A fire of unknown origin on Sunday afternoon gutted a “B” Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown house leaving at least 12 persons homeless. The fire reportedly started just after midday in the lower flat of the building and quickly spread to the entire building this leaving the occupants anytime to save any household items. The fire was first detected by an occupant of the house who immediately raised an alarm. By doing so, the other occupants of the house ran to safety and the fire fighters were summoned. However, by the…
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YEAR IN REVIEW: SEPTEMBER – Thieves break into Finance Ministry
Police in A Division (Georgetown) were investigating a break-in at the Finance Ministry during which several documents and hard drives, among other items, were stolen. Guyana Times was told that the burglary is believed to have taken place sometime on Friday evening into the wee hours of Saturday morning. It was reported that the discovery was made later Saturday morning when employees showed up for work. Upon realising that the documents and data-saving devices were missing, authorities at the Ministry were informed and the Police was called in. This newspaper…
Read MoreYEAR IN REVIEW: OCTOBER – GuySuCo misappropriated bond -NICIL/SPU
-says misuse of funds has caused worry for lenders The National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) is expressing concern over the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) use of money from the syndicated bond it raised for unauthorized purposes. Days after reports that Republic Bank halted GuySuCo’s bond financing over misuse of funds, the very entity that raised the funds has joined in expressing concern. In a statement, NICIL’s Special Purpose Unit head Colvin Heath London made it clear that GuySuCo appropriated the funds for unauthorized expenses. In fact, London said…
Read MoreYEAR IN REVIEW: JUNE – Private criminal charges – Jordan files $200M ‘malicious prosecution’ lawsuit against Edghill
Finance Minister Winston Jordan has filed a $200 million lawsuit against Opposition Parliamentarian Juan Edghill, whose private criminal charges against several Government ministers, including Jordan, have since been dismissed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). In the court document seen by Guyana Times, Jordan is claiming damages in the sum of $200,000,000; for the “Malicious Prosecution of the Offence of Misconduct in Public Office” and other damages. Edghill initiated private criminal charges against Minister Jordan and Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson jointly as well as against Public Service Minister…
Read MoreYEAR IN REVIEW: DECEMBER – Millions wasted through procurement scandals – Anthony
…as MP lambasts gov’t for mismanagement of projects The second day of the Budget 2019 debates kicked-off on Tuesday with Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Frank Anthony taking the government to task for breaches to the procurement laws, the shady deals it has been entering and wastage of tax payers’ dollars. In his presentation, the MP noted that Guyana has not been getting value for money. He pointed to the Auditor General’s 2017 report, which found that 13 contracts totalling $91.4 Million were awarded by the National Procurement and…
Read MoreWash bay attendant first road fatality for 2018
Aslam Baksh, 24, of Lot 65 La Grange Old Road, West Bank Demerara was marked as the country’s first road fatality when he died following an accident on January 1. Baksh was a passenger of motorcar HC 7477 driven by 42-year-old Vijay Bidoor of Goed Fortuin. Amanda Rickyram,28, of Unity Street, La Grange, WBD; Gobin Dannyram,29,of 225 Goed Fortuin, WBD; and Diana Chand,19, of Cemetery Road, Georgetown were all passengers of the same car proceeding south along the Meer-Zorgen Public Road when HB 4105, proceeding in the opposite direction drove…
Read MoreEssequibo man found dead after inviting stranger for ‘holiday drink’
The lifeless body of excavator operator Sherwin Melville of Capoey Lake, Essequibo Coast, has been found in his home with his throat slit. A relative of the 23-year-old father of one went to check on him on Monday at about 5:00h, and discovered the body in a pool of blood. Based on reports received, Melville had had a “holiday drink” for close friends and relatives at his home on Sunday evening. Maria Fredericks, the dead man’s mother-in-law, who was at the crime scene on Monday, told Guyana Times International that…
Read MoreG$424.1M allocated for oil and gas preparations
…millions set aside for capacity building, vehicles and scholarships A burning question has been what preparations Government would make for oil and gas in its penultimate budget? It turns out a total of G$333.2 million in capital funds has been allocated by the Government for petroleum and energy management. The 2019 Budget estimates also detail that current expenditure, which among other things will go towards employment and other recurrent costs, was G$90.9 million. Specifically, wages and salaries are expected to cost the Treasury G$20.5 million. According to the budget estimates,…
Read MoreJagdeo rubbishes Govt’s claim that ‘400 young, black men’ were killed under PPP rule
…calls for independent probe into jailbreak crime spree People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo has debunked as fallacious a list constantly referenced in sections of the media of persons allegedly murdered under the previous Administration, but in reality, this list is padded with the names of massacre victims and persons who died of natural causes. At his press conference on Monday, Jagdeo walked with a copy of the list to show the media. He pointed out that among the names on the list are victims who lost their…
Read MoreRowan jackup to drill for CGX offshore Guyana
Canadian oil and gas exploration company CGX has been awarded the Rowan jackup Ralph Coffman, a one-well contract offshore Guyana. The contract has an estimated duration of 60 days. According to Offshore, it is expected to start in second quarter of 2019. The Ralph Coffman, a 240-C Class harsh environment jackup rig, is currently under contract with GulfSlope Energy in the Gulf of Mexico through its current well, which is estimated to conclude in mid-January 2019. In August, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman had announced that CGX was set to…
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