January 24, 2020 – Guyana Times International

GECOM has responsibility to ensure changes to RLE verified – Jagdeo

January 24, 2020January 24, 2020 TIMES INT'L

…urges APNU to do ‘field work’ to ensure no disenfranchisement Leader of the Opposition and General Secretary of the Peoples’ Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Bharrat Jagdeo, said they are very much concerned over the decision by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to make changes to the Revised List of Electors (RLE) at such a late stage in the process for preparation for General and Regional Elections. Jagdeo was at the time addressing reporters at his Church Street, Georgetown Office during his weekly press briefing. The former President said that GECOM has…

Region 10 to see new wave of wealth, prosperity under PPP/C govt – Ali

January 24, 2020January 24, 2020 TIMES INT'L

…outlines PPP/C’s strategy to move region forward People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Presidential Candidate Dr Irfaan Ali on Sunday addressed the issue of creation of new wealth and a new wave of prosperity for the people of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) before hundreds of supporters at the Lieu Ken Pen Square in Linden on Sunday. Outlining the PPP/C’s strategy to move the region forward, Ali emphasised that his party has already delivered to the people of the region and can stand up to its track record. He said Region 10 has…

Driver, porter remanded over cocaine, ganja in fertiliser truck

January 24, 2020January 24, 2020 TIMES INT'L

Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus on Monday remanded the driver and porter who were nabbed by Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) ranks on a fertiliser truck in which a large quantity of cocaine and ganja was unearthed. Remanded were 24-year-old Randy Chester and 45-year-old Christopher Garraway. The men were arrested on Thursday last in a fertiliser-laden truck destined for Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne) along Mandela Avenue, Georgetown. On Monday, they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and both denied the charge which stated that on January 16, 2020 at…

Promoting Exclusive Breastfeeding in Guyana

January 24, 2020January 24, 2020 TIMES INT'L

By Safraz Hamid The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding of newborns up to 6 months of age. The health benefits of exclusive breastfeeding are extensive: for the newborn, breastfeeding lowers the risk of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, allergic diseases, and long-term morbidities such as diabetes mellitus and obesity; for the mother, breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, promotes bonding with the newborn, and provides a natural form of contraception. Despite these health benefits, only 33% of newborns in Guyana are exclusively breastfed in the first…

Citizens Bank invested $629M in local agriculture – Chairman

January 24, 2020January 24, 2020 TIMES INT'L

Chairman of Citizens Bank Limited, Clifford Reis, on Tuesday said that the commercial institution has invested over $600 million into the local agriculture sector and will continue to support small farmers. His comment was made after a shareholder enquired at the Bank’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday whether provisions are made to finance innovators in the agro-process sector. In response, Reis disclosed that Citizens Bank has invested some $629 million into the agriculture sector to benefit mostly small farmers. “The [banking] agro sector, I think is more involved with…

Investigating…

January 24, 2020January 24, 2020 TIMES INT'L

…racial slurs The ERC was established to deal with “racial” matters in Guyana…which, most would concede is vitally necessary since “race” or “ethnicity” permeates every social interaction in our dear old mudland. Notwithstanding political correctness’ insistence that we REALLY don’t have a “race” problem and it’s only during the elections “silly season” that matters rise to the top. Like butter after churning milk! Save that what’s churned in Guyana is anything but the milk of human kindness!!!! But for whatever reason, the organisation hasn’t made much of an impact to…

March 2, 2020 is judgement day

January 24, 2020January 24, 2020 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, After seeming aeons of vexatious wait and uncertainty, the Guyanese public finally welcomed President Granger’s official proclamation that March 2, 2020, will be General and Regional Elections. The necessary forced announcements come earlier than Mr Granger’s fallen APNU/AFC Government would have truly liked, signalling an end of the frustrating wait by the Opposition, the nation and international stakeholders. Judgment day will soon be upon us for the trial and ousting of the dictator. It follows an extended period, through which, the President and his men exercised glaring constitutional…

Guyana Cancer Foundation: A place of hope for many cancer warriors

January 24, 2020January 24, 2020 TIMES INT'L

The Guyana Cancer Foundation is close to the heart of Bibi Hassan for the very reason that it was the struggles her mother while battling breast cancer, that inspired her to form such an organisation. Today, the Foundation helps cancer victims, survivors and their families go through the motions of dealing with the ‘deadly C’. Founded in January of 2015, the Foundation was established to provide help and inspire hope in those affected by cancer through early detection, education, awareness and free medical screening. The GCF puts primary focus on…

CARICOM Secretariat goes solar due to Guyana’s high energy cost – Deputy SG

January 24, 2020January 24, 2020 TIMES INT'L

With the consumption of just under 1.6 million kilowatts of electricity at the rate of US$0.30 cents per hour, the Caricom Secretariat in Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, was forced to set up a Photovoltaic Generation System to improve its energy network. The Secretariat launched the new generation system during a ceremony on Monday morning. Deputy Secretary General, Dr Manorma Soeknandan, in her remarks, explained that the organisation was forced to make this move owing to high electricity costs. “The Secretariat consumed just under 1.6 million kilowatts hours of electricity at the…

Rupununi Petroglyphs

January 24, 2020January 24, 2020 TIMES INT'L

By Lennox J Hernandez Petroglyphs are picture-writing images (pictograms – a pictorial symbol for a word or phrase; or logograms – a sign or character representing a word or phrase) created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, or abrading. Petroglyphs are found worldwide and the term is usually used in the context of prehistoric peoples. Guyana has its own petroglyphs and these are strong evidence of human presence here as much as 7,000 years ago (our Indigenous peoples). The late Dr Denis Williams (1923-1998) is…