January 2011 – Page 21 – Guyana Times International

Demerara Bank records billion-dollar profit

January 5, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Demerara Bank Limited has recorded a gross profit of G$1.2 billion during this year, reflecting a 20 per cent increase in profits over last year. The bank is reported to have recorded growth in all the areas of profit: deposit growth, reduction of non-performing assets, and increase in shareholders’ funds. The bank’s deposits have increased from G$24.9 billion in 2009 to G$28.9 billion in 2010 – a 16.06 per cent increase over the previous year. Due to the increase in profits this year, higher dividends will be paid, and a…

Non-profit organization pumping money into education, medical assistance in Guyana

January 5, 2011 TIMES INT'L

By Natasha Waldron Anthony Surya Narayan Seva Outreach Sang (SN SOS), a non-profit charitable organization in Jamaica, New York, is providing medical care, social, economic and educational assistance to persons around the world, especially New York, India and Guyana. During a recent mission to Guyana, several members and medical doctors, led by Pandit Ram Hardowar, visited a few high schools in West Demerara and Berbice. Hardowar said: “Our mission this year focused mainly on students finishing high schools and moving on to university or higher learning. We have observed that…

ERC urges respect for Chinese nationals

January 5, 2011 TIMES INT'L

The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) is urging all state and private sector agencies to develop a policy of non-discrimination against Chinese and all other nationals living in Guyana. This call comes weeks after President Bharrat Jagdeo met with Chinese nationals, earlier this month, and put systems in place to ensure that policies and administrative acts are non-discriminatory against Chinese. That meeting was held on December 3 at the International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara. The ERC, in a statement, said it publicly supports this commitment made by the government.…

PPP censures Nagamootoo over GuySuCo comments

January 5, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Attorney-at-law and People’s Progressive Party (PPP) executive member Moses Nagamootoo has been censured by the central committee of that party for comments he made in response to a threat by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to derecognise the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU). PPP/C General Secretary Donald Ramotar told the media on Wednesday, December 22nd that Nagamootoo’s comments were in poor taste. Ramotar disclosed that Nagamootoo was warned and censured at a meeting held on Tuesday, December 14. The PPPC general secretary revealed that the committee found the…

Private sector must take lead in Linden’s development – chamber president

January 5, 2011 TIMES INT'L

By Reuben Stoby President of the Linden Chamber of Industry, Commerce and Development (LCICD), Marvin Burns, believes that the private sector, with the assistance of the LCICD, must take a lead role in the development of Linden. According to Burns, much is left to be desired in commerce in Linden. However, the LCICD now has the responsibility to highlight the business opportunities available or lacking, and disseminate such information to its members. “What the new executive has done in the four months or so that it is in place is…

A band for the ages – Yoruba Singers

January 5, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Spreading holiday cheer despite challenges One band of singers famous for bringing Christmas cheer through their songs is the ever popular Yoruba Singers. According to a Yoruba biography, the Yoruba Singers band was founded by Patrick Eze Rockcliffe in 1971, out of an African-oriented group called ASCRIA: African Society for Cultural Relations Independent Africa, with folk as its primary music. “When I was 19, we had a lot of activities in Kitty through the YSM, Young Socialist Movement, and ASCRIA. They had a lot of concerts across the country and…

Main Big Lime attracts large crowd

January 5, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Thousands braved the rainy weather on Sunday to participate in the annual Main Big Lime, organised by the Tourism and Commerce Ministry. Guyanese from all walks of life, as well as foreigners, used the opportunity to purchase craft pieces and other items that were on display at several booths, which showcased Guyana’s rich cultural heritage. However, Neil Bascom, one of the participants at the big lime, said this was the first year that he has seen so few persons at the lime, and blamed the weather for this. He said…

“UNFORGETTABLE” CONCERT TALK OF THE TOWN

January 5, 2011 TIMES INT'L

By: Bhisham Mohamed Hits and Jams Entertainment, along with the Kashif and Shanghai organisation and the government of Guyana, have done it once again, hosting the show of the year, “Unforgettable”, which was held at the Guyana National Stadium on Christmas Night. This show will surely be on the tongues of the more than 10,000 fans who packed the stadium to be part of a historic concert and to see the Princess of R&B, Ashanti, reggae superstar Jah Cure and Jamaican singing sensation Konshens. The show got underway at about…

Four Guyanese die in T&T highway crash

January 5, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Four Guyanese were among five people killed in a horrific accident in Trinidad and Tobago on Friday night, December 24th. As thousands around the country celebrated Christmas on Saturday, Ingrid Watterton, a Laventille woman, was coming to terms with the news that her daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter had been killed in the vehicular accident. With tears streaming down her face, seated in her daughter’s apartment at Burke Terrace, El Socorro Extension, Watterton said, “I was just hoping it was a dream.” A three-car smash-up along the east-bound lane of the…

New York governor pardons more Caribbean nationals

January 5, 2011 TIMES INT'L

New York Governor David Paterson has granted pardons to 24 immigrants, including Caribbean nationals who were due to be deported because of prior criminal convictions. Though he did not identify the nationalities of all the immigrants who had faced deportation, Paterson singled out Haitian Edouard Colas. Governor Paterson, the grandson of Jamaican and Grenadian immigrants, said Colas was brought to the United States from Haiti as a lawful permanent resident at age 10, but was convicted in 1997 of attempted burglary in the third degree, and sentenced to five years…