‘Incoherent and loaded with platitudes’

…Jagdeo says of Budget 2019 Government came in for harsh criticism from Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo over what he described as the “visionless and disappointing” National Budget presented in the National Assembly on Monday. Jagdeo said that the G$300.7 billion budget presented by Finance Minister Winston Jordan was one that was filled with repetition and disappointment, adding that they could not support such a budget in its current state. He said that the Finance Minister’s presentation was one that was incoherent and seemed as though it was written by different…

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Teachers’ union to submit new multi-year salary proposal next month

President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), Mark Lyte has recently disclosed that the Union is currently working on a new multi-year proposal to submit to the Education Ministry which will address salary and other non-salary benefits. According to him, the Union is hoping to submit the document by the second week in December in an effort to avoid the discrepancies encountered during the last bargaining process with the Ministry. Although he was reluctant to reveal the percentage that the Union is proposing in the new agreement, he said the…

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“Self-defence” should be taught in schools – psychologist

With domestic violence becoming widespread across the country, especially violence against women and girls peaking in recent years, a psychologist who recently earned a Masters in Science and in counselling psychology has noted that she believes self-defence should be taught in schools across the country. This was shared by Raiza Khan during an exclusive interview with Guyana Times International on Tuesday. According to the psychologist who has been in the field for close to two years, there is a need for self-defence to be taught, as its benefits can be…

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Nandlall ordered to lead defence in law books fiasco

Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minster Anil Nandlall who appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday, was instructed to lead his defence on December 6, 2018, by Magistrate Fabayo Azore, after she adjudged that the evidence provided by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) was enough for him to face the charge which alleges that he stole some 14 Commonwealth law books worth G$2.3 million. SOCU’s Prosecutor, Patrice Henry presented on behalf of the State, meanwhile defence Attorney Glenn Hanoman informed the court that it is expected to…

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Guyana’s private sector says Budget 2019 a disappointment

Executive Director of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Richard Rambarran, has said that although the private sector is happy to see some money coming back in the hands of the consumers, it is extremely disappointed that the Government has made no move to remove or reduce the excise tax on fuel. He made this pronouncement following Finance Minister Winston Jordan’s presentation of the 2019 National Budget in the National Assembly on Monday. “I am very happy money has been placed back in the hands of the consumers…

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Guyana signs on to new roadmap to save the jaguar

The Government of Guyana is pleased to support a new initiative to save the jaguar (Panthera onca). In an unprecedented global commitment to saving the jaguar, key jaguar range states and leading international conservation organisations joined together to launch the Jaguar 2030 Conservation Roadmap for the Americas, which was presented on the side of the Conference of Parties (COP) 14 of the Convention on Biological Diversity currently being held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. The roadmap aims to strengthen the Jaguar Corridor, ranging from Mexico to Argentina, by securing 30-priority jaguar…

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Petroleum expert says chances of Coalition Govt being re-elected very slim

Former Presidential Advisor on Petroleum to Guyana, Dr Jan Mangal says a lot of what the coalition Government does now and how it plans for the future, particularly as it relates to the oil and gas industry, will determine whether or not it can be re-elected to office. However, Dr Mangal believes that the Government’s chances are low based on a number of factors. His comments come in light of the recently-concluded Local Government Elections (LGE) which saw the coalition performing poorly as compared to the main Opposition party. “The…

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Shocked that Scotiabank is pulling out

Dear Editor, I was astounded when I read an online article from a prominent news establishment that Scotiabank has sold its local operations and will be exiting the Guyana operations. I am astounded because as a long-time account holder of this Bank, I would have expected to be informed by the Bank before this information reached the public domain. I would hope the arbitrary transfer of my account to the sold bank is not a done deal without any consultation with me. Your respectfully, Shamshun Mohamed

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International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in our world today remains largely unreported due to the impunity, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it. It is alarming to know that one in three women and girls experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, most frequently by an intimate partner. According to the United Nations (UN), only 52 per cent of women married or in a union freely make their own decisions about sexual relations, contraceptive use and health…

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High Court trial for bus conductor accused of raping school girl

The Route 40 minibus conductor, Ashel Williams, who is accused of engaging in sexual penetration with a 14-year-old schoolgirl appeared on Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Judy Latchman, and was committed to stand trial in the High Court. The indictable charge against Williams detailed that on October 7, 2015, while in the vicinity of Plum Park, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, he raped the 14-year-old schoolgirl. The conductor is currently on G$300,000 bail. It was previously reported that on October 7, 2015, the accused carried the teen to a…

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