Local IT experts divided over suitability of netbooks for OLPF project
Local Information Techno-logy (IT) experts are divided over whether netbooks are the ideal instruments to be distributed to 90,000 poor families under the One Laptop per Family (OLFP) initiative. The first instruments distributed under the project were netbooks, which were gifts from the Chinese firm Huawei. President Bharrat Jagdeo has since disclosed that the government [...]
Fire razes popular Lethem business
A fire last evening completely destroyed a popular Lethem business establishment consuming millions in stock and leaving at least 20 persons jobless. The blaze, which started at approximately 6.30 pm, destroyed Wykka’s Store owned by Lethem businesswoman Ann Ramsarran. Up to press time the remains of the building
Jagdeo pledges open tender for netbooks
Chinese company Huawei donated the first set of netbooks distributed under the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) initiative but the next batch of computers will be procured by an open international competitive tender, President Bharrat Jagdeo said yesterday. “The 142 computers that we distributed at the launch, we got as a gift from Huawei. We [...]
Franklin: Review laptops project
Two parliamentary parties have excoriated the government’s One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) initiative with GAP’s MP Everall Franklin calling for an immediate review of it. Following a falling out in the National Assembly over the cost of the instruments being purchased by the government under the OLPF, the opposition members are asking for all documents [...]
Singh dismisses ‘inconsistent’ budget criticisms
For almost two hours last evening, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh berated the parliamentary opposition for its “incoherent” and “inconsistent” criticisms of this year’s budget and said that the foundations of Guyana’s economy have never been stronger. Wrapping up the 2011 Budget debate,
Sheila Holder says millions being diverted in ‘phantom’ pensioners fraud
An assertion by AFC MP Sheila Holder that the government has been using the Old Age Pension Pro-gramme to divert public funds riled members of the government benches last evening who sought unsuccessfully to have House Speaker
Customer shoots two bandits after robbery at Serenity bar
Licensed firearm holder Orin Hudson wounded two gunmen who invaded the Serenity Restaurant and Bar at Joseph Pollydore Street, Lodge last night. One of the men, identified as Akeem Holder, reportedly sustained a gunshot wound to the jaw and was,
Housing Ministry set to draw down another $3B
The Housing and Water Ministry will benefit from a further $3 billion in supplementary provisions, after the National Assembly yesterday passed the Supplementary Appropriation Bill (No. 3 for 2010), following a lengthy and somewhat contentious debate. The additional funds are to improve existing housing areas and for the development of new housing areas under capital [...]
GBTI unveils $700M Diamond branch
The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) yesterday officially commissioned its Diamond branch, while promising to transform the banking sector along the East Bank of Demerara with its delivery of additional modernized services. The $700 million facility is located directly opposite the East Bank Demerara Regional Hospital and both President Bharrat Jagdeo and Finance [...]
Seven more republished classics launched
Seven more titles in the Guyana Classics Series, republished under the Caribbean Publishing House, were last evening launched at the Umana Yana, bringing the total number of books produced so far to eighteen. Among the seven titles launched last evening were: The Portuguese of Guyana by Sister Mary Noel Menezes, Latchmee and Dillo by John [...]
Jagdeo now hoping to tap forest $$ by January
Guyana may be able to access the US$30M deposited by Norway into a fund under the World Bank’s supervision as early as next month, President Bharrat Jagdeo disclosed yesterday, saying that the country has already submitted the project documents for the initiatives to be implemented with the money. “Hopefully, by January, we’ll see the money [...]
Suriname’s deep sea port, road and rail link to Brazil challenge Guyana’s bid to become Brazilian gateway
Guyana’s bid to become the gateway for business into and out of Brazil seems set to be challenged by Suriname which recently signed Memo-randa of Understanding (MOU) with two Chinese companies for US$6 billion worth of projects, including a deep sea harbour and a road and railroad to Brazil. According to reports in sections of [...]
‘Unity’ doves released as Murray interred at Leguan
Minutes before PNCR-1G MP Winston Murray was buried yesterday in the churchyard of the St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Leguan, doves were released by some of his relatives and friends to signify the races in Guyana and his dream of a united nation, not fragmented by race. Scores of Leguan residents braved early morning rain [...]
VIDEO: Fired bauxite workers in limbo one year later
For the past year, fired Aroaima bauxite worker Lennox Williams has been out of a full-time job and has been forced to “catch his hand here and there” to earn money to support his family of seven. The past year has been a year of turmoil. “A year of pressure… I try hustling a dollar [...]
Bauxite workers claim unfair dismissals
Five workers dismissed by the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI) are claiming discrimination as a result of their protest against meals prepared in the roach-infested kitchen at the Aroaima work station, which was filled with spoilt and expired goods. The employees were fired last Friday—four days after the company’s management investigated complaints by more [...]