October 18, 2016

Archives for June 9, 2016

Police amend joint charge against Duncan, former GPL DCEO

GPL conspiracy

Police on Thursday amended the joint charge against former Director of Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Carvil

Former GPL Deputy Chief  Executive Officer Aeshwar Deonarine

Former GPL Deputy Chief
Executive Officer Aeshwar Deonarine

Former GPL Director Carvil Duncan

Former GPL Director Carvil Duncan

Duncan and the company’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Aeshwar Deonarine.

This was revealed by Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers on Thursday, when Duncan made an appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Duncan of Lot 1977 Lanstead Road, Festival City, and Deonarine were jointly charged with conspiring to steal from GPL $984,900 on March 31, 2015.

They were also jointly charged for conspiring to steal from the said company $27,757,547 between May 7 and 8, 2015.

Duncan was also charged separately for allegedly stealing $984,900 from GPL on March 31, 2015.

But the prosecutor told the court that one of the charges will now state that Duncan conspired with others to steal $984,900 from GPL.

The other charge will state that Duncan conspired with others to steal $27,757,547 from the power company between May 7 and 8 of last year.

The former GPL Director made his first court appearance on January 26, 2016 and was placed on $1 million bail.

However, Deonarine continue to elude police and is said to be living in Canada.

Local law enforcement had said they were seeking the help of the International Police (Interpol) in tracking down Deonarine.

Duncan, who is the president of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and General Secretary of the Guyana Labour Union (GTU), will make his next court appearance on July 5.

Another arrest warrant was issued for Deonarine.

 

10 arrested after cocaine found in frozen fish at CJIA

Ten persons were taken into Police custody after a quantity of cocaine was unearthed in frozen fish at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, East Bank Demerara, on Wednesday morning.

The cocaine found stashed in the frozen fish

The cocaine found stashed in the frozen fish

According to reports, at about 02:00h, members of the Police narcotic branch intercepted over six kilograms of cocaine in several boxes. The boxes were found among other cargo during a routine check by Police.
Guyana Times understands that of the 10 arrested, six are ramp attendants attached to a handling service at the main port of entry. The others are reportedly shipping agents.
The consignment of frozen fish was destined for the United States of America. The seizure comes as the Guyana Police Force intensifies its efforts to clamp down on the scourge of drug trafficking.
Police are continuing their investigations.
Only last month, Sarfraz Jalaladeen, 30, of Riverview, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was busted at the CJIA with almost 12 pounds of cocaine in milk powder packets. He was sentenced to serve four years in prison and fined $16.3 million.
Reports are that the welder who was travelling for the first time to the United States via a Caribbean Airlines flight was intercepted by members of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit after they became suspicious after noticing several packets of what appeared to be powdered milk in the man’s suitcases.
A closer examination revealed that the milk packets were resealed and a further check was undertaken. It was then that the ranks realised that the contents of the packets were cocaine. He was arrested and taken to CANU headquarters where the illegal substance was weighed and proved to be just over 6kg.
The suspect told CANU ranks that he was promised US$7000 to traffic the illegal substance to New York but did not say if he was paid an advance.

Taxi driver beaten, robbed

A driver attached to the Green Ice Taxi Service was on Wednesday morning found lying in the back seat of his motor car suspected to have been beaten and robbed after he was hijacked on Tuesday evening. The car was found in Plum Park, Sophia, Greater Georgetown.
The man has been identified as Gavin Brandis, 44, of Lot 1170 Pigeon Place, South Ruimveldt, Greater Georgetown.
According to reports, Brandis received a telephone call to collect a passenger and left his base at Aubrey Barker Road, Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

The car belonging to Brandis in Sophia after the discovery

The car belonging to Brandis in Sophia after the discovery

After some time passed, his wife and other relatives attempted to contact him but their calls went to voice mail. On Wednesday morning, they received reports that his car was found in Plum Park, Sophia and rushed to the scene.
Brandis was found in the back seat of the vehicle with several injuries to his head. His mobile phone and cash, along with jewellery were missing. He is presently a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
The man’s wife when contacted told Guyana Times that at about 20:00h, she attempted to contact her husband but all the calls went unanswered. This, she noted, went on for the remainder of the night which threw the family into panic.
According to the woman, she was in contract with the taxi service base but up to midnight, there was no word on her husband’s whereabouts. She said early Wednesday morning, the family received a call from one of the drivers at the base informing them that the car was found in Sophia and someone was lying in the back seat.
Her brother-in-law, she noted, went to the scene while she made her way to the hospital. She said that her husband arrived at the hospital in an unconscious state and was immediately admitted.
The woman further stated that based on reports received, her husband suffered lacerations to his head. The Police however, were called in and two resident of Sophia were up to late Wednesday evening detained.
They are continuing their investigations into the incident.

