The Government has spent almost the entire first two years of its term to bring charges of one sort or another against the members of past PPP administrations and their associates. Towards this end they ordered a score of “forensic audits” into the operations of several agencies so as to identify specific transgressions for the said charges to be filed. They even assigned a Minister to coordinate this task. However, in several instances where there were even more pronounced calls for such audits – such as at City Hall or…
Read MoreYear: 2017
Guyanese pharma companies snubbed
…as GPHC creates “emergency” to sole source G$605M drugs from overseas firm Another major corruption scandal appears to be in the making as the management of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) moves to sideline local companies for the procurement of emergency pharmaceuticals worth in excess of G$605 million from a Trinidadian firm, ANSA McAL. Georgetown Public Hospital had delayed and cancelled four out of its five public tenders within the last four months, creating a situation where there is a massive shortage of pharmaceuticals, which was initially denied by…
Read MoreSeveral mandirs participate in Chowtaal singing in Queens
By Vishnu Bisram As in Guyana, Holi or Phagwah is being celebrated in New York City among the large Guyanese community. Several groups host Chowtaal singing at their mandirs. Chowtaal is very popular around this time of the year when the spring festival of Holi is observed. Usually, from the time of Holika Dahan or the planting of Holika, it continues for 40 days leading up the Phagwah (Holi) Day. Last Sunday, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha(USA Praant) hosted the 3rd annual Chowtaal Samelan at the Prem Bhakti Mandir in…
Read More‘SOCU’s action politically motivated’
– Jagdeo says will not be intimidated BY DEVINA SAMAROO Tension, suspense and apprehension swept across the nation as the masses followed with close interest the egregious arrest of former top Government officials by agents of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in relation to their investigation of misappropriation of State assets. Former President and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, former Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, and former Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud were among those who were taken into custody for…
Read MoreRichmond Hill community rallies support for fire victims
Guyanese affected by Richmond Hill inferno which tore through a row of buildings in Queens, New York early Sunday morning, destroying at least eight homes and leaving dozens of people homeless, are still trying to recover from the massive tragedy. According to New York media reports, the fire spread through the attached buildings located along Liberty Avenue and 110th Street. The displaced families and small business owners were directed to the neighbouring Tulsi Mandir, a Hindu religious center, located at 103-26 111st. Several organisations in New York have so far…
Read MoreMayor’s move to have city businesses closed by 16:30h will further cripple private sector – business owners
BY DEVINA SAMAROO In an announcement that sent shockwaves through the city, Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Green declared that city businesses have been operating beyond hours prescribed by the law and the practice must be immediately stopped. However, the Shops Consolidation (Amendment) Act 2009 states otherwise. Chase Green told a public meeting on Friday that businesses are forbidden from opening on public holidays, on Sundays and beyond 16:30h (4:30pm) daily; warning that efforts will be made to ensure law and order is restored. The announcement startled many business operators in…
Read MoreControversial Region 9 REO interdicted from duty – Bulkan
Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan has announced that Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo), Carl Parker has been off the job for over one week and that a replacement REO has since been installed. During an interview with the Government Information Agency, the Minister disputed reports in some sections of the media that Parker was still on the job. According to Bulkan, Kerwin Ward, formerly of the Region Three administration has assumed the responsibility of acting REO of Region Nine. Ward has been with the Region Three…
Read MoreDouble standards? …Govt reappoints 74 year-old as Guyoil Chairman
Former People’s National Congress Chief Whip, 74-year-old Lance Carberry, was recently reappointed Chairman of the Guyana Oil Company (Guyoil). Carberry was reappointed despite President David Granger’s announcement that Government is reviewing its policy on age and retirement for State agencies, boards and commissions with a view of building a pool of expertise among theyounger generation. President Granger had made the disclosures on the heels of a major outcry over his administration’s decision to terminate the services of Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority Justice Cecil Kennard who is also over…
Read MoreMore protests in Georgetown
…this time to challenge Govt’s imposition of 14% VAT on private education Parents, students and other concerned stakeholders will take to the streets on February 28 to protest Government’s imposition of 14 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on private education – a decision which many are urging to be repealed. Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo in a statement to the media on Tuesday, called on the Government to reverse the imposition of VAT on private education. “We say to the Government that if they so badly need revenue, then cut…
Read MoreMr Bulkan is uttering untruths in foolishly denying what he said
Dear Editor, I wish to respond to a letter by Mr Ronald Bulkan, Communities Minister, in which he accused me of making baseless statements in relation to the Government’s payment to BK International of more than G$1 billion on a mere letter threatening litigation. Let me say that my statement was based on an article published in the media on August 23, 2016. The front page headline read “Government pays BK US$5.7M on a simple threat”. The article quotes Mr Bulkan as the source for the headline. It was an…
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