Guyana will be represented by Finance Minister Winston Jordan and Bank of Guyana Governor, Dr Gobind Ganga at this year’s Spring Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) to be held in Washington, DC, United States of America (USA) April 16-22, 2018.Acting CDC Director General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester CraigMinister of State, Joseph Harmon, who made the announcement on Thursday, March 29, said these events would provide Guyana with opportunities to interact with leading personalities and organisations to discuss issues important to economic development and finance.The meetings will bring together central bankers, Finance and Development Ministers, parliamentarians, private sector executives, representatives from civil society organisations, and academics to discuss issues of global concern, including the world economic outlook, poverty eradication, economic development, and aid effectiveness.Seminars, regional briefings, press conferences, and many other events focused on the global economy, international development, and the world’s financial system are featured.The country will also be represented by Civil Defence Commission (CDC) Acting Director General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig at the Ninth Technical Advisory Committee Meeting of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) to be held in Barbados from April 16 to April 20, 2018.Guyana’s participation will ensure that the CDC is kept up to date with the recent developments related to Disaster Risk Management in the Caribbean.The working sessions will review reports from the sub-committees of CDEMA, plan the annual work programme and make recommendations to its Council Meeting.CDEMA is the regional facilitator, driver, coordinator, and motivating force for the promotion and engineering of Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) in all participating States.Its functions include mobilising and coordinating disaster relief; mitigating or eliminating, as far as practicable, the immediate consequences of disasters in participating States; providing immediate and coordinated response by means of emergency disaster relief to any affected State and securing, coordinating, and providing to interested inter-governmental and Non-Governmental Organisations reliable and comprehensive information on disasters affecting any participating State. read more

…no tangible progress on record – observersOut of the 2018 budget, the Office of the Prime Minister has spent millions of dollars on Constitutional reform. However, observers are questioning what exactly this allocation was used for, as there seems to be little to no movement on an issue the coalition Government based part of its 2015 campaign on.This revelation came out of questions that were posed to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo by the Parliamentary opposition. The questions sought to find out how much of the $109.2 million allocated to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat under the sub heading ‘other’ was spent. In addition, the Opposition wanted to know what it was spent on.In his response, Nagamootoo revealed that $21.4 million of the amount has been spent as of August 2018. Of this amount, $5 million went towards Constitutional reform “activities”. Apart from this, $5.5 million was spent on launching regional radios at Aishalton, Bartica and Orealla. Some of the money also went towardsPrime Minister Moses Nagamootootraining the radio personnel, and on Nagamootoo’s “outreach activities”.Some $4.6 million was also spent on a supervisory consultancy for the regional radio project, while $1.2 million was spent on information technology and web services, and $1.6 million on events and functions. In addition, another $1.4 million was spent on repairs to furniture at the official residence, and on office and carpets. The remaining amounts, according to the Prime Minister, were spent on expenses like cell phones and work study students’ stipends.Constitutional reformThe need for Constitutional reform has been touted over the past few years, especially since the current coalition Government had made a commitment to ensuring that this is done. But little has been said by the Government in this regard. In fact, many persons in civil society have spoken out against the current administration for its silence on the matter, especially because it had been a campaign promise. It was only in August that former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament Dr Kwame Gilbert had urged the implementation of constitutional reform before 2020.“The call for constitutional reform cannot be any louder than it is right now. The justification for it is in the continuous need to strengthen governance, balance the power of the Executive, and ensure a more accountable and responsive Government,” he told Guyana Times in an interview.According to Dr Gilbert, the Constitution which Guyana inherited post-independence, while it has benefited from several significant constitutional amendments, still remains inadequate in addressing what he described as “mischief endemic in, and symptomatic of, our current sociopath-political realities in Guyana.”“There are several social and political considerations which distinguish Guyana from the rest of her Caribbean and continental neighbours. These distinctive characteristics demand a particular culture, climate, and conduct which can only be secured through constitutional provisions,” he said.Gilbert also noted that Guyana has suffered extensively from the attendant evils consistent with the continued use of what he also described as a backward proportional representation (PR) electoral system. This is an electoral system in which parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for them.“This system has created and maintained political polarisation and ethnic tension consistent with a single-party domination system of politics. The PR system, commonly referred to as the party list system, robs the citizens of true representation, and has zero accountability. It is woefully ineffective in building a strong democracy,” Dr Gilbert has opined. read more

