Guyana News

HAVANA, (Reuters) – Fidel Castro is not the presence  he once was in Cuba after three years out of public view but as  he turns 83 tomorrow he still has clout and is working to  ensure the island stays communist long after he is gone.

Former Chairman of the PNCR Winston Murray will be contesting for Leader of the PNCR at the party’s upcoming Biennial Congress.

–prosecutor tells jury in closing arguments -careless words don’t add up to intent, defence argues After two weeks of explosive testimony linking the Guyana Government to confessed drug trafficker Roger Khan, the trial of his former lawyers closed and the prosecution charged that one of them, Robert Simels was aware of Khan’s role in the murders of talk show host Ronald Waddell and boxing coach Donald Allison.

A recent report produced by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), which stated that there is an “alarming degree of prostitution” in local secondary schools, has come in for sharp criticism from Education Minister Shaikh Baksh, who says that the report is “anecdotal “ and that its findings are not based on proper scientific research.

For the last ten years, it has been his fight that has been the defining characteristic of his presidency, which was expected to herald a new beginning for a country long held hostage by a history of suspicion and strife.

Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy says despite the fire that destroyed the ministry and its records work continues unabated and it expects to provide medical assistance for over 300 persons this year.

-Private Sector Commission Chairman Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Gerry Gouveia says the public should not jump to any conclusions about testimony in a New York court linking the Guyana Government to confessed drug trafficker Roger Khan as the trial is still ongoing.

The taxi driver responsible for causing 78-year-old Eileen August to suffer a broken leg and hip after hitting  her down with his car, has been apprehended and taken into police custody.

An East Coast Demerara (ECD) man who was on Sunday night badly beaten by members of a Community Policing Group (CPG)  was yesterday a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) receiving medical attention after sustaining six chop wounds to the head, one to his hand and several abrasions to the legs.

A 19-year-old, who allegedly stole just over $100,000 from the dwelling house of a man, was remanded to prison when he appeared before the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

-dismisses TCL suit The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) yesterday dismissed a claim by Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) against the Caribbean Com-munity (CARICOM) for suspending the CET on cement imports, but it has set criteria for the Secretary General to follow in future considerations on the issue having found a procedural flaw in the just concluded case.

Caribbean singer Dave Martins joined with the Ministry of Agriculture to launch his song “Turn Back” which aims to encourage better community waste management practices.

Should the global financial meltdown offer a pretext for governments and businesses to scrap and or sideline environmental promises post-Kyoto, President’s Jagdeo’s rallying cry for tropical forest conservation could easily be reduced to a whimper.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – West Indies wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin is Trinidad and Tobago’s “International Cricketer of the Year”.

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) yesterday dismissed an appeal by L.O.P.

QUITO, (Reuters) – Brazilian President Luiz Inacio  Lula da Silva yesterday urged regional leaders to seek a summit  with the United States to defuse tensions over a Colombian plan  to allow U.S.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico, (Reuters) – U.S. President  Barack Obama said on Monday that drug cartels are Mexico’s main  human rights abusers and not the army, which has come under  criticism for heavy-handed treatment in a drug war.

NEW YORK,  (Reuters) – A former U.N. employee charged  with biting a security officer rejected a plea deal yesterday  saying he wanted to go to trial instead so he could expose  nepotism at the United Nations.

TAIPEI/TOKYO, (Reuters) – A mudslide triggered by  torrential rains from a typhoon may have buried up to 600  villagers in mountainous southern Taiwan, disaster officials  said yesterday.

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – The United States has placed  50 suspected Afghan drug traffickers with ties to the Taliban  on a Pentagon target list to be captured or killed, The New  York Times reported yesterday, citing a Congressional report to  be released this week.