There is an old African saying that whether elephants fight or make love, the grass suffers. When applied to the international state system, fights or alliances between the “big” powers are usually to the detriment of smaller nations. However, in the present face-off between the Western and Russian elephants, there might be an opportunity for some smaller nations to improve their condition. It started with Russia taking sides with separatists in Ukraine seeking to resume their unification that was sundered only a couple of decades ago. In the larger scheme…
Read MoreMonth: August 2014
Govt blasts UG’s Vice Chancellor for threats to “shut down” university
“He should ask the Opposition why they cut the budgetary allocation for student loans” – Finance Minister Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh has dismissed threats by University of Guyana (UG) Vice Chancellor, Dr Jacob Opadeyi to shutdown the university as reckless and premature. Dr Opadeyi at a press briefing on Wednesday warned that if the Finance Ministry does not signal its approval for the disbursement of student loans, the university will temporarily freeze operations. “I believe the Vice Chancellor should know the matter is currently engaging the consideration of the…
Read MoreQC Student tops CSEC exams
By Vahnu Manikchand and Nafeeza Yahya Queen’s College took back the mantle this year as its students secured most of the top positions at this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) examinations. The results were announced on Tuesday by Education Minister Priya Manickchand as she revealed the top 52 students who secured 11 or more Grade Ones. Securing the top spot with 19 Grade Ones and One Grade Two, is Elisa Hamilton of Queen’s College. She was followed by Skeldon Line Path Secondary School…
Read MoreSurinamese fuel tanker sinks off Corentyne Coast
– two Guyanese crew members missing; two rescued The Guyanese captain of a Surinamese-owned fuel tanker vessel is missing, but two crew members were rescued by a Venezuelan fishing vessel that responded to a distress call Tuesday afternoon, sources said. “There were four crew members on board; two were rescued while the other two are missing. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing to locate the two missing crew members,” said Guyana’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) in a statement. Feared drowned is Captain Rickram. MARAD said that about 9 O’clock Tuesday night…
Read MorePolice charge Queens-based Guyanese man for allegedly stabbing wife to death
Police have charged a man in connection with the death of a 23-year old woman. According to New York police, US-based Guyanese Nazir Khan stabbed his wife Amarita Khan, also from Guyana, to death on Hone Avenue in the Bronx last Saturday evening. Police say they found Khan’s wife unresponsive with multiple knife wounds on her body. Khan was arrested at the scene. He is facing murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon charges. Both Khan and his wife live in Queens and people who knew them are shocked…
Read MoreNY-based Guyanese singer gets warm welcome home
Guyanese artiste and entertainer Lisa Punch was warmly welcomed by President Donald Ramotar when she paid a courtesy call on him on Wednesday at the Office of the President, GINA said. She was accompanied by her parents and Manager Mary Brown. Punch described her meeting with the president as very fruitful and encouraging. She said that she was inspired by President Ramotar to continue representing Guyana and making all Guyanese proud. Punch recently participated in US television network, ABC’s reality show `Rising Star’ and sang at the recent Guyana Festival.
Read MoreThe power of sport
The Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2014 tournament is not yet over, but still, it has pleasantly reminded us of the power and influence of sport, and in the Guyana and Caribbean context, cricket is uniting our oftentimes divided people. Thus far in the tournament, we have seen fans jumping in joy, waving flags of support, blaring horns, and engaging in light banter, among others, in a picnic, carnival-like atmosphere. In Guyana, the tournament had witnessed some of the biggest and most vocal crowds since the commencement last month. During…
Read MoreGeneral Election looms
While the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has decided to throw its support behind the proposed vote of no-confidence by the Alliance For Change (AFC), the Government is expecting that the process would go through the normal course in the National Assembly. This is according to Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, who told reporters that the proposed no-confidence motion should not be seen as something to be done away with in a swift manner. The Cabinet Secretary said: “So you have a motion that is now…
Read MoreNew GPC must compete with top int’l agencies
…to supply medical drugs to Guyana Despite being cleared as the sole pre-qualified company to supply medical drugs to the Guyana Government, NEW GPC INC would still have to compete with a number of top international agencies that gained automatic qualification. These agencies include the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organisation (WHO), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). There has been some confusion regarding sole-sourcing of drugs with some reporters equating the NEW GPC’s pre-qualification clearance as being…
Read MoreGov’t to GECOM: Bring the evidence
– Luncheon maintains GECOM not ready to hold national or local gov’t elections Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon has issued a challenge to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to lay the evidence on the table to supports its claims that it is ready for the hosting of Local Government and General Elections. According to Dr Luncheon at his post-Cabinet briefing last Wednesday, the Government is yet to be convinced that the Commission is as ready for the calling of any of the elections, despite the many claims Chairman of the…
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