Disputed owner demolishes derelict building

Jul 25, 2010 News

… tenants forced to scurry to safety

In a twist of event in James Street Albouystown, the occupants of a derelict building were made to scurry out after it was forcefully torn by down the alleged owner, yesterday.

The demolished building

At the scene persons were seen dismantling the building. The police were called on to settle an argument that ensued by the alleged owner Olinda Hoppie and another resident of Albouystown.
The peeved Hoppie even became hostile to the reporter, contending that no one gave the reporter the right to photograph the demolished building. Dan Tappin, one of the affected people, said that Hoppie is peeved that she did not receive the permission from the Magistrate’s court, since the matter was dismissed last Thursday and the Magistrate found that she was not in compliance with the relevant documentation to prove ownership.
Olinda Hoppie, owner of the 89 James Street, Albouystown property, said that she purchased the building one year ago, and since that time she has been continuously trying to remove the 18 persons who dwell there illegally.
But Tappin said the house belongs to”B.M. Singh who migrated to Canada.”
“She said she is going back to the US and nobody can’t do her anything,” Tappin stated.

GOINVEST highlights greener investment opportunities

The Guyana Office for Investment (GOINVEST) is clearing the way for greener investment possibilities in the country as indicated by their Chief Executive Officer in an address to members of the Private Sector.
The event was a forum for the Private Sector organised by the British High Commission and the University of Guyana. The theme of the forum was “Low Carbon – High Growth: Opportunities for Private Sector”.
Geoffrey DaSilva, Chief Executive Officer of GOINVEST spoke of the gradual reshaping that the country’s economy was undergoing as a result of our response to the climate change phenomena. He also highlighted a number of investment opportunities that the Government was keen on seeing in the country as well as the incentives attached to these opportunities.
As he addressed the country’s changing economy, DaSilva said that today there is an open economy, which encourages more competition and is steadily becoming more diversified as the country strives to develop in a sustainable way.
He spoke of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) noting that in 2009 sectors such as sugar, rice, fisheries, forestry and mining only accounted for some 29 percent of the GDP. This fact, according to DaSilva, was indicative of a shift in the make-up of the GDP since services such as Information and Communications Technology (ICT) distribution, construction, tourism and transportation were fast becoming the earners in the economy. He added that in the context of the President’s Low Carbon Development Strategy there were investment opportunities that were for the short, medium and long term.
The oil company that is spending US$10M to drill in the Takutu Basin is a short-term investment since fossil fuels are a short-term solution to meet Guyana’s energy needs and still earn money. Meanwhile, the push for diversification and expansion of the agricultural sector is a longer term investment that will see increased benefits if the programmes are managed to mitigate their environmental impact.
Da Silva noted that livestock represents the largest producers of greenhouse gases and unless methods such as Biogas digesters are used to prevent these gases from entering the atmosphere then the projects will only end up doing more ill than good.
DaSilva pointed out that GOINVEST tracks eight sectors of investment and to encourage their further growth the Government offers basic incentives for businesses falling under these areas. These are the agriculture, services, ICT, mining, tourism, light manufacturing, woods and energy sectors.
According to DaSilva, the Basic Incentive Programme offers tax and duty waivers for equipment, machinery and in some cases vehicles too.
He spoke of GOINVEST’s push to see more call centers established here in Guyana. DaSilva pointed out that there are currently six call centers in Guyana employing almost 3000 people; a figure he estimates could double in the next two years as several centers come online in the near future.
He noted that the Government and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company have been working hand in hand with these investors to ensure that all of their communication needs are met. Further to which the Government is facilitating the growth of the sector by removing all taxes and duties on the equipment necessary to set up the centers as well as granting these businesses a tax holiday for their establishment.
According to DaSilva, there are many more examples of such occurrences where the Government is in support of industries and investment opportunities that have minimal environmental impacts and are in keeping with the LCDS.
He noted that what is needed is a different kind of thinking on the part of investors and the private sector. He also encouraged business owners to embrace initiatives that would allow them to remove their dependence on any one particular form of power generation.