Constant battle between police and citizens on human rights violations

Dear Editor, On March 24, the world observed International Day for the Right to the Truth Surrounding Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims. On this day, we honour the memory of victims of gross and systemic human rights violations and promote the importance of the right to truth and justice. The Colwyn Harding Support Group, human rights groups, and other public-spirited supporters picketed outside of the Providence Magistrate’s Court, East Bank Demerara demanding justice for Harding. Call it irony or fate that his court date coincided…

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Navraatri is a period used to worship the mother aspect of God

Dear Editor, The very sacred and most auspicious period of Nav-Raatri will commence on March 31. It also marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year. Navraatri is a period of nine days that we utilise to worship the mother aspect of God or Maha Shakti. Shakti literally means ‘energy’ or ‘power’, and the universe is an expression of this Divine Energy. During these nine days the Mother aspect of God in the forms of Durgaa, Lakshmi, and Saraswati is extolled and worshipped. Divine Energy operates in three planes, as…

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GTUC now a political forum, no longer a workers’ organisation

Dear Editor, The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is saddened that the good name which the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) once enjoyed has again been sullied as a result of Lincoln Lewis’ outbursts. A few weeks ago, the PPP/C expressed the view that the GTUC is no longer a voice of the workers; in fact it has been hijacked by a selfish few who regrettably have transformed that body into a political forum for grand-standing. In the last few weeks we have witnessed the morphing of the GTUC into a…

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WPA fumes at Ramotar’s non-response to concerns on Rodney Commission

The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) has dubbed as “Shameful”, the non-response from President Donald Ramotar to a letter written to him about the contents of the Terms of Reference (ToR) being used in the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI). It has been three weeks now since the letter, signed by the WPA’s Chairman, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and Executive Member, Professor Clive Thomas, was sent to the Head of State, outlining the party’s concerns over sections of the ToR. Dr Roopnaraine said while Office of the President has made no…

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PPP/C slams Granger for criticisms of public infrastructure

“It was under the PNC dictatorship that Guyana’s infrastructure collapsed” The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) says it finds amusing the recent statements by Opposition Leader David Granger concerning the current state of the country’s infrastructure. At a recent news conference by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Granger referred to “poor infrastructure” and how “roads, bridges, stellings, canals, and other amenities have degenerated” under the ruling party. However, in a sharp response, the PPP/C said it cannot help but insist that Granger continues to be a stranger to the truth…

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US$10M engineering design for Linden–Lethem road

An engineering design required for the critical Linden to Lethem Road will cost an estimated US$10 million, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds has disclosed. He said the Guyana and Brazil governments are yet to complete discussions on the financing of the critical project. A Joint Working Group established under the Guyana-Brazil Corporation Agreement had submitted the proposal. In December 2012, the Working Group on Infrastructure Projects was established following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries. But with this proposal being tabled, along with recommendations for…

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75-year-old woman found murdered in home

A former staff of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council was on Wednesday morning found dead in the bedroom of her North Ruimveldt, Georgetown home. Joyce Lewis, 75, of Lot 3630 Christiani Street, North Ruimveldt, is suspected to have been robbed, raped and strangled. Relatives of the woman broke down as her body was being removed from her residence by undertakers. The woman’s lifeless body was discovered about 08:30h by a sister, who went to the house after she failed to make telephone contact with the woman. She was found…

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Brumell urges SWAT team to uphold human rights of citizens

Outgoing Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell has urged members of the newly-trained Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit to uphold basic human rights and not sully the image of the Guyana Police force as they discharge their duties. He made the comments as 27 ranks graduated from the SWAT training conducted by The Emergence Group (TEG).The unit is Guyana’s first SWAT Team. Urging the ranks to maintain self-discipline, Brumell said their new role requires commitment and adherence to basic human rights. “Nobody must speak of this unit of committing heinous things,”…

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Hardt commits U.S. support for Caribbean security

United States Ambassador to Guyana D Brent Hardt has said that while the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) programme has yielded overwhelming successes since its implementation in 2010, Washington will continue to work with the Caribbean region as there is much more work to be done. Ambassador Hardt was at the time speaking at the handing over ceremony of three vessels to the Coast Guard on Friday last. He stated that the handing over was also a part of the CBSI programme which seeks to combat the drug trade and…

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Digital generation

There is a generation of people, mostly the younger, who are completely different from the preceding one. A lot of today’s people are living in the digital age. Technology has become a way of life and people today just automatically absorb all things automated. Now it is nigh impossible for many to imagine a world that existed without all of the gadgets, electronics and numberless operations that computer technology provides. Children now devote some 40 hours per week to television, video games and the Internet. Researchers are very concerned about…

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