Weekend Mirror January 26, 2018

27-28 January, 2018 / Vol. 10 No. 6 / Price: $100

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

APNU/AFC's sinister plan to undermine Opposition support base, starting with Sugar – Jagdeo PAGE 2

General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo speaking to workers and families in Enterprise, ECD

SEE INSIDE

More oil PAGE 2 contracts to be released by month-end Deception: An Instrument of APNU/AFC Rule PAGE 3

AFC’s Abel Seetaram charged for brutalizing Plantain Chip vendor PAGE 8

Sugar unions argued for full severance PAGE 9

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WEEKEND MIRROR 27-28 JANUARY, 2018

APNU/AFC sinister plan to undermine Opposition support base, starting with Sugar – Jagdeo

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pposition Leader, of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), Bharrat Jagdeo last Tuesday told scores of sugar workers and their families not to lose hope as his party, the PPP, will be back in power and will lend support to dismissed sugar workers and affected communities in the sugar belt.

Speaking to workers in Enterprise, a rural sugar community on the East Coast, Demerara, Jagdeo

said the APNU/AFC government has started the destabilisation with the sugar industry by putting close to 5000 sugar workers on the breadline.

The General Secretary said this is sinister plan by the APNU/AFC to undermine the support base of the Opposition with the aim of changing the demographics of the country.

He said that if the Government’s plan succeeded and people lost hope in those

communities that were devastated and adversely affected by the decision to reduce the sugar industry and eventually close it, then Guyana’s future would be jeopardised.

“I warned on the campaign trail that this would have happened and it’s happening now…They want us to lose hope and to give up on the industry…they want people to migrate…so that they will (be able to) change the demographics of this country,” Jagdeo explained

to the audience.

The Opposition Leader laid the blame for the woes being faced by 4763 workers squarely at the feet of President David Granger.

Jagdeo contended that the decision to fire thousands of workers without a clear plan was “not necessary” as he insisted that it was motivated by political ideology.

“I can’t find any other reason outside of the fact that they want people to migrate and change the voting

pattern,” he also contended as he questioned why it was so hard for the Government to utilise one per cent of its budget to keep the industry going as it looked for solutions to deal with the problems facing the industry.

Enterprise was the latest of many outreaches by the General Secretary to sugar communities that were affected by the mass dismissals by the government.

Everywhere he went workers spoke of severe hardships

they are experiencing.

The General Secretary also related to the workers the government’s failure to develop the country, the dozens of corrupt deals and ethnic discrimination.

He related that the government can find the money to keep the industry afloat until better times and noted the billions that are going towards the subsidy of electricity consumption in Linden and wasteful and extravagant spending by the government.

THANK YOU ENTERPRISE! PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo celebrated his birthday last Tuesday with sugar workers and their families who were dismissed by the government. On his Facebook page General Secretary posted the following: I spent my birthday with my extended family today, had a great time.Yes the cake was good. Thank you Enterprise.

More oil contracts to be released by month-end

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ollowing the release of its contract with ExxonMobil and calls from that Company for a level playing field to be created, the Government said it would soon be publishing contracts it signed with other oil companies.

At a press conference on Thursday, January 25, 2018, at its Brickdam Office, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman said at

least two of the contracts will be released by the end of this month.

Trotman said the companies that they have contacted have not objected to having the contracts disclosed. “ T h e r e s p o n s e s r eceived so far have been that there is no objection to the release and so we are aiming to begin posting more contracts at the end of this

month. Hopefully, we will get two up by next week,” Trotman told reporters.

He noted that while the Ministry is starting with oil companies, it will be expanded to all companies in the natural resources sector.

Trotman had previously stated that the website developed by the Government to publish its contract with ExxonMobil, will be used to disclose the others.

WEEKEND MIRROR 27-28 JANUARY, 2018

My View

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ver the last weekend, the media reported extensively on the meeting between President David Granger, who was accompanied by several members of the Cabinet, and the two unions in the sugar industry, GAWU and NAACIE. This meeting was as a result of the request made by the unions more than a year ago.

It was made after the government, without any consultation, began closing sugar estate, and dismissing thousands of workers. They did that without any consultation/s with the unions and other stakeholders, including the workers.

It is apposite to note that it was done even though the Commission of Inquiry (COI) the government set up and spent $80M on did not recommend closure of any estate.

It was noted that the President made several ‘high-sounding’ remarks at the meeting with the unions and he reportedly stated that...”this is a national mat-

By Donald Ramotar Former President

ter. It is not a partisan matter.

It involves human beings, households and families...’

Great words. Yet we cannot ignore the fact that in taking the decision to close estates, grave harm is being done to the workers and their families and even entire communities.

A day later, it was reported that another 900 plus workers have been given dismissal letters.

Imagine the President and his ministers, including the Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture, had representatives of the two unions representing the workers in front of them and gave no indication that more workers would be laid off.

Yet, the President spoke about ‘consultations’ and involving ‘stakeholders.’

This is the height of deception!!!!

The President also told the meeting that he could not afford more resources to put in the industry. This is a far cry from what he said while campaigning in 2015, that the industry was too big to fund.

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Deception: An Instrument of APNU/AFC Rule

It was pointed out elsewhere several times that putting money into sugar is an investment that would be repaid many times over. In speaking about sugar not making money, some persons conveniently omit to recognise the many other unpaid work done by GUYSUCO. One example is the drainage of most of our coastland, among other essential services.

Yet, the government spends billions to give almost free electricity to Linden in the form of a subsidy. There is no hope of getting back any of the funds that are expended there. This is a giveway.

When we into account the fact that the majority of people who live and work in the sugar communities are Indo-Guyanese, while there are hardly any Indo-Guyanese living in Linden, the argument that this APNU-led regime is being motivated mainly by racial consideration is unassailable.

This is not an isolated incident.

We saw the massive purge of Indo-Guyanese from every level of the public service. Moreover, any hope of

UG students slam deplorable conditions

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tudents of the University of Guyana have slammed the government for not keeping promises to upgrade the institution into a modern entity and for the deplorable conditions in which they have to study and learn.

They also lambasted the University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS) for not doing enough to lobby for more meaningful infrastructural changes and upgrades to be effected at the Turkeyen Campus.

“It’s a very sickening situation. The campus buildings need repairs, the classrooms are filthy and not conducive to learning, and most, overcrowded. This situation has to change,” Kamini Persaud, a student of the Faculty of Social Sciences, explained.

The students contend that since the coalition Government entered office, they have only been promised that the University would be transformed and modernised, with special em-

phasis being placed on upgrading its edifice and improving the quality of education on offer.

“We need the administration and Vice Chancellor to place more emphasis on addressing the burning issues that are affecting our stay here.

I think that it would take little to nothing out of these big officials to meet with the students to listen to what can be done to make our lives better,” Jermaine Thomas opined.

The students have said that while the University has improved its registration process, there is still a lot of confusion when new students attempt to go through the process to become fully registered.

“The staff (are) most times rude, petty, and unhelpful. This is another area that I feel like the Vice Chancellor’s attention (should be called to). And maybe the Education Minister can intervene and provide the professionals here with some sort of training and development

that would see them treating students and prospective students better,” another student who asked not to be named suggested.

The students feel that their elected faculty representatives can do much more to advance these causes, but often become bogged down by their own personal situations and end up frustrated by the non-action by the University on many fronts.

“Security is also another issue that I feel strongly they should address. There are a lot of robberies taking place around the Campus, and when you have to leave here late at nights, it does be very scary,” Padma Persaud explained.

Students have, for years, been complaining about the deplorable conditions that they have to study in, but only when there are serious protests and lobbying by students is ad hoc work started, and then halted as soon as things return to normalcy.

their future employment is being dashed as we see that the institute training public servants is almost devoid of persons of Indian descent.

The racial discrimination is applied to the Amerindian communities, too. Recall, the almost 2,000 Amerindians who were wantonly dismissed by the APNU/AFC regime. Recall, too, that the solar panels and free laptop distribution programmes that the PPP/C administration had implemented in those communities have been brought almost to a halt.

The regime is also not doing anything to better the lives of poor Afro-Guyanese. The only thing they are doing in those communities is to feed people with heavy doses of racial propaganda.

They know that people are very dissatisfied with their performance and that is why they are trying to counter that dissatisfaction with racial propaganda, in the hope that it will keep their supporters close to them, despite their obvious failures.

Indeed, the only people benefitting from this regime Is the APNU/AFC elite.

However, any Afro-Guyanese who the regime feels does not support their diabolical scheme is dealt with accordingly.

The case of Bishop Juan Edgehill is one of the most recent. He is now being targeted and bombarded in Par-

liament, in the regime-controlled media and in the streets. This is because he is strong and has displayed courage in his representation of the people of Guyana.

We have the case of Carvil Duncan as well, who was removed by the regime from his constitutional position.

For them, the constitution is just a piece of paper.

In dealing with Duncan, the supreme law of our country was ignored and trodden on by the regime.

On the ground, they have viciously attacked the Afro-Guyanese farmers of Seafield and No. 40 Village on the West Coast of Berbice.

The PPP/C government had granted fifty farmers leases for 10 acres of farming land each. When the APNU/ AFC took office, these lands were illegally taken away from these small farmers by the MMa/ADA. The matter was taken to court, and the farmers were represented by former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, who won judgement in their favour.

But that was not the end of the saga. After the judge ruled against the MMA/ ADA, President Granger stepped in and cancelled the leases to these Afro-Guyanese farmers.

The matter was taken to the courts again.

The Chief Justice ruled in favour of the farmers and af-

ter more than two years, they are now back on their land.

This is a clear case of political persecution of Afro-Guyanese. Their ‘crime’ is that the regime believes they support the PPP/C. We also see the attitude of the regime towards independent Afro-Guyanese professionals. The regime has so far refused to grant senior counsel status on Mr Nigel Hughes and Steven Fraser, both of whom are not known to be PPP sympathisers. These men are more independent thinkers and professionals and the regime will not tolerate that.

They want blind loyalty, nothing else will suffice.

That is why we are seeing actions being taken to turn the Police Force and the Judiciary into extensions of the PNC/APNU. The first move was to remove officers whom they think would work fairly and professionally.

In these still early days of power, the regime is using deception as a tool of governance. This was seen in all its nakedness when in just twenty four hours after talking about ‘consultations’ and ‘working together’, the regime shoved another nine hundred sugar workers on the bread line.

Clearly, the regime believes they can fool all the people all the time.

They will get a rude awakening!

UG to honour Cheddi Jagan

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he University of Guyana (UG) has commenced planning to commemorate the birth centennial of the late President Dr Cheddi B. Jagan in March of this year.

The commemoration envisages a series of academic activities to honour the co-founder of Guyana’s premiere tertiary institution, which was established in 1963.

According to the UG in a release, Vice-Chancellor Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith recently convened the inaugural meeting of the twelve member broadbased planning committee tasked to recommend a comprehensive set of commemoration events.

Under the Chairmanship of Dr Nigel Gravesande,

University Registrar, who is an historian, the committee includes Professor Paloma Mohamed, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Philanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement; Professor Subramanian Gomalthinayagam, Director of the Berbice Campus; and Mr Tota Mangar, former Deputy Vice-Chancellor and a respected historian.

Also part of the planning committee are: Ms Indra Chandrapaul of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre; Ms Gwyneth George, University Librarian; Ms Emily King, Director of the National Library; Ms Paulette Paul, UG’s Public Relations Officer; Dr Cheddie (Joey) Jagan, Jr; Dr Nigel Westmaas, Associate Professor

of Africana Studies at Hamilton College in New York; Mr Kadasi Ceres of UG’s Faculty of Social Sciences; and Assistant Registrar June Ann Garnett, who is Secretary to the Planning Committee.

The Committee, according to UG, is expected to organise a series of exhibitions on the life and works of the late President, hold symposia at both campuses, and install a commemorative plaque at the Cheddi Jagan Lecture Theatre on the Turkeyen campus.

The opportunity will also be taken to raise funds to renovate the Lecture Theatre, and to increase awareness about Dr Jagan among the younger generation.

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EDITORIAL

Government created fertile grounds for crime

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very day, an army of criminals kill, brutalize, rob and terrorize Guyanese and the Guyana Police Force, the institution charged with the responsibility of protecting the citizenry, seems to be in a state of stupor.

The outcries from citizens, especially the ever growing number of victims, saw President David Granger, recently, summoning a meeting of his security outfits to look into this alarming situation.

Unfortunately, the government has not revealed to the nation what steps would be put in place to stop this upsurge of crime. To its credit, the government did announce that there would be more road-blocks, but that has never been an effective deterrent to criminals.

But surely, a government can do much more than that in a situation where fear is stalking the land and citizens just don’t feel free anymore, even in their own homes.

And what is even more alarming, there are more and more crimes involving members and former members of the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defense Force.

Clearly, there is a breakdown of law and order and the APNU/AFC coalition has only itself to blame for this situation.

Essentially, this government has not been able to sustain any national feeling of hope the people had for a better future.

Practically all its pompous boasts and promises of the “good life” have fallen by the way side. The only reason for being in power is to enjoy the increasing perks in high office. This is very evident even to the supporters of the coalition.

This has evidently led to a lackadaisical attitude towards good governance and accountability. To start with, the government has failed to have a plan or a vision on how to develop the country. This has led to the decline in the economy and that in itself leads to hopelessness.

All the major sectors are in trouble and more and more people are losing their jobs. Many businesses are closing.

Added to the two thousand Amerindian youths who were fired by the government just after taking office, some 5,000 sugar workers were recently dismissed. And party hacks and ex-military and police officers are filling up lucrative top jobs in the public sector.

No new jobs are being created. They younger generations cannot find jobs even when they are qualified. There are no incentives for young people to get into business. The incentives given out under the PPP/C government to stimulate economic activities, especially within the private sector, were callously removed by this government. Added to that this scenario are the new tax measures put on the backs of the Guyanese people.

Since taking office, the government has not been able to attract any significant investment, both locally and/or overseas. In fact, many leading businesses have commented negatively on the government’s handling of the economy and many have in fact downscaled operations.

The government is unashamedly awaiting oil revenues to work a miracle - bring prosperity to Guyana.

But it is fooling itself.

Apart from some revenues, most of the wealth from oil will be going to the oil company and there will be little onshore development. Very little jobs will be created by the oil find for Guyanese. And the revenues garnered will not be enough to repair the damage that is presently being done to Guyana by the government’s incompetence.

Some of its own actions have put the Police Force in this mess. There is the constant political interference in the Force and even the President has violated the independence of the Police Service Commission. The leadership issue within the Force is being politicized. In a way, the Police are without effective leadership and many have pointed to the incompetence of the present Minister of Public Security.

These and more factors have created the very place for crime to grow and fester.

There seems to be no end in sight to this nightmare.

Tomorrow, citizens will again wake up to horrifying news of murder, chopping, killing, robbery, etc, etc.

WEEKEND MIRROR 27-28 JANUARY, 2018

AFC living in the past

Dear Editor,

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he Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has noted the contents of the Alliance for Change (AFC) column titled “The chickens have come home to roost in the sugar industry” which appeared in the January 21, 2018 Kaieteur News. Several aspects of that column we recognized also appeared in an article which was published in the January 22, 2018 Stabroek News as well. The column which came just about 48 hours after we engaged a high-ranking Ministerial delegation that comprised several AFC leaders where our organization heard several complimentary statements about our work and history has us wondering whether the AFC is suffering from a “Jekyll and Hyde” syndrome.

Having examined the column, our Union is of the view that the AFC obviously is upset by our militant and strong action as we stood up and opposed the decisions in the sugar industry which have affected thousands of Guyanese and which decisions from all appearances were supported with open arms by that political grouping. The AFC, no doubt, with an eye on its waning political fortunes has decided to launch what clearly is a jaundiced, biased and misinformed view of our Union’s proud history.

The AFC columnist(s) has sought, unashamedly, to castigate our Union for the sorrowful state the sugar industry finds itself today. This simply is hogwash emanating from the AFC. During the AFC’s short, and one can say destructive, excursion in which the sugar industry which is under the direct responsibility of an AFC Minister, sugar production has fallen from 231,071 tonnes in 2015 to 137,297 tonnes in 2017, a decline of 93,774 tonnes or 40.58 per cent. The AFC should be the

last to talk.

The Party’s column goes on contending that our Union was engaged in political strikes during the 1989 – 1991 period. This again is a figment of the AFC’s imagination. Strike data for that period indicated that strike man days fell by approximately 66 per cent between 1989 and 1990 and a further 51 per cent between 1990 and 1991 fell by. Certainly, the statistics throw cold water on the AFC’s maligned contention.

The AFC also failed to recognize that during the latter 1980s when the country’s economy sunk to its lowest ebb, all workers faced trying and difficult times. That situation was made worst by the harsh structural adjustment measures which by the stroke of a pen wiped away the little wealth workers had accrued over the years through their hard work. Undoubtedly, any rational person, given the circumstances, would have been upset and used every opportunity to express their dismay. GAWU, as a responsible organization, had a duty to its members and provided principled leadership as the workers saw all they worked for being snatched away. We have no qualms about our work in that period and would not change a thing should history repeat itself as it now seemingly is.

The columnist(s) then goes on saying that the industry produced 129,000 tonnes sugar in 1989, when page four (4) of the GuySuCo 1989 Annual Report says clearly 164,800 tonnes sugar was produced. Clearly the AFC columnist(s) did not do proper research and is pulling things out of the air and seeking to pass them off as factual. But, for the AFC’s benefit let’s get the fact straight.

Between 1988 and 1990, workers real income in the sugar industry fell by 71.34 per cent. Certainly such a despairing situation, as the numbers describe, provides hardly any motivation. In fact

then President Hugh Desmond Hoyte during that period had said sugar workers children were becoming doctors and lawyers and were not interested in cutting cane. This we all know was not true and when the workers' pay rates were reflective of reality, the workers returned to work in a committed way and the industry recovered and between 2002 and 2004 produced 319,583 tonnes on average.

The AFC says that the industry is now being kept alive “because authorities are wise and fearless”. But we ask where is this wisdom and bravery the AFC speaks about especially when 4,763 workers have been sent home and are being reduced to mendicants for their legal entitlements. Today, the AFC has shown its true stripes and all the pretenses have been thrown out the window. The promises of 20 per cent wage increase or the commitment in its 2011 Elections manifesto that “[t] he AFC will not privatize GuySuCo”, or Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan’s declaration at the APNU/AFC Whim rally on March 29, 2016 that “we are not going to in anyway close the sugar industry” have all vanished.

Today, the AFC has shown its hand and exposed its charlatan-like qualities.

While it is disturbing that the party has chosen to seemingly throw acid on our positive efforts in engaging the Government of which it is part of, the GAWU remains committed to good faith engagements in an effort to safeguard and protect the thousands of lives who have been affected by the callous approach to the sugar industry. At this time, we urge the AFC to stop living in the past and to realize that today it is in the driver’s seat and should stop its emptying politicking.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

The Morbid One is Freddie: not the PPP, PPP/C nor Jagdeo the Transformer

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et me acknowledge publicly that I read the “Freddie Kissoon Column” whenever it is at hand (so too – “Peeping Tom”, “Ian on Sunday”, “Future Notes”, “So it Go”, and others) not as a Freddie fan, far from being a fan, but respectful as I should be of the opinion of any fellow Guyanese, and aware that Freddie’s view would be informed by some scholarship, although in my view too often forced, selective, distorted, all to be critical of the PPP and the PPP/C. Freddie’s article on Jagdeo in KN of Tuesday, January 23, is true to form – morbidity would be a more apt descriptor of Freddie than of the PPP, PPP/C or Former President andcurrently, Leader of the Opposition

(LOP),Jagdeo, who provided the great opportunities for the transformation of Guyanese and Guyana for the better.

