Weekend Mirror 1-2 December 2018

‘Visceral racism’ of PNC exposed 1-2 December, 2018 / Vol. 10 No. 49 / Price: $100

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

– ‘Racist, illegal’ notions peddled by Volda Lawrence condemned – AFC put on blast for silence PAGE 8

PNCR Chairperson, Volda Lawrence, to Party supporters: The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) went into the 2018 Local Government Elections, specifically in Georgetown, with 28 candidates “looking like you [a reference to Afro-Guyanese] running in Georgetown and two looking like (Bharrat) Jagdeo [a reference to Indo-Guyanese]...do you understand the strategy..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.”

Budget 2019 falls short of fulfilling important objectives

– increases tax burden by $88B per annum PAGE 17 SOCU’s arrest of Irfaan Ali…

APNU+AFC Coalition ‘desperate’ to hang on to power – Jagdeo PAGE 9

Massive increase in tax remissions questioned PAGE 10

SEE INSIDE

Guyana’s emerging oil and gas sector…

National Budget presentation failed to deal PAGE 3 with critical issues, move the conversation forward on every count – Opposition Leader

Total public debt steadily increasing since 2015 PAGE 19

Shenanigans at GECOM will continue to be exposed for the benefit of the Guyanese public PAGE 13

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WEEKEND MIRROR 1-2 DECEMBER, 2018

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WEEKEND MIRROR 1-2 DECEMBER, 2018

PPP/C no-confidence National Budget presentation motion matures for failed to deal with critical issues, move the conversation forward debate on December 4 on every count – Jagdeo Guyana’s emerging oil and gas sector…

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he no-confidence motion filed

by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, against the APNU+AFC Coalition Government has finally been placed on the National Assembly’s Notice Paper.

The Coalition Govern ment 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 conference 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

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proffered several reasons for their move to file a No-Confidence 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.

udget 2019 is the final budget to be presented before Guyana sees ‘first oil’ in 2020. However, the provisions included in the budget do not move forward the preparations that are necessary in Guyana’s emerging oil sector, according to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.

“What’s new?” he asked.

The Opposition Leader added, “…he (Jordan) has not moved the conversation forward on any count whatsoever; not on transparency issues, not on the model enshrined in the Green Paper, not on the oversight issues, not on the terms of reference between the Petroleum Commission and the Energy Department, the overlap there, not on the issue of bidding for new contracts; none of those issues were elucidated. “…it’s just like Jordan woke up yesterday and is now seeking to inform the National Assembly about key issues that have been exposed, debated and con-

clusions drawn in the newspaper for the last three years.

He has not dealt with any of the critical issues,” Jagdeo said shortly after Jordan’s presentation,” he said, when asked about the issue.

According to him, several key concerns have not been addressed.

FUND On the issue of the Natural Resource Fund, Jagdeo pointed out that Jordan did not address the issue of Government’s heavy hand in the management as articulated in its Green Paper on the management of the Fund.

He noted too that the Coalition Government has failed to address and put measures in place to properly manage the Sovereign Wealth Fund.

“We argued for a non-political, an a political type of model that insulates the management of the funds from politicians, (and) the politicians get involved only when based on a formula that

is in enshrined in our laws, and an independent verification that the conditions of that formula are met is presented, then that comes to the National Assembly and a release of funds is made to the budget to spend based on the budgeting prerogatives of whoever is in power, the Minister of Finance, in this case, would have a full prerogative to program those funds,” he explained.

Jagdeo argued that Jordan, in his budget speech, did not address those issues; rather he opted to say that the Department of Energy has been set up to manage the sector and experts would be hired to “talk”.

According to the Leader of the Opposition, the Government has promises on advancing the development of the oil and gas sector, before ‘first oil’, but Budget 2019 failed to bring new ideas to the forefront for the benefit of the country at large. “We are no clearer on several matters,” he said.

President Granger’s public engagements reduced as cancer treatment continues T he public engagements of President David Granger have been reduced, as his cancer treatment continues. However, the Ministry of the Presidency insists that he continues to perform his duties as Head of State.

Granger, consistent with advice from his team of specialist doctors at the Centro de Investigaciones Medico Quirugicas (CIMEQ) in Havana, Cuba, is said to be taking “precautionary measures” in light of his recent diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, according to the Ministry of the Presidency.

President Granger and his wife, Sandra Granger returned to Guyana from the Republic of Cuba on November 20, 2018 after spending approximately three weeks there. 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 he had 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.

On October 30, 2018, Granger and his wife left for Cuba.

Little information was released on the status of the President’s health, prior the November 14, 2018 confirmation that he was diagnosed with cancer.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 1-2 DECEMBER, 2018

Guest

EDITORIAL

Budget 2019: The ‘good life’ promise has become nothing but empty rhetoric

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he APNU+AFC Coalition has presented five national budgets since it took office in May 2015: 1. Budget 2015 – $221B – was themed ‘A Fresh Approach to the Good Life in a Green Economy’.

2. Budget 2016 - $230B – was presented under the theme ‘Stimulating Growth, Restoring Confidence – The Good Life Beckons’.

3. Budget 2017 - $250B – was presented under the theme ‘Building a Diversified Economy: Delivering the Good Life to all Guyanese’.

4. Budget 2018, was a whopping $267.1B estimate presented under the theme ‘The Journey to the Good Life Continues’.

The fifth budget, Budget 2019, as expected, presented Guyanese with another iteration of the ‘good life’ promise. The $300.7B budget was presented under the theme ‘Transforming the Economy, Empowering People, Building Sustainable Communities for A Good Life’.

However, five national budgets later, each one bigger than the last, and the Guyanese people are still waiting on the promised good life.

While Budget 2019 parrots the ‘good life’ line – the contents of the fifth APNU+AFC Coalition Government Budget make it clear that the ‘good life’ promise become nothing but empty rhetoric to the ears of majority of Guyanese.

What Guyanese have been subject to with the presentation and implementation of the past budgets was the imposition of a host of hardship measures, including: new and increased tax measures; the removal of policies that improved the welfare of our people; and increases in the cost of accessing basic government services.

All the while, our people were treated to almost daily reports that detailed bewildering levels of incompetence – as seen with the widely reported shortages of drugs and medical supplies to local health facilities, among other incidents – and corruption – as seen with the damning report from the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) on the actions of the APNU+AFC Cabinet in the award of a multi-million dollar contract, the payment of over $350M to a card-bearing PNC member for a house that was passed off as a drug bond, and the $1.5B spending on D’urban Park and the millions that are unaccounted for, among other acts.

The Coalition government has peddled warped propaganda about so called positive measures that are intended to improve the livelihoods of Guyanese people – such as the meager increases in old age pensions – while ignoring the fact that other measures that were implemented negated any positive impact that those could have had – such as the imposition of Value Added Tax (VAT) on water and electricity consumption and the removal of water and electricity subsidies to Guyanese pensioners.

The position of the Parliamentary Opposition, relative to expectations of Budget 2019, were made clear by the Opposition Leader and PPP General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo.

Budget 2019 needed to be: one that reversed the hardship measures; one that restored measures that improve the welfare of our people; one that saw the APNU+AFC Coalition working to cut wasteful and extravagant spending; one that saw the Coalition working to initiate new infrastructure projects, as opposed to merely continuing projects envisioned and initiated by the PPP/C; and one that outlined a macro-economic policy that will see the cessation of massive levels of borrowing and the depletion of our gold and other reserves.

On all these counts, Budget 2019 has failed.

Budget 2019 fell far short of fulfilling objectives that are important to enhancing the welfare, well-being and future of our people and nation.

The Guyanese people deserve a ‘good life’ and the Coalition has a responsibility to deliver. After all, it promised to do so in its 2015 manifesto.

Fact that Speaker is being paid to represent interest of all Guyanese seems lost on him Dear Editor,

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ovember 19, 2018 must be recorded as a day of national shame; as the Speaker of the National Assembly aided and abetted by his staff, circumvented the laws of Guyana; specifically Article 80B(1) of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act which directs the House to deliver unaltered copies of constitutional agencies budget submissions to all Members of Parliament.

Despite two weeks of preparation time available, the submissions were not available to MPs and indeed were not even in the process of being prepared; instead MPs were provided with a ‘summary’ that emanated from the Finance Ministry, this, Editor, suggests collusion to circumvent the law in no uncertain manner.

Editor, this unlawful action was further compounded by the Speaker’s collusion with the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) MPs to reduce the time allocated for examination of these submissions from five hours to two hours.

Scotland’s tenure as Speaker has been less than stellar so far, but he is now entering a new phase of behaviour that is far removed from normal, his partisanship is now causing him to act unlawfully to the detriment of the taxpaying citizen and must be curbed.

Allow me to elaborate; the Speaker’s time-cut gave the Opposition MPs two hours to examine the budget submissions of 16 agencies, at 10 minutes per agency; a total of $11.446 billion with no direct submissions available to inform them properly, he allowed the Finance Minister to provide ‘block’ bud-

gets (no line items) which are of little value. Minister Jordan then presented arbitrary cuts of those ‘block’ budgets in varying degrees of percentage points, no reasons were offered and no MP any the wiser as to what programmes or activity were affected. These arbitrary cuts by Minister Jordan effectively circumvent the laws granting autonomy to these constructional agencies, again aided by the Speaker; it was the Speaker again who failed the citizens when Minister Jordan refused to give answers to People’s Progressive Party (PPP) MPs, effectively rendering their fiduciary duty to examine submissions to a charade.

Shame!

Editor, Opposition MPs endured a five-hour recess and were faced with a choice of abandoning examination of these submissions altogether or accept hastily printed copies from which to ask pertinent questions.

The logical course of action should have been provision of the copies with a minimum 24-hour period for preparation of questions, at which time the House could have been reassembled, given that the next meeting is Monday, November 26, there was ample time to make this feasible.

It is my understanding that the PPP MPs suggested a rescheduling for Thursday, November 22, but this suggestion was ignored by the Speaker.

Editor, taxpayers do expect work for our hard-earned dollars and examination of expenditure is very important to us.

Editor, the Speaker is paid to represent the interests of Guyana’s citizens in the National Assembly, a fact that seems to be lost on Dr Scotland in his dealings with the current executive arm

of Government; Dr Scotland’s handling of the No-Confidence Motion filed by the Leader of the Opposition contrasts sharply with that of his immediate predecessor Raphael Trotman, who despite coming to the Office of Speaker directly from the benches of the Opposition, endeavoured to perform his duties in an unbiased fashion.

Speaker Trotman received a no-confidence motion, acknowledged same and proceeded to set a date for hearing, at no time was he accused by the then executive of behaving in a partisan manner by so doing, despite acknowledgement of receipt of the aforementioned motion, there has been no course of action set by Speaker Scotland.

Worse yet is the allegation that the APNU leadership at a meeting with its MPs decided that it wants the motion debated on December 21 (strategically, this is to allow them to pass a “good” budget so as to get public sympathy) and indicated that it has directed the Speaker to name that date for its consideration, should this information prove to be accurate, this would be the worst form of collusion from a supposedly independent head of the Legislative branch of Government in our nation’s history.

I can only hope Dr Scotland is not influenced by the possible threat to his job/position should the motion succeed; the calibre of person we select as Speaker is usually above such consideration; in Dr Scotland’s case, I await confirmation by action; the integrity of the Speaker’s office demands a demonstration of same.

he not familiar with the urgency that no confidence motions are treated with in other Parliaments?

Another thing the Prime Minister said is that the recent Local Government Elections did not pass a judgment on the government and was not a referendum on the APNU+AFC Coalition. Did the Prime Minister not see the results of the LGE? Or is he still thinking that his party the AFC won over 10 per cent of the votes at the Local Government Elections? Even if he wants to say that voter turnout was low, has he not read the newspapers where letter writers lamented the issue of voter apathy?

In the middle of his response, the Prime Minister also misleads Guyanese.

He claims that the Opposition says they do not want the no confidence motion

approved – false. Starting off with this misleading statement, he questions the logic in bringing a no confidence motion and claims that the Opposition wants to “psychologically, to harass the Guyanese people.” How can this be taken seriously by the Guyanese people?

He also repeats that the Opposition has no prospect for success with the no confidence motion. Again I ask, if he is so confident, why not debate it early?

The Prime Minister boasts too about the APNU/AFC Coalition winning by a majority of votes in 2015. He should remember that it was a slim win, a oneseat win that the APNU/AFC Coalition secured.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

Why delay a debate on the no-confidence motion?

Dear Editor,

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have listened to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo talking about the no confidence motion put forward by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and after all of it, the question must be asked: If the Prime Minister is so confident about a government win in the no confidence motion why not debate it early? Why propose a debate after the 15th or 16th of December? Why debate it after the national budget? What happens if the no confidence motion succeeds?

The Prime Minister said the government is not running away from the no confidence motion, but then says there are other things that must take precedence. The Prime Minister has been in Parliament for a long time. Is

Sincerely, Baldeo Mathura

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WEEKEND MIRROR 1-2 DECEMBER, 2018

Time for Central Government to consider increased subventions to NDCs

A look at the two consecutive LGE victories T secured by the PPP/C

Dear Editor

Dear Editor,

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he two consecutive victories by the PPP/C at the 2016 and 2018 Local Government Elections (LGE), is indeed significant in the context of wider national embrace. The overwhelming evidence indicate the party’s increasing popularity for all the right reasons, and this must certainly be a tremendous motivation for their members and supporters to work for a big victory in 2020.

The electorate’s view and increasing demonstration of unflinching support to the PPP/C, perhaps among others, is in recognition of the comparatively greater and tangible opportunities which were present and evolving not so long ago. In fact, the APNU/AFC Coalition is in its fourth year of government and these options have dissipated into thin air. They have failed to demonstrate to the young people of this country that they are prepared to create the much-needed job opportunities.

Shortly following the 2015 General and Regional Elections, the increased hardships were initiated with the Coalition callously ripping apart and throwing by the wayside supportive mechanisms that were in place for youths while providing no substantial alternatives.

Broad testimony is revealed from the dismissal of approximately 2000 Amerindians, 7000 sugar workers; together with the closing down of this country’s first Call Centre in Linden where approximately 200 persons, particularly youths, were kicked out of their jobs. The exit of Bi-Shin-Lin, the Barama Company, along with the numerous deals, led to reduced contributions from the Mining and Forestry Industries, and serious hardship to our people in this country.

In this framework, the haughty, manipulative, disrespectful and self-aggrandising attitude of several of the Coalition’s leading Ministers cannot be understated. There have been too many bullish conflicts resulting in unwanted legal challenges (often lost by the Government), together with suppression of citizen’s and other constitutional bodies’ rights. From the teachers to the cane and rice farmers.

The PPP/C’s significant net increase votes in Essequibo and Berbice is most heartening. It signals that many of the rice farmers duped by the coalition in 2015, have certainly recognised the double-dealing nature of the government. Although delayed, their quick turnaround and no-nonsense position was anticipated, appreciated and very much welcomed in the national context.

It would be useful and strategic for the PPP/C to take advantage of their broader connectivity to the people, to ensure that residents are comfortable in their respective communities. There has already been a signal from persons in the government that there is likely to be a suppressive approach to Local Government Areas won by the PPP/C at the recent Elections.

In response, however, it is anticipated that Councils must take up the challenge of

providing unparalleled community service within their limits, and the leaders should continuously engage people in the streets and through house-to-house visits. The low-voter turnout speaks volumes of the people’s disenfranchisement, but establishes the need for harder work.

The work in ‘mass’ organisations making representations for the people, is strongly required and very relevant today. While the PPP/C has a supporting base, including the workers and farmers, their policies advocate broad based national improvements for all citizens.

Intellectuals, professionals, public servants and teachers of all persuasions can boast of the fact that under the PPP/C administration, they were able to own their homes, cars, have improved access to water, roads, electricity and other basics of life were available.

Our people previously received better health facilities, and our children were excelling in pursuit of their educational endeavors. Culture and Sports facilities were enhancing, , and for the first time in the history of our country, so many citizens, including Afro-Guyanese were able to get a home for themselves as a work in progress.

The development and national transformation were non-exclusive and supportive organisations, were particularly recognised for addressing the vulnerable. The movement in favor of Amerindian Land Titling was progressive, and yes, ACDA now have a massive well-built facility in Georgetown thanks to the PPP/C. This Coalition Government has imposed taxes on some two hundred items that were tax-free when the PPP/C was in Government. They also significantly increased rates of taxes in many areas in order to subsidise the fledging economy characterised by increasing indebtedness. Moves are afoot to impose more crippling tax measures, since with the current policies, it has become increasingly difficult to encourage investments that will create employment and stimulate the level of positive development required.

The reality is that the better life is only for the few who were complaining about corruption while thieving with impunity and those who were criticising the Marriot to be using the facility to seduce each other and take brutal advantage of our sons and daughters.

The new Councils must work to deliver the best level of service to the residents of communities. Creation of opportunity for citizens where possible must be augmented to the highest levels in justifying the people’s confidence. Government should support and compliment these activities in keeping with the national development plans. However, given the signals, attempts at suppressing particular Local Authority Areas must be put in the wide public attention, for the power is that of the people.

The better life can only returned with the PPP/C as it is the only true National Party.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

he challenges facing local government bodies, both at the municipal and NDC levels, are enormous. One major constraint is the inadequacy of resources to execute basic developmental and sanitary works such as internal drainage and irrigation, garbage collection, maintenance of dams and streets and environmental enhancement among others.

Now that the elections are over, it is time for government to take a closer look at some of the contributory factors to the underdevelopment of communities that come under the purview of local government authorities.

One possible explanation is the lack of confidence in community leaders to make meaningful changes to the areas over which they have political mandate. This explains low voter turnout in the recent Local Government Elections.

