Weekend Mirror 8-9 December 2018 by Weekend Mirror

Elected Councilors told by party to ‘work for the PNCR’ or resign 8-9 December, 2018 / Vol. 10 No. 50 / Price: $100

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

PAGE 3

Coalition put on blast for 'hard-ears' behaviour, ignoring realities of ordinary Guyanese PAGE 11

Ali calls out Patterson on “lies” being told to the National Assembly PAGE 10

Breaches of Guyana’s laws, wastage of taxpayers’ monies, mismanagement a ‘national embarrassment’ – Anthony

PAGE 9

SEE INSIDE

Jordan’s claims about new businesses, job creation in question PAGE 23 Two years later…

Court rules that Wales’ workers PAGE 13 must be paid severance plus interest

PPP/C PAGE 20 presidential candidate will be one who fulfills every promise made by the Party – Jagdeo

WEEKEND MIRROR 8-9 DECEMBER, 2018

Lawrence tells elected Councilors to ‘work for the PNCR’ or resign

andidates who were elected to posts of Municipal Councils and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCS) at the 2018 Local Government Elections were told to “work for the Party (the People’s National Congress Reform) or resign.” This warning was issued by Chairperson of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR),

Volda Lawrence. She was addressing the officials on Sunday, November 25, 2018, during a presentation at the Region Four District Conference, held at Congress Place. She said, “In the past we have had persons elected to represent the party or the coalition and when they get into office they say nobody didn’t put dem deh, dey put

deyself…we have to hold these people accountable. If you can’t work for the party resign.” Lawrence noted that the PNC “put people in office” and they sometimes “forget is the party put them there and they go and they suck up to the other people, some of them even vote with the other people.” She added, “Some of

them, when the leadership say this is the party’s position, say ‘Me ain’t gotta follow dat, so dey abstain and all sorts of thing.’ Well, I tell the councillors in Georgetown, ‘Hello, look out fuh Volda, she coming because we will not tolerate it’…we will not allow you to spoil our winning ticket… this thing is about us remaining in power.”

Further, Lawrence said, “You see this long, long story, me ain’t able buse and cuss and waste me time; I lash you in you head and done the story. Done the story. Sometimes we like to yap, yap, yap, yap too much. Comrades; we have to run things in those NDCs.” Notably, while Lawrence spoke to the gathering as the Chairperson of the

PNCR, her party contested the 2018 Local Government as part of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) – a collection of six political parties. Additionally, while her comments have been widely reported on, none of the APNU partners, including the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), have commented on the issue.

ference on the same day, Jagdeo stated that in August 2014, the then Alliance For Change (AFC) Parliamentarian, Moses Nagamootoo, had filed a No-Confidence Motion against the former PPP/C Government, led by then President, Donald Ramotar. Parliament was then prorogued and Guyana headed into snap elections. Jagdeo explained that the APNU and AFC had proffered several reasons for their move to file a No-Con-

fidence Motion. Among them were: claims of corruption; the restoration of monies cut from the budget for the Amerindian Development Fund (ADF), hinterland airports and vouchers for public school students, etc; and the non-transfer of monies held legally in semi-autonomous agencies. The Opposition Leader charged that, in comparison, what is taking place in Guyana now is far worse. He listed several things,

including: the loss of 30,000 jobs; the decimation of the sugar sector; massive increases in the cost of living; the imposition of hardships on the Guyanese people, via government policies, such as $60B in increased tax collection; major levels of corruption, exposed via, not only the Parliamentary Opposition, but also by the Auditor General’s Office and the Public Procurement Commission (PPC); and the hiding of the $US18M sign-

ing bonus from ExxonMobil in a separate account, when the monies should have been transferred into the Consolidated Fund, among many other things. Jagdeo charged that the country is “drifting” because of a lack of vision of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government. According to him, the no-confidence motion is intended to protect Guyanese and Guyana from the excessive borrowing, taxing and wasteful spending of the

current administration. He said, “Compared what they claimed (when they filed a No-Confidence Motion) against the situation today, we are in a bad, bad shape and therefore we have decided to file the No-Confidence Motion against them.” Meanwhile, the Clerk of the National Assembly, Frank Narain, has said that the no-confidence motion must be given the highest priority in the National Assembly.

“The discovery of a resource base of more than 5 billion oil-equivalent barrels in less than four years is a testament of our technical expertise and rigorous evaluation and pursuit of high-potential, high-risk opportunities in this frontier area. We will continue to apply what we’ve learned to identify additional exploration prospects and potential

future discoveries that will deliver significant value to Guyanese people, our partners and shareholders.” The Pluma-1 well encountered approximately 121 feet (37 meters) of high-quality hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone reservoir. Pluma-1 reached a depth of 16,447 feet (5,013 meters) in 3,340 feet (1,018 meters) of water.

The Noble Tom Madden drillship began drilling on November 1, 2018. The Noble Tom Madden will next drill the Tilapia-1 prospect. The other nine discoveries to date include: 1. Liza 2. Liza deep 3. Payara 4. Snoek 5. Turbot

6. Ranger 7. Pacora 8. Longtail – 1 9. Hammerhead The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometres) and located approximately 120 miles (193 kilometres) offshore Guyana. Local operator ExxonMobil’s affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)

is operator of the Stabroek Block, holding a 45 percent interest, Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30 percent interest and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 percent interest. Oil production is planned to begin in early 2020 with revenues for the country to begin being used for development projects soon after.

Debate on no-confidence motion likely later this month

debate on the no-confidence motion filed by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, against the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, is likely to be set for later this month, according to sources close to the matter. The no-confidence motion was finally been placed on the National Assembly’s Notice Paper last week. The Coalition Government now has to act before it can be placed on the National Assembly’s Order Paper (agenda), so that it can be debated and put to a vote. The motion matures on December 4, 2018. The motion, as published on the Notice Paper number 174, reads: “Be it resolved that this National Assembly has no confidence in the Government.” Notably, despite the no-confidence motion’s inclusion on the Notice Paper, House Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland, has stayed away from referring to it at the last two sittings of the National Assembly. The no-confidence Motion was filed on November 15 2018. At a press con-

ExxonMobil makes 10th oil discovery

xxonMobil on Tuesday (December 3, 2018) announced its tenth discovery offshore Guyana at its Pluma-1 well. And increased its estimate of the discovered recoverable resource for the Stabroek Block to more than 5 billion oil-equivalent barrels. ExxonMobil’s senior vice president has said,

WEEKEND MIRROR 8-9 DECEMBER, 2018

Are we going back to those dreadful years of party paramountcy?

Volda Lawrence's comments brings into focus practices of Burnham administration Dear Editor,

he FITUG, like the Guyanese public, was taken aback by the utterances attributed to Minister of Public Health and recently-elected PNC Chairperson, Volda Lawrence. According to online news outfit – Demerara Waves – the Public Health Minister, at a recently held PNC activity, reportedly told her audience “[t]he only friends I got is PNC so the only people I gon give wuk to is PNC and right now I looking for a doctor who can talk Spanish or Portuguese and ah want one that is PNC”. While the Federation respects and upholds the Minister’s right, like all Guyanese, to associate with whom they wish to associate with, at the same time, her admission of sorts that she will only employ persons from a particular political grouping cannot be condoned nor tolerated. While such an approach is fraught with dangers and can, in all likelihood, lead to square pegs in round holes, something not in the interest of the Guyanese people, the Minister’s reported statement has legal implications as well. The FITUG wishes to draw to the Minister’s attention that the Prevention of Discrimination Act says what the Minister is apparently doing or seeking

to do is illegal. That Act says at Section 4(1) “[f]or the purposes of this Act, a person discriminates against another person if the first mentioned person makes, on any or the grounds mentioned in subsection (2), any distinction, exclusion or preference the intent or effect of which is to nullify or impair equality of opportunity or treatment in any employment or occupation”. Section 4(2) (b), which identifies several grounds for discrimination, among other things, clearly lists that political opinion is a discriminatory ground. By the Minister statement, it appears conflicts with the Act. FITUG is a staunch supporter that jobs must be granted to those who have the relevant qualification and experience and no other consideration should determine or influence potential job seekers. The FITUG found it interesting, that Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, according to a Demerara Waves report, told students attending the Bertram Collins College of Public Service, during a lecture he delivered, that the “…new public service, therefore, has to be able to deliver in an administratively neutral way and has to be established firmly on the basis of merit and political impartiality”. The statement by Minister Harmon is in stark contrast to what his colleague was reportedly telling the party faithful. Of course, it also brings into question

what is the real policy of the Government in recruiting potential employees. From the FITUG’s point of view, it is clear as day, that the statement by the Minister demands an immediate examination of employment at the Ministry of Public Health during her stint to determine whether the best persons were really employed. A similar approach also has to be extended to the Ministry of Social Protection, which Minister Lawrence previously headed before becoming Public Health Minister. Indeed, it may well require a full scale audit of all employment under the Coalition to determine how far entrenched were such policies. The entire episode brings back into mind the alleged practice during the Forbes Burnham Administration that in order to secure employment in the public service one first had to be a card-carrying PNC member. At this time, the FITUG calls on President David Granger, as the Head of State and PNC Leader to immediately put a brake to such practices. We believe it will not help to promote His Excellency’s cause of Social Cohesiveness among all Guyanese. Sincerely, The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG)

Incendiary rhetoric must stop Dear Editor,

here is a dangerous phenomenon raising its ugly head once again. The reemergence of the kind of behaviour by some members of the PNC that gave that Party the reputation of being the most-feared, most brutal and most racist many years ago. At a recent PNC political rally, senior Cabinet Minister and party official, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, remarked that the APNU will target People’s Progressive Party (PPP) supporters and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) that sabotage Government. Harmon was quoted as saying, “The foolishness got to stop! No NDC, because it’s controlled by the PPP, will take Government money and just spend it on PPP areas… It’s got to stop, and we are going to work and fix that.” But this is not so! Seeking to blame the PPP for Government’s incompetence: hiring party hacks to critical

positions in government such as REOs, and the non-delivery of services, Harmon should admit that it is their anti-poor and anti-private sector policies that is causing the loss of jobs; that is bringing down the country; not the PPP! Then, at the PNCR Region Four District Conference, recently elected Chairwoman of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, made the most outrageous racist remark. She said, “The only friends I got is PNC so the only people I gon give wuk to is PNC and right now, I looking for a doctor who can talk Spanish or Portuguese and ah want one that is PNC.” Coming from a minister of government, I regard this to be a blatant admission of discrimination and nepotism for which she should be asked to resign. The Prevention of Discrimination Act prohibits the elimination of discrimination in employment. Our labour

laws are clear; she cannot discriminate against people on the basis of political affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, race, or their religion. Editor, you may recall a widely publicized video on Facebook that captured a violent crowd of PNC thugs led by Minister Lawrence during a peaceful PPP vigil outside the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre -The Red House. And in that video, the vulgarity of Lawrence was on display as she threw objects at PPP activist, Jason Abdulla. Yet she was never arrested for assaulting the PPP official. And on November 7, I, too, was assaulted by another PNC, Carol Smith-Joseph, in the presence of a senior police officer attached to the Fort Wellington Police Station. And like Lawrence, she was never arrested or charged for this premeditated attack on my person, at least, not yet. In Region 5, REO Ovid Morrison was taken to court after he evicted (Turn to page 5)

Dear Editor,

f what is reported in the media is correct, Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence has some explaining to do, as to what exactly she is trying to convey to the Guyanese people, the majority of whom are not members or supporters of the PNC. To say that ‘only PNC members are her friends’ and on the basis of that friendship are eligible for employment in the government service is not only disingenuous, but an affront to all Guyanese. Minister Lawrence is not only the Chairman of the ruling PNC, but she is also a Minister of Government, and whatever she says cannot be taken lightly. Is the Minister implying that we are going back to those dreadful years of party paramountcy when membership of the PNC was one of the criteria for employment in the public sector and for access to State-controlled goods and services? Statements such as those reportedly emanating from the mouth of a senior government and party functionary do not bode well for peace and national reconciliation. Moreover, it flies in the face of the concept of social cohesion which the government claims to embrace, but which from all appearances it is drifting further and further away. The Minister has a responsibility to the nation to offer an explanation if only to allay fears of ethnic and political discrimination, which her comments could engender in the minds of the Guyanese public. The Minister of Social Cohesion Ms. Amna Ally should also issue a statement on the issue given the implications such statements can have on the issue of social cohesion. Sincerely, Hydar Ally

The true character of Volda Lawrence exposed Dear Editor,

he PNCR/APNU Chairwoman Volda Lawrence has finally revealed who she really is. The Leader of the largest coalition partner has finally said who and what she stands for. For years, this hardcore political follower from the old guard could not hold back the dark side of her character and was forced to reveal it to others of her kind at Congress Place. While we may aggressively attack Volda Lawrence for her vulgar and naked racist rant, you must also remember that she is just a symptom of what we in the analytical press have been saying for years, that is, she is the personification of a party that holds the same view. If the President or any of the top brass of the party were worth their salt, and were offended in any way by those remarks then they would have immediately asked for her apology and a retraction of those comments. But they were all in agreement with their comrade, so why condemn her. Further to our discourse and of even greater importance, is the fact that this vile character might very well be our next president. That situation is quite clear, should anything more serious come to a terminally ill president, then Guyana as a nation will be “burdened” with a cynical racist as its leader. Guyana, please note should anything happen to our terminally ill president, I am speaking of the likes of Volda Lawrence being installed as the new president. This is the real frightening and ghastly scenario we would be faced with. So, this is the unadulterated truth, her vile words have as much significance to the Opposition as it does to persons in the coalition who “do not look like her.” In this regard Nagamootoo should be on notice. I am sure right now he is a nervous wreck trying to figure out the real world situation unfolding before him; and worried sick he should be! Those comments have wide sweeping implications and coalition partner, acting president Nagamootoo, needs to be on his guard. There is no way Volda Lawrence would stand for a person who does not look like her as leader of the coalition or President of this country while she is there. I rest my case. Respectfully, Neil Adams

WEEKEND MIRROR 8-9 DECEMBER, 2018

The APNU+AFC Coalition has become a cautionary Charges against PPP/C tale for all Guyanese members nothing but political and deliberate I acts of witch-hunting Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

he International Center for Democracy (ICD) is disappointed with the increasing evidence of political victimization by the governing APNU+AFC against the Parliamentary Opposition, the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in Guyana. At the outset, we believe that every government has an obligation to protect national assets and that every government must act to prosecute those government officials that deliberately convert national assets for personal gains. However, the behavior of APNU+AFC in charging former government officials since May 2015 in Guyana appear to be more of a political witch-hunt, rather than a transparent and legal process consistent with protecting national assets. The ICD has monitored with dismay the worrying intensification of bullying, political harassment and intimidation in Guyana. The political victimization carried out against senior members of the People's Progressive Party (PPP) and well-known supporters of that party are perpetuated through various means, one of which is through the inappropriate use of State entities, such as SOCU. The latest example of a former senior minister of government, Mr. Irfann Ali, being dragged from his home in the early hours of the morning, arrested and charged with clearly spurious criminal charges amplify the ongoing milieu of political harassment and intimidation that has unfortunately become a part of the political landscape in Guyana. We view this latest example with consternation and see it as another major assault on democracy in the country. We note that the charges against Mr. Ali is the latest of a string of such charges against former members of the PPP Cabinet and Government. Mr. Anil Nandlall, the former Attorney General, is among the persons who have been charged previously. These two, in particular, are strong candidates for the PPP Presidential nomination. What is worrying is that the charges have so far been inconsistent with findings of a long list of financial audits that were conducted by the Government soon after assuming office in May 2015. A Minister in the present cabinet had concluded and announced publicly that the audits did not find evidence to lay charges against anyone. No less than the President responded to supporters of his party that charges can only be laid if there is evidence. Overwhelmingly, objective legal minds have concluded that none of the persons charged have been credibly charged.

