October 18, 2016

Archives for May 28, 2016

$306M in laptops missing, damaged

OLPF forensic audit

The forensic audit conducted on the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) Project has revealed millions of dollars in losses due to over five thousand computers going missing or being damaged.

The audit was conducted last year by Ram and McRae Chartered Accountants. The report was submitted to Finance Minister Winston Jordan in December but was only published on the Ministry’s website on Friday. The main objective of the OLPF project was to acquire and distribute laptops to 90,000 families countrywide.

According to the auditors, “It is likely that of the total number of laptops acquired by purchase or grant of 55,145, some 5136 were either stolen or are defective. In dollar terms, the actual loss to the Government is $306,160,171.”

The report found pointed out that during 2012, management of the project had discovered that 103 laptops, amounting to some $5,912,200, were missing. Following investigations by the Guyana Police Force, the services of seven employees were terminated by the Office of the President on February 22, 2013; however, the missing laptops were never recovered.

In addition, a full (100 per cent) physical inventory count was requested and observed on August 5, 2015 by the auditors, who subsequently preformed a reconciliation based on the documents provided. Their procedures found that management was unable to account for an additional 1875 laptops costing $109,168,913.

“We believe that this matter should be referred to the Police for a full investigation,” the report recommended. Moreover, it was highlighted that some 3158 laptops, valued $191,079,058, that were in stock are all damaged. The auditors said that they were unable to determine whether these are beyond repair.

On the issue of distribution, the audit found total distribution cost amount to $35,291,406 or three per cent of the total cost of the project. The average cost of distribution per laptop was therefore $706. However, the reported stated that up to and including December 31, 2014, the Project had fallen short of the target of 90,000 laptops to be distributed by 31,697 or 35 per cent.

Meanwhile, the auditing firm noted that total training cost amounted to $70,750,427 or six per cent of the total cost. The average cost of training per laptop was therefore $1415. However, it was outlined that while the OLPF’s mission statement defined a clear obligation to provide 10 hours of training to all laptop recipients, the Project Manager had decided to cease the training aspect of the project during the last quarter of 2013. The auditors roughly estimated that some 14,138 laptops were distributed without the requisite training.

“It is clear from the summary analysis above that 92 per cent of the total cost was incurred due to indirect expenses, while only eight per cent was directly attributable to the underlying objective of the project,” the report stated.

The auditors believe that the general expenses of the OLPF project were exorbitant and could have been curtailed by management. Moreover, they stated that the scope of their engagement was limited by the fact that management was unable to provide a number of significant documents for review. This was compounded by the fact that the Project Manager, Margo Boyce and the Deputy Project Manager, Azariah Asim, resigned during the course of the investigation. In both cases, their last day for work was August 14, 2015.

Nevertheless, the report highlighted the new agreement signed between the Government of Guyana and Aerospace Science and Industry Shenzhen Co Ltd (China) on September 15, 2015, which caters for 9609 laptops to be provided by China at a total cost of $1,631,000,000. These laptops are to be distributed to educators, students, institutions of learning and community-based organisations.

“We draw attention to the average unit price of $169,737 for the 9609 laptops to be acquired. This compares unfavourably with the average price of $58,044.83 per laptop acquired by the last Administration. It should be noted that the new laptops are of a higher quality and specifications compared to the models acquired by the previous Administration,” the auditors explained.

However, it was recognised that laptops of similar capacity are listed on the international markets at a retail price ranging from $86,310 to $108,974.

 

Govt unclear about vision for Guyana – Hinds

Dr David Hinds

Dr David Hinds

After 1 year in office

After a year in Government, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government seems not to be very clear about its vision and plans for the wellbeing of the country.

Political commentator, Dr David Hinds told Guyana Times that while it was not expected that the new Government would do “very big things” during its first year in office, one would expect that there should have been some indication of “intent”.

Hinds was speaking to this publication on Wednesday, where he added his voice to the many critiques already made of the Administration’s performance during its first year in office.

“I think in many regards, they might have fallen short in terms of signalling to the society, what they intend to do,” Hinds told this newspaper.

He said the problem may have arisen because of the fact that the Government is a coalition, and it might have been a little difficult to get all the factions together, “but at the end of one year, one would expect that after a year, there would have been a larger vision.”

