The High Court has given the Attorney General’s Chambers two additional weeks to make submissions citing the legal arguments on which it opted to take over operations of the Berbice Bridge from the Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI). In October, BBCI announced it was facing bankruptcy and its main investor – the National Insurance Scheme – was given no choice but to push for a toll increase. However, Government in a shocking move announced on November 5, 2018 that it would be taking control of the Bridge on November 12.…
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Guyana Govt to establish tobacco council in 2019
Serious steps will be taken to prosecute individuals and businesses that do not adhere to the laws related to the Tobacco Control Bill which sets out tough fines for violators. Health Minister Volda Lawrence has announced that the Government is currently fine-tuning the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the establishment of a Tobacco Council in Guyana. The Minister said the document is still being crafted but is expected to be presented to Cabinet for approval before the end of this year. The Council could be established as soon as January…
Read MoreOver G$780M expended in 2018 for legal fees on border controversy case – Greenidge
Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge on Thursday said that more than G$780 million was spent to cover the 2018 fees for the legal team that Guyana has recruited to lead its case regarding the border controversy with Venezuela which is currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This money is from the US$15 million that was set aside from the controversial US$18 million signing bonus that Guyana received from US oil giant ExxonMobil. Guyana is moving full steam ahead in solidifying its case against the Spanish-speaking country’s claim to…
Read More15 families to receive houses under CH&PA housing initiative
In a matter of weeks, fifteen Lindeners will be owners of their own homes as contractors are performing finishing touches on the housing units that were built by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA). The 15 houses are the first set of 60 two-bedroom flat and elevated houses, located in Phase Three, Amelia’s Ward. The project is being done in four batches with each group expected to take approximately 120 days to complete. Contractor Michael Bonds from Michael Bonds Construction which was awarded a contract to complete three of…
Read MorePresident Granger pardons 3 female prisoners
President David Granger on Wednesday pardoned three female prisoners, thus allowing them to be home for Christmas. The three women were pardoned pursuant to presidential powers under Article 188(2) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. The trio – Joanna Beckles, 26; Felicia Henry, 22 and Keysha Gibbs, 17 – who were all at the New Amsterdam Prison for various offences were released on Thursday. The women have all served a portion of their respective sentences for larceny and forgery. In 2015, 60 convicts were granted presidential pardons…
Read MoreBank of Baroda to close more branches by June
Since the recent announcement from the Bank of Baroda that it will be pulling-out from Guyana’s shores, the India-based, State-owned entity is mounting a similar move in two other countries: neighbouring Caribbean nation Trinidad & Tobago and Ghana, a West African country. In a report by Economic Times on Monday, it was outlined that the institution will close the three of 165 branches by June 2019. As per a regulatory filing, it stated that the closures will “increase in efficiency and profitability of the overseas offices”. The international media agency…
Read MoreWell done: Detective who helped solve 6 murders named Guyana’s 2018 ‘Best Cop’
The Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) calendar of events for 2018 winded down on Wednesday with its annual Christmas Awards Ceremony, during which some G$18.6 million was expended to reward ranks and other stakeholders for their outstanding performances throughout the year. Taking the top prize of Best Cop this year was Detective Sergeant Rodwell Sarabo, who led the team that tracked down and dismantled the infamous carjacking network earlier this year after the gang terrorised citizens across the country for more than a year. He also led investigations into and solved…
Read MoreGPHC boss taking steps to address “bad attitude” of nurses, doctors
In admitting that some nurses and doctors at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) have “bad attitudes”, Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital, Brigadier (Ret’d) George Lewis during an interview with Guyana Times International said the entity is working to tackle the issue through training. The CEO explained to this newspaper that he received many complaints from patients when it comes to the attitude of nurses as well as some doctors. “The behaviour of not only nurses but of healthcare workers in general has not been one that is acceptable,” he…
Read MoreFly Jamaica passengers express frustration over long-wait for refunds
A passenger who was scheduled to leave Guyana’s shores on December 11, 2018 after booking his flight five months in advance with Fly Jamaica, has expressed frustration at the airline for “dragging its feet” in relation to refunding passengers their monies. Vikask Ramnarine, who was destined for JFK airport, New York, said that he was only informed of the cancellation of the flight when he made calls to the airline and was told to return eight weeks later for a full refund of his airfare. “On Thursday and Friday my…
Read MoreRemapping of Guyana to begin in 2019
Commissioner of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC), Trevor Benn, at the Commission’s annual end-of-year press briefing on Monday said plans are in place to begin remapping the country. According to Benn, the last time Guyana was mapped was in the late 1960s. “We will begin work on this, this year, starting with Region One. This is coming at a cost of over G$200 million,” he told media operatives. Additionally, Benn said the Commission has received estimates for the overall remapping of the country. According to him, estimates from…
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