Yearly Archives: 2024

Govt. to terminate contracts of companies that fail to remit workers’ NIS contributions – VP Jagdeo Aug 01, 2024 News Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo Kaieteur News – Companies that have not been remitting their employees’ National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions face the risk of having their government contracts terminated and being investigated, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo announced on Thursday. Jagdeo was speaking at his weekly press conference held at the Freedom House, Robb Street, Georgetown. The Vice President disclosed that two security companies that failed to remit the contributions for approximately 1700 employees over a three-year period have since paid up. While a specific figure was not disclosed, the VP said that the payout amounts to over $130 million for the workers who work in Regions Two and Three. “…I made it clear that if they (the Companies) don’t pay all of the outstanding NIS, they are going to lose the government contracts and also they are going to be handed over to police,” Jagdeo said. He continued, “So we are not skimping on this effort to tackle all of these things. People can do well in this country, they can do extremely well, (and) they don’t have to act in that illegal manner or greedy manner.” The Vice President said too that many of the business people “drive fancy vehicles but would not pay the NIS for the poor guy, who is working and can’t get medical care when they need it.” The government official said that his government is making every effort to ensure that the system works and citizens are treated fairly. Meanwhile, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr. Ashni Singh on Wednesday spoke of government’s zero tolerance for employers failing to remit contributions to the NIS. He charged the NIS to immediately ramp up efforts to ensure all employers remit employees’ contributions. Dr. Singh was at the time speaking at the NIS graduation ceremony for Trainee Inspectors which was held at the ACCC. During his address, Dr. Singh said that as a result of targeted and dedicated effort by Government and the NIS over the last three weeks to a month, several private security companies that were defaulting have paid over contributions for more than 2,100 security guards for which they were previously not paying. “This Government’s position is that we have zero tolerance for employers failing to pay over NIS contributions to the Scheme, Dr. Singh said as he charged the NIS to immediately ramp up efforts to ensure that employers are paying over NIS deductions to the Scheme for all of their (the employers’) employees, the Department of Public Information quoted Dr. Singh as saying. “This is not a discretionary matter; the law requires you to deduct the employees’ NIS contributions and for yourself (the Employers contribution) and to pay it over to the NIS in a timely manner… and I am saying to employers out there today that Government will not tolerate the failure to pay over or remit in a timely manner NIS contributions on behalf of employees, not only current employees but if you have any backlog please make sure that you come in promptly to the Scheme and pay off that backlog,“ the Minister urged. Meanwhile, Dr. Singh urged citizens to check on their records and contributions in good time and not wait until they attain the age of 60. Related Similar Articles

Centre for International Border Studies hosts seminar on territorial integrity Aug 01, 2024 News …points to need for rigid analysis of hemispheric issues Kaieteur News – The Centre for International Border Studies, on Tuesday, hosted a seminar on ‘Borders, Sovereignty, and Territorial Integrity in the Caribbean’ which featured speakers from several nations, including a delegation from Nigeria. CIBS Director, Dr. Mark Kirton, gives his opening remarks at Tuesday’s seminar. The event marked the organisation’s first public event since it was christened just over two months ago. The matters focused on by CIBS and discussed at the seminar are of marked importance to Guyana and its welfare due to the nation’s current geopolitical affairs. As such, the Guyana-Venezuela border dispute was at the core of most discussions, and almost all of the presenters referenced it directly and comparatively to their respective nations/subjects. Speaking to the purpose of the organisation and the event, CIBS Director, Dr. Mark Kirton pointed out a need for serious analysis of both national and regional issues, particularly in recent times. “We committed ourselves to engaging in evidence-based, data-driven research and providing recommendations and options to policy makers, stakeholders in Guyana and the international community. We’ve seen that this is a changing geopolitical environment, and I think there needs to be more rigid and rigorous analysis of some of the issues that confront our hemisphere,” he said. He continued, “This is our first public event and we thought we should start [with the Guyana-Venezuela border issue] because that’s a significant issue for us as a people and for the Caribbean. We thought we should have presentations on the experiences of other states through their border disputes.” One of the featured presentations was given by Admiral Olumuyiwa Morakinyo Olotu, who visited Guyana with a delegation from the National Defence College of Nigeria. Admiral Olotu lectured on ‘Leveraging Nigeria’s Conflict Management Experiences for Resolution of Territorial Disputes in the Caribbean and Beyond’, and his presentation gave a thorough overview of Nigeria’s border disputes and outlined ways in which Guyana and the Caribbean could learn from them. The presentation shed light on some of the similarities between Africa, particularly Nigeria and its neighbours, and Guyana, with respect to colonialism, resources, and conflict resolution. Olotu, and the other presenters that discussed Guyana’s border controversy in some capacity, stressed the importance of not resolving the dispute via military or other violent means. Mr. Carl Greenidge, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and current Government of Guyana Advisor on Borders opened the presentations with a brief explanation and overview of the Guyana-Venezuela controversy and its proceedings in the International Court of Justice. Other presenters included CIBS Fellows Dr. Kai-Ann Skeete of Barbados, Professor Paulo Gustavo Correa of Brazil, and Dr. Clement Henry of Guyana. Additionally, Dr. Jorge Santibanez Romellon, Director General of Liaison at El Colegio de la Frontera Norte in Mexico where he spoke to the issue of borders and territory through the lens of the Mexico-United States border. Responding to a question about the role of youth in the organisation’s vision, Dr. Kai-Ann Skeete, who is an educator at the University of the West Indies’ Cave Hill campus in Barbados, underscored the importance of the younger generation’s involvement in international relations, particularly in the Caribbean. “When the Centre was conceptualized, one thing that we all agreed on was that we need to mentor other students and other persons. It’s one thing to publish and get the word out there but you still want to bring more people into the field of international relations and spread the passion and the love for it, because [the youth] are the future and what they say and do will define the future. They now get to redefine their narrative and the conversation for the future,” she said. Related Similar Articles

