Weekend Mirror 3rd February 2018

3-4 February, 2018 / Vol. 10 No. 7 / Price: $100

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

PPP will always support GAWU in struggle for workers – Jagdeo PAGE 2

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Picture shows dismissed Wales sugar workers picketing President Granger's office last week demanding severance pay. They were fired one year ago.

Another sinister COI in the making Nagamootoo indentured to President Granger and APNU – Jagdeo PAGE 3

Jagdeo named Patron-in-Chief at World Sustainable Development Forum

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pposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, is currently attending the first ‘World Sustainable Development Forum’ being held in Mexico City under the theme ‘Implementing the Paris Agreement and the SDGs’.

The three-day forum, which kicked off today, features several keynote addresses, high level panel discussions and parallel sessions focused on specific themes and issues.

Jagdeo is among several panelists, including: Jean Charest, Former Premier of Quebec, and former Minister of Environment, Canada; Lord

Deben, John Gummer, Chairman of the UK’s independent Committee on Climate Change, UK; Felix Finkbeiner, Chair and Founder, Plant-forthe-Planet, Germany; Sir David King, Former Special Representative

for Climate Change at Foreign & Commonwealth Office, UK; Brice Lalonde, Former Minister of Environment, France; Dr. Carlos Lopes, Visiting Professor, University of Cape Town; and former Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa; Dr. Thomas Lovejoy, Senior Fellow, United Nations Foundation, Washington, DC, USA; Mr. Erik Solheim, Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme; and Nobel Laureate H.E. Dr. José Ramos-Horta, Former President of East Timor, Timor-Leste.

The former Guyanese President has also been named Patron in Chief of the Forum, being hosted by the not-for-profit organization.

The Forum is co-sponsored by the Government of Mex ico City; a group of world class universities in Mexico; and has the support of business and industry as well as the research and academic community in Mexico.

The Forum is intended to place great importance on the nature and timing of the energy transition required worldwide, by which the concentration of GHGs in the atmo-

sphere can be limited and the risks from the impacts of climate change contained to ensure the wellbeing of future generations.

The WSDF is a global initiative to promote and mobilize global action for effective implementation of both the Paris agreement on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the UN General Assembly. It is working to analyse and facilitate the transformation of society towards a post fossil fuel future while implementing the critical goals identified in the SDGs.

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Guyana supports, Venezuela rejects UN’s referral of border PAGE 10 controversy to ICJ

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WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 FEBRUARY, 2018

PPP will always support GAWU in struggle for workers – Jagdeo P

PP General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, has emphasized the common interests in protecting the livelihood of sugar workers between the People’s Progressive Party and the main sugar union, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union.

Jagdeo slammed reports in sections of the media, mainly the state-controlled Guyana Chronicle, that tere was a rift between the two entities. “GAWU has struggled a very long time. And I’ve always supported their struggle. And GAWU will be there in the forefront of the struggle for workers’ rights in the future. The PPP will always support their struggle,” he related, during his press conference. “I don’t know about any conflict and this contrived thing. I saw Chronicle (newspapers) has been pushing this thing about a conflict between the PPP and GAWU. In fact, they had a headline to that effect. There’s nothing of the sort,” he said.

In the aftermath of a

meeting between the union and the Government, GAWU President Komal Chand was quoted affirming his pleasure with the meeting’s outcome but this has since prompted calls from sugar workers for Chand to resign.

According to the sugar workers Chand and more so GAWU in their view did not make adequate representation on their behalf.

Commenting on the issue during a press conference, Jagdeo on Saturday affirmed that while the Union went into the meeting and got nothing, the Government got an opportunity at public relations (PR).

“GAWU has struggled a very long time. And I’ve always supported their struggle. And GAWU will be there in the forefront of the struggle for workers’ rights in the future. The PPP will always support their struggle,” he related, during his press conference. “I don’t know about any conflict and this contrived thing. I saw Chronicle (newspapers) has been pushing this thing

about a conflict between the PPP and GAWU. In fact, they had a headline to that effect. There’s nothing of the sort.”

“What I can say is that the same support we share with the Union,” Jagdeo continued. “The sugar workers’ pay their dues, they determine their leadership, they’re free to elect their leaders and they’re free to call for their removal anytime. That is not the PPP business. Some newspaper article was sold by some as the PPP’s position.”

Armed with a release from the Ministry of the Presidency (MOTP) in which Chand was quoted expressing satisfaction with the government’s stance, Jagdeo read excerpts of the release.

“I just read a part of the press release. Do I have a concern about the government using the union for PR purposes, the answer is yes,” Jagdeo said. “The government got a huge PR thing out of this. Listen what they said. After more than

two hours of discussions, the parties were able to find common ground and the unions agreed to fully cooperate with the government to find a solution which can benefit all stakeholders.”

But Jagdeo questioned what this solution was, noting that the union has not clarified this. And since GAWU subsequently stated that it did not agree with the part payment of severance, Jagdeo questioned what this common ground could be?

The General Secretary made it clear that he had an issue with the Chand’s quote, as revealed by the MOTP. The Opposition Leader said he has an issue when the President (of GAWU) says “we have listened and we are satisfied that you are concerned with the issues. We are ready to work along with the Government to explore the options and we are going to give our best to see the situation out. You are right that there are no winners in this and we are willing…

We are certainly pleased

with this meeting. This is the first meeting [for the year] we have been able to have with the Government and we believe that the meeting took place in a positive atmosphere and we recognise that the Government itself pays attention and I think that it is a good beginning….From GAWU, we are very pleased and it spells out that the future engagement are in the interest of the workers, the industry and the country,” Chand said.

“What’s the future engagement? Hiring back the 7000 workers? Paying them their severance? Getting the subsidies and land for them?

Getting more training, loans for them? What’s this agreement? That bothers me. How can you find them genuine when they just sent home 7000 of your members?”

Jagdeo questioned, while adding that “this didn’t come from GAWU. I believe GAWU as a Union has been fighting a very long time.”

He said further “I have personal issues with these sorts of statements. Because

it means that all that has gone before, you find them still a good partner to talk with when they decimated half your membership? What is it if not a PR exercise?

We’re not going to show up for a meeting to satisfy Granger’s PR when they don’t mean anything. That is what happened here.”

Jagdeo stressed that the party will continue to support the Union, whose executives he said included “good, strong, young, bright leaders”.

Asked directly whether there was a rift between the party and Chand, he emphasized that the party had none.

Jagdeo welcomes impartial crime spree COI

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pposition Leader Dr Bharrat Jagdeo is not

only open to a Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the

crime spree that occurred under his presidency, he is in

fact urging that the government launch the inquiry and uncover the political authors responsible.

During a recent press conference Jagdeo called out the government on the question of the COI. However, he noted that if this COI is to be launched, it must be with impartial and reputable adjudicators.

Jagdeo also questioned the President’s delay in launching the COI, considering the fact that a number of other COI’s were ordered.

Moreover, he noted that members of his former administration are willing to provide assistance to the inquiry.

On Friday, Minister of State Joseph Harmon hinted at Government’s intention to establish a COI to probe the circumstances of the spate of murders, which were witnessed between the period 2002-2009.

Harmon had posited that the Coroner’s Inquest Act requires an inquest be held for any unnatural death.

The Minister said those Guyanese who have lost

their families during the Lusignan and Bartica massacres and other mysterious killings deserve closure.

The 11 victims of the Lusignan massacre which occurred 10 years ago were yesterday remembered at an inter-faith service coordinated by the Indian Action Committee (IAC).

In the feature address, Former Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission, Bishop Juan Edghill, spoke on the strength of the Lusignan community, considering the irreconcilable damage that has been done to the community.

Edghill also said that he welcomes the COI, “the country needs to know what happened here. This country needs to know who are the intellectual authors of what transpired here. I look forward to an independent inquiry that is not directed by political influences,” he added.

Social Cohesion Minister Dr George Norton who also spoke at the event said that even though the heinous and cowardly act happened

a decade ago, the terrible loss of life is still difficult to fathom. He said, however, that he admires the strength of the victims’ relatives, who are coping with an indelible loss.

On January 26, 2008, gunmen stormed into Grass Field, Lusignan, opening gunfire on sleeping residents. At the end of the 15-minute ordeal, Shazam Mohamed, Clarence Thomas, his son, Ron 11, and daughter, Vanessa 12; Mohandai Gourdat, 32, and her two children; Seegobin, four years old, and Seegopaul Harilall, 10; Shalem Baksh, 52; Rooplall Seecharan, 56, his daughter Raywattie Ramsingh, 11, and his wife, Dhanrajie, called ‘Sister’, 52 were all dead.

Those injured in the ordeal were Howard Thomas 19; Nadir Mohamed, 48, and five-year-old Roberto Thomas.

The motive of the vicious attack is still unclear; however, the actions were claimed by the notorious killer Rondell ‘Fine Man’ Rawlins, who is now dead.

WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 FEBRUARY, 2018

My View T he PNC-led APNU regime has announced its intention to set up another Commission of Inquiry (CoI). This time it is to ‘probe’ the killings of mainly criminals that took place during the crime waves of the more recent past. Included in that period was the assassination of Sash Shaw, former Minister of the PPP/C government.

The regime obviously has some plans to use this for some political gains. It is a Hitlerite tactic to create conditions for its actions of repression. Recall that Adolf Hitler had the Parliament burnt down to unleash repression on the left and democratic forces, mainly communists, in Germany just before World War II. We saw this APNU regime applying the CoI method to ‘clean out’ the professional leaders of the Police Force. The intention is to control the Force by putting persons who will take PNC/ APNU diktat. In a word, it is the beginning of the de-professionalization of the Police Force. They are preparing it to be repressive.

One of the outcomes that this regime is looking for is the excuse to harass, and frame PPP/C leaders and members. It is also to distort that period and to hide its own role in the crime waves that we had experienced at the beginning of this century.

By Donald Ramotar Former President

It is for another reason too. They want to use this to promote their own racial line about the killings of ‘young black men’. This is because they have recognized the great dissatisfaction among all our people, including among Afro-Guyanese, where they draw most of their support. The management by APNU+AFC has led to a lot of sufferings of all our people, particularly the low income category.

Pushing the racial line to feed racial sentiments in our Afro-Guyanese masses serves to call on them for racial solidarity and to ignore the pressure they are coming under from this incompetent and corrupt regime.

That is the only logical conclusion one can come to when the realities of our country are examined dispassionately.

If, for instance, they were really interested in finding the truth of any matter they would not have closed down the Rodney Commission of Inquiry as one of their first acts after taking power.

Indeed, they were afraid of being summoned to give evidence to that CoI. After all, Minister Harmon was the number two man in the military intelligence and President Granger was the Commander of the GDF at the time of Rodney’s assassination.

Secondly, we know that

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Another sinister COI in the making the PNC, which is the main, almost the only force in the APNU, historically has used crimes to pursue its political goals. The X13 Plan of the 1960s (1963 to 1964) was an early manifestation of this.

Moreover, documents released from the US State Department and the British Foreign Office, show that the British Governor, Ralph Grey, and the US representative here at the time Carlson, were preparing to find ways to prevent charges from being laid against Forbes Burnham should he be investigated and found culpable. They managed to suppress things before it reached that stage.

Fast forward to more recent times.

It was clear that the PNC, in the 1990s and onwards, was using criminal elements to sabotage the work of the PPP/C administration. We had arson of ministries, of schools and other government buildings.

Whenever there was a spike in crime, the hands of the PNC could be detected in fanning the flames of violence. The Linden London (Blackie) period for instance, showed that London was getting support from the PNC. Recall, too, when he perished in a confrontation with the police, the PNC did their best (or worse) to try to incense people mainly pushing a racial line. Their equipment and stage were used in organizing London’s funeral. It was attended by the then leader of the PNC, Desmond Hoyte, and many other leaders of the Party, some of whom are Ministers today.

It had also been said pub-

licly that when the five dangerous criminals escaped on February 23, 2002, that they first went to Congress Place to hide. They managed to get into the PNC band, which did not go into the National Park, but turned away at Duncan Street and went into the PNC head office compound.

Another important point to ponder was where did the criminals get the high powered weapons to create the carnage that they did?

No armoury of the Army and Police were broken into. Yet, the criminals had high-powered military weapons and seemingly endless bullets However, we know, too, that the PNC, now APNU, while in office up to 1992, had removed scores of weapons from the Army. Many of those weapons were found in the hands of criminals when they were caught or killed in confrontation with the security forces. Many were in the hands of some of their ‘commanders’ who were renting weapons to criminals. This was a form of financing for them.

Going back to the five escapees.

They went into Buxton and held the village hostage.

They murdered people; the Chester family and some others had to move out and their homes were burnt to the ground. The criminals committed numerous atrocities, including rape and murder.

The only politicians that could have gone there were the PNC leaders. And they went freely.

Whenever any one of the criminals was killed, the PNC, now APNU, made it

into a political event, organizing huge demonstrations.

They had their ‘friendly media’ describing the murders as ‘freedom fighters’. This was how they were trying to destabilize the PPP/C administration.

Of interest would be the role of now Minister Winston Felix and Mr. Edward Collins, then Police Commissioner and Head of the Army during that period. It is now clear why the criminals could have committed all sorts of crimes and live freely even though the Army had established a base in Buxton.

We recall the criminals left Buxton and attacked Rose Hall where the PPP was holding its Congress.

They killed several persons in that town, using chainsaws to cut openings. Balram Kandai, a young PPP militant from Essequibo, was murdered there. They went back into Buxton without the Army and Police seeing anything. Felix and Collins were the senior persons in those bodies at the time.

We know of the hostility that the PNC generated against those police officers who were fighting the criminals. Many came under pressure from some in the leadership of the police at the time to back down. Two dozen police officers were brutally murdered.

Never a word of sympathy for the police emanated from the PNC. On the other hand they were loud in their support for criminals when they were cut down by the police. That was where the PNC solidarity went.

Recall when Leon Fraser was ambushed and killed, the

PNC brazenly had some of their supporters wearing red rejoicing outside the Church where the slain officer was having his last rites. It was one of the most insensitive and crude actions I witnessed by the PNC. Minister Basil Williams and Winston Felix have never given an explanation to their now public conversation where Williams, Chairman of the PNC, thanked Felix, the then Commissioner of Police, for diverting attention from the PNC when the Fine Man gang murdered eight (8) persons at Eccles, East Bank Demerara. Felix had admitted that he did turn things away.

In relation to Sash Sawh, we know that he was murdered by the Fine Man Gang.

Some of his personal property was found with them when they were stopped by the police.

The time that he was brutally murdered coincided to the period we were going to the elections in 2006. It was clear that the intellectual authors wanted to drive fear in the PPP before the elections.

However, that backfired on them.

Make no mistake, Sash is a martyr who fell in the fight for consolidating democracy and social progress.

Clearly, therefore, the APNU cannot really want to find the truth. What they are doing is to try to distort the truth and use any CoI that they would set up as a tool for political harassment.

A well-known Hilterite tactic!

Yes, we are about to witness another fraud in the form of CoI by this regime.

Nagamootoo indentured to President Granger and APNU – Jagdeo ‒ No rift in PPP leadership

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PP General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, has labeled recent media reports about a rift between old and new generations of PPP members as mere rantings of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

Nagamootoo recently made comments suggesting that the PPP was getting rid of old Party stalwarts.

In response, the General Secretary stated: “I wish to reiterate that there is no fight between the young and old comrades in our Party.

We value our hard-working older members, who are also

supportive of efforts to guide and groom young people to take up leadership posts, as we move forward as a political party.”

Below is the full text of his response: I have read the reports in sections of the media, particularly the state-owned Guyana Chronicle and the Department of Public Information (DPI), which have been pushing the narrative that there seems to be a fight between the young and old comrades in the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic

(PPP/C). I want to make it clear that these contentions are without basis.

There is no power struggle between our comrades.

Our Party welcomes all persons, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or any other differentiating factor, to join us. We value our members and their contributions to the Party and, by extension, to Guyana. I also believe strongly that as we move forward, some of our more experienced comrades have a larger role to play in grooming younger members to take up the leadership mantel. We cannot prepare for the future otherwise.

What I have seen playing out in the press is a undertaking by some who are actively engaged in defending their own mediocrity– some who have opted to disguise this endeavour by making me their scapegoat in peddling the line that ‘Jagdeo does not want older comrades involved’. It is not true.

That said, theMoses Nagamootoo, interestingly, seems to have found his voice. I notice that, even more interestingly given its suddenness, he seems intent on projecting the view that he is a champion for GAWU. In all the months, from the perfunctory consultation held

between Government and the political Opposition on the future of the sugar industry to the mass-firings of thousands of sugar workers, many of whom supported him and the AFC, Nagamootoo was silent. In suddenly finding his voice, I think Nagamootoo has once again exposed the fact that he is an opportunist and indentured to President Granger and APNU. This excuse-generating stooge, having fooled rice farmers and sugar workers once before, seems to think that he can do it again by working public-relation spins. I want to make it clear that he is mistaken. Over the

past three years, his spineless and venal character has been on full display and it evokes only revulsion. His recent rants, I believe, are also his latest attempts to rewrite history – as we saw with suggestions from the DPI report that he was subjected to a forced removal from the Peoples’ Progressive Party (PPP).

I wish to reiterate that there is no fight between the young and old comrades in our Party. We value our hard-working older members, who are also supportive of efforts to guide and groom young people to take up leadership posts, as we move forward as a political party.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 FEBRUARY, 2018

EDITORIAL

Political motivations behind crime COIs The Government is hell bent to

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he establishment of an inquiry into the crime spree that gripped Guyana for several years by the government has been met with initial support.

However, as the days rolled by, it was evident that there are political motivations behind the move.

What seemed like a not so complex undertaking is now becoming mired in controversy and hidden agendas.

Firstly, the government’s mouth piece, the Guyana Chronicle, dubbed the Lindo Creek massacre as the “Jagdeo-era killings”, thus exposing a sinister intent.

Secondly, the government selected as Chairman of the Commission, the father of a Minister and a sitting member of the Cabinet. This is another move that suggests that the Commission could come under political influence.

Then again one wonders why the government is splitting up the various crime episodes when they are all connected to the famous 2002 jail break and a spate of killings throughout the country.

It seems that the government is going to spread the COIs among supporters and pay fat salaries and stipends. It has already spent hundreds of millions in a multitude of COIs since taking office. The findings of most of these are yet to be made public and those that were completed have not lived up to expectations. These have been used as Public Relations exercises to attack the political opposition. Many supporters and leaders of the PPP have been targeted for harassment, including former President, Bharrat Jagdeo.

The People’s Progressive Party had initially expressed satisfaction that the government was moving in that direction since it believed that there was political support by the then PNC opposition to the criminal underworld. However, having discerned the political maneuverings by the government, it has expressed some reluctance in participating in the Lindo Creek COI. These intrigues that are being played out have led the political opposition to believe that this important scrutiny of Guyana’s recent history and that particular period of heightened crime will not bring the country any closer to the truth.

Instead, the COIs could very well be used as a vehicle to interfere in the police and armed forces and purge those officers who do not find favour with the present top brass.

This was very evident in the case of the COI undertaken to find the truth about the Police handling of the alleged plot to assassinate the president. The report of the COI was used to make changes in the police force.

The nation continues to watch.

Good Life turns into Dark Reality Dear Editor,

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ur Union has noted the contents of an article titled “Komal Chand’s removal a plot for Jagdeo’s third term – PM Nagamootoo” which appeared in the January 31, 2018 Kaieteur News.

We were indeed disheartened to recognize the PM is seeking to sow, seemingly, seeds of division undoubtedly, one suspects, for his own purposes.

The GAWU must say that it strongly disagrees with the PM’s expressed views as reported and more so his attempts at personalisation rather than address the relevant concerns of the affected

workers at this time. The criticism of any official of our Union is tantamount to a criticism of our organization and, therefore, it is incumbent on the GAWU to appropriately respond as we have done in our statement of January 29, 2018. The red-herrings invoked by the PM are, in our view, an ignominious attempt to stir the pot of division and undermine the unity and solidarity among the workers. Moreover, the PM’s centre-staging of this matter is a futile attempt to turn the spotlight away from the hardships he and the Government have created in the sugar belt at this time.

(Turn to page 13)

close down the sugar estates

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uyana is losing its comparative advantage in the Caribbean as a producer of agricultural produce, in particular sugar and rice. The downsizing, euphemistically dubbed “rightsizing” of sugar and the failure to take full advantage of market opportunities for rice in CARICOM and the neighbouring countries of Venezuela and Brazil do not augur well for the sustainable growth and development of the agricultural sector and for that matter the economy as a whole.

I have argued in several letters in the media that the economy of this country is inextricably linked to the development of agriculture which remains the backbone of the economy. In this regard, agriculture cannot be relegated to a secondary role in the economy.

