MOHA sympathises with relatives of dead prisoners
Georgetown, GINA, February 6, 2010
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) said that it regrets the unfortunate incident that occurred on Friday between 02:10 -2:30h at the Georgetown Prison, Camp Street which led to the death of two untried inmates; Solomon Blackman and Dyal Singh.
A release stated that preliminary reports revealed that ranks on duty at time responded promptly to the sounds emanating from the Capital Dormitory, which houses remand prisoners.
Upon investigation in the said area, ranks observed Blackman repeatedly striking Singh, who was lying on a mattress. This infuriated the other prisoners, who in turn attacked Blackman, beating him severely.
The sirens were subsequently sounded and the police, fire department and senior prison officers were informed, the release stated.
The two injured inmates were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where they were pronounced dead by the doctor on duty.
Blackman, a 39-year old male of African descent, was charged for the murder of two policemen on March 24, 2004. He was initially deemed to be of unsound mind but was recently removed from Social Division and allowed to live and mix with the general population, due to improvements he showed after persistent medical treatment.
Singh 51, an East Indian male, was also charged for murder, committed in Supenaam on October 17, 2007.
The Ministry expresses its deepest sympathy to the relatives of Blackman and Singh.
Meanwhile, security at the prison is stable and investigations are continuing, the release noted.
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President Jagdeo conferred Honorary Doctorate
Georgetown, GINA, February 6, 2010
President Bharrat Jagdeo was today conferred an Honorary Doctorate by the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia before 6,000 invited people. The Guyanese Head of State attended the University 20 years ago where he obtained his Masters Degree in Economics.
President Jagdeo was selected by the Academic Board of the University on January 25, 2010 for the award. 
President Bharrat Jagdeo expressing gratitude to the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, after being conferred with an honorary doctorate, in the Kremlin, February 6, 2010.
The conferral ceremony was performed in the Kremlin on the 50th Anniversary celebration of the founding of the University established by the Government of the Soviet Union on February 5, 1960.
President Jagdeo in receiving the honour delivered a speech in Russian to the packed auditorium, his first Russian address since attending the university.
The Guyanese Leader thanked the University for presenting him the honour and praised the institution for its multiculturalism.
President Bharrat Jagdeo with his honorary doctorate from the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, bestowed on the Guyanese leader in the Kremlin, February 6, 2010.
On February 22, 1961, the university was renamed in honour of Patrice Lumumba, the leader of what later became the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who had been overthrown and murdered in a coup.
In the first year, 539 foreign students from 59 countries were enrolled, plus 57 Soviet students.
The university since its foundation has graduated 90,000 students who work in approximately 165 different countries around the world. It has 57 programmes with about 33,000 students (including post-graduates and trainees) of 450 nationalities.
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Sport Director bowls off largest softball cricket tournament
- 584 teams competing
Georgetown, GINA, February 06, 2010
The moment cricket fans have been waiting for arrived today after Director of Sport in the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport Neil Kumar bowled the ceremonial first delivery to begin the first ever countrywide 10 over softball cricket competition.
The 10 over knock-out competition attracted 584 teams which will be competing across the country.
Several corporate sponsors are on board for the competition, including Impressions, Guyana Times, Cellphone Shack, Gizmos and Gadgets and Survival Supermarket.
Best wishes. Representatives from the Guyana Softball League, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and GT&T greeting the competitors at the beginning of the Softball tournament.
The Sport Director described the event as a massive undertaking which will lead to huge development in sports in the same way that Guyana has seen thremendous developments in the economy.
The competition will be hosted at about 44 community centre grounds across the country. This, Kumar said will bring liveliness to communities.
“Our communities need to appreciate that sports is a must… here is where you have more sport awareness and it is hoped that other sporting disciplines will look ant emulate I, volleyball, football and I think it is food in bringing communities alive,” the Director of Sport said.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) Major General (ret’d) Joe Singh who was at the batting end of the ceremonial first ball, expressed the hope that the inaugural competition is a stepping stone to better competitions in the future At the Guyana National Service (GNS) ground on Carifesta Avenue.
Director of Sport Neil Kumar bowls off the first ball to CEO of GT&T Major General (ret’t) Joe Singh to begin the Softball 1010 cricket tournament.
The CEO was amazed at the response of some many teams to this competition which he said will go a long way in promoting team spirit, collaboration and a disciplined minded approach to problem solving.
The CEO reiterated the company’s support to sports development and community involvement through sport activities.
“What a wonderful thing it must be to have matches being in all those regions and zones to have, mothers, children and families coming out not only to witness but also support and we hope that can set the platform for talented youths,” Singh said.
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has partnered with the phone company and the Guyana Softball League to host the inaugural event.
The action culminates with a grand finale on March 21 at the famous Georgetown Cricket Club Bourda ground venue.
The cash prizes include $1M for the winner, $250,000 for the runner up, $50,000 Semi Finalist and 20,000 to the quarter finalist.
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