A significant number of Caribbean nationals had been deported after committing minor infractions, including traffic violations, according to an analysis of internal U.S. Government records since President Barack Obama assumed office. The figures showed that two-thirds of the nearly two million deportation cases involved Caribbean and other immigrants. The study conducted by the New York Times found that 20 per cent, or about 394,000 of the cases involved immigrants convicted of serious crimes, including drug-related offenses. The paper said an examination of the Obama administration’s record shows how the disconnect…
Read MoreYear: 2014
Kidnapped businessman found murdered in cemetery
Foulis, East Coast Demerara (ECD) auto spares dealer Rajendra “Sunil” Singh, who was kidnapped last Saturday evening was on Wednesday morning found with his throat slit and a bullet wound to his head in the Le Repentir Cemetery. The discovery was made around 10:15h. Forty-year-old Singh, of Lot 15 Foulis, Enmore, was discovered with his hands tied behind his back with a piece of rope. A white cloth was also tied around his neck. Investigators confirmed that the man was strangled before his throat was slit and more so, they…
Read More“Become the best soldier you can” – GDF Chief of Staff urges new recruits
It was a resounding no-show of hands when Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips, asked assembled recruits of the GDF’s Basic Recruit Course (BRC) the question, “who wants to go home?” Brigadier Phillips was, at the time, addressing the recruits prior to formally declaring the course, the first for 2014, officially open. “You chose to be here,” he said, “We advertised, and you made that choice for a particular purpose.” Addressing their acknowledgement that their choice to become soldiers was driven by the need to develop themselves professionally,…
Read MoreNo conviction for sex crimes in two years
– Nandlall blames jury system, witnesses There has not been a single conviction for sexual offences in Guyana since 2011 – a situation which Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall described as alarming and blamed the archaic jury system as well as reluctant witnesses for the problem. For the years 2012 and 2013, some 22 sexual offences cases were taken before the courts, but there has been no conviction. Instead, there have been a number of hung juries, witnesses failing to attend court and some victims deciding not to pursue the…
Read MoreContinued growth in Guyana’s economy is reflective of good leadership
Dear Editor, Guyana 2014 National Budget is definitely a people focused budget which is highly reflective of its theme “A better Guyana for all Guyanese”. The PPP/C administration is known to present people-centred budgets since 1993 anyway. The Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh and his team ought to be congratulated for the preparation of Budget 2014 which realistically and in detail sets out the Government’s financial plans to achieve continued socio-economic growth for the year 2014. Our country’s 2014 Gy$220 Billion budget is therefore designed to ensure that Guyana’s economy…
Read MoreMPs were elected to demonstrate maturity, aptitude
Dear Editor, I am certain that there are a great number of Guyanese who must be wondering why is it that the exchanges in our Parliament in any debate when a budget is being presented are so predictable in nature. The Opposition is heard to object to almost everything that the government proposes, and the reason is mostly not about the efficacy of whatever is being debated at the time, but that they will agree if certain other projects which they are advocating are brought on board by the government.…
Read MoreApologise and get on with the important matter of education
Dear Editor, Education Minister Priya Manickchand needs to apologise to the offending former parliamentarian so that we can get on with the important business of education that the Minister is so enthusiastic to bring to a waiting people. We can ill afford the time wasting that the Opposition is well trained for – they are into the wasting of taxpayers’ money in an endless circus that this parliament has become – so apologise and let’s move on. In my humble opinion the Education Minister needs to make an apology to…
Read MoreGuyana should establish its own law school
Dear Editor, The ‘on-again off-again’ idea of a local law school is an idea whose time has long come. This has only been made absolutely clear and fiercely urgent with the advent of the “impasse” between the Government of Guyana and the Council for Legal Education (CLE). We have a most egregious situation here but one which offers us a unique opportunity and with it perhaps the chance of something great. This singular moment can impact generations to come of students in Guyana and in the Caribbean who enjoy our…
Read MoreGuyana pulls out of mining confab
In protest over moves to incorporate the controversial ‘New River Triangle’ on Suriname’s map, Guyana has pulled out of the neighbouring country’s inaugural International Mining, Energy and Petroleum Conference and Exhibition (SURIMEP) set for June. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud made the disclosure during Friday’s budget debate in the National Assembly. He explained that through the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Guyana withdrew its participation. “They were circulating the documents and as part of the Suriname map, they had the New River Triangle included,” Persaud pointed out. “Mr Speaker, I…
Read MoreSpeaker sets up committee for easy review of estimates
A new parliamentary sub-committee has been set up to review amendments made to the 2014 National Budget presented by Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh after House Speaker Raphael Trotman maintained his position that the National Assembly has the ability to axe the budget despite the High Court’s ruling. Presiding over the National Assembly on Wednesday, Trotman proposed eight recommendations for the consideration of the Estimates of Revenues and Expenditure for Financial Year 2014, amid controversies surrounding the January 29 ruling by the Acting Chief Justice, Ian Chan on budget cuts.…
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