Year: 2014

President Ramotar urges all countries to play their part

TIMES INT'L

President Donald Ramotar on Tuesday warned world leaders to summon the political will to fight climate change or risk destroying the lives and livelihoods of future generations. Speaking at a Climate Change Summit held at the United Nations Ramotar said: “We are far from achieving a less-than-two-degrees climate target, and our world is heading for climate catastrophe. If this continues, it will reverse development progress and destroy the lives and livelihoods of future generations. We possess the knowledge and the power to avert this catastrophe – but the international community…

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Sugar strike ends

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… worker’s dismissal amended to “suspension” Following several days of strike action at the Skeldon Estate and several discussions over the dismissal of a field worker, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) on Wednesday agreed to call off the strike and amend the dismissal of the worker at the centre of the dispute to a suspension. Mill Dock Operator Stephen Daniels was dismissed for allegedly assaulting the General Manager of Skeldon Estate, but this has been amended to a suspension following the…

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GRA boss accuses Glenn Lall of seeking to influence tax fraud case in Guyana

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Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Khurshid Sattuar has again raised concerns over allegations being made by Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall, referring to his most recent ploy as an attempt to influence the judgment of the acting Chief Justice in the ongoing legal proceedings involving vehicles imported by two remigrants. Lall and a GRA employee are currently implicated in a scam, allegedly robbing the Guyana government of millions of dollars in import duty on two 2013 Lexus Suburban L57 SUVs brought into the country by remigrants. Lall…

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China invested US$180M in Guyana last year – Hinds

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Acting President Samuel Hinds on Tuesday evening revealed that Chinese investment in Guyana’s economy for the fiscal year 2013 has tipped the scales at US$180 million. Hinds was at the time speaking at a reception held at the Chinese Embassy on Mandela Avenue, to mark the observance of the 65th Anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. He pointed out that this comes as China has managed to maintain a “steady growth momentum” and is now considered to be a “haven of economic stability”. The acting president…

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Guyana’s first ‘test tube baby’ successfully delivered

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– As Dr. Balwant Singh’s Hospital continues to provide quality healthcare For the first time in the history of Guyana, couples who are unable to conceive are given a second chance through a scientific method known as In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), which is being offered at the Dr Balwant Singh’s Hospital. Gynaecologist Dr Madhu Singh announced on Monday that the first baby conceived in Guyana through the IVF service was delivered just a few days ago. The mother of the baby is a 32-year-old woman who was trying to conceive…

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Govt slams ‘continuous attacks’ on foreign investors

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The Government of Guyana has once again raised its voice against the continuous attacks on foreign investors, as it underscored the importance of having such investments to develop the country’s economy. At the launching of JAGS Aviation on Monday, Transport Minister Robeson Benn expressed his dissatisfaction at what he described as the xenophobia adopted by some local newspapers, particularly their attacks on the Chinese investors in Guyana. He condemned these actions stating that foreign investors are imperative to sustain development in the country. Benn recalled that similar attacks were previously…

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President announces more duty-free concessions for miners

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By Svetlana Marshall Investors within the mining sector would soon benefit from additional duty-free concessions, President Donald Ramotar disclosed on Monday as he declared open Mining Week 2014. The duty-free concessions would be given for a “particular type of vehicle”, the President said, but explained that key requirements would have to be met. “We will grant these, but we would want to tie that to gold declaration and we would want to tie it to payment of taxes,” he further explained. Since August 2013, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners…

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155 guns issued by GDF during PNC rule still missing

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The Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday heard that of the 237 weapons issued by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to various individuals and organisations during the 1970s, 155 are still outstanding. That number represents 65.4 per cent of guns issued. Returning to the stand with further evidence was head of the Intelligence (G2) Unit of the GDF, Lieutenant Colonel Sydney James, who told the tribunal that while those guns have not yet been recovered, no word has been given for searches to be carried out for their recovery.…

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Was justice served in the Congress Place shooting case?

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Dear Editor, The Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) wishes to express concern over the circumstances which led to the dismissal of the case against Linden Primo, who was recently charged with discharging a firearm and threatening behaviour following the staging of the controversial 18th Biennial Congress of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR). The PPP/C has noted too the attempts by the PNCR to cover for Primo, while using its Opposition-media agents to downplay the issue and sweep it under the carpet. The party is aware that the chief witness in…

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Human Services Ministry has been involved in suicide prevention

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Dear Editor, In response to a letter headlined, “An open letter to the Human Services Minister”, which was published in the August 18 edition of Guyana Times, I wish to commend the writers on their proposed response to our growing problem of suicide, which is indeed a troubling one, and a concern which we share. The Ministry has been involved in a number of initiatives aimed at addressing the issue of suicide prevention, and is not averse to extending its support to other initiatives aimed at achieving the same objectives.…

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