2017 – Page 173 – Guyana Times International

Berbice domestic worker’s murder: 5 suspects remanded

February 17, 2017February 20, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Five persons were remanded on Wednesday for the murder of a Corentyne domestic worker, Lilawatie Muhammed last week. The five suspects: Oliver Permaul, 36, of Lot 100 Tain; his wife, Nazeema Permaul, 42, a businesswoman of the same address; Andre James, also called “Andy”, 26, a tattoo artist of Lot 46 A George Street, Rose Hall Town; Rohan Johnson, also called “Jamakie”, 38, a carpenter of Clardon Jamaica and Lot 107 Second Street, Rose Hall Town and his reputed wife Shabikie Alber, also called “Shabikie Thompson”, appeared at the Number…

Opposition moving to file private criminal charges against Govt officials

February 17, 2017February 20, 2017 TIMES INT'L

The Parliamentary Opposition, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), has signalled its intention to file private criminal charges against Government officials and is hoping that these charges will also test the immunity of the President. This was announced by PPP General Secretary and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo during a press conference on Monday morning at Freedom House, Robb Street. He said these private criminal charges will include charges against Government officials who have enriched themselves from the exorbitant salary increases in 2015. “The argument they are making about enrichment, the asset…

Relatives suspect foul play in death of Berbice cane harvester

February 17, 2017February 20, 2017 TIMES INT'L

The body of a man was found on the shore of the Berbice River on Tuesday morning after he went missing Monday afternoon. Relatives suspect foul play. Dead is Ramesh Seegolam, also called “Mickey”, 30, a cane harvester attached to the Rose Hall Sugar Estate, of Pepper Street, Heatburn, East Bank Berbice. According to information, Seegolam had gone swimming on Monday afternoonwith a couple and a young child. When they returned to the community, without the man, the child and the couple allegedly gave different accounts of what happened at…

In support of a referendum on Constitutional changes

February 17, 2017February 20, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, This has reference to a recent news item on the Privy Council Brexit ruling by the UK Supreme Court. In the UK, there was a referendum. The UK Supreme Court ruled that Parliamentary approval is also required for Brexit. The Guyana Court of Appeals (led by the Chancellor) is expected to hand down its ruling on the government’s appeal of the decision by the High Court (Judge Ian Chang, Ret’d) declaring presidential term limits unconstitutional. The CJ ruled that changes to the constitution pertaining to rights must be…

How can the Govt apply VAT on private education in Guyana?

February 17, 2017February 20, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, The importance of education cannot be stressed enough. We know that education is the key to the future, the key to success and the key to this country’s growth. I can’t understand therefore how it is even possible to consider taxing such a crucial service, or indeed a service like private health care for that matter. Unfortunately the damage has already been done and I am concerned for my future and those of my colleagues who are in the private education system. A merit good is one which…

The APNU/AFC regime is driving Guyana along the same destructive road the PNC took

February 17, 2017February 20, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, It appears that the Granger regime is determined to show that Burnham’s policies were correct and they could work in our country. From the inception of this Government, it picked up from where the People’s National Congress (PNC) left off and has been hastily implementing many measures that are a throwback to the worst days of the PNC regime. Last week, the Government finally admitted that there is a significant shortage of foreign currency in the market. That, of course, has been known for a while and was…

Constitutional reform in Guyana should be taken seriously

February 17, 2017February 20, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, In welcoming the recent interest of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in constitutional reform, the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) hopes that it will serve to revitalise domestic interest on the issue. As a civic organisation that emerged in response to the infamous Referendum of 1978, which sought to legitimise the current Constitution and, as an active participant in multiple subsequent coalitions and initiatives to redress its baleful effects, the GHRA has been disturbed by the seemingly ambivalent commitment of the APNU/AFC coalition Government to constitutional reform.…

Guyanese Diaspora?

February 17, 2017February 20, 2017 TIMES INT'L

The University of Guyana (UG) announced that it will host its inaugural “Diaspora Engagement Conference” from July 23-28, 2017, under the theme ‘Dreaming Diaspora Engagement, Doing Diaspora Engagement’. More specifically, it claims the Conference would provide the platform to develop a diaspora engagement strategy that would inform the work of the first “Caribbean Diaspora Engagement Centre” which will be launched during the conference. But in that statement, there are several ambiguities that need to be clarified. While the conference claims to be an “inaugural” one, it followed several engagements initiated…

They deserve an “F”

February 17, 2017February 20, 2017 TIMES INT'L

…Jagdeo says of APNU/AFC Govt’s performance Tuesday marked the second anniversary of the formation of the coalition, but their performance in government is nothing worth celebrating, according to Opposition Leader BharratJagdeo who, on Monday, ridiculed President David Granger’s A Grade of his Administration. Jagdeo said the President’s assessment was proof that he was trapped in a cocoon and completely out of touch with reality. “They are increasingly growing aloof and out of touch with reality and that it’s permeated the entire Government all the way to the top, all the…

Cocaine in shoes at JFK: Guyanese man to face charges soon

February 17, 2017February 20, 2017 TIMES INT'L

A Guyanese man was arrested after US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered cocaine valued US$67,000 hidden in footwear, at the John F Kennedy International Airport, New York. He was subsequently turned over to Homeland Security. According to the CBP agency, the man arrived on a flight from Georgetown, Guyana via Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on February 9, 2017and wasabout to ‘walk’ past officers, but was stopped. During the course of the inspection, CBP officers discovered four pairs of sneakers and two pairs of shoes in his…