Category: News

By Lakhram Bhagirat The two Constabulary officers dismissed by City Hall, are expected to be reinstated and then sent on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation of the alleged sexual assault on a minor and dereliction of duty, by the Legal Affairs and Security Committee of the municipality. This action comes following a letter to the Town Clerk by Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan last week. Corporal Quacy Baveghems claimed that he witnessed a Lance Corporal of the City Constabulary engaged in a sexual act with a minor in…

Read More

By Jarryl Bryan A recent report from the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) has stressed the need for more attention to be placed on social welfare and protection for the average citizen in middle-income countries – among which Guyana numbers. The report places a focus on social protection services being offered by Governments throughout the world. It details that there is more work to be done when it comes to eradicating child marriage. According to the report, up to last year, 30 per cent of children in Guyana…

Read More

On the occasion of 100th anniversary (1917-2017) of abolition of Indentureship from India, the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) is hosting an international conference to reflect on this historic event. Academics, community leaders and students are invited to make presentations and or to participate in the conference. The public is also invited to be a part this important conference which theme is “Indo-Caribbean Diaspora’s Achievements, Challenges and Prospects”. Attendance and participation is free. The organizers (FIIDS) note that “the inspiring journey of the indentureds and their descendants…

Read More

The crime-fighting capabilities of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Monday received a massive boost as the Chinese Government handed over a hefty donation of vehicles and equipment worth US$2.6 million. Added to the existing Police fleet were 56 pickup trucks, 44 motorcycles, 35 ATVs as well as five buses, carrying the signature blue and white finish and sirens. Accompanying these was a total of 550 items of protective gear, 70 computers (both desktops and laptops) along with other technical equipment, all aimed at improving the efficiency of the country’s…

Read More

By Jarryl Bryan The Public Security Ministry has been flagged by Auditor General (AG) Deodat Sharma in his 2016 report for not being in compliance with the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMA) and the Procurement Act 2003. According to the AG in his report, the Ministry went back on its own agreement when procuring goods and paid an unnamed overseas contractor, who was supplying the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory, for goods it did not receive. Detailing the transaction, it was noted that for 2016, amounts totalling Gy$999.7 million was…

Read More

By Shemuel Fanfair As Government continues its drive to clamp down on squatting, Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan has given the seal of approval to the O&A Property Holdings Limited to construct condominiums in Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown. The company will construct the housing units in an area which will be known as “Gafoors Townhouses” scheme. According to a document seen by this publication, the O&A Property Holdings Limited “satisfied” the requirements for a condominium scheme to be constructed at the Lot ‘A’ portion of Block 1 which comprises areas ‘M’…

Read More

By Lakhram Bhagirat The three-year life span of the Police Service Commission (PSC) expired on September 4, 2017. The offices of Chairman and Commissioners became vacant automatically, and according to Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, President David Granger is currently in the process of finalising names for the reconstitution of the Commission. Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, in a letter dated July 27, wrote to the PSC informing them that the President directed that there be no consideration of promotion for members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) until further…

Read More

By Jarryl Bryan The upcoming Witness Protection Bill 2017 will contain a slew of new measures designed to deter the leaking of information that could compromise those the bill is intended to protect. New measures include stiff penalties, such as 10 years in jail for disclosures and bribery. Part VI of the long awaited bill binds anyone, including participants or former participants, from disclosing information in relation to the programme upon the paying of a million-dollar fine and 10 years in prison. According to Section 20 (1), this law applies…

Read More

-US$46m deficit recorded in first half of 2017 The Parliamentary Opposition has noted, with deep concern, the increasing deficit in the country’s balance of payments, which it says will continue to have serious implications for the local economy. Opposition Member of Parliament Irfaan Ali has said these rising deficits are mainly due to lower export receipts, resulting from lower revenue from export earnings. As a result of this unprecedented increase, the Government still has to finance these deficits. As such, the Government has been tapping into the Gross International Reserves…

Read More

The Chairperson of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Ms Genevieve Allen, has revealed that the Public Telecommunications Ministry, in collaboration with the technological entity Innovative Systems, will be launching an app to address the issues facing farmers within Guyana. Founder of Innovative Systems, Julius Simon, told the media that the app would be launched on November 24th, when the Region 4 Democratic Council opens the Regional Agriculture and Commercial Exhibition (RACE). “We’ve developed an agricultural trading platform which stemmed from an earlier initiative of the Ministry of Public Telecommunications to build a…

Read More