PPP, PNCR deny secret talks
AFC leader Raphael Trotman yesterday accused the ruling PPP and the main opposition PNCR of engaging in secret shared governance talks-a charge that both parties strongly denied. Trotman told a news conference that “secret talks” were taking place between the two parties and the PPP was making demands for the main opposition to compromise itself [...]
Ramotar: PPP open to talks with opposition
The PPP remains open to dialogue with the political opposition, according to party General Secretary Donald Ramotar, who says parliamentary engagement is yielding more cooperation. “The PPP is always ready to talk,” Ramotar told Stabroek News in an interview last week, “It wouldn’t do any harm; it’s always good if we can talk.” He disagreed [...]
Search for next PPP candidate has started – Ramotar
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has started the process to identify a presidential candidate for the 2011 general elections, according to General Secretary Donald Ramotar, who says the nominee could be revealed before the end of next year. Ramotar emphasised that the discussions now ongoing are “very preliminary,” explaining that the party’s Executive Committee is [...]
A whodunit that’s too hard to swallow
By Andre Haynes Gem Madhoo-Nascimento’s latest production, Murder at Guiseppe’s, attempts to serve up a comic take on the murder mystery, but the offerings are at best tragic and indigestible. The play was a Rotary Club of Georgetown fundraising project staged at the National Cultural Centre on Wednesday. It centres on the murder of the [...]
Cammie Ramsaroop new PNCR Chairman
PNCR stalwart Cammie Ramsaroop has been elected Chairman of the main opposition party. Ramsaroop, a former minister in the PNC government who had previously served in the post, had been supported by incumbent party leader Robert Corbin and he was declared the winner after polls at the party’s 16th Biennial Congress. Two other Corbin supporters, [...]
Corbin defends PNCR ‘militancy’
Ahead of a crucial contest for leadership today, incumbent PNCR leader Robert Corbin yesterday said the greatest challenge facing the party is providing effective national leadership and he defended the “militancy” of the party under his leadership. Addressing delegates, members and special invitees including foreign dignitaries at the opening of the party’s 16th Biennial Congress, [...]
Murray picks up key support
-Ming, Van West-Charles, Norton on board Former PNCR Chairman Winston Murray yesterday picked up key endorsements to strengthen his candidacy as he became the sole challenger to incumbent Robert Corbin for the leadership of the main opposition party. At a joint news conference hosted at the Pegasus Hotel, the other nominee for leader Dr Richard [...]
Opposition ups fight for probe of gov’t-Khan ties
-appeals to civil society for support Continuing to press for an inquiry into alleged links between government and drug trafficker Roger Khan, the joint opposition parties yesterday made an appeal for the support of civil society, saying that the Guyanese people have a moral responsibility to condemn wrongdoing and demand accountability. At the end of [...]
Observers, public counting of votes for PNCR congress
Seeking to allay concerns about transparency in its internal polling, the PNCR has announced that it will provide for independent observ-ers, the secrecy of the ballot and the public counting of votes at next week’s Biennial Delegates’ Congress. Stabroek News has seen a memo, “The registration and elections processes for the 16th Biennial Congress, 21-22 [...]
Impressions of the Jagdeo presidency ten years on
For the last ten years, it has been his fight that has been the defining characteristic of his presidency, which was expected to herald a new beginning for a country long held hostage by a history of suspicion and strife. Certainly, he had none of the baggage of his predecessors and so his unlikely accession, [...]
Donors set out views on local gov’t reform
-propose that ways be explored to curb ministerial discretion The major international donors have urged an integrated approach to implementation of legislative reforms for local government, while recommending that the legislature explore ways to curb ministerial discretion over local authorities. In a joint letter to Local Government Minister Kellawan Lall, who chairs the special select [...]
Drug trade No.1 threat
-MPs conference hears The illicit drug trade remains the toughest public safety challenge in the region, which needs to confront problems like the unemployment of young people and the proliferation of firearms which are being exploited by criminal enterprises. Addressing “Challenges in Public Safety” when the 34th Annual Regional Conference of the Caribbean, the Americas [...]
Norton denies bringing party into disrepute
-warns against kangaroo court PNCR Executive Aubrey Norton has denied accusations that his statements about the outcome of the controversial Georgetown District Conference vote have brought the main opposition party into disrepute, warning that such claims appeared to be intended to provide the basis for bringing “spurious charges” against him. In a letter to Party [...]
Transparency vital to PNCR credibility
– stalwarts, stakeholders say The allegations of fraud at the recent PNCR Georgetown District Conference polls have lent force to the case for more transparency in the party’s internal polling, which current and former party members say is crucial to its credibility as a viable alternative to the current administration. The claims of fraud by [...]
Murray slams $850M NGPC drug contracts
Three contracts totalling US$4.2M ($850M) awarded to the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Company Inc (New GPC) for the supply of drugs for the health ministry have been flagged as the latest awards to the supplier which evade the tendering process. Cabinet gave its “no objection” for the award of the contracts between last December and May [...]