Weekend Mirror 18-19 August 2018

18-19 August , 2018 / Vol. 10 No. 35 / Price: $100

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

Following damning PPC report…

SOCU called on take action against Patterson over breach of Guyana’s financial laws

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he Special Organised Crimes Unit (SOCU) has been called on to take action against Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson, following the findings of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), relative to the selection and award of a contract for the completion of a Feasibility Study and design for the New Demerara River Crossing/Bridge.

Opposition Leader, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, last week, had promised that SOCU will be engaged.

A letter has since been sent to SOCU by Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, on behalf of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C). The letter, dated August 15, 2018, seen by the Mirror newspaper said: “Due to the seriousness of their findings

and the gross violations of the Procurement Act, with particular reference to the role of the Minister of Public Infrastructure in violating the Procurement Act and the most recent Code of Conduct as outlined in the Integrity Commission, Act, I hereby call on the SOCU to take action as required under the law.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Local Gov’t Elections campaign launched in Region 10

SEE INSIDE

Granger offers another excuse about crime plan touted as the ‘plan to end all crime’ PAGE 27

APNU+AFC gov’t revises downward the projected growth for PAGE 21 2018 Bulkan’s failure to gazette PAGE 9 boundaries of new, changed local authority areas persists

Miners Association to Granger: ‘We will not take it anymore’ PAGE 8

APNU+AFC gov’t still silent on ‘government corruption’ highlighted in US report PAGE 23

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 AUGUST, 2018

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

Guyanese continue to witness broken promises and deception by the APNU+AFC Coalition

BY DHARAMKUMAR SEERAJ

(GUEST CONTRIBUTOR)

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he Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) currently owes rice millers in excess of US$6M (G$1.2 Billion) for rice supplied to Panama .Most of this amount outstanding is from contract 22 which dates back to August 2016.

Some payments were made since the initial amount owed was close to US$12 M but what is suspicious and strange is that payments are being made on contract 25 which is a much later contract and this indicates possible favouritism by the management and the board of directors in making these payments.

This year long indebtedness is causing untold misery and hardship to the millers and farmers affected .Millers cannot pay farmers nor service and upgrade their facilities and farmers are unable to service their crops properly and make payments on loans due .

The financial situation is so dreary that some farmers are unable to pay premium due on their life insurance policy among other commitments.

This is certainly not the good life that was promised.

In 2014 the Guyana Rice Industry exported 501,208 mt of rice at an average price of US$497 and despite the many promises of high volume lucrative markets the situation deteriorated to such an extent that in 2017 the average export price fell to US$372 per mt for the 539,000 mt of rice exported . The difference is US$125 per mt and using 2014 export figures one can see that the industry loss of US$62.6 M or G$13,146,000,000 because of the reduce price .

In a matter of three years the APNU+AFC government caused our farmers to lose G$13.1 billion by their inability to secure proper markets.

This is the same party that promise farmers $6000 per bag of paddy, 20% increase in wages for sugar workers ,jobs for the young ,double pension etc .all broken promises once power was secured .The reality is that the APNU+AFC government is actually reducing the gains in the agriculture sector and gradually reducing and removing concessions whilst increasing taxes and fees in many different

areas .

The production of paddy and rice was zero rated for VAT under the PPP/C government but the APNU/ AFC at the beginning of 2016 placed paddy and rice on VAT exemption list .This means that all VAT paid during the production process cannot now be reclaimed as was possible before.

In Region 5, the drain-

age and irrigation charges and land rent have been increased from $3500 per acre to $15,000 per acre at a time when services have been severely curtailed and even non-existent in some areas. Access dams are now impassable and acreage cultivated for the second crop is below 60% of target .In Region 4 at the Hope Estate farmers/tenants are being forced to pay $15,000

per acre ,a steep increase from the previous charge of $5,000.

The VAT free concessions on inputs, fertilizer, machinery and equipment for the sector was removed by this regime thus sending prices steeply higher for our farmers resulting in increased financial hardship for our farming population .Many more loans are going bad and bankruptcies are on the increase as well as the rate of suicide in rural areas yet the government seems not to care. The sugar sector appears to have been targeted by the regime for especially harsh discriminatory treatment and one is left to wonder why.

In 2015 the mantra of the APNU/AFC was 20% increase in wages for sugar workers then in 2016 it was sugar is too big to fail and by the end of 2016 the dismissal of some 7000 sugar workers started and culminate in the closure of estates . The hardship in many communities simply cannot be told as many proud sugar workers have been reduced to begging to look after their families.

In the meantime the APNU/AFC has no diffi-

culties in appointing nearly 30 ministers and three vice presidents in one of the largest per capita bureaucracy in the world .Ministers were given a hefty salary increase of over 50% in some instances within months of getting into office .Each Minister now has an expanded secretariat with numerous high paying staff yet ordinary workers are being fired and denied small increases .

The extraordinary increase in government administrative spending is forcing the government to implement new taxes and increase numerous existing taxes to meet expenditure .This is of course the opposite of what was promised on the campaign trail by the APNU/AFC. Today all Guyanese are finding out in a hard cruel way the true nature of the APNU/AFC as the economy continues to slide ,imposition of more taxes ,blatant disregard for the rule of law ,corruption ,dismissal of thousands of workers ,jobs continues to be elusive ,farmers suffering losses ,removal of benefits of the elderly as the government gives to themselves.

Jagdeo rubbishes misleading video circulated on social media

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he circulation of a seconds-short video on social media, over the weekend, purporting to be evidence of derogatory comments made

by Amerindian people in Guyana by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, was rubbished as misleading.

He said, “Only warped minds or desperate politicians (and there are many around now) would think that after a lifetime of struggling for greater respect , rights and development for our Amerindian brothers and sister , I would resort to the use of a word that I find personally reprehensible.”

The video purports to show Jagdeo using the work ‘buck people’ to refer to Amerindians at his August 9, 2018 news conference.

However, the full au-

dio, taken in the context, shows that Jagdeo said, “It is an avalanche, it’s not trickles, it’s a deluge – everybody [cut short midsentence], people who believed that they stood for something that was different , have now seen the true nature of the AFC.” The comment was not in reference to any issue specifically dealing with Amerindian people in Guyana.

In a comment on the issue, Jagdeo said, “The audio of two words - everybody (cut short by me) and people – has been taken out of context and is being used to

substantiate this false claim.

“The truth is, in context of my criticism of the AFC for its lack of credibility and betrayal of Guyanese and the consequent loss of political support for that party, I said, ‘It is an avalanche , it’s not trickles , it’s a deluge - everybody ( cut short ) , people who believed that they stood for something that was different , have now seen the true nature of the AFC’. The discussion had absolutely nothing to do with Amerindians.”

Notably, Jagdeo’s comments were made in the presence of the

full press corps. “This statement was made at a press conference with the entire media corps present, including all the Newspapers and not a single person there thought I made a derogatory statement.”

Jagdeo’s two-hour long news conference also featured a lengthy question and answer period, during which the issue never came up. He said, “I would urge people to look at the entire press conference, particularly the beginning where I spoke extensively about the struggles of indigenous peoples.”

Meanwhile, one of the reporters present at the August 9, 2018 news conference has since commented publicly on the issue, to make clear that the video is indeed misleading. The

reporter, attached to Stabroek News, Miranda La Rose, in a social media post: “I am not making excuses for Mr Jagdeo, but I was at that press conference last Thursday, sitting close by.

I was only made aware of what appeared to have been said or what was said, when someone from one of the Indigenous People’s organisations called me and asked if I was there. I played back the recording and while it does sound offensive, I told them that, personally, I do not believe that based on what Mr Jagdeo was saying at the time that he was referring to any specific group of people and that there was any cause for him to single out Indigenous People. I am Indigenous.

(Turn to page 3)

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 AUGUST, 2018

Granger unapologetic about ‘condescending’ comments P

resident David Granger’s comments, at an event held at Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, earlier this month were criticised as a “condescending lecture” by Opposition Leader, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo. He was joined by others in civil society who expressed similar sentiments.

Granger has since said that he stands by the comments he made on the occasion of Emancipation day 2018.“I believe those remarks are very meaningful and the persons who invited me appreciated those remarks,” he said.

Granger had given economic advice to residents, but offered no comment on what support his Government will offer to Guyanese facing hardships.

The President had said, “You must be ashamed if you do not have work. Some people are proud that they don’t have work. They want a raise. They always want a raise. People get a raise today, they expect to come back to come back to want another raise but we’ll have to promote self-employment

in this village and other villages.”

Notably, earlier this month, in responding to Granger’s comments, Jagdeo pointed out that Granger has chided people for not having jobs, but has said nothing about the 30,000 jobs lost in the three years that his government has been in office.

He added that Granger talks about self-employment, but the actions of his government – from the introduction of news taxes and fees to the lack of support for entrepreneurs – does nothing to encourage self-employment, including in the area of agriculture where land rental fees have been increased and taxes has been imposed on agricultural inputs, among other hardship measures.

According to Jagdeo, Granger, who touts his background as that of a historian, should know that post-independence, village economies were devastated when the then Burnham government took actions that saw the public service increase in size, while the private sector and village economies shrunk.

He added that by 1992, the

very public service was “pauperized” with earnings being a meager $3,100 per month. Additionally, interest on loans to start any kind of business was a massive 38 per cent.

Presently, Jagdeo noted that the PPP/C programmes that supporter entrepreneurs have been scrapped

by Granger’s government.

He questioned what has happened to the Women of Worth programme (WOW), what has happened to the collateral free loans for women, what has happened to the promise of better access to education – at a time when fees at the University of Guyana have been increased.

“If you want people to do well, you have to expand support programmes…what we heard from Granger was all rhetoric,” he said.

Jagdeo highlighted too that while Granger chastises Guyanese on the use of their resources, he presides over a government that could win an award for wasteful spending – painting buildings green, etc.

“His comment are duplicitous…it is a double standard,” he said.

Two busted with illegal gun after car chase ends in crash

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car chase involving the police and two men ended along Lyng Street, Charlestown, over the weekend, ended after the vehicle crashed. The two men were busted with an unlicenced gun.

A release from the Guyana Police Force stated that a police mobile patrol was in Charlestown at around 11:30hours, on the day in question, when they observed suspicious movement of motor car,

PWW149.

The vehicle was being driven by a “known character”, with a male seated in the back, according to the Police Force.

“As the patrol approached the vehicle in the vicinity of Russell and Howes Street, the ranks signaled the driver to stop but instead he accelerated and crashed into a post, on Lyng Street, Charlestown…the occupants were ordered to exit the vehicle and during

that process, the driver dropped a firearm which was immediately retrieved and found to be a .38 Smith and Wesson revolver with a live round in its chamber,” the police said.

The two men have been identified as a 38-year-old from West Ruimveldt and a 20-year-old unemployed resident of Campbellville Housing Scheme.

In addition to the duo being arrested, the vehicle was impounded.

Jagdeo rubbishes misleading video...

(From page 2)

In his (Jagdeo’s) introduction he had spoken about Indigenous Peoples, that day being International Indigenous People’s Day. He said nothing derogatory.

He then talked about AFC officials and how people

in general would perceive them for their lack of performance in office. Looking back on it, I dare say, I find the whole episode rather funny, with the joke being on Mr Jagdeo himself for trying to use one word (ev-

erybody) and transitioning midway to another word (people), as he said. Personally, I would have been very upset if I felt he had been referring directly to Indigenous Peoples in a very derogatory way.”

He concluded that Granger’s comments were not based

on fact and reiterated that such condescending comments

should not have been made by a sitting President.

SOCU called on take action against Patterson...

(From page 1)

“I also ask you to note that Dr. Sittlington, Advisor to the SOCU., in response to issues August 15, 2018. raised at an Anti-Corruption Seminar for Members of Parliament in July 2018, stated Dear Sir, that any evidence of corruption by Ministers, public officials, etc., should be sent to the n September 18, 2017, I wrote the Public Unit.”

Procurement Commission (PPC) with The PPC completed its investigation and regards to ‘Violation of the Procurement Act handed its report over on August 7, 2018, to and Regulations with regard to the selection Teixeira, who has written to the PPC on the and award of contract for the Consultancy for matter in 2017. the Feasibility Study and Designs for the New The report noted that several companies Demerara River Crossing/Bridge’. I have bid for the project – to do the feasibility study attached a copy of this correspondence as well and design for the new Demerara River bridge as follow up correspondence dated June 17, – and 12 companies were shortlisted. The re- 2018 on the same matter. port added that only two of the 12 companies In a letter dated August 2, 2018 the Public made proposals. As such the bidding process Procurement Commission sent me the Report was annulled. It added that on November 12, of their ‘Investigation into the Procurement 2016, the National Procurement and Tender of Consultancy Services for the Feasibility Administration Board “Due to the seriousness of their findings and the (NPTAB) approved the gross violations of the Procurement Act, with parmove for the ticular reference to the role of the Minister of Pubproject to be lic Infrastructure in violating the Procurement Act re-tendered.

The project and the most recent Code of Conduct as outlined in was not re-tenthe Integrity Commission, Act, I hereby call on the dered. Instead a Dutch ComSOCU to take action as required under the law.” pany, Liven– Letter to SOCU seCSO, was engaged by Patterson’s Ministry.

Study and Design for the New Demerara HarThe report, on page 7, noted that the bid bour Bridge’, with the findings, conclusions from LivenseCSO was “unsolicited” and and recommendation. I have also attached a added that Patterson then took the company’s copy of their correspondence and the Report. proposal to Cabinet for approval. Cabinet Due to the seriousness of their findings granted its approval for the company to be and the gross violations of the Procurement engaged.

Act, with particular reference to the role of The report, on page 7, stated that monies the Minister of Public Infrastructure in violatto be spent on the project were taken from ing the Procurement Act and the most recent the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation Code of Conduct as outlined in the Integrity (Asphalt Plant Accounts). General Manager Commission, Act, I hereby call on the S.O. of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation, C.U. to take action as required under the law. according to the PPC report, disclosed that the I also ask you to note that Dr. Sittlington, Board of the Corporation was not involved in Advisor to the S.O.C.U., in response to issues the decision to spend its monies. The report raised at an Anti-Corruption Seminar for said, “He (Mr. Adams) stated that he had not Members of Parliament in July 2018, stated signed the contract on behalf of the DHBC, that any evidence of corruption by Ministers, but only because he was requested to do so by public officials, etc., should be sent to the the Minister of Public Infrastructure.

Unit.

The Parliamentary Opposition’s position I have therefore taken his advice, and, is that the findings of the report evidence a I, hereby, submit the Report and corresponflagrant breach of Guyana’s financial rule. dence on this issue for a comprehensive investigation by the S.O.C.U with a view to instituting criminal charges against the MinBELOW IS THE FULL LETTER SENT ister of Public Infrastructure, Minister David TO SOCU: Patterson, M.P. Mr. Sydney James, Lieutenant Colonel (retired) and Assistant Commissioner of Sincerely yours, Police, Gail Teixeira, M.P., Head, the Serious Organized Crime Unit Parliamentary Opposition Chief Whip (S.O.C.U.), Office of the Leader of the Opposition, S.O.C.U. Headquarters, 304 Church Street, Camp Street, Queenstown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Georgetown.

