(ii) Undertaking a House to House registration exercise at the earliest opportunity upon completion of the election and periodically thereafter From the Carter Centre final election report: “The number of registered voters seems disproportionate to Guyana’s estimated population The Carter Center recommends that before the next election the government reassess and overhaul both the process and the technology used to create and manage the voter registration database ”
The Carter Centre also advised the nation to determine whether continuous registration was meant to end the practice of periodic house to house registration exercises It also called for an assessment of the long term consequences of the Chief Justice’s August 2019 ruling on residency
Page 12 Volume 66, No. 8 August
From the European Union Election Observation Mission Guyana 2020: On page 16 of its report, the EU team, relying on 2020 registration statistics, highlighted the “ clear limitations in the ability of the existing continuous registration system to maintain an up to date, accurate register,” In sum, the support for a new voters register from the international and diplomatic community is on record and is clear cut. When we factor in the support of the public and civil society organizations, the PPP stands alone, totally isolated on this matter. The Opposition parties are therefore not the only voices calling for a clean voters list.
PPP stands alone against a clean voters list
SDGs and Guyana Page 4 Page 11 MEET AND GREET -Visits to and by Party Leader s LVoting with BIOMETRICS Messages on International Day for People of African Descent Community consulations on regional budgets continue Editorial on local government Page 12 Page 12 Page 2 Page 3
From the Preliminary Report of the OAS Electoral Observation Mission (pages 7 to 8): The Mission recommends:
Price:
NEW NATION, August P2022 age 1
From the CARICOM Report on the Recount (on page 50): “As a minimum condition of electoral reform, the Team recommends the urgent need for the total re registration of all voters in Guyana It is clear that given the state of the voter registration of the country that Guyana was not adequately prepared for the 2020 poll Yet circumstances beyond the control of the Commission precluded this preparedness It therefore behoves the Commission to create a new voter registry especially given the suspicion that the 2020 register was bloated, a suspicion which is not without merit.”
The various observer reports also include recommendations on restructuring GECOM to protect its neutrality and improve its effectiveness, inclusiveness, and efficiency; the use of biometrics and other technologies; reviewing mechanisms for electoral dispute resolution; and introducing campaign financing laws These and several other recommendations give credence to our repeated demands (i) for GECOM to undertake an operations review process, (ii) for there to be timely and comprehensive electoral reforms (undertaken under a multi stakeholder framework) before any new election, (iii) for there to be House to House registration leading to a clean voters list, and (iv) for the resignation of the Chairman of the GECOM Guyanese slangs 2022 newnation gy@yahoo.com $100
President Irfaan Ali’s statement that “The list is not the problem” is pure hypocrisy and isolates the PPP as the lone objector to the necessity for a clean voters list while making it obvious that the PPP has no interest in democracy To expose the PPP’s hypocrisy, one only needs to recall its loud demands in October 2015 five months after its defeat at the 2015 elections for “A new voters’ list to be compiled on the basis of a fresh house to house enumeration ” The PPP then, in addition, called for the removal of the GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally Let us bear in mind that the Official List of Electors (OLE) for the 2020 General and Regional Elections contained 660,998 names, a number that is around 85% of the entire population of Guyana. No other country in the world has a voters list that is more than 80% of the population. This trend will result in our OLE exceeding our population! This is an absolute abomination! A bloated list of electors will never win the people’s confidence in our elections regardless of what ever safeguards are instituted. It will forever remain a threat to democracy But also, what President Ali and his party are purposefully ignoring to tell the Guyanese people is that all the major Election Observer Missions for our 2020 election have called for a new voter registry and/or a total revision of Guyana’s voter registration laws To inform or remind citizens, we quote below relevant excerpts from the reports of CARICOM, the OAS, the Carter Centre, and the EU.
(i) Comprehensive reform of the voter registration system, along with the necessary legislative authorizations for registration, changes to voter lists and submission of complaints about the exclusion or inclusion of voters.
In preparation for their 2023 budgets, the Opposition led Regional Democratic Councils (#4, 7 and 10) have embarked on community outreaches to discuss with residents their community needs Several communities have already been consulted Regional Chairmen have also used social media and radio and TV to engage with their constituents On completion of the exercise, the chairmen intend to share the contents of the PEOPLE’S BUDGET with the residents Residents would therefore be able to see what expenditures are presented to the PPP central government and what expenditures the government would have removed with its usual bad mindedness and discriminatory attitude These meetings demonstrate the consultative ap proach to governance a Coalition government will use as a norm
On-going
community consultations on the PEOPLE'S BUDGET 2023 Region #4 Region #10 Region #7
NEW NATION, August P2022 age 2
On the first track, the PPP’s style of politics has precipitated a crisis in governance and democracy in Guyana Editor, your own editorials over the months have repeatedly observed with increasing alarm that (in your own words) “the PPP likes to control everything ” For instance, your editorial of 23rd April declared that “One Guyana sounds more like ‘One Party Rule’” That editorial also bemoaned that “the primary concern regarding the first years of the PPP/C administration (Part II) surrounds the principles of inclusionary democracy, accountability and transparency On this there have been numerous failings.”
