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Kaieteur News
Friday November 24, 2017
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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 CELEBRATING THANKSGIVING IN AMERICA Guyana reels under the impact of the United States in every arena. For one, young Guyana celebrates every American holiday with gusto. Even the language of young Guyana is now American. Who can explain why the August holidays are considered summer when all year round is summer in our corner of the world? We have Halloween complete with goblins and other characters far removed from the Guyanese culture. Now we are having Thanksgiving dinners complete with turkey. There is Super Bowl, the culmination of a season that is only known in North America, and is called football. It draws Guyanese to television sets, to clubs and bars which prepare for mammoth sales. Guyanese have favourite teams all of them with zany names that are in no way related to anything Guyanese. Yesterday, most Americans at home and around the world celebrated Thanksgiving which is a national holiday on the fourth Thursday of November. It is a lavish and the most revered and quintessential holiday in the US. More people in the US celebrate Thanksgiving than they do Christmas. Thanksgiving can be traced to the 1621 celebration at Plymouth now present day Massachusetts where the Pilgrims invited the Native Americans to a harvest feast after a successful farming season. The three-day feast included goose, lobster, cod and deer and a special church service to give thanks to the Almighty for a bumper crop. Thanksgiving has been celebrated on and off in the United States since October 3, 1789, following the proclamation by President George Washington. However, in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving Day a national holiday to be celebrated on the last Thursday in November every year. It was meant to give praise to God. However, in 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) designated Thanksgiving Day to be on the fourth Thursday in November every year because there are sometimes five Thursdays in the month. Although Thanksgiving has historical roots in religious and cultural traditions, it has long been celebrated as a secular holiday as well. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated with lot of fervor and merry-making in America. It is a festive time when people visit their family and friends, give thanks for what they have, reunite with family and friends and partake in meals. Carved turkeys, pumpkin pie, corn and cranberry sauce are the traditional dishes adorning the dinner tables in almost every house. A time for feasting, Thanksgiving epitomizes the holiday mood of most Americans, including GuyaneseAmericans of every creed and race. In most instances, there have been distinctive Guyanese touches to the menu; a bit more spice, perhaps even a little curry on the side and there would undoubtedly be the typical Guyanese enjoyment of a holiday feast, with friends and family around for a good party and the chance to enjoy good food and drink. Thanksgiving Day traditionally kicks off the Christmas holiday season in the United States. It is considered one of the busiest periods for travel in the United States. The following day after Thanksgiving Day is known as “Black Friday” which is one of the busiest shopping days in the United States. On this day, people take advantage of the huge promotional sales offered by the major retail stores, most of which are open at midnight on the following day. The shopping spree helps most of the store owners to register maximum sales and profits, which in standard accounting practice is written in black. Parades have also become an integral part of the Thanksgiving holiday in cities and towns across the United States. Macy’s New York City’s Thanksgiving Day parade is the largest and most famous, attracting some three million spectators and an enormous television audience. It typically features marching bands, performers, elaborate floats conveying various celebrities and giant balloons shaped like cartoon characters. Will this too soon become a feature in Guyana?
Kaieteur News
Friday November 24, 2017
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.
Will the AFC and the Coalition survive this email onslaught? DEAR EDITOR, No one can rationally dispute that emails, whether hacked, leaked, deleted or concealed, played a formidable role in determining the Presidency of the most powerful nation on earth, USA, in 2016. In Guyana, the Coalition Government of APNU and the AFC is hemorrhaging from the leaks of a constellation of emails of leaders of the AFC made public, recently. A clear distillation of these emails devoid of their esoteric frills, clearly illustrate how spineless, duplicitous and impotent the AFC is as a political party itself, and as a partner in the Coalition Government and how fractious the relationship is between the two major coalition partners. These revelations do not surprise me. The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) knew this all along and has often alluded to these realities in press releases, discourses and writings. These emails have vindicated those pronouncements. I have written voluminously about the authoritarian and undemocratic nature of the
PNC. The cold hard truth is that they are simply incapable of enjoying any alliance with any other force, unless that institution is equally authoritarian and undemocratic, or, is prepared to stand idly by and spinelessly allow them to act upon their natural autocratic instincts and is willing to survive in servility in that dictatorial environment. I am not sure which is worse, but there is an abundance of evidence, including the recent emails, which compel to the conclusion that the AFC is guilty of both transgressions. I will now examine some of this evidence to establish my point. The AFC is part of a Cabinet, which reviewed and stamped its imprimatur to the controversial parking meter contract. When the protest actions intensified and the public outrage reached a fever-pitched tempo, the AFC issued a Public Statement distancing itself from the parking meter contract and promising to canvas the “Government” to review the same; conveying the clear but misplaced impression that it was not part of the same Government that gave the parking meter
its blessings, just weeks prior. A similar volte-face was committed by the AFC in relation to the imposition of VAT on private education. The AFC was in the National Assembly when the Finance Minister imposed VAT on private education. The Finance Minister did so upon the “signification of Cabinet”, as is constitutionally required of all financial Bills. This means that the Cabinet, of which the AFC is a part, approved this tax imposition. Moreover, the AFC voted in support of it in the National Assembly. Yet when the avalanche of public criticisms came, they cowered, again, publicly proclaiming that they would lobby the “Government” for the reversal of this measure. UNFIT AND IMPROPER Minister Raphael Trotman attended almost every meeting between the President and the Leader of the Opposition in relation to the appointment of a Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). I have disclosed elsewhere that he participated in crafting a
joint Public Statement issued by the Leader of the Opposition and the President on the matter. Mere hours thereafter, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, Leader of the AFC, endorsed the President’s appointment. However, when the deluge of public criticism erupted u p o n t h e P r e s i d e n t ’s u n i l a t e r a l a n d unconstitutional appointment of the GECOM Chairman, the AFC started to, characteristically, wiggle. They issued a Public Statement claiming that they were neither consulted, nor did they participate in the selection of and appointment by the President of James Patterson. This statement was reinforced by another Public Statement reiterating the AFC’s disclaimer of their involvement in the unilateral appointment of the GECOM Chairman. Lo and behold, a mere few days after, emails were l e a k e d i n w h i c h M r. Ramjattan disclosed that he advised the President on the GECOM issue; that he advised the President to reject the second list and to unilaterally appoint a person of his choice. This email clearly Continued on page 6
Friday November 24, 2017
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The disturbing case of membership A report card on the Mayor’s performance DEAR EDITOR, Council is deterred) roadside cook up rice vendors in the deviated sect’ With the elections for the Implementation of the and Touts at the Minibus
DEAR EDITOR, We recently learned that six Baha’i citizens from Iran were sentenced to a combined total of eighteen years imprisonment, on charges of membership in the Baha’i Community. We are informed that, all six of these individuals are residents of Sistan and Baluchestan province in Iran. They were interrogated by the Ministry of Intelligence agents in April 2017 in Zahedan, and a case against them was developed with charges of acting against national security through ‘membership in Baha’i Community, which was simply referred to as ‘membership in the deviated sect’ in the text of the verdict. Their identities have been reported as Houshang Mokhtari (of Saravan); Bijan Eslami Mehdiabadi (of Khash); Ali Mohammad Anvari Aliabadi (of Iranshahr); Bahador Kamjoo, Roshan Baroghi, and Fahimeh Eshagh Noorabadi . The trial of these individuals was held some time ago, and their sentences were issued on the basis of the summons handed down on Thursday, November 16th, by Branch three of the Revolutionary Court of Zahedan, chaired by Judge Mohammad Reza Sardi.
