Dear Editor, Education Minister Priya Manickchand needs to apologise to the offending former parliamentarian so that we can get on with the important business of education that the Minister is so enthusiastic to bring to a waiting people. We can ill afford the time wasting that the Opposition is well trained for – they are into the wasting of taxpayers’ money in an endless circus that this parliament has become – so apologise and let’s move on. In my humble opinion the Education Minister needs to make an apology to…
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Guyana should establish its own law school
Dear Editor, The ‘on-again off-again’ idea of a local law school is an idea whose time has long come. This has only been made absolutely clear and fiercely urgent with the advent of the “impasse” between the Government of Guyana and the Council for Legal Education (CLE). We have a most egregious situation here but one which offers us a unique opportunity and with it perhaps the chance of something great. This singular moment can impact generations to come of students in Guyana and in the Caribbean who enjoy our…
Read MoreConstant battle between police and citizens on human rights violations
Dear Editor, On March 24, the world observed International Day for the Right to the Truth Surrounding Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims. On this day, we honour the memory of victims of gross and systemic human rights violations and promote the importance of the right to truth and justice. The Colwyn Harding Support Group, human rights groups, and other public-spirited supporters picketed outside of the Providence Magistrate’s Court, East Bank Demerara demanding justice for Harding. Call it irony or fate that his court date coincided…
Read MoreNavraatri is a period used to worship the mother aspect of God
Dear Editor, The very sacred and most auspicious period of Nav-Raatri will commence on March 31. It also marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year. Navraatri is a period of nine days that we utilise to worship the mother aspect of God or Maha Shakti. Shakti literally means ‘energy’ or ‘power’, and the universe is an expression of this Divine Energy. During these nine days the Mother aspect of God in the forms of Durgaa, Lakshmi, and Saraswati is extolled and worshipped. Divine Energy operates in three planes, as…
Read MoreGTUC now a political forum, no longer a workers’ organisation
Dear Editor, The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is saddened that the good name which the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) once enjoyed has again been sullied as a result of Lincoln Lewis’ outbursts. A few weeks ago, the PPP/C expressed the view that the GTUC is no longer a voice of the workers; in fact it has been hijacked by a selfish few who regrettably have transformed that body into a political forum for grand-standing. In the last few weeks we have witnessed the morphing of the GTUC into a…
Read MoreLocal democracy is important
Dear Editor, The vast majority of the population want an early election. At present they are looking on from the outside, since no local government elections were held for the past 17 years. The existing Constitution says that local government elections must be held every three years for councillors, mayors, deputy mayors, chairmen and vice-chairmen for the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), and every year there must be election for mayors, deputy, chairmen and vice-chairmen among the councillors. We feel, however, that no local government body is likely to be viable…
Read MoreLessons from the Ukraine conflict
Dear Editor, Kindly allow me some space to share my views on the Ukraine situation and how it relates to Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. The conflict in Ukraine is about ethnic and hemispheric security which has moved past what is right and wrong. It is similar to what Indian people face when elected democratically in the Caribbean. Confronted by some Africans, they operate on the belief that Indians must only play a supporting political role. Some in Trinidad and Guyana who reject the democratically elected government, cannot really believe…
Read MoreGovt has invested heavily in sports development
Dear Editor, February 21 marked another memorable day for all Guyanese and especially for the Culture Youth and Sport Ministry/National Sports Commission and the sport fraternity. The National Sports Resource Centre was commissioned by the Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony. This Gy$55 million project adds to the ambience of the National Racquet Centre which accommodates the tennis and squash courts. The commissioning of this important and necessary facility marks a new beginning for sport in Guyana. The resource centre will create the opportunity for athletes to be…
Read MoreThe smuggling of wildlife must be stopped
Dear Editor, Wildlife smuggling has been a crime that has required grave attention for quite some time. Several people have over the years been accused of committing this illegal act, but not much has ever been done to address the issue, nor were there ever serious consequences in place for those caught. Many people fail to realise that the act of smuggling wildlife contributes to the extinction or depletion of a particular species. Additionally, they take the risk of not knowing whether they are aiding in the transfer of disease…
Read MoreI was never promised any position by the PPP
Dear Editor, I read a letter in another section of the press on February 23 under the headline, “Is Peter Persaud still the leader of The United Force?” I am not the leader of The United Force (TUF), but was identified and selected by the party’s executive committee to be its presidential candidate for the November 2011 general and regional elections. TUF is monitoring Guyana’s current political situation and is on the ground meeting with its members and supporters. Because of a court matter against the TUF in the run-up…
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