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Kaieteur News
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Confront depression Yesterday, Guyana observed World Mental Health Day under the theme “Depression: a Global Crisis”. According to the World Mental Health Association, depression is estimated to affect 350 million people. In a study they conducted in 17 countries, they found that on average about one in 20 people reported having an episode of depression in the previous year. Depression is a serious medical condition with various forms of accompanying symptoms. The condition may manifest itself as feelings of sadness and melancholy, loss of interest in life, shattered self-image, indecisiveness, lack of focus, short span of attention, restlessness, random aches and pains, irregular sleeping patterns, and suicidal tendencies. Anyone with any of the preceding symptoms, or a combination thereof, persisting over at least two weeks, has a reason to worry and should be medically evaluated. According to the WHO, there are currently about 825,000 getting afflicted every year. It can happen to any person, irrespective of age, race, gender, or creed. There is no specific cause for depression. This makes the prevention that much more difficult as there really aren't any pointers. Several factors can be responsible including, but not necessarily limited to, environment, genetics, life events, medical conditions, and some thought-processes that can have an adverse effect on a person's reaction to certain happenings. While there is compelling evidence that depression runs in the family and that genes have a huge role to play in it, it is not necessary that a predisposed person may actually fall prey to this condition. Some individuals with a form of the disorder have had parents who have suffered some type of depression for several years as well. What is interesting is that it is still indeterminate whether it is the genes or a life event that has been the contributory factor. It is important to understand 'depression' and then react and respond to the affected party accordingly. Many of us mistake a depressed state of mind of an individual to be a case of lethargy, character flaw, less than positive attitude, or a lack of diligence, and react with scolding and destructive criticism. This leads us nowhere but to a dark, narrow alley of despair. Broadly speaking, depression is classified as a 'mood disorder.' The severe form of depression is known as 'major depression,' the longerlasting, chronic form is called 'dysthymia.' When the two conditions co-exist, it is referred to as 'double depression'. 'Adjustment disorder' can be defined as a depressive reaction to a specific life event such as a personal loss in life. 'Bipolar disorder' is another type of mood disorder that has a strong genetic basis. It involves alternating periods of extreme depression and those of mania, qualifying one to be a manic-depressive. With depression hitting so many persons, one wonders if modernity has been a double-edged sword, cutting both for and against. While there has been no definitive indication in this regard, it is not too hard to surmise it to be the case. Everyone reacts to adversity in a different way. Some take it in stride; others are consumed by it. Is the female gender more predisposed to feelings of depression? This is an interesting question and it has been observed now for a couple of decades that globally more women than men become depressed. It is possible that because of the tremendous responsibility placed on women for raising families in the face of all the pressures of the modern world – including extreme poverty as in Guyana – women face more of the “triggers” of depression. However, intriguingly, suicide – which is the end stage of some depressions - is more prevalent among men in Guyana. Obviously there needs to be further investigation. In Guyana, we tend to dismiss depression as just “feeling low”, but from the foregoing we can see it is much more than that. It is high time that it be placed higher on the national health agenda.
Friday October 12, 2012
Letters... Where your views make the news
Don’t hammer the police without offering useful suggestions Dear Editor, The fact that the Guyana Police Force is giving serious consideration to reviewing its training c u r r i c u l u m a n d methodology is an indication that the administration recognises the importance of modifying its approach to training. It is understandable that a lot of focus will be on the recruit training phase, but I would hope that the review covers the various levels and aspects of instructional courses in which all ranks are required to participate. It goes without saying that a new recruit should be exposed to a basic curriculum which provides the best overall training and the tools necessary to become a credit to the Force. I recall when I joined the GPF in 1974 we new recruits when leaving the dormitory would be confronted by a full-length mirror which asked “Am I a credit to the Force?” A well designed training curriculum is very important to the success of individuals in their chosen career path.
