Guyana Chronicle International Edtion E-Paper 09-12-2018.pdf

WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 12, 2018

NO.0011

Lindo Creek CoI pins Joint Services PAGE

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...Chairman says no evidence Fineman' gang carried out massacre

Guyana Cultural Association of New York delivered again 20 PAGE

LGEs will go on

...says the elections are key to social cohesion

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending September 12, 2018

LGEs will go on …says the elections are key to social cohesion

President David Granger interacts with an elderly resident of East Bank Berbice at the conclusion of the community meeting

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GAINST the background of the opposition’s move to the courts to stop Local Government Elections (LGEs) in some districts, President David Granger on Wednesday vowed that those elections slated for November 12 will not be postponed.

President Granger was at the time addressing a large gathering at Sisters Village, East Bank Berbice, the Ministry of the Presidency reported. The president during a community meeting reminded residents that LGEs are a constitutional right which provides the citizens of Guyana with power. “I promised the nation and I promise you that as long as I am President LGEs will occur whenever it is due. I will not postpone LGEs. I cannot postpone something you are entitled to; it is not a privilege it is something that is embedded in the constitution; your right to elect leaders of your choice,” said President Granger.

LGEs were held for the first time after a 22- year hiatus, in March 2016. “It is because I believe that you are entitled to make decisions governing your own communities; it is because I believe that you have the right to elect your own leaders. It is because I believe it was wrong for the Minister of Local Government to go around the country installing interim management committees,” that LGEs were held.

President Granger told the residents who had gathered in their numbers at the Friends Primary School, that local gover-

President David Granger addresses residents of Sisters Village, East Bank Berbice

nance “is an important vehicle for social cohesion” and is not about partisanship. “This is not a question of partisanship…it is a question of participation,” said the head-of-state, who said residents have the power to improve their existing conditions.

“The power is in your hands and that is why I committed to having LGEs regularly as the constitution calls for.”

He stressed that local government is a means of mutual respect as persons will work together for a common good. “That is the beauty of LGEs, everybody wins.” Moreover, President Granger noted the low level of participation at elections in the region and called on the East Bank Berbice residents to carry out a massive mobilisation exercise to ensure every adult is “brought into the web of LGEs” The Guyanese leader urged the residents to carry out a “massive mobilisation exercise”. “If you don’t participate, then it means ‘meh nah care’…if you participate and play the role of a citizen, then you are saying this is what I want for my community. You have to go door to door, street to street, field to field, and village to village, so that everybody can hear and see you. Regardless of who you are voting for, people will turn out and you will get maximum participation,” said President Granger.

The President told villagers that non-participation will not see issues being solved, stressing that unity is the key to effect-

ing change. Meanwhile, he stressed the importance of villagers registering with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), adding that registering is the first step in being able to vote at any level. “Everyone needs to be registered,” he declared, while reminding villagers that “LGEs are very specific; these are different from General and Regional Elections… you have to vote where you belong, where you are registered.”

He also called on the residents to vote for substance and not on the basis of race or political affiliation. “You have to know what you are voting for. In LGEs, you don’t vote for race or even political parties. You vote for your community, or improvement of your community… It is not a matter of blind loyalty; it is about what is best,” declared President Granger. The President noted that over the years, residents of the East Bank Berbice have started to see changes, albeit slowly. He announced that street lights will be installed throughout East Bank Berbice in the future, while adding that having access to lights is not a luxury but a necessity.

“This is a question of getting organized, so that the government could assist people who need assistance,” he said, pointing to the Sustainable Livelihoods and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) programme which can assist “household economies.” The SLED programme seeks to provide financial support for entrepreneurial ventures, create income-generating opportunities, and promote improved practices in agriculture and livestock ventures, community development through the functioning of cooperatives and encourage successful business practices as well as enhance the skills of community members through participation in projects.

In this light, the head-of-state pointed to the need to revitalise village economies, as he strongly believes most villages in Guyana have the ability to produce food or to be involved in agro-processing. As such, he urged villagers to look at the economic side of local government and not just the political side.

“The villages throughout the Corentyne can become economic power houses… this can be a function of local government,” he stated. With three levels of government (central, regional and local) in Guyana, the President made it clear that local government is the most important arm as it sustains the whole structure of government. Persons at the local level are being strengthened and empowered to negotiate with the regional level and that level in turn collaborates with central government.

“If we fight each other none of the three levels will progress. We have to work together regardless of which party we come from,” declared President Granger, who said he is satisfied that because of efforts made by his administration, better quality of services would be delivered to the people of East Bank Berbice. President Granger also fielded questions from the residents and committed to having their concerns addressed.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending September 12, 2018

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Lindo Creek CoI pins Joint Services …chairman says no evidence

Chairman of the Lindo Creek COI Justice (Ret’d) Donald Trotman.

‘Fineman’ gang carried out massacre

By Svetlana Marshall

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OVERNMENT has been provided with evidence which suggests that the Joint Services, back in 2008 allegedly killed the Lindo Creek miners.

The evidence, in the form of testimonies and experts’ findings, are contained in the Report on the Lindo Creek Commission of Inquiry (COI)- A nation’s search for truth and justice, which was presented to President David Granger on August 2, 2018 by the Chairman, Justice (Ret’d) Donald Trotman.

argued that it was the notorious gang led by Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins that had killed the miners, but relatives of the murdered men and persons familiar with the terrain have contended that it was the Joint Services.

In his report, Justice (Ret’d) Trotman points the current administration in the direction of the Joint Services. “I think it is best to say more specifically with more certainty, who did not kill them (the miners),” the Chairman said as he responded to a question posed by this newspaper.

Based on geographical and technical evidence

together, the conclusion of the commission was that it was not reasonably possible for the ‘Fineman’ gang to have gotten into the area from where they were originally located in Christmas Falls. It is not reasonable to expect that they could have gone from Christmas Falls to Lindo Creek to be in a position to have committed the massacre or the murders,” the Chairman explained.

Is there then validity to the claims that it was indeed the Joint Services that had committed the inhumane act? “We wouldn’t say that there is validity to the claim but

superior officer. Or whether they did it by mistake, those are the uncertainties that still hover around the suspicions. Let us say, that the Joint Services might have been the persons, the ranks that did the killings,” he explained.

According to Justice (Ret’d) Trotman, a retired

provided by surveyors, evidence offered by civilians including Leonard Arokium, and the visit to the crime scene by the Commission, Justice (Ret’d) Trotman concluded that it was not reasonably possible for the criminal gang to have moved from Christmas Falls, where they had engaged in a shootout with the Police on June 6, 2008, to Lindo Creek in a matter of hours or days while being hunted by the Joint Services. The evidence suggests that the miners were killed between June 7, 2008 and June 21, 2008.

“Putting all of those

we would say that there are strong reasons to support the view held by many that they (the miners) were killed by ranks of the Joint Services,” Justice (Ret’d) Trotman responded.

He, however, said there are some unanswered questions.

“What of course remains in some doubt is what ranks of the Joint Services actually did the killing, since they were military and police, defence force and police ranks…

Whether they did this on their own or they did this on specific instructions and commands from any

judge who served as Chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Grenada, and has more than 50 years of legal experience under his belt, the Commission arrived at its conclusion through process of elimination.

“The reasons were really found by way of elimination that if it wasn’t the ‘Fineman’ gang in the area, (and) there were no other persons in the area according to the evidence... who could have done it,” he said while emphasising that his findings are based on evidence.

“There was no evidence

The front cover of the Lindo Creek COI Report

Speaking on the report, Justice Trotman, in a meeting with media persons on Thursday, said the report detailed a number of findings and put forward a total of 28 recommendations. For a decade, Guyana was divided on who killed the eight diamond miners at Lindo Creek, Upper Berbice River, Region 10. The men’s charred remains were discovered by the camp owner, Leonard Arokium on June 21, 2008. The then People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government, the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force have

of that, and there was no evidence that people came in, any civilians came in from Kwakwani or any of the surrounding areas or any loggers or other miners in the area, no evidence,” he explained.

He added: “So while we don’t want to lay our heads down on a block and say definitely it was the Joint Services, it seems from a process of elimination and exclusion that it is more likely that if anybody did it at all it was the joint services ranks.”

At the time of the massacre, the Joint Services was conducting a manhunt for the criminal gang between Kwakwani and the UNAMCO Check Point, and along the Kwakwan/ Ituni road. The UNAMCO trail is used to access Lindo Creek. An investigation conducted by the Military Criminal Investigation Department (MCID) in 2008 had cleared the Joint Services of the allegation of mass murder. The investigators then had said that the miners might have been victims of a fatal robbery or may have been killed because of their suspected roles as informants of the Joint Service.

When he appeared before the Commission earlier this year, Major Andy Pompey, who spearheaded the investigation into the allegations levelled against the Joint Services, said his findings cleared the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF), which had carried out joint operations in the area, of any wrong doing.

Major Pompey, while fielding questions from the Commission’s Counsel Patrice Henry, had said that based on his investigation, which was conducted between June 26, 2008 and July 8, 2008, it could have been possible that the miners were robbed and killed, or killed under the assumption that they were informants. “Possible motive of the killers could have been 1) robbery or 2) assumptions that the miners were informants working for the Joint Services,” Major Pompey told the commission as he read one of the key findings from the GDF investigation.

But Trotman said there was no evidence to support the claim of a robbery while lashing out at the Joint Services for conducting, what he considered as a poor, investigation.

“I have to say quite categorically that there was no evidence either of an actual robbery or an intended robbery or whoever did the killings intended to rob the miners, no evidence of that at all so we could not dwell on that supposition or suspicion or allegation,” he told this newspaper.

The COI was established on February 1, 2018 to investigate all matters in relation to the killing of eight miners: Cecil Arokium, Dax Arokium, Horace Drakes, Bonny Harry, Lancelot Lee, Compton Speirs, Nigel Torres and Clifton Berry Wong at Lindo Creek in the Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice Region, on, or, about June 21, 2008.

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending September 12, 2018

IN THE GREEN CORNER

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HE opposition leader has maximised the grievances of teachers into a “crisis.” He tried to stoke the strike by telling a section of the media that the teachers’ demands were “legitimate.” He seemed unaware that the week-long protest was over, and he was left with the proverbial gasoline in his hand.

The morbid expectation that the teachers’ strike would be the forerunner to a general shut-down of the country turned into resentment. One of the opposition’s Peepers (KN September 8) claimed that union leaders have been “outfoxed” and “outsmarted” by the government. Resentment gave way to bewilderment, with the Peeper asking why did union leaders wear “green-coloured T-shirts” when they met with government officials for the agreement to proceed towards arbitration. Out of bitterness, detractors would impute betrayal on the part of these leaders who, just days before, were hailed as fighters on a righteous crusade.

GENUINE GRIEVANCES No one ever doubted that teachers had genuine grievances, and though only a small section of the teaching staff actually went on strike, civil society

was generally in sympathy with teachers. For two weeks some teachers stayed home. Pockets of them, mainly in Linden, protested on the streets, waxing lyrical, “Dey wuk we like a donkey, and pay we like a junkie…”

No one was arrested. No one was harassed. No one was shot. That was unlike the sordid and bloody episodes in Linden a few years back, when peaceful protesters were shot, and three killed; and on the Essequibo Coast when rice farmers were tear-gassed, and hauled before the court.

The action of the teachers fell under provisions of both the Labour Act and, more particularly, an agreement made in 1983 that governs settlement of disputes. It provides for stages in the dispute-resolution process: settlement, conciliation and arbitration.

