October 18, 2016

Archives for June 26, 2016

Police Constable killed in highway accident

A Police Constable attached to the Mackenzie Police Station was on Saturday afternoon killed after he lost control of the car he was driving at Bamia Linden/Soesdyke Highway, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Dead: Ishaan Caines

Dead: Ishaan Caines

The car Caines was driving when he met his demise

The car Caines was driving when he met his demise

Dead is Constable Ishaan Caines, formerly of Lot 184 Coverden, EBD and of Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara.

The accident reportedly occurred at about 15:15h.

According to information received, the 26-year-old Policeman was driving a motorcar bearing registration number PPP 7936 and was heading along the roadway at a fast rate when he reportedly lost control of the vehicle. The car, Guyana Times understands, toppled several times before coming to a stop with its four wheels in the air.

The young Policeman sustained severe injuries and was taken to the Linden Hospital Complex where he was pronounced dead on arrival. When contacted, his mother Carla Loncke told this publication that her son would normally return home on the weekend. She noted that on Saturday, he asked to use her motorcar claiming that he had to drop off a document at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, in Georgetown.

“He left home at about 12:30h so I went back to bed… It was in my sleep when I hear the phone ring and I got the message of the accident,” she added. The woman claimed that at no point in time did her son tell her he was heading to Linden and could not say exactly what transpired.

She immediately travelled to Georgetown and boarded a route 43 minibus and travelled to Linden where she saw her son, who was already placed in the mortuary. The young man graduated last year and was transferred to the Mackenzie Police Station.

The Police have launched an investigation into the accident. He leaves to mourn his parents and three siblings.

 

Search continues for outstanding US$5M for GTT shares

No progress has been made as the search continues for the “missing” US$5 million for the sale of the 20 per

Donald Ramotar

Donald Ramotar

cent shares in the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) in 2012.

During the recent broadcast of his weekly television podcast ‘The Public Interest’, President David Granger indicated that the matter is currently at a standstill.

He disclosed that there are no leads on where to locate the money, who could be responsible for its disappearance, or have knowledge of its whereabouts.

“We have not located the money and we have not identified any person who could be regarded as culpable,” the Head of State stated.

Nonetheless, President Granger said the search will continue, given that US$5 million is a significant amount of money.

The National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) disposed of its 20 per cent shares in the sale to Hong Kong Golden Telecom Company Limited (HKGT) to the tune of US$30 million.

The Company made a down payment of US$25 million and the outstanding US$5 million was to be paid on October 22, 2014 but it never did despite several written requests by NICIL.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon and NICIL Legal Counsel Natalia Seepersaud subsequently had travelled to

Joseph Harmon

Joseph Harmon

China with the intention of collecting the money but were informed that the money was already paid.

Government spokesperson Raphael Trotman had announced that Harmon has been able to retrieve some documents which show that the monies were paid.

In light of the controversy this revelation sparked, NICIL released a statement rejecting the Government’s assertions.

While pointing out that the information is yet to be authenticated, NICIL claimed that Guyana’s former Ambassador to China David Dabydeen facilitated a US$5 million debt waiver with the Chinese Company on the grounds that it was not granted the same minority protection rights enjoyed by NICIL (that is, two, instead of one, representatives on the GT&T Board of Directors). NICIL conceded that no payment of the outstanding US$5 million was ever received from the Chinese Company.

But former President Donald Ramotar contended that there was no side deal debt write-off.

“I am saying explicitly that there was no such agreement or transaction… It is absolutely untrue… It is not a question of whether or not I am aware of such an agreement, I am telling you that there was no such arrangement to write-off those monies,” he firmly posited.

 

Planes disappear from Correia International Airport

The Police have launched an investigation into the disappearance of two Cessna 206 aircraft from the Eugene F Correia International Airport without clearance from Customs, Immigration and Air Traffic Control on Saturday morning.
Guyana Times understands that the aircraft bearing registration numbers 8R-GTP and 8R-GMP are subject of a High Court litigation in Guyana and were not supposed to leave the country.