“That for me is important. If I am making an indictment, or criticism, it is the fact there is no sense of the overall vision of where they want to take the country. That is something that needs to be challenged very soon.”

According to Hinds, it is a known fact that the first 12 months of any new Government would be difficult.

“This Government is coming into office after 23 years of rule by the other Government. So you’re talking about finding your feet and getting accustomed to Government. They are also coming to government with a lot of expectations and rightfully so, in 1992, after 28 years of the [People’s National Congress] PNC rule, they were coming to Government with the expectation of what the PPP would do. So after 23 years, there are also massive expectations of what this Government should do,” Hinds said.

According to the political commentator, some credit must be given to Government for completing some basic projects; however, more could have been done.

“We’re talking that they have cleaned up the country, cleaned up the city. They have delivered services and have staved off the challenge of Venezuela and generally there is some sort of political stability that has returned to Guyana… I think there has been a toning down of the political temperature”.

Wages and salaries

He said however, that Government has not been forthcoming with its plans for various projects and promises made. One such is the promise of increases in wages and salaries for public servants. He said it is very worrying that after one year, there is no clarity about workers’ salaries and what raises they will get. He said this is something that should have been known within the first year of Government.

Crime

Addressing the issue of crime, Hinds said, while the Guyana Police Force has made some recent headway in solving some cold cases, Guyanese generally are still fearful of the situation.

He said while crime was inherited from the previous Administration, after a year, one cannot blame the other side for responsibility. He noted that while he applauds the tremendous initiatives taken to address the issue, the “fear of the criminal still stalks the land, because, while there are those who can defend themselves, there are still those who cannot. Consideration must be given to them,” he said.

 

Norton lambastes management of Diamond Hospital

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton meeting with staff of the Diamond Diagnostic Centre

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton meeting with staff of the Diamond Diagnostic Centre

-shortage of drugs, doctors, nurses highlighted during visit

By Kizzy Coleman

Following the cries of employees at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre (DDC) of inhumane conditions, Public Health Minister on Friday visited the East Bank Demerara establishment and lashed out at management there.

In a meeting in the director’s office Dr Kay Shako, Minister Norton accompanied by Minister Dr Karen Cummings, grilled and lambasted the hospital administrators for the current crises facing the institution.

Addressing the meeting, Minister Norton said the Diagnostic Centre was built with a purpose, a purpose which it is currently not achieving because administrators are not operating in the capacity as they should.

He said it is the duty of the administrators to bring to the attention of the Public Health Ministry problems they are faced with. This he noted is not being done.

According to Norton, the DDC has seen better days and is losing its previous status.

Assessing the situation, Dr Norton stated: “We cannot afford to have Diamond Diagnostic Centre crumble, this is not going to happen, and we are going to implement the necessary changes to bring it back to where it was and even better.”

He reminded the administrators that each year, the hospital have a history of sending back $6 million to the Consolidated Funds, which should not repeat itself this year.

“What is happening, we have to work together, we need this thing to work,” Norton petitioned the administrators.

He further reminded that the Diagnostic Centre was built to relieve the situation at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) but is presently forwarding patients to GPH instead.

Crisis

Questioning the administrators, Dr Norton was updated about the plights the hospital is presently facing.

With a visible list of the problems affecting the facility, Medical Superintendent of the hospital Dr Micheal Pereira relayed that chief among the issues plaguing the institution is the shortage of doctors, nurses, drugs, and medical equipment.

Because of these shortages, surgeries at the institution cannot be conducted and persons are being rescheduled constantly or referred to the GPH.

Dr Pereira informed that there are no certified pharmacists at the hospital nor are there sufficient ambulance drivers.

The minister was also told that employees are not being paid on time; there is no Police Outpost at the facility; and no security service is available. There is also the need for social workers.

The administrators also decried the poor facilities they are forced to work with on a daily basis.

According to the administrators, there are broken doors in the hospital, non-functional air-conditioning units, leaking roof, insufficient equipment and medication in the ambulances, black mould forming on the roofs, and the lack of water.

