GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) says it will begin registration next month of voters for the 2011 general and regional elections. GECOM chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally said a house-to-house registration exercise that had been carried out in 2008, had been successful resulting in a National Register of Registrants (NRR) which had been commonly validated and accepted. He... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – A one-day Caribbean workshop on human rights in the Western Hemisphere is taking place here on Friday with gays and lesbians preparing the ground-work to file complaints of discrimination to the Inter American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). Co-chair of Guyana’s Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), Joel Simpson told the workshop that the Organisation... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana government says it has signed a US$38 million agreement to provide rice to Venezuela. A Government statement said that the agreement is the “largest ever signed” by the two governments and secured during President Bharrat Jagdeo’s recent visit to the neighbouring country in July. The accord was nitially inked by Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud and Venezuela’s... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Police Commissioner Henry Green believes that the high price for gold locally is fuelling the rise of criminal activities with several armed gangs operating along the coast. “The biggest challenge is the price of gold; the price of gold is very high and I think that is really what is captivating people to move into the interior… and, therefore, some criminal... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Human Rights Council will discuss Guyana’s report at its meeting in Geneva next month, head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon has said. Luncheon said  that the second visit by Presidential Advisor on Governance, Gail Teixeira to Geneva in September, will allow for Guyana’s presentation of the updated submission which now includes the official... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana government hopes to table before year end,  legislation aimed at ending the monopoly status enjoyed by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Limited (GT&T) as it moves to make the telecommunications sector open and competitive. “…we in the administration here have made it clear – something like the Holy Grail – (that we would bring) to Guyana... 

NEW YORK, CMC – Police have charged two men, including a taxi driver,  in connection with the murder of a 58-year-old Guyanese national. Police said that Deevan Jagnarine, 21, and his friend, Alex Gobardhan, 19, both of Queens, were also charged with robbery and criminal possession of stolen property. Lawmen found Ramnarain Matadin, 58, a building superintendent, on the streets with a head injury.... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) has urged its striking workers to return to the job. Some workers downed tools Tuesday in response to disciplinary action against nine of their colleagues blamed for a fire at the Skeldon Sugar Factory on August 7. GUYSUCO said the fire was as a result of “gross negligence which caused extensive damage and remedial work will cost... 

Persaud GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud says the government is moving to ensure that Guyana is not negatively affected by a potential global food crisis. Persaud said the government, through the Agriculture Ministry, is raising its guard in light of predictions of a crisis set to take hold by 2012. A recent report from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The minority opposition Alliance for Change (AFC) said it is sending a delegation to the United States this week for talks with law makers on a number of issues confronting Guyana. In a statement, the party said that its leader and presidential candidate, Khemraj Ramjattan, will lead the delegation that will also include members of its New York and New Jersey Chapters. It... 

Rohee GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana government has launched an investigation to determine how a document quoting Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee as saying that the tentacles of drug trafficking have reached into the national institutions” had been released to the media. A statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs said that the minister never made those statements in his address... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali is to appear before the Privileges Committee after the Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran ruled that a prima facie case had been made out against him. The minority opposition Alliance for Change (AFC) had filed a motion alleging that the Housing Minister refused to answer questions put to him by members of the House on... 

Hinds GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Guyana will be represented at the inauguration of the newly elected presidents of Suriname and Colombia. Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon said that Prime Minister Samuel Hinds will represent the country at the inauguration ceremony for the President elect of Suriname Desi Bouterse which is scheduled for later this month. No date has been given... 

Persaud GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – A study is being conducted here to explore the possibilities of obtaining fair trade for the exports of rice from Guyana and Suriname, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud has said. “This concept of pursuing fair trade in terms of ensuring that farmers get the best price … it’s something our government is interested in supporting,” Persaud said. A World... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana government says it is holding discussions with a Trinidad-based cement manufacturer and other suppliers of building materials so as to give low income earners a better opportunity to build their own homes. Housing Minister Irfaan Ai said if the discussions with the Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) prove successful, then eligible citizens would be granted a waiver... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has signed an agreement with one of the largest supermarket chains that will allow the state-owned sugar company to re-enter the Suriname market after a two year absence. In 2008, Guyana reduced its supply of sugar to Suriname and other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries by 80,000 tonnes as a result of the inclement weather... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) is among two groups calling on Guyanese citizens to reflect on the “true meaning” of  emancipation. In separate messages to mark Emancipation Day on Sunday, the PNCR and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) said it was important for there to be a reflection on the socio-economic development... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Wednesday said it would continue talks with other opposition parties after the Alliance for Change (AFC) this week blanked the idea of forming an accommodation with any other political party to contest the 2011 general elections in Guyana. The PNCR said that a meeting of the Joint Opposition Political Parties... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Rescue officials were holding out little hope of finding 39-year-old Ravi Sankar Ragoonauth alive three days after his boat exploded at sea. Officials said that that Ragoonauth was one of four men aboard the MV Captain Tom III at the time of the accident on Saturday. They said the fuel tank exploded while the boat was in waters near Suriname and his family was never informed... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The minority opposition Alliance for Change (AFC) has blanked the idea of forming an alliance with any other political party to contest the 2011 general elections in Guyana. There had been much speculation that the AFC would have teamed up with the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) to present a united front to the ruling People’s Progressive party... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) has sent a congratulatory message to President –elect Desi Bouterse and that the results of the elections in that country reflected the will of the people. Apart from Guyana, no Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country has yet sent congratulatory messages to Bouterse, who was elected head of state earlier this... 