Going to Freddie’s Column, paragraphs 2,3,4 and 5,as well as the fourth from the end are quotes from a recent press-conference of the LOP in which he reiterates forcefully what has been the aspiration of the PPP (and the PPP/C) from their conception: a party that in its leadership reflects Guyana, so that us Guyanese thrown together so recently, historically speaking, may see in the leadership of the party, – whatever our race, religion, or region of Guyana from which we come, – fellow citizens looking like ourselves who could empathize with us.

No doubt there have been any

number of instances when any number of PPP and PPP/C persons may have fallen below our high ideals of seeing and treating with each other primarily as Guyanese, but whoever questions the earnestness and persistence of the PPP in this regard should look to historical facts: the four founding members in 1943, composing the PAC (Political Affairs Committee) – Cheddi, Janet, Jocelyn Hubbard, Ashton Chase; the grabbing of the recently returned young lawyer, L F S Burnham, to be Chairman of the newly founded (in 1950) PPP; the formation in 1990 of the PPP/C when it appeared that there might be a return to fair and free elections, adding and combining new (Turn to page 5)

WEEKEND MIRROR 27-28 JANUARY, 2018

The truth about the Guyana Venezuela controversy Dear Editor,

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here is the much talked about $18 M US advanced to The Coalition Government

by Exxon Mobil and its claim to have sourced these monies for a high priced attorney to fight the matter at The ICJ. But is this really the aim for the advancement of those funds and would The Venezuela - Guyana border matter be solved any time soon? These are the questions I would address in this article.

So, I would like to bring to the attention of my dear readers the truth of the Guyana Venezuela controversy and the role played by this PNC-led Coalition. Contrary to the government's view of trying to help the situation is the fact that it will eventually hurt the cause of Guyana getting anywhere near to a solution to the problem.

Here are the facts of this whole sordid affair: In the first instance The Granger Gov-

ernment lied to the people of Guyana when that money was given to them. Deception and secrecy surrounded the securing of those funds which would cause any right thinking person that dubious plans were afoot, far removed from the purpose that it was intended.

It was not until the information was passed on to The Opposition Leader that this country became aware of these events. The Granger Government at first denied the existence of such a deal but opposition and public pressure forced the truth out of them when they finally admitted.

Now, when they found themselves cornered, they vainly tried to make a comparison with The Suriname - Guyana Border Controversy and the way Dr Jagdeo's Government dealt with that matter. Yes, Jagdeo's Government successfully sourced monies from CGX to finance our case against Suriname's aggression, and here's where the two deals part ways. Yes, Jagdeo struck a deal with The Oil Giant CGX, this

The Morbid One is... non-PPP persons (patriotic and not anti-PPP) with those who had stuck with Cheddi and the PPP during the years after 1964.

I want to reiterate that whilst in office, we PPP/C including President Jagdeo, sought to do in the context of the time and resources available, what was good for developing Guyanese and Guyana holistically: I can’t recall ever going through a list – this programme is for Indians, this for Africans, this for Amerindians and so on. As I have recalled on previous occasions, in 1994 we put aside the commitment of the then outgoing PNC to close the bauxite operations forthwith, if profitability could not be found by the International Manager. We read in the newspapers today about all our Coalition Government has to face in reforming our sugar sector. Well, we PPP/C and Jagdeo, faced all the same issues (about paying severance pay promptly and reconciling and making good the workers’ saving scheme, statutory remittances to GRA and NIS, and so on). We did what we had to do without any fuss, as we were Government for all Guyanese and Guyana.

Concerning the four specific examples given by Freddie of actions taken by the PPP/C under Jagdeo to seemingly alienate Afro-Guyanese, one who is not morbid would see them as possibly mistakes though well intended and well-intended they were: (i) whatever was in Roger Luncheon’s mind when he told the court “that no African Guyanese at the time was qualified to be a diplomat”, there must have been subsequent review because soon thereafter without notice and fanfare, a number of African Guyanese were appointed diplomats(ii) the then Chairman of the ERC recalls endeavouring to gather data from many agencies of government and private institutions to give an ethnic breakdown of their interactions with the public – the universal response was that there was not the practice of determining and recording the ethnicity of clients – it was thus indicated that a bigger project was necessary to obtain the useful information

(From page 4) desired; (iii) siting of the 1823 monument at the seawall was appropriate as the design evoked the uprising and struggle, and it could bereadily erected at the seawall site – siting at Parade Ground should and probably would have attracted considerations of other designs appropriate for that site, perhaps designs evoking the “torture, mutilations and executions” perpetrated at that site; (iv) I went to the trouble to obtain and read a copy of the letter referred to by Freddie and it could only be considered “venomous” in the pain of its truth. Some persons see similar sentiments and concerns expressed by Freddie himself in his series entitled “Vodoo Political theory”. I, like Jagdeo and Ramotar, sense no case for sanctioning that lady.

We PPP/C cannot hold out that we set out to do anything specifically, exclusively directed and intended for Afro-Guyanese but we will hold out that Afro-Guyanese shared equitability in the growth and development that all of us Guyanese engaged ourselves in during the years of the PPP/C in Office. We are not reluctant to acknowledge the actions of Former President Desmond Hoyte which (re)opened roads to growth and development. I am not reluctant to argue that, subsequently, we have to largely thank Jagdeo as an exceedingly competent and practical economist and politician, as Finance Minister and then as President. It so happened that in the same issue of KN in an article entitled, “Getting Help”, Peeping Tom remarks on how skillfully and successfully Bharat Jagdeo managed the effects of the world financial crisis of 2008. It would be informative and good to have listings for our citizens who were able to acquire their first vehicles and/or their first homes during 1992 to 2015, with the PPP/C and Jagdeo in Office, to enter their names, and I would be ready to wager a big jill that it would be found that Afro-Guyanese have enjoyed a reasonably proportional improvement when compared to what Afro-Guyanese and all Guyanese had before 1992.

Turning to the “poor Sam Hinds” in the

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was known to the people through parliament.

Yes it was kept in a separate account for the payment of its attorneys at The ICJ. Yes, The Jagdeo Regime sought expert advice on such matters chief of which was from a known Opposition, PNC Stalwart Sir Shridath Ramphal. Finally the matter was successfully deliberated in the international court with Guyana getting fair judgment and a definitive settlement to that border matter.

Prime reason for that matter's success was primarily due to the fact that The PPP/C Government of the time approached the matter in a collaborative and sensible manner, seeking every vital information that was available, and like I said, even entering into serious consultation with Opposition Intellectuals. That collaborative effort paid off in that our border issue was settled handsomely in Guyana's favour. The present Granger Government is everything anti consultation with its parliamentary colleagues The PPP/C. Theirs a wealth of information in The PPP/C Camp that this government can tap into, but because they are so full of themselves they would not. Theirs is the erroneous belief that they can do it alone, without any help from their colleagues in parliament. Bi-partisan and mutual effort is alien to their nature, in every move they make this government is on a course of deception and non - co-operation with its opposition. This is the internal approach of this administration, so let us look at the external approach with Venezuela.

The minute Granger came into power he began with a "military" belligerent approach to the issue. They immediately began a

non-co-operation, high-handed approach towards Venezuela. He threw out the good neighbourly pact we had with Venezuela.

Obviously, this stance played right into Maduro's hand because Maduro began saber-rattling about its claim to The Essequibo.

Politically, Maduro who was battling to stay alive in his own country successfully used the diversionary tactics of reviving the border issue it has with Guyana. That ruse worked because as usual The Venezuelans bought into it. He survived the political challenge meted out to him and is still in power.

Further to our discussion is the fact that Venezuela has not shown aggression in hindering Guyana's exploration of its mineral wealth the way Suriname did. And herein is the crux of the matter The International court would be reluctant to hear Guyana's case because Venezuela has not shown aggression. A court that is hard pressed with other serious matters is not about to take up Guyana's case just yet. That is why The Foreign Minister told us recently that our matter might not come up for hearing before 2020. Secondly, the "good neighbour Peace Officer " Approach is still in vogue which makes our case all the more less pressing for the International Court.

So, my advice to The Granger PNC Led Coalition is to get off your high horse and constructively engage "all" the stakeholders on this issue. They need to come clean with The People on The Venezuela - Guyana Border issue.

last two paragraphs of the column, Freddie seemingly forgets the circumstances, the foregoing of the PPP and the unwritten covenants under which Cheddi and the PPP formed the Civic Component. Recall that when it looked like the anticipated 1990 election might be fair and free, not rigged, Cheddi Jagan recognizing the estrangement and isolation that would have grown between our peoples post 1964, and sensing the need once more to pull our Guyanese people together, formed the PPP/C seeking to bring into an extended leadership (and support base) any Guyanese who at that time was not hostile to and was ready to work with the historical PPP to rebuild and restore and take forward Guyana. It was obvious that once again Afro-Guyanese were particularly sought after by Cheddi and the PPP even when they may have been at the heart of the PNC earlier. Jagdeo is carrying on along the long-held aspirations of the PPP and PPP/C. It was known at the time that Cheddi

was seeking an Afro-Guyanese Civic to be his running mate and Prime Ministerial candidate. Again, as was widely known, the then well-known economist, Dr Clive Thomas headed his list which was said to include other then known persons, Gordon Todd, Aubrey Armstrong, Maurice Odle, all known to and respected by Cheddi. It was when these (and perhaps others) could not accept for various reasons that the name of then unknown but lucky Sam Hinds came on the table, and he has not been poorer for it. Sam Hinds was a novice to politics who had no expectations of becoming President, and his stepping aside was him being true to the unwritten PPP/C covenant. A document presented by President Jagdeo about 2005, entitled “Building Trust” points to what we, all Guyanese (including Freddie), should be working towards.

Respectfully Neil Adams

Samuel A. A. Hinds Former President and Former Prime Minister

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WEEKEND MIRROR 27-28 JANUARY, 2018

Remembering Cheddi

By Hydar Ali

I

n this article, I will continue my analysis on the role and contribution of Dr. Cheddi Jagan to the growth and development of a free, democratic and modern Guyana.

As mentioned in my previous column, Dr. Jagan and his wife Janet were the main architects in the formation of the People's Progressive Party. This was a monumental development in the political architecture of the colony which prior to the formation of the People's Progressive Party lacked any organized and mass-based political party.

It is to the credit of the Jagans that the PPP was able in a mere three years after its formation to win a landslide victory at the polls in the elections of 1953, the first to be held under universal adult suffrage. The PPP won 18 of the 24 seats despite the fact

that the party was not financially strong to mobilize and take its campaign to all parts of the country in particular the hinterland regions. The established media carried a vicious campaign against the PPP especially in the hinterland regions.

How did Dr. Jagan and his PPP managed to pull off such a dramatic political feat will remain a subject for academic treatment but there is one undisputed fact and that was the charismatic appeal of the Jagans to the masses, in particular the working class. It is no secret that both Dr. Jagan and his wife Janet started their political career literally in the trenches touching base with sugar workers and waterfront workers as well as rice farmers and those in the timber industry. Their platform was unquestionably the working people whose cause they dedicated their entire life. In a rare occurrence in Caribbe-

an politics both were later to emerge as Executive Presidents of Guyana and were to transform the politics and economy to one of greater justice for the ordinary people to whom they dedicated their life.

It was by no means smooth sailing. They had to confront reactionary elements and opportunists both from the right and the left.

But they remain steadfast and unrelenting confident in the strength of their conviction that a better day was beckoning in the distant horizon.

One of the things that stood in their favor was their ability to connect with people from all across the ethnic and political spectrum. In other words, they were able to rise above the narrow confines of race and religion and project a society in which there will be social and economic justice.

One of the defining characteristics of a transforma-

tional leader is his ability to understand the mood of the people and on the basis of that understanding define and map out a political strategy to capture political power.

This is exactly what Dr. Jagan successfully did despite the odds.

In a real sense Dr. Jagan could be described as a revolutionary who seized the political moment to bring about fundamental changes to the political and socio-economic situation in Guyana. He understood the dialectical interconnection between politics and economics and sought to bring about meaningful changes in the economic well-being of the people through radical changes in the political superstructure.

It was his radicalism and capacity to challenge the status quo that set him apart from the rest of Caribbean leaders the majority of whom were unable or unwilling to pursue left wing politics

out of fear of upsetting the Colossus of the North. And while it is true that Dr. Jagan and the PPP paid a heavy price for such radicalism, it was a struggle not without merit since it re-affirmed the resolve and dignity of the Guyanese people to stand up for principles and against foreign domination of the economic and social life of the country.

There are some who argue that Dr. Jagan made some tactical and strategic mistakes especially in the context of the Cold War by embracing a development model that was not consistent with the neo-liberal market values. These criticisms however fail to take into account the decolonization wave which was at the time gaining momentum and a growing desire by peoples all over the developing world, in particular Asia and Africa to break away from the yoke of colonialism and neo-co-

lonialism. In other words, Guyana, like so many other countries were caught in the vortex of a new political dispensation which was fundamentally nationalistic and any departure from that wave of nationalism would have been a betrayal of the dreams and aspirations of the masses for independence and freedom.

In my next article I will continue my examination of the historical context in which Dr. Jagan and the PPP articulated a vision for the country and the impact it has had on the living and working conditions of the Guyanese people.

I take this opportunity to convey my deepest condolences to the relatives and friends of Comrade Abdul Ghanie of No. 71 Village, Corentyne who passed away recently.

Comrade Ghanie was a dedicated and loyal member of the Party and served in several capacities in the Party and Government. He was the recipient of PPP Congress Award for long and dedicated service to the Party.

May his soul rest in peace!

Moment in history

The Road to Serfdom

By Cheddi B. Jagan (July 3, 1947)

T

he vested interest with the help of their so-called freedom of the press are once again fanning the flames of another world conflagration. The “Guiana Graphic” speaking of strike action says “the time is surely approaching when the Government of British Guiana may be forced to step in and outlaw such action.

To corroborate this opinion, we are told such is also the “wise” opinion of Mr. Alfred Edwards, who is a Socialist M.P. of East Middleborough, and therefore a champion of the people. It is hardly necessary to point out that Mussolini started out as a socialist, that Hitler started out with National Socialism, and that both of them, having secured power, first began their attack against the trade union movement, an attack which finally ended in war.

Mr. Edwards, an employer

Housewives protest rising cost of living and shortages of basic food commodities during the worst years of PNC rule in the 1970s

of labour is only one of the many Labour Party men of Great Britain who today frankly preach socialism, but actually practice capitalism and imperialism.

The usual argument is

that strikes hold up production and therefore, as long as production is low our standard of living will necessarily be low. This is, however, an insignificant part of the whole truth. It is relevant

that during the war, strikes in the U.S. although apparently numerous, were responsible for a very small percentage of decrease of war output, whereas Big Business through their cartel agree-

ments with Germany and Japan sabotaged the early war effort. By misrepresenting the true economic situation and exaggerating the actual harm done by strikes, Big Business was successful in passing the anti-labour Hartley-Taft Bill, which CIO President, Phillip Murray, calls “the real step to fascism in this country.” It abolished the closed shop.

The union shop, under which employees are required to join a union after a specified time of employment is only permitted if the employer desires it. Industry-wide bargaining is out-lawed, negotiations are only permitted on a company and plant basis; anti-strike injunctions are to be given freely; employers can sue unions for damages.

What we are not told by the “Guiana Graphic” is the fact that strike action is the inevitable weapon which the contradictions of capitalism place in the hands

of the working class. It strikes not because it wants to stop production, but rather because it wants full employment, better wages, and an increased standard of living. The wages which it receives cannot purchase all the goods produced, therefore production is curtailed and unemployment results.

It is inherent in capitalism that this struggle between the capitalist and the worker must continue. As long as the worker is working to put profits, no matter how small, into the hands of coupon-clipping capitalists, so long will there be strikes.

Only under a changed political-economic system, as in socialism, where the means of production are owned by society, where profits for individuals are eliminated, and where there is no contradiction between production and distribution will there be an end to all strikes. If we are to outlaw strikes we must outlaw capitalism first.

WEEKEND MIRROR 27-28 JANUARY, 2018

T

Local Government and You!

he Jury is out on the gamut on the overwhelming failures and continued abuse of this Coalition Government on the Local Government system.

The jury foreman indicates the strongest ‘acid-red readings’ on the proverbial PH Scale tests, of his lead in the Local Government spectrum. Their findings summarized, confirms the leading defendant Minister Ronald Bulkan guilty as charged on all counts.

After all the banter and delays in the appointment of the Local Government Commission (LGC), the Minister shamelessly continues to impose and undermine strategies of elected Councils that the Coalition does not control. Aside from authorizing his agents to usurp the authority of the Council on numerous fronts, he now oversees the continued frustration by deflating the support required by the Local Government Commission (LGC), which has the mandate to regulate the balance in this area.

It is extremely distasteful and abhorrent that an office for the LGC is yet to be established. The Commission cannot function without a ‘fit and proper’ office in the first place or without the supporting tools to aid their constitutional undertakings.

Further, the Commissioners must be paid immediately and not held under duress, as is being exercised by this Coalition Government.

This frustration must stop now!

The Minister must provide answers regarding how he expects mails addressed to the LGC to be delivered, and how he expects the Commissioners to move around to address matters in the Local Authority Areas (LAAs), they are mandated oversight responsibilities.

There are numerous problems and serious issues in the LGAs, as the elected Councilors struggle to implement their work programmes. There is a lot of evidence that there are deliberately placed APNU/

AFC political stooges as administrative staff, whose work ethics is disturbing to say the least. They are not pulling their weight as workers as assigned by the Councils in the LAAs, while reports to the Ministry have fallen on the deaf ears of the Minister, who have forbidden the Councils from imposing disciplinary measures. As a consequence, the communities are not benefiting from the good intention of the elected Councilors.

Good and effective local governance is very important for the genuine all round development in our Local Authority Areas.

The PPP/C councilors are advised to hold regular meetings with their constituencies and interact with the residents, listen to the people’s concerns encourage them to make suggestions, and foremost to genuinely represent the people’s interest at the Statutory Meetings of the Council.

The PPP/C LAAs are encouraged to make sure that there is full inclusive-

ness and greater innovation, along with accountability and transparency. It is recognized, encourage and practiced, that the leadership at all levels must be people with integrity, knowledge and experience in their respective areas, which is reflective of the party’s interest for strong management and services delivery at the Local Authority Areas.

Importantly, consultation and the sensitization of villages and Local Authority Areas with plans for phase development activities are most welcome. The citizenry must be involved at all levels and all expenditures must be explained after, with proper financial accountability and prudent management systems in place.

The people must receive answers to all their questions with reasonable explanations provided. Therefore, when the Government fails to support, the people must also be appropriately updated by the councils.

Our people are calling for the streets and the drains

Whistleblower law as is could be abused - PPP

O

pposition Members of Parliament (MPs) on Thursday objected to several clauses of the draft whistleblower legislation including the overarching minis terial pow ers and called on the government to make certain changes to the bill before making it law.

The proposed whistleblower legislation – formally known as the Protected Disclosures Bill – encourages persons to disclose information regarding misconduct in the public service with the knowledge that they will be protected.

The draft legislation proposes the establishment of a Protected Disclosures Commission tasked with the responsibility to receive, investigate and otherwise deal with disclosures of improper conduct.

But the subject minister – in this case, the Attorney General Basil Williams – will be empowered to give general directions to the commission.

Opposition Parliamentarian Harry Gill objected those powers, noting that it compromises the integrity

of the commission.

“We need to strengthen this Bill to preserve the independence and integrity of the Protected Disclosures Commission and allow this body to function without giving the minister the body to give directions which can easily be abused to protect a party comrade of minister of government,” he posited, calling for the section to be deleted in its entirety to prevent political interference.