Youth complete STEM Students’ Readiness camp Aug 01, 2024 News Participants of the STEM Students’ readiness camp Kaieteur News – The Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI) alongside the University of Guyana and the Ministry of Education concluded its Third Annual Regional Accelerator for STEM Students’ Readiness (RASSR) camp today. Beginning on July 14, 2024, at the University of Guyana, the camp was crafted to discover, guide, and cultivate young talent from all of Guyana’s 10 Administrative Regions, focusing on those who are keen on, and capable of driving the nation’s growth. According to the Ministry of Education, each year, the programme supports 100 youth, enhancing their skills in areas like Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Integrated Science, Technology, and Engineering. Throughout the camp, the curriculum seamlessly incorporated the participants’ career aspirations, while educators were introduced to novel teaching approaches in STEM education. The UG-RASSR Camp provides a comprehensive five-year, fully funded experiential learning opportunity, offering continuous mentorship and support for students. Its goal is to spark an interest in higher education and create dynamic opportunities for students to collaborate and apply scientific principles in STEM. Related Similar Articles

GPHC partners with Smile Train Guyana to offer comprehensive Cleft Palate Speech Therapy Training Aug 01, 2024 News GPHC collaborated with Smile Train Guyana to offer comprehensive cleft palate speech therapy training Kaieteur News – Smile Train Guyana, in collaboration with Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), hosted it’s first intensive Cleft Palate Speech Therapy Training programme for local speech therapists and Rehabilitation Assistants in Guyana. According to the GPHC, the first-of-its-kind training brought together representatives from the David Rose School for the Handicapped, Palm’s Rehabilitation Clinic, Diamond Special Needs Speech Therapy and Audiology Centre, Ministry of Education Diagnostic Centre, Ptolemy Reid Center, Fort Wellington Hospital, and Lethem Regional Hospital. A total of nine Therapists and four Rehabilitation Assistants were trained, including one Rehab Assistant and two Speech-Language Therapists from GPHC’s Speech Therapy Department. The initiative stemmed from a similar training attended by four Guyanese representatives in Barbados earlier this year. It was during this training that the idea was conceived to invite Dr. Catherine Crowley, a renowned Speech-Language Pathologist and Professor of Practice at Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City, to conduct this training in Guyana. Dr. Crowley, who also serves on Smile Train’s Global Medical Advisory Board, brought her extensive expertise to our local therapists. The GPHC said that the training aimed not only to build the capacity of local professionals in diagnosing and treating cleft palate speech issues but also to enable these therapists to train their peers from other regions who could not attend. Rehabilitation Assistants are currently placed at health facilities across all 10 regions of Guyana, providing physical, occupational, and speech therapy. However, dedicated speech-language therapists are present only in Regions 4, 5, and 10. During the training, 10 patients who had undergone cleft palate surgeries attended with their parents and benefited from two daily 45-minute therapy sessions. Remarkably, two patients were discharged after demonstrating competency in their therapy sessions. This initiative ensures that both children and adults who have had cleft palate surgeries, as well as those who have lost their speech capacity due to conditions like tracheostomy or swallowing disorders can benefit from the expertise of the newly trained therapists and assistants. Speech therapy is crucial for beneficiaries of cleft palate repairs, helping them use their new palate to produce new sounds and correct habitual speech errors. Dr. Crowley emphasized that while surgical interventions for cleft palate repairs are life-changing, patients need speech therapy to effectively use their new palate. She was supported by 10 graduate students from Columbia University who volunteered their time and expertise during the training. Ideally, patients who have undergone cleft palate repairs require 12 weeks to a year of quality speech therapy to fully restore their speech capabilities. To date, 46 cleft palate repairs have been performed at GPHC via Smile Train Guyana. In addition to surgical intervention, GPHC provides nutritional and psychological support to all patients and their families for postoperative care at home, along with speech therapy. GPHC remains committed to providing holistic cleft care to the people of Guyana. Related Similar Articles