Part of the problem also resides in the lack of enthusiasm by community leaders themselves to devote quality time to the affairs of their respective Councils. The almost insignificant sums of money given to Councillors by way of stipends at the NDC level are hardly an inducement for them to extend themselves

beyond a minimal level. This is reflected in poor attendance at Council meetings by those elected to serve.

I think it is time for the Ministry of Local Government to consider an increase in stipends for NDC Councillors to a minimum of $25,000 per month . The Chairman should be given a higher sum and a monthly travelling allowance to allow for closer monitoring of community projects.

More importantly the annual subventions to NDCs given by Central Government should be substantially increased to a minimum of 20 million dollars, depending on the size and developmental complexity of these communities. The current practice of one standard subvention to all NDCs regardless of geographic and population size has become anachronistic. This will help to supplement rates and taxes which are grossly inadequate to meet developmental and administrative costs.

It is time to inject new life in our communities which for too long have suffered from neglect and lethargy.

Yours faithfully, Hydar Ally

Come 2020, or before, the Guyanese people will continue the pattern of rebuke seen at 2018 LGE Dear Editor,

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omewhere in one of the dailies the question was asked, are we getting a new or a renovated airport? The article went on to explain why Guyana was about to get a spruced up or renovated old airport, reasons being, it bears no resemblance to that ultra-modern facility inked by the former Administration.

That airport most certainly, would have been completed within 32 months had the People’s Progressive Party/Civic been in office. However, what we see is a coalition Government that cannot get anything right – they are into a fourth year of their governance. To top it off, more money had been expended, and maybe millions more, yet that “brand new second hand” airport cannot meet a completion date, unbelievable! Is this a Government that anyone can place their trust in? I would hastily respond with a resounding no!

Now, I would bring into focus the East Bank Demerara highway that goes along with this airport modernisation. This too cannot get off the ground, so to speak, with the latest report of the simple construction of a roundabout at the Timehri Junction becoming a stumbling block to further progress there.

These and other lame excuses, too numerous to mention, are the order of the day when you analyse the performance of this People’s National Congress-led coalition Government.

Other major projects like the East Coast Highway, which should have been completed up to its proposed location at Belfield, is also another eyesore backwardness that will never see completion. So, the question comes back again – what has this coalition Government achieved by way of major projects? And the answer comes back very little if anything at all.

We are talking about millions of dollars in spending and millions more to be spent, can this Government get it right? Seems not!

In 2015, I am sure Guyanese were looking forward to an Administration that in all fairness said it was going into office to make that all important change; however, what change was actually effected? The change we have witnessed so far is a Government that has enriched itself two months into existence and is right now showing its gross incompetence in getting the people’s business right. No wonder the last Local Government Election gave them the shocking reminder that we are not going to put up with this nonsense any longer.

So, come 2020 or before, the people of this country will continue that pattern of rebuke when an outright rejection would be in place.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

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Public service pay rise imposition another Government betrayal Dear Editor,

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he Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) cannot help but be upset by continued betrayal of the APNU+AFC commitment to Collective Bargaining. FITUG wishes to remind the Coalition that on page 25 of its 2015 Elections Manifesto it committed to enforce the Principles and Laws Governing Collective Bargaining, in accordance with our commitments under the International Labour Organisation”. The APNU+AFC went on in its manifesto and undertook to “restore collective bargaining for all the relevant elements of the Public Service”.

The manifesto’s expressions were backed up by several public statements by leaders of the Coalition. The Federation recalls that then Candidate David Granger at the GTUC Labour Day rally on May 01, 2015, days prior to his ascension to the highest office in the land, promised the workers that his Government “…will stand behind unions so that unions can sit down with employers and restore collective bargaining… it is back to the bargaining table; that is what APNU+AFC will give you”. President Granger, following his election to office, is quoted in the May 21, 2015 Guyana Chronicle to say “[w]e have accepted, as a matter of principle, to respect the Collective Bargaining Agreements we have with the State or Government on one hand, and the representatives of the public servants on the other hand…”

Today, those undertakings, like the promises of significant salary increases to workers; to safeguard and make viable the sugar industry; to pay rice farmers $9,000 per bag of paddy; to significantly increase old age pensions, among other things remain unfulfilled and are seemingly condemned to the waste basket. Until now, such promises are just empty, hollow rhetoric of the Coalition.

Instead what we have is the nation’s largest

ever Cabinet which benefitted from a 50 per cent pay rise days after they assumed office in addition to the substantial perks they benefit from. Also we have the most bureaucratic Administration in our history which consumes some a quarter of the nation’s budget; the racking up of debts and depletion of foreign and gold reserves, and a clear absence of any credible policy to push the country forward.

The working-people have had to contend with the heavy burden of several taxes, an ever rising cost-of-living, increased unemployment, higher crime rates, and all round general despondency and growing hardships The imposition of wage increases by the Government, days prior to 2019 Budget presentation, comes just after the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) described the public servants as receiving poverty wages. We noted too that the Government’s actions also follow a similar development at the University of Guyana. It seems disregard for workers’ concerns and cries are the modus operandi of the Administration which has claimed prior to its election it would be an ally of the working-people. Indeed, what a “friend” the workers have.

We wish to remind the Government apart from its apparent lip service to Collective Bargaining, it has a lawful obligation as per the Trade Union Recognition Act and the Constitution of Guyana apart from ILO Conventions to engage recognized unions.

Unfortunately, as we have seen too many times, the Government, from all appearances, is least bothered by confirming to law, norms and international conventions and has sought, it seems, to adopt a ‘Bull in the China Shop’ approach to dealing with matters, especially those concerning the country’s working people.

Sincerely Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana

WEEKEND MIRROR 1-2 DECEMBER, 2018

APNU+AFC gov’t must explain late payments to public servants, non-payment of severance to sugar workers Dear Editor,

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ublic servants in various Ministries have been advised that salaries for November and December will be late. According to the advisory to public servants, this situation is due to "technical difficulties" at the Ministry of Finance. Public servants in various Ministries received their October payments late also. The Ministry of Finance, in response to the public suspicion that the late payments in October were due to the ministries running out of money, claimed the various Ministries had submitted faulty paper work.

Now in November, and, we are forewarned also in December, the Ministry of Finance is claiming late payments are due to "technical difficulties" in the Ministry of Finance.

What are these "technical difficulties"?

Is it "faulty" paperwork again, but this time the erring officials are from the Ministry of Finance? Paying public servants, like paying any employee, is a legal obligation and must be done on a timely basis on the dates due.

Who was accountable for the "faulty" paperwork from the affected Ministries that caused the delay in October? Were the Ministers sanctioned? Were the Permanent Secretaries sanctioned? Did anyone get sanctioned for this egregious act of causing a delay of salary payments for hundreds of public servants in October? Will the Cabinet hold anyone accountable for the violation of workers' rights with another round of salary delays for November, to be followed by another round in December?

Will Minister Jordon hold a press conference to explain the scandalous situation of late payments to public servants? Will he tell the nation what the technical difficulties are?

Will he tell the nation who in the Ministry of Finance is responsible for the "technical difficulties"? Will he sanction anyone in his Ministry for violating national and international laws? Will the workers be paid with interest? There are many questions, indeed, and yet the David Granger-led APNU+AFC Government is behaving like this is a trivial matter. In fact, APNU+AFC is posturing that it is a "take it or leave it" situation, with the workers having no choice but to be patient.

There is widespread believe that the late payments have nothing to do with "faulty" paper work and that the public officials in the various Ministries that were blamed in October were taking a "fall" for Minister Jordon's incompetence. There is widespread

believe in the public that the "technical difficulties" that will now result in late payments for November and December salaries across the board for public servants have nothing to do with paper work or with other procedural matters at the Ministry of Finance. There is widespread believe that the "technical difficulties" at the Ministry of Finance has to do with cash flow issues, due to mismanagement of the country's economy and finances by Minister Jordon and APNU+AFC. This cash flow problem also is the genesis of the non-payment of severance for sugar workers. The sugar workers have been owed their severance for between one to two years now. They were promised by President Granger more than two months ago that they would be paid immediately after Parliament reconvened. Parliament has been reconvened more than six weeks ago and Parliament approved the payment more than one month ago. A judge ordered the immediate payment with interest more than three weeks ago. Sugar workers are still waiting for their money.

These violations of the laws of Guyana, creating hardships for sugar workers and public servants, including doctors and nurses, teachers and policemen etc., feed the widespread believe that the Government is broke. The Bank of Guyana Report that showed Government deposits falling from $11B in 2014 to an overdraft of $54B by June 2018 is entirely consistent with the narrative that the government is broke. What has happened since 2014 when Government added to the reserve in the amount of $11B to a situation where Government has used up that amount in the government's account and has borrowed another $54B from the Bank of Guyana?

In addition, to the dramatic increase in loans from the Bank of Guyana, APNU+AFC has borrowed more than $US500M in foreign loans, used up more than $US300M in the Foreign Currency Reserve, sold out more than $22B in gold reserve, cannot account for the $US18M received as a bonus from EXXON, while collecting more than $250B in extra taxes from the Guyanese people since 2015. Is the widespread believe that government is broke real? Is the late payments of public servants and the inability to pay sugar workers their severance symptoms of a "broke" government?

Sincerely, L. Ramsammy

The next General Election is going to be about truth not empty rhetoric Dear Editor,

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ampaigning for General Elections due in 2020 has begun in earnest, and with it the attempts at character assassination that has become part of the parcel.

The go-to claim is usually ‘racism’ and I strongly believe this is a result of lazy intellectualism.

My experience is of a Guyana where most differing perspectives are due to economic and social positioning rather than ethnicity and some are based on social conditioning within ethnic structures, however, recent statements attributed to the Minister of the Presidency where he asserts there will be no more ‘nice-time’ for opposition (PPP) supporters who ‘sabotage’ his Administration’s programs, are indeed racist and thoughtless.

Editor, am I to believe that Mr Harmon has had knowledge of ‘sabotage’ in the past and let it slide? Or that ‘sabotage’ by non-

PPP elements will be allowed ‘nice time’ status? The obvious answer is no to both of these questions, Mr Harmon has instead allowed his emotions to overtake his reason and crossed a line in his quest to absolve his Administration of failure to execute even the smallest of projects. With less than nine houses delivered in three plus years, APNU/ AFC have boldly promised nine new housing projects in 18 months. Editor, no doubt this doomed to fail promise will be laid at the steps of Freedom House’s ‘saboteurs’ in due course, but the better course of action would have been to re-evaluate the failing policy of delivering ‘ready-made’ houses to citizens.

There are thousands of Guyanese living in Diamond, Providence, Tuschen, Farm, Herstelling etc who were provided house lots and who have built their own homes at their own pace as their economic situation allowed.

The Harmon line of ‘PPP saboteurs’ has been parroted again by Carwyn Holland’s

talk of ‘Manchurian candidates’ among APNU elected councilors. This is the danger of speaking to sycophants- bereft of intellect they believe anything said by their leaders is ‘gospel’.

Editor, during this prolonged campaign, the lies that have so often been repeated will be sung as truth, the claim of the execution of 400 black men persists, can we, the people ask that this be independently investigated by journalists and the truth be published? Can we ask the press to investigate what the subsidy has been on each house lot ever delivered to the citizens of Guyana by the PPP, or shall we pretend that only ‘Pradoville 2’ received subsidies? Shall we investigate why Ashni Singh and Winston Brassignton have been charged with ‘gifting’ 4.7 acres of land by selling it at GUY $30,000,000 per acre while current Go-Invest CEO Owen Verwey is lamenting those who refuse to take advantage of incentives? “We have incentives in various

categories like general, specific and even land…land has been added because nowhere else you can get an acre of land to lease for lower than US$1, and in Guyana land is being leased for as low as GUY$25,” (http:// guyanachronicle.com/2018/11/23/go-investaided-45b-in-investments), Verwey would be better off advising Ministers of the ills of nationalisation as done with the Berbice Bridge Company. No amount of $25 an acre land will attract investors to a nation that has no respect for private property. Verwey may also want to seek legal advice before signing any agreement at 12 US cents per acre.

Recently I have seen the emergence of claims that ‘corruption and thieving’ have their genesis in the PNC and PPP administrations past, Editor, Strain theory ascribes criminal behavior to the gap between social goals and social structures to achieve them, those who commit crimes have chosen expe(Turn to page 7)

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WEEKEND MIRROR 1-2 DECEMBER, 2018

The Budget gets bigger each year, but what is trickled down to the average person?

Complete overhaul of City Hall management needed T

Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

W

hile the Commission of Inquiry into events at City Hall has uncovered several deficiencies and irregularities with regards to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), the statutory meeting of the Georgetown City Hall held on Monday 19th last proved to be no less exciting. It was amazing to see how some of the Councillors who were either silent or condoned these violations in the past several years were now condemning vehemently the way business is conducted at City Hall.

The revelations of the COI have created a storm. The Mayor, her Worship Patricia Chase-Green it seems was adamant to disclose whether City Hall has a creditable system in dealing with contractual agreements. While insisting that there is a credible system at City Hall, the Town Clerk (ag) eventually agreed that there are no written contracts in the case of the cleaning of the canals along the Avenue of the Republic. This is symptomatic of how the City Council has been managed over the years with respect to several other contracts despite many previous investigations and recommendations that have all been ignored.

While a project document was procured by the City Engineer in this particular case, no evidence of a written contract could be procured. Case closed after hours of deliberations! Many other important issues are outstanding, particularly the relocation of

vendors from the Stabroek Market Wharf and issues relating to the relocation of vendors at the Kitty Market which is still incomplete after some three and half years undergoing renovation. No credible reports exist of work done or still to be done.

While many may argue that the majority of employees are working diligently and honestly under the archaic and exceptionally harsh conditions, they are, however, forced to work under people at City Hall many of whom are politically oriented with little or no regard for workers’ welfare.

Imagine workers in the clogged up canals clearing and cleaning these canals in the most inhuman conditions with the help of only one excavator and a number of trucks, in waiting to carry off the debris.

Many of these workers receive only a pittance while those contracted by the political players at City Hall spend millions to hire the trucks to cart off the rubbish that piles up on the side of the parapets without prior approval from the elected Councillors or any tendering process observed. Shenanigans in this case refer to secret or dishonest activities or manoeuvres by alleged corrupt City officials.

Why has it taken so long to uncover the truth? What will be done to correct these anomalies or do we need a complete overhaul of the way City Hall continues to be managed?

Yours faithfully, Khame Sharma

A destructive Opposition now a failed government Dear Editor,

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he fifth National Budget for the APNU/ AFC coalition Government was presented to the National Assembly despite the majority of the Guyanese population, through the Opposition Leader has declared no-confidence against the APNU/AFC administration for the mismanagement of affairs in Guyana Since the 2011-2015 period when the APNU and the AFC were the combined opposition with a dangerous weapon of a parliamentary majority, they have used it deliberately and conveniently to take Guyana down the path of destruction. The combined opposition, during that period, who promised a good life and a better future, deliberately, by their vindictive actions, destroyed the very foundation upon which they are presently collapsing now.

How can people sleep at night knowing that they are guilty of not fulfilling the

role the electorate gave them? During the 2011-2015 period the lack of support for major national development projects such as the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric plant, the CJIA expansion, Marriott hotel, a Specialty Hospital, the blocked security measures that would have prevented money laundering and many other measures that are contributing towards a failed APNU/AFC government.

During this period the APNU/AFC/PNC was determined not to support any projects that would further enhance the popularity of the PPP/C, regardless of how much the entire nation stands to benefit.

Unfortunately, the APNU/AFC coalition government can’t recover from their present collapse, despite presenting four consecutive budgets.

We can conclude: From a destructive opposition to a failed Government.

Your sincerely, Zamal Hussain

he Auditor General’s 2017 Report continues to demonstrate that the Coalition Government is not ‘fit and proper’ to govern this country and the ‘good life’ is a figment of the Finance Minister’s imagination.

In every department of Government, the gross mismanagement and the blatant and downright thievery of public funds have gone entirely out of control. The tentacles of corruption have completely engulfed this nation and there is now an urgency like never before to be freed from this strangulation.

The Audit Report is replete with examples of these. One would expect that the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) and the Ministry of Public Security would exhibit a high level of accountability, but unfortunately this was not the case.

In 2017, the budgetary allocation for the procurement of goods and services for the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) was revised to $4.366 billion with a total of $4.361 being expended. However, the Audit Report flagged many instances where assets bought could not be located, for instance, an Ultra Sound Cleaner machine purchased for $608,000 could not have been located for physical verification at the time of the audit. Then in the current expenditure, there are some insanely high figures which are hardly believable. For instance, $569.949 million was expended on fuel and lubricants for Senior Officers and it was seen that one motor car actually consumed $3.07 million in fuel, amounting to $256,242 per month!

In addition, the Stores Regulations were severely breached, while a huge quantity of assets cannot be given physical forms and numerous expense vouchers cannot be traced.

What is also alarming is the fact that many contractors were actually given the capital investment financing to provide the items contracted and yet failed to make timely delivery of the items. For instance, the sum of $64.734 million was awarded by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) to a supplier for 3 Stallion 4×4 Truck Troop Carrier. The agreement was signed on 27th October, 2017, and the supplier was immediately paid $45.314 million. This is 70 per cent of the contract cost! Therefore, it is seen that this is a clear case of financing. But lo and behold! The delivery which was supposed to be in 3 months, was yet to be done 10 months after!

