Information Guyana: guyana news

PPP calls on law enforcement to safeguard integrity of election process

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj12rYVRGOfFi_Fh4TVUpQRX4dID_FYZEagGZHEjyOhFssPH_fcMmGms-gt-mf1Gij0NeXLZZ8ch-qyBU00KMW58pdOPWIxeWttvpD1GXeZ78zyYCqqW5WBln1O_qfnnzHoo3_3RlaZ45W/s1600/IMG-20150511-WA0017-150x150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj12rYVRGOfFi_Fh4TVUpQRX4dID_FYZEagGZHEjyOhFssPH_fcMmGms-gt-mf1Gij0NeXLZZ8ch-qyBU00KMW58pdOPWIxeWttvpD1GXeZ78zyYCqqW5WBln1O_qfnnzHoo3_3RlaZ45W/s320/IMG-20150511-WA0017-150x150.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has forthrightly condemned the willful torching of two buildings and two vehicles in Sophia by a mob who openly voiced their allegiance to the Opposition. One of the buildings and the vehicles belong to a supporter of the PPP.<br />
<br />
Information reaching the party’s Freedom House headquarters indicate that earlier in the day the PPP supporter was wrongfully accused of electoral infractions by members of the mob.<br />
<br />
It was also reported that following the accusations earlier in the day, a senior member of the Opposition alliance visited the area and eventually noted that nothing illegal had transpired.<br />
<br />
“It therefore now becomes worrying that a mob, with its loyalty to the coalition, would resort to such violence putting many lives at risk. Such incidents must be condemned by all,” Party said in a statement issued around 11 pm (23:00 hrs).<br />
<br />
According to the PPP, Guyana’s electoral history is replete with these incidents which must be laid squarely at the doorstep of the Opposition. In this regard, the PPP calls on the Leader of the APNU-AFC alliance, Rt. Brig. David Granger, and its Prime Ministerial Candidate, Moses Nagamootoo, to condemn these acts of violence and to have their supporters cease their actions. “These violent acts are against the tenets of democracy and create unwanted instability in our country,” the PPP charged.<br />
<br />
“As the polls closed earlier, the PPP would like to note how pleased it is with the turnout of its supporters. Our Party takes this opportunity to express its gratitude to the many thousands who came out and stood for long periods to exercise their democratic right to cast a vote. Their patience is testimony to their belief in a progressive Guyana and to sustain the strides made under the PPP government,” the incumbent party stated.<br />
<br />
“While our Party is please in this regard, it must note its disappointment at the unprofessional discharge of duties by some GECOM staff in some areas up to this point. This is totally unacceptable and those officers who chose not to operate in a professional manner must be condemned and must answer for their transgression,” the PPP declared.<br />
The party said it recognises that while some operated in an unacceptable manner, many other GECOM staff performed admirably and must be commended for their professional discharge of duties.<br />
<br />
Now that the counting phase is underway, the PPP is extremely concern over the many reports received of aggressive behavior by Opposition elements who have surrounded some polling stations. We believe that this is a calculated attempt by the Opposition to intimidate our election agents in an effort to compromise the counting process. Our Party calls on GECOM and the law enforcement agencies to act accordingly to protect the integrity of these elections and to ensure the safety of those involved.<br />
<br />
The PPP calls on its supporters to remain calm but remain vigilant to safeguard the process.<br />
Additionally, our Party will continue to follow up with GECOM concerns it raised earlier. Among those are reported cases of duplicate voting, a deliberate slow pace of the voting process by some election day staff, voting by imposters and the intimidation of voters in some areas.<br />
<br />

PPP calls on law enforcement to safeguard integrity of election process

THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has forthrightly condemned the willful torching of two buildings and two vehicles in Sophia by a mob ...

Raphael Trotman says APNU+AFC satisfied “so far” with voting process

<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: justify;">
The APNU+AFC Coalition is still monitoring the voting process across the country on Elections Day and is generally satisfied with the voting process “so far”.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwE4s5wiLRXIUg13nBq_0uNhGbKVctaLCFoR46NL6K-NzwoxlzwXqRkehc4BNtitnTsz-QnWJiV8zS1EHX_FRO_-l1pBp4L0YLrkuJzQSNpUFla6RR1VDsP2DNKACjkrXHv4hPobms4y30/s1600/download+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwE4s5wiLRXIUg13nBq_0uNhGbKVctaLCFoR46NL6K-NzwoxlzwXqRkehc4BNtitnTsz-QnWJiV8zS1EHX_FRO_-l1pBp4L0YLrkuJzQSNpUFla6RR1VDsP2DNKACjkrXHv4hPobms4y30/s400/download+(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: justify;">
Co-Chairman of the APNU+AFC coalition, Raphael Trotman told reporters at an early Monday afternoon press conference that the coalition remains confident of victory when the results are announced.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: justify;">
He said based on information from many of the outlying regions, the voting process has gone smoothly with a large voter turn out in many parts of the country including Georgetown.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: justify;">
He said the coalition received a report of an underage young woman casting a ballot in Region Five, but the matter is under investigation.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: justify;">
Trotman said persons who have still not voted as ought to do so before the close of polls.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: justify;">
“Every citizen should go out and vote. It is our right. You can’t criticize a government if we did not participate in choosing that government”, he said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: justify;">
Trotman also said it is important for persons to remain vigilant as voting comes to a close. He said persons should guard their vote and their democratic right. The campaign chairman  said while they should not interfere with the process, they should not go home and forget about it.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: justify;">
“If there is nothing bad happening in a polling place, then there is nothing to worry about”.</div>

Raphael Trotman says APNU+AFC satisfied “so far” with voting process

The APNU+AFC Coalition is still monitoring the voting process across the country on Elections Day and is generally satisfied with the votin...

Observer Missions Give Kudos To Guyana For Election Process

Amid a few minor hiccups, the country and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) by extension has come in for highpraise from both the international and domestic observer missions that are monitoring the electoral process.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEk_rngIOpk52pWXqL1fqSP5jKBvudcWCZLvz9-v1gbn-67x7rf2ArQtXJod8nUnh7kIcz2HH-zXoA86GVGFyvje6oiwX6Jq3Di69qgIoSJjQAAbnEBqpKrf5n6gxDom9aMLwhluoF6_a/s1600/OAS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEk_rngIOpk52pWXqL1fqSP5jKBvudcWCZLvz9-v1gbn-67x7rf2ArQtXJod8nUnh7kIcz2HH-zXoA86GVGFyvje6oiwX6Jq3Di69qgIoSJjQAAbnEBqpKrf5n6gxDom9aMLwhluoF6_a/s400/OAS.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">UNASUR Observer Mission in Guyana</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Currently there are five international observer missions and 14 local groups conducting observation works in the country. This includes the pre and post election periods, the voting process and tabulation of the ballots.<br />
Guyana Times caught up with some of the observer missions to get their reactions to polling day activities. Chief of Mission for the Organisation of American States (OAS) in Guyana, Ambassador Lisa Shoman has expressed her satisfaction with the conducting of polls, while noting that 98 per cent of the polling stations opened on time.<br />
“Early this morning there was quite, a good turnout and I think we were able to observe the opening of the polls. The polling stations had the materials that they needed,” she noted. Shoman added that the OAS observers in the 10 administrative regions had submitted a preliminary report on the opening of polls in all 10 regions.<br />
However, the OAS Chief of Mission registered her disappointment with the long procedure that is in place for voters without identification cards. “There are a couple of places where it took long and we have noted that it is people coming without ID cards, it takes between five to eight minutes to have them vote so it’s a little slow.”<br />
These sentiments were adopted by the team from the Union of the South American Nations (UNASUR), who also congratulated the country and GECOM for what they say was an efficient and transparent voting process.<br />
At a press briefing on Tuesday, Special Representative of the South American organisation, Dr Domingo Paredes, praised the electoral systems that are in place. He pointed out that the voting stages adopted by Guyana are not seen in any other South American countries, referring to the ID display in polling stations, the presence of security personnel at all polling stations and political representatives in the stations among others.<br />
Paredes commended the Election Commission for a job well done, noting that their voter’s education programme was on par. He specifically mentioned the visual displays around the polling stations displaying the stages of the voting process.<br />
Nevertheless, the UNASUR representatives highlighted a few issues that came to their attention such as the lack of accessibility for the handicapped and the elderly to the polling station. Furthermore, he noted that there are limited polling stations, hence the long queues.<br />
UNASUR had observers at 33 polling stations in four regions. There were observers at four polling stations in Parika, at eight stations in Georgetown and New Amsterdam, and five in Linden.<br />
In addition, the Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Ramesh Persaud dubbed the election process “credible”. He told Guyana Times that he had the opportunity to visit polling stations in outlining areas such as Diamond, Skeldon and Linden.<br />
Persaud sang the praises of the GECOM staff, noting that they were “properly trained” and the systems in place were in accordance to the country’s practices. He added that the voting process was moving apace, since by 10:00h, most of the polling stations were cleared.<br />
Furthermore, the PSC Chairman is urging Guyanese to be patience and accept the official results published by GECOM. “The process was credible, the staff were diligent and I even spoke to the political agents and while there were some minor discrepancies, it was nothing had could alter the results.”<br />
Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Observer Mission, which has a seven-member team in Guyana, has stated that observers were deployed to polling stations in and around Georgetown, Charity Linden and New Amsterdam.<br />
At these locations, the Commonwealth observers “met with local election officials and Police commanders and collaborated with other observer groups”. The international organisation team observed the voting process, counting of the votes and transmittal of the results from the various polling stations back to the Elections Commission head office in Kingston. The group is expected to deliver a preliminary report on Wednesday.<br />
Observers from the United States Embassy were seen in the Corentyne monitoring various polling stations. They indicated that up to midday on Monday, when approached by this newspaper, there were no complications.

Observer Missions Give Kudos To Guyana For Election Process

Amid a few minor hiccups, the country and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) by extension has come in for highpraise from both the inte...

