Author: TrakkerNews

President General of the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU), Ancil Roget, is calling for Finance Minister Winston Dookeran to publicly apologise for statements made yesterday.
Dookeran yesterday reminded public servants that if they participated in today’s protest they would be breaking the law and could face the possibility of a $500 fine and three months in jail.
Roget and other labour leaders today joined the Public Service Association (PSA) in protest against a five per cent salary increase for public officers.

Georgetown- The police records of armed robberies, shootings and violent domestic disputes is already at an alarming state with just 4 days into the year 2011. At the dawn of the new year alone there were over 5 armed attacks by bandits bent on creating fear and instability among citizens.

Thousands of public servants today heeded to the Public Service Association’s (PSA) call to stay away from work today.‬‪However, PSA president Watson Duke expressed some disappointment at the lower than expected turnout at today’s planned “massive show of force” against a five percent salary increase from the Chief Personnel Officer.‬‪Duke called for a nationwide shut down of all public offices in preparation for his next meeting with CPO, Stephanie Lewis.‬‪Duke is scheduled to meet with the Lewis, next week Tuesday.‬‪Police officers assigned to the march estimated the turnout at 2000 strong.‬

Georgetown-With the construction of the four diagnostic centres and the National Ophthalmology Hospital in Port Mourant, Berbice, and the provision of eye care services it has become necessary that Guyanese doctors have the necessary skills to provide such services along with the Cuban doctors. 
As such the Health Ministry was able to secure several scholarships with assistance from Eye Care Guyana, a non-governmental organisation, allowing Guyanese doctors to receive specialized training.

Georgetown-To improve the living conditions of poor rural households, especially small-scale producers and vulnerable groups and to increase their human, social and financial assets, the Ministry of Agriculture launched a Small Farmers’ Group Financial Facility.

East Coast Demerara – With the effects of climate change, more specifically the rising sea levels, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud says planting more mangrove trees can help save Guyana’s coastlines.

He was at the time speaking at a collaboration workshop involving students of the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) and members of the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project unit, at, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.   

Mahaica, East Coast Demerara- Mahaica Post office remained closed today because thieves broke into the building sometime early this morning. According to the police, the building was broken into and a safe had been torched and $586,750.00 taken away.
Investigations have revealed that entry into the building was gained through the flooring.
The money is believed to be used for the payments of pensions.
 

Annnandale, East Coast Demerara – Residents of Annandale on the East Coast of Demerara are reporting that two men were seen jumping out of the Annandale Secondary School and they later saw smoke emitting from the building last night. The building was checked and a lighted pile of newspapers was found on the lower flat and extinguished by the security guard and residents. 
Two containers suspected to have contained kerosene and gasoline were found by the police.

West Coast Demerara – Nine-year-old Akiela Niles was accidentally shot by the police during the pursuit of a mini-bus in which she was a passenger.
 
Acting on information received that mini bus BLL 6759 was transporting narcotics, the police made efforts to stop the vehicle at Wales, West Bank Demerara, but the driver drove away. He also drove through a police roadblock along the West Bank, following which the police gave chase behind the vehicle.
 

Georgetown – Minister of Education Shaik Baksh this afternoon said, a piece of legislation will be taken to the National Assembly for private schools to be licensed. The minister pointed out that the schools must reach the Ministry’s curriculum, teaching standards, seat accommodation etc. Education Ministry’s officials attached to the planning department in the meantime will be meeting with the schools and out line  all that will be required of them.
There are presently 115 private schools operating and new ones are emerging.