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saturday, august 22, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com
CARIFESTA XII Red House leased to Cheddi Jagan Research Co commences M
Dancers of the Guyanese Delegation before the parade
T
he opening ceremony for CARIFESTA XII commenced on Friday in Haiti with 15 other participating countries celebrating the Caribbean Festival of Arts. The event commenced with a parade of all participating countries, a 51-contingent drum show
and a dance by the host country, Haiti. The day then concluded with a grand concert that featured Caribbean artistes Mikaben, Rutshell, J Perry and Renette Desir, at the Kiosk Occide Jeanty , Port-au-Prince, Haiti. During the parade, the Guyana delegation was at-
tired in colourful cultural wear and the procession was led by the “El Dorado Girl”. It also featured persons covered in body paint, done by Bravo Arts. The 100-plus member delegation was aligned and costumed in various categories of the cultural arts of the Caribbean.
inister of State, Joseph Harmon on Thursday revealed that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has privatised the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre and has been leasing the property for a mere $1000 per month. The Minister pointed out that “The PPP/C Administration, while in Government, spent millions on renovations on what was known as the Red House, and then renamed it the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre. But, this was state property until 2012, until the PPP/C established a company called the Cheddi Jagan Research Inc.” He added that “this property is now leased to the company for 999 years, for $1000 per month”, he disclosed. In addition, the Minister of State pointed out that those sitting as Executives of the Company are all in-
The Cheddi Jagan Research Centre
dividuals who are connected to the PPP/C in one way or another. These individuals, he said, include the late Janet Jagan, Hydar Ally, Indra Chandarpal, former President Donald Ramotar, Michael Khan, Kellawan Lall and Nadira Jagan along with Geoffrey DaSilva.
According to Harmon, this is only one of many such acts by the former Administration and the Government will be uprooting these. He said these matters were all being handled by the Asset Recovery Unit which has been set up. Further, additional audits and Commissions of Inquiry can be expected, he stated.
114 Toshaos sworn in as JPs
Canadian organisation hosts three-day workshop for teachers
P
ueblo Science, a Canada-based NonGovernmental Organisation whose aim is to advance science education in low-resource communities and countries like Guyana, hosted a three-day workshop for science teachers that ended on Friday. The NGO was in Guyana under the Rural Initiative for Science Education (RISE) programme. The main aim of the programme is to create a “portable” educational model for use in diverse settings without constraints of geography and equipment. Five volunteers from Toronto were here in Guyana facilitating the programme and training the 80 teachers from across the country. The teachers were
mainly trained on how they could effectively use science experiments in their classrooms and how to construct them from local materials. The training was a result of collaboration between St Stanislaus College Alumni in Toronto and the local Education Ministry. Dr Mayrose Salvador, one of the trainers, told the Guyana Times, “We are helping them come up with activities they can do in their classrooms to get the students excited about science.” She said this
was the NGO’s first time in Guyana. According to Pueblo Science’s website, it has completed successful projects in Thailand, the Philippines, Canada and other countries. The organisation strongly believes that by sparking an interest in science at an early age, it will be able to jump-start fundamental changes in social attitudes about science and help young people to understand the impact of human activity on the environment, health, and communities.
Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock, (centre), with some of the Toshaos at the Magistrate’s Court on Friday
S
ome 114 Amerindian Toshaos from across Guyana’s administrative regions were on Friday sworn in as Justices of Peace at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock told reporters the men and women were now
in the legal position to execute their duties for the coming years. The Minister stated that there was much work ahead as he has plans to help his Amerindian brothers and sisters. Allicock stated that these individuals would now work towards proper management and accountability in
their communities, which the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry will be assisting them with. These Toshaos are now able to perform marriage ceremonies, sign birth certificates and other legal documents within their communities.