Month: June 2012

Jagdeo urges review of CJIA expansion project

TIMES INT'L

President Donald Ramotar should seek answers about the credibility of China Harbour Engineering Company Limited, the contractor of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) whose parent company has been blacklisted by the World Bank, former President Bharrat Jagdeo has said. Jagdeo made the comments to reporters in New York earlier this week amid swirling allegations of the integrity of the Chinese firm. Jagdeo said Ramotar should seek explanations from the Chinese government about the conduct of CHEC since it is state owned, the National Communications Network (NCN) reported. The former…

Read More

Pineapple farming a booming business at Mainstay/Whayaka

TIMES INT'L

Pineapple farming in Region Two has been one of the main sources of income for the residents of the Amerindian Community Mainstay/Whayaka village, located approximately 10 miles from the Essequibo Coast Public Road.  Over the years, the planting, growth, cultivation and marketing of the tasty fruit has paved the way for community development, advanced educational possibilities, tourism enhancement and a better life for residents, all through its prosperous returns. Resident of Mainstay Thelma Williams gave a whole new dimension through which pineapple farming and its benefits can be assessed. Williams…

Read More

Speaker’s verbal diarrhoea

TIMES INT'L

Foot-in-mouth disease Now foot-and-mouth disease is a serious thing. It’s a fatal disease. Our Rupununi once had the problem. But there’s another similar sounding disease that affects politicians – “foot-in-mouth” disease. The AFC/APNU appointed Speaker Trotman seems to have a severe case of the latter disease: he just can’t seem to stop mouthing off. Most recently, he called for the CJIA contract to be investigated by Parliament. Have you ever heard of such a thing? More importantly, has Westminster – on which our Parliament and the position of speaker is…

Read More

Canadian family on exploration ride in Guyana

TIMES INT'L

After nine months on the road riding on motorbikes from Canada through the Americas and into the Caribbean, a family of three is now in Guyana experiencing the sights, food, and hospitality the country has to offer. Jerome Levesque; his 13-year-old son, Erik Rajmoolie; and his wife, Mercedes Rajmoolie intends to spend about five days in Guyana. The trio is on a mission to explore various parts of the world, and more so experience its rich flora, fauna and cultural diversities, which have captivated their hearts. Mechanical problems did not…

Read More

Caribbean students stand to benefit from CTO scholarship

TIMES INT'L

The Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), the international agency responsible for the development of Caribbean tourism, has secured over US$ 250,000 in scholarship funds to assist Caribbean students pursuing further education in tourism related subjects. The CTO and Monroe College, which has been educating Caribbean students for the past 20 years, signed a Memorandum Of Understanding to that effect at the Caribbean Week closing news conference last Saturday in New York. Monroe College will commit US$ 83,600 annually to the CTO, to provide scholarships and grants to at least 30 highly…

Read More

Some sitting down fuh fielding; others talking and getting off!

TIMES INT'L

De Bell Crier is a cricket fan. Not de one people does use fuh cool dem self down in de ground; but a supporter. As such, BC can’t help “ringing” about some of de things that going on with de regional team. Keeping with de theme of how “yuh does wonder when some people talk”, even reasoning can’t explain what de West Indies coach mean when he seh de team is now a quality side now that Gayle come back! Now, it ain’t gat no question about Gayle quality. He…

Read More

Jubilee!

TIMES INT'L

 “Born in the land where men sought El Dorado, Land of the Diamond and bright shining gold, We would build up by our faith, love and labour, God’s golden city which never grows old.” – The Song of Guyana’s Children, W Hawley-Bryant Because of my exams (conscientious me!), I only just saw some of the highlights of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations. From what I saw, I was certainly impressed! It was a spectacular show with great performances by JLS, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Sir Paul McCartney and so many, many…

Read More

Commonwealth signs ‘significant’ agreement with IDEA

TIMES INT'L

The Commonwealth Secretariat and the Swedish-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) have formally agreed to work together in supporting and consolidating democracy in Commonwealth countries. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Stockholm last week by Commonwealth Deputy Secretary General Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba and IDEA Secretary General Vidar Helgesen. Masire-Mwamba said the agreement was also of particular significance in the context of recommendations made by the Eminent Persons Group to Commonwealth Heads of Government in Perth, Australia, in November 2011. In their report “A Commonwealth of the People:…

Read More

New paramountcy aspirants

TIMES INT'L

Assembly power grab After the Chinese Communist Party official Zhang Gaoli and his delegation visited the president, they paid a courtesy call on the National Assembly represented by Speaker Trotman and members of the Foreign Relations Committee of the National Assembly (FRC). Little did the Chinese visitors realise they were firing up old embers of PNC party paramountcy lurking in the little dark hearts of the opposition’s  Little Caesars in the assembly. We’ve already seen the overweening ambition in action as the opposition used their one-seat majority to railroad their…

Read More

Local democracy being trampled upon – Granger

TIMES INT'L

Opposition Leader David Granger said the country’s local government system is in a crisis. Granger made this comment following the recent installation of Interim Management Committees (IMCs) in the place of Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, (NDC) which government said were not functioning properly. According to him, residents are not consulted on such issues and local democracy is “being trampled upon.” He said little regard was being shown to the regional and neighbourhood tiers of government. A statement from Granger’s office on Tuesday said that Granger, along with fellow A Partnership for…

Read More