Guyana Post Wednesday February 10, 2021
FACTS OF BK WATERFRONT DEAL TWISTED TO SATISFY CERTAIN AMBITIOUS POLITICIANS - GASKIN
Dear Editor,
Mr. Ramon Gaskin
I have been following closely the news you have highlighted in your newspaper concerning the sale of a certain Water Street property to BK Marine Inc. From the reports in the media especially state media, the readers are led to believe that the transfer was attended by fraud and that it was done by the
APNU Administration. The mention of senior members the APNU administration lends credence to the notion that this was somehow a deal done by APNU. All of this is false. It so happens that in 2006 when the deal was done, I was consultant to the BK Group, and I together with Mr. Tiwarie met with Mr. Winston Brassington
to finalize the deal. All of this was done 14 years ago during the PPP/C administration. This is disappointing and truly disgusting to now see how facts can be twisted to satisfy the wicked tendencies of certain ambitious politicians. It is sad indeed. The sole purpose of this letter is to correct the false record.
I was a participant 14 years ago. The matter is heading to court and all the pertinent facts will be presented and all those who participated in the 2006 deal will have an opportunity to explain to the judge under oath what exactly happened 14 years ago. Yours Respectfully Ramon Gaskin
Fishermen call for protection from Venezuelan navy
Five fishermen who were detained by the Venezuelan Navy want protection from the Guyanese authorities. 12 fishermen from two vessels who were released last week after being detained by the Venezuelan navy in that country said that their livelihood remains affected. info@guyanapostonline.com
In what was described as a horrifying experience, five of these men told this publication that they felt they had a 50/50 chance of returning to Guyana. They ply their trade on the high seas, a job that brings a great amount of fear to their lives, and following the recent detention they feel their livelihood would be affected.
“Well, it’s a real experience for we Guyanese, because sometime you could leave your home and even know how the navy is operating on the waters if you could reach home back” Fisherman, Harrichan Omadat recalled. Omadat explained that during the day is quite calm since the navy
remains far out at sea, However, he noted that at nights the Navy would normally remain in the dark and sneak up on them as they are held at gunpoint. “Those men coming till in your waters, them men coming up far in the water. At night, by time day clean,” Omadat recounted, “remember now is the time you are working now at fishing, that is our fishing hours. So, the men would usually turn off their lights, and wait till the fishing boat puts on their lights and they are sneaking up to you. So, when they sneak up on you, you can’t go now, you have to freeze there” Omadat added. The fishermen, on the other hand, recalled that
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their valuables were taken away, those cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. As such, the fishermen are calling the authorities for protection, noting that, if it continues, their livelihood will continue to be affected since fishing is what they all depend on to feed their families. In the past month, some three Vessels were intercepted by Venezuelan naval vessel Comandante Hugo Chavez, while operating off the coast of Waini Point, in Guyana’s waters. Guyana has condemned this action and with support from the international community, called for the release and return of the vessels and crew. As such, all the vessels were released,
President Of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro called it a sign of good faith. Guyana has hailed the move, as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Huge Todd said that it now opens a space for dialogue between the two nations. Guyana continues to maintain that the men were arrested and detained while fishing in waters well within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and that the borders between the two countries were settled by an 1899 Arbitral Award. Venezuela’s rejection of the award has led to Guyana seeking a judicial settlement to the matter which is currently before the International Court of Justice.