Gill questioned “what happens when a public servant blows the whistle on a minister who is involved in corruption or a member of staff who has evidence linking a minister to discrimination, harassment, and verbal abuse in the workforce? You may recall that not so long ago, the minister himself was the subject of an investigation of alleged harassment and verbal abuse were levied against him by a formal Deputy Solicitor General.”

Gill was referring to the case of the Deputy Solicitor General Prithma Kissoon who alleged discrimination and abuse against Williams

– who has since denied the claims.

On the other hand, Opposition MP Adrian Anamayya contended that there is no need for the establishment of a new commission to deal with these cases.

“On the face of it, it looks like more jobs for the boys. There’s no need, in my humble view, for a commission; it could be handled by another agency: the Police Force, the FIU (Financial Intelligence Unit), or there are so many agencies set up, you don’t need this agency here,” he asserted.

The parliamentarians called on the government to disclose an estimation of how much this commission will cost the treasury annually.

Another area of contention, which was highlighted by parliamentarian Joe Hamilton, is the fact that the draft legislation is silent on penalties for persons who make malicious reports.

“The Bill did not deal with the issue of malicious reporting, at all!” he de-

clared.

Hamilton contended that “we couldn’t present a legislation where we are asking citizens to come forward and to report people for instances of corruption and criminal offences and we take no cognizance of the fact that people might have axe to grind and we have malicious reporting coming forward.”

Opposition Member Gillian Burton-Persaud also raised some concerns about the bill in its current state while Government Parliamentarians Charandass Persaud and Khemraj Ramjattan made presentations in support of the draft legislation.

Attorney General Basil Williams told the National Assembly that the Protected Disclosures Bill forms part of a suite of bills and acts that government has put out in an effort to combat corruption.

“The government has taken an irreversible course to combat the scourge of corruption in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana,” he stated. (Devina Samaroo)

to be maintained and kept clean. The PPP/C’s collective ‘drive’ points to having joint ‘development projects,’ involving the NDCs, RDCs along with corporate citizens and the Diaspora.

There will be tremendous development in all areas in the communities and the entire environment will have an exquisite outlook if the Local Administration allows our citizens’ voices to be heard.

In charting the way forward, the collective opinions and support have to be seriously taken into account, since togetherness and all-inclusiveness will lead to greater achievement and massive synergies for a better life. However, the Coalition is a myopic Government with dull vision for progress and development, especially for Local Authority Areas that are controlled by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

It was hoped that with the Local Government Commission being in place, much work would have commenced towards the effective

7

management of Local Authority Areas in the provision of services to the various Communities, but this seem far from materializing. The Commission cannot function without office space and support staff and the work of the Commission seems to be stagnated.

Is this the Commission that the APNU/AFC Coalition Government promised the nation in their manifesto?

Suffice to say that it is the people who would impose the sanctions for Bulkan’s mal-administration and the accommodation of such by the APNU/AFC Coalition Government. Needless to say, it would not be unsurprising if there are further orchestrations in extending the sentencing date for the Jury’s pronouncements, by delaying the scheduled 2018 Local Government Elections.

The Local Government Commission MUST be provided with an office and proper support now!

(This article is prepared

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

PPP to join court challenge on US$18M oil bonus

T

he People’s Progressive Party is joining with others to challenge the government’s parking of the ExxonMobil signing bonus in a private account. The PPP wants the bonus to be transferred to the Consolidated Fund but the government bluntly refuses to do so.

This announcement was made at a press conference by the party’s leader, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, The Party’s move was made public by General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, who debunked government’s excuse for holding the funds outside the consolidated fund; that is, to pay legal fees for Guyana should it have to take its border case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The bonus in question was paid to the government’s Central Bank account by US oil giant Exxon Mobil in 2016.

The existence of this bonus and the renegotiated oil agreement with the company was kept a secret until evidence of the transaction was leaked in December 2017.

After mounting criticism, President David Granger defended the transaction by saying it was the thing to do at the time.

He also noted that the money was placed in an escrow account, though observers have disputed this.

Head of Transparency Institute of Guyana, Troy Thomas, took the government to court last week in his private capacity in relation to the said matter. He wants the court to grant orders directing Finance Minister Winston Jordan to deposit the US$18 million it received from ExxonMobil directly into the Consolidated Fund as is provided for in the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMAA).

The funds at the centre of the controversy are currently sitting in a special account in the Bank of Guyana (BoG) upon the instruction of President David Granger after Finance Secretary Hector Butts wrote the Bank’s Governor in order to establish the account.

8

WEEKEND MIRROR 27-28 JANUARY, 2018

AFC’s Abel Seetaram charged for brutalizing Plantain Chip vendor P

rime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo’s strongman in Region 5, Berbice, Abel Seetaram, was charged with felonious wounding and is to appear again court soon. He is on $100,000 bail and is to report to the police everyweek.

Seetaram committed the offence when under trhe influence of alcohol he beat 54 year old Nateram Rabindranauth, a plantain chip vendor, at Number 11 Village, WCB. A Regional Councillor attached to the APNU-AFC coalition and of Region 5, Seetaram pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared before Magistrate Rhondel Weaver in the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, January 24, 2018.

The court heard that on January 21, 2018, Seetaram wounded 54-year-old Nateram Rabindranauth with the intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause him

grievous bodily harm.

News Room understands that at about 18:30 hrs on the day in question, Seetaram and Rabindranauth had a misunderstanding which led to a heated argument.

According to reports, Abel, who represents the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition in the region, was overheard shouting at police ranks and telling them that he knows “Khemraj”,

presumably the Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan. Seetaram also claimed that he is a “big boy in the Government” and that no one can do him anything.

At the time of the incident, Rabindranauth, who was seated on a bicycle, which he uses to ply his trade, was dragged off by Seetaram, who reportedly proceeded to hit him several times about his body; he was left on the ground unresponsive before being rushed to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital where he was admitted.

After hearing the case, the Magistrate granted Seetaram bail and ordered that he report to the Fort Wellington Police Station once every Friday until the termination of the matter.

Seetaram is expected to return to court on February 07, 2018.

Nateram Rabindranauth has been discharged from the New Amsterdam

Hospital after suffering a brutal beating at the hands of AFC/APNU Region 5 official Abel Seetaram on Sunday night.

However, the man continues to bleed through his nose at an alarming rate.

It is not clear exactly why

he was discharged in such a state.

To further compound his woes, the hospital does not have his medication. So he has to expend his money to acquire same.

Seetaram has been in the spotlight on several occasions for abusing persons. In the lead up to the last elections, he was accused of assaulting a girl who sold Mirror newspapers.

He was also accused of crashing a State vehicle he was not authorized to use into vendor’s stalls at Bath, WCB while being intoxicated. The Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) had also questioned him and APNU’s Carol Joseph after they were fingered in

an audit report uncovering fraud at MARDS, which falls under the Ministry of Agriculture. His neighbor has also reported apart from verbal abuse, Abel exposed his privates to her family all the while maintaining that “...no one can do him anything...”

True to form, nothing ever materialized of his alleged infractions.

When relatives called the Fort Wellington Police Station this evening to inquire if Abel was still being held there, a rank reportedly hung up the phone.

Rabindranauth however is adamant that the suffering he is being made to endure at the hands of Abel will not be easily covered up by the authorities.

Media workers walk out of GDF officers conference

M

edia workers Thursday morning walked out of the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) annual officers’ conference in protest over disrespect and discourtesy meted out to them.

Led by Guyana Press Association (GPA) Vice President, Zoisa Fraser and executive member, Denis Chabrol, the 19 media workers left and bluntly refused efforts to encourage them to return to the Officers’ Mess to cover only President Granger’s address.

For the second straight year, the media are invited to the opening session but on arrival they are ordered to enter a room where they are seated although the opening ceremony is in session.

While in session, media workers were made to walk from Thomas Road entrance to the Officers’ Mess located near Thomas Road.

Media workers in a room

before they were escorted to the GDF Officers’ Mess while the annual officers conference had already begun.

On Thursday, the almost 20 media workers were placed in a small congested room. Public Affairs officials moments later escorted the media personnel to the Officers Mess where the Chief of Staff, Brigadier Patrick West was addressing the opening session to President David Granger and other top government officials and army officers.

On arrival, no seating accomodation was provided and media workers were expected to stand and cameramen set up their equipment.

Chabrol vociferously and bluntly refused to entertain any discussions with officers of the GDF Public Affairs section, saying they were being treated with disrespect for the second straight year.

Head of the Public Affairs Unit, Colonel Michael Shahoud told media workers, including Fraser, that the arrangements for the opening session have changed because the Chief of Staff now makes a presentation containing sensitive information to the President and other invitees and participants.

However, media workers said the government’s Department of Public Information personnel was allowed entry to the Officers’ Mess well in advance of other media personnel. They rejected Shahoud’s encouragement for them to return to cover President Granger’s address.

Shahoud has in the past been told about poor arrangements for media personnel to access high quality audio.

Media houses’ microphones and recorders have been banned from the podiums of events to which the media are invited. (Demerarawaves)

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WEEKEND MIRROR 27-28 JANUARY, 2018

Sugar unions argued for full severance T

he Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has taken note of an article in the January 23, 2018 Guyana Times titled “Sugar workers call for Komal Chand to resign”.

From the comments published we recognized that there is some amount of misinformation and misunderstanding surrounding the outcome of our Union’s January 19, 2018 meeting with the Government.

The article posits that our Union agreed with the Government to partially settle some 4,000-odd workers severance payments. This is completely and utterly fallacious. When the matter was raised by the Government both GAWU and NAACIE reiterated that severance payments should be settled in full to all workers at once as it set out in the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act (TESPA). It would not only be cynical, but utterly foolish, for us to do otherwise. But further than that we disagreed with the Finance Minister’s arguments that should the full payment be made it would fuel inflation and result in the depreciation

Sugar Unions and Goverment officials meet to discuss sugar industry

of the Guyana Dollar. We also pointed out to the Government’s delegation that the workers had an expectation to receive their payments and which expectations were fortified by the public comments of the Agriculture Minister, among others.

Certainly, had we reached such an agreement, both the GAWU and the Government would have undoubtedly made such announcement in our respective media statements. Even the Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan speaking in the National Assembly on January 19, 2018 with respect to the supplementary paper informed the House that GAWU and NAACIE did not agree to the partial

settlement of the severance payment to the redundant sugar workers. It is disappointing that despite this wide body of evidence and knowing of GAWU’s consistent view on this matter that some persons have chosen to engage in a campaign of misinformation.

The article also says “GAWU should have been fighting for estates to remain open”. We find this statement strange as all and sundry have known about the sustained battle we have waged in the streets, in the media, even in the Judiciary to see that the estates remain opened. Even after the closure at the end of 2017 our Union maintained that the estates should be re-opened. This is a matter

we also reiterated to the Government during our meeting.

Again, we must say the proof is in the pudding.

The article goes on to charge that the Union’s President “presided over the firing of thousands of workers”.

This statement is unbelievable and clearly distorted. It is incredulous to make such an assertion and makes one wonder about the real motivation and purpose of such a distortion.

At no time was the GAWU involved in firing any worker.

Our involvement was limited to the procedure outlined by TESPA, something we were forced to take GuySuCo to Court on, whereby a union representative was present at engagements between Guy-

U.S. Ambassador commends Caribbean for anti-money laundering fight U .S. Ambassador to Guyana Perry Holloway is urging CARICOM countries to begin “the real work” of identifying, investigating, prosecuting and convicting those who participate in money laundering and terrorist financing.

He made this remark at the opening of an Assessors training programme being hosted by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) in Guyana this week at the Pegasus Hotel.

The training of Financial, Law Enforcement and Legal experts as Assessors equip them with the tools and competencies needed to undertake an assessment of the technical compliance with the revised FATF Recommendations, and for reviewing the level of effectiveness of a country’s Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regime.

Holloway commended Caribbean countries for the strides made in updating their anti-money laundering policies but noted that in

order to ensure that financial institutions are protected, countries will need to meet the stringent fourth round of mutual evaluations criteria as have Barbados, Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica.

In addition, he outlined that countries need to “demonstrate” that they understand the vulnerabilities of their financial system and that they work together domestically and internationally to ensure proper investigations and prosecution of financial crimes.

He said too that regional jurisdictions need to ensure that financial institutions have implemented the proper rules, regulations and technology to prevent and detect money laundering and terrorist financing.

The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) he said along with other investigating units need to be properly funded and equipped so that they are properly able to do their jobs.

The National Assembly on January 19, 2018, ap-

proved the appointments of Surendra Lall Boodhoo as the Accountant of the FIU and Yonette Romao Scarville as the Attorney-at-Law in keeping with the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Amendment Act 2015.

Executive Director of CFATF, Dawn Spicer, also addressed the opening of the Assessors training where she noted that the session which will be held from January 22-26, 2018, is important to each CFATF member.

by Guyana’s Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, who noted that the experts will also develop the understanding needed to produce a mutual evaluation report of the required standard.

He also pointed out that illicit activities not only undermine the integrity of our financial systems but threaten the political stability and damage the reputation of countries.

“The training deals with the assessments of both tech-

nical compliance and effectiveness which will present an integrated analysis of the extent to which a country is compliant with the FATF standards and how successful it is in maintaining its strong AML/CFT system as is required by the FATF recommendations,” he noted.

Expertise is provided by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) while funding is provided by the US government.

Participants will be introduced to the use of the FATF Methodology which is used to assess a country’s technical compliance with the FATF Recommendations, and for reviewing the level of effectiveness of a country’s AML/ CFT system under the Fourth Round Mutual Evaluations process.

During this fourth round of mutual evaluations, the FATF has adopted complementary approaches for assessing technical compliance with the FATF Recommendations, and for assessing the level of effectiveness of a country’s AML/ CFT regime. (Bibi Khatoon)

SuCo and the identified redundant workers. During that process GuySuCo explained its obligations to each redundant worker and verified their years of service among other critical information. That was the beginning and end of our involvement, which was congruent to the provisions of TESPA. Those who chose to level such inaccurate remarks at

our Union and its leaders maybe are unaware of our organisation’s modus operandi. Certainly, had they been aware they would have known that GAWU has a position that the workers must be involved and are consulted.

The Union’s Executive Committee and General Council are kept abreast and these bodies would consider and approve decisions regarding the GAWU’s approach and tactics. In fact our Union had a nine (9) person delegation engaging the Government. That delegation included workers from the now closed sugar estates. Despite the disparaging remarks, the GAWU is proud of the struggle we have waged and will continue to wage in defense of the workers’ rights and livelihood. (GAWU Press Release)

Agriculture Ministry engaged in misinformation

T

he Guyana Chronicle of January 24, 2018 reports in an article titled “No additional retrenchment” reports, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, the 967 workers of Skeldon, Rose Hall, East Demerara and Wales Estate identified for redundancy have already been advised some time ago they would be sent on the breadline. According to the Chronicle, the Agriculture Ministry’s statement said “[t] he 900 workers were retained by the corporation… were aware of that at the end of the extended period that they too would be sent home and paid their severance”. It seems, however, that the Ministry was either misinformed or is knowingly engaged in making misleading and mischievous statements.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) wishes to advise the Ministry and the public that not one of the 967 workers referred to has been told that they would be sent home.

In fact, our Union has yet to be formally notified of the impending redundancies in keeping with the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act (TESPA) which requires the employer in this case, GuySuCo, to supply us a list of the redundant employees. Following the submission of that critical information, the Union and GuySuCo, in keeping with TESPA, would jointly engage the workers concerned after which the workers would then receive their letters of redundancy.

It is, therefore, befuddling to read the Ministry of Agriculture making such disbelieving statements.

Moreover, during previous meetings between GAWU and GuySuCo in which redundant workers of the four (4) estates in question were engaged some of the now identified 967 workers availed themselves.

At that time, they were told by the Corporation officials that they were not being made redundant and their presence was not necessary and they should return to work. So to say the workers were informed that they would be severed at a later time is completely untrue.

The Agriculture Ministry statement also said “[t]he first list of workers for severance was 3,700, which together with the 900… adds up to the 4763 severed workers”. On this matter, we urge the Ministry and GuySuCo officials to carefully re-read our statement as we did not raise this contention. As a matter of fact, our statement did not refer to any specific number except to say “several hundred workers retained… would soon be made additionally redundant”.

It seems that eye examinations for some are required at these two (2) important entities.

Whatever the final numbers turn out to be, it cannot erase the sordid fact that the Government and GuySuCo have placed, in a callous and cold hearted manner, thousands of Guyanese on the breadline. Worse yet, we reiterate, there is a seeming lack of any comprehensive plan to address this sad reality.

GAWU, as it has done before, calls on the Government and GuySuCo to really reassess and reverse their decision in view of the harsh realities it has fostered. (GAWU Press Release)

10

WEEKEND MIRROR 27-28 JANUARY, 2018

Economic Meltdown of Guyana

Granger’s ‘Economic Destruction’ – Ramsaroop “O

ne must go back in history when slavery was abolished and indentured labourers were brought in to save the sugar industry. This government’s callous actions in dramatically laying off thousands of sugar workers can be seen by some as an attempt by the historian Granger, to redress historical grudge... ” Peter Ramsaroop, Economic Advisor to the Opposition has levied on the PNC led Granger Government.

“It is appalling that the international community can just sit back and be spectators at this ‘economic destruction’ of an entire section of our society. We must stand up at all costs and stop this madness, where our people are being made to suffer.

These same individuals in government are enjoying the ‘good life,’ taking oil bonuses, gifts and other perks that all will have to be paid back to Exxon at some point, potentially causing major new economic woes in the future. They are now known for the good lie, deceit and economic assassination on our nation,” Ramsaroop expounded.

He pointed out that it is better “we stand up now, than be forced to sit and suffer this devastating economic meltdown of our nation, where families cannot meet basic needs such as food and clothing.”

Sugar workers currently on the breadline with a promise of severance payment - in tranches - should take no comfort from this fragmented offer and must in fact demand their just dues promptly, whether through their Parliamentary representatives, or by considering taking to the streets - a language the ruling Peoples National Congress (PNC) led coalition government “understands all too well.”

Dr Ramsaroop believes that these are the only feasible options available to the more than 4,000 persons that were recently laid off

by GuySuCo, and recently the additional workers notified for retrenchment, as a result of the coalition government’s decision to close another set of working sugar estates He expanded on the troubling state of affairs in the Guyana sugar belt, remind-

ing that just after coming into Office more than two years ago, this government announced plans to close the Wales Estate and dismissed hundreds of workers at the end of 2016, with a promise of GuySuCo and/or government finding gainful employment for those dismissed.

“When they announced that they would close Wales, there was the promise of diversification of the fields into more productive sectors, suggesting aquaculture, an

initiative that was stillborn from its inception.”

According to Dr. Ramsaroop, not only are those families now struggling more than ever in this “January hard guava season, but they are still to receive what was promised.”

He was adamant that sugar workers “must demand their just dues now, since the track record of this David Granger-led administration does not evoke any sense of confidence that the promises of full payment later in the year will be met…there are more than 300 families in Wales still waiting on this government to make good on their promise to pay severance to the workers that were dismissed so long ago.”

There was also the land

that was touted to be made available to those dismissed workers so that they would be able to get into subsistence level farming, “but clearly this was not well thought through by those in government.”

Dr. Ramsaroop questioned: “Which of those dismissed workers from the Wales estate have been able to successfully enter into subsistence farming or was able to secure any kind of employment through mechanisms offered by government?”

“Sugar workers in Berbice must pay heed to these recent developments and be reminded of this when listening to the bogus promises being made by this government.”

Pointing to the haphazard manner with which the APNU-AFC has gone about closing down the sugar industry, Dr Ramsaroop pointed to the fact that despite knowing of its plans to dismiss thousands of workers, no provision was made in the 2018 Budget for the full payment of severance for those workers as is required by law.