According to the sentence notification, each received a sentenced of three years. These Baha’is have categorically rejected the charges of acting against the national security of the country, in all the stages of interrogation and prosecution, and simply called themselves citizens who are being persecuted due to their religious beliefs. It is their intention to appeal their sentences within the next twenty days, when the moratorium is set. It is of note that some of them have had their businesses sealed due to their religious beliefs. Bahá’ís as well as the United Nations, Amnesty International, the European Union, the United States, and peer-reviewed academic literature have stated that the members of the Bahá’í community in Iran have been subjected to unwarranted arrests, false imprisonment, beatings, torture, unjustified executions, confiscation and destruction of property owned by individuals, and the Bahá’í community, denial of employment, denial of government benefits, denial of civil rights and liberties, and denial of access to higher education. Rooplall Dudhnath
Exploitation by teachers cannot be justified DEAR EDITOR, If the comments attributed to HM, Mrs. Winifred Ellis are true, then she ought to do the right thing and resign immediately as she would be unfit for that position. Blaming and shaming victims of sexual abuse, especially young girls/students is disrespectful, inappropriate and more importantly, shows a lack of understanding of the power dynamics of pupil and teacher in the classroom. Instead of referring to her students as “slack and loose” it seems to me the HM should be more interested in finding out if
Bishops’ students – indeed students under her care - are being groomed and seduced into having sexual relations with teachers. Further, even if students are “slack and loose” their behaviour does not justify exploitation by teachers. The Minister of Education should work expeditiously to ensure this matter is resolved in a timely manner. Effective policy, procedures and penalties must be developed to ensure the emotional and physical safety of all students – in all schools. June Veecock
M a y o r o f G e o rg e t o w n looming large and with the incumbent’s second term swiftly coming to an end, I feel compelled to issue a report card on her performance for the last two years based on feedback I gathered from many quarters of the capital city:Ability to travel very frequently in luxury and style with large entourages to the most exotic and distant places in the world off of the backs of the ratepayers. Grade A+ ( H a s s h o w n a considerable knack for wasting the city’s scarce financial resources wining and dining at posh restaurants, flying first class, staying at five star hotels while on useless trips that have reaped nothing for the city, to the farthest reaches of the globe.) Adherence to the Child Protection Laws of Guyana and the protection of Whistleblowers within City Hall from persecution, discrimination and injustice. Grade F (In collaboration with her sidekick, not only has the alleged assaulter been protected time and again, but they have ensured that whistleblowing at the
most draconian taxation on the citizenry including unreasonable increases in p r o p e r t y t a x e s , implementation of an inflated compliance fee on persons wishing to sell their property, implementation of a fine on shipping containers coming into the city, steep increases on all licenses issued by the Council adding more financial burden on the citizens.Grade A (Is effective in wringing the citizens and businesses dry of all of their finances and savings whilst providing little or no service) Maintenance of heritage buildings and other municipal properties in the city such as City Hall, the Kitty Market, the Municipal Abattoir, the City Police Training School etc. Grade F ( H a s d o n e n o maintenance work on municipal properties for years leaving them to fall into ruin, preferring instead to visit other countries and admire their well-maintained heritage buildings) Endearment of new business into the city including dog food vendors, plantain chip sellers, bottled water itinerant vendors,
parks. Grade A+ (While other Mayors from around the world are wooing large companies to set up their headquarters in their cities, to have international conferences, award ceremonies and mega sport events held there, our city is happy to encourage more illegal vending) Financial Management of City Hall. Grade F ( I s re s p o n s i b l e f o r carrying up the Council’s overdr aft with their bankers to the highest ever with innumerable foreign trips, with the doling out of contracts with no adherence to tender or procurement procedures) Creation of the largest group of Junkies, Vagrants, Beggars and other Social Rejects in the city with some of them even bathing nightly on the pavement in front of the Bourda Cemetery Grade A+ (Has ensured that the citizens continuously face economic and financial challenges by over taxation and the implementation of no social programmes) Riley Matthews
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Friday November 24, 2017
Will the AFC and the Coalition... The appointment of the GECOM From page 4 recognizes the flaw of the to him. chairman is justified contradicted the AFC’s AFC’s public disclosure of Significantly, Hughes disclaimers in two Public Statements. It has severely dented the credibility of that party. Even more significantly, it only became public because of the Canadian Chapter of the party, publicly and formally withdrew from it because of its support of the President’s unilateral appointment. That very second list, which Ramjattan advised the President to reject, had the names of at least three (3) persons whom I know, voted for the AFC. Before we could have properly recovered from those startling emails, a second set of even more shocking emails were made public. This disclosure came upon the heels of the US branch of that party signaling its intention to break ranks over the GECOM appointment. These emails are very revealing and they illustrate vividly, the qualities and characteristics, which I have attributed to the AFC, above. These emails show the level of indiscipline and unilateralism, if not lack of democracy, which exist within the AFC. Apparently, Ramjattan consulted no one in his party when he tendered his infamous advice to the President. It is this singular act, which has precipitated the devastating implosion rocking the AFC. Mr. Ramjattan’s description of the persons on the second list is also most unveiling. He labeled them “unfit and improper”.I am aware that three of them voted for him. DAMNING DISCLOSURES The email from Dr. Rohan Somar contains some striking revelations. He
non-involvement in the appointment process and acknowledges that it makes the AFC looks “weak and impotent” and being seen as “treated like a step-child or a poodle in the coalition”. He m o c k s a t t h e A F C ’s assurance against elections fraud. Interestingly, he said this, “Many of us who participated and witnessed the last two elections knew how the results were rolled out. We know where the computer servers were and how the count was being manipulated.” These are damning disclosures! These are the two elections at which APNU and the AFC did their best. In the 2011 Elections, together they got more votes than the PPP and held a oneseat majority in the National Assembly. In the 2015 Elections, as an alliance, they allegedly got more votes than the PPP and were able to form the Government. Here you have a top ranking member of the AFC acknowledging “inside knowledge” of what can only be described as electoral malpractices. This person needs to tell the Guyana Police Force (GPF) what he knows. Some electoral irregularities are serious criminal offenses. This angle will definitely have to be pursued vigorously. Then there is the email from Ms. Cathy Hughes, in which she liberally uses the terms “coolie” and “black m a n ” a n d s t e r eo t y p e s Indians as a pack of uncivilized, frightened and racist group of people without a mind of their own and who are incapable of making rational political choices. Bharrat Jagdeo was criminally charged for similar language attributed
speaks about knowledge of “fake Statement of Polls” (SOPs). Like her colleague Dr. Somar, Ms. Hughes needs to tell the Police what she knows. More on this later. However, it is David Patterson’s email, which takes the cake. I would be in remiss if I do not acknowledge that Mr. Patterson espoused the embrace of sound political principles and democratic postures and practices. However, the reality has shown that he demonstrably lacks the fortitude to act in consonance with the position he advocates. Instead, he spinelessly not only succumbs but ends up publicly endorsing, in the end, the very wrongs, which he so emphatically criticized. Patterson further exposes the duplicitous nature of the AFC when he asks and answers as follows: “Were we out of office, would we have accepted such a decision to unilaterally appoint a Chairman? The answer is NO!…Why are we accepting it now?” The reality is that the AFC has already accepted the decision, has endorsed it and is defending it at great political cost to itself. This position further demonstrates that the AFC is prepared to sacrifice all of their principles for political power, perks and benefits. Patterson also reveals that the AFC views Dr. Barton Scotland as too old to be the Speaker of the National Assembly. Yet they support his election as Speaker: another act of hypocrisy. I have learnt so much from these emails. No doubt, you have too. Based upon my reading, these are not all the emails in the thread. Brace yourself, more will come. Will the AFC and the Coalition survive this email onslaught? Only time will tell. Mohabir Anil Nandlall, MP
