Daily Archive: Monday, December 14, 2015

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has welcomed the bonus announced by the government today for public servants earning under $500,000 per annum.

First Lady, Sandra Granger, joined with the Bernice Mansell Foundation to treat over 200 senior citizens from in and around Georgetown to a grand Christmas luncheon at Parc Rayne, Rahaman’s Park, Houston.

President David Granger continued to deliver Christmas cheer with a visit to Sandvoort, West Canje, Berbice, yesterday afternoon, GINA said. 

The Government of Guyana will be paying out a year-end bonus to public service employees, who earn less than $500,000 per month, the Ministry of the Presidency said today.

Investigations are being conducted into a fatal accident that occurred about 1440h.

Miss Guyana Lisa Punch has won the Miss World Talent competition, which guarantees her a place in the final.

(Barbados Nation) GROS ISLET – The Board of Directors of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) yesterday approved a bowling review committee to look closely at the players who have been reported and/or suspended for illegal bowling actions in international games.

Tax exemptions for the Marriott Hotel project from January 2013 to July 2015 stand at $1.2 billion, according to the forensic audit into the project which also highlighted the other concessions it received.

After a hiatus of several weeks, Parliament is to meet on Thursday for a packed agenda which includes a motion for all Members of the National Assembly to make public their tax returns to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) over the last 10 years.

The largest viewership in Guinness of the Streets history witnessed what appears to be the commencement of a legacy as Sparta Boss downed crowd favourite Channel-9 Warriors 1-0 Saturday to claim the Georgetown Championship.

Over several years, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) transferred over $3.7 billion to government’s holding company NICIL for the maintenance of hinterland roads and at least $1.3 billion has not been accounted for.

BRISBANE, Australia, CMC – Off-spinner Marlon Samuels has been slapped with a one-year ban by the International Cricket Council from bowling in international cricket.

A bandit will now lose sight in his left eye and another one is on the run after an early morning shootout with the police yesterday in Grove following a robbery.

The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) is warning the public that it has to give planning permission before the start of any building operations or the change of land use for the purposes of establishing a business.

HOBART, Australia, CMC – West Indies captain Jason Holder has rubbished media reports claiming that new-ball bowlers Jerome Taylor and Kemar Roach refused to bowl from certain ends during the opening Test in Hobart.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Reigning champions and tournament leaders, Guyana Jaguars, were eyeing their fifth straight victory after setting Jamaica Scorpion a daunting target and then taking three wickets before the close of the penultimate day of their fifth round match here yesterday.

At about 0700h. today, the police say that the bodies of Roy Roopnarine, 46 years, and Trevor Persaud, 27 years, both of Itaballi, were recovered in the vicinity of Bradford Point, Mazaruni River.

The man who lost his life on Saturday night after he crashed into a tree was identified yesterday.

The Pepsi Hornets returned to the National Park Saturday determaned to retain the Gtt 10s champion’s trophy.

Over two years after laws were passed providing for the establishment of a Local Government Com-mission, such a body is yet to be established despite strident calls by APNU and the AFC when in opposition, for it to be set up.

Dear Editor, I have noted with pleasure the interest that many Guyanese have shown in the role of local government, in the context of the upcoming local government elections (LGE) to be held on March 18, 2016.

New Amsterdam Multilateral and Kwakwani Secondary secured commanding wins when the sixth edition of the Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) Titan Bowl u-19 championship commenced on Friday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The recommendations put forth by the Public Infrastructure Ministry as it relates to the Guyana Power and Light’s Board of Directors are still with cabinet and awaiting approval.

Almost two months after revelations that the National Communications Network (NCN) may have had equipment for satellite uplinking, a service which it had contracted out at significant expense, the entity is mum on the investigation.

Dear Editor, It is very hard to find words to describe the West Indies team’s performance Down Under; ‘pathetic’ might describe the sad display of a team that once dominated the world of cricket.

Half Mile Bulls maintained their unbeaten record in the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) sanctioned Banks Malta Supreme Open Christmas Championship, downing Victory Valley Royals 57-52 on Friday Staged at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground, Keifer Tappin and Terron Welch top scored for the Bulls with 17 and 16 point respectively while Dennis Niles and Michael Turner supported with six points each.

The mother of Denilson Rose, the 17-year-old who died after he was allegedly hit down and dragged some distance by a member of the Guyana Police Force in October, is hoping that the person responsible for her son’s death will be brought to justice soon.