Both the teachers’ union and the Department of Labour have concluded that conciliation has failed, and opted for arbitration, at which stage a decision on the issues would be final and binding. During the

arbitration period, there would be, on the part of the union, no strike, stoppage of work, go-slow, boycott or picketing. On the part of the Ministry of Education, there would be no recrimination, loss of pay, no lockouts or interference with the arbitration process.

NOBLE PROFESSION When I wrote my column “Burden and Benefit” last week, I did so with a heavy heart. Both Sita and I have been teachers, giving together some 50 years of service to the “noble profession.” But I also read with a troubled mind a statement by a union leader that teachers were given a better deal under the previous PPP government.

For the record, the coalition government gave teachers an unprecedented scale of salary increases, ranging in 2016 between 10 to 6%, and in 2017 between 8 to 6%.

The lowest paid teachers received the higher percentage increases.

Under the Jagdeo presidency, when the economy was in the red, an across-the-board “full and final” 7% was paid for 2005. The standard, miserly, “band you waist” 5% was allowed for all succeeding years between 2006 and 2015.

Having given those increases as indicated above for 2016 and 2017, and explaining that it could not afford anything better at this time, the coalition government placed on the table an offer of $710M for increase in salaries for 2018. In addition, it made available $200M for “de-bunching” to rectify anomalies in salary scales.

NON-SALARIED PACKAGE The APNU+AFC Government committed to improve, even marginally, the non-salaried status quo and conditions of employment, as follows:1. Improved Monthly Qualifications Allowances: (a) Certificate in Education $ 4,000. (b) Diploma Education $ 6,000. (c) Master’s Degree $10,000. (d) Doctoral Degree $30,000.

2. Clothing Allowance: $8,000 from the new school year 2018/2019.

3. Whitley Council Allowance: To be paid in June of the year of entitlement. Teachers will continue to receive Whitley Council Leave and Allowance every four years.

4. Annual Leave: In addition to the customary Easter, August and Xmas breaks, principals and deputy principals of Technical Trade/Craft Institutions are granted one month’s leave during the students’ vacation.

5. Duty Free Concession: Teachers will be granted duty-free concessions per year in keeping with the agreed categories and eligibility criteria. This includes duty-free concessions for motor vehicles and ATV mountain bikes. Scholarships: Thirty teachers will continue to receive scholarships for a period of four years at the University of Guyana. An additional 20 scholarships will be granted to teachers to pursue science at the University of Guyana.

6. Hinterland Benefits: The policy will be enforced to ensure that teachers and their families who serve in the interior are given, once per year, a return fare to the coastland.

7. Housing Fund: TURN TO PAGE

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending September 12, 2018

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Understanding Energy...

Audits in the oil and gas industry

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he Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has commenced an audit of the costs Exxon has claimed under the cost recovery provisions of the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) signed between the government and the company.

The audit has raised some questions, with many wondering what the findings might mean for Guyana. There is also some confusion on what prompted the audit and what the significance of that might be in the context of the international oil and gas sector.

Thankfully, a review of production sharing agreements and audits in other oil-producing countries reveals that audits of this type are standard and routine.

The concept of an audit has a negative connotation in Guyana, long associated with investigations of corrupt government deals and shady business practices. But in the world of the international energy sector, audits like this are quite routine. They are not initiated due to any suspicion of wrongdoing - instead they serve a simpler purpose of increasing transparency by regularly examining claimed costs to ensure that discrepancies between government and corporate numbers can be found and resolved through negotiation.

Audits thus form a standard part of any cooperation between governments and international energy producers.

The amounts of money involved in oil production are very high, which makes it important to perform the necessary due diligence. Most times audits are helpful in identifying any accounting errors of this type. Furthermore, they

serve a trust-building role by ensuring that all parties have had their costs and expenses double-checked.

In fact, most oil-producing countries with PSAs conduct audits as a routine and even contractually obligated part of oil development.

Guyana’s own PSA with Exxon subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana and its partners includes several provisions under Article 23 and Annex ‘C’ and Sections 1.5 and 3.1(k) of the PSA that address routine audits.

Recoverable cost audits are a fact of life for oil companies producing around the world. Uganda, for instance, has conducted 11 audits of companies’ recoverable costs since its first discoveries of commercial quantities of oil and gas in 2006.

Countries like Norway generally rely on specific government bodies to conduct them. In Norway’s case that’s the Office of the Auditor General, an independent body tasked with conducting routine audits and reporting the findings to Parliament.

In Guyana, the GRA has asked that Exxon give “specific breakdowns” of some cost recovery numbers dating to before the Liza discovery. Exxon’s “pre-contract” costs are reported to be around $460 million US—that includes the expense of extensive seismic and geologic surveys and early stage exploration beginning in the 1990s.

Estimated costs for developing Liza Phase 1 will run in the region of $4.4 billion US, which includes the cost of drilling wells, building floating production storage and

offloading vessels, crewing ships and setting up onshore facilities and everything else that goes into developing a massive new oil prospect.

Despite some speculation to the contrary, it’s important to note that Guyana will not be “paying” Exxon or its consortium partners anything. The recoverable costs in question are expenses that Exxon has borne and is allowed to recoup from the oil it produces before splitting the profit oil with the government. This is akin to how a restaurant must deduct the costs of buying ingredients and setting up shop from its revenue before it can claim the remainder as “profit.”

Exxon is also not allowed to recover all its costs at one time. The company and its partners can only recoup 75 percent of their costs in a given year, meaning that the company will likely not recoup its initial investment for several years after Liza Phase 1 starts producing. This provision ensures that even at first oil in 2020, Guyana will be reaping pure profit which will be divided evenly between the government and the producers. The government will receive additional revenue from the 2 percent royalty.

Exxon has said it will submit the documents in question to the GRA and has pledged to cooperate fully with any audits conducted, as per the contract.

They have also said that they welcome audits as a normal part of the energy business. As the energy industry expands in Guyana we can expect audits to continue on a regular basis.

US$20M to end blackouts -- Guyana secures loan from Islamic Bank for major upgrade of power distribution

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

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UYANA has received approval from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) for a loan of US$20M for the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Utility Upgrade Programme to effect a comprehensive turnaround of its electricity distribution.

This loan is the first sum to be disbursed from the resource envelope of US$900M that was extended to Guyana by the IsDB in 2017, a Ministry of Finance release said. Guyana has already benefitted from two grants from the bank totalling more than US$500,000.

GPL has long been challenged by its inability to provide a reliable supply of electricity and suffers high levels of losses. This has been compounded by a rapid increase in demand for energy by residential and commercial users.

The GPL Utility Upgrade Programme is co-financed by the Inter-American Development Bank and the European Union, and upon completion, will reduce losses, realise a more efficient and reliable service and deliver a better quality of electricity to households and commercial users.

The Utility Upgrade Programme is part of GPL’s Development and Expansion for the period 2014 to 2021, which aims to reduce the overall losses in the power system, the Ministry of Finance release said.

The loan will facilitate rehabilitation of 153km of GPL’s medium voltage and low voltage network and 6,941 smart meters, including the associated transformers, service lines and distribution boxes and rehabilitation and extension of two 69/13.8KV substations at Kingston and Vreed-en-hoop, including equipment switchgear, power transformers, rerouting of circuits distribution feeders and cable connections.

It will also finance consultancy services for the preparation of designs and specifications for the

sub-stations and the site supervision for the works related to the Kingston and Vreed-en-hoop substations, as well as support the existing project management unit by financing additional specialised engineers and technicians to reinforce the existing team. GPL is the executing agency for the project and will operate under the aegis of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan will sign the agreement with the IsDB on September 19, 2018 in Saudi Arabia. Since becoming a member of the bank, government has been aggressively pursuing projects that will increase Guyana’s infrastructure and optimise its productivity in the areas of agriculture, trade and competitiveness and human and rural development, having committed to the diversification of Guyana’s economy in preparation for first oil in 2020.

Guyana became a member of the IsDB in 2017; the partnership was formalised with a mutual commitment to a five year work programme.

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending September 12, 2018

Owning a law school

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AST Friday, we reported that The Council of Legal Education (CLE) has requested certain information before it can approve the establishment of a law school here.

This announcement, notwithstanding the anxiety among many, is more optimistic than what was being said earlier by that regional body, that Guyana did not get permission to open its own law school.

Earlier this year as well, the Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean (IMPACT Justice) in its final report following a survey of legal education in CARICOM member states, recommended among other things, that law schools be established in Guyana, and two other Caribbean states.

“New law schools should be set up as soon as possible as part of Utech in Jamaica, UG in Guyana and possibly in Antigua and Barbuda, principally, but not exclusively, for the non-UWI LLB degree graduates, whose degrees are deemed by the council to meet the equivalency standard of the UWI LLB degree,” the report stated.

Additionally, the recommendations which stem from a survey conducted in Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago, said the opening of additional law schools under the aegis of the CLE as is presently constituted will not solve the problems facing law students across the Region.

According to the document, the establishment of additional regional law schools in the three jurisdictions under the CLE would provide an early mechanism for addressing the unsatisfied demand for access to practise law by the many persons who are holders of non-University of the West Indies (UWI) LLB degrees.

President David Granger, while acknowledging the contributions of the CLE to the development of jurisprudence in the Caribbean, told the council on Friday that it should seek new ways of improving access to and delivery of affordable legal education.

His call, coupled with the recommendation of the Canada-funded study, must not be ignored by the CLE, which many believe needs to move with greater alacrity on this issue. The

Guyanese leader also urged the CLE to embrace new technologies to improve access to and delivery of affordable legal education in the Region, and that the council should ensure non-discriminatory admissions to regional law schools.

Presently, there are three law schools operating under the treaty that established the CLE, namely: The Hugh Wooding Law School, the Norman Manley Law School, and the Eugene Dupuch Law School.

The Guyana Govermment has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University College of the Caribbean and Law College of the Americas in a public-private partnership to establish a law school. This partnership will see the government owning a 30 per cent share and providing only the land to build the school (University of Guyana Turkeyen campus), while the private interest will cover all the costs and hold the remaining 70 per cent.

The proposed Joseph Oscar Fitzclarence (J.O.F) Haynes school -- named in honour of one of Guyana’s most famed and respected legal minds who served as Chancellor of the Judiciary -- is welcomed by most Guyanese.

Though Guyana does not possess the largest population in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), it plays a major role in establishing institutions in the body. One such institution is the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which is expected to make decisions, guided by international laws and precedents and influenced by the Region’s cultural development.

In speaking about the necessity for the school, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, presented some of what may have influenced the government’s decision.

This includes what is said to be more than 1000 graduates of the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Guyana, who are still unable to pursue the Legal Education Certificate.

Upon successful completion of this certificate, one can practise in the courts.

The issue of the quota system at the Hugh Wooding Law School where Guyana continues to churn out more LLB graduates than what is allotted, continues to adversely impact our graduates. Apparently, there has not been much success in arriving at an arrangement of mutual satisfaction on this issue.

In the meantime, the benefit that can be derived from the

J.O.F Haynes Law School is that of preparing an increasing number of minds to help the society in pursuing a democratic path. While all may not practise in the courts, they can provide other critical services. Some of these services include serving as researchers to prepare cases, refining arguments, and challenging opinions in influencing decisions that could bring about progressive changes for society.

