Daily Archive: Friday, August 12, 2016

CHICAGO, (Reuters) – The U.S. Secretary for Health and Human Services today declared a state of emergency in Puerto Rico because of the widespread transmission of the Zika virus, which poses a “significant threat” to public health.

The Ministry of the Presidency this afternoon said that the Walter Roth Museum will be moved to the Guyana National Museum and the current Main Street location is to be used by the Ministry of the Presidency.

The police say that investigations are being conducted into a fatal accident which occurred about 2125h.

(Trinidad Guardian) Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh yesterday said the number of Zika cases they had recorded were inaccurate and there were more than the 247 confirmed cases, with the likelihood that the figure was in the thousands.

Dear Editor, Thanks to Stabroek News for publishing the numbers of the Guyana Interagency Suicide Prevention hotline when there are suicide reports.

LIMA, (Reuters) – Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles urged regional leaders yesterday to lend their support to opponents of Venezuela’s socialist President Nicolas Maduro and to back a recall referendum that could remove Maduro from power.

Government yesterday stated that its Minister of Health misled Parliament on a controversial contract for the storage of pharmaceuticals and it called on him to issue a public apology and also said that the deal for the Sussex Street premises would be reviewed.

According to President David Granger, Kares Engineering Incorporated, the company which constructed the problem-riddled Kato Secondary School, will no longer receive government contracts.

Two West Berbice men are to stand trial for the murder of a woman who was burned to death in her home at Plantation Hope on January 3, this year during the course of a robbery.

Former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran yesterday said that a sub-committee of Cabinet should not be reviewing the controversial deal for a pharmaceuticals bond as it was Cabinet which had been reported to have had made the decision in the first place.

Gov’t considering relocating Walter Roth museum Government is considering the relocation of Guyana’s first museum of anthropology, the Walter Roth Museum.

Levi Alleyne, who was allegedly fatally beaten by a group of residents at Enterprise, East Coast Demerara on Monday, died of a fractured skull, an autopsy has found.

Andrew Smith, the fugitive who police say was shot during a shootout with ranks in Sophia, was yesterday faced with five charges, including firing a loaded gun at three police officers.

The Cevons Waste Management joint venture has moved to the High Court to review the Communities Ministry’s award of the $221M contract to Puran Brothers Disposal Inc.

Two persons have been arrested after the robbery of three Japanese nationals and a local taxi driver, who were attacked while sightseeing at the Ogle seawall on Tuesday.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil,  CMC – Caribbean sprinters will be aiming for the record books when the track and field events at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games begin here today.

Quincy Henry, the handyman who was charged last October  with attempted murder and armed robbery, was yesterday jailed for one week after admitting that he had a knife without reasonable excuse.

Local swimming ace Hannibal Gaskin failed to qualify for the second round of the 100M Butterfly, finishing 42nd out of a possible 43 entrants yesterday in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The North Road woman who was shot in her mouth by her husband on Wednesday night is still in the ICU of a private hospital awaiting surgery.

GROS ISLET, St Lucia, CMC – No play was possible on the third day of the third Test between West Indies and India at the Darren Sammy National Stadium here yesterday.

The head of a local manufacturing company has tagged a predisposition for substandard and manufactured products as one of the primary reasons for the low demand for locally produced goods.

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent,  CMC –  West Indies youth World Cup hero Keemo Paul stared with bat and ball to propel Guyana to an impressive start to the WICB Under-One Day Championship which opened here on Wednesday.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Wednesday said the signals the government is sending to investors are not good, while reiterating the assertion that the administration does not have a strategy for development.

The name Beni Sankar still remains inextricably linked to the country’s rice industry.

Regional Executive Officers (REO) and other officials from the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) yesterday began meeting with various ministerial teams to refine their 2017 proposed work programmes and were warned against corrupt practices.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Moeen Ali made a superb century to lift England to 328 all out after Pakistan had taken four early wickets on the first day of the final test at The Oval yesterday.

The appearance in today’s issue of the Stabroek Business of an article written by Mr Louis Holder, a local business owner, reflecting on what he perceives to be some of the impediments to the growth of the country’s manufacturing sector, seeks to break new ground in the relationship between this newspaper and the business sector.

