Daily Archive: Friday, July 15, 2016

President David Granger, today, reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring a ‘good life’ is provided for all Guyanese, as he ushered in his 71st birth anniversary, a release from the Ministry of the Presidency said.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo today lambasted Minister of State Joseph Harmon on the matter of why contracts and evaluation reports for key projects like the Amaila Hydropower Project have not been released.

ISTANBUL/ANKARA,  (Reuters) – Turkey’s military said on Friday it had seized power, but the prime minister said the attempted coup would be put down.

The Guyana Public Service Union today condemned Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Chairman Rawle Lucas for what it said was his interference in the Authority and it said it has raised this matter with President David Granger.

President David Granger has delegated a series of powers in relation to public lands and state lands to the Commissioner of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC).

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Pop star Rihanna has cancelled a concert scheduled for Friday in Nice after a gunman in a truck ploughed into crowds marking Bastille Day in the southern coastal French city, killing at least 84 people.

(Trinidad Guardian) Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday knocked secretary general of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha Sat Maharaj for describing former prime minister Patrick Manning as a “racist.”

Puran Brothers Disposal Inc. yesterday signed a $221 million contract with the Ministry of Communities for the operation and maintenance of the Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill for a period of one year.

A Nigg, Corentyne, Berbice family is now considering giving up on their new business after an attack by masked bandits, who threatened to kill a three-year-old during their demands for money.

Farm Supplies Limited has been given the no-objection by Cabinet for a $199.5m contract for the supply of long and short reach excavators for the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC).

The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) yesterday announced its intention to reclaim control over the identification of all public transportation in Georgetown from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) in what will be seen as the latest in a series of initiatives to gather more funds.

Nine persons are now homeless after their two-storey house was gutted by fire last night in Parika, Est Bank Essequibo.

Self-confessed drug trafficker Barry Dataram yesterday accused a Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) officer of lying when he took the stand at his trial yesterday.

Only persons travelling to and from countries where yellow fever is endemic are required to be vaccinated and have proof of immunisation, says Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Shamdeo Persaud.

BASSETERRE, St Kitts,  CMC – Rahkeem Cornwall produced a typically attacking innings to rally the WICB President’s XI, and then a struck a key blow late in the day to peg back India, as honours were shared on the opening day of their three-day tour day game here yesterday.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados,  CMC – Left-hander Nicholas Pooran says he is excited about continuing to rebuild his career, especially after spending a year out of the game following a tragic vehicular accident last year January.

Though the parking meters contract with the city is still being reviewed by government, Minister of State Joseph Harmon yesterday said he finds no issue with the recently launched public education campaign on the use of the machines.

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and the Minister of Citizenship yesterday  distributed hampers valued $9M to 851 West Coast Berbice, Mahaica-Berbice Region households, which had been affected by flooding early last month.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq became the oldest player in 82 years to score a test century as the 42-year-old hit an unbeaten 110 to put his side in a strong position on the first day of the opening match against England.

Chase Academy successfully regained the Georgetown North Zone Championship, dismantling the Bishops High 13-0 when the Digicel Schools Football Championship continued yesterday at the Camp Ayanganna ground.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon said yesterday that the report of the inquiry into the allegations made against officials of the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) by self-confessed drug lord, Barry Dataram will be discussed by Cabinet next Tuesday.

The trial of convicted scam artist Gopaul Tiwari, who is accused of shooting at police, began yesterday with him claiming that, contrary to police testimony, he was approached by ranks in a heavily tinted vehicle bearing no police plates.

TROON, Scotland, (Reuters) – Phil Mickelson charged up the leaderboard at the British Open yesterday, grabbing the first-day lead and a share of the record for the best score in a major championship.

(Reuters) – The slowness of the tracks in West Indies has convinced India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin that the only way to succeed in the four-test series is by being “as boring as possible”.

Three youths are now in custody in connection with the death of a Tuschen fisherman, who went missing last Saturday.

Sir Leon Lessons emphatically clinched the Georgetown South Zone Championship, mauling Lodge Secondary 15-0 in the final of the Digicel Schools Football Championships yesterday at the Camp Ayanganna ground.

MONT VENTOUX, France, (Reuters) – Defending champion Chris Froome retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey on the Tour de France after an incident involving a motorbike left him without a bike in a chaotic finale of the 12th stage yesterday.

A Sophia electrician was remanded to prison yesterday after being accused of shooting at a store owner after a dispute.

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and the Private Sector Commission (PSC) may share a common objective of working to create an enabling environment for the enhancement of the interests of the country’s business community, but that does not mean that there is always unanimity on a common approach to that goal, GCCI President Vishnu Doerga has told Stabroek Business.

Dear Editor,   I have had an opportunity to read and study the decision of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) dated 5th July 2016 in the matter The Medical Council of Guyana appellant and Dr Rama Sahadeo Respondent.

Dear Editor, I read a letter to the editor in SN, dated July 9, 2016, captioned ‘Dynamic flights are often delayed’ and would like to offer the following response.

Come November, Giftland Mall expects to be the venue of “the biggest supermarket in the region,” according to company President Roy Beepat.

LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – The crackdown on athletes caught up in recent doping scandals is a step in the right direction for the sport, Allyson Felix says, but the American sprinter is still worried it will not be a level playing field at next month’s Rio Olympics.

The Ministry of Communities yesterday signed an $11.8M contract with Samuel Wright, an environment management consultant from Linden, for public consultations on a draft national solid waste management strategy.

By Valrie Grant Entrepreneur, Managing Director, GeoTechVision You are one of the bold ones who have started a small business and now you have a lot on the line, all your savings, expectations, and the fact that you suddenly realize that starting the business may have been the easiest part.

