Guyana Times International 31st May 2019

Guyanese man charged for human trafficking in Florida

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INTERNATIONAL THE BEACON OF TRUTH

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You can also read Guyana Times daily edition online at www.guyanatimesgy.com WEEK ENDING JUNE 2, 2019

ISSUE NO. 451

Guyana awaits CCJ’s ruling on no-confidence vote See story on page 21

...Commissioner blasts GECOM for moving ahead with house-to-house registration

President David Granger (right) and (going anti-clockwise) former Presidents Donald Ramotar, Bharrat Jagdeo and Samuel Hinds share a light moment after the ceremony to unveil the portraits of Presidents at Public Buildings. (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

‘No need to panic’

Page 54

…Govt assures CPL games will be played in Guyana

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 2, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 3

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Guyana’s Parliament unveils gallery honouring former Presidents

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he Parliament office on Wednesday unveiled a gallery of portraits honouring the present and past presidents of Guyana. The event was hosted in observance of Guyana’s 53rd Independence Anniversary celebration.

Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Barton Scotland during his remarks at the unveiling ceremony said the creation of the gallery of presidents is a presentation of the people of Guyana in deep appreciation for the presidents’ dedicated and exceptional service to Guyana.

According to Scotland, the idea of the gallery of presidents was birthed after discussions with himself and the other staff of the National Assembly. “Beyond the observance of our independence, our fellow Guyanese and those who visit would have much to contemplate through the reality of this gallery of presidents. It would add adornment and lus-

ter to the national assembly,” he said.

The portraits unveiled were those of President David Granger and former Presidents Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, Donald Ramotar, Samuel Hinds, Dr Cheddi Jagan, Janet Jagan, Hugh Desmond Hoyte, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham and Arthur Chung.

Giving brief remarks at the unveiling ceremony, former President Samuel Hinds said that Guyana since its independence has not done too poorly given the challenges it faced as nation. He believes that one of these challenges was the challenges of our six peoples who all were from different backgrounds but had to come together. He added that Guyana should be proud that it did not falter even when it was called to partition from two different directions.

Further, Hinds explained that Guyana has been underestimating two major chal-

The Gallery of Presidents, which was on Wednesday unveiled. The presidents are placed in order of their time of service to the country. From left are: Arthur Chung, Linden F.S. Burnham, Desmond Hoyte, Dr Cheddi Jagan, Samuel Hinds, Janet Jagan, Bharrat Jagdeo, Donald Ramotar and current president, David Granger. (Ministry of Presidency photo)

lenges that it faces namely the challenges of coming together as one people and the other of developing the country materially. He expressed hope that Guyana joins the group of countries that managed to do

well with fortunes that come its way. “My hope is that we would find ourselves in the better half of those countries that have had the fortune of finding oil,” he said.

Also president at

Wednesday’s unveiling ceremony were President Granger and former Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo and Ramotar along members of the diplomatic corps and staff of the National Assembly.

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EDITORIAL

Independence O

n Monday last Guyana celebrated its 53 Independence Anniversary.

The Enlightenment philosopher Immanuel Kant observed that one cannot separate means from ends: the latter being simply “consummated means”. We, the inheritors of that “independence” can attest to the perspicacity of that statement as we review our history since. Burnham saw politics as “the science of the deal” and our Independence under his PNC was simply the result of a deal he cut with colonial Britain to prevent the PPP from collecting on their promise for independence to be granted to the party that won the 1961 elections – which was the PPP. Some, including ironically the British, saw Cheddi Jagan essentially as a harmless, well meaning Marxist; a type they knew very well from their domestic post-war politics, whose bark was worse than their bite. But the new liberal US president John F. Kennedy could not afford to risk another Cuba in the western hemisphere after the disastrous Bay of Pigs expedition. The PNC under Burnham went along with a coup on the cheap through CIA-inspired riots and a condign tweaking of the electoral rules from “first past the post” to Proportional Representation. The rest, literally, was history.

But using the “means” of riots with two parties that were ethnically based, left Guyana with a more polarised political system than any in the Caribbean, because the genie of violence to “resolve” political differences was let out of the bottle. Our independence became the “fruit of a poisoned tree”. After WWII, the British had accepted they could not hold on to their empire and was more than willing for the US to fill any power vacuum created by their withdrawal.

Burnham, however, knew that with Jagan and his PPP as the alternative, he had the US between a rock and a hard place.

His electoral “innovations” to remain in office through rigging was ruefully accepted by the US as Jagan gravitated closer into the Russian ideological orbit. Burnham was alarmed after an attempted coup by some “progressive” young army officers in neighbouring T&T in 1970, who were inspired by the Black Power Movement as well as socialist ideas. He moved ideologically “leftwards” to pre-empt a similar movement in Guyana but pragmatically chose “cooperative” Socialism, as his philosophy. This, he claimed, was based on the African “Ujaama” socialism of Tanzania, and not on classical Marxism so as not to irritate the US. The incoherent melange of policies, which he declared in 1976 would “feed, house and clothe” the nation within five years, inevitably led to the collapse of the nation politically, economically and socially. Politically, Burnham declared the “paramountcy” of the PNC over the government and indeed over the entire state with its party flag flying over the Court of Appeal – then our highest court. The need to practice boondoggle politics intensified as the PNC supporters became restive after the formation of an alternative political force, the WPA. Economically, the country was unable to pay its international debts and Burnham refused to accept the ministrations of the IMF and World Bank. Printing of money to satisfy its internal debt precipitated the highest rate of inflation the nation had ever seen and this wiped out the savings of the salaried class. Socially, the supporters of the PPP were discriminated against leading to even Dr Jagan protesting against “racial discrimination”. The spectacular failure was epitomised by the largest mass suicide the world had ever seen at Jonestown in 1978.

It was only the fall of the communist USSR in 1989 that made the US look a bit more benignly at the PPP and facilitated its return to office in 1992 via “free and fair” elections. In their 23 years at the helm, they heroically attempted to clean the Augean Stables left by the PNC. And we arrive at the present iteration of the PNC under David Granger, who is delivering on his promise to “fulfil the legacy” of Burnham.

Captains of the 2019 Cricket World Cup teams pose for a photo op. with Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace in London prior to the start of the games. (Windies Cricket photo)

Gender stereotypes

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ith the PNC-led Government’s b l e s s i n g s , “Carnival” is now integrated into our Independence commemoration.

This year, it kicked off with “Rum and Ramajay”, “Wet Wednesday”, “Stinging Nettles”, “Stink and Dutty Jouvert”, and culminated with the Dancehall music of Buju Banton.

Since the Government simultaneously announced its commitment to fight “Gender Based Violence”, we publish the following as advice by a young Guyanese: “As Lady Saw, legendary female dancehall singer, says, ‘man a di least of mi problem’.”

However, this phrase could not be further from the reality for most women in the Caribbean culture.

In dancehall music, women are seen as salacious figures of sexuality, companions for men; and, ideally, as mothers and caretakers of those men.

In another song, titled “She’s a Ho,” Mr. Vegas proceeds to list everything that makes a woman a “ho” in his eyes. This list includes being a woman who has onenight stands, takes another woman’s man, is “easy,” or has a negative reputation in her community. This portrays women as being treacherous individuals who weaken men.

Even the term “dancehall queen” is used to describe a woman who is seductive and uses her sexuality to attract men, and in turn weaken their masculinity.

Women are referred to in many songs as “Delilah.”

This denotes their con-

nection to the biblical figure who was known to be a temptress, and for tricking Sampson into revealing the source of his strength and then using that knowledge to take that strength away from him.

These songs and descriptions paint women as being duplicitous, deceitful, and sex-crazed. However, these same facts, when attributed to men, are usually seen as positive masculine traits.

In addition to having many female conquests, an ideal man in Caribbean culture is aggressive, and as most dancehall songs suggest, violent when need be, often to the detriment of women.

Vybz Kartel, another dancehall artiste, notorious for his violent lyrics, recites that “real badman neva afraid, we got bombs and guns and hand grenades.”

According to this song, and many others, men should be strong and fearless, and in turn should show no hesitation in engaging in violence in the event that their manhood is ever threatened.

This notion of hyper-masculinity, promoted through dancehall music, leads to the subjugation of women and reaffirmation of their roles as the weaker sex.

Men are constantly reminded of their perceived roles as the stronger sex, and are being told that they would lose their masculinity if they do not work to maintain their prized machismo and the rigid gender roles ingrained into Caribbean society.

The rigidity of Caribbean

gender roles is also evident in rampant domestic violence against women by men who are trying to bolster their masculinity.

This construction of sexual identities in dancehall music causes sexism, misogyny, and violence to be entrenched into the Caribbean culture.

From the time a child begins to interact socially, he/ she is being trained to understand his/her specific role, as dictated by their gender.

Boys are taught to be strong and assertive, whereas girls are being taught to be passive and open to subjugation.

Homosexuality challenges this heteronormative notion which causes many male dancehall artistes to target gay men in their lyrics. In an attempt to emasculate gay men and label them as an “other,” dancehall singers focus on their sexuality being immoral and taboo.

In doing so, they attempt to isolate themselves from gay men and maintain the notion of masculinity being inherent in males. Dancehall artiste T.O.K., in his song “Chi-Chi Man”, blatantly attacks homosexuality on the ground of it being dirty and immoral. He then calls for all homosexual men to be burnt and killed with no mercy.

The essentialism that is being perpetuated in these songs is creating an impenetrable shield around Caribbean society. Coupled with the violence associated with breaking away from these norms, dancehall music has become a very toxic part of Caribbean culture.”

(Brown Girl Magazine)

WEEK ENDING JUNE 2, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

NEWS 5

Govt Ministers greeted with protests at outreach on Essequibo Coast

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undreds of disgruntled citizens lined the streets of Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) to protest the presence of Government officials who are currently holding outreaches across the country.

Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt was also in the protest line, after the Regional Executive Officer (REO) reportedly denied him a fuel allowance to attend the activity.

The majority of the residents questioned the timing of the outreach, pointing out that after four years in office, this is the first time such a large ministerial delegation has visited the region to offer support.

They believe Government is merely campaigning, in light of the No-confidence Motion against it and the likelihood of early elections.

One rice farmer said rice is the breadbasket of the region and although many calls were made for Government to intervene to save the industry from collapsing, nothing has been done.

At Wednesday’s protest also, over 30 trench cleaners join the picketing line after they were

These young women held placards in front of the Cabinet outreach at Anna Regina

denied payments for over three months. Like at the other outreaches so far, residents flocked the booth dealing with housing issues. Scores of persons said they left the outreach very disappointed since their housing issues could not have been

fully dealt with despite waiting long hours to have their issues addressed.

This led some persons to question why the Government is inviting persons to the Cabinet outreaches when they cannot address their issues.

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 2, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Hope for all Guyanese lies in that equality promised at the ballot box on Election Day

Dear Editor, Recent events in our nation have brought Jean Jacques Rousseau’s famous quote “When the people shall have nothing more to eat, they will eat the rich” sharply to mind, for we are entering that period in our history where it is happening before our eyes. The Guyana of my youth was characterised by friendships that crossed social, ethnic and economic barriers; parents did not interfere with these relationships and being ‘rich’ or ‘poor’ was never an issue, integrity of character was the only benchmark applied. I fear that this is already under

threat and two recent events show that the divide has gotten wider and is almost beyond repair.

The murder of young Patrick Fraser, who was simply hanging out with friends, with no thought that anyone viewed him as any different and the shooting of Kristian Jeffery, who thought it would be acceptable to walk in the company of friends through Agricola after the Buju Banton concert are harbingers of things to come. Parents of the ‘haves’ will now be securing the gates; building the high fences, both physical and mental, to secure their off-

spring and friendships outside of the socio-economic circle will not be encouraged and eventually forbidden. The rich will retreat into security compounds and gated communities (already a feature) and the poor will be further isolated in ever growing pockets of despair.

Inequality will always exist in non-utopian societies, but democracy, the equal power of one vote, is a check to the politicians and parties that form Governments, or so it should be. Merton’s Strain Theory states that society puts pressure on individuals to achieve socially accepted goals

though they lack the means. The responsibility lies with Government to bridge this gap, unfortunately, our nation is being administered by a cabal of the most uncaring. In four short years, they have exacerbated the gap between the rich and poor to the brink of the unthinkable; they would rather destroy democracy and the balance it brings than give up the power and perks of office. The strain is being evidenced by the sharp rise in violent crime. It cannot be solved by the sponsoring of entertainment and sharing of tickets, that story of “bread and circus” has played

Dear Editor, It must by now be excruciatingly clear that the Governmentnominated members of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the Chairman harbour no qualms about exposing their political partisanship, and are decidedly determined to execute political directions even if it results in unconstitutional and irrational actions.

GECOM is a creature of the Constitution, and is legally tethered to the four corners of that instrument; it has no jurisdiction or power to act outside of its parameters. The plain language of the Constitution indisputably establishes that the raison d’être of GECOM is the holding of elections. Every other function devolving upon it is an accessory to aid and abet it in discharge of this ultimate mandate. The functional responsibilities of GECOM are enumerated in Article 162 of the Constitution. In the discharge of these tasks, the Constitution expressly commands GECOM “to ensure impartiality, fairness and compliance with the provisions of this Constitution or of any Act of Parliament…”

It is now public knowledge that GECOM was made a party by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to the appeals recently heard by that Court arising out of the No-Confidence Motion passed in the National Assembly on December 18, 2018. One needs not be a lawyer to conclude that GECOM was joined to those proceedings because the CCJ apprehends that it may make orders and give directions which would impact upon GECOM if it rules that Article 106

of the Constitution has been violated, in order to give effect to the intendment of the framers of that Article. The framers of that Article undoubtedly intend early elections as one of the consequences of the passage of a No-Confidence Motion.

In our constitutional matrix, it is GECOM that is the dominant player in the execution of this intention.

Indeed, at the hearing of the appeal, almost every one of the judges expressly alluded to this eventuality. I am fortified in this regard by the fact that the Court indicated that, depending on how it rules, a hearing will be facilitated for the lawyers to address the Court on the consequential orders which are to be made. Ineluctably, these will include specific edicts to GECOM in respect of the holding of elections. On multiple occasions, the judges of the CCJ reiterated not only GECOM’s servitude to the Constitution, but emphasised its undisputed duty to comply with both the letter and spirit of the Constitution.

In the High Court, pending before the Chief Justice are legal proceedings that seek to declare the house-tohouse registration, upon which GECOM plans to embark, as unlawful and unconstitutional. GECOM has filed a defence to those proceedings. The court has ordered all parties to submit their legal arguments in writing within timeframes specified.

In the interregnum, GECOM’s legal adviser has rendered a written opinion, which fortunately has been made public. In that opinion, learned counsel advised that not only is the proposed house-to-house

registration unnecessary, but significantly, that it would be violative of the law. It is no coincidence that this opinion espouses the identical legal premise upon which the challenge in the High Court is predicated. At the end of the day, the law remains the law, irrespective of who reads it, once it is done professionally.

Unsurprisingly, this opinion from a professional was crassly and uninitiatedly deprecated by Commissioner Desmond Trotman, himself unlearned in the law. He further descended to attribute to this lawyer ulterior and illicit motives. This uncouth and unwarranted attack on a professional for simply discharging her duties, but which does not meet a political expectation, must be condignly condemned.

Commissioner Vincent Alexander followed suit. He accused this legal officer of misrepresenting GECOM’s position to the CCJ. These are professionally grave and reputationally damaging allegations to be made against any professional.

I am not privy to the instructions imparted to counsel, and will therefore refrain from further comment.

Hopefully, counsel will respond. I have no doubt that her current silence is tied to her continuous employment. We will have to await her dismissal or resignation before a response is forthcoming. This has become the hazardous reality of every professional working with the Government.

One only needs to read a letter currently in circulation which appears to have been inked by self-proclaimed victims of the Attorney General.

In a normal democratic society governed by a Constitution, which is the supreme law and one in which the rule of law prevails, having regard to the circumstances expatiated above, an institution akin to GECOM, would — in deference to the constitution and out of reverence for legal proceedings pending both before the highest Court in the land and the Chief Justice of the country, coupled with the guidance adumbrated by its own legal officer, presumably in whom it reposed confidence to hire and retain in the first place — at a minimum, stay any proposed actions whose legality and constitutionality are the subject of the pending legal proceedings and advice.

out its usefulness aeons ago.

Editor, change is upon us, the expatriate community is growing daily, their salaries far exceed even the dreams of our large middle class.

They will begin by renting homes but as the history of oil development shows, they will inevitably build their secure compounds, travel in heavily armoured convoys, employ armed services to escort them and live separate from the ‘locals’. The strain will be felt by those outside

those compound walls, our children will not form these bonds of friendship that enrich lives and last lifetimes; the rich will live on the hills and the poor in the valleys of despair. No longer will we be “one people” or “one nation”. The poor have started eating and Granger has put us on the menu. The only hope for all Guyanese lies in that equality promised at the ballot box on Election Day. Respectfully, Robin Singh

When will Guyana GECOM is galloping ahead like an unruly horse get reliable power supply?

Not our GECOM

As if to intentionally demonstrate to the judicial arm of the State that it has no regard and respect for either its processes or the Constitution or the law, GECOM is galloping ahead like an unruly horse with houseto-house registration, in order to execute its political party’s directions.

This is not only conduct which is contumacious of the process of the Courts and the Constitution, but it is clearest illustration in recent times of the return of party paramountcy.

Against such factual tapestry, how can GECOM enjoy public confidence and public trust in its integrity and independence when it has been so demonstrably partisan and politically toxic?

Mohabir Anil Nandlall, MP Attorney-at-Law

Dear Editor, When the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) took over, I sent a reaffirming letter complimenting and recognising his efforts. Now, with GPL here in Guyana, there is much cause for concern.

Things seems to be going from bad to worse in their hemisphere of the provision of quality and effective power supply to the citizens of Guyana.

The constant “blackouts” are a terror to the minds of the Guyanese people. For two successive days there were power outages on the East Coast of Demerara.

This went on for more than 12 hours. As a result, Guyanese are unable to programme their lives. On one occasion, I can recall on the East Coast of Demerara where I live, there were power shortages 10 times in one day and on another occasion, 20 times in one day. I am thankful that I have a generator to tide me over during these ‘unkind power interruptions” by GPL. But what about the poor persons without the backup services of a generator and what they are going through during this ordeal of being without electricity?

Imagine what happens to small businesses and industries in terms of operations and production and how persistent power shortages negatively affect their contributions to the economy of the country?

The disruptions of power supply caused the post in front of my house to “spark”. When I telephoned GPL to report this incident, a “fancy recorded voice came on the phone saying “press this

and press that”. I was told by this same “fancy recorded voice” that I was number 19 at first, then I became number three in the queue waiting to register my complaint, and after waiting on hold on the line for a long time, as instructed to by the same “fancy voice”, I automatically went to number five on the line instead. And I was not given a chance to air my complaint and to seek redress, imagine my utmost frustration which is nothing compared to the frustrations that the more poor and in need Guyanese are experiencing at the hands of GPL. The point that I am trying to get at is these large consumer service providing companies do not realise that the inability of persons to reach them reflects badly on them and indirectly on the governing powers of the land, especially so in an elections atmosphere.

I am writing this letter out of deep respect, and a love for democracy and country. I believe in protocol and it pains me to write a letter like this about the inefficiency of our foremost electrical supplier.

The point to note is that many poor people without representation and the ability to complain have their electrical appliances damaged and they do not know how to represent themselves.

