Weekend Mirror 30 June 2018

ANOTHER LIE EXPOSED 30 June - 1 July , 2018 / Vol. 10 No. 28 / Price: $100

Internet: http: //www.mirrornewsgy.com / e-mail: weekendmirror@gmail.com

– gov’t moving to sell off GuySuCo assets, bond monies not to be used for sugar PAGE 3

Ramjattan calls for citizens to be ‘disciplined into paying taxes’

PAGE 6

‘We have an election to win, hard work continues – Jagdeo T

he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has never “put all its eggs in one basket” – not a “Jagdeo basket” or a “third term basket.” General Secretary of the PPP and Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, was pellucid in this declaration today during a news conference, held at his Church Street office.

His comments came in response to the June 26, 2018 ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which did not uphold the ruling of Guyana’s Court of Appeal in the presidential term limits case.

In a direct message to Guyanese, he said, “People may be disappointed, but we have an election to win. I will work even harder now to ensure that we win…I can make a contribution to Guyana, to the next PPP/C government and to our people….coming up to elections you will see me working harder.”

SAME POSITION He reiterated sentiments he expressed over the weekend and made clear that his position has not changed. “Today I maintain that this is exactly what I will do,” Jagdeo said.

Over the weekend he said, “It is public knowledge, that on Tuesday, 26th July 2018, the Caribbean Court of Justice is scheduled to deliver its ruling in the constitutional case of Attorney General of Guyana v Cedric Richardson. Multitudes of supporters of the PPP/C and even across the political divide have made contact with me.

“Many concerns were raised, including the public statements of those in Government in respect of a particular outcome. As a result,

I am moved to publicly assure that whatever the ruling is, I am and will remain the General Secretary of the PPP. In that capacity, I will continue to spearhead the Party’s struggle for a better life for all Guyanese, especially the working people, the poor and the under-privileged, for racial and national unity and for victory at the polls at the next Local Government, Regional and National Elections.

“Unlike the 2011-2015 period, where I played no formal part in the PPP Administration, I intend to be a formal part of the next PPP government as we resume the implementation of plans to build a better country of which all our people can feel proud.

“Ours is a Party not built on personalities but on policies, all designed to create a better life for our people, and forge racial, ethnic and class unity. I remain committed to these policies and causes and will continue to struggle with the Party to achieve them.

“I remain absolutely humbled at the over-whelming confidence which the Guyanese people have continued to place in me and I remain eternally grateful for their continued support.”

SUPPORT FOR THE LAW Jagdeo charged that his position has been, and remains, adherence to the laws of Guyana.

He said, “There was a lot of speculation in 2011. Will Jagdeo leave? Will he stay? I made it clear then that I will comply with the laws of Guyana. The law at that time was that you had to leave after two terms and I complied with that, because I believe in adhering to the laws of Guyana.

“…we now have a ruling by the CCJ that interprets the law and it remains our law. As someone who has always been an advocate for the law, the same position I held then applies today.

“I have made it clear, wherever I have gone in our base – because many people believe that I should be the presidential candidate – that we, the PPP, have not made a decision.”

SUPPORT FOR NEXT LEADER Asked about support for the PPP/C’s next presidential candidate, Jagdeo repeated that the Party will make that decision in time.

“The Party has several good people. One will emerge. I will support that person and that person becomes president….as General Secretary I will hold the new government accountable to the promises that we, the PPP, as a Party made to the Guyanese people,” he said.

He added, “…I have been asked one question hundreds of time. I have always maintained that the PPP will select its presidential candidate at the appropriate time. I repeat that again today….the process will be a democratic one.”

Pressed for specifics, Jagdeo only said, “I am hoping that we select a candidate who embraces our programme…our programme is clear, pro poor, etc. “…I think that it (my support role) will be a comfort to whoever is there because I will work to ensure that that president has a successful government. I have enough policy experience to help…. I believe that I have policy (Turn to page 9)

SEE INSIDE

No Law Reform Commission in place, yet PAGE 6 $850,000 being spent on rent every month Gov’t funding training for more People’s Militia recruits PAGE 8

‘Where did $240M’ for Kitty market rehab go?

PAGE 26

Slain fishermen remembered

by MPs PAGE 6

d

he mes. an ked nas er he nd nd ct. nt-

he ng ed bil on s.

a

nd ee bur

be es ill she

el ls he gts nd ee era-

ilof nt

7)

or ed at ng % %). nt ’s wn te as It ds he er d.

2

19

PPP URGES YOU TO GET REGISTERED NOW!

● The Registration Cycle (Claims and Objections) starts on Monday May 21st 2018 and ends on Sunday July 15th 2018.

Persons can make claim /register to get onto the list during this period. (New Registrant, Transfers, change to particulars and corrections to ID cards.

NB .ID cards can be uplifted during this period and also after the cycle closes.) ● The Objections part of the Registration Cycle (Claims and Objections) starts on Monday May 21st 2018 and ends on Thursday July 19th 2018.Persons can make claims against the inclusion of persons onto the list during this period. (Persons who have died or persons who are already on another list). ● Opening hours of the GECOM offices : ► Mondays –Thursdays 08:00 hours -17:00 hours ► Fridays-08:00 hours -16:00 hours. Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays 10:00 hours -16:00 hours. Offices will be opened during the lunch hour Types of transactions that can be done during this period ● New Registrant (Category A, 18years and over).

Persons should be born on or before 31st October 2000. ● New Registrant (Category B, above 14years but below 18 years).

Persons should be born on or before 31st October 2004 but not before 31st October 2000.

Source documents required to be registered: Original Birth Certificate or valid Guyana passport ● Transfers: This is for persons who would have been registered at another address (another LIST), that is persons who have moved to a new address. A transfer is needed, so that they can now be included in the division/list where they are living.

Document required for a transfer: ID card ● Corrections to particulars on your ID Cards : This is for persons who already have their ID cards and now need to make correction to their particulars such as : ► wrong spelling of name, ► wrong date of birth, ► defaced pictures Documents required for Corrections to particulars on your ID Cards: Original Birth Certificate and ID card ● Change to particulars on your ID Cards: This is for : ► Married women who now want to have her husband name (Name change).

Document required for Name change: Marriage Certificate, Deed Poll etc. ● Replacement of lost ID Cards: This is for persons who have lost their ID cards Document required for Replacement of lost ID Cards: Fill out a Statutory Form from the GECOM office and have it sign by a Commissioner of Oath. ● Uplifting of ID Cards: This is for persons who have previously been registered.

GET ON THE LIST DON’T DELAY – GET REGISTERED NOW!

WEEKEND MIRROR 30 JUNE - 1 JULY, 2018

Gov’t continues to rack up debt, borrows another US$35M from World Bank T

he World Bank Group announced approval of a US$35M loan, the latest debt incurred by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government since taking office.

The increasing debt burden was flagged by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which said

Guyana gross public debt to GDP ratio is projected to reach 60 per cent of GDP by 2020, a relatively high level which can bring heightened financing risks on the non-concessional component, but noted that the authorities are determined to promote a robust economy.

The terms of the credit arrangement were not disclosed by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan.

Meanwhile, the World Bank has said that the US$35M Development Policy Credit is the first of two programmatic financial and fiscal development policy credits.

GRA Head admits that constraints to private sector growth directly linked to gov’t failures

A

n admission from the Head of the Guyana Revenue Authority has left the APNU+AFC Government silent.

GRA Commissioner-General, Godfrey Statia, said “The vast majority of constraints to growth identified by the private sector are directly linked to government decisions and action…Government must provide an enabling environment that encourages the private sector to invest, and to flourish thereby allowing for increased prosperity and improved living standards.”

He was speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the Private Sector Commission.

Soon after his admis-

sion, he was quick to welcome a proposal by Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, for there to be quarterly meetings and also heaped praise on the PSC for their acceptance. This move, he believes, is a step in the right direction for the holistic growth of the country. “Candid exchange of knowledge and best practices on doing business can benefit both public and private sectors and can better define their contributions to mutual interests,” he said.

In the meantime, Jordan has already revised downwards the projections for economic growth from 3.8 per cent to 3.4 per cent.

Notably, tor 2017, initially, Government had projected that Guyana’s econ-

omy would have grown by a 3.8 per cent growth rate for 2017. This projection was reduced to 3.1 per cent.

It was then revised downwards again to 2.9 per cent.

The actual performance, 2.1 per cent, was disclosed earlier this year. The performance of major sectors according to final 2017 figures, which were revised in February 2018, show that: the agriculture sector only grew by 0.4% (projected to grow by 5.2%); the sugar sector contracted by 25.2% (projected to grow by 13.7%); other crops sector only grew by 2.4% (projected to grow by 4.4%); and that the mining and quarrying sector contracted by 8.8% (projected to grow by 0.7%).

Complaint about hiring bias at GECOM to be raised during meeting with ERC – Jagdeo T he Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) is expected to meet Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, to discuss matters related to the complaints of hiring bias at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

According to the Opposition Leader, he received a letter from the Ethnic Relations Commission wherein he was informed of an intention to pay a courtesy call on him. “Last week, I received a letter from the ERC saying that they would like to pay a courtesy call on me to have a discussion…I’m waiting

for that to take place. At that meeting, I will raise these and some other matters in keeping with their mandate,” he said.

Last week, GECOM Commissioners Bibi Shadick, Sase Gunraj and Robeson Benn wrote a complaint letter to the ERC calling for a full investigation on the hiring practices at GECOM. The Commissioners charge that the state of affairs is “clearly indicative of a larger issue at the Guyana Elections Commission, which has an adverse effect on ethnic relations and harmony in

Guyana.” The three Commissioners called for the inquiry to be done, at the earliest opportunity, and for the ERC’s report be made public.

The move comes after the top-ranked candidate applying for the post of Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) was passed over for the post.

Meanwhile, ERC Chairman, Dr John Smith, has confirmed that the commissioners intend to have a meeting with the Opposition Leader, but noted that a date for the meeting has not been set.

3

WEEKEND MIRROR 30 JUNE - 1 JULY, 2018

ANOTHER LIE EXPOSED – gov’t moving to sell off GuySuCo assets, bond monies not to be used for sugar

A

leaked document has exposed the lies told the Guyanese people by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government. The document - ‘The Private Placement Memorandum’ – details the arrangements of the $30B fixed rate bond, which that government said it was moving to secure for the sugar industry, and makes it clear that the money will not be used for the sugar industry. Notably, before

now it was unclear if the $30B was a bond or a loan.

The document, on page seven, says the $30B in bonds will be issued in exchange for cash and the monies will be used “to fund long term projects and capital expenditure” in Guyana. There was no mention of investment in the sugar sector.

However, the document shows that NICIL plans to sell off assets of GuySuCo,

including land, to help pay off the $30B, plus interest, that it has borrowed. The document shows that NICIL expects to start selling of GuySuCo lands in 2018 and expects to collect $14B in 2018 and another $22B in 2019. “The cash generated from operations appears sufficient to service the coupon and repayment of the principal for the bond facility,” the document said on page 14.

The document explains that the move to issue the Bonds, at a 4.75 per cent interest rate, in exchange for cash, is a five-year agreement. Interest is payable semi-annually, starting October 2018. The Bonds will mature in April 2023.

As such critics are now asking why the Government is getting itself tied to a short term debt for a whopping $30B to fund long term projects. Notably, NICIL,

reportedly, did not have any major external or long-term liabilities as at the end of 2017.

Additionally, the bonds have been secured by a government guarantee. This means that if the persons who have paid for the bonds cannot be repaid, the government will have to use taxpayers’ monies and assets to clear the debt.

Notably, the bonds have been issued “free and clear”

of all corporate taxes. It has also been issued 355 basis points above one-year Bank of Guyana Treasury Bills.

The 17-page document said the $30B bond facility is being arranged by Republic Bank, raising questions as to the amount of fees that are being paid to the bank.

The APNU+AFC Coalition Government has remained silent on the criticisms relative to this issue.

Human Trafficking concerns: Felix summoned again for questioning at Parliamentary Committee T

he Parliamentary Opposition has made it clear that persons from other countries are welcomed to Guyana, once they arrive and stay legally.

That said, the situation surrounding the thousands of Haitians and Cubans, for whom there are no departure records, continue to be the center of concerns that these persons may have been trafficked through Guyana, with the support of the Coalition Government.

After the issue first came up, Minister Felix, on May 23, 2018, wrote to the Clerk of the National Assembly and provided statistics of several main groups of foreign nationals, with the largest arrival and departure figures, for the past five years and the first quarter of 2018.

A breakdown of the information showed alarming information for two groups – Cubans and Haitians. According to the numbers,

from 2015 to April 30, 2018, a total of 93,374 Cubans arrived in Guyana, but only 76,663 were recorded to have left. This means that there are 16,711 Cubans still in Guyana. However, there is no evidence that such a large number of Cubans are still in Guyana. For Haitians, the numbers show that, from 2015 to April 30, 2018, a total of 6,245 arrived in Guyana, but only

963 were recorded to have left. This means that there are 5,282 Haitians still in Guyana.

As is the case with the Cubans, there is no evidence that there are over 5,000 Haitians living in Guyana.

On Monday (June 25, 2018), even Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge admitted that the 16,711 Cubans and 5,282 Haitians are not in Guyana. “Where are

they? They are such a big population that if 20 people appear in Georgetown, everybody knows what their name is; whose house they are staying at; and what they ate,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, his colleague, Felix has since said that the Cubans and Haitians could have left Guyana illegally, because there are “leakages” at Guyana’s porous borders.

Additionally, Chairperson of the Committee and Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, has said that Felix has been summoned to appear, again, before the Committee on July 4, 2018, to discuss the issue – more particularly to discuss the risk of human trafficking.

“They were written to last week…Felix has been

invited to come before the committee on July 4th, or another time convenient to him but preferably due to the issue of human trafficking, he was invited to the next meeting; July 4th,“ she said.

When the Committee last met, less than satisfactory, according to the PPP/C members on that Committee, were recorded during that meeting.

Notably, while the Coalition Government has remained silent on the substantive concern of human trafficking, several top Government officials are said to be involved in the trafficking of Haitians and Cubans – using Guyana as a transshipment point. Reports are that the persons who are trafficked through Guyana have to pay as much as US$6,000 for Guyanese documents, which are used as they are moved out of the country.

AFC a confirmed ‘spent force’

– unable to secure meeting with its own Coalition partner

M

ONTHS after writing to President David Granger and the leader of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), the Alliance For Change (AFC) has been unable to secure a meeting to address the upcoming Local Government Elections.

AFC, the minority partner in the APNU+AFC Coalition, has since commenced its own campaign for Local Government Elections. The AFC has gone as far as to identity candidates in the

Local Authority Areas – the municipalities (towns) and Neighbourhood Democratic Council.

In an attempt to save face, the AFC stated that negotiations with APNU, relative to contesting the LGE on a joint platform, will continue.

AFC Leader, Raphael Trotman, at the end of April 30 had noted that the Party sent a letter to Granger. Since then there has been no move on Granger’s part to agree to a meeting.

4

EDITORIAL CCJ ruling has not changed the focus of the Party T

he ruling in the constitutional case of Attorney General of Guyana v Cedric Richardson has been handed down by the Caribbean Court of Justice and, above all, it has not changed the course of Party’s struggle.

It has not changed the focus of the Party – to ensure that the APNU+AFC Coalition is removed from Government and to ensure that progress and prosperity, in line with the Party’s vision, returns to Guyanese and Guyana.

The work to prepare the Party to take office at the upcoming General and Regional Elections in 2020 continues. The grassroots work to broaden the ethnic composition of the Party’s membership continues. The grassroots work to transform the PPP make it more vibrant from the bottom up – to encourage greater involvement of more young people and women continues. And here is has been a welcoming encouragement that the PPP General Secretary has committed to making space for more young people, under the guidance of the more seasoned comrades and leaders of the Party, for the sake of a strong Party in the decades to come.

The APNU+AFC Coalition Government has demonstrated repeatedly that it is incapable of governing. It is bereft of ideas on how to manage and grow the local economy. It has demonstrated its proclivity for greed, mediocrity and arrogance. And it has been hopelessly incompetent and corrupt.

Our Party has demonstratively, always, been guided by policies and programmes that seek to reduce poverty, reduce the disparities between the urban and rural and hinterland areas, provide equal opportunities to education, housing, health and employment and expansion of the economic base with investments and new sectors. Our track record demonstrates that only when the PPP and subsequently the PPP/C has been in government has Guyana and its peoples moved forward and progressed. /C This is the struggle that is ahead. Guyanese, supporters and non-supporters, ought not needlessly be distracted by the crowing in the PNC-led Coalition Government.

WEEKEND MIRROR 30 JUNE - 1 JULY, 2018

There is still is no plan or even a concerted effort to address the well-being of sacked sugar workers Dear Editor,

T

he June 24, 2018 Stabroek News reported that a coordinating committee has been established regarding GuySuCo’s ‘Sustainable and Resilient Communities Programme’ and ‘Alternative Livelihoods Initiative’. For the GAWU, the establishment of a committee, now six (6) months after the workers of Skeldon, Rose Hall and East Demerara were made jobless and eighteen (18) months since a similar fate met the Wales workers, in our sincere view, says a mouthful.

The belated establishment of a ‘committee’ clearly demonstrates that there was and, from all appearances, still is no plan or even a concerted effort to address the well-being and welfare of the thousands of ordinary Guyanese who have been affected by the wrong decisions to close sugar estates. Certainly, GuySuCo and the authorities had, in our view, significant lead time to properly plan and devise workable solutions to mitigate the loss of the workers’ livelihoods. The fact that this is now being done nearly at the end of the second half of 2018 confirms the view that there was not even a glancing thought regarding how workers and their families would

make out following the closing of the estates doors.

We cannot help but wonder, whether the ‘high-powered’ committee is aware of the realities that the jobless sugar workers and their families now face.

Do they know that some workers cannot provide sufficient, healthy meals for their families? Do they know that some workers have had to remove their children from school? Do they know that some workers have found themselves in a depressive state? Do they know that families have broken up? It seems to us, that the stage-show committee, sitting, in air conditioned board rooms, far away from the suffering spawned by closure of estates is unaware of the present-day realities in the communities linked to the now closed estates. The use of catchy names and having nice pictures of meetings mean very little to the workers and their families who are caught literally between a rock and a hard place. If the committee is really serious it needs to go to the communities to interact with the workers, find out what are their problems and devise appropriate solutions to address the difficulties they face. The seeming satellite approach cannot and, in our sincere view, will not work.

The GAWU also saw that the Min-

istry of Natural Resources, according to the June 25, 201, Stabroek News, has sponsored a training programme which will train about 100 persons in several fields. Of the 100-person cohort, we recognise, some retrenched sugar workers will benefit. The GAWU welcomes this training programme, which will address a very small amount of the displaced workers. At the same time, we cannot help but wonder whether any careful consideration has been given to trainees securing employment with their newfound skills as it can very well negate the impact of the training. We also wonder whether any assessment has been done regarding the availability of such skills in Region Six and whether the trainees will join a saturated market. These, we believe, among other things, should be fully well thought-out before embarking on programmes of this nature.

