Sunday Magazine December 31,2017

December 31, 2017

FREE DISTRIBUTION

‘Persons of the Year’ The Wales Estate Sugar Workers

Page 3

Pages 5-14

2 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

DECEMBER 31, 2017

Feature

By Dr. Rosh Khan

A

s you turn the chapter on 2017 and leap into 2018, you’re probably filled with breath-taking excitement

and purpose! New resolutions.

Bigger goals. Higher targets. It’s easy (and fun) to get caught up in the thrill of it all. We have a fresh chance for greater success in 2018.

But can I ask that we be brutally honest for a moment? I have zero intentions of bursting the balloon of hope for all that 2018 will do for you, but it’s time to queue a healthy dose of intro-

spection.

When you analyse where you are today, compared to where you set out to be at the beginning of 2017, you’re either smiling or a feeling a little un-

derwhelmed.

If you’re smiling, well done!

You’re on the right path. Keep striving, growing, and contributing. Don’t get complacent.

If you’re feeling underwhelmed, that’s okay! It was Ryan Holiday [an American author, marketer and entrepreneur] who beautifully said that we shouldn’t seek the path without obstacles, for the obstacle is the path – the obstacle is the way. If it’s been a tougher-thananticipated year, it means opportunities for growth presented themselves and there are merely two questions to ask: 1. What’s the lesson here?

2. What is this preparing me for?

In as much as we orchestrated our triumphs and wins, we were also the ones that generated our defeats. We may not control all that happens to us but we do control our response. Our personal stories, the narratives we tell ourselves, the paradigms and belief systems we hold onto ultimately dictate our thoughts – whether positive or negative.

Those very thoughts influence our decisions, which determine our actions, and thus, enable or create certain results.

Want better results? Simple.

Start at the foundation. If we want to live a life that is inspired, purpose-driven, and full of zest, then we need to upgrade our paradigms. We need to focus on mindset.

Here are eight ‘mindset shifts’ that will empower you through 2018:

Wear Glasses That Work

The late Dr. Stephen Covey, [a renowned leadership authority, family expert, teacher, organizational consultant, and cofounder of FranklinCovey Co.], said, “We see the world not as it is but as we are.” We view not only ourselves but those around us through a set of lenses; and like any lens, they either sharpen or distort reality. Simply choosing how we see ourselves and others has a cascading effect on what we think, feel, and do.

Think about the kind of ‘glasses’ you wear in certain situations or with specific people. It may be holding you back from seeing things as they really are.

Carry Your Own Weather

When we allow darkening clouds to dictate our mood, it’s easy to feel like a victim and surrender to the belief that we’re helplessly subject to the external world. We forget that we have the power to choose our response to people and situations.

We have the ability to carry our own weather – internally.

Behave Your Way To Credibility

You cannot talk your way out of what you behaved yourself into. You must behave your way out of what you behaved yourself into. To behave with credibility, you must demonstrate character and competence. It doesn’t mean you need to be absolutely infallible but you should lead with honesty and integrity. Take the long-term view of situations and remember that your daily behaviour broadcasts your truest beliefs.

See The Tree, Not Just The Seedling

When we look at our potential or the potential of those around us – whether it’s a co-

worker, friend, partner, or child – it requires us to see beyond the “seed” and envision the mighty tree it can become. Seeing potential in others doesn’t happen overnight; it’s a function of growth over time.

Discern The Important From The Urgent

It’s very easy to get caught up in the day to day urgencies but if we’re not careful, we can end up like a cat chasing its tail. It was Coach John Wooden who famously said, “Don’t mistake activity for achievement.”

Sit down and be strategic about your productivity. Work more on what’s important than on what’s urgent. The person who tries to do everything often ends up doing nothing.

Struggle Daily

Discomfort is a reflection of growth. It is often that said that success lies outside of your comfort zone. If you’re not carving out time to nurture new skills, assimilate new information, or adopt ‘the beginner’s mindset,’ you are holding your best work hostage from the world. Seek out healthy struggles.

Ask Why

Whether you’re trying to find underlying motives, make a persuasive argument, or sol problems, deploying the 5-Why is a powerful tool. Just ask, “Why?” five (or more times) until you get to the fundamental issue. It’s unbelievably simple but profoundly powerful. Try it.

Start With Humility

Above all else, humility is foundational. Those who are humble have a secure sense of self; their validation doesn’t come from something external but is based on their true nature. To be humble means to shed one’s ego because your ‘authentic self’ is much greater than looking good, needing to have all the answers or being recognised by one’s peers. As a result, those who have cultivated humility have far greater energy to devote to others. They go from being consumed with themselves (an inner focus) to looking for ways to contribute and help others (an outer focus). Humility is the key to building solid character and strong, meaningful connections.

As you soar through 2018, remind yourself to look within.

Transformation is an inside-out process. The change we want for the world is the change we must first embody.

Here’s to an inspired, victorious and purpose-driven 2018!

Dr. Rosh Khan is the president of FranklinCovey Guyana, The Masterclass Institute, and SocialRank Media – Guyana’s Leading Digital Agency. He is also the recipient of GCCI’s Young Business Executive Award for 2017. Khan can be contacted via mobile on 592-6645848, email: rosh@socialrankmedia.com or Dr Rosh Khan on Facebook.

guyanatimesgy.com

DECEMBER 31, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Feature

Sunday Times Magazine ‘Persons of the Year’ The Wales Estate Sugar Workers

After being laid off, this sugar worker had to resort to selling eggs to support his family (Shemuel Fanfair photo)

By Shemuel Fanfair

T

he end of 2017 saw an uncertain future for thousands of men and women across the sugar belt with the retrenchment of their employment, but as they begin to contemplate what lies ahead, a suitable marker can be taken from the challenges that have befallen the workers formerly attached to the Wales Sugar Estate.

December 31, 2016 was the official date for the cessation of operations at the century old entity. While the circumstances that led to closure of the Estate were principally financial, what holds true is that the lives of thousands of workers, their families and surrounding business owners were catastrophically altered with the end of the main sustenance to the Wales and further West Bank area. It is against this backdrop that Sunday Times Magazine selected Wales workers as the main ‘Persons of the Year 2017’ as no other group of persons in recent times in Guyana have gone through the magnitude of challenges as they have faced, and remain unbowed.

It was unfortunately observed within the past year that workers remain without being paid their severance benefits and have encountered financial challenges since the closure.

But what became of the many workers who did receive the one-off payment? Are they surviving? Can they properly provide for themselves and families? These are some of the many questions this publication asked in recent interviews with the sugar workers.

What was uncovered in speaking with those who are awaiting severance and the others who have already

A long-standing sugar worker, Albert Vieira, expressing his concerns (Carl Croker photo)

been paid is that they are both facing a lack of consistent employment, which according to them, is putting great strain on their families.

Sugar worker and father of three, Azad Ally, in low-spirit, expressed that he cannot find steady work. Ally, who had worked for 17 years before he was laid off, noted that while he was able get some work for the holidays, when the season is over his source of income will be completely depleted.

“Only my wife working right now; I feeling real odd right now and is holiday time and I ain’t even bring money in the house to be honest,” Ally revealed.

Many of the workers had utilised their pay-out to purchase motor vehicles, which they used to operate hire car and taxi services. However, many did not foresee that they would have to contend with increased competition and fewer passengers traveling to and from the area due to reduced earnings and a lack of economic opportunities in the Wales area.

Others meanwhile used their severance pay-out to build their homes and complete other housing projects.

One such individual is Deochan Khan who laboured in the No. 1 Planting Gang with some 15 years of service with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). When this publication caught up with the former employee, he was seen plying his new trade as a coconut water vendor in the blistering sun in the nearby village Patentia, West Bank Demerara.

Being a father of five, ages eleven, eight, six, five and four, Khan could not just stay at home and be unproductive. He even tried his hands at masonry. He said that as a coconut water seller he labours

Deochand Khan with one of his five children vending at his coconut cart in Patentia (Shemuel Fanfair photo)

for more hours and sometimes makes only GYD$2,000 a day when costs to purchase the coconuts are subtracted.

Just two days before Christmas, Khan only bought gifts for two of his children and remarked that he was doing a “final hustle” to garner enough funds to meet his holiday needs.

Khan remembered earning a good salary from which he was able to save much, but with his spouse being a housewife and the family having less income, all he can hope is for his family to weather this storm.

“Sometimes you got to go internet for assignments for children; one child traveling to Canal No.1 for school; things getting harder; we not getting it easy,” Khan disclosed.

In the past, he would catch fish and shrimps in the backdam to support his income, but he was forced to discontinue this practice as much of the trenches and waterways have become clogged and filled with weeds after the Estate’s closure.

His former colleague Aseer Bacchus shared similar sentiments, noting that he too would “cast nets” as a side job. But after 28 years of service with GuySuCo, the cane cutter and father of five said he has no choice than to seek the support of his three working children, one of whom will soon be laid off the sugar corporation. Sunday Times Magazine visited the Bacchus’ home in Vriesland, another nearby community affected by the Wales Estate closure.

Bacchus’ wife Salima noted the mounting expense of having two children in school: 16-year-old Daniel, who is writing CSEC later this year, and eight-year-old Emmanuel, a primary school student.

Father of five, Azad Ally (Carl Croker photo)

Salima noted that while her 2017 Christmas was good, she is unsure what will occur in 2018.

“It will be worse because we don’t know if we will get the severance, but we hoping and praying that everything will be okay,” Salima conveyed.

Bacchus mentioned that he has been faced with great difficulty in finding employment.

“We got bills to pay. It rough, but we does try and pray. We don’t know what will happen in years to come.

After the severance, we need jobs because what we gonna do… sit and eat it out? When I sit down here, watch over there [at the canfield] I want to cry, because I don’t have a job,” Bacchus stated.

As Bacchus remains somewhat optimistic, another sugar worker Dairam Lachmana is seemingly beyond the depths of despair following the dismantling of his family. He noted that relations soured with his partner. Lachmana, who worked for 10 years before being laid off, claimed that after seven years together, his spouse moved out, along with their only child. He estimated a bleak outlook for 2018 and is still coping with being abandoned by his family.

“Because I’m not getting money to maintain my family, I gave her the child. She left about two months back. I feel real upset, real corrupted right now,” Lachmana said, looking away to the dusty and desolate road at Patentia.

Another worker, who is awaiting severance, told this publication that his wife is currently the principal breadwinner. He divulged that at times of arguments, he is subjected to

The Bacchus family is dependent on their eldest son, however he is expected to be laid off by GuySuCo sometime soon (Carl Croker photo)

Sadened Gordon Thomas contemplates his future being unemployed (Carl Croker photo)

Sugar worker Michael Chootoo with his hamper. Chootoo served the sugar industry for over 28 years before being laid off (Carl Croker photo)

ridicule where he is reminded of his unemployment status.

Sugar worker Nigel Andres said that he worked 16 years at the now closed Diamond Estate before joining Wales Estate.

“When you looking for work, you’re not getting pay. People owing you. Cane work was the only work we were sure about,” the father and grandfather noted.

Former Tug Captain, Gordon Thomas highlighted the difficulties that sugar workers faced in the past year.

“2016 was bad and 2017 made it worse because people are not earning.

People expected to get their severance... no increase for 2016 and 2017; how do you expect the people to survive?” Thomas asked.

Pensioner Albert Vieira, 61, said he received his pension the same year that the Estate ended operations. He noted that the closure, as predicted, has seen wide-reaching effects in the surrounding communities.

“The people not getting work; plenty of them went fisheries, they worked two morning because they had market... now the market suspend, they at home, they not getting jobs. Work not circulating, money not circulating, we don’t have any factory that the people could go and work,” Vieira said.

He recalled that he was able to build his life from the earnings he obtained from the Estate, having worked there over 40 years ago.

The workers’ union, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU), having observed the financial challenges, collaborated with several entities to distribute food hampers to the Estate workers.

The hampers, which were distributed days after Christmas, included rice, peas, flour and sugar.

The Wales Estate closure and the firing of 1700 workers were touted as a cost-saving measure due to billions of dollars that were allocated to the entity and sugar industry as a whole.

However, many lower West Bank communities, such as Wales, Bellvue, Good Intent, Sisters, Vriesland, and as far as Vive Le Force, were all impacted from the closure. Additionally, farmers at La Retraite, Bellvue and Canal No. 2 Polder were also affected as they were compelled to transport their cane to Uitvlugt. Nevertheless, the villagers and communities have not given up as many are resilient and have undertaken arduous tasks to ensure that they provide for their families.

4

Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

DECEMBER 31, 2017

Feature

Award-winning, thought provoking books to include on your 2018 booklist

By Petamber Persaud

W

e, lovers of literature, can say goodbye to 2017 – the year marking the centennial end to indentureship with satisfaction, knowing that some of the books published in this year will follow us into 2018 while others will stay with us during 2018 and decades beyond.

From its inception, the book was treated with respect, even with awe, for man valued the book very highly with regards to its potential as a tool of education and instruction, as a repository for storage and retrieval of information, as a custodian of traditions and languages, as a forum for art and entertainment, stimulating the imagination and improving memory, a source of inspiration, among other usages. And the book has lived up to expectations even in its new forms and formats.

Below are some of the books crossing my desk during 2017: The Indentured Servants from Bengal to Bush Lot to Belize by Karan Chand This historical novel is a family saga covering three generations originating in India moving to Guyana and then Belize, recording the “struggles and resilience in a desperate effort to stay afloat and, for some, to sour”.

This is the inspiring story of Mattai, born in Bengal, kidnapped and transported across the Kala Pani from Calcutta to Bush Lot Village on the Essequibo Coast of Guyana as an indentured labourer where he served three periods of Indentureship lasting fourteen years, surviving to made good in life and live to see many of his descendants making good.

Karma Curry by Jerry K. Durbeej This second novel by

the author is about love, lust, betrayal, unrequited love, filial responsibility, revenge, remorse and atonement. “Karma Curry” is about reaping what you sow through how your actions in previous lives affect your current life. “Karma Curry” is, on one hand, about the continuation of tradition and, on the other hand, the challenging and breaking of tradition. This conflict is sustained throughout the lives of each main player and throughout the novel and it is this conflict that accounts for the novel been a cut above novels exploring similar themes.

