2017 – Page 91 – Guyana Times International

British envoy urges appointment of GECOM Chair

August 25, 2017 TIMES INT'L

…before preparations commence for Local Gov’t Elections With GECOM to begin preparing next year to hold Local Government Elections in 2019, British High Commissioner Gregory Quinn is calling on the authorities to appoint a Chairman for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) as soon as possible. The British diplomat told reporters last Thursday that the appointment of a GECOM chairman should be fast tracked. “I think next year, 2018, is gonna be fairly a crunch year to make sure all the preparations for 2019 are in place… The sooner we get…

Setting up of Local Gov’t Commission still in the pipeline, says Bulkan

August 25, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Setting up of the Local Government Commission (LGC) is still in the pipelines, Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan has said. He has given his full assurance that the process is still ongoing, and iterates that there is no intention on the part of Government to abandon the setting up of that body. Bulkan told Guyana Times International on Monday that discussions in this regard are still taking place; but, “regrettably, we have not arrived at a position as it relates to the full composition of that Commission, (so it) can be…

Pregnant woman dies after being crushed by house during freak storm

August 25, 2017 TIMES INT'L

A woman, who was seven months pregnant, is now dead while several others are injured after a house collapsed at Jawalla, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), during a freak storm last Friday. An emergency team from the Regional Democratic Council’s office has been dispatched to the village to conduct a preliminary investigation. Dead is 29-year-old Marsha Jordan. She is the mother of two girls, ages three and 11. It is unclear whether the father of the children was around when the incident occurred but this publication was informed that a relative is…

Sinus problems

August 25, 2017August 31, 2017 TIMES INT'L

“A large nose is the mark of a witty, courteous, affable, generous and liberal man.” – Cyrano de Bergerac By Anu Dev For an organ normally taken for granted (unless we’re like Cyrano!), the nose is a gateway for more than its fair share of challenges to its owner. We have all experienced or heard about “sinus problems”, haven’t we? In clinic during my ENT rotation, we saw a lot of patients coming in because of their sinus problems. Many of them ended up having allergic rhinosinusitis – “rhino” referring…

President Granger urges Army to be vigilant at borders

August 25, 2017 TIMES INT'L

In light of recent discoveries of illegal aircraft and other items in the hinterland region and reports of criminal activities allegedly by foreign nationals crossing over from neighbouring countries, Commander-in-Chief of Guyana’s Armed Forces, Brigadier (rtd) David Granger, told Army officers to be vigilant at the country’s borders. He gave this charge during a recent visit at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Base Camp Kanuku, located at the border town of Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). There, the President received a briefing on the administration and operations of the…

Deep South August Games – bringing people together through sport

August 25, 2017August 31, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Staging of the Deep South August Games, started in 1997 by former Aishalton Toshao Tony James and former Morarunau educator Adrian Gomes — two individuals with a love for sport and a vision of bringing people together — is said to be the most anticipated event of the year in communities south of the Rupununi in Region Nine. Morarunau Toshao Patrick Gomes, in an exclusive interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), said the games were birthed to replicate the annual Mass Games which were held in Georgetown in…

SOCU to benefit from another British expert – Quinn

August 25, 2017 TIMES INT'L

The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) is expected to benefit from more training and capacity building by experts from the United Kingdom. This is according to British High Commission, Gregory Quinn, who told reporters last week that his Government is committed to lending more support to the local financial investigative body. Previously, the British High Commission had sponsored Ireland-based financial investigation expert, Dr Sam Sittlington, as an advisor to SOCU. Dr Sittlington returned to the UK earlier this year after completing two short stints here. He spent a total of…

Controversial Broadcast Bill: Govt refuses to budge

August 25, 2017 TIMES INT'L

…rules out consultations with broadcasters While the President is yet to assent to the Broadcast Bill 2017, the Government is holding firm to its position that it will not hold consultations with broadcasters who will be affected, before the Bill becomes law. Broadcasters have been clamouring for meaningful consultations on the Bill, as some of its clauses have been deemed ‘oppressive’. The political Opposition and international agencies have also expressed the need for consultations. However, during a post-Cabinet press briefing on Friday, Minister of State Joseph Harmon ruled out Government…

Guyana’s Steelpan, Tassa, African drumming dominate at CARIFESTA XIII

August 25, 2017 TIMES INT'L

What is known in today’s world as steelpan or steel orchestra is very common in Guyana, though originating in Trinidad. Some of Guyana’s adroit steelpan players are attending CARIFESTA XIII. On Tuesday night at the Christ Church Foundation School, Guyana’s steelpan team entertained the audience with exuberant performances that brought the cheering crowd to their feet for standing ovations. Musical Director, Andrew Tyndall is very proud of his team of hard and dedicated workers. Tyndall said the team has been preparing for CARIFESTA since March and the performances displayed so…

More objectivity needed at the table

August 25, 2017 TIMES INT'L

…Govt Minister says in response to concerns over oil and gas sector With continuous criticism raining down on Government from various quarters over its handling of the oil and gas sector, Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes has called for some amount of objectivity to be put forward. The Minister who is also an executive member of the Alliance For Change (AFC), made the call recently in the company of other executive members at the party’s press conference. The party was being questioned about its stance on the oil and gas…