Dear Editor, I refer to a recent letter lauding the first ever National Song Festival for choral groups. The writer was thankful for a delightful afternoon of glorious music at the National Cultural Centre. In the end, the call was for the serious re-introduction of music in schools and choirs in Guyana. There appears to be a renewed emphasis in Guyana for greater concentration upon the traditional basics – English, Maths, Science, and History. There is also a new focus on computer competency and the need for a foreign language.…
Read MoreMonth: January 2013
There should be more undercover officers on our streets
Dear Editor, Security reforms are underway and I feel a kind of apprehension among some people. They are beginning to get nervous. It is only the guilty or schemers who are fearful about being under the microscope. Guyana can get even more serious as regards crime-fighting. I suggest undercover work, which can help nab petty thieves posing as innocent bystanders. One of the most notable exceptions to uniformed duty is undercover work, arguably the most problematic area of law enforcement. Undercover work is one of the most unique investigative techniques…
Read MoreTaking green awareness to a higher level
Dear Editor, Recent discussions between the Chinese Ambassador to Guyana and the Natural Resources and Environment Minister focused on investments, training, and technical support for the expanding extractive and environmental sectors. All of us must embrace the use of environmentally-friendly technology. Guyana is very much in the lead when it comes to promoting sustainable development in the context of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). A worldwide survey found that the environment and global warming are greater concerns for the Chinese than the economy, per se. The green awareness among…
Read MoreThings that make me go “aaarghhhh!!!”
By Anu Dev Throughout your day, there are always people out there who just make you want to pull your hair out and wonder, “Why in the world would they do that?” There’re the little things. Like when you’re at the supermarket idly wondering whether you want chunky or smooth peanut butter. Then some random shopper just reaches over you and grabs something from the shelf as if you were completely invisible! So you end up snapping, “Excuuuuuuse me!” because they just couldn’t say, “excuse me”. We’re all too busy…
Read MoreEight new judges to be appointed soon
Cognisant of the huge backlog of court cases, government said it will soon boost the complement of judges from 12 to 20, head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon said. During a post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday, Dr Luncheon said there will be an increase in the statutory number of judges for the first time in three decades. He explained that President Donald Ramotar will boost the present complement of 12 judges in the judiciary to 20, an increase of eight judges. This will be done as government moves…
Read MoreNaya Zamana 17 – Bollywood dreams
Bull in a China shop
In our system of governance, the office of Speaker of the House of Assembly calls for the utmost impartiality and implies that the holder of the office is capable of relinquishing his political affiliation to any party. The Speaker has to resolve the dilemma of his political affiliation and the simultaneous need to show neutrality in carrying out his functions. He is first and foremost supposed to act as an arbitrator who never appears as the sectarian representative of a party. This explains the moral authority attached to his decisions.…
Read MoreGRA installs baggage scanner at Cheddi Jagan Int’l Airport
– to boost drug fight, improve declaration of goods By Samuel Sukhnandan GRA Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur (second from left) shares a word with CJIA Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Ghir (right) as they observe the baggage scanner at work In an effort to boost the drug fight and introduce a more effective declaration system at Guyana’s main port of entry, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has installed a new scanner at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). The GRA with the assistance of the National Competitiveness Strategy Unit and the…
Read MoreMazaruni tragedy: Operation ‘Hawk Eye’ recovers four bodies
– missing five feared dead The bodies of four of the nine persons who went missing from the deadly boat collision on the Mazaruni River on Tuesday have been recovered, leaving five more to be retrieved by a multi-agency team that have been deployed to the area. Police on Thursday announced that the bodies of Zahir Baksh, 34 of Kaneville, EBD and Christopher Narine, 21 of Parika, EBE were recovered. The body of 39-year old Ulric Grimes was recovered shortly after 10 o’clock Wednesday night near Itaballi, Mazaruni River while…
Read MoreKaieteur News sets out to mislead – Ramsammy
– “Glenn Lall’s scandalous agenda will not stop” The recent reports in the Kaieteur News surrounding the contractual relationship between the Ministry of Health (MoH), the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), and the NEW GPC Inc have been described as nothing but mischievous, blatant lies – the products of envy and vindictiveness. “It is a blatant lie, it is not merely blatant but it is also mischievous. It is intended to fool people. Being blatant is one thing, but when you deliberately go out there to fool people, you have…
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