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testify against Mingo PAGE
House approves $329.5B budget
By Navendra Seoraj
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A five-month electoral impasse and the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have taken a toll on the local economy, but the new government will be looking to restore stability and lay the foundation for 2021 with its $329.5B budget which was passed unamended by the National Assembly on Friday evening.
Although Friday evening culminated quietly, the passage of Budget 2020 came after two weeks of debates, scrutiny and passionate exchanges from both sides of the House. The size of Budget 2020 is $329.5 billion, which is 9.6 per cent, or $28.8 billion, above that of 2019.
The passage of this budget clears the way for the new People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to offer much-needed relief to Guyanese amidst the global pandemic and to simultaneously start the process of “rejuvenating” the productive sectors.
“The year 2020 has been a complicated and difficult one for us as Guyanese. We have gone through testing times as a nation, given our own internal struggles, of living together as one people; but, it is clear that we have one destiny. As Guyanese, we must all make every effort to heal and to move forward together, as we consolidate our national position in order to achieve our development trajectory ahead,” said Minister Edghill while presenting the budget to the House on September 9, 2020.
The pandemic presents an additional crisis that will continue to affect all spheres of life; and, as the country adapts to this new normal, Minister Edghill said one lesson rings true: “how we act as individuals will ultimately impact the lives of those around us, whether we apply that to the prevention of the spread of COVID-19, or to our engagement as mutual respecting citizens of our beloved country.”
The minister believes that budget 2020 offers hope and relief in its measures, and programmes and projects. It reflects government’s fierce dedication to ensuring a better quality of life for all Guyanese.
“Our Government will
Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill
continue to fiercely defend our cherished democracy as we have recently done, and we will always champion upholding the rule of law.
“We will continue, as always, to secure working partnerships with our private sector – from the fruit vendors to the rum producers, farmers to fishers, miners to millers, air service providers to minibus drivers. We will work within the public sector with all diligent public servants, including soldiers, police, educators, and health workers – especially those who are on the frontline – to ensure effective delivery of public services to all Guyanese, particularly at this crucial time,” said Minister Edghill.
PLAN FOR PROSPERITY
Government’s “plan for prosperity,” despite the challenges, has taken root in
Over 100 witnesses to testify against Mingo
THE State is expected to call over 100 witnesses in the case against embattled Region Four Returning Officer (RO), Clairmont Mingo, regarding the electoral fraud which was reportedly committed during the March 2 General and Regional Elections.
Mingo, 69, of Calcutta, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, on Friday, September 25, 2020, made his second appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on four charges of ‘Misconduct in Public Office’.
During Friday’s hearing, State prosecutor Teriq Mohammed made a partial disclosure of statements.
He also made an application for a summary disposal of the case, which would allow Mingo to plead to the charges. This was however met with strong objections from Mingo’s attorney, Nigel Hughes, who questioned whether the Police intended to bring additional charges against his client.
In response, the State Prosecutor disclosed to the court that since the case file is still incomplete, he wasn’t in a position to respond to the lawyer’s question. Mohammed informed that so far he has over 100 witnesses who are slated to testify.
The Chief Magistrate set December 11 as the date for full disclosure.
Mingo is currently on $600,000 bail for the four indictable charges.
The first two charges against him allege that, on March 5, 2020, at High and Hadfield Streets, Georgetown, while being a public officer, he wilfully misconducted himself by declaring a result for District Four, without ascertaining the total votes cast in favour of each List in the said District in the Regional and General Elections.
The case against him is that he failed to add up the votes recorded in favour of each List in accordance with the Statements of Poll, which, in the eyes of the Law, amounts to a breach of the public’s trust, without any reasonable excuse or justification.
The other two charges allege that he committed the same offences on March 13, 2020, at the GECOM High and Cowan Streets, Kingston Head Office, when he wilfully misconducted himself by declaring a result for District Four in the said March 2 General and Regional Elections.
Earlier this month Mingo was jointly charged with former government minister, Volda Lawrence for fraud.
In March criminal charges were filed against the duo by Charles Ramson Jr. in relation to the controversial District Four results. The contention is that Mingo and Lawrence uttered a forged document with the intent of defrauding the public, contrary to Section 278 of the Criminal Law Offences Act Chapter 8:01.
