– bauxite, gold sectors down by over 20%The Bank of Guyana has found that Guyana’s major productive sectors showed uneven performances for the first quarter of the year. While on the one hand, forestry showed good performances, critical industries like gold and sugar took a beating.The Bank of GuyanaThis is according to the Bank of Guyana’s recently released first-quarter statistical bulletin. In the bulletin, it showed that sugar experienced a major decline of 34.3 per cent, owing to the restructuring process the Guyana Sugar Corporation is undergoing.On the other hand, the decline of rice output by 9.3 per cent was attributed to rice bug infestation and the increased costs of production.The mining and quarrying sectors exhibited lower production. According to the bulletin, there was a 4.9 per cent decline in gold declarations. The Bank cited particular mining companies. Troy Resources output declined by 40.4 per cent, while Guyana Goldfields showed slight increases.One of the worst-hit sectors was the bauxite industry, which contracted by 24.4 per cent in terms of production. The Bank attributed this to industrial unrest at the Russia-owned bauxite company, RUSAL.Earlier this year, 61 workers downed tools against RUSAL’s subsidiary, the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BGCI). This came after they received a one per cent salary increase. Thirty other workers were subsequently dismissed.At the time, the company also temporarily closed a section of its operations as a result of the strike. The impasse had to be mediated and the workers were reinstated, but not before hours of downtime impacted production.Meanwhile, the Bank also noted that Guyana’s construction sector experienced increased public and private investments, buoyed in part by the activities in Guyana’s burgeoning oil and gas sector.“The outturn in the services sector was reflective of activities in the real estate and storage subsectors. Preliminary estimates suggest that the activities of the petroleum industry have capitalised economic activities, particularly in the construction and services sectors during the first quarter of 2019.”“The performance of the manufacturing sector was mixed with increased production of ice cream, margarine and non-alcoholic beverages while there was decreased output of oxygen, liquid pharmaceuticals, acetylene and nitrogen gas,” it said.When it comes to the balance of payment, things have actually improved. This publication had reported earlier in the year that in 2018, the balance of payment deficit was US$132.2 million, a 90 per cent deterioration from 2017 when it was at $69.5 million.According to a previous Bank of Guyana report, the current account deficit worsened to US$679.7 million in 2018 from a deficit of US$297.2 million in the previous year. Singh’s stated principal reason for this is the state of the export sector.The report stated that exports declined by 4.4 per cent. This is an equivalent of US$63.6 million to US$1373.8 million. The report explained that revenue from sugar, rice, timber and gold declined by 44.1 per cent, 7.5 per cent, 6.9 per cent and 6.2 per cent respectively. Both the decline in exports and the average export price was cited in the case of sugar.According to the 2019 quarterly bulletin, however, “the overall balance of payments recorded a lower deficit of US$71.2 million at the end of March 2019 compared to US$94.0 million for the same period last year. This was primarily due to a higher capital account surplus. The capital account surplus resulted from increased foreign direct investments mainly on account of the oil and gas sector at [the] end [of] March 2019.”Balance of payment statistics is data on a country’s fiscal transactions, including imports and exports. To record a deficit, Guyana would, therefore, have had to spend more on imports, among other things, that is derived from exports. read more

Martinez, who was hit in the chest, was taken to a local hospital, where he died. The friend with Martinez was not hit. Police said they identified the alleged killers after learning they were members of a North Hollywood gang, Parshall said. A weapon has not been recovered. State prison records show that Guevara served two years for carrying a loaded firearm in 2005. Olivares was arrested Aug. 31 on a charge of possession of a loaded firearm. He posted $65,000 bail and was released. Police were still trying to identify who pulled the trigger. —————————————————- For the latest news and observations on crime in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley, check out the Daily News’ crime blog by clicking here. NORTH HILLS – Two gang members have been charged in a January driveby killing that left a 17-year-old rival dead. Edilberto Olivares, 19, of North Hollywood and Mardoqueo Guevara, 23, were being held at the Los Angeles County Jail on murder charges in connection with the Jan. 31 slaying of Daniel Martinez. Guevara was held without bail and has an immigration hold. Bail for Olivares was set at more than $2 million. He pleaded not guilty to a murder charge yesterday. Martinez, who police said was in a gang called Wicked Pot Smokers from Van Nuys, and a friend, whose name police withheld to protect his identity, were walking home from Albert Einstein Continuation School near Nordhoff Street and Orion Avenue when the suspects drove by in a Toyota Celica, exchanged gang challenges and opened fire, Los Angeles Police Detective Gene Parshall said. 160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! read more

AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MORESanta Anita opens winter meet Saturday with loaded card Wallace was 24 and a rising star in the rap world when he was fatally shot in March 1997 after a party at the Peterson Automotive Museum. The family contends the Los Angeles Police Department hid information about the possible involvement of Officers David Mack and Rafael Perez, who were later implicated in the Rampart police corruption scandal. Wallace’s mother, sister and widow have filed a wrongful-death suit against the city, accusing the LAPD of covering up the officers’ role in the killing. Cooper previously ordered a mistrial in the case, expected to be retried later this year. City officials have said they are studying whether they can appeal the sanctions, but remain confident they will win in the trial of the underlying lawsuit. City attorney’s spokesman Jonathan Diamond said inadvertent actions in the LAPD led to the penalty. He said attorneys are reviewing the judge’s ruling to determine if it can be appealed at the end of any trial. Zine said he wants a full briefing on the case for the City Council, including a review of the materials and evidence the court requested, as well as the next legal steps that are involved. “There must be some accountability for the actions which caused this type of decision,” Zine said. Rick Orlov, (213) 978-0390 rick.orlov@dailynews.com 160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! Faced with a $1.1 million penalty against the city in the murder case of rap star Notorious B.I.G., a Los Angeles official called Tuesday for clarification from the City Attorney’s Office. Councilman Dennis Zine said he wants information on plans involving the sanctions by U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper, who ruled Friday that police evidence was concealed in the case. “I am concerned not only as a councilman, but as a citizen, that a ruling costing the city such a substantial amount of money must be accounted for,” Zine said. The judge ordered the payment to the family of the slain rapper, whose birth name was Christopher Wallace, in a hearing to recover his family’s costs in a lawsuit. read more

“As we do in-fill business, there’s a difference in how you have to operate. If you’re building in Palmdale or somewhere in the middle of nowhere, you don’t have to worry about the people next door, because they’ve just lived there 10 minutes. But if you’re going into a place with long-standing roots, you’ve got to listen to what those people want.” This has not always been the case for development in the San Fernando Valley, historically known both for urban sprawl and the not-in-my-backyard mentality. As developers built up the area after World War II, they erected block after block of homes with little regard for whether one community would mesh with the next. In reaction, powerful interest groups sprang up, with enough clout to hold up any project, regardless of its merits to the community at large. “Companies used to just say we’ll use Plan B because it’s what works in Rancho Cucamonga; here’s what I think we can sell it for,” said David Honda, president of the construction firm DS Honda and a member of L.A.’s city Planning Commission. “That’s why you see the same homes over and over and over again. When you allow the public to start to select materials and designs, it makes the developer do a lot more homework, but it’s the right way to do it.” Feeny would have preferred larger lots and fewer homes, but he emerged from the process satisfied. And rather than assailing Roxford Glen, he’s calling it “the pinnacle of our community.” “We fought some of the others with a vengeance,” he said. “But they said they wanted our opinions. It made us feel important to them.” brent.hopkins@dailynews.com (818) 713-3738160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MORE11 theater productions to see in Southern California this week, Dec. 27-Jan. 2On Saturday, John Laing will open the first models based on what residents designed. Crews are at work prepping the site for the homes, priced from $700,000, for owners to move in next year. Horses were key to the neighbors’ concepts. With the Stetson Ranch equestrian park nearby, residents wanted to be able to ride their ponies right through the development. They wanted as