2013 – Page 37 – Guyana Times International

CJIA runway expansion begins

November 8, 2013 TIMES INT'L

Despite political opposition to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project, works commenced on the runway some two weeks ago, the airport said Monday evening. According to the CJIA, the contractor China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) is “tackling a trial section in the Timehri North area (beyond the localiser)”. “I know we had some hiccups, but I am happy to see works have commenced for this transformational project,” Public Works and Transportation Minister Robeson Benn told CHEC technicians during a visit to the site on October 31. At the…

Canadian envoy calls on APNU’s leadership

November 8, 2013 TIMES INT'L

Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr Nicole Giles last week paid a courtesy call on opposition leader, retired Brigadier David Granger, at his Hadfield Street, Georgetown office. A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) members of Parliament, Deborah Backer, Joseph Harmon and Ronald Bulkan were also in attendance. According to an APNU release, the high commissioner took the opportunity to reaffirm her country’s commitment to programmes related to her government and the government of Guyana. Among the many things discussed was the restructuring of the Canadian Foreign Trade Ministry. The high…

New CJIA scanner deterring “front door” smugglers – Sattaur

November 8, 2013November 8, 2013 TIMES INT'L

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) said the new scanner at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) has been serving its purpose and persons are now deterred from smuggling commercial goods in their suitcases. GRA Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur told Guyana Times International that the operation of the new scanner has so far proved to be effective. He explained that since the installation of the scanner in 2011, many persons have been found culpable of declaring items to be for personal use when they are intended for commercial purpose; despite this,…

OAS opens second youth confab of the Americas

November 8, 2013November 8, 2013 TIMES INT'L

The Organisation of American States (OAS) opened on Tuesday at its headquarters in Washington, DC, the Youth Conference of the Americas, with the participation of OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza, Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin, and Panamanian First Lady Marta Linares de Martinelli. They all spoke of the important contribution young people make to the development of the nations of the hemisphere. Secretary General Insulza welcomed the attendees and panellists, and stressed the importance of the meeting and the need for governments to provide the means to ensure that…

PPP/C deeply concerned about court’s gag on Guyana Times

November 8, 2013 TIMES INT'L

The ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) said it is deeply concerned about Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire gag order on the Guyana Times newspaper regarding reporting issues pertaining to the operations of Guyana Stores from the company’s audited financial statements. Noting that some of the matters are not even relevant to a case pending in the court, the PPP/ C said the information which the newspaper is prohibited from publishing concerns the proceeds from a sale of a state asset, Guyana Stores Limited, which are therefore public funds. “The information…

Over 100 graduate from President’s College

November 8, 2013 TIMES INT'L

President’s College (PC) in Guyana last Friday held its 23rd annual graduation and 28th anniversary ceremony at the college’s Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara tarmac, honouring over 100 students who performed well at the 2013 Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE). This year, the college recorded an 84.5 per cent pass rate at CSEC, and 94.7 per cent passes at CAPE, a significant improvement when compared to previous years, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported. During an address to the students, Finance Minister Dr…

Fear and…

November 8, 2013 TIMES INT'L

… the media As a columnist for this newspaper, your Eyewitness doesn’t get the opportunity to interact much with the day to day reporters on the beat. With the recent walkout of three reporters – in fear for their lives if they report on television about the escapades of the MuckrakerKN’s Mohan “Glenn” Lall – we have a most interesting development in the journalistic fraternity. Why is it that none of the reporters are willing to concede their fears in public? They were willing to talk about those fears behind…

CJIA tests readiness to respond to emergencies

November 8, 2013 TIMES INT'L

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Wednesday conducted a simulation exercise involving more than 300 persons inclusive of airport, airline, hospital, fire service and other emergency personnel, testing their readiness to respond to an emergency. Public Works Minister Robeson Benn, who witnessed the full-scale emergency exercise, explained that it is staged every two years, and is a requirement of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). “These simulations are part of the certification requirements for an international airport. So every six months, there is table-top exercise, every year there is…

Republic Bank welcomes 29 apprentices

November 8, 2013 TIMES INT'L

The sixth batch of apprentices was welcomed to the Republic Bank family at the launch of the bank’s Youth Link Apprenticeship Programme last Friday, in the Woodbine Room of the Cara Lodge Hotel, Quamina Street, Georgetown. The programme commenced at 16: 00h with a prayer, followed by speeches and cocktails. This batch of 29 apprentices will delight in the same experiences the young men and women have enjoyed over the past five years during their respective seven-month stints, the bank said in a release. The new apprentices will be exposed…

2013 Rockstone Fish Festival was a great success

November 8, 2013 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, The 2013 Rockstone Fish Festival proved itself to be yet again a success. The festival managed to attract scores of people of all ages including local fishermen who grabbed the opportunity to boast about their skills and experience in deep sea fishing. The organisers of this year’s event managed to improve and expand on the variety of activities offered at the fish festival. Participants were able to indulge in activities such as camping, birdwatching, a fish clay modelling competition, and tours of Essequibo area. Visitors were able to…