October 18, 2016

Archives for August 15, 2016

Only “broken promises and idle chatter” from Govt – Ali

Fifteen months after it was elected on a pro-youth platform with promises to thousands of jobs for youths, getting them more involved in the decision-making process at the national level, and channel more resources for their development, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government is coming in for some harsh criticisms for its about-turn on these promises, particularly with regards to creating employment.
The APNU/AFC in its 2015 Election Manifesto stated that it was willing and ready to create j

IRFAAN ALI_02

Former Commerce Minister and current Opposition Member of Parliament Irfaan Ali

obs for all the youths in Guyana.
But now, 15 months later, former Commerce Minister and current opposition Member of Parliament Irfaan Ali, a youth advocate himself, is lambasting the government for what he described as “broken promises and idle chatter.”
Ali said the government has swiftly changed its tune of creating youth employment to now telling young people to “find your own jobs”, recalling that no less a person than President David Granger declaring that creating employment is not government’s business, a line echoed by Minister of Finance Winston Jordan.
“Job seekers should go to the small business place and start a business instead of looking for a job,” Jordan was quoted as saying.
This was coupled with a recent charge by Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder to graduates to start their own businesses if they have difficulties securing jobs.
“Based on these utterances, it is clear that the government has absolutely no intention of fulfilling its promise to the youth by providing them with better paying jobs that would offer the kind of satisfaction our ministers enjoy from the 50 per cent increase in salary. Instead the coalition government seems to be more interested in deluding the youths again by Table 1parroting ‘entrepreneurship’ as the panacea for youth unemployment,” Ali said in a statement.
He said while one cannot dispute that entrepreneurship may help in reducing unemployment in Guyana, it should be noted that the government is simply loud on the rhetoric but silent with on offering fiscal and other measures to assist entrepreneurs and small businesses.
“Where are the fiscal measures to promote entrepreneurship or small businesses in Guyana? Or to put the question differently, what is the government doing to help small businesses?” Ali said, is the big question.
He said given its inability to deliver jobs for the youths, the coalition government is now attempting to dupe young people into starting their own business.
“However, the coalition stopped short of informing the youths that it has done little to support businesses since assuming office last year. As a matter of fact, the coalition has punished businesses with more taxes, table 2destroyed the enabling environment created by the PPP to support businesses, unleashed political creatures like SARU/SOCU to criminalise legitimate businesses, and is focused on making it hard for entrepreneurs and small businesses to operate in Georgetown,” Ali declared.
As a matter of fact, Ali, who shares the honour of being one of the youngest cabinet ministers in Guyana, said the measures presented in the last two budgets were more harmful to businesses, pointing to the increase in more than 150 licence fees, ranging from hucksters to rice millers.
“Businesses are dying. This is evident from the negative growth reported for all the key sectors. The exponential growth in non-performing loans also confirms that businesses are in distress. At the end of March 2016 non-performing loans accounted for 11.7 per cent of the total loans offered by all the commercial banks. Even more worrying is the fact that some banks reported ratios of non-performing loans to total loans as high as 25.57 per cent, 10.51 per cent and 11.12 per cent and reserves for loan losses as a percentage of non-performing loans at the lowest level over the last 5 years. For the first time in over one decade the country is faced with economic stagnation and a quiet financial crisis,” Ali declared.
He supported his contention with data provided by Minister Jordan during his 2016 Half Year review, which Table 3he said could only lead one to conclude that small businesses are partly responsible for the $6.4 billion reported as non-tax revenue for the first six months of 2016.
The amount collected as non-tax revenue from the private sector during 2016 was twice the level reported for the corresponding periods in 2015 and three times the level during the first half of 2014, he pointed out.
The opposition MP said the private sector was dealt further blows when government moved to amend the Value-Added Tax Act to impose 16 per cent VAT on large capital equipment thereby crippling rice farmers, small gold miners, and manufacturing businesses.“Where are the fiscal measures to help small businesses?” or as the Americans would put the question “where is the beef?” he asked, adding that government did not end here, as it is now working to impose higher land rental on leased lands that would further cripple small farmers across the country, despite the abysmal performance of the agriculture, fishing and forestry sectors, which contracted by 10 per cent during the first half of 2016.
He said the rice sector, which recorded unprecedented output levels under the PPP/C, took the hardest hit during the first half of 2016 by recording a 26.2 per cent decline in output due to the mishandling of the PetroCaribe agreement and unwillingness of the government to help the farmers with markets.
Tax write-off
Turning his attention to government’s decision to give tax waivers to selected large businesses, Ali said while the government is squeezing small businesses on one hand, on the other hand it is simultaneously offering selected businesses, such as Demerara Distillers Limited tax write-offs that will cost the country billions in revenue.
“As we speak another manufacturing business is likely to benefit similarly since it is preparing to take the government to court for the payment of excise taxes. Since our Attorney General is generous, we can look out for more out of court settlements that will favour the big businesses,” Ali claimed.
He said besides imposing high taxes, the coalition government cannot escape blame for the economic morass that is strangulating local businesses, as almost a year-and-a-half after it came to office there is no comprehensive macroeconomic plan for Guyana.
Ali also accused government of crippling retail and wholesale businesses in the city, pointing to decisions by the APNU/AFC-controlled City Council to remove pavement vendors, imposed an unconscionable $5000 container fee and attempts to install parking meters.

