Daily Archive: Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo today called on the government to reverse the 14% VAT on private education that was unveiled in this year’s budget.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad,  CMC – West Indies Cricket Board president, Dave Cameron, has remained vague on the future of embattled left-hander Darren Bravo.

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry says it is firmly in favour of the call for the revocation of the parking meters deal.

(Trinidad Guardian) Mikeal “Short Buck” Lancaster was shot three times in the head and four times in the chest at close range, an autopsy at the Forensic Science Centre, St James, revealed yesterday.

Three persons including a Region Three AFC councillor were yesterday charged with the murder of fisherman Shereffudeen Nazamudeen, who was beaten to death last Tuesday, and they were remanded to prison.

A mother of two was yesterday remanded to prison after being charged with possession of a smoke grenade, which police say she was going to smuggle into the  Camp Street Prison for death row inmate Mark Royden Williams, called ‘Smallie,’ who was recently convicted for the Bartica massacre killings.

  Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region 1 Leslie Wilburg was expelled from the parliamentary chamber during yesterday’s sitting of the Public Accounts Commit-tee (PAC) on the basis that he had provided false information on $30 million worth of overpayments and he could face disciplinary action.

The boycott of metered parking in the city continued yesterday, with the majority of drivers opting to park outside of the metered zone, while those that did occupy the zone did so mostly without feeding the meters.

The accused in the rape of a 13-year-old girl walked out the High Court a free man yesterday after a jury hearing his case was unable to arrive at a verdict.

Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo is the only Guyanaese player named in the West Indies squad to face England in a three-match series in the Caribbean early next month the Caribbean Media Corporation reported yesterday.

An attempt by the Lethem Town Council to single-source the procurement of goods for the municipality has been snagged by the region, which says the proper procedure was not followed.

The Pepsi Hornets added another piece of hardware to their collection on Sunday.

A fire on Sunday evening, suspected to be an act of arson, completely gutted a Good Intent, West Bank Demerara house belonging to popular Disc Jockey (DJ), Dorel Romeo called ‘DJ Magnum’ and quick action by the Guyana Fire Service prevented the blaze from spreading to nearby houses.

Colin ‘Superman’ Lewis, Desmond ‘Dynamite’ Amsterdam, Deshon Elcock and Shaquille Wright out boxed their competition and took home the marquee titles when the ‘International Nuff Cuff’ event was staged on Sunday at the National Gymnasium.

The Full Court is currently reviewing written submissions and will soon announce the date for its decision in an appeal filed in relation to a previous ruling in the election petition case brought by the opposition PPP/C parliamentarian Ganga Persaud.

Two Americans, one a missionary worker and the other a tourist, were yesterday both fined and ordered deported after they admitted to overstaying and illegal entry, respectively.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua,  CMC – West Indies A gloveman, Jahmar Hamilton, has been named to captain the WICB President’s XI in a one-day game against touring England next Monday in St Kitts.

  A new champion will be crowned in the Petra Organization/Limacol Football Championship after defending champs Milerock were knocked out by Western Tigers 1-0 in the quarterfinal round on Sunday.

The community of Bush Lot Essequibo Coast was thrown into a state of shock on Sunday night after a young member of the community was found hanging in her bedroom.

Three soldiers were yesterday brought before a city court on a charge that they stole over $150,000 in milk powder and butter.

 By Royston Alkins Chase Academy yesterday stormed into the quarter-finals of the Guyana Cricket Board/Ministry of Education/National Secondary Schools limited overs tournament after defeating Charlestown secondary by 73 runs at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground.

A number of amputee walkers will participate in two walks today and tomorrow in an effort to raise funds to participate in the annual Boston Marathon event in the United States of America in April.

Despite continuous discussion of the importance of free movement to the strengthening of Caricom integration, ordinary Haitian citizens still require visas to travel to most Caricom territories.

Dear Editor, Having a discussion with Mr Juan Edghill is like trying to stand on shifting sand.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Jamaica Scorpions captain Nikita Miller has been forced to defend his tactics after coming under criticism for his handling of star all-rounder Rovman Powell, during the side’s disappointing defeat to Barbados Pride in the final of the Regional Super50 last Saturday.