Stories set in two Countries by Madan M. Gopal This book of fifteen short stories is a fascinating read where the author “with subtle and overt humour and twists to satisfy different tastes” brings “multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-national fragrance into the fathomless pit of provocative relationships”. (R. R. Jadoopat) Red Coconut: Bridging the Racial Divide by Habeeb Alli This eighteenth book by the author is a collection of poems, articles and excerpts from his blog speaking to the overarching theme evident in all of the author’s projects: love.

Junta: The Coup is On

by Ken Puddicombe This political/romance thriller is set in Saint Anglia, an imaginary island in the Caribbean bearing many similarities to Guyana as people, places and events are invoked in the forms of Ricky Singh, Jim Jones, Rabbi Washington, Father Darke, etc even CARD (Crucial Action for the Restoration of Democracy) is not dissimilar to GUARD. Saint Anglia was a “peaceful place” - sugar plantation economy thriving first on enslaved labour

and then indentured labour - until after independence when the ugly head of racism, class and social injustice brought divisions to the surface in a way forcing everyone to take a side.

Guyanese Writers of Indian Ancestry by Petamber Persaud This book was published to mark the centennial end of indentureship in 2017. It captures the life and work of over seventy Guyanese writers of Indian ancestry, paying tribute to our literary ancestors while seeking to correct sin of commission and sin of omission. For the first time, some of the neglected and slighted writers and the writers omitted from the mainstream will see the light of day and breathe again, their voices heard again as more research will fill out the skeleton of data and infuse character into them.

This pocketbook is small and slim, but covers a lot of ground previously untouched by anyone and contains some of the data in my effort to map Guyanese literature, some data I have been collecting for over two decades.

Part two of this article will feature the following books: “Mahaica Belle Rings” by Collette Jones-Chin; “The Girl from the Sugar Plantation” by Sharon Maas; “Kamarang”

by Michael Jordon; “Guyana and the Wider World” by Sister Noel Menezes; “The Guyanese Culture - Fusion or Diffusion?” by Rudy Insanally; “The Guyana Contract” by Rosalind McLymont; “Aspects of European-Guyanese Heritage” compiled and edited by the Guyana Heritage Society et al.; “West Indian history and literature” by Frank Birbalsingh;

“50 Nation Builders of Guyana”; “50 Creative Icons of Guyana”; “National Bibliography of Guyana”.

Responses to this author please telephone 226-0065 of email: oraltradition2002@ yahoo.com What’s happening: Over GYD$1,000,000 in

prize money up for grabs in the 2018 issue of The Guyana Annual. New closing date for entries to the various competitions is January 15, 2018. For further information go to The Guyana Annual on Facebook or email: theguyanaannual@gmail.com

Drug procurement report

President appoints 9 Senior Counsel

P

resident David Granger announced the appointment of several judges and lawyers as Senior Counsel (SC). The newly appointed Senior Counsel are: Neil Aubrey Boston, a trial lawyer for over 34 years; Charles John Ethelwood Fung-A-Fat, a Parliamentary Counsel and Deputy Chief Parliamentary Counsel for over 33 years; and Justice Alison Roxane McLean George-Wiltshire, who was admitted to the bar in 1990 and served as a Senior State Counsel, Assistant Director of Public Prosecution, Deputy Director of Public Prosecution and Director of Public Prosecution.

Also named Senior Counsel was Clifton Mortimer Llewelyn John, who was admitted in 1952 first as a solicitor and then as a barrister; and Rafiq Turhan Khan, admitted to the Bar in November 1984, appointed for his service as an advocate, member and Co-Chairman of the Legal Practitioners Committee.

Meanwhile, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall has since expressed “shock” at the sudden appointments of Senior Counsel by the President.

“These appointments were obviously done in a very opaque fashion. Some of the appointments reek of political bias and baseless favouritism. Persons deserving were spitefully and discriminatorily omitted,” he posited.

2 killed execution style after leaving “cockfight”

T

Dead: Desmond David Singh

Dead: Azrudeen Hussain

wo men were killed in an apparent hit, moments after leaving a “cockfight” in Friendship, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on New Year’s night. The shooting occurred about 19:00h.

Dead are Desmond David Singh, called “Fix Up”, 34, of Lot A 1 Orange Walk, Bourda, Georgetown and Azrudeen Hussain, 24, of Little Biabu Mahaica Creek, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Singh’s body was riddled with bullets and he died instantly, while Hussain was shot to his neck and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Granger reshuffles Cabinet

A

fter declaring in 2016 that there would be no changes to his Cabinet, President David Granger in a surprise move on January 3 made some significant changes to his pool of decision makers.

Among the changes within Cabinet is the removal of Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton, who will now be taking over the Social Cohesion Ministry.

Dr Norton continuously found himself in “hot water” over the past months, especially as it relates to the controversial rental of the pharmaceutical bond at Sussex Street, Georgetown, which is billing Government in excess of $14 million per month.

Minister Volda Lawrence will now be heading the Public Health Ministry while Minister Amna Ally will be taking over the Social Protection Ministry.

C

aribbean Medical Supplies should face criminal charges – report Following recommendations made by the Board of Inquiry (BoI) that was set up to probe allegations of mismanagement and malpractices within the procurement process of pharmaceuticals at the Public Health Ministry, Minister of State Joseph Harmon on January 6 asserted that Government will take actions on the matter.

The probe was triggered by allegations of staffers of the Public Health Ministry passing inside information to bidders seeking lucrative drug procurement contracts.

Among the recommendations made was for current Permanent Secretary, Trevor Thomas, to be removed for failing to effectively carry out his duty. The BoI noted that the Trinidadian company was hostile to the BoI and failed to appear before it; thus, a recommendation was made that it be barred from any future bidding here.

The BoI also recommended criminal and legal proceedings against two other companies following its probe. One of the companies against which criminal investigations was recommended is the Parika-based Caribbean Medical Supplies Inc (CSMI), which had come under criticisms for being a “fly by night” company, was awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts from the Public Health Ministry.

The report recommended that a senior Health Ministry official be fired for his role in these malpractices.

Furthermore, the Minister explained that when the procurement process became open to competitive bidding, the influx of bidders made it challenging to do background checks on every bidder even though they met the criteria.

The Minister conceded that the change in the drug procurement system also made the process quite challenging, resulting in countrywide shortages and opening avenues for malpractices to occur.

“It’s the change that caused the difficulties,” the Minister admitted. Nonetheless, he was adamant that the change in the system was needed and with adequate and competent staff, the process could be strengthened to work for the public’s benefit.

Secret deal for Skeldon Estate takeover revealed

Jagdeo elected new PPP General Secretary

O

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo was on January 7 voted in as the new General Secretary of the country’s longest standing political force, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) – replacing Clement Rohee who held the position for the last five years.

Jagdeo was nominated by Dr Roger Luncheon and his nomination was supported by Irfaan Ali. His contender was Dr Frank Anthony, who was nominated

by Rohee and supported by former President Donald Ramotar.

In accordance with the Party’s Constitution, the PPP held its first post-Congress Central Committee meeting during which an election held by secret ballot to determine a new General Secretary.

Jagdeo was positive that his role as both Leader of the Opposition and General Secretary would not be too challenging since being a President for 12 years was much more demanding.

Nonetheless, he did not undermine the work cut out for him, noting that the PPP will have to work hard towards a resounding victory in 2020.

GECOM Chairmanship

Granger rejects Jagdeo’s nominees …requests 2nd list

P

resident David Granger has rejected the nominees for the new Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on January 9, in a move that has already been described as dangerous.

This is the first time that a president has rejected such a list since the Carter Formula for the appointment of the GECOM Chairman was initiated in 1992.

The President argued that the Constitution of Guyana stipulates that the six nominees who were to be submitted by the Leader of the Opposition should be a judge or possess qualifications of a judge.

On this basis, he declared that the six names submitted by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo were “unacceptable”.

Jagdeo nominated Executive Member of the Private Sector Commission Ramesh Dookhoo; former PSC Chairman and Army Chief Norman Mc Lean; Chartered Accountant and former Head of the Bar Association, Christopher Ram; writer Rhyaan Shah; Professor James Rose and human rights and conflict resolution consultant Lawrence Latchmansingh.

One day after publicly rejecting the first list of nominees the President formally indicated to Jagdeo his request for a new list of persons be submitted.

A

Trinidad and Tobago firm is likely to rake in major benefits from the Guyana Government, including favourable tax incentives for the development of an integrated sugarcane processing facility at the Skeldon Sugar Estate, after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked in December.

Government, through its Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), signed the MoU with D Rampersad and Company Limited (DRCL) on December 8, 2016, for the undertaking of a feasibility study to determine the success of such a venture which will see it taking over the Skeldon Estate. The MoU was signed without full disclosure to the Guyanese public and without any public notice. The company has no experience with any agricultural enterprise, and provides engineering services to the automotive and oil industries in T&T. Notably, however, as witness to the signing was Noel Rupie Shewjattan, the owner of Auto Fashion Store on Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown. Auto Fashion Store also has no experience in the agricultural sector.

Meanwhile, in the MoU, which was seen by this publication, the Company believes that the sugar industry in Guyana can be “regenerated” by the proposed project, which would not be producing sugar.

The feasibility study is proposed to commence on April 3 and to be completed in the first quarter of the year.

Way cleared by Govt for parking meters

C

entral Government on January 23 cleared the way for Smart City Solutions Incorporated (SCSI) to begin charging motorists for using parking spaces in Georgetown.

This was confirmed by Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan, who told Guyana Times that the parking meter bylaws, which were presented to him on Friday by the company, have been signed.

It had previously been reported that because of the time and location in which the documents were received, the Minister could not give his authorisation until legal experts had perused them. Hence, paid parking did not commence on Monday, as previously announced by the company.

There have been mounting concerns about the rollout of this project. When questioned about the option Central Government had to put the project on hold by not signing the by-laws, Bulkan noted that the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) had the power to make its own decisions.

Banks DIH sues Govt for $28B 3 dead, 3 injured in 2-vehicle smash-up Norton admits Drug procurement changes led to countrywide shortage A

T

hree persons were killed while three others are critical following a two-vehicle collision in the vicinity of Loo Creek, Linden/Soesdyke Highway on January 4.

Dead are David Primus, 52, of Lot 6 Self Help, Amelia’s Ward, and Dextroy Griffith, 25, a mechanic at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, also of Amelia’s Ward, Linden. The identity of the third victim was not available up to press time.

Griffith’s wife, 23-year-old Whitney Plowell-Griffith and Leron Mendonca, 22, of St Vincent and the Grenadines, along with Arletta Kellman, 47, of Speightland, Lower Kara Kara, were all admitted to the Linden Hospital Complex in a serious state.

They sustained trauma and broken bones, among other injuries.

Reports are that Primus was driving motorcar HC 5326 and was heading to Linden, while the other vehicle, PRR 7151, was travelling in the opposition direction when they collided head-on.

T

he explosive revelations about collusion in the drug procurement system are just the tip of the iceberg in an avalanche of corruption which thrives in the local health sector, former Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton disclosed on January 10.

Dr Norton, who was transferred from his post as Public Health Minister following an influx of negative publicity that erupted over the drug bond scandal, had requested an independent investigation be launched into the drug procurement process after he suspected mass malpractice within the process.

A Board of Inquiry (BoI), headed by retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Winston Cosbert, was established and conducted a three-week probe into the system.

s forecasted, the floodgates have opened and one of the country’s leading beverage giants has slapped Government with a multibillion-dollar lawsuit, claiming in excess of $28 billion in repayment, in light of the controversial tax write-off given by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to its competitor, the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL).

Banks DIH Limited filed legal proceedings against Attorney General Basil Williams and the GRA, seeking a refund of approximately $28 billion.

According to the court documents seen by Guyana Times, the corporate entity paid some $12.8 billion in taxes over the period 2001 to 2006. But since Government granted DDL a whopping $3.8 billion tax write-off from its assessed $5.3 billion owed, Banks DIH calculated that it should have only paid some $3 billion instead of $12.8 billion.

6

december 31, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Topco juice contract

Bid Protest Committee rules against Govt

L

ocal juice company Tropical Orchard Products Company (Topco) has won its appeal to the Bid Protest Committee over the Government’s decision to award its supply contract to another company – from Suriname.

Topco, which is a subsidiary of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), was a long-time supplier of juices to the Guyana Government for its national school feeding programme. That is until the Education Ministry, the procuring entity, deemed its bid for a continuation of the contract unsuitable, based on past performance. According to the Committee, which is based at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), the Education Ministry failed to make known that past performance was a criterion for selection beforehand.

“The non-disclosure of past performance as an evaluation criterion in the solicitation documents prevents and precludes the procuring entity from belatedly relying on such criterion in the evaluation and determination of the bid,” the Committee stated.

PM’s son-in-law facilitating GuySuCo’s takeover

A

s uncertainty mounts over the future of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) with accusations of “secrecy” made against Government following a deal struck with a Trinidadian company, the APNU/ AFC Administration is now facing more backlash after it was revealed that a close relative of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo is reportedly working to bring in investors for the cash-strapped sugar industry.

The Agriculture Ministry in a statement disclosed that representatives of Srinath Ispat Tony Joseph Limited, an India-based company with extensive knowledge of the sugar industry, are expected in Guyana to have dialogue with Government on potential investments in GuySuCo. The statement went on to say that the delegation would be led by President of Integrated Casetech Consultants PV T LTD, Rajesh Kumar Agarwal, and Managing Director of Sunrise Holdings, Tony Joseph. Joseph is married to Prime Minister Nagamootoo’s daughter, something which Government failed to disclose in the media release.

Govt’s Cultural Advisor calls for “torching” of Guyana Times, TVG

R

uel Johnson, Cultural Policy Advisor to the Government of Guyana and a Director of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL), which publishes the Chronicle, on January 30 called for the “torching” of the Sanata Complex, which houses most prominently, the Guyana Times newspaper, Television Guyana (TVG) and Radio Guyana Inc 89.5.