DEAR EDITOR, For the appointment of this chairman, lists of six persons had to be presented to the president so that the opposition and the president could find common ground in appointing a suitable person. The first list was rejected and so was the second and third. This was an excellent position taken. On one of those lists was a person whom I taught in Georgetown while I was teaching ‘O’ and ‘A’ level classes. Even though that person moved on and academically qualified himself, some of his prejudices from class level still prevailed. As a teacher of fifty years I would disqualify him immediately. I remembered well a lawyer from that list. He was instrumental in illegally usurping the power of the secretary of an organisation, and re-directing this
organisation in a political way. What an election commissioner he would have made! Why put a race relation person on such a list. In addition, other persons who were involved in private and public organisations, and whose character would have come in to question, were also part of the lists. The lists were not used genuinely for the purpose involved. They were used to embarrass the president and thus provide a platform for submission. Lists provided to the president were lacking in substance and so the president did what constitutionally he should do. Put away all these unwanted lists and make the decision himself. Well done Mr. President; Keep on the same track. Nazir Mohamed
This unhealthy alliance is untenable DEAR EDITOR, The United Republican Party (URP) has long argued that Local Government should be separate and distinct from the Central Government. I t a l l o w s f o r independence of thought, plans and objectivity. H o w e v e r, t h e APNU/AFC and the PPP thought best to run candidates that were backed and financed by the major parties. We see the big mess this has created - particularly in Georgetown. The workers are striking because of not receiving their salaries. And why is that so? It is a known fact that the central government receives taxes,
Lotto earnings, and other revenues from the businesses in Georgetown. Yet not a cent of those billions of dollars goes into the coffers of the Mayor and City Council. And so, you have workers and councilors who are not being paid, because the City is cash strapped. We all know that the laws which govern the City were constructed by the politically and autocratically brilliant mind of LFS Burnham. The direct correlation between the City administration (especially the Town Clerk) and the Central Government, was a ploy by Burnham, to keep the City of Georgetown
under the control of the Presidency. Did we not observe what happened with the Carol Sooba and PPP issue? At one point, she even refused to purchase gas for the then Mayor, Hamilton Green. The current arrangement is not a progressive one. If left unchecked, the City of Georgetown will continue to languish under the Burnham-constructed arrangement – no matter which government takes power. This unhealthy alliance between the Central and Local Governments is untenable. Dr. Vishnu Bandhu Leader, URP
And the children shall lead them DEAR EDITOR, It is encouraging that a few Bishops’ High School (BHS) alumni have dared to confront the totally abhorrent cultures of wilful blindness, and silence, in the face of all sorts of abuses, which pervade life in Guyana today (Stabroek News 22/11/17). Sadly, the allegation of sexual abuse of students at BHS is just one such case. Thankfully these children, perhaps
bolstered by seeing themselves as part of Guyana’s elite, had the confidence and resources to resist the appalling response of both the BHS and Education Ministry leaderships. Imagine what could happen should this spirit of self-emancipation spread among Guyana’s youth. Anne Braithwaite BHS alumna
Tinkering with the Constitution DEAR EDITOR, I was never one of those people who are in favour of tinkering with The Guyana
Constitution to suit our own needs. However, when PNC Forbes Burnham and PPP Bharrat Jagdeo are deemed to be “Dictators” by some people then there must be something inherently wrong with The Guyana Constitution especially when it is producing Dictatorships. If we are following a document that has faults in it no matter how sincere our desire and efforts to help ordinary Guyanese these faults will hinder our
progress and create problems along the way. As an example, while proroguing Parliament is Constitutional it is not Democratic. S i m i l a r l y, w h i l e unilaterally selecting GECOM Chairman is Constitutional it is not democratic. Hence, our faulty Constitution needs to be revised. There needs to be more checks and balances in place in Guyana to thwart the rise of Dictators. Sean Ori
Friday November 24, 2017
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School sexual abuse allegations...
GTU denounces sexual misconduct in school system “We denounce abuse of our students be it sexual or otherwise,” said President of the Guyana Teachers Union [GTU], Mr. Mark Lyte. He commented on the recently surfaced allegations of sexual abuse levelled against a teacher of The Bishops’ High School. “We believe if anyone is found guilty of doing that, they should obviously face the full brunt of the law,” said Lyte. He, however, cautioned that commentators and those who have been ascribing definitive actions should allow due process to be realised. “People need to allow a thorough investigation into this matter...Mr. Coen Jackson, as is anyone else, is innocent until proven guilty. We have to be fair to Mr. Jackson and let the evidence that comes out of an investigation determine whether he is innocent or guilty. To pronounce that the teacher is guilty before the conclusion of an investigation is not the right thing to do,” said Lyte of the state of affairs. “We have to be cautious how we comment on this matter; this is an allegation being made against a teacher and more so, it alleges that someone has interfered with our girl students who should feel safe in the school environment...They should be able to have a trusting, cordial and respectful relation-
...says teacher should face full brunt of the law if allegations are true
GTU President, Mr. Mark Lyte ship with their teachers.” According to Lyte, “Because of this situation [the publicised allegations] a lot of people have already condemned the teacher at the centre of the allegations, they have condemned the school; they have condemned teachers as a whole, especially male teachers, because of the allegations.” Coen Jackson, an Economics teacher of The Bishops’ High School, was recently accused of allegedly grooming many female students under his instruction to indulge in sexual relationships with him. It is alleged that Jackson was engaged in such activities since the late 1990s. He has since retained legal representation and has
denied the allegations which are contained in a letter of complaint inked by Advisor on Cultural Policy within the Ministry of Social Cohesion, Ruel Johnson. Johnson’s letter was sent to the Chief Education Officer [CEO] of the Ministry of Education, Mr. Marcel Hutson, and copied to the Ministries of Social Protection, Public Health, Legal Affairs, Public Protection and Social Cohesion too. Johnson had also published his letter on Facebook which has since evoked a public outcry from many factions. But according to Lyte, “The union is of course disappointed that something of this nature would have been ventilated on Social Media. This was not the appropriate avenue because it impacted the lives of many students who have since been berated by the public.” It was against this background, that senior students of The Bishops’ High yesterday held a forum at their Carmichael Street, Georgetown School where they delivered several presentations. In the audience were members of the school’s Board of Governors, repre-
sentatives of the GTU and the Parent-Teacher Association. In attendance was Lyte who said, “They [students] shared how this episode has affected them in several ways. When you listen to the presentations it helped you to realise how much it impacted them, how demoralising the whole situation has been.” According to Lyte, making a complaint, particularly of matters within the school system has a clear channel which starts with the head teacher and includes the Principal Personnel Officer of the respective district [in this case the Georgetown district]. It is only after the failure on the part of the relevant personnel to take action that the matter is taken to the Ministry of Education. Based on Johnson’s letter he had brought the allegations levelled against Jackson to the attention of the CEO some five months ago. From all indications the Ministry’s investigation into the matter was recent. Jack-
son was this past week sent on administrative leave, according to Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry, who revealed too that the fate of the head teacher, Ms. Winifred Ellis, is in the hands of the CEO. Ellis was recorded during a school assembly [after Johnson’s allegations became public] accusing some of the female students of the school of being “slack” and “loose”. But according to Lyte, “the Head teacher is under attack for an address she made which was taken in part and publicised...Now calls are being made for her head too.” The situation has also caused members of the public to stage protest actions which have called for the termination of both Jackson and Ellis. According to Lyte, the Union is constitutionally required to represent any of its members upon their request. He said that the head teacher has reached out to the union, even forwarding a letter which revealed that since the start
of Jackson’s stint at The Bishops’ High in 2006 there has been no reports of misconduct detailed in his personal file. “I can’t speak to word of mouth complaints but based on what the HM said there has been no formal complaint lodged against this teacher. We hope that the truth will come out...If the allegations are proven to be true, Mr. Jackson will have to the face the consequences because the union does not support those kinds of behaviour from any of its members,” said Lyte. “We have never had a cause to represent Jackson pertaining to sexual misconduct or anything else in the past...in fact we have not heard of any complaints against Jackson before this one,” confided Lyte. Jackson who is an untrained graduate has not sought the representation of the union but has instead retained a battery of lawyers to defend him.
