Daily Archive: Friday, July 1, 2016

Twenty-four students drawn from nursery and primary levels of Hururu Mission, Berbice River received lifejackets from the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD).

President David Granger has once again reiterated that National songs be placed in schools and encouraged in the home and church as he noted that such songs are a symbol of nationhood and are critical to the enhancement of a country’s national consciousness and identity.

The Occupational Safety and Health Department of the Ministry of Social Protection today handed over its report on working conditions at City Hall.

An Aviation Security Officer (ASO) who has been working with Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation (CJIAC) for over two years is the airport’s May lottery fund winner.

Canadian Defence Military Attaché, Naval Captain Réal Brisson (second from right) paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips (third from right) at his office at Defence Headquarters, Base Camp Ayanganna on Tuesday June 28, 2016.

Former President Donald Ramotar today released a letter written to him by the Head of BK Inc Brian Tiwari on March 23rd last year pledging continuing support to the PPP and best wishes for the then upcoming general elections.

A man this morning chopped his wife and two-year-old child to death at Crane, West Coast Demerara and wounded his mother.

VIENNA,  (Reuters) – Austria’s presidential runoff election must be held again, the Constitutional Court ruled today, handing the Freedom Party’s narrowly defeated candidate another chance to become the first far-right head of state in the European Union.

Businessman Brian Tiwarie yesterday rejected claims that his company had taken possession of containers belonging to the fired Specialty Hospital contractor and he accused the Donald Ramotar administration of grossly mismanaging the project.

The Kato Secondary School, which was constructed at a cost over hundreds of millions of dollars, remains unoccupied because it is not safe for children, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said yesterday.

There is a major structural fault with the $350m bridge constructed across the Hope Canal,  East Coast Demerara, according to Minister of State Joseph Harmon, who yesterday said the structure has repeatedly shifted away from the road.

After hours of deliberations, the National Assembly last night approved almost $800 million in extra-budgetary spending including on 6000 solar panels to “green” State House and an army exercise aimed at testing the preparedness of the Guyana Defence Force which was done last year.

Prominent businessman and owner of BK International, Brian Tiwarie, is planning to open his own newspaper company here and has started the process.

An inquiry has been launched into the circumstances surrounding how two planes left Guyana illegally from the Eugene F Correia International Airport (EFCIA) last Saturday, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said yesterday.

Minister of Finance Winston Jordan has said that he is unsure of the ‘emergency’ funding the University of Guyana needs to reputedly prevent a collapse of the  institution.

The Ministry of Social Protection yesterday welcomed the latest classification on Trafficking in Persons (TIP), which has seen the country coming off the watch list for TIP, that is, moving from Tier 2 on the Watch List to just Tier Two.

Terrence McLean, the man who tried to extort $10 million from a city bank in the name of ISIS by threatening to detonate a bomb he claimed he had on him, was yesterday sentenced to three years in jail for the crime.

Guyanese will now be able to access additional flights to Brazil and Curaçao thrice weekly after Cabinet recently granted approval for Insel Air to operate additional flights out of Guyana.

Facing a huge debt, slumping production  and pressure over the planned end of cane cultivation at the Wales estate, the  Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) yesterday launched a `New GuySuCo’ that includes diversification but there were few details.

Romell Jagroop General Construction Services has gotten the green light for a $390m contract for the construction of the north eastern dam of the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC).

Puran Brothers has secured a $221m contract for the operation of the Haags Bosch landfill on the East Bank of Demerara.

President David Granger will today travel to Paramaribo, Suriname to meet with that country’s Head of State, President Desi Bouterse, the Ministry of the Presidency said yesterday in a statement.

BASSETERRE, St Kitts,  CMC – Man-of-the-Match Dwayne Smith struck an electrifying half-century and Jason Mohammed followed up with a cameo, as Guyana Amazon Warriors pulled off a thrilling four-wicket win over St Kitts and Nevis Patriots with a ball to spare, in the second game of the Caribbean Premier League here Thursday night.

KINGSTON,  (Reuters) – Usain Bolt negotiated a series of delays and a false start in his own race before easily winning his quarter-final of the 100m in 10.15 seconds at Jamaica’s national championships yesterday.

President David Granger does not believe that recent conflicts between Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago are in any way a threat to the survival of the Caribbean Community.

Legislation designed to update existing local laws to ensure that they keep pace with the evolution of gaming is currently being drafted and could be completed before the end of this year, Chairman of the new Gaming Authority of Guyana Roysdale Forde has told the Stabroek Business.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon yesterday said government is close to selecting the contractor that will be responsible for the Co-operative Republic of Guyana (CRG) number plates to be used on all state-owned vehicles.