On his Facebook page, the Cultural Policy Advisor at the Education Ministry and Director of GNNL stated bluntly, “Here’s Ruel Johnson my idea for a united Guyanese protest against impunity and tenderpreneurship - go break down all the parking meters and then proceed to torch the Sanata complex.” Johnson explicitly made the connection between the Sanata Complex, QAII, its owner and the Media Group consisting of the Guyana Times newspaper, Television Guyana (TVG) and Radio Guyana Inc (89.5), which would all be torched when he later explained in his post: “QAII metastasized into further issues like drug procurement and media acquisition, costing taxpayers billions and resulting in untold consequences both direct and indirect.”

This is not the first time that Johnson is making discriminatory and inciting comments on social media about provoking violence.

This is in addition to the duty-free vehicle he is already entitled to as a Member of Parliament (MP), along with many other extravagant benefits he enjoys at the expense of the public purse, Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira has revealed.

Teixeira, in her presentation to the National Assembly, highlighted that the list of VAT exempt vehicles were expanded to include those imported by and for the use of the Prime Minister and the President.

“Teixeira said she was confused even more as to why Nagamootoo was entitled to such a benefit, since he already had duty-free concessions.

Bartica Massacre trial

2 sentenced to death, 1 acquitted

A

lmost nine years after the horrific Bartica attack that rocked the nation, gang members Mark Royden Williams, called “Smallie”, and Dennis Williams, called “Anaconda”, were found guilty of seven counts of murder each by a 12-member jury.

Presiding Judge Roxane George, SC, sentenced the two to death, noting that they would be executed by way of hanging by the neck.

Additionally, the men were found guilty on five counts each of manslaughter, but a ruling on those matters was deferred to this afternoon. When asked by the Judge to respond, Mark Williams, who appeared unmoved by the sentence, simply declined.

Citizens, business community protest parking meter burden

W

hile Guyanese convened to protest the unreasonable conditions brought on by the implementation of the parking meter system, Mayor Patricia Chase-Green defended the City Council, stating that only the affluent are being affected.

A crowd consisting of parliamentarians, business owners and civil society members all assembled opposite City Hall in support of the “Say NO to Parking Meters in Guyana” demonstration on Friday. This gathering was the result of a public event created via social media, to express the continuous distress experienced by many, following the installation of Smart City Solutions’ parking meters. The event was intended to be a silent protest, however, the anticipated peaceful action quickly transformed into chaos, as pro-parking meters supporters staged a counter protest.

When questioned as to what motivated the demonstration, activists pointed to the numerous concerns over paid parking around the city. Feasibility, transparency and the cost for parking were some of the foremost concerns of the City Council’s new method of taxation.

Prithima Kissoon sent on administrative leave

D

eputy Solicitor General Prithima Kissoon has been sent on three months administrative leave, pending a review of all the cases she represented the State on, according to Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams.

The AG told reporters that based upon advice sought from the Public Service Commission (PSC), the Deputy Solicitor General was sent on 72 days leave by the Permanent Secretary of the Legal Affairs Ministry to facilitate a review of the cases she was involved in.

The probe into cases which Deputy Solicitor General Kissoon was involved in, stemmed from a recent ruling handed by the Court of Appeal, dismissing a State-sponsored appeal against a High Court decision that quashed a private criminal charge against Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

AG Williams had since blamed Kissoon for the outcome of the case. However, although he has blamed Kissoon for the case, Solicitor General Sita Ramlall, in a letter to the Editor, pointed out that Williams had insisted to Kissoon and herself, that he be named as the Plaintiff in the appeal when he was not a party.

Kissoon has since said she has been subjected to abuse from the AG and filed a formal complaint with the Public Service Commission, outlining among other things, that the AG had been frustrating her office by refusing to cooperate with her on several cases, while at the same time publicly questioning her performance.

PM to get unlimited tax Kick-down-the-door bandits execute exemption, duty-free vehicles Berbice domestic worker

T

he Cadillac lifestyle has gotten better for Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who can now import unlimited vehicles which will be exempted from Value Added Tax (VAT).

A

Corentyne, Berbice woman was on February 7 killed by two gunmen who kicked down the door to her home and shot her.

Dead is Lilawatie Muhammed, 45, a domestic worker of Lot 198 Sixth Street, Tain Settlement, Corentyne, Berbice.

Reports are the woman was killed in front of her children about 23:30h. According to the woman’s 18-year-old son, Ashad Ishack, he and his 21-year-old sister and their mother were at home when two masked men kicked open the front door of their home. He said one of them was carrying a shotgun.

3 die in BV blaze …suspected murder/suicide

T

he Beterverwagting community, located on the East Coast of Demerara, was shaken to its core as three members of the same family perished in an early morning blaze on February 12.

Dead are Leonard Pollard, 33; his one-year-old daughter, Nakasia Pollard and the child’s mother, Latoya Telford, 26, with whom the man allegedly shared a rocky relationship. It is suspected that the blaze was an act of arson in an apparent murder-suicide. Reports suggest that the man threw a flammable substance on his common-law wife and daughter, and set them alight before he reportedly hung himself. The two-storey house was completely gutted, destroying everything inside.

Wales closure fallout

PPP condemns Govt’s “callous decisions” towards sugar industry

T

he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has again come to the defence of the hundreds of displaced cane harvesters of the Wales Sugar Estate, who over the past week have been clamouring for what they said are their well-deserved severance packages.

The party condemned the “high-handed approach of Government in its dealings with the sugar industry” and pointed to the rigorous economic toll it is taking on the country.

Alluding to the situation at the West Bank Demerara sugar factory, the PPP stressed that it does not support Government’s callous decisions.

“The cruelty of the Government is demonstrated by the treatment meted to the workers of Wales Estate. Having closed the industry without any consultations with the workers or their union, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change Government had refused to comply with the Severance Pay Act. This forced the union to approach the courts for an order compelling [Guyana Sugar Corporation] GuySuCo to negotiate with the union”.

The parliamentary Opposition said even after obtaining the order of the court, and following negotiations with the union, GuySuCo still refuses to pay the agreed severance packages to the workers, causing the current protest action.

PSC declares loss of confidence in Govt

F

ollowing a meeting hosted between the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and its affiliates on February 16 the body has come to a resolution that the combination of poor policies, ill-judged statements and paucity of significant new investments has caused it to lose confidence in the Government.

According to the body, continued growth and improvement in Guyana cannot continue if investors’ confidence continues to be eroded. And it noted that “the trajectory in which the country is heading at the moment does not inspire such confidence.” “Participants noted the decline of the economy. Among the concerns are the crippling new taxes for the mining sector and the institution of Value Added Tax on necessities. The members of the business community present expressed a lack of confidence in the manner the Government is managing the economy.”

The body called for the Government to create an enabling environment and to increase its engagements with the business community. This, it noted, was to facilitate the creation of employment opportunities, ensure wage growth and “measures to increase the wealth of all Guyanese”.

Charles Ramson sues Nagamootoo for withholding salary

C

ommissioner of Information, Charles Ramson Sr, has filed legal action against his boss, Prime Minister and Information Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Attorney General Basil Williams.

Among the former Attorney General’s contentions are that his salary for January was withheld.

In addition, he is seeking an order for the Prime Minister, the second named respondent, to provide “such accommodation, resources and officers and employees for the efficient functioning of the office of the Commissioner of Information pursuant to Section 5 of the Access to Information Act 2011.”

Ramson’s writ also includes a request for “exemplary damages against the second named respondent for his unlawful acts and/or the violation of his constitutional right to work”; “any other order as may be just” and finally, cost.

7

december 31, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

AFC Councillor, father, neighbour charged Major shake-up at Govt Ministries for vigilante killing

with responsibility for culture, youth and sports, confused Phagwah with Diwali and was seemingly oblivious to her mistake.

She had later sent staff on leave for the mistake.

n Alliance For Change (AFC) Councillor along with her father and another man were on February 20 arraigned for the vigilante killing of 22-year-old Shereffudeen Nazamudeen Mohamed, called “Sheriff”, of Lot 117 Ruby, East Bank Essequibo. Mandy Sukhdeo, 29; her 48-year-old father, Surendra Sukhdeo; and a neighbour, Rean Ghani, were all remanded to prison by Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool when they made an appearance at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court.

It is alleged that the trio on February 14, 2017, at Hope, East Bank Essequibo, murdered Mohamed. As the charges were read, relatives of the dead man held a mini picketing exercise calling for justice to be served.

Consumers forced to pay high rates for foreign currency

A

PPP condemns Govt’s “callous decisions” towards sugar industry

T

he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has again come to the defence of the hundreds of displaced cane harvesters of the Wales Sugar Estate, who over the past week have been clamouring for what they said are their well-deserved severance packages. The party condemned the “high-handed approach of Government in its dealings with the sugar industry” and pointed to the rigorous economic toll it is taking on the country.

Alluding to the situation at the West Bank Demerara sugar factory, the PPP stressed that it does not support Government’s callous decisions.

“The cruelty of the Government is demonstrated by the treatment meted to the workers of Wales Estate. Having closed the industry without any consultations with the workers or their union, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change Government had refused to comply with the Severance Pay Act. This forced the union to approach the courts for an order compelling [Guyana Sugar Corporation] GuySuCo to negotiate with the union”. The parliamentary Opposition said even after obtaining the order of the court, and following negotiations with the union, GuySuCo still refuses to pay the agreed severance packages to the workers, causing the current protest action.

Appeal Court reaffirms people of the people

I

n a majority decision, the Court of Appeal dismissed a Statesponsored appeal against former Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang’s ruling that in Guyana, sovereignty resides in the people and not in the Parliament, and as such, certain fundamental clauses in the Constitution that serve to define its substantive nature, can only be altered by a referendum of the people.

This ruling ultimately means that an amendment to the Constitution, which was enacted when the National Assembly altered Article 90 via a two-thirds vote in 2000, needs a referendum to make a final decision, since to proceed otherwise would be for the National Assembly to deny the citizens of Guyana an inalienable right. The Government immediately announced they will challenge the ruling by appealing to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) within 30 days.

If that appeal fails, then the voters of Guyana would have a choice of four classes of persons that were barred by Art 17 of 2001.

These classes are: (A) that only a citizen by birth or of parentage can qualify to be the President; and (B) that a person must be residing in Guyana on the date of nomination for election and must have been a resident for seven years immediately before that date and Citizens of Guyana who have served for two terms as President.

Mashramani Float Parade captivates

… turn out affected by several changes

A

fter a hiatus for the celebration of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee, the annual Mashramani Costume and Float Parade returned to the streets of Georgetown on February 23. While scores turned out to revel in commemoration of Guyana’s 47th Republic anniversary, the usual festivities appeared to have been dampened by the several new developments surroundings this year’s celebrations.

The inclement weather began the day with apprehension as many feared the Mashramani activities being gravely affected by the heavy downpour. As the rain subsided, revellers and their bands accumulated at the starting point of the parade – at the junction of the Bank of Guyana on Avenue of the Republic, in Georgetown. However, it was not until sometime around midday that the first band took off for their procession.

Bands belonging to Government Ministries, regional offices and local businesses all paraded the new Mash route for 2017.

This was from the starting point, on to the Avenue of the Republic then through Brickdam, making their way into the recently constructed Durban Park for their final display and scrutiny.

McCoy fined $20,000 for assaulting Benschop

P

opular political commentator, Kwame McCoy, was on March 2, fined $20,000 with an alternative of one month imprisonment by city magistrate, Annette Singh, after he was found guilty of unlawfully assaulting political activist Mark Benschop.

The magistrate in her ruling dismissed two other charges of alleged larceny and damage to property, stating that she does not believe the evidence of Benschop in those matters.

G

overnment on March 6 announced a series of reassignment of Permanent Secretaries (PS).

The reassignments were done at the ministries of Agriculture, Education, Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Legal Affairs, Public Health and the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport.

Joylyn Nestor Burrowes took up the post of acting Permanent Secretary at the Agriculture Minister, replacing George Jervis, who along with the Deputy Permanent Secretary (Finance), Prema Roopnarine, were asked to proceed on leave. Additionally, Collette Adams was reassigned as the Permanent Secretary of the Public Health Ministry following the removal of former Permanent Secretary, Trevor Thomas.

Meanwhile, former Permanent Secretary of the Education Ministry, Delma Nedd was sent to the Legal Affairs Ministry; while Alfred King, who was previously Permanent Secretary of the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, serve in the same capacity at the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry.

Vibert Welch, who served in of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry, was moved to the Education Ministry and former Permanent Secretary of the Legal Affairs, Melissa Tucker, is at the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport.

Former Head of the Works Services Group of the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Geoffrey Vaughn has been elevated to the position of Permanent Secretary for that ministry.

O

n March 19, Governor of the Central Bank, Dr Gobind Ganga maintained that despite stern warnings from authorities, businesses are suspected of hoarding foreign currencies as commercial banks and cambios claim shortages.

This reported shortage is causing customers to resort to paying exorbitant rates elsewhere in light of the contrived scarcity.

Commercial banks and cambios across the country continue to turn away customers, claiming a shortage of the US dollar.

Reports are that Republic Bank charged $230 for US$1.

Teen stabbed to death by brother

A

drinking spree at Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice turned deadly on a March 19, after a teenager was stabbed to death by his brother after he refused to lend him his motorcycle.

Dead in 18-year-old Vishaul Zakaroo of Lot 85 North Yakusari, Black Bush Polder.

GECOM Chairmanship

SOCU detains Opposition Gaskin challenges Granger’s Leader, Dr Luncheon, others eligibility criteria

F

ormer top Government officials were on March 7 detained by agents of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in relation to an investigation for misuse of State assets.

Former President and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, former Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon, and former Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud were among those who were taken into custody for questioning at SOCU’s Headquarters on Camp Street.

Other persons, who were detained and questioned are General Manager of the Guyana Gold Board and daughter of former President Donald Ramotar, Lisaveta Ramotar; former President of the Private Sector Commission, Ramesh Dookhoo; former Secretary to NICIL Marcia Nadir-Sharma; and the son of former Labour Minister Dr Nanda Gopaul, Dr Ghansham Singh.

These detentions came days after Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan threatened criminal charges against former Government officials, causing many in the Opposition camp to believe the actions taken by SOCU was politically motivated by the executive.

Ramjattan, SOCU officials “sip wine” after arrest operations

P

ublic Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan along with top officials of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) congregated at a popular city café on the evening of March 9 after former prominent Government officials were hauled in for questioning and in some cases, arrested and detained.

