Daily Archive: Monday, December 21, 2015

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE), today, hosted its first technical working group meeting with stakeholders and members of civil society on the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI), a globally recognised governance framework for the natural resources sector that Guyana had committed to joining several years ago.

The Number 66 steel truss bridge in Region Six will be undergoing rehabilitation, a process that is estimated to last six months, GINA said today.

With effect from today, the Divisional Headquarters for the Police “F” Division ( Interior Locations) is located at Lot 12, Third Street, Bartica, and no longer at Rabbit Walk, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

LAS VEGAS, (Reuters) – One person was killed and dozens were injured on Sunday night when a woman deliberately drove her car onto a crowded sidewalk on the Las Vegas Strip, police said, near the hotel where the Miss Universe beauty pageant was being held.

(Trinidad Guardian) More than two weeks after being admitted to the Eric Williams Sciences Complex in Mt Hope for pains related to her pregnancy, 28-year-old Stacy Ramkissoon has died. Ramkissoon

ZURICH, (Reuters) – FIFA President Sepp Blatter and European soccer boss Michel Platini were both banned from soccer for eight years today for ethics violations, leaving the global game leaderless as it struggles with a swirl of corruption cases.

A person convicted of a terrorist act that has resulted in the death of another person would be sentenced to death under proposed anti-terrorism legislation.

The bus driver who was shot in the back by a bandit last week succumbed to his wounds on Saturday afternoon.

The long-awaited Local Government Commission is expected to be put in place in March next year, Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan says.

Travelling from Barbados to the United States last Thursday, a 26-year-old Middle Road, La Penitence beautician was nabbed in Atlanta, Georgia, US with 5 kilogrammes of cocaine in her luggage.

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – West Indies coach Phil Simmons has lamented a lack of match practice for his embattled team ahead of the second test against Australia.

New Amsterdam United sent an ominous warning to the rest of the field, crushing Georgetown unit BlackWater 7-0 when the 5th Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Banks Beer Knockout Cup continued Saturday.

The Essequibo River island of Wakenaam is to benefit from ferry services on an extra day and the trip will now run directly to Parika instead of stopping at Leguan.

A Melanie Damishana shopkeeper has lost a kidney after being shot by a bandit yesterday, the third attack on him in a year.

GEELONG, Australia, CMC – Rain marred West Indies’ final match practice for the critical Melbourne Test starting Boxing Day, when it allowed only 58 overs on the final day of their two-day tour match against a Victoria XI here yesterday.

BRISBANE, Australia, CMC – West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor extended her handsome run of form but Sydney Thunder’s batting failed as they collapsed to a 14-run defeat to Brisbane Heat in the women’s Big Bash League here yesterday.

In keeping with a promise he made to the residents of Lusignan, President David Granger yesterday handed over a $2M cheque to the Good Hope-Lusignan Learning Centre to support its work in 2016.

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – A year on from taking the reins from an injured Michael Clarke, Australia captain Steve Smith has passed most of the tests presented in leading a team in the throes of transition.

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan says government will appeal a court decision that the termination of a contract awarded to BK International to construct and manage the Haags Bosch landfill site at Eccles was hasty and unfair.

Retrieve Raiders continued their unbeaten showing in the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) sanctioned Malta Supreme Christmas Open Championships, downing Amelia’s Ward Jets Saturday at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard-court.

Guyana-born US businessman Edul Ahmad who pleaded guilty in 2012 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud is now scheduled to be sentenced on March 4, 2016 in a New York court.

The bandit who was shot in his eye by police after he was caught on the scene of a robbery in Grove two weeks ago has been slapped with five charges and remanded to prison.

Colts swept aside the University of Guyana (UG) Trojans in the Open and U23 divisional matchups when the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) 2015 League Championship continued Saturday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Sixteen representatives of several Rastafarian organisations on Wednesday met with the Attorney General Basil Williams at his invitation in the AG’s Chambers and a key issue discussed was the decriminalisation of two ounces of marijuana for personal use.

The Ministry of Public Security is seeking public feedback on the motor vehicle window tinting policy.

PIETERMARITZBURG, South Africa, (Reuters) – Steven Finn bowled himself into contention for a return to England’s lineup after taking four wickets yesterday on the opening day of the last warmup game before they begin the test series against South Africa on Boxing Day.

Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach was last night declared the winner of the 2015 Miss Universe pageant but only after an unprecedented blunder by host, comedian Steve Harvey led to Miss Colombia Ariadna Guiterrez being crowned the queen.

(The Sports Xchange) – Highlights of Saturday’s NBA basketball games   Thunder 118, Lakers 78 Kevin Durant scored 22 points and Russell Westbrook handed out 11 assists to lead Oklahoma City to a 118-78 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

The Rotary Club of Georgetown on Thursday inducted President David Granger as an honorary member of the Club during a courtesy call, at the Ministry of the Presidency.

MADRID, (Reuters) – A historically fragmented vote in Spanish elections yesterday heralded weeks of talks to form a coalition government, with neither Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s conservatives nor left-wing parties winning a clear mandate to govern.

