Daily Archive: Saturday, January 30, 2016

President David Granger today declared that coalition politics is important for the development of Guyana.

The owner of a house built by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo is moving to the court to thwart the agency’s attempt to repossess the premises.

Owen Verwey has been identified as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), GINA said today.

On Thursday January 28, 2016, the police say they responded to a report of an alleged armed robbery that was committed on the driver and porter of a business company involved in the sale of confectionery and snack foods at about 1840h.

MELBOURNE,  (Reuters) – Angelique Kerber upset world number one Serena Williams 6-4 3-6 6-4 to clinch the Australian Open today and become the first German to win a grand slam title since her childhood idol Steffi Graf in 1999.

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – She may already have won some of the biggest U.S.

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – Andy Murray went through paroxysms of frustration but seized another opportunity to break his Australian Open jinx with a four-hour, five-set semi-final victory over Milos Raonic yesterday.

-$9B proposed for GuySuCo With an ambitious public infrastructure programme as the centrepiece, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan yesterday unveiled a $230 billion budget which also includes a $9 billion injection for the beleaguered sugar corporation, $2.5 billion for the state power company as well as a pledge to create 3,000 jobs at Lethem and Belvedere.

Guyana’s economy is projected to expand by 4.4% this year, following growth of 3% last year and even as Value Added Tax (VAT) collections dropped for the first time since its implementation in 2007.

Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday blasted government’s proposed $230B national budget, saying that it offered negligible tax relief for the average person and that the planned banning of used tyres and other measures will hit the poor.

Rickford Vieira has been fired from the post of Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) but he says he wishes the government no ill will and hopes it gives the agency the support it needs to become modernised and autonomous.

The Guyana Police Force yesterday issued a wanted bulletin for two men wanted in connection with the robbery of the Bank of Baroda branch at Mon Repos, just two days after three suspects were charged.

After being on the run for over one month, during which time he travelled to Trinidad and Tobago, Philemon Budhoo, called “Kevin,” was yesterday charged with the murder of Corentyne money changer Mohamed Fizal Mahmood Baksh.

Daymeion Millington, one of the five men charged in the brutal robbery of Justice Nicola Pierre and her family, yesterday accused a police witness of torturing him in order to get a signed confession.

The government will be moving to amend the tax laws to ensure greater compliance, particularly among the self-employed, from whom revenue collections continue to lag.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan yesterday announced plans to hike old age pensions by $1,200 and increase public assistance by $800 as part of a raft of measures to support the elderly.

A taste for hard liquor will soon cost a few dollars more as government yesterday said it plans to adjust the system used to determine the tax on alcoholic beverages.

To support its efforts at ‘greening’ the economy and protecting the environment, government yesterday announced plans to scale back the excise tax on vehicles that are under four years old, while restricting importation of used and re-conditioned vehicles under eight years old and banning importation of used tyres altogether.

Delinquent businesses and employers owe $1.3 billion to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and the entity hopes to recover the sum this year even as government intends to examine options for repayment of $5.24 billion owed to the Scheme by failed insurance company Clico.

Sugar production this year is targeted to grow by 4.8 percent to 242,287 metric tonnes while rice production is forecast to drop.

The gold production target this year has been set at 550,000 ounces, a 22 percent increase over last year’s declaration of 451,490 ounces.

As part of government’s measures to improve workers’ income, the income tax threshold will be raised from $50,000 per month to $55,000 per month, Finance Minister Winston Jordan announced yesterday.

The proposed 2016 budget allocation for the education sector is heavily focused on improving the quality of education in Guyana’s hinterland region.

Guyana’s health sector has been allocated $28 billion in this year’s budget, an increase of nearly $6 billion from last year.

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has been approved funding to source much needed drugs.

A total of $24.6 billion has been proposed in this year’s budget for the security sector, according to Minister of Finance Winston Jordan, who says emphasis will be placed on rebuilding public trust.