“I have a right to speak” – Deputy Mayor

Parking meter debacle
By Ramona Luthi

As a controversy regarding the installation of parking meters in Georgetown continues to rage, a war of

Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan

Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan

words seems to be emerging between Mayor Patricia Chase Green and her deputy, Sherod Duncan, who evidently have different views on the contract for the installation of the meters.
Duncan had previously stated the contract for the parking meters was shared between two companies, with Smart City Solutions receiving 50 per cent and another company the remaining 50 per cent.
However that was disputed by Director of Smart City Kamau Kush, who said his company has a contract for the installation of all the meters.
Commenting on Duncan’s position, Chase Green on Tuesday made it clear that the Deputy Mayor was not speaking on behalf of the Council.
However, on Wednesday, Duncan fired back at the Mayor, making it clear that he was elected to represent the views of his constituency.
He said while she was correct that the Council has a Public Relations Officer who speaks on the Council’s behalf, he was reelected as a Councillor to represent all of Georgetown in keeping with the laws.
“The day I was elected to the Council, I did not give up my right to speak on my own behalf or my right to speak on the behalf of all those residents of my constituency and municipality at large. And I most certainly speak for the officer of the Deputy Mayor of the municipality of Georgetown. I don’t believe the argument put forward, whether in a personal capacity or officially on behalf of Council, diminishes the potency and veracity of said arguments,” Duncan asserted.
Duncan also brushed aside reports that there is a “rift” between him and the Mayor.
He said that there are often clashes between persons with differing opinions.
“This is what happens when people with differing views meet. There is a reason why there are 30 Councillors and not just a Town Clerk or just a Mayor and administrative staff. City Hall has to become a place of rigorous discussion, high ideals, and the cross fertilisation of ideas.”
Both Duncan and Chase Greene were elected on APNU/AFC tickets; however, Duncan came from the AFC faction of the coalition, while Chase Green is from the APNU.

Drivers bemoan 100% DHB toll increase

The Government is being criticised for a decision to double the toll paid by cars and motor cycles to traverse the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

Petwam Singh

Petwam Singh

Director of Public Information, in the office of the Prime Minister, Imran Khan was quoted in the media as saying that motor cars will now pay $200 to cross the bridge, up from the $100 paid previously, while motorcycles will not pay $40. They previously paid $20.
Minibus tolls remained at $200 per crossing.
While it is unclear when the new increases will take effect, some taxi drivers who ply several routes to Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) from the outskirts of Georgetown on Wednesday described the increase as “unreasonable”.
One driver, Moses (only name given) noted that passengers who cross the bridge will be burdened. “It would put pressure on the customer; gas is a next thing… I say like a 20 per cent increase would be better,” he noted.

Aubrey Sanko

Aubrey Sanko

It was also explained that at present, passengers pay between $500 and $700 to cross the bridge by taxi, but with imminent increases in the tolls and gas, fares could be hiked to as much as $1000.
Petwam Singh, a father of four, operating taxi for over seven years said high maintenance costs, coupled with the increased tolls will pressure both drivers and commuters.
“We traverse 14 to 15 times a daily if you have to take a passenger from this side to other side for $500, what gas you gonna leff with and [what will be left] for yourself,” he questioned.
“The increase in gas will be worse on us [and] when the tolls increase we [will charge] $1000 and consumers will not feel good [about paying the increase],” Singh further opined.
It was also noted that with the expense of having to purchase new tyres, there should be better maintenance of the roads.

Taxi Operators

Taxi Operators

Meanwhile, Aubrey Sanko, a driver for 15 years, indicated that he does not see the problem with the increase, noting that toll hikes are in keeping with “development”.
“I don’t have a problem with the increase… if this is the way it got to be for us to have development or progress, it is okay with me,” Sanko observed.
When asked if he would increase his car fares with the toll increase, the driver maintained that he would not.
Some persons selling around the Harbour Bridge noted that the increase is justified saying that toll has remained the same for many years.
The 37-year-old bridge linking East Bank and West Bank Demerara is accounting for millions of dollars in maintenance costs on a yearly basis. While the Bridge raked in some $519 million in 2015, over $2 billion was allotted for its maintenance between 2010 and 2015.

