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Tuesday November 21, 2017
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
Lobbying on behalf of oil giants (Article republished from The Guardian, written by Adam Vaughan) Britain successfully lobbied Brazil on behalf of BP and Shell to address the oil giants’ concerns over Brazilian taxation, environmental regulation and rules on using local firms, government documents reveal. The UK’s trade minister travelled to Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Sa˜o Paulo in March for a visit with a “heavy focus” on hydrocarbons, to help British energy, mining and water companies win business in Brazil. Greg Hands met with Paulo Pedrosa, Brazilian deputy minister for mines and energy, and “directly” raised the concerns of UK-based oil firms Shell, BP and Premier Oil over “taxation and environmental licensing”. Pedrosa said he was pressing his counterparts in the Brazilian government on the issues, according to a British diplomatic telegram obtained by Greenpeace. The Department for International Trade (DIT) initially released an unredacted version of the telegram under freedom of information rules to Greenpeace’s investigative unit, Unearthed, with sensitive passages highlighted. Shortly after, the department issued a second version of the document, with the same passages redacted. Greenpeace accused the department of acting as a “lobbying arm of the fossil fuel industry”. The UK government denies it was lobbying to weaken the environmental licensing regime, although the lobbying drive appears to have borne fruit. In August, Brazil proposed a multibillion-dollar tax relief plan for offshore drilling, and in October BP and Shell won the bulk of deepwater drilling licenses in a government auction. Rebecca Newsom, senior political adviser at Greenpeace, said: “This is a double embarrassment for the UK government. Liam Fox’s trade minister has been lobbying the Brazilian government over a huge oil project that would undermine the climate efforts Britain made at the UN summit in Bonn. “If that wasn’t bad enough, Fox’s department tried to cover it up and hide its actions from the public, but failed comically.” The document also reveals that the UK pressured Brazil to relax its requirements for oil and gas operators to use a certain amount of Brazilian staff and supply chain companies. British diplomats described the weakening of the so-called local content requirements as a “principal objective” because BP, Shell and Premier Oil would be “direct British beneficiaries” of the changes. The UK’s drive to soften the requirements continued on the day after the meeting between Hands and Pedrosa, with a senior DIT official leading a seminar on the subject at the headquarters of Brazil’s oil and gas regulator. The UK government has come under fire in the past for providing hundreds of millions of pounds of support for Brazil’s scandal-hit state oil firm Petrobras via the UK’s credit export agency. The UK’s continued oil lobbying efforts in Brazil emerged days after British ministers were touting the UK’s leadership on cutting carbon emissions at international climate talks in Bonn. Claire Perry, the climate change minister, told the summit: “we are taking our commitments under the Paris agreement very seriously and we are taking action.” A DIT spokesman said: “DIT is responsible for encouraging international investment opportunities for UK businesses, whilst respecting fully local and international environmental standards. The UK oil and gas industry and supply chain supports thousands of jobs and provides £19bn in goods exports alone. “However, it is absolutely not true that our ministers lobbied to loosen environmental restrictions in Brazil – the meeting was about improving the environmental licensing process, ensuring a level playing field for both domestic and foreign companies, and in particular helping to speed up the licensing process and make it more transparent, which in turn will protect environmental standards.”
Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email
Two Villages, two Presidents, two judges and the quest to legitimise injustice DEAR EDITOR, The villages of Plantation Ayr No. 40 and Seafield, No. 42 on West Coast of Berbice, have been embroiled in physical and legal conflicts with fellow villagers since November 2014 when President Donald Ramotar, through the MMA/ADA, seized lands belonging to and occupied by our respective registered Co-op Societies. He gave them to other villagers in the form of fifty-year leases without any reference to the management committee of these Co-op Societies. In addition, the laws of Guyana Chapter 88:01 of our constitution that deals with Co-op Societies have been completely ignored and our constitutional rights have been violated. We have never been given a hearing as regards our lands. No notice was given to us , neither were we compensated for the lands seized
from us, given that we have been in continuous occupation of these lands for in excess of thirty years. We were deceived into believing that payment of our outstanding debts as advertised in the newspapers (SN, March 5, 2014) would have prevented any repossession of our lands. But the then chairman of MMA, Mr Gajraj, communicated to us later, in no uncertain terms that whether we paid or not the lands would be repossessed; that he is not dealing with Coops but with state lands; and that no court in Guyana can change what he is doing. At the time of the seizing of our lands, members of the No. 40 Co-op Society had one combine harvester and five tractors. They were more than capable of effectively cultivating our lands. Further, we had paid up approximately eighty per cent (80%) of our debts unto September17, 2014.
The casualties in this horrible unjust act include a mother of six, with five at school, between nursery and secondary and one just starting teachers’ training college. She had an allotment of twenty four acres of lands in the Co-op, the MMA took away twelve acres of her allotment. She pleaded with the General Manager of MMA, the Chairman of MMA and even with President Ramotar himself not to take away any of her land because that was all she was depending on, since her husband was working in the interior and was not doing well, but her pleas fell on deaf ears! This mother still has five children at school. Some in the Co-op had all their possession taken away, while others had their holdings drastically reduced. On the other hand, a family that already had over one hundred acres of state lands
The EPA is tolerating violations DEAR EDITOR, I recently received correspondence from the Guyana Environmental Protection Agency threatening legal action against me in response to a letter I had earlier sent to a mailing list. In my letter, I stated that a certain individual is ‘on the money’. Saying that someone is on the money can be interpreted in many different ways, as it could very well mean that a person is holding a high paying job, he is earning a fat salary and enjoying nice perks, and so on.
I am not going to get too much into the details of the letter at this point, but threats of legal action against me would not deter me from highlighting the shortcomings of the EPA of Guyana. In fact, it would be most welcome, and it would certainly give me an opportunity to expose the failure of the EPA in resolving issues that are environmental in nature. Is it correct for a senior officer of the EPA to visit a facility to check on noise violation, and totally ignore the fact that the bridge that he crosses to enter that facility
is one of the most serious violations to the community as a whole? There is no bridge, the business, which is in this case is a sawmill, has dumped sand and mud into the drainage canal... filling it up so that heavy trucks could drive freely in and out of the compound. Craters have formed on both sides of the road in the vicinity of the sawmill, and the newer one to the East of the Friendship Public Road is a serious threat to water mains and cables that are buried a mere four feet below the sur-
was given a further fifteen acres from a Co-op member who had twenty five acres or sixty percent of that member’s holding. It now appears that political forces are at work and strenuous efforts are being made to legitimize this monumental injustice. With regards to No. 40 Farmer Co-op Society Ltd, we were given a lease No. A10199 for twenty five years in January 17, 1972; under the hand of then, President Arthur Chung, the lease at the time comprised 304.43 acres of land. However, on account of drainage and irrigation works by the MMA/ADA which came into existence in 1977, the rice cultivatable land was reduced to 247acres. The Co-op worked for several years under the management of one William Hamilton and the guidance of then Regional Co-op Continued on page 6 face. The other important issue that needs to be considered is that the sawmill is being operated on a parcel of land that is in dispute, and is currently engaging the attention of the Superior Court of Guyana. The parcel of land on which the sawmill is being operated has no drainage, and water, creates havoc for neighbours during the rainy season. Why do we, the ordinary people have to point out violations when there are people at the EPA who are ‘on the money’? Bring it on! Regards, Fazal Gafoor
The USA should not lecture Cuba and Venezuela DEAR EDITOR, We learnt from news agencies that the United States sets new restrictions on business ties and travel to Cuba because of matters of human rights there! What country in the world has committed more crimes against humanity and has more blood on its hands than the USA? The United States is not in any condition to lecture Cuba, Venezuela, or anyone else in the world. The world has deep concerns about the respect and the guarantees of the human rights by the USA. Why does the USA not end the continuous oppression of Afro-
Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and other minorities for hundreds of years since the first arrival of EuroAmericans in the USA? Why does the USA not end the bigotry, the genteel racism that cloaks itself in respectability and speaks in code, the lack of respect and the lack of guarantees of the human rights in the USA, where there are many cases of murder, brutality and police abuse, particularly against the African Americans; the right to live is violated as a result of deaths by firearms. In the USA, child labour is exploited and there are serious manifestations of racial discrimination. There are
