Weekend mirror february 18 19 2017

18-19 February, 2017 / Vol. 9 No. 58 / Price: $100

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

Jagdeo gives APNU/AFC grade ‘F’

– no investments, no jobs, more crime, more taxation...

O pposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, has handed the APNU/ AFC coalition government a “bold red F” grade for its disastrous performance since taking over the reins of power.

His comments were made just after President David Granger gave his government an “A” grade and boldly stated that the APNU/ AFC coalition will have another term in office.

According to the Opposition Leader earlier today, this announcement by Granger confirms that his administration is out of touch with reality and trapped in a bubble.

He also contended that they deserve an ‘F’ for failing to keep its promise to reduce the tax burden on the population, as well as its performance in the security sector.

He noted that the APNU/AFC’s performance is compounded by a long list of unbroken promises and countless instances of corruption.

“I can point to over 30 promises that have been broken,” he said.

He pointed to promises of investments, jobs, reducing the tax burdens on Guyanese, increased administrative bureaucracy and

crime. Jagdeo stated that the Coalition, on the campaign trail, touted lines of investors waiting to do business in Guyana, but over two years later, none have materialised. He charged that government’s policies and signals are scaring away investors, particularly when it comes to the fact that when there is no long term vision for the economy. “No investment means no jobs,” the PPP General Secretary said.

“The first thing is that they

promised jobs, but he has failed to secure investments that create jobs. He should give himself a failing grade for that, because… it was that party that said that there was a long line of investors waiting to come to Guyana, should APNU get into power,” Jagdeo said.

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) leader also noted that it is the policies of Granger’s administration that has driven away investors.

“The reason they don’t want to invest in Guyana is because of the policies of this government.

They scared away not only current investors but they’ve scared away future investors. The people do not want- based on the signals that they’re getting- to put their money at risk,” he noted.

Instead of the promised reduction of the tax burdens on Guyanese, he noted that while the Value Added Tax (VAT) was reduced from 16 to 14 per cent, VAT was extended to water and electricity consumption. He also pointed to the introduction of over 200 taxes in 2016 alone.

The increased administrative

bureaucracy is increasing the burdens on businesses, according to him.

On crime, he said, “The crime as we know is ravaging the entire country and we have a Minister who makes these unilateral pronouncements and a government totally at sea in how to address this growing cancer in society which is snuffing out lives of people and the business community too.”

Jagdeo declared that Granger’s comment about ‘A’ Grade performance evidences the fact that the Coalition administration is out of touch with the reality of Guyanese people and trapped in a bubble.

“Some of the more frightening acts of corruption have happened under this government,” he said, pointing to the drug-bond scandal and the billion-dollar settlement with Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), among others.

The PPP General Secretary charged that Granger’s talk of a second term is both “amusing and worrying” given that the Head of State “probably knows something that we (the people) do not know” and given that a second term will have to be based on merit.

SEE INSIDE

PPP will guard against rigging of elections – warns about Citizenship Department issuing documents to ineligible persons PAGE 2

The Waste of Our Human Capital PAGE 3

Imagine if there was no PPP in Guyana

PAGE 14

You Flunked, Mr. President

– No 2nd Term

PAGE 15

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 FEBRUARY, 2017

PPP will guard against rigging of elections – warns about Citizenship Department issuing documents to ineligible persons

O

pposition Leader has disclosed that the Department of Citizenship, which falls under the Ministry of the Presidency, has been issuing documents to persons who are not eligible to receive them.

Jagdeo stated at a press conference that such a state of affairs can impact not only the national documents, such as the status of Guyanese passports, but also the electoral system, with persons registering as voters under false pretenses.

The Opposition had previously questioned payments for 300,000 birth certificate documents in the National Assembly. Citizenship Minister, Winston Felix, was grilled by the Opposition on the projected sum of $37.5M to be spent in 2017, as opposed to the $9.5M which were set for the funding of print and non-print materials for 2016. In response, he told the House that the cost for the print material was increased.

The PPP had publicly expressed its concerns

about Minister Felix being in charge of the Department of Citizenship. He had also stated that the Party will not let its guard down as it relates to any attempt to rig the next General and Regional Elections.

“I know it is a big concern of this country about the signals they are hearing about rigged elections. That is a fear of many people. They believe that given the PNC’s history and that a significant number of the actors of the past are in the current gov-

Wales sugar workers stand firm

Govt withholds severance pay

T

he Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) was startled by a media release from the Agriculture Ministry which, among other things, asserted that all the redundant workers from the now closed Wales Estate were provided with their severance payments.

The Ministry’s assertion is plainly misleading and our Union wonders whether the Ministry is intently misinforming the public. So far, less than a hundred workers, who are GAWU members, have received their severance pay. Those payments were settled belatedly last September rather than, as was expected, in late April, 2016. At this point in time, the severance payment of some workers is being processed. They have received a month’s notice of their intended redundancy. Thus the bold assertion of “no severance pay outstanding” is patently incorrect and furthest from reality.

Regarding the demand by the cane cutters and cane transport operators to receive their severance, we urge the Ministry and its advisers to acquaint themselves with the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act (TESPA). There they will quickly see that the workers entitlement for severance is upheld.

Moreover, we must reiterate that the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo), in our Union’s presence, last December communicated to a number of workers that their jobs were redundant and they were entitled to severance, if they chose not

to go to Uitvlugt. Here, we must point out that those workers who were already severed declined GuySuCo’s offer of going to Uitvlugt and demanded their severance which the Company rightly obliged. We ask then:- Why is a different ‘yardstick’ being applied to the current contingent of workers?

The Ministry and GuySuCo have also called attention to the availability of Company transportation for the workers. This is not a new or novel idea as the Ministry seems to indicate. For decades now, sugar workers have been transported to work. Such a benefit, like others, came into being due to the struggles by workers in the past. The issue of Skeldon workers going to Albion as was mentioned makes no point other than a feeble attempt to sow some discord.

The workers of Skeldon, unlike those of Wales, are not redundant this is a fundamental distinction and one would have thought that the Ministry should know this.

The Union and the workers are labelled as disingenuous but this is a label that best fits GuySuCo and, seemingly, the Agriculture Ministry. There is no merger of Wales and Uitvlugt factory operations as asserted in the statement. The fact is that cane cultivation and sugar processing have ended at Wales and the estate is now sadly closed. No amount of semantics can wish away this depressing fact.

Indeed, the workers were concerned about the job security and they expressly

called for Wales not to be closed in order for their jobs to be safeguarded. They, at no time, promoted the transfer of their jobs some 22 miles away to Uitvlugt.

Their call unfortunately fell on deaf ears and did not find favour with the Administration. Now, GuySuCo is seeking to rub salt in the deep wounds it inflicted by trampling on their right to severance pay and seeking to cover its insensitivity by resorting to hackneyed and old claim of ‘politically instigated’.

The Ministry’s statement also exclaims that there is no option than for the workers to accept employment at Uitvlugt. Clearly, the Ministry and those in charge are at sea or they have been getting very bad advice from the Sugar Corporation. We urge that those in authority to note that Section 21(4)(b) of TESPA requires an employer to provide workers with their severance payments if the employer is unable to provide a similar job “at the same place of employment or within a radius of ten (10) miles therefrom under no less favourable conditions than those such employee enjoyed immediately prior to the termination”. The Sugar Corporation, by its actions, and the Ministry, by its insistence, are promoting positions that are contrary to law, apart from being unsympathetic to the workers’ welfare.

GAWU, at this time, stands solidly with the workers and is supportive of their just demand. (GAWU Press Release)

ernment, that there will be a concerted and sophisticated attempt to rig the next election,” Jagdeo said.

As such, Jagdeo stressed that the PPP will be vigilant for any such attempt. “We are working internationally to get international eyes on Guyana.

Secondly we will expose any attempt to tamper with the process,” he said.

According to him, the PPP has also expressed concerns about the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) machinery, with Chief Elec-

tions Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, in charge – particularly given his move to have the Party’s elections petition, a challenge to the results of the May 2015 General and Regional Elections, not be heard in the High Court. “He has acted in a partisan manner in this case,” Jagdeo said.

He noted that moving forward special focus will be placed on the continuous registration cycle and the voters list, to ensure that there is no tampering with the process or

the final list of electors. “We are aware that a few people have gone underground, missing from APNU camp, and they are busy working on matters,” the Opposition Leader said.

Jagdeo made clear that the Guyanese people must not think that the Party will “walk in unaware” of their concerns. “We will not lie down, roll over and give up.

We are going to look at every single issue they may use in falsifying the results of the next elections,” he declared.

President has to learn to respect elected officials – Jagdeo W hile President David Granger has accused the political Opposition of “waging civil war” at the level of local government, Opposition Leader, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, has wasted no time in pointing out that the Coalition government has an “atrocious” record of dealing with local government bodies. Noting that Local Government Elections were held in 2016, Jagdeo stated that the talk of local government democracy has not materialised under the current Administration.

He charged that Granger’s comments seem to stem from the absence of elected local government officials at a conference that was held at the Marriott Hotel for Neighbourhood and Regional Democratic Councils, which he attended. “He seems to be slighting from that,” Jagdeo said.

The Opposition Leader referred to a letter sent by the elected officials to Communities Minister, Ronald Bulkan, addressing the fact that there were not only received late notice of the event, but were also concerned about the agenda – which was to address the establishment of a National Regional Development Consultative Committee (NRDCC), which they felt impinges on the authority of the regional officials and as such could not attend, least their attendance covey the impression that they endorse such a body.

A section of the letter said, “We shall oppose the creation of any bodies which will impinge on or dilute the constitutional or legal power or authority of the elected re-

gional democratic municipal councils.”

Jagdeo said, “It’s not civil war, he has to learn to respect the elected officials and elected officials have no obligation to turn up when the President turns up. They are not employees of the State.”

The Opposition Leader also highlighted several other instances where the Government has undermined the local government democracy, including that: Bulkan has moved to install persons in areas where the Local Government Elections have been tied – a matter that is still to be resolved; and the creation of new township without consultations with the people of those areas.

Relative to the latter, he said, “One of the tenets of good governance, particularly when you are changing the system of organisation, it is to consult with people… You can’t unilaterally change their form of organisation and expect them to kiss your feet every time you go visit them.”

Jagdeo also addressed to the delay in the establishment of the local government commission. He said, “The local government commission is an important part of the entire system of local government so the Minister, in spite of the fact that the PPP has submitted its nominees for the past maybe six to seven months, has refused to put the local government commission body into effect.”

According to him, while the establishment of the Commission is delayed, Government is “effectively stacking the place, hiring

people who are hardcore [A Partnership for National Unity] APNU supporters so by time the local government commission is put in place, these individuals would be entrenched in the local government system.”

Jagdeo also underscored the fact that there have been a number of instances where Regional Executive Officers (REOs) have been acting with impunity and in defiance of the elected representatives of their respective regions without any sanction from central government.

Commenting on the disruption of regional meetings

by APNU+AFC Councillors, the Opposition Leader noted that, “If the President is serious about local government democracy, then he needs to wean in his thugs.”

He made clear that consultation on major issues cannot be ignored, particularly given the results of the 2016 Local Government Elections.

Of 1,166 seats up for grabs, the PPP/C won 754 of those, while APNU+AFC won 375 and the remaining seats went to independent candidates and groups that contested the elections – in other words the PPP/C won 65 per cent of the seats, while 32 per cent went to APNU+AFC. The PPP/C also won 48 of Local Authority Areas (LAAs) out of the 71 areas. The APNU+AFC won 16 and the other seven areas are tied between the PPP/C and APNU+AFC. The difference of votes was some 28,000 – not counting the areas where there was no contest, meaning only the PPP/C fielded candidates.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 FEBRUARY, 2017

The Waste of Our Human Capital

By Donald Ramotar

F

or some time now, maybe since the 1960s, social scientists have concluded that the most important factor for development is human capital. In other words, a country’s people are its greatest asset/ resource.

Experience around the world has proven that this is very true.

Some of the most developed countries in the world have little or no natural resources. No oil, no gold, no diamond, etc., yet they have little poverty and growing economies.

Japan is the third largest economy in the world, which has experienced great achievements despite

the fact that it has little or no natural resources.

On the other hand, there are countries where you can find an abundance of natural resources.

Yet, the vast majority of the people are extremely poor, suffering from numerous social problems. Some of these countries can be found right here in South America and in Africa.

Clearly, therefore, there is a direct link between development and people. This is an established fact.

Now it is seen as an axiom.

During the PPP/C’s time in office, a lot of resources were put towards developing our human resources. An examination of the budgets of the PPP/C administration will show that education and health were priorities.

Scholarships for young people studying abroad were increased tremendously. The University of Guyana, which was established by an earlier PPP government, had experienced a big increase in admission.

At the primary level, we had reached universal primary education. Students leaving primary schools were almost all accepted at secondary schools. We were on the threshold of universal secondary education.

This was a far cry from what it was in 1992, when just near 30% of children leaving primary school went on to attend secondary school.

The same success story could

be found in the progress of health services.

The PPP/C government started open-heart surgeries; we established a Cancer Ward and a Burns Ward.

New or totally renovated hospitals wee constructed in every region.

Every nook and cranny in the country had improved health services. Under the PPP/C’s watch, malaria was liquidated, HIV/AIDS cases fell dramatically and the people’s life expectancy increased greatly.

Those achievements coincided with the steady growth and development of Guyana. Our country moved from being a Heavily Indebted Poor Income Country to achieve the status of an Upper Middle Income Development Country.

This is according to reports from international financial agencies such as the IDB, World Bank, IMF, etc.

Our country’s experience has once again demonstrated the link mentioned above.

The APNU regime seems hellbent in reversing these gains.

It is unbelievable that this regime has now moved to curtail access of people to these most vital services.

The increase of the fees for students at the University of Guyana by five percent and now adding VAT on these higher fees is a giant step backward.

The charging of VAT on school fees for children at private schools is also a massive reversal.

These taxes follow the removal of zero-rated items on all educational materials instituted by the PPP/C government.

Moreover, the regime has done the same in relation to health. Fourteen percent on drugs and fees at private hospitals will be extremely onerous on the working people.

The regime seems to be laboring under the assumption that if a person visits a doctor privately or send their children to a private school, then they fall into the ‘rich’ category.

That is not so.

Many people can barely afford to meet their everyday expenses.

However, they cannot afford the risk of not educating their children.

Some working people visit doctors privately to save time. Many are hustling a living and see that time is important for them to earn.

Therefore, their visits to private institutions are mainly to save time.

The APNU has added these new taxes while the economy is stagnant; no new jobs are being created.

In fact, it is clear that we have had a net loss of jobs since this regime took power less than two years ago.

Barama has had to let go of more than seven hundred workers.

Many Chinese companies have come under a lot of pressure from this regime and as a result, had to shred staff.

This was not surprising since even before the elections, the APNU

took some strong anti-Chinese positions. It even appears that many of the robberies on Chinese nationals resulted from the signals that emanated from the APNU. As a result, many companies contracted, resulting in loss of jobs.

This additional pressure has also arrived at a time when the APNU government has removed essential food items from the zero-rated list that the PPP/C administration had previously implemented. That, of course, has caused items to go up by at least fourteen percent.

This is a far cry from what the regime was saying before they grabbed power.

Then they promised everything, including VAT on food items.

However, these actions show that they have absolutely no concern for the hardships that people are forced to endure every day.

They seem unconcerned about the progress of this country.

All that the new taxes are geared for is to prop-up the high living style of members of this regime.

This is a parasitic group of people who are literally ‘sucking the blood out of’ the productive sector of the Guyanese society.

This is a bureaucratic, capitalist elite. They are clearly using the state apparatus to enrich themselves.

The imposition of new taxes on education and health is undoubtedly anti-developmental, and will certainly result in the waste of our human resources.

THE PROCUREMENT COMMISSION – Paying them to be quiet

By Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

I

s APNU+AFC paying the Procurement Commissioners to remain quiet?

Given the enormity and frequency of corrupt deals that APNU+AFC has burdened Guyana with, suspicion abounds that the non-functioning Procurement Commissioners have been de-fanged, kept happily slurping a sumptuous bucket of soup, while corruption wildly germinates in every public sector in Guyana.

These honorable men and women are not intentionally splurging on Guyanese taxpayers with their approximately $US5,000 per month salary. Even as national outrage grows in a frenzy of corrupt deals, the Commissioners who have so far received a staggering $25M since their appointment remain inactive because they have no staffing.

APNU+AFC has been, at best, slothful in providing an

enabling environment or, at worst, sabotaging the work of the Procurement Commission. Whatever the reason, the grave suspicion is that APNU+AFC is paying the commissioners while conveniently sidelining them in order to retain Cabinet’s influence on procurement.

The Procurement Commission is a statutory commission provided for by Article 212W of the Constitution and enshrined by enabling legislation in 2003.

It took almost 14 years to establish the Commission because the Public Accounts Committee which was chaired by the PNC and APNU could not agree on the nominees. There is enough blame to go around for this. But APNU+AFC had sworn that they would have an active Procurement Commission within 100 days in Government. After swearing in the commission into office in October 2015, the Commissioners

remain inactive. Incidentally, whether the commission is allowed to do its work or not, the Commissioners alone will cost Guyana’s taxpayers almost $75M in 2017 and it is likely the Commission will cost over $150M annually to operate.

Under the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), Guyana adopted an amended constitution in 2000 that provided for a Procurement Commission to reduce Cabinet’s role in approving contracts. By 2006, the PPP Cabinet was no longer approving contracts, having given up that role by law. Cabinet was only engaged in providing a No-Objection. In the No-Objection arrangement, Cabinet received the recommendation of the Tender Board for contracts above $15M and provided their No-Objection. In rare cases where the Cabinet had any concern about the Tender Board’s decision, Cabinet sent it back to the Tender Board outlining its concerns.

