Daily Archive: Wednesday, April 5, 2017

CARACAS,  (Reuters) – Venezuela’s opposition lawmakers, some carrying injuries from this week’s protests, on Wednesday sought the dismissal of Supreme Court judges whom they accuse of propping up a socialist dictatorship.

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Barry Manilow has spoken publicly for the first time about being gay, saying he feared he would disappoint his mostly female fan base had he come out decades ago.

Police ranks in ‘D’ Division are making stringent efforts to quickly apprehend a man who allegedly strangled his reputed wife, in his Parika, East Bank Essequibo home, about 07:3 am today.

BEIJING/TAWANG, India,  (Reuters) – China said today that India’s decision to host Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on a contested stretch of land on the India-China border would cause serious damage to relations between the two countries.

Three men were yesterday each sentenced to 19 years in jail after pleading guilty to a series of 2009 crimes, including manslaughter, the attempted murder of policemen and setting a section of the Supreme Court on fire.

A young couple are calling on health officials to investigate the medical staff at the West Demerara Regional Hospital, whom they say did not give their premature baby a “fair chance” to live.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Guyana Police Force has launched an investigation into the operations of the Centre for Information Technology (CIT) of the University of Guyana (UG), following allegations of theft of equipment from the Centre and misconduct of staff members.

The former bank manager who was wanted by the police for questioning in relation to a recent multi-million-dollar fraud at the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) branch in Bartica, yesterday turned herself over to the police.

Once the David Granger administration delivers a “concrete, realistic and cost effective plan” for Guyana’s transition to clean and renewable energy sources, the country will get access to funds now held by Norway and the Inter-American Deve-lopment Bank (IDB), according to Special Envoy and Director of the Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative Per Fredrik Pharo.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says it has noted media reports on the charges of alleged bank fraud against licenced gold dealer Saddiqi Rafeek Mohamed Rasul and the alleged linkages with personnel at the Guyana Gold Board.

Some commercial banks in the city are still finding it difficult to meet even modest requests by customers seeking to buy US dollars and of six banks that were visited by this newspaper yesterday, only two had US currency for sale.

After four weeks of no work, East Demerara cane planters yesterday appealed to fellow workers to “stand ready” to lend support as they anticipate the closure of the East Demerara Estate which straddles Enmore and LBI.

“Exorbitant” rates and the fact that Guyanese were already in charge were key reasons behind the government’s decision to end its arrangement with Finnish firm Wartsila for the management GPL power plants.

The police are on the hunt for four men who attacked businessman Mahadeo Shiwpaul and his family at their Good Hope, East Coast Demerara home on Sunday and carted off an undisclosed amount of cash.

The Guyana Press Association (GPA) yesterday accused members of government of seeking to “dictate” the editorial content of the state media.

University of Guyana (UG) Vice-Chancellor Professor Ivelaw Griffith says the planned increase in tuition fees is an overdue decision that is intended to widen the institution’s revenue base so that it can deliver the best services.

Head of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) Dr Oudho Homenauth said the institute will be monitoring all imported coconut planting materials from Mexico after concerns were raised by farmers about the lethal yellowing disease.

A West Coast Demerara man was on Monday remanded to prison after being charged with stealing over $2.6 million in cash and valuables from a pensioner.

From its abrupt arrival in 2008, the IPL has become the world’s pre-eminent Twenty20 league.

A trial date has been set for Haleno Luiz, the Brazilian pastor who is charged with causing the death of a motorcyclist last month.

By Royston Alkins Devendra Bishoo, the lone Guyanese in the West Indies squad to face Pakistan in the first One-Day International on Friday said yesterday that he was excited to be back in the West Indies set-up and expects things to go well.

The trial of former General Manager of the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (NGMC) Nizam Hassan, who is accused of approving payments for substandard work on the rehabilitation of the company’s Robb Street headquarters, began yesterday.

Heavyweight clashes highlight the semi-finals of the Milo U18 Secondary Schools football championships as two-time defending champions Chase Academy battle Sir Leon Lessons while Masters Academy will oppose the Morgan Learning Centre (MLC) at the Ministry of Education ground today.

Dear Editor, I have hesitated to engage in the ongoing debate in the print media on whether the VAT being imposed on educational services extends to fees charged by the University of Guyana.

A Cuyuni miner was allegedly murdered after an altercation with another miner over missing gold and police have since arrested one man and are searching for a second.

A summons was on Monday issued for Regan Rodrigues, also known as ‘Grey Boy,’ who is to face new evidence in a preliminary inquiry for the murder of political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing.

By Royston Alkins Saturday and Sunday mornings for the average teenager are either spent in bed or in one of Guyana’s shopping malls having a casual gaff with friends.

Dear Editor, On April 1, 2017, you carried a letter in your column from former Attorney General Anil Nandlall captioned, ‘The judiciary is under siege’ in which he accuses the Minister of Finance of cutting the judiciary’s budget.

Kirsten Gomes, Abosaide Cadogan and Madison Fernandes secured wins in Category-C when the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) sanctioned Toucan Industries Junior Skill Level Championship commenced Monday night.