O

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 AUGUST, 2018

Guest

EDITORIAL

APNU+AFC Coalition gov’t advancing a deliberate policy to undermine rights of Amerindians in Guyana

By Alister Charlie

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his year, Guyanese have been witness to one of the more egregious acts advanced by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government – the undermining of rights of Guyana’s first peoples. Earlier this year, a Government Order was quietly issued, declaring changes to the status of several titled Amerindian Villages.

Public exposure of this action was met with objections and criticisms of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government. However, despite this, as well as the fact that the Order constituted a blatant breach of Guyana’s laws – as included in the Amerindian Act 2006 – the APNU+AFC Coalition maintains their position.

One of those villages was the Aranaputa Village of North Rupununi in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo), which was declared a Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC). Aranaputa village is a small community of Amerindians who survive on a daily basis by fishing, hunting and subsistence farming. The move made by minister Bulkan declaring their community an NDC is deemed as gross disrespect to the many Amerindians who make up the village population. Another titled Amerindian village that was dubbed an NDC was Annai, also in Region 9. These are only a few of the infractions committed by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government.

No community consultation was conducted, in keeping with the International Policy of ‘FREE PRIOR AND INFORMED CONSENT’, which is also enshrined in the Amerindian Act of 2006. Moreover, in the few instances where small groups were engaged, their views were not taken into account.

It is pellucid that the actions advanced to date represent a clear indication of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government’s deliberate wickedness and targeted policy to control the Amerindian communities, particularly communities that support the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). It is also a deliberate move to undermine Amerindians’ land rights and their own governance system as enshrined in the Amerindian Act of 2006.

From the inception of its term in office, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government has failed Guyana’s First Peoples.

The APNU+AFC Coalition Government also continues to ignore the fact that its actions threaten Amerindians’ rights to lands. There is no statutory provision for Amerindian Titled Communities to be incorporated into Local Democratic Organs, such as Municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils. Every titled Amerindian community holds a place in the tier of governance, separate and distinct in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

In 2015, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government promised the Amerindian community that a ‘Hinterland and Indigenous Peoples Lands Commission’ would be constituted.

Instead the Coalition has reneged on this promise, as has done on almost all pre-election promises.

Amerindians are adamant that we, myself included, will not be railroaded into accepting any dictatorial move diminish lands rights, or any of the other rights that are enshrined in the Amerindian act of 2006 and enshrined in the International Charters.

This APNU+AFC Coalition Government projects itself as honourable and caring administration, which is committed to promoting cohesion and equality in this country.

However, reality evidences how far from the truth such a projection is.

If Jordan is serious about ‘tempering expectations’ about oil and gas, he should talk to his colleague Ministers Dear Editor,

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lmost every minister in the APNU-AFC Coalition Government has been talking about how oil and gas will benefit Guyanese people. This kind of talk is continuing, although some of what has been talked about is nowhere need fact.

This is why I find the statement from Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, very surprising. The Kaieteur News report, on August 10, 2018, said that the Minister said, “I think

we should work at tempering expectations.”

Where was this recognition when Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, said that an onshore supply base will be erected at Crab Island, in the Berbice River, by the end of 2017 and will create 600 jobs? It is not August 2018 and nothing has happened.

Where was this recognition when Minister David Patterson talked about a natural gas project that will create 200 jobs, when the ExxonMobil itself said that there is no completed feasibility

study on natural gas?

Where was this recognition when Minister David Patterson told people on the Essequibo Coast that they will get free cooking gas?

These are only a few of the things that people have been told to expect.

If Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, is serious about “tempering expectations” maybe he should start by taking to his colleagues.

Regards, Baldeo Mathura

The WPA has exposed itself as being conveniently opportunistic Dear Editor,

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t would seem that the Working People’s Alliance [WPA] has just woken up. For three years, with all the scandals, including the move by the Coalition Government – that it is a part of – to hide the US$18 million signing bonus, the WPA has been silent.

Now it claims that it was never “consulted or briefed on the negotiations and other official deliberations” on oil and gas.

This all seems very convenient because we are months out from the Local Government Elections and it would seem that the promise of “advocacy” from the WPA is intended to influence some voters. You can see this convenience being exposed because while the WPA has said that it endorses the call by Professor Clive Thomas for petroleum money to be given directly to households, the WPA also admits that their positions are not about “economic correctness”. How can economic correctness not be a factor?

Worse than being convenient are the

other comments that have been made by the WPA. First, the WPA said that “the primary function of any State regardless of ideological orientation is to look after the welfare of its people.” But the WPA has not held its partners in the Coalition Government accountable in this regard.

All of the increases in taxes and the move to impose measures that hurt people’s welfare, as well as the Coalition Government’s general incompetence especially in the health sector that hurt peoples welfare have already happened.

In all of this the WPA has said nothing.

Second, the WPA has said that the Coalition Government must “not to make final policy and governance arrangements” without inputs from stakeholders. But the WPA has said nothing when the Government ignored the advice of its own Petroleum Advisor, who is no longer employed.

Third, the WPA has said that “we must never underestimate the developmental challenges associated with managing the petro economy.” But the WPA has said nothing about the fact

that we are two years away from “First Oil” and still there is no management framework in place. The WPA has said nothing about “development challenges” when the list of local companies engaged by ExxonMobil demonstrated the need for a strong local content framework.

Fourth, the WPA said that “the Government take is estimated at 50 to 60%.” But the WPA, in quoting a big percentage, has said nothing about the millions in pre-contract costs that have been claimed by ExxonMobil and it has said nothing about what will happen when oil prices drop and has said nothing about what the Coalition agreed are costs that ExxonMobil could claim as cost oil. So the WPA can say that Government take is 50% - 60%, but 50% - 60% of what?

Editor, like all the WPA has done is expose itself as being conveniently opportunistic and unwilling to face reality, as I pointed out in the four points above.

Yours faithfully, Attiya Baksh

Guyanese cannot allow Raphael Trotman to fuel false hopes T he Alliance For Change has joined the debate of the proposal by Clive Thomas for $1 million to be given to Guyanese households from the oil revenues. The Alliance For Change Leader, Raphael Trotman, in an August 10, 2018 Guyana Chronicle report said, “It is possible I don’t think we should reject it outright.” The Alliance For Change Leader has even said that he will make representation to Cabinet on the matter.

Editor, this position of the Alliance For Change and its Leader can only be seen as opportunistic and more so since we are months away from the

2018 Local Government Elections and the Alliance For Change has said that it will be going to those elections alone.

I say this for two reasons.

One, where is Guyana getting the money to pay for cash transfers? It is Raphael Trotman’s APNU/AFC Coalition Government that has already said the money will be used for several different things already – for investment, for the Sovereign Wealth Fund, for a Natural Resource Fund and to put into a Stability Fund for when oil prices go low.

Two, it is Raphael Trotman who let Guyana down in the renegotiations with

ExxonMobil. All of Guyana already knows that in the end ExxonMobil got the better end of the deal. If Raphael Trotman did not lead such bad negotiations we might have had money for cash transfers to Guyanese households.

But all of this is being ignored. Guyanese cannot allow Raphael Trotman to fuel more false hopes. After all, almost a year later, people in Berbice are still on the 600 jobs from the US$500 million investment in an onshore supply at Crab Island.

Sincerely, Zeniah Talbot

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 AUGUST, 2018

There is no equivalency between the PPP/C and the APNU+AFC Dear Editor,

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t is time all of us stop using weasel words and stop trying to put lipstick on this pig. Let us call it what it is. APNU+AFC is guilty of massive corruption in the Ministry of Public Health, sole-sourcing for medicines worth billions.

Such sole-sourcing not only breaches the laws of Guyana, they place a heavy burden on Guyanese taxpayers because the cost of goods procured are heavily increased. For example, one contract cost 67% more than what Guyana paid for those same medicines just a few months before. There are too many examples to mention here - sole-sourcing medicine contract for $605M, sole-sourcing med-

icine contract for $368M, sole-sourcing rental contract for a house on Sussex Street to be used for a medical warehouse for more than $350M so far are just some of the more spectacular examples. Just these three contracts amount to more than $1.25B in just over three years through procurement malpractices.

I commend the media for making an effort to highlight the spate of corrupt transactions at the Ministry of Public Health. I was disappointed, however, that Kaieteur News's sought to soften the criticism by creating a false equivalency. They chose to preface their criticism of APNU+AFC by insisting that sole-sourcing of medicines was widely practiced by the PPP/C. It was as

if Kaieteur News had to find a way to excuse bad, corrupt behavior of APNU+AFC. Is it that Kaieteur News, like many others in Guyana, is afraid to point out the deficiencies and wrongs of APNU+AFC, unless they can buffer the wrongs by painting a picture that the PPP was even more guilty?

In this particular instance, the allegation that the PPP was guilty of sole-sourcing is false. The PPP did not sign any large contract with any local company or any private sector company through sole-sourcing.

The Ministry of Health prior to May 2015 did solesourced certain items from PAHO and the UNFPA. For example, vaccines were procured from a prepaid fund located at PAHO. Similarly,

Don’t leave teachers hanging Dear Editor,

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he word of Corretta McDonald, the General Secretary of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) – in November 2015, she updated the nation to the fact that the agreement arrived at with the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government will be coming to an end in December 2015 and there is a need for a new agreement with the People’s National Congress (PNC)led Granger Government.

Since then, she and the GTU leadership have failed to secure a new agreement from the Granger Administration.

There is a perception that the leadership of the GTU is dominated by PNC supporters and followers.

By extension, this translates to the school of thought that these negotiations since November 2015 between the leadership of the GTU and this PNC-led Granger Government amounts to the PNC-led Government negotiating with itself. Is this why after three years, the GTU leadership has failed to secure a collective bargaining agreement and resolve the de-bunching issue?

The last time the GTU did any serious industrial action in defence of the teachers’ cause was in April 2015 under the previous PPP Government and I welcome there belated call for industrial action in the pre-September 2018 school term; something must give – teachers cannot live on hot air. Not once over the last three years under this PNC-led Government, has the GTU leveraged industrial action as a tool to take the teachers any closer to the “good life” although it has been treated much worst in the three years after May 2015 compared to the three years before May 2015.

When one reflects on the actions of the GTU leadership today, it exposes how these actions have played a major role in the destruction of the economic well-being of teachers, just like they did in the late 1970s when the then Burnham Government stifled the voice of teachers too.

Since April 6, 2018, the Cabinet of Guyana was given the report from the High-Level Task Force that was set up by the Government to charter a course

on the teachers’ wages and benefits issues. It has been four months and President Granger continues to give lip service to the burning issues affecting teachers. Yet this same President and his Government can easily find GY$1 billion and more to travel around the world on mostly international jaunts.

That same billion can increase every teacher’s salary

by GY$7900 per month.

Guyana’s future is intertwined with the quality of our teaching profession. Is the leadership of the GTU under some sort of political injunction to serve the PNC more than it should serve the teachers of Guyana? The time is now for the GTU to act and these calls for industrial actions from the ordinary teachers must be supported as the Christmas term (September to December) approaches. It is time for the GTU leadership to decide who is more important, those 12 or so political masters at Congress Place or the 9000 teachers in the official system. Corretta McDonald must act!

Regards, Sasenarine Singh

the Ministry sole-sourced certain reproductive control products, such as contraceptives and condoms through UNFPA. Kaieteur News alleged that the PPP sole-sourced large amounts of medicines from the New GPC, a company owned by Dr. Bobby Ramroop. This is absolutely false and Kaieteur News knows that it is promoting a falsehood. The former President, Donald Ramotar, responding to the Kaieteur News editorial, pointed out that the contracts the New GPC was awarded under the PPP government was not a sole-sourced contract.

Those contracts were awarded through a pre-qualification model of tendering for medicines.

Around 2000, the WHO, in collaboration with the World Bank and other international bodies, had been tackling the problem of medicine procurement at the global level. They had gathered experts in supply chain for the health sector from across the world. The WHO published a model for medicine procurement and recommended a system of pre-qualification as the most effective model for procurement. Under my leadership and with concurrence of the cabinet, we adopted a modified WHO model. The WHO model required that suppliers should have assets (more than $US25M) that

would enable them to procure large amounts of medicines. The model required that the supplier should have access to a local warehouse with adequate space that is temperature-controlled.

The model also required proof that the supplier had arrangements with manufacturers of medicines that were pre-approved by the WHO or the USFDA or the European authorities.

If we had used the WHO model without any amendment, no local supplier would have qualified. Certain requirements, for example, the amount of assets that a company owns (more than $US25M) and the availability of a warehouse that meets certain requirements (size and temperature controlled) would have been beyond the capacity of any local company. We, therefore, significantly reduced these requirements, hoping that local companies would have been able to meet them. We reduced local assets to $US1M and reduced the size of the warehouse to about 25,000 square foot. Companies had to meet these reduced requirements or provided evidence that they would meet these requirements in order to be pre-qualified.

Some companies that tendered for pre-qualification had no warehouse and some had warehouses that did not meet basic requirements for storing medicines and

vaccines. One prominent company used a home for a warehouse and its temperature controlled method was to maintain ten refrigerators.

The insistence that the PPP sole-sourced medicines is false. Its sustained repetition demonstrates an intent to mislead. I, therefore, have an obligation to respond and correct this falsehood - the PPP did not sole-sourced any large medicine contract. All the contracts between 2001 and 2015 were through the mechanism of a pre-qualification tendering system. One could argue, as Kaieteur News once did, that the pre-qualification system the PPP used had requirements that were too rigid.

APNU+AFC could have then reduced the requirements and allow more companies to become qualified.

But they chose to abandon a system that worked well, throwing the baby out with the bathwater. It is important we tell the story as it is. The PPP used a pre-qualification tendering system to procure medicines.

APNU+AFC uses a solesourced method to procure billions of dollars of medicines and medical supplies from their friends and donors. Trying to establish a false equivalency between these systems is like putting lipstick on the pig.

Sincerely, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

WPA should not try to make fools of Guyanese people Dear Editor,

I

have read the statement from Dr David Hinds on behalf of the Working People’s Alliance and I saw its call for all civic organizations to begin discussions on the prospects of the coming oil and gas and the call for the APNUAFC Coalition Government to not make final policy and governance arrangements without inputs from these discussions.

I find it very strange that this call would come from the Working People’s Alliance so late, especially since civil society people, like Christopher Ram, have been speaking consistently about oil and gas issues, but have been ignored. Even on the Al Jazeera programme on Guyana’s oil and gas sector,

Christopher Ram pointed out that the APNUAFC Coalition Government is unwilling to accept contributions from civil society.

