Year: 2014

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…

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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…

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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,…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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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A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Chairman David Granger said his coalition would welcome the establishment of the much-needed Integrity Commission, once it was allowed the power to enforce and carry out the Provision of the Integrity act. Granger said APNU was concerned about external figures influencing independent bodies such as the Integrity Commission. “It’s not just a matter of appointing these institutions and agencies; it’s a matter of if they are autonomous. Yes we would like an Integrity Commission, but at the same time we want to make sure…

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