Tag Archives: guyanese

GUYANA: POVERTY AND POVERTY REDUCTION IN GUYANA — by Ralph Ramkarran

01/31/2023 – 12:09 am

Posted by Ralph Ramkarran January 28, 2023- Conversatin Tree Blog

There is no dispute that much poverty still exists in Guyana. Its existence and alleged absence of solutions to relieve it were among the highlights of the Budget Debate last week, uninspiring as many of the speeches were.

The United Nations has more experience than any other international agency in the study, measurement and eradication of poverty. It has embarked on the Third United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2018-2027), having completed a first and a second decade. In its recent reports tracking poverty rates, the UN has  used earnings of below US$1.90 per day as the basis of measuring poverty. Those living on less than US$1.90 per day are considered as living below the poverty line. Numerous measures have been discussed and debated over decades to lift people above the poverty line, and prior to the covid-19 pandemic, great successes have been achieved in reducing poverty.          Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in Business, Commentary, Education, Food security, Government, Guyana, Personalities, Politics, poverty | Also tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (3)

GUYANA: Grasps at Prospect for Progress in the New Year – by Ralph Ramkarran

01/06/2023 – 12:18 am

 Posted by Ralph Ramkarran –

Ralph Ramkarran

Predictions of significant economic growth in Guyana due to the developing petroleum industry are being realized. Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2021 was US$8.04 B., representing a 20 percent growth rate. GDP reached the US$4 B mark in 2012 and increased to US$5 B in 2019. From US$8.04B in 2021 the GDP is projected to grow in 2022 by 56 percent which will take its projected GDP to US$12+ B. Its per capita income grew from US$9,000+ to US$10,000+.

Increased spending projections for 2022 reflected the increased GDP for 2021. For example, spending by the Ministry of Works is due to increase from G$40 B in 2021 to G$96 B in 2022. It is due to increase from G$39 B to G$57 B for the Ministry of Health, G$25 B to G$33 B for the Ministry of Education and G$19 B to G$29 B for the Ministry of Agriculture. Total budget projects for 2022 are expected to be G$553 B.                Continue reading →

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GUYANA: The Bright Century Beckons: But What’s In It For Me, And When? – By Ralph Ramkarran

02/23/2022 – 12:30 am

– By Ralph Ramkarran – February 19, 2022 Conversation Tree Blog

The spectacular possibilities that await Guyana were revealed at the recently concluded Oil & Gas conference. Government spokespersons, led by President Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Mark Phillips and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, and other officials, revealed plans, set out priorities and declared objectives. The head of Exxon talked about the possibilities of the oil industry and its growing potential. Not only will production increase but discoveries will multiply. The official estimate of reserves is 10 billion barrels, the unofficial 13. Guyanese can begin to think realistically of a potential of 20 billion and hope for 30 billion.

This was a conference to encourage investment and investors were represented. But the Heads of Government who attended – from Barbados, Suriname and Ghana – spoke about the interests of the Guyanese people. Even though Guyanese leaders did so as well, it was clear that uppermost in the minds of conference participants was investment opportunities, and not wages and working conditions for the jobs that would be created.           Continue reading →

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GUYANA: MUDWATA – The profane and homophobic commentator – Wanted by police

02/07/2022 – 12:09 am

Posted by Ralph Ramkarran

MUDWATA, still defiantly profane and homophobic, is back, daring the authorities to find him and ridiculing their arrest of Keron Bruce. It is not certain whether MUDWATA is a comedian, a campaigner against evil, or a vulgarian seeking to appeal only to the prurient. Some will argue that his profanity and homophobia disqualify him from aspiring to legitimacy. But I rather suspect that he doesn’t care and the people who tune in to YouTube who find him funny notwithstanding his deterioration in quality since he has been publishing on YouTube. It may that his undoubted talent is not enough to sustain any greater ambitions. (see link to his videos below)

The vast majority of Guyanese do not have access to social media to be able to experience the MUDWATA product. It is among the influential to whom MUDWATA is available that the opponents of profanity and homophobia lurk, hence the ease with which the police, the Crime Chief himself, is invoked for a cuss case, in between investigating a G$20 million armed robbery in Berbice.        Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in Arts / Culture, crime and Investigations, Government, Guyana, Personalities, Politics | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (1)

Guyana: Why Has the Economy Been In Shackles Since Colonial Times – By Ralph Ramkarran

11/02/2021 – 12:06 am

 CONVERSATION TREE BLOG – Posted by Ralph Ramkarran  – 

Guyana’s is and has always been a primary producer. During its years of Independence, although there was some economic growth, Guyana was unable to significantly diversify its economy by, firstly, adding value to what it produced and, secondly, advancing the process of industrialisation.

