Author: TIMES INT'L

Manifestos and voting in Guyana 

TIMES INT'L

The release of manifestos is as much a part of the Guyanese electoral scene as “bottom house meetings”:  both are geared to persuade the voting public where to put their X’s on elections day. With the former, the party offers in writing a “plaster for every sore” that afflicts the body politic but hopefully imbued with an overarching, comprehensive vision. “Bottom house” meetings, are more about informing the party faithful why not to vote for other parties and are generally no-hold-barred affairs, exemplified, for instance, by PNC Chair Volda Lawrence’s…

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PPP promises to advance Constitutional reform with input from citizens

TIMES INT'L

As constitutional reform under the current coalition Government has hit a brick wall, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in its 2020 election manifesto has promised that if elected to office, it would advance constitutional reform with the input of the citizens themselves. In its manifesto, the Party noted the importance of ensuring that the people participate in something as critical as revising the supreme law. The Party referenced the constitutional reform it piloted in the late 90s-early 2000s as an example of the process that is needed. “We are aware…

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ExxonMobil Guyana supports 7th STEM Conference

TIMES INT'L

As part of its ongoing commitment to the advancement of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, ExxonMobil Guyana teamed up with the Volunteer Youth Corps (VYC) Inc to stage the Seventh STEM Conference at the Ramada Hotel in Georgetown last Saturday. Under the theme “Present Innovators, Future Creators,” the event brought together 400 students from 11 secondary schools in Georgetown. These schools have been actively implementing the STEM after-school programme facilitated by VYC Inc. ExxonMobil Guyana made a contribution of some G$20 million to support these activities, which are…

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Long knives

TIMES INT'L

…at Foreign Affairs A decade ago, who would have thought that Guyana would be getting top billing in the media of every developed country in the world? The massive oil finds by Exxon did the job, and while we rightfully scrutinise Raphael Trotman’s role in the giving away of the store on the “negotiations”, we have to admit we’re getting some really good publicity as the world now beats a path to our door. But just as we’re becoming known in the world for something other than Jonestown and its…

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Weak governments create instability, and are a big obstacle to progress

TIMES INT'L

By Donald Ramotar Political parties are mushrooming in Guyana these days. We have far more political parties than any other country in the Caribbean, and one of the highest numbers of such parties in the Commonwealth. The last count showed that Guyana has some 20 political parties. Why is it that so many parties are emerging on our political scene? No doubt, some would interpret this as a testimony of our “democratic” society. Some outsiders, unfamiliar with our political history and today’s realities, would think that democracy is flourishing in…

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Canada says it’s now easier for Caribbean nationals to apply for resident status

TIMES INT'L

OTTAWA, Canada (CMC) — Building on a government commitment made earlier this year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) says it is now easier for foreign nationals, including Caribbean immigrants to apply for temporary and permanent resident status within Canada. On Tuesday, the immigration agency said foreign nationals applying from within Canada for temporary or permanent residence, or to extend or renew their visitor visa or work or study permit, will need to have their fingerprints and photo taken and can do so at any of the 58 designated Service…

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Man charged for assaulting ex-lover

TIMES INT'L

A man who allegedly assaulted his ex-lower who went to his house to collect her bed, was on Monday charged and appeared before the Providence Magistrates’ Courts. Andrew Cumberbatch denied the charge, which stated that on November 26, 2019, at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara, he unlawfully assaulted Shaneza Europe, so as to cause her actual bodily harm. He appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman. Police Prosecutor, Shawn Gonsalves informed the court that the Virtual Complaint went to the 28-year-old man’s home to collect her bed but an argument ensued and the…

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HIV/AIDS in Guyana

TIMES INT'L

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) targets the immune system and weakens the defence systems against infections and some types of cancer. As the virus destroys and impairs the function of immune system cells, infected individuals gradually become immunodeficient. Immune function is typically measured by CD4 cell count. HIV continues to be a major global public health issue, having claimed more than 32 million lives so far. By the end of 2018 there were 37.9 million people living with HIV. Due to gaps in HIV services, 770 000 people died from HIV-related…

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Berbice man gets 4 years jail, fined G$27.6M for trafficking over 100lbs ganja

TIMES INT'L

Jairam Lallman of Fort Ordnance Housing Scheme, East Canje Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) was sentenced to four years imprisonment and slapped with a G$27.6M fine for trafficking of 102 pounds of cannabis when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Thursday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Lallman, 35, admitted that on December 2, 2019, at Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, he had 46.59 kilograms of cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking. In a plea of mitigation, Lallman apologised for his actions and begged the court for leniency.…

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The PPP Manifesto

TIMES INT'L

The PPP launched what they described as their “mini-manifesto” last Friday. Some may be wondering why the Opposition party would “show its hand so early in the game”, since elections are three months away and the governing PNC-led coalition might be able to “counter” their proposals. But what the PPP has done is to demonstrate very clearly that they do not consider the future of Guyana as a “game” that should be subjected to political one-upmanship. They are a party that was in power for 23 years, during which the…

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