Government is proposing to spend $1 billion on the justice sector this year, according to Minister Winston Jordan who told the National Assembly that efforts will be made to make the justice system fair and accessible to all.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan yesterday announced that fuel prices at the state-owned Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil) will be slashed from the start of next week.

Government hopes to conclude negotiations with the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) to liberalise the telecommunications sector and pass laws in this regard later this year.

The members of six governing boards within the environmental sector were on Thursday given their letters of appointment.

Although a post-mortem examination performed on Kurt Burke revealed that the injuries which caused his death were injuries sustained in a vehicular accident, his distressed relatives continue to insist that foul play was involved.

Two men, one of whom was armed with a firearm, were foiled in their attempt to rob proprietor of Edun’s Poultry Farm Sidiq Edun on Thursday morning at the corner of Sheriff and Duncan streets.

The Sparendaam Magis-trate’s Court building is to be demolished to facilitate the construction of a new courthouse and sittings will be held at the nearby Better Hope Community Centre in the interim.

Floyd Anthony Ramit and Kemo Tyron Evans, the two men accused of murdering Hamson’s owner Abdul Farouk Hamid, were yesterday charged jointly with the crime.

A former Caribbean Chemicals Limited employee, who had been accused of stealing over $7.8 million from the company, was freed of the charge on Thursday.

A West Bank Demerara youth was yesterday denied bail by a city court after being accused of using an icepick to rob a Third Form-level student.

The Speaker of the National Assembly and Members of Parliament (MPs) yesterday observed a minute of silence as a mark of respect for prominent attorney at law Hukumchand Parag, who died last Sunday after a period of illness.

Facing allegations of stealing an air-conditioning unit, a Prospect man was on Thursday granted $25,000 bail when he appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty.

Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) says fallen branches from a city tree clearing exercise yesterday caused a short circuit on one of the main feeders out of its Kingston plant, resulting in several outages.

Some of the major 2016 budget measures announced yesterday by Minister of Finance Winston Jordan.

After numerous changes, the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBB) mega card is now almost set in stone.

Jamaican cyclist Marloe Rodman is planning to move to the courts over statements that he tested positive for banned substances following the five-stage road race here last November, statements which he views as libellous.

Seven hundred thousand dollars will be up for grabs in the Unity Cricket Softball matches at the Providence Stadium today in five exciting games from 10:00 hrs in the first major softball event to be held at the Stadium.

Following a grand opening day featuring hundreds of spectators the second match day of the fourth annual Milo Schools U20 football championships will commence this morning at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue.

The Berbice Cricket Board/J Z Mohamed of City Bias, New York 50 overs-a-side round robin Inter Zone competition is set to commence today and tomorrow with two matches daily.

(Reuters) – Companies and scientists are racing to create a Zika vaccine as concern grows over the mosquito-borne virus that has been linked to severe birth defects and is spreading quickly through the Americas.

“Our limits with photography are boundless. We can create as far as we can see,” says local photographer Brian Gomes, who has been known to break the mould and stir things up.

CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh, CMC – Half-centuries from Keemo Paul and Gidron Pope failed to save West Indies Under-19s from a 61-run loss to England Under-19s in their opening game of the Under-19 Cricket World Cup here yesterday.

Dear Editor, Guyana is a place where you can easily become over-qualified; ask those who have gone back to university how much of a difference obtaining a post-graduate or second degree has made in their lives.

CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC – New Zealand power-hitter Brendon McCullum and Sri Lankan stroke-maker Kumar Sangakkara are among five international stars confirmed for the Caribbean Premier League draft set for February 11 in Barbados.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Former West Indies fast bowler Fidel Edwards fired Leo Lions to a handsome 26-run victory over Capricorn Commanders but captain Brian Lara failed, in their franchise’s opening game of the Masters Champions League here yesterday.

