The contretemps over the operations of the electoral institution, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) during the past year illustrate very vividly one of the major challenges posed in political science – the gap between institutions and practices. One of the constants of political life is that well-meaning individuals are always proposing new institutions to “solve” challenges in their polities. For instance, one recurring proposed institution in Guyana that has been proposed under several guised to address the ethnic polarisation is “shared governance”. Before that, there was the call for “inclusive…
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” I am surprised by the level of Indian-ness in Guyana” – KV Eapen
Though a report on the valuation of the assets of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has not yet been released, Government is optimistic that the divestment process can begin in a matter of months. In a sit down with the media after signing a loan agreement on Friday, Finance Minister Winston Jordan was asked for an update on the divestment process. In his response, he noted that Government is optimistic of starting in the first half of 2019, a fact expressed by President David Granger. “We expect by the first…
Read MoreBerbice woman forced to sleep naked in Police lockups
A Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) woman is alleging that the Police in the region has abused their power by placing her naked in the lock ups while her teenage daughter is also accusing police officers of assaulting her and placing her in the lock ups with adults. Alicia Harry, 35, told this publication that she was arrested on Monday and placed in a cell at the Rose Hall Town Police Outpost without any clothing. The mother of four told this publication that on Monday Police went to arrest her,…
Read MoreHaste to pay sugar severance linked to workers’ constant struggles
Dear Editor, Several sections of the media have reported about the National Assembly’s unanimous approval of supplementary allocation in the sum of G$2.451B. The now approved allocation will see the state-owned GuySuCo settling outstanding severance payments to thousands of workers who lost their jobs following the Government’s decision to close four (4) sugar estates over the last two (2) years. The approval of the sum came 306 days after Skeldon, Rose Hall, and East Demerara Estates were closed and 671 days after Wales Estate met a similar fate. From the…
Read MoreEconomist suggests Govt’s buy-out of Berbice River Bridge for public good
By Samuel Sukhnandan As the time draws closer to the date set for the imposition of fare increases at the Berbice River Bridge, there continues to be great worry over whether this could in fact take effect, or whether the Government would step in and reverse the decision. Overseas-based economist Professor Tarron Khemraj feels that Government should buy over the bridge in its entirety. He told Guyana Times International on Sunday that the bridge is now financially unsustainable, as compared to when the proposal for its construction was implemented. “As…
Read MoreMan jailed for causing death of wife
A 25-year-old man who was charged last year with causing the death of his common-law wife in a motorcycle accident was found guilty and sentenced to two years in jail on Tuesday by Magistrate Fabayo Azore. Laurent McGarrell was arraigned on a charge of causing the death of his 20-year-old common-law wife, Gaitri Sahadeo, who was killed in a motorcycle accident at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on June 23, 2017. A breathalyser test conducted on McGarrell after the accident had determined that he had a blood alcohol level of…
Read MoreWhat is really happening in Guyana?
Dear Editor, I read, with a disturbed mind, about a 53-year-old former Police Officer who raped a three-year child in Guyana. Things like these bother the psyche of humans and we can ask ourselves many questions like: Who can we trust these days with our children? What kind of a human would think in such an evil way about a child? Will a life sentence be good enough, or instant hanging? As I continued reading, about another story of two soldiers raping a young lady, another story popped up whereby…
Read MoreChase-Green makes second appearance before City Hall CoI
In her second appearance to the Commission of Inquiry (CoI), the Mayor of the Georgetown municipality completely distanced herself from the decision-making process at City Hall and further suggested the fact that she is merely a figurehead. In her two and a half long witness statement on Wednesday, Mayor Patricia Chase Green stated under oath that she presides over statutory meetings of the Georgetown City Council, but is required to proceed with the decision that is made by the Councillors. Chase Green also sought to mention that she is guided…
Read MoreRoyston King fails in bid to challenge legality of City Hall CoI
Royston King, Town Clerk of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown (M&CC), has been unsuccessful in his attempt on Monday to obstruct the work of the Commission of Inquiry into City Hall’s operations by filing an affidavit challenging the legality of its establishment. Chairman of the CoI, Justice (Retd) Cecil Kennard, ruled that the probe was duly constituted, and in accordance with provisions made under the Local Government Commission Act and supplementary laws. Having been Town Clerk of the M&CC for some three years, King has been…
Read MoreBitch-slap…
…on the hussy bully David Granger fired former Chancellor of the Judiciary Cecil Kennard from the Police Complaints Office, ostensibly because he was too old — about 80 years. But Granger’s action was exposed for the witch-hunting it was by two sets of events, one retrospective and the other prospective. Kennard had been extremely active in his position, suggesting all kinds of changes – like demanding more investigators, and travelling to all the other regions to take complaints. And then, right after dumping Kennard, Granger went and unilaterally appointed a…
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