2014 – Page 47 – Guyana Times International

APNU MP Vanessa Kissoon was not informed of seating ‘rearrangements’ in House

February 14, 2014 TIMES INT'L

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) did not inform long-standing parliamentarian Vanessa Kissoon, ahead of Monday’s sitting of the National Assembly that she was demoted and her seating arrangements changed within the coalition group. As a matter of fact, Kissoon confirmed being only informed upon her arrival at Parliament Buildings at noon. The news caught her off guard, it would appear. Speaking with Guyana Times International on Tuesday evening from her home in Linden, Region 10, Kissoon explained that no reasons were proffered by APNU’s Chief Whip Amna Ally or…

Education Bill expected for parliament before month-end

February 14, 2014 TIMES INT'L

– after more than eight years of consultations The long awaited Education Bill which will enable major reforms in the education sector will be tabled in the House before month-end, Education Minister Priya Manickchand said. The legislation when comes into force will repeal the current Education Act and allow the Education Ministry to adopt a more modern and hands-on approach to various issues impacting the sector. The bill, among other things seeks to address issues such as private schools licensing, requirements for persons to be employed as a teacher and…

Region 10 unveils plans for second annual ‘Mash Bash’

February 14, 2014 TIMES INT'L

The Region 10 Mashramani planning committee is in the process of organising several cultural events, as part of the regional calendar of activities to mark the 44th Republican status of the country. The Region 10 Democratic Council (RDC) will be sending a 50-strong contingent to participate in the national costume and float parade in Georgetown on February 23. The second annual “Mash Bash”, a cultural event, is expected to be held in Linden on February 23, and will feature music, a costume float parade, and food, cultural and sporting activities.…

Guyana’s aeronautical school looking to expand operations

February 14, 2014 TIMES INT'L

The Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School is currently celebrating 21 years in operation and is pondering the idea of offering an airplanes 2 training programme, taking the institution and its students to the level of large turboprop and jet aircraft training. Currently, the school offers Licence Without Type Rating (LWTR) training which is done over a three-years ab-initio programme in aircraft engineering, for acquisition of licences in categories A, C, X or R via the airplanes 1 training programme. Additionally, modular training is done for persons with…

Charles Ramson responds to critics

February 14, 2014 TIMES INT'L

Commissioner of Information Charles Ramson said that while the opposition seemed to be concerned over his monthly income, he believed that he deserved way more. His comments come on the heels of a recent revelation that he earns a gross monthly income of Gy$1.2 million. Justice Ramson told Guyana Times International on Wednesday that he was not at all troubled by the comments made by opposition members, regarding his salary or the work of the commission. This is especially, since he believes that the salary is somewhat inadequate for the…

Guyana ranked 67 out of 180 in press freedom index

February 14, 2014 TIMES INT'L

Guyana has been ranked 67 out of 180 countries in the 2014 World Press Freedom Index, released on Wednesday by Reporters without Borders. Last year, Guyana was ranked at 69 out of 179. The 2014 World Press Freedom Index spotlights the negative impact of conflicts on freedom of information and its protagonists. The ranking of some countries has also been affected by a tendency to interpret national security needs in an overly broad and abusive manner to the detriment of the right to inform and be informed. This trend constitutes…

Officials say poor parenting a contributory factor to crime

February 14, 2014 TIMES INT'L

Head of The Men’s Affairs Bureau ,Diego Alphonso said much still needs to be done to tackle the growing incidents of youth involvement in crime; however, he offered no concrete solution to the scourge, but rather urged the repairing of the family structure. Youth involvement in crime the world over, for some time now, has been aiding in the continued deterioration of society, and parents, especially mothers are hurting. Close to two weeks ago, three teenage boys descended on the home of a Dazzell Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara family…

Hot money

February 14, 2014 TIMES INT'L

Even though the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) might be imposing sanctions on us for not complying with their directives on controlling our financial flows that might possibly be used for money laundering or the financing of terrorism, we are really in the backwaters of world finance when it comes to “real” money. And at this time it might just be a blessing. With the financial system of most countries liberalised during the last three decades, under the ministrations of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and its “Washington Consensus” free…

N.Y. drug mafia link: Guyana asks U.S. for info on local connections

February 14, 2014 TIMES INT'L

In light of the revelations resulting from an undercover drug sting operation, which linked cocaine traffickers in Guyana to the Italian mafia in the United States of America, President Donald Ramotar on Wednesday said that he asked his Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee to seek international help to go after local connections. “I have directed the Minister of Home Affairs to write to the United States to ask them to give us the information that they probably have and to extend to them our commitment, our full cooperation to fighting…

Once upon a time…..

February 7, 2014 TIMES INT'L

Once upon a time there was Brer Anansi. Brer Anansi live a long time ago and dead a long time ago. But old people seh that long ago people does dead and born back again a second time. Not the kinda born again whah dem preachers does talk bout. Dem does come back into a new life. Well, Guyana got nuff old time people who look like dem dead and come back to life. Some a dem in Parliament. Some a dem in guvament. One a dem is a mayor-fuh-life.…