SOCU Head Sydney James, British Advisor to SOCU Dr Sam Sittlington and Minister SOCU Head Sydney James Ramjattan were seen clinking glasses in an extremely celebratory atmosphere in the dimly lit café on Wednesday evening.

Ramjattan confirmed to Guyana Times that he and the SOCU officials were having some drinks at the popular spot, which usually is not opened to the public after dark.

According to Ramjattan, he went to “have a glass of wine” with the SOCU officials as they celebrated Dr Sittlington’s work here in Guyana.

B

usinessman, Marcel Gaskin has moved to the High Court, to challenge the constitutionality of President David Granger’s reasoning behind his rejection of Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo’s list of six nominees for the post of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Gaskin is the brother of the Business Minister, Dominic Gaskin, who is the son-in-law of the President.

The businessman, as was reported in the media on March 23, wants the court to determine whether Jagdeo’s list of nominees were indeed not “fit and proper” as declared by President Granger.

Granger has maintained that the list of nominees must include a judge, a retired judge or a person qualified to be a judge.

But Jagdeo has argued that the nominees do not have to be judge-type as the constitution makes provision for another group of persons under the category of “fit and proper”.

The former GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally is not of a judge-type and neither were most of the past chairpersons.

Granger, who is a longstanding member of the Peoples National Congress, had accepted the nomination to serve as GECOM Chairman several years ago.

Jagdeo had nominated Attorney-at-Law Christopher Ram; and Conflict Resolution Specialist, Lawrence Lachmansingh; Retired Major General, Norman Mc Lean; Business executive, Ramesh Dookhoo; Indian Rights Activitst, Rhyaan Shah and History Professor James Rose.

Carvil Duncan tribunal challenge

Judge walks off after contemptuous behaviour from AG

J

ustice Franklin Holder walked off the bench, leaving an uncertain outcome to the legal case, following a fiery exchange with the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams.

The legal proceeding, heard in the High Court on March 23, was a cross-examination regarding the conflicting stories submitted in affidavits by the Prime Minister Moses Carvil Duncan Nagamootoo and trade unionist Carvil Duncan about the tribunal which was established to determine his removal from several constitutional posts.

Justice Holder had since written to the Chancellor of the Judiciary complaining of the Attorney General’s behaviour and called for an apology in an open court. Williams refused to offer and apology and had also failed to response officially to Justice Holder’s complaint.

In wake of calls from the Prime Minister for the judge to recuse himself from the case, Justice Holder did so when the matter was called up again. Justice Holder maintained that the decision to recuse himself was the case was made after careful consideration.

Nandlall to sue AG over “stolen” law allegation Culture Minister should apologise for books ormer Attorney General

holiday mix-up – Norton

R

egardless of the perceived magnitude of the blunder, Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton on March 14 said that he believes the Culture Minister, Nicolette Henry owes the Hindu community a public apology for mixing up their religious holidays.

Henry, the junior minister within the Education Ministry

F

and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall on March 26 indicated that he will be taking his successor Basil Williams to court over allegations that he stole a series of Commonwealth Law Books from the State.

Williams had threatened to

8

december 31, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

jail Nandlall over what he claimed was the case of the “Stolen law books”.

Nandlall had however filed a lawsuit against the AG for libel over this matter. Days after, Nandlall was pulled in by SOCU for questioning in relation to the incident and he was subsequently charged for stealing the books.

Nandlall had however explained time and again that the law books belong to him even though it was paid by the State because it was part of his condition of service with the Government.

Local telephone giants at loggerheads

T

he Guyana Telephone Telegraph Limited has called for an independent audit into Digicel Guyana Inc unlicensed trans-border link between Guyana and Suriname that has been active for more than five years.

This call was made as the telephone giant and other agencies support to a fair and competitive telecoms landscape. GTT believes that the time has come for this matter to be investigated and brought to light-one that can finally provide transparency to the Guyanese public.

The telephone company in a release stated that there is no ambiguity about this bypass activity – in fact, it claimed that it is a demonstration of remarkable arrogance and disregard for rule of law in Guyana.

Digicel reportedly indicated to the PUC that its bypass operation was not appropriate for the discussion at hand but did not deny any aspect of the operation. GTT is also of the view that the ‘illegal’ bypass is causing significant harm to Guyana, financially.

Illegal fuel boat explodes at Moruca

Jagdeo questions AG’s credibility to remain in office

P

ressure continued for the Government current administration to take immediate action against its legal advisor, Attorney General Basil Williams, over his attitude towards a High Court Judge, Justice Franklin Holder.

During a news conference on April 2, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo suggested that President David Granger Opposition Leader should do another Cabinet re- Bharrat Jagdeo shuffle and place Williams in the Social Cohesion Ministry – where a previous minister who was involved in a major scandal was reassigned.

The former President emphasised that the behaviour exhibited by Williams on March 23 before the judge − not just during the court case, but during his attempts afterwards to twist reality and cast blame elsewhere − was unbecoming of the State’s Minister of Justice and of a person who is a Senior Counsel. Justice Holder complained to the Chancellor of the Judiciary about the Attorney General’s “disrespectful” and “egregious” behaviour in his courtroom, and has called for an apology in an open court. However, Williams has since responded, saying, “I don’t know about apology”.

Student found with grenade in school

the office of Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs.

Attorney General Basil Williams declared last month that charges are looming against Nandlall, who admitted to having the books but has denied stealing them; but Nandlall has explained that the books were acquired under an arrangement with President Donald Ramotar and in regard to his appointment as Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs.

Nandlall had moved to the court, seeking damages in excess of $25 million each for slander and libel published on the March 24, 2017 at a press conference hosted at the National Communication Network Inc; another $25 million for libel published on March 25, 2017; damages in excess of $25 million for slander published during an outreach programme in Berbice on March 26, 2017; and another $25 million for libel published on March 27, 2017.

UG Council hikes tuition fees by 35 per cent

I

t was reported on April 7 that the University of Guyana (UG) Council has approved a 15 per cent increase in tuition fees, the first step in its move to see an overall 35 per cent tuition increase over a three-year period. UG announced that following intense discussions at an extraordinary meeting of the Council, chaired by Chancellor Eon Nigel Harris, voted to increase tuition fees.

According to UG, the Council’s decision will be applied to tuition fees for all programmes and for both continuing students and new students for the 2017-2018 academic year.

At the same meeting also, the Council reportedly decided to incrementally increase the tuition fee by 10 per cent for the 2018-2019 academic year for all students, and by a further 10 per cent for all students for 2019-2020.

Alleged plot to shoot President

P

O

n March 28, it was reported that a boat transporting fuel from the Venezuelan border into Guyana’s waters went up in flames on Saturday, causing police to launch an investigation into the illegal trade.

Based on reports received, the boat exploded at about 16:00h in the vicinity of Gteen Island at Moruca, North West District.

No one was reportedly injured in the explosion, but, on all accounts, safety procedures were not followed.

Exxon makes another discovery offshore Guyana

O

n March 31, it was reported that US oil giant ExxonMobil announced “positive results” on the Snoek well offshore Guyana, confirming a new discovery on the Stabroek Block. Drilling targeted similar aged reservoirs as encountered in previous discoveries at Liza and Payara, Exxon said.

“The latest discovery at Snoek demonstrates the continued success we have achieved in this technically complex play, which is just part of the significant exploration province offshore Guyana”, President of ExxonMobil Exploration Company Steve Greenlee said.

ExxonMobil began drilling of the Snoek well on February 22, 2017 and encountered some 82 feet (25 meters) of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs. The well was drilled to 16,978 feet (5,175 meters) in 5,128 feet (1,563 meters) of water on March 18. The Snoek well is located in the southern portion of the Stabroek Block, approximately 5 miles (9 km) to the southeast of the 2015 Liza-1 discovery. Following completion of the Snoek well, the Stena Carron drillship has moved back to the Liza area to drill the Liza-4 well

Police probing $941M fraud at local bank

A

lso on April 1, a known fraudster of Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), who has allegedly robbed and conned his colleagues of hundreds of millions of dollars over the past years, is now in Police custody for ripping off a local bank of $941 million over a short period of time.

Saddiqi Rasul of El Dorado Mineral Trading was a taxi Saddiqi Rasul driver in the mining community, but was given a break in life in the gold industry. He now has hanging over his head several pending lawsuits from businesses and gold dealers whom he had conned over the years. Reports are a few years ago, Rasul collected close to $200 million from miners and gold dealers to purchase gold, but instead converted the money to his own use. He had subsequently made an arrangement to repay the money, but that promise has never been fulfilled.

C

lasses at the Timehri Primary School on the East Bank of Demerara was abruptly suspended after a grenade was found in the possession of a Grade Five

pupil.

Information reaching Guyana Times on April 4 revealed that a teacher noticed the child playing with the explosive device, which she subsequently inspected and concluded tentatively was indeed a “real” grenade. She, nevertheless, had doubts and as such, took the device to the head teacher of the school who thought that it was a toy grenade.

Not satisfied with the opinion of the head teacher, the teacher went to another colleague, who after examining the item was similarly convinced that it was a genuine grenade, given its weight and appearance.

residential security has been beefed up following allegations that a group of high-profile individuals are planning to shoot President David Granger should he step out of his secure zone in one of his public outreaches; and the Guyana Police Force has been assigned to thoroughly investigate this report.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, confirmed on April 20 that Government is very much aware of such a plot, and he said the security presence around the Head of State has been reinforced. The information, he said, has been culled by the police from an ongoing investigation, and advice is being sought from the police legal advisor.

Sister allegedly stabs brother to death

O

n April 20, it was reported that a 24-year-old woman is in custody as Police investigate an attack on her mother and the fatal stabbing of her 21-year-old brother on Easter Monday.

The now dead young man, Vishaul Hansraj, a trawler operator of Covent Garden Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara (EBD), succumbed while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital after being stabbed to the chest.

Mother of 3 strangled to death Ed Ahmad jailed for 2 years for mortgage fraud

O

n April 3 it was reported that a mother of three was found with a sheet wrapped around her neck in her husband’s Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) home, suspected to have been strangled to death by her abusive husband.

Danwantie Ram, 29, of Parika Façade, EBE, was found in a sitting position in a sofa by neighbours, who rushed over to the house after hearing screams. The husband, who was identified as Ganesh Dhanraj has since gone into hiding but the Police are on the hunt for him.

Reports are the woman and the suspect have been married for the past 12 years but the relationship has been an abusive one.

Fugitive 'wife killer' caught

G

anesh Dhanraj, wanted by Police in connection with the strangulation of his reputed wife was shot by Police in Parika, East Bank Essequibo on April 10.

Police caught up with the 28-year-old Dhanraj, also known as “Andre”, at about 02:00hrs, but had to open fire on the fugitive in order to effect his arrest. Having sustained gunshot injury to his right arm, he was subsequently taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was treated before being released into Police custody.

This newspaper had previously reported that Dhanraj had allegedly strangled 29-year-old Dhanwattie Ram, his reputed wife, with a bed sheet.

Nandlall sues Basil Williams for $125M

O

n April 16, it was reported that former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall filed a $125 million lawsuit against his successor, Basil Williams, for alleging that he had stolen a series of Commonwealth Law Books from the State while he occupied

O

n April 22 it was reported that a New York court on Friday sentenced Queens-based Guyanese businessman Edul Ahmad to two years in jail for conspiracy to commit mortgage fraud, reported the New York Daily News.

The sentence was handed down by Brooklyn Federal Judge Dora Irizarry. The Leonora, West Coast Demeraraborn Ahmad had pleaded guilty in 2012, in a New York court, to Edul Ahmad mortgage fraud conspiracy and was looking at a sentence of 10 years, with US$15 million in fines and restitution. The US-based Guyanese businessman was supposed to have been sentenced since 2015, but appealed to the New York court several times, successfully, to delay the ruling until after his colleague, former New York State Senator John Sampson, would have been sentenced.

Audit Office hindered in its duties

T

he proposed budget for the Audit Office of Guyana (AOG) was slashed by the Government side in the National Assembly during consideration of the 2017 Estimates of Expenditure, and the resultant consequences have since included the AOG grappling with not having adequate staff, or adequate funds to pay them.

The proposed estimate for the AOG in the last budget was $771.2 million for that constitutional agency that is tasked with auditing ‘the state apparatus’, but Finance Minister Winston Jordan had decreased this sum to $754.9M. Auditor General Deodat Sharma says the AOG has been affected by the cut, being forced to relinquish plans to hire additional staff. And although central government’s accounts have been brought up to date, work has to be done on statutory bodies.

9

Protests against closure of sugar estates gain momentum

A

lso on April 26, it was reported that the protests against the impending closure of sugar estates across the country have gained momentum on the ground, as hundreds of workers of Rose Hall Estate staged a picketing exercise.

The Estate, which employs some 2400 persons, has not taken lightly the proposal made by President David Granger to have Albion, Blairmont, and Uitvlugt Estates remain open.

The workers backed by their Union, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) displayed placards as they vented their anger at the announcement of the President.

december 31, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Doctor attacked at West Dem Hospital

M

eanwhile on May 2, it was reported that a drunken patient attacked a doctor at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) on May 1, 2017, raising once again the security concerns of doctors and hospital staffers.

The incident occurred around 20:30h when a male, middle-aged patient arrived at the Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit complaining of pain in his left arm. He was then attended to by a male doctor, who informed him that he would require an x-ray and referred him to a private institution, since the service was not available at the time. The patient, in his drunken state, began hurling indecent language at the doctor and then proceeded to ‘chuck’ him.

Guyana suffers decline in Jagdeo submits 2nd list of GECOM media freedom chairmanship nominees to President

I

t was reported on April 28 that Reporters without Borders (RWB), an entity that campaigns for media freedom and the rights of journalists, has indicated in its 2017 World Press Freedom Index that there have been significant setbacks in Guyana over the past year, although the constitution guarantees free speech and the right to information.

The RWB Guyana World Press Freedom Index has placed Guyana 60th in its world ranking, down by three places from its last ranking; while Trinidad and Tobago has been ranked 34th, Jamaica 4th, and the Eastern Caribbean 38th.

RWB has said that, in Guyana, “officials often use… defamation laws, which provide for fines and up to two years in jail, to silence opposition journalists”; and that “members of the media regulatory authority are appointed directly by the president. This restricts the freedom of certain media outlets, which are denied licences. Journalists are also subjected to harassment that take the form of prosecutions, suspensions and intimidation”.