It also has important benefits for the community in which they will be required to serve. Training in a variety of f i e l d s i n c l u d i n g l a w, community relations, firearms, vehicle driving, search and seizure, cultural awareness and ethics helps to produce well-rounded police officers. With proper orientation into the world of law enforcement, nothing is left to chance as the recruit will be better able to appreciate the role the police officer plays in the criminal justice system. I don’t believe that hammering the police force without offering constructive suggestions serves any useful purpose because if the police themselves do not believe that there is need for a change in the way things are done then no amount of criticism will cause things to change. Therefore as members of the public we have to help the GPF to come to grips with the reality that the professional development of
police ranks from recruit stage throughout their career must be addressed in a structured manner. Ethics and values need to be ingrained into the recruit from day one so that they know how important it is for members of the GPF to maintain high moral, ethical and professional standards. I have observed the physical build of many police ranks after they attain the rank of subordinate officer and I am amazed at the message they are sending to the younger ranks. I recall during my time in the Force that the four of the fittest officers were Slowe, Persaud, Ramnarine and Mentore (Alvin Smith was a class act) as we subscribed to the thinking that physical conditioning and emotional health are a necessary aspect in an officer’s life to carry out their job functions. Training must cover incidents with juveniles and the mentally ill and domestic violence situations. Ranks need to be able to interact well with others, co-workers and those within the
community. Recruits need to know the basics of firearms safety, weapon care, the use of force and the possibilities and consequences of criminal and civil liability. Once out in the field officer need to know how to handle situation that may require use of force and to conduct themselves within the GPF use of force policy. At the same time the safety of ranks needs to be addressed to train recruits on how to recognize and handle dangerous situations, and how to handle violent and dangerous people. Editor, it goes without saying that the lot of law enforcers is not a bed of roses, and members of the public may not appreciate the inherent dangers ranks are likely to face when going out on duty. The GPF has been lacking in not sensitizing the public to the pitfalls and problems of policing, but it is not too late and it is certainly not beyond the Force’s capacity to address these issues in innovative ways. Patrick E. Mentore
Registrar sets record straight Dear Editor, In response to the article captioned “The Registrar got it all wrong” published on the 26th September, 2012 in the Kaieteur News I would like to state that I am not at all surprised at what Mr. Sohan Poonai wrote. He has to vindicate himself to his clients and to his brothers and sisters of the legal fraternity by asserting that I am wrong. True, I am not an Attorney-at-Law, and never claimed to be one but I would like to remind him that according to the Land Registry Act, Chapter 5:02 an Attorney-at-Law is only required for the position of Commissioner of Title. Anyone who is familiar with Orders of Court would know that the sentence “Dated the 6th August, 2012 means the date the order was made by the Judge and the next line “Entered the. 28th August, 2012 would be the date it implies. It doesn’t take an Attorney-at-Law to know that. Justice Insanally’s orders were made on 11th May, 2012 as stated in Poonai’s article but he omitted Justice Chang’s orders which were made on the 6th August, 2012. Further, in his first article, he said I was not represented but in his second one he admitted
that I was indeed represented. Why would I not be represented? Land Registry is called upon to be in court and I complied with that request. At Justice Insanally’s hearing it was told to her that a mutation, compliance and rates and taxes were needed for the matters and Mr. S. Poonai promised to remedy the said transfers. The next day after the first article was printed citing contempt charges against me, Mr.S. Poonai telephoned Land Registry and spoke to the person who represented me in court and received all the relevant queries made by me. He said to go ahead with the other transfers, that he will take care of the mutation but our records did not show such entry. I called him back and on the third call he answered. I informed him that I cannot “go ahead”, that the other matters such as compliance and rates and taxes were outstanding. He said that he would take care of it. I also reminded him that there was a caveat on one transfer which incidentally was that the person had passed away. She had placed a caveat which means that document stops me from proceeding with the said transfer and according to the
Land Registry Act Section 125 (4) that caveat could only be removed by an Order of Court or by the Caveator and not by the Registrar as many lawyers believe. He asked how to go about removing the caveat. I replied that he had to approach the court supplying the death certificate. I had the Registry Officer who represented me in court to listen in on the extension as I normally do when an Attorney-at-Law is being called on the telephone. Land Registry was never informed of the court fixture before Chief Justice Chang. I was represented before Justice Insanally. Why wouldn’t I do the same for Chief Justice Chang. I have nothing to hide or be ashamed of. I never asserted that I would actually say that none of the transfers had powers of attorney and that I also said that I have documents for anyone wishing to see them. What were printed were the views of Kaieteur News. I can hear you say why didn’t I have it corrected. Well, everyone knows the answer to that. It is not trite procedure for all relevant documents, compliance, rates and taxes etc to be lodged when transfers are filed with the Land Registry. I could give
Mr Poonai a perfect example of one of his firm’s clients who visited the Land Registry on 24th September, 2012 and I personally gave him a copy of the transfer with the queries which included supplying company documents, consent from Lands & Surveys to transfer. He says that it compulsory to lodge all relevant documents. Many transfers are filed incomplete but Land Registry never refused to accept them and these are put out of order until it is remedied. All the lawyers know this. If they want to be honest they will agree with what I have said and I invite anyone wishing to peruse the said documents. I have nothing to hide. To date a rates and taxes certificate has lodged and an application for a lost Grosse was filed. These two transfers have since been signed by me, Land Registry is awaiting the documents for the other transfers to be lodged in order for them to be signed. Am I still wrong Mr. Poonai? I have always said that I have no problem with people writing letters against me but they must contain the truth. Juliet Sattaur