Fiery election unrest in Sophia following allegation of bogus polling station

Several vehicles were burnt and a house, where Sophia residents alleged was a bogus polling station, was under threat.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcgFu8CaJrcBi6O4JH8idBIi2ClZvb02ZeJbNb7eTVr0dylRBUA8nmnCowGeR8vMgjPylNROFbAu-GiSC1SpHBfaDDYtiv5Qs2p3l5Q3BH_q1SiOKBEZjqSI0w4HGG5ZHShVyApiiDksJZ/s1600/49bafe8327bee969a214fdf7a8d80c21_M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcgFu8CaJrcBi6O4JH8idBIi2ClZvb02ZeJbNb7eTVr0dylRBUA8nmnCowGeR8vMgjPylNROFbAu-GiSC1SpHBfaDDYtiv5Qs2p3l5Q3BH_q1SiOKBEZjqSI0w4HGG5ZHShVyApiiDksJZ/s400/49bafe8327bee969a214fdf7a8d80c21_M.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Police and soldiers were deployed to the scene where our reporter, Zena Henry, reports that the situation seems to be calming.<br />
<br />
Co-campaign manager for the coalition of A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), Raphael Trotman said party officials were late Monday night expected to emerge from a strategy meeting and visit several hot spots to urge supporters to be calm.<br />
<br />
Police fired pellets in a bid to disperse an angry crowd that continues to demand that ballot boxes  be removed from the house located at “C” Field, Sophia. <br />
<br />
The fire has so far ravaged several vehicles and animal pens. A fire tender responding to a call was stoned and its windshield shattered, forcing fire fighters to retreat from the area. There was also a power outage in the area.<br />
<br />
People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) activist, Joseph Hamilton, who was among several persons trapped in the house, denied to reporters that the building was being used as a polling station.<br />
<br />
Hamilton said there were no ballot boxes in the building.<br />
<br />
He explained that the house, owned by a People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) activist identified only as Kublall, is usually used by that party.<br />
<br />
Earlier Monday, police asked the soldiers to assist with confidence-building patrols due to unease and tension in several area

Fiery election unrest in Sophia following allegation of bogus polling station

Several vehicles were burnt and a house, where Sophia residents alleged was a bogus polling station, was under threat. Police and soldie...

GECOM Chairman appeals for peace and tranquility

Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, Dr. Steve Surujbally Monday night appealed for calm and called on leaders of the major political parties to address the nation.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimATYUKZXBE-hE5l6MvsPaMuAXfmUtDCZXst5HBT2m4dXb1cBIpoNtvJ6ZKXbJVk5pxgHfGIPdp4cx0rgOa68I77x6m4scWgCoP0SPZ1KYdsVngxCFZNcRcC3Npq6uzn5T9iCq6Z3UDttt/s1600/131afc1cb16b90a10de84b1d079bb47e_M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimATYUKZXBE-hE5l6MvsPaMuAXfmUtDCZXst5HBT2m4dXb1cBIpoNtvJ6ZKXbJVk5pxgHfGIPdp4cx0rgOa68I77x6m4scWgCoP0SPZ1KYdsVngxCFZNcRcC3Npq6uzn5T9iCq6Z3UDttt/s320/131afc1cb16b90a10de84b1d079bb47e_M.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
"Peace and tranquility must prevail," said Surujbally. He wants people who are milling around polling stations go home.<br />
<br />
He said ballot boxes are of a lesser importance than the Statements of Poll which are produced after the votes already cast between 6 AM and 6 PM. ""Once the Statement of Poll is posted outside then the ballot boxes and contents are of historical relevance. There is nothing you can do to disrupt what has happened," he said.<br />
<br />
The GECOM Chairman said he has already spoken with President Donald Ramotar who has promised to endorse his call for calm following the close of polls.<br />
<br />
He said he was unable to make contact with Presidential Candidate for the coalition of A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance For Change David Granger but has transmitted his sentiments through APNU Vice Chairman Dr Rupert Roopnaraine.

GECOM Chairman appeals for peace and tranquility

Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, Dr. Steve Surujbally Monday night appealed for calm and called on leaders of the major politica...

Pic President Donald Ramotar Casting his vote

PPPC presidential candidate and the current president cast his vote and said he was confident the PPPC will win may 11 election and urges ev...

“The election results must be accepted” – Former House Speaker

<div>
Former Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran says the results of the 2015 General and Regional Elections must be accepted by political Parties, declaring his confidence in the mechanisms in place at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to produce credible results.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In his weekly blog on Conversationtree.org, Ramkarran said that GECOM, the electoral process and the elections, must be given the respect they deserve because they have stood the test of time, having earned that respect.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbs6fqcqv6MMsZqOplIbHLgyTV-ZLQu-pg85YSl5bpOFSXeMIoyfcgorHDgcaUF4NrB-z9-IPY0_-SmP8obN0J-sjd6Z-s08Pva9jk-A6HAb8zUb-yvF2NhI2QHL_oxqqyLuA8nIWzWmY/s1600/Ralph2-300x186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbs6fqcqv6MMsZqOplIbHLgyTV-ZLQu-pg85YSl5bpOFSXeMIoyfcgorHDgcaUF4NrB-z9-IPY0_-SmP8obN0J-sjd6Z-s08Pva9jk-A6HAb8zUb-yvF2NhI2QHL_oxqqyLuA8nIWzWmY/s1600/Ralph2-300x186.jpg" /></a></div>
“The election results must be accepted because political leaders know that unless there is a total breakdown of the GECOM’s systems that are in place, which has never occurred since 1992, the outcome of the elections will be a true reflection of the will of the electorate,” said Ramkarran.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He made it clear that there is no excuse for elections violence and any such should be frowned upon and looked at with disdain.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He said “there must be no post-election violence for any reason whatsoever, including for any allegations that any political party is trying to ‘frustrate the process.’ No such attempt has been made since 1992 and no basis exists to suggest that any such attempt will now be made. Any political party that is guilty of irresponsible behavior, making unprovable or ridiculous allegations for the purpose of excusing violence, or of failing to restrain its supporters, does not deserve sympathy.”</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
“Elections in Guyana have been made to appear as ethnic, zero sum, events. Because ethnic interests are expressed through organized political allegiances, many believe that our elections are a competition for ethnic dominance and that results reflect a win or loss for an entire ethnic group. But somehow or other, after the elections are over and passions subside, we go about our business in a largely peaceful atmosphere, work and contribute to our country in multifarious ways, or struggle to make ends meet, and survive until the next elections,” said Ramkarran.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He said too that Guyanese have learnt from experience that political change is slow but that it happens.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
“Whoever wins these elections, in the next ten years, barring the unexpected which is always possible in politics as in the UK last week, Guyana will undergo transformative political changes. Cheddi Jagan has taught us that success at politics requires, among other things, the application two basic principles – patience and persistence. The Opposition alliance, APNU+AFC, has taken to referencing Cheddi Jagan in its campaign. Both the PPP and APNU+AFC should heed his lesson,” he noted.</div>

