April 2018 – Page 7 – Guyana Times International

US$75M excess foreign currency now in Central Bank – BoG Governor

April 20, 2018April 27, 2018 TIMES INT'L

Following last year’s reported crisis regarding the availability of foreign currency in the local market, the Bank of Guyana (BoG) now has an excess of over US$75 million in foreign currency. This was revealed by BoG Governor General, Dr Gobind Ganga during a recent interview with Guyana Times. “Currently, we have almost US$75 million of excess supply of foreign currency in the market with commercial banks, and we are hoping that this excess supply will drag the rates down further than where it is. So, it is not in shortage;…

Conduct…

April 20, 2018April 27, 2018 TIMES INT'L

…and misconduct of public officials Your Eyewitness is still floored by the barefacedness of this PNC government. Three years after they had sneaked into office on the back of trumped up charges that the PPP government had ‘siphoned off” billions and billions from the Public Treasury, all they can do is bring a charge of “MISCONDUCT IN PUBLIC OFFICE” against Ashni Singh and Brassington?? Jeez!!! That’s pathetic. Yesterday we spoke about the Government creating a scapegoat to take the heat off their exploding corrupt shenanigans…but this scapegoat just walked right…

Another case of witch-hunting

April 20, 2018April 27, 2018 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, I will wholly agree with the Leader of the Opposition’s response to the unjustified charges of misconduct in public office. There is no basis for such a charge, since Dr Ashni Singh was carrying out the mandate of Cabinet. According to reports, the three plots of land were sold for $31.9 million, $18.5 million and $5.8 million per acre. This is not a case where the buyers colluded with the minister or the Government to commit a fraud. There is no evidence to suggest that. Chapter 73:05 Financial…

Interior businesses affected by fuel, air travel taxes

April 20, 2018April 27, 2018 TIMES INT'L

…raises other concerns with PPP MP Businesses operating in the local tourism sector, particularly those in the hinterland, are calling on Government to reduce taxes for interior air travel and fuel. This call comes amid concerns over the rise in cost for these services and commodities, which, to a large extent, is affecting border trade between Guyana and Brazil, especially in Lethem. This observation was made by Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) and former Government Minister Irfaan Ali, who met with members of the business community in Region Nine (Upper…

Burnham and the PNC

April 20, 2018April 27, 2018 TIMES INT'L

The PNC is commemorating its 60th anniversary. Exactly thirty years ago, as part of a paper, “On the Guyanese Dictatorship” I analysed its “Founder-Leader” LFS Burnham’s imperatives to launch the party after his three unsuccessful challenges to Jagan to become leader of the PPP and the defeat of his PPP faction in the 1957 elections. The same imperatives drive the present PNC, under Granger, who has vowed to fulfil Burnham’s “legacy”. “Burnham craved to be leader for three reasons: His undeniable personal ambitions; his realisation that Jagan and other…

Finance Minister could face private criminal charges- Nandlall

April 20, 2018April 27, 2018 TIMES INT'L

Trouble is brewing over Government’s investing of the US$18 million signing bonus it received from ExxonMobil in overseas interest-bearing bonds. Finance Minister Winston Jordan could be brought before the courts to face private criminal charges because of this action. Former Attorney General, Opposition Parliamentarian Anil Nandlall, revealed that the institution of private criminal charges against Jordan for the handling of the bonus is being considered. Nandlall slammed the decision to invest the monies in interest bearing securities, “knowing fully that there are legal proceedings challenging the constitutionality of placing the…

Border controversy case discussed during bilateral talks at Commonwealth Heads of Govt 2018

April 20, 2018April 27, 2018 TIMES INT'L

The Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, QC and British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson were updated on the status of the Guyana/Venezuela border case which is presently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) by Head of State David Granger during bilateral discussions. The President along with his delegation comprising Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge; Director General of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Ambassador Audrey Waddell; and Guyana’s High Commissioner to the UK, Frederick Hamley Case met with the officials on the sidelines of the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government…

Region 9 REO failed to answer questions about Region

April 20, 2018April 27, 2018 TIMES INT'L

…expelled from PAC meeting The inability of Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) officials to answer Public Accounts Committee (PAC) questions regarding issues raised in the Auditor General’s Report has seen them ultimately being asked to leave the chambers. At the sitting, chaired by Member of Parliament Pauline Sukhai in the absence of Chairman Irfaan Ali, Regional Executive Officer (REO) Kerwin Warde was questioned on the region’s procurement of drugs through inter- departmental warrants (IDWs). Warde could not even provide definitive details on the reconciliation from the Materials Management Unit (MMU)…

Is Guyana prepared?

April 20, 2018April 27, 2018 TIMES INT'L

By: Ashley Anthony “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.” James 2:10 Trinidad and Tobago has very recently made a very forward step; a judge has ruled the country’s homophobic laws unconstitutional. The reaction to this is mixed. There are many who hope that this ruling will have a domino effect, spreading into other Caribbean countries (and Guyana); whilst others are personally trying to stop the dominoes from falling. Some of the loudest voices against the legalisation of homosexuality…

41,000 errant drivers could face the law for expired road licences

April 20, 2018April 27, 2018 TIMES INT'L

….GRA, Police Force to collaborate A senior official within the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has confirmed that the tax agency is soon expected to make contact with the top brass of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in an effort to find some 41,000 drivers that are holders of expired road service licences. “We are having conversations with the Traffic Chief (Ramesh Ashram), because what happens is: every year, drivers are expected to renew this licence, and we have found a number of drivers with expired licences,” the GRA official said.…