threats to impose further restrictions to health services that would leave more than twenty million people without medical insurance. In the USA, half of the population are at poverty level; there is salary inequality between men and women, and immigrants and refugees are marginalised, particularly those from Islamic countries. In the USA, there is the intention of erecting walls that degrade neighbors. In the USA, international commitments to preserve the environment and fight climate change are abandoned. Why does the USA not end these things? Why does the USA not end the viola-
tions of human rights by the United States in other countries, such as the arbitrary detentions of dozens of prisoners in the territory illegally occupied by the US Naval Base in Guantanamo? There, even tortures have taken place. There have been the extrajudicial executions and death of civilians caused by bombs and the use of drones; and the wars unleashed against different countries like Iraq, sustained in lies about the possessions of weapons of massive destruction, with disastrous consequences for peace, security and the stability of the rest of the world? Rooplall Dudhnath
Tuesday November 21, 2017
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Kaieteur News
City Hall continues The Berbice police support noise nuisance at City Hall at 07:45 hrs on the function of the EPA to con- important functions to per- now when the Upper EDITOR, to befuddle first working day of the year. DEAR The noise nuisance con- trol and manage sound emis- form rather than breaking the Corentyne will be transformed
DEAR EDITOR, I note, with a wry smile, the letter from Shanta Singh in Kaieteur News (Monday, November 20, 2017) with the headline: “Something has to be wrong at City Hall.” Shanta Singh, giving explanations in each case, suggests seven instances where “something has to be wrong.” These include “the workers of the Georgetown Municipality; the councillors who, except for a few, sit meekly around the horseshoe table; the Legal Affairs Committee; the Government; the private sector; the citizens of Georgetown; the City Council”. This morning a General Rate Demand Notice 2017 from the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown was hand-delivered at my home, and I signed for it. Among other things it increased my rate p e r c e n t , i n d i cated how much the demand for 2017 would be, charged me $27 as interest as at November 7, 2017 and warned me that interest on arrears will be recalculated and applied on the date of payment. I had to laugh out loud. Every single year I turn up
Although I walk with the computer printout receipt for the payment made for the previous year, I steadfastly refuse all offers of a handwritten receipt from a book, and I wait patiently until a cashier’s computer is up and running, so that I can pay and get a printed receipt. I must have a black spot at the end of my tongue because, lo and behold, the Demand Notice 2017 that I received today boldly states as “Payments to Date” a sum that is far less than the sum recorded on the printed receipt I was given when I duly made payment on 03 January, 2017. Has that computer disappeared? I do not know whether other rates and taxes payers have a similar experience. Could I, with respect, please, piggy back on Shanta Singh’s letter and add an eighth item: “The Treasurer’s Office, City Hall, Regent Street, Georgetown?” And could I - again with respect - ask whether when DEM BOYS SEH uses the term “Town Clown”, he means singular or he means plural? Is his term applicable elsewhere at City Hall? George N. Cave
Living up to promise DEAR EDITOR, I have always looked with amusement how politicians use Christmas bonuses as a social bribe for public servants. In 2015, more than 30,000 public servants benefitted from a $50,000 bonus. In 2016, they got $25,000. Though a ‘top up’ may look good, we should look at its incremental measures that provide a permanent fix for the low wages over many years. Before 2015, we were told “5% and no more!” In 2015, the year of the Coalition Government taking the reins of office, public servants began receiving an increased minimum wage of $50,000. Those who received more than that sum benefitted from a 5% increase, plus $5,000 more monthly, with effect from July, just two months into office. This meant that over 4,000 public servants, earning a minimum wage of $42,703, received a 17.1% increase. For those who were taking home $39,540, they benefitted from a 26.4% increase! In 2016, the public
servants again received a hike in their salary! Those government employees earning less than $99,000 received a 6% increase while those earning more, received less. The emphasis here is to show that the lower levels received more. Now this trend has been continuing, with the lower categories again benefiting more. This year, public servants are set to receive an increase in the minimum wage, which is now set at $60,000! Additionally, those earning less than $99,999 will benefit from an 8% increase, retroactive to January 2017! Other categories are also to benefit from increases, albeit less. These will see the treasury dipping by $3.5 Billion! If there is anything on which I could judge this Government, it would be salaries for public servants. And while it is not where we want it to be, we are better off than pre 2015. Impressed, Cynthia Rutherford President Youths for Change, AFC
tinues unabatedly in Region Six, especially in the Upper Corentyne Area, and the Commander is busy carrying out the functions of the Environmental Protection Agency, handing out permission to a few selected persons. It has been mentioned by a letter writer (Ms Amrita Dhanai) to the press that everything sells, from the cradle to the grave, by these mobile vendors with vehicles using heavy duty 1200 watts amplifiers to blast the residents from their beds and disrupt their activities as these insensitive advertisers go merrily along their ways filling their pockets and counting their profits. Ms Dhanai outlined the EPA Regulations which clearly states, that it is the
sions by setting the permissible level of activities such as entertainment, transportation, construction, COMMERCIAL and other activities. The Regulations clearly stipulate that persons who are engaged in the abovementioned activities, need to apply for Environmental Authorization so that the EPA can monitor their activities. How is it that the Commander of Region Six GPF has the authority to grant AUTHORIZATION to a selected few to use those intolerable and deafening equipment? Clearly this Commander has overstepped his legal authority and function and has usurped the role of the EPA. How can the Minister of Public Security tolerate this? This Commander has other
laws to facilitate his cronies. I was attending a one-year death anniversary function in the Upper Corentyne. At 4.00 pm while the Pastor was fully engrossed in the midst of his sermon, his Bible was nearly knocked out of his hands and was stopped in his tracks as one of these Mobile Nuisance Vehicles slowly crawled by. It took a few minutes for him to compose himself and continue, but it was clear to all that he had lost the intensity of deliverance. Can you imagine what these residents, especially the sick, the feeble, the old, the young babies, the busy housewives, the sleeping night workers and the children in schools have to face, given their regular doses of noise pollution? It may not be too long from
into a colony of zombies since lack of sleep and proper rest can cause mood disorder, such as anxiety and depression. It can also damage one’s judgement and negatively affects one’s work performance and safety. I am calling on the Commissioner of Police (ag.), Mr David Ramnarine, to put an immediate halt to this lawlessness of illegally issuing commercial permits/licenses for commission of daily noise nuisance and pollution. It is not the duty of the Guyana Police Force to make laws but to execute laws. Is the GPF the Parliament of Guyana? The Commander of Region 6 should read the Environmental Protection Act 1996. Muhammad Mustapha
Democracy is not known in the PPP NDCs DEAR EDITOR, I do not have a problem that the intention of the consultation process is to democratically choose the Chairpersons and Deputy Chairpersons of the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils as outlined by Mr Yusuf and I do not for a moment doubt that the consultation for his NDC was democratically done as was intended but what I am aware of is that this process is not democratically done in all the NDCs controlled by the PPP. As a Councillor of the #5274 NDC, I have a keen interest in what is going on in my NDC and those around since I do communicate with elected officials from the other NDCs. On Monday November 6, a consultation was held at the Crabwood Creek NDC and this was in no way democratic. At this consultation, Mr Zamal Hussain and Mr Dennis DeRoop were present along with Mr Vickram Bharrat. I must say that at Mr Yusuf ’s consultation Mr Hussain and DeRoop were absent and the consultation was done by Mr Bharrat only. I had mentioned in my previous letter that these were ‘Jagdeo lieutenants’ who would go around and influ-
ence who should vote for whom. These ‘lieutenants’ want people who they could control since this feeling of control helps to massage their huge egos and let them feel that they are still in Government. At the Crabwood Creek NDC consultation, a number of PPP members who are not councillors were invited in addition to residents who are against the current Chairperson, Ms Ramela Bhadrasain. About 10 residents had staged a protest some months back against this Chairperson. They were allegedly instigated by the ex-Chairman, Mr Arjune. These PPP members were allowed to ‘elect’ the previous Chairman who was booted out last year because of alleged corrupt practices. This man is a very close associate of Mr Hussain and Mr Deroop. The normal practice during this consultation would have been for the current Chairperson to address the Consultation team and give reasons supporting her reelection but instead the PPP members who were there began verbally attacking the Chairperson. The selected invitees then began chanting that they wanted the previous
