Guyana News

-Agri Minister tells champion worker ceremony There is an urgent need to increase productivity in the sugar industry and both management and employees must play their part, according to Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud.

There is no need to evacuate residents of the flooded Upper Demerara communities, according to Civil Defence Commission (CDC) Director General Colonel (retd.)

The National Assembly on Thursday approved the appointment of Carvil Duncan and Cecil Seepersaud to the Public Service Commission, after the ninth report of the Committee on Appointments dealing with the matter was adopted.

The Caricom Development Fund (CDF) has approved US$8.3 million for Belize and St Lucia in the first disbursement of its Country Assistance Programme (CAP).

The Ethnic Relations Com-mission (ERC) said it recently concluded five “successful” interactive sessions and film festival with about 205 youths in regions four and ten.

KHARTOUM (Reuters) – Sudan’s army has killed more than 300 fighters from Darfur’s rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in recent clashes and 75 of its own soldiers also died, state media reported yesterday.

The eight contestants vying for the crown tonight at this year’s Miss Guyana Universe Pageant were on Friday evening sashed at a simple ceremony held at the Princess Hotel and Casino by their respective sponsors who each believe that their girl would win.

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela and the Netherlands will review aerial operations by both countries after Caracas protested what it said were illegal flights by Dutch military planes into its airspace, a joint statement by the countries said yesterday.

MIAMI (Reuters) – Actor Wesley Snipes is headed for jail after losing his appeal of a three-year prison sentence for failing to file income tax returns for 1999 through 2001.

The Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Economic Services is likely to recommend that the National Assembly extends the deadline for the submission of the mid-year financial report by the Finance Ministry.

The PNCR will host a range of activities throughout August in observance of the 25th death anniversary of the party’s Founder Leader Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham.

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva turned from president into campaign cheerleader on Friday, firing up the first big election rally in support of his chosen presidential candidate Dilma Rousseff.

The Rotary Club of Demerara made a donation of a swing set valued at $185,000 to the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre on Carmichael Street on Friday as part of its community outreach programme which will help in the upgrading of the play area for centre’s children.

BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia has called a special meeting of the Organization of American States to complain formally that Venezuela allows leftist rebels to use its territory as a safe haven, the government said yesterday.

The Linden Salvation Council (LSC) plans to assist as many underprivileged persons as it could in Region Ten and counts its alliances with government and two other charities as a boon to fulfilling this mandate.

CANBERRA (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard called an election yesterday for August 21, with the tightly-fought poll to be decided over policies on economic management, climate and border protection.

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack has moved to the courts to challenge a series of orders by Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire at the last gaol delivery setting out dates by which long-incarcerated accused should have their trials completed.

-Malali needs other sources of income A team of officials from the Ministry of Health is in the Upper Demerara area to assess possible health implications as floodwaters continue to rise in parts of Region 10 yesterday and communities like Malali try to cope with limited economic opportunities.

A new Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) for the health sector has been developed by PAHO/WHO for the next five years, during which significant emphasis will be placed on social issues that affect the health sector, mental health and non-communicable diseases.

A bed-ridden seven-year-old boy was burnt to death on Tuesday night when fire erupted in his home at Ant Eater Island, Issano in the Cuyuni/Mazaruni area.