News – Page 730 – Guyana Times International

Whitaker takes charge at Local Govt Ministry

August 5, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Norman Whitaker was sworn in as the new Local Government Minister by President Bharrat Jagdeo at the Office of the President on Wednesday. After the brief official ceremony, Whitaker told media operatives that his vision for transforming the Local Government Ministry includes building the capacity of not only ministry employees, but those at the regional level, to be able to work with efficiency in offering better service to members of the public. “Well, the expectation is we will be working as a team, so I have to get on-board and…

Soldiers return from military training in China

August 5, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Four Guyana Defence Force officers and a staff sergeant recently returned from China where they successfully completed a number of military courses. According to a GDF release, Major Lloyd Souvenir, Captains Anson Weekes and James Fraser, Lieutenant Jermaine White and Staff Sergeant Selwyn Douglas completed the Army Battalion Commander’s Course, the Air Force Command and Staff Course, the Army Basic Staff Course, the Special Operations Platoon Leader’s Course and the Wired Communication Engineers Course respectively. It was the first time that the GDF participated in the Air Force Command and…

Canadian High Commission donates multi-purpose hall to Buxton

August 5, 2011 TIMES INT'L

The Canadian High Commission handed over the multi-purpose building to the Buxton Youth Developers (BYD) group at a ceremony at the Vigilance Community Ground, East Coast Demerara. Raymond Drouin, head of development cooperation of the High Commission of Canada, handed over the facility on July 27. The Canadian High Commission said in a release that the Buxton Youth Developers group is a community-based one that is addressing the challenges facing youth in that and surrounding villages through the medium of literacy, education and sport activities. Since 2009, Canada has provided…

Joint commission for trade with Trinidad to be re-established – TT Trade Minister Cadiz

August 4, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Trinidad and Tobago’s Trade and Industry Minister Stephen Cadiz has said that the twin-island republic which has long shared an amicable business relationship with Guyana will be re- establishing the Trinidad and Tobago/ Guyana Joint Commission for Trade, since both nations seek to strengthen their current trading relationship. The Trinidadian trade minister has pledged commitment to improving the trading relationship with Guyana. He said, “The relationship with Guyana is extremely important for regional sustainable development and resilience in the Caribbean.” The re- establishment of the joint commission for trade will…

Jagdeo slams Sharma on harassment claims

August 4, 2011 TIMES INT'L

BY ARIANA GORDON A decision will be made next week on whether Chandra Narine Sharma’s licence to broadcast will be suspended for a minimum of six months. At a media briefing on July 29, President Jagdeo noted that he is yet to decide what action would be taken. However, he said there seems to be a “clever plot” by the owners of CNS Channel Six, the station that has been at the centre of controversy following a commentary aired by Anthony Vieira, which according to the head of state incited…

Two dead as truck topples in North West

August 4, 2011 TIMES INT'L

BY ARIANA GORDON Two workers attached to a Canadian manganese firm were killed when the truck in which they were travelling toppled at Six Miles, near Matthews Ridge, North West District on August 1. Dead are 22-year-old Carlos Hinds of 9 Area CC Temple Road, Ogle, East Coast Demerara and Hezron Abrams, 26, of Kumaka, Moruca in Region One. The incident occurred at about 21:30h. The two were employees of Reunion Manganese Inc, the mining firm that was only recently granted four prospecting licences to conduct exploration and developmental activities…

ECLAC, UNASUR launch book on South American economies

August 4, 2011 TIMES INT'L

The Union of South American Nations has shown signs of huge political, cultural and technical maturity, and of solidarity with vulnerable countries such as Haiti”. Those were the words of the executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Alicia Bárcena. She made the comments to present the book “UNASUR: A development and cooperation space yet to be built.” The joint document presents a series of data relating to the socio-economic issues of South America, in order to provide an overview of the similarities and…

Women need greater say in new coalition – Harding

August 4, 2011 TIMES INT'L

BY MICHAEL YOUNGE Months after losing the race for the People’s National Congress Reform presidential candidacy, Dr Faith Harding has said she is now playing a limited role in the new coalition that was formed by several opposition parties to contest the general elections. She also called for an end to media bias against women in politics, saying this might have contributed to her losing the election. In an interview with Guyana Times International, Dr Harding admitted that she was not asked to “do much” for APNU, and was only…

Jamaica launches latest tourist attraction

August 4, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Captain Hook Adventures, Jamaica’s latest tourist attraction, was officially opened on July 30 by Prime Minister Bruce Golding. The attraction, located at the Falmouth Pier in Trelawny, is described as the most exciting, authentic pirate dinner show in the Caribbean, featuring live cannons, sword fights, and dance with a true Jamaican flavour. In his addresses at the opening, the prime minister said that Jamaica has been blessed with a multiplicity of natural attractions and beautiful year- round weather, of which we must take advantage for the growth of the tourism…

Caricom distressed over Dominica flooding

August 4, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Caricom’s acting secretary general, Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite, has expressed deep concern and distress over the damage wrought by flooding in Layou, Dominica last week following the overtopping of the Layou River and breach of the Matthieu Dam. The flooding occurred on Thursday, July 28, 2011, and caused destruction and damage to crops, infrastructure, and homes to the tune of US$6.6 million, according to preliminary estimates. In a message, the acting secretary general said that the community stood in solidarity with the government and people of Dominica, and was confident that…