First Lady, Sandra Granger yesterday afternoon joined residents and members of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club to launch their first ever ‘Christmas Village and Christmas Tree Light-up’ at the Rose Hall Town Primary School, Berbice, Region Six.

BEIRUT, (Reuters) – An Israeli air strike killed Samir Qantar, a Hezbollah militant leader, in Damascus on Saturday evening, the Lebanese group and Syrian state media said yesterday.

Dear Editor,   Quite a while back I penned a letter suggesting that it should be mandatory for auto body workshops to report on any work to be carried out on a vehicle to the nearest police station in order to help combat crime, especially that involving hit and run accidents.

(Reuters) – Two men including an oil equipment supply firm executive have been arrested on charges related to an alleged scheme to corruptly secure energy contracts from Venezuela’s state-owned energy company, the U.S.

Dear Editor,   In an earlier letter in Kaieteur News (Nov 27, 2015), I examined the changes in the work ethic among the ordinary workers of the Guyana Sugar Corporation, as seen through the eyes of persons who have long been associated with the industry.

MELBOURNE, Australia, CMC – West Indies all-rounder once again proved his worth for Sydney Thunder as they produced another strong performance to edge Melbourne Stars by a single run off the last ball in an electrifying Big Bash League encounter yesterday.

Defending champs Winners Connection and Milerock secured commanding wins over Blueberry Hill and Eagles United respectively when the third annual UDFA/GT Beer Knockout Football Championship continued Friday.

Residents of the Uncle Eddie’s Home on Friday benefited from the implantation of dentures, as the Ministry of Public Health and the Cheddi Jagan Dental Centre took their Christmas cheer to the institution, GINA said.

GTT on Thursday held its annual gift presentation to various children’s orphanages and child care groups across the country, a release from the phone company said.

At about 2130h on Saturday, Nazeema McLean, 22 years, of Rainbow City, Mackenzie, was at Co-op Crescent, Linden, when a youth snatched her handbag containing her cell phone, house keys and cash and attempted to escape, the police said yesterday.

Dear Editor,   As this year winds down, and the Granger administration gathers itself to step up, I am hopeful for this battered and bruised land.

MANCHESTER, N.H., (Reuters) – U.S. Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton backed elements of President Barack Obama’s strategy to fight Islamic State militants in a debate on Saturday, drawing criticism from all sides for saying “we now finally are where we need to be” in Syria.

At about 0040h on Saturday, ranks of a police patrol under ‘Operation Dragnet’ searched a man   at Princes Street, Georgetown, in whose possession was found an unlicensed .32 revolver and 19 matching rounds.

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” shattered box office records with an estimated $517 million in worldwide ticket sales through yesterday, a staggering debut that re-established the celebrated space saga as a global phenomenon under Walt Disney Co.

Dear Editor,   “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas,” says the song and this is so evident within our dear land of Guyana, especially in the city.

BRASILIA, (Reuters) – Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s key ally in Congress is certain it can head off an impeachment threat, but in return the party demands a radical change of policy course to pull the economy out of its deepest downturn in 25 years.

RIO DE JANEIRO/SAO PAULO (Reuters) – A judge in Brazil’s state of Minas Gerais has frozen the Brazilian assets of mining giants BHP Billiton and Vale SA after determining their joint venture Samarco was unable to pay for damage caused by the bursting of a dam at its mine last month.

Dear Editor, Most fans who were paying attention to the team to date would have heard what was reported as the absolute truth that Jerome Taylor and Kemar Roach had refused to respond to the captain`s request that they bowl from a particular end.

(Reuters) – A hobbling Kane Williamson guided New Zealand to 142 for five at the close of play on the third day of the second test against Sri Lanka in Hamilton, with the hosts needing another 47 runs to seal a 2-0 series sweep.

(Jamaica Gleaner) The United States (US) Embassy in Kingston has confirmed that Jamaicans spent US$25 million (approximately J$3 billion) this year in application fees for visas to enter that country.

Dear Editor,   For the following reasons below I suggest that the death penalty should be supported by all and retained in Guyana: The death penalty gives closure to the victim’s families who have suffered.

Before proceeding with today’s article, I refer to the comment by parliamentarian Juan Edghill in connection with the forensic audits being conducted at various government agencies and departments.

This week we asked the man/woman in the street how they would be spending Christmas this year and what were their plans for the New Year.

CARACAS, (Reuters) – Employees at a Pepsi-Cola Venezuela plant have been freed by the government, which had detained them for halting operations for lack of raw materials, Empresas Polar, owner of the local Pepsi division, said late yesterday.

So far, around $133m has been spent on the audits which were ordered by the APNU+AFC government on its accession to office in May of controversial agencies and projects such as NICIL, the Marriott Hotel and the Guyana Gold Board.

(Reuters) – New Zealand went to bed yesterday confident the balance of the second test against Sri Lanka was still in their favour, according to pace bowler Neil Wagner.

LAS VEGAS, (Reuters) – One person was killed and at least 36 were injured on Sunday night when a motorist drove onto a crowded sidewalk on the Las Vegas Strip, near the hotel and casino where the Miss Universe pageant was being held, officials said.