I have also read what seems to be a defense of the APNUAFC Coalition Government’s failure to ensure that the necessary legal framework for the oil and gas sector is in place. The Working People’s Alliance said, “This rapid development is partly responsible for the lag in setting up the institutional and legal framework.” I find it very strange that such a weak excuse would from the Working People’s Alliance.

Is this all they could manage, three years after the APNUAFC Coalition Government said it started working on a legal framework? Is the Working People’s Alliance

trying to excuse the incompetence of the APNUAFC Coalition Government?

I read too that the Working People’s Alliance said that the developmental challenges associated with managing the petro economy should not be underestimated. This again, I find very strange, since the Working People’s Alliance, until now, has ignored all the calls for the same thing and has not supported civil society voices who have called for a change.

The Working People’s Alliance should not try to make fools of Guyanese people with the strange calls that have been made with even stranger timing.

Regards, Arnold Sanasie

6

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 AUGUST, 2018

AFC is an untrustworthy political party for most Guyanese Dear Editor,

T

he Alliance For Change has said that it will be contesting the Local Government polls alone.

I wish to make four simple points: One, the Alliance For Change insists that it remains committed to the APNU+AFC Coalition, but it is unable to secure a position that demonstrates a commitment by both the APNU and

AFC to coalition politics. Is the Alliance for Change just out to fool Guyanese again?

From where I sit, the Alliance For Change seems to be falling apart and unable to secure its position in the Coalition.

So how can Guyanese trust the Alliance For Change at the Local Government polls?

Second, with my first point being the likely state of affairs, the Alliance For Change, isn’t the position it has taken a deceitful one?

Guyanese have not forgotten that the PNC is the major partner in the APNU+AFC Coalition and Guyanese have surely not forgotten what happened to the TUF after it and the PNC joined up for the sole purpose of taking government.

Third, if other Guyanese like me conclude that this is so, what we are seeing is just another manifestation of an unscrupulous Alliance For Change. A party, which in

the last three years, seems more interested in defending the perks and privileges that its ministers get, as opposed to defending the interest of the Guyanese people.

Finally, until and unless the Alliance For Change finds a way to demonstrate otherwise, it will remain a political party that for most Guyanese is untrustworthy.

Yours faithfully, A. Baksh

Volda Lawrence must resign

S

everal weeks ago, the Ministry of Public Health was exposed for awarding a sole-sourced $368M contract to HDM Labs for the supply of medicines.

The Ministry had pre-selected a number of companies that have consistently supplied the ministry with medicines for more than a couple of decades, including ones that have supplied medicines worth billions since 2015. Yet, the ministry spuriously rejected all these companies as not qualifying to supply medicines on this occasion. It used that clearly bogus excuse to then award the contract to HDM Labs. This is an outfit that has little to no experience in supplying medicines to the public health sector of Guyana. If the other companies, including Ansa McCal which widely supplies medicines across CARICOM and the International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA) which has supplied medicines in Guyana for more than two decades are not qualified, then there is no way that HDM Labs can qualify. The evidence is clear - this was a clear violation of the laws and there is ample evidence that the contract was based on fulfilling a political favor.

When there are legitimate questions pertaining to any procurement in government, particularly when it involves hundreds of millions of dollars and clear breaches of the procurement laws of Guyana, there is an obligation on the part of subject ministers in Parliament to provide answers.

This is not optional, but an obligation and a non-negotiable responsibility of ministers. This past week, the Minister of Public Health refused to answer questions in Parliament pertaining to the questionable transaction worth $368M and described above. The Minister's refusal to answer parliamentary queries had nothing to do with any procedural deficiency in the way the questions were asked.

The questions were laid in absolute concurrence with the standing orders and rules of parliament and, in fact, was laid more than 21 days before her refusal to

answer the questions.

In refusing to answer questions posed to her in parliament, the Minister is guilty of dereliction of duty, she is guilty of contempt of parliament and contempt for the people of Guyana. The Minister's excuse was that her staff was too busy to provide her with an explanation and, therefore, she could not comply with her responsibility. Ms. Lawrence abrogated her responsibility on the flimsy excuse that her staff was too busy to provide her with simple explanation.

For fair-minded people, this was clearly the minister weaseling out of providing answers in accordance with her mandate. There are a number of problems with this completely unacceptable excuse to meet her responsibility and to carry out her mandate.

First, once the story broke several weeks ago, did the Minister not think she needed to look into this matter? Or was it that she felt it was no problem? Did Cabinet not ask for an explanation? Was the President comfortable with this very obvious breach of the laws of Guyana?

Was it not important that anyone, the minister, the president, the prime minister, the finance minister, the minister of the presidency, the cabinet would have queried this egregious breach of the procurement laws? Maybe it is a case that no one needed to ask questions because this was a deliberate breach.

Second, if we are to believe the minister that her staff was too busy to provide her with answers, will the minister accept this dereliction of duty by her staff that led to her own dereliction of duty to the people of Guyana? Can the Minister tell us why her staff was so busy that they could not provide her with an explanation? Third, I recall that when this story first was exposed by myself and the media, the Minister and her permanent secretary provided a poorly spirited defense of the contract, insisting it was a genuine emergency. Yet here she was in parliament professing that she was unaware of the facts and her staff was too busy to perform their function.

This is insulting and contemptuous.

President Granger is missing in action, as usual. He has not addressed this and any other of the spectacular breaches of the procurement laws that have seen billions of dollars being expended in an unaccountable manner. SOCU continues to pretend it has not seen or heard anything.

Hopefully, the Public Procurement Commission will act in accordance with its constitutional mandate and meet its obligation to the Guyanese people by immediately investigating this transaction. Several weeks ago when I broke the story of how the Ministry of Public Health awarded this sole-sourced $368M contract to HDM Labs, a contractor with little to no experience in procuring and supplying medicines, I asked that the Public Procurement Commission and SOCU immediately investigate this matter. Evidence points to a deliberate violation of the procurement laws of Guyana and misconduct in office at both the ministerial and permanent secretary levels.

Outside of the Public Procurement Commission having a constitutional responsibility to investigate this matter, given SOCU's obsession with spuriously charging ministers of the previous administration with misconduct in office on the most flimsy and outrageous excuses, we expect these clearly egregious violation will attract their attention. SOCU's failure to act on these present-day violations represent clear proof that it exists only to harass and intimidate political opponents of this government.

In any case, the Minister's clumsy excuse for not fulfilling her constitutional and parliamentary mandate, her excuse that she is unable to answer questions on a matter involving inappropriate and illegal use of $368M, an amount paid out to an outfit that has no experience for the purpose it was paid and an outfit owned by a political donor, is contempt for the parliament and for the people of Guyana. It is reason enough for people to expect her resignation.

Sincerely, L. Ramsammy

The saying ‘Post mortem can’t bring back the dead’ applies to the AFC

Dear Editor,

T

he Alliance for Change recently announced that they would be going to the Local Government Elections 2018 alone, without A Partnership for National Unity, to prove that they are not dead. There is an old saying, “Post mortem can’t bring back the dead”, this is actually referring to the Alliance for Change trying aggressively to resurrect from an already dead political party.

The Opposition Leader and General Secretary of the PPP, Cde Bharrat Jagdeo, has shared his experiences, where AFC members publicly confessed that their principles was sold by the leadership of the AFC for a few leaders to enjoy the “good life”.

At a meeting in Fyrish, Corentyne, at which Cde Bharrat Jagdeo was present, a longstanding member of the AFC said he was offered a portion of the road shoulders contract in Region Six in return for him remaining in the AFC, but he refused to be part of the corrupt coalition Government. He also said all the membership of the AFC realise their mistakes and have recommitted their support for the PPP. Coalitions are traditionally very strained and unstable relationships. The most detrimental facts about coalitions is that they have to sell out the party’s principles to ensure leaders such

as Nagamootoo, Ramjattan, Patterson, Trotman et al enjoy the good life; and as such, the main reasons why the AFC is dead or highly unpopular with voters and supporters is that they cannot take a stand against the coalition leader, President David Granger, because of the danger of being ditched.

Many coalition governments have failed. Switzerland is the only exception in Europe, with a permanent coalition Government by means of its seven-member Federal Council elected for a fixed four-year term by Federal Assembly on a party proportional basis.

Many European democracies can be measured by the average life span of governments. According to an estimated score, Germany has been 37 months, Italy 13 months, Belgium 22 months, and the Netherlands 27 months. Guyana also was part of a failed coalition Government, and now history is repeating itself.

Politicians use the coalition name to safeguard their vested political interests, which means that the APNU/AFC coalition Government has failed to deliver on almost all its promises to the Guyanese people, but ensure that the leadership enjoys maximum benefits.

AFC is dead. Guyanese should ensure that they have a proper funeral.

Regards, Zamal Hussain

STRAIGHT TALK 7

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 AUGUST, 2018

(This speech was first made public on June 17, 1973. Its re-printing is among several activities being undertaken during 2018 to mark the 100th birth anniversary – March 22, 2018 – of the founder of the People’s Progressive Party, Dr Cheddi Jagan.)

PPP's foundation for progress destroyed by PNC

BY CHEDDI JAGAN

S

oon it will be time for another important decision - which party to vote for. Fortunately, you are now in a better position to judge; you have had experience of 7 years of the PPP in office and 8 ½ years of the PNC in power.

I have deliberately used the words; "the PPP in office" and "the PNC in power" to make one point clear - when we were in the government, Guyana was not independent; we had very limited powers.

Not so with the PNC. Yet we scored many successes, some of which are today taken for granted - independence, republic, nationalization, recognition of socialist states, and so on.

Yes, we pioneered them. And we had to fight every inch of the way as well as suffer to achieve them.

In the economic field, we blazed a revolutionary trail. We severed some of the shackles with which sugardom bound our nation and stultified our development.

The PPP removed the brakes on agriculture; we released the land, long "bottled up," and we embarked on a comprehensive scheme of drainage and irrigation.

Because of these and other measures too numerous to mention, our agricultural policy proved successful; it wasn't just propaganda as we have nowadays. The farmers were happy - they got many benefits, good prices and were meaningfully involved.

And the workers and consumers too were satisfied they were able to get a good supply of inexpensive foods.

But our concern was for industry as well as agriculture. So we set up the Industrial Development Corporation and Industrial Estate at Ruimveldt. We nationalized the Demerara Electric Company and began the programme of rural electri-

fication.

The river front land at Garden of Eden, now used by the Guyana Defence Force for farming, had been cleared for glass and cement factories.

Unfortunately, these and other factories from socialist countries including a Cuban-financed $32 million hydro-electric scheme at Malali, were blocked by the British government.

But despite that, the foundations for a post-independence industrial future were laid. We got the United Nations to carry out several vital surveys.

In the monetary field we established the Bank of Guyana and were the first government in a British colony to impose restriction on sterling.

We had a proud pro-labour record. The now famous "Kaldor" budget of 1962 had as its aim the redistribution of income; we wanted the shifting of the tax burden from the poor to those who could afford to pay.

The PPP government pioneered free medical care and established a network of health centres; we began a country-wide programme of immunization and the environmental sanitation scheme. We extended pure water supplies.

In the sugar estates the logies were tumbled down; they are now only a memory.

In Georgetown, we started cheap subsidized housing for the working people, with a minimum rental of $5 and the maximum of $17 per month, something the PNC government has not yet done despite all its propaganda about housing.

Towards the development of a national people's culture, we set up the University of Guyana, derogatorily dubbed "Jagan's night school" by the PNC; instituted a national History and Culture Week; established a national steel

band; gave annual prizes for literature and art, and initiated dress reform - the shirt jac.

And we brought down the symbol of foreign domination, the Georgetown Golf Club. Its lease was terminated for a people's national park.

And in our draft independence Constitution. we inserted a Fundamental Rights section, including the right to vote at age 18.

Yes, ours was a new vision and a new approach.

We made far-reaching innovations. We truly laid the foundations for change and for a free society.

That was the foundation which the PNC inherited.

And what has it achieved with its unlimited power and all the advantages it had?

You have been told of the hundreds of millions of dollars spent, about a high growth rate, and so no. But what has it all really meant for the "small man"? For him, success is measured in terms of jobs, standard of living, peace of mind and security - security in old age and security at home and in

the streets.

For the large majority of Guyanese housewives, life has become a nightmare.

If it is not high prices, it is shortages. Also anywhere I go, it's always the same cry: "Doc, things bad."

A few weeks ago, a former PNC activist stopped me at the north-western gate of Bourda Market, opened her shopping bag and cried out: "look what $5 buy; wha you guine do about it?"

And the unemployment situation worsens daily. It's commonplace to find an advertisement for one job bringing out no less than 300 to 500 applicants for interviews.

And the results of the daily frustrations of living are plain for all to see - a growing crime rate, a bigger prison population, more mental cases and suicides, more émigrés.

Thousands, seeing no hope in the future, want to get out as fast as they can.

The queues for passports and visas to emigrate are never ending; they get longer and longer.

Of course, we are asked

to have faith in the future.

The new PNC Development Plan, you are told, will solve all your future headaches; by 1976, you would be fed, clothed and housed.

To those of you who have been seduced into believing this propaganda, I say: "remember 1967." Then you were told that under a PNC government, there would be free milk and cassava; that not a soul would go to bed hungry. Remember how the last $300 million D-Plan was to have put us on the "New Road" and the "Highway to Happiness. " The new plan will fare no better; it will land us in a deeper hell than we are now in; things will definitely get worse - the inevitable result of the course charted by the PNC. Don't let the big figures mesmerize you. Spending huge sums of money alone does not make for real progress. Far more important is the economic planning strategy and what is given priority and emphasis. This means a sound philosophy, correct policies and a revolutionary, anti-imperialist programme.

We have always said that the root cause of our ills was foreign ownership and domination. Unfortunately, political independence and republican status with the PNC in power have not materially altered the situation from colonial days .

The PPP believes in scientific socialism, not the PNC's illusory cooperative socialism.

We say: nationalize the commanding heights of the economy; we are against playing the so-called "partnership" game with imperialism.

We say: put emphasis on industry and agriculture and not on infrastructure. And to achieve this we advocate foreign policy based on the closest cooperation with the socialist world.

Our land reform policy

will place the land in the hands of the tillers.

And we will deal ruthlessly with corruption and discrimination.

We believe in the fullest development of our human resources and the meaningful involvement of the workers, farmers and intellectuals.

We give you these broad outlines of your programme because it has been charged that we are irresponsible and have nothing to offer.

They also say that we are planning violence, that we want to disrupt the peace. I am sure you are not fooled by these falsehoods. You know very well who, to serve personal ends, started the violence in the 1960s.

Recall the terrorist plan, X-13, and the large quantities of detonators found buried in a certain yard. Remember Peter Owen, former Commissioner of Police, describing in 1964 the PNC as "an organized thuggery which is centrally directed."