At this time, while the grass is growing, the horse is starving and the jobless workers are finding it harder day by day.

For the now dismissed sugar workers, they need urgent action not cheap talk.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine, General Secretary of GAWU

Another case for the Procurement Commission to investigate Dear Editor,

M

y interest was drawn to the recent award of a contract to build a new prison at Mazaruni, especially since it was awarded to a consortium comprising of a Trinidadian company and a local firm for the sum of G$3.562 Billion, one billion Guyana dollars more than the Guyanese Contractors’ bids.

The bids were as follows: 1. Guyana Contractor A: G$2.518 Billion 2. Guyana Contractor B: G$2.729 Billion 3. Guyana Contractor C: G$2.440 Billion 4. Guyana Contractor D: G$2.586 Billion 5. Average of Guyana Contractors: G$2.568 Billion 6. Trinidadian Contractor + Local Firm: $3.562 Billion The contract was awarded to the

Trinidadian + local firm.

I am therefore formally calling on the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board, the Procurement Commission, the Ministries of Public Security and Public Infrastructure to explain the deliberate waste of the extra one billion Guyana dollars on this project, setting aside for a moment that even at G$2.5 Billion this constitutes reckless and massive waste of taxpayers’ dollars. This at a time when the Government claimed that it was strapped for cash and it could not have paid the terminated sugar workers monies properly due to them.

Editor, a billion dollars is a lot of money.

It could do a lot of things, for example giving thirty-five communities, villages and towns each about $30 million to create jobs, to do food security, small infrastructure works and useful projects such

as block-making, furniture-making, garment manufacturing, etc.

Of course $3.5 Billion can do much more. This is sufficient for 100 such grants of $35 million each for similar projects rather than wasting this money on an ill- conceived notion of a multi-billion dollar facility for prisoners.

Strictly speaking, money properly spent on job creation may obviate the need for the prison. But I rather suspect that there is much more to this award than meets the eye.

The Procurement Commission and other agencies are set up by law to prevent this recklessness. This deal has the scent of unrefrigerated fish and needs to be examined carefully.

The agencies listed above must provide an explanation.

Yours faithfully, Ramon Gaskin

5

WEEKEND MIRROR 30 JUNE - 1 JULY, 2018

Democracy is in crisis Dear Editor,

Water rate hike another burden for the working people Dear Editor,

T

he Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) was disturbed to learn, from media reports, of the decision to increase water rates in two tranches – the first effective from October 01, this year and the second from October 01, 2019.

Through the increases approved, ordinary Guyanese will now have to find thousands of dollars more per year to enjoy an essential building block of life in the Land of Many Waters.

The FITUG saw from a Demerara Waves report, that the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) CEO, Dr Richard Van West Charles saying that the approved increases would be used in financing the Company’s capital works.

Indeed this is saddening recognizing that for quite a number of years the State had been assisting the Company in reaching its capital requirements. It seems to us, in view of the expansion of tax revenues in recent times, the Administration can continue to provide such assistance and thus negating the necessity

for the rate hike. Moreover, we recall that GWI’s personnel had admitted, according to the media, that rate increase could have been avoided if the Company were able to collect rates from all consumers. At this time, we are unaware of steps to go in this direction in order to stave off the rate hike.

As FITUG pointed out not too long ago, the water rate hike would now require all consumers to pay VAT on water as they would now exceed the threshold. Thus, this amounts to a further indirect increase of 14 per cent.

This newest increase comes on the heels of several other burdens that have been placed on the workers in recent times and is causing workers, more and more, to curtail their consumption in order to live within their means.

Slowly and steadily, dismayingly, workers, indeed working-people and citizens, are reaching the point where the proverbial straw will break the camel’s back.

Regards, Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana

I

refer to a letter written by Mr Vincent Alexander captioned `No basis for Jagdeo to conclude GECOM Chairman has been biased”, which was published on June 14, 2018. This piece clearly illustrates how well adjusted Mr Alexander has become to defending the systemic injustices being imposed by the ruling “lumpen bourgeoisie” against the people.

This piece from Mr Alexander exposes the process by which four (4) of the seven (7) GECOM Commissioners are prepared to put the “boots on the neck” of the majority of our people in their quest to perpetuate administrative skullduggery and favouritism in public office. The facts would reveal that, after evaluating the job functions and interviewing the shortlisted applicants, the person with the highest score for Deputy Chief Elections Officer was still denied the role. WHY? First off, all the taxpayers of Guyana are funding GECOM, and therefore this organisation must, in principle, be seen to be serving the entire nation. The team at all times must reflect Guyana in all of its shades and forms.

If one were to look at the top 13 officeholders in GECOM, just like the sitting list of Permanent Secretaries and Regional Executive Officers, one would safely see that, as a collective, none of these groups of public servants reflects the rainbow of talent that constitutes Guyana. This is an excellent case for the ERC and the Ministry of Social Cohesion to investigate.

In 1990, when discussions were being advanced and the system was constructed to restore democracy in Guyana, President Hoyte and the then Leader of the Opposition,

Cheddi Jagan, agreed to the Carter Model as a check and balance system to prevent exactly this situation that is happening today at GECOM. Their vision was that GECOM was going to be an independent agency created by law to conduct and regulate free and fair elections and elections free from fair.

They provided GECOM and its predecessor with jurisdiction over the entire electoral process, and with systems to foster a collection of ethical people at the top, who at all times aimed to preserve its impartiality by fostering a course that was unbiased and dispassionately balanced. Unfortunately, today under Mr Patterson, this is not the case. In 2018, GECOM comes across as an organisation that is prejudiced and very biased.

So if Mr. Alexander was not stuck in that aloft gang of “pseudo-milquetoast” elites, he would have realised that he holds a view that does not necessarily reconcile to that of the majority. Irrespective of what they do, if this course is pursued, this nation will, in the end, suffer. That is why the collective fight back must happen now, because unrighteousness must never be allowed to conquer righteousness, and we must never allow the rulers to walk the nation back to the days of colourful elections as practised by Burnham.

I am therefore calling on Guyanese in the diaspora to internationalise this fight by writing to your Senators, House Members, Members of Parliament and other dignitaries.

The struggle must be taken to a different level. The facts are there for all to see. Indeed, democracy is in crisis in Guyana today.

Regards, Sasenarine Singh

Time for forensic audit and Millions doled out for scholarships to criminal charges in Region 6 favoured persons, taxpayers receive Dear Editor,

I

n 2016, when the Auditor’s General Report was presented in the National Assembly , it stated among other things that 79 contracts totaling $147.586 million were not awarded to the lowest or the most competitive bidders and it also stated the reason why the lowest bidder was not awarded, the contract was ‘inadvertently not included in the Regional Tender Board minutes’. The REO blamed the scribe who took the minutes!

In that year I made it clear at the RDC Statutory meeting that Section 39(6) (a) of the Procurement Act makes it pellucid that ‘all evaluation criteria for the procurement of goods, works and services in addition to price, will be qualified in monetary terms and the tender will be awarded to the lowest evaluated bid’.

I further gave circumstances where this subsection has been blatantly violated, attesting to cronyism and corruption, and I gave clear examples where this was done on 7th July, 2016.

In April this year, it was reported in the media that the Auditor’s General’s Report for 2016 showed overpayments of salaries amounted to $345,000 and now the PAC has discovered that there was contract splitting to frustrate the objectives of Procurement Act and hence illegal.

A contract of $8.3 million for surgical gloves was split in three to fall below the $8 million ceiling, which the Regional Tender Board can award, and though the REO denied this fact, she later admitted to the PAC that there was contract splitting. This

brings to mind the various versions of the bulldozer story. Similar to the bulldozer and true to form, she blamed the previous REO, Dr. Ramayya.

Then there is an upsurge of new ‘contractors’ in Region 6, some of whom barely have access to a hammer. However, don’t be mistaken. Many of these new ‘contractors’ are actually ‘fronts’ for the favoured contractors.

The Procurement Act Section (5) pronounces on the qualifications contractors should possess, and many of these contractors lack the capacity so they sub-contract the works to the real contractors who should have gotten the contracts in the first place.

Therefore, this scenario now creates ‘middlemen’ who will sell the contract. What in effect is happening is that substandard work will result, since the contract price has to accommodate this split.

Undoubtedly, there is an urgent need for a forensic audit of the Tender Board in Region 6 to dig into the various questionable practices. The entire tendering process should be investigated and the awards of contracts and the background, experience and qualifications of these contractors should come under microscopic scrutiny.

Finally, should the Region’s REO not be charged with misconduct in public office?

Should the RDC not move a vote of no confidence against her? Dr. Ramayya was the recipient of several such motions for far less.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf RDC Councillor Region 6

no value for money

Dear Editor,

I

am pursuing a doctoral degree with a distinguished university and I struggle financially to pay the tuition and other fees. It is also a challenge to meet the high academic standards set by the university which includes exhaustive and comprehensive research.

According to one of Guyana’s online news sites, Junior Ministers of Education and Public Infrastructure, Nicolette Henry and Annette Ferguson, are currently pursuing studies in the United States and United Kingdom, respectively and have racked up $3.3 million so far.

Other beneficiaries include former Education Ministry Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam, currently pursuing education policy studies in Jamaica to the tune of $946,000; and the daughter of the former Education Minister, Alicia Roopnaraine, was listed as a first year psychology student in the UK, with a Guyana Government scholarship valued at $2.5 million.

Ms Henry has had the audacity to place a “Dr” in front of her name though she has not completed the academic requirements.

Her justification for placing those letters before her name was because, as she claimed, “I am a doctor of scholar…at a Laureate University in the US”. I called the contact number given at that school website (1-866-452-8732) and I was directed to a “Walden University.”

I inquired how I could become a “doctor of scholar” and the person at the end of the phone informed me that there is no such entity.

I queried about doing a PhD in public health. I asked if they would consider an undergraduate degree from another country accompanied with an incomplete Master’s degree from a small, unrecognised college. I could

not get a straight answer and was eventually directed to a website that required my details.

It became obvious quickly that this appeared to be a sham school after spending hours trying to get straight forward information.

I did a bit of research into this ‘university’ and discovered it is a virtual diploma mill.

In other words, if you pay the hefty tuition and other fees, you are virtually slated to get a piece of paper that says “Dr” besides your name.

See reviews of the institution at https:// www.gradreports.com/colleges/walden-university?stars=1#review-list-header Students who attended that institution commented: “The school is unprofessional; they do not reply to emails”; “they are interested only in getting your money, not educating you”; “they keep you enrolled for many years to take your money” and “the institution is a diploma mill to get a doctorate without doing any work.”

It is a blatant disregard for the taxpayers by the APNU Government – especially in a poor country such as Guyana, to dole out millions of dollars on scholarships to favoured persons connected with the Government. The situation becomes more asinine considering the dubious nature of the “Laureate University” (Walden) which appears to be a factory to embellish one’s name with “Dr” – and that which comes at a premium price.

Taxpayers need a detailed report of what each scholarship recipient has accomplished academically so far, what projects have been completed, curriculum details, requirements of the institution to gain a doctorate, research undertaken, and the title of the dissertation.

Where are those who assumed the roles as the conscience of Guyana? Why are they silent on this matter?

Sincerely, Devanand Bhagwan

6

Parliament happenings under review

WEEKEND MIRROR 30 JUNE - 1 JULY, 2018

‘We have the power to do it’ – Ramjattan on violation of laws ompletely ignoring the fact that Article 13 of the Constitution and the provisions of the 2006 Amerindian Act were violated, Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, on Monday (June 25, 2018) defended the move to create new Local Authority Areas (LAAs) – Neighbourhood Democratic Councils

(NDCs) and towns or municipalities.

He said the law allows Communities Minister, Ronald Bulkan, to act in the way he did. “You want to treat it as criminal….we have the authority to do it…if the Minister uses his Executive power to expand the Local Authority

Areas, why shouldn’t it be done?” he said in the National Assembly.

Notably, among others, the creation of the NDC in Annai, Region 9, encroaches on titled Amerindian Lands, as does the creation of Mahdia, Region 8, as a township.

Government has not responded to the concerns about its controversial moves.

by MPs

four bodies were recovered, while twelve remain missing and are feared dead.

On May 30, one of the alleged assailant behind the attacks 39-year-old, Nakool Manohar, called ‘Fyah’ appeared at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh and was remanded.

On June 6, 19-year-old Alexander Denhart, called ‘Shameface’ appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court charged with the mur-

der of fisherman Tilacknauth Mohabir called “Caiman”.

On June 13, the alleged mastermind, 43-year-old Primnauth Persaud, called ‘Sinbad’ of Cromarty Village, and Manohar (‘Fyah’) were charged with two counts of murder for allegedly killing fishermen Mahesh Sarjoo and Tillacknauth Mohabir during the piracy attack.

The victims were also remembered by their families during the latest memorial, which was held on Sunday (June 24, 2018).

C

Ramjattan calls for citizens to be ‘disciplined Slain fishermen remembered into paying taxes’ A

rguments by members of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) in the National Assembly on Monday (June 25, 2018) against the tax-driven policies of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government were met with startling comments by Minister Khemraj Ramjattan.

“You want representation, then you must pay taxes…this government will not be giving out any free lunches…you pay to ensure drains are okay, the environment is okay…overseers are paid…

you must take some money (to pay) because you are a property owner,” he said.

Ramjattan added, “…they (the PPP/C) are saying that we are a tax driven economy….countries run because taxes are paid….we know we can’t overtax, but we are on the cusp of great things with the oil sector….you need money to run the country.”

Immediately after Ramjattan addressed this matter in the House, PPP/C Parliamentarian, Pauline Sukhai, noted that his arguments “do

not hold water” when you examine the state of affairs on the ground. “What representation have been given?” she asked referring to some of the new Local Authority Areas (LAAs) created by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government.

Notably, the 2015, 2015, 2017 and 2018 national Budgets presented by the Coalition Government included a host of new taxes and fees, over 200 in total. Government is collecting $56B more in taxes in 2018.

The rental agreement, signed between the Ministry of Legal Affairs and Michael and Michelle Wharton, shows that the $850,000 monthly rental payment has been paid since December 1, 2017 – meaning from then to now – seven months – government has been paying for a building that is has not been using.

The sums paid to date total almost $6M. This is not counting the $1.7M

was signed. Also, as part of the agreement, the government has to pay its own electricity.

The Law Reform Commission is being pushed to reform and upgrade legislation in Guyana, in order to ensure they are in line with international best practices.

However, to date is it not clear when the Commissioners of the Law Reform Commission will be named.

In the meantime, taxpayers’ dollars are being wasted on an empty building.

A

moment of silence was observed during the Monday (June 25, 2018) sitting of the National Assembly, in memory of the victims of the deadly piracy attacks which took place between April 23, 2018 and May 3, 2018.

During the incident, five boats with approximately 20 crew members were attacked. Nine persons survived the brutal ordeal,

Taxpayers paying $20,000 per No Law Reform Commission in hour for special prosecutors place, yet $850,000 being spent deposit that was on rent every month security paid over when the contract plus $2M each in retainer fees

T

he owner of a building on Robb Street, Bourda, is cashing in on taxpayers’ monies every month, again due to the Government’s failure to ensure value for money spent.

The Government has agreed to pay $850,000 per month to rent two floors of the three-storey building on Robb Street, Bourda, to house the Law Reform Commissioner. However, the Commission has not even been set up.

Parliament approves nominees to police, public service commissions

T

he persons nominated to sit on the Police Service Commission and the Public Service Commission, secured approval in the National Assembly on Monday (June 25, 2018), even as concerns were raised by the Parliamentary Opposition.

Retired assistant commissioners Paul Slowe, Clinton Conway, Vesta Adams and Claire Jarvis will sit on the Police Service Commission.

Vibert Bowman and Mortimer Livan will sit on the Public Service Commission.

The names were included in a report from the Parliamentary Committee on Ap-

pointments, which is charged

by Minister George Norton.

PPP/C Parliamentarian, Clement Rohee, blasted government for its incompetence.

He pointed out that though the life of the commission came to an end in August last year it took months before efforts were made to get nominations. “It took 45 days for Norton (Minister George Norton) to find out from Ramjattan (Minister Khemraj Ramjattan) whether they were functioning. Total incompetence! These two gentlemen are sitting in the cabinet they are supposed to be in communication with

each other”, he stressed.

Meanwhile, Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, noted that there is no civilian nominee. ”It is always wise to ensure there is a civilian on the commission … I find the report deficient,” she said. Teixeira also expressed concern at the length of time it took for the committee to come up with the nominees.

Now that the two Commissions have been approved, President David Granger will have to schedule a meeting with Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, to discuss the appointments. It is not clear when he will do this.

T

he brother of a sitting Cabinet Minister, Patrice Henry, and five others - Michael Somersall, Hewley Griffith, Lawrence Harris, Compton Richardson and Trenton Lake – have been retained as special prosecutors to go after former government officials. The issue of the special prosecutors was raised in the National Assembly via a question, which Attorney General, Basil Williams, had to answer, by way of a written reply.

The question posed by PPP/C Parliamentarian, Anil Nandall, states: “Could the Honourable Minister provide this House with information on the number of Special Prosecutors that have been hired, their salaries and benefits, travel and hotel costs, etc., incurred, and, the number of cases they are/have been handling for the period January, 2017 – March, 2018?”

The reply makes it clear that the special prosecutors are given a retainer of $2M per case. A total of 12 cases have been handled by the Special Prosecutors, according to Williams.

Additionally each of them are paid $20,000 per hour of work, not necessarily per hour spent in court.

Williams did not say how the number of hours worked was verified or if the government was just paying over the monies based on what the special prosecutors claimed as time worked.

Williams also claimed that government has incurred no travel or hotel costs relating to the prosecutors since they were hired.

During the review of the last two Annual Budgets, the National Assembly was informed that millions of taxpayers’ dollars were allocated under Ministry of Legal Affairs’ budget to pay special prosecutors.

In 2017, the House was told that some $109M was budgeted for this purpose.

In 2018, undisclosed funds were also allocated for the hiring of Special Prosecutors, including foreign lawyers.

The issue of special prosecutors has been a controversial one, given the moves made only against former government officials – an effort that has been dubbed a witch-hunting exercise.

In July, 2016, the government had announced that it was awaiting advice on the feasibility of setting up a Special Prosecutors’ Office

to handle high-profile cases.

At the time, Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira had voiced concern about the move, saying that it will be yet “another attempt to witch-hunt political opponents.”

Months later, in January, 2017, the six attorneys appeared on the scene. When asked later how government decided on the persons to make up the team, Williams had said he could not discuss internal matters of Cabinet, but added that the lawyers were “well qualified.”

Nandlall has argued that the retention of the attorneys to prosecute a number of high profile cases is unconstitutional and he had warned that the right to a fair trial will be compromised by a politically-tainted process. “First of all, you have the violation of a constitutional and legal principle taking place…where the AG [Attorney General] is attempting to deal with prosecutions… so you have a trespass in the domain of the separation of powers doctrine,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nandlall charged that the answers on this issue, which were provided by Williams, were unsatisfactory.