A Cessna 206 similar to the two that disappeared from Ogle International Airport

A Cessna 206 similar to the two that disappeared from Ogle International Airport

Acting Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, Chitranie Heeralall confirmed that the aircraft left Guyana without authorisation while adding that the planes left Guyana between 04:00h and 04:30h.
The aircraft, which are worth US$110,000 each, are owned by Oxford Aviation and were subjected to a court injunction by Phoenix Airways. The planes were however, detained in Anguilla after flying through Trinidad airspace and landing in Grenada to refuel.
One of the pilots was identified as Munidat Persaud, a Guyanese who owns a flight school and charter service in the United States. The other pilot Guyana Times understands is not licensed to fly in Guyana’s airspace.
However, speaking on behalf of the Eugene F Correia International Airport, Kit Nascimento related that all security protocols were followed on the morning when the aircraft departed.
“At approximately 04:00h this morning (Saturday), two staff attached to Oxford Airways presented their air flight passes at the airport security scanner and entered the airport. The men told the security staff at the scanner that they were going to their aircraft to put some stuff on board”, Nascimento explained.
In fact, he noted that the pilots took off without filing a flight plan and without notifying the airport security and immigration. “I want to stress that every licensed airport operator has access to their aircraft whether in hangers or on the tarmac… these aircraft were parked on the light aircraft parking facility that is available at the Airport”.
He stressed that all the airport security staff were on duty and would have allowed the men onto the airstirp because they had air flight passes.
The pilots, the official reiterated, did not notify the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). The air traffic control tower was only aware of what was happening as the aircraft were taxing down the runway to take off.
“In a most sophisticated country, if an aircraft takes off from any airport improperly, the military would intervene but we don’t have an airforce that would go up and bring these planes back,” Nascimento highlighted.
He also confirmed that the aircraft were escaping a court injunction filed by Phoneix Airways while adding that the aircraft were intercepted in Anguilla.
The pilots Guyana Times understands will be brought back to Guyana where they will be handed over to the Police to assist in their investigations. (Bhisham Mohamed)

Harmon meets with East Berbice-Corentyne residents, contractors

Following the award of $130 million in contracts for rehabilitation works in several communities in Region (Six East Berbice-Corentyne), Minister of State Joseph Harmon visited with community members and contractors in the selected areas to ensure that the community members are involved during the construction process.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon with Chairman of the Lancaster/Hogstye NDC Forbes Moore (third from right) along with other members of the community during one of his visits to East Berbice-Corentyne

Minister of State Joseph Harmon with Chairman of the Lancaster/Hogstye NDC Forbes Moore (third from right) along with other members of the community during one of his visits to East Berbice-Corentyne

At High Dam, Caracas, West Canje, Berbice, residents expressed relief that the road in that area would finally be paved. However, several took the opportunity to air other concerns that needed to be addressed in the area, including the need for a recreational centre for children, the installation of street lights, and the alleviation of flooding that occurs in the area.
Minister Harmon pledged to address matters of flooding as a priority as it affects residents’ livelihoods. He pledged that at a later date, efforts will be made to look into the installation of street lights, which he noted is a larger project – not just for a specific community – and paving other access roads to the area.
Regarding the paving of the High Dam Road, which is a 453-metre stretch into the community, the Minister said that after consulting with the contractor, once the weather clears, the project should take a month to complete. He also noted that the entire project should be completed in two months.
Minister Harmon then paid a visit to Lancaster, Middle Walk Dam and Liverpool to assess the work to be done. At those locations, some residents were primarily concerned with obtaining some form of employment from the work that would soon begin on the roads. Minister Harmon agreed that residents should have this benefit, stating that this was part of the reason for his visit.
“It is important that the community is involved in what is happening here. And you should also ensure that people from the community are employed. I want to make sure that whatever work is done there is reflective of community involvement. These contracts were aimed to give a bit [of a] jumpstart to the communities so I hope the contractors will pay attention to that,” the Minister said.
In response to the work being done, Chairman of the Lancaster/Hogstye Neighbourhood Democratic Council, Forbes Moore said the planned works are a great help to the community. He noted, however, that there were some other needs communicated to him, including the establishment of a farmers market, better drainage and irrigation and better garbage collection.
Following these visits, Minister Harmon also visited the Independence Arch at Hogstye and met with more residents. Community visits were also scheduled at Second Street, 65 Village, Arjune Street, Hampshire and Koker Dam Fyrish North on Saturday.

