Daily Archive: Friday, April 29, 2016

President David Granger, yesterday, pinned medals on 120 servicemen of the Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police Force  at a Medal Presentation Parade, held at the D’urban Park.

The Professional Youth Alliance Guyana (PYAGuy) on Sunday, April 26, 2016 launched a small community library where people can find an assortment of interesting and inspiring books.

The Ministry of Social Cohesion designated today Culture Day 2016 in Guyana which was held under the theme, ‘Culture up – One Guyana’.

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry this afternoon said it was “extremely concerned” at the crime situation, citing among other incidents, this morning’s attack on the Ramada Princess Hotel Casino and the killings earlier this month of rice farmers Mohammed Munir and his wife Jamilla.

During today, Assistant Commissioner “Administration” David Ramnarine and other senior officers of the Guyana Police Force visited the injured Police Lance Corporal Andrew Richardson at the hospital, where they offered him words of comfort and encouragement.

ZURICH,  (Reuters) – FIFA’s ethics watchdog today banned former Caribbean Football Union executive Lionel Haven from soccer for five years for failing to disclose information related to cash payments at a CFU event in 2011.

The Central Corentyne and Berbice Chambers of Commerce have pilloried the government over the crime situation saying it seems “powerless, ineffectual, and out of (its)  league” in addressing the upsurge in attacks across the country.

Despite assurances from the authorities that the cost of a passport will not increase, hundreds more swarmed the passport office on Camp Road this morning.

Armed bandits this morning stormed the Ramada Princess Casino on the East Bank.

The Central Immigration and Passport Office received over 1,000 applications for passports over the previous four days due largely to the “misconception” by applicants that the fee is slated to be increased, Deputy Chief Immigration Officer Dale Alves says.

A thorough probe into the 2012 heist of 476 pounds of gold in Curacao has been urged after an audit report suggested that the initial investigation was lax in an effort to protect persons who may have been involved in the unlawful shipment.

A Buxton mother died last evening at the Georgetown Public Hospital after she was hit by a car at the junction of Lamaha and Oronoque streets in Georgetown.

A security guard was fatally chopped when he attempted to chase off intruders at the Best Buy Hardware Store at Bladen Hall, East Coast Demerara on Wednesday night.

Another suspect in the murder of Sophia businessman Shawn Anys, who was killed almost a year ago by armed bandits, was yesterday charged with the crime and remanded to prison.

Testimony before the Commission of Inquiry into the fatal prison unrest yesterday confirmed that the siren, which is sounded to indicate there is an emergency at the Camp Street prison, did not go off at the sighting of the first fire on March 3.

A city shop owner is now hospitalised after he was shot when two bandits pulled off a daring daylight robbery yesterday.

The Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) is maintaining its stand that local distributor, International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA) Guyana Ltd effect an “immediate recall” of Lailac Infant Milk from the market.

A small fire was started by prisoners in the Golden Grove Police Station lock-ups, on the East Bank of Demerara yesterday.

Two companies that provided $74 million worth of services to the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) in 2014 and 2015 have been accused of VAT fraud and the GGB has been urged to refer the matter to the Guyana Revenue Authority for action.

The reopening of the Tower Hotel is set for May 14th.

Unapproved prospectors at Marudi in the Rupununi will have to remove their equipment by Sunday as part of a deal reached between miners and the authorities during a mediation exercise at Lethem last weekend.

A five-month- old infant died on Wednesday at the city public hospital after a truck hit his stroller while he was being pushed across a road at Belmont, East Coast Demerara.

Anthony David, one of the five men accused of robbing Justice Nicola Pierre and her husband, yesterday said that he was set up by police, who he accused of holding him for days without any explanation, assaulting him and then trying to recruit him as an informant.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Legendary former captain Sir Vivian Richards has chided cricket’s world governing body, the ICC, for its reprimand of the West Indies following their capture of the Twenty20 World Cup in India earlier this month.

The Regional Education Officer (REdO) has promised to address the issues at the Mocha Arcadia Nursery School, where teaching has resumed after parents forced its temporary closure due to the deplorable conditions.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The West Indies Cricket Board are mulling over a proposal from the Pakistan Cricket Board, to play a Test under lights during the Caribbean side’s scheduled tour later this year.

The Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) has applied to Magistrate Judy Latchman to summon journalist Travis Chase and a station manager to testify in the trial of self-confessed drug trafficker Barry Dataram.

A last gasp goal from Lerone Charles snatched a 1-1 result for the Guyana Police Force (GPF) against league leader Western Tigers when the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Stag Beer League continued on Wednesday.

Top of the table matches will commence the 11th round in the GFF Stag Beer Elite League today when leader Slingerz tackle second-place Fruta Conquerors and third-positioned Alpha United oppose fifth place Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

An independent candidate from the Soesdyke/Huist Coverden local authority area has been elected as Vice-Chairman of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).

A man is now at the Georgetown hospital after he was shot several times to one of his legs last night.

SYDNEY,  (Reuters) – Cricket Australia has bolstered its campaign to host a day-night test against South Africa later this year by publishing an interview with captain Steve Smith in which he backed the proposed fixture.

Even as investors continue to show an “aggressive interest” in positioning the Ogle International Airport to accelerate the growth of the country’s aviation sector, the facility, which is being operated by the company Ogle Airport Inc under lease from the Government of Guyana, has become afflicted by a “seriously dysfunctional” management regime which, if not corrected “will compromise all of the hard work that has been done over the years to build Ogle,” Chief Executive Officer of Roraima Airways Captain Gerry Gouveia has said.

All of the country’s commercial banks as well as some major state and non-state service entities have now signed on as data providers to the local Credit Bureau, a development which the Bureau says, has created an enabling environment in which larger numbers of persons can, potentially, secure hassle-free and in many instances badly needed credit.

A teenage boy was yesterday sentenced to 18 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to robbing a man of a smartphone.

LOS ANGELES,  (Reuters) – Two years ago, exciting Irish prospect Jason Quigley aborted his dream of competing as an amateur at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and turned professional, a decision he has not once regretted.

Business Cartoon

A vigorous and increasingly acrimonious exchange is ensuing in business and political circles in Jamaica over just what sort of reaction the country should provide to what it says is the ill-treatment of Jamaicans travelling to its sister Caricom country by the immigration authorities in Trinidad and Tobago.

MUMBAI, India,  CMC – Kieron Pollard equalled the fastest half-century of the Indian Premier League this season and became only the sixth player in history to eclipse 6 000 Twenty20 runs, as he propelled Mumbai Indians to an emphatic six-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders here yesterday.

Entrepreneur, Managing Director, GeoTechVision   Recently, I was a participant in the Infodev/World Bank Accelerate Caribbean Study Tour in Florida and Toronto.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The West Indies Cricket Board are mulling over a proposal from the Pakistan Cricket Board, to play a Test under lights during the Caribbean side’s scheduled tour later this year.

COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lanka opener Kaushal Silva has recovered from a blow to the head he suffered while fielding last weekend to be named in the test squad for next month’s tour of England.

Dear Editor, The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) recently condemned in rather strong language, regulations by the government in the mining sector.

The Government Technical Institute (GTI) is collaborating with three Canadian universities—Durham College, College of North Atlantic and the Marine Institute—to introduce a new course in auto electronics from September this year.

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – England fast bowler Chris Jordan has joined Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore as a replacement for injured Australia paceman Mitchell Starc, the Indian cricket board said.

Dear Editor, The information presented in the Forensic Audit Report of the Guyana Gold Board for the period of January 2012 to May 2015, is misleading as it relates to the appointment, role and functions of the Secretary of the Board of Directors.

Some of the country’s key public and private sector entities have registered to participate in a forum designed to secure a close-up look at security-related contemporary developments in information technology designed to further safeguard their IT infrastructure.

Dear Editor, Please grant me  space in your newspaper to respond to a letter published in the Stabroek News and Kaieteur News on the 26 and 27th April 2016 respectively, written by Carol Joseph, Region 5 Councillor.

(The Sports Xchange) – Courtney Lee did it again. From virtually the same spot on the floor and for the second game in a row, Lee grabbed a crucial long rebound off the offensive boards.

