Weekend Mirror 21-22 July 2018

Local Gov’t Elections set for November 12, 2018 21-22 July , 2018 / Vol. 10 No. 31 / Price: $100

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he date for Local Government Elections (LGE) was announced on Thursday (July 18, 2018). The 2018 LGE will be held on November 12, 2018.

At the 2016 LGE, less than a year after the APNU+AFC Coalition took office, the PPP/C won 48 of Local Authority Areas (LAAs) out of the 71 areas. The APNU+AFC won only 16 and the other seven areas were tied between the PPP/C and APNU+AFC.

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

Of 1,166 seats up for grabs, the PPP/C won 754 of those, while Granger-led APNU+AFC Coalition government won 375. The remaining seats went to independent candidates and groups that contested the elections - in other words the PPP/C won 65 per cent of the seats, while 32 per cent went to APNU+AFC. The difference of votes was some 28,000 – not counting the areas where there was no contest, meaning only the PPP/C fielded candidates.

Community outreaches continue

SEE INSIDE

Teixeira questions….

Does the Speaker not think that Amerindians PAGE 25 are important?

Gov’t PAGE 26 finding it hard to back up campaign rhetoric of corruption

A bottom-house meeting at Grove, East Bank Demerara, on Wednesday (July 18, 2018) was the latest community outreach exercise by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and the meting saw a large showing of support for the Party

PPP/C presidential candidate likely to be named before year-end PAGE 10

Fact-based study will show that Afro-Guyanese did better under PAGE 8 successive PPP/C governments

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APNU+AFC failure to treat all Guyanese equally exposed T

he State has a responsibility to give fair and equal treatment to its citizens and to ensure equal access to goods and services. This was one of the key messages communicated to the Commissioners of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, during a meeting.

The Leader of the Opposition also repeated the PPP/C’s call for equal treatment for the 7,000+ sugar workers, who have lost their jobs as a result of the closures of the Wales, Rose Hall, Skeldon and Enmore sugar estates. Jagdeo detailed the policies that were implemented to support communities in Region 10, specifically Linden and communities along the Berbice River, because of problem relating

to the bauxite sector. Those policies – subsidized water and electricity; training; and the creation of a loan programme; among other measures – remain intact today. He, therefore, urged the Commission to look at what needs to be done to ensure that the sugar workers benefit from equal treatment.

On prior occasions, Jagdeo had explained that former PPP/C governments dealt with hardships in the productive sectors, particularly bauxite and sugar, in a non-partisan manner to ensure that the lives of Guyanese were not made unnecessarily harder. “The PPP has no conflict (in how the two sectors were treated),” he said, adding that it is for this reason that the Party can call for the sugar workers to be given the same support

that was given to the bauxite sector when it was facing hardships years ago.

There has been no move to offer substantial support to sugar workers reeling from the impact of the firings.

Concerns were also raised about the almost 2,000 Amerindian Community Service Officers (CSOs), whose services were terminated post May 2015. The Opposition Leader informed the Commissioners that with the loss of employment of these CSOs, over $700M has been withdrawn from their communities, resulting in devastating repercussions for the people living in those areas.

Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, and PPP/C Parliamentarian, Juan Edghill, were also present at the meeting, held last Wednesday (July 11, 2018).

Numbers on influx of Venezuelans to Guyana expected by month-end A

Board has been set up to address the influx of Venezuelans arriving in Guyana, via the hinterland borders.

The members on the Board include representatives from the Ministries of Public Health, Social Protection, Communities, Citizenship, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Civil Defense Commission (CDC).

An initial statistical report on the exact number of persons seeking refuge at

Guyana’s border has been reviewed by the Board.

Currently, small villages like White Water in Barima-Waini have recorded the arrival of approximately 150 persons. Minimal accommodation is provided for those Venezuelans who remain in communities along the border.

A definite number on the recorded influx of Venezuelans is expected to be provided by July 23, 2018.

Meanwhile, a delegation led by the Ministry of For-

eign Affairs, has returned from the border town of Puerto Ordaz, in Venezuela. The team conducted an assessment to ascertain a number of things. A full report on the assessment has not been provided to the Guyanese people.

The economic situation in Venezuela has seen many Guyanese, living there for years, returning home. Other Venezuelan nationals have crossed the border in search of food and access to drugs and medical supplies.

Transport operators could be looking at imposition of conditions to get licences, mandatory training and more T he APNU+AFC Government remains unresponsive to the substantive calls made by the United Minibus Union, relative to the reversal of policies that are hurting transport operators.

President of the United Mini-

bus Union, Eon Andrews has said, “We still need relief for minibus drivers and conductors…we still have to address the other operational costs.” The operational costs include the cost of tyres, etc.

The one issue that gov-

ernment did respond to – the high fuel prices – has been deemed an insufficient response by transport operators. Gasoline and diesel prices were reduced by $4 at GuyOil stations. The privately owned stations still (Turn to page 3)

WEEKEND MIRROR 21-22 JULY, 2018

Millions of taxpayers’ dollars wasted?

Factory that was supposed to create jobs sitting as ‘white elephant’

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he residents on the Island of Leguan, Region Three, are concerned about the future of the multimillion-dollar plantain chip factory, which is yet to become operational, two years after it was completed.

The project was started in 2015. However, since its completion, the residents on the island of Leguan are yet to benefit.

Questions are now being

asked about the wastage of taxpayers’ monies.

Questions are also being asked about the failure of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government to deliver on its promise of job creation.

The factory has the capacity to employ over 30 persons.

The Ministry of Business has specifically been put on blast for not responding to the many concerns raised about this matter.

Notably, when pressed on the matter, Business Minister and the son-in-law of President David Granger, Dominic Gaskin, said his Ministry is not in the business of making plantain chips.

For now, the Leguan plantain chip factory sits idle, with no electricity, two security guards, and sheep grazing in the yard on overgrown grass.

Is the APNU+AFC government’s Public-Private Partnership framework another failure?

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ith the three-year mark passed, since the APNU+AFC Coalition Government took office, there are no prospects for major future investments in Guyana.

In June 2018, the Government produced a Public-Private Partnership policy framework document.

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, had stated the framework was intended to “attract foreign investors to work along with the local sector and/or the government in trying to push our infrastructure. However, to date there has been no news of any moves by the current Administration to court new foreign direct investments.

Notably, in three years, among several other trips made, there were three mas-

sive excursions between 2015 and 2017 – excursions that Guyanese were told focused on securing investments. To date there has been no details on the outcomes of those trips.

In October 2015, a highlevel ministerial delegation to Canada included, First Vice President and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson and Minister of Business and Investment Dominic Gaskin. The intention was to address investment possibilities. Despite multiple queries, to date there has been no update on what materialised from this trip.

In June 2016, there was

a New York investment conference, which saw the participation of a 16-member delegation, including four ministers and ‘honorific’ advisors. Here too, there has been no work of what investments proposals materialised from the two trips – if any.

In May 2017, a 12-member Guyanese team, including Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin, were on a Trade and Investment Explanatory Mission in Brazil, and were slated to participate in several rounds of discussions with investors in Boa Vista. As with the first no, no outcome statement detailed progress of the undertaking.

In the meantime, Guyana’s economy continues to perform poorly.

More taxes on the way

– Bulkan says APNU+AFC is ‘committed’ to expanding its revue base

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ven as many Guyanese continue to feel the squeeze of the current economic downturn, worrying comments made by Communities Minister, Ronald Bulkan, are increasing concerns for the future.

Bulkan, at a recent event, stated that the APNU+AFC Government is committed to strengthening its revenue base and financial sustainability by updating the system of property valuation. “We are aware that without reliable, continuous and locally-generated sources of revenue, it is nearly impossible for local organs to perform

the task of community development,” he said of the move.

In January 2018, Bulkan announced the move to have a mass valuation of properties countrywide this year. He said the purpose is to essentially assist the municipalities to garner more finances so as to allow a ‘weaning’ of them off the government support.

“This will `wean’ them off of central government’s subventions,” he had said in January.

Once the valuations are done, Bulkan said the authorities in the various municipalities and Neighbour-

hood Democratic Councils’ (NDCs) will determine how they are used. “It is for the use and determination of individual councils as to what rates they would want to effect. That will be a determination that will be made individually and independently by the respective councils,” Bulkan said.

The move has been rejected by the Parliamentary Opposition, which has said that it will increase cost of living costs of the Guyanese population at a time when costs are already being increased because of the tax policies of the Coalition Government.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 21-22 JULY, 2018

IMF highlights ‘disorderly Jordan hiding from restructuring’ of sugar sector, need for debate on economy, fired sugar workers to have ‘safety net’ Ali says Guyana’s reserves are being A run down G “disorderly restructuring of the sugar sector will have major economic and social” cost for Guyana, according to the full International Monetary Fund (IMF) report, which was issued this week.

The APNU+AFC Coalition Government began closure of sugar estates, displacing thousands of sugar workers, in 2016 with the closure of the Wales Estate.

While government said it has plans for the estates it closed; it is now 2018 and nothing has been done with the shuttered Wales Estates. The other closed estates include the Skeldon Estate, Rose Hall and the East Demerara Estate. Since the closures, the a Special Purposes Unit (SPU) was set up and funded by taxpayers’ monies to oversee the sell-off of GuySuCo assets. However, to date, the SPU has not made public any sort of work plan.

The IMF report also emphasized the importance of providing a “safety net” to protect those affected by this process given the economic and social implications, geographic concentration

of the displaced workers (which amplifies spillovers to the impacted regions’ economies) and the difficulties sugar workers may face transitioning to other occupations The IMF said too that the central government deficit is projected to widen to 5.4 and 5.1 per cent in 2018 and 2018 due to the cost of restructuring the sugar sector.

It added that the public

debt is projected to peak at 57.2 per cent of GDP in 2018 and referred to the government guaranteed fiveyear US$30B bond, which has a 4.75 per cent interest rate. Guyana’s debt will be pushed above 60 per cent of GDP by 2019. The loan was taken by the SPU, but again there has been no plan outlined to indicate how the $30B will be spent or on what.

The government had been strongly criticised for allowing the severing of about 7,000 sugar workers without having options in place for them, let alone alternative sources of employment. Also, in breach of the law, the Government did not pay the sugar workers their full severance payments.

The IMF report followed Article IV consultations in May 2018.

Granger-gov’t blasted for ‘shameless insult’ to intelligence of local media corps

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he Guyana Press Association (GPA) has endorsed the recent criticisms of President David Granger's failure to engage the local media corps and hold periodic press conferences.

In a statement, the GPA said, “We believe that the retort by the Ministry of the Presidency to a Stabroek News editorial is nothing but a shameless insult to the intelligence of the media corps and by extension the Guyanese public at large.”

Granger’s failures to re-

spond to his Government’s promise of transparency and accountability were highlighted by the Stabroek News, in the editorial referred to by the GPA. After being called out, the Ministry of the Presidency, in a statement, said, “The David Granger-led administration since its assumption to office has been nothing but transparent and accountable to the citizens.”

The GPA said, “For the record, the President barely speaks to the media for five

minutes after any official engagement. This was evident when the President was approached on Monday, July 16th, 2018 for a reaction to accusations of non-fulfillment of promises by the National Toshaos Council.

The Head of State barely afforded reporters a one-minute opportunity until they were forced out of the way as he hopped into his car.

“In the not too distant past, as Opposition Leader, the media were summoned to weekly press conferences

by Mr. Granger or told that he was available for public comments and interviews.”

The local media group made it clear that the “sideline interviews cannot be substituted for press conferences” and are at best limited cosmetic media access.

“The GPA awaits the announcement of frequent press conferences with the Head of State,” the Association has said.

In over three year, Granger has only engaged the media twice.

Appeal for voluntary blood donation

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he National Blood Transfusion Services (NBTS) is in dire need of blood to satisfy a growing demand.

At this time of the year, the demand is high and the blood bank is short of ALL Blood Groups.

The goal of the NBTS is for all the blood supplied in Guyana to be collected from voluntary, healthy donors. If a person is 17 years or older, in generally good health,

free from any blood borne disease and weigh at least 110 pounds, you can become a Voluntary Blood Donor.

The donation process is very simple and requires the following steps: Registration of donor; Mini health checks comprising of: your body weight, pulse, blood pressure, temperature and HB (Iron) level; a brief interview to determine if your sexual lifestyle

and medical history permits you to donate blood, this session is very private and confidential. A person, who fits the criteria, can donate blood every two months.

The actual blood donation stage where a unit (less than a pint) of blood will be taken. The entire blood donation process takes 20 minutes.

Voluntary donors are being asked to visit the NBTS

facilities at New Amsterdam, West Demerara, Suddie and Linden hospitals. The NBTS main location is located at East and Lamaha street (Georgetown Public Hospital Compound). Opening hours are 08:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs from Monday to Friday and on Saturdays, 9:00hrs15:00hrs.

For further enquire please call: 223 7182, 225 4972, 669 8776 OR 644 9590.

uyana’s foreign reserves have fallen below internationally recommended levels and according to Opposition Parliamentarian, Irfaan Ali, this is a sign that the country’s financial architecture is on the verge of imploding.

Ali argued that little is being done to resurrect the economy. According to him, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government is either unwilling or incapable of solving the underperformance of key export sectors, which have contributed to shortages of foreign currency and depreciation of the exchange rate.

Using 2014 as a base, Ali noted that total foreign currency transactions of licensed banks have declined

by US$28 million, while non-bank cambio transactions have declined by US$ 0.7 million in 2016. In the first quarter of 2018 alone, he stressed, total foreign currency transactions declined by US$84 million.

He credited severe contractions in several economic sectors and the absence of corrective policies for contributing to this state of affairs and noted that sugar has contracted by $16.6 billion, rice $3.9 billion, forestry $16.3 billion and bauxite $9.5 billion.

Cumulatively, Ali disclosed that, Guyana’s economy has contracted by a total

of $46.11 billion.

“This is incompetence… all sectors are performing below 2014 levels,” he stressed, while noting that as a result foreign reserves are being depleted.

According to Ali, this depletion forced the Central Bank to sell off gold reserves earlier in the year and now it does not have enough gold to convert to foreign currency even as reserves fall below the internationally recommended levels of three months’ import cover.

The Bank of Guyana (BoG) reported in its quarterly report of March, 2018, that gross international reserves, which amounted to US$498.5 million, was equivalent to 2.6 months of import cover. The reserves have since declined further to US$485.3 million as of May, 2018.

An analysis conducted using the statistical abstract for January, 2018, indicated that between May, 2016 and May, 2017, the value of Guyana’s gold holdings fell by almost $10 billion dollars from $14.4 billion to $5.2 billion. The decrease in holdings continued with January, 2018 holdings valued at $2.2 billion, a sum which further declined to $1.9 billion in February and March.

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, has refused to respond to these concerns.

Transport operators could be...

(From page 2)

charge prices that are high.

Notably, in addition to the transport operators, the local private sector bodies also called for the reduction of the fuel prices.

While there remains no action on the substantive calls made by the United Minibus Union, the APNU+AFC Government is also moving in the direction of worrying developments.

The Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, touted new enforceable fare structures for the transport sector to allow for what he said will be the standardization of the fare structures.

“Once Cabinet approves the new fare structure, it will be

put out to the public along with some means of enforcement,” he said. A decision on the fare structure is expected by the end of July.

Gaskin is also pushing for “terms and conditions on which the licenses are granted” to transport operators.

He also talked about “mandatory training” for transport operators. Gaskin said, “A whole lot of things need to be put in place and it requires training.”

It is unclear what extent of consultations has been undertaken by the Coalition Government, prior to Gaskin’s comments about new moves in the transport sector.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 21-22 JULY, 2018

EDITORIAL

The APNU+AFC Coalition’s proclivity to disregard welfare concerns exposed at NTC Conference

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he 2018 Conference of the National Tosahos Council (NTC) has dominated the conversation this week and has also exposed the failures of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government.

The three main failures seen in the fact that: 1. There was a radical department from interactive engagement between the Toshaos and top government officials, the policy makers, including the President and Ministers; 2. There was no opportunity for the Toshaos to hold to account politicians, relative to the many unfulfilled promises to address the development and welfare of Amerindians in Guyana; 3. There was no chance to get answers to serious questions – questions about infrastructure; roads; ICT; the 6,000 solar panels that were taken away from the Amerindian villages; jobs and the 40,000 people that Minister Sydney Allicock said were unemployed in the hinterland; the welfare of the almost 2,000 Community Service Officers (CSOs) who were fired; and whether the projects left by the PPP/C will be funded and completed.

Instead what we had were empty speeches – more rhetoric from President David Granger and his Ministers. Are they actually hopeful that the misleading campaign they led prior to the May 2015 General and Regional Elections can be reused successfully in 2018?

Probably the most interesting development on the APNU+AFC Government side was the BLATANT LIES that were peddled.

On the issue of welfare, Guyanese saw Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe say that the HEYS programme has turned out 1,302 successful businesses. But where are these successful entrepreneurial projects? In which Amerindian village? But like everything with this Government, you might have to use your imagination to see the projects, like people have to use their imagination to see this ‘good life’ that the APNU+AFC promised. Additionally, the HEY programme itself has been scrapped. It was Minister Allicock himself who admitted that the HEYS programme was deficient. Notably, however, while it was announced that the programme would be scrapped, a replacement has not yet been put in place.

Then Guyanese saw not only another blatant lie, but an utterly ridiculous lie. The Government has peddled the line that the US$10.7M left by the PPP/C to do the Amerindian Land Titling Project has been increased to US$165M – a move from GYD$2.3B (US$10.7M) to $34.5B (US$165M).

What this claim represents is not only a major distortion, but it is indicative of the lengths to which this APNU+AFC Coalition Government will go to lie to the Guyanese people.

The failures of the Granger-led Coalition Government on this issue have been compounded by the decision of House Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland, on Wednesday (July 18, 2018), to disallow questions submitted by the Parliamentary Opposition on the Amerindian Land Titling and Demarcation Project. What did the questions call for? The questions called on Government to account for the US$2.5M that was spent from the US$10.7M left for the Amerindian Land Titling Project. The questions demanded that government explain it policy position on Amerindian Land Titling Project. Will it continue the project or not? Not one land title or extension has been granted by the APNU+AFC Government in over three years. But what happened? The Speaker said the questions were not urgent and did not relate to the business of the National Assembly.

These are the least of the issues, but the pattern is clear – the welfare of ordinary Guyanese continue to be ignored by this Government.