The Tender Board having

examined Cabinet’s concerns could send back its recommendation unchanged or amended and Cabinet was bound to accept.

We should not be shocked that APNU+AFC is actively delaying and deferring action by the Procurement Commission. This is an administration whose leader, President Granger, defended APNU+AFC in 2016 by insisting that too much attention is paid to government corruption while there is more private sector corruption. APNU+AFC’s Goebel, Raphael Trotman, lectured us that people who made political donations to APNU+AFC were making business investment and they reasonably expect rewards in the form of contracts and the government has an obligation to meet those expectations. Joe Harmon, Granger’s right hand man, define special privileges given to the donors as honorific. APNU+AFC has a propensity to rationalize corruption because this is their DNA.

In the meanwhile, there is a frenzied rush to share national assets to their friends and donors. The list of corrupt deals is frighteningly and nauseating long. The Parking Meter Contract maybe the evil child of the Mayor and City Council, but APNU+AFC is completely complicit in its execution. The medical warehouse fiasco is still alive where Guyanese taxpayers are doling out more than $15M per month for a house in which a few pills are stored while the Ministry of Health’s warehouse is half empty.

The deal to privatize Skeldon Factory is caught in a

web of corruption. In the meanwhile secret deals are being worked out to give away Enmore Packaging plant. More than $100M in contracts were dished out to friends and supporters for forensic audits without any tender. Non-tendered contracts are the new norm, rather than the exception.

Sweetheart deals abound in public corporations like GWI and CH&PA. Every day, small and large secret deals are made. There is a reason why the procurement commission is alive but de facto in a coma.

APNU+AFC is splurging without restraint with taxpayers money.

PPP HOTLINE

Our valuable supporters and friends please call our hotline number 225-4279 and give us all important information.

Pensioners please inform us about any issues you may have in respect to you getting your well deserved pensions.

Further, let us know about the issues you are having in respect to your ID cards. Do not hesitate to speak to our activists and leaders in your communities. Call 225-4279.

The PPP will always represent you.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 FEBRUARY, 2017

Grassroots Talk

By Jagnarine Somwar

T

he saying goes “An old man likes to reminisce the days of his youth”. The fact of that statement cannot be understated as the Grassrooters travel down memory lane, many of whom emerged from the sugar plantations.

Cane cutting continues to be the most strenuous and hardest work a human can endure. It is back-breaking work with unlimited pain and physical and mental exhaustion of the body.

Cane cutters are fathers to many children and, like their work, they would drink hard.

The indenturedship system saw the East Indians being placed in the rice and sugar belts in the three counties to work the plantations with their blood, sweat and tears. However hard their tasks were they never gave up, but continued to perform their tasks under difficult and dangerous conditions.

The thousands of cane cutters

that are employed with GUYSUCO have contributed immensely towards the growth, development and economic prosperity of the industry and this country as a whole.

It was never an easy task to find cane cutters for the sugar industry because of the tediousness of the task that requires a special breed of individuals with skill, strength and determination.

Simply put, the tasks of a cane cutter cannot be performed by just ‘anyone’.

These standard bearers for sugar production are a unique set of individuals that take pride in what they are doing despite the treatment meted out to them as “low class” workers. Their soot layered bodies and clothing after their daily tasks bear the evidence of their hard work and determination, unlike the white collared boys of the offices and the less strenuous functionaries of the factories.

Canecutters would always be remembered as the backbone of

the sugar industry, whose contributions have developed villages and communities, whose sacrifices for their children and households paid dividends through the professions they now practice. Many of their children are now doctors, lawyers, teachers, nurses and professionals in the technical, construction and engineering fields.

The sugar plantations have evolved over the years, but cane cutting remains a demanding and scarce profession.

Now, the news going viral on social, print and electronic media is that Guysuco and the APNU/ AFC Coalition Government is ‘foot dragging’ on severance payments for workers of the Wales Estate. Those workers have toiled in the fields for many years and now they are being deprived of their legal benefits.

With no favourable response yet from GUYSUCO and Government, cane harvesters of the now inoperable Wales estate on Monday took their calls for sev-

Moment in history

erance pay to the Ministry of the Presidency. The calls were for the immediate release and payment of the severance package, which was promised prior to the shutting down of the Wales factory late last year.

Almost 300 cane cutters converged at the eastern gate of the Ministry of the Presidency, continuing what they started last Monday in the village of Wales.

According to the protesters, it would seem as if the officials of GUYSUCO are forcing them to commence working at Uitvlugt Estate located on the West Coast of Demerara, which is around 40 miles from Wales. They say they prefer to be paid their severance and then make a decision as to whether or not they want to commute to Uitvlugt.

The representative union, GAWU, has reiterated that the workers’ demand for severance pay was based on their clear understanding that their jobs were now redundant, since cane grow-

ing and sugar processing have ended at Wales. Their right to severance pay is enshrined in the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, said the union.

Because of mismanagement, the Government is contemplating the sale of some of the estates and to practice crop and animal diversification at the others.

After decades, Guyana remains as tied to sugar for foreign exchange as do the cane cutters for a living.

“Sugar is still the backbone of this economy. Without it, Guyana is nothing,” said one cane cutter.

Life on a sugar plantation has been much the same for generations. Cane cutters line up at the entrance before dawn, equipped with machetes/cutlasses and lunch bags with compartment, “carrier bowls”, for stew, rice and roti separately.

Cane cutters would crowd into the open backs of trucks that carry them to the fields, often miles away over bumpy trails that run along the canals, whereas some would be transported in cane punts through the canals and waterways, to the cane fields to commence their task of “cut and load”.

Often times there are snakes and fierce Africanized honeybees in the fields and caimans emerge from the canals. As the sun gets hotter the task of cane cutting gets harder so it is always better to start working early to beat the sun.

Without missing a beat as they chop row after row of sugar cane, the cane cutters would talk of many things, including migration to the Canada or the United States.

Others would “crack” jokes or taunt their fellow workers, all not to feel the real pressure of their back aching task.

“I’m always just thinking about finish cutting the cane,” one worker said. “Every day, I feel very tired. Cutting work is very hard”.

Another said: “With sugar, you live it, you sleep it, you’re always thinking about it”. “Cane cutting is the toughest job,” he said.

In “Sugar Cane,” Trinidadian poet Faustin Charles says of the labour of cane cutting: Cane is sweet sweat slain; Cane is labor, unrecognized, lost And unrecovered; Sugar is the sweet swollen pain of the years; Sugar is slavery’s immovable stain; Cane is water lying down, And water standing up.

Cane is a slaver, Cane is bitter, Very bitter In the sweet blood of life.

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 FEBRUARY, 2017

By Dr. Bheri Sygmond Ramsaran

Getting It Right

THE POWER OF PEACEFUL PROTEST Are Parking Meters Here To Stay?

T

hat was my opening question to my readers in last week’s edition of “Getting It Right”. Then -- as in all the “Getting It Right” since the beginning of the New Year --- I have pointed out certain emerging features characterizing our social life currently and arguably for the foreseeable future. Firstly, that these emerging trends were in direct response to the high-handed approach to governance by the Granger/Nagamootoo-led APNU+AFC Coalition. Secondly, that the use of social media as an initiating, organizing and nurturing tool for these emerging trends and characteristics was a key component.

I was referring directly to the Movement Against Parking Meters and its first two successful oneday peaceful protests outside City Hall in the past two consecutive weeks. Thirdly, I also pointed to the wide cross-section of participants of this social media-driven peaceful citizens’ protest. A large peaceful multi-ethic, multiclass, multi-religious group of Guyanese men and women is gathered outside of City Hall once again to continue the now established pattern of peaceful protest against the parking meters on Thursdays of every week.

The Movement Against Parking Meters (MAPM) was born of the revolt of citizens of all walks of life - especially citizens of Georgetown - against what initially seemed to be simply the high-handed rule of the PNC/APNU Mayor & Council. But it gained momentum as more sordid detailed of the suspicious deal with the Parking Meter Company came to light -- in spite of obviously strident efforts by the City Hall cabal to hide these details.

The Movement - a very peaceful and spontaneous mix of unlikely adherents - has already scored several victories.

Significant victories at that! They constitute an impressive

list. In my opinion that list can be best represented as follows: 1. (The most recent occurring) - the firing or sacking of the obnoxious initiator and significant beneficiary of the corrupt Parking Meter Project by the Company awarded the contract to operate the city meters. This gentleman is one Mr. Ifagabamila Kamau Cush.

2. The cessation of enforcement of mandatory payment

by citizens for city parking via parking meters -- with the simultaneous announcement of halving of parking prices of rates.

3. The cessation and indefinite suspension of “clamping” of vehicles found in violation of the parking meter laws.

4. The intervention of President Granger into the matter after previously denying any role of Central Government in the affairs of the City.

5. Rapid evolution of “popular governance” with the Movement (MAPM) organizing a public forum and summoning

5 to it the Mayor and City Councillors to account for their actions relating to signing and to the details of the Contract and related matters.

The growth and influence of the movement has been phenomenal to allow the evolving leadership to even consider issuing such a summons. The Citizens’ movement is not accepting a mere reduction in the city parking fee proposed by the embattled City Hall. The Movement’s public invitation to the meeting boldly rejects the lower prices and instead in the same widely circulated invitation boldly demands: “REVOKE THIS CONTRACT!!”

The public forum was friendly and the gathering citizens enjoyed the support, sometimes jovial, of the passerbys both pedestrian and drivers and occupants of the numerous mini-buses trafficking the nearby roads. I look forward to the reviews of the interactions of the Mayoress and her Town Clerk with the civic society forum of peaceful but motivated citizens. But by all reckoning this has already been a victory for the popular forces of reason and the call for accountability and good governance and respect for Citizens.

Mr. Ifagabamila Kamau Cush, who burst on the local scene sometime last year with no known track record (except for a significant brush with the US Law enforcement agencies and prison authorities), was, and continues to be abusive and disrespectfully of the many hard-working Guyanese who dare to protest the imposition of yet another burden in the form of city parking meter fees.He has referred to such protesters as persons having the mentality of slaves and indentured labourer incapable of independent thought and lacking any capacity to generate wealth. This has led to yet another surge of outrage among ever widening sub-sets of our citizens. The vast majority of material and spiritual wealth existing in the City - and indeed nationally - was created by our slave and indentured ancestors.

This response by citizens to IF Cush’s assault on their worthiness no doubt led to his sacking by the parking meter company. What is shameful is that the Company did not see it fit to fire him immediately on the issuance of his Facebook assault.

No doubt the Movement’s public forum of citizens will punish City Hall for this blunder. I look forward to the reviews of Thursday’s MAPM public forum. I will look keenly to discern any discussion relating to these disparaging remarks by Mr. IF Cush addressed so easily to all Guyanese. This aspect of the discussion -- which I have no doubt was bound to arise -- will do more injury to the cause of the fly-by-night Company and the disgraced Lady Mayor and her arrogant Town Clerk over this corrupt deal.

I have little compunction in so describing the parking meter company since by all reports attempts to locate it at the stated official parent company’s dress have proved futile. This sordid affair is compounded by the fact that the Lady Mayor and her Town Clerk and other senior PNC/APNU City Councillors were selectively (and secretly?) flown to Mexico at the expense of the parking meter Company allegedly to have a first-hand look at how the meters operated. All of these “travelers” who journey to Mexico are seasoned PNC creatures. But let’s await the outcome of and the review of the people’s forum organized by the Movement last Thursday.

We can wait a few more days. Let the spontaneous citizens’ thrust and thirst for accountability, transparency, regard for procurement regulations and good governance bloom.

As I noted last week - these MAPM protests are the first Guyanese protests or mass actions initiated and nurtured by “social media”.

6

J

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 FEBRUARY, 2017

Local Government and You!

ust as the people’s demonstration against the unacceptable parking metres in Georgetown loomed, and have become increasingly potent against the wicked policy of PNC and the City Council, in like manner will the most imminent and volatile demonstrations be justified against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

GECOM continues the saga of taking the Guyanese people for granted, and commenced the 9th Cycle of meaningless Continuous Registration on Monday February 13, 2017.

Why at this juncture?

No reasonable grounds have been proffered, just as the scant results of the 8th cycle could be easily disregarded for its waste of resources and impotence.

It is relevant to bring to the attention of the general public, that no statutory Meetings of the Commission were held since the announcement of the resignation of the tainted incumbent Chairman Dr. Steve

Surujbally. Neither have there been any meaningful engagements with Commissioners of the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP/C), who were appointed to function on the Commission.

The PPP/C’s Commissioners had previously objected to a scheduled Cycle of Registration that was slated to commence on January 16, on grounds of there being no meetings at the Commission’s level to agree on such action. Further, it is normally a legal and meaningful policy to have the updates done to the Register of Registrants, not later than specific legally stated statutory periods, before elections are held.

Among the more important reasons for this, is that it reflects the most recent positions of Registrants, which gives efficacy and credence to the List.

Yet, the outgoing Chairman of GECOM, who signaled his demanded departure at the end of November 2016, now in February of 2017, unilaterally decides,

along with the corruptly tainted Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, to have the previously postponed Cycle of Registration without consultation with the Commissioners.

Now that the 9th Cycle of Continuous Registration is in progress, the question must be asked, how effective would this cycle be as far as registration is concern and why is the Chairman and Chief Elections Officer pushing for this unnecessary exercise at this time, particularly when it would have no effect or bear no substance?

This position is rational given the results of the 8th Cycle, and based on the fact that a mandatory cycle will have to be conducted at a specific period before any elections.

More importantly, the Elections Commission had decided at a previous meeting in 2016 that it would embark on a new House-toHouse Registration exercise, commencing in the second half of 2017.

So the rush to have a cycle of registration conducted at this time makes no sense. Rather, it means that GECOM will be utilizing hard earned taxpayers’ dollars, which would go to waste, because the same activities in a more detailed and comprehensive manner would commence in a few months time, according to GECOM’s plan.

One could only ponder and conclude on this as being another backward decision of Surujbally and his goons, who have decided to use the activity as another way of milking the funds of the Commission, and to ensure that funds are siphoned to the ‘Big Boys and Girls’ of that entity.

The entity is already plagued by many illegal activities and misappropriations along with inappropriate procurement practices.

Is the 9th Cycle of Registration being used to get into the coffers of the election unit through legal means, as the Continuous Registration can be, even

though its results will be meaningless?

The Auditor General has directed that the entity must put in place more stringent measures to enforce accountability. If these are complied with, it would be difficult for pilferers to get their hands in the purse, through the procurement mean; therefore the registration exercise could be another avenue for them to full their pockets.

It is time that these nefarious characters go, that they should not be made to feel that matters such as the parking metres will distract for too long.

The 8th Cycle of Continuous Registration, which was concluded in November 2016; was marred by numerous accusations of nepotism and cronyism. Contracts were offered for the provision of transportation services very ‘special’, water, air and land transports were hired. The meals and snacks were of the highest quality provided at real exorbitant costs, which could only be

afforded by very few in this country. The meals were also ordered in quantities to ensure that there was enough to eat and also to take home.

Further, the GECOM temporary staff chosen for that exercise was basically of one ethnic denomination and cronies of the APNU, deepening the saga.

If the 8th Cycle was stifled with imprudent financial management, could the taxpayers of Guyana population expect that the 9th Cycle would better financially managed?

We think not!

Continuous stringent checks and attention must be given to the key players in GECOM, who are looking to enrich themselves, as no acceptable reasons have been given for pushing towards the 9th Cycle of Continuous Registration, We also call on the Government, to establish the Local Government Commission NOW! (This column is prepared

by Mr. Neil Kumar along with Mr. S and Mr. A)

School of the Nation Professional women Petition re 14% VAT targeted by govt S on education fees

T

he purpose of this petition is to appeal the recent imposition of a 14% VAT tax on education-related expenses. It is not presented with any political agenda nor is it presented as an appeal on behalf of private schools. Rather it is presented as an issue which affects us all in Guyana.

The imposition of the 14% VAT on private schools however will, of course, impact very heavily on the children and youth attending those schools. For some, the perception is that anyone who attends a private school must be wealthy.

That perception may be true for a certain percentage but, for the majority, attendance at such schools often represents a real sacrifice by a family member.

One of the most popular courses in Guyana, with more than 1,000 students, is the ABE programme with

courses, for school leavers, in business, management, travel and tourism and computer technology. The students have been informed, a few days ago, that with immediate effect, their fees have now been increased by 14%. A number of these students pay the fees in G$100 bills, this new imposition may simply mean they stop the course, stay home and lose hope and add to the growing numbers of the unemployed and unemployable.

Nations may not be alone in having a pro bono branch.

The branch for Nations is in Berbice. They have been supported for more than 15 years by scholarship support from Nations in Georgetown and by persons from overseas. Those same sponsors from overseas when they are now told that an additional 14% is required to pay in government taxes will sim-

ply send their donations to other countries.

But it is not only children at full time attendance at private schools who will bear the burden of this 14% levy, it is in fact almost every home in the country as parents find they are paying more for pencils, crayons and basic school supplies.

The only hope for Guyana moving forward is an educated, motivated pool of youth who see Guyana as theirs. This new tax does nothing to further that vision, that sense of optimism, the idea that they can rise out of poverty.