BEIRUT,  (Reuters) – A suspected Syrian government chemical attack killed scores of people, including children, in the northwestern province of Idlib yesterday, a monitoring group, medics and rescue workers in the rebel-held area said.

Million-dollar bids were opened yesterday at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) for the rehabilitation of several police stations across the country, under the Ministry of Public Security.

Dear Editor, I have observed that the KN reporter, Brushell Blackman, has once again misled the public and in this case, he appears to have also misled the President of this country.

Scotiabank in collaboration with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has launched its third Vision Achiever LivePitch Business Plan competition for small business owners.

(Reuters) – For the first time ever, a U.S. appeals court on Tuesday ruled that federal civil rights law protects lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees from discrimination in the workplace.

Dear Editor,        I am writing in relation to the decision by government to impose a 14% Value Added Tax (VAT) on private education fees for students all across Guyana.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC — West Indies head coach Stuart Law says the regional side will have to raise their game and play “smarter” cricket if they are to get the better of Pakistan in the three-match one-day series starting here Friday.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Title-holders Trinidad and Tobago will meet arch-rivals Barbados in the opening game of this month’s Women’s Regional Super50, in a tournament designed to further strengthen the West Indies Women’s squad for their campaign in the ICC World Cup in June.

The University of Guyana (UG) launched an Occupational Safety and Health Exhibition at the Turkeyen Campus on Monday, under the theme ‘Optimize the collection and use of Occupational safety and health data.’

CARACAS,  (Reuters) – Venezuelan security forces quelled masked protesters with tear gas, water cannons and pepper spray in Caracas yesterday after blocking an opposition rally against socialist President Nicolas Maduro.

Dear Editor, I couldn’t believe what I was reading when I got the Combat newspapers in my inbox. 

QUITO, (Reuters) – Ecuadorean leftist Lenin Moreno won Sunday’s presidential election, the country’s electoral council said yesterday, after a tight contest with his right-wing opponent.

The government says it is prepared to engage stakeholders in a “frank and open” discussion regarding the 14 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on private tuition.

MUMBAI, India, CMC — Kolkata Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir has conceded that replacing the banned Andre Russell will be a difficult task but has urged his side to rise above the West Indies all-rounder’s absence and see it as an opportunity to perform.

Dear Editor, My name is Mangree Basdeo and I worked at GuySuCo’s Wales Estate for thirty-seven years.

Dear Editor, Amidst all the negative news emanating from the health sector, it was refreshing to read of one hospital that proved all was not lost in the sector (‘Mahaicony Hospital records, drugs intact’ Guyana Chronicle,  April 1).

KARACHI, Pakistan, CMC — Former convenor of selectors, Iqbal Qasim, has warned against rushing 18-year-old leg-spinner Shadab Khan into the Test series against West Indies.

Alvin Rudder, who was recently convicted for sexually abusing an eight-year-old girl, has been placed in solitary confinement after he was attacked on Sunday at the Camp Street Prison.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Congressional intelligence committee Democrats said yesterday they would soon be allowed to view documents at the centre of a political firestorm surrounding the investigation of possible links between President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia.

TEPIC, Mexico,  (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Standing in El Salvador’s Congress as the Central American state voted to become the first in the world to ban metal mining, Vidalina Morales’ elation was muted by the memory of four activist colleagues killed during a 12-year campaign.

Dear Editor, I refer to the article titled, ‘Investment must be geared to local employment -President tells Chinese investors’ (SN, April 3). 

The Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO) is once again calling on the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to decentralize its services, citing its successful use of decentralization to help 50 of its members gain new mining lands as an example of what can be achieved.

BRASILIA,  (Reuters) – Brazil’s top electoral court yesterday decided to hear new witnesses in an illegal campaign financing case that could remove President Michel Temer from office, delaying any verdict in the trial until at least May.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Alastair Cook is confident his relationship with newly appointed test captain Joe Root will be “absolutely fine” and the former England skipper has assured his successor he will get all the support he needs in the role.

PRETORIA,  (Reuters) – South Africa’s biggest trade union called on President Jacob Zuma to quit yesterday, in the wake of a cabinet reshuffle that has cost the country one investment-grade rating and deepened a rift within the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

Dear Editor, Darren Bravo has again been excluded from a West Indian ODI team.

(Trinidad Guardian) Residents of St Rose and Belgrade Streets in Laventille on Monday lamented how their serene neighbourhood had been shattered by a double murder, after two men were killed in a vehicle parked in the area.

WELLINGTON,  (Reuters) – Former New Zealand batsman Peter Fulton retired yesterday after a 16-year first-class career that was highlighted by two stints in the international arena.

On Sunday whilst the West Indies were capitulating to Pakistan in the fourth T20 international at the Queen’s Park Oval, sporting fans throughout the world were privileged to witness two of the greatest tennis players of the modern era, arguably of all time, in action at the Miami Open.

Three men were remanded to prison on Monday on a wounding charge after a court heard that the young victim may be left disfigured.

As reported last week, the headmistress of Central High School, Ms.