“The election results must be accepted” – Former House Speaker

Former Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran says the results of the 2015 General and Regional Elections must be accepted by pol...

Gas, kerosine shortage hits Berbice

There is an apparent shortage of gasoline in the East Berbice Region at Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil) service stations. iNews spoke to a number of car drivers who expressed concern at this issue, noting that the shortage has been slowly taking place over the past two weeks with no solution in sight.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TJyDQG4us33J7qP0bVrhZMJLjK8KGAh4YKBztGwYx2jNmtPQFo6tvJR-A9EW8qZOkTgyC1CMPDnMikAtxmJoqnGcZUHql91P-FeVPgEXdCK47HpOxZrc7uxpkAb3tZc6ISdpuBMoJhpW/s1600/Guyoil-300x193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TJyDQG4us33J7qP0bVrhZMJLjK8KGAh4YKBztGwYx2jNmtPQFo6tvJR-A9EW8qZOkTgyC1CMPDnMikAtxmJoqnGcZUHql91P-FeVPgEXdCK47HpOxZrc7uxpkAb3tZc6ISdpuBMoJhpW/s400/Guyoil-300x193.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
According to reports, the only service station that still has fuel is the Palmyra Guyoil outlet which has seen long lines and many angry, frustrated car drivers. A number of service stations on the Corentyne are also experiencing the shortage.<br />
The situation has affected drivers of public transportation who are working the ‘short drop’ route on the Corentyne since they are forced to drive long miles in search of gas to ply their trade.<br />
<br />
The lines at the Palmyra gas station continues to grow as drivers from all parts of Berbice come in search of cheaper gas since many cannot afford the Shell gas, which is privately imported.<br />
<br />
A Guyoil tanker was seen coming from the Corentyne area; however iNews was told that this was for a privately owned service station in the Upper Corentyne area. A number of service stations have placed their ‘no gas’ signs outside their entities.<br />
<br />
source: iNews Guyana

Gas, kerosine shortage hits Berbice

There is an apparent shortage of gasoline in the East Berbice Region at Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil) service stations. iNews spoke to a numbe...

Bogus cops busted in massive Diamond raid

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01ihSu3-NrtcJicH4qy4lbwYIzS4lpFvzpbr3LCMe6Q6Fw68eyuCV8Yf96Lgrb97LUcMJBEP30nlf5Hni-512uepdPRBVsgjP5eCtVgPokmaNJLRTpJ6fdOVnLrXLnyh2l8vERpOzMwP0/s1600/Police-force-300x189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01ihSu3-NrtcJicH4qy4lbwYIzS4lpFvzpbr3LCMe6Q6Fw68eyuCV8Yf96Lgrb97LUcMJBEP30nlf5Hni-512uepdPRBVsgjP5eCtVgPokmaNJLRTpJ6fdOVnLrXLnyh2l8vERpOzMwP0/s1600/Police-force-300x189.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A massive police raid in Diamond East Bank Demerara between Friday and Saturday has resulted in the arrest of two men who had posed as police officers and robbed unsuspecting persons.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Police in statement on Sunday, March 29 said that “the two men who were arrested by the police…have been identified as being two of the men who posed as police and conducted an illegal roadblock at Mahaicony, ECD, on March 18, 2015, and committed an armed robbery on some salesmen.”</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">During the arrest of the two men, the police had also recovered a .32 semi-automatic pistol with 12 rounds along with seventeen (17) rounds 5.56 calibre ammunition and a quantity of cocaine and marijuana.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The police had also managed to re – arrest Rayon Paddy, who escaped from the Georgetown Public Hospital while under police guard in January shortly after robbing the Popeye’s Fast Food outlet on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">According to a police report, Paddy was captured on Friday evening, while another man who was wanted in connection with several armed robberies was also arrested.</strong></div>

Bogus cops busted in massive Diamond raid

A massive police raid in Diamond East Bank Demerara between Friday and Saturday has resulted in the arrest of two men who had posed as ...