Region 5 communities remain under water

– regional officials meet residents, farmers

By Shemuel Fanfair

As the flood situation continues across communities in Region Five (Demerara-Mahaica), Regional

Scene from Moraikobai’s flooding on Tuesday

Scene from Moraikobai’s flooding on Tuesday

Democratic Council officials on Wednesday met with residents and farmers in the communities of Lovely Lass, Trafalgar and Union to address their concerns.
Officials also met with affected residents of Moraikobai on Tuesday.
These meetings came in light of statements made by aggrieved residents who expressed that the regional administration was doing “little or nothing” to address their plight.
Region Five Chairman Vickchand Ramphal told Guyana Times that the water level remains high in many of the areas and some cash crop plots are being destroyed.
He further opined that livestock is also being affected in three areas which is severely threatening the livelihoods of farmers and the economy of the region as a whole.
The Chairman noted that in Trafalgar, the canal and sluice is heavily silted. To this end, it was observed that the Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary-Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) installed a hydraulic pump. Ramphal however cautioned that this pump is insufficient to handle the amount of water on the land.
Guyana Times was told that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will soon provide an additional pump but no clear date has been given for this installation. Meanwhile, this newspaper was told that a medical team will be deployed to affected areas and relevant agencies such as the Civil Defence Commission and the Agriculture Ministry have been notified of the crisis.
On Tuesday, reports surfaced of flooding in Lovely Lass, Mahaica, due to a faulty pump which was installed by MMA/ADA. This publication reported that residents felt the region had “turned a deaf ear” on their plight to have the issue discussed with MMA/ADA.
It was noted that the heavy downpours over the last few days caused this situation to escalate to the point where some of the roads began to deteriorate. Ernest Mona, one affected resident, told this newspaper that in addition to a faulty pump, the general drainage in the area is in dire need of attention. According to Mona, the residents raised the issue with Councillors who reportedly informed that it was not their place to address the flooding situation. The man further remarked that residents who are living on the dams are feeling the full brunt since that part of the area is especially affected.
Regional Chairman Ramphal had confirmed that a solution was not in the hands of the region’s administration since the pump had been placed by the MMA/ADA. He also pointed out that the area is generally prone to flooding so the effects are extended, as the faulty pumps compound the problem.
Over the last few weeks, Guyana Times has been highlighting the challenges which communities in Region Five have been facing as a result of being inundated. It was noted that more resources are needed to alleviate the flooding.
A breached dam along the Perth Canal in Branch Road, Mahaicony, led to significant acreages of rice lands being inundated earlier in May. Farmers there had the costly undertaking of having to pump water out of their rice lands.

“I can go anywhere, it is my responsibility!” – Dr Ramayya

… says NA Hospital CEO was disrespectful, arrogant

By Devina Samaroo

After being unceremoniously ordered out of the New Amsterdam Hospital’s compound on Friday by the

REO Dr Veerasammy Ramayya

REO Dr Veerasammy Ramayya

facility’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Colin Bynoe, the Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) Regional Executive Officer (REO), Dr Veerasammy Ramayya is hoping someone from central government pays heed to the situation, noting that it was utter disrespect to his authority and capacity in the region.
During an interview with Guyana Times on Wednesday, Dr Ramayya stoutly emphasised that he does not need to follow a protocol to enter the Hospital and that generally, representatives of regional organisations would be happy for him to visit and offer advice.
Reflecting on the series of events in the lead up to the “kick out”, Ramayya explained that he was informed that the operating theatre was not working and therefore, surgeries were cancelled.
As a result, he went to the hospital to investigate the matter.
When he arrived, he said the CEO nor the Director of Regional Health Services Jevaughn Stephens were present.
“They were apparently in the Boardroom… so when I went in there, I wanted to know what was the problem, so somebody from the hospital maybe called him to say I was there… I can’t recall if he said ‘good morning’ or not, so the man walk straight to me and said ‘REO I want to see you in my office!” Ramayya related.
The REO said he was in for a surprise. “I sat there and he started to give me a lecture about if I want to go to the hospital, I am supposed to follow protocol. Whenever I want to visit the hospital, he has to be aware and Jevaughn has to be aware. As the REO, I don’t see where I have to meet that demand,” Ramayya insisted.
He posited that it is an insult to his authority in the region.
“This is the arrogance of that man… That is disrespectful because although he is the CEO of the hospital, I as the REO, I can go anywhere, this is my responsibility,” he declared.
Ramayya contended that the CEO seems to have a personal vendetta against him because of his televised broadcasts, which sometimes highlights irregularities at the health institution.
“I am on television, if something [is] wrong with the hospital, I am going to speak out because that is what I did for 23 years… And under my supervision, if something is wrong I will talk about it,” he posited, disclosing that many things are wrong with the operations of the hospital under the stewardship of Bynoe.
However, he did not divulge further details except that the CEO has a long record of insulting and verbally abusing hospital staff.
In April, the 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 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 CEO.
Meanwhile, prompted on how he intends to address the situation moving forward, Ramayya hinted that central government, after seeing the report in the media, should investigate the matter.
“It is there, the people in Georgetown, they have seen it (the report), let them do something about it. Let them come and find out what are the reasons for this to happen,” he stated.

