Trotman boasts of Guyana’s low deforestation rate
…as GFC launches new law enforcement projectNatural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman on Monday boasted of Guyana’s low rates of deforestation as the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) launched a new project at its Kingston, Georgetown office, which aims to strengthen forest legality and improve the livelihoods of forest communities among others.The Minister, while highlighting the Forestry Commission’s mandate to sustain the forest, said Guyana has documented one of the lowest rates of deforestation in the world.“The Guyana Forestry Commission has a national mandate to promote sustainable forest management in Guyana, in keeping with its national laws and international standards and agreements, and has been successful in the past in this regard and this is evident in Guyana’s rate of deforestation still being one of the lowest in any other part of the world. In the year 2016, this rate was verified by international auditors at a mere 0.05 per cent,” the Minister boasted.“Guyana has long been recognised internationally as a country that practises SFM [Sustainable Forest Management] at the concession management unit lesson. We are also considered to be a global leader in the fight against climate change and our monitor, reporting and verification system is second to none…despite these advances, we remain committed to reviewing and revising our legislative and policy framework when necessary to ensure that the necessary sector operate at the best governance framework,” he added.Trotman further encouraged the beneficiaries of the new programme to make use of the opportunity to gain knowledge, to improve the quality of community operation which will benefit all Guyanese.The new project was launched under the Food and Agriculture Organisation-European Union Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FAO-EU FLEGT) Programmes.It seeks to build the capacities of the community forestry groups, to strengthen compliance with regulations on taxes, social security, and labour laws over an 18-month period.Twenty-five community forestry organisations are expected to be part of the US$54,500 project.GFC Board of Directors Chairperson Jocelyn Dow encouraged the representatives from the community forestry organisations to continue complying with the regulations and reminded them of their roles to the forest.Meanwhile, Programme Officer of FLEGT and European Union Delegate, Federico Esteban Suarez said, “The European Union, FAO and Guyana share the view that climate change is a real threat for our dear planet, at large, and in the Caribbean and in Guyana in particular. Sustaining the forestry has to play a major role as part of the solution for both climate change, mitigation and adaptation”.The launch also saw representatives from various forestry regions, as well as persons from the Labour Department, Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), and the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).
A pensioner on Monday morning told Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to “legalise it” after a charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking was brought against him.Sixty-eight-year-old John Lovell, of Lot 31 Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD), denied that he had 1361 grams of cannabis in his possession.The narcotic was reportedly found hidden in a haversack, which he was carrying when Police ranks swooped down on him.However, Lovell, in a bail application on his own behalf, told Magistrate Ann McLennan that it was the 21st Century and Guyana needed to legalise marijuana.He further told McLennan that a trial would prove his innocence in the matter. He was, nonetheless, remanded to prison until August 7. The case will continue at the Matthews Ridge Magistrate’s Court.
…accuses Govt of “talking past” teachersAs the nationwide teachers’ strike continued into the fourth day since the official reopening of school, the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) has expressed support for the Guyana Teachers Union’s (GTU’s) call for arbitration, and has called on the wider society to support the teachers in their struggle for better wages.On Wednesday, the GTUC said its concerns have grown that the two sides – the Education Ministry and the GTU –would remain steadfast in their respective positions. The GTUC has in fact said the almost three-year impasse between the two sides “requires admittance”, noting that the stalemate does not spell well for the industrial relations environment and teachers’ morale.“The nation is witnessing Government talking past the teachers and not with the teachers. This lends to the impression that the profession is not worthy of respect, perhaps seen as a lower rank in the order of things… Let us show mutual respect. Instead, teachers are hearing about Government’s positions through the media, asGTUC General Secretary, Lincoln Lewisthough direct communication is no longer seen as necessary or important,” the GTUC pointed out, even as it deemed this a disturbing development for labour relations.The GTUC is at the same time calling for more dialogue with Government ministers, some of whom, the GTUC has said, seem to have “no desire for consultation or communication” with established organisations that have constitutional roles. GTUC observed, too, that Article 147 of the Guyana Constitution protects the right to strike and freedom of association.The union pointed out that teachers are not a homogenous group, and they should not be reduced to being lumped into political camps, which is not in keeping with social cohesion.GTUC said it is satisfied that the teachers’ struggle is in tandem with the forerunners of the GTU and the Trade Union Movement, which earlier shaped much of the freedoms and benefits we enjoy today.“GTUC is conscious that the stubbornness on the Government’s part not to engage the union affects students as well as their parents/guardians, and has the potential to disrupt other services in society…the education system also plays a custodial role for our children, and many families are able to engage in meaningful employment as their children attend school,” the union said.GTUC said, too, that it is disappointed in Government’s earlier attempt to resolve the impasse by first ordering the teachers back to the negotiation table. The union said that, from all observations, Government does not appear willing to negotiate in good faith.“Even before the strike was started, Government telegraphed its value and respect for teachers by declaring its intent to employ scab labour. The use of this is an attempt to weaken the strike while ignoring the option of negotiating in good faith. The Minister of Education said this form of labour is being offered the benefit of $1000 to top up their cellphones, a consideration that was never given the teachers,” the union said.In an interview with Guyana Times in August, a former Education Minister under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government, Dr Henry Jeffrey, supported the call for arbitration. The teachers’ strike commenced on August 27 during preparation period for the new school term.
