October 18, 2016

Archives for June 8, 2016

Forensic audits have exposed APNU/AFC

Dear Editor,
It is now clear why the APNU/AFC regime has been reluctant to release the reports of its forensic audits. These audits were set up because the two parties that form the Government today have fallen victim of their own lies and the vicious and sustained attacks launched by the media. The forensic audits have not uncovered any fraud in the entities they have thus far investigated.
Many of the auditors employed by the regime are well-known critics of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic and the PPP/C Governments. Those ‘hit men’, when they failed to find fraud, have resorted to slander, insinuation and gross distortion.
The latest example is the report appearing on May 30 on the E-Governance Project.
Instead of emphasising that no evidence of fraud was discovered, the newspaper chose to speak of the Project Manager’s salary. The main idea was to get at the PPP/C Government, thus the screaming headline “Ramotar’s Son…”
What is most disturbing is the unethical, unprincipled and unprofessional manner adopted by these forensic audits.
In most cases, the auditors did not seek to interview the persons who were in charge of the various entities. The heads of these bodies were not asked for explanations and/or clarifications. To date, most of them were not even given the courtesy of perusing the reports.
Those persons who were questioned promptly responded, but they were just as promptly ignored and not made public for public viewing and assessment.
On June 1, 2016, in another section of the media, former CEO of the Guyana Water Inc, Shaik Baksh, bemoaned their attitude, pointing out that in areas where he was written to and responded, the report did not include his responses.
This is similar to what was done to Mr Winston Brassington, whose responses concerning the NICIL reports were ignored and not published for public viewing.
In the latest report on the E-Governance Project, they failed to point out that the Project was completed on time and within budget. The team that executed that project was a small one comprising six persons. Their work should be commended.
As far as the salary of the head of the project is concerned, it is far below what the present head of the unit is receiving. Additionally, he inherited a completed project.
Mr Alexei Ramotar’s highest salary was approximately US$3000 per month. However, it has been reported that the present head is receiving some US$15,000 (G$3,000,000).
This amount is some 500 per cent more than what Mr Ramotar was paid.
Given Mr Ramotar’s holding a Master’s Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science, his monthly salary of G$600,000 was modest. It pales in comparison with that of the present head of that unit.
Moreover, as mentioned above, the team, under the PPP/C Administration, comprised six persons. Under the present Administration, the size of the unit has grown three-fold. Now, middle management personnel salaries are bigger than what the head received under the PPP/C Government.
The regime has gone on a wild spending spree, including creating jobs for the boys and high increases in remuneration for their friends. All this is being done amidst their talk of inheriting an empty treasury – a great contradiction to their tales of corruption.
The dilemma of this regime and their supporters in the media is that the audits that they have brought into being have exposed the lies being peddled by the APNU/AFC and the media, particularly the Kaieteur News, which led the crusade on corruption. Those reports have proven to be highly exaggerated and false.
But it is clear that this regime has no interest in fighting corruption.
If they were and if they are interested in finding out if the PPP/C Government was involved in corrupt activities, then they would not have voted against the motion put by the PPP/C in Parliament calling for international auditors to audit all Government books.
If they wanted to fight corruption, why did they reject the PPP/C’s motion in Parliament calling for all Members of Parliament (that should have been extended to senior personnel in Government) to declare their assets, both locally and abroad?
Persons found falsifying their declarations should face mandatory jail sentences. The APNU/AFC voted against this motion.
The regime is probably afraid that most of their members would find themselves in prison should that become the law. It is, therefore, impossible to escape the conclusion that the APNU/AFC is not interested in fighting corruption.
The most important thing is for them to try to throw mud at the PPP/C, to continue to make numerous charges of corruption. Cheap policies are more important than real action.
The audits ordered by the regime have clearly exposed its lies as report after report has revealed the same thing – no evidence of corruption.

Sincerely,
Name withheld

Ramayya ordered out of NA Hospital compound

Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Dr Veerasammy Ramayya was ordered out of the compound of the New Amsterdam Hospital, by the institution’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Colin Bynoe.