Editorial THE PARTY GOVERNS WELL LOCALLY, IT BUILDS ITS CREDIBILITY
Evidence of crisis abounds: the exclusion of the Opposition nominees from the NRF; the politicization and manipulation of the GPF; the illegal concentration of power into the hands of the PPP Chair and Vice Chair on the Local Government Commission; the miniaturizing of Parliament; and the termination of the services of professionals in institutions which the PPP wants to convert to rubber stamps to serve its business cronies And on and on Compounding the gravity of the situation is, of course, the actual and perceived manner in which the PPP has been distributing our vast and growing oil revenues (who gets, why, when, how, and how much) Ralph Ramkarran, in his Sunday’s column “Inclusive governance is dead”, writes that the perceptions of African Guyanese are that discrimination and marginalization “ are at their worst and the benefits of the oil wealth are being enjoyed only by Indian Guyanese and their allies ” He adds that “The reality to be confronted is that such a belief among African Guyanese is widespread, whether or not it has been contrived ” Mr Ramkarran would have been more accurate had he stated that the perception of being left out goes beyond ethnicity and intersects also with social class and status Many rural Indo Guyanese also feel financially excluded and insecure Throw into the mix the rising cost of living and the blatant high level corruption, and what do we have? A country in crisis on all fronts. How then should Mr Norton conduct his politics with the political tools available to him? At the outset, the Opposition Leader would be absolutely failing in his duties should his utterances and actions suggest to supporters and the nation that all is well and normal in Guyana He would be failing should he not capture and represent the anger, frustration, and fears of the masses He would be failing should he limit his political actions to wearing suits and attending embassy receptions. He would be failing should he limit his options to the formal mechanisms (such as parliament) that have been sabotaged and disempowered by government. The SN editorial’s use of labels such as “street politician“ and “campaign mode” therefore misses the point The point is that Mr Norton and the coalition have to fight the fight the PPP is bringing to them They cannot be expected to walk with string to a gun fight And if the PPP would stop at nothing in its cravings for total domination (including its lone resistance to a clean voters list), the country cannot then expect all smiles and handshakes from the Opposition.
UN INTERNATIONAL DAY CELEBRATIONS - Sept. 8 September International Literacy Day. 10 September World Suicide Prevention Day. 15 August International Day of Democracy 29 Septemver World Heart Day NEW NATION ANALYSIS AND OPINION
The Opposition Leader cannot be expected to walk with twine to a gun fight - by Sherwood Lowe
Secondly, much scope exists for municipalities and NDCs to benefit from systematically leveraging the fact that many sons and daughters of their communities now live in the Diaspora and are willing and capable of helping Thirdly, councils could explore partnering with groups and entities that are active in the community, such as religious organizations, school boards, businesses, and community development groups The list of initiatives does not end here The core objective however must remain clear Local councils and councillors must serve their constituencies well In so doing, not only do residents benefit, but the image of the party as ready and able nationally is advanced
Even if one assumed your Sunday editorial of 14th August (“Campaign mode”) to be well meaning advice to Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton, you muddled things up by, first, forcing the complexities of the situation into your favoured but narrow narrative of Norton as a street politician; and secondly, by committing several errors of omission and commission
NEW NATION, July 2022 Page 3 Published by the PNCR Public Relations Department Address: Congress Place, Sophia, Georgetown GUYANA Tel: (592) 225 7852 5 Emails: newnation gy@yahoo com or pncreform1@gmail com Communications Supervisor: Kim Chung, MS Technical & Communications Officer: Andrew Weekes (A reprint from February's edition)
NATIONALLY
WHEN
Dear SN Editor,
While the PNCR sits in opposition centrally, it sits in government locally in three RDCs and several NDCs and municipalities That the PNCR holds elected local power is a situation that demands continuous strategic attention by the party's leadership Our leadership must ensure that party led local councils work to demonstrate in their jurisdictions and to the entire nation the ability to govern effectively for the people. Through such demonstration, the party's brand as people centred and competent is enhanced.Our councillors must appreciate that in all they do as elected local reps, they fly the party's flag and are protectors and builders of the party's image Citizens see them as reflections of the party's values and work ethic, and accordingly form judgements on the party's ability to perform locally, but also nationally An incompetent or apathetic councillor therefore not only lets himself or herself down at a personal level He or she damages the party as well Fortunately, the new party leadership is well aware of this connection between our performance in local councils and how the wider society perceives the party as a future national government Plans are already afoot for the party centre to interact more with party led municipalities and regional and local councils Such interaction will involve training and advisory services. It will involve more coordination and communication between the party centre and councils. It will involve more deployment of CEC members, MPs and others to work alongside councillors There is much however that party led local councils can do through their own initiative to improve the quality of their stewardship For one, they can work to improve transparency and accountability They can, for example, publicly post minutes of council meetings, hold "village square" or community meetings with residents to discuss large issues, and invite persons of knowledge in the community to sit as advisors on council committees
Perhaps, the discussion of Mr Norton’s leadership style (or, more broadly, the coalition’s political operations) is best conducted along two intersecting tracks: (i) the political situation in Guyana under the PPP government, driven, as it is, by its sense of entitlement and its obsession with total political control, and (ii) the effective political tools available to the Opposition within the country’s winners take all political structure.
Dear
An issue such as the high cost of living should be a matter of concern for the Government and Opposition to address and common ground agreed to Editor, I can assure the people of Guyana that the APNU+AFC Coalition will continue to call on the Government of Guyana to devise ways, whether short term, medium term, or long term, to bring relief during these difficult challenges, due to the increased in cost of living.
Editor, the Speaker of the National Assembly is one who should always exercise impartiality, but this is clearly out of his vocabulary The atmosphere of the twelfth Parliament under the Speakership of Mr Manzoor Nadir, MP is one of bias against the APNU+AFC Coalition Opposition Members
WHERE IS GUYANA?
