Year: 2016

All set for ‘Jubilee Week’ in NY

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– State dinner, Independence parade among events planned Guyana’s 50th Independence Celebration Committee (New York) has announced final plans for its one-week “Guyana Jubilee Celebration NYC” from June 4–12, 2016, to commemorate the country’s 50th Anniversary of Independence in the New York Tri-State. Guyanese in the Tri-State area are very excited about participating in the upcoming events as this is expected to be the largest celebration outside of Guyana. The celebration kicks off on Saturday, June 4, 2016 at 1:00 P.M., with an Interfaith Service at the York College Performing…

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Ex-husband, accomplice charged with Babita Sarjou’s shallow grave murder

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Sharadanand Narine, called ‘Anand’, the reputed husband of Babita Sarjou, and his alleged accomplice, Darell Punton, called ‘Yankee’, were charged and remanded to prison for murdering the woman almost six years ago. Sarjou’s skeletal remains were discovered buried in the yard of her 39-year-old reputed husband on Sunday last. Narine and Punton made their first appearance at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday morning  where they were not required to plea to the indictable charge. The duo is expected to make their next court appearance on June 21. Almost six…

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President defends decision to pardon criminals

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Following confirmed reports that one of the persons, who were pardoned by President David Granger last year was recently charged for a spate of robberies on the Corentyne, concerns have been raised about the initiative adopted by President Granger. However, the Head of State recently admitted that while government cannot totally prevent a pardoned individual from relapsing, he maintained that he was not reckless in releasing those 40 prisoners. “It wasn’t reckless, I’m not a reckless person… I am advised that it’s not a reckless plan, there are criteria concerning…

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Gov’t cancels Jubilee housing promotion

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 – many left disappointed Thousands of persons living in Guyana are now very frustrated and disappointed having learnt that the 50/50 Jubilee housing promotion announced by Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Sharpe- Patterson, in March month has been cancelled. Reports are that the Board of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) which is currently being headed by former city Mayor Hamilton Green has cancelled this ‘special payment plan ’ this month for persons who are beneficiaries of government house lots in residential areas that are priced at…

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Rodney Report up for deliberation in National Assembly soon

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While still not accepting its findings, Government handed over the controversial Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Report to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland on Wednesday morning and it will soon be up for deliberation in the National Assembly. Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams, accompanied by Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, handed over Report within the parliamentary chambers. The document was finally presented just one day before Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira was scheduled to bring a motion to the National Assembly for Government…

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Gafoors says no worker will be sent home

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– some to be relocated, others to be paid 50 per cent while off job Following the blaze at the Gafoors Houston Complex on Monday, the company on Wednesday commenced the relocation of workers to its other branches. The calamitous fire left over 530 employees with questions as to whether or not they would have to seek alternative employment, but the company’s Executive Chairman Sattaur Gafoor after the meeting with the workers as well as the company’s Board members on Wednesday, came to a decision that the employees, who live…

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Dr Nigel Harris installed as new UG Chancellor

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The University of Guyana (UG) is set to achieve a greater level of resonance following the installation of its ninth Chancellor, renowned educator, Dr Eon Nigel Harris. The George Walcott Lecture Theatre (GWLT), of the Turkeyen Campus, was home to pomp and ceremony Wednesday evening when President David Granger, Ministers of the Government, members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of other local, regional and international institutions gathered to witness the inauguration of Professor Harris, who colleagues said has a remarkable record of service as a researcher, administrator and an…

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Govt has become indifferent to the needs of the people

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Dear Editor, In a news article of May 3, it was reported that prolonged flooding of a large section of eastern Queenstown, Georgetown, due to heavy rainfall on April 30/May 1 was avoided as a result of intervention by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) and City Hall to clear blocked culverts in Queenstown one of which was under Peter Rose Street discharging into a drainage channel immediately west of Vlissengen Road. An accompanying photo showed the channel completely blocked with weed and debris with a worker supervised by three…

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Street vending has added vibrancy to urban life in our capital city

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Dear Editor, Witnessing the condescending manner in which Georgetown’s Town Clerk Royston King spoke to vendors at a meeting he held recently under a tent in the forecourt of City Hall, speaks volumes of the contempt and disregard the administration of the city has for these small-businesspersons. It wasn’t just King’s s tone of voice, but what he said and how he said it. The language he used, the way he constructed sentences, the sound of his words and personality, the way he gesticulated, suggested that he thought the vendors…

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What exactly are we celebrating?

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Dear Editor, In reading and observing all the pomp and planned celebration for Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary one often ponder and struggle to understand exactly why are we celebrating. Guyana gained independence in 1966 with the PNC at the helm. May 26, 1966 marked a new beginning, positive optimism for many and a long march through a gauntlet of hopelessness, oppression, degradation and exclusion from the national dialogue for many. It marked the beginning of a process of mass migration making Guyana (relatively) one of the most exited countries in…

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