In fact, you also know that it is the sense of responsibility of the PPP leadership which has preserved the peace responsibility in the face of gross discrimination against, and provocation of, our supporters, the pulling down of their homes, constant police harassments, arrests and raids as well as the unleashing against workers of terror, tear gas and police dogs.

With the PPP, you know where we stand; we are consistently behind you.

Ever since the mid1940s, we fought relentlessly against terror and intimidation to win for you the right to vote. Don't let the professionally-trained riggers deprive you of this sacred right. Turn out as never before. On Monday, July 16, record a massive vote of no-confidence against our common enemy, the PNC, and send them reeling out of office. Vote solidly for your party, the PPP.

8

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 AUGUST, 2018

Patterson continues to lie to Guyanese people - Edghill T

he Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, continues to lie about the clear and flagrant violations surrounding the procurement of services for the feasibility study and design for the new Demerara River bridge – even after the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) has completed its investigation into the contract. This is according to Opposition Parliamentarian, Juan Edghill.

Notably, the PPC completed its investigation into the procurement of services for the feasibility study and design for the new Demerara River bridge, last week. The call for an investigation was made by Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, who, on behalf of the Parliamentary Opposition, wrote to the Commission. The PPC handed its report over on Tuesday (August 7, 2018) to Teixeira.

Patterson has since attempted a response to the findings of the PPC report and Edghill, noting his comments, described the Minister as delusional.

“In this case, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure silence would have been greeted with some level of acceptance. It would have caused Guyanese to think that they are remorseful

about this flagrant violation of our laws. However, their statement, which is rather clumsy, attacking the Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, speaks to the lack of decency that exists at the level

3. The Minister lied about the source of funding, claiming it was a grant from the IDB. However, at all along he knew differently. It was on his instruction that finds were allocated from the De-

report said, “He (Mr. Adams) stated that he had not signed the contract on behalf of the DHBC, but only because he was requested to do so by the Minister of Public Infrastructure.

“The Ministry of Public Infrastructure silence would have been greeted with some level of acceptance. It would have caused Guyanese to think that they are remorseful about this flagrant violation of our laws. However, their statement, which is rather clumsy, attacking the Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, speaks to the lack of decency that exists at the level of this Coalition Government…. the Minister continues to lie and ignores the report.” – PPP/C Parliamentarian, Juan Edghill of this Coalition Government,” he said stated.

The Opposition Parliamentarian further stated that “nothing that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure has said says can change the following facts: 1. The contract is a corrupt transaction; 2. It was an unsolicited proposal, which is tantamount to an under hand deal. The report, on page 7, noted that the bid from LivenseCSO was “unsolicited” and added that Patterson then took the company’s proposal to Cabinet for approval.

Cabinet granted its approval for the company to be engaged.

merara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC); 4. It was with instructions from the Minister that the General Manager of the DHBC, Rawlston Adams, without the approval of the Board of Directors, that he signed the contract. The report, on page 7, stated that monies to be spent on the project were taken from the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (Asphalt Plant Accounts). General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation, according to the PPC report, disclosed that the Board of the Corporation was not involved in the decision to spend its monies. The

5. Cabinet approved $161M; however, the contract was only $148M. This begs the questions why did the Minister requested an additional $13M? Where is this balance?

6. Minister Patterson for over a year, continued to lie and deceive the nation as it relates to the truth about this contract.

Edghill said, “Even after the PPP wrote to the PPC and a report was produced, the Minister continues to lie and ignores the report.”

The report noted that several companies bid for the project – to do the

feasibility study and design for the new Demerara River bridge – and 12 companies were shortlisted.

The report added that only two of the 12 companies made proposals. As such the bidding process was annulled. It added that on November 12, 2016, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) approved the move for the project to be re-tendered. The project was not re-tendered.

Instead a Dutch Company, LivenseCSO, was engaged

by Patterson’s Ministry.

TIMELINE: 1. January 4, 2016: According to the Guyanese and foreign media, twenty-two (22) companies responded to a public advertisement and submitted Expressions of Interest for a Consultancy for the Feasibility Study and Designs of a new Demerara River Crossing.

2. January 4, 2016: The Public Infrastructure Ministry Chief Works Officer, Geoffrey Vaughn, disclosed that the Ministry had already evaluated the tenders and handed over the list to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) for processing.

3. April 26, 2016: As of this date, 12 companies were shortlisted, but only two submitted proposals.

4. November 24th and 26th, 2016: Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, announced that LievenseCSO, a Dutch company, had been selected by the National Tender and Procurement Administration Board to do the Feasibility Study for the new Demerara River Crossing.

LievenseCSO was not among the 12 companies that were shortlisted or the first list of 22 companies that bid. It never bid for the project.

5. January 2017: Geoffrey Vaughn had said LievenseCSO been awarded the GYD$146.3 million (US$706,091) contract to conduct the six-month feasibility study 6. March 15th, 2017: The media reported that LievenseCSO had completed the first stage of the feasibility study which it had commenced on January 15, 2017 and this was presented to the Minister.

7. Mid-August 2017: Feasibility study is completed.

Miners Association to Granger: ‘We will not take it anymore’ O n the heels of the killing of a miner at Puruni, allegedly by a policeman, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miner’s Association (GGDMA) condemned the incident and also put the APNU+AFC Coalition Government on blast for its failures.

The Association, among other things, severely criticised President David Granger for his continued refusal meet with the largest private sector employer in the country.

BELOW IS THE FULL GGDMA STATEMENT: Corruption, confusion

and now extra judicial killings in the mining sector by the Government of Guyana The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miner’s Association (GGDMA) condemns in the strongest possible way the extra-judicial killing, by the Guyana Police Force, of a miner in the Puruni Area. This is the latest in a series of contemptuous actions being meted out by the Government of Guyana against the mining industry, starting even at the highest level.

The GGDMA calls for an immediate investigation into the execution of

a miner who was working legally on a legal claim. The GGDMA calls on President Granger to establish a commission of inquiry into the ongoing neglect, corruption, shakedown and extortion and now murder of miners at the hands of the security forces and appointed government officers.

The GGDMA notes the current level of impunity in which brutality and neglect is allowed to be meted out to members of the mining industry. The ongoing neglect of the backbone of the Guyanese economy has not gone unnoticed. When the

Minister of Finance takes to the media to bemoan and lament the dismal performance of the Guyanese economy, he must address the outstanding issues under his portfolio that are negatively impacting the industry and then look squarely in the face of his colleagues who, for the last four years, have mismanaged and neglected the industry which carried Guyana on its back.

No one in the Government is doing anything to help miners, they are just applying pressure. We are demanding our respect.

There seems to be no

one in charge of the mining sector and the government is yet to articulate its policy on continued mining in Guyana. There is an increasing level of bullyism taking place and public officers are clearly operating outside the law without consequence.

The most recent murder of a miner and the recent detention of a dredge sailing in the Demerara River (not dredging) by an unauthorised regional authority officer demonstrates clearly to all miners that Government does not care about Miners or their families. Death, corruption and frustration are

now the pillars on which the current government seems to be moulding the industry.

For more than three years now no major mining roads have been constructed and many of existing ones have been allowed to disintegrate to a state of impenetrability. Mining is surely on the down turn and the blame for this lies squarely at the feet of the current government. More than three years later, the President of Guyana is still refusing to meet with the largest private sector employer in Guyana. We will not take it anymore.

9

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 AUGUST, 2018

GECOM’s legal officer’s opinion APNU+AFC Coalition buckles under pressure from finds Bulkan in the wrong Amerindian communities T – Mahdia named as a town

W

hile the Order naming Mahdia as a township has not been posted online, as is normally done with publications of the Official Gazette, Communities Minister, Ronald Bulkan, has announced that Mahdia has been named as Guyana’s 10th town.

Mahdia will now be the Capital town of Region 8(Potaro/Siparuni). Plans have been advanced for the construction of a government compound that will

house a number of government agencies such as the Guyana Revenue Authority, Guyana Lands and Survey Commission, Guyana Water Inc. and other agencies.

One major controversy that plagued the naming of Mahdia as a township was the APNU+AFC Coalition government’s plans to include two titled Amerindian Villages – Campbelltown and Micobie – in its boundaries. This move was rejected by the Amerindian com-

munities and government has buckled under pressure.

However, in other regions, titled Amerindian communities have been named as Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), including Annai, in Region 9, in breach of the Amerindian Act of 2006.

Government, despite strong criticisms, has not reversed these moves.

Meanwhile, it is unclear what new costs residents in the Mahdia township will have to pay, relative to rates and taxes and other expenses.

APNU+AFC gov’t still silent on ‘government corruption’ highlighted in US report

T

he 2018 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), produced by the United States of America’s (USA) State Department, cites “government corruption” as a major source of money laundering – marking the first time in contemporary history that this has happened.

However, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government continues to remain silent on this matter. Not one government minister or official has addressed this matter.

Commenting on the report, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo, stressed that the Government has been curiously silent on the US State Department’s report.

Jagdeo added too that many of the personalities and groups that took such re-

ports as “gospel” during the PPP/C tenure in office, but have now, also, gone silent.

“Where is Goolsarran?” he questioned, noting that former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran, was outspoken about what he believed was corruption under the former PPP/C government.

Goolsarran had been one of the persons hired by the Coalition government to conduct forensic audits, which were supposed to prove corruption. A massive $133M of taxpayers’ money was spent on about 45 audits.

The Coalition government has been criticised for the manner in which the audits were commissioned, since many supporters of APNU+AFC were given contracts – including Goolsarran. Goolsarran received four contracts totaling over $6M, with the largest contract sum being $2.3M. Another

$8M was paid to Christopher Ram’s company, Ram and McRae, for the audit of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). In total Ram’s company was tasked with eight contracts totaling over $37M. How much remaining five audits cost – a total of 50 having been cited by government as intended pursuits – remains unknown.

According to Jagdeo, the US officials “clearly saw something” that made it necessary for the words “government corruption” to be included in the 2018 report.

The Opposition Leader made clear that given the numerous breaches of financial laws, the Procurement Act, etc. – and the many underhand dealings that have been exposed, the APNU+AFC Coalition government is one of “the most corrupt” Guyana has seen.

Reported cases of rape continues to increase

B

y the end of June 2018, there was a nine per cent increase in the reported cases of rape in Guyana. And at the end of July 2018, another increase has been recorded – a three per cent increase, according to statistics released by the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

In June 2018, there were 140 cases record-

ed, while by the end of July 2018 that number went up to 153.

No other information, as per protocols, was disclosed.

Civil society reps have made calls for more to be done to address the scourge of rape.

he move by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, through its Communities Minister, Ronald Bulkan, to infringe on Amerindian land rights continues to be an issue for debate.

And the Mirror newspaper has been reliably informed that the opinion of the Legal Officer attached to the Guyana Elections

Commission (GECOM) finds Bulkan in the wrong, particularly since changes to Local Authority Areas falls under the remit of the Commission.

What Bulkan has done is annex titled Amerindian villages, which have their own system of governance, and included them into the statutory local government governance structure. Cases

of these have been noted in Regions 2 and 9.

Additionally, these changes have been advanced without meaningful consultations with those affected.

Notably, some of the Amerindian groups have been criticisied for not responding sufficiently to the gravity of the actions advanced by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government.

Bulkan’s failure to gazette boundaries of new, changed local authority areas persists

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ore than a month after the Communities Minister, Ronald Bulkan, signed off on 10 new Local Authority Areas (LAAs) changes to existing LAAs, he is still to make public the boundaries of those areas.

The 10 new areas are: 1. Mahdia, which has been identified as that town for Region Eight 2. Moruka/Phoenix Park NDC 3. Kitty/Providence NDC 4. Nile/Cozier NDC 5. Lamaha/Yarrowkabra NDC 6. Hauraruni/Yarrowkabra NDC 7. Plegt Anker/Kortberaad NDC 8. Wyburg/Caracas NDC 9. Aranaputa/Upper Burro Burro NDC 10. Annai NDC Additionally, a review of the existing Local Authorities that have been tampered with, show that in total 16 constituencies have been removed from 14 Local Authorities Areas.

The number of seats has been reduced in: 1. Evergreen/ Paradise 2. Aberdeen/Zorge-en-vlygt 3. Malgre Tout/Meerzo-

ergen 4. La Grange/Nismes 5. Toevlugt/Patentia 6. Caledonia/Good Success 7. Woodlands/Farm 8. Mahaicony/Abary 9. Zeelust/Rosignol 10. Blairmont/Gelberland 11. Ordnance Fortlands/ No. 38 12. Adventure/Bushlot 13. No. 52-74 Village.

The 14th area that has been tampered with is the Municipality of Rose Hall, where the PPP/C won the proportional representation vote by one seat in 2016.

Here the number of constituencies has been increased from seven to eight.

All of this was done without consultation.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has not denied that it is the Commission’s constitutional responsibility to make the changes that Bulkan advanced and demarcate new boundaries.

Critics have said that if the APNU+AFC Coalition Government intended to act lawfully, the changes that were made – the creation of new LAAs and the changes to the existing LAAs –

would have been done long in advance of the upcoming Local Government Elections, which is set for November 12, 2018.

The Parliamentary Opposition has charged that the changes advanced may be a ploy by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government to improve its results at the upcoming Local Government Elections.

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.

GECOM issues warning about ‘fake callers’ asking voters for personal information T he Guyana Elections Commission has urged citizens to exercise caution when answering telephone calls requesting personal information under the pretense of GECOM. According to the Commission, several persons

have contacted the Commission to query the nature of the exercise after receiving anonymous telephone calls requesting personal information. “Please be advised that the Commission is not engaged in any such exercise,” GECOM has said.

GECOM, as such, has called on citizens to be extremely cautious and not to provide any information to the callers who are pretending to be from the Commission as their motive is “unknown and can be potentially harmful.”

10

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 AUGUST, 2018

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

Guyana Under Review

Several issues were addressed a weekly news conference held by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, on Thursday (August 16, 2018), ranging the treatment of teachers by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government to the current crime situation and the plight of sugar workers, among others.

Gov’t cannot decide when ExxonMobil’s claim for pre-contract costs still being questioned it will follow the law, severance must be fully G paid to sugar workers W ith four months before the end of the year, Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, has questioned the delay of the APNU+AFC Coalition Government in complying with Guyana’s laws and paying the remaining sums of severance monies owed to sugar workers.

At a news conference on Thursday (August 16, 2018), he said, “The sugar workers are still waiting on severance. We are not sure

where we are with the final payments…the payment of severance is not at the discretion of government, this is the law of our country.”

The terminated sugar workers were dismissed on December 29, 2017, without severance being paid “on termination” as required by the law.

The Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act stipulates that workers who are made redundant must be made severance

upon termination. “On termination of his employment, an employee whose severance or redundancy has completed one year or more years of continuous employment with allowance, an employer shall be entitled to be paid by such employee a severance or redundancy allowance equivalent to,” the law states.

With all but three sugar estates closed, an estimated 7,000+ sugar workers have been fired.

