Way to be cleared for debate on President’s benefits
APNU member Desmond Trotman will be moving to withdraw his court challenge of the controversial Former President’s (Benefits and Other Facilities) Act so as to pave way for the smooth flow of an APNU motion in parliament to repeal the legislation. Christopher Ram, Trotman’s attorney, told this newspaper last night that his client had contacted [...]

Despite opposition ‘bullyism,’ gov’t open to dialogue -Ashni Singh
Although accusing APNU and the AFC of “political bullyism” for reducing this year’s budget, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh last night said that government remains open to dialogue with the opposition. “We have always said that we are open to dialogue and discussion and we remain open to dialogue and discussion. But I will say [...]

NCN will reorganize -Sattaur
Despite losing almost its entire $81M subvention to opposition cuts yesterday, CEO of the state-owned National Communications Network (NCN) Mohammed ‘Fuzzy’ Sattaur says the company will continue to fulfill its mandate of educating citizens on government’s developmental programme. “…We ain going nowhere. We ain getting no shut down. We will reorganise and we will manage [...]

APNU won’t support budget in present form – Granger
While labelling this year’s national budget as one that is “badly out-of-touch” with the needs and conditions of Guyanese, Opposition Leader David Granger yesterday stated that the main opposition APNU will not be supporting it in its present form. “The PPP/C’s proposed budget will be measured in its public impact. It must be amended if [...]

Copy of 200-year-old letter from Essequibo governor’s wife presented to Guyanese descendant
A simple heartfelt letter from a mother to her son who was ill hundreds of miles away seems to have sparked renewed interest in colonial life here in the 18th century. The discovery of a letter written over 200 years ago by the wife of then Director-General of the Dutch colonies of Essequibo
Gov’t in ‘uncharted’ waters – Singh
Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh says the government is in “in completely uncharted territory” after the opposition delayed the approval of supplementary budget allocations over concerns about the legality of some spending. Singh, who said that the decision may have implications on ongoing tripartite talks and budget preparations, told a press briefing immediately after yesterday’s [...]

Abuse of state resources gave PPP/C the elections edge – Granger
APNU Leader David Granger has identified the lower than anticipated voter turnout and the PPP/C’s abuse of state resources during the campaign as the main reasons why his party did not secure the presidency at November’s elections. Assessing the performance of the party he led into the polls, Granger told Stabroek News that while A [...]

Hamilton says ex-opposition backers netted votes for PPP/C
Although the PPP/C would have seen its votes dip significantly at the November 28 polls, PNCR-member-turned-PPP/C-supporter Joe Hamilton says it is erroneous to claim that the public endorsement of Donald Ramotar’s candidacy by figures previously associated with the opposition did not result in votes for the incumbent party. Hamilton’s views were echoed by former Guyana [...]

Opposition likely to scrutinize Amaila Falls project in National Assembly
With the opposition feeling that there are still too many unanswered questions surrounding the Amaila Falls Hydropower project, the entire project is likely to undergo scrutiny in the National Assembly in the days ahead. The opposition parties A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) say that they will be using the [...]

AFC won’t seek PPP/C help for Nagamootoo Speaker bid
Although the AFC is continuing to lobby for Moses Nagamootoo to be Speaker when the new Parliament is convened, party leader Raphael Trotman yesterday insisted that it will not try to seek support from the PPP/C. Trotman told Stabroek News yesterday that the AFC was against negotiating with the ruling party over the position of [...]

Sheila Holder eulogized for tireless consumer rights, political activism
Late Alliance For Change (AFC) Vice-Chairperson Sheila Holder was yesterday remembered by relatives, friends and colleagues as a selfless woman who worked tirelessly as a consumer advocate and politician to ensure better lives for Guyanese. While Holder’s political colleagues remembered her as a forthright politician who advocated the cause of the ordinary citizen, her sister, [...]
Long-standing defects in electoral laws must be addressed
While describing the hung parliament as presenting a “great opportunity” for Guyana, constitutional expert Haslyn Parris believes that the parties must address long-standing systemic deficiencies in the electoral laws or the country will remain in a quagmire as it relates to proper governance. “It is a great opportunity which should lead to improvement in the [...]

Kwayana urges revival of community-level governance
Calling for a new dispensation in the way Guyana is governed, former WPA executive member Eusi Kwayana is advocating that there be a revival of community-level governance systems that existed in the immediate post-emancipation era. Reformation in executive power at the national level should be accompanied by a return of governance at the community level, [...]

Elections outcome could bring national healing, says Kwayana
With the outcome of the recent general elections, former WPA executive member Eusi Kwayana believes Guyana has its best opportunity to end years of bitter rivalry between the major races and he says now is the ideal time for the political parties to work towards a national unity government. Guyanese of Indian and African descent [...]
No formal government post for me – Jagdeo says
Former president Bharrat Jagdeo says he will not be taking up any formal position in a Donald Ramotar-led administration, but he is prepared to assist the new president in a more informal way. He also rejected views that he had