Caribbean Community (Caricom) officials with responsibility for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) met in Grenada on Monday to discuss and improve on a draft Regional Digital Development Strategy (RDDS) and the strategic objectives of the implementation plan. The ministers’ discussion took place on the platform of the 36th Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) under which ICT falls. The Caricom Secretariat led the formulation of the strategy to guide the ICT activities and initiatives in the region, and to use ICT as a critical development…
Read MoreYear: 2011
Brazil bans gay sex education films
President Dilma Rousseff has suspended the distribution and production of sex education films for schools in Brazil. President Rousseff believes the footage is not suitable for youngsters. The education packs contain gay and lesbian video scenes and are supposed to combat homophobia. However, evangelical church groups and their allies in Congress threatened to block any upcoming legislation unless President Rousseff halted the films. A government spokesman said President Rousseff had viewed the material personally and decided to suspend its distribution. “She didn’t like what she saw,” Gilberto Carvalho said. He…
Read MoreRegional tourism officials discuss repositioning of cruise ships
The Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) and the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) have begun talks on how they can work together to tackle the issue of the mass repositioning of cruise ships from the southern Caribbean in the summer months, and to improve the overall competitiveness of the Caribbean for summer cruising. Representatives from both organisations met recently in Miami to discuss the issue. A delegation of Eastern Caribbean ministers of tourism, led by CTO Chairman Ricky Skerritt, met with FCCA officials last week at the offices of Carnival Cruise…
Read MoreJagdeo honoured by Adventists for outstanding leadership
By Danielle Campbell The Seventh-day Adventist Church on Wednesday, May 25, bestowed on President Bharrat Jagdeo another honour for his outstanding work for the environment and his dedication to the country as the youngest president to serve Guyana. Several other distinguished Guyanese were recognised for their sterling contributions to society in their individual and professional capacities, including Carl DeMattos, Darrel Krammer, Denise Dias, Dr Steve Surujbally, Dr Gary Stephens, Dr Moti Lall, the late Dr Desrey Fox, Ian McDonald, Pastor John Smith, Mayor Hamilton Green, Dr Joyce Jonas, Eileen Cox,…
Read MoreUWI to offer agribusiness degree at UG
– lauds Guyana’s agri sector Guyanese students can now further educate themselves to capitalise on the opportunities within the agricultural sector, as the University of the West Indies will be offering a degree in agribusiness via the University of Guyana, come September 2011. At the official launch of the course, on Wednesday, May 25, at Duke Lodge, Kingston, the move was lauded as a necessary tool to develop the agriculture sector in line with technology. Professor Dyer Narinesingh, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Agriculture at UWI, noting the…
Read MoreLocal govt elections urgently needed – Ramotar
Presidential candidate of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, Donald Ramotar, has committed to holding local government elections early in 2012, if elected to office. He made the commitment while acknowledging the urgent need for these long overdue elections to be held. Ramotar was at the time answering a question posed by a businessman at the luncheon organised by the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) at the Pegasus Hotel on Wednesday, May 25. “I think we are in a really desperate need for local government elections in our country. Many of…
Read More‘Pretty face’ further remanded for businessman’s murder
Edward “Pretty Face” Skeete of 309 Independence Boulevard, Georgetown, charged for the death of Industry businessman Bedi Ramjewan, made another appearance at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court, East Coast Demerara on Friday, May 27. He was further remanded by Magistrate Judy Latchman until June 17. Skeete was accused of murdering Ramjewan on April 28, 2011 at Crown Dam, Industry, ECD, after relieving the businessman of Gy$2 million. His accomplice is still on the run. Police prosecutor Sergeant Bernard Brown made application for an adjournment, which was granted by the magistrate. Ramjewan,…
Read MoreGy$45.8M De Hoop Primary School commissioned
The Education Ministry on Friday, May 27, commissioned the Gy$45.8 million primary school at De Hoop, Mahaica, Region Five, as it continues to forge ahead with plans to improve access and scale-up quality education delivery at the primary level. The state-of-the-art building, which houses a library, computer laboratory, staff room, kitchenette, and canteen, among other facilities, was made possible through funding from the Basic Needs Trust Fund, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The school replaces the old wooden structure which was built on…
Read MoreCDB approved US$300M in loans last year
– Guyana cited for recording growth in 2010 The Board of Governors of the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) began a two-day meeting on Wednesday, May 25, in Trinidad and Tobago against the background of a new growth trajectory to help ease the insecurity affecting Caribbean economies. Newly-appointed CDB President Dr Warren Smith said economic conditions in the region remained depressed, with only seven countries — The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Guyana, St Lucia and the Turks and Caicos Islands — reporting growth in 2010. But he said…
Read MorePrime Minister Hinds bestowed with Order of Excellence
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds has received Guyana’s highest national award, the Order of Excellence (OE). He will be joining the likes of Sir David James Garner Rose (posthumous) 1970, former presidents Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham (1973), Janet Jagan (1993), and Arthur Chung (1980), Dr Ptolemy Reid (1980); Sir Shridath Ramphal (1983), Dr Mohamed Shahabuddeen (1993), Jimmy Carter (Honorary), Boysie Ramkarran (1993), Dr Walter Rodney (posthumous) and Ashton Chase (2000). Speaking with Guyana Times International on Saturday, May 28, Hinds stated, “I think it is indeed a very exciting, gratifying and…
Read More