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WEEK ENDING June 29, 2014 | guyanatimeSinternational.com
PNC’s intention was to “blow off Rodney’s head” …Ogunseye tells CoI By Tajeram Mohabir
W
orking People’s Alliance (WPA) Executive Member Tacuma Ogunseye said based on the statement given by Dr Walter Rodney’s brother, Donald Rodney, it was clear that the intention of the PNC plotters was to “blow Dr Rodney’s head” off with the bomb installed in the walkie-talkie while he
was standing outside the Georgetown Prison, so as to provide the basis for the claim that the historian was killed trying to bomb the prison. But this, he said, did not happen as the instrument exploded in Dr Rodney’s lap while in his car. He pointed out that the killing was planned as within minutes, flyers were found in front of Dr Rodney’s home, saying that he was killed
trying to “blow up” the Georgetown Prison. Ogunseye made the remarks while giving testimony at the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry. He said after the killing of Dr Rodney, the GDF has distanced itself from Smith, but Ogunseye told the Commission that based on reliable information he received, the Army aided Smith’s safe departure from Guyana using
its helicopter on one leg of the journey to French Guiana. Smith’s wife, Gwendolyn Jones, who was employed at a Government Ministry, was transported by minibus to Kwakwani, as she too made a safe exit from Guyana, the WPA Executive said. Following detailed checks, he said five years after, she was found to be working at the Guyana
Consulate Office in Canada. Ogunseye told the Commission that though then President Forbes Burnham and the PNC Government were accused both locally and internationally of killing Dr Rodney, they did not try to get Smith before the court, and try to make any serious effort for his capture, because they were afraid that had he been placed in a Court of Law, there
Dr Walter Rodney
was a likelihood that he would have “spilled the beans” of his masters.
Donors inject US65M to improve GPL’s efficiency
T
he Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved loans totalling approximately US$37.6 million and has also secured non-reimbursable investment financing from the European Union totalling approximately US$26.9 million to help boost the efficiency and reliability of Guyana’s power system. The funds ill also help strengthen electricity loss reduction measures, improve operational capabilities, and strengthen the management and corporate performance of the country’s utility,
Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL). In a statement, the IDB said reducing overall electricity losses can improve GPL’s financial performance, while alleviating the Government’s fiscal commitments with regard to the energy sector. Guyana is expecting a significant increase in electricity consumption during the next decade as a result of the growth of its residential and commercial sectors and the expected return of large customers to the national power grid. GPL is now facing various challenges in
trying to provide additional electricity on an efficient and reliable basis, which include high levels of electricity losses. As Guyana’s energy demand increases, the distribution infrastructure will experience greater stresses, and in turn, this will challenge GPL’s management and its ability to manage electricity supply. Previous IDB experience in Guyana and other countries in the Latin American and Caribbean Region have proven the importance of approaching electricity loss reduction measures in a way
The new Guyana Power and Light substation at Sophia
that tackles both technical and commercial losses, while highlighting the value of supporting improvements in management practices and operational systems. The Power Utility Upgrade Programme is designed as a holistic, integrated approach to support GPL with financing for critical infrastructure investments and technical support for GPL’s key business areas. This support should increase GPL’s overall performance, reinforce GPL’s operational capabilities, and the achieve-
ment of a sustained trend in overall loss reduction. The three main components of this loan reflect this approach with the following expected results: (a) a sustained trend in overall loss reduction; (b) an improved and accountable management performance against consistent key performance indicators and within minimum international standards; and (c) more modern, efficient, and reliable operational systems in GPL. This new programme will rehabilitate approx-
imately 830 kilometres of GPL’s distribution network by implementing an integral approach to tackling overall losses while strengthening GPL’s management and technical capabilities. Under the IDB’s new and innovative Grant Leverage Mechanism, the Guyana Power Utility Upgrade Programme will be the first to be co-financed with IDB resources and those to be provided on a non-reimbursable basis by the European Union’s Caribbean Investment Facility (CIF).
IDB seeks 15 most innovative start-ups in the Caribbean
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he Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has announced the launch of a competition to select 15 start-ups from Latin America and the Caribbean to take part in an innovation seminar that the Bank will hold in Washington, DC, December 1-3. As part of this seminar, the candidates selected will have access to disruptive content and a series of events, workshops, inspirational lectures and networking among other features. For instance, over the course of two days, they
will work under the Fly Garage model, an innovation incubator developed by Mondelez Internacional to be part of a social, collaborative and creative experiment for start-ups. Candidates for the IDB competition must be between the ages of 18 and 35 and be founders or co-founders of start-ups with a minimum of one year of activity and a maximum of two. The companies must also feature a technological focus in one of these categories: Social Change, Cities and Climate Change, Health
and Wellness, Education and Open Knowledge, Government and Citizen Participation, Gaming for Social Change, and Technology in Financial Services. Applications should be submitted on or before July 16, and must be done through the website www.iadb. org/DemandSolutions. Candidates must send a video lasting a maximum of two minutes in which they introduce themselves and explain why they think their startup should be picked. Winners will be notified by email in mid-September.