Debates have to consider whether Guyana can afford cash transfers to households

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he debate about cash transfers from oil revenues to local households, which was touted by APNU+AFC affiliated personality, Clive Thomas, has unfortunately shifted from whether there are enough resources to fund such a proposal to how much should be handed out.

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, during his news conference on Thursday (August 16, 2018), decried the shift in the conversation and warned that Guyanese are being fed false hopes.

He explained that if 200,000 households were to benefit from US$5,000 annually, that totals some US$1B – but Guyana will receive less than that.

Last week, he had said, “We have to keep an open mind but it must be affordable too…what is it when oil prices collapse for long periods like what happened in some countries and people already think they’ll get this

money all the time…what about the years when oil prices sink so low…for long periods like it has happened in some countries and people [because] they think they’ll get this money all the time? “…we have to help them create jobs, we have to help them with education. So why not put the money into paying for scholarships? We take $100M or $50M and we put it to help our kids who do well go to the best universities around the world and upgrade our university to a topnotch university with a global standard by bringing in new lecturers. That sort of thing would help us in the long run.”

He added that he is in support of conditional transfers, but reiterated the need for Government and those close to government to ensure the expectations are not unnecessarily raised.

Asked to elaborate on the Opposition’s utilization of conditional cash transfers while in Government,

Jagdeo referred to a $50M partnership with the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited (GBTI) on the Women of Worth (WOW) programme. This, he said, was an initiative through which single-parent women could receive interest-free loans. “That was a form of transfer. It was not done directly to individuals but it made credit available to single women at zero interest rate. The availability of credit to poor people is critical for them to start businesses and to get out of poverty…in the Apprenticeship Programme and some of the other facilities we started, we said if you want the money, the tiny monthly grant we use to give, you have to show attendance at an educational institution.

So that is why it’s conditional upon achievements of other targets.”

Several personalities from civil society have weighed in on the issue since it was first raised.

etting the APNU+AFC Coalition Government to consider proposals from the Parliamentary Opposition and acting on those is like “pulling teeth,” according to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, who was asked again, on Thursday (August 16, 2018) about the need for an audit of the pre-contract costs claimed

by ExxonMobil.

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

In June 2018, Jagdeo, when pressed on the issue, said, “What surprises me is that ExxonMobil says that we are open to the audit… but it is still not done.” He had stated too that when returned to office the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) will ensure that an

audit of the US$460M costs is done. “It has to be done and we will do it,” he said.

The Opposition Leader added, “…imagine the people said they will do the audit. So, the government should have said is ‘Okay, we will get a firm to do it and at your cost, too. Whatever the figure is we will put that figure in the agreement.’

Very easily that could have been done because they had no push back from the company. But the people said US$460 million and Trotman said ‘Put it in there, put it in’.

“They already made a huge fundamental mistake by putting it in the contract a figure that was not audited.

The company said they are not unwilling to have this done all you have to do is ask our own government…I wish they would do it.”

The Opposition was also pressed on his view on whether the US$460 seems accurate. He had made it clear that he could not make such a determination. “If I say that to you, I will be just like Trotman. You have to submit the invoices. You have to say here is a contract for the rig. The government

of Guyana then says ‘Yes, we can verify that it cost US$30M.’ Then the next questions should be ‘Was this competitively sourced?

Could we have gotten it for US$20M, because the going rate at that time was US$20M?’ Then, was it a company related to the oil company? Because if it was related, the cost could be inflated…these are questions for everything that comes out of every expenditure of the company. At the end of the day, you aggregate and come up with a figure and you say, this is real because we have asked the questions and have gotten the answers,” he added.

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

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

In the meantime, government’s continued failure to verify the US$460M pre-contract costs claimed

by ExxonMobil continues to be questioned.

Taxpayers should not be made to pay for Ministers’ ‘drinking bill’

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he issue of spending by the Parliament office on each sitting of the National Assembly featured in the local press this week. And Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, reiterated his concerns about the increasing sums of money being spent by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government on dietary (food) expenses – expenses paid for

by taxpayers’ dollars.

One of the reports in the local media noted that some $700,000 is spent on dietary expenses for each sitting.

Jagdeo at his news conference on Thursday (August 16, 2018) charged that his problem with the spending at the Parliament office revolves around the massive sums being spent on import-

ed alcohol. According to him, taxpayers should not be paying for the ‘drinking bills’ of government officials.

He added that under the former PPP/C Administration there were never the levels of spending on alcohol – rums, whiskeys, wines and imported beers – as is being seen under the current Government.

11

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 AUGUST, 2018

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

Guyana Under Review

Several issues were addressed a weekly news conference held by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, on Thursday (August 16, 2018), ranging the treatment of teachers by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government to the current crime situation and the plight of sugar workers, among others.

$60B more collected in taxes in just three years T

ax revenues as at June 2018 totaled $195.8B, according to the 2018 MidYear report, higher than what Government had said it was looking to collect.

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, has said that the tax collections are placing increased burdens of the Guyanese people. He noted that tax collections in 2014, under the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government,

were $135M. And the 2018 mid-year numbers show that $60B more is being collected from average Guyanese people.

“In three years they have increased the tax burden by $60B more a year…. it is unconscionable…the massive increases in taxes are hurting our people….this government has tried to say that it has cleaned out the drug money from the economy and that is why there

is a slowdown, but the fact is that they took $60B more out of the economy, that is money from people’s pockets and it is $60B less that people have to spend or to invest and this is why things are slow,” Jagdeo said.

Since taking office, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government has imposed 200+ new taxes and fees and has also increased existing taxes – placing greater hardships on Guyanese.

Patterson’s excuse about breaching financial laws rubbished 2018.The report noted that sev-

I

n the face of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) report on the selection and award of a contract for the completion of a Feasibility Study and design for the New Demerara River Crossing/Bridge, Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson, defended his actions by saying he was facing time constraints.

However, this excuse was rubbished by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, on Thursday (August 16, 2018), during his news conference.

In a statement, Patterson said, “MPI reiterates that lengthy procurement procedures were faithfully followed which did not yield suitable results.”

Jagdeo questioned what “lengthy procurement procedures” Patterson was referring to, since the laws of Guyana are clear on what procedures needs to be followed in the expenditure of taxpayers’ monies.

Patterson also said, “Hav-

ing thereafter received a proposal which satisfied the government’s requirements for this project of national importance and given the relevant time constraints, it was felt that it was in Guyana’s interest to take advantage of the proposal. It is for this and other stated reasons that Cabinet’s approval was sought.”

In response, Jagdeo said, “Who put a time constraint on them…this is an excuse to bypass our laws?”

The Opposition Leader noted that in addition to Patterson’s breaching of Guyana’s financial laws, the Cabinet also became involved in approving a contract – which there is a law against.

“Cabinet cannot approve contracts now, it can only offer a no-objection.”

He added, “In all of this, and still they are trying to say that this was not a corrupt act.”

The PPC completed its investigation and handed its report over on August 7,

eral companies bid for the project – to do the feasibility study and design for the new Demerara River bridge – and 12 companies were shortlisted. The report added that only two of the 12 companies made proposals. As such the bidding process was annulled.

It added that on November 12, 2016, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) approved the move for the project to be re-tendered. The project was not re-tendered. Instead a Dutch Company, LivenseCSO, was engaged by Patterson’s Ministry.

The report, on page 7, noted that the bid from LivenseCSO was “unsolicited” and added that Patterson then took the company’s proposal to Cabinet for approval. Cabinet granted its approval for the company to be engaged.

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

Granger offers another ‘lame excuse’ for delay in appointing Top Cop

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omments from President David Granger about wanting an “un-bribable” person for the position of Po lice Commissioner can be viewed as disparaging of the candidates who have applied for the post. This is according to Opposition

Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, who addressed the issue on Thursday (August 16, 2018), during his weekly news conference.

He noted that when a person is finally chosen for the post, Granger’s comments will still hand on the candidates

who were not successful.

“Whoever he selects, people will feel that the others were bribable,” Jagdeo he said.

Jagdeo rubbished Granger’s comments as another “lame excuse” for the delay in appointing a Police Commissioner.

Nagamootoo, Khan rapped for trying to take credit for rice farmers’ resilience

P

rime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Director of Public Information who reports to him, Imran Khan, were put on blast by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, for taking credit for the resilience of local rice farmers.

Jagdeo, during his Thursday (August 16, 2018) news conference, referred to a publication

by Khan, published in the state-owned Guyana Chronicle, where he touted the progress of the rice sector.

The Opposition Leader noted that the despite the ‘hardship’ policies imposed on the rice sector by the APNU+AFC Coalition government, local rice farmers have still been able to make some progress.

Jagdeo cited the imposition of taxes on agricultural inputs, increase in land rental fees and the removal of $800M in drainage and irrigation support.

Meanwhile, in the 2018 Mid-Year report, it was noted that there was a contraction in the rice sector by 3.8 per cent, with production standing at 329,504 tonnes.

Granger blasted for silence on global commitment I n 2016, President David Granger pledged to allocate two million more hectares of land and waterways for conservation. He noted that the plan to increase conservation areas was made in keeping with the administration’s commitment to the development ‘green economy’, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

During his Thursday (August 16, 2018) news conference, Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, questioned Granger’s move to ensure that this commitment is met.

He referred to the fact that a planner from the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) told the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Foreign Affairs that forestry lands reclaimed would be included in the two million hectares.

However, Jagdeo noted that Granger has been silent on the issue. “We would like to hear from Granger…will he allocate the two million hectares,” he said, adding that technical personnel cannot commented on CALLED OUT When Granger first commented on the issue, he was

been called out by Jagdeo, who contends that a green economy is not the same as conservation, which is what Granger’s has pledged to do – conserve an additional two million hectares of forest.

“How are they going to get that done? It could mean they are going to take back lands from the people who have forest leases, from miners; and even if they don’t, that would be two million hectares more of our land that we can’t bring into productive use,” he said.

He contends that those currently responsible for the natural resources sector are “incompetent” when it comes to dealing with the “dynamics of the sector, given the plans, or lack of, made to fight against climate change.”

Jagdeo underscored the fact that Guyana already has a deforestation rate that is one of the lowest in the world, currently at around 0.065 per cent.

The Opposition Leader noted that with a deforestation rate that low, there really was no need to convert more of the country’s forest which could otherwise be

utilised in an environmentally friendly way to boost production and ultimately generate revenue for the country and its people.

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

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

“Our view of conservation was that you should continue to use these resources in a manner that brings benefits to people but in a low environmentally impact way,” Jagdeo said.

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

Jagdeo expressed the view that at the rate the APNU+AFC Government is going, Guyana’s reputation on the international scene with regard to its climate change efforts would soon be destroyed.

12

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 AUGUST, 2018

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

Guyana Under Review

Several issues were addressed a weekly news conference held by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, on Thursday (August 16, 2018), ranging the treatment of teachers by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government to the current crime situation and the plight of sugar workers, among others.

APNU+AFC gov’t urged to treat teachers’ concerns seriously T

he APNU+AFC Coalition Government must address the concerns of Guyana’s teachers seriously or admit that there will be no benefits that will be given to teachers, according to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.

On Thursday (August 16, 2018), Jagdeo decried the fact that the Government has placed Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry, at the negotiating table, when she is clearly not empowered to make a commitment to the teachers’ Union.

He said, “For too long this issue has been dragged out with teachers hoping that their concerns will be addressed…..if the Minister of Education cannot make commitment to teachers then

T

he Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has recognised, from the 2018 MidYear report, that Guyanese economy expanded by 4.5 per cent during the first half of 2018. The reported growth is the highest in recent times and is more than double the economic expansion recorded in 2017. For us this is a significant turnaround in our economic state-of-affairs which the report said was attributed to broad-based growth.

The FITUG while happy that the economy continues to show positive signs notes that the growth was realized when the sugar, rice and gold sectors contracted; and when our fisherfolk confront a ban on catfish exports to the US; and when shrimp prices have tumbled forcing one major processor out of business; and our forest enterprises have to contend

they have to put in the delegations people who have that authority to commit the government to action. “…it seems as though the government never had an intention to accede to the demands of the Union or negotiate in good faith.”

In December 2015, the Guyana Teachers Union submitted its multi-year proposal to the Ministry of Education.

After almost two years of in-action by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, the Union threatened strike action on October 26, 2017.

President David Granger only met with Union officials after strike action was threatened.

Meanwhile, on October 29, 2017, a high-level task force was established to in-

vestigate and present a report with recommendations on the education sector. On April 6, 2018, the report from that Task Force was handed to the Ministry of Education.

No action has been taken based on the report. Last week, the Union threated strike action. The Government has since moved to re-engage the Union.

Jagdeo warned that the move to re-engage the Union seems to be a “ploy” to stall for more time. He said, “I would urge the government to treat the concerns of teachers as an urgent issue… if you don’t intend to pay, let them know now, don’t drag them through never ending negotiations and have conclusions that are not acted on.”

Sugar estates could still be viable

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nformation available indicates that the Government’s Special Purposes Unit (SPU), tasked with the divestment (sell-off) of GuySuCo assets, is looking at an assessment that shows that some of the closed sugar estates could have been made viable.

This was disclosed by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, on Thursday (August 16, 2018), and he charged that once confirmed, such an assessment would expose the actions of the APNU+AFC

Coalition Government – the closure of the estate and firing of 7,000 sugar workers – as criminal.

He added that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) had called for feasibility studies to be done and for the studies to be the basis for any decision taken in the sugar industry – a call that was ignored.

Jagdeo stated too that the PPP/C believe that the estates are viable and, with transitional support, they can return to productivity.

According to him, if in the medium or long term, a decision is made to scale down the sugar sector, in favour of going the direction of diversification, then the sugar workers can benefit from transitional support, not left stranded and in a quandary about their survival.

He added that decisions on the sector should have seen the government looking at the big picture – the cost of closure versus the cost of subsidies to the estates.

Economic growth needs to be translated to the promised ‘Good Life’ with impassable trails and roads; and one of our two (2) bauxite producers stand to be gravely affected by sanctions on its parent company; and when construction grew by over 13 per cent but yet sand production, a major ingredient, fell by more than 50 per cent. The report confirmed too that our forest products are still exported at the primary stage, something we recall how Government officials had railed against when they were in the Opposition. The economic growth also comes at a time when our balance of payments has significantly deteriorated and foreign reserves are at their lowest point in recent times. The economic expansion comes at a time when tax revenues have increased markedly indicating that the working-people have to contend with higher levels of taxation. The Federation, and we are sure many Guy-

anese, wonder how much of the reported growth is to do with activities related to oil and gas. Though we have not produced, commercially at least, a drop of oil from our country newly-found oil resources, from all appearances, it seems to us that our country has already been caught in the throes of the infamous ‘Dutch Disease’.

We sincerely hope that this is not the case as we have seen several experts warn of the pitfall of going down such a slippery slope.

