Govt’s ‘flagship’ housing project still to gain momentum

…housing authority boss admits persons refusing to share 1 building   Two years after the launch of the Government’s ‘flagship’ housing project at Perseverance, East Bank Demerara, it still has not gained momentum. Government’s Perseverance ‘Housing Solutions 2017 and Beyond’ Project, which commenced in 2017, has been faced with the challenge of non-occupancy as persons are refusing to share duplexes. This was confirmed on Monday during the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s End-of-Year Report for 2019. According to CH&PA Operations Director Denise King-Tudor, another challenge is that despite having allocated…

Read More

Cops destroy over 5000 marijuana plants in Berbice River

Police destroyed over 5000 marijuana plants in two fields they stumbled upon in the Berbice River on Sunday. Reports are between 08:40h and 15:00h, a team of Police ranks conducted a marine patrol/eradication operation in the Berbice River. During the exercise, they found the two fields with marijuana plants measuring from six inches to six feet in height. Along with the fields, two make-shift camps with a large quantity of dried cannabis were also unearthed. According to Police, the ranks burnt plants along with the two camps. Additionally, the dried…

Read More

Guyana’s political heavyweights get ready to hit the campaign trail

Guyana’s political heavyweights are preparing to officially hit the campaign trail as the date for General and Regional Elections draws nearer. The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has announced that it will be launching its 2020 elections campaign on Sunday at Kitty Market Square, Georgetown, at 15:00h. PPP/C General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo and Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali will be key speakers at the event. Meanwhile, on the APNU Guyana’s Facebook page, campaign coordinator Christopher Jones has created an event for the “Official 2020 Elections Campaign launch of the APNU+AFC.” According…

Read More

Consumer watchdog suggests State-sponsored airline for Guyana

The Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission recently conducted a study of the airline industry and suggested that a State-sponsored airline be commissioned to end the monopoly-like behaviour over the Georgetown to John F Kennedy (JFK) International Airport route. The CCAC said that the constant stream of players entering and then exiting the market serves as an indication that barriers to entry are not prohibitive. The exit of these firms, it added, places the citizens in a predicament. Outlining the recent history of the airline industry in Guyana, the CCAC said…

Read More

Pork-knocker killed after being hit by falling tree

A 25-year-old pork-knocker was on Saturday killed after being hit by a falling tree in Obanna Backdam, Kuribrong, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni). The dead man has been identified only as “Navesh” of Port Kaituma, North West District, Region One (Barima-Waini), who was working on a dredge in Region Eight. Guyana Times International understands that the miner along with two of his coworkers were jointly working in the area with a three-inch water pump and four-inch engine. However, at about 11:00h, it began raining. The rain was accompanied by heavy winds. This…

Read More

Housing authority approves 39 applications for oil and gas projects

The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) has approved dozens of applications for acres of land across the country to be used for oil and gas-related development projects. For the year, the CH&PA received 44 applications for land across the country for oil and gas development projects. However, only 39 were approved. This is according to CH&PA’s Chief Development Planner, Germene Stewart, who on Monday told the media that a number of these projects will be seen in the future. “You will see things will [have] started. You’ll see development…

Read More

40 GPHC nurses trained in foreign languages

Forty nurses attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) are now certified in speaking French and Spanish having completed a six-month foreign language programme. Director of Nursing, Keith Alonzo recently told the media that the programme was conducted by the Guyana Language Institute (GLI) through a collaborative effort with the GPHC with the aim of improving services at the medical facility by having qualified foreign language medical care staff. He noted that there has been an influx of foreigners, who visit the hospital to access medical care and that…

Read More

Fake cop to spend 2 years behind bars

A 21-year-old man who pretended to be a policeman was on Monday sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. Daquan Robinson appeared before Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on December 8, 2019, at Merriman’s Mall, Bourda, Georgetown, while being armed with a gun, he robbed Gary Hartman of a quantity of articles valuing G$43,000. Police Prosecutor David Goodman told the court that Hartman was in Merriman’s Mall walking with his haversack containing documents when he was approached by Robinson, who stated…

Read More

Guyana takes step backward on Global Anti-Corruption Index

Transparency International has released its latest global rankings, showing that while Guyana is considered one of 20 countries who has made improvements, it has also taken a step backwards from last year. According to the index, Guyana fell by one spot to the 93rd position out of 180 countries. The index placed Guyana’s corruption perception score at 37 to tie with Gambia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Mongolia and Panama. The highest ranked Caribbean country was the Bahamas at 29th place and a score of 65. It is followed by Barbados, which received…

Read More

Enmore Association of NY fetes over 700

In what has now become a staple during the holiday season, the Enmore Association of New York (EANY) has once again feted over 700 persons at its annual Christmas luncheon in Enmore, East Coast Demerara. The group, comprising members based mainly in New York and complemented by a local chapter, has been hosting the party for the past 18 years at Ayube Mohamed’s (Wise Man’s) residence yearly, where senior citizens and children of the village are invited to partake in the festivities. This year’s event was once again organised to…

Read More