Government has shrugged off criticisms by the United States over the manner in which radio licenses were granted by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, yesterday insisting that Guyana is a sovereign state that has the right to make its own decisions.Government spokesman, Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon, also again defended Jagdeo’s decision to grant the 11 licences, saying the previous broadcast law gives the President, as the Minister of Information,Wholesale Cheap Jerseys, the final say.Government spokesman Dr. Roger Luncheon“I stick with the law. The Postal and Telegraph Act confers on the President, the Minister of Information, the final say.”According to Luncheon, the new law – the Broadcast Act of 2011- was not in effect at the time when Jagdeo made his decision,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, days before he ended his constitutional term in office and just before the November 2011 General Elections.The granting of the radio licenses has sparked tensions and protests not only because of the manner in which they were granted, but also in whose hands they actually ended up.Government and the Opposition,Cheap NFL Jerseys, back in the 2000s, had brokered a binding agreement not to issue any more licences for radio and television stations until new legislation was in place. The Jagdeo administration also agreed that an independent body would assess the applications and make recommendations.The new Broadcast Act of 2011 was passed in the National Assembly and assented to by Jagdeo in September 2011. The new laws mandated the establishment of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority.However, Jagdeo did not wait on the Broadcast Authority to be established. Legal observers said he was in breach when he took it upon himself to grant the 11 radio and two cable licenses.The details only came to light when Prime Minister Samuel Hinds was forced to answer questions posed by the opposition. The disclosures sparked protests by several entities with local and international media bodies condemning the allocations. The Opposition has already said it is a dangerous situation during elections time with government totally controlling the airwaves with those allocations.Sovereign StateAsked yesterday whether recent call by US Ambassador, D. Brent Hardt,Cheap Jerseys For Wholesale, for a review of the applications was creating pressure for government, Luncheon was adamant of Guyana’s independence in making internal decisions.“Do you really believe a sovereign state, on an issue like this, would turn to one of its diplomatic partners to say, or readily say, your contributions have moved me from over in the east to over in the west? Those are decisions that we make. Those are decisions of the sovereign state. It is the same all over the world.”“And I am not offering… I am telling you that is behaviour that is the convention of sovereign states. They make the decisions.”He was also questioned about the complaints of the National Communications Network (NCN) and the Government Information Agency (GINA) that its press freedom is under threat because of recent budget cuts by the Opposition. It is the same argument being used by media houses whose licences were not considered.US Ambassador, D. Brent Hardt“Kaieteur News never had a radio license and so they could jump high and low, all they could claim is that we are denied getting a radio license… and I am certain in every jurisdiction in the world where radio licenses are given, whether by sale, by gift, by friend, there will always be some who don’t get.”According to Luncheon, “there will always be a Kaieteur News sitting around in the country.”The spokesman argued that if the door is being opened to a “principled complaint” by those who are disappointed because they were not granted licences then “bannas we gon be complaining whole year, because I know the Kaieteur Newses of this world will continue to be denied”.He also said that in no part of the world is there that belief that an application, because of how long it has been filed, has to be granted or honoured.“Not in the real world. Maybe where Glenn deh, but not in the real world where we live in.”Luncheon was referring to the Publisher of Kaieteur News, Glenn Lall, who highlighted the radio licenses issue with US representatives and at an international media forum that was held recently in Cura?ao, a Dutch territory in the Caribbean.According to the US Ambassador during the observance last week of World Press Freedom Day, while new radio broadcasting licences are welcomed,Jerseys From China, the process by which such licences are issued must be fair and transparent.“Guyana created a reasonable foundation for such a process through its 2011 Broadcasting Legislation

