Caricom heads warned: Time for action

Caricom leaders meet later this week in Grenada for their annual inter-sessional summit, with St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas saying that the issues on the agenda require timely discussion, analysis, and action. “Some of these issues are new and some are ongoing, but in need of executive oversight and refinement. What they all share, however, is a centrality to Caricom’s overall quest for cohesion and stability,” said Dr Douglas on his regular weekly radio programme “Ask the Prime Minister” on Tuesday. He said that the issues…

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Gy$805M in contracts signed for housing, water works

The Housing and Water Ministry has signed more than Gy$805 million in contracts for the construction of roads, drainage, other structures and pure water distribution networks in Regions Two, Three, Five and Eight. The signing ceremony was held on Monday, February 21st, in the ministry’s boardroom, where Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali urged the contractors to ensure that the projects are completed within their stipulated periods and are in keeping with high standards of quality, accountability and transparency. He encouraged contractors to be prepared to deal with changing weather…

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The West Indies and the World Cup

Dear Editor, Please allow me space in your letters’ columns to add my piece to the upcoming World Cup Cricket, which begins on February 19 with all matches being played in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. This World Cup will undoubtedly be the battle of the giants; and when I say giants, I mean teams like India, England, South Africa, Australia and Sri Lanka. While the battle is expected to be among the teams that have been listed above, I do not rule out our very own West Indies, who…

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More needs to be done about domestic/sexual violence

Dear Editor, 2011 has started very badly for women and children in Guyana. Two women have already been murdered by their male partners; another woman lies in hospital seriously injured from multiple stab wounds inflicted by her partner; an 11-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a police officer at the BV Police Station; a nine-year-old boy allegedly committed suicide; a male and a female student from one of the prestigious schools in Guyana were filmed having sex; a teacher has been charged for sexually assaulting female secondary school students; and…

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PMTCT programme very effective in Guyana

Dear Editor, According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated 370,000 children under the age of 15 have been newly-infected with HIV in 2009 through mother-to-child transmission. HIV/AIDS transmission from mother-to-child pre- and post-partum is, however, at a relatively stable rate in Guyana. In 2001, the National Aids Programme Secretariat and the Maternal Child Health Department of the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with UNICEF and PAHO, launched the Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme in Guyana with only eight clinics at three hospital sites in Regions Four…

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The maths and science deficit

The president has confirmed Cabinet’s approval of the recruitment of foreign teachers to tutor local students in maths and science, to fill that long identified gap in the delivery of the education curriculum. This decision, of course, is subject to the approval of the Teaching Service Commission. It appears that, after a Herculean effort to facilitate the production of these much needed teachers at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and the University of Guyana, the Education Ministry had hit a brick wall. The pull factors (not to mention…

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A proud nation

Guyana’s attainment of republican status from Great Britain, on February 23, 1970, remains an indelible part of the country’s history; and each year, colourful celebrations following the ceremonial hoisting of the Golden Arrowhead are undertaken to remind the nation of its struggle to become independent. This year’s Mashramani celebrations are held under the theme: “Showcasing our culture, sustaining our pride”. Over the past few days, we have seen spectacular costume competitions, float parades, masquerade bands, and dancing in the streets to the accompaniment of steel pan music. This is in…

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Georgetown explodes with colours, revelry

By Bhisham Mohamed An explosion of colour, music, revelry, and creativity swamped Georgetown on Wednesday, as Guyana celebrated its 41st republic anniversary with the traditional Mashramani costume and float parade. With its massive costume bands, spectacular costumes, pulsating music and the unrivalled stamina of revellers, Wednesday’s event was indeed something to remember. The parade saw more than 38 floats comprising hundreds of revellers vying for the top spot in various categories. The parade took off from Camp and Church Streets around 10: 30 hours. The young, the old, persons from…

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T&T sees potential for joint food production with Guyana

– lauds country’s climate change fight Foreign Affairs Minister of the sister Caricom state of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Surujrattan Rambachan, has said that tremendous potential exists for Port of Spain and Georgetown to collaborate on increasing food production in the region. He also pledged his country’s support to help Guyana if oil is discovered here. Rambachan made the comments during an exclusive interview with this newspaper in Port of Spain over the weekend. With food prices soaring internationally, Guyana’s ability to again become “the bread basket of the region”…

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Dr Raj Singh, re-elected ACG Chairman

By Natasha Waldron Anthony Dr Raj Singh, of the Association of Concerned Guyanese (ACG) in the USA, has been re-elected chairman of that body following its annual congress last Sunday in New York. He told Guyana Times International that the congress, constitutionally due before the end of February each year, has seen the election of some new members. Singh said: “They re-elected the executive committee, (but) there were some changes. Basically, the chairs of all the sub-committees will put together a programme for their sub-committees for the rest of the…

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