More worrying is that the government has utilized SOCU to carry out these clearly tainted charges, intended only to embarrass, harass, intimidate and persecute individuals they see as leaders of the PPP. SOCU is a police arm that was established under law by the PPP to pursue and persecute persons for money laundering. SOCU has not laid a single money-laundering charge since May 2015. This is in spite of the fact that the Minister of Finance continues to insist that the economy have been driven by drug money. While unable to persecute anyone for money-laundering, we find it curious and worrisome that SOCU has charged a number of former government officials, all senior members or strong supporters of the PPP. None of the persons has been charged with money laundering. None of the persons has been charged for stealing money. They have been charged with trumped-up allegations. In the Ali case, selling house lots for a price that is under market value. These charges ignore the fact that all house lots sold during the tenure of the PPP in government were sold at below market value. More specifically, the particular minister was the Minister of Housing when more than 100,000 house lots were distributed to Guyanese citizens at prices significantly below market value. Worse these charges have been laid even with evidence that the specific house lots were sold at value far more than similar house lots. The ICD see the charges against Mr. Ali and those against other senior members, like the charges against Anil Nandlall, the former Attorney General, as strictly political and as a deliberate act of witch-hunting. While we have tried to be objective as we support building a democratic society in Guyana and other countries around the world, we view the situation in Guyana as a weakening of the democratic fabric. These legal manipulations to victimize political opponents at a time when people are worried about free and fair elections in 2020 do not inspire confidence that the government has intentions for a strengthening of democracy in Guyana. It is in this context, we have to register our concerns and strong objections in the way the government is conducting itself. We strongly urge all decent Guyanese citizens and all objective international bodies to stand in solidarity and urge the government to adhere to democratic norms. Silence is not the recommended way forward. Sincerely, International Center For Democracy

t could not have escaped attention that I have been critical of the APNU+AFC’s administration from almost the inception; after reading PNC Chairwoman Volda Lawrence’s recent statements, I took the weekend to examine my own writings for signs that I may be displaying unconscious bias based on my ethnicity. What I was looking for, was empirical evidence of bias; suffice to say that I am satisfied to say my writings are based on logic and my penchant for pragmatism. Interestingly, what I found as a by-product of this introspective was that the APNU+AFC relies on anecdotal evidence for its formation of policy and actions, this approach would seem to be the reason for their characteristically incomprehensible decisions. Editor, I will offer a few examples to support my theory expressed above: In one of its first acts, APNU/AFC granted its top brass a hefty 50 per cent salary increase, the reason given by Minister of the Presidency Joseph Harmon was that this was done to avoid corrupt practices by Ministers of Government. What was absent in his explanation was empirical evidence that this was true. In fact, numerous studies have shown the opposite to be true; “Rather than decrease petty corruption, the salary policy significantly increased the police efforts to collect bribes” (Foltz, J and Opoku-Agyemang K 2015). Logic would dictate that corruption is a character flaw not driven by economics; personal integrity is the solution to greed, not higher salaries. The introduction of a 2am curfew ostensibly “in the interest of citizens’ security and safety with the aim of suppressing criminal and other offences.” (MPS) was done without release of a single study or statistic to support the reasoning; three years on, and no evidence

has been provided for or against the policy, instead we are told it has “support from women’s groups, religious groups and a number of other organisations”. In presenting a $300.7 billion budget for 2019, one that is double the amount of the largest PPP Administration budget, Minister Jordan made an assumption of increased 9 per cent revenue collection to predict a deficit of $42 billion. Editor, the tax base has shrunk by loss of 30,000 jobs so far under the APNU+AFC Administration, and every single growth prediction by Jordan has failed to materialise to date. Based on this I would suggest the evidence points to an even larger deficit, we cannot plan for our nation’s future well-being by way of political rhetoric. Editor, we examine election results by every imaginable voter demographic, have we ever done the same for the taxpayer? Is it not time we examine who pays for the follies of these ever increasing ‘Good Life’ budgets? Editor, the APNU+AFC Administration has become a cautionary tale, critical for all Guyanese; that while on opposition benches in parliament, MP’s should be doing the work of critical oversight of Government policy, action and expenditure, and in so doing learn the business of Government and Administration; APNU+AFC squandered their time on those benches, choosing instead to make outlandish claims and wild accusations; given the opportunity to govern, they were bereft of a sensible basis for policy and action, the haphazard unscientific approach to governance is a direct result of the success they had with their loud lies, they never learned the difference of politics and policy. Monies spent on Commissions of Inquiry would have been better allocated to a scientific study for solutions to our problems. Respectfully, Robin Singh

Incendiary rhetoric... cash-crop farmers from farm lands that they owned for the past 16 years. Then when he caught one of the farmers, PPP activist Krishna Sewlall, on his land, he choked him and chased him off his own farm. Editor, these isolated acts of violence and bullyism by some members of the People’s National Congress (PNC) are likely to escalate with these irresponsible, caustic, and incendiary rhetoric being spewed by senior functionaries of this government. And it must stop before it emboldens others into violence and civil unrest. I don’t expect the AFC to condemn the remarks made by Harmon and Lawrence because they’re part of it, fighting for their own survival. But I do call upon the Ethnic Relations Committee to immediately launch an investigation into Minister Volda Lawrence’s racial remarks as this is not only illegal; it does not

(From page 4)

augment good for race relations in Guyana. The PPP is a multi-racial Party illustrated by the list of candidates which we fielded in the recently concluded Local Government Elections. We have an open-door policy for everyone. So no attempt to discriminate and divide our people will succeed. Like the saying goes, “dis time na like lang time.” The International Community and the United Nations (UNDP) Country Representative in Guyana must also take note and condemn Minister Lawrence for describing people as “looking like Jagdeo” in an attempt to avoid saying Indian or Indo-Guyanese. And I call upon President Granger to take control of his ministers in the interest of social cohesion and good race relations, even if he has to gag them from time to time. Sincerely, Harry Gill, PPP/C MP

WEEKEND MIRROR 8-9 DECEMBER, 2018

Apologies and whitewashing cannot diminish the fact that party paramountcy is being revived by the PNC

Guyanese still waiting for promised transparency, accountability and good I governance

Dear Editor,

ur National Budget continues to grow and with each year the masses embrace great expectations only to be disappointed, as Finance Minister rambles on to the end of his budget speech. The 2019 Budget is humongous – $300.7 billion! However, the vulnerable citizenry – the youths, the pensioners, the impoverished in need of public assistance, the hordes of dismissed sugar workers – saw no light at the end of that five-hour long speech filled with repetitions, a plethora of dream-selling statements and an overabundance of platitudes. We hear about huge increases of budgetary allocations in various ministries and government agencies, but the old age pensioners could only be rewarded $1,000 increase as they near the end of their earthly existence! However, they must thank their masters, since in 2018 they were given the princely sum of $500 and now it’s a 100% increase. The impoverished and the disabled met the same fate. Public assistance was given a paltry increase of $1,000 which will burden the Coalition Government by an additional $800 million. Can you imagine the callous, unconscionable and uncaring nature of this Government? And yet they have the temerity to brag and boast about ‘Transforming the Economy, Empowering People, Building Sustainable Communities for Good Life’. This is absurdity to the extreme, when we look at the massive squandering, mismanagement and outright thievery of public funds by the various Government agencies. This government needs to give the ‘significant’ increases as promised and restore the water and electricity to the old age pensioners and those who deserve public assistance should be ‘assisted’ in a more significant manner. Moreover, the education budgetary allocation has jumped to $52.6 billion, yet this Government is unable to reinstate the cash grant given to students. This is especially worrying for parents, since the rise in cost of living makes it increasingly burdensome to send children to school. Under the previous administration this grant would have been around $40,000 per student by now. Why not ensure that students are in school? The five B’s initiative alone cannot ensure that students are in school to receive the benefits of the $52.6 billion. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), unemployment among youths in Guyana is around 26.33 percent. Yet the programs for youths only target certain areas. The allocation of $1.7 billion will be administrated and disbursed through the Government Ministries such as the Ministry of Social Cohesion and the Ministry of Business, and it is only known too well who will be the beneficiaries to the loans, grants and subsidies. Furthermore, an allocation of $176 mil-

lion to the HEYS program is inadequate. Can the Finance Minister say how many of these young ‘entrepreneurs’ trained are actually making a living off it? Are we getting value for money? Unfortunately, the huge 2019 Budget will only provide fodder for greater corruption, mismanagement and thievery, since the Minister of Finance has done nothing to ensure that the financial laws of this Nation are adhered to. Moreover, it is clear from the Auditor General’s Report 2017 that value for money is seriously compromised. An analysis of the Auditor’s Report 2017 will show that a huge chunk of the budgetary allocations, probably conservatively estimated at 25%, does not benefit the recipients intended. The Audit Act 2004 Section 24(3) states that, ‘…a public entity is applying its resources and carrying out its activities economically, efficiently, and effectively and with due regard to ensuring effective internal management control’. Mr Deodat Sharma has bemoaned the fact that there is a lack of internal auditing units at the various budget agencies. This law is seriously breached. The Finance Minister, Mr Winston Jordan had agreed that even though the Financial Laws of Guyana impose on every budget agency to have strong auditing systems, only a few budget agencies, if any at all, can boast a proper system of internal auditing that meets the test of competence. He admitted that there was an immediate and urgent need to improve transparency and accountability. He said that, ‘a project will be launched to review the needs and capacity of each budget agency or cluster of budget agencies, so as to implement a proper system of internal auditing’. He also acknowledged that the Audit Office needs more human and technological resources, since the lack thereof has greatly hindered the work of this statutory body, and had promised to rectify this. It is clear then that the budgetary allocations for the various government agencies are not accurate, since a huge percentage of the monies ‘spent’ were for goods and services never received or provided. Therefore, what is there to stop a repeat of the same in 2019? With proper control measures in place, more monies would have been available for the old age pensioners, the poor and disabled, and the students and youths of this country. In conclusion, I wish to exhort the Honorable Minister of Finance, Mr Winston Jordan to implement the measures he spoke about, so that we can finally get value for our money. And he needs to seriously review his Budget 2019 to ensure that those who deserve the ‘good life’ are adequately addressed. A huge budget without transparency, accountability and good governance is money wasted. Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

am reminded of an article, ‘Party Paramountcy’ published in Caribbean Life in August 2016 which aptly summarizes the PNC’s ideology during the Burnham dark era. It stated that, ‘Burnham ruled Guyana using his publicly proclaimed euphemism: “party paramountcy.” The party, not the state, controlled the arms of the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Police, departments of government; and, in critical matters, parts of the judiciary, the electoral machinery, the media, the trade unions.’ It went further to state that, ‘Burnham possessed two additional arms: the “Death Squad,” that is police in plain clothes; and Rabbi Washington’s House of Israel. These conducted surveillance, and viciously smashed opposition elements, using hockey sticks and batons. The second were enforcers, bullies, extortionists, hit squads, strike-breakers, anti-union operators, deacons, black Jews and nuts and plantain-chip vendors in one.’ I could vividly recall during the early ‘70s poverty and hunger were everywhere and jobs were few and only those with PNC membership cards gained access to scarce food items and employment. It was during this time that the Burnham dictatorship promised to ‘Feed, Clothe and House’ the Nation by 1976. Many persons were forced to join PNC groups and youths joined the Young Socialist Movement, the youth arm of the PNC. Many of my friends joined and yet could not secure jobs, because of their race they had to go through a more stringent test. They were forced to join the Guyana National Service and some who went to Kimbia came back disillusioned. Moreover, I could also clearly recall the ‘co-op shops’ run by the PNC, again PNC membership cards were needed to access food items. ‘The state-run External Trade Bureau, handled all imports which it then redistributed to PNC-organized “cooperatives” known as Knowledge Sharing Institutes strategically located in predominantly Afro-Guyanese areas. These retail outlets sold preferentially to persons who produced PNC membership

cards and they acted to squeeze the small rural mainly Indian-owned groceries out of business.’ (http://www.guyana.org/features/ postindependence) I could recall persons from my village going to the neighbouring Fyrish Village in the hope of getting some cooking oil and butter, only to be disappointed when they reached the end of the ‘Guyline’. The PNC members lived happily in those days because they could enjoy the ‘scarce’ goods. Party paramountcy invaded every aspect of Guyanese lives, be it food, be it jobs, be it contracts, be it any form of Government services, and I have seen that PNC ideology slowly surfacing since this Government took office. Recently, a young woman was promised a job if she contested the Local Government Election as an APNU candidate in a PPP stronghold. She managed only 13 votes, but I do hope she gets the job, since she fulfilled her side of the bargain. Therefore, what Volda Lawrence said was an echo of the truth, and no amount of apology and whitewashing will remove the fact that party paramountcy is being revived by the PNC like many other traits inherent in the old PNC Order. Her message is clearly received that if anyone wants a job or contract then a PNC membership card is a vital qualification requirement. What is shameful though is that the AFC and its Leader have become ineffectual, just agreeing and disagreeing as the situation demands. Moreover, Trotman’s attempt at damage control by labeling the statement as an ‘unnecessary distraction’, simply accentuates the AFC’s inability to be factual, decisive and independent of the influence of the PNC’s faction of the Coalition. This Government is once again crossing its limits and must be reminded that the root of all evil is the abuse of power, and the masses are cognizant of this abuse and will speak decisively come 2020! Yours sincerely, H. Yusuf

Nagamootoo has betrayed all the ideals he claimed to believe in Dear Editor,

he 2019 Budget debate which has been interesting thus far will wrap on December 7, 2018. The Administration, with the belief that it is saving the best for last, will put up its heavyweight speaker, First Vice President and Prime Minister, Mr Moses Nagamootoo up to bat. He will try as best as he can to offer a defence for what clearly is an indefensible budget. The Prime Minister who is, in my mind, really less than a featherweight in the Government will expectedly sing lustily and boisterously

for his $70,000 per day supper while our ordinary workers will take home $64,200 per month. Mr Nagamootoo, in his own words, will seek to charm the Guyanese people like the famed snake-charmers of India. He will tell our people that he and his Government are doing wonderful things for them; he will tell them better will come and he may very well tell us we will become the Emiratis of Latin America. The Prime Minister, true to form, may also repeat to the sugar workers that he loves them though 7000 have been (Turn to page 7)

WEEKEND MIRROR 8-9 DECEMBER, 2018

Volda Lawrence must resign Dear Editor,

he only friends I got is PNC so the only people I gon give wuk to is PNC and right now I looking for a doctor who can talk Spanish or Portuguese and ah want one that is PNC". No matter how much spinning, these are hatred-filled, racist words spewed by the Chairman of the People's National Congress (PNC), Ms. Volda Lawrence, who also happens to be a senior Government Member of Parliament and the Senior Minister of Public Health. Ms. Lawrence, in response to media inquiries, has since stood by these remarks to supporters of the PNC, an audience made up of Afro-Guyanese. Ms. Lawrence chided government officials who have not fully implemented APNU+AFC's policy to give jobs and contracts to PNC members, supporters and friends, a policy emphasizing that the only qualification for jobs and contracts is PNC-membership, support and friendship, not merit. Ms. Lawrence reiterated unequivocally the present PNC version of the 1974 Sophia Declaration of party paramountcy. She bluntly outlined the PNC's racist perspective of governance in Guyana, clearly defining a policy of political victimization, governing with brute force and ignorance. Ms. Lawrence boldly reiterated the PNC DNA - bullyism, discrimination, nepotism and cronyism. Several days after, there is total silence from the Alliance for Change (AFC) and the Working People's Alliance (WPA). I am not shocked that Prime Minister Nagamootoo, Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman, all AFC leaders, and Amna Ally, the PNC Social Cohesion Minister, are silent. But I am deeply disappointed that the WPA's Dr. Rupert Roopnarine, a senior Minister in APNU+AFC, is silent. The right thing to do is for Ms. Lawrence to resign as a Minister. The right thing for President Granger is to fire her. Does she not grasp that she is Minister of Public Health and a member of a government that serves all Guyanese? Outside of the obnoxious governance guidelines she outlined, Ms. Lawrence has previously provided enough reasons to disqualify her as a Minister. This is the same lady that defined rape by an uncle as a family matter, referring to it as "deflowering". As a Minister, she was caught on video violently assaulting an innocent citizen during a protest at Red House. As Minister, she has presided over a ministry responsible for billions of dollars in corrupt transactions. Her dark, menacing, ominous statements were equally moronic, mewing, mephitic, reckless and reprehensible. Ms. Lawrence declared war, demanding her colleagues in government fully implement the old PNC policy of jobs and contracts for card-carrying PNC members. She is emphatic that Guyana belongs to, is by and for PNC members, sup-

porters and friends. Ms. Lawrence essentially formalized a policy of discrimination as the APNU+AFC's blueprint for governance, something Guyana has suffered from since May 2015 and between 1964 and 1992. Ms. Lawrence's declaration is a version of the 1974 Sophia Declaration of party paramountcy made by the then Prime Minister, Forbes Burnham, at Congress Place. It is consistent with the way APNU+AFC has governed Guyana since May 2015. Just recently Kaieteur News' Peeping Tom listed major appointments of APNU+AFC since May 2015, insightfully revealing these appointments were based purely on ethnic and political considerations, abandoning any pretense of merit. Ms. Lawrence's statements provide the rationale for why hundreds of Guyanese public servants were fired since May 2015 - they did not fit ethnic and political considerations acceptable to the PNC. Ms. Lawrence's verbal napalm is a consequence of the LGE2018 debacle where the Guyanese people overwhelmingly rejected the PNC. It followed another version made by her other senior colleague, Joe Harmon, the Minister of the Presidency, who earlier had said the time for niceness is over and that those who are not friends of the PNC will face the sting of the scorpion - you are either with us or against us. These statements followed the PPP thrashing of both the PNC and the AFC by a margin of 61% (PPP) to 34% (PNC) and 4 % (AFC). The closure of four sugar estates, firing of more than 7,000 sugar workers, unconscionable delay in paying their severance, freeze of wages for sugar workers, with no increase since 2015, increasing lease and drainage fees for rice farmers, removing agriculture subsidies etc., firing of 2,000 Amerindian Community Resource Persons, are clearly part of the formula outlined in Ms. Lawrence's verbal napalm. Hundreds of public servants lost their jobs on the basis of their race or their perceived political affiliation. Hundreds have been employed with ethnicity and political affiliation as the only qualification. In the meantime, APNU+AFC (PNC) has ratcheted-up political victimization through trumped-up criminal charges against former PPP Ministers and government officials. Metastasizing dictatorship has become a centipede taking over all aspects of our lives. Citizens justifiably are horrified by Ms. Lawrence's deeming the majority of Guyanese second-class citizens. We speak out now or become pawns and victims in the evils of dictatorship. Decent citizens who care about our country, regardless of race and ethnicity, religion or political affiliation, cannot sit this one out. We must take a stand - silence is too perilous an option. Sincerely, L. Ramsammy