There were far more children than adults in the audience and a balance across the age divide on the programme as Sharryn Dawson’s Money Basics for Kids: Financial Literacy for Children was launched last Wednesday.It was made clear that the book, which is subtitled ‘Your child’s guide to understanding money and entrepreneurship’, is also meant for adults as much as it is pitched directly at children.Sharryn DawsonAnd it was emphasised that Money Basics for Kids is meant to have a continuing impact when the children who read it grow up, as well as far beyond The Knutsford Court Hotel,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Outlet, New Kingston, launch venue.Dawson said after reading her book “each child comes away being financially literate. The promise of this book is, after the children have gone through it, they will become financially literate, with the basics of money and entrepreneurship.“We live in a world where you work for someone or you work for yourself. This book works in both realms and gives the children the opportunity to figure out how do I plan my financial future,” Dawson said.While the minimum recommended age for reading the book independently is nine years old, Dawson said that seven and eight year-olds can “get through,Discount NFL Jerseys, with some help, to a level of mastery.“We want to create a wheel in which financial literacy is turning and turning in our country,” Dawson said.And Oliver Fagan of AAMM Credit Union put Money Basics for Kids in the national context, saying “this book is as important to the future of our country as any debate about crime or anything else.What we are doing here is making sure we do it right the first time by focusing on the children,Wholesale Stitched NFL Jerseys, who we always say are our future”.With children from the Porter Centre for Excellence, Vere Technical High School, St Francis Primary and Half-Way Tree Primary in the audience, a number of children read from sections of the book.The launch host, Andr? Hartley, introduced the youngsters, among them young entrepreneur Joshua Jones, El Instituto de Mandevilla student Leighann Dacres and Dawson’s son, Taheed Garcia, who she said had been integral to the children-friendly language of Money Basics for Kids.The 68-page book has five chapters, ‘Where Does Money Come From?’, ‘How do People earn Money?’, ‘How to Manage Your Money’,Wholesale Cheap NFL Football Jerseys, ‘How to Save Your Money’ and ‘Creating Your Business Idea’, each of which closes with an activity. The readers are guided along by characters Malcolm the Detective and his good friend, Shelly.Education Officer Karean Troupe gave the Ministry of Education’s endorsement of ‘Money Basics for Kids’.“Financial literacy, like any other issue, should be developed over someone’s lifetime. It is not something we should learn about after university,” Troupe said. The challenge, though, is “how do we make principles of financial literacy to be hype and hip?”She pointed out that children will save up to buy an iPod or cellphone, asking “how do we transfer that ‘hype’ concept to flash a bank book and say I am financially smart?“We are talking about habit-forming behaviours,China Jerseys Cheap,” Troupe said, tossing out financial terms such as budgeting, credit and borrowing and protecting one’s money through insurance. “This book will introduce your children to these concepts,” she said.(Jamaica Gleaner)

The Lethem Hospital also delivered a New Year’s Day baby. The boy,Cheap Jerseys Authentic, Akeem,Authentic NFL Jerseys Cheap, was born to 18-year-old Rhea Ng-a-Fook? of the village of Parishara and her reputed husband,Nike Huarache Shoes For Sale, Lawrence France. Congratulations to the parents.

The Ministry of Health’s Pharmacy and Poison Board on Tuesday seized aA portion of the expired and damaged goods seized by the Ministry of Health’s Pharmacy and Poison Board.canter filled with damaged and expired food items and goods, as they were being loaded onto the vehicle, to be transported for marketing purposes.After receiving a tip-off, Registrar of the Pharmacy and Poison Board, Khame Sharma and Inspector of Pharmacy, Shivanand Geer, along with police,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, proceeded to a bond in West Ruimveldt,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, where the items were being packed onto the vehicle by labourers, a Government statement said.A quantity of Carnation Milk, Mak-C drink mix, Dry Pigeon Peas, Delisa Nutrient Boost,Cheap NFL Jerseys, channa, mixed vegetables, and Royal Jello, along with Hugs Fruit Berry juice and gloves were seized and taken into the Ministry’s bond for further investigation.According to the Government release, the storage conditions of the goods were also deplorable and unhealthy, as rotting goods, including potatoes, were seen among them. The labels were torn and discoloured with mildew.The bond in West Ruimveldt from which the expired goods were seized.Speaking to the Government Information Agency (GINA), Sharma pointed out that the Board has been receiving numerous complaints of these products, which are distributed countrywide. He added that there have been many attempts to find out where they came from, but in vain.The Ministry was unable to determine the owner of the goods. However, the canter owner pointed out that he was only required to move the items from the bond to another truck owner, who was supposed to transport them to Essequibo.The Ministry urged distributors to check their products and verify that they are in line with the specifications of the Guyana Bureau of Standards.“Distributors are reminded that the marketing of such products can result in legal consequences. Consumers are also encouraged to ensure that they receive a bill for all transactions, when purchasing goods. This is to ensure that customers can be compensated,Authentic NFL Jerseys Wholesale, if the need arises.”The Ministry said that marketing of such goods is hazardous to human health.The Ministry vowed to be on the lookout for them on the local market.“Citizens are advised to report any suspicious and similar activities or storage conditions brought to their attention,Cheap Nike Air Max 97 Shoes, as they pose a threat to them and their families.”