The Ministry of Public Security is a mirror image of what took place in the Guyana Defense Force (GDF). For instance, there

was an overpayment of staff who severed employment, of which $1,123 million is still to be recovered along with deductions of $889,691. Another case of financing the supplier is the procurement of drugs and medical supplies for the Guyana Forensic Services Laboratory. Another case is the award of a contract to purchase one multi-purpose Fire Rescue boat. This was sole-sourced for $307.457 million and the contractor was paid $131.354 million or 43 per cent of the contract price. After 10 months, this capital item is still to be delivered. Also, the sum of $16.947 million was awarded and fully paid to the supplier, but materials valued $10,818 million is still to be received. Then there is overpayment for maintenance work, overpayment for capital works, breaches of the Stores Regulations and missing log books for vehicles.

The above scenarios reflect what is happening in all the Government departments at the Regional and Central Government levels. The tsunami of corruption has inundated and paralysed the economy.

Therefore, we as Guyanese need to question ourselves: Whither are we going as a Nation? The Budget gets bigger each year, but what is trickled down to the average person continues to be less with each passing year.

Will it be too much to ask that this government give back the cash grants to students?

Or the subsidies to the pensioners? Or a living wage increase to all Guyanese including the sugar workers? Or to reduce the numerous taxes? Or the removal of VAT on water and electricity? Or an increase in the old age pension and the public assistance?

Or to create investments and job opportunities for our young people? I do not think so! Everyone needs to have a taste of the ‘good life’!

Monies to ease the sufferings of the masses can be found if proper budgetary allocation and control is done and there is proper accountability and financial management. It is evident that if the corruption is reduced, then more monies can be made available. The excesses can be trimmed to give a taste of the ‘good life’ to the downtrodden of our society. The Auditor General’s Report has unearthed so many areas where value for money is lost, hence the solution is not bigger budgetary allocations to these Government entities. In fact, these can be cut to facilitate fiscal space and spending in vitally important areas.

I am sure the ‘good life’ has not even begun for the masses so the theme of this year’s budget is now a platitude!

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

The next General Election is going to be about truth not... (From page 6) diency over morality, the crime and blame must rest with the criminal; providing him/ her with an excuse is a slippery slope we do not want to go down.

Editor, as with above, principles and precedent are often more important than the issue they address, the recent ceding of authority by the Speaker of the House will no doubt have ramifications for future generations, the very public control being displayed by the Prime Minister over the

Speaker’s office is offensive to sensibilities, and this type of political expediency comes at a high cost to any nation.

Editor, the next General Election is going to be about truth and on which side of it we stand. The integrity of our Fourth estate is critical to our understanding of events. Our very futures depend on it.

Respectfully, R. Singh

8

WEEKEND MIRROR 1-2 DECEMBER, 2018

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

Guyana Under Review

Several issues were addressed a weekly news conference held by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, on Monday (November 19, 2018), ranging from recent developments with the no-confidence motion filed by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) to threats made by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon.

EXPOSED: Volda Lawrence Lawrence admits to PNCR infighting… lies to PNC supporters Broken promises, deteriorating state of affairs will see APNU+AFC T he total fabrications peddled by People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Chairperson, Volda Lawrence, to her party supporters were trashed by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, on Thursday (November 29, 2018) during his weekly news conference.

Lawrence, last Saturday (November 24, 2018) at the PNCR’s Region Four District Conference said that her Party has a plan to remove the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Councilors from the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) before the next Local Government Elections (LGE), which are constitutionally due in 2021.

Having secured only two seats (Proportional Representation seats) on Georgetown City Council at the 2016 Local Government Elections (LGE), the PPP/C at the 2018 LGE gained ground in what has been a traditional support base of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)/ People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR).

The Party won a total of four seats (Proportional Representation seats), as well as three Constituencies – bringing the PPP/C representation up from two to seven at City Hall.

Lawrence said, “Comrades, they took three from us in Georgetown….comrades, and we will take it back. We

will take it back. We ain’t waiting for no three years.

We will use the law that is on our side and we will work and we will take them back,” she said.

Notably, she failed to give details about this plan.

Jagdeo has since made clear that Lawrence’s lies to her Party’s supporters have been exposed. “What law is she talking about? There is no such law….it reveals that either she is lying to supporters or that she just emerging from some cave from the Middle Ages to make such a statement.”

As per the law, if constituency seats could be vacated if the elected Councilor resigns or dies.

‘Visceral racism’ of PNC exposed

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omments “laced” with racism saw Chairperson of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Volda Lawrence, coming in for blows from Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, who was no holds barred in condemning her actions.

Lawrence, at her Party’s Region Four District Conference on Saturday (November 29, 2018), made several controversial comments.

She said told her Party supporters that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) went into the 2018 Local Government Elections, specifically in Georgetown, with 28 candidates “looking like you [a reference to Afro-Guyanese] running in Georgetown and two looking like (Bharrat) Jagdeo [a reference to Indo-Guyanese].”

She added, “Do you understand the strategy?”

Jagdeo charged that that this comment exposes the “visceral racism” of the PNCR. “We are all Guyanese…this is something we must condemn,” he said.

Lawrence also, controversially, 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.” The Opposition Leader

questioned such comments from not only the Chairperson from the PNCR, but from Guyana’s Minister of Health.

“Imagine, a leader of this country saying this,” he said.

Jagdeo noted that this comment exposed nepotism and the practice of discrimination based on a person’s political affiliation.

“Such a comment exposes, first, nepotism, so if you are a friend of hers and you are a PNCR member then you are ok…if you are a PNC member and not her friend, it would seem that you are in trouble,” he said.

The Opposition Leader, added, “Secondly, this is not what is acceptable in our country…to say that you will discriminate based on a person’s political affiliation… this is illegal…we have labour laws…it is corrupt too.”

Jagdeo also lamented the silence of many of the rights’ groups that were vocal preMay 2015 on issues like these. “I hope we will see private criminal charged filed against her,” he said.

NO SECRET TALKS Jagdeo pointed out that, in contrast, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) does not have to resort to “secret concerns” to talk about race – rather has done so opening. “We have

said publicly that the PPP is under-represented when it comes to Afro-Guyanese and we are making a conscious effort to change that,” he said, pointing to the results of the 2018 Local Government Elections, where the PPP/C picked up more seats in PNCR strongholds, including Georgetown.

The Opposition Leader said, “We made sure our people are treated fairly and not on the basis of politics and race….the desperation of the APNU is unbelievable.”

POSSIBLE COMPLAINT The move to take a complaint to the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), on this matter, is being contemplated.

Already, the PPP/C has complained to the ERC about comments made by another senior PNCR official, Joseph Harmon.

The letter to the ERC calls for an investigation into the matter. The letter, dated Wednesday (November 21, 2018), said: “We call on the Ethnic Relations Commission to investigate this matter with some urgency as the Minister made a direct threat - “No more, Mr. Nice Time” and that he would “fix” it --to a large number of people on the basis of their political (Turn to page 9)

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booted from office

he People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) maintains its ‘out of touch’ disposition, according to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.

His comment came on Thursday (November 29, 2018) during his weekly news conference and was made in reference to comments made by PNCR Chairperson, Volda Lawrence.

Lawrence, at a PNRC event over the weekend, admitted to in-fighting in her Party and said: “You see all this nonsense what going on about Harmon and Volda and Basil…all of we gon deh outside a government if you continue to be stupid. This not about me and Comrade Volda and Comrade Basil Williams. This thing is about

us remaining in power.

According to the Opposition Leader, PNCR infighting will not see the PNCR-led APNU+AFC Coalition Government booted out of office; rather it will be the Coalition’s failure to deliver on the promises it made to the Guyanese people. “They are busy fat fowling themselves,” he said.

In the meantime, Guyana has seen a deterioration, via: 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 signing 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.

Budget 2019, the Opposition Leader charged, offers no hope for a change in the current state of affairs.

Façade of national unity, social cohesion touted by gov’t exposed by acts of desperation

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s the APNU+AFC Coalition Government becomes more desperate, it will also become more repressive, according to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo. However, during his Thursday (November 29, 2018) news conference he made it clear that the PPP/C will not succumb.

“They bestrode the country with arrogance and chest beating…saying thing like ‘It is our turn now’… over three years we saw this kind of behaviour…but they got a rude awakening,” he said, referring to the results of the 2018 Local Government Elections.

Nationally, 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. Between the PPP/C and the APNU, the difference of votes was over 50,000.

He noted that the “rosy picture” that the Coalition Government painted for itself, its refusal to deal

with real issues, its refusal to heed constructive criticisms, and its failures to deliver did not resonate well with the Guyanese public.

Jagdeo said, “They got a rude awakening….that rude awakening has unhinged them…we have seen a high level of desperation from APNU.” As a result, the Opposition Leader noted that the desperation has seen the façade of national unity and social cohesion, as well as other similar empty rhetoric, being stripped away.

“This Government will get more repressive, but we will not succumb,” Jagdeo declared.

9

WEEKEND MIRROR 1-2 DECEMBER, 2018

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

Guyana Under Review

Several issues were addressed a weekly news conference held by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, on Monday (November 19, 2018), ranging from recent developments with the no-confidence motion filed by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) to threats made by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon.

AFC has failed to learn from its mistakes

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he view proffered by Alliance For Change (AFC) General Secretary Marlon Williams – that the Party is learning from its mistakes – was discounted by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.

And at his Thursday (November 29, 2018) news conference, he charged that if the AFC

was learning from its mistakes, it would cease its support for policies that are anti-people, anti-poor and anti-development, as well as halt the corrupt acts that many of its key leaders are implicated in.

He noted that instead of doing this, the AFC continues to enjoy the perks of office.

Scotiabank, Republic Financial Holdings Limited deal….

GECOM has some explaining to do

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ncorrect results, published in Guyana’s Official Gazette, as the final results of the 2018 Local Government Elections (LGE) have brought the work of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) – again – into question.

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, during his Thursday (November 29, 2018) news conference noted that while GECOM declared that some 208,000 persons voted in the 2018 Local Government Elections, the numbers in the

SOCU’s arrest of Irfaan Ali…

APNU+AFC Coalition ‘desperate’ to hang on to power

Law must be upheld T

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anada-headquartered Bank of Nova Scotia, earlier this week, announced the sale of its Caribbean branches to the Trinidad parent of Republic Bank, Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL), at a price of US$123M. Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited currently holds 35.4% of the banking systems assets and 36.8% of deposits and the acquisition Scotiabank here will up this

to 51% of both assets and deposits.

Asked about the move, Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, noted that there are concerns about one entity holding more than 50 per cent of the assets and deposits of the local banking sector.

He added that, during his tenure as Finance Minister, provisions were enshrined in the Financial Institutions Act (FIA), as well as in

other regulations, to guard against large concentrations of assets and deposits of the banking sector in one entity – particularly since this could out the financial sector at risk.

That said, Jagdeo made clear that he will support Guyana’s regulators to ensure that the law is upheld and to ensure that no action that will put the local financial sector at risk is advanced.

agenda include: • Changing the Wear and Tear Schedule of the Income Tax Act to allow for the write off of capital expense within two years; • Waiving import duties and VAT on new equipment; • Amending the Customs Act to include relief from Customs duty for cars with a capacity equivalent to 2000 cc in Watts; • Amending the First Schedule to the Customs Act and Schedule 2 of the VAT Act to exempt change-over kits; and • Waiving the Excise Tax on all-electric motorcycles.

According to him, having criticised the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), the APNU+AFC Coalition is finding it hard now to accept the globally lauded initiative. “They cannot embrace it now,” he said, adding that it was an economic strategy.

The LCDS was a framework intended to map the path of a new growth trajectory in a non-polluting way.

He stressed that the PPP/C’s view was a balanced view, considering both development and conservation.

Coalition gov’t ‘missed the bus’ on concept of a green state

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he general concept of a green state would seem emphasis placed on earning revenues for a country, catalyzing different kinds of investments and other initiatives – not see a focus on spending monies and incurring costs, according to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.

As such, he charged that the APNU+AFC Coalition Government “missed the bus” entirely on this issue.

Notably, Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, in Budget 2019, stated that the measures to support his government’s green state

Official Gazette, do not reflect this total.

He added that in some cases, results of votes secured by one political party were published as the result of another political party. He pointed to a case in Mocha, East Bank Demerara, where the results of persons who voted for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) were published as the results for the Alliance For Change.

“GECOM has a lot of answering to do,” Jagdeo declared.

he 4:00AM arrest of People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Parliamentarian, Irfaan Ali, by the Special Organised Crimes Unit (SOCU), is the latest move against the leadership of the Opposition, according to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo. “It is a pattern,” he said.

Jagdeo, also the PPP General Secretary, on Thursday (November 29, 2018) made it clear that the Party will not be intimidated and will not succumb to pressure from a desperate APNU+AFC Coalition.

“They wanted to send a message,” he said about the early morning arrest, adding that SOCU has asked Ali to visit its headquarters before and at no point did he refuse, making the early morning ‘show’ nothing but that –a show of force.

A total of 19 charges of conspiracy to defraud by common law, were yesterday instituted against former PPP/C Minister

of Housing, Mohammed Irfaan Ali by the SOCU. The charges, which detail offences alleged to have occurred between the period of September, 2010 to March 30, 2015, are in connection with the Pradoville 2 Housing Scheme on the East Coast of Demerara.

The basis of the charges is that the lands were sold far below their value.

Appearing before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, Ali was read the charges.

He was accompanied by several supporters of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), former government officials, including former Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds, and several PPP/C Parliamentarians, including Zulfikar Mustapha, Juan Edghill and Vickram Bharrat. An application for self-bail was made and granted. Attorney-at-Law, Devindra Kissoon, represented Ali, in association with Nandlall, Sase Gunraj, Jaya Manickchand and Pri-

ya Manickchand.

The Opposition Leader, given the current state of affairs, noted that it is clear that several PPP/C members are under surveillance. He added that he would not put anything past the current Administration, including moves to have phones tapped. “I would not put it past them to have a Unit watching everyone in the PPP…they will do anything because they are desperate to hang on to power,” Jagdeo said.

He reiterated that the PPP/C expects the APNU+AFC Coalition to continue to go after its political opponents, as it becomes increasingly desperate. He noted that the trashing the Coalition received at the 2018 Local Government Elections, the no-confidence motion and a widely criticised Budget 2019 make it clear to the Coalition that it is losing ground in the political aren – hence the desperation.

‘Visceral racism’ of... (From page 8) affiliation.

AFC PUT ON BLAST Jagdeo also took the Alliance For Change (AFC) – the junior partner in the PNCRled APNU+AFC Coalition Government – to task for not condemning the comments

made by Lawrence.

“If Nagamootoo and the AFC had the decency to withdraw their snouts from the trough of perks and privileges, they would have risen to the occasion and condemned this…but they will never act.”

The Opposition Leader noted that the true nature of the beast has been exposed and, will likely, continue to be exposed as the Coalition gets more desperate – in the face of their failures and the fact that Guyanese people are rejecting them.

10

WEEKEND MIRROR 1-2 DECEMBER, 2018

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

Guyana Under Review

Several issues were addressed a weekly news conference held by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, on Monday (November 19, 2018), ranging from recent developments with the no-confidence motion filed by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) to threats made by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon.

Doubtful that CDB will get involved with new Demerara River crossing project – given that it is mired in corruption

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he APNU+AFC Coalition Government is now pushing ahead with the project, from a different approach. Initially, Government had proposed three lane, retractable, bridge to be located at Houston, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

That plan has been scrapped and the Government is now looking to have a fixed four-lane, high-span, bridge.

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, during his Budget Speech on Monday (November 26, 2018), disclosed that help has been sought from the Caribbean Development Bank to revise the Expressions of Interest in order to retender the project by this year end.

The Finance Minister said too, “At the same time, we are working with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to secure the services of technical experts to support our evaluation of the proposals that are expected to be opened towards the end of March 2019, and to facilitate the next steps in the P3 [Public-Private Partnership] process. To this end, the sum of $100 million has been budgeted, in 2019, to finance the services of these technical experts.”

However, at his Thursday (November 29, 2018) news conference, Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, expressed doubt that the Caribbean Development Bank will get involved in the projected – given the fact that it is already mired in corruption.

He referred to the damning report from the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) into the award of the contract for a feasibility study on government’s initial design for a new Demerara River crossing – a three-lane, retractable,

bridge. Notably, the Special Organised Crimes Unit (SOCU) has been asked to investigate the matter.

FINDINGS OF PPC REPORT SOCU’s involvement in the matter came after a call from the PPP/C for an investigation. The PPP/C forwarded to SOCU a report from the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), which was asked to investigate the manner in which the contract was awarded, earlier this year.

The PPC 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 findings of the report were damning.

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.

CLEAR EVIDENCE The Parliamentary Opposition’s position is that the findings of the report evidence a flagrant breach of Guyana’s financial rules.

Notably, James has declined to say whether charges will be laid in the matter.

Massive increase in tax remissions questioned

I

n the presentation of Budget 2015, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government peddled the lie that some $55.57B in tax remissions were given to ‘friends and family’ of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) in 2014 – a claim that was rubbished by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.

The claim was made at a time the Government touted

the reduction in tax remissions from $55.5B in 2014 to $47.08B in 2015.

However, since then, tax remissions have skyrocketed.

In 2018, it is projected to be a massive $72.97B. This is a massive increase of $23.74B, when compared to 2017.

The Opposition Leader, at his news conference on Thursday (November 29, 2018), questioned whether

the same assumption – that the remissions are being given to ‘friends and family’ of the APNU+AFC Coalition can be made.

The Government has been silent on the massive increase in tax remissions. The bulk of the remissions are going to companies/ businesses – moving from $36.51B in 2017 to a whopping $63.61B in 2018.

new conference on Thursday (November 29, 2018), questioned the small increase, noting that each of the regions have five programme to funds – administration, agriculture, health, education and public infrastructure.