NEW NATION, July 2022 Page 4 ANALYSIS AND OPINION
Today, the PPP/C regime has failed Guyanese in ensuring that the high cost of living becomes a priority for them Rather, their interest is to push infrastructural projects here and mesmerize Guyanese with hotels to be constructed here and there The question we must ask is can Guyanese eat roads, bridges and hotels in an economy where inflation is on the horizon and the cost of basic food items, grown right here in Guyana continues to escalate? High cost of living is affecting all Guyanese. This is not an APNU+AFC Coalition problem or PPP/C problem, we are all consumed. A motion to debate the high cost of living was submitted to the Clerk’s office on January 14, 2022 After a review by the Speaker, I was asked to amend a few clauses contained in the motion This was subsequently done and resubmitted in February 2022 After the February 2022 budget debates, the motion was approved by the Speaker and placed on Notice Paper No 170, and eventually made its way on to the Order Paper for debate on April 13, 2022. It was disheartening to have received an email on the eve of the sitting of the National Assembly (April 12, 2022), informing me that the debate would not be proceeded with and Notice Paper 170 had been withdrawn, since it contravened Standing Order 25 (1) (a) (iii) and (b) With much enthusiasm to have this issue debated, since it is one of national interest, I again amended the last And BE it RESOLVED Clause, which contravened SO (25). The motion was resubmitted in this manner (“That the Government of Guyana makes provision for EACH Guyanese above the age of eighteen (18) years, to be assisted with the high cost of living in Guyana.”) and thereafter I received a letter from the Clerk’s office advising me that the motion was approved by the Speaker and would be placed on the Notice Paper, which I eventually received in June 2022
Editor, in the penultimate paragraph of the Clerk’s missive to me, he stated, “the Speaker has asked me to inform you that he erred in allowing the motion to be published ” This, I found mind boggling! How is it that the Speaker discovered seven days after the preparation and publishing of the Order Paper, his error less than 24 hours before the actual sitting on Thursday July 21, 2022? Therefore, Editor, for the Speaker to disallow the motion, because of a non issue, his actions are unfair and unkind, not only to my colleagues and I, who were prepared for the debate, but to the people of Guyana, who we represent and who are affected at this time
Editor, the letter failed to identify and highlight which section of the Standing Orders the motion had contravened, but went on to say that, (his) “Honour (referring to the Speaker) that he (the Clerk) draws my attention to Article 171(2) of the Constitution ” This article deals with bills which cannot be introduced as they could impose a charge on the Consolidated Fund etc This is a non issue in relation to my motion.
The Speaker should be reminded that the purpose of the National Assembly is for bills, motions, petitions and issues affecting our people to be debated, laws enacted and the successful passage of resolutions.
The very shenanigans that played out on Wednesday April 12, 2022, did not escape the sitting of July 21, 2022 An email followed by a hard copy letter were received by me at 16:42hrs from the Clerk’s office and shared with Members of Parliament on Wednesday July 20, 2022 advising that the motion would not be proceeded with on Thursday July 21, 2022 and that Notice Paper no 178 has been withdrawn, since the motion contravenes the “Standing Orders.”
While the PPP does nothing to fight the rising cost of living in Guyana, Mia is showing the way in Barbados.The APNU+AFC has proposed a similiar fuel subsidy and other measures (such as an adequate school feeding program) to help Guyanese cope with the continued rising costs of living Speaker’s handling of my motion on cost of living was disgraceful and unacceptable or Global Goals are 17 interlinked goals designed to serve as a blueprint for peace and prosperity, now and into the future. The SDGs were set up in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and are intended to be achieved by 2030 In committing to these goals, each country is left to develop their own road map based on their own circumstances Some goals (such as SDG#1 3) are highly critical because of their direct path towards these goals, such as eradicating poverty and hunger? Does our government even have a roadmap? Over the last two years, the country has retrogressed on several SDGs Poverty, hunger, inequality, health and well being, etc have worsened under the PPP The PPP simply does not have the caring mentality for people centred development It is too corrupt and too tied to a narrow business class
(3 August 2022)
The Order Paper was received by members of Parliament on Thursday July 14, 2022 informing that the 48th Sitting of the National Assembly will be on Thursday July 21, 2022 at 10hrs and it will be “Private Members‘ Day ” Editor, the motion was scheduled for debate on July 21, 2022.
Editor, Since taking office in August 2020, the PPP/ C is of the belief that hampers and paltry cash grants will suffice and bring long lasting relief to Guyanese.
Editor, this is far from the truth! Let us examine the cash grant of $25,000.00 per household. The reality is that this cannot give you a basket of goods, reasoning being plantain now stands at $300 00 per pound, tomatoes $800 00 per pound, bora $500 00 (three parcels), eschallot $1200 00 per pound, celery $1500 00 per pound, cheese $1200 00 per pound, butter $700 00 per tub, eggs $1500 00 per tray Editor, I have not made mention of bread, tennis roll, chicken, beef, pork etc These items are also carrying hefty prices. I can only imagine how ordinary Guyanese cut corners to survive, while a few persons continue to live a comfortable and happy life on the backs of the poor and vulnerable groups in our nation.
Indigenous women, despite their often disadvantaged and vulnerable conditions, are the guardians of this wealth of experience and knowledge Their leading role in raising and educating children and young people, and in maintaining community relations has helped to preserve traditional knowledge through the generations The APNU+AFC remains committed to the full realization of Indigenous rights as embodied in international conventions and in the Guyana constitution.
In the specific context of this year ’ s theme of “The Role of Indigenous Women in the Preservation and Transmission of Traditional Knowledge”, we will work to ensure, among other objectives:
K H y are celebrating Krishna Janmashtami Leader of the Opposition Aubrey C. Norton and the entire APNU+AFC join with our Hindu brothers and sisters in celebrating the advent and teachings of Lord Shri Krishna 18 August
BIRTHDAY GREETINGS!
