Health experts from around the world have convened in Moscow to tackle non-communicable diseases, which are the leading causes of death today, according to a new report issued by the United Nations World Health Organisation (WHO). The first WHO Global Status Report on non-communicable diseases said that 36.1 million people died in 2008 from conditions such as heart disease, strokes, chronic lung diseases, cancers and diabetes. Nearly 80 per cent of these deaths occurred in low-and middle-income countries. “The rise of chronic non-communicable diseases presents an enormous challenge,” says WHO…
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Charity Squatting Area to be regularised into modern housing scheme
By Indrawattie Natram The fast- growing community of Charity, on the Essequibo Coast in Region Two, having been earmarked for township, will soon have another modern housing scheme, to be constructed at the present site of the Charity Squatting Area. Region Two Chairman Ali Baksh made the announcement during a meeting with residents at the Neighbourhood Democratic Council in Charity. Baksh informed hundreds of applicants and occupants of house lots in the squatting area that the area will be regularised into a modern, fast- developing scheme. He pointed out that…
Read MoreWhat is the agenda of Ottis Gibson and the West Indies selectors?
Dear Editor, The West Indies selectors came up with a squad for the current series against Pakistan, and their three most senior batsmen couldn’t find a place in the team. Ernest Hilaire responded to the public outcry by stating, “We are rebuilding a new team for the future”, and the chairman of the selectors, Guyanese Clyde Butts, indicated that the goal is to gather “a mixture of players who will take us through the next five to ten years. Are these two gentlemen speaking the same language? Mr Hilaire, if…
Read MoreTwo great accomplishments of Bharrat Jagdeo
Dear Editor, There is a well funded machinery in Guyana bent on destroying the reputation of President Jagdeo. The agents of this machinery go after the president night and day – in the newspapers, on TV, and on the internet. The people who do this compete for the prized trophy of coming up with the most outrageous accusations against the president and his cabinet. They also attack the president’s party – the PPP. But try as they might, and notwithstanding the damage that they might do for electoral or personal…
Read MoreThe PPP has selected a man with the right vision to lead the party and Guyana
Dear Editor, Mr Donald Ramotar was recently selected by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to lead that party at the upcoming elections, due later this year. The PPP could not have chosen a better person to be its presidential candidate, and there is no question of Mr Ramotar’s ability to discharge the duties of the office to the satisfaction of the entire electorate. I believe that he has already walked half that journey, having been at the helm of the largest political party in the country as its manager first,…
Read MoreLog trade policy under review
Log exports from Guyana may soon attract higher commissions, or even face an eventual ban, as forestry authorities are currently reviewing the National Log Export Policy with an eye out for all measures that would encourage locally advanced value-added timber activities. Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, who holds responsibility for forestry, said the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) is still consulting with all stakeholders, both locally and externally, to come up with a definitive position on adjustments to the policy. He made it quite clear that the authorities are considering ‘all options’…
Read MoreCorruption of Journalism
There is hopefully a greater appreciation of our democracy now that those that are too young to remember the dictatorship that existed prior to 1992 are absorbing the heroic efforts to dismantle one in Egypt. But older folks would recall that in Guyana, in the creation of our dictatorship, there were several forces deployed relentlessly to destroy the institutions of democracy, even as they abused the freedoms guaranteed by that democracy. We take a look this week at the role of journalism and the press. There is the aphorism that…
Read MoreJagdeo hails Sai Baba as an “amazing sage”
President Bharrat Jagdeo said: “It is with a profound sense of sadness that I learnt of the passing of Sri Sathya Sai Baba”. Sai Baba was interred on Wednesday, April 27th, in the compound of the Prasanthi Nilayam Ashram in Puttaparthi, India. In a message, President Jagdeo said: “I join with the multitudes who are today mourning the death of this truly amazing sage, spiritualist and humanitarian. I extend sympathies to his many loyal devotees in Guyana and around the world, and hope that the grief that they feel at…
Read MoreCJIA considers culling birds to prevent bird- strikes
Top aviation and livestock stakeholders met on Wednesday to consider several measures to prevent birds from flying in close proximity to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport following Tuesday’s bird-strike which forced the emergency landing of a Caribbean Airlines jetliner carrying 152 passengers. A vulture had been sucked into one of the aircraft’s engines. Transport and Hydraulics Minister Robeson Benn met with the stakeholders of the livestock industry at the CJIA. Attendees at the meeting included representatives of CJIA Corporation, Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, Public Works and Communications Ministry, Guyana Poultry…
Read MoreJagdeo and Ramotar to meet diaspora in New York
President Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP/C presidential candidate, Donald Ramotar, will participate in a “meet-the-people” event organised by the Association of Concerned Guyanese (ACG) – USA and several community organisations representing a wide cross section of Guyanese in the New York tri-state area. The event will take place on April 29 at the Club Tobago on Liberty Avenue, Jamaica, Queens. President Jagdeo and Mr Ramotar are expected to use the opportunity to highlight the major achievements of the PPP/Civic government and the challenges ahead. The upcoming general and regional elections…
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