Year: 2011

Treason preliminary inquiry continues –former GDF officer to give evidence

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The trio charged with the capital offence of treason appeared in Court One of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts at the new location at 92 Middle Street, Georgetown on Tuesday under heavy security and in shackles and cuffs. The preliminary inquiry which was started on February 15 continued before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry with testimony from former Guyana Defence Force Lieutenant Quincy Critchlow. The charge against Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Major Bruce Munroe, his wife Carol Ann Munroe and ex-soldier Leonard Wharton stated that, between December 1, 2009 and December…

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Hydro-power is the way to go for Guyana

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Dear Editor, Fluctuating oil prices, political instability and social unrest in some of the major oil producing countries in the world are some of the factors which favour the switch to hydro-power in countries where this kind of facility is available. Guyana therefore becomes the ideal location for hydro-power with all its waterfalls that caresses the country’s interior. Because we are dependent on petroleum products for our energy supplies, Guyana becomes susceptible to prices on the world market. When this happens, we as a young nation must turn to alternative…

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The soup kitchens must be spread across Guyana

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Dear Editor, Guyanese from all walks of life, especially the less fortunate amongst us, have been greeted with the news, on Thursday, March17th, that a soup kitchen is to be established by the Guyana government and the makers of Bakewell bread. This gesture must be applauded, since it represents a classic example of government/private sector cooperation in the interest of the people of this country. The people at large should know that ventures like this soup kitchen know no boundaries, race, religion, or political allegiance. These are the types of…

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History of Phagwah celebration in NY

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BY VISHNU BISRAM New York City’s Phagwah celebration this weekend brings back memories of early celebrations among the Caribbean communities in the city when there was nowhere to celebrate the festival outdoors and when people looked at you funny for having powder or red substance on your face or hair. It was unheard of to celebrate Phagwah in public. The celebration started out small during the 1970s indoors, and expanded over the years to larger indoor locations (like school auditoriums) and then outdoors during the late 1980s, resulting in the…

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ICTs for development

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Over the last decade or so, there has been massive development in information and communications technologies (ICTs) worldwide. Almost the entire developed world is rapidly moving towards a generation of advanced technology, and most would agree that the results have been tremendous. In addition to job creation, ICTs have been used for boosting education delivery and enhancing the health and security sectors, among other applications. While the authorities in Guyana, having decided to go this route, have had the correct vision for a very long time, they have been somewhat…

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IDB seeks ways to increase remittances to Caribbean

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The Inter-American Development Bank is seeking to increase savings among Latin immigrants in the United States by fostering greater competition in the money-transmission industry and providing them with information on lowcost remittance services to help reduce transaction costs and allow migrants to send more money home. The bank is also hoping to provide assistance to financial institutions to develop financial products that offer migrants more control over remittance uses to increase savings. These announcements are contained in the new edition of the IDB’s 2010 Development Effectiveness Overview. The overview said…

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Five to stand trial for Bartica Massacre

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The five men who allegedly murdered 12 persons in the Bartica Massacre three years ago were ordered to stand trial before a judge and jury. Mark Williams, also known as Royden Williams; Celbert “Chi Chi” Reece; Dennis “Anaconda” Williams; Michael “Capone” Caesar; and Roger “Goat Man” Simon were remanded to prison pending a date in the High Court for the commencement of the trial. This was disclosed by Magistrate Fazil Azeez after the conclusion of the preliminary inquiry (PI) which lasted approximately 10 months, with 37 witnesses testifying, including civilians,…

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Amaila hydro project to start before yearend

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By Janelle Persaud A top official of Sithe Global Limited has said that construction of the Amaila Falls Hydro- power project will start before year-end. He has assured Guyanese that the company has sufficient credentials to build the facility. Senior Vice President Rafael Herz told media operatives at a media conference on Tuesday that the project, estimated to cost between US$650 and US$700 million, is expected to have a maximum of 165 megawatts of power after its completion some four years hence. “It basically represents a more dependable, reliable and…

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Phagwah Parade draws thousands in New York

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It was another magnificent staging of the Phagwah Parade on Liberty Avenue and the jamboree at Smokey Park. The cosmopolitan neighbourhood of Richmond Hill saw an ethnic mosaic for the celebration last Sunday afternoon, bringing together thousands in a sea of colours. People turned out to proudly display their culture. Non-Indians were seen in the parade clapping and dancing to the rhythmic tunes. Thousands also lined Liberty Avenue. Hundreds of people of various nationalities, from their verandahs and in front of their businesses cheered the participatants as the parade marched…

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Queens Guyanese jailed for burning girlfriend’s face with hot iron

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Queens, New York man who burnt his girlfriend’s face with a hot iron while their three children watched on was sentenced to 13 years in prison last Wednesday by a judge, who called the gruesome attack “horrendous and sick.” Eric Persaud apologised to his girlfriend and urged her to be a good mother to their young children. “My actions were cowardly, and there was no excuse for losing my cool,” Persaud told Queens Supreme Court Justice Gregory Lasak, his voice trembling. Lasak scolded Persaud for forcing the woman to turn…

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