We hope and pray that the suffering of the Guyanese people will come to an end and the troubles that GPL is going through will come to an end.

Sincerely, Roshan Khan Snr

news 7

WEEK ENDING JUNE 2, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Houston conference results in increased interest in Guyana’s oil sector – GCCI President W ith a team from Guyana having participated at the Offshore Technology Conference in Texas, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has revealed that their presence resulted in increased foreign interest in local partnerships.

This is according to GCCI President Nicholas Boyer, who was at the time hosting a press conference on Wednesday.

Boyer was asked what tangible benefits arose out of the Conference, which lasted from May 6-9.

“There were a lot of agencies or organisations interested in partnering with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce.

And we had a number

GCCI President Nicholas Boyer

of non-resident companies interested in joining our membership. So from our perspective the trade mission was a success,” Boyer said.

According to Boyer,

the GCCI team also participated in a supplier caucus sponsored by ExxonMobil, where they made presentations to between 300 and 400 of the oil company’s suppli-

ers.

“I think that the information presented there satisfied a thirst for what was going on in the Guyana market. It really gave people an overview of the Government’s perspective, so we had the Department of Energy presenting…We also had the Guyana Geology and Mines presenting and they gave an overview of the basin. And then I presented and gave an overview of what the Private Sector was expecting from this oil find.”

Meanwhile, past GCCI President, Vishnu Doerga noted that investors seemed most interested in sectors such as transportation, logistics, equipment and supplies.

He noted that individual companies have already

made their connections with their foreign counterparts.

“In short, I think every company that was there found either similar companies that were in their industries or close and made connections that they could then use to import skill sets, systems and then begin to provide those services to the tier one oil companies.”

G u y a n a ’ s Government, through the Office for Investment (GO-Invest), collaborated with the GCCI to facilitate the participation of representatives from approximately 24 local companies and several state agencies.

The OTC provides a platform where energy professionals meet to ex-

change ideas and opinions to advance scientific and technical knowledge for offshore resources and environmental matters.

The Conference was held at Houston’s NRG Park from May 4.

Guyana’s participation at OTC is being funded

by Private Sector sponsorship, along with approximately 20 per cent funding from the Government.

The Offshore Technology Conference was founded in 1969, and forms a series of conferences and exhibitions focused on the exchanging technical knowledge relevant to the development of offshore energy resources, primarily oil and natural gas.

Guyana Govt considering IDB support for communities hosting Venezuelans

Inter-American Development Bank, Migration Specialist, Alison Elias (third from right) gestures as she makes a point during a meeting with Citizenship Minister Winston Felix; IDB Principal Specialist Joaquim Tres; Operations Senior Analyst, Clevern Liddell; Migration Specialist, Public Management – Sector Specialist, Jason Wilks; and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Resident Representative, Sylvie Fouet; among other participants

C

i t i z e n s h i p M i n i s t e r Winston Felix on Wednesday said he is considering a proposal of financial support from the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) to enhance the services available in communities where Venezuelan migrants have settled.

Minister Felix was at the time leading the Multi-Agency Coordinating Committee on Venezuelan migration to Guyana in a meeting with the IDB, which was held in the boardroom of the Department of Citizenship. He noted that the Government has been trying its utmost to host Venezuelan migrants, which has put some strain on its resources.

“As a nation we have budgeted for our people in the host commu-

nities, but now we have to take care of those who come… What we have decided is that there are some migrants with no fixed place of abode [and] there are those migrants for whom we should find some place safe from push back [opposition from host communities] and so we have found a section of [Barima-Waini], Region One and we are trying to make an assessment of the requirements to house some sections of the Venezuelans there,” Minister Felix is quoted as saying by the Public Information and Press Services Unit of the Ministry of the Presidency.

IDB Public Management – Sector Specialist, Jason Wilks, said the IDB is focused on funding migration related investments, which will not

only provide direct aid to Venezuelans, but develop host communities. He asserted too that once the community is developed, the quality of life should be better for all inhabitants.

“If we’ve got a Guyanese vulnerable community, with development gaps because the school is not good enough, we can improve that school for the Guyanese … provided that the education policy is in place it will benefit Venezuelan migrants too,” Wilks said.

Additionally, IDB Migration Specialist, Alison Elias, said the IDB is focusing on ac-

cess to identification; access to basic services and access to social services and economic opportunities as thematic areas under which countries may qualify for loans and grants. She also noted that the IDB is focused on nine countries that have been receiving a large influx of Venezuelan migrants. Those countries are Ecuador, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Chile, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Guyana.

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Resident Representative, Sylvie Fouet also attended the meeting.

8 news

WEEK ENDING JUNE 2, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Ghana in talks with Guyana for possible co-operation in oil and gas sector D

irector of the Energy Department, Dr Mark Bynoe on Tuesday met with a high-level Ghanaian delegation in Guyana to engage the Government on areas of mutual interest in the oil and gas sector.

The team was led by Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Energy In Charge of petroleum Dr Mohammed Amin Adam and included Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana, Napoleon Abdulai and 15 others.

The team later paid a courtesy call on Minister of State Dawn HastingsWilliams, who was accompanied by Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman.

During the meeting with the team, Dr Bynoe, who was accompanied by Oil and Gas Advisor, Matthew Wilks and Project Co-ordinator and Legal Advisor in the Department of Energy, Joanna Simmons, said the delegation was visiting during a most interesting time in Guyana’s evolution.

“I think anybody

Ghana’s Minister of Energy and Deputy Minister (Petroleum) Dr Mohammed Amin Adam; Director, Department of Energy, Dr Mark Bynoe and other members of the Ghanaian delegation on Tuesday at the Ministry of the Presidency

who says Guyana is not the hottest place to be and I am not speaking about climatologically but in terms of what we have found thus far in the oil and gas sector would not be lying.

It’s a time in which also, we are keen to ensure that as a Department though young…we seek as best we can to ensure that these resources are managed in an efficient manner and an ef-

fective manner for all of Guyana,” he is quoted by the Public Information and Press Services Unit of the Ministry of the Presidency as saying.

Dr Bynoe noted that the Department does not underestimate the momentous task ahead and it continues to seek partnerships to ensure that it obtains the best value for the nation. “We do not pretend to have all the answers to all the chal-

lenges that are before us, but we are very much positioned and we are keen to learn from others; the good, the not so good and even the indifferent experiences so we do not have to trod the same path which others may have trod before us,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Adam said he was pleased for the opportunity to discuss issues relative to co-operation with the

Department.

Additionally, during the delegation’s meeting with the Ministers of State and Natural Resources, they discussed areas of collaboration particularly in the areas of mining, oil and gas, capacity-building and training in the oil and gas sector, forestry and timber production.

Minister HastingsWilliams said that the two countries share sim-

ilar characteristics and sectors and can, therefore, look to each other for best practices, expertise and guidance where the need exists.

Dr Adam echoed similar sentiments, noting that Guyana and Ghana have shared strong ties since 1957 and he is looking forward to taking same to a higher level of collaboration. The meetings were held at the Ministry of the Presidency.

Ecuadorian jailed Transparency body says US$18M oil bonus vulnerable to capricious, potentially illegal use in Guyana over

H

aving tried unsuccessfully to get the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) to recover the US$18 million signing bonus from a private account and deposit it in the rightful place, Transparency International Guyana Inc (TIGI) remains worried that the monies will be siphoned off.

TIGI on Wednesday questioned the rationale behind Government opting not to follow constitutional provisions and deposit the multimillion-dollar signing bonus into the Consolidated Fund, rather than an account at the Bank of Guyana. According to the group, the money will remain vulnerable if it is not treated with the necessary constitutional provisions.

“We maintain that the signing bonus is vulnerable to capricious and potentially illegal use as long as it is not reflected in the Consolidated Fund where it would receive parliamentary oversight.

We also continue to ponder what the Government might find compelling enough as a reason for preferring to violate the constitutional provision on managing public funds and to evade accountability in this matter,” the transparency watchdog said.

The TIGI’s statement came in light of recent pronouncements made by SARA’s Director, Professor Clive Thomas, who said recently that there was no premise to go after the money since it is in the State’s possession and there has been no accusation of any misappropriation.

However, the transparency

TIGI President, Dr Troy Thomas

body stressed that it never made any accusation of misuse of the money. In fact, TIGI said its request to SARA was to recover the money to be placed into the Consolidated Fund as required by law.

“It is important to note that the SARA Director’s expressed view does not challenge the assertion that the signing bonus was deposited outside of the Consolidated Fund. Hence, we conclude that we were unsuccessful at pointing to “any unlawful conduct” in relation to the signing bonus that is compelling enough for SARA to act.”

The Government had come under heavy criticism back in 2017

when it was revealed that it received the US$18 million signing bonus from US oil giant ExxonMobil in 2016. In addition of not revealing that it received the money, the coalition was bashed for not depositing same into the Consolidated Fund as required by the Constitution.

The bonus first came to light in a leaked correspondence dated September 20, 2016, and addressed to the Governor of the Bank of Guyana with this subject: “Signing bonus granted by ExxonMobil – Request to open bank account”.

It shows that then Finance Secretary at the Finance Ministry, Hector Butts, had requested that a foreign currency account be opened at the Bank of Guyana in order to receive a deposit in the form of a ‘signing bonus’ to be given by ExxonMobil.

The letter stated, “This account should not be treated as part of the bank’s reserves. Instead, the proceeds should be held in the currency of the deposit, that is United States dollars, and invested in secured interest-bearing securities.”

Last year, Finance Minister Winston Jordan had revealed that the money had been transferred overseas to an interest-bearing account while waiting to be used.

Of the US$18 million, $15 million was set aside to pay legal fees for the ongoing Guyana-Venezuela border controversy case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the other $3 million for capacity building and training.

forged US visas, cocaine possession

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n Ecuadorian was slapped with two charges and taken to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday.