On the other hand, there is a school of thought that there are too many lawyers relative to population size. With the many violations of laws and transgressing of citizens’ rights, the more trained in law and are prepared to fearlessly stand up in defence of it, such practice would bring about greater understanding and awareness among the wider society, including within the police force that has responsibility to serve and protect.

In the workplace, relationships between employer and employees have become more complex and require greater understanding and application of laws, conventions, charters and agreements. Navigating these can be problematic, particularly where ignorance exists. Institutions such as trade unions may require their leadership to be more au fait with the nuances of the law in aiding proper representation of their members.

Thus,the issue of having more lawyers is not only about representation in a court, but seeking to protect citizens’ rights, be it at home, in the workplace, or on the streets.

When established, the J.O.F Haynes Law School will be the fourth within CARICOM, and brings with it certain advantages.

At the market level, Guyana will afford students comparatively lower tuition fees;housing and maintenance also will be lower relative to the other three countries where schools are. These factors will give Guyana a competitive advantage in attracting students even from outside of the Caribbean, who will wish to qualify to practise in the Region.

Though all of the above and more will percolate minds, by ordinary folk and within the corridors of influence and power, the school is being established and we can only hope that it will be realised soon.

As a people, domestic and regional, expectations will be held that the intellectual growth and development of the society can be fulfilled likewise, as our needed relationship within CARICOM and the member states.

What is Jagdeo afraid of?

Dear Editor,

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OR the leader of the Parliamentary opposition to suggest at his last press conference that the forthcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) should be managed by the United Nations, is another of his well-known tactics of conveying ill perceptions of Guyana, its government, and its constitutional institutions, in this instance the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Editor, this is a climb down from a not-so-long-ago brag that his party will emerge victorious in the November poll. But, most seriously, is that such a statement is intended to convey to the CARICOM region, and the international community, a misleading profile of a country that is authoritarian and has no respect for democratic principles. In fact, this has been a major narrative of a purely deceptive and dishonest type that has formed the thrust of Jagdeo’s attacks on the coalition, since 2015.

Note must be made that there was no such request prior to the historic LGE polls in 2016, which he declared he had won; or

any complaints about the propriety of such, that should have led to complaints, thus justifying such a call.

Editor, it should be recalled that Jagdeo and his party’s challenged the results of the 2015 national polls, which had been deemed fair and transparent, by the corps of international observers that witnessed the process. His objections had to be among the strangest ever recorded, given the fact that his party was in office at that time and therefore had overall responsibility for the electoral machinery. In fact, it had been the same process that had overseen the 2006 and 2011 national polls, which his party had won. There were no objections then, but there were in 2015 when his party in government had been defeated, even though his government had poll oversight. These are contradictions of the highest form ever seen in this country’s political history.

But this is the same Jagdeo that had a while ago, strongly objected through his then point man, Roger Luncheon, to accepting the Security Sector Reform Programme (SSRP), especially when personnel from the donor country were to be based here for that exercise, which since the arrival of the Granger administration had

been accepted for the reform of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

I stand to be corrected, by saying that Jagdeo is even on record alleging that the current administration was being dictated to by foreign entities. Guyana, is a sovereign country, and has demonstrated both the administrative and constitutional capacity as reposed in GECOM, to prepare for, and manage the national electoral machinery – the same mechanism which had guided the prior elections which Jagdeo’s party had won.

One must now wonder what is Jagdeo’s problem. What is bugging him? Is it the return of grass roots democracy, which will eventually break his party’s well-known hegemony over a system that had been designed to be managed by the citizens in the villages and towns? Or, the fact that the LGE system with its democratic functions of being responsible for its administration of regions, towns, and communities, signals the beginning of the end of the PPP/C’s bullyism?

Regards, Earl Hamilton

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending September 12, 2018

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In lies, there are no truths Dear Editor,

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NYONE who understands the meaning of public morality and its relevance to political leaders’ understanding of being honest about their stewardship of governance will agree that within this context, there is no PPP/C former government official who should ever be complaining or criticising the current government.

Neither should they be giving opinion on any socio-economic issue which would have evolved during this party’s period of governance, and which they either ignored or refused to remedy.

This is not to say that criticisms from the political opposition are not welcome, as the former practice is a part of the traditional political behaviour of such a political party in such a constitutional category. But even though it is accepted that politics is adversarial, it is not expected to mean the descent to dangerous lies and wholesale, brazen attempts to deny the occurrence of a type of governance which has caused this country so much socio-political economic maladies.

For any of its political front persons to counter such denials with deceptive lies means that it is an attempt to deceive and mislead, as has been the regular case since their party’s defeat at the 2015 national elections.

In such a case, they have no moral high ground, much

less to stand on same.

The problem with these leaders, and they know who they are apart from the fact that they are well-known, is that they are aided and abetted by certain sections of society; of course, with a political agenda. It is amazing the daily flood of letters purporting to give perspective on very critical aspects of the nation’s collective experience that have done so much harm to the national well-being that it will take years to repair, much less to overcome the deleterious effects caused on the national psyche.

Rather than being honest about their stewardship and role in what the selfish exercise of power that they held have caused, their continuous distortion, no doubt taking advantage of a nation that is divided, of events, can only be seen as a further insult to the national wounds already inflicted, and which can only serve to stymie attempts at bringing about healing.

Such behaviour cannot be any good to a nation which is seeking to correct so many of the ills that it now confronts, or to its people, many of whom would have suffered so many forms of injustice.

It cannot also be of any moral value to many of our younger segment of the nation, many of whom are reflecting the realities of the social degradation of over two decades, into which they were born. It can only sow seeds of doubt and discord in their minds.

With every attempt to paper over the truths of their

stewardship, to obfuscate their well- known reality, and to bury their shocking stark results in the well-known ploy of reverse psychology, these leaders continue to insult the collective memory of the nation by seeking to deny the past. This can only result in an inherited future that will still be saddled with the untruths of the past, which ought to have been abandoned and buried in the latter time.

Continuous attempts, whether via the media or whatever form, to mislead through the medium of lies, half-truths and misleading accounts about what has occurred in this nation doing it so much damage, can only result in the accrual of moral deficits on the page of those very leaders referred to in this discourse. Further, such political dishonesty, for that is what it really is, will only result in the sullying of this country’s image, which the current administration has been effecting a more than admirable effort in repairing and restoring both its national and international profile.

Guyana is once again being respected, but vociferously objects to those leaders whose continuous lies are self-serving and can mean no good for the national wellbeing. These must unequivocally be condemned by all honest Guyanese who believe in the truth, and subscribe to its undeniable principles.

Regards Earl Hamilton

Convenient, hypocritical, and illogical reasoning Dear Editor,

A

S would have been expected, during the teachers’ strike, there were a number of references to the coalition government’s 50 per cent pay rise in its very early days of assuming the reins of executive responsibility. Such was expected, since it has become a means of scoring what are really cheap political points by the critics, especially the parliamentary opposition party.

But how justified have these critics been? Maybe, one can question the timing of the government’s announcement of such an increase, given the fact that there were not any increases allotted before such an announcement, to the nation’s public service; as well as Minister Trotman’s prior denial that such had not been in the making, when questioned by the media.

Reading the views of some of these critics, there is definitely an unfair and prejudiced line of understanding as far as the practicality of the 50 per cent hike is concerned.

Not surprisingly, these very critics of the 50 per cent increase seem somehow to have forgotten the unexplained triple-digit per cent increase given to Bharrat Jagdeo, before he demitted the presidency.

First, not every minister of government benefitted from this increase. This had been clearly explained by the government. Secondly, given the reported anomalies that had been reported to be existing ever since as regards the Cabinet in the former PPP/C government, then it was only logical that adjustments be made at that time; for how could

there have been the illogical situation where both senior and junior ministers in some instances were at the same level of earnings? Thirdly, though I do support the view that becoming a Cabinet member was a matter of service to the nation, and of choice, and that it should not be a matter of how much is earned, one should be realistic that these men and women still have to live, and tend to their families’ needs, particularly where there are financial commitments.

Editor, we live in a society that continues to exude a brand of hypocrisy that is driven by the factors of political affiliation and, of course, race. Thus, it becomes mentally laborious to read, much less to understand the twisted logic and unfair arguments applied to seminal issues which the nation continues to face. The teachers’ strike represents this point of view.

I am convinced that the last situation that this current government would have wanted on its daily governance agenda is an industrial action, particularly in such a key sector as education -- the education professionals. And though it has been reminded in some of those criticisms, particularly from those which said that government has the ability to meet the pay demands of the educators, they failed to take into consideration the fact that any wages increase has to be first applied, to the means of sustaining its payment.

No one has had the moral courage or decency of mind to mention the painful subsidy of $32B that averted what would have been socio-economic crises of untold proportions, because of the criminal mismanagement of the sugar industry.

It was particularly instructive that the very past leaders

who bear both an official and moral responsibility for what is certainly the destruction of a once mighty industry, were among the principals attacking the government over the unpaid half of the severance pay to those terminated workers whose package is in excess of $500,000. They have conveniently forgotten that the coalition has had to find the astronomical sum, at taxpayers’ expense, to re-float a key state economic earner, and employer, which they had sunk.

Of course, one does recall the promises to teachers made by the coalition when they had campaigned as an opposition party. Of course, they do deserve better financial rewards.

However, given the crisis that faced the sugar industry and the threat to the livelihoods of so many thousands of sugar workers, it became evident that expectations in that direction of the education sector, especially, had to be lowered. One does not have to be a mathematician to calculate what that multi-billion dollar, given to avert the human crises among the nation’s cane harvesters, could have done to sectors such as the medical professionals, police, and of course, educators.

GuySuCo has been rescued, as the government is in the process of re-positioning its management and critical production sections; however, the process of re-alignment has been at the expense of other critical state sectors. A fact which those who have criticised the government for not acquiescing to the teachers’ demands have ignored or conveniently forgotten.

Regards, Earl Hamilton

8

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending September 12, 2018

Stakeholders call for ‘separate legal entity’

Former PSC Chair, Ramesh Persaud addressing the GMSA forum on Thursday

--to manage Sovereign Wealth Fund

By Lisa Hamilton

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BOARD of Directors void of political individuals to manage the country’s Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) is being proposed by former Chair of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Ramesh Persaud.

Persaud, now the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED), presented examples on how this could be achieved during a discussion hosted by the Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association (GMSA) on Thursday.

The discussion was themed, “Managing future petroleum, revenues and the establishment of a fiscal rule and a SWF,” and saw a number of civil society and private sector representatives being invited to make contributions to the debate.

Persaud is in favour of the fund being set up as a separate legal corporate entity by an Act of Parliament, as provided for under the Constitution of Guyana.

He also wants the fund designated as the entity to

receive all monies from the oiland gas sector, and any other natural resources as deemed necessary.

When it comes to ownership, he suggests that the fund be owned by the people of Guyana and governed by their elected representatives in the National Assembly, who will be tasked with performing all duties of a shareholder at Annual General Meetings.

While acknowledging that in many areas, it is difficult to be operational without the involvement of politics, he stated that there are possibilities where this can be achieved to some extent.

As such, Persaud proposes that for the governance of the SWF, that the National Assembly, acting with their right as shareholders, should appoint a Board of Directors. The Board would comprise of seven to nine individuals to avoid political partisanship, and will include representatives from varying areas of expertise and functions in society.

COMPOSITION Among those persons, he suggests, should be a lawyer who is a Senior Counsel and nominee of the Guyana Bar

Association (GBA); an accountant with at least 15 years membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Guyana (ICAG); and an economist with no less than a PhD nominated by the Council of the University of Guyana (UG).

