Opposition shunning select committee until all local gov’t bills tabled
Refusing to budge from the call for local government polls to be held under a reformed system, the opposition has withheld participation in the parliamentary review of legislative reforms, in a bid to ensure government upholds its commitment to table all of the proposed laws. The government yesterday announced that it would table the two [...]
Van-West Charles to seek nomination for PNCR leadership
– says presidential candidacy not off limits Once nominated, Dr Richard Van West-Charles intends to contest for the leadership of the main opposition PNCR. Van West-Charles, a former health minister in the PNC government and the son-in-law of the late President Forbes Burnham, recently took an early retirement from PAHO/WHO, where he worked for 19 [...]
PNCR has to be restructured – Armstrong
-No decision yet on run for leadership PNCR executive Dr Aubrey Armstrong has not closed the door on his candidacy for the leadership of the party, which he said has to be restructured as it prepares to lead the country towards a shared vision. “No, I’m not ruling it out, but I haven’t made any [...]
Labour has to unite in face of ‘perfect storm’
- Aubrey Armstrong tells GTUC rally The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) yesterday sounded the need for “change” in the labour movement and one of the featured speakers called for unity in the face of the “perfect storm”. With the impact of the global financial crisis, including the regional meltdown suffered by CLICO affiliates in [...]
Presidents benefits bill passes deeply divided Parliament
-opposition calls for caps ignored The government last evening used its parliamentary majority to pass a bill to legislate benefits for former presidents, despite opposition concern over its scope. The Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill 2009 had a thorny passage through the house, where both the PNCR-1G and the AFC insisted that there [...]
Scrutineer bill passes, divides opposition
A contentious election law amendment fixing a system for payment of scrutineers was passed last evening with major division among the opposition parties. Both the governing PPP/C and main opposition PNCR-1G supported the passage of the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill 2009, despite protests by AFC and GAP-ROAR over its failure to adequately give effect to [...]
Marriage is serious business
Culture Box Like most twenty-something-year-old men, I shudder at the thought of walking down the aisle. And I’d venture to say I am not alone, judging by the looks on the faces of some of the men filing around the compound of Duke Lodge, the venue for the just-concluded wedding expo. You could tell from [...]
Mrs J remembered as incomparable patriot, inspirational grandma
Rohee: ‘It’s is no exaggeration to say that the People’s Progressive Party is a living monument to the vision, discipline, energy and organisational skills of Janet Jagan’ Former President Janet Jagan, O.E., was eulogised at an emotionally charged state funeral yesterday with encomiums that ranged from her incomparable patriotism to the country to her inspirational [...]
Local police obligated to probe Roger Khan’s activities here
President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday said local authorities are obligated to investigate confessed drug kingpin Roger Khan’s activities in Guyana, including his alleged involvement in execution killings and extensive drug trafficking. But Jagdeo emphasised that US collaboration is essential, while also placing the burden to seek available evidence squarely on the shoulders of Police Commissioner Henry [...]
Charles Corbin appointed as elections commissioner
GECOM to be ready for local gov’t polls before year end Charles Corbin has been appointed as a commissioner of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), which yesterday indicated that it would be ready to run off overdue local government polls before year end. Corbin, who is the brother of main opposition party leader Robert Corbin, [...]
Child rights commission members approved
-despite acrimonious row over McCoy The National Assembly late Thursday approved the candidates to serve on the constitutional Rights of the Child Commission, despite a major dispute between the government and opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) on the inclusion of Kwame McCoy among the nominees for appointment. The Assembly’s passage of a motion approving all [...]
Import duty paid on only 4% of cars in 2007
-US-funded tax review finds Import duty was only paid on 4% of cars imported in 2007, according to a recent US-funded study which has found that there was an estimated $1.9 billion in exemptions that year with no clear explanation. According to a draft of the Review of the Tax System, prepared under the Guyana [...]
Hope relief canal will have best technical advice
-Persaud tells Parliament Facing intense scrutiny over the location of the proposed $3 billion Hope canal, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud on Wednesday said the government would move ahead with inputs from the best experts. Persaud announced that government would seek to engage a consortium of local and international experts to advise on the project, while [...]
Motherhood helped Shelly G ‘work it’ to win
When Shellon ‘Shelly G’ Garraway won this year’s Carib Soca Monarch, she capped off an acclaimed comeback and put any doubt about her claims to the crown to rest. Shelly G, who became the first woman to win the coveted title, returned to music after a year-long layoff, during which she became a new mother [...]
Shelly G is this year’s Carib Soca monarch
Saucy temptress Shellon ‘Shelly G’ Garraway captured this year’s Carib Soca Monarch crown, proving to be too hot to handle for the watered-down competition. Though brief showers threatened to dampen the proceedings, Garraway raised temperatures at the National Park with her performance of “Work It,” putting on an R-rated stage show that worked a captive [...]