Weekend Mirror 28-29 July 2018 by Weekend Mirror

Talks will be given fair chance, but PPP/C will not be muzzled – Jagdeo 28-29 July , 2018 / Vol. 10 No. 32 / Price: $100

ssues on the table for talks between the APNU+AFC Government and the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) include crime, the environment and the oil and gas sector. Opposition Leader and General Secretary of the PPP, Bharrat Jagdeo, has said that internal Party discussions will inform the agenda proposed by the PPP/C. “I intend to put the issue before the party and if we want to add issues to the agenda and then when that is completed we will notify the President,” he said. However, while he charged that an effort will be made to ensure successful talks, he made it clear that the PPP/C will not be muzzled. “If the talks are for convenience sake – to engage us in talk to muzzle us or alternatively to have us in the PPP be less critical – the fact is that we will not be muzzled…. we can’t be muzzled by talks but we want to give it a fair shot,” Jagdeo assured. MISCONCEPTIONS Jagdeo stressed that a major misconception that has to be clarified relates to the agenda proposed by the government. He said, “The international community was under the impression, including President Carter and the others, that government had offered to talk about governance and constitutional reform and the PPP had rejected it….this is not so.” He added, “…When I met with President Granger, I said, ‘Can you tell us precisely how we will address these issues? What exactly is it that you want to talk about?’ He said there are three things: one, it is the crime; two, the environmental issues, and three, oil and gas…governance and constitutional reform was not on his agenda, it was never proposed to the PPP.” TIMELINES The Opposition Leader disclosed that Granger did not confirm a timeline for the talks between the government and Opposition. He added that the President did refer to the fact that the

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PNCR Congress is set for August 2018, so a meeting may be unlikely next month. Jagdeo noted too that with Local Government Elections set for November 12, 2018, he is unsure when the Government is likely to be available for talks.

INTERVENTION The move to have government-opposition talks came after the intervention of former US President, Jimmy Carter. At a prior news conference, Jagdeo said, “I received a call from President Carter, Jimmy Carter [former US President James Earl Carter Jr.], and after talking a bit about Guyana, he said to me he had spoken to President Granger, and somehow, (what) he got from that conversation is that the Government wanted to engage with us and we are unwilling to engage because we don’t like Nagamootoo. So I said to him that that’s absolutely not true….it is not the individual, it is his ability to make commitments that we cannot accept; because — and I pointed this out to President Carter; I said, ‘The AFC can’t even secure a meeting with APNU. They have written APNU since February of this year, and now it’s July, and I do not think they can secure a meeting with APNU to discuss the Cummingsburg Accord. Secondly, Nagamootoo has absolutely no substantive portfolio. GINA and Chronicle…is not a serious portfolio; and therefore, that is the reason why.” Jagdeo said that, as a former President, he decided to raise the matter with President Granger in an attempt to seek clarity about Government being interested in discussing with the PPP, so that he could engage his party’s Executive. “I said I’ll raise it with President Granger, and that we will be seeking two things from the President. First of all, clarity on what precisely they wanted to discuss; and two: whether Nagamootoo has the weight to make commitments on behalf of the PNC and APNU; which I did today.” After raising the issue with Granger, the President offered to lead the talks himself.

Bar Association to SARA: ‘The judiciary does not do the bidding’ of the gov’t PAGE 24

SEE INSIDE

Unfair portrayal of Guyana cannot be accepted

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GECOM Chairman challenge has first hearing in Appeal Court Deplorable interior roads threaten economic growth, livelihoods – PPP/C MPs

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Nagamootoo spreading ‘blatant and absurd lies’ – PPP

laims contained in Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo’s column “My Turn” of July 22 are being sharply rebuffed by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). In a statement, blasted Nagamootoo for his “characteristically narcissistic” behaviour. BELOW IS THE FULL STATEMENT: The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has noted the several comments on the issue of future engagements between the Parliamentary Opposition and the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, particularly the related comments from Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, which are characteristically narcissistic. Nagamootoo in his lat-

est ramblings has claimed that the PPP General Secretary and Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, at Public Buildings last Thursday (July 19, 2018) “swiped his neck with his right index finger, motioning that someone had cut my (his) throat.” The PPP wishes to make clear its rejection of this blatant and absurd lie. The position of the Party General Secretary and Opposition Leader regarding the proposal for Nagamootoo to lead talks in future engagements between the Parliamentary Opposition and the APNU+AFC Coalition Government has been made clear. This position is grounded in fact. Nagamootoo has no portfolio; he is a lightweight in the current Coalition Government; and

is in no position to make any commitments once engagements between the Parliamentary Opposition and the Government get underway – he cannot commit the APNU or the PNC to anything. Nagamootoo is desperately searching for sympathy by peddling his distortions. Nagamootoo’s leader, head of the AFC, Raphael Trotman, has said that Nagamootoo “would have no hesitation” to step aside while President David Granger leads talks between the Parliamentary Opposition and the Government. Contrary to these comments, however, Nagamootoo’s ramblings seem to indicate otherwise. The PPP urges Guyanese to not fall prey to Nagamootoo’s charade.

Decisive action needed for mainstream youth development – CARICOM

ssistant Secretary-General, Human and Social Development CARICOM, Dr. Douglas Slater said decisive actions at the highest level of governments are necessary to mainstream youth development across all sectors. Dr. Slater was speaking at the opening ceremony of a three-day Caribbean forum on Youth Population and Development at the Marriot earlier this week. The forum has brought together a number of representatives from Caribbean youth and international organisations, civil society and academia. According to Dr Slater, a coordinated regional mechanism for effective participation and engagement with youth on the many international development frameworks is needed. “Instabilities in the protec-

tive factors of family, school and community make it even more difficult for vulnerable youth in marginalised circumstances to transition successfully to adulthood, especially in a global context where more education and training are required of youth to be competitive and employable,” Dr Slater said. According to Dr Slater, the importance of developing and implementing robust youth policies and programmes was underscored in a recent seminal report and has provided the Member States, youth and other relevant stakeholders with valuable instruments to advance youth development at both the national and regional levels. Speaking on the issue of National Youth Policies, Dr. Slater said nineteen of the twenty Members and Associate Members of CARICOM

have such policies. “More work is needed in the Member States in developing monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess progress towards youth development goals and to ensure those policy decisions are based on evidence. More attention is needed to ensuring policies are gender sensitive and properly funded so they can be more impactful,” the official said. The CARICOM Youth Development Action Plan (2012 – 2022) is a multisectoral institutional framework to guide national policy, integrated planning and action. It seeks to address the gaps and imperatives for youth development, by articulating six CARICOM Youth Development Goals, as the minimum standards for youth development for which Member States are accountable.

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 JULY, 2018

AFC financier caught supplying unregistered drugs to GPHC

loyd Singh, on Monday (June 23, 2018), was slapped with two counts of supplying unregistered drugs to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. Singh appeared before Georgetown Magistrate Judy Latchman and denied the charges. The prosecution is contending that the father of five, owner of the International Pharmaceutical Agency at Lot 226 “B” Camp Street, Georgetown, on August 12, 2017 supplied the unregistered drug Rituximab 100mg to the Georgetown

Public Hospital in violation of Part 3, Section 28 of the Food and Drugs Regulations Act (Guyana) of 1977. The prosecution is also contending that the 51-yearold businessman committed the same act on October 23, 2017 at the said location. In court on Monday, Singh’s attorney, in a bail application, asked the court to release his client on his own recognisance. The lawyer told the court that the charge against his client is bogus. Magistrate Latchman placed the businessman on $60,000 bail, and put down

the case for continuation on July 27. Singh is a publicly acknowledged financier of the Alliance For Change (AFC). Notably, last year it was revealed that in 2016 and 2017, several firms had been awarded contracts to supply pharmaceuticals to the health sector, but failed to deliver. The International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA) is one of those companies that failed to supply all of the drugs it was contracted to supply, because it was not qualified to import some specialised pharmaceuticals, it was revealed.

Granger-gov’t fails to address concerns of the Press Association

ast week, the 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. And the David Granger-led APNU+AFC Coalition Government has made no move to address the concerns of the Press Association. 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 respond to his Government’s promise of transparency and accountability were highlight-

ed 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 “side-line 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.

Two lawsuits filed against GPHC in a matter of weeks he Georgetown Public which she communicated to vious visits. The gauze was T Hospital Corporation the medical staff, but was subsequently removed and (GPHC) and its Board is advised that she was well she was discharged about being sued for negligence following a surgery at the hospital. Onissa Bowling is suing the hospital on the grounds, that during a subsequent surgery, doctors discovered that gauze had negligently been left in her body. Opposition Parliamentarian and Attorney-at-law Priya Manickchand, in filings noted that, on November 26, 2015, Bowling visited the Hospital in excruciating pain and was diagnosed as having “gallstones”. She was prescribed medication, which she bought and used. According to court documents, Bowling’s pain continued and worsened and on or around March 14, 2016, an operation was done to remove the gallstones and infected bladder. She spent about two weeks in hospital. Bowling claims to have experienced great discomfort following the operation,

enough to be discharged. Suffering excessive pain and discomfort, court documents state that Bowling visited the hospital several times following the surgery and in July 2016, another operation was performed “to remove one more stone.” According to the court filings, Bowling subsequently spent close to one month in the hospital. “She was experiencing worsened pain with her wound bursting and having to be re -stitched several times,” court documents state. Between July 2016 and October 2016, Bowling is said to have visited the hospital at least four more times complaining of severe pain, discomfort and suffering. She claims that on October 1, 2016, medical staff at the hospital discovered that gauze had negligently been left in her body during one of her pre-

one week later. However, she had to be rushed to the emergency room of St. Joseph Mercy Hospital soon thereafter with fever, pain, swelling and much suffering. The documents indicate that between March 2016 and October 2016, Bowling was in continuous, excruciating pain and suffered much physically, emotionally, mentally and financially. She is seeking damages in excess of $10M for negligence; $10M for personal injuries, pain and suffering; interest, cost and any further order the court seems just. Prior to this case, another woman, Kim Nichols, had filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the hospital, claiming that foreign objects were left in her during a 2016 surgery. The GPHC has not commented on the issues.

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 JULY, 2018

GAWU repeats call for GuySuCo Board to be appointed T

he Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has again express concern that the Government’s largest enterprise – the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) – has been operating without a Board of Directors for several months. GAWU General Secretary, Seepaul Narine, said, “ Information reaching the Union indicates that nearly half a year has gone by since the Corporation’s last Board meeting. “Media reports had indicated Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder last saying that the Board would have been appointed at the end of June, 2018. We recall prior to that he had said that the Board would have been in place by the end of May, 2018. Previously, there were other timelines that were set and simply ignored. The shifting goalpost by the Minister and the Administration, for us, is extremely worrying. It serves to demonstrate, in our view, that a glancing concern, if so much, is paid to the operations of the sugar industry and the well-being of the thousands who still depend on the industry for their livelihood and well-being. “We firmly believe that the naming of a Board of GuySuCo is a task not as difficult as the Government

is making it out to be. Therefore, we are at a loss for the protracted delay in the appointment of the Board especially at a time when the Corporation requires decisive and competent leadership. At this time, when the Corporation has secured a $30B bond financing package aimed at turning the industry around the absence of a capable Board is especially disturbing. Quickly a Board

should be named having recognized that so far, to the best of our knowledge, no plan has been presented that will guide the expenditure of this significant sum which has to be repaid with interest. Recognizing that serious deficiency we see the need for the urgent appointment of a Board to guide the Corporation at this time. “GAWU, once again, calls on the Government and

more so Minister Holder to bring the charade to an end and to appoint a capable, competent and respectable Board that will enjoy the support of the workers and that will be able to guide and lead the Corporation at this time.” In April, there was confusion over a new Board that was appointed, headed by Colvin Heath-London, who also heads the Special Pur-

pose Unit (SPU) overseeing the divestment of some of GuySuCo’s assets. After media reports on the new GuySuCo Board, including comments by Heath-London, who identified himself as the new Chairman, Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, later stated that Cabinet documents appointing Heath-London and a new board had been sent out without approval

of the full Cabinet and these appointments were to be recalled. As such, Clive Thomas, Jordan said, remains the Chairman of the GuySuCo Board. In April 2018, inister of State, Joseph Harmon, had said that there will be “an announcement of a board for GuySuCo in a very short space” of time. To date, no such move has been made.

Leguan residents More instructions Ban on scrap call on gov’t to metal trade being given address problematic coming by to police? Police in F Division (Bartica) are currently probing a report of assault involving the son of a Government Minister. But the move to launch an investigation comes after some backlash related to a controversial Government Minister giving instruction to the police in Bartica. Reports are that the son of the controversial Minister, who lives in Bartica, assaulted his girlfriend and was arrested, on Saturday last. The Minister then called the Commander of the Bartica Divison and told him that if they do not release her son immediately the President will have to step in. The Commander was also threatened that if he does not keep the matter quiet, he will be dealt with. Subsequently, the Minister’s son was released and the woman, a 26-year-old, was arrested. She was detained and unable to seek medical attention for several hours. With the issue having been highlighted in the local media, an investigation has been launched. Statements have been obtained from both the woman and the Minister’s son. The probe continues.

month end

he ban on scrap metal exportation will be reintroduced by the end of July. Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin, was firm in saying, “We are currently in a period of resumption; and that comes to an end, by the end of this month.” Gaskin said the Ministry of Business (MoB) is anticipating the new legislation being enacted before the end of the year, and that it would usher in ‘firm and solid’ management to regulate and monitor the scrap metal industry through the development of a managing body. Government approved a restart of the scrap metal trade during February 2017, after shuttering the industry one year prior. However, in April 2018, after several months of delays and much criticism, Government was pressured to reopen the scrap metal trade on a limited basis to facilitate the clearing of some of the accumulated scrap metal across the country. The scrap metal trade was suspended in June 15, 2015.

ferry service

esidents of the Island of Leguan, in the Essequibo River, are complaining bitterly about the sudden hike in speedboat fares due to the lack of a regular ferry service. The normal fare from Parika to Leguan is about $500, but residents are now being forced to pay as much as $1,500, depending on the number of passengers in the speedboat at that time. According to residents living on the island, the ferry service has not been working to its normal schedule for the past six months, and passengers have no other choice but to pay the very high and unreasonable fare to travel. The speedboats are outfitted to transport about 10 passengers at once, but because of low numbers of persons travelling to and from the island, the speedboat operators would sometimes enforce a call for double fare or higher. The residents are contending that the entire arrangement needs to be relooked at, and they are calling on the Government to alleviate their sufferings by reinstating a regular ferry service to the island. Additionally, the residents are saying that because of the lack of a proper ferry service, they are now being forced to pay extra for their goods in an already dwindling economy.

