Dear Editor, I write to add my personal tribute to Andaiye, whom I was fortunate to know from my teenage years, as she was a friend of my father’s. There were few plain speakers in the Guyana of my youth. Many were lions in their private circles and mice in the public sphere. Andaiye was one of the few who spoke truth to power, whatever the circumstances, consistently and fearlessly. It was a trait that continued throughout her life. In her conversations and writing, there was a singular clarity of…
Read MoreYear: 2019
If it’s true, the Minister should reinstate the workers and apologise for her actions
Dear Editor, I am emotionally touched to read an article that was published in your daily newspaper, dated, Monday June 03 2019 under the theme’ New Minister sends personnel department, accountant packing’. Editor, in a country where unemployment is over 40 % and is rampant in all administrative regions, it is shocking to know that our honorable minister takes such a drastic step without thinking by removing the daily bread from the tables of those fired employees. Some of them dedicated over 15 years of their lives serving the Government…
Read MoreDissing…
…Working Girls’ Day Bet you didn’t know that Sunday, June 2nd, was “International Whores Day”, or (more leftist!) “International Sex Workers Day”. And that’s too bad. In an age when the British and Canadian Consulates can join our LBTQ community and march through the streets of Georgetown to push “Gay Pride”, we still have a whole community of folks who are stigmatised for EARNING a living!! Now, sex work didn’t just pop up, did it? Selling one’s body (or various parts of it) for sex – dubbed “prostitution” – is…
Read MoreGNBA records 165 breaches for 2019 thus far
…accessibility for PWD limited compared to other countries The Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has recorded 165 infringements from television and radio broadcasters over the past five months. This was revealed at a stakeholders’ meeting held on Friday last, thus resulting in a significant number of scrutinised cases for 2019. These include profanities, inaccurate reporting, graphic details, substance abuse or irresponsible hosting during general audience time. In January, the figures showed that there were 39 infringements, followed by 40 in February and 49 in March. There was a decline in…
Read MoreTeen awaits sentencing over killing of overseas-based University Professor
After spending the last three years on remand for the murder of a retired overseas based University Professor, the five teenagers who were indicted for the capital offence in 2016, on Tuesday made their first appearance at the Demerara High Court before Justice Navindra Singh to face the allegations. The five accused, who are no longer teenagers were all charged jointly for the capital offence of murder when they made their first court appearance in May of 2016 and were remanded to prison. In court on Tuesday, 18-year-old Naomi Adams…
Read MoreOpposition calls for full disclosure of land deals
The National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) since it took over the privatisation process for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has sold approximately 1000 acres of land to the housing authorities. This was revealed by NICIL’s Special Purpose Unit (SPU) Head Colvin Heath-London, during a press conference. According to Heath-London, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) received almost 300 acres as recent as a month ago. “We have given Central Housing and Planning in excess of 500 acres (of land),” Heath-London explained. “Up to recently, a month ago,…
Read MoreCassava flour in the making
…as 1st cassava factory project in Region 1 set to commence operations Constructed at a total cost of G$26 million, the first-ever Cassava Processing Factory is now completed, and is expected to significantly benefit the residents of the Kwebanna community, located in Moruca, Region One (Barima-Waini). The project, which commenced in December of 2018, was conceptualised with the main goal of providing a string of benefits, with employment opportunities being on top of the list. With the new processing facility now available, residents can now have jobs in either the…
Read MoreDilapidated City Hall building unfit for workers
…Mayor looks at alternative measures to house employees The staff attached to City Hall are expected to be relocated sooner than later due to the dilapidated state of the building located at Regent Street, Georgetown. This was confirmed by His Worship the Mayor, Ubraj Narine during an interview with Guyana Times International on Tuesday where he further stated that the City Treasurer has complained of dust dropping from the ceiling and affecting him and other staff members. Narine also stated that the Mayor’s Complex was also partially damaged, but persons…
Read MoreTullow Oil commences drilling works in Orinduik Block
In keeping with its plans to explore Guyana’s rich offshore resources, a multinational oil and gas exploration company, Tullow Oil, has begun its search for oil in the Orinduik Block. This operation will incorporate the use of the Offshore Support Vessel (OSV) Pacific Leader, which will display international signals for other nearby vessels to be alerted, the Maritime Administration Department said in a notice published in the daily newspapers. This drilling exercise will run until December 31 of this year. The oil company is expected to drill about 82 nautical…
Read MoreA most unfortunate incident: Lessons to be leant
The tragic death of seven-year-old Ciara Benjamin on Saturday last is perhaps the most-talked-about issue in Guyana and the wider Diaspora these past few days. Many persons were in shock and disbelief as photos and videos of the tragedy began to emerge on Facebook and other forms of social media platforms. Mobile phones and high-speed internet made it possible for persons who were at the scene of the accident to broadcast ‘live’ as events unfolded. Many of us were given close-up shots of all that took place, some of which…
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