Year: 2013

Organisation of American States (OAS) Secretary General José Miguel Insulza last Thursday met with President Donald Ramotar in New York, within the framework of the 68th United Nations General Assembly. During the meeting, the two discussed the importance of the electoral observation missions deployed by the organisation, the impact of climate change, trade policies in member states and the progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, among other issues. Amid the uncertainty as to when local government elections would be held in Guyana, Ramotar’s discussion with the OAS head could be…

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Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President Clinton Urling said the ongoing political impasse in the National Assembly is significantly affecting the national economy as it is “scaring away investors”. This, he noted could pose a threat to the local business community. Urling raised these concerns last Friday evening as the GCCI launched its 2013/ 2014 Business Directory Magazine at the Pegasus Hotel. He said the uncompromising stance that prevails between government and the combined parliamentary opposition does not bode well for international transactions and can hurt the country’s…

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– pensioners roll stood at 43,000 in July National Insurance Scheme Chairman, Dr Roger Luncheon said contribution revenue for last year stood at Gy$ 11.32 billion, but the scheme paid out Gy$ 11.33 billion in benefits. He made the disclosure in an address at the scheme’s 44th anniversary celebrations. Luncheon, who is also head of the Presidential Secretariat, said although the spectre of an imminent dire situation is highly exaggerated, the scheme’s financial viability does evoke apprehension among the informed. According to him as is known, long-term benefits dominate the…

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Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, along with Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Chief Executive Officer Bharat Dindyal, on Friday visited the John Fernandes Wharf to inspect a US$ 32 million, five-component Wartsila generator set which is expected to be installed at the 26-megawatt Vreed-en-Hoop power station by next month-end, and become fully operational by April 2014. The engines have a capacity of 8.6 megawatts each and will be contributing to the Demerara system, and eventually, Berbice and part of the East Bank Essequibo system, and will be moving from an 80-megawatt…

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By Sabatini Daniels   A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Chairman David Granger said the government must set up a tripartite budget committee if the three political parties in Parliament are to progress on budgetary 2014 talks. Speaking at his party’s weekly press briefing last Friday, Granger reminded that in December 2011 he had approached President Donald Ramotar about setting up a tripartite budget committee. He said to date, the committee had not been set up, so he was “not optimistic” about budget talks this year. “I do believe that…

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The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has promised to assist Guyana with technical and financial support in an effort to reform the energy sector. During a meeting in New York last Friday, IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno told President Donald Ramotar that the lending agency will help Guyana modernise its energy matrix and advance its innovative Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) in an effort to maintain debt sustainability, while providing the desired benefits to Guyana’s economy and its people. Having acknowledged the pressing need to diversify Guyana’s energy matrix in a…

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Prime Minister Samuel Hinds reminded Essequibo residents about the progress made over the two decades of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) government since a return Guyana to democracy in 1992. Delivering the main address during an outreach over the weekend at Adventure Village, the prime minister outlined the issues faced by government given the changed dispensation in the National Assembly, and called on residents to be prepared to ensure the current gains achieved by the ruling administration were cemented. The new parliamentary dispensation was attributed in part to…

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Bryan Persaud, 21, of Lot 16 B Hampshire, Corentyne, Berbice, is the proud winner of an all expenses VIP trip for two to see international singing sensation Beyonce in New York City later this year. The young man, who sent almost 450 text messages during the six-week promotion, was in the company of his girlfriend and other relatives during the final drawing at the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), Mandela Avenue office on Saturday. It is most obvious that the young man will take his girlfriend on the trip, providing that…

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New Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana Dr Nicole Giles has underscored the importance of access to credit in Guyana and in the Caribbean, for Canada’s continued investment and development in the region. Dr Giles made this comment last Friday at the launch of Credit Info Guyana Inc at the Georgetown Club. The Bank of Guyana on August 30 officially presented the Icelandic company with its licence to operate in the country, enabling Guyanese to get easier access to financing. The granting of the licence followed a lengthy selection process that…

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