Year: 2011

Revised list of electors completed – GECOM

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The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has completed the revised list of electors (RLE) for the upcoming regional and general elections, and this list will be posted to various electoral divisions and sub- divisions across the country. GECOM’s Public Relations Officer Vishnu Persaud has stated that electronic copies of the RLE have been prepared for distribution to the political parties as well. This revised list of electors (RLE) will be available for public scrutiny up to September 30, 2011. Persaud said all concerned will be afforded the opportunity to check the…

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Guyana leading the Caribbean in citizens’ health promotion – Dr Ramsammy

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Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy has said that Guyana is taking the lead in the Caribbean in promoting the good health of its citizens. He made the remark at a health fair convened at the Merriman Mall, Bourda, Georgetown to observe Caribbean Wellness Day, 2011. Dr Ramsammy pointed out that significant effort is being channelled to make locals more alert and knowledgeable of non- communicable diseases and measures to prevent them. “The health fair is to have Guyanese conscious of deadly diseases that may be non-communicable, and to get screened…

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U.S. oil exploration company mulls prospects of franchise operations

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A US-based oil exploration company is the latest entity to be brainstorming the prospects of a franchise operation in Guyana’s territory. Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, an independent oil and gas company in the United States of America, is considered the world’s largest independent oil and gas exploration and production company. Noel Dennison, head of the petroleum division of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), accompanied officials of Anadarko to a meeting with President Bharrat Jagdeo at his State House residence on Thursday, September 8. Vice president of business development of…

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Community-based enterprises

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Two women’s craft groups aim for financial independence Several women’s groups making quality craft products in various indigenous communities across the country have been developing their skills and use these as a complement to their traditional fishing and farming activities for generating income. One such group is the Moruca Embroidery Group in Region One. This is a community-based enterprise and is located in the village of Santa Rosa. The group was formally established in January 2007, but most of the women have been working together for the past five years.…

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Guyana shines at the Inter Guianas Cultural Festival

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Petamber Persaud reports on the literary arts at the Suriname Cultural Festival, staged to commemorate the Year of Culture The inaugural Inter-Guianas Cultural Festival, which included participation from French Guiana and Guyana, was held from August 25 to 29, 2011, and was touted by the host country, Suriname, as a test case for their hosting of the Caribbean Festival of Arts (Carifesta) in the year 2013. The three-day festival will also serve as a platform to involve other countries from the Guiana Shield, including Brazil and Venezuela. The festival was…

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Suicide rates declining in Guyana

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BY JANELLE PERSAUD  As Guyana prepares to observe National Suicide Prevention Week, Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy is reporting a reduction in the local figures for suicide victims. Speaking at a candlelight vigil organised to initiate the week of activities, the minister expressed optimism that Guyana could win the fight against the daunting scourge. “Whilst we may never end suicide, we can reduce it significantly; because, for the first time in 30 years, we are seeing signs of downward trajectory. I believe, therefore, if we commit ourselves, that each one…

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Fire Service Recruitment and Training Board launched

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The Recruitment and Training Board of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) was on Tuesday launched in the boardroom of the Home Affairs Ministry on Brickdam. Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said: “The recruitment process and the procedures for training ranks within the Guyana Fire Service have had room for improvement.” The ministry, cognisant of the need to improve the recruitment process and the training procedure of the GFS, facilitated the establishment of the board to guarantee improvement of standard. Touching on the board’s composition, Minister Rohee said, “We have a…

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IDB group spending US$1.5M to fight climate change in Caribbean

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The Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) of the IDB Group is investing US$1.5 million to launch a pioneering initiative that will help coastal communities and micro and small companies in the Caribbean to fight the impacts of climate change. The initiative, in partnership with CARIBSAVE, a Caribbean non-profit organisation, will work directly in eight coastal communities with 1200 entrepreneurs and 50 micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Jamaica, Barbados, The Bahamas, and Belize to bolster new business practices to minimise the impact of climate change on productive activities. “The project…

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Latin America and the Caribbean seek consensus on sustainable development

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International experts and members of the civil society of Latin America and the Caribbean initiated discussions on September 7 to agree on a joint stance for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), which will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012. The preparatory meeting, which ended on Friday, September 9, was opened by Alicia Barcena, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), authorities from the governments of Brazil, host of the global conference, and Chile, venue for this regional…

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IDB approves US$ 5M loan to boost power systems

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The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a US$5 million loan to help boost the efficiency of Guyana’s power system through electricity loss reduction measures and improvements in the operation and maintenance of the distribution network. Experience under a previous IDB loan for Guyana’s electricity sector informed the importance of focused commercial loss reduction actions and the relevance of technical loss reduction actions in lowering levels of electricity losses, the bank said in a statement on Friday, September 9. The country’s main power utility, Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL),…

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