A 54-year-old woman and her 80-year-old mother are now traumatised after they were subjected to a brutal beating in their Grove, East Bank Demerara home on Tuesday morning at the hands of three young men pretending to be customers. The woman, Sherry Narine, was audibly distressed during a telephone interview with this media house on Wednesday. Narine sells shopping bags in the Stabroek Market for a living, and when she is at home, she would vend small quantities of rice, sugar, drinks and other grocery items. Based on information gathered,…
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5 remanded over G$550M cocaine bust
– sawmill owner charged in absentia By Kizzy Coleman Five men including a race car driver and an ace rider were on Wednesday arraigned for the G$550 million cocaine bust at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo (EBE). The illegal substance was intercepted on May 12. Twenty-year-old Nazim Gafoor along with his father, Tazim Gafoor, 45, both of Menzees Street, Windor Forest, West Coast Demerara; biker, Stephen Vieira, 33, of Lot 37 Middle and Cummings Street, Georgetown; and GRA’s Drug Enforcement Agent, Sherwayne De Abreu of Lot 262 Street 8 Section “A”…
Read MoreGuyana Govt to ban public smoking
– G$20,000 fine being proposed for each time caught after first offence The Guyana government has made public its long awaited Tobacco Control Bill; which inter alia, prohibits by law, the smoking of cigarettes and other tobacco products such as cigars in public places. If found guilty, persons could face a fine of up to G$20,000 each time after being caught committing the offence a first time. The provisions are outlined in the proposed Tobacco Control Bill 2017, which has been published in the Official Gazette. According to the Bill,…
Read MoreJeffrey believes Venezuela will not accept ICJ ruling favourable to Guyana
Ever since the discovery of commercial quantities of oil and gas offshore Guyana, the border controversy with Venezuela has received widespread attention; but one question remains: Will the two South American countries come to an amicable solution to the longstanding issue? Former Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Henry Jeffery is of the strong opinion that in events leading up to the border controversy possibly being referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Venezuela would not readily accept arbitration for resolution of the controversy, mainly because the process that employs facilitators…
Read MorePPP/C MP complains of ‘executive interference’ in work of parliamentary committee
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Social Services (PSCSS), Dr Vindhya Persaud, has complained bitterly that executive interference in the committee’s work is hampering its progress. Dr Persaud has said that since the PSCSS was barred from entering the storage bond at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in a recent incident, she is yet to receive a number of documents that had been requested. These documents include combined received-and-issued vouchers (CRIV) and the records that relate to the drug monitoring system. “(Aside from) speaking with persons who were…
Read MoreBerbice rice farmer dies after crashing into parked truck
One day after crashing into a parked lorry along the Golden Grove Public Road, West Coast Berbice, a rice farmer succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Michael Persaud reportedly sustained a fractured skull when he lost control of his motorcycle, bearing registration plates CH 7640, while negotiating a turn and slammed the motorcycle into a parked motor lorry. Based on reports received, the 27-year-old man was heading home after imbibing with his friends when the accident occurred. He was reportedly speeding at the…
Read MoreRamotar signals ‘no-confidence’ in Govt’s ability to manage economy
Former President Donald Ramotar has accused the David Granger-led Administration of taking an anti-nationalist position on several issues and stubbornly refusing to act in the interests of Guyanese. Ramotar told Guyana Times International recently that the actions of the coalition Government were deliberately setting out to put the welfare of Guyanese in jeopardy. The former Head of State recalled that A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) when they were both in Opposition voted against several major developmental projects. Their anti-nationalism, he said, became more…
Read MorePNC former Health Minister jailed for 50 months
Just over a year after being arrested, former Health Minister Dr Noel Blackman has been sentenced to 50 months’ imprisonment for writing a number of prescriptions for the narcotics-based painkiller ‘Oxycodone’; and ordered to forfeit US$536,200 in illegal proceeds. The sentence, handed down by a New York Court on Friday, will also see him being subjected to three years’ supervision after his release from prison. A former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and a People’s National Congress (PNC) Executive member, Blackman, who…
Read MoreDraft legislation: Guyanese broadcasters could be compelled to air 1 hour Govt PSAs free
Local broadcasters – both private and public – will now be compelled to air, without charge, Government’s public service announcements (PSAs) during a certain timeframe according to the draft Broadcast legislation. However, broadcast agencies which have issues with any PSA have recourse to the regulator, the Guyana National broadcasting Authority (GNBA). GNBA Chairman Leslie Sobers has however dispelled any suggestion that, in arbitrating between private entities and the Government, the GNBA board may issue biased judgements. “I see no reason why it should be misconstrued that GNBA would be biased,…
Read MorePresident says no need for AG Williams to apologise
…despite huge public outcry Moments after highlighting the importance of judicial independence at State House on Wednesday, President David Granger told media operatives that he sees no need for Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams to apologise to a High Court Judge as he was not found to be contemptuous. The President was questioned on the possibility of asking the AG to apologise to Justice Franklin Holder over an outburst in the High Court during a hearing in March. However, President Granger feels that an apology is…
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