Mayor of Georgetown, Hamilton Green, believes that there is a sustained campaign by the present administration to destabilise the management of the city.The statement comes as Government over the weekend announced intentions not lend any more financial assistance to the cash-strapped Mayor and City Councillors of Georgetown (M&CC) until a massive $100M in back taxes is collected from the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR).In a strongly worded statement Saturday, the Ministry of Local Government pointed out that the fact that Mayor Hamilton Green is sitting on the PNCR Executive Committee and not collecting the rates and taxes is a glaring case of conflict of interest.According to the Mayor, the assessment of PNCR’s properties, like any other, cannot just happen like that— it has to be processed.Yesterday also, the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL), a state-owned entity, cut power to several of M&CC facilities across the city after the council failed to make payment arrangements for more than $600M said to be owing for electricity supplied. Green said, yesterday, that it was puzzling that a statement by the Ministry was first issued and hours later, GPL acted and disconnected power.He claimed that over time, government has stymied the growth of M&CC with the resistance of rates increases which would have broadened the revenue base of the council.“It is clear that there is an organised attempt to destabilise the Mayor, who speaks out forcefully on issues, and the Councillors.”On Saturday, the Ministry of Local Government in a statement said that “it has become a matter of great concern to the Ministry of Local Government that the Georgetown City Council has shown no inclination to collect the rates and taxes owed to the city by the People’s National Congress Reform, PNCR.”In response yesterday, the Mayor noted that the city’s management was seeking advice on the PNCR Sophia headquarters, specifically on the classification of property. This classification would depend on whether the property is for the purposes of business,Wholesale NHL Jerseys, institutional or business.“Classes are being held there,Wholesale Stitched NFL Jerseys, so obviously it is not a business property. The valuation officer has already offered his advice. So we are processing the information.”The classification would be key to determining how much the PNCR headquarters will be assessed for.At the same time,Cheap Jeseys NFL, Sophia is still to fall under the tax net. All of Sophia is still to be assessed, the City Council said. However, the rates and taxes are said to be owed by properties owned by the PNCR in various parts of the city.“This injection of political consideration in the administration of the City Council,Wholesale Jerseys China, especially in the collection of rates and taxes is a significant contributory factor to the decline and decay of the City.”According to the release, the records show that the city has not collected rates and taxes for the Sophia property, where the PNCR’s headquarters is located, for over a decade.“The PNCR has several other properties in the City for which no rates and taxes have been collected for more than 15 years. The partial records available to the Ministry show outstanding amounts totaling some $100 million.”According to the Ministry, the main opposition party has so far shown an unwillingness to meet its obligation in spite of the amnesty being granted on interest on debts owed to the Council. “Now that Mayor Green has been embraced once again by the PNCR and now sits on the Executive Committee of that party, the non-collection of rates and taxes must be seen as a conflict of interest on his part.”Responding specifically on the conflict of interest accusation yesterday, the Mayor said that the PNCR is preparing a statement.He claimed that there are a number of cases where the Ministry has intervened to exempt a few organisations from rates and taxes.The Ministry pointed out that situation remains the case even though the M&CC is aware of the precarious situation with the finances of the City. “City treasury often without money to pay employees wages and salaries, contractors are owed huge sums and now the GPL is making demands for payments of hundreds of millions owed to it by City Hall.”It is becoming quite clear that the Mayor’s strategy is to allow the situation to deteriorate in order to embarrass the government and hope that the government will bail it out as it has done so often, the statement argued.“The Ministry of Local Government has repeatedly made representation to the Central Government for assistance to the City. Recently, the Ministry has had to lo

Police in Berbice are conducting investigation of rape allegedly committed on a close relative by a teacher and part-time reporter who lives at Manchester village on the Corentyne who freelances with the Stabroek News.It is understood that the 16-year-old girl lives with her step father,Air Max Shoes For Sale, mother and two younger sisters.It was reported that the act was committed some time ago,Nike Air Max 1 Ultra Flyknit Womens, but the girl was afraid to speak out.She later confided in a close relative who reported to the Probation and Social Service Department which,NFL Jerseys China, in turn,Cheap NFL Authentic Jerseys, reported the matter.The man is in custody as investigation continues.