Daily Archive: Sunday, January 17, 2021

Fifty-seven new COVID-19 cases were reported today by the Ministry of Health.

BRASILIA/RIO DE JANEIRO,  (Reuters) – Brazilian health regulator Anvisa today approved emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines from China’s Sinovac Biotech and Britain’s AstraZeneca, kicking off immunizations as the pandemic enters a deadly second wave.

KHARTOUM, (Reuters) – At least 48 people died and 97 people were injured in a militia attack on the West Darfur city of El Geneina yesterday, Sudan’s state news agency SUNA said, citing a local doctors union.

KABUL, (Reuters) – Unidentified gunmen killed two female judges from Afghanistan’s Supreme Court this morning, police said, adding to a wave of assassinations in Kabul and other cities while government and Taliban representatives have been holding peace talks in Qatar.

 (Reuters) – Debutant Washington Sundar and number eight batsman Shardul Thakur conjured a defiant rearguard action on Sunday to drag India back into the contest in the deciding fourth test against Australia being played in Brisbane.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Devon Williams, who now also goes by the name Apostle the Major One Prophet Success, said his life before Christ seemed to have taken all the wrong turns and light at the end of tunnel seemed very dark.

While he supports gas from Exxon’s wells being brought onshore for domestic use, former Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr Vincent Adams says that a rigid Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) must be undertaken and he called on the public to “actively participate” when it is initiated.

The Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) has said it is awaiting a response from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on replacing the designated candidate for its seat on the Region Eight Regional Democratic Council (RDC),  which is expected to pave the way for the body to be finally sworn in after months  of delay.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly is currently in the process of identifying new commissioners for the Public Procurement Commission (PPC).

Senior Counsel Clifton Mortimer Llewellyn John, who had a legal career spanning over 50 years and had been one of the campaigners for Guyana’s independence, passed away yesterday morning.

Fed-up of waiting for official word from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) regarding halted gold mining operations in Campbelltown, Region Eight, the Village Council has written to the body and informed that all mining activities will be restarted with or without official approval.

APNU+AFC parliamentarian Amanza Walton-Desir has moved to the National Assembly to get answers from Foreign Minister Hugh Todd on the government’s recent hiring of United States (US) lobbying firm Cormac Group, including about the criteria used for its selection and whether there will be an overlap between its activities and the work of the country’s foreign service personnel in Washington D.C.

A single father of one, who tested positive for COVID-19 two days after developing symptoms, has said he only recognised the seriousness of the disease only after contracting it.

Forty-six additional cases of COVID-19 were confirmed yesterday by the Ministry of Health (MoH).

With 17 passes at last year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, Ajay Kissoon has earned his title as the Chase Academy valedictorian.

A banner on her fence warns people to stay away from drugs and 60-year-old Ingrid Subryan is determined to always speak against the scourge of substance abuse, having witnessed the havoc it wreaked in the lives of her two eldest children.

With President Irfaan Ali’s announcement of a plan to build 1,000 homes in Region 10, Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon on Friday said that the main opposition coalition APNU+AFC will hold the government accountable for delivering on the promise.

Tosnausha Logan, one of 27 graduates of the School of Medicine at the University of Guyana, (UG) is striving to be an excellent physician and would like to be remembered for her compassionate nature and humility.

Though the Mango Walk Café and Wine Bar has only been opened for a little over a month, its owners Fiona Benny-Higgins, and her  husband Kieron Higgins have been treating their customers to a fusion of Caribbean, French and American cuisines.

Special Education Needs (SEN) Officers of the Ministry of Education (MoE) have been challenged to update their methods especially in response to the changes that have resulted due to COVID-19.

The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security on Thursday launched its ‘Young Influencers’ programme to prepare youths to make a difference within their communities and among their peers.

Guyana Jaguars head coach, Esuan Crandon has welcomed the inclusion of West Indies trio, Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul and Romario Shepherd ahead of their Regional Super50 campaign.

“I know I made a big mistake and every day I am sorry.

Construction is soon to be completed on a $12 million COVID-19 isolation facility at the Suddie Public Hospital, Region Two Regional Health Officer Dr Ranjeev Singh has said Singh told the Department of Public Information (DPI) in an interview last week that the 20-room facility would allow more positive cases to be confined, further reducing the risk of transmission while enabling the hospital to resume its normal functions.