2 that the right of the Indigenous Peoples to maintain, control, protect and develop their language, collective intellectual property over their traditional knowledge, cultural heritage, and cultural expressions is fully respected 3. that traditional knowledge is incorporated into government development plans aimed at eradicating poverty, lifting living standards, and enhancing communities 4 that training and research programmes on indigenous traditional knowledge are promoted and sustained 5. that the review of the Amerindian Act be placed foremost on Guyana's legislative agenda and ensure that the government restarts consultations in this regard We can only guarantee these and other outcomes as a government We again salute our Indigenous brothers and sisters!
On Wednesday, 17th August, the PNCR extended birthday wishes to one of our longest Party stalwarts and activists, former Member of Parliament, Ms. Joan Baveghems. Party Leader Aubrey C Norton visited her at home, where he offered her gifts and blessings on her special day. Joan served as a Member of Parliament from 17th January 2011, taking up the seat left vacant on the passing of MP Winston Murray Today, 9th August 2022, marks the United Nations International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. This annual observance pays homage to the date of the inaugural session of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982 The APNU+AFC joins with all Guyanese in extending to our Indigenous brothers and sisters in Guyana and worldwide the highest of respect and the greatest of admiration This year ’ s theme, “The Role of Indigenous Women in the Preservation and Transmission of Traditional Knowledge” calls on us to suitably acknowledge the central role of Indigenous women in preserving Indigenous families, communities, culture, and identity. More specifically, the theme also calls on us to acknowledge their vital role as holders and disseminators of traditional knowledge According to the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE “refers to knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous peoples around the world which is developed through experience gained over the centuries, adapted to the local culture and environment and passed on orally from generation to generation It tends to be collectively owned and takes the form of stories, songs, proverbs, cultural values, beliefs, rituals, laws and community rules, local language, art and agricultural practices, including the development of plant and animal species It is sometimes referred to as oral tradition because it is transmitted orally but it is also expressed through song, dance, paintings, sculptures or carvings Traditional knowledge is mainly practical knowledge and covers areas such as agriculture, fishing, health, horticulture, forestry and environmental management.”
NEW NATION, August P2022 age 5 SPECIAL OCASSIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
1 that women participate fully and effectively in community decision making, such as in the use and management of land resources, and in community governance.
on pg 7)
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And once again, the people will see that the PPP cannot allow the GPF to follow the evidence wherever it leads them This corrupt cabal cannot allow the law to take its course They themselves need protection for their illegalities so hands must wash hands
Another semester begins at the University of Guyana
Once again, the Guyanese people will see whether the PPP government can muster the political will to depoliticise and professionalise the Guyana Police Force. Once again it will be manifest to our people that the PPP has no moral decency and respect for the rule of law
The PPP’s decision to take away free tertiary education still weighs students down This historic injustice cannot stand It is an affront to the Constitution of Guyana, which in Article 27 states that “Every citizen has the right to free education from nursery to university as well as at non formal places where opportunities are provided for education and training.”
We will
NEW NATION, July 2022 Page 6 MEDIA RELEASES
Last Sunday’s Editorial in the Stabroek News asked the question based on a passing statement the Leader of the Opposition made at the Public Rally on 2nd August at Burnham Court Stabroek News asked: “In the immediate term, therefore, does the Leader [of the Opposition] oppose handouts in principle, or is he just critical of the biased way in which he has claimed they are being distributed?” This is a legitimate question, and the Guyanese people deserve to know our firm position on the matter of so called handouts The short answer is WE ARE NOT AGAINST HANDOUTS. We see such cash transfers as resources that our people need and are entitled to receive We see the PPP handouts as inadequate, sporadic, and discriminatory We see these as money that belongs to the people of Guyana and therefore it is an ENTITLEMENT We believe the people must collect those monies, failing which the PPP KLEPTOCRACY will steal those monies
In addition, we have been informing Guyanese that we strongly believe that handouts cannot solve the problems of increasing cost of living and poverty We have established the need for targeted policies and programmes aimed at reducing poverty and improving the quality of life of our people The corrupt PPP regime has no such plan and uses handouts as a slush fund to enrich its elite and political activists through corruption It is also opportune to note that the PPP uses handouts to bribe Guyanese, especially those in APNU+AFC strongholds We condemn the PPP misuse of the state’s resources for narrow political gains. We wish to use the opportunity to explain more the Coalition’s position on social programmes. Firstly, in our development vision, people are front and center. All our planning therefore will be directed at achieving several PEOPLE FIRST goals in sync with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) So, for example, the next coalition government is going to: (i) ensure all citizens can finally enjoy (not only their political rights) but also their socioeconomic rights, as enshrined in the Guyana constitution and in the International Conventions this nation has signed, (ii) eliminate poverty ITS CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES, (iii) reduce socio economic inequality (i.e., the gap between the HAVES and the HAVE NOTS), (iv) promote social cohesion and inclusion (All persons in society must be able TO PARTICIPATE AND TO BELONG), (v) build an OPPORTUNITY SOCIETY (All citizens and families must be able to pursue their own pathways to a comfortable life), (vi) ensure that society REWARDS hard work and effort, initiatives, achievements, sacrifices, and investments, and (vii) ensure safety, dignity, and care for all THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFETIME With these people centred goals in mind, we will craft a holistic and integrated set of short , medium , and long term programmes to deliver benefits to the people These programmes will reflect the different living conditions and needs of our people, and can include, for example: (i) direct cash transfers (on a regular, fair, and predictable manner), (ii) subsidies (such as on fuel, electricity, and transportation), (iii) soft loans and grants for small businesses (iv) salary top ups (for those earning below a minimum livable income), (Continued
Most Guyanese are aware of the allegations made by police detective Dion Bascom of high level police cover up of the investigation into the murder of Ricardo Fagundes outside of Palm Court in March 2021 Detective Bascom’s allegations are, on the face of it, serious enough to warrant an immediate and full blown investigation. We, the Opposition, support the position that such an investigation should (i) be conducted by independent international experts, (ii) be launched promptly, without the usual game playing by the government or the police high command, and (iii) extend to Detective Bascom the protections and other measures common to whistle blowing arrangements. We doubt the Guyana government will act on the side of the rule of law. The criminal PPP state must defend its cronies against whom these allegations are made This is more so important if we recall that George Bacchus was a whistleblower whose brother was mistakenly killed for him before the criminal state finally executed him in 2004 The PPP will go to any length to protect its criminal cabal
