Dear Editor, The head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon recently expressed his disappointment as it relates to the increase in crime in Guyana and personally, I find it disturbing. Statistics reveal that there has been a five percent increase in crime, when compared to the same period in 2012. Robbery under arms has been identified as a major factor in the increase in crime in Guyana. It is common knowledge that firearms are not manufactured in Guyana, but can easily become accessible to criminals via illegal entry into…
Read MoreYear: 2013
Linden resident praises education minister for her courage
Dear Editor, I am not personally acquainted with our Education Minister Priya Manickchand, but I do admire the courageous way she approaches her mandate. That aside, I am perplexed at the level of intellectual debauchery on the part of some who have recently risen to criticise Minister Manickchand after she raised concerns as to why congratulations were not forthcoming from the opposition, particularly APNU and its leader Brigadier David Granger to the top students who were recognised by the Caribbean Examinations Council ( CXC) recently and duly rewarded for their…
Read MoreGolfing in Guyana: a new attribute of tourism
Dear Editor, The golfing fraternity in Guyana is quickly expanding, comprising a dynamic group of individuals including foreigners, diplomats, academics, business people, and local residents. Digicel Guyana is expected to host a two-day premier tournament scheduled for this weekend. So far, more than 70 local and foreign golfers have confirmed their participation in the upcoming event. The expectations are great and there is tangible excitement in the air. Aside from the nature of the competition, the establishment of golf in Guyana has resulted in many Guyanese returning for this tournament.…
Read MoreFour receive CoS 2012/2013 CSEC Awards
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on Tuesday presented its 2012/ 2013 Chief-of-Staff Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) Awards, to four deserving young women. Receiving the awards were Maya Phillips, daughter of Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips; Roopa Devi Seenarine, daughter of the late Lieutenant Commander Coast Guard, Latchman Seenarine; Belinda Frelicia Bess, daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Godfrey Bess; and Crystal Crawford, daughter of GDF civilian employee, Michelle Crawford. Each was awarded Gy$ 100,000 for gaining at least five grade ones, with an additional Gy$ 25,000 being awarded for every additional grade…
Read MoreHome for Diwali
By Anu Dev “As truth be told, homecoming never gets old” – Hlovate I hadn’t fully realised just how much I missed home until it dawned on me that the reason I was in a fantastically upbeat mood all of last week was because I was going home for the weekend. For a while I worried that maybe I was getting used to the Trini food! Diwali has always been one of the festivals that’s important to my family and me, so I was thrilled that I got to…
Read MoreMayor’s wife pays up taxes
– but Lall, Ram yet to do so The wife of Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green, Jenifer Basdeo-Green has paid the full Gy$ 10.2 million owed in rates and taxes for her Jelante Pharmacy on Mandela Avenue to the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown (M&CC). This is according to M& CC acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba. She said on Wednesday there was some misunderstanding regarding this issue, but she was happy that the payment was made in such a timely manner. “I am happy to say that Mayor Hamilton Green…
Read MoreFamilies of slain pressmen demand justice
– as Glenn Lall remains silent The families of the six Kaieteur News pressmen who were gunned down in cold blood at the newspaper’s printing press back in August 2006 are disappointed that they have not heard from the police despite a series of recent articles in the media. Guyana Times and the Evening News have been carrying a series of investigative pieces on the mass murder which occurred on the evening of August 8, 2006. “We glad that Guyana Times and Evening News remember us. That day come and…
Read MoreReports indicating an elevated deforestation rate misleading – Natural Resources Ministry
The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has dismissed comments and articles on Guyana’s Third National Report, indicating an elevated deforestation rate, as misinterpretations. In a release, the ministry noted that the third national report stating the deforestation rate for the year 2012, under the Monitoring Reporting and Verification (MRV) System for REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Plus Sustainable Forest Management), has been jointly produced by the Guyana Forestry Commission and Indufor, and is currently being subjected to an independent accuracy assessment conducted by the University of Durham,…
Read MoreRamotar signs into law three local govt bills
– fourth still being reviewed President Donald Ramotar has assented to three of the four local government reform bills passed in the National Assembly on August 8. The Fiscal Transfer Act, the Municipal and District Council Amendment Act, and the Local Government Commission Act became law on Wednesday with the president’s assent. The president’s assent came close to three months after the bills crucial to the holding of local government elections under a new regime were passed. Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon made this disclosure on Wednesday…
Read MoreMedia fear and intimidation
The simultaneous resignations of three reporters from the Guyana Times newspaper following the refusal of one of them to read a story involving the proprietor of the Kaieteur News, as an anchor on the affiliated Evening News of Television Guyana (TVG) raises the issue of fear that has been generated in the hearts of many by Glenn Lall and his newspaper. It is now clear that the fear of being harmed by Lall has spread into the journalistic fraternity, who are supposed to investigate entities and individuals who exert such…
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