“Continuing to blunder their way in the handling of the sugar situation, the sailor Finance Minister (Winston) Jordan came weeks after the Budget to ask for more money from the treasury for the payment of the severance.”

“Even when they did this, it was clear to all that it was only an after-thought…. that sailor Jordan made a request for $1.7B in order to pay only half of what is owed, an illegality in itself according to the law (Termination of Employment Act).”

He noted that on the very night, “when he realized that the amount he requested would not be nearly enough, amended the request two hours later to ask for more money to supposedly pay in total those owed $500,000 (US$2,500) or less in severance.”

The Minister, according to Ramsaroop, “was only attempting to placate the situation realizing that what they were doing to sugar workers was not only illegal, but the death knell for any hopes of re-election come 2020.”

Ramsaroop is adamant sugar workers should consider taking to the streets to demand the timely payment

of their dues since the explanations handed down by those in high office do not hold water.

According to Ramsaroop, available data shows that government does in fact have the money required to make the payment in full to sugar workers, but has delib-

erately held back.

He drew reference to comments made by Minister Jordan and picked up by the Guyana Agriculture Workers Unions (GAWU), when he suggested that the total payout of severance to sugar workers would in fact trigger increased inflation.

“How from any mathematical calculation can the Minister of Finance of all people come up with the idea that injecting four billion in disposable income into an already dwindling economy can trigger inflation?”

According to Dr. Ramsaroop, what was a bad situation has clearly gotten worse with word now of the imminent dismissal of even

more workers.

He was adamant that “sugar workers must demand their dues since Granger cannot be trusted to make good on his promises to the people of this country...remember what they did to the Wales sugar workers, remember what they did to the more than 3,000 Amerindians that were fired from gainful employment in their communities.”

Reminiscent of “rebellion days, sugar workers have to stand up and demand what is rightfully theirs since depending on the unions have clearly not worked out in their benefit,” Dr Ramsaroop concluded.

Quotations from Dr. Cheddi Jagan

"D

emocracy can only prosper in an environment of economic, social and ecological development. Poverty atrophies the vigour and initiative of the individual and deprives the society of incalculable human resources. If left unattended, the expansion of poverty with hunger and the hopelessness it engenders will undermine the fabric of our civilization and the security of the democratic state, thus threatening world peace." August 2, 1996 " ... if the rich and poor countries do not act together to overcome the problems of poverty and the attendant maladies of hunger and environmental degradation, there will be no secure peace." Nov. 13, 1996 "Debt relief in the form of debt cancellation, grants, soft loans and rescheduling is urgent, if the developing countries are to eradicate poverty, protect the environment, play their meaningful role in expanding world trade and help end stagnation and recession in the industrially-developed countries. Debt relief must be seen as an investment not only in the development of poor countries but also in the security of the rich nations." Feb. 13, 1997 Race/National Unity "The four cornerstones of our present needs - racial harmony, national unity, national Independence and peace and progress. Without racial harmony there can be no national unity, and without racial unity there can be no national Independence and without Independence there can be no progress." 1960's "I give my solemn pledge that my Government will never discriminate against any person or persons on the ground of race, religion or political creed, that the essential freedoms will be preserved and we will respect the rights of all.

Our Party has always been and will always be, a multi-racial Party. Within it there is room for all. Its leaders come from every racial group. I call upon the Guianese of every race and every creed to rally now behind us." August 28, 1961 “Racism is the greatest curse of our land … anyone who spread racial propaganda must be severely dealt with. Such a person is an enemy to himself and his country.”

"From this day forward we shall need the goodwill and hard work of all our people so that we may proceed to make our country a fit and proper home for heroes in the struggle for political and economic independence. Let there be an end to sectional racial quarrels and suspicions so that national unity may be restored." 1961 "I know that there are many fear mongers who go among you and try to influence you emotionally. Some go among the Indo-Guianese and say that I am sacrificing them and wooing and embracing the Afro-Guianese. Others go among the Afro-Guianese and tell them that my Government is an Indian Government, that because of racial considerations it does everything for the country and little for the city, that the Indo-Guianese own the land, real estate, and dominate business, and that if the Afro-Guianese do not get together, they will soon lose even their jobs. In this way I am caught in the crossfire. Needless to say my Government cannot be for and against Indo-Guianese, for and against Afro-Guianese, at the same time. All this propaganda is meant to build up fears in your minds." June 6, 1964 "The PNC's defeat at the 1961 election caused it to move further in the direction of African racism; its leadership launched a racist campaign at home and abroad. In New York City and in the UN corridors, American Blacks and African diplomats were told that the PPP government was penalising the Africans. At home, the African workers were told that the Indians owned the lands and the big houses in Georgetown ..., and if they (the Africans) were not careful, the Indians would soon be taking over their jobs.. The PNC denies that it resorted to the powerful slogan of race." 1966 (from The West on Trial )

11

WEEKEND MIRROR 27-28 JANUARY, 2018

Stop playing politics with the lives of sugar workers

By Dr Leslie Ramsammy

O

n several occasions President David Granger explicitly declared he will not allow sugar to be a “burden on the country”, a message very different from his pre-2015 election promise of no closure for sugar. The Alliance For Change (AFC) just this past week called the closure and the termination of more than 6000 jobs “wise and fearless” leadership.

As if closure of four sugar estates and the loss of more than 6000 jobs were not enough, they have denied timely and full payments of severance to the hurting workers and now two more threats are becoming realities – hundreds more sugar workers from Rose Hall and Skeldon are this week

being terminated and word from inside sources tell of the sickening plan to close the Uitvlugt Sugar Estate by the end of 2018. The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)/AFC must come clean – tell us definitively that no more workers will be terminated and no more estates are being closed.

Even as the injustice against sugar workers and their families are being ruthlessly implemented, President Granger, Prime Minister (PM) Moses Nagamootoo and others in the APNU/AFC are shamelessly trying to change the narrative, boasting about their “generosity” of “scraping up” $1.5 billion for paying the 4000 recently terminated sugar workers part of their severance.

Let it be clear – the partial

severance payments to the terminated sugar workers which APNU/AFC promised before the end of January is not a favour to sugar workers and it has nothing to do with the generosity of this APNU/ AFC Government. The payment is an obligation under the labour laws of Guyana.

It is a constitutional right of the terminated workers and it is a constitutional mandate of the Government to pay this severance. The payout of about $1.5 billion (a sum approved by Parliament last week), only 50 per cent of the severance payment, is a total violation of the law.

The APNU/AFC is not only breaching the laws of Guyana, but also a total contravention of the International Labour Organisation’s code. For the cynics

who argue that the promised part-payment is at least “better than nothing”, is an insult; not only to sugar workers, but to all workers. Today it is the sugar workers’ misfortune, but who knows which group of workers will be next. The “at least it is better than nothing” argument cannot change the fact that the law is openly and arrogantly being violated. This is not “generosity”, it meanness.

A few weeks ago, in another narrative-changing effort and an ugly distortion of the truth, the Agriculture Minister chastised the media, the sugar unions and the Opposition party, claiming more than 9000 sugar workers jobs have been preserved. It was not just an arrogant claim; it was clearly

a shameless effort to distract people from the ugly truth that almost 6000 workers have lost their jobs. That is why we have this obligation for the Government to find about $5 billion to pay severance. In trying to distract people from the workers who lost their jobs, he pointed to some workers who were being employed to work with the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA). It turns out this was a hoax and the truth is that even those workers are now terminated.

Now I noticed APNU/ AFC is engaged in another purposeful distortion, arguing that Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) are now convinced that APNU/AFC is doing the “wise” thing in downsizing

and closing sugar. This weird misrepresentation comes on the heel of the Opposition Leader announcing that the PPP would rather have privatisation than the permanent closure of the sugar estates.

This in no way indicates that the PPP supports the closure and downsizing of sugar. It is just that given the present dispensation where APNU/ AFC has closed four estates and terminated 6000 jobs, the PPP is pursuing the next practical option to keep sugar alive and to ensure jobs are available for thousands of people. A privatised-estate is a better option than a permanently-closed estate.

Bravo to the Leader of the Opposition for embracing the interest of the workers, while APNU/AFC is playing politics.

‘Nothing is being done to assist rice farmers’ – Region 2 official F or years, rice farmers have been battling fluctuating paddy prices, crop infestation, flooded rice fields and a whole host of other issues, but for the farmers in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), those issues seem never-ending and to add to that, they have to now battle the poor infrastructure to cultivate and access their fields.

Regional Vice-Chairperson, Nandranie Coonjah, explained that the farmers have been complaining about the lack of maintenance of the roads leading into their farms, saying very little is being done to assist them at the national level. She explained that currently, there are over 35,000 acres of rice under cultivation in the region, noting that this number represented a decline of over 1000 acres.

“Over 1000 acres… the farmers did not go into the fields. This is because of bad lands. Bad lands is a spill off of the intrusion of salt water from the previous crop. So after salt water came into the rice land, they had lots of acres that were burnt so the farmers went back for one crop to plow and sow again. When they did this they came in very late so at the time of harvesting, they reaped late and the land damaged up so they could not have gone in

back. The farmers are also calling for some intervention from the Government because nothing is being done to assist them,” she related.

She further related that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) has been of tremendous help to the farmers in maintaining the drainage channels and providing technical support. However, Coonjah added there is only so much the Authority could do,

hence the reason she would have made representation to the Communities Ministry for the provision of two excavators to aid the work of the NDIA to boost the region’s capacity.

“The NDIA is not agreeing to work in undeclared areas and the farmers in the undeclared area have our concerns because they have a right to a livelihood, the region doesn’t have the capacity. We have to wait to see if we get the excavator

but we saw nothing in the (2018) budget,” Coonjah related.

The Regional Vice Chairperson explained that undeclared areas refer to areas not in the control of the regional administration.

Rice farmers have since complained of the region’s inability to properly manage the dams that access their farmlands. On a visit to the region, several of the dams were in deplorable conditions, as farmers were

forced to use the already badly deteriorated dams to spray insecticides on their growing rice plants.

The farmers are also calling for increased cooperation with the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to tackle the production and protection aspects of their crop. Additionally, they related that they would like to see more emphasis being place on the development of the rice industry.

“We can produce the rice, but we don’t have the market for it and that is what affecting us and we got to work together man,” farmer Mohindra Persaud told this newspaper.

To further cement the farmers’ plight, Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt said more that 80 per cent of the region’s 50,000 plus residents are directly or indirectly connected to the rice industry. He noted that the disparity in the prices for paddy is one of the major contributing factors for the lack of motivation for rice farmers to return to the fields.

“Before 2015 and the early part of 2015, the price per bag of paddy was around $3500 and now it has reduced significantly. It is around $2200 and below.

I’ve personally had discussions with the Minister of Agriculture asking him

to have more interactions with our rice farmers of this region so that we can have more farmers or have a clearer understanding of what is happening in the industry and maybe potentials for the industry to be further enhanced and developed,” he explained.

He noted that despite his request, the Agriculture Minister visited the region no more than three occasions in the past year, despite it being one of Guyana’s premiere agricultural regions.

“We need to develop strategies to address in the first case the issue affecting the rice sector and here is where the Ministry with responsibility for agriculture and the Guyana Rice Development Board, they need to meaningfully engage all key stakeholders so that we may have a very clear understanding as to where the future of this industry is going,” Ramdatt added.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan in his 2018 Budget presentation noted that the rice industry was expected to record an output of 602,087 tonnes for 2017, an increase of 12.7 per cent over 2016. He credited the increase mainly to an additional 14,000 hectares planted for the 2017 spring crop and a further 74,481 hectares planted in the autumn crop. (Guyana Times)

12

WEEKEND MIRROR 27-28 JANUARY, 2018

Our time is coming – Opposition Leader G

uyanese will have to prepare to face the hardships that lie ahead as the Government continues to make blunder after blunder as it seeks to implement a host of projects which may not have any immediate positive impact or the ability to remove the daunting socioeconomic challenges facing the ordinary man.

In fact, they should be worried about the quality of life they are likely to have under the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change coalition Government which is squandering State resources and grinding Guyana’s once buoyant and promising economy into the ground.

These were the sentiments expressed by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo as he gave his outlook on the country’s economy and the performance of the incumbent coalition Government which has wielded Executive power since May 2015 after

winning the General and Regional Elections.

Jagdeo said the coalition has not lived up to many of the important promises it made on the campaign trail and is still unable to familiarise its Cabinet Ministers with the concepts of good governance, accountability and transparency.

He argued that when one looks at the rhetoric and statements attributed to several high-ranking figures in the David Granger Administration, one can easily understand the limitations of the Government, its inability to properly decode and read the mood of its citizenry, and the fact that no clear leadership is being provided with respect to how to achieve the targets set out in its manifesto in order for citizens to enjoy the “good life” in the shortest possible period.

The Opposition Leader said he was happy that the Guyanese are themselves seeing with their own eyes,

the chaos that is taking place in every sector of the country. He said the David Granger Administration was incompetent, corrupt and arrogant as he lambasted it for failing to attract and secure any meaningful foreign direct investment to the country’s ailing economy.

Jagdeo said the policy confusion and poor policy implementation and evaluation were also responsible for the Government’s overall poor performance and the magnitude of problems that are facing the population which is now struggling to cope in the turbulent conditions brought on by a disillusioned Government.

Jagdeo, who is also the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) said the PPP still believes good governance is premised on Government’s ability to adopt a holistic and multiethnic approach whenever it is rolling out policies and making decisions that

can prove racially, socially or politically sensitive, given Guyana’s unique dynamics.

“They know we have the support to win the next elections… Our time is coming and we will work to ensure that we win handsomely because…We are a party for all of Guyana and not a single race… We still believe strongly that a country can only develop if all of its people move forward together,” the Opposition Leader said as he slammed the coalition’s piecemeal, divisive and irrational approach to handling the affairs of the country.

He said that it was regrettable that close to 25,000 Guyanese have lost their jobs since the coalition came to power with more and more workers being placed on the breadline because of the inconsiderate and irrational policies of the Government which puts profits above the “Every week is a new corruption scandal”, Jagdeo

More mystery around GTT shares F

or years, Guyanese have been misled into believing that it was a Chinese-owned company that had bought out 20% of the government shares in the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Ltd (GTT).

But bits of digital data scraped from the filing records of an entity that deals with company formations in Hong Kong is now showing that the actual owners of Hong Kong Golden Telecom Company (HKGT), the supposedly-Chinese company that bought the shares, is actually owned by Guyanese and a Guyanese offshore entity that has very close connections to a clique of prominent political and business figures in Guyana.

Moreover, additionally unscrambled data shows that a large Chinese company that operates in Guyana had also played a key role in the investmen t, and remains quiet on the sideline, as the current government struggles to understand who actually owns the company.

In essence, the shares in GTT was actually bought by a Guyanese business syndicate which had established the Hong Kong company in June 2011, (two weeks before the then government had announced that it is seriously looking to sell its 20% shares in

GTT to a Hong Kong company).

So when it was announced several months later (in 2012) that Government had finalized the sale with a Hong Kong company, details on its name or its principals were evidently elusive.

Independently identifying the company or its owners was even more difficult, because of Hong Kong’s strict secrecy laws, which bars the display name of a person or owner affiliated with a company.

But around mid last year, Hong Kong entered into an information exchange agreement with about a dozen Western Countries, making it easier for countries like the UK and the United States, to dig into the identities of shareholders in several hundred shell companies that were incorporated in Hong Kong.

This was as a result of the fact that many of these front companies were being used to conceal money laundering, and other transnational crimes that can threaten the credibility of the world’s financial system.

So once the buyer of the GTT shares was identified by the government as Hong Kong Golden Telecom Company (HKGT), harvesting ownership information via third-party

entities became slightly easier.

But to add more mystery to the buyer’s identities, some of the benefactors on HKGT are known shell companies that were incorporated in other jurisdictions; again with the objective of erasing the trail leading to the true identities of the owners of the Hong Kong Golden Telecom Company.

But in the end, a knitted grouping of investigative journalists from the Al Jazeera network and Guyana Guardian was able to determine that a small circle of Guyanese, including those with strong political connections, are the real principals behind the entity which had long portrayed itself as Chinese-owned.

This has since begged the question as to whether the State was aware of the true identities of the HKGT principals at the time when the then government had selectively sold its shares in GTT to the Hong Kong entity, or whether some of the company benefactors were the actual drafters of the sale.

Moreover, it also leaves one to wonder why the head of the controversial company had never come forward or why the actual owners are afraid to make themselves known.

Whatever it is, the transaction has always

been shrouded in mystery, in so much that it had caused Minister of State Joseph Harmon to go on a wild goose-chase to China in a bid to meet with the company owners, but practically came back empty-handed, since there were no real owners to meet there.

And while the evident identity of the owners remains elusive to the current government, the Guyana Guardian understands that if Guyana should file financial crimes proceedings against HKGT, it will then be able to make a better case to the Hong Kong government to reveal the true identity of the company’s owners beneficiaries.

The Hong Kong registered company first came into the spotlight after the previous government subsequently identify the entity as the once-secret buyer of its then 20% shares in GTT. And while the sale of the 20% stake in GTT had remained a largely dormant issue prior to 2016; – it became a burning subject matter when the APNU/ AFC government came into power, and found out that the State had never received the remaining US$5 million (from the US$30 million sales) that was still owing by the Hong Kong Golden Telecom Company (HKGT).

opined as he said the coalition can never lecture anybody in this country again on issues related to transparency and openness. He noted that despite claiming that there was massive corruption under the PPP, the Government has not charged high ranking officials which libelled and accused in spite of the multimillion-dollar Commission of Inquires established.

“Why is the Integrity Commission being disbanded… Why you don’t want to trace people’s assets abroad….Government Ministers are collecting bribes…

It’s almost impossible to win anything with public tendering now…”, he remarked as he gave examples of what obtains under the coalition’s stewardship of the economy.

He insisted the current Government would be going to the next elections with a “ton of baggage” under its belt as the cracks are being exposed on the coalition’s repainted walls.

Jagdeo heavily criticisd the Government’s disregard for the Constitution and Guyana’s financial laws as he equally expressed concern over the billions of dollars being wiped out from the public and paid as “settlement” in a number of judicial matters because of the incompetence of the Government’s Chief Legal Advisors.

“They are squandering more…they are borrowing more…consuming more… and squandering our future…

They believe they know everything”, he said.

The Opposition insisted that the PPP will not drop its guard and remains dedicated towards fighting for workers’ rights and the rights of all law abiding citizens. He said too the party was more determined now than ever before to defend the gains made by Guyana and the right of its people to hold the Government accountable. (Guyana Times)

Gold declaration falls short 2017 T he Guyana Gold board will soon undertake a public awareness campaign to improve gold declarations after 653,754 ounces were declared in 2017.

Gold declarations for 2017 fell short of the 700,000 ounces projected in last year’s national budget.

General Manager of the Gold Board, Eondrene Thompson, told the Department of Public Information that the shortfall was as a result of setbacks in the industry.

Poor roads and inclement weather were singled out by Thompson for the decline in declarations. “The roadways into the interior…were bad and as such persons were unable to buy their supplies to take into the interior. A lot of operators said they parked their dredges and were waiting on the roads to be done,” she said.

This year, the government has budgeted some $1.5B for hinterland roads which include roads used by miners. The Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, previously stated that his Ministry hopes to involve the miners and communities as it works with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to improve the road networks in the six mining districts.

Meanwhile, the Gold Board will also be engaging the mining community with the aim of improving

declarations in 2018. “We will embark on PR work, let the miners know the importance of selling their gold to the Guyana Gold Board,” Thompson said.

Thompson said the awareness campaign is to encourage persons to sell their gold to licenced agents or the Gold Board itself. “We have persons around who they sell to or who they are working for and still not declaring to the Guyana Gold Board so we intend to educate the miners and let them know it is good, it is right to sell to the Guyana Gold Board.”

