Year: 2011

Residents of Buxton and Friendship will soon benefit from a Gy$82-million-dollar sluice which is expected to drastically improve the drainage and irrigation system in the East Coast Demerara community as well as boost its agricultural output. The new sluice is being built at the outlet of the existing pump basin in Buxton, and is the second phase in the rehabilitation of the drainage and irrigation system in Buxton/Friendship. Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud expressed hope that, with the new sluice, agricultural production in the two communities would be improved. “We need…

The two-day China/Caribbean Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum opened in Port of Spain, Trinidad on Monday, September 12, with China announcing that it would pump millions of U.S. dollars in assistance into the Caribbean Community (Caricom). The opening ceremony was attended by a number of Caribbean leaders, including Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding; his Antigua and Barbuda counterpart, Baldwin Spencer; and Guyanese President Bharrat Jagdeo. Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Qishan told the opening ceremony that Beijing would provide funds for six initiatives aimed at boosting relations between the two regions. “China…

Education Minister Shaik Baksh has said equity in education delivery remains a top priority, and no compromise will be made in the implementation of plans in this regard. Baksh, who was at the time speaking at the St Ignatius Secondary School’s annual graduation exercise held in the school’s auditorium, said the ministry is committed to making this goal a reality at all hinterland schools. He pointed out that considerable attention is being placed on achieving equal access to quality education as defined by the standards and norms outlined by the…

The Region Two administration has commenced construction on a dormitory in the compound of the Essequibo Technical Institute. According to reports presented to councillors at the last Regional Democratic Council statutory meeting for 2011, Regional Vice Chairman Vishnu Samaroo said Gy$27.4 million is being spent for the construction of a modern dormitory. He told councillors that the dormitory will provide adequate accommodation for students from the hinterland communities who are willing to pursue their studies at the technical institute. He noted that the contract was awarded to Seepersaud Contracting Services.…

Nearing the end of his presidency, President Bharrat Jagdeo has acknowledged that the local fight against corruption is not over. Lamenting the several cases that have slipped through the court system, and some public servants’ generally laid-back approach to their jobs, Jagdeo made the following comments during an interview with this newspaper recently. “Whilst we have changed the system, we still do have instances of corruption; and so we have to have a stronger focus on prosecution,” the president said while answering a question in regard to his realising the…