While we are indeed pleased that the economy continues to grow notwithstanding several challenges and difficulties, the FITUG is most dismayed to conclude that those fruits of growth are not tricking-down to the ordinary people. As we have reiterated, time and again, the Guyanese working-people have seen burden after burden placed on their already

overburdened backs. We noted that the report indicated inflation for the first half of this year was 0.9 per cent.

From our own experiences and interactions with workers, this figure does not seem to match the reality on the ground. The increased prices of fuel, something which the Minister of Finance Winston Jordan said needed an innovative approach but still remains unaddressed, has seen workers having to pay public transportation increases, which we must add as far as we are aware were not approved by the relevant state body, but which our hapless people have no choice but to pay. The increased transportation costs have obviously had a knock-on effect on the cost of other goods as well.

The FITUG was hopeful that the report would have addressed the employment situation but dismayingly it has remained conspicuous-

ly silent. With thousands laid off in the sugar industry alone and many others being shown the door elsewhere, the situation for the working-class does not appear as rosy as we want to paint it. Today, it seems to us that our country has found itself in situation of jobless growth. This we hold is not a good situation and would only serve to exacerbate inequality. History has shown us the consequences of such developments and they have been less than pleasing. Certainly given the reported improvements in the economy, the Government is more than capable now of bringing ease to some of the burdens of our people have had to face. Our working-people will more than welcome such developments especially at this time.

Serious attention must also be given to addressing the bothersome unemployment situation especially when

thousands of our compatriots remain jobless and they and their families are facing difficult and trying times.

The boasting of higher economic growth indeed makes nice bold headlines and catchy sound bites but it hardly means anything if our people cannot enjoy the promised ‘Good Life’ – a life where they enjoy adequate earnings and pensions; a life where they feel safe; a life where they can afford to send their children to school and to provide healthy meals; and a life where they can relax and not be burdened about how they must stretch their earnings. The Government can no longer adopt a lethargic approach but must proactively address the real challenges our people must face on a day-to-day basis.

Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG)

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 AUGUST, 2018

APNU+AFC gov’t inaction this week

13

…a snapshot of headlines making the news

Ramjattan touts bigger budget allocation, but unable to efficiently manage expenditure The government’s focus on security continues to be highlighted with the allocation of $30.7Billion in Budget 2018, according to Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan.

However, even with the passage of Budget 2018 early – in 2017 – as at June 2018, Ramjattan’s Ministry was unable to efficiently manage the bigger budget he touted.

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, himself, admitted that of the $30.7B, less than half of the monies were spent, six months into 2018.

Jordan talks up plan to manage natural resource wealth, silent on criticisms about political control over Resource Fund The passage of the Natural Resource Fund Act will enable the establishment of the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) to efficiently manage the country’s natural resource wealth, according to Finance Minister, Winston Jordan. And he insists that once the NRF is established, the government envisions that this will ensure the prudent management of revenues accrued from natural resources for the benefit of current and future generations.

However, in addition to the political Opposition, civil society personalities have slammed the APNU+AFC Coalition Government for the fact that the Natural Resource Fund will be under political control.

The Green Paper - ‘Managing Future Petroleum Revenues and Establishment of a Fiscal Rule and a Sovereign Wealth Fund’ – presented to the National Assembly by Jordan, says that the Ministry of Finance will be the overall manager of the Natural Resource Fund and its minister will have a key role in composing the macroeconomic committee that would be responsible for determining how those funds are apportioned.

“The Macroeconomic Committee would determine the Economically Sustainable Amount and would consist of the following five members appointed by the Minister of Finance,” the document states.

The APNU+AFC Coalition has not responded to criticisms about its plans in this regard.

APNU+AFC gov’t says ‘Guyana is open for business in all sectors’, still unwilling to reverse ‘hardship’ policies President David Granger, on Monday (August 13, 2018), met with the executive members of the newly formed American Chamber of Commerce of Guyana at State House, where he noted that Guyana is open for business in all sectors including agriculture, mining and eco-tourism. “I am seeing that we can bring more people to the fold. There is so much we can do. There is absolutely nothing in terms of agricultural products that we cannot supply to the Caribbean hospitality sector but we need investment capital… and we need to build a stronger manufacturing sector,” he said.

However, the Granger-led APNU+AFC Coalition Government is still to respond to the calls from local businesses to reverse the many ‘hardship’ policies implemented over the last three years.

Notably, while Granger has talked about agricultural products being supplies to the Caribbean, his government imposed Value Added Tax (VAT) on all agricultural inputs and has withdrawn traditional support, including in the area of drainage and irrigation, from those in the local agricultural sector. Also, while Granger talked about building a “stronger manufacturing sector” in Guyana, he has said nothing about his government’s failure to address the need for cheaper electricity, which is a big issue for local manufacturers.

Heritage month launched even as APNU+AFC gov’t continue to infringe on Amerindians’ rights As the Indigenous peoples of Guyana, along with all Guyanese, get ready to celebrate Indigenous Heritage Month, September 2018, Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs Sydney Allicock has urged that they stay true to their culture. “As we continue to celebrate as Indigenous people, let us not forget who we are and where we come from,” he said.

However, Allicock has remained silent on the many infractions committed by his APNU+AFC Coalition Government, which has been put on blast for infringing on the rights of Amerindians in Guyana – including land rights.

Patterson moving to spend more to study other hydro projects The Ministry of Public Infrastructure will be spending more money to conduct a feasibility study for the construction of hydropower projects at Phillipai and Pariuma in the Upper Mazaruni, Region Seven.

This move comes even as Guyana awaits the ‘secret’ Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) energy mix study. The study relates to the correct “energy matrix and energy mix” for Guyana to meet its hydropower needs for the next 30 years. Without the IDB energy-mix study, Guyanese are uncertain about what informed Patterson’s decision to conduct a feasibility study for the construction of hydropower projects at Phillipai and Pariuma and are uncertain if this is more wasteful spending.

Notably, the move comes too after the findings included in the report from the independent consultants, Norconsult AS, on the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP).

The independent, facts-based assessment of the Amaila Falls Hydropower project in Guyana, which was done by an independent Norway-based engineering and design consultancy firm, found that the project is the only realistic path for Guyana to achieve greater levels of renewable energy. “The fastest way forward is to maintain AFHP as the first major step for substituting its current oil fired generation. AFHP was prioritized as the first hydropower plant because it was the only project with a full feasibility study completed, it has a higher plant load factor than the alternatives, a smaller reservoir and a levelised unit cost in the same range as the most attractive alternatives,” the summary of the 49-page report said.

The Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project was initially expected to deliver a steady source of clean, affordable, reliable renewable energy to meet approximately 90 per cent of Guyana’s domestic energy needs and remove the country’s dependency on fossil fuels. As at 2014, approximately US$70M of this had been deposited by Norway in the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) which is channeling investment into seven LCDS projects. The Norwegian Government also announced that it plans to transfer US$80M to the Inter-American Development Bank, to be used as Guyana's equity contribution to the Amaila Falls Hydro Project.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 AUGUST, 2018

Local Gov’t Elections campa With a few months to go before the November 12, 2018 Local Government Elections, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) continues to roll out its elections campaign across the country, reaching Region 10 this week. After the launch of the campaign, where Party leaders met with regional activists, the PPP General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, led a team in an outreach to several communities including West Watooka, Wismar and Mckenzie.

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 AUGUST, 2018

15

aign launched in Region 10

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 AUGUST, 2018

Youth Parliament participants engage Opposition Leader A meeting was held between Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, and several of the participants of Youth Parliament 2018 on Monday (August 13, 2018), where several issues were discussed. The Youth Parliament 2018 were provided an opportunity to engage the Opposition Leader in frank discussions.

PPP/C leaders engage with Guyanese during cricket matches Scores of Guyanese also had an opportunity to engage with People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary and Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, as well as other party leaders during the recently held CPL cricket matches at the Providence Stadium.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 AUGUST, 2018

Sugar workers stage protest, GAWU questions when anti-workers stance of APNU+AFC Coalition gov’t will end W orkers who were retained at Wales Estate staged a picketing exercise outside of the estate on Wednesday (August 15, 2018) demanding that their rights, as enshrined in law, be respected.

The workers were retained by GuySuCo and were engaged mainly in the seed paddy experiment which the Corporation pursued on the former cane fields.

On (Monday) August 13, 2018, without any warning, the workers were instructed to report to Uitvlugt Estate, some 22 miles away, for work. Subsequently the affected workers approached the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and upon representing the issue the Corporation’s Head Office informed that the seed paddy operations were taken over

by NICIL-SPU. The Union

was further informed that two (2) workers would be retained to maintain the Wales Estate compound and the remainder would be sent to Uitvlugt Estate.

In a statement, GAWU said, “Taking into account GuySuCo’s explanation, pointed out to the Corporation that the workers’ jobs have become redundant and, therefore, payment of severance has arisen. Notwithstanding the coherent

position, the Corporation is adamant that the excess workers must take up work at Uitvlugt, we believe, fully well aware that such action is in complete contravention of the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act. The GAWU sees the GuySuCo’s high-handed action as a wretched attempt to frustrate the workers to leave their jobs after serving the state-owned enterprise for

years and thus to deny them their rightful entitlements.

“The actions by the Corporation, in this case, are not dissimilar from the actions the company took with respect to Wales’ cane cutters and which forced the Union to pursue the matter at the judicial level. That matter, we should add, is currently being heard and despite the unambiguity of the law, the Corporation continues to steadfastly hold

on to its obstinate position.

The GAWU is dismayed that it must, once again, call on the GuySuCo to respect workers’ rights and the protections afforded to them by the laws, agreements, conventions and practices.

“The question uppermost in those affected and concerned workers minds is when this new-found anti-workers stand by the authorities will come to an end?”

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 AUGUST, 2018

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

State of Region 8 bridge poses serious risks to users

Three years later: Amerindians made to wait longer to have firearms returned D

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 has now delayed it again, until the end of July 2018.

The July month-end date, however, only applies to residents of Indigenous 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.

Notably, 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, Government, using its majority in the National Assem-

bly, 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 contends 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.

“The timing of the increase is also something that we have to address,” he said,

noting that state of the rice industry and the circumstances of local rice farmers and stressed that “every dollar counts” in the current situation. Consequently, he called for Government to reduce the increase in the licence fees and not apply the entire amount to renewals.

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 intent with changes to 2006 Amerindian Act still unclear

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he Coalition Government, undeterred by criticisms, is pushing ahead with its plans to make changes to the Amerindian Act. The Parliamentary Opposition has warned the APNU+AFC Coalition against advancing any move that will not bring more benefits to Amerindians in Guyana – changes that will dilute the rights of our Indigenous Amerindian people.

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.”

Meanwhile, moves are underway to advance changes. At the grassroots level, the efforts are being led by a handpicked, government-connected, group.

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 re-

lating 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.

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.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 AUGUST, 2018

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

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

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

TOURISM SUPPORT

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

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

HEALTH

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SOLAR PANEL AND ENERGY ACCESS

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

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

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

GOVERNANCE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LAND OWNERSHIP

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

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

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT/SUPPORT

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

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

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

AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT

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

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

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

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

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 AUGUST, 2018

Enough evidence exists to advance contempt of court proceedings against Basil Williams – Nandlall O

n the 9th day of August 2018, Justice of Appeal Rafiq Khan, in the Court of Appeal, dismissed an application filed by the Attorney General to stay the execution of a decision of Chief Justice George compelling him to bring into force the Judicial Review Act (JRA).

Notably, in his ruling the Justice of Appeal Rafiq Khan stated, “…I disagree with the submission on behalf of the Applicant (AG) that Section (1) of the JRA grants him discretion as to when the JRA should be made operational.”

Further, the Justice of Appeal stated, “…the Applicant is duty bound by Section (1) of the JRA to make it operational and he is accountable to the people of Guyana through their representatives in the Parliament for the implementation of the Act…” In dismissing the Application, Khan also stated, “For the foregoing reasons, I hold that the Applicant has not satisfied me that his appeal has any reasonable prospect

of success, that it would be rendered nugatory and that there is any risk of injustice if I refuse to grant his Application for a stay of execution pending appeal. Accordingly:

Wednesday (August 15, 2018), Nandlall said: “The law of contempt requires the Order of Court which is being enforced by contempt proceedings to be served

2018, have thus far proven futile. Only this afternoon, a Marshall of the High Court attempted to serve him a copy of the Order at his Office at the Attorney General

“The Attorney General is the principal legal advisor to the Government of Guyana. He is also ex oficio, supposedly, the Head of the Guyana Bar. It is unfortunate that a person holding such Offices is demonstrating such gross disrespect for the judiciary and the rule of law, generally.” – Opposition Parliamentarian, Anil Nandlall (a) the summons dated 17th July 2018, is dismissed. (b) The Applicant will pay the Respondent costs in the sum of $150,000.”

However, according to the former Attorney General and Opposition Parliamentarian, Anil Nandlall, warned that if the AG continues to refuse to comply with the Chief Justice’s order, contempt of Court proceedings will be filed against him.

In a statement on

personally on the contemnor. Alternatively, the law requires evidence to be produced to establish to the satisfaction of the Court that the contemnor is avoiding service but knows of the Order of Court.

“All attempts to serve a copy of Chief Justice George’s Order upon Attorney General Basil Williams, compelling him to bring the Judicial Review Act into force by the 31st of July,

Chambers at 95 Carmichael Street, Georgetown but was informed by his Personal Assistant that the Attorney General cannot be served personally, by a Marshall with an Order of Court. Yesterday, a copy of the said Order was served by a Marshall on the Personal Assitant of the Attorney General at the AG Chambers. On Monday, a copy of the said Order was also served on a clerk at the Attorney General’s Cham-

bers, as well.

“The Solicitor General and two other lawyers from the Attorney General’s Office were present in Court when Chief Justice George made her Order. The ruling of Chief George was carried on the front-page of at least three daily newspapers of Guyana, the day after it was made. The Attorney General appealed the ruling of Chief Justice George to the Court of Appeal and then made an application for a stay of execution of that order to the Court of Appeal. That application was dismissed last Thursday.

“It is clear that the Attorney General believes that he is above the law so he is avoiding personal service.

However, the law is not an ass. The arms of the law are very long. I have outlined above sufficient evidence which will establish to any Court that the Attorney General is aware of the Order of Justice George and that he is avoiding personal service of

the same.

“Therefore, I have accumulated enough evidence in relation to service and the contempt of court proceedings will be filed…the Attorney General is the principal legal advisor to the Government of Guyana. He is also ex oficio, supposedly, the Head of the Guyana Bar. It is unfortunate that a person holding such Offices is demonstrating such gross disrespect for the judiciary and the rule of law, generally. It is impossible for one to forget the abuse and disrespect meted out to Justice Franklin Holder in open court not so long ago by the very Attorney General.

“This Administration, from the President to its most Junior Ministers, have repeatedly and callously demonstrated crass disrespect for the laws of this country, our Judges and the legal process and of course the Constitution. It is up to the Judiciary to now play its part.”

