United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) representatives in Guyana have said that funding for Caribbean and Latin American countries to fight AIDS may soon dry up, and will be shifted to other countries that are more desperate. This comes as World AIDS Day was celebrated on Wednesday. However, Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy said this country would utilise the limited resources it has wisely, while hoping for the best. Country Coordinator for UNAIDS, Dr Ruben Del Prado, during a press briefing on Tuesday, explained that the future of the epidemic for…
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Political elites pay tribute to Murray
Top opposition and government officials, laying aside differences, paid tribute to the late parliamentarian Winston Murray, the powerful shadow finance minister from Guyana’s main opposition party, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR). At an emotionally charged church service held at the historic St George’s Cathedral, PNCR leader Robert Corbin said Murray was one of the party’s exemplary and outstanding members, who remained steadfast, a loyal and committed member to the day of his death. “We in the PNCR are grateful that Winston was blessed to walk this earthly plane for…
Read MoreSoftware developed to monitor public servants – Westford
The Public Service Ministry has acquired software that can track the productivity of the local workforce. This has been disclosed by Public Service Minister Dr Jennifer Westford, who revealed that the ministry has mechanisms in place to monitor public servants, to ensure government gets tangible service from its employees. The introduction of technology is part of the Public Service Reform Programme (PSRP), in which all government agencies will be interlinked and can mutually access information. Dr Westford has explained that exposure to technology is not license to be on wireless…
Read MoreRehab work on Parika/ Naamryck road underway
Rehabilitation to the Parika/Naamryck road has commenced, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported on Saturday. Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, accompanied by Senior Engineer, Agriculture Sector Development Unit, Frederick Flatts; General Manager, New Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), Nizam Hassan; and technical officers, witnessed the start of remedial works on the road. This project is expected to be completed within four months, depending on the weather. “The road wasn’t part of our original project, but because of the constraints we saw facing farmers and residents, we decided to intervene by cutting some…
Read MoreMajor oil firms begin drilling in Guyana-Suriname Basin
A drilling consortium exploring for commercial amounts of oil and natural gas off the coasts of Guyana and Suriname has started to drill its first well, as activity in the area rises to its highest to date. Murphy Oil, Inpex, Repsol YPF, Tullow and CGX Energy have secured the Atwood Beacon jack-up rig to test four blocks in the basin over the next year. According to Oil Daily, the Atwood Beacon rig is slated to drill five wells in the highly prospective but underdeveloped basin. The first well, Caracra, was…
Read MoreAmmunition discovered in barrel at city wharf
– Shipping company to face brunt of the law The police are investigating the discovery of several rounds of ammunition in a barrel at a city wharf last Friday. Immediately after the discovery was made by a searching clerk attached to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) at the wharf, the police were summoned; and they have since taken possession of the barrel. The importer, who claimed he got permission to import the ammunition, has since been taken into custody, and is assisting with investigations. The discovery comes just weeks after…
Read MoreFisherman stabbed to death by lover’s boyfriend
A fisherman died on Saturday morning after he was stabbed in his back, at about 00:55 hrs, by his lover’s boyfriend. The incident occurred at a shop in Sara Johanna, East Bank Demerara. Dead is Randy Joseph of Westminster, West Bank Demerara. Four persons — the alleged killer, the lover, and her two brothers — are in custody at the Brickdam police station, assisting with investigations. According to relatives, the 19-year-old fisherman went to see his girlfriend when he was attacked. The Prittipaul Singh Investments employee had returned from sea…
Read MoreSmuggling will end with Pomeroon base – chief of staff
Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Commodore Gary Best, has said that the floating security base currently being constructed in the Pomeroon River will allow for permanent monitoring of the lawless port, and bring an end to the smuggling activities in that area. Speaking with Guyana Times International on Sunday, Best said that permanent monitoring of the port can only be carried out after the base has been fully constructed. “The absence of monitoring of the Pomeroon port and the criticisms and observations that have been made as…
Read MoreG$20M kiln drying facility commissioned in Berbice
The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) has commissioned a G$20 million kiln drying facility at Crabwood Creek, Berbice. The initiative, a joint effort by the GFC and the Upper Corentyne Kiln Dryers’ Association, was commissioned on Monday. The project has been partly supported by the International Tropical Timber Organisation. Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud said that the initiative represents modernisation and the use of improved technology from some of the country’s important sectors, which will take the country to the modern level required by international standards. “This is a clear manifestation of…
Read MoreGuyanese jailed in India for blood diamond trade
A court in Indian last Thursday sentenced two foreign nationals arrested in 2008 to four years in prison for trading in “blood diamonds”. A fine of Rs 1 lakh was also imposed on each of them. Robai Hussain of Guyana and Yusuf Ossely of Lebanon were arrested in their room in Arpan Apartments, at Rampura in Surat, by sleuths of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) during a raid on September 19, 2008. They were found to be carrying diamonds worth Rs 3.85 crore without certification from Kimberly Process, a…
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