“This paints a picture,”

he said, adding that there has been an increase of some $13.5B in 10 other areas alone – areas that do not bring benefit to the Guyanese people.

“The numbers don’t lie,” he declared.

Meager increase of $1.42B for 10 Regions’ capital expenditure in question

C

ollectively, Guyana’s 10 Administrative Regions have seen a meager increase of $1.425B in their capital allocations in the 2019 Budget, compared to the 2018 allocations.

And Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, during his

Budget 2019 sees increase of $13.51B in 10 ‘non-essential’ areas

– budgets for rentals, food, celebrations all increased

I

n 10 areas alone, which do not bring benefit to Guyanese people, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government has increased spending by $13.51B. Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, on Thursday (November 29, 2018), noted that a review of Budget 2019 and a look at the numbers paint a worrying picture.

He said, “The government PR (public relations) machinery is in a total spin mode about how great the budget is. But they are in a losing battle. People will realise that there is not much in Budget 2019 for them. They will see that this budget is no different than any other one passed by APNU+AFC in office…it increases recurrent expenditure….there is little increase

in capital expenditure…while Jordan boats about how large the Budget is ($300.7B), when you examine it, you see that where the money is really being spent.

Jagdeo pointed out that the 10 areas where recurrent expenditure have seen the $13.51B increase include: National events; Dietary; Other operating expenses; Local travel and subsistence; Vehicle spares and services; Other transport, travel and postage; Rental of buildings; Security; Equipment maintenance; and other Expenses.

The Opposition Leader pointed out that these are all areas “not essential” to welfare and development, yet they have seen huge increases in the last five budgets presented

by the APNU+AFC Coalition.

He said, “One the other hand, if you exclude the regional budgets, you had $5.138B for the purchase of drugs and medical supplies in 2014 and after five national budgets there is only a small increase on health care – from $5.138B to $5.121B. Jagdeo, a former Finance Minister, noted that this trend has been seen in other critical areas. There have been minimal increased in the capital budgets of key ministries – the Ministries of Public Security, Education and Health.

“The numbers illustrate the priorities of this government… you see the extravagance, the profligacy and duplicity of this this government,” he declared.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 1-2 DECEMBER, 2018

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

Guyana Under Review

Several issues were addressed a weekly news conference held by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, on Monday (November 19, 2018), ranging from recent developments with the no-confidence motion filed by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) to threats made by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon.

Decline in capital budgets of APNU+AFC trades well in falsehoods of what was tout- terialise in 2019. come a regional airport - the key ministries in Budget 2019 Much ed in the budget 2019 He said, “We had a feasibility study will begin in here has been a decline tion – some $1.5B – only Affairs’ capital budget, as speech delivered by Finance speech about this is the vision 2019; The next 125 km from

T

in the capital budgets of key agencies, including the Ministries of Education, Indigenous People’s Affairs, Public Security and others, according to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.

During his Thursday (November 29, 2018) news conference, he pointed out that the 2019 capital budget of the Ministry of Educa-

saw a $900M increase, from 2018. Jagdeo pointed out that the monies set aside for the Education Ministry’s capital budget is less than the $1.62B being spent on the rental of buildings.

He added that there has been a steady decline in the monies for the Ministry of Indigenous People’s

is the case with the capital budget for the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

Jagdeo pointed out that the capital budget of the Ministry of Agriculture has largely remained the same - $4.6B in both 2018 and 2019.

Other key areas he cited included the Ministry of Telecommunications.

Minister, Winston Jordan, will not be delivered, according to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.

On Thursday (November 29, 2018), he pointed out that Jordan spent about 30 minutes, during his speech, dealing with the merits and benefits of several new undertakings. However, the reality is that none will ma-

for infrastructure in Guyana and it is all meaningless… it is all studies…this is called duping people….we are nowhere near what he talked about.”

Jagdeo listed several projects, which Jordan touted, when in fact their feasibility have not even been studied. These include: The Lethem Aerodrome to be-

Linden to Mabura and the bridge across the Kurupukari River – the feasibility is to be done; and the East Bank/ East Coast by-pass road – more studies are still to be done, among several others.

“So a substantial part of the budget was falsehood… this is what APNU does well, trades in falsehoods,” Jagdeo declared.

Real Time Economic Insights

Facts about wages increases over the years

The APNU+AFC Coalition has announced a salary increase for public servants – an increase ranging from 0.5 to seven per cent. In doing so, several myths have been peddled about what took place under former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administrations.

Here are the FACTS: 1. Under the PPP/C government, minimum wage to public servants increased by over 100 percent in two years (between January 1993 and January 1995)-Budget Speech 1996, pg. 37 2. Under the APNU/AFC government, minimum wage to public servants increased by 20% in two years (from $50,000 in 2015 to $60,000 in 2017) and NOT 52% as claimed by the Hon. Minister ("minimum wage has rapidly increased by nearly 52 percent in two years, from $39,570 (wrong) in 2015, to $60,000, in 2017"-DPI, November 19, 2018.

3. In just under 2 years , the PPP/C government, from 1993-95, increased salary to public servants by over 76% (Budget Speech, 1993-95), while old age pension increased by 50% within one year (1994)- Budget Speech 1994.

4. Overall, from 1992-2014, minimum wage increased by more than 310% (Analyses done by Irfaan Ali, PPP/C MP)

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WEEKEND MIRROR 1-2 DECEMBER, 2018

Holding the APNU+AFC Coalition to account – a review of local happenings

The overwhelming declaration of the voters demonstrates that the APNU+AFC Coalition gov’t is on borrowed time

By Gail Teixeira (GUEST CONTRIBUTOR)

“The underpinnings of all of these developments was a vision based on the principles of democracy, the supremacy of the constitution, the separation of powers between the executive,, the legislature and the judiciary, and, an inclusive governance model which aimed at ensuring “winner does not take all” with the provisions that included the Leader of the Opposition not only having a say in the appointment of certain key and critical constitutional posts, but, in certain appointments giving the Opposition Leader a veto on the President.” – Gail Teixeira

H

aving experienced the last three and half years of bungling incompetence, abuse and corruption, at the central levels and duplicated at all levels, the voters at the November 12, 2018 Local Government Elections made a simple choicethey declared, by action or inaction, their displeasure at the performance of the APNU+AFC Coalition government.

Now that the Local Government Elections are over their voices must be heard and respected.

This was the first mass popular demonstration of the Guyanese electorate since the APNU+AFC Coalition government came into office that they were rejecting the government.

Whether some did so because they felt betrayed by the broken 2015 promises, or, others did so because they felt that the Coalition by its action had excluded and marginalized a large section of the population – the outcome was the same.

The Coalition government has lost any credibility to run the country.

The fact in 2015 that the APNU+AFC Coalition came into office with a hairbreadth of less than one per cent of the votes – despite tampering of the electoral machinery – between it and the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), never seemed to catalyse the government to act in a manner that recognised how tenuous their grasp of power was.

The APNU+AFC secured a mere one seat more in the National Assembly than the PPP/C – 33 to 32 – and only won three of the 10 Administrative Regions of Guyana. Still, the Coalition blundered through with arrogance, bullyism and exclusionary slogans of “ah we dis time” and “we fus time”.

Ten months later, in the 2016 Local government elections, the Coalition lost by 28,000 votes in 71 Local Au-

thority Areas to the PPP/C. Again the government unperturbed proceeded to drop 200 new tax measures on the Guyanese populace that they continue to today to reel from in their daily lives.

The APNU+AFC Coalition Government’s policies have wreaked havoc on the productive sectors – first rice, then sugar and now gold mining – negatively impacting on our revenue earning base.

So cocky they became in their self-spun cocoon that their anti-people, pro-taxation, approach to development hurt all Guyanese alike – the PPP/C supporters, as well as the supporters of the Coalition and those unaligned.

In the meantime, everything the PPP/C had built, developed or introduced had to be dismantled.

They fired 1,972 Amerindian Community services officers, hundreds of public servants, most highly qualified, and majority Indo- and Amerindian Guyanese.

In this rampage of closed mindedness and blinded by an agenda of retribution, they refused to address the sugar sector, which brought in billions in foreign earning and instead terminated 7,000 workers.

Due to bad policies and the imposition of over 200 tax measures, 30,000 workers lost jobs in the private sector, mainly in the productive sector.

But this was not all.

The APNU+AFC Coalition government is the only government, since independence, that chalked up over 57 scandals in their

short three- and-a-half-year life – the majority relate to violations of the procurement law and financial rules of the country costing losses of billions of dollars and worsening delivery of goods and services. In the Transparency International Corruption Index, Guyana has fallen several points and even the US State Department reports point out, for the first time, “government corruption.” Some of these scandals, I am sure would make even Burnham blush from the grave.

Maybe if Guyanese had not had 23 years of successive PPP/C governments, they may have become inured to this way of being governed under the PNC regime.

However, October 5, 1992 signaled the beginning of a long and hard pathway to reconstruct a damaged and near collapsed country.

Slowly and unevenly Guyana clambered out of the depths of despair and started to raise its beautiful head with an expanding economy, more jobs, a national housing programme, better health and education services, and greater access to clean water and more reliable electricity, special attention to the hinterland and the Amerindian population, the poorest of the poor.

Guyana, through an open and participatory process, established a new national development agenda based on the Low Carbon Development Strategy, its model of a modern democratic 21st century nation responding to the challenges of climate change with creative use and diversification of resources for the

betterment of its people. The LCDS launched Guyana on the world stage as a developing country partner with an innovative sustainable human development agenda.

The underpinnings of all of these developments was a vision based on the principles of democracy, the supremacy of the constitution, the separation of powers between the executive,, the legislature and the judiciary, and, an inclusive governance model which aimed at ensuring “winner does not take all” with the provisions that included the Leader of the Opposition not only having a say in the appointment of certain key and critical constitutional posts, but, in certain appointments giving the Opposition Leader a veto on the President.

Was this process complete? No it was not. The older more advanced democracies have had 100-300 years to build and entrench democratic norms, values and systems in all institutions of the state. Guyana’s was only less than 23 years old. But it was a path we were on as a country, as a people, to improve the quality of life of our people. Most important there was a hope and an energy that infiltrated the country. This we should all be proud of.

Guyana according to Dave Martin of the Trade Winds “Guyana was back on track, Guyana coming back…”

But the APNU+AFC Coalition interrupted the process and have in three and half short years reversed everything. As a result, Guyana is sliding backwards.

Every farmer, taxi and bus

driver, businessman and woman, every miner, market vendor, housewife and worker now this to be true.

Their panacea of oil as the answer to the future just wait for 2020 cannot undo the damage that this government is now doing to the nation.

The APNU cum PNC and AFC forgot in the 2018 LGE some major determining factors---the worsening conditions of life due to the government’s anti-people pro-taxation approach to development; the extravagance, wastage and corruption of taxpayers’ monies; loss and lack of jobs; no salary increases for the working people as promised in 2015; increase in the cost of living; blatant discrimination with regard to hiring, awarding of contracts and purchase of goods and services---these factors do not and did not attract voters.

The APNU’s distribution of bicycles to selected school children and hurriedly done patch work in different neighbourhoods became the brunt of amusement for some, and embarrassment for their supporters. Of course in their haste and closed mindedness, little or no attention was given to areas the PPPC had won.

With such devastating results at the 2018 Local Government levels for a governing party, one would have thought there may have been some introspection and a recognition that they needed to finally do right by the citizens of Guyana. Instead, they are blundering forward with the 2019 Budget which continues the lack of vision, more promises and attempts

to do “sleight of hand tricks” with big dollar figures and consultancies for projects that will not see the light of day for years to come.

This level of callousness and irresponsibility looms even larger when taken in the context of the PPP/C motion of no confidence submitted on November 15, 2018.

The Prime Minister and others can say that this was a callous move on the part of the PPP/C to bring such a motion when the President is ill. However, Nagamootoo, true to form, tries to obfuscate the obvious. The President was away for three weeks, if indeed the PPPC was being opportunist as accused then it could have brought such a motion prior to November 12, 2018.

The fact that the motion was submitted after the PPP/C increased its votes at the 2018 LGE by 45,000 votes more than the APNU and 113, 000 votes more than the AFC in 80 Local Authority Areas demonstrates that the motion was driven and necessitated by this fact and this fact alone, that the APNU+AFC Coalition, together or separate, did not have the support of the Guyanese electorate. It is their massive defeat suffered at the 2018 LGE that triggered the need for a no confidence motion.

The overwhelming declaration of the voters demonstrates that the government is on borrowed time. The government now holds office with a smidgen of votes, controlling only three of the 10 RDCs, and 35 % of the LAAs. In a national election these results would have given the PPP/C, a total of nine more seats in Parliament and hence the government. The Coalition knows this better than anyone and they are desperate.

The honourable thing for the government would have been to debate the motion before the 2019 Budget, but no surprises here, the Coalition government will continue to blunder on as before, desperately clinging to power.

13

WEEKEND MIRROR 1-2 DECEMBER, 2018

GECOM Musings (A weekly feature that provides first hand updates from the weekly statutory meetings of the Guyana Elections Commission)

Shenanigans at GECOM will continue to be exposed for the benefit of the Guyanese public Public, in which case the PRO could be present.

Chairman Patterson, thereafter, persisted in his effort to have the PRO present at the Statutory meeting on a regular ba-

A

t the statutory meeting of the Guyana Election Commission held on Tuesday (November 27, 2018), the Opposition nominated Commissioners Bibi Safora Shadick, Sase Gunraj and Robeson Benn were forced to walk out when the Chairman James Patterson, decided that he was inviting GECOM Public Relations Officer to be present at every statutory meeting.

This was pursuant to a suggestion made by Commissioner Trotman who said that this was necessary because some Commissioners were going public on its discussions of the meetings.

He accused Commissioner Shadick of expressing views to the media on a weekly basis which contained misrepresentation and ‘lies’ on the discussions of the Commission.

Commissioner Benn expressed the view that the Chairman or CEO Lowenfield can, if necessary, invite persons to the meeting for specific information, or clarification on a matter being discussed, but had to have the agreement of the Commissioners to so do, and that the idea to have a subordinate officer in the person of the PRO, to have a permanent presence at the meeting to monitor

and then confront a Commissioner in the media, was ludicrous.

He further said that if a matter reported on by a Commissioner needed response or clarification in the media, it was for the Chairman, CEO or other Commissioners to so do.

Commissioner Alexander, in supporting the positions of the Chairman and Trotman, stated, that it was the prerogative of the Chairman and the CEOto invite which ever member of staff to the meeting and that they do not need to have the agreement of the Commission.

Commissioner Shadick sought to have Commissioner Trotman identify for the Commission which lies she had represented in the media with respect to her comments about GECOM. Trotman refused to offer Shadick any response other than referring her to her writings.

Chairman Patterson did not protect Shadick nor did he ask Trotman to clarify or withdraw his remarks which Benn suggested were “slanderous” in the circumstance.

Commissioner Bibi Shadick suggested that given the situation, all GECOM meetings should be open to the Media and

sis, with the vociferous support of Commissioners Alexander and Trotman.

As a result of the Chairman’s persistence in seeking to impose an undemocratic practice on

the Commission, Commissioners Bibi Shadick, SaseGunraj and Robeson Benn walked out of the meeting.

We commit to continue to expose the shenanigans

at GECOM for the benefit of the Guyanese public.

Commissioners: Bibi Safora Shadick Robeson Benn Sase Gunraj

STRAIGH 14

WEEKEND MIRROR 1-2 DECEMBER, 2018

(The following is an abridged version of a speech by Dr. Cheddi Jagan made on April 3, 1 activities being undertaken during 2018 to mark the 100th birth anniversary –

A national budget must addre and reflect a recognition of gl

BY CHEDDI JAGAN

L

et us come down to some specific details with respect to our own country.

Take agriculture, first of all. On one hand we are told that the Government is doing nothing; that there is a lot of land, but Government is doing nothing about it, and people are land hungry. On the other hand we are told that the Government has squandered, wasted $100 million and cannot account for it. We are told that Government has done nothing for the people at Black Bush Polder, and in the same breath we are told that Government has spent too much money at Black Bush, and nearly $20 million on the Torani canal. Where are we going? I am not going to say who made the mistakes — why stop gates had to be put in the Torani canal. It was not this Government that formulated the programme dealing with the Torani canal, but I am not going to lay blame at this stage.

The point is that this Government is aware that agriculture must be put on a sound footing. Agriculture is basic, not only for development of this country but of any country. We have spent a great deal of money on agriculture, and indeed we need to spend much more on about a quarter of a million acres of land at Mahaicony-Abary, on half a million acres in the Greater Canje scheme, and on development schemes in the interior. The Honourable Member for Georgetown Central (Mr. d'Aguiar) suggested that we should build a road into the interior, This Government has in its programme the construction of a road into the interior. It was I who got the Americans to come here to make a feasibility survey for a road to the interior. It was this Government who got the United States Government to send engineers here

and spend a great deal of money on this project. To build a road requires about $56 million. I suppose we will get it by giving away the land.

We do not have money even to carry out the schemes which are right here on the coast. If we had money we would build the East Coast Road, build a new hospital and so on. You are aware that we argued that the two projects which were initiated and started by the Interim Government should have been included in the $110 million Development Plan.

Some Honourable Members referred to the waste of money on the Torani Irrigation Scheme and at Boerasirie. We are not going to apologize for that, because those projects were neither conceived by us nor mainly executed by us.

Those who criticize our agricultural policy must know that when Mr. Adler from the World Bank came here he said that he had a peep at the Government's Development Programme and was satisfied that the priorities were correctly assessed. I suppose that Mr. Adler will soon be called a communist, too! It is quite simple to call people names, but it is not an objective way to look at the situation.

