Dear Editor, It would be a rather strange day if the Kaieteur News is not up to its traditional roles of sensationalising and making mischief, its two reasons for existence. Its latest example of the latter culture, a column captioned “UNASUR detention triggers man’s death”, is another signpost of its deliberate policy of daily misrepresentation of a government that it faults for every conceivable issue, even for the sun not shining! This latest piece is an example of gross misrepresentation, spite and grudge, especially against the background of the nation…
Read MoreMonth: January 2011
Delighted that contempt of court is now a criminal offence
Dear Editor, As a Guyanese who always complies with the laws of this country, and as one who honours the laws of the land in every respect, especially edicts of the court, such as court orders, also known as injunctions, I find it most heartening that His Excellency, President Bharrat Jagdeo, has assented to the bill which now criminalizes contempt of court. Too many people have been making a mockery of injunctions, thinking these are jokes; and despite having an order of the court issued against them, they continue in…
Read MoreGoing around in circles on climate change is not an option
Dear Editor, Fifteen thousand delegates descended on Cancun, conferred, and left with an agreement that will not save the world from the effects of climate change, though it rescued the negotiating process. That we should be relieved is testament to the soft bigotry of low expectations on what once was billed as the greatest moral challenge of our time. Britain’s Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Huhne, described the summit as a “turning point”. He also said that, in addition to the turning points of Kyoto, Bali…
Read MoreRethinking aid
Rich and emerging market nations have agreed to put up US$49.3 billion to top-up a World Bank fund to aid the world’s poorest countries. World Bank president Robert Zoellick said the commitments marked an 18 per cent increase from the last time the International Development Association (IDA) was replenished, in 2007. Furthermore, this increase in the fund was made possible in part because some major developing countries stepped up with pledges. Although it was not stated how much the individual countries contributed, China was expected to contribute more, especially since…
Read MoreGlobal Hardware’s pipes get GNBS certification
Global Hardware Incorporated on Friday became the fifth company to be certified by the Product Certification Scheme of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards for its polypropylene pipes. At a short ceremony at the company’s head office, the Bureau of Standards presented a certificate as proof of the company’s compliance with national standards. Public Relations Officer of the bureau, Lloyd David, explained that Global Hardware is also the third manufacturer of pipes to meet this standard. The other companies registered with Product Certification Scheme are Guyana Thermoplastic Limited (Toolsie Persaud)…
Read MoreMercosur to scrap tariff exemptions, services barriers
– to adopt investment guarantees, common licence plate President Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday participated in the closing of the social forum of the XL Mercosur summit in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil, and subsequently attended a state dinner hosted by Brazilian President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva. The Guyanese leader will participate in the plenary session today. The South American trade bloc launched a plan on Thursday, December 16th, to adopt common trade, investment and immigration policies to help underpin unprecedented economic growth in the region, Reuters reported. Under the plan,…
Read MoreGovt to fund G$720M payout to sugar workers
Sugar workers countrywide will receive a five per cent one-off payment retroactive to January 2010, President Bharrat Jagdeo announced on Wednesday. At a meeting with scores of sugar workers at the International Conference Centre, Jagdeo disclosed that this payout will cost the government some $G720 million. This announcement was met with resounding applause. “If we achieve the target (298- 303,000 tonnes of sugar) next year, the five per cent becomes permanent with whatever increases you’ll receive next year,” he revealed. The president believes that the target outlined is achievable. He…
Read MoreDigicel says new telecoms law long overdue
Chief Executive Officer of Digicel Guyana, Gregory Dean, has noted that, while the company has no fears of a liberalised communications sector, the sloth in getting legislation enacted to break the current monopoly could hamper Digicel’s expansion plans. Dean made the announcement at the year-in-review press conference held at the company’s Kingston headquarters on Tuesday, December 21st. “We’ve always said from the beginning that, in terms of major investments, at some point, it will come in the business where legislation becomes a bottleneck to our further development; and that’s why…
Read MoreLCDS projects presented to steering committee
– verification of second tranche of US$40M starts Guyana has presented the LCDS Steering Committee with the first wave of priority projects to be implemented under the Guyana Readiness Investment Fund (GRIF), with the hope that these could be quickly approved. According to the Office of Climate Change, the five projects which were identified during the national consultations on the Low Carbon Development Strategy were presented at the first steering committee meeting on November 24. These projects include the Amerindian land titling and demarcation; the hinterland electrification programme, and the…
Read More‘Factionalism will not divide the PNCR’— Granger
Even with apparent divides within the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), its presidential candidate- hopeful, retired Brigadier David Granger, says that factionalism will definitely not divide the party. In an invited comment, Brigadier Granger said that most of the issues have been occurring at the upper levels of the party among persons competing for office. However, he highlighted that the party is large, and the majority of persons who do not belong to factions just want unity. He noted that the issues are often highlighted because those who are part…
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