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 JULY, 2018

Another glaring example of the Coalition’s scant concern of the workers interests

he Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) was indeed most upset and disturbed by the seeming belligerent attitude shown by the APNU/AFC Government’s disapproval of a motion to have reinstated a Ministry of Labour. The motion was tabled by the Parliamentary Opposition following a call that was reiterated by the trade union movement at the May Day 2018 rally. It is a call which the Guyanese workers, through their representative organisations, have been making over the last three years but was largely ignored despite the several credible rationales provided for going in the direction that the motion proposed. The FITUG expected that, on this occasion, in spite of previous expressed views, given the nature of the issue and more so the venue it was raised, that the Administration would have soberly assessed and given support to the motion. That expectation was dashed, however, as shown by the contributions from the Government side and, of course,

ultimately its vote in the House. Rather than advancing any convincing arguments for its stance, the Administration tangentially invoked several red herrings and did not, from our point of view, address the substance of the matter. Maybe this course was chosen as the Coalition Government, we believe, could not defend its indefensible position in not having a Labour Ministry. The noteworthy fact that even the Minister who it is said is responsible for Labour did not contribute to the debate says a great deal. The outcome, though, a major disappointment for the nation’s workers only served to confirm the Federation’s publicly expressed view regarding the Administration’s anti-working-class nature. On too many occasions we could not have helped but point out the disregard to many of the commitments the Coalition made to the workers during the elections campaign. Time-honoured and long-standing practices even inter-

national conventions and our country’s laws have simply been ignored by the present-day Government. Moreover, one cannot ignore the increased cost-of-living burdens workers are now made to bear and which further illustrate the Administration’s unsympathetic view to the working-peoples plight. This latest act against the workers of Guyana is just another glaring example of the Coalition’s scant concern of the workers interest. The FITUG, in spite of the Administration’s intransigence, firmly upholds and reiterates its position that a Ministry of Labour is a necessary and required institution. We wish to remind the Administration that actions speak louder than words. Regards, Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG)

APNU+AFC can no longer hide Why are the teachers behind its lies not being involved?

t was the popular daytime small claims court judge in The USA, Judge Judy who said that when you lie you must have a good memory. This rings true when you assess the words and actions of The PNC Led Coalition Government, something that has then utterly embarrassed right now. This government came into office on a plethora of lies, everything, let me repeat, everything that the PPP/C Government did was bad, corruption was the accusation in every corner where that party could gain a voice. Corruption! Yes corruption was their clarion call. Now, that nasty lie did gain a foothold in some gullible quarters and on that note their claim of “winning” the last election. Interesting! Well, it is good enough to pull off those lying stunt tricks to claim a stolen victory, but you must remember to sustain that position would require a great deal of defense effort over and above mere talk, this is where the soft underbelly of The PNC is exposed. Theirs is the onerous task to maintain that corruption picture given to the PPP while at the

same time maintain that clean transparent image for themselves, how can they do it and how best can they fix it is the million dollar question? Now, here is the point where the good memory part comes in. The PNC must remember that they inherited a growing economy – the best in The Caribbean – one that was constantly growing above 5% per annum. Mining and forestry were up and running successfully bring in valuable foreign exchange to the treasury. At the present time these are lagging in dismal failure. In agriculture and the much talked about sugar was nearing the quarter million mark, while rice was record high, almost a million tons. Where are these industries now? The answer is at horrific levels going and almost gone into the garbage heap of failures. So, there is much that the PNC has to think about where having a good memory is concern, only if they’ve lost their memory altogether which they appear to be doing. They are presently having bouts of amnesia, one that I would sarcastically say that has that selective mode ouch to it.

But as I finally close on this note I would ask the PNC to dig deep in their memory recall and remember that corruption phrase so etched in their psyche and juxtapose that against their two months into office and a hefty pay rise of 50%. Where did that money come from? Did it miraculously fall from the sky? Did the Fairy of blessings just suddenly waved a magic wand and cash flowed freely soon after they took office? Was it a sudden miracle of sorts that brought you surprising fortunes or prudent economic policies by an above board and economically sound government, which was it? The Principled PPP/C left an economic base for future generations to go on and that is what you squandered in self-aggrandizement, just say it! Have you forgotten this poignant fact? Come on people say it and free your captive conscience! The point is whether you say it or not the facts do speak for themselves and no amount of lies can hide it. Sincerely, Neil Adams

hy is the Ministry of Education advertising for a consultant to help draft school safety policies? The best educational systems in the world, Finland’s in particular, become that way because they place teachers central to designing all aspects of the education system. The fact is that no supposed expert knows more about the classroom dynamics and the school environment that the people who are on the frontline day in and day out. Naturally therefore it makes sense that in wanting to come up with a safety framework, the Ministry of Education should reach out to teachers in focus groups across the nation. The suggestions and ideas would

address every conceivable aspect of safety and provide a pool of relevant, applicable and pragmatic ideas from which final safety measures can be drafted. Furthermore, this exercise would be cost saving and would enable teachers to take ownership for safety implementation, monitoring, continual evaluation and necessary changes that may be unique to individual schools. The bottom line is that no ‘expert’ will be more knowledgeable about the issues that need to be addressed and more familiar with the student population that the measures will target, than the teachers themselves. Sincerely, Annan Boodram

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 JULY, 2018

GuySuCo should consider rationally and realistically GAWU’s concerns Dear Editor,

T Where are the internal control systems to look after Guyana’s interests? Dear Editor,

n 2016, some 36 per cent of the revenue of the entire nation of Mongolia came from just one company — a copper mine. In such a situation, transparency and accountability are paramount, because of the risks. As a first step, the Mongolian Government published the contract immediately upon signing. Some 30 countries in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) have together disclosed more than 800 massive contracts. So why was Team Granger so reticent about practising good governance? Even after the oil and gas contracts were published, the world did not end for the Guyanese people. This now brings me to another big question: When will Guyana see the feasibility study on the gas pipeline that Minister David Patterson promised to release? Back in December 2017, Exxon’s Upstream Country Manager, Doug Mc Gehee, indicated to local stakeholders that his company was in fact currently studying the feasibility of having available natural gas brought onshore in order to power an envisioned power plant. Seven months have elapsed, and the Guyanese people cannot see the feasibility study. Are we walking into another dark and secret contract that would give away another chunk of Guyana? There are many arguments in favour of publishing State-executed contracts. Transparency prevents corruption, and helps build trust between the decision-makers and the people. Why would a president want his people to distrust him? Irrespective that the contract signed by Minister Raphael Trotman provided pennies on the pound for an entire nation (Guyana), its publication provided pertinent information to the analyst community to ensure that the politicians are kept on their toes, because they must never be trusted. Secondly, when one compares the US$18

million signing bonus for an entire nation to the US$10 million given to one NGO to do less than 5% of the environmental load of the nation, you can understand that Guyana got robbed blindly. And this robbery was facilitated by Team Granger, and that team must be held accountable. I must commend the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, for confirming that his party, the PPP, will not interfere with the current contract when they win the 2020 elections; that was the mature action. The newly published New York Times article (dated July 20, 2018) exposes how tattered Guyana’s reputation remains globally, and to add that we do not respect signed contracts would do further damage to that reputation. But what this contract disclosure means is that some members of Team Granger should be in jail post-2020 for their alleged white-collar criminal action closely tied to official misconduct, which is a serious crime internationally. Can you imagine a minister in Team Granger signed a contract that obligated the taxpayers to honour the corporate tax commitments of this investment from the people’s portion of the cash distribution? Would this not limit the scope for Guyana to improve its tax collection? What this Granger Government does not know, and may never know, is how much is being made? Under what terms? And by whom? Unless and until we leverage the full potential of this contract, Guyana will never know the facts. So an entire nation and its Government are clueless on the future cash flows, and this has created tons of consulting time for the consulting companies to sell their services to the investors, who are trying their best to paint a bright picture on this great swindle. In such a situation, where are the internal control systems to look after Guyana’s interest? Sincerely, Sasenarine Singh

Why is Granger still silent about Broomes’ bullyism? Dear Editor,

would like to dwell on a single statement of importance in a letter from Dr David Hinds: “Minister Broomes incident is a clear case of official bullying of powerless citizens.” Dr Hinds states, “I am very certain that had she been a private citizen, she would have handled the matter differently”. I disagree with Dr Hinds. Dr Hinds needs to know that Ms Broomes is simply a bully. I am pretty sure that she has bullied others as a private citizen, even when she was not decorated with ministerial powers. It is only by chance that Ms Broomes was caught on tape bullying her victims that the nation had a chance to see what she is like. We all know of private citizens who bully others. Only just a few days ago, citizens in Enmore, on the East Coast of Demerara, were bullied by private citizens to the point where their personal properties, like their gas range, clothing, furniture and other valuables, were taken from their homes and thrown onto the streets. Similar to these Enmore bullies, Ms Broomes threw away “No Parking” signs and then threw

her victims in jail for 16 hours. The CCTV tape rescued these innocent victims. Ms Broomes and the Enmore bullies have got to share poor values. Bullying is a big problem for Guyana. Because of cruelty and lack of empathy, bullies can’t feel the pain of another human being. Of course, Ms Broomes and the Enmore bullies will continue to hurt others, if they are not held accountable and if they also fail to seek out psychological help. Bullying is an abnormal behavior, which is largely a product of ignorance. Bullies evaluate their victims as powerless based on a wide range of stereotypes about ethnicity/race, sexual orientation, physical stature, social status, religion, culture, and job status, among other things. Ms Broomes and the Enmore bullies are also in dire need of education. And in spite of such dysfunction by a Government Minister, President Granger remains silent, and shows no indication of firing Ms Broomes. Sincerely, Annie Baliram

he GAWU has noted the remarks of GuySuCo’s Corporate Communications Manager, Ms Audreyanna Thomas, as were reported in the Guyana Times article titled “Albion Estate has 600 vacancies after 3000 workers dismissed” which was published on July 19, 2018. The article quotes Ms Thomas as saying that GuySuCo would “…like to get attendance up to 100 percent”. This statement by the senior GuySuCo official is incredulous, to say the least, but serves to confirm the Massa-like mentality of the new GuySuCo. Obviously, consideration was not given to the difficult nature of the field work. At the same time, one notes that while the Corporation seeks to have all the workers present every day at work during the cropping period, during the out-of-crop period, it wishes that the workers stay home, and it manages to do so through the offering of depressed wages. From all appearances, the GuySuCo wants to suck cane and blow whistle. We don’t know if it has dawned on GuySuCo that its attitude towards workers: through the freezing of wages; the discontinuation of incentive payments; open disrespect and flouting of agreements, laws and international conventions; a belligerent attitude to workers’ concerns, among other things, could be tolerated by the workers for only some time. As GAWU has warned before, workers can be driven to the point where they may well react to the situation in which they work and still starve. It seems that day and time is beckoning.

Incidentally, the corporation has the option of recruiting more than 600 workers who were formerly engaged at Rose Hall and Skeldon estates, and with the provision of transportation to those workers, the work establishment of Albion estate, which is 4,000 but has 3,100 on payroll, would be addressed. We recognise, from the article, similar and most appropriate contentions were made by Region Six Chairman David Armogan in his address to the gathering. Indeed, we hope GuySuCo took sincere account of the Chairman’s remarks, as they reflect the reality of the situation sugar workers must contend with nowadays. We fully endorse the Chairman’s remark when he said, “…a plan cannot operate by itself”. Indeed, it’s generally accepted that the best plans can be reduced to nothing if the people are not involved and committed to reaching the objectives. For us, it is simply upsetting that, so far, we have not yet received a copy of the plan Ms Thomas referred to, though we have sought a copy several weeks ago. But even more importantly is an apparent ignorance of the workers’ plight and concerns. We hope, even at this late stage, to finally obtain a copy of the plan that is touted. We urge the Corporation to consider rationally and realistically our concerns at this time. Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary, GAWU

Is there a move to sabotage government and opposition talks? Dear Editor,

radoville is back in the news and, the contentious nature of the issue aside, what I found interesting is the timing of the latest update from a unit that falls under the Ministry of the Presidency, which houses the President and the Prime Minister. I say interesting because of the visible pattern in the last 12 months. President Granger and Opposition Leader Jagdeo met on July 19th, 2018 and on July 22nd, 2018 we had the Pradoville issue resurfacing in the Kaieteur News under the caption ‘SOCU completes Pradoville 2 file, charges ready to be laid’. Backtrack to January 3rd, 2018 when the two men met. Again two days later, on January 5th, 2018, you had SOCU and Pradoville back in the news, this time an article by INEWS under the caption ‘Sittlington to return as Mentor/Advisor to SOCU’, which talked about a foreigner continuing his work to ensure that there are convictions in the cases being addressed by SOCU. Even more interesting was that the news of Sittlington’s return not only came two days after the Granger-Jagdeo meeting, but it came EIGHT MONTHS after Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, asked for him to return to SOCU. Was it planned timing? A third case is seen after the Granger-Jagdeo meeting on October 19th, 2018. After that meeting on November 28th, 2017, there was the Kaieteur News article under the caption ‘Pradoville Two probe…Assessor moves in to value properties’. Again we saw this pattern with the June 12th, 2017 meeting and the article that same month by the Kaieteur News under the cap-

tion ‘Suspected Pradoville ‘schemers’ closer to climbing court step’. Editor, I have spent some time to detail these four examples to demonstrate that what we are seeing is a pattern. That said, the question that must be asked given the major focus of the July 19th, 2018 meeting between Granger and Jagdeo (the likelihood of government and opposition talks) is: IS THERE A MOVE TO SABOTAGE GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION TALKS? Secondly, is it the President’s office behind this move? Or is it the Prime Minister’s office? In my view, it seems more likely that it may be the Prime Minister’s office. You only have to look at the big picture to see why. If the Opposition, the PPP, and APNU engage, the AFC becomes more irrelevant. Their relevance is diminished because they are not among the political players dealing with moving political dialogue forward; the AFC has no seat at the table. If the PPP and APNU engage and reach agreement on issues, what use is the AFC serving? They have no constituency. Isn’t this reason enough to want to sabotage the government and opposition talks, to make sure that the AFC remains somewhat relevant? Editor, with all that said, I want to say that the question - is there a move to sabotage government and opposition talks? – is an important one, particularly given the gravity of having government and opposition engagement. Regards, Attiya Baksh

Perhaps it is time to accept the possibility that there are no criminal cases of substance against the PPP/C Dear Editor,

rticles such as `Minister Sharma laments SOCU sloth’ in SN (2018-07-23) and, `Sharma annoyed by SOCU’s performance with forensic audits’ in GC of 2018-07-17 are the latest in about two years of weekly and sometimes daily haranguing declarations and denouncements by many members of our Cabinet and Government members in Parliament, committing to jail the members and administrators of the past PPP/C administration. There has been no lacking in expressions of determination and from time to time, as little if any progress is evident, we have had glimpses of the contentious blame-game between the various actors: Honourable Ministers, the Guyana Police Force, SOCU, SARA, the Police Legal Adviser, the Overseas Expert Adviser, the DPP and anyone on whom some blame could be hung, for the seeming lack of progress with the touted charges. This lament, the expressions of dissatisfaction and annoyance, the blame game, altogether would prompt experienced persons to wonder whether a number of the actors are not beginning to question how much substance there may be in these allegations of corruption, whether in the passion in the aftermath of our 2015 elections, mountains were not being made of molehills in the forensic audits. But no one wants to blow the whistle, no one wants to bell the cat! Editor, perhaps it is time that Honourable Minister Sharma opens his mind to the possibility that really there are no criminal cases

of any substance, to be made. And so too, perhaps, should all of us, Guyanese, open our minds. As former President Donald Ramotar allowed very early, we all being only humans and Guyanese at that, some level and instances of corruption were likely (suspicious cases would need to be investigated) but the allegations of corruption of a hundred billion dollars each year (about half of our national budget) against PPP/C Ministers and Administrators were grossly, grossly exaggerated. It is time that we recognize that these wild corruption charges took root in the context of intensely adversarial political contest (PPP/C going it alone as a minority Government after our 2011 elections) and fundamental differences in the policies and attitudes to inculcate and nurture development of our people and country. There was intense frustration and anger amongst then Opposition members and supporters when, after the Opposition passed a motion in Parliament forbidding the expenditure of Government/ Consolidated Fund money on the Marriott, we PPP/C, found a legal and legitimate way to complete a first phase of the Marriott Hotel Project, utilizing money obtained from the sale of shares in GTT, all transactions falling within the umbrella of the Privatisation Unit (PU)/NICIL group. Would we Guyanese and Guyana have been better off if the Marriott had been abandoned half built, somewhat like the intended Cacique hotel aback of the Ramada Georgetown Princess at Providence? Editor, the charges laid against my colleagues the former Finance Minister, Dr. Ash-