Airport modernization plan bungled by Ruling on whether there is a case APNU+AFC Coalition gov’t against Westford, assistant deferred

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agistrate Judy Latchman this week deferred her highly anticipated ruling on the case against former government minister Jennifer Westford and her former assistant, Margaret Cummings, for the alleged theft of over $600 million.

During the hearing, Magistrate Latchman told the two accused that she would be deferring her ruling on whether or not a prima facie case has been made out against them later this month.

Westford and Cummings have denied 24 simple larceny charges which alleged that between August 2011 and April 2015, while being employed in the Public Service of Guyana, they misappropriated $639,420,000.

The lawyers for Westford and Cummings charged that the prosecution has failed miserably to prove that a criminal offence was committed by the women. The arguments stated that: the charges filed against Dr. Westford

are “not legitimately and lawfully” made out; the prosecution has ignored the lawful meaning of Public Officer when they proceeded to try a then Minister under an offence which cannot be established in law; the prosecution’s case is based on circumstantial evidence; and that the prosecution failed to prove that the over $600M in transactions were not legitimate and that the legitimate procedures were not followed.

The next hearing is set for August 24, 2018.

After no-case submission by Nandlall’s attorneys…

Court to rule next month on whether or not SOCU has a case

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agistrate Fabayo Azore is expected to rule next month on whether a prima facie case has been made out against former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall.

On Monday (August 13, 2018) Special Organised Crimes Unit (SOCU) prosecutor Patrice Henry laid over submissions in response to the no-case submission made by the defendant’s attorney, Neil Boston, in association

with Glenn Hanoman and others.

Nandlall was charged on April 27, 2017, for fraudulently obtaining and taking ownership of 14 Commonwealth Law Reports valued at $2.3M. After the charges were filed, Nandlall, as well as former President, Donald Ramotar, have made clear that the State’s payment for the law books – a subscrip-

tion for which Nandlall held – was a condition of his employment and service as Attorney General Notably, a special audit be done by the Auditor General’s office into the matter of ‘missing law books’. After the audit, Nandlall was not implicated in any wrong doing.

The matter has been adjourned to September 24, 2018.

– Jagdeo says current situation akin to ‘enhanced cake shop’ operation

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ased on Guyana’s unique geographic location, it could become a major hub in the Region, according to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo. However, he stressed that the facilities to ensure that this becomes a reality must first be in place.

Jagdeo was commenting on the changes made to the initial modernization plan for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), which was left by the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administration.

Since taking office, the APNU+AFC Coalition Government has made several changes to the modernization plan.

“It’s an enhanced cake shop now…they have cut out all the modern features. The length of the runway was critical to bringing in some types of aircraft here.

We can’t even go to market,” Jagdeo said.

Jagdeo recalled that under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Administration, discussions were held with KLM Royal Dutch Airline and Suriname Airways to look at the possibility of

having flights to Europe. According to him, the idea was to create an avenue where flights could have departed Guyana to Suriname and then onto Europe and vice versa.

At present, Guyanese travelling to Europe have to travel either to Panama, Miami or New York, before they can go directly into any European country.

“We could have direct flights into Europe but they will not come because those aircraft can’t land. That was the objective of lengthening the runway. You can’t go and market for a hub until you have facilities. That is what we were doing, but they have done their own thing,” he said.

The Opposition Leader noted too that traffic would have been increased had these initial plans had been carried out. “Once you have more airlines flying you will see the cost of freight going down,” he said, which would have lent to that uptick.

He also lamented that Guyana could have had more regular flights to Suriname, Northern Brazil, Barbados,

Trinidad and onto Europe and North America. “They not marketing anything…

If we look at the cost of borrowing, we would have borrowed over $170 million more in debt payment and if you add a small fee to every passenger and security you would have serviced the loan… It was a feasible project…but they need to do much more,” he added.

The US$150 million project was scheduled to be completed within 32 months of its commencement in 2013.

However, the deadline was extended to December 1, 2017, since the project would have experienced several delays.

In 2012, Guyana, under the leadership of former President Donald Ramotar, had secured a US$138 million loan from the China Exim (Export-Import) Bank to fund the expansion and modernisation project, for which the Guyana Government has injected some US$12 million.

However, when the coalition Government came into (Turn to page 23)

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 AUGUST, 2018

Real Time Economic Insights Mid-Year Review 2018: A look at Guyana’s balance of payments and more T

he failure of public enterprises is the hallmark of this government incompetence and mismanagement.

The following are revised projections for our Public Enterprises, to initial projections given by the Hon. Minister in Budget Speech 2018: 1. Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) now projects to post a deficit of $279.5 million for this fiscal year, in stark contrast to the budgeted $8.5 million surplus that was projected.

2. Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) is expected to record an overall deficit of $25.9 million, for 2018, against a budgeted surplus of $0.8 million. Revenues are anticipated to decline by $41.9 million, while operating expenses and capital

expenditures are expected to increase by $4.1 million and $11.1 million, respectively.

3. Guyana National Printers Limited (GNPL) anticipates ending 2018 with a deficit of $77.8 million, down from a budgeted surplus of $3 million as total revenues are anticipated to be $3 million below budgeted and total expenditures $81.6 million above.

4. GUYSUCO now anticipates closing the fiscal year with a deficit of $11.5 billion, a worsening from the budgeted deficit of $5.2 billion that was previously projected by the Hon. Minister; 5. Guyana Power and Light Inc. is now projected to record a deficit of $9 billion, down from $5.5 billion that was initially projected.

Further, in Budget Speech 2018, the Hon. Minister of Finance projected an overall deficit of $10 billion for all Public Enterprises, down from $12.9 billion that was recorded in 2017.

This, however, in 2018 mid-year report, was revised to a whopping $22.8 billion deficit, by end 2018.

To finance this deficit, $21.5 billion is anticipated to be sourced domestically, up from $7.8 billion that was originally projected.

BALANCE OF PAYMENTS Meanwhile, the overall Balance of Payments (BoP) recorded a deficit of US$139.8 million, in the first half of 2018, compared to a deficit of US$46.0 million,

recorded in June 2017. To finance this humongous deficit, the government usurped US$110 million from the Bank of Guyana Foreign Assets Reserve, tanking the reserve to a 10-year low of US$473.4 million.

The overall balance of payments, by end 2018, is projected to record a total deficit of US$182.1 million.

It is important to note; the initial projection of BoP deficit was set at US$79.7 million for 2018. In other words, we have surpassed that amount by 130% within the first half of 2018. Moreover, the current account deficit is expected to weaken to a deficit of US$366.3 million by end 2018, down from an initial projection of US$292 million. In other

words, the revised outlook for our Balance of Payment is even more ominous than initially anticipated. In sort, there would be a greater need for more foreign exchange by end 2018 to cover our import bills.

Another critical element of the BoP is factor services (net). According to the report, net factor services is projected to record a higher than anticipated deficit of US$66 million, compared to US$11.5 million last year.

This is mainly the outcome of lower investment income and higher interest payment.

The negative impact of the 200+ tax measures instituted in 2016 against consumers and manufacturers is becoming conspicuous.

According to the mid-2018

report, lending to the manufacturing sector contracted by 5.7% to $26.0 billion.

Moreover, credit to households declined by 0.4% to $28.2 billion, over the last 12 months, largely on account of decreases in lending for “other purposes” and motor cars of $0.8 billion and $0.1 billion, respectively. Interestingly, under the review period, credit to central government increased by another 48%, whilst private sector got a mere 4% increase, when compared to mid-2017.

The 2018 Mid-Year report, which was laid in the National Assembly, is characterised by disturbing revelations.

(ANALYSES DONE

BY PPP/C MP, IRFAAN ALI)

APNU+AFC gov’t revises downward the projected growth for 2018

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espite the economy growing by 4.5 per cent in the first half of 2018, the 2018 Mid-Year report notes that traditional sectors, such as sugar and rice, have seen decline in their performances, with contractions of 30.6 and 3.8 per cent respectively.

The gold sector also suffered a decline of 9.1 per cent. This is equivalent to a decrease of 288,114 ounces in gold declaration. The report also revealed that this represented a 19.4 per cent shortfall.

However, despite these issues, the report indicated that growth in the economy was more broad-based than in 2017, with robust performances in the agriculture, fishing and forestry sectors of 3.4 per cent. Other crops, fishing, livestock and forestry industries all experienced growth over the same period, with the latter two growing by a commendable 29.1 per cent and 18.1 per cent respectively.

Growth of 8.2 per cent was also recorded in the services sector, and 13.4 per cent in the construction sector. This significant increase in the construction sector is

attributed to higher building imports by 24.7 per cent.

Meanwhile, production in the bauxite industry reached its highest level since 2013, surpassing 2017 by 21.1 per cent. This has led to a revision of the forecast growth of the industry upward from 23.3 per cent

to 29.9 per cent. There was also growth in other mining of 31.2 per cent, driven by the production of diamonds and other stones, which increased by 13.3 per cent and 45.5 per cent respectively.

In addition to that, the Government has also revised its growth rate for

2018 to 3.7 per cent – from the 3.8 per cent that was initially projected.

The performance of major sectors according to final 2017 figures, which were revised in February 2018, show that: the agriculture sector only grew by 0.4% (projected to grow by

5.2%); the sugar sector contracted by 25.2% (projected to grow by 13.7%); other crops sector only grew by 2.4% (projected to grow by 4.4%); and that the mining and quarrying sector contracted by 8.8% (projected to grow by 0.7%).

Initially, Government

had projected that Guyana’s economy would have grown by a 3.8 per cent growth rate for 2017. This projection was reduced to 3.1 per cent.

It was then revised downwards again to 2.9 per cent.

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

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2018 ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

REMARKS Very unlikely: High fuel price and deplorable interior roads will place added burden on loggers, miners, rice farmers etc.; we have The economy is projected to grow by heard of the downsizing of sawmills; closure of small and medium 3.7% scale mining activities; increased construction cost due to the increase cost of sand.

High fuel price coupled with the introduction of more than 200 Inflation is forecasted at 2.4% tax measured will likely stoke inflation above the projected amount.

The overall Balance of Payments (BoP) recorded a deficit of US$139.8 million, in the first half of 2018, compared to a deficit of Balance of Payment to record a US$46.0 million, recorded in June 2017. To finance this deficit of US$139.8 million humongous deficit, the government usurped US$110 million from the Bank of Guyana Foreign Assets Reserve, tanking the reserve to a 10-year low of US$473.4 million.

Within the first quarter of 2018, to satisfy the huge BoP deficit, US$99 million was used. As of May, international reserve held by Gross International Reserves are BoG was at its lowest in 10 years at US$485 million. Moreover, projected to increase external debt service-to-export ratio has increased from 4.8% to 7.4% (less foreign exchange); During the first quarter of 2018, central government recorded a Central Government overall deficit is deficit of $1.6 billion (unprecedented). Poor PSIP implementation expected to expand by G$9,869 rate; high fuel price; dwindling key traditional sectors such as million to G$43,247 million sugar, rice, gold, and timber would curb private consumption.

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

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 AUGUST, 2018

The Bottom Line – A look at issues affecting cost of living in Guyana

Local stone suppliers facing hardships A

t least two local contractors have complained of not receiving orders to supply stone for the East Coast of Demerara road widening and improvement project, which is being undertaken locally

by CHEC, despite having the capacity to do so.

The non-use of services

available locally comes after the Chinese contractor was given permission to import stone into Guyana.

The project required at least 15,000 tonnes per month.

There are seven stone producers countrywide and at least three have the capability to produce

the specified stone for the project.

Notably, Patterson has tried to spin the state of affairs, despite a report in the state-owned Guyana Chronicle, on August 11, 2018, which made it clear that his Ministry have the go-ahead to the Chinese contractor to import stone.

still waiting.

The proposal that was submitted called for a $20 increase in short drop fares and a $40 increase for other operators.

It has also requested the consideration of a fiveyear moratorium on the importation of minibuses, which the Union has said is putting the business under strain.

The proposal call too for the removal of the ban on used tyres The proposal also called for reasonable reduction in the excise tax on fuel – more so since gasoline and diesel prices were only reduced by $4 after prices hit levels above $250 per litre.

It is unclear when the substantial concerns of the Union will be addressed.

City Hall hit by another protest: Route 42 bus drivers reject high-handed actions

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oute 42 (East Bank Demerara) bus drivers came out during the Monday (August 13, 2018) morning peak hour to protest the Mayor and City Council’s (M&CC’s) decision to relocate vendors to their park.

They held a protest that started on Brickdam, Georgetown, and stretched all the way to Lombard Street.

As part of the Council’s decision, the bus park which was designated to the drivers was cordoned off with steel barricades, preventing the drivers from entering the area.

This is the latest group to protest decisions of City Hall that impact negatively on the ability of average Guyanese to earn a living.

Many of the drivers contend there should have been proper arrangements for their accommodation. Other drivers have also complained about being targeted by the City Constabulary ranks.

The transport operators have disclosed that efforts were made in the past to contact the Town Clerk Royston King, but to no avail.

Hire car drivers have ‘usage fee’ One month later: Business imposed on them Ministry fails to act as promised arlier this month, hire which has been decried, is ing that no consideration

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he United Minibus Union (UMU) met with the Ministry of Business to discuss a proposed increase in bus fares, among other proposals, on July 4, 2018.

The meeting occurred after the Union sent a proposal to the Ministry on June 23, 2018.

The Ministry has promised action, but now, over a month later, the Union is

E

car drivers protested the decision from City Hall to eject them from the Stabroek Square area.

The drivers had sought an audience with the Mayor, Patricia Chase Green, and were told that they should put forward a proposal, which will be reviewed.

However, the drivers have said that they are not optimistic that any proposal will be favourably considered.

Nevertheless, a proposal was made and the end result,

Farmers facing hardships have received nothing from gov’t except an advisory – Seeraj

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he Hydro-met Department, this week, issued an advisory to local farmers warning them to expect dryer than normal conditions.

The hydro-meteorological department has advised that Guyana is now transitioning into the long dry season, which usually lasts until the end of November for northern Guyana, and is expected to end in late April, 2019 in southern Guyana. The transitioning for northern Guyana began during the last week of July and is expected to do so for southern Guyana during the latter half of August, 2018.

Meanwhile, Opposition Parliamentarian and Head of the Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA), Dharamkumar Seeraj, has said that farmers looking at hardships because of the dryer than normal conditions have received no support from the current

APNU+AFC Coalition Government.

“The support has been limited to the issuance of an advisory. Usually there are measures put in place to assist

to ensure faster flow of water to areas that will need it in the dry periods. There has also been no engagement with farmers, more so the area-specific farmers that look at those

“The support has been limited to the issuance of an advisory. Usually there are measures put in place to assist farmers, particularly the cash crop and rice farmers, but so far we have heard nothing about support.” - Opposition Parliamentarian and Head of the Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA), Dharamkumar Seeraj farmers, particularly the cash crop and rice farmers, but so far we have heard nothing about support. The government has not said if they will offer support to clear canals

who are most at risk,” he said.

