guyanatimesgy.com
tuesday, august 11, 2015
5
Government should Selective prosecution against the PPP and supporters not pay Rudisa Dear Editor, I am pleased to note that others share my position and now some adverts have appeared in the print media. I also express thanks to the numerous persons who have called me and have spoken to me, with support for my position. Secondly, I hold no brief for Banks DIH nor DDL and I have a duty to our people, especially those who have elected as a Member of Parliament between 1992 and 2015. I restate my position that Government should not pay a dollar to Rudisa/CIDI. Since my letter I decided to go to the CCJ site to listen to the arguments in the case. I invite you to visit http:// www.caribbeancourtofjustice.org/judgments-proceedings/audio-video-recordings June 3. Also you can listen to the executive summary of the decision of the court on this site. Remember however, that these are the main arguments, but the written pleadings are more substantial. After listening to three hours and five minutes of oral arguments and testimony of Rudisa/CIDI attorney and CFO, the former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, and the learned CCJ judge the following are pellucid. The CCJ ruled that
Guyana did not produce any evidence to show that the Environmental Tax, which Rudisa/CIDI paid at the point of importing there beverages into Guyana, were passed on to consumers. Rudisa/CIDI acknowledged that they under invoiced – that the parent company knowingly submitted invoices to CIDI that were below the true cost price of the goods. Rudisa/CIDI said that they took a cut on their profit margin, in order to sell at a competitive price in the GUYANA market. Rudisa/CIDI* said that 55% of its production is sold in Guyana. Rudisa/CIDI provide their documentation to substantiate what they paid as environments tax. We thus will not herein, second guess the CCJ’s decision, but there is a larger Court, ‘The Court of Public Opinion’ , meaning that the consumers and taxpayers of Guyana, who have paid and will again have to shoulder the financial burden if we do not fight against this greed by Rudisa/CIDI. I appeal to you the consumers and taxpayers in Guyana to stand firm and united against our government paying anything to Rudisa/CIDI. While the CCJ said that Guyana did not provide any evidence that the Environmental tax was
passed on to consumers, anyone in business would know that Rudisa/CIDI had to pass it on. Rudisa/CIDI did acknowledge that the effect was that they took a lower profit margin. So I leave it to you to make up your own mind. On the issue of under invoicing, wow Guyana has now a serious case to bring against Rudisa/CIDI. Our tax laws allow the Commissioner to fix value of imported goods, especially if he feels that the invoices reflect under valuation of imports. We have the sworn testimony online of Rudisa/ CIDI to this effect. In my earlier letter I spoke of the possible evasion of profit tax by Rudisa/CIDI. What should be the responses? First the principals of Rudisa/ CIDI, should walk away from the award. They won a moral victory and Guyana has changed the law. Second, our Government should now arm itself with the financial penalties to Rudisa/CIDI for the under valuing of invoices and short payment of VAT Third should Rudisa/CIDI not walk away from the award, consumers must boycott all Rudisa/CIDI products for example, Thrill beverages, Heineken beer Kia motors and a few more. Manzoor Nadir
Public Sector professionals must remain loyal to Guyana Dear Editor, Recently, work colleagues and friends of mine have informed me that almost daily they have had to come to my defence from negative criticisms stemming from my association with the previous Administration, my health and my decision to stay on and support the new Government. Professional associates, coworkers, and subordinates will attest to the objective, fair and practical manner in which I have always conducted myself at both the organisational and national levels. I have come to realise that a large part of the criticisms I receive stem from the level of bitterness and contempt some sections of the general public feel toward the previous Administration. It is understandable that in any new Government there will be changes and certain key positions will be affected by this change. However, I still firmly believe that persons appointed by the previous Administration should be given a fair opportunity to serve and especially if they were not part of a/the political party’s machinery. In my situation, I had good jobs with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the United Nations when I was asked to serve within the Public Sector by the then
President – how do you say no – likewise I am sure there are others with similar experiences. The previous Administration suffered from several management related problems. One such problem was that it became the norm for instructions and directives to be given verbally to senior government functionaries and public servants. I do not think it is necessary to point out the issues involved with same, but in this new dispensation, I would like to suggest that strong attention be given to the bureaucratic process for issuing and carrying out instructions. It should be made Government policy to ensure that written instructions are given to senior public officials. This will allow greater clarity, transparency and accountability. I now move to the issue of state appointed Boards. I recall during my tenure as a Director at the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), many of the issues that the industry faces had evolved long before the time of my appointment. However, all the blame for the failures of the entity were laid squarely at the feet of the Board at the time. It is now critical that Government provides clear objectives and directions for the newly appointed GuySuCo board, in