Dear Editor, Let me state that I have the utmost respect for Colonel Nazrul Hussain of the Guyana Defence Force and wish to applaud his appointment as head of the Department of National Events under the Ministry of the Presidency.

RIO DE JANEIRO,  (Reuters) – Officers who form part of the security force for the upcoming Olympics in Rio de Janeiro are complaining about delayed salaries and unfurnished accommodations, where many are forced to sleep on the floor.

The Guyana Water Inc will officially commission its Lethem, Region 9 office within the next three weeks, the utility said yesterday in a press release.

The National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) is encouraging farmers who are interested in exporting their produce to have their farms certified.

Dear Editor,   My late maternal grandmother left with me an erudite message that clearly instructs that in choosing one’s thoughts and actions one should base them on a set of core-character values not dollars or fame.

Challenged, it seems, by a local, regional and international increase in demand for coconut and coconut products, the Ministry of Tourism has announced that it will hold the country’s inaugural Coconut Festival from October 16 to 23, 2016.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados,  CMC – South African AB de Villiers proved his worth in gold with a sensational half-century, to help power Barbados Tridents to a 25-run victory over the luckless St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the Caribbean Premier League here late Wednesday night.

COLOMBO,  (Reuters) – Keen to beat Sri Lanka in their own spin game, Australia have roped in local spin great Muttiah Muralitharan to help their slow bowlers ahead of the three-test series beginning at Pallekele later this month.

Dear Editor,   The development of a nation is dependent on those placed in authority to guide the process of ensuring strong efficient institutions that respond positively to the needs of the masses.

A Linden man was yesterday charged with multiple counts of larceny stemming from a series of break-ins over a four-month period.

In a short while the organizers of the Scotia Bank Live Pitch competition for budding entrepreneurs will be in a position to announce the five finalists in a competition designed to test the potential of aspiring business owners.

CHICAGO,  (Reuters) – The Zika outbreak rampaging through Latin America will likely burn itself out in the next two to three years, based on the fact that people develop immunity to the virus after an initial infection, British scientists said yesterday.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados,  CMC – All-rounder Carlos Brathwaite believes staying patient will be the key to West Indies’ success in the four-Test series against India, which bowls off next Thursday in Antigua.

(Trinidad Guardian) General secretary of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS), Sat Maharaj, on Wednesday launched an extraordinary verbal attack on former prime minister Patrick Manning, describing him as a “racist.”

Mohalall Raj, 48, of Enmore, was yesterday morning found hanging by his sister in law.

GASCI (www.gasci.com/telephone Nº 223-6175/6) reports that session 677’s trading results showed consideration of $570,000 from 15,000 shares traded in 1 transaction as compared to session 676’s trading results, which showed consideration of $562,041 from 11,935 shares traded in 9 transactions.

NICE, France,  (Reuters) – A “terrorist” gunman killed 80 people and wounded scores when he drove a heavy truck at high speed into a crowd watching Bastille Day fireworks in the French Riviera city of Nice late yesterday, officials said.

Dear Editor,   It was Winston S Churchill who said, “I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.”

Dear Editor,      This is indeed an exciting era for fast bowling once again in the Caribbean, and for the emerging talent to seize the opportunity.

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – U.S. regulators yesterday paved the way for a lightning-fast next generation of wireless services in a move that made the United States the first country to set aside an ample amount of airwaves for so-called 5G wireless applications and networks.

Nine Guyanese businesswomen are among participants from 14 Caribbean territories participating in the first ever Women Innovators Network in the Caribbean Acceleration Programme (WINC AP), designed to provide accelerated support for women in business.

(Barbados Nation) Only four of the top 20 performers in this year’s Common Entrance Examination were from Government primary schools.

KINGSTON, Jamaica,  (Reuters) – West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell will face a preliminary hearing before an independent anti-doping disciplinary panel next week over a whereabouts rule violation, his lawyer Patrick Foster said yesterday.

Politikles

(Barbados Nation) Barbadian taxpayers can continue to fund LIAT, but St Lucian Prime Minister Allen Chastanet says not a dollar from his country is going into the cash-strapped regional airline.

Dear Editor, A couple of days ago I was walking down Regent Street and saw this very interesting scene of sleeping humans in the company of a dog (see photo below).

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) wants the finances of City Hall to be subjected to an urgent and scrupulous audit exercise in order to create a convivial environment in which the recently elected municipal administration can function.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – St Kitts and Nevis have jumped into the top three of the Caribbean Football Union but the latest FIFA rankings have hardly been kind to regional teams, with several of them suffering sharp declines.

The evidence that all is far from well in terms of the relationship between the government and the private sector can no longer be ignored.

Now that the dust has settled after the publishing of the results of the National Grade Six Assessment, and the accolades have been rightly bestowed on the top performers from around Guyana, it is perhaps a good idea to take a moment to reflect upon those in the education system, particularly the secondary school system, who may see themselves as having failed, when in truth, it may be the system which has failed them.

Business Cartoons

Gold Prices for the three-day period ending Thursday July 14, 2016

Tourney hosts Guyana stumbled to their third consecutive loss in the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Girls u16 Championship, going down to Antigua and Barbuda 62-30 yesterday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Believe me my (more regular) friends, after today I’ll do my utmost to avoid this theme and issue for an extended period.

Former Guyana u17 Boys Assistant Coach Vurlon Mills has declared his sudden axing from the setup by the GFF as wrong and he has yet to receive any official correspondence from the  entity stating the reasons for the dismissal.

Umana Yana recommissioned

NEW YORK,  (Reuters) – A federal appeals court yesterday said the U.S.