Daily Archive: Thursday, April 28, 2016

Minister of State Joseph Harmon (third from left), today, received a courtesy call from a visiting Norwegian delegation here to meet with their counterpart agencies to discuss Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) projects, at his office at the Ministry of the Presidency.

Founder and Executive Chairman of Guyana Goldfields Incorporated, Patrick Sheridan, today, called on President David Granger at the Ministry of the Presidency.

Today’s rain did cause this drain outside of City Hall to overflow.

Government holding company NICIL today said that it had not received the outstanding US$5M for government shares in GT&T.

The Ministry of Education today said that it has no intention of closing schools during Independence Anniversary Week as reported by certain media outlets.

The police say they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Claude Arthur, 67 years, of Adventure, Essequibo Coast, who was found lying under a shed along the roadway at Adventure, with injuries to his head.

Investigations are being conducted into a fatal accident that occurred at about 1700h.

About 2245h. last night, security guard Sattaur Kadeer, 53 years, of Foulis, ECD, was on duty at the Best Buy Hardware Store at Bladen Hall, ECD, when he challenged two men who had entered the compound from the back.

(Trinidad Guardian) CL Financial’s (CLF) majority shareholder Lawrence Duprey, as well as a new group called the Clico Stakeholders’ Alliance (CSA), are formulating legal action to block Government’s proposed sale of CLF assets.

Neither the assurance by Citizenship Minister Winston Felix last evening that passport prices are not going up nor the rain deterred the determined from flocking the passport office on Camp Road this morning.

Poor management of gold in its possession resulted in losses of over $10 billion for the period 2012 to 2014, a forensic audit of the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) has found and among other irregularities, the audit has uncovered instances of fraudulent transactions as well as heavy political interference in the entity.

Kwame Mc Coy, a former presidential liaison officer was arraigned yesterday in the Providence Magis-trate’s Court on three charges – including assaulting activist Mark Benschop – and released on $275,000 bail.

A woman prison officer who appeared before the Commission of Inquiry into the March 3, prison unrest, told the tribunal yesterday that she does not believe women officers should be exposed to the prison yard.

The Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts was in an uproar yesterday after remanded prisoner Adam McDonald began making death threats to various persons while brandishing a makeshift weapon.

Davenand Dhadhari,  called Kevin, age 18   of Betsy Ground, East Canje, was not required to plead to the charge of murder when he appeared yesterday before Magistrate Marissa Mittelholzer at the Reliance Court, in East Canje charged with killing Omesh Seelall.

A man who was charged on December 16, 2015 with possession of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking was yesterday sentenced to three years imprisonment.

President David Granger yesterday expressed satisfaction with the progress of work at the D’urban Park Development Project where key aspects of the independence jubilee celebrations will be held.

Murder accused Rondell Bacchus will have to face a second retrial after another jury yesterday failed to reach a unanimous verdict on his guilt or innocence in the 2008 murder of scrap iron dealer Akbar Alli.

PPP/C MP Anil Nandlall says Attorney-General Basil Williams has “put the cart before the horse” by seeking to rush new anti-money laundering reforms through the National Assembly without ensuring the establishment of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) that is responsible for enforcement.

The sister of Nicolas Narine, one of the five men on trial for the armed robbery of Justice Nicola Pierre and her family, yesterday corroborated what her brother had told the court: that he, like his co-accused Daymeion Millington, was also at home on the night of the incident.

Government last week announced that at the last Cabinet meeting a series of contracts were given the green light including one for over two million exercise books that are to be distributed to students countrywide.

One of the key questions at the first consultation on the draft Juvenile Justice Bill 2015 held at the Pegasus Hotel yesterday is whether the age of criminal responsibility should be raised from 10 years.

Two other prison officers yesterday testified before the Commission of Inquiry into the prison unrest, where they both made claims of alerting the Operations Room staff to the existence of a fire at the prison.

Saying it has been “blindsided” by recent policy changes in the regulation of the mining industry, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) on Saturday voiced its objections to a lack of consultations, while announcing that it is seeking an audience with President David Granger to address its concerns.