An increasingly desperate government Dear Editor,

he PPP/C’s results at the recent Local Government Elections (LGE) bettered the Party’s already leading percentages achieved in 2016 and confirmed a significantly increased showing in citizens’ confidence. For the coalition Government, it has generated a sense of desperation in the already fractured camp, resulting in a set of extreme measures which are intended to camouflage the deep wounds they have inflicted on too many Guyanese citizens. Since the May 2015 National and Regional Elections, leading coalition members signaled the obvious intent of seeing every leading Opposition Politician incarcerated. In fueling their self-poisoning vendetta, the leaders ignored the fact that the country had grown consecutively, by approximately 4 per cent over a period exceeding 10 years. They moved to wage a war, expending hundreds of millions in public funds in advancing extended forensic audits to satisfy personally orchestrated egos that had to be pleased with the hope that it could also discredit the PPP/C into oblivion. The audits largely served to strengthen the financial accountability record of the party. On the contrary however, the wide array of fraudulent misgivings and financial mismanagement orchestrated under the current coalition Government have become innumerable. Issues including the “unbelievable levels of proven corruption, exposed via, not only the Parliamentary Opposition, but also by the Auditor General’s Office and the Public Procurement Commission (PPC)”gives strong testimony. Among the improprieties of prominence are the initial hiding and non-payment of the

US$18 million Exxon signing bonus into the consolidated fund, the still to be finalised accounts for the D’urban Park fiasco and the dissipation of the country’s gold and foreign reserves. Coupled with that, is the loss of thousands of jobs; the decimation of the sugar sector; massive increases in the cost of living; and the imposition of hardships on the Guyanese people, via government policies, such as $60 billion in increased taxes measures. The abuse of power in the eyes of the threatened and hungry has no color. Citizens impacted should not easily forget, and many have reacted naturally at the past LGE. The APNU was virtually liquidated and the AFC humiliated by the people demanding betterment for our communities and country. The reactions from Government seems to be through the conjuring of another set of the tricks, aimed at tarnishing the good image of some PPP/C men and women of substance. We must not forget that the great Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and Dr Cheddi Jagan were all imprisoned by the oppressive forces in their respective countries, and were all raised by the people to the position of Head of State. The frivolous attacks on outstanding PPP/C leaders in an effort to tarnish the party’s image is tantamount to political persecution. These trumped up charges have been clandestinely appearing in the fourth year of Government to achieve a particular vendetta, as the charges brought earlier against many persecuted members of the party were thrown out proving they never should have been advanced in the first case. Sincerely, Neil Kumar

Nagamootoo has betrayed all... put out of jobs; the rice farmers may hear how he cares for them though he lost them their most lucrative market, and the farmers may hear how he has their well-being at heart though his Administration has raised land rents and D&I charges. Let us also expect tangential explanations about the hardships he imposed; and the launching of personal attacks on those he deem his opponents, as he reminisces about yester-year while ignoring the realities of today. Surely, he must eulogise his Budget innings in his Sunday Chronicle column and his DPI, true to form, will promote his remarks as the best thing ever. But after all of that, the fact remains that the Prime Minister will not be able to convince many Guyanese people that he is sincere in what he said. Today, the Prime Minister’s naked political behaviour is there for all to see and

(From page 6)

evaluate. Today, he sits near to the apex of power, though he deeply wants to reach the pinnacle. He should ask himself why he’s the proverbial bridesmaid and never the bride. Today, Mr Nagamootoo presides over a land and people that feel oppressed and unsure about the future. Today, he occupies a place in the most expensive Government in history. Today, while he believes he is the star of the show, he really is not well-liked. Today, Mr Nagamootoo has betrayed all his ideals – his so-called Jaganite-principles – and his roar has become less than a whimper as he participates, advocates and approves willingly measures that punish, rather than reward, the Guyanese people. Yours sincerely, P. Persaud

WEEKEND MIRROR 8-9 DECEMBER, 2018

BUDGET 2019 IN FOCUS The 2019 Budget debates kicked off this week, on Monday (December 3, 2018) with presentations from all Members of Parliaments (MP). This week, the Mirror, brings you an insight into those debates.

APNU+AFC gov’t has spent more than one trillion dollars and Guyanese are no better off – Ali

he APNU+AFC Coalition Government’s $300.7 billion 2019 Budget is sugar-coated ‘fluff and bluff’, according to Opposition Parliamentarian, Irfaan Ali, who kicked off the debates on the budget, from the Parliamentary Opposition benches. He charged that Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, continues to tout the provision of the “imaginary good life” to Guyanese, given that the budget measures and policies do not really improve the lives of Guyanese. He pointed out that Jordan’s speech was “consistently inconsistent” with the actual numbers in the budget 2019 estimates. The PPP/C MP added that the 2019 budget saw little or no significant allocations for youth and at-risk groups such as single-parent mothers. He stressed that this year’s budget speech seemed to have been crafted to give an inaccurate impression of the improved standard of living Guyanese were ex-

pecting. POOR FORECASTING Ali also took aim at Jordan for presenting poor forecasts on indicators relative to future economic performance and rapped the government for current year economic performance. Ali pointed out that the forecasts for the sugar sector were $4.3 billion and $5.3 billion above the actual contribution of this sector in 2016 and 2017 respectively, adding that the forecast for contributions from the gold industry was $2.7 billion above actual contributions from the sector in 2017. He noted too that the revised estimate regarding the contribution of this sector is also projected to deviate from the initial forecast in 2018 by $11.3 billion. He stated that owing to these and other forecasting errors, the Minister was forced to revise the real economic growth rates for the past three years downwards. He said, “Based on new

Balance of Payments presented by the Minister in the 2019 Budget, the deficit for 2018 is projected to be more than two times the forecast he gave last year and may be responsible for the unplanned depletion of the international and gold reserves of the Bank of Guyana.” “…export revenue from sugar was US$39.5 million (or $8.3 billion) less than the level reported for 2014. The export revenue for rice and bauxite also contracted by US$48.5 million (or $10.2 billion) and US$17.6 million

(or $3.7 billion) respectively between 2014 and 2017… Timber production fell by 30.9 per cent between 2014 and 2017, causing the export revenue from timber products to reduce by US$20.2 million (or $4.2 billion) Meanwhile, diamond production contracted by 47.9 per cent thereby causing the export revenue to decline.” The PPP/C MP opined that Government had to first acknowledge problems existed in the economy before they could be solved rather than MPs putting their “heads in the sand”. TAX BURDEN Ali noted many of the troubles in the various sectors could be linked to tax measures imposed, especially on the productive sector for which the former Minister said his successors were unwilling to accept that there was a decline. There is a move to increase tax collection. The projected tax revenue collection is a whopping $223.58B

APNU+AFC gov’t priorities in question – Human Trafficking questions back in the spotlight

he presentation of Budget 2019 was premised against the background that this would be the last budget before ‘first oil’. However, the priorities of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government are being questioned since the newly established Department of Energy, under the Ministry of the Presidency, received a paltry $332M, while agencies like the Department of Citizenship received a massive $802M. The Department of Citizenship and the subject Minister has been embroiled in a scandal, which has seen the rise of more answers than there are answers. Earlier this year, Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix has been summoned to appear before the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Foreign Relations to discuss human trafficking concerns. When the Committee last met to address this matter, less than satisfactory, according to the PPP/C members on that Committee, were recorded during that meeting.

After the issue first came up, 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 Guy-

ana. As is the case with the Cubans, there is no evidence that there are over 5,000 Haitians living in Guyana. Notably, while the Coalition Government has remained silent on this issues, 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.

in 2019. For 2018, tax collection was projected at $181.37B – but that has been revised upwards to $199.49B. This means that the APNU+AFC Coalition Government will be collecting over $24B more, per annum, in 2019 than it did in 2018. Compared to the 2014 levels of tax collection, which was $135B, it means that it 2019, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government will be collecting over $88B more per annum in taxes from the Guyanese people. WASTEFUL SPENDING Ali said, “Since assuming office in 2015, this government has budgeted and expended more than a trillion dollars. Unfortunately, a large portion of the Government’s expenditure has been channeled into areas that do not improve the well-being of our people or stimulate economic growth.” He said that the combined total amount spent on other refreshment and meals, local

travel and security for Ministers in 2018 was 2.6 times the total amount allocated to maintain bridges, roads, drainage, irrigation works, sea and river defences and other infrastructure. He added that it was 47 times more than the increases given to our elderly in the form of Old Age Pension and Public Assistance. “The amount proposed for these frivolous activities in 2019 approximate $5.7 billion, which will be 2.7 times greater than the amount budgeted in 2019 for maintaining roads, bridges, drainage and irrigation works, sea defence, and river defences and other infrastructure that would benefit all Guyanese rather than the select few at the top of the food chain, 22.9 times greater than the $800 million that pensioners are expected to benefit from in the form of increases in Old Age Pension and Public Assistance during 2019,” Ali said. Government Speakers during this week’s debate did not address the issues raised by Ali.

APNU+AFC failing to act on recommendations to improve performance – Chanderpal

he recommendations of the Public Service Commission (PSC), as noted in the 2017 Auditor General’s (AG) report, to minimize the number of staff employed on a contractual basis are being ignored by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government. And Opposition Parliamentarian, Indra Chanderpal, during her contribution to the Budget 2019 debates, noted that employment costs from the year 2014 -2018 increased to some $28 .9 B or by 68 per cent. Of that figure, a notable percentage has been expended on contract workers, according to her. She pointed out that while in Opposition, the Coalition Government had been heavily critical of the presence of these classes of

workers in the former administration and had promised to cut out the practice of having contracted employees. However based on the AG report 2017, Chandarpal said the government has failed to act on its own advice and has increased both the numbers of contract workers and the associated costs. The AG’s 2007 report notes that the Ministry of Presidency expended over $969M on payment for over 309 contract workers for last year, alone. INACTION Chandarpal also expressed concerns at the overall lack of action in regards to recommendations in the AG report. “Of 602 recom(Turn to page 9)

WEEKEND MIRROR 8-9 DECEMBER, 2018

Breaches of Guyana’s laws, wastage of taxpayers’ monies, mismanagement a ‘national embarrassment’ – Anthony

he APNU+AFC Coalition Government was taken to task for breaches to the procurement laws, the shady deals it has been entering and wastage of taxpayers’ dollars, more so in the health sector, by Opposition Parliamentarian, Dr Frank Anthony. Anthony noted that Guyana has not been getting value for money. He pointed to the Auditor General’s 2017 report, which found 13 contracts totaling $91.4 million were awarded by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) to Caribbean Medical Supplies. These contracts did not go through a competitive process. According to the Auditor General, these contracts were single-sourced.

While attached documentation states that the supplier was the authorised distributor for the goods, it could not be ascertained whether they had the exclusive rights. The controversial Sussex Street contract, which was single sourced, did not escape Anthony’s attention. In light of this, the Auditor General noted he could not determine whether there were other suppliers that the Ministry could have used to source the goods. He said, “The Ministry was guilty of single sourcing! Single sourcing can lead to higher prices for the items because the vendor has a monopoly. How much extra has been paid? Conservative estimates show that it has been in the mil-

lions “…there are other flagrant breaches of the procurement law, such as contracts valued at $278.5 million awarded without bid security. And that can be found in the Auditor General report. There was another case of single sourcing of drugs worth $104 million. But this one has a twist.

Six contracts were awarded without the approval of the NPTAB. The tender board was asked to rubber stamp the transaction after supplies were delivered.” The Parliamentarian also cited cases of contract splitting and mismanagement of projects, such as the construction of the Public Health Ministry headquarters. Here he referenced the Auditor General’s report on the project being delayed. DRUG SHORTAGES The Opposition Parliamentarian also condemned what he deemed a “failed system” and noted that in the three years since the coalition Government took office, drug shortages at Guyana’s medical institutions, coupled with several other pressing matters, have become a norm. He said, “Anyone who

has recently utilised the health system can attest to its failings! Long waiting times at the outpatient clinics (and) longer waiting times for surgery. Unavailability of diagnostic tests; constant shortages of drugs have plagued the system!” “As if this is not enough, admission to the [Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation] GPHC is like a lottery. Patients have to hope that when they get sick and go there, there is a bed that is available. In some cases, people have to wait for days on end to get a bed.” He added that noted that Government recently announced that a shortage of drug resistant tuberculosis (TB) medication has since been fixed. However, he noted that the Government failed to explain how such a shortage came about in the

first place. “The Minister (within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen) Cummings confirmed the (reports). But what she did not tell us was the reason why we have multiple drug resistant TB drugs in Guyana…the experts would tell you that it develops because of programme failure… because they have been out of critical drugs and inadequate monitoring, poor compliance and patient poverty… Many of these patients are too ill to work and with the paltry sum set aside for public assistance, it is hardly enough for them to survive,” he said All considered, Anthony stressed that the APNU+AFC Government’s 2019 national budget is another one that will just see the Administration “borrowing, taxing and squandering” resources.

Manickchand cites poor management of the education sector APNU+AFC failing to...

he coalition Government for returned some $2B to the national Treasury, which she said could have been used to pay $15,000 in subsidies to students, according to former Education Minister and People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP) Priya Manickchand. In her contribution to the Budget 2019 debates, she charged that returned funds could have also been used to purchase text books for students in need or to pay teachers an increase, who she said, had to beg Government for their benefits. She added that Government has not been willing to work with the Opposition – something she blamed on petty leadership. Manickchand also called for the presentation of the already completed Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on education in the National Assembly.

Manickchand touched on historical reports showing a less than favourable state of Guyana’s education system, especially in the 1980s when Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge served as the Finance Minister under the People’s National Congress (PNC) Government. Other reports she cited reflected the shortfalls that continued after the PNC’s tenure ended and how her party was able to improve childhood education. The PPP/C MP reminded the House of a World Bank report that showed that ‘the state the education system was in at the time.’ “It said very clearly that at that time, we had 30 per cent of our primary teachers trained and 29 per cent of secondary teachers trained. It said school facilities were dilapidated and very crowded. Four per cent of children in 1984 were likely to write [Caribbean Examination

Council] CXC. It said Guyana moved from being the third out of seven in terms of student pass rate to last in the Caribbean,” she told her fellow colleagues. Despite the criticisms and the points raised, the Education Minister, Nicolette Henry, in her presentation, insisted that there have been improvements under the APNU+AFC Coalition Government in the education sector. The Education Sector was allocated some $5.5B in the 2019 Budget.

mendation made in 2016 AG report— only 30% were partially implemented. Seventy percent was not implemented…as a result, each year weaknesses and issues continue to impact negatively in level of governance with regards to accountability mechanism,” she said. Notably, in the latest report, the AG’s office observed the lack action of the various budget agencies. According to the information recorded in the Auditor General Report of 2017 an amount of $1.112 B was set to be expended on four employment projects under the Ministry of the Presidency in Regions One, Two, Five and Six. 1000 MORE IN ONE YEAR Notably, there was an increase of 1,000 persons in the 2016 budget, as compared to 2015. The Estimates showed the projected number of

contract employees in 2016 as 5,878 and is therefore an increase of 1,000 persons, or 20.5% and an increase of 18.2% in budgeted cost. Overall, the 2016 Estimates show that at the end of 2015, the total number of contract employees, inclusive of the Regions, was 5,423, of which 545 were with the Parliament Office, Public Service Commission, Teaching Service Commission, Guyana Elections Commission, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Public Prosecutions and Office of the Ombudsman. Those entities are now included among the Constitutional Agencies and Statutory Bodies and their projected number of contract employees in 2016 was not disclosed. The remaining number of contract employees in the Ministries and Regions would therefore be 4,878. Budget 2016 indicated that there are increases in all, but two ministries, the

(From page 8)

Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Legal Affairs Ministry. The increases included: Ministry of Presidency, 298 to 505; Office of the Prime Minister, from 16 to 26; Finance Ministry from 162 to 167; Indigenous Affairs Ministry from 72 to 79; Agriculture Ministry from 248 to 274; Tourism Ministry from 31 to 40; Business Ministry from 30 to 40; Natural Resources Ministry from 38 to 56; Public Infrastructure Ministry from 271 to 294; Education Ministry from 601 to 691; Communities Ministry form 55 to 62; Public Health Ministry from 1303 to 1400; Social Protection Ministry from 369 to 371 and Public Security Ministry from 239 to 248 while the newly introduced Public Telecommunication Ministry contracted 122 employees. The 2017 Budget included details to show that there was only a reduction in contract workers by 45 persons.

