Month: May 2013

Motion passed to probe human trafficking

TIMES INT'L

By Svetlana Marshall – The opposition on Wednesday night passed a motion calling on President Donald Ramotar to establish a commission of inquiry to probe the incidence of human trafficking in Guyana. Government did not support the motion, which was moved by Opposition Leader David Granger. “This motion is a motion about humanity, it’s a motion about the type of society we want to live in, it’s a motion about our children and it’s a motion about the future of our country,” the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) chairman…

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Lashes

TIMES INT'L

For writers Most Guyanese don’t give a hoot about the little band of snot-noses who pretentiously and portentously go around announcing to all and sundry that they’re “writers”. The one who’s most obnoxious about this affectation is the now long-in-the-tooth poseur Ruel Johnson. Groomed as an act of charity and expiation (you know how these liberals are about the ‘depressed’ classes) by Ian McDonald, the teenaged Johnson was allowed to submit a mishmash of jottings for the Guyana Prize for Literature. This was a mistake of the first order, compounded…

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The story of privatisation – Part III

TIMES INT'L

Today, few can appreciate the overweening role the state played in the economy during the era of the People’s National Congress (PNC). By 1984, there were 35 non-financial enterprises in the agricultural, mining, manufacturing, quarrying and services areas. The government controlled 80 per cent of the economy and the private sector was confined to small-time enterprises, paddy cultivation and small-time milling. But even in rice, the PNC government totally controlled the industry. They did this through several stratagems: all rice milled by the private mills had to be sold to…

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Well-deserved kudos

TIMES INT'L

About 30 years ago, AIDS was terrifying, deadly and spreading at a rapid rate, but today, we have a chance to end this epidemic once and for all. In reviewing the progress made since the 2001 Special Session on HIV/AIDS, the United Nations (UN) had pointed out that new infections had dropped by 20 per cent, and HIV was on a steep decline in some of the most-affected countries, including Ethiopia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, which had cut infection rates by one quarter in the last 30 years. Countries…

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Guyana investment seminar slated for June 27

TIMES INT'L

Guyana will be host to an investment seminar on June 27 titled “Maximising Investments and Opportunities in Guyana”, Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon announced on Wednesday. It is coming at a time when the country is making significant achievements in foreign direct investments, owing to a favourable economic environment that prevailed even throughout the global and financial crisis. The government has been saying that such achievements were influenced by a policy position to liberalise the economy, maintain exchange rate stability, low inflation rates, a manageable debt to…

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Opposition remains unmoved despite Ramotar’s plea

TIMES INT'L

By Michael Younge – President Donald Ramotar has made a special appeal to the 10th Parliament, particularly the opposition to “do all that is possible” to ensure that the proposed amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill are passed into law before May 27 as the country will face serious international sanctions and blacklisting if the opposite occurs. Ramotar’s unprecedented appeal came on Wednesday when lawmakers met to discuss several issues related to the business of the country, even though surprisingly, the amendments did not…

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Guyanese immigrants make significant contributions to the development of the U.S. – Ambassador Hardt

TIMES INT'L

Guyana has been receiving tremendous benefits from the U.S., but the latter benefits more from the former, U.S. Ambassador to Guyana D Brent Hardt said. In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times International, Ambassador Hardt noted that the U.S. is a land of immigrants. “We have always benefitted from the people coming to us, bringing their skills and talents to our shores.” The U.S., he said, has a population of more than 300 million persons. “Guyanese are a big portion of American citizens, huge communities in New York, Atlanta, Florida…

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Noel’s ‘First Resort’ fashion line to hit USA in June

TIMES INT'L

The captivating new collection from Sonia Noel titled ‘First Resort’ has been creating quite a stir in St Lucia, and it is sure to make a similar impact when it hits the United States of America, next month. Recently, Noel, who was in St Lucia for the launching and promotion of her quarterly publication, ‘Makin’ style’, decided to showcase the new collection. Two shows were held at the enchanting Bay Gardens Resort. During the two-week annual celebration, both Mariska’s Designs and First Resort had significant presence at all of the…

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NEW GPC INC supports referees’ council with state-of-the-art cameras

TIMES INT'L

NEW GPC Inc continued its support of the Guyana Football Referee Council (GFRC) on Friday, supplying the body with state-of-the-art digital camera monitoring devices at the company’s head office, East Bank Demerara. The digital cameras, which are expected to monitor the actions of referees during a game, will aid referees to improve and work to become better referees according to junior vice president of the GFRC Dion Inniss. Marketing Manager of NEW GPC INC Trevor Basoo indicated that the company is delighted to be a part of the progression of…

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