Year: 2018

Vishnu Persaud defends track record

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…says he has always acted professionally The top-ranked candidate who has been overlooked and passed up by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for appointment as its next Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO), Vishnu Persaud has broken his silence following the revelations and concerns raised by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP)-nominated Commissioners that there may be ethnic and employment discrimination occurring at the constitutional entity. Speaking with Guyana Times International on Wednesday, Persaud, who is currently unemployed, said that he was now contemplating his next step following the GECOM decision to…

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Sale of Sanata Complex: Privatisation was best option

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On Friday June 8, former PPP Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, and former NICIL CEO, Winston Brassington were further charged on the counts of misconduct in public office, this time for the sale of Sanata Textile Complex to Queens Atlantic Investment Inc (QAII) between October 20, 2010 and December 20, 2010. The charge asserted they “acted recklessly” when they sold the buildings on the parcel of land of 18.871 acres together for G$697,864,800 plus VAT, (total G$809.5M) even though the valuation came in at G$1,042,403,500.00 and claimed the property was…

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Berbice man to spend 18 years behind bars for raping teen boy

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An East Canje, Berbice man was on Monday sentenced to 18 years in jail for raping a teenage boy. The act was committed after the labourer had tied the teen’s hands behind his back. Mahadeo Ramnarine, also called ‘Dougla,’ 48, of East Canje, committed the act on August 14, 2010. The prosecution contended that on that day, the 13-year-old victim was sent by his mother to collect milk, and on his way home, Ramnarine, who was under a tamarind tree, ran towards him and pulled him into the bushes and…

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Former SWAT Head to challenge Felix’s ‘special leave’ decision

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Former SWAT Unit Head Motie Dookie is expected to challenge a decision made by Citizenship Minister Winston Felix while performing the functions of Public Security Minister to send him on special leave with pay, as he believes the move may be illegal and a breach of his fundamental rights as outlined in the Constitution of Guyana. This was confirmed by Dookie’s recently retained Attorney, Anil Nandlall, who is also Guyana’s former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister. Dookie was accused of smuggling 30 cases of whisky in December 2017 and…

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Rodney: A prophet of emancipation

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Thirty-eight years ago, Dr Walter Rodney was assassinated when he was just thirty-eight. While we thought he was too optimistic on the potential for socialism to eradicate racism, and even more so about including Indians in the Caribbean under the banner of “Black Power” in 1969, we still believe the proposal be made the following year on organising Guyanese Indians and Africans, was most realistic. We published it several times since 1998, hoping for a positive responsive from African Guyanese activists. Without success. Dr Rodney said: “Let us take the…

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Exxon advances Liza Phase 1 development

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The Liza Phase One development continues to progress rapidly, with the commencement of development drilling offshore Guyana, ExxonMobil said on Tuesday. Development drilling began in May for the first of 17 wells planned for Phase 1, laying the foundation for production startup in 2020. The company and its co-venturers have so far discovered estimated recoverable resources of more than 3.2 billion oil-equivalent barrels on the Stabroek Block. “The work our teams have done in Guyana is remarkable,” said Liam Mallon, President of ExxonMobil Development Company. “We are well on our…

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Exxon says “tremendous progress” made in increasing Guyanese workforce

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United States (US) oil giant ExxonMobil said it has made significant progress when it comes to increasing its local workforce, by creating opportunities for more Guyanese to join their team. ExxonMobil’s Country Manager, Rod Henson revealed that his company currently employs 585 or 52 per cent Guyanese. The company’s local office grew to 40 employees, of which 70 per cent are Guyanese, he said on Tuesday. Henson made this statement while delivering remarks at the Liza Phase 1 Development reception on Tuesday evening, where he noted that things are progressing…

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Exploring the picturesque: Paramakatoi Village

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The crisp air of the Pakaraimas is just one of the major reasons for living in the picturesque village of Paramakatoi, which is located on the left bank of the Kawa River in the North Pakaraimas. The beautiful settlement is one of the largest and most developed of Amerindian communities in Region 8 and functions as a regional centre for the catchment area. Paramakatoi consists of the central Village and two satellite communities. A Toshao, two senior councillors and 19 other councillors administer Paramakatoi as a whole. The central Village…

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PPP challenges DPP’s decision to withdraw charges against APNU/AFC ministers

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By Michael Younge The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack will soon have to defend her office’s decision to intervene in a matter which saw the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) filing private criminal charges against several Government Ministers, who were implicated in a number of corruption scandals. This was revealed by former Attorney General and current attorney-at-law for the PPP/C, Anil Nandlall who last Friday confirmed that papers and actions officially challenging the DPP’s intervention have been filed within the Courts. He said the DPP’s office’s intervention was completely…

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CJ’s ruling on GECOM Chair reduces Opposition Leader’s role

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…PPP says as appeal filed in High Court The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) on Monday filed an appeal against the High Court’s recent decision to uphold President David Granger’s unilateral appointment of Justice James Patterson as head of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), saying that acting Chief Justice (CJ) Roxane George’s ruling has reduced the Opposition Leader’s role. In court documents seen by this publication, applicant Zulfikar Mustapha’s attorney, Anil Nandlall, stated that Justice Roxane George erred and misdirected herself on interpreting and ruling on Article 161 (2) of the…

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