WEEKEND MIRROR 8-9 DECEMBER, 2018

Gov’t cannot calls for more money for D’Urban Park, new Demerara River bridge feasibility…

No accountability for monies already spent - Edghill

unding for the controversial D’Urban Park has been shifted from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to the Department of Social Cohesion, which has a $350M allocation in Budget 2019, according to Opposition Parliamentarian, Juan Edghill. And he charged that this “switch” has been made even as $500M already spent on D’Urban Park remains unaccounted for. “There must be accountability…what happened to your campaign promise?” he asked. New Demerara Bridge Crossing He added that another call is being made on the Consolidated Fund for $100M to fund a feasibility study for the new Demerara River bridge – even as the last contract for a feasibility study

for the same thing was done in breach of Guyana’s laws. He said, “We all know that Minister Patterson breached our procurement laws…the entire cabinet breached laws and Constitution.” Edghill referred to the recently publicized report from the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), which detailed the breaches and stressed that the government cannot call for more monies without accounting for what they already spent. The Public Procurement Commission, after a complaint letter penned by Opposition Chief whip, Gail Teixeira, completed its investigation into the award of the contract for a feasibility study on a new Demerara River and handed its report over on August 7, 2018.

The report noted that several companies bid for the project – to do the feasibility study and design for the new Demerara River bridge – and 12 companies were shortlisted. The report

added that only two of the 12 companies made proposals. As such the bidding process was annulled. It added that on November 12, 2016, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) approved the move for the project to be re-tendered. The project was not re-tendered. Instead, a Dutch Company, LivenseCSO, was engaged by Patterson’s Ministry. The report, on page 7, noted that the bid from LivenseCSO was “unsolicited” and added that Patterson then took the company’s proposal to Cabinet for approval. Cabinet granted its approval for the company to be engaged. The report, on page 7, stated that monies to be spent on the project were taken

from the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (Asphalt Plant Accounts). The report said, “The PPC noted that the Minster of Public Infrastructure, by memorandum dated November 18 2016, made a request to the Cabinet for Government seeking consideration and approval to use funds from the Demerara Harbor Bridge Corporation to fund the feasibility study and to commence a contractual engagement with LievenseCSO as of the 1 Jan 2017. The PPC noted that this request to Cabinet was not forwarded through the NPTA but submitted directly by the Minister of Public Infrastructure. The PPC also noted that Cabinet considered the memorandum submitted by the Minister of Public Infrastructure and in November

2016 approved a total sum of $161, 514, 420 to be used from the Demerara Harbor Bridge Corporation to cover cost for the feasibility study for a new bridge across the Demerara river.” Notably, the General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation, according to the PPC report, disclosed that the Board of the Corporation was not involved in the decision to spend its monies. The report said, “He (Mr. Adams) stated that he had not signed the contract on behalf of the DHBC, but only because he was requested to do so by the Minister of Public Infrastructure. The Parliamentary Opposition’s position is that the findings of the report evidence a flagrant breach of Guyana’s financial rules.

Ali calls out Patterson on “lies” being APNU+AFC gov’t told to the National Assembly needs to bring a “I have here a Government of Guyana Central Housing and ‘realistic plan’ for D Planning Authority (CH&PA) document 2014 – ‘East Bank/East Coast Road Linkage Feasibility Study’. The complete document Guyana’s future is here! The Honourable Minister said there exists no feasibility study. I’m saying to this honourable House that this feasibility – Chand study exists and the Minister should do the honourable thing, as ay three of the 2019 Budget Debate, Wednesday (December 5, 2018) ended in an uproar as the parliamentary Opposition took Government to task over what was described as “lies” spoken about infrastructural projects under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) regime. During his contributions to the debates, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson outlined a list of projects, which he claimed the previous Administration went ahead to undertake without conducting any feasibility study, at a cost of $600M Among those the Minister mentioned was the East Bank (Diamond) to East Coast (Ogle) Road Link Project. “The former President, [Donald] Ramotar, went on a trip [to India] and they say here is US$50 million… and he give it to the Honourable Member Irfaan Ali (then Housing Minister) who drew up a plan and said we gon link this from here to here [with] no feasibility study, none… you can bring it or lay it here and I will apologise to you in public if you bring a feasibility study…” the Public Infrastructure Minister said.

he suggested, at this time…you (Patterson) have lied in the National Assembly!” – PPP/C Parliamentarian, Irfaan Ali

However, at the end of Patterson’s 30-plus minute presentation, Ali, a former Housing Minister under the PPP/C Administration, rose to the floor, indicating to the Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland, that a feasibility study was in fact done for the Bypass Road project and that he was in possession of same, as he waved his phone in the air to indicate the document was on the device. Ali added too that he had shown the document to the Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs and offered to hand it over to the Public Infrastructure Minister. He said, “I have here a Government of Guyana Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) document 2014 – ‘East Bank/East Coast Road Link-

age Feasibility Study’. The complete document is here! The Honourable Minister said there exists no feasibility study. I’m saying to this honourable House that this feasibility study exists and the Minister should do the honourable thing, as he suggested, at this time,” Ali declared. Ali added, “You have lied in the National Assembly!” At that point, the Public Infrastructure Minister was on his feet but then sat down, as a verbal confrontation erupted between members from the two sides of the House. The Speaker asked Minister Patterson whether he wanted the floor to speak. In response, the Minister then muttered, “No, sir. I would not.”

When the day’s session ended, Ali, in a comment to the media, said: Patterson has “continuously lied to the house and the nation; and it’s time to put a stop to it. That’s why I decided to put a stop to it.” The Opposition MP noted that the coalition Administration believes they can run the country through “bullyism and their high-handed approach” to Government while side-tracking important things. “This whole thing is a side-tracked, they trying to side-track from the exposure from all that is happening in [Patterson’s] Ministry. The person who spoke before him, Bishop Juan Edghill, highlighted all the facts surrounded corruption and the type of governance that is taking place,” Ali said.

udget 2019 is ‘unfit and improper’ and will not inspire Guyanese that better days are ahead, according to Opposition Parliamentarian, Komal Chand. In his presentation in the Budget 2019 debates, he said, “Indeed, it was felt that the Government, recognizing the dire message from the Local Government elections results, would have woken up and recognized the dissatisfaction among Guyanese. Budget 2019 indicates that this is not the case and the Government has continued to perpetuate its unpopular measures, this is not an encouraging sign. “On this score, Cde Speaker, I, like my colleagues and all right-thinking Guyanese, cannot support Budget 2019. I urge the Government to recall the Budget and return with a more realistic plan.”

THE FUTURE OF SUGAR Chand hone in his focus on the sugar sector and charged that the industry still plays a pivotal role and touches the lives of tens of thousands of Guyanese. He said, “It is, therefore, disheartening to record the obvious confusion in the industry.The Minister tells us by 2021, the industry will produce 145,000 tonnes of (Turn to page 11)

WEEKEND MIRROR 8-9 DECEMBER, 2018

Coalition put on blast for 'hard-ears' behaviour, ignoring realities of ordinary Guyanese T

o date, with a total of five national budgets in three and half years, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government has spent some $1.3 trillion. And Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, has questioned the benefits that came to Guyana and Guyanese from such massive spending. “This is the fifth budget of the APNU+AFC Government and so far the amount of money spent is $1.3 trillion dollars. What would our country have benefited from in three and a half years? We have never, as country, spent this amount of money in such a short time,” Teixeira said. She added, “Where is the progress? Where are the big transformation projects? Where is it that we can say as Guyanese that we are going somewhere, that the country is going forward? We have heard government MPs (Members of Parliament) get up and read prepared speeches, but we have heard nothing much. “…some of the ministers have been hard-ears. We, on this side of the House (the Parliamentary Opposition) have been pointing out problems and concerns. The business community has commented in this budget. The trade union movement has commented on this budget… the people out there heard us and you have been hard-ears to respond to anything they and us have said. We have brought some of the concerns of the people of this country to the House and you have been hard-ears to it. “…you come to this House with this bullyism, this big braggar behavior that nobody counts except you.” HARDSHIP MEASURES According to her, one of the most critical issues that needed to be addressed was the excise tax on fuel. She noted that while fuel prices were reduced, there has been no move by the Government to also reduce the excise tax. “There was no change in the excise tax knowing that this impacts on every Guyanese….you knew and yet you come here and say that GPL made a profit; that profit could have been shared if you had reduced the excise tax….

12, 2018 Local Government Elections – there has been no move to correct its policies. She said, “It was a rejection of you…it was a referendum on you the APNU+AFC Government…they rejected you…this was a mid-term election for the APNU+AFC Government. “…the PPP/C, in 2015, when you won government by one seat…you won by a hair breath and on top of that you only won three of the 10 Regions….then you had 2016 and we got 28,000

votes more than you; then 2018, you were decimated at the Local Government Elections…this is a government that could not even contest all 80 Local Authority Areas…you are the government, you should have been able to do that…. the 80 Local Authority Areas gave us 45,000 more than the Government. “…you are now sitting on quicksand and what is interesting about this Budget is that here is a government after being told that their

performance is bad and yet they did not listen…one would have thought that the government would have said that ‘man we better buck up’…but no…you are not in government for yourself… you have to represent all the people, all the time.” The Opposition Chief Whip charged that Budget 2019 does nothing to reverse the wrongs committed and does little to move Guyana forward, as well as little to improve the lives of Guyanese people.

APNU+AFC gov’t needs to... (From page 10) still you come here and dare to talk about the Good Life, seriously!!” she stressed. Teixeira noted too that talk about the good life is nothing but empty rhetoric. She said, “I want to ask the Ministers at a personal, human level, do you not see what is going on in the street of our country? Do you not see the increase in the beggars? “Do you not see the number of women and young people who are at traffic lights cleaning windscreens and selling water to make a living? Is that the jobs you are creating? Have you not seen that one of the biggest industries that your Government is creating is selling dog food? Is that the new economy that you are creating for ordinary people in this country? “Do you not see that our people are suffering? Do you not hear? Do you not talk to the taxi drivers, the minibus drivers, the boatmen at Parika? Have you walked on Water Street and on Regent Street and asked the business people and vendors what is happening? No, you don’t talk to ordinary people… are you blind that you don’t see what is happening to our people?” Teixeira also decried hardship measures imposed on Guyana’s productive sectors, including the mining sector. “You don’t see that what you need to do is reverse some of your policies?” she asked. The Opposition Chief Whip charged that AP-

NU+AFC Government officials are clearly disconnected to the reality of ordinary Guyanese people. She said, “By the end of the year we are increasing tax collection…VAT is coming in with an increase of over $5B…translate this into real things; every single Guyanese will be required to pay over $265,000 in tax, per capita, this year –we haven’t reached next year yet….that is just tax. “Let’s talk about our purchasing power…in 2019, the total spending will be reduced…that is $472,000 will be spent, less, per household, per capita…so can you understand now when we say this cannot be the good life… you are taking money from people’s pockets….when you take away this money, people spend less…if you listen to some of the views of the people, you will see you are hurting our people.” She also rapped Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, for touting the merits of the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) as a plan Guyana’s future, when a draft has not even been made available. “This Budget is naked… there is nothing…yet you go around like ‘the Emperor in New Clothes’ and say there is good life, everything is improving,” she declared. UNWILLING TO LISTEN According to her, despite the massive rejection of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government at the November

sugar, 48 per cent more than what the industry is anticipated to produce this year. While we of the PPP/C want the industry to succeed, the Government’s approach has been hopscotching to say the least. The Finance Minister now tells us that the massive production increase will be realized through there-capitalization plans contained in the Sugar Task Force threeyear plan for GuySuCo. But Comrade Speaker, apart maybe from a select few, no one has the plan that the Minister speaks about though we continue to hear about it. In fact, the sudden news of a plan is a surprise to many considering that President Granger in his address to the National Assembly on October 18, said a plan was being drafted. Comrade Speaker this so-called plan must be made public and for there to be a full and comprehensive discussion of it by the stakeholders.” He reference to comments by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, who, in his budget speech, said, “We have taken the tough decisions.” According to Chand, many of those rendered jobless have been unable to recover from that decision and are facing severe hardships. He said, “Interestingly, the Minister on page 61 of his address said the sugar sector ‘has huge potential for growth, being pivotal to increasing household incomes, reducing unemployment and, ultimately, lowering the poverty rate’. So if this is the case, Comrade Speaker, why did the Government close the

estates and created thousands of new poor? Clearly, this further serves to demonstrate the callousness of the decision to minimize the industry.” Chand added, “…for me it is sad to note that the sugar workers have received the worst treatment at the hands of this Administration. Not even the days of the Burnham Administration had the sugar workers been treated as disdainfully as they are now. Can you imagine, Cde Speaker, while the Government is trumpeting its paltry increases it didn’t even give the sugar workers that! These workers did not get one blind cent in pay increase since the APNU+AFC took office. It is baffling to understand, Cde Speaker, why are the sugar workers being treated so shabbily. One can only conclude that this is plain eye-pass and blatant discrimination by this anti-worker administration.” NOTHING FOR WORKERS Chand noted too that from the workers point of view, Budget 2019 really has nothing for them. “Budget 2019 is yet another indicator of the anti-working-class demeanour of the Administration. Comrade Speaker, not even one sentence in the Minister’s approximate 260 minute address referred to any plan to enhance workers’ rights and protections. Indeed, they are quite a few matters to address some requiring legislation or amendments to existing acts. By ignoring

these realities…the Government is exposing, unfortunately, its lack of concern for the working-people,” he said. Chand added, “…this Budget is not worker friendly. Of the twenty-eight (28) budgetary measures proposed, only one concerns a marginal improvement in our working-people’s well-being. At the same time, there are several measures aimed at assisting the business sector, which are important, but we should remember that thriving businesses rely on people who can afford their goods and services. The glaring absence of equity, among other factors, could, therefore, negatively affect the intended objectives. “The Government is boasting about the adjustments to the income tax threshold as if the Scroogelike improvement were some grand concession. The fact that the Administration has resorted to clutching at straws is yet another indication that the Budget lacks any substantive policy to really alleviate our people’s burdens. “..the increase in the tax threshold works out to workers receiving $47 more a day which cannot even take care of the increased minibus fare which, I must add, was increased by the Administration after it adamantly rejected calls to reduce the taxes on fuel.” He noted that while government touts the “biggest budget ever” there is little for the Guyanese people.

WEEKEND MIRROR 8-9 DECEMBER, 2018

Internal elections for Mayors, NDC leaders almost fully completed W

ith the conclusion of the November 12, 2018 Local Government Elections, there have been internal elections in the 80 Local Authority Areas (LAAS) – not all of which have been completed – for Mayors in the 10 Municipalities and for Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons of the 70 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NCDs). In the 10 Municipalities, the Mayors are: 1. Mabaruma - Chris Pang 2. Anna Regina – Rajendra Prabulall 3. Georgetown – Ubraj Narine 4. New Amsterdam – Winifred Heywood 5. Rose Hall – Chattergoon Ramnauth 6. Corriverton – Winston Roberys

7. Bartica – Gifford Marshal 8. Mahdia – David Adams 9. Lethem – John Macedo 10. Linden – Waneka Arrindell In addition to gaining increased support in Georgetown, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) secured the majority votes in five of the 10 towns in Guyana. The results in the five towns show that the PPP/C won: all the seats in Anna Regina; Rose Hall (12 of 16 seats); Corriverton (14 of the 16 seats); Lethem (6 of the 10 seats); and Mabaruma (eight of the 12 seats). The wins mean that the PPP/C will now have control of the Town Councils in these areas.

In Georgetown, the PPP/C made significant inroads, securing a total of seven seats on the Town Council – up from two seats. At the 2016 LGE, the Party secured two seats based on the PR votes. This year, the Party, not only doubled its PR votes, coping four seats, but also won three of the 15 Constituencies in Georgetown – bringing the total to seven. In Bartica, the PPP/C increased its votes by over 60 per cent, when compared to 2016 numbers. At the 2016 LGE the vote totals showed: PPP – 699; APNU+AFC – 1,954. This year, the vote totals show: PPP/C – 1,144; APNU – 1,443; and AFC – 470. The Party was successful in moving its vote totals closer to the numbers

APNU+AFC's brazen hostility to the truth - they lie openly all the time Dear Editor,

he Ministers and senior leaders of APNU+AFC definitely have a hefty hostility to the truth. They openly and brazenly lie. In this last week alone, a myriad of lies have been presented as facts in the parliament. Take the puerile example of the Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, who openly and deliberately lied in Parliament during his budget speech on December 5. Unable to defend his Ministry from charges of corruption, he decided to accuse the PPP of pursuing major projects without feasibility studies. He claimed that the PPP spent more than $US600M on projects that had no feasibility studies, specifically identifying the Amaila Hydroelectric Project and the

road linkage of the East Coast and East Bank Highways. He knew these were lies. Irfaan Ali challenged on the spot by presenting the feasibility study for the road linkage project which Patterson's Ministry is actually implementing now. He refused to apologize for openly lying and the Speaker would not intervene. The Amaila Hydroelectric Project feasibility study was actually more than once scrutinized by MPs, including Patterson, before 2014. This, was ,therefore another deliberate lie. The Minister of Sports on December 5, during the Budget debate, claimed that APNU+AFC made the Providence Stadium into a world-class stadium because before now the Stadium could not host ICC-endorsed events. This is an absolute fabrication. Minister

secured by APNU. In Linden and New Amsterdam the Party secured more seats than it did at the 2016 Local Government Elections. In Mahdia, the newly created town, the Party secured over 20 per cent of the PR votes cast on Monday (November 12, 2018) and secured one seat on the Town Council. NDC RESULTS Since all the elections of the Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons of the 70 NDCs have not been completed, a full list of the results is not yet available. In total, the PPP/C secured wins in over 45 of the NDCs, while five others are tied. The PPP/C win in the

Buxton/ Foulis Local Authority Area – one of 70 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) that were being contested by political parties in the 2018 Local Government Elections (LGE) – as a notable win. The PPP/C won all the seats (both PR and Constituency) in several NDCs, including: Crabwood Creek, Black Bush Polder, Kintyre/ Borlam (no-contest), Cane Grove, La Jalousie/ Nouvelle Flanders and Bath/ Woodley Park. There are several other NDCs where the PPP/C won all of the Constituency seats. The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has “held its own” in several areas, which, traditionally, have been seen as the sup-

Norton, as a PNC MP, was present at several cricket matches at the stadium that were part of the 2008 World Cup Cricket, the premiere ICC event. Thus, this was a deliberate lie, told with total brazenness, told without any shame. Most importantly, it is a total disrespect for the Guyanese citizens. A Minister should not be allowed to insult the intelligence of the citizens with such brazenness. Earlier on the same day, it was reported in one of the newspapers, Ms. Volda Lawrence claiming that until 2017, the Ministry of Public Health did not have a procurement department. This was another absolute lie, told deliberately. The Ministry of Health had a procurement department that reported to the Director of Standards when I joined the Ministry of Health in 1997 with Dr. Henry Jeffrey as Minister of Health. I know also that the department then was not a new one. In 1998, I established a procurement department also at GPHC. As Minister of Health, I submitted a proposal to the Cabinet to establish a full department for Materials Management, called the MMU. The MMU was established and had a director who had equal status with all other directors. The MMU not only had a formal procurement department, it also had a warehousing department, a IT department, a distribution department, a quality department, etc. When the MMU was formalized, Malcolm Watkins became the first formal director. The MMU was essentially dismantled in 2015 by APNU+AFC. On Thursday, November 29, the Prime

port base of other political parties, according to PPP General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo. Nationally, preliminary results show the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has almost doubled the margin of votes between our Party and APNU and AFC combined – moving from about 24,000 at the 2016 Local Government Elections to over 45,000 at this year’s Local Government Elections. The difference of votes between the PPP/C and the AFC was a whopping 113,000 votes, validating our Party’s position that the AFC is a spent political force. Between the PPP/C and the APNU, the difference of votes was over 50,000.

