Archives for August 15, 2016
Solid waste in Mabaruma posing health hazard – Regional Chairman
August 15, 2016 By
The management of solid waste in Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini), has gotten the attention of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), after health concerns were raised. Recently, the Agency was asked to view the garbage disposal site located at Kansville.
Waste from the newly established town of Mabaruma is being dumped over a cliff, creating a potential environmental hazard.
EPA Board Member, Dr Latchmin Punalall and Senior Environmental Officer of the EPA, Odessa Duncan, got a firsthand look at how solid waste is being disposed of in the region.
Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley said the objective of the visit was to try to improve the way the administration manages its solid waste.
“This is what we call our dump site but it is not suitable and so the [Regional Democratic Council] RDC is trying to correct it to prevent any future health problems or health hazards which may cause residents to become ill. We are looking at developing a landfill site so that we will have a more efficient way of dealing with our solid waste within the region,” said Ashley.
He admitted that it was the regional administration which took the initiative to make the area into a dump site, but now they realise the potential problems it may have on health and the environment.
“The official site which was identified by the Environmental Protection Agency needs to be developed. The dump site is one that the region’s administration would have created last year when they found that residents and businesses were dumping their waste on house lots in a developing housing scheme at Kansville. So in an effort to correct that, we would have done some work like grading the area so that it could become a dump site for the time being, but right now it is going out of control so we are trying to ensure that it is corrected before any major problems,” Ashley said.
Meanwhile, a landfill site had been identified about 200 meters from the current dump site, but it is located less than 400 meters from where a housing scheme is located.
This was one of the concerns of both Dr Punalall and Duncan.
Ashley explained that the site was proposed and approved by the EPA before the scheme was developed but the site was never used.
The EPA is exploring the possibility of approving a section of land in the same community to be developed but is waiting on a proposal from the RDC as they look at the way forward.
Market vendor beaten, robbed
August 15, 2016 By
Armed bandits on Saturday morning attacked and robbed a Rose Hall Market fish vendor after breaking into his home.
According to reports, at about 05:00h on Saturday morning as Ceenarine Satrohan was about to leave home to ply his trade, three men entered; one carrying a gun and the others cutlasses. Satrohan was physically assaulted and robbed by the bandits who escaped with $140,000 in jewellery and $60,000 in cash. The man was left nursing injuries to his face, head and back.
“Me open the door and a go side to bring in the wheelbarrow to pack the fish, the gun man deh at the side and he say don’t holler, but when he say that, me start holler hard and then he lash me up in me head and drag me in the house. He tell me he want money and jewellery, by that time the two cutlass man run go upstairs and attack me wife and that was when me hall out the money out a me pocket and give them,” Satrohan recounted.
He said the intruders were not satisfied and beat him hoping to get more valuables. “When the gun one go upstairs where me wife deh, one cutlass one come down and he start fire chop pun me. He said that he gone chop out me hand and foot and me beg him not to chop me.”
His wife, Sarita, who was in the upper flat of the house at the time of the invasion, said one of the perpetrators touched her on her private parts with the cutlass.
At the time of the incident, the couple’s three-year-old daughter was asleep. The toddler was unharmed.
Police have since arrested one person as they investigate the incident. (Andrew Carmichael)
Parika: A bridge to the heart of Essequibo
August 15, 2016 By
Located in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Parika is the gateway to the Essequibo coastlands.
Known as a port township, as it is popular for its ferry service to Supenaam, Bartica, and the islands such as Leguan, Wakenaam, Hog Island, etc; Parika was also in talks of becoming a town.
Having over 4000 inhabitants, the community is also famous for its Saturday night-Sunday morning market, as well as being a commercial hub due to its central location.
Up to 500 individual merchants set up their stalls containing various produce. These produce includes banana, coconut, plantain, cassava, watermelon, etc. It is also known for its exotic pet trades including parrots and various birds.
Parika is also known as a vast fishing community, as fishers would go out to sea from the wharf and return to ply their trade on a daily basis.
