae concert scheduled for tonight at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

(EUR) Yolanda Adams may be one of many beautiful members of the Gospel music community, but don’t expect her to overdo it in favour of being sexy.

Dear Editor, As we celebrate the festive season of Christmas and the New Year, it is important that we reflect on how far we have advanced as a nation in terms of the pursuit of our national motto of ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny.’