We have all the ingredients for agriculture to flourish, namely fertile land, skilled and experienced agricultural labourers, a relatively good infrastructure of roads and canals for drainage and irrigation purposes and by no means least, a fairly good and predictable market for our agricultural products.

This is why I will argue that the downsizing of sugar is shortsighted and counterproductive. The mining and oil sectors cannot supplant agriculture because of market volatility and price instability for both oil and minerals, more particularly bauxite and gold.

The long term prospects for oil and gas on which we seem to depend so much is not good in light of an emerging green global economy and alternative sources of renewable energy.

This is why the natural and competitive advantage we have enjoyed over the decades as a major exporter of agricultural products should be maintained and consolidated.

The fact is that billions of dollars have been spent over the decades to build a solid infrastructure for sugar and rice production. This infrastructure will most likely deteriorate and crumble with the passage of time following the closure of sugar estates not to mention the loss of other external benefits to the communities by way of internal drainage and irrigation sub-systems and other socio-economic benefits.

The government seems hell bent to close down the sugar estates and no arguments advanced by the sugar unions and other stakeholders including the political opposition would suffice to result in a change of mind.

The political will to save the industry is simply not there insofar as this current administration is concerned. In fact, the intention to divest and privatize sugar was taken since the early 1990’s under the Desmond Hoyte administration and it was not until the PPP/C administration took power in October 1992 that the privatization of the industry was abandoned.

With a change of administration on May 2015, the privitization/closure of the sugar estates once again became a front burner issue and has now culminated in the impending closure of four estates including the flagship Skeldon Estate in which billions of dollars were spent by the previous administration

towards its modernization.

I remain unconvinced that sugar cannot be saved and restored to economic viability. Sugar over the decades had seen several ups and downs but it has always survived the vagaries and changing fortunes of time and circumstances.

I believe that the government has a duty and obligation to adhere to its fiduciary and legal obligation to pay all workers their full severance as demanded by the unions. Moreover, it should immediately embark on a new and strategic approach to keep all the factories grinding even if it means working in partnership with local and foreign investors and making lands available to sugar workers to grow cane for sale to these newly created or re-configured entities.

Several interesting and, in my view, workable proposals, were made by GAWU to save the industry. The government needs to pause and take a fresh look at the available options rather than lamenting the subsidies it had been pouring into the industry.

The sugar industry has, for several decades in the past, subsidized the economy by way of huge amounts of levies paid to the government. The records will show that during the lean years when the rest of the economy was underperforming, it was sugar that kept the economy afloat.

It is only fair and reasonable, therefore, that the government now come to the rescue of the industry until it is restored to economic viability.

Dear Editor,

was destined to fail says a lot about the leadership of the Coalition Government and the sincerity of its commitments before the 2015 Elections Campaign.

Clearly, Minister Ramjattan is clutching at straws as he seeks to find any ignoble justification to excuse his Government’s callous approach to the sugar industry.

The article made reference to the severance pay and quotes the Minster as saying “they (GAWU) came up with a suggestion….then we decided all under $500,000 are going to get their full lump sums…”. If the quote is indeed correct, as we did not see it featured in reports appearing in other sections of the media,

then the Minister is patently wrong and misled those present. As GAWU earlier explained over the past days, when the issue of severance payments was raised by the Government delegation when we met, both our Union and NAACIE took an intractable position that the payments to the workers should be made at once.

Minister Ramjattan, who was presented at the meeting, knows this and, therefore, to say otherwise is dishonest.

Hydar Ally

Ramjattan’s callousness T

he Guyana Times of January 26, 2018 reports Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan as saying in relation to sugar industry that “…probably it was destined to fail. Probably God wanted it that way…” We had to read this section twice as we simply could not believe that a senior Government official would have made such an unbelievable statement.

To invoke the name of the Good Lord to justify what Minister Ramjattan termed “hard decisions” is clearly beyond reprehensible. Moreover, to say the industry

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

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WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 FEBRUARY, 2018

PSC pushes for health centres to remain open in sugar belt W

hile remaining firm on its position to oppose the closure of the sugar industry, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) says it will now push to have health centres serving the sugar belt remained open.

PSC President Eddie Boyer urged the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) not to close the health centres that serve sugar workers and their families in various communities.

This call was made at the opening of a Business, Financial and Investment Forum and Clinic held at the Enmore Community Centre on Monday for ex-sugar workers.

The PSC Head said that his organisation was deeply concerned about the developments taking place and would lend support wherev-

er necessary to allow sugar workers the opportunity to get new jobs.

“We are not supportive of closure. We fought that to the end and we are still fighting it. Now, I am going to ask that the health centres remain open for a long period, even when workers get their severance,” he said.

Boyer added that he hoped issues pertaining to the National Insurance Scheme were also being ironed out in the transitioning process, so that workers do not lose out on their entitled benefits.

In addition to that, the PSC Head stated that while there were opportunities, GuySuCo would have to assist in the process of getting some of these workers new jobs, as many of them are unskilled.

“The Private Sector needs people and if we can pluck them out of here, fine. We are here because anything to do with sugar workers and GuySuCo, we will continue to be on board,” he said.

Meanwhile, GuySuCo Corporate Communications Manager Audreyanna Thomas said the forum and clinic would expand to other areas in the sugar belt providing them with some support.

Thomas said the event was mainly focused on helping the ex-sugar workers to decide on how they would spend or invest their severance to form meaningful small businesses and development.

She said the institutions would help the workers and guide them on how best they

Not ‘Jagdeo era killings’ but a subterranean killing wave that flowed from the rejection of the PPP/C winning the 1997 elections Dear Editor,

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here is a lot in a name and we need to get names right. Assuming that our President HE. Mr. David Granger and the majority of us Guyanese would welcome one(or more) Commission of Inquiry (COI), which would provide our nation an understanding, as true as can be, and would take us along a path of revelation, redemption, resolution and reconciliation, then the names we start with and the terms of reference are important.

The term ‘Jagdeo era killings’, which has even been repeated by President Granger, is to be regretted, as it is misleading.

That submerged subterranean killing wave has its origin in the rejection of the PPP/C win at our 1997 election by an opposing and extreme criminal fringe with ethno-political pretensions and links, which, when our national security forces were not having any success in apprehending them, evoked a similar irregular count-

er-force.

The period from1998 to 20008 should be enquired into as a whole and that would naturally be in chronological sequence. One cannot help, but be suspicious of the Coalition Government’s move in embarking on enquires intospliced-out pieces, starting near the end and proceeding in an order known only to themselves.

Starting at the endindicates an attempt to negate and escapethe logical deductions, which would be inherent in a chronological review of events over that period.The period from 1998 to 2008 was one of great testing of our peoples andour country. Rather than make it appear that Jagdeo and/ or the PPP/C was the cause of those troubles, I submit, that it should be recognized that our (PPP/C) handling of that period, though criticized from many directions, saw our nation through as a whole avoiding the intensified polarization, which was intended by the opposing and extreme criminal fringe with

ethno-political pretensions and links.

Editor you may recall the rising tensions in our country as our 1997 (December 16) elections approached. I was President then. Our National Poet, Mr Martin Carter, had died earlier that month and our (PPP/C) Prime Minister and Presidential Candidate, Mrs. Janet Jagan, was being particularly hounded by crowds as she sought to pay her respects at the various ceremonies honouring her colleague of many decades.

On her way to Mr. Carter’s internment at ‘Seven Ponds’, she was advised to pause at the Office of the President and she sat with me.She revealed that it seemed to her that we were re-running the 1957 to 1961 period – that after the uproar at the PPP win in 1957, the people of Georgetown, overwhelmingly Afro-Guyanese and supporters of the PNC at that time, settled into a toleration of the PPP Government, but as the elections of 1961 approached with prospects of another PPP win in their con-

could reinvest this “capital” (severance) they received after being fired. She said opportunities to take new and old loans would also be encouraged. This, she said, is part of GuySuCo’s Economic and Resilience programme.

Several companies, including all the major banking institutions, were on the ground to assist.

At the same event, Chairman of the Trade and Investments Committee of the PSC, Ramesh Dookhoo announced that his organisation would be hosting a job fair for displaced sugar workers.

The first event would be hosted on Wednesday, January 31 at the Patentia Tarmac, West Bank Demerara in collaboration with the Region Three Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Dookhoo said while the fair would be primarily for these workers, it would also be opened to other persons who were generally having

a tough time finding employment.

He encouraged persons attending the event to walk with evidence of their academic qualifications, recommendations, NIS card, TIN certificate and police clearance.

If this spin-off event proves successful, the PSC plans to host similar exercises in communities that will be impacted by the closures of sugar estates across the country.

Some 20 local manufacturing and services companies are already onboard to participate in the fair. They include: National Hardware, Banks DIH, and Gafoors.

In November, GuySuCo announced plans to dismiss thousands of workers. So far, some 4000-plus workers have been sent home. The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) claims that the downsizing and subsequent closure of sugar estates would lead to the loss of

more than 15,000 jobs, and the potential threat of poverty for 50,000 to 100,000 people.

The Special Purpose Unit (SPU), which forms part of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), has been mandated to conduct evaluations, surveys and inventory assessments before any steps were taken to actually sell the estates.

The SPU has since solicited the assistance of an international financial company to undertake these assessments as part of the plans to downsize the industry. While one local company has expressed an interest, there have been no other reports that other companies here may want to buy the estates.

However, Minister Cathy Hughes has been quoted in the media as saying that several international oil companies have expressed an interest in buying some of the closed estates.

sciousness, they just couldn’t take it and all hell seemed to break out!

As it happened, we, the PPP/C, did win the 1997 Elections and all hell did break loose with the ‘slow fyah. Mo fyah’ campaign, marches, lootings, burnings and beatings – all against a background ofcharges by PNC supporters that: (i) we, the PPP/C, had rigged the election; and (ii) that the electoral system was unfair as the PPP/C would always win a fair and free election.

Ravi Dev, who in his continual search for a way forward for our country and his empathy with this‘African Insecurity Dilema’, had once put himself in some form of association with the PNC(R), within and without Parliament, writes in a recent column that: “This Friday will mark the 20th anniversary of the January 12th, 1998 Ethnic Riots, when more than 200 Indian-Guyanese were beaten and assaulted in the streets of Georgetown by members of the African-Guyanese community, in full view of the police, yet no arrests were made. The riots followed PNC protests against the PPP’s victory in the Dec 1997 elections”.

Following the 2001jailbreak and their projection by key political factions as ‘Freedom Fighters’, the attacks on assumed supporters of the PPP/C were taken to a higher level. When the national security forces showed remarkable inability to appre-

hend them it was inevitable that a similar irregular counter-force emerged.

We have been reminded by our President about the seeming compelling evidence about one of my colleagues, sitting with me at Cabinet, obtaining and providing high-tech equipment to the phantom force. We could be reminded similarly about that conversation (illegally taped, yes) between a then Vice-Chairman of the PNC and the Commissioner of Police in which the then PNCR Vice Chairman thanked the then Commissioner of Police for a number of things, including misleading his police team on the killings at Agricola.When that tape surfaced my colleague, Ms. Gail Teixeira, then the Honourable Minister of Home Affairs,was assailed by our Cabinet enquiring what the then Commission of Police was saying about that conversation. She reported that he did not refute that the voice was his but that he was playing along the VC to learn what the PNC knew and was thinking.And today that former Commissioner of Police and that former PNCR Vice Chairman are in President Granger’s cabinet as Minister of Citizenship and AttorneyGeneral, respectively.

Mr. Editor most of us Guyanese have been focused, for decades, on making a steadily better living and would be hard put to recall every significant event, every turn during this period in

correct sequence. Hopefully, any of us, would be able to put hands on storages of our four newspapers, which taken together should give a fair picture of events as they occurred.

We, PPP/C stayed away from holding a Commission of Inquiry,waitingon atime when it could have been healing. And we would have expected that such a COI would have been structured similarly to the one established by our Government in consultation with the then opposition, to enquire into the 2012 disturbances in Linden, with international Commissioners and nominees of various national stakeholders.

There is a common saying in an eastern country, that the east wind is blowing and the west wind is blowing and who knows which will prevail?

All through this period the winds for division were blowing strong but we, the PPP/C have been heartened that all along this period, too, there have been occasions when Indo-Guyanese have acknowledged assistance and protection from Afro-Guyanese and vice-versa. The sense of being Afro or Indo or Amerindian or whatever though slowly, is gradually and steadily being encompassed in the sense of being Human and being Guyanese.

Enough said.

Yours truly, Samuel A. A. Hinds

6

WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 FEBRUARY, 2018

The proposed ‘Crime Wave Inquiry’ deliberately excludes frightening periods of mayhem in Guyana

By Norman Whittaker M.P

T

he General Secretary of the PPP/C and Opposition Leader, DR Bharrat Jagdeo, has publicly stated that neither he nor his party, the PPP, has any objection to any inquiry/investigation that seeks to elicit the facts/ the truth in respect of criminal activities, including those that were politically motivated and encouraged and which gave rise to political unrest and abuses and to violation of human rights with resultant loss of property and lives in Guyana.

Furthermore, the Opposition Leader has overtly pledged his support for the work of the Commission, while simultaneously expressing his expectation that the Commission has ‘clearly defined Terms of Reference and credible Commissioners.

The proposed period that the Inquiry is tasked with covering is 2002 to 2009.

Albeit, contrary to the expectations of the Guya-

nese people, the Terms of Reference of the proposed Commission of Inquiry

(COI) into the crime wave era alarmingly and deliberately excludes from its

consideration some of the most troubling and frightening periods of mayhem

and violent actions in this country, including 1973 to 2001, which can best be

described as one of racially charged criminal activities, which often resulted in loss of property, lives and both.

Serious crimes in Guyana were being committed before 2002.

It could only be described as a crude attempt to exclude/discard a very important period in Guyana’s history. It’s as if the hurt, the losses, the pain arising out of the political unrest and the accompanying criminal activities of the period 1973 to 2001 can be eradicated from the minds of our people and from the history books of this country by a deliberate decision to exclude that period from the proposed enquiry.

The period 1973 to 2001 was a period of serious physical abuses and violation of human rights; a period of political-turmoil fueled by electoral frauds; a period of increased criminal activities emanating out of the political unrest and a period when (Turn to page 7)

Moment in history

The Recall

By Dr Cheddi Jagan Printed in The Indian Opinion - September 7, 1946

sary against elected members of the Legislative Council.

It is being said that this provision does not apply in he government of most Great Britain, U.S.A. and countries have their leg- Russia. This is not wholly islators and public official true. In applying any yardelected by the majority will sick in British Guiana, we of the people. As a general must be careful in taking rule, most of these officials into consideration the conare recruited from the middle stitutional developments and and upper classes. As soon background of various counas they are elected, quite a tries as compared to British few of them begin to repre- Guiana. sent their own class interests, The Soviet Constitution with the result that the work- has provision for recall. In ing classes soon loose faith in Great Britain, the Cabinet them. The working classes system of government fixes are therefore insisting upon responsibility on the party in their rights to oust elected power. There is more or less persons at will or to pass strict party discipline. Under judgment upon their continu- these conditions, there is no ance in authority at any time actual need for recall. The during their terms of service. vote of no confidence in the This device is known as the Governments is to the cabinet Recall. The principle upon party system what the recall which it is based is that elect- is to the no party system of ed officials are merely the independent members. agents of the majority will of In the U.S.A. there is no the people and that the voters cabinet party system in the should have at all times an strict sense of the English opportunity to pass upon their type. Responsibility is more conduct of their representa- diffuse. It goes beyond party tives. The British Guiana lines, and is shared by the Trade Union Council is to be executive, the legislative and congratulated for sponsoring the judiciary. Party discithe Recall to be used if neces- pline is not very strict. In fact

T

Dr Jagan speaking with workers during one of his many grassroot outreach meetings

one finds that on many important measures members of Congress will vote outside of parties. In these cases, voting usually takes place along lines of interests - liberals of both parties together in one camp the reactionaries in another. In such an American governmental background, recall should be an absolutely necessary provision.

It should be incorporated into the federal constitution.

The reality of present day American politics, however,

will not admit of any such reform. Legislators of the type Bilbo and Rankin who will filibuster in congress even against the abolition of the poll-tax, will prefer to start another civil war than see the introduction of the popular democratic Initiative, Referendum and recall. Despite the fact that recall is not a federal provision, American reformers have made its introduction possible in over a thousand municipalities and in twelve of the progressive

state legislatures.

The situation in British Guiana is different from any of the three countries mentioned. There is an income qualification of $100 per month or property qualification of $1000 of immovable property for candidates seeking election to the Legislative Council. At such, many working class candidates will be debarred. Middle class and upper class prospective candidates will appear with glittering promises before

the electorate, the majority of whom will be working class people. There being no system of party politics, there can be no strict party discipline. Those elected will be free to carry out individual lines of action for a too long period of five years. Being governed under such a set-up the working classes of B.G. have every right to insist that the provision of Recall of legislative members be incorporated into the constitutions of British Guiana.

7

WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 FEBRUARY, 2018

The brutal, undemocratic nature of APNU/AFC coalition beyond ‘beast mode’ T

he lawlessness of the APNU/AFC Coalition Government continues uncontrolled, realizing an array of never-ending issues, which attenuates citizens’ welfare. It doesn’t seem to matter that their insensitive and tactless actions are resulting in hunger, sickness, increased sufferings uncalled-for debts, and absolute condemnation of any measure of prosperity for the majority of our citizens.

As if it is not enough that the continuously increasing tax burdens are being imposed with every budget, the tragedy of placing the families of thousands of sugar workers on the bread line has been brutally enforced as a vicious sanction by an unconcerned government. The impact within communities and across our nation will reverberate with immense citizens’ distresses for a long, long time to come.

The brutal undemocratic nature of this Government has ventured beyond ‘beast mode’. Their officials

are uncaring about how the harsh impositions affect citizens, even those who have supported them in the past.

Residents have to now be on the daily lookout for coalition-dictated actions, which seek to further squeeze and erode the cushions provided by the gains made prior to May 2015.

Related to the foregoing, there are several areas regarding the regulation of Local Governance matters, which has been apparently meted out for Government’s disdainful squeeze.

It took almost 22 months after the March 2016 Local Government Elections for the government-appointed Commissioners to the constitutionally approved Local Government Commission (LGC). However, it seems as though the Minister of Communities is not in the mood to empower the institution, and relieve the foothold grip he has been using to punish LAAs not controlled by the Government.

Since the October 2017

appointments, the Commissioners have not been paid.

Further, it remains an indictment on this Government that the deliberate lack of urgency is being exercised in providing an office with the necessary support staff and equipment so the Commission could commence its work. Although, budgeted for in the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 national budgets, this Government is demonstrating that they do not want the Commission to function.

It is also common knowledge that many Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) have been experiencing serious issues regarding the receipt of their 2017 subventions. The fact is that the Ministry of Communities, led by Ronald Bulkan, is now dictating, through the Regional Executive Officer (REOs) of the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs), how the NDCs should spend their annual subventions. Otherwise, the NDCs are having problems to have the funds released.

The proposed ‘Crime Wave Inquiry...

(From page 6)

racial unrest reared its ugly head supported and encouraged by many, including some who would now wish to exclude this all important period of Guyana’s history from the enquiry and who would wish to shelter behind the very Commission of Inquiry which the Government proposes to set up shortly.

The Government has an obligation to the Guyanese people, and more specifically, those who would have suffered physically, mentally, materially and who are alive and still bear the scars; to the surviving relations of those who would have gone to the great beyond, to elicit the truth.

We cannot have double standards. If we are seeking the truth, we cannot bury the atrocities and the angst and the sufferings. We cannot hide this dark period of our country’s history. Neither must we conceal the perpetrators and the participants; the ringleaders behind the sinister sinful activities of that period.

I would not like to think that this is a cowardly at-

tempt to hide behind the political, violent military style activities of the 1970s, 1980s, under an undemocratic PNC regime.

I challenge the Government and, by extension, the Commission of Inquiry to get to the proximate cause of the political, racial and accompanying criminal activities of the 1970’s to 2010, with a view to uprooting and treating its innate causes.

In this regard, we must enquire into and speak honestly about the role of the PNC, GDF and GPF in the violent activities of the period, including: i) the weapons which the GDF loaned to the PNC that are yet to be accounted for; ii) the murder of then Minister of Education Vincent Teekah; iii) the 1973 Ballot Box Martyrs; iv) the murder of Father Dark; the miscreant behaviour of members of the House of Israel, the inconclusive Inquiry into the assassination of Walter Rodney;

v) the defining, accepting and holding out of criminals such as Andrew Douglas as Freedom Fighters; vi) the notorious ‘Blackie’ defacing of the Guyana Flag; vii) the criminal activities in Agricola, Buxton, Lindo Creek, Bartica, Lusignan; viii) the attack at the PPP Congress on the Corentyne.

