Daily Archive: Sunday, September 27, 2020

President Irfaan Ali today said that around 30% of those employed in the tourism sector have lost their jobs and another 36% had been furloughed or placed on unpaid leave as a result of the fallout from COVID-19.

Guyana’s COVID-19 fatality figure now stands at 78. The latest fatalities are a 55 -year-old female from Demerara-Mahaica (Region 4) who died while receiving care at the Ministry of Health medical facility.

BRASILIA, (Reuters) – The largest city in Brazil’s Amazon has closed bars and river beaches to contain a fresh surge of coronavirus cases, a trend that may dash theories that Manaus was one of the world’s first places to reach collective, or herd, immunity.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Beauty queen-turned-lawmaker Lisa Hanna has emerged as the front runner to take over the reins of the floundering People’s National Party (PNP), according to a leaked internal poll commissioned by the party.

The set-up for “Another Round” feels like it’s lifted from a punchline of a very good joke.

  There’s a scene in the middle of “Concrete Cowboy” where the film seems to be firing on all cylinders.

While maintaining that his government is committed to improving the lives of all workers, President Irfaan Ali yesterday suggested that recent protests staged by frontline health care workers over demands for better wages and salaries and conditions were being instigated by persons seeking to exploit current circumstances.

The police are probing the death of a two-year-old child, who succumbed on Friday, almost one month after he allegedly consumed milk laced with a methamphetamine.

President Irfaan Ali has said a planned 5,000 turn-key homes project will create at least 25,000 jobs within just one year as part of the 50,000 new jobs he promised to create within his five-year term.

In a way, Kornél Mundruczó’s “Pieces of a Woman” feels doomed by its own title – a film that works better in pieces and moments, than it does as a sustained narrative.

Government has begun the distribution of the promised $25,000 cash grant for COVID-19 relief, according to President Irfaan Ali.

The use of antiviral medication remdesivir to treat on COVID-19 patients in Guyana has started as part of the World Health Organization’s Solidarity trial and Head of Medical Services at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation Dr Mahendra Carpen has said the results have been promising.

When Ovid Williams gained a place at Queen’s College, English was his second language and the communication barrier and home isolation saw him turning to the guitar, which resulted in him becoming one of Guyana’s well-known and accomplished musicians.

Below you will find four stories written by me but composed of the hopes, fears and dreams of fellow Guyanese just like yourself.

DERBY, England, CMC – Deandra Dottin’s second half-century in three innings proved futile as West Indies Women produced another haphazard run chase in a 20-run defeat to England Women, to slip to another series defeat here yesterday.

A 62-year-old pedal cyclist, who was struck down in a hit-and-run accident along the Liliendaal Railway Embankment on Friday night, succumbed at a city hospital early yesterday morning.

With her Guyana 2050 Scenarios Project, Sustainable Development Master student Ana Correia hopes to get Guyanese thinking and talking about the country’s future.

President of the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA), Orin Ferrier says he will not seek re-election at the WDFA’s Electoral Congress, scheduled for the first quarter of 2021.

As the criminal investigation into the attempts to manipulate the results of the March 2nd polls widens, Chief Election Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield was yesterday arrested in connection with allegations of criminal conduct and subsequently released on station bail after invoking his right to remain silent.

Shubman Gill and Eoin Morgan starred as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secured two points following their seven-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the eighth match of the Dream11 Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

Two more deaths and 16 additional novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases have been confirmed by the Ministry of Health.

Six Guyanese organisations that focus on women and gender and LGBTQ issues are now among the 27 Caribbean beneficiaries of direct funding from the Canadian government’s Women’s Voice and Leadership (WVL) Project.

West Indies seamer, Shamilia Connell, yesterday said that she was disappointed at losing the series and blamed the bowling department.

In commemoration of Indigenous Heritage Month 2020, the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) has organised an online video competition to highlight the resilience shown by Guyana’s Indigenous Peoples during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finding evidence of poor performance and substandard works on a number of capital projects, President Irfaan Ali on Friday announced that the Attorney General’s Chambers will be tasked with conducting a review of projects that will hold contractors, supervisors and project unit heads accountable for lapses.  “I have reviewed many projects, where basic elements of project management, like the upkeep of project ledgers, minutes and notes guiding discussions are missing or deliberately not taken, so as to avoid scrutiny,” a statement from the Office of the President (OP) quoted the President as saying.

SYDNEY, (Reuters) – Cricket Australia’s world champion women’s team saw off New Zealand yesterday in the first international cricket game to be played in either country since March.

Dear Editor, Guyana’s territorial/maritime integrity and sovereignty have definitely been enhanced by the Guyana/ USA agreements on narcotics interdiction, on satellite surveillance of our Exclusive Economic Zone, and on expanded trade and investment.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – President Donald Trump yesterday nominated Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, and she pledged to become a justice in the mold of the late staunch conservative Antonin Scalia – another milestone in Trump’s rightward shift of the top U.S.

Sonja Sampson, a coach and trainer with non-governmental organisation Special-ists in Sustained Youth Development and Research (SSYDR Inc.),

From Monday, print material for students to study and continue learning from home will be available at schools and Neighbour-hood Democratic Councils (NDC) nationwide.

The Boston Celtics erased a halftime deficit and cut into their series deficit with a Jayson Tatum-led third-quarter surge Friday night, staying alive in the Eastern Conference Finals with a run-away 121-108 victory over the Miami Heat on Friday night near Orlando.

BOGOTA, (Reuters) – Coronavirus cases in Colombia, which is nearly a month into a national reopening after a long quarantine, surpassed 800,000 yesterday, a day after deaths from COVID-19 climbed above 25,000.