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
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Friday November 24, 2017
Kaieteur News
Cops remanded Lawyers seek protective custody as ‘Best Cop’, colleague enters jail
Sagga’s murder... With a hostile crowd outside the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, two cops accused of ordering the murder of a prominent businessman, were yesterday refused bail after being charged with murder. Corporal Derwin Eastman who was once Best Cop for ‘A’ Division and his colleague, Constable Jemison Williams, who are both attached to the Brickdam Police Station, arrived at the Court shortly after 14:00 hrs yesterday and were remanded to prison for the murder of Godfrey Scipio known as “Sagga”. The men both shackled and handcuffed were sent through the prisoners’ chute and into Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman’s courtroom. While seated in the dock, relatives of Eastman were seen interacting and touching his head, causing Assistant Superintendent of Police, Telford to tell the orderly to let them desist from touching and speaking with him. A relative of Eastman was heard crying during the court proceedings and had to be escorted out of the courtroom by another relative. The men were not required to plead to the charge which read that both of them on October 12, at David Street, Kitty, Georgetown, murdered Godfrey Scipio known as “Sagga”. Corporal Eastman was represented by Attorney-atLaw Nigel Hughes. The lawyer told the court that he is concerned about the safety of his client since he has over
the years successfully investigated numerous crimes. His life has been threatened since the matter became public, Hughes said. The lawyer added that while his client was being escorted into the court compound an identifiable member of the public, told his client, “Your days are number and persons are awaiting your arrival in prison. Remember you try to shoot me.” Hughes added that the same individual that said those words to his client was previously charged and remanded to prison and it was his client that did the investigation. Williams was represented by Attorney-at-Law Dexter Todd. Todd asked the court for the relative authorities to take the necessary steps in insuring that the men are protected while in prison. He added that his client’s life is in jeopardy since he has conducted a series of investigations. After the defence attorneys’ raised concerns about their client’s safety, Magistrate Latchman asked ASP, Steven Telford to address the issue of safety. In turn, Telford told the court based on the nature of the charge he would have to speak with the persons in charge of the prisons and he would have to further the information to his superiors. The prosecutor added that the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has advised that there be further investigation in the murder. Both men were remanded
Murder accused: Derwin Eastman to prison until December 5 when they will make their next court appearance before the Chief Magistrate for assignment. While Eastman was being placed into the lock-ups he shouted three names. People identified those three as policemen. Scipio, 58, was shot dead shortly after leaving a Kitty hotel. He was also robbed of a gold chain. Aubrey Bobb, 26, of Kitty, was subsequently charged for his murder and remanded to prison. Eastman recently started making headlines few weeks ago when Kaieteur News was informed that Eastman would plot with criminals to carry out robberies and would later use his radio to misdirect his colleagues from the getaway. He has been linked to a number of other killings and robberies. Reports indicated that the policeman would befriend excons he would have arrested and once a friendship is formulated, he would approach
Murder accused: Jemison Williams
Murder accused: Aubrey Bobb
Dead: Godfrey Scipio
Derwin Eastman’s relative in the court yard them with “jobs.” “He gives them jobs for a salary; he would tell them that once they do the job, then they safe for life.” In the Republic Bank Limited botched robbery, the Corporal was supposed to use his handset to mislead ranks but
his plans backfired when a security firm that was closeby responded promptly after the alarm went off. October 12, last— Eastman reportedly met with the hitman at William and Queen Streets, Kitty. Constable Williams was driving
Eastman’s car. Eastman allegedly informed Bobb that the victim will be at the Kitty hotel shortly and handed him the gun. He (Eastman) also told Bobb that when he completed the job, he will receive a salary.
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Schools are love nests Perhaps, it is the company that I keep or the generation to which I belong. But I have known of more teachers marrying their former students than students who married former school mates. It was not unusual in the past, for some male teachers to have had relations with girls in their school. While students often scandalized these relations as being sexual in nature, there was very little evidence that those relations were sexual in nature. They were love affairs which faded no sooner the student would have left school. In the case of the marriages between teacher and student, of which there have been quite a few, these more often than not blossomed after the student would have left school and reconnected with the teacher. Those marriages between teachers and students, were not shortlived. Most of them have become long–lasting unions. I am sure that most of the older readers of this column would know of a few cases where teachers married their former students. This is not a defence of teacher-student relationships. It just shows that sometimes the relationships which society so often condemn and deem inappropriate, end up being stable unions. In the past, it was invariably the male teachers who
courted school girls. You never found female teachers having relationships with their students. This was inconceivable in the old days. Times have changed. In recent times in the United States and the United Kingdom, it is the female teachers who are making the news for having affairs with students. Some of them are now facing charges before the courts. Love affairs and infatuation flourish in schools. Boys have secret crushes on girls; girls have crushes on boys. Boys fantasize about their female teachers and no doubt girls sometimes develop crushes for their male teachers. A great many a boy found out, much to his chagrin, that some girl they liked, really liked a male teacher better. In fact, many schoolgirls are known to have secret crushes on their teachers. This again is not justifying relationships between teachers and students. It is merely pointing out what exists even onto today. There is puppy-love in schools. There were no circulars in those days prohibiting such relations but some head teachers were known to have spoken out against such relationships if they got wind of it. Female teachers are now being accused of sexually assaulting students in the United States. This was unheard of forty to fifty years ago. It was
unheard of twenty years ago. What have not changed are relationships between male and female teachers. There are many schools in which teachers are having rollicking love affairs with each other. And of course, students often pick up on these things. The students know who is carrying on with whom. Gossip about love affairs is an industry in schools. Schools are an extension of the Young and the Restless. Some female teachers have been known to stop speaking with each other because of their affection for a particular male teacher. Boys and girls are falling head over heels for one another. Teachers are cavorting with one another. Schools are love nests. I cannot speak for what happens today but it would be interesting to know whether there are cases today in which teachers are still marrying their students. The
sense I get is that such relationships are frowned upon by society and, unlike in the past, when they flourished, they are negatively stigmatized by the present generation. It is time for some firm rules to be made about these types of relations. The Ministry of Education, if they have not done so already, should develop some circulars about teacher-student relationships because it is not just a romantic issue. It also is about power relations. Ground rules need to be established about
such relationships. So what is the official policy in terms of non-sexual romantic relations between teachers and students? The answer should be logical. Such relations should be discouraged. But should they be outlawed? This is the question which must be addressed regardless of the outcome of the present investigation into the allegations of sexual misconduct against a teacher. If it is deemed wrong for a teacher to have romantic relations with students because of the
position of power which the teacher holds over the students, then what about case where older boys in schools have romantic relations with younger girls. Should this be also made illegal? By the way, how did you meet your better half? Was it at school?