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 JULY, 2018 ni Singh, and the former CEO of PU/NICIL, Mr. Winston Brassington, are nothing but clutching at straws. There is no allegation of any money reaching their or any other pockets – none did. They carried out in a lawful manner, legitimate decisions of our PPP/C Government. The development of Guyana and Guyanese all together has been our purpose and our driving force and in the pursuit of which we exercised even-handedly and openly the judgement and discretion that were lawfully and legitimately within our authority. There have been adverse criticisms of our entry into direct negotiations with Mr. Gerry Gouveia and sale to him of adjacent properties for extension of his hotel and hospitality business: we had done similarly and somewhat earlier with Mr. Michael George for the expansion of his Herdmanston hotel. The unit selling price of land to MovieTowne seems to occasion another of the recent charges of malfeasance but the sale of land in the same area to Giftland was at a somewhat lower unit price; and the sale of land in the same area to Mr. Boyer (another malfeasance case) for a middle to upper end housing development was by open bid which he won and at a price above our minimum required price. I can express the assurance that we, PPP/C, were in no way less warm and encouraging to Mr. Beepat through his much-extended construction period and as he sought allocation and/ or a say in the use of adjacent land in a way which would have enhanced and not detract from his project. I recall happily touring the construction site at least twice with him and freely expressing my appreciation of his determination to bring a new upgraded shopping experience to Guyana and his fellow Guyanese. Editor, there are three reasons for me to state again my concern and consequent call on our Government to put aside as soon as we could those unfounded grossly, grossly exaggerated allegations of huge corruption. Firstly, as I see it, our Government seemingly believing its own propaganda has been misdirecting itself. How else can I think of their unquestioning rush on entering office to greatly raise their own levels of pay (as if billions of dollars were to appear) but later extending to our public servants much less than they had promised them, pleading that

after their increases to themselves, it became evident that there was not enough money to provide rank and file public servants with the increases they had promised them! Further, the about fifty corrupt scandals that we PPP/C have documented during the three years of our Coalition Government, seem to suggest that our Coalition Government relying on their allegations of huge PPP/C corruption have been behaving as if they had licence to do as they pleased. How else can we understand the transactions of the drug bond and the perverse frustration of the notice to end that lease early. Again, they have tainted appropriate approaches to our taking responsibility for our development, such as the Berbice Bridge as well as the key development Agency – NICIL – created by the PNC in mid 1980s on returning to Private Sector-led development. We can recall the different positions and ambiguities on the continued existence and role for NICIL which do not augur well for its successful operation. Secondly, until our Government can resolve and clarify these grossly exaggerated allegations of corruption, there would be so much smoke and confusion around, our country would be set for real corruption – a real concern with the prospects of huge flows of money from oil. Thirdly, without an earnest resolution of those corruption allegations, the prospects for a less acrimonious, more constructive relationship between us, PPP/C, and the Coalition, are slim even as we PPP/C persevere in that desire and concur with former President Carter’s recent call for such. It is pertinent to recall here the conciliating suggestion some time ago, from our much maligned Leader of the Opposition, that our Coalition Government retain an external, agreed, hopefully impartial accounting group to review those forensic audits so that together as a nation we could conclusively deal with them in a timely way and get them off the table, removing that major distraction from the development of people and country which should be our common bonding concern. Yours faithfully, Samuel A. A. Hinds Former Prime Minister and Former President

Gov’t continues to waste taxpayers’ monies Dear Editor,

ARA’s failure to recover a single dime after one year after its establishment is a reflection of the lack of vision of the leadership of the coalition and their willingness to waste millions of taxpayers’ dollars to provide patronage to its elite clan. SARA is a hoax, in the pursuit of needless or lost causes. Like SARA, we have seen over a dozen COIs being orchestrated by the president. Have these COIs brought justice to the aggrieved, improved governance structures or improve the lives of any Guyanese? I think not. Most of them had meaningless terms of reference and like SARA, they contributed to wastage of hundreds of millions from the treasury. The public should view these acts of the coalition as a form of corruption. Deputy Director Aubrey Heath-Retemyer said that SARA’s budget for 2018 is 200 million, signaling a cut of over 30% from 2017. Therefore, SARA received some 260 million in 2017, that added to 2018 figures, provides a grand total of 460 million. What has SARA recovered so far? Nothing! SARA’s lack of productivity constitutes a form of legalized theft from the state. Lo and behold! Retemyer is complaining of the lack of funds which had stymied SARA from using “international companies which are versed in asset recovery”. Despite claiming that some 27 to 35 billion were siphoned off each year by the PPP, Retemy-

er and Clive Thomas have come up empty-handed one year after. Rather than acknowledge SARA’s failure, Retemyer’s excuse is “The government needs to be prepared to invest significant quantities of cash upfront because of the extent of the searching and investigation that would be required to locate state assets. When people steal these assets, they don’t have them lying round. They change form and even jurisdictions and in that sense, government should make a conscious effort to try and understand the budgeting needed to track these assets funds.” His words! “When people steal these assets, they don’t have them lying round. They change form and even jurisdictions”. Retemyer wants government to invest more money to chase after “ghosts”. The audacity of some people can be amazing! If the stench of the corruption committed by the PPP is too stale for SARA and SOCU to follow, they could prove their mettle or try to show some capability by descending on something as recent as Durban Park, where a few millions shy of a billion could not be fully accounted for. That would give the public the impetus to drop the stigma of “witch hunting” from SARA and SOCU. While Retemyer is clamoring for more funds for SARA , a new ultra violet light has been shone on SARA in an attempt to cleanse it of its director and deputy director by Anil Nandlall. Nandlall said that “the SARA act provides very clearly that the Director and Deputy Director of the agency shall be appointed through a parlia-

mentary process”. He(Nandlall) said that “a transition provision in the Act allowed the Director who operated in the agency before the Act came into force”, that has “long expired”. Nandlall added that, “Neither (Retemyer or Thomas) was appointed by the National Assembly process mandated by the Act. Therefore, Mr. Retemyer and Dr. Thomas are unlawfully holding offices and receiving public monies as remuneration.” I believe Nandlall. When would these feathered birds be plucked? The coalition by instituting an act in parliament and reneging on it is guilty of corruption. When will this crime and unlawful conduct be investigated by SOCU? Perhaps never! This scenario begs a question. How independent can any constitutional commission be, when the head of that commission is selected or appointed by the President – the leader of the Governing political party? This is the modus operandi of all the constitutional commissions and given the inseparability of Government and state in our so-called democracy, all heads of commissions would naturally be subjective to their boss (the president). Who pays the piper calls the tune! This kind of subjectivity is taken for granted and so entrenched in the Guyanese psyche that we seem to lack the ability to construe the term “conflict of interest”. Hence we have been taught that our constitution is good by politicians on both sides (PPP and the Coalition) all for their selfish aggrandizement. This is the fundamental reason for a continuous legacy of corruption by

successive regimes. Having a vote in parliament to elect heads of constitutional commissions, like the select committee in the US House of Representatives, will not change anything because our so-called parliamentary representatives are the answer for a mathematical calculation done by GECOM at the end of every national election – totally incapable of representing anyone but the beasts (political parties) that give them power – the ruling party will always have its choice accepted on account of having more heads in parliament. Ours is a democracy where we do not know or have any connection to who represents us in parliament. We vote blindly for the inanimate (party) not people. We need to go back to a constituency base, where we vote for people to represent us. Constituency elections should be about people competing to represent their constituency in parliament – private citizens must be allowed to run against the politically-aligned candidates. Presidential elections should be about the election of a president – private individuals must be allowed to compete against the political candidates too. Only then will we have true parliamentary representation. Only then will we have sound, visionary leadership in the presidency. Only then can we have separation of Government from state. Only then can we dream of stopping the scourge of corruption. Regards, R. Singh

STRAIGHT TALK 7

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 JULY, 2018

(This speech was first made public on May 1988. 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.)

Race, Class and Nationhood: The Afro-Guyanese Experience (Part One) By Dr. Cheddi Jagan

n the Caribbean, the mere mention of sugar elicits another word - slavery. The switch from tobacco to sugar as the main crop in the Caribbean ushered in the socio-economic system of slavery. And the slave trade in the Caribbean meant trade in African slaves, 15 million of whom were shipped across the "Middle Passage" to the so-called "New World" between 1518 and 1807. This period of early colonial expansion signalled the dawn of the era of capitalist production. Karl Marx wrote of it as " the discovery of gold and silver in America, the extirpation, enslavement and entombment in mines of the aboriginal population, the beginning of the conquest and looting of the East Indies, the turning of Africa into a warren for the commercial hunting of black-skins."1 In the name of wealth and capital accumulation, unspeakable crimes were committed by slave-traders. Africans suffered in many ways - as victims forcibly uprooted from their land of birth, as chattel slaves inhumanly exploited on the plantation, and as Blacks whose culture, features and colour were used as rationalizations to justify the despicable trade in " human cargoes" from the African continent. The chains of slavery were galling. In The Black Jacobins, CLR James refers to the "crack of the whip, the stifled cries and the heavy groans of slaves...who saw the sun rise only to curse it for its renewal of their labour and their pains."2 On the plantations, slaves were worked like animals, cruelly punished and constantly terrorized. They received the whip with more certainty and regularity than they received food, according to

CLR James.3 Slavery was a life from which few really expected to escape. The Guyana experience, as was the case elsewhere in the West Indies, showed a prevailing pattern of a vicious circle of punishment, resistance, escape, punishment. The masters acted in the only way they knew: more cruelty and more punishment; the slaves reacted in the only way open to them: sullenness, non-cooperation, passive resistance and escape which alternated with sabotage and revolt. While not every slave was a Spartacus (a rebel slave during the Roman Empire) or even potentially one,4 and the system bred many collaborators 5(as the imperialist capitalist system did in more recent times), slaves throughout the West Indies rebelled when they could.6 Such resistance, Melville Herskivits asserts in his Myth of the Negro Past, may be traced as far back as the slave ships.7 Michael Craton insists that there is a continuum of slave resistance from the moment of capture in Africa to the overtly bloody Afro-Carib revolts in the West Indies.8 If the first skirmishes took the form of White-Black confrontation, the pattern that subsequently unfolded was underlined by class considerations. The fact of the matter is that there was an "antagonistic and irreconcilable relationship" between the two main social classes under slavery - masters and slaves.9 One Jamaican slave described that relationship as "the life of a dog,"10 while the Jamaican martyr of the 1831 revolt, Samuel Sharpe, poignantly demonstrated the irreconcilability of the relationship when he defiantly said: " I would rather die upon yonder gallows than live in slavery."11 Throughout the West In-

dies, African slaves shared a popular ideology of freedom sometimes referred to as the politics of slave resistance. The Afro-Guyanese experience - the 1763 Berbice and 1823 Demerara slave revolts - proved Herbert Aptheker, US Black history scholar, correct when he submitted that "resistance, not acquiescence, is the core of history."12 Our experience could also locate struggles within the context of the inherited tradition of Amerindian resistance.13 In some cases, as in Berbice and Haiti, the object was the total seizure of power and the replacement of the European controlled state by a Black state. Other rebellions, like the Maroons of Jamaica and the "Bush Negro" of Suriname, had a more limited objective: the establishment of autonomous village committees within an overall White-controlled territory. In the face of great odds, superior forces and arms, our early revolutionaries proved they could not easily be intimidated. Leaders such as Cuffy in Berbice, Quamina in Demerara and Damon in Essequibo laid down their lives in heroic struggles for freedom. Slavery and apprenticeship could not endure the test of time. The deep-seated class contradictions and the dynamic processes of society were forces which the various facets of the slave system could not contend with and resolve. And those who would wish to deny the role of internationalism and solidarity in the struggle should analyse the impact of the American, French and Haitian revolutions, the selfless campaigns of English humanitarians and White missionaries, etc on the abolition of slavery, the vicious system which did not proceed beyond the 19th century in

the Caribbean.14 The emancipation which came about by the ending of Apprenticeship was a great historical event. But it did not mean the complete liberation of the slave. The "chains" of domination and exploitation changed forms but were nonetheless exacting. The ending of apprenticeship in 1938 in the Anglophone countries did not herald an end to slavery in general or to the plantation system in particularly. African slavery as a system had embraced the tropical zone of the Brazilian northeast, the south of the United States and the Caribbean Basin. And the plantation system was based on the large-scale production of a single crop (sugar, cotton, tobacco, etc) for export to Europe - food for the urban masses and cheap primary products and raw materials for industrialization and development. This system still required an abundant supply on cheap labour. The Anglophone plantation owners saw themselves at a disadvantage as emancipation did not come about everywhere at the same time. They had with freed paid labour to compete with slave labour everywhere in the Americas. In the United States, the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln only in September 1862 and became effective on January 1, 1863. In Brazil, emancipation came later in 1888. The plantocracy attained its objectives of unmitigated exploitation and primitive capital accumulation by various means and stratagems. Above all was the creation of a racist ideology - white superiority and non-white inferiority. Plantation slavery in the Americas was based on race, caste and class. According to Dr Norman Girvan: "at the

top were the white masters, in the middle the mulattoes, and at the bottom the black slaves... As in the case on Indian slavery too, an ideology of racism was generated and systematically applied to legitimise the outright exploitation of one race by another."15 Girvan points out that racist ideology was expressed in cultural as well as physical terms: It was certainly the case that African speech, religion, mannerisms and indeed all institutional forms were systematically denigrated as constituting marks of savagery and cultural inferiority, in order to deprive Black people of a sense of collective worth…16 The very colour of the African's skin was held to be the first and the lasting badge of his inferiority; as were the characteristics of his mouth, nose and hair texture. The desired consequence on extending the ideology of racism from cultural to physical attributes was to ensure that the African, whatever his degree of success in assimilating white culture, was permanently imprisoned in his status as a slave inasmuch as he was permanently imprisoned in his black skin.17 Cultural whiteness gave the slave some advantages such as a job as headman or a house slave. The badge of inferiority due to physical attributes was something that Cheddi Jagan experienced as a student at the black Howard University in Washington in 1936-38, long before the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. That the abolition of slavery and the ending of apprenticeship was not a revolutionary transformation, but only a change in the basis of exploiting labour was manifestly evident. According to Brazilian sociologist, Florestan

Fernandes, in Brazil, "the 'negro' remained almost at the margin of this revolution. He was negatively selected, having to be content with what now came to be known as 'nigger work': unstable or difficult jobs, as miserable as they were underpaid.18 After emancipation in the United States, the Blacks who migrated to the north found themselves enmeshed in ghettos where they were confined to dirty, unskilled, low-paying and unstable occupations. Today, Blacks are second-class citizens and some of the gains made earlier are being eroded. In Guyana, as late as the 1940s when a virtual "colour bar" existed in the civil service - Blacks could not rise beyond a certain point in the administrative/executive ladder, with a few exceptions in the professions. A Junior Civil Service Association agitated for the abolition of the colour bar. A similar bar existed in insurance, banking, mines and plantations. It was against this ethno-cultural racism that Marcus Garvey and his Universe Negro Improvement Association developed in the early part of this century. Because of its strong appeal against oppression and exploitation, this Black nationalist movement gained widespread appeal in North and Central America and the Caribbean. It constituted a Pan-Black struggle against colonialist exploitation and plunder and a call for Pan-African regeneration. The plantocracy not only used racist ideology for subjugation and exploitation. It also resorted to methods which were intended to undermine the very basis of emancipation and to divide and rule. Immigrants were brought from Europe and mainly from (Turn to page 8)

