Dear Editor, Marking the centenary of the end of the Indian indentureship programme has become a most interesting exercise and more so for the Indian Guyanese community. Myself, Ravi Dev and Swami Aksharananda were the objects of the usual spewing of hate – originating from Freddie Kissoon’s pathology of self-hatred – in a column published on March 7, 2017. Whether Kissoon should be given a column to direct personal attacks in the name of responsible journalism is a consideration for his publishers, the Guyana Press Association, and for the Government,…
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“Artificially created emergency”
Former Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, has slammed the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s (GPHC) attempts to sole source drugs to the tune of G$605.9 million from private supplier ANSA McAL Trading Limited, due to an “emergency”. According to Ramsammy, the fact is that the Georgetown Public Hospital has actually been delaying, then publishing and finally cancelling tenders for the supply of crucial drugs for the past few months. He said that the emergency Georgetown Public Hospital is citing is therefore an artificially created one, in order to sole source. “The…
Read MoreEconomist blames ‘incompetent decision-makers’ for downfall of sugar industry
The recent announcement by Government that more sugar estates will be closed has been described as a move which lacks transparency by economist Sasenarine Singh, who believes that the downfall of the sugar industry is as a result of the incompetence of decision-makers. Last week, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon admitted that more estates would be shut down as Government moved to finalise its options with regard to the future of the sugar industry. “Well, there are proposals with respect to diversification; and in the diversification plan, there is a…
Read MoreThe Pradoville II politics
The Government has spent almost the entire first two years of its term to bring charges of one sort or another against the members of past PPP administrations and their associates. Towards this end they ordered a score of “forensic audits” into the operations of several agencies so as to identify specific transgressions for the said charges to be filed. They even assigned a Minister to coordinate this task. However, in several instances where there were even more pronounced calls for such audits – such as at City Hall or…
Read MoreGuyanese pharma companies snubbed
…as GPHC creates “emergency” to sole source G$605M drugs from overseas firm Another major corruption scandal appears to be in the making as the management of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) moves to sideline local companies for the procurement of emergency pharmaceuticals worth in excess of G$605 million from a Trinidadian firm, ANSA McAL. Georgetown Public Hospital had delayed and cancelled four out of its five public tenders within the last four months, creating a situation where there is a massive shortage of pharmaceuticals, which was initially denied by…
Read MoreSeveral mandirs participate in Chowtaal singing in Queens
By Vishnu Bisram As in Guyana, Holi or Phagwah is being celebrated in New York City among the large Guyanese community. Several groups host Chowtaal singing at their mandirs. Chowtaal is very popular around this time of the year when the spring festival of Holi is observed. Usually, from the time of Holika Dahan or the planting of Holika, it continues for 40 days leading up the Phagwah (Holi) Day. Last Sunday, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha(USA Praant) hosted the 3rd annual Chowtaal Samelan at the Prem Bhakti Mandir in…
Read More‘SOCU’s action politically motivated’
– Jagdeo says will not be intimidated BY DEVINA SAMAROO Tension, suspense and apprehension swept across the nation as the masses followed with close interest the egregious arrest of former top Government officials by agents of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in relation to their investigation of misappropriation of State assets. Former President and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, former Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, and former Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud were among those who were taken into custody for…
Read MoreRichmond Hill community rallies support for fire victims
Guyanese affected by Richmond Hill inferno which tore through a row of buildings in Queens, New York early Sunday morning, destroying at least eight homes and leaving dozens of people homeless, are still trying to recover from the massive tragedy. According to New York media reports, the fire spread through the attached buildings located along Liberty Avenue and 110th Street. The displaced families and small business owners were directed to the neighbouring Tulsi Mandir, a Hindu religious center, located at 103-26 111st. Several organisations in New York have so far…
Read MoreMayor’s move to have city businesses closed by 16:30h will further cripple private sector – business owners
BY DEVINA SAMAROO In an announcement that sent shockwaves through the city, Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Green declared that city businesses have been operating beyond hours prescribed by the law and the practice must be immediately stopped. However, the Shops Consolidation (Amendment) Act 2009 states otherwise. Chase Green told a public meeting on Friday that businesses are forbidden from opening on public holidays, on Sundays and beyond 16:30h (4:30pm) daily; warning that efforts will be made to ensure law and order is restored. The announcement startled many business operators in…
Read MoreControversial Region 9 REO interdicted from duty – Bulkan
Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan has announced that Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo), Carl Parker has been off the job for over one week and that a replacement REO has since been installed. During an interview with the Government Information Agency, the Minister disputed reports in some sections of the media that Parker was still on the job. According to Bulkan, Kerwin Ward, formerly of the Region Three administration has assumed the responsibility of acting REO of Region Nine. Ward has been with the Region Three…
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