The Amerindian population in Guyana represents 10 per cent of Guyanese people and ALL Guyanese deserve to have their interests and concerns addressed. The Amerindian peoples of our country cannot be treated as less than any other citizen in this country.

In line with principle of fairness objectivity is not so much to ask for Dear Editor,

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tabroek News’ ‘Politikles’ on Friday, July 13th, 2018, warrants a comments; first off because it seemingly conveys the view that there has not been diversity in the past choices for presidents by the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC).

There have been 6 elections from 1992 to 2015. Of those seven times, there have been women and women, as well as representation of different ethnic groups involved in the democratic process that led to a presidential candidate being supported.

Of those 6 times, in 1992, the choice on the presidential candidate was clear, it was none other than the

late Dr. Cheddi Jagan.

After the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan, a white woman, Janet Jagan, was the presidential candidate who was supported.

Janet Jagan was followed by an Afro-Guyanese man, Sam Hinds, who was president.

After Hinds, there were four elections – a two term (2001, 2006) for Bharrat Jagdeo and a two-term for Donald Ramotar (2011 and 2015).

Donald Ramotar of course did not serve too terms because he lost at the 2015 elections.

Things must be taken in context.

The facts matter. In 6 elections the PPPC had five presidents and there was diversity. The Stabroek News’ cartoon

did not reflect that.

If it is that the cartoonist wishes to say that there should be more diversity then that is a different matter.

But to say “I have a dream that one day a black candidate and a female candidate….” is not fair. It is not being objective.

In fairness, objectivity is not so much to ask for. After all, it is not like the cartoonist has made a similar criticism of the past choices for presidents, as well as Prime Minister, of the People’s National Congress (PNC); and all of Guyana knows the failures in pushing for diversity there.

Regards, Baldeo Mathura

Region Two continues to be affected by drug shortage T here continues to be a shortage of drugs and medical supplies at Public Health facilities in Region Two. This is a key matter of concern for the Regional Democratic Council of Region Two since public confidence in our region’s health system is at a low.

Many residents have been voicing frustrations and patients have the burden to procure certain medications that are unavailable at hospitals, health centres and health posts. It must be noted that this is happening at a time when the

region’s economy is struggling.

Based on financial reports of the RDC; Region Two has budgeted in excess of $200M to procure drugs and medical supplies for the year 2018; residents are affected due to weaknesses in the procurement and supply systems.

It was also found that the Regional Health Officer and others in the leadership of the health programme are not providing timely updates to the RDC on the situation.

The RDC of Region Two calls

on the Minister of Public Health to urgently intervene to address this and other matters affecting health care delivery in Region Two. We invite our Minister of Public Health to meaningfully engage the RDC and other key stakeholders as we work to enhance health care to the benefit of all in Region Two. Devanand Ramdatt, Regional Chairman, Region Two

Why has the Coalition Government accepted this position from ExxonMobil?

Dear Editor,

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tabroek News’ article under the headline ‘Plans quickening for natural gas in 200 MW plant –Patterson’ in the Monday’s papers is very telling.

First off, Mr. Editor, the natural gas asset belongs to the Guyanese people.

This fact is clear.

I found the comments from ExxonMobil’s Country Representative, Rod Henson, reflective of an arrogant disposition. This was unacceptable, more so that Rod Henson was addressing bi-partisan Committee of Guyanese legislators. This disposition was clearly seen

when Rod Henson had to be reminded by the Chairman of that Parliamentary Committee of the reason he was called to appear. Before then Rod Henson seemed to think he was only talking about local content.

If the natural gas is a Guyanese asset and ExxonMobil will, in the course of its operations, make a return on the investment, what is wrong with him providing the study that says developing natural gas is technically and financially feasible?

More worrying, why has the Coalition Government accepted this position from ExxonMobil?

Whatever the next moves are, the Guyanese people must be fully aware of what is happening. We must know the details to ensure that the best decisions are made for Guyana.

There cannot be secret developments, like we saw when the ExxonMobil contract was renegotiated, and then Guyanese will only be left to have personalities like Christopher Ram working to point out how badly the Coalition Government failed the Guyanese people.

Regards, Attiya Baksh

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WEEKEND MIRROR 21-22 JULY, 2018

A tribute to the 1973 Ballot Box Martyrs Incident with Broomes ‘The Bully’ Dear Editor, uly 16th, 1973 was one of the darkest of Guyana. It was the is more evidence that Guyanese Jdaydayswhenin theour history democracy was raped; a day when Guyanese, in exercising their right to dealing with the same old PNC vote, and in protecting their votes from being Dear Editor,

I

am on record as recognizing the good work of Minister Broomes when she was in the Ministry of Social Protection. I stand by my record of celebrating the fact that she tried to bring justice to the plight of the Regent Street workers until the powers that be clipped her wings. But since then I am at a loss to comprehend the actions of this Minister. Today this same Minister is being accused of fibbing on two members of the working class, causing them to spend sixteen hours in the Police lock-ups.

Thank the lord for technology! The factual video exposed the shameful bullying behaviour.

Looking at that video, one can easily conclude we have ourselves here a bully in Ms. Broomes. Why did Ms. Broomes’ driver choose to use the government’s vehicle as a weapon to attempt to force their way forward into human beings even after they were advised that the area was a “no-parking” zone? This action laid bare the fact that the Minister and the driver needed to dominate the space, while at the same time exhibiting poor impulse control.

But when we thought that was the end of it, the image shows a woman who is alleged to be the Minister, opening the door with haste and rushing to push down two of the “No-Parking” signs with no empathy for the fact that all these security guards were doing

were their jobs. Even though the guards told her that it was a no parking area, the only opinion that mattered in that incident was the Minister’s.

To add icing to the whole situation, the Police were instructed to arrest the security guards (the victims) and they did. Meanwhile, the real oppressors went home to bed. How can this be fair? When confronted by the media to answer the charge against her, the minister said, “I do not know what you are talking about” and sauntered away from them.

The sad reality though, except for Minister Volda Lawrence who apologised to one of the victims, the entire leadership of the PNCR circled the wagons on this act of public misconduct by a public official. When asked for a comment, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said no comment as this is one of his lead campaigners in his bid to become the Chairman of the PNCR and the next Leader of that Party. All of this is happening while the elected President appears to be in a sustained siesta in the State House.

What these collective actions expose is that we are living with “the same old PNC”.

Does the pageantry President not comprehend the nexus of this situation? These actions from Ms. Broomes are helping to wreck the PNC as a political force.

Yours faithfully, Sasenarine Singh

stolen, witnessed yet another bloody day in our country. Young voters Jagan Ramessar and Bholanauth Parmanand were fatally shot, and dozens more were injured by the bullets from members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

These two men were killed when hundreds gathered at the No 63 Primary School to ensure that their votes were counted at the place of Poll; that is, at the school where they voted. The army arrived at the close of poll, and the people, in protest, attempted to block the military from removing the ballot boxes from the place of counting at the polling station when bullets from the barrel of the soldier’s gun began to fly wildly into the crowd.

It was known locally and internationally that the PNC dictatorship were massively rigging elections from 1968 to 1992. Furthermore, state resources were abused, whereby the army was used to carry out these devious instructions from the despotic Burnham regime.

What history has taught Guyanese is that a country has never achieved real development under a Government that illegally entered office though fraudulent, violent, and lawless means. A good example would be the three years — from 2015 to 2018 — under the same PNC regime of the past, masquerading behind the mask of APNU/ AFC Coalition, taking political power in questionable circumstances and failing and neglecting to adhere to the call to recount certain ballot boxes. This action has been three years before the courts, and is still awaiting a date for hearing — a total disregard for the constitution and the Rule of Law by delay, another means of denying democracy in our

beloved land.

There has followed three years of constant economic and social decline. There seems to be no other way out but to crumble into an underdeveloped state. Where are the promised jobs for young people?

Heroes like Jagan Ramessar, Bholanauth Parmanand, Michael Forde, Dr. Walter Rodney, Father Darke, Kowsilla and others were killed in protecting their rights — by a twist from hope, to drive our brothers and sisters into fearing members of the PNC, and to stab democracy in the heart. These martyrs, by their sacrifice, helped shape our political struggle that led to free and fair elections in 1992.

Twenty-six years after, we will not allow their names and actions to be undermined and shunned away. In the 2015 General Elections, we witnessed a new form of dictatorship that spuriously appointed managerial roles in GECOM. There have been further instances, wherein SOCU has now become a political weapon used to embarrass members and supporters of the Peoples Progressive Part/Civic.

Have we returned to the dark and cruel days of Burnham? Would the 2020 elections be as haunting as the 1973 elections? Would the 2020 elections be epically rigged, like the 1985 elections? Should we deter into defeat, or should we pursue with a sure hope and with a strong leadership?

We honour the memories of these fallen heroes by exposing the wrongdoings of this Government. We honour them by being resilient through all the atrocities and injustices being thrown against us. The Guyanese people will continue to take the hard hits and keep getting up each time; and the more we get up, the stronger we will be. The fight will continue in our courts, in the halls of our parliament, and out there in our communities.

This is how we honour our fallen heroes.

Sincerely, Dimitri Ali

Why would a government shelve a well thought out futuristic plan like Amaila?

Dear Editor,

I

am sure all those who have read into the background of The Amaila Falls HEP, you would rightly agree that this marks a very well thought out plan by this country’s former leader, whereby we would have by this time been able to utilize clean affordable energy for domestic as well as for manufacturing purposes. This is futuristic thinking for a Developing Third World Country that is par excellence, one that has as its signature statement stamped by the international community. To have such international acclaim says much to the intellectual ingenuity of its leader and mores o for his blessed country.

Guyana was well on the road to becoming the next Singapore of The Caribbean. However, the decrepit political policies of this present Granger Regime have put this entire project into a tailspin.

Guyana is a country that falls in the Equatorial belt or squarely in The Amazon Basin where the annual rainfall average is approximately 4,000 mm. To have rainfall of such magnitude is a God-given blessing that many a rich country envy. This is the modern economic plan blessing that I am talking about and Guyana has at its ready disposal.

When a country is so blessed by nature you cannot help but count your blessings and tap into it immediately.

But this present government thinks differently, they are of the opinion that with the great fossil fuel find we should just throw everything else out which is very narrow thinking. My view on the oil find is that it just adds to our fortunes, as I would wont to say it is the icing on the cake. However, placing all your eggs in one basket is just asking for trouble. A sensible government would never put total reliance on an industry that is

so subject to the vagaries of the world market when you have all the natural resources in superabundance.

Even the oil rich nations are lecturing the world in this regard that you should not base all your plans on an exhaustible resource.

Their advice to the world is invest in sustainable resources that are Eco-friendly. They are saying that is the way to go if we are to successfully develop our economies as well as save our planet.

However, sadly this message has eluded The PNC Led Coalition Government who thinkthat their empty talk of development can suffice. I make this statement based on solid fact. By their own admission they asserted that they are more concerned about the new found fossil fuel generated oil, rather than placing serious attention on clean, cheap hydro powered energy. That in itself makes no sense, that this regime

should place their total dependence on oil and shelve a project that has the capacity to power the entire national grid, this is certain retrogression. But it all goes to show when party politics takes preeminence over sound economic policies.

Why would a government shelve, if not scrap a well thought out futuristic plan as Amalia Falls HEP, is beyond me? But, such is the backward, determined attitude of this PNC Led government where economic principles take a back seat or no place in their plans. The Great Cheddi Jagan called the Burnham Government a “fits and starts government,” and that is what I would call this present one also. They have no brains and no intelligence whatsoever, no wonder they are so afraid of Dr Jagdeo.

Regards, Neil Adams

6

WEEKEND MIRROR 21-22 JULY, 2018

Volda Lawrence continues to dodge questions about lack of transparency, accountability Dear Editor, I wish to respond to the Guyana Chronicle article under the caption, ‘Everything above board …Lawrence insists procedures followed in $366M drug contract…ties media reports to PNCR chairmanship race’, as well as the Kaieteur News article under the caption, ‘Health Ministry defends $366M drug contract… Company was only one that tendered; procedures were followed’.

Let me state from the onset that as a Member of Parliament (MP) of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), I am not concerned with the internal politics of the PNC. What is of utmost concern for me is transparency and accountability of taxpayers’ monies.

It would appear that the Minister and her Permanent Secretary, is seeking to exonerate themselves and have created gaps and have caused more questions to arise. In my last letter dated the 10th day of July 2018, I asked a number of questions pertaining to the sole-sourcing to pharmaceuticals from HDM Labs Inc., which to date remains unanswered.

This letter today seeks further clarity on my quest to unearth the truth and facts on behalf of all Guyanese.

These are some of the facts and information that is available: 1. By letter dated the 16th June 2017, Collette Adams in her capacity as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, wrote to Hardat Singh, who is the President/ CEO of HDM Labs Inc., under the caption “Materials Management Unit – Ministry of Public Health, Regional Health Services, Request for Quotation Ref # MMU-08-2017 P4 Supply and Delivery of Emergency Pharma-

ceutical Supplies”. Notably, the letter further stated that all quotes should be submitted on or before Monday, the 19th day of June 2017, before 10:00 am. (This was for 13 items that was omitted from the “big pharmaceuticals purchase”.

2. On the 19th day of June 2017, Collette Adams in her capacity as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, wrote to Berkley Wickham, who is the Chairman of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), requesting permission to sole-source pharmaceuticals, which omitted from the big pharmaceutical tender, to be sole-scoured from HDM Labs Inc., at a price of US $1,789,886.15, which is approximately GYD $366,926,660.80. Notably, the reasons contained within the letter for sole-sourcing was as follows: “The Ministry of Public Health had a restrictive tendering process done which was opened at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board date the 23rd May, 2017. An evaluation report was prepared and none of the bidders were qualified to be awarded a contract.”

3. On the 20th day of June 2017, Collette Adams in her capacity as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, wrote to HDM Labs Inc. notifying the company of the award for the supply and delivery of emergency pharmaceutical supplies for the above stated 13 items. Notably, attached to this letter was a Purchase Order Ref # MMU-08-2017 P4, along with a contract for the supply and delivery of emergency pharmaceutical supplies. GCC 15.1 of the said contract stated: “The method and conditions of payment to be made to the Supplier in G $ under this Contract shall be as follows: (i) On Delivery: the supplier shall be paid within thirty

(30) days on receipt of the Goods as outlined by the purchaser’s staggered schedule of delivery and upon submission of the documents specified in GCC Clause 12.” Editor, in my pervious letter which was mentioned above, I asked if the Minister could provide the nation with the approval letter from NPTAB that allowed for this transaction and state under which category of Section 28 of the Procurement Act of 2003, was the request granted?

As I mentioned before, this question was never answered.

4. On the 29th day of June 2017, Collette Adams in her capacity as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, wrote to Berkley Wickham, seeking permission for restrictive tendering (retendering) for the procurement of emergency pharmaceutical supplies ref # MMU-09-2017 P4. The six companies which were selected to participate in the restrictive tendering process for the same 13 items are: Ansa McAl Limited; International Pharmaceutical Agency; Global Healthcare Supplies Inc.; Caribbean Medical Supplies; Meditron Inc.; and HDM Labs Inc. 5. An examination of the Tender Evaluation Report for the supply and delivery of emergency pharmaceutical supplies for Regional Health Services (retender) Ref # MMU-09-2017 P4, NPTAB No. 1633/2017/43, reveals the following: (i) That Collette Adams, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, is the coordinator of the Evaluation Committee, which also comprises of Dr. Shamdeo Persaud and Jewel Sears; (ii) The bids were opened on the 18th day of July 2017. Notably, according to the evaluation report, only HDM Labs Inc. tendered for the contract. However, there was no Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and National Insurance Scheme (NIS) Compliance Certificates submitted; (iii) Further, the bid price in the evaluation report was USD $1,891,443.46, which is approximately GYD $387,745,909.30, an increase from the quoted sole-sourced price for the same 13 items and the same quantities; (iv) Also attached to the evaluation report are three documents showing that Ansa McAl Limited, International Pharmaceutical Agency, Caribbean Medical Supplies failed the preliminary checklist general evaluation criteria.

Editor, allow me to direct some more questions to the Minister of Public Health, on my quest to unearth the truth of what transpired at the Ministry of Public Health.

APNU and AFC has been misusing its majority in Parliament since 2011 D

emocracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions. When there is no accountability, there is abuse, corruption, subjugation and indignation.

Parliament is entrusted to be the ‘watchdog ‘ of our democracy and hold the executive accountable. But it is the executive that decides when the parliament should meet to exercise oversight of its functioning. Does such a manner in allowing the executive in convening parliament affect it to perform effectively?

The issue of who has the power to convene parliament is significant because it is closely related to the recent trend of declining numbers of sittings days. With the current political climate the delay of summoning parliament is under much criticism because APNU/AFC coalition government is afraid of scrutiny.

As the highest representative body parliament is the forum for debates and deliberation. The PPP as the opposition is

mandated to criticise the policies, plans, bills and laws which in accordance to the PPP are against the common people’s welfare and if any scam is found reveal it out in front of the nation.

The slim majority of one is the major factor why parliament is not functioning regularly and as such it is estimated that parliament of Guyana meets about 20 days per year (subjected for correction) which is unacceptable by the Guyanese electorates.

Only recently the government increased the parliamentary stipend with the intention that there would be an increase of work by parliamentarians. Unfortunately there was a deliberate decline on the number of sittings, because of the government side parliamentarians’ unavailability.

President David Granger who was a messiah of scrutiny and transparency before the 2015 elections now remains silently on the efficient functioning of the parliament of Guyana.

President Granger himself has refused to engage the media at press conferences

but with strict security measures talks to journalists at sidelines of his ceremonial duties. This action can be considered disrespectful and as journalists whenever we see racism, discrimination, corruption, public lies, dictatorship and human rights violations you have to take a stand because your responsibility as journalists is to confront those who are abusing power.

We have seen overtime that countries that have the best economic growth are those that have good governance and good governance comes from freedom of communication.

The big question is why parliament is used as executive tools deliberately to avoid scrutiny? The APNU/AFC Coalition government since 2011 has been failing Guyana with the parliamentary majority and it continues to use the parliamentary majority to impose more hardships on the Guyanese people and fail miserably to achieve the” good life “promised.

Sincerely, Zamal Hussain

1. If only HDM Labs Inc. submitted bids, why were the preliminary checklist of three other companies, who failed, were attached to the evaluation report?

2. How did Ansa McAl Trading Limited failed on the ground of “Experience and Technical Capacity (Evidence that demonstrates bidder has carried out similar transactions…)” for such a small contract, when they were recently awarded a GYD $605M contract for the supply of pharmaceuticals by way of sole-sourcing?

