The official results of the Local Government Elections (LGE) were finally announced by GECOM, and they confirmed what the PPP/C had declared a week ago: the PPP had won the popular vote with 61 per cent of votes cast, while APNU trailed far behind with 34 per cent and the AFC collected an insignificant 4 per cent. Because the political parties had contested the LGE separately in their own names, it is not surprising that the vote is seen as a referendum on the performance of the incumbent PNC-led coalition.…
Read MoreMonth: November 2018
APNU/AFC coalition has proven to be a failed government
Dear Editor, The fourth National Budget for the APNU/AFC coalition Government was presented to the National Assembly despite the majority of the Guyanese population, through the Opposition Leader has declared no-confidence against the APNU/AFC administration for the mismanagement of affairs in Guyana Since the 2011-2015 period when the APNU and the AFC were the combined opposition with a dangerous weapon of a parliamentary majority, they have used it deliberately and conveniently to take Guyana down the path of destruction. The combined opposition, during that period, who promised a good life…
Read MoreGUYWID: Empowering women to be independent
By Lakhram Bhagirat One of my favourite poets, Maya Angelou famously said, “if you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain”, and that is exactly what the women of the Guyanese Women In Development (GUYWID) has been doing for almost two decades. They have been transforming the lives of women across Guyana not because those women cannot help themselves but because those women are the most vulnerable, since the people around them who seek to control them are dragging them down. Quite…
Read MorePensioners get G$1000 increase
…other measures to benefit ordinary citizens noticeably absent At G$300.7 billion, the National Budget for 2019 was presented on Monday to the National Assembly. But through it all, measures that can directly benefit the small man are noticeably absent. The only thing that Finance Minister Winston Jordan, who spoke almost uninterrupted for five hours during his budget presentation, announced under ‘measures to increase workers’ income was the increase in the income tax threshold to G$780,000 per annum (G$65,000 monthly). This is an increase per month of G$5,000, as the salary…
Read MoreGuyana delegation makes strong case for lifting of greenheart import restrictions in the UK
The Guyana delegation in the United Kingdom (UK) has made Guyana’s case for the lifting of the greenheart import ban which was placed by UK Environment Agency (EA) in 2015. The delegation which included Guyana Forestry Commission’s (GFC) Chairman of the Board, Joslyn Dow; EU-FLEGT Secretariat Head, Kenny David; GFC Deputy Commissioner, Andrew Mendez, of McVantahe Inc; among others, made a combined presentation to Andy Powell of the UK EA and Clare Marsden of Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The presentation focused on the many accomplishments of…
Read MoreWho’s the plantain?
Satiricus was still in a state of euphoria! He now understood how MLK must’ve felt when he shouted, “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, I am free at last!!” He was strolling towards the Back Street Bar and realized he must’ve yelled out aloud, since several persons near him jumped back in shock!! He smiled sheepishly as he ducked into the Bar. “Fellas, I can’t tell you how a weight has lifted from my shoulders since I quit the KFC!” said Satiricus, as he sat down with…
Read MoreHelp & Shelter – providing a safe space for battered women since 1995
Violence, particularly violence against women, takes a heavy toll on everyone and everything around us, and here in Guyana, it is estimated that one in every three women experience some form of violence and, quite often, it is at the hands of those who promised to care for and protect them. After the number of reported cases of violence against women and children started to significantly rise, in 1994, Help & Shelter was founded to tackle those cases. Since then, the Non- Governmental Organisation (NGO) has become the forerunner in…
Read MoreSisyphus, his rock…
…and Guyana …and Guyana You remember the ancient Greek story of Sisyphus; don’t you, dear reader? A real “wise guy”, Sisyphus thought he could pull a fast one on the Gods. But he was inevitably exposed, and sentenced to rolling a huge boulder to the top of a hill…only to have it roll downhill and he having to repeat the task. Again and again for all eternity. Those of us who lived in Guyana under the PNC during its first incarnation, and now again, know the feeling; don’t we? You…
Read MoreT&T woman imprisoned in Syria writes to family members
(Trinidad Newsday) Relatives of a woman locked up in a Syrian prison for just under a year wants the state to assist in having her repatriated. Adill Ramirez, who last communicated with his mother, Summer Ramirez in January last year spoke with Sunday Newsday after receiving a letter from her on Thursday. Ramirez said that the letter is penned in his mother’s handwriting. He said his mother was held trying to cross into to Syria trying to make her way back home. Both Ramirez and her husband Chris Lewis left…
Read MoreThe Naomi Factor
08Guyana is filled with immensely talented people but the creative space afforded to them is very limited. One of those talented young people is Naomi Murray. Naomi is one of Guyana’s go to fashion designer, especially among young people. She has the knack for creating over the top prom dresses but is not only limited to just that. Naomi’s fashion creation is limitless and has the ability to make every head turn. Here are a few of the elegant evening gowns created by Naomi and be sure to check out…
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