Dear Editor, Great, courageous and selfless leaders are those willing to confront the material anxieties of their people as the occasion arises. There is a great anxiety in Guyana as to the good life for the ordinary man as promised by the government. After three and a half years in office, the Government has spent some GYD$1.1 trillion in four consecutive budgets since 2015, and it is clear that the benefits are not trickling down to the poor and the working class. Thus, it was not surprising that the results…
Read MoreYear: 2018
Report into Fly Jamaica crash presented to Cabinet
8The report into the emergency landing of the Fly Jamaica aircraft has been presented to Cabinet even as Government condemned the alleged theft committed by fire fighters. Minister of State Joseph Harmon revealed that Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson presented the report, complete with details on the incident, to cabinet. Harmon also noted that Cabinet was briefed about the alleged theft. He noted that these allegations have tarnished Guyana’s international image. However, the Minister acknowledged subsequent reports that the fire fighters in question have been charged and released on bail.…
Read MoreGuyana, Brazil to address cross-border TIP
Stemming from a two-day joint training session with 21 language interpreters from Guyana and Brazil, the two countries will develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will seek to address cross-border Trafficking In Persons (TIP) among others. This was announced by the Public Security Ministry on Monday. “This collaboration between Guyana and Brazilian counterparts was successful as was evident after discussions at the Guyana Frontier Committee and Consular Cooperation Meetings where the team agreed … for consideration be given to developing a Memorandum of Understanding between the countries in responding…
Read MoreWhat a vulgar statement by Minister Lawrence!
Dear Editor, This letter was motivated by a statement by the Minister of Health and Chairwoman of the PNC, Volda Lawrence on preference of PNC party comrades for employment and Government contracts, which was widely reported in the media. She was also the former Minister responsible for the labour portfolio. What a vulgar statement! However, Volda Lawrence must be commended for her honest confession of the not so subtle practice of the PNC. That position is discriminatory and unlawful as stated hereunder, The system of industrial relations is informed, influenced…
Read MoreUnder pressure; Lawrence apologises for offensive remarks
Public Health Minister and People’s National Congress Chairwoman, Volda Lawrence, has apologised for the recent offensive statements she made about hiring only People’s National Congress (PNC) supporters. The minister’s apology came after days of widespread criticism and condemnation by Guyanese over the comments. Lawrence was quoted by local news website Demerara Waves as saying, among other things, that her party would place more focus on providing jobs for supporters of the Peoples National Congress (PNC). After the comments, much controversy erupted, with members of the public citing discrimination with hiring…
Read MoreEast Bank/East Coast road link to extend towards Linden-Soesdyke Highway
The Ministry of Public Infrastructure is pushing to extend the East Bank-East Coast Road Linkage Project, currently from Diamond to Ogle, towards the Linden-Soesdyke Highway. According to Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, in 2019, his ministry will commence the survey and designs to extend the road Southwards, towards the Linden-Soesdyke Highway. According to DPI, Minister Patterson during the 2019 budget debates in the National Assembly, Wednesday last explained that the budget has a provision of G$2.229Billion for the East Bank-East Coast Road Linkage Project. To date, the feasibility and…
Read MorePPP’s Manickchand says very proud of stewardship of education sector
…Minister Henry says G$10,000 grant under PPP was “an elections gimmick” Former Education Minister and People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP) Priya Manickchand has decried the coalition Government for returning some G$ 2 billion to the national Treasury, which she said could have been used to pay G$15,000 in subsidies to students, referencing the G$10,000 grant that was removed by the current Government. This was discussed in her presentation to the National Assembly as the 2019 Budget Debates entered its third day, but current Education Minister Nicolette Henry…
Read MoreWith such a cabal of corrupt officials can the new Mayor make a difference?
Dear Editor, I was looking at the new Mayor of Georgetown for the year 2019, Mr Ubraj Narine, and immediately my reaction to the news was a long, deep sigh. The reason for my lamentation is the fact that the new mayor was flanked by two known characters; current Mayor, Patricia Chase Greene and Mr Oscar Clarke. Green and Clarke are already ex-officio members of the new finance committee of the Council whose stewardships so far have been utterly tainted by corruption. With such a cabal of corrupt officials on…
Read MoreECD woman charged for killing husband
The mother of three who reportedly stabbed her reputed husband to death at Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was on Wednesday, slapped with a murder charge. Melissa Playter appeared before Magistrate Alisha George at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. It is alleged that Playter killed Victor Roberts on December 2, 2018 at Lot 41 Prince William Street, Plaisance. The unrepresented woman was remanded to prison and the case would continue on January 17, 2019. Reports are that the 38-year-old man was reportedly stabbed to the chest by his reputed…
Read MorePresident Granger’s chemotherapy to end by May 2019
President David Granger on Tuesday morning left Guyana, accompanied by his wife, Sandra Granger, for his second round of chemotherapy in Cuba. Prior to his departure at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), the President said that the Centro de Investigaciones Médico Quirúrgicas (CIMEQ) has drafted a schedule of treatment, which will run until May 2019. “In my first visit, I had not only the biopsy but a series of tests and examinations and I also had my first cycle of chemotherapy. I now have to return for succeeding five…
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