News – Page 641 – Guyana Times International

Linden to pay more for power from July 1 – Dr Luncheon

June 22, 2012 TIMES INT'L

The Donald Ramotar administration will go ahead with its plans to hike electricity tariffs in Linden from July 1, Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon announced last Thursday. This latest announcement comes against the acrimonious fallout between the government and the combined opposition over several issues, some of which have landed them in court. The opposition had protested the increase when it was first announced back in March during the national budget and then there was a cooling-off period. It is unclear what moves the combined opposition will be making to…

Guyana to soon receive US $40M from Norway

June 21, 2012 TIMES INT'L

-US$60M more later this year Prime Minister of Norway Mr. Jens Stoltenberg has reaffirmed the country’s support for the implementation of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) which continues to be hailed as a model for sustainable development. Mr Stoltenberg gave this assurance to President Donald Ramotar in Brazil where many countries’ leaders and climate change experts have gathered for the Rio+20 summit in Rio de Janeiro. The Norwegian Prime Minister expressed satisfaction with work of LCDS and indicated that Guyana will soon receive another US $40M and later this…

Three new Bachelor’s degrees in medicine established at UG

June 21, 2012 TIMES INT'L

Cabinet has approved the establishment of first degrees (Bachelor’s Degrees) in three new areas in medicine; pharmacy, rehabilitation medicine and optometry at the University of Guyana (UG). Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon at a post-Cabinet briefing held at the Office of the President said the new programme areas have an attached Gy$250,000 per year tuition fee. Dr. Luncheon also informed media operatives that Cabinet had approved the retention of the Associate Degree Programme at UG. “This programme has been historically provided at the University of Guyana and…

MPs agree to comply with Integrity Commission Act

June 21, 2012 TIMES INT'L

By Michael Younge The National Assembly last week approved a government-sponsored motion to have Members of Parliament (MP) comply with the Integrity Commission Act, but not before the opposition made a few amendments during the hours-long debate. The motion was tabled by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds last Thursday while the amendments were made by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) MP Deborah Backer. The Integrity Act was passed in 1997, but government was now seeking compliance through the National Assembly after it had accused opposition MPs of defaulting. Hinds in…

Domestic violence requires multidimensional approach – Chandarpal

June 21, 2012 TIMES INT'L

By Danielle Campbell-Lowe Given the recent spate of murders arising out of domestic disputes, chairperson of the Women and Gender Equality Commission, Indra Chandarpal said that issues relating to domestic violence are multifaceted, and as such, requires a multidimensional approach in crafting a solution. In a recent interview with Guyana Times International, Chandarpal said a resocialisation of Guyanese is needed to address the problem, and noted that while Guyana has come a far way, there is still work to be done. She has proposed public service announcements utilising male domestic…

Chinese gov’t open to review of CHEC contract

June 21, 2012 TIMES INT'L

– Ambassador says company should be judged on records By Tiffny Rhodius The Chinese government will respect Guyana’s decision to review the Cheddi Jagan International Airport expansion project contract, but Ambassador Yu Wenzhe cautioned that the contracting company, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), should be judged on the progressive work it has done in the Caribbean and not the debarment of its parent company. In an invited comment, Ambassador Yu expressed hope for an amicable decision to be met. “I’d like to respect the decision of the government and the…

Guyana’s LCDS touted as ‘effective model’ at Rio+20

June 21, 2012 TIMES INT'L

The Guyanese Delegation attending the two-day Rio+20 or Earth Summit in the Brazilian City of Rio de Janeiro are pushing Guyana’s Low carbon Development Strategy as a critical tool to tackling Climate Change. President Donald Ramotar addressing world leaders at a side event at the Rio+20 conference said that that there is consonance between Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) efforts and the theme of the side event “Green economy and inclusive growth for a sustainable future.” The Climate Change Office in Guyana said in a release Wednesday. Ramotar, according…

“Greenidge must come clean on sale of state assets during pre-1992 era” – Ali

June 21, 2012 TIMES INT'L

By Michael Younge Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali said that there are still a lot of concerns and questions which remain unanswered about the sale of assets in the pre-1992 era under the authority of the then Finance Minister Carl Greenidge, and the Peoples National Congress (PNC) administration. Ali was at the time contributing towards the debate on a motion brought to the National Assembly by Shadow Finance Minister and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP) Carl Greenidge which called for the approval of a…

Guyana hails strong support given by UNDP in development efforts

June 21, 2012 TIMES INT'L

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh on Monday hailed the strong support given by the United Nations towards human capital development, as he explained the positive developments of the country over the recent past. “It would be fair to say that we have, as a country, recorded considerable progress in addressing main development challenges that we have faced…Guyana has been able to bring the country from bankruptcy to one where today, its economy is now viable and viewed as creditworthy by the world at large,” he said. Minister Singh stated that…

Communiqué against child labour signed

June 21, 2012 TIMES INT'L

The Labour Ministry, trade union representatives, and other social partners have inked a communiqué aimed at addressing issues relating to child labour. The signing ceremony was held at Regency Suites in Georgetown in observance of World Day Against Child Labour held under the theme, “Human Rights and Social Justice…Let’s end child labour”. United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) representative, Dr Suleiman Braimoh called on government to strengthen partnerships with civil society, including parents, teachers, and caregivers, to further progress made in protecting children from exploitation. Guyana’s report to the Child Rights…