Daily Archive: Thursday, August 16, 2018

President David Granger (left in front pew), yesterday, attended the home-going service for the late Ranwell Jordan, former Mayor of Georgetown, which was held at the Trinity Methodist Church.  

(TRINIDAD EXPRESS) TWENTY-ONE thousand, two hundred and fifty students who wrote the 2018 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination will be able to access their results from 10 p.m.

(JAMAICA OBSERVER) The Government has reported an increase in the pass rate for students in public schools who sat the compulsory subjects of Mathematics and English Language in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) this year, when compared to 2017.

(Trinidad Express) The Law Association of T&T (LATT)  has been given the all clear to  continue its investigation into allegations that this country’s third highest office holder “corruptly and knowingly used his office in concert with convicted felons for their benefit”.

The Police say they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a male Vietnamese whose lifeless body was discovered about 7 pm  yesterday in the compound of a construction site where he was working and residing.

(Reuters) – Aretha Franklin, the preacher’s daughter whose powerful voice made her the long-reigning “Queen of Soul” with such hit songs as “Respect” and “Chain of Fools,” died today at the age of 76, officials said.

MUMBAI,  (Reuters) – Former India cricket captain Ajit Wadekar, who led the team to historic test series victories in West Indies and England in 1971, has died at the age of 77 after a prolonged illness.

(JAMAICA OBSERVER) WHEN 13-year-old Shanoya Wray left home quietly on the night of July 15, her relatives — who quickly reported her missing — had no clue she would not return home alive.

(TRINIDAD NEWSDAY) A Penal businessman was shot at close range by a bandit during a robbery at his jewellery store on Tuesday morning.

Charging that Attorney General (AG) Basil Williams SC has deliberately avoided being served a copy of the order made by Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George in relation to the operationalisation of the Judicial Review Act (JRA), his predecessor Anil Nandlall said yesterday that contempt proceedings against the AG will be filed today.

A vendor was shot dead last night on Bourda Street after he allegedly put up resistance to three men who attempted to rob him of the jewellery he was wearing.

The executive of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) has agreed to meet with the Ministry of Education today at 2 pm on protracted wage talks but union President Mark Lyte maintains that strike action is still scheduled to begin on August 27.

A disc jockey, who was charged in May with trafficking 158 pounds of marijuana, which was found in an abandoned car in front of the Royal Castle outlet on Sheriff Street, Georgetown, was yesterday sentenced to four years and six months for the crime.

Following the AFC’s decision to contest local government elections on its own, political scientist Henry Jeffrey has accused the party of betraying the agenda of the people who had supported it while commentator Ralph Ramkarran sees it as a sign of the likely demise of the governing coalition by the time 2020 rolls around.

A 20-year-old man was yesterday sentenced to 18 years in jail, weeks after pleading guilty to the rape of a then seven year-old girl.

Estevao Costa Marques, the Brazilian miner who was fatally shot by a Police constable on Saturday in the Puruni District, Cuyuni/Mazaruni sustained a gunshot to his head, an autopsy confirmed.

Head of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) Horace James said yesterday that the offer made by Hong Kong Golden Telecom Limited (HKGT) in relation to the outstanding US$5 million for the purchase of government shares in the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) was declined as it was found to be “totally acceptable”.

Relatives and friends of Jason De Florimonte, the driver who was shot and killed earlier this month by his neighbour, a city hotelier, last evening held a candlelight vigil in front his home which they said was a silent protest for justice.

For the first time in the history of Guyana’s football preparation, heart monitors were utilized on each player during the Golden Jaguars “Train and Play” being held in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.

A 48-year-old vendor, who is charged with arson and threatening behaviour, was yesterday released on $80,000 bail.

Past table tennis players several of whom were national champions will take on the current crop of national players in a one-day extravaganza this Saturday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall from 4pm.

When the third edition of the three-day Caribbean Juniors and Schoolboys Boxing Championships is staged from tomorrow, the National Sports Commission (NSC) will be a cornerman for the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA).

The Route 42 Bus Park has been temporarily relocated to Bugle Street, as the Mayor and City Council continues to search for a permanent location, Town Clerk Royston King said yesterday.  “Well as you know some three weeks ago another portion of the Stabroek Market roof collapsed, endangering the lives of some of our legal tenants who operate there.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Woeful St Lucia Stars plummeted to their 14th defeat on the trot, going down to Jamaica Tallawahs by six wickets in the seventh match of the Caribbean Premier League here Tuesday night.

BRASILIA,  (Reuters) – Brazil’s Workers Party registered jailed former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva yesterday as its presidential candidate while he sat in prison serving a 12-year graft sentence expected to block his candidacy.

Despite being capped almost three weeks ago, the Diamond well has erupted again after a pipe likely became clogged with sand and mud, says Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Senior Petroleum Technologist Mitchell Prince.

The Ministry of Public Security is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a 16-year-old who escaped one week ago from the Juvenile Holding Centre, Sophia where he was being kept in custody.

The East Coast Cricket Committee (ECCC) last Friday concluded its annual week-long summer camp at the Ogle Sports Club’s East Coast Demerara.

SAO PAULO,  (Reuters) – Brazil’s Samarco Mineração SA expects to pay up to 2 billion reais ($512.5 million) this year to 19,000 families affected by the 2015 mining disaster in the state of Minas Gerais, the foundation created to pay the victims said yesterday.

A labourer was yesterday granted $50,000 bail after being charged with armed robbery.

