The highly-anticipated inaugural commercial flight by REDjet arrived Tuesday morning (May 10, 2011) at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri from Barbados with 149 passengers on board. Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Manniram Prasad was among the welcoming party which greeted the excited visitors, including top REDjet officials; representative of the Barbadian Government, Public Relations Consultant with the Barbados Ministry of Tourism, Hugh Foster, and members of the Barbados media. Addressing the gathering assembled at the welcome ceremony, Minister Prashad lauded REDjet for the initiative. “Today is a…
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Caricom satisfied with Guyana/ Venezuela relations
Caricom foreign ministers have expressed satisfaction with the maturing relationship between Guyana and Venezuela, despite a traditional row currently in a United Nations-facilitated Good Officer process. This is according to the communiqué issued at the 14th Meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) held in St Kitts and Nevis on May 4 and 5. “Ministers noted with satisfaction the continued growth, maturity and deepening of relations between the Republic of Guyana and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and expressed the view that this positive and sustained friendly…
Read MoreDrugs in agri produce harming Guyana’s image and economic livelihood of farmers – Persaud
Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud said on Tuesday, May 10, that the discovery of drugs in agricultural exports from Guyana is a “living nightmare” for the government, has many implications for Guyana’s image, and threatens the agriculture sector and the livelihoods of farmers. “Let me state that, for me, it is our living nightmare in terms of what it can do to harm the great possibility we have for agriculture exports, and including forestry,” Persaud said. He added that when a report of that nature arises, the ministry allows other stakeholder…
Read MoreHindus outraged over Goddess Lakshmi swimwear showcase
By Matie Singh Hindus on the international front are outraged at the blasphemous use of Lakshmi Maa by Australian fashion designer Lisa Burke in her Lisa Blue Swimwear Collection, which was displayed at the recently- concluded Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (RAFW), held in Sydney, Australia. The controversy began when models walked the ramp on May 4 in the swimwear featuring Lakshmi Maa, the Hindu goddess of fortune, leaving many Hindus furious over the insult. Burke’s Lisa Blue Swimwear claims to represent the girl of the future who can be sexy,…
Read MoreHinds urges regional cooperation on ICT development
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds has called for closer collaboration among regional bodies in regard to devising strategies for maximising the benefits of information communication technology (ICT). He was at the time delivering the feature address at the national consultation on the draft Regional Digital Development Strategy, on Tuesday at the Regency Hotel in Georgetown. The consultation was aimed at making Caricom citizens aware of the draft strategy, and its relevance to advancing the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) and other regional imperatives, while at the same time garnering feedback…
Read MoreGuyana featured in National Geographic Traveler magazine
Guyana is once again in the international spotlight for its unique tourism product. The country has been featured in an article entitled “50 tours of a lifetime” in the National Geographic Traveler magazine. In the April edition, “Destination Guyana” was featured among the best tours in Central and South America, the Tourism Ministry said in a release. The focus of the piece on Guyana was the 16-day trip offered by Wilderness Explorers, which introduces visitors to “the rich culture and pristine environment of Guyana” in places like Surama, Rewa, Nappi,…
Read MoreUS$ 5.12M teacher training project launched
Government has launched the Guyana Improving Teacher Education Project (GITEP), aimed at improving learning in the classrooms by advancing the quality and delivery of teacher education. The project is supported by the World Bank, which will provide US$ 4.2 million of the total cost. The GITEP will also look at improving the management of teacher education programmes offered both at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and the University of Guyana. Education Minister Shaik Baksh, in addressing the gathering on Wednesday, said that the project will see greater developments…
Read MoreVehicle smuggling from Suriname rampant
– neighbouring countries to tighten regulations, monitoring By Nigel Williams Guyana and Suriname authorities are to tighten regulations that will hopefully eradicate a massive vehicle- smuggling racket in which cars that have been allowed across the border are later sold to Guyanese, who will evade paying at the least Gy$1 million in duty. In some instances, Guyanese would themselves purchase the vehicles in the neighbouring country, fit them with false licence plates, and bring them to Guyana via the Canawaima ferry. Speaking with Guyana Times International on the sidelines…
Read MoreMulti-year pact with government the way to go – Jagdeo
President Bharrat Jagdeo, at last Sunday’s May Day observances, urged union leaders aligned to the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) to follow the steps of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) in pursuing for their workers multi-year pay hikes with the government and other employers. The president was the main speaker at the breakaway umbrella trade union’s rally, held at the National Park as part of Labour Day activities. Over the years, FITUG has not been rallying with the GTU because of differences in governance of the TUC…
Read MoreGranger promises retirement package to veterans
People’s National Congress Reform presidential candidate David Granger, in a bid to garner support for his presidential run, pledged to undertake several initiatives that would better the lives of ex-GDF personnel. In his address to members of the XGDF Association of Guyana over the Labour Day weekend, Granger focused on initiatives to secure the future of serving members of the GDF to ensure they are well taken care of when they reach the age of retirement. The retired brigadier, who is also a member of the association, urged the ex-…
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