Christopher Ram

Introduction This, my closing column for what was a truly eventful, indeed historic year is not about introversion or narcissism but one that was forced by reality.

Introduction December 9 was an important day for Guyana. For the first time since 2003 when the United Nations designated the day as International Anti-Corruption Day to raise awareness about corruption as an international and domestic agenda issue, the day was marked with a public activity – a seminar – in which the Government of Guyana took part.

Introduction At a time when the National Insurance Scheme is experiencing the results of more than two decades of bad governance it has just dished out some $600 million to buy the CLICO building on Camp Street.

Introduction As campaign 2011 moves into top gear, no one it seems has the least interest in the financial and economic consequences of the explosion in what appears to be uncontrolled expenditure by the government.

Introduction In his presentation to the National Assembly of the 2011 Budget on January 17, Dr Ashni Singh announced that public assistance was then being paid at a rate of $4,900 per month to approximately 9,000 beneficiaries.

Introduction The reader should not wonder why in the caption of this column ‘democracy’ does not precede ‘financing.’

Caribbean Containers Inc, a public company in the paper recycling business has reported turnover for the first half of 2011 increasing by 9.3% over the same period last year.

Introduction As President Jagdeo prepares to demit office in another few weeks there is a single issue with which his name will always be associated in CARICOM.

Introduction At long last, the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. (BBCI) has decided to file annual returns and financial statements with the Registrar of Companies.

Introduction “The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented,” US President Barack Obama said in a statement.

Introduction The Council of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) of Guyana on April 7, 2011 accepted a Code on Corporate Governance which could have some transformational effect on the way Guyana companies are managed.

Introduction As the life of the Ninth Parliament comes to its constitutional end later this week, Business Page thinks it opportune to review its productivity in terms of its legislative agenda.

Conclusion Introduction Today I conclude the review of the mid-year report for 2011, a statutorily required report under the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act 2003.

Crazy columnist This columnist has not gone mad, at least not yet.

Introduction Last Monday, August 29, I indicated in a letter to SN captioned ‘Nothing illegal about unincorporated bodies operating by the rules‘ that I would be reviewing in today’s column the court’s decision in the case brought by the Secretary of the Berbice Cricket Board against the Guyana Cricket Board.

Two very important pieces of legislation to which the Jagdeo administration had committed itself are now before Special Select Committees of the National Assembly working feverishly overtime to ensure that this legislation is passed before the Ninth Parliament comes to an end.

Conclusion Introduction I ended last week’s column by suggesting that the commercial banks – which account for 58% of the mortgage lending by financial institutions – have both the liquidity and the reserves to withstand any significant reduction in house prices and consequential foreclosures.

Part 2 Introduction I was totally surprised at the very informed responses to last week’s introductory part on the country’s housing situation.

Introduction    In an op-ed column in the influential New York Times on December 21, 2007 Paul Krugman, winner of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Economics, columnist, bestselling author and professor of economics at Princeton University, wrote of the mortgage crisis in the USA that “the explosion of ‘innovative’ home lending that took place in the middle years of this decade was an unmitigated disaster.”

Introduction It has been all quiet and stable on the business scene this past week, or at least what could make news.