The country’s top cyclists will take to the coast of the Cinderella County, Essequibo Sunday to participate in the second annual Urban Benjamin Memorial Road Race sponsored by Gomes Mining Company.

Dear Editor, V.S. Naipaul, our phenomenal West Indian son, has resigned leaving behind a substantial space in our society, that we can only hope would one day be filled again.

NEW DELHI,  (Reuters) – India will launch its first manned space mission by 2022 and roll out a health insurance scheme from September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said yesterday in his last Independence Day speech ahead of next year’s general election.

BEIJING,  (Reuters) – The University of North Florida will close a campus branch of a Chinese-run cultural institute, the latest U.S.

TALLINN,  (Reuters) – Atletico Madrid finally got their own back on Real Madrid in European competition by lifting the UEFA Super Cup yesterday, snatching a 4-2 win over their city rivals thanks to goals from midfielders Saul Niguez and Koke in extra time.

An Albouystown teen was yesterday released on $100,000 bail after being charged with two counts of armed robbery.

Dear Editor, The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Two is saddened to learn about the passing of our young scholar Yogeeta Persaud.

A post-mortem examination which was done yesterday revealed that the Tain farmer whose body was discovered along Kilmarnock Village, Corentyne Public Road during the wee hours of Monday died due to multiple injuries consistent with a motor vehicle accident.

Dear Editor, 1. What wisdom can you find greater than kindness.

(Trinidad Guardian) Acting Attorney General and Member of Parliament for Laventille West Fitzgerald Hinds was given an unceremonious bath with flood water on Tuesday by constituents in Beetham Gardens and chased from the area.

CARACAS,  (Reuters) – At one of Caracas’ biggest public hospitals, most bathrooms are closed.

Support for the second Guinness Cage Street-ball championships continue to increase with the ‘Give Another Chance Foundation’ becoming the latest sponsor to throw its weight behind the event, donating a large quantity of jerseys on Monday to the coordinators.

Dear Editor, A number of individuals, whether lobbyists for government or acting in their private capacity, attempt to dampen the GTU’s proposal that was agreed through the established Task Force by asserting that what is being asked for is too much, either in percentage terms or nominally.  

(Trinidad Guardian) Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on Tuesday accused certain individuals of trying to stir up racial hatred in the country over a People’s National Movement (PNM) skit.

HAVANA, (Reuters) – A leading Cuban dissident said he was freed from jail yesterday, 12 days after his arrest for attempted murder following a car crash in which he hit and injured an official from the Communist-run island’s interior ministry.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC – Two-time reigning champions, Trinidad and Tobago had to settle for bronze as Suriname snapped a long drought to win the men’s Carib-bean Volleyball Championship for the first time here Tuesday night.

Twelve-year-old Ahkeel Marks has won the first VOICE’s Elsie Marks Memorial Storytelling Competition which was held on Saturday, 11th August 2018 at the Queenstown Primary School in Region Two.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Embattled St Lucia Stars captain Kieron Pollard has insisted his struggling side still possess the self belief to turn around their ill-fated campaign in the Caribbean Premier League.

Armed bandits on Monday morning invaded an East Bank Demerara business  after tying up  the security guards on duty and three men including an employee of the business have since been arrested, one of whom confessed to staging the crime.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Prime Minister Andrew Holness says other institutions in the society will have to look at their dress code policies as the government embarks on its own review.

Dear Editor, Transfer of cash payments from the oil revenue should be considered seriously.

The Central Housing and Planning Authority [CHPA] sponsored Inter-Agency Emancipation Domino Competition will commence tomorrow at the agency’s Brickdam and United Nations Place Office.

CHICAGO,  (Reuters) – U.S. and Mexican law enforcement authorities will set up a joint team based in Chicago targeting the leaders and finances of drug cartels that ship opioids into the United States, aiming to stanch a spike in overdose deaths, officials said yesterday.

The National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) is helping ten households in the Carib community of Baramita in Region One to establish and run kitchen gardens, according to the Department of Public Information (DPI).

Dear Editor, There is a report that the government’s spending to fight HIV increased by 150% in 2016, compared to 2015.

In his early 50s, the ailing “Ragoo” knew that he might not last through the tough journey from British Guiana (BG) to India, yet he optimistically insisted on returning home.

(Reuters) – England all-rounder Ben Stokes has shown great mental toughness during his 11-month trial and he should be welcomed back into the test team after being cleared of affray, former national team captain Nasser Hussain has said.

On his 1971 album ‘Sinatra & Company’, American singer Frank Sinatra helped popularize the 1970 Joe Raposo song “Being Green”.

Dear Editor, In my letter to the media dated August 13, 2018 and captioned in the Stabroek News as `The time is now for the GTU to act’, I mentioned the fact that President Granger’s Government can easily find G$1 billion annually to travel internationally but cannot find the same amount of money for the teachers. 

ASUNCION,  (Reuters) – Former senator Mario Abdo Benitez took office as Paraguay’s new president on Wednesday, pledging to cut poverty and fight corruption after winning national elections in April, but major changes to economic policy were not expected.

At approximately 6 am yesterday morning, a fault in the Grounding circuit of the Guyana  Power and Light (GPL) Generation Plant at Vreed-en-Hoop resulted in shutdown of the generators in operation.

President David Granger (centre), yesterday, met with Baroness Valerie Amos (second from left) and Lord Waheed Alli of the UK House of Lords (second from right) at State House.