February 2011 – Page 11 – Guyana Times International

Citizens Bank to open branch in Linden

February 11, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Residents of Region Ten may soon benefit from an additional banking facility as Citizens Bank hopes to open a branch in Linden in May. This announcement was made by Chairman of the Board of Directors of Banks DIH Ltd, Clifford Reis, who was in Linden recently. Reis said the bank is awaiting the necessary approval to open a branch in Linden, and the financial institution is earnestly working to meet its deadline. The former Quik Serv building on Republic Avenue, Linden is currently being remodelled to accommodate the banking facility.…

AFC promises to make UG major research institute

February 11, 2011 TIMES INT'L

During the official start of its elections campaign, the Alliance For Change (AFC) party made a stop at Guyana’s premier tertiary education institution — the University of Guyana. There, the party made known its conviction that, through research, UG students could play a more meaningful role in the country’s development. The party’s plan of action includes making the university a major regional research institution. Speaking on the issue, AFC’s prime ministerial candidate, Sheila Holder, said the university “should be looking at solutions to our problems”. This was reiterated by party…

Guyanese rally in support of religious harmony

February 11, 2011 TIMES INT'L

The importance of interfaith harmony to the development of a nation was emphasised on Thursday as scores of Guyanese from various religious groups marched through the streets of Georgetown in observance of the United Nations-designated Week of Interfaith Harmony. Leading that route March, which started at the Bank of Guyana at midday on Thursday, were acting President Samuel Hinds and heads of several religious organizations. The activity culminated two hours later at the Promenade Gardens with cultural performances from the Christian, Hindu, Muslim and Baha’i groups, among others. Public Relations…

GT& T losing some Gy$ 7.5M a month on landline services

February 11, 2011 TIMES INT'L

The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Limited (GT&T) has disclosed that it is losing some Gy$7.5 million monthly on its landline services. This disclosure is a further hint that expansion plans in regard to landline services could be taken off the company’s agenda. Speaking at a press conference at the company’s headquarters last Friday, February 4th, Yog Mahadeo, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GT&T, disclosed that the company could actually be losing more, since the losses are in the vicinity of Gy$50 to Gy$80 per landline per month, and GT&T…

First set of psychiatric nurses being trained to boost mental health programme

February 11, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Eight nurses within the health sector – two from the Georgetown Public Hospital and six from Berbice – are the first set of nurses in Guyana being trained to become psychiatric nurses through a course being run by the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the University of Dalhousie and the Nova Scotia Ministry of Health in Canada. During an interview with Guyana Times International, Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy disclosed that the nurses are going to function as first responders to persons with mental health illnesses at the hospitals…

Retracing steps to El Dorado – BBC team exploring “Destination Guyana”

February 11, 2011 TIMES INT'L

-Prashad says tourism sector will receive major boost A British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) team comprised of eight children between the ages of twelve and fifteen years old docked on Guyana’s shores on Saturday, February 5th, after travelling from the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in a sailboat. The team is on a quest to retrace the footsteps of Sir Walter Raleigh when he was in search of the fabled El Dorado, the City of Gold. Like Raleigh, the team sailed across the Caribbean Sea from Trinidad and Tobago. Their sailboat…

Colonel Kemraj Persaud heads GDF promotions

February 11, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Acting Colonel Kemraj Persaud has been promoted to full colonel, heading a list of 49 officers who were promoted by the Guyana Defence Force. The appointment of Colonel Persaud is retroactive to January 1, 2010, a release from the GDF said. The release added that, in accordance with Part III, Section 16 of the Defence Act, Chapter 15: 01 of 1977, Chief-of-Staff, Commodore Gary Best, has announced that President and Commander-in-Chief, Bharrat Jagdeo, has approved the promotions of 49 officers and 225 other ranks. One officer’s elevation in rank is…

Guyana to observe United Nations’ International Year of Forests

February 11, 2011 TIMES INT'L

The year 2011 has been declared The International Year of Forests by the United Nations to raise awareness and strengthen the sustainable forest management, conservation, and sustainable development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations. In recognition of the importance of forests, not only as a form of sustenance but also a form of long-term survival against climate change threats, there are a number of activities planned by the Guyana government. Among these will be continued emphasis on the Mangrove Restoration project that was…

Guyana implements EPA

February 11, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Guyana has met the legal requirements to implement the European Union Economic Partnership Agreement, making this country the first Caricom member state to do so. On Thursday, February 3rd, the National Assembly passed the Customs Duty (Amendment) Order 2011, which makes way for Guyana’s entry into the EPA. Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh moved for the confirmation of the Order, which was tabled in late January after its signing on January 14, prior to the publishing of the official Gazette Order No. 1 of 2011, which amended the Customs Act…

New Revelations Dance Theatre – a cultural innovation

February 11, 2011 TIMES INT'L

By Natasha Waldron Anthony Dance is her passion! And beyond that, Guyanese-born Sandra Primus is more than grateful for the training shereceived in Guyana during her time at the National Dance Company, since, she says, it is the foundation of her sustenance here in the U.S. Primus founded the New Revelations Dance Theater in Brooklyn, New York five years ago. There she teaches dance in various forms, fused with modern, jazz, Indian, African and ballet. She told Guyana Times International that when she migrated to the United States ten years…