Guyana’s growth rate is projected at 4.8 per cent according to a new report launched by the Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean in Chile on Wednesday. Meanwhile, as a whole, Latin American and Caribbean countries will grow by three per cent in 2013, which is similar to last year’s growth rate, according to the report. In the survey, ECLAC states that the lower growth rate than the most recent estimate (3.5 per cent in April) was partly due to slow growth in Brazil and Mexico. In addition,…
Read MoreMonth: July 2013
Miss and Mr Guyana Talented Teen contestants revealed
Eighteen young men and women were on last Sunday revealed to the public as contenders in the Miss and Mr Guyana Talented Teen pageants this year slated for September. This is the 12th edition of the Simpli Royal Miss Guyana Talented Teen Pageant and the introduction of the Mr Talented Teen contest is expected to be steamy- hot, based on the line up. The Miss Guyana Talented Teen contestants are Miss Cummingsburg Crystal Fraser, Miss Peter’s Hall Tiffany Bonner, Miss Enmore Chelsea France, Miss Liliendaal Riona Howell, Miss Plaisance Tiffany…
Read MoreEssequibo girl defies all odds in becoming a medical doctor
By Indrawattie Natram – As a small girl growing up in the indigenous environment of Capoey on the Essequibo Coast, Smolana Swan always had the vision to change things in her community and to become someone who serves people. Swan, as she acquired her early education, still was not sure what exactly she wanted to do; however, as she entered secondary school, she set her sights on becoming a medical doctor. After much persuasion, the young woman said it was her single mother, Magdalene Henry, who eventually nurtured her strength…
Read MoreLimacol CPL tickets going fast – events operations manager
With the inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) just about a week away, ticket sales for the local leg of the tournament are going at a rapid rate, according to local Events Operations Manager Alex Graham. Graham said the Limacol CPL, as expected for the Twenty20 (T20) format of the game, is attracting a multitude of fans. He said tickets are on pace to be sold out probably before July 31, when the first game is slated to be played at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara. Opening…
Read MoreU. S. professor compiling biography of Burnham
Professor Linden Lewis from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Bucknell University, USA is currently compiling a biography on late President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham. Currently, the Barbadian national, who has recently returned to Guyana, is in the process of collecting data. A few days ago, he conducted three interviews with persons who worked closely with the late president, taking the total number of interviews conducted thus far to 31. Additionally, he has already gathered a wide array of documents on Burnham. In 2001, the book; Caribbean Charisma: Reflection on…
Read MoreGuyana, EU advance negotiations on forestry agreement
The National Technical Working Group (NTWG) has been involved in meetings and the second round of negotiations with representatives from the European Union (EU) relating to the Guyana-EU Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade Voluntary Partnership Agreement (EU FLEGT VPA). The NTWG, represented by a 14-member delegation from Guyana comprising of government officials, indigenous community, private sector and civil society representatives, arrived in Brussels, Belgium on July 15 for the engagements. Thematic areas discussed during the four-day session included an overview of the EU customs procedures related to FLEGT licensed…
Read MoreSports and education should not be separated
Dear Editor, The brutal honesty of the secretary of the Fruta Conquerors Football Club must be admired. In a nutshell, some simple but very profound things – sportsmen cannot always make a living from their game, in this case football, at least not locally. Even if scholarships are on offer, their lack of a basic education disqualifies them from winning one, and sponsorship for many sports, again, namely football, are not forthcoming. As for the education factor, many young people see sports as an escape from school. This is so…
Read MoreThe upcoming teachers’ conference in Guyana will address sensitive issues
Dear Editor, This upcoming 36th biennial Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) conference is going to be most critical. It will address some very burning issues, some of them not that comfortable at all – issues such as violence against teachers, increased wages, and marking of school based assessments will be foremost on the agenda. The School Based Assessment (SBA) needs a lot of work. The idea is most wonderful, but its implementation, as of yet, leaves a lot to be desired. I know of many teachers who charge a fee,…
Read MoreOrlando community held vigil for Guyanese shooting victim
Dear Editor, I visited Orlando to show solidarity with the family of the shooting victim Eric Roopnarine, who was brutally murdered two weeks ago. Several dozen friends of Eric held a candle light vigil to remember him and to pay tribute to him on Wednesday, July 17. Eric was violently robbed and murdered at his home in the quiet section of Poinciana. Several Guyanese turned up for the vigil to pay their regards to the young man who was brutally murdered. Eric was fatally shot and stabbed in the wee…
Read MoreU. S. military cadets graduate from jungle survival training in Guyana
Thirty-five U. S. military cadets graduated from a training phase at the Colonel Robert Mitchell Jungle and Amphibious Training School (CRMJATS). According to a U. S. embassy release, under the guidance of the CRMJATS leadership, the cadets received training and familiarisation on a broad range of survival skills. This training phase culminated with a 48-hour exercise that tested the cadets’ mental fortitude, personal courage, and newly acquired skill sets. These cadets had previously completed joint training with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) cadets at the Colonel John Clarke Military School…
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