It is also a major hub for land transport, since it is a route terminal for minibusses.
The community is also known to be one of the central business areas in Region Three, housing more banks than any other region. The fact that Republic Bank, Scotia Bank, Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, and Demerara Bank are located in Parika is testament to the commercial viability of the village.
Parika is also home to Guyana’s first two-tiered parking facility. The parking lot known as the S&R Parking Lot, is located at 162 Parika, East Bank Essequibo.
The multimillion-dollar structure leads the way countrywide in terms of single parking spaces.
The construction of the steel structured parking lot commenced in 2010 and can accommodate 102 vehicles.
The parking complex is convenient for persons travelling to the islands and only costs $500 a day.
Parika also houses many schools, a health centre, a Police Station, and many businesses, which is one of the main reasons for the daily hustle and bustle on the streets.
The community contains much more than what is seen on the surface. Driving into the backlands, alias the ‘backdam’, there is much more to be seen.
The backdam is widely known for its ground provision cultivation and poultry rearing.
These farmers supply provisions, such as plantain, eddoe, cassava, yam, sweet potato, etc to various parts of the country; the same is done with the poultry.
The people of Parika however, are the highlight of what the community stands for: Unity is visible in the close-knit community.
Speaking with a few villagers, they all talked about the comforts of living in the community.
Some proclaimed that “we are all like family here”, which says much about them.
It is a custom for loud music to be heard when traversing through the community since weddings and parties are held regularly.
According to villagers, one does not need an invitation to these events, since as long as you live in Parika, you are welcomed.
The sunshine village is continuously developing and is expected to be a greater attraction in years to come.
What’s in a name…
August 15, 2016 By
…SARU to SARA?
Acting on the received wisdom from the Muckraker – that unbiased exemplar of rectitude and probity in our fair land! – which claimed the PPP’d engaged in wholesale looting of the Treasury, the APNU/AFC Government didn’t waste any time going after the supposed “malfeasors”. Moving from the Opposition benches – from where you can throw all the shade you want without worry of the consequences – to the government that should set a standard for observing the Rule of Law didn’t cut any ice with them.
They launched a “State Assets Recovery Unit” (SARU) operating out of the Ministry of the Presidency. Problem was – there’s no legislation on the books for any such unit to go around investigating and seizing people’s property. The PPP’s complaint about “illegal witch-hunting” fell on deaf ears. SARU – headed by one-time WPA leader and Presidential Candidate Clive Thomas – didn’t let the lack of legalities (or Thomas’ clear bias) hinder the Government’s drive to hunt down PPP officials.
Liberally interpreting the “forensic audits” of government departments – SARU just basically threw mud by the ton at PPP officials. After months of “investigations” – rather than confessing they really had nothing on their targets (and if they did they could’ve passed it on to the Police for prosecution) they finally confessed they needed legislation to legalise their status. They were going to be changed from a “Unit” in the Presidency to an “Agency” of Parliament. SARU would become SARA.
So we arrive at the “consultations” on the SARU legislation that’ll be passed when Parliament returns from its two-month vacation in mid October. And, dear reader, with their one-seat majority they CAN pass the legislation – no matter what anyone says. Even the GHRA was forced to accuse the government of thereby creating “political commissars”.
And the GHRA continued with more than a mouthful – when no one can accuse them of being in bed with the PPP – that confirmed the PPP’s worse suspicions. SARA will be using funds it seizes to pay its way. As your Eyewitness pointed out this will pretty make them into bounty hunters. And we know in that field, you just do whatever it takes to “get your man” – dead or alive. While the proposed legislation talks about “non-conviction-based recovery provisions”, based on UN Conventions, SARA will be demanding, “hang ’em high!!”
But even more dangerous are the powers placed in the hands of the Director of SARU and his Deputy. The following persons “must comply” to give info – “the Commissioner of Police, the DPP, Head of CANU, the Bank of Guyana, private banks, and the Chairperson of the Gold Board.”