Dear Editor, Recently the Government of Guyana (GOG) entered into an agreement with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to undertake a feasibility study as a precursor to establishing an agricultural and industrial development bank here in Guyana.

Dear Editor, Let us use the opportunity of our own Jubilee year to erase the memory of those who were the brutal oppressors of our forefathers.

Commuters are happy that parking space has been provided for them at the Vreed-en-Hoop Stelling but are concerned at the condition of one section.

(Reuters) – James Pattinson says a between-innings change to his bowling action was behind the five-wicket haul that fired Australia to victory in the first test against West Indies on Saturday and cemented his place in the side for the rest of the series.

(Reuters) – Wicketkeeper BJ Watling took a record-equalling ninth catch as New Zealand inched their way to a probable victory over Sri Lanka in the first test as they reduced the visitors to 109 for three at the close of the fourth day’s play yesterday.

An Albouystown man was on Friday granted $10,000 bail after he appeared before a city court to face a charge of stealing $760.

Dear Editor, I awaited action from the authorities with respect to the letter by Pearly Munilall (SN, October 9, 2015) but seeing none I would like to make a few comments.

(Reuters) – Golden State’s record 24-game winning streak to start the season came to an end on Saturday in a 108-95 loss to the Bucks in Milwaukee, with interim coach Luke Walton saying the Warriors “ran of gas”.

President David Granger yesterday arrived in Baracara, Region Six to a warm welcome from residents and delivered a message of self-reliance and gifts to the children.

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has officially given the green light for the commencement of work on the International Football Federation (FIFA) funded Goal-Project to be situated at the Providence Community Centre ground.

Dear Editor, No reasonable person will suggest that the performance of the WI in Australia to date is not pathetic.

PARIS, (Reuters) – Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Front did not win any region in French elections yesterday, in a setback to her hopes of being a serious presidential contender in 2017.

(Trinidad Guardian) Support from the Opposi-tion and an online petition may not be enough to keep Central Bank Governor Jwala Rambarran in office.

The 3rd Annual Tree lighting and Family Festival will be held in the National Park on Wednesday, December 16th, 2015 from 6pm.

CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC – In the clearest sign yet it intends to resist the recommendations of CARICOM’s Governance Review Panel, the West Indies Cricket Board says it has retained the services of Dominican lawyer Anthony Astaphan.

PARIS, (Reuters) – At the end of bargaining, when the last bracketed differences in diplomatic language were [glossed over], the global climate accord that emerged from two weeks of talks in Paris proved to be a very a la carte deal.

Dear Editor, Commissioner Benn in his response to my last letter signalled that he will not engage in last lick (‘Alexander is attempting to distract the public’s focus…’ SN, December 12).

Dear Editor, I was reading a news item on line about illegal schools operating in the United Kingdom, that caused me to reflect on the Guyana situation.

(Trinidad Express) In the face of calls to reinstate employees, steel producer ArcelorMittal is defending its decision to cut its staff by 480 workers.

JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) – President Jacob Zuma appointed Pravin Gordhan as finance minister yesterday, in a dramatic U-turn that gave South Africa its third finance chief in a week after a selling frenzy in the markets.

HAVANA, (Reuters) – Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solis arrived in Cuba yesterday with plans to increase trade overshadowed by what to do with nearly 5,000 Cuban migrants stranded in his country.

Politikles

Dear Editor, I have noted with much concern the outrageous comments articulated by many over the salary increases of ministers and all parliamentarians.

In 2014, Cabinet appointed the Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana National Industrial Company Inc.

It is supremely ironic that at the very moment revelations from the audit report of NICIL have pointed to the flouting of procurement rules and the absence of competitive bidding under the previous PPP/C administration that the new government is now facing the same charges as it relates to its murky MoU with Fedders Lloyd for the specialty hospital.

SAO PAULO, (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of Brazilians took to the streets yesterday to demand President Dilma Rousseff’s ouster, but the first nationwide protests since formal impeachment proceedings began were smaller than similar events earlier this year.

As part of Gafoor’s annual Christmas festivities, the proprietor of the company, Sattaur Gafoor yesterday organised a gathering for children where they were fed and offered gifts.

By Filiberto Penados and Mark Chatarpal Dr. Filiberto Penados is a prominent Maya scholar and educator.