The forensic audit conducted into the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) has revealed that the India-based company that was contracted to supply the Government of Guyana with drainage pumps was also supposed to provide several spares, but failed to do so. According to the audit report, compiled by Nigel Hinds, of the US$2.9 million paid to Surendra Engineering Corporation Limited of Mumbai, India, for the acquisition of pumps, some US$126,000 was for the supply of spares. “The spares were never received by NDIA,” the auditor revealed, adding that “consequent…
Read MoreMonth: June 2016
PPP/C says looking forward to debate on Rodney CoI Report
As thousands in Guyana and many other countries, observe the 36th anniversary of the assassination of Dr Walter Rodney, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) says it is looking forward to the debate in the National Assembly on the Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the scholar’s murder. General Secretary of the PPP, Clement Rohee, today told reporters during a media briefing at the party’s headquarters that the PPP is joining with all progressive, democratic and peace loving persons in Guyana and around the world in observing Dr Rodney’s 36th…
Read MoreNEW GPC launches new products at Pharmacists’ Convention
The Guyana Pharmacists’ Association held its 15th Annual Pharmacists’ Convention on Sunday June 12th, 2016 at the Marriot Hotel in Georgetown. The convention, touted as the largest gathering of Guyanese pharmacists, was attended by hundreds of pharmacists. Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, Chief Medical Officer, delivered the feature address and declared the event open. The event featured presentations by medical practitioners speaking on three particular areas of interests; OTC in Paediatric Medicine, Emergency Medicine and Thyroid Disorders. Also making presentations at the convention were sponsors of the event, which included; POEM, Mead…
Read MorePrison Service lacks resources to deal with mentally ill inmates – CoI
The Guyana Prison Service (GPS) has no resources, financial or human, to deal with mentally ill prisoners. This was concluded by the Commission of Inquiry into the deadly Camp Street Prison riot which occurred earlier this year. According to the findings of the CoI report, the GPS was noted as “the major casualty of as an inexcusably primitive approach” to mental health in Guyana. The Commissioners pointed out that even though the prison service lacks the requisite resources to integrate the psychologically challenged inmates; those who pass through the courts…
Read MoreSuspect remanded for mechanic’s murder
Rayon Jones, 20, of Lot 121 Fourth Street, Avenue, Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) was on Tuesday remanded to prison for the brutal stabbing to death of mechanic Puranand Baljit, also known as “Andrew” at Madewini, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara (EBD). The charge, which was read by Magistrate Judy Latchman, stated that on June 9, 2016, at Madewini, EBD, he murdered Baljit during the course of a burglary. Jones was not required to plea to the indictable charge. He was represented by Attorney Latchmie Rahamat, who told the court that Jones…
Read More‘It should be scrapped’
…Stakeholders up pressure on City Council to cancel controversial parking meter contract By Edward Layne Pressure is mounting on the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to scrap the highly-secretive and controversial parking meter contract it has inked with National Parking Systems/Smart City Solutions, to hold consultations and then go to public tender in the interest of accountability and transparency. Former First Vice President of Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI) and Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram said “it’s very troubling indeed,” that for a project of such magnitude, information is…
Read MorePM on 10-year-old boy who died mysteriously ‘inconclusive’ – further tests to be done
A post mortem (PM) conducted Monday on the body of a 10-year-old boy who collapsed last Wednesday and died at school is inconclusive, according to the medical examiner who conducted the autopsy. Yogindra Persaud, called ‘Buddy’ or ‘Shawn’ collapsed last Wednesday and died while in his classroom at Graham’s Hall Primary School, Cummings Lodge, Georgetown. The boy’s father Rakesh Persaud was quoted in a section of the media as saying that the doctor did not discover anything significantly wrong to cause the death of the child; however DNA samples were…
Read MoreBrickdam Secondary closure put on hold following protest action by teachers, students
By Ramona Luthi and Merissa Wilson Enraged parents, teachers and students of the Brickdam Secondary School on Tuesday took to the street in front of the educational institution to express their frustration and disgust over the Education Ministry’s decision to permanently close the school instead of repairing the facility. In the eyes of the infuriated persons, the Chief Education Officer (CEO) Olato Sam was unreasonable. Teachers voiced that this and other protests were based on concerns for the safety of the students of the Secondary School, pointing out that even…
Read MoreHarmon challenges young leaders to become ‘agents of change’
Minister of State Joseph Harmon charged 57 graduates of the Youth Leadership Training Programme at the Madewini Training Centre to be ‘doers’ and not just talkers for the development of Guyana. The Minister was at the time speaking at the closing ceremony of the first in a series of eight training programmes on Sunday, which will draw on youth leaders from across the country between June and December. “The true demonstration of your effectiveness as youth leaders will be the practical things you get done and the positive tangible things…
Read MoreThree remanded for Kaieteur News grenade attack
Three men accused of throwing a grenade at the vehicle of Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall, were on Wednesday remanded to prison. The men – Leroy Williams, called “Buxton”, 25, of Durban Backlands; Alfie Garraway, 36, of Norton Street, Lodge; and 20-year-old Janiel Howard of Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, were all charged for unlawfully and maliciously conspiring to cause danger by way of an explosive metal device, being the grenade. They all appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones objected to bail on…
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