The PPP politicization of the GPF is clearly intended to protect the elite of the PPP, friends, and family. The PPP is compelled to criminalise the state so it can be protected A state that operates based on the rule of law is impossible under the PPP. It is in this context we again call on the Vice President to resign or be removed from office and for an international credible investigation team to investigate the allegations against Bharrat Jagdeo
And enshrines free education from nursery to university The University of Guyana must be made a free institution immediately We reiterate our call for student stipends to help with internet, transportation and other expenses that do not appear on any University invoice, but are expenses students must bear nonetheless We will work with the UG administration on initiatives to produce a regular stream of competent graduates to serve in the oil and gas sector and, more generally, to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving Guyanese economy for other skills But as a government, we will go further Over the last several decades, many Guyanese bore the burden of paying to access the University Many remain indebted to the university. All University of Guyana student debt must be canceled For two years, the PPP has sat on its hands and done nothing Several national and supplemental budgets have come and gone still nothing for the students at UG! Meanwhile, in these tough times, students and their families continue to scrape their few resources together to meet this burden A coalition government will bring back a free University of Guyana We will also write off all student’s debt and pay an education stipend to students Moreover, we will work together with UG to increase its involvement in and impact on national development
Guyana OUR POSITION ON HANDOUTS
Refusal to remove Jagdeo and investigate allegations of bribery and corruption paves the way for widespread corruption POLICE DETECTIVE DION BASCOM’S ALLEGATION OF HIGH-LEVEL CORRUPTION MUST BE INVESTIGATED bring back free University of
The refusal of the Irfaan Ali regime to investigate the allegations of bribery and corruption against Second Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo continues to embolden the corrupt officers in the Guyana Police Force and other state institutions such as GuySuco to be involved in corruption, bribery, extra judicial killings, and the unlawful cover up of murders and other illegalities by the PPP henchmen in the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and PPP operatives in state institutions.
The blatant disrespect was meted out to the farmers when one day after the government sent an excavator into the community, a senior regional official ordered that it be removed immediately since other communities that supported the PPP needed the excavator
Opposition condemns the use of temporary government workers to do PPP/C political work
In its wild obsession to dominate the political space and to pursue its politics of exclusion, domination and control, the PPP pretends to be unmindful of the historic fact that in ethnically diverse societies, such as ours, efforts of one group to establish supremacy and dominance over other groups have failed with often unfortunate consequences for the society and all its people APNU+AFC again alerts the nation that the PPP’s obsession with political domination and control can have no good ending for the country. Various forms of resistance and backlash from the populace are the inevitable consequences Yet, the PPP/C continues to operate in a dictatorial way Recent cases include its machinations to turn the National Toshaos Council into its political poodle Similarly, the recent unfounded accusation of financial misconduct by VP Jagdeo against IDPADA G (the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly Guyana) was made to create disunity within the Afro Guyanese community and undermine the work of this organization.
NEW NATION, August P2022 age 7 MEDIA RELEASES
The residents further raised concerns about the numerous complaints and requests made to the Regional Chairman and the MMA/ ADA and to date no help has been given However, the Regional Chairman, who lives a few villages away, has ensured that all rice lands in his community are properly irrigated and canals maintained while several earthen dams have been upgraded. The PPP/C continues to demonstrate how racist, unfair, and divisive they are as a government
The Opposition has been reliably informed by people in all Regions that the PPP is using workers under the temporary part time employment scheme to do its political work
Jagdeo speaking about illegalities and corruption is like pot telling kettle he bottom black
(v) adequate social security (for the elderly, disabled, the sick, the temporary unemployed), (vi) adequate social assistance (for low income families or in sudden shocks or disasters), (vii) child allowances, (viii) adequate school feeding programs and other nutrition support (ix) modern social services (health and education, leisure and recreation, safety, justice, etc), (x) significant increases in the wages and salaries of public servants to ensure a minimum livable income is guaranteed, and, (xi) free university tuition and student stipends Guyanese will begin to feel the benefits of these programmes immediately Oil revenues belong to the people They must receive the benefits of this endowment in an urgent, regular, and predictable manner. As such, we reject the PPP’s sporadic, arbitrary, discriminatory, and stingy approach
JADGEO'S SHAMELESS HYPOCRISY PPP discrimination in Region#5
It must be the irony of this Century for Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo to say he will not allow businessmen involved in illegal business to tarnish the image of the PPP
The public service will be restructured and modernized to manage these programmes to ensure our social programmes achieve the objectives stated above with due regard to maintaining economic sustainability across generations
The People’s Progressive Party Civic government continues to forge ahead in the racist, unfair, and divisive manner in the governance of Guyana In one of the most recent visits of the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Aubrey C Norton, to Region #5 Mahaica Berbice in the communities of Cottage, Perseverance, and Now or Never, the residents decried the most unfair manner in which the PPP/C government and its the regional administration are distributing government resources and the way in which they conduct works in the various communities. The residents pointed out that all the secondary drains and primary canals which have all been left neglected and were never cleaned or maintained since the PPP government returned to office (we have the video evidence) Further, all the farm access dams are in a deplorable and impassable state Residents and farmers shared their concerns about being neglected by this administration simply because almost 90% of the votes in the communities supported the APNU+AFC coalition at the last General and Regional Elections This was confirmed since residents were able to show where with just the separation of a dam, farmers of nearby villages from Zealand, Mahaicony, along to Bath, Mahaicony, enjoy the services of the government through the regional administration The victimization is clear since all the canals and main access dams to the rice cultivation area for farmers within the villages that support the current regime are cleared and well maintained, while just neighbouring, farmers had to abandon their lands and crops because of no access by dam and there is no water since irrigation channels were not available for them to commence their crops.