By Karen Abrams, MBA Marketing Startup Consultant   It has been more than 15 years since the first e-government program was launched in the United States, while in 2015, stakeholders in developing nations like Guyana, have yet to realize the benefits of computerized government departments that use technology to improve customer service, save lives, reduce costs, improve service delivery and extend service hours.

CARACAS, (Reuters) – Venezuela’s opposition-dominated Congress yesterday ordered the dismissal of Food Minister Rodolfo Marco over chronic shortages of staple goods that have become the primary complaint about President Nicolas Maduro’s government.

Dear Editor, On a previous occasion, I responded to the PPP/C’s vilification of GECOM, in relation to its preparedness to conduct local government elections, by indicating that ‘time would tell’.

By David E. Falconer Manager, Sales and Business Development, Creditinfo Guyana   Almost a century ago, an American named John Pierpoint Morgan, or J P Morgan who is more widely known as the most powerful financier in the world, when asked by a House committee if commercial credit was based primarily on money or property, responded instead to everyone’s surprise that in fact it was based on character.

(The Sports Xchange) – The short-handed Los Angeles Clippers simply ran out of gas.

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – Former South Africa fast bowler Allan Donald will join Australia as their bowling coach for their tour of Sri Lanka, Cricket Australia (CA) said yesterday.

MEXICO CITY, (Reuters) – One of Mexico’s top crime fighters is under investigation over a key incident in the probe into the apparent massacre of 43 trainee teachers in 2014, the attorney general’s office said yesterday, adding a twist to a case that has shaken the country.

Dear Editor, On the 16th and 21st of April, I  had letters published (Kaieteur News) voicing my objection to the proposed subsidy of the Caribbean Premier League Inc.’s

Stock market updates

 (The Sports Xchange) – The Golden State Warriors did not skip a beat without key point guard Stephen Curry, routing the Houston Rockets 114-81 on Wednesday to seal a 4-1 series triumph in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Dear Editor, Parliamentary pugnacity?  I like it.  But only up to a point, and that which is infused thoroughly with the best of the Queen’s English in full flight, and resonant with all the literary and oratorical devices, associated vocabularies, style, and wit that can be brought to bear. 

Gold Prices for the three-day period ending  Thursday  April 28, 2016

BRASILIA,  (Reuters) – Brazil’s comptroller general said it had barred builder Mendes Junior Engenharia from public tenders for at least two years yesterday, making it the first engineering company to be penalized for involvement in the Petrobras corruption scheme.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo recently visited the Whim Kali Temple and met with Chief Priest Harry Ramdeen and members of the Temple Trust, GINA said.

SYDNEY,  (Reuters) – Australia yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of a mass shooting which led to strict gun controls that have in turn led to a huge decline in gun murders, undermining claims in the United States that such curbs are not the answer.

(Prepared by the Guyana Marketing Corporation and published by Stabroek Business as a public service)

Dear Editor, There was a meeting by Minister Amna Ally with Hindu Organisations and a call was made for an “umbrella Hindu Organisation.”

Dear Editor, Over the last three weeks, I was exposed to the full brunt of the incompetence of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown.

Perhaps a little research can reveal if we – less than a million of us – really boast, proportionally, too many national holidays.

The ongoing political and economic crisis in Venezuela has deteriorated dramatically.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Caribbean Premier League organisers say the initial response to ticket sales for the Florida leg of the Twenty20 tournament have been encouraging and point to a successful hosting of the matches there.

Politikles

Our cameraman caught this group of taxpayers at the Service Site on the ground floor of the City Mall on Thursday discharging their obligation to the state before the period for doing so passes.

Sarafina Edghill is a slight twenty-one-year-old graduate of the Carnegie School of Home Economics (CSHE) who has traded a schoolgirl dream of becoming an attorney for an adult preoccupation with an entrepreneurial excursion into culinary pursuits.

DAKAR, (Reuters) – Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema has won re-election, securing 93.7 percent of votes cast in an April 24 poll to extend his 37-year rule over the Central African oil producer, a government statement said yesterday.