The Gold Board is examining providing incentives to miners who sell to the Guyana Gold Board. Additionally, the Board will also be educating miners on the importance of having the necessary documentation when selling their gold.

Thompson explained, “Our regulatory overseas body would like to know that.

They would want to monitor the gold from the mine to the market so we will have persons educating the miners and showing them the advantages of producing documentation where they mine”.

Starting next week, the Gold Board will be sending out text blasts as part of its public relations strategy to educate miners on these issues.

Staff stationed in the interior will also facilitate awareness outreaches. (DPI)

STRAIGHT TALK 13

WEEKEND MIRROR 27-28 JANUARY, 2018

Excuses for failures

By CheddiJagan

W

ith the growing dissatisfaction and discontent of the masses, PNC and the UF have resorted to sniping at each other. Each one blames the other for failures and lack of accomplishment.

Peter d'Aguiar early in 1967 charged that $1½ million was illegally spent on the East Coast road, that the Director of Audit had questioned the expenditure.

Later in 1967 he resigned as Minister of Finance, giving the impression that he was dissatisfied with the squandermania and the conduct of government affairs. His resignation did not, however, follow a principled course; his other ministers continued in the coalition government until they were virtually kicked out.

This being-out and being-in position is clearly opportunistic. The United Force wants to "eat its cake and have it too". This was shown up in the 1968 budget debate. Both d’Aguiar personally and the Executive Committee of the United Force declared that they were opposed to the budget proposals. But at the time of voting in the National Assembly d'Aguiar abstained, and the UF ministers voted with the government.

Peter d'Agaiar's dual schizophrenic political personality and behaviour is a reflection of the antagonism between the UF leadership and rank-and-file.

The leadership is representative of the local big business "comprador" capitalist class which is closely associated with imperialism.

That explains firstly why John Jardim, managing director of J.P.Santos had in an open letter in early 1968 advised his party leader, Peter d'Aguiar, to wind up the United Force and join the PNC. Jardim has now joined the PNC. This is in

sharp contrast to a speech made by him in 1965 as past President of the powerful Georgetown Chamber of Commerce in which he said that local businessmen were watching, waiting and "holding their hands" until the course of the government was clearly determined.

The tax and other concessions conceded since 1965 to big business, foreign and local, have assured those of the ilk of John Jardim that they have nothing to fear from a Burnham-led government, as Burnham's socialism and nationalism are born of the same demagogy as Hitler's and Mussolini's national socialism.

D'Aguiar’s opposition to the PNC-led coalition government is not to its overall domestic and foreign policies, but to its personnel practices. With the employment machinery from the top to the bottom firmly under the control of the PNC, and the PNC overtly and covertly pursuing corruption, nepotism, favouritism and discrimination, the UF rankand-file are bypassed and discriminated against.

Peter d'Aguiar's resigna-

tion as Minister of Finance was thus unprincipled political manoeuvring. d'Aguiar's resignation and the UF charges and suggestions of squandermania, bribery and corruption are intended to create the impression that there are deep-seated ideological and policy differences between the PNC and UF. Actually, there are nothere are no real differences on questions of principle, policy and programme.

There are only differences on methods.

The small-time pilfering and job-for-the-boys, resorted to by the PNC and criticized by the UF, cannot be condoned. But this holier-than-thou attitude of the UF must not be taken to mean that UF hands are clean. They get richer not by petty pilfering but by highclass legal thievery. By laws and regulations, millions of dollars are filched and amassed annually.

What is crucial for the Guyanese people to understand is that even with a complete UF government, the position of the people would be no better; fiscal, trade, monetary, industri-

al, agricultural and foreign policies would be the same as under PNC-UF coalition.

What about the PNC? Here again a growing antagonism is developing between the elitist leadership and the rank-and-file. The PNC's capitalist and landlord elements as represented by Eugene Correia, DeoroopMaraj, Mohamed Kassim,

etc. are satisfied with the coalition's economic policies.

Its middle-class intelligensia have been bribed into conformism and silence through a huge bureaucracy with big salaries and big allowances.

Part of the rank-and-file is being bribed and kept quiet by a policy of discrimination in employment practices.

But the majority, who have been hard hit and are under increasing pressure from inflation, unemployment, and underemployment, are being told that their lot would have been better had it not been for UF, which has been a drag on the PNC. Had the PNC not been held back by UF reactionary policies, so the PNC propaganda line argues, the PNC would have been free to implement its progressive policies! Thus the PNC electoral line - give us a majority; let us be rid of the obstruction of the UF. It is true that the PNC in its 1964 election manifesto declared in favour of socialism and non-alignment. But as events have proved, the PNC ruling elite is neither ideologically nor psycholog-

ically committed to anti-imperialism, without which there can be no non-aligned, socialist course.

The majority of the PNC elite - Rudy Kendall, John Carter, Lionel Luckhoo, Claude Merriman, Llewlyn John, Robert Jordan - are neither socialist nor capitalist (some are on the way to becoming capitalists and landlords). Up to 1957, when they were allied with Big Business in the National Democratic Party (NDP) and the United Democratic Party (UDP), they were dubbed by Burnham as traitors. They are capitalist bureaucrats, who as Ministers and legislators manage the political system at lucrative salaries and allowances for the imperialists andcapitalists just as a few - Winifred Gaskin, P. Reid, Martin Carter, Henry Thomas - as directors managed business, finance, publicity and propaganda forBookers. They have not changed side - the side of the capitalist class for the working class. They have only changed to positions which are more prestigious and lucrative.

14

WEEKEND MIRROR 27-28 JANUARY, 2018

Jagdeo interacts with Enterprise workers and families

WEEKEND MIRROR 27-28 JANUARY, 2018

15

PPP continues outreaches in sugar belt

The People’s Progressive Party held several public engagements with sugar workers and residents in East and West Canje last week to deal with the government’s large scale of dismissals of sugar workers.

At two locations supporters of the A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) coalition sought to disrupt the meetings but were unsuccessful Speaking to the workers were PPP Executive Secretary, Zulficar Mustapha and other leaders in Berbice.

PSC to host Job Fair Flashback photo of youthful Cheddi Jagan speaking to workers at Region 3 T he Private Sector Commission (PSC), in a press statement, today, advised that in collaboration with the Guyana Region 3 Chamber of Commerce and Industry have organized a Job Fair to be held on Wednesday January 31, 2018, at the Tarmac, Patentia, West Bank Demerara.

According to the PSC, the is fair is planned as a result of the retrenchment of the sugar workers from the Wales Sugar Estate. Notably, the job fair is intended to create an opportunity for residents in the West Demerara Region, Region 3 Area, to find employment.

Below is the full statement from the PSC: The Private Sector Commission (PSC) in collaboration with the Guyana Region 3 Chamber of Commerce and Industry have organized a JOB FAIR to be held on Wednesday January 31, 2018 at the Tarmac, Patentia, West Bank Demerara.

As a result of the retrenchment of the workers because of the closure of the Wales Sugar Estate, the JOB

FAIR is intended to create an opportunity for residents in the West Demerara Region, Region 3 Area, to find employment.

Over 20 companies, including members of the Private Sector Commission and other companies, are expected to attend the JOB FAIR! Persons seeking employment will have the opportunity to meet with and be interviewed by potential employers with vacancies for general employment.

Persons seeking employment should come prepared to present evidence of their education qualifications, recommendations, their NIS card and TIN certificate if available, recent curriculum vitae (CV), police clearance if any, and any other helpful documentation to support their application.

The Private Sector Commission and the Region 3 Chamber of Commerce and Industry look forward to this occasion providing a real and immediate opportunity to alleviate the hardships created by the closure of the Wales Sugar Estate.

16

WEEKEND MIRROR 27-28 JANUARY, 2018

IAC to commemorate 10th Anniversary of Lusignan Massacre T

he Indian Action Committee (IAC) will be hosting its 10th Annual Memorial Service, dubbed an “Evening of Remembrance” for the slain victims of the Lusignan Massacre which occurred on January 26, 2008, when eleven (11) persons were brutally murdered

by criminal elements.

The event on Friday, January 26, 2018, which will commence at 17:00hrs (5:00 p.m.) at Tract ‘A’ Lusignan (street where the incident occurred), East Coast Demerara, will be done in collaboration with the relatives of the slain victims, residents

of Lusignan and the religious community.

Over the years the IAC says it has worked with the relatives, residents of Lusignan and the religious community in commemorating this event in an effort to ensure that the memories of those whose lives were

snuffed out would not fade into oblivion.

According to the IAC, the Lusignan Massacre Memorial Arch which was constructed by a businessman from the community will be lit up with 100 bulbs which have been donated by several businessmen.

Those killed in the massacre are: Clarence Thomas, 48; Vanessa Thomas, 12; Ron Thomas, 11; Mohandan Goordat, 32; Seegopaul Harilall, 10; Seegobin Harilall, 4; Dhanwajie Ramsingh, 52; Seecharran Rooplall, 56; Raywattie Ramsingh, 11; Shazam Mo-

hammed, 22; and Shaleem Baksh, 52.

The IAC says the general public is invited, while noting that it has extended invitations to both Government officials and members of the Opposition, among others. (Picture below shows victims of the massacre)

AG Williams insists Guyana has permission to set up law school

A

ttorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, is once again stating firmly that the Government of Guyana is forging ahead with the establishment of the JOF Haynes Law School and is continuing the work which he said was started under the previous Administration.

The Attorney General, in response to a question posed by the media regarding the denial of permission for Guyana to undertake the building of the Law School, reasoned that permission must have been granted, a release from the DPI stated.

“Why would the Chancellor of the Judiciary at the time, Justice Bernard go to a meeting and talk about sighting at the

University of Guyana for the school?” he questioned.

The Minister reiterated that the project is currently in the feasibility stage where the Committee will be examining all the factors, including establishing the Law School under the auspices of the Council of Legal Education (CLE).

He made it clear that the Government of Guyana cannot be stopped from building the Law School, but the country wishes to remain community-minded. As a founding member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), AG Williams said Guyana has the right to establish the institution since there are several in various Caribbean countries.

The Minister said the Com-

mittee which comprises the Chancellor of the Judiciary, the Chief Justice, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana and other professionals, is in the process of the identifying the land at the Turkeyen Campus of the University.

At a press conference, he made it clear that a statement issued by Chairman of the CLE, Senior Counsel, Reginald Armour and repeated by the former AG Anil Nandlall, stating that Guyana was not given permission to establish the law school had to be withdrawn.

Today, he said that “We are saying that no international organisation is driven by the Opposition and we have an email from him [Reginald

Armour] assuring Nandlall that he would put the item on the agenda, without informing me, the sitting Attorney General for Guyana.”

Williams had raised concerns with the operations of Armour, whom he said was engaged with members of the Opposition regarding the Law School.

Nandlall in responding to the AG, had explained that when the matter first appeared in the press, he was the one to query about Guyana’s failure to receive the permission of the CLE to establish such an institution and eventually cautioned against proceeding along such a path, unilaterally.

“Mr. Williams boldly asserted that he obtained per-

mission of the Council. This remains a blatant misrepresentation. I drew the matter to the attention of the Council. The Council raised the matter with him and to the utter shock of the Council, he informed them that they (the Council) granted Guyana permission to establish a Law School” said Nandlall.

At that time, the Council, in order to comply with due process, agreed to search its record for this alleged permission.

However, according to Nandlall, after several months they reportedly found no such permission, since “none was granted.”

“If such permission was granted, it must be in some form of communication to him, either in a letter, email,

minutes of meetings, or even a text message on a cell phone.

All he needs to do is to produce it and put the matter to rest. But he cannot because no such permission was granted,” Nandlall said.

The former AG posited that “by now it has become clear that Mr. Basil Williams did not even know that Guyana requires the permission of the Council of Legal Education (CLE) of the West Indies in order to establish a local law school which would meet the region’s acceptance. As a result, in blissful ignorance he misled the government and announced publicly, that Guyana would be establishing its own local Law School.”

17

WEEKEND MIRROR 27-28 JANUARY, 2018

Padmaavat: India clashes as controversial film opens

Trump threatens to pull aid to Palestinians if they don’t pursue peace Police and guards have been deployed to keep order

(Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Thursday to withhold aid to the Palestinians if they did not pursue peace with Israel, saying they had snubbed the United States by not meeting Vice President Mike Pence during a recent visit.

Trump, speaking after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the World Economic Forum, said he wanted peace. However, his remarks could further frustrate the aim of reviving long-stalled Israeli-Palestinian talks.

Palestinians shunned Pence’s visit to the region this month after Trump rec-

ognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and vowed to begin moving the U.S. embassy to the city, whose status is at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Trump’s endorsement in December of Israel’s claim to Jerusalem as its capital drew universal condemnation from Arab leaders and criticism around the world.

It also broke with decades of U.S. policy that the city’s status must be decided in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

“When they disrespected us a week ago by not allowing our great vice president to see them, and we give them hundreds of millions of dollars in aid and sup-

port, tremendous numbers, numbers that nobody understands -- that money is on the table and that money is not going to them unless they sit down and negotiate peace,” Trump said.

The United States said this month it would withhold $65 million of $125 million it had planned to send to the U.N. agency that helps Palestinian refugees. The UNRWA agency is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from U.N. states and the United states is the largest contributor.

A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the United States had taken itself “off the table”.

Concerns raised over possible false arrests by corrupt Jamaican police

C

oncerns have been raised over the possibility of false arrests by corrupt local police officers in Jamaica of individuals alleged to be trafficking drugs.

Earlier this month, a 25 year old male Saint Lucian cruise ship worker, with no prior arrests or previous criminal record, was arrested at the Falmouth Pier in Trelawny.

The man, Akim Loctor, was arrested and charged with possession of one pound of cocaine values at approximately US$5,000 with the intent to supply.

Questions were asked in a recent blog posting by a Miami-based financial crime and money laundering expert as to whether Jamaican police officers were setting up narcotics arrests and drug seizures to make Jamaican Constabulary Force (JCF) look good, especially to the United States.

According to the posting, rumours about individuals being entrapped or intimidated into participating in staged arrests have appeared from time to time in Jamaica. These

are apparently not bona fide arrests, but are allegedly created to build statistics favourable to Jamaica law enforcement, which would be useful ammunition in its relationship with the US, which has been critical of Jamaica’s drug interdiction program.

BBC -- Hardline Hindus angered by a Bollywood film have threatened cinema-goers and clashed with police in northern India.

Reports say a cinema owner in Uttar Pradesh was attacked. Several other theatres in the state and in neighbouring Bihar were also targeted.

Hardline Hindu groups allege the film Padmaavat is disrespectful of their culture by depicting a romance between a Hindu queen and a Muslim king.

The producers deny this.

The release was delayed for

two months by protests.

Many theatres across India have said that they will not screen the film, fearing further violence. But despite the threats, the film still opened in 5,000 cinemas in many parts of the country.

Some cinema-goers in Delhi said there was nothing controversial in the movie.

“All the ruckus that is going on is uncalled for,” one viewer told the BBC after watching the film.

The Supreme Court rejected a bid by four states that wanted the film banned for security reasons, saying

it was their responsibility to ensure law and order.

On Wednesday, footage of mobs attacking a bus carrying students in Gurgaon, near Delhi, caused outrage.

It is unclear why the mob attacked the vehicle, which was clearly marked as a school bus. A video of the attack showed scared students ducking under the seat as the bus was pelted with stones.

No children were injured in the incident, but protesters burned a number of other buses, and have also vandalised cinemas over the last few days.

Richardson quits Myanmar’s ‘whitewash’ Rohingya crisis panel (Reuters) - Veteran U.S. diplomat Bill Richardson has resigned from an international panel set up by Myanmar to advise on the Rohingya crisis, saying it was conducting a “whitewash” and accusing the country’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi of lacking “moral leadership”.

Richardson, a former Clinton administration cabinet member, quit as the 10-member advisory board was making its first visit to western Rakhine State, from where nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled in recent months.

“The main reason I am resigning is that this advisory board is a whitewash,” Richardson told Reuters in an interview, adding he did not want to be part of “a cheerleading squad for the government”.

Richardson said he got into an argument with Suu

Kyi during a meeting on Monday with other members of the board, when he brought up the case of two Reuters reporters who are on trial accused of breaching the country’s Officials Secrets Act. He said Suu Kyi’s response was “furious”, saying the case of the reporters “was not part of the work of the advisory board”. The argument continued at a dinner later that evening, the former New Mexico governor said.

Suu Kyi’s spokesman,

Zaw Htay, told Reuters on Thursday that the Advisory Board was meeting about the “Rakhine issue”. “(Richardson) talked on a topic outside the agenda of the meetings and went beyond the framework,” Zaw Htay said. “We feel sorry for his resignation due to the misunderstanding.” Reporters Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 27, had worked on Reuters coverage of the crisis in Rakhine, from where 688,000 Rohingya have fled an army crackdown on insurgents since late August, according to estimates by the United Nations.

They were detained on Dec. 12 after they had been invited to meet police officers over dinner in Yangon. The government has cited police as saying they were arrested for possessing secret documents relating to the security situation in Rakhine.

18

WEEKEND MIRROR 27-28 JANUARY, 2018

Protecting Parliaments Through International Oversight The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)

By Dr Bheri Ramsaran

G

uyana was represented at the recently held 137th Assembly of the prestigious Intra-Parliamentary Union (IPU). This is the oldest and largest organization of Parliamentarians.

Guyana’s participation came at a time when the management of our own Parliament was giving rise to concerns on the part of the political Opposition and Civil Society.

This prestigious international organization keeps an eye on national parliaments with the aim of protecting and promoting best practice and the rights of Parliamentarians themselves. Rubbing shoulders with fellow Parliamentarians at the informal sessions and at the various official discussion sessions opened up possibilities of networking, and presenting concerns regarding our own Parliament.

From 14-18 October, 2017, St. Petersburg, Russia, was the venue of the largest assembly in the history of the

Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). Some 2,500 participants, 160 delegations (over half of which were headed

by Speakers of Parliaments).

The IPU was founded in 1889 at a time when War was a frequent experience and brought grave hardships on the ordinary citizens of the warring countries. Two visionaries - a Frenchman and an Englishman - were appalled by the brutality of the various wars at that time.

They say dialogue and arbitration as a better alternative.

It took then a few years to win support of Parliamentarians in more countries in order to convene a really representative internationalist forum. The IPU’s first such was convened in 1898.

Since then its membership has expanded many fold.

The Guyana Delegation compromised five persons: The Prime Minister, the Speaker and the Clerk of the National Assembly, a member of the Parliamentary Staff, Ms Jocette Bacchus, and Dr Bheri Ramsaran.

Approximately 400

journalists also took part in the work of the Assembly. Moses Nagamootoo was the only Prime Minister attending. National Parliamentary delegations to the IPU Assembly are usually headed by the Speaker of the Parliament.

The Guyana Delegation had brief meetings separately with the outgoing President and the Secretary General of the IPU, Mr. Saber Chowdhury and Mr. Martain Chungong.

Gender Equality

The Assembly elected a new President — Gabriela Cuevas Barron (born April 3, 1979 in Mexico City).

She is now the current first successful female from the Americas to be elected IPU President. She defeated another veteran female Latin American female contender for the post of IPU President.

Her ascension to the highest IPU post was hailed as a victory for the ongoing struggle for gender equality.

The Assembly also accepted several new members:

Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, and the Marshall Islands. The total number of IPU member-states rose to 178.

The larger work of the Assembly addressed several issues of cross-cutting interest to all Parliamentarians and Parliaments. These can be subdivided as follows: ● Promoting cultural pluralism and peace through interfaith and inter-ethnic dialogue ● Sharing our diversity: The 20th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Democracy ● Ending the grave human crisis, persecution and violent attacks on the Rohingya as a threat to international peace and security and ensuring their unconditional and safe return to their homeland in Myanmar (St. Petersburg 17 October 2017) The third sub-head arose as a result of intense debate under the “Emergency Resolution” item on the Agenda of the IPU General Council.