While playing a game of football in the Georgetown ward of Albouystown on Sunday morning, 18-year-old Christopher Mansfield, called “Gully Bop,” of Lot 66 Barr Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, was reportedly chopped, stabbed and shot by three youths on bicycles who attacked him.Natasha MansfieldAccording to the dead teen’s mother, Natasha Mansfield, her son had left home very early Sunday morning to play football, something he often does.“At 6 something, a guy came to me with a bicycle and say something happen to my son. I went with him. When I went to the corner of Cooper Street, I saw my friend running out of her yard with a sheet. I told the bicycle man to stop, and (I) ran behind her; and when I ran behind her, I see my son lying down flat with sheets, stab up holes, and a car was there and the car take me to the hospital,” the grieving mother said.The visibly distraught woman explained that she is still in a state of shock, and is trying to come to grips with the fact that her eldest child is now dead.“My son tried telling me something, but I just can’t hear what he got to say…he just died. And I am asking the Guyana Police Force (to) let them look to the crime rate whereby these youths in Albouystown are with guns! Underage children with guns! I asking them to put something in place in Albouystown!“My son is gone, and I don’t have nobody that could pay me back for him. He is never a child that had gun, cutlass; fight nobody, stab nobody. No! And I am just asking them: I need justice for my son! Justice!” she told Guyana Times.The woman noted that her son had been a jovial individual. She admitted that he had previously been charged for marijuana possession, but she said those charges were dismissed for lack of evidence.“He would trouble people and got them cussing. The people would come and complain to me. I would come out and say, ‘Man, is elderly people; have respect.’ Who know, they could talk. I never give people a bad face when they come and tell me about my son. But he was a nice child to me.”Christopher Mansfield leaves to mourn his mother, his two younger sisters and two younger brothers.According to the Police, three “identifiable males” were involved in the incident.According to Police, armed respectively with a cutlass, a knife and a gun, the suspects approached the victim on bicycles, and then proceeded to attack him. During the altercation, the suspect who was armed with the gun shot the teen to the right side of his abdomen, and the injured youth barely managed to seek refuge in a nearby yard before he collapsed.Mansfield was taken to Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His body is at the GPHC mortuary awaiting a Post Mortem Examination. Four persons are in Police custody assisting with the investigation. (Kristen Macklingam)
Two persons are now homeless after an early morning fire on Sunday completely razed a three-bedroom house at D’Edward Village, West Bank Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).The owner of the house and his teenage sonDue to the blaze, 16-year-old Osborne Spencer, who was completing his School-Based Assessment (SBA) projects has lost his textbooks, notebooks and a laptop among other school items.His father, 58-year-old Alvin Spencer, who occupied the house with his 16-year-old son, told this publication that the fire was first spotted at about 03:00h.He recalled that he was asleep when his son alerted him of the fire.“When I get up, I see the fire in the middle of the house and all I could have do is run outside.”The teenager, relating the ordeal, said the bright light from the flames in the building woke him up.The aftermath of the fire on Sunday morning“I don’t sleep deep and with the light and the heat I wake up and I see the flames reaching almost the roof and so I called my father and we try to throw water but we had to run outside.”According to his father, when he got up, he was able to make it out of his bedroom without being trapped by the flames. He said he was unable to save anything.Alvin Spencer, who resides in Barbados with his wife and two other children and works as a painter, returned to Guyana in September to assist his son with his Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations preparations.“This is a critical time for him and he will need his father next to him. So, I came home to assist him.”At the time of the blaze, there was no electricity connected to the building since the meter was disconnected.“I was hoping to renovate the house while here,” the father said.The washroom area had already been reconstructed and there was a pile of construction blocks in the yard.The flat building was completely gutted. In addition, a shop in front of the building was also destroyed. However, it was not functioning at the time of the fire.The father and his son are now staying with a friend in the neighbouring village of Rosignol until the house is reconstructed.The man told Guyana Times that he would like to rebuild as soon as possible and as such, has reached out to the public for assistance. He can be contacted on telephone number 671-5476.