It is alleged that Mingo, having been ‘procured’ by former government minister, Ms. Volda Lawrence, on or about March 5, 2020, at Hadfield and High Streets, Georgetown, uttered to the Chief Elections Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Keith Lowenfield, a Form 24 Representation of the People Act dated March 5, 2020, knowing same to be forged, with intent to defraud the people of the state of Guyana.
It is also alleged that, in the course of Mingo and Lawrence colluding to forge the Form 24 document, the latter’s signature was affixed to the said document, which had shown a win for the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC).
Mingo was placed on self-bail, while Lawrence was released on $100,000 bail.
this emergency budget, and Budget 2021 will outline the transformative agenda for the medium-term; one that is inclusionary and participatory in its architecture and implementation.
Budget 2020 includes a $25,000 cash transfer to every household; a $15,000 cash grant for school children and $4,000 uniform voucher; $800 million for the Amerindian Development Fund; $5 billion for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo); a two-week, tax-free bonus for members of the joint services; and $150 million for frontline workers, among many other things.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali had said also said, government, after re-prioritising and re-programming fiscal measures, has managed to add $20 billion in relief to the “pockets” of Guyanese, at a time when the nation is faced with the effects of the COVID-19 and the recently-concluded protracted electoral process. The conduits of relief include revised tax measures and sweeping incentives.
The broad objectives of those measures, which feature in government’s emer
gency budget, are to stimulate economic activity; get persons back to work; increase Guyana’s productive capacity; reduce the cost of doing business; improve efficiency; and facilitate growth and development of businesses.
“These measures will have an immense impact on people’s welfare and well-being… as these measures would also address directly, issues of cost of living and living standards,” said President Ali.
Budget 2020 comes at the end of the third quarter of the year so expenditure would have been accumulated in the first half of the year to ensure the continuation of multi-year projects and programmes, and provision of public services in the middle of the pandemic.
To account for expenditures made by the former APNU+AFC administration between January 1 and September 1, 2020, Government would have tabled a Statement of Expenditure which was unanimously passed by the National Assembly.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 - 13:30HRS
Trump to pick Amy Coney Barrett for Supreme Court
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump will reportedly nominate Amy Coney Barrett, a favourite of social conservatives, to be the new Supreme Court justice.
The President’s decision - to be revealed at the White House on Saturday - has been confirmed to the BBC’s US partner CBS News and other US media.
She would replace liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died last Friday.
The nomination will touch off a bitter Senate fight to get her confirmed as November’s White House election looms.
CBS - citing multiple sources involved in or familiar with the selection process - reported that the president had settled on Judge Barrett.
But when asked about his choice on Friday evening, Mr Trump refused to give
President Trump’s nominee, Judge Amy
Coney Barrett
anything away: “You’ll find out tomorrow. Look, they’re all great. It could be any of one them.”
If Judge Barrett is confirmed, conservative-leaning justices will hold a 6-3 majority on America’s highest court for the foreseeable future. The 48-year-old would be the third justice appointed by this Republican president, after Neil Gorsuch in 2017 and Brett Kavanaugh in 2018.
The Supreme Court’s nine justices serve lifetime appointments, and their rulings can shape public policy on everything from gun and voting rights to abortion and campaign finance long after the presidents who appoint them leave office.
In recent years, the court has expanded gay marriage to all 50 states, allowed for Mr Trump’s travel ban to be put in place, and delayed a US plan to cut carbon emissions.
TRICKY POSITION FOR DEMOCRATS
Amy Coney Barrett has been on Donald Trump’s shortlist for Supreme Court vacancies for some time, but the word was that she would be the most appropriate replacement for Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
As of last week, that was no longer a hypothetical scenario.
Even before Mr Trump reportedly settled on Judge Barrett as his pick, conservatives were rallying around the nominee, whoever it might be. And if they stick together, as all but two seem to be doing, her confirmation appears assured - whether it’s before November’s election or in a “lame duck” Senate session afterward.
The choice of Judge Barrett puts Democrats in a tricky position. They have to find a way of undermining support for the nominee without seeming to attack her Catholic faith or personal background - moves that could risk turning off some voters in November. They will seek to delay the proceedings as best they can, while keeping their focus on issues like healthcare and abortion, which could be at the centre of future legal battles with a Justice Barrett on a conservative-dominated court.
Then they have to hope Judge Barrett, or the Republicans, make some kind of critical error. It’s a tall order, but for the moment it’s the only play they have.
WHO IS AMY CONEY BARRETT?
