Dear Editor, I bring to mind a most important controversy, regarding the just-concluded national and regional elections. This controversy emanated from a misconception which was peddled by oppositional elements. As expected, this engendered a volatile situation in this land, but which the PPP/C quelled instantly. Without repeating all the details here, I remind readers that the PPP/C did call for a recount of some of the ballot boxes. However, this was in no way to suggest any kind of admission of defeat. This is where many opposition voices opportunistically made…
Read MoreYear: 2011
Will there be a power broker?
Dear Editor, The election results are known and although the incumbent PPP/C has won the most votes, there might very well be an interesting situation, whereby it may not be able to form a majority government. If such a situation unfolds, then there could be room for a broker, and it seems as if the Alliance For Change (AFC) would be the party that would be up for courtship. At the moment, speculation is rife as to how the broker would utilise its position as a deciding factor. This would…
Read MoreN.Y. – based Guyanese elated with another PPP victory
Dear Editor: N.Y. – based Guyanese were on the edge last week after their country voted in general elections on November 28. Most of them maintain very close ties to their former homeland and as such they were anxious to know the outcome. Some are political aficionados having ties with one party or the other. Some were activists back home and in New York played prominent roles in the struggle for free and fair elections. Guyanese Americans have retained their passion for politics in their homeland. Even American born children…
Read MoreU.S. commits to strengthening governance, security in Guyana
United States Ambassador to Guyana Brent Hardt said Washington looks forward to working with this country to improve its economy, while strengthening public safety and democratic governance. Hardt made the remarks while addressing the 16th Annual Awards Presentation and Dinner hosted by Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) On December 2 at the Princess Hotel. The U.S. envoy said that he looks forward to working with the government and people of Guyana to forge a mutually beneficial partnership for the 21st century. During his presentation, Ambassador Hardt served up a…
Read MoreContinuity and Change
Donald Ramotar has been duly elected as the seventh executive president of Guyana. We offer him our congratulations and wish him all success during his tenure. His success will be Guyana’s success and as such, our good wishes are boundless. As far as countries go, ours is still a youthful one. As such, it is imperative that the hand on the helm maintains a continuity of our progress and ebullient growth trajectory that defied all odds in the region. As general secretary of the PPP for the past decade, President…
Read MoreFinance minister upbeat about Guyana’s economy
Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh said that Guyana is in its most exciting years, well poised for extreme rapid growth as the country has recently made several large investments. He was at the time responding to questions by reporters following the swearing in ceremony on Monday. “We have done a lot and put in place the institutional prerequisites to sustain this growth and for all of those reasons and more, I am extremely optimistic about the next five years for Guyana,” the minister said. As it relates to priorities, he…
Read MoreIn farewell address to the nation President Bharrat Jagdeo:‘Serving the people was my greatest privilege’
Below is a full text of the president’s address Fellow Guyanese: For 12 years, I have had the honour to serve as your president, and I wanted to take the opportunity today to thank you for that honour. It has been the greatest privilege of my life to serve the people of this country, and to bear witness to the hard work and dedication of Guyanese from all walks of life, as you continue to create an ever better Guyana. There have been many difficult days with in the past…
Read MoreGT becomes ghost town as rumours of unrest spread
In wake of the delay in the full release of the election results, tension filled the air in the streets of Georgetown on Wednesday; and it was exacerbated when a convoy of vehicles drove through some city streets calling on the Guyana Elections Commission to declare the results. The procession was mainly drawn from supporters of the A Partnership for National Unity. As word spread that the procession was heading deep into the city, police hurriedly threw up barricades around the offices of GECOM; and shoppers, store owners, commuters, and…
Read MoreToronto-based Guyanese pay tribute to fallen soldiers
By North American Correspondent The Guyanese Vishnu Mandir in Toronto held a commemoration ceremony paying tribute to those who gave their lives in World Wars 1 and 2. The ceremony was emceed by Guyanese Canadian Lieutenant Colonel Hari Panday. Dr. Budhendra Doobay, Head of the Vishnu Mandir, noted in his brief remarks that there was a lot of controversy about having the Gandhi statue built so close to the Monument for the Fallen Soldier. He said people expressed concerns that Mahatma Gandhi promoted non-violence and peace while soldiers go to…
Read MoreYoung voters turn out in large numbers on East Bank Demerara
BY REHANA RAMCHARAN AND BHISHAM MOHAMED Residents on East Bank Demerara turned out in their numbers early Monday morning to cast their votes as they choose a new government and members to sit in the 65-seat legislature. Barring reports of multiple voting at the Timehri Primary School, voting took place in an atmosphere of calm. Guyana Times International understands that some 26 persons had voted more than once at the different polling stations within the school. In addition, a group of first time voters reportedly cast their votes incorrectly, and…
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