Chairman. These PPP members then proceeded to nominate the previous Chairman. This nomination was supposed to be done by the councilors. However, the councilors were not allowed to give their views during the consultation process. The councillors supportive of the current Chairperson were not allowed to speak. Is this democracy Mr Yusuf? At the Consultation at the Port Mourant NDC, the current Chairman, Mr Imran Khan was outvoted by an NDC councillor, Mr Narinesammy, for the post as Chairman but the current Chairman is the favourite of Mr Hussain and Mr DeRoop. Will this nomination of Mr Narinesammy be allowed to stand? It seems to me that if the councillors are headstrong and independent minded then it is difficult to influence them on how they should vote and I agree with Mr Yusuf that councillors will be more supportive where it is found that the Chairperson is doing well or badly. In his case, his councillors supported him because of his exemplary performance but in the case of the Port Mourant Chairman, he has been embroiled in too many controversies and has lost the
support of his councillors. What about the Crabwood Creek’s NDC consultation? This is a clear case where the Chairperson, being an independent minded woman was the victim of an undemocratic process. It was a well-planned demolition job by Mr Hussain and Mr Deroop with Mr Bharrat playing an ‘uninterested’ spectator. I want to remind these PPP officials that I was a member of the PNC and was a candidate at the Local Government election held under the PPP so I know the strategies and guerilla tactics which are sometimes deployed by the PPP. I am also privy to news leaks from the Freedom House at #63 Village and would like to take this opportunity to give Dr Jagdeo a bit of advice: put these ‘lieutenants ‘ on a leash or lose the next General Election. They are outdated and their guerilla tactics will only force PPP members and supporters away. Raj Lakram Councillor 52-74 NDC
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There is a case of discrimination aboard Lady Northcote DEAR EDITOR, The North West District (NWD) steamer Lady Northcote leaves Port Georgetown for Kumaka, Mabaruma on a fortnightly basis, taking passengers, hucksters and cargo that belong to businessmen. But the NWD passengers are complaining bitter l y t h a t a c c o m m o d a tion on the steamer is totally uncomfortable and that they are called “you bucks” by the huskers who take over the seating accommodation forcing the NWD passengers who are residents to stand and
sit down on the floor of the steamer during the entire journey to Morawhanna and Mabaruma. This journey lasts for an entire night and about four hours the next day. But why do the NWD passengers have no seating accommodation on the steamer? This is because a transport officer at the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) Wharf on the day of the steamer’s departure for Mabaruma allows coastland hucksters to board the steamer many hours before the North West passengers board, causing them not to
take the little things they purchase in Georgetown for their families because of no space which has been already taken up by the hucksters. This goes for the seating accommodation as well. The captain or pilot of the steamer does not care if his passengers are comfortable departure for Mabaruma. This smells of corruption. When the steamer is returning to Port Georgetown from Mabaruma, passengers are also denied seating accommodation because when the steamer reaches Mabaruma from Georgetown, the hucksters do not come off the steamer but stay on board until the steamer is ready for departure to Georgetown.
An unfair situation- Water Crisis DEAR EDITOR, We are witnessing a mere trajectory of how our beloved utility company operates. We the residents of Hand en Veldt, Mahaica, have been without potable water supply for over a decade, despite several pleas to the Previous Administration (Government and Management of the Company), nothing was ever done. With the change in Government in 2015, we thought things would have been different. S everal pleas were made since 2015. To date, however, it was not until recently when we met with the Divisional Administration and we received support from them. The Division undertook the works assiduously and completed all of the tasks relevant to have the supply done. It’s been almost four months now and still we are yet to receive the service. We visited the division several times during the last week and tried to meet with the Divisional Manager, only to be told that this person was
not in office. We proceeded to inquire from other managers in the division but they were “tight-lipped” about the situation and are not providing us with answers. We were advised to write to headquarters regarding the same issue. However this is amazing, is it really true that the central headquarter is not aware of our woe? Multiple letters were sent over the years to address this issue until we practically became frustrated. However, what must be recognised, are the politics addressed and how the situation was treated. It is incredible that after one day of heavy protesting and barricading the residents of MARA received the service within 24 hours (Kaieteur news, 2017-11-18) and here we are pleading for over a decade and our voice is placed in the wilderness. We have several residents here and many more who want to join in building their homes but have not done so due to not having access to potable water. We are forced to pay $700 per 250 gallon water to wash,
cook, clean and drink. A typical household residence comprises of four to 10 persons who ranges with different age characters. Many of us are peasant farmers with little children who have to go to school and even pensioners and have to be using water from the canal for personal and hygienic needs, should this still be
Again this smells of corruption. Mabaruma residents have alleged that when the steamer is moored at the Kumaka Waterfront its crew members engage in the selling of the steamer’s fuel (diesel) to businessmen. Is this illegal act not corruption? Is this reason why the steamer does not return to Georgetown on scheduled time? I am calling on the Minister of Public Infrastructure, Mr. David Patterson to conduct urgent investigations into alleged corruption on board the North West District (NWD) steamer Lady Northcote. Peter Persaud happening in the year 2017? I don’t think this is fair and aren’t we Guyanese as the residents of MARA? In my view, I do not think President David Granger or the Minister Bulkan, are aware of this matter or I am sure we would have already received the service. We are therefore pleading with the Authorities to remedy our situation. Residents of Hand en Veldt, Mahaica
Tuesday November 21, 2017
THE LOWERING OF VAT DOES NOT HELP THE CONSUMER DEAR EDITOR, With the reduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT) from 16 percent to 14 percent, has the consumer benefitted? A survey done on products/ items sold on the market has revealed that the expectation that the price of the product will decrease by two percent has really not materialised. Consumers continue to pay the same price or even higher but hardly has there been any decrease. What indeed has happened is as follows: an item costs $500, hence VAT at 16 percent will be $500 + VAT $80 - $580. A reduction in VAT to 14 percent will be $500 + VAT $70 - $570. However, the price either remains at $580 or it increases beyond $580. In order to maintain the price of $580, the cost of the item is increased from $500 to $509. At $509, and VAT at 14 percent will result in the price at $580. The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) now receives $71 by the reduction by two percent. The consumer does not benefit from a $10 reduction
since the base price of the item increases, and the selling price remains at $580. Wearing my economics hat, the consumer is now on a lower indifference curve. Is this a better life for one and all? The emphasis of this article is to highlight that in decreasing VAT, the Government’s revenue will be less, the consumer will continue to pay the same price or even higher. So, the talk that VAT should be reduced to 12 percent will certainly not help the consumer. What in effect should have happened when this tax was introduced, instead of starting at a high of 16 percent, it should have been 8 to 10 percent, and as the need arises, possible increases. A lower VAT at its inception would have resulted in fewer tax evaders and more revenue for the GRA. I will close by asking my readers to check to see if the Daily Chronicle Newspaper was reduced from $80 and $140 respectively, as a result of a decrease in VAT by two percent. John Seeram
Two Villages, two Presidents, two judges and the... From page 4 Development Officer Ms Burke. Many Villagers gained employment from the Co-op. However, the Co-op went through many challenges over the years, including perennial flooding. At one time the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) took control of the Co-op lands for a number of years, and when things did not work out well for them they abandon the lands for a few years. During 1987, Mr Ryan Hamilton, myself and others started making efforts to resuscitate the Co-op Society. We were guided by then Regional Co-op Development Officer, one Mr Reid. After negotiations with the Regional Democratic Council, especially one Mr Alfred and officials of MMA, especially one Mr Shabir Ally, the lands were given back to the Co-op Society and we started receiving billing with effect from January 1, 1988. It should be mentioned that when we took possession of the lands, the entire land mass was covered with thick vegetation including what we call beezee. From January 1988 to March 2014, a period of twenty-six years, MMA billed us or otherwise demanded drainage and irrigation charges from us. We paid land rent unto April 22, 1994 (re-
ceipt no. 69384) and drainage and irrigation charges unto September17, 2014 (receipt no. 13993). During these years we suffered tremendously from persistent flooding. This flooding is due in large measure to the fact that lands south of the main irrigation canal and where the Co-op lands are located, drain to the Abary River. Whenever there is heavy rainfall the river is flooded and pushes the water back onto the lands. In view of this, and after many years the MMA dug a canal parallel to the river in order to relieve the flooding. And even this did not help very much because it was never completed. Only ten per cent of the 247 acres of land was planted for the autumn crop 2017 due to flooding. In all our losses we were never compensated by the MMA. Instead we were given waver of D&I charges. At other times, we were to receive flood relief in the form of seed paddy or fertilizers. Since much of the time we were losing crops and had difficulty in paying our D&I charges, we resorted to taking out contracts with MMA to clean D&I canals in order to upkeep our lands. We often maintained the D&I and access dams within
