Dear Editor, There has been a lot of talk by the Georgetown City Council recently about making our capital city a green city. But is it anything more than just that? Talk? I have hardly seen any real initiatives in this direction. Of course there has been the posting of monstrous billboards all over the city with green city catchphrases but with the only thing being green about that is the millions of dollars that the city has wasted on sloganeering. Then there has been the poorly attended Green Conference…
Read MoreYear: 2016
Contract employees – How will the President act?
Dear Editor, As the National Assembly sits to consider the Estimates of the Public Sector for the year 2016, the number of contract employees and costs associated therewith will no doubt receive much attention. In Ram & McRae’s Focus on Guyana’s National Budget 2016, we expressed our disappointment on increases in both the number and cost of contract employees, stating that this was “not healthy for our democracy and places a strain on Article 38 G of the Constitution which requires the public service to be free from political influence.”…
Read MoreCPL comes to the USA… Florida to host six games this year
CASTRIES, St Lucia – The Hero Caribbean Premier League will stage six matches in the United States during the upcoming season, a landmark move that will see the premier regional Twenty20 tournament unveiled in the Americas for the first time. Matches are set for July and are expected to be played in Florida at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium. CPL chief executive Damien O’Donohoe described the move as a “massive boost” for the cricket market in the United States. “This project has been in discussion for many months and…
Read MoreU.S. Embassy in Georgetown received 39,000 Visa applications in 2015
– more than half successful – Ambassador United States Ambassador to Guyana Perry Holloway in an exclusive interview with Guyana Times International disclosed that a total of 39,000 Guyanese were interviewed for non-immigrant visas, and way more than half of that number were successful in their application. The Ambassador reckoned that the growth of Guyana’s financial system, could be one of the reasons Guyanese have been approaching the Embassy for non-immigrant visas. According to Holloway, the number of visas processed has been increasing over the last 10 years. “So the…
Read MoreGovt should exercise caution with wind farm project
By Samuel Hinds, Former Prime Minister of Guyana The calls for care and caution put forward by the Leader of the Opposition (LOP) as the coalition Government proceeds, as announced, with the negotiations with Guyana Wind Farm Inc (GWFI) are well-justified. There is no disputing the close relationship between the current leading shareholder of GWFI, Mr Lloyd Singh, and the AFC which was recently declared by both sides on the commissioning of the new AFC headquarters. There is no deceit in the Opposition Leader’s statements. True, the PPP/C Administration had…
Read MoreA return to party paramountcy?
During the Budget debate, one member of the PPP/C raised the issue of the Government painting State institutions with the colours of the APNU/AFC coalition. This tendency of the coalition to deploy its colours at State functions had been noted as far back as the inauguration of President David Granger when, not only was the stage decked out in yellow and green but so were even the ceremonial bouquets that were placed at the Independence Arch. This “coalition branding” has been replicated at countless occasions, but when the PPP/C MP…
Read MoreGovt, Opposition MPs face-off on “good life” Budget
Late into the second day of the 2016 Budget debates, Members of Parliament (MPs) from both sides of the House clashed on whether Budget 2016 offers the “good life” that Government has been touting. The late session of Tuesday’s debate sitting saw the likes of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) members Jennifer Westford, Indra Chandarpal and Ganga Persaud taking on Junior Public Infrastructure Minister Annette Ferguson, John Adams and Rajcomarie Bancroft from the Government’s side. In her presentation, Minister Ferguson outlined the plans Government has been pursuing to develop the…
Read More“We will dismantle drug networks in Guyana”
– DEA’s Regional Director The much anticipated Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has finally opened its office in Guyana with promises to destroy and dismantle local drug networks. The United States’ premier anti narco-trafficking agency will be housed in the US Embassy’s compound at Duke and Young Streets, Kingston, Georgetown. The simple but significant opening ceremony was held in the presence of Government Ministers, members of the security sector, members of the Judiciary, and members of the Diplomatic Corp. Addressing the small gathering at the Embassy on Wednesday, DEA’s Regional Director…
Read MoreVisit Wakapoa
Wakapoa is an indigenous community in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). It is about 35 miles by river from Charity, a small township. A scenic journey awaits those who would like to visit the village. Travelling to Wakapoa begins with an exciting speedboat ride from Charity down the Pomeroon River. As the boat meanders its ways along the Pomeroon River, tourists can enjoy basking in the fresh, cool air while observing the breath-taking nature scenes. Then through bowing trees, about nine miles along the creek, Wakapoa appears. Upon arrival, visitors are left…
Read MoreIPL owner Dr Mallya “studying” CPL model
By Avenash Ramzan Indian business tycoon, Dr Vijay Mallya, owner of the famed Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), is in discussions with officials of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (Hero CPL) regarding his involvement with the “Biggest Party in Sport.” Chief Operations Officer of the Hero CPL, Pete Russell, during a wide-ranging interview with Guyana Times International Sport on Wednesday, confirmed that talks are ongoing between the two parties ahead of the start of the fourth edition of the League. “We’re in discussions with Dr. Mallya,…
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