News

For a second consecutive year the dismissal of hundreds of Amerindians under the Community Support Officers (CSO) programme took center stage during the Budget debates as Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira accused the government of the “willy nilly” dismissal of contract workers. Teixeira, who opened the debates on Wednesday, was quick to criticize the government’s hiring of more contractual workers ...

Regional Director for the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Matthew Donahue has made it clear that while the small drug traffickers will not be ignored, the DEA is mostly interested in pursuing the huge organizations behind international crime – which more times than often have a multinational presence. Donahue made the statement as the US Government officially commissioned the local DEA ...

Controversial People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) Member of Parliament Dr Jennifer Westford delivered her maiden speech in the 11th Parliament on Tuesday, using the opportunity to urge the Guyana government to do right for the people. Westford who is currently before the courts on two dozen charges of fraud amounting to GYD$694M delivered her address to the House without any heckles ...

Shadow Public Health Minister, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran Tuesday criticized government for failing to put sufficient measures in place to tackle the mosquito-borne Zika Virus that scientists believe is responsible for brain deformity in babies in neighbouring Brazil. “Nothing for vector control, that is a sick situation,” quipped Ramsaran, a former Health Minister, during his contribution to the 2016 Budget Debate. ...

APNU+AFC  Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira has urged that the private sector take the opportunity to make investments in Region 10 – Upper Demerara Upper Berbice. Figueira, the Region 10 Regional representative, stated that under the new APNU+AFC administration, the region has seen renewed growth and investment potential. “I would like to take this opportunity to invite members of the ...

The APNU+AFC administration has declared that there will be no more slush funds and monies will not be handed out to persons in any flippant manner. This declaration was made by Junior Education Minister Nicolette Henry who as at the time making specific reference to issues at the former Culture Youth and Sport Ministry. She indicated that in 2014, more ...

Junior Education Minister Nicolette Henry has described the $300M allocated for the observance of Guyana’s 50th anniversary as “frugal and prudent” and limits the activities the Ministry can undertake. Making her contributions to the 2016 Budget debates, Henry pointed out that Guyana has spent billions on other events such as Carifesta and cricket world cup. She said the monies “require ...

After disregarding cautions issued by the Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Barton Scotland during the debates on Monday, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament (MP) Cornel Damon was upbraided on Tuesday afternoon. On Monday as Damon rose to give his contributions to the Budget, he began to invoke the name of the President in his remark. The Speaker ...

Health Minister, Dr. George Norton says he is “disappointed” that the newly-appointed Chairman of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Dr. Noel Blackman has been arrested and charged with illegally issuing prescriptions for a powerful painkiller in New York. Norton said already steps are being taken to replace Blackman as Chairman of the GPHC’s Board.  Sources said Dr. Max Hanoman, ...

United States Federal authorities arrested a former Minister of Health of Guyana, Noel Blackman who they suspect illegally prescribed vast amounts of oxycodone — 365,000 pills in 2015 — in a drug-dealing enterprise spanning three states. Blackman was recently appointed to chair the Board of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). The New York Newsday reported that Federal authorities arrested the ...