News – Page 365 – Guyana Times International

4 remanded for armed robbery

March 17, 2017March 20, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Dellon Morgan, Mark Bond, Kasey Helligar and Roberto Sankar were on Tuesday remanded to prison for armed robbery by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. The first charge read that the four men, on January 30, 2017 at Pigeon Island, East Coast Demerara, while armed with a dangerous weapon, robbed Virtual Complainant (VC) Dexter Lowe of a 1.3 Taurus pistol valued at G$179,000, along with G$7000 cash. In addition, the men, armed with a firearm, robbed Junior Cheong of G$1, 000,200, property of the said VC. The defendants were not required to…

Carvil Duncan case against Tribunal continues at High Court

March 17, 2017March 20, 2017 TIMES INT'L

The Carvil Duncan legal challenge against the tribunal that was set up to determine if he could remain in several constitutional posts while charges were being prosecuted against him continued at the High Court. The matter is being heard by Justice Franklin Holder. Duncan, who was suspended as Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), took the stand on Wednesday, when Attorney General Basil Williams, SC, grilled him for several hours about how mail was received at the PSC. A “did he or didn’t he” aspect of the matter relating…

Several locations under consideration for new Demerara River crossing

March 17, 2017March 20, 2017 TIMES INT'L

The first phase of the feasibility study for a new Demerara River bridge crossing has been completed with several locations identified. Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, along with a team from the Ministry, and General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation, Rawlston Adams, met with LievenseCSO on Monday, where they discussed the study. Arie Mol of the Dutch company, led the presentation of the study which began in January this year. In his presentation, Mol touched on a number of points, including river/marine traffic, river modelling, and economic and…

Police ranks among beneficiaries of Govt’s first housing project

March 17, 2017March 20, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Seven hundred and sixty eight families are expected to be housed in the first phase of the implementation of Government’s’ new housing programme. Members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) are among those targeted to benefit. Minister within the Communities Ministry with responsibility for housing, Valerie Adams-Patterson and a team from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) on Wednesday engaged Police ranks stationed in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) on Government’s Housing Solutions for State employees. The sides met at the GPF’s Training Centre at Camp and Young Streets, Eve Leary,…

Where is the change that I voted for?

March 17, 2017March 20, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, I am writing in protest of action to be taken by the APNU/AFC Coalition Government that would, I believe, threaten my rights and freedoms as a Guyanese citizen, especially since this action is to be taken without any form of consultation. When I voted in May 2015, it was clear in my mind that I wanted change: I wanted to see different people in charge of the Government, different people leading policies, and different people engaged in solving our problems. Now, nearly two years later, I must say…

Public Health Ministry has failed to build on improvements made by previous government

March 17, 2017March 20, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, It is clear to everyone that this Government has officially conducted more questionable purchases of Drugs than they had accused the PPP of. For nearly two years now the MOPH has failed to build on the improvements made by the previous Government in strengthening the Supply Chain System of medicines and supplies nationwide. What makes it more glaring, is the fact that they have established a Procurement Commission while the actions with regards to drug purchases has gotten worst. The recent so-called emergency purchase of drugs for GPHC…

SARU has succeeded in politically polarising the Guyanese society

March 17, 2017March 20, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, The recent outburst of Major (Rtd) Aubrey Heath-Retemeyer, CEO of the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU), is the latest example of the constant denouncing of groups and individuals who have expressed reservations about aspects of the SARU Bill. This behaviour reinforces an impression that the agency is not overly concerned about putting in place the impartial, broad-based national anti-corruption programme that Guyana so urgently requires. Indeed, SARU’s constant and excessive allegations are fragmenting the broad national consensus on anti-corruption which contributed significantly to the A Partnership for National…

Organisers of Phagwah celebrations in New York should be commended

March 17, 2017March 20, 2017 TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor, The presence of large numbers of Indo-Guyanese and other Indo-Caribbean Hindus in selected locations in America and the organising skills of community leaders have made it possible for Phagwah to be celebrated with the same traditions as brought to the West by their ancestors from Mother India to the Caribbean (Guyana, etc) and from there to America. The spirit of Holi has truly traversed a great distance. Phagwah or Holi is the most popular Hindu festival observed in New York City attracting the largest crowd of revellers with…

President Granger praises cultural inclusion

March 17, 2017March 20, 2017 TIMES INT'L

…during Holi celebrations in Guyana While the celebration of Holi has strengthened the bond among Hindus in Guyana, it has also extended that bond to other religious and ethnic groups. President David Grangermade these comments to hundreds of Guyanese of all races, who gathered at the Indian Cultural Centre in Bel Air, to celebrate Holi (Phagwah), the festival of colours. The President, who participated in the traditional Phagwah play, said that that the celebration is even more joyful, this year as the nation commemorates the centenary of the abolition of…

External interference

March 17, 2017March 20, 2017 TIMES INT'L

In January of this year, the British Government claimed to have financed the return services of Dr Sam Sittlington to advise the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) in a five-week stint. The Unit had already been enmeshed in a swirling controversy brought about when an operative, engaged in a cloak and dagger surveillance operation, segued into a hot pursuit that ended tragically when the operative and his wife – who was not supposed to be there – perished. More generally, a raft of organisations and individuals expressed grave concerns about…