We must not confuse criminalism with patriotism.

Indeed, many Guyanese viewed the upsurge of criminal activities; moreso in the post-1997 General Elections period as a clumsy and criminal attempt to overthrow the democratically elected PPP/C Government.

While I wish to join with the many Guyanese who welcome the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry and the commencement of its work, I implore that this Body be not merely a charade or distraction purposed at diverting public attention from the important and critical issues impeding development in our country.

Let the work of the Commission of Inquiry begin.

Some NDCs have complained bitterly that the REOs are deciding what projects must be done in the villages, and they are also awarding contracts for the NDCs to their friends and relatives.

Many NDCs are totally dissatisfied with the awarding of contracts by the RDC Tender Boards. Unpopular and tarnished contractors with proven, bad reputations are being handpicked and given contracts to undertake projects even though they do not have the technical capacity or equipment execute these works.

This is because these Tender Boards have as their members, an ‘all-Government cadre.’

This APNU/AFC coalition must stop with its political interference and allow the lawfully elected Councilors to do their work!!

Some of these ‘political’ thugs, who are given contracts, are referred to in the villages as the “the cutlass and spanner” con-

tractors. Worst of all, when they cannot get the job done within the required specifications, officers of the Regions would then decide to pay unnecessary variations, and they often deduct such monies from the NDCs’ subventions. The Local Government Commissioners must get their act together and make sure that these political thugs do not prevent/stymie development in the communities.

On another front, there has been announcement/s that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is about to commence the tenth round of Continuous Registration. Particularly, this measure is as a requirement for the upcoming Local Government Elections, and it comes after a long period of inactivity by GECOM. It was recently revealed that commencing February 5, 2018, the Commission would embark on a Claims and Objections Exercise, with a list already certified through the Claims and Objections period in the 9th Cycle of Continuous Registration.

There seems to be no wisdom in the latter approach, since if the most

recently updated List is not used, one would be defeating the justification for any expenditure utilized in covering the new period. Further, by law, GECOM should have commenced a Continuous Registration exercise, which is to be followed by a Claims and Objections period. They would subsequently embark on another cycle to prepare for the possible Local Government Elections by the last quarter of the year.

Additionally, information received suggests that GECOM would not be engaging additional staff for the exercises. However, one still has to be alert to the management expenses of the present staff. Prudent financial management has to be exercised to curtail unnecessary expenditures and ensure fair procurement procedures for services to be acquired and paid for. Precedence establishes the need for strong monitoring to avoid the previous favorite suppliers being offered jobs at the expense of the more qualified, to facilitate kickbacks.

(This article is prepared

by Neil Kumar, Mr. S and Mr. A)

Another PNC event hosted at State House

T

he line separating political parties and the State continues to be blurred by President David Granger who once again hosted a Peoples National Congress Reform (PNC/R) function at State House – the official residence of the Head of State.

Granger – who is the leader of the PNC/R – recently hosted members of the Forbes Burnham Foundation at the Baridi Benab at State House, where they held their Annual Fund-Raising Dinner.

This political party’s activity was funded by the State’s resources, sending

signals of the return of party paramountcy.

Last year, Granger hosted the PNC/R’s Burnham Education Scholarship Trust (TRUST) graduation ceremony at State House when it was traditionally held at Congress Place (PNC/R Headquarters) over the years.

At that event, the party’s prayer was a mandatory requirement of the programme and speakers paid tribute to the PNC, reflecting on the accomplishments of its founder, Forbes Burnham.

President Granger has been accused of attempting to

politicize State affairs.

He recently came under fire for repainting State House – a national monument – in the colour of his party which is green. He also ordered that the Ministry of the Presidency (formerly Office of the President) be repainted green.

Opposition Members of Parliament (MP) have been very vocal about this issue.

MP Priya Manickchand had pointed out that the issue is more than that of the colour, noting that it is reminiscent of the days when the PNC flag was flying over the Supreme Court.

8

WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 FEBRUARY, 2018

Fired sugar workers will lose NIS benefits ….Insurance companies next victims – Dr Ramsaroop …Sugar workers, the largest contributors, stand to lose everything - Ramsaroop

T

he National Insurance Scheme (NIS) is the next large-scale institution in guyana to go belly up - a direct result of the current management of the affairs of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), which for all intents and purposes is being sold off.

This dire prediction was outlined in an interview with Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, Economic Ddvisor to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.

“The President and/or his Finance Minister clearly did not think through the long-term impact of shutting down an entire industry, placing thousands on the breadline at the same time.”

According to Ramsaroop, “nis is already in trouble no way near to being a fiscally solid institution with its expenditure outstripping revenue in recent years along with some bad investments.”

He explained that “...The institution currently spends more than it earns and has had to regularly tap into its reserves from time to time to make basic payments, so i am extremely worried that when the euphoria of the part severance payment wears off and life sets in,

what the long term economic effects will be.”

According to Dr. Ramsaroop, the prevailing social circumstances are ripe for a large number of the laid off sugar workers and their dependent family members, in the near future—say three to five years—to make claims on the nis, since they are of the belief that their contributions would have been made

by GuySuCo. “Remember we are talking about medical benefits that these now sick and unemployed sugar workers will be looking to claim,” the financial analyst predicts wide scale chaos in the near

future when thousands of workers turn up to nis only to realise they have nothing to get.”

Based on available data, GuySuCo owes nis in excess of $1.5B in contributions from sugar workers and this, Dr. Ramsaroop said, is only compounded by the fact that GuySuCo would have been deducting as statutory payments nis contributions, but never actually making payments - something that ought to be criminal if not already in the statute books.

“Imagine you are a sugar worker who has been toiling in the sun for 30 years and every fortnight or month

GuySuCo takes out a certain sum from your salary to go towards nis so that in the future when you become sick and the decades of working the cane fields begin to take effect and you turn up to nis only to be told there are no contributions.

It is inconceivable that the Finance Minister could not have known of this repercussion.”

“Why do you think the PPP (Peoples Progressive Party) continued to subsidise the industry…it is not about votes, then Finance Minister (Dr. Ashni Singh) and the then presidents understood the implication of

shutting down that industry and its ripple effect on the other industries nationwide.

The goal was to diversify the industry to expanded value added chain. Sugar on its own was in trouble, sugar cane as high end crystals, energy source to the national grid, ethanol production and other diversification as proposed for this five year period by the PPP would have seen guyana growing more sugar cane not shutting down an entire industry” According to Ramsaroop, the legislative instrument setting up nis does provide for the Finance Minister to approach the parliament to ask for a bail out of GuySuCo. “It is back to square one, only this time you have closed down the industry which was a revenue earner and an industry that kept thousands of people employed.”

He questioned what the real state of affairs was at nis, since that organization, according to recent reports, is being buoyed only by its investment in the berbice bridge - an investment that was roundly criticized by those now in high offices and in charge of the man-

agement of the national economy, Dr. Ramsaroop reminded.

He pointed out that Minister Jordan has “time and time again demonstrated he has no clue as to what is happening in his ministry and the knock on consequences of their ad hoc decision making, which continues.”

“One only has to look at the raft of measures that they had put in place only to have them removed when the people cried out and they realised that it was making things worse, think of the vat on education, which had to be removed, think about the tributors tax on miners, which had to be revisited.”

“These people are really clueless,” Dr Ramsaroop concluded, chiding the administration over its handling of GuySuCo. He warned that “things will only get worse as those now dependent workers will continue to put a strain on social services, another cost that have to be borne on the backs of tax payers as a result of this government’s ‘card trick type’ attempts at managing a country and its economy.”

Nagamootoo and Ramjattan – Earning their epithets as traitors

By Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

E

ven as more than 300 rice farmers are threatened with lease revocation at Hope Estate unless they pay a 300 per cent increase in lease payments, more sugar workers are staring at loss of employment in the coming months. The so-called champion of the sugar workers has gone from silence to outright, despicable lying as they for the first time in over a year face the sugar workers in their communities in an obvious, sordid PR stunt; a stunt that only reinforced their traitor epithet. They have betrayed the sugar workers and the sugar workers know that.

The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change’s (APNU/AFC) messengers of ill-tidings in their PR blitz blamed the People’s Progressive Party

(PPP) and God for closure of sugar estates and loss of employment. APNU/AFC sent the ones who identified themselves pre-2015 election as the champion of the sugar workers to meet with sugar workers and explain to them why it was necessary to close sugar estates. Really, no joke, they told the sugar workers it was the PPP and God to be blamed for closure of sugar estates and the end of employment for thousands of sugar workers. The excuses made by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Security who are both Vice Presidents might sound like a bad joke, but they were nothing less than ludicrous and reprehensible.

Ramjattan wins the price for the most preposterous of the lies APNU/AFC has provided for closing estates.

He claims that God wanted

sugar to close in exchange for giving Guyana oil, that God took away sugar from us because he wanted to give us oil. This senior lawyer, an MP for more than 20 years, a Public Security Minister and a Vice President, was so desperate to give an excuse that he resorted to blaming God. He ignored that Guyana confirmed an oil find before the election 2015, at a time when the PPP was providing a blueprint for a larger sugar industry. God’s bounty of oil resulted because President Janet Jagan and the PPP signed the EXXON contract that eventually identified oil fields in our territory. There was never any wicked deal between God and Guyana to give up sugar for oil.

Nagamootoo’s explanation was as usual – premised on a despicable lie.

He claimed that the PPP

intended to and had initiated the closure of the sugar estates. In his desperation to find some way of extricating himself and APNU/ AFC, he invoked the tired and ugly PPP bogey man excuse. In fact, the PPP had promised that had they return to Government they would have invested $20 billion annually for its new term to ensure that sugar returned to its glory days. The PPP provided a blueprint to not only keep all the sugar estates open, but to expand production to 300,000 tons by 2020 and to work towards 400,000 tons of sugar and a diversified commodity portfolio, including production of bio-ethanol and energy.

To claim that APNU/AFC is now just implementing a plan of the PPP is a blatant and preposterous lie.

It is now more than 30

months since APNU/AFC has been in control of the Government. In that time, four sugar estates have been closed and more than 7000 workers employed by the Guyana Sugar Corporation and by private farmers have lost their jobs. In that time, sugar workers have not been given a wage increase for 2015, 2016 and 2017 and APNU/AFC is making it clear that there would be no wage increase for 2018 also.

It would be four successive years of zero wage increases, an unprecedented period of time for a wage freeze. In that time also, the workers were denied their legal right to Annual Production Incentives (API). Fired workers have been denied timely and full payment of their severance. Throughout all of this, APNU/AFC avoided any engagement with the workers.

Nagamootoo and Ramjattan hid from the workers. They drove past them in their luxurious convoy of vehicles.

Finally, Nagamootoo and Ramjattan, more than 30 months in Government, were forced to engage the workers. It was nothing short of a desperate PR game. They did not go voluntarily. They were shamed into going and APNU/AFC needed to show some concern and sensitivity for ripping apart the livelihoods of more than 7000 workers after the closure of four sugar estates. They entered into the grounds of the sugar workers and their families, they entered in shame and left even more disgraced. They entered as traitors and they left carrying the albatross of betrayal which they will carry with them to their graves. This will be their epithets.

Unruly

WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 FEBRUARY, 2018

The

9

Horse

Politics, Race and Sugar By: Mohabir Anil Nandlall, MP Attorney-at-Law

I

have agonized for a long time over the real reason for the closure of the sugar estates. In previous articles, I have examined the socio-economic consequences of this decision. I have concluded that it is not a decision based upon finance and economics.

Many who are far more qualified in these disciplines have come to the same conclusion.

I am further fortified in this view because the Government itself did no economic impact assessment of any kind before making its decision. The Government even ignored its own Commission of Inquiry’s Report, which did not recommend closure.

So, what then, inspired the Government to close these estates? I have concluded that the decision is rooted in politics and race.

It is common knowledge that the PNC never enjoyed the support of the sugar workers. While in Government for 28 years, the sugar workers remained its most militant opponents. However, sugar was too valuable to the economy for Forbes Burnham to have done anything drastic.

In any event, he was too wise a politician and would have understood, deeply, the political and social repercussions that would have resulted therefrom. Under an IMF programme and with a policy to reform the tattered political image of the PNC, Desmond Hoyte was left with little room to maneuver. During all these years, the sugar workers remained steadfast in their political allegiance to the PPP. From 1993, onwards, the PNC remained rooted in opposition to any measure that the PPP/C Administration implemented that would benefit the sugar workers.

Throughout those years,

they readily invoked the race card against the PPP, accusing it of ethnic and political pandering. Afrocentric figures like Lincoln Lewis, Clive Thomas, David Hinds, and Eric Philips et almade the sugar industry a fertile platform to disseminate their wild theories of racial and ethnic discrimination and marginalization.

Trojan horses

The abolition of the protective tariff regime that insulated Guyanese sugar on the world market prior 2008, presented a good basis for the PNC and others to stand upon,as they intensified their campaign against the sugar industry. Every single measure thereafter to reform, rehabilitate, reorganize and modernize the industry to meet the new challenges it would have then faced, were vehemently condemned and criticized. The $120M US investment in the Skeldon factory was peddled as doom for Guyana. This sumwas exaggerated to over $200M US. The Public Servants, Policemen, Teachers and Nurses were told that they could not get their desired increase in salaries because the Government is pumping all the monies into sugar.

The residents of Linden were persuaded that investments and job opportunities could not materialize in Region 10 because all the investments are concentratedin sugar.

The rest of the workers, were therefore, pitted against the sugar workers. The sugar workers were portrayed as the grouping who is denying other workers their fair share.

The racial undercurrents inherent in such a strategy were obvious.

When the PNC, under its new name APNU, was able to control the Tenth Parliament in collaboration with the AFC by a one-seat majority, the floor of the National Assembly was converted into a battleground against the sugar workers. Every attempt to obtain subsidies for the sugar industry was either stoutly defended or our voted down by the joint-Opposition. Budgetary allocations to sugar were repeatedly slashed from the annual budgets. Carl Greenidge labeled the industry a “black hole”.

As the 2015 elections grew closer, the position gradually softened. In partnership with the AFC, the PNC skillfully used Moses Nagamootoo and Khemraj Ramjattan as Trojan horses to work in the sugar belt. They promised the workers that there would be no closure of estates. They promised 20% increase in wages and salaries. Then Opposition Leader, Mr. David Granger, endorsed

these promises. Hundreds of sugar workers believed them.

The rest is now history.

Make them grovel

Since the PNC assumed government, it begun a clinical plan to dismantle and destroy the sugar industry.

The ideology inspiring this strategy is that dismantling the sugar industry and dislocating the workers is dismantling the PPP support base and dislocating its supporters. That is the reason why the recommendations of the COI were ignored.

That is the reason why no economic assessment was ever done. The PNC knows fully well that the social and economic cost of closing the industry is far greater than keeping the industry alive. In order to achieve this objective, the intention was to brutalize the workers.

Therefore, no increase in salaries and wages were paid in two and a half years. Working hours of workers were

progressively reduced.

When the unions made representations for increase in wages and salaries, they were told that GuySuCo is considering a reduction in wages and salaries. The Annual Performance Incentive (API) scheme was abolished. All this while, the administrative and managerial staff of GuySuCo was consistently being ethnically cleansed of Indo-Guyanese. Protests and pleas from the Parliamentary Opposition, the labour movement and the private sector fell on deaf ears. The nation was told that it costs the Treasury $10B GYD annually in subsidies to keep the estates functioning.

While the PPP was in government between 2011 and 2014, the annual subsidy was approximately $4B GYD. This sum allowed the workers to get annual increases in wages and salaries as well as their API. Without the API and with no increases in salaries and wages, this subsidy escalated to $10B GYD, annually. No one has furnished any explanation for this exponential rise. I believe that the subsidy was intentionally escalated in order to exaggerate the cost of keeping the estates open.

The President, himself, has said that his Government has spent $32B GYD in subsidies to the sugar industry so far.

Another staggering exaggeration!

Now that the estates are being closed, the turmoil and torment of the workers are far from the end. They are now made to struggle for their severance, a legal entitlement due to them upon immediate termination of their employment. After one and a half

year and armed with a High Court Order, the unions have not been able to get the severance benefits for the workers dismissed at Wales estate, as yet. We are told that the total severance benefits for all the workers are $5B GYD. This is a relatively small sum for the Government to pay. Yet, the Government is refusing to pay, claiming that it cannot afford to pay all the money at the same time. Nonsense!

The $18M US paid by ExxonMobil stashed away in the Central Bank amounts to approximately $4B GYD; the Ministry of the Presidency’s budget for this year was increased by $3B GYD; the Government pays $2B GYD annually for electricity for Linden; over $1B GYD was paid to BK International on a mere letter threatening litigation in relation to the Haagbosch dumpsite; several billions were written off in taxes for several companies; the Attorney General’s loss of cases is costing billions annually; the Government dietary expenses has increased, progressively, since 2015, by nearly $2B GYD and I can go on. Therefore, the Government can easily find $5B GYD, immediately. The non-payment is intentional.

The non-payment of the severance is designed and intended to humiliate and dehumanized the workers and their families; to make them grovel to put food on the table for their children.

The overall intention is to frustrate with the hope that the workers give up and migrate. The ultimate objective is to change the demographic and break the base of the People’s Progressive Party.

Against this backdrop, it is difficult to doubt the veracity of the WikiLeaks cable about Mr. David Granger, sent in the late 1970s, which was revealed two years ago.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 FEBRUARY, 2018

Guyana supports, Venezuela rejects UN’s referral of border controversy to ICJ

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ne day after the United Nations (UN) announced that it would be sending the border controversy between South American neighbours Guyana and Venezuela before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for a judicial settlement, Venezuela has strongly rejected the move while Guyana’s President vowed to leave no stone unturned to secure a successful outcome for the Guyanese people by utilising all the resources necessary to adequately prepare for the case.

This is despite a statement by Nicolás Maduro Administration on Wednesday criticising the decision by the UN to refer the border controversy to the World Court, maintaining that the matter should be settled through the 1966 Geneva Agreement.

“The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, faithful to its historical tradition and in accordance with the Bolivarian Diplomacy of Peace, reiterates its firm disposition to defend the territorial integrity of our homeland and maintain political negotiation based on the 1966 Geneva Accord, as the only way to reach a peaceful solution, practical and satisfactory for both parties and in favour of our peoples,” a translated statement from the Bolivian Government outlines.

According to the Venezuelan Aministration, the Geneva Agreement provides for a political settlement of the controversy between the neighbouring States, as it reiterates it strong opposition previously expressed on this means of settlement. The February 17, 1966 Agreement gave the UN Secretary General the responsibility to choose a means of peaceful resolution of the dispute and the possibility of finding another way in case it does not succeed.

“The Secretary General’s communication goes beyond the successive nature of the means of peaceful settlement established by the Geneva Agreement as a methodology established to reach an acceptable, practical and satisfactory solution to the dispute…The Geneva Agreement itself provides for the political means for the settlement of the territorial dispute. In this sense, Venezuela ratifies in a decisive and unequivocal manner

the negotiation process under these means,” it added.

The missive from Caracas went on to detail that during 2017, Venezuela maintained its historical position in the process of good offices of the UN Secretary General, privileging the high national interest and the permanent vindication of the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Venezuelan people over the territory of Essequibo, which the neighbouring State refers to as “Guayana Esequiba”.

GUYANA’S PREPARATIONS

But President David Granger maintains that Venezuela has no legitimate claim to any part of Guyana’s territory. He was adamant that the borders of the two countries were agreed upon and settled via the indisputable 1899 award.

He has also stated that Government intends to retain the “best advice” and “best legal support” for which it will be expending every legal resources to ensure that it has a “proper” defence team to finally settle the issue.

“We are taking one step at a time and we are definitely going to use every legal resource to mobilise funds to ensure that we are properly represented in the ICJ,” he told media operatives on Wednesday when asked about Guyana’s preparation in terms of its legal team.

Already Government has bargained with United States oil giant, ExxonMobil, for a US$18 million signing bonus, which it said would be used as legal fees for the defence team, which will be comprised of both local and overseas lawyers, that it plans to retain.

However, there were controversies surrounding the money since Government initially lied about receiving it over a year ago, and then it was revealed that they placed it into a special account at Central Bank instead of the Consolidated Fund, as is legally required.

This has caused much public uproar with local watchdog, Transparency International Guyana Inc (TIGI) filing legal proceedings to have the money moved into the State’s coffers.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan had said last month that when the border controversy is sent to the World’s Court, Government

would move the monies into the Consolidated Fund before making use of it.

Since Venezuela’s renewed claim to Guyana’s territory back in 2015, the coalition Government has maintained that the issue is a legal one and needed to be settled via a legal process.