Hughes says Crime Chief granted permission for him to remove evidence from murder scene

<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Prominent Attorney – at – Law, Nigel Hughes says the then Crime Chief, Leon Trim, granted permission for him remove a surveillance tape from a murder scene in 2003.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">During his appearance on the radio programme, Hard Talk aired on 90.1 Love FM, Hughes, who is now the Chairman of the Alliance For Change (AFC), emphasized that he did not remove the tape with any ulterior motive in mind.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Businessman, Brian Hamilton, who is a relative of Hughes, was shot and killed during a robbery at his gas station in Buxton, East Coast Demerara in 2003. Then President, Bharrat Jagdeo and by extension the People’s Progressive Party had accused Hughes of tampering with evidence.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hughes explained that at the time, he was acting in the capacity as a relative of the Hamiltons and at the request of the father of the slain businessman, Oscar Hamilton, he accompanied him to the gas station to retrieve the footage, which he said was returned to the police eventually.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I went and if you have ever seen, as we say in Guyana, a grown man broken, that’s what Mr. Hamilton was…he said Nigel, they’ve killed my son. I want to go to the gas station. The police have been calling me asking me to come to take out the surveillance tape,” the Attorney explained.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He clarified that Mr Hamilton did not want to go to the scene by himself and when they both arrived, the police had already completed their investigation.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKp8PiTtM4Q8l7xoOUvZp4aKMkjlfh0Pxiuhv3A4zN4FGcvH-eSh3U2d98SM-UQ99HrnlQ2SMN49ipSGsx9dRDGRHw_bp30e6iMLg40oiGZGx2FEnxEdlhpOO73a7HVCBCesA154arGWVq/s1600/nigel_hughes-300x258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKp8PiTtM4Q8l7xoOUvZp4aKMkjlfh0Pxiuhv3A4zN4FGcvH-eSh3U2d98SM-UQ99HrnlQ2SMN49ipSGsx9dRDGRHw_bp30e6iMLg40oiGZGx2FEnxEdlhpOO73a7HVCBCesA154arGWVq/s1600/nigel_hughes-300x258.jpg" /></a><strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Mr Hamilton entered the office. The police officer said Mr. Hamilton, this is the tape. Mr Hamilton said I want to see who killed my son, let me keep this tape and I will get it back to you.”</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hughes said the officer at the scene said he could not make that decision and asked him to call the Crime Chief,</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“I called Mr Trim and I said look, this is the situation. Everybody, before we got there knew who shot Brian. The person use to walk into the gas station regularly to buy phone cards…everyone knew, so the tape was not important…Mr Trim said sure you can remove the tape, once you copy it and bring it back to us,” Hughes explained.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hughes said he later visited the Police Headquarters to return the tape but that Trim was not there and he did not want to leave it with the guard. He returned a Monday morning and handed the tape over to the Crime Chief himself.</strong></div>

Hughes says Crime Chief granted permission for him to remove evidence from murder scene

Prominent Attorney – at – Law, Nigel Hughes says the then Crime Chief, Leon Trim, granted permission for him remove a surveillance tape fro...

Kitty man’s battered body found at seawall

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsHCjHreFDwEWj0UjDhxeRm1rV8q7kE5Q2oY2N-oUCnR2r6WqEAfKXDsqY6gZOdlnBbYDHlMNZzhcszrUc0wNnBcu1_43Ovb8YozKV9nSTYUdKU4YYBdoTAwgEvAVkQIj0nlGIqaptD-H/s1600/olo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsHCjHreFDwEWj0UjDhxeRm1rV8q7kE5Q2oY2N-oUCnR2r6WqEAfKXDsqY6gZOdlnBbYDHlMNZzhcszrUc0wNnBcu1_43Ovb8YozKV9nSTYUdKU4YYBdoTAwgEvAVkQIj0nlGIqaptD-H/s1600/olo.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">Police are investigating the death of 29 year-old, Ramesh Katarnauth, whose battered body was found on the rocky seaside of the Kitty seawall, early yesterday morning.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">Investigators are unsure as to how the body arrived on the seawall but disclosed that a number of bruises were spotted on the victim’s face and upper body.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">According to Katarnauth’s brother, who gave his name as Ryan, his sibling left home around 21:30 hours to buy a pack of cigarettes but did not return to his 83 Sandy Babb Street, Kitty home.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">“After I see he ain come back I was looking around the village for him but didn’t find him.”</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">It wasn’t until the next morning that he received a call informing him that his brother might be lying dead on the seawall.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">Upon hearing this news, Ryan went to the seawall at about 7:30 hours to identify his brother’s bruised body.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">He said that he has no idea how this could have happened to his brother and said that he will wait until the post mortem, scheduled for today, before making any conclusions.</span>

Kitty man’s battered body found at seawall

Police are investigating the death of 29 year-old, Ramesh Katarnauth, whose battered body was found on the rocky seaside of the Kitty seaw...

Linden Kwakani/Ituni road to have toll system

<em style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;"><strong>- bridge crossing to replace barge system at Kurupukari</strong></em><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">Government plans to implement a toll system for the Linden/Ituni/Kwakani road, in light of the constant damage caused by heavy-duty trucks.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNDldflM1OPjNYN7n-SK-2OiM4zCcOhqNZyjkPOgE3lhn3-uiamPEs3EuFPvSdhpbF1F2taNwe92bQE6OsB9Y-y0xrI37mTZTMkR4KKpmaC-DNIn-3MDUb37VSotaga8xnEVTlt3qEXSH/s1600/kwakwani-ituni-road-300x155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNDldflM1OPjNYN7n-SK-2OiM4zCcOhqNZyjkPOgE3lhn3-uiamPEs3EuFPvSdhpbF1F2taNwe92bQE6OsB9Y-y0xrI37mTZTMkR4KKpmaC-DNIn-3MDUb37VSotaga8xnEVTlt3qEXSH/s1600/kwakwani-ituni-road-300x155.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">This is according to Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn, who stated that trucks loaded over the standard weight were primarily responsible, not only for the deterioration of the roads, but also for damage to the wooden and concrete bridges in the interior.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">He also mentioned the weather as a factor. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">According to Benn, the Government would take responsibility for the toll system.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
“It is necessary to toll the road and manage the passage of vehicles. These roads were un-surfaced roads with usually poor materials used for surfacing.”<br />Asked about the timeline for completion of this project, Benn stated that though a middle of the year deadline had been anticipated, they have had to take several factors into consideration and were expecting it to come on stream by the third quarter of the year.<br />The Linden/Ituni/Kwakani road has been a source of contention between residents and the government. Residents have taken steps to block the road in the past, citing its deplorable condition.<br />Bai Shan Lin has also come under fire for contributing to the deteriorating condition of the road, in light of the fact that many of its container trucks traverse the road. Rains have also added its potency to the mix.<br />Benn also mentioned the building of a bridge crossing the Essequibo River at Kurupukari, which he said would increase the overall feasibility of the road.<br />He stated that the system currently in place is the barge crossing, which can only be done during daylight hours owing to the wide area and the presence of rocks in the river. Benn said that the bridge would reduce the two-hour journey by barge.<br />According to the minister, his ministry is in the process of completing the design.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="sharedaddy sd-sharing-enabled" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">
</div>