The larger all-inclusive General Council meeting

of the Assembly was ably assisted in its work by four plenary Standing Committees, functioning in accordance with their own Rules.

The IPU The 137th Assembly coincided with the 20th anniversary of the “Universal Declaration on Democracy” of September 1997 adapted in Cairo, Egypt. The tenets of this Declaration were re-endorsed by the 137th Assembly and acted as a firm substrate for its various discussions — “On the 20th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Universal Declaration of Democracy: the Commonality of our Diversity”.

The Assembly also included “thematic” conferences and sessions of the Forum of Women Parliamentarians and the Forum of Youth Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

This document confirms that “Democracy is a universally recognised ideal as well as a goal, which is based on common values shared by peoples throughout the world

community irrespective of cultural, political, social and economic differences. It is thus a basic right of citizenship to be exercised under conditions of freedom, equality, transparency and responsibility, with due respect for the plurality of views, and in the interest of the polity".

The resolution also notes that “A state of democracy ensures that the processes by which power is acceded to, wielded and alternates allow for free political competition and are the product of open, free and non-discriminatory participation by the people, exercised in accordance with the rule of law, in both letter and spirit”.

The document also strengthens the role and importance of the opposition as a key component of democracy that expresses critique and makes a thorough analysis of functioning of the government and parliamentary majority, as well as presents political alternatives and represents the interests of the groups of the nation being a political minority.

Less gold shoves economic growth down

T

he economic sector of gold which has been propping up growth rates since the APNU/AFC coalition took office, has been showing sign signs of decline so much so that the Government is now being forced to revise its recently announced growth rate downwards.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan recently said that Guyana recorded some 653,754 ounces of gold in 2017, which indicates that gold declarations fell short of the projected of 720,000 ounces.

“It will have an impact on the growth with both sugar and gold not coming in on target. It means we will have to revise last year’s growth rate even further and it will put some strain on the growth for 2018,” he stated.

Government’s management of the economy has been severely criticized by the political opposityion and the private sector and calls for the government to prepare a medium and long term plan have fallen on deaf ears.

Very few major invest-

ments are coming into the country and no new jobs are being created. Instead, the government has been dumping more and more persons into the ranks of the unemployed as it is recently did with some 5000 sugar workers. Most businesses are complaining of being badly off with each passing year.

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

The decline happened at a time when the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is preparing to permanently close three of its six estates and fire about 4673 of its 15,000-member workforce.

Other workers numbering close to 1000 could also be laid off this year as the Government embarks on its downsizing initiative.

Jordan said the economy was expected to grow by 2.9 per cent, failing to meet the revised growth projection of 3.1 per cent for 2017. The initial projected growth of the economy was 3.8 per

cent, but this was revised by midyear to 3.1 per cent after the economy only grew by 2.2 per cent in July of 2017.

Making reference to gold, the Minister said however there were several impediments that led to a fall in gold declaration, stating that accessibility for miners was one of the major factors.

Nevertheless, Jordan said he is confident that the country’s gold production would climb again this year due to good prices and improved access.

“…we have budgeted over $1.5 billion, part of which is for clear access both to forest and mining areas.

Prices are still good. So it’s not a case they don’t have a natural incentive to produce more as such. So, first of all we believe it’s going to be better this year. We are hoping it’s just an aberration because with prices where they are, you ought to be seeing far more declaration that we are seeing right now,” he added.

With improved access

to new gold bearing areas in the interior regions; this will also help with meeting this objective, Jordan said. “… so perhaps we need work to be done about new gold bearing areas. Because I don’t really know if they have a map as to how really and truly are the gold bearing areas…like for example with oil. So, here especially with artesian mining it could be a hit and miss story.”

The Guyana Gold Board (GGB) has blamed poor roads and inclement weather for the fall in gold declaration. According to General Manager of the GGB, Eondrene Thompson, there were several inhibitions that led to this performance, but she made a commitment to addressing it.

“The roadways into the interior… were bad and as such persons were unable to buy their supplies to take into the interior,” Thompson told the Department of Public Information. Additionally, several operators parked their dredges and were waiting on the roads to be fixed.

The GCB plans to launch

a campaign to improve declarations. Thompson said, “We will embark on PR work, let the miners know the importance of selling their gold to the Guyana Gold Board.” This campaign is not only to get miners to sell to the GGB but to have them use licensed agents.

“We have persons around who they sell to or who they are working for and still not declaring to the Guyana Gold Board so we intend to educate the miners and let them know it is good, it is right to sell to the Guyana Gold Board.” The GGB is also considering providing incentives to miners who sell to them.

Thompson explained, “Our regulatory overseas body would like to know that. They would want to monitor the gold from the mine to the market so we will have persons educating the miners and showing them the advantages of producing documentation where they mine”.

Government hopes that 712,706 ounces of gold will be declared in 2018.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 27-28 JANUARY, 2018

The Hinterland Connection

By Jagnarine Somwar

T

he Warraus are one of the original tribes of the Amerindian people dating back to the 14th century, with a long and impressive history on their self-preservation, determination and identity.

The late Professor Leslie Cummings, distinguished geographer and prolific author, believes that the earliest Iberian explorers got the name, which means “Guianas” from the Warraus who occupied the areas between the Pomeroon and the Amacura Delta.

In the face of scant and incomplete records and from the examination of Spanish maps and field studies, it was his view that when asked by the Spaniards about the name of the country, the Warraus replied “Wai-ana” meaning “without a name”, that is there is no name to the area. This was probably interpreted as the name and the Spaniards, recorded it as “Guay-ana”which in time became “Guiana” and was subsequently adopted for the whole area between the Orinoco and the Amazon, and was incorporated in the maps and accounts of the rival European nations.

Hobo Hill, which is near to Mabaruma and Mabaruma Hills, was settled much later in the 17-18th century by the Dutch, who had established a trading post from which they conducted business with the Warraus.

According to a Timehri Journal (Vol. X 1896) article called ‘The Indian Policy of the Dutch’, it was likely that there were four main Carib regions that were known as the Kingdoms of Pawrooma (Pomeroon), Moruga (Moruca), Waini and Barima, in which the chief towns were called Maripa, Cooparoore, Tocoopoima and Pekwa.

It also cites a 1666 estimate by Major John Scott, who was sent in 1665 by the English governor of Barbados to invade the Pomeroon settlement that states the population up to the Orinoco delta included thousands of Carib and Arawak families and an unknown number of Akawaios and Warraus.

In fact, it is suggested that the sheer numbers of

the indigenous populations that fiercely defended their territories were perhaps one reason why the Spaniards were unable to gain a foothold on the lands at the time.

It is believed by many scholars that the Warraus are the oldest known inhabitants of Guyana; this tribe is known archaeologically from the shell mounds of the North West and Pomeroon,

that they are the only representatives of the Warrauan linguistic group in South America and Venezuela and, as a result their language is known as an ‘isolate’.

The Warraus originally inhabited the swampy morasses and islands in the mouth of the Orinoco, as well as the lower reaches of the Barima. Owing to ill-treatment by the Span-

hammocks, which they made from the eetay palm.

This pith of this palm also provided an excellent type of bread, which was the Warraus’ principal means of subsistence. Under the British Government, these people became more industrious and contributed more labour to the sugar plantation than any other Amerindian tribe in British Guiana.

wild honey The Warraus were the creative boat builders of Region 1 and the Pomeroon areas, and having lived on the swampy coastlands in houses on stilts they were true professionals to construct their homes.

Many would have migrated from Pomeroon embankment after the planters began moving their culti-

some dating back to 7,000 years ago.

Living in the low-lying coastlands between the Barima and the Pomeroon Rivers and their tributaries, these people were called the ‘water people’ because they built their houses on stilts over or close to the water.

Being inhabitants of the swampy district, the Warraus are excellent fishermen and boat builders; they are also inventors of the dugout canoe, which was the earliest seaworthy vessel some 5,000 years ago.

To them, the palm tree is considered the tree of life, providing them with flour, juice, fruit and branches for thatching and hammock-making.

The Warraus, who believe that their ancestors live in the sky land, are unique in

iards in 1767, they migrated in great numbers to the Barima District, which they, as well as the other Amerindian tribes, regarded as Dutch territory. In this locality they still remained after the British had taken over the Dutch colonies.

The Warraus had none of the warlike characteristics of the Caribs and Akawaios. They were mainly boat-builders, owing to the skill with which they hollowed out, without any instrument but the adze, the canoes used by the Amerindian tribes of Guiana.

Almost amphibious in their mode of life, they were expert fishermen who kept up a noted fishery of the lower Orinoco. The women were skilful in the manufacture of baskets and of the hammocks known as the sarow

Their contributions to the sugar plantations was in the riverain areas of this country and was the foundation for the prosperity and success of the sugar plantations and sugar industry in the later years.

It should be recognised that not only were the Negroes and East Indians and to a lesser extent the Portuguese exposed to the hardships of the sugar plantations, but also our indigenous brothers and sisters of the Warrau tribe Dennis Williams’ studies reveal that in the North West District and Pomeroon, the diet of the early Amerindians consisted of fish, turtles, crabs, snails, a variety of wild animals, larvae of beetles that deposited their eggs in the eetay palm, wild cashew, eetay palm flour, and

vation downstream at the end of the Dutch period.

But their main service was in providing salted fish for the government plantations.

They had a fishery in the Orinoco which supplied the Essequibo plantations, and in the case of Berbice, they fished twice a year in the Canje. It represented an important cost saving for the authorities in both colonies.

This alone tells us that the Warraus were contributors to the economic growth and development of the colonists and planters.

Although the population of this grouping is in the vicinity of 5,000 persons who are scattered mainly in the Pomeroon and the North West District, it is evident that their hard work in boatbuilding over the centuries has paid dividends as their

methodology is being emulated across the country. The Warrau people are the oldest of the old tribal heroes and warriors whose ancient customs and practices are still been vibrantly maintained by many of the aged first people.

Their business acumen is sharp and they are good negotiators despite many tend to return to subsistence farming and fishing, one of their best skills, for their livelihood.

A mother of five, at age 30, a Morucan by birth, who is a Warrau, related that all is not well as was years ago, meaning before 2015.

With tears in hers eyes, she stated that her children sometimes go without food and her approach to this Government for Social Assistance support has fallen on deaf ears and no one in authority seems to care about the helpless Amerindians who are suffering under this coalition regime.

The little that she earns by working in a restaurant cannot suffice to meet her limited needs. She craves to live an honest and decent life and to see her children grow up to be educated and have good jobs, but circumstances and the high cost of living is a deterrent to progress and prosperity.

Her brother explained that he assists her with whatever he can, but like everyone else he, too, is feeling the pressure since this new Government took power.

The future seems bleak for the Amerindian people of this country, as they continue to struggle to make ends meet; our first people now consider themselves on the survival run and are hoping that things get better for the sake of their children and their already depleted tribes.

However, our Warrau brothers and sisters are assured that on the return of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to Government, their woes will diminish and there will be tears of joy and not sorrow.

As the struggle continues, we will be in it together.

Your progress is our desire.

Your struggle is our struggle.

20

Wanted Brazilian arrested

by Lethem police T

he notorious Roger Batalha Rodrigues, who was among 99 persons that escaped from a prison in neigbouring Brazil, was captured by police ranks of the Mounted Branch stationed in Lethem, while on patrol on Wednesday, January 24, 2018, in the Takatu River area.

According to a police release, Rodrigues was detained for questioning after he began to act in a suspicious manner when he saw the ranks.

The escapee, who at the time of escape was serving a sentence for vehicular theft, has since been handed over to law enforcement officials in Brazil.

The Guyana Police, in its

statement, noted that since the establishment of the Mounted Branch in Lethem on December 04, 2015, a number of persons have been arrested, charged and committed to prison for various offences including trafficking and possession of narcotics and possession of ammunition.

“The Section has in its pool of resources a number of fit stallions that are always champing at the bit to stretch their legs on the wide open savannahs in running down those elements of society that have ran afoul of the law. It is currently headed by the hardworking and surely capable, Superintendent of Police Michael Sutton who is supported by Corporal 18250

Roger Batalha Rodrigues

Fitzgerald Adolphus and several other ranks with years of experience in the Mounted Section of the Force,” the force noted.

firearm and a quantity of ammunition.

According to the Guyana Police Force, acting on information received, the ranks visited the house and conducted a search when

they found an unlicensed 9MM pistol, two magazines, thirteen live 9MM rounds, thirty-five live 7.62 rounds, eight twelve gauge cartridges and 304 grams of cannabis.

Two persons have been arrested and are assisting with the investigation.

West Bank couple stabbed multiple times during armed robbery A 50-year-old grocer and his 46-year-old spouse are currently admitted at a Regional Hospital nursing multiple injuries about their bodies, following a robbery on Monday night (January 22) at their business premises at Sisters Village West Bank Demerara (WBD).

Police said they were attacked by four masked men who were armed with knives and cutlasses; a small

amount of cash and other items were carted off.

According to the police statement, prompt action by the police resulted in the apprehension of a male who fits the description of one of the suspects. The suspect, who resides on the West Bank of Demerara, was held with a knife in close proximity of the robbery scene.

An investigation revealed that the victims were

in the process of closing their business when the suspects pounced and demanded cash and other valuables; not satisfied with what they got, the suspects inflicted several stabs and chop wounds on the victims before fleeing the scene. The condition of the victims is said to be stable. Investigators are making stringent efforts to apprehend the other suspects.

Armed bandit robs Albouystown businesswoman, family

T The scene of the robbery at Lethem on Tuesday

a 9mm magazine and forty-two live rounds of ammunition were found in the house.

Three bandits, who

were identified as nationals of Brazil, were caught on Tuesday after robbing a store in the commercial zone.

Grange Police Station on January 2, 2018.

Devon Ally, 21, of 1535 Westminster has since been charged with rape of a child under 16 years, assault committed on a female sibling and escape from lawful custody.

A police report said

that the labourer, who was arrested at a location at Beterverwagting ECD, will appear at the Wales Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, January 25, 2018.

Two plastic face masks were found in his possession at the time of recapture.

Rape suspect recaptured ollaborative work between detectives of ‘C’ Division (East Coast Demerara) and ‘D’ Di vision (West Demerara/ East Bank Essequibo) resulted in the recapture of a Westminster, West Bank Demerara rape suspect who escaped custody at the La-

- Two persons in custody anks from the Police Narcotics Branch on Wednesday, January 24, visited a house in Craig Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, where they discovered an unlicensed

A

C

Gun, ammo & ganja found in Campbelville home R

More Brazilians arrested in Lethem robbery s the police continue their investigation into the brazen armed robbery, which occurred in the commercial zone of Lethem, Region 9 on Tuesday, January 23, four more Brazilian nationals, including two women, have been arrested.

A police report noted that police ranks went to a house at Tabatinga, Lethem at about 10:30 pm Tuesday and were forced to take cover as several rounds were fired at them from inside the building.

Police said that the area was cordoned and the lawmen, using their tactical training, subsequently gained entry into the building and arrested four persons. A .38 revolver,

WEEKEND MIRROR 27-28 JANUARY, 2018

hree women were on Sunday last robbed by an armed bandit of a quantity of cash and valuables in the vicinity of La Penitence Street, Albouystown, Georgetown.

Based on information received, the incident occurred at around 19:20hrs on the evening in question.

The victims have been identified as 36-year-old Devika Williams of Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara, her 28-year-old sister, Rebecca Petamber of La Penitence Street, Albouystown, Georgetown and their 53-year-old mother, Nerisha Sukhu of the same address.

Williams operates a grocery shop at La Penitence street, Albouystown, where

her mother and sister reside.

On Sunday last, Williams had just closed the front of the shop and was about to close the back, when an unmasked male, brandishing a gun, reportedly pushed the gate and entered the yard.

The man pointed his handgun at Williams and ordered her to kneel down in the yard, behind the shop.

The frightened woman immediately complied.

The bandit proceeded into the lower flat of the building, through the eastern door which was open.

He then held Petamber and her mother at gunpoint while escorting them outside and commanding them to kneel alongside Williams.

The suspect then went into the shop and allegedly took out $80,000 in cash and a quantity of phone cards from a jar, then went back into the lower flat and stole $180,000 in cash and a gold band valued at $40,000, belonging to Sukhu.

He further ransacked the building before stealing Petamber’s Samsung mobile phone valued at $140,000.

The perpetrator ordered the three women to lie on the ground and not to move, as he proceeded to flee the scene.

No shots were fired.

Police are presently reviewing CCTV footage of the area as investigations are ongoing.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 27-28 JANUARY, 2018

Liberia – Can Weah Consolidate Peoples’ Empowerment?

By Eddi Rodney

L

ast week, amongst the major events impacting upon West Africa, the most significant in terms of a sharp generational policy shift occurred in Liberia -an ‘Atlanticist’ ECOWAS territory.

George Weah, 51, arguably political Africa’s most acclaimed soccer star was sworn in as the country’s head of state.

Barely 24 hours subsequently the death of Hugh Masekela was announced in South Africa, where Thabo Mbeki was amongst those who paid respect and tribute to the great instrumentalist and jazz innovator who was born poor in South Africa.

So there was this discernible West to South trend that momentarily would have served to interest African public opinion, and involving two celebrity ‘products’ of SubSaharan Africa; providing social media with a rare chance to access the continental mood characteristic of the progressive and the radical re-assemblement at this point in time.

Charisma as a middle class innovation and revolutionary perspectives

Weah replaces M/ss Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the country’s first female president who has had control

over the state system since early 2006.

His political engagement would certainly have involved those social forces and ‘polarisation’ that characterized Liberia’s brutal civil war.

Whatever the case his professional experiences as a sports figure could be compared to that of Pakistan’s Imran Khan, or Brasil’s Romario, both of whom have become involved in the political processes in their respective jurisdictions.

Then there is also that other comparison that could be drawn with Thailand’s Manny Paquino, a world boxing champion,now a member of his country’s legislature.

Weah’s political strategy evidently has been influenced by the ‘Obamaism’ of Johnson Sirleaf’s administration at one level.

Essentially, however, his popularity and historic grass roots endorsement is more extensive, and not constrained by the iconoclastic postures and manifestations of the Liberian middle sectors.

In this regard it could be worthwhile to examine Weah’s politics against the examples set by Tanzania’s John Magufuli, Mozambique’s Joaquin Chissano, Haiti’s Bernard Aristide or to a lesser degree Senegal’s

President George Weah

Chiek Diop.

To most observers familiar with African under-development, with the massive exploitation of capital assets by imperialist corporations and the environmental destruction of the continent’s forest reserves, the prospects for socio economic transformation based on whether ‘state capitalism’ or, the historic and more robust and ‘systemic’ crony laissez faire anarchy, free market development as models have failed.

However, a valid short to medium term perspective could avail Liberia’s capital formation process based on an updated, smart and intel-

ligent Weah programme for equity growth.

Of course there are bound to be those who subjectively malign African ‘consensual’ politics based on quite disparate perceptions of ‘uni-polarity’ complexes, and the small state/ rich state dispensation.

It ought to be borne in mind that Weah burst upon the global scene in the mid-1990s when powerful stake-holders in the “Noble Game” of Football would have identified their support for the likes of Brasil’s Ronaldinho, Romario, or Portugal’s Ronaldo or, even at a latter stage Algeria’s Zidane.

If anything he is no stranger to team collaboration and competitive goals albeit in the ‘arena’ of FIFA regulated soccer.

Weah’s achievements at

such as information, construction and manufacturing, industries in which many Latin American immigrants work.