According to him, since the APNU+AFC Coalition Government took office, the agriculture sector has been treated as the proverbial “step-

child” in the administration.

He referred to the declarations from government officials that rice farming is a private sector undertaking and the withdrawal of support measures, for the most part, from rice farmers; the imposition on higher land rental fees on farmers in the Mahaica/ Mahaicony/Abary Agriculture Development Authority (MMA/ADA scheme); and the imposition of tax on most all agricultural inputs.

“The levels of support to a major productive sector are no longer there and we are seeing the consequences of that support being withdrawn,” Seeraj said.

Meanwhile, neither the Agriculture Minister, nor Government, up to press time, has indicated what support, if any, farmers can expect during the upcoming dry season.

the imposition of a $1,500 weekly fee on the hire car drivers. The payment will allow them to operate in a space that has been identified by City Hall.

Some 112 hire car drivers who operate from the Stabroek Market car and bus park area were displaced, when a decision was taken

by City Hall to use an area they have used for about three decades as a vending area.

The drivers are claim-

was given as to where they would be placed. They charged too that they were not even engaged by City Hall before the decision was made. Instead what obtained was that they turned up to work and found the parking area they used barricaded.

The drivers have since said that their ability to earn a living is now in jeopardy.

The hire car drivers have also called on Central Government to give their plight some attention.

East Ruimveldt Market still in state of disrepair R ehabilitation works are still to commence at the East Ruimveldt Market, even as vendors continue to lament the state of affairs, including the conditions of the sanitary blocks. Additionally, the vendors have also been complaining about the deplorable state of the roads and have noted that this is preventing customers, especially those with vehicles, from going there to shop.

Meanwhile, moves by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to take action have raised major concerns, since the works are estimat-

ed to cost $14.5M, but the City Mayor, Patricia ChaseGreen is pushing for $24M to be released.

The market houses more than 50 vendors, but many of the stalls are empty due to the market’s state of disrepair. The market at one time housed approximately 200 vending stalls, three public restrooms, and a City Constabulary office, and was said to have been attracting 2,000 customers daily.

The East Ruimveldt Market, located on Vlissengen Road and the East Ruimveldt Front Road, was built by the City Council in 1978.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 AUGUST, 2018

APNU+AFC ‘kick-back schemes’ – gov’t silent in the face of criticisms tion being taken. Following reports that authorities, on April 19, 2018, took control

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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 prop-

erties 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 ac-

Airport modernization plan bungled... (From page 20) power in 2015, the project was put on hold, but following discussions between Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson and the contracting company China Harbour Engineering Corporation (CHEC), it was announced that the project would be continued.

Government was optimistic of the project being completed by 2017. At a project

update briefing, it was noted that of the US$150 million, only US$37.3 million had been expended to date. Of this amount, some US$33 million was spent by CHEC, which included US$1.9 million of local funds put up by the Government of Guyana.

To date, the project is still to be completed and the airport remains in a haphazard state.

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 In-

ternational 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.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 AUGUST, 2018

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

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

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

APNU+AFC gov’t has racked up over 55 scandals since taking office The Parliamentary Opposition has been monitoring the APNU+AFC Coalition government’s use of public funds and the levels of transparency and accountability. From June 10, 2015 to date, over 55 scandals have been uncovered – an average of one scandal for each month – some of which are listed below:

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

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

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

3. The dismissal of 1,972 Amerindian community service officers at “one stroke of the pen” with no cause by the third (3rd) Vice-President and Minister of Indigenous Affairs. Despite a promise by VP Allicock in the National Assembly, during the 2015 Budget debate that the government would create a new programme to hire Amerindian youths, they instead replaced this programme with the Hinterland Entrepreneurial Youth Skills Programme (HEYs).

HEYS is a sixmonth training programme with no entrepreneurial or employment component, which is under severe duress as there are complaints that the facilitators and students have not received their stipends despite the budgetary provision of $1Billion.

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

5. India/GoG funded Speciality Hospital – the government gave

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

6. The first act of the government was to give themselves 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. W r i t e - o f f s b y t h e APNU+AFC dominated Georgetown Municipal Council to many companies for millions of dollars owed in rates and taxes for undisclosed amounts. This is a City Council that is now cashstrapped and cannot pay contractors for garbage collection nor timely payment of salaries of its employees. The cost to the Treasury of these write offs by the GRA, the Georgetown City Council and other Local Authority Areas alone earmarked in this list of scandals is estimated to be between 23% to 36 % of the total 2016 Budget.

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

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

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

17. The GoG/BK International settlement of $1.17 B for Haags Bosche - The Ministry of Communities’ settlement of $1.17B to BK International for the Haags Bosche project came to light as a result of a Supplementary Financial Paper on August 8th where the country learnt that this settlement was made and

25

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 AUGUST, 2018

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

APNU+AFC gov’t has racked up over 55 scandals since taking office 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 relating to the issuance of fuel licenses for the importation of fuel to companies that are made up of persons related to top officials or who are top officials themselves in the government, who have no fuel bonds, no storage facilities and no offices. The withdrawal of the fuel importation license to the Chinese company, which has invested millions of US dollars for storage facilities, appears to have been calculated to make room for these alternative importers. In August the second set of fuel licenses came to light regarding licenses issued to Dr. Van West Charles, CEO and other officials in GWI under a private company. It should be noted that an applicant for a fuel license has to acquire an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and 4 additional licences - provision of a bond under detailed specifications, transportation, storage, importation, and restrictions on where fuel storage can be located. It normally takes a long time for an applicant to obtain all these licenses---impossible to do so in 9 months. The licenses were issued in the month that Van West Charles became CEO GWI and,

therefore, he had ample time to remove himself from the company. At a 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 Supplementary Financial Paper # 2 of 2016 for the Consolidated Fund.

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

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

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

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

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

23. $240M spent on refurbishing the Kitty Market. Photographic evidence exposes the corruption

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 AUGUST, 2018

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

51. Painting state properties in APNU colours.

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

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

54. Sole-sourcing of $366.9M in emergency drugs in June 2017 has once again brought into

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

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

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

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

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

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

27

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 AUGUST, 2018

Armed robberies Granger offers another excuse about the increase J crime plan touted as the ‘plan to end all crime’

S

ix months after President David Granger accepted the Report of the Security Sector Reform Project (SSRP), which was presented to him by United Kingdom’s Security Reform Programme Senior Advisor, Colonel Russell Combe, there has still been no move to operationalise the plan.

This is despite the fact that Granger himself admitted to need to roll out measures to address the crime situation. Earlier this year, he had said. “We are deeply concerned about the security situation and the sooner we implement those reforms, I think, the better,” he had said.

Meanwhile, last week, in offering an excuse as to why there has been no move with the report, Granger stated that the plan is still being studied by his Cabinet. “We are going through it,” he said last week.

When he received the report, the President had

said that the report was the start of security reform in Guyana. He had said, “We are now trying to correct the errors of over two decades of mismanagement of the security sector. There is a lot of work to do.”

Meanwhile, the report still remains a secret document.

Additionally, Combe had an office housed at the Ministry of the Presidency during the one year he took to finish the report. Combe returned to Guyana in April this year, to continue advising the government on security sector reform. He is on a contract which will end in March next year.

MORE SPENDING Also, while the report remains to be acted on, spending by the APNU+AFC Coalition government on yet another crime plan is being advanced, even as the Administration comes under criticism for

not acting in a substantial way to address crime.

The Government of Guyana has awarded a contract to the tune of US$78,750 (some $16M) to GeoTechVision founder Valarie Grant, who will be tasked with the responsibility of conducting consultations as Guyana moves to highlight the criminal hubs in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

At the end of the consultancy, the Government, through the Public Security Ministry, is expected to move full steam ahead with its crime-mapping initiative. Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, has said, “Guyanese will be able to see a digital map that depicts where crimes are occurring based on crime data.”

It is unclear if the required procedures to award this contract were followed and details about the $16M project are scant.

uly 2018 ended with a recorded increased in armed robberies, where firearms were used. Statistics released by the Guyana Police Force show that there were 350 reported cases of armed robberies – an increase of seven per cent compared to July 2017.

For the same period there was also: 1. A 25 per cent increase in other types of robberies, with 35 reported cases; 2. A seven per cent increase in robberies with violence, with 92 reported cases;

3. A total of 141 reported cases of robberies where other instruments were used; 4. Some 36 reported cases of robbery with aggravation 5. A total of 71 reports of larceny from persons; 6. A whopping 574 reported cases of break and enter and larceny for the same period.

7. A total of 134 reported cases of burglary There were also 58 reported murders as at July 2018 – 25 disorderly murders, 16 domestic murders, 11 murders associated with robberies and six with un-

on

known causes.

Additionally, 76 illegal firearms have been taken off the streets so far this year – which is less that was taken off the streets when one does a comparison with the previous period. Among the illegal weapons seized were: 14 pistols, 18 revolvers, 8 shotguns, 1 sub-machine gun and 5 rifles.

Notably, these statistics were released even as the current APNU+AFC Coalition Government remains under pressure for the lack of substantial action to address the crime situation.

Police Officers arrested for alleged murder of Brazilian miner

T

wo Police Officers have now been taken into custody after they allegedly murdered a Brazilian miner in Puruni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and attempted to get rid of the body on Saturday (August 11, 2018).

The Brazilian miner’s name was given as Estevão Marquês Costa, 37-yearsold.

Based on reports received, it is alleged that the

two officers – a Subordinate and a Constable – who are stationed at the Kurupung Police Station, abandoned their post on Friday. The men reportedly left on an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) to patrol the area, but ended up at a landing in Puruni – which is where the incident took place.

An eyewitness reported that the two Police ranks went to raid a mining camp belonging to the now dead

man’s mother. Upon seeing the Police, Costa who was an undocumented miner attempted to escape and it was at this time, the Constable cocked his gun and fired two shots hitting Costa to his head. The eyewitness reportedly told detectives that the two Police ranks attempted to burn the man’s body, but the other miners created a scene.

Investigations are ongoing.

House Speaker breaks with precedent, warns MPs not to comment on his actions or character in public

I

n a controversial move, the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, on behalf of House Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland, has advised Members of Parliament (MPs) that criticism of the character or actions of the Speaker are impermissible, whether done inside or outside of the National Assembly.

In a letter that was sent to all MPs on Wednesday (August 8, 2018), titled ‘Criticisms of the Speaker,’ Isaacs

said, “If a Member is dissatisfied with the Speaker’s approval of a motion, he/she has the right to table a substantive motion challenging the Speaker’s decision. Such a motion will receive priority over the motion challenged.”

Isaacs cited references from the Parliaments in Canada, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Isaacs’ letter was sent in wake of PPP/C Parliamentarian, Harry Gill, being reprimanded and referred

to the National Assembly’s Privileges Committee for criticizing the rulings of Scotland in a letter to the press.

TROTMAN RULING However, the move by the Clerk of the National Assembly, on behalf of Scotland, seems to have ignored a ruling in Guyana’s own National Assembly, by former House Speaker, Raphael Trotman.

On September 20, 2014,

the then Government Chief Whip and Presidential Advisor, Gail Teixeira, had written to Trotman. She had said, “I am therefore calling on you, sir, as Speaker, to call on M.P. Mr. Ramjattan to publicly retract his statement or provide proof of which Members of Parliament were offered bribes (by the PPP/C government) and by whom. Failing which, the Government Members of Parliament will call on him to be taken to the Privileges

Committee for besmirching and denigrating the image and integrity of all MPs and the entire National Assembly.”

Teixeira’s letter to Trotman came after Ramjattan, at a press conference outside of the National Assembly, had said, “We have gotten reliable information that the PPP’s answer to the no confidence motion… at least by buying off three parliamentarians at $30M each to vote no rather than yes, and that’s the only way …and that’s the only option they have.”

By his own admission in his subsequent ruling, the Speaker did nothing between September until November 2014 with regards to asking Ramjattan to substantiate or withdraw his statement. Ironically and coincidentally, the Speaker formally made his ruling after the National Assembly was prorogued in October 2014 when the then Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds, on November 7, 2015 formally submitted a motion on the same issue and requesting that Mr. Ramjattan be sent to the Committee of Privileges.

In his ruling Ref:7-2014, dated November 10, 2014 – ‘Statements made by a Member Outside of the National Assembly- Whether Breach of Privilege and/or Contempt of Parliament’ – Trotman said: “At the outset, it has to be stated that there is no record of any documented complaint having being made in the National Assembly of Guyana of a Member being brought before the Committee of Privileges for words spoken outside of the National Assembly… it therefore necessarily follows that if those words have the tendency to bring the National Assembly into disrepute or disregard, then the National Assembly can as well extend its jurisdiction to review the words or conduct of a Member outside of the its precincts…it is my considered opinion that this could only be the case if the words are proven to be false, and were known by Hon. Ramjattan to be false when he made them , or alternatively, he was reckless and unmindful as to whether the information was false or not.”

Trotman then altered the request by the Prime Minister and concluded that, “the Committee of Privilege will first have to consider whether the allegations are true,(to alter an expected vote on a motion of no confidence), and if not, then I believe the complaint against Hon.

Ramjattan should be proceeded with….At present the issue only of whether Members of Parliament were solicited to alter an expected vote on a Motion of No Confidence will be considered by the Committee of Privilege, and is hereby referred.”

In other words, Ramjattan was not being sent to the Committee for a statement made outside the House, but rather the Committee would examine if MPs were solicited to alter an expected vote, and if this were true, only then would the complaint against Ramjattan be proceeded with. This was no doubt a very circuitous route, but Trotman was clearly protecting his colleague and leader of his party, the AFC, who wanted the allegations of vote buying against the PPPC to remain unanswered.

PARAMETERS SET Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, has since said: “The parameters set by Trotman should have been considered by Speaker Scotland that is that no such case of statements being made outside the precincts of the National Assembly had ever been brought to send a Member to the Committee of Privilege, and that even if such cases were brought it would have to be based on whether the words have ‘the tendency to bring the National Assembly into disrepute or disregard’. In case of Harry Gill, his letter contained factual information that was publicly witnessed by the media and the general public who watch the live-streamed sittings of the National Assembly.

“Furthermore, the Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo brought no motion as required in the Standing Orders to send Member of Parliament Harry Gill to the Privileges Committee, he read from the newspaper and was unprepared. Although the Speaker stated that Gill had offended the ‘office of the Speaker’, he went further and allowed the Prime Minister to then call that Gill be sent to the Privileges Committee, knowing fully well that he, the Speaker, is the Chair of that committee.

This case in the National Assembly of Guyana is unprecedented.

The letter to the MPs is also unprecedented. All are indicators of the slippery slope parliamentary democracy is on.”

Noteworthy is that the actual ruling was never read in the House, as it never met back until after the May 2015 General and Regional Elections.

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