2014 – Page 66 – Guyana Times International

PM Hinds to respond to APNU’s concerns about e-governance project

January 10, 2014 TIMES INT'L

E-government Unit Project Manager Alexei Ramotar said the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) inquiry into the US$32 million project is “no big deal”. The multimillion-dollar project is being placed under the microscope by APNU Member of Parliament (MP) Joseph Harmon, who on Monday submitted two questions to the National Assembly for response by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds. The e-governance project has suffered from extensive delays. Two years after its scheduled deadline, the project is now up for modification, the APNU parliamentarian said, as he expressed disappointment at the way…

Sukhai refutes claims of Amerindians being silenced

January 10, 2014 TIMES INT'L

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai has refuted claims that Amerindians are often being silenced especially when they meet each year at the National Toshaos Council (NTC) conference. Sukhai said that village toshaos and other village leaders are usually given the chance to speak on various issues at forums organised by the ministry throughout the year. The minister stressed that reports that Amerindian village leaders are silenced, especially at the annual NTC meeting are not true. Sukhai explained that everyone is given an opportunity at the three full days of the…

Yarde responds to critics

January 10, 2014 TIMES INT'L

After two decades of failure in leading one of the largest trade union bodies in Guyana, long-standing Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) President Patrick Yarde said he is willing to step down if the union members feel so. He said too that despite the lack of support for recent protest actions, the GPSU is still capable of shutting down the country, but that this is a last resort. Frustrated over government’s yearly salary increases, several union members who spoke with this newspaper said that it was time for Yarde, who…

Mom kills self after son ends life

January 10, 2014 TIMES INT'L

– father, sister had also committed suicide A 32-year-old woman on Wednesday succumbed at the Skeldon Public Hospital after she ingested a poisonous substance last Saturday, allegedly in reaction to her son who also committed suicide a few weeks ago. Dead is Nandranie Oudit of Number 68 Village, Corentyne, Berbice. According to the mother of the deceased Surujdai Singh, her daughter drank the poisonous substance because she could not cope with the loss of her 16-year-old son Arjune Oudit, a former third form student at Tagore Memorial High School who…

Works on crumbling Mahaica sea defence 80 per cent complete – ministry

January 10, 2014 TIMES INT'L

Work on the undermining sea defence is currently underway at Mosquito Hall/Lancaster, Mahaica and is 80 per cent complete. Staff from the Public Works Ministry’s Force Account Unit are scheduled to seal the remaining section by this afternoon (Thursday). The ministry in a release said the contractor – M&B Construction – hired to rehabilitate a section of the earthen embankment and slope has begun stockpiling materials [rocks and clay] to begin capping the undermined area. It is expected that within another two weeks, work in that area will be completed.…

Tourism Authority predicts 15 per cent increase in tourist arrivals in 2014

January 10, 2014 TIMES INT'L

Over the past 10 years, visitor arrivals have increased significantly to Guyana, and in 2013, it was one of three countries in the Caribbean to record double-digit growth, with an 11.7 per cent increase in arrivals. According to the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) last year, there was an average of 2630 tourists per month. In August alone, Moleson Creek recorded 3581 arrivals and in September, 3602. More than 11,600 persons visited Lethem, Region Nine during the year. The increase represents visitors from across the Caribbean region, especially from Suriname, Brazil,…

Ending the road carnage

January 10, 2014 TIMES INT'L

Worldwide, road accidents are a significant cause of death, injury and anguish, and Guyana is one such country where it is glaringly and unfortunately so very evident. It is always a deep tragedy when a productive, much-loved and respected citizen dies in the prime of his or her life. The death of Chief Librarian Gillian Thompson is one such occasion – an occasion in which it has been alleged that dangerous driving played a significant role. Dangerous driving has become a terrifying and all too common trend in Guyana, as…

No talks with U.S. under duress

January 10, 2014 TIMES INT'L

– Luncheon says of USAID project The government of Guyana said that it will not enter into any negotiations with the U.S. government in relation to the rejected United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Leadership Enhancement and Democracy Project (LEAD) if attempts are made to continue the implementation of that initiative despite its strong objections. Government’s chief spokesperson, Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon on Wednesday reiterated government’s stance on the project, while dismissing any expectation that the government was experiencing a change of heart towards the project. He was…

Guyana Baseball League bracing for busy 2014

January 3, 2014January 3, 2014 TIMES INT'L

The Guyana Basebell League (GBL) is bracing itself for a busy 2014, even as it comes off a challenging 2013 in which it was able to make some strides in the game of baseball/ softball. This disclosure was made by president of the GBL, Robin Singh, during his New Year’s message to Guyanese, specifically those directly involved with the game. Below is the full text of the message. “Dear Guyana, baseball/ softball coaches, players, fans, sponsors, media and the general public, I would like to wish everyone a very happy…

Fast-scoring Anderson leads New Zealand plunder of Windies

January 3, 2014 TIMES INT'L

QUEENSTOWN, New Zealand (CMC) — New Zealand outclassed West Indies by 159 runs to win a lopsided and rain-shortened third One Day International (ODI), powered by the fastest international century from Corey Anderson at the Queenstown Events Centre yesterday. Anderson reached his 100 in a One-Day match against West Indies in Queenstown from 36 balls, breaking the record of 37 set by Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi in 1996, as New Zealand reached 283 for four from 21 overs. In reply, West Indies, who chose to field after winning the toss, limped…