Year: 2011

Pact inked with Guyana Goldfields Inc for $1B Aurora project

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By Ariana Gordon  The government of Guyana and Guyana Gold Fields Incorporated on November 18 signed a mineral agreement which sets the conditions for the development of a large gold mine at Aurora in the Cuyuni River. The agreement was signed at the Office of the President. The mineral agreement was signed in the presence of President Bharrat Jagdeo, People’s Progressive Party (PPP/ C) presidential candidate Donald Ramotar, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, Sir Shridath Ramphal, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Chairman Major General (retired) Joe Singh, acting GGMC…

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Miller/Andrews steal title from Squires/Lowden in thriller

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Lopes takes Men’s 35 title; Sukra/Ramdyhan win Ladies’ Doubles An exciting day of tennis produced three new title winners at the Pegasus Open on the penultimate day of the tournament. In the Men’s Doubles, top seeds Jeremy Miller/ Jason Andrews had to be at their absolute best to stave off the challenge of the defending champions Phillip Squires/ Godfrey Lowden in a game where the crowd were kept enthralled with the shot- making and excellent tennis on display. Jason Andrews kept hitting the ball hard and it paid off. Complemented…

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D’Andrade runs away with marathon title in Suriname

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Guyanese long distance campaigner Lionel D’Andrade missed out on the IAAF/ CONSUDATLE South American 10kM Classic this year, but he did cash in on an impressive performance at the Eight Annual Srefidens Marathon in Suriname on Saturday evening. D’Andrade won the event, which took place on Saturday evening in 2 hours, 49 minutes (2:49:00) ahead of Surinamese athletes Feliksdal Carlos (3:09:00) and Guillemmo Udemhouk (3:17:00). D’Andrade told Guyana Times International Sport that he had intended to compete at the South American 10k but since the Guyana stage was held just…

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Blackmore elected to new Pan Am athletics body

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General Secretary of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), Claude Blackmore, was recently elected to the Association of Pan American Athletics as a committee member following the congress that was held in Guadalajara, Mexico. Following the 16th Edition of the Pan American Games, which concluded on October 30, the Pan American Athletics Commission convened for the congress and elections of the new office bearers to serve another term. Blackmore, who had served as the vice president of that organisation, also said that one of the main purposes of the congress…

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Caricom SG calls on U.S. to give climate change commitment

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The Caribbean Community is urging the United States to commit to the outcome of the Cancún Climate Change Conference. Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque made the call at the accreditation ceremony of the new U.S. Ambassador to the community, D Brent Hardt at the Caricom Secretariat’s headquarters in Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara on Tuesday. The secretary general acknowledged and commended the U.S. government’s efforts to initiate programmes such as Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA), which has 40 projects underway throughout the Americas including in Caricom states. He…

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AFC, APNU prefer unity govt in case of election deadlock

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BY ARIANA GORDON  The Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) on Wednesday committed to forming a government of national unity if none of the parties contesting the upcoming elections wins a clear majority to form a government. Responding to a question posed by a member of the audience at the Merundoi Incorporated Presidential Forum held at the Theatre Guild on November 15, both presidential hopefuls, Khemraj Ramjattan of the AFC and David Granger of APNU said a government of national unity is a must. “We…

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Commonwealth approves 15-member election observer mission

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Former Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Secretary General, Denis Marshall, Queen’s Service Order, (QSO), who also served as a minister in the New Zealand government, will lead a 15-member Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) for the upcoming general and regional elections in Guyana. The group was constituted by Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma at the invitation of the government of Guyana, a release from the Commonwealth Secretariat said. “The Commonwealth has a long history of engagement with Guyana, and we are pleased to be observing these important elections,” said the secretary general. “We hope…

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Women have the power to make a difference – Sandra Ganger

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A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) on November 15 reached out to women at a forum which highlighted the challenges women face and how the party plans to address these if it wins the upcoming elections. Held at the Georgetown Club under the theme, “Sisters: amidst the challenges let your hand make the difference”, women were encouraged to stand up and make a difference in this election season. They were also urged to take nothing for granted as the presenters, who were all women, encouraged their colleagues to make a…

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Dr Greene now UN special envoy for HIV in the Caribbean

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The United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Ban Ki- Moon, has appointed former Caricom Secretariat, Assistant Secretary General, Dr Edward Greene as UN special envoy for HIV in the Caribbean. In this role, Dr Greene will be responsible for advancing the cause of HIV/ AIDs in accordance with the UN mandates, and in collaboration with the executive director of UNAIDS and the regional and national institutions in the Caribbean, the Caricom Secretariat said in a release. Until recently, assistant secretary general for human and social development at the Caribbean Community Secretariat,…

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Govt signs US$138M contract to upgrade CJIA

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– Chinese firm to build new terminal, extend runway China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) has been awarded a US$138 million contract to build a modern terminal at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and also extend the runway, the government has confirmed. Financing of the contract which was signed in Jamaica on Friday last, will be provided by China Exim Bank, a report in the Jamaica Observer said. In a statement, the government of Guyana announced that it is embarking on a major project to expand the airport. To this…

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