A former clerk of General Equipment Guyana Limited (Genequip), who alleged stole nearly $30 million from the company, yesterday pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of embezzlement at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has launched its first Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) – Project Management Techniques for Development Professionals on the Harvard-MIT IDB platform.

On Tuesday, the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) received two ‘Ground Water Data loggers’ from the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Technical Assistance (REETA) Project which is funded by the Government of Germany through the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).

The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) should aim at promoting the elimination of all forms of discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, Minister of Public Health Dr George Norton told representatives from different organisations at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre yesterday.

Vehicles entering Lethem may soon have to pay a toll, which would be put towards maintenance of sections of the road.

The uncle of alleged hitman Linden ‘Bullet’ Lewis who is accused of murdering Ruby businessman Habiboodean in 2008 is being sought by the police even as five persons including the suspected killer remain in custody.

Rain washed out play between Demerara and the Berbice at Wales but a savage ton from Keemo Paul helped Essequibo crush the U17 Select by 56 runs in their match in round two of the Guyana Cricket Board GCB) Hand-In-Hand 50 over U19 tournament played yesterday.

A Berbice man was on Tuesday charged with fraudulently converting over $500,000 in items entrusted to him.

Slingerz Football Club’s winning streak in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Stag Beer Elite League was halted when they battled to a 1-1 result with fierce rivals Alpha ‘the Hammer’ United Tuesday at the Camp Ayanganna ground.

About 0330h yesterday, the police say that a licensed firearm holder and owner of  A and N Electronic Store, Croal Street, Georgetown, responded to his security alarm system and encountered a man who had broken and entered the building.

Vice president of the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) Ricky Deonarain will lead a strong Floodlight XI against an Upper Corentyne XI Saturday in a T20 hardball encounter at the Demerara Cricket Club (GCC) Ground in Queenstown.

A new president of the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) will be elected today when that body stages its annual general meeting from 5.30pm at the Georgetown Cricket Club.

Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) has once again answered the call of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA).

A teen was remanded to prison for a day after he pleaded guilty to stealing a cell phone.

Regional Executive Officer for Region Six Veerasammy Ramayya yesterday debunked claims made earlier by Region Six Chairman David Armogan that he has been delaying the signing of vouchers and causing contractors to threaten to withhold their services.

NEW DELHI, India, CMC – West Indies opener Dwayne Smith stroked an up tempo half-century while seamer Dwayne Bravo remained calm under pressure to bowl a decent final over, as Gujarat Lions held on to beat Delhi Daredevils by a single run in the Indian Premier League here yesterday.

Ryan Bobb-Semple, the man accused of murdering nine-year-old Shaquan Gittens on April 1, 2015 was yesterday given the opportunity to lead his defence during the Preliminary Inquiry (PI).

(The Sports Xchange) – The Los Angeles Clippers did not just lose Game 4 of their first-round playoff series with the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday at the Moda Center.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Enigmatic opener Kieran Powell has once again made himself available for West Indies duty and hopes he can force his way back into the Caribbean side.

  (The Sports Xchange) – Dwane Casey’s decision to go with a mixed-bag group on the floor in the fourth quarter paid off on Tuesday as the Toronto Raptors erased a 13-point deficit to defeat the Indiana Pacers 102-99.

The Ministry of Social Cohesion on Tuesday met residents of Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara.

(The Sports Xchange) – The Atlanta Hawks overcame a sluggish start with a sizzling run that put away the Boston Celtics 110-83 in Game 5 of an Eastern Conference first-round playoff series at Philips Arena.

Dear Editor, I consider it wise before the commencement of the expected May Madness of 2016 that I culminate my efforts to import some measure of sanity into the operations of the Deeds Registry.

The Pizza Hut Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) continued their unbeaten run in the inaugural Woodpecker Women’s hockey league, dismantling Old Fort Shooting Stars by a 6-0 score line on Monday at the GCC ground in Bourda.

Admin professionals: First Lady, Sandra Granger yesterday charged the group of administrative professionals participating in the Guyana Association of Administrative Professionals (GAAP) seminar  to develop and fine-tune their interpersonal skills so that the profession becomes one, which is not only highly recognised but also respected.

