Daily Archive: Monday, May 17, 2021

The Ministry of Health today said that three more persons who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have died.

Guyana, today received a consignment of 67,537 doses of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timheri, according to the Department of Public Information.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden plans to announce today that he will send at least 20 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to other countries by the end of June, marking the first time the United States is sharing vaccines authorized for domestic use, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said.

(Reuters) – AT&T, owner of HBO and Warner Bros studios, and Discovery, home to lifestyle TV networks such as HGTV and TLC, said today they will combine their content assets to create a standalone global entertainment and media business.

NEW DELHI,  (Reuters) – India reported a further decline in new coronavirus cases today but daily deaths remained above 4,000 and experts said the data was unreliable due to a lack of testing in rural areas where the virus is spreading fast.

SANTIAGO,  (Reuters) – Chile’s center-right ruling coalition suffered a shock loss yesterday night after failing to secure a critical one-third of seats in the body that will draft the country’s new constitution.

(Trinidad Guardian) Almost 20 hours after Trinidad and Tobago was placed under a State of Emergency (SoE) as of midnight from May 15—the authorities spent considerable time yesterday, drafting the new regulations which now includes a ban on the consumption of alcohol in public places; immediate cessation of all outdoor exercise and sports.

(Trinidad Guardian) Nine more lives were lost to COVID-19 as the Ministry of Health reported a further climb in deaths yesterday.

Jamual John won a scintillating battle in yesterday’s finale but Briton John won the war and pedaled away with the overall spoils of this year’s Independence Three-Stage road race. 

After an initial purchase of 200,000 doses of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, Guyana has been able to seal a deal for 600,000 more jabs – enough to get to herd immunity – but the key challenge now is for people to come forward for inoculation.

Former Director of Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams yesterday waded into both government and ExxonMobil for the recent announcement that excessive gas flaring from offshore oil operations will attract a fine of US$30 per Co2 equivalent, calling it a window for pollution.

Fifteen persons received the Dolphin Award of Excellence as the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club held its 31st awards ceremony yesterday.

Two policemen are under close arrest after a robbery suspect was fatally shot by one of the ranks while being transported to the Providence Police Station.

A sensational century from Kamesh Lall followed by a five-wicket haul from Shaziff Mohammed ensured Imam Bacchus Bulls a 145-run win over Reliance Hustlers and a spot in the final of the Central Essequibo Cricket Committee Under-19 40-over tournament.

A nine-year-old boy of Sophia was yesterday midday crushed to death after he lost control of his bicycle and fell after allegedly trying to undertake a garbage truck which then ran over him.

The Ministry of Health yesterday said that three more persons who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have died.

Rising food prices underscore the national importance of the Intermediate Savannahs soya bean and corn project, according to investor and Bounty Farm Director David Fernandes, who says the venture represents a long-term solution to the country’s reliance on imports.

It has been almost two months since gold dealer Ricardo Fagundes was gunned down just after he exited the Palm Court bar on Main Street, Georgetown and to date it remains unclear whether the police are any closer to solving the crime.

Two men were arrested on Friday evening after they attempted to invade the premises of an overseas-based Guyanese at Number 11 Village, West Coast Berbice.

Authorities have noticed a change in Guyana’s COVID-19 mortality pattern as younger persons are dying from the virus.

Dear Editor, The Harris Politikles cartoon in the Stabroek News Edition of Friday, May 14 is the last thing one wishes to see in our situation of rampant violence against women, on which this paper had been moved to editorialise only the day before.

Dear Editor, We subscribe to Chris Ram’s observation that the modified Environmental Permit applies only to excess of timelines for “flaring events”.

Vaccine hesitancy among parliament staff is delaying the holding of Committee meetings both physically and virtually, Speaker Manzoor Nadir has said.

Outgoing India women’s head coach WV Raman has alleged that a “smear campaign” against him has gained unwarranted traction and he has urged the BCCI president Sourav Ganguly to stop it. 

The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has certified the Max Hanoman Medical Centre Laboratory under its Laboratory Certification Programme, after it successfully demonstrated conformance to the requirements of the Guyana Standard (GYS 170:2009) – General requirements for the operation of a laboratory.

Dear Editor, The World Bank, in its 2020 report “A Pivotal Moment for Guyana: Realizing the Opportunities” (written with Guyana’s oil wealth in mind), counsels that Guyana must establish as a priority a “comprehensive social protection system”.

