October 18, 2016

Archives for June 12, 2016

Guyanese killed by bandits in Venezuela

…father suffers heart attack after shooting

Moments after witnessing his son shot to death during a robbery in his Puerta Ordaz, Venezuela, home, the father collapsed and died of heart attack.

Dead are Miguel Alehandro Brito, 23, and his father, Artuo Brito, 60, formerly of Vergenoegen, East Bank

Dead: Artuo Brito

Dead: Artuo Brito

Dead: Miguel Alehandro Brito

Dead: Miguel Alehandro Brito

Essequibo.

According to reports, the young man was in the living room when armed bandits invaded the property. His father was in another section of the house while his mother was in her bedroom.

At the time of the attack there was a power failure. Upon gaining entry, the bandits saw the young man sitting on a chair and shot him to the head.

The father on hearing the gunshot, ran towards the living room only to find his son’s motionless body with his brain scattered. The father reportedly raised an alarm and immediately collapsed.

The mother, a relative explained to this newspaper, also ran out of her bedroom and found both her son and husband dead.

The dead young man was born in Guyana but became a citizen of Venezuela. The family had migrated to Venezuela years ago.

 

Hope Canal Project costs over $4B – forensic audit

Hope Canal

Hope Canal

… says cost was deliberately underestimated

The forensic audit conducted into the Hope Canal Project has revealed that a whopping $4.1 billion was expended on the project that was initially pegged at $3.6 billion.

According to the audit report of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), conducted by Nigel Hinds, the budgeted cost of the project was $3.6; however, upon its completion in May 2015, the purported cost was listed as $3.4 billion.

“However, our findings indicate the cost of the project was over $4.1 billion,” the auditor stated.

Hinds explained that Hope Canal was substantively funded from the PetroCaribe Fund and all payments for the project were done through the Finance Ministry. He noted that the Ministries of Finance, Agriculture nor the NDIA were able to locate the contract agreement or loan terms for such a massive contract.

Nevertheless, Hinds said they reviewed the documentation that was available at the Finance, Procurement and Engineering Offices at the NDIA during which several revelations were made.

It was pointed out that in addition to the monies paid by the Finance Ministry, the NDIA also paid significant sums from its own funding for the years 2013 and 2014 in the sum of $166,596,644 and $90,817,833 respectively. This total amount of $257,414,477 excluded the cost of fuel supplied.

The auditor noted no information was available for years 2010, 2011 and 2015. Moreover, they stated that the NDIA supplied some 1,927,844 litres of fuel to the Hope Canal Project between June 2011 and May 2015, which amounted to a total of $402,919,396.

In addition, Hinds said that 14 super long reach excavators were purchased between 2009 and 2012 for the Hope Canal Project at the cost of $441,628,000, but the Finance Office is showing $466,862,450 were paid for 13 excavators and one bulldozer between 2009 and 2012.

“The dates do not correspond with the information shown for the Hope Canal Project. Documents were not available to verify dates of acquisition and amounts paid for equipment purchased directly for Hope Canal Project,” the auditor pointed out.

He went on to outline that from a list prepared by staff of the Finance Ministry, it showed that 18 units of machinery were dedicated to the Hope Canal Project over the years of construction. Then an additional four units with an estimated value of $90,000,000 were added.

Furthermore, two pick-ups were purchased for $8,400,000 from AINLIM for the project; however, registrations and invoices to verify ownership and cost were not available.

According to the auditor, the information provided to them indicates that the project cost of the Hope Canal Project amounts to $4,119,294,616.

“We were not able to obtain any information from the Ministry of Agriculture to confirm whether any payments for the Hope Canal Project were made through its records as was done in the case of NDIA. We were unable to obtain all the documentation to compute the actual cost of the project as it would appear that deliberate efforts were made to understate the actual cost,” Hinds posited.

He stated that the NDIA, the Agriculture and Finance Ministries were unable to access the Loan Agreement to determine the parties to the contract, the terms of the loan and the method of repayment.