This petition is addressed to the politicians, economists, and strategists who made the decision to impose this levy and to simply ask them to seek some other means to raise revenue. A tax on education is surely not the path to take in 2017.

ince the APNU+AFC took over office in 2015, thousands of Guyanese, of whom were hundreds of women, suffered at the hands of this coalition government.

At a press briefing in May 2015, President Granger assured the nation that his administration was not on a witch-hunting spree, yet what followed was mass dismissal of persons from the public service, who were considered PPP supporters. A few of the more prominent ones are: Ms. Indira Anandjit, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Legal Affairs, was sent on administrative leave on trumped up charges.

The Attorney General, instructed Ms. Sita Ramlall to sign the appeal in his name against former President, Dr. Jagdeo, which was thrown out of court. He then proceeded to blame Deputy Solicitor General Ms. Prathima Kissoon for his blunder. This resulted in Ms. Kissoon being sent home and Ms Sita Ramlall’s contract not renewed.

Ms. Kissoon subsequently took the matter to the court and judgement was passed in her favour against the Attorney General, the Deputy Solicitor General Ms. Kissoon is poised to take over from Ms. Sita Ramlall after her retirement, she was accused of not representing the government’s interest .

Ms. Natasha Smith, a journalist was victimized because of her pregnancy. Jenella Bowen, Town Clerk of Linden was forcefully removed from office on allegations of misappropriation of funds. She has since has taken the government to court to have her interest addressed.

Maxine Ann Welch, Deputy Mayor of Lethem Town Council (one of the newest Townships in Guyana) had to resort to the court after her allegations of sexual harassment and assault by the REO of Region #9 fell on deaf ears.

The latest attack on professional women by the At-

torney General is Ms. Zanna Frank, an Attorney at Law, who was appointed in 2016 as Deputy Registrar of Deeds by the Judicial Services Commission. On Friday 10th February, 2016, a High Court Judge, Justice Reynolds, handed down his decision in a legal challenge filed by Ms. Zanna Frank against the Attorney General.

The Judge ruled that Zanna Frank’s appointment was lawful and constitutional.

The Attorney General is duty bound by the Constitution to ensure that the government acts according to the constitution, but it has been found over and over again that he is the greatest violator of the constitution.

The Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO) calls on the Attorney General to stop targeting women in the government, especially young professional women.

The WPO further calls on the Attorney General to uphold the constitution at all times. (WPO statement)

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 FEBRUARY, 2017

Party News

District Annual Conferences Preparatory Activities A

s reported in the previous columns of this month, successful District Conferences were programmed and held for West Coast Berbice, where there were three (3) such events all on February 5 2017.

Elsewhere in Region Six (East Berbice) similar meetings are planned.

Involved for this Sub-Region will be three (3) Districts.

District 1 consisting of groups from Crabwood Creek to Number 74 will hold programmes on March 14 2017. District 2 from Number 74 to Number 64- on March 13 2017. Whilst District 3 from No 63 to 44 Good Hope will have the same type of meeting on March 9 2017.

Group accreditation

Historically East Berbice has had a positive experience in terms of mobilizing group units. In fact since 1991/1992 this sub-Region has consolidated the Party’s involvement at the grass roots and other levels. Registration of party groups in underway.

Babu John

Sub-Committee deliberations are taking place to facilitate this year’s Babu John Tribute to Dr Cheddi Jagan.

The work associated with environment, security as well as marque or tent erection, is presently the responsibility overall of Vishnu Mahadeo Anil Persaud and David Armogan.

The Tribute to the Memory of Janet Jagan will also be an engagement that this sub-Committee will be involved, with a scheduled date of March 28?2017.

East Bank and Soesdyke Demerara

Registration required by Group delegates/ observers for the Lower and Upper East Bank Demerara area is open.

This District includes Soesdyke/Timheri and sections of riverain Demerara A usually reliable source has confirmed that District Conference for the Lower East Bank, Demerara is planned for March 26 and, the Upper EBD District will convene on March 19 2017 at the Diamond centre. Whilst the Upper EBD will meet at Davie’s residence.

Other political sensitization is underway to have eligible persons Registered.

PPP Scutineers have been provided with available Lists. Also, as has been the experience previously PPP Polling Agents, or registration assistants will be participants to Mobile Registration as soon as this is announced.

This form of registration is applicable

in the predominantly “ribbon settlement” Highway, and the Demerara riverrain sector that as a Constituency falls with Region Four.

PPP Representatives at LAA forum Object over Attempt to Foist Regiona Flags on LAAs

At a recent local authority meeting where there were councilors representing all the political parties invited, an attempt ‘was made to foist the proposed APNU-AFC regional flag onto the councilors.

Persons were invited ostensibly to express their views and voice their concerns to a certain Administrative head in the APNU/AFC, a Miss Genieve Alleyne.

However as the meeting got called to Order and discussion from the head table commenced, it became clear that the purpose for the meeting was to have a “consultation” over the proposed regional flags that the APNU/AFC has announced.

PPP representatives strongly objected to the concept claiming that amongst other things each Region would have a flag.

The country as a whole would have eleven (11) flags including the Golden Arrow head.

The regional flag idea surfaced during the 50th Anniversary Jubilee Year 2016, and has had a mixed reaction, with very minimal support, even in neighbourhoods in Region Ten and Bartica, where PNC traditionalists exercise local authority controls.

Party Leadership Line and Principle

Both within the National Assembly and at other for a PPP leaders have denounced the regional flags idea as reminiscent of paramountcy decades when People’s National Congress flags with or without the palm tree logo were hoisted on several government buildings across the country.

Red House Activities

The Cheddi Jagan Research Centre has identified two upcoming events scheduled for March 2017. One of these would be a Lecture commemorating the Life and Struggles of Dr Cheddi Jagan, whilst the other would be a Fund Raising initiative.

Both of these have to be confirmed.

West Demerara Fund raising

The Lenora PPP group proposes to sponsor a Barbecue in the near future.

The date and venue are to be confirmed. Interested party supporters can contact Freedom House Robb Street.

7

Sugar as a major foreign exchange asset, globalisation and APNU-AFC maneuvers

By Eddi Rodney

T

he majority of Guyanese workers, particularly sugar estate, quayside/containerization operatives as well as estate to silo or, shipping personnel, would immediately agree that sugar production as a commodity staple is pivotal for this country’s economic development. (See Combat issues, Nrs 2,3,4 and 5, Vol. 37. Also, May Day Addresses, Komal Chand 2015 and 2016).

As an industry the sugar sector provides employment to an estimated several thousands, including extra factory and non field staffers, administrative office contract employees as well as laboratory technicians.

This ‘Labour division’ is often obscured, and there has always existed that stereotype that considers sugar production as limited to the ‘crop harvesters’ and factory workers; end of story.

Labour Militancy in Resolving productive system problems

In what would have represented the most balanced and updated report relative to industrial relations specific to the sector, president of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) Komal Chand, in an Address to that Union’s 21st Delegate Congress (August 20, 22 and 23, 2016) commented on the transition from the 20th Congress of 2012.

The following remarks even at an empiricist level are instructive. Chand noted that the sugar workers were experiencing “different conditions”, “new challenges” and “the persistence of old problems”.

The August 2016 GAWU Congress was also availed of a feature Address by Prof James Rose, who as a historian is quite capable of ‘abstracting’ a perspective favaourable to the best interests of the industry as a national asset. (see Combat GAWU, July, 17 to September 30, 2016, pp 14,15,also WM August 2016).

However, it would be self-defeating to accept the positions expressed by Guysuco’s management as well as the Board of Directors to the effect that the “sugar industry is plagued by the loss of (man-days) production due to ‘workers strikes’.

Apart from the right to engage in strike action being part of workers’ rights, militancy at the workplace in practice avoids the resort to strike action in most cases.

In a system of paid hourly rates workers going on strike is always (or in the majority of instances), a last and often reluctant option (see Ashton chase’s A History of Trade Unions in Guyana, 1900-1961. Combat of June/July 2007 itemises the book’s relaunching of July 25, 2007 at the NAACIE main office, Georgetown.

To further illustrate the assertion the experience of Guyanese sugar workers who, during the mid 1990s and subsequently were

contracted to Labour on sugar holdings in the Eastern Caribbean (for the most part Barbados), earned significantly more in wages than they did in Guyana with Guysuco.

And these were militant workers who would engage in strike action should the need arise.

The differentia worth reflecting upon was that the share of ‘surplus or profits accruing from the production process in these countries was much more favaourable to these Guyanese ‘sellers of Labour’.

Additionally, the management stake holders may well have had a more realistic productive strategy.

This would have to be determined by case analysis and localized reality checks.

What is known is that the sugar companies in the Eastern Caribbean at that period had access to United States quotas.

Jamaica, Belize, Barbados, Trinidad and St Kitts all had options for (revised) ‘short tons’ that were negotiated between US Agricultural authorities and the Caribbean Sugar Association (see Stabroek News review Guyana’s sugar Industry in the mid 1990s and prior to the Euro Union Sugar Protocol and what was described as “Mandelson’s Maneuvers”, Combat, op cit, 2007).

Of course all of this is history, but it is critical history, one of ‘globalisation’ which Dr. Rose eloquently pondered over at GAWU 2016 Congress.

What is required at the present ‘conjuncture’ is to establish and stabalise a vision for the industry’s future given the political bias and attitude of the current APNU-AFC ‘directorate’.

Wales and Skeldon - Two Sides of the same Coin

The announcement recently by Minister Ramjattan to the effect that final decisions concerning the sugar sector are yet to be made, as well as the Government’s more recent move to ‘fragment’ sugar workers solidarity (see SN, February 14 2017, WM 11-12 February 2017 as well as Guyana Times February 14 2017), confirms the trend being set by the APNU-AFC government.

Tactically the pattern has been reset from that adhered to by the Burnham PNC in the era of State Capitalism; the Sugar Levy and the attempted “marginalisation” of the working class (i.e. in real terms PARAMOUNTCY).

There may even be another twist to the divestment of the Skeldon Plant and go-generation complex (in terms of Skeldon Energy Inc. (SEI) on the one hand and Guysuco on the other, that would have to be investigated.

To conclude this section the following question arises: Did the Chinese investors provide an undertaking to purchase substantial percentages of whatever the Skeldon complex reproduced? (to be continued)

8

EDITORIAL

Granger’s hoax

M

ost Guyanese of voting age, especially the younger ones, will find it very entertaining that President David Granger, in the midst of government’s punitive taxation and other measures, could say that three years from now, the APNU/AFC coalition will win a second term at the next general elections.

At the time when the President made his wish, the Georgetown City Council was under siege by thousands of citizens in and around the capital protesting what they claim to be hardships unleashed by the Parking Meters. While the President ordered a reduction of parking fees, the citizens are defiant and want the deal scraped due to the shady nature of the arrangements.

The President was perhaps trying to lift the spirits of the PNC loyalists who are reeling from the some 200 tax measures slapped on them by the government. The VAT on water and electricity and more recently, the 14 percent VAT on private education is beginning to bite hard. So too is the skyrocketing of prices of consumer goods due to the government’s decision to remove them from the non-vatable category implemented by the PPP/C government.

Georgetown is where the APNU (PNC) gets most of its votes and so any unrest in the city could redound to the detriment of APNU’s support. Many PNC supporters are out there protesting and venting their anger, not only against, Parking Meters, but all the other burdens paced on them by the government since it took office less than two years ago.

The Parking Meter debacle, non-political in form, seems to be a convenient occasion to voice discontent without facing reprisals from the government.

When the President so self-confidently said he will get another term, he certainly couldn’t have been talking about support from those who are suffering in the rice and sugar industry; the small miners, the bulk of businesses and the ordinary man who has had his standard of living reduced in a short time.

In the midst of a declining economy, regular scandals, charges of corruption, mis-management and incompetence, shady deals, the President had to be bold to give an “A” grade for performance by his government since taking office. He is obviously speaking to his most avid supporters which are getting fewer and fewer. Most supporters of the ruling coalition would definitely not give the Granger administration high marks on performance and are now becoming the hurting but silent majority among supporters.

Is the President hoping that in spite of failing so badly to manage the country the die-hards will stick with the PNC? Is he hoping that the killing of the rice and sugar industries, with the resulting impoverishment of mainly indo-Guyanese will serve as appeasement? Is he, like a good soldier, trying to get his brigade together in the hope that a windfall is coming soon from which his supporters will be the main benefactor?

Many are trying to fathom the depth of loyalty in this unfolding saga in Guyana where the supporters of the PNC (not the AFC, since they are as good as dead) believe that they are willing stay quiet and take brutal punishment with the hope of reward later. A large section of the populace sees clearly that the promised “Change” has morphed into destruction that threatens the entire nation. And they are making their voices heard. They are hoping that their brothers and sisters who are finding it harder and harder to cope with daily oppressive measures, but are silent, will find the strength to offer solidarity. Or are they going to fall for the hoax!

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 FEBRUARY, 2017

Mr Bulkan needs to educate himself on Guysuco’s financial history Dear Editor,

I

wish to respond to a letter by Mr. Ronald Bulkan, Minister of Communities, in which he accused me of making baseless statements in relation the government’s payment to BK International of more than $1B on a mere letter threatening litigation.

Let me say that my statement was based on an article in the “Kaieteur News” of August 23, 2016. The front page headline read “Government pays BK US$5.7M on a simple threat.”

The article quotes Mr. Bulkan as the source for the headline. It was an interview done with Mr. Bulkan by the reporter. The article also carried Mr. Bulkan’s photograph.

Mr. Bulkan never denied the story nor ever asked Kaieteur News to retract it. Naturally, one must presume that the article was accurate. After Mr. Bulkan’s letter, I raised the matter with the editor of the Kaieteur News and he assured me that the newspaper will hold steadfast to their story.

It is, therefore, clear that it is the Minister who is uttering untruths in foolishly denying what he said, when the same can be so easily confirmed or proven. I hope that the new Code of Conduct, which was promised for

Ministers, will address the issue of Ministers, publically, peddling half truths and even downright lies.

Mr. Bulkan went on to point out what was the basis for the huge payment to BK International.

That is not the issue at hand Mr. Bulkan is attempting to obfuscate. While in government, I was aware of those figures. The issue is that BK International breached the agreement several times.

The PPP/C terminated the contract and requested BK International to vacate the site. The PPP/C Government felt that it was BK International that was liable and should pay the Government instead. We were ready to sue BK for compensation.

It was this APNU regime that quickly rolled over and gave BK International a huge payment. This settlement and many others which this Government has concluded are believed by many to be tainted with rampant corruption.

Mr. Bulkan took the opportunity to castigate me about Guysuco’s difficulties. Here again, he is displaying a huge gap in his knowledge of what is happening at Guysuco, or if he knows, he has chosen to be dishonest on the issue.

I mentioned before that Guysuco’s problems began when the price of sugar received from the EU fell by 36% in 2010. The PPP/C government was in-

vesting in the industry to deal with the new reality. Our plan was working as could be seen in the 2015 production.

Had the PPP/C not been cheated out of office, Wales would not have been closed and Rose Hall would not be threatened with closure.

The industry has huge potentials in value added products. This regime refuses to go in that direction and is closing the industry instead. This is a decision that will haunt this country for generations to come.

Mr. Bulkan should be one of the last persons to speak or refer to anyone’s ability to manage. After all, he ran his own business into bankruptcy.

His pique with the PPP/C administration was because the government did not accede to their request for a bail out of some three hundred million dollars.

The PPP/C government felt it could not use taxpayers’ money in that fashion He is with the APNU now maybe because they don’t care how taxpayers’ dollars are squandered and used to give the elite huge salaries and allowances.

As a gentleman, I expect Mr Bulkan to own up to his words and not seek to hide from them.

Donald Ramotar Former President

Minister Jordan has dismally failed as Finance Minister Dear Editor,

F

inance Minister Winston Jordan should be ashamed of himself and re-examine his bloodsucking budgets and its consequences on the citizenry and family life in general.

Mr Jordan is power drunk and appears to have no concern for the interests of the hardworking people of this country. His behavior mirrors that of Roman conquerors that imposed heavy penalties (taxes) on their subjects.

He should be asked to resign imme-

diately, as he is giving his government a bad name. In every nook and cranny of Guyana, citizens are condemning the heavy taxes being imposed on them by this APNU+AFC regime.

Why are parents being forced to pay VAT on school fees? And on basic educational services such as internet, books, stationery, etc?

No one is being spared, especially senior citizens. Their water and electricity subsidies were removed and VAT imposed instead.

The tears of the people will fall upon

you Mr Jordan.

The policies this regime has imposed on the Guyanese nation has made life very difficult for them. Instead of creating new investment opportunities, they are closing factories and putting people out of work.

Mr Jordan is better suited at a desk at the Guyana Revenue Authority than the position he currently holds as Finance Minister.

R. Seetaram

9

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 FEBRUARY, 2017 Doctor’s Note: The advice given by the Mirror Doctor is issued free of charge to all readers and contributors to the column. All letters are answered with the exception of those with illegible handwriting.

Geneticists Get to the Roots of Hair Loss in Men

Researchers spot close to 300 genetic regions linked to baldness, which could provide targets for treatment

G

ene research may offer a glimmer of hope for men challenged by that bane of aging -- male-pattern baldness.

In the largest such study to date, a Scottish research team said it has identified close to 300 genetic regions tied to baldness. Previously, only a handful had been identified, the scientists said.

The University of Edinburgh researchers stressed that their findings don’t mean a cure for shiny pates is coming tomorrow.

“However, these results take us one step closer,” said study principal author Dr. Ricardo Marioni.

He spoke in a news release from the journal PLOS Genetics, which published the findings Feb. 14.

