Dear Editor, The latest example of high-handedness by Georgetown City Hall, as reported in Stabroek News (17/10/15), is the announcement by City Public Relations Officer Debra Lewis that “persons caught littering are arrested by the officers and taken to City Hall where they are given a lecture by Lewis and charged.” As reported, their pictures will then be taken and circulated to the media as part of a ‘name and shame’ campaign. The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) is calling on the Government to stop this sort of campaign and…
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When you put self-interest before country – the rice economy
Dear Editor, When the coalition Government openly told rice farmers that they would have to find their own markets, it was the single most reprehensible statement to have been ever made by a government. It was the most callous, cold-hearted thing to date and which clearly shows that they are not interested in country. For an economy that is growing at a rapid rate as ours and about to pass the one million tonne mark this year, this takes the cake. Guyana is doomed. What is even more distressing is…
Read MoreWhy is there controversy surrounding the date Diwali should be celebrated?
Dear Editor, I fully support the views of Vidyaratha Kissoon that consensus can be achieved when there are different views (‘Diwali date difference has consensus opportunities’ – SN 17/10/2015). However, I cannot help feeling that neither consensus nor unity might have been on the agenda given the haste, it appears, with which the Ministry of Public Security rushed to have the notice published over the weekend dated 14 October 2015 naming Tuesday 10 November 2015 as the National holiday in observance of the Hindu Festival, Diwali. (Should this function still…
Read MoreDidn’t the President say the treasury was empty?
Dear Editor, On October 17, 2015 Guyana Times published an article under the caption, “Govt to spend double $B to boost GDF’s strength and capabilities.” The article stated that President Granger intends to increase allocations to the GDF by Gy$20 billion. President Granger’s motive, according to the article is that: “The force must have the capacity to maintain adequate combat-ready units with the correct mix of personnel and equipment.” As part of his plan, he wants to reinstate the People’s Militia. OK, I am confused. Didn’t the President say that…
Read MoreNon-cooperation of political parties unfavourable to development
Dear Editor, It is most distressing to anyone who is sincere about the balanced development of our nation that those on both sides of the political spectrum continue to carry on the affairs of our country with the misguided approach that they are right in whatever they are engaged in and the other side is wrong. This means that they try their utmost in word and action to discredit all that the other side is proposing or has implemented and as a result working without the benefit of their contribution.…
Read MoreNurses’ attitude at GPHC leaves much to be desired
Dear Editor, I would like to expose the behaviour of some nurses at the Georgetown Public Hospital, and how some people, especially women, are being treated. On Monday, August 31, I went to the hospital to see a patient who had just given birth. On my way to the maternity ward, I came across a woman who was experiencing labour pain and was looking for the labour ward. It seems as though she had come the wrong way and when she encountered a nurse who upon listening to the woman,…
Read MoreGovernment’s approach is contradictory to achieving SDGs
Dear Editor, President Granger is back on the podium soliciting help for this and that, border here, political cooperation there. For once it’s not Nagamootoo; the last time he begged it was for Chinese help in resolving the Venezuela border controversy. But when Nagamootoo begs, it leaves many indifferent, for how can such a man even presume to be taken seriously given his repeated betrayals and sneakiness committed throughout his political career, to his fellow partisans and now his electorate? When President Granger begs however, one’s ears perk up, due…
Read MoreGovt should encourage bilateral talks with Venezuela
Dear Editor, If you want to fight fire with fire, then you better have a bigger flame. In recent days we have seen the Venezuela border controversy slowly beginning to morph into a potential crisis. We all know how it began and we also watched closely how the Government dealt with the issue step by step. I don’t want to sound like an alarmist, but since military activities have become part of the issue, it is safe to say anything is possible. We are currently in a “battle ready” situation.…
Read MoreCurtailing heckling in Parliament is another ominous sign
Dear Editor, Since the beginning of the 11th Parliament, Head of State, David Granger, made a statement about the need for a Code of Conduct for members of the National Assembly. His intuition seems to be to curtail and stop heckling in the Chambers. After this was said, other Government officials also joined in supporting this call. Part of the media, too, seems to be in support of curbing heckling in the Chambers. Last Monday, the main mouthpiece of the regime, the Kaieteur News, editorialized on this subject, supporting the…
Read More1000 days remain until the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Dear Editor, The Countdown Clock was launched on Manezhnaya Square in Moscow marking a 1000 day countdown to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Russia promises to make a planetary scale event, the most spectacular in its history. The whole country will be the territory of football. The world championship will be held at 12 stadiums in 11 Russian cities: Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kazan, Nizhny, Novgorod, Saransk, Kaliningrad, Volgograd, Ekaterinburg, Samara, Sochi and Rostov-on-Don. Hundreds of fans and professional players from different countries came to watch the ceremony of…
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