Satiricus was literally scratching his head. He and the fellas had been throwing back at the Back Street Bar for the better part of the night and the words had become a bit slurred and the thinking fuzzy. With Irma following Harvey but doing most of its damage in the Caribbean, they’d been commiserating with their fellow West Indians. It had taken its toll on them! “But thank God, it’ll soon be over,” said Hari with a loopy smile. “Let’s drink to that!” “How yuh suh shore ‘bout da?” asked…
Read MoreYear: 2017
President Granger to meet with UN boss on border controversy
President David Granger is preparing to address the United Nations General Assembly and meet with UN Secretary General António Guterres and his personal representative in the border controversy issue between Guyana and Venezuela, Dag Halvor Nylander on September 25, on the sidelines of the 72nd Regular Session of the United Nations General Assembly to be held in New York. Vice President and Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge told a press conference on Wednesday that President Granger’s address to the UN General Assembly was also expected to send a clear message…
Read MoreAFC executives land in Court for fighting over questionable contracts
Two officials from the Alliance For Change (AFC), who were arrested on Monday, were on Wednesday hauled before Magistrate Alex Moore in New Amsterdam after a fight between the two erupted at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) compound in New Amsterdam, Berbice. The fight was allegedly over contracts for school repairs. AFC Regional Vice Chairman Michell McBean, 60, of Liverpool Village, Corentyne, was charged with unlawfully assaulting Joseph Baichu, 52, of Number 45 Village, Corentyne on Monday last in the vicinity of Republic Road, New Amsterdam. Magistrate Moore also read…
Read MoreNo justifiable reason for delay in selecting GECOM Chair
Dear Editor, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo submitted his list of six nominees to President Granger for selection of one to be appointed as Chairman of the Guyana Election Commission (GECOM). The President should move with haste in making the appointment, since all of the nominees are fully qualified and ‘fit and proper’ to head GECOM. The business of the elections body has been left at a standstill since last February. That is more than six months, with a lot of work remaining in planning and organising for the next local…
Read MoreGuyana’s sugar industry can be saved
One thing’s for certain: media coverage of the sugar issue is not where it ought to be at this time, and many of the experts I have spoken to have advised me it has much to do with sugar being seen as a rural issue when the media houses are all based in Georgetown. I am humbly calling on the media houses to spend some more time reporting on the sugar issues in the villages of Demerara and Berbice. But that issue aside, one of the greatest betrayals of our…
Read MoreWomen have fought for the right to work and should not be prevented from doing so
Dear Editor, I do not think that the proposal being advanced by the Social Protection Ministry, through its minister responsible for labour, is possible at this juncture. The fact is that too many women need to work to supplement their families, as they are the sole bread-winners of their households. It is the opinion of this writer that Keith Scott has moved with emotion, love and respect for our women. It is known that at times emotionality can affect our judgement, but at the same time, it can lead to…
Read MoreWhat’s next for “Dreamers”?
In what could be regarded as a massive blow to the immigrant community in the United States, the Donald Trump Administration last week announced that it has scrapped an immigration programme designed to protect young undocumented immigrants, also referred to as “Dreamers”. The policy, widely known as DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) programme, was introduced by then President Barrack Obama in 2012. The programme was mainly designed to protect young illegal immigrants in the US from deportation, and provide temporary permits for work and study. The policy was created…
Read MorePaul Williams to act as Crime Chief as Budhram needed in ‘F’ Division- Ramnarine
Just days after it was announced that ‘F’ Division Commander Ravindradat Budhram would be temporarily taking up the mantle of Crime Chief until such time that Detective Senior Superintendent Wendell Blanhum returns from leave, Acting Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine has announced a change in that plan. Ramnarine in responding to inaccuracies surrounding the deployment of Blanhum on leave, said, among other things, that a series of events led to Budhram being temporarily chosen to helm the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). He noted that Blanhum’s Deputy, Detective Senior Superintendent Rishi…
Read MoreJagdeo raises serious concerns about new Demerara River bridge
…queries land acquisition, funding Former President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo is calling on Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, and the Government at large, to come clean with the Guyanese populace on its bid to bridge the Demerara River, including the financial structure, level of subsidies, toll increases and likely sovereign debt to be guaranteed. The former President now Opposition Leader made the demands during a press engagement with members of the local media corps at his Church Street office on Wednesday and further suggested that based on what little information was…
Read MoreCity holds Day of Action to spread awareness to NYC’s 30,000 “Dreamers”
On September 8, the City hosted a Day of Action on the DACA program, providing information and resources for New York City’s 30,000 Dreamers. The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, the NYC Commission on Human Rights, the Department of Consumer Affairs, and the Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit worked alongside over 200 volunteers in 31 neighborhoods with high-density immigrant populations, a release from the Mayor’s Office stated. Volunteers were joined by Bitta Mostofi, Acting Commissioner of MOIA, Carmelyn P. Malalis, Commissioner and Chair of CCHR, and…
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