News – Page 779 – Guyana Times International

Manickchand challenges Holder over pension stats

January 28, 2011 TIMES INT'L

By Janelle Persaud Human Services Minister Priya Manickchand has called for the Alliance For Change Member of Parliament Sheila Holder to apologise or resign for what she called an “irresponsible” act aimed at “mischievously” misleading the National Assembly. On Tuesday January 26, during the 2011 Budget debate, Holder presented a self-administered study that found the sum of $1.3 billion from the old age pension fund being unaccounted for every year, whereas it is supposedly paid to 17,640 “phantom” pensioners. Manickchand retorted that Holder’s statistics are the ghosts. Holder used information…

Caribbean Airlines luring agro-exporters with new cargo deal

January 28, 2011 TIMES INT'L

– farmers concerned about handling of perishables Regional air carrier Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) is looking to expand its air cargo lift out of Guyana; and is offering, as a promotional incentive to local agricultural exporters, a 15 per cent reduction in freight charges until the end of this year. But while Guyanese exporters welcome this incentive, there are many concerns about the service, especially as regards handling of perishables such as fresh fruits and vegetables. At a meeting on Wednesday with some of the airline’s top executives, led by…

Gy$150M for design works on surgical hospital

January 28, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Gy$150 million has been allocated for the commencement of works on the design of a 150-bed surgical specialty hospital which will conduct surgical procedures including invasive cardiology and radiation oncology. Minister within the Health Ministry, Dr Bheri Ramsaran, in an interview with Guyana Times International on Friday, said that the construction of this hospital was the initiative of President Bharrat Jagdeo, and it will take away the need for patients to have to travel overseas for special surgeries. Ramsaran acknowledged that Guyana does not have all the required skills to…

Guyana to tap another US$40M from Norway forest funds

January 28, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Guyana expects to receive the second tranche of finances, US$40 million, under the Norway Climate deal early this year, to advance its agenda under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). This will be added to the existing US$30 million that was deposited into the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF). Finance Minister Ashni Singh has said that Budget 2011 provides for a total of Gy$14.4 billion, which is equivalent to the US$70 million from these two disbursements, being expended on the transformative LCDS projects identified. “These projects will have a transformational…

Gy$750M to be spent on next phase of Hope Canal – Persaud

January 28, 2011 TIMES INT'L

– over Gy$100M in compensation paid out By Reuben Stoby Some Gy$750 million is to be spent on the continued construction of the Hope/Dochfour Canal, which will be channelling water from the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) into the Atlantic Ocean. This was announced by Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud when he met with the affected farmers on Wednesday, at the Hope Secondary School, ECD, to update them on the progress of work which started late last year. When completed, the 10.3-kilometre canal is expected to eliminate overtopping of the EDWC…

Coast Guard nab illegal Venezuelan fishers in Guyana’s waters

January 28, 2011 TIMES INT'L

The Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard ranks and authorities from the Fisheries Department seized a Venezuelan vessel, Los Hermanos Alverez, which was caught fishing in Guyana’s waters some 37 miles north of the Berbice River, on Thursday morning at around 00:30hrs. Measuring approximately 65 feet by 15 feet, the Los Hermanos Alverez is not a trawler. There have been reports that the foreign vessel cut its fishing lines after the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) craft, GDFS Essequibo, had been spotted. Inspections aboard the Los Hermanos Alverez revealed approximately 100 kilograms…

Use African Year to build trust – Anthony urges citizens

January 28, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Culture Minister Dr Frank Anthony has urged citizens to use this International Year for People of African Descent to build greater trust among themselves, as efforts continue to build a better Guyana. Speaking at the launch of celebratory activities at the International Conference Centre, Liliendaal on Wednesday, Dr Anthony also urged the nation to celebrate the United Nations- designated year in whatever way possible. “In this, the International Year of People of African Descent, there are many activities for all to participate in. We want people to commit at the…

Murray group supports the Greenidge candidacy

January 28, 2011 TIMES INT'L

The Winston Murray faction of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) party has said it is fully backing former Finance Minister Carl Greenidge to be that party’s presidential candidate for general elections later this year. The group, which was formed to support Murray as the nominee before he died late last year, said in a statement on Wednesday that it was persuaded by Greenidge’s qualifications and sterling personal qualities. “All members of the group, including Dr Richard Van West-Charles, have agreed to give their unanimous support to Mr Greenidge (in…

WikiLeaks could aid transparency – Jagdeo

January 28, 2011 TIMES INT'L

President Bharrat Jagdeo believes that the recent WikiLeaks’ revelations could force the diplomatic community in the developed world to either be more transparent or tighten communication channels. While addressing officers of the Guyana Defence Force on Tuesday, January 25th, Jagdeo said he was willing to look at whatever information was coming out from WikiLeaks on Guyana. “It will change American diplomacy, and hopefully it will make diplomacy from the developed world more transparent,” he outlined. “It exposes how often our policies are made in the capitals of the developed world.”…

‘Irritants’ of Amerindian villages being addressed -Sukhai

January 28, 2011 TIMES INT'L

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai said the Amerindian Affairs Ministry was very successful last year in addressing the ‘irritants’ that are affecting Amerindians in the areas of health, education, water and agriculture. She said too that there has also been quite a number of support presented to them during the crises which occurred during La Nina and El Nino weather conditions. Sukhai made the comments while speaking on a budget discussion being aired on the National Communication Network (NCN). She said the 2011 National Budget reflects government’s commitment towards enhancing…