News

CARACAS, (Reuters) – Venezuela is in advanced talks for a $5 billion loan from international banks and investment funds, the head of the central bank said yesterday, potentially providing an influx of cash for the OPEC member country, which faces heavy debt payments this year.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, (Reuters) – Haiti’s provisional president has appointed economist Fritz Jean as the new prime minister, the government said yesterday, in a step forward for the impoverished Caribbean nation that is trying to quickly hold a delayed presidential election.

(Reuters) – The man suspected of killing three people at the Kansas lawnmower factory where he worked had been served a protection order 90 minutes before his shooting spree, which also wounded 14 people, authorities said yes.

BUENOS AIRES, (Reuters) – An Argentine judge has summoned former President Cristina Fernandez for questioning in a probe into the sale of dollar future contracts at below market rates by the central bank just months before she handed over power in December.

GROS ISLET, St Lucia, CMC – Guyana Jaguars, replying to Windward Islands Volcanoes’ 216, were 44 for two at the close on the opening day of their eighth round game in the Regional Four-Day Championship at the Beausejour Cricket Stadium here today.

ZURICH, (Reuters) – Selected quotes from Swiss Gianni Infantino’s first news conference after the former UEFA general secretary was elected president of scandal-hit world soccer’s governing body FIFA on Friday: “I will work tirelessly to bring football back to FIFA and FIFA back to football, this is what we have to do.

APNU+AFC ministers Winston Felix and Keith Scott can once more sit in the National Assembly, according to Attorney-General Basil Williams, who has secured an interim stay of execution on a recent ruling that they could not hold seats as non-elected members.

The Justice for Walter Rodney Committee yesterday said that now that President David Granger has commented on the findings of the report into the death of Walter Rodney it was incumbent upon him to release it to the public.

Former employees of Centrin display their dismissal letters outside the company’s compound, Point Lisas, Couva, yesterday, where they called on Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to intervene on their behalf.

KINGSTON, (Reuters) – Jamaica’s opposition narrowly won a general election on Thursday, with its message of deep tax cuts and massive job creation winning over voters weary of years of tough IMF-mandated austerity measures.

A bandit was shot dead last night by his accomplice during a robbery at a gas station on the West Coast of Berbice.

Community Policing Groups (CPGs) are pivotal to the ongoing war on crime and violence but should not be seen as a parallel police force, President David Granger said yesterday.

Amidst loud wails, former television cameraman Andre Hetsberger was yesterday sentenced to 25 years in jail after a jury unanimously found him guilty of raping a 13-year-old girl.

A Kildonan Village, Corentyne handyman has succumbed after being wounded during a row outside a village shop.

Malvin Taylor, who was accused of attempting to murder his wife Sharon Taylor and her sister Michelle Richards in 2011, was yesterday cleared of the charges after the complainants declined to proceed with the matters.

Delinquent parents, particularly fathers who do not contribute to their children’s upkeep will be pursued by the Ministry of Social Protection this year and they will be taken to court.

-24 hr daycare among plans mooted A young flight officer with the Benschop for Mayor campaign is hoping to best a contractor who is running for the governing coalition and a teacher representing the PPP/C in constituency six of Georgetown at the March 18 Local Government Elections.

Money should be released shortly to ensure the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) has the equipment necessary for its functioning, according to President David Granger.

Secretary-General of the Union of South American States (UNASUR), Ernesto Samper, yesterday invited President David Granger to join the South American Defence Council and to speak on the issues of Security and Defence in relation to small States and the Caribbean, a release from the Ministry of the Presidency said.

Guyanese and Surinamese rice millers have decided to jointly advocate on common issues affecting the industry in both countries and plan to lobby for increased access to the Colombia market while warning that only about 60% of the normal crop would be harvested this year as a result of the drought.