7

WEEKEND MIRROR 30 JUNE - 1 JULY, 2018

Parliament happenings under review Speaker rejects evidence to support concerns about debating sub judice matter T

he Speaker of the National Assembly, Bartland Scotland, denied a request by Opposition Parliamentarian, Anil Nandlall, to defer a debate on the Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill 2018.

According to Nandlall, in keeping with parliamentary norms and conventions – and in order not to violate the Standing Orders, specifically, Standing Orders 41(a) and 26(g) – the debate ought to have been deferred, since the matter is engaging the Courts and he has court orders against the Minister, therefore, the matter is sub judice.

However, the Speaker

was adamant that that is not the manner in which such information should be brought to the National Assembly.

However, when asked, he declined to say what the procedure is for such information to be provided.

Notably, Nandlall pointed out that on several occasions Government Members of the National Assembly declared a matter is sub judice in the House, during a sitting, without providing any evidence. He added that on these occasions, the Speaker did not allow for the matter to be proceeded with.

“In this instance, I am providing court documents to show that the matter is

sub judice,” Nandlall argued.

However, the Speaker ruled that the House will proceed to the second reading of the Bill and all the amendments before the House will be considered.

The Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill 2018, is a Bill intituled an Act to amend the Municipal and District Councils Act, Local Government Act, Local Authorities (Elections) Act, Local Democratic Organs Act, Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Act 1990, and Election Laws (Amendment) Act 2000, in relation to local authorities’ elections.

APNU+AFC has no standing to lecture about democracy when it cannot explain ‘new electoral creatures’

T

he Coalition Government came in for blows during Monday’s (June 25, 2018) sitting of the National Assembly, over its move to create new Local Authority Areas.

Opposition Parliamentarian, Anil Nandlall, charged that the Coalition has no standing to lecture the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic on its “credentials of democracy” when the government cannot answer questions about its clear move to gerrymander boundaries of the Local Authority Areas ahead of the Local Government Election (LGE).

“You must be prepared to tell us about the new NDCs being established. With whom did you consult? Or was this done for electoral wickedness? These new creations, these new electoral creatures, are cropping up in violation of our laws, the Amerindian Act and the Constitution,” he charged.

The 10 new areas are: 1. Mahdia, which has been identified as that town for Region Eight 2. Moruka/Phoenix Park NDC 3. Kitty/Providence NDC 4. Nile/Cozier NDC 5. Lamaha/Yarrowkabra NDC 6. Hauraruni/Yarrowkabra NDC 7. Plegt Anker/Kortberaad NDC 8. Wyburg/Caracas NDC 9. Aranaputa/Upper Burro Burro NDC

10. Annai NDC Notably, in addition to the creation of one new town and nine new NDCs, the existing Local Authorities Areas have been tampered with.

The Local Authorities Areas which have been restructured are those where the governing APNU+AFC either did not contest, was tied with the PPP/C for a the number of seats won or lost the proportional representation vote to the PPP/C by one seat.

In the Municipality of Rose Hall, where the PPP/C won the proportional representation vote by one seat in 2016, the number of constituencies has been increased from seven to eight.

The number of seats has been reduced in: 1. Evergreen/ Paradise 2. Aberdeen/Zorge-en-vlygt 3. Malgre Tout/Meerzoergen 4. La Grange/Nismes 5. Toevlugt/Patentia 6. Caledonia/Good Success 7. Woodlands/Farm 8. Mahaicony/Abary 9. Zeelust/Rosignol 10. Blairmont/Gelberland 11. Ordnance Fortlands/No. 38 12. Adventure/Bushlot 13. No. 52-74 Village.

In total 16 constituencies have been removed from 14 Local Authorities Areas.

Gov’t votes down PPP/C amendments to its Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill

F

ive hours of debate the National Assembly on Monday (June 25, 2018) ended with the APNU+AFC Coalition Government using its one-seat majority to push through the Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill 2018.

The Parliamentary Opposition argued that in principle the Bill is supported, but there are several major concerns about the provisions of the Bill. As such the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) brought several amendments to the Bill to the House, with the hope that Government would incorporate these into the Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill 2018. However, all the PPP/C changes were rejected.

The PPP/C amendments called for strict time delimitations to several provisions included Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill 2018.

The Bill, pushed by Government, included provisions on procedures to break ties at both the municipal- and Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC)-levels.

The bill also amends the Municipal and District Councils Act, the Local Government Act and the Local Democratic Organs Act to provide for using the number of votes garnered by the councillors elected on the basis of Proportional Representation lists at the elections at which they were elected to resolve ties in the election of mayors, chairmen and deputy

chairmen.

The bill’s enactment would also amend the Election Laws (Amendment) Act 2000 “to facilitate the effective implementation of continuous registration and the availability of an electoral list which shall always be in force and which shall be routinely updated every six months.”

The Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill 2018 changed six related pieces of legislation: the Municipal and District Councils Act, the Local Government Act, the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, the Local Democratic Organs Act, the Local Authorities (Elections) Amendment Act and the Election Laws (Amendment) Act.

Gov’t spent $264.5M for Sussex St bond’s rental over 21-month period

Q

uestions on the contract between the Ministry of Public Health and the Linden Holdings Inc.’ – relative to the Sussex Street ‘drug bond’ – were raised on Monday (June 25, 2018) in the National Assembly and the responses were alarming.

Former Attorney General and Opposition Parliamentarian, Anil Nandlall, questioned Health Minister, Volda Lawrence on the matter.

The questions posed are: 1) What are the total sums paid to Linden Holding Inc. as rent for the property situated at lot 29 Sussex Street, Albouystown, as of March 31, 2018; and 2)What action has been taken with regards to implementing the recommendations that the contract be renegotiated to obtain a lower rate of rental, and, if not possible, that the Lease Agreement be terminated?

In her response, she stated that from July, 2016 to March of this year, the government’s rental of the drug bond has cost nearly $264.5M. In response to what actions were taken to imple-

ment recommendations for the contract to be renegotiated for a lower rate, or for the lease to the terminated, Minister Lawrence related that on October 31st, 2016, a “Notice of Quit” was filed by then Permanent Secretary Trevor Thomas, and a reminder sent a year later, on October 3rd, 2017, by Permanent Secretary Colette Adams.

The scandal surround the ‘drug storage bond’ came up after some $87.5M for the bond came up for debate and approval in the National Assembly on August 8 - $25M having already been spent as a security deposit and $12.5M earmarked for rent from August to December 2016.

The controversial ‘drug bond’ property is located at 29 Sussex Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, and the contract is for three years. The proprietor is a prominent member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Lawrence Singh. The PNCR is the majority partner in the current Coalition Government.

Investigations turned up a private residence, unfit for the storage for pharmaceuticals and medication. On those grounds, the political Opposition called for the contract to be scrapped.

When the contract was finally released, after pressure from the political Opposition, it showed that Government was renting a professional office, not a storage bond for pharmaceuticals.

It also showed that the $12.5M monthly cost was not the true cost; rather Government will have to pay upwards of $14.5M monthly for the property – spending with no value for money.

Former Health Minister, Dr George Norton, has since been sent to a Parliamentary Privileges Committee for misinforming and misleading the National Assembly on the controversial ‘drug bond’ when the debate initially took place. However, since being sent to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee, House Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland, has taken no action to address the matter of possible sanctions for Norton.

STRAIGHT TALK 8

WEEKEND MIRROR 30 JUNE - 1 JULY, 2018

(This speech was first made public in 1967. Its re-printing is among several activities being undertaken during 2018 to mark the 100th birth anniversary – March 22, 2018 – of the founder of the People’s Progressive Party, Dr Cheddi Jagan.)

CIA and PNC Created the Violence

By Dr. Cheddi Jagan

T

he People’s National Congress (PNC) has claimed that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) brought violence and the PNC has brought peace to Guyana.

But, it depends what you mean by peace. There is peace with progress, dignity and freedom. There is also peace with starvation, insecurity and fear. And finally there is peace of the graveyard.

Take Germany under the Nazi party of Adolph Hitler. There was peace and order for a time. But it was in an atmosphere of repression, intimidation and terror.

Ultimately there was mass slaughter.

What about the PNC’s claim that the PPP was responsible for the strife and disturbances? The fact is the violence was the handiwork of the PNC which could no longer win at free and fair elections.

In the 1957 election, the

PPP faction led by LFS Burnham won only three out of 14 seats.

In 1961, the PNC lost the elections.

After losing the election, the PNC leader LFS Burnham made a deal with the US government. This was exposed by Arthur Schlesinger Jr., Special Assistant to President Kennedy in his book, A Thousand Day, John F. Kennedy in the White House.

Schlesinger wrote: “Thus far our policy was based on assumption that Forbes Burnham was, as the British described him, an opportunist, racist and demagogue intent only on personal power… then in May 1962, Burnham came to Washington…Burnham’s visit left the feeling, as I reported to the President, that ‘an independent British Guiana under Burnham (if Burnham will commit himself to a multi-racial policy) would cause us many fewer problems than an independent British Guiana under Jagan’. And the way was open to bring it about, because Ja-

gan’s parliamentary strength was larger than his popular strength: he had won 57 per cent of the seats on the basis 42.7% per cent of the vote.

An obvious solution would be to establish a system of proportional representation.”

The American columnist, Drew Pearson, in a syndicated article pointed out that the late President Kennedy applied pressure on the Macmillan government to withhold independence and to change our electoral system.

The British government could not easily succumb to this pressure. This was because of its commitment made at the Constitutional Conference held in London in 1960. Then Burnham’s demand for proportional representation and my demand for independence were rejected on the understanding, however, that whichever party won the 1961 elections would lead the country to independence.

Consequently, the strife and violence, fomented and financed by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to

provide the British Government with an excuse.

All of this is now public knowledge. The New York Times, on February 23, 1967 headlined a story by Neil Sheehan: “CIA is linked to strikes that helped oust Jagan”.

The London Sunday Times on April 16 and 23, 1967 carried two stored by the Insight Team, headed “How the CIA got rid of Jagan” and “Macmillian, Sandys backed CIA’s anti-Jagan Plot”.

In the first story it is said: “As coups go, it was not expensive: over five years the CIA paid out something over £250,000. For the colony, British Guiana, the result was about 170 dead, untold hundreds wounded, roughly £10 million worth of damage to the economy and a legacy of racial bitterness.”

The second story said: “Although known at first only to Macmillan, Sandys and the two top security men in Britain, it inevitably become known to a similar number of

British officials in Guiana.”

The latter no doubt included the British Governor, the Commissioner of Police and the Head of Security Branch, and explains why my government could not get the full backing and support from them, and the army and police which they controlled.

Incidentally, the Times story also stated: “The CIA insured one ex-Jagan supported for $30,000 in 1964.”

Clearly, violence was the result of the conspiracy of the UK and US governments and the Guyana political and trade union leaders to overthrow the legally-constituted PPP government.

There is peace now because the perpetrators of violence are now in seats of political power.

But what kind of peace has been brought to Guyana?

It’s terror, not peace.

The rights of the Guyanese people -- the right to travel, the right to demonstrate peacefully, the right to strike, the right to a fair trial, the right to vote -- are being

trampled. All this is being done against the background of a wage freeze, increasing cost of living, economic bankruptcy, growing unemployment, disillusionment and frustration.

To keep the workers quiet, intimidation is practices on a wide scale.

Police dogs are used against strikers and picketers. And the latest is the use of the Riot squad, Police and soldiers with guns against strikers, who are mostly government supporters.

Under these circumstances, the PNC government, unable to win a fair and free election, has resorted to rigging mainly through a fraudulently compiled electoral roll. And at the same time, it is hatching plots about violence by the PPP in order to cover up its misdeeds.

The Guyanese people must realize that the PPP is the only party of the working class. And only a PPP government can bring lasting peace, progress and prosperity.

Gov’t funding training for more People’s Militia recruits – no response to concerns about new ‘force’

T

he Guyana People’s Militia has commenced training of 44 new recruits, with a focus on marksmanship (shooting) and drills.

The new soldiers are receiving their training on the Standard Infantryman Course 2018-01.

Officer Commanding of the 241 Company, second Infantry Battalion of the Guyana People’s Militia, Major Marvin Chichester, has told the recruits that they must make good use of their training, so that they are in a better position to contribute to the unit.

Training began on June 18, 2018, and will continue for another two weeks.

The A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government reestablished the People’s Militia on December 1, 2015.

Since then Government

has been quite on the operations of the People’s Militia.

Taxpayers’ monies are being used for the People’s Militia.

The People’s Militia was scrapped by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) after it came to office in 1992 over complaints and concerns that the Militia was a People’s

National Congress (PNC) front. The Guyana People’s Militia was established in December 1976. It was scrapped in August 1997.

For over seven years, Granger has been advocating the reestablishment of the People’s Militia, penning an almost two-thousand word

article published by the Stabroek News in November 2008.

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has posed several questions about the Militia’s operations, including funding for it, in the National Assembly, but these went unanswered.

The militia's force level, when it was first established, was set at 2,000. The then

government's stated goal was to make the militia a broadbased volunteer force. Training in the People's Militia consisted of foot drills and weapons drills. for two hours twice a week, plus two Sundays every month. Members of the Militia could also be called out when the need arose. In times of emergency, the militia would be integrated into the GDF. The militia

was organized into nine districts and training was carried out in each of the districts.

Uniforms consisted of tan shirts, brown pants, boots, and berets. Members of the militia wore uniforms only during training or during combat.

Government has said that now that the People’s Militia has been reestablished, it expects it to have as many as 1,500 recruits.

9

WEEKEND MIRROR 30 JUNE - 1 JULY, 2018

Uitvlugt estate workers, pensioners protest – cannot access their own money unless they comply with new requirements S

everal workers and pensioners of the Uitvlugt Estate, located on the West Coast of Demerara, took part in a picketing exercise outside of the Estate’s administrative office on Wednesday (June 27, 2018), in protest of, what the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) says is, the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo’s) unyielding position that workers and pensioners would not receive payments unless they create bank accounts to facilitate same.

According to GAWU, the

protesters related that the Corporation has been ignoring their concerns and requests for their payments to be made via cash and in close proximity to where they live.

“The state-owned company is now telling the aggrieved that soon they will not be paid unless they submit their banking information to the estate. While we would want to believe the Corporation knows that withholding workers’ wages in an illegal act by itself, the GuySuCo’s belligerently disrespectful attitude towards long-standing

practices, laws, and even international conventions, in recent times, has us believing that the Company is least bothered by the fact and the stain of notoriety,” said GAWU in a statement on the issue.

The protestors said that they indicated to GuySuCo that going in the direction of new requirements will place greater pressures on them.

They said that they will now be forced to expend several hundred dollars weekly in order to travel to the banks located at Vreed-en-Hoop and Parika to withdraw their

wages.

Moreover, the protestors worry that they may be forced to make more than one trip should ATMs be inoperable when they wish to engage in their transactions.

They related that with pay rates frozen in the sugar industry since 2014; lesser work opportunities; and a reduction in incentive payments, among other things, they can “hardly bear the costs GuySuCo is asking them to fetch.”

The pensioners and the workers said they also pointed out to the management of the

Estate the real possibility and fear of being robbed after they exit the bank.

Meanwhile, GAWU outlined that apart from the concerns raised by the workers and the pensioners, GuySuCo’s thrust “runs contrary to the Labour Act which requires at Section 19(1) that wages be paid in money. But apart from that, the Act goes on, at Section 19(4) to mandate employers to pay wages at convenient places near to the workplace. This is noteworthy and the Corporation, we believe, should not ignore this

‘We have an election to win... experience and support in our base and I must put that at the disposal of the Party and the next presidential candidate. “…I want the PPP government to be successful and success for me will be defined in ways how we treat minibus drivers, vendors, small loggers, bauxite workers, sugar workers, rice farmers…it will depend on rights for people…private sector growth….that is how I define success.”

According to him, any candidate, female or male, he supports for to be the PPP/C presidential candidate must be hard-working, will have management skills and will be courageous. “That is what will influence me in making a decision,” he said.

FORMAL ROLE Addressing the issue of a formal role in a new PPP/C government, come 2020,

he said, “I want the PPP supporters to know I will be there. I will be an integral part of the struggle.

He noted that other than having an input in budget policy, from 2011 to 2015, and meeting with public servants, less than three times, in an effort to “move the capital programme along” to support high implementation roles, he had no formal role in the Ramotar-led PPP/C Government. “I had no role in being part of the government,” he said, adding that the next time round, this will change.

Jagdeo reminded that as early as during the 2015 elections campaign, he had indicated a willingness to take on a more formal role in government. He said, “When we contested in 2015 a lot of supporters said you abandoned us. I had said then that after the 2015 elections, my formal role would be to

head an economic commission to ensure that economy continued to grow, etc.”

He stressed that once the PPP/C wins the 2020 General and Regional Elections, he would be a part of the government, but did not define a specific position. “To define any role now is premature,” Jagdeo said.

DEFINED ROLE AS GENERAL SECRETARY A role that has been defined, according to him, is that of PPP General Secretary. He noted that he was elected to be General Secretary of the Party and takes that responsibility seriously.

He said, “I am a General Secretary of the PPP. I have to lead change….if I take on a responsibility, I have to perform a job….it is a collective effort, but I have to lead….there are people who

are embracing the change. “…yes there a few people (who are not completely on board), but fact is that I have the support of the majority of leadership of Party to make the necessary changes….I didn’t assume the role of General Secretary…this is not a dictatorship…. I was elected. “…if I try to get everyone to like me, I will not have any principles…I will have to water down what I stand of. I will not do that….if that (what the majority of the leadership agrees with) doesn’t find favour with a few people, I can’t give up on the dream for the Party and for Guyana…I will pursue it to the end….I am not trying to be everything to everyone.”

FOCUS That said, Jagdeo underscored the fact that his

fact nor the workers reasonable positions.”

GAWU says it stands with the workers and the pensioners and is calling on GuySuCo to do what is right and decent and to pay the workers at their regular pay offices as they have been doing for a long time now.

In April of this year retired employees of GuySuCo protested outside of the LBI Community Centre over the company’s new requirement to have their pensions sent to the commercial banks for payment.

(From page 1)

focus as General Secretary remains clear.

Among his effort are to: • Transform the PPP make it more vibrant from the bottom up; encourage greater involvement of more young people and women; • Broaden the ethnic composition of the membership, given that it is no secret that Party’s support predominantly comes from Amerindians and Indo-Guyanese; • Prepare the PPP to take office at the upcoming General and Regional Elections in 2020; and • Ensure that the PPP, once in office, pursues policies that are favourable to all Guyanese, regardless of any differentiating factor.

IGNORING SPINS Jagdeo also made it clear that the ‘spins’ being put on his position do not warrant attention.

According to him, it is markedly interesting that forces in the APNU+AFC Coalition Government are intent on expressing their goodwill for the PPP/C. “I have noticed now that we have a lot of goodwill from APNU --- they want to be a part of the selection process and they know who would be our best candidates and they want to fight against our best candidate… notice I am being sarcastic,” he said.

