Daily Archive: Friday, May 20, 2016

Members of the public clamouring to greet President David Granger at the close of the unveiling exercise, of the arch yesterday, at the junction of Eccles and Agricola, East Bank Demerara.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Cricket media titan Tony Cozier was laid to rest here today, following a service at the Coral Ridge Memorial Gardens which was attended by several dignitaries and influential members of the regional cricket community.

The Transparency Group Guyana Inc (TIGI) this evening said that the transfer by Minister in the Ministry Natural Resources, Simona Broomes of her mining interests to her children does not cure the conflict of interest issues swirling around her.

The Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) yesterday reflected on the development and achievements of Guyana’s education sector 50 years ago.

LOS ANGELES,  (Reuters) – Films about Hollywood often harken the glamour, glitz and golden age of cinema, but “The Nice Guys,” gives a very different sheen to Los Angeles in the late 1970s.

The Ministry of Social Protection’s Counter Trafficking In Persons (C-TIP) unit today, launched its Jubilee edition of educational materials, to heighten awareness on human trafficking and its effects, GINA said.

The National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) has failed to fully discharge its statutory responsibilities and millions have been outstanding to it from two cable companies with close ties to the former PPP/C government, according to forensic auditor Ram and McRae.

(Trinidad Guardian) Embattled Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro, who has asked to hold meetings with Government, will pay a brief state visit to T&T next Monday, Stuart Young, Minister in Ministry of the Attorney General, said yesterday.

As the Private Sector Commission (PSC) reported an overall decline in nearly all economic sectors over the past ten years, Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin yesterday assured that government is working aggressively to address the sluggishness of the economy.

A police constable was yesterday granted his release on $600,000 bail after he was charged with causing the death of 10-year old Devon Sealey, who he hit with a car.

A 15-year old girl yesterday appeared at the Wales Magistrate’s Court charged with the murder of Dellon Bradford, the Wales Estate labourer who was fatally stabbed on Phagwah night earlier this year.

While government has thrown its support behind Junior Natural Resources Minister Simona Broomes, President David Granger said yesterday that she would either step down or be reassigned to another ministry if a conflict of interest arises.

A father who allegedly set his pre-teen son on fire was yesterday committed to stand trial for attempted murder.

A 46-year-old New York-based man was shot to his chest at Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara just after 8 pm on Wednesday and is now a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has launched an investigation into the reasons surrounding Pele FC walking out of their Stag Beer Elite League fixture against Alpha United on Wednesday at the Leonora Sports Facility.

Nigel Wellington, who police say robbed a woman and then demanded sexual favours from her, was yesterday remanded to prison on armed robbery charge after a court was told that he was identified by a distinct mark he has on his privates.

(IPLT20.com) The Gujarat Lions began their Kanpur-leg of VIVO IPL 2016 with a commanding victory over Kolkata Knight Riders yesterday.

Former President Donald Ramotar has claimed that while in office he had entered into an arrangement with his Attorney General Anil Nandlall to allow him to buy law books for his personal use with funds from the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Attorney-General Basil Williams said yesterday.

MOSCOW, (Reuters) – Maria Sharapova may not play again after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium, the president of the Russian tennis federation was quoted as saying yesterday.

Several parts of the Pomeroon remain flooded from an unusually high spring tide and poor infrastructure and residents want intervention from the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

Mobile phone company, Digicel yesterday launched the 6th edition of their National u-18 Secondary Schools Football Championship at the Covent Garden Secondary School.

National rugby skipper, Richard Staglon yesterday had no doubt that Guyana is heading for another victory in their Rugby America’s North (RAN) 15s matchup tomorrow against Jamaica at the National Park.

Region Five Chairman Vickchand Ramphal says despite the need for emergency responses, the regional administration is not meeting due to a continuing protest by APNU+AFC councillors who want him to publicly apologise over a perceived slight to the president.

The PPP/C will support an inquest into the 2006 assassination of former Agriculture Minister Satyadeow Sawh, his siblings and his security guard, according to former President Bharrat Jagdeo who said that the killers behind the brutal crime are known to both him and the police.

Payless Variety Store has joined the list of sponsors for the  5k and a 10k race along with a 5k health and fitness walk which is scheduled for Sunday.

In its latest report, the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) has concluded that Guyana has significantly improved its overall compliance in establishing its anti-money laundering architecture, Attorney-General Basil Williams said yesterday, while adding that the country would have to report at the next plenary later this year due to the outstanding actions to be taken.