3. Please provide information that will bring comfort to the public that HDM Labs Inc. is a recognized and efficient supplier nationwide. Specifically, we would like to be informed about which companies/institutions, apart from the Ministry of Public Health, HDM Labs Inc. supplied pharmaceuticals to and the quantities, within the last two years?

Further, please state why companies that manufacture and distributes these pharmaceuticals, locally, were not offered an opportunity to provide these services? Notably, New GPC Inc. was not invited to tender in the restrictive bidding process.

4. Is the sole-sourced contract dated the 20th day of June 2017, for the sum of US $1,789,886.15, which is approximately GYD $366,926,660.80, the same as the contract, based upon the evaluation report, for the sum of USD $1,891,443.46, which is approximately GYD $387,745,909.30 or did the Ministry purchased the same 13 items and quantities twice from the same company, HDM Labs Inc., and paid an additional USD $101,557.13, which is approximately GYD $20,819,249, on the second purchase?

Editor, what is also amusing to me, is the fact that International Pharmaceutical Agency, owned by a well-known AFC financier, failed on the ground of “Financial Capacity (Evidence of Liquid Assets or credit not less than 25% of the bid price)”. Further, based on reports in the media HDM Labs Inc. did not file any financial returns in Guyana as was stated in the letter from his accountants.

I wish to advise the Minister that under active consideration at this time is a report to the Guyana Police Force, the Audit Office of Guyana and the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) for investigations.

Yours truly, Bishop Juan A. Edghill, PPP/C MP

Why not nationalise the Berbice River Bridge?

O

ur national Government seems comfortable with building, maintaining and subsiding the operation of a new Demerara River Bridge (reportedly in addition to the existing Demerara River Bridge).

Commuters pay the paltry sum of $100 for a car to use the bridge, while the same commuter, who pays the same taxes to the Government, has to pay virtually twenty (20) times more to cross the Berbice River Bridge…..and now there are moves afoot to add insult to injury by a substantial increase in the fees to cross the Berbice Bridge.

Is it not time for our ‘NATIONAL GOVERNMENT’ to simply assume full ownership, control and management of the Berbice River Bridge, and so relieve us Berbicians, who are the main users of the bridge, the heavy burden of yet another discriminatory charge to commute nationally, especially as most critical ‘national/civil services’ are located in the city of Georgetown?

PLEASE, Mr President & Cabinet, do consider some equitable treatment for us Berbicians.

Sincerely, N. Persaud

STRAIGHT TALK 7

WEEKEND MIRROR 21-22 JULY, 2018

(This speech was first made public on August 5, 1961. Its re-printing is among several activities being undertaken during 2018 to mark the 100th birth anniversary – March 22, 2018 – of the founder of the People’s Progressive Party, Dr Cheddi Jagan.)

PPP Economic Policy – A Realistic Plan for a Prosperous Future

By Dr. Cheddi Jagan

S

ome people say that we don’t have an economic plan, which we don’t know where we are going, that we have no policy. This is certainly not true.

We have definite objectives. The primary aim of our economic policy is to raise living standards, to end the scourge of unemployment and to provide for a more equitable distribution of the national income.

How will we achieve this goal? We will not follow in the footsteps of the Interim Government whose policy and programme the World Bank severely criticised — what the late Mr. Raatgever dubbed mere show pieces.

We will not squander money.

We will formulate a sound programme, carefully balancing the economic and social aspects of development. Where will our emphasis be? Will we give priority to agriculture or to heavy industry?

Some say that we should concentrate on heavy industry. They criticise us for spending two much money on agriculture. We are accused of doing so for political reasons. These persons charge that we are doing so because our supporters live in the rural areas. This is obviously foolish. Did not Mr. Adler, the World Bank economist, say that we had correctly assessed priorities

in our development plan?

Let me say this to our critics. We are fully aware as they are that industries generate wealth more rapidly, that industrialization results in faster economic growth.

But we are equally aware that heavy industries are highly capital-intensive; that is, they employ fewer people per unit of capital invested.

For instance, the recently built alumina plant cost $65 million, about $162,000 per person employed. Compare this with about $9,000 per family for land settlement schemes like Black Bush Polder.

More than any other, we are terribly conscious of the need for a balanced industrial-agricultural development.

But however much we desire industrialization, we could not proceed faster because of several factors. Almost nothing by way of exact plans, blue prints and feasibility studies were made by previous governments. We assumed office with a huge and growing unemployment and under-employment problem.

We were not building from scratch. We had to build on a base we inherited.

It should be noted that our economy like that of almost every underdeveloped country is based on agriculture. For a backward country, therefore, agriculture must play a leading role in the short term period. Every country which is today highly developed and industrialised has done so by first building an agricultural base. This was their jumping

off ground. And it must be ours also.

Our opponents in the Legislature and elsewhere who criticise us for concentrating on agriculture must not forget three facts. Firstly, unemployment in the towns is aggravated by the influx of people from the rural areas because of land hunger and ravages of floods and droughts.

Secondly, for every family employed directly in agriculture, three or four others gain indirect employment in different fields – in transport and shipping on the steamers, railways, on the waterfront, in commerce, in stores and in banks; and also in marketing organisations — the Rice Marketing Board, the produce department, the milk plant, etc.

Thirdly, our agricultural

policy has led to a more plentiful and cheap supply of foods — rice, ground provisions, milk, beef, pork, etc., resulting in our population being the best fed in the British Caribbean area.

It has also kept the cost of living relatively stable. The West Indian Economist of April 1961 shows an increase in the cost of living in the three-year period 1957 to 1960 of 13 points in Jamaica, 16 points in Trinidad and only 4 points in British Guiana. Had our food index risen to the same extent since 1957 as Jamaica and Trinidad we would have had to spend nearly an additional $1 million each year to feed ourselves. This means nearly $3 million for the last three years — quite a substantial saving for this country and the urban people too.

PPP/C plan for Guyana will be outlined long before 2020 General and Regional Elections – Jagdeo H

e has stressed that the Coalition has proved that it is “incapable” of running a country. According to him, the current administration is not only bereft of ideas on how to manage and grow the local economy, but has demonstrated it proclivity for greed, mediocrity and arrogance, in addition to being “hopelessly” incompetent.

“This Government has made deception an art form,” he said.

CLEAR PLAN Jagdeo added that by 2020 – or sooner – the PPP hopes to outline the plan that it has for the country, plans aimed at enhancing progress and development that benefits all of Guyana. “We will be bigger, better and stronger (by 2020),” Jagdeo declared.

He assured that the PPP will not neglect it support base, but will continue to reach out to all its supporters and stated that the PPP is a

Party for all of Guyana and will take its message across the country.

Moving forward, Jagdeo made clear that the Party must be guided by what is good for all Guyanese and Guyana and by the founding principles of the PPP. The PPP, he said, also has to decentralize and build up local leaders so that the PPP is in “tip top” shape to respond to the challenges of the day.

Jagdeo underscored the fact that the PPP has always been inclusive and will continue to engage anyone, regardless of ethnicity, religion or any other factor. According to him, the PPP is a unifying force. “We will work hard for the next few years to take back this country… those who voted for us and those who didn’t want to know what the Party stands for,” he said.

Specifically, he spoke to: the need to strengthen the

PPP family; the need for the PPP to remain open to new members and be accommodating to supporters who had left, but are returning; and the need to defend existing freedoms by understanding what is happening.

EQUAL ADVOCACY Consistent public positions of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) make it clear that the party advocates for all Guyanese, regardless of differentiating factors, according to him.

And he charged that detractors will not dissuade the Party from ensuring that it advances the cause of Guyanese who feel dispossessed or who have had their rights trampled on.

“We have defended the almost 2,000 young Amerindians who were fired in 2015. We have defended the Afro-Guyanese farmers in Berbice who had their lands taken away…but the

moment we try I talk about Indo-Guyanese, it becomes a race issue…this is not our approach. As Opposition Leader and as PPP General

Secretary, I will advocate for all our people, regardless of ethnicity, gender or religion…we will defend all our people,” Jagdeo said.

The PPP General Secretary made clear that the PPP’s work continues across Guyana and all Guyanese are welcomed by the Party.

8

WEEKEND MIRROR 21-22 JULY, 2018

GECOM’s hiring practice discussed Fact-based study will during ERC meeting show that Afro-Guyanese did better under successive T PPP/C governments T he Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has been called on do a fact-based study on the periods 19641992 (under the PNC administration), 1992-2015 (under the PPP/C administration) and 2015 to present (under the APNU+AFC Coalition government) – relative to the welfare of Afro-Guyanese in Guyana.

The call was made by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), during a meeting with the ERC. Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo led the meeting. “Much of the discussion saw time given to the concerns about the state and welfare of Af-

ro-Guyanese,” a statement on the meeting released from Jagdeo’s office said.

The ERC was also called on to facilitate a public discussion on the findings. The Leader of the Opposition stated that if this study was done, it would find that Afro-Guyanese did better under successive PPP/C governments.

Jagdeo also reminded the Commissioners that the Constitution empowers them to conduct investigations on their own accord. The Commission was encouraged to examine the studies done by previous ERC in the public service, contracts and pro-

curement, and the allocation of house lots.

The Leader of the Opposition encouraged the ERC Commissioners to engage in a fact-based approach in adhering to their mandate, and to address issues before them in an expeditious manner.

Jagdeo also assured the Commissioners of the PPP/ C’s full cooperation moving forward.

Jagdeo was accompanied

by Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, and PPP/C Parliamentarian, Bishop Juan Edghill, during a meeting with the Commissioners of the ERC on Wednesday, July 11, 2018.

Berbice Bridge’s financial troubles created by APNU+AFC gov’t – PPP

I

ncreased toll were proposed by the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. (BBCI) and the APNU+AFC Coalition Government has sought to blame the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) for the move.

In a detailed response, the PPP made it clear that the financial troubles of the bridge were created by the current Administration.

The new tolls proposed by the BBCI would see cars and minibuses - $8,040; pickups, small trucks and four-wheeled drive vehicles - $14, 600; medium trucks - $27,720; large trucks $49,600; articulated trucks - $116,800; freight - $1,680; and boats - $401,040.

BELOW IS THE FULL PPP PRESS STATEMENT: The People’s Progressive Party rejects the APNU/ AFC’s attempt to blame it for a proposed 150% toll increase as called for by the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) Chairman. It is a fact that in May 2014, the APNU/AFC used its Parliamentary majority to pass a motion to reduce the tolls on the bridge. In May 2015, on taking control of the Government, the APNU/ AFC reduced the bridge tolls without making provision to fund capital repayment scheduled to commence in 2014—a fundamental breach of the Concession Contract.

Today, almost 4 years since passing the APNU/AFC Par-

liamentary motion and the deteriorating state of the economy, the Berbice Bridge is virtually bankrupt.

In accordance with the Berbice Bridge Act passed in Parliament in 2006, the Government entered into a Concession Agreement with the privately owned Berbice Bridge Company Inc, with one important section being the Toll Formula to calculate tolls. No changes in tolls were projected until 2014, the year the bridge company was scheduled to start repaying the principal on its debt; up to end 2013, only interest was being paid on its debt financing. The PPP is willing to make public its 2006 Financial Model, which had toll increases in two years-- 6.4% in 2014 and 17.3% in 2017(compared to the 150% that is now proposed), with these increases coming almost 8 years after construction of the bridge started. Thereafter tolls were projected to fall.

In fact, in the last 5 years of the concession, tolls were projected to be less than half the toll levels existing at start-up.

There is no shortage of project documentation for the Berbice Bridge BOOT (Build Own Operate Transfer) model. Under this model, a 21-year concession was issued to the BBCI, whose ownership and financing involved most of the local private banks, insurance companies, pension funds, the NIS, and corporate investors

of Guyana. Over G$8B (app US$40 M) was raised in the form of bonds, subordinate debt, preferred shares, and common shares (common dividends have never been paid). Government, with funding from the IDB, built the access roads. The project did not receive any Government guarantee. Comprehensive project documents were shared with all investors including an Information Memorandum, Financial Model, a Design-Build Contract (based on a public tender), legal agreements, and technical studies including the Pre-Feasibility Study, the Feasibility Study, soil investigations, environmental impact studies, and traffic studies. Documents were also shared and discussed in Parliament before various Parliamentary Committees.

The PPP calls on the APNU/AFC Government to take responsibility for its actions. It should stop blaming the PPP for its numerous acts of incompetence. They have decimated the local economy in Region Six. Thousands of workers were put on the breadline and therefore any toll increase will be an unconscionable burden on the backs of the users of the bridge. The Government can address this issue and maintain the viability of the bridge by doing either one of two things; provide a subsidy for the financing shortfall in the bridge cash flows, and/ or buy out the investors in the bridge.

he PPP/C’s concerns re- issue at the Guyana Elec- She has been linked to lated to the need for fair tions Commission, which PNRC-nominated Commisand transparent hiring prac- has an adverse effect on sioner, Vincent Alexander, tices based on merit, with ethnic relations and harmo- since at one point she was a relation to the hiring of staff- ny in Guyana.” The three student of his. She has also ers at the Guyana Elections Commissioners also called exposed herself as an avid Commission (GECOM), for the inquiry to be done, at supporter of the APNU+AFC was raised during a meeting the earliest opportunity, and Coalition government, given between the Commission- for the ERC’s report be made her social media posts. As ers of the Ethnic Relations public. such, critics have said that Commission (ERC) and the The PPP/C nominated Myers’ ability to function Parliamentary Opposition.

Commissioners noted that in an impartial manner is in O p p o s i t i o n L e a d e r , the ERC has the mandate to question.

Bharrat Jagdeo, Notably, Perwas accompanied “The PPP/C does not support the saud was not only

by Opposition Chief the top-ranked canWhip, Gail Teixei- introduction of a quota system. didate for the post ra, and PPP/C Par- The PPP/C stands by the prin- of DCEO, but he liamentarian, Bishserved as DCEO for op Juan Edghill, ciple of meritocracy, as key to several years too. during the meeting employment in the State (public) He was appointed as with the Wednes- and private sectors, as well as to DCEO at GECOM day, July 11, 2018. on August 12, 2014.

A s t a t e m e n t opportunities for scholarships.”

In 2014, when Perfrom Jagdeo’s office saud was appointed, said, “The engagement saw conduct the inquiry as re- PNCR-nominated Commisfrank and open discussions quested, pursuant to Article sioner, Vincent Alexander, on race relations and matters 212D (a) (d) and (p), of the made no objection, when impacting on ethnic insecu- Constitution. The complaint there was a vote on whether rities in Guyana. Discussions and call for an ERC investi- or not he should be appointincluded adhering to the gation comes after the top- ed to the post. Persaud was objectives of fairness and ranked candidate applying forced to re-apply for the job transparency. In this regard, for the post of Deputy Chief he held because his contract the Leader of the Opposition Elections Officer (DCEO) ended and could not be restated that the PPP/C does was passed over for the post. newed, given that there was not support the introduction Prior to sending a com- no functioning Commission. of a quota system. He reaf- plaint letter to the ERC, The Commission had disfirmed that the PPP/C stands the three PPP/C-nominated solved after the resignation by the principle of meritocra- GECOM Commissioners of former GECOM Chaircy, as key to employment in walked out of a meeting man, Dr Steve Surujbally. the State (public) and private after GECOM Chairman, Before being appointed as sectors, as well as to oppor- Justice (rtd) James Patterson, DCEO in 2014, Persaud was tunities for scholarships.” exercised his casting vote to at GECOM since 2001.

Last month, the PPP/C support the PNCR-nominatMeanwhile, ERC Head nominated GECOM Com- ed Commissioners’ rejection has said that the investimissioners Bibi Shadick, of the top ranked candidate, gations have not yet comSase Gunraj and Robeson Vishnu Persaud. As a result menced, owing to finanBenn wrote a complaint let- of his casting vote, the way cial and staffing challenges. ter to the ERC calling for has been paved for the sec- Smith said, “The commisa full investigation on the ond-ranked candidate, Rox- sion has to get staff. We hiring practices at GECOM. anne Meyers, to be offered advertised for staff and are The Commissioners charge the post of DCEO. working to get the machine that the state of affairs is Myers has no election in place so we can do the “clearly indicative of a larger management experience. work.”

9

WEEKEND MIRROR 21-22 JULY, 2018

Jordan’s lawyer files lawsuit against Edghill in wrong division of the High Court F inance Minister, Winston Jordan, moved to the court in retaliation over action advanced by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C). However, when the matter came up for hearing on Friday (July 13, 2018) before Justice Franklin Holder, it was revealed that Jordan did not present court documents to the right court.

Roysdale Forde, Attorney-at-law, appeared for Minister Jordan. During the hearing, it was pointed out that the proceedings were erroneously filed in the Commercial Division of the High Court and that it is not a Commercial matter.

As a result, the matter was sent to the Registrar to be assigned to the proper Court. An Affidavit in Defence was filed by Edghill and leave was granted to Minister Jordan to file an Affidavit In Reply, if necessary.

Edghill was represented by former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall.

A new Court date for the matter to continue has not been set.

Jordan’s move against Edghill – in the form of a $200M lawsuit – came after charges were filed against him. The application to the High Court, which was filed on Jordan’s behalf, listed almost two dozen grounds for the suit.

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

“The Applicant has suffered significant harm to his reputation and integrity as a direct result of the institution of the criminal proceeding by the Respondent against the Applicant,” the court

document said.

Edghill has since made it clear that he will not be intimidated. “This lawsuit is intended to intimate me and I would say they have failed miserably in seeking to intimate me. I will continue to confront wrongdoings, injustices, corruption, cronyism, and all forms of Government’s manipulation of processes that benefit individuals… I will be vindicated when I have my day in court because that lawsuit that was filed is an abuse of the process of the court,” he said.

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

Still no date set by Appeal Court to hear PPP Elections Petition

G

uyana’s Court of Appeal has been asked to hear an election petition that has been languishing in the High Court since 2015. The application was filed with the Appeal Court in midJune 2018.

However, yet another week has passed, but no date has been fixed for a hearing.

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

The discovery of falsified Statements of Polls (SoPs); the refusal of GECOM to have public vetting of polling day staffers,

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

These issued are addressed in the Party’s 15page elections petition, which requests that the court

order the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to conduct a forensic recount of the votes.

The petition also questions whether the election was lawfully conducted and the possibility of the officially declared results being altered.

