News – Page 643 – Guyana Times International

Canadian family on exploration ride in Guyana

June 14, 2012 TIMES INT'L

After nine months on the road riding on motorbikes from Canada through the Americas and into the Caribbean, a family of three is now in Guyana experiencing the sights, food, and hospitality the country has to offer. Jerome Levesque; his 13-year-old son, Erik Rajmoolie; and his wife, Mercedes Rajmoolie intends to spend about five days in Guyana. The trio is on a mission to explore various parts of the world, and more so experience its rich flora, fauna and cultural diversities, which have captivated their hearts. Mechanical problems did not…

Caribbean students stand to benefit from CTO scholarship

June 14, 2012 TIMES INT'L

The Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), the international agency responsible for the development of Caribbean tourism, has secured over US$ 250,000 in scholarship funds to assist Caribbean students pursuing further education in tourism related subjects. The CTO and Monroe College, which has been educating Caribbean students for the past 20 years, signed a Memorandum Of Understanding to that effect at the Caribbean Week closing news conference last Saturday in New York. Monroe College will commit US$ 83,600 annually to the CTO, to provide scholarships and grants to at least 30 highly…

Commonwealth signs ‘significant’ agreement with IDEA

June 14, 2012 TIMES INT'L

The Commonwealth Secretariat and the Swedish-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) have formally agreed to work together in supporting and consolidating democracy in Commonwealth countries. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Stockholm last week by Commonwealth Deputy Secretary General Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba and IDEA Secretary General Vidar Helgesen. Masire-Mwamba said the agreement was also of particular significance in the context of recommendations made by the Eminent Persons Group to Commonwealth Heads of Government in Perth, Australia, in November 2011. In their report “A Commonwealth of the People:…

Local democracy being trampled upon – Granger

June 14, 2012 TIMES INT'L

Opposition Leader David Granger said the country’s local government system is in a crisis. Granger made this comment following the recent installation of Interim Management Committees (IMCs) in the place of Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, (NDC) which government said were not functioning properly. According to him, residents are not consulted on such issues and local democracy is “being trampled upon.” He said little regard was being shown to the regional and neighbourhood tiers of government. A statement from Granger’s office on Tuesday said that Granger, along with fellow A Partnership for…

WPA renews call for inquiry into death of Walter Rodney

June 14, 2012 TIMES INT'L

The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) on Wednesday renewed its call for an inquiry into the death of its founder Dr Walter Rodney who was assassinated some 32 years ago. Co-leader of the WPA, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine said the small party wants “an international commission of inquiry… we want commissions from across the Caribbean and Africa,” as it is in those countries that Rodney’s work was most prevalent and his influence strong. Dr Roopnarine said the legislation allowing for the inquiry into the death of Rodney is being held up by…

“Local Gov’t elections could be held this year” – Persaud

June 14, 2012 TIMES INT'L

The Local Government Ministry has promised that in 2012 local government elections will be held despite a number of outstanding issues such as the passage of several local government reform bills that have not been done. Guyana has not held local government elections since 1994. Minister Ganga Persaud told Guyana Times International that he was positive that local elections would be held, however the half a billion dollars cut from the Guyana Elections Commission allocation will most likely hamper the proceedings. Persaud stated that the question in relation to when…

China’s major municipality to build linkages with Guyana

June 14, 2012 TIMES INT'L

Tianjin Municipality, a major port and a communication hub in China, is ready to build relations with Guyana, the Communist Party of China (CPC) Tianjin Municipal Committee Secretary Zhang Gaoli told a reception in his honour at State House Sunday night. Tianjin Municipality has a population of 14 million, occupying 11,000 square kilometres, with more than 20 varieties of minerals among which are manganese, gold, copper, aluminium, zinc, limestone, marble, medical stone, and natural oil stone, as well as petroleum and natural gas. According to a Government Information Agency (GINA)…

Region One residents alerted of possible snap elections

June 14, 2012 TIMES INT'L

– if opposition continues to frustrate development efforts The Local Government Ministry during a four-day visit to several Amerindian villages in the Moruca sub-district of Region One told residents that President Donald has indicated that he is willing to cut short his term in office if the opposition continues to frustrate efforts at development. The ministry also told residents of the impact of budget cuts on their villages and fielded concerns of residents. Residents of villages along the Barama River last Friday and Saturday were updated about the situation in…

Concerns relating to nursing school will be addressed – Dr Ramsaran

June 14, 2012 TIMES INT'L

The Georgetown Nursing School will be further improved and concerns raised by students over recent weeks will be addressed. This is according to Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran who told Guyana Times International that measures are already being put in place to deal with the issues that were brought to the attention of his ministry. The health minister stated that a meeting was held recently at the Office of the President, during which executive members of the Georgetown Nursing School Student Council met and discussed their issues with him and…

Caribbean accreditation scheme launched

June 14, 2012 TIMES INT'L

The Caribbean Cooperation for Accreditation (CCA) scheme has been launched in Guyana under the auspices of the Caricom Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) and the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS). Physikalisch-Techniche Bundesansalt (PTB) Consultant Pat Paladino said the scheme is a regional accreditation mechanism that is designed to provide solutions to accreditation issues unique to the Caribbean. He noted that the scheme aims at providing internationally recognised accreditation services that are economical and readily accessible to the region’s commercial sector. “It will provide an improved regional accreditation…