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – The St Kitts Government has revealed it plans to spend US$1.2 million (EC$3.2 million) to host the final and semi-finals of the Caribbean Premier League but says it hopes to recoup some of this money through gate receipts and venue rentals.

Two policemen have found themselves accused of allowing prisoners to escape the Lethem Police Station lock-ups.

MONT ST MICHEL, France, (Reuters) – Defending champion Chris Froome looks set for a rocky ride with an army of hungry rivals trying to prevent the Briton becoming the first rider for over 20 years to retain the Tour de France.

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has signalled its intention to throw its weight behind the provision in the 2004 Small Business Act that binds government to ensuring that the small business sector secures a minimum of 20 per cent of procurement contracts issued by the state.

The charred remains of an unidentified person was discovered in the aftermath of a fire at a Wales, West Bank Demerara house yesterday morning.

Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary dismissed Essequibo Islands Secondary by a 6-0 score line when the Digicel Schools Football Championship continued yesterday at the Leonora Sports Facility.

Dear Editor, I crave your indulgence in a matter of grave concern to me and of potentially having  damaging effects to me, my family and company that I have worked honestly and hard to build.

Entrepreneur, Managing Director, GeoTechVision Entrepreneurship seems to be the new buzz word these days and while many are trying to build and contribute to creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem, few entrepreneurs have excelled by turning their ideas into high growth businesses.

A Scottish firm, Diligent World Limited  has won a $28.8m consultancy contract for the establishment of a Communications and Information Command Centre for the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Stabroek Business has been sent a copy of a memorandum from the 70-member General Contrac-tors Association of Guyana (GCAG) seeking what its Secretary Neil Cort-Rogers says are “important meetings” with two cabinet ministers and the Mayor of Georgetown to find solutions to “critical issues” facing the sector.

Camille’s Institute crushed the Canadian School of Arts and Science by a 7-0 margin when the Digicel Schools Football Championship continued on Wednesday at the Leonora Sports Facility.

Dear Editor, “Is nuttten but bobbol again!” Here was the concluding comment of an animated conversation I couldn’t but overhear.

One thing that Georgetown appears to have in common with Port of Spain is a premium on parking space and yesterday the Trinidad Express reported that on the previous day the twin-island Republic’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley had turned the sod to commence the construction of a TT$100 million multi-storey car park in the capital.

Dear Editor, The President said that if constitutional reform means that the executive powers have to be reduced, so be it.

The Golden Jaguars have been officially drawn with Jamaica and Suriname in the third round of the Scotiabank Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Caribbean Cup qualifiers.

There is no outbreak of any poultry disease in Region Six, according to Chief Executive Officer (ag) of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), Dr Dwight Walrond.

Sophia is one of those working-class communities where unemployment is high, poverty is ever present and the rate of school dropouts is disturbing.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Second seed Garbine Muguruza, gunning to add the Wimbledon crown to her French Open title, was sensationally beaten in the second round yesterday by a Slovakian qualifier, removing one of the biggest obstacles to Serena Williams defending her title.

In the June 29th 2016 edition of Stabroek News under the headline `Driver gets one year in jail for causing boy’s death’ it was erroneously reported that Puran Ramoo was sentenced to one year in jail for causing the death of 11-year-old Amar Veerasammy.

Dear Editor, The Brexit result was close enough to indicate that there are still a huge number of voters who perceive the advantages of union and globalization. 

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad,  CMC – West Indies opener Johnson Charles belted an attacking half-century and South African David Miller produced an entertaining late cameo as St Lucia Zouks stunned title-holders Trinbago Knight Riders by six wickets in the opening game of the Caribbean Premier League here Wednesday night.

Dear Editor, As you know, the lack of proper accommodation for our senior citizens who must go to the various post offices every month-end to collect their old age pensions and NIS benefits, etc, has been featured in the media quite a lot recently, especially since a pensioner fainted in the line in which he was standing for many hours in the hot sun at the Blairmont Post Office last month.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Former London mayor Boris Johnson abruptly pulled out of the race to become Britain’s prime minister that he was once favoured to win, upending the contest less than a week after he led a campaign to take the country out of the EU.

Cattle farmers along the Berbice River and in the Intermediate Savannahs are to benefit from the acquisition of a cattle barge.

