2020 – Page 36 – Guyana Times International

Guyana’s first LGBTQ+ place of worship launched

January 17, 2020January 17, 2020 TIMES INT'L

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+ (LGBTQ+) community has not traditionally been welcomed into churches with open arms and has continued to experience discrimination at its highest that negatively impacts all aspects of their lives. But the Hope of Christ Anglican Church has become the first church in Guyana to include LGBTQ+ persons in its congregation. The all-inclusive church, which holds services at Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) on Duncan Street, Georgetown every first and third Sunday of each month at 10:00h, is aiming to provide a place of…

Ali outlines vision to transform Berbice

January 17, 2020January 17, 2020 TIMES INT'L

…promises more jobs, deep-water harbour People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali guaranteed the residents of the East Berbice-Corentyne region a deep-water harbour if he becomes President following the March 2 General and Regional Elections. Ali was at the time speaking at the party’s second rally held at Albion on Sunday which saw a massive crowd gathered to listen to their leaders as the party continues its campaign to win the Government. The crowd reportedly stretched along the Albion Public Road as far as Williamsburg and was described…

Candid…

January 17, 2020January 17, 2020 TIMES INT'L

…race talk One of the challenges we have in Guyanese politics is that while everybody knows voting is driven by “race”, there’s still a significant number of folks who don’t think we should talk about it in the public sphere. Your Eyewitness would give these presumably well-minded people the benefit of the doubt that they’re not just sticking their heads in their posterior aperture. They seem to believe if you talk about race, it’ll “inflame” passions and matters may get out of hand – especially during the combustible elections period.…

Carter Center launches observer mission for Guyana polls

January 17, 2020January 17, 2020 TIMES INT'L

The Carter Center has officially launched its observer mission for Guyana’s General and Regional Elections due March 2, while at the same time making it clear they are also prepared for any potential post-election legal challenges. This was communicated in a statement sent out earlier on Tuesday. According to the Carter Center, the observer mission has already been deployed around the country. These observers, it was explained, will later be joined by short-term observers and high-level officials from the Center. “The mission will observe and examine key aspects of the…

The fight for political power

January 17, 2020January 17, 2020 TIMES INT'L

Now that Nomination Day is over, we know that there are thirteen parties – down from the nineteen that had declared their intention and symbols – that will be contesting the March 2 General and Regional Elections. It is possible that that number may be further reduced since the GECOM Secretariat would have scrutinised the lists for duplications and other transgressions of the rules of the nomination process. Only three of the parties were able to field candidates in all ten regions and as such claim to be “national” parties.…

Chinese Contribution to Guyanese Fabric

January 17, 2020January 17, 2020 TIMES INT'L

Guyana is a melting pot of cultures and one of the most unique nations in the in the Caribbean region. It is unique in the sense that nowhere else can you find the level of cultural integration we have here. It is perhaps one of the goods that came out of the colonial period since it sets us apart from others. One of the identifiable cultures in the melting pot is that of the Chinese people. The Chinese came to Guyana after the colonial masters lost their slaves and was…

Foreign Envoys urge political parties in Guyana to ensure peaceful elections campaign

January 17, 2020January 17, 2020 TIMES INT'L

With a few weeks to go before General and Regional Elections in Guyana, members of the diplomatic community are urging political parties to practice true social cohesion and tolerance for differing political views during the campaign season. In a joint statement by United States Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch, British High Commissioner Gregory Quinn, and European Union representative Fernando Ponz, which comes just one day after Nomination Day, the diplomatic community is urging the embracing of unity. “Now the hard work of campaigning begins in earnest. During this election season, we encourage…

Coalition officials talk up Govt’s achievements since May 2015

January 17, 2020January 17, 2020 TIMES INT'L

A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC), held its public meeting in Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara (WBD) on Sunday as supporters braved rain to listen to coalition leaders’ electoral pitch. Taking the platform as the main speaker was Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon. During his address, Harmon stressed the importance of persons going out to vote on Election Day. “We have to mobilise. We have to come out and vote. A real victory translates when people come out to vote. We have to understand…

Much at stake in the upcoming polls

January 17, 2020January 17, 2020 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, I write to urge caution amidst the heightened passions and hollow promises which so often characterise Guyanese elections. This election is perhaps the most monumental in the whole of Guyanese history, for it comes at the same time when our oil industry is taking off. The wealth at stake, and the power of good or evil it will provide those who wield it, will surely set the tone for Guyana’s future. It is vitally important that the Government keeps those revenues flowing. It seems to be fashionable of…

Windsor Forest – The first Chinese Settlement

January 17, 2020January 17, 2020 TIMES INT'L

Windsor Forest is a small village on the West Coast of Demerara and it is also the first village the Chinese indentured immigrants settled it. Today, the village is predominantly occupied by Indo-Guyanese with very little trace of its Chinese heritage. However there is a monument in the compound of the Windsor Forest Primary School that is dedicated to the Chinese immigrants. Windsor Forest is also the home of Guyana’s First President, Arthur Chung. Photographer Dexter Ceres recently visited the village and took these photos.