Dear Editor, Article 26 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) asserts that everyone has the right to education.

The government can now proceed with the $4.6 billion contract awarded to a Chinese contractor for the rehabilitation of low and medium voltage distribution network for the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) after acting Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards last Friday discharged an order she had previously made for them to defend the selection.

Dear Editor, It was reported in the news media on February 17, that due to bad contract management, the East Bank and East Coast Demerara Highway improvement projects funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) have cost the government $543M and still counting for unfinished contract work on these road projects.

Attorney General (AG) Basil Williams has advanced that the High Court has no jurisdiction to hear the case brought by the Cheddi Jagan Research Committee Inc (CJRCI) which is challenging the revocation of the lease it holds to Red House.

BANGALORE, (Reuters) – England’s Ben Stokes fetched a staggering $2.17 million in the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) player auction yesterday, with the Rising Pune Supergiants splashing out in a frenzied bidding war to land the explosive all-rounder.

Suriname shrimp importers and sellers yesterday afternoon held a counter protest in front of the Office of the Prime Minister’s Representative in Port Mourant, Corentyne in response to local shrimp vendors who protested on Friday to have the Suriname shrimp banned from coming into Guyana.

(Reuters) – Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has announced his retirement from international cricket, but said he wants to play in his country’s domestic league for two more years.

Dear Editor, Judicial Review is that area of the law which allows for a citizen who is aggrieved by the act or omission of any public officer, including ministers of government, any public authority or any statutory tribunal to challenge the said act or omission on the ground that the act or omission is unlawful/illegal/contrary to some written law, including the Constitution/arbitrary/capricious/discriminatory/in breach of natural justice/ultra vires/in breach of one’s legitimate expectations.

BENGALURU, India,  CMC – Exiled West Indies batsman Darren Bravo is on his way to the lucrative Indian Premier League after landing a contract with Kolkata Knight Riders in the auction held here yesterday.

Dear Editor, In the response of Finance Minister Winston Jordan to Stabroek News’s February 17 editorial, he asserts that to mitigate the impact of the ‘Brain Tax’ on working class parents struggling to invest in their children’s education, private schools should absorb it as was done by GTT.

Anjanie Boodnarine, the common-law wife of convicted drug lord Barry Dataram, yesterday had another charge against her dismissed.

Dear Editor, For some time now Assistant Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine has quietly and effectively been performing the duties of Commissioner of Police.

A pork knocker was yesterday refused bail on a charge of possession of an unlicensed firearm when he appeared before a city court.

Dear Editor, Dr Clive Thomas has been writing for decades about the phantom/underground/parallel economy in Guyana, He has been enumerating some fantastic numbers such as those penned in Stabroek News of February 16, captioned ‘SARU defends assets recovery bill -says country was bleeding $313 B per annum.’

(Reuters) – All-rounder Asela Gunaratne struck a superb 84 off 46 balls to inspire Sri Lanka to a dramatic two-wicket victory over Australia in the second Twenty20 International in South Geelong, Victoria on Sunday.

The recently concluded 28th inter-sessional meeting of the Conference of Caricom Heads of Government has decided on several different measures to address the impact of de-risking on the regional banking industry.

Attorney-General Basil Williams SC, in his written submissions in the appeal of the ruling that the presidential term-limit is unconstitutional, has argued that the amendments to Article 90 of the Constitution that established the two-term limit did not necessitate a referendum.

Dear Editor, Public controversies over the availability of foreign currency in Guyana’s financial system, although infrequent, tend to be unhelpful to market participants and the public in general, since shortages hint at a depreciation of our local currency which, if protracted, generally leads to higher prices for imported goods. 

MADRID, (Reuters) – Neymar, Barcelona and Santos will stand trial on fraud and corruption charges over the transfer of the Brazilian forward after their appeals were turned down by Spain’s High Court yesterday.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – The US military is “not in Iraq to seize anybody’s oil”, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said, distancing himself from remarks by President Donald Trump, as he held talks with Iraqi leaders yesterday.