160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! MONTERREY, Mexico – A man died after a swarm of bees attacked him and his son while they were working in an orchard in northern Mexico, authorities said Wednesday. Jesus Flores, 48, and his 18-year-old son, Jose Flores, were working in an orange orchard Tuesday in Montemorelos, a town about 40 miles southeast of Monterrey, when they accidentally disturbed a bee hive on a tree, Jesus Flores’ son, Jose, told the Televisa television network. “They came after us and we ran about a (half mile) but my father couldn’t run anymore,” said Jose Flores, who was stung about 40 times. Miguel Gonzalez, a Red Cross paramedic, told Televisa that Jesus Flores died instantly after being stung about 15 times on the face and abdomen. Gonzalez said Jesus Flores was likely allergic to bee venom. 
Steven Reid insists Burnley ARE good enough to compete in the Premier League and will soon start to prove it.The Clarets have yet to win in eight top-flight games this season and Sean Dyche’s side are being tipped to make an immediate return to the Championship.But Reid believes Burnley have not got what they have deserved so far, and he believes it is just a matter of time before his side experience an upturn in fortunes.“We have only had one or two performances where we have under-performed. Most of the games we have competed well and we could have got the win in one or two of those,” the Irishman, who moved to Turf Moor in the summer, told the Weekend Sports Breakfast ahead of Sunday’s trip to Everton.“On the whole, we have had games where we should have got the vital wins under our belt.“I’ve been involved in Premier League teams that have gone ten to 12 games without a win. It can easily happen for teams in the Premier League to go on runs where you don’t get the results you want.“We just need to keep the belief that it will come, and hopefully we can turn these performances into three points.”
vs. South Dakota State 2/9/2019 – 10:15 a.m. In the circle, Newman (1-0) pitched five no-hit innings and struck out 12 with one walk coming in her final inning of work. Timmons worked around control issues in the sixth inning but finished with two strikeouts and didn’t allow a hit. Lara’s bases loaded walks came in the first and second innings while Johnson’s and Pena’s run scoring doubles occurred in the second. Buie’s RBI single was in the sixth and Frank’s three- bagger scored Johnson and Newman in the final frame. Johnson scored two runs while Newman drew three walks at the plate. Story Links Live Stats Full Schedule Roster CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Redshirt senior Nicole Newman (Madison, Wis.) and sophomore Nicole Timmons (Davenport, Iowa) pitched a combined no-hitter as the Drake University softball team opened the 2019 season with a 7-0 win over Toledo late Friday night at the UNI-Dome Classic. Preview
ESPN3 PDF Box Score Sophomore Macy Johnson (Winterset, Iowa) led the Drake offense, which pounded out10 hits, with three hits while junior Abby Buie (Gardner, Kan.) and seniors Kennedy Frank (Chesterfield, Mo.) and Taryn Pena (Chesterfield, Mo.) each had two hits. Frank drove in two runs with a seventh-inning triple while Johnson and Pena each had RBI doubles. Freshman Alexia Lara (Bettendorf, Iowa) drove in two runs with a pair of walks. Watch Live Next Game: Drake continues play at the UNI-Dome Saturday with a 10:15 game against South Dakota State and a rematch with Toledo at 2:45 p.m. Both games will be on ESPN3. Print Friendly Version
They just don’t take picture likes this anymore.jimmy Og on top of ErrigalThis picture appeared on the ‘Rare Irish Stuff’ website and shows a Donegal man resting at the top of Errigal.The picture first appeared in The Irish Press in 1957. The man is Jimmy Páidí Og who lived in Mín Na nGall.The journalist wh took the photo climbed up the back of Earagail mountain and to his surprise found Jimmy smoking his pipe with his sheepdog.He asked him how long he’d been up there, as he had seen no one in front of him, Jimmy said that’s because you walked up the back, and I walked up the front.Jimmy was a butcher and delivered meat on his bike. He was born in 1890, so he was 67 in this picture. AMAZING PICTURE SURFACES OF MAN ON ERRIGAL IN 1957 was last modified: May 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)
Windhoist Limited based in Irvine UK are leading international installers of megawatt class wind turbines. Due to expansion we have a requirement for trainee turbine installation technicians.Technicians shall work as part of multidisciplinary teams over a multitude of locations.Requirements: -agricultural/trade or engineering background-prepared to work away from base for extended periods-willing to work at height in exposed locations in variable weather conditions-flexible and willing to change at short notice-willing to make a medium to long term commitment-performance, safety and quality as a priority.If the above criteria appeals to you please send your CV and covering letter into recruitment@windhoist.co.ukInterviews to be held at the end of September in Letterkenny. Potential candidates will be contacted directly with details of date and venue.JOB VACANCIES: WIND TURBINE COMPANY SEEKS TRAINEE INSTALLATION TECHNICIANS was last modified: August 28th, 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:Job VacanciesWindhoist UK