Presently the fire service has been supplying the hospital with water as Guyana Water Incorporation (GWI) is facing difficulties supplying water not only to the hospital but to the entire area.

According to the administrators, the issues currently facing the hospital have been ongoing for a number of months.

After listening to the situation, Dr Norton explained that it is not his desire to point a finger at administrators but to get them functioning in an effective manner.

“Anything that happens at Timehri its diamond they will be coming, at the stadium, it’s Diamond that they will be coming so we cannot afford to leave this hospital in such a terrible condition”.

Solution

The Public Health Minister proposed a qualified individual to be put in place at the hospital to take the lead over the administrators.

“We need to get the administration under better control to have things working better.”

According to the administrators, the tendering process for approval of funds for the equipment and ordered drugs from the region is proving to be a huge issue, as such the minister said that consultations must be carried out to have this changed.

Consultations will also have to be held with the Materials Management Unit who is currently not supplying sufficient medical equipment, drugs to the hospital and delaying the process on many occasions.

Norton also assured that better qualified persons will be employed at the facility.

“We need to identify the problem, think about the solution, and work towards the solution. If we are doing things one way and we are not getting results then we got to change it but we want to do it together”.

Visibly frustrated, both Norton and Cummings noted that they must find a way forward to fix the situation urgently.

 

RIO Olympics should be moved or postponed— Scientists

More than 100 leading scientists say the Rio Olympics should be moved or postponed over the Zika outbreak. The group says new findings about the virus make it “unethical” for the games to go ahead in an open letter to the World Health Organization (WHO).

They call on the WHO to urgently revise its guidelines on Zika, which is linked to serious birth defects. The International Olympic Committee said it sees no reason to delay or move the games due to Zika. The outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease began in Brazil a year ago, but now more than 60 countries and territories have continuing transmission.

Zika’s symptoms are mild, but in the letter the experts say it causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads and may also cause a rare and sometimes fatal neurological syndrome in adults.

The letter is signed by 125 international scientists, doctors and medical ethicists from such institutions as Oxford University and Harvard and Yale universities in the United States.

They cite the failure of a mosquito-eradication programme in Brazil, and the country’s “weakened” health system as reasons to postpone or move the Olympics in “the name of public health”.

“An unnecessary risk is posed when 500,000 foreign tourists from all countries attend the Games, potentially acquire that strain, and return home to places where it can become endemic,” the letter says.

The biggest risk, it adds, is if athletes contracted the virus and returned home to poor countries that had not yet suffered a Zika outbreak.

The Rio Olympics take place between August 5-21.

The WHO, which has declared the Zika virus a global public health emergency, is yet to comment on the letter.

On Thursday, the head of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, whose advice is quoted approvingly in the letter, said the threat did not warrant halting the games.

“There is no public health reason to cancel or delay the Olympics,” Dr Tom Frieden said.

But he also urged the US to act more quickly to prevent pregnant women contracting Zika, amid congressional deadlock over the release of $1.9bn (£1.3bn) in funding. (BBC)

6 narcotics traffickers accused freed

The case against six Lindeners accused of trafficking in narcotics was dismissed by Magistrate Clive Nurse, when they made an appearance at the Linden Magistrate’s Court.

Trevon Elcock, 30, a Labourer of Lot 134 One Mile, Wismar, Neville Bustianni, 39, of Lot 656 Block 22, Wismar; Ronald Reid, 35, of Constabulary Compound, Mackenzie, Shemrick Peters, 24, of One Mile, Wismar, Wesley Hercules, 54, of Lot 119 Wismar Housing Scheme, and Willita Bess were all slapped with the charge to which they had been granted bail after pleading not guilty.

It was alleged that they had 58 grammes of cannabis sativa in their possession at Wismar Housing Scheme on Saturday December 5, 2015. It was further alleged that the six accused were observed smoking while playing dominoes by Police on patrol in the said area.

However, after perusing the evidence against them, Magistrate Clive Nurse ruled that the case be dismissed due to insufficient evidence.

