Iana Seales

Sugar would be dead without the political commitment of the administration, President Bharrat Jagdeo said yesterday at the opening of the new packaging plant at Enmore, where he predicted a brighter future for the industry under a Donald Ramotar-led government.

Political activist Tacuma Ogunseye says the candidacy of David Granger has energized the African-Guyanese community and could draw significant support for the PNCR, but he also feels Granger’s presidential bid has similarly resurrected the myth that African support alone could lead to victory.

Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) President Colin Bynoe has labelled criticisms of the union’s recent five-year labour deal with the government “trash talk,” saying the full agreement not only reflects intense negotiations but was achieved without any support from within the labour movement.

‘Debate what? Debate what happened 28 years ago? What Burnham did?

PPP/C presidential candidate Donald Ramotar’s proclaimed satisfaction with the constitutional arrangements for the country’s political system is worrying, according to AFC leader Raphael Trotman, who believes that such a position shows disregard for those who currently feel excluded.

Beres Hammond isn’t just the soulful crooner from Jamaica we’ve grown to love all these years; he is a God-like figure posing as a man.

Political leadership has failed the business community presidential candidate Khemraj Ramjattan said yesterday, pledging that new policies under an AFC-led government will see an end to the suffocating of the entrepreneur class.

GAWU President Komal Chand says the sugar corporation could close the first crop with a shortfall of around 38,000 tonnes of sugar based on current production numbers and the threat of approaching May/June rains.

If the name Collette Jones sounds unfamiliar to you, the popular ‘Tessa real girl’ stage persona from the early 90s might trigger a few memories; either way the reputation precedes the woman.

Sexual offence convictions remain considerably low in this country despite reformed laws and problems still persist in policing and prosecution, particularly with evidence gathering.

Dr Yash Ghai, former Chair of the Kenya Constitutional Commission, yesterday cautioned against the coercive powers of the state and the deliberate weakening of civil society, saying that they are used by power-hungry politicians to fuel conflict.

Kamadyah Israel, occasionally appearing on a stage near you, sort of danced out of nowhere doing poetry with a voice so haunting that you listen to the message and you just cannot shake it.

AFC presidential candidate Khemraj Ramjattan said yesterday that he plans to debate his political opponents from parties “that matter” if the conditions are agreed upon, and the PNCR and the PPP might take up challenge.

GuySuCo’s operations came to a grinding halt two weeks ago due to persistent rainfall—a critical blow for the first crop and production, in a year the industry desperately needs a turnaround.

Guyana People’s Partner-ship candidate Peter Ramsaroop believes that the PPP administration is in a freefall and has come to the end of its time in power, after spreading hopelessness in the country.

Sonobia James called Stacey, a mother of two, died early yesterday morning after she was stabbed by her live-in lover during a struggle at the Red Dragon night club on Robb Street.

Drugs pose a serious threat to democracy and the general way of life in the Caribbean region and governments continue to ignore the root causes of crime while treating the symptoms, according to Rear-Admiral Hardley Lewin, former chief of staff of Jamaica Defence Force.

If the Mighty Rebel had defended his calypso crown this year the script would have read that a new rebel has taken over or that he has passed the torch to a younger performer with a firm grip on social issues.

With Rebel pulling out of the calypso finals this year for reasons which he has made very public, the race is wide open though many of the performers were preparing to dethrone him when the finals run off tonight at Thirst Park.

Vanessa Francis left her reputed husband five months ago but he has been stalking her and yesterday he attempted to kill her, dealing her several stab wounds about the body before fleeing.