More
The same is true in many other villages in the Mahaica Berbice Region that support the APNU+AFC coalition Quite recently the PPP/C Member of Parliament and Minister of Agriculture along with regional officials met with farmers in Trafalgar and Union and promised government support to clear the canals that irrigate and drain their farmlands and to rehabilitate their access dams and several streets in the community.
(continued on page 8)
The PPP’s image has already been tarnished by Jagdeo himself against whom there are accusations of bribery and corruption as revealed by Su in the Vice News documentary Is Jagdeo suggesting that as a politician he could tarnish the image of the PPP but businessmen cannot? This is the position of a barefaced politician who is shameless and a hypocrite All Guyanese know that this is an attempt by Jagdeo to shift the fo cus away from allegations of bribery and corruption that are leveled against him. Let us stay focused on the alleged illegalities of Jagdeo He has no right, moral or otherwise, to comment on illegal and corrupt activities. If he is truly against illegalities he should immediately resign and agree to have international credible investigators investigate the al legations of bribery and corruption leveled against him Barring that he needs to hang his head in shame and shut up.
Meanwhile, President Ali continues to masquerade around the country with a “One Guyana” slogan contrary to his actions The APNU+AFC coalition calls on the PPP government and the PPP Regional Administration to stop playing divisive politics with the lives and livelihood of the people of Region No. 5 and to immediately cease its discrimination in the allocation of government resources and to treat all Guyanese equally
PPP’s efforts tohijackTheGuyana Public ServiceCo‐OperativeCredit UnionLimited(GPSCCU)constitute another assaultonorganizations thatservetheinterests ofparticular ethnic groups
It would be recalled that in March 2022, the government announced it would be employing 8000 persons to work 3 4 days per week in low level jobs at government offices and institutions These people are employed with taxpayers money to work for the people of Guyana and not to be used as PPP/C activists. The APNU+AFC condemns the use of the temporary workers of the state as political workers in the present claims and objection process. We demand that the PPP/C ends this corrupt practice immediately It is clearly an abuse of state resources and corruption. The Guyanese people must condemn this abuse of public funds by the PPP/C. We demand that public funds (the people’s patrimony) must be used fairly and equitably to serve the interests of all citizens and not as a slush fund for PPP political activities and corruption The people must demand an immediate end to these additional acts of corruption by the PPP APNU+AFC again pledges to the Guyanese people that its people centred development strategy will guarantee all Guyanese economic well being, equal opportunity, and social justice.
Another stark case in point is the on going scheme by the PPP/C to seize control of the Guyana Public Service Co operative Credit Union Limited (GPSCCU) The GPSCCU is one of the country’s largest and most prosperous coop societies, with several hundreds of millions of dollars in assets It has long been a reliable and accessible source of credit for public servants It is also apposite to note that it is a public service based organization on which Afro Guyanese workers are the persons who mostly depend on and benefit from the services of this credit union In April 2021, at the Annual General Meeting, the membership democratically elected a new executive, headed by Trevor Benn who had served with undisputed success as Chair of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Credit Union from 2018.
Recent pronouncements by both the GECOM Chairperson and 2nd VP Bharat Jagdeo gave the deliberate false impression that the election laws of the country are cast in stone and are forever unchangeable Guyanese know better Many would recall that in 1990, then President Desmond Hoyte agreed to postpone elections to facilitate constitutional and other amendments which saw, for instance, the enactment of the Carter formula (as Article 161 of the constitution) and, for the first time, counting at the place of poll During the constitutional reform process in 1999/2000, Guyana’s electoral system saw additional reforms, such as the re introduction of geographic constituencies Even more, for the 2006 Regional and General Elections, GECOM introduced fingerprint biometrics when it commissioned the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) to conduct a fingerprint scanning and cross matching exercise to detect multiple registration These and other examples prove that the country has shown a willingness to undertake major electoral reforms when political and civil society stakeholders have deemed them necessary to deliver elections of acceptable standards And these reforms have been of several types: constitutional, statutory, administrative/ operational, and technological. Guyana has reached another critical juncture for additional electoral reforms. Foremost among these reforms are the need for a clean voters list and the use of biometrics at the place of polling. The PPP remains the sole source of resistance to these reforms. Unfortunately, the GECOM Chairperson has allowed the PPP to render the commission useless in fulfilling its constitutional mandate of ensuring impartiality and fairness in our elections Clearly, the Chairperson of GECOM, Justice Claudette Singh, must go APNU+AFC hereby goes on record that we stand ready to discuss and support the necessary constitutional and other amendments to ensure a clean voters list as a necessary condition to ensure that the next elections are free, fair, and credible.