Jagdeo GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – President Bharrat Jagdeo has defended his government’s decision to invest in a new 160-room hotel, brushing aside remarks by the chairman of a leading hotel in the country. “I think we need not one but three more modern hotels for this country, not captured by the narrow vision of people like (Robert) Badal and the others,” Jagdeo said. “We have to grow this... 

NEW YORK, CMC – A New York judge has jailed a Guyanese-born US immigration officer after he pleaded guilty to coercing oral sex from a 22-year-old Colombian woman. Justice James P. Griffin of New York State Supreme Court sentenced Isaac R. Baichu, 49, to almost four years in prison in the negotiated sentence. He had faced up to seven years in prison. But his sentence was reduced in the plea agreement. Baichu’s... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Venezuela is to double the daily shipment of oil to Guyana under the PetroCaribe agreement, the Guyana government has announced. It said that Caracas would ship 10,000 barrels of oil to Georgetown under the accord that was launched in 2005 between Venezuela and some Caribbean countries allowing them to purchase reasonably cheap oil in large quantities and offsetting the... 

NEW YORK, CMC – A former Guyana lawmaker has been accused by United States federal prosecutors of secretly working as an Iranian spy for decades. Abdul Kadir, 48, is one of two Guyanese men accused of plotting to blow up fuel tanks and lines at the John F Kennedy International Airport. His co-accused is Russell Defreitas, who also holds US citizenship. The trial took a surprise turn Wednesday... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Guyana is working with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to develop a flood-tolerant variety of rice so as to significantly reduce the impact the severe weather is having on rice farms in the country. The Burma Rice Research Station’s chief scientist and plant breeder, Dr. Mahendra Persaud, said that planting of the new variety should begin soon. Persaud... 

Jagdeo GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – President Bharrat Jagdeo is due Venezuela on Wednesday for a one-day official visit that includes talks with President Hugo Chavez, the state-owned Guyana Chronicle newspaper has said. It said that the two countries will sign agreements covering collaboration in several areas but that the details were not immediately available. President Jagdeo and his delegation... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – President Bharrat Jagdeo says he hopes to work with the newly elected head of state in Suriname “to deepen relations between the two countries”. Former military strongman and dictator, Desi Bouterse, was on Monday elected as President of Suriname, after gaining the required votes in Parliament. He will be sworn in on August 3. In the May 25 general elections, Bouterse’s... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana government is rushing aid to several communities in the country’s interior that have been suffering from flooding after being drenched by heavy rains. Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud said Saturday that the government lead the way in distributing essential food items in an attempt to render short-term relief to residents directly affected by the flood... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Prime Minister Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait is scheduled to arrive here on Monday for a brief official visit. During his one-day visit the Kuwaiti leader will sign several economic and other agreements with the government of this Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nation. “The two countries will sign agreements covering bilateral trade, economic... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) says it has adopted a motion outlining the measures to be used in the selection of a presidential candidate for the next general elections. The party said that the measures were approved by the General Council last weekend and took into consideration the possibility of the PNCR contesting the general and regional... 

Jagdeo GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – President Bharrat Jagdeo has welcomed the agreement between the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and three other entities, including the China Development Bank, for the development of the Amaila Falls Hydro-Plant project. Describing the project as a “flag-ship” of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), Jagdeo said “for years, we have been advocating... 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The World Bank has been invited to act as the fund manager for the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) when it is established at the end of July, President Bharrat Jagdeo and Norway’s Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg have announced. A Government Information Agency (GINA) statement said that both men are in the United States to attend the second meeting of the United Nations... 

UNITED NATIONS, CMC – United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has appointed the Guyanese-born British envoy to Australia as his new aid chief. Baroness Valerie Amos, 56, Britain’s first black cabinet minister, replaces Briton John Holmes, who coordinated relief efforts after the January 12 catastrophic earthquake in Haiti. Baroness Amos, who served under former British Prime Minister Tony... 

BVI News Online A Guyanese national will spend the next 10 years in jail for raping his ex-girlfriend at knife point. Dereck Cort, who committed the offence on August 6, 2008, looked calm when the sentence was handed down on Monday morning in the High Court by Judge Indra Hariprashad-Charles. The prosecution contended during the four-day trial held from May 10-13, 2010 that Cort raped his ex in her...