much land as possible devoted to homes with horses. So the company officials mulled it over, ran it past architect Bloodgood Sharp Buster and offered a compromise. The developer would instead create 44 home sites, each from 7,500 to 17,500 square feet, and six of them would accommodate horses. Not only would a trail meeting up with Stetson Ranch be incorporated into the development, but John Laing Homes also would donate $100,000 to the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department to fix up the land. “There’s a change in how the industry needs to do business,” said Bill Rattazzi, president of the company’s Los Angeles/Ventura division. SYLMAR – When John Laing Homes bought up the parcels for its Roxford Glen development, the developer envisioned 70 small homes crowded on what was once horse property. The local homeowners’ group, which had bitterly fought off previous development attempts, wasn’t enthused. So to win over its new neighbors, the developer plied them with poster board, markers and glue. They sat down and talked, and the home builder came up with a novel attempt at compromise: better understanding through collage. “It was a hoot! We all felt like we were in first grade again,” said Bob Feeny, a local real estate agent and president of the Rancho Cascades Community Group. “They gave us all scissors, glue and magazines and 20 minutes to put together our ideas of what the community should look like.” The posters showed wide streets, larger homes and horse trails. No condos, but big lots and a rustic feel – sort of a country enclave near an urban setting. read more

Donegal Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty has blamed Government inaction for the delay in the Goath Dobhair Sewerage Scheme.Pearse DohertyHe was speaking today in relation to correspondence received by Irish Water stating the scheme will not commence under the current Capital Investment Programme for 2014 – 2016.He revealed he received correspondence from Irish Water last month which confirmed it is not listed as a scheme to start construction under the lifetime of the current capital investment programme and the earliest date to start construction on the project would be 2017. “After I then pressed officials in Irish Water as to the timeframe for the scheme to start construction after 2017 it emerged that a timeframe could not be provided as the planning and business case for the scheme would have to be reviewed, despite the fact that hundreds of thousands of euros have been spent on the scheme to date.“This is despite the fact that the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government visited Gweedore in November of last year and assured the people of Gweedore that the €13 million required for the project had been secured and that he would be asking officials in his Department to expediate the approval for the contract documents for the scheme which had been submitted.“However, it emerged that the approval for the scheme was not granted until December 2013 which allowed this scheme to come under the control of Irish Water without any contracts being signed.“It is clear that the inaction of the Government to approve the contract in a timely fashion has resulted in an indefinite delay to this project which is a slap in the face for the people of Gweedore who have been waiting for this scheme for over 50 years. “I have tabled questions to the Minister on this issue in order to demand answers as it appears that this was a blatant attempt by government to hoodwink the people of gweedore into believing this scheme was about to progress while the Government were preparing to wash its hands of the project and hand it over to the unaccountable Irish Water.”GOVERNMENT INACTION HAS LED TO DELAY OF GAOTH DOBHAIR SEWERAGE SCHEME – DOHERTY was last modified: September 11th, 2014 by StephenShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Tags:GAOTH DOBHAIR SEWERAGE SCHEMEPearse Doherty read more

OAKLAND – As he moved around the Warriors’ court, Kevin Durant seemed relaxed.At one stop, the Warriors’ star posed with his two NBA championship trophies and two Finals MVP awards. At another station, Durant shared laughs with Stephen Curry. During a photo shoot, Durant showed off his dribbling and shooting skills.Durant’s easygoing vibe during Media Day on Monday did not just reflect the Warriors’ inner confidence after winning consecutive NBA titles since his arrival, including three NBA … read more

