GUATEMALA   –  Comedian-turned-politician Jimmy Morales is poised to become Guatemala’s next President, according to preliminary election returns. Morales, 46, won more than 69% of votes with results from more than 93% of polling stations counted, election officials said. Former first lady Sandra Torres, 59, who was trailing with nearly 31% of votes, conceded Sunday.(CNN.COM/photo:cnn.com)…[+]

It was just last year the former PPP/C administration set aside $1B for a massive a ‘Clean up my Country’ Campaign. But under a new administration, several inconsistencies have surfaced on how that money was spent, and an investigation has been launched. At least this is according to an audit report on the expenditure conducted by the Auditor General and made public last week when the report was laid in the National Assembly. Among the red flags raised, according to the Auditor General, is that despite repeated requests, all payment vouchers, together with the requisite supporting documents were not presented for audit verification of the money. About a third of the $1B was expended on the acquisition of tools and equipment including tractors and trailers, mini excavators and skid steer loader. According to the records kept at the Ministry, the tools were issued to various community groups to clean their environs and should have been returned at the completion of the exercise.(Kaieteurnieuws.com/photo:Kaieteurnieuws.com)…[+]

After twelve fruitless years of trying to have a baby, 33-year-old Liloutie Ramlall had all but given up on her dream of becoming a mother. So when doctors told her that she was pregnant a year later, she and her husband, Nizam Khamis were stunned to learn that they were going to be parents at last- and that Ramlall much longed-for baby ( a boy) was due in a matter of months. A happy Ramlall spent the last few months shopping for his son and at times hoped that the baby would come sooner while her husband would visit her often from Canada. Liloutie Ramlall started to experience labour pains and her relatives rushed her to a private hospital in the city.  It never entered their thoughts that when she walked into the medical institution, 33 weeks pregnant, they would not see her walk out back. The Greenfield Beehive, East Coast Demerara woman delivered a little boy but later bled to death in the Operating theatre.(Kaieteurnieuws.com/photo:Kaieteurnieuws.com)…[+]