Daily Archive: Wednesday, December 22, 2021

President Irfaan Ali this afternoon told members of the Joint Services that the Government is returning the annual one-month tax-free bonus to them because “you deserve it—you work hard for it”.

The Bar Council of The Bar Association of Guyana today condemned a statement made by Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Nigel Dharamlall on two court of appeal judges following yesterday’s ruling on the appeal of a decision to throw out an APNU+AFC election petition.

In his first major address as head of the PNCR, Aubrey Norton today lavished praise on the late former President and Leader, Desmond Hoyte and adverting to the country’s oil wealth, he said the party will impress upon society the “need  for new governance mechanisms to ensure the people of Guyana benefit from our national resources”.

JERUSALEM,  (Reuters) – A South African study offered pre-Christmas good tidings about the severity of Omicron today as the fast-spreading coronavirus variant forces countries across the world to impose new curbs.

(Trinidad Guardian) Come 2022, the bodies of COVID-19 fatalities will be stored at a mass facility in Freeport, according to Chief Medical Officer, Dr Roshan Parasram.

Even as the Auditor General continues to flag the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs for the poor management of the Amerindian Purpose Fund (APF), subject Minister Pauline Sukhai says it is the “wrong time” to discuss the issues with the fund.

In a majority decision, the Guyana Court of Appeal yesterday ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear the appeal of the dismissal of the opposition APNU+AFC’s election petition which challenged the March 2, 2020 general elections.

The Guyana Press Association yesterday extended condolences to the family and friends of Claudette Earle who passed away yesterday at the age of 76. 

A 13-year-old indigenous youth of Aruca, North West District, Region One died after consuming a beverage and his family is hospitalised at the Mabaruma Regional Hospital.

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) yesterday extended congratulations to  Aubrey Norton on his election as the Leader of the People’s National Congress.

A misunderstanding among two Friendship, East Bank Demerara (EBD) youths ended in tragedy with one of them dead and another hospitalised.

Full time face-to-face learning will resume for some academic levels in 2022, according to Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand.

Heavyweights, Fruta Conquerors, romped their way into the semi-final stage of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/Guyana National Women Football Association (GNWFA) Super-16 Festival, dismissing Lethem 11-0 yesterday at the National Training Centre, Providence.

Following a December 13, 2021 Stabroek News report highlighting doctors’ complaints that the Leonora Hospital was short of staff, this newspaper has learnt that a doctor was promptly transferred in what will be seen as an attempt to target persons who are suspected of providing information on the situation at the institution.

A man who was causally transporting US$66,000 (approximately $13.8 million) worth of cocaine on his bicycle on Monday, was apprehended by officers of the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) and is currently in custody assisting with investigations.

Following media reports and complaints received regarding the payment of severance and other benefits to workers who were terminated by Troy Resources Guyana Inc on grounds of redundancy, the Ministry of Labour on Monday said that it convened a meeting with the company’s management on December 14, 2021, to address the issues on behalf of the affected workers. 

Guyanese born and bred, Frank Woon-A-Tai, has created national and international karate history again by becoming Guyana and the Caribbean’s first 10th Dan Black Belt.

The appointment of commissioners for the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) now lies with the government as the Public Accounts Committee awaits the naming of their representatives, Chairman of the committee Jermaine Figueira said.

Dear Editor, Since August 2020, the new PPP/C government has begun to implement an impressive two-pronged strategy.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security,  Dr Vindhya Persaud on Monday officially handed over a spanking new home to a mother of six.

Dear Editor, In recent weeks, images of flooding, happening as far South as Soesdyke have been appearing on social media.

Former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Prabhu Dyal Sookraj died at the age of 80 on December 2, 2021 in Clermont, Florida, USA.

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) is set to pay keen interest in the areas of school, youth, and female cricket, while under-21 and under-23 tournaments are also in the pipeline.

Dear Editor, Please permit me space in your publication to express concerns and to bring awareness to the public of those concerns regarding the National Resource Fund Bill.

The Rotary Club of Stabroek is collaborating with ExxonMobil Guyana and the BrainStreet Group to deliver interactive online education particularly in the hinterland communities, a release from the Club stated yesterday.

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden announced yesterday more federal vaccination and testing sites to tackle a surge in COVID-19 driven by the Omicron variant, and said 500 million free at-home rapid tests will be available to Americans starting in January.

Director of Sport and President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) Steve Ninvalle, was returned as head of the entity following their elections and Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) headquarters in Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

Tenders were last Thursday (December 16) opened at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) for the preparation of a location for waste at Blairmont, West Bank Berbice.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, has been ordered by the High Court in London to provide a British record of more than 554 million pounds ($733 million) to settle a custody battle with his ex-wife over their two children.

Dear Editor, One must admit to some befuddlement at the announcement in SN of December 21, of the increase of 7% on sugar workers’ pay.