Among Latin American and Caribbean countries, Mexico has long received the highest amount of remittances, the centre said.

In 2016, it said US$28.6 billion in remittances flowed to Mexico (up 9.3 per cent from the previous year) – a total that accounted for over a third of remittances to all of Latin America and the Caribbean.

After Mexico, Guatemala (US$7.5 billion), the Dominican Republic (US$5.5 billion) and Colombia (US$4.9 billion) received the highest amounts of remittances in the Latin America and Caribbean region in 2016, the Pew Research Center said.

As a share of total economic output (measured in

gross domestic product), remittances were equivalent to 29.4 percent of Haiti’s 2016 gross domestic product (GDP); while for the Caribbean as a whole, remittances were equal to 8 per cent of GDP – a far higher share than for Central and South America (3.6 per cent and 0.5 per cent, respectively), the Pew Research Center said.

Despite the recent overall decline in remittances, it said the amount sent by migrants globally to their home countries in 2016 remains more than double that of 2005, when US$280 billion in remittances were sent.

Global remittances are expected to increase in coming years, because of anticipated growth in the US and European economies (where nearly half of the world’s migrants live), and the appreciation of major currencies like the Russian ruble.

Can Weah transition from mass proletarian based celebrity affinity to the demands of national leader?

Caribbean migrants sent record amount of money home in 2016 (CMC) — While remittance flows decreased worldwide for a second consecutive year in 2016 – remittances to Latin America and the Caribbean, however, rose to a record high.

This is based on recently released data from the World Bank.

In analysing the figures, the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan American think tank, based here, reported that globally, migrants sent an estimated US$574 billion to their home countries in 2016, a 1.4 per cent drop from 2015.

But, in Latin America and the Caribbean – together making up a region where many people say economic conditions are bad – remittances rose to US$74.3 billion, a 7.4 per cent increase from the previous year (US$69.2 billion), said the Pew Research Center.

It said Europe was the

only other region in the world to see an increase, “and it was a much smaller one (up 0.9 per cent).”

Remittances are funds or other assets sent by migrants via formal channels, such as banks.

The think tank said the total amount of money transferred is likely significantly larger than what is reported, “because these estimates do not include the transfer of other assets, such as gifts, or informal monetary transfers.”

The World Bank reports only remittances sent via formal channels, the Pew Research Center said.

It said the increase in remittances to the region is primarily due to general improved labour market conditions in the US, which has helped boost migrants’ capacity to send money home.

This improvement was especially evident in sectors

this level, specific to mass support in a relatively unindustrialized society could easily be translated by the ‘sociologists’ who may opt to research the main elements of Usain Bolt’s popularity amongst all sectors -even in conservative constituencies- of his native Jamaica.

But all of these important (as these factorise) relevance could form the subject of another conversation.

The Monrovia doctrine-special United states Relationship

Internal to the political process there were four

major issues that either presented themselves or posed challenges since the mid 2006 assumption of Johnson Sirleaf administration.

These to a degree have been resolved by Weah’s landslide victory over Joseph Bookari in a run off poll.

These could be summarised as follows: ● the replacement of the political elite sustained by the Washington Consensus bureaucracy – the so called Obama special relationship. ● A shift from the culture of corrupt graft transactions involving in at least one instance Johnson Sirleaf’s son. ● A rejection of the notion that the Liberian working people should be penalized for the actions of War Criminals and Slavers such as Charles Taylor and his ‘pigtail’ lords crew; and that this contradiction with the International Criminal Court (ICC) should impact upon the urgent necessity for national unity. ● Weah’s invitation to the Liberian Diaspora to join in restructuring and rebuilding Liberia expressed in his pro-business approach aimed at Wealth Creation.

PPP debunks inflated sugar bailout figures and calls for probe

T

he People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is calling for a probe into how the billions Government allocated to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) since taking office in 2015 was spent.

The Party’s General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, doubts the figures posted by the government and pointed out that there are discrepancies between the figures quoted by President David Granger in his January 10, speech that was read in the National Assembly

by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and and the recent pronouncements made by Agriculture Minister Noel Holder.

Among other things, the President’s speech on the payments to GuySuCo workers outlined that Government was “expending G$48.02 bn in financial support to the industry since 2011 and G$32 billion over the past thirty months – a rate of about a billion dollars a month.”

The President attributed the “rate of about a billion dollars a month” as one of the reasons why they “cannot sustain the sugar industry in its current state.”

However, according to Jagdeo “when Guyanese hear this figure, they will say, yes, it can’t be afforded because this is a large sum of money…

Let’s look at what Holder said on the matter. Holder said ‘over the past seven years,

Government pumped $48B in GuySuCo. $600M in 2011, $4B in 2012, $5.3B in 2013, $6B in 2014, $12B in 2015, $11B in 2016, $9B in 2017.

So when you add this, you see $48B over seven years. The President said $48B and he added $32B on top of it in his speech,” he explained.

Jagdeo further explained that this $32B was then divided by the number of months, resulting in the approximated cost of $1B a month for 30 months.

However, the Opposition Leader maintained he has suspicions as the claims by Holder and the President are contradicting.

According to the Opposition Leader, the President “over inflated the figures by 2 times in his speech to the Nation and Holder gave the accurate figures. And even in those figures, you would see that for the period 2011 to 2014, an average of $4B per year was given subsidy to GuySuCo. “Between 2015 to 2017, $10.6B average and now, that is impossible. Its more than double, almost three times more subsidy they gave in the three years. We need to have a full fledged investigation whether this money was given, how it was spent and knowing the nature of this government, I suspect that a significant part of this money may have disappeared,” Jagdeo asserted.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 27-28 JANUARY, 2018

Grade Six Assessment

English Language

EXERCISE A Directions: Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. Refer to the text to check your answers when appropriate.

Y

ou know that you’re doing something big when your company name becomes a verb. Ask Xerox. In 1959 they created the first plain paper copy machine. It was one of the most successful products ever. The company name Xerox grew into a verb that means “to copy,” as in “Bob, can you Xerox this for me?” Around 50 years later, the same thing happened to Google. Their company name grew into a verb that means “to do an internet search.” Now everyone and their grandma knows what it means to Google it.

Unlike Xerox, Google wasn’t the first company to invent their product, not by a long shot.

Lycos released their search engine in 1993. Yahoo! came out in 1994. AltaVista began serving results in 1995. Google did not come out until years later, in 1998. Though a few years difference may not seem like much, this is a major head start in the fast moving world of tech. So how did Google do it? How did they overtake their competitors who had such huge leads in time and money? Maybe one good idea made all the difference.

There are millions and millions of sites on the internet. How does a search engine know which ones are relevant to your search? This is a question that great minds have been working on for decades. To understand how Google changed the game, you need to know how search engines worked in 1998. Back then most websites looked at the words in your query. They counted how many times those words appeared on each page. Then they might return pages where the words in your query appeared the most. This system did not work well and people often had to click through pages and pages of results to find what they wanted.

Google was the first search engine that began considering links. Links are those blue underlined words that take you to other pages when you click on them. Larry Page, cofounder of Google, believed that meaningful data could be drawn from how those links connect. Page figured that websites with many links pointing at them were more important than those that had few. He was right. Google’s search results were much better than their rivals. They would soon become the world’s most used search engine.

It wasn’t just the great search results that led to Google becoming so well liked. It also had to do with the way that they presented their product. Most of the other search engines were cluttered. Their home pages were filled with everything from news stories to stock quotes.

But Google’s homepage was, and still is, clean. There’s nothing on it but the logo, the search box, and a few links. It almost appears empty. In fact, when they were first testing it, users would wait at the home page and not do anything. When asked why, they said that they were, “waiting for the rest of the page to load.” People couldn’t imagine such a clean and open page as being complete. But the fresh design grew on people once they got used to it.

These days Google has its hands in everything from self-driving cars to helping humans live longer. Though they have many other popular products, they will always be best known for their search engine. The Google search engine has changed our lives and our language.

Not only is it a fantastic product, it is a standing example that one good idea (and a lot of hard work) can change the world.

1. Which event happened last? a. Lycos released their search engine. b. Yahoo! released their search engine. c. Google released their search engine. d. Xerox released their copy machine.

2. Which statement would the author of this text most likely disagree with? a. Part of Google’s success is due to the design of their homepage. b. Google succeeded by following examples of others in their field. c. Google wasn’t the first search engine, but it was the best. d. Google’s success may not have been possible without Larry Page.

3. Which best expresses the main idea of the third paragraph? a. There are lots and lots of websites connected to the internet. b. Google created a better way to organize search results. c. Many smart people have worked on search engines over the years. d. Older search engines used unreliable methods to order results.

4. What is the author’s main purpose in writing this article? a. To explain how Google overtook its rivals b. To compare and contrast Google and Xerox c. To persuade readers to use Google for internet searches d. To discuss how companies can influence language over time 5. Which statement would the author most likely agree with? a. Google became successful because its founders were well-connected. b. Google was the world’s first and best search engine. c. Google changed the world by solving an old problem in a new way. d. Google’s other products are now more important to its success than search.

6. Which best expresses the main idea of the fourth paragraph? a. Links allow people to surf from one website to the next. b. Larry Page’s ideas about links helped Google get to the top. c. Larry Page contributed to the internet by inventing the link. d. Google is a website that serves important links to users.

7. Which best explains why the author discusses Xerox in this text? a. He is discussing big companies that came before Google. b. He is explaining how companies must change with the times. c. He is showing how companies can affect our language. d. He is comparing and contrasting Google and Xerox.

8. How did Google improve search quality in 1998? a. They counted how many times queries appeared on each page. b. They looked more closely at the words in search queries. c. They linked to more pages. d. They studied the relationships of links.

9. Which was cited as a reason why Google became so popular? a. Google’s homepage was clean. b. Google provided catchy news stories on their homepage. c. Google homepage loaded quickly. d. Google provided useful stock quotes on their homepage.

10. Which title best expresses the author’s main purpose in writing this text? a. Xerox Vs. Google: Battle of the Titans b. Search Engines: How They Work and Why They’re Important c. A Better Way: How Google Rose to the Top d. Search Engines: A Short History of Important Tools LONG RESPONSE 1. What can readers learn about Google’s approach to doing business based on reading this article? Use information from the text to support your response.

2. Explain how Google was able to overcome its competitors. Cite information from the text to support your response.

3. What do Google and Xerox have in common? Support your answer with information from the text.

EXERCISE B Identifying Adjectives At the Beach Directions: Read each of the following sentences. Identify the word that is used as an adjective.

Circle your response.

1. Deja took one look at the cloudless sky and started packing a bag for the beach. a) Deja b) house c) cloudless d) beach 2. Tammy walked along the shore and picked up pretty shells. a) Tammy b) pretty c) shore d) walked 3. It is dangerous to leave glass in the sand. a) dangerous b) sand c) glass d) leave 4. Don and Dan were looking for flat rocks to skip. a) skip b) looking c) rocks d) flat 5. “Today is a good day to go to the beach,” said Deja’s mom. a) beach b) good c) Today d) said 6. Deja felt the warm sand between her toes. a) warm b) felt c) sand d) Deja 7. Jerome ran along the shore and tried to get his purple kite into the air. a) air b) shore c) along d) purple

WEEKEND MIRROR 27-28 JANUARY, 2018

Children’s Corner

23

The hungry fox who got caught in the tree trunk

O

nce upon a time, there was a hungry fox that was looking for something to eat. He was very hungry. No matter how hard he tried, the fox could not find food. Finally he went to the edge of the forest and searched there for food.

Suddenly he caught sight of a big tree with a hole in it.

Inside the hole was a package. The hungry fox immediately thought that there might be food in it, and became very happy.

He jumped into the hole.

When he opened the package, he saw slices of bread, meat and fruit in it!

An old woodcutter had placed the food in the tree trunk before he began to cut down trees in the forest. He was going to eat it for his lunch.

The fox happily be-

gan to eat. After he finished eating, he felt thirsty and decided to leave the hole and drink some water from a nearby spring.

However, no matter how hard he tried, he could not get out of the hole. Do you know why?

Yes, the fox had eaten so much food that he became too big to fit through the hole!

The fox was very sad and upset. He told himself, “I wish I had thought a little before jumping into the hole.”

Yes children, this is the result of doing something without thinking about it first.

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

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

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WEEKEND MIRROR 27-28 JANUARY, 2018

SAYING “NO” AT TIMES HAS LOTS OF PERSONAL BENEFITS FOR EACH OF US

D

oes this sound familiar? It is five o’clock in the late afternoon and time to head home from work when a co-worker asks you to stay late to help with a project.

Naturally, you are tired, have loads to do at home, but you hear yourself answer, “Sure, no problem” all while your inner voice is screaming “NOOOOO!” This type of scenario happens for a variety of reasons. Sometimes we do not say “No” because we don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings, or we are afraid someone will judge, intimidate or criticize us. The problem with not being able to say “No” when we may really want to is that we often end up frustrated, angry and resentful because we are so busy taking care of other people’s needs that we do not have time to tend to our own.

My good Readers, I am happy to say that with a little practice it is possible to break this habit, and the results are well worth the effort. The next time you find yourself in this kind of situation, here is what you need to do. First, take stock of the commitments you already have, and think about those things you would like to do for yourself. Do you want more time for yourself to do more exercise, read more or take a class in singing or practice karate? If so, put these things into your schedule and choose to make them happen. You will get what you need and want, if you choose it and take action.

The next thing to do is to refrain from answering requests in the affirmative before really considering the proposition. When someone asks a favour of you, before answering, take a breath and give the request a moment of thought. Don’t be afraid to tell the person you need a little time to think it over or that you will get back to them once you have examined your calendar. This takes some pressure from making an instant decision and gives you time to consider if you want to take on anything new or not.

Finally, pay attention to your feelings. When someone makes an “above and beyond” request of you, think about your feelings. Do you feel enthusiastic and excited about the prospect or does it fill you with dread? Do you feel you should say “Yes” mainly because you think you should or because you feel guilty? Once you have considered these factors, be honest with yourself. It is OK to say your calendar is full. It is not necessary to feel the need to apologize or attempt to explain? Honoring your personal priorities and needs is the right thing to do and if someone gets hyper over it, it is their problem, not yours.

As I have told you before, my comrades, I want you to be able to take good care of yourself and to consider your own needs and desires when it comes to taking on extra projects or responsibilities. There are times when it is OK to say “No.” Now I hope you will spend some time looking over the Mirror Newspaper seeing what are the top stories in the News .

Happy 68 anniversary to my party, your party, Guyana’s # 1 party, the People’s Progressive Party.

G.Persaud

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WEEKEND MIRROR 27-28 JANUARY, 2018

The Other View

Wealth Concentration Continues to Increase

By Anis Chowdhury and Jomo Kwame Sundaram

A

s the ‘masters of the universe’ gather for their annual retreat at Davos, the World Economic Forum (WEF) has just published its Inclusive Development Index (IDI) for the second time.

After moderating from the 1920s until the 1970s, inequality has grown with a vengeance from the 1980s as neoliberal ascendance unleashing regressive reforms on various fronts.

Sensing the growing outrage at earlier neo-liberal reforms and their consequences, as well as the financial sector bail-outs and fiscal austerity after the 2008-2009 global financial crisis, politicians and business leaders have expressed concerns about inequality’s resurgence.

The record is more nuanced. While national level inequalities have grown in most economies over the last four decades, international income disparities between North and South have actually narrowed, largely due to growth accelerations in much of the latter.

But while income inequality trends have been mixed, wealth concentration has picked up steam, recently

enabled by the low cost of credit, thanks to ‘unconventional monetary policies’ in the North.

According to the World Inequality Report 2018, the top 1% in the world had twice as much income growth as the bottom half since 1980.

Meanwhile, income growth has been sluggish or even flat for those with incomes between the bottom half and the top 1%. Oxfam’s new Reward Work, Not Wealth report reveals that the world’s wealthiest 1% got 82% of the wealth generated in 2017, while the bottom 50% saw no increase at all!

The world’s 500 richest, according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index, became US$1 trillion richer during 2017, “more than four times” the gain in 2016, as their wealth increased by 23%, taking their combined fortunes to US$5.3 trillion. According to the UBS/PwC Billionaires Report 2017, there are now 1,542 US dollar billionaires in the world, after 145 more joined their ranks in 2016.

Mozambique’s capital city Maputo has street names after socialist and communist leaders, however, the country has a huge wealth disparity.

Credit: IPS Worsening wealth in-

equality Meanwhile, the latest Credit Suisse Report found that the world’s richest 1% increased their share of total wealth from 42.5% at the height of the 2008-2009 global financial crisis to 50.1% in 2017, or US$140 trillion.

It shows that the bottom half together owned less than 1% of global wealth, while the richest 10% owned 88% of all wealth, and the top 1% alone accounted for half of all assets. Thus, global household debt rose by nearly 5% in 2017 despite total wealth increasing by US$16.7 trillion, or 6.4%.

The Report attributes this to uneven asset price inflation with financial asset prices growing much faster than non-financial asset values.

Recent unconventional monetary policies of the world’s major central banks contributed to such asset price inflation.

The European Central Bank has acknowledged that quantitative easing (QE) has fuelled asset price inflation.

Kevin Warsh, a former US Federal Reserve Board member, has argued that QE has only worked through the ‘asset price channel’, enriching those who own financial assets, not the 96% who mainly rely on income from labour.

An IMF study found that ‘fiscal consolidation’, typically involving austerity, has significantly worsened inequality, depressed labour income shares and increased long-term unemployment.

Another IMF research report shows that capital account liberalization — typically recommended to attract foreign capital inflows without due attention to the consequences of sudden outflows — has generally significantly and persistently increased national-level inequalities.

The World Inequality Report 2018 also observed that rising income inequality has largely been driven by unequal wealth ownership. Privatization in most countries since the 1980s has resulted in negative ‘public wealth’ — public assets minus public debt — in rich countries, even as national wealth has grown substantially. Over recent decades, countries have become richer as governments have become poorer, constraining governments’ ability to address inequality by increasing public provisioning of essential services.

An earlier IMF study also noted that the neoliberal reforms — promoting privatization, cutting government spending, and strictly limiting fiscal deficits and government

debt — have also increased economic inequality.

On average, net private wealth in most rich countries rose from 200–350% of national income in 1970 to 400-700% recently as marginal tax rates for the rich and super-rich have fallen. The Oxfam report identifies tax evasion, corporate capture of public policy, erosion of workers’ rights and cost cutting as major contributors to widening inequalities.

The IMF’s recent Fiscal Monitor acknowledges that regressive tax reforms have caused tax incidence to be far less progressive, if not regressive, while failure to tax the rich more has increased inequality. Besides new tax evasion opportunities and much lower marginal income tax rates, capital gains are hardly taxed, encouraging top executives to pay themselves with stock options.

Misleading

It is quite remarkable how increasing wealth concentration has been described and presented to the public. For example, the Allianz Global Wealth Report 2016 has described the trends as ‘inclusive inequality’, claiming a growing global middle class even as inequality has been

rising.

Similarly, the Credit Suisse Report argues that wealth distribution is shifting as the world becomes wealthier, thus lowering barriers to wealth acquisition. Increasing wealth and income inequality are thus merely reflecting faster asset accumulation, including the pace at which new millionaires are being created.

Josef Stadler, UBS head of global ultra-high net worth and lead author of the UBS/PwC Billionaires Report 2017, decries “the perception that billionaires make money for themselves at the expense of the wider population” as incorrect, attributing billionaires’ fortunes to the strong performance of their companies and investments.

Besides their philanthropic contributions and patronage of the arts, culture and sports, 98% of billionaires’ wealth are said by him to contribute to society as the world’s super-rich employed 27.7 million people. Rather than making money from their employees’ efforts, billionaires apparently make private welfare payments to them out of the goodness of their hearts!

