No licks? In an age of increasingly unruly children – and not just boys – the United Nations’ push for Guyana to abolish corporal punishment for children in the family and in schools is going to raise a lot of hackles. The Ministry of Education (MoH) has already held some ‘consultations’ in various locales in the country on the issue – and were told in no uncertain terms by irate parents: “No way, Jose!!” It didn’t help matters that in addition to advocating “no licks for any child”, the ministry…
Read MoreMonth: February 2013
Laptop project must keep going
Dear Editor, I am so glad that that the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) project is still ongoing, despite some budgetary cuts from the joint opposition. This project commenced in 2011 and I am quite sure it will take some time for complete distribution, but I really do not mind. The important thing is that the project was not aborted. As a teacher, these laptops provide convenient access to technology, which allows so many to improve their technology skills. I was told that, in some countries, laptops were a positive…
Read MoreGuyana’s debt management is better now
Dear Editor, I refer to the Guyana Chronicle headline under the caption, “Nagamootoo attempts to mislead nation once again – this time on public debt,” in its issue of Tuesday, February 12, 2013. The problem with Moses Nagamootoo of the Alliance For Change (AFC) is that he keeps on misleading the Guyanese nation. The problem with the parliamentary opposition, which has a one vote majority in the house, is that to survive politically they have to dig up matters of irrelevance just to wrongfully accuse the government. Also, the matter…
Read MoreChanderpaul should be utilised after his cricketing days
Dear Editor, The expected was realised: “Shivnarine Chanderpaul is the leading candidate for the Sportsman of the Year (2012) award.” The reason for his nomination rests on his outstanding year with the bat in Test cricket, his only form of the game at the international level. He is currently the number three ranked Test batsman, and was the Caribbean’s highest scorer of test runs during the time. He actually notched up 987 runs from nine games, at an average of 98.7, inclusive of three centuries. Chanderpaul has three nominations for…
Read MoreGovernment pushing local art
Dear Editor, I thought deeply of the fact that, not too long ago, the culture, youth and sport minister proposed funds to help showcase the work of artists. It went kind of unnoticed when in my view it should have stirred up a lot of interest. Research has shown that study and participation in the fine arts are integral components in improving learning throughout all academic areas. Evidence of its effectiveness lies in reducing student dropout, raising student attendance, developing better team players, fostering a love for learning, improving greater…
Read MoreTime
“Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.” – William Penn Time. There’s always so much of it, but at the same time, so little. Time speeds up at the most inconvenient times – like when you’re trying to get in some last minute rushed studies that you left too late. And then time slows down when you don’t want it to – like when you’re stuck in an excessively boring class. I guess Einstein did have a thing when he spoke about the ‘relativity’ of time…
Read MoreCARICOM heads agree to Regional Crime and Security Strategy
Given the importance of crime and security to the Caribbean Region and their effects on national and regional development, the 24th Inter-Sessional Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government in Haiti on February 18 and 19, addressed several issues which concern the safety and security of the regional grouping. Issues such as the threat of illicit trafficking, gang and youth violence, terrorism, and cyber security were brought to the fore. The heads of states agreed that there must be a concerted effort to confront such threats while simultaneously addressing the issue…
Read MoreDe opposition runnin outta every ting
There was a time when Guyana used to run outta every ting. That was of course under de PEE NC, when every ting was going under, just like de party and de people dem in the party. That was a time de country used to run outta every ting. De people used to run outta food. De pipes used to run outta water. De shops used to run outta goods. De gas stations used to run outta gas. De country used to run outta money. But de money used to…
Read MorePlanning for growth
The UN’s Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) was in the news, which is a bit of an anomaly recently. Its executive secretary, Alicia Bárcena was in Cuba, highlighting the role of planning in the region’s development at a seminar to reflect on 50 years since the first economic plan in Cuba. There were representatives from several other Latin American states, primarily from those that would be called ‘leftist’, but sadly none from the Caribbean. It was reported that the executive secretary emphasised: “Planning is an essential…
Read MoreU.S. prospecting for Guyanese students
United States Ambassador to Guyana, D Brent Hardt has disclosed that the U.S. government is pushing an agenda which encourages young academically-inclined Guyanese to study overseas. The ambassador was speaking at the launch of an “American Spot” in the library of the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen Campus. He noted that the “Education USA” programme has become one of the embassy’s main priorities and is on the U.S. government’s agenda for the western hemisphere. In March 2011, President Barack Obama launched “100,000 Strong in the Americas”, an initiative to increase international…
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