Prosecutor wants witnesses retake stand over admissibility of ‘credible’ evidence Aug 01, 2024 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News Election fraud trial… Kaieteur News – Attorney-at-law Darshan Ramdhani KC, who is the lead prosecutor in the election fraud case, on Wednesday questioned the court’s omission of what he described as ‘credible evidence’ from witnesses. Attorney at law Darshan Ramdhani KC Ramdhani submitted a motion concerning the admissibility of evidence, arguing that it pertains to what witnesses observed and heard in the presence of the defendants and how this evidence should be used in the case. The prosecutor requested that witnesses should retake the stand to reaffirm their statements, allowing the prosecution to demonstrate why these omitted statements are credible and relevant to the case. He expressed concern that similar issues might arise with other witnesses who have yet to testify. These concerns were addressed at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly. Between Monday and Tuesday, two witnesses testified against former top officials of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and senior members of the former A Partnership for National Unity + the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition government. The trial involves nine defendants facing 19 conspiracy charges, including former GECOM Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield, former District Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, former Deputy Chief Election Officer Roxanne Myers, former Health Minister Volda Lawrence, APNU+AFC Chief Scrutineer Carol Smith Joseph, and former GECOM employees Sheffern February, Enrique Liven, Michelle Miller, and Denise Babb-Cummings. The charge alleges that Lowenfield, Mingo, and Myers, between March 2 and August 2, 2020, conspired with Lawrence, Joseph, February, Liven, Cummings, Miller, and others to defraud the electors of Guyana by presenting false votes from the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections. Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Sonia Parag who was a candidate for the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C ) testified on Monday in relation to the tabulation process being conducted. Meanwhile on Tuesday, former Election observer Rosalinda Rasul took the stand. Ramdhani told the court that these witnesses were critical in proving the “conspiracy” that unfolded during the tabulation process of counting electoral votes.  He said that when the prosecution reviewed the summary of the case, they were led to some uncertainty to Her Worships’ “clear decision on the admissibility of statements” made by the defendants. “I think these evidence from both witnesses so far and these are very critical witnesses to the prosecution…”  The prosecutor pointed out that the admissibility of statements is in regards to whether a witness can say who they saw and what they said in the presence of the defendants. He further advised the court several principles of law should be applied in the case. “We have three types of evidence essential in the court matter so far, statements made by defendants; statements made to singular defendants and their reaction…” Defence lawyer, Darren Wayne objected to Ramdhani’s statements, suggesting a potential conflict of interest between the prosecutor and the witnesses. He requested that the court investigate any ties between them. Defence lawyer, Eusi Anderson added that other defence attorneys should make submissions regarding Ramdhani’s requests before a decision is made. Magistrate Daly acknowledged the arguments from both sides and indicated she needs time to consider the matters. The court was adjourned at noon and will reconvene on August 5, 2024. Related Similar Articles