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

GECOM Chairman challenge: Appeal Court hearing set for July 25 T

he Court of Appeal will hear the appeal against the ruling of Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George-Wiltshire, which upholds the unilateral and controversial appointment of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret’d) James Patterson, by President David Granger.

The hearing is set for July 25, 2018. The appeal has been filed by former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, in Guyana’s Appeal Court, on behalf of People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Executive Secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha COURT DOCUMENTS Nandlall, in the Notice of Appeal, advanced several grounds to support the appeal.

It is argued that the Judge erred and misdirected herself in law in construing Article 161 (2) of the Constitution; by failing to give effect to the intentions of the framers of the Article and failed to apply or failed to properly apply the purposive canon of interpretation in construing Article 161 (2) of the Constitution.

It also argues that the Judge erred and misdirected herself in law when she “misconstrued and misinterpreted” the role of the Leader of the Opposition in Article 161 (2) of the Constitution; by omitting to review or properly review the exercise of the power and discretion which Article 161 (2) reside with the President in rejecting three (3) sets of names submitted to him by the Leader of the Opposition pursuant to the said Article in order to determine whether the President exercised that power and discretion lawfully and reasonably and not irrationally, capriciously, whimsically and influenced by irrelevant and extraneous considerations and not guided by relevant considerations; and by ruling that the President has the power to reject a list of six (6) names submitted to him by the Leader of the Opposition pursuant to Article 161 (2) of the Constitution.

According to the court

documents, the Judge also made an error and misdirected herself when she failed to pronounce on whether the President has the power to request more than one list of six names from the Leader of the Opposition and to take into account the first and the second list of names submitted by the Leader of the Opposition upon the request of the President.

Further, it is being argued that the Judge erred and misdirected herself in law by finding that the President is empowered to reject the list as unacceptable although one or more persons on that list is or are acceptable to the President; by ruling that the President lawfully and properly invoked the proviso to Article 161 (2) of the Constitution; by failing to correctly and properly construe and interpret the circumstances when the proviso to Article 161 (2) of the Constitution can be activated; and by failing to impugn the appointment of Mr. Justice James Patterson as Chairman of GECOM after she ruled that reasons are required to be provided by the president for the rejection of the list submitted by the Leader of the Opposition and after having ruled that the President provided no such reasons.

It was argued that the decision of the Judge is “wrong, misconceived and erroneous in law” as it has destroyed a delicate but fundamental balance in the composition of GECOM, which the framers of the Constitution intended to repose in a Chairman appointed by a formula captured in Article 161 (2) of the Constitution to ensure that such a Chairman enjoys the confidence and acceptance of both the Leader of the Opposition and the President.

BAD FAITH In October 2017, a meeting on the selection of a GECOM Chairperson, between Jagdeo, and President David Granger only lasted five minutes. At that meeting the third list of nominees

submitted by Jagdeo was rejected by Granger.

At a previous meeting on June 12, 2017 – the meeting before Granger made a unilateral appointment – there was an agreement on what would be the way forward, if the third list was rejected. The June 12, 2017 joint statement said: “It was also agreed that a high-level team would be assembled representing the President and the Leader of the Opposition which will begin to work immediately on exploring modalities to bring a resolution to this matter in the event that the list is rejected.”

Given that there was a joint agreement, the Parliamentary Opposition argued that Granger acted in bad faith when he unilaterally appointed a GECOM Chairman.

Following the appointment and swearing-in of the then 84-year-old Patterson, Mustapha filed an application, contending among other things that the president had no power to make a unilateral appointment once a list of six names had been submitted to him.

He made this argument while noting that the head of state had failed to give reasons for rejecting all of Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo’s 18 nominees as unacceptable. Article 161(2) provides for the appointment of a Chairman based on a consensual process in which a list of six persons, “not unacceptable to the President,” is submitted by the Opposition Leader. The proviso allows for the appointment to be made unilaterally, where the Opposition Leader fails to submit a list “as provided for.” Jagdeo submitted three lists, which were all rejected by President David Granger.

George-Wiltshire, in June 2018, ruled that President David Granger acted correctly when he unilaterally appointed Justice (rtd) James Patterson as the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission.

This led to an appeal being filed.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 21-22 JULY, 2018

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

Guyana Under Review Several issues were addressed a weekly news conference held by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, on Wednesday (July 18, 2018), ranging from the ‘pie in the sky’ notions being peddled relative to Guyana’s economic situation to the impending decision of a PPP/C presidential candidate.

Issues with national consequences PPP/C presidential not being addressed because of candidate likely to be Granger’s reluctance to engage named before year-end P

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meeting with People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Executive Members took place on Tuesday (July 17, 2018) and a decision on the way forward, relative to a decision on an PPP/C presidential candidate was made.

PPP General Secretary and Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, at a news conference at his Church Street Office on Wednesday (July 18, 2018), explained that the Executives are contemplating whether the process leading up to the naming of a presidential candidate should be done before or after the Local Government Elections (LGE), which is expected later this year.

He said, “There are two view and between those two, we will return to the issue on that timeline on when we settle for the presidential candidate. But it seems are though all of this will happen within the year, before the

end of 2018. “…the party Ex-Co (Executive Committee) has agreed that we put a statement outlining the process.

The Congress appointed 35 to sit in the Central Executive of the Party. They (the 35) then elected another 15 to serve as the Executive of the Party. Right now the procedure that we have used and will in all likelihood use again unless the Central Committee decides to change it…they will vote in a secret ballot on all of the persons whose names are before them on the ballot.”

Pressed on his personal support for a particular candidate, Jagdeo said only that, “There are a lot of people that I like, and very competent people, and I wish them all well.”

Asked too about persons declaring publicly their interest in becoming the PPP/C presidential candi-

date, he said, “There is nothing wrong with people saying, I am interested. What’s wrong with that? But I urge all of the party members and those who are canvasing not to disparage anyone else.

Because at the end of the day, what will happen, is not all of these people will rally around the person we chose and we move on to win the election. “…I don’t see the party having any difficulty with anyone who says ‘I am interested’. They all know the process. They say ‘I am interested’…I have publicly urged that if they publicly expressed that interest, that the expression of the interest is done in a manner that is not disparaging of any other person who has expressed an interest.”

At least one person has publicly expressed interest in the PPP/C presidential candidacy.

Granger’s pick to head the Police Service Commission will bring ‘his baggage’ to the job

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rior to his meeting with President David Granger, on Thursday (July 19, 2049), on the appointment of a Chairperson for the Police Service Commission (PSC), Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, made clear his objection to Granger’s pick.

Retired Assistant Police Commissioner, Paul Slowe, was selected by Granger.

On Thursday (July 19, 2018), after his meeting with Granger, Jagdeo said, “I pointed out that Mr. Slowe was an active member of the APNU campaign. He was then handpicked by the President to then head a Commission of Inquiry. I believe that his conduct on that CoI reinforced the partisan nature of his thinking.

“Now that he is going to head the Police Service Commission, I think he will bring two sets of baggage with him – one, a political approach to

the job, judging people on the basis of politics; and secondly, he had a lot of inter-personal problems with many members of the Police Force and old scores to settle and that could harm his judgment.”

Notably, at his weekly news conference at his Church Street Office on Wednesday (July 18, 2018), Jagdeo had said, “Granger’s nominee for Chairman of the Police Service Commission, the person is political. The person was doing political work for the APNU in the past elections, at the senior level. Through a constitutional body recently, he displayed a lack of fairness and now he is being put to head the Police Service Com-mission. I believe it is worrying because policemen, with that individual heading, will not be treated fairly.”

The National Assembly had approved the nominees for the Police Service and

Public Service Commissions on June 25, 2018. Retired assistant commissioners Paul Slowe, Clinton Conway, Vesta Adams and Claire Jarvis will sit on the Police Service Commission. Granger’s pick for Chairman is to be taken from the four persons approved by the National Assembly.

Article 210 (1) (C) of the Constitution states that the commission shall be comprised of “four members appointed by the President upon nomination by the National Assembly after it has consulted such bodies as appear to it to represent the majority of the members of the Police Force and any such body it deems fit.

Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, and former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, accompanied Jagdeo to his meeting with Granger on Thursday at State House.

resident David Granger hardly allows for an opportunity to facilitate engagement on national issues, according to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.

On Wednesday (July 18, 2018) at his weekly news conference, held at his Church Street office, he said, “The opportunities are extremely rare when we (Granger and him) meet, even though there are substantive and a large number of issues that have serious national consequences, because of his (Granger’s) reluctance to engage,” Jagdeo said.

Pressed on specifics, the Opposition Leader disclosed that the issues surrounding the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the worrisome borrowing of $30B via a syndicated bond, at 4.75 per cent interest is one of the issues that will be addressed.

“The GuySuCo bond is one [issue] because I believe we are borrowing billions of dollars that will hurt taxpayers… I want to know if they have a phased plan for the borrowing…why this borrowing now? I believe that as a country, as taxpayers, that we would lose about a billion dollars a year,” he said.

LEAKED DOCUMENT Jagdeo has raised concerns about the $30B bond before. Last month, a leaked document had exposed the lies told the Guyanese people by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government. The document - ‘The Private Placement Memorandum’ – details the arrangements of the $30B fixed rate bond, which that government said it was moving to secure for the sugar industry, and makes it clear that the money will not be used for the sugar industry. Notably, before now it was unclear if the $30B was a bond or a loan. The document, on page seven, says the $30B in bonds will be issued in exchange for cash and the monies will be used “to fund long term projects and capital expenditure” in Guyana. There was no mention of investment in the sugar sector.

A week later, a second

‘The Private Placement Memorandum’ – a NICIL document relating to the $30B that government is moving to borrow – was been leaked and exposes the fact that government is trying to cover its tracks. Jagdeo had addressed this issue on Thursday (July 5, 2018) and noted that whereas the first document makes it clear that the $30B will not be used for sugar; the second document states that the monies will be used for “general operations of GuySuCo.” Additionally, the document shows that NICIL plans to sell off assets of GuySuCo, including land, to help pay off the $30B, plus interest, that it has borrowed. The document shows that NICIL expects to start selling of GuySuCo lands in 2018 and expects to collect $14B in 2018 and another $22B in 2019. “The cash generated from operations appears sufficient to service the coupon and repayment of the principal for the bond facility,” the document said on page 14.

The document explains that the move to issue the Bonds, at a 4.75 per cent interest rate, in exchange for cash, is a five-year agreement.

Interest is payable semi-annually, starting October 2018.

The Bonds will mature in April 2023.

Jagdeo had noted that Government is getting itself tied to a short term debt for a whopping $30B to fund long term projects. Notably, NICIL, reportedly, did not have any major external or long-term liabilities as at the end of 2017.

Additionally, the bonds have been secured by a government guarantee. This means that if the persons who have paid for the bonds cannot be repaid, the government will have to use taxpayers’ monies and assets to clear the debt. Notably, the bonds have been issued “free and clear” of all corporate taxes.

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

NO CLEARER Jagdeo charged that the

Government has not come clear with the Guyanese people.

He pointed out that in April, the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) met with the Special Purposes Unit, created under NICIL to oversee the sell-off of GuySuCo’s assets, and was told several things including that: 1. 70 per cent of the $30B would be spent towards improving cane production and productivity through the purchase of machines; rehabilitation of drainage and irrigation infrastructure; fixed dilapidated bridges and revetments, and improving the condition of access roads.

2. Moines will be spent on the establishment of co-generation plants at Albion and Uitvlugt Estates.

3. Monies will be spent to move into the production of plantation white sugar.

According to him, these were three things outlined, but to date, although GAWU requested a copy of the plan for the spending of the monies, no such plan has been provided.

Jagdeo said, “Clearly what we thought was light at the end of the tunnel is not that…we are not clearer, not the Opposition, not GAWU, not the sugar workers.”

He argued that if there is no clear plan on how the monies will be spent, Government made a foolish move to borrow the entire $30B now. “So you borrow now and the interest starts accruing now…if they don’t spend all of the $30B in a year and a half, you still have to pay the interest….you have to pay $2.2B in interest in a year and a half…you didn’t not have to borrow all now, you could have phase the borrowing.”

The $30B bond facility is being arranged by Republic Bank, raising questions as to the amount of fees that are being paid to the bank. The APNU+AFC Coalition Government has remained silent on the criticisms relative to this issue.

Notably, the last meeting between Granger and Jagdeo was held months ago.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 21-22 JULY, 2018

PPP/C working to propose Financial model that legislation to guide was in place for Berbice treatment of all oil monies Bridge will be released

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fforts are being made by the Parliamentary Opposition, with support from international bodies, to start the process of drafting legislation related to the oil and gas sector that will be taken to the National Assembly. This is according to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, who charged that it is expected that the proposed legislation will addres the problems already being experienced.

At his news conference on Wednesday (July 18, 2018), he explained that the proposed legislation will address several things, including the handling of oil monies. He said that it is envisioned that the law will include provisions that: require the Minister of Finance to gazette the receipt of any oil money paid to Guyana within one week; require the Minister of Finance to inform the National Assembly about any oil money paid to Guyana within one month; and mandates a 10-year jail term, should this not be done.

“So with proposed provisions like these, immediately we will not have a repeat of the situation we experienced with the US$18M signing bonus,” he said.

The issue of a signing bonus first came up after comments by local Attorney-at-Law, who claimed that the signing bonus was paid in the sum of US$20M. Following months of denial, a leaked document, in late 2017, confirmed the existence of a signing bonus and government was forced to admit that it was indeed paid. The leaked document, a letter, was written by Finance Secretary, Hector Butts and sent to Bank of Guyana Governor, Gobin Ganga. The letter was dated September 20, 2016, stated that: “I shall be grateful if you would arrange for the under-mentioned Foreign Currency Account to be opened at the Bank of Guyana, in order to receive a deposit in the form of a signing bonus to be given by ExxonMobil. This account

shall not be treated as part of the Bank’s foreign reserves.

Instead the proceeds should be held in the currency of the deposit, that is, United States dollars, and invested in secured interest-bearing securities.” The letter was copied to Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman.

Jagdeo also disclosed that it is envisioned that the proposed legislation will also make oil companies operating in Guyana accountable. “The company itself will have an obligation to point out that a payment was made if the government fails to make that payment of oil monies – all oil monies – public information,” he said.

Relative to how that money is treated, he noted that the Parliamentary Opposition will proposed that the oil monies are either placed in the Consolidated Fund and/ or a Sovereign Wealth Fund.

A total of four pieces of proposed legislation are being looked at, Jagdeo said.

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he APNU+AFC Coalition Government continues to blame the former PPP/C government for its own incompetence, according to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, who was referring to the developments with the Berbice Bridge.

And on Wednesday (July 18, 2018) during a news conference, he said, “They believe that by sitting on their hands and just talking, that this will make issues facing them go away…we have made position on bridge clear. “…the model, the financial model, we had in place for the Berbice Bridge was clear…we will release our model, the entire 122-page model. It will show what the PPP/C did.”

Last week, Jagdeo charged that there was a financial model in place, relative to the operations of the bridge, which was left by the former PPP/C government, but noted that he is unsure what has become of

that under the APNU+AFC Coalition Government. He contends that the financial model may have been tinkered with. “These peoplethey screw everything up… they are in a dilemma now because they are caught by their own rhetoric and what they did, they deferred all the problems in the three years so now it’s catching up on them,” he said.

On the likelihood of the financial model being changed, the Opposition Leader charged that how the Government acts moving forward would determine how future investors responds to invitations for Public Private Partnerships. According to him, the case could be that investors do not trust the APNU+AFC Coalition Government to enter into multi-million dollar deals.

Jagdeo had also proposed that government either buy shares in the Berbice River Bridge or increase its subsidy to the major east-west thoroughfare across the wa-

terway if it does not want to approve a hike in tolls. “Buy out the other shareholders so that more of the bridge becomes publicly owned or secondly subsidise the increase that should take place in the toll so they give an injection into the company so the rate remains flat,” he said, adding that the first option would entail taking over the debt for the bridge and securing greater equity in return.

After the increased toll were proposed by the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. (BBCI), Jagdeo, made it clear that Berbicians cannot afford to pay the increases and as such he is not supportive of the move.

The new tolls proposed by the BBCI would see cars and minibuses - $8,040; pickups, small trucks and four-wheeled drive vehicles - $14, 600; medium trucks - $27,720; large trucks $49,600; articulated trucks - $116,800; freight - $1,680; and boats - $401,040.

Jordan’s talk about Spineless nature of AFC exposed again 20 per cent economic growth in T 2020 is ‘sloganeering’ F

inance Minister, Winston Jordan, came in for blows on Wednesday (July 18, 2018) over his comments about 20 per cent growth in the economy by 2020.

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, during his weekly news conference, rubbished Jordan’s comments are sloganeering. He explained that while Jordan talks up the contribution of oil, relative to the economy’s performance, the fact of the matter is that it does not automatically translate to economic progress for Guyana. Jagdeo referred to the example of Equatorial Guinea, where the millions of US dollars were paid over to the Government of that

country in oil revenues by ExxonMobil and the country boasts a high per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – however, the poverty levels in the country have worsened.

Jagdeo said, “Oil will push up our per capital GDP…how does it create jobs? How does it improve lives? That is what you have to look at.”

He added that the increase in GDP growth will also see Guyana being disqualified from accessing soft loans; hence the cost of borrowing goes up.

“What we have heard from Jordan is sloganeering…Jordan should have known better.

Notably, Jordan has already revised downwards the projections for economic growth from 3.8 per cent to 3.4 per cent for 2018.

The actual performance for 2017, 2.1 per cent, was disclosed earlier this year.

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

he Alliance For Change (AFC) has refused to detail its position on the incident involving Junior Minister, Simona Broomes.

And Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, during his weekly news conference on Wednesday (July 18, 2018), charged that the “spineless nature” of the AFC has once again been exposed.

“They didn’t see the video? All of Guyana has seen the facts of what transpired,” he said.

Last Sunday, Broomes claimed that she and her driver were verbally abused and threatened by two security guards at a Providence, East Bank Demerara business place. She also claimed that one of the security guard pulled a gun on her.

The two guards are attached to KGM Secu-

rity Services, the firm that provides security for the property at Providence that houses the New Thriving Chinese Restaurant, the Massy Supermarket and the Fitness 53 Gym. They were both arrested and later released on self-bail.

CCTV footage showed that Broomes may have been lying about the entire affair. Neither of the clips showed either of the two guards pointing a gun at the Minister or her driver.