Dr Veerasammy Ramayya

Dr Veerasammy Ramayya

Ramayya reportedly went to the Hospital last Friday to investigate reports that one of the operating theatres was out of order. He was seen entering the office of the CEO for a closed-door meeting.
However, moments later, staff reported seeing the REO exiting the office with Bynoe behind him shouting that he was the CEO of the Hospital. According to eyewitnesses, Bynoe told the REO that if he needed to visit the Hospital, he should first seek permission from him.
Ramayya confirmed that he was ordered out of the Hospital compound, but did not divulge more information.
In April, Chairman of the Regional Health Committee, Haseef Yusuf reported that there had been several complaints issued against the CEO who allegedly has been verbally abusive to visitors and staff of the institution.
Yusuf also alleged that there was also a report that the CEO had physically abused a doctor at the institution. Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton has advised that the doctor report the matter to Police.
The issue was raised at a recent Regional Democratic Council (RDC) meeting and Director of Regional Health Services Jevaughn Stephens defended Bynoe saying that the doctor was not assaulted.
“I investigated a matter which was proved not to be true, the same doctor came and said he is sorry because of his interpretation of the issue. I personally called the Police and told them to expect the doctor to come to make a report. I did that from my office in front of the ‘complainee’ and the other guy.”
The matter had also been reported to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon on April 22, during the Ministry of the Presidency Outreach Programme at State House in New Amsterdam.
However, Stephens said he was now forced to deal with several other matters involving the CEO. “There are several complaints of a said nature. I can assure you that these complaints are being taken seriously. Before I came here this morning, I had to deal with a said complaint. I have engaged the Minister of Health and his Ministry to deal with that matter. There is nothing that comes to my desk or my office that I intend to push under the carpet.”
Regional Chairman David Armogan had also asked the Public Health Minister to investigate the matter involving the REO.

6 arrested for KN grenade attack

Having obtained CCTV footage from Saturday night’s incident when a live grenade was hurdled at a vehicle belonging to Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall at the newspaper’s Saffon Street office, detectives have since arrested a number of persons who are in custody assisting with the investigation.
According to the Police, after reviewing the surveillance footage, it was revealed that the grenade was hurled from a heavily tinted unlicensed grey Spacio motor vehicle. Leads based on the footage resulted in investigators detaining six suspects and impounding a motor car on Tuesday.

Surveillance footage of the suspected vehicle as it passed by Lall’s vehicle Saturday night

Surveillance footage of the suspected vehicle as it passed by Lall’s vehicle Saturday night

 The live grenade that was found next to Lall’s SUV shortly after the vehicle in question had passed

The live grenade that was found next to Lall’s SUV shortly after the vehicle in question had passed

“The suspects were arrested in the wee hours of June 7, 2016 at different locations and are in custody assisting with investigations,” the Police said in a statement.
When questioned about the suspects in custody, A Division (Georgetown and East Bank Demerara) Commander Clifton Hicken told this newspaper that the Police did not want to divulge any information about the six persons as yet, noting that at the time (Tuesday night) investigators were still questioning the individuals about the incident.
Nevertheless, Hicken assured that the Force was working assiduously to find the perpetrator of the attack that has caused much stir within the country.
The live grenade was hurled at Lall’s vehicle as Kaieteur News held its first night of wakes to pay respect to Assistant Editor Dale Andrews who died on Friday.
Persons who were at the wake recalled hearing a strange sound, but only assumed that it was the sound of a glass shattering. However, when a thorough check was made, the grenade was found lying next to the right tyre of Lall’s black Lexus vehicle.
The Police were summoned and the area was immediately cordoned off while bomb experts deactivated the device. They noted it was a miracle that the live grenade did not explode.
This attack on Lall has been condemned by many, with Government calling it an act of “domestic terrorism”. In a statement on the night of the attack, Government said it was alarmed by the act of domestic terrorism attempted against the newspaper and pledged its resolute support in defence of press freedom in Guyana.
“We do not believe that the dropping of a grenade, even if a fake device, alongside a newspaper publisher’s vehicle could be considered a joke or a hoax. It was grave and an undisputed act of terror designed to intimidate, harm and create fear,” the coalition Administration stated.
On Monday, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Clement Rohee too expressed great concern over the attack, saying that his PPP has always been opposed to any act of terrorism.
In addition, the Guyana Press Association (GPA) has stated that such an attack has a chilling effect on press freedom. “All stakeholders in the international community, Opposition, Government and civil society must speak out against what seems like a calculated act to intimidate the work of Kaieteur News. The media in Guyana must be allowed to carry out its crucial work of being society’s watchdog, ensuring transparency and efficacy in State and the Private Sector, without frightening distractions like these,” the GPA said.
Moreover, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) also condemned the act. The PSC in a statement urged the Police to expedite their investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice in the shortest possible time.
A number of other media organisations have also condemned the attack.