(Reuters) – Alex Hales and Jonny Bairstow led England’s recovery from a poor start as the hosts reached 171 for five before rain ended the opening day of the first test against Sri Lanka in Leeds yesterday.

Dear Editor, Many may have observed that over the last few weeks I was placed in a position where I had to call out the coalition government, which I supported in 2015, for its less than acceptable performance over the last year.

Now that the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Public Service has been completed and handed over to the President there should be no further delay to engagement between the government and the union or unions concerned on the matter of public servants’ salaries, General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) Lincoln Lewis has told the Stabroek Business.

A Georgetown construction worker was yesterday busted at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri with over 10 lbs of cocaine he attempted to smuggle as milk to the United States.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Former champion Roger Federer withdrew from the French Open yesterday, citing fitness issues, as his record run of appearing at 65 consecutive grand slam tournaments came to an end.

Dear Editor, Guyana has come a long way since the attainment of political independence fifty years ago.

Dear Editor, One notes the clamour surrounding the establishment of new towns, and could hardly help but wonder what training new councillors would have received in decision-making say, (after structured analysis of the evidence); and how briefed would have been the town clerk designate in the legal provisions which must inform the execution of his/her mandate.

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall says the Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom) has the constitutional authority to instruct that a date be set for the election of the Mayor of Mabaruma and the chairs of the five Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) where there were ties at the March 18 local government polls.

BEIJING, China,  CMC – Reigning World champion Danielle Williams of Jamaica and compatriot Veronica Campbell-Brown and Danielle Williams both stormed to victories at the IAAF World Challenge Meet here Wednesday.

A controversial May 17, letter signed by Ogle Airport Inc (OAI) Chief Executive Officer Anthony Mekdeci and circulated to the media asserting that but for investments made by OAI Chairman Michael Correia what is now the Eugene R Correia International Airport would not have come on stream threatens to extend the controversy that has been raging at the country’s second international airport ever since the announcement some weeks ago regarding its renaming.

The Region Six administration will be assuming responsibility for refuelling a drainage pump in the Rose Hall, Corentyne area, since the cash-strapped GuySuCo cannot afford to do it any longer.

Dear Editor, In a few days, the Cooperative Republic of Guyana will be celebrating fifty years of Independence from, Great Britain.

LONDON, (Reuters) – So rapid has been American teenager Taylor Fritz’s rise up the ATP rankings that setting targets has become futile exercise.

Jamaican-born businesswoman Valrie Grant, whose company GeoTech Vision Enterprises has established a second home here in Guyana last Thursday told the opening ceremony of the 2016 Jubilee Anniversary GuyExpo that the central bank coupled with commercial banks can play a significant role in supporting the channeling of investment to the small business sector.

The popular “Dread Shop” at the Stabroek Market, was early yesterday morning demolished by workers of the Mayor and City Council, which went ahead with the action although the property was at the centre of ongoing court proceedings.

Dear Editor, I write in response to the recent PPP press conference of Monday last, held by Mr Clement Rohee, whose flippancy was astonishing.

(Reuters) – Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt said the finding of 31 positive doping samples from the 2008 Beijing Olympics marked a rough point for athletics, but backed the World Anti-Doping Agency in its effort to crackdown on drug use in the sport.

(Reuters) – Stephen Curry shrugged off a hard fall during Golden State’s Western Conference finals Game Two encounter against Oklahoma City on Wednesday and proceeded to dismantle the Thunder with another trademark scoring burst.

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) yesterday said that it will be conducting a simulation exercise on Mass Casualty Management at D’urban Park tomorrow as part of the Commission’s preparation for Guyana’s 50 independence anniversary, GINA reported.

Dear Editor, As is normal, every time someone is put to head our traffic department in Guyana, the media would get interviews from that person about their vision and way they plan to enhance the department.

Dear Editor, The article which was published in the May 16 edition of Stabroek News (SN) under the caption ‘Analysis … A year on, doubts rise on APNU+AFC pledge of good governance – local gov’t elections seen as biggest achievement’ was at best, a poor analysis or a blatant attempt to play down the achievements of the coalition government.

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) wants regional governments to play a major facilitating role in properly positioning the private sector to drive a competitive and resilient economy in the Caribbean.

The lawyer for Guyana-born businessman Ed Ahmad is seeking a deferral of his New York sentencing for mortgage fraud conspiracy to September.

CAIRO/ATHENS,  (Reuters) – An EgyptAir jet carrying 66 passengers and crew from Paris to Cairo disappeared from radar over the Mediterranean yesterday in a crash that Egypt said may have been caused by a terrorist attack.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Challengers to Serena Williams’ throne have proved as fickle as a Paris spring and as the year’s second grand slam starts the veteran American is again seemingly in a league of her own.

