St. Andrew’s Kirk observes 187 th anniversary
– Launches Youth Steelband
Acting President Samuel Hinds joined the congregation in a hymn during the observance of the St. Andrew’s Kirk 187 th anniversary. (A GINA Photo.)
Georgetown, GINA, November 27, 2005
The St. Andrew’s Kirk on Avenue of the Republic and Brickdam today observed its 187 th anniversary of Work and Witness in Guyana, which coincided, with the launching of the Kirk’s Youth Steelband.
The steelband, which will be named after the late, Rev. Cyril Thompson consists of 23 members including two Sunday school teachers and an instructor.
Members of the steelband performing a musical rendition during the observance of the St. Andrew’s Kirk 187 th anniversary. (A GINA Photo.)
Throughout the ceremony the band entertained the congregation with hymns. There were also renditions of Christmas carols.
Acting President Samuel Hinds and Mayor of Georgetown, Hamilton Green were among those who attended the special service.
TOP
Special sitting of National Assembly to pay tribute to Critchlow
GINA, Georgetown, November 27, 2005
Guyana’s father of trade unionism, Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow will be honoured on Wednesday, November 30 during a special sitting of the National Assembly in recognition of his sterling contribution to the struggle to organize the Guyanese working class. The Assembly will convene at 14h.
Moving the motion will be Member of Parliament (MP) and leader of the People’s National Congress /Reform (PNC/R), Robert Corbin. Mr. Corbin is also the President- General of the Guyana Labour Union, founded by Critchlow.
November 28 will mark 100 years since the beginning of the pioneering and heroic struggle to organize workers in Guyana.
His outstanding efforts and contribution to the development of the trade union movement in Guyana and the Commonwealth will be emphasised with November 28 declared “Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow Day”.
The motion also calls on the National Assembly to declare Critchlow a National Hero from November 30.
This will be undertaken to acknowledge his heroic and pioneering contribution as an exemplary trade unionist and a champion of the working class.
Critchlow has made a significant and lasting contribution towards the official recognition and acceptance of the rights and benefits, which now accrue, to workers in Guyana.
Members of Parliament are requested to take note of this special sitting of the Assembly.
TOP Minister Teixeira to return to Berbice to review corruption allegations
Georgetown , GINA, November 27, 2005
Minister of Home Affairs, Gail Teixeira will return to Berbice tomorrow to hold meetings with the 24-member select committee to further look into allegations of corrupt law enforcement officers.
During a meeting with residents on November 25 at Tain, Corentyne, eight areas there elected among themselves three representatives each to form a committee to work with the Minister in addressing the crime situation and to restore confidence in the community.
One of the recommendations emanating from the initial meeting with the Home Affairs Minister and the committee was the establishment of an investigating committee to review the allegations made against certain ranks in the Tactical Services Unit (TSU).
An integral part of tomorrow’s agenda will be the agreed names of the investigating committee and report on issues raised.
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Acting President commissions new ACIC computer school
Acting President Samuel Hinds gets acquainted with one of the computers at the new computer school as President of the ACIC, Hakeem Khan (extreme right), Chairperson at the commissioning ceremony, Roshan Khan and teacher attached to the complex, Noorul Hadi look on.
Georgetown , GINA, November 27, 2005
Acting President Samuel Hinds today commended officials of the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC), Region Three ( Essequibo Islands/ West Demerara) on their initiative to open a computer school in the complex’s compound during his attendance at the opening ceremony and prior to commissioning the school.
The school was funded by ‘Muslim Aid’ of London, England and will be managed as an independent institution operating to meet its expenses and to cater for future expansion.
Addressing members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of various organizations, including the University of Guyana and a number of representatives of the Islamic diaspora, Mr. Hinds said, “I think all of us have been hearing about changes in our sugar regime, the loss of our preferential prices, and I think many of us may be hearing about concern about us finding our way, finding opportunities to work, earn a living.”
To this end, the Acting President noted that computer schools and computerized systems are very important in the world today, not only to promote literacy but also to provide employment opportunities.
“The Government has been pursuing opportunities for what they call outsourcing, for outsourcing to come to Guyana, that is, for office types of work that would be done in developed countries coming and being done here in Guyana, once there is good communication links of the computers,” he disclosed.
Mr. Hinds said that persons trained in computer schools in Guyana will certainly be making themselves eligible for employment in this area and he again commended the complex and other Islamic organisations involved, for adding the computer school to their ongoing training programme.
Another prominent figure who also addressed the gathering was Noorul Hadi, a spiritual teacher from Pakistan attached to the complex, who explained that with the way technology has advanced, it is important for young persons, whether Muslims or not, to become educated in the field. He emphasised that the building may not only be utilized by Muslim youths but also youths of other religions and the community at large.
He also pointed out that Muslim Aid will continue to render support to those who wish to increase their knowledge and contribute positively to their society.
Meanwhile, Pro-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Dr. Prem Misir, also addressing the forum, noted that the moment was indeed a historical one for the Anna Catherina area as well as the region.
He pointed out that the notion that religions or religious groups are conservative, not subject to change and consist of people who want to remain in the old traditional mode, has overtime, been found to be false. The opening of the school, Dr. Misir said, is an example of the falsity of the notion.
“I am aware too, when I used to head the Government Information Agency (GINA) that there has been Governmental efforts, and I think that they are still going on, to computerize most, if not all, the schools, and this is something that I know the President has been concerned about,” the Pro-Chancellor posited.
People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) Representative, Ms. A. Ali, also congratulated the complex’s representatives for their initiative and she expressed confidence that the venture can grow.
In the meantime, President of the Complex Hakeem Khan, noted that the computer centre, which comprises 10 computers, was funded with a grant of $2.5M from Muslim Aid while the ACIC was required to provide the infrastructure to house the facility.
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