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Tuesday May 15, 2018
Kaieteur News
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
TAKING SUICIDE SERIOUSLY
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uicide continues to be a major social problem in Guyana. While the vast majority of Guyanese value and preserve life, some are trying to take theirs intentionally. How can people hurt so badly that they resort to commit suicide? We will never know because we do not feel the hurt the way they do. Suicide affects all segments of the population, but recent evidence suggests that young people are particularly vulnerable. To solve this problem, we must increase public awareness of mental health issues, reduce the stigma associated with suicide, provide adequate resources to relatives affected by suicide and we must take threats of suicide seriously. Suicide is a public health crisis in this country and during the last two or more decades, the rate of suicide has increased. Guyana was not so long ago considered the suicidal capital of the world and Berbice, the suicidal capital of Guyana. In 2014, a report from the World Health Organization stated that the suicide rate in Guyana was five times higher than the world average, with 44.2 persons per 100,000 and this included only reported cases. Official estimates show that between 1,500 and 2,000 persons attempt suicide each year in Guyana, which is the equivalent of one attempt every five hours. As a caring nation, we have a lot of work to do to lower the suicide rate. There are many reasons why people commit suicide. They include mental health illness such as schizophrenia, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and postpartum depression. People who have experienced shame due to divorce, or physical abuse like domestic violence and rape or have contracted certain diseases such as HIV/AIDS are also likely to commit suicide. Whether it is mental health issues, a physical ailment or a traumatic event, it should be obvious to all and sundry that people who are experiencing any of these difficulties are likely to commit suicide. Though there is public awareness of how serious suicide is, there is no system in place to monitor suicidal victims. The government has spent billions of dollars on health care annually, but there is a glaring lack of child and adolescent mental health services in the country. And with respect to psychological and counselling services there is very little that is available to help suicidal victims. The fact that the University of Guyana is currently unable to provide adequate training in child psychology which is in needed in the country is troubling. Efforts must be made to provide scholarships in this area for those interested in pursuing such studies. Too often people are afraid to talk about their mental health issues due to all sorts of pressures, stigmatization and expectations. For instance, men may see the discussion of their emotions as an affront to their masculinity. And women may be afraid of being perceived as weak or overly temperamental and may hide their feelings. There are too many gender stereotypes at work when it comes to how we handle mental health issues. However, the instances of suicide should teach us that mental health issues matter and should have the same primacy as matters of life and death. The impact of a single death by suicide cannot be overestimated or taken lightly. When someone falls victim to suicide, entire families and communities are irreparably damaged. The trauma can persist long after the loved ones are gone. It could do untold harm to relatives and communities. Not only is productivity harmed but, more importantly, great promises are lost or unfulfilled, and families are left to mourn.
Mr. Brassington’s statements on the Rusal bauxite deal must be contextualized DEAR EDITOR, Having read the article “Brassington defends Rusal bauxite deal” (SN 14th May, 2018), it is incumbent to make known the under-mentioned facts which would aid in putting context to statements reportedly made by Winston Brassington, former Head of the Privatisation Unit:i. The reported 19-man committee of stakeholders that supposedly was to guide decision-making on the way forward on the bauxite industry was cosmetic. Decisions on this industry, including the workers’ welfare, were made and implemented even before the said committee completed its work; ii. As it relates to the Linden Mining Enterprise (LINMINE), the bauxite reserves together with the plant were all sold to Cambior for the price of US$1.00; iii. Globally, natural resources reserves remain the property of the State. In putting our bauxite reserves into the sale to Cambior it carried up the value of LINMINE. When Cambior placed LINMINE on the market, which included Block 37- the largest proven resource in the
location - it brought the company a windfall profit. (The APNU+AFC Government must revisit the issue on ownership of natural resources); iv. The management of the Bauxite Industry Development Company (BIDCO) invited the Head of the Jamaica Bauxite Institute to advise on the way forward as to how Guyana should treat with its reserves and other bauxite-related resources. Arising from this engagement, a recommendation was put forward that all bauxite reserves and surveys be put under BIDCO and whenever any company needs to acquire and commence operation in any area, an application be made to BIDCO who will consider same, determine availability, and under what conditions. This recommendation was disregarded by the Government in its determination on the future of bauxite; v. The Opposition, under the leadership of Desmond Hoyte, was represented by Patrick DeFreitas on the privatisation of LINMINE. DeFreitas objected to a number of issues, among
