Friday June 02, 2017
Govt. moves to introduce new laws for scrap metal trade
Government has completed draft legislations to govern the scrap metal trade. Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, will soon present to Cabinet the Draft Scrap Metal Trade Legislation. The minister said that consultations on the legislation will commence soon. Thereafter the necessary changes will be made and presented to Cabinet for approval. Minister Gaskin explained that Cabinet will examine the draft legislation to ensure that it is in keeping with the government policies, priorities and that the various concerns surrounding the scrap metal industry are addressed. He said that once approved and the consultation process would have been completed it will then move
to Parliament for passage, after which President David Granger would assent to it…The legislation will then become law. In February, Cabinet granted approval for the limited restart of the Scrap Metal Trade-— that three-month period had just concluded. Minister Gaskin explained that the Ministry has already begun to process some licenses. Inspections have revealed that there is large buildup of scrap metal across Region Four which resulted from the trade being closed for the past 19 months. According to a government statement, Cabinet had approved the proposal from the Minister of Business to
allow the export of the existing stock over a limited period of time. Additionally, the Ministry of Business, in anticipation of the resumption of the scrap metal trade sought to streamline mechanisms with respect to trade and licensing. The Ministry also met with key stakeholders to discuss proposed changes to the operations of the industry. The Scrap metal trade was suspended in June 15, 2015 due to a forensic audit of the Scrap Metal Unit (SMU) which monitors the trade. Several issues were found with the trade, including some operators buying stolen metal, including the highlyprized copper.
Guyanese contractor implicated in Schenectady insurance killing Schenectady, New York (timesunion.com)- The reputed Panamanian gang member who police and prosecutors alleged was hired to kill a Schenectady man last year for life insurance money was arraigned Wednesday in Schenectady City Court during a brief court appearance. Joevany “Moon” Luna, who was dressed in a redcoloured hoodie and bleached blue jeans, stood next to his court appointed public defender, Sven Paul. The 42-year-old Luna is charged with first-degree murder in the November 19 execution style killing of Charles Dembrosky on Campbell Avenue in Schenectadys Bellevue section neighborhood. Luna, who was sent without bail to the county jail, is scheduled to return to court Friday for a preliminary hearing. By then, a county grand jury considering the evidence
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Kaieteur News
Tarchand Lall (Photo: Schenectady Police Department)
Killed: Charles Dembrosky (Photo: Schenectady Police Department)
in the case will most likely have taken action against him. Lunas alleged accomplice, Tarchand Lall, the Schenectady man police say arranged the killing, is being held without bail at the county jail. He is due back in court Thursday. Lall is also
charged with first-degree murder and is the one who police say ordered the hit so he could collection on a life insurance policy that was taken out in Dembroskys name. Lall, who is from Guyana in South America, ran a small construction company where (Continued on page 12)
West Berbice sweeper/cleaners seek better working conditions People employed as cleaners in the government schools in Region Five have become quite perturbed after an article carried in the May 12 edition of the Kaieteur News, that stated that the Ministry of Education was considering slashing the working hours for sweepercleaners working in Government schools. The government in the last national budget presentation announced that as of January 2017, the minimum wage in the private sector would see a 25 percent increase, which would be good news for those who stand to benefit. The minimum wage within the public sector stands at $50,000 per month, however the Sweeper-cleaners are calling out for attention, and they would want their case to be addressed by the relevant authority, and to be treated as being urgent. They are on the job throughout the day just like
the teachers, and they leave after most of the teachers would have left for home, because they have to ensure that the facilities are in good sanitary condition so that the nations children can pursue their education in reasonably healthy surroundings. Yet, in their view, the sweeper- cleaners have been made to feel neglected over the years, and they are complaining bitterly. They do not understand why it is that they are paid by the Government, but earn an amount that is below the minimum wage that was announced in Parliament. Of those people with whom this publication had an audience, they claim that they are paid thirty- seven thousand dollars per month, and they receive payment through the Regional Administration/Government. Many of these people have been in the system for as many as ten years, and more in other cases, but have
not been contributing to NIS, and so they would not have been entitled to any benefits. Further, they cannot look forward to NIS pension even though they would have had enough contributions to qualify, had they been registered with the scheme from the time that they started working as sweeper-cleaners. The West Berbice group is mobilizing cleaners so that they could become a united body to take their concerns to whatever level may be necessary, so that they can be treated with respect for the services they provide in the nations schools. The group, last week Wednesday, in Hopetown, West Coast Berbice, had a meeting with representatives from the Guyana Public Service Union during which they were able to list their concerns. Those cleaners who attended the meeting were also mandated to seek out (Continued on page 12)