News – Page 684 – Guyana Times International

Dr Moti Lall hailed as ardent advocate for better healthcare

January 13, 2012 TIMES INT'L

Former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament Dr Moti Lall has passed away on Monday night at the age of 69. Reports are that Moti Lall suffered a heart attack. He was the former head of the Chest Clinic. In a message, the New Jersey Arya Samaj/ Guyana Central Arya Samaj Humanitarian Mission said it was terribly shocked to learn of Dr Lall’s demise. “There is not much one can say to ease your sense of lost at this moment, Bahan Chitra (Moti Lall’s wife), I want you…

UNASUR granted observer status

January 13, 2012 TIMES INT'L

Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett said the Union of South American States (UNASUR) has been granted international legal status after registering on the United Nations forum. The foreign minister stated that a draft resolution, co-sponsored by 35 countries, has also been passed giving the South American organisation observer status at the United Nations. “Guyana as chair, subsequently registered UNASUR with the United Nations giving it that international legal status,” Rodrigues-Birkett said. Guyana commenced chairmanship of UNASUR in November 2010, and ended it in October 2011, when it was handed over…

Govt complying with Integrity Commission – Teixeira

January 13, 2012 TIMES INT'L

Presidential Advisor on Governance, Gail Teixeira has said that members of the administration have been complying with the Integrity Commission, despite the non- appointment of a chairperson. Teixeira, who was briefing the media on post-Cabinet deliberations, was responding to questions on the reason the commission was not given investigative capacity to police submissions through proper staffing. She noted that those submissions have been honoured at least on the part of the ruling administration, while expressing apprehension that the opposition may be so willing to divulge information about their financial standing.…

Education sector made notable strides in 2011

January 5, 2012 TIMES INT'L

The education sector benefited from a large chunk of the 2011 budget which allowed for the ministry’s programmes, policies and special initiatives to be carried out to ensure equitable and quality education at all levels. Some of the highlights of the sector include the induction of 515 new trained teachers, implementation of special initiatives, improved remuneration packages for teachers, computerisation of secondary schools, provision of uniform assistance, meals and learning materials, and major transformation in infrastructure, thereby making schools more conducive learning environments. The sector received an allocation of Gy$24.3…

Toronto Guyanese music students impress in Year End Performance

January 5, 2012 TIMES INT'L

By North American Correspondent Toronto Guyanese students impress the audience at a year-end musical performance in Toronto. In a brightly lit room, fully decorated for the end-of -year holiday, songs from India wafted through the corridors of the Chris Gibson Recreation Centre at McLaughlin and Queen Street in Brampton, Toronto. The event was organised by the Saaz-O-Aawaaz organisation. Seven-year-old Vivek sat behind the tabla and could barely be seen because he is so small, yet the sounds he produced on the instrument while accompanying Arti Mahadeo singing “Hamko hame se…

OP slams KN ‘yellow journalism’ on Ali’s house

January 5, 2012 TIMES INT'L

The Office of the President (OP) said it views with extreme distaste the resort of Kaieteur News to defame the character of Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali in an article that sought to link his acquisition of a property with corruption. “The recent Kaieteur News headlines that targeted Minister Irfaan Ali are the latest in the series of yellow journalistic activities,” OP said in a statement Wednesday night. “The Office of the President rejects such underhand tactics intended to demean and question the probity of the young minister. Minister…

Relatives of missing seamen assured thorough search under way

January 5, 2012 TIMES INT'L

While there is still no word regarding the whereabouts of the three missing seamen who have, for almost two weeks, disappeared with the MV “Oliver L”, family members are being assured that every effort is being made to bring clarity to the issue. Following a meeting with Works and Transport Minister Robeson Benn yesterday, the wives of two of the seamen have expressed satisfaction at the efforts that are being made at all levels to give them answers. Speaking with this newspaper yesterday afternoon in an invited comment, Kamaldai Shuckoo…

Air Canada could service Guyana route soon

January 5, 2012 TIMES INT'L

Canada’s largest full-service airline, Air Canada, could be servicing the Guyana route in the near future if discussions between Guyana’s private sector and Canadian officials are successful. Business Guyana quoted Private Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman Ramesh Dookhoo on Tuesday as saying that air travel between Canada and Guyana is rapidly increasing, and as such, the PSC will be pursuing initiatives that could see the Canadian airline operating out of Guyana. “The private sector will be working with the Canadian High Commissioner to encourage Air Canada to come to Guyana as…

More collaboration needed to provide more jobs for Guyanese – Dr Gopaul

January 5, 2012 TIMES INT'L

The Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency (CRMA), a division of the Labour, Human Services and Social Security Ministry has found work for over 2500 job seekers in 2011, but the new Labour Minister, Dr Nanda Kishore Gopaul warned that too many persons were graduating in the social sciences when the country was in need of geologists, economists and engineers. Dr Gopaul told Guyana Times International in an interview on Tuesday that the CRMA had handled over 3000 vacancies from a variety of employers last year, but was only able to…

Ringing in the New Year

January 5, 2012 TIMES INT'L