our boundary at our own cost when MMA failed to do so. In the meantime, those of my fellow villagers who are now claiming to be rice farmers were stuck in their professions and other forms of occupations for which I applaud them. They are receiving their well deserved pensions. We the Co-op members were up keeping those lands all these years. Can’t we too receive what rightly belongs to us? They met clean well cultivated lands, while we met heavy vegetation when we took over. In 26 years we would have paid (directly or indirectly) in excess of $16 million llars in land rent and D&I charges at the average rate of $2,500 per acre per year. Cost for developmental works we would have done over these years is not included here. Moreover, with the enormous hunger for lands in the MMA area, there would have been no lands to give to any villager had we the Co-op people not been there occupying and maintaining those lands. With the advent of the New Administration in May of 2015, and with the full knowledge of this monstrous injustice and clear unconstitutional imposition on our small community; plus the unambiguous contradiction
of treating with similar situations in different communities current president Mr David Granger through his agency, the MMA and the Attorney General chambers embarked on correcting this travesty by revoking those leases issued in 2014. A plethora of legal challenges and counter challenges ensued, inclusive of injunctions and counter injunctions; claims of contempt and counter claims; police interventions based on claims of threats and counter claims, in addition to actual physical encounters amongst Villagers. Ultimately, a constitutional motion brought by a few villagers against the MMA and Attorney General on April 26, 2017 before the Hon. Chief Justice Madame Roxanne George and a decision was handed down on August 8, 2017. Since then, strident calls have been made for the Hon Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards to hand down her ruling on a similar constitutional motion with regard to lands at Seafield. Patrick Hamilton
Tuesday November 21, 2017
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AFC moves to revise The AFC has to get Cummingsburg Accord off its knees when - endorses appointment of new GECOM dealing with APNU! Chairman Amid criticisms, top leadership of the Alliance for Change (AFC) over the weekend decided that the party will be moving to revise its governing agreement with Coalition partner, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). The party also announced that it has endorsed the recent appointment by President David Granger, of Justice James Patterson as the new Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). AFC, the smaller of the two factions forming the Government, has been accused of being swamped by its larger, 10-party partner- an accusation that it has denied. There have been reports that AFC was not too comfortable with the current Cummingsburg Accord which sets how the two coalition partners would divide up the ministries. It was signed in the lead-up to the May 2015 General Elections, which was called early after Parliament was prorogued. Under the current configuration, the AFC has received the portfolios of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, and the Ministry of Agriculture, among others. According to the AFC yesterday, “The NEC (National Executive Committee) mandated the party's leadership to formally write to A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) with regard to review and revision of the Cummingsburg Accord, and stipulated that this process must be completed by the third
AFC's leaders, Raphael Trotman and Khemraj Ramjattan anniversary of the signing of the Accord – February 14, 2018.” Already, the party's executive has named members in the negotiating team, in “anticipation” of APNU similarly naming its negotiating team. This weekend, AFC's NEC held its quarterly meeting at the Georgetown Club, Camp Street. In a statement on the meeting, AFC yesterday said that the key forum was attended by the national leadership and representatives from all administrative regions in Guyana and the Diaspora. With regards to national matters, the party's NEC expressed “deep concern” for workers in the sugar industry who are likely to be displaced. It called on the Government to take “decisive decisions” with regard to the workers' welfare, and proposed that there should be considerations for important issues including severance pay; offer of land leases; access to small loans and to markets for agro-processing. “The party endorses the vision of a new bridge across
the Demerara River along with the paving of the Linden to Lethem road. The party further endorses the design of the new Demerara River Bridge as presented by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure,” the statement said. “While welcoming measures to increase minimum wage and avoid any new taxes, the NEC urges that Budget 2018 be balanced with enhanced social content to meet the needs of all communities while not neglecting the strategic infrastructural projects.” The party also said it remains fully committed to executing its role in advancing Constitutional Reform and called on the government to establish the Integrity Commission as a matter of urgent national priority. With regards to internal matters, the NEC said that it formally endorsed the party's decision to lend support to the decision of President, David Granger in appointing Justice James Patterson as GECOM Chairman. “The NEC pointed to the need for strengthening of the (continued on page 14)
Dem boys seh ...
De city council brucking up Is everybody talking bout de people at de city council. All of a sudden de council reduce from 30 to four. Four people mekking all de decision. Some people calling dem de Fantastic Four. De name is de Mare or de Town Clown, de Clown Clerk, Ossie Clarke and de finance clerk. Dem boys want to know wha does go through dem people mind. De four pick up demself and go to Mexico behind some people who seh dem got parking meter all round de world. Dem get a small piece fuh pocket money. One man tek de small piece and buy garbage truck. That is why when de council decide to shack out
de regular garbage collectors de man who buy de garbage truck put he truck into operation. But is like if no truck was operating. Soulja Bai clean up de city, now de Fantastic Four got de place looking like a pasture wid cow dung all over. Only de Man above knows , what we will be drinking come Christmas . And is not that likker gun be in short supply. De Town Clown sitting pun de Board of Directors of GWI. And dat is de company dat suppose to supply all de water people got to drink. If de city ain’t clean no more, imagine wha gun happen to de water. Dem boys seh dat de council got to be de biggest
problem. It end up in trouble de odda day when it had to pay de staff. De finance man claim how de council didn’t have money because dem spend all to send de Fantastic Four to China. De workers did plan to send de whole council to meet dem Maker. De Clown Clerk holler how he remember he had some money; lock up in he drawer. Dat is how de workers get paid. De Clown Clerk got to find money to pay de workers bonus. De people know dem had to find money to send de Mare to Malta. And of course dem had to find place fuh she sleep. Talk half and watch how de council brucking up
The latest email leaks reveal that one member of the Alliance for Change advised the President of Guyana not to choose any of the names on the second list submitted by the Leader of the Opposition and, instead, to go with a unilateral appointment of a Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission. The revelation does not establish a case that the AFC had any part in the choosing of a Chairman. It simply told the President to not pick anyone from the second list. This in no way can be construed as giving the AFC a role in picking the Chairman. What is most interesting about the revelation is that this alleged discussion during which the advice was rendered to the President, took place during a Cabinet break. This is what the AFC has been reduced to. Major decisions in politics are made in and outside of toilets. There is nothing wrong with an AFC member sharing his political opinion outside of the washroom. What is wrong is the disrespect that the AFC is encouraging. It should have demanded then and there that it was prepared, notwithstanding the advice that was given, to sit down and have formal consultations with the President on the matter. The AFC is not any ordinary party in the coalition. The President himself has said that the APNU has an agreement with the AFC. In other words, it is a principal party to the Cummingsburg Accord, which led to the formation of the APNU+AFC coalition. That agreement gave the AFC some benefits above that of its electoral strength. It is inconceivable for anyone to be serious in arguing that the AFC brought 40% of the votes to the coalition. It most
likely brought about 12% but got 40% of the seats in the National Assembly, and in Cabinet. The AFC therefore should demand to be treated as an equal partner. The President should have held formal consultations with the AFC. A discussion during a restroom break does not constitute a formal consultation. The AFC should be ashamed to be saying that it gave advice on the appointment of Chairman during a toilet break of Cabinet. That was a chit-chat which can never substitute for formal consultations. The AFC has to get off its knees when dealing with the APNU in the coalition. It is not a minority party in the coalition. That role is already occupied by a number of small parties with negligible electoral following such as the Working People’s Alliance. But what is disconcerting is that the PPPC has said that the AFC was witness to an agreement it had with the
President that if no one fit and proper was found on the third list, a committee of the government and the opposition would be formed to examine names. If the AFC knew that this was the agreement, why after the second list did it urge the President to go ahead and make a unilateral appointment? Why did it not wait to see what names would emerge from the third list, and if that failed, what the committee would arrive at? It shows the duplicity of the AFC. It leads one to the conclusion that all the AFC was interested in, was embarrassing the Leader of the Opposition. If this is indeed the case, then the AFC should really play no further role in the politics of this country. It cannot be trusted to demand respect from APNU, and it is being devilish in its approach towards the main opposition. Perhaps there is poetic justice involved when the AFC can be asked its opinion outside of a washroom.
