Month: January 2011

By Natasha Waldron Anthony The Guyanese community in Brooklyn has touched the heart of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. In a recent interview with Guyana Times International, Markowitz boasted that Guyanese are very active in the civic and community affairs of Brooklyn.  “Their culture, tradition, value of education, family and faith… they are very hard workers, and they love owning homes. They hate renting, this is not in their DNA, and they take good care of their communities and their homes,” the Brooklyn Borough president said.  The Guyanese community in…

Five-year-old Edon Williams aspires to become a qualified teacher, although lacking hands and feet. By Indrawattie Natram  Life is considered perfect when one is born with 10 fingers and 10 toes in the appropriate places. But imagine being born without arms to hold or grasp, or legs to walk or run. How would one manage one’s life?  Five-year-old Edon Williams is an adorable youngster with a spunky disposition, who likes to live life to the fullest. There is, however, one peculiar condition attached to this zestful life: he was born…

By Natasha Waldron Anthony The Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industries is proceeding with plans to construct a US$12 million Caribbean Trade Center Small Business Incubator in Brooklyn, New York, which will assist in promoting economic development among Caribbean and American businesses, specifically in New York.  CACCI’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Roy Hastick, told Guyana Times International about the plans for the center. “We have also an international tier. We have hosted almost every Caricom leader here in New York, promoting trade and investment and tourism. We…

While President Bharrat Jagdeo continues to receive some criticism for offering Chinese nationals automatic citizenship after they would have lived in Guyana for seven years, the Chinese community remains pleased with the offer; and, more particularly, the interaction with the Guyanese head of state. This is according to Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Yu Wenzhe, who said that the Chinese community was very eager to meet President Jagdeo and to get proper information on how to go about acquiring citizenship in Guyana: the procedures, people and agencies to approach; and how…

Guyana’s balance of payment for 2010, the overall report of the country’s economic transaction with the rest of the world, reflected an overall surplus of US$90.1 million.  This disclosure was made by Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh during the presentation of the 2011 Budget in the National Assembly on Monday, where he also reported on the expansion in export earnings for the year.  “Export earnings expanded by 16.1 per cent to US$891.9 million, reflecting both volume and price increases in the case of most commodities,” Minister Singh said. Export proceeds…

In light of recent comments by opposition parties that nearly Gy$15 billion has been wasted on substandard contracts, Transport and Hydraulics Minister Robeson Benn disclosed that that ministry has managed to recoup monies from delinquent contractors.  Minister Benn described the situation with such contractors as “a constant battle”, noting that the ministry has been writing to them about the manner in which they undertake works. “Last year we have taken action in terms of liquidated damages; and, in one case, we have recovered a considerable sum of money in respect…