2019 – Page 89 – Guyana Times International

Family of Tuschen accident victim calls for probe

July 5, 2019 TIMES INT'L

The pedestrian, who was killed along the Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) Public Road in the wee hours of Sunday morning was on Monday identified as 17-year-old Azeez Mohammed of Lot 63 Ocean Garden, Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara (WCD), by family members. The teen was reportedly killed by an allegedly speeding motor vehicle whilst attempting to cross the public road. In an interview with Guyana Times International, Samantha Mohammed, sister of the dead teen, explained that her younger brother had left home at about 17:00h on Sunday to attend a…

Berbice G$200M model farm ‘abandoned’

July 5, 2019 TIMES INT'L

The 35-acre, G$200 million model farm at Fort Wellington, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) is a waste of taxpayers’ money according to Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal, who further said that there is nothing to show how the money was spent. Ramphal told Guyana Times International that the model farm is in a deplorable state and that nothing of substance was done there. “This land is actually in an abandon stage whereby it is filled with bush and overgrowth. It is clearly showing the wasteful spending of taxpayers’ money,” the Regional Chairman said.…

Aspiring doctor, economist top 2019 NGSA

July 5, 2019July 5, 2019 TIMES INT'L

By Rupadai Seenaraine Anticipation and mixed reactions resonated on Wednesday morning as the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) results were officially released, paving the way for Venisha Lall of CV Nunes Primary and Dave Chowtie of Graham’s Hall Primary to secure the top spot after gaining 532 marks. An overwhelmed Chowtie told the Guyana Times International that he did not expect to emerge at the very top but was confident that he would have succeeded. “I don’t…

Guyana’s Opposition seeking order directing President, Cabinet to resign

July 5, 2019July 5, 2019 TIMES INT'L

Ahead of the July 12 hearing where the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) will hand down consequential orders in the No-Confidence Motion cases, lawyers for the various parties have submitted their proposals for what the Court should order. The CCJ had previously given each side until July 1, 2019, to make written submissions varying from 20 to 40 pages in length. Attorney Sanjeev Datadin, who represents former Alliance for Change Parliamentarian Charandass Persaud, in his submission asked that…

ERC still probing Govt’s calls for protests, “troubles”

July 5, 2019July 5, 2019 TIMES INT'L

The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) is still investigating the recent calls made by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan and Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo for protests and “troubles” during government outreach held in Bartica two weeks ago. The high ranking Government officials made those comments as they pointed out that the David Granger-led administration is not prepared to call elections unless House-to-House Registration is carried out, regardless of what the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) or anyone says. Chairman of the Commission, Dr…

World Bank scores Guyana zero for electricity reliability

July 5, 2019July 5, 2019 TIMES INT'L

Taking account of the energy sectors in 190 countries ranging from developed to developing, the World Bank has ranked Guyana at an unflattering 165 position when it comes to reliable electricity supply. This is contained in the bank’s Doing Business 2019 report, which was recently released. While Guyana was ranked at 134 out of 190 countries when it comes to facilitating business, its score in the energy sector was much worse. On a scale of 0 to 100, Guyana was scored at 45.91 when it comes to getting electricity, while…

‘President wants his own way’ – Ramkarran

July 5, 2019July 5, 2019 TIMES INT'L

The suggestion by President David Granger that he be allowed to submit nominees for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman continues to befuddle legal minds, with two analysts questioning whether this is may be a ruse to further delay the election process. During an appearance on the Globespan 24×7 live show in New York on Sunday, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall noted that the letter in which the suggestion was made, which was penned on Granger’s behalf by Director General Joseph Harmon, entirely misinterpreted what the Caribbean Court of justice…

Indian Envoy ‘disappointed’ Specialty Hospital project was scrapped

July 5, 2019July 5, 2019 TIMES INT'L

By Vahnu Manikchand Outgoing Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Venkatachalam Mahalingam, said he was disappointed that the Specialty Hospital Project, which had been marred in controversy since its initial stage, did not take off ground. The US$18 million project, which was being funded by the India Export/Import (EXIM) Bank via a line of credit (LOC), was dropped in 2016 after the contracted company, Fedders Lloyd Corporation Limited – was handpicked by the coalition administration— was blacklisted by the World Bank until 2020 over fraud and corruption practices. The Guyanese Government…

‘Land grab’ taking place at strategic locations

July 5, 2019July 5, 2019 TIMES INT'L

…Opposition calls for probe Attempts by the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission (GL&SC) to justify its action in the allocation of thousands of acres of land to persons aligned with the Government still leaves several unanswered questions. According to the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) on Saturday, the GL&SC in its ‘half-baked’ attempt to explain its actions, had still not explained the rationale for the distribution of land in prime locations along the Demerara River that will now be worth over US$100 million. The Party noted that the value for this…

Bureaucratic hijinks…

July 5, 2019July 5, 2019 TIMES INT'L

…at Lands and Surveys OK…OK…we know that Trevor Benn, the present CEO of the Guyana Lands &Survey Commission (GL&SC) – which is in charge of doling out State lands for housing, agriculture and development – was once a big one in the PNC youth arm – the Young Socialist Movement (YSM). Nothing is wrong with that…we all make mistakes in our youth!! But did he have to be so POLITICAL in his response to the charges made by the Leader of the Opposition about lands being handed out like “sweetie”…