There is no doubt about it that the agricultural policy of this Government has paid off. We can supply the statistics. The Director of Agriculture has produced them to show what has resulted from the development of agriculture in British Guiana. This has been the pay-off for the present Government's policy. Commodities are available on the market not only in sufficient quantities, but also at cheap prices.

That is what this Government has done, despite the criticisms and insinuations that the Government was doing things only to please one section of the community.

Those who talk in race terms are

always thinking about race.

MOBILISING RESOURCES If we are to have bigger and bigger development programmes this country must inevitably depend on mobilising its own resources, whether the PNC or the PPP is in office.

The fact remains that no one is going to give away money, and even if we got loans interest free, those loans would have to be paid back.

The debt burden is not only on the basis of the interest charge but also on the principal, the capital which

has to be paid back over a period of years. Whether a loan is for 12, 20 or 40 years it has to be repaid. This also contributes to the debt burden.

Indeed, one can say it is the greater factor. So that all countries are now being advised, whether the adviser is a communist or a middle-of-the-road economist, or a right wing socialist or a capitalist sympathiser, the advice from every quarter is that every Government must try to mobilise as much of its resources as it possibly can within its own territory.

This is the reason why this Gov-

ernment has attempted to mobilise its resources (1) by taxation, and (2) by savings.

The Government has taken due care in proposing taxation measures, that the higher incidence will fall on those who can afford to pay. Honourable Members of this House must begin to face realities.

This country is on the threshold of Independence and we cannot continually assume the role of being a subservient people, always looking to a god father to give us doles and hand-outs.

Let us be realistic. Every country which is now preparing a development programme -- India, Ghana and so on -- has to grapple with the economic question which we have been talking about for the last 10 years. We have been talking merely in political terms, but those countries are, today, doing precisely what we have been saying should be done.

Every country must mobilise its resources.

Loans are not going to be forthcoming because money is not available in sufficient quantities. The Honourable Member for Georgetown Central said during the recent election campaign that he was thinking of $500 million. Even if we were able to get this sum, we will not be able to pay it back unless we had industrial development which will be able to generate income so that the economy of the country will be able to afford the repayment of its debts as a result of going in for a big Development Programme.

I have said that private industrial development alone cannot succeed because of the present state of things in the world today; because of recessions and depressions.

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS The rate of growth in the postwar period was 2½ percent per

HT TALK

15

WEEKEND MIRROR 1-2 DECEMBER, 2018

1962, during the Budget Debate in the Legislative Assembly. Its re-printing is among several – March 22, 2018 – of the founder of the People’s Progressive Party, Dr Jagan.)

ess key issues affecting people lobal developments (PART 2) annum. That was recorded as a remarkable rate of growth. But 2½ percent is relatively small considering what is needed in under-developed countries where you have a population increase amounting to 2½ percent to 3 percent a year, and even that small rate is not likely to be achieved at this time. Honourable Members must face these realities.

As I see it, the time has come for us to grow up. There must be a budget and there must be money to run a country.

The Honourable Members on this side or that side cannot run this country without money — money is not going to come from heaven.

How are we going to run it? We need industries to generate wealth as well as infrastructure development.

I agree with Honourable Members that without infrastructure development you cannot have full industrialisation.

It means that Government must take the bull by the horns and develop industries. The reason why this country has not been developed has nothing to do with the ideological belief of the party in power. It has nothing to do with remarks made by the Members of the Government.

UNDERDEVELOPMENT From time immemorial this country was underdeveloped.

What have we done in the past?

We knocked at the World Bank for assistance since 1958. All we got was about $200 million for agricultural equipment. The money is taken and given the Credit Corporation. If a farmer requires a tractor or a dragline, he goes to Bookers or Sandbach Parker or Sprostons or one of the other merchants and the money is passed to them.

Let us face the reality of our situation. We go to the West, and we get promises and "pushing-around."

We do not get markets. When I went to Canada, I said to the officials:

Can you buy some more rice from us? Can you buy some more sugar?

Can you buy molasses? Can you buy rum? Can you tell us whether you can buy any other thing so that we can begin planning our production? They said: Sorry, we do not make bilateral trade agreements; we will buy in the open markets of the world; we believe in free trade.

As Gunnar Myrdal said in his book, free trade is good for those who had a start. It is like telling a little twoby-four sweet drink shop to compete with d’Aguiar Brothers, which is highly integrated.

Small countries cannot compete in the free markets of the world. To break into the United States with one product costs millions of dollars merely to carry out the advertising campaign.

The only way a country like ours can develop is to secure the markets in advance by tying the markets up in a long-term trade agreement and being able to get the necessary equipment, either in the agricultural or industrial sector, to carry out that development. This trend has begun and is continuing.

When I came back here in 1959 and announced that the Cubans were interested in buying rice, what were we told? We were told, "No deal with Cuba". Secondly, we were told that they would not pay; thirdly, that Cuba was now buying rice from China dirt cheap. We have learnt from experience that the rice deal with Cuba has really been a blessing for this country. It has given us a price which is higher, and the fears which were generated have dissipated, have disappeared. Moneys are coming here long before the rice is taken out.

This is the atmosphere, unfortunately, in which we have to work.

Let me read a statement by a high-ranking, well-respected economist, Mr. Thomas Balogh, Fellow

of the Balliol College, Oxford. Incidentally, he is not a Communist.

In fact, he is just the opposite — an anti-Communist. In a paper entitled ‘The Economics of World Tension’, this is what he says about trade between Russia and the Communist bloc, and the underdeveloped territories. He talks about the increasing trade which has been developed with all parts of the underdeveloped world, and concludes thus: “If Russia were to make use of her superior industrial productive capacity to obtain raw materials and food by exchanging them for industrial products, the terms of trade of the primary countries would violently shift in their favour, and these countries would have considerable benefit by trading with Russia. At the same time, Russia, far from suffering a disadvantage from such exchanges, would also benefit as she would obtain food and raw materials on far more favourable terms, by concentrating her own efforts on industrial expansion, than she is capable of doing at present. Thus, Russian self-interest and the interest of the poor countries would coincide. This is an extremely menacing prospect for the industrial countries of western Europe which depend on the import of primary products and export manufactures.”

This is not a Communist speaking, but he speaks of reality. He is facing reality. But some in our country who call themselves Guianese, who call themselves Christians, are not interested in the people of this country. Not all those who cry, "Lord, Lord," shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven.

It is being demonstrated on all sides that this is the only way that we can move forward.

NOT A QUESTION OF IDEOLOGY This is not a question of ideol-

ogy. We who see ten years ahead know what is going to happen, but there are some leaders who want to hide their heads in the sand. Some think only pragmatically, but this is the time to combine theory with practice.

Those countries which have had dealings with socialist countries are increasingly coming to the realisation that it is to their interest. I refer to countries like India and Ghana.

I submit that we will not be able to industrialise in the conventional way; our home market is too small.

We are not Brazil, we are not China.

No capitalist is going to come here and establish large factories.

In the face of this, what we have is disgraceful propaganda is being spread throughout this country. It is a disgrace, and I hope the public will keep the fact in mind.

I say that the only way this country will be able to move forward, taking all the factors into consideration — smallness, the size of its consumer population, the relative state of depression and recession in our traditional markets — is to make approaches to other quarters.

In 1959 I said that this Government must adopt a neutralist approach; the Government must be on friendly terms with all countries; it must negotiate with all countries as long as it is in the interest of British Guiana and our people.

Today, it is fashionable in certain quarters to call everyone a communist as long as you do not agree with him and his views. That was the old technique long before communism was ever thought of, before Marx came on the scene. Let us not be obsessed with this fear.

People talk of fear and confidence.

We must ask ourselves whose confidence we are talking about — the confidence of the working class or the confidence of the sharks: whose

confidence, whose freedom, and who is generating this fear.

SERIOUS TIMES Our country is passing through serious times.

The great President Roosevelt of the United States, said that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to the point where it became stronger than the State itself. That, he said, was the essence of fascism.

That is the concentration of power we had here. We have broken to some extent the back of that concentration of power, and we are dedicated to its destruction. But certain elements in our country are prepared to hold on to their privileged positions even if it means the downfall of this country; even if it means wrecking the economy of this country. Everyone knows who started it all. Everyone knows who are today trying to hold back the clock of progress, but whether they like it or not, we of this country are prepared to face what is happening in the world. The world will move on.

With those who are interested in this country and in its stability I plead not to take our country down into the mire. This country and its people are relatively poor at the present stage.

There is no doubt that we have tremendous prospects, but we cannot devote our energies to fighting battles which will bear no fruit.

There must be agreement on certain broad issues — what is in the interest of the country, what is the best economic approach.

If you have sound proposals, Government is at all times prepared to listen to them and, if need be, to adopt them. But they must be sound and not based on airy fairy tales.

Let us grasp the opportunities that are before us.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 1-2 DECEMBER, 2018

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

Nagamootoo undermines principle of professionalism in public service Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has said that Guyanese public servants must master the craft of politics. His comment was made at the Bertram Collins College of the Public Service (BCCPS) “Public servants have always been told that they shouldn’t dabble in politics, I don’t share that view,” he said.

Notably, public servants – teachers, members of the disciplined forces, etc – have always been encouraged to perform their duties in a professional and non-partisan manner.

Jordan repeats claim about over 2,000 businesses being started Guyana has about 215 Amerindian communities and with the rollout of the controversial Hinterland Employment and Youth Services (HEYS) programme, Finance Minister, Winston Jordan claimed that over 2,000 small business were established.

This claim has been trashed as misleading, since there is no evidence to support such a claim.

However, in presenting Budget 2019, Jordan has repeated the claim and stated that over $170M will be allocated to provide support through monitoring, grants and mentorship to allow hinterland youths to launch their micro-enterprises into vibrant economic activities.

Already, Government cannot account for over $1B spent on the HEYS programme.

Jordan says gov’t has done much to support business, key economic indicators tell a different story The APNU+AFC Coalition Government’s Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, has said that it is the jobs of the entrepreneurs to drive Guyana’s economic growth and transformation – even as the government’s failure to provide sufficient support to entrepreneurs and failed economic policies have been criticised.

Jordan said, “Is now up to our entrepreneurs to seize these opportunities and fully commit to their role as the engine of economic growth and transformation.” According to him, the Government has done much to maintain a stimulating environment for businesses to flourish.

Already, Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth projections have been revised downward from 3.8 per cent to 3.4 percent.

Additionally, there is a move to increase tax collection. The projected tax revenue collection is a whopping $223.58B. In 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.

On the macro-economic side of things, there are concerns about the widening deficit in Guyana’s Balance of Payments and the decline of Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rates.

Gov’t fails to account for over $1B spent on HEYS The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs has been unable to properly account for the $865.1M reportedly spent under the Hinterland Employment and Youth Services (HEYS) programme, as well as another $210.3M that were released for projects in over 200 Amerindian villages. This massive level of unaccountability was disclosed by the 2017 Auditor General’s Report.

There has been no response to the matter to date. However, Budget 2019 allocates millions more under the programme.

A total of $2.3B of taxpayers’ monies has been used on the HEYS programme in the last two years alone.

Pensioners only get $1,000 more, electricity and water subsidies not restored 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.

Confirmed: Taxpayers’ monies being used on Granger’s 5-B’s programme President David Granger’s Five Bs – boats, buses, bicycles, breakfast and books – Initiative was said to be driven by private sector contributions.

In April 2016, during a Public Interest programme, he said: “The state is not involved….this is not a central government task.”

However, it has been confirmed that taxpayers’ monies are being used on Granger’s initiative – which see his name, ‘David G’, emblazoned on the busses and boats that are handed out. Some monies have been included in Budget 2019 for the initiative.

Additionally, the Auditor General’s 2017 report exposed the extravagant spending from the budgets of Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) on maintenance of the ‘David G’ busses, etc. A whopping $5.83M was spent from the budget of the Region 6 RDC to service one of the newer busses, PVV 1992. Another $1.3M was spent to service another bus, PVV 1993. The criticism made is the monies used on servicing could have funded a new vehicles.

Another criticism made that if the boats, buses and bicycles are state funded then it should not bear Granger’s name.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 1-2 DECEMBER, 2018

Parliament Happenings (The National Assembly met on Monday, November 26, 2018, where the main issue on the agenda was the presentation of Budget 2019)

Budget 2019: APNU+AFC gov’t plans to spend $300.7B – over $30B more than 2018

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he 2019 national budget was presented to the National Assembly on Monday (November 28, 2018) by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan. In addition to tabling the budget estimates – a total of three volumes – he made an almost five-hour speech to the House.

Budget 2019 is set at $300.7B, an increase of over $30B, compared to the 2018 national budget.

Among the budget measures are: • An increase of 1,000 for old age pensions and public assistance; • An increase in the min-

imum wage to just over $64,000; • VAT exemptions on concrete blocks only, NOT on all construction materials; • Tax exemptions on pesticides only, NOT on agricultural equipment and machinery; • VAT credits on electricity and water for exporters; • Tax exemptions on electric and hybrid vehicles; and • Vehicle tax concessions for persons with disabilities.

Jordan has said that the measures announced in Budget 2019 will results in

government losing a total of $3.5B. “This will benefit taxpayers,” he claimed.

However, in the face of these measures, there is a move to increase tax collection. The projected tax revenue collection is a whopping $223.58B. In 2018 tax collection was pro-

jected 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.

On the macro-economic side of things, there are concerns about the widening deficit in Guyana’s Balance of Payments and the decline of Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rates.

The APNU+AFC gov’t has been increasing spending since it took office, but has been criticised for waste and extravagance.

• 2015 - $221B • 2016 - $230B • 2017 - $250B • 2018 - $267.1B • 2019 - $300.7B

Budget 2019 falls short of fulfilling important objectives – increases tax burden by $88B per annum

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n initial comments, immediately following the presentation of the $300.7B Budget 2019 by Finance Minister, Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, put the current Administration on blast for failing to respond to key concerns of the Guyanese people.

At a news conference on Monday (November 26, 2018) evening at Public Buildings, Jagdeo said, “Budget 2019 reflects the continued disregard of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government for the concerns of our Guyanese people. The $300.7B national budget fell far short of fulfilling objectives that are important to enhancing the welfare, well-being and future of our people and nation.

“The almost five-hour long speech, read to the National Assembly by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, was disappointing – replete with repetition and contradictions, incoherent and loaded with platitudes, including comments about possible undertakings that would not be realised within the next fiscal year.

“Guyanese were left wanting, relative to their expectations on job creation, stimulus for the local economy, support for the productive and retail sectors, and expectations on improved

crime fighting.”

MASSIVE INCREASE IN TAX COLLECTION According to him, the most worrisome development with Budget 2019 is the move to increase the 2019 tax collection by a whopping $31B per annum, compared to 2018.

He said, “Most worrisome about Budget 2019 is the projected increase in tax collection – a further burden imposed on our people.

Budget 2019 proposes a $31B increase in tax collection per annum, compared to 2018. This will represent an $88B increase in tax collection per annum, based on the 2014 levels.

“This increase in tax collection comes, even as, there have been no moves to cut down on extravagant and wasteful spending on things that do not bring benefit to our people.

“The increase in tax collection also accompanied admissions by the Minister of Finance about the poor performance of the economy and a deteriorating situation with Guyana’s Balance of Payment, among other worrisome macro-economic indicators.”

NO CONFIDENCE MOTION The Opposition Leader

charged that even with a no-confidence motion facing the Administration, it failed to reverse its hardship policies – sending a clear signal to Guyanese people that their concerns have been disregarded.

He said, “I expected that the no-confidence motion would have pushed the Coalition Government to respond to the dissatisfaction of the Guyanese people with its national policies. However, this expectation was met with what can only be described as total disregard. None of the concerns articulated as the basis for advancing the no-confidence motion were heeded.”

Notably, after his November 15, 2018 filing of the no-confidence motion, Jagdeo listed several grounds that supported the necessity of such a move, including: the loss of 30,000 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 $60B in increased taxes per annum. He also pointed to “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). The hiding of the $US18M signing bonus from ExxonMobil in a separate account, when the monies should have been transferred into the Consol-

idated Fund, was another example cited.

Jagdeo had said, “Since this government took office we have had taxes increased by sixty billion dollars per year, although they came in on a promise of lower taxes.

They came in on a promise of creating more jobs. We lost thirty-thousand jobs.

Acts of corruption have been unbelievable. “…on almost every single issue they have failed

to keep their promises… therefore if, at that time the circumstances existed for a no-confidence motion, it’s a hundred times worse now…and the people have expressed through these local government results, even in their own base, an extreme dissatisfaction with their policies at the national level.”

He had charged too 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.

According to the Op(Turn to page 20)

PPP/C objects to limited time for Budget 2019 review T he Parliamentary Opposition on Monday (November 26, 2018) called for an extension of the time for the consideration of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year 2019 – a whopping $300.7B national budget.

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, moved a motion to have the time for a review of Budget 2019 limited to five days, from December 10 to 14, 2018. The norm in the National Assembly has been that a review of the national budget lasts for seven days.

Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, objected to this. She pointed out that since the APNU+AFC Coalition took office, the time for reviewing national budgets has been cut. She noted that the review of Budget 2015 was limited to a mere three days.

Nagamootoo refused to respond to the points raised by Teixeira and called on House Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland, to move forward with the vote.

A government-majority vote defeated the PPP/C call for the Budget 2019 debates to run for seven days.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 1-2 DECEMBER, 2018

Budget 2019 in Focus

Private Sector Commission Private sector rep laments lack of plan expresses concern about planned for major renewable energy push increase in tax collection – gov’t confusion on Amaila still not addressed

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he massive increase in tax collection that is planned by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, as disclosed in Budget 2019, has given rise to major concerns.