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In wake of Chinese donation...
CPCE Principal anticipates more interest in Science The education sector will, in the near future be furnished with seven trained science teachers from the Cyril Potter College of Education [CPCE]. Another 15 trained teachers will follow subsequently, effectively bringing the total of trained science teachers produced by the CPCE to 22. This is according to CPCE Principal Ms. Viola Rowe who recently revealed that the seven students represent teacher trainees in their second year of training and the 15 others are in their first year of training. But according to Rowe, in recent years not too many trainees have been gravitating to the CPCE’s science programmes. She has attributed this state of affairs to the fact that “we did not have state of the art laboratories.” She disclosed that over the past five years, “we have struggled somewhat with finding resources, chemicals and so for the effective delivery of the science programmes.” This situation was however partially addressed last December when President David Granger learnt of the challenges of the teachers training college and
CPCE Principal, Ms. Viola Rowe decided to donate $1 million to improving its Science and Information Technology laboratories. About five months after this gesture, the President, Rowe said he donated another $1million which allowed CPCE to further develop its science laboratory. However, the biggest and most recent donation from the President came a few days ago. The donation took the form of a multi-million-dollar grant from the People’s Republic of China. During a recent discussion with President Granger,
China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Cui Jianchun, offered to present the President with a gift that could lend to Guyana’s development. The President in accepting the gift asked that it be towards the development of the education sector. The gift came in the form of $47.8 million that will go towards the upgrade of the CPCE’s science and ICT laboratories. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed Wednesday by Education Ministry Permanent Secretary, Mr. Vibert Welch, and Charge d’ Affaires/Political Counsellor of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Yang Chengi. It will allow the Education Ministry to disperse the grant. According to Rowe, the funding will facilitate the procurement of some 56 items including chemicals and other materials and other things that will help to further upgrade the laboratories at CPCE and provide micro-science kits [portable laboratories]. The micro-science kits, she explained, will cater in particular to areas [mainly hinterland] that lack physical space for laboratories. “We have done some
work in some small way but this grant that is coming from China will certainly go a long way in helping us to deliver an effective science programme to over 1,000 teacher trainees spread across this country,” said Rowe. She anticipates that more teacher trainees will be attracted to the various science programmes as a result. According to Rowe, what obtained in the recent past was a “chicken and egg” situation. “If we are not churning out teachers from the college then we don’t have the teach-
ers in the college to deliver...but once we have the resources necessary to deliver our programme then teachers will be encouraged to come and register for the sciences and probably stay with the programme,” Rowe considered. In order to tutor at the CPCE, Rowe disclosed that persons are asked to have at least a second degree. Rowe however noted that in order for an individual to tutor at the Associate degree level that person is required to be qualified at the Master’s level.
“Sometimes we don’t get that but we accept the first degree in the area of specialisation along with at least five years of experience teaching the subject area,” Rowe said. Currently there are but three full time staff members tutoring in the subject area of science. Given the evident shortage of tutors in this regard, Rowe said that “we have been benefiting somewhat from our colleagues at the University of Guyana and also teachers in the education system who have been serving as part time tutors.”
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Govt. continues to forge Argument over wife earns economic diplomacy Itaballi porter 20 years in jail Despite the fact that he had little or no information at hand to speak to the success made thus far in the area of economic diplomacy, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge said, that Government continues to place great focus on this area. At a recent press conference, he told the media that he has found that in order for economic diplomacy there must be a continuous process. “Sometimes I am afraid we have challenges as regards continuity arising from financial problems and other demands on the resources of Guyana. But you will find that we have been working quite assiduously in this area. Greenidge said that Guyana has been making strides as it relates to trade.
He said that the success in this area can be attributed to the work being carried out by representatives in the Africa Caribbean and Pacific (ACP). “In terms of economic forum, Guyana has been working closely with several bilateral partners and agencies such to pursue common goals. The Minister promised to, on another occasion; go into more details on the progress made so far in the various projects, “across the globe.” However, he stressed the fact that economic diplomacy remains important to the government. Earlier this year, President David Granger said that there is much to be gained through strong diplomatic ties. The benefits listed include the securing of grants, protection for Guyanese in other countries and an improved economy. The President said that Guyana was able to secure over a billion dollars from the People’s Republic of China, “that is the work of our diplomats.” Continuing on how diplomacy helps the economy, Granger said, “When we speak of the national interest, we mean that the diplomats or the Foreign Service must go
out to the places they are stationed and sell rice, rum and timber, bauxite, sugar, sell Guyana as a tourist destination, bring in investors.” The President said that while the present set of diplomats are doing a fine job; more can be done in the field of marketing Guyanese products. “We have to keep searching for markets.” Granger said that Guyana has occupied most of the traditional stations like India, China, United Kingdom, the United States of America and Canada. He noted that Trinidad and Tobago has recently been added “because of our thrust in the Caribbean.” The President said that his government is looking to open new consulates so that marketing can be increased and “our citizens, particularly those in the Diaspora, can benefit. “The President noted that Guyana has a large Diaspora in eastern Venezuela, western Suriname, and northern Brazil and in many Caribbean islands. “So at the country level we want to see a very active foreign service and at the community level we want to see a stronger Caribbean, a stronger CSME.”
A man was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment, after he appeared before a Judge and a Jury in the Suddie Supreme Court on Thursday. Arthur Taylor, of Itaballi, Mazaruni, was found guilty by the Jury for the Murder of Wayne Johnson. It is alleged that on August 2, 2014, the defendant Arthur Taylor, stabbed Wayne Johnson, to the left side chest, thus penetrating the heart of the deceased. Taylor’s defence was that Wayne Johnson fell on a broken bottle, and died as a result of the injuries sustained. According to the murder accused, on the day in question an argument erupted between himself and Johnson on the Itaballi landing over the defendant’s wife. The accused later added that there was a scuffle between himself and the deceased. Taylor claimed that he acted in self-defense as Wayne Johnson was firing chops at him with a cutlass. At some point however the cutlass fell into the water, leaving Wayne Johnson unarmed. The accused said that as Wayne Johnson rushed towards him, he swung him on his stomach.
20 years jail: Arthur Taylor The two men later took the fight overboard with Wayne Johnson on top of the defendant in a choke lock. The defendant said the fight ended when Chris Gibbs pulled Johnson off him in the water. Chris Gibbs told his version of the story after he appeared as a witness in court last Thursday. Gibbs explained, “I heard a splash down at the landing, so I took my torch light and I went out to see what was going on. When I went out, I saw Wayne Johnson on top of the accused in a choke lock. I yelled at them multiple times and told them to stop.” Gibbs said.
