Category: News

…before oil money arrives Even as Guyana builds its systemic capacity to handle the revenues that would come from the oil and gas sector, Economist Ramon Gaskin, a former presidential advisor and current political commentator, is warning that failure to amend and strengthen legislation governing the Consolidated Fund may have dire consequences. Noting that the Consolidated Fund has a history of being abused, Gaskin has called for legislative changes to be made to ensure that sums of money put therein are indeed used for the purposes set out by the…

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The Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP) has said that President David Granger’s comments on the recent ruling handed down by the acting Chief Justice in regard to the requirements for appointing a Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) did not contradict, but in fact complemented, the Court’s decision. In a statement released on Saturday evening, the MoTP refuted any assertion that President Granger has rejected the ruling of acting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire on the case brought against Attorney General Basil Williams by private citizen Marcel Gaskin. The MoTP…

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Private Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman Eddie Boyer said the entity had warned Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan about the possibility of another jailbreak, noting that the business community would now have to take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of their operations. Speaking with a section of the media on Monday, Boyer said the situation was a “sad” one, as it has now thrown more fear into the business community. He said it was obvious businesses would be affected, since there would not be much shopping taking place. “Businesses…

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Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman has said that Guyana is getting the help it needs to welcome the oil and gas sector when it expectedly takes full steam in 2020, but Government has recently been criticised for its unpreparedness in dealing with this sector. Trotman told this publication that while he does not have the specific details of the arguments made by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, Guyana has partnered with several upright international agencies to assist with building capacity in the new sector, and these exercises will continue. The minister…

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The Bina Hill Institute in Annai, Region Nine has churned out another batch of graduates. The institute’s eight (8th) graduation ceremony saw 34 youths graduating after being certified in 11 technical skills. Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock told the graduates that their real journey starts now. “I know that some of you, during the two years have been thinking that this is the end…But this was the time you were being prepared to begin your journey, the real journey into adulthood, to make your contribution to the development…

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An East Bank Demerara (EDB) man, who allegedly drove his motorcycle in a dangerous manner and reportedly caused the death of his reputed wife, who was his pillion rider at the time, was on Wednesday charged and appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Lawrence McGarrell, 24, of Lot 66 Golden Grove, EBD appeared before the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan and Magistrate Sunil Scarce to answer to the seven charges brought against him. He pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on July 23, 2017 at Providence Public Road,…

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Scores of persons gathered at the Lyken Funeral Parlour on Norton Street, Newburg, Georgetown on Tuesday to mourn the loss and pay their final respects to prison officer Odinga Wickham, who succumbed after being shot by a prisoner while on duty during the July 9 Camp Street Prison riot and fire. Among those gathered to pay their respects to the deceased was embattled Director of Prisons (ag), Gladwin Samuels. He was hailed as a hero by his colleagues and friends. Relatives of the dead prison officer were in tears as…

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By Samuel Sukhnandan In light of Guyana being named as one of two countries that have the highest mortality for premature cardiovascular disease and diabetes in the Americas, former Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy has said that this may be as a result of Government abandoning the Non-Communicable Diseases (NDC) Strategy, which was formulated and implemented during his time as Minister. The former Minister believes that Guyana is not doing enough to fight against the NCDs, although there was an NCD strategy in the years 2003-2008 and again in the…

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