NCN defends $2M debt write-off for Director’s NGO

The State-run broadcaster, the National Communications Network (NCN) on Tuesday defended its decision to write-off a $2 million debt owed by one Merundoi Inc, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO).

Bish Panday

Bish Panday

Merundoi is headed by Margaret Lawrence, who is also a serving member on the NCN Board of Directors.
NCN in defending its decision, highlighted that a proposal from the NGO was submitted way back in 2012 which suggested that it make available the production content of Merundoi for to the State broadcaster, with the NGO paying 50 per cent of the normal broadcast charges and NCN absorbing the remaining 50 per cent.
“NCN did not respond favourably or otherwise to the proposal but collected the 50 per cent broadcast fees and aired the programme. In 2014, NCN instituted court proceedings against Merundoi for the 50 per cent of broadcast charges, and the matter engaged the court,” the broadcaster stated.

Maggie Lawrence

Maggie Lawrence

It added that on April 4, Merundoi made a proposal to pay $250,000, while allowing NCN access to some 500 episodes from two previous seasons of the Radio Serial Drama, as well as a collaboration to produce a TV Sitcom “Cheap and Sweet”, the pilot of which it had submitted to NCN since 2012.
“At a special meeting on April 7th, 2016, the Board unanimously agreed to accept the offer. Ms Lawrence was not part of the meeting. In arriving at the decision, the Board took account of, among other things, the fact that Merundoi is an NGO, it is not for profit, and it was willing to make the programme content available to NCN and to collaborate on the production of a local TV Sitcom,” the NCN said in its defence.
It also dismissed as untrue and erroneous media reports which said that the Board’s decision was not unanimous. The State broadcaster also announced that it remains ready to engage other defaulting customers in order to settle outstanding debts outside of the courts.
The decision to write-off the Merino’s debt comes mere days after a forensic audit report into the company’s operations suggested that NCN should establish a debt collection committee with specific responsibility to collect all outstanding debts within six months.
Based on the audit report, as at May 2015, the company was owed some $230 million by various advertisers, including Merundoi.
Merundoi’s debt was twelfth on a list of the top 20 outstanding balances.
Impression’s printing is leading the list with a whopping $17.5 million, followed by the Health Ministry with $11.7 million and the People’s Progressive Party which owes a combined $14.8 million.
Also on the list is the Tourism Industry and Commerce Ministry (now the Tourism Ministry).
It is unclear if the Board of Directors are contemplating write-offs for other clients, similar to what was offered to Merundoi.

Murky dealings…

…in Brazil
Most Guyanese are kinda confused about what exactly’s going on in Brazil. Here it is, their President Dilma Rousseff – with one of the highest popularity ratings a year ago…and the handpicked successor of the MOST popular president of Brazil of all times – being IMPEACHED? Not for being personally corrupt, but for balancing the budget through forbidden unorthodox methods! And there’s no one in the streets for her? What’s going on?
Part of the confusion is because the folks trying to impeach her are themselves being knocked over like ninepins for …you guessed it…personal corruption!!! To get a sense of what’s going on…or more like, what’s going down – we’ll have to back up a bit. Between 1964 to 1985, Brazil was ruled by a military dictatorship. That’s the same period Burnham ruled Guyana as a dictator…but his Brazilian counterparts made him look like a kinder, gentler Santa Claus!!
Even the anodyne Wikipedia says, “To extinguish its left-wing opponents, the (Brazilian) dictatorship used arbitrary arrests, imprisonment without trials, kidnapping, and most of all, torture, which included rape and castration”. That’s right…you could lose your nuts. We shouldn’t be surprised the US supported the army coup against the left -leaning Brazilian President in 1964, should we? The beneficiaries of the military rule was an oligarchy that sucked the country dry as Brazil became one of the most stratified countries in the world. Life was desperate for the poorer, generally African dominated classes.
The pertinent fact is Rousseff – even though from a middle-class family – was a guerrilla rebel against the military dictatorship and was jailed and tortured for years. After the dictatorship, she plunged into electoral politics and eventually joined the leftist PT under the charismatic Lula. She was his chief of staff during his two-term presidency.
But we have to cut to the quick… With the redistributive policies of Lula and Rousseff, we shouldn’t be surprised the old oligarchy reacted like the Sheriff of Nottingham when Robin Hood did his “steal from the rich and give to the poor” bit back in Sherwood Forest. Even though the iconic Lula himself was accused of dipping into the till, never Rousseff. But the representatives and successors of the old oligarchy capitalised on Rousseff’s middle-of-the-road approach which teed off both her poor and lumpen supporters and her wealthy opponents.
While the opportunists might squeeze out Rousseff, like in Venezuela with Maduro, the “Return of the Oligarchy” doesn’t bode well for Brazil.
And for us in Guyana. It’ll be like sitting on a powder keg?