BBCI continues to run at a loss – annual report

…Govt-subsidised river taxis reduced minibus revenues

The Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI) is running at a loss with the company experiencing minimalBerbice bridge growth in traffic and revenue, according to the directors in the 2015 Annual Report.

This has resulted in no dividends being declared for Common Shareholders that own the equity in the bridge, for the eighth successive year since operations of the Berbice Bridge was launched.

BBCI held its annual general meeting on Friday at the Guyana Cooperative Insurance Services (GCIS) building on Main Street, Georgetown. However, according to the annual report, which was seen by Guyana Times, even though the company recorded a loss of $167.4 million last year, this reflects a 30 per cent improvement when compared to the loss of $239.2 million in the previous year.

According to the Directors, this reduction in both traffic and revenue growth was significantly lower than projected at the planning stages of the Berbice Bridge project. It was outlined that revenues from tolls in 2015 had amounted to $1,343 million as against $1,342 million in 2014.

The report revealed that of the revenue generated, some 45.2 per cent were gained from cars, 16.16 per cent from freights, 9.29 per cent from minibuses, 10.73 per cent from medium trucks, 5.23 per cent from small trucks and 4.45 per cent from pick-ups, and remaining categories 8.89 per cent. The daily average revenue earned, the directors said, amounted to $3,682,212, a minor increase of 0.14 per cent over 2014.

“This minimal increase of below one per cent over the previous year was primarily due to minor increases in traffic for cars, motorcycles and large trucks. Once again, a sharp decline was observed in traffic for minibuses and ocean-going vessels, along with a decline in all other categories, inclusive of freight,” the report stated.

However, it was explained that BBCI in December last year had entered an agreement with the Government, which saw the State paying a commuters’ subsidy to reduce the Bridge toll for passenger cars and mini-buses from $2200 to $1900 and for all other types of vehicles by 10 per cent, excluding vessels.

“This was done on the premise that both parties would engage shortly after implementation of the said agreement on January 1, 2016 in discussion on mutually beneficial arrangements in relation to tolls, since these were to be increased as per the toll formula,” the report stated. It is uncertain if this meeting occurred.

Moreover, the BBCI directors pointed out that Government’s introduction of a “subsided” River Taxi System in September 2015 for passengers only from Rosignol Stelling to New Amsterdam, would have contributed to the significant decline in minibus traffic across the Bridge, which amounts to some six per cent over the period September 21 to December 31, 2015.

In addition, the report stated that the non-interest expenses before amortization and depreciation for 2015 was $276 million compared to $292 million in the previous year. This decrease of five per cent was as a result of no dredging operations being required last year.

The directors added too that BBCI’s earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) was $1.072 billion, an increase of two per cent from 2014. However, the company’s total assets decreased from $6.7 billion to $6.5 billion in 2015, reflecting a decrease of 2.60 per cent over 2014, which was due mainly to continued amortization of concession assets, increases in property, plant and equipment, inventory and cash and cash equivalents.

Additionally, the report outlined that capital expenditures for the year included the construction of a jack-up barge, a new scale for the eastern end of the bridge and a standby generator set, which are work-in-progress.

 

Govt cancels plan to dismantle, distribute stands

By Devina Samaroo

Government has abandoned its plan to install modern seating arrangements at D’Urban Park, the venue projected to be a world-class arena for major public events.

The wooden bleachers that can accommodate 28,000 persons altogether, were initially slated to be dismantled and distributed after the 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations.

The announcement to dismantle the bleachers had come in light of strong criticisms about the quality of the work and the appropriateness of using wood to construct stands for a proposed state-of-the-art stadium.

But President David Granger during an interview on “The Public Interest” revealed that there were several requests for the wooden stands to remain at the facility and upon consideration, his Government decided it was a sound move.

“We had a second look at it, D’Urban Park is now an institution which people have started to use… It is very likely that D’Urban Park, which is the single largest stadium in the country, will be kept as a place of public purposes and the stands will not be dismantled,” he stated.

