By Ravi Dev Commendably, there are a significant number of commentators who have realized that a majoritarian system of democracy presents severe challenges in a society that is riven by groups that approach each other in numbers. Even in comparatively homogenous societies, there is the obvious question of legitimacy of the government formed when almost half of the populace did not vote for it. When those groups identify themselves, and are identified by others ethnically — as in Guyana — the question of legitimacy becomes even more contested. It is…
Read MoreMonth: February 2018
‘Stop frustrating us’!
…Wales sugar workers up pressure on Govt for severance payment The Wales Estate sugar workers, who were made redundant over one year ago, staged a protest exercise on Thursday in front of the Ministry of the Presidency (MOTP), calling for their much deserved severance payments. The retrenched Wales workers are without their benefits after they refused to take up employment on the contention that they cannot be compelled, under law, to travel 22 miles from their original place of work to the Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara estate. Among the crowd…
Read MoreGuyana preparing to mount strong legal defence
…Venezuela rejects decision to refer matter to ICJ One day after the United Nations (UN) announced that it would be sending the border controversy between South American neighbours Guyana and Venezuela before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for a judicial settlement, Venezuela has strongly rejected the move while Guyana’s President vowed to leave no stone unturned to secure a successful outcome for the Guyanese people by utilising all the resources necessary to adequately prepare for the case. This is despite a statement by Nicolás Maduro Administration on Wednesday criticising…
Read MoreMan to spend 80 years behind bars for wife’s murder
Just over one week since facing trial for his wife’s murder, Miguel “Allan” Barker was on Monday afternoon found guilty of committing the offence of murder by the unanimous decision of a 12-member jury, and was subsequently sentenced to 80 years’ imprisonment by High Court Justice Navindra Singh. The judge had started computing Barker’s sentence at a base of 60 years, but took into consideration the fact that the accused had shown no remorse when the jury returned the verdict, as he opted to maintain his innocence. Barker later changed…
Read MoreCPL to bowl off August 8
– Marquee players will be available A window for the sixth edition of the Caribbean Premier League has been finalised, with the tournament to take place between August 8 and September 16. The schedule for the CPL has been set to avoid matches coinciding with West Indies’ international games, allowing marquee players to submit their names for this year’s draft. Speaking at the announcement, CPL’s chief operating officer Pete Russell said, “Here in the Caribbean we are blessed with some of the most exciting cricketers in the world and it…
Read MoreTax evasion widespread in Guyana – Statia
…incentives to be provided for informants In a bid to crack down on the billions it is losing to tax avoidance and other assorted criminal activities, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) will be using recently passed laws and other legislative avenues to build its intelligence network. It is understood that this includes providing financial incentives to whistle-blowers. According to GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia, this practice is one supported by the law. “It’s allowed in law. We just have to put things in place and the Minister has to sign…
Read MoreWorse contract ever agreed upon
Dear Editor, We don’t need to hear about the personal sacrifices of politicians during past political campaigns, or the hardships of being a leader, especially when such inflated speech is used as a means to defend the worst contract ever agreed upon in the annals of the world, if opportunity losses to Guyana are computed on a per capita basis in the Production Sharing Agreement between Guyana on one side and ExxonMobil, Hess, and CNOOC on the other side. What we really heard is a hot air blast of arrogance,…
Read MoreDoctors perform 1st rectal cancer surgery at Linden hospital
The Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) in Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice) continues to make strides in advancing the medical services offered to members of the public. On January 26, a team of doctors, headed by Dr Yu Zijun, successfully performed the hospital’s first radical resection of rectal carcinoma, a type of surgery for treatment of rectal cancer. The surgery was performed on a 53-year-old male. Also part of the surgical team were Dr Jin Zhen – an anaesthetist; Dr Geng Shouming – a Gynaecology consultant and Dr Joseph London, a…
Read More‘Pretty Boy’, ‘Dangles’ face trial over 2015 Tucville murder
Edward Skeete and Nabadingi Gobin will soon know their fate as a 12-member jury was impanelled before Justice Navindra Singh on Wednesday at the commencement of trial into the 2015 murder of Ryan Clementson. Skeete, called “Pretty Boy”, a 28-year-old mason of 309 Independence Boulevard, Georgetown; and Gobin, called “Dangles”, a 32-year-old taxi driver of 1049 Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, is accused of murdering 25-year-old Clementson of Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara between July 14 and 24, 2015 at Tucville. The duo is accused of opening fire on…
Read MoreCDB funded sea, river defence works to progress this year
The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) funded US$30.9M Sea and River Defence Resilience project which was launched in 2016, will advance this year, according to the Department of Public Information (DPI). The project is expected to provide for the reconstruction and improvement of approximately 5.4 km of sea and river defences in eight critical areas, in Regions Two, Three, Four and Six. In an interview with the DPI, Chief Sea and River Defence Officer, Kevin Samad said at the end of 2017 contracts were awarded for two Lots of works, under…
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