Year: 2017

The International Press Institute (IPI) is calling on the Government to address the serious concerns raised by the local media groups over pending amendments to the Broadcast (Amendment) Bill. Government on Friday last used its one-seat majority in the National Assembly to pass this controversial Bill, which mandates broadcasters to air up to 60 minutes of ‘public service announcements (PSAs)’ for free. The IPI Director of Advocacy and Communications, Steven M. Ellis, urged the Guyana Government to address criticism regarding the amendments before they become law. “We are troubled that…

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Demerara Tobacco Company Limited (DEMTOCO) has taken its advocacy to the highest office of the land, calling on President David Granger to step in and forestall making the Tobacco Control Bill a law unless certain provisions in the Bill are changed. In a statement released on Tuesday, the company noted that the Government used the passage of the Bill in other countries as justification for the new bill in Guyana. But DEMTOCO said the countries that were cited have actually implemented less stringent laws than the ones passed in the…

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Family members of 4-year-old Ramkarran Mohan of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), who lost his life after being struck down by an errant driver some five months ago, have said they are yet to receive justice. His grandmother, Bibi Nazmoon Khan, claims the family is currently being “pushed around” by the Police Commander at the Leonora Police Station and by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). The woman is alleging that on a weekly basis she is contacted by the Police Commander, who continuously explains to her that he is…

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The life of the Parking Meter Re-negotiation Committee came to an end with it submitting its final report and finding to the Mayor of Georgetown on August 2, 2017, but almost one week later, the report is yet to be circulated to Councillors. Georgetown Mayor, Patricia Chase Green acknowledged receiving the report, stating, “I am still looking at it as I said before there will be a special meeting held by Council, a copy would be given to every Councillor so they will have enough time to look at it…

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Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders on Tuesday held “varied and robust views” on the on-going political situation in Venezuela during a three-hour meeting. No official statement has been issued by the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat or from the office of the Grenada Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell, who is the CARICOM chairman and who is reported to have convened the special emergency meeting by videoconference. However, the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a brief statement Wednesday said that the leaders who had participated in the videoconference call had engaged…

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…claims he is not in the right frame of mind Laurent McGarrell was arraigned before Georgetown Magistrate Sunil Scarce on a slew of traffic related charges: driving without a driver’s licence; driving without third party insurance; driving without a safety helmet; carrying a pillion without protective head gear; driving a motorcycle while being under the influence of alcohol; and driving a motorcycle without consent from the owner. Except for the last two allegations stated above, the accused readily pleaded guilty to the charges, and was fined a total of G$75,000.…

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The former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) rank who on Sunday morning allegedly decapitated his uncle over a land dispute, was on Wednesday arraigned at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court. Dwayne Tappin, called “Waynie”, appeared before Magistrate Ashley George and had the indictable charge of murder read to him. The charge alleged that on August 6, 2017, at Lot 125 South Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, he murdered his 51-year-old uncle, Randolph Seenauth. The 27-year-old was remanded. The case will continue on September 28. This publication had previously reported that Seenauth’s head…

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