Mark McGowan

Commissioner of Insurance and Judicial Manager of CLICO (Guyana) Maria van Beek says that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the local company Geeta Singh-Knight is still playing an integral part in its present operations.

The operations of a recently formed Guyanese/Brazilian sand exporting company, which has built a 150 feet wharf and an adjustable conveyor belt at the cost of US$2 million, were yesterday officially launched by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds.

-Finance Minister Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh yesterday said that evidence of CLICO (Guyana)’s $6.9B investment in CLICO (Bahamas) has been provided to the Bahamian liquidator Craig Gomez.

-in bid to up price paid to farmers Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud yesterday announced a 60 percent cut of the export commission that exporters are currently required to pay to the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), in a bid to allow millers to pay farmers better prices.

-says efforts were being made to retrieve Bahamas assets President Bharrat Jagdeo  yesterday strongly defended his government’s handling of the crisis which has seen CLICO (Guyana) placed under judicial management in the backdrop of earlier statements where both he and the CLICO management had said there was nothing to worry about He told members of the media  that the government’s move yesterday (see other story on page 20) to intervene in CLICO (Guyana) was brought about specifically because of the position with CLICO (Bahamas) where that country’s Supreme Court ordered its liquidation on Tuesday, which affected more than half of the assets of CLICO (Guyana).

Lumumba launches scathing attack on Ramjattan, Corbin Public Service Minister Dr Jennifer Westford cited the Cuba scholarship programme as a major success of the government during last week’s budget debate which also saw severe attacks on two opposition figures by PPP/C MP Odinga Lumumba.

– groundwork begins, some Dochfour residents to move Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud yesterday said that the government is treating the construction of the $3B Hope Relief Channel as a “priority” and the plan is to get the project underway as soon as possible.

Agri Minister says best engineering decision will be made Government’s decision to construct a canal at Hope to drain the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) into the Atlantic Ocean has come in for scrutiny and at least one experienced engineer, Malcolm Alli, has publicly declared that the proposed construction is not the best option.

-says motion ‘before its time’ The government last evening vetoed a motion to have Parliamentary sittings broadcast live and unedited locally, saying that the motion had come to the National Assembly “before its time.”

-blame Cunha koker changes The recent heavy rainfall has left some residents in the village of Sarah Johanna on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) under several inches of water, severely affecting crops and livestock in some cases.

Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud was greeted with a series of complaints from residents about  acts of mismanagement by NDCs and officials yesterday when he visited several flood-affected communities on the Corentyne.

Weeks of flooding Residents of Dochfour/ Hope on the East Coast of Demerara have been trapped in flooded environs for almost three weeks.

GT&T, internet cafes continuing talks Following the most recent discussions between GT&T and the Internet Interest Holders Group (IIHG), GT&T has removed the blockage on certain Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) and Virtual Private Networks (VPN) websites, allowing some internet cafés, which were forced to close, the chance to resume business.

Although fuel prices continue to slide at the different service stations, it is unlikely that there will be any further reductions in bus fares any time soon.

Brazil company  providing funds The Rupununi River Bridge near Katoonarib, which collapsed under the weight of an excavator earlier this year, will be repaired as soon as the weather permits, says Region Nine Chairman, Clarindo Lucas.

The audited accounts for the Cricket World Cup event held here in 2007 will be released before the end of this year, Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony has promised.

– poor roads, electricity and telecommunication stifling community For Karasabai villagers, a newspaper is a luxury.

…as huge aviary remains a dream five years on A project funded by the Odense Municipality of Denmark to build a giant aviary for the harpy eagles at the Georgetown Zoo is still to materialize although more than five years have elapsed since the funds were provided for its construction.

Several bus operators say that they are not prepared to reduce their fares in spite of the recent announcement made by Minister of Commerce Manniram Prashad that fares will drop from today.

Minibus fares are expected to be reduced from Friday, Minister of Commerce Manniram Prashad has announced.