The National Assembly early Tuesday morning approved the appointment of members of the long-awaited Public Procurement Commission (PPC), almost 13 years after the enabling legislation was passed by the National Assembly.

RIO DE JANEIRO,  (Reuters) – A “reborn” Yohan Blake believes he can tame his nerves when he stands on the starting line of the Olympic 100 metres final and seize his moment in athletics history, stepping out of the shadow of Usain Bolt.

A man is now hospitalized after he was shot in his home late Wednesday night.

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent,  CMC — Unbeaten half centuries from openers Anil Matthew and Johann Jeremiah and a four wicket haul from West Indies youth World Cup hero Ryan John steered Windward Islands to an opening win in round two of the WICB Regional One Day Under-19 Championships here yesterday.

Business Cartoon

By Louis Holder Louis Holder is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Amy’s Pomeroon Foods Inc.

Former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds was called to the witness stand once again yesterday to testify at the trial of Carvil Duncan, the former board director accused of stealing from the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL).

Pacesetters squeaked past University of Guyana (UG) Trojans 59-53 in their Open Divisional fixture when the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA)-sanctioned Turbo King of the Ring Hardcourt Championship continued yesterday.

Gold Prices for the three-day period ending  Thursday August 11, 2016Kitco is a Canadian company that buys and sells precious metals such as gold, copper and silver.

RIO DE JANEIRO,  (Reuters) – Hosts Brazil finally found their form to progress to the quarter-finals of the Olympic soccer tournament with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Denmark on Wednesday, after holders Mexico and twice winners Argentina were sent packing.

The trial of former minister in the PPP/C administration Dr Jennifer Westford and her former aide Margaret Cummings, for the alleged theft of over $600 million from the government, has been scheduled to recommence next month.

Concerns about bias in the procedures for the appointment of the Director of the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) as well as fears over too much power residing in the office holder were among the issues raised yesterday when a public consultation was held on the contents of the draft State Assets Recovery Bill.

A face-to-face exchange between President David Granger and Guyana Metal Recyclers Association (GMRA) Secretary Michael Benjamin during a demonstration by the Association outside the Ministry of the Presidency on Tuesday may pave the way for fast-tracking the reopening of the metal export trade, closed by the government since July last year.

ST.JOHN’S, Antigua,  CMC –Former West Indies fast bowler Andy Roberts says Darren Sammy was fired as T20 captain purely on the basis of comments he made criticizing the WICB  after leading the regional side to a second T20 World Cup title in India earlier this year.

Forever bemoaning the scourge of copyright infringement and the limited legitimate marketing outlets for their work, Caribbean musicians are expected to pay keen interest in a project being undertaken by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) aimed at determining the feasibility of the creation of a private sector-driven Caribbean music platform to market online music in an effort to increase earnings to the sector.

ORLANDO,  CMC- Trinidad and Tobago rebounded from a 22-nil pounding at the hands of host United States to beat Dominican Republic 4-0 in the second CONCACAF Under-15 Girls Championship in Orlando on Wednesday.

Former University of Guyana Students Society (UGSS) President Joshua Griffith on Monday hosted an Olympic themed, “Give for the Gold”, blood drive at the National Blood Bank, in observance of his 25th birthday.

Dear Editor, The Indian Action Committee (IAC) has noted statements made by His Excellency, President David Granger which were issued as part of his address at the Fourth Annual State of the African Guyanese Forum organized by the Cuffy 250 Committee and held at the Critchlow Labour College on Sunday, 7th August 2016.

Greater account is to be taken of the need for the protection of people and the environment in World Bank-funded projects in the Caribbean under a new initiative funded by the Bank and announced last week.

Sunday’s 10th annual Guyana Cup horse race meet at the Port Mourant Turf Club will see the champion jockey and trainer receiving trophies donated by Ramesh Sunich of the Trophy Stall Establishment, Bourda Market.

Devon Blount, a miner who is alleged to have been found in illegal possession of a shotgun, was yesterday remanded to prison by a city court.