Man acquitted in rape of underaged girl Sunil Dindial, who was accused of raping a child under the age of 16, was yesterday acquitted by a jury, which found him not guilty by a majority of 11 to 1, after less than two hours of deliberation. Trial Judge Simone Morris-Ramlall informed Dindial, who was seated in the prisoner’s dock, that he was free to go. The State’s case was presented by Shonette Austin. The case was tried in the recently launched Sexual Offences courtroom at the High Court in Georgetown. The indictment before (continued on page 18)
FREED: Sunil Dindial
Int'l firm to value GuySuCo will... From page 8 approach to divestment and diversification, we believe that the PSC and the SPU are on the same page.” Boyer added: “We just cautioned the SPU that there should be full accountability and assessment, by a credible international firm, of the assets of the GuySuCo estates that are being put up for privatization and diversification. This assessment should include the goodwill and all of the community services that are provided by the estates.
We need this to be done up front and not repeat the Wales experience where the estate was closed and then an assessment was being done.” Following its assumption to office in 2015, the current administration started to stem the bleeding of GuySuCo which was demanding cash bailouts from the state treasury. The entity, once the country's biggest foreign exchange earner, has been a drain on the economy now producing sugar at almost three times it is selling for.
The Opposition's People's Progressive Party, with a major support base in the sugar industry, has been objecting to privatization. GAWU, too, which had traditionally been a major support of PPP, have been expressing worry. Last December, Wales estate on the West Bank of Demerara was closed, with Rose Hall and Enmore announced to be shut this year. However, the closure of the latter two has been halted till next year, Government recently confirmed.
PAGE 10
Tuesday November 21, 2017
Kaieteur News
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
We may have produced the most troubled nationality in the world The most dangerous instinct that has killed the development of philosophical reflections among the entire population (you don’t have to go to university to reflect on the serious values that hold civilisation together) of this country, since the split between Jagan and Burnham, is the emotional embrace of “good guy versus bad guy” that has virtually seeped into the psyche of this nation’s people and has permanently lodged inside of it. This “good guy versus bad guy” I grew up with. As a Guyanese Indian, I heard the most angelic things said about Jagan and the most demonic things said about Burnham. I saw the psychological embrace of this myth ebbing
in African Guyanese when I became active with the WPA. African Guyanese of all shades were disapproving of the way, the PNC was administering Guyana and they saw Burnham as the centrepiece of this drama. Guyanese Indians made me pessimistic over the way they related to the excesses of the Jagdeo/Ramotar presidencies. An ocean of terrible attitudes was displayed and horrible policies were implemented by these two presidents, and Indians were silent or disinterested. But the Africans in reaction to this tenacity by Indians resurrected inside their minds the “good guy versus bad guy” syndrome.
I couldn’t find an African Guyanese, except a few in the WPA (naturally), that believed that Burnham conspired to assassinate Rodney or had something to do with the death or even knew about it. They all felt that Burnham was innocent of any implication of Rodney’s murder. Most Indians felt Rodney’s death was a conspiracy of Burnham. This was Guyana for you, where history’s narrative is shaped by the ethnicity of the narrator. Ethnic determinism was shocking to live through in Guyana during the Jagdeo years. Even though I read philosophy, I still found it bizarre that highly educated Indians, whose powerful education should have dominated their intellectual approach to politics, could have taken the position they took while Jagdeo ruled. I remember refusing to shake the hand of Professor David Dabydeen at a function at the Pegasus. I remember an Indian Guyanese professor at
one of the premier American universities was part of a group that disrupted my presentation at an academic forum sponsored by the Historical and Research Society. I remember meeting a Guyanese Indian woman who is a recognized academic in the US and she was completely smitten by the politics of Janet Jagan. The PNC is in power now, and I see large sections of the African Guyanese population are expressing the good guy versus bad guy instinct. There is an alarming letter by a very prominent African Guyanese addressed to me and Dr. David Hinds published in all the newspapers. After detailing all the rigged elections that the PPP perpetuated, he referred to the rigged elections of the PNC as “stock propaganda.” The man’s reasoning was so simple that you didn’t need even a primary school education to understand what he was saying – the PPP rigged elections, the PNC
didn’t. It was a most graphic display of “good guy versus bad guy” thinking by someone who should know better. It was disappointing to read that from this well-known gentleman. He went on in that letter to ask me and David to supply him with evidence of PNC rigging elections. Interestingly in contrast to his position, Lincoln Lewis wrote a piece in the Chronicle that is on an opposite landscape. He observed that; “The double standards in the society, however, which we must come to grips with and confront, is that such claims (of rigged elections) must not only be attributed to the People’s National Congress (PNC) while the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is painted as innocent. There is no need to address the issue of accusations pertaining to rigged elections by the PNC, as a party or government. The smallest child can speak to this claim every day, given that it has become part of the nation’s daily diet for years.
Frederick Kissoon What the society is seldom told are similar claims made of the PPP. Society cannot deny the challenges brought against Forbes Burnham and Desmond Hoyte on the claims of rigged elections, while Jagan did not face a similar fate. We became a nation even more divided, where one group was held accountable, while another was allowed to escape.” You don’t need a primary school education to understand what Lewis is saying here –let’s talk about election rigging by both sides. The letter addressed to me and David reminds us that there was only one set of riggers – the PPP. Surely something is deadly wrong with this nation.
Tuesday November 21, 2017
PAGE 21
Kaieteur News
Major Trinidad company given deadline Mother’s drugs conviction quashed but son gets extra six years following sexual harassment allegation HAMILTON, Bermuda, said her 26-year-old son Damon The Court of Appeal has PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Former attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj has given the Angostura Holdings Limited (AHL), a major company here, a deadline to submit all the findings and reports into sexual harassment claims against its chairman, Dr Rolph Balgobin. AHL, which through its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of rum, aromatic bitters, and other spirits worldwide, had said, last month, that allegations of sexual har a s s m e n t m a d e against Balgobin, by a senior female executive had been dismissed. Balgobin, a former independent legislator and president of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association, has denied the allegation that was first made last November. Speaking at a news conference here yesterday, Maharaj said the company has 21 days to submit the documents or his client will pursue legal action. He said the company had found that the complaint had “sufficient basis to be investigated. They found it was sufficient to appoint a high powered committee to investigate that complaint. The lady gave evidence, other people gave evidence, the top official refused to give evidence, he tried to stop the
investigation…”Maharaj said that AHL later stopped the investigating committee and appointed a “lawyer who conducted no investigation. “This is unacceptable. If this is allowed to continue or if this is a precedence of how companies are to behave with such policy then the rights of women would not be protected in Trinidad and Tobago at the workplace,” Maharaj said. The AHL last month said that its board of directors had dismissed the allegation against Balgobin on October 26 after an internal investigation. “As a result, the investigation is now closed,” the company said in a statement. The allegations were contained in a whistleblower complaint submitted to the board on November 3, 2016. Indicating that it upheld the highest standards of professionalism and transparency in all endeavours, Angostura said that it was “committed to a policy of treating allegations of sexual harassment very seriously. “Angostura Ltd will provide an environment to ensure that all our employees are treated with civility, decency, respect and dignity,” the company said. Maharaj said AHL could not have cleared its chairman because he was never questioned. “In fairness to them they haven’t had all the facts and
PM blames US cable news for lowering standards of journalism NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis has blamed 24hour cable news shows in the United States for lowering the standards of journalism “that would not have been allowed in previous times” and urged local journalists not to be “champions of any political party, business, group or interest in a country”.Addressing the Third Annual Press Club Awards Banquet here over the weekend, Minnis said that while he understood that Bahamian journalists must take on multiple roles given the number of reporters and limited resources, “it is still surprising that some who serve as editors also regularly write or offer commentary. “This is not a practice that would be allowed by journalists in other countries. I am not speaking here of editorial writing. A journalist and a columnist are distinctly different roles,” he said. Minnis said that the editors of the New York Times
or Globe and Mail in Canada or the British Broadcasting Corporation would allow their editors to write commentary or to host a radio programme driven by personal opinion as well as commentary that purports to be news analysis. “The 24-hour cable news shows in the United States have in a number of ways led to a lessening of standards that would not have been allowed in previous times. There has been a considerable blurring of reporting and commentary. “It is telling when certain standards have been breached, that some in the press do not even realize that a standard has been breached. Journalists are not supposed to be champions of any political party, business, group or interest in a country. “ Minnis said that journalists must avoid conflicts of interest, and must be allowed to report fairly and honestly on where a story takes them, adding “the best journalism criticizes, celebrates and inspires”.