The auditor pointed out that any finance cost would increase the cost of the project as it has to be capitalised; and given the non-availability of critical information, it is reasonable to infer that the Project exceeded its original cost from the information gathered. He said additional work needs to be done to access all information to determine the true cost of the project and the sources of finance.

Hinds pointed out that the Chief Executive Officer had explained that part of the increased cost was maintenance work done because of the prolonged time to complete the project and should not be treated as part of the project cost. “We did not share this opinion because project cost will include all cost incurred up to the point of completion,” the auditor said.

He also noted that the Project was supervised by external consultants CEMCO and SRKN, who provided monthly reports on the progress of the Project which were reviewed by Wordsworth. Additionally, the NDIA hired two consultants namely Paul Sarran and Surendra Singh to assist with various aspects of the Project.

 

Barbadian PM honoured for admiring Burnham?

Dear Editor,

The late dictator Forbes Burnham was pariah throughout the world, particularly among progressives throughout the Caribbean region. His name is still pariah among progressives. Yet the Barbadian Prime Minister Freundel Stuart said he was and is a great admirer of the dictator who was responsible for murdering political opponents. Is this the reason why Stuart was brought to Guyana? Was Stuart used to help rehabilitate Burnham?

The PNC has been making a desperate effort to rehabilitate their hero Burnham who was an ally of imperialism. Stuart was brought to Guyana to say positive things about Burnham so that the PNC and AFC can put him on a pedestal.

Here are some things of which Stuart was probably proud about Burnham: collaborating with Britain and the US to delay Guyana independence; rigged elections to give himself a magic majority; establishing a minority dictatorship for his supporters; discriminating against people who were not PNC supporters; confiscating property and products from non-supporters; banning flour and various spices and other foods denying people their cultural diet; bankrupting the Caribbean Development Bank; etc.

Because of his practices and murder of Rodney, the South African government withdrew an award that was to be given to Burnham for his support of the anti-apartheid movement.

How could Freundel Stuart express admiration for such a character?

The hero and Father of Independence movement was Dr Cheddi Jagan; several others also fought for independence, playing a greater role than Burnham. Yet Stuart could not find a positive word to say about the great liberator Jagan.

Was Stuart influenced by ethnic consideration? Any objective speaker on independence would lavish praises on the most important figures (several of them) of the independence movement.  Clearly Stuart was biased.

Stuart has not made any worthy contribution to Guyana or the Caribbean region. If anything he is responsible for the anti-Guyanese attitude in Barbados. He could not be worthy or deserving more than so many others of Guyana’s honours. The only reason why he was honoured by the ruling PNC is his inaccurate views on Burnham.

Yours truly,

Vishnu Bisram

 

Mora Camp, Kalcoon students slush through trails to school

By Devina Samaroo

Imagine almost every morning on your way to school having to take off your shoes, socks, lifting your clothing slightly over your knees and slushing through inundated trails.

Children of the neighbouring communities of Mora Camp and Kalcoon in Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) do this on a regular basis whenever it rains or whenever there is high tide.

Students slushing through Benjie Road

Students slushing through Benjie Road

In some cases, parents transform into human vehicles, strapping their children on their shoulders as they hike through knee-high waters en route to school.

The situation is just as deplorable during the drier climate, as they have to trek through the blazing sun, climb steep hills and cross creeks on feeble makeshift bridges.

Just at the end of the trail, there is an eroding hill which the children have to scramble down to complete their journey.

Mora Camp and Kalcoon are located approximately two miles off the Potaro Road, along the bank of the Mazaruni River on the opposite side of the Mazaruni Prison.

They form part of the municipality of Bartica.

The two villages combined have a population of 300, with some 100 who use the swampy trail to get in and out of the communities.

There is an alternative route called “Monestry”, a longer stretch of road which is also in a deplorable condition.

Residents opt to use the sludgy track because it is a much shorter distance. This route is called “Benjie Road”.

Mayor of Bartica Gifford Marshall during an interview with Guyana Times on Saturday was saddened by the awful state those residents have to endure.

He explained that while the situation is considered more heart wrenching for the children, adults too have to live through the hardship.

Marshall said he is currently engaging central government with the aim of addressing the situation.

