Month: November 2017

Bishops’ High School teacher accused of sexual grooming

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…denies allegations but admits to dating former students …protesters call for head teacher’s dismissal Several activists and members of civil society took to the streets on Tuesday, calling for the sacking of Winifred Ellis, Headmistress of The Bishops’ High School, following her alleged derogatory remarks aimed at female students. Her remarks came in light of the recent widely-publicised sexual assault allegations against a male teacher of the school, to which she allegedly turned a blind eye. The Education Ministry has launched a full-fledged investigation into the appalling allegations that Bishops’…

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9 women entrepreneurs to benefit from business coaching, mentoring

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Nine Guyanese women will be participating in the second Women Innovators Network in the Caribbean Acceleration Programme (WINC AP) for women entrepreneurs. The women were selected from a total of 250 applicants from across the Caribbean. First Lady Sandra Granger attended the opening session of the eight-month programme, which was hosted at the GeoTech Vision office on Brickdam. In an invited comment, the First Lady said she was proud of the women, and that she is confident they would capitalise on the opportunity to learn the skills that they need…

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First Haitian New York State Assembly Member, among other legislators outraged

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The Unites States Administration’s recent decision to terminate the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 60,000 undocumented Haitian nationals residing there has not resonated well with Democratic congressional leaders and Caribbean legislators. Immigrants from the Caribbean nation received protected status in 2010 after a devastating earthquake that left over 220,000 dead and 1.5 million people displaced. The Temporary Protected Status (TPS) programme grants temporary visas to more than 435,000 people from 10 countries ravaged by natural disasters or war. But the Administration, led by President Donald Trump says conditions in…

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Trinidadian accused of faking his own kidnapping in Guyana granted Gy$1m bail

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The 33-year-old Trinidadian who came to Guyana and allegedly attempted to fake his own kidnapping was on Tuesday granted bail in the sum of Gy$1 million when he reappeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. Sawak Maraj made his third appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where he was previously arraigned for giving false information to the Police and for conspiring with others to commit a felony. Maraj, who was also ordered to lodge his passport at the Courts, is expected to reappear on December 4, 2017. The prosecution’s case is…

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State’s ignorance of pending litigation unacceptable- CCJ finds

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– as Dipcon awarded US$2.2M in appeal judgment The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has delivered a ruling on the matter involving the Attorney General (AG) of Guyana and Trinidad construction company Dipcon whereby the Government will now have to pay that company US$2.2 million, after losing its bid to appeal the judgment. But the CCJ in its ruling pointed out that there were various time-frame violations, on all of which detailed comments were given in the written judgment. It said these very factors highlight how unacceptable were the reasons…

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AFC calls on Govt for establishment of Integrity Commission

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As time marches on without a functioning Integrity Commission in place, even the governing coalition’s minority partner, the Alliance For Change (AFC) has grown impatient with the slow pace of change. At the conclusion of the National Executive Council (NEC) last weekend, the minority party demanded, in a statement, that the Integrity Commission be treated as a matter of national priority. Noting that it remained fully committed to its role in the advancement of constitutional reform in Guyana, the AFC called for the establishment of the Integrity Commission by the…

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UK Guyanese diaspora object to unilateral GECOM appointment

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Dear Editor, I spent some two weeks this month in the United Kingdom, travelling around and interacting with Guyanese and other Caribbean and South Asian diaspora communities, and discussing varied issues relating to immigrants and minorities. Naturally, politics in Guyana was the focus of discussion among all Guyanese and most Caribbean nationals. Several of them raised issues, including the controversial appointment of retired Justice James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). The recent unilateral appointment of Patterson as GECOM Chair was the center of conversation of every…

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Is there no stopping the madness at City Hall?

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It is mind-boggling how the train wreck called the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown are being allowed to hurtle toward complete disaster at break neck speed taking all of the citizens of Georgetown with them into proverbial hell, while those in authority are pretending as though everything is honky dory at City Hall. Reading the recent letter appearing in the dailies, authored by the Chief Constable is very instructive. Why the Social Protection Ministry and the Police have not taken assertive action against the heads at City…

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Importance of child protection is personal

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Dear Editor, As Guyana joined the rest of the world in celebrating the 28th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) on November 20, 2017, it is important that we recognise the connection between child protection and our nation’s well-being. Protecting children from violence and abuse is critical to ensuring economic and social development in society, as well as achieving several of the United Nations’ Sustainable Developmental Goals (UN SDGs). More importantly, it is about doing the right things to keep children safe from…

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Haitians, other refugees deserve America’s help

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The recent attack on immigrants and minorities in the United States by the Donald Trump Administration to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and send 60,000 Haitians back to suffering and pain in their country – the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere – is the latest in an alarming trend. Haiti cannot provide for them, and this decision is inhumane and unconscionable. This status was extended to Haitians, as America has done in the past with several other countries, after a destructive earthquake hit the island nation in 2010. With…

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