CJIA expansion attracts int’l interest – Minister Benn

Several countries have shown an interest in Guyana’s push to develop a new international airport, Public Works Minister Robeson Benn disclosed. The minister recently led a small delegation to the 38th International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) General Assembly in Montreal, Canada. Representatives from Nigeria, Indonesia and other African countries quizzed Minister Benn on the opportunities that could be derived from the project. In-depth discussions were also held with Princess Stella Adaeze-Oduah, Nigeria’s aviation minister. According to Minister Benn, he along with Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCCA) Director Zulfikar Mohamed and…

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Fly Jamaica upbeat about Guyana-New York route

Fly Jamaica officially began its service in Guyana during the early hours of Friday morning, with the inaugural flight comprising members of the media corps and some 120 private passengers to Jamaica then onward to United States of America. The Boeing 757-200ER aircraft, with a seating configuration of 12 business and 186 economy seats, departed the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at 01: 30h and arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport, Jamaica around 05: 00h, with a connecting flight to New York’s John F Kennedy Airport. The new airline will…

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Burrowes School of Arts hosts 34th graduation ceremony

The Burrowes School of Arts on Friday hosted its 34th graduation ceremony and art exhibition at the Umana Yana, Kingston in Georgetown. The ceremony saw a total of 33 students graduating. Four students graduated with diplomas in graphics and textile design, while another four graduated with certificates in textile design, leathercraft, and graphics. Additionally, 10 students also received beginners certificates and 15 graduated from the art programme. Delivering the feature address at the graduation, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony congratulated the students on the hard work they…

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Ramotar, OAS head discuss electoral observer mission

Organisation of American States (OAS) Secretary General José Miguel Insulza last Thursday met with President Donald Ramotar in New York, within the framework of the 68th United Nations General Assembly. During the meeting, the two discussed the importance of the electoral observation missions deployed by the organisation, the impact of climate change, trade policies in member states and the progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, among other issues. Amid the uncertainty as to when local government elections would be held in Guyana, Ramotar’s discussion with the OAS head could be…

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Political stalemate in National Assembly scaring away investors – Chamber head

Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President Clinton Urling said the ongoing political impasse in the National Assembly is significantly affecting the national economy as it is “scaring away investors”. This, he noted could pose a threat to the local business community. Urling raised these concerns last Friday evening as the GCCI launched its 2013/ 2014 Business Directory Magazine at the Pegasus Hotel. He said the uncompromising stance that prevails between government and the combined parliamentary opposition does not bode well for international transactions and can hurt the country’s…

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NIS expenditures topped Gy$ 11.33B last year

– pensioners roll stood at 43,000 in July National Insurance Scheme Chairman, Dr Roger Luncheon said contribution revenue for last year stood at Gy$ 11.32 billion, but the scheme paid out Gy$ 11.33 billion in benefits. He made the disclosure in an address at the scheme’s 44th anniversary celebrations. Luncheon, who is also head of the Presidential Secretariat, said although the spectre of an imminent dire situation is highly exaggerated, the scheme’s financial viability does evoke apprehension among the informed. According to him as is known, long-term benefits dominate the…

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US$ 32M generator sets arrive in Guyana

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, along with Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Chief Executive Officer Bharat Dindyal, on Friday visited the John Fernandes Wharf to inspect a US$ 32 million, five-component Wartsila generator set which is expected to be installed at the 26-megawatt Vreed-en-Hoop power station by next month-end, and become fully operational by April 2014. The engines have a capacity of 8.6 megawatts each and will be contributing to the Demerara system, and eventually, Berbice and part of the East Bank Essequibo system, and will be moving from an 80-megawatt…

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Granger presses for tri-partite budget committee

By Sabatini Daniels   A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Chairman David Granger said the government must set up a tripartite budget committee if the three political parties in Parliament are to progress on budgetary 2014 talks. Speaking at his party’s weekly press briefing last Friday, Granger reminded that in December 2011 he had approached President Donald Ramotar about setting up a tripartite budget committee. He said to date, the committee had not been set up, so he was “not optimistic” about budget talks this year. “I do believe that…

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IDB promises financial help in energy sector

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has promised to assist Guyana with technical and financial support in an effort to reform the energy sector. During a meeting in New York last Friday, IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno told President Donald Ramotar that the lending agency will help Guyana modernise its energy matrix and advance its innovative Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) in an effort to maintain debt sustainability, while providing the desired benefits to Guyana’s economy and its people. Having acknowledged the pressing need to diversify Guyana’s energy matrix in a…

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Guyana has been moving from strength to strength – PM Hinds

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds reminded Essequibo residents about the progress made over the two decades of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) government since a return Guyana to democracy in 1992. Delivering the main address during an outreach over the weekend at Adventure Village, the prime minister outlined the issues faced by government given the changed dispensation in the National Assembly, and called on residents to be prepared to ensure the current gains achieved by the ruling administration were cemented. The new parliamentary dispensation was attributed in part to…

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