2019 – Page 116 – Guyana Times International

Manickchand urges abused women to seek help

May 31, 2019May 31, 2019 TIMES INT'L

In just under five months, the lives of at least five women were snatched at the hands of their lovers and has sprouted worry among almost every Guyanese. Former Education Minister Priya Manickchand, who was at the forefront of a number of legislation to protect women’s rights when she was Human Services Minister and Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), has been very vocal on violence against women and was, in fact, representing a young mother, who was found dead earlier this month. Manickchand said that she is deeply saddened over…

Slackness

May 31, 2019May 31, 2019 TIMES INT'L

…and PNC garrison politics Some folks wondered why the PNC had spent G$40 million to purchase and distribute tickets for their supporters to attend the Buju Banton concert at the National Stadium as part of the “Independence Carnival”. After all, when the PPP had also supported some concerts while in office, the PNC had trenchantly criticised them for pandering to the lowest common denominator in THEIR constituency! Or is it okay for the PNC to pander, ‘cause the PPP’s pandering might be tainted with poaching? But the dancehall artiste of…

Guyana Carnival Parade attracts thousands

May 31, 2019May 31, 2019 TIMES INT'L

Guyanese from all walks of life flocked the route to observe and participate in this year’s Guyana Carnival Parade in observance of Guyana’s 53rd Independence Anniversary. As expected, the revellers rocked the streets and delivered, even though the inclement weather prevented the events from starting at the scheduled time. The three main “party trucks” assembled at the corner of Camp and Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown, around 14:00h before heading to the D’Urban Park around 18:00h where it concluded. Thousands of Guyanese who came out to support the event were blown away…

Guyana Govt considering IDB support for communities hosting Venezuelans

May 31, 2019May 31, 2019 TIMES INT'L

Citizenship Minister Winston Felix on Wednesday said he is considering a proposal of financial support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to enhance the services available in communities where Venezuelan migrants have settled. Minister Felix was at the time leading the Multi-Agency Coordinating Committee on Venezuelan migration to Guyana in a meeting with the IDB, which was held in the boardroom of the Department of Citizenship. He noted that the Government has been trying its utmost to host Venezuelan migrants, which has put some strain on its resources. “As a…

3-day oil spill response training wraps up in Guyana

May 31, 2019May 31, 2019 TIMES INT'L

A three-day oil spill response training workshop wrapped up with members of the Volunteer Emergency Response Team (VERT) programme participating in a simulation exercise at Splashmin’s Resort on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway. The workshop, which is a collaboration between the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and ExxonMobil, was launched on May 21, 2019, and engaged VERT participants in sessions geared towards capacity-building in oil spill response. In an invited comment to the Department of Public Information, ExxonMobil’s Oil Response Advisor, Thomas Tomblin, expressed being impressed with the team’s response. “They were inquisitive…

Adams proud of her achievements

May 31, 2019May 31, 2019 TIMES INT'L

…remains focused on 2020 The University of Guyana athletics team have returned from Colombia after recently participating in the University Games that was held on May 20-26. For the Leoni Adams the journey was one to remember as she copped a total of four medals, namely one gold in the triple jump, bronze in the long jump and silver medals for the 4x100m and 4×400m respectively. Speaking with Guyana Times International Sport in an exclusive interview, Adams; when asked about her performance said, “It wasn’t my best performance but I’m…

Missing the boat…

May 31, 2019May 31, 2019 TIMES INT'L

…on children’s rights On so many issues, the PNC-led Government has just been “all talk and no action”; invariably, their “talk” has just been political white noise. Take, for instance, the issue of “children’s rights”. In 2015, they were invited by the Rights of the Child Commission (RCC) to talk to schoolchildren about their human rights; and, of course, seeing that he didn’t have a portfolio apart from writing a column in the Chronic, PM Moses Nagamootoo was assigned the task!! Now, if there’s one thing Nagamootoo’s good at, it’s…

115 cops authorised to use breathalysers in Guyana

May 31, 2019May 31, 2019 TIMES INT'L

A total of 115 Police officers were recently authorised to use breath analysing instruments, otherwise known as breathalysers – devices used for estimating blood alcohol content. Guyana Times International understands that only authorised officers are allowed to conduct these tests on civilians who are suspected to be driving under the influence of alcohol. The names of these cops were published in the Official Gazette on May 25, 2019, and Traffic Chief Linden Isles is among them. The Gazette states, “In exercise of the powers conferred upon him by Section 39C…

Gender stereotypes

May 31, 2019May 31, 2019 TIMES INT'L

With the PNC-led Government’s blessings, “Carnival” is now integrated into our Independence commemoration. This year, it kicked off with “Rum and Ramajay”, “Wet Wednesday”, “Stinging Nettles”, “Stink and Dutty Jouvert”, and culminated with the Dancehall music of Buju Banton. Since the Government simultaneously announced its commitment to fight “Gender Based Violence”, we publish the following as advice by a young Guyanese: “As Lady Saw, legendary female dancehall singer, says, ‘man a di least of mi problem’.” However, this phrase could not be further from the reality for most women in…

Hope for all Guyanese lies in that equality promised at the ballot box on Election Day

May 31, 2019May 31, 2019 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, Recent events in our nation have brought Jean Jacques Rousseau’s famous quote “When the people shall have nothing more to eat, they will eat the rich” sharply to mind, for we are entering that period in our history where it is happening before our eyes. The Guyana of my youth was characterised by friendships that crossed social, ethnic and economic barriers; parents did not interfere with these relationships and being ‘rich’ or ‘poor’ was never an issue, integrity of character was the only benchmark applied. I fear that…