them was the inclusion of the bauxite reserves in the privatisation deal. This led to him being thrown off the committee under the guise that the Government could not sustain the cost of his presence; vi. The statement that only RUSAL was interested in investing in Berbice is untrue. The employees of the Berbice Mining Enterprise (BERMINE) had formed a company and made a specific bid for BERMINE. The Government never responded to this, not even by acknowledgement much less engagement. This bid was placed into the box at the Privatisation Unit by Keith Payne, the employees’ company secretary, who was accompanied me. It was after this bid was made, that then President Bharrat Jagdeo visited Everton and subsequently the Kwakwani mines, where workers were offered redundancy payment and house lots (which many never received) in order to pave the way for the assets of BERMINE to be included into the Aroaima operations which were taken over by RUSAL;
vii. There is agreement with Brassington that RUSAL did not bid for the Berbice operations. In fact, these operations were given away to RUSAL in preference to the local workers who set a company to take over BERMINE; viii. Brassington’s use of the argument that the decision to give the Berbice operations over to RUSAL was influenced by socioeconomic considerations must not ignore the foregoing equally as the undermentioned: a. Every tonne of bauxite produced by the state-owned industry was sold. In fact, the state-owned companies have never been able to produce enough to meet market demands. The argument where emphasis is being placed that the market was difficult for the companies is deceptive, for even the low-grade bauxite had a market; b. The rejection by government to entertain local ideas, includes allowing the workers to invest their Pension Plan, then worth in excess of G$2.5Billion (the single largest pool of money owned by African labour). (Continued on page 05)
Supplemental funding to refurbish GuySuCo’s divested Sugar Estate infrastructure DEAR EDITOR, It was reported in the News Media on May 12, that the Government has approved $600M supplemental finance for maintenance of infrastructure at GuySuCo’s Skeldon, Rosehall, Enmore and Wales divested sugar estates. The stated objective for this financial infusion is to refurbish the existing infrastructure, including drainage and irrigation in residential areas on the divested estates, to make them appear functional for sale as going concerns to investors whom the Govt. assumes without justification, would want to continue cultivating sugar. This “window dressing” to keep the divested estates running prior to their sale appeared to make economic sense to State Minister Harmon, but it does not necessarily mean that the would-be purchasers would consider the glossed over investment to be made to spruce up the properties as value added and therefore increase their bids. The infrastructure under
consideration - pumps, canals, bridges, pathways, sluices, etc. are in such poor condition that the $600M approved for their restoration would be wholly inadequate to make any meaningful improvements to their existing conditions. Therefore, Minister Holder should have been transparent in his deliberations and have his Ministry prepare and submit professionally prepared estimates for the proposed works, which Parliament could have then considered and approved, rather than bluff his way with guesstimates for the civil works whose repair costs are beyond his imagination. Unfortunately, the political imperatives have forced the Govt. to approve expenditure for works based on shady returns and frothy expectations as any future sale will clearly indicate. The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) contrary to claims, does not have the managerial and technical personnel with the capabilities to undertake additional contracting work
on behalf of GuySuCo/NICIL/ SPU. NDIA’s poor planning and execution of the Central Government’s projects it has and is undertaking along the coastland clearly bears this out. S i m i l a r l y, G u y S u C o does not have the personnel with experience to handle complex construction/rehab works. If indeed
it does undertake construction work, it cannot simultaneously have its personnel inspect and verify the works it will be doing on behalf of NDIA, as was reported in the MoU. This will clearly be a conflict of interest and another Skeldon Factory fiasco. Yours faithfully, Charles Sohan
Double Standard by the Stabroek News DEAR EDITOR, Here is yet another example of how the wealthy are allowed to breach the law with the assistance of their friends in the media. Winston Brassington was recently charged with Fraud. And according to the Law, he is NOT allowed to speak PUBLICLY on the matter while it’s before the court. The matter is considered to be Sub Judice: “Under judicial consideration and therefore prohibited from public discussion elsewhere.”
Stabroek News is aware of this very law, especially since they have used it to prevent myself and others from discussing our case publicly. Yet, there is a double standard when it comes to a rich individual like Brassington who gets to defend himself in the public domain. Let’s see if contempt charges will be initiated against both Stabroek News and Brassington. Sincerely, Mark A. Benschop