Minister in a statement claimed that all sugar workers owed severance would receive their payment on November 30, last Friday, in accordance with the directive of a Judge that payments be made with interest. Last Friday, sugar workers from Wales turned up only to discover that they were not being paid. It turned out that the Prime Minister did not tell the truth. Minister Holder then claimed that the workers from Wales were not paid because of an existing court case. This is in spite of his full knowledge that there is an existing court order that compels the government to pay all the sugar workers their severance. The Wales workers were part of a group of workers that approached the court asking that the government be compelled to pay. The Prime Minister has been quiet, not bothering to offer an excuse for misrepresenting the facts. Thankfully, another court order has been made on December 6 ordering the government to pay the Wales workers. Hopefully, there will be no further delay. Waiting two years is injustice and enough is enough. Not a day goes by without one of these egregious lies. Each day, in fact, now comes with an even more brazen lie. Truth is truth and a lie is a lie, but with APNU+AFC truth has become a daily victim. APNU+AFC treats truth as if it is a piece of clay, to be molded and shaped as they please, as a tool to fool people and to pursue the most egregious corrupt transactions. Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

WEEKEND MIRROR 8-9 DECEMBER, 2018

More protests….

Wales’ workers demand severance payment, other sugar workers call for pay increase

ozens of sugar workers protested outside Public Buildings (Parliament) on Wednesday (December 5, 2018). The protestors included workers from the closed Wales Sugar Estate. Many Wales’ workers have not received severance since the 2016 closure of the Estate. Other protestors - from Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt Sugar Estates - were demanding an increase in wages/salaries. Notably, in addition to no pay increases for sugar workers over the past three and a half years, there has also been no payment of the Annual Productive Incentive (API).

PAY INCREASE Meanwhile, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) said, “It is instructive to note, that the sugar workers remain the only group under the umbrella of the State to have not benefitted from a pay rise since the Coalition Government took office. “The actions of the Government are a far cry from what it was saying to the sugar workers prior to it taking the reins. “For several years and on numerous occasions, the GAWU recalls some of our now-a-day leaders committed to grant workers significant pay rises. “For instance, the No-

vember 05, 2011 Kaieteur News quotes now Second Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan as saying, in reference to sugar workers’ pay increases, that his Party would “…make the workers even happier with 20 percent…”. “Minister Ramjattan’s colleague, First Vice President and Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, when in the Opposition, in his 2013 Budget Debate address at the penultimate paragraph said “For the AFC, we remain firm on a 10% wage increase for public servants and sugar workers”.” Despite such talk, GAWU charged that the

workers are now left asking, ‘What has happened to those rosy promises?’ “It seems, from all appearances, they are solely intent on fooling the workers. On that score, we remind ‘once bitten, twice shy’,” the Union said. WALES PROBLEM On the issue of Wales, GAWU said, “The denial of the Wales cane cutters severance, comes when Prime Minister Nagamootoo is saying that the workers have been paid. The PM is reported by the DPI to say ‘… those workers from Wales… are now cleared and will receive their severance package’.

“The GAWU cannot help but wonder whether it is that GuySuCo is acting contrary to a Government directive or is it that the PM has been misadvised and thus making mischievous statements. “The denial also is perpetuated when no less than Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder had said that the workers would finally be paid. During the examination of a supplementary budgetary request on October 31, the Minister assured that the workers would be paid when he was probed about whether the Wales cane cutters were included among the beneficiaries.” All considered, GAWU stressed that the treatment

of sugar workers – past and present – has been most discriminatory. “Today, these hard-working productive Guyanese and their families have found themselves in the face of severe difficulties and hardships. Undoubtedly, the workers have grown restive and have seen the different, unsympathetic, approach adopted. As Guyana and the world, in a few days times, observe the year-end holidays, a time characterized by charity and togetherness, the GAWU calls on the powersthat-be to treat sugar workers fairly and bring an end to the eye pass and disrespect meted out to them,” GAWU said.

Two years later…

Court rules that Wales’ workers must be paid severance plus interest

igh Court judge, Sandil Kissoon, during an in-chamber hearing on Wednesday (December 5, 2018) ruled that the 300plus sugar workers who were sacked when the Wales Sugar Estate was closed must be paid their severance, along with interest. The Government, via the Guyana Sugar Corpo-

ration (GuySuCo), is now expected to hand over more than $86M to the workers who have been waiting since December 2016 for their payments. The workers will be paid severance covering the period December 31, 2016 to December 5, 2018 at a rate of 4% per annum. The other workers who had taken up government’s

offer of employment at the Uitvlugt Sugar Estate are also expected to be paid paid severance up to December 5, 2018, together with a month’s payment in lieu of notice. Pauline Chase represented the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), which action was filed on behalf of the workers.

She said that a total of 345 workers are to benefit, which includes those who would have also taken up employment at Uitvlugt. She said that $86,545,987 will be paid in severance at an interest rate of 4% per annum. The lawyer explained, however, that that figure does not include for the persons who were laid off from Wales and now

work at Uitvlugt. Chase added that the ruling hopefully brings an end to the matter, unless GuySuCo does not honour its financial obligations to the workers. GAWU had argued that all the sacked workers from Wales were due their severance by law, under provisions includes in the Termination of Employ-

ment and Severance Pay Act (TESPA). The order made by Justice Kissoon follows a similar one made by Justice Fidela Corbin-Lincoln October 2018, regarding the payment of the remaining severance to 2,198 laid off sugar workers from the Skeldon, Rose Hall and East Demerara sugar estates.

WEEKEND MIRROR 8-9 DECEMBER, 2018

Will APNU+AFC gov't listen be I

– PPP/C calls for reversal of hardship measures

n the lead-up to the May 2015 General and Regional Elections, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government made dozens of promises to Guyanese in its manifesto. In jobs, worse yet in the absence of the promised national job creation plan; that hurt the economy, particularly the increased borrowing and wasteful spending; Coalition to reverse the hardship measures imposed on the Guyanese people and restore policies that impro

► Reverse the VAT imposed on essential food items ► Reverse the VAT imposed on electricity and water ► Reverse the VAT imposed on all medical supplies and service ► Remove VAT on construction materials that are locally produced ► Remove the VAT imposed on machinery and equipment for agriculture, mining, forestry, etc. ► Remove VAT on local products in the forestry sector, such as logs, shingles, piles, poles, plywood, rough and dressed wood, veneers, charcoal etc. ► Remove VAT on materials and supplies used in the fisheries sector ► Reverse the ban on vehicles over eight-years-old and reverse the ban on the importation of used tyres ► Reverse increased fees on land rentals, as well as drainage and irrigation in Region 5, which were moved from $3,500 to $15,000 per acre, among other measures hurting farmers ► Reinstate the 2% final tax for the mining sector ► Reduce the massive increases in fees for government services, which were imposed in the 2016 Budget ► Reduce the overall tax burden on Guyanese, which sees the collection of $60B more per annum ► Stop the increased, massive borrowing ► Cut the extravagant spending on travel, food, rentals, vehicles and other things that do not bring benefit to the Guyanese people ► Increase wages/salaries for all public servants, as per the promises made in the APNU+AFC 2015 manifesto ► Restore the annual one month tax-free salary bonus for all members of the Disciplined Services ► Initiate new infrastructure projects – not only complete projects envisioned and started under the former PPP/C administration – to stimulate economic activity in accordance with the Procurement Act and regulations

WEEKEND MIRROR 8-9 DECEMBER, 2018

efore Budget 2019 is passed?

s, restoration of policies that improve welfare

n the last three and a half years, the Coalition has reneged on those and advanced measures: that increased the cost of living; that resulted in greater loss of and measures that hurt the productive sectors. Ahead of the tabling of Budget 2019, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has called on the APNU+AFC ove their welfare. The points listed below do not represent an exhaustive list of the calls made by the PPP/C.

► Re-commence the Amaila Hydro Falls Project as recommended by the independent Norwegian consultancy firm ► Improve the implementation of capital projects, particularly Government loan projects ► Restore the electricity subsidies to pensioners across Guyana ► Restore the cash grant to each public school child, registered from nursery through to secondary students, and increase it to $20,000 per child ► Reverse tuition fee increases for UG students ► Re-instate the Single Parent Assistance Programme, with vouchers to assist with day care costs ► Restore water subsidies to pensioners across Guyana ► Reverse the increase in water rates and other fees that drive up cost of living ► Improve the procurement process in the health sector to ensure improved delivery/ supply of medical supplies and drugs to health care facilities in Guyana ► Improve the working conditions for all health workers ► Rehire the 1,972 Amerindian Community Service Officers ► Fully fund the Village Improvement Plans (VIPs) developed for Amerindian communities ► Pay the fired sugar workers their severance in full and extend support for training, coupled with stipend packages ► Offer communities, depressed by the closure of sugar estates, subsidies for water and electricity, as was done for Region 10 communities when the bauxite sector was facing challenges ► Restore the national housing programme by opening up new schemes and making available new house lots ► Expedite the maintenance of interior roads and bridges

► Improve spending on crime fighting

WEEKEND MIRROR 8-9 DECEMBER, 2018

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

Post Office Corporation lost over $8M in last two years With incidents of crime increasing, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government has admitted that millions of taxpayers’ dollars have been lost as a result of robberies. Over $8M, in the last two years alone, was stolen from Post Offices across the country. The most recent robbery saw the loss of $2.2Million taken from the Charity Post Office in Region Two. The monies were intended to be used as old age pension payments.

Court order forces APNU+AFC Coalition gov’t to comply with laws Guyana’s laws – as stated in the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act (TESPA) – makes it clear that severance must be paid to workers within a certain timeframe. However, in the case of the sacked workers from the Wales Sugar Estate, it took a court order for government to comply with the law. After the court ruling on Wednesday (December 5, 2018), Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder, later the same day, when pressed said: “The workers will be paid by the end of the week.” The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union, as well as the Parliamentary Opposition, had argued for timely payments of severance to the sacked sugar workers. The workers from Wales have been waiting to be paid since December 2016.

More platitudes on promised sports policy Even as he admitted that consultations and sensitisation initiatives will continue, Junior Minister George Norton, insists that the National Sports policy will be implemented in 2019. Notably, the draft policy was released months ago, with no concrete action on moving forward.

Major criticisms about delay in Amerindian development initiatives ignored by gov’t Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton insists that the Coalition Government has no intention to hinder the Indigenous Peoples in any aspect, noting their contribution to Guyana’s development. However, none of the major criticism raised have been addressed. Primary among the criticism is the Coalition Government’s push reduce the Amerindian representation on the Indigenous People’s Commission. The Coalition Government plans to reduce Amerindian representation on the 15-member Commission to 30 per cent. Of the 15 members, three representatives are from the National Toshaos Council and two are from local Amerindian organisations. The other 10 members will come from the: Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs; Ministry of Public Health; Ministry of Social Protection; Private Sector Commission; Environmental Protection Agency; Bar Association of Guyana; Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association; Forest Products Association; National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI); and the Inter-Religious Organisation. The latter, the Inter-Religious Organisation, was a proposal that came from PNCR General Secretary, Amna Ally, who defended her recommendation by saying that “the majority of indigenous people” may not be Christians. These details are according to the seventh report of the Committee of Appointments, in relation to the appointment of members of the Indigenous People’s Commission, was tabled in the House in March 2018.

APNU+AFC gov’t says it has been ‘nothing but transparent and accountable’ - facts say otherwise Even with the removal of the subsidies for water and electricity, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, in Budget 2019, only increased old age pensions by a meager 1,000. Scores of pensioners across Guyana have bemoaned the increased cost of living, following the Administration’s decision to remove previous forms of state-funded support. After the $1,000 increase was announced, there have been calls for more to be done for Guyana’s pensioners – a vulnerable group in society.

Gov’t continues to fail on job creation As opposed to pushing for the creation of much needed job opportunities, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government is focusing on less meaningful initiatives. Critics have said that ensuring that youths are heard is important; the real issues affecting Guyanese youths are not being addressed. The current administration has remained unresponsive to criticisms. The promise of the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition during the 2015 General and Regional elections campaign was to create jobs, jobs and more jobs in the shortest time possible Notably, like President David Granger, Jordan is now talking up the focus on persons creating jobs for themselves. “All good paying jobs, as far as I am concerned, can come from self-generation and that is why we have to focus a lot on small and medium businesses, creating entrepreneurs rather than traders out of people,” he said at a recent press conference.

WEEKEND MIRROR 8-9 DECEMBER, 2018

The Bottom Line

– A look at issues affecting cost of living in Guyana

Farm lands under threat in Black Bush Polder

ver 40,000 acres of farmlands are under threat since the pumps located in Black Bush Polder are yet to receive fuel. The fuel was diverted to drainage pumps instead, according to President of the Rice Producers Association, Leeka Rambrich. He said, “I spoke to the

contractor who was supposed to carry fuel into Black Bush Polder and the man say that the guy responsible for coordinating the fuel is diverting the fuel from the Black Bush pump to the drainage pump.” According to him, cultivation of rice lands is underway and the Black

UG unions call for gov’t intervention on salary increase talks

Bush Polder pumps have been down for several days now. “That’s a long time, from Monday, to have these pumps out of operation during this time”, he said. The Region 6 Regional Executive Officer (REO), appointed by the APNU+AFC Coalition, was unavailable for comment on the matter.

