Guyana News

Pirates attacked and robbed the captain and crewmembers of six fishing vessels of a quantity of articles as they were plying their trade in the Pomeroon River, Essequibo last weekend.

Courtney Benn Contracting Services has secured a $186m contract for the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB).

The Ministry of Public Health’s Permanent Secretary (PS) Trevor Thomas has been relieved of his duties, with effect from March 1, 2017.

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – New West Indies head coach, Stuart Law, has underscored the value of the three-match one-day series against England staring here Friday, especially with the regional side already setting their sights on the 2019 World Cup.

– Skeldon first on market Government on Tuesday decided that the sugar industry is not sustainable and cannot be saved as is; it will soon roll out a plan for the ailing sector that includes keeping only three estates and privatizing the others, sources say.

The 14% VAT on private education will remain in place for the time being, President David Granger said yesterday, while stating that only eight out of 57 local private institutions are tax compliant, a situation which government is looking to correct.

While he awaits a report from a panel on candidates shortlisted to fill the positions of Chancellor and Chief Justice respectively, President David Granger yesterday appointed Justices Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Roxane George-Wiltshire SC to act in the respective positons in the interim.

Several members of the Guyana Police Force including an Assistant Superinten-dent of Police (ASP) and a Corporal, who allegedly smuggled an AK-47 rifle out of the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) Com-pound, Eve Leary Tuesday morning, are currently under close arrest.

Special Lance Corporal in the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Marlon Washing-ton, who was charged with causing death by dangerous driving of Linden teenager, Denilson Rose, in 2015, was yesterday sentenced to five years for the crime, and fined for two other offences.

President David Granger yesterday met with the Atlanta, Georgia-based Carter Center’s Country Representative, Jason Calder, who updated him on the status of the US$297,000  Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) project, which is being spearheaded by the Centre.

A businessman was yesterday granted bail after he was accused of defrauding his friend, of over 10 years, of items totaling over $7 million.

It is almost a month since the Bank of Guyana (BoG) implemented a limit of $3 on the spread of the buying and selling rates for foreign currency and several cambio dealers say they are recording a slight decrease in business and still believe the decision should be rescinded.

The Town Clerk of Georgetown, Royston King wrote to the Auditor General on Tuesday, 28th February, requesting that an audit of the Council’s stock and financial systems be done.

Rights activist Mark Benschop last Friday testified that although he was assaulted and his vehicle was vandalized after an encounter with former presidential press officer Kwame McCoy in 2011, he was the one who ended up being arrested by police.

The partially decomposed body of a man found floating in a trench at Met-en-Meerzorg, West Coast Demerara on Monday was yesterday identified by his brother and the police are awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine what resulted in his death.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said that he raised issues he found critical, pertaining to the economy, with President David Granger at State House last evening when they met to consult on appointments to the judiciary.

President David Granger yesterday met with China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Cui Jianchun at State House to discuss the strengthening of co-operation between the two countries.

The Mayor and City Council yesterday announced that it has received its twenty percent takings from Smart City Solutions (SCS) for metered parking but did not disclose the sum.

A review of a status report on equipment belonging to Insel Air is currently underway, says Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Captain Egbert Field.

The Department of the Environment plays an integral role in helping Guyana achieve the objectives of a ‘green’ state, says President David Granger.