Dear Editor, The Annual Scotiabank Regional HIV Testing Week was held recently through its Bright Future Programme, and I am glad that this HIV campaign and awareness emphasis is not diminishing. I think that HIV tests must be mandated at regular intervals and for about as many people as possible. HIV/ AIDS is still a very serious health issue. Urgent measures should always be undertaken to arrest any bad situation long before it gets out of hand. I refer readers to a study in Dominica conducted by the U. S.…
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Guyana’s success in mining must be highlighted
Dear Editor, Guyana has scored well in sustainable mining and it is very noteworthy to grasp the reality here. It is that Guyana fared well even though the country has the largest extractive sector in relation to production and people when compared with Suriname and French Guiana. It really feels good to me that Guyana is on record as having the least impact, among the three countries, on forest degradation and potential for pollution. Guyana has come a far way indeed. What is important is that the evaluation came from…
Read MoreVery proud of the way Guyanese immigrants celebrated America’s independence
Dear Editor, Guyanese Americans joined in celebrating America’s independence from Britain on July 4 -an event that occurred on this day in 1776. With the holiday falling on a Thursday, many people, including Guyanese Americans, took the Friday off for an extended weekend, spending it as a mini-vacation. Many travelled with families with the holiday period considered one of the busiest in the year. Although people had fun for the period, the meaning of the day should not be lost during the celebrations at beaches, resorts and places of entertainment.…
Read MoreDrama must be emphasised in school
Dear Editor, A Chinese proverb says, “Tell me and I will forget, show me and I will remember, involve me and I will understand.” This came to my mind, when I read of the launch of the 2013 National Drama Festival. As regards the importance of drama as a school subject, I feel good that plans are already in place to make this a big part of the Caribbean Secondary Examinations Council (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) all across Guyana. Dramatic arts education is an important means of…
Read MoreMinimum wage, working hours must be carefully considered
Dear Editor, I wish to first of all point out that this subject of the 40-hour per week or five working days was engaging the attention of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) for a number of years, and acting upon the urgings of that body for the enactment of the bill, tripartite meetings were held years ago. According to the labour minister, a consensus was reached that the implementation of the new national minimum wage of Gy$ 35,000 per month will take effect from the July 1, 2013. It…
Read MoreSanta Fe project holds out great promise to schools
Dear Editor, The idea of a self-sufficient school is not farfetched. In the late 1970s, my secondary school used to have a great agricultural input. It was so designed that, for every term, the students used to plant small scale, and they always ended up taking home things like bora, boulanger and pepper, among other things. The signs were there for the idea of earning while learning. This principle is now really gathering some momentum, and I think that Guyana must jump on it, but in a more purposeful and…
Read MoreThe new minimum wage
Dear Editor, When the rule regarding the new minimum wage came into existence, I was a bit sceptical regarding enforcement. Well, I should not have worried. The news has it that the Labour Ministry has already been successful in the prosecution of many employers who have flouted various labour laws. This enabled it to recoup large sums for workers who were cheated. This is a very important move. It sends a strong message. So I too join in cautioning employers to ensure that their employees benefit from the recently set…
Read MoreThe use of social media on the rise
Dear Editor, The excitement is certainly on, as thousands of Guyanese and their businesses are now using social media, such as, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Pinterest. According to reports in the Guyana Times, it is estimated that more than 200,000 persons are part of the social media transformation. More businesses understand the growing need to get on the social media platform in order to grow their businesses. With the government investing heavily in Information Communication Technology (ICT) with programmes, such as, the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF), laying of the…
Read MoreChanderpaul will be missed in the CPL
Dear Editor, The news about Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s absence from the inaugural Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is very depressing and I am very upset to the point of being angry. Since 2007, when Brian Lara exited the scene, Chanderpaul quickly became the embodiment of West Indies Cricket. His absence will surely be missed. He would have been a big boost to this inaugural CPL tournament in the West Indies, even though T20 is not his forte. Born August 16, 1974, makes Chanderpaul almost 39 years old. Will he be around for…
Read MoreCongratulations to former president Jagdeo for being selected to serve on such high level panel
Dear Editor, It gives me great pleasure to see former President Bharrat Jagdeo take his place on the world stage once again. His appointment as chair to a new Commonwealth Expert Group on Climate Finance puts us on the map as leaders in the area of climate change. Congratulations are in order! There are growing problems of pollution and the effects of globalisation are many. These include, but are not limited to deforestation, potential food shortages, loss of flora and fauna and the increasing use of genetically modified foods. This…
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