O

n May 3, we reported that Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo submitted a fresh list of six candidates to President David Granger for consideration for the appointment of a Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The six names submitted on May 2, were retired Justice of Appeal BS Roy, retired Justice William Ramlall, Attorney and former Magistrate Oneidge Walrond Allicock, Attorney Kashir Khan, Attorney Nadia Sagar and Captain Gerald Gouveia.

Some of the shortlisted individuals who declined the nomination are Madam Justice Desiree Bernard, Madam Justice Claudette Singh (ret’d) SC, Ralph Ramkaran SC, and attorneys Timothy Jonas and Ronald Burchsmith.

Jagdeo in a statement reminded that it was not an easy task arriving at these six names given the restrictions outlined

by President David Granger. The Head of State’s conditions disqualify anyone engaged in any form of activism – gender, racial or religious; and persons affiliating with political parties.

This announcement was made by Agriculture Minister Noel Holder on May 8, when he presented a white paper on the future of the industry to Parliament. Holder told the National Assembly that by the end of 2017, the Corporation would have three estates and three sugar factories.

These estates are: the Uitvlugt-Wales Estate in West Demerara, Blairmont on the West Bank of Berbice and Albion-Rose Hall in East Berbice. With the latter being amalgamated, the other estate to be closed is the Enmore factory for diversification, while the Skeldon Estate will be sold.

Former Health Minister jailed for 50 months

J

ust over a year after being arrested, former Health Minister Dr Noel Blackman was sentenced to 50 months’ imprisonment for writing a number of prescriptions for the narcotics-based painkiller ‘Oxycodone’; and ordered to forfeit US$536,200 in illegal proceeds.

The sentence, handed down by a New York Court on May 12, will also see him being subjected to three years’ supervision after his release from prison. A Former Health Minister former Chairman of the Board Dr Noel Blackman of Directors of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and a People’s National Congress (PNC) Executive member, Blackman, who became embroiled in the ‘Oxycodone’ conspiracy back in 2016, pleaded guilty to his indictments, which related to conspiracy to distribute, and distribution of, oxycodone.

Broadcasters compelled to air free 1 hour Govt PSAs

T

he draft Broadcast Law mandates broadcast agencies, both public and private, to air without charge Government’s public service announcements (PSAs) during a certain timeframe; but broadcast agencies which have issues with any PSA have recourse to the regulator, the Guyana National broadcasting Authority (GNBA).

It should be noted that the board of the GNBA is appointed by the President, but, by statute, one member of the board must be nominated by the political opposition. GNBA Chairman Leslie Sobers has dispelled any suggestion that, in arbitrating between private entities and the Government, the GNBA board may issue biased judgements.

Parliamentary Committee ordered SOCU charges Nandlall out of bond during GPHC tour Seaman killed execution style

O

n April 28, it was reported that Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, was arraigned before Georgetown Magistrate Fabayo Azore on a charge instituted by members of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) which detailed that, between May 15 and May 29, 2015, while being a bailee (custodian), he had fraudulently converted to his own use and benefit 14 Commonwealth Law Reports, valued at $2.3 million — which he allegedly unlawfully retained after demitting office in 2015.

Represented by a battery of attorneys that included former Education Minister Priya Manickchand, as well as Glenn Hanoman, Sase Gunraj, Euclin Gomes and Sanjeev Datadin, Nandlall’s entry into the courtroom was preceded by his eminent legal representation, and he was initially informed by the magistrate that the case file was not with her clerk. This caused some commotion as the lawyers tried to determine whether SOCU officers were attempting to manipulate the system to further detain Nandlall.

State Prosecutor Patrice Henry informed the court that more statements had to be taken in relation to the matter.

As such, Nandlall was released on self-bail.

16-yr-old student stabbed to death at Covent Garden school fair

O

n May 1, it was reported that 16-yearold Brian Charles Yearwood of Lot 69 Grove Public Road, EBD was fatally stabbed in the region of his chest, allegedly by a 17-yearold resident of Kaneville, EBD at some time around 20:00h on April 29.

The incident occurred in the compound of the Covent Garden Nursery School on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD), where the late Covent Brian Charles Yearwood Garden Secondary School student had gone to attend a concert held by his school.

On May 8, 17-year-old Andy Peters and Shannon Cox, 21, were arraigned for Yearwood’s murder and remanded to prison.

A

Dr Zulfikar Bux addressing members of the parliamentary Sectoral Committee on social services during its tour of the GPHC

I

t was commotion and high drama when the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Social Services, Dr Vindhya Persaud defied efforts by management of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to restrict her delegation from accessing the drug bond during an organised tour of the facility on May 3, 2017.

At the beginning of the announced tour, Committee members were informed that the tour will be confined to four departments – Accident and Emergency, Surgical Outpatient, Cardiac ICU and the Paediatric Unit. But as the visit winded down, Dr Persaud felt it was necessary to visit the bond in light of its importance to the operations of the Hospital.

Alves insisted that the bond was not included in the tour as no preparations were made by the staff to facilitate the visit. Nonetheless, Dr Persaud led other Committee Members including Alister Charlie, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo, as well as media personnel into the bond despite the resistance. As Dr Persaud engaged with the staff, GPHC’s then Chief Executive Officer, Allan Johnson, made an entrance and ordered her and everyone else out of the bond.

Rose Hall, Enmore Sugar Estates to close by year-end; Skeldon Estate to be sold

I

t was reported on May 9 that Government announced plans to close two sugar estates, reduce the annual production of sugar, and take on the responsibility of managing the drainage and irrigation services offered by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) as part of a new policy for the sugar industry.

father of two was on May 17 found with a single gunshot wound to his head in a clump of bushes at Marigold Street, Roxanne Burnham Gardens, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown. Dead is 27-year-old Roy Rowland, a seaman of Lot 25 Castello Housing Scheme, Georgetown.

Based on reports received, the man’s body was discovered about 06:30h by a resident who went to take out his cattle. He immediately raised an alarm and the Police were summoned.

During investigations, a 9mm spent shell was found at the scene.

The Police were working on the theory that the man might have been killed somewhere else and his body dumped in the area, since residents did not hear the sound of a firearm being discharged.

Let’s celebrate our diversity – President’s Independence Day message

I

n his address to the nation on the country’s 51st Independence anniversary, President David Granger said this occasion should inspire Guyanese to continue to work towards preserving the ‘free state,’ establishing a ‘green state’, and creating a ‘cohesive state’; while at the same time celebrating the country’s diversity and bridging its differences.

The Guyanese Head of State also said that Independence Day celebrates the unique combination of the people who came – Africans, Chinese, Indians and Portuguese – and with the Amerindians who lived here from time immemorial, contributed to the creation of a multi-racial and multi-religious state.

President Granger noted that the ‘free state’ which was established on May 26th 1966 recognised the country’s commitment to social cohesion, through which its people learned to accept and respect each other’s values and beliefs, and to share the common space they call homeland.

PPP boycotts Independence celebrations

…blames Govt duplicity, lack of transparency

Sources indicate the Opposition boycotted the event due to the controversies swirling around the Government

A

s Independence celebrations got underway at D’Urban Park on the evening of May 25, it was evident the parliamentary Opposition had boycotted the event. But from reports reaching Guyana Times, the boycott was for good

10

december 31, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

reason.

According to a source close to the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), the decision to boycott the celebration was not taken lightly; but rather one reason for the decision to boycott was the controversy and lack of transparency surrounding the money used on the location.

The source revealed that the Party was also concerned that despite the national nature of the event, the parliamentary Opposition was at no point included in the planning of the celebrations.

Oil expert bashes Govt over transparency

C

ontrol Risks Senior Analyst Raul Gallegos came out swinging on May 25 at the Government of Guyana over the issue of transparency with respect to the emerging oil and gas sector.

Speaking at the XXVI La Jolla Energy Conference during a plenary session on “Latin America’s Upstream Prospects and Outlook,” Gallegos bash the Government saying that Guyana’s Administration was “not transparent about essentially public sharing contract that it has with ExxonMobil”.

Gallegos, a former journalist and an expert on Venezuela, told the gathering of investors, thought leaders and Government officials that the problem with Guyana was the issue of transparency. The Government of Guyana, he said, “still cannot figure it out”, making reference to the contract and plans for the revenue streaming in from oil.

GRA agent, ace biker among 4 remanded for $550m cocaine bust

Sherwayne De Abreu

N

Stephen Vieira

Nazim Gafoor

Tazim Gafoor

azim Gafoor, 20, along with his father Tazim Gafoor, 45, both of Menzees Street, Windor Forest, West Coast Demerara; biker, Stephen Vieira, 33, of Lot 37 Middle and Cummings Street, Georgetown; and GRA’s Drug Enforcement Agent, Sherwayne De Abreu of Lot 262 Street 8 section “A” Lilliendaal, Greater Georgetown appeared at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court on May 1 and were remanded for the charge of possession of narcotics.

The Custom Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) said that between March 1 and May 12, 2017 at Naraine Lall’s sawmill located at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), the men collaborated with Hakeem Mohammed to traffic 84.9kg of cocaine.

Jagdeo, President agrees for 3rd list

O

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo will once again submit six nominees for the post of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to President David Granger in due course, a joint statement from the Opposition and Government said.

The joint statement said the parties agreed that it would be in the best interest of the people of Guyana that the choice of a Chairperson of the GECOM is made without undue delay. However, both parties further agreed recommended was a judge, retired judge or eligible to be appointed a judge. Granger’s rejection of the list was in keeping with ‘his interpretation’ of Guyana’s Constitution.

Roopnarine ousted, Henry to act as education minister

G

overnment has announced a major shake-up in the Ministry of Education, with former Minister of Education, Dr Rupert Roopnarine, being demoted to head a department in the Ministry of the Presidency.

Former Minister of Education, Former Minister within Dr Rupert Roopnarine the Ministry, Nicolette Henry, will replace him, taking over the substantive portfolio of Education Minister (ag). Henry had previously held responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sports. Roopnarine will now work within the Ministry of the Presidency, with responsibility for Public Service.

CANU head James Singh fired

T

he Government has fired longstanding head of the Customs Anti Narcotic Unit (CANU), James Singh. The decision took effect from the completion of his accumulated leave.

The former CANU head had proceeded on 42 days leave in March, with Government appointing retired Major General Michael Atherly to act in his absence.

On a good run, the group, who are part of Guyana’s services sector, transport containers of fuel, ration and other important items from Georgetown to various interior locations for various clients. Now, however, lack of work and deplorable roads have caused many to reconsider their multi-million dollar investments in their heavy duty vehicles and to downsize their operations.

“No more funds” for sugar industry – EU

EU Ambassador Jernej Videtič (sitting) with other representatives from the local Mission, including Head of Cooperation Christof Stock (first from left) at Thursday’s news conference

A

fter finally releasing the last instalment of its sugar grant last year, the European Union (EU) has now closed the programme, which saw Guyana benefiting from some $348.5 billion budgetary support to aid in sugar sector reform.

EU Ambassador to Guyana, Jernej Videtič, noted that while the last grant was issued in 2013, it was not released to Guyana until last year after the country failed to meet the necessary indicators/criteria required.

IMF warns against exorbitant spending before 2020 oil

G

uyana’s economy has been on an economic decline over the past five years with a less than one per cent growth over last year’s 3.3 per cent, oil is being seen as the boon but will require a transparent, rules-based system in managing the expected oil wealth.

These are among the crucial findings of the Internal Monetary Fund (IMF), following its latest rounds of consultations on Guyana. That consultation was concluded in May last with the International Financial Institution (IFI) releasing its findings this past week.

The IMF has since warned the country against any excessive borrowing or an exorbitant increase in public spending ahead of the signaled start of commercial production in 2020 by ExxonMobil and its partners offshore Guyana in the Stabroek bloc

Jagdeo demands full NGSA results he month of July kicked disclosure on oil contract Govt dismissed Amerindians off on a high note af-

E

xpectations are being built up around the advancement of the oil and gas industry in Guyana, while traditional sectors are being neglected, according to Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo. Jagdeo charged that even with the definite assurance of two per cent in royalties being paid to Guyana, only some Gy$8B may come Guyana’s way per annum (assuming that oil prices stand at US$50 per barrel and the production is 100,000 barrels per day).

Additionally, he called on Government to make public the contract document with ExxonMobil, given several public statements by Trotman. The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government back in 1999 signed the inception agreement with ExxonMobil.

President rejects 2nd list of Gecom nominees

H

ead of State, President David Granger, has rejected a second list of nominees for the position of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), which was submitted by Leader of the political opposition, People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo. The announcement by Granger was made mere hours after Jagdeo vowed to put up a fight should his list be rejected a second time.

They are Retired Justice of Appeal B.S Roy, Retired Justice William Ramlall; Attorney-at-law and a former Magistrate, Ms Oneidge Walrond-Allicock; Attorney-at-Law, Kashir Khan; Attorney-at-law, Nadia Sagar and businessman, Gerald Gouveia.

James Singh

land concerns as “greed”

T

he Amerindians are greedy because they have requested security in the lands they have held since time immemorial; and even more worrying sovereignty now belongs to the State, governed by the collation A Partnership for National Unity, Alliance for Change Government (APNU/ AFC). This was the view of Minister Keith Scott.

One dead, 1 injured during NA prison brawl

O

ne man is now dead and his brother injured following a brawl inside the New Amsterdam penitentiary. Prison officials confirmed that 27-year-old Neeshan Jagmohan of Lot 28 Belvedere Squatting Area, Corentyne was killed after he and his brother, Ramnarine Jagmohan were attacked by three inmates.

Neeshan Jagmohan was stabbed multiple times to his abdomen and was rushed to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Truckers protest interior economic woes, deplorable roads

T

ter Education Minister Nicolette Henry announced the names of the top performers at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment. On July 1, the Guyana Times reported that of the 29 students gaining a space in the top ten ranking throughout the country, 8 of the pupils were from public schools, while the remaining 21 emanated from private educational institutions. Leading the group was School of the Nations’ Saskia Twahir who scored 529 marks, earning her spot at Queen’s College and as the country’s top performer for 2017.