GDF awaits report from Venezuelan officials – Brigadier Phillips

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) said it was currently awaiting a report from officials of the Bolivarian

Brigadier Mark Phillips

Brigadier Mark Phillips

Republic of Venezuela, who were recently dispatched to carry out an investigation into allegations that soldiers from the Spanish-speaking nation had opened fire on a group of Guyanese in the Cuyuni River.
Army Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips on Tuesday informed Guyana Times that the Venezuelans recently dispatched their team to the border to carry out an investigation into the incident, which took place at the border. He said the officials there would have to report to their high command.
Late last month, Phillips confirmed that three mining officers of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) came under fire from the National Bolivarian Armed Forces while travelling in a boat in the Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
Venezuelan soldiers said they thought the occupants of the boat were smuggling contraband and fuel. While there were no injuries sustained during the shooting incident, the Guyana Government has strongly condemned the attack and demonstrated this by sending a strongly worded letter (Note Verbale) to the Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Ministry. It conveyed the Government of Guyana’s “grave concern over this incident and called on the Venezuelan Government to desist from such provocative and dangerous actions on Guyana’s borders”.
Police sources in Eteringbang had told Guyana Times that shots were fired; however, none of the mining officers nor the captain of the boat were injured in the shooting incident.
The source said the officers were carrying out inspections and monitoring of gold mining camps in the Cuyuni when the Venezuelan soldiers opened fire on them.
The officers, the source added, were forced to seek cover by lying flat in the boat as the captain sought to get the attention of the Venezuelan troops with whom he was said to be familiar.
After the frightful incident, the GGMC officers proceeded to file a Police report at the Eteringbang outpost.
Government said last week that it was preparing to engage the United Nations) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon after it received the preliminary report on the shooting incident.
“This matter will be brought to the attention of Secretary General of the United Nations in his capacity as Good Officer under the Geneva Agreement, and members of the UN and its Security Council will also be notified,” a statement from Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Ministry on Wednesday stated.
Also, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said it has dispatched a Note Verbale to the Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Ministry, conveying the Government of Guyana’s “grave concern” over this incident.
The note also called on the Venezuelan Government to “desist from such provocative and dangerous actions on the Guyana border”, adding that such actions could only lead to a destabilisation of relations.

GDF awaits report from Venezuelan officials – Brigadier Phillips

Border shooting incident

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) said it was currently awaiting a report from officials of the Bolivarian

Brigadier Mark Phillips

Brigadier Mark Phillips

Republic of Venezuela, who were recently dispatched to carry out an investigation into allegations that soldiers from the Spanish-speaking nation had opened fire on a group of Guyanese in the Cuyuni River.

Army Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips on Tuesday informed Guyana Times that the Venezuelans recently dispatched their team to the border to carry out an investigation into the incident, which took place at the border. He said the officials there would have to report to their high command.

Late last month, Phillips confirmed that three mining officers of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) came under fire from the National Bolivarian Armed Forces while travelling in a boat in the Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Venezuelan soldiers said they thought the occupants of the boat were smuggling contraband and fuel. While there were no injuries sustained during the shooting incident, the Guyana Government has strongly condemned the attack and demonstrated this by sending a strongly worded letter (Note Verbale) to the Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Ministry. It conveyed the Government of Guyana’s “grave concern over this incident and called on the Venezuelan Government to desist from such provocative and dangerous actions on Guyana’s borders”.

Police sources in Eteringbang had told Guyana Times that shots were fired; however, none of the mining officers nor the captain of the boat were injured in the shooting incident.

The source said the officers were carrying out inspections and monitoring of gold mining camps in the Cuyuni when the Venezuelan soldiers opened fire on them.

The officers, the source added, were forced to seek cover by lying flat in the boat as the captain sought to get the attention of the Venezuelan troops with whom he was said to be familiar.

After the frightful incident, the GGMC officers proceeded to file a Police report at the Eteringbang outpost.

Government said last week that it was preparing to engage the United Nations) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon after it received the preliminary report on the shooting incident.

“This matter will be brought to the attention of Secretary General of the United Nations in his capacity as Good Officer under the Geneva Agreement, and members of the UN and its Security Council will also be notified,” a statement from Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Ministry on Wednesday stated.