She is described as a devout Catholic who, according to a 2013 magazine article, said that “life begins at conception”. This makes her a favourite among religious conservatives keen to overturn the landmark 1973 decision that legalised abortion nationwide.
She has also voted in favour of President Trump’s hardline immigration policies and expressed views in favour of expansive gun rights.
Nominated by Mr Trump to the Chicago-based 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, she was confirmed by Senate in a 55-43 vote in October 2017 after a tough process. She was one of the names the president considered to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy in 2017.
After graduating from Notre Dame University Law School in Indiana, she clerked for late Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in 2016. She served as a legal scholar at Notre Dame for around 15 years.
Born in New Orleans, she is married to a former federal prosecutor in South Bend, Indiana, and together they have seven children.
Two of them were adopted from Haiti and their youngest biological child has Down Syndrome.
WILL JUDGE BARRETT BE CONFIRMED?
The White House has begun contacting Republican Senate offices to schedule meetings with the nominee next week, two sources familiar with the planning told CBS.
The courtesy calls are expected to start on Wednesday. The nominee will then be grilled by the Senate Judiciary Committee - on which 22 Republicans and Democrats sit. (BBC)
Coronavirus: Rio 2021 carnival parade postponed indefinitely
RIO de Janeiro’s carnival parade, due to be held next February, has been postponed indefinitely, organisers say.
The samba schools involved in the parade had previously warned it would be difficult to organise without a vaccine.
Rio’s carnival attracts millions of visitors every year.
Brazil has been one of the countries worst affected by the pandemic with 4.5 million infections and more than 138,000 deaths.
Jorge Castanheira, president of samba league Liesa said schools would not have time to prepare or organise for the February event.
“We are looking for an alternative solution, something we can do when it’s safe to contribute to the city. But we aren’t certain enough to set a date,” he said.
The announcement applies to Liesa’s
A nephew of infamous drug lord Pablo Es- cobar has said he found a plastic bag with money worth $18m (£14m) hidden in the wall of one of his uncle’s houses.
Nicolás Escobar told Colombian media “a vision” indicated where to look for the money in the apartment where he lives in the city of Medellín.
He said it was not the first time he found money in places where his uncle used to avoid capture, as Escobar reportedly hid millions in properties.
He died in a police shootout in 1993.
At the peak of his career Escobar was said to be the seventh richest person on the planet.
Rumours of Escobar’s hidden fortunes have circulated in Medellín since his death, after he spent decades waging war against the Colombian state to prevent his extradition to the United States.
Nicolás Escobar told Colombian TV channel Red+ Noticias he had also found a typewriter, satellite phones, gold pen, a camera and a film roll yet to be developed.
“Every time I sat in the dining room and looked towards the car park, I saw a man entering the place and disappearing,” he said.
“The smell [inside] was astonishing. A smell 100 times worse than something that had died.”
Some of decades-old banknotes were decayed and no longer usable, said Nicolás Escobar, who has been living in the apartment for the last five years.
In the interview, he said he accompanied his uncle on many occasions, and that he was once kidnapped by individuals looking for Escobar’s whereabouts: “I was tortured for seven hours. Two of my workers were attacked with a chainsaw.”
Escobar was born in Rionegro, Colombia in 1949 and established a drug cartel in Meformal carnival event but does not apply to the local street parties that take place at the same time. It is currently unclear if those will be allowed to take place.
There is concern that the economic impact of Brazil’s delayed carnivals could hit families who depend on the events for income. Tourism represents about eight per cent of Brazil’s GDP.
São Paulo’s carnival parade has already been delayed by eight months until October 2021.
Brazil is still registering thousands of new infections daily. On Thursday the country recorded 32,817 cases and 831 deaths.
At the opening of the UN Assembly earlier this week, President Jair Bolsonaro rejected criticism of his handling of the pandemic.
In a pre-recorded speech, he blamed the media for causing panic and “politi
Hidden fortune found in Pablo Escobar’s house
cising” the pandemic. (BBC)
Pablo Escobar reportedly hid money in numerous properties in Medellín (BBC photo)
dellín in the 1970s.
At its most active, the gang supplied an estimated 80% of the cocaine smuggled into the United States.
His wealth catapulted him into the Forbes list of global billionaires for seven years.
After the US issued an extradition order, Escobar resisted capture and his gang targeted politicians, the police and journalists.