On Wednesday, US Ambassador Perry Holloway hosted a ‘Dinner and Discussion on Discrimination in the Workplace’ at his residence.

Dear Editor, A statement in the media on the financial situation at the Mayor and City Council attributed to Councillor, Mr.

RIO DE JANEIRO, (Reuters) – First time Olympic winners, including Australian teen Kyle Chalmers in the 100 metres freestyle, plundered three of the four golds in the Rio pool on Wednesday but there was no getting past Katie Ledecky.

Guyana-born, Atlanta-based Samantha Maycock is currently on a brief visit to Guyana, keeping a promise she made to her sister to support her in the staging of this year’s Miss Summer Blaze Beauty Pageant.

By Karen Abrams, MBA IT Consultant As Guyana’s sugar, bauxite and rice industries continue to struggle under the weight of competition and global pricing pressures, our local economy and therefore citizens will continue to feel the direct hit as less revenue is available to pay for improved government services and development projects. 

Close to three weeks since emergency works on the Matarkai Main Access Road in Port Kaituma were expected to commence, heavy rainfall continues to delay the process, leaving frustrated residents contemplating their options for road use.

CARACAS,  (Reuters) – Venezuela is on the verge of a “political earthquake” that will cause the government to collapse because the country’s massive economic problems mean the current situation is not sustainable, opposition chief Jesus Torrealba said.

RIO DE JANEIRO,  (Reuters) – Michael Phelps of the United States won the Olympic 200 metres individual medley on Thursday to capture the 22nd gold medal of his career and become the first swimmer to win the same event at four consecutive Games.

RIO DE JANEIRO,  (Reuters) – Canada’s Penny Oleksiak and Simone Manuel of the United States dead-heated for the 100 metres Olympic swimming freestyle gold yesterday when they both touched the wall in 52.70 seconds.

Stock market updates

A Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara resident was robbed of his car at gunpoint by three men late Wednesday night.

WASHINGTON/MIAMI BEACH, Fla., (Reuters) – Republican Donald Trump called President Barack Obama and Democratic rival Hillary Clinton the “co-founders” of Islamic State, ratcheting up his assertion that they are responsible for the rise of the militant group and sparking renewed criticism of his leadership ability.

Dear Editor, I would like the relevant authorities to investigate this unpleasant duck farm that is next to me in Good Hope Phase 1 on the East Coast of Demerara.

(Prepared by the Guyana Marketing Corporation and published by Stabroek Business as a public service)  *Prices only represent the average Wholesale Farmgate and Retail Prices at the above mentioned markets and are NOT prices set by the Guyana Marketing Corporation or Ministry of Agriculture.

Dear Editor, We have noticed certain statements made by the Private Sector Commission in certain sections of the media on the Mayor and Council.

Rights advocates around the Caribbean have welcomed the ruling by Chief Justice of Belize Kenneth Benjamin, that Section 53 of the Belize Criminal Code is inconsistent with the Constitution.

Dear Editor, There are some parties now almost irreversibly fastened on the horns of a dilemma. 

Since assuming office, the David Granger-led coalition government has been guilty of sending a series of mixed signals to the population, specifically, his ministers and other party functionaries appear to be making several administrative false steps and public relations blunders, requiring the subsequent intervention of the President to assuage the ire of the populace and countervail whatever crisis was looming.

(Reuters) – All three major U.S. stock indexes closed at record highs yesterday for the first time since 1999 as surging oil prices and strong earnings from department stores Macy’s and Kohl’s buoyed investor sentiment.

Port Kaituma is no bed of roses, though, from, a distance, the stories about a profusion of gold-mining there may create the impression that the community is in a good place, so to speak and that the residents are thriving.

This is brevity today. I promise. But every ten months or so I find reasonable cause to comment on our local trade unionism.

STRATHROY, Ontario,  (Reuters) – The man killed during a Canadian police raid at his home in Ontario on Wednesday was a supporter of Islamic State who was in the final stages of preparing an attack on a Canadian city with a homemade bomb, police said yesterday.