Month: June 2017

Guyana is in the process of designing a dedicated fiscal framework with prioritised clear objectives to be put in place before oil production starts in 2020. According to Finance Minister Winston Jordan, the Guyana Government is looking to “adopt a coherent macro-economic management strategy that fosters economic growth and sustainable development outcomes”. Jordan made these comments at the opening of a two-day seminar hosted by the Chatham House’s New Petroleum Producers Group. Oil revenues provide a “golden opportunity” to reverse “centuries of mis-development”, the Minister noted. Guyana has been continuously…

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Hilton Springer was last week sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment by Wales Magistrate Clive Nurse after he pleaded guilty to unlawfully and maliciously wounding 49-year-old Errol Graham in a violent altercation that took place on May 16, 2017 at the Bow George Bar at Goed Intent, West Bank Demerara. Magistrate Nurse opined that, based on the severity of Graham’s injures, Springer should have been charged with attempted murder. Graham, of Sisters Village, WBD, was counter-charged with wounding Springer. He pleaded not guilty, and was granted bail in the sum of…

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Wanting a reduction in the powers of the President, the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) said it is time Government moves to fast-track constitutional reform. The WPA said on Monday that it is dissatisfied at the pace with which Government is moving in dealing with constitutional reform; a major plank of its 2015 elections campaign manifesto. Executive member, Dr David Hinds said his party has always fought for constitutional reform, and had its hand in the inclusion of that part of the coalition campaign manifesto. “We feel that constitutional reform is…

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The much-anticipated liberalisation of the telecommunications sector is a top priority of the Public Telecommunications Ministry and the new Public Utility Commission (PUC). The assurance was given on Wednesday by Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes and the new PUC Chairperson, Attorney-at-Law Della Britton. Britton was sworn in on Wednesday at State House by President David Granger. According to Britton, the Commission is being retooled to work speedily towards liberalisation. “We are on the eve of liberalisation, so the Commission is being retooled and I hit the ground running tomorrow to…

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Guyana’s  Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, has said that the Caribbean region needs to recognise the financial security the Cotonou Agreement affords the region. Minister Greenidge, speaking to reporters on Friday, said the Agreement with the European Union (EU) is “the largest source of concessional financing” to the region. However, the region remains distracted by Brexit (Britain’s exit from the EU). The 2000 Cotonou Agreement, which comes to an end in 2020, is considered a comprehensive partnership agreement between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states; which,…

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By Shemuel Fanfair The United Kingdom’s Department for Exiting the European Union has recently confirmed that negotiations to leave the bloc will begin today, June 19. However, concerns have once again surfaced over the country’s financial commitment to developmental projects and aid it funded in Guyana and the wider Caribbean. However, according to British High Commissioner Greg Quinn, his country is seeking to broaden trade with the Caribbean region in the near future. “What is very clear is that the UK wants to expand and increase its activity and its…

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Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase-Green says she is awaiting the recommendations of the Parking Meter Renegotiation Committee (PMRC) before making a pronouncement on whether paid parking would remain under Smart City Solutions Inc (SCSI) or be scrapped and retendered. Chase-Green told Guyana Times that PMRC Committee Chairman Malcolm Ferreira has requested an additional month to wrap up consultations and prepare a report for presentation to the M&CC; and the Council voted on, and approved, this request. Town Clerk Royston King has since written Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan, informing him of the…

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Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence wants the support of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) as she mulls beefing up security at medical facilities nationwide. A release from the Public Health Ministry said that Minister Lawrence wanted perpetrators of attacks on health workers to face the full brunt of the law and be given “the maximum penalty” for turning health facilities into combat zones. After a verbal altercation between a guard and a patient at a health centre in Sophia, Greater Georgetown, the latter, after threatening to shoot the security official,…

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The Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) said it has received a commitment from the United Nations Developmental Programme (UNDP) to fund the drafting of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Bill and the process has begun. SASOD Managing Director Joel Simpson said the UNDP was in the process of advertising for a consultant with the expertise in legislation drafting to commence the process of drafting the bill to address sexual orientation and gender identity. He added that the LGBTQ advocacy body agreed to draft the bill in order to…

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