Dear Editor, Clement Rohee’s attempt to nullify the fact that the PPP of Cheddi Jagan “declared itself to be a communist party” raises serious questions about his political awareness or his own ability to comprehend the history of the party to which he pledged his life-long loyalty (See SN letter 12/21/21).

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden said yesterday that he and conservative Democratic Senator Joe Manchin were “going to get something done” on the president’s proposed social spending and climate legislation.

The Ministry of Health yesterday said that as of December 20, 2021, six more persons, including a nine-month-old boy, who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have died.

BRASILIA,  (Reuters) – Brazilian environmental agents this week shut down schemes involving hundreds of companies the agents said were covering up illegal logging in the Amazon rainforest, according to government documents reviewed by Reuters.

Over $400 million was on Thursday approved to go towards providing baggage handling systems at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

Dear Editor, With the dark clouds of the 2020 regional and national elections still hovering above, PNCR operatives appear to have calmed fears about electoral irregularity by conducting a ‘free and fair’ internal election to choose their leaders.

JERUSALEM,  (Reuters) – Israel announced yesterday that it will offer a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to people older than 60, amid concern about the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

COPENHAGEN,  (Reuters) – Former immigration minister Inger Stojberg, a main architect behind some of Denmark’s tough immigration policies, was voted out of parliament yesterday by her fellow lawmakers following her conviction in a rare impeachment case earlier this month.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, (Reuters) – Haitians yesterday mourned victims of a fuel truck blast that killed 90 people last week, though many stayed home out of anger at the government amid a string of tragedies in a Caribbean nation plagued by gang violence, poverty and political turmoil.

Guyanese Olympian, Aleka Persaud, continued to write her name in the history books after she became the first female to swim below 27 seconds in the 50-meter freestyle.

Dear Editor, Huge congrats (as the Guyanese say) to Aubrey Norton on his election victory as PNCR leader.

The newly elected executives of the Berbice Cricket Board met on Monday where several members of various sub-committees were named.

Members of the Three-Door Fishermen’s Co-operative Society last week signed an agreement with the Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI) which will allow fishermen to legally utilize and operate from the river shore base at D’Edward in the vicinity of the bridge.

(Trinidad Express) The botched robbery on two prison officers at Claxton Bay resulted in a grim fate for the alleged criminals, both 18 years old.

Dear Editor, Another payout to a section of public sector workers. 

British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller yesterday congratulated Aubrey Norton on becoming Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), following the 21st Biennial Delegates Congress elections on 18 December, 2021.

(CMC) – Jamaican swimming star Alia Atkinson has announced her retirement, following her last race at the FINA 2021 World Short Course Swimming Championships.

Last Saturday, sarcastic cheering and applauding rippled across the Caribbean Sea, as a statement emanating from Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced that the contracts of Chairman of the Selection Panel Roger Harper and fellow Selector Miles Bascombe, which expire on the 31st December, would not be renewed.

(Reuters) – Test captain Dean Elgar says he will not let the allegations of racist conduct that have come to light at Cricket South Africa in recent months become an excuse for failure as his side prepare to host India in a three-match series from Sunday.

Guyana’s Paul David is the new US Open Men’s Doubles over-40 champion.

(Reuters) – Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has questioned Joe Root’s comments about England’s bowlers during the Ashes and said that as captain of the touring side the onus is on him to make changes when needed.

(Reuters) – England fast bowler Jofra Archer has been ruled out until the summer after undergoing a second operation on his injured right elbow, the country’s cricket board (ECB) said yesterday.

(Reuters) – Pakistan opener Abid Ali has been diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome after he complained of chest pain during a domestic first-class match yesterday, the country’s cricket board (PCB) said.

(CMC) – West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seales produced a three-wicket haul to take his tally for the Lanka Premier League to 14, as Jaffna Kings stormed into the final with a 23-run victory over Dambulla Giants yesterday.

(Reuters) – Franchise cricket has raised the profile of women’s cricket and a full-fledged Indian Premier League (IPL) is the “next step” for its growth, New Zealand Captain Sophie Devine said.

Joel Embiid scored nine straight points in the final 1:22 and finished with 41 points and 10 rebounds as the Philadelphia 76ers rallied past the host Boston Celtics for a 108-103 win on Monday night.

(Reuters) – Cricket commentator David Lloyd announced his retirement from Sky Sports yesterday, a month after he was named by Azeem Rafiq in his testimony about a culture of widespread racism at his county club Yorkshire.

(Reuters) – Australia added fast bowler Scott Boland to their squad for the third Ashes test against England starting on Sunday in Melbourne amid concerns over Mitchell Starc’s fitness after he tweaked his back in the second match.

By Henrietta H. Fore and David Malpass WASHINGTON, DC – As the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic approaches, classrooms remain fully or partially closed for as many as 647 million schoolchildren around the world.

LONDON/DUBAI, (Reuters) – Qatar plans to invest at least $10 billion in U.S.