Best, Lovell conferred with French medals

Army Chief of Staff Commodore Gary Best and Colonel General Staff Bruce Lovell were on July 11 conferred with the Gold Medal of National Defence and the Silver Medal of National Defence respectively, from the French Armed Forces. France’s outgoing non-resident military attaché, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Kopecky, decorated the officers with the medals on behalf of his country’s defence minister, Gerard Longuet. The medal has three levels: gold, silver and bronze, and is awarded to active military personnel or reserves who are distinguished by the quality of services rendered, or…

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Psychologist crowned Miss Guyana Universe 2011

Twenty-three-year-old model and psychologist Kara Lord, from North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, beat a field of nine beauties to grab the Miss Guyana Universe title in a six-hour ceremony at the Princess International Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara early Sunday morning, July 10. The first runner-up spot went to reigning Miss Essequibo, 20- year-old Seromanie Choomanlall; while the second runner- up position was awarded to Judith Sullivan, 21, of Burma, Mahaicony, Region Five. Twenty- two-year-old Ayana Harris was adjudged the third runner-up; and crowning off the placement in the top six was…

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Government pledges another Gy$30M towards Film Endowment Project

By Tiffany Rhodius President Bharrat Jagdeo has pledged Gy$30 million towards the continuation of the President’s Film Endowment Project, which had a red carpet premier on July 7th, at the Theatre Guild Playhouse, Parade Street, Kingston. “This was a tremendous project for our country,” Jagdeo told the producers, cast, crew and special invitees who were present for the screening of the eight short films produced under the project. The President’s Film Endowment Project 2011 stemmed from a meeting in November last year with stakeholders in the local arts and entertainment…

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Cabinet clears Gy$223M to set up computer labs in schools

Government is to furnish 70 of Guyana’s secondary schools with computer laboratories as part of its national Information Communication Technology (ICT) strategy. Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, revealed on July 11 that Cabinet granted its no- objection for a Gy$222.9 million contract for the procurement of computers, other equipment and accessories for 70 of the more than 100 secondary schools countrywide on July 8. According to him, these should be ready for the beginning of the 2011/12 academic year, which starts in September. He added that the…

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Chinese artists to capture Guyana’s biodiversity

Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony welcomed a delegation of artists from the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) at the National Cultural Centre on July11. The group will capture Guyana’s unique biodiversity through art. The minister said that the eight artists, who will each draw five paintings, will do the sketches in Guyana and complete them in Beijing, China. This is the first time Guyana has had such a large Chinese delegation of artists. Dr Anthony stated that next year will be the 40th…

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Republic Bank honours 2011 NGSA top student

Terron Alleyne, the top student at the 2011 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), was the guest of honour at a special presentation ceremony at Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited Linden branch at Republic Avenue, Mackenzie, Linden. As part of the bank’s tradition, the top achievers for the annual national examinations are rewarded through the bank’s “Power to Make a Difference” community outreach initiative. A monetary gift and plaques were presented to Alleyne in the presence of the literacy coordinator of the Department of Education of Region Ten; deputy head teacher and…

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Govt mulls waiving repayment of UG tuition fees for graduates willing to serve in hinterland

The Education Ministry is considering waiving the tuition fees of University of Guyana (UG) graduates who are willing to serve in the hinterland regions. This disclosure was made by Education Minister Shaik Baksh on July 11 during a farewell ceremony for a group of WorldTeach volunteers convened at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD). The plan, he said, targets graduates with specialisation in mathematics, English, the sciences, and other subject areas approved by the ministry. The offer will also be open to graduates from other faculties of the…

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NAACIE accepts GuySuCo’s five per cent pay hike offer

The National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) and the Guyana Sugar Corporation signed an agreement for wages and salary increases for 143 junior staffers and 18 private salaried employees on Thursday, 7th July. The union also accepted the corporation’s offer of a five per cent wage increase for last year and a similar wage increase for this year. The agreement was reached after the union recognised the unfair salary structure and payment arising out of the across-the- board increases, since in the 1980s when all workers were…

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APNU cannot unseat the PPP/ C – Jagdeo

… opposition group adamant that citizens need change President Bharrat Jagdeo is confident that the new opposition coalition, ‘A partnership for National Unity’ (APNU), will not threaten the reign of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic. Speaking at a media conference at the Office of the President on July 8, Jagdeo insisted that the numbers did not add up. “Elections are about mathematics, particularly in a country that has as its electoral system proportional representation,” the president stated. “The PNC/R in the last election got 37.07 per cent of the votes;…

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Moruca Expo billed for July 22

The annual Moruca Expo is slated for July 22/23 in Santa Rosa, Region One, the expo committee said in a notice. On July 22, the entire day is dedicated to aquatics and water sport, with additional events to cater for the participation of visitors and other interested persons. There will be swimming, canoe racing, river swim, and a challenge which is the surprise of this year’s aquatic and water sport event. The night of the 22nd would see a grand cultural show at the Kumaka Recreational Ground, and the committee…

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