Linden Kwakani/Ituni road to have toll system

- bridge crossing to replace barge system at Kurupukari Government plans to implement a toll system for the Linden/Ituni/Kwakani road, in li...

President turns sod for $100M Rice cereal factory; 200 jobs to be created

<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">More than 200 jobs will be created for persons living along the Essequibo Coast in the near future with the establishment of the Institute of Applied Science and Technology’s (IAST) $100M rice cereal factory. The rice cereal is branded ‘Morning Glory’.</strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfQofSVnyNoRxU5okg43wE3hpgiBIwYOqpcXzn_YBfIsELrOOVWk38TH2d9lbhr2MXUOEDoyI93UMFXVQH2Ss319skKrl9OtLg3tRseW3kgq1mre8vUJu7-5RZaiMLgUSCiEXE9bNgGgb/s1600/morning-glory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfQofSVnyNoRxU5okg43wE3hpgiBIwYOqpcXzn_YBfIsELrOOVWk38TH2d9lbhr2MXUOEDoyI93UMFXVQH2Ss319skKrl9OtLg3tRseW3kgq1mre8vUJu7-5RZaiMLgUSCiEXE9bNgGgb/s1600/morning-glory.jpg" width="320" /></a></strong></div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Head of State, Donald Ramotar and other senior government functionaries on Saturday, March 22 turned the sod at Anna Regina, Essequibo for the factory. The IAST also launched its latest line of local product, a nutrition bar at the ceremony.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">President Ramotar lauded the initiative as he noted that this is a step in the right direction to add value to rice and rice products.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We are meeting today at a very happy and important occasion to launch the construction of a factory to produce in the first instance rice cereal, and the first step to add value to our product”. Citing how important this initiative is for Guyana as a whole, President Ramotar pointed to the fact that Guyana being a rice producing country is fundamentally a price taker.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Being optimistic about this project, President Ramotar said more business minds from the private sector should follow suit.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Meanwhile Commerce Minister, Irfaan Ali also hailed the project a success even in the face of criticisms by the opposition who said it was merely a dream. Ali said this sod turning clearly indicates that it is a dream that has come to pass, and even great world leaders had dreams which also materalised.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Noting his government’s confidence in this initiative, Minister Ali said he is sure that it will be a success story even though there will be some challenges, one of which is cheap electricity. He said this will eventually be dealt with as the administration is pushing ahead with plans for the Amaila Falls Hydro Project.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Giving some insight on the project was head of the IAST, Professor Suresh Narine who said this initiative aims to produce food at the very basic level and most of the intended markets will be locally, the Caribbean and further afield.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This facility will have the initial capacity to process 2,000 tons of rice per year; however it is also being built in such a way that if the market that is being targeted grows it can easily be expanded. According to Professor Narine, the plants in the factory have already been made in such a way that they can be expanded to utilise 30,000 tons of rice annually.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Upon completion the factory will employ some 105 persons who will work one shift and over a period of time a three- shift system will be introduced, thereby paving the way for more than 200 persons to be employed.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Within another four weeks, training of persons eligible to work in the factory will begin after which they will be presented with a food handler’s certificate so by the time the factory is completed there will be a trained and equipped work force to take up employment</strong></div>

President turns sod for $100M Rice cereal factory; 200 jobs to be created

More than 200 jobs will be created for persons living along the Essequibo Coast in the near future with the establishment of the Institute ...

23 year old Taxi Driver takes his own life by setting His Car Ablaze

23 year old Taxi Driver takes his own life by setting His Car Ablaze

A 23 – year – old Taxi Driver took his own life by locking himself in his car and set himself on fire along the Hope Estate Road, East Coas...