Persaud suggests that the other members of the Board include a representative of a multilateral agency, perhaps nominated by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) or Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); the head of a publicly-listed company or a licenced financial institution nominated by the Guyana Securities Council; a member of a global company; a director as nominated by the International Forum on SWF; a representative nominated by an organised labour body; and a representative of the Guyana Human Rights Commission.

Those on the board will be empowered by the elected Chairman of the Board, Persaud stated. He also added that directors should be appointed for no more than three years and director must serve no more than two terms.

The Board would then appoint the professional man-

agement of the organisation, but it ought not to be involved in individual investment decisions.

“The Board should be involved in policy making, performance management and ensuring that the right types of people are being appointed at as the CEO and at least at the Executive level,” Persaud outlined.

In addition, although the SWF Green Paper suggests that the Bank of Guyana (BoG) could serve as the Operational Manager of the fund, he is not in favour of this.

“For me, the BoG should be the banker for this organisation, so it has similar responsibilities like it has with commercial banks with regulatory and supervisory responsibility rather than operational management responsibility,” he said, adding that the reporting would be no different than is

'Don’t join the bandwagon; pay up and build’

- Housing Minister tells new region three land owners

expected from a publicly listed company.

He stated further that auditors should be nominated by the auditor general every three years through public tender, and submitted for approval to the Annual General Meeting.

At the same time, asset class limits will be done and approved by the Board, based on recommendations from management and other investment specialists.

GOV’T ACCESS When it comes to access, Persaud suggests that a portion of the Fund be set aside for projects to be undertaken by the government.

However, to utilise this, the government must make a justified proposal for accessing of funds while meeting the same standard of any other investment.

“It is my view that the capital element of the fund should not be used for any consumption purposes,” he said.

“The capital element of the fund should only be used for infrastructure and investments in income-generating activities; this means that we will take all the capital into this fund and the government, with advice through the macroeconomic committee, would determine the annual budget which is approved by Parliament and they will apply for funding from the Sovereign Wealth Fund fulfilling all the feasibility conditions and everything that [the process] required.”

He added that in this case, the Fund’s management will decide on the feasibility of the government’s projects, consistency with investment policy and will be empowered to reject same where necessary.

Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Valerie Adams Patterson-Yearwood, addressing residents of Region Three.

M

INISTER within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Valerie Adams Patterson-Yearwood, has advised residents of Region Three (Essequibo Island/ West Demerara) to work towards paying off for their lands and begin building as soon as they receive their titles.

The minister was delivering remarks to residents, moments before she distributed close to 100 house lots to families in the region, at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) on Thursday. The ministry has made available house lots in the Tuschen Phase Two and Block Eight areas for applicants, from as far back as 1989. “I encourage you not to join the bandwagon.

You are here, and I believe the reason why you are here is that you need a house lot. And because you need a house lot I am going to give you a house lot.”

She said that persons must aid in the process by utilising the house lots, as too often persons who are allocated the house lots leave the land to become overgrown with bushes.

The minister said that there are countless persons who would give anything to have the said land. The lots distributed cost $92,000 for low-income earners and $500,000 for persons in the middle income bracket.

The Department of Public Information (DPI) spoke with

some of the elated recipients. Gopaul Sanasie said that he had applied for his house lot 10 years ago, and while he was allocated a plot of land at Stewartville and had paid for it, he was never shown the land. Like Sanasie, two other families received their lots in Tuschen.

“I was waiting for this for10 years now, since I applied.

And with the Minister being here, I guess this is the fastest thing that could have ever happened,” Sanasie said. Amidst tears, Raymond Khan, and his wife, Nalinie Etwaroo, said

that they had applied for a house lot since 1989, however, they were never fortunate to be allocated a land. “We squat and build a little house and live in it on the dam. We are happy for the government to give us our land, we are really thankful,” the couple said.

Minister Patterson said that the government’s objective of securing a good life for all Guyanese is being realised.

She stressed that a good life is not having to pay a monthly rent, but rather, being able to own one’s own home. (DPI)

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending September 12, 2018 14

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 18, 20189

Swimming againsthave the tide FOR Elections N YOUR consequences

OTHING I write here is new or innovative but the argument must be made again and again and again.

Socrates, the father of Western philosophy was tried and executed because he gave the Greek youths a dangerous weapon, the ability to critique and question everything. Once described as the ‘Gadfly’ within the state, Socrates stung the status quo by questioning democracy and upsetting ‘DUH (that) isorder. nah He (not) positive in other the established was deemed to outcome; be too dangerous by me business’ is a famous cases, it could be negative. those who benefitted from the power structures of Athens. phrase used in our every- Numerous issues associSocrates influenced the minds of the Athenian youth and I day conversations. When ated with the arrogance of ammake here thinking, he did this any forminofGuyana technology, we this remark, it without government in just an academy and books.

In this age, anybody can become a means we have zero in- the past have disappeared, modern-day Socrates with a mobile phone social media terest in an issue. because ofand theadecision of account large following.

Themasses future is and It is with sada when this the atthe theinternet last electhe internet is the future. phrase is applied while tions to demonstrate their describing our attitude power at the ballot box.

In a keynote speechtoat the international Government public advocacy.

The posFurther, some ominous Communication Forum on Monday, September 6 in Sharjah, ture of Arab ‘DuhEmirates, is nah Minister me things withforlife-and-death United of State Youth Affairs, business’ is what led to implications 24-year-old Shamma Al Mazrui, cautioned: are “If no we longer want to what is arguably the worst around due to the results understand the youth, government bodies need to open of ditime for governance in the last polls. The simple verse and direct communication channels with them, use their Guyana’s modern history, pleasure of government technologies to understand them, or else we will be swimming experienced between 1999- critics and reporters drivagainst the tide.” reached ing with their windows 2015.

Governance

its nadir during this period down or citizens subjecting when the holders of power their leaders to complete declared with unrivalled ridicule on social media, pomposity, ‘we have the no longer come with fatal ethnic numbers’. On May repercussions, because of FROM PAGE 11th, 2015, Guyanese our last monumental exerdemonstrated that elections cise of our collective franhe Ministry of Education Guyana have serious implications. chise.and It istheonly thoseTeachwho ers Union to mutually agree on a mechanism for In this case, there was a were in the trenches during implementation of the Housing Revolving Fund, which was first promised by the former government, and could have accumulated some $200 million over the years that it was not disbursed.

8. Remote Area Incentives: Teachers in hinterland areas (Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine) received 80% increase. The 2017 rates of $5000 and $7,000 were increased to $9000 and $12000 respectively.

IN THE GREEN ...

T

4

MARKED IMPROVEMENTS Apart from the allowances, there have been marked improvements in the teaching sector, which include major overhauls of school buildings and facilities.

Monthly stipends for students at the Cyril Potter College and Linden Pre-Service centres. These have been increased in 2018 by 73% for Resident, and 53% for non-Resident trainees. The stipends were increased from an average $5,300 to $9,000 (Resident), and to $11,000 (Non-Resident).

Since taking office, the new government has distributed a total of 9,213 laptop computers to teachers, and more than 5,500 teachers have been trained in Basic Computer Literacy by the ICT Unit of the Ministry of Education.

Additionally, 84 secondary schools, 89 primary schools, 21 tertiary education, training and skills-building institutions and nine technical/ vocational training schools have been connected to the e-Government network and provided with free access to the internet. Further, some 120 ICT Hubs have been established, and both teachers and students can access internet free of cost.

The union should justifiably feel betrayed that not a cent has been disbursed by the former government under the Housing Revolving Fund, and that the promise of 100 house lots each year for teachers was not kept. However, there is no evidence to sustain the argument that things were better off for teachers under the former government, unless the statement asserting that was intended as a subtle political message to the government folks in green to do better for its constituency.

This, of course, is a horse of a different colour, which the opposition leader would find difficult to flog as he nibbles away, like a rodent on crumbs, at small issues.

Shamma’s words were sharp and rang true. I have finally found the description for those luddites who are part of the government systems that refuse to embrace modern forms of communicatio to connect with the population. Forty-two per cent of the global population is under 25 (World Bank), the world’s population is very young. According to a report

by Common Sense Media, 75 per cent of teenagers currently have social media accounts and 68 per cent of that group use this period of destructive ous mechanisms, is a forFacebook as their main medium. and vindictive government mal process by which you As an obvious consequence, it is undeniably incumbent would appreciate the dan- make a decision. When upon entity thatCheddi seeks to reach the largest possible augers ofany going to the you cut through the razzle dience to embrace technology.

Troglodytes are of the Jagan International Airport and dazzle ofwho campaigning government system and say: ‘I don’t understand them to fulfil an overseas obliga- and all the shining fancy fantechnology’ or ‘Stay away fromfares, the Facebook thing’,choice should tion as an anti-government it is a wise not be in leadership positions in this and activist andgovernment having to face to make which can day affect the age.dreaded If you staypossibility away, you leave a vacuum.

That children space will from what your of planted andwill carry in with theirshadowy lunch be having filled bydrugs your detractors other agents inagendas. your Your luggage.

These kits to whether your refusal to engage through technologicalcounmeans simple fears are no more try gets a badonline reputation is self-defeating. When news breaks, it breaks and you due theone wise the wait international haveto about hour choice to respond. in If you for the nextarena. day to made by Guyanese. These This practice of democraprint a response in the print medium, you would have already consequences cannot be cy has been in place since lost control of the message and by extension, the entire plot. underestimated, especial- the 17th century. It is the dull and that white pages are sadly losing in the ly inThe light ofblack the fact results of the May 11th anti-intellectual age.

Some will tellthat you:have ‘I am most of the persons who millennials 2015 elections were custodians of the bad state between 1999-2015, have gone nowhere, they are the ones waiting in the electoral wings to once again reign down terror on the population.

Added to this, an election, besides its conspicu-

erased the shame of Guyana having a reputation of being a drug-filled banana republic with little law and order. It is due to our last vote-casting that we have seen an unprecedented crackdown on the drug empire in Guyana and the concomitant positive effects that come along with dealing condignly with this scourge. The average Guyanese party-goer can now remark: ‘Is a long

ATTENTION !

By Ronald Austin Jr.

time me ain’t see people is thethan argument that politinot reading anything with more three paragraphs, shooting in parties’. are outfor of grades.’ touch with if it is not up a contract or some cians assignment Yet This is due toagencies the factinsist that onissues that to impact the lives government resorting long black and Guyanese made a decision of people.

Onofthe white scripts to communicate to young the largest section the to elect an incorruptible other hand, there is the valpopulation. In some cases of policy and legal communicaPresident who stands for id contestation that if poltion, this is unavoidable but where possible, go to social law and order and cannot iticians refuse to address media. Three lines on Twitter, a WhatsApp broadcast be enticed by the overtures your issues, it is you who message, a Facebook post or an Instagram picture will get must delve into advocacy of the drug empire. Again, you more returns on your information investment.

If this your safety when you go and address those issues. method is something that you don’t get, hire a millennial, out to have a good time It is a crime against your establish a social get with the programme can be traced rightmedia back desk to and fellow citizens to allow or be swept aside by the tide. the rise of the destructive electoral decision-making.

Be that as it may, glob- state by not having an I.D al voter apathy is at its Card or refusing to get up highest percentage. The on national elections day to youth remain the most vote. Not getting involved passive global voter block; is too detrimental.

