Take a walk through Merriman Mall and you will realise that it has come a long way from the days of makeshift stalls where hucksters plied their trade.Over the years, these hucksters endured numerous challenges but today they are stallholders who consider themselves entrepreneurs. They vend just about everything. They also produce the tantalising aromas of the different foods that are cooked on the spot.But all is not well with the vendors there and as such, a few of them decided that they would use the opportunity of the establishment’s 13th anniversary to highlight the ever famous Merriman Mall.We have been here 13 years shout members of the planning committee One vendor, Colin Henry, who has been there from the beginning and is a member of the organising committee, said that while there has been drastic improvement more needs to be done. The administration responsible for the area needs to do less talking and more action, he said.He said that through the anniversary they would help to further establish the Mall which he did opine was already a house hold name.Henry lamented the fact that they have been pleading with the officials to step up the security and clean the place on a more regular basis.He did however praise what he has been able to achieve. “Quite a lot of my achievement in life is as a result of the Mall.”He said that the vendors who are there are like one big, happy family and they try to be innovative and creative in promoting their businesses.The stall holder also pleaded that there be greater support from the council to have the place be a little more uniformed and upgraded,Cheap NFL Jerseys Supply, pointing out that apart from the Mall having the potential to being a spot tourists would like to traverse they would like the place upgraded so they can better serve their consumers.“We would like to see more support from city council even if they give us just the moral support.”Another stallholder and one of the persons on the committee that helped to organise yesterday’s activity said that at present business is not doing to well.Sandra Richmond told this newspaper that this anniversary was one of the driving factors behind the drive to sensitise consumers about the fact that there is the Merriman Mall where a great deal of products and services can be sourced.There are some 160 stalls there but on any given day there are only about 50 per cent opened. Some never opened since the establishment of the Mall in 1997. She suggested that some of these stalls should be repossessed and placed in the hands of persons that actually want to utilise them.One stallholder who converted her spot into a beauty parlour and has been there from the inception said things have certainly changed for the better. Business was slow in the beginning,Cheap NHL Jerseys, she said.She said that she was confident in the location and this confidence has paid off for her through persistence.Carla Correia is another stallholder who has placed her faith in the Merriman Mall.Speaking with this newspaper she said that her love for cooking caused her to establish her business there and she has been there for the past four years.“Sometimes it good, sometimes it slow…but you got to try still.”Desrey Corbin who is referred to as the “First Lady” because she has been there from the beginning using makeshift stall, said that the Mall has come a long way since its inception.She stressed, however,Jersyes From China, that there is a need for the officials to support them more and instead of sitting in their offices,China Jerseys Cheap, reach out on the ground and interact more with the stallholders so that they could better be able to come up with ways to better the Mall.To give an idea of just how diverse the stalls at the Merriman Mall are, Ras Camo operates an arts and craft booth inclusive of a musical band.Ras Camo said that he has been there from the inception. He said that his business is unique in that he caters to a certain clientele. “This is not like if is food.”“The Mall is indeed good…the Mall is blessed,” according to another stallholder, Simone Hinds, who credits that location and her business for making her who she is today.She said that it is a prime location for her business. When she first started at the Mall there was just one other that dealt with hair care, she said.Calling the Mall her second home for the past nine years is Dionne Hercules who said that she was unsure about the location at first and started with a hair supply store and then went full fledged into cosmetology.Things are challenging at times but I try to make it work.Jacqueline Kit who also operates her business out of the Merriman’s Mall from the beginning said that there i