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – Rolling out an “America first” foreign policy, Republican front-runner Donald Trump vowed yesterday that if he were elected president, U.S.

Dear Editor, There has been in recent times a lot of discussion regarding the government’s stated intention to institute legislation in the form of a Tobacco Bill.

MELBOURNE, Australia, CMC – West Indies will not have to contend with fast bowler John Hastings for the Tri-Nations Series in June, after he was ruled out of the Australia squad with injury.

ATHENS, (Reuters) – The Olympic flame that will burn in Rio in August for the first Games in South America was handed over to Brazil yesterday in the marble stadium that hosted the first modern Games in 1896.

Dear Editor, The Guyana Police Force Strategic Management Department was destined to fail.

About 2000h. on Monday, the police say that Mohamed Shameer, 57 years, of Jacklow, Upper Pomeroon, was crossing the Pomeroon River in a Ballahoo when his vessel was struck by another boat powered by an outboard engine.

CHICAGO, (Reuters) – Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, once one of the country’s most powerful politicians, was sentenced yesterday to 15 months in federal prison for a financial crime related to sexual abuse of high school wrestlers he coached decades ago.

CARACAS, (Reuters) – Venezuela’s opposition launched a signature drive yesterday seeking a referendum to remove President Nicolas Maduro as sporadic looting and protests over the economic crisis were reported.

LONDON, CMC – Resurgent West Indies seamer Ravi Rampaul finished with a six-wicket match haul as Surrey drew with Somerset in the County Championship here yesterday.

Dear Editor, On Friday 8th April, 2016, as soon as I arrived at the airport in Toronto, my daughter told me that Mr Chetram Singh, a family friend, soul-brother and above all a great son of Guyana, died peacefully in his home in Toronto, Canada, with his devoted wife, Jean, by his side and his most prized ‘possessions’, his sons and other family members around him.

OTTAWA, (Reuters) – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is used to adoring welcomes and requests for selfies, yesterday had a tougher public encounter when aboriginal students pressed him on their poor living conditions.

INDIANAPOLIS,  (Reuters) – U.S. Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz, in a last-ditch bid to slow front-runner Donald Trump’s momentum, named former business executive Carly Fiorina yesterday as his vice presidential running mate should he win the nomination.

Dear Editor, Will our Guyana jubilee be a true 50 year celebration of our sovereignty: or will we in fact be unwittingly celebrating an 80% musical invasion by our Caricom neighbours led by Jamaica this May, 2016? 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.,  (Reuters) – The U.S. Air Force yesterday awarded billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX an $83 million contract to launch a GPS satellite, breaking the monopoly that Lockheed Martin Corp and Boeing Co have held on military space launches for more than a decade.

On Tuesday, Piotr Kaszuba, Ambassador of Poland to Guyana officially opened the Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Georgetown at 253 South Road, Bourda, Georgetown, Guyana (IPED’s Office).

LAHORE, Pakistan, CMC – Pakistan’s cricket authorities want West Indies to play a day/night Test during their tour in October, as they prepare for their historic pink-ball Test against Australia in December.

BRASILIA,  (Reuters) – A new government in Brazil led by Vice President Michel Temer would focus on cutting spending to close a gaping budget deficit and would only raise taxes as a last resort, the leader of his Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) said yesterday.

SANTIAGO, (Reuters) – A top court ruled yesterday that a provision of Chilean President Michelle Bachelet’s landmark labour reform legislation was unconstitutional in stating that only unions could carry out collective wage negotiations with companies.

Dear Editor,  On Tuesday night I was at the airport to pick up my wife, I saw facing the arriving guests a very large billboard advertising Bai Shan Lin International Mall.

This newspaper has published innumerable reports on safety, or rather the lack of it, at local worksites, more particularly in the construction sector.

Politikles

MUMBAI, India, CMC – West Indies seamer Jerome Taylor has been named to replace Sri Lankan speedster Lasith Malinga, for the remainder of the Mumbai Indians’ Indian Premier League campaign.

Cartoon

MOSCOW,  (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin told his space officials to raise their game yesterday after he flew thousands of kilometres (miles) to watch the inaugural launch of a rocket from a new spaceport, only for it to be called off.