Gaulbert Sutherland

Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim knew a man killed for daring to enter a protected area.

President David Granger yesterday recommitted the PNCR to its pacts with other political parties – including the governing APNU+AFC coalition – saying that it is critical to tackling the many issues in Guyana and he warned against attempts to rekindle racial animosity.

The Quartzstone mine to be operated by Sun and Sand Mining Resources Inc will not use any mercury or other reagents but will use new technology to ensure gold recovery of at least 90%, the project’s head Mukesh Arora told a poorly attended scoping meeting in Bartica on Monday.

Officials from Long Jiang Forest Industries Group are expected in Guyana next month for a ‘fact-finding mission’ as it seeks to fully take over the operations of logging firm Baishanlin whose operations have ground to a halt.

Eusi Kwayana had an active role in Guyana’s politics for many decades, beginning in the colonial period of the 1940s, and continuing until he retired to California a few years ago.

A senior United Kingdom official was yesterday expected to hand over a proposal to the APNU+AFC government on tackling security issues here.

The United States is concerned that drug flows through the Caribbean are on the rise, according to a top US anti-narcotics official who said Washington remains “very concerned” that high level traffickers are not being arrested and prosecuted.

By Gaulbert Sutherland in Washington With a growing market for renewables, the Caribbean and Central America are being urged to diversify their fuel sources and the US yesterday unveiled US$10m in grant financing but Guyana was not listed as among the countries that could potentially benefit.

By Gaulbert Sutherland in Washington US Secretary of State John Kerry last evening announced a major initiative to fund renewable energy projects in the Caribbean and Central America as the region seeks ways to ensure energy security in the face of a number of challenges.

United for the first time in decades, trade union leaders yesterday blasted the David Granger administration for its failure to keep several promises but Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said that work is being done even as he urged that the criticism of government be fair.

Local port operator Muneshwers Limited is developing a modern port facility at Houston, East Bank Demerara in a multi-billion dollar investment as the company aims to capitalise on Guyana’s developing oil and gas industry.

After local government elections in 1994, there were by-elections to elect the chairperson and vice-chairperson of three Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) following a deadlock at the council level and in the absence of a compromise, there is a growing view that this should have been done following similar stalemates this year.

It is clear from a reading of the entire local government legislation that the framers never intended for the electorate to directly elect a mayor and application of a clause that speaks to voters directly electing a mayor would lead to an “absurdity,” Attorney-General (AG) Basil Williams said.

The harvester stood forlornly in the flatlands, encircled by tufts of dead, brown grass and shrubs in a field that once gleamed with golden, ripening paddy in the shadows of the Kanuku Mountains.

Last month, as her cassava crop wilted in the unforgiving heat, Marlene Mandokin descended from her farm in the forests at the foot of the Kanuku Mountains and cleared a small plot of savannah close to the Moco Moco creek, hoping the water there would be enough to cultivate new crops.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo yesterday said government had not properly informed workers of the impending closure of the Wales sugar estate even as he excoriated the PPP/C for peddling falsehoods and “political deception.”

Rain over the past few days has offered some relief to parts of the parched Rupununi but Regional Chairman Bryan Allicock says that impacts of the prolonged drought would continue to be felt in the next few months and some form of food aid would be necessary.

-$9B proposed for GuySuCo With an ambitious public infrastructure programme as the centrepiece, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan yesterday unveiled a $230 billion budget which also includes a $9 billion injection for the beleaguered sugar corporation, $2.5 billion for the state power company as well as a pledge to create 3,000 jobs at Lethem and Belvedere.

Almost 22 years after local government elections (LGE) were last held here, political parties, groups and individuals yesterday submitted their nominations to contest for seats in municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) across the country.

In a historic first, the National Assembly yesterday approved budget proposals of some constitutional agencies outside of the main budget presentation but the process was held up for hours as the two sides squabbled over who was responsible for answering questions on the Audit Office and Finance Minister Winston Jordan also faced heat for “cutting” figures for several agencies.