Jagdeo added, “…we know they would like to see the weakest ones. That is what they want, the weakest candidate, because they believe they can trump that candidate in the elections.”

The PPP General Secretary and Leader of the Opposition made it clear that the PPP/C will continue to work to ensure that all Guyanese are represented.

10

WEEKEND MIRROR 30 JUNE - 1 JULY, 2018

From the desk of Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo...

Guyana Under Review Several issues were addressed a weekly news conference held by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, on Thursday (June 28, 2018), ranging from the deteriorating state of the economy and government’s borrowing to the future struggles of the PPP/C.

World Bank makes Sovereign Wealth Fund a condition to access US$35M A ccess to a World Bank loan of US$35M – the latest debt incurred by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government since taking office – has been made available with strings attached and one of those strings is the establishment of the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF).

The World Bank’s ‘Programme Document For A Proposed Programmatic Development Policy Credit’ for the US$35M makes it clear that Guyana, as at 2017, has no SWF. The World Bank document makes clear that the fund must be created and ready to accept oil revenue prior to oil production.

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, drew attention to this issue during his Thursday (June 28, 2018) news conference and put Government on blast – yet again – for its fail-

ure. “Imagine we need a conditionality from the World Bank to get Sovereign Wealth Fund in place,” he said.

Meanwhile, earlier this month a flowchart circulated by government’s Department of Public Information (DPI). Jagdeo has said then, “Imagine, after three years, we get a flow chart…a flow chart is supposed to be a sign of progress.”

Jagdeo made it clear that none of the critical questions surrounding the establishment of a Sovereign Wealth Fund, promised over a year ago, have been answered by the Coalition Government.

On the Sovereign Wealth Fund, he noted that a statement of principles, such as the Santiago Principles, on which the establishment of the Fund would be based would have sufficed.

As he has done on previous occasions, he stressed the need for there to be: an apolitical approach to setting up the Fund; a clear definition of the purpose of the Fund; clearly defined rules on spending from the Fund; clarity on what share of oil proceeds will go to the Fund; and the conditions under which the government can access the Fund.

The Fund was promised to be in place since 2016.

In 2015, Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman, said, ““Government envisions that before the end of 2016, model legislation will be laid in the National Assembly for scrutiny and debate. Nationwide consultations will ensue, before and during the process of finalising this policy through the necessary legislation.”

Courts seem ‘reticent’ in dealing with political cases

C

hief Justice (CJ) Roxanne George-Wiltshire, earlier this month, ruled that President David Granger acted correctly when he unilaterally appointed Justice (rtd) James Patterson as the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission. Since that ruling, an appeal has been filed by former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, in Guyana’s Appeal Court, on behalf of People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Executive Secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha.

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, has said that he is hopeful that the Appeal Court will deal with the matter in an expeditious manner.

“I hope now that the Court of Appeal will urgently hear this matter. Our courts seem reticent to move swiftly to deal with political cases…I wonder if the sloth is deliberate…whatever the decision is we will deal with it, including if it means going to the CCJ (Caribbean Court of

Justice),” he said on Thursday (June 28, 2018) during his weekly news conference.

If the matter does reach to the CCJ, Jagdeo charged that he expects a favourable ruling, given the principles set out by the CCJ in the ruling in the presidential term limits case.

The Opposition Leader explained that in ruling in that case, the CCJ referred to the fact that: there was a national consensus – as is the case with how a GECOMC Chairman is appointed; and that the National Assembly voted unanimously on the issue – as is the case with how a GECOM Chairman is appointed. Jagdeo added that in addition to the National Assembly unanimously approving the procedures to be used to have a GECOM Chairman appointed, there are also 25 years of practice to be considered.

“On these principles, I expect that if the matter

reaches the CCJ, the ruling will be favourable…unless the CCJ rules in a capricious manner,” he said In October 2017, a meeting on the selection of a GECOM Chairperson, between Jagdeo, and President David Granger only lasted five minutes. At that meeting the third list of nominees submitted by Jagdeo was rejected by Granger.

The President moved to appoint Patterson at 20:30hours the same evening. The Opposition Leader added that the timeline of the night’s events expose the manner in which that the government operates.

“The entire timeline exposes the government’s modus operandi, to do things in the dark and impose decisions on the Guyanese people,” he said. The meeting with Granger and Jagdeo was set for 18:00hours. After the five-minute engagement, (Turn to page 11)

Reason behind government’s push for passage of new financial bills exposed T

he APNU+AFC Coalition Government is pushing for the passage of five new bills, which affects the financial sector, and the reason behind this push was exposed by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.

Speaking at a news conference on Thursday (June 28, 2018), Jagdeo explained that government is pushing for the bills to be approved in the National Assembly because of conditions set for the Government – conditions that have to be met for Government to be able access the US$35M that has been borrowed from the World Bank. “So when you think this money is coming in and the World Bank is helping out, they are steering the Ministry of finance in a particular direction,” he said.

The five Bills are the: 1. Financial Institutions (Amendment) Bill 2018 2. Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2018

3. National Payments System Bill 2018 4. Bank Of Guyana (Amendment) Bill 2018 5. Deposit Insurance Bill 2018 The World Bank’s ‘Programme Document For A Proposed Programmatic Development Policy Credit’ for the US$35M’, on page 3, lists several conditions that have to be met.

Jagdeo said, “The loan has several conditions…it will be helpful for private sector and all those who are interested in the legislation before parliament now – the five bills – to look at this document. “…many of these conditions don’t apply to our economy….some need a longer phase in period. You have to look at the local circumstances…there are procedures for winding up bank’s operations, deposit insurance, emergency short term liquidity facilities, all li-

censed insurance companies, cashless transactions (the payment system) and they have targets of what has to be done in how many years” One of the interesting conditions, according to Jagdeo, is the stipulation that the Government can get the US$35M if the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) acts in a certain manner. The baseline set by the World Bank for action by the FIU is that there must be 20 reports referred to the police for money laundering investigations and 10 updates to 2017 cases. The World Bank is also demanding that 25 cases between June 2019 and June 2020.

Based on these revelations, Jagdeo charged that the five bills, very likely, have been drafted by external consultants.

In the meantime, the APNU+AFC Government has said nothing about these disclosures.

11

WEEKEND MIRROR 30 JUNE - 1 JULY, 2018

Elections petition cannot continue to languish in the courts T

he continued sloth with which the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) elections petition is being dealt with was decried, yet again, by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.

“We need this matter to be dealt with expeditiously,” he said on Thursday (June 28, 2018) at a news conference.

Notably, Guyana’s Court of Appeal has been asked to hear an election petition that

has been “languishing” in the High Court since 2015.

The application was filed last week with the Appeal Court, but no date has been fixed for a hearing.

At a previous news conference, Jagdeo stated that the case is being advanced using a precedent set in a case in Barbados, which was heard by the Caribbean Court of Justice. “Using the precedent in Barbados, we have applied to the Court of

Appeal to hear this matter expeditiously because it has impact and a bearing on the elections in the future,” he said.

The elections petition was initially filed by former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, on behalf of PPP/C election agent, Ganga Persaud.

The discovery of falsified Statements of Polls (SoPs); the refusal of GECOM to have public vetting of poll-

ing day staffers, many of whom were discovered to be activists of the political Opposition; misdirection by some GECOM staffers who “advised” voters; damaged stamps that saw some ballots not being properly stamped; the fact that persons without identification cards were allowed to vote even though their images did not match those in the files of GECOM staff; and the denial of proxy holders to use their proxies,

are among the irregularities the PPP has spoken out against.

These issued are addressed in the Party’s 15page elections petition, which requests that the court order the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to conduct a forensic recount of the votes.

The petition also questions whether the election was lawfully conducted and the possibility of the offi-

cially declared results being altered.

The Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, and heads of the lists of representatives from the eight contesting political parties, which indicated their intentions of entering the elections race to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on April 7, 2015, Nomination Day, are named as respondents in the matter.

Tradition, process used to Detractors continue to peddle misinformation on select top candidates for race relations in Guyana 2020 elections will stand

T

he Alliance For Change (AFC) was put on blast

by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, for continuing to peddle misinformation to the Guyanese people.

His comment came on Thursday (June 28, 2018), in response to the AFC’s contention that Jagdeo has not addressed race relations in the past and that he is guilty of making controversial comments. “This is what they are talking about…they have the court case that vindicated my position (on comments made at Babu Jaan)…they have the transcript from court…imagine they are still repeating these lies,” he said.

Referring to the incident at Babu Jaan, Jagdeo pointed out that in January 2017, the former Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Carl Singh, dismissed an appeal against the High Court decision in the alleged race-baiting case against him. In December 2015, the charges against him were dismissed by Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang, yes-

terday, on the grounds that there is insufficient evidence.

The rulings came after the case filed by vocal critic of the former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, Christopher Ram in April 2016. Ram contended that Section 139 D of the Representation of the People Act was violated

by Jagdeo when he made certain comments at Babu Jaan in 2016.

Jagdeo charged that Ram’s case was unsubstantiated and added that the AFC continues to run that line, regardless of the facts about what he said at Babu Jaan.

Even the report published

by GECOM’s Media Monitoring Unit (MMU), makes it clear that Ram and the AFC were being misleading.

The MMU report from April 2016 referred to Jagdeo’s full comment.

What Jagdeo said was: “They shout about racism of the PPP, but they practice racism. They whisper campaigns. In the last elections

they went to some of the Afro-Guyanese villages and beat some drums at 6 o’clock in the morning and say let us throw out these coolie people. Get up, go out and vote, throw out the coolie people. That’s the kind of language they use. ANYBODY FROM OUR PARTY WHO USES THAT SORT OF LANGUAGE, WE WILL KICK THEM OUT. THIS IS OUR APPROACH.” On Thursday, Jagdeo noted that what he said was clear, despite the fact that detractors continue to peddle misinformation.

On the issue of a debate on race relations, the Opposition Leader noted that he remains open to a debate on the issue with President David Granger. He added that an independent person should compile the facts and he is prepared to debate on that basis. “If you are saying that we discriminated against Afro-Guyanese, let us have that debate,” he declared.

Courts seem ‘reticent’... where Granger stated that he is moving toward a unilateral appointment, the President moved to make the appointment at 20:30 hours.

Jagdeo, on a previous occasion, referred to the June 12, 2017 – the meeting before Granger made a unilateral appointment – and stated that there was an agreement on what would be the way forward, if the third list was rejected. The

June 12, 2017 joint statement said: “It was also agreed that a high-level team would be assembled representing the President and the Leader of the Opposition which will begin to work immediately on exploring modalities to bring a resolution to this matter in the event that the list is rejected.”

All considered, Jagdeo said, “This President is untrustworthy. You cannot

(From page 10)

take anything he says at face value. He and his minions have lied to this country… he lied, when he said, should the third list be rejected, we will work collaboratively to come to a resolution. At the heart of this presidency are lies and a sinister nature.”

The Opposition Leader also disclosed that Granger was informed that he was acting illegally. The move the courts followed.

O

pposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, on Thursday (June 28, 2018) welcomes the attention being given to the issue of the next presidential candidate who will be fielded by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).

He said, “I want to say to our supporters, in main, and those who are sympathetic to us that the reason there is so much interest… in simply because that person will be the next president of Guyana.

“Contrast that with the struggle taking place in APNU. There is a major fight between Harmon, Basil and Volda for the top post in PNC. Whoever emerges there will likely be their candidate. But no one is paying attention to that. “…the attention gives me great hope that the country recognises that whoever we choose will emerge as the next President of Guyana.”

Jagdeo explained that the Party will continue to use the process it has used for 25 years to make the selection of its presidential candidate.

He said, “The choice was clear in 1992, it was Cheddi Jagan…in 1997

when we had to discuss the issue, the Central Committee of the PPP, 35 persons, had intense discussions.

They selected Janet Jagan.

But that Central Committee thought that we needed an A-team concept…so there was Sam Hinds and myself.

We went to the electorate in that fashion.

“In 1999, when we had to make that decision, it was the same Central Committee that made a decision…it was the same in 2006. It was the same in 2011. It was the same in 2015…there is a long standing process and tradition in making a selection….it is a process we used for 25 years. And this is the process we will use again unless the Central Committee decides to change that procedure.”

Jagdeo added that there is also a tradition embraced by persons interested in being nominated as the presidential candidate. He said, “There is a tradition in the Party that people can put up there candidacy. But at the end of the day it is how many votes you secure. It is a democratic process. “…one thing we frown upon is a lack of modesty among presidential

hopefuls. In the past there has never been any person, with the exception of Moses Nagamootoo… he was the only one who displayed a public love for himself….so I do hope that all the hopefuls, once they are nominated, they will be considered, but to be modest in the process. We don’t want the Nagamootoo-type ego to govern how we approach this matter.”

That said, the Opposition Leader noted that he has every confidence in the Party’s process to make pick the presidential and prime ministerial candidates. “We are happy for the good wishes from our critics, but the Central Committee, which has a mandate from the congress, from our membership, will make that decision…I am not worried about it. At the end of the day we will make the right decision.

And all of us will work hard to ensure a PPP victory in 2020.”

He added, “I want to assure our people. Don’t worry about the future. We are not departing the scene, as some would wish. We will be here to ensure the Party stays united, strong and viable in 2020.”

12

WEEKEND MIRROR 30 JUNE - 1 JULY, 2018

Naila Rahaman tops Grade Six

Naila Rahaman of the Westfield Preparatory School in Kingston, Georgetown has topped this year’s Grade Six assessment with a perfect 529 marks.

The announcement was made this afternoon by the Ministry of Education.

Still no move to verify pre-contract costs claimed

by ExxonMobil deal

S

till no move to verify pre-contract costs claimed by ExxonMobil deal Government’s continued failure to verify the US$460M pre-contract costs claimed by ExxonMobil continues to be questioned.

As per clauses included in Annex C of the agreement, pre-contract costs from 1999, when the original contract was inked, to December 31, 2015 were set at US$460M. Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman has agreed that Guyana will pay. Meanwhile, a second set of pre-contract costs from January 1, 2016 to October 7, 2016, the date when the Petroleum Prospecting Licence was granted, is expected to be millions more.

Contradicting Minister Raphael Trotman, GGMC Head, Newell Dennison, has admitted that there was no audit or verification of the pre-contracts costs claimed by the oil company.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, when pressed, made it clear that when returned to office the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) will ensure that an audit of the US$460M costs is done. “It has to be done and we will do it,” he said.

The Opposition Leader added, “…imagine the people said they will do the audit. So, the government should have said is ‘Okay, we will get a firm to do it and at your cost, too. Whatever the figure is we will put that figure in the agreement.’ Very easily that could have been done because they had no push back from the company. But the people said US$460 million and Trotman said ‘Put it in there, put it in.’

“They already made a huge fundamental mistake by putting it in the contract a figure that was not audited. The company said they are not unwilling to have this done all you have to do is ask our own government…I wish they would do it.”

Local civil society groups and commentators have argued that the pre-contract costs are overstated.

13

WEEKEND MIRROR 30 JUNE - 1 JULY, 2018

Real Time Economic Insights

W

ithin the first year, following the introduction of the 200+ tax measures, revenue increased by more than 13.2% or GYD$20B. Ordinary Guyanese continue to bear the brunt of higher tax burden. Effective tax rate had increased from $0.36 cents in 2014 to $0.43 cents in 2018. This is contrary to claims made by the inister of Finance, Winston Jordan, that the reduction in VAT would ease tax burden.

The amount of foreign exchange lost, due to the underperformance of Rice, Sugar, Bauxite and Forestry Sector since 2015 (US$509 Million), could have covered our import bill of fuel for the next 18 months; Because of the huge loss in foreign currencies, Guyana, as of April 2018, could only cover a period 2.75 months of import, which is below the international safety threshold of 3 months.

In 2017, had the Gold Sector performed similar to 2014 (without Guyana Goldfield Inc. and Troy Resources), our GDP would have contracted by 3.1%. In other words, because of Guyana Goldfield and Troy Resources, our GDP recorded a growth rate of 2.1%.

Considering the above, it is clear that Guyanese continues to pay the price for this government incompetence, mismanagement and corrupt practices.

These are among the major issues focused on in this week’s ‘Real Time Economic Insights’. (Analyses done

by Irfaan Ali, PPP/C MP)

Growth in Tax Revenue: 2014 Base Year $50

200+ taxes

7%

$40

$35

200+ taxes

$10.00

$6.00 $4.00 $2.00 $0.00 -$2.00

GYD$20B

VAT

Excise tax

2016

$20

3%

$15

$10

2%

2%

$7

1%

1%

$0

Environmental Levy

2018

Corporate Tax

Licences

• By the end of 2018, in total, this government would cost taxpayers an additional $102 billion in disposable income.

0% 2014

2015

2016

Growth in Revenue

2017

2018

Tax/GDP Ratio

Key Observations: This government is now taking from every Guyanese, $0.43 cents from every dollar earn, up from $0.36 cents in 2014.

By end 2018, since taking up office in 2015, this government would take an additional $136,000 in disposable income from every Guyanese. At the household level, that figure represents $544,000.

Revenue collection by government, via the plethora of taxes, has increased. By the end of 2018, in total, the Coalition Government would cost taxpayers an additional $102 billion in disposable income.

Tax Remission: 2014 Base Year 2015

2016

2017

$0.00 -$2.00 -$4.00 -$6.00

GYD$30B

2017

• Within the first year, following the introduction of the 200+ tax measures, revenue increased by more than 13.2% 0r GYD$20 billion.

4%

-$8.00

-$4.00 2015

• Tax-to-GDP ration, increased by more than 7% since 2015.

7%

5%

• The 200+ tax measures introduced in Budget 2017 cost the nation, within one year, GYD$ 20 billion. By end 2018, that figure is expected to increase by another GYD$10 billion, to GYD$30 billion.

$8.00

8%

6%

6%

$30

Variation of Taxes: 2014 Base Year $12.00

$45

-$10.00

-8.5

-8.5

Interesting Stats: • Government increased its revenue by more than 43% (GYD$63 billion) since 2014, while reduced tax remission by more than 15.3% (GYD$30 billion).

-$12.00

-13

-$14.00

Key Observations:

Key Observations:

The tax burden of the 200+ tax measures on ordinary Guyanese is humongous.

The 200+ tax measures introduced in Budget 2017 cost the nation, within one year, GYD$20 billion.

• Tax remission to companies/businesses, hospitals, churches, charitable organisations, remigrants, diplomats etc. saw a reduction by GYD$30 billion from 2015 and 2017, when compared to 2014.

The APNU/AFC government spares no one when it comes to revenue. Even the church has been targeted!

The APNU+AFC Government has not justified the need for an increase in taxes.

Why the need for increased tax revenue?

