Guyana News

The government yesterday condemned the move to jail Finance Minister Winston Jordan for failing to make a court-ordered payment of US$2 million to Dipcon Construction and appealed to the courts to “protect the Executive” from what it dubbed “vexatious and partisan action.”

Over 100 hire car drivers who operate in Black Bush Polder came together on Monday morning in protest, calling for officials to pay heed and fix their main access road, even as the region indicated that it is in the process of securing bids for the road’s repairs.

For the first time since 2014, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has successfully negotiated a pay increase for Field Foremen/ Fore-women in the sugar industry.

  Officials from the Ministry of Social Protection’s Department of Labour and the Ministry of Natural Resources, on Monday met with aggrieved Guyana Goldfields Inc.

The prosecution in the trial of John Holder, the policeman who is charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice in the case against attempted murder accused Maryann Daby, was yesterday given a peremptory date to produce its final witnesses or close its case.

Two men, including one who claimed he uses a cannabis tea to treat his stutter, were yesterday remanded to prison on separate drug trafficking charges.

Tenders were yesterday opened at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board for the construction of a Guyana Embassy, Ambassador’s and Diplomatic Staff quarters in Brazil.

Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams, has announced the establishment of the Rapid Impact Project (RIP), an initiative dedicated to providing funding for small-scale community infrastructural projects.

The Police have detained four persons in connection with the murders of the Better Hope moneychanger Aaron Latchman and his daughter Arian.

President David Granger and his representatives have been accused by the Opposition of failing to act in “good faith” after they made eight nominations and  refused to engage in discussion about the 11 names nominated by Opposition Leader for Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

By Zoisa Fraser and Femi Harris-Smith Saved from imprisonment by a presidential respite, Finance Minister Winston Jordan yesterday maintained that he ought not to be held personally responsible for government’s failure to pay the more than US$2 million judgment awarded to Dipcon for road works and he warned that the proceedings brought against him in his personal capacity could cause many to rethink public service if it is upheld.

Vehemently denying a claim made by the opposition that government officials, including those at the Ministry of the Presidency are facilitating a “people smuggling ring,” Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix yesterday maintained that significant improvements have been made to the immigration sector since the APNU+AFC coalition took office.

Floodwater that inundated sections of Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, on Thursday has slowly started to recede but farmers still fear major damage to their crops, according to Chairman of the Region Five  Council Vickchand Ramphal.

A motorcyclist of Guyhoc Park, Georgetown died yesterday  in an accident on Vlissengen Road, in the vicinity of the Ministry of Agriculture, following a collision with a car.

A police prosecutor yesterday testified that he only learnt of statements made by Constable John Holder recanting his original evidence against  attempted murder accused Maryann Daby after they were disclosed by the woman’s lawyer.

Maverick De Abreu, the man wanted in connection with the assault on gay rights activist Joel Simpson, yesterday surrendered to the police in the presence of his attorney, Siand Dhurjon.

Attorney Anil Nandlall, who is representing the interests of the widow of the taxi driver found dead by police in the Suddie lockups last week, has written to the heads of the Police Complaints Authority, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Police Commissioner, requesting an inquest into his death.

Although the Small Business Development Finance Trust Inc. (SBDF) disbursed fewer loans last year, it facilitated the creation of more jobs than in the previous year, according to Director Mohamed Ali.

The accused in the 2012 murder of Plaisance businessman Deryck “Backatoo” Cox was discharged last Friday after almost seven years in jail, which his lawyer says will form the grounds of a $100 million lawsuit for wrongful imprisonment and malicious prosecution.

Bardon Construction Service has been awarded a $57 million contract to begin the construction of a tarmac at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, which will provide a space for vendors and facilitate parking for taxi drivers.