Julio Harreira stood before acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus and admitted to both charges, which stated that on May 23 at Charlotte Street, Georgetown, he had in his possession 0.6 grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

The second charge stated that between May 1 and May 23, 2019 in Georgetown, he conspired with person(s) unknown to commit forgery.

Police Prosecutor Adduni Innis told the court that on May 23, ranks of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters were conducting an operation at a shipping company in Fifth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, when a search was carried out on eight persons.

According to the Prosecutor, two pass-

Jailed: Julio Harreira

ports with forged US visas were found in the persons’ possession.

After the items were found, a further search was conducted, and the cocaine was found in a cigarette pack.

The defendant was arrested and was taken to the CID headquarters, where he admitted to both offences. turn to page 11

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 2, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana’s private sector calls on Govt to do more to tackle rising crime While acknowledging the recent efforts of the Guyana Police Force, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) believes more should be done to curb the spate of violent crimes across the country.

Over recent weeks, there has been an alarming increase in crimes, particularly in Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) where several armed robberies ended in fatalities. The situation resulted in the Force’s SWAT unit being deployed to the region and some days later, three bandits were shot and killed during a standoff with the Police.

It is believed that the now dead men were behind daring robberies on the Corentyne over the past weeks. At the Johanna backdam in Black Bush Polder, where they were killed, Police found several weapons including an AR-15 rifle, which is suspected to have been used in a previous robbery where matching spent shells were found.

The PSC, in a statement on Wednesday, commended the most recent success of the Police in confronting the violent crime in Berbice and recognises the continuing efforts of the Police to meet this growing challenge threatening the safety and wellbeing of every citizen. However, the Commission nevertheless believes that much more can and should be done to meet this challenge.

“The Commission is convinced of the need

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

for significantly greater human and financial resources being placed at the disposal of the Police Force… The Commission believes there is considerable room for enhancement in intelligence gathering and analysis than is currently in place,” the Commission said its missive.

According to the umbrella Private Sector body, its Governance and Security Committee met on Wednesday to address the increasing and widespread public concern over the manifestly “frightening and disturbing” incidents of violent crime across the country.

Coming out of that meeting, the Committee decided to request a joint meeting with Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and Commissioner of Police Leslie James, to discuss the matter.

“The Commission believes that there is a much greater need for public confidence and trust in the Police Force… The Commission

PSC Chairman Desmond Sears

looks forward to a strong and uncompromising standard of leadership in our security forces,” it added.

Furthermore, the PSC went on to highlight its deep concerns over the “insufficient progress” being made with regards to the implementation of Security Sector Reforms.

At the Police Force’s Annual Officers’ Conference earlier this year, President David Granger had underscored the need to accelerate the implementation of security sector reforms, which he said will, among other things, restore public trust in the Force as well as correct any mismanagement of the country’s premiere law enforcement agency.

“Security sector is aimed to improving public trust and confidence.

It means having a strong organisation and boosting the Force’s intelligence, investigative capabilities and producing more versatile Police Officers. The security

Guyana, OAS ink agreement to bridge technological gap between hinterland and Coast

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he Education Ministry recently inked an agreement with the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the ProFuturo Foundation which will see a digital learning platform being developed to bridge the technological gap between the coastal and the hinterland regions of Guyana.

According to the Ministry, the technical assistance cooperation agreement was signed on May 25, by Education Minister Nicolette Henry on behalf of Guyana; while Luis Almagro, Secretary General of the OAS, and Sofia Ferandez de Mesa, General

Education Minister Nicolette Henry

Director of ProFuturo Foundation attached their signatures to the document.

Some 28 hinterland schools are set to benefit

from the initiative which will provide training for 449 teachers as well as 5435 students attending primary schools.

sector therefore must be accelerated in 2019,” the Head of State had asserted.

At the same event in January, the Top Cop had revealed that they have engaged their counterparts in the United Kingdom and at the time, had already begun implementing three main pillars of the reforms – training, human resources management and infrastructure.

The US$4.7 million Security Sector Reform programme was initially launched in 2007 but was scrapped two years

later after major disagreements between the then Administration and the United Kingdom Government over some of the conditions of the plan.

However, during a meeting with then British Prime Minister David Cameron back in 2016, President David Granger had requested that the multimillion-dollar security sector pact be revived.

As such, British security expert, Colonel Russel Combe, was brought in to conduct an assessment of the local security sector and compiled a report with steps to be taken to improve services.

While the report focuses primarily on reforms within the Guyana Police Force, there are also measures included to address issues plaguing the prisons and the fire services as well as the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF’s) Coast Guard.

At the handing over of the report back in January, Combe had said the presentation of the report is not just the beginning or end of ef-

forts to reform the local security sector.

“The report is dynamic; it’s not to represent just the beginning.

Activities supported by the United Kingdom have already commenced: the training of (Police’s) Strategic Planning Unit last year and then in November there was consultancy on the marine capability of the Police Force and indeed engaged with the coast guards as well… So this is not the beginning, nor is it the end,” he had noted.

The UK expert had further stated that his Government does not want to see the report sitting on the shelf, gathering dust. In fact, he noted that the report was compiled in such a way that it can be broken up and separated into parts to be dealt with by different groupings.

Colonel Combe was expected to oversee the implementation of his recommendations until March 2019 when his tenure came to end.

However, the progress of the implementation of the reforms is not clear.

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 2, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Jordan confirms G$132M interest paid on G$30B GuySuCo bond

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Closed: The Skeldon Sugar Estate

he Guyana Government has repaid some G$132 million in interest owed on the G$30 billion bond borrowed for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

This is according to Finance Minister Winston Jordan. When asked by Guyana Times International during an interview on Tuesday, Jordan revealed that the money was paid as of last week.

“The first payment came up on 24th of (May).

We have been able to make that payment, with some stress. But we did make it, we didn’t default on it. The interest is G$1.6 billion. The next payment is in November. Every six months,” Jordan said.

The SPU under NICIL secured the G$30 billion through commercials banks, both in Guyana and the Region, as part of the diversification initiatives. The bond was secured solely by bondholders in the Government, and not against any assets of NICIL or GuySuCo. The commercial lending rate for Guyana at the time was 13.0 per cent,

Closed: The East Demerara Sugar Estate

Closed: The Rose Hall Sugar Estate

while the NICIL bond was issued at 4.75 per cent, which is 8.25 per cent lower than the rate that most companies borrow at in Guyana.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has previously said that in the case of the GuySuCo bond, “In five years, at a 4.75 per cent interest, which is 355 basis points above our treasury bill, the Government of Guyana will have to pay back from the proceeds of NICIL nearly US$40 million in about five years just to service G$30 billion.”

He had also previously said that instead of selling off, steps should be taken to resuscitate the industry in full capacity so that the workers can start earning an income again. And according to the former President, the People’s Progressive Party would not be recognising selling off of the estates under a

Government that should have been in caretaker mode.

“We are not recognising any deals. That is not the routine. When I spoke about the routine functioning of Government, it does not involve privatisation now. Any privatisation done in this period with a Government that has fallen, with a Government that should had resigned, with a Government that is on a caretaker capacity would be seen as an illegal arrangement,” Jagdeo had said.

Jagdeo had informed reporters that the only investor that would enter into a deal with a fallen Government is one that is into underhand businesses and with the intention of getting a lucrative deal before a new government gets into office.

While things have changed with the rul-

ing of the Appeals Court that the No-confidence Motion of last year was validly passed, the rug could be pulled out from under the Government if the Caribbean Court of Justice overturns this decision.

No word on divestment In November 2018, the SPU had released a list of five bids that were submitted for the sug-

ar estates of Enmore, Skeldon and Rose Hall.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) closed off the bidding process for offers on the estates on October 31, 2018.

However, since this year began, no word has come from the Government as to the position of those four sugar estates it had shut down which had resulted in thousands of sugar workers being left jobless.

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder told Guyana Times International when contacted that he did not have that information, since the management and decisions made in relation to those closed estates in question are not in his domain.

“Cabinet made a deci-

sion that we are going to right size the industry and just concentrate on three estates for sugar that fall under the Agriculture Minister. There was a Special Purpose Unit created under the Finance Minister to divest the four estates; Wales, Rose Hall, Skeldon and Enmore.

They are looking at that, I should not pronounce on that, because that is not within my portfolio. You will have to talk to the Finance Minister for that,” he stated.

When asked on Tuesday, Minister Jordan could not immediately say what was the status on the divestment of the four estates. However, he promised to facilitate a press conference between the media and NICIL.

Berbice pensioner crushed to death by drunk driver

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The damaged car in which the couple were travelling

pensioner was on Tuesday afternoon crushed to death in his car after a sand truck being driven by a drunken man crashed into it on the Corentyne Highway.

Dead is 71-year-old Narinedatt Lowhar, called “Uncle Balo”, of lot 23 Number 47 Village, Corentyne. At the time of the accident, he and his wife were in a motorcar bearing registration plate number PJJ 25 and were turning into their yard when the truck bearing registration plate number GPP 2369 slammed into the car sending it 30 meters away.

Welliama Lingen, 55, the dead man’s wife, said she was rendered uncon-

Dead: Narinedatt Lowhar

scious by the impact and cannot remember much, but recalls residents having to remove her husband from the wreckage.

“When ah catch myself they take me out from the car and my husband leave in and I tell them to

go and see what happen to him,” the grieving widow said. She added that she saw persons wrenching open the car and then she lost consciousness the second time.

Meanwhile, an eyewitness, Zoreen (only name given), who lives nearby said it took villagers several minutes to remove Lowhar from the wreckage. She said they were on their way home when they noticed the wrecked car on the road and screamed for help.

The woman related that when she went to the rescue of Lingen, her husband got some men who were in the vicinity to wrench open the vehicle to get the injured man out. turn to page 13

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 2, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Jamaican boy advances to finals in 2019 Scripps National Spelling Bee in US W ith an expression of shock as he collected his medal, The Gleaner’s Children’s Own 2019 Spelling Bee champion Darian Douglas has landed a spot in finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in the United States.

