Year: 2018

WPA’s sole Cabinet member endorses budget

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– calls Budget 2019 a “generous” one The latest supporter of the 2019 Budget has turned out to be Public Service Minister and the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) only representative in the Cabinet, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine. WPA is one of several smaller parties that comprise A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). While WPA executive and political activist Dr David Hinds has been critical of some of the budget’s shortcomings, Roopnaraine made no mention of any of this during his speech on the first day of budget debates. Instead, Roopnaraine has…

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Made in the #592

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The talent in Guyana remains immeasurable but the avenues to channel them remains limited. However, that does not stop young people from forging ahead and making a name for themselves. Last week, we focused on some of the elegant evening gowns designed by young Naomi Murray and this week are going to focus on another aspect of her talent. Not only does she go overboard to create the most elegant and stylish dresses but Naomi also creates unique accessories as depicted in the photos below. Her eye for creativity knows…

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Reconnecting with Nature at Pandama

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Nature has the uncanny ability to transcend us from a place of worry to one where we are in tune with our inner being and at peace. Guyana is nature rich but quite often we do not take the time to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us. We are too caught up in making money, which is good, but ever so often we should take a break, get barefooted and connect with the earth. Among the uncountable places, we can go connect is the Pandama Retreat. Pandama is located along…

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“THIS IS NOT HOW I ENVISIONED MY LIFE”

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By Lakhram Bhagirat “I have been living with HIV for 15 years now and I am thankful for every passing day that I have here. Some days I just sit down alone and wonder what my life would be if I had been taught how to protect myself from an early state,” Maria says. Maria (not her real name) is a 35-year-old accountant who has been living with HIV for over 15 years and according to her, every day has been nothing short of “life-changing”. I sat down with Maria…

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Serious efforts being made to crush drug network in Guyana

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– Ambassador Halloway While positing that a lot more work needs to be done, former United States Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway, has lauded efforts by drug enforcement agencies, both local and foreign, towards trying to put a dent in the illegal narcotics trade in Guyana. Being positioned on the South American continent with strong ties to the Caribbean region, Guyana has long been identified as a transshipment point for major drug trafficking activities. It was against this backdrop that the US established an office of its Drug Enforcement Agency…

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Tempers flare as Irfaan Ali takes David Patterson to task over ‘lies’ about infrastructural projects

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Day three of the 2019 Budget Debate ended in an uproar as the parliamentary Opposition took Government to task over what was described as “lies” spoken about infrastructural projects under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) regime. During his contributions to the debates, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson outlined a list of projects, which he claimed the previous Administration went ahead to undertake without conducting any feasibility study. Among those the Minister mentioned was the East Bank (Diamond) to East Coast (Ogle) Road Link Project. “The former President, [Donald] Ramotar, went…

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Former presidential advisor says oil wealth will transform Guyana

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…but underlines need for shift in mindset of citizens Oil may increase Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which will result in economic growth and the potential for improved services and infrastructure, but it will not change the culture of mistrust and ethnic tension that plagues our politics and our people. This is according to former Social Policy Advisor to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, Dr Kwame Gilbert. He said, “We are thankful to God for the oil and the possible blessings it brings. But there are some things oil…

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NY Governor announces US$15M to support Pre-K programmes Statewide

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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced US$15 million has been awarded to 32 high-need school districts to increase access to high-quality pre-kindergarten for over 2,000 three- and four-year-old children across New York. According to a release from the Governor’s Office, this funding will support the expansion of pre-kindergarten to high-need or underserved districts as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to promote early education and improve the academic future for all students. “New York is committed to ensuring every child gets a fair shot at a high-quality education,” Governor Cuomo…

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Teacher allegedly beaten by secondary school student

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A school teacher had to seek medical attention on Saturday after she was attacked and beaten by a student of the Number 8 Secondary School on the West Coast of Berbice. The injured woman, Gangadin Sebarat-Isaacs, acting Head Teacher of the Number Five Primary School, was reportedly heading home when the incident occurred. She recalled that she — along with her three children, aged 11, five and 3 years old — had just left her mother’s home when the suspect, a 16-year-old, saw her walking in the company of her…

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Chase-Green, King face heat

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Evidence presented to the Commission of Inquiry has indicated that outgoing Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and Town Clerk Royston King had not been working collectively to meet the needs of the city. This was shared by the Chairman of the CoI, Justice Cecil Kennard, who told the Local Government Commission (LGC) and media operatives that neglect has been one of the key traits shared by senior officials at City Hall. “I’m convinced that the Town Clerk and the Mayor are not working in the best interest of the city…To sum it…

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