Also, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said it has dispatched a Note Verbale to the Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Ministry, conveying the Government of Guyana’s “grave concern” over this incident.

The note also called on the Venezuelan Government to “desist from such provocative and dangerous actions on the Guyana border”, adding that such actions could only lead to a destabilisation of relations.

 

GuySuCo requests time to respond to court order

Wales Estate closure case

By Shemuel Fanfair

After finally showing up at the High Court to defend itself over non-consultations with unions on the employment status of sugar workers attached to the Wales Estate, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo)

GAWU General Secretary Seepaul Narine and NAACIE General Secretary Kenneth Joseph speaking to the media

GAWU General Secretary Seepaul Narine and NAACIE General Secretary Kenneth Joseph speaking to the media

has asked for time to respond to the litigation.

Justice Roxanne George on Tuesday granted the Sugar Corporation the requested time to respond to the legal action brought by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) on the severance and redeployment of Wales Estate workers.

This follows an interim injunction which barred GuySuCo, its servants and/or agents from proceeding to sever the employment of the sugar workers from the Estate, unless consultations with the workers were held.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, GuySuCo claimed that it was not served notice of the legal action and as such, was not ready to answer to the litigation. Justice George obliged and the sugar entity was given until Friday to prepare and submit a response to the legal action.

Speaking with the media after the hearing, officials from GAWU and NAACIE – Seepaul Narine and Kenneth Joseph – both observed that GuySuCo had an obligation to honour the requisite laws regarding the employment of workers.

Narine, GAWU’s General Secretary, stated that in keeping with the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, Chapter 99:08, GuySuCo has to meet with the unions for consultations before any worker could be made redundant. “[GuySuCo] ought to comply with the law and that is what the court order has directed them to do,” Narine noted.

Joseph, NAACIE’s General Secretary, expressed that there were laws which workers had to follow, so the Sugar Corporation should follow suit.

“GuySuCo needs to understand that they are not lord-it-all…GuySuCo is breaching the laws; this is what has been going on between the union and the company for a very long time and I think with the new CEO, we will have to struggle a bit harder,” Joseph pointed out.

Meanwhile, the unions’ Attorney, Anil Nandlall said he found it quite strange that the Sugar Corporation at this stage would claim that it had not received notice of the court action. Nandlall deemed this action as “delaying tactics”.

The case will continue in the High Court on June 28.

When the matter was heard on May 24, GuySuCo’s lawyers were absent which forced the case to be rescheduled to June 7. In the meantime, 99 of 105 sugar workers who were promised severance on May 4 remain without employment from the Estate. This continues even though the workers were given letters on March 22 stating that they would be paid termination benefits.

GuySuCo maintains that the injunction barred the payments to workers. GAWU has, however, pointed out that the agreement between the workers and GuySuCo was reached before the May 6 injunction was granted.

The court action was brought after GuySuCo began discussions with individual employees of the Wales Estate to negotiate severance packages without informing or involving the unions. At one point, workers were given a three-day ultimatum to make their decision on accepting severance or being redeployed, but GuySuCo shelved these plans after the media was informed.

GAWU and NAACIE are also seeking damages in excess of $1 million for breach of statutory duty owing under the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act.

Sugar operations at Wales will close by yearend.

 

