Daily Archive: Tuesday, August 11, 2015

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) was politically compromised under the previous administration and lacked transparency and accountability, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan says and he has pledged that the tax-collecting body will be reformed.

The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) last night said that results for the 2015 May/June CSEC examinations won’t be accessible until Thursday August 13 at 10 pm.

(Trinidad Guardian) The T&T Police Service (TTPS) has signed a multi-million dollar deal with a firm to equip all police officers with some of the latest and hi-tech guns to even the playing field against the criminal element.

Guyana’s economy is projected to grow 3.4% this year, a decrease from the 3.8% recorded last year reflecting a slowing of growth even as value-added and excise taxes collections are projected to rise by $3.8 billion to $69.5 billion this year.

Effective July 1, 2015, the minimum salary in the public service will be $50,000 per month while public servants who earned more will receive a 5 percent salary increase plus an additional $5000 monthly as of the same date, Minis-ter of Finance Winston Jordan announced yesterday.

The results of this year’s Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) have been released by the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) and local students who sat the exams are celebrating their achievements.

Minister of Finance Winston Jordan in his budget presentation yesterday said that currently the cost of financing the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) is too high and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) considered the project too risky to attract the bank’s financing.

From September 1, 2015 the toll for passenger cars and buses crossing the Berbice River Bridge will be reduced by $300 while the toll for all other types of vehicles will be reduced by 10 percent, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan announced during his budget speech yesterday.

An overseas-based Guyanese contractor was found dead yesterday morning by a search party on the parapet of the Yakusari, Black Bush Polder canal, while his vehicle was submerged in the waterway.

From September 1, old age pensions will be increased to $17 000 while public assistance will be increased by $600.

A month after acting Chief Justice Ian Chang ruled that the presidential term limit was unconstitutional, appeals have been filed to challenge the decision on the grounds that the judge erred in law by finding that a referendum was needed to effect the restriction.

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, yesterday said that hard decisions would need to be made urgently as it relates to the sugar industry, however these will await the findings of the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (COI).

A number of items including some foreign and locally-manufactured food products will no longer attract the Value-Added Tax (VAT), Minister of Finance Winston Jordan announced during his 2015 Budget presentation yesterday.

Government has allocated hundreds of millions of dollars to clean up Georgetown and enhance communities across the country in addition to creating jobs.

Government has withdrawn a National Insurance Scheme (NIS) subsidy as it believes that the salary increases proposed for the public sector will cushion the impact.

Effective next year, workers will no longer be paying income tax on their national insurance contributions.

Several categories of workers including toshaos from approved Amerindian communities will be exempt from taxes on vehicles and ATVs following an amendment proposed by Minister of Finance Winston Jordan.

Government has increased the uniform allowance for schoolchildren by $500 and also increased the payment for those sewing uniforms in remote hinterland locations.

Government has allocated $11 million for trade unions to assist with training, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan disclosed in his presentation of the 2015 Budget yesterday.

Ron Forde, called ‘Andel’, one of the two suspects in the murder of sex worker Noel Wilson Luthers, called Nephi, was arrested on Sunday evening by police ranks at Linden.

The Canadian Government-funded Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean (IMPACT Justice) Project will continue its region-wide sensitisation programme on Continuing Legal Profes-sional Development (CLPD) in Guyana today.

Efforts are underway to appoint a Registrar of the Land Registry, according to Attorney-General Basil Williams, who says that with documents not being signed by Juliet Sattaur, who was recently sent on leave, the department is facing a backlog.

Minister of Social Cohesion Amna Ally on Friday told Region Three residents that racial discrimination, hostility and segregation must be confined to the past.

In a formal response, Guyana has rejected Venezuela’s objections to regulations recently issued by Georgetown in connection with this country’s maritime zones.

The suspect in the murder of 77-year-old Danrasie ‘Carmen’ Ganesh is believed to be responsible for at least one previous attack on other residents of Montrose, who are now living in fear.