Marioni, who’s with the university’s Center for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, believes “the findings pave the way for an improved understanding of the genetic causes of hair loss.”

In this study, the research team analyzed

genetic data from more than 52,000 men and pinpointed 287 genetic regions linked to severe hair loss.

Many of the identified genes are associated with hair structure and development.

The genes could provide targets for the development of drugs to treat baldness some day, the researchers said.

“It was interesting to find that many of the genetics signals for male pattern baldness came from the X chromosome, which men inherit from their mothers,” study co-leader Saskia Hagenaars said in the news release. Hagenaars is a Ph.D. student in the university’s Center for Cognitive Aging and Cognitive Epidemiology.

“In this study, data were collected on hair loss pattern but not age of onset; we would expect to see an even stronger genetic signal if we were able to identify those with early onset hair loss,” added study co-leader David Hill, a statistical geneticist at the university.

Mirror

Readers wishing to ask questions, which will be kept in full confidence, can write to: Mirror Doctor, PO Box 101088, Georgetown or 8 Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Dear Doctor, Is it safe to use hair dye when I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?

Mona Ramsamooj Dear Mona, The chemicals in permanent and semi-permanent hair dyes are not highly toxic. Most research, although limited, shows it’s safe to colour your hair while pregnant.

Some studies have found that very high doses of the chemicals in hair dyes may cause harm. However, these doses are massive compared with the very low amount of chemicals a woman is exposed to when colouring her hair.

Many women decide to wait to dye their hair until after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, when the risk of chemical substances harming the baby is much lower. If you’re colouring your hair yourself, you can reduce the risk further by making sure you: - wear gloves - leave the dye on for the minimum time - work in a well-ventilated room - rinse your scalp once the dye is applied Highlighting your hair, by putting the dye only on to strands of hair, also reduces any risk.

The chemicals used are only absorbed by your hair, and not by your scalp or bloodstream.

Semi-permanent pure vegetable dyes, such as henna, are a safe alternative.

Do remember that pregnancy can affect your hair’s normal condition. For example, your hair may: - react differently to colouring or perming than it usually does - become more or less absorbent, frizzy or unpredictable It’s always a good idea to do a strand test first, using the hair dye or treatment you intend to use. Speak to your hairdresser for advice.

Information about hair treatments while breastfeeding is limited. However, it’s known that very little of the chemicals used in hair dye actually enter your bloodstream. This makes it very unlikely that a significant amount will be passed on through your breast milk. In the past, many women have used hair treatments while breastfeeding with no known negative results.

Dear Doctor, Can I give my child paracetamol or ibuprofen with cough or cold medicines?

Simone Dear Simone, It depends on your child’s age and whether the cough or cold medicine contains paracetamol or ibuprofen.

If your child is under six, you should not give them any over-the-counter cough or cold medicines. There is no evidence these medicines work and they can cause side effects, such as allergic reactions and problems with sleeping.

If your child is six or older, you can give them paracetamol or ibuprofen as long as you think they really need it – for example, you may want to try other remedies first, such as a warm drink of lemon and honey; they are not taking any other medicine that contains paracetamol or ibuprofen.

Check the patient information leaflet, label or packaging for the cough and cold medicine to make sure that it does not contain paracetamol or ibuprofen, to avoid giving your child too much medicine by mistake. If you’re not sure about this, get advice from your GP or pharmacist.

If you give any medicine to your child, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure that he or she doesn’t have more than the maximum dose. Don’t give your child more than one cough or cold medicine at the same time, in case they contain the same active ingredient.

Medicines that reduce coughing (suppressants) are not recommended for some conditions, such as bronchitis. Coughing helps to clear mucus from your child’s lungs. If you stop or reduce their cough, some mucus may remain, which can be harmful.

Children aged 6-12 should not be given an over-the-counter cough or cold medicine for more than 5 days.

Never give aspirin to children under 16, unless it’s specifically prescribed by a doctor. It has been linked with a rare, but dangerous, illness called Reye’s syndrome.

Children’s coughs and colds Coughs and colds usually get better by themselves. Make sure your child has plenty to drink and gets enough rest.

10

Opposition to file criminal charges against govt officials P

eople’s Progressive Party General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, has called for an international firm to be hired to track down assets held abroad by current and former government officials, as well as those managing public entities He also stated at a press briefing that private criminal charges will filed against top government officials and others for enriching themselves at the expense of taxpayers.

Jagdeo noted his party is concerned about the government’s dismantling the Integrity Commission secretariat. It has already dismissed five staff members and plans to move the Commission’s office.

With the Secretariat dismantled, he pointed to concerns about access to documentation being available, since the political Opposition was planning on bringing private criminal charges against those who failed to file with the Integrity Commission. “We believe that there is serious tax evasion by many of these individuals.”

Jagdeo added that “we know that many of them broke the law and did not file returns so we are worried that they could just stick these things in and they would tamper with the records.”

He noted that government, when it advanced the

matter of assigning special prosecutors to the Pradoville matter, charged that former PPP government officials enriched themselves. He said, “The basis for which they are looking at the Pradoville issue is that people illegally transferred assets to themselves to enrich themselves.

“We can prove a case in court that they have taken financial assets of the State based on a Cabinet decision that they themselves made to give themselves an increase bigger than anyone else: that is enrichment also.”

According to him, the move to file private charges would also provide an opportunity to test the President’s immunity from prosecution.

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 FEBRUARY, 2017

Long-term burdens can only be removed if parking meter contract is scrapped

F

ollowing massive pressure from civil society, the parking meter rates are to set to be reduced to $25, plus VAT, for 15 minutes and $100 per hour, plus VAT, according to City Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen. Also, conditions with regards to clamping and booting of vehicles are expected to be revised.

With arrangements worked out regarding parking meters outside schools, after a protest by the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), the local banking sector also sought some reprieve from the burden of the parking meters yesterday. The Mayor stated that employees of commercial banks would be allowed to use the organisations’ parking lots and in other instances

some will be given monthly parking permits at reduced rates, but management will have to send a list of vehicles that will be using the parking lots.

In the meantime, average Guyanese drivers in the City continue to reject the parking meters, with retail businesses dealing with reduced business activity as a result, as was complained about by the Private Sector Commission (PSC).

Commenting on the move, Opposition Leader, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, at a news conference yesterday, made it clear that a reduction is not adequate, and continues to call for the scrapping of the entire project. “A mere reduction of the price of the parking meter will not remove this yoke that has been placed on the backs of the citizens of Georgetown…the contract has to be scrapped on the grounds that from the beginning it was not done properly,” he said.

He added, “…there are so many other features of that contract that are unbelievably stacked in favour of the investor.”

According to him, both President David Granger and Communities Minister, Ronald Bulkan, bear responsibility for the controversial parking meter contract.

He underscored the fact that the Granger-led Government had the controversial contract months before the parking meter project was implemented. He added that the review done by the Ministry of Finance that was done was ignored and the project went ahead anyway after Bulkan signed the parking meter by-laws.

After civil society pressure, Jagdeo charged that there was a “pile on” of excuses and followed by a meeting between the President and City officials, despite the fact that he had said that he would not interfere with the business of the Mayor and City Council.

The Opposition Leader has also lauded the activism of civil society, adding that the position of the political Opposition has been made clear on the matter.

He pointed to the public forum held to address the parking meter issues, the press statements on the matter, moved in the National Assembly to have the issue of parking meters debated and, more recently, a forum at Red House, which was addressed by a City Councillor and Deputy Mayor, Sherod Duncan.

“The PPP (People’s Progressive Party) has been consistent in its arguments against the project,” Jagdeo said.

11

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 FEBRUARY, 2017

AFC Councillor, father in custody for death of alleged Good Hope thief

T

wo persons are now in custody regarding the death of an alleged thief yesterday afternoon at Good Hope, East Bank Essequibo.

Police “D” Division Commander said that the dead man, who was identified as 22-year-old Sharessuddeen Nazamuddeen also known as “Sheriff” of Lot 117 Ruby, East Bank Essequibo, had allegedly snatched a handbag belonging to a female, who then raised an alarm.

However, the Commander said it was reported that her father was the one to react to her alarm, and as such, the duo allegedly chased the man, caught him, then tied and beat Nazamuddeen to death.

The suspected thief was pronounced dead at the Leonora Cottage Hospital.

The suspected thief was tied and beaten to death

“That’s what was reported to us. We have a man that said he saw,” the officer related to Inews moments ago.

This online publication was informed that the female involved is a member of the Alliance For Change political party. She, along with her father are presently in police

custody assisting with investigations.

Meanwhile, the AFC has since expressed sympathies towards the now dead man’s family and their political party member. They stated that they hope for a fair and thorough investigation into the matter.

Guyanese busted at JFK with US$67,000 worth of cocaine in shoes A Guyanese man was earlier this week arrested after US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered cocaine valued US$67,000 hidden in footwear, at the John F Kennedy International Airport, New York.

He was subsequently turned over to Homeland Security.

According to the CBP agency, the man arrived on a flight from Georgetown, Guyana via Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on February 9, 2017and was about to ‘walk’ past officers, but was stopped. During the course of the inspection,

CBP officers discovered four pairs of sneakers and two pairs of shoes in his luggage, which contained a white powder and which tested positive for cocaine.

“This latest seizure demonstrates the vigilance of our CBP officers, and their excellence in detecting those who would try

to smuggle these illegal substances,” said Robert E Perez, New York Field Operations Director.

The Guyanese man now faces federal narcotics smuggling charges and will be prosecuted by the US Attorney’s Office in the US Eastern District Court of New York.

Potaro man remanded on attempted murder charge

A

Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) miner was remanded to prison on a charge of attempted murder when he faced Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday.

Shawn Fillicene, 43, of Ewang Creek, Potaro, Region Eight, is accused of unlawfully and maliciously wounding Manuel Dosantos with intent to murder him, at Ewang Backdam on February 11, 2017.

According to the prosecution’s case, the Virtual Complainant received multiple

stab wounds to his neck. The court was also told that the VC was still hospitalised in a critical state. As such, Filli-

cene was remanded to prison.

The case will continue on April 18 at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court.

WPO condemns merciless killing of Corentyne mother

T

he Women’s Progressive Organization (WPO) has come out in condemnation of the brazen attack on Leilawatie Mohamed, a mother of two, who was shot and killed during a home invasion at Tain Settlement, Port Mourant, Berbice.

What is so tragic about this dastardly act was that the three murderers showed no mercy to her when they snuffed out her life right in front Dead: Lilawatie Muhammed of her children unsafe.” said the WPO. The WPO “would like to According to the WPO, extend sincerest condolences every time the issue of crime to the children, family and is raised in Guyana, the relatives of the late LeilawaMinister of Public Security tie Mohamed.” claims that brutal crimes in Moreover, the organizaGuyana are on the decline. tion commended the DiviThe WPO, said it would sional Commander Ian Amlike this Minister and his sterdam for his swift response government to provide an- and “urges speedy action to swers on how they will make bring the perpetrators of this the women and children heinous act to justice.” in this country feel safe.

Following the execu“Crimes of this nature only tion-style killing of Mohamed remind Guyanese that their on Tuesday night, at her Tain lives are not safe. It reminds Settlement home, Police have Guyanese that while the gov- come up with a theory as to ernment is busy increasing the motive behind the killing. taxes and destroying peoples’ The dead woman, is aleconomic livelihood, the leged to have been involved criminals are busy killing in a relationship with a people and making them feel wealthy businessman who

lives in the community, and investigations have revealed that the man is also married.

Following the shooting, Police arrested one man, who according to information, shared a relationship with the businessman’s wife, who is currently overseas.

Divisional Commander Assistant Commissioner, Ian Amsterdam, said the Police followed the leads from text messages on a cellphone. “We are working on some other information both local and so we need to look into a different direction that it might have been an execution that was ordered by another female,” he said.

An autopsy conducted on Thursday on the woman’s body revealed that she died of shock and haemorrhaging due to gunshot wounds to the head.

As the investigation continues, Police are hoping to question the businessman.

It is not known whether he is in the country. According to Amsterdam, investigators have not been able to get any information from the man in custody.

12

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 FEBRUARY, 2017

The citizens are determined to make City Hall listen to them

By Norman Whittaker

T

he frequent outbursts of lack of financial resources by those at the helm of the Georgetown City Council are indeed clever attempts aimed at excusing themselves from culpability for the Council’s failure to provide the services it is required to deliver to citizens in return for the rates and taxes they pay.

Furthermore, there is an obvious lack of interest on the part of the Council in going after the huge debt

of some citizens in respect of unpaid rates and taxes, estimated at some $ 22B, including accumulated interest as at 31.12.2016.

Consider if the Council made every possible effort and was able to recoup even 50% of that debt. To the contrary, even the amnesty offered to debtors does not attract the desired positive results which one would expect such offers to attract.

This speaks volumes with respect to the proactiveness of the City Council’s Debt Recovery Unit. If this is

not damaging enough to the image the Council projects as the largest municipality in our country; even that which is collected is poorly managed.

Those at the helm of the Council appear to be interested primarily in those matters and measures in which members have a personal interest, e.g., rates and taxes write-offs and generous settlements of debts of Comrades; contracting out services to relatives and friends, while scores of workers remain redundant or underutilized; instead of applying the competitive bidding process for procurement of goods and services.

The issue of increasing revenue base and so making more resources available to the Georgetown City Council cannot be considered independent of the present performance of the Council where issues of accountability are concerned.

Access to more resources must be based, inter alia, on service delivery and overall performance, including transparency and accountability for resources already at the disposal of Council. The latter’s present operations are shrouded in corruption, incompetence and arrogance.

Furthermore, one must be mindful about supporting any measure that introduces increased costs and brings more hardship to citizens, e.g. the proposed Parking Metre Project.

Many reports of vendors paying City Constables (the latter are not authorized to collect revenue) and no receipts being issued often go uninvestigated, while the Council has been losing millions perennially through corruption of some revenue collectors.

In short, it would appear that significant amounts of dollars of revenue collected

by City Hall Officials from vendors do not find its way into the Council’s coffers.

A significant amount of market revenue collected is used to meet employment costs of the City Council and this includes scores

of inactive and underutilized Council staff. Very little markets’ revenue is expended on maintaining or improving or expanding market infrastructure; or, what is even more desirable, providing additional market infrastructure and so address the roadside vending and concomitant sanitation and other environment challenges occasioned by illegal vending.

Quite apart from the revenue, which the Council has been able to source, the PPP/C Government did provide various forms of financial and other support to NDCs and Municipalities, as it sought to enable them to provide more services to the Local Authority Areas for which they had responsibility.

These took the form of subventions/grants etc. In the case of the City Council, the latter received $889M in financial and other support from 2007 to 2014 - an average of $111M per year.

- Subvention Grant from 2007 to 2013 - $ 20M x7 = $140M - Subvention Grant for 2014 – 22 Development Works and City Enhancement 2007 to 2014, 727 including $500M Clean up GT ……… $889M This is quite apart from a number of pickups, compactor trucks, 1100-gallons garbage bins etc. that handed over to the City Council over the same period of 2007-14.

A close examination of the City Council’s 2010 (Turn to page 14)

13

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 FEBRUARY, 2017

The Multiplier Effect of Sugar and Rice

By Hydar Ally

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he current APNU-AFC administration needs to seriously rethink its approach to economic development, especially as it relates to the contributions of sugar and rice.

These two sectors combined still account for the majority of foreign exchange earnings to the country, despite declining production levels and unstable prices on the world market.

In addition, these two sectors constitute an important source of direct employment to thousands of Guyanese, not to mention the thousands more that indirectly depend on these two industries for their livelihood.

It would appear that the administration still seems to operate out of a preconceived mindset in which these two vital sectors are seen through the prism of partisan politics, rather than as an important pillar of the national economy without which the entire structure of the economy will certainly collapse.

The fact is that regardless of how we may wish to look at it Guyana is still a predominantly agricultural economy.

Sugar and rice continue to be the backbone of the economy and any policy measure that would result in a downsizing of these sectors is fraught with danger.

And while it is true that the size of their contribution to the Gross National Product (GDF), particularly in the case of sugar, may have declined somewhat due primarily to an end of the lucrative European market, sugar

is still king in so many ways not least among which is its capacity to absorb labour and the concomitant multiplier effect that it has on the wider economy.

Wages and salaries are spent primarily on basic food and consumer items, which create subsidiary income and employment for a countless number of Guyanese, the withdrawal of which would result in an inevitable economic downturn and depressed communities where the estates are located.

This is why the decision to close the Wales estate is shortsighted and certainly counterproductive. Apart from economic considerations, there are also sociological and emotional considerations which simply cannot be brushed aside.

The loss of employment opportunities without putting in place any meaningful alternatives can result in social problems, such as crime and prostitution. Generations of people who have grown accustomed to the culture of the estate would become socially disoriented and experience a sense of alienation since the estate was for many the hub of social life.

And to add insult to injury, the management of Guysuco is now reneging on a decision taken to pay severance pay to sugar workers who have become redundant as a result of the closure of the estate. This incidentally is a requirement of the labour laws and the collective labour agreement signed between the workers and the estate management.

The government has to stop treating the sugar industry as a political football.

It has to see sugar and rice as important economic constituents and not as political constituents. It was the same thinking that prevailed in the past under the PNC-UF coalition government when the government scrapped the lucrative Cuban market and removed all subsidies to the industry that was given under the PPP government.

In addition, representatives from the farmers’ organization, the Rice Producers’ Association, were removed from the Rice Marketing Board and replaced by Rice Action Committees, which were mere paper organizations which did not enjoy the confidence of farmers.