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 JULY, 2018

Race, Class and Nationhood... Asia not only to work for less than what was demanded by the freed ex-slaves, but also to create a surplus labour force in and around the sugar estates. It was expressed that it "...is the East Indian under indenture who fixes the rate of wages rather than the free labourer."19 The flood of immigrants, in the context of a lack of alternative employment, brought pressure for work and thus no incentive for improvements in the estates. By 1884, the supply of "free" labour was "so abundant that the market rate fell below the statutory rate for indentured immigrants."20 And what seemed more obnoxious to them was generally taxation by custom duties and export levies to finance immigration costs, as well as medical services on the estates, the immigration department and the recruiting office in Calcutta. The People's Association, which included 7 out of the 14 members of this Combined Court, reported: ... the race to whose detriment the coolies were being introduced were made to contribute to the cost of a scheme of immigration designed either to supplant the Negro or to coerce him into service with the planters at a wage inadequate for his proper maintenance.21 The People's Association rightly felt that the charges for immigration, etc, should be a direct charge on the sugar plantations. At the same time, the Afro-Guyanese were subjected to other restrictions and difficulties. The planters adopted a deliberate policy of denying land to the freed ex-slaves. The People's Association noted that the Land Code of 1839 not only set a high price for land but stipulated that only a minimum of 100 acres of Crown Lands could be acquired. It was only on January 14, 1890 that Crown Lands, which had cost $10 per acre, were reduced to $1. According to Malcolm Cross: "it was only after the first change in 1890 and the subsequent one of 1898, when the sugar industry was in decline and the battle to retain labour became, for a brief period, of lesser consequence that the planters acquiesced to the possibility of a landed peasantry."22 "Even then the settlements which could be opened

up, and the encouragement given by the Government, were almost solely for rice growing - an occupation peculiarly suited to the Indians, but one which was regarded as anathema by the Blacks."23 In contrast, the policy in Trinidad was more enlightened. Large tracts of land has been given out for cocoa and cane farming to both freed ex-slaves and immigrants leading not only to the development of an independent peasantry, but also to lessened racial tension as a result of reduced direct competition in the sugar plantations. Trinidadian land settlers did not also face the same problems as their counterparts in British Guiana, whose lands were subject to inundation from the sea and floods and drought. Nevertheless, the "push" from the plantations was so great that freed ex-slaves made great achievements not only by sacrificing and saving to found their own villages, but they worked cooperatively and initiated the establishment of a system of local government. Of the 60,000odd Africans and Mulattoes then in the colony, about two/ thirds had migrated to the villages. By 1851, they had erected 11,152 homes, and the property owned by them was worth nearly 1 million pounds sterling. The first property bought in November 1839 by 83 former slaves for 30,000 guilders was Plantation Northbrook on the East Coast of Demerara; part of its 500 acres was renamed as the village of Victoria. In April 1940, 128 Blacks bought plantation New Orange Nassau for $50,000 and later renamed it Buxton. Other plantations bought - Beterverwagting, Fellowship, Den Amstel, Plaisance, Gibraltar, Rose Hall and Liverpool formed the backbone of the village movement. Initially, an attempt was made by the ex-slaves to run the abandoned plantations as genuine cooperatives with the cultivation of provisions for their own consumption and for sale. "When the planter-dominated colonial government adopted laws which made cooperative land tenure illegal, the cooperatives' lands were divided among their members"24 in accordance with the amount of

initial investment. The plantocracy also resorted to various measures which were conducive to racial conflict and were essential for the maintenance of law and order. By conferring political and economic benefits and privileges or imposing burdens selectively and disproportionately on different subordinated ethnic groups, it maintained the status quo; a situation which was to haunt Guyana in the immediate pre- and post-independence period through the divide-and-rule politics of the ruling class. According to Dennis Bartels: " Again, as with Afro-Guyanese farmers, the absence of a class of wealthy Afro-Guyanese merchants was a direct result of planter and colonial government policy which favoured the development of Portuguese and Indo-Guyanese businesses."25... The businesses started by Afro-Guyanese and coloureds during the emancipation period were ruined by the planters26... Ruling class wholesalers and merchants extended credit to many Portuguese retailers, while withholding credit from creoles and coloureds."27 The African gang generally had an African as a driver; it was most common for a Chinese to have a Chinese. But the Indian immigrants had an African driver. The Africans were given cane cutting work at 60-85 cents per day, whilst the Indians were relegated to weeding at 25-45 cents a day. Indian immigrants were excluded from jobs such as engineering and pan (sugar) boiling. The technique was employed by the planters of flooding or overdraining the land, so as to destroy the crop of the small holder. This was one way to force the freed slave-turned-peasant back to the plantation. When land settlements were created for Indian immigrants, in lieu of return passage, beginning with Huis t' Dieren in Essequibo in 1880 and laid out in 2-acre plots, the ex-slaves were excluded. This aggravated their sense of frustration and bitterness. Their improved position after emancipation was destroyed by the planters when they "persuaded the local legislature to deny to the African the right of settling on the soil as

an agriculturist."28 This was justified on the ground of irresponsibility, inability and incapacity. The Colonial Office in 1903 agreed with Governor Swettenham's views that the Blacks in British Guiana were irresponsible and affirmed that the "underdeveloped estates" could not fall into the "incapable hands" of the Blacks. Racial stereotypes were also created by the ruling class not only to justify further immigration and exploitation, but also to foster attitudes of prejudice among the subordinated groups so that conflict instead of cooperation could continue in the plantations. As regards racial stereotypes, Bartels says: At the same time, ruling class racist ideology allowed for distinctions between different non-White groups. Many accounts by plantation owners, plantation managers, colonial officials, and Christian missionaries characterized East Indians as (1) industrious and hardworking; (2) thrifty to the point of greed; and (3) lacking in Christian morals... On the other hand Afro-Guyanese were often characterized as (1) physically strong, but lazy, carefree, irresponsible, financially improvident, and intellectually dim; (2) physically repulsive because of their facial features, skin colour, and hair type; and (3) child-like, trusting, and easily misled by more intelligent, unscrupulous people.29 The rabidly racist and deep-seated animosity was also expressed by the famous commentator on the ethnography of Guyana E.F Im Thurn, who, when addressing the Royal Colonial Institute in London argued that "...it is all very well to say that a man is a man whether his skin is white or black; but it is certain that the vast majority of West Indian blacks - all but the very few really educated members of the class - are not men but children, great, strong, generally good tempered children, but almost always fickle, and essentially, though from mere thoughtlessness, cruel.30 Ruling class racist ideology and the racial stereotypes it fostered, especially in the context of ruling class power dispensing political and economic benefits and burdens, tended to foster divisions

(From page 7)

in the various subordinated ethnic groups - the Afro-Guianese, Indo-Guianese and the Portuguese. These groups in turn used the ruling class racial stereotypes to strengthen their own distinct social and economic positions, thus maintaining and strengthening ethnic divisions and conflict and preserving the interests of the ruling class. But operating side by side with this conflict/tendency was another based on working class solidarity against the common enemy, the planters. Especially, during periods of economic crisis, this tendency resulted in unity and concerted industrial and political action against the ruling class. As early as 1678, African slaves and Carib Indians joined in an insurrection against the Dutch planters in Suriname. In 1847-48, recently emancipated slaves were joined by East Indian and Portuguese indentured plantation workers in strikes for higher wages. In 1904-05 and again in 1924, East Indian plantation labourers joined Afro-Guianese workers in demonstrations and strikes against the employers and the colonial government. In the 1936-45 period, sugar and bauxite workers were organized by the Man-Power Citizens Association (MPCA). The Political Affairs Committee (PAC) from 1964 to 1949 linked the struggles of the Indian sugar workers and the Black transport and bauxite workers. And in the 1950-55 period, Afro-Guianese and Indo-Guianese workers struggled unitedly against the plantocracy under the class-based and scientific-socialist banner of the People's Progressive Party (PPP). In his doctoral thesis, Dennis Bartels pointed out: The first general election under the new constitution was to be held in April, 1953. Until the formation of the PPP, most non-White politicians had appealed to voters on the basis of ethnicity, or personal reputation. Few had presented platforms which appealed to class interest, and none had carried their election campaigns to rural areas, particularly to the sugar estates... The PPP changed all this. PPP candidates in the 1953 election came from

almost all the ethnic groups in Guyana (with the possible exception of Amerindians). They appealed to voters on the basis of a pro-working class, nationalistic platform and not on the basis of ethnicity. And they built party organizations in rural areas. In short, the PPP modernized politics in Guyana." Although the success of the PPP in forging inter-ethnic unity among workers during this period is well documented, it has not received attention from plural theorists." Working class unity had been earlier forged in the serious labour disturbance of 1905 as a result of the sugar crisis and the wage reduction of 20-35% between 1894 and 1897 by a combination of rate-cutting and speed-up. Afro-Guianese workers at Plantation Ruimveldt went on strike and some Indo-Guianese workers joined them. On December 2, 1905, police constables opened fire on a predominantly Afro-Guianese crowd of strikers, wounding some and killing others.30 On March 31, 1924, waterfront workers went on strike for improved wages and working conditions. Support was forthcoming from sugar workers on the East Bank of Demerara. A mixed crowd of nearly 5,000 plantation workers, who were marching to Georgetown to join the urban workers on strike, were stopped at Ruimveldt, police opened fire, killing 12 and seriously wounding 15, including both Afro-Guianese and Indo-Guianese. In the interval between the 1905 and 1924 upheavals and shootings, working class consciousness developed significantly under the leadership of trade unionist Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, and the British Guiana Labour Union (BGLU). Militant leadership was not only provided to the urban working class, but steps were taken also to improve conditions in the sugar estates. Under Critchlow's leadership, the first tentative steps were made to bring about organized urban/rural, African/ Indian working class unity. Indians joined the BGLU and Critchlow was deemed the "Black Crosby," named after the White Immigration Agent General, James Crosby, who (Turn to page 9)

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 JULY, 2018

Race, Class and Nationhood... protested against the abuse of the system of Indentureship in British Guiana. The influence of the BGLU and its support led to the election of nationalist leaders to the Combined Court. The response by the capitalist ruling class to the emancipation struggle of the working people under the leadership of the Afro-Guianese working class and radical intelligentsia through the Critchlow Movement was brutal. The liberal Constitution inherited from the Dutch was suspended in the late 1920s and a Crown colony type of constitution imposed with the Governor having absolute powers of certification and veto. At the same time, steps were taken to destabilize the Movement by undermining the working class leadership of Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow. This process was to be repeated in the early 1950s when, after the PPP victory of 1953, the Constitution was suspended and the Party split. In 1953, when the working class was united, the Anglo-American imperialists used ideological anti-communist hysteria to justify the destruction by armed forces of the PPP government. Soon after, by manoeuvring and imposing unequal pressures, burdens and penalties, they engineered a division in the Party ranks in 1955. And later, when racial incitement, strikes, demonstrations and blockade resulted in racial strife and bloodshed, they used ethnic divisions as the excuse for denying independence in 1962-63. The modern-day imperialists had learnt well the divide-andrule methods of the plantocracy. To the advocates of the pluralist theory, this observation and critique of K.W.J. Post is pertinent: If the allegiance to plural sections is at all times constant and overriding, how then do we explain the success of the PPP in bringing together Africans and Indians in 1950-53? The answer is, of course, the common oppression of the masses of both at the hands of the colonial system, something of which professor Despres might have made far more had he not rejected class as part of his theoretical apparatus... Guyanese political devel-

opment since 1953 has not been determined by the plural society, but by British and US policy. This has been the constant in the situation, not the plural society. At every crucial point where the allocation of political power has been involved... it has been intervention from outside which has decided the matter. It is remarkable, for example, that professor Despres has nothing to say about the role in the 1960s of the CIA and private organizations like the Christian Anti-Communist Crusade, and only an obscure footnote reference to the American Institute for Free Labour Development (1969: 91) CARIBBEAN DEVELOPMENTS There were grass root upheavals for the emancipation of the working people in the late 1930s and early 1940s Kola Rienzi and Uriah Butler in Trinidad, Bustamante in Jamaica, Boysie Skinner and Philip Payne in Barbados, Mackintosh and Joshua in St Vincent, and Critchlow and Edun in British Guiana. These events were reflective of the socio-economic problems linked to the aftermath of the Great Depression of 1929. The developments led to the convening of several West Indian Conferences in British Guiana under the leadership of Critchlow and the BGLU, the call for the forging of a nation through a West Indies Federation with a socialist perspective, and to the formation of the militant anti-colonialist and anti-imperialist Caribbean Labour Congress (CLC). In the pre- and post-independence period, the struggle for emancipation was influenced by various ideological currents - nationalism, fabianism, democratic-socialism and Marxism-Leninism. Until the late 1940s, these currents played a positive anti-colonial and anti-imperialist role. However, with the advent of the Cold War, negative aspects developed. The nationalist People's National Movement (PNM) in Trinidad and Tobago aligned itself politically on the western side and embraced the reformist planning strategy, "neither Puerto Rican nor Cuban," which objectively put it in line with the "partnership" economic

model of imperialism. Rightwing, reformist fabianism and democratic socialism also led objectively to an alignment with imperialism. And in the left, as a result of the division in the world communist movement, ideological differences led to confusion and disunity in the ranks of the working class. The end result was a setback for national liberation, economic emancipation and social progress. Its manifestation was the disbandment of the Caribbean Labour Congress, attacks on the PPP government following British "gunboat diplomacy" in 1953, acceptance of a West Indies Federation on the basis of "collective colonialism," adoption of the pro-imperialist Puerto Rican model of development and a course of dependent capitalism. These developments led to the growth of a new ruling elite - a non-white bureaucratic and non-comprador parasitic bourgeoisie - leading to the continuing "development of underdevelopment" and worsening conditions for the dispossessed Black masses. The latter remain as the suppliers of cheap, unskilled labour. This situation saw the development of new forms of struggle for emancipation - the Rastafari movement, the Black Power movement and others. The Rastafari grassroots protest movement in the 1950s and 1960s was to Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean what the Garvey movement was to the region in the early part of this century. A significant difference was that while the latter posited mainly white domination, the former was an expression of disillusionment with Black and Mulatto rule and power. The Black power movement in the Caribbean also struggled for change. While its counterpart in the USA was chiefly centred around the struggle against second-class status for Blacks and for civil rights, dignity and equality, the Caribbean movement, led by the radical intelligentsia, was more oriented towards the revolutionary change of society. Dr Walter Rodney's great contribution to this movement was his Marxist-Leninist world outlook and class approach. Because of differences

in outlook and approach, the Pan-African movement, which wanted a united and socialist Africa, Kwame Nkrumah's dream, also faced difficulties. Some, who preached " Caribbean exceptionalism" and advocated a policy of "equidistance from the two super powers," like George Padmore, one-time political advisor to Ghanian Prime Minister Nkrumah, saw this development taking place in isolation from the socialist community. Others, however, like Dr W.E.B. Dubois and Paul Robeson, pioneers of the US civil rights movement, saw a socialist Pan-Africa emerging only in close association with the socialist states. These differences were exposed in sharp focus in the mid-1970s in relation to support for the new revolutionary-democratic MPLA government of Angola. At a crucial OAU meeting, there was an equal division of votes, with "African socialist" Senegal and "Arab socialist" Egypt lining up with 20 other African states against Angola on the side of South Africa and the imperialists. Similarly, in the Caribbean in 1983, the democratic-socialist government of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) and other nationalist and Christian-democratic Caribbean governments openly cooperated with the US aggression against Grenada. In the late 1968â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, the ruling Caribbean elites, when confronted with the Black Power movement had responded: We do not need Black Power; Black people are already in power. But time has demonstrated that "Black people in power" has generally meant clientele power - client neo-colonialist states, which despite revolutionary, even socialist, rhetoric are fulfilling the broad political, economic, ideological, cultural, military and strategic aim of imperialism. Jamaica and Grenada have shown that capitalist dependency, in the context of an on-going and deep general, structural and cyclical crisis of world capitalism, only increases underdevelopment which in turn deepens the dependency. Barbados, once regarded as a model of development for the Caribbean, is now faced with grave problems.