Dear Editor, As I travel across the Essequibo Coast, I see nearly half of the 35,500 acres of rice lands uncultivated because of the lack of irrigation water, especially in the main conservancy canal, which distributes water to the fields in every section of the rice-growing region.

National champion Khemraj Pooranmall was adjudged the best draughts player for 2015 when the Guyana Draughts Association held its Annual General Meeting.

DES MOINES, (Reuters) – As seven Republican presidential contenders squared off here for the final debate before voters begin winnowing the field, Donald Trump presided over his own, separate rally a mile away in front of a packed house of cheering supporters.

Hi Everyone, We’re still in January (barely) but it means that I can still wish you a very Happy, and blessed New Year!

CARACAS, (Reuters) – Venezuela’s opposition must define within weeks its strategy for ending Nicolas Maduro’s presidency given the OPEC nation’s “monstrous” economic crisis, opposition leader Henrique Capriles believes.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Switzerland’s chief prosecutor said yesterday he has formally asked Malaysia for help with his probe into possible violations of Swiss law by the state-owned fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), saying suspected misappropriations amounted to about $4 billion.

The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) will, from today, stage a seven-round Swiss system chess tournament sponsored by Trophy Stall, Bourda Market.

By Derry Etkins At this point on Guyana’s journey, when suicide seems to be the new way of life, I am reminded of Dr Vibert Cambridge’s lecture series of two or three years ago, ‘Music for Social Change’.

Dear Editor, I applaud the effort of GWI publishing a notice in last week’s Sunday Stabroek about water conservation, asking persons to limit the washing of cars and yards ‒ and rightly so.

JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) – AB de Villiers has been appointed as the full-time captain of South Africa’s test team, ending speculation he could retire from the longest format of the game to ease his workload.

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli maintained their prolific form with the bat to secure India’s series-clinching 27-run win over Australia in the second Twenty20 match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, (Reuters) – Thousands of supporters of Haiti’s outgoing President Michel Martelly have been taking to the streets in the capital, demanding speedy elections to end a crisis of power in the Caribbean nation.

Dear Editor, I live at Montrose on the East Coast and I get water from the Better Hope well which is situated to the north of Better Hope.

Hit and Jingle maker Dennis Dummett, with DWD Enterprises, launched a new radio programme yesterday.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Democratic U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren released yesterday a report criticizing what she called “shockingly weak” punishments for corporate crimes and condemned the Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission for their lax approach.

R&B singer, Quincy ‘Ego’ Lacon is going Chutney on February 6 at the National Chutney Competition slated for the parking lot of the Synthetic Track, Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – Serena Williams is on course to match Steffi Graf’s major haul in the Australian Open today, but German seventh seed Angelique Kerber will be hoping she can prevent the American from emulating her idol while carving her own piece of history.

The 2016 rugby season scrums off today at the National Park with the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) 15s league.

Months before she endorsed the candidacy of Donald Trump, in a speech that will be long remembered for inventing the delightful word “squirmish”, Sarah Palin was asked to speculate about her political future.

Happy New Year to you since it’s my first column for the year!

Dear Editor, Page 64 of the GuySuCo Commission of Inquiry report at paragraph 4 states “The production cost data also indicate that at prices for raw sugar, it would be cheaper for the Wales factory to purchase cane from farmers than to cultivate its own cane.

(The Sports Xchange) – Guard Jimmy Butler scored 26 points and dished out 10 assists, and center Pau Gasol had 21 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 114-91 rout of the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on Thursday.

PARIS, (Reuters) – France is to sign a deal with Cuba next week to ease the Caribbean island nation’s bilateral debt to Paris during a visit by the Cuban president to the French capital, a diplomatic source said yesterday.

(Press release from Office of Antiguan Prime Minister) ST JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda – 30thJanuary, 2016…….Twelve

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Abe Vigoda, an American actor best known for roles in “The Godfather” and the 1970s sitcom “Barney Miller,” died on Tuesday at the age of 94, after spending three decades jokingly refuting rumors of his demise.