The finalists were announced yesterday after two days of onstage spelling, during which more than 400 spellers were eliminated.

An ecstatic Errol Campbell, Darian’s coach, told The Gleaner that this accomplishment is only phase one of their set goals.

“I am extremely ex-

cited. We have achieved this one, so we are now going to take it step by step going forward. I am really overjoyed and we are going to work … to bring the trophy home to Jamaica,” Campbell said.

At the beginning of the competition, spellers took a multiple-choice test with spelling and vocabulary questions on Monday before undertaking two rounds of spelling to select the finalists.

Darian and Ashleigh Jarrett of Immaculate Conception High were both selected to stand on stage for the announcement of finalist in recognition of be-

Eleven-year-old Jamaican speller Darian Douglas of Glenmuir High School is awarded his medal after being named among the finalists in the 2019 Scripps National Spelling Bee yesterday. There are 565 spellers in this year’s competition, ranging in age from seven to 15. The finals will take place today

Guyana, OAS ink agreement to...

Guyana Times International was told that five Caribbean countries were chosen to benefit from the technical assistance agreement, however Guyana was the only country that met the necessary implementation criteria to launch the programme. The other states are likely to sign on to the agreement later on.

“ProFuturo is an education programme launched in 2016 by

Telefónica Foundation and “La Caixa” Foundation, whose mission is to narrow the education gap in the world by providing quality digital education for children in vulnerable environments in Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. In line with Goal 4 of the United Nations’ 2030 sustainable development agenda on access to equitable and inclusive quality education for all,”

the Ministry explained in a statement.

Minister Henry expressed gratitude on behalf of the Government for the technical assistance which will be used to advance digital education. She also highlighted the importance of the aid as she reminded that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is important if Guyana is to achieve equitable educa-

from page 9

tion, given its topographies.

Meanwhile Almagro from the OAS pointed out that Guyana is the first country in the Caribbean region to sign on to the cooperation agreement with Profuturo.

The General Secretary further noted that it is hoped that this serves as the impetus for other Caribbean countries, the Education Ministry statement said.

ing among the top 117 scorers. However, only Darian made it to the finals.

Out of the 562 spellers from around the world who entered the competition, only 50 finalists were selected.

The other local contenders, Titchfield High’s Rhonoya Anderson and Honey Advani of Heinz Simonitsch School, were eliminated after round three of the competition.

Spellers eliminated after round three and before the finals are tied for the same place.

The finals begin today at 10 a.m. Eastern time and will be aired on ESPN. (Jamaica Gleaner)

Ecuadorian jailed in...

However, the file was sent to the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice, and immediate deportation was advised.

Harreira told the court that he had no intention of scamming anyone in Guyana, adding that he was sorry for the offence committed.

He further begged the Magistrate for a lenient sentence, and urged the

from page 8

Magistrate to take into consideration the fact that he has no family in Guyana.

As a result, Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus sentenced Harreira to one year’s imprisonment for possession of cocaine and a G$20,000 fine, along with four years’ imprisonment for the forgery.

The sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

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Manickchand urges abused women to seek help

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Opposition Member of Parliament, Priya Manickchand

n just under five months, the lives of at least five women were snatched at the hands of their lovers and has sprouted worry among almost every Guyanese.

Former Education Minister Priya Manickchand, who was at the forefront of a number of legislation to protect women’s rights when she was Human Services Minister and Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), has been very vocal on violence against women and was, in fact, representing a young mother, who was found dead earlier this month.

Manickchand said that she is deeply saddened over that specific tragedy which will leave five children parentless as the father is likely to face the full brunt of the law for confessing to the heinous act.

She was, however, keen to note that there are many factors which result in such a mishap occurring, some of which may include the woman’s financial dependency on a man. In this regard, the MP stated that the law provides for women to be compensated by the male they were with if they would like to exit an abusive relationship.

According to the attorney-at-law, a woman can be granted, “Maintenance

for you and children; an occupation order [which] means he has to leave the house irrespective of who owns it or how it came to be your house. In other words, if his parents gave him the house or if it is in his name, an occupation order would allow you to live there without his presence and a tenancy order [which] means that even if the agreement of tenancy is in his name, the court can order it be put in your name”.

Additionally, these women can also “gain custody of their children, orders prohibiting him from hitting, speaking to or coming anywhere near where the victim live or works as well as take half or 1/3 of all you own together even if it is all registered in his name”.

The MP has appealed to women being abused to seek help as there is currently legal aid available in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) and in Georgetown, Region Four (DemeraraMahaica).

On May 17, a 39-yearold woman was stabbed to death by her husband during an argument at their Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-

Dead: Zaila Sugrim

Dead: Omawattie Wazi

Dead: Farida Khayum

Supenaam) home. Dead is Farida Khayum, a mother of six of Lot 9 Market Street, Anna Regina. Her husband has since been charged for murder.

Mere days before, Zaila Sugrim, Manickchand’s client, was allegedly murdered by her husband and buried in a shallow grave near his Crane Village, West Coast Demerara home. The woman and the suspect had separated for over eight months but their union brought forth five children. According to relatives, the mother of five endured 15 years of an abusive marriage.

Reports are Sugrim was last seen at the Vreed-en-Hoop Stelling on May 11, 2019, when she allegedly entered a motorcar with her estranged husband.

Sugrim left her brother’s Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) house, where she had been living for the past eight months, to be picked up by her estranged husband to visit the businessman’s home where she was expected to celebrate her eldest child’s birthday.

However, by nightfall, the family became worried since it was very unusual for her not to call if she was out for long periods.

Her brother, Ahmad Haniff, grew worried and called her cellphone but the phone was turned off. Repeated attempts to reach Sugrim on her mobile proved futile and other family members confirmed that they had not heard from the woman.

On May 12, 2019, the worried brother vis-

ited the Diamond Police Station where he filed a missing person’s report.

In the company of several police officers, a visit was made to his sister’s estranged husband’s home but they were informed that he had not seen Zaila nor did he want anything to do with her.

Reports are close relatives reportedly inspected CCTV footage of the home but a particular time period was deleted. This was reported to Sugrim’s relatives, who in turn informed Police ranks. This led to ranks swooping down on the suspect’s La Grange, WBD property where a search was carried out, however, nothing was found.

After relatives made additional reports at the Diamond Police Station, another group of ranks swooped down on the suspect’s Crane home.

It was not until a search of the suspect’s motorcar was conducted by the police that they received a break in the case after blood was allegedly spotted in the car’s trunk.

This prompted Police to arrest the suspect and impound the car.

After much interro-

gation, the suspect allegedly broke down and reportedly informed the investigators that he had buried the body in a shallow grave near his home.

In March, 20-yearold Omawattie Wazi called “Agile” of Lot 33 D Williamsburg, Rose Hall Town, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), was killed by her husband.

Reports are Wazi and the suspect, Gavin Gill, had been living at Port Mourant Village for a year but she moved to her mother’s Williamsburg, Rose Hall Town home after her husband of 14 months became abusive.

Guyana Times International was told that the young mother moved out with her seven-month-old baby and started working.

On March 30, at about 07:55h while on her way to work, her husband struck her down with his car.

She was riding a bicycle at the time. This publication understands that the man then exited the car with a knife and stabbed her several times before chopping her with a cutlass.

Decomposed body of elderly man fished out of canal

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he decomposed body of a cane harvester was fished out of a canal in the cane field in Berbice, Region Six. The man’s slippers were found a short distance away.

Dead is 65-year-old Hukumchand Inshanally also called “Oil” and “Sugrim” of Lot 43 Persaud Street, Rose Hall Town, Corentyne.

He reportedly left home for work on Friday last but never returned.

According to his wife Neerpati Inshanally, her husband was expected home at about 13:00h on Friday last. She said that

at about 14:00h, she asked her son to enquire from one of his colleagues if he had left work to go home.

According to the grieving widow, her son returned and informed her that he was told that his father was not seen at work on Friday last. The widow explained that she became worried and went to one of her husband’s close friend’s home and he too said that he had not seen Inshanally.

“The foreman said he shared work to him the morning and they leave the backdam like 01:30 to 02:00 so he suppose to be home by that time. Is then

I tell him that ‘Oil’ ain’t come home,” the woman related.

She said that his supervisor then explained to her that Inshanally was placed in a new group to work so his regular colleagues might not have noticed him during the day.

The grieving wife said Inshanally would normally walk home from the cane field which is situated at Hampshire, Berbice, instead of waiting on the lorry.

This newspaper was told that Inshanally might have made his way out of the field and took a wrong

track, which took him to a field with young cane where there was no bridge to cross.

The corners of the canal are extremely deep after mud was removed to build the dam.

On Sunday, as family members were still searching for the missing man, someone saw a body floating in a canal in the cane field.

Neerpati told this publication that when she enquired from officials at the Albion Estate, she was told that the estate had to investigate the matter.

Meanwhile, the police are also investigating.

Dead: Hukumchand Inshanally

WEEK ENDING JUNE 2, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyanese man charged for human trafficking in Florida A Guyanese man is facing human trafficking charges in the United States after allegations that he engaged in sexual activities with a minor who had been trafficked by a relative.

Latchman Kaladeen, 49, of Wesley Chapel, Florida, was on May 17, 2019, identified by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office in Florida as one of nine men allegedly involved in sexual activities with the same minor.

The men were charged with human trafficking, conspiracy to commit human trafficking and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.

Kaladeen, according to Hernando Sheriff Al Nienhuis, was previously deported in 2005 and is currently on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer and is expected to be deported again once the current case is completed.

According to Sheriff Al Nienhuis, Kaladeen had also been arrested last year for solicitation of a prostitute and was able to avoid a detainer by using one of several aliases which the department has identified.