Jagdeo gat it wrong Aug 01, 2024 Dem Boys Seh, Features / Columnists, News Kaieteur News – Dem boys seh dis one got to be a sickening joke. Jagdeo braggin’ ’bout how good he government handle de COVID crisis. Yuh got to laugh if it wasn’t so serious. When dem tek office in August 2020, we had just 21 COVID deaths. By April last year, that number balloon to 1300. Dem boys seh deh numbers don’t lie. Jagdeo dem boasting how dem manage de pandemic. But is like dem tek de same reopening plan from APNU+AFC and slap on a new label. Same plan, same risks, different consequences. But Jagdeo seh dem do it better. He musse got a different kind of calculator to count success. Dem boys seh, from 21 to 1300, that’s de story. Dem re-open de economy quick, quick, quick. Is like dem forget ‘bout de virus. Man start gatherin’ like de pandemic done. Carnival vibes but with COVID in de air. Some people even went fishing in the Abary during curfew hours.  Dem boys seh de reopening  wasn’t smart. It was rash. Jagdeo seh it was necessary to open up back. People got to eat, business got to run. But dem boys seh at what cost? How many lives lost? But Jagdeo praise he government. Dem boys seh de government mek nuff noise ’bout vaccine. But still, people dead. And now Jagdeo talkin’ like is some great achievement. Is like passin’ exam with a scrape and callin’ yuhself valedictorian. Dem boys seh is a joke, but it’s not funny. Jagdeo need fuh listen. Dem deaths, dem pain, dem grief, dem not for boastin’. Dem is reminders of missteps. Dem is lessons. So, Jagdeo, tek a seat. De people remember. De people not fooled. Yuh can’t rewrite de past. And no amount of sugar coatin’ gon mek bitter pill sweet. Talk half. Leff half. Related Similar Articles

Seales, Hodge achieve career-best positions on latest ICC Men’s Test rankings Aug 01, 2024 Sports Jayden Seales (left) and Kavem Hodge SportsMax – West Indies seamer Jayden Seales and batsman Kavem Hodge have been rewarded for their standout performances in the recently-concluded Test series against England, as both achieved career-best moves up the latest ICC Men’s Test bowling and batting rankings yesterday. Though West Indies suffered a 3-0 whitewash in that ICC World Test Championship series, Seales emerged as a standout performer, as he earned the player of the series award for his 13 wickets snared across all three games. That performance saw the 22-year-old Trinidadian move seven places up to a career-best 26th position, joining teammate Jason Holder, who held firm in that position. Veteran seamer Kemar Roach remains the top-ranked West Indies bowler at 17th, with Alzarri following Seales and Holder as the next best-ranked player at 31st. Kyle Mayers (37th), Shannon Gabriel (43rd), Gudakesh Motie (52nd), Roston Chase (59th), Shamar Joseph (64th), Jomel Warrican (66th), and Rahkeem Cornwall (82nd) are the other Caribbean bowlers in the top 100. On the batting chart, Hodge inched up three places to 72nd, following a credible display in the three-match series. The 31-year-old Dominican tallied 216 runs, including a maiden Test century. Captain Kraigg Brathwaite remains the highest-ranked West Indies batsman at 41st, with out-of-favor Jermaine Blackwood slipping to 52nd. Wicketkeeper/batsman Joshua da Silva (62nd), Holder (70th), Mayer (76th), Tagenarine Chanderpaul (86th), and Roston Chase (92nd) are also in the top 100. Meanwhile, England batter Joe Root reclaimed the number one Test batting position after scoring 87 in the first innings of the third and final match against West Indies in Birmingham, which his side won by 10 wickets. This is Root’s ninth stint as number one. His first tenure at the top of the rankings commenced in August 2015, and he was last at the top in June last year after a fine performance in the opening match of the Ashes series, also in Birmingham. While Root overtook Kane Williamson to take the top spot, Babar Azam, Daryl Mitchell, Steve Smith, and Rohit Sharma have all gained a spot each as Harry Brook slipped to seventh position after attaining a career-best third position last week. In the weekly update to the rankings that also takes into consideration performances in the Ireland versus Zimbabwe Test in Belfast, England captain Ben Stokes, who struck 54 in the first innings in Birmingham and a quickfire 57 not out off 28 balls in the second, has moved up four positions to 30th in the batting rankings. Zimbabwe’s Sean Williams has re-entered the rankings in 33rd position after scores of 35 and 40, while England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith’s knock of 95 has lifted him 31 places to 64th position. England fast bowler Mark Wood’s Player of the Match performance of two for 52 and five for 40 has lifted him into the top 20 of the bowling rankings for the first time in his career. Gus Atkinson of England (up four places to 46th), Blessing Muzarabani of Zimbabwe (re-entered in 50th position), and Mark Adair of Ireland (up three places to 63rd) are other notable gainers in the bowling rankings. Related Similar Articles