Driver of the route 32 minibus, which was involved in the Sunday evening accident at Schoonard,Authentic China Jerseys, West Bank Demerara, which claimed the life of 18-year-old Tenisha Hudson,Cheap Mens Jordan Sneakers, is refuting reports of how the accident occurred.Seventy-one-year Bernard Bradford, who hails from Zeelugt, West Coast Demerara, said that contrary to reports published in the media, the accident was caused when Hudson leaped from a bicycle on which she was being towed by a male.According to a police press release issued on Sunday, the minibus driver was attempting to pass another vehicle when he struck Hudson who was cycling in the same direction. The release added that the young woman was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where she succumbed to her injuries.But according to Bradford who claims that he was the one to report the matter at the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station, the circumstances which led to the accident could not be any more distorted and inaccurate than they were related by the police statement.The man said that at the time of the accident the only persons at the scene were himself,NFL Jerseys China, his conductress and the rider of the bicycle whom he regarded as the only persons who could give an accurate account of what occurred.He said that he was heading to the city and was in the vicinity of Schoonard when he observed a male towing a young woman.The two, he said, were on the eastern corner of the road, the same as the minibus. However, they were heading towards Vreed-en-Hoop, placing them on the wrong side of the road.“The bicycle was swaying. It was either the male was drunk or he was losing control of the bicycle…,Wholesale NFL Jerseys,” Bradford relayed.He said that it was just as he approached the area where the two road users were that Hudson leaped from the bicycle, probably anticipating a fall, and came into contact with the left rear view mirror of the minibus before crashing to the ground.The impact of the hit caused the rear view mirror to swing violently into the windscreen, cracking it, Bradford said.Bradford said that he immediately brought the minibus to a halt and attempted to render assistance, along with his conductress who was able to successfully hail a passing car,Wholesale Authentic NFL Jerseys, which transported the injured Hudson to the West Demerara Regional Hospital.“Nothing happened to the young man or the bicycle because it was not like the bus? hit the bicycle or anything. Everything just happened when she jumped off and hit the mirror.”According to the man, he decided to make a U-turn and headed to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station in the company of his conductress to make a report, adding that the young man left the scene riding the bicycle.After making the report, Bradford said, the conductress visited the hospital to enquire of the Hudson’s wellbeing but was informed that she was transferred to the GPHC. They were later informed that Hudson, a resident of Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, had died. Hospital sources said that she sustained massive head injuries.Bradford as a result was charged with dangerous driving and has since been released on bail. He is expected to attend a hearing at the Wales Magistrate’s Court on April 27.

Contestants vying for the Miss Bartica Regatta 2009 crown and a laptop computer as first prize are all set and ready for the pageant, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday,Wholesale NFL Jerseys Authentic, April 12.Regional Chairman of Bartica, Holbert Knights, told members of the media yesterday that the event has been expanded to accommodate more activities. This, he noted, was made possible by the support of the corporate sponsors.Now, according to Knights, there will be 20 events over the three days,nfl jerseys china, including Jet Ski races and canoe racing. Accommodation, he said, is guaranteed. All the hotels in Bartica have been booked solid since January. There is,Cheap Air Max Shoes, too, a programme similar to the bed and breakfast programme put in place for Cricket World Cup 2007.The hoteliers have been provided with a list of phone numbers of possible alternative accommodation for forwarding to people seeking accommodation.Meanwhile, acquainting himself with the contestants yesterday at his office, Minister of Tourism, Manniram Prashad, said that he is pleased with the manner in which the pageant is being organized. It promotes tourism for Guyana, in Guyana. Minister Prashad explained that there is a general improvement in the standards of pageants given the many held over the years.He added that the Tourism Ministry only wants to be associated with pageants of a high standard and quality.Ten contestants will vie for the Miss Bartica crown. They are constantly in training and rehearsals, working very hard to ensure that they win the support and favour of the judges and virtually all of Bartica, according to one of the programme organisers.Rehearsals are taking place both in Bartica and Georgetown, as this year the pageant will see contestants from outside of Bartica.A laptop computer, a trip to Kaieteur Falls and a trip to Arrow Point, all of which have been donated by the Tourism Ministry, will be won by the three top finishers in the pageant. There will be other prizes donated by the other sponsors.The pageant will see the contestants competing in the much anticipated swimsuit, evening gown and talent segments. They will also have to prove that they are worthy of the crown by answering well formulated questions in relation to their respective platforms.The contestants are Anquie Missir, 19; Kenwah Cho Quan Yi; 20,NFL Jerseys From China, Milcah Lynch, 20; Candia Paul; 19, Jackie Hanover, 18; Savannah’ree Wyatte, 19; Simone Hackette,Wholesale Adidas Hockey Jerseys, 18; Sophia Simmons, 19; Bolissa Douglas, 20; and 23-year-old Samantha Cox.

