Drained and Irritated

LUCAS STOCK INDEX The LSI declined by 2.39 percent in the first week of trading in February 2012. The stocks of Demerara Bank Limited (DBL) declined by 16 percent while that of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) declined by nearly one percent. The rise of the stocks of Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (BTI) by four percent was insufficient to compensate for the losses. As a result, the index recorded its largest decline for the year.

Intentions

At a sitting of the National Assembly today, the country was likely to hear the views and vision of President Ramotar as he addresses the members of the august parliamentary institution.  It is expected that the President will take the opportunity to outline his legislative priorities and, in effect, give Guyanese a glimpse of what to expect in the 2012 budget that his administration will place before the Assembly in the near future.  The recent floods have set the nation off on a bad footing in 2012 with the loss of cash crops and the imposition of substantial economic hardship on farming households.  As these farming households continue to count their losses and ponder their next move, every Guyanese is hoping that the drainage and irrigation (D & I) problem of the country will emerge as a major priority of the new administration.  After the major floods of 2005, Guyanese have become wary of the weather and the administration.  Drained and irritated by the constant need to battle contaminated and dangerous waters, there is a belief among some that it is no longer enough to