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“The water was becoming reddish, so when the accused pushed off Wayne Johnson I rushed him to my boat to get medical attention.” The Police after escorting Wayne Johnson to the Bartica hospital, found no murder weapon at the crime scene. Johnson was pronounced dead at the Bartica Hospital. The doctor noted that the deceased sustained a single stab wound to the left chest about 11cm in depth. Police on the following day however retrieved a brown kitchen knife, with a missing rivet. Taylor claimed the weapon after recognizing the missing rivet. He denied stabbing the deceased with the weapon. The defendant’s attorney was unable to prove to the court that his client was innocent, and that Johnson did indeed die, after receiving a stab from a broken bottle. The prosecutor noted that the deceased could by no means fall on a bottle and sustain the injury when he was in a choke lock on top of the accused all the while. The prosecutor also noted that there’s a narrow probability that a bottle can make a single stab wound at 11cm depth. After deliberating on the evidence for more than an hour, the Jury found Taylor guilty. The judge then passed sentence for the accused to serve 20 years imprisonment.
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Production Sharing Agreements…
Govt. uncertain if to walk away or strengthen flawed model By: Kiana Wilburg At this point, it is difficult for the Government of Guyana to say if it would refrain from the continued use of Production Sharing Agreements (PSA) or strengthen this flawed model. This was confirmed yesterday with Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman. His comment came on the heels of a Kaieteur News article that was published on Sunday. That news item focused on the lessons Indonesia learnt from using
PSAs, a contractual model it is credited with creating. This arrangement stipulates that the host country will receive its profits after the oil company deducts its operating expenses. The Government of Indonesia thought that this was a wise move in the beginning. But with each passing year, it soon noticed that its cut of the spoils got smaller, the taxes from the oil sector began to shrink and the operators’ claims of deductable expenses were increasing by the millions.
…Meets with Indonesian officials on transfer of skills, experience The aforementioned convinced the Government that petroleum companies were inflating costs. The Government tried everything it could to keep oil companies from exploiting this loophole in the Production Sharing Agreement. But every accounting or auditing effort proved futile against the oil giants. Earlier this year, the country took the
decision to move away from the very agreement it piloted. With this in mind, Kaieteur News asked Trotman whether he believed that Guyana would be wise to move in the same direction. The Natural Resources Minister said, however, that PSAs have advantages especially for countries which do not have capacities to monitor and be fully involved. He said, “It took Indonesia decades to build capacity and to be able to de-link from it. We can’t compare Guyana with Indonesia.” At this point, Kaieteur News emphasized to the Minister that it took a staff of over 700 individuals in Indonesia to monitor cost recovery claims by oil companies. The newspaper insisted that surely there is something to be learnt from Indonesia if that point is considered. The Minister said, “Of course there is something to be learnt from Indonesia. We have in fact, met with officials of their national oil company. We are looking at areas of possible transfer of skills and experiences.” But as it relates to walking away from the use of PSAs, the Minister said that it is difficult to pronounce on such a matter at this stage. Trotman said, “We have had the current model reviewed and more reviews are being conducted by international agencies so it’s difficult to say at this moment whether
we will walk away completely or strengthen the model we have.” NEWMODEL Since moving away from PSAs, Indonesia has employed the use of the “grosssplit” method. The gross split rules make contractors bear all the costs in turn for a higher share of the output. The base split for oil blocks is 57% to 43% for the government and contractors, respectively, and 52% to 48% for natural gas fields. This is in contrast to the conventional cost recovery PSCs which caters for the sharing of profits after deduction of the exploration and production costs. The economic benefit from the gross split PSC is that it awards the share of production, bonuses, income taxes and indirect taxes to the state, while contractors receive a share of the production according to the percentage agreed on in the contract. INFLATED COSTS Indonesia’s move from Production Sharing Agreements to the new model in January last was long in the pipeline. In several media reports in that country, the Government said that under cost recovery, contractors inflated costs to increase their share of production, the result being that Government’s share is reduced. In fact, the Supreme Audit Agency of Indonesia found that several oil and gas production sharing contrac-
Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman tors inflated their operating costs claims to US$300M. The Agency also noted that many of the costs claimed by the company were not even in keeping with the rules and regulations of Indonesia. By moving to a grosssplit, the Government argued that contractors are forced to bear the costs of operating themselves. The Government believes that the new method will encourage the oil operators to spend more efficiently since there is no way to recover them. The Government of Indonesia feels justified in doing away with a cost recovery mechanism for oil operators. The citizens there also believe that for too long, they have been abused by oil operators. In this regard, the Government revealed that in 2016 alone, cost recovery by oil operators climbed up to $13.9B. This was more than the sector even contributed in revenues for that year. Additionally, the Government bemoaned the administrative challenges that came with addressing cost recovery as claimed by companies. In fact, the Government said that the problem with cost recovery is there have been endless debates as to how much exactly the production costs should be. The Government said it is not easy to calculate technology costs, especially in cases where only one company has a particular technology. It was also noted in the Indonesian media that SKK Migas, a government owned entity that manages the oil sector, has a staff of 750 professionals. Approximately 80% of that staff is involved in the arduous task of ensuring that cost recovery claims by company are fair and accurate. Anticorruption advocates in Indonesia are of the firm view that given its limited audit resources and benchmarks to evaluate cost claims, the Government’s response to move away from cost recovery as a basis for production sharing is perhaps, a sensible move.
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Buried body of cane harvester to be exhumed for autopsy The body of Reginald Ramswamey, 46, a former cane harvester at the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) will be exhumed on Monday for a Post Mortem Examination to be conducted by Government Pathologist, Dr. Neehaul Singh. This was confirmed by Divisional Commander Lindon Alves. “Based on persons now coming forward and claiming they have reasons to suspect that the person buried is their relative, we are bound to exhume so that they can be satisfied that the body is that of their relative”, Alves said. Ramswamey’s partly decomposed body was discovered a few weeks ago in the vicinity of the Port Mourant Community High School. The body, after spending days at the mortuary was eventually buried by police in B Division. It was said at that time that no relative came forward to identify the body. Ramswamey went missing on the 6th October from his Ankerville, Port Mourant home and was never seen or heard from since. The dead man’s sister, Annie Ramswamey, 43, who spoke with Kaieteur News said that her brother visited her on October 5, and requested some money, which she gave to him. He then left and told her he was heading home. She stated that weeks passed and she had not seen or heard from her brother, so she visited his home to inquire from his wife of his whereabouts. The wife at that
For exhumation: Reginald Ramswamey time claimed that Ramswamey went missing on October 6 but could not answer why she did not inform relatives that the man was missing. Annie said that the wife also refused to visit the station to report her husband missing. She stated that the very next day, she and other relatives began searching for her missing brother. It was during their search that someone informed them that a decomposed body was found at the school compound. “We go to Skeldon hospital and find out and how we describe he, everything was correct. 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 Monday we went to Whim Police Station and them ask we if we want do a Post Mortem and that how dem done bury he since the 15th of last month”, she disclosed.