The footage showed the minister’s vehicle turning into the parking lot and stopping just a few feet away from the entrance to the Massy Supermarket. A man, who appeared to be the driver of the vehicle, exited, and removed what appeared to be a no parking sign before venturing back into the vehicle. This caught the attention of the

two guards, who were seen standing a short distance away.

One of the guards, armed with a rifle, ventured over to the vehicle and proceeded to return the sign to the space it had been moved from. As a result, the driver of the vehicle exited and had an exchange with the guard.

The footage then showed that Broomes then exited the back of the vehicle and proceeded to push two of the no parking signs to the ground before engaging in a confrontation with the guard, who stood in front of the vehicle. While the Minister confronted the security guard, the driver proceeded to park the vehicle in the no-parking area.

The entire ordeal played out in front of at least half a dozen wit nesses.

12

WEEKEND MIRROR 21-22 JULY, 2018

Deteriorating condition Uitvlugt NDC says flood assessment completed since March, gov’t fails of maternity ward at NA to honour promise of support Hospital exposed A

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n the day that Health Minister, Volda Lawrence, boasted about a plan to curb maternity deaths and said much work has been done to reduce the death of new born babies, photographs of the deteriorating state of the News Amsterdam hospital surfaced.

The images show a cat sleeping inside a cot used by newborn babies in the New

Amsterdam Hospital maternity section. The photos showed that this was the case, despite the fact that pregnant women were placed in the maternity section.

Notably, only last week, questions about the cleanliness of the maternity wards and neonatal units were raised in the National Assembly.

lmost four months since several villages on the West Coast of Demerara were hit by a devastating flood, and residents are yet to be compensated for their losses – as promised by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government.

During the flooding several government officials visited the area.

Notably, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, insists that a complete assessment of the flooding has not been submitted. “The last time I came here, I indicated to them that there’s an assessment which had to be done by the CDC, and that the NDC Chairman was supposed to be in touch with the Civil Defence Commission to make a proper assessment of the damages,” he said.

Harmon added, “…I haven’t heard back from

the CDC or from the NDC Chairman. So I think that is where it is. Once that is done, then we can make a decision where that is concerned.”

However, the Chairman of the Uitvlugt/Tuschen Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Vishal Ambedkar, offered a different story. He made it clear that the assessment was completed and submitted.

He said, “When we met, we would’ve indicated to Minister Harmon that we would’ve done our assessment. We have forwarded that to the Regional Executive Officer as well as to Minister Harmon. To say now that he is awaiting a report is very undesirable,” Ambedkar said.

He added, “…at this point, we have received no communication which

would’ve suggested that we should be part and parcel with the CDC to (compile) a list. As we are aware, our list was submitted since in March, which is the first quarter of the year, and we’re way past the second quarter.”

Notably, as a result of the flooding, the livelihoods of many were affected, and many had incurred infrastructural and household losses. In some cases, the communities suffered demolished fences, confiscated bridges, and destroyed furniture and other household appliances as the ocean laid siege to a beleaguered community. Some persons were also forced to leave their homes and take refuge in relief centres set up at various locations in the communities.

The losses have been estimated at about $100M.

Is the Granger-gov’t really committed to ensuring access to education?

...East Leguan Primary is still without electricity

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Granger fails to address issue of major appointments

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promise made by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, regarding a meeting between President David Granger and Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, on several critical outstanding issues, remains unfulfilled.

Harmon, last week, had said, “I suspect that when he gets back from Jamaica, at the CARICOM Heads of Government Conference, that, very shortly, he will undertake these things.”

However, Granger has been back in Guyana for over a week now and no move has been made to initiate a meeting.

Among the things to be discussed by the two leaders are the appointments of a substantive Chancellor and Chief Justice. Granger was expected to write Jagdeo for another round of consultations before the

appointment of a substantive Chancellor and Chief Justice. It is unclear if this has been done, or when it will be done.

At a prior news conference, the Opposition Leader made is clear that he is prepared to meet with the President to “settle on a process” that will allow nominees to be named, in the interest of securing agreement on both sides.

“I made it clear that after the due diligence I did, I could not offer my agreement as required in the Constitution,” he said of Granger’s move to nominate Antigua and Barbuda’s Justice Kenneth Benjamin as Chancellor and Justice Yonnette Cummings-Edwards as Chief Justice.

Asked about the reasons behind his decision, Jagdeo stressed that un-

like Granger’s approach to dealing with the nominees for the post of GECOM Chairman, he would not publicly address these. “I am not in the business of judging people in the public domain. These are two distinguished individuals who have had long careers in the judiciary. I will not do like the President did and drag people’s names through the mud….if I am required to give reasons for my rejection, I will do so in the future,” he said.

Relative to the issue of having members of the judiciary acting in positions, Jagdeo noted that the PNC “likes this” since for 12 years they refused to agree to substantive appointments of members of the judiciary, under the former PPP/C governments.

ver two years ago the APNU+AFC Coalition Government moved to tear down the old Endeavour (East Leguan) Primary School. A new building was constructed in its place – however, the promise of a new facility for the children was not fully honoured.

President David Granger, earlier this year, had said, “Education is very important, because, without education, nobody will want to employ you…education is the gateway, and believe me.”

However, the state of the East Leguan Primary school has led parents to question the Granger-led government’s belief in the fact that education is important and the Government’s commitment to ensuring that all Guyanese children can access an education.

The school has no electricity and there is no wiring connection in place to facilitate a connection.

There no proper drainage.

The building also remains unpainted.

Several complaints

from teachers and parents have been lodged with the Education Ministry, but no action has been taken.

Parents have complained that the lack of electricity hampers the learning capabilities of the students, since they are often in heated classrooms that make them uneasy.

“I am a big woman, and I can’t stand the heat for a long time. When the place is hot I does come outside and sit down and get some breeze; so, just imagine them small-small children suffering in there for so long,” one parent said.

A teacher also spoke out and said that several complaints have been made to the Region Three Department of Education, (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) but nothing has been done to assist them.

“You have to dress in your suit and (look) appropriate for school, because when the ministry people come and you are not dressed properly, then it’s a whole other problem; but we have to suffer here. (There is) no electricity, so we (cannot) get some fans for us and the

students, or nothing. The trees block off the breeze, and some days we boiling in here. We have to take the children outside sometimes because of the heat,” the teacher explained.

The teacher also disclosed that whenever it rains, the water runs off the gutters into the school yard, making the assembly area inaccessible. The pipes all lead from the gutters into the yard, with no drain in sight to take off the water.

The teacher noted too that the Education Ministry is pushing for the inclusion of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the schools’ curriculum, but questioned how that is possible, since the electricity to power computers and other ICT devices is non-existent.

The teacher and parent who made comments did do on the condition of anonymity, due to fears that they might be targeted.

It is unclear is the school will be fixed before the start of the new school year, come September 2018.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 21-22 JULY, 2018

Real Time Economic Insights

– 2018 First Quarter Review A

s the debate on Guyana’s economic performance continues, with no positive response from the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, a look at the numbers make clear the gravity of the issue at hand.

Budget deficit, notwithstanding a huge increase in current revenue; increased public debt

and external debt service payments; dwindling traditional sectors; low international reserve; poor PSIP implementation and increased cost of implementation, underscore the abysmal outlook for 2018.

Given the current high price of fuel and deplorable interior roads, traditional sectors, such as rice, sugar, gold (small and medium scale) and timber could see a huge decline in production by end 2018.

This week we will look at a review of economic indicators as at the first quarter (as at March 2018) of this year. (Analyses done by Irfaan Ali, PPP/C MP)

Loss of Foreign Exchange (US$ Millions): 2018 First Quarter

Growth of External Debt and Debt Service Payments $1,400

$1

When compared to the first quarter of 2014: • Export of sugar, rice, bauxite and molasses contracted by US$18 million (loss in foreign exchange);

$1,350 $1,300

$1,050

•

$1,253.00

$53.00

$1,234.00

$98.00

$1,162.00

$1,100

$1,216.00

$1,150

$54.00

$50.00

$1,200

$1,143.00

$1,250

During the first quarter of 2018: • Public Debt increased by US$19 million;

$85.30

2015

2016

External Public Debt

$(1.10)

$(3) $(3.70)

$(5)

$(3.80)

Interesting Stats: • Net foreign assets of the entire banking system contracted by US$43 million or 5% to US$814 million, down from US$857 in 2017.

When compared to 2014, this represents a decline of 14% or US$131 million.

$(7) $(9)

•

$1,000 2014

External debt service payment grew by US$24.3 million to US$85.3 million or 59.1%, when compared to corresponding period in 2017.

$(1)

2017

2018 FQ

Debt Service Payment

Source: BoG Annual and Quarterly Reports and Statistical Abstracts

External debt service-to-export ratio increase to 7.4%, from 4.8% when compared to corresponding period in 2017 (higher than Haiti- World Bank).

$(11)

$(10.00)

Sugar

Rice

Bauxite

Molasses

•

Source: BoG Annual and Quarterly Reports and Statistical Abstracts

Key Observations:

Key Observations:

The loss in foreign exchange of US$18 million, during the first quarter of 2018 when compared to corresponding period in 2014, ironically is equivalent to 95% of total new debt that was added in 2018.

It is critical to note that, not withstanding stern warning by the private sector, and recently the IMF, the government continues with profligate spending. The huge increase in external debt service payments, means that, there would be less foreign exchange to cover import.

Guyana’s Public Debt increased by US$19 million, while external debt service payment grew by US$24.3 million to US$85.3 million or 59.1%, when compared to corresponding period in 2017. This graph exposes government’s borrowing trends.

How does the APNU+AFC Coalition Government pay for their incompetence? They borrow! Had sugar, rice and bauxite preformed similar to 2014, there would be no need for the US$18 million.

Monetary Survey: 2018 First Quarter

Implementation of PSIP $350 $50.000 $11.9

$40.000 $35.000

$12

38.9

$10

32.3

$9.0

$30.000 $25.000 $20.000

$14

46.3

$12.9

$45.000

23.7

20.6

$6

$6.0

$5.5

$15.000 $10.000 $5.000

7.2 3

2

2014

2015

2.5

$8

5.2

$0.000 Current Expenditure

2017

Capital Expenditure

Source: BoG Annual and Quarterly Reports and Statistical Abstracts

Key Observations:

2018 FQ

Current-to-Capital ratio

In the first quarter of 2018 : • It cost the government G$9 million to implement G$1 million in capital projects, up from G$5.5 million or 64% when compared to similar period in 2014.

$4

•

Capital expenditure felly by 38%;

$2

•

Revenue came in at G$46 billion, 24% more when compared to corresponding period in 2016.

$0 2016

NB: Net foreign assets, as of May 2018, in commercial banks decline by G$4.8 billion when compared to 2014 (contrary to the Hon. Minister of Finance claim that it has increased)

Interesting Stats: • During the first quarter of 2018 the government recorded a budget deficit of G$1.7 billion, down from a budget surplus of G$6 billion when compared to similar period in 2014;

The government commenced 2018 by racking-up one of the largest budget deficit ever, in decades. High cost of implementation, coupled with a large budge deficit, points to a burgeoning end of year fiscal deficit.

The Budget deficit increased by more than 83% , when compared to similar period in 2017.

It cost the government G$9 million to implement G$1 million in capital projects, up from G$5.5 million or 64% when compared to similar period in 2014. Capital expenditure fell by 38%; while revenue came in at G$46 billion, 24% more when compared to corresponding period in 2016.

$300 $250 $200 $150

224

219

214

220

202

$100 $50 $0

28.3 2014

56 2015

78.8

78.1 2016

Central Governamnt

2017 (a)

101

Government continues to outstrip the private sector: Credit to private sector fell by G$4.6 billion, while central government took an additional G$21 billion.

Interesting Stats: • Since this government came into office, credit to central government increased by more than 81%, while private sector got a mere 2.5%.

2018 FQ

Private Sector

Source: BoG Annual and Quarterly Reports and Statistical Abstracts

Key Observations: The crowding-out of private investment by central government will further exacerbate the decline in aggregate demand. If perpetuated, limited domestic credit for private investment could stoke interest rates.

The APNU+AFC Coalition Government continues to outstrip the private sector: Credit to private sector fell by G$4.6 billion, while central government saw an increase by G$21 billion, within the first three months of 2018.

The image part with relationship ID rId1 was not found in the file.

2018 ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

REMARKS Very unlikely: High fuel price and deplorable interior roads will place added burden on loggers, miners, rice farmers etc.; we have The economy is projected to grow by heard of the downsizing of sawmills; closure of small and medium 3.8% scale mining activities; increased construction cost due to the increase cost of sand.

High fuel price coupled with the introduction of more than 200 tax Inflation is forecasted at 2.4% measured will likely stoke inflation above the projected amount; Balance of Payment to record a BoB has recorded a deficit of US$94M, surpassing the entire deficit of US$79.7 million year's projection within three months; Within the first quarter of 2018, to satisfy the huge BoP deficit, US$99 million was used. As of May, international reserve held by Gross International Reserves are BoG was at its lowest in 10 years at US$485 million. Moreover, projected to increase external debt service-to-export ratio has increased from 4.8% to 7.4% (less foreign exchange); During the first quarter of 2018, central government recorded a Central Government overall deficit deficit of $1.6 billion (unprecedented). Poor PSIP implementation is expected to expand by G$9,869 rate; high fuel price; dwindling key traditional sectors such as million to G$43,247 million sugar, rice, gold, and timber would curb private consumption.

Hence, less revenue for central government (higher deficit).

Stock of domestic debt is expected to grow at end-December 2018

Certainly. Ironically, recently IDB has warned of increased debt.

14

WEEKEND MIRROR 21-22 JULY, 2018

PPP team delivers emergency supplies to flood affected residents in Kwakwani

R

epresentatives from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Central Committee and the PPP Groups in the Upper Demerara area, on Sunday (July 15, 2018), visited families who have been affected by flooding.

Emergency supplies were also delivered

to the Region 10 community. The APNU+AFC Coalition Government had still not moved to help the flood affected residents, up to the time that the PPP team visited the area.

Heavy rainfall has resulted in major flooding in Kwakwani and over 300 persons are

affected. Additionally, due to the flooding, costs have increased for persons in the area.

Transportation via minibuses has increased from $2000 to $3500 per person from Linden to Kwakwani. Also, to cross the river with the pontoon, minibuses have to now pay op-

erators $8,000 with load and $3,000 without - up from the standard cost of $1,000.

The water level is as high as five feet and mainly residents residing closer to the waterfront area are affected. Kwakwani is a mining and logging district on the Berbice River.

WEEKEND MIRROR 21-22 JULY, 2018

15

APNU+AFC gov’t still to act on memo calling for maintenance on critical hinterland roads

C

ontinued complaints about the state of the Linden/Lethem road remain unanswered by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government. And since then, an internal memorandum from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has revealed that the Government was urged to act.

The memo called for government to take on the responsibility of maintaining the critical road. “I recommend a change in policy that sees government embracing the full continuous maintenance model on corridors shared by multiple road users,” the document, signed by GGMC staffer, Arun Richard, said.

The key areas he recommended are Linden to Lethem, Linden to Kwakwani, the Puruni Road, M4 to Noseno, M4 to Arakaka, Five Star Road, Matthews Ridge to Port Kaituma and Lethem to Karasabai.

The current state of the stretch between Kurupukari and Annai along the road to Lethem

Canal Number 2 farmers face millions in losses because of flooding

I

n addition to the loss of cash crops, livestock are also affected, by flooding in Canal Number 2. Farmers in the area are now facing losses amounting to millions of dollars.

Flood reports have also come in from Canal Number 1. There has been no response to the flooding by Government.

16

WEEKEND MIRROR 21-22 JULY, 2018

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

A

fter three years since taking office, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, published a list of 231 so called ‘achievements’ in May 2018.

However, a close look at the list, revealed Government’s desperation in trying to find ‘successes’. For example, the Government claimed “lower electricity rates” as an achievement, but listed this one point at least two times in the list of 231. A second example shows that the

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

4. FICTION: Youth skills training provided through BIT, HEYS FACT: The BIT is a PPP/C initiative. HEYS was introduced by the APNU+AFC Government, then the decision was made to scrap it.

Notably, HEYS had replaced the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP), which was an initiative under the former PPP/C government. When the Coalition Government took power, the 1972 Amerindian community service officers who were part of the YEAP programme were fired.

7. FICTION: Created over 5000 jobs FACT: Since May 2015, over 25,000 Guyanese have lost their jobs. Government’s claim of creating over 5,000 jobs has been challenged. To date, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government has not responded and has not said where these 5,000 jobs were created.

10. FICTION: State Assets Recovery Unit set up FACT: SARA did not legally exist until May 2018.

The State Assets Recovery Act was only assented to by President David Granger on May 4, 2018 – over one year after it was passed in the National Assembly by a government majority, despite objections voiced by the Parliamentary Opposition.

As such, queries have been raised about SARA’s operations prior to Granger’s move to assent to the SARA Act – specifically as it relates to how monies were allocated to the State Assets Recovery Agency for the year 2018 Budget to acquire an office at Lot 56 Main and New Market Streets, SARA letterhead, staff, etc., prior to that date (May 4, 2018), when the agency did not legally exist?”

APNU+AFC Coalition claimed the work of private companies as their own success, when it listed “4G internet” in its list of 231. The work to bring better internet services to the Guyanese people was done by the private telecommunications companies.

This week, the Mirror, by simply looking at 30 of the Government’s claims, will expose the FICTIONS peddled by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government and will detail the actual facts.

2. FICTION: $50,000 Christmas Bonus in 2015 and $25,000 Christmas Bonus in 2016 FACT: No attention has been given to increasing the salaries of public servants – teachers, policemen, nurses, etc. since the APNU+AFC Government took office. The two bonuses were one-off payments for only two years.

5. FICTION: Sugar industry right-sized fo5r self sufficiency through diversification FACT: There have been no efforts in the direction of diversification. While government said it has “right-sized” the sugar industry, all it did was close down major sugar estates – leaving thousands of sugar workers on the breadline – in the worst mass firing in Guyana’s history.

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

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

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

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

11. FICTION: Special organized Crime Unit operational

9. FICTION: Lower Electricity rates

FACT: Three years of being operations under the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, not a single case against money launderers has been advanced. SOCU has only been involved in cases filed against former government officials, one of which has already been thrown out of the courts. Also, in the case SOCU brought against GBTI, the expert witness fielded by the Unit was also rejected by courts, which ruled that the ‘expert’ was in fact ‘no expert’.

