TIMES INT'L

Tough times for Skeldon residents due to estate closure

July 19, 2019July 19, 2019 TIMES INT'L

The Skeldon Sugar Estate has been the main source of income in the Upper Corentyne area but since its closure in 2017, the livelihoods of the sacked workers and their families have fallen apart. A recent visit to Skeldon proved that families are still trying to make ends meet as they shared their sentiments on the effect the closure has had on them. A market vendor disclosed that she has not made a profit from her vegetables because people in the area cannot afford to purchase those items. “All my…

Anti-national…

July 19, 2019July 19, 2019 TIMES INT'L

…President Your Eyewitness must confess that whatever regard he had for the now officially “caretaker President” David Granger has been dissipated with his “address to the nation” following the CCJ’s consequential orders. Previously, I’d suggested that Granger might be suffering from “dogmatic subjectivism” – the mental defect in some folks who assume that whatever they believe has to be the “TRUTH”, regardless of contrary FACTS that are presented to them. They tend to carry on with righteous fervour in defending their positions and are invariably dismissive of other views. Remember…

“They are a fisherman’s children”

July 19, 2019July 19, 2019 TIMES INT'L

…Savitri Ramkishun tells the story of her sons’ determination to be fishermen By Lakhram Bhagirat They were on the Atlantic Ocean drifting for five days and had nothing to eat. Their sink was being baked in the sun. They were dehydrated and forced to drink the salted sea water. They had no food but made meals of dried, uncooked macaroni and sun-baked fish. They called and waved to several passing boats in the open water but no one came to their rescue. They had never experienced such hardship since they…

US envoy urges all stakeholders to play their role in ensuring Guyana is positioned for success

July 19, 2019July 19, 2019 TIMES INT'L

The governments of Guyana and the United States of America (USA) have once again pledged their commitment to support and cooperate, as they aim to strengthen bilateral agreements with each other. This message was conveyed during a reception at the US Ambassador’s residence last Friday evening to celebrate the country’s 243rd Independence Anniversary. President David Granger – whose Administration is now a caretaker Government following the Caribbean Court of Justice’s ruling that it was toppled after the successful passage of a No-Confidence Motion on December 21, 2018 – who delivered…

UG searches for new VC

July 19, 2019July 19, 2019 TIMES INT'L

…process could take months The University of Guyana will be appointing a new official to fill the position of Vice Chancellor but it is a process that can take anywhere between six to nine months. Speaking with Guyana Times International on Monday, Pro-Chancellor of the University, Retired Major-General Joseph Singh explained that this comes after Professor Ivelaw Griffith declined to renew his contract to serve another tenure in that capacity. He noted that the process to select a new VC will take some time. Consequently, the UG administration is currently…

GECOM officials who flout orders will be hit with sanctions – Opposition-nominated Commissioners

July 19, 2019July 19, 2019 TIMES INT'L

Three of the commissioners from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) have warned officers at the body to comply with the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) directive and work towards holding elections, lest they be hit with sanctions for breaking the law. In a statement last Saturday, Opposition nominated Commissioners Bibi Shadick, Sase Gunraj and Robeson Benn, urged GECOM and its Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield to awake from their slumber and immediately begin preparations for elections. “Upon the passage of this motion of no confidence the clear provisions Article 106…

Child advocacy centres in Regions 10, 4 underway

July 19, 2019July 19, 2019 TIMES INT'L

The Social Protection Ministry, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has recently concluded an evaluation exercise in Kwakwani, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) and Timehri, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), where construction of Child Advocacy Centres are now underway. This was disclosed by Region Four Health Officer Quincy Jones, who noted that the initiative was one developed by the Social Protection Ministry in its effort to provide and properly care for vulnerable children. UNICEF has so far contributed to the initiation of these projects by donating some G$4 million in…

Voters’ list can be cleaned up in Claims and Objections period – APNU/AFC pollster

July 19, 2019July 19, 2019 TIMES INT'L

…says President should call elections The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) pollster, Peter Wickham appeared on a News Talk Radio Guyana panel discussion on Sunday, recommending that President David Granger calls general and regional elections as soon as possible without House-to-House Registration. In a panel discussion post Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) consequential orders, the political scientist argued that the coalition Government would have contested the 2011 and 2015 polls with the list that expired on April 30, 2019 and won same. According to a Demerara…

Guyana introduces app to help farmers market goods

July 19, 2019July 19, 2019 TIMES INT'L

The Tele-communications Ministry, in collaboration with the Agriculture Ministry, on Tuesday launched a website dubbed FarmersMarket.gy to help farmers sell their produce on both the local and international markets. The trading platform will enable farmers to buy and sell fresh fruits and vegetables for now. In the near future, the Farmers Market App will be extended to include the marketing of livestock, poultry, fish and dairy. Farmers will, however, have to be certified by the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) by proving their goods are of an exceptional…

“I’m a fisherman since I was 9 years old”

July 19, 2019July 19, 2019 TIMES INT'L

…“Braff” tells his story of hard work, determination and success By Lakhram Bhagirat One thing that is guaranteed in life is the fact that at some point, there is going to be struggles, but how we deal with those struggles is what truly defines us as individuals. The struggles we encounter should not be what defines us, rather we should use those struggles to achieve our end goals. On the paved road, there is always going to be bumps but when we fall, we should get back up, dust off…