102 Avenue has reopened to traffic following a gas leak in the area earlier today.Fort St. John fire crews responded to the third gas leak in the city in 24 hours earlier Friday morning, this one near the Hillcrest Village apartments being constructed along 102 Avenue.Crews responded to the leak around 11 a.m., after an excavation machine hit a gas service line in a field next to the apartments, Capt. Curtis Redpath said.- Advertisement -Contractors were working on site services for the apartment complex, and the line had been marked, according to Redpath.Emergency responders closed 102 avenue, which was reopened around 2 p.m. this afternoon.“Hopefully we’ll be done with gas leaks for awhile,” said Redpath. “Bad stuff comes in threes.”Advertisement Crews responded to a gas leak just after noon Thursday when an excavation crew struck a line in a vacant lot next to the Wendys along the Alaska Highway frontage road. Crews there had marked the line, but struck an adjacent line they were not aware of.A second leak happened Thursday evening around 7 p.m. at the old Ant Hill storage complex at 86 Street and the Alaska Highway, again caused by an excavation crew.Both leaks were contained. read more

0Shares0000Showtime sports said the August fight between boxing star Mayweather and mixed martials arts king McGregor generated 4.3 million pay-per-view buys in North America © GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File / Ethan MillerLOS ANGELES, United States, Dec 15 – Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor’s cross-combat superfight was the second richest boxing bout in history, long-awaited final figures revealed on Friday.A statement from Showtime sports said the August fight between boxing star Mayweather and mixed martials arts king McGregor generated 4.3 million pay-per-view buys in North America. Only one other fight — Mayweather’s 2015 bout with Manny Pacquiao — has ever drawn more, racking up 4.6 million buys to earn around $600 million.The Mayweather-McGregor pay-per-view total is almost double the third biggest fight of all time, Oscar De La Hoya’s 2007 fight with Mayweather, which had 2.48 million buys.Showtime said in a statement that global revenues, including ticket sales, sponsorship and international distribution, Mayweather and McGregor had exceeded $600 million.“The pairing of Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor brought together two very significant and distinct global fan bases in one truly unprecedented event,” Showtime Sports chief Stephen Espinoza told ESPN.“The remarkable results are all the more impressive considering that the planning, marketing and execution took place across a span of just 72 days from the initial announcement to fight night.”The Mayweather-McGregor fight was widely dismissed as a circus before the bout, which was eventually won by Mayweather — returning from a two-year retirement — with a 10th round knockout.Meanwhile Philippine boxing hero Pacquiao said last week he too was seeking his own showdown with McGregor, confirming he had opened talks with the Irishman to possibly fight in April.0Shares0000(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today) read more

“With all the injustice in the world, it’s beyond rich that the unelected, unaccountable United Nations would seemingly single out Canada, one of the greatest champions of human rights, democracy and the rule of law,” Savage said Tuesday.“Canada’s duly elected representatives, not unaccountable international committees _ are responsible for governing decisions in this country.”The committee sites three projects: TransMountain, Site C and Coastal GasLink.Trans Mountain Corp., the federal Crown corporation building the pipeline expansion from Alberta to the British Columbia coast, says it is moving forward with construction safely and in respect of communities.Advertisement BC Hydro says it has been consulting with affected First Nations on the Site C hydroelectric dam since 2007 and has reached benefit agreements with most of them.The UN committee has previously demanded a halt to Site C, which is opposed by the West Moberly and Prophet River First Nations in northeastern British Columbia.However, this marks the first time it has called for a stop to the Trans Mountain and Coastal GasLink projects.Members of the Wet’suwet’en have tried to block construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline near Smithers, B.C. The natural gas pipeline is part of a $40-billion LNG Canada project.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 7, 2020Advertisement EDMONTON, A.B. – Alberta’s energy minister says the United Nations is an unelected, unaccountable body that has no business criticizing Canada’s energy megaprojects.Sonya Savage, in a statement, says that it’s the job of elected leaders, not the UN, to make decisions on how best to govern people and economies.The UN’s Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has urged Canada to stop work on three major resource projects, including the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion _ until it obtains approval from affected First Nations.- Advertisement -The committee, in a directive last month, says it’s worried that work is going ahead without free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous groups.Savage says the committee is ignoring the majority of First Nations groups that support projects such as Trans Mountain and the Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline.She says the criticism is unfair and out of context, given Canada’s track record on making sure all voices are heard.Advertisement read more

