February 3, 2017 – Guyana Times International

“It’s VAT everywhere” – Teixeira calls on Govt to repeal VAT changes, restore zero-rated items

February 3, 2017 TIMES INT'L

“It’s VAT and VAT and VAT everywhere!” Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira exclaimed as she moved a motion in the National Assembly calling on Government to repeal the new Value Added Tax (VAT) regime, which comes into effect today (February 1). The motion, which challenges Government’s decision to eliminate zero-rated VAT items and extend the list of VAT exempt items, had the full support of otherOpposition parliamentarians, some of whom contributed to the lengthy debate on the issue. Teixeira highlighted how almost everything, even down to the dead, would be…

UK multibillion-dollar infrastructure grant to fund Linden-Lethem Road

February 3, 2017 TIMES INT'L

The Public Infrastructure Ministry is gearing up to commence construction on the first phase of the Linden-Lethem Road Project, which will be funded by the Government of the United Kingdom through its UK Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (UKCIF) programme. In September 2015, former UK Prime Minister David Cameron announced a £300 million investment in vital new infrastructure such as roads, bridges and ports tohelp drive economic growth and development across the Caribbean region. Guyana was named among nine Caribbean states to benefit from the grant. According to the Public Infrastructure…

Green’s contract with CH&PA will not be renewed due to age – Harmon

February 3, 2017February 3, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Minister of State Joseph Harmon told a post-cabinet press briefing on Thursday that the life of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA)board had been brought to end a new board will be appointed shortly and as part of Government’s plan to establish an age requirement for persons who sit on state boards, agencies and commissions, Hamilton Green will not be returned to the Board of Directors. Green, the former Mayor of Georgetown who is over the age of 80was appointed as CH&PA Chairman last year. “Government at the end…

Govt, PPP clash over salary increases for ministers

February 3, 2017February 3, 2017 TIMES INT'L

The “utterly disgraceful” salary increases given to Presidents and Ministers under the past Administration were not enough to satisfy the appetite of the coalition Government, which clandestinely awarded its Ministers an exorbitant 50 per cent salary just after several months in office. That was the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) response to the outcry by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo over the salary increases given to the Ministers andPresidents between the periods 1998 to 2014. A publicity gimmick was executed by the coalition Government in the National Assembly on Monday when an…

Foreign exchange earnings unaffected by GuySuCo scale-down – Jordan

February 3, 2017February 3, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Finance Minister Winston Jordan does not believe the country’s foreign exchange earnings will be affected by the ongoing scale-back in the operations of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). Speaking to media operatives on Friday, Jordan pointed out that GuySuCo’s operations have been scaled-back for some 18 months now, yet the foreign exchange earnings remain intact. The Finance Minister was at the time being questioned on the uncertainties in the market regarding reports of a shortage of foreign currency in the country. “GuySuCo operations has been scaled back now for the…

Bandits snatch G$6M after trailing businesswoman from bank

February 3, 2017February 3, 2017 TIMES INT'L

An East Coast Demerara (ECD) couple were on Tuesday morning robbed of some G$6 million after bandits reportedly trailed the wife home from a city bank. The incident occurred around 11:45h at the couple’s Lot 31 Chimney Road, Chateau Margot, ECD home where they operate a vehicle upholstery shop. It wasreported that the armed men confronted the couple moments after the woman arrived home from the bank and escaped with the cash, along with other belongings that were in her handbag. According to information reaching Guyana Times International, Indranie Boodhoo…

State Audits ignored critical VAT-related issues, says Ram

February 3, 2017February 3, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Charted Account and Attorney-at-Law Christopher Ram has stated that the State Audits which have been conducted over the last several months did not address some of the issues related to the Value Added Tax (VAT). He made these comments at the launch of the Second Edition of the Ram and McRae Accountingfirm 180 page handbook, at the Georgetown Club on Monday evening. The book contains 12 chapters and cites 84 different tax cases, it also has detailed information on the local VAT Act, Excise Tax Act, and other tax regulations.…

Linden’s Mayor forges twinning with US city

February 3, 2017February 3, 2017 TIMES INT'L

The Mayor of Guyana’s second most populous municipality, the town of Linden, will on Saturday February 4, apprise Lindeners in New York City of plans to twin Newark City, New Jersey with his town, as well as on his agenda to create jobs and redevelop the industrial town. According to a statement issued by the Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID), Mayor Carwyn Holland is expected to be joined by his Newark counterpart, Guyana’s Consul General to New York, Mrs. Barbara Atherly and Brooklyn elected officials, at a…

Guyanese immigrants join protests against President Trump’s immigration ban

February 3, 2017February 3, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Guyanese were among the thousands who joined the protests against President Donald Trump’s latest Executive Order barring immigrants from specified Islamic countries from entering the United States. The Order also allows for the detention of immigrants (including refugees) or refusal of entry (regardless of status) into the US even if they have valid visas or green cards. There were protests all over the US on Saturday and Sunday against the entrance ban and detention of Muslim immigrants from selected countries. The action has been condemned by prominent global figures and…

Govt’s Cultural Advisor dodges cops

February 3, 2017February 3, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Government Advisor on Culture, Ruel Johnson, is wanted by the Police for questioning in relation to threats he made to “torch” the Sanata Complex, which houses most prominently, the Guyana Times newspaper, Television Guyana (TVG) and Radio Guyana Inc 89.5. Commander of A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) Clifton Hicken told Guyana Times Internationalthat Police ranks visited Johnson’s office at the Education Ministry on Wednesday afternoon to haul him in for questioning, but he was not there. However, Johnson claimed to be in his office and on his Facebook page mocked…