What is going on in Guyana?
1. President Ramotar bestowed with prestigious Indian Award
2. President Ramotar invited as "Chief Guest" to 13thPravasi Bharatiya Divas (Indian Diaspora Conference)
3. Guyana's President suspends legislature
4. Conflict between Guyana's government and local Calypsonians
5. Guyanese government ship intercepted by Venezuelan forces
6. Many Guyanese immigrants facing financial ruin
7. Remains from Jonestown Massacre Found
8. India's Prime Minister asks developed countries to conserve water and energy
9. Impending opening of the 'Guyana Marriot'
10. Political Opposition approves existing Guyanese Constitution
- President of Guyana, Donald Ramotar, was presented with an award of US$58M 'Line of Credit' to build East Bank Demerara-East Coast Demerara bypass road and to add another passenger ferry to Guyana's current fleet. During the meeting between Ramotar and the Indian Prime Minister, the prime minister also announced that India would be setting up an Information Technology Centre of Excellence in Guyana.http://guyanachronicle.com/president-ramotar-bestowed-with-prestigious-indian-award-secures-us58m-line-of-credit-for-east-coasteast-bank-road-new-ferry-indian-govt-to-build-information-t/
2. President Ramotar invited as "Chief Guest" to 13thPravasi Bharatiya Divas (Indian Diaspora Conference)
- Indian government officials honored Ramotar at the conference where he was the 'Chief Guest'. During the conference, Ramotar enlisted the help of the Indian government in helping developing countries like Guyana gain a voice in the "major councils of the world." He reminded the conference, especially India, that they could be more involved in bigger banks and turning outward in their business ventures. Overall, President Ramotar advised India on many things but especially turning their influence outward and involving other developing countries. http://guyanachronicle.com/president-ramotar-bestowed-with-prestigious-indian-award-secures-us58m-line-of-credit-for-east-coasteast-bank-road-new-ferry-indian-govt-to-build-information-t/
3. Guyana's President suspends legislature
- President Ramotar suspended the National Assembly due to escalating disagreement with the political opposition. He suspended the assembly to avoid a "no-confidence vote" and pledged to reconvene the assembly to come to an agreement so that the legislature can continue its work. Opposers disagreed with Ramotar's tactic calling it a "denial of democracy". http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/12/world/americas/guyana-legislature-is-suspended.html?_r=0
4. Conflict between Guyana's government and local Calypsonians
- After a particularly politically charged song was released, written and sung by 'De Professor', a member of the Calypso Association, the government minister, Robeson Benn, demanded the song be banned from the radio. This conflict between the Calypso Association and the government is long standing. The Calypsonians believe they are "the mouthpiece of the people," as stated by the president of the association, Might Rebel, with their critical but popular songs that seek to show the wrongdoings of their government. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/06/world/americas/in-guyana-feeling-stifled-after-needling-government-in-song.html
5. Guyanese government ship intercepted by Venezuelan forces
- A Guyanese government research ship, with about 39 people aboard, was intercepted by a Venezuelan naval ship. The ship than proceeded to be escorted by the Venezuelan forces to Margarita Island where they were said to be under arrest. This is in response to conflicts between Guyanese and Venezuelan claims on the waters around their borders especially in the prospective oil supply contained therein. These conflicts are hoped to be resolved through diplomacy. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/12/world/americas/venezuela-intercepts-ship-with-5-americans-aboard.html
6. Many Guyanese immigrants facing financial ruin
- Hundreds of Guyanese immigrants are now facing major financial problems due to taking out high-risk mortgages on homes they bought that were guaranteed to be readily affordable by real estate agent Edul Ahmad. Ahmad is now facing major criminal charges for masterminding a $50M mortgage fraud. Now all of the people that bought houses from him are facing major financial damage and uncertainty in what they could possibly do now that they have so much debt. One buyer states, " I don’t even trust myself to make decisions anymore. I’ve lost everything.” http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/09/nyregion/edul-ahmad-accused-of-defrauding-guyanese-immigrants.html?_r=0
7. Remains from Jonestown Massacre Found
- The cremated remains of nine victims of the Jonestown Massacre were found and are being sent to forensic labs to identify whose remains they are and to notify their families. The Jonestown Massacre happened in 1978 in Jonestown, Guyana when a local cult committed mass suicide-murder at a local temple where they killed an estimated 409 citizens. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/08/us/delaware-remains-from-jonestown-massacre-found.html
8. India's Prime Minister asks developed countries to conserve water and energy
- India, striving to support countries like Guyana, asked developed countries to use less energy and water. In an effort to keep Guyana and many countries afloat, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pledged different limits in his own country's usage of energy and water to show his commitment to helping Guyana while the resources of the world continue to diminish. http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/31/indias-prime-minister-asks-developed-nations-to-use-less-energy-and-water/
9. Impending opening of the 'Guyana Marriot'
- The Five-star "Guyana Marriot' is set to open shortly. Built by Atlantic Hotels Incorporated, this hotel has hopes of being a great addition to Guyana and hopefully a good source of commerce and recognition in the international scope. The reality, according to the AHI Chairman, is that “Every dollar invested in the hotel is well invested.” http://guyanachronicle.com/five-star-guyana-marriott-set-to-open-shortly-stabroek-news-apologises-for-saying-otherwise/
10. Political Opposition approves existing Guyanese Constitution
- The opposing political forces approved the existing Guyana Constitution. However critics lament the fact that nothing has really changed since the 1980 version of the document. Hopes of compromise for change seem minute and it looks as though the constitution will continue to contain the same provisions that they originally demanded and supported. http://guyanachronicle.com/teixeira-political-opposition-approved-existing-constitution-but-now-ignores-all-chances-at-compromise/