Former Foreign Minister Rudy Insanally said Caricom countries are not taking sufficient advantage of their numerical strength on the international stage. One problem, is that very often small states “are too concerned with keeping up with the Joneses and doing things like how X and Y are doing it, when we ought to be thinking for ourselves,” Insanally was quoted in the Trinidad Guardian as saying. Insanally, who has served in multiple high-level positions within the United Nations system, spoke on the issue at the St Augustine Campus of the…
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Large audience attends Guyana Day at Toronto forum
The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry hosted a Guyana Day seminar on Monday at the Prospectors and Developers Association Conference in Toronto, Canada for investors, prospectors, and financiers in the extractive industries. The forum attracted a large number of stakeholders for the various minerals sub- sectors. In a release, the ministry said the forum was attended by persons who are working or seeking to invest in the mining industries around the world. The seminar at the PDAC proved to be one of the most successful events for Guyana over the…
Read MoreGuyana seeks Caricom backing for Karran as OAS number two
Guyana will be nominating its current ambassador to the United States, Bayney Karran for the position of assistant secretary general (AGS), when the position becomes vacant in 2015, a top official in the country has confirmed. Current OAS, ASG, Surinamese Albert Ramdin has served two terms and would not be eligible to run again. While Ramdin has expressed an interest in the secretary general position, his government said it would not support his candidacy, but rather would give Guyana’s its vote. Based on long established tradition, the top OAS position…
Read MoreGuyana cements diplomatic ties with Palestine
Guyana has become the first member of Caricom to establish diplomatic relations with the Palestinian National Authority last week. Guyanese Ambassador to the United Nations George Talbot, and his Palestinian counterpart, Riyad Manssur, signed a document establishing bilateral relations. In the text, both countries committed to fully complying with the UN Charter and international law and promoting peace and security, as well as respect for the countries’ sovereignty and independence. Guyana is part of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and has…
Read MoreObama, other world leaders congratulate Guyana on 43rd Republic Anniversary
United States President Barrack Obama and several heads-of-states the world over have expressed congratulations to Guyana on the celebration of its 43rd Republic Anniversary. In a letter addressed to President Donald Ramotar, President Obama wrote, “I am pleased to extend my congratulation on behalf of the American people of the people of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana on the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of your Republic Day.” The U.S. president said “the United States and Guyana share a strong friendship enhanced by deep cultural and historical ties. I look…
Read MoreAgro-processors complete training to improve product quality
A number of local agro-processors now have better knowledge of the criterion needed to meet international standards for agro-processed foods. This is following the completion of a four-day training workshop, at the Regency Hotel, Hadfield Street, hosted by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), which focused on education requirements for agro-processing and marketing. The session, which ran from February 18 to 21, wrapped up with Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy delivering remarks to participants. The training facilitated by the Agriculture Ministry,…
Read MoreTT seeking Guyana’s advice in agriculture – Rice production and aquaculture named specifically
Minister of State in the Trinidad and Tobago Food Production Ministry Jairam Seemungal during his visit to Guyana last week, said his ministry is looking at signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of Guyana to initiate a partnership on rice cultivation. Seemungal said the MOU will be a knowledge-seeking one between the two countries. He reiterated Trinidad is interested in seeking knowledge in the production of rice and the rearing of fish. During his visit to Guyana, he met with Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy and discussion…
Read MoreMPs tired of the bickering in Parliament
By Samuel Sukhnandan – Nine months after a workshop was held to build better partnerships, reduce rhetoric and eliminate political agendas in the National Assembly, the august body is still the place for gridlock. But some Members of Parliament (MPs) are fed up with the situation and are hoping that there would be some changes. The two-day workshop, held in May last year under the theme “Managing through Partnership”, was supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).…
Read MoreFinance minister slams opposition’s move to cut budget again
The ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has slammed the parliamentary opposition over public statements to cut the 2013 National Budget, even though discussions are still ongoing and the fact that it has not been completed. Speaking at a press briefing held at Freedom House on Friday, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh said, “I’ve seen for example some scepticism expressed by APNU as it relates to the budget discussion. I believe the word that was used was “lukewarm”, which I thought was disappointing, hearing an APNU spokesperson speaking of their…
Read MoreStabroek News’ latest attack on QAII Report on tax concession biased and erroneous
Stabroek News, in an ongoing series of articles, continues to attack the Queens Atlantic Investment Inc (QAII) group of companies in what continues to be a clear attempt to discredit the company and its management and staff. In the most recent article, “Queens Atlantic remains mum on job creation,” on February 24, 2013, Stabroek News reporter Johann Earle (formerly of Stabroek News, Guyana Times, Chronicle and now back at Stabroek News), makes sweeping assumptions about the “tax concessions” that QAII supposedly benefitted from . “This is not the first time…
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