Month: April 2018

The recent move by the Mellon National Bank in the United States of America (USA) to partner with the indigenous Citizens Bank is described by State Minister, Joseph Harmon as a sure sign of the confidence reposed in Guyana’s investment climate. Minister Harmon speaking at the official opening of the Banks DIH new vehicle workshop, noted that this is happening at a time when the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) are taking steps aimed at curbing and reducing relations between international banks…

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…Judge ignores her pleas for “second chance to make things right” Twenty-five-year-old Hofoswana Awena Rutherford, who was recently found guilty of killing her two children by poisoning them with carbon tablets, was on Monday sentenced by Justice Navindra Singh to 98 years’ imprisonment on two counts of manslaughter. On the first count, killing of four-year-old Hodascia Codogan, Rutherford was sentenced to 45 years’ jail; while on the second count, killing of one-year-old Jabari Codogan, she was ordered to serve 53 years’ jail time. Rutherford had crashed to the floor when…

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The US Department of State’s International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) Volume Two of March 2018 has listed Guyana, among many other countries, as “major money laundering jurisdictions in 2017”. The report declared that there was a lack of strong interagency cooperation among anti-money laundering (AML) and drug-fighting agencies, adding that these departments did not have adequate human resources and the necessary training for complete effectiveness. The report called for more training, education, and resources to improve the fight against money laundering. In its 2018 overview of Guyana, the INCSR…

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…to ensure regional excesses are addressed Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence used her seat on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to call for collaboration to effect reform of the regional administrations as she noted that these matters were of national importance. She made this call during Monday’s PAC sitting. At the time, the question on the floor was the staffing strength of regional administrations and how allocations for employment were being determined. Lawrence, a former Chairperson of the PAC, urged that both sides collaborate and focus on the issues. According…

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As Guyana continues to forge ahead with its Green State initiative, it is looking to capitalise on the strengthened diplomatic relations to tap into strategies adopted by its Asian counterparts, aimed at fighting the effects of climate change. This was revealed by President David Granger on Wednesday morning as he accredited new diplomats from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Kingdom of Thailand, with the acceptance of their Letters of Credence at State House. The new Pakistani High Commissioner, Najm Us Saqib, said his country is looking to deepening…

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…until in-depth analysis is done Implementation of the much planned parking meter project is imminent, but the private sector and civil society have indicated they would employ measures to resist the initiative. This was on Sunday confirmed by recently elected President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Deodat Indar, who told Guyana Times International there must be in-depth analysis before such a project could be accepted. “We are saying that the contract of this parking meter was not awarded properly. There were no studies done, no impact…

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Borrowing from multi-national partners has been a way of strategic economic development in Guyana for quite some time. But previous loans pale in comparison to recent plans to borrow approximately US$900 million and observers are worried. Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Saturday expressed much concern over the development. The trained economist and former President referred to the plan as a failed approach to national economic management and pointed out that the sum is almost equivalent to Guyana’s total external debt of G$236 billion by 2015. “The shocking revelation… is serious…

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