Eunice Madlala at work in the dairyof Swissland Cheese farm, KwaZulu-NatalMidlands. It is small- and medium-sized enterprises such as this that arebenefiting from reforms made to economicpolicy in South Africa. (Image: HannelieCoetzee, MediaClubSouthAfrica.com.For more photos, visit the image library.)Janine ErasmusSouth Africa has risen from last year’s ranking of 35 to number 32 on the World Bank’s annual Ease of Doing Business index, which covers the period from June 2007 to June 2008. This is attributed to policy changes that make it easier for new companies to register and start up, as well as a reduction in secondary tax for companies and the removal of regional services council levies.South Africa is not the top-ranked African country, however – that distinction belongs to Mauritius at number 24 which, says the World Bank, is an inspiration for reform and good practices to other economies across Africa.Still, South Africa, as the runner-up African country, holds a strong position in view of the fact that 181 countries were studied, though the country has some way to go to regain its position in the top 30. Botswana was third among African countries, while Namibia was fourth.The Doing Business 2009 report is the sixth in an annual series of World Bank studies investigating regulations that directly enhance or retard business activity in 181 countries. Higher rankings indicate simpler and better regulations for businesses and stronger protections of property rights.The index tracks, over time, how friendly the regulatory environment is to businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, using 10 indicators for measurement. These involve starting a business, dealing with construction permits, employing workers, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and closing a business.The World Bank compiles the report together with its sister company, the International Finance Corporation.Africa undergoing business reformAfrica performed well as a region, with 28 countries completing 58 reforms, a record for the continent since the initiation of the Doing Business report. The continent also comes in second on the global reforms table, behind the Europe and Central Asia region. The International Finance Corporation’s investment promotion officer David Bridgman said that the most profitable places to invest are countries that are reforming their climates.While Singapore was the top-ranked country for the third consecutive year, the Democratic Republic of Congo has the dubious honour of coming in last. However, there are four African countries on the list of top 10 reformers – Senegal, Burkina Faso, Botswana and Egypt.Senegal implemented changes that made it easier to start a business, register property, and trade across borders, while Burkina Faso streamlined the process for paying taxes, dealing with construction permits, and registering property. Botswana was acknowledged for making it quicker to start up a business, as well as facilitating trade.Egypt facilitated new business start-up, simplified the process of dealing with construction permits and registering property, and introduced procedures that made it quicker to import and export. The country also strengthened protections for minority shareholders, and improved access to credit records for borrowers.South Africa’s reforms involved amendments to the Corporate Act that directly affect entrepreneurs. Those wishing to start a business no longer have to obtain legal assistance or have their incorporation documents notarised, and in addition these documents may be submitted electronically, a boon for those in outlying areas. Finally, government has eliminated the regional establishment levy and regional services levy, thereby easing the tax burden.South Africa’s highest rating is in the area of getting credit, where it comes in joint second place with the UK and Hong Kong. However, consumers who have indulged in this ease of obtaining credit have felt the pinch in recent months as interest rates have risen steadily, although the Reserve Bank held the rate steady in August 2008. The country’s next-highest ranking is for protecting investors, where it comes in at joint ninth together with the UK.The World Bank says that Africa is shaking off its long-held reputation as a high risk region for business, and is becoming more investment-friendly. Investors – mainly Chinese – ploughed $36-billion into Africa in 2007, according to a report published by the Lagos-based Africa Re-insurance Corporation, which adds that this is an indication of the increasingly positive economic climate.Do you have queries or comments about this article? Email Janine Erasmus at janinee@mediaclubsouthafrica.com.Related storiesSouth Africa’s economyChina-Africa trade to soarUseful linksDoing BusinessDoing Business: Facebook pageThe World BankInternational Finance Corporation read more

