2012 – Page 194 – Guyana Times International

Minister Webster vows to ensure enforcement of child protection laws

February 16, 2012 TIMES INT'L

The issues of child protection and domestic violence were among several matters addressed by Human Services and Social Security Minister Jenifer Webster and a panel, during a discussion on the National Communications Network recently. The programme was moderated by the Reverend Kwame Gilbert. Minister Webster made it clear that her ministry will be working in tandem with the law enforcement and other stakeholders to ensure the laws pertaining to children’s protection are properly implemented. The panellists included Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency Ann Greene, Campaign officer of…

CGX commences drilling at Eagle-1 well

February 16, 2012 TIMES INT'L

Canadian oil exploration company CGX Energy Inc on Monday, February 10, announced that drilling on the Eagle-1 well located on the company’s Corentyne Petroleum Prospecting Licence has commenced. The company was evicted by Suriname in 2000, from that very site. The Eagle-1 well will be drilled to a depth of 4250 metres to test the Eocene and Maastrichtian geologic zones, the company said in a release. The well is being drilled by the Ocean Saratoga semi-submersible drilling rig owned by a subsidiary of Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc, a leading drilling…

Out of the Closet

February 16, 2012 TIMES INT'L

Satiricus is proud of Ram Jhat Tan. After years of denial, he’s finally out of the closet. In the beginning, he used to hit out at “them”; he denied even being one of them. He was different. But deep down Satiricus knew better: he had been around quite a while now. These were just the symptoms of someone ashamed of his impulses; knew that it was not copasetic but just couldn’t help himself. Ram Jhaat Tan was what he was and he loved power: so what was wrong if he…

Archaeologist George Simon to receive Sabga award

February 16, 2012 TIMES INT'L

Guyanese Archeologist, George Simon is among three recipients of the Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence. He is joined by Trinidadian Paula Lucie-Smith and Vincentian Professor Leonard O’Garo. All the recipients will be receiving TT$500,000 (Gy$ 16.5 million) in May along with a medal and citation to assist in their professional advancement. Simon, a visual artist and archeologist, studied at the University of Portsmouth and London University. He recently made an archeological discovery in Guyana that may cause history books to be radically rewritten. Along with a team of…

Ramotar holds talks with private sector, Digicel

February 16, 2012 TIMES INT'L

President Donald Ramotar on Tuesday, February 14, held discussions separately with officials from Digicel and chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Ramesh Dookhoo at the Office of the President. Dookhoo described the meeting as a “warm up” in wake of another meeting scheduled for February 16 with the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of various private sector companies in the country. A statement by the Government Information Agency (GINA) said that the CEO’s meeting will afford them an opportunity to interact with the president in a somewhat informal setting to…

Guyana accredits new UNDP representative

February 16, 2012 TIMES INT'L

The Foreign Affairs Ministry on Tuesday accepted credentials presented by Khadjia Musa as United Nations (UN) resident coordinator and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) resident representative of Guyana. Musa succeeds Dr Mamadou Kiari Liman-Tinguiri. She presented her credentials to Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett. Prior to her appointment here, Musa served as deputy resident representative of the UNDP to Egypt where she was responsible for the management and implementation of development programmes. A statement from the Guyana government congratulated Musa, noting that it remains committed to “further strengthening of its…

Guyana must now move to enact the whistle-blower legislation

February 16, 2012 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, It was recently reported by this newspaper that Guyana has approached the Organisation of American States (OAS) requesting technical support in the drafting of whistle-blower legislation for the country. This sort of legislation is necessary in order to ensure that both public and private entities adhere to the principles of governance as outlined in Guyana’s legislative framework, and shareholders’ rights are adequately protected. Most of us here in Guyana would have heard of ‘whistle-blowing’ from the high-profile cases reported in the U. S. and UK media. Following the…

In support of setting up a narco court in Guyana

February 16, 2012 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, Please allow me space in your newspaper letters’ column to express my views in support of the setting up of a special court to deal with narcotics-related matters. This view has long been mooted by various stakeholders but I am wondering the reason/s for it not being given much serious consideration. Perhaps it is time that you use your newspaper also to give a bit more publicity to the matter as it would hopefully spark other persons’ interest. Maybe it would be interesting if the government and the…

Roll-on/roll-off ferries – big boost to Guyana’s transport sector

February 16, 2012 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, The news is good: “Roll-on/roll-off ferries to begin operation month-end.” Well the wait has been long, but it was worth it. Dear Readers, the two recently acquired ferries, from the Chinese government are to become operational at the end of this month. Currently work is being done to conclude the civil infrastructure at Parika and at Supenaam, where the ferries would be docked. Staff training is also going on, so even though it looks automatic, there is a ‘little bit more’ to this venture than people are actually…

€3M conservation fund launched

February 16, 2012February 16, 2012 TIMES INT'L

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and other donor agencies, on Monday, February 13, launched the “Guiana Shield Facility” (GSF) at the Promenade Gardens. The project financed by the EU and the government of the Netherlands to the tune of three million euros is aimed at ensuring the operation of a long-term funding facility for the conservation and sustainable development of the Guiana Shield eco-region which is designed to enable the six countries of the shield – Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname…