2011 – Page 25 – Guyana Times International

Guyana signs multibillion-dollar minerals deal with Canadian firm

November 11, 2011 TIMES INT'L

BY MICHAEL YOUNGE The government of Guyana has inked a multibillion-dollar deal with Sandspring Resources Incorporated, a Canadian company, for the establishment and operationalisation of a new large-scale mine located between the Cuyuni and Mazaruni Rivers respectively. The agreement was signed on Wednesday afternoon at the Office of the President in the presence of President Bharrat Jagdeo, Advisor to the Canadian Firm, Sir Shridath Ramphal; Guyana Geology and Mines Commission Advisor Norman McClean and PPP/C presidential candidate Donald Ramotar among others. The new agreement could see a whopping US$550 million…

All set for hosting of presidential candidates ‘debates’ – organizers

November 11, 2011 TIMES INT'L

BY ARIANA GORDON All is set for the hosting of the three public style meetings aimed at engaging the country’s four presidential candidates and the electorate in dialogue. The organisers of the meetings told Guyana Times International on Tuesday that they are ready. From all indications, the presidential candidates are also ready for the meetings to be held on November 10, 15 and 17. One of the organisers of the University of Guyana (UG) public meeting, Kadasi Ceres told this publication that the meeting would see the four presidential candidates…

Commissioner Greene denies bugging Felix’s office

November 11, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Police Commissioner Henry Greene has distanced himself from the bugging of the office of former Police Commissioner Winston Felix who was heard on a tape recording, which surfaced back in 2006, discussing security matters with People’s National Congress Reform member Basil Williams. Felix has long accused senior officials within the force of placing the recording device in his office while he was away on an overseas assignment. The tape recording was later distributed by jailed drug trafficker Shaheed Roger Khan to the diplomatic community, government officials and the media here.…

U.S. embassy holds blood drive

November 11, 2011 TIMES INT'L

The United States embassy in Georgetown on November 3 partnered with the Health Ministry to conduct a blood drive. In a release, the embassy said that the drive was launched in response to calls from the National Blood Bank for donations to meet a critical shortage of blood. The National Blood Bank relies on donations of blood from public-spirited persons to assist in situations where blood transfusion may be the only option to save a life. Through the embassy’s initiative, 41 pints of blood were collected. According to the embassy,…

‘Lady Jags’ 2-1 victory leaves Dominican Republic in tears

November 11, 2011 TIMES INT'L

By: Melinda Bishundyal A goal in the last minute of the match by Justine Rodrigues left some Dominican Republic players in tears, and sealed the game for ‘Lady Jags,’ taking them to the top of Group ‘D’ in the CFU Women’s Under-20 World Cup Qualifiers ON Sunday at the Uivlugt Community Centre Ground. The teams battled each other throughout the first half without a goal being scored. The first goal was scored in the 51st minute by Lady Jags’ Elysia Prasad. And just when the fans were screaming, “Them Dominican…

National Aquatic Centre commissioned

November 11, 2011 TIMES INT'L

– To usher in new era for local swimming By Avenash Ramzan Guyana’s swimming fraternity has been given an enormous boost with the commissioning of the country’s first Olympic-size swimming pool at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara. Dubbed the National Aquatic Centre, the 50m state-of-the-art pool, which was constructed by Kares Engineering and Myrtha Pool Incorporated, was declared open by President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday morning during a colourful ceremony attended by government functionaries, representatives of a few sports associations, special invitees, and officials of the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA). The…

‘Golden Jaguars’ ready for ‘Soca Warriors’

November 11, 2011 TIMES INT'L

– Wear Yellow, support the Guyana team – Shabazz BY AVENASH RAMZAN In what has been described in some circles as the defining moment for Guyana’s football, the senior national team, the ‘Golden Jaguars’, will clash with Trinidad and Tobago’s ‘Soca Warriors’ on Friday, fully aware that a victory will propel them to the next round of the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers. The Group ‘B’ game, billed for 11.11.11 at the National Stadium, is the most important for Jamaal Shabazz’s men, who have been in intense training over the past…

Dwayne Smith to captain Windies A Twenty20 squad

November 11, 2011 TIMES INT'L

St John’s, Antigua – West Indies allrounder Dwayne Smith will captain the West Indies A Twenty20 team which will face Bangladesh A in two Digicel T20s at the Beausejour Cricket Ground in St Lucia. The 28-year-old, who cracked a century on his Test debut against South Africa in 2004 has played in 10 Tests and 10 Twenty20 Internationals, along with 77 One Day Internationals. The 13-man squad includes just three players who have never played for the West Indies senior team. The trio is Trinidadian legspinner Samuel Badree, Guyanese left-arm…

IMPACS suggests Caricom set up own DEA

November 11, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Director of Caricom Implementation Agency for Crime and Security, (IMPACS) Francis Forbes has suggested that Caricom establish its very own Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Forbes was making reference to the unwillingness or reluctance of certain territories to work in collaboration with U. S. agents. As a law enforcement agent, Forbes said he looks forwards to the day when Caricom can set up a DEA, an initiative which he thinks can be realised. “I think we could be very successful. You know you have Jamaicans coming to Guyana to work undercover…

Government announces eight per cent pay hike for public servants

November 11, 2011 TIMES INT'L

The Bharrat Jagdeo administration on November 3 approved pay increases for a range of traditional public servants as well as workers of the state-run Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), hailing the pay hike as an illustration of the strength of the country’s economy at a time when other countries have imposed wage freezes and job cuts. Over the years, government has imposed pay increases for public servants, but this is usually done at the end of the year. In a statement, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said that President Jagdeo granted…