News – Page 592 – Guyana Times International

Chinese being updated on Guyana’s business laws

January 3, 2013 TIMES INT'L

By Whitney Persaud and Leana Bradshaw Chinese Association executive member Brian Yong A top executive of the Chinese Association in Guyana has given assurance that efforts are being made to ensure Chinese business owners are aware of the laws and regulations under which they operate. Executive member Brian Yong explained that efforts are being made to ensure that the Chinese businesses become aware of the rules and legal obligations that they must follow once they operate in the country. “These people are here because they want to make a living…

GuySuCo to mechanise on grander scale – Dr Ramsammy

January 3, 2013 TIMES INT'L

Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy said he was disappointed that the sugar industry has failed to meet its target for another year, contending that while he does not want to blame anyone, the industry would have to make fundamental changes and shift its operational thinking to turn things around. He said for 2013, mechanisation in the industry will take place on a grander scale as the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) grapples with an unstable workforce and poor weather. “It’s about fundamental changes that the industry will have to make… the…

Pressure mounts on Parliament to speed up local gov’t reforms

January 3, 2013January 3, 2013 TIMES INT'L

By Pushpa Balgobin Captain Gerry Gouveia There is a generation that is lacking knowledge of local government elections and that is a severe detriment to the future; this was the consensus of many local community leaders and educators throughout Guyana. Jennifer Khan, a primary school teacher stated that she herself has never voted in a local government election and she is educating generations of children to “think this is normal in society.” She stated that last year’s national election was a time to teach her students what governance was and…

New Drug Strategy Master Plan being drafted

January 3, 2013 TIMES INT'L

-Guyana’s drug fight commendable The Home Affairs Ministry is currently working on the formulation of the National Drug Strategy Master Plan 2013-2018. At present, an Inception Report, which will inform the consultative process and the design of the plan, has been completed. This document will be taken to Cabinet shortly for its approval after which the Ministry will move swiftly to advance the consultative process with a view to completion of the Master Plan within six months. In the interim, the Ministry and its sub-agencies are guided by the collective…

Climate change, a reason to manage natural resources – former Dominican agriculture minister

January 3, 2013January 3, 2013 TIMES INT'L

Atherton Martin, a conservationist and former agriculture minister in Dominica, said climate change should be forcing Caribbean countries to take a hard look at how they are managing their natural resources, lest they eventually disappear. “What the climate change principles tell us is that basically when your natural resource systems are debilitated, weakened or destroyed by climate change, your economy is thereby destroyed,” he told IPS. But all is not bleak. Martin believes climate change could potentially benefit the Caribbean in two ways: Firstly, by forcing a change in mindset…

AFC trying to intimidate judiciary – Attorney General

December 28, 2012 TIMES INT'L

The PPP/Civic administration has said it views with deep concern the recent proclivity of the joint opposition, both in and out of Parliament, to make statements that, expressly and by implication, constitute an attack on the integrity and independence of the judiciary. Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Anil Nandlall It is the view of the administration that these statements by their language and tenor are designed to pit the executive against the judiciary, Legal Affairs and Attorney General Anil Nandlall said in a press release. Frequent references are being…

CANU prevails despite budget cuts

December 28, 2012 TIMES INT'L

Despite budget cut for various organisations that fall under the purview of the Home Affairs Ministry, the Custom Anti Narcotic Unit (CANU) has been counting its success so far for 2012, with just a few days before the year comes to an end. In 2012, CANU made several successful cocaine and marijuana busts across the country, and has been praised for its work despite the slashing of its funds. The agency has intercepted 100 kilograms of cocaine and 110 kilograms of cannabis up to November 2012. This resulted in a…

Guyana’s deforestation rate low despite mining boom

December 28, 2012 TIMES INT'L

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud For 2012, Guyana has recorded historical levels of gold production by small and medium-scale producers, surpassing 416,000 ounces, resulting from increased interest in the gold mining sector as the high international price for gold remains relatively stable. According to Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud, with this level of gold production, Guyana has continued to maintain a low deforestation rate through the efforts of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) in collaboration with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), in monitoring forest…

West Dem GPL sub-stations now in operation

December 28, 2012December 28, 2012 TIMES INT'L

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, GPL Chairman Winston Brassington and CEO Bharat Dindyal at the Edinburgh sub-station where they got a closer look at the operating systems Residents in the West Demerara region will now experience an improvement in their electricity supply with the operationalising of two new sub-stations built by the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc, with funds from government and a Chinese loan valued at US$42 million from the Import and Export Bank. On Thursday, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, along with GPL Chief Executive Officer Bharat Dindyal, GPL…

Williams promises to speed up local government reforms

December 28, 2012 TIMES INT'L

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament Basil Williams was voted in as chairman of the parliamentary special select committee to review legislation pivotal to the holding of local government elections. Acting Cabinet Secretary Gail Teixeira confirmed Williams’ appointment on Friday at the Office of the President. Teixeira noted that it was a necessary step in furthering local government elections. She continued that the special select committee was decided upon after Local Government Minister Ganga Persaud put forth the multiple local government bills concerning reform. Williams told Guyana…