It’s not often Donegal can boast playing host to a music star who has done the music score for an Oscar-winning film.But that’s exactly what happened in Letterkenny this week when Foy Vance turned up in town.The popular Northern Ireland singer-songwriter stayed at the Clanree Hotel where he was believed to be recording at local recording studios. Foy recorded the music for The Shore, the short film by Terry George which scooped an Oscar in Hollywood this week.A source at the Clanree told Donegaldaily.com “He was very down-to-earth and very nice.“He didn’t have any airs or graces about him and chatted away. As far as we know he was recording some stuff locally.”  OSCAR FILM MUSICIAN TURNS UP IN LETTERKENNY! was last modified: February 29th, 2012 by StephenShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Tags:FOY VANCETHE SHORE read more

Cathair O’ Raghallaigh from Letterkenny, Co. Donegal who won the U12 recitation competition at the Oireachtas festival in Letterkenny. The Oireachtas festival, now in its 115th year, celebrates the best of sean-nós dancing, singing and storytelling. PIC: Clive WassonDONEGAL talent is shining through as the Oireachtas brings language and culture – and some traffic chaos – to Letterkenny for the weekend.Here are some of the winners so far from the wide range of events.The HQ is one again the Mount Errigal Hotel which has been packed to capacity all weekend. Must the busiest carvery in the country.Said the Mount Errigal’s Carolynne Harrison: “Having rooms which can take 1,000 people for these events helped bring the festival back to Letterkenny.“It’s fantastic for the town and the county to have the Oireachtas here; the events are fantastic and well-supported.”Clíona Ní Ghallachóir from Gortahork, Co. Donegal won the U15 recitation competition at the Oireachtas festival in Letterkenny. The Oireachtas festival, now in its 115th year, celebrates the best of sean-nós dancing, singing and storytelling. PIC: Clive WassonCeithleann Ní Dhuibhir Ní Dhúlacháin from Derrybeg, Co. Donegal won the U18 Public Speaking competition at the Oireachtas festival in Letterkenny.We know that girl in the middle! Áine Ní Bhreisleán and Suzanne Ní Ghallchóir from Gweedore, Co. Donegal, who won the Musical Dialogue competition at the Oireachtas festival in Letterkenny.Gearóid Breathnach(left) from Letterkenny, Co. Donegal who came second in the U35 Mens Sean-nós singing competition at the Oireachtas festival in Letterkenny. Presented by Máirín De Brún, Chairperson of the Oireachtas.  Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and Neans Nic Dhonncha at the Oireachtas festival in Letterkenny. The Oireachtas, which is in its 115th year, celebrates the best of sean-nós dancing, singing and storytelling. PIC: Clive WassonGerry Adams pictured at the annual Oireachtas festival in Letterkenny with TG4 presenter Páidí Ó Lionáird and Liam Ó Maolaodha, director of the Oireachtas festival.Aileen Sweeney from Donegal who came joined second in the 12-15 years Sean Nós Singing competition at the Oireachtas festival in Letterkenny.Cathal Ó Currain from Letterkenny,Co.Donegal who came joined second in the 12-15 years Sean Nós Singing competition at the Oireachtas festival in Letterkenny Clodagh Ní Ghallchóir from Letterkenny, Co.Donegal who won in the U12 Sean Nós Singing competition at the Oireachtas festival in Letterkenny      PICTURE SPECIAL ON DONEGAL WINNERS AT THE OIREACHTAS FESTIVAL was last modified: November 2nd, 2012 by BrendaShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Tags:letterkennyOIREACHTAS PICTURE SPECIAL ON DONEGAL WINNERS read more

AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREWalnut’s Malik Khouzam voted Southern California Boys Athlete of the Week During World War II, America, through the selective service draft system, relied heavily on the citizen soldier when the armed forces’ strength swelled to more than 10 million. Citizens one day, soldiers the next, this hastily trained army led by a professional cadre of officers, stormed the Normandy Beach, fought in the bitter cold of the Bulge and cleaned out one rat- and disease-ridden island in the Pacific after another. One thing that distinguished the largely draftee army was the ability of the individual soldier to think for himself – sometimes lacking discipline, but always having the ability to jump in, take charge and make decisions. This trait proved invaluable when officers were killed or captured. Both German and Japanese army units proved to be helpless under similar circumstances. There is a comradeship born of military service that unites those who served in the armed forces. Wives of veterans marvel at the strong bond that keeps service friends in touch throughout the years. Reunions of Army, Navy and Marine units draw large crowds to annual gatherings where friendships are renewed amid wartime stories both funny and sad. With World War II veterans dying at the rate of 32,000 each year, reunions of those who fought the Germans in Europe and the Japanese in the Pacific are dwindling, and in many cases have ended for lack of attendance as the “long gray line” gets thinner and thinner. Those who want to show their appreciation to those who serve should visit the Sawtelle national veterans cemetery in Westwood located off the 405 Freeway and Wilshire Boulevard. One has only to walk through this well-maintained cemetery to feel the wave of emotion created by a tableau of headstones that seem to stretch forever. Less than a mile away is the sprawling campus of Wadsworth Veterans Administration Hospital, which is impressive. Visits to the hospital and cemetery are tangible ways to pay homage to both living and dead veterans. Today finds Americans observing another Veterans Day with fireworks, patriotic speeches at veterans halls and cemeteries, and parades. Originally named Armistice Day to mark the end of World War I (the war to end all wars), the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all who wore the uniform of the armed forces. From our earliest history, America has relied on her citizen soldiers to step forward in her hour of need. During the Revolutionary War when the alarm was sounded, colonists dropped their farm tools and grabbed their muskets to fight for the right to be free. Generation after generation of peaceful citizens learned the bloody art of soldiering when peaceful solutions failed. In Iraq, America’s pride – our sons and daughters – continue to walk the mean streets of Baghdad as they try to bring democracy to the Iraqi people. Recently we suffered our 2,000th fatality and 15,000 wounded at the hands of a crazed insurgency. Because the Defense Department did not field sufficient personnel, thousands of citizen soldiers in the form of Army Reserve and National Guard units have been pressed into active duty and serve proudly side by side with regular Army units. And because the terrorist bullet or bomb cannot tell the difference, many of those killed and wounded come from the ranks of the citizen soldier. On this Veterans Day, the thanks of a grateful nation should go out to all veterans who left the comfort of their homes and loved ones and put their lives on hold. They fight a shadow enemy who has no respect for life, not even their own. They risk severe injury and death so you don’t have to. All they ask in return is for your support. In the meantime, they think of home and wait for the day that they can return. Steve Vlasich is a World War II veteran and a retired manager for Sears. He lives in West Hills and writes occasionally for the Daily News.160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! read more