APNU+AFC prepared to discuss and support constitutional and statutory amendments to facilitate a clean voters list and other measures aimed at ensuring credible elections.
NO AUCTION
(GPSCCU continued from pg 7)
16th August L to R: Advisor to the Leader, Elson Low; LOP Aubrey C. Norton; Estiva Lake (GYSM exec); and Shaneika Haynes, Moderator
PRESS CONFERENCE PANEL
However, true to form, under the directions of the PPP/C, the acting Chief Cooperatives Development Officer (CCDO), Debbie Persaud, wrote Mr. Benn to ask him to show cause why she should not direct that he be removed as Chair. Mr. Benn received this letter less than one month after he was democratically elected by the highest number of votes anyone has ever received in the history of the Credit Union Quite rightly, Mr Benn took the acting CCDO to court In July 2022, Chief Justice Roxanne George ruled that the CCDO acted irrationally, considered irrelevant matters, and blatantly breached the rules of natural justice CJ George also granted an Order prohibiting the acting CCDO from proceeding to direct the Credit Union to dismiss Benn as Chairman of the Committee Despite having its case thrown out, the PPP/C has not given up and has filed an appeal Clearly the PPP’s intention is domination and control. The frenzied efforts by Freedom House to unseat the democratically elected leadership of the Credit Union are part of the PPP’s scheme to take over the cooperative sector in general. GTUC General Secretary Lincoln Lewis captures the PPP’s motive correctly when he wrote recently: “The cooperative sector where the African economy dominates is now under siege by government who rather than work with the coops is using the power of the state to take full control The cooperative economy is worth approximately $50 billion and represents workers’ assets (money and lands) ”
NEW NATION, August P2022 age 8 MEDIA RELEASES PRESS CONFERENCE PANEL 9th August. L to R: Mervyn Williams, CEC mem ber; Joan Ann Romascindo, CEC member; LOP Aubrey C Norton; Jurethra Fernandes, MP (AFC); and Shaneika Haynes, Moderator
A disgraceful aspect in the PPP’s efforts is that the Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton, who once prided himself as a champion of African and human rights, is an active participant in this PPP plot The Opposition is adamant that Guyana can, and must choose a different path, one that promotes political and economic inclusion, equality of opportunity, and social justice We call on all Guyanese to resist the PPP’s politics of domination and control
Alarm bells are ounding across Guyana as evidence of he PPP’s mismanagement of Guyana’s oil and gas ndustry begins to tack up Senior officials contradict each other on critical matters, timelines are pushed back without explanation, the government proposes ideas and then scraps them abruptly, and the stench of corruption lingers. It was not so long ago that we heard Su utter the dreaded words “oil company ” He said this in the context of a large bribe he says he allegedly paid second Vice President Jagdeo We called for a halt to the auction of Guyana’s remaining oil blocks unless an investigation was launched and clear mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability put in place We renewed those calls now There should be no oil block auction until Guyanese are confident the process will not be tainted More importantly, in the light of the serious allegations of bribery and corruption leveled against the embattled Vice President, he must not be involved in the business of oil His involvement sends the message that the Ali government condones corruption and is complicit in the alleged illegal activities for which the VP is accused. Only his removal from office and a credible international investigation will change that reality. Fears about the management of the oil industry have since escalated We’ve heard that the government was considering forming a national oil company This idea was abruptly scrapped, with the flimsy excuse given that it would delay oil exploration Was that not obvious from the beginning? How could the PPP not know that a national oil company would take time and resources to develop? If something as obvious as that was not clear to them, one must ask what other basic concepts they are struggling with But if the reason to scrap a national oil company was to speed up oil exploration, how can the PPP then justify postponing the oil block auction that was due next month? It is this type of contradictory thinking that permeates their policy making. Nowhere is this more evident than in the renegotiation of the Stabroek block Production Sharing Agreement Before the 2020 election we heard that the PPP wanted to renegotiate this PSA. We then heard the opposite, and that instead they would focus on future PSA’s for other oil blocks
Recently, we have heard second Vice President Jagdeo say the Stabroek PSA would in future be renegotiated This was immediately contradicted by the President, who said no such thing would be considered. What in the world is going on? Who is really running the country, the President or his second Vice President? In the oil and gas industry, where billions of USD are at stake, Guyana cannot afford such confusion. In all this madness something critical is going unnoticed. The PPP has not released the new model PSA that will govern Guyana’s remaining oil blocks We demand that this document be made public and subject to a round of national consultations Who knows what fresh PPP madness and confusion will be visited on Guyanese if this PSA is not subject to public scrutiny? If the PPP can’t even make its mind up about the current Stabroek PSA, can we really trust them to develop a model for all future PSAs on their own? We are sounding the alarm! Guyanese must lay eyes on any new PSA well in advance of its use! The PPP is happy to quietly craft a document that primarily benefits its elite, friends and family, and would love to avoid public scrutiny. Don’t believe us? Just ask Jagdeo, w friend He gets all the sup OF OIL BLOCKS WITH JAGDEO IN CHARGE
NEW NATION, July 2022 Page 9
The theme for this weekend’s General Council, “REBUILDING OUR PARTY, CONNECTING WITH OUR GRASS ROOTS BASE,” reflected the need for the Party to further strengthen itself as a modern political organization and to redouble its efforts to protect and advance the social and economic interests of Guyanese in their homes and communities Saturday’s program was chaired by the Party Chairman Shurwayne Holder and included the General Secretary’s Report and the Feature Address by Leader of the PNCR, Mr Aubrey C. Norton. In his address to the attendees, Mr Norton called for the Party to slip into a campaign mode and to spread its messages not only in its strongholds but across all communities in Guyana. He urged the Party’s entire leadership to focus on the big picture and not to allow small disagreements to create unwarranted internal division He reiterated the Party’s call for a clean voters list and for an impartial and trustworthy Chairperson for GECOM
On the second day of the General Council, the participants listened to and discussed reports from the Party’s regions and arms Workshops were held to discuss the question on: “WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO IMPROVE THE FUNCTIONING OF PARTY REGIONS, SUB REGIONS AND GROUPS.” The General Council concluded with a Charge by the Party Leader. Representatives from all ten regions attended on both days.