70-plus proposals for... From page 23 section of the community in your endeavours because no sector, no individual, no political party or institution has all the answers to the myriad challenges confronting New Amsterdam. “It will be by combining your collective experiences, energy, talent and creativity that you will find the solutions to better the lives of all the residents of your town,” Minister Harmon said. The celebration of Town Week, the Minister said, is an opportunity to celebrate the town's heritage and history at the community level as well as to reminisce on those good things, which have taken place in the town. “You therefore have every reason to celebrate and be proud of your history, to be proud of your heritage, to recognize and be appreciative of the struggles of your fore-parents and to use that as a platform to plan for the future,” he said. As the 2018 Local Government Elections approach, the Minister of State reminded the town that the Government is committed to establishing and sustaining true local democracy in all municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) by giving them the autonomy to make the decisions for their respective communities and to give them the required resources to implement those.70-plus proposals for investments in GuySuCo received
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Friday November 24, 2017
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PM to team: Step up to the plate Bauxite and alumina companies
Trinidad Guardian - Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has read the riot act to his team of ministers, senators, parliamentary secretaries and Members of Parliament, telling them that at mid-term the “image” of the party and MPs is “not healthy” and they need to “step up to the plate” and be more “in tune” with the needs of the people they serve. The Prime Minister spoke to the team at a luncheon meeting at the Diplomatic Centre, Port-of-Spain on Wednesday. Well-placed sources told the T&T Guardian the meeting was organised shortly after the party’s 47th convention on November 12. Analysts Wednesday said this was significant, given that the PM and political leader will usually use the convention to bring the party up to speed on what the Govern-
ment is doing. But Government sources said there was nothing “strange” or “unusual” about Wednesday’s meeting, saying it was simply that Rowley wanted to have a “discussion” with his team because they are not in the Cabinet. Just two weeks ago at the party’s convention, Laventille West activist Wayne Griffith expressed concern at what he said was a “disconnect” between Cabinet, MPs, senators and the base of the People’s National Movement. He urged the party to pay more attention to “our foot soldiers, who at times feel alienated.” The concern seems to have struck a chord in Rowley, who told his team that at midterm there was need for introspection and urged them to “step up to the plate.” During the three-hour
meeting, he is said to have specifically told MPs they had a responsibility to look after the needs of the people who elected them. Team members were cautioned they needed to collectively do more to build on the gains the party had made in the last two years and to ensure they were on the pulse. A Cabinet source said there was no “talk of any snap election on the horizon.” With two by-elections looming in Barataria and the other in Belmont, Rowley said those with responsibility to look after the needs of the people must be “on the ground, and more involved.” Rowley reminded that Local Government elections are due in 2019 and they need to “get out there and listen to the people.” Rowley has himself been seen more about in his constituency and just this week residents in Tobago West reported seeing their MP, Shamfa Cudjoe, on walkabouts. Asked whether any mention was made of La Horquetta Talparo MP Maxie Cuffie, who has been ill for almost two months and out of office, the T&T Guardian was told neighbouring MPs will be making an effort to attend to the needs of his constituents. Several people who attended the meeting said Rowley was “like a father speaking to his children, helping us to understand that what we do is important for good governance. Our job is to ensure that all citizens are looked after.” Asked how they felt after the meeting, those who spoke said “normal,” but they got the message, adding that “when those from within complain it means that all is not well and we have a lot of work to do.”
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – The Government has announced plans to establish a Wages Board to look at regulating wages for categories of workers, especially those involved in security operations, and daycare and elderly care facilities. Acting Chief Labour Officer, Victor Felix, expressed optimism that the entity could be established before yearend, while speaking to reporters after delivering remarks at his department’s Labour Management Relations seminar on Wednesday. Felix pointed out that the Board’s functions would involve setting minimum wages and standards for employment, such as hours of work and determining the payment of overtime for workers.
Additionally, the Board would be tri-partite in structure, and will comprise representatives of government, employers, and employees. The Chief Labour Officer noted that the Minimum Wages Act, which was recently passed in Parliament, was not an Act that sets minimum wages, but “what it does is set out the mechanism through which minimum wages will be set”. “The legislation is now in place; it is now for the appropriate body, which is the Wages Board to be appointed, and they will in turn look at various sectors [relating to how] wages and standards for employment should be set,” Felix pointed out. He contended that although the legislation had
been passed, it was not fully operational, and when the Board came on stream, the impact of its work would be known. The Chief Labour Officer said once established, the Board would stick to the national inclination to move for sectoral minimum wages, in light of some areas which are in need of a serious examination. Felix singled out security personnel and the unacceptable standards under which they operate and disclosed that the Labour Department had received reports about employees working in day care, elderly and children care facilities. He added that the Board would investigate the conditions in other sectors as required.
Dr Keith Rowley
Barbados to establish a Wages Board
to issue over 300 land titles KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – Bauxite and alumina companies are to issue approximately 355 land titles by the end of the 2017 calendar year to persons who were relocated after their properties were acquired for mining purposes. With the year coming to a close, Transport and Mining Minister, Mike Henry, says the target has almost been achieved. “We are almost there”. The Minister said assistance is being given by the Bauxite Lands Land Titling Committee (BLLTC), which was established in the Ministry to work with the companies to clear the backlog of land titles. Henry emphasised that the timely provision of land titles to these persons is of paramount importance, so that they can formally unlock the value of the land, break the cycle of poverty and facilitate entrepreneurship. Between March 2016 and October 2017, approximately 340 persons obtained land titles for parcels of land on which they were resettled by the bauxite mining companies
Mike Henry with the assistance of the Committee. Meanwhile, the Minister said the Government is taking all necessary measures to encourage and facilitate the bauxite and alumina companies to develop subdivisions to resettle persons whose lands have been acquired. The restoration of minedout lands and their post-mining use is critical, as these lands are used for agricultural purposes. They are showing prom-
ising outcomes, as Soil Productivity Assessments done from 2003 to 2007 indicate that tomato, sweet pepper, Scotch bonnet pepper, cabbage, cauliflower and string beans planted on reclaimed bauxite soil outperformed those planted on unmined bauxite soil by between seven and 45 per cent. The major alumina and bauxite plants operating in Jamaica are Windalco, Jamalco, Alpart and Noranda Jamaica Bauxite Partners.
Jamaica deserves compensation for slavery – House speaker KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – Speaker of the House of Representatives, Pearnel Charles, says that compensation should be awarded for the many indignities heaped on the country’s ancestors during the period of slavery. Charles remarks during the Reparations Youth Baton Relay and Rally at Gordon House earlier this week. The speaker of the lower house argued that the British Government felt that it was just to compensate the planters, who had already benefited from the exploitation of “our ‘fore-parents’, by awarding them £20 million, the
equivalent of more than £20 billion today”. “We cannot undo the injustices of slavery, but we can honour our ancestors by demanding that their contribution be properly recognised,” he noted. “I encourage all Jamaicans not to dismiss the issue of reparations offhand but to try to understand the reasons behind the call and the implications it would have for our society,” he added. On behalf of Parliament, Charles commended the CARICOM Reparations Commission, and the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, through the
National Council on Reparations (NCR), for staging the Reparations Youth Baton Relay and Rally. The CARICOM initiative is aimed at building awareness among young people across the region about the issues surrounding the reparations movement and agenda.Relays have been held in Barbados, Guyana, Suriname, St. Lucia, and Antigua and Barbuda. The Jamaican leg of the relay commenced on October 10, and has covered the parishes of St. Thomas, Portland, St. Mary, St. Ann and St. Catherine.
