TIMES INT'L

Duo charged for trafficking ecstasy; granted G$150,000 bail each

October 19, 2018October 19, 2018 TIMES INT'L

A woman and a taxi driver found themselves before the Chief Magistrate on Thursday jointly charged for allegedly trafficking ecstasy. The duo, Kelder Halley, 21, of Gibson Street, Guyhoc Park, Georgetown and Samuel Bruce called Samie Waltz, 25, of Tucville, Georgetown both denied the allegation brought against them. It is being alleged that they, on October 25, 2018, at Gibson Street, Guyhoc Park, had some 63 grams of ecstasy in their possession for the purpose of trafficking. Custom Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Prosecutor, Konyo Sandiford told the Court that the duo…

Balance, objectivity and fairness are the foundation of good journalism

October 19, 2018October 19, 2018 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, I have noted the expressed and implied attack on me on Monday, the 15th October 2018 in a front page article headed “Transparency body sees “Major” conflict of interest for Hugheses over oil.” I wish not to dwell upon the motives for the publication, but merely to provide to the general public information which is, and was at all times, available to the general public on the most cursory of inquiries. On the day of July 4, 2018, I submitted my declaration of assets and interest to the…

Analyst says Govt should consider total buyout of Berbice Bridge

October 19, 2018October 19, 2018 TIMES INT'L

Amid the controversy surrounding the proposed increase in tolls at the Berbice River Bridge, outspoken political activist and former Presidential Advisor Ramon Gaskin is suggesting a total buyout of the bridge by Government so as to resolve the issue. Gaskin on Wednesday said the situation has reached a point where the Government should seek to buy all the shares within the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) as opposed to allowing the company to impose massive increases on the travelling public, which they can ill afford at this point. On Tuesday,…

The Indian Caribbean: Migration and Identity in the Diaspora

October 19, 2018October 19, 2018 TIMES INT'L

Professor Lomarsh Roopnarine Ever since our Indian foreparents stepped aboard the ships that sailed across the kala pani and brought us to the New World, we have become world travellers. The most recent publication from Dr Lomarsh Roopnarine, Professor of Caribbean and Latin American history at Jackson State University, Mississippi, USA, follows our journeys since that initial embarkation which brought us from the known to the unknown with all the opportunities and advantages as well as the setbacks that came with colonialism and plantation life. The main thrust of the…

‘An act of desperation by Coalition Gov’t’

October 19, 2018October 19, 2018 TIMES INT'L

…Opposition Leader says in response to proposed increase in Berbice Bridge tolls The move to increase tolls for the Berbice River Bridge has been dubbed a political gimmick by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, which was orchestrated by the coalition Government. Addressing his weekly press conference on Wednesday at his Church Street, Georgetown office, the Opposition Leader gave several key explanations for his argument. According to him, the toll increases seemed to have come as a result of collusion between Government and the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI). He is of the…

Convicted fraudster jailed for 30 years for raping woman

October 19, 2018October 19, 2018 TIMES INT'L

An eloquent convicted fraudster, Troy Webster, was on Wednesday afternoon handed a prison sentence of 30 years by Sexual Offences Court Judge Jo-Ann Barlow after a majority jury found him guilty of sexually penetrating a woman without her consent. The jury produced the 11-1 verdict after a few hours of deliberation. The rape survivor was 25 years old at the time of the attack, which was said to have occurred on November 21, 2015 at a community in the county of Demerara. The prosecution contended that Webster had also tricked…

Guyana signs oil agreement with Canadian Province

October 19, 2018October 19, 2018 TIMES INT'L

By Jarryl Bryan Guyana on Monday cemented its diplomatic relations with Canada, following Newfoundland and Labrador Natural Resources Minister Siobhan Coady signing a business cooperation agreement with the Government. The agreement was inked between Coady and Business Minister Dominic Gaskin at the Ministry of the Presidency. After signing the agreement, Gaskin noted the importance of Guyana being able to benefit from the wisdom and expertise of oil-producing States. “It’s important for Guyana; that we do develop long-term relations and partnerships with partner Governments, with partner organisations and as we explore…

Culture and alcohol

October 19, 2018October 19, 2018 TIMES INT'L

The number one producer of alcoholic beverages in Guyana, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), recently launched a “drink responsibly” campaign. This is quite commendable in view of the tremendous damage wreaked in our society by alcohol abuse. While alcoholism exists in all communities, like that other social pathology, suicide, it is particularly prevalent among Indian Guyanese, with both arising from their indentureship experience. That origin also helped shape their reaction to alcohol consumption, which – a fact not widely known – is always socially constructed. This should be taken into consideration…

Army ranks implicated in Essequibo Coast rape-robbery fired

October 19, 2018October 19, 2018 TIMES INT'L

Two Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ranks who were implicated in a rape and robbery on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), have been fired. A source close to the investigation told Guyana Times International on Wednesday that the two were fired on Tuesday. “Because of the nature of the allegations, it was in the best interest of the GDF to let them go,” the source said. Meanwhile, a close relative of the rape victim told this publication that she remains traumatised by the incident, which occurred last Saturday at the…

Miners in Guyana protest Govt’s crackdown

October 12, 2018October 12, 2018 TIMES INT'L

…say callous, uncaring approach will create more hardships A large group of small miners in Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) on Wednesday protested the seizure of their mining equipment by operatives of Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) as they expressed calls for amnesty. The miners gathered in the town of Mahdia as they stood united, saying “bread” is being taken out of their mouths as they called for total amnesty after their equipment were seized. The miners accused the David Granger led-administration of snatching their livelihood from them. The protest…