Instead of listening to

the genuine concerns of the farmers, police dogs were unleashed on protesting farmers. The result was a systemic destruction of the industry as farmers abandoned the land and rice production suffered a precipitate decline.

The same was true of the sugar industry, which was saddled with an unsustainable sugar levy at the expense of workers’ wages and recapitalization of the industry. The net result was mass exodus of sugar workers away from the industry and a steep decline in sugar production.

By the end of the 1980s, sugar had to be imported from overseas to satisfy the local market and to preserve the overseas EU market quota. The lowest production was recorded in 1992. In fact,

under the Hoyte presidency the industry was prepared for privatization, which was only averted after the PPP threatened to dishonor any agreement reached by potential investors.

A management contract was subsequently entered with Booker Tate, which saw some key interventions among which was a significant increase in wages for sugar workers. It did not take long before the industry was restored to profitability.

Sugar and rice must be given the necessary support and not be punished because they are perceived as opposition enclaves.

This is a wrong and mistaken perception and will only hurt the economy if such thinking is allowed to take root and germinate.

Unruly

14

The

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 FEBRUARY, 2017

Horse Imagine if there was no PPP in Guyana By: Mohabir Anil Nandlall, MP. Attorney-at-Law

F

ear is one of the natural consequences of authoritarianism. When the PNC dictatorship was in its heyday in the late 70s to the mid-80s, raw and naked fear gripped this land.

Atrocities such as the killing of the ballot box martyrs in 1973, on the Corentyne, the assassinations of Dr. Walter Rodney, Oheini Koama and Father Darke, the shooting of Dr. Joshua Ramsammy, the physical violence and brutalities meted out and the imprisonment of dozens of known political activists; the size and activities of the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Police Force and a host of para-military organizations established by the State; the agenda of the House of Israel and the State’s control of the commanding heights of the economy-all provided sound and factual basis for the fear which invigorated this land, then. The main source of the fear was the Government of the day.

Authoritarianism and fear

Fast-forward to 2017.

There is an abundance of incontrovertible evidence that authoritarianism, has once again, begun to spread its tentacles in an institutionalized fashion across the constitutional apparatus of the State.

In previous essays, I have

detailed systematic attempts by the Executive to undermine constitutional offices and institutions whose functional responsibility is to check, oversight and scrutinize the Executive and to guard against excesses and abuse of power.

These include: the National Assembly, the Judiciary, the Judicial Service Commission, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Auditor General’s Office, the Public Service Commission, the Police Service Commission, the Public Utilities Commission and the Police Complaints Authority.

In each of these organizations, there have been documented attempts to interfere with, undermine, or publically assault officers, as they attempt to discharge their respective mandate.

Fortunately, most, if not all, of these attempts have been made public. Some have resulted in litigation. In some instances, adverse rulings have already been made against the Government by the Courts.

I am not naive to think that the interferences, which have been made public, are the only ones that have occurred. Indeed, I know of many that have taken place and continue to take place but officials have refused to divulge information because of fear of reprisal.

Dismissal, termination of contracts of employment and refusal to renew those types

of contracts have been one of the weapons used by this Administration against those who have refused to dance to their tunes or from whom they suspect they cannot extract political loyalty.

This brings me back to exactly where I started.

Authoritarianism has returned in an institutionalized manner and it has brought with it its companion: fear.

Again, the main source of this fear is the Government of the day. Ministers are regularly reported in the press, speaking about locking up, charging and jailing people.

The activities of SOCU have driven fear in the business community.

Draconian legislation which concentrate huge powers in the Guyana Revenue Authority to access people’s confidential financial information, raid their bank accounts and prevent them from exiting Guyana have had chilling sensations on the populace.

The despotic SARA Bill, which creates an omnipotent monstrosity as a Director, is by far the most frightening piece of proposed law in the Caribbean, if not, in the entire Commonwealth.

SARU, which is located in the epi-center of Executive power, the Ministry of the Presidency, has an octogenarian as its head, who regularly passes public verdicts on persons without any investigations even commencing.

The citizens are... to 2017 Annual Budgets shows that the Council , in spite of the fact that it has only been collecting between 63% to 79% of Budgeted Revenue continues to incur liabilities in order to complete as much of its current works as possible

during those years ; thereby increasing its accrued expenses.

In other words, the Council’s annual budgets for the past six years continue to reflect a deficit.

With increasing liabilities, it has been seeking addi-

From page 12

tional sources of revenue as a matter of urgency; in the process breaching procurement procedures and avoiding the requirement of consultation with citizens to get their views and support for new initiatives/ projects.

Going after revenue

In one of his reckless ramblings, he has identified the height of buildings as the basis for investigating their owners. Several dozen businessmen and women have been suddenly chosen for audits by the Guyana Revenue Authority, running into hundreds of millions of dollars.

In this atmosphere of apprehension, I could not get a single businessman who was prepared to institute a legal challenge against the VAT (Amendment) Act 2017, which empowers the Commissioner General of the GRA to prohibit persons from leaving the country whom he suspects owe VAT, although the VAT which may be owed have not yet crystalized into a final debt.

Of course, I was prepared to act as a lawyer free of charge. I called several of them. They all confessed that while they believe that the law should be challenged, they were fearful to do so because of repercussions from the Government.

In the end, I was forced to file the proceedings in my own name.

It is against this backdrop of trepidation that I must salute those who have stood up resolutely against the authoritarians. The single-mothers whose core-homes were being taken away by Central Housing and Planning Authority stood their ground

and filed legal proceedings.

They were victorious.

The rice farmers from Region 5, whose leases were capriciously revoked by the MMA/DA, launched legal proceedings. They won their cases as well. Then the President, himself, attempted to revoke their leases.

Again, they stood up and filed legal proceedings.

These cases are still pending. When this Government attempted to hound Carvil Duncan out of office, he stood his ground and challenged them in Court.

Those proceedings are still pending. When the Attorney General attempted to boot Zana Frank from her lawful appointment as Deputy Registrar of Deeds, she stood firm in resistance and challenged the unlawful interference in the High Court.

She won her case.

When the President attempted to expropriate the leasehold interest of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre, they defied him; that matter is also pending in the Court. When the Attorney General attempted to intimidate and embarrass the Deputy Solicitor General and the Solicitor General, they both stood their ground and defended themselves, admirably, in the public domain, exposing his undeniable incompetence in the process.

When the City Council attempted to, dictatorially, impose a punitive parking meter system in Georgetown,

In most of the examples cited above, the Judiciary, although under attack itself, rose to the challenge and has played its conceptual role as the bulwark of the citizenry against Executive excesses.

I salute our judges for so doing. I encourage them to continue to uphold the rule of law and the constitution of this land. Soon after the 2015 elections, I informed the leadership of the PPP that the Judiciary will become the most important frontier of the political struggle over the next few years.

With every day that passes, I am vindicated. I harbor no doubt that it is the Judiciary that will determine how far we slide back into dictatorship.

In almost every instance of abuse of power to which I have made reference above, the PPP has played or is playing a major part, either in exposing, or challenging them. This has been the role and core function of the PPP from its birth, sixty-seven years ago.

This week, the CARICOM Secretary General was moved to remark “imagine if there was no CARICOM in the Caribbean.”

Likewise, I say, “imagine if there was no PPP in Guyana.”

(public funds) is understandable as the City Council could not provide the services the citizens require and expect without finances. Accounting to citizens for the Public Funds is also an obvious expectation and so also is Council’s engagements with citizens to provide information/updates with respect to the plans, expectations, and work in progress as per Council’s

work programme.

Regrettably this did not happen in the case of the Parking Metre project. The City Council has not been listening to the voice of the people. In fact, the Council has not been availing itself to engage the people. The result has been a show of strength/the populace force by the citizens.

They are determined that they will make City

Hall and the APNU+AFC Government listen to them and address their concerns.

Consultation, inclusiveness and accountability must replace the corruption, the incompetence and arrogance that has been so evident in the work of the Council; moreso, among the triumvirate of the Council, its Mayor, Head of Finance Committee and the Town Clerk.

Resistance

a group of civic-minded citizens unleashed their wrath against it, putting the future of the project in doubt.

Judiciary as the bulwark

Corner

15

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 FEBRUARY, 2017

Economic

Dr. Peter R. Ramsaroop - Economic Advisor to the Leader of the Opposition

You Flunked, Mr. President

– No Promotion to 2nd Term ■ A big Green ‘F’

equation, teachers still have to be hired whether public or private, children still have to get an education, why then tax the private system?

The money the government saves on not having to expand the current buildings or pay measly wages to public teachers, should allow them to put it back in to the economy.

Simply nonsense by the President and his Finance Minister.

Campaign 2020/ A need for an early election

President Granger basically is setting the stage for his campaign 2020 or before message.

You can imagine, President Granger saying in the next campaign, sorry citizens, we had to clean up the PPP’s mess, therefore, the economy had to collapse.

But try to remember the state of the economy pre-1992 when the PNC was voted out compared to the healthy economic position in 2015 when the PPP left office. The absurdity of a statement of this nature by the President would be apparent. It would confirm that the President was out of touch with the perils that the citizenry are confronted with during the past 19 months. The range of issues ranging from high crime rates to extremely high taxes.

The economy was booming prior to 2015, jobs were there, money was in circulation, our exchange rate was stable, the tax system was netting enough to keep the economy flowing, transformative projects were put in place, then what the heck is the President talking about?

Any person can tell you that their lives are much harder now than it was prior to May 2015.

Summary

I

am flabbergasted that the President gave himself and the government a Grade A and at the same time his Minister of Finance, defends the taxing on education as something good.

This demonstrates poor analytical capability and is indicative of the incoherent strategies employed by this government. The failed socialist policies are once again coming to the forefront. I am now suspicious that the objective and intent of this Government is to fail and as a result we see mass migration for which they would benefit at the polls.

PRESIDENT GRANGER AND HIS CABINET REPORT CARD

Summary

Questions for each of us to ask: If the PPP had left such a mess, and it takes five years to clean up, why then as you clean up, there is not much more money in circulation in the economy? The answer is, Mr. President, because your economic policies have a stamp of failure written all over it. We need to get on with the business of managing the economy efficiently. Ask your Finance Minister to give you measurable indicators before you make statements that your Government should get a Grade A and that would show accurately the incompetency.

The foreign currency earners are taking a beating from this government as they are starved of support. Just have a quick look at some of the publicly recognized measurable indicators - sugar production at an all-time low, capital flight on the rise with exchange rates regulations- a proven failed policy, exchange rates on the rise, and sliding sporadically , declining GDP after decades of solid growth. Others are: citizens complaining of the new 200+ taxes on their livelihood, housing market collapse, forestry sector sharp decline, discretionary dollars much less for each family, VAT on Water and Electricity.

In arriving at a Grade A, I would like to see your score sheet. Mr. President, ‘c’mon man,’ what audacity to look in the mirror and give yourself and your government an A Grade!

The objective assessment would be an overall Grade F – “You Failed, Mr. President – no promotion to a 2nd Term.”

Long standing PPP member, Ramdat, passes away

T

Taxing Education: A Dumb Move

Many ordinary citizens choose to send their children to private schools due to many reasons instead of just public schools. This attitude should be beneficial to the Government, as they save our taxpayers money to put back in the public education system. Simple

he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) expresses sincere condolences to the immediate family, relatives, and friends of the late Ramlakhan Ramdass (Ramdat).

Ramdat was a long standing, active, card-bearing member of the PPP, He grew up in Windsor Forest on the West Coast of Demerara and later settled with his wife and family at Leonora.

Ramdat started working as a security officer at the Party’s head Office, Freedom House, where he was later elevated to the position of clerk with responsibility for Party Membership Cards.

Ramdat was a devoted activist of the PPP. He was a militant comrade who fought for free and fair elections. In 1980, when the Guyanese people were struggling against the PNC’s referendum to declare one-party rule in this country, in the tough debates and struggles in the streets at public meetings, Ramdat was one of the twenty- two militant activists that were put in the dangerous PNC’s prison.

The PNC’s thugs and police arrested twenty PPP members on the grounds that they were part of the famous ‘Red Tapi-

er’. Those comrades were kept in jail and eventually they were freed of all charges.

The racist PNC Government imprisoned our activists in an effort to terrorize and curb their militancy. But even that attempt proved futile, for this only serve to make those comrades become even stronger and more dedicated to the struggle for a free Guyana. They were an inspiration to the workers, farmers, particularly our youths.

Ramdat was always willing to give that extra effort at all activities so as to ensure its success. He was elected to the PPP’s Central Committee and was also a member of the Party’s Regional Committee on the West Demerara. He was also elected Chairman of the Neighourhood Democratic Council at Leonora.

Ramdat died after a period of illness and his funeral was testimony of the great value the PPP had in such a comrade.

Former President Donald Ramotar and many eminent persons from both the PPP’s leadership and the community attended and spoke very well about his role as a father and party activist.

May his soul rest in peace.

16

News

Mercy Aigbe Gentry, Uche Jombo, Ebube Nwagbo Feature in Oge Okoye’s New Movie

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he movie which has its title as “Imperfect Me” is being directed by Pascal Amanfo.

A lot of celebrities like Mercy Aigbe Gentry, Uche Jombo, Ebube Nwagbo, Kenneth Okolie, Onyii Alex, Femi Jacobs, Daniel Lloyd and Atuanya Chigozie were featured in the movie.

The actress who’s a Theater Arts graduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University landed her first major role in the movie ‘Sister Mary’ in 2001. She has also featured in so many other movies.

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 FEBRUARY, 2017

Highlights

Glitz

Disney plans midnight Kapil Sharma wraps first ‘Star Wars’ event to unveil schedule for ‘Firangi’ ‘Last Jedi’ toys C

omedian-actor Kapil Sharma, who has ventured into production with ‘Firangi’, has wrapped up the first schedule for the film in Bikaner. “And it’s pack up for Bikaner’s first schedule... Thank you Bikaner for so much love warmth, bhujia and papads. My bags are overloaded,” Kapil tweeted on Thursday morning.

The 35-year-old comedian, who will also act in the film, is undergoing rigorous training for his role.

Kapil gained recognition when he won the comedy show ‘The Great Indian Laughter Challenge 3’. He went on to do reality shows like Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6’ and ‘Comedy Circus’ before starting his popular show ‘Comedy Nights with Kapil’, under his home production.

W MTV Base releases list of artistes expected to stand out in 2017

T

he Music Television (MTV) Base on Wednesday released hand-picked list of artistes across the African continent, who are expected to make it big in the music scene in 2017.

The Vice President of BET, Youth and Music, Viacom International Media Networks Africa, Monde Twala, said that it was the annual list of artistes, who could hopefully make a positive impact.

“It is awesome how the artistes on the 2016 list performed, how much the support we provided has helped the artistes build their careers both locally and internationally.”

Twala noted that the list was compiled by the MTV Base music and talent experts from across the continent.

He said, “They are the list of 55 established and up-andcoming artistes based on the channels assessment of various artistes.

“Their current and future potential include, sales performances, popularity buzz, radio and video airplay, style and other intangible factors.”

The vice president, however, said that MTV Base would support the “ones to watch’’ artistes as much as possible throughout 2017.

The hand-picked selection of artistes expected to make it big on the music scene in the 2017 MTV Base “Ones to Watch” 2017 include Edmasia-Angola; Nero Americano-Angola; Locko-Cameroon; Minks-Cameroon; Ezi Emela-England/Nigeria, Hiro-France/DRC; Boboh-Ghana; Capasta-Ghana; Eugy-Ghana, Teephlow-Ghana; Triggmatic-Ghana; Wondaboy-Ghana; Band BeCa-Kenya and Everlast-Kenya, among others.

alt Disney Co and major retailers will release the galaxy’s newest “Star Wars” toys at a Sept. 1 midnight event ahead of the holiday debut of the next film in the saga, “The Last Jedi,” company executives told Reuters.

The marketing push called “Force Friday II” is a sequel to an event Disney used to build buzz for merchandise tied to the 2015 movie “The Force Awakens.”

Star Wars products were a big contributor to the financial success of the series reboot. BB-8 droids, lightsabers and other playthings made “Star Wars” the U.S. toy industry’s top-selling property for 2015 and 2016, with $1.5 billion in sales over the two years, research firm NPD said.

Hasbro Inc cited “Star Wars” sales when it reported its biggest quarterly revenue rise in nearly five years for the December 2015 quarter. Mattel Inc also posted a surprise rise in sales for the same period with help from “Star Wars”based Hot Wheels toys. And at Disney, licensing income from “Force Awakens” merchandise drove record quarterly operating income in the consumer products unit.

Force Friday II will begin just after midnight on Sept 1.

Lego, Hasbro and others will release the first toys, apparel, books and other products tied to “The Last Jedi,” both online and in stores at retailers including Wal-Mart Stores Inc, Target, Toys R Us, Kohl’s, Amazon.com Inc and Disney Stores.

Syrian films bring tears and smiles to Berlin Film Festival

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ne drops you, trapped and powerless, in the middle of a civil war, while the other uses humor to depict what’s it like to start a new life in Europe after escaping the same conflict.

“Insyriated” and “The Other Side of Hope” are two films about Syria, and they brought tears and smiles to the Berlin Film Festival.

The former is shot almost entirely inside the walls of an apartment that becomes like a prison for Oum Yazan, a mother determined to survive a war whose brutality is conveyed mostly through the sounds of bombs and sniper gunfire.

“It shocked people in a very smart way. Westerners saw enough images of destruction on their television screens.

But few of them know what Syrians are going through or how they feel being trapped in there,” Iraqi film critic Kais Kasim said.