He said representation will be made for a high-rise bridge to be built at a strategic point along Benjie Road and for a concrete step to be constructed along the eroding hill.

The project is estimated to cost some $40 million.

 

Problems at NA hospital

Dear Editor,

New Amsterdam Hospital is drastically going downhill: dogs and cats have become visitors since the stench is extremely inviting; patients have to fork out monies to buy basic medications; some patients who cannot afford to buy will have to dangerously await the arrival of drugs; x-ray films have now become a luxury; and the operation theatre also seems to be joining the show once in a while. Patients used to complain about the delay in receiving medications because of the long lines at the pharmacy, now they are complaining about the long lists of drug shortages.

At the last Health Committee meeting it was explained that some of these shortages stem from the fact that they can only be single-sourced while the Tender Board is demanding at least three quotations. Since this criterion cannot be met then no approval is given to purchase the drugs. However, while this may be so it is the Minister’s responsibility to ensure that this anomaly is rectified.

Another problem which was raised is the malfunctioning or non-functioning of the Materials Management Unit (MMU). This has been the complaint for a long time now and I have repeatedly made call for the Coalition Government to recommend a Commission of Inquiry into the declining Health Sector.

While no one seems to have a clue how to stem this downward slide, the CEO of New Amsterdam Hospital seems to be getting more adept at his unprofessional conduct.

Arrogance and aggression seem to be the only weapon in his arsenal of management skills.

On 2 June, 2016, the Medical Superintendent Dr V Sharma became his latest victim when she was verbally abused by CEO Bynoe and was told to get out of his office. According to a letter of complaint written by Dr Sharma, such a tirade was ‘unprovoked, unnecessary, unwarranted and disrespectful’. She merely went to apprise the CEO with regards the non-functioning of the Main Theatre. She was very assertive in saying that it has become challenging to work along with the CEO whose unprofessional behaviour has become unbearable.

It was this same incident which caused the CEO to upbraid the REO, Dr Ramayya, for entering the NA Hospital without his permission. It is unimaginable that the REO must now make an appointment to visit the hospital!

Only recently the CEO allegedly assaulted another doctor at the said medical facility.

The only pertinent question is: Who is next?

Sincerely,

Haseef Yusuf

 

Political unwillingness persists on LGBT matters – SASOD

… reflections in observation of 13 years in Guyana

Even after 13 years of robust advocacy and campaigns, the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination

Panellists: From left, Dr Thomas, Antonio Paul, Derwayne Wills and Joel Simpson

Panellists: From left, Dr Thomas, Antonio Paul, Derwayne Wills and Joel Simpson

(SASOD) Guyana observed that the political will to address issues affecting the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community remains largely unchanged.

SASOD Guyana hosted a discussion forum in observance of its 13th anniversary on June 7, where LGBT human rights advocates and organisations reflected on the struggles and progress made in reducing the discrimination against those vulnerable groups in society.

The discussions were moderated by SASOD Managing Director Joel Simpson and the panel included Lecturer in the Department of Sociology at the University of Guyana, Dr Jewel Thomas, transgender advocate Antonio Paul, and University of West Indies student of Sociology and Gender and Development Studies Derwayne Wills.

Politics

According to the panelists, the LGBT movement in Guyana is bound to make little progress unless the country’s political leaders demonstrate genuine willingness to reduce instances of discrimination and violence against LGBT persons.

Wills posited that the movement needs to start with politicians and that the lack of political willing to make the necessary changes and the fear of losing constituencies have contributed significantly to why homophobia persists in the Guyanese society.

“They are afraid to speak out in defence of the weak and poor because they might lose a few voters,” Wills remarked.

It was also observed that extreme homophobia and punitive laws are still being enforced by the State, creating a difficult society as discrimination and prejudice with extreme homophobia supported by the State stifles and chokes many vulnerable communities, especially in rural areas. She said though this is a terrible social ill, it can lead to stronger inter-personal relationships and people who feel weak or voiceless can come together to find community support – much like what is seen in the LGBT community with SASOD and the Guyana Trans United (GTU).