The Alliance For Change (AFC) is optimistic that a competent and able official will soon be appointed to carry out the functions and duties of the Office of the Ombudsman.This was expressed by Leader of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan during his party’s most recent press conference.There, the Minister of Public Security was asked by Kaieteur News if his Party will lobby the President for the expeditious appointment of an officer to the Constitutional post,Cheap Jerseys Online, given the passing of former Ombudsman,Cheap NFL Jerseys From China, Winston Moore.The politician noted that this is a decision that falls within the authority of President David Granger. He noted, however, that such a lobby has already started.Ramjattan said the indications at the level of Cabinet have been to the effect that such constitutional offices or posts would have to be taken care of.Regarding Government’s commitment to the Office of the Ombudsman,Wholesale Jerseys Authentic, the Minister of Public Security reminded that budgetary allocations for the fiscal year 2017 have already been passed by the House. As such,Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys, he expects that new Ombudsman will be in place on or before January 1, 2017.Winston Moore passed away in September last. He was appointed to the post in January 2014. Prior to his serving in the position,holesale NFL Jerseys, Guyana had been without an Ombudsman for eight years.An Ombudsman is an official usually appointed by the government or by Parliament but with a significant degree of independence. One such official is charged with representing the interests of the public by investigating and addressing complaints of maladministration or violation of rights.The typical duties of an Ombudsman are to investigate complaints and attempt to resolve them. Ombudsmen in some instances, also aim to identify systemic issues leading to poor service or breaches of people’s rights.

Former Commonwealth Secretary- General, Sir Shridath Ramphal, is of the firm belief that Guyana is drifting away from its democratic principles and what the country needs to take it forward is a national coalition.Sir Shridath Ramphal during his interview with Kaieteur NewsSir Shridath made these assertions, among others,Jerseys From China, during an exclusive interview with Kaieteur News at a luncheon held by the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) at the Pegasus Hotel last week.At that forum, Presidential Candidate for the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), David Granger, provided to members of the business community, the Opposition’s plan to promote the diversification and improvement of the Guyana economy.Mr Ramphal,Cheap MLS Jerseys, who attended that meeting, was subsequently asked to give his take on democracy in Guyana and if he feels, based on his observations, that it is being undermined.He said that democracy is above everything else, a state of mind and it is, of course, enforced by strong institutions.“But what we need is a state of mind in the whole country among the politicians, the parties and the people. We must have a country in which there is freedom of thought, expression and freedom to act and pay respect to the rights of others and to make that a kind of credo where we really believe it and act it out.That is the foundation of any democratic state and Guyana has been drifting away from that from all sides. The recipe for the restoration for democracy, I will say that it has to start with changing the mindset that currently prevails,” the distinguished Guyanese scholar added.Speaking to the way forward in that regard Sir Shridath said that as the nation gears for the May 11 elections,NFL Jerseys China, it is important that the process of changing the mindset begins during the election process.He also said that it must be done in a manner that does not see the nation descending further into the state it is in. Rather,Cheap Jerseys Wholesale, he said, the country for its advancement at all levels must rise to a higher level of thinking.On the note of corruption in Guyana and even globally, the former Foreign Affairs Minister said that it is indeed corrosive and any new government in tackling corruption will have to take some institutional steps that rid the population of that disease which affects everyone.Granger at the forum had spoken to the end of the “winner takes all” politics in Guyana.On that particular point, Sir Shridath said that while the concept is an unfortunate one, it was actually inherited from the British but emphasized that it is clear that it does not work for everyone.“Britain has elevated itself as the motherhood of democracies… It has been a homogenous society; it is changing and already Britain has had to enter coalition politics. Guyana’s constitution has itself moved away from the initial Constitution which I drafted. But when I left Guyana in 1975 the Constitution was changed and part of the processes of change,Cheap Jerseys Supply, I am afraid, enhanced the winner takes all style,” the former co-chair of the Commission on Global Governance asserted.He emphasized that the winner of the upcoming General and Regional Elections must make moves to “rethink a lot of things” in the Constitution. Additionally, Sir Shridath said that the political system is in fact making changes of its own and that is in the form of coalition politics.“And a national coalition is the direction in which the country has to go,” he added.In terms of economic security, Mr Ramphal said that Guyana has to transition into a climate of development through foreign investment and local entrepreneurship and rise out of its present condition to one of prosperity.He asserted that Guyana’s natural resources are enormous but there is a serious need to have an economic and political environment where the nation can rise to that level of success for all.The academic sought to add, “We don’t have that right now.”Sir Shridath concluded that while there are a whole range of things to be done by the next government to achieve the points raised, he said that if it is one thing Guyana seriously needs now, “is a larger voice for the people.”

