A woman was early Sunday morning busted with over two kilograms of cocaine at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). This was confirmed by head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) James Singh, who said the suspect has been taken into custody while investigations are ongoing. According to reports reaching Guyana Times International, the woman was on her way to New York via an Air Jamaica flight when the bust was made just after midnight. Two weeks ago, CANU ranks discovered 20 kilograms of cocaine in achar during a scan.…
Read MoreMonth: February 2014
North West residents affected by vomiting, diarrhoea
Former A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP) Richard Allen said the increasing cases of vomiting and diarrhoea at Port Kaituma, North West District are of grave concern. He said the gastroenteritis like symptoms have landed several persons, including children in the Port Kaituma Regional Hospital for the last two months. Approximately one year ago, more than 500 residents of Port Kaituma and neighbouring communities within the North West District fell ill with gastroenteritis. Three children reportedly died from the disease. Reports from the Health Ministry at…
Read MoreRevenue body taking stronger action against remigrant fraudsters
The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has launched an investigation into suspected irregular and illegal transactions concerning vehicle concessions to remigrants. The GRA said the probe was prompted by intelligence it received. GRA Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur said, “recently, it was reported to management that persons allegedly posing as remigrants are benefiting others who are supposedly financing highly illegal schemes to grant themselves with the concessions for various classes of luxury vehicles”. He said that it would appear from recent revelations that attempts are being made by disgraced elements, officers who…
Read MoreOAS calls for dialogue to resolve political crisis in Venezuela
The Permanent Council of the Organisation of American States (OAS) last week debated the current situation in Venezuela and received a preliminary report on the recent visit of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to The Dominican Republic, during a regular meeting at the headquarters of the organisation in Washington, DC. During the meeting, several permanent representatives who expressed their concern over the acts of violence that have taken place in Venezuela in recent days, echoed the call for calm made by the OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza,…
Read MoreTime for Guyana to show political maturity
On February 23rd, 1970, Guyana declared itself a “Cooperative Republic”, loosening all connections with the British monarchy, and making way for a leadership that would be freely chosen by is people. The Governor General was replaced with a Head of State by a ceremonial President. Relations with neighbouring countries, once severed by a high-handed government were improved, and Guyana became a force in the Non-aligned Movement. Life prior to 1970 was less than comprehensive. The 1968 general elections allowed the then ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) to govern exclusively, winning…
Read MoreShot teen to be flown to U.S. for treatment
The 16-year-old Berbician who was shot last Thursday night is expected to travel to Miami, U.S.A. for treatment, family members have confirmed. Oumesh Ballram was shot in the abdomen during a robbery attempt at Number 69 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, last Thursday. He was rushed to the Skeldon Hospital then to the New Amsterdam Hospital before finally referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital for treatment, where it was revealed that the bullet hit him just below his heart and caused damage to his spine. According to his father, Dinesh Ballram, doctors…
Read MoreCaribbean countries to strengthen HIV programmes
Last week government and civil society representatives from eight Caribbean countries finalised country-specific strategies to strengthen their HIV programmes by making them more responsive to human rights. During a three-day workshop hosted by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and supported by the Ford Foundation, country representatives discussed cultural, social and political barriers to eliminating stigma and discrimination and increasing access to social justice. In the Caribbean, the HIV response has experienced remarkable progress. However, inequality and exclusion are hampering efforts to reduce new HIV infections and to…
Read MoreGuyana civil society activist cops Anthony Sabga award
Head of the Red Thread organisation, Karen De Souza has copped the Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Award for Excellence for Public and Civic Contribution, the Trinidad Guardian has reported. De Souza, a women’s and children’s rights activist is the co-founder of Red Thread, an advocacy organisation which provides support, education, and advocacy for victims of rape and domestic and other forms of violence and for the lowest-waged sectors of women. De Souza and Red Thread also do research and have contributed to the drafting of laws and training for judicial…
Read MoreRoad safety takes centre stage as national stakeholders meet
The Home Affairs Ministry, in collaboration with the Guyana National Road Safety Council, will on Friday host a national conference on road safety under the theme “Road Safety with Your Life on the Line”. The conference, according to the Home Affairs Ministry, is scheduled to take place at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown from 09:00h to 16:00h. The conference aims to examine and adopt road safety methodologies, create public awareness, and develop a plan of action resulting from the National Strategy on Road Safety. The conference hopes…
Read MoreBerbician gets 11 years for killing wife’s, mother’s lover
A West Berbice Man was on Thursday jailed for 11 years after he pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter at the Berbice Assizes. Rakash Janack of Blairmont Settlement, West Bank Berbice was responsible for the death of Brentnol Isaacs on October 27, 2012 at Zorg-En-Hoop, Blairmont Settlement. In a probation report, Probation and Welfare Officer Odessa Semple told the court that efforts to contact the wife of the accused proved futile. “From investigations, it was revealed that the deceased shared an intimate relationship with the mother of the…
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