Apart from political instability and consequential factors, the absence of an adequate and cheap supply of electricity was the major obstacle inhibiting such development. For a decade and a half beginning in 1957, Guyana saw the construction of a bauxite smelter as a way of triggering and, thereafter, advancing industrial development. Both parties struggled mightily to access foreign aid for projects to increase the supply of electricity. From Tiger Hill to Mazaruni, both failed.      Continue reading →

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GUYANA Politics: That “Bloated” Electoral List – by Ralph Ramkarran 

04/14/2021 – 12:03 am
Ralph Ramkarran  – Conversation Tree Blog 

In 2010 I wrote an article on the overseas vote in which I argued that the Constitution of Guyana permitted all Guyanese citizens over the age of 18 to vote. Since there was no residence stipulation, Guyanese residing overseas have a right to vote. As readers would imagine, it elicited some controversy. I was a member of the leadership of the PPP at that time.

Mr. Robert Corbin, then leader of the PNCR, in a masterful display of irony, accused the PPP of seeking to re-introduce the overseas vote which, incidentally, the PNC had facilitated and grossly manipulated in the 1968 elections so much so that voters were registered as residing at the address of a horse pasture in the UK.        Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in Commentary, Government, Guyana, Guyana Diaspora, Guyana elections, Personalities, Politics, Racial Conflict | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (4)

GUYANA: WEATHER: High waves with above normal high tides expected

01/02/2021 – 8:29 pm

Synopsis: 8 m/s to 12 m/s winds are currently being observed in the Atlantic Ocean adjacent to Guyana’s coast. These windy conditions are expected to continue through Monday 4 January, 2021.

Associated conditions: These high winds are generating north-easterly to easterly waves with heights in excess of 3.0 m in open waters and with periods between 9 s and 12 s. The highest waves, in excess of 3.5 m (9 ft – 11 ft), are expected beginning tonight through Sunday afternoon.            Continue reading →

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Guyana Politics – EXPLOITING THE SENTIMENTS OF THE ELECTORATE – By Ralph Ramkarran

01/17/2019 – 12:38 am

Ralph Ramkarran

SHARED GOVERNANCE

Conversation Tree Blog – January 12, 2019  – by Ralph Ramkarran

In a lengthy article written in 2011 before the general elections of that year, for “Freedom House” on “Countries at the Crossroads 2011: Guyana,” Assistant Professor Joan Mars, of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice of the University of Michigan-Flint, said: “Elections are constitutionally due to be held in 2011.

Calls by the political opposition for shared governance have not been endorsed by the ruling PPP/C administration headed by President Jagdeo; with its consistent absolute majority in parliament, the PPP/C has had little incentive to agree to share power, but the idea may be gathering momentum as a major rallying point in the forthcoming elections.“ Assistant Professor Mars, a former practising lawyer in Guyana, concluded: “The current system of majority rule should be reformed to provide for a power-sharing model that is representative of the ethnic diversity in the population.           Continue reading →

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Caribbean North Fundraising Concert – Richmond Hill Ontario – 24 August 2018

08/10/2018 – 6:05 pm

                 Download Flyer: Caribbean North Concert

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Cheddi Jagan’s Contribution to Guyana’s Independence – By Ralph Ramkarran

05/24/2016 – 12:12 am

CHEDDI JAGAN’S CONTRIBUTION TO GUYANA’S INDEPENDENCE

Posted on May 21, 2016 by
Ralph Ramkarran

Ralph Ramkarran

Inspired by events that were occurring in the wider world and influenced by progressive views while he was a student in the United States, Dr. Cheddi Jagan returned to Guyana in 1943, then British Guiana, intent on becoming politically involved on behalf of the poor and disadvantaged. He chose the trade union movement as an entrance point. Ashton Chase and Jocelyn Hubbard, both trade unionists, were sought out to join with him and Janet Jagan to form the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) on November 6, 1946, as a study and discussion group.

Branches emerged in various places including Kitty, Buxton and Enmore. My father, Boysie Ramkarran, joined the Kitty Group in 1947. Ashton Chase, at the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the PAC said that my father was the Secretary of that group. Eusi Kwayana was active in the Buxton group.   Continue reading →

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