Mahdia resident allegedly caught with marijuana remanded

<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWlGaKe2OM9moMit3tPTA2nRaXe667OopxoTFCpPPFuBDC1ezsPKbatOJXmS7i9rZ6WLIEIG5BDQiydzsUuBzen7lt_PPQJ5m_jQ9C7UT_ARzlD2rUtGPJZvoZoq08xoZwbsl8NmhtgfT8/s1600/Nigel-Gordon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWlGaKe2OM9moMit3tPTA2nRaXe667OopxoTFCpPPFuBDC1ezsPKbatOJXmS7i9rZ6WLIEIG5BDQiydzsUuBzen7lt_PPQJ5m_jQ9C7UT_ARzlD2rUtGPJZvoZoq08xoZwbsl8NmhtgfT8/s1600/Nigel-Gordon.jpg" width="320" /></a><strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Nigel Gordon was remanded to prison on Monday, March 16 by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry for trafficking narcotics.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He pleaded not guilty to the charge, which stated that on March 12 at Mahdia Park, he had in his possession 31 grammes of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Court heard that on the day in question, ranks were on routine patrol at Mahdia Park, when they observed Gordon throwing away a transparent plastic bag.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Upon checking the bag, the police found leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be the prohibited drug. The accused man was unrepresented but he told the Court that he has been living in Mahdia for over 28 years.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He was remanded to prison and the matter was transferred to the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court for April 20.</strong></div>

Mahdia resident allegedly caught with marijuana remanded

Nigel Gordon was remanded to prison on Monday, March 16 by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry for trafficking narcotics. He pleaded...

PPP cites shortage of polling day staff; wants process re – opened

<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The People’s Progressive Party says it was made aware that there is a significant shortage of polling day staff in a few regions.</strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSfZ-5dMrSwPwRj1jACN5Y9KZi81GmMSK4utC_iON_xUWaAOogCH6aokvqGhWwNR_9fyW0u_phO_AgzFHzphsXKaE-tu3Dioe3gJnYBNgRdTHiDPKn1xk4swQ0nXW0_YSNOyRNEN0xzVN/s1600/Gecom-training-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSfZ-5dMrSwPwRj1jACN5Y9KZi81GmMSK4utC_iON_xUWaAOogCH6aokvqGhWwNR_9fyW0u_phO_AgzFHzphsXKaE-tu3Dioe3gJnYBNgRdTHiDPKn1xk4swQ0nXW0_YSNOyRNEN0xzVN/s1600/Gecom-training-.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As such, the Party is urging the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to re-open the process to allow for submission of applications by persons who are qualified and desirous of working.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Situations like this can lead to the “relaxing” of requirements, accepting second choices and hand picking, which the PPP is totally against since it may have dire consequences to the integrity of the electoral process,” General Secretary of the PPP, Clement Rohee told a news conference on Monday, March 16.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He noted that the situation justifies the Party’s persistent calls for public vetting of polling day staff.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“This call is not intended in any way to rob anyone of any opportunity but to build public trust and confidence in GECOM’s machinery. Time and again, flaws and inconsistencies have marred our elections especially by unqualified and bias polling day staff; the PPP views this as an appropriate and proactive step in having a transparent, free and fair election and yet again strengthen our democracy,” Rohee said.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Party further expressed its objection to the use of Information Clerks at polling places throughout the country as was the case in 2011.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“This was a total failure and acted as a catalyst for frustration to voters back in 2011. Instead, GECOM must embark on an aggressive voters’ education programme and to also make public knowledge the polling places so that people can familiarize themselves with their place of poll.”</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">According to Rohee, the PPP stands ready to assist GECOM, in informing voters of their place of poll, once finalized by GECOM in adequate time. The PPP, he said, calls on GECOM to ensure that all measures are taken to implement policies and procedures that will create voter’s friendly polling places manned by competent and trained staff.</strong></div>

PPP cites shortage of polling day staff; wants process re – opened

The People’s Progressive Party says it was made aware that there is a significant shortage of polling day staff in a few regions. As ...

The University of Guyana rejects accusation of breach of Terms of Resumption

<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The University of Guyana is rejecting the accusation that it has breached the terms of resumption agreement with unions.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A media release issued by Vice Chancellor, Jacob Opadeyi stated that upon the full resumption on March 3, 2015, the Bursary staff commenced in earnest, with the preparation of salary for those workers who were on strike.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He said the task was completed on March 5 and questioned how does the preparation and payment of full salary for striking workers within three working days after the signing of the agreement constitute a breach of the agreement.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“It speaks of ‘immediately released (salaries) upon both parties signing the Terms of Resumption agreement’. How can the UG Administration “immediately release” salaries that it has not prepared before the agreement was signed? We should not forget the fact that several of the Bursary staff were on strike actions for the 5 weeks and only returned to work on March 3rd. For the Unions to expect the Bursary to undertake salary computations and payments to striking workers on the first day of resumption (March 3rd, 2015) constitute a high level of efficiency that is unimaginable,” Opadeyi said.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He further noted that the administration does not wish that the Unions will demand similar levels of alacrity from its members who are yet to submit exams grades for examination papers written in December 2014.</strong><strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">According to the Vice Chancellor, the University Negotiation Team (UNT) is comprised of Council members several of whom are from the private and public sectors and are likely to have other pre-scheduled engagements.</strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwVJVWPUGwF6K989c7ulF9JT3lbQHuhGJJzCgZwv-KWgAGTrs-6cfPT9yPZnfd-Z16G301qm9QMQqa4y85eMFWFFnjabt_YjDt3KLUvdnF31NBPbSY2iXPeYXkA79CyTwpaJ6Hfn__-CD/s1600/UG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwVJVWPUGwF6K989c7ulF9JT3lbQHuhGJJzCgZwv-KWgAGTrs-6cfPT9yPZnfd-Z16G301qm9QMQqa4y85eMFWFFnjabt_YjDt3KLUvdnF31NBPbSY2iXPeYXkA79CyTwpaJ6Hfn__-CD/s1600/UG.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We met seven working days and not seven calendar days after resumption. Are we reasonable in our expectations from each other? Can we expect from the Unions the same level of timeliness in the performance of its duties to our students? The University Administration reject the Unions accusations and wish to assure all our staff that we are prepared and are working to ensure that all the Terms of Resumption are met both in spirit and in deed.”</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Opadeyi made it clear that the ongoing salary negotiation is between the Unions and the University Negotiation Team and not with the University Administration.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A statement from the President of the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) Dr Melissa Ifill on Tuesday last stated that the unions were invited to their first round of negotiations; but this turned out to be nothing more than a monologue.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">After five weeks of industrial action by UGSSA and Workers Union (UGWU), the strike action was called off on February 28. This was facilitated by several agreements in Terms of Resumption which included a return to the negotiating table.</strong></div>