At the same time, with new measures implemented by the Ministry, the country marked improved performances in the core subjects. Mathematics recorded a whopping 32 per cent increase when compared to last year while English Language saw a 12.48 per cent hike up in pass rates for 2017.

Region 9 flood

GGDMA decries Govt’s burdensome taxes

T

he top brass of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) decried the range of burdensome taxes implemented by the Coalition Government.

Among the challenges identified were the spike in taxes across the board implemented by the Government, in particular, the Tributors tax, Value Added Tax (VAT) on heavy-duty mining equipment, the two per cent Withholding tax, breach of promises in respect of the grant of duty-free concessions on mining equipment, vehicles and fuel and the atrocious state of the roads in the mining areas and other related issues.

R

eports of an economic downturn were personified by a group of truck operators, who travelled from the interior to Georgetown to complain about the economic woes gripping Guyana’s interior and the poor state of infrastructure.

W

ith the country still recovering from massive flooding in Region 8 just weeks prior, several parts of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) went under water following heavy rainfall, which resulted in at least two families being evacuated by July 3.

This was as rivers overtopped their banks resulting in emergency shelters being established throughout the region.

Hotlines were also set up, and drivers and vehicles were on

11

december 31, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

standby to evacuate affected persons to the shelters.

By July 4, over 30 homes have been evacuated and more residents were moved to higher ground. In the end an excess of 2000 persons were affected.

their operations. However, on July 31, the Guyana Times reported that 4 of the high profiled criminals were still at large. These included Bartica massacre’s Royden Durant, aka Smallie; Uree Varswyck, aka “Malcolm Gordon”; Corbena Stephens as well as Lusignan escapee Paul Goriah.

Republic Bank robbery Bisram nabbed, probes intensified

M

C

haos erupted in downtown Georgetown on the morning of Tuesday July 4 when armed bandits invaded the Water Street branch of Republic Bank Limited in a failed attempt to cart off cash.

The supposed three-man attack ended with one of the bandits, 24-year-old Elton Wray being killed, while his two accomplices, Keron Saunders of Mocha Arcadia, EBD, and 24-yearold Jamal Haynes of Norton Street, Georgetown, who is an employee attached to the Bank, both injured during a shootout with the Police.

The duo, along with others who were subsequently named for their involved in the crime, appeared in court on July 14 at which time Haynes was slapped with a 4 years sentence for the possession of fire arms and ammunition, as well as an additional 4 years imprisonment for his involvement in the foil robbery along with a total of $190,000 in fines.

Also charged were Keron Saunders; Gladston George, the Police Constable who allegedly supplied the gun and transported the hostage; Anfami Blackman; and another Republic Bank employee, Shawn Raymond, all of whom plead not guilty to the same charge and were remanded to prison awaiting trial.

Camp Street Prison riot

onths after Interpol had issued a red notice for the arrest of Marcus Brian Bisram, who is alleged mastermind behind the November, 2016 murder of 26-year-old carpenter Faiyaz Narinedatt in Corentyne, the suspect was on Tuesday July 4 nabbed in Queens, New York.

This arrest was backed with called for him to be extradited.

Weeks later, on July 21, the key witness to testify against Marcus Brian Bisram Bisram in the murder trial was poisoned, reportedly by a relative of the accused. The teenaged then turned up at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court on the 27, but was rushed out due to medical complications stemming from the poisoning.

The day ended with high drama after Attorney-at-Law Chandra Sohan was taken into custody after State Prosecutor Stacy Goodings accused him of obstructing the course of justice.

President’s assassination plot CoI

Retired Justice, Ian Chang, questions Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum, as hearings continue at the COI into the alleged plot to assassinate President David Granger

A

J

ust 9 days into the Month of July, the country was swept national state of emergency after inmates set fire to the Camp Street Prison in what was the largest prison riot to be recorded in Guyana’s history. During the pandemonium, that almost entirely gutted the facility, 8 high profiled criminals managed to escape, leaving behind prison officer Odinga Wickham who was injured during a shootout and later succumbed to his injuries.

With the Georgetown Prison being flattened by the blaze, the remaining detainees were transferred to the Lusignan Penitentiary where further unrests continued. Amidst the dayslong chaos, an additional 13 detainees managed to dig their way out of the East Coast Demerara holding compound on July 25, forcing the Prison Services authority to relocation over 400 of inmates to the Mazaruni and Timehri Prisons while releasing an addition 300 said to be detained for non-violent offenses.

Even with those efforts to quell the unrest and assure citizens of some amount of safety, July 30 saw yet another attempted to escapee detention, with the fail efforts leaving 16 inmates being shot in another riot at the Lusignan penitentiary.

Escapees recaptured

I

n a mere two days following the Camp Street Prison riot, which saw the escape of 8 high profiled criminals, the Police managed to recapture double murder convict, Shamedeen Mohamed who was found draped in women’s apparel at his Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, residence. He was joined by murder accused Cornelius Thomas who was on July 17 nabbed while hiding out in “C” Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown. At that time, escapee Desmond James had already been Shamedeen Mohamed recaptured, leaving 5 still on the run.

Meanwhile, search for the escapees intensified allowed the break out at the Lusignan penitentiary which saw 7 of the criminals being detains almost immediately after their escape. As a result of the manhunt, a mentally ill man Charles Peters was shot dead after being mistaken as one of the escapees on July 26.

By the end of the month, the Joint Forces managed to narrow in on a majority of the escapees, some of whom were killed during

5-man Commission of Inquiry (CoI) was on July 11 sworn in before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, to dig deeper into the alleged assassination plot against President David Granger while assessing the probes carried out by the Guyana Police Force.

With hearings underway, on July 25 the Guyana Times reported Top Cop Seelall Persaud ordered the release of businessman Nizam Khan – the accused plotter; his brother, Imran Khan, and the complainant – Andrif Gillard less than 24 hours after they were detained. Days later on the 28, Acting Police Commissioner Mr David Ramnarine opined that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) did not properly investigate Gillard’s allegations that Khan had offered him $7M to kill President Granger.

With Persaud and Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum being thrown under the bus for what was deem as ineffective investigations of treason, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo came out condemning the CoI as destroying Police’s morale through constant badgering and that it is the government’s tool to distract the public from more pressing matters.

Cabinet reshuffle

T

he month of July saw a number of changes occurring within the APNU/AFC administration with the first being, the Social Protection Minister and Government’s Chief Whip Amna Ally, being appointed General Secretary of the Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR) on July 1 following the announced retirement of Oscar Clarke.

Meanwhile, weks after he was demoted from Education Minister and placed to work within the Ministry of the Presidency, Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Executive Member, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine resigned from both Parliament and Government on July 19. However, following a meeting between with President Granger, Dr Roopnaraine rescinded his resignation just one day later and maintained his newly appointed post as the Minister of Public Service.

Parliament and Government

os for two Ministers: Dawn Hastings was transferred from within the Ministry of Communities to serve as Minister of Public Affairs within the Ministry of the Presidency. Additionally, on August 28, Social Cohesion Minister Dr. George Norton was given the Culture, Youth and Sport portfolio that was under the Education Ministry when headed by former subject Minister, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine.

In another matter that saw ongoing changes; after he submitted two lists to President Granger to consider for Gecom Chair that were rejected, Opposition Leader on August 25, submitted a third list of nominees which was later on rejected by the Head of State.

Assassination plot CoI and halting promotions

A

s businessman Nizam Khan continued to deny that he coined a plot to assassinate the President in 2016, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud, who was on leave, testified to the Commission of Inquiry into the allegations that he did not order the release of Khan.

The August 1 edition reported Seelall saying that in fact, he merely gave the detective his Police Commissioner suggestion following a briefing Seelall Persaud that was unrequested.

“I was making a suggestion; I was giving an opinion. It wasn’t my intention to ensure he [Nizam Khan] go on bail. I had a concern with how the policy of the Force was being implemented,” the Commissioner told the CoI. Later on, the sanity of informant Andriff Gillard came under question due to his animated responses given under cross-examination by Seelall’s lawyer, Glen Hanoman. Days after Gillard’s testimony before the commission, a leak in press revealed that several of the senior police officers who were ordered to appear before the CoI, were on a promotions list for 2017. These included Mitchell Caesar, Wendell Blanhum, and Clifton Hicken.

It was reported on August 9 that a letter was dispatched wherein the President ordered the Police Service Commission (PSC) to halt the promotions until further directed by the Head of State. While the Opposition categorised the move as a “vulgar and authoritarian attempt” to subvert the independence and functional autonomy of a constitutional agency, the President maintained that halting the promotions was necessary to allow for a thorough investigation to be carried out into a number of complaints against police.

Crime

T

wenty-seven-year-old Dwayne Tappin, a former Guyana Defence Force rank, chopped off his uncle’s head on August 6 at Better Hope, ECD, in a bitter family dispute over property. Meanwhile, it was days after being captured by police that 25-year-old Ryan Singh who allegedly slit the throat of his 16-year-old live-in girlfriend Parbattie Lakhpal in Berbice, was charged and then remanded to prison On August 15.

An Essequibo mother was released on $150,000 bail for arranging sex for her underage daughter. In another Essequibo case, at Dredge Creek, Upper Pomeroon River in Region Two, Alfro Adams, called ”Fro”, a labourer of Himacobra, Moruca in the North West District was allegedly murdered by his wife, Wavney John. She accused him of being abusive over a number of years. Meanwhile, 51 year old grandmother Naomi Persaud was jailed for four years and fined $21 M after taking the wrap for the 20lbs of cocaine that was found in a gas cylinder in her home.

Several persons lost their lives and others were injured at the hands of speeding policemen, some of whom were found to be driving under the influence of alcohol during the year. For August, 58-year-old Pulmattie Ramotar, of Success, East Coast Demerara (ECD), succumbed two days after she was struck down on the Success Public Road by a police rank. Additionally, Eno David, 22, of Matthew’s Ridge, North West District, was struck down at the Soesdyke Public Road (EBD), East Bank Demerara, by a police rank, who was transporting an injured colleague, who himself was involved in a separate car accident in the early morning hours.

Uncle kills 18 month old niece for earrings

E

A

fter an intense debate in the National Assembly, Government on August 4 passed the Broadcast Bill, a move which the Opposition described as counter revolutionary and anti-progressive due to all broadcasters being mandated to air public service programmes for a up to one hour daily, free of cost between 6:00hrs and 22:00hrs. The passage came in spite of calls by The International Press Institute, the Guyana Press Association (GPA), and other interest groups for amendments to be made.

During the month, Government announced changes in portfoli-

ighteen-month-old Ronasha Pilgrim lost her life tragically in the wee hours of Friday when her uncle, 18-year-old Sherwin Pilgrim, in attempting to steal her earrings, allegedly threw her out of a window of the Lot 98 North Sophia, Greater Georgetown home where she lived, and buried her in a shallow grave in the yard.

Sherwin Pilgrim appeared before the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan when he was slapped with the indictable charge of murder and is currently on remand.

12

december 31, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Prison escapee Uree Varsywk killed by Police

P

rison escapee Uree Varswyck, also known as Malcolm Gordon, was killed in a shootout with law enforcement officers on a Joint Services intelligence-led operation at Central Amelia’s Ward, Linden.

chaos. This was as threats exchanged between the duo became violent, leaving one now nursing severe stab wounds at the Georgetown Public Hospital, while the other is said to be on the run from members of a vicious gang who left behind a trail of houses which were burnt to the ground.

Cash strapped GuySoCu gets $2B lifeline

A

cash-strapped Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) was by the end of Thursday expected to conclude the sale of large portions of lands in order to meet with its immediate $2 billion requirements to, in part, meet payment of wages and salaries.

The sale is being executed between the Corporation and the Government’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).

Doctors, nurses strike at Diamond Hospital Six year old dies during fter months of complaints over poor working condi-

A

tions and no positive response from health officials in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), doctors and nurses attached to the East Bank Demerara Regional Hospital, commonly known as the Diamond Diagnostic Centre or Diamond Hospital, staged strike action. During the strike, the workers demanded that their concerns be addressed.

Several elderly patients were among those turned away from the Diamond Hospital as a result the ‘sit-in’ which was observed by both medical and custodial staff.

21 year old motorcyclist killed in early morning accident

A

n accident that occurred on the Meten-Meer-Zorg public road, West Coast Demerara (WCD) at about 2:55hrs has left 21-year-old Kevin Singh of Hague Backdam, WCD dead, and his girlfriend Verna Wells warded at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) in an unconscious and critical state.

Teacher douses husband, sets house on fire

B

ursene Walters, a primary school teacher, of Cummings Park, Sophia, Georgetown allegedly doused her husband, Richard Walters with kerosene and subsequently threw a lit match at the sleeping man while their teenaged son was asleep in an adjoining room.

Doctors deliver twins from mother’s separate uteruses

D

octors at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) are receiving praise for having pulled off a rare and intricate feat following the successful delivery of two healthy babies from a mother who carried the twins in separate uteruses. What made the 20-year-old mother’s story particularly special was that her type of pregnancy was so rare that statistics suggested its odds at one in a million.

The delivery and discovery was made via Cesarean Section (C-Section) on August 25 and her twins – a boy and a girl, were born with normal weight.

Businessman perished in Main Street fire

playfield accident

A

Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD), school boy was tragically killed on Wednesday after a metal goal post fell on him at the community centre, where they were practicing for the upcoming school athletics.

Dead is six-year-old Glensean Skeete, a pupil of St Paul’s Primary School and of Lot 10 Graham Street Plaisance. The incident occurred just be midday at the Industry/Plaisance Community Centre Ground.

Y

Gangs goes on rampage, create havoc in Sophia

T

he community of ‘B’ Field Sophia, Georgetown was swept in an uproar as an early morning altercation involving two known rivals quickly erupted into total

W

anted man Royden Williams also known as Royden Durant called “Smallie” and was recaptured on Monday at Weldaad, Berbice during an intelligence led operation.

Reports are the prison escapee was corned at a Police road block at Weldaad Police Station. Guyana Times understands that the wanted man, who was convicted for the Bartica massacre, was being followed by uncover cops.

This newspaper was told that Williams cut off dread locks in a bid to hide his identity. Following his arrest Williams was searched but no weapon was found in his possession.

Williams was in the company of fellow prison escapee Uree Varswyck, also known as Malcolm Gordon last month when Police confronted them at Central Amelia’s Ward, Linden.

