TIMES INT'L

2 women remanded for cocaine bust at CJIA

September 21, 2018September 21, 2018 TIMES INT'L

Two women were on Tuesday morning remanded to prison following a cocaine bust at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) over the weekend. Shellon Barrow and her friend, Christine Griffith, were charged for trafficking 1.638 kilograms of cocaine and aiding the trafficking of narcotics respectively. The women appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Barrow, 35, of Lot 35 Victoria Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, who was reportedly busted by agents of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) on Saturday, denied she had the cocaine in her possession. Her…

Claims of ‘sell out’ are unjustified

September 21, 2018September 21, 2018 TIMES INT'L

…Guyana’s President says in relation to concerns raised about oil and gas sector As Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Energy Sector Cooperation on Wednesday, both President David Granger and Trinidad Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley assured that there is no ‘takeover or sell-out’ of any sector by either side, but rather a sharing of information and ideas in the sector. Dr Rowley speaking to the Guyanese press following the signing at State House, said the document contains bilateral arrangements for the cooperation…

Lies, dammed lies…

September 21, 2018September 21, 2018 TIMES INT'L

…and Ramjattan Your Eyewitness was intrigued by the headline in the Chronic – “Ramjattan allays security fears of Chinese business community”. Now, he’d been reading almost every day of another “break and enter” of a Chinese business…and not only in Georgetown, but all over our fair land. He’d wondered if the Chinese were now seen by the burglary fraternity as the “easy marks” of Guyana. One Chinese business had been robbed four times in as many months! Not so long ago, when the “troubles” (as labelled by Granger) were in…

GECOM procuring 5 high-end vehicles ahead of local polls

September 21, 2018September 21, 2018 TIMES INT'L

Two years after the Office of the Auditor General (AG) unearthed several financial discrepancies relating to the supply of pliers and high-frequency radios, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is seeking a host of luxury vehicles for officers to carry out their functions. The vehicles under question cost around G$18 million each (USD$84,765) but the cost to the taxpayer could amount to be much higher when other taxes are included. This intended purchase comes less than two months before the Local Government Elections (LGE) which are set for November 12. “GECOM…

Labourer dies after drinking carbon tablets instead of “wind tablets”

September 21, 2018September 21, 2018 TIMES INT'L

A 46-year-old labourer is now dead after he allegedly drank carbon tablets given to him by a friend on Sunday. The dead man has been identified as Gary Sulavan of Lot 4 Duncan Street, Kitty, Georgetown. Based on information reaching the Guyana Times International, on the day in question, the now dead man left home around 11:00h and returned about 20:00h with a bottle of tablets which were supposed to be ‘Garlic Extra 1000mg’. He however, consumed the tablets and around 22:00h soon after which he started to vomit and…

‘Encyclopaedia of the Guyanese Amerindians (including other South American Native Terms, Issues and Events)’ complied by Lal Balkaran

September 21, 2018September 21, 2018 TIMES INT'L

by Petamber Persaud There are many endearing characteristics of the Indigenous People of Guyana. Some of those features are captured in ‘Encyclopaedia of the Guyanese Amerindians (Including other South American Native Terms, Issues and Events)’ compiled by Lal Balkaran. Most fascinating for me are the legend, folklore and myth, notwithstanding the other interesting features of the people. Here are a few samples: A Creation Story. Amalivaca and his brother, Vochi, created the world according to Carib folklore. But the legend bears more on Amalivaca who was sent to earth to…

2 killed after mining pit collapses in Guyana

September 21, 2018September 21, 2018 TIMES INT'L

Two miners lost their lives after they were reportedly covered by mud and stones when a mud pit in which they were working caved in at the Mowasi Backdam, Konawaruk, Potaro, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni). Dead are Deon Sproston, called “Jersey Joe”, 36, of Lot 133 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and a miner only known as “Shawn”. The incident occurred at about 20:00h on Monday evening. Guyana Times International understands the two men and other persons were working the walls of the pit with metal detectors searching for gold…

GECOM must act with impartiality

September 21, 2018September 21, 2018 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is correctly being bombarded internationally and on the local front with respect to the unclear approach used to select temporary and permanent staff. This in addition to President Granger’s recent disclosure that the tried and proved ‘Carter Formula’ has lost its relevance is a conjured assassination plot on democracy and the freedoms of all Guyanese. The endless criticisms have been justified and merited, especially from the perspective of the apparent lack of concern being displayed by the leaders of the organisation. These have…

Sports tourism in Guyana

September 21, 2018September 21, 2018 TIMES INT'L

The concept of sports tourism and the impact it could have on our country’s economy is now being discussed on a wider scale. So far, Guyana has not put the systems in place to capitalise on this niche market, like some other sister Caricom countries; and it is certainly time that the various stakeholders give some serious attention towards doing so. Analysts have pointed to the fact that sports tourism is a huge and growing industry, with important economic implications for the sport, the event, and the impact of travel…

Guyana Govt borrowing US$20M from IsDB to improve power supply

September 21, 2018September 21, 2018 TIMES INT'L

Minister of Finance Winston Jordan and the Islamic Development Bank’s (IsDB) Vice President of Sector Operations Mansur Muhtar, on Wednesday, in Jeddah, signed a US$20M agreement for a loan that is expected to go towards the improvement of the country’s power supply through the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL Inc.). It was outlined that the G$4.2B loan is part of the utility company’s Upgrade Programme, a component of its development and Expansion Programme for 2014 to 2021. Describing the historic occasion as a celebration of the first loan to…