(From page 8)

That imperialism has no answer for the problems facing the Caribbean people is manifested by the new wave of mass upsurge. The puppet NNP government of Grenada has been split. The USbacked Seaga-led Jamaica Labour Party government is tottering; it lost all but one of the 13 local parish elections in 1986 and is faced with electoral defeat at the forthcoming general elections. Ruling parties in Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago were defeated disastrously in recent elections. In St Lucia, the ruling party saw its majority in Parliament reduced to one. And despite a popular mandate, the ruling party in Barbados and the coalition in Trinidad are faced, within a very short period, with internal dissension due to a reformist approach and centrist/rightist policies. As a result of capitalist dependency, underdevelopment, declining living standards, alienation and discontent, large numbers of the Caribbean working people regrettable see salvation in another movement: emigration to North America. Hopelessness must be combated. The class struggle in all aspects, political, economic and especially ideological, must be intensified. What is needed is a revolutionary democracy with a socialist-oriented programme. In the metropolitan countries, a broad-based anti-monopoly coalition must be forged. In the Third World, anti-imperialist unity on a regional and national basis is essential for genuine political independence and economic and social emancipation. This means unity of all left and democratic forces. In class terms, it means the forging of a broad multi-class and strata alliance, with the revolutionary-democrats (the vanguard of the working class) playing the leading and guiding role. With growing contradictions not only within the three centres of world capitalism but also between the imperialist and imperialist-dominated Third World states, the prospects for the future are bright. The objective situation favours revolution. At the subjective level, however, there is a lag. In multi-eth-

nic societies like Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, it is necessary to fight against racist ideology and racial stereotypes which were created and fostered by the capitalist/ colonialist ruling class, and later exploited by self-serving politicians. It must be recognized that whatever our racial origin, we have a common heritage. Our forefathers, regardless of ethnic, religious and cultural differences, watered the sugar cane with their blood, sweat and tears. Little wonder that Dr Eric Williams in his book Capitalism And Slavery had observed: "strange that an article like sugar so sweet and necessary for human existence should have occasioned such crimes and bloodshed." Fortunately, in Guyana and other multi-ethnic societies, we see a growing working class consciousness from a "class-in-itself" to a "class-for-itself" approach. The grave economic and social crisis and IMF "prescriptions" are creating the objective conditions for racial and working class unity, as at specific periods in the colonial era. Though shot, killed, detained, restricted and imprisoned on countless occasions, our ancestors continued to unite, struggle and sacrifice for the common good. On this 150th anniversary of the ending of Apprenticeship and the beginning of Indian indentureship, the greatest tribute we can pay to our ancestors is to pledge to unite and struggle for complete emancipation, which can only come from a multi-ethnic, broad-based revolutionary democracy. It is imperative for the survival and prosperity of this great nation to forge a modus vivendi, a formula for power-sharing, reflective of the composition and interest of all sections of the Guyanese people. We must return to the 1953 era of racial and working class unity and harmony, and fight for emancipation from modern-day IMF and CBI neo-slavery. Emancipation cannot be complete without the freedom of Nelson Mandela and the total eradication of the detestable apartheid doctrine and all forms of racial discrimination.

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 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 25, 2018), ranging from the talk from Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, about an early presentation of budget 2019 to the latest developments in the oil and gas sector.

Jordan continues to ignore serious technical issues linked to early budget presentation

he announcement from Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, regarding the presentation of an early Budget 2019, resulted in him coming for criticisms by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo – a former finance minister and president himself. His comments came on Wednesday (July 25, 2018) at a news conference held at his Church Street office. Jagdeo noted that Jordan may be pushing the presentation of Budget 2019 ahead of the Local Government Elections (LGE), set for November 12, 2018. “I thought that maybe they are trying to catch the Local Government Elections, to present a budget with a few goodies to influence people on how they vote…that is still very likely, knowing how this government operates…it makes a lot of promises and has a poor track record of fulfilling those promises,” he said. However, he charged that the bigger problem revolves around the fact that the Minister of Finance ignores the technical problems associated with the presentation of an early budget. Jagdeo said, “The issue is when you go to the parlia-

ment, you go to debate the framework and the country expects a discussion on the economic performance in the current year and how based on that performance you will move forward….this is not what we are getting.” In presenting an early budget, the numbers included are not final year numbers, rather they are numbers – related to growth by sector, etc. – that are up to the time when the budget is presented. The following year, the actual numbers are made public. Jagdeo pointed out that after an early budget was presented in 2017 in 2016 and then Guyanese saw the revision of growth figures a total of four times – the final figure being much lower that the projection made when an early budget was presented. For 2017, initially, Government had projected that Guyana’s economy would have grown by a 3.8 per cent growth rate for 2017. This projection was reduced to 3.1 per cent. It was then revised downwards again to 2.9 per cent. The actual performance, 2.1 per cent, was disclosed earlier this year. He added that the fiscal deficit also varied substan-

tially when the actual numbers were presented. “If you look at the components of the fiscal deficit you will see a massive change in current and capital expenditures, as well as revenue…we had false figures on revenue and expenditure, therefore the fiscal deficit numbers were false…the numbers were patently false figures,” he said. On the external side, he charged that the balance of payment numbers also changed massively. “When the actual outcome was seen, it was worse by US$200M,” he said. Issues related to the balance of trade, Jagdeo said, are also distorted. “Jordan can wait until January and we can have actual numbers… we have a minister who says nothing about the concerns that have been raised…what we we will have another debate on numbers that look great, but in a month, when the actual numbers are available for the year ended, we will see a totally different picture,” he said. Meanwhile, there has been no move by Government to engage the Parliamentary Opposition in budget talks.

New York Times' article did not reflect gov’t failures fully in oil and gas sector

side from the unfair portrayal of Guyana, the New York Times’ July 20, 2018 article did capture a few salient points on the failures of government in the oil and gas sector, according to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo. He noted that the article said: “Foreign development bank advisers have told the government that legislation to create a sovereign wealth fund to invest the royalties and taxes coming to the government lacks sufficient regulatory controls to avert corruption. The legislation

is now in limbo.” This he charged is accurate. Jagdeo said, “This was an accurate portrayal of what is happening with the legislation.” He noted that many of the other government failures – the controversial re-negotiation of the ExxonMobil contract; the concerns about the pre-contract costs claimed by ExxonMobil; the attempt to hide the US$18M signing bonus, the unclear management framework for the oil and gas sector (including a Sovereign Wealth Fund, Local Content Policy and Petroleum Commission)

– were not included in the article. All considered, Jagdeo said, the article – when it came to highlighting the government’s failures – can only be termed as benign. “The article did not show the turmoil in the sector and the lack of direction by this government…we are at a point in time where if we do not make the right decisions, oil will not benefit our people,” he said. His comment on the issue came on Wednesday (July 25, 2018) during a news conference.

APNU+AFC continues to peddle ‘political assessment’ of oil and gas sector, failing on real issues E

xxonMobil increased its estimate of discovered recoverable resources for the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana to more than four billion oil-equivalent barrels. And Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, has since been quoted as talking up the future possibilities. However, Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, noted that the APNU+AFC Coalition Government continues to peddle a political assessment of the oil and gas sector. “The real substantive matters are still not being addressed,” he said. Jordan was quoted as saying: “You [citizens] know oil coming, it is closer than you think. There will be billboards informing you when that the oil money will be available… we will have all of these things to notify you. Prepare yourself

to get a piece of this action, this is ours to hold and ours to keep but if you do not prepare ourselves to benefit from it, others will.” Referring to this comment, the Opposition Leader noted that while Jordan promises billboards to announce the inflow of oil monies, it was he who denied that ExxonMobil paid a US$18M signing bonus to Guyana for over a year and a half. The truth was finally exposed after a document was leaked to the media. Jagdeo added the US$18M is still being kept outside of the Consolidated Fund. He said, “People will see through this game of the APNU+AFC…they talk about oil and gas…it is not realistic what they are saying…they are painting a rosy picture, that oil will solve everything, this is

not so.” Jordan was also quoted as saying: “Look at all of the people that are coming to our country, look at the hotels that are completely filled… many of the flights are bringing persons who are seeing the future prospects. Our citizens must see this too, Minister Jordan declared. Commenting on this, Jagdeo questioned: “What about the economy that is falling apart?” He underscored the fact as much as 30,000 persons have lost jobs since the APNU+AFC Coalition took office. “Once again we are faced with a political assessment of the oil and gas sector,” the Opposition Leader said. His comments came Wednesday (July 25, 2018) at a news conference held at his Church Street office.

Slaying of five bandits would’ve been dubbed extra-judicial killings under PPP/C T

he sudden silence of critics who were vociferous in their condemnations of the former PPP/C Administration, in the matter of alleged extra-judicial killings, was questioned by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, during his news conference on Wednesday (July 25, 2018).

He said, “Today the same thing happened but the narrative has changed and I don’t see the same groups that were out protesting against the PPP saying anything, it’s all quite. So it just shows how prejudice it was, how bias it was, how convenient those groups were.” Jagdeo was referring to

Tuesday’s (June 24, 2018) shooting which resulted in the deaths of five bandits who were attending a robbery at a Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, home. He said, “In this case the Government highlights them as success in the fight (Turn to page 11)

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 JULY, 2018

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

‘Everything lacks transparency’ in move to privatize Enmore Estate

Time for Ramjattan to resign? T

he promised valuation from Pricewaterhouse Copper (PwC) has not yet been completed, yet the APNU+AFC is moving ahead with privatisation plans, raising serious concerns about the likelihood of corruption, according to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo. Earlier this week, an information memorandum which could lead to the privatisation of the Enmore Sugar Estate was made available. According to an advertisement in the local daily newspapers by the National Industrial and Commercial and Investments Limited (NICIL) and its Special Purpose Unit (SPU), the information memorandum will be

‘Anytime people have to defend your relevance, you are irrelevant’

available up to August 13th and will among other things contain the timeline for the bids, process of ranking and further details of assets for sale. NICIL/SPU can be contacted for the information memorandum on the payment of US$1,000 and the signing of a confidentiality agreement. At a news conference on Wednesday (July 25, 2018), Jagdeo said, “Everything lacks transparency and I believe what is fast emerging is a cabal in SPU and NICIL that will give away these assets without following procedures.” Under the former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration,

Jagdeo reminded that everything that was privatized was made public and detailed in a published document. He said, “They have practically dismantled the structure for privatization that we put in place through the white paper that we took to Parliament.” He added, “…they’ve just set that aside, the entire privatization process, so they can make a decision about which entity to privatize and how the privatize and even accept a bid without any oversight.” The Opposition Leader noted that the Guyanese deserve greater transparency, not secrecy that could see the ‘give away’ of Guyana’s assets.

Unfair portrayal of Guyana cannot be accepted G

uyana has greater stability that many of the countries, which send journalists to Guyana, who end up, sometimes, painting a negative picture of Guyana, according to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo on Wednesday (July 25, 2018) during a news conference. His comments came in response to the July 20, 2018 article published by the New York Times. He said, “I do believe that many journalists from the developed world come here with the sole purpose of making us look like back water countries and that we are on

the cusp of civil war and ethnic conflagration, but in our country we have greater stability than their country. “I disagree with how Guyana and Guyanese are portrayed abroad and we disagree with any unfair portrayal….I am very clannish about how Guyana and Guyanese are portrayed abroad.” On this issue alone, he charged that the Parliamentary Opposition agrees with the Government’s statement that rejected the New York Times article.

Slaying of five bandits... (From page 10) against crime, but just imagine the PPP in office and the exact same thing happening, this would be now extra judicial killing by the racist PPP government trying to exterminate afro-Guyanese, as they said when they created that list of 400 people

who…they said that we killed through extra judicial means and they included all the bandits and the victims and the policemen who were killed and you had nearly 100 Indo-Guyanese there.” Meanwhile, the statistics from January to May

month-end, show a seven per cent increase in robbery under arms, an eight per cent increase in robberies where no instruments were used, and a four per cent increase in rape cases. Robberies were up by three per cent.

he crime situation is ravaging Guyanese citizens, according to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, who charged too that the APNU+AFC Coalition is still to step up with a real plan to address the current state of affairs. “I think by now most people will know he has been a failure, and I have seen many people calling for his resignation and so while he is quoting statistics in the Parliament, the crime situation is just escalating on the ground to a point where people say to me we don’t call the police anymore for small issues and so it is major,” he said on

amblings from Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, were rubbished by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, as his latest attempt to secure some relevance in the political arena. On Wednesday (July 25, 2018), Jagdeo said, “We have seen as usual the typical ramblings from Nagamootoo…this time he says I threaten him. I don’t have to threaten Nagamootoo. This is just him looking for sympathy; him saying that the ‘big bad Jagdeo threatened him’. “…Nagamootoo hopes that by saying this, then automatically others will jump to his defence. So we saw some statements from Harmon and Trotman defending his relevance. But the fact is that anytime people have to defend your relevance, you

Wednesday (July 25, 2018) at his weekly news conference. Meanwhile, he added that President David Granger has still not committed to a timeline for the release of the report that was supposed to be the plan to “end all crime” in Guyana. According to him, the crime situation is on the agenda for future talks with the Government. Meanwhile, recent police statistics have recorded an increase in robbery under arms and rape cases compared to last year at this time.

are irrelevant. “…he then goes on to try to say that’s somehow this situation is about race… this is pure nonsense…Nagamootoo is trying to create relevance for himself.” Jagdeo explained that Nagamootoo’s comments came after the Parliamentary Opposition disagreed with a proposal from President David Grange for him to lead talks between the government and opposition. He noted that the PPP/C said no to Nagamootoo leading the talks because of the fact that Nagamootoo has no portfolio; he is a lightweight in the current Coalition Government; and is in no position to make any commitments once engagements between the Parliamentary Opposition and the Government get underway – he

cannot commit the APNU or the PNC to anything Jagdeo said, “I did not ask for his removal. I said, firstly, that somehow in the international community there is a feeling that we in the PPP don’t want Nagamootoo to lead the talks because of who he is….but that is not our concern. Our concern is about his inability to commit the government to anything even if he did lead the talks….this was a view that we had to dispel. “…Granger could easily say I will vest Nagamootoo with a portfolio and powers and we in the PPP can be assured that Nagamootoo can give a commitment. President Granger choose not to do that…he e said he will lead the talks himself… if anyone threw him under the bus it was them not us.”

PPP’s local gov’t elections campaign has kicked into gear T

he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) campaign ahead of the Local Government Elections (LGE), set for November 12, 2018, has been kicked into gear. Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, on Wednesday (July 25, 2018) explained that campaign activities are already underway in parts of the Capital, the East Coast of Demerara and Region 5. Activities in Regions 6

and 3 are expected to star by this weekend, while the other Regions will be targeted in the coming weeks. 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 16 and the other seven areas are tied between the PPP/C and APNU+AFC. Of 1,166 seats up for grabs, the PPP/C won 754

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

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 JULY, 2018

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

Will Granger will stick to commitment on auctioning oil blocks? W

ill the David Granger-led Coalition Government go through with the auction of the remaining oil blocks in Guyana? The question was posed by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, on Wednesday (July 25, 2018) during his weekly news conference, held at his Church Street office. Jagdeo noted that Granger was quoted by the New York Times, in its July 20, 2018 article, headlined ‘The $20B question for Guyana’, on the subject of the remaining oil blocks. The article said: “He (Granger) has promised to end closed-door bidding for drilling rights, and to open auctions for future development.” The Opposition Leader noted that Granger failed to give and answer to the Guyanese people when this question was asked, over a year ago, but responded to a foreign reporter.