The company which operates the NCT centre in Letterkenny used a private investigator to spy on one of its workers.The firm that operates the NCT centre in Letterkenny hired a private investigator to spy on one of its own testers at work.A tribunal has heard how the company hired the investigator as it suspected he was breaching its code of integrity.Philip Billingsley was subsequently sacked and took a claim of unfair dismissal to an Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT). He lost the case after the tribunal concluded he used one car to pass another car’s test.Mr Billingsley was dismissed after the Spanish-owned Applus Car Testing Service Ltd hired a private investigator to place Mr Billingsley, and the NCT centre at Bonagee where he worked under surveillance over two days in April 2012.The Irish Independent reports how Applus hired the investigator after the firm’s training and standards manager received an anonymous call claiming Mr Billingsley was guilty of possible misconduct at the NCT centre.In June 2012, Applus wrote to Mr Billingsley about the allegations. An investigation meeting was held on June 18 where a list with the details of three vehicles, a copy of photographs of these vehicles and three vehicle inspection reports were presented.The following month Mr Billingsley was suspended with pay and in September 2012 he was sacked.The grounds for his dismissal included that he had driven vehicles to the test centre that were not his own, that he had falsified test results and that he had carried out work practices that were either untruthful or unethical.Applus’s regional manager for the north west told the tribunal, which was held over five days in Letterkenny, that Mr Billingsley was a good employee.He also agreed that Mr Billingsley was a suitable candidate for possible promotion in January 2012. However, the regional manager said he recommended that Mr Billingsley be dismissed on the belief that Mr Billingsley had breached the company’s code of integrity.The regional manager told the hearing that as Mr Billingsley was unable or unwilling to explain the allegations against him, he felt the sanction should be dismissal.Mr Billingsley told the tribunal that family difficulties, and an ensuing dispute, resulted in a relative making false allegations about him to Applus.The EAT records show that Mr Billingsley gave detailed evidence refuting all the allegations except one, which is that he drove a car that was not his to the test centre for a test. He said this was common practise and one which was known to Mr Billingsley’s supervisor.Mr Billingsley lodged a grievance on July 16, 2012, regarding the way he was being treated.The EAT found that Applus’s view, in the absence of an explanation or contradiction by Mr Billingsley, that he had used one car to pass another car’s test, was reasonable and the dismissal that resulted from this finding was fair.NCT USED PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR TO SPY ON LETTERKENNY CENTRE WORKER was last modified: September 17th, 2015 by StephenShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Tags:donegalletterkennyNCT centrePI read more

Donegal gardai have been asked to make clear their protocol on sexual offenders and paedophile alerts following last week’s ‘hysteria’.The arrival of Northern Ireland paedophiles James White and Alexis Guesto in Donegal sparked widespread panic as frightened communities attempted to keep track of the pair.Child rapist James White, 48, and his associate Jason Lydiard (who also uses the name Alexis Guesto), 26, were arrested in Co. Armagh on Saturday, after registering in Donegal the previous week. The pair were wanted by PSNI or a range of offences, including breach of licence and warrants. Senior Garda Officers were quizzed on what is the public alert protocol for such persons at today’s Donegal County Joint Policing Committee Meeting.Mayor Gerry McMonagle said there was a lot of consternation and worry among the Donegal public.He said “It makes it worse if the crime officer is on the radio asking people to be on alert if there is a suspicious van and yet we had two people roaming the county and none of the local neighbourhoods were informed.“It created hysteria. Why are the paedophiles allowed to come and live in estates and no local residents are informed.” Cllr McMonagle asked for clarification on protocol for sex offenders who come into areas that may be near schools.He supported the continued calls for a policing slot on local radio for Garda to share updates on investigations and issue public alerts.He said: “There are a lot more things happening out there than are contained in garda figures. If we had a weekly slot on the radio people would also be more likely to regularly contact the gardai and report crime.”Community Representative Mr Joe Boland said: “There was a lot of hysteria and posts on Facebook and social media that terrorised people who may not have had anything to be afraid of.”Mr Boland added: “There are a lot of people on the register who are living more locally, is there a restriction on them to not be residing in areas near schools or places for young people? I have a fear that because of the hysteria there will be repercussions for other people. I don’t want to see any more vigilantes.” Inspector Denis Joyce explained that paedophiles or persons convicted of sexual crimes have to go on the register and have to notify gardai of where they are living and when they are going on holidays.“Offenders are restricted from certain areas, but not fully, they do have freedoms and rights as well,” he said.Inspector Joyce confirmed that the full Garda protocol will be shared at the next Joint Policing Committee in July.Donegal Gardai asked to clarify protocol after paedophile ‘hysteria’ was last modified: May 3rd, 2018 by Rachel McLaughlinShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Tags:Gardaimeetingprotocol read more