Dear Editor, Guyanese who worked with and know Moses Nagamootoo, Khemraj Ramjattan, and Charandass Persaud are at a loss to understand why these illustrious sons “would betray their own” – their words. They noted that if anyone had told them a few years back that Moses or Khemraj or Charandass would “sell them out and go into bed with the PNC” for self-perks, they would have hurt that person. So why this turn against Moses, Khemraj, Charandass and other ‘AFCites’? Everywhere I go in Guyana or NY, there is the…
Read MoreCategory: Letters
US elections and American Exceptionalism
Contrary to what most of the political pundits outside US borders thought would be the case by now, Donald Trump is still setting the agenda for the US presidential race against Hillary Clinton. With their elections less than two months away and the polls indicating Trump is trailing Clinton by a whisker, it seems that with the capacity to outspend Clinton in advertisements and commercials during that time, Trump is well on his way to becoming the next president of the United States – as this paper proposed back in…
Read MoreIronic that the Govt would accuse old age citizens of ‘double dipping’
Dear Editor, It is ironic that the Government would salaciously announce that it’s going after those old folks that collect US$90 per month from the Guyana Government and live oversees. This a myopic view of the present government because the leaders don’t see the thousands of US dollars in potential healthcare costs if these old folks that a majority suffers from comorbidities were to live for two years minimum in Guyana. For this reason, paying them a US$1000 per annum to stay away is a bargain. I am pleased that…
Read MoreCity Hall should have trusted, competent, fair minded persons
Dear Editor, The report contained in Sunday’s edition of another section of the media, which reveals the deplorable working conditions at the Solid Waste Department of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown is an appalling reminder of the indecency, tactlessness, and the insensitivity of the administration at City Hall. If they can subject their own workers whom they claim to value and appreciate to such unpleasant and harsh working conditions, then one can only imagine what they would do to the citizens of Georgetown whom they hardly…
Read MoreThere is need for a review of the operations of the CCJ
Dear Editor, During the last ten years, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has been trying to find takers among the Caricom members. T&T has been resisting ascension to the CCJ and succeeding governments are reluctant to put it to a referendum fearing atonal rejection. There is no referendum whereby the people in any territory have been allowed to say whether they wish CCJ to replace the Privy Council where the judges of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom hear appeals from the Caribbean nations. The only countries that…
Read MoreThe rice industry could ill-afford this GRDB-induced disaster!
Dear Editor, Despite serious concerns ventilated by the Guyana Rice Exporters and Millers Association (GREMA) and numerous huge rice exporters, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) through its General Manager, Mr Nizam Hassan was adamant that the contract signed on March 1 this year with two Jamaican companies will not limit the export of rice to Jamaica and that the contractual arrangement will be ‘a plus for Guyana’s rice industry’ resulting in an increase in price per tonne of rice. He had claimed that rice exporters will receive US$400 per…
Read MoreCaribbean region must boost efforts to prepare for increased drought – UN report
United Nations: Climate change is expected to increase the intensity and frequency of droughts in the Caribbean, so countries in the region must enhance their capabilities to deal with this and other extreme weather-related challenges to ensure food security and hunger eradication, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has said in a new report. The report, Drought Characteristics and Management in the Caribbean, found that the Caribbean region faces significant challenges in terms of drought, FAO said. “Drought ranks as the single most common cause of severe food…
Read MoreShocked at Govt’s decision to target Alim Shah’s store
Dear Editor, With reference to a Guyana Times June 13, 2016 article where Alim Shah’s store was targeted. Dr Rupert Roopnaraine played an important role in the return to democracy in Guyana. He has earned a great deal of respect from the Guyanese populace because of his struggle against a dictatorship. I was deeply shocked at his Ministry’s targeting of Ryhaan Shah a PPP/PNC critic and an Indian rights activist. Shah’s business establishment has provided affordable clothing materials since the 1940s in Georgetown and Berbice. Most poorer classes of Guyanese,…
Read MoreWho says the Deputy Mayor can’t speak?
Dear Editor, There seems to be fear and insecurity existing in the Georgetown mayor’s office. From recent reports, the new Mayor is trying to muzzle her deputy. One may accept her position when she said that the comments of deputy mayor on the issue of parking meters in the city were reflective of his own views and not those of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC). But luckily he did express those views as they are out of genuine concern for continued impropriety within the council. Someone has to tell…
Read MoreCitizens should have been consulted on city parking meters
Dear Editor, The recent announcement by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council of the implementation/installation of parking meters in certain sections of the city has been met with consternation, outrage and dismay by citizens who are already burdened with additional taxes and the constant enforceability of rules and regulations that have significantly weakened their daily income. In his www.conversationtree blog, former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran, charged that: “Coming so soon after the elections, the decision to install parking meters was clearly on APNU/AFC’s agenda prior to the…
Read More