According to a report in the Tampa Bay Times, the Sheriff’s

Latchman Kaladeen

Office received an anonymous tip in May 2017 about ads on the now-shuttered website, Backpage, featuring the girl. An undercover operation was launched within 24 hours and led investigators to a filthy Hernando County home with bare concrete floors strewn with animal urine and faeces, the Sheriff said, where the victim lived with the accused trafficker.

The victim was taken to a safe house for juvenile victims of trafficking outside the area.

According to the report, the two-year investigation relied on interviews and documents to work through the prior six months, Nienhuis said.

Investigators found that the accused trafficker posted the ads on Backpage and took money from clients, and

Berbice pensioner crushed ... from page 10

“When they get him out they put him to lie down on the ground and I check and his heart was beating,” she told this publication.

Lowhar was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Skeldon Hospital and then transferred to the New Amsterdam where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, the Police said the accident occurred at about 18:40h.

Reports are the truck driver told the Police that he was about to overtake the jeep, when Lowhar made a right turn a short distance in front of his lorry and in the process, the left front of the lorry collided with the right side of the jeep.

The Police said a breathalyser test was

conducted on the driver and his alcohol level was above the legal level. A close relative of the driver said the lorry driver was overtaking another sand truck being driven by his son when he collided with the car.

Meanwhile, Rohan Singh, 45, on Number 52 Village was refused bail when he appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Orin Joseph told the court that the Police are preparing other charges for Singh and asked for bail to be refused.

He was remanded to prison and the case will continue on June 9 when other charges are expected to be filed against him.

sometimes left the girl with them overnight in other counties.

Also arrested were Luigi Barile of Spring Hill who was taken into custody in Hernando County, Matthew Doyle of Spring Hill arrested in Hernando County, Joseph Easton of Inverness, Bryan Joseph Giguire, James William Hancock, Shawn Christopher Henson, Jason Michael Raulerson and Lawrence Edward Kemble. Doyle is a 39-year-old Fire Service lieutenant, while Luigi Barile is a 38-yearold restaurateur and co-owner of the popular Chefs of Napoli II.

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“Badness is not it”

...Buju tells Guyana’s youth

Jamaican reggae and dancehall artiste, Buju Banton performing at the Guyana National Stadium

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amaican reggae and dancehall artiste, Buju Banton performed to a sold out crowd at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence on Saturday night.

During the concert, Banton, who was recently released from a United States prison after serving for drug trafficking, preached messages of peace, harmony and urged young people to stay away from violence.

In a high energy performance, Banton did not disappoint the well over 19,000 fans who turned up at the national stadium.

He bellowed out some of his old school classic driving the crowd while with some of his more popular songs, including “Driver Don’t stop at all.” During his performance, Banton spoke about his last visit to Guyana which was in 2006 and said, “A lot of things have happened in Guyana.

A lot of folks I know are no longer in Guyana.

Some are alive but they are still not here. Big up Roger Khan. Big up meh bredren, Trini. Nuff youths drop out.” “Trini” the person he referred is in fact Marlon “Trini” Osborne, who was killed in 2012 after he was shot four times. Osborne was gunned down at the junction near

Laluni and Peter Rose Streets, Queenstown, Georgetown shortly after leaving a friend’s home.

Meanwhile, while in Guyana the Jamaican dancehall superstar also visited the Leopold Street, Charlestown and Tiger Bay in Georgetown, and Victoria on the East Coast Demerara (ECD) where he interacted with young people.

During their visit to Victoria, he met with members of the Rastafarian community and discussed the many advancements that have occurred over the years as well as the challenges facing them.

Banton reminded the youth he interacted with that a life of crime and violence ought not to be their desired path.

“Badness is not it,” said Buju Banton.

While visiting the Rastafarian community in Victoria, the Jamaican artiste stressed the importance of having programmes which can enlighten youth and propel them to a positive future.

He also urged that community to continue being self-sufficient and singled out agriculture as a cornerstone of a healthy community and by extension country.

Banton, whose given name is Mark Myrie, is currently on his “Long Walk to Freedom – I am Legend” concert tour.

NEWS 19

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 2, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

GECOM’s decision to move ahead with house-to-house registration shows utter disregard for High Court, CCJ – Nandlall

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he decision by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to proceed with the house-tohouse registration process, while legal proceedings are pending, is a complete and utter disregard for both the local High Court and the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

This is according to former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, who on Tuesday said that one gets the clear impression that GECOM is acting with the specific intention of defeating and frustrating orders, which these courts may make. He added that clearly, this is not conduct becoming of a constitutional agency.

Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield and Roxanne Myers, Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO)

“It is no secret that this house-to-house registration exercise will cost millions, if not billions of taxpayers’ dol-

lars and if it is found to be unlawful, or, is halted by the court rulings, I hope that those who are engineering it will be

Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall

held responsible for the public monies expended and, indeed, wasted. This may include

criminal and civil proceedings, personally, against those responsible,” the attorney said.

Legal proceedings were filed challenging the legality and constitutionality of the house-to-house registration, and came up before the acting Chief Justice Roxane George on May 14, 2019, and the case was adjourned to June 26.

However, even as the case is pending, GECOM has issued public notices and advertisements, which suggest that GECOM is proceeding at break-neck speed with the house-to-house registration process. turn to page 21

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 2, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana awaits CCJ’s ruling on no-confidence vote

...Commissioner blasts GECOM for moving ahead with house-to-house registration

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bench of five Justices from the Caribbean Court of Justice heard submissions from all parties in the No Confidence Motion and Guyana Elections Commission cases, in two marathon sessions on May 9 and May 10 and much hinges on whatever decision they deliver.

The crucial decision was on the calculation of what constituted a “majority” to give effect to Art 106 (6): “The President and the Cabinet shall resign if the Government is defeated by a vote of majority of all elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.” That time has already elapsed and another week is about to expire.

During the hearings, Justice Saunders had asked the Attorney representing GECOM, Stanley Marcus: “If the vote of no-confidence was valid and if Parliament ought to be dissolved and if the parties don’t agree to extend the threemonth period then we have a choice between a situation where with each passing day beyond that three-month period—a dagger is being thrown at the constitution every day and on the other hand having an election which is a little bit less than perfect.

Now, which of those two options is better for democracy?”

Marcus allowed that democracy could not be sacrificed for “speed” upon which Justice Saunders cited the Constitutional alternative of Art

PPPC Commissioner Sase Gunraj

106 (7) which reads, “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than twothirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.”

However, even as Guyana awaits for the CCJ judgement, GECOM sponsored advertisements about house to house registration have sprung up. According to a GECOM Commissioner, going ahead with the exercise is flouting the law.

GECOM proceeding at own risk

In an interview with this publication, GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj made it clear that he respects the process the CCJ has

to go through before they arrive at a decision. But he noted that GECOM’s use of that time to proceed with house to house registration is in breach of the Elections Laws (Amendment) Act of 2000.

“As it relates to the renewal of the list of electors, the actions of GECOM to proceed with House to House Registration amounts to a deliberate flouting of the laws of Guyana, specifically Act 15/2000 and Act 10/2018.”

The law stipulates that the list shall be updated by Continuous Registration and/or Claims and Objections and this should have been embarked upon since last year and at latest, in January 2019 after the Commission reconvened.

According to Gunraj, GECOM’s tenuous standing is especially the case in light of the fact that no information regarding expenditure has

been presented to the Commission for approval or even scrutiny by all the commissioners.

“These actions will no doubt be reviewed, preferably by the CCJ or some other competent court, at some time later.

In the meantime, to do so would be to their own peril,” Commissioner Gunraj added.

Earlier this month, GECOM was advised by its own Legal Officer, Excellence Dazzel’s, that “based on (election laws), the voters list must be updated bi-annually by adding persons who are now qualified to be registered, to that list and those who are no longer qualified to be registered, to be taken off that list.”

The opinion, expressed by Dazzell, also states that: “The use of the work ‘revise’ [in the Election Laws (Amendment) Act 15 of 2000] suggest that the process is not one where a ‘new’ List is generated, but one where the most recent list is updated or amended….I therefore advise that procedures be put in place to ensure the revision of the list, otherwise the Commission would be acting in defiance of the law and may prejudice aby by-election that may become necessary.”

This runs counter to the arguments made by the Government-nominated Commissioners on GECOM that a new list was required through house-to-house registration. In fact, a United Kingdom (UK)-based Guyanese has gone to

GECOM Chairman, Retired Justice James Patterson

the courts over the exercise, arguing that if it goes forward, she will be disenfranchised. In fact, the Opposition has contended that many more will be in the same predicament.

Meanwhile, if the Caribbean Court of Justice rules that last year’s no confidence motion against the Government was validly passed, it means early elections would be required and the Government by law should have held elections since March 19 of this year.

In published ads, GECOM has explicitly announced that it has launched preparations for house to house registration. Since this process will take at least six months and possibly a year, observers opine that with the delay in the CCJ delivering its ruling on the NCM case expeditiously as they had promised, they are allowing GECOM to make

its prediction of delayed elections a self-fulfilling one that, in the words of one of its Justices, “throws a dagger at the Constitution every day.”

In February, the CEO of GECOM, Keith Lowenfield, had declared that if there were to be house-to-house registration, General and Regional Elections could not be held before February 2019. In that month, the three Government appointed Commissioners, with the support of the Chairman James Patterson, outvoted the three PPP Commissioners to pass a motion for the Secretariat to proceed with its 2019 Work Programme.

This work programme included house to house registration.

In like manner they also voted to declare that GECOM was not in a financial position to conduct General and Regional Elections in 90 days.

GECOM’s decision to move... 115 cops authorised to use breathalysers in Guyana from page 20

Delay in CCJ ruling On May 8, 9 and 10, a bench of five Justices from the CCJ heard submissions from all parties in the No-confidence Motion and GECOM cases.

