Dear Editor, In any society, following the rule of law is always the optimal course of action to take. However, this concept seems alien to Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan, when it comes to the establishment of the Local Government Commission. Article 78A of our Constitution makes provision for the coming into being of such a Commission, something the Minister in 2017 appears very resistant to. If you observe his public utterance in 2012, it is clear as day and night that he was singing a different tune then. In 2012,…
Read MoreMonth: September 2017
Delay in hearing elections petition could undermine Guyana’s democracy
Dear Editor, I have noted the decision of the Kenyan High Court in relation to the recently held presidential elections in that country. The Court pronounced the elections null and void. The Court came to that decision because of the many irregularities that were found. The Parties would go to the poll in two months’ time. This is a historic decision and it spells well for democracy, not only in Kenya, but in Africa and the world. It is apposite to note that the reasons for pronouncing the elections null…
Read MoreGuyana should learn from experiences of Texas and Louisiana and adequately prepare for flooding
Dear Editor, The disaster caused by the tropical storms in Texas and Louisiana — seen on TV — should be a wake-up call for the Government of Guyana to immediately begin planning and preparing for annual flooding, which affects our country. We should learn from the Texas disaster as indeed from the many disasters that struck Guyana in the recent past. Guyana has been devastated by intense rainfall at various times during the year and over the last couple of decades. May we be reminded of the recent intense flooding…
Read MoreGuyanese must demand local content input at every stage – oil expert
Foreign oil companies are not doing Guyanese a favour by fronting the capital required for the exploration and development of its oil resource since the commodity is in fact natural patrimony and the monies will be repaid with interest by this nation. As such, Guyanese have a right to demand that local content is protected and fully exploited even in the early stages of development through monies initially being fronted by, in this case, US Oil Giant Exxon Mobil, currently gearing for production by 2020. This is the view of…
Read MoreReasons why the Parking Meters Project should be rejected
The controversial parking meter project is once again in the spotlight, as the report on that issue done by the Commission of Inquiry appointed by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) had been published. The M&CC is now expected to deliberate on the content of the report, and make a decision on the way forward based on the various options provided by the Committee, taking into account its contractual obligations and so on. So far, the M&CC seems to be shying away from tackling the issue frontally, as it has…
Read MoreRetracting the promised bridge
The Demerara Harbour Bridge is conceded by all to have long exceeded its promised life after it was thrown across the Demerara River in 1978. Sections of the purported “longest floating bridge in the world” were floating down the river long before the People’s National Congress Government demitted office in 1992 and in the 25 years since, it was only a rigorous and continuous retrofitting and maintenance schedule by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government and its new successor, has kept it afloat. In the meantime, commercial activity on both…
Read MoreConman gets 9 years jail for several counts of fraud
A conman, who was recently released from prison, and who clearly did not learn his lesson, will have the next nine years to rethink his approach after Magistrate Judy Lathcman sent him to jail on several fraud charges. Troy Webster, 37, initially pleaded guilty with explanations to the six charges read to him but later confessed. The charges against him allege that between August 17 and 21, 2017, at Georgetown and with intent to defraud, he obtained from Lisa Prince, Tamara Summerset, Marissa Williams, Kenisha Boyce, Nekeisha Haynes and Anesia…
Read MoreBerbice teen stabbed to death
…after he intervened in early morning brawl Nineteen-year-old Vishram Mohabir of 258 Williamsburg, Corentyne Berbice died early Sunday morning after he sustained stab wounds to his neck as he attempted to act as a peacemaker between his younger brother and 44-year-old Williamsburg resident Ivor Thom, with whom he had an ongoing issue. Mohabir’s 16-year-old brother received several lacerations on his hands from that altercation. This newspaper was told that after Mohabir had reportedly been stabbed to the neck by Thom, the suspect was immediately taken into custody by police officers…
Read MorePresident trying to “frustrate process” if he rejects third GECOM list – Gaskin
Now that a third list of nominees for the post of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has been submitted to President David Granger, close attention will be paid to how the President responds to this new submission, especially after he rejected two previous lists. Outspoken political commentator and economist, Ramon Gaskin, thinks if the President rejects this list, it would send a clear message that he is more focused on complicating the process of selecting another Chairman for one of the most important constitutional offices in Guyana. “It…
Read MoreDouble champions return home
On Tuesday, the National Under-19 team which recently won the Regional double crown returned to Guyana to a resounding welcome at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport. The champions landed at approximately 14:40h and were greeted by government and Guyana Cricket Board officials. Those on hand to welcome home the champions were: Minister of Social Cohesion, who is also the minister with responsibility for Culture Youth and Sport, Dr. George Norton, Director of Youth and Sport, Christopher Jones, GCB’s Hon. Secretary, Anand Sanasie, the Chairman of the Senior Selection Panel…
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