Daily Archive: Saturday, July 4, 2020

Citing a series of allegations, the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) has written GECOM Chair Claudette Singh calling for the immediate dismissal of Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield.

A Corentyne woman was on Friday placed into police custody after she was found with a baby who was reported missing from Bartica in early March.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – People relished their first pub drinks in more than three months, went to restaurants and finally got haircuts today as England took its biggest steps yet towards resumption of normal life after the coronavirus lockdown.

(Trinidad Express) Police are investigating the death of businessman Robert Soogrim who was found hanging at his home on Friday evening.

(Trinidad Express) Businessman Naeem Ali has labelled his arrest and subsequent charges for driving under the influence, resisting arrest, and assaulting police officers, as an abuse of power by police officers.

(Jamaica Observer) BRITAIN yesterday listed Jamaica among more than 50 countries exempted from its COVID-19 quarantine rules, but excluded the United States, which yesterday posted a record 53,000 new cases of the virus.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Forty-nine-year-old Abraham Lawrence, one of several mentally challenged persons, who had been locked away in state custody for two decades, was granted bail in the St Elizabeth Parish Court in Black River yesterday.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Michael Belnavis, the mayor and chairman of the St Ann’s Bay Municipal Corporation, is faced with a decision to relinquish his position or could possibly be unceremoniously toppled from his high seat.

The calendar has flipped to July, so its crunch time for undefeated super middleweight Lennox `Too Sharp’  Allen.

Following spikes in COVID-19 infections, the government yesterday announced that no one will be allowed into or out of Moruca in Region One and the mining area of Aranka/Arangoy Landing in Region Seven without the permission of the Minister of Public Health.

How tall of a task will it be for Ricky Skerritt and his team at Cricket West Indies (CWI) to support Dave Cameron’s ambitions of becoming the next Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC)? 

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque yesterday stressed that each action taken by the Community to help resolve Guyana’s elections crisis was “by invitation” and in an attempt to maintain regional grouping’s reputation as a bastion of democracy.

By Rudi Webster Sir Everton Weekes, the last surviving member of the legendary “Three Ws” – Worrell, Walcott and Weekes – died on Wednesday, July 1st at his home in Barbados at the age of 95.

Georgetown Magistrate Faith McGusty yesterday ordered that Chief Election Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield be summoned to appear before a city court after three private charges were filed against him over alleged chicanery in the tabulation of results from the March 2 polls.

Guyana has recorded six new cases of COVID-19, including the first in Region Eight, which means that the virus has now reached nine of Guyana’s ten Administrative regions.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Amid glowing tributes paid to the cricketing excellence of late West Indies legend Sir Everton Weekes, Prime Minister Mia Mottley and her Vincentian counterpart have drawn attention to his brilliance and how he was able to rise above hardship to become one of the greatest batsmen in the sport.

Guyana’s economy grew by 5.4% and remained stable in 2019, with key macroeconomic variables, such as the balance of payment deficits and debt to GDP ratio continuing to be favourable, according to the Ministry of Finance. 

Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) president Conde Riley, who called for Phil Simmons to be fired, said he was unaware that the West Indies coach was permitted to leave the team’s camp in England to attend the funeral of his father-in-law.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – A cricketer of class and a gentleman on and off the field, is how late legendary West Indies batsman Sir Everton Weekes has been remembered by many in the sport, as tributes continue to pour in following his death on Wednesday.

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) candidate Anil Nandlall has filed a complaint with the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) accusing the Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan of inciting racial hostilities among Guyanese during an appearance on television programme broadcast in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T).

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – International cricket will gingerly ease out of a 117-day shutdown in Southampton next week but the scars of the COVID-19 pandemic will be clearly evident at the Ageas Bowl.

The Private Sector Commission on Friday expressed its disappointment over the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and said it was concerned that Guyana’s National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) is not functioning in areas it is expected to.

After over three months of restricted indoor training due to the global pandemic, nine of TT’s potential Olympic qualifying boxers resume their full training regime in August.

To ensure that an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) does not occur in Mabaruma, the Mayor and Town Council will be recommending that travel be restricted to and from the town considering that the locality already has three active cases and the isolation facility that was built can only accommodate a limited number of persons.

West Indies interim batting coach Floyd Reifer has dismissed concerns about the team’s batting line-up, ahead of the Test series against England, insisting the unit is more than ready to adapt to difficult conditions.

For the fourth consecutive year, Guyana has maintained its Tier 1 ranking for its efforts to combat human trafficking,  although the government has been called upon to to implement and train law enforcement officials and front-line responders in written trauma-informed victim identification and referral procedures.

(BBC) Billie Jean King says the future for women’s tennis is “dynamite” on and off the court thanks to young stars like Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka.

The Guyana/Brazil Frontier Committee yesterday held a virtual extraordinary meeting to discuss challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and cross border movement between the two countries.

LONDON, (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would set out how sectors of the economy which remain in a coronavirus lockdown – such as indoor gyms, swimming pools and nail bars – would be allowed to reopen.

Dear Editor, There has been a disturbing and alarming rise in the number of persons affected by the deadly COVID-19 virus in Guyana.

As a result of the measures introduced to combat the coronavirus pandemic, the Guyana Relief Council (GRC) is currently unable to house fire victims at its “Yvonne Hinds Home of Hope.”

Regional cricket analyst Fazeer Mohammed has taken exception to recent comments made by Windies coach Roddy Estwick, who recently compared the current bowling unit to the famed West Indies pace attack of the past.