Key Sectors/Indicators Sugar Rice Forestry Bauxite Current Account Deficit Gold Reserve* Market Securities Government Deposits (BoG)* Domestic Credit to Central Government* Domestic Credit to Private Sector* Net Deposits of Public Enterprises Deficit of Public Enterprises International Foreign Reserve (US$)*

2014 12.7 14 10.6 6.9 -174 25 96.8 21.4 28.3 202 39 -1.4 652

2017 8.1 13.1 7.5 4.9 -292.6 3.2 91.2 -51.7 105 220 23 -12 506

Domestic Borrowing to Finance Budget Deficit Bank of Guyana Profit

11.3 5091

34 3751

Variation (%) -36.2% -6.4% -29.2% -29.0% 68.2% -87.2% -5.8% -341.6% 271.0% 8.9% -41.0% 757.1% -22.4% 200.9% -26.3%

Note: * As of April 2018 One would expect the government to remit more since they are collecting more. But this is not the case, as this graph shows. One would expect the government to remit more taxes to charitable organisations, businesses etc. however, this is not the case. Government continues to plunder the public, even the churches.

14

WEEKEND MIRROR 30 JUNE - 1 JULY, 2018

APNU+AFC gov’t inaction this week …a snapshot of headlines making the news

Trotman tries to sell ‘pipe dreams’ to sugar workers Speaking to a 100 sugar workers who were fired by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, Minister Raphael Trotman, tried to sell ‘pipe dreams’ about oil, which will not start production until 2020.

“We know that many of you are afraid many of you are worried. We are here as a government … to help you. In a few short months, oil is going to be produced in this country….Guyana will rise from Berbice,” Trotman said.

He was speaking to the workers at an event in Port Mourant, where the workers are trying to get an opportunity under the Board of Industrial (BIT) programme, which was created by the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government.

Granger travelling again, jets off to Vietnam President David Granger left Guyana on Sunday (June 24, 2018) for the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to attend the Sixth Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), where he will be delivering a special address.

Since being sworn in as Head of State, Granger has attended over 100 international events in various countries on almost all the continents of the world. But he has failed to inform the Guyanese public on the outcomes of these international forums – all of which were funded by taxpayers’ monies.

At most of these international events, the participants would sign off on either a declaration, a plan of action, or a set of commitments. However, on his return to Guyana after these events, the President has never ever reported to the nation on the outcomes of the events he attended as the high representative of the people of Guyana, traveling at taxpayers’ expense.

In fact, last year it was revealed that Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo’s traveling expense reached $19M in two short years. In a written response to Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira’s question, the Government said that some US$39,604 including G$11.3 million (19.2M) were spent during that specific period, giving a breakdown of all the conferences, cultural events and diaspora engagements the Prime Minister attended.

There have been concerns that these government officials are not adequately representing Guyana when going on these trips.

Gov’t tries to dismiss human trafficking concerns as melodrama The matter of a large number of Haitians transiting in Guyana is “nothing new” says Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, who on Monday referred to the opposition’s concern as “melodramatic.”

The reality is, however, that the current situation is new. The numbers of Haitians and Cubans indicate that the foreign nationals did not ‘transit’ through Guyana. The reality is that there are no records to show that these foreign nationals ever left Guyana. The issue is compounded by the fact that there is no evidence that they are still in Guyana. Hence, the concerns of human trafficking that have been expressed by the PPP/C. A breakdown of the information showed alarming information for two groups – Cubans and Haitians. According to the numbers, from 2015 to April 30, 2018, a total of 93,374 Cubans arrived in Guyana, but only 76,663 were recorded to have left. This means that there are 16,711 Cubans still in Guyana. However, there is no evidence that such a large number of Cubans are still in Guyana. For Haitians, the numbers show that, from 2015 to April 30, 2018, a total of 6,245 arrived in Guyana, but only 963 were recorded to have left. This means that there are 5,282 Haitians still in Guyana.

Volda Lawrence talks up winning fight against NCDs, continues to fail to address drug shortages Guyana is winning the battle against chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) which is still a “growing health crisis” in the Caribbean, according to Public health Minister Volda Lawrence. However, the minister continues to fail to address the months-long problem of shortages of drugs and medical supplies, especially in the hinterland areas.

Lawrence had stated revised drug procurement system which will bring resolution to the ongoing drug shortage throughout the country is expected to be implemented by the month of June 2016. This was almost a year ago.

To date, reports of drug shortages continue to surface. Just weeks ago, doctors and pharmacy staff are currently engaged in a sit-in at the Skeldon Hospital over shortage of drugs and medical supplies. Reports are that the over since last three months “chronic” shortages of drugs and medical supplies have worsened, despite multiple attempts by staffers to have the matter addressed by the Ministry of Public Health.

After taking office, the APNU+AFC government scrapped the old method used to procure and deliver drugs and medical supplies across Guyana, despite the fact that it worked.

Silence from gov’t on gerrymandering of boundaries ahead of LGE 2018 One new town and nine new NDCs have been created. And questions from the PPP/C about gerrymandering of boundaries ahead of the Local Government Elections (LGE) expected later this year, have been met with silence from the government.

The 10 new areas are: 1. Mahdia, which has been identified as that town for Region Eight 2. Moruka/Phoenix Park NDC 3. Kitty/Providence NDC 4. Nile/Cozier NDC 5. Lamaha/Yarrowkabra NDC 6. Hauraruni/Yarrowkabra NDC 7. Plegt Anker/Kortberaad NDC 8. Wyburg/Caracas NDC 9. Aranaputa/Upper Burro Burro NDC 10. Annai NDC In addition to new areas, the existing Local Authorities Areas have been tampered with.

The Local Authorities Areas which have been restructured are those where the governing APNU+AFC either did not contest, was tied with the PPP/C for a the number of seats won or lost the proportional representation vote to the PPP/C by one seat.

In the Municipality of Rose Hall, where the PPP/C won the proportional representation vote by one seat in 2016, the number of constituencies has been increased from seven to eight.

The number of seats has been reduced in: 1. Evergreen/ Paradise 2. Aberdeen/Zorge-en-vlygt 3. Malgre Tout/Meerzoergen 4. La Grange/Nismes 5. Toevlugt/Patentia 6. Caledonia/Good Success 7. Woodlands/Farm 8. Mahaicony/Abary 9. Zeelust/Rosignol 10. Blairmont/Gelberland 11. Ordnance Fortlands/No. 38 12. Adventure/Bushlot 13. No. 52-74 Village.

In total 16 constituencies have been removed from 14 Local Authorities Areas.

Amna Ally says $100M was spent to ‘confirm buy-in’, ‘finalise components’ of project Questions were posed by Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Vindhya Persaud, about how $100M was used under the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) programme in 2017.

And Minister Amna Ally explained that in 2017, the ministry engaged in participatory engagements with the beneficiaries to confirm their ‘buy-in’ and finalise the components of training project for youths.

The SLED initiative is designed to provide support for the expansion of the local economy in communities across the country and to aid small enterprises with the goal of stimulating youth employment.

WEEKEND MIRROR 30 JUNE - 1 JULY, 2018

15

Lethem trail deteriorating The state of the Lethem trail continues to deteriorate, making access to basic goods for hinterland communities more costly, among other challenges.

16

WEEKEND MIRROR 30 JUNE - 1 JULY, 2018

Cornelia Ida housing scheme roads in terrible condition Residents of Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara community of Cornelia Ida, are appealing for repairs be done to the roads in the village’s housing scheme. Reports are that the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) does not have the financial resources to start any maintenance works. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure continues to ignore the problem.

Wales sugar field abandoned The APNU+AFC Government, since closing the Wales Sugar Estate and firing over 1,000 sugar workers in December 2016, has been silent on its plans for the estate. After the Estate closed, the Ministry of Agriculture had said that preparations were underway to commence cultivating rice at the Wales Estate. The Ministry also said that this new area of diversification will be implemented through a partnership between GuySuCo and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB). To date, it is unclear what the plans have been made, if any, for the factory and the lands. In the meantime, the lands have been abandoned.

17

WEEKEND MIRROR 30 JUNE - 1 JULY, 2018

Resignations in the public service affecting staffing numbers in key areas – Finance Secretary S

taffing of finance departments of government agencies continues to be a challenge because of resignations, among other factors, forcing a move to make plans to address this situation, according to Finance Secretary Dr Hector Butts.

The Finance Secretary made the disclosure in a Treasury Memorandum, covering the years 2012, 2013

and 2014 and which was laid in the National Assembly on Monday, which was laid in the National Assembly on Monday (June 25, 2018).

“Recommendations will be made shortly for changes in regard to employment in some regions,” he said.

It is unclear what measures will be put in place to address this problem.

Since the APNU+AFC

Coalition Government took office, scores of persons have been fired. Dozens of other public servants have complained about being forced to resign from their positions because of discriminatory practices embraced by the PNC-led Coalition Government. There are also several cases before the courts currently that address the issue of wrongful dismissal.

Minister says gov’t will have input on Village Councils’ handling of its monies

T

he handling of resources by the Amerindian Village Councils will be something that the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and other State entities will have an input this. This is according to Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairs Sidney Allicock.

Issues like signing of agreements to allow for exclusive rights to be given to miners are some of the issues that must also be addressed, according to Allicock.

Meanwhile both Allicock and Junior Minister, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, said that de-politicising Indigenous village councils of party politics, post Village Elections, and educating people to empower themselves and to focus on developmental issues will have to continue.

Neither Minister has addressed the issues where the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), regarding government actions, have been violated.

Brothers killed in accident

A

former employee of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and his teenage brother were killed on Tuesday (June 26, 2018) after they were run over by a minibus in the vicinity of the Den Amstel Police Station, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

Dead are Shemon West, 28, and Shalum Allen, 19, of Lot 8-9 Fellowship, WCD. Reports are the two brothers were returning home on a pedal cycle from the Leonora Police Station after uplifting

car documents when they met their demise.

Preliminary investigations revealed that a minibus, BVV 8882, had stopped to put off passengers and as the two brothers were in the process of overtaking, the vehicle suddenly drove off.

However, in the process, its right-side front hit the left handle bar of the bicycle thus causing the two men to fall onto the roadway. It was at this time another minibus, plates BVV 7042, which was heading in the opposite direc-

tion, drove over them.

The teen reportedly died on the spot while his brother, a father of two, succumbed at the Leonora Diagnostic Center.

The two minibuses were impounded at the Den Amstel Police Station. Following the accident, breathalyser tests were administered to the two drivers. None of drivers were under the influence.

The bodies of the two men were taken to the Ezekiel Funeral home awaiting a post mortem examination.

Granger says Vietnam Prime Minister agreed ‘in principle’ to do trade N o solid agreements were made by President David Granger, who is currently visiting the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, to advance Guyana’s interests.

Granger met with Vietnams’ Prime Minister, Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, on

Thursday (June 28, 2018).

A government release on the meeting stated that the Vietnam’s officials agreed “in principle” on the need to develop framework agreements to advance relations.

As such, it is expected that at some point in the future, other Government ministers and officials are likely to make a follow-up trip to

Vietnam.

The Granger-led Coalition Government has come under heavy criticisms for not securing one foreign direct investment in the past three years. In the meantime, Guyana’s economic performance continues to slide, with major sectors performing below expectations.

Case against oil companies sent back to High Court

G

uyana’s Court of Appeal has sent the Ramon Gaskin vs the Ministry of Natural Resources case back to the High Court for a Full Court hearing because it said it was hearing arguments that were never brought before Justice Holder.

Gaskin is arguing that Exxon’s partners in the Liza 1 project – Hess and Nexen – have no environmental permits allowing them to engage in oil exploration here. Gaskin also argues that Hess and Nexen will

escape liability should there be an incident such as an oil spill that can affect the Caribbean islands.

In the High Court, Justice Franklyn Holder, had dismissed his appeal, ruling in part that the three companies constituted a single developer.

On Thursday (June 28, 2018), during the hearing at the Appeal Court, arguments were made that the case should be dealt with expeditiously. Other arguments were raised, which led

to the decision to send the case back to Guyana’s High Court. One of the Appellate Judges, Rafiq Khan, said, “We are hearing arguments that were never heard in the High Court.”

Representing the Ministry of Natural Resources is Senior Counsel, Edward Luckhoo, along with the Attorney General’s Chambers.

Gaskin is represented by Trinidad-based Guyanese Senior Counsel, Seenath Jairam and attorney Melinda Janki.

Party News

House to House activities Continue as current continuous registration process progresses

P

riority focus has been placed on House to House verification of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in the National Register of Registrants’ List of Electors, in all of the constituencies within the 10 Regions.

There have been new Registrants and

new eligible registrant’s - persons who have attained 18 years of age by mid-2018. An ‘aggregate’ estimate would reflect that the various neighbourhood data would have several thousands of new Registrants.

The process continues until mid-July.

18

WEEKEND MIRROR 30 JUNE - 1 JULY, 2018

Focus on Guyana’s First People – issues affecting Amerindian people and communities

Drug shortages continue to plague Region 1 S

hortages of drugs, particularly those used for the treatment of malaria, are continuing to put a strain on health services in Region One, according to Regional Chairman, Brentnol Ashely.

And he contends that the Region has been suffering shortages of drugs and medical supplies for months now.

“One drug that we have a shortage of is the first line malaria treatment. I would have seen persons come to my office who would have tested positive for malaria and they were told that there is no medication that can be given to them because of the shortage they are facing,” he said. This, he said, has been confirmed by checks made by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) to health centres, including the one in the community of White Water, which serves as a border community between Guyana and Venezuela and is considered a critical health

“

post in the region. mon illnesses which can called Corasima, which is There are some critical drugs that are need- also be chronic, such as a part of the White Water Ashley noted that that while they found that reped. For instance, we would have learnt that hypertension, diabetes, Village, the Village Council resentation would have [and] malaria within the would have also expressed there were shortages of medications for per- region,” the Chairman concern this morning that been made for the supply of drugs over the last sons who are diabetic and so forth.” - Regional noted. several persons from that few months, to date they H e a d d e d , “ T h e community would have takOne Chairman, Brentnol Ashely have not received any.

Toshao from White Wa- en tests [and been] diagnosed “The RDC, through its ter would have informed with malaria but could not drugs that are needed. For in- are supplied to the region, budgetary allocation, would stance, we would have learnt they are either expired or me that a child would have have received treatment.” have gotten $80 plus million that there were shortages of closed to expiration. That is passed on and seemingly it As a result of the situadollars for drugs and med- medications for persons who for some of the drugs not all, would have been from ma- tion, Ashely said the RDC ical supplies in this year’s are diabetic and so on.” just a percentage of it which laria. He would have done would like to recommend budget. To date, we have Ashley also expressed is also putting a setback on a smear and when he went that approval should be given warranted over $25 million concern regarding the Pub- the efficient and effective back, the smear test would for the region to do its own and they have not been sup- lic Health Ministry’s claim health delivery, providing have shown negative but… purchasing of medical supplied from MMU [Materials that the situation is under medication for persons who eventually the person would plies utilising its budgetary Management Unit] relating control, particularly since he are diagnosed with com- have succumbed…in an area allocation. to what we would have war- says there has not been any ranted and also last year we significant improvement in The Toshao from White Water would have informed me that would have warranted in the provision of drugs and excess of $70 million and the medical supplies over the a child would have passed on and seemingly it would have supply of drugs and medical last two years. “The RDC at been from malaria…in an area called Corasima, which is a supply for that wouldn’t have its last sitting, last Thursday reached 50% of what we (June 15, 2018), would have part of the White Water Village, the Village Council would have would have warranted,” the deliberated upon this partic- also expressed concern this morning that several persons from Chairman said. ular issue in relation to the He added, “…this is put- concerns coming out from that community would have taken tests [and been] diagnosed with ting a strain on all our health across the region because malaria, but could not have received treatment.” - Regional One facilities across the region, what we find is that even since there are some critical when some of these drugs Chairman, Brentnol Ashely

“

Micobie given deadline No update on what to decide on maintaining work is being done to its boundaries title Amerindian villages – Campbelltown tell gov’t ‘hands off’

R

esidents of Micobie and Campbelltown – Amerindian Villages – are in a quandary, following the move by Communities Minister, Ronald Bulkan, to name Mahdia as a town, without consultations in the area. The boundaries of the Mahdia township encroach on the two communities.

Following the criticisms, Government now – after the fact – has made an effort to allow the Amerindian Villages to have an input in an already made decision.

Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock, has said that Micobie has been given up to July 20, 2018 to decide on whether it wants to be a part of the Mahdia Township.

Meanwhile, Campbelltown had made it clear that it will not have its boundaries encroached upon by the new township that is being established. However, Allicock has told them that they too have a timeline to communicate a formal decision. “I told them that they were already a town as their name suggests….I told them they should have had a Patamona name. Anyhow, we gave them the opportunity to decide if they want to be part of the town,” the Minister said.

It is unclear, if Government will heed the responses from Micobie and Campbelltown.

Meanwhile, Opposition Parliamentarian, Pauline Sukhai, told the National

Assembly on Monday evening (June 25, 2018) that a letter was sent to the RDC in Region 8 and it makes clear that with or without consent from Micobie and Campbelltown, the new boundaries of the township Mahdia will stand.

Government’s move to name new municipalities (towns) and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) – new Local Authority Areas – has been criticised not only because of the lack of consultations, but also because of the clear violations of the Amerindian Act. In Region 9, Annai – a titled Amerindian Village – was made into an NDC, without consultations.

Government has not move to correct this wrong, despite the fact that the violations of the law have been pointed out.

A

month after Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Sydney Allicock, admitted that he failed to make progress with the ALT programme, which gave the indigenous people legal rights to their communities, there has been no move to say what work will be done.

“I have not been able to title any village,” Allicock had said in May 2018.

Notably, after taking office, the Coalition Government, sent home the entire unit dealing with the Amerindian Land Titling programme. The Project Management Unit was ben established in June 2014 to support the implementation of the project.

A total of US$10.7M

was earned by the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government and left for the purpose of completing the Amerindian Land Titling (ALT) programme.

In 2010, MoAA together with UNDP and the Office of the President has initiated a Land titling Project that sought to process applications for titling and demarcation. Under the Guyana REDD + Investment Fund (GRIF), the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government in 2013 signed a US$10.7M document for the implementation of the Amerindian Land Titling and Demarcation project.

The ALT project seeks

to achieve three major goals: completion of land titles issues and demarcation process for all Amerindian villages that submitted requests, increased use of existing and alternative mechanisms to resolve land titling disputes and thirdly a communication strategy including a handbook describing the process of titling, demarcation and social economic impact of secured land tenure.

While Indigenous people in many Countries have right of use of the Land only, in Guyana where the Indigenous People account for approximately 9.7% of the population, Amerindians own land including the forests resources within their Titled Lands.

administrations to improve welfare of 19

WEEKEND MIRROR 30 JUNE - 1 JULY, 2018

Significant progress made under successive PPP/C administrations to improve welfare of Amerindians

LEGISLATION

The Amerindian Act 2006 is an embodiment of policies that cover the protection of the general welfare and rights of Indigenous Peoples. It affirms the declaration of rights of indigenous peoples in specific stipulations that include governance, land rights and preservation, and Amerindian heritage.

Passed a year before the UN-DRIP declaration, Guyana’s 2006 Amerindian Act includes key provisions relating to Amerindian people that are not dissimilar, in most instances, from those outlined in the declaration, and has thus been the legal stronghold for Amerindian development.

