The world, more particularly New Zealand, is trying to come to grips with the horror of last Friday’s (March 15) shooting that left 50 people dead and many others injured, some critically. Many watched in complete shock on social media as a lone gunman opened fire on the gatherings at two Mosques during the Friday prayers. It was an attack that was well planned in advance based on various now known facts most evident from the live-streaming. From reports, the Australian-born gunman had earlier published a manifesto in which he…
Read MoreYear: 2019
Phagwah and Power
A short while back, there was a dispute about which day exactly we should celebrate the festival of Holi or Phagwah. Thankfully, that has been resolved, but this year Guyanese are confronted with another challenge: what to do when the agreed-to date for Holi happens to coincide with the date when the present Government loses its legitimacy through the operation of the Constitution, which both parties across the divide, the PPP and PNC (forget about the “others”: they are “rounded up”), agree on the supremacy of that Constitution? How should…
Read MoreThe end game…
…checkmated? Folks are wondering why the PNC is raising such a storm and fury over the elections date – after their immediate acceptance of the consequences of the NCM. What’s the difference even a year would make? Some say they wanted “first oil” to start flowing, so that they could dazzle the electorate with a spending bonanza rivalling those of the “pork- knockers” of yore!! Money to burn! Literally!! There COULD be something there. Exxon’s never deviated from predicting first oil in March 2020, and the coalition Government’s full five-year…
Read More‘Work together to find a solution to current political crisis’
…British envoy urges Guyana’s politicians British High Commissioner to Guyana, Gregory Quinn on Monday reminded that the clock has never stopped ticking on the constitutionally-mandated elections which is due on March 21, 2019. The High Commissioner reiterated his position that the Constitution is the supreme law of Guyana. He was at the time speaking at the 129th Annual General Meeting of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) at the Duke Lodge, Georgetown. Speaking frankly on the subject of the No-Confidence Motion which was passed on December 21, 2018,…
Read MoreHigh energy costs still a major challenge for manufacturers in Guyana – Private Sector
First oil is just around the corner but high energy costs remains a concern for the manufacturing sector; with a Private Sector Commission executive expressing the need for more measures to bring down the costs. In an interview with this publication on the sidelines of a workshop on Monday, PSC Executive, Ramesh Dookhoo shared his thoughts on the budding oil and gas sector, noting that price fluctuations and the high cost of fuel prohibits Guyana from being competitive with other countries. “We still have a huge challenge as a manufacturing…
Read MoreAPNU/AFC’S tight grip on power
While there are some doubts as to whether Emperor Nero actually fiddled while Rome burned, when the history of Guyana is written, there is no question that David Granger will be known as the president who fiddled while Guyana burned. Being a historian, more than most, he is aware of the deep schisms in our society, which have been refracted by the political system to create a very volatile and incendiary condition whenever elections are in the air. When that systemic condition in concatenated with the specific circumstances that have…
Read MoreExxon recruits 24 more Guyanese; to depart for Canada for additional training
Twenty-four Guyanese were added to the ExxonMobil team as operations and maintenance technicians and will be assigned to the Liza Destiny Floating Production, Storage and Offloading Vessel. The team of Guyanese, which includes two females, are expected to receive a one-week orientation exercise in Guyana after which they will depart for additional training at Cape Brenton University, Canada, for 18 months. ExxonMobil noted in a press statement on Tuesday that a significant portion of that time will be spent on Advanced Skills Training in four areas – Operations, Electrical, Instrumentation…
Read MoreFalse equivalence…
…on elections One of the tropes deployed by the PNC-led coalition to cling to power beyond March 21 is to claim “the PPP used to do worse”! Never mind that even if the assertion were true – which is quite a stretch, considering their depravities in a mere 4 years!-they DID promise to do better in 2015, didn’t they?? But on the specific matter that’s precipitating the greatest constitutional crisis in our history – elections – what’s often at play is the “fallacy of false equivalence”. Which is folks claiming…
Read MoreGuyanese at home and in the Diaspora welcome firm statements by foreign reps on political crisis
Dear Editor, The Granger-led fallen APNU/AFC Coalition Government condescendingly attempts to treat the intelligence of Guyanese and that of the representatives of our associating states with an irrational lack of astuteness and deserving candor. The reactions of these institutions and states have been through strong and definitive statements of intent regarding the grounds on which they are prepared to co-exist, and this is pivotal to the advancement of democracy. I and hundreds of thousands of Guyanese at home and in the diaspora welcome the forthrightness and timely statements of the…
Read MoreMash 2019 a massive success, says Director of Culture
The Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport last Friday evening culminated the Mashramani activities 2019 with the annual awards ceremony which gave recognition to the talents shared by outstanding participants.In delivering her report for this year’s activities, Director of Culture Tameka Botswain noted that despite some challenges, Mash 2019 exceeded expectations. “Mash 2019 exceeded expectations. The Department of Culture with the determination to make Mashramani 2019 larger and louder, embarked on an intense campaign in the latter half of 2018 to redefine the way Guyanese see the festival…Mashramani…
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