A Linden (Upper Demerara- Berbice) resident was on Thursday slapped with two counts of assault charges, including one committed on a police officer who attempted to arrest him for allegedly assaulting a woman. Kerwin Eawick who resides at South Amelia’s Ward, Linden stood before the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan and denied all two charges after they were read to him. The first charge alleged that the 24-year-old man inflicted grievous bodily harm on Sharon Clarke while they both were in the vicinity of Central Amelia’s Ward, Linden on October 21,…
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Govt, Opposition clash over breach in fiscal laws for property valuation
Opposition Member of Parliament, Irfaan Ali on Wednesday called out Government for what he said was a violation of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act with the commencement of works in the property valuation project ahead of the official start which is scheduled for next year. However, Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan in his defence claimed it was a pilot project that was started this year. The Administration is moving full steam ahead with its property valuations for 2019 with a G$320 million contract which was signed with the Municipal Property…
Read MoreStockfeeds shares on the stock market will not rectify Govt’s conundrum- Nandlall
The National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) placing Government’s shares in Guyana Stockfeeds Inc on the local stock market will not absolve the incumbent Administration of the conundrum that it has placed itself in. This was the view proffered by former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, who, in a statement on the move by NICIL to place 6,099,927 of its equity shares in Stockfeeds on the stock exchange, said that the crux of his issue deals with Stockfeeds purchasing shares from NICIL, with the approval of Cabinet, below market value.…
Read MoreGovt, Opposition squabble over allocations for Forest Inventory study
The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) has maintained that Government contracts are awarded through a transparent tendering process. But there was much confusion on Tuesday in the National Assembly when the Government was asked for details on the consultant carrying out the Forest Inventory Project. Under questioning from the Parliamentary Opposition, Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, informed the National Assembly that the works were being carried out by the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC). The Junior Minister gave details of what the project would entail.…
Read MoreCourt awards G$21M to mother of man killed by Cops
…police actions “negligent and callous” – Judge More than four years after two Guyana Police Force (GPF) ranks were freed of the October 5, 2012 shooting to death of Damien Belgrave outside the White Castle Fish Shop in Georgetown, the young man’s mother, Donna Sulker, has been awarded almost G$22 million in damages by the High Court. The decision was handed down by Justice Sandil Kissoon, who presided over the Statement of Claim proceedings that the woman filed in December 2012. She was represented by attorney Nigel Hughes. The State…
Read More2 months later: ERC still probing GECOM’s hiring practices
Two months after retired Judge and Senior Counsel (SC) Stanley Moore was hired to probe the employment practices at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the investigation is not yet complete. However, Guyana Times International was reliably informed that the three-man team is close to wrapping up the inquiry with a view to completing the investigation before year end. Justice Moore, in collaboration with former Deputy Commissioner of Police Lloyd Smith and human resources consultant Jairam Petam, was to complete the investigation in three weeks during October. However, the time was…
Read MoreThe masses will speak decisively come 2020
Dear Editor, I am reminded of an article titled, ‘Party Paramountcy’ which was published in Caribbean Life in August 2016 which aptly summarises the PNC’s ideology during the Burnham dark era. It stated that, ‘Burnham ruled Guyana using his publicly proclaimed euphemism: “party paramountcy.” The party, not the state, controlled the arms of the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Police, departments of government and, in critical matters, parts of the judiciary, the electoral machinery, the media, the trade unions.’ It went further to state that, ‘Burnham possessed two additional arms:…
Read MoreParliament…
…and dishonourable PM The House of Commons, after which our National Assembly is modelled, runs on a host of traditions and conventions. Much of these have to do with regulating the behaviour of the members – who, after all, represent the “commoners” or lower classes, as opposed to the aristocracy. It is the custom, for instance, in Parliamentary democracies, for the members of the House to refer to each other as “the Honourable Member”. This, it was hoped, would encourage MPs not to descend into gutter language or fistfights, with…
Read MoreTeen killed in WBD collision; friend critical
A West Bank Demerara (WBD) teen lost his life on the Bagotville Public Road on Wednesday night and his friend is in a critical condition when the motorcycle in which they were traversing on collided head-on with a hire car. Dead is 19-year-old, Dan Batson while 20-year-old, Trevon Callender, the pillion rider is currently battling for his life at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH). According to reports, the duo were proceeding on motorcycle CJ 2217 without headlamps south along the public road reportedly at a fast rate at about…
Read MoreSARA clarifies remuneration for senior officers
After it was disclosed in the National Assembly during the consideration of the estimates and expenditure for the 2019 National Budget, that the top officials of the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) earn millions in salaries, the Agency’s Deputy Director has come out to defend the monies spent. Attorney General Basil Williams on Monday told the National Assembly that SARA’s Director, Professor Clive Thomas earns almost G$4.7 million while its Deputy Director, Aubrey Heath-Retmeyer earns over G$3 million in remuneration. During the Legal Affairs Ministry’s consideration, the sum of G$285…
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