News – Page 417 – Guyana Times International

Region 9 at critical stage – Chairman

February 12, 2016 TIMES INT'L

…Govt will help after Budget debate …Pomeroon residents also suffering By Jillicia Pinder & Indrawattie Natram Residents of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) who have been experiencing severe drought conditions over the past several weeks now have to wait until the Budget 2016 debate ends before the Government of Guyana can provide adequate assistance. During a telephone interview with this publication on Monday, Region Nine Chairman Brian Allicock stated that he had recently returned from Georgetown after a visit with the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock to initiate ways…

Wales Estate workers given 3-day ultimatum

February 12, 2016 TIMES INT'L

…to chose between Uitvlugt/severance or be ousted Sugar workers on Monday were given a three-day ultimatum to sign an agreement indicating whether they will opt to receive a severance package from government or be transferred to Uitvlugt Sugar Estate. If the workers do not sign the agreement in the stipulated timeframe, they will be ousted from the Wales Sugar Estate. The workers of Wales Estate were informed of this during an intense meeting with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). Guyana Times International met with the aggrieved workers shortly after the…

Record number of Americans cut official ties with ‘Uncle Sam’

February 12, 2016 TIMES INT'L

The number of U.S. citizens and long-term residents cutting their official ties to Uncle Sam jumped more than 20% last year to 4,279, according to a CNNMoney analysis of the latest government data. According to the CNN article, it’s a trend that’s been increasing in recent years. Many of those severing links are Americans living overseas who are tired of dealing with complicated tax paperwork, a headache that has worsened since new regulations came into effect. CNNMoney pointed out that eighteen times as many Americans renounced their citizenship or long-term…

22-year-old man electrocuted with ‘homemade drop cord’

February 12, 2016 TIMES INT'L

Ian Andrews, 22, of Palmyra, East Coast Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) is now dead after being electrocuted by a homemade drop cord. Reports are that Andrews, who lived alone, might have been taking the drop cord which had a bulb attached to it, to the lower flat of the building when the incident occurred. Andrews’ mother, Sara, said last Thursday she tried to make contact with her son, but her calls to his cellular phone went unanswered. “On Friday, I decided to call an aunt asking her to make…

Region 2 rice farmers still owed

February 12, 2016 TIMES INT'L

By Indrawattie Natram Several rice farmers living in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) are still owed millions of dollars by millers for paddy sold two crops ago. This was disclosed by People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Councillor Showkat Ail at the statutory meeting of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of that Region on Tuesday. Ali told his fellow Councillors that farmers were highly indebted but still owed by millers. The Councillor divulged that owing to farmers having loans from commercial banks, they have no other choice but to cultivate their lands despite the…

2 held following Chinese businesswoman’s murder

February 12, 2016 TIMES INT'L

Police have intensified their search for leads into the fatal shooting of a Chinese National who was killed during a robbery on the Corentyne on Sunday night. Following the shooting, Police arrested one man who remains in custody and has so far been assisting the investigation. However, on Tuesday, according to sources, a second man was arrested after Police intelligence led them to a house in the community. The murder is being investigated by the Major Crime Unit (MCU). On Saturday, two unmasked men, one armed with a cutlass and…

National Assembly erupts over “Green and Yellowing” of Guyana

February 12, 2016 TIMES INT'L

The National Assembly descended into a state of near chaos after People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament Alistair Charlie made mention of the use of green and yellow, synonymous with the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition on State buildings. However, House Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland, charged that “green and yellow” are colours of the Guyana flag. “It (green and yellow) cannot be an object for lampooning in this House,” he said. This prompted an intervention by Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira who noted that the…

Minister Cummings details Action Plan to tackle rising suicide rate in Guyana

February 12, 2016 TIMES INT'L

BY DEVINA SAMAROO The Public Health Ministry will be redoubling its efforts in the ongoing battle to bring the soaring suicide rates down through the introduction of several initiatives, including training of gatekeepers within communities, providing therapy sessions for suicide survivors, ensuring all health centres are equipped with social workers, and dispatching mental health officers to high-risked regions, among other schemes with the hope of providing the much-needed relief to the presumably increasing numbers of persons who feel they are in the depths of despair. Guyana continues to grapple with…

Police still hunting for husband who allegedly drowned wife in canal

February 12, 2016 TIMES INT'L

Police ranks in ‘D’ Division have intensified their hunt for the reputed husband of the late Bibi Zabida Khan also known as “Theresa” after he allegedly beat his wife, drowned her in a canal and then disappeared. Rudolph Williams, a 43-year cane cutter of Stewartville, West Coast Demerara (WCD) is still on the run after witnesses claimed that the man drowned his wife in a canal at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo almost three weeks ago. According to initial reports, persons in the area saw the couple in a heated argument…

SOCU not called to assist U.S. with investigations – Sydney James

February 12, 2016 TIMES INT'L

In light of the recent arrest of Dr Noel Blackman in the United States of America for illegally writing a large number of prescriptions for narcotic-based painkillers, the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) said it was not contacted to offer assistance in the investigation. Head of the Unit, Sydney James when asked for a comment noted that the investigation is being headed by the United States authorities and while Guyana and the US have some amount of cooperation, the Unit has not been called upon to lend its expertise. He…