The film forces viewers to ask themselves how they would act in the same situation.

Belgian director Philippe Van Leeuw said the silence that followed the screening as well as seeing some of his actors and members of the audience in tears at the end made him think: “Mission accomplished.”

Deepika Padukone to star in an Indo-Chinese film?

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ere’s some good news for Deepika Padukone fans.

According to reports, the actress might feature in Siddharth Anand’s Indo-Chinese project. The film in question is said to be a love story which will be helmed by the ‘Bang Bang’ director and will have Chinese actor Dang Chow in the male lead.

Buzz was that Siddharth was considering both Deepika and Priyanka Chopra for the female lead. But now, the ‘Piku’ actress has reportedly bagged the part.

Professionally, Deepika is on a high. She made her big Hollywood debut alongside Vin Diesel in DJ Caruso’s ‘xXx: Return Of Xander Cage’ in January this year.

On home turf, Deepika will also be seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s mega project ‘Padmavati’ in the titular role.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 FEBRUARY, 2017

IS attack on Sufi shrine in Sindh kills dozens BBC -- A suicide attack in a popular shrine in southern Pakistan has killed at least 70 people, police say.

The bomber blew himself up among devotees in the shrine of Sufi saint Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in the town of Sehwan, in Sindh province, police said.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has condemned the attack, which has been claimed by so-called Islamic State.

A surge of attacks this week has shattered a period of improving security in Pakistan, The shrine was crowded as Thursday is considered a sacred day for Muslims to pray there.

The blast, in one of the country’s most revered shrines, is the deadliest in a string of bombings in Pakistan this week, claimed by the Pakistan Taliban and

other Islamist militants.

At least 250 others were wounded, a senior police official told the BBC. The only hospital in the area was said to be overwhelmed.

The critically injured were being sent by ambulance to Jamshoro and Hyderabad, some two hours away. The military said navy helicopters capable of flying at night would be sent to airlift the critically injured.

USA plans to send more combat units to Syria (Prensa Latina) The United States plans to send hundreds of troops from its armed forces to Syria, without the consent of the authorities in Damascus, to combat the Islamic State (EI), reported the Military Times.

The Pentagon develops several proposals that will be presented to President Donald Trump, though there will be apparently no immi-

nent announcement, Central Times sources told the Times, which oversees operations in the Middle East.

According to the publication, which specializes in military matters, sources within the US Army indicate that about 2,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division (DAT), based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, could move to the region,

Israel-Palestinian conflict: UN warns Trump over two-state reversal

BBC -- The UN chief has warned Donald Trump against abandoning the idea of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying there is “no alternative”.

It comes after Mr Trump went against decades of US policy, saying he would back whatever formula led to peace.

Palestinians reacted with alarm to the possibility that the US could drop support for Palestinian statehood.

The last round of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks broke down in 2014.

Speaking alongside Israe-

li Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, President Trump promised to deliver a “great” peace deal.

But he said both sides must compromise.

“So I’m looking at two states and one state,” he said.

“And I like the one that both parties like.”

Following the news conference, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged the international community to do everything it could to bring about a two-state solution.

He said there was no other option for resolving the conflict.

A “two-state solution” to the decades-old conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is the declared goal of their leaders and the international community.

It is the shorthand for a final settlement that would see the creation of an independent state of Palestine within pre-1967 ceasefire lines in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, living peacefully alongside Israel.

The UN, the Arab League, the European Union, Russia and, until now, the US routinely restate their commitment to the concept.

German Chancellor criticizes US espionage against her country

apparently in coming weeks.

The article does not clarify whether the totality of that group would be sent, or if it was a program of rotation of the troops in the field for certain periods.

Trump told to military leaders to expeditiously draft such plans to strengthen the campaign against the IE, according to documents recently leaked to the press.

(Prensa Latina) German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticized today US National Security Agency (NSA) espionage to her country, where even her cell phone was infiltrated.

In this regard, Merkel stressed that it was an unacceptable gesture ‘between friends’ and said that Washington did not want to sign an agreement as not to spy on each other.

The head of the government testified before a parliamentary commission investigating the massive espionage

of United States in Germany revealed in 2013 by NSA ex-analyst Edward Snowden.

Before being questioned by the deputies, Merkel stressed the importance of safeguarding the individual privacy, but at the same time protecting the citizens from the terrorist threat.

‘In the end, it’s always about finding the balance between freedom and security,’ she said.

The federal chancellor was implicated in the scandal after it was revealed that the US Agency intercepted her

mobile phone and monitored both her sent and received calls and text messages.

The incident provoked a diplomatic altercation between Berlin and Washington and strained the relations for a time.

As part of the investigation, initiated following the revelations, several members of the German government were already interviewed.

The report and its findings will be announced by the end of the legislative period in June of this year, according to reports.

Grenada’s serial suer is himself being sued ST GEORGE’S, Grenada -- Grenada’s notoriously litigious prime minister, Dr Keith Mitchell, is now himself on the receiving end of a defamation claim made

by Senator Nazim Burke.

In a letter dated January 30, 2017, to Mitchell, lawyers acting for Burke asserted that Mitchell made

public allegations against Burke that are completely untrue and are seriously injurious to their client’s character and reputation.

Furthermore, the lawyers assert, the statements were made by Mitchell with the malicious intent to bring Burke into disrepute and, specifically, to

do damage to him as party leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and as caretaker of the constituency of St George North East for that political organisation.

The letter to Mitchell follows the latest in a series of attempts by Mitchell to muzzle local media ex-

tending over many years, when lawyers acting for the prime minister recently wrote to local radio talk show host Kem Jones requiring him to issue an apology and retraction, as well as pay unquantified damages and costs, in relation to allegedly defamatory remarks.

Dr Keith Mitchell (L) and Senator Nazim Burke

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Children’s Corner

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 FEBRUARY, 2017

The Jackal and the Foolish Tiger

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ne night, the jackal, decided to leave the forest and visit the neighboring village. There he happened to meet a bitch and fell in love with her. Soon, the bitch became pregnant. Her delivery date was fast approaching, and the jackal grew increasingly nervous. So, they left to the forest which he felt, was safer. He warned the human beings in the village could take away the pups.

The bitch thought this was good advice, and they decided to leave for the forest. The couple reached the forest and the jackal went searching for a safe place.

He found an abandoned den of a tiger, and felt the cave was a perfect shelter for the pups.

The jackal told the bitch, “This cave is the best place to stay and that nobody would disturb us here”.

But his wife said, “This is the tiger’s cave and he will kill us if he finds out.”

The jackal assured her and told her that he will attend to the tiger.

They began organizing and the jackal brought some hay, so they could sleep comfortably. Suddenly, they heard a tiger’s roar. The jackal looked outside, and noticed a tiger at the cave’s entrance. The bitch became scared, and began to weep.

The jackal consoled her, and said in a loud voice, “Don’t worry my dear, I know that you are hungry and tired. The tiger will soon come in to his den, and we can then kill it and, satisfy your hunger.” He intentionally spoke loudly, so the tiger could overhear their conversation.

No sooner the foolish tiger heard the jackal’s plans, he ran away. He thought there were two wild animals in his den, waiting to kill and eat him. The fleeing tiger, came across another jackal, who was aware of the first jackal’s state of affairs. He also knew the first jackal had brought his wife from town, and taken over the tiger’s cave.

The second jackal was jealous of the first jackal, and his wife, and started laughing at the foolish tiger.

The scheming second jackal, told the tiger of the first jackal’s plans.

He advised the tiger, “Don’t be afraid; just follow me.”

The foolish tiger thought

for a while and decided to follow the second jackal.

The second jackal, reassured the tiger, and praised his size and strength. He asked the tiger to go to his den and see for himself.

By this time, the tiger had regained his confidence and was seething in anger.

He remarked “How can they stay in my den without permission? I am going to kick them out and kill them.”

Hearing this, the second jackal became happy.

Soon, they reached the tiger’s den. The first jackal, noticing the tiger had returned to the den with his foe, the second jackal.

The first jackal was shrewder than both the tiger and second jackal.

He spoke in a loud voice, “Don’t worry my dear, one of my comrades have brought back the tiger. My comrades are hiding in the forest. They will surely catch him this time. He has fallen into our trap, and his flesh would last us some time.

This would give you the energy for your delivery.”

On hearing the conversation, the foolish tiger, who had returned only because of the second jackal’s persuasion, turned and ran. His retreat was so hasty, that he fell down a couple of times and injured himself. He also cursed himself for trusting the second jackal.

The second jackal had followed the tiger and he too was a bit stressed.

While the tiger was resting, the second jackal cautiously approached him and said, “I am sorry that you had to run”. He is a rogue and I never thought, you were such a coward. You, the mightiest animal in the jungle is afraid of one silly jackal!”.

The tiger said, “I am fed up and I won’t go there again. You jackals are all one group. Your aim is to destroy all the tigers, so you can move freely in the jungle”.

The jackal meekly replied, “I am your humble

servant, and I don’t like the way, one of my comrades behaved with you. I know he and his wife need a place, but not at the cost of your den. You know that a jackal is no match for a tiger. You can kill him with one stroke.

This should be an example for others. Be bold, and come with me. You can also tie my tail with yours, so if you need to flee, I will hold you back.”

The foolish tiger agreed and approached the den again.

The bitch hearing their footsteps began to howl with fear. Her husband peeped out and noticed the tiger and the second jackal approaching.

He consoled his wife, and spoke in a loud voice; “I know you are hungry and that is why you are howling.

Please wait for a moment.

My faithful brother is bringing back the foolish tiger. He has also tied his tail with his, so the tiger cannot escape.

Soon, you can have the entire tiger.”

On hearing this, the tiger lost his confidence and bolted. He believed the second jackal was out to trick him.

So he ran and turned for his life. The tiger ran so fast and was injured in many places. Finally, a rock fell on his head and he died. The jackal also died because he too was tied to the tiger’s tail.

A wise and clever person can do through wisdom, which a physically strong person may not be able to do through his physical strength.

Dear Children,

T

he winner of the colouring contest Lion Tamer is Rawl Barns. The picture to colour this week is entitled Peppa Pig and is submitted by Camille Jennins.

Colour and send it to Weekend Mirror, PO Box 101088, Georgetown or 8 Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

The winners will receive the prize of a storybook.

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

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

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 FEBRUARY, 2017

Canopic Jar Egyptians believed they would need their body in the after-life.

Due to these beliefs they preserved the bodies of their Pharaohs by turning them into mummies when they died.

As part of this process they removed the internal organs and stored them in jars called canopic jars.

There were 4 jars that represented the sons of the God Horus  Imsety – had the head of a human and guarded the liver  Qebehsenuf – had the head of a falcon (shown left) and guarded the intestines  Hapy – had a baboon head and guarded the lungs  Duamatef – had a jackal head and guarded the stomach

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 FEBRUARY, 2017

Discuss your Problem

with

PORTIA

This feature explores personal problems. We invite you to write to Portia, c/o Mirror, P.O. Box 101088, Georgetown,Guyana

Corner 5 Emotions That Are

How Do I Move On From an Affair?

Dear Portia, I have a question about the etiquette of being “the other woman.” The married man with whom I’d been having an affair told me I was “too needy” and that his “shoulders are not for [my] problems.” I was so angry that I texted his wife and ratted him out. I also called his sister and mother-in-law and told them I was pregnant with his child.

It was a lie. I was not pregnant. But I had reached the end of my rope when he ignored an important text I’d sent him. I was not only furious about being ignored, but I was hurt because he was emotionally unavailable to me. Now I feel terrible about what I’ve done. This is not the kind of person I am. How can I clear my conscience and move on from this?

Wronged Woman Dear Wronged, The man is a scoundrel. He was unfaithful to his wife.

But you? What you did was so cruel, so half-witted, so dirty, so over the top, causing so much pain to so many people— and if any children suffer the slightest anguish because of your lie (if the man has kids and you cause a divorce.

A married man is by definition “unavailable.” I just want you to give it a whirl and see if you can grok what’s going on and come to a deeper, truer understanding of your life.

For your own honor, you must now write three letters. The man’s wife, his mother-in-law, and his sister should each receive one—handwritten in ink, on serious cream-colored stationery. Apologize for your heinous lies, take full blame for the affair, and say you led him into it.

Yes, we know he’s a bastard. Yes, we know you’re not the Dalai Lama. But make this your one great, selfless act.

Your remorse and honesty will restore your dignity, help three people deal with a catastrophe, and show what “kind of person” you are, really.

Sabotaging Your Weight Loss E

ating only when you’re hungry should be the easiest, most natural thing in the world, but it’s not. Many of us eat to lose weight and some of us eat too much without realising it and end up gaining weight.

People also eat because of boredom, sadness, loneliness, anger or even relaxation.

While emotional eating usually leaves us feeling bloated and guilty, it

binge and also helps you gain perspective and think the problem out.

Next, take a walk. It can help you think things through and change your mindset by releasing mood-enhancing endorphins. A study at the University of Exeter found that just 15 minutes of walking can reduce food cravings.

Emotion: Anger

You want: A large packet of salty

Emotion: Tired but can’t relax

Are My Friends Only Interested in Me Because of My Rich Boyfriend?

Dear Portia, My friends are being fake. They lavish me with compliments—all of them so phony that I can’t believe they think I’m not seeing through it. Why? Because my new boyfriend is loaded—incredibly wealthy. They ambush us at parties with “pitches” for their “projects” and pleas to invest in their dreams. One of my friends spotted us at a café and for 20 minutes nagged us to set up a “business meeting.” It’s getting to the point where I’m afraid to show up anywhere with the guy!

All of this makes me feel lonely and kinda sad. I’ve even begun wondering: Is everybody interested in me only because of my boyfriend’s money? Am I supposed to stop making friends? Or do I simply not introduce my boyfriend to my friends?

Amanda Dear Amanda, Now, now. Don’t be so hard on your friends.

As you love your friends for their excellent qualities and their sins—their humor, their kindness, their always being late, et cetera—they love you for your quirky self and the fact that you possess a spankin’ rich lover-dude.

The problem will sort itself out. Your boyfriend will soon avoid the friends of yours he doesn’t like, and your “fake” friends will fade away.

olate ice-cream Non-food solution: Unstructured spare time in the evenings is often the most dangerous time for overeating or emotional eating says Dr David Veale, a psychiatrist and co-author of Manage Your Mood: How To Use Behavioural Techniques To Overcome Depression.

Plan your week on a Sunday and try to include a few evening activities that are important to you. Sticking to a timetable of activities, where before you were at a loose end, can also help if the problem is boredom and the loneliness is long-term.

does actually make us feel better on a chemical level.

“Fat and carbohydrate release pain-relieving opioids into the brain making us feel better,” says Professor Julia Buckroyd, a psychologist and specialist in eating behaviour at the University of Hertfordshire.

But that becomes habit forming and is also a stumbling block to losing weight. Dealing with the emotional reasons why we overeat is a major factor in sustained long-term weight loss.

How to tackle the problem? Here’s 5 daily emotions you need to watch that could be hampering your best weight loss efforts: Emotion: Stress

You want: A chocolate and sweet cup of tea to help you calm down.

Non-food solution: Before you eat anything, ask yourself, “What is this about?” This acts as a red flag before a

chips to munch away at Non-food solution: Most people eat to avoid their least favorite emotions says clinical psychologist Jeremy Gauntlett-Gilbert, co-author of Overcoming Weight Problems.

If you’re used to keeping your emotions in check to keep the peace, this can mean a stuffing down of angry emotions with food. But psychologists are increasingly telling us to acknowledge emotions such as anger instead of acting on them or numbing them with food.

Writing things down will help you to face the emotion. Learning to sit with your emotions, be it anger, stress or anxiety robs them of their power over you and will help you not to overeat.

You can also keep a ‘food and feelings’ diary which will help you lose weight and keep it off.

Emotion: Lonely or bored at night

You want: Creamy vanilla or choc-

You want: Pasta drenched in butter and cheese Non-food solution: This is your brain’s way of calming itself as the white pasta will immediately release tryptophan, from which serotonin, a calming neurotransmitter is made. If you’re tired and wired, you probably need something other than food in the short-term to calm you down says Dr Roger Gould, a professor of psychiatry at UCLA. Anything from a 10-minute snooze to a short meditation can help. If you’re bingeing out of tiredness, ask yourself what you need to do to help you relax, that doesn’t involve food, and you’re halfway there.

Emotion: Tense and pressurised

You want: Coffee and a biscuit – or six!

Non-Food solution: Pause and ask yourself why you’re avoiding the task at hand, advises Dr Gould. You might need a break or if you’re putting off something physical – you may not have the energy. Make a decision about whether you’re going to carry on or take a break and come back to it, perhaps in the morning. Also try drinking some peppermint tea. It’s stimulating without the crash and burn side-effects.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 FEBRUARY, 2017

Ways to fight Coo-Coo collagen depletion Recipes

T

hink of skin as a house – no matter how swish it looks on the outside, if it’s built on sand, it’s going to sag and crack. Collagen is the main structural protein present in the skin. It gives body tissues form, strength and firmness.

Unfortunately, the reality is that as we age, our bodies are no longer able to produce collagen at the level it once did. On the plus side, there are ways to boost your body’s collagen and inhibit collagen fibre damage.

A recent report identified three skin-improving treatments that stimulate new collagen: topical retinoic acid, carbon dioxide laser resurfacing and injections of cross-linked hyaluronic acid.

Lazy collagen production promotes loss of skin volume and wrinkles according to Christine Clais, skin expert at the French Facialist.

