Month: September 2013

PPP/C says ready for local govt elections

TIMES INT'L

The ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) said on Tuesday that it has been readying itself for the “impending” poll. In a statement arising out of its recent Central Committee’s meeting, the PPP/ C said much emphasis was placed on putting the party into an election mode, especially in view of impending local government elections. Local government elections were last held in 1994, but the recent passage of a suite of legislation critical to the holding of the elections under a reformed system has given citizens some hope. However,…

Read More

“Cobra” gets 78 years for 2010 murder

TIMES INT'L

By Vahnu Manikchand   Notorious criminal Tyrone “Cobra” Rowe was on Tuesday jailed for 78 years after a jury found him guilty of murdering a Plaisance resident in August 2010. Rowe, 21, of Lot 268 Independence Boulevard, Albouystown, Georgetown, was indicted with the murder of Troy Collymore, called “Collie” and “Nelly” on August 7, 2010 during the robbery of a business at Plaisance Railway and Embankment, East Coast Demerara. He was represented by Attorney Hukumchand Parag. The trial of Rowe began last Wednesday before Justice Navindra Singh and a 12-…

Read More

Former poet laureate of Ottawa pens ‘My Multi-ethnic Friends & Other Stories’

TIMES INT'L

My Multi-Ethnic Friends & Other Stories’ is Cyril Dabydeen’s latest volume, which spans a range of narratives set in Canada and other parts of the world reflecting lived experiences. The Guyana-born Canadian writer, who lives in Ottawa, has been publishing for many years; his work has appeared internationally in numerous literary magazines and anthologies. Here in this new volume, shifting spaces and changing lives form the core of Dabydeen’s stories. Tropical places with verdant greenery are subverted; his sometimes stark images supplant the traditionally exotic. In Canada’s northern hemisphere, Dabydeen’s…

Read More

Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy

TIMES INT'L

In the previous article, we discussed Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) – one of the biggest steps taken in Guyana to address climate change and national development. This week we will continue to explore the LCDS and the major projects that are being implemented. LCDS priority projects In 2009, the LCDS identified a number of priority projects to support Guyana’s transition to a low carbon economy. Since that time to now, many of these projects have been developed and implementation commenced. These are identified below: Amerindian development The LCDS…

Read More

Inter-county cricket should be pushed more

TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, Cricket fever is still with us and we have a lot to look forward to. I think that we should build on the momentum created by the Limacol Caribbean Premiere League (LCPL) that just came to an end. Guyana did well even though they came out the losing finalist. Already, the selection committee of the Berbice Cricket Board has called up 30 cricketers for three trial matches for the upcoming senior Inter-County 50-over competition, which started on September 11. Years ago, the inter-county cricket was a really big…

Read More

GuyExpo is expected to be bigger and more exciting this year

TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, I was pleased to learn that the perennial traffic build-up and struggle to get in and out of the Sophia Exhibition Centre, during GuyExpo will now be a thing of the past. The acting tourism minister announced that plans are in place to open up two new pedestrian entrances to the site. This is great. It will mean an ease in vehicular traffic. I see also that there will be specially designed access for the differently-able. Well if this should be realised, then I can see that the…

Read More

Thoughts for the booming rice industry

TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, I say forget about talking in regards to rice production. We have fought off inclement weather, paddy bugs and even a few financial matters. We have broken all the records. My idea is for us to work on utilising all of our excess rice. After all, if we produce more then we should use more. Rice has immense benefits, irrespective of what form it is used in. We need to experiment. Rice is a typical example of a staple food. Today, rice fulfils the dietary needs of millions…

Read More

The forensic laboratory takes Guyana one step further in solving crimes

TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, The past decade has seen great advances in a powerful criminal justice tool: deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA. DNA can be used to identify criminals with incredible accuracy when biological evidence exists. By the same token, DNA can be used to clear suspects and exonerate persons mistakenly accused or convicted of crimes. In all, DNA technology is increasingly vital to ensuring accuracy and fairness in the criminal justice system. In 1999, New York authorities linked a man through DNA evidence to at least 22 sexual assaults and robberies that…

Read More

The airport expansion project must go ahead

TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, The Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project will be going ahead as planned. This is the kind of spirit we need in Guyana. We have been stagnated for such a long time that many people just cannot get out of their inertia. Guyana has changed over the last decade. As a boy, the sight of an aircraft used to fascinate me. Now it is the norm. I remember too, airport visits used to be quite novel – now it is a hassle. We all know that the…

Read More

Professionalism

TIMES INT'L

By Anu Dev We’ve all had those experiences: going to the doctor’s office, shopping in some store or visiting a travel agency where we probably went through the worst ordeal of our lives because of the way we were treated. It sucks to go somewhere to do whatever chore you’re on and you end up being treated as some lesser being. Call me “melodramatic” but after some jarring encounter with a sales clerk I started paraphrasing Shylock’s speech from Merchant of Venice to myself: “Hath not an Anu eyes? Hath…

Read More