addition to providing all the resources needed. In fact, the Government, where they are majority shareholder in the organisations should provide clear guidelines so that performance can be measured. And performance should be measured to ensure Boards are held accountable with consequences for non-performance. Importantly, subsequent board appointments should be tailored to meet the changing needs of the entity. In addition, I have observed that on many occasions, persons are appointed to Boards of organisations in sectors they are not very familiar with. It is essential that a comprehensive orientation package is provided which includes a candid report of issues and challenges the organisation faces. Finally, my advice to professional persons working in the Public Sector is to ensure that decisions made to push you out do not affect your loyalty to Guyana. I will not let that happen to me. On moving forward, I intend to establish a NGO to assist in educating prospective investors and ensuring that tax payers’ monies are well spent when concessions are granted. Yours sincerely, Keith Burrowes
but not against racists Dear Editor, Anyone who engages (d) in misconduct or violates the law should and must be dealt with by law. But I note the following inconsistencies in filing criminal charges for public misbehaviour or public comments. Dr Bheri Ramsaran was slapped with a criminal charge for threatening a female who violated his space and who uttered what Bheri claimed to be an outlandish outburst at him and who also disrupted an interview he was conducting that promoted his verbal assault on her. No charge was filed against the person who violated his space.
Former President Bharrat Jagdeo was charged for reporting what those from the Opposition camp stated (anti-Indian racist remarks) in campaign stumps. He was also charged but not the campaigners of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) who actually made the racist comments. A mob burned down a few houses in Sophia because of the owners’ political affiliation with the People’s Progressive Party. No charges were filed against the arsonists and the racists. Freddie Kissoon made vile and blasphemous com-
ments against a Hindu religious leader and Hinduism. No charges were filed. Several young Africans uttered derogatory racial slurs and engaged in constant racial jeering and abuse of a swami at a Vreed-En-Hoop. No charges were filed. The daughter of an APNU Member of Parliament publicly urinated on and set the PPP flag on fire. No charges were filed. Is this equality before the law and equity in justice? Or are we returning to the era of injustice of post 1964? Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram
Appointment of Leguan CPG Liaison Officer should be reconsidered Dear Editor, The Executive of the Leguan Island Community Policing Group (CPG – G2 Division) refuse to support the new appointed Liaison Officer, Kamal Roy Narine. In April 2015, the members of the G2-Division elected John Hayes as the new Vice Chairman and National Community Policing Executive (NCPE). Narine was expelled in May 2015 from the Leguan CPG for misuse of the statutes of the policing groups. Editor, our purpose is to provide a peaceful and secure community of everyone in Leguan. We take a stand on being neutral and do not discriminate. With Kamal Roy Narine as new Liaison Officer, this is impossible, considering that he was appointed by Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, thus bypassing the CPG Administrator.
This smacks of political favouritism. Narine tries to establish, in the meantime, his “own” personal policing group. This new group must be integrated in the Leguan CPG, according the statutes of the policing groups. Narine is also the Chairman of the Managing Committee of the Leguan Police Station and so far has done little. Narine is also allegedly currying favours with other bodies in pursuit of his own personal ambitions. He also allegedly indulged in drunken driving on his motor bike but is said to be a good friend Mr Downer, a Sergeant attached to the Leguan Police Station, who in turn is believed to protect him. Editor, we spend innumerable hours on the road, patrolling by foot, bicycle, motorbike and vehicle at day and night, clean-
ing the road ways, hospital, health stations and beaches. We distribute food hampers to the poor, look-out for missing persons, and we formed a youth group of no less than 80 members. The people of Leguan like us and they trust the Leguan CPG more than the ranks of the Leguan Police Station. On other hand, Kamal Roy Narine has not yet earned a good name on the island. We are very hopeful that the Public Security Ministry reconsiders the decision to appoint Narine to Liaison Officer for the Leguan Island Community Policing Group. Sincerely yours, Hans Buer (PRO) John Hayes (Vice Chairman and NCPE) Leguan Island Community Policing Group