A court was yesterday told that there is sufficient evidence against the four men charged with robbing Land Court judge Nicola Pierre and her husband Mohamed Chand, including a confession and identification by the victims.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan yesterday announc-ed tax exemptions for small and medium scale miners on several items used in the industry.

As many questions remain unanswered about the death of airport worker Chris Jacob, a Coroner’s Inquest will be conducted in hopes of finally determining the true circumstances surrounding how he met his end.

It was a night to remember for Colts as they clinched the Open and u-23 titles in the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) League Qualifying Knockout Tourney, defeating Ravens and Pacesetters respectively on Sunday.

The Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) paid homage to the nation’s first world boxing champion, Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis by naming last weekend’s National Novices Championship after him.

The U.S. Embassy partnered with the Ministry of Health last week for a blood drive at the Embassy.

Clifton Gibson, one of the three men accused of murdering Rubis accountant Jason Cort, yesterday pleaded not guilty to a charge that he escaped from custody.

Dear Editor, It has been reported that the Chairman of GuySuCo, Dr Clive Thomas, is proposing a solution to the crisis in the sugar industry.

A large number of youngsters yesterday kick-started the annual Cricket Summer Camp facilitated by National Coach Garvin Nedd at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) Ground, Queenstown.

COLOMBO, (Reuters) – India opener Murali Vijay will miss the first test against Sri Lanka with a hamstring injury, team director Ravi Shastri said yesterday.

After a brief meeting with two sisters, ages 9 and 11 who reside at Barr Street, Albouystown, President David Granger has committed to setting up a “reading room” in that area.

KAZAN, Russia, (Reuters) – As soon as the world championships concluded on Sunday, swimming’s top nations were setting their sights on an all together different proposition — how to deal with midnight finishes during the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Dear Editor, Recently, work colleagues and friends of mine have informed me that almost daily they have had to come to my defence in relation to negative criticisms stemming from my association with the past administration, my health and my decision to stay on and support the new government.

(Reuters) – Nick Symmonds, the 800 metres silver medallist at the 2013 world athletics championships, is notably absent from the 130-athlete team named yesterday to represent the United States at this month’s worlds in China.

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – Faced with the task of rebuilding an Australian team laid low by Ashes failure, Steven Smith’s short apprenticeship under the captaincy of Michael Clarke comes to an end with the fifth and final test at The Oval.

The Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) held its 37th General Council Meeting (GCM) on Saturday August 1st 2015 at the CIOG’s Secretariat, Woolford Avenue, Thomas Lands, Georgetown.

LONDON, (Reuters) – England’s 2005 Ashes-winning side were better than the team that sealed a series victory over Australia with a game to spare in Nottingham on Saturday, according to Kevin Pietersen.

Dear Editor, I sat in the auditorium of the National Culture Centre last Sunday, as an invitee to the Ahmadiyya’s Muslim annual Jalsa Salana celebrations and heard Mayor Hamilton Green make a pitch to the remigrant community.

The Guyana Sport Shooting Federation (GSSF) in partnership with World Archery Americas will be hosting its inaugural archery development seminar in Georgetown, which will be conducted by international archer/coach Diego Torres of Columbia.

SYDNEY, Australia, CMC – Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls rebounded from Saturday’s loss to England to crush Scotland 71-24, and record their second win of the Netball World Cup here yesterday.

FERGUSON, Mo., (Reuters) – Authorities declared a state of emergency in Ferguson, Missou-ri, yesterday in an effort to quell a repeat of the violence that erupted during demonstrations overnight to mark the police shooting of an unarmed black man one year ago.

(Reuters) – Rafa Nadal says his mental stability has returned after a topsy-turvy year for the former world number one.

(Trinidad Guardian) The T&T Cricket Board (T&TCB) has extended its condolences to the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) and the wider regional community on the passing of Captain Peter Short on Tuesday after a lengthy illness.

Dear Editor, Since April, 2011, Australia lost 5 of 9 overseas series, suffering crushing defeats against India, Pakistan and England.

