The Bone Flute* Dead Writers Society

The Embassy of Mexico in Georgetown, Guyana, recently commemorated one of its country’s most revered festivals – the Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos, a special time set aside to remember and to pay homage to departed loved ones and to by way of related activities support them on their spiritual journey. Dia de los Muertos is not unlike many Western traditions and festivals including All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. This year 2018, the festival was devoted to the following eminent writers, Sir Wilson Harris, Sergio Pistol,…

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Chef jailed for trafficking cocaine

A 34-year-old chef who was nabbed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) with 89 cocaine pellets in his stomach was on Monday jailed. Hosanna Moses, of Lot 35 Fourth Street, Kingston, Georgetown, was jailed when he appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Moses admitted that between November 14 and 16, 2018 at the Georgetown Public Hospital, he had in his possession 888 grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. The prosecution’s case, presented by Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore, stated that Moses was an outgoing…

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It’s not about elections; it’s about governing

Dear Editor I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the People Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) on its success during the Local Government Elections (LGE). Let us take this time to recognise that it is not just about winning elections (be it Local Government Elections or General Elections). It is about how you Govern that matters. The PPP/C lost the 2015 General Elections because the majority of people believed that its governance style left a lot to be desired. In this day and age, people expect accountability, transparency and good…

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“My heart bleeding is me only son”

By Lakhram Bhagirat Mothers are these tough shells filled with all kinds of warmth and quite often we take them for granted and because of their immense strength, we are taken aback when we see them collapse emotionally. But how does a mother find the strength to move on after one of her babies is snatched by the vile hands of death. How do we measure the level of grief she experiences or how do we even begin to console her? It is a herculean task that many of us…

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Farmer busted with cocaine

Ranks of the Guyana Police Force’s Narcotics Branch in G Division (Essequibo Islands-Coast) on Tuesday morning arrested a citrus farmer after he was busted with a quantity of cocaine. The discovery was made after Police received a tip. According to reports, the Police went to the Upper Pomeroon River area early Tuesday morning where they conducted a search on the farmer’s premises. During the search, they unearthed 2.22 kilograms of cocaine. The narcotic was wrapped in two parcels. The farmer was taken into custody and was being processed for court.…

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President expresses gratitude to well-wishers

…upon return to Guyana President David Granger has expressed his profound gratitude to his Cabinet members, staff and the rest of the nation for their support, prayers and well wishes for his complete recovery, at a welcome home and prayer ceremony hosted, on Wednesday morning, at State House. “Thank you for your expressions of concern over the last three weeks… Throughout that time, I received greetings from you all and from other well-wishers and, more than the greetings, prayers and I am truly grateful,” he said. The President also expressed…

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Coalition partners apologise over mistreatment of media at press conference

One day after the Guyana Press Association (GPA) had blasted the coalition Government for condoning disrespect meted out to media workers at a joint press conference hosted by the APNU and AFC factions of Government, the Government has issued an apology to the GPA. The media was invited to this joint press conference, held at Congress Place, Sophia on Friday; but much to the media’s surprise, party supporters were at the briefing. As questions were being asked of the parties’ leaders, members of the media corps were heckled by those…

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No-confidence motion will force Govt to take notice of citizens’ concerns

…Opposition Even though the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has filed a no- confidence motion against the Government, the Party believes the coalition’s losses at the Local Government Elections (LGE) are the public’s own vote of no confidence. In an interview with Guyana Times International, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo explained that his party has observed the dissatisfaction of the people, and as such, took action as the people’s representatives. “People spoke about this. They’re very dissatisfied, through the election results,” Jagdeo said. “And we’re just bringing that dissatisfaction, their voice, to…

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Third Force Politics in a divided polity

This was originally written in 2006. With the imminent absorption of the AFC and WPA into the PNC, it’s clear the more things change, the more they remain the same! “There appears to be some ambiguity in the public sphere about the notion of a “Third Force” at the present conjuncture in Guyanese politics. We offer one perspective to stimulate discussion. Modern Guyanese politics is universally accepted to have begun with the launching of the PPP in 1950. There were, of course, several other parties that contested the 1953 elections,…

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Guyana Govt announces salary increases for public servants

– payments retroactive from January 2018 By Jarryl Bryan As of Monday, Government approved salary increases across a number of pay ranges for public servants; inclusive of retroactive payments from January 2018, one week ahead of the reading of next year’s budget. This is according to a circular dated November 19, 2018, that was sent out by the Finance Ministry to the heads of all budget agencies and seen by Guyana Times international. According to the document, persons earning less than G$100,000 a month will receive a seven per cent…

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