September 2013 – Page 11 – Guyana Times International

U. S. pledges support to Guyana in fight against human trafficking

September 20, 2013 TIMES INT'L

The Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO) declared all-out war against human trafficking in Guyana during its thanksgiving service on Tuesday. In the presence of the U. S. Ambassador D Brent Hardt; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Deputy Resident Representative Chisa Mikami; and International Organisation for Migration (IOM) representatives, GWMO President Simona Broomes vowed never to end the fight against human trafficking. GWMO members have pooled their resources to finance trips to interior locations to rescue trafficking victims, in particular young girls and women. Rescue With the organisation less than two…

PPP/ C condemns “attacks” on Isaacs

September 20, 2013September 20, 2013 TIMES INT'L

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) has condemned what it called the continued harassment of the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs by Opposition Leader, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Chairman David Granger and other elements of the opposition. The PPP/ C said the latest attack on the clerk is yet another manifestation of “their dictatorial tendency”. “It is clear by now that they will use all means possible to forge ahead with their agenda of illegalities.” Strange The party said it also found it strange that…

Guyana has much to celebrate in HIV/AIDS fight, says PANCAP head

September 20, 2013 TIMES INT'L

The National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) on Tuesday commenced a two-day national conference for Persons Living with HIV (PLHIVs), with speakers urging infected persons to take ownership of their own lives. The conference, which targeted approximately 50 peer support group leaders from Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, and 10, was held at the Regency Suites, Georgetown. The aim is to deliberate on the quality of social support services provided through the national HIV care and treatment programme, to identify the gaps, and to make recommendations on how to improve…

Jury convicts Guyana-born man of killing adoptive mother

September 20, 2013September 20, 2013 TIMES INT'L

The Sun Sentinel is reporting that a Broward jury on Tuesday convicted a Pembroke Pines man of the murder of his adoptive mother, rejecting a defense claim that he had consensual sex with the victim and then passed out while someone else killed her. Gerard Lopes Belmonte, 23, was found guilty of second-degree murder after jurors deliberated for five hours Tuesday. He faces a maximum of life in prison when he’s sentenced on October 10. The verdict ended a one-week trial that devastated the victim’s family. Lopes was Natalie Belmonte’s…

New era for Amerindians

September 20, 2013 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, joy of owning personal homes was evident as some families from Manawarin, Region One received keys to their new homes as part of the Housing Ministry’s Hinterland Housing Pilot project. So now some of these individuals and their families are free to move from very poor dwelling conditions into well constructed three-bedroom houses, while the others who were living in very remote areas can now move closer to access basic services such as education and health. Home ownership comes with responsibilities as such they (the owners) will have…

The Guyana – Suriname collaboration will help in maintaining law and order

September 20, 2013 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Surinamese National Army have renewed their commitment to combat trans-border crimes. I hope that both sides will stick with this collaborative effort. Arrangements are likely to fall into place within the next six months when the anticipation is that the militaries through the GDF Coast Guard and the Surinamese Navy can move into visible operation in the Corentyne River. Now, I firmly believe that this partnership can really be effective to combat piracy, human trafficking, trafficking of drugs and firearms and…

Patience and hard work paying off at Skeldon

September 20, 2013 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, It is very relieving to see that the level of sugar production being delivered at the Skeldon Sugar Factory indicates that the upgrade works done on the facility by Bosch Engineering are bearing fruit. This was exactly the pronouncement that came from the agriculture minister, who also made mention of the fact that the factory is beginning to work as anticipated. But I still do not rule out a few teething and labour problems, however, we must not allow set-backs to cause us to fight and attack one…

TT’s new security minister revisits 21st-century policing initiative

September 20, 2013 TIMES INT'L

The 21st-century policing initiative instituted by former Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs has merit and some of its components will be incorporated into the Police Service, according to TT’s National Security Minister Gary Griffith. Griffith told TT media that he intended to meet with acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams as soon as possible to discuss the measure. The initiative met with much criticism from the Police Service and Social Welfare Association, which complained that owing to the shift system, its members were being made to work beyond the stipulated 40…

Grenada’s church leaders warn against IMF

September 20, 2013 TIMES INT'L

Church leaders have urged the Grenada government to resist any attempt by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to increases taxes and cut social services, as the island grapples with attempts at turning around a sluggish economy. The Conference of Churches Grenada in a recent statement, said that it is deeply concerned about the prevailing socio-economic situation in the country and any attempt to impose additional taxes on the Grenadian population should be resisted. Officials from the Washington-based financial institution were in Grenada to conduct an assessment of the economic situation,…

Mountains, first week and public busses

September 20, 2013 TIMES INT'L

By Anu Dev Well I’ve survived my first week of actual schoolwork! Can I still say schoolwork? “University work” doesn’t quite have the same ring to it. Sure it’s only supposed to get even more intense from now, but for now I’m just relieved to have made it through my first week. I’m also still adapting to living in Trinidad. Over here I’m definitely seeing why they came up with the phrase “as changeable as the weather”. It’s really lovely dressing to deal with the morning’s heat and then coming…