10 May 2012 South African authorities have seized properties and assets worth R55-million believed to be the proceeds of rhino poaching involving a game farmer, two veterinary surgeons and nine other suspects from Limpopo province. The assets – including helicopters, luxury vehicles, houses, townhouses and farms – were attached on Wednesday in a joint operation by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), elite investigative unit the Hawks and South African Police Service (SAPS). Game farmer Dawie Groenewald, veterinary surgeons Karel Toet and Manie du Plessis and nine others were arrested in late 2010 on 1 872 charges related to rhino poaching, making it one of the highest-profile case in South Africa, according to the NPA. The charges include assault, fraud, corruption, malicious damage to property, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, contravention of the National Environmental Biodiversity Act and racketeering. “This team has seized assets in the region of R55-million, believed to have been acquired through criminal activities, particularly rhino poaching from Dawie Groenewald, and two veterinary surgeons, Drs Karel Toet and Manie du Plessis,” national police spokesperson Colonel Vish Naidoo said on Wednesday. “We are still attaching all 11 suspects’ assets, and we will make sure that we attach more of them until that [court] case resumes in October this year.” Naidoo said that while the matter was still before the court, the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act allowed the Asset Forfeiture Unit to seize and preserve the assets of an accused until the case was finalised. “On conviction of an accused, the seizure is realised and these proceeds are then used to continue with the combating of crime,” said Naidoo. The seizures, which are classified under Uncapped Asset Forfeiture, took place in Musina and Polokwane on Wednesday. “The operation is expected to last until the end of the day today,” Naidoo said, adding that the assets would be placed under curatorship. With regard to the court case, Naidoo said the matter had been postponed for the defence counsel to file a request for further details. Source: BuaNews read more

1 June 2012South African BMX star Sifiso Nhlapo qualified for the Olympic Games by reaching the quarterfinals of the BMX World Championships in Birmingham this past weekend. Unfortunately he crashed in the semi-finals, but by then he had already achieved his goal of making it to London 2012.It was a tough competition, with 177 elite men in action. That number had to be whittled down to 64 riders through a time trial. Nhlapo just made it, clocking 27.615 seconds to finish in 57th place as only 1.5 seconds separated the top 64 men.He went on to place second, fourth and second in his heats to claim a spot in the quarterfinals where he placed fourth after a messy lap.Unfortunately, in the semi-finals, a French rider went down in front of Nhlapo, leaving him with nowhere to go and he crashed out.Thankfully, after having gone over his handlebars, no major damage was inflicted, because injuries have been something that South Africa’s number one has had to deal with throughout his career.ResilientNhlapo’s career has been filled with more than its shares of ups and downs, but he has proved resilient in the face of challenges that would have been too much to bear for many others.Four years ago, in 2008, Nhlapo made the podium at the BMX World Championships. He finished third behind Latvian star Maris Strombergs and the American Steve Cisar, but Cisar was subsequently disqualified for doping and Nhlapo picked up the silver medal.He qualified for the Beijing Olympics, but unfortunately crashed out in the final when in third place.It has been far from smooth going for Nhlapo since then. In 2009, he suffered a broken neck after a big crash while training. He underwent surgery and afterwards doctor after doctor told him he needed to give up BMX racing, but Nhlapo was not about to do that.He searched for a doctor that would back his return to racing and after finally finding the right person he diligently went through rehab. After 10 months on the side lines he was back doing what he does best.2010 BMX World ChampionshipsNhlapo’s return came just in time for the 2010 BMX World Championships, which took place in South Africa in Pietermaritzburg. South African BMX fans expected Nhlapo to shine, even though he had only three months of preparation under his belt, but shine he did.He sneaked into the final after placing fourth in his semi-final following a bad start that left him in seventh place at the first corner. However, having made the final, Nhlapo made the most of his opportunity, finishing second to Latvian ace Strombergs once again.In 2011, Nhlapo, who it seems has been around forever but is still just 23 years of age, spent six months out of action after having knee surgery. That meant he began racing in August only, which set him back again, but the man has an inner strength that seems unbreakable and is sure to make his mark once more.2012To be frank, his results in 2012 have been patchy, but Nhlapo has shown an ability to produce his best on the biggest stages, as his two World Championships silver medals prove.No doubt his form will improve significantly in the two months remaining before London 2012 because Nhlapo has one of the biggest hearts in the sport of BMX.Look out for “Skizo 105”!Would you like to use this article in your publication or on your website? See: Using SAinfo material read more