After he was arrested in 1991, Escobar was housed in a prison of his own design, nicknamed the Cathedral, where he continued to oversee the Medellín Cartel.
In all, Escobar is thought to be responsible for some 4,000 deaths.
But his humble roots made him popular among some Colombians whose support he cultivated by giving out large amounts of cash and investing in poor neighbourhoods in Medellín. (BBC)
The samba league says it will postpone its parade indefinitely due to the pandemic (BBC photo)
Noise nuisance
GOVERNMENTS come and go but the scourge of noise nuisance seems to continue unabated, even though the adverse health effects of noise are trumpeted at various forums and complaints by those affected are plentiful.
There are so many people who seem to be oblivious to the injurious effects to general health and wellbeing of victims when perpetrators uncaringly engage in activities which create noise nuisance. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) noise causes a wide range of negative health effects, including: sleep disturbance; cardiovascular effects; damage to work and school performance; hearing impairment, including tinnitus.
Dear editor, KINDLY allow me to pose the following questions to the readership; questions that concern me greatly.
Have you given thought to the number of homeless children that roam the streets of our dear Guyana? What are we doing to save our future generations from such a cruel, harsh reality? Have you ever been in a situation where you had no idea where your next meal was coming from or have you been out of a job with no one to turn to? Many may respond that “people should stop making children that they can’t take care of,” etc., but what are those innocent children and young adults to say after being born into a world with little or no parental guidance; after being told lies about who they are until they themselves believe that they are worthless?
WHO also avers that noise has negative impacts on cognitive performance: For recall and reading, a reduction of the day and night noise level by five dB(A) within the range of 65–80 dB(A) was shown to improve performance by almost 10 per cent: For attention and memory, a five dB (A) reduction in average noise level results in approximately two to three per cent improvement of performance. The organisation surmises that adverse impacts of noise on cognitive performance can lead to a reduction in the productivity at work and the learning performance at school.
The lack of a sustained campaign against noise nui
models or opportunities for upliftment. I’m a medical doctor today but those who know me know that I had to work really hard to even have a goal to aspire to. To be quite honest, even now I still need guidance as a young adult. How much more our vulnerable children. I say “our” because we are all Guyanese and as our motto says - “One people, One nation, One destiny”. I say all of this to ask you dear reader, “What are we lacking as a nation?”, and “How can we improve our people’s standard of living?”
I threw these questions out to some of my colleagues and here were their responses: sance has created a dynamic where the noise emanating from various sources has grown to unbearable proportions countrywide.
It would appear that playing music loudly has become part of our national culture. The situation has become worse because of advances in electronic technology which has helped musical sets to become much more powerful than what they were a couple of decades ago.
Announcements by several Ministers of Home Affairs over the years, that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) will adopt a ‘no nonsense’ approach and the full force of the law will deal condignly with offenders, have all come to naught.
Although the authorities just simply begging for money”; “Homelessness. Some people just aren’t fortunate to have family over their heads”; “Drug abuse. Some are at an even higher risk due to being born to unfortunate drug users. I recently saw one woman smoking with a young baby in her hand. Should we condemn her for endangering that child or should we try to reach out and understand?”; “Not having enough exposure to opportunities, therefore, hindering the potential for development”; “Lack of motivation”; “Mentally lazy”; “Lack of access to basic resources”; “Not enough influence by their equality.”
Now the above responses were from stable individuals; fellow colleagues with families and jobs.
However, there were a few options that resonated with me concerning what we may be lacking as a nation.
One person stated “that our society needs to have a
have, over the years, admitted that various relevant bodies continue to receive numerous complaints, from senior citizens; the sick, for whom noise exacerbates their health issues; working parents; students and several other law-abiding people, to the effect that they are being seriously affected by loud, repetitive and continuous noise emanating from a range of places in the different police divisions, there is no evidence pointing to any long-term relief for victims.
Reports verify that checks made at the locations complained about, on specified days and times, have re-enforced the validity and justification of the complaints,
Some searching questions
Some are even born to children who have been sexually abused, or in homes that expect them to behave like adults and take responsibility when they have little or no proper access to role
“Lack of opportunities for all levels of abilities”; “Not enough value for and investment in skills, and need for promotion of creativity”; “Culture. For example, children growing up thinking it’s ok to sit in the hot sun and pretend to repair roads while passer-by take pity on to them and give a $20 or so, or those who care and /or a roof leaders”; and “Lack of
yet is little or no relief is true understanding of selflove and love for others and the ability to actually recognise and understand that we are placed on earth with a purpose only for a period of time.”