After some two years of mediation, the UN on Tuesday announced in a statement that it has sent the matter to the ICJ after careful analysis of the good offices process. According to the UN’s Spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, enough progress was not made towards a solution on the controversy and as a result, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres referred the matter to the ICJ. This is in accordance with the framework left by his predecessor, Ban Ki-moon. However, Guterres did not rule out the continuation of the good offices process of the UN to complement court proceedings.

NO MORE DELAYS

In light of the UN’s long-awaited decision, the Guyana Government is aware that it will not be a swift process but is simultaneously hoping that there is not much more delay in having the case heard before the World Court since it has awaited almost 52 years to get to this stage.

“We are anxious to have this matter go before the court as quickly as possible, (but) it is not in our hands.

The court of course, like any court, has procedures and we have to abide by those procedures. But I am happy that for the first time since Independence, we have reached this far and I’m very glad that the entire country is united behind this move.

We are very confident that the award of the Tribunal in 1899 will be vindicated,” the President posited According to the Head of State, over the past two years development in the four regions along the Guyana/Venezuela border has been stymied as result of the territorial claim by the Spanish-speaking nation.

Nevertheless, President Granger is confident that the ICJ will find the border was correctly defined and demarcated since 1899 in the Arbitral Tribunal Award, which Venezuela is claiming is “null and void”. The Guyanese leader anticipates,

however, that Guyana’s successful defence of its territorial integrity will not only boost local development but investors’ confidence in Guyana especially in light of the impending oil and gas production. “(Investors) will like to know that they operate in a safe region in Guyana that is not under claim. Equally, our maritime space is a zone of extensive successful petroleum exploration so we feel that this is a good move for Guyana. The international community must know that the threat to Guyana’s territorial integrity will be removed by peaceful judicial means by the ICJ,” Granger asserted.

Moreover, President Granger posited that while Guyana has already been victim of atrocities by Venezuela, he is hoping that there would be not retaliation in light of this decision by the UN. “We’ve already been victims of unwanted migration by even soldiers and miners; we’ve been victims of violence by persons who’re destitute, looking for food; we’ve been victims of attacks by what they call “Sindicato”, which are armed gangs, and we hope that this doesn’t trigger further negative behaviour by Venezuelans. So I don’t expect that there would be objections… We hope that

the Venezuelan Government has the maturity to accept the decision of the Secretary General because sending the matter to the Secretary General was a course of action that was mutually agreed on,” the Guyanese leader asserted.

The border controversy gained new life when oil giant ExxonMobil announced in 2015 that it had found oil in Guyana. Venezuela has staunchly been against oil exploration in Guyana’s Stabroek Block, where multiple oil deposits were found by ExxonMobil, and has since laid claim to the Essequibo region, which represents two thirds Guyana’s territory.

(Guyana Times)

Quotations from Dr. Cheddi Jagan

"I

n multi-ethnic societies like Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, it is necessary to fight against racist ideology and racial stereotypes which were created and fostered by the capitalist/colonialist ruling class, and later exploited by self-serving politicians. It must be recognized that whatever our racial origin, we have a common heritage.

Our forefathers, regardless of ethnic, religious and cultural differences, watered the sugar cane with their blood, sweat and tears." 1988 "Those who see only race/ethnicity in politics in Guyana, as others who see tribalism and religion in other countries, are not viewing reality comprehensively, objectively and scientifically. In Guyana, because of the strong foreign monopoly domination by the sugar plantrocracy, the class struggle was more intense. And, although the two major racial/ethnic groups are culturally different, they are not uni-class and class different as formally the case in the colonial period in East Africa. Both groups are largely made up of working people.

As such, the PPP/Civic, with its working class sympathy and policies oriented to material and cultural fulfilment, can lay the foundation for unity in diversity." 1996 Ideology " ... I am told that I am a controversial figure. I think therefore the first duty today is to put my personal position before you as briefly and clearly as I can. ...I am, I believe, generally dismissed in this country (USA) as a Communist. That word has a variety of meanings according to the personal views of the man who makes the charge. ...But first of all, I am a passionate anti-colonialist. I, like your forefathers, believe that colonialism is wicked. I believe so strongly that colonialism is utterly wrong that I would gladly accept any help from whatever quarter to help me in my fight against it. ...I wish to see my country prosperous and developing, its people happy, well fed, well housed and with jobs to do. Second only to my passion for the independence of my people, is this dedication to their economic advancement, so that their lives may be more abundant . Now, in this I am a socialist. By this I mean that I am in favour of the workers reaping the full fruits of their labour through public ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange. ... I have won my place in the political life of my country in three successive general elections. I have not come to power by revolution or coup d’etat. I believe in parliamentary democracy, by which I recognize the rights of opposition parties, freedom of speech, freedom of worship, regular and honest elections, an impartial judiciary and an independent civil service. I have been accused of plotting the destruction of freedom in my country. The truth is that those who accused me of this have themselves been responsible for the denial of freedom to the broad masses of our people. I have struggled for these freedoms and it was I who first proposed that a Bill of Rights guaranteeing every citizen his fundamental rights, including the right to hold property, but buttressed by an appeal to the courts, be entrenched in the new constitution of British Guiana." 1961 "As a passionate anti-Colonialist, I am interested in the independence of my country - political independence; as an anti-Imperialist, I am interested in putting an end to the domination and subjection of the economy of my country; as the Democrat, I am interested in preserving the liberties and freedom of the people - not only in preserving but in enlarging them; as a Socialist, I am interested in the creation of a new society which will lay the basis for the end of exploitation... It is because I have stood up for the working-class, that they have voted for me. I have not put a bayonet on their backs and said " Come vote for me . I am interested in creating a free Guiana and a new society – a society free from exploitation, a society of equality and brotherhood where truly human relationships will prevail." 1961

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WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 FEBRUARY, 2018

“Commission into the PNC-inspired killings of the 2000’s” Comments by Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo

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or the past 32 months, I, like other Guyanese, have heard about the likelihood of a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the crime wave of the 2000’s. And like other Guyanese, I recognise that the Granger-led Government only raises this issue when it is cornered on its incompetence and corruption in office. I have noticed the moves by the state-owned Guyana Chronicle to dub the Commission as the ‘Jagdeo-era killings CoI’. However, I am of the view that a more apt description would be a 'Commission into the PNC-inspired killings of the 2000’s'.

I have also noticed Minister Harmon’s comments about several inquiries, as opposed to a comprehensive CoI into the crime wave. I believe that no inquiry will be complete unless there is a comprehensive review of what took place and who the operatives were, particularly the political operatives.

Moving forward, if what Minister Harmon has said is to be taken at face value – “This is about issues of fact and for the Commission to determine what happened, when it happened, who was involved and, therefore, what action needs to be taken” – then there are many questions that have to be answered. What was the level of support, moral and material, which was extended to criminals by certain PNC political operatives? How did guns, which were stolen or given out to the PNC, at a time when Granger was prominently positioned in the GDF, surface in the hands of criminals years later? Where are the 155 high-powered military weapons that were loaned to the PNC’s Ministry of National Development?

You would recall that in August 2014, Lieutenant Colonel Sydney James, who spent three days at the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on the witness stand, testified and submitted documentation to show that the GDF had loaned these

weapons to the PNC? What were the roles of current government ministers and presidential advisors, who held leadership positions in the armed forces, in compromising the ability of our security forces to apprehend politically supported criminals? What was the political involvement in Buxton when women and children were organised to block members of the security forces from entering Buxton in April 2002? When will we see an inquiry into the theft of ballot boxes at a time when Granger, who has publicly identified himself as a PNC member for 52 years, served in a key GDF position? When will we see an inquiry into the death of the ballot box martyrs at a time when current top government officials were entrenched in the GDF? When will we see an inquiry into the post1997 elections violence, including the ‘slow fiah, mo fiah’ campaign, the burning of buildings, the looting of businesses, the beating of innocent people and the sexual abuse of women?

I have seen too Minister Harmon’s reluctance to give specifics on periods or issues related to the crime wave that will be focused on. I believe that not wanting a comprehensive inquiry is an act of desperation by the Coalition Government to polarize our society. Having failed to deliver on their promises of ‘clean government’, jobs for young people, etc. the Granger-cabal is returning to ‘old politics’ to polarize our society. Guyanese society has known and remembers the efforts by the PNC to polarize our people. If anyone has an apology to make to our Afro-Guyanese community, it is the Granger-cabal that allowed a village, which was known for its progressive attributes, to be captured and held hostage by criminals and allowed the atrocities committed on many of the young men and women of that village. They should apologise to the victims of Bartica, Lusignan and Lindo Creek.

They should apologise to those massacred in Agricola; one remembers the infamous

Guyana got shafted in oil deal ‒ losing out US$29B says OGGN

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esearch conducted by the Oil and Gas Governance Network (OGGN), a group of financial analysts, accountants and economists, reveals that Guyana has sold its oil at US$29B below market value.

The group was started in 2017 with the aim of informing the public about oil matters in Guyana and advocating for transparency and accountability in the Guyana’s emerging oil and gas sector.

According to the entity in a press statement on Monday, “in the last several years, ExxonMobil’s return on capital has been around 16%. A similar rate of return on the Guyana oil fields would give ExxonMobil US$63 billion based on ExxonMobil’s current estimate of 3.2 billion barrels of oil. Instead the Petroleum Agreement signed by Minister Trotman will give ExxonMobil and its partners around US$92 billion!”

It was explained that with Guyana’s population of 775,000, this deal with ExxonMobil and partners will cost every Guyanese citizen – man, woman and child –

about $US37,400 each.

“The average salary for a Guyanese worker is US$4,000 per annum. The Guyanese working population will have to work an extra 15 years to replace the money that should have come in from their oil. That money should have gone straight into the bank accounts of the Guyanese people so they could pay for housing, food, water, electricity, education, and other basic necessities” said the OGGN. “How can any government defend a deal that is so palpably contrary to the national interest?” they questioned.

Moreover, it was stated that in the last three years, ExxonMobil’s rate of return on its capital has hovered around 6 per cent.

According to the OGGN “the Government appears to have been totally unaware of the market for oil and the opportunities for securing a better deal for Guyana. A rate of return of 6.7% for ExxonMobil and its partners on the Guyana assets would have given Guyana a massive additional US$53Bn.”

The OGGN maintains that the sums lost through Guyana’s Petroleum Agreement could have aided in the development of Guyana’s intellectual capital, which it says it critical to the development of any country.

Highlighting that 87 per cent of Guyana’s graduates leave within a few years of graduation, the OGGN said that the Government of Guyana “has meekly handed over to ExxonMobil and its partners trillions of Guyanese dollars that could and should have been spent on creating an enabling environment for the full economic, social and intellectual development of the Guyanese people and the protection of Guyana’s globally significant biodiversity.”

Additionally, they posited that the Government of Guyana’s Petroleum Agreement is based on an oil price of US$50, noting that as the price goes up (Brent Crude is currently US$70) the deal gets worse for the people of Guyana.

“On an IMF graph, which shows how an increase in oil prices affects what an oil-producing country gets, Guyana’s deal is right at the bottom – even below Trini-

dad and Tobago.”

As such, the entity called for the Petroleum Agreement to be re-negotiated.

“There is no doubt that the Petroleum Agreement should be renegotiated, notwithstanding Minister Trotman’s refusal to accept the obvious from the figures. The Minister’s continued inability to grasp how bad a deal this is for Guyana must surely exclude him from any further activity in the petroleum sector” the OGGN said.

In January of this year ExxonMobil announced its second biggest single oil reservoir find to date in Guyana’s waters, the discovery of 230 feet of high quality oil in its Ranger-1 well within the Stabroek Block.

According to ExxonMobil the well was at the time being drilled by the Stena Carron drillship. Work on the Ranger-1 well had started last November and it was drilled to over 6000 feet before Exxon made its discovery.

The discovery of oil in this well is Exxon’s sixth in local waters since 2015.

It is estimated that all these discoveries add up to more than 3.2 billion recoverable oil-equivalent barrels.

conversation between senior public officials, who are current ministers in the Coalition Government, in an attempt to divert attention from themselves. They should apologise to all the other victims of the criminals they labeled as ‘Freedom Fighters'. The fact is that many of the current leaders in the Coalition Government were complicit in many of these crimes. Guyanese still recall their publicly announced quest to make the country un-governable – a declaration made in Buxton.

For political gain, the polarization of our people was the driving force of ‘old politics’.

I have already made available to the media and publicly gone through the list of 400 young black men, which was circulated by the PNC, and shown that the authors of that list unashamedly included the names of victims of the crime wave, civilians and members of the security forces, both Indo and Afro-Guyanese. Now that number has been mysteriously increased to 1,431 by Minister Harmon! A credibly

constituted Commission of Inquiry, staffed by international jurists, will expose the intellectual authors behind the crime wave of the 2000’s, including the political operatives who were involved.

As I have said before, I welcome the announcement that the Commission of Inquiry will finally be established. With the questions I have raised in mind, my offer to provide an input in the crafting of the Terms of Reference for the Commission remains available. This is providing that the Coalition Government is interested in ensuring that such an issue is dealt with in a bi-partisan manner.

I maintain that once a Commission is credibly constituted it will be supported by the PPP/C. In the meantime, I am of the view that our people must not be distracted by this, more so as the acts of corruption, failures and incompetence under the Coalition Government continue to be exposed by the political Opposition.

AFC standing behind rogue Seetaram …party GS says assault allegations are “hearsay” until judgement is passed

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eneral Secretary (GS) of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Marlon Williams on Monday said that the allegations of assault against Region 5 Councillor Abel Seetaram are “hearsay” and until judgement is passed no disciplinary actions will be taken [by the party] against him.

“All of this is hearsay. No judgement and should there be judgement, then we will cross that bridge when it comes,” he told INews during a telephone interview.

Nevertheless, Williams encouraged “everyone” to embrace the legal path to pursue justice wherever they may feel it is necessary.

“Like all political parties around the world, our members are expected to uphold the law and of course we will have people with personal issues…We continue to encourage the use of the judicial system, we encourage the rule of law and following the rule of law,” he noted.

Embattled Executive Member of the AFC, Abel Seetaram on January 24, 2018 appeared at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court charged with wounding his cousin, who is a plantain chip vendor.

It is alleged that on Sunday, January 21 at Number 11

Village, West Coast Berbice, Seetaram wounded Nateram Rabindranauth.

Magistrate Rhondel Weaver granted Seetaram bail in the sum of G$100,000 on the felonious wounding charge and ordered that he returns to court on February 7, 2018.

It had been reported that the two men had an altercation which led to the incident.

It was also alleged that Seetaram and his son inflicted a series of blows on the father of one. The embattled politician’s wife was also part of the fracas.

Seetaram who is no stranger to controversy was on May 30, 2016, fired from his post as Special Representative to the Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo.

Back then, a release was issued stating that the Office of the Prime Minister has “terminated with immediate effect the services of Abel Seetaram as Regional Representative of the Office of the Prime Minister for Region 5.”

Reports are that his firing came on the heels of comments he made on social media, where he lashed out at the AFC for “disrespecting him” after members of the party held an outreach without including him.

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More scandals unearthed in oil

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ections of the local media have exposed yet another scandalous situation as regards government’s agreement with American oil giant ExxonMobil. This time it was revealed that bills for luxury hotels, first class plane tickets and exquisite meals will form part the ‘cost’ to produce oil in Guyana. These will be considered expenses and will be deducted before profits are declared.

Concerns are being raised about the Government’s ability to verify the expenses ExxonMobil may say it incurred to produce the oil. PSAs usually detail what can be accounted for in cost recovery. Across the board, equipment to be used for drilling, seismic surveys and workforce is covered in

cost oil. The more items that the government agrees can be accounted for in cost oil will result in a higher bill.

The higher the expenses, the lesser the profits will be for Guyana to collect. There have been cases around the world of companies padding the bill for cost oil in order to secure higher profits for themselves.

Recently, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson explained the extent to which cost recovery goes for Guyana.

He explained that updates are given every two to three months. For this reason, a team from ExxonMobil either comes from Texas to Guyana or a team of Ministers from Guyana goes to Texas.

“I can confirm to you that

ExxonMobil paid for travelling and accommodation.”

“There are persons who may say that that (the trip) will influence us; but the reality is that it is (part of the) cost recovery.”

“If Exxon brings its entire team to Guyana, it goes in as cost recovery. If they send us and they pay, it all goes into cost recovery. That is how oil deals are done, whatever expense they incur it goes into cost recovery.

Therefore, if they come every two to three months (the price for) all of that will be in the cost recovery which is part of the contract.”

Patterson then said that most of the content of the Contract signed between Guyana and ExxonMobil is in the public domain. “There is nothing secret. The issue

about this contract has been aired over and over and I suspect it will continue to go over and over until the advisors and Exxon say it is okay to release the contract.”

Patterson said that the inquiring minds of the press may suspect there are some secret clauses in the contract “but there is not.”

“There is a non-disclosure clause in the contract and that is one reason why it cannot be released.”

There are several other aspects of the contract that have been severely criticized. Apart from the scandal surrounding the US$18 million “bonus” paid to the government by Exxon, it is being touted that Guyana could have received a much more significant sum as happened in other countries.

Guyana, Cuba to increase trade, cooperation T he signing of an agreement for the export of Guyana’s rice to Cuba and the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Cuba has set the stage for increased trade and collaboration between the two States.

President David Granger said that this level of cooperation is of vital importance to advancing Guyana’s green agenda and overall economic development, declaring that this country will continue to stand in solidarity with Cuba.

Speaking at the Accreditation of Mr. Narciso Reinaldo Armador Soeorro as the new Ambassador of Cuba to Guyana, the Head of State said that the cultural agreement, signed between Guyana’s Ministry of Education and Cuba’s Ministry of Culture will also help to advance cooperation in the arts in sport.

Moreover, the President noted that Guyana welcomes the support of the Cuban Government for the establishment of a Regional Training

Centre, which will cater to the needs of children, adolescents and young people with special educational needs associated with disabilities.

“Guyana and Cuba share a close, cordial relationship characterised by friendship, frequent [and] fruitful exchanges, political and economic solidarity and tangible programmes of cooperation.

Guyana’s national development, particularly in the fields of education, culture, and health, has benefitted immeasurably from Cuba’s cooperation and contribution over the decades,” the President said.

Cuban Ambassador Mr. Narciso Reinaldo Armador Soeorro carried out the customary wreath-laying exercise at the Independence Arch on Brickdam [Ministry of the Presidency photo] The local health sector, in particular, has been boosted by the dividends of Guyana-Cuba relations. The President pointed out that Cuba continues to provide a large number of scholarships in the fields of agriculture, engineering and medicine to

Guyanese students and young professionals. Additionally, Cuban professionals, who work in the local healthcare system, continue to provide medical care and attention to Guyanese.

“Guyana looks forward to deepening and expanding cooperation with the Republic of Cuba during your tenure as Ambassador,” the Head of State told the new Ambassador.

The President also informed Ambassador Soeorro that Guyana looks forward to the full implementation of the Second Protocol to Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement between the Republic of Cuba and the Caribbean Community which was signed in Georgetown late last year.

In 1972, Guyana led efforts by Caribbean states to break the diplomatic isolation of Cuba in this hemisphere; establishing diplomatic relations with that country.

President Granger said that Guyana still holds firmly to that position, which it took 45 years ago.

“Guyana’s stands in sol-

idarity with the Government and people of Cuba in its resistance to economic aggression. We stand in support of the right of Cuba to determine its own destiny free from provocation and intimidation,” he said.

Ambassador Soeorro replaces Mr. Julio Cesar Gonzalez Marchante, whose tour of duty ended in December last year. The new Ambassador said that Cuban nation will always remember with gratitude, the four Caribbean nations, including Guyana, who together, took the first fundamental step at ending the diplomatic and commercial siege against his country.

“The Cuban Government and the people are deeply grateful to our Guyanese brothers and sisters for the permanent support for the resolution of the blockade against Cuba,” he said.

Prior to the accreditation ceremony, which was held at State House, the new Ambassador met with Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, who is currently performing the functions of Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Mexico awards 19 offshore blocks - hopes for $93B investment

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exico has awarded 19 offshore blocks to 11 companies at its bidding round for deepwater acreage held on Wednesday.

The country will get $525 million from the winning offers submitted for acreage in Perdido Belt, Cordilleras Mexicanas and Salina Basin.

In the bidding round where the international oil companies took part either alone or as part of consortia, or both, Shell took nine of the nineteen blocks awarded, followed by Petronas which took six blocks. Eighteen companies took part.

Shell was a winning bidder for five blocks in the Perdido Beld, and four blocks Salina Basin area.

