By Ravi Dev We are fighting (literally) to hold elections under our “majoritarian” democratic rule (actually by a “plurality”) to determine which party will govern. But to what end? The operation of the majoritarian procedural principle of democracy in Guyana has precipitated “Ethnic Security Dilemmas” in some groups, even since independence was on the horizon. For Indian-Guyanese, which at one time could deliver a majority on their own to their preferred party, the PPP, as Dr Cheddi Jagan said, they would be in “office” but not in “power”. In 2003,…
Read MoreYear: 2019
Our batsmen need to ‘look at themselves seriously in the mirror’ – Holder
A target of 419, with well over a day’s play to go, was always going to be tricky for West Indies, but 100 all out in 26.5 overs was perhaps a notch or three lower than where the team wanted to be. Captain Jason Holder said their batsmen need to “look at themselves seriously in the mirror” after that display. “Our batters did not come to the party,” Holder said after the game in North Sound, where Jasprit Bumrah’s “magic balls” hasted West Indies’ end as he finished with incredible…
Read MoreGuyanese youths urged to utilise skills, become entrepreneurs
…as 96 graduate from skills training programme Ninety-six persons graduated with honours on Tuesday from the 2019 youth entrepreneurial skills training programme coordinated by the Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport. As more expertise will be added into the country’s workforce in areas such as catering, masonry, plumbing among others, the graduating youths were urged to use the newly acquired skills to start their own businesses. This charge was made by Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, George Norton, who noted that the…
Read MoreBroadcast Authority commends TVG, RGI for catering for the differently abled
Privately-owned Television Guyana (TVG) and Radio Guyana Inc (RGI) were among the broadcast agencies commended by the Guyana National Broadcast Authority (GNBA) for its compliance with broadcast guidelines catering for persons living with disabilities. TVG and RGI were complimented by Chairman of the GNBA’s Board, Leslie Sobers, during the 4th Stakeholder Engagement held at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, where 24 broadcast media entities attended. TVG, in catering for persons with disabilities, is the only local broadcast agency which provides closed captioning for its major newscast, Evening News. This is…
Read MoreGuyana Teachers Union hoping to reenter salary talks with Govt next month
The Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) is optimistic that the Education Ministry will be able to honour its promises made in the last agreement by next month, to hopefully reinitiate the discussions on teachers’ wages, among others soon. President of the GTU, Mark Lyte in an interview with this publication on Tuesday explained that the Ministry is yet to address certain matters under the last agreement inked in October last year. “Some of the things still being addressed currently [include] the debunching and the clothing allowance will be paid in September.…
Read MorePromises…
…and lies Ever since Walter Raleigh went up the Essequibo River in search of “El Dorado”, the city of gold, Guiana was sold as a land full of potential and opportunity. Raleigh, of course, was tossed into the Tower of London (literally) when his promises to Queen Elizabeth (the 1st…not this one!!…she’s not THAT ancient!!) weren’t kept!! But we did make a whole lotta Europeans rich from our Guyana gold sugar crystals, didn’t we?? For hundreds and hundreds of years, we certainly did!! African slaves toiled away while they were…
Read MoreMerging of the two lists should be rejected
Dear Editor, The long-awaited decision presented on August 27 by GECOM Chairman, Justice Claudette Singh, is fraught with a myriad of problems. Christopher Ram, in his letter, “Justice Singh is probably unaware of complexity and difficulties of merging two lists”, lists some legitimate reasons about the merging of the lists. The credibility of the latest dubious registration process is particularly worrisome since this exercise was conducted under questionable circumstances. One blogger, Tarron Khemraj, pointed out, “the merging of the list could see the backdoor removal of thousands of names, disproportionately.”…
Read MoreFazal Bacchus not only teaches but creates long-lasting careers
By Lakhram Bhagirat Teaching is an art that many have yet to master. Teachers are our contact with the outside world, they quite often introduce us to the world through their classrooms and encourage us to dream and dream big. They instil the sense of imagination and fuel the drive in us that makes us want to conquer the world. They share their experience in order to make us learn so that when we head out into the real world we are better equipped to take on the challenges as…
Read MoreExecution-style killing accused to face judge, jury
A man, who allegedly carried out an execution-style killing on a North Ruimveldt resident back in 2015 in what appeared to be a drug-related crime, was on Tuesday committed to stand trial at the High Court. Brian Mohan, also known as “Abdool”, of Hill Street, Albousytown, was committed to stand trial by Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for the murder of Christopher Wharton called “Taps”. The charge alleged that on November 18, 2015, Mohan murdered Wharton at Festival City, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown. The Magistrate found that a…
Read MoreJagdeo pushes for October polls
…GECOM yet to decide on way forward Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo has once again called on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to abort the current House-to-House registration exercise and move right ahead with the claims and objections period in order to run-off elections within the constitutional timeframe. During his weekly press briefing on Thursday, Jagdeo related that many citizens across Guyana are demanding that the Commission end the ongoing house-to-house registration exercise and begin a claims and objections period with the old voters’ list. “People are out there waiting, the…
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