In 2015, Matthew Teague published an essay in Esquire magazine. The entry-point was about his wife’s cancer-diagnosis and untimely death, but the essay’s focus was the way that one of their friend’s became a dependable fortress that helped the family through the ordeal.

Dear Editor, The recently signed contract between the Transport and Harbours Department and Garden Reach Shipbuilders Engineers Ltd (GRSEL) to design, build and supply an ocean-going passenger and cargo vessel will ensure that future travels to the northwest district and others parts of Guyana are faster, safer and more efficient. 

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) is moving to ensure Guyana’s disaster recovery capacity is enhanced at all levels, according to Director-General Lt Col Kester Craig, who has said a National Disaster Recovery Policy is being developed.

Mikhail Tal (1936-1992), a Soviet/Latvian chess player, was an interesting man.

An investigation has been launched into the operations of a private school in Region Four following a complaint by a parent, including allegations that COVID protocols are not being followed and the cover-up of the discovery of narcotic drugs in the possession of students.

Editor, The Friday Stabroek Business (SB) supplement and its editor, Mr.

The wrong mindset: “Once I lose weight, I can start feeling good about myself again.”

BERLIN,  (Reuters) – Centrist Armin Laschet positioned himself  yesterday as the man to heal divisions among Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats after they chose him to lead the party, putting him in pole position to succeed her as Germany’s chancellor.

Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat has urged workers in the logging and mining industry to assist the government to deter illegal activities within the sectors.

Dear Editor, To say that I am baffled is only part of the story. 

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner                                Part I It is an ancient Mariner, And he stoppeth one of three, ‘By thy long grey beard and glittering eye, Now wherefore stoppest thou me?

The police are investigating the death of a 20-year-old Region One woman, who is suspected to have drowned in a river.

Dear Editor, An Open Letter has been sent to the Chancellor of the Judiciary concerning the cases of Donald and Walter Rodney which are pending for the past 40 years.

In a letter to SN of January 13 Dr. Kwesi Sansculotte-Greenidge pointed out the necessity and possibility of a political solution to Guyana’s ethno-political problems through constitutional restructuring.

Barbadian all-rounder, Kyle Mayers has thrown his support behind the West Indies batsmen to do well in Bangladesh.

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – Far-right media personality Tim Gionet, who goes by the handle “Baked Alaska,” was arrested on Friday by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Houston, Texas, according to documents the agency posted online, and charged with participating in the violent riot on Capitol Hill on Jan.

A 28-year-old gold miner was allegedly robbed at gunpoint yesterday morning by two men in Region One.

MANAUS/BRASILIA,  (Reuters) – The Brazilian jungle state of Amazonas received more emergency supplies of oxygen and respirators yesterday, as the military and neighboring Venezuela scrambled to alleviate an unfolding humanitarian crisis caused by a devastating COVID-19 outbreak.

Any practical person in charge of anything periodically asks the question: “How do we get things done most effectively?”

Dear Editor, Now that the government has initiated the formal process for the commencement of preparation for Budget 2021, The Caribbean Voice (TCV) urges that due consideration be given to mental health, both in terms of adequate budgetary allocation, policies and programmes.

The police are investigating the reported drowning of a 31-year-old Linden resident, whose body was discovered in an old mining pit at Banana Landing Backdam, Middle Mazaruni River last Thursday.

(Jamaica Gleaner) With tension simmering in Jamaica over a controversial decision by the United States authorities to nab four Jamaican men and destroy their boat, alleging it was carrying cocaine, high-level talks between the two countries are now under way to make amendments to the Shiprider Agreement which is at the centre of the wrangle.

Introduction As pointed out in the conclusion of last week’s column, today’s will wrap-up my current efforts to interrogate the IDB report on Guyana’s Oil Opportunity and its estimation of likely Government of Guyana (GoG) revenues.

Dear Editor, I read with much interest the news items about an individual confessing to the gruesome murders of the Henry boys.

NEW DELHI,  (Reuters) – Hospital cleaning worker Manish Kumar became the first person in India to be vaccinated against COVID-19 yesterday, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched one of the world’s largest immunisation campaigns to bring the pandemic under control.

In keeping with its aggressive agenda to develop the game of golf in Guyana, President of the Guyana Golf Association (GGA) and Nexgen Golf Academy, Aleem Hussain, has confirmed that the acquisition of land to establish the first of five uniquely designed golf courses was completed this week. 