“We have been calling for this for over a year now… they refused to make a commitment to us in Guyana, but they can made a commitment to a reporter from the New York Times….not the Guyanese people….let’s see if they actually mean it,” he said. In the past, Jagdeo had called attention to the confusion regarding Government’s positions on the remaining oil blocks. Notably, Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman, had touted the idea of allowing Guyanese citizens to have a stake in the blocks, while also stating that there is a moratorium on ‘giving out’ blocks. Trotman also talked about issuing new licences, upon acquiring the services of some international law firms to negotiate future oil contracts, to some foreign companies. Jagdeo said, “It is very confusing, because on one

hand we have a moratorium, no commitment to the auction. Now he is saying that Guyanese will be able to bid against foreigners and he is saying that Guyanese can own shares in a company. They are very different things.” He added, “Is he (Trotman) saying that there is a moratorium until they get these firms to come and negotiate the contracts, or is he saying there is a moratorium period? And when the international advisers come, will they be tendering or auctioning the blocks. He did not give an answer to that. So the negotiation of contracts is one thing with the international law firms but they are still silent on the big question on whether they will auction future blocks or not.” The Coalition Government has come in for much criticism from civil society over its handling of the developing oil and gas sector.

he APNU+AFC Coalition Government has already failed, over three years later, to have the necessary management framework in place for the oil and gas sector. And the announcement from Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, about having a Green Paper placed before the National Assembly has stirred new cause for worry, according to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo. During his Wednesday (July 25, 2018) news conference, held at his office, he noted that the Green Paper being proposed by the Coalition Government to deal with the management of oil resources is linked to a Natural Resources Fund, which will be managed by politicians, given that the oversight committees will

include government members. Jordan also disclosed that the oversight committee for the Natural Resources Fund will have nominees from the Opposition and civil society. Jagdeo said, “We don’t want politicians to manage this money. This fund has to be independently (and) technically managed not by politicians and stored by Central Bank. We have a problem with that model and it departs radically from best practices such as (those observed by nations like) Norway and others where they have an independent group that manages this.” “…the model for this will present a lot of problems. [Finance Minister, Winston] Jordan can call the Central Bank and get

moneys whenever he wants it or bully people…any fund where oil monies are placed must be independently managed outside of the State… the flows to the budget must be predicable, and come only after conditions are met, verified and taken to the House be voted on (approved).” The Opposition Leader reiterated his call for the Santiago Principles to guide the establishment of any Fund. The Santiago Principles promote transparency, good governance, accountability and prudent investment practices whilst encouraging more open dialogue and deeper understanding of Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) activities, according to the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds.

Major problems with foreign exchange likely in the ‘near term’

nformation that the Finance Ministry is leading a crackdown on the use of foreign currency in the local market was addressed by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, at his weekly news conference, held at his Church Street office on Wednesday (July 25, 2018). Last week, the Bank of Guyana published a notice, which read: “The Bank of Guyana notes with concern that some businesses are accepting foreign currency for the purpose of settling payments for transactions, instead of Guyana dollars.” Jagdeo noted that there is a shortage of foreign currency at the Central Bank. “The reserves are declining… they don’t have the foreign currency to meet their obligations,” he said, adding that information shared with the Parliamentary Opposition indicates that the ‘crackdown’ is wider that the Government is letting on. He said, “So we are

going to have some major problems in the near future. And we are going to see this evolve a bit more, because you can’t hide it for long. This is not the end of the problem,” According to him, already over 90 per cent of national budget is funded domestic savings, not foreign inflows, thereby exacerbating the issue of foreign currency being available. “It’s above 90 per cent. It used to be, in our era, about 50 per cent each of national domestic expenditure funded from foreign sources, and 50 per cent from domestic savings, and now it’s gone up,” he said. He added that this will be further compounded by the $30B bond secured by NICIL. “What will happen is: it will put enormous… even more pressure on the foreign currency holdings, because you have more Guyana dollars being spent chasing the same supply of cur-

rency… In fact, not the same amount, because it is falling; it is declining because sugar earns less foreign currency…because of the drop-in production and exports, and other sectors have not been doing that well, like forestry,” the Opposition Leader explained. Jagdeo noted too that the productive sectors that earn foreign currency for Guyana, including sugar, forestry and gold, are all underperforming. The actual economic performance for 2017 was pegged at 2.1 per cent. The performance of major sectors according to final 2017 figures, which were revised in February 2018, show that: the sugar sector contracted by 25.2% (projected to grow by 13.7%); and that the mining and quarrying sector contracted by 8.8% (projected to grow by 0.7%). “We are going to have some major problems in the near term,” the Opposition Leader concluded.

Improving scrutiny in Parliament demands training Politicians must not be involved for Speaker and more in managing oil monies A T team from the Caribbean Development Bank (CBD) is currently organizing a training for Members of Parliament (MPs) in Guyana. And Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, on Wednesday (July 25, 2018) has said that continuous training is always welcomed. However, he made it clear that the CDB was informed that if the intent of the training session is to ensure greater transparency, the lack of transparency is not because Parliamentarians are untrained. Jagdeo said, “I had an engagement with a team from CDB. They want to do a project to improve the skills of MPs to interrogate

public expenditure and I said I support it and our MPs will attend. “What I told them however is that if the goal is greater transparency, then it is not so much the lack of training that leads to less accountability. There are other factors.” Jagdeo explained that the House Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland, needs to be trained to understand public expenditure and its linkages to improve his decision making – relative to granting sufficient time for scrutiny. “The House Speaker (Dr. Barton Scotland) for one, needs to be trained to understand public expenditures, linkages and (the need to)

give (MPs) enough time for interrogation….take the issue of the drug bond. Volda Lawrence said that the contract would be terminated in February. It is now July…if you ever try to interrogate her … our Speaker, he says ‘stay relevant’. You can’t even digress because he doesn’t understand linkages between variables,” he said. The Opposition Leader added that the Government Ministers themselves remain uncommitted to transparency. “We ask questions and we get one line answers… we do not have a government that gives answers,” he said. These issues, according to him, were communicated to the CDB team.

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 JULY, 2018

Real Time Economic Insights – What are the International Organisations saying? Human Capital Index: World Ranking Rank of 188 countries 140 120 100

113

119

80 57

60 33

101 102

40 21

20 0 Employment Gender Gap (25-54)

Quality of Primary Secondary School Tertiary Education School (0-14) Enrolment Rate (0-14) Enrolment Rate (1524)

2015

2016

2017

Source: Human Capital Index, World Economic Forum

Interesting Stats: • Guyana slipped 4 places down when compared to 2016 for Unemployment rate (age 25-54); and another 7 places for Unemployment rate (age 55-64). Guyana in World Ranking of Human Capital Index: • 2014- 64 position • 2015-79 position • 2016-75 position • 2017-88 position

Key Observations: The global human capital index confirmed the deterioration of Guyana’s socio-economic fabric: Globally, Guyana slipped from 64th position in 2014 to 88th in 2017.

he fact remains that the economy of Guyana is on the decline. Ironically, the unemployment rate of youth has been on the increase for quite some time, which directly contravenes assertions by the government of providing jobs for the youth. Not only did Guyana deteriorate economically, but also socially, as confirmed by the latest Human Capital index and Human

Fiscal Policy: IMF

• The Government was warned by IMF of high domestic debt- “Staff reiterated and stressed the importance of settling these balances at the central bank”- IMF Report 2018;

Key Observations:

Development Index. As the debate on Guyana’s economic performance continues, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government continues to fail to provide a positive response. This week we will look at a review of what international organisations, like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had to say. (Analyses done by Irfaan Ali, PPP/C MP)

• The IMF postulated the development of a Bond Market as a mean to access additional finance. However, equally counterproductive, this measure would stoke interest rates.

The spending spree of the government is clearly unsustainable. Espousing our argument, the IMF also sees it critical for the government to subdue high domestic debt.

• In response to high current expenditure-to-GDP ratio, the IMF staff recommended “an expenditure review to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of public spending”. • It must be noted, current-to-capital expenditure ratio has increased by more 4% when compared to 2014 Key Observations: High current expenditure with respect to GDP speaks to the possibility of burgeoning future budget deficit; a hallmark of this administration.

Fiscal Policy: IMF

Key Observations: Human development index for Guyana has deteriorated, while unemployment amongst youth has increased (no strategy to address job creation)

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 JULY, 2018

Mahdia road conditions deteriorating

Deplorable interior roads threaten economic growth, livelihoods – PPP MPs T

he poor state of interior supplies and other items at businesses are suffering and roads, coupled with high reduced costs for interior the economy is suffering… fuel prices and other factors, residents; allowing Lethem the problem now is that your could see Guyana’s economy (Region Nine) residents to economy is in trouble and it’s further declining, according purchase fuel from neigh- the economy which is depento People’s Progressive Par- bouring Brazil until the roads dent on those same goods on ty/ Civic (PPP/C) Parliamen- are repaired; meeting with those same roads to come out tarian, Irfaan Ali. logging and mining com- to the coast,” Teixeira said. He said, “High fuel prices panies to discuss measures She added, “I believe that and deplorable interior roads which can be put in place to government – Cabinet – are will place added burdens on save jobs and revenue; and either not properly apprised loggers, miners, rice farmers. repairing roads urgently and or properly informed or that We have heard of the down- put in place mechanism for they believe some issues sizing of sawand statistics mills, closure “People are suffering, businesses are suffering are of no imof small and and the economy is suffering…the problem portance…the medium-scale now is that your economy is in trouble and it’s deterioration mining activi- the economy which is dependent on those same of the roads ties, increased not start goods on those same roads to come out to the did construction this year… cost due to the coast….I believe that government – Cabinet – are maintenance increased cost either not properly apprised or properly informed was already a of sand.” or that they believe some issues and statistics are problem last “ … h i g h of no importance…the deterioration of the roads year.” fuel prices did not start this year…maintenance was already INACTION coupled with the introduc- a problem last year.” – Opposition Chief Whip, A l s o , tion of more Gail Teixeira PPP/C MP, than 200 tax Alister Charmeasures will likely stoke constant maintenance. lie, called out Government inflation above the projected She noted that the in- Ministers for blaming the amount.” action of the government late award of contracts for in this area contributes to its action in addressing the MOTION a significant decline in for- deplorable state of the key Last week, Opposition eign exchange from gold, connecting hinterland roads. Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, diamonds and timber because He said, “The minister led a debate on the state of of the poor state of interior intends to blame the rains key connecting hinterland roads. She noted that the bad for the deplorable state of roads. condition of the roads was the hinterland road- blame it Teixeira’s motion called highlighted in government’s on the rain- but remember, on government to do several own economic reports as one in every year we have two things. These included: of the reasons for a decline budgets. Budget 2018 was having the Government use in revenue. read in 2017, which gives aircraft to transport food “People are suffering, time for road maintenance in

the hinterland regions. “It is unacceptable now in this House for the Ministers to say that awards had been given out to execute works in the middle of the rainy season.” Meanwhile, in recent

weeks, trucks and other vehicles have toppled on their journey to and from Lethem. A one-way trip now takes as much as three days in contrast to 11 hours when the road was in good condition. Also, the Guyana Man-

ufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) has expressed concern about the adverse impact of the poor condition of roads on the timber sector including temporary layoffs, loss of revenue and markets.

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 JULY, 2018

Community meetings continued this week in Region 5

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 JULY, 2018

Opposition Leader hosts reception for NTC Conference attendees The annual reception hosted by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, to engage the attendees of the week-long National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference, was held last Thursday (July 19, 2018). Over 200 leaders from Amerindian communities across Guyana were in attendance, as well as several PPP/C MPs and former government officials.

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 JULY, 2018

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

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

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

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

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

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 JULY, 2018

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

13. FICTION: New Guyana Election Chairman appointed

17. FICTION: Provision of medical equipment

FACT: The 84-year-old GECOM Chairman was unilaterally and un-constitutionally appointed, in breach of 25 years of practice and common understanding of the constitutional procedures that have to be followed for such an appointment to be made.

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

14. FICTION: The establishment of three new towns FACT: The towns were established without consultation and in some cases encroached on titled Amerindian Lands in breach of laws --and showing that the APNU+AFC Coalition Government has no qualms about breaking the laws of Guyana. 15. FICTION: Improved education attainment FACT: The 2017 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Guyana – released by the United States of America’s (USA) State Department – underscores a major failure of the APNU+AFC Coalition government. Page 11 of the 207 report states that: “The standard of living in indigenous communities was lower than that of most citizens, and they had limited access to education and health care.” In contrast, the 2015 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Guyana, on page 14, said: “All indigenous communities had primary schools, and as of 2012, there were 13 secondary schools in remote regions. All indigenous communities had school dormitories that housed students at government’s expense. Government programmes trained health workers, who staffed health facilities in most communities.”

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

18. FICTION: De-politicized the National Toshaos Council FACT: The NTC is not a political body. It is the elected body that represents Amerindians in Guyana. As such, claims of de-politicizing the NTC have been viewed as APNU+AFC rhetoric. 19. FICTION: Extended the Amerindian Land Titling (ALT) programme FACT: Not a single Amerindian village has received a land title under the APNU+AFC Coalition Government. Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Sydney Allicock, admitted that he failed to do any work with the ALT programme, which gave the indigenous people legal rights to their communities. “I have not been able to title any village,” Allicock had said in May 2018. Notably, after taking office, the Coalition Government, sent home the entire unit dealing with the Amerindian Land Titling programme. The Project Management Unit was ben established in June 2014 to support the implementation of the project. A total of US$10.7M was earned by the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government and left for the purpose of completing the ALT programme. 20. FICTION: Piracy smashed FACT: Less than two months ago, a piracy attack led to several deaths of local fishermen. The bodies of some of the fishermen have still not been found.

21. FICTION: Major criminal gangs smashed, members prosecuted FACT: There has been no such report. Also, no cases in Guyana’s court have substantiated this claim. 22. FICTION: Crime rate down FACT: As of June 2018, a whopping 304 cases of robbery under arms, where firearms were used, were recorded at the end of June 2018, marking an increase compared to last year. Another 116 cases of robbery under arms, where other instruments were used, were also recorded for that month. There were also 28 other cases of robberies, as well as 73 cases of robbery with violence. Robbery with aggravation cases numbered 30. Larceny from persons numbered 62, while burglary cases totaled 112 and break an entry with larceny totaled 498. In total these cases numbered 1,223. There were 44 murders. The APNU+AFC Coalition Government continues to come in for criticisms over its inaction to address the current crime rate.

23. FICTION: Establishment of the Department of Environment FACT: There is no Department of Environment as of July 2018. 24. FICTION: Freedom of the Press restored FACT: The Guyana Press Association has blasted Coalition gov’t over ‘unmistakable’ signals of Executive control since it took office. The Association cited other acts that include: The continued role of the Director of Public Information as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited, publishers of the Guyana Chronicle; Direction from a senior government Minister on coverage of his office to the Editor- in-Chief; Direction being given to the Chronicle for stories sent for his approval once it has to do with his office or the PNC, the main party in the governing Coalition; and weekly meetings of the Prime Minister with senior executives of the state media.

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 JULY, 2018

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

25. FICTION: Constitutional Reform process initiated FACT: There has been no progress on the issue of Constitutional Reform. 26. FICTION: Improved transparency FACT: The APNU+AFC Coalition Government has been criticised as failing to honour of the promise of transparency. Among the untruths told by the government to the Guyanese people is the fact that Guyana did not receive the US$18M signing bonus from ExxonMobil. This lie was told for over a year to the Guyanese people, despite the fact that questions about the signing bonus were asked. Finally, documents leaked to the media, exposed the Government lie

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.

