Guyana News

Guyana is closer to strict laws on tobacco use, which now include proposals for a ban on public smoking and controls on advertising.

Dredge operator Oswald Leacock, accused of the murder of Earle Austin, who was tied to a tree and severely beaten to death, was yesterday remanded to prison.

Two men accused of stealing $276,400 worth of items from the variety store where they worked were yesterday each admitted to bail in the sum of $100,000 by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

The Ministry of Education yesterday signed three contracts, worth a total $480M, for the supply of computers, office equipment, tools and furniture to the newly-constructed Technical and Vocational Educational Training (TVET) centres in regions Three and Five.

Amid questions about its output, the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) says it is poised to make an impact on the economy but private sector support is crucial to fulfill the potential

The Guyana National Shipping Corporation (GNSC) earlier this month commissioned a state-of-the-art container/truck scale which could see cargo being weighed in less than five minutes.

A $188M contract has been signed with B and J Civil Works for road construction and rehabilitation that will benefit 14 housing schemes in Region Five.

Minister within the Ministry of Health Dr Bheri Ramsaran inspected the newly- built Belle West Health Centre in Region Three to ensure that it complies with health standards as it is expected to be commissioned soon.

A recent decision by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada to deny a bid by a former member of the Guyana Defence Force Coastguard to be recognised as a refugee is seen a vote of confidence in local law enforcement by the Home Affairs Ministry.

Region One Chairman Fermin Singh yesterday said that there is no food shortage at the Port Kaituma Hospital, while explaining that a delay in getting food to a patient may have been responsible for a false alarm by residents.

Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali said plans for International Building Expo 2 are well underway and 105 exhibitors both from the region and further afield have confirmed their participation.

The Ministry of Culture, Youths and Sports said its summer camps for school-age children are in full swing and participants are being exposed to civic sessions along with being allowed to explore their artistic abilities.

Education managers from the central and regional departments convened last week for the fifth review of the Education Strategic Plan (ESP) 2008-2013 to examine policies to be executed and decide whether to expand the strategy to facilitate the implementation of the MDGs.

Thirty-five adults and children with disabilities from five Region One communities along with their relatives participated in a march aimed at raising awareness about rehabilitation services offered at the Mabaruma Regional Hospital.

CGX Energy Inc has announced that shareholders have adopted a rights plan designed to ensure fair and equitable treatment amongst them regarding any take-over bid for the outstanding securities of the company.

Four  persons are now dead and several persons are injured after a speeding minibus suffered a tyre blow out and toppled several times on Homestretch Avenue earlier this evening.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – A former journalist who told the  New York Times that phone hacking at Rupert Murdoch’s now  defunct News of the World was more extensive than the paper had  acknowledged at the time, has been found dead, media reported today.

NEW YORK,  (Reuters Life!) – Jailed rapper Ja Rule  was sentenced in federal court in New Jersey today to 28  months in prison for failing to pay more than $1 million in  taxes.

A miner is in a critical condition at the Georgetown Hospital, after he was shot several times by gunmen, who invaded his camp at Five Star Backdam, North West District this morning.

Following a review, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) today announced that it would be holding another Claims and Objections exercise, which is intended to facilitate persons who were previously unable to register.