Fresh from landing a sponsorship deal with Yonex, Guyana’s national champion, 18-year-old Narayan Ramdhani, playing for Shuttlesport Badminton Academy, copped two third place finishes in Canada recently.

BERLIN (Reuters) – The German government has drafted a law to allow authorities to tap into the phone and computer data of asylum-seekers if there are doubts about their nationalities – an unusual move in a country where data protection is sacred.

(Trinidad Guardian) – Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and United States President Donald Trump on Sunday agreed that both administrations will continue to strengthen the relationship which exists between the two countries.

Magistrate Judy Latchman yesterday ruled that she would seek direction from the High Court on how to proceed with the application made to her by the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for the forfeiture of $9 million that was seized from convicted drug trafficker Barry Dataram and his brother, Troy Dataram.

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – Australia skipper Steve Smith will replace Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the Rising Pune Supergiants captain in this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL), the franchise said on Sunday.

Dear Editor, During the last elections campaign, one would recall President David Granger was a strong advocate of strengthening and improving the country’s education system, or in other words, his emphasis was more so on the quality of education.

Dear Editor, I am terrified about the future of Guyana with regard to its garbage disposal.

QUITO (Reuters) – Leftist government candidate Lenin Moreno was within striking distance of winning the first round of Ecuador’s presidential election yesterday, as the Andean country’s electoral body counted ballots late into the night.

OSLO, Feb 20 (Reuters) – Norway has joined an international initiative to raise millions of dollars to replace shortfalls left by US President Donald Trump’s ban on US-funded groups worldwide providing information on abortion.

Former Permanent Secretary of Ministry of the Presidency Omar Shariff and his common-law wife Savatri Hardeo will go on trial for allegedly failing to comply with a production order on March 6.

Kwakwani and Retrieve Raiders secured contrasting wins over Bankers Trust Falcons and Block 22 Flames respectively when the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) U23 Championship continued on Sunday.

Dear Editor, I’m calling on all my peeps who did not get their Mashramani gear as yet to do so.

BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombian authorities suspect Marxist ELN rebels were behind a bomb attack near Bogota’s bullring on Sunday, leaving dozens of police officers injured as they prepared for anti-bullfighting protests in Colombia’s capital.

PRESIDENT Desmond Hoyte has replied to critics who charge his government with “selling out” to foreign investors.

Between them, it took the coalition administration and the Private Sector Commission (PSC) a little over a day to confirm what had long been apparent, that is, that the relationship between the private sector and the government, post the 2015 general elections, has never really come to be characterized by any real warmth. 

  The Guyana Police Force (GPF) and Santos football clubs Sunday sealed semi-final berths in the Petra Organization/Limacol football championships after defeating Den Amstel and Mahaica Determinators respectively at the Victoria Ground.

As ‘B ‘Division’s investigators continue to investigate the murder of the Tain mother of four, they have been granted an extension to keep the alleged mastermind in custody until Thursday of this week.

  Showing how it’s done at the official launch of the Ministry of Public Health’s Mashramani costume yesterday.

The biggest bribery scandal in Latin America’s recent memory — the Odebrecht construction giant’s nearly $800 million in illegal payments to government officials in Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela and several other countries — should become a turning point in the region’s fight against corruption.

  GENEVA/KINSHASA (Reuters) – Democratic Republic of Congo must investigate credible reports of atrocities including summary executions by the armed forces, UN human rights chief Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein said yesterday.

One hundred and eighty-eight young adults from the Leonora Technical and Vocational Training Centre and the Roadside Baptist Church Skills Training Centre are now better prepared for the world of work, having successfully completed courses in the National Training Programme for Youth Empowerment (NTPYE).

The Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) yesterday urged persons selling ready-to-eat food to ensure that it is served at the right temperatures to avoid customers falling prey to food poisoning.

The trial of former PPP/C minister Dr Jennifer Westford and her former aide Margaret Cummings, who are charged with the theft of over $600 million from the government, continued last Wednesday, with further testimony from Alwayne Williams, the Accountant from the Ministry of the Presidency.