The Private Sector Commission (PSC), in its reaction to the budget, released a statement that said: “We are, however, concerned about the level of proposed overall tax revenue on businesses and individuals as Budget 2019 projects a 9.9% increase in revenue while the economy is projected to grow by 4.6%.”

The projected tax revenue collection is a whopping $223.58B. In 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.

The PSC added that there is also no relief on energy cost. “Most importantly, there is no provision for relief on energy costs which are stifling businesses,” the body said.

Another point of worry was the state of Guyana’s reserves. The Commission said, “Worrying too is the impact of Budget 2019 upon the foreign reserves of the Central Bank; an impact that does not appear to have taken cognisance of the need

to cushion against external shocks to which the country and its currency are vulnerable.”

The Commission did welcome the move to reduce corporate taxes to 25 per cent.

However, it noted the need for more to be done for the manufacturing sector. “The Commission is cognisant of the need to incentivise the manufacturing sector but would have hoped that, given the substantial contribution of the services sector to our Gross Domestic Product, consideration would have been given to reducing the tax rate for commercial businesses from the draconian 40% as this is having an adverse effect on legitimate businesses,” the PSC said.

Government has remained silent in face of the concerns expressed.

GCCI questions government’s macro-economic policies, expresses concerns about budget 2019

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n its reaction to Budget 2019, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce (GCCI) noted that only some of the recommendation it made to the Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, were acted on, and voice concerns about government’s policy direction.

In a statement, the Chamber said, “It must be registered that the GCCI is particularly disappointed that there has been no adjustment to the tax regime of fuel despite its suggestion. It should be noted that in 2018, the price of fuel had a disastrous effect on the private sector earnings as costs skyrocketed and continues to affect every aspect of private sector operations, from manufacturing to distribution.”

The Chamber also expressed concerns about Guyana’s macro-economic dynamics. “Of more worry, is the macroeconomic dynamics of the fiscal sector, where, Budget 2019 indicates the Government’s intention to finance about 80 percent of the sizable fiscal deficit ($32.84B of the $41.49B) from borrowing from the domestic economy; compound-

ing this is the concern that there is a projected increase in taxation by 9.9 percent, in an economy which is projected to expand by 4.6 percent.

This outstripping worries us,” it said.

The Chamber noted too that the slow rate of implementation of the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) and the long gestation period of capital expenditure is another major area of concern. “This is likely to create a drag on the economy as money is withdrawn faster than it can be injected. In the external sector, the large drawdown on the net foreign assets of the Bank of Guyana of US$104.1 million remains of concern; the sustenance of which is critical to external viability and the preservation of macroeconomic stability of the country,” the GCCI said.

Relative to key productive sectors, the Chamber acknowledged that 2018 is expected to recorded marginal increases in labour intensive sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, with forestry expected to grow 1.1 percent. However, it noted too that the mining and quar-

rying industries are expected to decline in year 2018.

The Chamber said, “Given the dismal economic performance in these labour-intensive sectors, we are disappointed that the required stimulus needed to recover job losses were not adequately addressed in Budget 2019.

“Further, with a decline in spending on the Agriculture sector from $19.4B to $17.1B (from 7.1 percent of the Budget to 5.7 percent of the total Budget), the Chamber of Commerce believes that the dismal performance in the sector, unfortunately, is likely to continue. This is expected to have a negative impact on consumer spending in 2019.”

On welcomed moves, the GCCI said it was pleased that its recommendations on the need for a review the taxes on pesticides and limestone used in the agriculture sector, resulted in exemptions being granted from Custom Duty and Value Added Tax (VAT). “The GCCI is also pleased that its suggestions in the aviation industry have resulted in the VAT exemption of aircraft engines and main components/parts,” it said.

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udget 2019 does not advance any major push in the area of renewable energy, even as the APNU+AFC Coalition touts a focus on a ‘green economy’.

And private sector representative, Richard Rambarran, who was present for Monday’s presentation of the Finance Minister’s budget speech to the National Assembly, highlighted this fact, when asked about his views on Budget 2019.

He said, “If we are going to talk about green economy and renewable energy and all of that…the private sector has been saying that we need to have mechanisms in place where we can do grid tie and getting rebates etc., for when you put in place your solar power and renewable energy, for us to be able to get something where we channel energy back to the grid. We see once again another year has passed and nothing along this line.”

Guyana’s private sector bodies have been calling on Government to cushion the effect of the excise tax on fuel prices, which affects every aspect of their businesses. Leading that call was the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) who, during its budget consultation meeting with Minister Jordan, also called for better roads and incentives for the renewable energy.

GOV’T CONFUSION Notably, Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, has said that there is no credible information on what plans are being considered to address Guyana’s need for “badly needed” capacity in the energy sector, even as confusion on the issue of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project continues to be evidenced with different positions coming from different Government Ministers.

“There is nothing cred-

ible on how they will build badly needed new capacity.

We are at a loss,” he said earlier this year.

In 2015, Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, having dubbed any move forward with the Amaila Falls project as “a downright criminal” act.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, on October 2, 2017, said the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project was canned and charged that the financing the project was a problem.

In May 2018, Minister Raphael Trotman, confirmed that the Coalition Government has “never taken it” off the table. Last Friday, he told the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources that a two-year hydrologist study is currently ongoing and is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.

Jagdeo questioned who was conducting the study.

He noted too that Trotman should come clear on how the person/company was contracted to do the study and at what cost.

As for Harmon’s comments, he noted that it clear that Harmon’s “extraneous” comments regarding the project made it clear that he did not understand the financing model of the project. “It was a private sector led project…there would have been no debt for Guyana,” Jagdeo stressed.

As the confusion, in the Coalition Government’s camp, continues about the project continues, the Opposition Leader noted that one is clear – the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project was killed for political reasons.

INDEPENDENT STUDY The Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project was initially expected to deliver a steady source of clean, affordable, reliable renewable energy to meet approximately 90 per cent

of Guyana’s domestic energy needs and remove the country’s dependency on fossil fuels.

As at 2014, approximately US$70M of this had been deposited by Norway in the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) which is channeling investment into seven LCDS projects. The Norwegian Government also announced that it plans to transfer US$80M to the Inter-American Development Bank, to be used as Guyana's equity contribution to the Amaila Falls Hydro Project.

The independent, factsbased assessment of the Amaila Falls Hydropower project in Guyana, which was done by an independent Norway-based engineering and design consultancy firm, Norconsult AS, found that the project is the only realistic path for Guyana to achieve greater levels of renewable energy.

“The fastest way forward is to maintain AFHP as the first major step for substituting its current oil fired generation. AFHP was prioritized as the first hydropower plant because it was the only project with a full feasibility study completed, it has a higher plant load factor than the alternatives, a smaller reservoir and a levelised unit cost in the same range as the most attractive alternatives,” the summary of the 49-page report said.

The report also highlighted that Hydro power is the only way in which we can achieve the 2025 renewable energy target; that the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project is the fastest way to get to renewable energy by 2025; that the BOOT model is the most appropriate way of structuring the project and should be maintained; and that the project should be re-tendered since the last tender was in 2008.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 1-2 DECEMBER, 2018

Total public debt Debt to GDP ratio increases steadily increasing T since 2015

A

t the end of December 2017, Guyana’s total public debt was a massive $334.9B – an increase from 2016 by $14.3B. Of the $334.5B, $256.2B was external debt, while $88.6B was domestic debt.

In 2015, Guyana’s total public debt was $317B. This is according to the Public Debt Annual Report of 2017, recently released by the Finance Ministry and presented to the National Assembly.

Notably, Guyana’s public external debt stock also saw an increase – from U S $1.162B in 2016 to US$1.24B in 2017. Of the 2017 public external debt stock, Guyana owed monies to the: Caribbean Development Bank (CDB): the Inter-American Development Bank; the International Fund for Agricultural Development; and others.

Additionally, Guyana’s

public domestic debt stood at some $88B at the end of 2017.

The country’s total public domestic debt servicing has been on the rise. When the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) left office, debt servicing at the end of 2014, stood at $1.58B. Under the APNU+AFC Coalition Government that number has been steadily increasing: 2015 - $1.75B; 2016 - $1.92B; and 2017 - $2.25B. Total public debt (the public domestic debt and the public external debt) servicing amounted to $14.8B in 2017 – an increase from $13B in 2016.

Total debt service-to-revenue ratio increase from 7.2 per cent in 2016 to 7.6 per cent in 2017.

Meanwhile, final numbers on Guyana’s public debt for 2018 are still to be presented by the Finance Minister, since Budget 2019

Deficit in the Balance of Payments widens

G

uyana’s balance of payments continues to face a deficit, according to the Public Debt Annual Report of 2017, recently released by the Finance Ministry.

The Balance of Payments report contains statistical data on a country’s fiscal transactions, including imports and exports. To record a deficit, Guyana would have had to spend more on imports, among other things, that it derived from exports.

At the end of 2017, the deficit was US$69.5M. In 2016, the balance of payment deficit was US$53.3M. The current account deficit grew by US$275M. Meanwhile, the Capital Account improved. The report notes that it showed a surplus of US$228 million, an increase from a deficit of US$13.2 million in 2016.

Final figures for 2018 on the state of Guyana’s Balance of Payments are not yet available.

However, based on figures available up to when Budget 2019 was presented, Opposition Leader, Bharrat

Jagdeo, highlighted that there was a massive deterioration in the current account of the Balance of Payments of over US$200 million, while the marginal increase in the capital account.

Meanwhile, the Bank of Guyana (BoG) Quarterly Report and Statistical Bulletin released in July 2018, confirmed that Guyana’s overall Balance of Payments deficit skyrocketed to US$94M – an increase of million compared to the 2017 final year figure of US$69.5M. “This was primarily due to an expansion of the Current Account deficit, despite a surplus on the Capital Account. The deficit on the Current Account resulted from a higher merchandise trade deficit due to higher imports, primarily fuel,” the report said.

The Parliamentary Opposition has previously expressed concern over the increasing deficit in the country’s balance of payments, which it had said would continue to have serious implications for the local economy.

– which would also include these numbers – was presented early and final year figures are not yet available.

he total public debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) recorded another increase, from 45.7 per cent in 2016 to 46.2 per cent in 2017.

In general, the debt-toGDP ratio is used to determine the health of an economy, in comparisons with other economic indicators,

such as GDP growth itself.

The total external public debt to GDP ratio was 34.3 per cent at the end of 2017 – an increase from 33.2 per cent in 2016. The rate of debt accumulation grew faster than nominal GDP – debt growing by seven per cent, while GDP only grew

by three per cent.

Final numbers on Guyana’s public debt for 2018 are still to be presented by the Finance Minister, since Budget 2019 – which would also include these numbers – was presented early and final year figures are not yet available.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 1-2 DECEMBER, 2018

SOCU goes after another PPP member: Ali says ‘no form of political victimization’ will silence the Opposition A 4:00AM arrest of People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Parliamentarian and PPP Executive, Irfaan Ali, by the Special Organised Crimes Unit (SOCU) on Wednesday (November 28, 2018) has been condemned widely – more so since he has cooperated with SOCU when it requested his appearance at their headquarters in the past.

Later in the day, a total of 19 charges of conspiracy to defraud by common law, were yesterday instituted against former PPP/C Minister of Housing, Mohammed Irfaan Ali by the SOCU. And after nearly two years of investigations, former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, contends that he has never seen a charge such as the ones brought before the court yesterday, in Guyana or in any Commonwealth country.

CANNOT STAND He said, “What is informative about all of this is the timing of it…these charges were coming two years… there has been no attempt

by Mr. Ali to avoid arrest or flee the country…there was absolutely no need to descend upon anyone’s house at 4 o’clock in the morning… there is nowhere, not in any other country, that these charges can stand.”

“I have been speaking about this. We said this was going to happen. The timing of it is very essential. We are about to start our budget debates. We have a no-confidence motion that is pending in the House. This thing has been in the air for about two or three years…now at this crucial time, suddenly, a jeep load of policemen, at 4 o’clock in the morning, descends upon his house.

“These are not normal occurrences. These speak to a pre-mediated and orchestrated attempt to target PPP leaders, including myself, to attempt to destroy our

Former PPP/C Housing Minister and current MP, Irfaan Ali, accompanied by others, addressing the media

credibility and immediately remove one of us from the political configuration.

“I do not discount the results of the Local Government Elections in all of this.

In my view, the PPP machinery is working smoothly and, all thing being equal, the PPP is expected to be the next government. So attempts are being made to derail that eventuality. What you are seeing here is a manifestation of that….we will overcome in the end…we are not surprised by these things.”

CHARGES The charges, which detail offences alleged to have occurred between the period of September, 2010 to March 30, 2015, are in connection with the Pradoville 2 Housing Scheme on the East Coast of Demerara. The basis of the charges is that the lands were sold far below their value.

Appearing before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, Ali was read the charges. He was accompanied by several supporters of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), former government officials,

including former Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds, and several PPP/C Parliamentarians, including Zulfikar Mustapha, Juan Edghill and Vickram Bharrat.

An application for selfbail was made and granted.

Attorney-at-Law, Devindra Kissoon, represented Ali, in association with Nandlall, Sase Gunraj, Jaya Manickchand and Priya Manickchand.

TRUMPED UP Priya Manickchand, in comments, stressed that the charges against Ali are political in nature and trumped up against him. She made clear that Ali is a patriot.

She said, “We have said before that the state is becoming more and more oppressive. It is becoming the kind of police state that every citizen must rise up against because every citizen is in jeopardy of rights taken away from them.

“This is a distraction… this is just a circus. This is theatrics. Nobody is afraid of this...we ask the people that they stand with us as we resist this kind of oppression

“I come from a proud family, which, cumulatively, has given 145 years of public service to this country, and still counting. I come from a family that believes in public service; that believes in serving the people to the best of our ability. And I am proud of that heritage. And I assure you that I will continue in this vein – to serve the people of this country.” – PPP/C MP, Irfaan Ali behaviour from a government who sees itself slipping out of office every single day that goes by.”

Manickchand noted too that all “rights loving” Guyanese people will stand with Ali. UNFAZED Outside the courtroom, an unfazed Ali engaged reporters. He said, “I come from a proud family, which, cumulatively, has given 145 years of public service to this country, and still counting.

I come from a family that believes in public service, that believes in serving the people to the best of our ability. And I am proud of that heritage. And I assure you that I will continue in this

Budget 2019 falls short of fulfilling... position Leader, the results of the 2018 Local Government Elections sent a clear message to the Coalition Government, relative to the dissatisfaction of Guyanese with the policies of the Coalition Government.

He charged that a no-confidence motion reinforces this message. “We will have a chance to say to them that their polices are wrong…they are damaging

prospects for the future and the wellbeing of our people,” he said.

Jagdeo added, “…the worst thing that could happen for us is that we lose the no-confidence motion.

That is the worst outcome.

But we may achieve something positive from that, which is to basically reiterate through the debates, and send a strong signal to them from the political opposi-

tion, what the people have said to them through the local government elections that they need to change their ways on almost everything.”

According to him, several policies need to be reversed. He called for: the restoration of the water and electricity subsidies for pensioners; the restoration of the cash grants to public school students; the resto-

ration of the annual tax-free bonus to ranks of the Disciplined Services; the removal of VAT from electricity, water, medical supplies and services; a reduction of the excise tax on fuel; a restoration of the two per cent final tax for miners; the reversal of the increases in water rates; the reversal of the increases in University of Guyana fees; and a move forward with constitutional

vein – to serve the people of this country.”

He added, “…as it relates to these charges, during my tenure, with the help of staff and the PPP/C government, we have distributed more than a 100,000 house lots.

Maybe it should have been 100,000 charges then, for every house lot that was given.”

Ali stressed that he believes “firmly” in justice.

“No form of political victimization. No form of this kind of pressure that the government believes that they can bring on us; to silence us, to silence democracy, to silence free speech, to silence an Opposition that is exposing them – it will not work. This has made me stronger. I am more resolute.”

According to him, the charges are clearly trumped up. “I have nothing to fear.

I have served and I have served to the best of my ability and I will continue to do so…it may be the politicians today; but when free speech is being attacked, when democracy is being attacked, the next target is normally the media,” he said.

Ali added, “We will defend everything they throw at us. We worked with honestly and integrity. The only condition we did it with was in service of the people of this country.”

Ali is set to lead off the 2019 Budget debates for the Parliamentary Opposition on Monday (December 3, 2018).

(From page 17) reform, among others.

NO SUPPORT FOR BUDGET 2019 On Monday (November 26, 2018) evening, Jagdeo also questioned why Budget 2019 benefits – adding that key groups in society have no major takeaway.

He said, “It is unclear who this massive Budget is helping. Is it helping our miners? Is it helping

our farmers? Is it helping our pensioners? Is it helping our public service employees? Is it helping our productive sectors?

Is it helping those in the retail trade? The answer in each of these cases, and in others, is no.”

The Opposition Leader made it clear that the Parliamentary Opposition cannot support Budget 2019 in its current configuration.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 1-2 DECEMBER, 2018

Blairmont sugar workers picket estate demanding pay rise

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ver 90 per cent of the field and factory workers of Blairmont Estate downed tools and stayed away from work on Tuesday (November 27, 2018) to call to attention the serious economic circumstances they and their families face now-a-days.

The of workers took part in a spirited picketing exercise outside of the Estate’s Administrative Office as they called for a pay increase which has been denied to them since 2015.

