News – Page 340 – Guyana Times International

High taxation rate will drive businesses away from Guyana – financial analyst

June 9, 2017 TIMES INT'L

By Samuel Sukhnandan Higher taxation will cause systemic damage to the country’s economic framework and has the potential to drive businesses away to invest elsewhere, financial analyst Sasenarine Singh has cautioned. Singh told Guyana Times International on Sunday that increased taxes in Guyana have already led to an upsurge in the cost of production, which is driving the Private Sector into a more uncompetitive position. “So, you will find this increase in taxation has resulted in a productivity decline for the Private Sector over the last 12 months. The Private…

Jamaican Police discover 75 kilos of cocaine

June 9, 2017 TIMES INT'L

– in shipments from Guyana, Suriname The Jamaican authorities are reporting that they have discovered some 75 kilograms (165 pounds) of cocaine stashed away in four containers shipped from Guyana and Suriname. According to a report in the Jamaica Observer, officers assigned to the Narcotics Division and members of the Contraband Enforcement Team (CET) of the Jamaica Custom Agency conducted an operation at the Kingston Freeport Terminal, Gordon Quay, Port Bustamante Wharf, which led to the seizure of more than 165 pounds of cocaine. Reports are that a few days…

President Granger promises full support to ensure growth of tourism sector

June 9, 2017 TIMES INT'L

The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) has celebrated its 25th Anniversary with the Annual President’s Award Ceremony and Reception held at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown on Saturday evening. The scores of dignitaries in attendance heard that Guyana is looking to secure an annual arrival rate of half a million visitors by 2025 — up from the 235,000 visitors who landed in Guyana last year. A six per cent increase in arrivals over the same period in 2016 has thus far been recorded for the first quarter of…

Gaskin warns of huge impact estate closures would have on communities

June 9, 2017 TIMES INT'L

By Samuel Sukhnandan Former presidential advisor and outspoken economist Ramon Gaskin has warned that Government’s plan in regard to the future of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) — to close the Enmore and Rose Hall sugar estates, sell out the Skeldon sugar factory, and reduce the annual production of sugar — will have significant implications for thousands of Guyanese. Gaskin said the APNU/AFC Government’s announcement of the new policy decision on the sugar industry could see some 10,000 sugar workers being directly affected. At present, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo)…

GuySuCo has no ‘proper rationale’ to close Uitvlugt Estate – Union

June 9, 2017 TIMES INT'L

In light of statements of the possible closure of the Uitvlugt Estate over the fact that cane cutters from Wales are refusing to work at the West Coast Demerara facility, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) believes that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has no “proper rationale” to close yet another estate. According to the Union, the Sugar Corporation had justified its position by contending that plans for development of the Uitvlugt Estate are being stymied because the cane cutters and cane transport operators from Wales – which…

Dynamic Airways boasts 95% on time rate for 2017

June 9, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Responding to allegations of prolonged delays and continuous cancelations in flights, Guyanese franchise holder of Dynamic International Airways; Captain Gerald Gouveia boasted a 95 per cent on time rate for operations to and from Guyana for 2017 thus far. When questioned about the complaints from customers who were left stranded at airports both in Guyana and the United States on several occasions, the Captain responded, “Dynamic has actually, for this year, been operating with a 95 per cent on time departure. We have probably had one flight cancelled for this…

U.S. pull out from Paris Agreement ‘unfortunate’ – Guyana govt

June 9, 2017 TIMES INT'L

United States President Donald Trump has declared that his country would be pulling out of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, and State Minister Joseph Harmon has said he believes the remaining signees to that agreement will now have to regroup on the way forward. “I believe (that) whatever movement takes place after this, the international community will have to regroup and have a fresh look at the commitments that have been made under the agreement, and move forward,” Harmon told reporters at the post Cabinet press briefing on…

Chinese investors express interest in Guyana’s mining sector

June 9, 2017 TIMES INT'L

A delegation of Chinese businessmen is confident after a successful scouting mission in investing in Guyana’s natural resources sector. The delegation met with Minister within the Natural Resources Ministry Simona Broomes and a team from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), including Acting Commissioner Newell Dennison in GGMC’s boardroom on Wednesday. The Chinese investors have expressed interest primarily in gold and diamond mining. They are also interested in bauxite mining, lithium and other lesser known minerals. Head of the delegation, Simei Liu, speaking through translator Jeffery Jin, noted that…

UG connects Tain, Turkeyen campuses

June 9, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Students from the University of Guyana’s Tain Campus can now access courses offered at the University’s Turkeyen Campus without leaving Berbice. This is now possible with the launch of the Teleconferencing Platform, which connects the two campuses. UG, in collaboration with the Public Telecommunications Ministry, on Monday launched the Teleconferencing Platform at the Centre for Information Technology (CIT), Turkeyen Campus. Vice Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith said the Platform, donated by Huawei – a China-based company, was just one step towards connecting the University’s campuses. He added that he intended to…

GECOM CEO faces heat as ‘contract-splitting’ racket gets exposed

June 9, 2017 TIMES INT'L

A racket uncovered by the Auditor General in 2015 attracted the attention of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Parliament on Monday, but legislators were left with unanswered questions because Chief Elections Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Keith Lowenfield, has opted to await findings of a special investigation before making any further pronouncements. The Auditor General had, in 2015, found that nine contracts to the tune G$82.1M had been awarded to a single supplier for the purchase of toners and cartridges. Each of these contracts was found…