The other stated thus: “Core values must be installed in the home: honesty, integrity, faithfulness and the fear of God.”
So, I dare to ask you dear reader - what is your purpose? Are you a part of the problem or part of the solution?
Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfil the law of Christ.”
Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.
provided by law enforcement agencies, even though, sporadically, relevant divisional commanders of the GPF have been provided with the details pertaining to the complaints and directed to take appropriate action to ensure that Subsection (1) of Section 174 A of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, as amended by Act No. 1 of 1989, is not breached.
The law states: “No person shall, in any road, street, public place or land or in building or premises, by operating or causing or suffering to be operated any stereo set, juke box, radio, wireless loudspeaker, amplifier, automatic piano or similar instrument of music, or by any other means whatsoever, make or cause or suffer to be made any noise which shall be so loud and so continuous or repetitive as to cause a nuisance to occupants of any premises in the neighbourhood.”
Another aspect of the noise nuisance the ministry should look at is loud music emanating from privately-owned vehicles.
Somehow or the other it would appear that the operators believe they have the right to play music as loudly as they feel.
The campaign against noise nuisance must be relentless and sustained or else this scourge will not be stopped because it seems that some people get a sense of pleasure when they play loud music and disturb others.
We are requesting a review of CSEC, CAPE results
Dear editor, WE wish to register our complaint and are requesting a review of the recently reported results of the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams. Our request is based on the following: (1) Internal Assessment or School-Based Assessments and predicted grades are incomparable as they significantly differ from those obtained by students. Example: two students who worked in the same group, received the same Internal Assessment and predicted grade were granted grades “I” and “IV” respectively; (2) Students who have been awarded straight “A” profile have been assigned Grade VI; (3) Students who sat the exam have been graded “Ungraded or Absent”; (4) The charge of $30 USD to review each subject, keeping in mind that the ‘errors’ were no fault of the student but the discrepancy brought about by the ‘system’.
Undoubtedly, there are severe inconsistencies in the grading of CAPE and CSEC 2020 papers which have negatively impacted the lives of some of the cohorts who, throughout the academic year, have been considered by teachers to be exceptional.
It is to be noted that some students have been awarded scholarships from overseas and regional institutions were put on a waiting list but due to the CAPE results have now been denied. We are extremely disappointed about this outcome having been assured that the exams would have been fairly held during the COVID- 19 pandemic.
Moreover, we are not a group of delinquents making an irrational stance against the prestigious Caribbean Examination Council (CXC); we are hardworking students seeking justice. We only want to advocate for the accurate allocation of our grades. We look forward to hearing from you.
It is a fishy business
Dear editor,
THE National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) result is finally out after a breath-taking experience with the repercussions of COVID-19, playing a major part in the preparatory aspect and the actual writing of the exam. This was done in unchartered waters for the children and teachers and it was quite a testing period for all, including the Ministry Of Education, taking into account also, the psychological effect of an incomplete election process and its spin off inconveniences. With students vying for the top positions in order to be placed in the leading schools, the Georgetown schools again are under the microscope, the leading contenders being Queens College and Bishops High School. Space limitation once more is the featured topic and the conversation of the equitable distribution of fair and impartial education standards, methods, quality and quantity throughout the country is bubbling openly.
This is a perpetual sore point with the education system and it needs to be addressed immediately and urgently. It must be a landmark as a successful achievement in the PPP/C’s manifesto and one that this government will be proud to declare that this monster has been finally harnessed. All schools must be fully equipped to accommodate all students at all levels to reflect an acceptable uniformity that is available in each and every learning institution. There must not be any room for biasness and the Minister of Education should accept this as a personal challenge and pursue this goal with an earnest enthusiasm, one that she can take pride with as a breaking point. No stone should be left unturned and no dollar should be skimmed so that this project becomes a reality within the next five years. Meanwhile, congratulations to all the successful students, especially Samuel Barkoye and Rovin Lall.
The fishing industry is a great money and monkey making business in Guyana and one that many Guyanese are involved in. Fish is not only in the sea but in the air also and the whole of Guyana smells of fish because of the fishy business conducted by the sharks in the PNC/R. Before the plane hits the tarmac at the Cheddie Jagan International Airport, the whip of a stinking fish hits you.