SOCU has been involved in a number of controversial operations. These include the high-profile car chase of the wife of a People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP), which resulted in the death of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Sergeant Robert Pyle and his wife Stacy, along with another civilian in a smash-up on Carifesta Avenue in December 2015 – an incident that remains the subject of many unanswered questions.

The Unit’s establishment was part of Guyana's international obligations to strengthen its Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework and was intended to support the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). The mandate of the SOCU, as acknowledged in the protocols, is to address investigations, detection and preparation of criminal investigative reports and case files for prosecutions of financial crimes, including money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Little to nothing has been done by SOCU, under the current APNU+AFC Government, which fits the reason for SOCU’s establishment.

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

8. FICTION: Plans to bridge Essequibo River

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

17

WEEKEND MIRROR 21-22 JULY, 2018

Gov’t lies, failures, disregard for Amerindians exposed during NTC Conference – Jagdeo T

he developments at the annual conference of the National Toshaos Council (NTC), which ended on Friday (July 20, 2018), were addressed by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, at his weekly news conference, held at his Church Street office.

He said, “We have Toshaos in Georgetown this week, who have come with great expectations as they always do. They expected to have a serious engagement with Government, at highest level, to address issue of concern relating to their development.

From history and practice this expectation in justified.

As president I spent almost two entire days, outside of opening ceremony, with the Toshaos. Those two days were spent, through many sessions, addressing their concerns as they arise. But once again from what we have seen in the past three days since the conference started, we believe that there is a radical department from interactive engagement with the Toshaos.”

NO REAL ANSWERS According to him, the APNU+AFC Coalition government seems only focused on the receptions they have and some meaningless opening speeches. That is all the Tosahos have gotten from the

people who they are expect to make political commitments.

Instead the Toshaos were passed off on technical people, not the policy makers.

He added that the opportunity to hold to account politicians deciding on policy is missing from the 2018 NTC Conference. “There has been no real chance to get answers to serious questions.

Questions about infrastructure; roads; ICT; the 6,000 solar panels that were taken away from the Amerindian villages; jobs and the 40,000 people that Minister Sydney Allicock said were unemployed in the hinterland; the welfare of the almost 2,000 Community Service Officers (CSOs) who were fired; and whether the projects left by the PPP/C will be funded and completed,” Jagdeo said.

The Opposition Leader added, “…we saw that President David Granger talked about the Village Improvement Programmes introduced by this government. What we have is a situation where the effort, the time, spent on developing and consulting on Community Development Projects for every Amerindian Village, under the former PPP/C government, was thrown out. Under our programme billions of dollars were set aside to fund these projects. With Granger’s Village Improvement

Programmes, they have not even identified a source of funding.”

BROKEN PROMISES Referring to comments by the NTC Chairman, Joel Fredricks, about broken promises, Jagdeo said, “It is to his credit that he enumerated specifics areas where promises were broken.”

Fredricks had pointed to the issues with the lands commission, the revision of the Amerindian Act, Constitutional Reform, land on which the NTC Secretariat would be built, and the renaming of St. Cuthbert’s Mission to Pakuri, the Indigenous name.

Jagdeo said, “Granger’s response to these concerns shows how disassociated he is from reality. We heard the President say: “I don’t know any promise has been broken. They asked for a plot of land, I went there, turned the sod myself and it’s being processed. I didn’t break any promises.” But the land he is talking about is not the land for the NTC Secretariat.

This is how out of touch this President is. “…we then had the Prime Minister (Moses Nagamootoo) make the situation even worse. He said: ‘Those are areas that are a work in progress…I don’t see this as a question of making or breaking promises. I see this

as a process’.

LIES ABOUT ALT On the issue of land – the Amerindian Land Titling Project – the Opposition Leader that there are contradictions coming from the Government.

He said, “This Government had said that the concerns raised by the Amerindian leaders about the CoI into Lands, when it came to Amerindian lands, that part was put on hold. But then we had the Prime Minister say that nothing has been done with the Amerindian Land Titing project because a ‘land inventory’ is being done.

“Then we had the ‘mother of all lies’ from DPI. In a report we saw the claim that the US$10.7M left by the PPP/C to do the Amerindian Land Titling Project has been increased to US$165M – a move from GYD$2.3B to $34.5B. So we have a case where Amerindians in Guyana think that we have $34.5B earmarked to advance the Amerindian Land Titling Project. This is not true. In fact, of the US$10.7M, about US$3M has already been spent. “…what we are seeing are major distortions. They are hoping that somehow people will buy into this.

What it comes down to is a philosophical problems….

the comments made by Minister Keith Scott about Amerindians being ‘avaricious’ have not been repudiated by this Government and this exposes their philosophy on Amerindian lands. The Government will not go against what Keith Scott said.”

THREARS Another issue of concern, according to him, are the threats to the Toshaos by Minister Sydney Allicock about penalties as a means of ensuring accountability.

“This government has some of the biggest ‘hustlers’ and there are no penalties for them. We have a bunch of unaccountable ministers, who we have tried to bring private criminal charges against for the billions stolen in corrupt arrangements,” he said.

Jagdeo added, “…Sydney Allicock also talked about introducing a recall provision to elected Amerindian Leaders and recommended that this be part of an amended Amerindian Act. But Allicock talks about new provisions are the questions we are asking is where are the consultations? This Government has been unable to say what the driving force behind the move to revise the Amerindian Act is…now the position of the PPP on revising the Amerindian Act is clear – if it brings more bene-

fits to the Amerindian people; if it advances their rights and supports development and welfare, we will support it.”

MORE LIES On the issue of welfare, Jagdeo noted the comments from Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe about the HEYS programme.

“The Minister has said that the HEYS programme has turned out 1,302 successful businesses; but if you take the 215 or so Amerindian Villages, it is about 6 projects per village. Ask 90 per cent of the Toshaos if they saw a single successful entrepreneurial project.

There isn’t a single one in 90 per cent of the villages.

But like everything with this Government, you might have to use your imagination to see the projects, like people have to use their imagination to see this ‘good life’ that the APNU+AFC promised.”

Overall, the Opposition Leader charged that Guyanese have clearly seen the deficiencies of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, in treating with issues affecting Amerindians in Guyana.

“Their continued failures when it comes to addressing the needs of our Amerindian people,” he said.

Impressive sounding activities are no substitute of real work to address concerns in the City – Kuppen G

eorgetown will be celebrating its 175th anniversary with a week-long program of festivities beginning with a sunrise Church Service at the Saint Georges Cathedral on August 18, 2018.

According to an advertisement running on a local radio station and also an article in Stabroek News, the week-long festivities will feature clean ups, a cocktail reception, an evening of music, art & craft exhibition along Main Street, a health fair, and a cooler fete & beach party at the Marriott Beach front.

Commenting on the extravagance, PPP/C Councilor at City Hall, Bishram Kuppen, said, “The Council’s Public Relations department had made an announcement in the press even before elected Councillors were briefed on the list of activities for the event. In fact, I

had raised this point at the Council while another Councilor asked about the budget for this event.

“There was also no budget or cost nor the list of activities recommended for the event.

“You would recall that a report was published in a local newspaper a few months ago highlighting concerns

by Councillors about a recommendation which was made at that time for $20M to be allotted for City Week celebrations.

“Councillors had raised the issue of a cash-strapped Council and that the money could be spent in priority areas instead. As a result, they had agreed to solicit sponsorships for the weeklong festivities and stated that Council would only contribute a small amount which they have not quantified so far.”

According to him, the

approach being taken on this issue is misguided. “Given the current state of Georgetown with so many problems, it is misguided. As I have said before, a Church Service is appropriate but we should really question what it is that City Hall is really celebrating especially with so many failures in many areas where the Council has responsibility,” Kuppen said.

MANY PROBLEMS He added, “An event like the 175th Anniversary should be one where the achievements of the City and the Council are celebrated.

However, instead of major achievements, we have a City Council with $3B in debt which the Council is unable to pay to the creditors. Citizens learned that the Council was deducting monies from employees for NIS, GRA and Credit Union but those monies were not being paid

to those agencies.

“Then there is Constabulary Department with missing firearm, sexual charges and shooting of a prisoner while many crimes are being committed in the City including the Markets where there was the recent massive jewelry heist in Stabroek Market.

“There is the pervasive lack of financial accountability especially with the City Treasurer’s Department which has failed consistently over the years to keep proper financial records and which was reported by the Auditor General who is currently auditing the treasurer’s department along with some others.

“Contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars have been doled out without being tendered in violation of procurement laws.

“We have clogged drains and alleyways all across Georgetown resulting in flooding.

“The City Abattoir has been in a deplorable condition for a very long time and animals were being slaughtered in barbaric ways until Councillors ‘forced’ the Town Clerk to urgently purchase the necessary equipment.

“All of the Municipal Markets are falling apart without any substantial repairs done over the years. In addition many of the Council’s buildings are falling apart including the City Hall building.

“Many of the roads within Georgetown are in deplorable condition which the Council has failed to repair.”

The PPP/C Councilor added that despite this, no effort is being made to right the wrongs.

“The Council should have used this tremendous opportunity to focus their efforts on bridging the gap in their shortcomings by

undertaking a massive drain cleaning campaign, an anti-crime campaign across the City, repairs to the Councils facilities, and rectifying the internal inefficiencies within the Council to achieve better management, accountability and transparency.

The time would have also been right to enlist the assistance of all stakeholders and the government to address many of these problems in material ways,” he said.

He added, “Instead, we have these impressive sounding activities which will not solve the problems faced by the Council but could possibly result in a greater financial burden for the City if Council has to contribute any money or other scarce resources to the extravagant festivities.”

Kuppen is one of two PPP/C Councillors representing that Part on the Council at City Hall.

18

WEEKEND MIRROR 21-22 JULY, 2018

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

Gov’t must do more to control illegal mining – Allicock I

llegal mining in Amerindian communities in Region 9 continues to be a major issue and has serious consequences for Amerindians in those areas.

These were the sentiments expressed by Chairman of Region 9, Brian Allicock, who noted that mercury contamination of water ways is one of the many consequences of illegal mining.

“Our people are suffering, not the ministers out here, our people. That is what must be addressed…

we have mining being done in areas. Who is giving them the documents? The miners say GGMC. Then the GGMC say it is not them. So who is lying? We are hoping that this will be addressed.”

It is unclear the level of work by Government to tackle the problem of illegal mining. Meanwhile, there has been no move by the GGMC to address the issue of miners – allegedly illegal miners – being in possession of GGMC documents.

The Regional Chairman

added that persons coming to some of the Amerindian Villages in Region 9, particularly government officials, do so with no regard for the authority in those areas.

“They have no respect or regard for the authority of the villages…they say we have come to do out work and our work has to be done…there is no notice, as is required, before they come into the villages,” he said.

All these issues, Allicock charged, demand the APNU+AFC Coalition Government’s urgent attention.

Silence from APNU+AFC...

At least 59 Region 9 residents still in shelters after flooding T hough the flood waters in sections of Lethem and surrounding areas have receded, a total of 59 residents, who were among those evacuated from their homes for safety reasons, still remain in shelters.

This is the state of affairs, two weeks after the flooding and it is unclear when those in shelters will be able to return to their places of abode Vice-Chairman of Re-

gion 9, Karl Singh, said, “Persons are in the shelter as of today [Sunday]; we are still monitoring the situation. We have cleaning agents including jeyes fluid to give to the affected people to clean their homes and disinfect the surrounding areas before they can go back home.”

The current concerns for those in the shelters are about sanitation and the need for support to ensure

that there is no outbreak of any diseases, among others.

The affected areas are reportedly still being monitored.

Meanwhile, additional flooding remains a cause for worry since the water level could rise again with another heavy downpour.

The affected areas included Deep South Rupununi communities such as Karasabai, which was cut off from Central Lethem.

Region 9 Chairman to APNU+AFC: How long should we wait for you to structure works that remain the incomplete quarters for deliver? incomplete. He charged that teachers at Sand Creek and

G

overnment’s failure to deliver on promises, particularly in the area of infrastructure, continues to be a major bugbear for the residents of Region 9, according to the Chairman, Brian Allicock.

He pointed to road works, schools and health centers as some of the major infra-

some projects have started since 2016. “Since 2016 September we were supposed to have schools looked at…2016 has gone, 2017 has gone. We are now in 2016… how long should we wait?”

Allicock said.

In pointing to specifics, the Regional Chairman pointed to the incomplete Baishandrun nursery school,

the almost impassable state of the road to Lethem.

Allicock noted that the David Granger-led Coalition Government must take measures to ensure that the promises made are fulfilled; to ensure that the projects initiated are started and completed in time; and to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

US report cites gov’t failures in Amerindian communities Region 9 Toshao elected to

N

o mention of any substantial work to improve the lives of Amerindians in Guyana was made in the 2017 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Guyana released by the United States of America’s (USA) State Department – underscoring a major failure of the APNU+AFC Coalition government.

Page 11 of the 207 report states that: “The standard of living in indigenous communities was lower than that of most citizens, and they had limited access to education and health care.”

In contrast, the 2015 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Guyana, on page 14, said: “All indigenous communities had primary schools, and as of 2012, there were 13 secondary schools in remote regions. All indigenous communities had school dormitories that housed students at government’s expense.

Government programmes trained health workers, who staffed health facilities in most communities.”

Despite multiple calls by the Parliamentary Opposition for work to be done to address several concerns of Amerindians in Guyana, no substantial work has been done.

One of the many areas concerns has been the 14 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on local interior flights. President David Granger’s comments about opening up the hinterland, relative to access and development, were questioned

by Opposition Leader, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo. Jagdeo acknowledged that some of hinterland airstrips have been informed that they can apply to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to be exempted from applying the 14 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT), but stressed that more needs to be done.

“The tax is driving up the cost of living in the interior,” he said, calling for the Administration to drop the tax altogether. Jagdeo added that VAT is the latest difficulty being imposed on persons in Guyana’s interior regions. According to him, many in the hinterland are still waiting for the promised firearm licences, a promise made by the government during last year’s period of amnesty. He explained that many in the hinterland depend on the firearms to defend their livelihoods. “Now they cannot defend their lands from wild animals,” he said. Jagdeo noted that he has made similar calls before, but they were not received by “receptive” ears.

“Government needs to act in the interest of our people,” he stressed.

In the meantime, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government has not addressed this issue.

head new NTC Executive

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ay three of the annual National Toshaos Council’s Conference saw Toshaos from across Guyana electing a new executive to serve for the next three years.

They have elected Toshao Nicholas Fredericks to serve as chair for the duration of the new council. Fredericks — Toshao of Shulinab Village in Region Nine — served as treasurer on the last NTC, which was headed by Joel Fredericks. The newly elected head was unopposed and received unanimous support from the Toshaos.

During his inaugural address, Fredericks stressed the need for greater efforts to be made to ensure that concerns of Amerindians in Guyana are addressed.

He also issued a word of caution to the Government in relation to confrontations with the NTC. For the first time ever, five women were elected to sit on

the council. The new executive comprises 20 persons from Amerindian villages in Guyana and they include: • Region 1: SHARMAIN RAMBAJUE, Baramita; PAUL PIERRE, Kwebanna; and ELIZABETH RAMACINDO, Bumbery Hill • Region 2: HOWARD CORNELIUS, Wakapoa; and RALPH HENDRICKS, Capoey; • Region 3: HILTON WILLIAMS, Santa Mission • Region 4: BEVERLY CLENKIAN, St. Cuthbert Mission; • Region 5: COLIN ADRIAN, Moraikobai; • Region 6: CARL PENEUX,

Orealla; • Region 7: ORIN WILLIAMS, Batavia; JOHN SPENCER, Tasserene; and MARIO HASTINGS, Kako; • Region 8: CHARLES LEWIS, Kanapang; EDWARD MC GARRELL, Chenapou; and MARBEL THOMAS, Campbelltown • Region 9: RUSSIAN DORRICK, Yupukuri; NICHOLAS FREDERICKS, Shulinab; and ZACHARIAS NORMAN, Annai Central • Region 10: RICKY BOYLE, Kimbia; and LORETTA FIEDTKOU, Muritaro.

Notably, Paul Pierre of Kwebanna Village, Waini River, Moruca Sub-region of Region One (Barima/Waini), was elected the Vice-Chairperson, and will replace the Lennox Schuman. Russian Dorrick will serve as secretary, while Marbel Thomas will serve as treasurer.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 21-22 JULY, 2018

APNU+AFC buckles: NTC ups pressure on land promised for a Secretariat I

ncreased pressure from the National Toshaos Council (NTC) has resulted in the APNU+AFC Coalition Government buckling. The government has come in for widespread criticisms over tis failures to honour the promises made to the Amerindian peoples of Guyana – criticisms that have been increasingly highlighted during this week – the week that the 2018 NTC Conference was held in Georgetown.

Days after immediate past Chairman of the National Toshaos Council (NTC), Joel Fredericks, criticised Government for frustrating the process of issuing a title to the NTC for the plot of

land that was given to the Council to use to house the secretariat, the matter has been finally addressed.

However, APNU+AFC Government leaders were noticeably absent from the process that led to a resolution.

The Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) Secretariat Manager, Durwin Humphrey, on Wednesday (July 18, 2018) disclosed that following the complaints, the process has been expedited. “We have expedited the process for the NTC and there has been a lease available…it is a 50year lease, which is standard, and it is renewable once there is beneficial occupation,” he

said.

Responding to the development, Fredericks said that following his criticism on the issue on Monday, the GLSC reached out to the NTC Executive and had a discussion on the matter.

Frederick has maintained that the NTC will not remain silent on matters affected the indigenous people of Guyana. “It is not time for leaders to sit quietly and brush these issues under the carpet, and let the public feel that all is well. We have to represent the people who put us there to serve,” he said.

The NTC requested land for a Secretariat for the Council since 2016.

Minister admits to hinterland performance gap at NGSA T he results of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) have been released and the gap between the performance of children on the Coast and in the Hinterland has been exposed - also exposing the APNU+AFC Coalition Government failure to advance successful interventions.

Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock, has commented on the

performance. He said the passes in the Hinterland were: English – 7 per cent; Science – 20 per cent; Social Studies – 24 per cent. He refused to address the scores for Mathematics.

As such, there is no available information on this.

It is unclear what measures will be taken to improve the performance of hinterland students.

APNU+AFC gov’t continues to break promises made to Region 8 residents – Pio

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he Vice Chairman of Region 8, Headley Pio, lamented the state of affairs in his Region and called for the APNU+AFC Coalition Government to ensure that people in the Region get the necessary support.

