November 2018 – Guyana Times International

Education Ministry gets G$52B; $3.1B for UG

November 30, 2018 TIMES INT'L

Government has announced allocations totalling G$52.2 billion for the education sector in its 2019 Budget, including a G$3.1 billion subvention to the University of Guyana that will go towards upgrades. According to Finance Minister Winston Jordan, G$508 million out of the money will go towards upgrading facilities at both the Turkeyen and Tain campuses. In addition, the Minister explained that G$2.6 billion will be used to cover operational expenditure. Jordan also revealed to the National Assembly that the University will be formulating a strategic plan that includes plans for new…

BBCI moves to Court over Berbice Bridge takeover

November 30, 2018November 30, 2018 TIMES INT'L

The Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BCCI) has commenced legal proceedings to have the Court reverse the Guyana Government’s takeover of the operations of the Berbice Bridge. On Thursday, the BBCI announced that it has served Notice on Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, and the Attorney General that legal proceedings have commenced in the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature over the government’s takeover of the bridge. The BBCI said that it has filed a Notice of Application to the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature…

‘I have nothing to fear’

November 30, 2018November 30, 2018 TIMES INT'L

– Irfaan Ali says ‘trumped up charges’ will not deter him from serving country In light of the politically trumped up charges brought against former Housing Minister, Irfaan Ali on Wednesday by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) strongly condemned the move, describing it as a deliberate act intended to tarnish the Party’s leaders in order to impact the choice of its presidential candidate for the 2020 General and Regional Elections. The Party is contending that after thrashing the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For…

PNC/R General Secretary refuses to comment on Volda’s alleged remarks

November 30, 2018November 30, 2018 TIMES INT'L

…in relation to providing jobs for only party supporters and friends General Secretary of the People National Congress Reform (PNC/R), Amna Ally when questioned about the alleged remarks made by Chairwoman of the party, Volda Lawrence at Congress Place during a District Convention on Wednesday evening, did not confirm nor deny the remarks, but rather said she did not hear her say that. Lawrence was quoted in a section of the media as saying, among other things, that her party should place more focus on providing jobs for friends and…

Woman battling for life after brutal cutlass attack by husband

November 30, 2018November 30, 2018 TIMES INT'L

…lifeless body of attacker found hanging A 32-year-old mother of six is battling for her life after she was chopped to her neck and hands by her reputed husband during an argument at Swan Community, Linden-Soesdyke Highway on Tuesday. The woman, Malicia Andrews was attacked and chopped around 02:30h on the day in question. The suspect, 39-year-old Ian English, subsequently took his own life after committing the act. He was found hanging a short distance from the home the couple and their two children shared. Charmalita Adams, the youngest sister…

Guyanese firemen charged for stealing from crashed Fly Jamaica aircraft

November 30, 2018November 30, 2018 TIMES INT'L

Four firefighters appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Wednesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, slapped with simple larceny charges after they were found in possession of items suspected to have been unlawfully obtained. Thirty-year-old Aubrey Frank of Lot 106 Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke Linden Highway; Jammie Kingston, 30, of Lot 21 D’Urban St, Lodge, Georgetown; and Roiden Kennedy, 27, of Lot 390 Timehri Hill, East Bank Demerara, were all charged jointly with having under their control articles reasonably suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained. The trio denied the…

Guyana’s private sector raises concerns regarding Budget 2019

November 30, 2018November 30, 2018 TIMES INT'L

Although the Private Sector was part of the consultation process which helped to shape Budget 2019, its umbrella organisation, the Private Sector Commission (PSC), has listed a number of issues it has with the coalition Government’s annual financial blueprint for the country. The Commission said in a statement on Tuesday that it was mainly concerned about the level of proposed overall tax revenue on businesses and individuals as Budget 2019 projects a 9.9 per cent increase in revenue, while the economy is projected to grow by 4.6 per cent. “Most…

CCJ’s ruling is a blatant, backward step

November 30, 2018November 30, 2018 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo overstepped his authority when he announced Government’s commitment to “giving teeth” to the CCJ’s ruling that, in Guyana, men are free to disguise themselves as women, and women are free to disguise themselves as men, in public. The Prime Minister has perhaps forgotten that he and his Government are accountable to the 800,000 people of Guyana, and not to the seven judges of the CCJ. Whether or not the CCJ’s ruling is right is irrelevant, because the Government of Guyana has bound itself to…

The Burgeoning Jonestown Bookshelf, part 2

November 30, 2018November 30, 2018 TIMES INT'L

(Extract of a conversation with Laura Johnston Kohl and Jordan Vilchez, Guyana, March 2018, both are Jonestown survivors. Kohl has already published one book on Jonestown with another forthcoming while Vilchez is preparing two books on the subject for young adults. Part 1 was published in April of this year; the opening remark is shown here in italic.) PP No one book can account for a people’s history. Parts of our history are still stored in diaries and memoires and in foreign archives. However, sometimes we are fortunate to have…

Stakeholder urges legislation to protect against oil spills

November 30, 2018November 30, 2018 TIMES INT'L

By Jarryl Bryan Guyana is still reliant on Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) despite plans to transition to renewable energy. But one industry stakeholder, with a background in both shipping and oil, believes legislation to protect local waterways is sorely lacking. Gaico Construction and General Services provides, among other things, oil spill response services. In an interview with Guyana Times Interview, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Komal Singh spoke of the dangers of an oil spill and best practices around the world to prevent these occurrences. “We have a lot of…