“Homophobia robs people of the right to speak and participate in societies. What we see is that LGBT people will then have to navigate in their own space and are effectively being made refugees in their own countries. It really is a difficult society when homophobia is left to foster, much less endorsed by the State,” Dr Thomas lamented.

Living in a “difficult society”

Paul, a community advocate, commonly known as “Sir Paul” in her Vreed-en-Hoop neighbourhood reminisced on her experience growing up, knowing since the age of 11 that she – a male-to-female transgender – felt different.

She explained that for her, there were many challenges in the Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) community where she grew up, but she used her education to progress in society and attached to influential community leaders like teachers to gain more knowledge and eventually respect.

“You have to establish yourself,” she said.

A trained Cyril Potter College of Education teacher, Paul taught in the West Demerara region, sits on the Regional Health Committee, and manages various projects in the Region Three administration. “The West Side is one of the best places in Guyana to live and belong, we have a strong transgender community and we are all in it to develop the entire region as a whole,” she commented.

Media

Calls were also made for the media to play a more integral role in the fight against LGBT discrimination and violence.

“The role of the media, particularly the State media,” Wills, also a member of the media fraternity, expressed.

He continued, “The media should be really be giving voice to minority groups, marginalised communities, and really legitimising the existence of these vulnerable groups in our society.”

 

It’s a dog’s life…

 

…with western media bias

Once again the “Lychee and Dog Meat Festival” in the Chinese city of Yulin has drawn outraged protests – and worldwide reportage – even here in Guyana. Over the course of ten days about 10-15,000 dogs would’ve been savoured. The consumption of the lychee goes unremarked. Even your Eyewitness raised a jaded eyebrow and felt a slight squirm in his stomach at the mention of eating “dog meat”.

Cause he’s a fella who just loves his Labba in pepperpot! Just goes to show there’s still a lot of truth in the old saw “One man’s meat is another man’s poison”! The British philosopher Julian Baggini considered western meat-eaters “hypocritical” for being outraged by the Chinese eating “cute animals”: “The double standards at play here are numerous, complicated, and not always obvious…Vegans are the only group who can oppose the festival without any fear of hypocrisy”.

But Baggini’s point about vegans raise a deeper question: what’s the reason behind the revulsion towards dog mean? Is it just because they’re cute, as he says? Well rabbits are just as cute, don’t you think…but millions of them are turned into stew and consumed with relish. Pun intended! And how about all those millions and millions of cute sheep that Mary used to frolic with that are then turned to mutton? They’re fair game?

Is the line drawn with dogs by the West because they’ve served humanity for eons as fellow hunters back in the day? Well horses also served us well, didn’t they? Both in war and in work. Didn’t stop the west from enjoying their horse meat. Even if it’s on the sly because they’re a bit sheepish about it. Pun intended!

Then of course, “dogs are man’s best friend”…that’s the rationale most often thrown up. But have you ever gone to India and seen how the billion or so Hindus treat their cows? They’re more than even “best friends” – they’re part of the family…with names and everything. Even called “mother” for their sustaining roles. Yet the west regularly castigates Hindus for rather starving than eating their cows. “Superstitious” is a kind appellation. One doesn’t have to even wonder how they’d answer the analogous question, “Would you rather starve or eat your dog?” In every western city there are annual food fairs where the meat of thousands of cows and sheep are consumed.

The real question we should publicise is whether we can literally afford to eat meat – and especially beef.

Each cow needs 2 acres of space …plus fresh water. Of which the world is running out, as we and China switch to beef.

…to “woo” investment

Did you notice, dear reader, our movers and shakers in government always have to “woo” investors. It’s not by accident, you know. In these matters our leaders have to literally “put out” to get those foreigners to plunk down their money to develop Guyana. You say, they don’t have to “put out” too much after the Bai Shan Lin brouhaha? We’ll see.

Our government worthies just finished their latest courtship of investors at the “Harvard Club” in mid-Manhattan. Last October there was a high-level team that visited Toronto on the same mission and we were told they were “inundated” with offers of investment. Some of the attendees were made “Business Advisors” – no pay, though – to presumably assist the “inundated” officials to prioritise the deluge of investment opportunities. It ain’t easy, is it?