The crucial decision was on the calculation of what constituted a “majority” to give effect to Article 106 (6): “The President and the Cabinet shall resign if the Government is defeated by a vote of majority of all elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.”

That time has already elapsed, and another week is about to expire.

During the hearings, Justice Adrian Saunders had asked the attorney representing GECOM,

Stanley Marcus: “If the vote of no-confidence was valid, and if Parliament ought to be dissolved, and if the parties don’t agree to extend the three-month period, then we have a choice between a situation where with each passing day beyond that three-month period a dagger is being thrown at the Constitution every day; and, on the other hand, having an election which is a little bit less than perfect. Now, which of those two options is better for democracy?”

Marcus allowed that democracy could not be sacrificed for “speed”, upon which Justice Saunders cited the constitutional alternative of Article 106 (7), which reads:

“Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolution supported by not less than twothirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly, agree, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.”

However, even as Guyana awaits the CCJ judgement, GECOMsponsored advertisements about house-tohouse registration have sprung up. According to GECOM Commissioner, Sase Gunraj, going ahead with the exercise is flouting the law.

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total of 115 Police officers were recently authorised to use breath analysing instruments, otherwise known as breathalysers – devices used for estimating blood alcohol content.

Guyana Times International understands that only authorised officers are allowed to conduct these tests on civilians who are suspected to be driving under the influence of alcohol.

The names of these cops were published in the Official Gazette on May 25, 2019, and Traffic Chief Linden Isles is among them.

The Gazette states,

“In exercise of the powers conferred upon him by Section 39C (10) of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Act, Chapter 51:02 of the Laws of Guyana, the Honourable Vice President and Minister of Public Security has authorised the following officers and ranks of the Guyana Police Force as analysts to operate breath analysing instruments.”

Persons can be charged for drunk driving if, when tested, their blood alcohol content is found to exceed the prescribed limit of 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, and their blood alcohol concentration exceeds 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 2, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Guyana Carnival Parade attracts thousands

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uyanese from all walks of life flocked the route to observe and participate in this year’s Guyana Carnival Parade in observance of Guyana’s 53rd Independence Anniversary.

As expected, the revellers rocked the streets and delivered, even though the inclement weather prevent-

ed the events from starting at the scheduled time.

The three main “party trucks” assembled at the corner of Camp and Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown, around 14:00h before heading to the D’Urban Park around 18:00h where it concluded.

Thousands of Guyanese

who came out to support the event were blown away by the phantasmagoria of colours that was showcased by the revellers who were all decked out in costumes.

Some of the patrons who were looking on from the sidelines were decked out in their very best outfits as they enjoyed the scenery that was provided by the revellers, who put on a show that would attract any passerby to join the festivities.

Guyana Times International spoke to a few thrilled patrons who related that the Guyana Carnival Parade did not disappoint.

Keisha Bacchus told this news publication that this is her second year participating and to her surprise, it was better than last year’s event.

“More people participate in the parade and the beauty about it is that families get together and line the streets just to get a feel.”

She further stated that a lot of foreigners were observed gyrating in the streets, which boosts Guyana’s tourism.

Clive Forde, who was observed with his family viewing the parade, said: “I’m just happy to be here with

my family, celebrating 53 years of Independence”. He continued by saying that he loves the way the country is developing and he is quite excited to see where our country is headed.

One of the organisers of the events and a well-known personality in the entertainment sector of Guyana, Robbie Singh, said that he worked tirelessly to ensure “Pulse Band” produced an even better experience than last year.

He stated that the idea is to never take away the authentic Guyanese culture but to give our country more exposure since Carnival is globally recognised. In closing, he stated that it is a beautiful experience and, therefore, Guyanese should support the Carnival body in the future.

Guyana Carnival is a privately owned festival in Georgetown, Guyana, during the month of May. It is an amalgamation of influential entertainment bodies, the Government of Guyana and other key stakeholders to create a new exciting product to boost tourism, entertainment, and nightlife in our emerging city.

It attracts thousands of tourists, locals and carnival chasers daring to indulge in something new and exciting.

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 2, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

G$700M more approved for rehab of roads, bridges

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he Public Infrastructure Ministry has secured in excess of G$700 million in supplementary funds to conduct rehabilitation works on a number of roads and bridges across the country.

These monies approved was part of a G$2 billion supplementary provision given to the Public Infrastructure Ministry last week.

Of that amount, G$500 million is to undertake construction and rehabilitation of roads and drains in urban areas (within Townships).

Standing before the Committee of Supply in the National Assembly last week, the subject Minister, David Patterson, disclosed that already some 46 road contracts have been either tendered out or awarded for these projects.

“We’re well ahead of the aim,” he asserted.

According to Patterson, projects are ongoing in New Amsterdam at Angoy’s Avenue and other areas, Agricola within the Georgetown district, and several areas in Linden.

“We are not stopping there and this provision will allow us to do

more areas,” he told the Committee. This G$500 million will be added to the G$900 million allotted in the 2019 budget for urban roads/drainage.

Meanwhile, an additional G$150 million was also approved for the construction and rehabilitation of miscellaneous community roads in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, and Six. The Public Infrastructure Minister posited that thus far, 60 road contracts have been either tendered out or awarded countrywide under the “Miscellaneous Road/ Drainage” programme, which had already secured a whopping G$1.955 billion in the 2019 budget.

“Notwithstanding this 60, one of the things that cannot be disputed is that since this Administration came to office, we paid tremendous amount of time and resources in upgrading road infrastructure. This is a continuation of those efforts…,” Patterson indicated.

The Minister further explained that since the launch of the coalition Government’s nationwide outreaches, they have been provid-

ed with information of or saw firsthand, works that needed to be done in some communities, hence the need for additional funds to carry out these works.

“This sum will address those additional needs… We go where the need is not where the vote is,” the Public Infrastructure Minister contended.

In addition to a budgetary allocation of G$175.78 million, Patterson was also successful in securing an additional G$40.850 million for the rehabilitation of access bridges at Bella Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, and at Little Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD). The beams of the bridge at Bella Dam were damaged, while urgent works have been prioritised at the Little Diamond Bridge.

According to the Public Infrastructure Minister, allocations were made for four major bridges in the budget but critical works are required at these two bridge hence the need for more monies.

“Nothing is static…

[We did] our inspection last year, since then we found these bridges

needed urgent repairs and we felt it necessary to come to the House for funds to undertake these two bridges. If something goes wrong, thousands of residents would be unable to traverse to and from these communities,” the Committee was told prior to approving the funds.

On the other hand, supplementary provisions were also set aside for the Public Infrastructure Ministry to conduct rehabilitative works on roads and bridges along the Lethem, Hoiwa and Nappi corridors in Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Essequibo).

A total of G$50 million was approved for these works and will be added to some G$2 million in budgetary allocations for the Hinterland Roads programme.

Highlighting the importance of ensuring that the Indigenous people have adequate infrastructures in place, Patterson further told the Committee of Supply that the communities will also benefit from these contracts.

“We embrace the spirit of community cooperation and every one of these bridges to be done, the materials

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson

will be sourced from the communities as much as possible and all the labour will come from the communities. So basically we would just be providing the capital cost to these communities in these areas to assist themselves. This is part of our commitment to ensure that 20 per cent of our procurement is done either by community persons or small contractors. So this projects will be executed on those bases,” he asserted.

Among the other works that the Public Infrastructure Ministry received supplementa-

ry provisions for is the installation of highway lights at Number 43/Joppa Village on the Corentyne and at Kuru Kururu on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

According to Patterson, this is for the continuation of a programme that commenced in 2016 to install highway lights in unlit areas for security purposes and for better traffic control.

The House approved the G$23.5 million requested. This is in addition to a G$250 million allocation set aside in the 2019 budget.

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WEEK ENDING JUNE 2, 2019 | guyanatimeSinternational.com

Oil production will transform Guyana – President Granger

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resident David Granger emphasised in his Independence Day message that the future belongs to the youths of Guyana.

Calling Guyana’s independence transformative, the President noted that May 26, 1966, laid the foundations for a better life.

The Head of State said that the immediate post-Independence decade was a period of effective efforts aimed at expanding the country’s infrastructure and improving public services.

These nation-building initiatives, he added propelled rapid improvements in the country’s economic, physical and social infrastructure.

“The newly-independent State strolled onto the global stage with confidence. It became respected and recognised for its efforts in advancing the cause of the developing countries, particularly of the small African, Caribbean and Pacific states.”

According to the President, youths today have a greater say in decision-making than before, with young professionals and entrepreneurs being consulted for the budget formulation.

Pointing to the upcoming oil and gas production, President Granger noted that this new revenue is likely to bring more transformation.

“The future belongs to young people. This axiom is true today as it was 53 years ago when Guyana attained its Independence. The central aspiration of the in-

3-day oil spill response training wraps up in Guyana

President David Granger

dependence generation was to secure a better future for their children and grandchildren,” the Head of State said.

He pointed out that Guyana, today, is poised for another transformative moment. The commencement of petroleum production, next year, and the transition towards becoming a “green” State will increase economic growth and provide greater resources for development.

“The future belongs to young people. The resources derived from economic expansion and diversification will be deployed, primarily, to secure and safeguard our children’s and grandchildren’s future. Young people can be assured of greater opportunities as a result of oil production and the policies of the Guyana Green State Development Strategy.”

Young people, he added have started to play a pivotal role in driving development. “… a nation in which young people are united, educated, trained, safe,

happy, healthy and integrally involved in the decision-making processes, while enjoying equality of opportunity and equal access to the resources of our country and are politically, economically and socially empowered.”

Education, equality, empowerment and employment are the four pillars of our national youth policy.

The good life, regardless of the resources available to us, will be unattainable unless young people have access to better education, enjoy greater equality, are provided with expanded employment opportunities and are empowered to make decisions which determine their future.