The People’s National Congress yesterday celebrated 53 years of existence while providing a reflection of its past, assessment of its present and plans for its future.On October 5, 1957,Wholesale Cheap Jerseys, the PPP Burnhamite,Jerseys NFL Wholesale, which emerged after the split in the original People’s Progressive Party, held a Congress at the Globe Cinema in Georgetown where it adopted the name ‘People’s National Congress.’That Congress elected Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham as the Party’s First Leader with Joseph Pariag Latchmansingh as Chairman and Jai Narine Singh as General Secretary.In an article entitled, “Where do we go from here?” the Party Leader said the following, “This Party started as a working class party and will never give up fighting for the workers, we will never and can never forsake them; the moment we do we had better arrange for our Political Funeral. But the fact that ours is a worker–based Party must not prevent us from having the intelligence to learn from the history of other countries and other liberation movements. We must be able and prepared to draw our strength not only from workers but from all sections of Guyanese, workers, farmers, businessmen, intellectuals and civil servants, regardless of race.”The party by way of a statement yesterday said that that policy statement on the national orientation of the PNC, now PNCR (People’s National Congress Reform), remains as valid today as it was when uttered, by the Founder Leader,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, L.F.S. Burnham in 1957According to the party, having assumed the reins of the Government, in December 1964, the PNC Administration, under the leadership of L.F.S. Burnham, moved to bind up the societal wounds, which were created in the body politic during the anti-colonial struggle and to prepare the people for National Independence and eventual Republican Status within the Commonwealth of Nations.The party said that under the stewardship of successive PNC Administrations, between 1964 and 1992, Guyana experienced not only significant political and constitutional advance but also unprecedented nation building efforts in every aspect of human endeavour.It said that new institutions for the Nation’s Development and Defence were established.It identified financial institutions such as the Bank of Guyana, the Guyana National Co-operative Bank (GNCB), the Guyana Co-operative Mortgage Finance Bank (GCMFB) and the Guyana Agricultural and Industrial Development Bank (GAIDB), the Guyana State Corporation and the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), along with the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Youth Corps, the Guyana National Service, and the Guyana People’s Militia,NFL Jerseys Clearance, to guard and defend the new nation’s territorial integrity.In education and culture, the party saw the construction of a new Teachers Training College, the University of Guyana campus at Turkeyen, the new Technical Institutions in Georgetown and New Amsterdam, new Multilateral Schools throughout the coastal belt as well as President’s College, the “School of Excellence”, and the Critchlow Labour College.The party said as it relates to infrastructural development such as housing; potable water supply; sea and river defences; drainage and irrigation projects, in support of agriculture development at the MMA, Black Bush Polder, Tapakuma, and Boerasirie.There were major road networks development including: the Soesdyke/Linden Highway; the Corentyne Highway; the East Demerara/West Berbice Highway; the West Bank and West Coast Demerara highway; and roads developed on the East Bank Essequibo and Essequibo Coast. There was also the Demerara Harbour Bridge and the Canje Bridge.The party pointed to social and cultural development, identifying the policy of free education, from Nursery to University which was adopted.“Many new cultural institutions and activities were inaugurated, including: Guyfesta; Carifesta; the National School of Dance; the Burrowes School of Arts; the National Cultural Centre; and the Theatre Guild Playhouse.”The party said that under the stewardship of the PNC national religions were recognised, in 1967, “to celebrate our country’s rich religious and cultural diversity…Our indigenous peoples’ cultural heritage was recognized by the establishment of the Amerindian Languages Project at the University of Guyana.”It was pointed out that the Amerindian Lands Commission was appointed to demarcate the lands to be deeded to the various Amerindian communities throughout Guyana.Land titles were vested in the various Amerindian communities since 1976.The party said that, at the Caribbean regional and wider international levels, Guyana became internationally recognised for its leadership role in every international fora wherein it exercised its