It is a good time to this is a universal trend. In July 2010, 75% of eligible remind ourselves of the voters between ages 18-30 wise words of William chose not to participate in Lyon Mckenzie King, the US midterm elections. ‘Where [there] is little or The question is: who is to no public opinion, there be blamed for low voter is likely to be bad govturnout by youths global- ernment, which sooner or ly? Politicians or young later becomes autocratic people? On one hand, there government.’

10

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending September 12, 2018

Bringing back brewed

A

HEADY, distinctive fragrance drifts invitingly up to Louis Holder’s Liliendaal office. It’s the smell of coffee—but definitely not any ordinary kind.

The invigorating smell comes from an exquisite brand of locally-produced ground coffee. Its rich aroma exemplifies its intriguing story, one that interweaves long forgotten history with a man’s love for his country and his determination to succeed.

This unique brand of ground coffee is made from beans harvested in the Pomeroon region of Guyana’s interior for Amy’s Pomeroon Foods.

Louis Holder is chief executive officer and, under his leadership, Amy’s has become one of the most resilient agro-processing businesses in the nation, holding on resolutely in the face of multiple challenges.

Holder knows a lot about coffee. And, in his view, coffee in Guyana has a rich history and a heritage that should be preserved.

“We did some research and found that our coffee grown here is the oldest coffee in the New World, having been introduced by the Dutch…the coffee you are getting today from the Pomeroon is basically the coffee that evolved from the original Typica [Arabica] variety that was introduced in 1721 by the Dutch,” he explained.

“Basically what happened to coffee is that by 1810, British Guiana was one of the largest exporters of coffee in the world having exported 22 million pounds that year. But the Dutch grew Typica on low elevations, on the coastland of Guyana, whereas Typica favours high elevations. As a result of that, the yields of the plant dropped,” Holder said.

Consequently, costs rose and it became increasingly difficult for coffee-plantation owners to sell their coffee at competitive prices on the world market. Over time, most switched to sugar and the coffee industry went into steep decline.

There was one exception— the Pomeroon- which became the last stronghold for local coffee growers, mainly because that region did not have large plots of flat land suitable for sugar cultivation.

Farmers continued to grow coffee in the Pomeroon long after the industry declined elsewhere. Most importantly, they continued to grow a unique breed of the Typica Arabica plant that is renowned for producing an exclusive type of ground coffee, one that is renowned for its unforgettable taste and exquisite aroma.

This holdout by Pomer-

coffee to Guyana

oon coffee growers continued into this century, but farmers began to suffer heavy losses as demand declined and Guyanese turned more and more to instant coffee. Coffee growers then started to cut down their coffee plants.

JUST COULDN’T HAPPEN Holder feared that the unique cultivar of the Typica Arabica coffee plant would be lost forever, and along with it, one of the most sublime coffee flavours the world has ever known. “I just couldn’t let that happen…” he said.

Holder set about laying the groundwork to start his own coffee business. His vision was clear and simple: produce an excellent quality product using the Pomeroon coffee cultivar with the objective of replacing five percent of the foreign coffee imports by the first year of operations. His business went into production in 2015.

picked from the coffee tree— are put in a water-bath; defective ones float to the top and are removed; the rest are put in a ‘pulper’ to remove their thick skins. What remains is a parchment covered by mucilage (a sticky substance). The beans are put in another water-bath and after three days the mucilage, which contains sugars, breaks down into alcohol and is removed through a process of agitation.

Next, the parchment is sun-dried before being placed into a ‘huller’ to remove the shells, leaving behind coffee green beans. Using modern technology, the green beans are roasted and ground into coffee granules at the Liliendaal plant. To maximise flavour, Amy’s Coffee aims for the granules to have a medium-dark roasting profile.

The more finely ground the coffee is, the more intense the flavour, although Amy’s produces coffee ‘grinds’ of

instant coffee to be real coffee.

ADVANTAGE OF CONVENIENCE In his view, the only advantage instant coffee has over brewed coffee is “convenience”, because it can be made more easily and quickly.

“Ground coffee will take a few minutes to brew, but the taste is the real deal,” he explained.

“That is the real taste of coffee,” he insisted, pointing out that Instant coffee is made by brewing coffee which is then freeze-dried and crystallised. “You lose all the flavour; you lose the aroma; you lose a lot of things,” he lamented.

He believes it is unfortunate that, in recent times, many Guyanese have lost their appreciation for brewed coffee.

That is why he thinks his campaign to ‘bring back brewed coffee’ is vitally important.

“Guyanese think coffee should taste like instant coffee and we have had to try to wean

The unique brand of ground coffee made from beans harvested in the Pomeroon

The beans being roasted to produce a delicious flavour of ground coffee

Most manufacturers go through a two-step process to produce ground coffee, but Holder opted for the longer and costlier five-step process known as the “wet process” which develops the best flavor.

Coffee cherries —the fruit

varying degrees of coarseness, according to customers’ specifications.

Holder is committed to pushing brewed coffee in the local market and maintains that top-notch coffee houses worldwide do not consider

them off of instant by giving away 2000 French presses…” he said. His company also gave away several 40-cup percolators free of charge to commercial customers and Government Ministries and has been visiting these businesses

Louis Holder

and organisations to conduct free sample-tasting exercises.

Despite his efforts though, business has not made the inroads he expected and, in fact, has remained virtually stagnant from the time of production to now.

He started out with a conservative estimate that the business would penetrate the foreign imports market by five per cent by the end of the first year of production. But three years later, Amy’s coffee is only at 2.2 per cent of foreign imports.

“I think the reason is the Guyanese public has a…concept of local products that it is one of low quality so they have this preference for foreign imports. The problem with that is that our balance of trade is in the negative region. This is not sustainable. This country cannot continue with a negative balance of trade because it will lead to inflation, high interest rates and economy crashing.

We need a concerted effort to promote local products,” he pointed out.

Holder noted that the United States of America enacted a buy local law since 1933 specifying that tax payers’ funds cannot be used to buy foreign products, making it imperative for Government expenditure to go towards the local products of that country.

He noted that the United States has also been putting tariffs on imports to make their locally produced goods more attractive.

SUPPORT LOCAL “I certainly recommend a law which promotes the use of taxpayers’ money for the procurement of local products. Once you have local products, the taxpayers’ money should not be used to buy foreign substitutes.”

Holder emphasized that unless there is legislation that causes tax payers’ funds to be spent only on local products, this will not happen.

“We have a good product…all the major coffee houses in Guyana use this product…” he said. “It means that this is a good product that they have stumbled on and it is rea-

sonably priced…major hotels…use our coffee. But we cannot get the consumers, we haven’t found the consumers are onboard yet…” he added.

Furthermore, Holder is concerned that local products do not and will notget sufficiently prominent exposure on supermarket shelves.

Holder said he is also hoping to expand his operations to produce chocolates.

He already produces mocha, which is coffee flavoured with chocolate. Moreover, he plans to introduce a powdered coconut milk to market alongside Amy’s Coffee. “We tried it and it makes an excellent flavor,” he said.

Another plan he has for the near future is to produce chocolate-flavoured coconut butter, similar in consistency to Nutella.

To convince Guyanese consumers that local products are of good quality and deserve support, he suggested that Government and the private sector should launch a strong campaign to promote the ‘buy-local’ concept among Guyanese.

Holder said he participated in all of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association’s UncappeD exhibitions and finds it useful to introduce his product to the various regions.

Market Place UncappeD has so far been held in Regions Three and Four. The next UncappeD is slated for Region Six on October 28 at the Albion Community Centre Ground.

Even though Holder has not reached his production goals, he continues to stand strong as an agro processor, driven by his need to do something positive for his country. All of the company’s shareholders stand with him in this. “We see the challenges as temporary…these will be overcome,” Holder asserted.

His confidence is priceless. It might decide the fate of an age-old industry, a patriotic agro-processing business —and a rare coffee plant.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending September 12, 2018

Guyana on track with ICJ submission on border case

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HE Government of Guyana is on track for the submission of its Memorial to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case concerning the Arbitral Award of October 1899 between Guyana and Venezuela.

By an order dated June 19, 2018 the ICJ fixed November 19, 2018 and April 18, 2019 as the respective time-limits for the filing of a Memorial by the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and a Counter-Memorial by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Venezuela has indicated that it will not participate in the court’s proceedings.

On Monday, during a press conference, Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge said that the preparations are moving a pace.

“The preparation of the Memorial by Guyana is well on the way and we shall make the deadline without any difficulty.

The teams are working on it, we have added to the teams, by way of strengthening the ministry’s own capacity,” Minister Greenidge explained.

Pointing out that there has been a number of meetings, since the order was issued by the ICJ, he disclosed that another meeting is set for later this month – September 21, being a tentative date. During that meeting, the draft Memorial would be examined.

The written pleadings, in the form of Memorials will address the question of the jurisdiction of the Court in hearing the case bought by the State of Guyana.

In March, Venezuela indicated that it will not participate

in the judicial proceedings, however, the Guyana Government has made it clear that it will proceed with the case, noting that under Article 53 of the Statute of the Court, “whenever one of the parties does not appear before the Court, or fails to defend its case, the other party may call upon the court to decide in favour of its claim.”

“Guyana is fully committed to the rule of law in international relations, including the peaceful resolution of disputes in conformity with international law. It trusts that the International Court of Justice, the judicial organ of the United Nations, will resolve the controversy with Venezuela in accordance with the law, in a manner that is fair and equitable. It hopes that, in due course, Venezuela will reconsider its position and decide to appear in Court and defend its case. The Court’s rules allow for that,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had said in a statement.

Guyana said that if Venezuela persists in its refusal to participate in the matter, the rules provide for the court to proceed, after a full hearing of the case, to a final judgment that is legally binding on both the participating and nonparticipating parties.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to reiterate that Guyana fully respects the decision of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to choose the International Court of Justice as the means of settlement of the controversy and is confident that the court is fully empowered to decide the case,” the Foreign Ministry added.

Guyana had filed an application with the ICJ on March

29, 2018, requesting the court to confirm the legal validity and binding effect of the 1899 Arbitral Award regarding the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela.

Guyana is contending that the 1899 Award was “a full, perfect, and final settlement” of all questions relating to determining the boundary line between the colony of British Guiana and Venezuela. It is also Guyana’s position that, between November 1900 and June 1904, a joint Anglo-Venezuelan Boundary Commission “identified, dem`arcated and permanently fixed the boundary established by the… Award” before the signing of a Joint Declaration by the Commissioners on 10 January 1905 (referred to by Guyana as the “1905 Agreement”).

Guyana is further contending that in 1962, for the first time, Venezuela contested the Award as “arbitrary” and “null and void”.

This, according to the applicant, led to the signing of the Agreement to resolve the controversy between Venezuela and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland over the frontier between Venezuela and British Guiana at Geneva on 17 February 1966 (the Geneva Agreement), which “provided for recourse to a series of dispute settlement mechanisms to finally resolve the controversy”.

Additionally, Guyana submits that the Geneva Agreement authorised the United Nations Secretary-General to decide which appropriate dispute resolution mechanism to adopt for the peaceful settlement of the dispute, in accordance with Article 33 of the United Nations Charter.

Greenidge to lead delegation to UN

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge

…as President Granger attends to national matters

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ICE President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge will lead a high-level delegation to the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA73) set to commence at the UN Headquarters in New York from September 18.

For the first time since assuming office in May, 2015, President David Granger will not attend the UN General Assembly. According to Minister Greenidge, the President opted not to attend the high-level meeting in New York because he plans to focus on developments unfolding in his homeland.