…subventions
After hollering for years that the PPP was committing “economic genocide” (well, actually “economic strangulation”…the “economic genocide” was committed on African Guyanese) by withholding the government’s subvention to Critchlow Labour College, Lincoln Lewis, whose TUC runs Critchlow, just discovered that the APNU/AFC government’s position is the same. Is it committing “economic strangulation”??
A “subvention” is a grant – in this case by the government. All the PPP had asked and the coalition government now, is for “audited accounts” be provided as to how Critchlow monies are spent. Is this asking too much? Let’s look at the case of Guyana that gets grants all the time. Let’s take the £53M grant from the UK to build “infrastructure” in our country. Lewis knows about this…does he think the British Government isn’t looking at how we spend the money?
Heck!! They even demand we practice “good governance” – and tell us exactly what that means. For example, to lay off the reparations call!!
Market Vendors Union
So the market vendors, treated for decades by the PNC as cannon fodder against the PPP in the City, have formed a “union”. After being kicked out of Bourda, Merriman’s Mall and Stabroek Square, isn’t this like bolting the stable door…blah, blah, blah??
No marks of violence found, friend stable
August 15, 2016 By
Teen drowning
By: Indrawattie Natram
friend of the deceased Kowsal Persaud, who drowned Saturday afternoon, is presently hospitalised at the Suddie Public Hospital in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam).
Emanuel Narine had to be rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital where he is currently a patient. He suffered severe bruises, occasioned by turbulent waves when he tried to save his friend at the Aurora seawall. His condition is listed as stable.
Narine, speaking to Guyana Times related that around 11:00h Saturday last, he and his friends were consuming Vodka at the Aurora seawall when they decided to take a bath. He further related it was six of them drinking and socialising after a long time. Out of the six friends Kowshal Persaud, 19, aka Ajay unfortunately drowned while swimming in the mighty river.
Narine related that the now dead Persaud went furthest to the channel and suddenly disappeared around 15:00 hours in the murky water.
The other friends Shavenarine Sookhan, Latchman Persaud, Kelvin Persaud, Faed Mohamed and himself panicked but launched a search to find Persaud. They all ventured into the water and began to vigorously search for their friend.
The friend’s body was discovered motionless and they immediately took him out and rested him on the fore shore.
They were panicking during the entire ordeal and so the police were summoned. Persaud along with Narine were rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital where Persaud was pronounced dead. His body was examined by detectives and no marks of violence were found.
Police are currently conducting an investigation into the incident.
Statements were taken from Narine and the friends.
The body of Persaud is presently at the Suddie Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination. Family of the deceased are still shocked by the incident.
Persaud is the third child of his parents and was a second year student of the Teachers Training College.
Child abandonment must cease
August 15, 2016 By
Dear Editor,
Please print my factual observations in regards to one of the most despicable and sinful acts of parents; be it men or women who have for over hundreds of years deliberately abandoned their responsibilities in providing basic childcare for their offspring.
Many governments worldwide have tried many different strategies to assist these children – the results are poor and in many cases, these children end up abused, raped and forced into prostitution.
This social disease in Guyana has to be researched, documented by a ‘truth commission on children abandonment’. The composition of this commission must be from practicing honest and truthful religious scholars, whose actions speak louder than their words.
The main cause of this despicable action is the blatant opposition and refusal of the blessed institution of marriage which was granted by our Creator as a protection and mercy to mankind.
Ignorance of our religions and failure of these religious institutions and their leaders to plan and execute proper programmes to educate their flocks about the spiritual, family and community benefits of the institution of marriage has contributed to the proliferation of common-law unions. These social unions tend to lead to more broken homes, which in turn lead to child abandonment.
The Government also has its role to provide funds for orphaned children homes and in cases where there are no family memebers available to take care of these children, they should be placed in foster care. Minister Lawrence’s regional guardians board with due respect is a band aid solution.
The constitutional laws enforcement threats to deadbeat fathers failed in many countries; in Canada for example, they garnish your wages from your employers. The legal framework must be in place, along with education in all schools, all religious bodies and all employers.
Yours truly,
Sheik Ally