News – Page 430 – Guyana Times International

Opposition Leader says Govt still in “flip flop” mode

September 4, 2015 TIMES INT'L

Former President and now Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo is condemning the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government for its “flip-flop” move, in the appointment of Dr Maurice Odle as the Chairman of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL). Jagdeo in a telephone interview with Guyana Times International on Tuesday evening stated that during the 2015 Budget debates, his Party – the People’s Progressive Party/Civic – highlighted a number of cases where the present Administration has been ‘flip-flopping.’ He said this latest action of replacing their…

Corruption is a “cultural thing” – Guyana’s Top Cop

September 4, 2015 TIMES INT'L

The “I Paid a Bribe” programme has been dismissed as completely useless by Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud, who said it did absolutely nothing to aid in the reduction of corruption among Guyana Police Force (GPF) ranks. The programme, an Internet initiative consisting of a website where citizens reported bribery, was launched by former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee as a means to clamp down on bribery in the Police Force and other Government agencies. However, during an interview with Guyana Times International on Tuesday, the Police Commissioner declared that the…

Another overseas visitor robbed at knifepoint

September 4, 2015 TIMES INT'L

Moments after executing a brazen daylight robbery on an overseas-based Guyanese and her ailing mother, three young men were arrested. The robbery occurred about 11:00h at Lancaster Street, Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara. According to information received, the three young men invaded the property of Mona Kewall and relieved her of close to Gy$500,000 and other items. The men then fled, but the quick response from residents and Police led to their apprehension and positive identification as the perpetrators. A relative of the victims told Guyana Times International that the…

Efforts being made to restore Guyana’s beauty

September 4, 2015 TIMES INT'L

– Gy$36M allocated to National Task Force Commission In an effort to restore the country to its former glory by showcasing Guyana’s natural beauty and resources diverse in its forestry, rivers, soil type, minerals and numerous waterfalls, the recently established National Task Force Commission (NTFC) has begun works under its “Project Restore Guyana” initiative. The NTFC has been awarded thirty-six million dollars by Cabinet for a six-month duration until the other budget is presented in 2016, where funding should be continued throughout the next five years. Though the NTFC is…

SVN: An Exemplary School

August 21, 2015 TIMES INT'L

The results of this year’s CSEC exams, in which Saraswati Vidya Niketan dominated the headlines by copping the top two places in the country and in the Caribbean, might have surprised many. While this newspaper has its doubts about the advisability of children at an average age of 16, writing twenty subjects, one has to acknowledge that it is an incredible feat for the number one student to not only sit for that number, but to actually achieve all grade 1′s. Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN) – which means “Goddess of…

Govt withdraws GPL subventions

August 17, 2015 TIMES INT'L

– Linden to get over Gy$1B in subsidies The future of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Incorporated is still unclear especially with the most recent setback of no provision of any subventions in Government’s 2015 Budget estimates. A senior official at GPL told Guyana Times International on Wednesday that this move by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration was not one the company expected. He stated that GPL will now have to adjust its 2015 budget so as to not reflect any capital works and…

The “Good Life” budget

August 17, 2015 TIMES INT'L

On Monday, the new A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change coalition Government presented its first budget to the National Assembly under the theme “A Fresh Approach to the Good Life in a Green Economy”. Finance Minister Winston Jordan used most of his presentation to attack the previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government while articulating his Government’s plan to develop the country over the next five years under a new brand of governance that will hopefully agar well for all Guyanese. While boasting about how the new Government responded to…

Roopnaraine agreed to abrupt end of Rodney CoI

August 7, 2015 TIMES INT'L

– admits succumbing to PNC-dominated Cabinet pressure BY ALEXIS RODNEY Leader of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr Rupert Roopnaraine has confessed that he was a signatory to the precipitous decision to scrap the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI), but said that he is still prepared to offer his statement to Commissioners who are yet to present their findings. By making this admission, Roopnaraine, who was appointed Senior Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister in the new Government, has confirmed reports that the decision of the Peoples National Congress…

Govt will not directly market rice – Holder insists amid growing concerns

August 7, 2015 TIMES INT'L

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder made it clear that the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration will not get involved in the direct marketing of rice, insisting that it is a job for the millers themselves. This is contrary to what the coalition had promised in its Elections Manifesto 2015. Specifically, under Chapter Five: Production, Transformation and Economic Diversification, under the subheading relating to the rice industry, it is boldly printed that “The APNU/AFC coalition will… Immediately initiate a sustainable Rice Sector support programme which would include…the…

PPP/C slams Govt over anti-poor policies

August 7, 2015 TIMES INT'L

…moves being made to give laptops to friends, cronies — PPP/C By Kristen Macklingam The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) on Monday whipped the David Granger Administration for implementing anti-poor policies as it rejected the notion that when it was in power there was consideration for raising the salaries of its Ministers and Presidential Advisers at the expense of taxpayers and distributing laptop computers to its friends and cronies. PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee, during a media briefing, explained that his Party would never think about increasing monies for themselves against…