1. Collagen (a fibrous structural protein in our skin’s middle layer) becomes damaged by factors like the sun, cigarette smoke, pollution, free radicals and even hormonal fluctuations. This causes small tears in the collagen fibres, which

Clais says nutrition choices are key contributors to collagen levels. “Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables – they’re essential for good skin functioning as a healthy organ.”

2. Avoid refined sugar

slowly wear down the integrity of the proteins.

2. Collagen is produced by dermal skin cells called fibroblasts, which are charged with repairing damaged collagen fibres by creating new ones. As we age, this collagen production process slows.

3. If the collagen fibres are not optimally repaired, spaces and gaps emerge, resulting in wrinkles and ill-supported skin that’s crepey and saggy (think of a tent without poles).

4 ways to fight collagen depletion 1. Get your 5-a-day

Sugar creates a chemical reaction known as glycation, damaging proteins including collagen and elastin fibres.

These cross-link (where chemical bridges form between our collagen or elastin molecules), resulting in stiffening of tissues and the formation of wrinkles.

3. Use products that are high in antioxidants

Active ingredients vitamin C, A and E – the antioxidants – help reduce free radical damage. Clais also recommends using products containing “peptides and epidermal growth factor to stimulate collagen synthesis”.

4 Consider treatment

Chemical peels or resurfacing lasers are an option to stimulate the body’s natural collagen production, and fillers can smooth out fine lines by plumping the skin.

Ways to prevent UTIs G

etting a UTI is no fun. Most women will get at least one in their lifetime and around 20% of infections are recurrent.

Most UTIs are uncomfortable but uncomplicated. However, some can lead to kidney damage and, in rare cases, septicaemia, so it’s important to learn quick and simple ways of preventing them.

1. Wash after a bowel movement UTIs are caused by bacteria that normally live in our gastrointestinal tract (GI) without causing harm. In women, the opening of the urinary tract and the rectum are located close together. And the shorter the perineum - the area of skin between the urethra and rectum - the easier it is for these UTI-causing germs to be transferred, explains Angela Kilmartin, a world-renowned UTI expert.

Dr Rachel Floyd, Kidney Research UK Fellow and an ambassador for their ‘Women in Science’ campaign adds: ‘This means it is a relatively simple process for bacteria to be transferred from the rectum to the urethra, where they can establish an infection due to differences in defence mechanisms between the GI tract and the urinary tract.’

Cleaning your back passages after a bowel movement can help wash away the gastrointestinal bacteria that have found their way out of the rectum. Angela recommends the bottle washing technique, an easy way to clean yourself while you’re out and about.

The bottle washing technique, which she devised, involves soaping the anus,

Ingredients: 4 - 6 medium sized ochroes, 2 cups water, 1 tsp salt, 1 cup cornmeal, 1 tbsp butter or margarine, 1piece of cooked salt beef

sitting on a toilet seat and using a 500 ml plastic bottle of water to clean yourself.

‘Hold the buttocks open so that you can soap your back passage and prevent faecal material lingering and causing infection,’ she advises.

2. Wash before and after sex Angela also advocates cleaning yourself before sex – at least half an hour beforehand - and after you’ve had sex.

She encourages men to also wash before sex as they can also spread bacteria to the urethra in women during sex.

3. Reduce your caffeine intake This means cutting back on tea, coffee and energy drinks containing caffeine.

‘While caffeine won’t directly cause UTI, it can act as an irritant so may aggravate symptoms,’ advises Dr Floyd.

4. Drink more fluids Dr Nick Summerton, GP and medical director for Bluecrest Health Screening, explains that drinking more water is good for the overall health of the bladder and urinary tract.

‘It dilutes the urine and makes you urinate more frequently, making it less likely for you to suffer from a build-up of bacteria, stones and other abnormalities that can lead to an infection.’

5. Consider cranberries ‘There’s solid research evidence that backs up the idea of a regular intake of cranberries being one useful way of lowering risk of UTIs among women,’ says Dr Summerton.

The cranberry theory is controversial though. Dr Floyd explains that a com-

prehensive review of medical literature called the Cochrane review, in 2012, showed that there is no clear evidence that cranberry juice or other similar supplements can help prevent or treat UTIs. Kilmartin agrees: ‘UTIs are not about what you eat, they are about germs.’

If you do decide to go down the cranberry juice path, take note of the sugar content, as many cranberry juice varieties on the supermarket shelf are full of sugar. Choose a light version, or opt for pure pressed cranberry options.

You can also find cranberry supplements in health food shops.

6. Wipe from front to back This may be pretty rudimentary advice, but in her book, Urinary tract infection, sexual cystitis and interstitial cystitis, Angela notes that not wiping from front to back is a major cause of UTI in children. If you weren’t taught how to wipe as a child, it’s easy to see what is causing your infections.

7. Steer clear of heavily perfumed body washes Perfumed washes and products can cause irritation, explains Dr Floyd.

‘Only use plain water to wash the vaginal area and avoid perfumes and powders,’ adds Dr Summerton, while bidets force germs to spread or travel up the urethra, says Angela.

If you are currently suffering from a UTI, make sure you see your GP as soon as possible. ‘It is important to establish that you have an infection,’ advises Angela.

Preparation Slice the ochroes. Cut the salt beef into small pieces, add sliced ochroes and one cup of water and cook until soft. Swizzle.

Mix the cornmeal with one cup of cold water, and stir into a boiling liquid.

Cook until thick and smooth, beating all the time. If desired, turn into a greased mould.

Note: Coo-coo is usually served with fried fish or fish stew.

Peanut Brittle Ingredients: 14 oz brown sugar, 6 oz corn syrup, 2 oz butter, 12 oz peanuts, ¼ tsp baking soda

Preparation Combine the sugar and corn syrup. Dissolve over a low heat then add the butter, stirring all the while.

Bring to a boil and continue to boil very slowly at 300°F. Add the bicarbonate of soda and peanuts, slightly warmed.

Pour slowly into a greased pan 12 x 4 x 1 in. Mark in bars when almost set, and allow to cool.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 FEBRUARY, 2017

Grade Six Assessment EXERCISE A

Science

Magnets 1. An electromagnet is a magnet powered by electricity. a. True b. False 2. If you place a south pole of a magnet close to the south pole of another magnet, they will attract each other. a. True b. False 3. Heating a magnet can destroy its magnetism. a. True b. False 4. How many poles does a magnet have? a. none b. one c. two 5. Which is an example of a temporary magnet? a. magnetite b. electromagnet magnet

d. four c. bar magnet

d. horseshoe

6. The space around a magnet where the force of the magnetism acts is the a. magnetism field b. north seeking pole c. south seeking pole d. magnetic field 7. Which object will not be attracted to a magnet? a. nail b. pencil c. paper clip

d. pin

8. The two ends of a magnet are called . a. charges b. poles

d. circuits

c. magnetic fields

9. Where on a magnet is the magnetic force strongest? a. at the north pole only b. at either pole c. halfway between the poles d. The force is equally strong everywhere.

10. Draw a magnet attracting and repelling another magnet.

EXERCISE B Phases of the Moon 1. Label the eight phases of the moon in the spaces provided on the diagram below.

EXERCISE D Solstices and Equinoxes 1. When the sun reaches its greatest difference north or south of the equator that day is called a equinox. a. True b. False 2. There will be about 12 hours of daylight on the day of an equinox. a. True b. False 3. The term equinox means a. equal day b. equal night c. equal year d. leap year 4. During the December solstice, the a. Southern Hemisphere has winter. b. Western Hemisphere has summer. c. Southern Hemisphere has summer. d. Northern Hemisphere has summer.

5. On which day does the Northern Hemisphere receive the most hours of sunlight? a. autumnal equinox b. winter solstice c. vernal equinox d. summer solstice 6. The equinox in spring, on about March 20 in the northern hemisphere and September 22 in the southern hemisphere. a. Autumnal b. Vernal c. Summer d. Winter

2. The waxing gibbous moon rises in the afternoon. a. True b. False 3. A moon that is larger than a semi-circle but not a complete circle of light, it is a a. crescent moon b. new moon c. three-quarter moon d. gibbous moon 4. When the moon is directly between Earth and the sun, it is called a a. crescent moon b. full moon c. gibbous moon d. new moon 5. How many full moons do we usually have in a month? a. 0 b. 1 c. 2

d. 4

EXERCISE C Rock Classification Organize the following terms on the graphic organizer. marble, sedimentary, basalt, conglomerate, rock classification, igneous, gneiss, sandstone, granite, metamorphic, scoria, shale, slate

7. The solstice that occurs on June 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere and on December 21 or 22 in the Southern Hemisphere. a. Autumnal b. Vernal c. Summer d. Winter 8. The solstice that occurs on December 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere and on June 21 or 22 in the Southern Hemisphere. a. Autumnal b. Vernal c. Summer d. Winter 9. The equinox that occurs on September 22 or 23 in the Northern Hemisphere and on March 21 or 22 in the Southern Hemisphere. a. Vernal b. Summer c. Winter d. Autumnal 10. What day is it when the sun is at its lowest elevation in the sky all year and we experience the shortest day of the year? a. summer solstice b. winter solstice c. summer equinox d. winter equinox

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 FEBRUARY, 2017

The Other View

By Baher Kamal

(IPS) - They are more than 370 million self-identified peoples in some 70 countries around the world. In Latin America alone there are over 400 groups, each with a distinct language and culture, though the biggest concentration is in Asia and the Pacific– with an estimated 70 per cent. And their traditional lands guard over 80 per cent of the planet’s biodiversity.

They are the indigenous peoples. They have rich and ancient cultures and view their social, economic, environmental and spiritual systems as interdependent. And they make valuable contributions to the world’s heritage thanks to their traditional knowledge and their understanding of ecosystem management.

“But they are also among the world’s most vulnerable, marginalized and disadvantaged groups. And they have indepth, varied and locally rooted knowledge of the natural world, “says the Rome-based International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD).

“Unfortunately, indigenous peoples too often pay a price for being different and far too frequently face discrimination,” the Fund, which hosts on Feb 10 and 13 on Rome the Global Meeting of the Indigenous People Forum in the Italian capital.

During this biennial meeting, the United Nations specialised agency will bring together representatives of Indigenous Peoples’ Organisations from across the world, as well as leaders of partner bodies to engage in a direct dialogue and improve participation of indigenous peoples in the Fund’s country programmes.

Over the centuries, the Indigenous peoples “have been dispossessed of their lands, territories and resources and, as a consequence,

have often lost control over their own way of life. Worldwide, they account for 5 per cent of the population, but represent 15 per cent of those living in poverty.”

One of the most effective ways to enable indigenous peoples to overcome poverty, it adds, is to support their efforts to shape and direct their own destinies, and to ensure that they are the co-creators and co-managers of development initiatives.

23

Indigenous Peoples Lands Guard 80 Per Cent of World’s Biodiversity

Rights of Indigenous Peoples The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the General Assembly on Sep. 13, 2007, establishes a universal framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity, well-being and rights of the world’s indigenous peoples.

languages ● One of the root causes of the poverty and marginalization of indigenous peoples is loss of control over their traditional lands, territories and natural resources ● Indigenous peoples have a concept of poverty and development that reflects their own values, needs and priorities; they do not see poverty solely as the lack of income ● A growing number of indigenous peoples live in urban areas, as a result of the degradation of land, dispossession, forced evictions and lack of employment opportunities(Source: IFAD) The Declaration addresses individual and collective rights; cultural rights and identity; and rights to education, health, employment and language. And it outlaws discrimination against indigenous

supported initiatives for indigenous peoples, mainly in Asia and Latin America.

Since 2007, it has administered the Indigenous Peoples Assistance Facility (IPAF). Through small grants of up to 50,000 dollars, it supports the aspirations of indigenous peoples by funding micro-projects that strengthen their culture, identity, knowledge, natural resources, and intellectual-property and human rights.

To help translate policy commitments into action, it has established an Indigenous Peoples’ Forum that promotes a process of dialogue and consultation among indigenous peoples’ organisations, IFAD staff and member states.

The Fund empowers communities to participate fully in determining strategies for their de-

Key facts ● There are more than 370 million self-identified indigenous people in the world, living in at least 70 countries ● Most of the worlds’ indigenous peoples live in Asia ● Indigenous peoples form about 5,000 distinct groups and occupy about 20 per cent of the earth’s territory ● Although indigenous peoples make up less than 6 per cent of the global population, they speak more than 4,000 of the world’s 7,000

peoples and promotes their full and effective participation in all matters that concern them.

It also ensures their right to remain distinct and to pursue their own priorities in economic, social and cultural development. The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is observed on Aug. 9 every year.

Announcing the Forum, IFAD noted that it has more than 30 years of experience working with indigenous peoples. In fact, since 2003, an average of about 22 per cent of the Fund’s annual lending has

velopment and to pursue their own goals and visions by strengthening grass-roots organisations and local governance.

Land is not only crucial to the survival of indigenous peoples, as it is for most poor rural people – it is central to their identities, the Fund reports. “They have a deep spiritual relationship to their ancestral territories. Moreover, when they have secure access to land, they also have a firm base from which to improve their livelihoods.”

According to this international

Fund, indigenous peoples and their knowledge systems have a special role to play in the conservation and sustainable management of natural resources.

Indigenous Women’s Untapped Potential The also named “bank of the poorest” as it provides grants and low-interest credits to the poorest rural communities, recognises indigenous women’s untapped potential as stewards of natural resources and biodiversity, as guardians of cultural diversity, and as peace brokers in conflict mitigation.

Nonetheless, it says, indigenous women are often the most disadvantaged members of their communities because of their limited access to education, assets and credit, and their exclusion from decision-making processes.

This ‘bank of the poorest’ is a specialised agency of the United Nations, which was established as an international financial institution in 1977, being one of the major outcomes of the 1974 World Food Conference, which was organised in response to the food crises of the early 1970s that primarily affected the Sahelian countries of Africa.

That world conference resolved that “an International Fund for Agricultural Development should be established immediately to finance agricultural development projects primarily for food production in the developing countries.”

One of the most important insights emerging from the Conference was that the causes of food insecurity and famine were not so much failures in food production but structural problems relating to poverty, and to the fact that the majority of the developing world’s poor populations were concentrated in rural areas.

Since its creation, IFAD invested 18.4 billion dollars to help 464 million rural poor people.

24

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 FEBRUARY, 2017

Strong, healthy relationships are nurtured by the ‘sting’ in the environment

I

like to write regularly about Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese art of placement. I have been practicing it for a number of years and have always found it a useful tool for becoming more aware of our environment and for learning how to make it more harmonious.

Feng Shui can be especially helpful for creating balance and harmony in relationships, and for that reason, my good Readers I often use it with my colleagues and sometimes my comrades.

I have yet to come across a colleague/comrade who was not interested in either having good relationships or attracting the right relationship, and it is nice when I can help them do that.

Last year, I had the opportunity to do just that with a colleague.

I was visiting with her in her home and she confided that she was struggling about how to attract the right man into her life. She felt she couldn’t find the right person and was feeling more and more stressed about meeting Mr. Right and starting a family before her biological clock ran out.

As I was in my colleague’s home at the time, it didn’t take long to spot the problem. Her relationship corner, which in all of our cases happens to be located in the far right hand corner of our main living area, held her television and a German box clock that was ticking away loudly.

To make matters worse, the area was cluttered with newspapers, pictures, DVD cases, and the like.

We set to work immediately clearing away the clutter from that area. We moved her television to another part of the room, so she would stop focusing on it, to an area where she wanted to make an effort to be more social. We also removed the clock, to make her feel less anxious about the passing of time.

Next, we decided to give the area a more romantic feel.

We moved two cushy chairs into that corner, angled them towards one another, and placed a small oval table between them. We hung a picture of cuddling cherubs in one corner wall and a large oval mirror in the other. We added a lamp with a pink scarf thrown over the shade to symbolize love.

We placed a pair of ceramic birds on the tables, to go with the pair of ‘dolphins” and the pair of chairs to promote “couples” energy. When dealing with a relationship area, it is good to think in twos. After we made our drastic changes, we could only wait to see what effect they might have.

Things changed almost overnight for my colleague.

Having pairs nearby reminded her that she needed to get out into the real world to meet someone. Without the clock ticking away, she felt relaxed around people, especially potential suitors. The last time I spoke with her, she was enjoying her social life, but there happened to be one special suitor she was particularly interested in.

Comrades, while this story may make Feng Shui sound like a quick and easy fix, it is an ancient practice that works in mysterious ways. I don’t want to give you the idea that it has some sort of hocus-pocus effect. Perhaps, if you focus your attention to that area and helping to enhance the space, actually makes you more aware and attuned to the current relationships in your life or the fact that you want to activate that area of your life.

If you are curious about it, why not take a look at your own relationship corner?

Give it a good cleaning out. See if it seems cozy and if the number two is well represented.

Happy 67th 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. Have an enjoyable weekend.

Happy Mashramani To All My Guyanese Sisters & Brothers. (G. Persaud)

25

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 FEBRUARY, 2017

Canadian glaciers now major contributor to sea level change, study shows

I

ce loss from Canada’s Arctic glaciers has transformed them into a major contributor to sea level change, new research by University of California, Irvine glaciologists has found.

From 2005 to 2015, surface melt off ice caps and glaciers of the Queen Elizabeth Islands grew by an astonishing 900 percent, from an average of three gigatons to 30 gigatons per year, according to results published in the journal Environmental Research Letters.

“In the past decade, as air temperatures have warmed, surface melt has increased dramatically,” said lead author Romain Millan, an Earth system science doctoral student.