TOURISM SUPPORT

In 2012, the Ministry financed eco-tourism projects for 19 Villages, each receiving utmost $1.5M. In 2013, twenty villages will be receiving grants at $1.5M each to the eco-tourism industry in their respective regions.

The initial implementation of the first 27 Community Development Plans (CDPs) funded through the GRIF, 11 % account for projects that are related to ecotourism.

HEALTH

The Amerindian Hostel data on inpatients reflect access to medical services at Georgetown Public Hospital thereby reducing further aggravation of health situations of Hinterland patients and providing better access to quality health services; safe and adequate accommodation for patients and welfare cases help ensure the psychological health and general well-being of those that are affected by sickness and other social issues.

The fact that all villages have a health hut/health centre makes access to primary health care easier in villages and thus improving health conditions of villagers.

Amerindian Residence accommodated a total of 7017 patients with their accompanying relatives up to 2014.

The Residence provides a shelter for those patients who have been referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for medical attention.

Over the years, the purpose of this facility had evolved such that the most significant proportion of persons being accommodated is patients and those accompanying them.

The Residence has also expanded its services to encompass persons in difficult situations including Domestic Violence, Trafficking in Persons, labour issues, discharged prisoners or any other similar situation.

The Maternity waiting room at the Amerindian Hostel was constructed at a cost of $1.2M. The aim of the new facility is in keeping with Government’s commitment to ensure the safety of mothers and their babies and to ensure that every mother and child have access to adequate health care and provided with the best care and treatment.

SOLAR PANEL AND ENERGY ACCESS

A total of 11, 000 solar panels were installed across all the regions. A mini-hydro power plant is about to be constructed in Cheung Mouth River to supply renewable energy to Region 8 villages.

An additional 6000 solar panels are being procured for distribution to additional communities including some riverine communities

CORE HOMES/HOME SUBSIDIES

A sum of $107.2M was spent on home improvement and 127 Core home were completed in the hinterlands

GOVERNANCE

Every year since the passing of the Amerindian Act, MoAA hosted the Annual National Toshaos Council Meeting (with an average budget of $50 M) to build capacity on: • Best practices in governance that includes transparency and accountability (audits); • Improved leadership for Toshaos and Village Councils in accordance to the Amerindian Act 2006; • Improved Community Management geared towards a holistic approach in Community Development; • Promoting dialog with government officials for the advancement of Amerindian welfare and total development of Amerindian villages; • Providing an opportunity for All Amerindian elected leaders to be able to have dialogue and exchanges on development priorities which challenges them; and • To provide a platform for the Amerindian Leaders have direct access to Government Ministers to dialogue on development challenges in various sectors and finding solutions ADF-GRIF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLANS

A total of 187 Amerindian Villages and Communities were considered for economic projects under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) - Guyana REDD+Investment Fund (GRIF).

Some US$6.3M from GRIF is allotted for said projects under the Amerindian Development Fund (ADF).

Twenty- Seven (27) projects from across all regions have been chosen for the initial implementation of the project which has commenced early part of 2013 with a budget of US$1.8M. Sixty-seven percent (67%) of all the projects are in agriculture with the aim of securing Amerindian livelihoods.

ADF Project Management Unit were up and running to facilitate full implementation of 160 CDPs. CULTURE

The preservation and promotion of Amerindian heritage is germane to Amerindian’s identity. The cultural activities have been the media for Amerindian culture to be accepted and understood by other groups in Guyana, at the same time, an avenue for all Amerindians to celebrate their heritage and embrace their indigenous roots and identity.

By continuing to protect Amerindian culture, Amerindians are able to understand the significance of their dances, languages, practices, local knowledge, cuisine, crafts, songs, and literature to the total development of their villages. The government is cognizant of the fact that culture is one of the pillars of sustainable development, and without it, and then development is not fully achieved.

Some $25M was spent on average annually in for Amerindian Heritage Celebrations to promote traditions, values, literature , dances of Amerindians. Another $6M was spent annually for other cultural activities The Initiatives include: Arawak Revival Language Project launched in Capoey; Support to Cultural Expo (North Pakaraimas) - $5M; and Support to cultural groups of Aisalton ($1.4M) and Santa Rosa ($7M) OTHER INVESTMENTS

• Mining including gold, diamond, various metals, bauxite • Forestry • Agriculture • Information Communication and Technology- 99 hubs were completed by 2014 to accommodate the computers 20 in number to commence the computer literacy training of youths, women and residents including children.

LAND OWNERSHIP

Prior to 1992, 74 communities were titled. Since, then 24 more villages were granted titles, thereby bringing the total of titled villages to 98, seventy-seven of which had been demarcated.

Six (6) titles were to be approved prior to May 2015 and seven (7) extension were investigated and in preparation for approval While Indigenous people in many Countries have right of use of the Land only, in Guyana where the Indigenous People account for approximately 9.7% of the population, Amerindians own land, including the forests resources within their Titled Lands.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT/SUPPORT

The MoAA has launched the Youth Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP) aimed to train young Amerindians while employing them at the same time and become powerful partners in development.

Some $200M was spent on YEAP in 2013. Focus was placed on developing 2,000 Community Support Officers (CSOs) participate productively in Education, Health, and Social Welfare, Community Development, Culture, ICT, Infrastructure and small business.

The CSOs received training in various areas, including: • Management of Photovoltaic System • Management of Basic ICT hardware • Governance & Amerindian Act • Youth Voices for Climate Change (Sponsored by the US Embassy/Caribbean Development Bank educate youths on the importance of Climate Change and its impact in the Caribbean) • Business & Sustainable Development • Various aspect of the Community Development Project training The Youth Apprenticeship Programme was aimed at training young Amerindians while employing them at the same time is a medium to empower the young as partners in national development. These youths will be our partners in the implementation of CDPs and other socio-economic activities that are taking place in the villages now. The inclusion of the young in gearing their villages towards progress by letting them participate productively in technical, mechanical, computer, and agricultural activities will definitely enhance the capacity of the villages’ human resources.

AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT

Tractors, farm implements, fertilizers, acoushi ant bait, irrigation systems, and other infrastructures provided for villages every year An average of $50M per year was given in agricultural support for various villages through the years COMMUNICATION

Computer Accessibility through 100 computer hubs commenced in 2013. Some $287.7M was allotted for solar systems for ICT hubs; and 57,000 person-beneficiaries.

As at 2014: 72 of these hubs are completed;9 hubs near completion and the HUBs were constructed into Regions of 1, 7, 8 and 9.

All villages now have radio sets for fast communication, each one costs $500,000 Telecommunication facilities built in Mabaruma, Port Kaituma, Red Hill, Morucca, Aishalton, Annai, Lethem, Ominaik, and Mahdia, thus improving communication in the hinterlands!

20

WEEKEND MIRROR 30 JUNE - 1 JULY, 2018

Corruption, breach of financial laws, spending irregularities and more….

APNU+AFC gov’t has racked up over 50 scandals in less than three year

T

he Parliamentary Opposition has been monitoring the APNU+AFC government’s use of public funds and the levels of transparency and accountability.

From June 10, 2015 to date, over 50 scandals have been uncovered – an average of one scandal for each month.

1. The cost of the inauguration ceremonies at the Parliament Buildings and, more particularly, the one at the National Stadium has never been revealed.

2. The removal of 8 containers containing steel by BK International from the Ministry of Public Health’s compound worth millions of dollars - in the first week after government changed in violation of a court order.

The government did nothing to retrieve the containers and has been silent.

3. The dismissal of 1,972 Amerindian community service officers at “one stroke of the pen” with no cause by the third (3rd) Vice-President and Minister of Indigenous Affairs. Despite a promise by VP Allicock in the National Assembly, during the 2015 Budget debate that the government would create a new programme to hire Amerindian youths, they instead replaced this programme with the Hinterland Entrepreneurial Youth Skills Programme (HEYs). HEYS is a sixmonth training programme with no entrepreneurial or employment component, which is under severe duress as there are complaints that the facilitators and students have not received their stipends despite the budgetary provision of $1Billion.

4. The appointment of 33 foreign honourary advisors to assist the government and the appointment of a top heavy bureaucracy of Presidential and Ministerial advisors, which have only been partially disclosed in the National Assembly in response to questions to Ministers in 2016. The total numbers are approximated to be nearing 100 advisors

(local and foreign) at a huge cost to the taxpayers.

5. India/GoG funded Speciality Hospital – the government gave a contract to Fedders Lloyd (VP Ramjattan was its lawyer) without going to tender at a price yet unknown and in violation of the procurement laws. Despite public outcry, the government refused to terminate the contract for the Speciality Hospital. The company was delisted by the IDB and the Indian government and Eximbank withdrew the money for the loan. There has been no disclosure as to how much Fedders Lloyd was paid and what work had been done when the company was delisted and the project halted.

6. The first act of the government was to give themselves enormous salary increases between 50 -100 % of what the former government ministers received. This was quietly done in September 2015 and the parliamentary opposition had to wage a struggle in Parliament to bring a motion to reverse this. When the motion was finally heard in December, it was defeated by the government’s one-seat majority. It should be remembered that the media, having leaked the fact that the government was embarking on increasing the salaries of the President, VPs and Ministers, Minister Trotman, on behalf of the government, denied that the government was contemplating any salary increases for the Ministers. This was also denied during the debate on the 2015 Budget in August 2015. Having gone into recess mid-September, the government stealthily published Order No. 6 of 2015 in the Official Gazette, dated September 25th, 2015, increasing their salaries and making it retroactive to July 1, 2015. Contrast this act with the government’s refusal to increase the salaries of the public servants in accordance with their campaign promises.

7. Durban Park Development Project for the Jubilee

celebrations - The government has refused to provide information on the “private company,” which was in charge of the preparations of the Durban Park prior to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s “take over” of the project on the orders of the President. It is estimated that the costs, when finally exposed, will be close to $1Billion - for a one-day event.

8. The President pardoned over 100 convicted felons in 2015 and stated that this would be done annually. He promised that these would be felons with non-violent crimes and juvenile offenders. In fact, this was not true.

A number of these persons had been sentenced for violent crimes and a number of them are back in prison.

9. The Rudisa case at the CCJ and the pay out to Rudisa - The APNU and AFC, while in Opposition, twice caused the defeat in the 10th Parliament of attempts by the PPPC government to amend the Customs Act in order to pre-empt the case going to the CCJ and save the country millions of US dollars. The APNU+AFC Coalition government settled to repay the entire amount of the Rudisa USD$16M claim without any negotiations for a debt repayment schedule and despite the fact that the company owed and appears to still owe millions of dollars in taxes to Guyana. The first payment was made late last year and the second budgeted for in the 2016 Budget.

10. Hundreds of millions of dollars spent by the Government and the Georgetown Mayor and City Council on the “Clean Up Campaign” in the city with no public tendering and handpicked companies. In some cases, new companies were created with no experience to facilitate this corruption. There has been no accountability of the amount of monies spent and the Mayor and Town Clerk have rebuffed efforts to allow the Auditor General’s office to do a forensic audit.

11. The write off of debts owed to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the nation by DDL worth billions of dollars (April 2016). If DDL had not issued a press release announcing the write off, this would not have been known.

12. Other write-off of debts by the GRA for other companies who financed the APNU+AFC Coalition electoral campaign, worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Minister Trotman said these companies have to be compensated for their financial investment.

13. Following the March 18, 2016 Local Government Elections, Minister Bulkan in violation of the statutes governing the local government system, appointed the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, and the 5 Chairpersons and vice chairperson of the 5 NDCs in the 6 tied LAAs. All of these persons were APNU, although there was a plurality of votes in 3 of the 6 tied LAAs for the PPP and 3 for the APNU+AFC. 14. Write-offs by the APNU+AFC dominated Georgetown Municipal Council to many companies for millions of dollars owed in rates and taxes for undisclosed amounts. This is a City Council that is now cash-strapped and cannot pay contractors for garbage collection nor timely payment of salaries of its employees. The cost to the Treasury of these write offs by the GRA, the Georgetown City Council and other Local Authority Areas alone earmarked in this list of scandals is estimated to be between 23% to 36 % of the total 2016 Budget.

15. Parking meters contract with no public tendering, no involvement of the Georgetown City Council, no consultation with the citizens – the scandal deepens, even as the APNU+AFC Georgetown Mayor is being advised to do some damage control by attempting to amend the 49-year contract and make it less embarrassing for the

government.

16. The three-year Pharmacy Bond contract between the Ministry of Public Health and the Linden Holding Company was not tendered for by Minister Dr Norton’s own admission on the floor of the National Assembly.

The PPP/C will be submitting its motion of privilege, calling for the Speaker to send the Minister of Public Health to the Privilege Committee for wilfully misleading the National Assembly and the nation.

17. The GoG/BK International settlement of $1.17 B for Haags Bosche - The Ministry of Communities’ settlement of $1.17B to BK International for the Haags Bosche project came to light as a result of a Supplementary Financial Paper on August 8th where the country learnt that this settlement was made and would be paid in three tranches, even though the court did not award costs to BK Int’l. The government paid BK Int’l the first third of the payment in January 2016, which begs the question - where did this money come from? It was not provided for in the 2015 budget, nor was there any SFP in the interim nor in the 2016 Budget or since to cover this first payment of G$500M. The August Supplementary Financial Paper covers the payment of the second tranche of $501M to BK int’l from the Consolidated Fund. The third payment the Minister stated would be reflected in the 2017 budget. This is a scandal like the RUDISA and the DDL write offs. Interesting and of note is that BK International is being paid the entire $10M USD for the contract though BK Int’l only worked for 3 of the 5 years of the contract at substandard work. The PPP/C government had terminated the contract due to substandard work and delays. Ministers Bulkan and Patterson late 2015 both publicly stated that BK Int’l had done substandard work on the project!

18. Two fuel scandals relat-

ing to the issuance of fuel licenses for the importation of fuel to companies that are made up of persons related to top officials or who are top officials themselves in the government, who have no fuel bonds, no storage facilities and no offices.

The withdrawal of the fuel importation license to the Chinese company, which has invested millions of US dollars for storage facilities, appears to have been calculated to make room for these alternative importers.

In August the second set of fuel licenses came to light regarding licenses issued to Dr. Van West Charles, CEO and other officials in GWI under a private company. It should be noted that an applicant for a fuel license has to acquire an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and 4 additional licences - provision of a bond under detailed specifications, transportation, storage, importation, and restrictions on where fuel storage can be located. It normally takes a long time for an applicant to obtain all these licenses---impossible to do so in 9 months. The licenses were issued in the month that Van West Charles became CEO GWI and, therefore, he had ample time to remove himself from the company.

At a parliamentary opposition weekly press briefing several months ago, this gentlemen’s role in soliciting donations for pipes for the wells in Region 9 was exposed. It was reported that the Brazilian contractors hired by GWI to dig 8 wells in the Rupununi region were unable to pay their workers as they allege that GWI is not paying them (the contractors).

19. Consistent and frequent violation of the Procurement Act by line ministries - e.g, the Minister of Agriculture admitted that the MOA nor the NDIA had gone out to tender for works totalling $234M due to emergency works for El Nino and flooding in regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10. In fact, these monies should have been provided for in the Supple(Turn to page 21)

21

WEEKEND MIRROR 30 JUNE - 1 JULY, 2018

APNU+AFC gov’t has racked up over... mentary Financial Paper # 2 of 2016 for the Consolidated Fund.

20. Requests for information during questions to Ministers and questions during the debate on the two Supplementary Financial Papers on August 8th revealed that the government ministers’ will not release contracts unless they have the permission of the other person/company/ party to the contract. This is unheard of and a violation of the role of the legislature under the constitution to hold the government accountable.

21. Undermining the judicial process- the establishment of a Presidential Tribunal to inquire, investigate and recommend whether Carvil Duncan, Chairman of the Public Service Commission, should be removed from office for inability to discharge his duties. Since the charges against Mr Duncan are still pending before a Magistrate of the Georgetown Magistrate’s court, the establishment of this tribunal is premature, pre-emptive and repugnant to the very “due process” to which the President says that his Administration is committed.

22. Auditor General’s special audit of GECOM expenditure in 2015 prior to the general and regional elections—this is on-going, with the use of sole sourcing by the GECOM estimated to amount to $700M in the months prior to the May 2015 elections. However, unlike other investigations where the heads were sent on administrative leave such as the Head of NICIL, Head of the NDIA, PS of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, head of the Public Hospital Georgetown, to name a few, this CEO has not been sent off on administrative leave.

23. $240M spent on refurbishing the Kitty Market.

Photographic evidence exposes the corruption by City Hall. There are no scope of works, estimates, etc that is available and the project was not put to tender as the city has hired the workers and is implementing the works itself. This project is still not completed.

24. The awarding of the contract for boxed juices for the school feeding programme to a Surinamese beverage company owned by RUDISA that was not the lowest or even the second lowest bid. The impact on the local farmers and manufacturers will be felt. DDL has come out publicly to criticise this, so too, has another company Guyana Beverages.

25. Award of the contract for quarry stone to a Surinamese company for the CJIA will have tremendous impact on the local quarries. Toolsie Persaud, one of the stone producers, has protested. There is more to come to light on this issue and this we have earmarked an emerging scandal where government needs to provide answers.

26. The discriminatory dismissals of hundreds of employers in the public service and in the state entities on the basis of their ethnic and assumed political affiliation which started in June 2015 is continuing unabated.

27. Some $1.64B was spent regionally on health, plus an additional added $2.5B that was spent on pharmaceuticals and medical supplies at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) without tender – a massive total $4.17B that was spent by the Coalition Government in breach of the procurement rules.

28. Not satisfied with the huge increases in salary and benefits, some Ministers are greedy and the reports of paying off Ministers for licenses, contracts etc., is astounding. The government has got into the habit of putting out tenders in the press and then cancelling them repeatedly until their chosen contractor wins the tender.

29. Chicken importation licenses to non-existent/ non-registered companies as well as another company in the name of the CEO, GWI, Van West Charles.

30. The Removal of 6,000 solar panels purchased for the Hinterland Household Electrification Programme

and re-allocating them for use at the Ministry of the Presidency and State House.

31. The Wind Farm project being done by Lloyd Singh, an AFC financier. Minister Trotman has said that it is “payback time for one of their election financiers”.

32. Antinfek in drinking water purchased by GWI without tender and without warnings of the health hazard by a CEO who was employed for years by the PAHO. Only after questioning by the Opposition in the National Assembly has the government provided minimum disclosure.

33. Contract for GPL Prepaid meters, awarded after 3 re-tenders to a contractor whose bid was the highest of all bids; in fact, $ 1 B more than engineers’ estimate.

34. Contract for the Water treatment plants- tenders cancelled twice before finally being awarded to their preferred contractor, who was higher than the other tenders.

35. Tendering for the GOG/ IDB Sheriff St road project was repeatedly done and no awards made until we lost that part of the IDB loan of $20M USD while at the same time paying penalty fees.

36. Procurement of drugs and medical supplies, in breach of procurement laws.

37. Consistent and on-going violations of the Procurement Act, financial rules and the Fiscal Management and Enactment Act are pervasive. The most recent examples were exposed during the August 3, 2017 debate with regard to funds for the State Assets Recovery Agency and constitutional bodies including the Public Procurement Commission and the Public Service Appellate Tribunal.