 

Minibus drivers slapped with causing death charge

Bagotstown accident

The two minibus drivers allegedly responsible for causing the death of Roxanne Mitchell, killed on Independence night, were both slapped with a causing death by dangerous driving charge when they appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Jamal Mcloud, 60, and his co-accused, Michael Thorne, 26, were arraigned on Friday before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

They were not required to plea to the indictable charge, which stated that on May 26, 2016 at Bagotstown Public Road, East Bank Demerara they drove vehicles bearing license plate BPP 6158 and BPP167 respectively, in a manner dangerous to the public thereby causing the death of Mitchell.

Mcloud was represented by Attorney Bernard Dasilva. Dasilva in a bail application told the court that the charge laid against his client is a mere allegation, since his (Mcloud) vehicle was hit from behind at the time of the collision.

He further added that Mcloud suffers from hypertension and is a diabetic patient, who has no prior brushes with the law and poses no flight risk since his Guyana passport is invalid.

According to Dasilva his client was Mitchell’s neighbour.

Meanwhile, Mark Conway representing Thorne stated in his bail application that his client is incapable of moving around since he sustained serious injuries in the collision. He is currently being physically supported by his family, the lawyer said.

Prosecutor Deniro Jones made no objections to their requests and so were released on $250,000 bail each. According to reports, Mitchell was returning home from the Independence flag-raising ceremony when the accident occurred at about 01:30h.

The case will continue on June 3, 2016.

 

Canadian PM apologises to Indo-Canadians

Dear Editor,

On May 20, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologised in the Canadian House of Commons (Parliament) to India and Indo-Canadians for his country’s refusal to admit people of Indian descent into Canada some 112 years ago.

It was referred to as the Komagata Maru incident – the ship carrying Indians from Hong Kong to British Columbia where it was denied docking forcing the passengers to live aboard under treacherous conditions and then returned to Calcutta, India, with the Indians aboard.

The PM told parliament: “I rise in this House to offer an apology on behalf of the Government of Canada for our role in the Komagata Maru incident”. He described the incident as “a great injustice” against people of Indian descent.

A report in an Indian medium noted this was the second time a Canadian Prime Minister apologised for the black mark in the history of Indo-Canadian immigration. Also, over the last several decades, the Canadian government took steps to right the wrongs committed during the Komagata Maru fiasco.

As recorded in history, Gurdit Singh, an Indo-Canadian immigration pioneer, chartered the Japanese steamship SS Komagata Maru to take people from India to Canada. The Indians first made their way to Hong Kong with 165 Indians aboard and from there to Shanghai and Yokohama, Japan, where additional passengers joined the journey.

The ship arrived on the shores of British Columbia after some 40 days. But Canada refused the ship permission to dock and the passengers were detained on board for two months waiting a resolution from negotiations between British and Canadian authorities.

Non-Indians were off loaded and “the dreams of the rest of the asylum-seekers were shattered”, notes the report.

They were rejected under laws that excluded Indians from settling in Canada. Their problems did not end there.

Upon their return in Calcutta, British gunboats blocked the ship’s entry into port. The passengers were treated as law-breakers and political agitators. A general riot ensued when the police boarded the ship to capture the leaders.

“In the melee, 19 passengers were shot and killed, and the rest were jailed”. Indian emigration has a long history, going back to over a thousand years, as Indians sought to help other countries with their development. Indian indentured trade started with the French government in 1826 to her colonies in the Caribbean and Indian Ocean area. Indians were indentured to Guyana in 1838 and later to the Dutch, French and Spanish Caribbean.

In recent time, Indian émigrés have been welcomed in Canada and other developed countries that once precluded Indians from settling including Japan, Italy, Ireland, US and Germany all of which have been sourcing Indian medics and techies for industrial development.

Indians are doing quite well in many countries leading the way in scientific and engineering research and their skills are in great demand. All of these countries are proud of the presence of Indians.

Prime Minister Trudeau should be applauded for his apology which is welcomed by the Indo-Canadian community (Indo-Guyanese are categorized as Indo-Canadians).

Yours truly,

Vishnu Bisram

 

Burnham Scholarship Trust gets $1M from GAC

The Guyana Action Committee (GAC) on Friday handed over a cheque for $1 million to the Burnham Education

Members of the GAC handing over the cheque to BEST representatives in the presence of PNC Chairman Basil Williams

Members of the GAC handing over the cheque to BEST representatives in the presence of PNC Chairman Basil Williams

Scholarship Trust (BEST).