“The President of course has to, in normal circumstances, weigh the time he can spare for all the different demands on his time, and

in view of the other things that are unfolding including Local Government Elections, he has decided that he will not be able to spare the time to travel,” the Foreign Affairs Minister explained during a press conference on Monday.

While the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly will open on September 18, 2018, the Annual General Debate will start on Tuesday September 25 under the theme “Making the United Nations relevant to all people: Global leadership and shared responsibilities for peaceful, equitable and sustainable societies.”

On the sideline of the UN General Assembly, Minister Greenidge is expected to meet with the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres to discuss the Guyana/Venezuela Border Controversy and recent de-

velopments following his decision to refer the more than a century-old border controversy to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The high-level delegation, led by Minister Greenidge, will also engage in bilateral talks with member states from across the globe, particularly those from Latin America, Europe, and Africa. The high-level team is also expected to engage officials from the Commonwealth Secretariat and other international institutions.

Also on the sideline, discussions will be held on the Contonou Agreement, which is set to expire in 2020. Minister Greenidge, who first served as a member of the Negotiating Troika for Lomé III in 1983 when he was Minister of Finance of Guyana, is deputy to the Chief Negotiator,

representing the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) in the postContonou negotiations.

“The significance of the Contonou is something I always emphasise because it is the main source of concessional funding to the Carib-

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bean,” Minister Greenidge told reporters.

The 79 ACP Member States have agreed to a draft negotiating mandate as a collective group and to seek a legally-binding arrangement with the European Union that builds

on the current Agreement.

The new agreement is expected to take account of the issues of middle income countries, small island developing states (SIDS), least developed countries and landlocked developing countries (LLDCs).

#SNAPSHOTS

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending September 12, 2018

Griffith calls for citizens' support in fighting crime Police Commissioner Gary Griffith is urging members of the public to be the game changers in the fight against crime, by supporting police officers.

He pledged to do all in his power to weed out rogue elements in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), and in so doing appealed to the business community for respect of police officers and the fostering of a good working relationship, to effectively rid communities of criminality.

Government ‘must be straight’ with external creditors A prominent economist is warning the Mia Mottley administration that failure to be open and upfront with external creditors on stalled debt payments, could undo efforts to bring Barbados out of an economic quagmire.

Verbal Contract Outrage! - NIA Says NESoL Breached Good-Governance Procedures!

DBF WARNS PRIVATE SECTOR TO SAFEGUARD INVESTMENTS IN LIGHT OF TS ISAAC

Anti-corruption watchdog group National Integrity Action (NIA) has expressed outrage over revelations that Peak Energy Solutions - a company whose shareholder is Constantine Gordon was contracted on word of mouth. The company was paid $12.16 million worth of taxpayers' money to carry out work on behalf of National Energy Solutions Limited (NESoL)

As Dominica prepares for the arrival of another weather system which may be Tropical Storm Isaac or Hurricane Isaac, the Dominica Business Forum (DBF) Inc. calls on the Private Sector to take measures to safeguard investments and to be reminded of the unfortunate experiences of Hurricane Maria, the subsequent looting, and relative inactivity of the Police just under a year ago.

Jamaica ranked amongst 2018 start-up hot spots

Agricultural sector development key to sustaining the economy

Jamaica moved up 0.57 per cent in its rating for starting a business to secure its place as the fifth best country in the world to open a business, according to the latest Global Banking and Finance Review.

The island, rated at 97.3, was the only Caribbean country to be ranked amongst the 12 best economies in the world to start a business. New Zealand copped the number one spot, while Canada, Hong Kong, Georgia and Jamaica were categorised as the 2018 start-up hotspots.

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — A strong agricultural sector remains vital to the success of a diversified economy and food security in St. Kitts and Nevis, said Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Harris, during his Sept.

10 appearance on Straight Talk.

“We want to produce more of what we need and what we want in the country,” the Prime Minister said. “We have to see greater production of fruits and vegetables and a significant increase in the production in terms of agro-processed products in St. Kitts and Nevis.”

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending September 12, 2018

Energy Ministry not likely before 2020 – President Granger

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HE A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government is not likely to establish the Ministry of Energy before 2020, President David Granger has said.

The President, during his August 31, 2018 press conference noted his administration’s intention to establish a ministry that would be responsible for the oil-and-gas sector but on Wednesday he clarified that the Ministry of Energy would not likely be established before 2020.

It is 2020 when US oil-giant ExxonMobil is expected to start pumping for oil here in the Stabroek Block, and also when Guyanese are expected to head to the polls for the General and Regional Elections.

On the sideline of the swearing-in ceremony of the Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority at State House on Wednesday, President Granger told reporters that the present configuration of Cabinet is determined by the Cummingsburg Accord – the

agreement that brought the APNU and AFC together as a coalition to contest the May 2015 Elections.

Based on the present configuration, he said it is not likely that after three years in Government, a new ministry would be created.

“I think at this stage after three years we wouldn’t want to add a new ministry, particularly as the Department of Energy is now being established in terms of its organisation, administration, legislation,” the President explained.

Noting that the task ahead of the Department of Energy, headed by Dr Mark Bynoe, is tremendous, President Granger said, “It probably would not be before 2020 that a full blown ministry could be established.”

He added: “Even if we wanted to do it, I think it would be a rush job. It would be hasty to attempt to do it.”

The Department of Energy is currently assembling a team as Guyana prepares for the production of oil and gas in 2020. In a move to strengthen its petroleum management department,

Government in August appointed Matthew Wilks – an experienced senior oil and gas business developer and negotiator – as the Oil and Gas Adviser in the Department of Energy.

Wilks, who brings with him 32 years of experience in the global oil and gas industry, will offer critical advice to Dr Bynoe – an Environment and Resource Economist. Dr Bynoe for-

merly headed the Project Development and Management Unit of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC).

The Department of Energy, which was established on August 1, falls directly under the Ministry of the Presidency and follows a proposal by Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman to have specialised attention placed on the petroleum sector, giv-

en the complexity of tasks that exist with the administering of such resources.

Under the current construct, a quintet of ministers is given support to the department. The ministers – Minister of Finance Winston Jordan, the Minister of State Joseph Harmon, the Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson, and the Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman have been

President David Granger speaking to reporters at State House on Wednesday

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paying attention to several critical areas that would set a foundation for the effective and efficient management of the industry.

These include the organisational structure of the department; legislation to be introduced for the sector; negotiation with potential investors; exploration and production licences; public communication responsibilities; the engagement of technical experts; the establishment of a Sovereign Wealth Fund; capacity-building measures; the review of fiscal contractual terms; and the transfer of responsibility from the Ministry of Natural Resources to the department.

In August, the Government presented a Green Paper to the National Assembly under the titled ‘Managing Future Petroleum Revenues and Establishment of Fiscal Rule and a Sovereign Wealth Fund’, which is expected to lay the foundation for the Sovereign Wealth Fund legislation, expected to be laid in the National Assembly before the end of 2018.

Jagdeo Cabinet hauled before SOCU …for role in sale of Pradoville 2 lands

Former government officials outside the offices of SOCU on Wednesday. From left is opposition MP Pauline Sukhai, former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, opposition MP Anil Nandlall, who appeared as an attorney on their behalf and former Minister of Local Government, Kellawan Lall. (Samuel Maughn photo)

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ORMER President and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds along with several other former government officials on Wednesday afternoon appeared before the Special Organised Crimes Unit (SOCU) for questioning in relation to the role they played in the sale of state lands at Pradoville 2.

Hinds was accompanied

by former Minister of Local Government Kellawan Lall; former Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai; former Minister of Health Dr Bheri Ramsarran and former Minister of Housing Irfaan Ali, on Wednesday afternoon.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, former Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon, Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira and

former Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee also received calls from SOCU for questioning. Opposition Member of Parliament Anil Nandlall, told reporters prior to the meeting with SOCU on Wednesday afternoon that “as far as we are aware,” certain members of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Cabinet who attended a particular meeting in March 2010 have

been invited by SOCU for questioning.

Following the appearance, Nandlall, who was making an appearance as an attorney for his colleagues, told reporters that the former ministers were asked a number of questions in relation to Pradoville2. He said it was the subject of a Cabinet meeting back in 2010.

“Nobody could remember, the Cabinet meeting took place 10 years ago or thereabout and therefore hardly can anyone remember what transpired at the Cabinet meeting,” Nandlall said.

He said what was discussed at Cabinet is a confidential matter and that members of Cabinet cannot disclose “confidential matters “to anyone. He said too that the former ministers were shown by SOCU a document that has a format of Cabinet, but he noted that it appears to have been unsigned.

Nandlall said a number of other officials of the former government are expected to appear at SOCU and when asked if Jagdeo will appear, he said “I have no such information.” He said he believes the entire situation “is designed to culminate in some set of charges which we have been told are likely to come.”He posited that SOCU is building a case and what he considers “relevant evidence” towards the establishment of a case.

He said his clients have refused to sign the documents that contain the answers to the questions which they were asked, because they were refused a copy of the document containing their answers.

Earlier on Wednesday, former ministers of government Manzoor Nadir and Robeson Benn were grilled by SOCU. Speaking to another media entity, former Minister of Edu-

cation Priya Manickchand said: “It appears that SOCU has again begun to call all the ministers of the former administration -- the PPP/C government-- to continue with the puppy show they are going on with.”

The Guyana Chronicle reported recently that charges are expected to be instituted against persons fingered in the Sparendaam Housing Project AKA Pradoville Two, land scam, according to a well-placed source. The Guyana Chronicle understands that investigations into the housing project are near completion, and that charges could be laid soon. The investigations are based on a forensic audit which found that several persons close to the last government had received prime seafront property belonging to the state at extraordinarily low cost.

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New police complaints chair to tackle backlog of cases

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RESIDENT David Granger swore in Justice William Ramlal as the new Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority on Wednesday– a move intended to increase the public’s trust in the Guyana Police Force.

Addressing the backlog of cases before the authority would be the first order of business when the chairman settles in his new post. Ramlal, a retired judge of the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana, who is specialises in criminal and civil law, was sworn in in the presence of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Minister of State Joseph Harmon, Chairman of the Police Service Commission Paul Slowe and Commissioner of Police Leslie James, at State House. The Police Complaints Authority was established under the Police Complaints Authority Act (1989) as an independent body vested with the powers to receive “complaints of specified cases of misconduct by members of the Police Force” and “supervise investigation of certain serious crimes alleged to have been committed by members of the Police Force.”

In his address, President Granger said Ramlall’s appointment is consistent with the government’s commitment to increasing public trust in the Police Force.

“The authority can help to improve the level of public trust between the police and the public. The authority is a critical link between the police and the public. It provides a means through which the public can have its grievances against police malpractice addressed in an impartial manner by an independent person,” the President told those present.

He noted too that the PCA serves as a public defence against the force’s abuse of citizens’ rights, noting that it is an avenue that citizens can use to hold members of the force accountable for their actions.

“The authority can engender greater public trust in the force by ensuring that the force’s actions are in conformity with respect for human rights, including

the right to life and liberty – rights, which are guaranteed by the constitution,” President Granger further explained.

In an effort to effectively discharge its mandate, the authority must be honest, impartial, and independent, the President said, as he extended a hand of support from the executive branch.

Moments after receiving his instrument of appointment from President Granger, Ramlal told reporters that his first order of business would be getting acquainted with staff and assessing the backlog of cases. “There hasn’t been an authority there for a while, so I expect the backlog to be humongous,” he told reporters.