Education is a bedrock of Government’s youth development policy, he stated, adding that Government’s policy of every child in school aims at ensuring that no one is left behind. Young people are being equipped with the knowledge and skills to become productive citizens.

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Participants at the simulation exercise at Splashmin’s Resort, Linden-Soesdyke Highway

three-day oil spill response training workshop wrapped up with members of the Volunteer Emergency Response Team (VERT) programme participating in a simulation exercise at Splashmin’s Resort on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway.

The workshop, which is a collaboration between the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and ExxonMobil, was launched on May 21, 2019, and engaged VERT participants in sessions geared towards capacity-building in oil spill response.

In an invited comment to the Department of Public Information, ExxonMobil’s Oil Response Advisor, Thomas Tomblin, expressed being impressed with the team’s response.

“They were inquisi-

tive and super sharp… we’ve done this in the past and we’ve gotten some interaction, but these guys were spot on, they were great.”

He explained that the VERT participants were engaged in a twoday class session on the Incident Command System (ICS) training before moving on to some simulated exercises. On Thursday last, the participants were split into five teams where they were trained to deploy and use oil spill response equipment. “We’ve got containment boom, we’ve got skimmers, we’ve got shore seal boons, we have shoreline protection, so they’re going to get a good opportunity to test all of those techniques,” Tomblin said.

VERT participant, Renata Robinson is satisfied that volunteers are now in a better position to respond to an oil

spill if it occurs. “From the training, we can provide some liaison to the professionals, and we can also go in the fields to help and assist in deploying basic equipment like our booms and our skimmers.”

Another participant of the programme, Leslyn Garraway, said while the workshop was challenging, “it was a learning experience”.

CDC DirectorGeneral (DG), Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig disclosed that the oil spill response training will be a continuous element of CDC’s training programme.

“Apart from training the VERT participants, all volunteers who work in the communities will have exposure to oil spill training as well as other training sessions offered by the CDC,” the DG related.

Brazilian miner shoots cop during Police raid at Aranka – 36 rounds of .38 ammunition, suspected warhead found

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Police Constable is now nursing a gunshot wound to his left side chest at a private medical facility in Georgetown after he was shot by a Brazilian miner in the Aranka Backdam, Cuyuni River, Essequibo River, on Sunday morning.

The police rank has been identified as Anthony Weekes who is attached to the Bartica Police Station.

Reports are that around 05:30h on Sunday, Weekes along with two other policemen acting on information ventured into a

mining camp at Aranka in search of illegal firearm(s) when the shooting incident took place.

The workers operating at that camp woke up to the sight of the policemen and allowed them to carry out their search. The three ranks then proceeded to the sleeping quarters, where the head of the mining operations was asleep, to conduct further checks.

However, according to F Division (Interior locations) Commander, Kevin Adonis, that is when the three policemen came under fire.

“From reports, the boss was sleeping when the ranks got there and he woke up and then discharged about four rounds in their direction with a firearm that was under his pillow. Weekes was shot near his heart and his colleagues immediately tried to get him out of the area. While they were doing this, the boss of the mining camp ran off further into the backdam to hide from the police.”

He explained that 36 rounds of .38 calibre ammunition were discovered and a suspect-

ed warhead was also found stashed in an empty fuel barrel that was inside of the boss’s sleeping quarters at the mining camp.

Adonis stated that the good work done by the ranks who had accompanied Weekes into that mining camp must be commended.

“The other two ranks were fortunate to get him out of the area and he was subsequently medevaced to Georgetown. Constable Weekes is currently out of danger and is expected to make a full recovery,” he noted.

F Division (Interior locations) Commander, Kevin Adonis

The Commander added that police ranks are presently on the hunt for the Brazilian national who shot Weekes.

Meanwhile, seven workers who

were employed at the mining camp at the time of the shooting are currently assisting Police in their investigations. (Kristen Macklingam)

WEEK ENDING JUNE 2, 2019| guyanatimeSinternational.com

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Guyana’s Green State Development Strategy finally launched …Private sector hopes to see economic programmes transcend regime change

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he Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) was officially launched on Tuesday after a meeting between the 11th Advisory Committee, with officials providing details on proposals for the document that can make a tangible difference in the lives of Guyanese.

According to head of the Ministry of the Presidency’s Project Management Office, Marlon Bristol, the GSDS is a living document. This means consultations and discussions for improving the document will continue to be held.

“A living (consultation) means we are always open to the wishes and views of the Guyanese people. The GSDS is a living document, so the stakeholders who are here will constantly be engaged in consultations of various nature to have the document reflect the wishes and desires of the Guyanese people,” he said.

He explained that Tuesday’s meeting will

International.

Bristol noted that a lot of work to implement the GSDS is already ongoing. He explained that with Tuesday’s launch, much of these efforts being coordinated at different Ministries will become more streamlined.

PSC

Head of the Ministry of the Presidency’s Project Management Office, Marlon Bristol

serve to have such discussions, as well as to officially launch the strategy. Asked about some of the document’s components that can provide opportunities for Guyanese, Bristol revealed what options are being considered and implemented.

“There are a lot of new sectors and new jobs coming on stream and generally we have been supported through a project with the ILO (International Labour Organisation (ILO).

We’ve been supported on understanding what we

PSC Executive Ramesh Dookhoo

call green business opportunities. And those business opportunities exist in very simple ways.”

“For example, we try to give incentives to communities and individuals and businesses, where they may exist. There’s something called opting in for eco payment services. And that will apply to Indigenous and coastal communities. We also had a project, medium and small enterprises, development, which looked at financing projects and project ideas that people might have

that contributes to reducing emissions.”

He gave waste management as an example of a business that companies can get into which would qualify them for incentives. Bristol explained that renewable energy is another field that Government could look to provide incentives for.

“So those are part of a plethora of new ideas that will come on stream for small businesses in particular… (in terms of) timeline, well its immediate!” Bristol further explained to Guyana Times

Meanwhile, Private Sector Commission Executive, Ramesh Dookhoo, who was present at the meeting, noted that after much complaints over the lack of an economic strategy, this is a step in the right direction.

“The Private Sector has participated in all of the discussions and many of the working groups that were created to make this strategy a reality. We’ve also been complaining about the country not having an economic strategy moving forward… we’re not totally there yet. But today is a watershed day in the life of the GSDS.” “One of the really dire concerns of the Private Sector is how do economic plans and policies tran-

scend regime change.

And I hope that we have addressed that. I’m not sure that we have. But the Private Sector would like to see economic programmes transcend regime change.”

Dookhoo also noted that a lot of work remains and there must be cooperation among the Private Sector, social activists and civil society as a whole.

The GSDS is largely based on the Low Carbon Development Strategy initiated by the former Government.

It is a framework that is supposed to incorporate economic development programmes with strategies to promote the fight against global warming. Along the way, these programmes are supposed to be funded from the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund. Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had previously said that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) would scrap the Green State Strategy when it got back into power, since it would put strain on the treasury.

Mental health still a major problem in Guyana – CMO where we were training community members, in this instance, we are training health professionals, doctors, nurses and other categories of health workers to establish community-based services. So that is our main thrust at this point in time,” the CMO further stated.

By Kristen Macklingam

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he latest information provided by the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) suggests that the challenges of mental health in Guyana consume more resources than HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis (TB) combined. This is an idea of the extent of the problem.

While mental health issues have been dealt with from a reactionary standpoint over the years, Guyana’s Chief Medical officer (CMO), Dr Shamdeo Persaud, in an exclusive interview with Guyana Times International on Monday stated that a more holistic approach is needed to tackle mental health, which has become an unpalatable pill to swallow.

“What we have started to do is started to develop the Primary Healthcare Integrated Mental Health Programme. So our efforts, with support from

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud

PAHO, have been to implement training on the mental health treatment gap. It is a module that PAHO developed that allows us to train the primary care doctors who are general practitioners on measures for mental health intervention.”

He explained that the Public Health Ministry is aggressively pursuing tackling the issue of mental health challenges in Guyana and, therefore, the focus is no longer on only deploying social workers and psy-

chologists in every region by 2020 to tackle the growing problem of mental disorders. The Ministry now has a much broader goal.

“So it is just not psychiatry now, it is mental health and the Mental Health Unit of the Ministry has about nine modules that are being done with regard to training these primary care doctors throughout the country. So in addition to the gatekeeper programme, which was an intermediate programme

Recruitment of psychologists Presently, there are some voluntary groups which assist the Public Health Ministry in relation to providing much needed services in addressing mental health issues, however, there are now more psychologists available to help Government-run health facilities in identifying and treating mental disorders.

“We have been working with those voluntary groups, and in addition to that, we also now actively recruit psychologists at the Ministry. So we have nine psychologists who are working with us. Also, several institutions have also started to employ psychologists, including

the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and they are providing counselling support along with the social workers.”

Dr Persaud elaborated that all of the above is in keeping with consolidating the Primary Healthcare Integrated Mental Health Programme towards the direction of “service delivery”.

Community capacity development According to the CMO, focus will still be placed on the capacity development of communities to tackle the growing problem of mental health issues and this includes the Gatekeepers’ Programme that armed communities with lay counsellors who took proactive action to not only prevent the act of suicide but also addressed various forms of abuse.

“We will revisit again the Gatekeepers’ Programme and some other community-based efforts but what we want to do is build capacity in the communities among the health professionals

first. This year, by the end of this year, we will make a decision on how we go forward with any additional supporting mechanisms at the community level.

We do have some support groups and we still have the PEER Education Programme for drug demand reduction and those two still are running – the general support groups and the PEER educators programme.”

The PEER Education Programme was an initiative adopted some years ago that saw youths across Guyana being trained as peer educators to help tackle the social ills that were/are affecting various communities.

Additionally, the Suicide Implementation Plan also caters for a number of partnerships to be developed with stakeholders to raise awareness as a means of reducing suicides and suicidal attempts while simultaneously strengthening the supporting network for persons who are in need of counselling services.