The PNCR held its second General Council Meeting for 2022 on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th August at the PNCR Headquarters, Congress Place, Sophia The General Council is the second highest decision making forum of the Party
The first day of the General Council coincided with the 37th death anniversary of the PNCR‘s Founder Leader and First Executive President of the Co operative Republic of Guyana, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham.
SECOND PNCR GENERAL COUNCIL FOR 2022 PARTY EVENTS AND NEWS
WREATH LAYING CEREMONY at the Mausoleum in the Botanical Gardens on the 37th Death Anniversary of the Founder Leader and First Executive President of the Co operative Republic of Guyana, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham Saturday 6th August 2022.
Leader and team also took the opportunity to attend social and sports events and to make several donations KAKO, UPPER MAZ - Region #7 BAGOTVILLE, WCD - Region #3 CAMPBELLTOWN - Region #8 COTTAGE, ECD - Region #4 Lk øüt før ë Lëådër åñd tëåm ïñ ÿøür çømmüñï
NEW NATION, July 2022 Page 10 PARTY OUTREACHES, EVENTS AND NEWS EMANCIPATION DAY EVE, WCB EMANCIPATION DAY NA and GT During August, the PNCR Leader, MPs, CEC members and other party officials visited several communities in Regions 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8 They met and listened to the concerns of residents from all walks of life The rising cost of living, the discriminatory distribution of cash transfer, and the poor state of village infrastructure (such as roads and bridges) topped the list of concerns for most residents
The
The International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) invited young cadres of the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) to participate in an award winning writing competition organized by the Youth Webinar that took place in April 2022 The Essay theme was "The Communist Party of China In My Eye" There were many angles to choose from such as "General Secretary Xi Jinping In My Eye", "Story of the CPC and Me", "CPC's Centenary Struggle and Its Inspiration", and "My Words for the 20th National Congress of CPC".
PNCR Central Executive member, Mr Riaz Rupnarain, placed FIRST throughout the Caribbean Chairperson of the GYSM in Region No 7, Ms Estiva Lake, placed THIRD The PNCR Leader and members extend congrats to our young comrades Party Chairman Shurwayne Holder, MP, and Ms Amanza Walton-Desir, MP and Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs, at a welcome reception at the U.S. Ambassador's residence in honor of the new Deputy Chief of Mission Adrienne Galanek.
NEW NATION, August P2022 age 11
Young PNCR leaders win awa d t i t ti l iti 7th Annual Youth Parliament DinnerMEET AND GREET
Source: The Guyanese Slang Alphabet (2019) by Edgar A Henry
Biometrics are biological measurements (or physical characteristics) that can be used to identify individuals. For example, by using their fingerprints, facial features, DNA, or eyes. In elections, biometrics are used for two purposes: (i) voter identification (WHO ARE YOU?); and (ii) voter verification or authentication (ARE YOU REALLY WHO YOU SAY YOU ARE?) In Guyana, GECOM already uses biometrics to answer the first question (who are you?) During registration, our fingerprints are compared with those of all other registrants to ensure one name matches one and only one set of fingerprints. This detects persons who have registered more than once Using biometrics for voter verification (are you really who you say you are?) occurs when a person votes Biometrics allow polling station staff to certify that the ID you provide indeed matches the person you claim to be This helps to stop voter impersonation (pretending to be someone else and voting in their names) Biometrics voting day devices are as small as a book (see photos) and can work all day with batteries alone They have been used in several countries in Africa and Latin America
Each year, the International Day for People of African Descent celebrates the diverse heritage and culture of people of African descent and their enormous contribution to our societies throughout history Yet, around the world, millions of people of African descent are still subject to racism and deeply entrenched and systemic racial discrimination. That is why the United Nations continues to call for the full respect of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, for redress when these are violated, and for formal apologies and reparations for the egregious wrongs of slavery and colonialism In December, the Permanent Forum of People of African Descent, whose establishment is an important achievement of the International Decade for People of African Descent, will hold its first session I urge all stakeholders, including people, communities and organizations of African descent, to participate and drive the work of the Forum forward
September is AMERINDIAN HERITAGE MONTH
INVOTING
The United Nations General Assembly has requested the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Effective Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action to draft a United Nations declaration on the promotion and full respect of the human rights of people of African descent The Forum will contribute to this critically important work It is essential that we continue to speak up loudly and without fail against any notion of racial superiority and that we work tirelessly to free all societies from the blight of racism.
BIOMETRICS
NEW NATION, August P2022 age 12
Message by UN Secretary‐General Antonio Guterres on the International Day for People of African Descent
G Gååññëëssë ë ssllåås s Colander sieve or strainer. Cobweb to fool someone Chup raa be quiet. Hard head dunce, a silly person Hi yagga warning, beware Itation lofty ideas. Squaro a mook Stale drunk hangover. Chubbie bicycle. Pee gee wing to stall Binnie a female, a girlfriend.