38. The on-going saga of the Durban Jubilee Park. It is estimated that expenditure has reached $1.5 B. Auditor General Deodat Sharma aims to wrap up his special audit into the controversial Durban Park Project before

(From page 20)

the end of the year even if he does not receive certain financial records which appear to be missing. Mired in controversy, millions more are being spent in preparation for the flag raising ceremony to mark Independence.

39. Contract for CCTV cameras for the Ministry of the Presidency- not delivered and paid for since 2015. The company has been declared bankrupt. So where is the taxpayers’ money?

40. Purchase of the Prime Minister’s SUV- bullet proof, latest model, extraordinary extravagance for a poor developing country.

Noticeable is the acquisition of a fleet of new vehicles for every Minister yet many have not been budgeted for in the annual budgets.

41. Secret COI targeting constitutional rights commissions, in particular the Public Service Commission and the Ethnic Relations Commission. This is a form of intimidation. No report available.

42. President’s instruction to the Police Service Commission to halt police promotions in contravention of the constitution.

43. The COI into the Police with regard to the way it investigated the intention or plot to assassinate the President. The real plot behind this move appears to be the decapitation of the Guyana Police Force leadership. The President’s instruction to the Police Service Commission to halt these promotions appears to give credence to this theory.

44. The Georgetown Prison Camp Street Jailbreak and fire on July 9, 2017 and the Lusignan escapees coming after the March 2016 riots and fire that lead to 17 inmates being burnt to death.

The COI of the March 2016 prison disturbances and fire has been kept secret but more evidence coming to light indicate that the government did not act on those recommendations, including the establishment of a multi-agency multi-sectoral

body being appointed by the President to implement the recommendations. Budgetary allocations for the Prisons, especially capital works to increase the inmate accommodation at the Mazaruni Prison in the 2016 budget was unspent and rolled over to 2017 and as of July 2017 these works are still not complete. The new request for $753M appropriated in Parliament on August 3 2017 cannot account for $ 153 M requested.

45. The Amendments to the Broadcasting Act passed in the National Assembly by the one seat majority government are an infringement on the freedom of expression and freedom of the press. Despite public appeals to the President by reputable international organizations such as Reporters Without Borders and the International Press Institute as well as denunciations by the Guyana Press Association, private sector, broadcasters, civil society, and the Parliamentary Opposition, the President as of August 17, 2017 denied requests to defer his assent and hold consultations.

46. The Commission of Inquiry into Lands – communal, joint and individual lands and any other lands – with specific focus on Amerindian land titling and land of Freed Africans. There was no prior consultation with the National Toshaos Council (NTC) or any Amerindian communities on the establishment of this COI. The NTC, five Amerindian non-governmental organizations and the Parliamentary opposition protested the appointment of this COI as it threatened Amerindian land rights which are enshrined in the constitution and in the Amerindian Act. The Parliamentary Opposition brought a motion in parliament calling on the President to revoke the COI or at least the component which is treating with Amerindian land titling which was defeated by the government’s one seat majority. The government 4 months after it established the COI held its first consultation with the NTC. This COI is a recipe to drive rifts and strife between

different ethnic groups in the country.

47. Repossession of lease and transported lands and property - the revocation of 30 MMA farmers leases by the President, the Central Housing and Planning Authority ( CHPA) repossession of transported houses and land and its CEO’s recent renewed threats to take away land from private developers are all unconstitutional. The judiciary in early August 2017 ruled that the President’s revocation of the leases of the farmers in the MMA was unconstitutional. In another instance the court issued a conservatory order to prevent the government from seizing and taking possession of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre until case is properly heard.

48. Rental of residences for Ministers- $500,000 each to 2 junior Ministers and one Minister $ 1.5 M. This has been exposed in detail in the media and by members of civil society and the Parliamentary Opposition.

49. The appointment of the Chairman of the GECOM in violation of the constitution and the ruling of the Chief Justice.

50. The US$18M signing bonus from ExxonMobil placed outside of the Consolidated Fund.

51. Painting state properties in APNU colours.

52. Reduction of constitutional bodies budgets 2016, 2017, 2018 in violation of the 2015 amendment to FMA Act. These scandals, not limited to this list, have been uncovered and expose a level of corruption and discrimination that has not been seen since the Burnham era. The APNU+AFC government lacks transparency and accountability, and is prepared to undermine and even violate the procurement and financial laws of this country, as well as other constitutional provisions and statutory provisions.

22

WEEKEND MIRROR 30 JUNE - 1 JULY, 2018

Farm to market roads in Region 5 in poor condition Rice farmers, cash crop farmers and residents of the left Bank of the Abary River are facing difficulties due to the state of the farm to market roads in the areas. The increased cost of fuel and cost of maintenance of vehicles are only some of the challenges facing those affected.

23

WEEKEND MIRROR 30 JUNE - 1 JULY, 2018

Gov’t collects US$17.8M Did the Junior Communities from Japanese, still no Minister upstage Bulkan? clarity on energy policy – December touted as LGE date A

w h o p p i n g US$17,812,237 has been collected by the APNU+AFC Coalition government from the Japanese.

And Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge, has said that the monies will be used for the Introduction of Renewable Energy. “It aims at improving the efficiency of the power system in the City of Georgetown and the surrounding areas by enhancing substation and distribution equipment, as well as establishing a PV system and an energy management system at the CARICOM Secretariat.

The 10,930 units of the LED street lamps (valued at USD 1,329,984) will be used for

the replacement of the current street lights in selected areas and aid in the improvement of the Government’s energy initiative,” he said.

Meanwhile, in February 2016, Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson, appeared before the Parliamentary Natural Resources Sectoral Committee, and said the draft of the final report from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which undertook an energy mix study, has been completed.

It is now June 2018 and there has been no word from the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change Government on

the state of the study – if it is completed and why it has not been released.

The study relates to the correct “energy matrix and energy mix” for Guyana to meet its energy needs, including hydropower, for the next 30 years.

The IDB assessment was expected to be completed by May 2016. Finance Minister Winston Jordan had previously stated that the study is due early this year and will include the analysis for five hydro sites, including Amaila.

Since then, Patterson has talked up over 10 small renewable energy projects without much clarity.

ment Officer (CCDO) Perlina Gifth, to assume and or exercise control of the affairs of the union.

The order had been granted upon the reading of an application made without notice on June 14th, with supporting affidavit by GPSCCU Secretary/ Manager Trevor Benn.

The order was expected to be in place until July 3rd, when attorney Roysdale Forde was expected to file skeleton arguments on Benn’s behalf, while July 6th had been set for the hearing

of a fixed date application to prevent Gifth or anyone else from acting on the decision previously communicated.

The decision by the judge had led to protest action on Monday by supporters of the IMC who had agreed that there was gross mismanagement of funds by the previous body.

On May 25th, a team led

by Gifth seized control of the GPSCCU from the Management Committee, which was led by Chairperson Patricia Went.

M

inister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Valerie Adams-Patterson, has touted December 2018 as the Local Government Elections (LGE) month.

Making comments during an inaugural national debating competition among schools on the pros and cons of local government elections, held in Linden, she said, “There is need for a lot of education on local government, and more so we are heading to local government election this year in the

month of December, and so a programme like this will force people to do research and to ensure that they acquire knowledge.”

The substantive Communities Minister, Ronald Bulkan, has yet to announce a date, which he committed to do soon. November 2018 was previously touted as the month during which the elections would be held.

The last Local Government Elections was held in March 2016. Of 1,166 seats up for grabs, the PPP/C won 754 of those, while David

Granger-led APNU+AFC Coalition government won 375. The remaining seats went to independent candidates and groups that contested the elections - in other words the PPP/C won 65 per cent of the seats, while 32 per cent went to APNU+AFC. The PPP/C also won 48 of Local Authority Areas (LAAs) out of the 71 areas.

The APNU+AFC won 16 and the other seven areas are tied between the PPP/C and APNU+AFC. The difference of votes was some 28,000 – not counting the areas where there was no contest, meaning only the PPP/C fielded candidates.

Nagamootoo continues to peddle lies, refuses to IMC back in charge of public respond to criticisms service credit union T

he Interim Management Committee (IMC) that was recently installed by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government to oversee the affairs of the Guyana Public Service Cooperative Credit Union (GPSCCU) has been reinstated.

Their reinstatement follows a decision on Tuesday (June 26, 2018) by Justice Gino Persaud to discharge an Interim Order that he had granted two weeks ago, staying the decision of the Chief Cooperatives Develop-

Former PNCR parliamentarian convicted in Terror Plot dies in US prison F ormer PNCR parliamentarian Abdul Kadir died on Thursday morning (June 28, 2018) in a US prison where he was serving a life sentence for plotting to blow up fuel tanks at the John F Kennedy Airport in New York.

He was 66, according to his prison records.

Kadir’s son, Kareem, confirmed to this newspaper that they received a called from US officials at around 9am today and were informed that he had passed away.

However, he said they had no other details and could offer no further comment.

“Only thing we can say right is from God we come and to God we will go, that is the only certain thing,” the

son said.

Kadir was sentenced by a US court to life in 2010 after being convicted, while his co-conspirator another Guyanese Abdel Nur, who pleaded guilty, was sentenced to 15 years in 2011.

Prosecutors had said that the bomb plot was hatched in January, 2006, by Russell De Freitas, a Guyanese who is a US citizen, and reportedly involved blowing up jet fuel tanks leading to the airport.

Kadir, formerly Michael Seaforth, was convicted of conspiracy to attack a public transportation system; conspiracy to destroy a building by fire or explosive; conspiracy to attack aircraft and aircraft materials; conspiracy to destroy international airport

facilities; and conspiracy to attack a mass transportation facility.

He had maintained his innocence and testified that he was not involved in the terrorism scheme but that he had feigned interest in the plan because he hoped its architects would help him raise money to build a mosque.

From 2001 to 2006, he had served as a regional Member of Parliament for the then opposition PNCR. He had also previously served as Mayor of Linden from 1994 to 1996.

Trinidadian Kareem Ibrahim, who was charged and convicted in the same plot and was sentenced to life, died in a US prison in 2016 at the age of 70.

R

efusing to face facts, particularly the failure to keep almost all of the campaign promises made, Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, has said that the coalition has shown that “it has quality leadership, a clear idea as to the importance of inclusive governance as well, as a vision on the strategy for the comprehensive development of the country.”

As a result he has come under fire from critics and political commentators in Guyana.

Relative to a vision on Guyana’s development, since taking office, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government has presided over the downward sliding of economic performance. Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, has already revised downwards the projections for economic growth from 3.8 per cent to 3.4 per cent.

For 2017, initially, Government had projected that Guyana’s economy would have grown by a 3.8 per cent growth rate for 2017.

This projection was reduced to 3.1 per cent. It was then revised downwards again to 2.9 per cent. The actual performance, 2.1 per cent, was disclosed earlier this year. The performance of major sectors according to final 2017 figures, which were revised in February 2018, show that: the agriculture sector only grew by 0.4% (projected to grow by 5.2%); the sugar sector con-

tracted by 25.2% (projected to grow by 13.7%); other crops sector only grew by 2.4% (projected to grow by 4.4%); and that the mining and quarrying sector contracted by 8.8% (projected to grow by 0.7%).

Notably, the 2015, 2015, 2017 and 2018 national Budgets presented by the Coalition Government included a host of new taxes and fees, over 200 in total. Government is collecting $56B more in taxes in 2018.

Within the first year, following the introduction of the 200+ tax measures, revenue increased by more than 13.2% or $20B. Ordinary Guyanese continue to bear the brunt of higher tax burden. Effective tax rate had increased from $0.36 cents in 2014 to $0.43 cents in 2018. This is contrary to claims made by the inister of Finance, Winston Jordan, that the reduction in VAT would ease tax burden.

The amount of foreign exchange lost, due to the underperformance of Rice, Sugar, Bauxite and Forestry Sector since 2015 is a whopping US$509M. In the meantime, the increasing debt burden was flagged by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which said Guyana gross public debt to GDP ratio is projected to reach 60 per cent of GDP by 2020, a relatively high level which can bring heightened financing risks on the non-concessional com-

ponent, but noted that the authorities are determined to promote a robust economy.

The economy is only one area where the APNU+AFC has demonstrated a lack of vision. There has been no new jobs created in over three years and no major foreign direct investments coming to the country.

Even as Guyana prepares for oil, come 2020, there is no clear framework to manage these resources.

What Guyana has are: a proposal for a Petroleum Commission that vests significant control in the hands technical personnel; no defined or established principles for the establishment of a Sovereign Wealth Fund; no clarity on a process to deal with the remaining oil blocks; no clarity on engagements with future investors; what sectors will primarily benefit from oil resources; and no defined local content policy.

Additionally, the 2017 and 2018 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), produced by the United States of America’s (USA) State Department, are markedly different, in that “government corruption” is cited as a major source of money laundering in Volume 2 of the latest report. This is the first time the US has cited government corruption in its report.

Nagamootoo has not responded to any of these concerns.

24

WEEKEND MIRROR 30 JUNE - 1 JULY, 2018

Over 4,200 sugar workers still to get severance, GAWU moves to court

T

he Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has filed legal proceedings against the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), to which GuySuCo has transferred all of its as-

sets, with the view of having them pay “all severance or redundancy payments or allowances due, owing and payable under the provisions of the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, Chapter 96:01” to the 4283 employees that were made redundant in 2017.

In GAWU’s legal proceedings, which are being handled by former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, the Union noted that the redundant workers were to receive their redundancy allowance/ severance payment not later than December, 29 2017, in accordance with the letter

and spirit of Section 21 of the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay (TESPA) Act. However, GAWU in its application, which was seen by this publication, is contending that the workers 4238 workers who were employed at Skeldon, Rosehall and the

East Demerara Sugar Estates were paid only a portion of their redundancy allowance/ severance payment and despite the workers’ as well as the Applicant’s repeated demands to GuySuCo for payment of the full redundancy allowance/severance payment due, the Corporation has “failed and refused to do so.”

The matter is fixed for hearing on July 20, 2018, at the High Court before Justice F. Corbin-Lincoln.

In January of this year Government had announced that redundant sugar estate workers whose severance payments are $500,000 and less will be paid in full by the end of January 2018, while workers receiving in excess of the aforementioned sum

would attain 50 per cent of their severance benefits by the end of January and the other 50 per cent at the end 2018.

GAWU had decried Government’s move to pay in two tranches, pointing out that it was illegal.

The legal challenge comes after Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, stated that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) would help retrenched sugar workers to mount a legal challenge against government over their severance payments.

The firing of thousands of sugar workers by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government has been described as the largest retrenchment by a private or public corporation in recent history.

Gov’t moves to support other workers on the breadline, sugar workers continue to be ignored

W

orkers recently laid off

by BEV Enterprise, the seafood processing plant at Houston are to receive help from the government.

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, has said the government is committed to cushioning the socio-economic impact on the workers, most of whom are single-parent mothers.

More than 300 workers of the privately-owned BEV Enterprises will be off the job next month. At least 17 trawlers owned by individuals and one company are faced with the possibility of docking their vessels until they can secure new employment.

Jordan has said that the situation is “sad” and reiterated that the government will support those affected.

Meanwhile, there continues to be no move to support the thousands of sugar workers who are also facing mounting financial, unemployment and other worries – all the result of Government’s decision to fire about 5,000 sugar workers.

Notably, in April 2018, the Coalition government established a task force, to ensure workers of the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) are not adversely affected by recent sanctions affecting parent company Russia Aluminum (RUSAL).

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, on April 25, 2018, had even visited Rusal Guyana’s operations, located in Kwakwani,

Region 10 to deliver the assurances first hand to workers. Rusal Guyana is a majority shareholder in BCGI and a subsidiary of Russian owned RUSAL. “We are here to assure you that we are not going to see your jobs just go aside. We are going to be fighting,” Minister Trotman told workers.

As has been done with the BEV worker, the move to set up a task force to deal with the “crisis to come” in the bauxite sector, has exposed Government’s – even more – the callous treatment it meted out to sugar workers. No government official engaged the sugar workers in the manner that the bauxite workers have, prior to the firings.

Moreover, there has been no move to offer substantial support to sugar workers reeling from the impact of the firings. This is despite multiple calls by the Parliamentary Opposition for them to do so. In contrast, bauxite workers have been assured of government backing is the worse is to materialise.

The PPP/C has called on the Coalition Government to extend similar treatment to the sugar workers, as was done by the former PPP/C government in the case of bauxite workers in Linden and surrounding communities – when bauxite face challenges after 1992 – support of subsidized water and electricity, training and the creation of a loan programme, among other measures of support.

25

WEEKEND MIRROR 30 JUNE - 1 JULY, 2018

SARA challenge postponed again T

he delay of the judiciary in addressing major cases, specifically the PPP’s Elections Petition, has brought into focus other cases that have not been fully considered. The High Court application to have the State Assets Recovery Act (SARA) scrapped is yet to be substantively heard by Acting Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire, almost a year after it was filed.

The case was called in chambers last Thursday (June 21, 2018) and was adjourned and all parties involved were informed that notices concerning the next date would be sent out.

Court records show that

from August 3rd, 2017, when the case was first called, up until last Thursday (June 21, 2018), the matter engaged the attention of the court 10 times.

On August 3rd, the case was adjourned until August 14, 2017 and from then until September 19, 2017 for report. On the report date, it was deferred until October 30, 2017 for report and again until December 15, 2017 for clarification and hearing of extension of time.

On January 23, 2018, which was scheduled for hearing, the matter was adjourned until February 27, 2018 for clarification and from then until April 27,

2018 for further clarification.

A scheduled May 25, 2018 hearing saw another adjournment until last Thursday’s date (June 21, 2018).

The application was filed

by Attorney Devindra Kissoon on behalf of local activist, Ramon Gaskin, in July 2017. The Attorney General (AG) Basil Williams, SARA and the SARA Director Professor Clive Thomas were listed as the respondents.

The main thrust of Gaskin’s arguments is that the Act contains illegal provisions, some of which clash with constitutional provisions and as a result it should not be implemented.

Jordan says ‘misconduct charges’ filed against him damaged his reputation

– retaliates with private action against PPP/C MP

F

inance Minister, Winston Jordan, has moved to the court in retaliation over action advanced by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).

In April 2018, former Attorney General, on behalf of Opposition Parliamentarian, Juan Edghill, move to the court against not only Jordan, but also Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, for “misconduct” in public office. In the charge, the court heard that Jordan and Patterson were being accused of “paying to Private Limited Liability Company, Homestretch Development Inc (HDI), the sum of $906 M, being public funds, without any resort to the procurement process as is required by law.” In a controversial move, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) discontinued the charges.

Jordan’s move to the

court takes the form of a $200M lawsuit against Edghill, for malicious prosecution “The Applicant has suffered significant harm to his reputation and integrity as a direct result of the institution of the criminal proceeding by the Respondent against the Applicant,” the court document said.