He said, “In Region 8, things are very difficult… the state of our roads is very deplorable. We were promised that it would have been fixed, but to date nothing has been done. We asked for monies to be budgeted for road work. A sum of $1.2M and $3M cannot be done…. between Kato and PK (Pakarima) the roads are in a

terrible state. Nothing is being done.”

According to him, the health situation in the Region is also a major concern. “Right now we have one doctor. We need more doctors,” Pio said, adding that several areas remain inadequately served.

The Vice Chairman lamented the problems with shortages of drugs and medical supplies.

“They want to say that everything is okay in the villages, but this is not true.

Everything is not okay in the Region,” he said, noting too that ensuring that the drugs and medical supplies are distributed

across the Region remains problematic.

Pio also lamented the unfilled promise of support, following devastating floods earlier this year.

“There were promises made by the Minister and nothing was done…the people are still suffering… right now we depend on subsistence farming and when you look at what is happening the Region needs help…any assistance we can get in Region 8,” he said, listing at least half a dozen villages.

Pio’s comments came during a news conference held on Thursday (July 18, 2018).

Government….we believe that respect ought to be given to the RDC…we believe that the constitutional provisions that guarantee the RDC rights should be respected. “…when Ministers come to Region 1, my concern, the RDC’s concern, is that they do not address the real important issues that affect communities, the people and their development.”

He also lamented too the implementation of programmes in the Region that were included in Budget 2018. “For us, at the level of capital implementation we are only at 14 per cent, and for current programmes implementation, we are only at 9 per cent….we have seen this in years before…what happens is that the resources

for development have to be returned to the Consolidated Fund….we are not getting the development we want,” Ashley said.

The Region 1 Chairman noted that many of the internal roads in the Region – because resources were not provided – have deteriorated.

“The roads at Port Kaituma and Arakaka are almost impassable…in the Mabaruma sub-region we have a similar situation too. I have written several letters to the Ministers of Communities’ and infrastructure and to date nothing has been done…..the hinterland regions need to be given some attention.”

Ashley charged that the Government has a responsibility and it must respond to the concerns of people.

Gov’t not budging: Amerindian representation on Indigenous Elected body in Region 1 People’s Commission to be continues to be disrespected reduced – Regional Chairman

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espite criticisms, the Coalition Government is maintaining its push reduce the Amer indian representation on the Indigenous People’s Commission.

The Coalition Government plans to reduce Amerindian representation on the 15-member Commission to 30 per cent. Of the 15 members, three representatives are from the National Toshaos Council and two are from local Amerindian organisations.

The other 10 members will come from the: Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs; Ministry of Public Health; Ministry of Social Protection; Private Sector Commission; Environmental Protection Agency; Bar

Association of Guyana; Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association; Forest Products Association; National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI); and the Inter-Religious Organisation.

The latter, the Inter-Religious Organisation, was a proposal that came from PNCR General Secretary, Amna Ally, who defended her recommendation by saying that “the majority of indigenous people” may not be Christians.

These details are according to the seventh report of the Committee of Appointments, in relation to the appointment of members of the Indigenous People’s Commission, was tabled in the House in March 2018 and

is expected to come up for debate on Monday (June 25, 2018).

Meanwhile, the Coalition Government has come in for blows over the past years for cutting the budgets of the Indigenous Peoples Commission, despite arguments by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Parliamentarians – Alister Charlie, Yvonne Pearson, Gail Teixeira and Nigel Dharamlall – for them not to do so. The PPP/C Parliamentarians had argued that the Indigenous Peoples Commission has a mandate to investigate and treat with the rights of Amerindians.

Minister George Norton chairs the Committee of Appointments, which made the controversial move.

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he APNU+AFC Coalition Government continues to pay lip-service to the notion of local democracy, according to Region 1 Chairman, Brentnol Ashley.

He lamented the fact that the government seems disinclined to respect the elected body in the Region.

At a news conference on Thursday (July 19, 2018), he said, “There is a total lack of respect for the elected body in Region 1, the Regional Democratic Council…. ministers and other senior functionaries do not even inform us, or even inform us in a timely manner, about visits to the Region. This affects the RDC’s abilities when it comes to trying to advance cooperation between the Region and the Central

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WEEKEND MIRROR 21-22 JULY, 2018

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

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

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

TOURISM SUPPORT

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

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

HEALTH

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SOLAR PANEL AND ENERGY ACCESS

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

An additional 6000 solar panels are being procured for distribution to additional communities including some riverine communities CORE HOMES/HOME SUBSIDIES

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

GOVERNANCE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LAND OWNERSHIP

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

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

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT/SUPPORT

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

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

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

AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT

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

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

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

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

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WEEKEND MIRROR 21-22 JULY, 2018

PPP remembers Michael Forde

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he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) on Tuesday (July 17, 2018) staged an activity in remembrance of Michael Forde’s life and contributions to Guyana’s fight for freedom and democracy.

A group participated in a wreath laying ceremony at Forde’s gravesite, including PPP/C Parliamentarians, Gillian Burton-Persaud and Juan Edghill. Forde was a 22-year-old Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) activist and was one of the leaders of the historic Freedom Marches in February of 1964. He was killed that same year.

On the morning of Friday July 17, 1964, the then Premier of British Guiana, Dr. Cheddi Jagan and the leaders of the two main opposition parties, Mr. L.F.S Burnham and Mr. Peter D’Aguiar, were locked in a peace bid conference at the Premier’s office when a lethal bomb exploded at PPP headquarters, Freedom House.

Reports from the daily newspapers of the day, recorded that the explosion, which rocked the heart of Georgetown, went off at about 10:45 a.m. The force of the explosion dismembered Michael Forde, sent an old house crashing to the ground and smashed glass windows at the nearby Metropole Cinema. The eastern portion of Freedom House and furniture in the building were also damaged.

The windscreens of cars parked in the area were also shattered.

The death of Forde in the explosion was the second in the Forde family that week. His father had died on the previous Sunday.

His elder brother, Kenneth, who was at the scene of the explosion, declared, “I told him about this party life”.

He then burst into tears and was taken away from where his brother’s body lay by a policeman.

It was reported to the police that a young man went into the Progressive Bookshop, housed in the Freedom House building with a small carton. He placed the box on a bookshelf, purchased a book and without waiting for his change, hurriedly left the shop leaving his box behind. Seconds after

the man had left, Forde, an said: “A grim and deter- that the intention was to employee, called out to the mined effort by some ele- prevent any action which manager, Miss Euna Mul- ments in the opposition had might lead to a solution of zack, an American citizen been made to destroy FH the present crisis. residing in the country, and headquarters of the PPP. “The work of the PPP informed her that the young Since 1962, Freedom House goes uninterrupted, despite man left hurriedly without has been the target of those the dastardly efforts to curcollecting his change and opposed to the PPP and tail its activities. Volunteers also left a box behind. three efforts were made that immediately offered help to Becoming suspicious, year to destroy that building. clear the debris and rebuild she told him to throw the It is believed that the perpe- the destroyed parts of the box out of the building. trators of the bombing were building.

Forde responded and was seeking not only to destroy “In the spirit of the PPP, rushing through the east- the symbol of the PPP and our work goes on as usuern side al. Neither door of the “Mr. L.F.S Burnham and Mr. Desmond d y n a m i t e shop when Hoyte, among other prominent lawyers, rep- bombs nor t h e r e w a s resented the persons accused of the actions death will an exploeter the that led to the death of Michael Forde from dparty sion. The from lower part August 1964 until December 1964, when the its goal of of Forde’s People’s National Congress took over govern- s e e k i n g a l e f t h a n d ment and Burnham became Premier of then p e a c e f u l was hurled solution to British Guiana.” some 50 the probyards away lems of back of the pit entrance of thus prevent its functioning, Guyana.” the Metropole Cinema. His but to destroy the lives of The police investigation mutilated body was found the leaders and activists of into the death of Forde reface upward lying across the the PPP who work at Free- sulted in charges being laid entrance of Freedom House dom House. against Emanuel Fairbairn. with just strips of clothing “It is now known that a On August 10, 1964 Emandangling around his waist. man came to the Progressive uel Fairbairn aka Batson At the time of the explo- Book store on the lower flat gave the following signed sion there were around 40 of Freedom House, pur- statement to the police. “On persons in Freedom House, chased a book, did not wait Friday the 17th July, 1964 some of whom were injured. for the change and left a at 10:30 a.m., I received a Among the wounded were parcel on a chair. Due to the parcel bomb from one Clive Mrs. Mary Nunes, wife of quick thinking and brave Wilson of East La PeniMinister of Education Mr. action of the employees, tence Housing Scheme at Cedric Nunes, Mrs. Patri- Michael Forde and of the Congress Place, Camp St. cia Christian, Miss Euna manager, the parcel was tak- Georgetown. He told me to Mulzack, with a damaged en out of the shop; Michael carry it to Freedom House at eye and Miss Bispat with a Forde was killed when the Robb St., Georgetown. One suspected fractured spine. time bomb exploded.

George Roberts was with The Premier’s wife, Mrs. “It was due to his quick me when Clive Wilson gave Janet Jagan, the then Gen- and brave action that the me the bomb. This George eral Secretary of the PPP, lives of some 40 persons Roberts belongs to Ann’s escaped with slight injuries were saved. It was also due Grove, carried the parcel to her hands. to the clear directions of bomb on a bicycle and went Mrs. Jagan, who was the Manager that two men, into the book shop at Freein the office speaking on who were coming out of dom, Robb St., met some the telephone when the ex- Freedom House, were saved plosion occurred, had said: from certain death. Unfortu“Everything happened so nately, they suffered serious quickly. I ran out of my of- injuries. fice to find people weeping “The PPP wishes to and bleeding. I decided to place on record its apprerush them to the hospital ciation of a gallant and dewhile I asked a party com- voted member who gave his rade to summon the police. life to save others. Michael On my way out I passed the Forde was a trustworthy body of a young man lying and respected member who across the entrance. I later had for long devoted his learnt that it was our de- services to the members of voted and reliable comrade the party and particularly by Michael Forde….he was a the youths who held him in hero. There were about 36 high esteem. people in the building at “It is significant that the the time, about 21 of them bombings at Freedom House on the third floor. All of us and Gimpex, which were could have died had he not carefully timed, took place the courage to rush out with at the same time that the the box.” leaders of the three parties In a statement the fol- were meeting at the Prelowing day, Mrs. Jagan had mier’s office. We believe

people in the book shop and I took down some books and looked at them. I had the parcel bomb with me and I put it on the counter in the book shop. I bought a book for 5¢ and paid a woman there with $1 note. I went away with the book and my change I rode away to Camp St., and when I was opposite Congress Place the bomb go off”.

Mr. L.F.S Burnham and Mr. Desmond Hoyte, among other prominent lawyers, represented the persons accused of the actions that led to the death of Michael Forde from August 1964 until December 1964, when the People’s National Congress took over government and Burnham became Premier of then British Guiana.

Michael Forde, a former national council member of the PYO, was buried on Guiana’s national day of mourning and reconciliation. The last rites of Michael Forde were performed in an atmosphere of respect, although among the hundreds of curious spectators there were a number of antagonists, who booed and handclapped in an obvious attempt to stir up opposition and provoke disorder and disrespect for the dead. It was also noted that as hundreds looked on reverently, some opposition hooligans shouted vile abuse.

The Progressive Bookshop has since been renamed the ‘Michael Forde Bookshop’ in honour of the fallen comrade.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 21-22 JULY, 2018

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7. Durban Park Development Project for the Jubilee

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

government.

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

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

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

18. Two fuel scandals relat-

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

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

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

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

19. Consistent and frequent violation of the Procurement Act by line ministries - e.g, the Minister of Agriculture admitted that the MOA nor the NDIA had gone out to tender for works totalling $234M due to emergency works for El Nino and flooding in regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10. In fact, these monies should have been provided for in the Supple(Turn to page 23)

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WEEKEND MIRROR 21-22 JULY, 2018

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(From page 22)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

different ethnic groups in the country.

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

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

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

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

51. Painting state properties in APNU colours.

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

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WEEKEND MIRROR 21-22 JULY, 2018

Misconduct charges against Singh, Brassington stayed until its ‘legality and validity’ are determined T he Chief Justice, Roxanne George, on Tuesday (July 17, 2018) granted an interim stay for the matter involving charges

of misconduct in public office laid against former Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh and former Head of the National Industrial and

Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington, stemming from the sale of the former Sanata Textiles Complex

to Queens Atlantic Investment Inc (QAII).

Following the charges being laid in the Magistrate’s Court, former Attor-

ney General, Anil Nandlall – on behalf of Singh and Brassington – filed an affidavit in the High Court, which questioned the legality and validity of the criminal charges.

As such, the Chief Justice ordered that all criminal proceedings in the lower courts be halted until the High Court determines the legality and validity of the criminal charges.

The charge alleges that Singh and Brassington, while performing the duties of Finance Minister and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NICIL respectively, between October 26 and December 20, 2010, acted recklessly when they agreed to the sale of the Sanata Textiles Complex to QAII. According to the charge, the 18.976acre property was sold for $697.8 million, but it was valued at $1.04 billion.

However, according to privatisation documents published by NICIL, the property was valued at $245 million by the Government’s Chief Valuation Officer, but QAII paid $809.5 million for the property – more than three times the Government valuation.

According to documents seen by this newspaper, upon Cabinet’s approval, QAII embarked on its promised programme of reclamation, clean-up and investment. On May 30, 2007, QAII had requested and received a valuation of the property from the Government Assistant Valuation Officer, which proposed $330.375 million (land $269.200 million; improvements $119.175 million). On June 7, 2018, NICIL had commissioned a valuation from the private firm of Rodrigues Architects Ltd, which posited that the property be valued at $1,042,403,500 (land $209.650 million; improvements $832.753 million). NICIL also obtained on June 27, 2007, a valuation of the land and its improvements from

the Government’s Chief Valuation Officer, which came in at $245.175 million (land, $130 million; improvements $115.175 million).

QAII was responsible, at its expense, for the asbestos clean-up and removal of scrap, which alone incurred a cost of above $400 million.

The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) had previously brought charges against the two former Government officials in April. The two men were arraigned on charges of allegedly selling several plots of land on the East Coast of Demerara to National Hardware Guyana Ltd for over $598 million.

In addition, the charges include selling land to Scady Business Corporation at a cost of $150 million, and to Multi-cinemas Guyana Inc at a cost of $185 million.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has said the decision to charge the duo for the sale of the lands was nothing more than a “frivolous” attempt to keep the campaign promise made by the APNU+AFC Coalition to jail members of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). He had said, “It is all frivolous…this Government campaigned on a promise that they will jail all of us when they get into power because we’re massively corrupt … we were told that we had assets that we were not declaring to the Integrity Commission….we’re told that the People’s Progressive Party and its leaders had stolen so much money they couldn’t stash it in Guyana, they had to stash it abroad. These were the campaign. This was in the mouth of every person who spoke on the APNU platform. Jail, jail these people.”

Additionally, both Singh and Brassington have expressed confidence that the charges brought against him would be disposed of in the near future, because they were frivolous and had no bearing.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 21-22 JULY, 2018

Parliament happenings under review Teixeira questions….

Does the Speaker not think that Amerindians are important?

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ouse Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland, on Wednesday (July 18, 2018), disallowed questions submitted to the House – as oral questions without notice – on the Amerindian Land Titling and Demarcation Project. In his rejection of the questions, which were submitted to the Clerk of the National Assembly on Tuesday (July 17, 2018), Scotland said the questions were not related to the business of the National Assembly.

The questions were expected to come up during tomorrow’s (July 19, 2018) sitting of the National Assembly, which is a Private Members' Day (Opposition Day).

The questions read: “Following public statements made a few weeks ago before the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources by the Vice President and Minister of Indigenous Affairs that no new land titles or extensions under the Amerindian Land Titling and Demarcation Project had been issued since 2015, could the Vice President and Minister inform the National Assembly as to the following: “(1) How was $2.5 MUSD of the $10.7 MUSD allocated to that project under the PPP/C Low Carbon Development Strategy expended in the last 3 years? “(2) How many communities who applied for titles

and or extensions have been demarcated in this period? “(3) Is this inaction by the government an indication of its intention to halt all Amerindian Land titling?”

The letter informing the Parliamentary Opposition of the rejection of the questions read: “I wish to acknowledge your Oral Question Without Notice dated 17th July, 2018, re. ‘Amerindian Land Titling’, and to inform you that the Hon. Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order No. 18(b), has disallowed your questions. “His Honour is of the view that your question is important but not urgent and it does not relate to the business of the Sitting of July 19, 2018.”

Reacting to Scotland’s move, Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, said “This issue of Amerindian Land Titling is of primary concern to Amerindian peoples. Right here in the capital, Georgetown, this week, this issue has been raised at the Annual National Toshaos Conference in the presence of the President and the government Ministers.... that the Speaker ruled in this way is an indication that he does not recognise the magnitude of this issue to a significant section of the Guyanese population and what it means for their lives, culture, and livelihood.

“Our Amerindians make up 10 per cent of the popu-

lation, maybe it is that the Speaker, and the government he represents, does not think that 10 per cent of the Guyanese people are important…. this issue is urgent and important and of primary concern, it was raised with the President and his Ministers at the very start of the NTC Conference.

“Not one land title or extension has been granted by this government in three years. The government must answer why it has not seen fit to do so and whether this inaction is indicative of a decision by government to halt all Amerindian Land titling during their administration.

This latest move to disallow these questions point to a confirmation that this is the government's intention.”

Teixeira added that the Standing Order makes it clear that ‘oral questions without notice’ ought to be “important, urgent OR related to the business” of the House. “The Speaker seems to have interpreted the Standing Orders differently,” she said.

She stated too that the Speaker’s ruling is the latest in a list of controversial rulings.

Notably, the questions on the Amerindian Land Titling were in the name of PPP/C Parliamentarian, Pauline Sukhai. They were directed to Minister of Indigenous Affairs, Sydney Allicock.

Concerns of MMA farmers not allowed to be raised in National Assembly

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s a result of many complaints by rice farmers about the poor state of the farm to market roads in the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary/ Agriculture Development Authority (MMA\ADA) Scheme, questions, in the name of Opposition Parliamentarian, Dharamkumar Seeraj, were submitted to the National Assembly.

The questions include: 1. How much subvention is the government providing to the MMA for capital programmes in the Scheme?

2. Since the increase in rentals and fees in the scheme, how many farmers are in default as they cannot afford to pay?

3. What forms of assistance is the government providing for

farm to market access roads in the scheme and across the rice belt?

