World War 2 Veterans
Year: 2019
Govt must invest in making local private sector more competitive – Ali
With the coming of oil, Guyana has become a magnet for many in the Caribbean seeking to profit from the sector. But with Guyana facing difficulties to export certain commodities, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Presidential candidate Dr Irfaan Ali believes now is the time to knock down these trade barriers. Ali was at the time making an appearance on a local radio programme, where he was asked if he would be willing to consider giving the local Private Sector the same incentives enjoyed by foreign investors. He added that there…
Read MoreVirginia Mayor wraps up one-week visit to Guyana
Mayor of Purcellville, Virginia, Kwasi Fraser, on Wednesday, paid a courtesy call on Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karen Cummings. They discussed an initiative to foster collaboration between the town of Purcellville, the state of Virginia and the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), Minister Cummings expressed her gratitude to Mr. Fraser, a Guyanese by birth, for his interest and noted that the Government was committed to is delivering a better standard of living and quality of life to Guyanese. Mr. Fraser, in turn, shared…
Read MoreMinding…
…PNC’s business Trade unions were formed to agitate for workers’ rights at the turn of the century in Europe, responding to the socialist “exploitation” critique of capitalism – especially by Karl Marx. They were a safety valve to stave off the explosion – such as what had taken place in Russia in 1917. Our first trade union was formed just 2 years later by Critchlow and by and large, slowly achieved incremental improvements for their charges. Since 1979, however, there’s been a kickback by free-market-oriented governments— led by Reagan in…
Read MoreDiscourse on race and racism
With elections imminent, “race” has inevitably taken centre stage. In Guyana, the concept of “race” is a legacy of European rule. And it is not coincidental that its modern usage is bound up with the history of the West Indies: “race” and “African slavery” are modern twins, as are “White” and “Black” as racial categories. The early civilisations such as Greek, African and Indian, etc, did not distinguish so much on physical characteristics, as on cultural characteristics of peoples. For instance, outsiders were “Barbarians” to Greeks. When Europeans first encountered…
Read MoreProfessor Edward Greene is new UG Chancellor
Professor John Edward Greene was named as the new Chancellor of the University of Guyana (UG) putting an end to the year-long search following the end of Chancellor Emeritus Nigel Harris’ term. The University also named British Parliamentarian Rt Hon David Lammy as the University’s First Envoy Extraordinaire. The decisions were taken at a meeting of the University’s Council on Saturday. Professor Greene is a former United Nations Special Envoy and CARICOM Deputy Secretary-General. Chancellor (elect) Greene is expected to be installed in a simple ceremony during this year’s Convocation…
Read MorePNC grabbing what they can get on their way out
Dear Editor, Does Mr Ganger, who likes to say he is following the Constitution while he is actually trampling on it, understand that in a lame-duck status, the Government cannot give away such large tracts of land to favoured friends? The CCJ said Government is now on a different footing. But since Parliament has not extended their stay, the PNC is now an illegal Government. First, they gave away 400 acres in No 19, Corentyne; 700 acres in Wales; other acreages given here and there. What’s going on here? Are…
Read MoreGeorgetown chamber questions relevance of CARICOM in trade negotiations
Non-tariff barriers that target Guyanese exports remain a sore issue for the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), with the Chamber questioning the relevance of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) when little help is forthcoming. This was related when the GCCI held a press conference at its Waterloo Street, Georgetown office on Wednesday, featuring executives and even a former President. GCCI Senior Vice President Timothy Tucker noted that the Chamber is at a point where it has to question the relevance of Caricom. According to Tucker, throughout the history of…
Read MoreCompanies obligated to have mitigating oil spills high on agenda – insurance executive
Companies currently drilling for oil in Guyana have an obligation to ensure that mitigating oil spills is high on their agenda, while Government has a duty to scrutinise these plans. This view was expressed by Mark Kabierschke, the energy industry’s regional leader for Latin America at multinational insurance company, Willis Towers Watson. He was at the time speaking at the conclusion of an oil and gas insurance seminar recently. “In general, oil companies will have anything to do with pollution and oil spills, high up on their risk management and…
Read MoreIn Memory of auntie Chalma
By Lakhram Bhagirat Pongavanum Munsammy or Auntie Chalma as she is lovingly known was the oldest surviving worker of the Leonora Sugar Estate. On November 03, 2019, at the age of 92 Auntie Chalma passed away. In April of 2018, Sunday Times Magazine published Auntie Chalma’s story. In her memory, we share that story once more: Pongavanum Munsammy or Auntie Chalma as she is lovingly known is a 92 year old former estate worker, who even in her old age, enjoys an active life and is dependent on no one.…
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