Marcus Bisram to be extradited to Guyana – US Court orders

A

New York Judge has ruled that murder accused Marcus Bisram be extradited to Guyana. The decision, which was handed down on Thursday by Judge Peggy Kuo, marks the turning of a page in Bisram’s dogged efforts to stay clear of Guyana’s legal system.

It is understood that according to the particulars of the order, that the judge backed the extradition on the basis of the applicability of Guyana’s treaty with the United States.

She also found that the Government of Guyana substantiated its request for Bisram with adequate documents.

Pending his extradition, Bisram, has been incarcerated in a New York holding facility until the resolution of technical facets with the process. Efforts to make contact with Bisram’s local Attorney-at-Law, Sanjeev Datadin, were futile.

Wanted bandit gunned down in Albouystown Mother, sons among 5 killed

A

24-year-old man, who was wanted by Police in connection with a number of robberies was in the wee hours of Saturday morning gunned down in Albert Street, Albouystown, Georgetown.

Dead is Colin Daley, also called “Froggy,” and “Frog Eye,” of Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown. Daly was found in a pool of blood with a single gunshot wound to his head.

in horrific Corentyne accident

Marriott/Casino deal to be shrouded in secrecy

I

t was only a few weeks ago that Government, in a tender seeking expression of interests from contractors for the new Demerara River Bridge; attached a number of restrictions that saw bidders waiving a number of their rights-all to maintain confidentiality.

That trend is continuing, with bidders expressing an interest to Atlantic Hotels Incorporated (AHI), in partnering to Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) a casino at the Marriott Hotel also being saddled with red tape and restrictions.

Bidders engaging in the project have to sign a non-disclosure agreement as has been noted with a number of other projects including the new Demerara River Crossing among others.

Elderly women allegedly strangled to death

T

wo elderly women were found dead in a building at the corner of Albert Street and South Road, Georgetown, who were believed to have been strangled during a suspected robbery.

The dead women have been identified as 87-year-old Constance Fraser, also known as “Mother Fraser,” and her niece, 75-year-old Phyllis Caesar.

Police sergeant hacked to death, suspect hangs self

usuf Sankar of Lot 51 Main Street, Georgetown, owner of Rizan’s Instant Photography and Gift Centre and Jarrod’s Graphic Document and Copy Centre, perished in that fire, which broke out on the three-storey wooden and concrete building at about 05:45h.

Prison escapee Royden Williams recaptured

A

murder-suicide at Union, typically referred to as ‘Number 30 Village’, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) has left residents in a state of shock.

Woman Police Sergeant Kenisha Sheriff-Fraser, 39, was found in a pool of blood at her lot 370 Union Village, West Coast Berbice home.

The alleged suspect has been identified as Clayton Anthony also called ‘Woody’, 42, a pork knocker who occupies the bottom flat of the said house. His body was found hanging from a tree at the Village Seashore.

A

n accident on the Number 59 Village Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice Road on Sunday has left a mother, her two sons, her secretary and a friend dead.

Dead are Sabita Manglani, 42, Emmanuel Maglani, 18, Ethan Ramjit, 5, Reshma Seeram and Dhanpaul Kishandayal called Navin.

The mid-afternoon accident also left lorry driver Budram Singh also called ‘Budo’ 30 of Number 49 Village injured.

Reports are that Kishandayal was driving motor car PPP 3394 heading in an eastern direction while lorry bearing registration plate number GZ 2763 was heading in the opposite direction. Reports are Kishandayal dropped in a pothole and lost control of the car and slammed into the lorry.

President unilaterally selects new GECOM chair

A

retired Guyana-born judge James Patterson, who served once as the Chief Justice in Grenada will now take up the role of chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) after he was unilaterally appointed to that post by President David Granger on Thursday evening at State House, Georgetown.

The announcement came a few hours after President Granger met with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo for a brief meeting. According to the Head of State, his decision to select a GECOM chairman was done in accordance with article 161 of the Constitution for the appointment of a GECOM Chairman.

13

december 31, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Three killed in WCD accident

$267B Budget presented Minister AFC-Canada Chapter pulls out of Party by Finance overnment on November 27 tabled in the National

NOVEMBER

M

A

teenaged couple along with their taxi driver was killed when the vehicle they were travelling in lost control and collided with a parked car late Sunday afternoon at New Road Public Road, Vreed-en-Hoop on the West Coast of Demerara.

Those dead have been identified as taxi driver Deodat Mohan, 22, of 44 New Road Vreed-en-Hoop; and passengers Reaz Barakat, 18, of Lot 12 Rumzeight Gardens, WCD and Tillesha Terika Singh, 17, of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara.

PPP files injunction to rescind GECOM chair appointment

T

he Opposition Peoples’ Progressive Party (PPP) on Monday filed an injunction in the High Court to rescind President David Granger’s unilateral appointment of retired justice James Patterson as Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on the grounds of unconstitutionality.

Former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall described the unilateral appointment not only as unconstitutional but illegal, null, void and of no effect.

He said the PPP is also seeking a declaration that he is not qualified to be appointed in provision with article 161-2 of the Constitution of Guyana.

Joe Singh resigns as Presidential Adviser

J

ust days after the controversial appointment of a Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman by the President, one of the main nominees for the post Major General (retired), Joe Singh, has resigned as a Presidential Advisor.

Singh, a former Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, had at the time been serving as a Special Adviser to President David Granger. But the retired Major General officially tendered his resignation to the Ministry of the Presidency.

Chris Ram also resigns from Govt post

A

ttorney-at-Law, eminent Chartered Accountant and vocal social activist Christopher Ram has resigned from his position on government’s negotiating team for the establishment of a Law School in Guyana.

The move by Ram comes a day after another distinguished Guyanese Major General (rtd) Joe Singh also resigned from all of his government posts.

Trinidadian faked kidnapping in Guyana – Police

L

ocal investigators probing the alleged kidnapping of a Trinidadian national have reasons to believe that the man staged the crime, demanding a ransom of US$700,000 from his family back home.

Acting Crime Chief, Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Williams, told the Guyana Times that after interviewing the 33-year-old Mechancial Engineer, Sawak Maraj, investigators became suspicious about the kidnapping allegation.

“So far in our investigations, it appear as if this whole act was staged as it relates to the kidnapping and demand of ransom from his parents,” Williams said.

He revealed that the Trinidadian national was found by police alone in a room at the Madewini Resort, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, on Friday evening. Maraj arrived in Guyana earlier that day and hours later his parents received a call from an unknown person demanding money for his release.

embers of the Alliance f o r C h a n g e Canadian Chapter pulled out from the party as the fallout over the unilateral appointment of Guyana Elections Commission’s Chairman deepened.

In a letter to the AFC, Secretary of AFC-Canada, Laurence Williams, expressed grave concerns about James’

appointment.

Williams said his party’s group in Canada agreed that the AFC should publicly call for the appointment to be rescinded and for one of the 18 persons nominated to be appointed.

He also stated in that missive that AFC-Canada will no longer be associated with the AFC.

G

Assembly a budget to the tune of $267.1 billion, introducing several measures to support its green agenda and improve various key economic sectors.

In presenting the Budget themed “The Journey to the Good Life Continues”, Finance Minister Winston Jordan also disclosed that the economy was expected to grow by 2.9 per cent, failing to meet the revised growth projection of 3.1 per cent for 2017.

He reminded that the initial projected growth of the economy was 3.8 per cent, but this was revised by midyear to 3.1 per cent after the economy only grew by 2.2 per cent in July of this year.

According to the Minister, this was mainly on account of poor performance in several key sectors, including mining, sugar, forestry and fishery. However, he said the economy was performing fairly well when compared to sister Caribbean countries that continue to see significant economic decline.

President’s address to Parliament Budget disastrous, a failure – Jagdeo overshadowed by protests …says it lived up to “low expectations” of public

P

arliament got underway on Thursday with President David Granger addressing the house. But after passing through a large crowd of placard-bearing protestors outside Public Buildings, there was no respite inside the Parliament chambers as Granger was also faced with protests from parliamentarians seated on the Opposition benches.

Doggedly reading from a prepared speech even as the Opposition Members of Parliament heckled and waved placards, Granger reeled off the measures his government has been implementing. At the same time, however, cries from the Opposition regarding Government’s job creation policy and GECOM went ignored.

Patterson adamant he was acting CJ of Grenada

H

e has been appointed to one of the most crucial constitutional posts in Guyana; but when asked exactly when he served as a Chief Justice (CJ) of Grenada, new Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman James Patterson cannot remember when.

Patterson’s service as a Chief Justice of Grenada was listed on his Curriculum Vitae (CV) for the GECOM position.

It has been hotly debated after background checks initially turned up no records he was ever the CJ. “I’ve been appointed acting Chief Justice. They had me acting for a number of years. I don’t remember (when). People refer to me, to this day, as Chief Justice….,” Patterson stated.

Govt racks up $175M in expenses on CoIs

T

he numerous Commissions of Inquiries (CoIs) launched

by President David Granger have come at a hefty price of $175 million. Since 2015, Government has spent the sum on CoIs, including costs associated with paying members and Chairmen.

This was revealed as a result of questions brought to the National Assembly by the political Opposition. In his written responses to Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira, Minister of State Joseph Harmon provided the costs for 11 CoIs. In the case of the 2015 CoI into the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), it was disclosed that $51.8 million was expended.

This included a payment of $1.9 million to the Chairman and $2.4 million to all members except Professor Clive Thomas.

Teacher succumbs days after brutal beating

T

he 22-year-old woman who was the reported victim of a brutal beating over the weekend and was said to be in an “unresponsive” state at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) has now succumbed to her injuries.

Dead is Kescia Branche, a mother of one and a teacher attached to the Richard Ishmael Secondary School. Branche resided in Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown.

The teacher was found in a battered and unconscious state at the corners of Louisa Row and Princess Street, Georgetown.

M

oments after Finance Minister Winston Jordan delivered a near four-hour Budget 2018 presentation, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo shredded the coalition Government’s fiscal plan for the next year, saying that it was without a doubt one of the most “disastrous” budgets ever presented to the nation.

Speaking to reporters from the Committee Room at the Parliament Building on the evening of December 27, the former President noted that the Budget, failed on every standard, especially as it related to addressing key matters of concern to the public.

“He has failed on every one of those parameters. Issues surrounding jobs, welfare, framework for growth and development, clarity of the Government’s vision in different areas, big-picture issues on where the country is going – we had hoped that all of these would be part of the budget presentation… they have lived up to the low expectations people had of the Government,” the Opposition Leader stated.

1500 Enmore sugar workers booted …as widespread firing continues in sugar belt

H

undreds of workers attached to the East Demerara Estate (EDE) located in Enmore, East Coast Demerara, have been issued termination letters by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), as the plans announced by Government earlier this year to close the sugar estate starts to take effect.

A senior official of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) confirmed this with Guyana Times on December 6, stating that workers are devastated by the move, as they are now contemplating how they will spend the holidays and whether they will get new employment in 2018.

The official, who requested anonymity, explained that the first batch of workers who are mostly engaged in other activities besides harvesting and factory duties were issued with their termination letters in September and given one month’s notice. These workers have since been paid.

Taxi driver charged for killing Kescia Branche

L

ess than a week after returning from the United States, the taxi driver who was implicated in the brutal murder of a Richard Ishmael school teacher was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on December 6.

Matthew Munroe, of Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD), appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to the capital offence in shackles. With a grave look on his face, the 47-year-old father of six stood before Chief Magistrate McLennan as the indictable charge was read to him. The charge stated that on November 7, 2017 in Georgetown, Munroe murdered Kescia Branche.

The unconscious Richard Ishmael Secondary School teacher was found in the vicinity of Princes Street and Louisa Row, Georgetown on November 6 sometime around 05:00h.

Govt lied about Exxon’s bonus

….evidence shows bank account was set up in 2016 to facilitate deposit

A

lthough Finance Minister Winston Jordan had claimed that there was no advance payment made to the Government by United States oil giant ExxonMobil, a confidential document seen by Guyana Times now proves that not only did the Administration received the signing bonus but also opened a separate account at the Central Bank to facilitate a deposit.

14

december 31, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

A missive dated September 20, 2016 and addressed to the Governor of the Bank of Guyana has this subject: “Signing bonus granted by ExxonMobil – Request to open bank account”.

It shows that Finance Secretary at the Finance Ministry, Hector Butts, has requested that a foreign currency account be opened at the Bank 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.”

Entire Govt should resign over oil bonus – Jagdeo

I

n light of revelations that Government indeed received millions of US dollars in a signing bonus from US oil giant, ExxonMobil, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has called for the resignation of the entire Government after they deceived Guyanese.

During his Budget 2018 presentation, Jagdeo noted the fact that a special account was set up breaches the financial laws of the country, while adding that the monies ought to have been deposited into the account of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) or the Consolidated Fund.

“What we have here is a major scandal. The Government of Guyana took money, large sums of money, in form of a signing bonus and did not tell the people (and) write to put it into a special account, not paid into the Consolidated Fund or into the GGMC. What if a few years had passed? Then someone can easily, because it is not recorded, can easily drawdown monies from this fund. It is illegal! The entire Government should resign now,” Jagdeo noted.

US$18M oil bonus

Guyana’s Constitution violated – Ram …calls for Police probe, criminal charges for Govt ministers

F

ollowing what some are calling the unravelling of a web of deception regarding the Government’s secrecy in collecting millions from oil giant ExxonMobil, calls have risen for an inquiry to be held into all deals negotiated by the Natural Resources Ministry, and for criminal charges to be instituted against ministers at the centre of the controversy.

The latest individual to make this call is Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram, the man who first revealed to the nation that Government had collected a US$20-milliondollar signing bonus from the oil company.

Ram lashed out at the Government, saying that, in an ironic twist, “the dam of eighteen months of denial and obfuscation concerning the payment of a signing bonus by ExxonMobil to the Government broke apart one day before the UN declared International Anti-Corruption Day”.

5 killed in separate accidents

W

e reported that December 10 was a deadly Sunday on Guyana’s roadways after 5 persons were killed in separate accidents.

The first case saw the death of 43-year-old Damon Baron, a minibus driver of Rosignol Village, West Bank Berbice, who died on Sunday morning after he was struck down by a speeding off duty police officer on the Rosignol Public Road sometime around 18:50h the night before.