LONDON, (Reuters) – The concept of day-night test found a new taker in England with board chairman Colin Graves confirming the country will host a twilight test.

SAN FRANCISCO, (Reuters) – San Francisco’s police chief, Greg Suhr, resigned under pressure from the city’s mayor yesterday, just hours after an officer’s fatal shooting a black woman sparked new outrage in a city whose storybook beauty has been overshadowed recently by high-profile police killings.

NEW YORK/FRANKFURT (Reuters) – German drugs and chemicals group Bayer has made an unsolicited takeover proposal to US seeds company Monsanto, aiming to create the world’s biggest agricultural supplier and take advantage of converging pesticides and seeds markets.

Dear Editor, Our society has suddenly become a place where curse words or ‘cuss words’ are the order of the day, and it seems as if we have no law to charge those using them from day to day.

MANILA, (Reuters) – Philippine boxing star Manny Pacquiao, WBO world welterweight champion, scored a big political victory yesterday when the elections commission declared he was among 12 new members of the upper house of Congress.

Dear Editor, I write with great concern for our “generation next” when I read the way our youths have been making the headlines in the general media.

ABUJA, (Reuters) – A second girl who was among more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram in a raid on their school in the northeastern Nigerian town of Chibok more than two years ago has been rescued, a spokesman for the Nigerian army said yesterday.

A 17-year-old girl was yesterday released on $80,000 bail after denying that she stole a smartphone.

GASCI (www.gasci.com/telephone Nº 223-6175/6) reports that session 668’s trading results showed consideration of $26,424,867 from 742,364 shares traded in 14 transactions as compared to session 667’s trading results, which showed consideration of $12,857,578 from 73,271 shares traded in 5 transactions.

The Guyana Men’s u-19 Hockey Team suffered their first loss in preparation for the Junior Pan American Championships in Canada, going down 3-2 to an Ontario u-23 select unit on Wednesday in a practice match in Toronto.

Gold Prices for the three-day period ending Thursday May 19, 2016

(Reuters) – – Television journalist Morley Safer, who made his reputation as a Vietnam War correspondent for CBS and then became a mainstay on the network’s “60 Minutes” show for 46 years, has died at age 84, a few days after his retirement, the network announced on Thursday.

By Kenneth Rogoff CAMBRIDGE – Are emerging-market central banks overweight in dollars and underweight in gold?

Dear Editor, A number of politicians and political commentators continue to refer to the largest member of the present coalition government, PNCR as the PNC. 

Annabelle Carter-Sharma’s ambitious entrepreneurial adventure into the creation of what is envisaged as a three-phase, multi-million-dollar fun park infrastructure marks an attempt to push the frontiers of local children’s entertainment beyond what she considers to be the range of under-fulfilling options that are currently available.

Dear Editor On May 15th,  Stabroek News published a letter from the Sanatan Vaidic Dharma Pandits’ Sabha of Region 3, signed by Pt R Balbadar, as President, condemning the manner in which the May 7th, 2106, Mother’s Day festivities were celebrated at the Tuschen South Shiva Mandir, Tuschen, EBE.

ROME, (Reuters) – The United States has returned to Italy a rare copy of a letter Christopher Columbus wrote in 1493 describing his discovery of the Americas, after the document was stolen more than 25 years ago and replaced with a forgery.

Business Cartoons

Larissa Wiltshire, Taylor Fernandes and Alex Melville secured opening day wins when the  Guyana Squash Association (GSA)-sanctioned Woodpecker Products Ltd Junior National Squash Championships commenced on Wednesday.

NOT GOOD FOR TOURISM: These visitors who arrived in Guyana on Wednesday evening to be part of the country’s Jubilee celebrations were required to queue for information about their bags which had been left behind by LIAT.

With less than a week to go for the commemoration of our 50th anniversary of Independence, there are a few home truths that we would do well to remember.

Politikles

OTTAWA,  (Reuters) – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, under fire for getting involved in an unprecedented physical fracas in Parliament, said yesterday that he was only human and in a high pressure job but promised there would be no repeat of his actions.

You all know that it’s almost a personal “policy” not to join roaring debates on current national issues, as I prefer to defer to those with superior qualifications and experience.

Understandably, we have no clear idea of the numbers that will arrive here over the next week to be part of the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations, though from all that we have been hearing Guyanese from the diaspora, some of whom may well not have set foot on their native soil in decades, will be ‘touching down’ here to participate in the historic celebrations.