Perdido Belt, sitting near the U.S. Gulf Coast covering a total area of 18,757.9 square kilometers, had nine blocks on offer, Shell took five of those, as part of consortia. Three of the nine blocks received no bids.

In the Salina Basin area, off Veracruz’s and Tabasco’s coasts, Shell took four blocks, followed by Petronas which took three blocks in the area, 2 alone and one in consortium with Repsol and Thai PTTEP.

In Cordileras Mexicanas or Mexian Ridges area, located off the coast of Veracruz CNH awarded four blocks, out of ten available. Petronas took three of the four blocks, as part of consoria with Ophir, Repsol, and PTTEP, while Pemex took one block.

Mexico had offered 29 offshore blocks. Ten blocks received no bids. Apart from the already mentioned Shell and Petronas, Eni, Chevron, Qatar Petroleum, Pemex, Repsol, Petronas, Ophir, PTTEP, Inpex, and Sierra Nevada E&P also acquired acreage in this round.

Worth noting, BP, Total, Statoil, CNOOC, ONGC, and BHP Billiton did not manage acquire acreage in this round.

Mexican oil and gas regulator CNH seemed pleased with the result, saying the participation confirmed the interested that „companies of great capacity and international prestige have for investing in Mexico, which strengthens and makes the hydrocarbons sector of our country more competitive.“ CNH estimates that total investment over the lifetime of these contracts could amount to 92.8 billion dollars.

WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 FEBRUARY, 2018

Lindo Creek COI has political objective – PPP

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he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) notes the appointment of Retired Justice, Donald Trotman, as the sole Commissioner on the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the June 2008 deaths of eight miners – Dax Arokium, Cedric Arokium, Compton Speirs, Horace Drakes, Clifton Wong, Lancelot Lee, Bonny Harry and Nigel Torres – whose burnt remains were discovered on June 21, 2008, at the Lindo Creek mining camp.

The Party also notes the unilateral establishment of the Commission of Inquiry, like others named under the Granger-led Government, and wishes to underscore the deviation from the former PPP/C Administration’s approach to ensure that such undertakings were done in a bipartisan manner.

It appears that this Commission was established with a political objective. Due to the partisan approach in establishing the Commission, which does not inspire trust and confidence, persons with vital information may be reluctant to come forward.

The PPP would find it difficult to participate given the nature of the Commission’s establishment, including the decision to start an inquiry with the incidents at Lindo Creek, as opposed to a more comprehensive review of the crime wave. Additionally, the Party wishes to register its concerns about the obvious conflict of interest in naming a Commissioner, who is the father of a sitting Cabinet Minister and Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), one of the partners of the Coalition Government.

This move speaks volumes about the nepotistic

tendencies of the current Administration. The Party is also concerned that only one Commissioner has been named on such a sensitive Commission. Additionally, the Order signed by President Granger, which establishes the Commission, names its members and defines its Terms of Reference, remain a mystery, since it has not been published, as required by law, in the Official Gazette up to the time of Mr Trotman’s swearing-in.

There are also concerns about Minister Joseph Harmon’s comments – that the Commission would have to determine whether any senior officer should be sent on leave during the period of the inquiry (Demerara Waves – January 31, 2018) – since it seems to indicate clearly that the APNU+AFC Coalition Government is hell-bent on going after the joint-services and leaders that do not seem to ‘fall in line’ with the agenda of this authoritarian government.

Minister Harmon’s statement seems to preempt the actions of the Commission, even before it commences its work. We have seen similar witch-hunting of top officials of our security forces, following the establishment of the Paul Slowe Commission of Inquiry and the government’s interference in the Police Service Commission’s promotion of senior police officers. The PPP wishes to make clear that it will vehemently reject any attempts to erode the level of professionalism of Guyana’s security forces and the undermining of the functions of the civilian law enforcement authorities of Guyana. January 31, 2018. (PPP Statement)

Region 2 schools unhealthy, a negative impact on the school unsafe system since the “insanitary”

A

recent engagement with head teachers in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) has unearthed wide-ranging challenges that extend to the insanitary conditions under which educators work and students receive their education.

The concerns were highlighted by Region Two Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Chairman Devanand Ramdatt, who disclosed that leaking roofs, as well as bee, termite and bat infestations; the need for landfilling and drainage, fencing and repairs to washrooms were among the issues plaguing schools in his district.

Ramdatt specifically identified the challenges of the Reliance Nursery School, where reports surfaced that “snakes usually come into the school compound”.

It was explained that the school requires repairs to solar panels and invertors. Ramdatt observed that once this many issues persist, they would have

conditions are “unhealthy and unsafe” and would result in a loss of teaching hours.

“Parents and guardians [have] to provide funds to aid in repairs and maintenance,” the Region Two Chairman pointed out.

He stated that the matter has been engaging the RDC whereby it was recommended that a timely intervention be made by the Regional Executive Officer (REO) and the engineering department to address the concerns.

The RDC further noted the absence of a maintenance schedule for schools and their infrastructure, and there was a reactionary approach by the engineering department to complaints and the numerous requests to do repairs and maintenance. The Council further observed that capital and current projects should be implemented during the August vacation and school holidays when staff and students are not in school.

STRAIGHT TALK Hope for Oil 13

WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 FEBRUARY, 2018

By CheddiJagan 1968.12.10

lems of such dependency.

SCIENTIFIC

O

nce again the PNC regime is putting its hope on oil. Some time ago, President L. F. S. Burnham told the people that by 1984 Guyana would be producing oil.

The emphasis is on the attraction of oil companies from abroad. We are told that an understanding has been reached between the Guyana Natural Resources Agency and the joint oil group - London and Scottish Marine Oil Company (LASMO) and the Broken Hill Propriety (BHP).

Reserves Guyanese must keep their fingers crossed and accept this, like so many other hopeful pronouncements, with several grains of salt.

Remember the Mazaruni hydro-electric and alumina smelter project? That also went down the drain, with nearly $100 million wasted.

And the workers paid the price.

When the government did not pay the $14aday

minimum wage in 1979, the government slogan was: Do -you want $14 or Mazaruni?

Oil companies, big ones, had come here soon after the PNC took power In December 1964. But nothing came out of their explorations.

They said they did not find any oil. Whether that was so or not is debatable. The big transnational corporations sometimes do not disclose even to governments what they find, especially in the field of mineral resources.

Generally, they are looking not at the economy and wellbeing of the country in which theygo, but for reserves, in keeping with the future long term needs of the developed capitalist countries.

UNFAVOURABLE

The present world oil situation is not very favourable.

There is a glut and cheap oil.

Consequently, US Imports Increased by 13% while its domestic production fell from 9M to 8.3M barrels, with a big drop in exploration. The oilproducing states are facing aserious crisis, with bankruptcies and factory closures; oil rigs are being dismantled and sold for scrap. This led former US Energy Secretary James Schlesinger to tell the US Energy Committee that the United States was sowing the seeds of the next energy crisis.

The OPEC countries have also cut domestic production and exports. Oil-producing

countries like Venezuela and Trinidad are facing grave financial problems.

It Is unlikely therefore that the big oil companies will facilitate oil exploration and development in Guyana to the detriment of their own national interests. And even ifthey come, they will virtually write their own terms; exploitation will be rampant.

OPEC countries will also not favour other third world countries producing oil and entering the world market CONFLICT

One may argue, however, that we will be producing oil to meet our own domestic market. Well, that is a good objective. But the foreign

oil companies, which we are trying toattract, will not be interested in producing only for a limited local market.

They will see this as unprofitable. They will want to export the surplus to our domestic requirements. This is likely to bring our country into conflict with OPEC oil producers, which have been trying to limit production.

Our oil policy must therefore be so formulated that we can have national development without the political and other problems which will face us in the future. We cannot put our trust on the giantoil monopolies and on dependency on Western capitalist markets. Oil producing Venezuela and Trinidad are good reminders of the prob-

Years ago, Soviet geologists had told the PPP government that there was every indication of oil In Guyana. They recommended an approach to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for further technical assistance to pursue a series of scientific tests. The PNC-UF coalition government abandoned this approach and under imperialist diktat, brought in the transnational oil companies.

Experience teaches not toplace reliance on these western foreign monopolies. The recent price Increase on which the government is placing its optimism is due mainly to a cut in oil production by OPEC. Instead of putting all our hopes on oil, we must put our house in order. The bottlenecks on our traditional products and exports must be removed. We must have a democratic regime and better economic relations with the socialist camp.

AG mis-representing law school issue – Nandlall G

overnment’s proposed plan to establish a law school here has been questioned since there are concerns over whether the process being used is the right one, and if on establishing this school, Guyanese will have a recognised qualification to practise law throughout the Caribbean.

Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall said the issue was a straightforward one that has been made ambiguous, complex and confusing by the alleged lies being peddled by his successor, Basil Williams, who has, in fact, given several different statements regarding the same issue.

One major concern for Nandlall is the move taken by Williams to proceed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with what he described as two unrecognised institutions.

The former AG told Guyana Times that he believes Williams also misrepresented to Cabinet that he obtained permission from the Council of Legal Education (CLE) to establish a law school in Guyana.

“I believe that he didn’t

even know that he had to have permission from CLE. When I pointed that out to him through the press publicly, he said yes. That’s the first lie he told. Now to cover up that lie, he has been lying consistently and persistently ever since,” Nandlall opined.

In fact, the CLE did indicate that Guyana was not granted permission although the Attorney General declared several times that Guyana did obtain permission in 2017.

Nandlall said this was a clear case of Government putting the “cart before the horse”.

Williams has attacked CLE Chairman Reginald Armour, claiming that he (Armour) responded to a request from Nandlall to have the matter of Guyana establishing a law school put on the CLE agenda.

In his defence, Nandlall said he did write the CLE Chairman questioning him whether he was aware that Guyana was establishing a law school. The former Minister also sought to find out whether permission was granted and whether the CLE had in fact authorised Guyana to establish such a law school.

“The CLE responded to me and said we are surprised as you are, because we haven’t given any permission.

And we (CLE) are the regulatory body in relation to setting up law schools,” Nandlall told this publication, explaining that is how the matter was discussed at the CLE meeting.

The former Minister said it was not his intention to block any development that Government may seek but to ensure that if a law school was established here, students would be able to get a recognised qualification.

He said, “I suppose the feasibility study will answer a few questions in relation to whether there is a need for such a school, what is the extent and nature of the need that will determine the capacity… or whether there is need for a law school, the programmes and qualifications,” he added.

Nandlall maintains that if Government is going about establishing a law school, then it should be done in stages.

While the AG has named Guyana’s committee for the setting-up of the law school,

he said he was not yet ready to inform the CLE. Government announced in January 2017 it would start a project to establish the JOF Haynes Law School of

the Americas. This school is being established through a public-private partnership entered into between the Government of Guyana, the Law School of the Americas

(LCA) and the University College of the Caribbean (UCC), and will add to the existing options available to holders of a Bachelor of Laws (LLB).

Good Life turns into...

The article goes on to say “[f]ollowing GAWU and NAACIE’s acceptance of Government’s proposal to pay redundant workers severance in two parts”. This statement is both disturbing and patently untrue.

It seems the Kaieteur News, for reasons best known to itself, has ignored completely our statements in which we clarified and completely debunked this figmental contention.

On this score, we wish to quote what Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan told the National Assembly on January 19, 2018 when he moved the Supplementary Estimate in relation to the workers severance payments:“Mr Chairman, I would like…to indicate that following a meeting with Members of the Cabinet subsequent to the moving of this paper in Cabinet, we had indicate that following a meeting this morning with the union, we put an amending proposals to the unions. I am not saying that it was accepted but we did put it to them”. From the Minister’s utterances, he is clearly saying that we did not accept the Government’s proposal on the severance pay matter.

As we have repeated ad nauseam, both

(From page 4)

GAWU and NAACIE reiterated that the severance payment must be made at once in keeping with the laws and the practice that has prevailed. Moreover, we told the Government delegation that the workers expected to receive their payments at once in keeping with comments in the media by the Minister of Agriculture, among others. Furthermore, to agree to any other alternative arrangement would not only be contrary to our public position and our members’ legitimate expectation but would also set a wrong precedent which we cannot countenance.

While, at this time, the PM chooses to engage in petty politicking at the same time thousands of our compatriots are facing the daunting reality of a jobless life; a life where their dreams have turned to nightmares, and where they see all that they worked for slipping away. Today the euphoric ‘Good Life’ has metamorphosed in a ‘Dark Reality’ Yours sincerely, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

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WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 FEBRUARY, 2018

Cane-cutters have little benefit from job fair W

hile the Private Sector Commission (PSC) – organised job fair for retrenched sugar workers was a massive success in terms of the turnout, there was little opportunity available for cane-cutters and other field workers to gain reemployment.

Chairman of the PSC, Eddie Boyer said there are over

800 vacancies from the 22 companies that participated in the activity but most of the opportunities are for skilled or semi-skilled workers.

Majority of the cane-cutters and other field workers who were laid off when the APNU+AFC Government shut down the Wales Sugar Estate are unskilled workers, only specialized in the sugar

industry.

Many do not know any other skill and they have not been afforded the opportunity to learn a new talent, craft or trade.

Some participating companies and agencies are Roraima Airways, the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Beharry Group of Companies, Sterling Products Limited, Gizmos and

Gadgets, among others.

Some former workers who spoke to Citizens Report expressed that they do not have any qualifications and therefore are uncertain if the companies will hire them.

At the job fair, scores of ex-workers showed up to interact with representatives from the companies with the hope of finding a job.

The workers said life has been a struggle for them since they were laid off, noting that they had to cut down their spending significantly and do several “hustles� to earn some cash.

Several Opposition Parliamentarians showed up at the job fair to interact with the workers and assess the success of the initiative.

Opposition Leader and PPP General Secretary, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo in brief comments commended the PSC for taking the initiative on their own to assist the cane-cutters.

In the same breath, he blasted the Government for not taking any initiative to provide alternative employment or even engage with the sugar workers. (Citizens Report)

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WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 FEBRUARY, 2018

Wales workers call on Government to honour severance obligation

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ane cutters from Wales Estate that was closed for more than a year ago staged a picketing exercise outside of the Ministry of the Presidency and outside of the High Court today (February 01, 2018). The picketers represent the 350-odd cane cutters who have been made redundant due to an ill-considered and callous closure of the estate and who have been denied their legally-entitled severance payments since the estate was closed in December, 2016. The Wales workers were the first victims of the Government’s heartless plans to minimize, irrationally, the sugar industry and who are being pressured by the state-owned Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) to take up work at Uitvlugt Estate, more than 20 miles away from Wales.

GuySuCo’s demand on the workers travelling to Uitvlugt is contrary to the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act (TESPA). The GAWU recognizing the sugar company’s intransigence and in an effort

to protect the beleaguered workers’ rights, was forced to take the issue to Court for judicial determination in March, 2017. Dismayingly, despite the importance of the matter and representations by the Union’s Attorney-at-Law, several months have gone by and a date for the hearing is still to be fixed by the High Court.

Separately, in late-July 2017, workers appealed to President David Granger to intervene to have their severance pay matter settled. The workers in their letter to President Granger shared the difficulties they face since the closure of the estate and the challenges they would have going to work at Uitvlugt. The workers committed in their letter to President Granger that should he undertake to have the matter settled they would advise the Union to withdraw its court action.

The President responded to the workers in early August, 2017, informing that he had referred the matter to Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder

for his attention and that the workers would hear from the Minister. Upsettingly, despite the President’s assurance, Minister Holder never contacted the workers and in early January, 2018 they, once again, wrote to President Granger and have yet to hear from him.

Moreover, Minister Holder informed the National Assembly also on January 19 that no provision has been made for the workers since the matter is engaging the Courts. Though Minister Holder is aware of the workers undertaking to the President to have the matter withdrawn should their request be positively addressed, the Minister, nevertheless, has chosen to keep the pressure on. The workers are at a loss as to the reason to further punish them and in so doing deny them their lawful entitlement.

While GuySuCo claims that the workers are required to assist at Uitvlugt, experience has proven otherwise.

For instance, during the 2017 second crop, Uitvlugt’s

cane-cutting workforce managed to harvest all of the estate’s cane several weeks before the crop came to an end. In fact, the Uitvlugt cane cutters assisted to harvest canes at East Demerara Estate. From all appearances, there isn’t sufficient work for the Wales cane cutters and, therefore, were they to work at Uitvlugt, apart from the hardships arising from the unconscionable distance, they would not have sufficient work which will severely impact their earnings and obviously their standard-of-living.

For the GAWU, it is disheartening to recognise the clearly discriminatory treatment that has been meted out to this group of displaced workers who are being denied their severance pay though the law is clearly on their side. The sad situation has been prolonged for too long and our Union joins with the distressed workers and their families to demand that GuySuCo honour its obligations to them. (GAWU Press Release)

Press Statement by Ministry of Foreign Affairs on decision by United Nations Secretary-General on border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela

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uyana welcomes the decision of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to refer the controversy between Guyana and Venezuela to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Guyana has always held the view that the ICJ is the appropriate forum for the peaceful and definitive settlement of the controversy, and is pleased that that view has prevailed under the process developed by both Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

Guyana will not allow factors extraneous to the controversy to influence its referral to the Court; but it will continue the advancement of peaceful relations with Venezuela whose people are the brothers and sisters of Guyanese. In this context, Guyana acknowledges the Secretary General’s suggestions for the immediate future.

That Guyana has stood firm against Venezuela’s attempt to re-open a territorial boundary settled and recognised for half a century before its independence, and done so despite the manifest unequal strengths between the two countries, is to our national credit. Guyana, as one of the world’s small developing countries, is pleased that its reliance on the rule of law internationally has been the underpinning of its national sovereignty.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs January 30, 2018 STATEMENT ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON THE BORDER CONTROVERSY BETWEEN GUYANA AND VENEZUELA [SCROLL DOWN FOR SPANISH VERSION]

The longstanding border controversy between the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela arose as a result of the Venezuelan contention that the Arbitral Award of 1899 about the frontier between British Guiana and Venezuela is null and void. In the Geneva Agreement of 1966, Guyana and Venezuela conferred upon the Secretary-General the power and responsibility to choose a means of peaceful settlement from amongst those contemplated in Article 33 of the Charter of the United Nations. The Geneva Agreement also provides that if the means so chosen does not lead to a solution of the controversy, the Secretary-General is

to choose another means of settlement.

Former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon communicated to the parties on 15 December 2016 a framework for the resolution of the border controversy based on his conclusions on what would constitute the most appropriate next steps. Notably, he concluded that the Good Offices Process, which had been conducted since 1990, would continue for one final year, until the end of 2017, with a strengthened mandate of mediation.

He also reached the conclusion that if, by the end of 2017, his successor, Secretary-General António Guterres, concluded that significant progress had not been made towards arriving at a full agreement for the solution of the controversy, he would choose the International Court of Justice as the next means of settlement, unless the Governments of Guyana and Venezuela jointly requested that he refrain from doing so.

In early 2017, Secretary-General Guterres appointed a Personal Representative, Mr. Dag Halvor Nylander, who engaged in intensive high-level efforts to seek a negotiated settlement to the controversy.

The Secretary-General has carefully analysed developments in 2017 in the good offices process and has concluded that significant progress has not been made toward arriving at a full agreement for the solution of the controversy. Accordingly, the Secretary-General has fulfilled the responsibility that has fallen to him within the framework set by his predecessor in December 2016, and has chosen the International Court of Justice as the means to be used for the solution of the controversy.

In reaching this decision, the Secretary-General has also reached the conclusion that Guyana and Venezuela could benefit from the continued good offices of the United Nations through a complementary process established on the basis of the powers of the Secretary-General under the Charter of the United Nations.

The Secretary-General, in accordance with the principles of the United Nations, remains committed to accompany both States as they seek to overcome their differences regarding this border controversy. (Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General)

Private sector wants partnership with Gov’t in taking over Enmore Estate T he Private Sector Commission (PSC) wants to set up a Special Purpose Company with the Government to manage the operations of the Enmore Estate on the East Coast of Demerara.

According to a proposal submitted to the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) which is managing the divestment of the sugar industry, the PSC suggested that investors acquire at least 51% of the equity in the Enmore Estate while the Government will be limited to 49%.

Chairman of the Commission, Eddie Boyer told the News Room during an interview that there are a number of business officials within the entity who are interested in taking over the estate.

“We have what you call an Agriculture Sub-Committee and there are companies that belong to that Sub-Committee, there are individuals who belong to the agriculture sector, big businesses and they saw the need that the proposal should be taken to Government,” the PSC Chairman said.

Boyer added that “we will have to form a company with this group of people.”

Boyer said if the proposal is approved, the Commission will engage other interested parties to form the Special Purpose Company.

The proposal basically seeks to promote the com-

plete the privatization of the Enmore Estate whereby Government ownership will be phased out after a number of years.