Healthy Oceans, Healthy Planet

Today is the day proclaimed by the United Nations as World’s Oceans Day. It is a day set aside, as with most of the international days of observances, to shed light on important issues affecting the world that are often overlooked. The theme for this year is “Healthy Oceans, Healthy Planet”, with emphasis being placed on reducing plastic pollution in our rivers and oceans.
Plastics can contribute to the reduction of our carbon footprint because of their stability and resistance to degradation. They provide improved insulation, lighter packaging, and are found in phones, computers, medical devices, etc. However, the very properties that make plastics so useful, namely their stability and resistance to degradation, are also what cause them to be so problematic after they have served their purpose.
These materials persist in the environment and are not readily degraded or processed by natural biological organisms. Research from the United Nations has outlined that once discarded, plastics are weathered and eroded into very small fragments known as “micro-plastics”. These together with plastic pellets are already found on most beaches around the world, suspended in seawater, and on the seabed in sediments.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), plastic debris causes the deaths of more than a million seabirds every year, as well as more than 100,000 marine mammals. At least 267 different species are known to have suffered from entanglement or ingestion of marine debris including seabirds, turtles, seals, sea lions, whales and fish.
Research has shown that much of the waste and plastics found at sea originates on land. “The effect of coastal littering and dumping is compounded by vectors such as rivers and storm drains discharging litter from inland urban areas,” says the UNEP report on plastic debris in the world’s ocean.
UNESCO posits that plastic materials and other litter can become concentrated in certain areas called “gyres” as a result of marine pollution gathered by oceanic currents. “There are now five gyres in our ocean. The North Pacific Gyre, known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, occupies a relatively stationary area that is twice the size of Texas.”
According to the UNEP report, “seven of the EU Member States plus Norway and Switzerland recover more than 80% of their used plastics. These countries adopt an integrated waste and resource management strategy to address each waste stream with the best options. However, waste and disposal remain an issue in most of the world.”
This brings us to Guyana, where our culture sadly is to use our roads, lands and rivers as the bins and receptacles for our plastic and other wastes. This is invariably contributing to the pollution of the oceans. While we have legislative sanctions against littering, they do not seem a formidable deterrent since littering continues unabated.
Thankfully, from an institutional level our leaders are pushing for Guyana to become a green economy. Part of the push entails the ban on the importation and use of Styrofoam in Guyana. Once we have exhausted our domestic supply of existing food boxes, plates and cups, etc, made of Styrofoam, it is expected that the ban will be fully implemented and we will have no choice but to use only environmentally safe bio-degradable alternatives. So, in the event, our litter culture does not change, at the very least those biodegradable alternatives will decay after a while.
The problem does not end there though: we have to start making a concerted effort to improve our environment and country by ensuring that other non-biodegradable waste products such as water bottles, other plastics, and aluminium products are safely disposed of and do not reach our ocean, becoming marine debris.
There are recycling plants in Guyana that recycle cardboard and paper; it is not clear whether we have plants that recycle plastics and rubber. In the final analysis, however, we incur clean-up and disposal costs, amounting to millions of dollars, a cost borne by the taxpaying public. It would, therefore, make sense for us to go the route of Norway and the EU member countries and “adopt an integrated waste and resource management strategy to address each waste stream with the best options”. Maybe this is an area that the Government can invest in via a Public-Private Partnership.

Ming cops podium finish in F1600

Guyanese race car driver, Calvin Ming continued his impressive performances in the F1600 series where he managed to get yet another podium finish, this time in third place at the 2016 F1600 Formula F Championship

Ming  leads the pack in the F1600 at  Virginia International Raceway

Ming leads the pack in the F1600 at Virginia International Raceway

Series descended at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) over the weekend.

In race one, Ming started in the 2nd position as he had qualified brilliantly in a time of 1:59.408 which was only about a half second behind the pole sitter. The race had numerous battles throughout the field with # 82, Calvin Ming of Team Pelfrey narrowly missing the podium and finished 4th overall behind # 07,

Steve Bamford in the Rice Race Prep car out of Canada. # 81, Phillippe Denes, Ming’s teammate was nipped at the finish line by a narrow margin by race winner # 3, Neil Verhagen of K-Hill Motorsports in the 13 car field that saw a few caution flags.

Race 2, # 82, Calvin Ming once again started in the 2nd position after a wonderful qualifying session and battled hard amongst the 14 field (setting a best lap time of 1:59.622) before being edged at the finish line by 0.053 seconds in a 3-way photo finish but, nonetheless a podium finish with his Team Pelfrey teammate # 81, Phillippe Denes

Calvin Ming started 3rd on the grid with another decent qualification and was part of the exciting battle towards the checkered flag. Fortunately, Ming was able to avoid the incident that included a number of lead cars on the final lap. He went on to finish 4.103 seconds behind in 5th overall. The podium was filled by # 07, Steve Bamford in 3rd overall (Masters Winner), # 90, Trenton Estep in 2nd place with his teammate in the Exclusive Autosport Spectrum entry, # 92, Ben Auriemma capitalizing on the last lap incident to claim his first victory.

Ming completed the podium for Team Pelfrey, saying: “It was a battle royale and a pretty good race.”

With a decent weekend(4th, 3rd, 5th), # 82, Calvin Ming picked up needed points towards the championships and will no doubt be ready to contest the next round to be held at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on July 1- 3, 2016.

 

Deputy Mayor not authorised to speak on Council’s behalf – Mayor

City parking meters

By Ramona Luthi

Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Green has revealed that the comments of Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan on the issue of parking meters in the city are reflective of his own views and not those of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).

Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan

Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan

The Mayor made the disclosure on Tuesday when this newspaper sought clarity from her on a contradiction between Duncan’s comments and that of the contractor with respect to ownership of the meters and revenues that would be collected.
According to Chase Green, the only persons with authority to speak on the Council’s behalf were the Town Clerk, Royston King or the Public Relations Officer, Debra Lewis.

Mayor Patricia Chase Green

Mayor Patricia Chase Green

“The Deputy Mayor speaks of his own personal reservation. He doesn’t speak on behalf of the Council. The only persons that can speak on behalf of the Council are the Town Clerk and Public Relations Officer,” the Mayor said.
This statement comes after Duncan on Saturday said that the installation of parking meters, which was said to begin in September, would be a contracted agreement inherited from the previous Administration. The Deputy Mayor highlighted that though there was an intended partnership between the city and the contractor, Smart City Solutions, the latter would be the sole owner of the meters.
Prior to this revelation by the Deputy Mayor, Guyana Times spoke with Chairman of National Parking Meters and the Director of Smart City Solutions, Kamau Cush who announced that the city of Georgetown would benefit from the parking meters with an annual income of $100 to $200 million. However, Duncan contradicted this statement by relaying that the city would instead be receiving a standard 20 per cent gross income accumulated by the parking systems.
In response to this, Cush confirmed that Duncan’s statement held some truth with regard to the percentage of income for City Hall, but contended that the city would be 50 per cent owners of the parking system project.
The Deputy Mayor said although he was of the opinion that the installation of the parking meter system would benefit the city, thorough consultations must be done before this huge step was taken by the M&CC.
“The architecture of such policy must be the construct of several stakeholders, chief of which consultation, on every facet of such a plan and project with members of the public and their elected representatives, is paramount. And that consultation should be meaningful. I have no illusion that our municipality needs investment like this. Yet, even as investments are important, we have the responsibility as good stewards of our city to make sure we have the best investments for all the residents of Georgetown,” Duncan had said.

Family Court finally operational

– commences hearings

The much anticipated Family Court has finally commenced operations and is currently hearing cases.
Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh, announced on Tuesday in statement that the Family Division of the High Court has been established and began hearing cases since May 6, 2016.
It has been almost five years since the Family Court building was completed and handed over to Government. Works were ongoing for over seven years to have the Family Court established and in operation, but this was been constantly delayed over the past years.
For almost a year, the delays were blamed on the acquisition of furniture and the hosting of Commissions of Inquiries (CoIs) at the building, located in the compound of the Georgetown Supreme Court, overlooking King Street.
Then more recently, revision of the Rules of Law had caused the opening to push back. However, in February, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams had laid over the completed Rules of Law, which will govern the practices and procedures of the Family Court. The rules were completed a while ago but some “necessary amendments” had to be made.
The Chancellor acknowledged the numerous hurdles that had beset the functioning of the facility, noting that the Supreme Court will treat those as lessons learnt.
The Family Court will hear and determine all proceedings which touch and concern family matters. The procedure of the Family Court will be governed by the Family (Proceedings and Procedure) Rules 2016 (FPPR).
The main applications that could be made to the Court are for divorce, custody and access, division of property, maintenance, guardianship, parentage orders including paternity orders, protection of children, wardship, variation of an existing order and breach of orders. The Court is meant to encourage dispute resolution, including alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, and therefore will facilitate a participatory approach to problem solving so that family disputes can be dealt with justly and expeditiously while ensuring the welfare of family members, especially children.
The Family Court will be presided over by two judges. However, the FPPR will be applied by Judges who are assigned to the Berbice and Essequibo jurisdictions of the High Court where the Court shall receive and hear applications at the New Amsterdam and Suddie High Courts respectively.
The Court has its own registry for receiving applications in family matters and includes a child friendly space in the form of a Children’s Waiting Room for parties who are required to attend the Court. The well trained staff of this new registry are geared to provide a customer friendly process for persons who attend at the registry and the Court.
The Court will work in close liaison with the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) in matters affecting the welfare of children. In addition, it is expected that parties to family court matters will utilise the Mediation Centre of the High Court.
Justice Singh expressed appreciation to the Government of Guyana; the United Nations Children’s Fund; the Government and people of Canada, as well as its diplomatic representatives in Georgetown, for the support readily given to the training of Judges and support staff in the anticipated work of the Family Court.