January 2013 – Page 13 – Guyana Times International

More focus to be placed on reviving Guyana’s coconut industry

January 17, 2013January 17, 2013 TIMES INT'L

The Agriculture Ministry said that more focus would be placed on the expansion of Guyana’s coconut industry, given the benefits that could be derived from increased exportation. In this light, the ministry has embarked on establishing a National Oversight Committee for the industry which will see the involvement of participants from the private and public sectors. This is according to Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, who was at the time speaking during a stakeholders’ conference on the coconut industry last Monday at the ministry’s boardroom. He noted that he was…

“New culture needed in waste disposal” – Persaud

January 17, 2013January 17, 2013 TIMES INT'L

By Michael Younge Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud said a new multi-stakeholder approach was needed to effectively tackle the solid waste management crisis and garbage situation in Georgetown. Persaud was at the time speaking during Television Guyana’s ‘Under the Microscope’ programme last Saturday, as he expressed dissatisfaction with the pile-up of garbage in several parts of the capital, which also pose a threat to the country’s environmental scorecard. He said it was time for the various agencies concerned to get their…

Let’s talk in the interest of the nation

January 17, 2013January 17, 2013 TIMES INT'L

Health Ministry to intensify fight against NCDs – Ramsaran

January 17, 2013January 17, 2013 TIMES INT'L

Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran has pledged that the ministry will be intensifying the fight against the spread of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) this year, as it seeks to implement its 2013 strategic plan. Such a move is aimed at addressing the various forms of cancer, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic pulmonary disease, as well as cataract. Dr Ramsaran told Guyana Times International in a recent interview that the country is now transitioning from predominantly on “infectious diseases” country, to one where there is a…

Normalisation of torture?

January 17, 2013 TIMES INT'L

The movie “Zero Dark Thirty” (ZD30) was nominated for five Oscars last week. It claims to ‘tell the story’ of how the CIA hunted down and finally assassinated Osama bin Laden, the head of Al Qaeda, behind the World Trade Centre destruction. By boasting that it is “based on first-hand accounts of actual events,” and intermittently using footage of real-life events such as voices of victims of 9/11, it clearly intends to tell the story ‘as it is’. From this perspective, we cannot escape the question that the ‘story’ places…

Police force recruiting civilian specialists as part of reform process

January 17, 2013January 17, 2013 TIMES INT'L

As part of the reform process to improve its performance and repair its image, the Guyana Police Force has advertised several civilian vacancies for various positions. The positions range from strategic manager and planning officer to project coordinator and communication officer, and are part of the force’s drive to review the manner in which it is portrayed. Among some of the other recommendations to improve the image of the force are changing the colour of uniforms worn by the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) and renaming the force. Acting Police Commissioner…

NEW GPC won contracts ‘legally and fairly’

January 17, 2013January 17, 2013 TIMES INT'L

– Nadir says Opposition hate crusade hurting good Guyanese businesses By Michael Younge PAC member Manzoor Nadir Public Accounts Committee (PAC) member Manzoor Nadir said the opposition’s anti-development and corruption crusade is hurting good and honest Guyanese businesses, as he declared that the NEW GPC INC won its contracts to provide medical supplies “legally and fairly”. Nadir’s comments came on the heels of a wave of attacks launched by the combined opposition and its media outfit, the Kaieteur News on the process used to award contracts to the long-established Guyanese…

Mash 2013 to be bigger, better

January 17, 2013January 17, 2013 TIMES INT'L

Alfred King The Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry has increased resources available to the various regions for Mashramani celebrations, Permanent Secretary Alfred King said. Accompanied by members of this year’s Mash Organising Committee, King briefed the media about ongoing preparations. The ministry is aiming to have more persons involved in the float parade, and to this end, King said he was pleased that corporate entities such as Banks DIH, Digicel and ANSA McAL (sponsors of the Soca Competition) were already on board. With 30 bands expected to participate in the…

Amaila Falls Hydropower Road Project taking shape

January 17, 2013 TIMES INT'L

A spot check on the stretch of road to Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) site by President Donald Ramotar on Tuesday brought a greater understanding about the challenges ahead of the June deadline for when substantial completion is expected. A helicopter reconnaissance by the Head of State in the company of Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn and Technical Consultant Walter Willis provided insight into the state of preparations on the physical infrastructure beginning from the Mabura trail into the Essequibo River. They descended at Butukari for a first hand…

Consistency is key for Tagenarine Chanderpaul

January 10, 2013 TIMES INT'L

By Avenash Ramzan “It feels great to be among the runs, but in order to move up, I know I have to be consistent.” He’s just 16, but Tagenarine Chanderpaul seems to have fully grasped what is required for him to remain a constant in the minds of the selectors. The left-handed opener, son of West Indies middle-order stalwart Shivnarine Chanderpaul, made a huge impact in the recently-concluded Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Inter-County 50-over competition, ending with the most runs and highest average. Playing for the President’s XI, Tagenarine led…