Boyer said this will encourage private investors to take complete ownership of the management of the estate.

The proposal was submitted in September 2017 to the Special Purpose Unit.

He expressed hope that the proposal is accepted and that privatization occurs sooner rather than later, in the interest of the retrenched workers’ welfare.

Private sector officials recently assured retrenched workers that once the private sector takes control of the Enmore Estate, they can regain employment.

Boyer said he is aware that other companies have submitted proposals for the Enmore Estate but he believes the Private Sector Commission’s proposal is more advantageous.

He said with the Special Purpose Company, there will be a greater pool of expertise and more transparency in the management of the estate.

According to the Commission’s proposal, there will be a board of seven directors of which four will be private investors and three from the government. The estates which are up for privatization are located at Enmore, Wales, Rose Hall and Skeldon. (Newsroom)

REGION 10 RESIDENTS: WHERE IS DAVID ‘G’ #10?

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hildren in the communities of Siberian/Old England, Three Friends Mines and Coomacka Mines in Region 10 have been left to seek alternative transportation once again after the David ‘G’ #10 bus assigned to their areas suddenly ceased its operations.

According to residents, the bus stopped coming two weeks before the end of the last term and since the start of this current school term, they have not seen the bus.

Action News was told that the bus began servicing the areas in 2016 and currently the single trip out of the mines area in the mornings would accommodate around 50 children.

The maintenance of the buses are funded by taxpay-

ers under an initiative by President David Granger.

However, concerns have been raised elsewhere after reports surfaced that the vehicles are being managed by officials of Mr Granger’s political party, the People’s National Congress.

Images of several buses being parked inside the PNC Congress Place headquarters and a majority of the routes being in the party’s strongholds have given rise to claims that tax payers dollars are being misused.

The initiative was further shrouded in controversy after reports surfaced that Nursery and Primary school students were banned from entering the buses in the Georgetown areas. (Action News)

16

WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 FEBRUARY, 2018

Cheddi Jagan - Man of the People

By Hydar Ally

D

r. Cheddi Jagan was known to be a man of the people. When he was declared the winner of the Central Demerara constituency in the 1947 general election, he said… ’’we the people have won.”

Forty-five years later, on October 9, 1992, after his historic victory in the elections of October 5, 1992, he once again said that the Guyanese people had won.

It is important to recall that in 1948 after the shooting of the Enmore Martyrs, he pledged to dedicate his entire life to fight against exploitation and bondage.

In the election of 1953, after struggling for and attaining universal adult suffrage his party, the PPP, won an overwhelming victory, winning 18 out of 24 seats. That was an expression of national, racial, ethnic and working class unity.

After Guyana attained independence in 1966, he wrote in his book, “The West on Trial,” the following: “ The struggle will be long and hard, sacrifices there will be many, but time and history is on our side and win we shall.”

The results of the October 5, 1992 elections had vindicated what was said

Premier Dr Cheddi Jagan And The Council Of Ministers In September 1961

in 1966 despite the fact that there were many who had literally written him off after some twenty eight years in the political wilderness.

The PPP went into the 1992 elections with the slogan “ Time to Change: Time to Rebuild.”

The long awaited change has finally arrived and it was time to start the rebuilding process. Dr. Jagan realized that the rebuilding process would require the efforts of all Guyanese regardless of race, religion or political affiliation. I thought of reproducing what was said by Dr. Jagan during his swearing in ceremony on October 9, 1992:

“In this exciting adventure, I expect the fullest cooperation not only of our many friendly countries and our overseas brothers and sisters, but also the progressively minded personalities and organizations, investors, experts and advisors. We do so without rancor, without recrimination, without victimization without in any way trying to cast blame. In this regard, I hope to develop a constructive relationship with Mr. Desmond Hoyte and the leadership of all parties in order to deepen our democratic process and accelerate our economic development.”

Regrettably, such senti-

ments were not reciprocal by the political opposition led by Desmond Hoyte.

After dismissing the PPP victory as temporary and short-lived, Hoyte went on to dedicate his entire life to get Dr. Jagan out of power and several street protests and disturbances took place to bring the government on its knees.

The PPP was never interested in settling political scores or opening old wounds as seem to be the case of the current APNU-AFC administration.

Despite the several injustices meted out to him in the past, Dr. Jagan never sought revenge. In April 1990, in his

presence in the city of New York, the famous adviser to President John F Kennedy, Arthur Schlesinger who was instrumental in putting Burnham in power admitted that US policy towards Guyana was flawed and that he was sorry for what he has done thirty years ago and that a ‘great injustice was done to Dr. Jagan.’

Even among Caribbean leaders, Dr. Jagan was given the cold shoulders during the dark days of rigged elections and authoritarian rule.

There were no alternative in Guyana, some remarked.

Others took the position that better rigged elections than no elections. In other words, even if Dr. Jagan and the PPP would win a free and fair election, it was better with Hoyte in power even through rigged elections.

The tide changed when in February 1990, President George Bush in a Republic Day Message to President Hoyte said that he hoped that the upcoming elections would be held according to the norms of democracy cherished by the peoples of the USA and Guyana.

By the end of 1990, things began to move swiftly in favour of democracy and democratic renewal.

The United States, through the Carter Centre and other Western powers, began to

play a bigger role in the democratization processes.

President Carter visited the country and met with key stakeholders, including President Hoyte and the political opposition.

Based on discussions with the political opposition, a menu of measures were put to Hoyte by President Carter. Among these were a new voters list, an end to overseas vote, a new and independent elections commission and last but by no means least the counting of votes at the place of poll.

Hoyte resisted the counting of votes at the place of poll which he described as a ‘logistical nightmare.’ However, after much arm-twisting and threats of withdrawal of US and Western donor support to the country, Hoyte reluctantly agreed to electoral reforms, including the counting of votes at the place of poll.

As predicted, the October 5, 1992 elections saw an end to undemocratic rule and ushered in the dawn of a new day. Dr. Jagan was sworn in as the first democratically Executive President in post-colonial Guyana. The PPP and its Civic partner continued to win all subsequent elections until May 2015 when the APNU-AFC coalition assumed office in highly questionable elections.

Cheddi Jagan Centenary - A Perspective

By Eddi Rodney

1

00 years since the birth of Cheddi B. Jagan in the Corentyne Berbice county of British Guiana is perhaps the most significant, nationalist commemoration sustained by a vision for development that the people of this country can experience.

The involvement of the University of Guyana in a series of planned public activities, therefore, should be regarded as an investment.

“Investment humaine” if we like, with sufficient scope to enrich and to inform specific to Dr Cheddi Jagan’s Life and Contribution as a Freedom Fighter and Marxist Leninist.

Trumpism and Latin Caribbean - changing realities March 2018 in the broadest sense has the potential of forging a unity that is multi-ethnic and posits favorably at the level of social science inquiry as critique; particularly so against the

dialectic as a changing (or altered) bilateral relationship between the Trump Administration and territories of Latin America and the Caribbean.

A process that so far has revealed policy shifts internal to capital investment/trade flows for NAFTA ‘partners’ Canada and Mexico coupled with American immigration schemes for the medium to long term.

As of yet, it is uncertain whether the Trump administration will press ahead with the proposed levy (starting with Mexico) that will be utilized to pay for Mr Trump’s ‘wall.’

DEEPER ANALYSES, MORE DEFINITIVE FORMULATIONS

Cheddi Jagan’s contribution to the establishment of a university campus in pre-independence British Guiana has been well documented; notably by Prof James Rose, the late Prof Perry Mars, Ashton Chase S C, Hydar Ally and former President Donald

Ramotar amongst others.

The discussions that could emerge during the series of public activities next March should hopefully expand on this historical aspect and elaborate further on the scholarship of social scientists such as Paul Singh, Amadmad Baksh, Harold Lutchman, Jacob Bynoe.

Joshua Ramsammy and CY Thomas to cite just these-who have all made valuable contributions to higher education in Guyana.

It would be more than abstract rhetoric to assess Jagan’s relationship with Richard Hart, the Jamaican Marxist and author, his association with ‘advisers’ including Jack Kelshall; and Lloyd Best as well as Walter Rodney,the Slain Marxist revolutionary.

In fact, there is that crucial area of research and polemic that is best illustrated by the Eric Williams Lecture series, the Martin Luther King memorials (whenever these feature academics) and

also the Walter Rodney Solidarity programmes that could provide for context and diversity on the Jagan Centenary’s Objectives.

Another element that certainly should not be undervalued is the contemporary transformation process akin to higher level education, where success is measured considerably by the involvement of corporate sections (local companies and firms) whose support invariably ensures desired management results.

THE NATIONAL LIBERATION PROCESS VS THE NEW JUNKERISM

Cheddi Jagan’s role as a pioneer in the struggle for political independence catapulted both himself and wife and partner Janet Jagan to the fore as main line leaders. It would be somewhat short sighted to ignore or underestimate this historical truth.

In such a framework (i.e national liberation and the struggle against Colonial

rule) topics could include a joint Cheddi Jagan Janet Jagan dispensation to achieve balance and historical accuracy.

The Jagans were both convinced Marxist socialists whose political idealism emerged from a tradition of Labour Struggles and Anti-Capitalist mobilizations, especially those that erupted during the ‘Depression’ decades of the 1920s and 1930s.

Could Jagan have survived as a national leader without the conversion to Marxist Leninist programmes and theories?

Would his People’s Progressive Party been able to endure the joint attacks of Western Imperialist Leaders and the forces of the People’s National Congress (PNC) under the leadership of LFSB (Linden Forbes Samson Burnham or, “Let Flour Stay Banned”), were it not for the solidarity and assistance from the then Soviet Union?

These are real issues that cannot to deemphasized.

Jagan’s recognition of temporary alliances such as the Alliance for Progress’ of President John Kennedy, or even the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Manley administration, prepared him to adapt, to shift tactically from a Cold War “sphere of interest” strategy to one that identified the principle of Human Development. And above all the United Nations as a forum, a sanctuary some may argue for the small underdeveloped countries such as Guyana.

The debates emerging from the Jagan Centenary may well be influenced by the emergence of People’s China (Beijing) as one of the World’s most powerful economies; a reality that only manifested itself towards the latter years of his political activism.

Indeed, it is this reality coupled with the War on Terror that placed on the agenda a greater need to consciously perceive Cheddi Jagan’s Vision and its ‘complexity’.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 FEBRUARY, 2018

THE HINTERLAND CONNECTION (Part I)

By Jagnarine Somwar

T

he Akawaio Tribe was considered to be the warlike and aggressive tribe that travelled from village to village, carrying the news and trading with other tribes; this nation was noted for their use of the blowpipes.

They are thought to be the linguistic descendants of the Karinya and live today mainly in the Upper Mazaruni area, Barama, Upper Pomeroon, Demerara, Wenamu and Upper Cuyuni Rivers.

The Akawaios pioneered the occupation of the hinterland forests around the beginning of the Christian era around 80 B.C. Once an Akawaio is a friend he remains that way, but once an enemy he is an enemy for life. They were so dreaded that the other nations left them alone and they became very independent. They are all renowned for their pride and sensitivity, hospitality, courage, intrepid spirit, dexterity and tracking ability. This proud nation loved liberty and had no desire for material prosperity.

Their history enlightens us to the important mythological figures and characters such as the Makunaima, Sigu, Kanaima and Iwarrika among others.

Makunaima is the name of the great Creator god of the Akawaio tribe and means “He Works By Night.” Traditional Akawaio cosmology has become very muddled since the arrival of Christian missionaries. Though older myths feature Makunaima as a legendary culture hero who slays monsters, in more

recent texts, these exploits are usually ascribed to Sigu instead, while Makunaima is translated as “God” or “Great Spirit” and is not personified. Indeed, he is said never to have been seen by mortal man.

Sigu is Makunaima’s son and Akawaio culture hero, who helps shape the world for the best use of the people and teaches them how to live.

The Kanaima is said to be an evil spirit that possesses people and causes them to turn into deadly animals and/or go into a murderous rage. Assassins, or Akawaio people seeking revenge for a slain relative, sometimes invited the Kanaima spirit into themselves by taking certain drugs or conducting certain magic rituals.

Iwarrika was considered as a trickster monkey, blamed for the flooding of the earth.

An Inquiry into the Animism and Folk-Lore of the Guiana Indians by Walter E.Roth had this to say about the Akawaios. ”They are an American Indian group living along the Guyana-Venezuela border. “Kapon.”

Sky,kak; people,pon is the Akawaio name for themselves, which they share with the Patamonas, their neighbors to the south.

The principal Akawaio territory is the upper basin of the Mazaruni River and the Essequibo tributary rising in the Pakaraima Mountains on the Guyanese-Venezuelan border. There are a few Akawaio communities on the lower Mazaruni and lower Potaro rivers and two isolated villages, Kwaban-

na on the Waini River and Mabora (Mabura) on the upper Demerara. Several settlements are located on the Cotinga River, Brazil.

Akawaio share villages with Pemon on the upper Cuyuni River, Venezuela. Whereas isolated families live in a number of townships.

There is no reliable census, but unofficial estimates indicate a population of some 6,000 Akawaio in the upper Mazaruni and adjacent areas. There has been a considerable increase since the 1940s and 1950s, when they were estimated at 1,400 to 1,600, and 1969 estimate of 2,920. In 1977, 2,700 were reported in the upper

Mazaruni, 250 to 300 in the lowlands, 420 in Kwabanna, and 65 in Mabora (Mabura).

The 1982 Venezuelan Indigenous Census recorded 491 Akawaio in the Cuyuni region of Venezuela”.

The territorial extension of the Akawaio was considerable. They dominated the Mazaruni and Cuyuni valleys, maintained a presence on the Demerara, and were reported as trading from Berbice. Laurence Keymis, writing in 1596, mentioned “Wacawaios” on the Demerara and “Wocowaios” in the Pomeroon area. Major John Scott, in 1669, referred to “Occowyes” as one of the “great powerful nations

that live in the uplands of Guiana.”

Throughout the colonial period, under the Dutch and then the British, there are constant references to them as traders and travelers and to small groups settled around the upriver posts.

They were occasionally employed to police the forest near the plantations. To the west, they entered Venezuelan history under the nickname “Guaica” when, in mid-eighteenth-century Spanish Guayana, Capuchin missionaries began to settle them in mission villages.

The settlement pattern is one of part-time occupation of a central village with family gardens nearby. Villages traditionally numbered from60to 80 people but now reach 600 to 800. Akawaio have a formal organization, a church, and, today, a school.

Traditional sites were, for security, located inland from a navigable river, in a forest clearing, or in the preferred white-sand savannah areas.

A nearby stream and forest with good soil for gardening are still mandatory.

Houses are oblong, round, or square, with timber frames, leaf-thatched roof, bark or stake walls for protection against night cold and marauders, and two opposed doors. Each nuclear family customarily maintains a hearth around which hammocks are slung and belongings are stored in the roof space above. Open huts are used as kitchens, for informal meals, and for family gatherings. In the 1950s, an elevated square house of planks, a wood-shingle or tin roof, windows, and internal

partitions was introduced with limited success. Separate nuclear-family dwellings are now preferred.

The Akawaio are slashand-burn cultivators, and they hunt, fish, and gather as well. The staple is cassava bread made from bitter manioc, accompanying a meat or fish stew seasoned with chili peppers. They make a great variety of drinks of low alcoholic content. Crops include bananas, sugarcane, sweet potatoes, yams, taro, cotton, gourds, and calabashes.

They hunt deer, peccaries, tapir, agoutis, pacas and birds, traditionally using bows and arrows and blowpipes, but today shotguns.

Fish in the upper Mazaruni are small and scarce. They are obtained with hook and line, fish poison, and dams with basket traps. A cash economy began in 1946 with the sale of balata, surplus garden produce, and timber products. Gold and diamond mining, often full time, steadily developed from the 1960s.

There is an increasing dependence on imports and a loss of self-sufficiency.

Alcoholism, family alienation and break-up, prostitution, neglect of the elderly, shortages of food, and impoverished village life are negative aspects of freelance mining.

The men would make houses, boats, hunting and fishing equipment, cords, ropes, baskets, storage racks, wooden stools, and simple furniture. Women spin cotton, weave hammocks and baby slings, bead aprons, and make clay bowls and pots.

Falling growth projections linked to lack of investments ‒ Govt’s incompetence is unbelievable

W

hile Finance Minister Winston Jordan has laid the blame for the slide of Guyana’s economic growth projections at the feet of falling gold declarations, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo is of the view that lack of new investments remains a key factor in the slide.

During a press conference on Saturday, Jagdeo lambasted the Government not only for the sliding economic performance, but also for the fact that in its almost three years in Government, the coalition has done the very things it criticised the PPP for doing.

“A lot of the previous

investments that were made kept the growth rate up. But since this Government took office, it has not brought in a single new major investment. ExxonMobil came here under the PPP, now they’re messing up the whole future; because the renegotiation they had, I am stunned that they would do something of this nature,” Jagdeo declared, “Every single thing they criticised us for, they’ve gone outlandishly and done worse… from settlement of cases to corruption (to) no regard for procedure and no tendering system. Wanton waste, bad contracts, secrecy in Government…the

incompetence is unbelievable,” he bemoaned.

In light of all this, Jagdeo expressed fear that the numbers may continue to slide. He noted that when oil production commences in 2020, the growth rate will increase. By this time, however, the Economist noted that the damage would already have been done to labour-intensive industries.

“By that time, maybe 30,000 to 40,000 of our people would be without a job, because all the labour-intensive sectors have been killed. Over 25,000 people (have been) without jobs since this Government took office. The private people who have had to

lay off, if you aggregate the numbers, it is close to 10,000,” he expressed.

Slide According to Minister Jordan, Guyana recorded some 653,754 ounces of gold in 2017. This indicates that that gold declaration fell short of the projected 720,000 ounces, something that may have an impact on overall economic performance. Indeed, Jordan linked the performances of other sectors with the situation.

“It will have an impact on the growth, with both sugar and gold not coming in on target. It means we will have to revise last year’s growth rate even further, and it will put some

strain on the growth for 2018,” Jordan stated.

Sugar output in Guyana fell by nearly a quarter from last year, with close to 140,000 metric tonnes being produced in 2017, which is the lowest in 27 years.

The decline happened at a time when the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is preparing to permanently close three of its six estates, having fired about 4673 of its 15,000-member workforce. Other workers numbering close to 1000 could also be laid off this year, as the Government embarks on its downsizing initiative.

Jordan said the economy was expected to grow

by 2.9 per cent, failing to meet the revised growth projection of 3.1 per cent for 2017. The initial projected growth of the economy was 3.8 per cent, but this was revised by midyear to 3.1 per cent after the economy grew by only by 2.2 per cent in July of 2017.

Making reference to gold, the Minister said there were several impediments that led to a fall in gold declaration. He said that accessibility for miners was one of the major factors. Nevertheless, Jordan said he is confident that the country’s gold production would climb again this year, due to good prices and improved access. (Guyana Times)

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WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 FEBRUARY, 2018

Coalition Gov’t Repor President pardons prisoners

Reporter under fire from Nagamootoo, he says Chronicle is a ‘gov’t paper’

Guyana slips 6 points on 2015 Global Democracy Ranking report

Harmon says 34 ‘Honorary’ Advisors APNU+AFC Ministers appointed, admits under fire for ‘selling’ political favours APNU+AFC supporters received positions

The Democracy Ranking 2015 released the new results and data scores of its latest report over the weekend and Guyana slipped from the 55th position out of 113 countries to 61st place – a slip of six points.

Granger mocks judicial system; pardons prisoners without revealing names or crimes.

WEEKS after promising to address the scandal over the appointment of Brian ‘BK’ Tiwari as a Ministerial Advisor, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, released a short statement. And reiterated that persons who supported the campaign of the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Administration were appointed to various positions.

Two months after declaring of the Guyana Chronicle is “bastion” of public information and committing to reform of the Public Information sector, so that it informs and empowers members of the public to make wise choices, rather than fall prey to narrow and partisan agendas. And switching from the position he held in while in Opposition, now as Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo contends that the Guyana Chronicle is not a State newspaper, rather it is a government newspaper.

AFTER public comments by his Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, about supporters being given appointments, and Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman, defending a wind energy power purchase agreement with a party supporter, as a political investment, President David Granger made public another view.

Granger ‘recycling incompetence from Gov’t buckles under one Ministry to ‘criticisms’: Granger another’, Cabinet confirms demotion of reshuffle fools Norton, other moves no one - PPP in Cabinet reshuffle The criticisms that bombarded the David Granger-led Coalition Government have seen the Administration buckling. And President David Granger has confirmed that Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton, has been demoted to head the Department of Social Cohesion – which falls under the Ministry of the Presidency. As such, Norton will not have to report to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon. Norton, over the last few weeks, has had to apologise to the National Assembly for misleading the House on the matter of the controversial ‘drug bond’ issue. He has also been at the centre of another scandal where he allegedly mandated the release of large consignments of imported foods, which the Food and Drug Administration deemed unfit for consumption.

