Guyana’s private sector calls for stimulus package

…to kick-start stagnant economy The coalition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government cannot continue with its ‘hodge-podge’ approach to managing the economy; it must present a stimulus for growth in the declining sectors of the economy, without abandoning traditional pillars of economic growth, since the oil industry is still a developing one. The frank views were articulated by President of the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Deodat Indar, this past week during an interview with members of the local media corps, where he called for…

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A pot that brings people together

As we celebrate Indigenous Heritage Month, the ‘tuma pot’ will be a popular offer on many menus. Tuma pot is commonly known as a meal, but did you know it is also an actual pot (container)? In an interview with Sunday Times Magazine, Lokono Arawak archaeologist, George Simon, explained how the pot is made and the cuisines enjoyed from it. Tuma pots are principally associated with the Rupununi savannah peoples, the Macushi in the north and Wapishana in the south. No doubt the tradition of pottery making once existed among…

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Jagdeo chides Gov’t for “callous disregard for Indigenous peoples”

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo has chided President David Granger and Government ministers over their lacklustre approach towards Guyana’s first people and the Heritage Month celebrations currently underway. Speaking at his Church Street Office, the Opposition Leader drew specific reference to the President and his minister’s approach and treatment of this grouping of Guyanese, as was evident during the hosting of the National Toshaos Conference (NTC). President Granger was also a no show on the opening night of the Heritage Month activities, with subject minister Sidney Allicock simply declaring that the…

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Exxon will provide updated Local Content Plan every year

– says Gov’t Affairs Director Oil giants ExxonMobil are providing assurances that the Local Content Plan they submit by year-end will not be the summation of their corporate responsibility towards the development of Guyanese. Company executives have said there rather is an intention to, on an annual basis, provide an updated plan in regard to Local Content as the sector evolves. According to the Senior Director of Exxon’s Public and Government Affairs, Kimberly Brasington, the Local Content Plan would be an ambitious one that would include plans to develop the…

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PPP plugs need for Audit Office to be strengthened ahead of oil revenues

As Budget 2018 inches closer, the political Opposition is warning the Government against undermining the financial autonomy of constitutional agencies. And as oil production also creeps closer, it is also putting the Government on notice of the need to strengthen the Audit Office. Guyana is expected to start earning revenue in the form of royalties and profit sharing, from its oil sector by 2020. Speaking to this newspaper, former Minister within the Finance Ministry, Juan Edghill, noted that with this expected inflow of money, the Audit Office of Guyana needed…

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Preserving the Arecuna culture

Dolly Chambers belongs to one of the four founding families of her village, Paruima, who are said to be the only remaining families of the Arecuna nation. The 18-year-old was born in Kamarang village, Region Seven. She attended Paruima Primary School, and then went on to Graham’s Hall Primary and St. Stanislaus College in Georgetown. She is of the Arecuna nation. Brief history of Paruima The tallest of our indigenous peoples, the Arecunas, who refer to themselves as “pemon” meaning “the people”, occupy upper and central Kamarang river since 1839.…

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Gov’t still committed to constitutional reform process, says PM Nagamootoo

While pointing out that the Government is still committed to ensuring that constitutional reform remains a top priority, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo reminded the public on Monday that draft legislation on the Constitutional Reform Bill was tabled in the National Assembly before the recess. Nagamootoo has said that this would pave the way for the establishment of a Constitutional Reform Consultative Commission to guide this long overdue process, noting that the Committee was a bipartisan one that would hopefully push this matter more quickly through Parliament. “I am trying to…

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Guyanese living in hurricane-hit territories may be forced to return home

Guyanese nationals living in some Caribbean islands that have been hit by Hurricane Irma may be forced to return home. One senior British Virgin Islands (BVI) Government official has been reported as encouraging non-nationals, including Guyanese, to leave the British Overseas Territory. Vincent Wheatley, the Sister Islands Programme Coordinator in the Deputy Governor’s Office of BVI, made the call for non-nationals, including Guyanese, who can’t find work after the damage caused by Hurricane Irma, to leave the island soon, the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) has reported. This call was made…

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Biker dies in South Ruimveldt accident

A biker was on Monday killed on Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown after he lost control of his motorcycle during an alleged race. Dead is Sunil Samaroo, 23, of Kaneville, Grove, East Bank Demerara. Injured was pillion rider 24-year-old Keitze Bazilo of Lot 33 Howes Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Reports reaching Guyana Times International stated that Samaroo, who was riding an unregistered motorcycle, along with pillion rider Bazilo, was alleged to have been racing with two other motorcyclists, all proceeding east along Aubrey Barker Road. However, upon reaching the vicinity…

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British woman found dead in NA house

A British woman was on Sunday evening found dead at a house in New Amsterdam, Berbice. The 50-year-old Dajee Sarah Rosemary, also called Rosie Dajee, an accounts assistant at Admin Re Alico, was discovered hanging from the ceiling of a house at Pope Street, New Amsterdam with a phone cord around her neck. The discovery was made about 19:30h by her friend and co-worker Jessica Grumble with whom she came to Guyana two weeks ago for a three-week vacation. According to reports, about one week ago, Rosemary started acting strangely.…

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