Concerns about the integrity of the stands were raised by a number of persons, even by the General Secretary of the General Contractors Association of Guyana, Neil Rogers, who concluded that the work was very “shabby”.

His assessment was made approximately one month before D’Urban Park was scheduled to accommodate a gargantuan crowd.

He had asserted that the inferiority of the work goes beyond what meets the eye, pointing out that he has a “contractor’s eye”, and explained that wood was jointed in places that are load bearing and that bolts were inserted where they ought not to have been.

Another concern he highlighted was the quality of the lumber supplied for the construction, which was a public-private partnership at that time.

Subsequently, management of the project was pulled from the hands of private individuals and placed under the Public Infrastructure Ministry. It became solely a public project.

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson had disclosed that the stands would be dismantled and distributed to community centre grounds across the country. The names of the centres at the time were withheld from the public.

Now that the stands will no longer be sent to community centres, alternative arrangements may be made to ensure those recreational venues are adequately equipped with proper seating facilities.

The Head-of-State also explained that Government is looking to develop additional recreational facilities in the towns across the country.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that the cost of construction of the D’Urban Park bleachers alone amounted to some $210 million. This is in addition to unknown sums which was spent by private businessman on the project.

When prompted, President Granger was unable to disclose the ratio of contribution from private and public sectors.

Government had explained that all private donations were made to a registered company, which is under a separate head outside of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

The D’Urban Park development initiative is being rolled out in three phases:

Phase one, which entailed uprooting the overburden and replacing it with sand and loam to enable construction of drains and pathways and the installation of floodlights, was completed in time for the Jubilee Celebrations on May 26. According to reports, $150 million was allocated for those works.

An artist’s impression of the D’Urban Park facility shows that there will be nine ponds but Minister Patterson had told “Guyana Times” on Independence Day 2016 that assessments will have to be made before a concrete decision is made on the way forward:

“It is supposed to be a green space for the benefit of every Guyanese…everything is conceptual at the moment. You would have probably seen the artistic designs. But the final decision will be representing the country about where we are and where we want to go,” he had stated.

It remains sure however, that D’Urban Park will be used for a variety of public events, including the Mashramani float parade; religious ceremonies; food fairs and educational exhibitions; musical concerts; medical outreaches; physical training and gymnastic displays, and public rallies.

Land dispute leaves Vreed-en-Hoop vendors frustrated

A large plot of land located at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara (WCD) where vendors were asked to occupy to ply their trade is being claimed by a former regional chairman who says the land is his and the vendors are occupying it illegally.trench
This is according to a number of hucksters who on Friday vented their frustrations to Guyana Times.
According to the vendors, the former chairman is making it difficult for them to make a living on a daily basis.
Reports received by Guyana Times states that the man, who is a Commissioner to Oaths and Affidavits has blocked a section of the land where vendors have to occupy.
As a result of this, a section of the land is under water. Vendors complain that they were notified some weeks again by the former chairman that they had to move but when they contacted regionally officials about their plight they were told that the claims were not true and they should continue to occupy the land.
Again the former regional chairman has given them an ultimatum to move.
The vendors are now uncertain as to what their next action should be as they are frustrated by the former chairman’s actions.
“I have been here for a number of years and now I do not know what to do. The man is still of the opinion that the land is his, even disclosing the amount that he paid,” a vendor told this publication.
The vendors are hoping that Government can intervene in their plight.
This publication contacted the former Regional Chairman for a comment on the issue but those efforts proved futile.

