Dear Editor, Americans on each third Monday of January honour the life and achievements of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr, (1929–1968), the 1964 Nobel Peace Laureate and the individual most associated with the triumphs of the African-American civil rights movement during the 1950s and 1960s. As political organiser, supremely skilled orator and advocate of nonviolent protest, King was pivotal in persuading his fellow Americans to end the legal segregation that prevailed throughout the South and parts of other regions, and in sparking support for the civil rights legislation that…
Read MoreMonth: January 2015
Pope’s message of peace relevant in today’s world
Dear Editor, I followed with interest Pope Francis’ recent visit to Asia. I was highly impressed with the message of peace and reconciliation by the Pope which is so relevant in today’s world in which there is so much tension and conflict. His visit to Sri Lanka and the Phillipines generated extraordinary mass appeal and seemed to have resonated with Catholics and people generally, in particular his call for greater concern for underprivileged children and for the poor and needy. According to media reports, over six million people attended papal…
Read MoreFreedom of expression is constantly being abused
Dear Editor, Guyana is perhaps one country where freedom of expression is constantly abused despite utterances to the contrary by a bunch of people opposed to the Government. How can we conclude that there is no freedom of expression when Kaieteur News on a daily basis personally attacks the President, Ministers of the Government and other prominent persons through its columnist Freddie Kissoon and Dem Boys Seh column? These people do not need a Freedom of Information Act to spread their bile since their arrogance and disrespect for authority has…
Read MoreOverturning Obama’s immigration policy could result in more deportations
Dear Editor The Republican-dominated House of Representatives passed a Bill on Thursday defying President Obama’s Executive Order to grant protection to illegal immigrants who have not run afoul of American laws. The President’s directive protects some five million illegal immigrants, including thousands of Guyanese, who came to the US prior to 2012 and have not broken any laws. They would be required to pay a fee and work legally, although they will not be able to travel overseas. The Executive Order could later on be amended to allow for overseas…
Read MoreUS, UK, Canada welcome poll announcement
– hope for clean electoral process The US, the UK and Canada on Thursday issued a joint release welcoming President Donald Ramotar’s announcement of May 11, 2015 as the poll date and called for improvements to be made to the electoral process including equitable access by all parties to the media. The joint release was a further sign of the continued deep interest of Western countries in Guyana’s elections and follows a flurry of direct statements from its diplomats in Georgetown in recent weeks. Abuse of the state media by…
Read MoreJilted lover remanded for stabbing teen to death
The West Berbice man who stabbed his girlfriend to death on Saturday evening had been remanded to prison. Shazim Kaili of Shieldstown, West Bank Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) appeared before Magistrate Rhondell Weaver at the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday charged with the capital offence of murder. He was not required to plea to the indictable charge which stated that on January 17, at Rosignol, Berbice, he murdered Shazien Mohamed of Edinburgh Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). Meanwhile, an autopsy conducted on the body of Mohamed…
Read MoreGuyana has enjoyed steady economic growth despite challenges – Finance Minister
Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh pointed out that Guyana, under the People’s Progressive Party Civic/ (PPP/C) Administration, continues to experience economic growth and development despite the challenges encountered in the parliamentary process and the inevitable consequences that these challenges have posed for the political and economic environment. Singh noted that sustaining nine years of consecutive economic growth is not easy and extending it remains high on the PPP/C’s agenda. “We (the PPP/C) take very seriously our responsibility for ensuring that the economic environment in Guyana continues to be attractive,” he…
Read MoreGuyana among countries with lowest cost of living
Guyana has been listed as one of the countries with the lowest cost of living, according to a survey done by Numbeo.com. The map shows the difference in living costs around the world using figures from the world’s largest database of user contributed data about cities and countries worldwide. The Consumer Price Index, used to determine the difference in the living costs between countries takes into account the prices of groceries, transportation, restaurants and utilities. The CPI in the infographic is a relative indicator of a country’s living costs compared…
Read MoreThe time has come
The expected announcement by President Donald Ramotar on Tuesday, setting May 11 as Elections Day, would have no doubt ended weeks of speculations as to when Guyanese would go to the polls following last November’s prorogation of Parliament. Elections in Guyana are always interesting times. Apart from the lively political discourses and banter on the campaign stages – E-days in Guyana are always fraught with lurking danger. Little wonder, President Ramotar urged in his address to the nation, that the elections process be conducted in a spirit of peace and…
Read MoreNY-based Guyanese call on political parties to ensure peaceful elections
By Vishnu Bisram New York-based Guyanese are pleased that President Donald Ramotar has announced a date, May 11, 2015, for election in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana. Guyanese living in New York and other areas in the United States feel the announcement of a date for the election will put an end to the idle chatter about the intention of the minority-led PPP government. They have since issued a strong call for a peaceful elections atmosphere. Guyanese in the diaspora were anxiously awaiting a date for the election since…
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