The 2018 LGE: A new chapter for Working People’s Rights By Eddi Rodney

t is not a regular occurrence that reveals the political fragility of a Coalition based on an estimated six (6) political parties of groupings arraigned against a mass working class institution with a significant Civic component – the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C). This trait has emerged primarily in the Kerala experience of the 1990s and into the millennia, as well as to a lesser extent perhaps local ‘cantonment’ elections in post Gaullist France, where alliances bolstered by Communist trade unions have from time to time flexed and demonstrated the influence of an industrialized working class community of. For our purposes the November 2018 Local Government Elections (LGE) could best be compared to the parish/municipal elections-often described as borough constituency elections-in the Easter Caribbean (Jamaica and the Outré Mer French Overseas Departments of Martinique and Guadeloupe could serve as case examples). It should be recalled that a vigorous call was launched for much of the Donald

Ramotar administration’s tenure urging that LGE’s be held before the end of 2014. This history becomes even more critically important when it is recognized that the PPP/C has never been opposed to LGE and realized that based on the outcomes of the 1994 LGE. The PNC (or PNC-R of Hoyte and Corbin) was more concerned with undermining the grass roots democracy paradigm and foisting micro combinations such as the ‘Wagon Wheel’, ‘God Bless Guyana’, ‘Guyana Action party’ etc. as front groups. The undermining of the Local Government Task Force Recommendations, despite repeated attempts by the PPP to have these guidelines implemented, is perhaps one of the more salient aspects of the PNC-R APNU strategy to ensure: that local government authorities become an ‘abstract’ concept; and render the Regional Democratic Councils in locations supportive of the APNU (PNC-R) as ‘maisons du convenience’ virtually stifling the delivery of goods and at times essential services to Afro Guyanese. This PNC-R policy in fact deliberately flouted both the Jagdeo-Hoyte as well as the Jagdeo- Corbin MOUs and

‘Menu of Measures.’ This really was borne out by the articulate missives of locals such as Frank Fyvve, Emile Mervin and Lincoln Lewis as well as Citizens Eusi Kwayana, Maxwell, Hergash, Mike Persaud Asquith Rose and Harish Singh amongst several others. That said, at both the 2016 and 2018 Local Government Elections, the PPP/C secured massive wins. Nationally, at the 2018 LGE, results show the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has almost doubled the margin of votes between our Party and APNU and AFC combined – moving from about 24,000 at the 2016 Local Government Elections to over 45,000 at this year’s Local Government Elections. The difference of votes between the PPP/C and the AFC was a whopping 113,000 votes, validating our Party’s position that the AFC is a spent political force. Between the PPP/C and the APNU, the difference of votes was over 50,000. This is the evidence that confirms that citizens in rural communities of neighborhoods, as well as in the ‘hinterland’ settlements, the majority do not support the APNU-AFC.

week ago the University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU) and the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) announced they were pushing for their concerns regarding salary increases heard at the level of the Governing Council. Now the unions have now requested the immediate and direct intervention of the Government, through the Department of Labour. The unions said on Wednesday (December 5, 2018) that the reason for the request was mainly due to the fact that the administration of the University has embarked on a series of delay tactics which are apparently designed to force the staff into accepting the imposed three and four per cent salary increases for 2018. The proposed increases have been described by officials from both unions as an insult. They have even argued that considering what staff go through — sometimes even subsidising their own classrooms — they deserve more. As such, they plan to fight for more. “The University’s staff rejected the attempt of the University’s administration to delay meeting with the Unions until Tuesday, December 18,” said a joint statement issued by the Unions. The offer to the Unions to meet to discuss 2018 negotiations was made on Friday, November 30, 2018. In response to a request for clarification, Vice Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith made it clear that the administration would have no time to meet with the Unions before that date. According to the Unions,

the administration has already indicated via a memorandum to staff that they intend to pay the unilaterally imposed increase before the University closes. The University closes on Friday, December 21, 2018, for the Christmas break. It was noted that the University’s Registrar, Dr Nigel Gravesande, who serves as Secretary to the University’s Council, on Tuesday circulated a proposed date of Thursday, December 20, for the Council meeting to address the issue. The matter had been referred to him by the University’s Pro Chancellor, Major General (retired) Joseph Singh since November 19. “This means that Council will not have an opportunity to deliberate the matter until the day before the University closes. The discussion would also take place at a point where most likely the increase would already have been paid out to staff,” the statement from the Unions said. But these unions have an issue with that and have said while the time proposed for the Council’s meeting is 09:30 hrs they recalled that this has proven difficult for many Council members in the past few months to attend morning meetings in view of their work commitments. The Unions therefore said it have serious doubts about whether the administration is actually attempting to secure the full participation of all Council members. “The University’s administration has made it clear through its actions that it is attempting to force staff into accepting the imposed

increase. The University’s staff reject this attempt, and call on the Department of Labour to intervene before the situation deteriorates further,” it said. The Unions have said they had attempted to negotiate this year’s salary increases with the University’s administration since January 2018, when they first wrote to the Vice Chancellor to request the start of negotiations. The agenda for the negotiations could not be agreed because the administration refused to let the Unions’ agenda items is discussed first. According to the Unions, their number one agenda item was ‘wages and salaries for 2018’. They claim it is disingenuous for the Vice Chancellor to claim “he has been forced to ask for the unilateral increase because he could not get the administration to agree to discuss these matters.” The UG administration has refused to negotiate wages and salaries with the Unions, as they failed to attend a conciliation meeting which was scheduled by the Department of Labour. In early November, the Unions had refused to sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) put forward by the administration since it includes the non-submission of grades by lecturers as the sole performance issue. The Unions maintained that the Vice Chancellor was attempting to use staff performance as a distraction to “cover up what appears to be the sheer greed of demanding the same percentage salary increase as persons earning far less than those senior members of administration”.

STRAIGHT TALK 18

WEEKEND MIRROR 8-9 DECEMBER, 2018

(The following is a speech by Dr. Cheddi Jagan made on September 7, 1946. 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 Jagan.)

On the Recall of legislative members By Cheddi Jagan

he government of most countries have their legislators and public official elected by the majority will of the people. As a general rule, most of these officials are recruited from the middle and upper classes. As soon as they are elected, quite a few of them begin to represent their own class interests, with the result that the working classes soon lose faith in them. The working classes are therefore insisting upon their rights to oust elected persons at will or to pass judgment upon their continuance in authority at any time during their terms of service. This device is known as the Recall. The principle upon

which it is based is that elected officials are merely the agents of the majority will of the people and that the voters should have at all times an opportunity to pass upon their conduct of their

representatives. The British Guiana Trade Union Council is to be congratulated for sponsoring the Recall to be used if necessary against elected members of the Legislative Council. It is being said that this provision does not apply in Great Britain, U.S.A. and Russia. This is not wholly true. In applying any yard-sick in British Guiana, we must be careful in taking into consideration the constitutional developments and background of various countries as compared to British Guiana. The Soviet Constitution has provision for recall. In Great Britain, the Cabinet system of government fixes responsibility on the party in power. There is more or less

strict party discipline. Under these conditions, there is no actual need for recall. The vote of no confidence in the Governments is to the cabinet party system what the recall is to the no party system of independent members. In the U.S.A. there is no cabinet party system in the strict sense of the English type. Responsibility is more diffuse. It goes beyond party lines, and is shared by the executive, the legislative and the judiciary. Party discipline is not very strict. In fact one finds that on many important measures members of Congress will vote outside of parties. In these cases, voting usually takes place along lines of interests - liberals of both parties together in one camp the reactionaries in another. In such an American governmental

background, recall should be an absolutely necessary provision. It should be incorporated into the federal constitution. The reality of present day American politics, however, will not admit of any such reform. Legislators of the type Bilbo and Rankin who will filibuster in congress even against the abolition of the poll-tax, will prefer to start another civil war than see the introduction of the popular democratic Initiative, Referendum and recall. Despite the fact that recall is not a federal provision, American reformers have made its introduction possible in over a thousand municipalities and in twelve of the progressive state legislatures. The situation in British Guiana is different from any of the three countries mentioned. There is an

income qualification of $100 per month or property qualification of $1000 of immovable property for candidates seeking election to the Legislative Council. At such, many working class candidates will be debarred. Middle class and upper class prospective candidates will appear with glittering promises before the electorate, the majority of whom will be working class people. There being no system of party politics, there can be no strict party discipline. Those elected will be free to carry out individual lines of action for a too long period of five years. Being governed under such a set-up the working classes of B.G. have every right to insist that the provision of Recall of legislative members be incorporated into the constitutions of British Guiana.

CARICOM leaders commit to action at national level to advance CSME

eaders of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) met this week in Trinidad and Tobago and on Tuesday (December 4, 2018) they ended a special twoday Conference of Heads of Government, which that addressed the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) initiative. The CSME was launched in 2006, but progress has been slow. As such, the CARICOM Heads of Government committed to action at their respective national levels to advance the initiative. The Communique released after the meeting said: “We, the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), meeting at Port of Spain Trinidad and Tobago 3-4 December, 2018 on the occasion of the 18th Special Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM; “Recalling the 1989 Declaration of Grand Anse which initiated the process towards the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME),

the signing of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas in 2001, which established the CSME and the launch of the CSME in 2006; Convinced that the CSME continues to be the most viable platform for supporting growth and development in the Member States of CARICOM; “Recognising the need to make it more closely attuned to the needs and priorities of Member States and contributing more visibly to growth and development and to the welfare of the people of the Community; “Having reviewed its progress and acknowledged that it should have been further advanced; Having considered the “Report of the Commission to Review Jamaica’s Relations within the CARICOM and CARIFORUM Frameworks”; “Having also considered the perspectives of the Member States of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS); “Underscoring the critical role of the CARICOM

Development Fund (CDF) in supporting the CSME; “Having exchanged views with the representatives of the private sector and labour and encouraged by their commitment to the regional integration project and their recommendations for the enhancement of the CSME; “Recognising that the goal of our regional integration process is to enhance the well-being of all of the citizens of our Community; “DECLARE: “We are committed to take action at the national level to advance the regional integration agenda; “We are determined to ensure the equitable distribution among the peoples of the Community of the gains realised through the regional integration process; “We have agreed on a formalised, structured mechanism to facilitate dialogue between the Councils of the Community and the private sector and labour; “We have also agreed to amend the Treaty to include

as Associate Institutions representative bodies of Private Sector and Labour; “We have agreed that in accordance with Article 50 of the Revised Treaty which deals with the principle of accelerated implementation, that the principle will be applied to any initiative which is consistent with the Revised Treaty; “We agreed that that those Member States so willing would move towards full free movement within the next three (3) years; “We have mandated that steps be taken to deepen cooperation and collaboration between the Secretariats of CARICOM and the OECS to avoid duplication and maximise the utility of scarce resources; “We will reinforce the operation of our security mechanisms to ensure the integrity of the regime allowing the free movement of CARICOM nationals; “We will examine the re-introduction of the single domestic space for passengers in the Region; “We have agreed to work

towards having a single security check for direct transit passengers on multi-stop intra-Community flights; “We will conduct a special session on Air and Maritime Transportation at the Intersessional meeting of the Conference in February 2019 to focus on this critical aspect of integration as a whole and the CSME in particular; “We will include Agricultural Workers, Beauty Service Practitioners, Barbers and Security Guards to the agreed categories of skilled nationals who are entitled to move freely and seek employment within the Community; “We reiterate that that a skills certificate issued by one Member State would be recognised by all Member States; “We will complete legislative and other arrangements in all Member States for all categories of Free Movement of Skilled Persons; “We will finalise the regime that permits citizens and companies of the Community to participate in the Public Procurement process-

es in Member States by the year 2019; “We will take all necessary steps to allow for mutual recognition of companies incorporated in a CARICOM Member State; “We have mandated the Community Council to develop appropriate recommendations on the proposal for the introduction of a regime of sanctions for the consideration of the Conference.” The CARICOM leaders also welcomed Haiti’s commitment to full integration into the CSME by 2020. Notably, Professor Avinash Persaud has been appointed as Head of a restructured Commission on the Economy to advise Member States on a Growth Agenda for the Community. Other Members of the Commission on the Economy (CCE) – Mr. Chester Humphrey; Dr. Damien King; Mr Georgy McGuire; Mr Roger McLean; Dr. Wendell Samuel; Mr. P. B. Scott; Ms. Therese Turner-Jones; Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; and Mr. Pascal Lamy.

WEEKEND MIRROR 8-9 DECEMBER, 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!

WEEKEND MIRROR 8-9 DECEMBER, 2018

PPP/C presidential Nandlall asks High Court to candidate will be one who quash Magistrate’s ruling fulfills every promise made F by the Party – Jagdeo

eople’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary and Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, was pressed again recently on the naming of a PPP/C presidential candidate. And he assured that this will be done, as promised, before the end of the year. He said, “We will ensure that whoever that candidate is, that that candidate fulfills every promise that we are making to the people of this country to reverse a lot of these hardship policies; to chart a course forward that involves everyone. People of every race and every political persuasion even if you vote against us; that they must be included in our vision.” In July this year, Jagdeo, explained that the Party Executives were contemplating whether the process leading up to the naming of a presidential candidate should be done before or after the Local Government Elections (LGE), which is expected later this year. He said, “There are two view and between those two, we

will return to the issue on that timeline on when we settle for the presidential candidate. But it seems are though all of this will happen within the year, before the end of 2018. “…the Congress appointed 35 to sit in the Central Executive of the Party. They (the 35) then elected another 15 to serve as the Executive of the Party. Right now the procedure that we have used and will in all likelihood use again unless the Central Committee decides to change it… they will vote in a secret ballot on all of the persons whose names are before them on the ballot.”

Pressed on his personal support for a particular candidate, Jagdeo said only that, “There are a lot of people that I like, and very competent people, and I wish them all well.” Asked too about persons declaring publicly their interest in becoming the PPP/C presidential candidate, he said, “There is nothing wrong with people saying, I am interested. What’s wrong with that? But I urge all of the party members and those who are canvasing not to disparage anyone else. Because at the end of the day, what will happen, is not all of these people will rally around the person we chose and we move on to win the election. “…I don’t see the party having any difficulty with anyone who says ‘I am interested’. They all know the process. They say ‘I am interested’…I have publicly urged that if they publicly expressed that interest, that the expression of the interest is done in a manner that is not disparaging of any other person who has expressed an interest.”

ormer Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall through his lawyers has filed a motion in the High Court asking that the November 23, 2018, ruling by Magistrate Fabayo Azore be quashed and the charge of “Larceny by a Bailee contrary to Section 165 of the Criminal Law Offences Act, Chapter 8:01” be thrown out. Magistrate Azore ordered that Nandlall lead a defence on December 6 after overruling the no-case submission made by his lawyers in relation to the charge, which alleges that he stole some 14 Commonwealth Law Books worth $2.3 million. However, following the ruling, Nandlall immediately indicated that he would be appealing such which resulted in the filing of the High Court proceedings. Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George is scheduled to hear Nandlall’s application on December 13. In court documents seen by this publication, Nandlall is asking the court to declare that the charge for the offence of “Larceny by a Bailee contrary to Section 165 of the Criminal Law Offences Act, Chapter 8:01”, is an unknown offence therefore it is in violation of Articles 40, 144(4) and 149(d) of the Constitution. His lawyers are contending that the ruling is contrary to, and in violation of, Articles 40, 144(4) and 149(d) of the Constitution of Guyana. Therefore it should be

quashed since it is unlawful, illegal, without and in excess of jurisdiction, erroneous in law, unreasonable, null, void and of no effect. Additionally, his lawyers are contending that unless restrained Magistrate Azore will proceed to hear and determine the matter thereby defeating and rendering futile the Fixed Date Application. The application added that if the Magistrate proceeds to hear and determine this matter before the determination of the Fixed Date Application, there is every likelihood that there will be a miscarriage of justice. He is also seeking costs from the court. Nandlall’s application was made on the grounds that Magistrate Azore erred in law when she overruled the no-case submission and when she failed/refused to any sufficient reason for her judgement as required by the Judicial Review Act Chapter 3:06. The former Attorney General was on April 27, 2017, released on self-bail after he was charged for fraudulently acquiring and converting Commonwealth law books to his own use and benefits, property of the State. On April 24, 2017, Nandlall was called in to SOCU headquarters for questioning in relation to the Commonwealth Law Books. The day after his detainment, the attorney took to the High Court and filed legal proceedings against Attorney General

Basil Williams, SC, to prove that the 14 law books are his property. Following the legal arguments in court, the Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George had granted the Conservatory Order, restraining officers of SOCU and the Guyana Police Force from seizing or detaining the said books. Nandlall had explained to the media that when he was appointed Attorney General, he requested as part of his contract of service for the Government of Guyana to stand the expense for his subscriptions for the Commonwealth Law Books. He had subscribed to Lexis Nexis, the publishers of the Law reports. Insisting that nothing was abnormal about the practice, the former AG had argued that it was done by other Government Ministries such as Finance and Health. He had expressed awareness that for decades prior, the Government had paid for professional and technical publications, journals, periodicals, magazines. This, he said, had been done for Ministers as well as professional and technical personnel. His contentions were corroborated publicly by then President Donald Ramotar. However, two days later on April 27, 2017, Nandlall was arraigned before Georgetown Magistrate Fabayo Azore on a charge instituted by members of SOCU. Nandlall continues to maintain that the accusation laid against him by SOCU is politically motivated.

2017 AG report details major breaches…

Gov’t silent on ‘corruption’ cited in US report T

he 2018 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), produced by the United States of America’s (USA) State Department, cites “government corruption” as a major source of money laundering – marking the first time in contemporary history that this has happened. However, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government continues to remain silent on this matter. Not one government minister or official has addressed this matter. Commenting on the report, General Secretary of the People’s Progres-

sive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo, stressed that the Government has been curiously silent on the US State Department’s report. Jagdeo added too that many of the personalities and groups that took such reports as “gospel” during the PPP/C tenure in office, but have now, also, gone silent. “Where is Goolsarran?” he questioned, noting that former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran, was outspoken about what he believed was corruption under the former PPP/C government. Goolsarran had been one of the persons hired by the Coalition government

to conduct forensic audits, which were supposed to prove corruption. A massive $133M of taxpayers’

money was spent on about 45 audits. The Coalition government has been

criticised for the manner in which the audits were commissioned, since many supporters of APNU+AFC were given contracts – including Goolsarran. Goolsarran received four contracts totaling over $6M, with the largest contract sum being $2.3M. Another $8M was paid to Christopher Ram’s company, Ram and McRae, for the audit of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). In total Ram’s company was tasked with eight contracts totaling over $37M. How much remaining five audits cost – a total of 50 having been cited by government as in-

tended pursuits – remains unknown. According to Jagdeo, the US officials “clearly saw something” that made it necessary for the words “government corruption” to be included in the 2018 report. The Opposition Leader made clear that given the numerous breaches of financial laws, the Procurement Act, etc. – and the many underhand dealings that have been exposed, the APNU+AFC Coalition government is one of “the most corrupt” Guyana has seen. The 2017 Auditor General’s report details several of these breaches.