Region 5 rice farmers turning to cash crops

… reduced earnings affecting livelihood – farmers

The ongoing financial challenges in the rice industry have forced many farmers in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) to abandon the sector and resort to cash crop cultivation. During a recent meeting with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, residents of Baiboo, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara explained that due to the current low prices for paddy, they are forced to plant cash crops. The farmers however noted that although they are resorting to cash crops, it has reduced the amount of money they can earn since there is a surplus on the market.
“De greens selling cheap… then the rice farmer dem getting hardship to get price for paddy,” one farmer expressed.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo addressing residents and farmers at Baiboo, Mahaica last week

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo addressing residents and farmers at Baiboo, Mahaica last week

Some of the less lucrative crops identified were bora, tomatoes, pepper and ochros. Meanwhile, farmers of Mora’s Point, Mahaicony River, complained that they are finding it difficult going into the next crop since they are still owed millions by the miller in the area. After listening to their concerns, the Opposition Leader stated that Government has not done enough to assist rice farmers and to an extent, the industry.
“They have some resources that could still be spent on the rice industry; the first budget they passed, they put $23 billion for the rice industry, I was happy [but] it wasn’t a cent – it was a paper transaction. They just passed the PetroCaribe funds through the budget,” Jagdeo noted.
The Opposition Leader also deemed the transaction as “misleading” to the National Assembly.
Ever since the collapse of the PetroCaribe rice deal with Venezuela in May 2015, farmers have been receiving between $1800 and $2500 per bag of paddy. Under the PetroCaribe agreement, farmers had received premium rates for their paddy, as much as triple what they are currently obtaining. Rice millers have reportedly claimed that they cannot pay the balances because they have not been able to sell the farmer’s paddy.
When Guyana Times interviewed several farmers in Branch Road, Mahaicony last month, they reiterated calls for the Venezuela-Guyana deal to return, saying that it would increase their earnings in price per bag of paddy. The farmers had noted that for the previous few crops, they were unable to achieve any substantial profits from the industry.
Family members of some farmers had also told this publication that Government subsidies on fertilisers and equipment were necessary for their survival.
“We need a better price, we need some help to go back into the field, because right now it very hard on farmers, right now the millers owe we a set of money and we can’t go back into the field,” Tajwantie Ramotar had noted.
Though the PetroCaribe deal was due for expiration in November 2015, Venezuela had axed the rice deal months before the official due date. Under this deal, Guyana was required to pay upfront a percentage of the cost of fuel acquired from Venezuela, with the balance, which was placed in the PetroCaribe Fund at the Bank of Guyana, being treated as a loan repayable over 23 years, with a two-year grace period and two per cent interest.

“Rally, rally round the Guyana Amazon Warriors

I have to take time off from my ruminations on “medicining” to talk this week about cricket. We must have our priorities in order, don’t we? And I’m a certified cricket tragic – just can’t get enough of the game.

Cricket’s always been one of the things that has brought us together as a Caribbean people – never mind it’s the source of some of the fiercest arguments you can imagine. You know the most passionate arguments are with families!! Now the West Indies in the ODI final against the Aussies and (more to the point) with the CPL starting next week, I’m sure the “words around cricket” will be flying faster and more furiously than ever before.

We Caribbean people, after all are acknowledged across the globe for “knowing their cricket”. We have a reputation to maintain!!! And with CPL, we now have our own individual country’s teams!!

One thing I really like about this CPL tournament (apart from the fact that we have our own team and we’re getting games in Guyana without begging anybody) is that many young, local cricketers are getting a chance to play. This opportunity will both give them a chance to experience what it’s like playing against International players and also a chance to shine and be recognised.

When the CPL was launched, I noted with the other tournaments like the IPL, CLT20, and Australia’s Big Bash, there were so many new players who impressed us and eventually made it onto their national teams.

I prayed, “Hopefully the same will happen for the West Indies – we’ll discover some new talent to revive the current team.” Well…look how our under-19 team did in the World Cup! Three Amazon Warriors incubated players!!

Guyanese have always supported the West Indies more than most, because we identify with the West Indies – we’re West Indians. We mightn’t strictly be a part of the West Indies geographically – we’re smack on top of the AMAZON.

But culturally and historically, we’re more West Indian that some of the islands. We’re cut from the same cloth, we all survived colonialism, we used cricket as our way of beating the rulers at their own game. So we’ll support the West Indies – they’re our team. But with them sometimes snubbing our Guyanese players, it’s difficult not to feel a bit miffed.

