Daily Archive: Tuesday, November 18, 2014

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC- 14 of the 15 players offered Match/Tour Contracts for the upcoming Test tour of South Africa have signed and returned the contracts, West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) confirmed late Tuesday.

Banks DIH Limited honoured 26 employees who attained 20 years of service with the Company at its Annual 20-Year Club Luncheon held Friday at the Sports Club, Thirst Park, a release from the company said.

A Partnership for National Unity- APNU today met with the Roman Catholic Bishop of Guyana, Bishop Francis Alleyne and a delegation from the Catholic Church.

Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud delivering opening remarks at a seminar to address a broad range of topics around the EU’s Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade action and its relation to the LCDS and REDD+,  and the international timber market today at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, ECD.

ZURICH, (Reuters) – World soccer’s governing body FIFA lodged a criminal complaint in Switzerland today against unidentified people over the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, but stood by its conclusion that any wrongdoing was not enough to jeopardise the winning Russian and Qatari bids.

At about 1230h. today police say it was observed by staff that a building in the NARI Compound, Mon Repos, ECD, had been broken into.

(Trinidad Express) The catastrophic collapse of part of the Manzanilla-Mayaro Road on Sunday as a result of flood waters that carved a new watercourse was inevitable, and if rain were to continue to fall regularly, there would be more damage.

An early morning fire at Robb and King streets, Georgetown yesterday, claimed the lives of two children and left their father hospitalized with burns and other injuries.

UK High Commissioner to Guyana Andrew Ayre has called for President Donald Ramotar to reconvene the National Assembly as soon as possible stating that Parliament is the “central pillar of democracy.”

Passengers travelling on the MV Sabanto, one of the Chinese ferries that traverse the Essequibo River, were traumatized and shocked when the captain somehow lost control and the boat ran aground at Wakenaam yesterday morning.

Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) workers yesterday began striking after talks for a 30% salary increase failed.

‘A’ Division Commander Clifton Hicken is facing a backlash after suggesting that women dress less provocatively to discourage sexual violence.

Royston Waldron, the robbery suspect who was shot dead by police last Friday, was under surveillance, according to Crime Chief Leslie James, who said that in addition to his links to several crimes detectives are still investigating his possible role in the disappearance of two women.

Agencies responsible for the investigation of money laundering activities are undergoing training in recovering assets from persons involved in serious crime.

Over $9 million, suspected to have been illicit gains, was recently confiscated from a Bulgarian national by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

Two men are in police custody following two armed robberies at Zeelugt, Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo on Sunday night.

It is official. Guyana has retained the coveted country award of the Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC).

The case of the taxi driver that was shot at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo remains unsolved but investigators in ‘D’ Division are working on clues that can lead to the identity of the main attacker.

Opposition Leader David Granger says that if he is elected the next President of Guyana he will not allow suspected criminals associated with the incumbent People’s Progressive Party to be part of his administration.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Switzerland’s potential Davis Cup fairytale this weekend has become clouded by uncertainty over the fitness of Roger Federer and suggestions of strained relations between the all-time great and his team mate Stanislas Wawrinka.

A Linden man was yesterday fined $5,000 for verbally abusing his sister, after telling a city court that he still loved her.

The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) is urging civic and religious organisations to recommit to a continuous process of rehabilitating civic life based on values-driven solutions and more systematic engagement that would generate the leadership needed in the current political crisis.

Though serious crimes in Guyana are down by 11% from last year, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) recorded increases in both murders and armed robberies from last year’s corresponding period.

(The Sports Xchange) – James Harden scored 19 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 69-65 points victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Alliance for Change (AFC) has put government on notice that it will not support what leader Khemraj Ramjattan referred to as any “pork barrel” budget designed to win votes.

Scores of Guyana’s top student athletes will from today compete for honours at the 54th edition of the National Schools Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday rolled out its Christmas policing plan, which will see Georgetown, the country’s hub of activity, being divided into five sectors.

The Guyana Water Incor-porated (GWI) has intensified its ‘Free Pass’ countrywide programme to encourage more disconnected customers to reconnect their service free of charge.

Two vendors were remanded to prison yesterday after they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

A would-be burglar was shot in the groin yesterday after an attempt to break into a Georgetown bar Courtney Grimmond, the manager of Brazilian sports bar Rockies, said that at about 4.30 am he saw unusual movements at the 43 Light Street, Bourda 

Southpaw Kyle Edghill has lived in the shadow of his big sister Chelsea Edghill for most of his table tennis playing career.

The African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) has said that the proroguing of the 10th Parliament has brought to the nation’s political consciousness the excesses of the PPP Administration and calls on stakeholders to condemn this moving away from the democratic process.

Dear Editor, I noted certain statements in the press allegedly made by Dr Nanda Gopaul, former Permanent Secretary of the Presidential Secretariat now Minister of Labour and Mrs Shalimar Ali-Hack, Director of Public Prosecutions concerning the Ombudsman’s report on a complaint by Mr Maurice Aijoon, former Director Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the New Building Society (NBS) Ltd.

A Linden man will be spending the next four months in jail after admitting to an early morning attack on a woman.

A farmer was yesterday placed on $160,000 bail after denying charges of unlawful wounding and assault.

SYDNEY, (Reuters) – With the optimism over Michael Clarke’s fitness for the test series against India fading fast, Australia’s selectors will have to ponder their captaincy options as well as the make-up of their bowling attack over the next week.

