News – Page 567 – Guyana Times International

Ramotar maintains issuance of radio licences has been a fair and transparent process

April 2, 2013 TIMES INT'L

President Donald Ramotar brushed off speculation that the issuance of radio licences has been one-sided, as a perusal of the entire list would disprove this assumption, since it includes persons who are unlikely to have any affiliation with the former president or loyalty to the ruling party. Since the names of radio licencees became known, owner of the Kaieteur News Glenn Lall, has been claiming that the awardees are cronies of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, who sanctioned the licences prior to demitting office. While being grilled on the issue by…

Guyana’s economy grew by 4.2 per cent in 2012

April 2, 2013 TIMES INT'L

Guyana’s economic performance continues to vindicate government’s efforts over the years to diversify the local productive base and reduce the country’s exposure to external and other shocks, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh said on Monday as he outlined some of the macroeconomic measures taken to ensure the continued growth of the country’s economy. Introducing the 2013 national budget to Parliament, he said, “It is to our collective credit, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and households alike, that our country’s overall economic performance is no longer hostage to the fortunes of two or three…

GuySuCo restructuring picking up pace – Ramsammy says it’s necessary to improve production

April 2, 2013April 2, 2013 TIMES INT'L

By Samuel Sukhnandan – Discussions are ongoing between government and stakeholders to restructure the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to increase future production levels. This is according to Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy, who told Guyana Times International in an exclusive interview on Friday, that this is one step being taken to improve the sugar industry and ensure that it remains highly competitive. Dr Ramsammy said the first meeting was held on Thursday between a team from the ministry; and officials of GuySuCo; the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU);…

Guyana transitioning to low carbon path – Ramotar tells LCDS update forum

April 2, 2013 TIMES INT'L

“We are now well on the way towards transitioning our economy to one that is built on clean energy – sustainable land use – and maintaining our forests.” These were the words of President Donald Ramotar as he gave an update on the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) during a State House forum on Friday. The event was attended by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, top diplomats, government ministers, and leading members of the private sector. President Ramotar launched an update on the LCDS, which provides a summary of Guyana’s progress…

Jagdeo elected vice chair of ACP group

April 2, 2013 TIMES INT'L

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo, along with Former Dominican Republic President Fernandez Reyna, has been elected vice chair of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Eminent Persons Group (EPG). Former President Jagdeo told journalists in Brussels, Belgium, where the inaugural meeting of the ACP EPG concluded last Monday, that the need for reinvention of the grouping was not based so much on what happened in the past, but what will happen in the future. “Clearly, the world has changed – that’s one of the reasons why we need to remain relevant…

Linden needs to become self sufficient – Mayor urges cash be retained in community

April 2, 2013 TIMES INT'L

Linden Mayor and Town Council Interim Management Committee (IMC) Chairman Orrin Gordon said the community must seek new avenues in order to improve and increase its money circulation, which he believes will lead to it becoming economically stable. He was at the time speaking to members of the community and media operatives at the recently held Linden Media Forum, which sought to shed light on the state of the Linden community. Gordon noted that the money circulating in the community is just over Gy$5 billion, with the goods and services…

We will cut the budget if necessary – Greenidge

April 2, 2013 TIMES INT'L

The main opposition political party, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) says it will not be deterred from making amendments to the 2013 National Budget, especially if they find it necessary to reduce financial allocations made to a certain sector for which they believe should not receive the sum suggested in the budget. Shadow finance minister and APNU’s executive, Carl Greenidge made this announcement at the party’s weekly press conference on Tuesday. Greenidge said, while the budget may be the largest ever, he believes that it lacks basic elements…

Gy$19.2B allocation will advance development of new strategic health plan

April 2, 2013 TIMES INT'L

During the presentation of the Gy$208.8 billion, 2013 National Budget in the National Assembly, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh said the health sector will advance development of a new strategic plan, which will incorporate lessons learnt from the previous strategic plan while still consolidating the gains made in the sector over the past five years. It is in this context that Gy$19.2B has been allocated to the sector with the aim of achieving universal health coverage through the primary health care approach, he stated. Over Gy$17B was expended in 2012,…

Guyana, U. S. sign new open skies accord – Diaspora to be one of the primary beneficiaries

April 2, 2013 TIMES INT'L

A bilateral Air Transport Agreement was signed on Monday between the governments of Guyana and the United States that will pave the way for a liberalised aviation relationship between the two that permits unrestricted air services by their airlines. The current accord, will replace the 1946 agreement between the governments of the United Kingdom and the U. S. that has been in effect since 1966 when the country gained independence. The agreement was signed by Public Works Minister Robeson Benn, who has oversight for the aviation sector and U. S.…

CJIA installs pro-vision body scanner – to replace pat-down searches

April 2, 2013 TIMES INT'L

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri has installed a pro-vision body scanner, which will replace the traditional pat-down search performed on passengers. This is the first of such equipment in the Caribbean. Despite the legal and standard nature of the pat-down search, there has been controversy recently about the way it is facilitated, hence, the CJIA’s acquisition of the equipment, which will remove the need for a pat-down exercise. Speaking with Guyana Times International after a sod-turning exercise on Saturday at the CJIA, the airport’s chief executive officer, Ramesh…