Month: January 2012

Dr Moti Lall hailed as ardent advocate for better healthcare

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Former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament Dr Moti Lall has passed away on Monday night at the age of 69. Reports are that Moti Lall suffered a heart attack. He was the former head of the Chest Clinic. In a message, the New Jersey Arya Samaj/ Guyana Central Arya Samaj Humanitarian Mission said it was terribly shocked to learn of Dr Lall’s demise. “There is not much one can say to ease your sense of lost at this moment, Bahan Chitra (Moti Lall’s wife), I want you…

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Preserving Guyana’s forests is vital and profitable

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Dear Editor, It was sweet to read the caption: “Guyana gets five million euros for protected areas.” According to details, gleaned from various sections of the media, the governments of Guyana and Germany have actually finalised an agreement to utilise five million euros, in funds for the development of the Guyana Protected Areas System (GPAS). Proving also that this is no haram-scaram business, the funds will be channelled (orderly and timely too) through the German Development Bank, with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry,…

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The Interim Cricket Board – the right decision for the game

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Dear Editor, It is with much interest and amusement that I read the New Year’s statement from the purported “Guyana Cricket Board”. What I find very amusing is that this group which has tried to hijack the Guyana Cricket Board (GBC) is talking about unity and “willingness to work with all concerned parties for the advancement of our beautiful game” when they have tried all forms of machinations to perpetuate themselves at the helm of cricket administration. It was the High Court that said the government must take control and…

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UNASUR granted observer status

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Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett said the Union of South American States (UNASUR) has been granted international legal status after registering on the United Nations forum. The foreign minister stated that a draft resolution, co-sponsored by 35 countries, has also been passed giving the South American organisation observer status at the United Nations. “Guyana as chair, subsequently registered UNASUR with the United Nations giving it that international legal status,” Rodrigues-Birkett said. Guyana commenced chairmanship of UNASUR in November 2010, and ended it in October 2011, when it was handed over…

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Jamaican Change

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It was the surprise of the year for Jamaicans and the rest of the Caribbean. All the “smart money” – especially the polls and the newspapers – was on the Jamaican Labour Party (JLP) to be returned to office in their year-end elections. The JLP held a 32-28 seat advantage over their arch rival People’s National Party (PNP) and had selected a new and youthful leader only two months ago. But the voters had other ideas. While most analysts had focused on the state of the economy as the major…

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Govt complying with Integrity Commission – Teixeira

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Presidential Advisor on Governance, Gail Teixeira has said that members of the administration have been complying with the Integrity Commission, despite the non- appointment of a chairperson. Teixeira, who was briefing the media on post-Cabinet deliberations, was responding to questions on the reason the commission was not given investigative capacity to police submissions through proper staffing. She noted that those submissions have been honoured at least on the part of the ruling administration, while expressing apprehension that the opposition may be so willing to divulge information about their financial standing.…

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Works on Remigrant housing scheme moving apace – Minister Ali

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The distribution of 30,000 new house lots, a remigrants’ housing scheme and other special programmes for young professionals and single persons are among some of the plans of the Housing and Water Ministry for the next five years. Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that the remigrant housing scheme initiative has already begun to materialise, and that programmes were launched based on the demands the ministry received from Guyanese across the globe, expressing their interest to remigrate to their birth- place. More than 45…

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Bad landing caused CAL plane crash – report

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Transport and Hydraulics Minister, Robeson Benn on Wednesday announced that the preliminary report into the crashed CAL BW 523 aircraft is near completion. At this stage, he disclosed that the primary contributing factor in this accident was that the aircraft made a long landing and touched down with insufficient runway remaining to come to a safe stop. Detailed analyses will also examine several other aspects of CAL BW 523 flight to identify any other possible contributing factors in order to learn from this accident, and to help identify any measures…

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Caribbean countries could benefit from proposed NYC Pension Fund

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A major investment initiative designed to spur economic and social development in the Caribbean and boost New Yorkers’ public pensions is being considered by the office of New York City Comptroller. And it is being done at the urging of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, (CACCI) with the active interest of Caricom. A statement from the CACCI said the proposed scheme “is an initiative which, if successfully launched, would involve the use of pension funds in profitable and employment generating ventures in the Caribbean, and bring healthy…

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Education sector made notable strides in 2011

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The education sector benefited from a large chunk of the 2011 budget which allowed for the ministry’s programmes, policies and special initiatives to be carried out to ensure equitable and quality education at all levels. Some of the highlights of the sector include the induction of 515 new trained teachers, implementation of special initiatives, improved remuneration packages for teachers, computerisation of secondary schools, provision of uniform assistance, meals and learning materials, and major transformation in infrastructure, thereby making schools more conducive learning environments. The sector received an allocation of Gy$24.3…

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