Related Posts The Big Data future is here, but isn’t yet evenly distributed, to paraphrase William Gibson. More accurately, what we call Big Data today is what Silicon Valley’s web giants were doing years ago, but it’s considered new and exciting today because the methods and technologies used to power Big Data have been open sourced and have flooded mainstream enterprises.In conversations with a host of traditional enterprises across Europe, it has become clear there is little that is particularly novel about Big Data, except for its accelerating adoption outside Silicon Valley.Distributing The FutureI mention Europe because it has tended to lag the US in terms of enterprise IT. Whether we’re looking at cloud adoption or Big Data adoption, Europe is a year or two behind the US. So when I hear European firms talking seriously about Big Data projects, it suggests that Big Data is going mainstream.Which is not the same as saying “everyone is doing it.” Gartner reports that 42% of IT leaders have dabbled in Big Data projects, which indicates there’s still room to grow. But I suspect the number is actually bigger than 42%, and may have much to do with defining “Big Data.” Tags:#Big Data#enterprise IT#europe#Hadoop#Open Source Matt Asay IT + Project Management: A Love Affair 3 Areas of Your Business that Need Tech Now Cognitive Automation is the Immediate Future of… For example, when I ask an IT professional whether she’s launched a Big Data project, quite often she says no. When I clarify that I don’t mean whether she’s running a project that involves hundreds of terabytes or even petabytes of data, but instead involves an application pulling data from disparate sources to yield real-time analytics, much more often she says yes. Such projects are, of course, “Big Data.” But because the term suggests that “big” matters more than “data,” people get confused.This comes out in a NewVantage survey, which found that a mere 15% of respondents were dealing with hundreds of terabytes of data. Indeed, the primary concern for these survey respondents was the ability to manage a diverse, ever-growing body of data sources. Hence, it’s not surprising that even Hadoop, ostensibly for storage and processing of huge data sets, is much more often used for ETL.Size really doesn’t matter in Big Data.Open Source Is Democratizing InnovationAnd size is relative, anyway. Much of the reason that Google and Facebook invented things like MapReduce and NoSQL databases was to cope with the demands of real-time data-driven applications. Now those technologies are open source and widely available, to the extent that today’s web giants have moved onto new Big(ger) Data technologies that the rest of us will be using a few years from now. Hence, ReadWrite‘s Brian Proffitt captures the real value of Hadoop: it made data storage cheap when it had hitherto been expensive. NoSQL didn’t replace relational databases’ role in managing complex transactions but instead enabled a new class of application that required hyper-fast management of semi-structured data, as GigaOm‘s Derrick Harris notes. And across the board, they were born within the data centers of the web giants and then released as open source for the mainstream enterprises to adopt.For this and other reasons, it seems to me that the best way to define Big Data involves how you’re using data, and has almost nothing to do with the volume of data.One Old-School Enterprise Becomes NewAs an example, one European IT leader with whom I spoke recently noted that he has moved his team from a waterfall development approach to agile development, with 20 to 30 releases per day. The team responds to real-time customer feedback, which is pulled from 3,000 servers and generates 500 GB of new data each day, and can move from development to deployment in 24 minutes.As he explained it to me, the company determined it needed to move from a “I know what the customer wants and will force it on them” approach to a data-driven model. This required swapping out their rigid data infrastructure, which imposed heavy friction on their ability to change, and it also involved, as noted, a shift to a more agile development approach. The two generally go together.None of this is novel. Silicon Valley has been operating like this for years. But that’s the point: the traditional enterprise increasingly adopts the development practices and technologies of Silicon Valley’s tech elite. “Big Data” today in the mainstream enterprise is small data for web giants like Facebook.What will be fascinating to watch is whether more mainstream enterprises—say, Chevron or Kohls—will develop their own Big Data technologies to meet needs that the web giants don’t have. Perhaps innovation will start flowing back toward Silicon Valley …? Time will tell.Image courtesy of Shutterstock. Massive Non-Desk Workforce is an Opportunity fo… read more