YEAR IN REVIEW: OCTOBER – PPP files legal action on fraudulent LGE list

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) through one of its constituency candidates in Berbice has filed legal proceedings against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and another individual to have the names fraudulently affixed to the backer’s lists for Local Government Elections (LGE) in the Ancient County removed. The court document seen by this newspaper names Shafraz Beekham as the applicant, along with the Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield and Orlando Christopher Persaud as the respondents. The document outlines that the challenge is seeking to have the names of 49 other electors…

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YEAR IN REVIEW: OCTOBER – President David Granger unwell, heads to Cuba

Government had issued a terse statement on Monday that President David Granger would be going to Cuba on today for almost a week. However, Guyana Times was told that President is unwell and will be going to the Spanish speaking country for medical tests. This was confirmed by People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) General Secretary Amna Ally in an interview with sections of the media assured that the President was not expected to undergo surgery. Instead, she said, he will be undergoing a medical test in Havana, the capital of…

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YEAR IN REVIEW: SEPTEMBER – T&T promises to relook at ban on honey transshipment

Trinidad and Tobago’s (T&T) Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley has committed that his country is looking into the 80-year-old law which restricts Guyana from transshipping honey exports through the twin-island nation. The 1935 T&T law prohibits the transportation of honey within one mile of the country. In fact, back in 2015, Laparkan was fined US$3000 by Trinidad and Tobago’s customs for facilitating the shipment of honey. The authorities had also seized the quantity of honey which was in-transit there. Apart from Guyana, Grenada also faces similar troubles with twin-island laws.…

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YEAR IN REVIEW: AUGUST – Natural gas eruption – Capped well at Diamond erupts

A breach in the pipeline that was used to cap the gas pocket that exploded back in June in Diamond, East Bank Demerara, has caused a blockage which in turn saw several mini gas eruptions at the Diamond, East Bank Demerara, residence. The eruptions occurred sometime around 01:00h on Wednesday at the same Sixth Avenue, Great Diamond home where contractors had hit a natural gas pocket causing an immediate explosion two months ago. The exposed area was initially capped and the gas was being released into the atmosphere through a…

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YEAR IN REVIEW: JULY – Teen stabbed to death at Soesdyke

… CPG member, friend in custody A teenager was in the wee hours of Monday found dead in the vicinity of a wedding house at Soesdyke on the East Bank Demerara with stab wounds to his body. Ricardo Singh also called “Cardo” of Lot 63 Avenue ‘A’ & ‘B’ Diamond New Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara was reportedly stabbed several times including once to his abdomen. Based on reports received, the 15-year-old former Diamond Secondary School student and his friends left their respective homes on Sunday with the intention of…

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YEAR IN REVIEW: SEPTEMBER – Ecstasy being sold to students at 5 secondary schools

The Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) has announced a “worrying” trend whereby date-rape drug ‘Ecstasy’ is being sold to students in at least five schools across Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica). The anti-drug enforcement agency is working with education officials to address the illegal practice. The date-rape drug is making its way into schools after being already popular among many affluent members of society, according to CANU Deputy Head, Lesley Ramlall.

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YEAR IN REVIEW: SEPTEMBER – AG loses case against former SWAT head

…as court quashes David Ramnarine’s decision The decision made by the former acting Police Commissioner, David Ramnarine, to send Commander of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit, Deputy Superintendent Mootie Dookie on ‘special leave in the public interest’, after he was allegedly found smuggling alcohol, was quashed by Justice Fidella Corbin-Lincoln. Dookie had filed a challenge on June 15, 2018, against the decision made on May 21, 2018, on the grounds that the said decision was “unconstitutional, capricious, whimsical (and) irrational, based upon irrelevant and extraneous considerations, contrary to…

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Govt releases CGX oil contract

…Guyana gets 1% royalty, 53% profit sharing Weeks after its own self-imposed deadline expired, the Guyana Government has begun the process of releasing the contracts between the state and other oil companies – beginning with Canadian company CGX Resources Incorporated. Under the Article 11 ‘Cost Recovery and Production sharing’ heading of the contract, the Government agreed to a one per cent royalty. In addition, a 53 per cent share of profit oil and gas; after recoverable costs have been satisfied was negotiated. This is providing the company moves from exploration…

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Dismissed sugar workers to be given 50 % severance pay this month

…other half by year end Government had announced, on January 10, that it will pay 50 per cent of the severance benefits to dismissed sugar workers by the end of this month. This commitment represents over $2B in severance payments. The announcement was made in Parliament when Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, read a statement from President David Granger. However, he said that the remainder will be paid in the second half of the year.

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