Seeraj’s questions were submitted to the Clerk of the National Assembly on Tuesday (July 17, 2018). A letter from Clerk made it clear that the questions were rejected because the issue is not urgent and is not related to the business of the National Assembly.

Speaker rules that questions on $30B GuySuCo bond are not urgent

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ollowing the announcement of a $30B bond for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the lack of details surrounding the issue of the bond, questions were taken to the National Assembly by the Parliamentary Opposition.

The questions, submitted on Tuesday (July 16, 2018) asked: 1. What are the plans for the use of this loan?

2. Was a feasibility study done to determine the use of the loan?

3. Will the plan and feasibility study be made public?

4. If there is no plan why has $30B been borrowed?

5. GAWU was informed in discussions with the SPU/

government that the loan will be spent on the three remaining estates with the setting up of co-generation plants at Uitvlugt and Albion and a white sugar plant.

Have any feasibility studies and designs being done for these proposed projects?

6. Will any part of these monies be used to pay pension liabilities to the sugar workers?

7. Will any part of these monies be used to pay outstanding severance payments to thousands of dismissed sugar workers, and if not, when will the government pay these monies due in accordance with the law?

House Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland, on Wednesday

(July 18, 2018), issued a letter that rejected the questions as not being urgent.

The questions were supposed to come up for discussion at the sitting on Thursday (July 19, 2018).

What is known, via a leaked document, is that the $30B bond facility is being arranged by Republic Bank.

It was secured at a 4.75 per cent interest rate. It is a five-year agreement. Interest is payable semi-annually, starting October 2018.

The Bonds will mature in April 2023. Also, the bonds have been issued “free and clear” of all corporate taxes.

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

Gov’t involvement in mobilising recruits for People’s Militia and more questioned T he recruitment of persons into the Guyana People’s Militia was raised in the National Assembly on Thursday (July 19, 2018) by Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira.

Directing her questions to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, she said, “On January 3, 2016, the Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Mark Phillips announced that the Guyana People’s Militia has been re-activated with effect from December 1, 2015 and that it had hoped to recruit an additional 1500 persons as reserves. “…during the annual budget on the 2016 Budget Estimates, February 15, 2016, Minister Harmon informed the House in response to questions that the Guyana People’s Militia was as in the past situated within the Guyana Defence Force as the 2nd Infantry Battalion Reserve and its budget was included within the GDF budget and administration.”

That said, Teixeira

asked, what is the criteria and methodology of recruitment of persons into the People’s Militia?

Harmon said persons between 18-35 years-old, in good physical and mental health, are eligible to be recruited.

The Opposition Chief Whip asked, what is the number of persons who have been recruited into the People’s Militia in the last two (2) years?

Harmon said that 1,608 were recruited in the last two years. The breakdown

by Region is: Region 1 – 36; Region 2 – 0; Region 3 – 154; Region 4 – 365; Region 5 – 204; Region 6 – 405; Region 7 – 93; Region 8 – 42; Region 9 – 45; and Region 10 – 264.

“Why would Region 2 have no recruits? Why is there little recruitment in the border regions?” Teixeira pressed, adding that the APNU+AFC seems very involved in mobilising recruits, as was done pre-1992 under the PNC. Harmon did not respond directly to these questions.

She asked too, by what means have these persons been recruited; via public advertisement in the media, in the social media, or any other means? Harmon said public advertisements are used in the recruitment process. “Persons have been expressing interest online,” he added. However, Teixeira questions the accuracy of his comments that there were public advertisements.

Teixeira asked too, what type of training that the recruits are being given and for how long? Harmon disclosed that there is specialized training for some recruits, in addition to year-long training that is bolstered by a yearend concentrated training course.

She questioned, are recruits receiving stipends, salaries or other benefits?

The recruits are paid a stipend of over $2,000 a day, according to Harmon.

This question was posed since last month; however, it was deferred until Thursday.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 21-22 JULY, 2018

Forum intended to address corruption nothing but a charade to excuse APNU+AFC inaction to correct its wrongs P

ublicly reported acts of corruption, conflict of interest, abuse of power and extortion, etcetera – all acts that have been committed under the APNU+AFC Coalition Government – continue to go unpunished.

And the Anti-Corruption Seminar for Members of Parliament, held last week, has been deemed as a charade by the Parliamentary Opposition.

BELOW IS THE FULL PRESS RELEASE: The Parliamentary Opposition, on July11, 2018 attended and participated in the Anti-Corruption Seminar for Members of Parliament which was held in the Parliament Chambers. Dr. Sam Sittlington, an advisor to the Special Organised Crime Unit (S.O.C.U.), conducted

the seminar.

Minister Khemraj Ramjattan as the moderator of the seminar was effusive in his praise of Dr. Sittlington, stating that “Guyana was fortunate to have a man of such experience and standing”.

What was disappointing was the absence of the Head of S.O.C.U. or any other member of S.O.C.U., even as observers, to lend support to the seminar.

In the discussion, the Opposition Members of Parliament asked a number of questions, such as the number of money laundering cases that had been successfully prosecuted in recent times; the reasons why S.O.C.U has not acted and investigated the numerous cases of corruption, such as the Sussex Street Drug Bond scandal

and the Jubilee Durban Park Development scandal; and issues relating to beneficial ownership and conflict of interest of public officials.

The Opposition Members wish to put on public record how disappointed we were with the lack of substance in Dr. Sittlington’s answers to the questions posed and issues raised. In fact, he stated that S.O.C.U. could only act if there was a complaint to the Commissioner of Police.

However, if that were the case, how did S.O.C.U. on two occasions arrest PPP/C leaders, including the former President, Prime Minister and Ministers and the Commissioner of Police on both occasions, publicly stated he was unaware of these actions. Further, Dr. Sittlington stated he arrived on January 2016 and the 30 odd forensic

Gov’t finding it hard to back up campaign rhetoric of corruption J

unior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma, has admitted that all the forensic reports done by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government have been turned over the Special Organised Crimes Unit (SOCU).

But in doing so, he exposed the fact that the Coalition Government may be finding it hard to back up its corruption rhetoric, which was repeated on the campaign trail ahead of the May 2015 General and Regional Elections.

Sharma has admitted that since the last of the forensic audit reports have been turned over there have been “no prosecutions” advanced by SOCU. Sharma comments were made during an Anti-Corruption Seminar for Members of Parliament, which was held last week.

While Government claims that the audits were not done with the purpose to “witch hunt” former government officials, the Parliamentary Opposition

continues to insist on the release not only the completed audit reports, but also the responses to the audit reports that were given by the agencies subjected to the audits.

Meanwhile, after three years of being operations under the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, not a single case against money launderers has been advanced. SOCU has only been involved in cases filed against former government officials, one of which has already been thrown out of the courts. Also, in the case SOCU brought against GBTI, the expert witness fielded by the Unit was also rejected by courts, which ruled that the ‘expert’ was in fact ‘no expert’.

Additionally, SOCU has been involved in a number of controversial operations.

These include the high-profile car chase of the wife of a People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP), which resulted in the death

of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Sergeant Robert Pyle and his wife Stacy, along with another civilian in a smash-up on Carifesta Avenue in December 2015 – an incident that remains the subject of many unanswered questions.

Notably, the Unit’s establishment was part of Guyana's international obligations to strengthen its Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework and was intended to support the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

The mandate of the SOCU, as acknowledged in the protocols, is to address investigations, detection and preparation of criminal investigative reports and case files for prosecutions of financial crimes, including money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Little to nothing has been done

by SOCU, under the current APNU+AFC Government, which fits the reason for SOCU’s establishment.

audits had been completed.

This in fact was not so and even Minister Jaipaul Sharma who was present looked confused as he was the one who admitted in the seminar that he had submitted the audits to S.O.C.U. and the Police. In response to the lack of prosecution of money laundering cases, the raison de’etre for S.O.C.U, Members were advised that only recently the six month period for hearing cases in court was lifted.

Regrettably this is a total misunderstanding of the AML/CFT Amendment Act 2015 and consequential amendments, and maybe the adviser himself needs to be advised on the law and the judicial system.

During the rather ‘hot’ session, the Prime Minister accused the Parliamentary

Opposition of being a “lynch gang” at the seminar and called on Member Harry Gill to retract his statement that “maybe Dr. Sittlington should consider resigning.”

Notably, Minister Ramjattan abruptly ended the session with time to spare in the 3 hour allotted time, in order to protect Dr. Sittlington from incisive issues being raised by the Parliamentary Opposition.

It was anticipated that this activity would have been a forum for discussion and frank exchange of views, on how to address corruption.

In our view, it was nothing but a mere charade and a fig leaf for the non-engagement of S.O.C.U. in dealing with publicly reported acts of corruption, conflict of interest, abuse of power, extortion, etc., by the APNU/AFC Ad-

ministration.

Again, like in an earlier reported incident of socializing with the executive, here too, it was observed that the adviser, considered to be a professional, sat and had lunch with Minister Ramjattan in the MPs Lounge.

We, in the Parliamentary Opposition remain committed to ensuring Guyana’s adherence to its constitution and laws, and, its international treaties and conventions such as the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption and the UN Convention Against Corruption.

We remain steadfast in our demands for greater transparency and accountability of the executive and all elected officials and civil society stakeholders.

People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C)

Opposition’s concerns validated, gov’t peddling ‘pipe dreams’ based on information from foreign lobbyist

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month after Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, called for questioning of the driving force behind some of the studies being presented to the Guyanese people, relative to the oil and gas sector, it has been revealed that the latest such study was done by a company close to ExxonMobil.

That company is Rystad Energy. Its report predicted that Guyana will do extremely well post 2020 when oil production is expected to be in full swing. The Rystad Energy report was used by the APNU+AFC Government’s public relations machinery to defend itself against criticisms that the best interests of Guyana were not served in the renegotiation of the ExxonMobil contract.

In early June, Jagdeo had said, “Everything must not be taken at face value…I saw the thing about Rystad Energy and people are questioning linkages…. not because a foreign consultancy company puts out a favourable report we must

all latch on to it. We have to question the motivation of these companies, particularly consultancies for oil and gas sectors. Some would want to put out favourable reports because they get most of their business from oil companies….I just want to caution, we should not take these things as gospel, we must check to see the ties these companies have.”

On Monday (July 16, 2018), the former Petroleum Advisor to the Government, Dr. Jan Mangal, noted that he was not surprised by the glowing reports of Rystad Energy, which predicts that Guyana will get massive returns from its oil deal with ExxonMobil.

According to him, Rystad Energy is part of ExxonMobil’s lobbying machine.

In his Facebook page, Dr. Mangal said, “I had discussions with Wood Mackenzie (A UK Company that also foresees massive oil wealth for Guyana) and Rystad in Houston regarding possible support for a country like Guyana to

challenge a company like Exxon.

“After a couple months of discussion with Wood Mackenzie, they called me and were very apologetic.

They could not continue to talk with me. Their executives were worried their interaction with me would annoy Exxon, and most of their revenue comes from oil companies (including Exxon). “…Rystad is the newer and smaller of the two, the upstart, thus it will be more aggressive in its actions to please Exxon, that is, to curry favour with Exxon. That is why Rystad is prepared to produce drivel like this. “…so Guyanese, please always apply the rule of ‘follow the money’ when assessing the information being provided to you (i.e. check if your source could be biased, and remember money is one of the strongest drivers for bias).”

The APNU+AFC Government has not responded to the disclosures made by Mangal.

27

WEEKEND MIRROR 21-22 JULY, 2018

Eight murdered during robberies as of June 2018

140 rape cases reported at the end of June 2018 T

– 1,223 various robberies recorded by police

Rose Hall Town Police outpost attacked B

A

whopping 304 cases of robbery under arms, where firearms were used, were recorded at the end of June 2018, marking an increase compared to last year. Another 116 cases of robbery under arms, where other instruments were used, were also recorded for that month.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) disclosed that there were also 28 other cases of

robberies, as well as 73 cases of robbery with violence.

Robbery with aggravation cases numbered 30.

Larceny from persons numbered 62, while burglary cases totaled 112 and break an entry with larceny totaled 498.

In total these cases numbered 1,223.

There were 44 murders at the end of June 2018. A breakdown in the categories

at the end of June show: Disorderly – 20; domestic – 12; robbery – 8; and unknown – 4.

Additionally, 67 illegal firearms were seized at the end of June 2018 and they include: 40 pistols; 17 revolvers; seven shotguns; 1 sub-machine gun; and two rifles.

The APNU+AFC Coalition Government continues to come in for criticisms over its inaction to address the current crime rate.

Anna Catherina man found dead

P

olice are investigating the murder of Jason Rejendra Lall Hiria, 30, unemployed of lot 76 Sixth Street, Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara, which occurred between 01:30hrs and 05:30hrs on Monday (July 16, 2018).

Investigators discovered marks of violence around the decease’s neck and an autopsy conducted this morning revealed that he died from compression injuries to the neck.

Three persons have been taken into custody, including the grand-parents and an uncle of the victim. The uncle has since admitted to the killing.

Investigations revealed from the grandfather that the victim who is an alcoholic went home about 01:30hrs intoxicated, and about 05:30hrs was discovered seated motionless on an inside toilet.

There is no sign of forced entry into the home.

he Guyana Police Force has recorded 140 cases of rape, as at June 2018, which represents a 9 per cent increase compared to last year.

No other information, as per protocols, was disclosed.

Civil society reps have made calls for more to be done to address the scourge of rape.

andits on Sunday (July 15, 2018) attempted to break into the Rose Hall Town Police Outpost, but their efforts were thwarted after an alert Police Officer during routine checks saw the men who had already cut a hole in the fence.

Reports are that shortly after midnight four armed men were seen in the compound of the Police Outpost.

It has been reported that the Outpost at the time might have been securing

high-powered weapons of the Guyana Police Force. It is believed that the Force had taken the weapons there as a reported attack was being planned on the business community.

The ‘B’ Division (Berbice) Commander, Assistant Commissioner, Lyndon Alves, said: “To attempt an attack on law enforcement and more so, a police outpost is a grave concern for this division and the administration of this Force. What I am

happy about is that the ranks were alerted having been privy to information as it relates to the said attack. There were some systems that were put in place and as a result of those systems, they were able to thwart the attempt by persons unknown.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) in a statement said only that, “A person or persons unknown cut a hole in the fence which was discovered by an armed policeman on duty.”

Police constable busted with illegal drugs A

police constable stationed at Guyana Police Force (GPF) Headquarters has been arrested for Trafficking in Narcotics.

The Policeman who was driving a vehicle that was Georgetown-bound was intercepted on Cove and John Public Road

ECD, about 09:00hrs last Friday (July 13, 2018).

A search of the vehicle revealed several taped parcels of compressed cannabis, weighing in excess of 21kg.

Investigations are progress.

GECOM Chairman uses ‘casting vote’ in another controversial decision

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he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) wrote to the Chief Elections Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Keith Lowenfield, requesting an extension of the continuous registration exercise.

In its request, the PPP pointed out that the exercise, which officially ended on Sunday, July 8, 2018, was initially scheduled to commence on May 07, 2018.

However, it actually began

two weeks after that date thereby truncating the desired period for registration.

The Party’s request was denied, when the controversial GECOM Chairman, James Patterson, used his casting vote to side with the PNC-nominated GECOM Commissioners.

The Party in a statement said, “The PPP firmly believes that the request for an extension was crucial and reasonable given that a num-

ber of eligible registrants were unable to engage in the process due to insufficient time.

“The disadvantage resulting from the shortened period was further compounded by an inadequate and ineffective public relations support mechanism.

“During a preparatory meeting in which these concerns were raised, Mr. Lowenfield indicated that he would express same to the

Commission, and, noted, that there is room for an extension in the schedule leading up to the Local Government Elections. It was reported to the PPP that APNU Commissioner, Charles Corbin, interfaced with a senior staffer in the CEO's Office, resulting in Mr. Corbin presenting timelines in support of a ‘no extension’ position.

Coincidently, Mr. Lowenfield subsequently voiced a concern at the GECOM

meeting that even a schedule with a one week's extension would be ‘tight’.

“However, despite the initial assurance, when the PPP/C‘s request for extension was discussed at the last GECOM meeting, the Chairman, Justice Patterson, cast his vote against it. The request was therefore denied by majority vote.”

The Party has made it clear that given the importance of this process, especially in the context of

openness and to prevent disenfranchisement, GECOM Chairman’s decision is disappointing – more so given his recent public assurances of a free and fair election.

“This latest action by the Chairman is fast becoming a trend of partisanship following his earlier casting vote for the appointment of the Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) which denied the highest ranking candidate the position,” the Party said.

Increased fees among major changes proposed for local gold trading

M

ajor changes are being proposed by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, relative to Guyana’s gold trading operations. And increased fees are among the more controversial of the changes proposed.

The changes are expected to be put in place via proposed amendments to the Guyana Gold Board Act and Regulations.

The proposed amendments provide for changes to the quantity of gold that may be legally possessed by a person; an extension of the period within which a producer may legally possess gold before selling to the Guyana Gold Board; the introduction of a special dealer’s licence to possess, sell or export gold and the ‘fit and proper’ criterion to be applied to persons seeking this.

Also proposed is the increase of application fees, bonds, fines and penalties and new regulations related to the acquisition of foreign exchange.

Already, the local gold mining sector has been hit by policies, including increases fees and taxes, that were introduced by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government in the past two years.

Andre Russell returns to West Indies ODI squad for Bangladesh series – First game set for Providence Stadium on Sunday

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ndre Russell is set to make a return to West Indies‘ ODI squad for the first time since November 2015, after being picked in the 13-man squad for the series against Bangladesh.

After playing for his nation in the 50-over format almost three years ago, against Sri Lanka, in what was the only ODI he took part in after World Cup 2015, Russell will feature for his side in the three-match series that begins July 22 in Guyana.

Russell suffered a leg injury that kept him out of the remaining games in that series. However, the all-rounder was suspended in January 2017, after being found guilty of an anti-doping violation.

When the ban ended, he returned to play in the Regional Super50 tournament for Jamaica, but withdrew himself for contention for the West Indies ODI squad because he wanted regain confidence in the format first. He opted to play in the Pakistan Super League in the same time frame though.

Meanwhile, fast bowler Alzarri Joseph and batsman Kieran Powell have also been called up while Marlon Samuels, Carlos Brathwaite, Nikita Miller, Sheldon Cottrell and Kesrick Williams have all been dropped from the ODI squad.

Squad: Jason Holder (capt), Devendra Bishoo, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope (wk), Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Kieran Powell, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell

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