GASCI (www.gasci.com/telephone Nº 223-6175/6) reports that session 675’s trading results showed consideration of $982,190 from 36,450 shares traded in 7 transactions as compared to session 674’s trading results, which showed consideration of $15,420,454 from 79,573 shares traded in 17 transactions.

The Demerara Fire and General Insurance Company yesterday launched an upgraded motor insurance service as a means of attracting more customers, given the competitiveness of the market.

Gold Prices for the three day period ending Thursday  June 30, 2016

GENEVA,  (Reuters) – The U.N. Human Rights Council agreed yesterday to appoint an independent investigator to help protect homosexuals and transgender people worldwide from violence and discrimination.

Dear Editor, Those who suffered under the PPP/C and/or were disturbed over that party’s mismanagement of the nation’s business want this government to succeed, for the sake of Guyana and her people.

MUMBAI, (Reuters) – Denied another stint as India’s head coach, Ravi Shastri has been embroiled in an ugly spat with former captain Sourav Ganguly, who was part of the panel which awarded the job to Anil Kumble last week.

Three months after the Mahaicony Creek started experiencing flooding, the water continues drop though heavy rainfall sends it back up.

MANILA,  (Reuters) – Rodrigo Duterte was sworn in as the Philippines’ 16th president yesterday, capping the unlikely journey of a provincial city mayor whose brash man-of-the-people style and pledges to crush crime swamped establishment rivals in last month’s election.

EUGENE, Oregon, (Reuters) – Already America’s most decorated female sprinter, Allyson Felix launches the most difficult challenge of her career this week.

Dear Editor, I wish to pay tribute to my father, David Horace Sookram, who died a week ago, aged 86.

OMAHA, Nebraska, (Reuters) – Michael Phelps, who came out of retirement in 2014 and rededicated himself to the pool, punched his ticket to the Rio Games on Wednesday by winning the 200 metres butterfly at the U.S.

SAN JUAN, (Reuters) – Puerto Rico authorized suspension of payments on its general obligation debt yesterday just minutes after U.S.

A teenager was yesterday granted his release on bail pending a wounding charge.

Dear Editor, The new Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana has reportedly said that he is prepared to walk away from the job if there is any political interference by government in the management and administration of the university.

Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase-Green has voiced disappointment at the majority of city councillors not submitting any plans for development in their constituencies.

Kwakwani is a struggling, underdeveloped community, a poignant example of the fact that the pace of development has not been anywhere near even across the various regions of Guyana.

Two men are now behind bars after police say searches at their homes uncovered several quantities of ganja.

Business Cartoons

The journey of persons traversing the upper reaches of the East Coast Demerara or extending into Berbice is frequently punctuated by pit stops at Cove and John to refresh themselves on the offerings of the cane juice man.

A pensioner is now a remanded to prisoner after a city court heard yesterday that he severely chopped another man.

(Jamaica Observer) While the players celebrated their accomplishments from the past season, gloom hovered over the future of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) Cricket competitions, as title sponsor GraceKennedy has threatened to withdraw its sponsorship support should there be any further indiscipline.

Dear Editor, I waited almost 45 minutes on June 24 to call in to Sporting Action Line on 102.5FM hosted by Edwin Seeraj, and when I finally got through, I complimented him for listening to bilge from the Coordinator of the Digicel Schools Championship tournament, Lavern Fraser-Thomas.

– Suspending democracy sometimes? You may consider today’s offering as one of my (briefest) “time-out” pieces.

Politikles

LONDON,  (Reuters) – A Goldman Sachs executive’s alleged arranging of prostitutes for himself and the brother of a decision-maker at Libya’s sovereign wealth fund was completely unacceptable behaviour for an employee of the bank, the first witness called by Goldman told a court yesterday.

It is a comforting thing that sections of the citizenry have opted to hold City Hall to account in the parking meter brouhaha, if only to make the point that its behaviour in the matter of the rolling out of the project runs counter to the very commitment that it made to democratic conduct when it took office to replace a predecessor administration that had itself been accused of, not infrequently, acting as a law onto itself.

In the Magistrate’s Court last month, three of this country’s young and able-bodied citizens were prosecuted and found guilty of perpetrating one of the more violent home invasions in recent times.

Part of the challenge associated with the expansion of Guyana’s coastal housing programme is the difficulty ensuring that the provision of services for residential communities keeps pace with the creation of the communities.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors began their 2016 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 title pursuit with a four-wicket win over the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots with one ball to spare in last night’s match played at Warner Park.