…at NCN
The Government audit of NCN shows a whole host of Organisations and companies owing the State broadcaster. Millions and Millions! But somehow the State media just mentions the PPP’s campaign debt. Now don’t get this Eyewitness wrong. He believes anyone that racked up debts for services rendered ought to cough up.
But that’s exactly what’s wrong with the finger pointing. Some debts have already been written off. With another written-off debt, we’ve gotten some more details – and it stinks to high heavens! It has to do with $2.5M owed by the company Merundoi whose director sits on the NCN Board – which makes the decision on these matters! Imagine that!!! Merundoi paid $200,000 and had $2.1M or 92% written off!
Asked about this blatant conflict of interest, Chairman of the Board of this “people of Guyana” company, Bish Panday replied curtly, “Ain’t nobody business but me own!”
So will the PPP get $20M written off?

…perpetrators nabbed!
This Eyewitness is pleased as Punch the Police have acted so swiftly to nab suspects in the despicable grenade throwing incident at the Muckraker.
He’s expressed differences with the Muckraker’s style, but draws the line there.
Bring back the cat o’ nine tail!

I am not in the company of naysayers

Dear Editor,
Guyana Sugar Corporation’s Senior Communications Officer, Audreyanna Thomas’ letter, published on June 4, 2016 captioned “Ramotar confused business with politics on GuySuCo” seeks to vilify former President Donald Ramotar. My response to Thomas’ letter is not to lecture Thomas on journalistic ethics but to make reference to two points in the letter.
The letter states, in part, “in order to come to any intelligent conclusion about the prospects of GuySuCo, one has to examine how the Corporation got to this stage, and how it was governed and managed in the past as against how it is currently governed and managed”, and further “it went through a gradual process of deterioration of systems and structures, which included poor leadership and management” – “an industry that has undergone a systematic process of decay”.
Editor, the foregoing statements would give the impression to the ordinary man-in-the-street that the current cadre of management are completely new to the sugar company and so it’s an absolute necessity to investigate, probe and research on what went wrong with the company to make it become what it is today. But this is just a ‘hoodwink’ strategy. The fact of the matter is that the two members of the interim management, Errol Hanoman and Paul Bhim are two previous Chief Executive Officers of the same company not too long ago. Hanoman was a senior representative of the management consultants, Booker Tate, responsible for the affairs of GuySuCo, and after Booker Tate was removed in 2008, was appointed the CEO in 2009. He demitted this position in mid-2010 and Paul Bhim was appointed CEO until he was removed in 2014. Under Bhim’s leadership, GuySuCo recorded its lowest production in 23 years, when 186,000 tonnes sugar was produced in 2013.These gentlemen cannot so easily absolve themselves from the current financial travesty facing the industry. It was Bhim, as the CEO, who reported to the Economic Services Commission in 2014 that GuySuCo has incurred a debt of a whopping G$58 billion. If the company is now asserting that it “went through a gradual deterioration of systems and structures, which included poor leadership and management” and a “systematic process of decay”, then they must take ownership as being part of the said deterioration process. It was only through poor leadership and management that the company recorded its worst production and financial performances from 2009 to 2014. The average production between 2009 and 2014 (the era of Paul Bhim and Errol Hanoman as CEOs) was 218,000 tonnes when compared with the previous five years (2003- 2008) of 272,000 tonnes.
The letter further states “these pensioners of whom Mr Ramotar speaks are highly qualified and experienced Guyanese” and “muster a cadre of the best minds in the sugar industry”. I would wish for the Corporation to show one iota of any successful intervention of any one of the “highly qualified and experienced best minds in the sugar industry”, who are now consultants, for the time they previously spent in GuySuCo before becoming consultants.
Editor, I am not in the “company of naysayers” as Thomas is implying Mr Ramotar has joined. I am in the company of those who would wish for a turnaround of the sugar industry, so that the lives of all sugar workers could be improved, and not to see them joining the breadline.

Yours faithfully,
Fredrick Yuvraj