Ramlall, however, admitted that he has never visited the authority’s office. “I don’t have any idea at the moment what is the status of the affairs of the authority. I never went there, so until I get there and can

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President David Granger presenting Justice (Ret’d) William Ramlal with his instrument of appointment shortly after being sworn in.

(Samuel Maughn’s Photo)

assess what are the difficulties, I wouldn’t be able to comment on that,” the chairman said, when asked by the Guyana Chronicle if the authority is well equipped to execute its functions.

Ramlal also served as a magistrate for several years; a State Counsel in the Attorney General’s Chambers; a teacher of Commercial Law and led a successful private practice. The retired judge attended the University of Guyana, where he read for the Bachelor of Laws Part One before proceeding to the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, where he completed Parts Two and Three. He is also the holder of the Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School and was a part of several professional training programmes.

His appointment comes more than a year after former Chancellor of the Judiciary Cecil Kennard retired from the position in 2017.

Gov’t to release MoU with T&T -- President Granger

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RESIDENT David Granger said his government does not have a problem making public the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in oil and gas it intends to sign with Trinidad and Tobago.

“It is not a secret document, it is just an agreement to cooperate,” the President told reporters at State House on Wednesday. He noted that the MoU was vetted by the Department of Energy headed by Dr Mark Bynoe, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “I will ask for that document to be released,” the President assured.

On Wednesday, it was expected that the MoU for cooperation in oil and gas would have been signed between the two CARICOM countries, along with a Framework Agreement for the deepening of bilateral cooperation, but the signing was postponed. Another date is being considered. The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) had publicly called on the Guyana Government not to sign the MoU last week, contending that it must first view the content of

the ‘agreement.’

Amid the concerns of the GCCI, the Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge dispelled the notion that that MoU on the oil and gas sector was a binding agreement.

“The MoU itself is usually followed by more concrete arrangements between the relevant sectors, it is not by itself a binding instrument,” Minister Greenidge explained earlier this week.

Since last year, the government had signalled its intent of renewing the Framework Agreement for the deepening of bilateral cooperation with Trinidad and Tobago. The Framework Agreement was signed between the two parties in August 1999 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and was valid for 10 years initially and then renewed for five successive periods, but was never enacted.

“It was a 10-year MoU, it was signed and no riot occurred, no sector was destroyed, there was no apocalypse and I am sure this will not happen on this occasion either and the same thing applies to the MoU

in relation to the Belt and Road Project,” Minister Greenidge added.

Days after issuing its call, GCCI, in a press statement, said it remains supportive of foreign investors in Guyana.

“The GCCI believes that foreign investors have played, and continue to play, an integral role in driving economic growth and national development. In an era of global business, the benefits of international cooperation in key areas of private sector development are undeniable. Technology transfer, skills development, international markets for goods and services are a few areas where readily, the engagement of foreign investors and companies can bode well for private sector development,” the GCCI said in a statement on Monday.

Noting that it is supportive of partnerships with Guyana’s Caribbean counterparts in the spirit of regionalism, the GCCI said it endorses collaboration with Trinidad and Tobago in the oil and gas sector.

Mabaruma residents

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending September 12, 2018

provide lands for Venezuelan migrants

Khan’s Hill, an area at Mabaruma close to the solar farm where the migrants have settled

By Alva Solomon

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HOUGH in unfamiliar territory, indigenous Venezuelan migrants at Mabaruma have been offered parcels of land by residents on which to resettle.

The Warrau population of approximately 103 persons have been camping out at Khan’s Hill, a small, sparsely populated community outside the North West District town. Some have also settled at White Water village close to the border with Venezuela.

Leomie Willis, the community development officer attached to the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, has been busy tending to the migrants. She told the Guyana Chronicle that having lived among the tribe in Venezuela; she is familiar with their way of life.

She also told the Guyana Chronicle that lands have been given to the group by the village leader at Khan’s Hill, Ernest Santiago for the group to adopt.

“I also learnt that Mr. Monty Broomes [Mabaruma businessman] gave them a piece of place behind the Mabaruma Compound, closer to the water,” she added. She said the migrants have been leaving Khan’s Hill by foot, walking for several miles to the Aruka River to fish.

“Close to the water is good for them because it will be better for them to fish,” Willis, who was on her way to provide fish and other food stuff to the migrants, told the Guyana Chronicle.

Willis, who played a pivotal role in the migrants settling at Khan’s Hill, said the migrants were medically examined and according to her, within the group are several persons who are willing to earn a living “trying to help themselves.” However, she said some are still dependent on the authorities to feed and clothe them.

At the business community of Kumaka, the migrants can be seen searching for odd jobs even as residents of the area provide assistance in whatever way possible. Other Venezuelan nationals have been working and setting up small businesses such as stalls at Kumaka. It was noted by residents that a number of Venezuelans of Guyanese heritage have returned to the area.

The Guyana Government has been distributing food items and other supplies to assist the migrants through various organisations such as the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).

This past week the CDC visited Mabaruma and with the assistance of the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Defence Force and the Regional Democratic Council of Region One (Barima/Waini), conducted a distribution exercise to assist the migrants.

CDC Head, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, told the Guyana Chronicle that 46 nonfood hampers and 36 food hampers were distributed to the migrants at Khan’s Hill outside

Community Development Officer, Leomie Willis was on her way to provide fish and other commodities to the Venezuelan migrants at Mabaruma when she spoke to this publication

Mabaruma as well as at White Water Village and Gajah landing near the indigenous village.

The food hampers were distributed to the CDC by DeSinco Trading while the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) also provided hampers.

Craig said a new group of migrants entered White Water village this past week and the CDC has advised the Ministry of Public Health to conduct normal screening procedures, including vaccinations. He said another relief exercise if planned for the region in the new week.

Meanwhile, Willis said the authorities at Mabaruma have expressed concern about the incidence of prostitution which she noted has been observed and linked to the migrants at Kumaka.

She said that the migrants have been informed by the regional authorities about the act, noting that the otherwise peaceful communities within the sub-region are mindful of prostitution and the negative impact, including health impacts, which it brings.

Making music his life

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending September 12, 2018

Chris Ove

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OU may not know the name Chris Ove, but in a few months you just might be hearing a lot more about this talented singer and if you give his single “Another Lover” a listen, you’ll see why.

Chris, real name Christopher Davis, released the single on September 1, and it has been getting a lot of love on social media from the ladies, ever since.

And it should since it was a lady that inspired the lyrics in the first place.

Chris sat down with The Buzz earlier this week to share the story behind this smooth single that has ladies hooked.

“The instrumental was sent to me by my producer Jonathan Tailor, and I didn’t really like it at Guyanese singer Chris Ove first, but then I was at this party and I was vibing on this young lady and she had some issues with her boyfriend and I stepped up to her, started having a conversation and eventually she ended up leaving her boyfriend and we got together,” Chris shared, unashamedly. Chris Ove is one young man who is owning his “sweet boy” status.

“So I was home alone and I just threw on the instrumental and I was feeling excited because I’ve never took away a guy’s girl in the club before. So I was listening to the instrumental and the chorus just started coming to me.

Once I get the chorus before the verses it’s always a great song,” he explained.

Chris spit the lyrics to the young lady in a social media voice note and she loved it and soon she wasn’t the only young lady in love with the tune.

The song has a hypnotic beat that just lets you know that it’s going to be stuck in your head for a while.

The track is not Chris’ first, but definitely the one that’s getting him noticed, and getting persons to sit up and realise we may have something big here. It’s his fourth single and will be a part of an upcoming album that he’s currently working on, that’s set for release on October 22, his birthday.

“The name of the Project is ‘Less Pleasure, More Pain’. The reason why I came up with that name is, for me personally when in a relationship you go through more pain than usual, when you first start off yeah, you go through a lot of pleasure but after then something might happen and you’re arguing and fighting all of the time,” Chris reasoned. “It’s the intro track and six songs. There are two songs about pleasure, a song that meets everybody in the middle, a song that comes out of that song, and then it leads into the tracks about pain. And yes, there will be a launch party.”

Though it has taken him a while to realise it, deep down, Chris Ove has always known he was meant to be a singer and a ladies’ man. And the two seem to go hand in hand, when it comes to Chris’ inspiration for his music, there seems to always be a lady behind his lyrics.

Though he has spent a large portion of his life living overseas, sitting down and talking to the laid back, 19-yearold, you would never believe it, with hardly even the hint of an accent. And definitely none of the “yankee airs” that many overseas Guyanese are often known for.

When you speak to Chris Ove you get a Guyanese who’s true to his roots and proud of his people and what they’re about. It’s only when he’s home that Chris really gets serious with his music.

“I mainly started making music because it’s a way of life for me, I can’t go to sleep without listening to music. I wake up and I’m listening to music. I’m versatile but I like making R&B, soul music, afro-fusion, a little bit of dancehall mix. But R&B and soul are really it,” Chris related.

After leaving Guyana when he was eight years old, Chris returned in 2010 for a short while and was enrolled in school here for a bit, and it was then that he was persuaded by his teachers to represent his school at the Schools’ Mashramani Competition in the calypso category, where he finished in second place.

After returning to the US, his academics once again overshadowed any musical aspirations he may have had, but it by no means put an end to them.

“When I did the calypso competition, I really felt love for my country. When I went back it was more of crunch time trying to write Pre-SATs. I was mainly focused on that. I wasn’t focused on music fully until I came back to Guyana,” Chris relayed.

Six years later he was back in Guyana, where it all started, and music once again began to take a leading. It all started for Chris in his hometown in Berbice, when he took his inspirations from listening to Michael Jackson “Michael Jackson, that’s all I should say. Back then we had black and white TV and a bunch of VCRs and stuff and I would watch a bunch of Michael Jackson videos and singing. I was about five. So it was definitely the influences of Michael Jackson and even Chris Brown,” Chris said.

Now all these years later Chris is still dreaming about making it just as big.

He’s currently working with Morocco & Co., through their distribution division Mor Global, to market and distribute his music internationally.

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Guyana Cultural Association of New York delivered again

By Francis Quamina Farrier

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HE four annual events of the Guyana Cultural Association of New York, Inc. - the Awards Ceremony, the ‘Kwe Kwe’ Nite, the Literary Hang and the Family Fun Day, were all up to expectations. One may even say, above expectations. In his message, President of the GCA, Dr. Vibert Cambridge, stated, “This year, the Guyana Folk Festival explores Ma’iupe, the tradition of working together,” and thanked the many sponsors who have supported the Guyana Folk Festival; many of whom have done so over the years. Last week, I reported on the awards ceremony, which was the first of the four events and promised to report on the other three events this week.

Well, here they are; THE KWE KWE NITE: This event is always held on the last Friday night before the annual Labour Day West Indian Carnival in Brooklyn, New York. It is also always well-attended. Most years there are some Guyanese visiting from out of state and in a few instances, Guyanese visiting from home.

This year, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon was present. Also in the audience was the Guyana Consul General in New York, Barbara Atterley.

The origin of this pre-wedding ‘Kwe Kwe’ ceremony has its roots in Africa. Over the years, it has been usually held in Guyana by Guyanese of African Heritage and

almost always in one of the rural villages. A reality is that on an occasion or two, there were real

and other intellectuals together, where literary works are read and discussed. In every case,

This year, the book of choice was “Stepping on Cracks, Reflections on my Homeland” by Dr.