In Toronto, the high level delegation had met at the Riverstoen Golf Club. With Harvard Club they probably had to shell out a pretty penny. But we’re sure the investments will exceed the Toronto deluge.

Avalanche?

… In flooded villages

Wouldn’t it have been better to install pumps in West Berbice with the billion dollars spent on the Jubilee Bash?

Don’t these coalition supporters – who’ve been living with their animals under water for more than a month – count?

 

Region 1 Chairman to move No-confidence motion against REO

By Kizzy Coleman

Region One (Barima-Waini) Chairman Brentol Ashley has announced that he will be moving a no-confidence

Regional Chairman Brentol Ashley along with Vice Chairman Sarah Browne

Regional Chairman Brentol Ashley along with Vice Chairman Sarah Browne

motion against the Regional Executive Officer (REO) Leslie Wilburg, as disputes between the REO and the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) spirals.

Speaking at a press conference at Freedom House on Saturday, Ashley said the REO has refused to follow the mandates given to him and is moving beyond his legal authority.

At a recent RDC statutory meeting a number of issues were raised by the various standing committees that were to be addressed by the council.

According to the chairman, as a result of the questions being posed by the RDC councillors regarding the non-implementation of works programme in the region, Wilburg became defensive, causing the meeting to be adjourned.

“He and his officers became defensive for their inaction and their slowness in implementing works for the region. And also they were very reluctant to give clarity to questions when it comes to the usage of finances in the RDC,” Ashley said.

According to the chairman, the REO has made it clear to Council that he and his officers do not have to carry out instructions given by the RDC, which is contrary to the Constitution in Article 28:01.

“The REO on Thursday last in his capacity of cooperate council would have clearly shown great disrespect for the authority of the RDC and also disrespect for the office of the Regional Chairman and Vice Chairman and would have also made it very clear that he and his officers do not have to carry out any instruction given by the RDC because they are not mandated to do so. The constitution in article 28:01 as well as the Manual of Guides to be followed by the regional chairs, vice chairs and councillors indicates differently from what he would’ve said.”

The chairman went on: “The committee reports that were being discussed at the time of the abrupt adjournment of the RDC meeting was finance and it came out of one councillor from the APNU/AFC Coalition, questioning the Clerk of Councils/REO to give clarity as to why close to $800,000 was spent without permission,” Ashley added.

Additional complaints voiced by the Regional Chairman divulged that himself along with the Vice Chairman have been without vehicles for a considerable period as the money to acquire this cannot accounted for by the REO.

“When questioned on this, the REO puts himself in defence as to why he was spending the money, making it clear to Council that as the Accounting Officer of the region he can spend money because he is the one that approves it. This is contrary to what is actually the case, the money that is given by Central Government is not given to the REO, it is given to the RDC and is implemented by the REO and the other staff with the guidance by the RDC.”

The Chairman is calling for the ‘disrespect and undermining’ by the REO to cease as the decision have been made to file for a no-confidence motion if the matter continues.

“We at the level of the RDC will not be subjected to disrespect or undermining of the authority of such an elected body and more so will not give way to anyone being insubordinate and not carrying out the function that they are appointed to do”.

The RDC councillors are calling for the REO to become acquainted with the rules and responsibilities to be carried out and to act within the confines of what the constitution prescribes.

They are also calling for the council to be able to carry out its mandate as they are the representatives of the people of the region.

“Allow us, the council to carry out its mandates because the council is there to represent the people of region irrespective of their political affiliation, their religion or their ethnicity, and we will continue to do so. So we will not give up the struggle for the people of Region One because we firmly believe that the people of Region One deserves better, they must have better; and those that are entrusted with the responsibility to do so, to carry it out in a very sober and very professional manner.”

 

Govt recommits to introducing modern copyright legislation

Though concrete measures are not in place, President David Granger assured that his government is committed to introducing modern copyright legislation.

For years, those in the creative industries have been feeling stifled owing to the absence of modern copyright laws.

