Year: 2018

Ramjattan holds firm on decision to shut down beachfront parties

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Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said he stands by the recent move to bar the hosting of social events at the Marriott beachfront, Kingston. He explained to reporters on Wednesday that this decision was taken because of the negative effect activities hosted on the beachfront have on nearby businesses. “You cannot… do activities that will hurt other people and that is what happens there… They injured them with the noise level so high and they don’t even want, although I told them, get some decibel meters because the range is…

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Court rules ex-sugar workers must get severance with interest

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By Shemuel Fanfair A determination in the matter involving the retrenched Wales, West Bank Demerara sugar workers was made at the High Court on Wednesday, with a ruling urging Government to pay dismissed employees their severance benefits with interest. This decision comes some two years after many of the workers refused to take up work at the Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara Estate. The workers were contending all along that under the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act (TESPA); they could not be compelled to travel 22 miles from their…

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Reviving Guyana’s musical culture

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The musical culture of Guyana, like so many other facets of Guyanese life, has suffered a serious decline and perhaps the time has come for various stakeholders to review the situation with the aim of ensuring that the necessary action is taken to remedy the situation. Until about a generation ago, there was far more variety and also stronger evidence of classical music, whether Western or Indian. Today, most of the music which one hears on the radio and television and that is being played in live performances, tends to…

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Woman critical after being beaten with hammer by partner

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Food vendor Kilowatie Persaud is now in critical condition after she was hammered to the head by her reputed husband during an argument at their Lot 53 Houston, Greater Georgetown home on Saturday evening. The 54-year-old suspect remains on the run. According to information received, the 44-year-old Persaud and the suspect have been living together for the past 25 years, during which they would habitually engage in heated arguments, which would lead to the suspect physically assaulting Persaud. These assaults reportedly happened mostly while the suspect is in a drunken…

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Opposition MP lashes Govt for ‘squandering’ tax payers’ dollars

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Budget 2019 debates kicked off on Tuesday with Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Dr Frank Anthony taking the Government to task for breaches to the procurement laws, the shady deals it has been entering and wastage of taxpayers’ dollars. In his presentation, Dr Anthony noted that Guyana has not been getting value for money. He pointed to the Auditor General’s 2017 report, which found 13 contracts totalling G$91.4 million were awarded by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) to Caribbean Medical Supplies. These contracts did not go through…

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More oil discovered offshore Guyana

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The future of an oil industry in Guyana seems even more promising with another oil discovery offshore Guyana announced by US oil giant ExxonMobil. The company’s 10th discovery was announced Monday by Director for the Department of Energy, Dr Mark Bynoe, who expressed satisfaction with the way things were going. He revealed that the discovery was made at the Pluma-1 well. It has increased the estimated recoverable resource in the Stabroek Block to more than five billion oil-equivalent barrels. The Pluma-1 well is located some 27 kilometres (17 miles) south…

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

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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…

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BBCI moves to Court over Berbice Bridge takeover

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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…

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‘I have nothing to fear’

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– 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…

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

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…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…

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