The Cabinet reshuffle confirmed by President David Granger, has been dubbed as an “appeasement measure by Granger towards its junior coalition partner” – the Alliance For Change (AFC) – by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

Office of the President’s operatives tear down ‘Cheddi Jagan Research Centre’ sign Several men, in shirts emblazoned with the Ministry of the Presidency logo, reigned nothing short of terror down on the staffers at Red House – saying that they were acting on the instructions of Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

Drug bond scandal: Rental contract reveals professional office leased for over $14M, not bond The recent release of an incomplete unsigned contract (Agreement of Tenancy) between the Ministry of Public Health and the Linden Holdings Inc., to the Parliamentarians, is adding more shock waves to what is now being popularly called the “drug bond scandal’.

Jordan says Bill to impose more fees a ‘win-win’, PPP/C MPs argue against more hardships on Guyanese The Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2016 – Bill No. 25/2016 – was first up for debate at the sitting of the National Assembly, the first sitting of 2016. And the political Opposition kicked off 2017 in the National Assembly with a fight against what it called oppressive tax measures that will make the lives of Guyanese people worse.

Granger tells Congress – ‘PNCR ‘constitution’ is our supreme law’ “Our Constitution” is our supreme law, President David Granger declared at the opening of the 19th Biennial Delegates Congress of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR).

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WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 FEBRUARY, 2018

rt Card ... in headlines Politically appointed REO in Region 9 facing sexual assault charges

After allegations of sexual harassment leveled against the politically appointed Regional Executive Officer (REO) in Region 9, Carl Parker, by a top elected female official in the region, he was charged on February 8, 2017, and brought before Judge Judy Latchman.

Released on bail set at GY $200 000, he is scheduled to return to Court on February 16, 2017.

2016 ends with robberies near the 3,000-mark The Guyana Police Force has disclosed its report on the crime statistics as at the end of 2016. And the various cases of robberies almost at the 3,000-mark, with 1,267 reports being cases of break and enter and larceny.

First sitting for 2017: Speaker called out for attempt to muzzle PPP/C MPs

At the close of the first sitting of 2017, House Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland, expressed his intention for the House to sit up to 22:00hours at future sittings and attempted to dictate the content of speeches made

by People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Parliamentarians.

Rice Industry Shocker…

Alesie walks away after 25 years

Government supporter and Chairman of the Alesie Group, Turhane Doerga, has confirmed that the company is closing its five mills and will cease doing business in Guyana because he claims the rice industry is in rapid decline and government is bereft of ideas to halt the decline.

68 out of 86 drugs on essential drugs list in short supply at Public Hospital Despite government denials, over 50 per cent of essential drugs are in short supply or have run out at the Georgetown Public Hospital. These include paracetamol, aspirin, insulin and other essential drugs. It was reported to PAC earlier that 186 drugs were out of stock or in short supply, earlier this year.

Ramjattan admits to ‘having drinks’ with UK advisor to SOCU, after Luncheon and Jagdeo arrested Days after British High Commissioner, Greg Quinn, denied that staff from the British High Commission were with a Government Minister at a café in Georgetown a day after the arrests and detention of top People’s Progressive Party (PPP) officials, Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, confessed a different story. The matter relates particularly to British Advisor to the Special Organised Crimes Unit (SOCU), Sam Sittlington. At a fundraising dinner, Ramjattan said, “The fact (is) that I had some wine with Sam on Wednesday evening at Oasis was because I wanted to thank him for the great work he did at SOCU.” The ‘drinks’ came after top PPP leaders were arrested.

Opposition Leader, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has called for an investigation.

Overcrowded St. Ignatius Nursery School forces children under dilapidated APNU+AFC inks five benab for classes Parents of students at the St. Ignatius Nursery School in Central Rupununi, Region 9, have expressed concerns over the fact that representations of a major issue have not been addressed.

PSC condemns moves to restrict foreign currency market The Private Sector Commission (PSC), has said that it has read with consternation the pronouncements of the Minister of State as these relate to the introduction of stricter regulations and closer monitoring of the foreign exchange market in Guyana.

Economic slowdown threatening businesses Businesses are scaling down operations, while several others are closing down, contributing to the increased unemployment levels.

multi-million dollar loan agreements in less than two weeks

The David-Granger led government continues to plunge the country into early inextricable debt, borrowing heavily from IDB. The IMF has said that the debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to reach 61 per cent of GDP by 2019 and has recommended fiscal adjustments.

‘Basil Williams remains in contempt of court’ Attorney General, Basil Williams, despite a court order, has failed to appoint the Governing Board to the Deed Commercial Registry Authority, (DCRA) and has filed an appeal in the matter. However, former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, contends that the filing of an appeal does not translate to operating as a stay of execution of the High Court’s decision for him to appoint the Registry’s Board.

20

Engineer robbed by gunman in restaurant after withdrawing money from Bank

P

olice are investigating a robbery under arms committed on a 38-year-old Civil Engineer on Wednesday afternoon on Robb Street, Georgetown while he was in a Chinese restaurant.

According to information received, the robbery occurred at around 14:00hrs on the day in question.

Cy Rodrigues, of Eccles New Scheme, East Bank Demerara arrived at the Eugene Correira International Airport from Kamarang, earlier in the day and hired a taxi driven by a family friend.

The duo then drove to a Bank in Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, where Rodrigues reportedly withdrew $1M. The Engineer further directed the taxi driver to Gafoors located in Houston,

East Bank Demerara where he transacted his business.

Rodrigues later requested to be driven to a Chinese restaurant on Robb Street, Georgetown and as he was sitting, waiting for his meal, with his haversack next to him, a lone gunman entered the building brandishing a gun.

The 38-year-old man told police that the suspect approached him, and without saying anything, grabbed

the haversack containing an undisclosed sum of cash and personal documents.

However, Rodrigues attempted to snatch his bag back, but immediately desisted after his attacker discharged a round in his direction, which struck a wall.

The perpetrator then fled the scene in a waiting silver/ grey motorcar and escaped east along Robb Street.

One .32 spent shell was recovered at the scene.

Bandits hijack taxi driver’s car in DeWillem

A

30-year-old taxi driver was the victim of a carjacking executed by two armed men on Monday evening.

According to a police statement, the perpetrators posed as passengers at a taxi base located at the DeWillem Public Road, West Coast Demerara and hired the man to take them to the Cornelia Ida’s New Scheme.

On arrival at the desti-

nation, the taxi driver was robbed of his Toyota premio bearing registration number PNN 1952.

Police said the suspects, in making their escape in the motorcar, encountered a police roadblock in front of the Den Amstel Police Station and immediately changed direction. This caught the attention of the vigilant ranks who pursued; shortly after, the suspects abandoned the

vehicle and fled into some nearby bushes and escaped.

The lawmen then took possession of the vehicle and it is currently lodged at the Leonora Police Station.

Police noted that there is much similarity to the incident which occurred at Zeelugt, West Coast Demerara (WCD) where a 48-year-old taxi driver was also robbed of his Toyota Premio in a similar fashion.

WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 FEBRUARY, 2018

Gang of 4 robs man near route 44 bus park P olice are now hunting four men who reportedly robbed a 27-year-old man of Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara of his cellphone in the wee hours of Wednesday morning in the vicinity of Longden Street, Stabroek, near the route 44 bus park.

According to information received, the victim identified as Rohan Persaud was proceeding north on the pavement along Longden Street, when he was confronted by four men- one of whom was armed with

Another Corporal, Quacuy Baveghens, who allegedly saw the act, later reported same to his supervisor, the City Mayor, Patricia ChaseGreen and Town Clerk, Royston King.

Both Pellew and Bhavegens were subsequently fired for “gross misconduct”, however, they were reinstated after a letter was sent to the Council by Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan questioning the course of

action taken.

Several allegations were made against the Town Clerk and Mayor of attempting to cover- up the issue, including protest actions.

Earlier this month, Corporal Baveghens alleged that the suspect shares a close relationship with the City Mayor.

The matter was later transferred to the police and the Corporals were sent of administrative leave awaiting the outcome of the investigations.

The incident reportedly occurred at around 05:10hrs.

Police have since confirmed that several persons have been questioned.

Investigations are ongoing.

Craig Street couple busted by CANU with cocaine in their home A Craig Street, Campbellville Georgetown couple are now in custody following the discovery of over one kilogram of cocaine in their home by officers of the Custom Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU).

Based on reports received, ranks of the drug enforcement unit swooped down on the property on Tuesday where they conducted a search during which the cocaine was discovered.

Upon the discovery, the owners Andre Gomes also called ‘Zipper’ and his wife were arrested and are expected to be charged shortly.

A quantity of cash, jewellery and other valuables were also seized by the CANU ranks.

It is believed that the couple were under surveillance by drug enforcement officers for quite some time.

Student robbed by armed bandits on Kaikan Street, North Ruimveldt

Rape charges recommended A against city constable The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has recommended rape charges be instituted against City Constable, Clifton Pellew for the rape of a 16-year-old boy.

The DPP handed over the recommendation on Monday, January 29, 2018.

On August 15, 2017, the Lance Corporal attached to the City Constabulary was allegedly caught having sex with the boy who was detained for loitering.

a handgun and another a knife.

The perpetrators then proceeded to relieve the victim of his mobile phone, before fleeing in a southern direction along the street.

19-year-old student was on Tuesday evening robbed of a sum of cash, and important documents while in the vicinity of Kaikan Street, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

The teenager, of Lamaha

Park, Georgetown, exited a route 41 mini-bus and proceeded on foot, north on the western half of Kaikan Street, at around 22:00hrs on the night in question.

While the student was standing at the “double cor-

ner”, which this publication was informed is poorly lit, the teen reported that he felt an object placed against his back. After he quickly turned around, the 19-year-old recalled seeing two masked males.

He noted that one of the men was pointing a gun at him.

The bandits reportedly relieved their victim of his Passport, $4,000 cash and his back pack containing other valuables.

The perpetrators then fled the scene north along the said street.

An investigation has been launched by the police.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 FEBRUARY, 2018

Trump Russia: Republicans ‘materially altered’ memo on FBI

Kenya TV shutdown: Court suspends ban imposed over Odinga ‘inauguration’

Raila Odinga declared himself the “people’s president” in Nairobi on Tuesday

BBC -- Kenya’s High Court has suspended the government’s shutdown of three of the country’s largest private TV channels.

KTN, NTV, and Citizen TV were taken off the air over plans to broadcast opposition leader Raila Odinga’s unofficial “inauguration” on Tuesday.

The court has suspended the ban for 14 days while the case is heard.

Currently the stations remain off-air and there is no sign the government will comply with the ruling, reports the BBC’s Gladys Kijo in Nairobi.

Mr Odinga lost last year’s election and his swearing-in was widely seen as a publicity stunt, but the authorities said it was an act of treason.

Opposition groups have accused the Kenyan

government of violating the public’s right to information about important events.

When asked about the matter, Joseph Mucheru, the minister of information, communication and technology, told the BBC it was a security issue and that only the security minister could answer the question of when the stations would be able to broadcast again.

BBC -- The US House Intelligence Committee’s top Democrat has accused Republicans of amending a memo about claims of FBI surveillance at the 2016 election.

Adam Schiff said Republicans had changed the text after it was voted on.

The secret document was passed by the Republican-dominated committee

but needs approval from President Donald Trump to be made public.

It is believed to accuse the FBI of abusing its surveillance powers to target the Trump campaign.

The four-page document was compiled by staffers for House Intelligence Committee head Devin Nunes, a member of Mr Trump’s Republican party.

Concerns about its contents were raised by the FBI itself which complained of “material omissions of fact that fundamentally impact the memo’s accuracy”.

Democrats fear the document may be an attempt to discredit the inquiry into Trump campaign links to Russia, which is being led

by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

Polish lawmakers back Holocaust bill, drawing Israeli outrage, U.S. concern

Is Grenada’s iconic nutmeg production now in Russian hands?

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada — Hard on the heels of predictions of a Chinese takeover of Grenada if the Grenadian government adopts a multibillion dollar Chinese development blueprint, comes a new report suggesting that the promotion, export and exploitation of Grenada’s iconic nutmeg production may now be in Russian hands.

Russian firms directly involved in this apparent takeover of the Spice Isle’s eponymous industry have been linked directly to Grenada’s “ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary” to Russia, Oleg Pavlovich Firer, and his company Star Capital, of which Firer is the managing partner and chairman, with Star Capital having additional interests in subordinate businesses.

Star Capital has its headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and also has offices in Moscow.

Firer is also associated with My Caribbean trade centre, which is said to have been established to promote bilateral trade between the Caribbean, Russian and Eur-

asian markets, and also has offices in Moscow.

Firer himself was born in Odessa in 1977 and moved to Brooklyn, New York, from the then Soviet Union at the age of 12, where he established a payment-processing company, Unified Payments LLC. He is believed to have acquired Grenadian economic citizenship before being appointed the country’s ambassador to the Russian Federation.

However, the existence of Firer’s substantial business interests in Russia appear to directly contravene the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, Article 42 of which states: “A diplomatic agent shall not in the receiving state practice for personal profit any professional or commercial activity.”

Further, according to the Miami Herald, Firer appears to have had a connection of sorts to federal and state fugitive Natalia Wolf, who broke Florida state law when she transferred ownership of a $2.4 million home to a company known as G

& G Property Investments, whose president is Oleg Firer. G & G later deeded the house to Firer.

Indicted on federal fraud charges in Miami, Wolf and her husband are accused of fleecing 400 people — including retirees, veterans and Russian immigrants — in a case expected to reach $100 million in losses.

In another twist, Olinga Mitchell, a family member of Grenada’s prime minister and minister of finance, Dr Keith Mitchell, is the managing partner of Chimera International, a firm located in the Netherlands, which is said to be involved in the distribution of spices and food products in Europe and lists its major products as nutmeg and cocoa.

Chimera is also listed on Firer’s My Caribbean website as an associated business.

Dr Mitchell, while being prime minister, also serves as the minister responsible for public administration and information and implementation, has not responded to repeated attempts to obtain a comment on these issues.

WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish lawmakers approved a bill on Thursday that would impose jail terms for suggesting Poland was complicit in the Holocaust, drawing concern from the United States and outrage from Israel, which denounced “any attempt to challenge historical truth”.

Poland’s ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) says the bill is needed to protect Poland’s reputation and ensure historians recognize that Poles as well as Jews perished under the Nazis. Israeli officials said it criminalizes basic historical facts.

The Senate voted on the bill in the early hours on Thursday and it will now be sent to President Andrzej Duda for signature.

“We, the Poles, were victims, as were the Jews,” Deputy Prime Minister Beata Szydlo, a senior PiS figure

and supporter of the law, said on Wednesday before the vote. “It is a duty of every Pole to defend the good name of Poland. Just as the Jews, we were victims.”

Under the proposed legislation, violators would face three years in prison for mentioning the term “Polish death camps”, although the bill says scientific research into World War Two would not be constrained.

Israel “adamantly opposes” the bill’s approval, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

“Israel views with utmost gravity any attempt to challenge historical truth. No law will change the facts,” ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said on Twitter.

Israeli Housing Minister Yoav Galant, one of several cabinet ministers to denounce the bill, told Israel’s

Army Radio that he considered it “de facto Holocaust denial”.

The bill has come at a time when rightwing, anti-immigrant parties like PiS have been in the ascendancy in Europe, especially in the former Communist countries of the east. EU officials have expressed alarm over the PiS administration in Poland, which they say has undermined the rule of law by exerting pressure over the courts and media.

The ruling PiS, a socially conservative, nationalist group, has reignited debate on the Holocaust as part of a campaign to fuel patriotism since sweeping into power in 2015.

The U.S. State Department said the legislation “could undermine free speech and academic discourse”.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 FEBRUARY, 2018

Grade Six Assessment

MATHEMATICS 1) 7 9 - 1 3 = 2) 1 2 - 3 7 = 3) 3 5 - 1 15 = 4) 1 2 - 3 8 = 5) 1 2 - 1 7 = 6) 10 - 2 5 = 7) 3 5 - 1 5 = 8) 1 2 - 5 12 = 9) 2 3 - 1 3 =

10) 1 2 - 2 7 = 11) 5 9 - 1 3 = 12) 1 4 - 1 8 = 13) 1 3 - 2 9 = 14) 3 4 - 1 4 = 15) 1 3 - 1 6 = 16) 3 5 - 1 10 = 17) 5 7 - 1 2 = 18) 5 8 - 1 4 =

WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 FEBRUARY, 2018

Children’s Corner

23

The Rope T

he night fell heavy on the heights of the mountains and the man could not see anything. There was zero visibility; the moon and the stars were covered by the clouds.

When he was just a few feet below the top of the mountain, he slipped and fell into the air, falling at great speed. He could see only black spots as he went down, and feel the terrible sensation of being sucked in by gravity.

He kept falling, and in those moments of great fear, all the good and bad episodes of his life came to his mind. He was thinking now about how close death was getting, when all of a sudden he felt the rope tied to his waist pull him very hard. His body was hanging in the air. Only the rope was holding him. In that moment of stillness he had no choice other than to scream, “Help me God.” All of a sudden, a deep voice coming from the sky answered, “What do you want

me to do?”

“Save me God.” “Do you really think I can save you?”

“Of course, I believe you can.”

“Then cut the rope tied to your waist.”

There was a moment of silence. The moment passed, and the man decided to hold on to the rope with all his strength.

The rescue team says that the next day, the climber was found dead and frozen, his body hanging from a rope, and his hands holding it tight. He was only one foot away from the ground.

How attached are we to our ropes? Will we let them go?

Don’t ever doubt God. We should have enough faith to cut the rope, if that is what God tells us to do, even when it seems to be the most foolish thing to do.

Name: ............................................................................................................................................

Address: ........................................................................................................................................ ......................................................................................... Tel. No: ................................................

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WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 FEBRUARY, 2018

Laughter is considered to be the best medicine - do you agree?

W

hile I was thinking about what I would write in my letter to you to you this week, I suddenly remembered something that made me laugh out loud.

To be honest, I had been feeling a bit blocked, but that spontaneous chuckle made me feel a lot better and it gave me an idea to write on!

This exercise might be particularly handy right now with the wet and harsh weather conditions some of us have been experiencing!

Are you familiar with the saying “Laughter is the best medicine”? Well, like many sayings and old wives’ tales, there is often a lot of truth in them, and this one is no exception.

Research done over the past few years into the benefits of laughing and smiling has shown that laughter lowers stress levels and increases endorphins, the chemicals in the body that make us feel good. In addition, laughter relaxes muscle tension, and a really sustained belly laugh can even clean out old air from your lungs, leaving space for new, cleaner air to replace it. So the act of laughing clearly has real physical and emotional benefits.

My good Readers, do you remember the Robin Williams film “Patch Adams” that was actually based on a real person?

Well the real Dr Adams has established the Gesundheit Institute in Washington DC, which has taken on the mission of bringing fun and laughter into healthcare as a very simple means of improving his patients’ wellbeing.

That sounds like good medicine to me!

The United Kingdom (UK) has a similar program called the Happiness Project, started by the psychologist Robert Holden. Holden has developed workshops and seminars that are designed to help people understand the benefits of laughter. One of his exercises is called the inner smile and is a simple form of relaxation where you smile for no reason and then extend the smile by imagining that every other organ in your body is smiling. It is actually a cute exercise that I have suggested to other comrades, students and people, generally.

Why not give it a try?

You could even share it with a friend or family member. I find that children are particularly good at it.

I will bet that once you try it, you will find how much lighter you feel and you might even begin to laugh, which is the point!

My comrades, I really believe that a good dose of laughter can help us tackle many obstacles or life’s more difficult and testing periods. I hope you will give it a go – you really have nothing to lose!

Happy 68th Anniversary to the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). Remember to purchase and read your copy of the Mirror Newspaper and tune to Freedom Radio, streaming on 91.1 FM in GT and its environs, 90.7 in Essequibo and 90.5 in Berbice. Streaming online freedomradio 91.com. Follow us on Facebook at freedomradiogy.(G. Persaud)

25

WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 FEBRUARY, 2018

The Other View

The Myth that Davos Can Change the World

By Thalif Deen (IPS) - When the World Economic Forum (WEF) concluded in Davos, Switzerland last week, the outcome of the annual talk-fest was seemingly predictable—plenty of unrestrained platitudes but, surprisingly, less of the American populist, protectionist rhetoric.

The presence of President Donald Trump was a political side-show as he proudly declared that America was “open for business”— even as standup comedian Jimmy Kimmel wisecracked: “And who better to make that declaration than a man who declared bankruptcy six different times” (when he was a self-declared “billionaire” businessman before he ran for the US presidency.)

