2018 – Page 69 – Guyana Times International

G$1.2 billion East Bank Berbice road project nearing completion

September 7, 2018September 7, 2018 TIMES INT'L

As the G$1.2 billion East Bank Berbice (EBB) road project is nearing completion, 2.1 kilometres of the first layer of paved asphalt surface of the planned five kilometres has been completed. Resident Engineer, Joel Tucker told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that this covers the stretch of road from Everton to Edinburgh and the section in Islington. The remaining 2.9 kilometres of asphalt surface will commence shortly. Tucker said despite challenges with the May/June rains, the exercise which commenced in August 2017, will be completed by the end of…

Old wine…

September 7, 2018September 7, 2018 TIMES INT'L

…in new (loan) decanters What Barnum said about “a sucker is born every minute” also applies to countries – and they both originate greed. But that shouldn’t surprise us any, should it? China just invited practically every country in Africa to its 2018 Summit of the “Forum on China-Africa Cooperation” (FOCAC) to once again promote its Belt and Road Initiative in Africa. At the last FOCAC summit, in 2015 in South Africa, a reported US$60 billion of Chinese loans were thrown around… with nary a concern about ‘debt burdens’ expresse!…

Guyana’s AG assures path cleared for setting up of law school

September 7, 2018September 7, 2018 TIMES INT'L

Attorney General (AG) Basil Williams has given all assurances that the path has been cleared for the establishment of a local law school in Guyana. Speaking to members of the media at the AG’s Chambers on Monday, Williams noted that the Caribbean Region would be transformed if the school were to be established. Establishment of such a local institution — which Government intends to name the JOF Haynes Law School — has been the subject of much uncertainty, with former Attorney General Anil Nandlall stating that Guyana has not received…

Immigration officer slapped with conspiracy charges

September 7, 2018September 7, 2018 TIMES INT'L

Immigration Officer Jonathan Rausch on Tuesday stood before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to answer three counts of conspiracy to commit a felony. The 25-year-old denied all three of the charges, which alleged that on April 1, 2018, while at his place of employment at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri East Bank Demerara, he conspired with a person or persons unknown to commit a felony by forging the Border Management System (BMS) with intent to defraud the public, purporting to show that Colombian nationals Juan Carlos and Maquilon Perez had…

DPP appeals Westford’s G$600M larceny case dismissal

September 7, 2018September 7, 2018 TIMES INT'L

The office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) announced on Monday that a Notice of Appeal was filed at the Guyana Court of Appeal challenging the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts dismissal of the over G$600 million larceny charges against a former Government Minister and her Administrative Assistant. The intended appeal follows Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman’s August 24, 2018, determination that there was insufficient evidence to prove that former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Public Service Minister Jennifer Westford and her Administrative Assistant, Margaret Cummings stole G$639 million from the Government of…

Guyana can be the victor if politicians put country first

September 7, 2018September 7, 2018 TIMES INT'L

Last Friday, President David Granger revealed that there was no power sharing proposal being discussed between the A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change coalition and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). When quizzed by the media at his third press conference since coming to power back in 2015, President Granger frankly said there was no powering sharing proposal on the table, as he opined that it was “too late” structurally to embark on a reconfiguration of his Cabinet even if there were to be such a proposal.…

Call Centre targets 20,000 jobs in 5 years

September 7, 2018September 7, 2018 TIMES INT'L

Teleperformance, an international Call-Centre hub, intends to employ some 20,000 persons in Guyana within the next five years. Presently, the Centre which is housed in downtown Georgetown, has hired just under 600 Guyanese, who are valued for their fluency in English. Those disclosures were made by Boris Espinel, and Fernando Victoria, the Bogota-based CEO and Legal/Compliance Director respectively of Teleperformance during a courtesy call, Wednesday September 5, on Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo who was, at the time, performing the functions of President, the Department of Public Information (DPI) has reported.…

Guyana continues search for members of new GuySuCo Board

September 7, 2018September 7, 2018 TIMES INT'L

The search continues to identify persons who would comprise a new Board of Directors for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), and President David Granger has said he wants the new members to be experts, so they could effectively lead the now downsized industry into profitability. “We are selecting a Board of Directors; the members of which would be more knowledgeable in sugar production. There has been a tendency or temptation in the past to put persons who might be socially prominent, but this is a business; this is an international…

CPL has earned and deserves the support of all stakeholders; including Government

September 7, 2018September 7, 2018 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, Although no formal study has been done on the effect of the CPL games on the economy, there is no disputing that the matches have been giving a wallop to the overall economy. And as such, there should be bidding for more matches to be played in Guyana. Aside from the Providence stadium, consideration should be given to playing one match in the ancient county of Berbice (Albion), to give a spurt to that county’s economy. Albion did, at one time, host first class cricket as well as…

Shulinab Village is ready for Heritage Day Extravaganza

September 7, 2018September 7, 2018 TIMES INT'L

Shulinab is a sun-kissed village in South Rupununi, Region 9 (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) surrounded by the picturesque Kanuku Mountain and this year it has been selected as the Heritage Village as Guyana celebrates its first peoples during Indigenous Heritage Month. Indigenous Heritage Month 2018 is being observed under the theme “Proud of our Indigenous identity, celebrating in Unity.” Shulinab is the only Macushi speaking indigenous community in South Rupununi and serves as the hub for access to the South. The village has 775 residents from the Macushi and Wapishana tribes.…