South Ruimveldt Park resident Seretse Nievelder, who refused to stop his vehicle when suspected bandits pulled up alongside him, is now an admitted at the Georgetown Public Hospital after he was shot to his foot.

Dear Editor, It is fair to say that for some time now, because of Guyana’s increasing sugar production costs coupled with the low world sugar price, the future for sugar without the EU price support was decidedly doubtful, even as far back as the 1980s.

KINGSTON, (Reuters) – Six-times Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt headlines Jamaica’s squad for the world athletics championships in Beijing later this month.

CAPE TOWN, (Reuters) – Ten South African cricketers on tour in India were hospitalised at the weekend following food poisoning, three of them during a match on Sunday in which the tourists had to borrow a fielder from their opponents, Cricket South Africa said yesterday.

COUVA, Trinidad, CMC – Barbados made light work of South Windwards as they strolled to their second win of the Regional Women’s Super50 at the National Cricket Centre here yesterday.

CALIFORNIA, Trinidad, CMC – Title-holders Jamaica crushed North Windwards to post their first win while hosts Trinidad and Tobago carved out a steady victory over Guyana, in the third round of the Regional Women’s Super50 here yesterday.

Dear Editor, I’ve been very critical of badly constructed roads and drains in Lindentown.

SAO PAULO, (Reuters) – The coach of Brazil’s national swimming team says China’s Olympic champion Sun Yang tried to elbow and kick a female swimmer at the world championships on Sunday and that he has also caused problems for other teams.

KABUL, (Reuters) – Afghan President Ashraf Ghani demanded that Pakistan crack down on the Taliban after a car bomb explosion near Kabul airport claimed by the Islamist militants killed five people yesterday, the latest in a series of suicide attacks to rock the capital.

BAGHDAD, (Reuters) – At least 58 people were killed and more than 100 wounded yesterday in two blasts in eastern Iraq claimed by Islamic State in a province once considered mostly free of them.

Dear Editor, Please allow me to plead with the new government to address the unfair dealings meted out to Guyana Power and Light (GPL) consumers.

DENVER, (Reuters) – Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper yesterday declared a “state of disaster emergency” over the accidental release of more than three million gallons (11.3 million liters) of potentially toxic wastewater from a defunct Colorado gold mine into local streams.

ISTANBUL/DIYABAKIR, (Reuters) – Two women shot at the U.S. consulate in Istanbul yesterday and at least nine people were killed in a wave of separate attacks on Turkish security forces, weeks after Ankara began a crackdown on Islamic State, Kurdish and far-left militants.

Dear Editor, One of the promises of the present government in its 100 days plan is to increase the old age pension.

ATHENS, (Reuters) – Greece and its international lenders were locked in marathon overnight talks to seal a multibillion-euro bailout deal on Tuesday, racing against a countdown to European Central Bank debt repayments falling due in days.

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – A case in which pop star Shakira’s 2010 hit single “Loca” was found to be an illegal copy of a Dominican songwriter’s work came crashing down yesterday when a U.S.

Good luck! Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo exchanging pleasantries with Finance Minister Winston Jordan (seated) prior to yesterday’s presentation of the 2015 budget.

Dear Editor, The fall of the PPP government brought a sigh of relief from the masses.

LOS ANGELES, (Variety.com) – Scathing reviews and an indiscreet tweet left “Fantastic Four” on the slab after the franchise reboot flopped at the weekend box office.

By Joseph D’Urso   LONDON, (Thomson Reuters Founda-tion) – Turn on the news or listen to doom-mongers in politics and the media, and you could be forgiven for thinking the world is a more violent and unequal place than ever, but according to economist Max Roser, we’ve never had it so good in many ways.

The events of recent years have sent those of us with an interest in football and even those with no interest in the game whatsoever, a clear and unmistakable message about the Fédéra-tion Internationale de Football Association’s (FIFA’s) global status as the game’s unquestioned powerhouse.

BRASILIA, (Reuters) – The president of Brazil’s Senate said yesterday that attempting to impeach President Dilma Rousseff was not a priority and warned that seeking her removal in Congress would “set the country on fire.”