Trump, who has increasingly opted for bilateralism over multilateralism — while pulling out of the 11-member Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and threatening to do the same with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico and Canada– appeared more restrained before the world’s business elites, even though he arrived in Davos immediately after he slapped tariffs on imported solar panels and washing machines.

But then appearances, as they say, can be frighteningly deceptive.

Implicitly taking a shot

at Trump, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the Davos Forum that “forces of protectionism are raising their heads against globalization.” Their intention is not only to avoid globalisation but also reverse its natural flow, he warned.

Ben Phillips, Launch Director at the Nairobi-based Fight Inequality Alliance, told IPS: “Davos is over.

This is not merely to say that the private helicopters have taken their charges back to private airstrips for their onward journey home. This year, 2018, was the nail in the coffin for the idea that Davos could change the world.”

He described the Davos Forum as a “speed-dating club for plutocrats and politicians”. But the idea that it will be a force for a more equal society is dead, he added.

Last week, WEF boss Klaus Schwab embraced Trump, complaining that Trump’s “strong leadership” had suffered “misconceptions and biased interpretations”.

Schwab, went further, praising Trump’s rushed and irresponsible tax giveaway to billionaires that is cutting services, increasing debt and widening inequality: “On behalf of the business leaders here in this room, let me particularly congratulate you for the historic tax reform package passed last month, greatly reducing the tax bur-

den of US companies”.

According to the New York Times, some in the audience booed at Schwab’s remarks praising Trump.

Davos is now Trump-Davos: the racism and cruelty of Trump is forgiven, said Phillips.

“And Trump became Davos-Trump: his claimed revolt against globalization is now exposed as merely an attack on poor migrants and not a challenge to the global elite. Goldman Sachs – once the target of Trump’s rhetoric but now the source of his key cabinet picks, was clear. They “really like what he’s done for the economy”, Phillips added.

Jennifer Morgan, Executive Director, Greenpeace International, told IPS she saw no evidence that the corporate or government leaders in Davos really understood the urgent need to provide justice for the people or the planet.

“While they speak of inclusive growth and climate action, they fail to investigate or challenge their own role in propping up and benefitting from the underlying system that has created the fractured world we live in,” she added.

However, she said, she was inspired by many of the young global shapers, particularly women, whom she met, leading the way with big ideas and collective leadership.

Morgan pointed out that climate risk and climate action were more present in discussions at Davos this year, but not at the speed or scale required when measured against the scale of the challenge we face.

“Climate disruption is the new norm, which means a transformation of our energy and land-use systems is the only way forward,” she noted.

Phillips told IPS it has not just the embrace of Trump, however, that has ended the myth of Davos as an equalizing force. It is the consistent failure of Davos to deliver.

“For years now, Davos has listed inequality as a major concern, and yet has also noted that it keeps increasing.

(Don’t these leaders have any influence?)”, he asked.

As the world’s foremost expert on inequality trends, former World Bank economist Branko Milanovic, concluded last week, Davos has “produced 0 results” in lessening inequality – while the economy has been further adjusted by inequality-exacerbating policies that have returned us to the “early 19thcentury”.

For students of history, noted Phillips, this should all be unsurprising: never, at any time or place, have great strides been made in tackling the concentration of power and wealth by a few by literally concentrating

together those powerful and wealthy few.

Indeed, all major equalizing change has involved a process of those outside the elite gathering together, building confidence and strength, and pushing for a fairer share.

Greater equality has never been freely given, it has always been won through collective struggle, declared Phillips.

Even the usually-restrained United Nations expressed concern over Trump’s call for countries to pursue their own self-interest – in this age of globalisation and multilateralism.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the outspoken Zeid Raad al-Hussein, declared: “It’s the script of the 20th century. He urged all countries to pursue their own interest, almost without reference to the fact that if you do all of that, if each country is narrowly pursuing its agenda, it will clash with the agendas of others and we will take the world back to 1913 once again.”

Striking a different perspective to Davos, Phillips said “happily, last week was a week when that process of people organizing together for change also took a step forward. But not on the Davos mountain, but on very different mountains.”

As the media summarized it “Forget Davos –

Dandora is the key to tackling inequality.”

Dandora in Nairobi is a slum situated on top of a garbage mountain, and it was there, not at the World Economic Forum, that NGOs, social movements and trade unions who have come together in the global Fight Inequality Alliance centred their organizing.

Dandora played host to an Usawa Festival (“Equality Festival”) pulled together

by Kenya’s greatest hiphop star Juliani along with grassroots groups working to build up strength from the ground up.

Across the world, similar festivals and rallies brought people together to demand change and build their power. Attendees at Davos complained of being trapped in fog, stuck in ditches, and almost buried by heavy snow.

At the Dandora garbage mountain, in contrast, the sun shone, the participants sang in joyful defiance and people took the initiative for change into their own hands, said Phillips.

“We are the people we’ve been waiting for!” they shouted.

It will take time, they said, but from the garbage mountain top they felt, in an echo of Dr King and of the captives who ran from the Pharaoh, that they could see the promised land, declared Phillips.

Whistling at women & asking for phone number could cost men €350 in France

M

en in France could be fined €350 (US$435) if they follow women in the street, whistle at them, make loud comments about their appearance or ask for their phone numbers, according to a draft proposal to combat “sexual contempt.”

The new report will be presented to the French government in the coming days, local media report. The plans come from a parliamentary working group set up by France's secretary of state for equality, Marlene Schiappa.

The politicians behind the proposal suggest that men who “violate women’s freedom of movement in public

space” should face a minimum fine of €90 for those who can pay on the spot. If the fine is delayed, it could reach €350, the report says.

The document will be presented to Schiappa, Minister of Justice Nicole Belloubet, and Minister of the Interior Gerard Collomb.

Schiappa initially called for the legislation in October 2017, saying that street harassment should be a punishable offence. The 34-year-old feminist is working closely with French President Emmanuel Macron, who once said that harassment could be combated by creating a “simpler verbalization procedure”

so that “there is an immediate response” when it occurs.

The 25-page report has yet to be made public, and it’s unclear what its authors define as being an example of “sexual contempt” towards women. Ouest-France newspaper, which saw the report, says that following a woman, asking for her phone number and whistling at her could all be punishable, as would making loud remarks about a woman’s looks. “This all happens before insults and sexual assault, which are already punished by the Penal Code,” says Erwan Balanant, one of the authors behind the report. Balanant explains that

the measures are necessary as there isn’t a police officer on every corner to stop every stalker.

According to the High Council for Equality between Women and Men, 100 percent of women claim they have been harassed on public transport at least once, with 82 percent of those questioned being younger than 17 years old.

If approved, the proposal will be presented at parliamentary debates in the National Assembly and the Senate later this year. Before receiving the report, Schiappa indicated she favors even stronger measures, telling LCI news channel that a €90 fine is

“a bit weak.”

Critics of the measure also say it might not go far enough and may be purely symbolic.

“Stalkers don’t wait for a police officer to harass a woman,” Anais Bourdet, founder of the Pay Ta Shnek Facebook group, which lists the testimonies of harassed women, told L’Obs newspaper.

French media, however, have questioned how “sexual contempt” would be separated from flirting. MEP Elise Fajgeles, another author of the report, has been accused of vagueness by answering: “Seduction should be done in a relationship of equality and not domination.”

Earlier in January, Paris authorities announced a new measure to tackle harassment on public transport. Passengers on certain buses now have a chance to hop off at night even when the vehicle is not at a designated stop.

While the campaign against sexual harassment continues to gather pace across the globe, numerous French celebrities have rallied against the #MeToo movement. Catherine Deneuve, Brigitte Bardot and Laetitia Casta are among those who do not consider themselves to be feminists, and say that flirting with a woman is not offensive.

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Magnum Mash Cup launched ‒ kicks off this Saturday

T

he inaugural Magnum Mash Cup will kick off this Saturday at the National Gymnasium with twelve games. The eight-day tournament, which is being held in collaboration with Legacy Promotions, was formally launched on Wednesday at the Windjammer International Hotel.

Twenty-four of the top futsal teams have been invited to participate in the competition, which will see over $800,000 in prize monies and trophies being distributed to the winners, along with prizes for outstanding individual performances.

One of the organisers Esan Griffith contended the

tournament will see a high quality of football in a classic “Mash atmosphere.” Griffith also noted that in addition to the traditional ‘big guns’ of Georgetown teams are drawn from West Demerara, Linden and Berbice which will give city fans a chance to witness the best of the ‘unknown.’

Magnum’s Brand Coordinator Edison Jefford disclosed the tournament will be like no other, bringing great festivity and excitement to the National Gymnasium. More so, he noted, the tournament is a precursor to a slate of exciting events planned by the brand. According to Jeffford, the winning team will be branded

under the Magnum for tournaments going forward.

Assistant Director of Sport, Brian Smith wished the tournament well and posited that the National Sports Commission will now have to work on decentralising facilities given the enormous growth of these tournaments.

The winning team will receive $400,000 while first runner-up will collect $200,000, the third place finisher will pocket $100,000 and fourth place $50,000.

Among the teams invited are: West Front Road ‘Gold is Money’, Sparta Boss, Leopold Street, Tiger Bay, Albouystown A&B, Sophia, Tucville, North Ruimveldt, Future Stars, Back Circle, Old Skool Ballers, Broad Street.

WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 FEBRUARY, 2018

“United We Stand” cyclists fully prepped for busy season ‒ receive equipment to boost performance

M

embers of United We Stand Cycle Club were recipients of a number of items in time for the start of the new cycling season which pedalled off last weekend.

President of the club, Franklin Wilson last week handed over the items, which included wheels, cassettes, chains, tyres, tubes, water

bottles and gels to some of the riders. He informed that it was the tradition of the club to equip riders with the requisite tools in order to succeed in the sport.

Also benefitting was Alanzo Ambrose, a member of Team Alanis Cycle Club.

The United members benefiting were Briton John, Andrew and David Hicks,

Shaquelle Agard, Albert Philander, Deeraj Garbarran, Raphael Leung and Silvio Inniss.

Wilson encouraged the recipients ensure that discipline is the watch word in whatever they do in training and competition. He also reminded them that the club will continue to invest in their development.

United We Stand CC President Franklin Wilson (right) handing over a set of wheels and tyres to Andrew Hicks in the presence of other recipients and club Vice President, Joseph Britton

Reliance Hustlers take home 10/10 trophy

Organisers, sponsors and team representatives at the launching on Wednesday at the Windjammer International Hotel

Inaugural Female Chess Championship billed for February 11

T

he Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) Vice-President Irshad Mohamed confirmed that for the first time, an all-women’s championship will be staged locally.

Mohamed revealed the federation’s plans on Wednesdayrevealed that the country’s premier chess players will be participating in

the event which is billed for February 11.

According to the GCF executive, some of the top female players including; international Masters Maria Thomas and Sherifa Ali along with Nalisha and Wavney Johnson and Jessica Callendar. Mohamed noted that Sasha Sheriff and the

Ramlall sisters (Rebecca and Rachel) from Marian Academy are also expected to be part of the historic tournament which is tentatively set for the National Resource Centre.

However, Mohamed said more details regarding the upcoming event will be announced in the near future.

L

ed by an entertaining 82 from former senior Essequibo inter-county batsman Narindra Madholall, Reliance Hustlers were able to defeat Bush Lot Trendsetters by a thrilling seven-wicket margin on Sunday at the Reliance Sports Club ground, Essequibo Coast.

The left-handed Madholall struck 12 towering sixes and a four as his team raced to 136-2 with two balls to spare replying to the oppositions’ challenging 131-4 from the allotted overs.

Madholall, the younger brother of ex-Guyana youth cricketers Rovendra and Shivanandan (deceased), started the innings and en-

sured his side got the better of their nemesis Bush Lot Trendsetters despite losing three wickets in the process.

Former Guyana under-17 player Nathan Persaud hit an attractive 65 which contained seven sixes and three fours for the losers.

Earlier, in the knock-out first-round segment, Hustlers whipped Reliance Veterans by nine wickets while Bush Lot Trendsetters trounced Cotton Field Stickers by eight wickets.

During the presentation, organizer Trevis Simon thanked the teams for their participations and the fans for coming out and showed their support including two female

teams. He also expressed his gratitude to J&P Supermarket for donating the winning trophy.

The day’s event was hosted by Reliance Sports Ground Development Committee which is also managed by Simon. Simon stated funds were raised to help erect both female and male washroom facilities at the venue.

Madholall was named man-of-the-match for his flamboyant innings and was also given a trophy for being the best batsman. Off-spinner Leroy Roopchand copped the trophy for the best bowler of day, having snared 4-8 against Cotton Field Stickers.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 3-4 FEBRUARY, 2018

Sport View

by Neil Kumar

6th edition of Hero CPL 2018 to bowl off August 8

Chanderpaul, Permaul and Bishoo power Jaguars to victory

A S

hivnarine Chanderpaul, Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo were at the helm of the Jaguars’ recent victory at the recent opening match of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Super 50.

Chanderpaul hit a solid half-century to ensure that Guyana put up a challenging score to defeat the English county team, Kent, in their opening Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Super 50.

Guyana won the toss and skipper Leon Johnson opted to take first strike. Guyana lost Shimron Hetmyer, who was dismissed for a quickfire 19 runs. However, the Jaguars then lost the wickets of Hemraj and Johnson, both of them for ‘ducks’. Raymon Reifer then joined Chanderpaul and the two of them did some damage control before Reifer went for 16 runs. The in-form Anthony Bramble, in partnership with Shiv, put on a 58 runs from just 51 balls.

Bramble hit three fours and three sixes.

The lower batsmen Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd hammered the Kent bowling to see the Jaguars move above 200, scoring 233 runs.

Chasing the Jaguars’

score, Kent was bowled out for 198 runs. Bowling for the Guyana Jaguars, Devendra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul captured seven wickets between them, as the English county team surrendered to the spinners.

This win will certainly boost the young Jaguars team and they are also expected to win their second match against the USA easily.

Meanwhile, defending champions Barbados Pride humbled the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force by a massive 171 runs to take an early lead in Group A. The Red Force was bundled out for a mere 107 runs in reply to a respectable 278 runs.

Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners humbled the Volcanoes in a loop-sided match. Marooners took first strike and rattled up 228 runs and then bundled out the Volcanoes for a paltry 113 runs.

This Super 50 tournament is indeed interesting, as most of the top players in the Caribbean are not playing in the tournament. Where this will lead is mind boggling.

The Caribbean’s cricket administrators must get their act together. It is imperative that our players participate to compete in more compet-

itive tournaments. A careful examination of the teams in the competition is a reflection of the current performance of West Indies cricket.

Clearly, the Trinidad and Tobago team that played in the Four-Day Regional tournament was a very poor team. It is not surprising that they finished the competition at the bottom of the points table. Again, the Red Force is now a mere ‘spent’ force.

The Barbados Pride is the strongest team on paper, while the Jaguars is a very young team with a few mature players.

Cricket stakeholders are very worried with the standard of the game that is being played in the Caribbean. It is high time that the administrators formulate better strategies to improve our players’ performance or make way for better quality leadership.

This Super 50 tournament must be more competitive and the selectors must have a policy on the methodology as to how teams are selected.

Our players must perform with clear aims and objectives. There must be incentives for players who perform well and be considered for selection to the West Indies team.

window for the sixth edition of the Caribbean Premier League has been finalised, with the tournament to take place between August 8 and September 16.

The schedule for the CPL has been set to avoid matches coinciding with West Indies’ international games, allowing marquee players to submit their names for this year’s draft.

Speaking at the announcement, CPL’s chief operating officer Pete Rus-

sell said, “Here in the Caribbean we are blessed with some of the most exciting cricketers in the world and it is fantastic news that all West Indies players will be available in 2018. It will help make the Biggest Party in Sport even bigger.”

Meanwhile, Johnny Grave, CEO of Cricket West Indies, said: “The Hero CPL is now the start of our domestic season and we are delighted that we have found a window when all of the

best cricketers from the Caribbean will be available to take part. We are sure that 2018 will be the biggest season yet.”

The opening games of the CPL, which comprises six teams, will take place in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.

The window for the CPL will, however, clash with the Natwest T20 Blast, England’s domestic T20 tournament, which will run from July till September.

Hope Estate threatens to eject farmers from leased land

T

he General Secretary of the Guyana Rice Producers’ Association (GPA) and People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP), Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj in company of former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs and PPP/C MP, Mr. Mohabir Anil Nandlall,

today met with rice farmers and cash crop farmers of Hope Estate and environs to discuss, provide guidance and offer legal assistance in relation to a letter sent by an Attorney-at-Law, Mr Omadatt Chandan.

Mr. Chandan acting on behalf of the Hope Estate Coconut Industries Ltd sent

letters to over 300 perons threatening ejection from their leased lands unless they accept an increase in land rents of over 300%, which the Landlord has unilaterally imposed in violation of the Rice Farmers (Security of Tenure ) Act and the Landlord and Tenant Act. One of the rice farm-

ers, Mr. Girjadial Changa, showed Citizens’ Report the letter he recieved. The letter stated, “I, Omadatt Chandan, Attorney-at-Law, Ministry of Agriculture Compound, Regent and Vlissengen Streets, Georgetown, as agent for and on behalf of your landlord, Hope Estate Coconut Industries Ltd,

Sugar workers face hurdles in relation to their severance – Are only being allowed to cash cheques under $100,000

T

he partial severance payout to fired sugar workers last week was bungled, according to workers at Enmore who turned out in numbers to collect paychecks.

They were made to wait in the burning sun outside the estate gates and many were frustrated.

The government, according to sugar unions, has breached labour laws by not paying the workers immediately upon being fired.

Additionally only some

workers were paid but not the full amount. The battle to access their severance continues for sugar workers. According to reports received, several workers who received either their full or part of their legally entitled severance from the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), via cheques turned up at the banks to cash same.

However, they were caught off-guard when the bank informed them that only cheques of $100,000

and below could be cashed.

Anything above that would require them to open an account with the respective bank.

According to a source, this is because GuySuCo has reportedly refused to “…sign the crossing cancel which would have enabled the cheque to be cashed at the bank.”

One worker related that “…they want a whole set of papers and documents…” to open an account. He questioned, “…where am

I going to find that now? I struggling to find food fir my family, I can’t afford to run around to open bank account now…I want my money now.”

Another related that it is becoming clearer that not satisfied with laying them off, the Government seems determined to frustrate sugar workers every step of the way.

They are hoping that the issue receives immediate attention and is addressed promptly.

Hope Estate, East Coast Demerara, GIVE YOU NOTICE TO QUIT and deliver possession of the premises of 20 acres of rice land at Douchfour, which you hold as tenant, …”

The letter further stated, “You are given one month from the receipt of this notice to deliver up possession

of the said lands.” Mr. Changa told this publication that he has always paid his rent on time and is not sure why such a claim was made.

Notably, the former AG and Mr. Seeraj both advised the farmers not to yield to the unlawful threat. Further, Mr. Nandlall advised the farmers that he will.

Estates closure: What’s the big deal – its God’s work – Ramjattan

M

inister Khemraj Ramjattan has downplayed government’s role in closing several sugar estates and fired more than 5000 workers, saying there was divine intervention in the decision.

“Probably it was destined that way. Probably God wanted it that way that we have to make the decision now,” Ramjattan told hundreds of workers who were sent home last December following the closure of the Enmore estate.

He said too that it was God’s intervention that oil is discovered at this time, “and we have found the oil.”

Ramjattan further argued that “right-sizing” of the estates was needed since it was not the “season” to continue pumping money into an unprofitable industry at a time when Guyana no longer enjoys preferential quotas and prices on the world market.

The Minister suggested that the need to consolidate operations in the past forced the closure of estates, referring to those closed at Port Mourant, LBI and Diamond.

And so, he said the Government was being prudent in deciding to close operations at Skeldon and Rose Hall in

Berbice, Enmore on the East Coast and Wales on the West Bank of Demerara last year.

“The thing need certain closures…so what is the big deal?” he asked workers at Enmore.

He said that the severance pay to sugar workers is a “drag” on the economy but assured all workers that they will be paid.

“It is an extraordinarily difficult situation,” he stated.

According to Ramjattan, the continued multi-billion subsidies to keep the four estates going could have meant a “bust” to the entire Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and by extension the economy.

“We are right-sizing and in the process saving at least 9, 000 jobs,” Ramjattan declared. He was referring to those who will be employed on the last three estates that will remain.

Those three estates – at Albion and Blairmont and at Uitvlugt on the West Demerara – is estimated to produce 147, 000 tonnes of sugar by 2020 to satisfy local and overseas markets.

“In the long run it is going to be better,” Ramjattan stated.

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