June 16, 2017 – Guyana Times International

Local Inventor creates shopping app

June 16, 2017 TIMES INT'L

By Ramona Luthi In an effort to improve daily shopping experiences and promote local businesses, Guyanese inventor Larry Morgan is set to launch his debut app, MatrixShopping. The 36-year-old Berbice resident’s aim is to provide a platform for entrepreneurs to promote their businesses and for buyers to shop hassle-free. In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Morgan mentioned that via his app, which can be accessed worldwide, he hopes to “transform how Guyana does business, as we need to catch up when it comes to technology”. Morgan pointed out that…

History of coffee in British Guiana

June 16, 2017 TIMES INT'L

It is said that the Guianas are considered the first to plant coffee on the continent of South America, with the Dutch introducing it on their Dutch Guiana territories before the French and later British. According to some accounts, the Guianas were the first territories in the New World to cultivate and export coffee. George Hanneman Bennett in his book, “An Illustrated History of British Guiana” wrote that coffee was cultivated on the colony since 1721 after it was introduced from what is now Surinam. Inland and coastland plantations were…

For love of country

June 16, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Alex Arjoon is a patriot on a mission to showcase the beauty of Guyana and promote a ‘green’ economy Founded in March 2017, Reel Guyana, founded by Alex Arjoon, core business is primarily the acquisition of high quality raw video footage of the natural environment and rich culture throughout the length and breadth of Guyana. This footage will be available to the national, regional and international markets. In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, the 24-year-old talks about what he hopes to accomplish via his company. Sunday Magazine (SM): What…

Lost gems of our built heritage

June 16, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Time changes everything, and some things are forgotten, some remembered, and new memories made. This week, Times Heritage looks back at Guyanese historical architecture, decayed by neglect, dismantled to make way for modern development, or tragically destroyed and now lost to the passage of time. Sacred Heart Church In 1860, the construction of the Sacred Heart Church commenced to accommodate the vast numbers of Roman Catholics in British Guiana. Once designed in a rectangular shape, the original building measured 30.5m x 9.1m. An eastern façade, which became the main façade,…

Promoting Our National Patrimony

June 16, 2017 TIMES INT'L

The book has some inherent and generic functions. However, additional roles are sometimes thrust upon it, expanding its ambit and increasing its benefits. Increasingly, the book is being used to mark certain occasions like significant anniversaries and milestones, both public and private. At a recent ceremony to mark the 51st Independence Anniversary of Guyana, three publications were (officially) released, namely: “National Bibliography of Guyana 1966-2016”, “50 Nations Builders” and “50 Creative Icons of Guyana”. These books were produced to mark Guyana’s Golden Jubilee of Independence in 2016. The last two…

Holding fast…

June 16, 2017 TIMES INT'L

…on GECOM Chair Your humble Eyewitness isn’t one who likes to crow, “I TOLD YOU SO!” But he has to mention that the outcome of the widely heralded second meeting of Prezzie and Opposition Leader Jagdeo was predicted by him. Not that he’s any analytical whiz or anything – it was clear that we’re looking at a game of “chicken” played out in bright daylight. And neither party (singly and collectively) is willing to jump off the rails as the speeding train of the integrity of our electoral machinery careens…

Man in the Mirror…

June 16, 2017 TIMES INT'L

…and the PM In charge of the State media, PM Nagamootoo awarded himself a column in this Sunday’s Chronic – “My Turn”. It’s a Freudian slip, since he promptly launched into an attack on his bete noir, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo. One wonders whether he’ll allow Jagdeo “his turn”. Your Eyewitness doubts it, ‘cause everyone in this Government sees their stint at the wheel as “their turn” to commit all the things they described as “despicable” under the PPP. But your Eyewitness would like to offer some wise advice to…

Guyana govt signs G$922M pact with EU

June 16, 2017 TIMES INT'L

The Government on Wednesday signed a €4 million Technical Cooperation Facility and Support Services Agreement with the European Union (EU) for the implementation of Guyana’s development strategies and policies. The pact was signed by Finance Minister Winston Jordan and Head of the EU Delegation in Guyana, Ambassador Jernej Videtič at the Finance Ministry’s office on Main Street. The Agreement, which will see the National Authorising Officer (NAO) receiving G$922.8 million, assures EU support for the implementation of Guyana’s development strategies and policies. It will also support the operations of, and…

Mindfulness

June 16, 2017 TIMES INT'L

“The most fundamental aggression to ourselves, the most fundamental harm we can do to ourselves, is to remain ignorant by not having the courage and the respect to look at ourselves honestly and gently.” – Pema Chödrön, When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times For me, yesterday was just one of “those days”. You know that type of day — when you’re all in your head, you’re just a tangled knot of anxiety, and it feels like nothing is going your way. It’s the type of day wherein…

GeCome or GeGone?

June 16, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Dear Diary, Dis is High-in-the-Field, and I tell you, dear diary, I enjoying dis questioning. I just came back from dis PacMan Committee who checkin’ out how we spend de money we get at GeCome. Like dey forget I is an ole army officer and was trained to not break down under interrogation! I also train in misdirection, since dat is a basic military manoeuvre. Remember when de Auditor Marshall tell me to explain how come we buy $100M worth of radio equipment – but never used them? Well, how…