Dancer Rose October-Edun on stage at the Family Fun Day

life fiances who were in the GCA ‘Kwe Kwe’ event. It is also known that some Guyanese weddings in the USA do have a pre-wedding ‘Kwe Kwe’ ceremony.

At this year’s GCA ‘Kwe Kwe’, there was a ground-breaking collaboration between the Guyanese ‘Kwe Kwe’ chanters and drummers and a similar group from The Gambia in West Africa. Playing the role of the bride-to-be, was one of the young female members of the Gambian group. What was surprising, or in fact, not surprising, was the way the Guyanese and Gambians fused their chanting and drumming. For someone who was not told in advance, they would have been totally unaware that the drummers were individuals from different sides of the Atlantic Ocean. The two groups readily forged into one and got the participation of the large audience who joined in singing.

THE LITERARY HANG This event brings Guyanese authors, poets

she is a native of Linden, Region 10, where the action of the book takes place. On the other side of the age range was the 23-year-old rising star Clinton Duncan, who is a playwright and actor. He spoke of his writing projects, and more importantly, his attachment to a production on Broadway. This young dramatist may likely be the first Guyanese to make it really big on Broadway in New York City. Also making presentations at the Literary Hang, were Dr. Lear Matthews, Patricia Jordon-Langford and Ronald Lammy.

While journalists prefer to report the news, rather than to be aspects of the news, it is sometimes unavoidable to omit one’s involvement in a happening. For example, it is somewhat difficult for me to report that I was one of the presenters at this year’s GCA Literary Hang, at which I read some of my poems. However, in a way, I am reporting Farrier the poet and not Farrier the journalist.

One of the poems which I read, “We Are Older Now”, was a Prize Win-

that position, I answered questions from members of the audience, instead of me asking the questions. That reversal of roles, which is very rare, was a good experience.

There was a minute of silence held to the honour and memory of the late Romesh Singh, a member of the Guyana Cultural Association Board of Directors who died on August 17, at age 67. Romesh who hailed from Subryanville in Georgetown resided in New Jersey, USA and was very active in the programmes of the Guyana Cultural Association, especially with literary and journalistic projects.

THE FAMILY FUN DAY This very popular event brings down the curtains on the four annual events of the Guyana Cultural Association of New York, Inc. It is an open-air event at which there are varied stage performances, as well as many stalls at which Young Bill Rogers on stage at the GCA Family Fun Day 2018, in Brooklyn, New York Art and Craft items are on sale. There are also a number of stalls at which a wide range of food and drinks are on sale. Among the artistes entertaining the packed venue in Brooklyn this year was Young Bill Rogers. In the audience were three elected officials; Minister of State Joseph Harmon, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan and New York State Senator, GuyGambians in the front row with Guyanese in the back row; the two cultures seemed identical as they chanted andplayed ana-born Roxanne their pulsating Kwe Kwe songs (Photos by F.Q. Farrier) Persaud. Also gracing the event with his awesome presence books are on sale either Carmen Barclay Sub- ner at the recent poet- was one of the greatest by the authors them- ryan. A retired professor ry competition by The test cricketers of all selves or their agents. at Howard University, Guyana Annual 2018. In time, Clive Lloyd.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending September 12, 2018

A true patriot

Shawn McAllister

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- Shawn McAllister

MIGRATING often changes people and in some cases make them forget the bounties of their homeland and even the memories which they once held close to them.

One person who refuses to forget where he came from is Shawn McAllister, who sincerely believes that people must maintain their identity even after migrating.

McAllister, who now lives in the United States of America (USA), said he had an amazing childhood in Guyana and for that, he feels the need to keep those great memories close to his heart.

“Displaying my country’s name or image on a shirt gives me the greatest feeling, but even better to know that I designed it,” said the young designer.

His fascination for computers/technology started when he was a child, but he really got to explore it when he migrated to the US back in 1997.

“I eventually got my certificate in Computer System Design in 2004. During that same year, I started finding computer graphics to be much more interesting, so I decided to learn it on my own,” said McAllister.

That decision was the stepping stone to the establishment of his US-based clothing store, DemRoc Clothing Inc. He is the proud owner of the fully branded store which was opened on August 25, 2018.

Although he has used technology to complement his designs, McAllister was never intrigued by the latest gears and fashion.

“My style of fashion has always been very simple but clean cut. The discovery of the two brands Sean John by Diddy and Roca Wear by Jay-Z opened my eyes to a whole new world of what I want to look like when I leave the house,” he said, adding that when he got the opportunity to create his own brand, he had a sense of what to pattern it after.

Getting to where he is today was not easy but although the challenges were not unusual, his biggest challenge was himself.

“The ability to believe in yourself is one of the greatest hurdles any entrepreneur will face.

You cannot sell, teach nor promote anything to the best of your ability if you don’t believe. The moment I understood what I was capable of, my entire perspective changed,” he explained, adding that past challenges will always prepare persons for the new ones ahead.

McAllister also believes that the support from family members is important because self-motivation is often limited.

With continued support and commitment, he hopes to one day have a physical store in Guyana. While he does not have a physical presence in Guyana, he has been able to do business through shipping.

“I would sometimes send down t-shirts based on what’s in demand to sell generally. At the end of the day when all is said and done, I would love to see DemRoc being worn throughout the entire country,” said the young designer.

McAllister said he will continue to approach every day with optimism and not just to be motivated by fame and money because that can sometimes be the fastest way to failure.

He believes that the passion and love for what you do will always make room to take you to the next level. The blueprint for everything he does is to stay focused, invest time, remain humble and be patient.

Persons who wish to see his work could follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @demrocclothing.

Guyana doing reasonably well on diplomatic front --Min. Greenidge reports, particularly in area of trade

By Lisa Hamilton

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HE Foreign Affairs Ministry has had many successes of late in the area of economic diplomacy, particularly now that new opportunities are open to the country.

“We have worked and had successes on a variety of fronts. The ambassadors in a range of locations... In India, there is work done in relation to new initiatives by way of markets and collaborations,” Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge said Monday.

“They are working in relation to areas by way of exports, alcohol, products coming out of Demerara Distillers Limited for example.

“In Cuba, we’ve also had success where markets in relation to rice and paddy and Panama have [also] had success, in some of them for the first time,” he told media operatives at a press conference here.

He said that outside of rice, there have been many other successes in accessing markets in Latin America and elsewhere.

“They were able to conclude with a South African company, maybe more than one, that in light of the prospects in Guyana and output of gold, for example, and other precious minerals, there could be refining done in Guyana by a South African company,” Minister Greenidhe said, adding: “This is what economic diplomacy is about; they are now waiting on information from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana

Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to take that process further.

“That is new; it hasn’t been done before, and this is one of the examples of what we have done, and what can be achieved.”

He said that although on the surface there seems to have been no “dramatic changes”, engagements are being had regularly at the policy level, whereby prospects are examined to determine the feasibility of proposed ventures.

Said he: “Unfortunately, in the known course of events, unless there is a crisis, like a war, aggression, bombing or something, in diplomacy, a lot of it is routine.

“You are not in a position to report dramatic changes from day to day; it is the leg-work that has to be done that takes you forward.”

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending September 12, 2018

Liverpool FC signs Golden Jaguars goalkeeper

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IVERPOOL FC, one of the most storied clubs in the English Premier League, yesterday signed Guyana’s national goalkeeper Kai McKenzie-Lyle.

The details of the former Barnet stopper was on a try-out with the club, coached

by Jurgen Klopp this summer, and impressed the ‘reds’ boss enough for the Guyanese to make a move to Anfield.

Via his Instagram, the Golden Jaguars keeper said, “Happy for my new challenge with Liverpool FC.” He also thanked his agency, 10Ten Talent, which is owned by Terry Byrne, who represents some of football’s biggest stars.

McKenzie-Lyle joined Tottenham Hotspur as an Under-10 before he moved to Barnet as an Under-14, and progressed through the club’s academy to become first-choice keeper for the Under-18s. He first appeared on the bench for the first team in October 2014.

The Guyanese keeper made his first team debut on September 12, 2015 in a 1–3 away defeat by Portsmouth coming on as a substitute for John Akinde after regular goalkeeper Jamie Stephens had been sent off.

McKenzie-Lyle joined St Ives Town in August 2017 on loan and also played for Hayes & Yeading United on loan in December 2017.

McKenzie-Lyle, who scored on his debut for Guyana during their 2-3 defeat against Suriname, last turned out against Barbados in the Golden Jaguars’ 2-2 draw at the National Track and Field Centre in the CONCACAF Nations League.

DONE DEAL!

Guyana’s national goalkeeper Kai McKenzie-Lyle (centre) following his contract signing, where he joined English Premier League side Liverpool FC.

Kai McKenzie-Lyle

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition week ending September 12, 2018

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From left: Assistant coach Graceland University, Chelsea Phillips; International Team coordinator Paul Beresford; Natalie Nedd and head coach of Graceland University, Ozzie White

Lady Jags ‘keeper’ Nedd secures Graceland University scholarship

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HE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) along with The International Supporters Group (ISG) is proud to announce the first female football player in Guyana’s history to be signed to a scholarship at an American University.

Natalie Nedd, goalkeeper for the Senior Women’s Football team, commonly known as the ‘Lady Jags’, started school at Graceland University, which competed in National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), on August 27.

Nedd was recruited by the school as part of a programme established by the

GFF and ISG to identify and promote national team players for scholarship opportunities in the USA and Canada.

In an invited comment, president of the GFF, Wayne Forde, said providing development opportunities for footballers to pursue education and football ambitions is part of the mandate of the Executive Committee.

“My constitutional mandate is to develop football but my moral calling is to create an environment where the beautiful game can enrich the lives of every man, woman, and child. That is the full measure of my service to the football community.

The executive committee

is determined to create scholarship opportunities across the world that will give our players access to world class education, along with solid professional football development experiences.

My best wishes and prayers go out to Natalie; make us proud,” Forde said.

“This is a very important first for the women’s programme and Natalie is a great representative for the programme; we will be following her progress closely,” said Technical Director Ian Greenwood.

For his part, Paul Beresford, GFF’s International Team Coordinator, who went to Iowa for Natalie’s signing ceremony and first college match said this is a start of a long-term process to achieve development within Guyana.

“This has been part of the vision of the GFF current leadership and the ISG. The partnership is a strong one that I know will benefit not only the players but the country as these players give back to Guyana using the knowledge gained from the education afforded to them through these scholarships. We want to make Guyana a primary destination for college coaches to recruit players going forward.”

Head coach of the ‘Lady Jags’ Dr Ivan Joseph said having players consistently training and playing is a key strategic element of the national programme.

Meanwhile, head coach of Graceland University, who recruited and signed Nedd to her four-year scholarship and was instrumental in working through the challenges she faced during the college application process, expressed his thoughts on Natalie’s arrival.

“We at Graceland University are excited and proud to partner with the Guyana Football Federation and the International Supporters Group to provide a pathway for Guyanese student/athletes to receive a quality education and a fantastic football experience in the USA. Natalie Nedd is the first recipient and she is a fine choice. Natalie ticks all of the boxes we are looking for.

She is a quality person with great habits and work ethic.

I have no doubt that Natalie will succeed in the classroom and on the pitch. I am grateful for the work that Paul Beresford and the Guyana Football Federation are doing to make this opportunity possible.”

The GFF said they are aiming to welcome more colleges into the programme and are looking forward to the impact it will have on Guyanese footballers as well as the country as these student athletes return to Guyana to repay the investment the federation and the footballing community have made in their education and career.