I am hoping with these facts that come out which they can check, Angostura can come out and deny these facts, let them produce evidence to deny it,” he said. “But this cannot go on like this, it cannot, we are not prepared to allow Angostura to get away with this,” Maharaj added.
CMC — The Court of Appeal has quashed a mother’s conviction for money-laundering, but has increased her son’s sentence for running a drug-smuggling operation by six years. Denise Morris, 55, was given a 12-month suspended prison sentence earlier this year after a jury found her guilty of possessing more than US$15,000 in criminal proceeds that prosecutors
had earned from drug dealing. The mother appealed against her conviction and the Crown appealed against the 12-year sentence given to her son on the grounds it was too low. The son was initially jailed for 12 years for orchestrating a major drug smuggling operation to import large quantities of heroin and cocaine into Bermuda.
overturned the mother’s conviction and ruled there was no evidence to suggest that the money found in her bedroom closet was the proceeds of crime. The panel also found that trial Judge Charles-Etta Simmons had erred by not dismissing the charge against the mother at the end of the prosecution’s case.
PAGE 22
Tuesday November 21, 2017
Kaieteur News
2008 Agricola murder trial begins FOR RENT
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. PASSPORT, PERMANENT & VISITOR VISA APPLICATION, PROFESSIONAL IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT – SABITA IMMIGRATION SERVICES. CALL: 613-3920/625-3767. Eagle’s: Re-gas –low prices, washing machine repairs, gas stove, plasma flat Screen, computer repairs & more. Call: 697-2969/646-0966 TOLET Business space for grocery or snackette. 619-5357/6671896SS One two bedroom apartment located in Herstelling New scheme. $50,000 Call: 641-2311 1&3 bedroom apartments. 641-3318
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY- $19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-2274754. Video games and consoles at affordable price. Repairs to video game system .Call:6722566/265-3231 Spare for washing machine, microwaves,fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc. Call:225-9032;647-2943;6045198 1 Leyland Daf Cement mixer, 1 caterpillar skid steer 236B. 7 mining blocks (North West) Contact# 650-0402
VEHICLE FOR SALE
American Pool Table. Call: 277-0578 PROPERTY FOR SALE Concrete house situated in 3rd Avenue, Diamond. House 47x34, Land 110x64. $38Million negotiable. Contact Mr Kitt 626-9797 Aubrey Barker $30M, Diamond, Schoonard $1.5M, North $17M, Bel Air $31, Lamaha Springs $7.5M. GME Realty 231-2200, 6187483
1-Two bedroom apt, fully furnish, AC Room, situated in Eccles, EBD Tel: 667-2536 At Lot 14B Grants Scheme, Craig, East Bank Demerara, Three (3) Bedrooms, fully furnished. 696-8549 Two bedroom bottom flat, fully grilled. $50,000 per month. Call :687-3017
LAND FOR SALE
1-Twinsteer Double Axle DAF and 4 Flatbed Leyland DAF, 1-620-240 DAF engine. Excellent condition. Owner migrating 6498449,228-5655
Parafaite Harmonie $1.4m $3.5m $2.5m $1.6m Tuschen $2.7m Herstelling $3m V/Hoop $45m Eccles $6m corner lot. Call: 604-6724/ 686-9608 Parfaite Harmonie business spot $3.5M, $1.3M, $2.5M, Parfaite Harmonie ten year up $3.5M, Tuschen $2.5M, Tuschen $1.5M Call : 6662326
Unregistered Axela 2011 $2.5M, dark interior, fully loaded, Nissan pickup extra cab $2.1M. Call: 617-5536
One cornerlot for sale 50x100 in gated community @ Land Of Canaan, Canaan Gardens. Tel: 694-7817, 612-1351
Toyota Belta. Excellent Condition, AC, PVV, Like new. Good for bank purchases. 1,850,000. 639-2490.
6 Acres land for sale $800,000. Located in Long Creek E.B.D Call : 604-7501
Allion, Primo, Fielder Wagon, Spacio, Bluebird, 212 Carina, NZE, Honda CRV, Toyota IST, RZ & Pit-bull – Call: 650-7501
Accounts Clerk- Knowledge of Payroll and QuickBooks. 614-4358 Salesgirls, maintenance workers, security guard. Tel# 265-3586 Live in waitress to work in bar. Call: 604-6606/ 692-4649 Chefs, Bar attendant, waitresses. Trinidad & Tobago. Tel#868-372-9787/ 868-744-5766
TAXI SERVICE EDUCATION Day Care and Pre-K classes available in Diamond Call Canadian School 2166921,216-6922 First Aid/CPR courses on Saturdays St John’s. Call 2259082 or visit 110 Cowan street, Kingston. Lessons: Phonics, Reading, Writing (Kindergarten grades 1-2) Common Entrance preparations grades 3-5. Enroll now. Call 667-0296
MURDERED: Melissa Payne
The trial of Jermaine Savory, who is accused of the November 6, 2008 murder of Melissa Payne, commenced yesterday before Justice James Bovell-Drakes at the High Court in Georgetown. Before a 12-member mixed jury, Savory who is being represented by Attorney-atLaw Maxwell McKay, Live-in family. Husband- pleaded not guilty to the Driving, mechanical murder charge. Attorney-at-Law Mandel experience etc. Tel: 227-1830 More is presenting the State’s case. Payne, 27, formerly of Den Amstel, West Bank Demerara, was killed after she attempted to put up a fight with gunmen who carried out a brazen attack on her and a male friend CAR RENTAL at Agricola, East Bank Demerara. The gunmen PROGRESSIVE CAR escaped with some $100,000 R E N TA L : S U V F O R cash and a quantity of RENTAL- $4,000 & UP jewellery that were contained PER DAY- CALL:656- in the woman’s handbag. 0 0 8 7 , 6 4 3 - 5 1 2 2 Based on reports, Payne ,EMAIL:PRO_AUTO and her male friend, David RENTAL@YAHOO.COM Fraser were in a Canter truck DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: and upon approaching the truck 225-7126/226-3693 - Agricola, some DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ encountered mechanical problems. They YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM were heading to Georgetown to conduct business. AIDAN’S CAR Fraser stopped the truck RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 to attend to the problems SEAT MINI BUS, GOOD while Payne remained inside. FOR AIRPORT & FAMILY OUTINGS, CHEAPEST RATE . Call: 698-7807 WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP RATES,SPECIAL OFFERS! . CALL: 690-6494
SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. -CosmetologyCourses:$90,000 Technician Course: $35,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257 FOR SALE/RENT
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Property for rent - 2 storey house at Republic Park, E.B.D$1200US. Call 647-1773 One bedroom apartment for working couple or single person $35,000 monthly, light /water and garbage included Call: 638-8858
WANTED Experienced male sales attendant, stocktaking knowledge, computer literate, excellent service attitude, Able-bodied. KeyFood McDoom Village. Carpenters to work in Linden. 602-9469 Truck Drivers. Applicants must work in Georgetown, experience in high & low range is an asset. Tel#227-1717.
GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS) VACANCY Cook/ baker and Kitchen Assistant for interior location. Applicants must have experience. Call:618-2020 Chef and assistant cookpreferably Carnegie trained. Call 225-7933, or visit 173 Sheriff Street.
Confidential Cabs. Vacancy exist for one experienced dispatcher. Tel#231-5784 695-1961.
Looking for professional hairdresser, waitress, cleaner, call: 684-9409.
Man looking for female, age 40-43 for serious relationship. Tel: 659-5662.
VACANCY
PEN PAL
MURDER ACCUSED: Sylvester Vanderhyden But after a few minutes, Payne came out of the vehicle and stood watching her friend while he fixed the problem. A gunman approached Fraser from behind demanding valuables and snatched away his gold chain while Payne tried to escape, but was cornered by another bandit who was acting as the lookout. Upon seeing Payne’s handbag, the bandits intensified their demands. Payne, who was hesitant at first, eventually complied with the bandits’ demands. But as she was handing over the bag, its strap became entangled, causing the bandits to believe that she was reluctant. Payne, who was shot in the area under the armpit, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Meanwhile, on May 4, last, 24-year-old Sylvester Vanderhyden of 3974 Block ‘A’ Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo was charged with Payne’s murder. Vanderhyden, who was 15 years of age at the time of the killing, was not required to plead to the indictable offence when he appeared before the Chief Magistrate.
Guyana-born judge mourned by The Bahamas
The Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Legal Affairs and the legal fraternity are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Justice Ricardo Marques (retired). Justice Marques was a Guyanese by birth, but by actions, a true Bahamian patriot who made The Bahamas his second home. ”His dedicated service to the public service, generally, and the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Legal Affairs, in particular, as well as the legal community made him, a true Bahamian in the finest form,” according to Carl W. Bethel, QC, Attorney·General and Minister of Legal Affairs in a statement posted by the Bahamas
Weekly.In his earlier years, Justice Marques served as the Director of Legal Affairs in the Office of the AttorneyGeneral, before becoming a Justice of the Supreme Court. In more recent years, he served as a Consultant in the Law Reform and Revision Commission, in the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Legal Affairs. ”Justice Marques will truly be missed. He brought to bear, without question, an extensive legal knowledge and an excellent work ethic. We extend our sincere condolences to Justice Marques’ family and celebrate his positive impact over the many years.”
PAGE 24
Kaieteur News
Tuesday November 21, 2017
Argentina navy: Missing sub Zimbabwe latest: Mugabe ‘let wife Grace usurp power’ ‘had called to report breakdown’
President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace Mugabe (BBC) Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party is set to begin impeachment proceedings against President Robert Mugabe on charges that include allowing his wife “to usurp constitutional power”. The motion is now due to be presented to parliament on Tuesday. Senior party member Paul Mangwana said the process could take as little as two days to complete, and President Mugabe could be removed by Wednesday. A deadline set by ZanuPF for his resignation passed on Monday. Separately, military leaders said they had planned a “roadmap” for Mr Mugabe’s future, and that the ousted former vice-president, Emmerson Mnangagwa,
would return to the country soon. Grace Mugabe and Mr Mnangagwa had both been seen as potential successors to the ageing president. But earlier this month, Mr Mugabe fired his deputy widely seen as an endorsement of his wife - prompting a military intervention. The country’s top general said Mr Mugabe and his former deputy had been in contact, and would hold inperson talks soon. What are the charges against President Mugabe? Zimbabwe’s constitution allows for impeachment on grounds of “serious misconduct”, “violation” of the constitution or “failure to obey, uphold or defend” it, or “incapacity”. “The main charge is that
he has allowed his wife to usurp constitutional power when she has no right to run government. But she is insulting civil servants, the vice president, at public rallies. They are denigrating the army - those are the charges,” Paul Mangwana said, emerging from a party meeting. “He has refused to implement the constitution of Zimbabwe - particularly we had elections for the provincial councils, but up to now they have not been put into office. “He is of advanced age, that he no longer has the physical capacity to run government,” he added. “He is a stubborn man, he can hear the voices of the people, but is refusing to listen.”
Charles Manson dies aged 83 after four decades in prison (BBC) Charles Manson, the notorious cult leader who directed his followers to commit a string of brutal murders, and who became a symbol of the dark side of 1960s counterculture, has died aged 83. Manson was admitted to Bakersfield hospital, California earlier this month and died of natural causes on Sunday. In 1969, his followers, known as the Manson Family, killed nine people. Among the victims of the killing spree was heavily pregnant Hollywood actress Sharon Tate, wife of Roman Polanski. One of Manson’s young followers, Susan Atkins, stabbed Tate to death and scrawled “PIG” on the home’s front door with the actress’s blood. Four other people at Tate’s home were brutally stabbed to death. The next day, a wealthy couple in Los Angeles, Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, were also
killed by the clan. The killings became known collectively as the Tate-LaBianca murders. Separately Donald Shea, a Hollywood stuntman, and Gary Hinman, an acquaintance of the group, were killed by members of the Manson Family. Manson was not at the scene of the killings, but was nonetheless convicted of murder for directing his followers in seven of the killings. He was sentenced to death in 1971. Manson “died of natural causes at 8:13 pm (04:13 GMT Monday)” at a hospital in Kern County, the California Department of Corrections said in a statement. He had been in custody for more than 40 years. Tate’s sister, Debra told the TMZ website that she had received a phone call from prison officials shortly after Manson’s death. Gathering young followers
around him in the late 1960s, Manson claimed to believe in a coming race war in America. He planned to hasten the war and emerge as the leader of a new social order - a vision he nicknamed “Helter Skelter”, after a Beatles song Manson became obsessed with. Almost half a century on, the Manson Family’s killing spree continues to fascinate many Americans, and has been retold through books, films and music. Prosecutors argued that Manson hoped black Americans would be blamed for the Tate-LaBianca killings, heightening racial tensions. Manson convinced a number of his followers that he was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ, using a combination of drugs and genuine charisma to bring the “Family” - mainly young, middle-class women - under his control.
(BBC) Argentina’s navy says its ARA San Juan submarine, which has been missing since Wednesday, reported a mechanical breakdown in its last communication. The submarine, with 44 crew on board, disappeared 430km (270 miles) off the Argentine coast. “The vessel surfaced and it reported a breakdown,” naval commander Gabriel Galeazzi said. Argentina’s navy also said that it was investigating a “noise” picked up by two ships involved in the search. “The noise was recorded and at this moment is being processed to determine its acoustic signature,” spokesman Enrique Balbi said in a statement quoted by the Clarin newspaper. Capt Galeazzi, who heads
the naval base in Mar del Plata, south of Buenos Aires, said that the fault reported earlier related to a “short circuit” in the sub’s batteries. The brother of a crew member earlier told local media that in a message before communications were lost his sibling had mentioned that the vessel was having problems with its batteries. This is the first time that an official has mentioned the sub encountering mechanical problems. However Capt Galeazzi said that mechanical problems were not uncommon and rarely posed a risk. “A warship has a lot of backup systems, to allow it to move from one to another when there is a breakdown,” he said. The naval commander
said that the submarine had been asked to cut short its mission, which was originally due to last until Monday, and go directly to Mar del Plata. According to local media, the captain of the ARA San Juan contacted the naval base again after reporting the mechanical problem. In the message, he reportedly said the sub was heading towards Mar del Plata with all 44 crew members in perfect health. The navy also announced on Monday that seven signals picked up at the weekend were not from the missing submarine’s satellite phone. The failed calls, lasting between four and 36 seconds, had been received on Saturday. They had raised hopes that the crew members were alive.