WEEKEND MIRROR 8-9 DECEMBER, 2018

APNU+AFC gov’t forcing fictions on the Guyanese people

fter three years since taking office, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, published a list of 231 so called ‘achievements’ in May 2018. However, a close look at the list, revealed Government’s desperation in trying to find ‘successes’. For example, the Government claimed “lower electricity rates” as an achievement, but listed this one point at least two times in the list of 231. A second example shows that the

1. FICTION: Four Budgets in three years FACT: All four budgets introduced policies that negatively impacted working class Guyanese and the productive sectors. Over 200 new taxes and fees were introduced. Others were increased astronomically.

4. FICTION: Youth skills training provided through BIT, HEYS FACT: The BIT is a PPP/C initiative. HEYS was introduced by the APNU+AFC Government, then the decision was made to scrap it. Notably, HEYS had replaced the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP), which was an initiative under the former PPP/C government. When the Coalition Government took power, the 1972 Amerindian community service officers who were part of the YEAP programme were fired. 7. FICTION: Created over 5000 jobs FACT: Since May 2015, over 25,000 Guyanese have lost their jobs. Government’s claim of creating over 5,000 jobs has been challenged. To date, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government has not responded and has not said where these 5,000 jobs were created. 10. FICTION: State Assets Recovery Unit set up FACT: SARA did not legally exist until May 2018. The State Assets Recovery Act was only assented to by President David Granger on May 4, 2018 – over one year after it was passed in the National Assembly by a government majority, despite objections voiced by the Parliamentary Opposition. As such, queries have been raised about SARA’s operations prior to Granger’s move to assent to the SARA Act – specifically as it relates to how monies were allocated to the State Assets Recovery Agency for the year 2018 Budget to acquire an office at Lot 56 Main and New Market Streets, SARA letterhead, staff, etc., prior to that date (May 4, 2018), when the agency did not legally exist?”

APNU+AFC Coalition claimed the work of private companies as their own success, when it listed “4G internet” in its list of 231. The work to bring better internet services to the Guyanese people was done by the private telecommunications companies. This week, the Mirror, by simply looking at a few of the Government’s claims, will expose the FICTIONS peddled by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government and will detail the actual facts.

2. FICTION: $50,000 Christmas Bonus in 2015 and $25,000 Christmas Bonus in 2016 FACT: No attention has been given to increasing the salaries of public servants – teachers, policemen, nurses, etc. since the APNU+AFC Government took office. The two bonuses were one-off payments for only two years. 5. FICTION: Sugar industry right-sized fo5r self sufficiency through diversification FACT: There have been no efforts in the direction of diversification. While government said it has “right-sized” the sugar industry, all it did was close down major sugar estates – leaving thousands of sugar workers on the breadline – in the worst mass firing in Guyana’s history.

3. FICTION: Training opportunities for GuySuCo workers FACT: No substantive support has been given to the 7000+ sugar workers who were fired by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government. Government’s unwillingness to support the sacked sugar workers has been evidence in the fact that the government broke the law and did not pay the workers their full severance. It was seen again when Government refused to say if was informing the sacked sugar workers that millions were available under the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) programme, which is supposed to provide financial support for entrepreneurial ventures and create income-generating opportunities, etc.

6. FICTION: Reduce the sugar industry dependence on the national coffers

FACT: There has been no move in this direction, not even the start of a feasibility study to assess such a plan.

FACT: The sugar industry’s dependence on the national coffers has not been reduced. In fact the national treasury is exposed with the borrowing of $30B, via bonds issued at 4.75 per cent, since the borrowing has been backed by a government-guarantee.

11. FICTION: Special organized Crime Unit operational

9. FICTION: Lower Electricity rates

FACT: Three years of being operations under the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, not a single case against money launderers has been advanced. SOCU has only been involved in cases filed against former government officials, one of which has already been thrown out of the courts. Also, in the case SOCU brought against GBTI, the expert witness fielded by the Unit was also rejected by courts, which ruled that the ‘expert’ was in fact ‘no expert’. SOCU has been involved in a number of controversial operations. These include the high-profile car chase of the wife of a People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP), which resulted in the death of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Sergeant Robert Pyle and his wife Stacy, along with another civilian in a smash-up on Carifesta Avenue in December 2015 – an incident that remains the subject of many unanswered questions. The Unit’s establishment was part of Guyana's international obligations to strengthen its Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework and was intended to support the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). The mandate of the SOCU, as acknowledged in the protocols, is to address investigations, detection and preparation of criminal investigative reports and case files for prosecutions of financial crimes, including money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Little to nothing has been done by SOCU, under the current APNU+AFC Government, which fits the reason for SOCU’s establishment.

FACT: Electricity rates were subject to Value Added Tax (VAT) in 2017, meaning that electricity costs were increased, not lowered.

8. FICTION: Plans to bridge Essequibo River

12. FICTION: Outstanding court settlement paid FACT: Court settlements have been subject to intense questioning, as it relates to the how these settlements were reached. The last big court settlement related to the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) matter. The sum owed by DDL, according to the GRA assessment, was $5.392B from 2001 to 2006. The settlement saw DDL paying only $1.5B and also writes off all possible liabilities in respect of Excise Tax up to March 9, 2016. Since then, Banks DIH has filed a case against the Coalition government, saying that DDL was given special treatment. In the meantime, several questions asked about the DDL settlement remain unanswered. The questions asked include: Was an assessment of DDL’s liabilities in respect of Excise Tax for the period 2006 to 2016 done and what was the sum of that liability?; Who negotiated the settlement?; Is it legal? Was the settlement approved by Cabinet or the Board of the GRA?; On what principles was the sum of $1.5B arrive at? And How many other deals have been concluded or are being negotiated?

WEEKEND MIRROR 8-9 DECEMBER, 2018

APNU+AFC gov’t forcing fictions on the Guyanese people 13. FICTION: New Guyana Election Chairman appointed FACT: The 84-year-old GECOM Chairman was unilaterally and un-constitutionally appointed, in breach of 25 years of practice and common understanding of the constitutional procedures that have to be followed for such an appointment to be made. 14. FICTION: The establishment of three new towns FACT: The towns were established without consultation and in some cases encroached on titled Amerindian Lands in breach of laws --and showing that the APNU+AFC Coalition Government has no qualms about breaking the laws of Guyana. 15. FICTION: Improved education attainment FACT: The 2017 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Guyana – released by the United States of America’s (USA) State Department – underscores a major failure of the APNU+AFC Coalition government. Page 11 of the 207 report states that: “The standard of living in indigenous communities was lower than that of most citizens, and they had limited access to education and health care.” In contrast, the 2015 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Guyana, on page 14, said: “All indigenous communities had primary schools, and as of 2012, there were 13 secondary schools in remote regions. All indigenous communities had school dormitories that housed students at government’s expense. Government programmes trained health workers, who staffed health facilities in most communities.”

16. FICTION: Free transportation for school children FACT: A total of $1.7B was taken away from public schools when the $10,000 cash grant was scrapped. The APNU+AFC Coalition Government says it has provided buses, but these do not serve all public school children. The cash grant was given to every public school child.

17. FICTION: Provision of medical equipment FACT: Shortages continue to be reported. And with the dust barely settled over the $632M drugs and medical supplies procurement scandal, sole-sourcing of $366.9M of drugs and medical supplies in 2017 has once again brought into question decisions by the Ministry of Public Health – and the likely of increasing corruption at that Ministry. As was the case with the spending of $605M, the Ministry – headed by Volda Lawrence – claims that the spending of the $366.9M was to cover emergency expenditures. Documents revealed that a company, HDM Labs Inc. – owned by a supporter of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government – was handpicked over three others that went through tendering process.

18. FICTION: De-politicized the National Toshaos Council FACT: The NTC is not a political body. It is the elected body that represents Amerindians in Guyana. As such, claims of de-politicizing the NTC have been viewed as APNU+AFC rhetoric. 19. FICTION: Extended the Amerindian Land Titling (ALT) programme FACT: Not a single Amerindian village has received a land title under the APNU+AFC Coalition Government. Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Sydney Allicock, admitted that he failed to do any work with the ALT programme, which gave the indigenous people legal rights to their communities. “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 ALT programme. 20. FICTION: Piracy smashed FACT: Less than two months ago, a piracy attack led to several deaths of local fishermen. The bodies of some of the fishermen have still not been found.

21. FICTION: Major criminal gangs smashed, members prosecuted FACT: There has been no such report. Also, no cases in Guyana’s court have substantiated this claim. 22. FICTION: Crime rate down FACT: As of June 2018, a whopping 304 cases of robbery under arms, where firearms were used, were recorded at the end of June 2018, marking an increase compared to last year. Another 116 cases of robbery under arms, where other instruments were used, were also recorded for that month. There were also 28 other cases of robberies, as well as 73 cases of robbery with violence. Robbery with aggravation cases numbered 30. Larceny from persons numbered 62, while burglary cases totaled 112 and break an entry with larceny totaled 498. In total these cases numbered 1,223. There were 44 murders. The APNU+AFC Coalition Government continues to come in for criticisms over its inaction to address the current crime rate. 23. FICTION: Establishment of the Department of Environment FACT: There is no Department of Environment as of July 2018. 24. FICTION: Freedom of the Press restored FACT: The Guyana Press Association has blasted Coalition gov’t over ‘unmistakable’ signals of Executive control since it took office. The Association cited other acts that include: The continued role of the Director of Public Information as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited, publishers of the Guyana Chronicle; Direction from a senior government Minister on coverage of his office to the Editor- in-Chief; Direction being given to the Chronicle for stories sent for his approval once it has to do with his office or the PNC, the main party in the governing Coalition; and weekly meetings of the Prime Minister with senior executives of the state media.

WEEKEND MIRROR 8-9 DECEMBER, 2018

APNU+AFC gov’t forcing fictions on the Guyanese people 25. FICTION: Constitutional Reform process initiated

27. FICTION: Code of conduct for public official completed

FACT: There has been no progress on the issue of Constitutional Reform.

FACT: There is no Code of Conduct in place. A draft was proposed and was met with widespread criticisms. Even the Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. said government’s proposed code of conduct is still deficient in many respects. The body expressed the view that the “lack of specificity appears as low commitment to integrity in public office” and it can ultimately impede the effectiveness of the Code and erode public confidence.

26. FICTION: Improved transparency FACT: The APNU+AFC Coalition Government has been criticised as failing to honour of the promise of transparency. Among the untruths told by the government to the Guyanese people is the fact that Guyana did not receive the US$18M signing bonus from ExxonMobil. This lie was told for over a year to the Guyanese people, despite the fact that questions about the signing bonus were asked. Finally, documents leaked to the media, exposed the Government lie

28. FICTION: Family Court opened FACT: The Family Division of the High Court began hearing cases since May 6, 2016. The Family Court was a PPP/C initiative. Before the APNU+AFC Coalition Government took office, the Family Court building was completed and handed over to Government.

29. FICTION: Successful gun amnesty programme FACT: During the amnesty for unlicensed firearms in 2015, scores of Amerindians handed in weapons used to protect their cattle and crops and support their livelihoods, with the promise of receiving licences. The APNU+AFC Coalition Government delayed the return to April 2018 and has now delayed it again, until the end of July 2018. This failure to deliver in a timely manner on a promise made has prevented the amnesty programme from being deemed a success. 30. FICTION: A new drugs procurement system introduced FACT: Health Minister, Volda, 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. It is now July 2018. After taking office, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government scrapped the old method used to procure and deliver drugs and medical supplies across Guyana, despite the fact that it worked.

Jordan’s claims about new businesses, job creation in question S

everal claims being made by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, about creation of new businesses are being challenged. Jordan claimed that through the HEYS initiative, a total of 2,054 small businesses was established and managed by our hinterland youths. However, there is no evidence of this in hinterland communities. Jordan also claimed that by the beginning of the fourth quarter, GO-Invest had facilitated approximately $73.8 billion in proposed investment, anticipated to create over 1,700 jobs, across the coastal regions and Region. However, when challenged, he failed to provide details to

substantiate this claim. The same situation obtained, relative to is claim that of the $73.8B, some $44B has already been approved. FDI NUMBERS Notably, Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in Guyana increased from US$58M in 2016 to US$212M in 2017 in part as a result of the oil and gas sector preparing for First Oil. However, the 2017 numbers are still lower than the 2014 numbers (US$255M), which were higher and did not include oil and gas sector investments. Questions have been asked about government’s

ability to attract foreign direct investments, outside of the lucrative oil and gas sector that many foreign parties want to be involved with - none of which have been answered to date. MULTIPLE TRIPS With the three-year mark passed, since the APNU+AFC Coalition Government took office, there are no prospects for major future investments in Guyana. In three and a half years, among several other trips made, there were three massive excursions between 2015 and 2017 – excursions that Guyanese were told focused on securing investments. To date there has been no

details on the outcomes of those trips. In October 2015, a high- level ministerial delegation to Canada included, First Vice President and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson and Minister of Business and Investment Dominic Gaskin. The intention was to address investment possibilities. Despite multiple queries, to date there has been no update on what materialised from this trip. In June 2016, there was a New York investment conference, which saw the participation of a 16-member

delegation, including four ministers and ‘honorific’ advisors. Here too, there has been no work of what investments proposals materialised from the two trips – if any. In May 2017, a 12-member Guyanese team, including Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin, were on a Trade and Investment Explanatory Mission in Brazil, and were slated to participate in several rounds of discussions with investors in Boa Vista. As with the first no, no outcome statement detailed progress of the undertaking. In the meantime, Guyana’s economy continues to perform poorly. 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%). 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 recently disclosed.

WEEKEND MIRROR 8-9 DECEMBER, 2018

Formal complaint to be sent to SOCU over sale of NICIL shares in GSL – Jordan admits that shares were sold below market value T he shares of National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited’s (NICIL) in Guyana Stockfeeds Limited (GSL) to Robert Badal, who is also the majority shareholder, has been approved, according to Minister of State, Minister Joseph Harmon. He noted that Badal will be paying $136,000 for the shares. The shares were sold at $25 each. The Government’s sold its 5,437 shares which represented 6.7 per cent of the total shares. Meanwhile, Harmon’s disclosure was followed by an admission by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan that the shares were being sold below market value. Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, has since said that a formal complaint about the matter will

be forwarded to the Special Organised Crimes Unit (SOCU). He said, “The Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, confirmed to the press that Government obtained 3 Certificates of Valuation for its 7% shares in Guyana Stockfeeds Limited (GSL). He said that they advertised the shares for sale by way of public advertisement and Robert Badal’s was the only expression of interest received. Jordan further confirmed that Badal’s offer was way below the Certificates of Valuation’s value of the shares. Yet, the Government sold to Badal below that value. “This transaction was approved by Cabinet. “Therefore, Badal purchased from the Government 5,437 shares at a price of $25 GYD per share, to-

taling the sum of $135,925 GYD. I am advised that the current book value of these shares are approximately $100M GYD. “If one is to use the value of $25 per share, which the Government sold the share to Badal for, it means that the entire GSL is worth less than $2M GYD!! “Dr. Ashni Singh and Winston Brassington were charged on identical facts, except that the sale of the Stockfeeds’ shares is ten times more vulgar. “It is now clear that SOCU and the DPP must charge those involved in this transaction with the same offence with which they charged Singh and Brassington or that they withdraw the charges against Singh and Brassington forthwith. “The Constitution guar-

antees to every citizen equal protection of the law. The rule of law demands that the criminal justice system be applied fairly and equally to every citizen. It cannot be criminal conduct for one set of people and lawful for another. This strikes at the heart of our legal system. This is what destroys a civilized society.” NO APPEAL Nandlall noted too that the situation is further exacerbated by the fact that in 2008, the High Court ruled that the Government owns 38 per cent of Guyana Stockfeeds Limited. The Court of Appeal, in 2017, overturned the High Court decision and reduced the Government’s 38 per cent shareholding to seven per cent. Since then there has

been no move by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government to appeal the decision of the Appeal Court by taking the matter to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

REVENUE LOST Notably, in July 2018, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) noted that the dilution of NICIL’s shares in Guyana Stockfeeds Limited deprived the State of revenues. The Party said: “In October 1997, Mr. Badal bought 35% of the shares of Guyana Stockfeeds Limited. The value/share was approximately $650/share. “On a proportional basis, NICIL retained 38% with implied valuation of US$$980 K. “In 2000, with sales and profit increasing signifi-

Volda Lawrence buckles, apologizes for comments dubbed ‘racist, illegal’

nder fire for her comments, Chairperson of the People’s National

Congress Reform (PNCR), Volda Lawrence, had buckled and issued an apology –

after refusing to do so. Lawrence, also the Minister of Public Health in

SPU, GuySuCo remains at odds T ensions are heightening between the management of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the Special Purposes Unit (SPU), which was set up by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government under National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) to oversee the selloff of GuySuCo assets at the sugar estates that have been closed in the past two years. Senior managers have asked GuySuCo’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Harold Davis Jr., to suspend the company’s relations with SPU. The managers have also called for the SPU be evicted from GuySuCo’s LBI Compound, unless it agrees and complies with the policies under which GuySuCo operates. In September 2018, GuySuCo blocked the SPU from launching a sports bar at its corporate headquarters at La Bonne Intention (LBI).

