Dear Editor, I keep asking myself why do employees go on strikes? The truth is that workers go on strike for different reasons: to get improvements where they work, for more money, for shorter working days, to stop their wages going down, because they think their company has been unfair, or when they are being used for political reasons. The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) situation probably encapsulates all of these factors. Currently, there are many views when it comes to what can be done to promote the local sugar industry…
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The fight against cocaine
Dear Editor, I am reading about some master plan to fight the trafficking of drugs in Guyana and I have a feeling that it will be most futile. This crossed my mind when I read the headline, “Rose Hall shop owner remanded for cocaine possession.” It appears that this shop owner is known for these kinds of practices. Cocaine stimulates the cells of the central nervous and cardiovascular systems. The feeling of stimulation that comes from cocaine use is due to its activation of nerve cells in the brain that…
Read MoreGuyanese benefitting from generous scholarships offered by India
Dear Editor, India has expanded its scholastic benevolence to Guyanese academics. The recent news highlights that the government of India has decided to double the number of scholarships offered at the undergraduate, post-graduate and doctoral levels to Guyanese students to take up studies in Indian universities and institutions. This gesture must be commended. Diplomatic relations between Guyana and India continue to remain strong. There have been joint efforts and many dialogues in the realm of climate change, the environment and religion/culture. Currently on the cards are the establishment of a…
Read MoreOrder in the House is necessary
Dear Editor, The statement by the Speaker of the House Raphael Trotman that Guyanese are fed up with parliamentary discord is indeed a forceful one. To me, it says a lot about him, since he is a pivotal personnel in the House. He is honest, but there is more to his role. The Speaker is essential in ensuring the orderly flow of business, the observation of parliamentary rules and traditions, both written and unwritten, interpretation of these rules impartially, maintenance of order, and defence of the rights and privileges of…
Read MoreTime for Sarwan to be back
Dear Editor, I am pleased that Ramnaresh Sarwan, even after being ousted yet again by the selectors of the West Indies Cricket Board, is now a renewed man and is looking to put his career back on stream. Sarwan is training in a strong 14-man squad for this month’s T20 tournament, which will give him another opportunity to stake a claim for his place in the West Indies team. His statement shows a deep level of commitment: “I am willing to put the past behind me, what happened in the…
Read MorePrisoners must be helped
Dear Editor, It is quite catastrophic that the number of male juvenile offenders presently imprisoned for serious crimes has increased significantly, when compared with the last three years. At this rate, Guyana will be deluged with young criminals if nothing is done to reverse this trend. The actual count is that the prison population is made up of 71.3 per cent of young offenders, who are either serving sentences or are on remand for allegedly committing, some very grave offences. My first reaction to this is where did things go…
Read MoreA solution to this scourge in our society
Dear Editor, Your indulgence is hereby sought in publishing this response. A few weeks ago, a letter was penned in your pages captioned, “Violence against women, the Islamic perspective,” attempted to furnish a solution to this scourge that continues to plague our society. Someone who I hold in high esteem, Swami Aksharanda, penned a response, albeit a critique of the first letter. This missive seeks to provide some amount of analytical exactitude to the issue in question. The respected Swami should acquaint himself with the unedited version of the letter…
Read MoreDress and rape
Dear Editor, One never ceases to be amazed by the fact that once a person invokes religion, a book, prophet or saviour, he is granted automatic immunity regardless how insensitive, archaic, racist or sexist his pronouncements may be. An example of this phenomenon is the recent letter by Mr Moeenul Hack captioned, “Modest dress would protect a woman from rape” (Stabroek News, December 4). What is rather depressing is that while a few of my acquaintances have unburdened their horror at the ideas contained in the letter, each has expressed…
Read MoreBrazilians cannot claim ignorance of the law now
Dear Editor, I commend the Labour Ministry for the work it has done in translating the country’s labour laws into Portuguese, catering for the growing number of Brazilian employees and employers. This sends a clear signal that the government is serious about persons abiding by the laws of the country. Copies of the translated legislation were presented by the Labour Minister to representatives of the Brazilian business community, the Guyana-Brazil Development Institute and the Brazilian Mining and General Association at the first seminar for non-nationals operating shops, hotels, and restaurants…
Read MoreGas shortage in NY brought back memories of “dark days” in Guyana
Dear Editor, Guyanese Americans reminisced about gas shortage in their homeland in the aftermath of superstorm Sandy. Their lives were disrupted not just by the storm itself but the after effects, like gas shortage. Gas rationing is officially over in New York City, and what a relief it has been for the Guyanese community in Queens, Bronx and Brooklyn, infact all over the city, to have unrestricted amounts of fuel so they can carry on with their business. Gas rationing was one effect of superstorm Sandy that devastated the U.…
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