Year: 2011

Businesses outraged at youth group’s call for boycott

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A number of local businesses have expressed outrage at a call made by a youth group aligned to the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) for citizens to boycott several businesses because of their alleged association with the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic government. The call was made in a release by Youth Coalition for Transformation (YCT), which had been leading a number of protest actions following the November 28 general and regional elections. The YCT prefaced its call by first condemning the charge against Attorney James Bond and Brigadier Edward…

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Order to shoot didn’t come from high command – Rohee

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Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said that the order to shoot protesters on December 6 not come from the high command of the force or him, but rather the commander on the ground took the decision without consulting his superiors. Rohee, who stopped short of condemning the actions of the ranks, said it was time that clearer guidelines are given on crowd control. At a meeting with senior officers of the force on Thursday, he expressed surprise that a junior rank has the authority to make such an important decision…

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Guyana’s past presidents

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In Guyana, the president is the head of state. However, when the country became independent in 1966 until it became a Republic in 1970, there was no presidential title. Instead, there were first, from 1961 to 1966, two premiers of what was then British Guiana: Cheddi Jagan (1961-1964) and LFS Burnham (1964-1966). Arthur Chung Upon independence, LFS Burnham took the title of prime minister from 1966-1980, when he was installed Oct 6, 1980 as executive president of the country. However, from 1970 to 1980 Arthur Chung was given the ceremonial…

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Uitvlugt women’s group

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Housewives coming together to empower themselves By Venessa Deosaran In 2004, a group of housewives in the Uitvlugt Side-Line Dam decided that they were not going to sit at home merely engaging in housework; rather they would come together to learn various crafts in order to better themselves. And so the Uitvlugt Side-Line Dam women’s group was founded with the aim to empower the women of that community as home managers. Sadly, due to lack of resources, the group met a brief hiatus. However, the women’s enthusiasm for developing themselves…

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Sahadeo publishes book on Gandhi

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By North American Correspondent Guyanese Ramnarine Sahadeo has published a new book on Mohandas Karamchand (Mahatma) Gandhi. The book is titled Mohandas K. Gandhi: Thoughts,Words, Deeds, and was released in late November in Toronto. The author shows how Gandhi’s deeds, thoughts, and words empowered him with unimaginable influence that he made an indelible mark on world history. Mahatma Gandhi, known as the father and hero of India’s independence movement, was also a spiritual leader modeling his life as prescribed in the Bhagavad Gita. Gandhi declined political office when India was…

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Guyanese rape victim freed of charges in N.Y.

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By North American Correspondent The New York Daily News has reported that a Guyanese businesswoman in Queens, N.Y., ‘has been to hell and back’ and it all started when she allegedly accused a former boyfriend, also a Guyanese, of rape. Prosecutors in Long Island say he framed her for armed robbery. Seemona Sumasar, 35, spent nearly seven months in jail for a crime she never committed, the Nassau County District Attorney now admits. Prosecutors were forced to set her free when they discovered the robberies were an elaborate fiction. She…

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Guyanese publication recognized in Canada

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By North American Contributor The National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada (NEPMCC) recently recognised outstanding media houses and publishers at a dinner reception held in Toronto, Canada. Guyanese Harry Ramkhelawan, publisher of Indo Caribbean World, (ICW) was among those honoured for their work on the Caribbean community. ICW has been operating for over 25 years focusing on issues relating to the Indo-Caribbean diaspora. An estimated 200,000 Indo-Caribbean people are settled in Canada, most of whom reside in the Toronto area. The paper is produced fortnightly and carries news…

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Guyana sends large rice shipment to Venezuela

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A shipment of more than 5000 tons of rice was dispatched to Venezuela on Monday, bringing the total amount sent to that country to just over 153,000 metric tons for the year. Venezuela is the largest importer of rice from Guyana. Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy, who witnessed the loading of the rice at the John Fernandes Wharf, said he will work towards ensuring that the Venezuelan market continues to grow. He intends to work with the Guyana Rice Development Board, the Rice Producers Association, millers and farmers to aid…

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Stable political environment vital prerequisite to prosperous economy – President Ramotar

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President Donald Ramotar on Friday, December 9 addressed the business community for the first time in his capacity as head of state, beckoning the call for a stable political environment, as he spoke on some of the sectors of growth in Guyana. The president was at the time speaking at the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (GCCI) dinner and awards presentation at the Pegasus Hotel. Several businessmen, women and corporate entities were honoured for their outstanding service and contributions to the business environment over the years. The call for…

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GECOM maintains integrity of ballot boxes intact

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By Ariana Gordon The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Monday said that the ballot boxes of the recent general and regional elections are intact despite two containers storing some of the boxes at Coldingen, East Coast Demerara being breached. On Sunday, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) issued a release to the media alleging that there were three breached containers at Coldingen. That party said it is “flabbergasted” by the ongoing efforts by certain forces to interfere with the integrity of the 2011 elections material and vital evidence should there…

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