But with the CPL, we’re rooting for something else entirely. We’re rooting for our country. The Guyana Amazon Warriors are OUR TEAM!!! It’s Guyana versus Trinidad, or Guyana vs Barbados – not West Indies against the rest of the world. It’s a powerful thing, this nationalistic feeling. It’s a whole new adrenaline rush when it’s your country’s team that wins. It’s your country’s flag that you’re waving; your country’s colours that the players are wearing; it’s you, the Guyanese people who are being represented. All within the Caribbean family of course!!

In Guyana, we don’t have trouble having sold-out matches, we’re always starved for more cricket. I’m sure this set of matches in the CPL will be the same. It’s a wonderful opportunity for families or friends to hang out together to enjoy a sport that has brought together so many generations of sports enthusiasts. They scoffed at the new slam-bam format in the beginning – but now that T20 has brought is so many new fans, no one’s scoffing any more.

The local games begin on next week’s Thursday night; may the best team (Guyana Amazon Warriors) win. I may just sneak away from my books to be there!

Enjoy the view.

 

City Hall turning a blind eye

Dear Editor,

Georgetown is the capital city of Guyana but it’s in a very bad state because of the amount of vagrants, touts, beggars, thieves, and white collar crooks.

I wish to begin my discourse with the vagrants. The word vagrant can be defined as: “One who has no established residence and wanders idly from place to place without lawful or visible means of support.”

As I walked around the Guyana Post Office Corporation building I counted over 20 vagrants sleeping on cardboard. They eat, sleep, urinate and defecate there, which makes that place a living hell for shop owners, citizens and those who work at GPOC. But they don’t stop there, they have extended their living quarters down to Fogarty’s building doing their same filthiness but the administrators at City Hall puts a blind eye to all the filthiness from these vagrants.

It makes us look really bad when foreigners visit. We have a large number of new Ministries with competent educated ministers but none seem to see these vagrants, nor a need for a building to house these vagrants.

If it’s the Ministry of Social Protection or the Ministry of Social Cohesion or the Ministry of Human Services they need to build a living quarters for these vagrants to keep the city clean. They will clean them up, train them and put them in a rehab centre since most of them are young and can work before their lives are destroyed by drugs and alcohol.

City Hall is very busy with getting parking meters to suck every dollar out of citizens of Georgetown; they should now be busy to build a house for these vagrants who beg with children on the pave; so that we can have a good and green clean environment.

We have endless beggars all over Georgetown, most of whom are women with children. These same children from unwanted fathers and poor mothers grow up to be bandits and criminals. Millions were wasted on the Jubilee celebrations, why not spend Taxpayers money on building homes for the poor and needy and help them and their children, to be a better citizen of this beautiful land of ours?

I hope the Minister of Finance will put housing for vagrants in his next budget. Guyana is a nation dying slowly in poverty and human degradation while our leaders drive Hummers and Cadillacs.

Now I come to the touts who make the bus- and car-parks a living hell while they rob people from time to time or set thieves to rob people, they need to be picked up by the police and be given jobs to clean the city.

These touts are all over from the Courts, GRA, Immigration, Banks and other Ministries, they always seem to be connected to a white collar criminal who can get you a document instantly for a nice fat price. So we can see corruption is still the order of the day, you are pushed around daily at offices for a document all because you have to ”grease somebody palm”. Is this the good and green economy we want for Guyana?

The thieves lurks all over from banks, courts, embassies, ministries watching like vultures for who to pounce on next. We now run out of jail space for young thieves who just want to live like parasites on innocent citizens who work hard for their money.

If we enforce more serious laws in Guyana we will live in a better society. Drugs destroy people, it drives them to be thieves and makes them vagrants, yet many law-makers are calling for legalizing marijuana.

Guyana needs a new vision of honest political leadership that will take us into this new contemporary era for us to compete with the world. We must have a vision to eradicate poverty from our society, begging, stealing, corruption and crime.

Crime has plagued this nation for a very long time. What Guyana needs is a better economic policy, through implementing better salaries for our citizens of at least $140,000 per month for the average government worker. The police, teachers, public servant, and labourers will live in Guyana and not run out for better jobs and living standards. We have to learn to keep our people.

If the politicians can eat turkey and steak then we ought to be able to afford the same. A true leader will put others before himself because of his love and concern for his people.

Yours faithfully,

Rev Gideon Cecil