Year: 2013

Dear Editor, It was interesting to read in the international edition of the Guyana Times of February 3, 2013, an article headlined, “The historic timber architecture of small houses,” referring to Guyana’s architectural heritage. When truthfully explored, these smaller wooden homes maintained a style of architecture that exists on a far grander scale in surviving public wooden buildings that were once private mansions. We have to put aside our temptation to evaluate Guyanese historic data via a class/economic disparity, but rather by what was experienced practically as satisfying and beautiful,…

Dear Editor, It is very encouraging to note that the governments of Guyana and United States just signed two agreements seeking to advance the local and regional security sectors in the area of trafficking of drugs.  This signing is really in tandem with the United Nations policy in this aspect of crime fighting. It goes back to 2000 when countries agreed to cooperate with one another in every aspect of the fight against corruption, including prevention, investigation and the prosecution of offenders. Countries are now bound to render specific forms…

Dear Editor, Our indigenous people must never be taken for granted. They have been neglected for too long, but over the last decade or so, there have been noticeable, positive changes in this regard. Generally, indigenous people want to retain local forms of organisation to defend their culture and livelihoods. Many have witnessed the collapse of their traditions under the burden of poverty, and believe that they must now reject their ethnic identity and integrate into society if they are to improve their living conditions. Guyana, however, is taking steps…

Dear Editor, Two gruesome river accidents and all of a sudden there is a flurry of activities. This kind of knee-jerk reaction is so common these days that I am almost tempted to ignore this all-of-a-sudden interest from the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD). Reports indicate that it has begun an aggressive safety campaign on river transportation, which is commendable, but it took the deaths of 17 persons in the Pomeroon and Mazaruni before this move was made. In Guyana, the litany of travelling illegalities is quite long and well established…