Then at about 01:20h on Sunday, a motor car, driven by its police owner who was stationed at Fort Wellington Police Station, collided with a motor cycle on Main Street, New Amsterdam, killing the 29-year-old motor cyclist, Gavin Crandon, of Angoy’s Avenue.

Meanwhile, a 22-year-old Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Lance Corporal, Marvin Dodson, of Cross Street, Alexander Village, Georgetown, was killed after he was struck down by an intoxicated minibus driver in the wee hours of Sunday, while in front of a popular nightclub at Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

Meanwhile, Stephen Phillips, also called ‘Peter Mal,’ of Buxton, East Coast Demerara and Abena Hubbard of Melanie, ECD died when the car lost control and slammed into a tree along the main access road at Perseverance, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara that night.

Parliament fiasco

T

he second week in December was an eventful one in the National Assembly as the House commenced the consideration of the Estimates of the 2018 Budget. It actually begun the Friday before (December 8) when a female, believed to be a personal assistant of a government minister, dressed as Santa Clause barged into the Chambers while Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo was delivering his debate presentation on next year’s budget.

Chaos then erupted in the House the following Monday (December 11) after police barged into the house to remove Opposition Parliamentarian Juan Edghill, who had refused to leave the Chambers upon the order of Speaker Dr Barton Scotland. During a scuffle between the lawmen and Opposition parliamentarians, who were in solidarity with Edghill, several of the female MPs claimed that they were assaulted.

Then Tuesday morning when Edghill turned up at the Parliament Buildings, he was arrested but later released on his own recognisance by Police at the Brickdam Police Station.

He was also suspended that from all sessions of the National Assembly for that week.

On Wednesday, two undercover, armed plain clothes cops caused much uneasiness after they found themselves sitting amongst journalists at the media desk in the Parliament Chambers. Acting Commissioner David Ramnarine had subsequently stated that the ranks were “not properly nor thoroughly briefed and also did not follow the specific instructions given” and their seniors were since reprimanded.

The drama continued on Thursday when an attendee in the Chamber begun singing immediately after the House Speaker announced the lunch break. The woman, who gave her name as Natalie McLennan, was seated in the Parliamentary Chambers behind the Government Ministers and was immediately escorted out of the Chambers by security but continued to singing while being escorted out.

$267.1B Budget passed

…as PPP motion to include oil bonus denied

T

he National Assembly late afternoon on December 15 approved the $267.1 billion budget despite concerns from the Opposition Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) about the exclusion of the US$18 million signing bonus from the estimates.

Budget 2018 was presented to the National Assembly on November 27 with the theme “The Journey to the Good Life Continues.” Finance Minister Winston Jordan, in his budget presentation, said the $267.1 billion budget seeks to introduce several measures to support Government’s green agenda and improve various key economic sectors.

Prior to its passage, the PPP/C had submitted a motion to have the final consideration by the Committee of Supply suspended to deal with the motion calling for the Finance Minister to amend the Estimates to reflect the signing bonus, but House Speaker Dr Barton Scotland disallowed the motion. The Opposition Leader has since indicated that the Opposition would be moving to the Courts to have the 2018 Estimates amended to reflect the signing bonus.

Deadly Holiday

T

he Christmas holidays proved to be a deadly one in Guyana especially on the country’s roadways.

Christmas Eve broke with the death of a 38-year-old carpenter, Shahabb Scippeo, who was struck down by a mini bus driver at Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara, while attempting to cross the road.

A few hours later at Houston, Greater Georgetown, a GDF motorcyclist Owen Carrington, 22, Shahabb Scippeo of Issacs Street, Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara, allegedly lost control of motorcycle CJ 3815 and collided with an unknown vehicle before the motorcycle sped over the road partition, hitting into another car. The musician died instantly as a result of the impact.

Then later that afternoon, Linden Halley met his demise after losing control of the vehicle he was driving and slammed into a lantern post before crashing into a nearby guard hut.

Less than an hour later, another tragic incident at Windsor Forest Public Road, West Coast Demerara, resulted in the death of 47-year old Romona Persaud, of

391 Block X, Cornelia Ida, WCD whilst her children Nafeeza Hussain,22 and Joel Persaud,14 sustained minor injuries after another car collided with their vehicle causing it spin several times and colliding with a parked car before ending up in a trench.

Also on that day, a Corentyne cane harvester, Mohammed Safraz Haniff, was killed while crossing the Public Road at Nigg Village allegedly by a speeding car.

Christmas Eve also saw the murder of 47-yearold Anand Sukram called Radesh of Friendship Village, Corentyne, whose body was discovered on his bed in a pool of blood. One of two suspects from the village has since been arrested and confessed to killing the fisherman.

Meanwhile, 35-year-old Celwyn Allen of Sophia, Greater Georgetown, was stabbed to death and his girlfriend Nalydiah Henry injured also by a suspect in the village with whom he had an alternation earlier. The suspect was also arrested and confessed to the crime.

On Boxing Day, a young biker, Shaquille Browne, 22 of Sophia, Georgetown, lost his life after he crashed head-on into an oncoming motor car while overtaking several vehicles on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, in the vicinity of the Botanical Gardens.

Then about an hour later, a 43-year-old mechanic, Salim Deen called Tony of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, died tragically after he lost control of the speeding car he was driving and slammed into a lamp post in front of the National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara. He was flung out of the car and felt on the road, where his brain matter was spattered.

Exxon contract finally released

A

fter much public pressure, the contract renegotiated between ExxonMobil and the Government of Guyana has been released. While it contains clauses for the company to put aside millions for local content, it also grants sweeping tax concessions.

The contract was finalised on October 7, 2016 between the coalition Government, ExxonMobil and its partners in the Stabroek block. In Article 15 of the contract, Exxon is exempted from paying Corporation, Excise or Value Added Tax (VAT) on its earnings from petroleum.

Article 15.4 also provides for the Government itself to pay the company’s income tax. To facilitate this, the oil company has to submit tax returns to the Government. Article 32 stipulates that Government cannot modify the contract or increase any fiscal obligation the company has.

This therefore puts a cap on the taxes, royalties, duties, fees or charges outlined in the contract. Government also has to compensate the operator if a change to existing laws causes loss of revenue for the company.

US$18M bonus was paid for 10-yr extension - Exxon’s country manager

I

n the wake of the Government finally releasing the contract it renegotiated with ExxonMobil, the oil giant has clarified that the US$18 million bonus it paid to the Government was meant to secure a 10-year extension of the renegotiated contract.

ExxonMobil Country Manager Rod Henson made this assertion when addressing the media at a press conference on December 28, the same day that the contract was released.

“The bonus was agreed to, not to gain access to the Stabroek Block, because we had that, but it was to gain this extension,” he told the gathering, which included President David Granger and other cabinet ministers and members of civil society.

Henson was asked whether the contract was a fair one.

He defended the generous terms of the contract while assuring the country it would not take advantage of these terms.

The official emphasised that the agreement was a globally competitive one, and warned against setting expectations for Guyana too high; that is, comparing what the country gets to what other, more mature oil producing countries receive.

guyanatimesgy.com

DECEMBER 31, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 15

Puzzles

Crossword

1

6

10

15

20 21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

30

32

33 35

36

39

40

41

42

46 47

48

51

53

54

56

57

59

61 62

63 64 65

67

68

69

72 73

76

80

81

82

83

85

86

88

92

ACROSS They may be mopped Loaded question Medieval tale Standing wide open Gourmet coffee Dirt Gnawed away Miffed "Das Rheingold" role Godzilla foe Physicist -- Newton Backspace on a PC Not homemade (hyph.)

Seed's hope Nearly frozen juice Fred Astaire's sister Headstrong Casual tops Take in April 15 org.

Older TV hookup Al Capone feature Nose-bag bit Lettuce layer Foundry refuse Fragrant blossom Baba of folklore Cease-fires Husky's burden -- Island Red "Balcony scene" swain Let overflow Floors Mystique Pawn Said MIT grad Draw on Obsessed whaler Treat a sprain Staggers Track down Piniella of baseball Slalom obstacle B'way posting of yore Fret silently Veggie-tray item Kerouac opus (2 wds.)

Rosemary or thyme A crowd, for Caesar?

93 Hemingway nickname

94 R.E. Lee's side

95 Cats do it

96 Top athlete (hyph.)

99 Monastery heads

102 Bridge support

103 Check endorser

104 Striped animal

108 Gaucho's rope

109 Sonnets and haiku

110 Word on a towel

111 Gave orders

112 -- Dhabi 113 Dauntlessness

115 Wait awhile

116 Cleveland cager

117 -- Zedong

118 City or bean

120 -- de mer

121 Wheel part

123 Handyman's vehicle

124 They need a PIN

125 Gator cousin

127 Out to - 129 Vacation plus 131 Daring

135 Ecstatic (3 wds.)

140 Heston title role (2 wds.)

141 Fluid rock

142 Mythical sorceress

143 Sand formations

144 In the sky

145 Ram constellation

146 Prepare dough

147 Thin strips of wood

148 Hologram maker

149 "Driving Miss Daisy" star 150 Broadcast

151 J.R.'s mom

1

2

3 4

5

6

7

8

9

10

DOWN Yuppie wheels Tooth anchor Prefix for "pod" Docks More balanced Road company Mountain chain Calcutta nanny Five, in combos -- counter

130 Confuse

11 Flip-chart stands 116 Paddled

119 Constantly busy

131 -- parmigiana

12 Prolonged gaze

121 Sang wordlessly

132 Corsica neighbor

13 Kind of spirit 122 Nervous

133 PFC superiors 14 Surround Mr. Spock's

123 From

134 Name in

15 Fields of study planet cheesecake

16 Saddle parts

124 Zinnia or marigold

136 El -- (ocean current)

17 Jai - 126 Less polite

137 Like the U.N.

18 Tijuana coin

127 Sign on (2 wds.)

138 Radar's soda

19 Blissful spot

128 Horse's ankles

139 To be, to Brutus

21 Moved blindly

129 Bookcase-kit item See Solution in newspaper Pg 18

29 First and third

31 Japan's first capital

34 Archaeological site KATHLEEN SAXE 36 Tykes

37 O.K. Corral name

38 Needle case

41 Life in Valencia

43 Sleep in a tent

44 Helm position TODAY'S WORD -- MUCKRAKES

45 Wild disturbance (MUCKRAKES: MUK-rakes: Searches out

47 Asteroid zone and exposes scandal about prominent people.)

48 Fishtail

49 Tennis great Ivan -Average mark 50 words 50 Billboards Time limit 60 minutes

51 Sinister Peter of films Can you find 71 or more

52 Friday's companion words in MUCKRAKES? 55 Nightspot

56 Oscar-winning Meryl mace creak sacrum

57 Bitter feeling make cream sake

58 Hefner or Downs cruse same maker

60 Sheik's cartel sauce marc cure

62 Faction saucer mare curse

64 Jack-in-the- - 66 Jeweled headpieces mark cusk scam 67 Goofed maser kame scar

69 White vestment race scare mesa

70 -- polloi scram muck rack

71 Leo mo. rake scream mucker

74 Guides in a theater scrum murk rase

75 Seems pleased muse ream scum

77 Oklahoma town reck seam muser 78 Pointer musk ruck sear

79 Acid rain watchdog

81 Composer -- Mahler urea ruse serac

84 Belgian river serum user rusk

87 Kilt sporter cake acme smack

89 Basket-maker's twig came acre smear

90 Van Morrison band care amuck suck 91 Bleated sucker case amuse

93 Veep's superior cask arms suer

97 Orpheus played it cause asker sumac

98 Black Sea arm crake ecru sure

99 Caspian's neighbor

100 Actress -- Andersson cram sack

101 Oz penner

102 Motel plus RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or

103 -- Beta Kappa more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the

105 Cellar, briefly addition of "s," such as "bats" or "dies," are not allowed.

106 Squeeze oranges 3. Additional words made by adding a "d" or an "s" may 107 Hubbubs not be used. For example, if "bake" is used, "baked" or

109 Table-setting item "bakes" are not allowed, but "bake" and "baking" are ad 111 Congo language missible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sex 114 Omnia vincit -ually explicit words are not allowed.

115 U.K. network

WORD GAME

16 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

DECEMBER 31, 2017

Fun Times

Archie

ARIES You’ll come up with some (March 21- good ideas and alternatives April 19) that will help you smooth over some of the problems you face. Discuss your longterm plans with someone you love.

Stick to your budget and TAURUS head into the new year feel(April 20- ing good, healthy and ready May 20) to conquer the world. Don’t leave possessions or money out in the open. Protect against personal theft.

GEMINI (May 28June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

Peanuts

End the year on a high note. Implement the changes that will lead to a better life and new beginnings.

Speak the truth and follow through with your plans.

Celebrate the future.

Welcome the new year with family and friends.

Sharing information will result in an unexpected offering that will help you move forward in a positive manner.

Be responsible. If you are going to ring in the year in an indulgent fashion, make sure you have arranged for a designated driver. Stay safe and you’ll have no regrets.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Don’t sit around when you should be getting out and having some fun. Do something you don’t do often and see what transpires. Go where the action is and join the fun.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Have an emotional chat with someone you trust. Find out the best way to go about making changes that will bring you closer together and encourage a better future.

Be cautious with your SCORPIO money and possessions. Don’t (Oct. 24- leave personal information Nov. 22) out in the open. Someone is likely to renege on a promise.

Do your own thing.

SAGITTARIUS Share your feelings with (Nov. 23- someone you love. A romantic Dec. 21) evening will change the way you move forward in your personal life. Make bold plans.

Calvin and Hobbes

Uncertainty shouldn’t CAPRICORN ruin your plans. Do your own (Dec. 22- thing and don’t worry about Jan. 19) other people. An interesting offer from someone unique will take you by surprise.

Don’t share personal information.

Open your doors to AQUARIUS friends and relatives. A (Jan. 20- heart-to-heart talk with Feb. 19) someone you are emotionally attached to will give you clarity regarding the best way to make the most of next year.

PISCES Problems while travel(Feb. 20- ing or dealing with authoriMar. 20) ty figures will crop up if you haven’t made proper arrangements. Abide by the rules and avoid heading into the new year with unwanted baggage.