Police have arrested three men who allegedly damaged a construction worker’s car following a scuffle at a gas station at Blankenburg, West Coast Demerara (WCD) on Friday night.

WASHINGTON/MEXICO CITY,  (Reuters) – The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said it is “deeply disappointed” by Mexico’s decision to close its investigation of ex-Defense Minister Salvador Cienfuegos, after the Mexican attorney general decided not to press charges.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Shipping giant Harriat ‘Harry’ Maragh was yesterday morning hailed for his contribution to the industry and for being dedicated to the development of his country.

In the midst of all the continuing malaise triggered by the COVID pandemic here, one of the lesser noted consequences is the effect on the music industry. 

Dear Editor, I entertained a vast number of calls on Friday.

Police on Friday arrested a 43-year-old man following the discovery of an unlicensed firearm on the verandah of his Chateau Margot, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home.

(Reuters) – A heavy downpour frustrated Australia on day two of the fourth test decider in Brisbane yesterday, with play abandoned after tea and India spared from resuming on 62 for two in reply to the home side’s first innings 369.

GUATEMALA CITY,  (Reuters) – Thousands of Hondurans, including many families with children, walked together across Guatemala yesterday hoping to reach the United States, fleeing poverty and violence in a region battered by the pandemic and back-to-back hurricanes late last year.

Tenders were opened at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board last Wednesday for a number of infrastructural works in Berbice through the Central Housing & Planning Authority (CH&PA), which are estimated at a total of over $1.5 billion.

(Reuters) – England captain Joe Root scored a double-century, but Sri Lanka began a spirited fight-back to close day three of the first test in Galle on 156 for two in their second innings, trailing the visitors by 130 runs.

Recently a new variant of the Covid-19 virus was discovered in Brazil.

Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton has announced plans to set up a labour office at Kwakwani and to appoint a Board of Industrial Training (BIT) officer to ensure training and labour needs in the Region Ten community are met.

DHAKA, Bangladesh,  CMC – Jason Mohammed hopes to use his unexpected call-up for the One-Day International series here starting next week, to force his way back into the West Indies side on a permanent basis.

(Trinidad Express) A father and son were found tied up and shot dead at their home in Upper Chickland, Freeport, yesterday.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on Friday reported that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has begun a probe of ExxonMobil after an employee alleged that the oil company overvalued one of its key assets in the Permian Basin.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – National selectors have gone with a star-studded lineup for Trinidad and Tobago Red Force’s Super50 Cup campaign next month, with nine West Indies players featuring in the 15-man squad.

Last Update: 691.87                                       Movement: 0.09% Current Update: 692.49                                  YTD Movement: 0.09%LUCAS STOCK INDEX (LSI) The Lucas Stock Index rose 0.09% during the second period of trading in January 2021.

CANBERRA, Australia, CMC – West Indies all-rounder, Carlos Brathwaite, snatched two wickets to take his season tally to 13, as Sydney Sixers stormed nine points clear at the top of the Big Bash table with a seven-wicket win over Perth Scorchers here yesterday.

(Reuters) – Injuries have affected Liverpool’s Premier League title defence this season but they cannot afford to lose focus if they are to win the league again, forward Mohamed Salah said.

Dear Editor, The recent arrests in the Henry boys’ case is great news in the advancement of justice and maintaining an independent justice system.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Dr Akshai Mansingh, a member of Cricket West Indies’ medical advisory committee, believes leg-spinning all-rounder, Hayden Walsh Jr, contracted COVID-19 before he left the Caribbean.

ITAPUÃ DO OESTE, Brazil (Reuters) – The machete-wielding scientists ventured into the Amazon, hacking through dense jungle as the mid-morning temperature soared past 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 C).

(Reuters) – Billionaire Jeff Bezos’ space company Blue Origin aims to carry the first passengers on its New Shepard space vehicle as early as April, CNBC reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.

(Ruhr-Universität Bochum) – Using gene therapy, a research team has succeeded for the first time in getting mice to walk again after a complete cross-sectional injury.

(University of Cambridge) – Researchers have developed a DNA test to quickly identify secondary infections in COVID-19 patients, who have double the risk of developing pneumonia while on ventilation than non-COVID-19 patients.