Heppilena Ferguson

…but says funding must be significantly higher The University of Guyana’s strategic plan for 2009 to 2012 envisages higher quality teaching particularly in science and technology but its administration has pointed out that the institution has to be funded at a significantly higher level and tuition fees are to be hiked.

There was nation-wide shock yesterday at the sudden passing of Junior Education Minister Dr.

-Jagdeo Government has set an August 2010 deadline for all taxis to have one colour with easily identifiable and appropriate logos, promising a two-year waiver of licensing and radio frequency fees for those who comply early.

Lethem lobbying for awareness campaign Following the recent opening of the Takutu Bridge, a sensitisation campaign is being urged to target Guyanese travelling to Brazil, according to Rupununi Chamber of Com-merce representative Daniel Gajie.

`…the whole appearance of the village gives a dim view and so people are afraid to come to visit.

Newly-appointed head of the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) Ann Anderson says she intends to attract more women into the movement but is pessimistic about trade union unity in Guyana.

-returning officer Harmon An eight-page document on the conduct of the recent elections for the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) executive was yesterday handed over to General Secretary Oscar Clarke and Returning Officer Joseph Harmon said  if at any point he had detected significant irregularities he would have called off the elections.

-rejects multiple voting claims Re-elected People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) leader Robert Corbin says multiple voting could not have been possible during polls at the party’s recent Biennial Congress, noting that delegates were allowed to make their own observations and objections every step of the way.

-to test Caricom’s competition body With local producers facing harassment in accessing regional markets, Guyana intends to test the effectiveness of the Caricom Competition Commission.

–equipment damaged A fire of unknown origin yesterday morning swept through Marics Sales, Services and Spares sending public-spirited citizens dashing to help the company save some of its stock as the fire department fought to control the blaze.

– four Guyanese deported in July Barbadian authorities are now in possession of documented allegations of ill-treatment meted out to Guyanese who have since been deported from the island.

– after army recruitment uncovers scam Concerned about recent reports suggesting the circulation of fake certificates locally, the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) intends to investigate to ensure the integrity of its documentation.

-but future still hazy, no common regional position There has been a reduction in the number of Guyanese being deported from Barbados, recent reports indicate, seven weeks after that country enforced an immigration policy which stirred region-wide debate about illegal immigrants.

– ministry eying speedier distribution The Ministry of Housing has begun the move to a more organized and project-oriented system which will result in shortened transaction time for house lot applicants, and under this new dispensation no applicant, as long as he/she does not already own property, will be refused.

Amid stinging criticism of its new immigration policy, Barbados is prepared to consider the readmission of persons who have overstayed their time through a protocol or memorandum of understanding but will not swerve from its current policy to regularize undocumented Caricom nationals.

Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) President Dr Compton Bourne says the issue of undocumented immigrants in Barbados should be handled with much more sensitivity than it has been so far, adding that there are too many stories of people being rounded-up during raids and deported.

Guyanese who were deported from Barbados after being subjected to early morning raids will be able to recount their experience to local authorities as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is setting up a mechanism to facilitate this.

-was seen as more ‘regional-integration friendly’ The previous Barbados administration had sought to host more discussions with the Guyana consulate there about the feelings of Guyanese, Honorary Consul Norman Faria has said.

“Barbados has opened some doors for me to live so much better than I used to in Guyana” – Guyanese woman living in Barbados as a skilled CARICOM national Apart from the hundreds of Guyanese bound to be affected by the new immigration policy which the government in Barbados  has introduced, there are also others who have lived in the sister state for many years mostly unaffected by prejudices.

By Heppilena Ferguson in Bridgetown, Barbados Very few Guyanese would qualify under an amnesty being offered by the Barbados Government to undocumented Caricom nationals, according to Guyana’s representative on the isle.