In November 2018, the confrontation between GuySuCo and the SPU, on the matter, continued. A statement released by GuySuCo said: “The Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) hereby informs the members of the public that contrary to the advertisement of a pool party, fete or other such event to be held at the La Bonne Intention (LBI) Estate Staff Club and pool on the 24th November, 2018, there will be no such event held on the said 24th November at the LBI Estate Staff Club and pool.” The transformation of GuySuCo’s staff club into a sports bar by the SPU does not line up with the sugar company’s principles and values, according to GuySuCo. GuySuCo was kept in the dark about the changes at the LBI Estate Staff Club, until the week of the sport bar launching. A leaked letter, signed by the senior managers and dated December 4, 2018, said:

“This situation has reached a highly unacceptable stage and therefore requires immediate intervention from all relevant authorities. “We would like to state that since the establishment of the Special Purpose Unit in August, 2017, the relationship with GuySuCo has been one of much turbulence, disrespect, unprofessionalism and some activities have even bordered on illegality. We are of the strong view that the situation has deteriorated to a state where the Ministry of Finance, as the principal agency for NICIL/SPU now has to take the necessary actions to ensure that the NICIL/ SPU operates in a manner in keeping with accepted professional norms and practices.” The letter was also copied to Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder. There been silence from both SPU and the Government on this issue.

the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, on Sunday, November 25, 2018, during a presentation at the Region Four District Conference, held at Congress Place, had said, “I got news for you: The only friends I got is PNC, so the only people I could give work to is PNC. And, right now, I looking for a doctor who can talk Spanish or Portuguese and ah want one that is PNC.” Initially, Lawrence responded to the criticisms on her comments, but did not address the specific comments in relation to hiring party members. She made clear that she stands by her views on the issue of jobs and unemployment, and that measures are being put in place for the young and industrious to be afforded the opportunity of becoming self-employed or gaining meaningful employment. With criticism increasing, Lawrence finally buckled. She said, “I must be cognisant of what I say and do, and must not allow emotions or political fervour to get in the way. So

to all those whom I have offended in one way or another, I humbly apologise.” Last week, Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, put Lawrence on blast for her “racist” and “illegal” comments. At his news conference last Thursday (November 29, 2018), he had said: “This is illegal. Volda Lawrence could be charged for this because our labour law says that you cannot discriminate against people on the basis of their gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, whatever else. “She is making it clear that she is going to discriminate on the basis of their politics. I hope we can see some private criminal charges being filed against Volda Lawrence for a statement like this. Meanwhile, none of Lawrence’s colleagues in the Government have criticized her for the comments. There has also been no criticism from any of the Coalition partners, including the Alliance For Change (AFC) and the Working People’s Alliance (WPA).

cantly from 1997, the value (book) of each share was over $1000. Recall that is was bought for about $650 in 1997. But under the Rights Issue in year 2000, each share was sold for only $15. “NICIL dilution from 38% to 7% that occurred in 2000 reduced its shareholding then by over US$1M. Today, this value is at least 5 times as much given that GSL sales has increased many times over. “NICIL made many arguments before the High Court, most importantly, that Mr. Badal had significantly underpriced the shares in his Rights Issue in year 2000 to the detriment of any minority shareholder who did not subscribe. Although the Rights Issue increased the number of shares by over 400%, only $35 M Guyana dollars was raised. And Mr. Bada’sl stated reason for use of the funds, was to build a wharf on land beneficially owned by NICIL, for which permission had not been granted. As such, the use of proceeds was for an illegal action or one where no permission existed. Mr. Badal acquired almost all remaining shares not subscribed for, at the heavily discounted price, thus personally benefitting from his action. “In 2017, given the significant of the loss of shareholder value to the State flowing from the Appeal Court ruling, NICIL Directors ought to have referred the matter to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). This did not happen. One can only assume that given Mr. Badal’s influence as a significant political contributor and supporter, that the APNU-AFC administration looked the other way.” The PPP had said then that the loss in value is so significant that both SOCU and the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) ought to be investigating the actions of the Government – unless these agencies have been directed to look the other way.

WEEKEND MIRROR 8-9 DECEMBER, 2018

Budget 2019 will not alleviate the burdens of our working-people - FITUG E

ven as the APNU+AFC Coalition Government talk up the 2019 national Budget, yet another civil society group has come out with strong views on its shortcomings. The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), in a statement released this week, said: “The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has considered fully and carefully the 2019 National Budget presented by Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan on November 26. The Federation takes this opportunity to complement the Minister on the largest ever Budget and the longest ever Budget presentation. But, for us, those are the only remarkable features of Budget 2019.” According to FITUG, the Guyanese working class does not stand to benefit much from Budget 2019. It said: “From the workers point-of-view, there is nearly nothing that the workers could point out to say what this ‘the biggest budget in Guyana’s history’ will do lessen the heavy burdens that have been placed on their backs. Indeed, taking into account the substantial jump in tax revenues, it appears to us, that the clutches of taxation will tighten even more in 2019. At the same time, the stifling cost-of-living remains unchecked and will more than eat away at the crumbs that have been thrown to the workers. The Federation has seen the Government going on a propaganda offensive as it seeks to convince Guyanese that Budget has their interests at heart. For instance, the Department of Public Information says the Budget introduces no new taxes, but really there is hardly anything left to tax apart from the air we breathe. Clearly, the Budget illustrates how much disconnected is the Government from the ordinary people. “The FITUG is most peeved to recognise that none of the rational suggestions it advanced during the Budget consultation process, it appears, were taken on board. We wonder yet again whether these engagements were serious as they should be or

is the Administration going through a ritual for public consumption. While we hope that the former is the case serious credence is given to whether the latter is really the reality. Certainly questions about the unaffordability of what we proposed seem moot recognising that budgeted expenditure has risen by 12.5 since the 2018 Budget. Quite obviously monies are available but the lack of emphasis about the concerns of our people sticks out like a sore thumb. “The Budget, it seemed to us, is largely a rehash of what we saw before and, it appears, that the Government is numb to the realities facing the Guyanese people. The FITUG had high expectations to learn about policies aimed at re-building our foreign reserves; reducing the Government’s Bank of Guyana overdraft; to reduce inefficient and extravagant expenditure; to improve our communities; to meaningfully address the growing unemployment; to really assist our elderly and vulnerable who are being crushed by the realities of life in Guyana, and to confront the spiraling criminality in our midst. Disappointingly and disturbingly, there seems to be no real serious concern about these matters and the ‘tax, borrow and spend mentality’ is rigidly held on to though the shortcomings of that approach are visible for even the blind to see.” The trade union body added that most of the $300.7B national budget seems to be gobbled up state the bloated state bureaucracy. It said, “Given the absence of really anything for the ordinary man, woman and child, the FITUG is perplexed to know where the large sum budgeted will really go. It seems, to us, that a significant sum will be gobbled up by the bloated State bureaucracy; no doubt millions, if not billions, will be used to jet off to all corners of Guyana and the exotic locales of our globe, and quite possibly an obscene sum will be channelled to pay the super-salaries and superior perks of our nation’s large pool of Ministers. While mon-

ies are going in this direction, a lot of people have really serious troubles to put meals on their tables; to send their children to school; to pay their bills; to have adequate shelter, among other things.”

The in depth consideration of the 2019 Budget, according to FITUG, will be monitored. “The Guyanese people need to know where their hard-earned tax monies are being utilized and

how the debts that are taken in their, their children, their grand-children and, probably, their great grand-children names, are going to be used in their interest now and in the future. For the

FITUG, Budget 2019 is a great disappointment filled with hollow rhetoric. It is clear, that the promise of a ‘Good Life’ has lost all its lustre and meaning,” the body said.

WEEKEND MIRROR 8-9 DECEMBER, 2018

APNU+AFC ‘kick-back schemes’ – gov’t silent in the face of criticisms

orruption has been made an “institutional endeavour” under the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, with a “mad scramble” by government ministers to accumulate “as much as they can” before the 2020 General and Regional Elections. This was the view proffered by Opposition Leader, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo. Despite the criticisms government has remained silent. Notably, 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. THE ‘KICKBACK SCHEMES’ INCLUDE: 1. Work permits being sold for as much as US$1,000; and Guyanese documents

being sold for as much as US$6,000. 2. Gun licences being sold at exorbitant costs, $1.2M for shotgun licences and $600,000 for 6MM pistols. Licenses for security companies are going for millions more. 3. Ministers are involved in a rental scam, where properties are rented at inflated prices and part of which goes back to the minister in question. 4. The establishment of front companies, with government officials using names of friends or family members

to set up companies, which then benefit from massive government contracts – all in breach of Guyana’s procurement laws. 5. Prime gold mining lands being given to parties linked to government ministers, who guarantee APNU+AFC officials a return on the operations. 6. Dozens of cases settled out of court, for a price, with no disclosure on why there was a decision to settle. 7. Misuse of taxpayers’ monies, with massive properties being constructed for Government ministers.

8. The loss of billions in revenue because of Government supported fuel smuggling rackets. In April 2018, several individuals were implicated in massive fuel smuggling, but managed to get off with a fine of $36M, which was paid to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). The boat was released and no charged were filed, whereas usual procedure would have seen a different course of action being taken. Following reports that authorities, on April 19, 2018, took control of a vessel – the Jubilee – because it was suspected to

have been involved in fuel smuggling, documents linking the vessel’s operations to prominent local figures were released. Company documents for entity, SBF International Inc., names Attorney-at-Law, Roysdale Forde, Anand Sanasie and Dorwain Bess as Directors. Another document, a leaked agreement, names SBF International as the company that engaged the services of Sia Regulus, which owns the Jubilee. That agreement was signed by Forde in May 24, 2016 and one, Captain Alexander Kilmanskiy.

Security guard held Battered body of Leguan at knife-point, robbed farmer discovered A

security guard, 31, was attacked by bandits on Saturday (December 1, 2018) at Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown. He was held at knifepoint and relieved of his belongings. Based on reports received, the incident occurred at about 10:15 hours. The victim explained that he was walking along the

Industrial Site road when he noticed two suspects trailing him. “When I was walking in, two guys was behind me, and I observe they was moving suspicious. They was coming out [the street] and I was going in. One of them signal the guy that he was with, and they circle back,” he said. According to the victim,

he one of the men was armed with a “long” knife. The man’s bag and two cellular phones were stolen. “They attack me, choke me, take everything that I had, and start running. One of them had a knife…a long black knife. They take my bag and my two phones,” he disclosed. Investigations are ongoing.

olice in G Division (Essequibo Coast-Islands) are investigating the theft of some $2M from the Charity Post Office, Essequibo Coast, after the safe in which it was being kept was torched sometime Saturday (December 1, 2018) morning. Reports are that during the early hours of Saturday,

the post office was broken into by unknown persons. The perpetrators gained entry through a window on the side of the building, after which they torched the combination lock on the safe. The matter was reported by the post mistress. She told the Police that on Friday (November 30,

2018) that she counted and secured $2.3 million in the safe which was secured by a combination lock. According to the post mistress, only three staff at the Post Office had knowledge that the cash was there. The money was to be paid to pensioners. Investigations are ongoing.

he body of a farmer, 69, was discovered on Saturday (December 1, 2018) at about 06:45 hours, stuck between rocks in the estuary of the Essequibo River in the vicinity of La Bagatelle, Leguan. When the body of the deceased, from George Dove of La Bagatelle, Leguan, was retrieved there were abrasions on its head and

on the left side, suspected to have occurred while the body was washed up between the rocks. According to Police reports, Dove left home at about 10:00hours on November 20, 2018, for his farm at Parika Backdam, where he would normally spend two to three weeks before returning home. On Friday (November

30, 2018), however, at 18:30 hours, a woman saw the pensioner lying on the Leguan wharf apparently under the influence of alcohol. The woman offered to take him home, since they are from the same community, but he refused the offer. His body was subsequently found the following morning.

n Owen Street, Kitty, resident is counting his losses after waking up to find his vehicles torched. The man, Robin Bharrat, reportedly parked his vehicles outside his home. The businessman said about 02:50 hours, he was awakened by sounds similar to small explosions, and upon venturing out, he noticed two vehicles that belonged to him on fire – one was a Nissan

X-Trail and the other a Toyota Tacoma. He immediately raised an alarm and with the help of neighbours were able to bring the two vehicles that were ablaze under control. The Guyana Fire Service responded sometime after. Screen shots of CCTV footage which shows three men pouring flammable substance on the vehicles, and when the vehicles were on fire. However, from the video

footage reviewed, the perpetrators’ faces were not visible, since two of them wore jackets with hoodies and the third, seemed to have a shirt over his head and face. The Tacoma was completely destroyed while the X-Trail’s back bumper and most of the vehicle were barely scorched. The Guyana Fire Service and Guyana Police Force are undertaking investigations.

embers of the Police Narcotics Branch on Wednesday (November 28, 2018) destroyed over 3000 cannabis plants with an estimated weight of 400 kilograms during an eradication exercise at Five Miles Backdam, Ituni Trail,

Upper Demerara, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). Based on reports received, the ranks acted on intelligence and went to the location where they discovered about one and half acres of cannabis being cultivated.

The plants measured between two and eight feet in height. A makeshift camp with dry rations, cooking utensils and farming tools was also found and destroyed. No one was arrested. Investigations are ongoing.

Charity Post Office robbed Masked men torch vehicles of millions belonging to Kitty resident P A

Teen stabbed outside Berbice High School Police destroy ‘weed far’ at Ituni A M teen boy is listed in critical condition after he was stabbed outside of the Berbice High School (BHS) in New Amsterdam, during an argument with another teen. The injured teen has been identified as 17-yearold Paul Sahadeo of Bloomfied, Corentyne, Berbice.

According to reports received, the injured teen outside the school to pick up another individual. However, on arriving at the school, he was approached by another teen and an argument ensued. The argument escalated into a scuffle between the two teens.

The injured teen was rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. The other teen, who allegedly stabbed Sahadeo, has since been released into the custody of his parents as Police continue their investigations.

WEEKEND MIRROR 8-9 DECEMBER, 2018

Forecasts in budget 2019 inconsistent with speech made by Finance Minister W

hen Budget 2019 Estimates are carefully examine, the only conclusion that can be reached is that the forecasts made by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, is consistently inconsistent with the Speech made by the Minister. This is the same trend as was seen in previous years. For example, in the Budget speech, the Guyanese people were told that there are measures to reduce taxes, but the Estimates show that tax revenue in 2019 is expected to be $21.5B higher than the estimate for tax collection in 2018. It must be noted that the taxes to be collected in 2019 will be a whopping $93.6B higher than the actual taxes collected in 2014, under the former Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government. In his speech, we heard the Finance Minister talk about fantastic projects, but their economic feasibility have not yet been determined and no funds have been set aside to support these projects based on the numbers included in the Budget 2019 Estimates. (Analysis done by Irfaan Ali, PPP/C MP)

GECOM meeting cancelled, Chairman reportedly unwell

he 84-year-old Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), James Patterson, who was unilaterally appointed by President David Granger, was unavailable for this week’s statutory meeting of the Commission due to illness. As such, the meeting, scheduled for Tuesday (December 4, 2018), was can-

celled. Among the issues expected to be discussed at the meeting were: the report on the November 12, 2018 Local Government Election (LGE) and an investigation into reported irregularities during the election, as well as several other pressing matters. Last week, the Opposition-nominated Commis-

sioners – Bibi Shaddick and Robeson Benn – walked out of the statutory meeting after Patterson decided that GECOM Public Relations Officer should be present at every statutory meeting – a move that attracted strong objections, which were ignored. GECOM has not commented on the current state of affairs.

return by weekend,” Granger said about his treatment. After this visit to Cuba, the President is expected to be back in Cuba in late December 2019. The President has also noted that he has not fully resumed his duties as Head of State. “I expect that by the start of the new year my progress, which has been gradual so far, will be sufficient to allow me to take on more duties,” he said, according to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency. Granger was accompanied by his wife, First Lady Sandra Granger, to Cuba. The President returned to Guyana from the Republic of Cuba on November 20, 2018 after spending approximately three weeks there, during his last vist. In Cuba, Granger’s medical

team performed a number of medical interventions, including the first round of chemotherapy treatment. In May 2018, President David Granger visited Trinidad and Tobago for an annual medical checkup, after which it was claimed that he was given a clean bill of health. Granger was back in Trinidad and Tobago, a few months later. Granger, according to the Ministry of the Presidency, started to experience certain symptoms which were persistent – hence his decision to return to Trinidad to revisit the tests that were done in May 2018. Little information was released on the status of the President’s health, prior the November 14, 2018 confirmation that he was diagnosed with cancer.

Granger back in Cuba, cancer treatment to continue until May 2019

resident David Granger left for Cuba on Tuesday (December 4, 2018), for a second round of treatment at the Centro de Investigaciones Médico Quirúrgicas (CIMEQ). CIMEQ, according to the Ministry of the Presidency, has drafted a schedule of treatment which will run until May 2019. “In my first visit, I had not only the biopsy but a series of tests and examinations and I also had my first cycle of chemotherapy. I now have to return for succeeding five cycles, so this is the second cycle and I hope to return much more quickly than I did the first visit because this is simply the administration of chemotherapy so presumably after the tests which will be done today, Tuesday, I will have the chemotherapy and

PUBLISHED BY NEW GUYANA Co. Ltd., 8 Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana. Tel: 226-2473, 226-5875 Fax: 226-2472