Year: 2016

Gov’t still looking for Amaila Falls, Specialty Hospital contracts Harmon

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The Government has been in office for over a year and is yet to set eyes on the contracts for the Amaila Falls Hydro project and the Specialty Hospital. This was today, disclosed to media operatives by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon at a post-Cabinet press briefing. Minister Harmon was at the time responding to a question on the accusations made by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on the Government’s failure to make public the details of contracts which are now being reviewed, awarded and implemented. “I can say this to…

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Oil and the climate

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Guyana stands on the precipice of becoming an oil-producing economy and while the knowledge that oil-producing countries are at an advantage economically is comforting, there is an oxymoronic dynamic that is involved with this particular situation. On one hand, there is Guyana’s push for a “green economy”, which is premised on the reduction of our carbon footprint, while on the other hand, Guyana is advancing the proliferation of oil for economic gains. The end result of which will invariably add to the already colossal greenhouse gas emissions that come with…

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Strangling the manufacturing goose

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The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has suddenly decided to impose duties on imports of goods that are inputs into local manufacturing operations. For example we were informed that containers of textiles destined for Denmore Garment Manufacturing are lying at the wharves because the manufacturer had never been charged the duties now demanded. Consequently Denmore’s calculation of costs and selling prices, which would have been quoted and contracted to its customers (foreign in this instance), will now be thrown out the window. Denmore has to shutter its operations for two weeks…

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Caribbean region must boost efforts to prepare for increased drought – UN report

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United Nations: Climate change is expected to increase the intensity and frequency of droughts in the Caribbean, so countries in the region must enhance their capabilities to deal with this and other extreme weather-related challenges to ensure food security and hunger eradication, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has said in a new report. The report, Drought Characteristics and Management in the Caribbean, found that the Caribbean region faces significant challenges in terms of drought, FAO said. “Drought ranks as the single most common cause of severe food…

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Liberal Democracy

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Democracy at its core is intended to represent the interest of the many; it is an institutional configuration that allows the people of a given country the freedom to elect leaders of their choice. Leaders who are then expected to govern in the interest of the masses. According to political scientist Robert Dahl, the democratic ideal is based on two principles: “political participation and political contestation”. Political participation, he posits, requires that all the people who are eligible to vote can vote. Elections must be free, fair, and competitive. “Political…

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CPL matches to be aired live on ONE World Sports Network

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ONE World Sports, America’s Network for Global Sports, will air the Hero CPL, the franchise-based T20 cricket tournament that combines cricket and a vibrant Carnival atmosphere, two of the most compelling aspects of Caribbean life. ONE World Sports partnership with the Hero CPL marks the first time the league will air on U.S. television and all matches will be shown live in late afternoon or in primetime. For the first time since the league’s 2013 inception, Hero CPL matches will also take place in the United States at the Central…

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Govt’s agriculture policy ‘backward’, says Jagdeo

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As many residents and farmers in Region Five (Demerara-Mahaica) continue to endure the floodwaters, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Wednesday visited the flood-affected communities and distributed basic necessities to villages in the Mahaicony area. At Mora Point and Gordon’s Table, the Opposition Leader distributed food items and bottled water. Residents of those villages as well as those in First Savannah – one mile from Gordon’s Table – complained that the flood situation began in April but could have been avoided if the Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary-Agricultural Development Authority (MMA-ADA) and the National Drainage…

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“Guyana is not in an economic crisis” – Minister of Business tells GMSA Business Luncheon

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Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin sought to address concerns about a sluggish economy when he addressed the Guyana Manufacturers and Services Association annual Business Luncheon held at the Pegasus Hotel on Thursday, June 23rd. In his address to the gathering of prominent Business persons, the Minister pointed to positive indicators for Guyana, among them, continued positive growth rate, unlike neighbouring economies such as Brazil, Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago which are in serious trouble and even crisis. In addressing the Government’s vision for the economy, the Minister told the gathering,…

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Guyanese charged with falsifying application for U.S. passport

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ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Joseph Fedrick, 42, of Guyana, with falsifying an application for a United States passport, U.S.  Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced. Fedrick executed an application for a United States passport in Berkeley County, West Virginia. Within the application, Fedrick attempted to use a false social security number with the intent to secure the passport fraudulently. Fedrick is charged with one count of “False Statement in Application for Passport.” He faces up to ten years in prison and up…

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Saving Guyana

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Satiricus liked weekends. He liked weekends because he could throw back much later into the night at the Back Street Bar. And he liked it even more when someone else was picking up the tab. Filling that role was his cousin Georgie, who was winding down his visit for the Jubilee Bash. Their friend Cappo, the Canecutter was also enjoying the freeness as they created a jungle of beer bottles on their table. “Budday!” said Cappo effusively as he slapped Georgie on the back. “Suh wha’ de lates’.” “The latest,…

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