May 2019 – Page 18 – Guyana Times International

Sexual Offences Court launched in Berbice

May 10, 2019May 10, 2019 TIMES INT'L

The Sexual Offences Act, Section 44, provides for the establishment of a Sexual Offences Court, and in keeping with this law and after months of fruitful discussions and planning, the Supreme Court of Judicature on May 5, 2019, officially launched its second Sexual Offences Court. This new courtroom will be housed at the Berbice High Court, Esplanade Road, New Amsterdam. According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), the project was completed in approximately three months by VK Construction Service at the cost of G$13M. Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag),…

Guyana – Chile signs MoU on mining sector

May 10, 2019May 10, 2019 TIMES INT'L

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chile’s Minister of Mining, Baldo Prokurica and the National Service of Geology and Mining of the Government of the Republic of Chile (SERNAGEOMIN). The Memorandum provides a framework for the exchange of scientific and technical knowledge and the augmentation of scientific and technical capabilities of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and SERNAGEOMIN with respect to Earth Sciences and Mining. “The signing of this MoU brings to fruition areas discussed when His Excellency, President David…

Ramjattan praises public-Police relations for successful drug operations, convictions

May 10, 2019May 10, 2019 TIMES INT'L

The numerous successful operations, seizures, and arrests with convictions during the first quarter of this year are testimonies to the fact that public trust with law enforcement agencies is being repaired and rebuilt0, according to Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan. Ramjattan said that the public has regained some confidence with law enforcement officers and as such, the successes in narcotics cases. “There are the four factors I think – it is the paying off of a long-standing set of training, it is paying off now, a long-standing set of bettering…

Ex-cop wanted in US to be extradited

May 10, 2019May 10, 2019 TIMES INT'L

Extradition proceedings began on Tuesday for a former member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), who is wanted by the United States for cocaine trafficking. Shawn Neblett, of Community Lane, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was on Tuesday hauled before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where the formal proceedings for extradition begun. Neblett was recently nabbed by local law enforcement officials as he was attempting to flee to neighbouring Suriname. During the court proceedings, a representative of the US Government, Stacy Gooding, told the court that proceedings have…

Presidential…

May 10, 2019May 10, 2019 TIMES INT'L

…hubris on musical chairs “What’s in a name?” the Bard famously asked in Romeo and Juliet, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” And, one might add, in the context of Guyana, a rotten egg would smell just as foul! Which is by far more appropriate to describe the gymnastics going on in the Office of the President, by Granger and his “plenary” that’s now a “Cabinet” again. In terms of politics rather than young love, didn’t the Bard also point out that something was rotten in…

Ramjattan should have been forced to resign over such tasteless comments

May 10, 2019May 10, 2019 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan is quoted by an online news agency about the scourge of prostitution, as “A lot of these big men go there and they say how they want to feel up these girls because they said they never eat a white meat yet and they pay a lot for the services. So it is all a trade of immorality and it is unhealthy for my country”. This statement is racist and sexist in equally offensive measure and should be retracted immediately and an…

Court finds Guyana Govt breached farmers’ rights

May 10, 2019May 10, 2019 TIMES INT'L

…awards G$6.5M in damages, costs Five rice farmers who sued the State over the cancellation of their leases by the Mahaica Maichony Abary/Agriculture Development Authority (MMA/ADA) have been vindicated by the High Court. It was the familiar court battle between former Attorney General Anil Nandlall and his successor, Basil Williams, who was named as a respondent on behalf of the State. In the court ruling handed down by Justice Priya Seenarine-Beharry, farmer Sonita Bristol of West Coast Berbice (WCB) was awarded G$1 million as damages and G$300,000 in costs.…

Over 700 to benefit from new well – GWI

May 10, 2019May 10, 2019 TIMES INT'L

Over seven hundred residents of Nappi Village, Region 9 (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), will be beneficiaries of a new well that was drilled to provide the community with easier access to potable water. The drilling of the well was undertaken through a collaborative effort between the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Under the Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership (J-CCCP), the two parties are working towards increasing resilience of indigenous communities to vulnerabilities in the drought period, through improved water quality, access and storage. As a result,…

Greenidge to continue work regarding territorial integrity – President

May 10, 2019May 10, 2019 TIMES INT'L

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge is slated to continue his contribution to the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning the territorial integrity with Venezuela. President David Granger made this disclosure, on May 8, in an invited comment, according to the Department of Public Information (DPI). The Head of State has engaged both the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings and the former minister regarding the new portfolio of the latter. “He [Greenidge] will remain in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs… I have also had meetings…

BK blamed for damages to Little Diamond main access bridge/road

May 10, 2019May 10, 2019 TIMES INT'L

Residents of Little Diamond East Bank Demerara have accused BK International of damaging the only access to their community; a bridge and the main roadway. BK International is presently constructing a sluice behind the community and as such, this has caused major destruction to the bridge and road as a result of workers transporting heavy-duty equipment. Works Chairman of the Little Diamond/Herstelling Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Wilfred Bassant in an interview with Guyana Times International said that the bridge to the new developing community was built some five years ago…