A seventeen-year-old boy was yesterday midday robbed at gunpoint of his motorcycle valued $180,000 in Campbellville by two males, one of whom was armed with a rusty handgun.

GAZA/JERUSALEM,  (Reuters) – Israel launched dozens of air strikes in Gaza and the Hamas militant group kept up its rocket attacks on Israeli cities in fighting that spilled into a second week today.

Dear Editor, The Minister of Education’s suggestion to reexamine the use of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) as a high school placement test is fresh, new thinking that bodes well for the future of education reform.

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF), on Friday conducted their second round of COVID-19 testing for players following the resumption of training sessions at the National Training Centre, Providence.

A construction worker was on Wednesday released on bail after denying a trafficking a narcotics charge.

Dear Editor,  In the memorable words of the famous coach Yogi Berra It’s like ‘déjà vu all over again’ in Guyana in 2021.

HARARE, (Reuters) – Zimbabwe’s justice minister accused the country’s judiciary of being “captured” by foreign forces seeking to destabilise the government after the High Court ruled it was illegal to extend the tenure of the chief justice by five more years.

In action at the South Eastern Conference SEC Championships on Saturday in College Station, Texas, Guyana’s Natricia Hooper hopped, skipped, and jumped her way to a new national record in the triple jump. 

Three men have been arrested after they were found in possession of a quantity of cannabis and amphetamine pills during a search carried out at the Sherima Police Checkpoint, Region Seven on Saturday morning.

BOGOTA, (Reuters) – Members of Colombia’s national police force who are responsible for abuses or acts of violence amid ongoing protests will be punished to the full extent of the law, the head of the force said.

Dear Editor, On Friday 14th May, in the cartoon strip of the Stabroek News, Mr.

Readers who missed the recent Christopher Ram’s “Plain Talk” on Channel 9 where I was the guest, may be interested in our discussion on COVID-19 as it relates to Guyana.

      By Ryan Persadie and Mohamed Q. Amin (Caribbean Equality Project)     Ryan Persadie is artist, educator, and PhD candidate at the University of Toronto.

On May 4th, the US Embassy here issued a statement in which it said that the US Department of State  was supporting an 18-month project to strengthen the capacity of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the Attorney General’s Chambers regarding electoral processes, and to encourage civil society organizations (CSOs) to advocate for electoral reform in line with regional and international standards.

A mason who was on Wednesday slapped with two assault charges and a damage of property charge was granted bail.  

(Trinidad Express) Vaccine availability remains a hindrance to the Caribbean’s vaccination progress and may prolong the length of the pandemic.

In what could be a playoff preview, Khris Middleton posted 21 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, leading the host Milwaukee Bucks past the Miami Heat 122-108 on Saturday night.

BILBAO, Spain, (Reuters) – Real Madrid ensured the La Liga title race will go down to the final weekend as they beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0 at San Mames yesterday thanks to a second-half goal from defender Nacho Fernandez.

BILBAO, (Reuters) – Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane played down reports linking him with an exit from the club following his side’s 1-0 victory at Athletic Bilbao yesterday.

A search was carried out early yesterday morning at the Mazaruni Prison where a quantity of prohibited items were discovered.

(Reuters) – England fast bowler Jofra Archer has been ruled out of their two-test series against New Zealand starting next month due to pain in his elbow, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said yesterday.

Dear Editor, Thanks to the media and the mostly underground Christopher Ram, Guyanese have a new conundrum with which to grapple. 

(Reuters) – Cricket Australia has said it was open to hearing any new information regarding the 2018 Cape Town scandal in the wake of batsman Cameron Bancroft’s comments suggesting that the team’s bowlers were aware of the ball-tampering tactics.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) chief, Michael Ricketts, has given the assurance that all COVID-19 health protocols will be in place for the Reggae Boyz three-game tour of Japan next month.

BARCELONA, (Reuters) – Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman refused to answer questions on his future after his side slumped to a disappointing 2-1 loss at home to Celta Vigo, which means they can at best finish third in La Liga this season.

BRASILIA, (Reuters) – Brazil recorded 40,941 additional confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, along with 1,036 deaths from COVID-19, the Health Ministry said yesterday.