The University of Guyana rejects accusation of breach of Terms of Resumption

The University of Guyana is rejecting the accusation that it has breached the terms of resumption agreement with unions. A media release ...

Granger predicts clean sweep of Linden votes for APNU/AFC coalition

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhznuJ57uSYdlC0Fa_nTA5i8XAyJHnWF5Uj8vnZVyqgLubabeAJLxZ546b2EZc24Lisbj8GQx_-K8Et7ox1Em1aBCfdrexDI5655QaalDFCaLg2bAd9ql-fGDa6SoHlPToIIavsT2Cx23/s1600/IMG_7741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhznuJ57uSYdlC0Fa_nTA5i8XAyJHnWF5Uj8vnZVyqgLubabeAJLxZ546b2EZc24Lisbj8GQx_-K8Et7ox1Em1aBCfdrexDI5655QaalDFCaLg2bAd9ql-fGDa6SoHlPToIIavsT2Cx23/s1600/IMG_7741.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Presidential Candidate for A Partnership For National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU + AFC) coalition, David Granger has predicted a clean sweep at the upcoming elections coming from the mining town of Linden.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Guyanese are expected to cast their ballots to determine the future of the government on May 11. But Granger at a rally in Linden on Saturday evening, made it clear that the coalition will record a clean sweep of the votes at Linden.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Linden has predominantly been considered a stronghold of the People’s National Congress Reform/APNU coalition but the AFC managed to acquire a considerable number of votes at the 2011 polls.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Granger told the excited crowd that the new coalition will come away with 99% of the votes and the remaining one percent would be a rejected ballot.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Presidential candidate pointed out that the current government has a knack for conducting election gimmicks, but the populace should not fall prey to this.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“They want us to beg for everything, they want us to beg…that’s what they want us to do beg them….Yes Mr Minister, can I have a cash grant? Yes Mr Minister can I have a solar panel?” said Granger.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The coalition continued its campaign outreach on Sunday with a visit to Kwakwani.</strong></div>

Granger predicts clean sweep of Linden votes for APNU/AFC coalition

Presidential Candidate for A Partnership For National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU + AFC) coalition, David Granger has predicted a cle...

Fire destroys home of grieving widow

Fire destroys home of grieving widow

A grieving Plaisance, East Coast Demerara widow is now homeless after a fire destroyed her home on Saturday morning just after 7:00hrs. ...

GPHC maternal unit to undergo $236M expansion

<strong style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Government has allocated $236M for the remodeling and extension of the Maternity Ward at the Georgetown Public Hospital.</strong><br />
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A sod turning ceremony, as well as the unveiling of the plaque was done on Friday, March 13 at the hospital’s compound by Guyana’s First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar and Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran.</strong></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFw7F343oTYjLu3Ko4bIgSxt-S_8oK-glTr8uZp4dvQGr_FT8jHJCT8x1KHgmyKXo4NW-l45ESDtdj-wwL59kbq2rwqBuMkk4YMMuxvKkSshWaG-b6QV7YNqbxxDX1UX7aFPNiNUna9uAi/s1600/maternity-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFw7F343oTYjLu3Ko4bIgSxt-S_8oK-glTr8uZp4dvQGr_FT8jHJCT8x1KHgmyKXo4NW-l45ESDtdj-wwL59kbq2rwqBuMkk4YMMuxvKkSshWaG-b6QV7YNqbxxDX1UX7aFPNiNUna9uAi/s1600/maternity-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; text-align: start;">First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar along with Minister of Health Dr. Bheri Ramsaran turn the sod to mark the beginning of the Maternity Ward expansion project as Chief Executive Officer of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Michael Khan looks on. [GINA Photo]</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The hospital’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Michael Khan gave an overview of the project which he pointed out has the main aim of creating more bed space for the pre and post-natal wards.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He said the project will see the addition of 60 new beds, and the remodeling of the ground floor to house training rooms, offices, a neonatal clinic and ‘doctors on call’ rooms, while the upper flat will contain two operating rooms, the birthing room and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). He added that this project, which commenced on February 16, 2015, is expected to run for one year.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In 2012, GPHC successfully delivered 5, 665 babies, while in 2013, 5,790 were delivered. In 2014, the hospital recorded a total of 6,085 babies.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Minister of Health Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, in his remarks, said that “No woman should die giving life,” as he pointed out that Guyana has mourned the loss of a few mothers during child birth. However, the administration is trying it’s best to curb the issue.</strong></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #898888; font-family: tahoma; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He added that with the reduction of neonatal and maternal deaths, one can only assume that the administration “must be doing something good.”           Further, he noted that Guyana has a model vaccination programme, as the lauded the birthing attendants for their work at the ante-natal clinics across the country. <em style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">[Extracted and modified from GINA]</em></strong></div>