Family claims police buried body... From page 19 where he was living and we ent find nothing. We went and search again there the Saturday and the man that she living with now come out the house and seh 'whatever you looking fuh, yuh nah go find' and we go away”. She explained that after they left, they received information from persons that a decomposed body was found in the vicinity of the Port Mourant School. Upon inquiry, they were told that the body was taken to the Skeldon Mortuary. “We go to Skeldon Hospital and find out, and how we describe he, was the correct person. The person send we to the police at Springlands to talk to them and a police tell we that he will give the porter ice for the body, but he never go. He gave a number for a next CID.
So de Monday we went to Whim Police Station and dem ask we if we want do a Post Mortem, and that how dem done bury he since the 15th of last month,” Annie recounted. The woman is angry that the police went ahead and buried the body without properly advertising for the identity of the deceased to be confirmed. “Everything is a push around with these people, because we want the body exhumed so a post mortem could do, I want to know what happen to my brother, but all yuh getting is 'today, tomorrow”. She disclosed that they visited Dr. Veersammy Ramayya who advised them to visit the office of the Prime Minister at Port Mourant, where the Prime Minister's representative Gobin Harbhajan engaged with them. The relatives are of the
belief that there was foul play involved, hence their request for an exhumation and Post Mortem to be done on the body. “I need to know how my brother died”, Annie lamented. Meanwhile, Commander of 'B' Division Lindon Alves, confirmed with this publication that all missing person reports were properly advertised. “We would have had several missing person reports and several bodies recovered, and all were properly advertised”, the Commander said. According to Alves, “if persons are coming forward with information and would like to have the body exhumed, that is not a problem, we will work with them”. He assured that he will meet with the relatives to hear their concerns.
Tuesday November 21, 2017
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday November 21, 2017
Tuesday November 21, 2017
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Kaieteur News
RAN C/ships – WC, CG & CAC Qualifiers
Women’s Sevens leaves today; Men departed yesterday as President Granger intervenes The timely intervention of His Excellency President David Granger along with a number of other stakeholders have afforded the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) the opportunity to have its respective male and female teams attend the RAN Sevens Championships in Mexico where the male team is the #1 and defending champions, while the females are ranked fourth. The male team left these shores yesterday to defend their title, while the female team will wing out today where the two-day competition will scrum off on Saturday with round-robin play.
The GRFU in a press release said on behalf of the players it wishes to express gratitude to President Granger along with the Guyana Olympic Association, Noble House Sea Foods, Ministry of Natural Resources, Minister Joseph Harmon and Minister George Norton, among others for their contributions. It further noted that despite not attaining the targets the teams are prepared for sacrifices to bring glory to their country. The union released the names of the respective teams, it was noted that with 2018 beckoning, it is anticipated to be an extremely
active international year. The goal of the Union is to rotate its experienced players to ensure that the National sevens and 15s teams are adequately stocked and the nation well represented. The RAN championships will serve as World Cup Qualifiers, Commonwealth Games and Central American and Caribbean Games, 2018. The Men’s Sevens team that departed yesterday reads: Dwayne Schroeder – Captain (Guyana Defence Force), Avery Corbin (Guyana Defence Force), Patrick King (Guyana Defence Force), Rondel McArthur (Panthers), Jamal Angus (Panthers), Lancelot Adonis (Panthers),
Tuesday November 21, 2017 Aries: Mar 21 - Apr 19 Don't give up on finding the romantic partner of your dreams, because now is your chance. Don't be surprised if a bit of friction keeps you from jumping into the situation with both feet. Taurus: Apr 20 - May 20 Be careful about declaring your love for someone when you haven't spent enough time with him or her to make that call. You may base this impulse on superficial encounters and brief conversations. Gemini: May 21 - Jun 20 Issues of love and romance may be climactic now. You may be in a relationship phase approaching a major turn in the road. Perhaps there's a sudden breakdown in communication. Cancer: Jun 21 - Jul 22 You may be drawn to someone because of the things you share in common. You both appreciate art, music, and romantic dinners, but this person may not be a good permanent mate for you.
Libra: Sep 23 - Oct 22 When it comes to topics of love and romance, your feelings continue to be intercepted by words and opinions from others. What you want to keep private is suddenly made more public by mouths that just don't stop talking. Scorpio: Oct 23 - Nov 21 Certain areas of your life are expanding rapidly, causing you to lose touch with the more romantic aspects. The more you reach out in one direction, the more deprived you feel in the opposite direction. Sagit: Nov 22 - Dec 21 The time has come for you to take charge in matters of love and romance. This isn't often the case for you who normally like to let others take the lead in this department. Capri: Dec 22 - Jan 19 You may be taking a back-seat approach when it comes to love and romance. This isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Leo: Jul 23 - Aug 22 Love and romance are in your favor even though roadblocks may keep you from taking full advantage of the situation.
Aquar.: Jan 20 - Feb 18 There may be gossip associated with your relationship that turns you off at first, but don't let that get in the way of expressing your true feelings.
Virgo: Aug 23 - Sep 22 If things begin to stir, change, or fluctuate in love and romance, your first impulse is to overreact. This is probably the opposite of what you should do.
Pisces: Feb 19 - Mar 20 Many things should be working for you. Your flexibility and ability to juggle many things at once should make tasks that require these talents a breeze.
Rickford Cummings (Pepsi Hornets), Peabo Hamilton (Pepsi Hornets), Richard Staglon (Trinidad based), Claudius Butts (Trinidad based), Ronald Mayers (Trinidad based), Dominic Lespierre (England based). John Lewis (Manager), Laurence Adonis (Coach) and Philip Browne (Physio). Women’s Sevens Team set to leave today reads: Collette Hope – Captain (Pepsi Hornets), Tricia Munroe Pepsi (Hornets), Alisha Mentore (Pepsi Hornets), Latoya Cordis (Pepsi Hornets), Cloetta Dublin (Pepsi Hornets), Kean Andrews (Pepsi Hornets), Mandy Browne (Guyana Defence Force), Abioce Heywood (Guyana Defence Force), Sasha James (Guyana Defence Force), Shonette Mc Farlane (Guyana Defence Force), Sabola Gray (Yamaha Caribs) and Cindy Fraser (Police Falcons). Petal Adams (Manager), Theodore Henry (Coach) and Abiola Blair (Physio). The tournament commences Saturday and ends on Sunday. The Men have been divided into three groups with Guyana heading Pool A and includes Barbados and Cayman Islands. Jamaica heads Pool B which has Bermuda and the Dominican Republic. Trinidad and Tobago is atop Pool C along with Mexico, Curacao and the BVI. The Women will play in a round-robin format, three matches each on Saturday and Sunday with the winner being decided on amount of wins. The current rankings are Jamaica, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Bermuda, Dominican Republic and French Guiana. The stakes 1. 2018 World Cup Winner qualifies 2. 2018 Commonwealth – Winner qualifies 3. 2018 Central American and Caribbean – top 4 men and top 3 women 4. 2018 Hong Kong Sevens – Top two men 1. 2018 Atlanta Sevens – Top women With the extreme importance of this championship series looming skipper Ryan Gonsalves has been mandated with full time responsibilities as National 15s Captain spearheading a formidable side which will include the likes of USA based Vallon Adams, Ahmad Isaacs and Trey Selman along with latest local sensation Osei
McKenzie as the Green Machine venture into deeper waters participating in the Americas Rugby Championships for the first time with one other North American team (Mexico or Trinidad) along with two south American teams to be named in the B Tier Tournament in August. Prior to that the Green Machine will be locking horns in the Tier 1 grouping comprising USA South, Mexico and Cayman Islands prior to participating in the Americas Championships over the coming months,
April - July. Successful participation will see Guyana being promoted to play against the likes of Argentina, Canada, Chile, USA and Colombia. Guyana is currently ranked 9th in the Americas and 49th in the world. The rosters for 2018 will be released shortly. It is to be noted that the senior players will find themselves being rotated between the 7s and 15s squads and even playing in both formats if needed as the union’s Technical staff strive for the right balance to achieve success.