Two persons were yesterday fined for stealing electricity. Patricia Cornette and Tracey Johnny appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan charged with fraudulently

There has been no call for a boycott of any business by the APNU, the coalition said in a statement issued last evening.

  Dear Editor, Much has been written and said about the President’s decision to prorogue the Parliament of Guyana in order to avoid defeat on a no-confidence vote, which would have led to the resignation of the cabinet including the President.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Barbados Pride dominated Trinidad and Tobago Red Force for the better part of four days but walked away with little to show for it after rain wrecked the final day of their WICB Professional Cricket League first round game here yesterday.

Two men were remanded to prison yesterday after they were charged with mugging a man with an icepick.

(Reuters) – Opener Tom Latham struck his second consecutive hundred to keep New Zealand on course for a big first-innings total on the opening day of the second test against Pakistan yesterday.

A 35-year-old man of Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo was yesterday sentenced to prison after he pleaded guilty to the charge of possession of marijuana.

Dear Editor, Much has been said by commentators with regard to President Donald Ramotar’s prorogation of parliament.

MUMBAI, (Reuters) – International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Narayanaswami Srinivasan has been cleared in a report submitted to India’s top court by a committee probing allegations of corruption into the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 competition.

Dear Editor,   I have stayed away and silent, until now, from the expressions on the church in local society.

MUMBAI, (Reuters) – International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Narayanaswami Srinivasan has been cleared in a report submitted to India’s top court by a committee probing allegations of corruption in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 competition.

Muscleman Teon Sancho of Melba Lagadoue’s Fitness Zone in New Amsterdam posed and flexed his way to the overall title of Mr.

SACRAMENTO, Calif (Reuters) – Mass murderer Charles Manson has been granted a marriage licence, and would be allowed to wed in prison, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said yesterday.

(Jamaica Gleaner) – Jamaican jurist, Patrick Lipton Robinson was elected yesterday to serve as a judge in the International Court of Justice.

Dear Editor,   It is not unbecoming for budding dictators to disguise their political action with lame excuses in the hope of sowing much confusion in a nation in order to perpetuate their roguish ways.

DURBAN, South Africa, CMC – West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard hit an unbeaten half-century and snatched a brace of wickets in the final over, to propel Cape Cobras to a narrow four-win victory over the Darren Sammy-led Titans in the South Africa Ram Slam Twenty20 League here Sunday.

CANBERRA (Reuters) – Australia and India will push for a free trade pact, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today during a rare state visit to Canberra by an Indian leader.

Dear Editor,   I beg to add my support to the sentiments expressed in the letter columns by Mark DaCosta under the caption, ‘Our leaders must face the elephant in the room’ (SN, November 14).

LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Almost 36 million people are living as slaves across the globe with an index yesterday listing Mauritania, Uzbekistan, Haiti, Qatar and India as the nations where modern-day slavery is most prevalent.

BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff, who cancelled a White House trip last year in anger over US spying revelations, now wants to improve ties and reschedule the state visit – but some US officials warn it might not be that easy.

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) – A Honduran beauty queen has been reported missing days before she was set to leave for London to compete in the Miss World pageant.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, CMC – Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz will meet Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Warriors in the final of the Caribbean Cup, after brushing aside Haiti 2-0 in their final Group B game on Sunday.

PARIS (Reuters) – Al Qaeda’s north African arm, AQIM, has issued a video of a French national and a Dutch national they are holding hostage in which the two men urge their respective governments to negotiate for their release.

BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia’s peace talks with Marxist FARC rebels were in crisis yesterday as troops scoured a Pacific coast region for an army general kidnapped over the weekend in a brash move by guerrillas that endangers efforts to end 50 years of war.

Dear Editor,   Parliament in Guyana is known to have its fair share of bacchanal, but with the proroguing of such a high institution I think we as a nation have reached the lowest point.

KINSHASA (Reuters) – The US campaign group Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused police in the Democratic Republic of Congo today of summarily executing at least 51 people in an anti-gang operation, and being responsible for the disappearance of at least 33 more.

Newly elected Executive Committee member of the International Boxing Association (AIBA), Steve Ninvalle, was recently congratulated in a letter by president of the association Ching-Kuo Wu.

Dear Editor, Many moons ago a popular column in the Daily Argosy paper was titled ‘Things that bother me,’ written by one of our true greats, writer, head teacher and political activist, Robert Burchell Oclave Hart.

KHARTOUM (Reuters) – Sudan has refused to let UN and African Union peacekeepers visit a village in the western Darfur region to investigate allegations of mass rape for the second time this month, saying it was skeptical about the motives for the visit.

Professional boxing returns to the ornate splendour of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) on December 6 with the staging of a 26-round card dubbed ‘The Big Brawl’.

It may, perhaps, still be too soon to conclude that the fruits of South Africa’s liberation struggle have been squandered and that the architect of the country’s transition to black majority rule, the African National Congress (ANC) now appears unsteady on its feet, though there are unmistakable signs that amongst black South Africans the ANC has lost much of the magnetism that it once had.

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Rafael Ramirez said the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will increase coordination in the face of the fall in oil prices, the South American government said in a statement yesterday, without elaborating.

HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong authorities today prepared to clear part of a key area of the heart of the city that has been occupied by pro-democracy demonstrators for nearly two months.

Dear Editor, I have had the opportunity to listen to President Donald Ramotar on the election campaign trail and his inaugural speech.