By: Kristen Macklingam As part of its Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), Guyana’s agriculture sector is being oriented to build capacity for the production of agro-fuels (bio-fuels), and is expecting the first litre of ethanol from the Albion demonstration plant by December or early 2013. Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy said this is in keeping with the aim of becoming a meaningful player in the growing alternative energy field, while at the same time meeting the country’s needs, and adding it to its portfolio of exported products. Oil is the…
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Appointment of new judges will ease backlog cases – AG
Three new High Court judges were sworn in before President Donald Ramotar at the Office of the President on Monday. The president urged the new judges to execute their duties efficiently and to ensure that justice is served swiftly. The newly appointed judges are Nareshwar Harnanan, Navindra Singh, and Sandra Kurtzious. Harnanan, a former deputy solicitor general, had worked at the Attorney General’s Chambers and Legal Affairs Ministry for the past 11 years, rising through the ranks from a state counsel position. He is a graduate of the University of…
Read MoreBerbician sentenced to death by hanging
A Rose Hall Town man was on Wednesday sentenced to death by hanging by Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire after a mixed jury found him guilty of murder. Herman “Shark Oil” Ali was convicted of murdering Roydel Sandy, 41, on October 5, 2006, at Rose Hall Town. The trial was the first for the October session for the Berbice Assizes. During the trial, the state called 11 witnesses, who gave testimony which convinced the jury that Ali did commit the act. Earlier this year, before another judge, a jury failed to come…
Read MoreCitizens Bank opens branch at Charity
Citizens Bank on Monday opened a branch at Charity on the Essequibo Coast, providing much needed services to the business community and residents there, the North West District and Pomeroon. Citizens Bank Chairman Clifford Reis said the bank is pleased to introduce its services at Charity as the community is home to primarily gold miners and agro-processors/farmers. He said the bank saw the struggles miners, farmers and residents endure to access the bank located at Anna Regina and felt compelled to respond to their need. “Citizens Bank is different, we…
Read MoreEcuadorian-registered plane was fitted with extra fuel tanks, disguised as Venezuelan
The Ecuadorian-registered aircraft seized Monday in Guyana’s interior was fitted with extra fuel tanks and its registration number changed to a Venezuelan one, authorities said Wednesday. Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon said the extra tanks and pumps were an indication that the plane was about to go on a long-haul flight from the illegal airstrip at Pirara, North Rupununi. “What was discovered at the airstrip where the aircraft was found was a modification for extended flying and an effort to disguise its registration, a modification to permit…
Read MoreCabinet approves more than Gy$200M for purchasing of original text books
More than Gy$200M has been approved for the procurement of textbooks to be distributed to students in the public school system, but Government may have to appeal to the National Assembly for increased funding to maintain the level of coverage normally applied. This was revealed by Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon at his post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday. Dr. Luncheon conceded that since the cost of sourcing original texts not printed in Guyana would be more than acquiring them locally or acquiring photocopied versions, there would be…
Read MoreDeodat Sharma confirmed as Auditor General
Deodat Tudeshwar Persaud Sharma was on Wednesday sworn in to the substantive position of Auditor General of Guyana by President Donald Ramotar at the Office of the President. Mr. Sharma had been acting in that position for the past seven years. Extending congratulations to the newly appointed Auditor General, President Ramotar stated that, “He has been acting in this position for a while and I have no doubt, he had already demonstrated that he’s been doing his work without fear or favour. I expect that he will continue in the…
Read More80 Berbicians trained in disaster risk management
Eighty representatives from both government and non-governmental organisations have completed training in shelter management, damage assessment, and emergency operations centre management, courtesy of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC). The training for regional representatives was conducted recently in the boardroom of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), Region Six. The CDC has reported that 30 persons were trained as emergency shelter managers; 26 in damage assessment and 24 as emergency operations centre managers. The training concluded with evaluation and other exercises which were used as tools to measure the participants’ understanding of…
Read MoreIDB boosts whistleblower protection, unveils new ethics code
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) announced a new code of ethics for its employees and further bolstered protection for whistleblowers, maintaining the bank’s alignment with international best practices. The new code of ethics and professional conduct uses more approachable and inclusive language and includes new subject areas, such as the use of social media, and provides better guidance on themes such as respect in the workplace and duties of supervisors. The code establishes the IDB’s core values and guiding principles for employees, including their obligations as international civil servants. All…
Read MoreForeign investors keen on investing in local housing market
A two-man investor team on Wednesday met with Housing Minister Irfaan Ali for preliminary discussions about their potential investment in the local low-cost housing market. The meeting stemmed from initial interest expressed by the Suriname based China Dalian Investment Corporation Holding (CDICH) Ltd Company following the Building Expo held earlier this year, according the minister. The investors are seeking to build low-cost, but stylish homes, particularly within the East bank Demerara area and Region 3. Minister Ali said that the aim is to expand housing in the afore-mentioned areas with…
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