Through access to social media, we can easily connect with our family and friends from all parts of the world.

Saying that risks to child mental health and well-being due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic are “considerable,” acting United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Country Representative Irfan Akhtar has highlighted the need for a full understanding of the extent to which children are affected to ensure their protection.

Dear Editor, According to information accessed from the Ministry of Health website on Sept.

MANILA, (Reuters) – Philippine boxing champion Manny Pacquiao will face former two-weight UFC champion Conor McGregor in the ring next year, and part of proceeds from the fight will go to coronavirus victims in his country, his office said yesterday.

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – Three popular Bollywood actresses were questioned yesterday in a drug probe that has sent shockwaves through India’s film industry, already hurt by COVID-19 lockdowns.

Dear Editor, I propose to write CXC subjects privately. I would be grateful if the Exams Division of the Ministry of Education can let private candidates know, clearly, step by step, how they can enter for the examination.

As the gyms and fitness centres here remain closed, I know most people and regular gym goers are struggling a bit at the moment and with good reason. 

A Guyanese woman has drowned after a boating mishap near the south eastern coast of Saint Maarten just over a week ago.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – The number of British entrepreneurs looking to “buy” citizenship from countries offering visa-free access to the European Union has risen sharply, investment migration firms say, as prospects of a post-Brexit trade deal between Britain and the bloc darken.

(Trinidad Express) Kidnap victim Mary Ali was found on the roadway, approximately six kilometres from her home, at daybreak on Saturday.

There’s a scene towards the end of “Misbehaviour” that the film has been working to.

A construction worker who was injured in an accident along the Friendship Public Road, on the East Coast of Demerara, succumbed to his injuries last Sunday.

Dear Editor, The recent reported dire condition of the Venezuelan oil & gas industry is worrisome for Guyana.

Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) official Loris Nathoo believes that the ChessKid programme initiated by the federation could impact the lives of some 1,000 children by 2022.

JERUSALEM, (Reuters) – Crowds protested outside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s home yesterday demanding he quit over his handling of COVID-19 – many angered by what they said were government attempts to use lockdown measures to stifle demonstrations.

Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill has assured that the Sherriff Street/Mandela Avenue road expansion project should be almost completed by the end of the year He gave the assurance to the Commit-tee of Supply during the consideration of the 2020 budget estimates last Wednesday.

(Trinidad Express) Trinidad and Tobago faces the threat of “twin viruses,” as it enters the yearly flu-season, adding the threat of the H1N1 virus to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dear Editor, “Developing talent is a science not luck and chance” (Hon.

Last Update: 633.03                          Movement: 0.87% Current Update: 638.51                    YTD Movement: 5.37%LUCAS STOCK INDEX The Lucas Stock Index (LSI) fell 0.74% during the third period of trading in September 2020.

Introduction Today’s column offers a summary evaluation of results from Rystad Energy’s modelling of the cost of delay (COD) of the Payara project, as revealed in last week’s column.

Despite the fact that in May nearly all territories had asked the Caribbean Examinations Council to rethink their proposals for this year’s CSEC and CAPE exams, their concerns were not taken on board. 

MEXICO CITY, (Reuters) – Mexican authorities have issued dozens of arrest warrants for police and soldiers whom they believe may have participated in the 2014 disappearance of 43 Mexican college students, head of the investigation said yesterday.

Throughout history, tales of the Indies were often as romantic and sensationally exotic in appeal as they were superficial, but today playwrights produce work of more depth.

The Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has made around $73 million available to Guyana in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Growing up in Guyana in the 1950s, we were not blessed with the plethora of daily stimulus and detailed information on a range of subjects that people growing up today are fortunate to have. 

A police constable, his fiancé and three minor children were injured on Friday after the car in which they were travelling reportedly suffered a blowout on Friday night along the Adventure Public Road, Linden-Soesdyke Highway.

The Berbice Slave Rebellion, which began on February 23, 1763, is a seminal event in Guyanese history, commemorated by Guyana’s most famous work of sculpture at the south eastern entrance to the Georgetown city centre.

Dear Editor, Mr. Anthony Mekdeci, in his letter published on the 23rd of September in SN `Investment by Exxon in Airport’s development and their substantial aviation operations adds significant value to OAI’ sought to address some key issues which I highlighted in my letter of September 23rd.

Intermittently through the year, and especially during memorable times up the immense and soul-redeeming Essequibo, I like to read Shelley – as we all should do from time to time since he is pre-eminently the poet of hope.

(Trinidad Guardian) Caribbean Airlines appears to be flying into some strong headwinds as the airline warns of turbulence and proposes temporary salary reductions for all staff beginning next month to try and stay in the air.

Lawmen on Friday captured a West Coast Berbice murder suspect at Cotton Tree Village, West Coast Berbice. 

(Reuters) – A lower supply of a certain type of immune cell in older people that is critical to fighting foreign invaders may help explain their vulnerability to severe COVID-19, scientists say.

LIMURU, Kenya (Reuters) – Rotten bananas? Mushy avocados? Pulped oranges? Talash Huijbers wants them all.

CAIRO (Reuters) – Archaeologists in Egypt have discovered 27 coffins at the ancient necropolis of Saqqara, a burial ground that is also home to one of the world’s oldest pyramids, the ministry of tourism and antiquities said.

DELFT (Reuters) – A Dutch start-up has created a biodegradable “living coffin” made of a fungus, instead of wood, which it says can convert a decomposing human body into key nutrients for plants.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Scientists are providing a fuller understanding of the essential role that sleep plays in brain health, identifying an abrupt transition at about 2.4 years of age when its primary purpose shifts from brain building to maintenance and repair.