Dear Editor, We wish to refer to an article published in the June 29, 2020 issue of the Stabroek News under the caption `Women and Gender Equality Commission condemns attacks against Mottley’.

The man arrested after the Cummings Lodge apartment complex fire that left three persons dead has been released, Region Four (A) Commander Senior Superintendent Phillip Azore has confirmed.

BRASILIA,  (Reuters) – A federal court ordered the Brazilian government yesterday to expel an estimated 20,000 illegal gold miners from the Yanomami indigenous reservation to protect one of the most isolated major Amazon tribes from the spread of coronavirus.

The accused in the killing of visiting New York resident Alexie Gomes has been charged with the crime.

The body of the Assistant Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), Anil Persaud is expected to be cremated today.

RIO DE JANEIRO,  (Reuters) – Brazil registered 42,223 additional coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry said yesterday, bringing the total tally to 1,539,081, the second-worst outbreak in the world behind the United States.

Dear Editor, What the caretaker President and party are playing out cannot be taken lightly.

Just like the red lipstick she flaunts makes a statement in the way she looks, Michelle Playter has been doing the same on the runway, in makeup artistry, and most recently with music.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Lisa Hanna, a legislator and spokesperson for the Opposition People’s National Party’s (PNP) election campaign, has escaped criminal charges but has been slammed for nepotism and cronyism in the award of millions of dollars in contracts in St Ann in a ruling by the director of public prosecutions (DPP).

ISTANBUL,  (Reuters) – A Saudi consulate worker in Istanbul told a Turkish court yesterday he had been asked to light a tandoor oven less than an hour after Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the building where he was killed.

It is not easy coming up with ideas as to what to cook to eat on a daily basis.

The Roger Harper-led Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) will once again use the virtual communication platform, Zoom, to keep city cricketers somewhat involved in the game. 

Dear Editor, NICIL notes with tremendous concern the press release issued by Navigant Builders, Inc.

A male cyclist is now dead after colliding with a minibus at Nonpareil, on the East Coast of Demerara, on Thursday afternoon.

(Trinidad Express) General Elections will be held on August 10. Speaking at the 35th sitting of the House of Representatives yesterday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced the date.

People reach out to friends, family, and past lovers all the time.

Dear Editor, I note that my friend and CARICOM Brother, Dr.

(Reuters) – Alabama and six other U.S. states reported record increases in coronavirus cases yesterday as Florida’s most populous county imposed a curfew ahead of the Independence Day weekend and Arkansas joined a push toward mandating mask-wearing in public.

SAO PAULO, (Reuters) – Brazilian health regulator Anvisa on Friday approved clinical trials of a potential coronavirus vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac, according to an official gazette publication.

An investigation by the Guyana Fire Service has revealed that the recent fire that destroyed the living quarters of doctors at Mabaruma, Region One, was electrical in origin.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – England all-rounder Sam Curran can resume training ahead of next week’s first test against West Indies after testing negative for COVID-19, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said yesterday.

A young Guyanese woman residing in New York has launched a website selling makeup and other products. 

BUENOS AIRES,  (Reuters) – Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina are the Latin American countries that earned the best grades for their response to the coronavirus, according to a poll conducted in the region and released on Friday, while Brazil was tagged as the worst performer.

The Rights of the Child Commission (RCC) is urging all of society to do its utmost to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the nation’s children, especially in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

BOGOTA,  (Reuters) – The Colombian army said yesterday it fired 31 of its members accused of involvement with sexual abuse or violence against minors, amid recent accusations of sex abuse of young girls by soldiers.

Dear Editor, Sir Everton Weekes, the last of the three famous W’s passed away quietly last Tuesday some four and a half years short of a century of life. 

(Reuters) – The International Cricket Council (ICC) will not launch an investigation into match fixing claims linked with the 2011 World Cup final due to a lack of supporting evidence, anti-corruption unit general manager Alex Marshall said yesterday.

In 1993, Richard Ben Cramer finished the most detailed account of modern American politics ever published.

(Reuters) – Taking a knee is not enough and legislative change is required to battle racism in society, according to West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite.

QUITO,  (Reuters) – A small tailings dam associated with a mine run by Ecuadorean firm Austro Gold has collapsed, Ecuador’s government said yesterday, sending mining waste into a nearby river.

The Miss Guyana Teen Scholarship Pageant (MGTSP) has shortlisted 16 candidates from the 41 who applied to participate in its 2020 Digital University, an online initiative designed to re-work its scholarship programme into a digital platform owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

LONDON, (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Netflix said yesterday it will continue to stream the Polish film “365 Days” amid calls for its withdrawal including by British singer Duffy who said it glamorised “the brutal reality of sex trafficking, kidnapping and rape”.

An accident along the Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara public road on Friday evening left three cars totalled and another badly damaged.

Dear Editor, It has become fashionable of recent for some political commentators/analysts to advocate that “shared governance” (SG) should replace the Westminster style “winner-takes-all” (WTA) system.

There has been an upsurge in coronavirus cases in Guyana. As of the time of writing, there have been 250 confirmed cases, 117 recoveries and 14 deaths.

The United Nations Resident Coordinator here Mikiko Tanaka has urged political leaders and their supporters to refrain from acts that could incite hostility and violence as the country awaits an elections-related ruling by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) next Wednesday.