Author: TIMES INT'L

Three Singles to Adventure by Gerald Durrell

TIMES INT'L

The phrase ‘procreative expletive’ in the book Three Singles to Adventure’ by India-born British naturalist, zookeeper, and conservationist Gerald Durrell hooked my attention, in the first instance, due to a local video that had gone viral recently leading to the courts, and I further say not on that matter. That phrase was there when I first read the book in the late 1960s (macaw on cover; there were umpteen cover designs by various publishing houses issued down the ages) as it was present when the book was first published in…

Read More

Political parties, politicians must be held accountable for electoral offences – Jagdeo

TIMES INT'L

… as names of 51 backers who said they never signed AFC’s list removed … over 151 disputed names still remain as deadline for changing passes There must be some electoral offence committed by people, political parties or politicians if they use the names of others without their authorization, fraudulently or with intent to mislead them. These were the remarks uttered by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary and Opposition Leader Dr Bharrat Jagdeo at his weekly press briefing on Thursday, when he addressed the issue of the names of…

Read More

Guyana in bracket of countries that misallocate public funds- IDB report finds

TIMES INT'L

A recent report from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has found that Guyana falls into the bracket of countries that misallocate public funds, particularly in the health sector, when smarter budgeting could provide better services for citizens at no extra cost. The report is titled “Better spending for better lives: How Latin America and the Caribbean can do more with less”. It found that several countries could improve their health sector indicators by making their spending policies more in tune with international efficiency standards. “Countries on the efficiency frontier are…

Read More

Teachers’ salary impasse: Rejecting Govt appointed Arbitrator, Union mulling further strike action

TIMES INT'L

By Davina Ramdass The Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) on Wednesday did not turn up at a meeting with the Education Ministry, as the teachers’ saga continued for a fourth week, with the Union now threatening to resume strike action in seven days’ time should the matter regarding the arbitration chairman not be resolved. But the Education Ministry is fighting back, promising to take legal action should teachers return to the streets. The General Secretary of the Union, Coretta McDonald, spoke with media operatives after boycotting Wednesday’s meeting where she informed,…

Read More

American Airlines, Travelspan partnering for NYC/Guyana flights

TIMES INT'L

Travelspan Vacations has announced a new sales agreement with United States carrier, American Airlines (AA), for the new North America to Guyana routes. The travel agency said on Tuesday this agreement will bridge the gap by supplying more seats and another option for travel in the market. American Airlines is set to commence operations in Guyana from November 15. The Airlines’ new non-stop service between Miami and Georgetown will offer easy connections from many American cities such as New York, Atlanta, Washington, North Carolina, Houston and Canada. Travelspan brings 25…

Read More

At 81, Kathoon DeNobrega is still ready to take on the world

TIMES INT'L

By Lakhram Bhagirat She stands just above five feet tall, yet her personality towers over my five foot eight-inch frame. At 81 years old, she is by all means the embodiment of the cliché – small but powerful — and I was taken aback by the wisdom she had to share. I felt an instant connection when I saw Kathoon DeNobrega as I saw her peeking out of the door while I made my way up the stairs. “Good morning and what will you be asking me today,” she greeted…

Read More

Several Guyanese women using economic situation as reason for drug trafficking

TIMES INT'L

          In the last few weeks, several women have been either remanded or jailed for drug smuggling. When grilled by Police investigators after the busts, many of the self-confessed mules have blamed their economic circumstances as being responsible for their choices. However, Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Deputy Head Lesley Ramlall has opined that financial difficulty was no excuse for breaking the laws on trafficking narcotics. Karen Stuffle, Alicia Coppin, Shellon Barrow, Christine Griffith and Ruth Caniff are among the women implicated in drug smuggling in September…

Read More

Digging…

TIMES INT'L

…the credit hole When then President, Jagdeo had visited Kuwait and some other countries in the Middle East, back in 2010, to secure development funding – and this was in the pre-oil era, mind you. The PNC and AFC screamed hysterically that he was being adventurous. The AFC shrieked, “We warn that the high wire act being performed by Mr Jagdeo could lead to our becoming embroiled in a dangerous game being played out in a larger arena, and one in which we could find ourselves impaled on the horns…

Read More

Greenidge calls for renewed commitment to the UN’s disarmament agenda in New York

TIMES INT'L

Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge, speaking on Thursday at the Foreign Ministers Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, noted that the event was timely given the multiple emerging challenges to international peace and security. Minister Greenidge told the meeting, “for this reason, Guyana endorses the prudence of recognising the importance at this juncture in harnessing and enhancing multilateralism to respond effectively to the myriad challenges we face, especially within the framework of international law.” The Minister said, for Guyana, as a small,…

Read More

Same rules must be applied to all parties

TIMES INT'L

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson has reportedly submitted documents, including a written statement, to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) as part of investigations into the contract award of the controversial feasibility study for a new bridge over the Demerara River, but calls are being made for him to officially visit the offices of SOCU. Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Juan Edghill told Guyana Times International on Sunday that the minister should not be given any special treatment, but must be made to face the proverbial music for his actions.…

Read More