“No-confidence” motions are a staple of parliamentary democracies and it arises from the demand that the Executive retain a majority support in the House of Representatives/Assembly or Commons. Since the legitimacy of a democratic government depends on its popular support, the loss of this support – as articulated by the peoples’ representatives – removes that legitimacy. In Britain, there have been 23 motions of no confidence passed since 1945 and 27 in India since their independence of 1947. Guyana was educated to the nuances of this motion in 2014 when…
Read MoreYear: 2018
Civil Aviation Bill passed in Guyana despite protest by Opposition MPs
The Opposition’s efforts to have the Civil Aviation Bill 2017 resent to a select committee were defeated by the Government during Monday’s sitting of the National Assembly, as it was passed with amendments. In her address to the chambers, Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira said that based on her research, the bill is deficient. According to Teixeira, the bill is not on par with what may be expected by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Some of the issues she had with the Bill were its penalties – penalties she…
Read MoreA daughter’s grief for her father
By Lakhram Bhagirat The last time the family of businessman Derek Mangal saw him alive was on the morning of May 29, 2017 when he left their home to take his beloved “towa towa” bird for their routine morning stroll in the city. But he did not know when he was leaving his home that it would be the last time that he would ever see his family. The 45-year-old Regent Multiplex Mall businessman, along with his beloved bird, lost their lives at the corner of Camp and Middle Streets,…
Read MoreEssequibians urged to take advantage of new oil sector
Essequibians have been encouraged to take full advantage of the Essequibo Technical Institute with the aim of arming themselves with technical skills to fill the demands that will be available in Guyana with the introduction of the oil and gas sector. This was the encouragement offered as 144 students participated in the 16th graduation exercise of the ETI, which was held late last week at the institution. Acting Principal Rawl Pearce has said that with the introduction of the oil and gas sector, ETI is now offering engineering and mining…
Read MoreRattling…
…the APNU/AFC coalition The way they jumped for cover, Opposition Leader Bharat Jagdeo might as well have lobbed a grenade amongst the members of the PNC-led APNU/AFC coalition when he lodged a motion of “no confidence” against them. Or did he let loose a cat amongst the government’s plump pigeons? Jagdeo’s press Conference to announce his intention had barely finished when “the leaders of the coalition” – as described by the state’s Chronic – huddled in one of their private houses. But while the Chronic took pains to give all…
Read MoreStruggling…
…for political survival Now that the LGE has confirmed the AFC’s “dead meat” state, Moses Nagamootoo’s desperately struggling to show some personal worth to the PNC — to enjoy his super salary and, as important, those sirens and outriders to convince him he’s “important”!! This was pathetically on display after the results showed the PPP had comprehensively defeated both the PNC/APNU and the AFC by 45,000 votes. After his prediction of trouncing the PPP in his home village of Whim was turned on his head, and the AFC was routed…
Read MoreMothers in Black
In Guyana, one of the organisations synonymous with raising awareness and calling for the better use of the roadways is the Alicea Foundation or as it is commonly known, “Mothers in Black”. For over two decades, the Foundation has been raising awareness and calling for safer use of the roadways. According to the website, the Alicea Foundation, a not-for -company registered on November 11, 1997, was formed by Denise Dias when her daughter Alicea died. Fuelled by the sudden death of her 17-year-old daughter in August 1996 owing to the…
Read MoreInt’l bodies assisting with probe into crash-landed Fly Jamaica
A number of safety, transportation and regulatory bodies from local and overseas have been included in an investigative team probing the emergency landing of Fly Jamaica flight OJ256 on November 9 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). This is according to Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, who, during the 99th Sitting of the National Assembly on Monday, revealed that the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is conducting an independent investigation into the incident. “GCAA will be conducting this investigation,” Patterson explained. “As indicated, 128 persons were on board. On…
Read MoreAnnihilated!!
Satiricus was devastated as he trundled towards the Back Street Bar. There was only so much punishment a fella can take, he moaned to himself. All night long he’d scoured the news outlets hoping against all odds his leader Nagga Man would be proven right. The first titbit he got wasn’t encouraging: the leader’s own sister, his flesh and blood, had been soundly beaten in the village she and her brother had been born in – by a rank unknown!! “Sato!” yelled Bungi, as he spied Satiricus slouching towards their…
Read MoreCop dies after losing control of car
Police Constable Cardiss Joseph of the Aroaima Police Outpost in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) was killed on Sunday after he lost control of the motor car he was driving along Company Road, Aroaima, and it toppled several times before coming to a halt. Preliminary investigations revealed that at approximately 12:50h on Sunday, the 33-year-old Joseph, of Lot 43 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice, was off duty at the time and was driving a friend’s car, PPP 4196, along Company Road in Aroaima when the accident occurred. He was reportedly driving at…
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