The application to the High Court, which was filed on Jordan’s behalf by attorneys Roysdale Forde and Olayne Joseph, lists almost two dozen grounds for the suit.

Edghill has since made it clear that he will not be intimidated. “This lawsuit is intended to intimate me and I would say they have failed miserably in seeking to intimate me. I will continue to confront wrongdoings, injustices, corruption, cronyism, and all forms of

Government’s manipulation of processes that benefit individuals… I will be vindicated when I have my day in court because that lawsuit that was filed is an abuse of the process of the court,” he said.

The Opposition Parliamentarian added that Jordan’s move to the court is a clear effort to do damage control. “It is all about damage control, that’s what the Minister is trying to do right now, use the courts to do some damage control because he knows that he is being held accountable and by his own admission, when he travels internationally, people are inquiring from him what’s really going on in Guyana and how the State is being managed in such a way,” Edghill said.

A hearing on the application is slated for July 13, 2018.

Decision on teachers’ salary increase delayed again M

onths after a high-level task force completed its work on proposals on salary increased and other benefits for public school teachers, Education Minister, Nicolette Henry, has announced another delay of a government decision on the task force’s findings.

The high-level task force was established after negotiations broke down between the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) and Ministry of Education.

Two years ago, on December 16, 2015, the GTU submitted its multi-year proposal to the Ministry of Education. Afterwards, the union threatened to strike after it accused government

of being disrespectful by failing to respond to the proposal.

The task, which was set up, comprised of representatives of the ministries of Education, Finance, Communities, Public Service and Presidency as well as representatives of the union.

“The High-Level Task Force of Public Education met and they would’ve made some recommendations in so far as emoluments are related to teachers. That was one of the many issues that were discussed, and they would’ve submitted to me a document which I have reviewed and which I will have to discuss with my Cabinet colleagues as the

subject Minister,” Henry said.

Trying to explain the delay in a decision on salary increase and benefits for public school teachers, Henry said that government has to look at the feasibility of any decision that is made.

The Education Minister also failed to given a definitive timeline, within which, a decision can be expected.

“I suppose, will be able to make an announcement which many will be able to benefit from soon,” she said.

The original proposal suggested by the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) called for a 50 per cent increase for 2018 and the next two years.

Jordan employs delay tactics to avoid addressing increasing fuel prices

D

espite the fact that a method of addressing the problem of increasing fuel prices has been detailed by the Parliamentary Opposition, Finance Minister has opted for delay tactics when asked about action on this issue. “We will have to find creative solutions to the problem of rising fuel prices,” he said.

Gas station prices for fuel have increased rapidly, from $215 per litre to prices ranging from $230 to $250 per litre.

Under the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civ-

ic (PPP/C) government, the mechanism used was that the ad valorem tax rate was adjusted inversely in relation to movements of oil price on the world market.

In other words, the excise tax rates were adjusted downward when prices increase on the world market, and increased when prices falls.

For example, during the period from December 2008 to March 2012 the world market price for crude oil increased by 184 per cent, but the price for a gallon of gasoline in Guyana only

increased by 77 per cent.

This was achieved by the Government lowering the tax rate on gasoline from 50 per cent to 15 per cent. As price started to fall, the tax rates were adjusted upward.

As such, there was no major loss of revenues and there was no unnecessary burden on the Guyanese people.

Notably, even as Jordan touts “creative solutions” to the problem of increasing fuel prices, he has not said what these are. He has also failed to say how soon, if ever, these solutions will be implemented.

Parika residents complain of neglect by APNU+AFC gov’t

R

esidents of Parika Backdam are claiming that they are being deliberately neglected by the APNU/ AFC Government-appointed-Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Three, Dennis Jaikarran, after making several complaints about their streets, but received no assistance.

According to the residents most of the streets have become virtually impassable and according to them, despite many requests, nothing is being done The issue came to light

after a video was posted on Facebook and when contacted, the residents said they are tired of begging authorities to fix the road. “ We really deh in a bad state hay, this road like this a long time now and nobody doing anything, we gat fuh fetch we load (agriculture produce) on we head and carry am till at the road top and load we vehicle, them vehicle cant come in hay,” one farmer told this publication.

Another stated: “We gat four pikney and them cant

even guh school, because them cant walk hay, me live till at the back deh and the government like them nah kay.”

The residents said that for almost two years now the road has been in this state and despite numerous complaints to the authorities, nothing is being done.

Similar situations are replicated across the country, mainly in communities that are perceived to be stronghold of the Opposition, People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

26

Mother of four stabbed to death, killer commits suicide

P

olice are investigating the murder of a 28-yearold woman who was stabbed to death by her ex-husband.

Dead is Tovanie Simmons, of Second Street, Limlair Village, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

The alleged perpetrator, Imran Lyte, 28, attempted to commit suicide after stabbing the woman to death.

He did not succumb immediately. Lyte succumbed on Monday (June 25, 2018).

Lyte and Simmons had been separated at the time of the incident.

Meanwhile, the dead woman’s mother, Jacklyn Henry, related that Simmons was visited by her ex-husband and his sister and they were sitting at the table having a discussion, when he

started stabbing the mother of four.

One of the now dead woman’s brothers, who nearby at the time, went to his sisters’ rescue. Lyte also attacked him, stabbing him several times.

The couple had been together for nine years and have four children; ages eight, six and three-year-old twins.

Ex-cop gets guilty of armed robbery

A

former Guyana Police Force (GPF) rank was yesterday sentenced to five years in jail after he was found guilty of an armed robbery.

Timothy Waldron, 29, was sentenced by Senior Magistrate Clive Nurse at the conclusion of his trial at the Linden Magistrate’s

Court. He was also fined $100,000.

Waldron and another man, Shawn Archibald, 38, both of 1832 Unity Place, North Ruimveldt, had been charged in January with the armed robbery of Trevor Campbell.

It was alleged that on December 31st, 2017, at Re-

public Avenue, Mackenzie, Linden, while armed with a gun, they robbed Campbell of five gold chains, valued at $740,000 in total.

Both men had been positively identified by Campbell in separate identification parades, which were conducted at the Brickdam Police Station.

WEEKEND MIRROR 30 JUNE - 1 JULY, 2018

‘Peacemaker’ kills Venezuelan who was beating girlfriend

A

27-year-old Venezuelan who was thrashing his girlfriend during a misunderstanding at Blackwater Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni, over the weekend, was stabbed to death by a Guyanese miner who intervened.

Rafael Angel Gonsalves Prieto, a punter of Venezuela, reportedly attacked his girlfriend and was fatally stabbed by the Grove, East

Bank Demerara miner who came to her rescue.

Based on information received, Laurens Susana Rodriquez Cabrera was dancing with a Brazilian national at a popular bar at Blackwater Backdam when the now dead man attacked and threw her onto the ground. The Venezuelan man reportedly whipped out a knife, sat on the woman’s chest and started to cut off her hair.

The miner went to the

woman’s rescue, during which he dealt Prieto several stabs to the body including his upper lip, left upper arm and his abdomen thus causing his intestines to protrude.

The injured man reportedly fell to the ground where he died almost instantly.

The miner then fled the scene but was later apprehended. Prieto’s body was taken to Eteringbang Landing where it awaits a post-mortem examination.

Man walks into hotel to book a room, robs owner at gunpoint

T

he proprietor of Caesar’s Palace Hotel was robbed of $75,000 in cash and several cellular phones, while she was seated in the lobby area of the business place.

The robbery occurred at at Lot 32 Delph Street, Campbellville, Georgetown. The victim, Roxanne Rollex, 52, of Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara, according to the police, was

robbed of a black hand bag valued $10,000, $75,000, a Samsung Galaxy S5 cell phone valued $60,000,a Samsung Galaxy valued $65,000,a BLU cell phone valued $16,000 and a quantity of personal documents.

Investigations disclosed that Rollex was seated in the lobby of the hotel, when a man entered through the northern door and went to the reception-

ist and requested to book a room.

Police say that the man left, and upon his return, pointed a gun at Rollex and relieved her of her valuables. He then escaped.

Several persons in the area were questioned by the police, but no useful information was received.

Police are in the process of reviewing CCTV cameras from the area.

‘I stole the phone to buy Porter assaulted during meals for my children’ home invasion – Charlestown man E

K

evin Christopher, 22, appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman on Monday (June 25, 2018) and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to a simple larceny charge.

The charge read that at Sussex Street, Charlestown, Christopher stole a Samsung Galaxy cellular phone valued $75,000, property of

Allan Campbell. He pleaded guilty to the charge.

When asked why he stole the phone, Christopher said that it was a joke.

He added that police officers came to him and started to beat him while asking him for the instrument. He told them that his cousin had the phone. Christopher stated that he had wanted to sell the phone to buy

meals and milk for his two children.

Christopher said that he was sorry and that the phone was given back to Campbell. However Campbell said that he did not want Christopher to go free for fear that he would do it again.

His wish was granted by the magistrate and Christopher was sent off to prison.

ckmond Pounder, 47, a porter of Lot 53 Fourth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, was on Tuesday (June 26, 2018) morning relieved of his personal belongings by a lone gunman who entered his home.

According to information received, Pounder was at home when he was confronted by the perpetrator who was wearing a white jersey and a blue pair of jeans. At the time, he was

brandishing a black handgun.

However, the lone gunman demanded the victim hand over his laptop computer, mobile phone and money. Out of fear for his life, the victim complied and handed over the computer; but not satisfied, the perpetrator snatched the victim’s mobile phone from his hands, after which he pushed his hands into the man’s pocket and relieved

him of a $1000.

After taking the items, the gunman assaulted the victim, causing injuries to his left eye. After the ordeal, the suspect exited the house and made good his escape. A report was lodged at the Alberttown Police Station and the victim was taken to seek medical attention. He was subsequently treated and set away.

No arrests were made as yet.

27

WEEKEND MIRROR 30 JUNE - 1 JULY, 2018

Gov’t seems to be ‘Where did $240M’ for ‘wasting our time’ Kitty market rehab go?

– Minibus Association

V

enting his frustration over Government’s slow approach to a proposal submitted to the Business Ministry over two weeks ago, President of the United Minibus Union (UMU), Eon Andrews, has expressed dissatisfaction over Government’s seemingly careless attitude towards tackling the woes of the minibus and transportation sector at large.

The Union delivered a proposal to the Ministry of Business calling for a 25 per cent fare increase for short drops and a $40 increase for longer routes. The proposal to increase fare was accompanied by a call for several other things, including: the

removal of the ban on used tyres, excise tax reductions and proper management of the importation of minibuses.

Andrews explained that the Business Ministry did not, as it should have, inform the Union that several other Ministries would have to be consulted on the matter. He charged that the Union is unclear about how soon the proposal will be considered and how soon a response on the matter will be received.

“He had not indicted that to me, and that would have been good if he had said that to us, so that we would have known we would have had to wait a little bit,” Andrews said.

“I don’t know why the

Government is wasting our time,” Andrews declared.

He added that, under the previous administration, such matters were given more urgency, especially since it is one which has a chain effect on not only drivers, but commuters as well. “They (the previous administration) would have dealt with it, even if we had to just talk.

They would have called us in already, we would have been talking…they always would have called us in quickly,” Andrews said.

Gas station prices for fuel have increased rapidly, from $215 per litre to prices ranging from $230 to $250 per litre.

Petition being circulated to pressure authorities into fixing deplorable Greenfield roads R esidents of Greenfield, East Coast Demerara, have resorted to a community petition appealing for work to be done to address the deplorable state of the community’s roads.

The petition, seen by the Mirror Newspaper, states that the deplorable state of the roads is affecting all residents, including: fisher folk who are facing increasingly difficulties in plying their trade; and school children who are faced with increased

challenges since drivers of taxis and school busses are reluctant to drive into the communities because of the roads.

Drainage and irrigation in the community, as well as in surrounding areas, are also affected by the state of the roads, since trucks have increased difficulty maneuvering the roads to transport duel to the main drainage pump.

The petition made clear that efforts to engage the

Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) on the issue have proven futile. The only works done in the area have been a result of self-help efforts.

As such, residents are calling on the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to take action to ensure that the roads are passable.

The petition is expected to be sent to the Government agencies soon.

– completion date still uncertain

T

he Kitty Market closed in mid-February 2016 for works and was expected to be reopened on November 1, 2016. Now, over two years later, it is still unclear when the works being done will be completed. The rehabilitation works on the Kitty Market was estimated to be completed in three months, according to M&CC acting Public Relations Officer (PRO) Debra Lewis.

Meanwhile, vendors are also asking where the $240M for the project was spent, given the litany of complaints about the work that has been done.

The complaints, relative to the construction flaws, included that: • The facility is being worked on from the top down, instead from the bottom up; • The load bearing beams and major structural beams have not been replaced;

• Cross beams are cracked, broken and damaged and the old vertical beams have not been changed; • The floor of the market is about 12-inches below the street, increasing concerns about flooding; • There is no ventilation and natural light; • The drainage mechanism is improper; and • That the overall workmanship is poor.

Additionally, the number of stalls has been reduced, causing concerns for vendors who were removed for the repair works to be done. Many of them have had to reapply to City Hall to secure vending spaces, including those who have worked at the market for over 25 years.

In the interim, over a dozen vendors have been moved to nearby placements and are being charged $400 per day, compared to the

$2,000 per month that used to be paid. There vendors are also facing at $10,000 fine for garbage found in their area and have complained that there is no garbage collection facility provided by City Hall, after they were moved.

Also, the cash crop vendors, who are usually the first vendors greeting customers visiting the Kitty Market, have complained that there has been no provision for them, just outside the market, as was the case before. There has also been no works done to the section used by vendors selling fish and other meats. The sanitary block, also, has not been rehabilitated.

The latest update on the works at the Kitty Market indicates that the interior stalls and electrical installations are awaiting completion.

On the ground flat, exterior stalls which would house fresh fruits and vegetable vendors are completed, but the interior stalls are partially completed.

Government must end confusion, indecision that is stifling sugar sector - GAWU

T

he GAWU General Council, at its meeting on June 22, 2018, unanimously approved a resolution calling on the Government of Guyana to stop twiddling its thumbs and to end the confusion and indecision that is now stifling the sugar industry.

Through the resolution, the General Council expressed its displeasure over the absence of a GuySuCo Board of Directors since February, this year. The Council noted that the absence stymies work towards the approval and implementation of plans that seek to put the industry on a sounder footing following the securing of some $30B from the Government-backed bond.

The resolution also called on the Government to appoint a competent Board.

The Council also addressed the welfare of thousands of Guyanese in the communities linked to the now closed Skeldon, Rose Hall, East Demerara and Wales Estates. The General Council noted that the ex-sugar workers face serious challenges on a daily basis. In a resolution, the meeting called on the Administration to implement a programme of safety nets to address the sad realities the workers now face.

The continued non-payment of full severance to the sugar workers who were terminated was also discussed.

As such, the General Council approved a resolution calling on the Government to respect the law and pay the workers their outstanding entitlements forthwith.

The full payment of sever-

ance is required under the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, but most of the sugar workers who were terminated only received part payments.

The General Council also made clear its rejection of the move by the stateowned Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to refuse engagement with workers’ unions, although such engagement is required by the Laws of Guyana. What engagements were undertaken were done in bad faith, according to GAWU. The GAWU General Council comprises representatives from among the Union’s bargaining units and is elected by the Union’s Congress. The Council meets quarterly and is the Union’s highest forum between its Congresses.

APNU+AFC is ‘fickle and whimsical’ when it comes to democracy - Teixeira T

he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has argued that the Coalition Government’s move to create new Local Authorities and tamper with the existing ones is an attempt to reduce PPP/C wins at the upcoming local government elections – adding that this effort amounts to gerrymandering and was done without any consultation.

Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, wasted no time in blasting the Coalition Government on this issue during Monday’s (June 25, 2018) sitting of the House.

She argued that local government is fundamental to the architecture of Guyanese democracy. Teixeira argued that much work was done by the former PPP/C government to ready the architecture to bolster local

government. “You inherited the architectural structure to be able to hold Local Government elections,” she said.

According to her, the APNU+AFC Government has paid lip service to the principles of local government.

“You can’t talk about democracy if you act to undermine that democracy…your actions defeat what you are talking about.

They make a mockery of local government… you’re fickle and whimsical when it comes to democracy,” she said.

Several other PPP/C Parliamentarians, during the sitting, argued that many Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and Municipalities have not received their subventions in a timely manner or in some cases at all, while NDCs have been called to submit their budget to regional authorities and the Ministry in direct contravention of their status as independent bodies.

World Cup 2018: Teams, match dates and quarter-final predictions T

he first few rounds of sparring are over, and the World Cup knockout stages are upon us when the level of competition steps up a notch.

There is no open draw in the World Cup, so each nation can plot their route from the group stages all the way to the final in Moscow.

The eight last-16 ties will be played from from Friday 30 June to Tuesday 3 July. On each day of football, one match will kick-off at 3pm UK time and one match at 7pm.

Teams that have reached the last 16: Uruguay (winners of Group A) Russia (runners-up in Group A) Spain (winners of Group B) Portugal (runners-up in Group B) France (winners of Group C) Denmark (runners-up in Group C) Croatia (winners of Group D) Argentina (runners-up in Group D) Brazil (winners in Group E) Switzerland (runners-up in Group E) Sweden (winners in Group F) Mexico (runners-up in Group F) Belgium (winner in Group G) England (runners-up in Group G) Colombia (winners in Group H) Japan (runners-up in Group H) Match dates and prediction France vs Argentina - Saturday June 30 - 3pm kick-off Two sides packed with talent who have been dysfunctional units in Russia. He who has Lionel Messi has hope, but France really should be too strong across the pitch. Their pace on the counter-attack could be lethal.

Antoine Griezmann against Javier Mascher-

ano could be brutal.

Prediction: France Uruguay vs Portugal - Saturday June 30 - 7pm kick-off Football purists look away now. Two of the most parsimonious, cynical and functional teams face each other in what promises to be a low-scoring encounter. A moment of magic from Luis Suarez or Cristiano Ronaldo could settle it.

Prediction: Uruguay (AET) Russia vs Spain - Sunday July 1 - 3pm kick-off Russia exceeded expectations with their first two performances of the group stage, but this will likely prove a bridge too far.

Spain are not infallible but ought to have too much class.

Prediction: Spain Croatia vs Denmark - Sunday July 1 7pm kick-off Denmark are a pragmatic side who rely on Christian Eriksen for productivity, while Croatia have quite possibly the best midfield in the tournament who swatted Argentina aside.

Prediction: Croatia Brazil vs Mexico - Monday July 2 - 3pm kick-off After a rocky start, Brazil are slowly moving through the gears and have never lost to Mexico in three World Cup meetings.

This will be a daunting task for the Mexicans, habitually beaten in the second round.

Prediction: Brazil Sweden vs Switzerland - Tuesday July 3 - 3pm kick-off Switzerland will be without Stephan Lichtsteiner and Fabian Schar who were booked in their final group while Sweden will be making their first appearance in the knockout stage since 2006.

PUBLISHED BY NEW GUYANA Co. Ltd., 8 Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana. Tel: 226-2473, 226-5875 Fax: 226-2472