Category: News

Double standards? …Govt reappoints 74 year-old as Guyoil Chairman

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Former People’s National Congress Chief Whip, 74-year-old Lance Carberry, was recently reappointed Chairman of the Guyana Oil Company (Guyoil). Carberry was reappointed despite President David Granger’s announcement that Government is reviewing its policy on age and retirement for State agencies, boards and commissions with a view of building a pool of expertise among theyounger generation. President Granger had made the disclosures on the heels of a major outcry over his administration’s decision to terminate the services of Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority Justice Cecil Kennard who is also over…

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More protests in Georgetown

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…this time to challenge Govt’s imposition of 14% VAT on private education Parents, students and other concerned stakeholders will take to the streets on February 28 to protest Government’s imposition of 14 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on private education – a decision which many are urging to be repealed. Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo in a statement to the media on Tuesday, called on the Government to reverse the imposition of VAT on private education. “We say to the Government that if they so badly need revenue, then cut…

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Mr Bulkan is uttering untruths in foolishly denying what he said

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Dear Editor, I wish to respond to a letter by Mr Ronald Bulkan, Communities Minister, in which he accused me of making baseless statements in relation to the Government’s payment to BK International of more than G$1 billion on a mere letter threatening litigation. Let me say that my statement was based on an article published in the media on August 23, 2016. The front page headline read “Government pays BK US$5.7M on a simple threat”. The article quotes Mr Bulkan as the source for the headline. It was an…

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CCJ vigilant on appointment of Judges, independence of the Judiciary

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Dear Editor, The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is vigilant as regards the method of the appointment of judges and the independence of the Judiciary in the Region. Last Tuesday, the regional court criticised the system how appellate court judges are appointed in Belize. Although the CCJ judges did not entertain the appeal filed by the Bar Association against the Attorney General of Belize, but expressed displeasure with the present arrangement for the appointment of Justice of Appeal. At present, under section 94 of the Constitution of Belize Chapter 4,…

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Has the President just awoken from his slumber?

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Dear Editor, What happened? Did President David Granger suddenly wake up and become Columbus number two, that he and his administration now discover that he “…believed the rates are high and that there should have been certain parking exemptions from the inception…” Also, he said, “We do feel that the contract is burdensome…” Why only now? What did he do with the reports from his two Ministers – Finance and Legal Affairs? He received those reports several months ago. Did he read them at all and note their recommendations? Anyway,…

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Reports of US immigration raids in Queens for illegals

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Dear Editor, Newspapers are reporting that Federal Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) Agents of Homeland Security raided restaurants, stores and other job sites in Elmhurst and other parts of Queens. There are also rumours that ICE agents raided Liberty Avenue, Richmond Hill (dubbed Little Guyana) last week though this has not been confirmed. The reports from raids in Queens say hundreds were picked up. And it is not clear if any out of status Guyanese immigrants were picked up and in custody and the nature of their violations. Trinis and…

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Govt moving ahead with housing project at Perseverance

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Government’s ‘Housing Solutions for 2017 and Beyond’ initiative is moving full steam ahead and contractors have already been hired to build low-income, moderate-income and middle-income homes at the Perseverance Housing Scheme on the East Bank of Demerara. The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) on Tuesday signed agreements with 14 contractors for the construction of houses which will develop a model village exhibition to be hosted from May 1–5. The signing of the contracts took place at the Housing Ministry on Brickdam. Junior Communities Minister with responsibility for housing, Valarie…

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The Yankee dollar

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As the dispute continues as to whether or not there is actually a shortage of US currency available In Guyana, the Economist ran a very interesting article one week ago that reminds us of the critical role the American currency plays in anchoring the economy of the world, including ours. As the title, “Donald Trump and the dollar standard” suggests, the volatile United States (US) President may also affect the volatility of that standard and consequently the world’s economy. Directly after World War II, when the World Bank and IMF…

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Guyana inks US$40m loan agreement with IDB

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Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, on Tuesday, signed four loan agreements with the Inter-American Development Bank to secure US$40 million in developmental resources to finance key initiatives within the Ministries of Legal Affairs, Agriculture, Business and Public Health. The monies will be used to finance key initiatives within the Ministries of Legal Affairs, Agriculture, Business and Public Health. According to the Ministry of Finance, these loan resources will support Government’s developmental agenda of promoting investment; improving connectivity throughout Guyana; diversifying the economy; and providing citizens with quality healthcare and social…

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Presidential term limits unconstitutional

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…Guyana’s Court of Appeal rules in split decision The Guyana Court of Appeal on Wednesday, by a 2 to 1 majority, ruled that presidential term limits is unconstitutional. Handing down separate decisions were Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh; Chief Justice, Yonnette Cummings-Edwards and Justice B.S. Roy. Justice B.S. Roy and Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh turned down an appeal by Attorney General Basil Williams and the Speaker of the National Assembly.Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards differed and allowed the appeal. In her dissenting decision, she said the amendment to…

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