Cuba Awarded Trump’s Solar Tariffs Are Clouding the Industry’s Future Safest Country in Tourism Fair in Madrid A C

By ANA SWANSON and BRAD PLUMERJAN. 23, 2018

uba received today the Excellence Award as the safest country for tourism at the International Tourism Fair Fitur 2018, which takes place until January 21 in Madrid.

The award was received by the Cuban minister of the industry, Manuel Marrero, who heads the island's delegation to that event, reported Gustavo Machín, Cuban Ambassador to Spain, in his Twitter account.

The delegation from the Caribbean country is made up of executives from the main hotel chains, as well as the associates Melia Hotels, Iberostar, Blue Diamond, among others.

Also participating are the top business management organizations Viajes Cuba and Cubasol.

Inaugurated this Wednesday by the Spanish monarchs Felipe VI and Letizia, the fair is attended by European and Canadian tour operators and there is a strong presence of Latin American delegations.

In total, more than 10,000 companies participate and it is expected that the visits will reach 250,000 people.

The list of exhibitors (from 165 countries) reaches 816, eight percent above the 2017 version, with a 13 percent increase in foreign participation, which represents 54 percent of the total.

t this century-old farm just outside Durham, symmetrical rows of shining blue solar panels have replaced the soybeans and tobacco that Tommy Vinson and his family used to grow here. It is one of many solar farms that have sprung up around North Carolina, transforming a state long battered by global offshoring into the second-largest generator of solar electricity after California.

“It’s still reaping a very good harvest,” said April Vinson, who is married to Tommy. “It’s just not a traditional kind of farm.”

Across North Carolina, textile factories and tobacco farms have disappeared, giving way to fields of solar panels.

Preparing to install a so-

lar project on the Vinson family’s land in Zebulon, N.C. It is one of many solar farms that have transformed North Carolina into the second-largest generator of solar electricity after California.

Credit Mike Belleme for The New York Times “Our action today helps to create jobs in America for Americans,” Mr. Trump said on Tuesday in the Oval Office.

The two solar companies that had sought the tariffs, Suniva and SolarWorld Americas, argue that lowcost imports have decimated American manufacturing of solar cells and modules in recent years. Today, 95 percent of the solar panels used in the United States are imported from countries like Malaysia and South Korea, and the companies contend that tariffs are needed to protect the nation’s remaining solar factories.

An electrician at the ABD solar farm in Asheboro. The tariffs may help domestic manufacturers, but they are expected to affect the industry in ways that may ultimately hurt American companies and their workers.

Credit Mike Belleme for The New York Times “Today the president is sending a message that American innovation and manufacturing will not be bullied out of existence without a fight,” Suniva said on Monday.

But while the tariffs may help domestic manufacturers, they are expected to ripple throughout the industry in ways that may ultimately hurt American companies and their workers. Energy experts say it is unlikely that the tariffs will create more than a small number of American solar manufacturing jobs, since low-wage countries will continue to have a com-

petitive edge.

Solar manufacturing now represents just a fraction of the overall jobs that have developed around the solar industry. More than 260,000 Americans are employed in the sector, but fewer than 2,000 of those employed in the United States are manufacturing solar cells and modules, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.

But by raising the cost of one all-important ingredient, the tariffs could make solar power less competitive with other sources of energy, like gas and wind, resulting in the construction of fewer solar projects. On Tuesday, the Solar Energy Industries Association said that the president’s action would result in the loss of roughly 23,000 jobs in the solar industry this year, as well as the delay or cancellation of billions of dollars of investments.

26

WEEKEND MIRROR 27-28 JANUARY, 2018

Barnwell’s heroics hand Georgetown title A

ll-rounder Chris Barnwell followed up his semi-final hundred with a match-winning fifty, which helped Georgetown sneak past Essequibo by 3 wickets in the finals of the Jaguars 50 Overs League, which ended on Wednesday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

The out-of-favor Guyana player, who was adjudged Man-of-the-match, led the way with a solid knock of 69 from 68 balls with seven fours and a six, which along with Captain Leon Johnson’s 47 proved to be the mainstay for Georgetown who ended on 193-7 in 44 overs, in pursuit of 192.

Essequibo, who entered as favorites after they played sublimely following their 3-Day title win last year, were given some impetus by Guyana Jaguars all-rounder Keemo Paul who top-scored with 39, which was supported

by Ricardo Peters’ 33 and Kemol Savory’s 32.

However, their total of 192 all out in 38.3 overs was not enough to give the young side the double.

Franchise player and Jaguars 50 Overs selectee Ra-

maal Lewis starred with 3-34 bowling for his Georgetown franchise whose run chase began shakily.

Openers Robin Bacchus (12) and Andrew Lyght Jr (02) failed to get out the blocks and paid with their wickets falling victims to Paul and Ricardo Adams.

However, the senior pair of Johnson and Barnwell dug in after the openers were removed as the two sought to punish the Essequibo bowlers. Johnson was fluent with his stroke-play, finding the ropes four times and venturing over it once as he inched towards a fifty.

Spinner Akinie Adams however held his nerve as he managed to outfox the West Indies Test batsman who was comprehensively bowled just three shy of what would have been a deserving half-century.

Barnwell shrugged off the departure of his skipper and raised his fifty off 54 deliveries with a single which took his team within inches of victory. Fresh off a century which was enough to dethrone Lower Corentyne in the semifinal on Tuesday, Barnwell then stepped on the

Barnwell made a sweep of the individual awards winning MVP in the final and tournament

gas and smoked a huge six which sailed into the Green stands and followed up with a trifecta of fours in a short space of time.

The all-rounder got a bit overzealous and paid for it with his wicket after attempting to bludgeon Akinie Adams over the rope but fell short and was caught on the

long-on boundary.

Following his departure, panic stepped in which saw a mini-collapse with the dismissals of Shemroy Barrington who was bowled for 22 by Paul, Lewis who was trapped lbw for 17 by Ricardo Adams and Dexter Solomon who departed for 4.

Despite the hiccups, the

duo of Steven Sankar (07*) and Paul Wintz (01*) weathered the storm and saw the new champions in wild celebration much to the delight of the handful of die-hard spectators which included Norman the juice man.

Earlier, medium-pacer Paul Wintz (1-34) and Barnwell (2-32), provided some Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) magic for Georgetown as Essequibo openers Eaknaut Persaud was bowled by the all-rounder for duck while the dangerous Kevon Boodie succumbed to Wintz for 4.

Wicket-keeper/batsman Savory staged a brief fightback by smashing six fours in his 29-ball innings which consolidated after the loss of the openers, before Lewis disturbed his stumps.

Another Guyana Jags selectee to the 50 Overs team, Ricardo Adams (07), failed to celebrate his selection with some runs as he witnessed his timber being disturbed by a rampaging Barnwell who seemed to be a man on a mission.

Essequibo were then given a glimmer when top-scorers Paul and Peters

joined forces to ward off the Georgetown bowling. Paul was aggressive during his stay at the crease, especially off the bowling of Barnwell, carving four fours and two maximums which prompted Johnson to remove the all-rounder from the attack.

Peters was a bit more discreet with his approach, just managing three fours in his knock.

Before the duo could significantly hurt the Georgetown side, Lewis pulled things back with the dismissal of Paul while Johnson accounted for Peters’ departure.

Lewis then grabbed his third wicket when he trapped Mark Williams LBW for 12.

While some team work from Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) teammates; spinners Devon Lord (2-25) and Johnson (2-24) mopped up the Essequibo tail, leaving Akinie Adams stranded on 9.

At the post match ceremony, Barnwell copped the award for Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his 244 runs and six wickets he recorded in the competition as well as the MVP award for his contribution in the final.

Street football outside GFF’s jurisdiction – Peters

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he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and Banks DIH are at logger-heads over who has authority to control ‘Street football’ in the country as the beverage giant hold their first Guinness ‘Greatest of the Street’ Football tournament for the year.

At a press briefing on Wednesday ahead of the West Demerara/East Bank Demerara Zone of the popular Guinness Greatest of the Street tournament, which commences Friday, Banks DIH Communication Manager Troy Peters responding to questions on whether the company will be confirming to GFF’s new guidelines responded saying, the street version of football is outside the scope of the federation’s powers.

“We have always been

working closely with the GFF on many fronts for tournaments but for the street football we see this outside the jurisdiction of the GFF so we are continuing along that very line,” Peters stated.

He added, “Street football in itself has its own organisation, its own workup and for those who follow street football would know that. Not because it has the word football means GFF has the jurisdiction over street football,” Peters asserted.

Last year, GFF President Wayne Forde through a press release from the federation stated, they are seeking to regulate football played in the country and has thus engaged the support of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to ensure permits for tournaments are only granted fol-

lowing the GFF’s approval of a given tournament.

This entails a promoter getting an approval letter from the GFF, which is given to the police in the respective division in which the tournament is being held, before the police authorises the said tournament.

According to the GFF, this initiative follows the

actions of some who coordinate tournaments without the secured prize money and other logistical arrangements in place and without the clear guideline and oversight of the country’s ruling body.

However, Peters explained they managed to get the necessary approval from the required stakeholders.

“We had meetings with

the [Police] commander of West Demerara and everything was outlined with the plans we have and we have the sanction from all the necessary persons and organisations and it is a go for us,” the Communications Manager conveyed.

More so, the federation approved a 3 percent levy on all tournaments. Forde in explain how the structure works stated, “three percent towards the total prize money or the total gate income whichever is higher of the two.”

Peters firmness on the matter stems from the concept and of sport being as a way of developing communities.

“We when we started it was a community initiative and will continue along that

line. If it’s any tournament that is organised and structured by the GFF, definitely we will have to comply because they are the governing body for football in this country.”

In an article appearing on FIFA’s website concerning street football, it addresses more the role of a partnership rather than a governing body. According to the article which was themed “FIFA and streetfootballworld unite,” and now FIFA and streetfootballworld have united to form a strategic alliance for ‘social development through football’.

The partnership will begin with FIFA helping stage the ‘streetfootballworld festival 06’ and supporting the work of five street football projects.”

27

WEEKEND MIRROR 27-28 JANUARY, 2018

Sport View

by Neil Kumar

Guyana Jaguars power their way to 4th consecutive regional championship title G

uyana Jaguars defeated Trinidad and Tobago’s Red Force by an inning and 81 runs to end the Regional Four-Day competition with 166.8 points.

The Jaguars are now the winners for four consecutive years.

The win was no ordinary victory, as Guyana won with two rounds to go and finished with 52.4 points more than their second place team, with 114.4 points.

This year’s Cricket West Indies (CWI) Digicel Regional four –day competition was highly successful.

While Barbados Pride came in with 114.4 points, the team’s performance was not impressive, as they only managed to win three out of ten matches.

Leeward’s Hurricane and Jamaica Scorpions came in third and fourth with 94.8 and 93.6 points respectfully.

However, both teams struggled to win matches and their players were unable to really play impressive cricket.

Devon Smith, the ‘great accumulator of runs,’ was the only player who was able to score runs consistently and heavily.

The fifth place Windward’s Volcanoes managed to score 85.6 points, while Red Force finished at the bottom of the points table, with 82.2 points.

The regional championships must be very worrying for some players.

Guyana Jaguars ‘captain Leon Johnson and Denesh Ramdin are two very good players, both of whom must be feeling very uncomfortable as they will find it very

higher levels.

The West Indian administrators must appoint a Captain who is capable to lead the team in a professional manner.

The entire Caribbean is extremely disappointed with the performance of the West Indies senior team and the administrators of West Indies cricket.

As the Regional Super 50 tournament gets under-way, all eyes will be on our players.

The Guyana Jaguars appear to be weak in their batting but the team looks

he Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) is issuing a challenge to local domino teams as they prepare to host the first of many Open competitions on Sunday January 28; with huge cash prizes up for grabs.

According to LGC President Aleem Hussain, the event which is the brainchild of club member and event coordinator, Munaf Arjune will see teams vying for top prizes which include; $100,000 for the first place team, $50,000 for second place and $30,000 for third place.

Hussain said the initiative was based on the Club’s ongoing project to turn the LGC into a full-fledged multi-purpose sport and recreational

and should have been playing in the West Indies team.

Guyanese players are feeling very ‘slighted,’ as the West Indies selectors continue with their insularity.

Imagine that Devendra Bishoo was the Man –Of – The –Series and he was not selected to play in the next test match.

Guyanese players have proven their potential and skill time and again and yet they are not being selected to be part of the West Indies team.

Keemo Paul is certainly one of the best young all-rounders in the Caribbean. He captured forty-two wickets and made a brilliant century. He is a batting all-rounder with tremendous potential and must be given the opportunity to play at

himself and bat as the winning team will demanding of him?

He can, but he must!

All-rounders Raymond Reifer, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd are all players who can bat and they will have to get valuable runs for the team. Permaul and Bishoo are the two spinners who can spin the team to victory.

This Super 50 tournament promises much excitement and we encourage our players to continue to improve their game, and make our Guyanese nation proud.

Huge stakes up for grabs at LGC Domino tourney

T

difficult to regain theor places in the West Indies test team.

Several other players with potential and talent did not fully utilise the opportunity to score runs heavily and consistently. Kavem Hodge, Vishaul Singh and John Campbell are sound batsmen, but they did not get very big, impressive scores.

However, Jaguars ‘wicketkeeper’/batsman Anthony Bramble was indeed outstanding with his wicket-keeping and his batting.

It is hoped that his outstanding performance will be fittingly acknowledged/ rewarded by the selectors.

Veerasammy Permaul was again the leading wicket-taker with fifty wickets. It is clear that Permaul is the best spinner in the Caribbean

good generally for the T/ Twenty, with a good line-up of all-rounders.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul is good, but for how long can we look to him only to score runs heavily?

Shmiron Hetymer must come good in this tournament and make runs consistently. Young Chanderpaul Hemraj is an attacking batsman, but he will have to concentrate and be careful with his shot selection. He has the potential to put on an outstanding performance.

The big question, however, is: Can Leon Johnson assert

facility. He confirmed that the event is likely to pop up on the club’s monthly calendar of events as they plan to increase the volume of the game.

More than 20 teams are expected to feature in the oneday event and Hussain hinted at some popular companies such as; Banks DIH, MACORP and a few others who have signaled their intentions to enter teams to compete.

Also, with the growing partnership between the LGC and the University of Guyana students who have formed a golf committee, the President confirmed that an all-girls team from the University will be entering in the competition.

Hussain also added that

the Club will be seeking to defend their turf from the incoming teams as they too will have a team in the competition. He said that the overall goal is to keep raising the bar of sports in Guyana whether it be the most insignificant or most popular and believed that once it can be housed at the Club he will continue to support all ideas.

Meanwhile, teams will be treated to specials on food and drinks all day. The tournament is set to commence at 13:30h and teams interested are asked to contact 220-5660, 638-9956, or Hussain on 6647419. Entrance fee is $6,000 per team with each team being allowed a total of six players.

PPP will win LGE elections again – Jagdeo T

he People’s Progressive Party again will demonstrate that it has the support of the overwhelming majority of Guyanese voters when the next Local Government Elections are held later this year.

This optimism was expressed recently by PPP General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, who said the Party has largely maintain or bettered its base support and has made and appeal to others to join his Party.

“I believe that you have a large number of people who supported APNU, who genuinely believed that they were going to make a difference in their lives and who are totally

disappointed because they believed that they are going to fight corruption, because they made a big issue about corruption and they are totally disappointed, Jagdeo stated.

Jagdeo pointed to the lack of investments, the billions in new taxes being collected and broken promises to the youths. According to him, the party has been approached by many disillusioned former supporters of the coalition party.

“And I made it clear that the PPP is open to people. It was set up as a working-class party. It was not set up as a party based on race, but class based. We are working class,

but we support the Private Sector. And we support people of every race and every religion would find a home in the PPP.” The General Secretary noted that efforts will be doubled to make the Party’s composition more diverse.

“We’re hoping that we can work more to get more Afro-Guyanese into the PPP, because our support is predominantly Indo-Guyanese and a lot of Amerindians… maybe 70 per cent. So we have to do harder work in the Afro-Guyanese communities, to make sure more people come into the Party, so that the Party looks like Guyana.”

“And we’re making a serious effort to do this, because we genuinely believe that’s the only way forward.

Guyana can only move forward and realise all of its potential if everybody is included. So yes, we have seen more people.”

AFC split

Since it made a pact with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), the Alliance For Change (AFC) has been a faithful partner to the larger party. It even contested the 2016 LGE as a coalition. But last week, the party suddenly indicated that it may split

from APNU for this year’s election.

Offering his opinion on the AFC’s intimation that they may contest the elections on their own, Jagdeo described it as an attempt to reconnect to its grass roots ground support.

According to the former President, however, the junior coalition partner has more than lost touch with its grass roots.

“You want to bet they’re not going to go separately.

And if they go separately, it does not matter. And now (AFC Chairman Raphael) Trotman belatedly admitting, we may have lost touch a bit with people on the ground.

It’s not the bit of touch that you’ve lost. You’ve betrayed all the principles that people who voted for you stood for.

That’s their biggest beef with the AFC.” Local Government elections are expected to be held later this year, after a two-year interval. In the 2016 Local Government Election, the PPP won the majority of popular votes and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils.

Additional 957 sugar workers to be fired

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he Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) plans to terminate 957 more employees in the near future, with 300 to go by the end of this month, Chief Industrial Relations Manager, Deodat Sukhu said.

Close to 4,000 workers had their employment terminated on December 29 last as the Government moves to consolidate sugar production.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), in a statement on Monday, noted that “several hundred workers retained at Skeldon, Rose Hall, East Demerara and Wales Estate, after the recent deluge of dismissals mere weeks ago, would soon be made additionally redundant.”

GAWU said that the “sad process of informing the identified workers would begin sometime soon with their redundancy becoming effective not too long from now.”

The union further noted, “from all appearances, the Government and the GuySuCo are ill-prepared and clearly incapable of dealing with the consequences that have flowed from these callous decisions they made.

“Our Union believes that it’s still not too late to reverse the decisions and re-open the estates especially given the

situation that we are seeing playing out with the workers at this time.”

The Union’s statement is below:Press Release Coming on the heels of the recently approved supplementary provision to offset partially severance payments to thousands of displaced workers, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) was informed by the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) that a large number of the several hundred workers retained at Skeldon, Rose Hall, East Demerara and Wales Estate, after the recent deluge of dismissals mere weeks ago, would soon be made additionally redundant. In fact, that sad process of informing the identified workers would begin sometime soon with their redundancy becoming effective not too long from now.

These workers were mainly retained as the sugar company was seeking to provide certain services to the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA). Dismayingly, that arrangement has fallen through and the workers are the hapless victims. The further expansion of the unemployed in the sugar belt is without a doubt making a really bad situation even worse. Given the absence of any plans to

deal with the fallout from the miniaturization of the industry and the fiasco that has surrounded the workers severance payment, this furthering retrenchment is heart-rending to say the least.

From all appearances, the Government and the GuySuCo are ill-prepared and clearly incapable of dealing with the consequences that have flowed from these callous decisions they made. Our Union believes that it’s still not too late to reverse the decisions and re-open the estates especially given the situation that we are seeing playing out with the workers at this time. We call on the Government as President David Granger reportedly said recently, to “put people before profits”. The GAWU believes that rather than displacing the workers, the NDIA could utilize the workers services and accordingly compensate GuySuCo. The Government needs to be constantly reminded, it would seem, of its responsibility to all its citizens, to safeguard their interests and to enhance their living standards along to the road to that promised ‘Good Life’.

The treatment of thousands of workers in the sugar industry is certainly contrary to such a universally accepted practice.

PUBLISHED BY NEW GUYANA Co. Ltd., 8 Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana. Tel: 226-2473, 226-5875 Fax: 226-2472