27. FICTION: Code of conduct for public official completed FACT: There is no Code of Conduct in place. A draft was proposed and was met with widespread criticisms. Even the Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. said government’s proposed code of conduct is still deficient in many respects. The body expressed the view that the “lack of specificity appears as low commitment to integrity in public office” and it can ultimately impede the effectiveness of the Code and erode public confidence. 28. FICTION: Family Court opened FACT: The Family Division of the High Court began hearing cases since May 6, 2016. The Family Court was a PPP/C initiative. Before the APNU+AFC Coalition Government took office, the Family Court building was completed and handed over to Government.

29. FICTION: Successful gun amnesty programme FACT: During the amnesty for unlicensed firearms in 2015, scores of Amerindians handed in weapons used to protect their cattle and crops and support their livelihoods, with the promise of receiving licences. The APNU+AFC Coalition Government delayed the return to April 2018 and has now delayed it again, until the end of July 2018. This failure to deliver in a timely manner on a promise made has prevented the amnesty programme from being deemed a success. 30. FICTION: A new drugs procurement system introduced FACT: Health Minister, Volda, Lawrence had stated revised drug procurement system which will bring resolution to the ongoing drug shortage throughout the country is expected to be implemented by the month of June 2016. It is now July 2018. After taking office, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government scrapped the old method used to procure and deliver drugs and medical supplies across Guyana, despite the fact that it worked.

GECOM Chairman challenge has first hearing in Appeal Court T

he High Court decision which held that President David Granger has the legal power to unilaterally appoint retired Justice James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is being challenged in the Appeal Court. And the first of several hearings commenced on Wednesday (July 25, 2018). Former Attorney General and Opposition Parliamentarian, Anil Nandlall, appeared before the court on behalf of People’s Progressive Party Executive Secretary and Member of Parliament Zulfikar Mustapha, in whose name the challenge was. On June 8, 2018, in the

High Court, Justice George ruled that the Constitution of Guyana allows for the President to unilaterally appoint someone to fill the position of GECOM Chair. In comments on the first hearing of the PPP’s appeal, Nandlall said, “The Court of Appeal of Guyana begun hearing arguments on an application which I filed requesting an early determination of the Appeal filed against Chief Justice George’s decision in respect of the appointment of James Patterson as the Chairman of GECOM. “This case is perhaps the most important case currently in the Court system. It involves the right of every

registered elector, it raises issues which affect the very bedrock of our constitutional democracy and it is directly related to the integrity of our electoral machinery. That it is a matter of public importance is axiomatic. Therefore, an early conclusive determination of these issues is the sine qua non of peace, order and good governance in this society. “I drew to the attention of the Court the fact that Local Government Elections are due in November and Regional and General Elections are due by August 2020. I pointed out that whatever decision the Court of Appeal makes in the appeal itself, it is likely to be

appealed at the Caribbean Court of Justice. Therefore, it is imperative that the appeal before the Court of Appeal be determined in such a time frame that an appeal can be heard by the CCJ and decision rendered before the elections, otherwise the entire litigation would become futile. “I invited the Court of Appeal to emulate the position adopted by the CCJ which heard and determined a challenge by an elector before the recently concluded Barbadian elections. The entire case, beginning from the High Court of Barbados to the CCJ, lasted a few weeks. In the end, the case was concluded at such time

permitting the elector to vote at the elections. “Aainst this backdrop, one would have thought that the Attorney General would not be opposed to the Application which, as I said, is merely to have the Appeal heard early. “Unfortunately, the AG strenuously opposed the application. Although this matter was filed since the 12th June 2018, the AG only filed his Affidavit in Answer yesterday afternoon which was served upon me this morning (July 25, 2018). “Of course, the AG felt that he could easily get this matter protracted, so he came to the Court unprepared to present his argu-

ments in opposition. He thought he would have gotten a distant adjournment. However, the Court ordered him to begin his arguments today. The arguments advanced by the AG were novel, to say in the least. It is this: that the Application before the Court (which merely seeks a date for an early hearing of the Appeal) constitutes a challenge to the Local Government Elections for which a date has already been fixed in November 2018, and therefore, elections can only be challenged by an election’s petition to be filed in the High Court.” Nandlall concluded that Williams’ arguments are bewildering.

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 JULY, 2018

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

APNU+AFC gov’t exposed: Flooding reported Ministry was lobbying North Rupununi in chairmanship race at T Toshaos Conference

he Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs (MOIPA) was lobbying to install a chairman that it could potentially control at the just-concluded National Toshaos Council (NTC) annual conference. This was disclosed by an executive on the last NTC, Lennox Shuman. He said, “We understood that the ministry was lobbying very hard for someone they could potentially control, to be the chairman of the NTC…we had to counter that.” Addressing the conference itself, he noted that the NTC couldn’t determine the agenda, except for a few small items. “We were not

permitted to chair the opening session. If it is the National Toshaos Conference, then it should be hosted and chaired by the NTC,” he said. According to him, the Government even went as far to take steps to prevent Amerindian leaders from attention reception hosted by the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo. “The ministry left the hot button topic – the Amerindian Land Titling – to the very last, just to prohibit people from attending that reception,” he said. Government has remained silent on the issue.

he North Rupununi is now experiencing flooding as rainfall has caused water from the nearby rivers to move inland, affecting farmlands in the process. Flooding in the North comes just after residents in Lethem and its immediate environs were displaced as a result of flooding. Regional Chairman, Brian Allicock, said, “We have received some reports and would have seen some videos showing farms in Aranaputa and cassava plants that would have rotted as a result of the

ealth professionals are calling on Government to look into the situation at the Baramita Health outpost in Region One, as a shortage of medication and equipment plagues the institution. Baramita, which is located in Barima-Waini (Region One) is about 20 miles west of Matthews Ridge and home

to more than 450 residents. One doctor in the area disclosed that there have been constant shortages and insufficient medical supplies at the outpost, resulting in several patients having to be air-dashed to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Additionally, the all-terrain vehicle (ATV) which

is attached to the medical hospital has been down for months and is in need of servicing. With the only means of transportation at the outpost, home visits to sick patients are impossible because of the terrain in the hinterland. The Ministry of Health remains unresponsive.

US 2017 report…

Indigenous communities’ access to education, health care highlighted as gov’t failures

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 indig-

enous 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. Pres-

ident 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 (Turn to page 21)

water and so that is something we will be looking at. “…the rains we are getting now are the usual rainy season rains, but at the same time, the water from the rivers are now rising and coming inland which is affecting the North Rupununi.” Back in June, flooding in the region caused by heavy rainfall and the overflowing of rivers, had led to communities in the South Pakaraimas and the Deep South Rupununi being cut off.

NTC demands ‘documented responses’ to its concerns from Trotman

Major drug shortages at Baramita Health outpost T

he National Toshaos Council (NTC), headed by newly elected Chairman Toshao Nicholas Fredericks, called on the Government to address a number of issues. Meeting with Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman, he raised the issue of cease work orders by the GGMC. The NTC promised to provide a list of questions pertaining

to cease work orders and the involvement of foreign partners in mining companies. The NTC also included other matters for which it requested documented responses. The issue of human trafficking was also raised. It was later agreed that the two parties would meet again on August 15, 2018.

Children from Paipang Village still don’t have promised school

ne of the village leaders of children leave their locations at uars and pumas and the creeks Paipang in Region Nine 6am and reach back home about sometimes flood out. So adults (Upper Takutu-Upper Esse- 5pm. It takes them actually two go with them, especially the quibo) is hoping that with the hours walking. Some travel on nursery school children, the completed construction of a bicycle and sometimes, when parents walk and carry them. school in their area, children they experience much difficulty, But sometimes the children are will no longer have to walk long we take them on tractors and absent when there is no transmiles while braving portation.” threats of the jungle to “The children leave their locations According to receive an education. him, the government However, the at 6am and reach back home about is building a school school building at 5pm. It takes them actually two hours in the community, but reference is still in- walking. Some travel on bicycle and the project has been complete since being sometimes, when they experience much stalled since 2016. abandoned by con- difficulty, we take them on tractors and “The contractors tractors in 2017. went on Christmas Senior Councillor when it’s afternoon time we take them holiday and they went of Paipang, Kendell back home. back in January 2017, Francis, has disclosed “…it is a dangerous journey. By but then they left and that a total of 42 chil- the path there are jaguars and pumas never returned again. dren have to travel and the creeks sometimes flood out. They already put up to the neighbouring the foundation of the village of Tiger Pond So adults go with them, especially the wall, they have zinc some seven miles nursery school children, the parents down there but they away to attend the walk and carry them. But sometimes haven’t nailed it up on school there. the children are absent when there is the roof. It’s only done He said, “Our no transportation.” - Councillor of half way…we only main concern is based want the school buildon education. Our Paipang, Kendell Francis ing to be completed, children are encounso it would be possible tering, on a daily basis, chal- when it’s afternoon time we for our children to be in school lenges to attend Tiger Pond Pri- take them back home. more rather than walking in mary School which is approxi“…it is a dangerous jour- the morning and the afternoon mately seven miles away. The ney. By the path there are jag- time,” Francis said.

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 JULY, 2018

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

Communities demand more time to prepare for Amerindian Act Revision

ith the APNU+AFC Coalition Government pushing for changes to the Amerindian Act of 2006, some communities have made it clear that they need more time. The Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister, Sydney Allicock, to date, has unable to say what the government’s intention is. All he has said is that, “There were lots of ideas, proposals, and suggestions that we can review, to see what might be adequate or relevant to today.” The Parliamentary Opposition has warned the APNU+AFC Coalition against advancing any move that will not bring more benefits to Amerin-

dians in Guyana – changes that will dilute the rights of our Indigenous Amerindian people. The Amerindian Act 2006, passed under the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), was hailed as an embodiment of policies that covered 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 peo-

ple that are not dissimilar, in most instances, from those outlined in the declaration, and has thus been the legal stronghold for Amerindian development. Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Opposition has also called on the Coalition Government to respect the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), which is enshrined in the 2006 Amerindian Act – which means that nothing ought to be done with the involvement of the Amerindian people. It is unclear which Amerindian communities have been consulted on changes to the Amerindian Act. The Government’s move to change the Act was announced in 2016.

Gov’t breaks promise again: No return of weapons likely this month

uring the amnesty for unlicensed firearms in 2015, scores of Amerindians handed in weapons used to protect their cattle and crops and support their livelihoods, with the promise of receiving licences. The APNU+AFC Coalition Government delayed the return to April 2018 and delayed it again, until the end of July 2018. However, with the end of July in sight, no move has been made to keep this promise. Notably, the July monthend date, however, only applies to residents of Indige-

nous communities in Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazuruni) according to Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock. It is unclear when other Amerindian communities will be served. In April, a government team was scheduled to meet with residents of 11 indigenous communities at Chinoweng, Phillipai and Kamarang. In addition to the firearms, they were also taking along 121 permits to distribute to the residents. However, the visit was cancelled. Additionally, Govern-

Indigenous communities’ access to... (From page 20) 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.

ment, using its majority in the National Assembly, approved the Firearms (Amendment) Bill he noted that one of the criteria for being granted a licence to hold a firearm is to protect large sums of money. As such, he contended that the increased are not major increases. Licences for shotgun will increase by $3,000 to $5,000; handguns from $5,000 to $25,000; rifles from $5,000 to $40,000; and dealers from $7,500 to $150,000. People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP), Dharamkumar Seeraj, had argued that there are categories of firearm holders who need firearms, not to protect large sums of money, but ones that need it to support their livelihoods, specifically, farmers and Amerindians. Guyana as just over 8,000 persons who are licenced firearm holders, according to Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan. He disclosed that currently there are about 3,000 licenced shot guns, 4,500 licenced pistols and revolvers and 347 licenced rifles.

Gov’t not budging: Amerindian representation on Indigenous People’s Commission to be reduced D espite criticisms, the Coalition Government is maintaining its push reduce the Amerindian representation on the Indigenous People’s Commission. The Coalition Government plans to reduce Amerindian representation on the 15-member Commission to 30 per cent. Of the 15 members, three representatives are from the National Toshaos Council and two are from local Amerindian organisations. The other 10 members will come from the: Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs; Ministry of Public Health; Ministry of Social Protection; Private Sector Commission; Environmental Protection Agency; Bar Association of Guyana;

Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association; Forest Products Association; National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI); and the Inter-Religious Organisation. The latter, the Inter-Religious Organisation, was a proposal that came from PNCR General Secretary, Amna Ally, who defended her recommendation by saying that “the majority of indigenous people” may not be Christians. These details are according to the seventh report of the Committee of Appointments, in relation to the appointment of members of the Indigenous People’s Commission, was tabled in the House in March 2018 and is expect-

ed 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.

Gov’t admits close to 40,000 unemployed in hinterland – no plans in place to address this

he APNU+AFC Coalition Government has admitted that to massive unemployment levels of unemployment among indigenous youths. Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Sydney Allicock, has said that close to 40,000 are unemployed in the hinterland. “We still have close to 40,000 indigenous youths who are unemployed,” he said. However, since the admission nothing has been done to address the issue. There has been no major job creation initiative since the APNU+AFC Coalition Government took office. The promise made by the Coalition during the 2015 General and Regional elections campaign was that it would “create jobs, jobs and more jobs in the shortest time possible.” Over three years later, the Finance Minister, Winston

Jordan, is yet to unveil a national plan to create jobs. Instead, like President David Granger, he is now talking up the focus on persons creating jobs for themselves. “All good paying jobs, as far as I am concerned, can come from self-generation and that is why we have to focus a lot on small and medium businesses, creating entrepreneurs rather than traders out of people,” Jordan has said. President Granger has admitted that under his Government, the economy has not been able to produce “sufficient” new jobs. “On one hand I believe that the young people themselves have to stay in schools so they are better qualified. On the other hand, I think investors must allow what you call microenterprise to flourish, particularly in agro-processing,” he said, adding that it is his inten-

tion to engage the private sector to create funds for microenterprise, which can serve as a lending facility to young people. Notably, the plan for microenterprise funding was not included in the APNU+AFC manifesto. In a message from Granger, the manifesto stated that the APNU+AFC Coalition will provide: “Employment opportunities in science, technology, engineering, mining, agro-processing and the arts to provide jobs and promote economic growth.” The manifesto also promised that public expenditure measures would be determined by related factors, which include: Stimulating productivity, investment, savings and growth of the economy; and the provision of jobs, among other moves. “The APNU+AFC objective is an integrated employment strategy,” the manifesto added.

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 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!

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 JULY, 2018

APNU+AFC gov’t inaction this week

APNU+AFC ‘kick-back …a snapshot of headlines making the news schemes’

– gov’t silent in the face of criticisms

Jordan promises transparent spending of oil monies, signing bonus remains outside of Consolidated Fund Acknowledging, comments from critics that suggested possible misuse of monies placed in the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) - particularly that the monies will be diverted or allocated for politically directed projects, Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, sought to give an assurance. However, he was unsuccessful, given Government’s continued failures in treating appropriately with the US$18M signing bonus. Jordan said, “All the monies go to the SWF. Withdrawals from the fund will be in accordance with fiscal rules that will be embedded in the legislation and approved by Parliament. The amount to be withdrawn is then placed in the Consolidated Fund and appropriated in accordance with existing accounting rules.” The Finance Minister has still not moved to place the US$18M signing bonus received from ExxonMobil into the Consolidated Fund. The monies remain outside of the Consolidated Fund and outside of the reach of the Auditor General.

