Dear Editor, Another of the stalwarts and great champions of the Test match era has called – rather was forced – to call time on his great career that spanned over two decades. To true connoisseurs of real, attritional Test match cricket at its best, this is an irreparable loss, the end of a golden era. Shall we see the likes of him ever again? No. They simply don’t make Test match champions of Shiv’s ilk these days! Hearing news of the Tiger’s retirement brought a lump in the throat…
Read MoreYear: 2016
Cocaine found in baggage hold of Dynamic International Airways after arriving at JFK
A package of cocaine was unearthed in the baggage hold of a Dynamic Airline Flight which left Guyana and arrived at the John F Kennedy (JFK) Airport, NY, on Tuesday evening. In light of this ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) have begun a probe into the operations at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). Reports are the package with the illegal substance was placed into the baggage hold by a local handler and was discovered by a handling staff while clearing the luggage from the aircraft upon its…
Read MoreBan on used tyres: Proposal not well-thought-out – stakeholders
The decision by the Government to ban the importation of foreign-used tyres is leaving more questions than answers for vehicle owners and used tyre dealers alike. Finance Minister Winston Jordan, during his 2016 Budget presentation Friday last, issued a notice of intent to ban the importation of used tyres and to reduce taxes on new tyres to encourage their use. This ban, he said, will be put into effect “as soon as some procedural hurdles are cleared”. The Government had said that the ban on the used tyres was a…
Read MorePradoville 2 controversy: Court case commences
The matter involving the controversial Pradoville 2 State lands was on Wednesday called before Chief Justice Yonnette Cummings-Edwards at the High Court. During the hearing, former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall represented former President Bharrat Jagdeo, Clement Rohee, Lisa Ramotar, Dr Jennifer Westford, Dr Rajendra Singh, George Hallaq and Nada Hallaq, and submitted an application to raise certain preliminary legal objections. The matter was adjourned to March 8 for reports so as to ensure that all persons affected by the proceedings were served with copies of the…
Read MoreMore talk on suicide?
By Ravi Dev (What else is there to say on suicides? The following is excerpted from a 2012 piece.) Over the years, I’ve thought a lot about the phenomenon of suicide. It’s not I’m morbid. As an Indian Guyanese, I’m not sure how one can avoid such thoughts. With almost 200 suicides annually and more than three-quarters of them being Indians, there’s hardly a week you don’t get a call from some friend or acquaintance about someone they or you know who took their life. Who hasn’t been touched?…
Read MoreThat US Presidential Sweepstakes
Not unsurprisingly, the US is held up as a model for democracy and democratic practices here in Guyana. As the first colony in the Western Hemisphere to break free from the shackles of colonialism to chart a course for the improvement of the lives of its own citizens, she leads where we have to follow, in so many ways. The US focus on political democracy had been trenchantly criticised during the last century for its supposed neglect of economic democracy, but the alternatives offered by the critics have not fared…
Read MoreCPL Draft set for next week
— record number of players registered BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Organisers of the HERO Caribbean Premier League (CPL) are reporting that a record number of local and international stars have registered for the Player Draft scheduled for February 11 in Barbados. Players from 14 nations have entered the Draft for the fourth CPL which takes place June month end until the beginning of August. Among the assembled overseas stars is a 34-strong South African contingent headed by prolific top order batsman Hashim Amla, leg-spinner Imran Tahir and fast bowler Morne Morkel.…
Read MoreChanderpaul was not forced to retire, says WICB
ST JOHN’S, Antigua — The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is refuting a suggestion that it forced veteran cricketer Shivnarine Chanderpaul to retire from international cricket so that he can play in the inaugural Masters Cricket League (MCL) T20 currently underway in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Chanderpaul is claiming that a No Objection Certificate issued to him by the WICB contained a threatening clause which forced him to call time on his international career. WICB issued NOCs to four players, including Chanderpaul, to facilitate their participation in the MCL, a…
Read MoreGuyana among three countries bidding to host this year’s CPL final
By Avenash Ramzan Guyana is among three countries which have an interest in the hosting of the final of the 2016 Hero Caribbean Premier League (Hero CPL) on August 7, according to Chief Operations Officer of the League, Pete Russell. CPL 2016, slated for six weeks, will bowl off on June 29, and according to the initial scheduling, Guyana will host four preliminary games, the first of which is tentatively set for July 5. News broke last year about Guyana being among the front-runners to host the semi-finals and final,…
Read MoreFernandes finishes second in Canada’s twin events
By Avenash Ramzan Guyana’s squash sensation Nicolette Fernandes has started 2016 in fine style, advancing to the final of back-to-back competitions in Canada, but stumbling at the last hurdle, finishing runner-up on both occasions. The 32-year-old, who is currently ranked number 24 in the world, finished second best to England’s Victoria Lust in the Granite Open in Toronto, a competition that took place on January 18-22. Fernandes, who was seeded sixth in the tournament, lost in straight sets to fourth seed Lust, who chalked up scores of 11-6, 11-2, and…
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