The team found that in

the past decade, overall ice mass declined markedly, turning the region into a major contributor to sea level change. Canada holds 25 percent of all Arctic ice, second only to Greenland.

The study provides the first long-term analysis of ice flow to the ocean, from 1991 to 2015.

The Canadian ice cap has glaciers on the move into the Arctic Ocean, Baffin Bay and Nares Strait.

The researchers used satellite data and a regional climate model to tally the “balance” of total gain and loss each year, and the reasons why. Because of the huge number of glaciers terminating in area marine basins, they expected that discharge into the sea caused by tide water hitting approaching glacier

Canada’s glaciers and ice caps are now a major contributor to sea level change, a new UCI study shows. Ten times more ice is melting annually due to warmer temperatures.

Seen here is the edge of the Barnes Ice Cap in May 2015

fronts would be the primary cause.

In fact, they determined

that until 2005, the ice loss was caused about equally by two factors: calving

icebergs from glacier fronts into the ocean accounted for 52 percent, and melting

on glacier surfaces exposed to air contributed 48 percent. But since then, as atmospheric temperatures have steadily climbed, surface melt now accounts for 90 percent.

Millan said that in recent years ice discharge was only a major component in a few basins, and that even rapid, short term increases from these ice fields only had a minor impact on the long-term trend.

Millan added, “We identified meltwater runoff as the major contributor to these ice fields’ mass loss in recent years. With the ongoing, sustained and rapid warming of the high Arctic, the mass loss of the Queen Elizabeth Islands area is likely to continue to increase significantly in coming decades.”

Technology puts ‘touch’ into long-distance relationships L

ong-distance couples can share a walk, watch movies together, and even give each other a massage, using new technologies being developed in Carman Neustaedter’s Simon Fraser University lab.

It’s all about feeling connected, says Neustaedter, an associate professor in SFU’s School of Interactive Arts and Technology (SIAT).

Student researchers in his Surrey campus-based Connections Lab are working on myriad solutions.

Among them, researchers have designed a pair of interconnected gloves called Flex-N-Feel. When fingers ‘flex’ in one glove, the actions are transmitted to a remote partner wearing the other. The glove’s tactile sensors allow the wearer to ‘feel’ the movements.

To capture the flex actions, the sensors are attached to a microcontroller.

The sensors provide a value

A SIAT graduate student Azadeh Foirghani demonstrates the Flex N Feel glove

for each bend, and are transmitted to the ‘feel’ glove using a WiFi module.

The sensors are also placed strategically on the palm side of the fingers in order to better feel the touch. A soft-switch on both

gloves also allows either partner to initiate the touch.

“Users can make intimate gestures such as touching the face, holding hands, and giving a hug,” says Neustaedter. “The act of bending or flexing one’s

finger is a gentle and subtle way to mimic touch.”

The gloves are currently a prototype and testing continues. While one set of gloves enables one-way remote touch between partners, Neustaedter says a

second set could allow both to share touches at the same time.

Other projects also focus on shared experiences, including a virtual reality video conferencing system that lets one “see through the eyes” of a remote partner, and another that enables users to video-stream a remote partner’s activities to a long-distance partner at home (called Be With Me).

Meanwhile the researchers are also studying how next-generation telepresence robots can help unite couples and participate in activities together.

They’ve embedded a robot, designed by Suitable Technologies, into several Vancouver homes. There, it connects to countries around the world, including India and Singapore. Researchers continue to monitor how the robot is used. One long-distance couple plans a Valentine’s Day ‘date’ while one

partner is in Vancouver, and the other, on Vancouver Island.

“The focus here is providing that connection, and in this case, a kind of physical body,” says Neustaedter, who has designed and built eight next-generation telepresence systems for families, and is author of Connecting Families: The Impact of New Communication Technologies on Domestic Life (2012). He has also spent more than a decade studying workplace collaborations over distance, including telepresence attendance at international conferences.

“Long-distance relationships are more common today, but distance don’t have to mean missing out on having a physical presence and sharing space,” says Neustaedter. “If people can’t physically be together, we’re hoping to create the next best technological solutions.”

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 FEBRUARY, 2017

Williams hire former Time to shake up golf, head of European Tour says Ferrari aerodynamicist F

ormer Ferrari chief aerodynamicist Dirk De Beer is joining Williams on Mar. 1 to head the aero department, the Formula One team said on Thursday.

“His knowledge and technical expertise will undoubtedly be a great asset to the team in our continued push to restore Williams to the front of the grid,” said deputy team principal Claire Williams.

P

rofessional golf has long consisted of 72-hole tournaments played over four days - something that will have to change if the game wants to reach a new generation of fans, the head of the European Tour said.

The tour’s chief executive, Keith Pelley, has pledged to shake up the European circuit since taking over from George O’Grady in 2015, and a couple of innovative tournaments this year are part of that effort.

One is the World Super 6, which began at Perth’s Lake Karrinyup course in Western Australia on Thursday. After the usual three days of stroke play, the A$1.75 million ($1.35 million) tournament will end on Sunday with 24 players competing at match play in six-hole playoffs until only one remains.

Although the tournament makes a grandiose pledge to “revolutionize” golf, the change is more evolution than revolution.

A more radical shift will take place in May at the GolfSixes tournament in Hertfordshire, England. Twoman teams will compete in six-hole matches over a twoday weekend, with pyrotechnics and music and players

hooked up to microphones to boost fan engagement.

The new tournaments have been written off as gimmicky by critics. But Pelley - a Canadian whose background is sport media and North American football, not golf - says golf needs to find a way to reach a ‘millennial’ generation that grew up with smart phones, social media and truncated attention spans.

“Golf at the end of the day is not just sport. It is also entertainment, and we have to face up to it that we are in the entertainment business,” Pelley told Reuters in an interview from the World Super 6 in Perth.

“When we grew up with golf, we didn’t have social

media and all this technology. The younger generation, particularly, have grown up being able to get things on demand and instantly. It’s no longer the case that they are prepared to wait.”

With 72 holes played over four days a fixture at most tournaments for over a century, instant gratification is not a feature of professional golf. Watching for multiple days before a winner emerges is a heavy commitment for casual fans.

Pelley said 72-hole golf would remain sacrosanct at the four major championships. But he foresees lower-profile tournaments making way for a faster format of golf on the European Tour.

Olympics - Tokyo launches mobiles-to-medals recycling campaign

M

embers of the Japanese public lined up to donate unwanted mobile phones that will be recycled into medals for the 2020 Olympic Games, as a project aimed at promoting sustainability was launched on Thursday.

The campaign kicked off at Tokyo’s Metropolitan Government building where more than 100 people dropped the used handsets into a box that displayed the number of donations.

“I came today because I thought it’s great that my old mobile phones will become medals for the 2020 Olympics Games,” said Hiromi Sakushima, a 55-year-

old resident of Kawasaki, near Tokyo.

The project is part of an effort to save costs after the budget for the Tokyo Games ballooned to more than 3 trillion yen ($26.5 billion) at one point, though organizers have reduced that sum to $16.8 billion.

The Tokyo 2020 organizing committee hope to collect up to eight tonnes of metal from outdated mobile phones and small electronic appliances, from which gold, silver and bronze will be extracted to make 5,000 Olympic and Paralympic medals.

Hiroki Yamashita, who brought along 17 outdated phones from his family,

said he was proud to contribute to the campaign.

“As a resident of Tokyo, it gets me really excited for these Olympic Games, which I will get to see for the first time in my life,” the 18-year-old said.

In April, collection boxes will be installed in local offices and stores of telecoms firm NTT DoCoMo Inc, which is partnering with environmental firm Japan Environmental Sanitation Center for the project.

At recent Olympic Games, the gold medals have been merely gold-plated, and they are actually made of silver, while the bronze medals are mostly copper in composition.

The South African worked previously at Sauber, Renault and Lotus before joining Ferrari in 2013. His departure from the Italian team was announced last season.

Former champions Williams finished fifth overall last season but are undergoing a technical revamp following the departure of engineering head Pat Symonds.

Canadian rookie Lance Stroll

and Brazilian veteran Felipe Massa are the 2017 drivers.

Former Mercedes technical head Paddy Lowe is expected to join, once his ‘gardening leave’ from the world champions is completed.

Aerodynamics is in the spotlight this season with the introduction of new regulations that will see cars cornering faster on much bigger tyres.

Infantino plays down violence fears at 2018 World Cup in Russia

F

IFA President Gianni Infantino on Thursday played down concerns about possible violence at the 2018 World Cup in Russia despite several flashpoints involving their supporters at the 2016 European Championship in France.

“I’m not concerned about trouble and violence in 2018.

I have full confidence in Russian authorities, they are taking this matter very, very seriously,” he said in Doha.

More than 100 England fans were injured following clashes with Russian supporters in Marseille before their group game at Euro 2016, causing UEFA to threaten the team with expulsion from the tournament.

There have been fears of more trouble at next year’s tournament. But Infantino said the organizers were al-

ready putting plans in place to curb any hooliganism.

“They have been in contact with UEFA and French organizers to learn the lessons from France and this matter is being taken in the utmost seriousness by all,” he said.

“As part of this, the Russian government has put in place an ID system which will help us when

it comes to any potential trouble. We need to be wary about spreading rumors about hooligans.”

He was speaking ahead of a BBC documentary due to air on Thursday evening, which claims to have spoken to some of the Russian hooligans involved in the 2016 trouble.

Infantino also reaffirmed that he hoped to use video referees at the tournament.

“The proposal on the table is about using video technology to help referees.

I’m really hopeful that for the World Cup in 2018 we can have a video system to help the referee take the right decisions,” he said.

The new assistant referee technology was tried out at the 2016 Club World Cup in Japan.

27

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 FEBRUARY, 2017

Sport View

by Neil Kumar

Guyana cricket in jeopardy

– Too many matches being played in court instead of the field

that county. Things are worse in Essequibo, since the administrators there are clearly not capable of executing their duties in a professional manner.

The Demerara Board is in serious trouble and it seems as if this cannot be solved. The fact of the matter is that those in authority are playing serious politics with our cricket.

It seems as if Guyana will be the first country to get ‘banned’ from playing international cricket.

If this nonsense continues then the future of cricket in Guyana and by extension the West Indies will suffer a serious set-back.

As for the preparation of the team, that responsibility falls fully on the administrators. However, the coaching staff and the management of the team are the people who must be able to prepare the team to win and bring home the silver wares.

The national cricket coach is a person who certainly would like to see Guyana’s team win and do better. However, he is failing miserably, since he lacks the influence and knowledge of a genuine coach.

Guyana is not only failing at the senior level, but we are failing to even get a single player prominently in the West Indies test team. Guyanese are finding it extremely hard to rally behind our own West Indies team, simply because there are no Guyanese in the team.

Further, we must be fully cognizant of the fact that two of our Guyanese players who were world class batsmen were unceremoniously kicked out of the West Indies team. It cannot be fair and just that two world class batsmen were treated like ‘dogs’ and booted out of the team.

How can our younger players be motivat-

ed to play cricket?

As for the players, the team’s preparations are most important. The fielding, batting and bowling must be improved. The team spirit, the morale of the team is at an all time low. It lacks strategy and the basics in playing cricket at the highest level.

The team is not performing because of various reasons. It is high time that we examine these reasons and make the necessary changes. It is sad to say that half of the players cannot reasonably command their places in the team. Several players are not certainties in the team.

The captain is not leading by his performance. He is a batsman and he must make runs consistently. In the recent Super 50 regional tournament, he failed at crucial times and as a result the team failed. The two opening batsmen are not scoring runs and giving the team a solid start. The selectors must groom and find two solid and dependable opening batsmen. As for the senior batsmen again they are not consistent. Further, the batsmen must know that they will have to make big scores if they want to be playing cricket at the highest level. Only recently, we saw an Indian batsman making a triple century in a test match and failed to get into the team to play in the next test match although he was fully fit.

There is no rivalry, no competitiveness to play in the Guyana team.

‘Shiv’ will have to make space; we had enough of Christopher Barnwell and the team is only accommodating some players who will not offer anything to Guyana cricket.

Let us include some of the younger players in the team. Give them a run in a few matches and boost their confidence.

SPORTS COMMENTARY

By Neil Kumar

A

fter thirteen years, Guyana’s national cricket team has failed to win a title at the Regional 50-overs competition.

The blame game is on.

Some people are blaming the players, others are critical over the coaching staff, while others are hammering the administration.

The ‘buck’ must stop with the people at the highest level - the administrators. There are far too many unsolved issues and serious irritants that are affecting the smooth running of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB).

The question of the legality of the GCB must be put to rest. It is imperative that we have unity with our cricket administrators.

The different factions are hindering the development of cricket and our cricketers in particular. The Government of the day must make decisions. The GCB must be allowed to hold mandatory elections of their office

barriers.

The Executive must be properly elected and allowed to function without interference.

In Guyana, we have three counties that are supposed to run off their respective elections of their office bearers. They are supposed to elect their representatives to the General Meeting of the GCB and then elect the President and other Executive members of the GCB to administer the Board for the period until election is due again.

This is no rocket science. So why can’t we get this done?

In Guyana, we have injunctions upon injunctions, where cricket is being played in the Courts and not in the field.

This must stop now!

Our cricket administration must return to normalcy. The Berbice Board is not holding elections because of injunctions. As a result, there is little cricket being played in

T

he entire world of cricket fans will be looking at the prestigious IPL Championship. A total of 351 star players, including 122 super star international players, will be featured in a highly competitive auction in Bangalore on Monday.

The Indian Premier League is undoubtedly the most competitive and exciting cricket championship in the world. Thousands of spectators fill the grounds, while millions of fans around the world look at television and listen to live radio coverage.

Sponsorship is fully supportive of this most attractive cricket attraction.

India, the world’s top-ranked test team, has been unbeaten in their last 19 test matches. Their captain Virat Kholi, the world’s leading batsman, and his team are all anxiously awaiting this challenge.

While South Africa, the world’s champion one day team, has several players that are looking forward to play among the best players in the game.

South African players such as A.B de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, J.P Duminy, Quin-

ton de Cock, Chris Morris, David Miller and Hashim Amala are all established players in the IPL. However, younger players such as exciting fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir, Farhaan Behardien, Wayne Pernal, Lingi Ngidi, Andile Phenhlukwayo and Dwaine Pretorius are some of the most talented and players with potential to develop as exciting world class players.

England also has several magnificent players, such as Eoin Morgan, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Jonny Bairstow Alex Hales and Jason Roy. With the most talented players playing in the IPL the attraction is there for cricket.

India’s Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahaul, Cheteswear Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, along with the long list of exciting batsmen are all rearing to have a go in the IPL. The IPL certainly brings closer cohesion in the cricketing world, while almost all the teams in the world benefits from the exposure.

This year’s IPL will certainly be the most exciting and is deemed to be a great success.

PPP opposes govt plans to close Rose Hall Devastating effects on workers, and Enmore estates communities and country

T

he People’s Progressive Party has stated that it will oppose the government’s plan to close Rose Hall and Enmore

sugar estates and to contract cultivation in several locations this year.

The PPP calls these decisions “callous: and opines

that these are political in nature and directed at PPP supporters.

In a statement last week, the Party stated:

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) notes with serious concern the high-handed approach of the APNU+AFC Govern-

ment in dealing with the sugar industry. Our participation in the Stakeholder Forum is to ensure the survival of the sugar industry.

We have already expressed our concern in relation to the lack of information and pertinent studies, documents and analyses to aid our work in the Stakeholders Forum. Notably absent is an economic feasibility study, a social impact assessment or a serious diversification plan to support the government’s position.

Government’s callous decisions, which have already seen the closure of Wales Estate and the devastation of more than seventeen hundred (1700) families directly and thousands of other families indirectly, do not have our support.

The cruelty of the Government is demonstrated by the treatment meted to the workers of Wales Estate.

Having closed the industry without any consultations with the workers or their Union, the APNU+AFC Government had refused to comply with the Severance Pay Act. This forced the Union to approach the Courts for an Order compelling GuySuCo to negotiate with the Union. Having obtained that Order of Court, and after negotiating with the Union, GuySuCo still refuses to pay the agreed severance package to the workers, causing the current protest action. The PPP strongly supports the workers in their just demand that their severance package be paid immediately and accordance with the law.

Further, the lame excuse given by government for abandoning the first crop of Skeldon is a smokescreen for their hidden agenda which includes inflating the cost of fixing

the boiler as an excuse to privatise Skeldon. The absence of this first crop is going to create untold hardships for thousands of workers and the many private cane farmers who would have invested heavily based on the Skeldon operation.

The Government in a document titled “Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. – Government of Guyana Position on the Future of GuySuCo” made the following recommendations: 1. The closure of Rose Hall factory at the end of 2017 2. The closure of Enmore factory at the end of 2017 3. The closure of several cultivations These decisions were arrived at by the Government without an understanding of the social and economic impact they would have on the thousands of families directly and indirectly. The devastating effect on the communities, the Region and the national economy as a whole are totally ignored.

For the PPP, the livelihood of people, sustainability of communities and the well-being of the national economy, are paramount in any decision we make.

Just a glance at our record on how we saved the bauxite industry and sustained those communities in Region 10 provides an example of a PPP Government that cared, and was concerned about people’s welfare.

We wish to reiterate that the PPP will not be supporting the closure of any estate or sugar cane cultivation. The refusal of government to complete these essential studies leads us to believe that the decision is based solely in politics and directed to PPP’s supporters.

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PUBLISHED BY NEW GUYANA Co. Ltd., 8 Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana. Tel: 226-2473, 226-5875 Fax: 226-2472 WEEKEND MIRROR, 28-29 May 2016