These outdated laws paved the way for the creation of a lucrative enterprise in intellectual piracy and counterfeit products.

The current legislation, the 1956 Copyright Act, which Guyana inherited from Great Britain following Independence in 1966, has never been revised since, even though its former colonial master had long repealed the legislation that deemed copyright infringement a civil wrong.

Though the current Act does provide protection of literary, musical, dramatic and artistic works, the fines are extremely low, ranging mostly from £5 to £50 (G$1750-G$17,500). Given the time and cost to pursue an infringement in court, some artistes view the exercise as a loss rather than gain.

Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall had expressed that his administration is cognisant of the need for copyright reform, however nothing substantial ever came on stream.

The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition during the campaign trail promised to update the laws in order to help develop the creative industry.

The then APNU Member of Parliament and Youth, Culture and Sport shadow minister Christopher Jones had emphasised the need for updated copyright laws but guarded against persons thinking that the implementation of such laws would completely eliminate the problems related to plagiarism and piracy.

During a recent interview on ‘The Public Interest’, President Grange expressed that he is uncertain about how soon the legislation will be introduced but assured government will definitely move in this direction.

“I cannot say for sure when that legislation will be laid but it is a commitment on our part to protect the rights of artistes and publishers of other forms of material…we are committed to suppressing piracy,” he stated.

According to the US Department of Commerce, about five to seven per cent of all world trade involves counterfeit products, and estimates the cost to the global economy at more than US$650 billion per year.

The income raked in from pirated DVDs, CDs, the unauthorised photocopying of books and other intellectual materials here is a tiny, if not invisible, sum of the global counterfeit trade.

Local artistes have raised their concerns about the lack of legislation to protect their work and had issued countless calls for those in authority to take urgent steps to address the situation.

Soca Road March champion Melissa “Vanilla” Roberts had previously told this publication that the competition is starkly unfair.

“Most locally produced CDs will retail at a price of $1500, but consumers can get the best of any artiste in the world for $200. Now how can a Guyanese artiste compete with that when you have to spend no less than $50,000 to produce a song?

“Next, an artiste will spend no less than $150,000 to produce a music video to be aired on television, but because television stations basically get free video content from around the world, why should they be obligated to play ours.

“I gave those two examples to say this: if we had updated intellectual property rights legislation in place, radio and television stations will have to be paying millions of US dollars to foreign companies for content. This will in turn force them to revert to more local content, making way for competitive, productive and economic growth for the creative industries in Guyana,” she said.

In 2014, Mosa Telford, who has won several literary awards, had also expressed that the present Copyright Act is a dagger in the side of the creative industry.

Gavin Mendonca, member of the band Keep Your Day Job (KYDJ), which is part of an advocacy group called Guyana Music Networks, also noted that the current Act needs to be updated as it cannot fully protect the work of creative professionals.

From all indications, the issue of copyright will continue to be an ongoing subject of debate and will remain so as long as members of the creative industry believe that more needs to be done to protect their work.

 

Region 2 Department of Education raises awareness on child labour

By Indrawattie Natram

The Region Two (Pomeroon – Supenaam) Department of Education over last weekend conducted several

A section of the gathering at the spelling bee competition

A section of the gathering at the spelling bee competition

activities throughout the Region and in the Pomeroon River, raising awareness on Child Labour. According to senior School Welfare Officer Haimraj Hamandeo, the Region has joined the rest of Guyana to observe International Day against Child Labour, which is today. According to Hamandeo the first activity was a child labour spelling bee competition which saw participation from all primary schools. Copping first position was Taymouth Manor while Suddie and Hampton Court came in second and third, respectively.

He added that the second activity was an impromptu speech competition, which saw the participation of the dormitory students from within the region. The topics were centred on child labour and child sexual abuse. Charity students collected the first place prize while Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary collected second and third prizes.

The week of activity concluded at Lower Pomeroon with a workshop at Wakapoa Secondary. The workshop saw the participation of approximately 40 parents and community members. Facilitating the workshop was Hamandeo, Labour Officer Jason Narine, and School Welfare Officer, Meenawattie.