No action to increase salaries, gov’t now pushing for licensing of teachers being discussed Last November, a high-level task force was set up to address issues affecting the thousands of public school teachers across Guyana. Since then, there has been no substantive report on progress made by that Task Force, which was hurriedly set up after the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) scheduled a massive strike. Now, the Coalition Government is moving towards the licensing of teachers. Chief Education Officer, Ministry of Education, Marcel Hutson, has said that the move is expected to improve the level of service the educators provide. Hutson noted that licensing teachers is necessary since the system will guarantee greater discipline and management of educators. Consideration is being given to the renewal of licences on a five-year basis, once “certain criteria for professional development, mental and physical assessment are fulfilled.” Meanwhile, a wide cross section of public school teachers are worried that system of ‘licences’ – not properly managed – could work against public servants, given the many reports of political and other forms of discrimination that are publicly reported to have occurred under the APNU+AFC Coalition.

Gov’t silent on ‘corruption label’ in US report persists The 2017 and 2018 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), produced by the United States of America’s (USA) State Department, are markedly different, in that “government corruption” is cited as a major source of money laundering in Volume 2 of the latest report. However, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government remains silent on the issue.

Granger continues to avoid the local press corps Questions on pressing issues can only be put to President David Granger, when he and members of the media corps are at the same event. Granger has failed to continuously engage members of the media corps, despite his promise to do so.

Gov’t response to protest from transport operations is more regulation The establishment of a regulatory body for minibus drivers, boat operators and other forms of public transportation is on the cards, according to Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson. He said, “It’s something that we have decided is needed so that they could regulate fares not only for the minibus drivers but other areas. So, there is a more organised framework for us to do it.” The Minister could not say, definitively, if the supervisory body would come under purview of either the Public Utility Commission (PUC). The move comes after minibus drivers protested government’s inaction to curb the impacts of increasing fuel costs, despite the fact that action had always been taken in the past. The rising cost of providing a service, according to the drivers, necessitate an increase in fares charged to commuters.

orruption has been made an “institutional endeavour” under the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, with a “mad scramble” by government ministers to accumulate “as much as they can” before the 2020 General and Regional Elections. This was the view proffered by Opposition Leader, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo. Despite the criticisms government has remained silent. Notably, the 2017 and 2018 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), produced by the United States of America’s (USA) State Department, are markedly different, in that “government corruption” is cited as a major source of money laundering in Volume 2 of the latest report. THE ‘KICKBACK SCHEMES’ INCLUDE: 1. Work permits being sold for as much as US$1,000; and Guyanese documents being sold for as much as US$6,000. 2. Gun licences being sold at exorbitant costs, $1.2M for shotgun licences and $600,000 for 6MM pistols. Licenses for security companies are going for millions more. 3. Ministers are involved in a rental scam, where properties are rented at inflated prices and part of which goes back to the minister in question. 4. The establishment of front companies, with government officials using names of friends or family members to set up companies, which then benefit from massive government contracts – all in breach of Guyana’s procurement laws. 5. Prime gold mining lands being given to parties linked to government ministers, who guarantee APNU+AFC officials a return on the operations. 6. Dozens of cases settled out of court, for a price, with no disclosure on why there was a decision to settle. 7. Misuse of taxpayers’ monies, with massive properties being constructed for Government ministers. 8. The loss of billions in revenue because of Government supported fuel smuggling rackets. In April 2018, several individuals were implicated in massive fuel smuggling, but managed to get off with a fine of $36M, which was paid to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). The boat was released and no charged were filed, whereas usual procedure would have seen a different course of action being taken. Following reports that authorities, on April 19, 2018, took control of a vessel – the Jubilee – because it was suspected to have been involved in fuel smuggling, documents linking the vessel’s operations to prominent local figures were released. Company documents for entity, SBF International Inc., names Attorney-at-Law, Roysdale Forde, Anand Sanasie and Dorwain Bess as Directors. Another document, a leaked agreement, names SBF International as the company that engaged the services of Sia Regulus, which owns the Jubilee. That agreement was signed by Forde in May 24, 2016 and one, Captain Alexander Kilmanskiy.

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 JULY, 2018

Bar Association to SARA: ‘The judiciary does not do the bidding’ of the gov’t

tatements by Deputy Director of the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA), Aubrey Heath-Re-

temyer, could be construed as a “threat to the individual members of Judiciary who refuse orders sought by

SARA” and the Guyana Bar Association was no holds barred in rapping him for those comments.

“The Judiciary does not exist to do the bidding of the Executive. The rights of Guyanese citizens and

the application of the rule of law take precedence over the granting of remedies in a speedy manner to the liking of the Executive,” the Bar Association said. BELOW IS THE FULL STATEMENT: The Kaieteur News edition of July 22, 2018 published an article titled ‘Judiciary needs urgent training to understand the seriousness of SOCU’s work – SARA Director’ and therein attributed certain statements to Mr. Aubrey Heath-Retemyer, Deputy Director of the State Assets Recovery Agency (“SARA”) which the Bar Council of the Bar Association of Guyana condemns. In particular, the article indicates that SARA is paying close attention to the manner in which the Special Organised Crime Unit (“SOCU”) is being treated by the Judiciary. This statement can be construed as a threat to the individual members of Judiciary who refuse orders sought by SARA, which is most alarming and of grave concern. Mr. Heath-Retemyer is also said to express the desire that Guyana were more like Brazil or Argentina where he says, “the legal people are more inclined to see justice prevail rather than apply the law”. This can also be taken as an attempt to direct the working and functioning of the Judiciary. These comments were obviously made in ignorance of the contents of Article 122.A(1) of the Constitution which provides that: “All courts and persons presiding over the courts shall exercise their functions independently of the control and direction of any other person or authority; and shall be free and independent from political, executive and any other form of direction and control.” As the Deputy Director of an important agency of the Executive, Mr. Heath-Retemyer is obliged to avoid any action, including the making of public comments, which can be taken as an attempt to direct the working and functioning of the Judiciary.

Mr. Heath-Retemyer, it is reported, also indicated that the Judiciary needs training (presumably by the Executive) to ensure that the work of SARA and SOCU gets done. In Guyana, as Mr. Heath-Retemyer should be aware, justice is done when the Judiciary applies principles of law to evidence proved in Court. Since the Judiciary does not exist to do the bidding of the Executive, the rights of Guyanese citizens and the application of the rule of law take precedence over the granting of remedies in a speedy manner to the liking of the Executive. Any insinuation that the Judiciary is somehow lacking in knowledge is unjustified, without merit and could dangerously shake the confidence of the public in the ability of the Judiciary. Guyana is a democracy where the law is applied by an independent and impartial Judiciary whose function includes restraining unlawful excesses by the Executive, including Mr. Heath-Retemyer and SARA/ SOCU. If that agency is not satisfied with the legal requirements in discharge of its functions, then the Bar Association assures the public that the fault does not lie with the Judiciary and/or its training. There is no place for comments like those made by Mr. Heath-Retemyer as reported. His comments should equally be condemned by the Government for not being its view of the Judiciary and by the citizens of Guyana as being an unjustified attack by an agent of the Executive on the independence of the Judiciary and in violation of the principle of separation of powers. Since the Judiciary cannot defend itself and is unlikely to comment on the issue, Mr. Heath-Retemyer should immediately issue an unconditional retraction, apology and refrain from making any similar statement in future. The Bar Council has every confidence in the ability of the Judiciary and will at all times stand guard and rebuff such attacks.

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 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

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 26)

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 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 25)

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.

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 JULY, 2018

Bus driver allegedly rapes Attempted home invasion turns deadly lone female passenger A

young woman was allegedly raped on Monday night (July 23, 2018), while making her way home as a passenger in a Route #42 (Georgetown to Timehri) mini-bus. In a public comment on the issue, the victim said: “I got off from work at 10pm, I caught a bus to go home, the driver picked me up from Providence along with two other girls…the two girls stopped off at the Diamond car park, I was the only one left in the bus before he drove off from the car park. I told him I’m coming off at Tank Street and he (the driver) said ok.” “…when I looked up back he was going with full speed and the music got louder after he passed my stop. I called and called and called for him, he ignored for five times, then he slowed down turned down the music and asked if I’m sure I said Tank Street, that he said he heard Friendship, then he turned and said that I

Woman held at knife-point by bandits

Four of the five men killed

ive men were fatally shot on Tuesday (July 24, 2018) morning during gunfights with the police. The ranks from the Guyana Police Force confronted them after a report that they were attempting to break and enter a Turkeyen house. Dead are Timothy St Hill, 38; Levi Braithwaite, 31, of 2177 Layou Street, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown; Andrew Daly, 40, of Westminster Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara; Ian Forde; and Jermaine Doobay. The confrontation between the men and police

unfolded around 03:00hours and lasted for several minutes at one of the two houses situated in the gated compound at Lots 8-9 Turkeyen. Acting Commissioner of Police, David Ramnarine, at a news conference, confirmed that three of the dead man had criminal records and had been charged in the past. St Hill was charged in 2015 with possession of firearm and ammunition without licences; in 2016, with possession of narcotics; in 2017, with attempted robbery and break and enter and larceny and setting fire to

the Grove/Diamond Police Station, where he had been in custody. Braithwaite was arrested in 2017 for armed robbery. Daly was arrested for break and enter and larceny Additionally, a number of items belonging to the slain men were recovered by police at the crime scene. They included an AK-47 assault rifle, with two magazines that were taped together, two other rifles, three cell phones, a pair of gloves, a pair of nippers, two crowbars, a hacksaw, a pair of slippers, a toque, two rifles and a quantity of ammunition.

More contraband turns up in New Amsterdam prison P

rison officials, on Tuesday (July 24, 2018) between 16:45hrs and 18:12 hours, conducted a search at the New Amsterdam prison. During the search several contraband articles were found, including: six cellu-

need to get a Timehri bus to go back, so I was like why do I need a Timehri bus? “…at the bypass at New Hope was where he turned in and turned off the engine and he started climbing backwards towards me asking if I’m sure I said Tank Street. I said yes but he still kept coming, so I screamed and asked what he was doing? He didn’t answer, he kept coming and when he reached to me I was about to scream again when he raised his fist as a warning to hit me and he told me to take off my clothes, so I did and then he raped me. “…I didn’t get the licence plate all I got was inside the bus, the windshield had ‘Money Train’ I don’t need anyone’s pity, I just want people to acknowledge that there’s a psycho out there and females need to be careful.” It is unclear if police investigations are underway.

lar phones, 146 Ziploc bags of narcotics amounting to 292 grams, 12 phone chargers, five cigarettes, eight improvised weapons, three SIM cards, and seven lighters. This is the latest such incident.

andits on Wednesday (July 25, 2018) made off with items valuing $320,000 from the 51-year-old owner of a Wash Bay at lot 38 Public Road, Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara (EBD) in a daring daylight robbery. Debbie Atwell, owner of Presidential Touch Wash Bay, was sitting on a chair on the eastern side at about 11:15 hours, using her phone when she felt someone pulled her gold necklace that she was wearing at the

time. The woman told police that she looked up and saw a man with a gun standing in front of her while three others, armed with knives, surrounded her. They relieved her of the gold necklace valued at $150,000; two gold rings valued $70,000 and one gold band valued $ 100,000. The men escaped on foot. Investigations are ongoing.

Felix continues to dodge Parliamentary Committee to answer about ‘human trafficking’ concerns M

inister of Citizenship, Winston Felix, cancelled his attendance at Wednesday’s (July 25, 2018) meeting of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Foreign Relations, raising questions about Government’s approach to the work of the committee. Felix had given assurances, publicly, to attend the meeting to discuss pressing issues. Topping the list of issues is the situation surrounding the thousands of Haitians and Cubans, for whom there are no departure record – leading to concerns that these persons, who were recorded as having entered Guyana, may have been trafficked through Guyana, with the support of the Coalition Government. Earlier this month, Chairperson of the Committee and Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, had said that Felix, was summoned to appear, again, before the Committee on July 4, 2018, to discuss the issue – more particularly to discuss the risk of human trafficking. However, that meeting and another subsequent one that was scheduled were cancelled. Teixeira noted that the excuse from the Government side is that their members are unavailable for a meeting on the dates that were set. When the Committee last met, less than satisfactory, according to the PPP/C members on that Committee, were recorded during that meeting. After Wednesday’s cancella-

tion, Teixeira said, “We agreed to this date and then suddenly yesterday we understood that he cancelled…I was surprised that this is the second or third time that Government members have said they are not available to attend the meeting…we have been trying for a long time to get some Ministers to come before the committee to answer questions. “What is it? They don’t want to deal with in the Committee? He went public on the matter already so why won’t he come and more worrying is why the government’s side not available? “…apart from the Minister, we have also tried to get an agency to attend. I have complained to the Government Chief Whip (Amna Ally) and Minister of State Joseph Harmon about the lack of responses from Ministers….this is an odd development.” “…Mr. Felix has made two statements in the press that he can explain and answer these concerns so I can’t understand why it appears that he is reluctant to come before the committee to not only answer the questions we have given him, but also to answer other issues that will come up based on his

presentation and since he says he can explain all of this, why is this taking place?” “…it is not just Felix but no government person is available either. This Committee should be very important but it seems no one thinks so. The Committee on Natural Resources has their meetings and they get full cooperation with us seeing even Exxon going before them, their Minister is always going to them and yet here we are. Foreign Service … has critical issues to discuss about this country and I don’t know what to say.” After the issue first came up, Minister Felix, on May 23, 2018, wrote to the Clerk of the National

Assembly and provided statistics of several main groups of foreign nationals, with the largest arrival and departure figures, for the past five years and the first quarter of 2018. A breakdown of the information showed alarming information for two groups – Cubans and Haitians. According to the numbers, from 2015 to April 30, 2018, a total of 93,374 Cubans arrived in Guyana, but only 76,663 were recorded to have left. This means that there are 16,711 Cubans still in Guyana. However, there is no evidence that such a large number of Cubans are still in Guyana. For Haitians, the numbers show that, from 2015 to April 30, 2018,

a total of 6,245 arrived in Guyana, but only 963 were recorded to have left. This means that there are 5,282 Haitians still in Guyana. As is the case with the Cubans, there is no evidence that there are over 5,000 Haitians living in Guyana. Notably, while the Coalition Government has remained silent on this issues, several top government officials are said to be involved in the trafficking of Haitians and Cubans – using Guyana as a transshipment point. Reports are that the persons who are trafficked through Guyana have to pay as much as US$6,000 for Guyanese documents, which are used as they are moved out of the country.

Nomination Day Clive Thomas, set for September Retemeyer occupying SARA offices 21, 2018 illegally - Nandlall

n advertisement by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) declared Nomination Day for the LGE as September 21, 2018. And symbols for contestants in the November 12, 2018 Local Government Elections (LGE) have to be submitted to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) by August 29, 2018. The date for the submission of symbols will mean that governing coalition partners APNU and the AFC will have to finally decide whether they are going separately or together to the LGE. The GECOM ad said that all political parties, voluntary groups and individuals have to submit a symbol for approval by

T GECOM. It warned that any list of candidates submitted by any political party, voluntary group or individual candidate on Nomination Day without the pre-approved symbol will be deemed defective. Meanwhile, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, has disclosed that the party’s LGE 2018 campaign has already been kicked off.

he Director of the State Asset Recovery Agency (SARA), Professor Clive Thomas and SARA’s Deputy Director, Aubrey Heath-Retemyer are holding their respective posts illegally, according to Opposition Parliamentarian and former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall. Nandlall, “The SARA Act provides very clearly that the Director and Deputy Director of the agency shall be appointed through a parliamentary process. Since that Act came into force last

year, that that process was never activated.” According to him, a transition provision in the Act allowed the Director, who operated in the agency before the Act came into force, to continue to act in that office – but only for a limited period. He said, “Neither was appointed by the National Assembly process mandated by the Act. Therefore, Mr. Retemeyer and Dr. Thomas are unlawfully holding offices and receiving public monies as remuneration. Why is this

crime and unlawful conduct not being investigated by the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU)? But of course, that will not happen.” Meanwhile, 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 – meaning SARA did not legally exist until May 4, 2018.

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