They carried placards that read: 2014 pay rates in

2018 can’t work; Workers generating production – pay rise NOW; Big boys eating MUTTON, workers eating NOTHING; No Closure and Sellout of Blairmont Estate; 1500 days plus without a pay rise; and Higher Cost-ofLiving and Lesser Pay The workers also complained about Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) delaying its consideration of their call for a 15 per cent pay increase.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU)

has said, “At no time in our country’s independent history have they been treated as shabbily as they have been since the Coalition Government took office. The workers have been forced to swallow the bitter pill of a significant fall in their purchasing power occasioned mainly by the onerous new and higher taxes imposed across the country. At the same time, using data from the Corporation’s financial statements, the GAWU, disturbingly, deciphered that between 2014 and 2017,

Skeldon Hospital still facing power supply challenges

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ne of the primary health care facilities in Region 6, the Skeldon Hospital, has been battling with inoperable equipment. Health workers have been unable to use the ultrasound machines, the x-ray machines, physiotherapy and even the air conditioning units for over two months.

The hospital’s power

needs were supported by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). With the closure of the Skeldon Sugar Estate, the Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL) is still to connect the facility to the power grid.

Regional Chairman David Armogan disclosed that the Guyana Power and Light’s Regional Engineer

for Berbice has assured that within a week’s time the Skeldon Hospital should be connected to the GPL grid.

“By next week things should be up and running there as it should be,” he said.

This issue was first brought to light at the Regional Democratic Council’s Monthly Statutory meeting, earlier this month.

average pay per worker in the sugar industry has declined on average by $284,000.

This, for the workers, has been a most difficult double whammy.

“Sugar workers are very much upset to know that they remain the only group of workers under the State’s umbrella to have not received any improvement in pay since the APNU+AFC Coalition took office in May, 2015.

“This is in stark contrast to the promises and commitments our now Government leaders made to them in the

lead up to the 2015 National and Regional elections.

“The disturbing discriminatory treatment of the sugar workers, the GAWU noticed was also recognized by the November 25 Stabroek News editorial which said, inter alia, it is “…unconscionable when one considers that workers in the productive sector, the sugar industry have not been considered for any type of improvement in conditions”. Indeed, in our view, the Stabroek News adequately summed up what seems to be stark discrimina-

tion against the sugar workers and their families.

“The GAWU is at a lost why sugar workers, it seems, have been singled out for such unwarranted and unnecessary treatment. The differing approach to the sugar workers is glaring and most upsetting. Today, the sugar workers, like all the nation’s workers, have been badly pummelled by the Government’s anti-working class policies and measures.”

There has been no official response from GuySuCo on the matter to date.

22

WEEKEND MIRROR 1-2 DECEMBER, 2018

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

APNU+AFC gov’t has racked up over 55 scandals since taking office

T

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

From June 10, 2015 to date, over 55 scandals have been uncovered – an average of one scandal for each month – some of which are listed below:

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

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

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

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

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

5. India/GoG funded Speciality Hospital – the government gave a contract to Fedders Lloyd (VP Ramjattan was its lawyer) without going to tender at a price yet unknown and in violation of

the procurement laws. Despite public outcry, the government refused to terminate the contract for the Speciality Hospital.

The company was delisted by the IDB and the Indian government and Eximbank withdrew the money for the loan. There has been no disclosure as to how much Fedders Lloyd was paid and what work had been done when the company was delisted and the project halted.

6. The first act of the government was to give themselves e nor m ous salary increases between 50 -100 % of what the former government ministers received. This was quietly done in September 2015 and the parliamentary opposition had to wage a struggle in Parliament to bring a motion to reverse this. When the motion was finally heard in December, it was defeated by the government’s one-seat majority. It should be remembered that the media, having leaked the fact that the government was embarking on increasing the salaries of the President, VPs and Ministers, Minister Trotman, on behalf of the government, denied that the government was contemplating any salary increases for the Ministers. This was also denied during the debate on the 2015 Budget in August 2015. Having gone into recess mid-September, the government stealthily published Order No. 6 of 2015 in the Official Gazette, dated September 25th, 2015, increasing their salaries and making it retroactive to July 1, 2015. Contrast this act with the government’s refusal to increase the salaries of the public servants in accordance with their campaign promises.

7. Durban Park Development Project for the Jubilee celebrations - The government has refused to provide information on the “private company,” which was in charge of the preparations of the Durban Park prior to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s “take over” of the project on the orders of the President.

It is estimated that the costs, when finally exposed, will be close to $1Billion - for a one-day event.

8. The President pardoned over 100 convicted felons in 2015 and stated that this would be

done annually. He promised that these would be felons with non-violent crimes and juvenile offenders. In fact, this was not true. A number of these persons had been sentenced for violent crimes and a number of them are back in prison.

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

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

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

12. Other write-off of debts by the GRA for other companies who financed the APNU+AFC Coalition electoral campaign, worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Minister Trotman said these companies have to be compensated for their financial investment.

13. Following the March 18, 2016 Local Government Elections, Minister Bulkan in violation of

the statutes governing the local government system, appointed the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, and the 5 Chairpersons and vice chairperson of the 5 NDCs in the 6 tied LAAs. All of these persons were APNU, although there was a plurality of votes in 3 of the 6 tied LAAs for the PPP and 3 for the APNU+AFC. 14. W r i t e - o f f s b y t h e APNU+AFC dominated Georgetown Municipal Council to many companies for millions of dollars owed in rates and taxes for undisclosed amounts. This is a City Council that is now cashstrapped and cannot pay contractors for garbage collection nor timely payment of salaries of its employees. The cost to the Treasury of these write offs by the GRA, the Georgetown City Council and other Local Authority Areas alone earmarked in this list of scandals is estimated to be between 23% to 36 % of the total 2016 Budget.

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

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

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

17. The GoG/BK International settlement of $1.17 B for Haags Bosche - The Ministry of Communities’ settlement of $1.17B to BK International for the Haags Bosche project came to light as a result of a Supplementary Financial Paper on August 8th where the country learnt that this settlement was made and would be paid in three tranches, even though the court did not award costs to BK Int’l.

The government paid BK Int’l

23

WEEKEND MIRROR 1-2 DECEMBER, 2018

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

APNU+AFC gov’t has racked up over 55 scandals since taking office the first third of the payment in January 2016, which begs the question - where did this money come from? It was not provided for in the 2015 budget, nor was there any SFP in the interim nor in the 2016 Budget or since to cover this first payment of G$500M. The August Supplementary Financial Paper covers the payment of the second tranche of $501M to BK int’l from the Consolidated Fund.

The third payment the Minister stated would be reflected in the 2017 budget. This is a scandal like the RUDISA and the DDL write offs. Interesting and of note is that BK International is being paid the entire $10M USD for the contract though BK Int’l only worked for 3 of the 5 years of the contract at substandard work. The PPP/C government had terminated the contract due to substandard work and delays. Ministers Bulkan and Patterson late 2015 both publicly stated that BK Int’l had done substandard work on the project!

18. Two fuel scandals relating to the issuance of fuel licenses for the importation of fuel to companies that are made up of persons related to top officials or who are top officials themselves in the government, who have no fuel bonds, no storage facilities and no offices. The withdrawal of the fuel importation license to the Chinese company, which has invested millions of US dollars for storage facilities, appears to have been calculated to make room for these alternative importers.

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

tary opposition weekly press briefing several months ago, this gentlemen’s role in soliciting donations for pipes for the wells in Region 9 was exposed.

It was reported that the Brazilian contractors hired by GWI to dig 8 wells in the Rupununi region were unable to pay their workers as they allege that GWI is not paying them (the contractors).

19. Consistent and frequent violation of the Procurement Act by line ministries - e.g, the Minister of Agriculture admitted that the MOA nor the NDIA had gone out to tender for works totalling $234M due to emergency works for El Nino and flooding in regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10. In fact, these monies should have been provided for in the Supplementary Financial Paper # 2 of 2016 for the Consolidated Fund.

20. Requests for information during questions to Ministers and questions during the debate on the two Supplementary Financial Papers on August 8th revealed that the government ministers’ will not release contracts unless they have the permission of the other person/ company/ party to the contract.

This is unheard of and a violation of the role of the legislature under the constitution to hold the government accountable.

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

22. Auditor General’s special audit of GECOM expenditure in 2015 prior to the general and regional elections—this is on-going, with the use of sole sourcing by the GECOM estimated to amount to $700M in the months prior to the May 2015 elections.

However, unlike other investigations where the heads were sent

on administrative leave such as the Head of NICIL, Head of the NDIA, PS of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, head of the Public Hospital Georgetown, to name a few, this CEO has not been sent off on administrative leave.

23. $240M spent on refurbishing the Kitty Market. Photographic evidence exposes the corruption by City Hall. There are no scope of works, estimates, etc that is available and the project was not put to tender as the city has hired the workers and is implementing the works itself. This project is still not completed.

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

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

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

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

28. Not satisfied with the huge increases in salary and benefits, some Ministers are greedy and the reports of paying off Ministers for licenses, contracts etc., is astounding. The government

has got into the habit of putting out tenders in the press and then cancelling them repeatedly until their chosen contractor wins the tender.

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

30. The Removal of 6,000 solar panels purchased for the Hinterland Household Electrification Programme and re-allocating them for use at the Ministry of the Presidency and State House.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

24

WEEKEND MIRROR 1-2 DECEMBER, 2018

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

APNU+AFC gov’t has racked up over 55 scandals since taking office constitutional bodies including the Public Procurement Commission and the Public Service Appellate Tribunal.

38. The on-going saga of the Durban Jubilee Park. It is estimated that expenditure has reached $1.5 B. Auditor General Deodat Sharma aims to wrap up his special audit into the controversial Durban Park Project before the end of the year even if he does not receive certain financial records which appear to be missing. Mired in controversy, millions more are being spent in preparation for the flag raising ceremony to mark Independence.

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

40. Purchase of the Prime Minister’s SUV- bullet proof, latest model, extraordinary extravagance for a poor developing country. Noticeable is the acquisition of a fleet of new vehicles for every Minister yet many have not been budgeted for in the annual budgets.

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

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

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

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

fire has been kept secret but more evidence coming to light indicate that the government did not act on those recommendations, including the establishment of a multi-agency multi-sectoral body being appointed by the President to implement the recommendations. Budgetary allocations for the Prisons, especially capital works to increase the inmate accommodation at the Mazaruni Prison in the 2016 budget was unspent and rolled over to 2017 and as of July 2017 these works are still not complete. The new request for $753M appropriated in Parliament on August 3 2017 cannot account for $ 153 M requested.

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

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

The government 4 months after it established the COI held its first consultation with the NTC.

This COI is a recipe to drive rifts and strife between different ethnic groups in the country.

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

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

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

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

51. Painting state properties in APNU colours.

52. Reduction of constitutional bodies budgets 2016, 2017, 2018 in violation of the 2015 amendment to FMA Act. These scandals, not limited to this list, have been uncovered and expose a level of corruption and discrimination that has not been seen since the Burnham era.

53. GPL and their contract with state created and owned Power Producers Distribution Inc. (PPDI) has inspired questions and raised concerns since GPL’s payments to PPDI are higher than those made to Wartsilla – yet there are unresolved electricity problems, including as it relates to the reliable supply of power.

54. Sole-sourcing of $366.9M in emergency drugs in June 2017

has once again brought into question decisions by the Ministry of Public Health, as documents reveal that a company, HDM Labs was handpicked over three others that went through tendering and were declared to have failed the evaluation process. The company is owned by a supporter of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government.

55. Government has borrowed $30B G from a joint banking and commercial consortium led by Republic Bank, for GUYSUCO’s remaining estates at 4.75 % interest rates. The members of the consortium are unknown and the terms and conditions of the loan are also unknown.

56. The contract for a foreign company to rebuild Camp St prison was announced by Minister Khemraj Ramjattan during the 2018 Budget debate and media stated that no one tendered, this also remains secret and no funds are allocated in 2018.

57. The PPC completed its investigation and handed its report over on August 7, 2018, to Teixeira, who has written to the PPC on the matter in 2017.

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.

What is clear, to date, is that the APNU+AFC Coalition government has no regard for the promised transparency and accountability, and is prepared to undermine and even violate the procurement and financial laws of this country, as well as other constitutional provisions and statutory provisions.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 1-2 DECEMBER, 2018

$100M for ‘consultants’ on new Demerara River crossing I n the face of an ongoing police investigation into the manner in which the contract feasibility study on a new Demerara River crossing was awarded, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government is now pushing ahead with the project, from a different approach.

The project has been changed. Initially, Government had proposed three lane, retractable bridge to be located at Houston, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Now it would seem that Government is set on pursuing a new model.

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, during his Budget Speech on Monday (November 26, 2018), said,

“Based on our evaluation of the bids, we concluded that our call for proposals must have been imprecise regarding the nature, scope and financing modality of the project…we have annulled the process and re-scoped the project.”

Jordan revealed that help has been sought from the Caribbean Development Bank to revise the Expressions of Interest in order to retender the project by this year end. But the evaluation of the bid proposals, a job normally handled by the ministry’s technical staff, will be outsourced at a cost of $100 million of taxpayers’ money. He said, “At the same time,

we are working with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to secure the services of technical experts to support our evaluation of the proposals that are expected to be opened towards the end of March 2019, and to facilitate the next steps in the P3 [Public-Private Partnership] process. To this end, the sum of $100 million has been budgeted, in 2019, to finance the services of these technical experts.”

Jordan, in mid-June 2018, had said that the Coalition Government scrapped their plans to build a new three-lane bridge across the Demerara Bridge and has instead decided to ask

for fresh proposals from contractors to construct a fixed four-lane bridge

REPEATED CALLS Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, following’s Jordan’s comments about a a change to the original model envisaged for a new Demerara River Crossing, repeatedly questioned why the APNU+AFC Coalition Government is not pursuing a new feasibility study for a bridge across the Demerara River.

He had said then that there is clearly no effort being made to approach such a massive project from a position of preparedness.

“This is ill-conceived

and will leave us with a huge burden in the future,” he had said.

Being prepared, according to him, means ensuring that there are clear thought out plans on what the Government wants, plans on how to secure financing for the project, plans to ensure that the Guyanese taxpayers are not unnecessarily burdened once the project is completed and a decision on whether the project will be a Public Private Partnership (PPP) undertaking.

Jagdeo said, “I said before all of those things need to be pre-determined… I pointed out the with the Berbice Bridge, there were about 2000 pages of stud-

Clear reasons for a no-confidence expression in APNU+AFC gov’t Dear Editor,

he PPP/Civic Opposition has taken a T motion of “No Confidence” against the Four big budgets did not stop APNU+AFC regime to the National AssemThis seems to have caused some panic chronic stock-outs of medicines, why bly. in the ranks of the governing parties. For first time, we have seen the government boycotting the National Assembly. should we expect a change in 2019? the The opposition motion was very well Dear Editor,

E

ven as the Minister of Finance boasts about the largest budget ever ($300.9B) and the Minister of Public Health gleefully bragging about the $35B Ministry of Public Health budget for 2019, chronic medicine shortages continue to impact the lives of people in Guyana. The chronic stock-outs of medicines that have plagued the health sector since 2015 have occurred in spite of increasing budgetary allocations. Each year, there is another record-breaking allocation for medicines and medical supplies. In 2019, the allocation for medicines and medical supplies is about $8B. Each year, the Ministers of Finance and Public Health promise that medicine shortages will be part of the past. But so far, we have only experienced a worsening situation.

Last week the Ministry of Public Health admitted that there is a serious shortage of medicines to treat MDR-TB (Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis). At least up to two weeks ago, there was also a shortage of Efavirenz, a medicine used to treat HIV-positive persons.

Unfortunately, these serious stock-out situations occur too frequently in Guyana over the last almost four years. Multiple stock-outs like these occurred in 2016, 2017 and now in 2018. Stockouts of TB and HIV medicines have serious implications for persons living with TB and with HIV, but also increase the risks of transmission for the population at large. Such stock-outs, therefore, represent a public health risk, endangering the lives of thousands of people.

MDR-TB is a growing problem in Guyana.

MDR-TB is a type of TB that is resistant to the normal medicines that are used to treat TB. It is critical that early diagnosis for MDR-TB is available and that the specialized medicines for MDR-TB are readily available to begin and sustain treatment for all persons with MDRTB. Continued, uninterrupted treatment for MDR-TB is of life-and-death importance for the patient. But it is also an important public health emergency since treatment interruptions place more people at risk for MDR-TB and life-threatening transmissions of a virulent form of TB. Guyana has committed to the global goal of a minimum of 80% cure rate for

MDR-Treatment. With stock-outs like these, the goal is not achievable. Already, we have seen Guyana missing its global commitment of a minimum of 80% treatment success for MDR-TB in 2017. Treatment interruptions due to stock-outs represent an important factor in MDR-TB treatment failures.

Efavirenz is one of the anti-retroviral treatment (ART) medicines that constitute the HIV treatment cocktail in Guyana and in countries around the world. Stock-outs of Efavirenz mean that there is treatment interruptions. Like MDRTB medicine stock-outs, stock-outs of efavirenz leave people living with HIV in life-threatening situations and also increase the risk of transmissions of HIV to other people. The present Efavirenz stock-out is just the latest of a consistent stock-out of one or more of the HIV medicines.

This seriously impact on Guyana's stellar universal treatment successes for HIV and has major implications for Guyana's commitment to reach the 90-90-90 goals by 2020. The 90-90-90 UNAIDS goals for HIV and AIDS refer to the national commitment to ensure that 90% of all persons living with HIV know their HIV status, 90% of persons living with HIV are receiving sustained anti-retroviral treatment and 90% of persons on ART have HIV suppression by 2020.