Govt.’s wage offer to nurses an insult, says PNP KINGSTON, Jamaica— The opposition, People’s National Party (PNP) is urging Government to move with speed to address the stagnation in the discussions regarding wage negotiations for 2017-2019 with the island’s nurses, which have been stalled indefinitely.According to the PNP there seems to be a stalemate between the Government and the Nurses Association of Jamaica that has resulted in the disruption of services in the public health care facilities with scores of
nurses reported as being sick thus affecting the delivery of care. In a release yesterday morning, the Opposition said the nurses are suffering and the wage offer from the Government was an insult. “The Government offered an increase of a meagre three per cent to the nurses which equates to less than $2000 per month or less than $100 more per day. The Opposition views this as an insult to the hard working nurses, who sacrifice
daily to preserve the well being of our nation,” the PNP release said. “It is clear that the nurses and other members of the health care team are overworked and grossly under paid, leaving very limited room for motivation. The Opposition stands in solidarity with the nurses and demands that the Government shows them the respect they deserve by resuming the talks with them in an effort to make a meaningful offer.” (Jamaica Observer)
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Guyanese girl, 11, shot dead in Gold Board will continue execution-style murder in BVI buying gold –Minister Trotman …mother hospitalised in critical condition
…Says it will guarantee the supply of foreign exchange In light of damning financial irregularities which have been uncovered at the Guyana Gold Board, several anticorruption advocates have recommended that the Board should no longer be allowed to engage in the purchasing of gold. The government, however, does not share this view. According to Natural R e s o u r c e s M i n i s t e r, Raphael Trotman, the coalition administration believes that the Board should continue to retain its role. The Minister told Kaieteur News, yesterday, that there is always a suggestion about the role of the Board. He said that Cabinet considered this matter and believes that the board should continue purchasing in order to guarantee the supply of foreign exchange while paying more attention to the regulatory functions. Trotman said, “That is the direction we are heading…The gold board ran up a huge debt in the last government and we have been slowly working to bring order and discipline to the board. Our efforts are p a y i n g o ff . O u r n e w measure of introducing a processing fee has already shown benefits in cost recovery.”
Authorities on the main island of Tortola, British Virgin Islands, are investigating an execution-style double homicide that left an 11-year-old Guyanese girl dead and her mother hospitalised in a critical condition. Dead are Trinity Thomas, 11, and Franklyn Penn, a native of the BVI. The girl’s mother, Ramona Moses, was taken to the state-owned Peebles Hospital where she underwent emergency surgery. Her condition is listed as critical. Three persons were in a vehicle travelling along the western end of Tortola when in the vicinity of a cemetery, gunmen on scooters opened fire on the vehicle. Natural Resources According to the Royal Virgin Islands Minister, Raphael Trotman Police Force (RVIPF), the minor was a back seat passenger in the vehicle which was driven The Natural Resources consistently failed to by Penn with Moses in the front passenger Minister said that his monitor compliance with Ministry will be working the conditions under which closer with dealers in 2018 licences are issued to to have greater cohesion and dealers. regulation. Furthermore, forensic IRREGULARITIES auditors noted that from Joshua Payne, 44, of Victoria Village, East A forensic audit report 2012 to 2014, the Board Coast Demerara was yesterday jailed for 12 prepared by Ram and made losses totaling $10B. years for manslaughter. M c R a e C h a r t e r e d Of this the Board recorded a Payne was facing a murder indictment for Accountants, details a gross loss of $9B in 2013 n u m b e r o f w o r r y i n g compared with a gross loss the unlawful killing of Stabroek Market gold financial irregularities by of $281.4 million in 2012 trader, Kelvin Caines called, ‘Reds.’ The incident occurred at Stabroek Market in the Guyana Gold Board. and $79.6 million in 2014. December, 2012. The report says that At May 2015, the Gold Caines, of Lodge Housing Scheme, Section 5 of the Gold Board Board owed the Ministry of Act provides the mechanism Finance $8B for advances Georgetown was stabbed to death in the for the purchase price and received in September 2012. vicinity of the market following a the selling price for gold At the same date, the balance disagreement he had with Payne, who worked used by the Gold Board and on the Gold Board’s current as a handyman at the time. The accused was sentenced to prison by requires notification in the account with the Bank of Justice Brassington Reynolds after he Gazette. Guyana was an overdraft of appeared at the Georgetown High Court However, auditors said $8B, making a total of $17B. yesterday. that there has been The auditors said that it Payne had previously pleaded guilty to the noncompliance with this does not seem that the Gold requirement since 1983. Board would be able in the lesser count of manslaughter before the Judge. The forensic auditors f o r e s e e a b l e f u t u r e t o His plea was accepted following a noted that the Board discharge its obligations to psychological evaluation which deemed him the Ministry of Finance or to of sound mind. A probation report was also liquidate its overdraft with presented on his behalf. The report detailed the accused as having the Bank of Guyana. violent temperament owing to his upbringing (KIANA WILBURG)
Handyman gets 12 years for manslaughter
Teen bandit escaped from station by ‘picking’ shackles -reportedly linked to at least four robberies Dominique Charles, who was recaptured on Wednesday following his escape from the Kitty Police Station, is likely to be charged with at least three armed robberies. He is scheduled to appear in court today. While a police release had stated that Charles is 17, police officials said that the suspect is 18. Charles was detained on Sunday at the Kitty Police Station and was scheduled to be charged in connection with four armed robberies when he escaped. He had reportedly given ranks at the station the name of a sibling who is a year younger. A police official told Kaieteur News that because there are no lockups at the Kitty Station, Charles was shackled and placed on a bench.
seat. Investigators believe that Penn was the target of the gunmen and that the two Guyanese were in the wrong place at the wrong time. The murder of the minor has stunned the tiny Caribbean island which is home to hundreds of Guyanese. “I believe that there are many in our community who are equally shocked, saddened and disgusted by this cowardly act, and even more so that an innocent child was among the victims. (Sad that) there are people who live among us who would carry out such a contemptible act,” said the Commissioner of Police, Michael Matthews. There have been 10 homicides for the year in the BVI, the majority of which are gunrelated .
The official said that CCTV footage at the station showed that a policeman had taken the suspect to the washroom. It is believed that Charles secured a nail or other object while being taken to and from the washroom. The security footage showed that the suspect ‘picked’ his shackles while the policeman was in another section of the station. The only other rank, a policewoman, was distracted by some civilians who had come to make a report. Charles then escaped on a bicycle that was in the station compound. Police recaptured him on Wednesday in Middle Road, West La Penitence, while he was in a hire car. He reportedly had an unloaded .40 Smith and Wesson pistol.
in the streets of Georgetown. In his plea of mitigation, Payne’s lawyer, Keoma Griffith, begged the court to consider among other things that his client came from a fractured family background since his parents separated when he was at the tender age of four years. The prosecutors were State Counsel, Lisa Cave, Shawnette Austin and Tiffini Lyken. In her address to the court, Lyken asked the court to consider that the accused had attacked the victim because of an old grievance between the two. She noted that on the day of the incident Payne had armed himself with a knife and later stabbed Caines, fatally injuring him. The Prosecutor held that the accused knew exactly where to find his victim since they worked in the same market together. After taking all the consideration, Justice Reynolds sentenced Payne to 12 years for the killing. The sentence was originally set at 20 years but time was deducted for the guilty plea and the time Payne would have served in prison prior to the hearing.
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