Month: August 2017

Pedestrian overpasses to be completed by November – Patterson

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Works on the East Bank Demerara (EBD) pedestrian overpasses at Houston, Peter’s Hall, Eccles and Diamond, East Bank Demerara continue to move apace. Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that to date all the piles have been driven (into place) and works should be completed by November. “Some of the contractors started doing the foundations… all five will be completed by November this year. When completed, the overpasses will (be accepted) as a normal design. For those who may not be able to walk…

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Modernised waterfront recreational areas in the works for Guyana

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The Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) is in the process of undertaking environmental, social and economic impact assessments preparatory to commencing creation, restoration and modernisation of several waterfront recreational areas. Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson has said that after identifying and addressing those issues, the MPI would issue tenders for the projects, and work is expected to start immediately thereafter. Some preliminary designs for the creation and restoration of modern waterfront recreational areas between Kingston in Georgetown and Ogle, ECD; Stabroek Market on the eastern coast of the Demerara River…

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Corentyne robbery suspects remanded

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By Andrew Carmichael Five of the suspects who allegedly invaded an Upper Corentyne fisherman’s home and carried away G$1.7 million in jewellery, G$100,000 in cash, and miscellaneous items were on Monday arraigned before Springlands Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh, before whom they were not required to plead to a slew of indictable charges, and were all remanded until August 24, when the prosecution would be expected to present a progress report. The five detained suspects are: 19-year-old Styovan Bhowan of Number 70 Village, Corentyne, said to be the mastermind of the invasion;…

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Making a difference

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Ashmini Ramnauth is on a mission to empower youths and families in an effort to ultimately eradicate a growing social issue, child neglect In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Ashmini said her interest in addressing the issue of child neglect was prompted when she joined the Miss World Guyana pageant in 2016 as a contestant. “I was given an opportunity to launch the project under the pageant’s linked charity called Beauty With A Purpose. It was the Miss World Guyana pageant that helped me to secure a voice and…

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Caribbean Voice applauded for social work

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Dear Editor, I write to applaud The Caribbean Voice (TCV) for its social welfare, activism, and educational programmes that benefit all Guyanese. Without its social programmes, Guyana would be worse off today. TCV has done very much to educate Guyanese about social ills and combat problems affecting the population. Among its programmes are: The Youth and Student Workshop to mostly private schools and youth groups. This workshop is endorsed by the Ministry of Education (MoE), which also indicated that it would be made part of the Health and Family Life…

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Govt officials must come clean on ExxonMobil trip

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In an article which appeared in the media on August 13, it was reported that senior ministers in the APNU/AFC Government are on an official visit to the ExxonMobil Headquarters in Texas, USA — apparently to familiarize themselves with oil and gas matters as they relate to the development of oil fields off Guyana’s coast. The ministers’ visit was treated as a state secret, as Guyanese are usually informed prior to any overseas visit of Govt. officials, and the reasons therefor. By design, however, no prior information was given to…

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‘Do nothing …fear nothing’!

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Dear Editor, A letter which appeared in another section of the media titled “Will the Auditor General investigate the deputy chief elections officer?” is the second deliberate attempt aimed at besmirching my integrity – obviously with clandestine objectives. And it brings to mind something that a former boss of mine had continuously repeated i.e. a lie repeated often enough metamorphose to become the truth. This is the only reason that I have taken the decision to respond to this piece of mischief, lest the general populace internalize the contents of…

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Tapirs in Corriverton becoming extinct

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By Andrew Carmichael The bordering town of Corriverton is known for the Tapir vehicle. The vehicles which were locally made were mostly used as a means of public transportation. Today, the signature vehicle of Corriverton is fast becoming extinct. Passengers who once craved to travel in the wagon-typed vehicles, are now shunning them. According to some residents of that town, cars are more comfortable. “If you have a child, dey want de child sit on you lap an you still have to pay for the child,” a 29-year-old female told…

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Big issues such as overseas voting should be confronted

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My suggestion last week that we begin to reconsider overseas voting has ignited some debate and much vitriol. It should be noted that I am not the first commentator to raise this matter; former Speaker of the National Assembly, Attorney Ralph Ramkarran, did so about two years ago. I have been called everything: from a madman to a PNC lackey, to the bearer of some secret plan to rig the next election. It’s yet another reflection of the state of our public discourse, which is generally bereft of reason and…

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India’s independence

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India celebrated the 70th anniversary of its independence from Britain on the 15th instant. Its independence in 1947 was a remarkable event that reverberated in all of the colonies of the British Empire, including then British Guiana – on which “the sun never sat”. Independence for India confirmed that it was only a matter of “when” for the colonies to also be free. India has since continued to play a key leadership role for the other colonies. Initially, it attempted to chart a middle path between the two competing ideologies…

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