Budget 2019 provides almost $8B for medicines and medical supplies. This should be good news. But 2018 was also a year where more than $7B was expended on medicines and medical supplies, yet there were major shortages of medicines and medical supplies. The latest shortages of MDR-TB and HIV medicines represent just a tip of the iceberg. Guyana has experienced stock-outs too often and these stock-outs are not limited to TB and HIV medicines. Since 2015, Guyana has also experienced stock-outs regularly of medicines for malaria, diabetes, blood pressure etc. Guyana has even experienced stock-outs for vaccines. Boasting of large allocations will not solve the problem as long as corrupt, single-sourced procurements continue. Boasting of capital allocations for more warehouse development will not solve the problem.

Regards, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

ies… a prospectus was developed… legislation passed to support public private partnership… and only then did the company solicit bids...what we are seeing now is that the Government didn’t do any of these things. They just said we’re putting out the tender, the contractors will tell us what they want…now they have scrapped that.”

He noted that once the model is changed, there must be a new feasibility study that has to be done.

“We have heard nothing about this to date…yet (Minister David) Patterson is talking about pushing ahead with the project… how can you push ahead?”

timed. It came immediately upon the results of the announcement of the Local Government Elections. It reflected the sentiments of the population as stated at the polls. The main message was that the people have lost confidence in the regime.

This should have come as no surprise to anyone. With the exception of those in the Cabinet and other senior positions, all have experienced a fall in their welfare and social status.

In just three and a half years, thousands of jobs have been lost. The biggest blow was on the sugar industry. Working people have fallen into really hard times. Some are facing starvation.

The regime has totally mismanaged the economy. Production has fallen drastically in almost every sector.

At the same time, the country’s debt has been mounting due to excessive government borrowing. Added to this, is the fact that our reserves, gold and US dollar reserve mainly, have shrunk considerably.

To add to this nation’s plight is the wasteful spending that has marked this regime’s behaviour. They have given themselves huge increases in salaries and even bigger increases in allowances. They have not only given themselves those huge increases, but also the size of the Cabinet has grown by 50%.

They have been spending as though we have unlimited resources. They have increased the size of the bureaucracy greatly.

The regime has also been engaged in heavy wasteful spending. The huge D’Urban Park Stadium stands out like a monument to this cavalier type of spending. Hundreds of millions of dollars were poured into this project, which is now the largest public convenience in the country. This was totally unnecessary since the National Park could have been utilized for any major public function.

The haemorrhage of our resources is also taking place due to massive corruption in the country. There are hundreds, if not thousands of cases of this nature. The “bond” that the regime was renting at twelve million dollars per month must be regarded as one of the biggest rip offs. This was done even though this

regime inherited a modern, world standard bond built by the PPP/Civic administration.

That bond has a huge capacity and it is not fully utilized.

How is the regime paying for this horrible wastage? As mentioned above, they are borrowing at a reckless pace. Secondly, they are taxing the people more and more. By the end of 2017, they introduced more than two hundred new taxes and boasted of higher reserve collection. This is the real pressure on our people since this increased taxation is being imposed on a shrinking economy.

The danger too is that the increased taxation is acting as a brake on economic growth.

Investments are contracting and that is contributing to the slowdown of the economy.

However, that is not enough. To pay for the excesses, the regime has taken away a lot from people, thereby, severely impacting on their welfare.

In the first place, the regime has imposed VAT on all the items that the PPP/C had zero rated. Essential food items such as peas, potatoes, etc. Items imported for educational purposes and medicines have also now attracted 14 percent value added tax. This include books, computers, and medical equipment.

They have liquidated many measures of the PPP/C to the most vulnerable in the society. The subsidies given to old age pensioners for water and electricity have been stopped.

The ten thousand dollars per child attending government primary and secondary schools to assist parents has been halted as well.

The drive to extract more from the people has led them to impose VAT on equipment for mining and agriculture. This has forced many small miners to close their doors. The same has happened to small farmers. That has created huge unemployment.

The last measure, I wish to bring to the public’s attention is the deception being used by the regime.

While announcing huge budgets, they have also imposed VAT on government’s purchases. This is disguising the shortfall by 14 percent on procurement of goods and services. This measure will lead to a fall in the quantity purchases in various areas, but at higher cost.

All of these measures have seriously damaged the economy and the people’s standard of living.

Without a doubt, the Guyanese people have lost confidence in this corrupt, incompetent APNU+AFC regime.

Yours faithfully, Donald Ramotar

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WEEKEND MIRROR 1-2 DECEMBER, 2018

Positions from Freedom House this week (A look at the latest statements made by the People’s Progressive Party)

GECOM continues to act in a manner that erodes public confidence

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he Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), even after the conclusion of the Local Government Elections (LGE), continues to act in a manner that erodes public confidence in the Commission and continues to convey the public impression that it is ostensibly acting in consort with both the APNU and the AFC. To date (as at November 23, 2018), nearly two weeks after the Local Government Elections, GECOM is yet to disclose the official results.

All that it has done is disclose the total votes cast as 208,534, which constitutes 36% of the total of the registered electors.

In the past, within a few days after elections,

GECOM would normally disclose the formal results, which would include the votes obtained by each of the political parties contesting those elections, along with further breakdown in terms of votes cast per region or votes cast per Local Authorities Areas (LAAs) along with rejected/spoilt ballots.

On this occasion, for some inexplicable reason, GECOM is refusing to disclose this vital breakdown.

The refusal to do so is intentional. If GECOM has the aggregate number of votes cast then it has access to the votes received by each party, as the aggregate whole is made up of those constituent parts.

We believe that GECOM is withholding this breakdown of the results in order to conceal from the nation the magnitude of the loss suffered by both the APNU and the AFC at the recently concluded LGE and it is this omission, which allows the AFC to fabricate contentions of the like that it has received 10% of the votes cast, a blatant lie.

We also wish to highlight the seriousness and alacrity with which GECOM has treated with certain allegations, which first surfaced on Facebook from unconfirmed and dubious APNU sources that they were certain irregularities, in relation to, the procedure for the approval for proxies in the

Nagamootoo’s latest ramblings reek of desperation – No-Confidence Motion must be debated in the Parliament at the earliest

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e observe with amusement the recent vacuous ramblings of Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, on the No-Confidence Motion filed in the National Assembly.

Nagamootoo, in his usual style, strings together a set of sound bites and in the end says nothing other than to make the ridiculous case that the No-Confidence Motion is an act of desperation and he boasts that it will be defeated. But, at the same time, he comically and desperately seeks to argue for a delay in debating it.

As they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating: Nagamootoo should stop spouting hot air and bring on the No-Confidence Motion for debate earliest.

Despite all the “fat talk”, the truth is he is scared to death to do so. Instead, he parrots the Government’s

position that the budget must be presented and debated first.

The Government must accept the reality that Nagamootoo is widely regarded as a political joke in Guyana and he should be the last person assigned the responsibility of publishing the Government’s position, if the Government wants that position to be taken seriously by the nation.

This man simply has no credibility in the eyes of the Guyanese public because of the number of lies, which he has spoken and written over the years. Only recently, he threatened to demolish the PPP at Whim and at the Local Government Elections (LGE). The results show that not even the backers voted for his candidates at Whim and the AFC received less than 4% of the total votes cast at the LGE.

On the issue of fear and desperation, we wish to remind Mr. Nagamootoo that as “Leader of Government Business”, instead of leading his troops to Parliament, last Friday he led them into hiding at Congress Place and with the gates securely locked and the environs surrounded by a band of aggressive APNU supporters, he then puffed his chest to the press, as he declared that he is not afraid of the No-Confidence Motion!

We reiterate our call for the No-Confidence Motion to be debated in the Parliament earliest and we respectfully demand that the National Assembly puts the Motion up for debate.

We say to the Government, stop the grand standing outside the National Assembly and come to the National Assembly to debate the Motion.

Municipality of Mabaruma.

Our information is that the GECOM officials who visited from Georgetown were being openly transported in the Mabaruma area by APNU officials.

There was not even an attempt to hide the complicity. So here we have GECOM officials leaving Georgetown to travel to Region 1 to investigate certain spurious claims emanating from Facebook, which at best, can have no material impact whatsoever on the results of that Municipality, simply because APNU was soundly thrashed by the PPP at LGE in that area.

On the other hand, the PPP has made multiple complaints of serious ir-

regularities right across the country and in most cases did not get even a response from GECOM and whenever we got a response from GECOM, it was one that rejected our complaints.

For example – the numerous complaints of widespread allegations of blatant forgeries both on the lists of candidates and the lists of backers of both the APNU and the AFC; complaints against the Returning Officer for Region 4, who refused to accept requests for recounts by the PPP, which are guaranteed by law, in relation to the 2015 General and Regional Elections and rather than receiving some form of sanction from GECOM, this officer was promoted

by GECOM to the position of supervisor for Region 6, in respect to the 2018 LGE; even in the elections petition filed by the PPP against the 2015 General and Regional Elections, the PPP highlighted a number of irregularities and illegalities committed in the electoral process; rather than assist the court in having these irregularities and illegalities addressed and ventilated, GECOM filed proceedings to strike out the petition.

Unless there is a fundamental change in the way GECOM functions, it will continue to contribute to a lack of confidence, not only in the Commission itself, but in the electoral machinery as a whole.

PNC back in form, dark days of dictatorship are returning faster than most expected

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fter a thrashing at the Local Government Elections (LGE), the No-Confidence Motion filed against them and a visionless budget that has plunged them into even deeper political woes, the Coalition Government, as promised, has upped the political vendetta against the Opposition. We have seen another round of trumped up charges against People's Progressive Party (PPP) Executive Member and former Minister of Housing, Irfaan Ali, in relation to the sale of lands at Goedverwagting.

These charges have been dangling for over 2 years.

Their institution, today, a few days before the national budget debates begins and of course, the No-Confidence Motion is no coincidence. The modus operandi in the arrest of Irfaan Ali, says it all.

A vanload of Policemen turned up at his house at 4:00 am, arrested him and took him to the Headquarters of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

Irfaan Ali attended SOCU's office on every occa-

sion he was requested to do so over the last year. So, there was no need for the show of power. But, this is the PNC back in form.

During a recent sitting of the National Assembly, Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, did inform Irfaan Ali that he is directing charges to be filed against him and told Anil Nandlall that he will be convicted. Now in hindsight, we realized our error in not taking these remarks as serious as we should have done.

We would like to highlight that not only is SOCU taking political directions from Ministers but is being run by a foreign envoy, masquerading as a “consultant”. This “consultant” was seen at daybreak this morning, directing the operations.

Another important functionary at SOCU is an officer who was dismissed on numerous occasions for corruption.

It is clear that authoritarianism is being taken to another level. We remind of the political threat to our supporters issued by Joseph Harmon at a public meeting in Sophia and the

racist remarks of Volda Lawerence, coupled with the threat to remove our Councillors from office without an election.

The dark days of dictatorship are returning faster than most expected.

We are not oblivious to the fact that these charges are intended to tarnish our leaders in order to impact the choice of the PPP’s presidential candidate for the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

This plan will also not succeed.

No doubt, greater pressures will be mounted, more charges will be filed and more agencies of the State will be directed to target our leadership, in order to break our spirit and intimidate our supporters.

However, it will succeed only in making us stronger and even more determined to lead and unite, not only our supporters, but every fair, law abiding and patriotic Guyanese, irrespective of class, race or religion in an indefatigable movement and struggle to remove this corrupt, incompetent and vengeful cabal from Government.

27

WEEKEND MIRROR 1-2 DECEMBER, 2018

Victims positively identify Police intercept car with guns, bandits intercepted during ammo, false number plates routine ‘stop and search’ exercise olice in ‘A Division’ on Monday (No- live rounds and a pair of “paste-on “number

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olice ranks on the Western End of the Demerara Harbour Bridge intercepted a number of persons were arrested and charged with guns and ammunition possession, and other offences.

On Wednesday (November 28, 2018) morning about 03:30hrs a police team commanded by a Sergeant, whilst conducting a stop and search exercise on the Meer-Zorgen Public

Road, West Bank Demerara (Western End of the Harbour Bridge), stopped and searched a yellow wagon motorcar, its driver and two occupants (all males).

A laptop, ear-pieces, four cellular phones, an Amazon tablet, an assortment of jewelry, a Guyana Passport, local and foreign currencies and other items were found in the vehicle.

The vehicle and suspects

were escorted to the nearby La-Grange Police Station where minutes later, two reports of breakages in the Canal # 1 Polder, West Bank Demerara were reported and the victims, both female educators, positively identified all of the aforementioned items as their property.

The suspects who have all given several addresses each, are assisting with the investigations.

Carjackers steal parked car from Providence resident

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olice are investigating a carjacking at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD), during which a motor vehicle was stolen from the owner’s yard late last week.

Based on information received, the grey 212 motor car bearing registration number PPP 7358 went missing overnight.

The owner of the vehicle, Natasha Taylor, disclosed that she parked her car in her yard and retired to bed. However, the following morning, to her surprise, the car was missing. “Thursday morning when I woke up, I didn’t see the car … when I get up, I look through the window, it wasn’t there,” the distressed woman said.

She said she rushed into the yard and then made a Police report.

Investigations are ongoing.

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vember 26, 2018) thwarted a possible robbery when, acting on information received, they intercepted a car bearing a hire car number plate on Princess and High Streets, Georgetown.

Ranks searched the car and unearthed therein two unlicensed pistols, nineteen

plates.

Three males, inclusive of the driver, have been arrested and are assisting with the investigation. The men are from South, Sophia, Georgetown; South Amelia’s Ward, Linden; and West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown.

andits stormed the home of an Anna Regina Housing Scheme, Essequibo, family and carted off a small quantity of valuables on Sunday (November 25, 2018).

According to reports, about 07:00h on

the day in question, the armed men entered the bottom flat of the home. No one was seriously injured during the incident.

The family has complained about the sloth of police response after the robbery.

Investigations are ongoing.

Anna Regina family the latest victims of home invasion B Elderly man battered to death during suspected home invasion

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he lifeless body of 88-year-old pensioner Dhruwa Ramnauth, also called “Uncle Dhrub,” was discovered in the kitchen of his Surat Drive, Triumph, East Coast Demerara home, on Friday (November 23, 2018) afternoon.

The man was killed in a suspected home invasion. The elderly man’s body was found with his hands bound and his head smashed in. A ‘massala brick’

was reportedly found on his head.

The man had been operating a grocery shop at his residence for all his life, and this was not the first time he

had been attacked. The pensioner had lived alone.

The next-door neighbour, Sachin Singh, said he would usually call on Ramnauth just to check in with him. It was he who made the discovery of the elderly man’s body. The neighbour disclosed that the man’s home was ransacked. However, he could not say if anything was missing.

Police investigations are ongoing.

More protests rock the sugar belt

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orkers of Albion and Uitvlugt Estates, on Thursday (November 29, 2018) downed tools and staged a picketing exercises outside the respective estates as they called on the state-owned Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the APNU+AFC Coalition to approve a pay rise for them.

This is the latest protest to rock the sugar belt this week.

Sugar workers remain the only group of workers who have not received any rise in pay since the incumbent

Government took office over three years ago.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) said, “It is no secret that there has been a sharp rise in the cost-of-living over that period.

“In fact in the long time that has elapsed since the workers have not benefitted from any rise in pay, several burdensome policies have been implemented. For instance, when the workers last received a pay rise, now over 1,500 days ago, they hadn’t

to pay value added taxes (VAT) on essential items like water, electricity and private medical care; they

weren’t required to pay an environmental tax; the cost of fuel and public transportation were lower; they hadn’t

to pay increased water and phone rates, among the several burdens that have now fallen on their backs. That apart when the workers last got a pay rise they received a state grant for their school aged children, and they were not required to pay VAT on essential school supplies and food items.

“With those serious challenges they have had to contend with, their work opportunities have markedly decline while their incentives like the Weekly Production Incentive (WPI) have been curtailed and their Annual Production Incentive (API), which dates back to colonial times, has been suspended.

The magnitude of these and other decisions have seen their earnings falling by a whopping 36 per cent between 2014 and 2017. This substantial fall in income taken together with the massive rise in living costs have certainly pushed workers and their families closer to the

poverty line.

“It is indeed dismaying that the workers are being treated so disdainfully visà-vis their colleagues in other areas of the State who themselves, in spite of pay increases, are finding the times of today difficult. One can imagine the situation that, therefore, confronts the sugar workers and their families. Instructively, the last time workers were denied a pay increase was over three decades ago was in 1983 and 1984 when the Forbes Burnham administration, at that time, did not approve increases not only for the sugar workers but all public sector workers.”

The Union added that the treatment of the sugar workers in recent times reeks of blatant and clear discrimination. “It is clear that the time is now for the sugar workers to receive a fair pay increase,” GAWU said.

(SEE ADDITIONAL REPORTING ON PAGE 21)

Harmon publicly contradicts positions taken by Nagamootoo

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ays after Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, made an address at the Bertram Collins College of the Public Service (BCCPS), Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, at the same venue contradicted the positions taken by him.

Nagamootoo had said, “Public servants have always been told that they shouldn’t dabble in politics, I don’t share that view, because public servants, who serve the people must understand politics.”

However, on Wednesday (November 29, 2018), Harmon said, “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. It must also possess expert knowledge and a high standard of academic education. In addition, it should consist of

men and women of integrity who are reliable and willing to give advice without fear or favour, partiality or prejudice. “… a new public service, therefore… is envisaged by our administration. One that [is] accessible… One that [is] relevant, one that [is] reliable, one that [is] resourceful, and one that [is] responsive to the needs of the people, that [is] equally effective in all Regions of Guyana, be it on the coast and hinterland, and all communities rural and urban.”

Harmon made no reference to the need for public servants to “dabble” in politics – as Nagamootoo had.

The State Minister was at the time addressing the second graduating class of cadets at the Bertram Collins College of the Public Service, with a guest lecture titled, ‘the Realities of the Guyana Public Service’.

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