There is fishy business smelling up the entire airport and in the net is the past government. On the East Bank road, you know Guyana is frying fish. Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill, has ordered an investigation into allegations of an alleged racket at the asphalt plant, a state-run entity. Government projects were mandated to take their asphalt from the Garden of Eden plant and would get huge discounts under a scam that stretched all the way to the Ministry of Public Works. Fish is most likely blocking the drainage at GWI because there is a hold up of billions of dollars not flowing to GPL. Don’t blame the fish, blame the PNC/R fishermen at the utility. There is a different
smell as you round the bend at Thirst Park. That is the smell of old dollar bills piling up! Well of course, fishes embark at the T&HD wharf. They jump from the sea on to the land to leave their scent.Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, on Wednesday, revealed to the National Assembly’s Committee of Supply that the Transports and Harbors Department (T&HD) is deep in a debt of $956M—accumulated by the APNU+AFC during their five-year term in government. In the centre of the Garden City, and surrounding, you can smell the stench of rotten fish. There is fishy business being conducted by Larry London and some $29 million contract. Christopher Jones is leaving a hot trail of fish worth almost $5 million instead of hair.
The Legal Affairs Ministry is sighting some $300 million thrown in the sea for fishy business. Not to feel left out, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, is seeing fish on the menu worth $250 million instead of accountability for activities from the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial development (SLED). Even the courts need fumigation. A second election petition was presented but without the sight of any SOP’s, clumsily concealed with the scent of a popular fish perfume.
Hopefully, the fish smell would leave Guyana and head towards America shortly, thanks to the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo. But Guyanese will feel the sting of the fish carcass, again. With Mike Pompeo’s departure, the Syndicato Gang is testing the depth of Guyana’s water. They are on a fishing expedition. The question is, who is throwing the net, what is the bait and what is the catch? Showing up on the question paper, is a fishy question by the Caribbean Examination Centre. If you think that is the end of this week in fishing lessons, forget it. To take first place, of course, the PNC/R wants to make sure that they are the best in the fishing business. They thought that they were better than the Indigenous patriots when it comes to catching fish. So sad, their $800 million fishing net had a huge hole, cut out by the PPP/C to allow a free pass for the founders of this nation. The PNC/R thought that with one throw, they can put a stop to the “Heritage Month.” How pathetic! Abstention though, is a nice try. But seriously, Guyana needs to teach Guyanese how to fish rather than feeding them fish for a meal. With proper equipment, Guyana will feed them for the rest of their lives.
Respectfully, Jai Lall ONE cannot help but applaud President Ali on his stand taken on the CJIA matter. All Guyanese are appalled with the total incompetence and mismanagement of this project to date, and the willful disregard to the original contract which must be completed as per the signed contract. Guyana never paid for a refurbished third world airport with finishes so utterly devoid of any standards, and materials so poor in quality, that I would not even put in my barn if I had one.
We the Guyanese people must stand firmly behind our President that this contract must be respected fully and restored to international accepted norms. I had suggested to the previous administration that a professional, international airport management company be retained, which could supervise the construction to international standards, plan our future growth, negotiate with airlines to open new routes, plan our cold storage and growing import and export future, duty-free shopping, adequate runways, airport systems, etc, and who are versed in employee and consumer relations should be hired immediately to ensure that fiasco’s such as this does not happen. On further investigations you will find that China Harbor did not stop with some sand and equipment to Movie Towne. The Giftland Group has always maintained that we welcome all competition, once its fair and played on a level playing field, and we are not suggesting that Movie Towne has done anything wrong; however, we have reported to the GRA commissioner, and former finance minister that China Harbor was allegedly illegally using their duty-free status to import building materials and fuel supplies for that project. Many truckers had informed us that fuel brought to the airport was subsequently transported to the MT site; this was also true of other building materials. Had GRA wanted to,this could have been easily verified, just match the duty, vat and other taxes on the MT project, against the contractor’s bill of quantities and ask them to produce the custom entries showing these were paid.
If these cannot be produced then it becomes clear that the MT project was built with an unfair advantage either to the Giftland Mall by cheaper construction cost and to GRA by waiver of duties in the amount of billions of dollars of unpaid taxes. The Giftland Mall has paid all duties and taxes on its construction. If this wasn’t done by MT then there is an unfair advantage here. The Giftland Group looks forward under this new administration for this investigation to be conducted. Thank you, Mr President for putting your foot down.