The money was proceeds of a fund-raising Gala and Dinner hosted by the US-based organisation at the Pegasus Hotel last Saturday. The $1 million cheque was handed over to representatives of BEST in the presence of Chairman of the People’s National Congress, Basil Williams.

BEST was established in 2012 by then Leader of PNC and Opposition Leader David Granger and gives bursary awardes to children whose parents have affiliation with PNC.

President of GAC Errol Lewis disclosed that about a year ago the Committee was asked to support the work of the Scholarship Trust and increase the number of awardees: “We thought that as this year would be the 50th year of Independence, we would host a gala and give the proceeds to the Burnham Education Scholarship Trust so that they continue their work,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Operations Director of GAC Bonita Montague stated that the organisation is happy to make such a contribution, especially since it has a vested interest in literacy development in Guyana. She noted that the committee is particularly concerned about education status and thus wants to do whatever is necessary to help.

“For us, this is more than a donation; for us, it’s an exercise of changing lives, a commitment to humanity, building our future, developing Guyana and for us, it is developing literacy in Guyana,” Montague stated.

Moreover, the US-based organisation is calling on persons in the diaspora to do their part and support the development of Guyana in any way they can.

Meanwhile, representative from BEST Cheryl Sampson noted that since the establishment of the Fund, they have distributed bursary awards of $30,000 per person to some 46 children from across Guyana. She noted that these awardees are selected by the party’s regional representatives.

“BEST is particularly thankful for your contribution, it will be greatly helpful for those children who are selected to be awarded,” the Trust’s Board said.

The Guyana Action Committee has done several projects locally most of which aims at promoting and encouraging education among children. They have held annual literacy activities, information technology literacy programmes and constructed several recreational facilities throughout the country, among other projects.

Another area that GAC is passionate about is domestic violence and as such the organisation is working on constructing a transitional centre for women and children.

 

Jubilee babies delivered at GPH

ANSA McAL gifted “Bundles of Joy” hampers

By Ramona Luthi

Babies are hope of new beginnings for parents. With their coos, squeals, giggles and wails these bundles of joy

New mother Natalia Francis with Brand Representaive Joel Lee, Nurse Tamella Heywood, Sister Prescott and Nurse Charmine Pearson

New mother Natalia Francis with Brand Representaive Joel Lee, Nurse Tamella Heywood, Sister Prescott and Nurse Charmine Pearson

brightens any room with their presence. All expectant parents want the birth of a healthy, happy baby but to those 12 mothers who had their babies arrive on the historic day of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee of Independence, it was beyond a special moment.

According to Public Relations Officer of the Georgetown Public Hospital, Mitzy Campbell, 12 beautiful babies were delivered within the 24-hour time span of the country’s Independence Day anniversary, noting they were an equal share of six boys and six girls. Meanwhile, as part of their contribution to the 50th Independence Jubilee Anniversary to the new mothers, Ansa McAl Trading Limited distributed “Bundle of Joy” hampers and congratulations expressed by brand representative Joel Lee.

Fraud accused released on $160,000 bail

A Correia Air Services employee appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan slapped with two counts of fraud.

Orin McKay, 60, of Lot 2678 Manatee Place, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to both charges.

The first charge stated that on July 26, 2012, with intent to defraud McKay endeavoured to obtain one individual half share at Lot 2678 Manatee Place, South Ruimveldt Park, by virtue of an application by way of deed of gift, knowing that the signature purporting to be that of the owner William Vibert Halley was forged.

The second charge alleged that on October 17, 2012 at the same location with intent to defraud, by way of transfer he forged the signature of the said William Vibert Halley.

McKay’s Attorney Kevon Bess related to the court that the alleged forged documents carried the signature of a Justice of the Peace (JP), who swore the document.

Bess argued that the document was prepared an attorney and the prosecutor should take into consideration the signed affidavit. He further requested reasonable bail for his client or for him to be released on his own recognizance.

Prosecutor Deniro Jones made no objections to bail but asked for a substantial amount. Chief Magistrate McLennan granted McKay $160,000 bail. The case will continue on June 15.