2 more deaths in less than 12 hours

Road carnage continues
Two men in their late 20s have been killed in less than 12 hours, involving two separate road accidents; this is Accident Graphicaccording to Police spokesman Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan.
Ramlakhan said that the first accident occurred at 22:20h on Saturday on Ann’s Grove Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD), which resulted in the death of John Forde, 27, of 17 Supply, Mahaica, ECD.
“Enquiries disclosed that the deceased, who was the driver and lone occupant of motorcar PLL 7886, was proceeding east when he lost control and ended up into a southern canal,” Ramlakhan said.
He related that Forde was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital by public-spirited citizens where a doctor pronounced him dead.
The second fatal accident occurred at about 03:30h on the Belle Vue Public Road, West Bank Demerara.
That accident claimed the life of Dominic King, 27, of Lot 33 Vive-La-Force, WBD.
Ramlakhan said that investigations thus far have revealed that King was riding motorcycle CH 1556 in a southerly direction when he lost control and collided with a utility pole.
He was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital by public-spirited citizens, where he was pronounced dead.
Investigations into both accidents are continuing.
Only Friday last a 19-year-old Essequibian crashed to his death on Three Friends Public Road, Essequibo Coast.
That accident resulted in the death of Chandi Dyal, of “H” Lima, Essequibo Coast.
Last week the Guyana Police Force announced that there was an increase in road fatalities by some 16 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year.
According to statistics released by the GPF, at the end of July 2016 there were 72 road fatalities, compared to 59 for the same period last year.
The Force said that while there was a reduction in serious accidents, there has been an increase in minor accidents.
It said 41,497 persons were charged with traffic offences thus far for the year, including 15,427 for speeding and 1035 for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Traffic enforcement is continuous countrywide, with special emphasis placed on driving under the influence, speeding, and the use of mobile devices while driving.
Attention is also placed on pedestrian crossings at schools and elsewhere where there is a high percentage of foot traffic during peak hours.
The Force was happy to announce that the traffic department has registered an influx of newly trained certifying officers, who will assist in reducing traffic offences on our streets and roadways.

Guyanese policy holders receiving payments – BoG Governor

Bank of Guyana (BoG) Governor, Dr Gobind Ganga, has confirmed that Guyanese policy holders, who had

BoG Governor, Dr Gobind Ganga

BoG Governor,
Dr Gobind Ganga

invested their monies in the now defunct Colonial Life Insurance Company Limited (CLICO), some seven years ago, have begun receiving their monies.
While he could not say off-hand the number of persons who had plugged their life savings into the Insurance Company, Dr Ganga said the process of payout has been ongoing for some time now. He said the monies garnered from CLICO’s liquidated assets and those of its affiliated companies were being used for the payouts.
He said however, that all policy holders may not be paid anytime soon as they are being paid based on their rankings, but assured that every effort is being made to make payments back to policy holders.
But while efforts are being made here to repay policy holders, Guyana is yet to see its day in court in The Bahamas.
Before the massive financial collapse in 2008, CLICO Guyana had transferred some US$36 million to CLICO Bahamas. However, while the investments were said to be “liquid on paper”, investigations, revealed that the sum had been tied up in several investments, including real estate which CLICO Bahamas had in Florida through subsidiaries.
When CLICO Bahamas was ordered liquidity on February 24, 2009, the local company was subsequently placed under judicial management. Guyana was then forced to retain lawyers to help recover its money, some 53 per cent of the assets of CLICO Guyana. That matter was filed in The Bahamas court after the CLICO Bahamas’ liquidator “rejected” Guyana’s claims.
Recently Dr Ganga had told Guyana Times that given the current financial status of CLICO, there was a possibility that Guyanese policyholders may not get back their life savings which were transferred to the company’s Bahamian office.
He said in terms of beneficiaries, Guyana was “way down the ladder” nestled at category ‘D’. This being the case, it did not seem like Guyana would anytime soon be able to recover the monies invested since, like many other countries, it was still awaiting its day in court.
According to Dr Ganga, it is obvious that Guyana’s case has been “put for last”, on the list of cases filed by other Caribbean countries against the group. Suriname is one such country, claiming US$15.5 million from CLICO Bahamas. Guyana’s case is being represented by an esteemed lawyer, John Wilson of McKinney Bancroft & Hughes.
CL Financial, CLICO’s parent company, collapsed in January 2009, following the global financial crisis in 2008. The global recession exposed the company’s inability to meet its commitments to pay maturing investments at CLICO and CLICO Investment Bank (CIB). In 2010, the CLICO Bahamas liquidator, Craig A “Tony” Gomez, had related that his “preliminary view of the documentation suggests that policies were never issued by CLICO Bahamas. In addition, premiums received from Guyana and Suriname were never paid to CLICO Bahamas”.
In his third report to the Bahamian Supreme Court on the life and health insurer’s liquidation, Gomez, of the Baker Tilly Gomez Chartered Accountants firm, said the US$34 million and US$15.5 million claims submitted by CLICO Guyana and CLICO Suriname had not been approved.
Guyana had appealed the matter which is still pending; to date, Guyana is yet to receive any of the money invested by CLICO Guyana.

Guyana Forestry Sector sees 15.8% decline in exports – 2015 report

– discouraging markets main cause

The Guyana Forestry Sector has seen a significant decline in production and exports of forest produce

A reoprt has stated that there has been a respective decline of 14.5 per cent and 15.8 per cent in production and exports for the sector in 2015

A reoprt has stated that there has been a respective decline of 14.5 per cent and 15.8 per cent in production and exports for the sector in 2015

throughout 2015, when compared to the previous year.
A draft annual report of the sector, emanating from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, says there has been a respective decline of 14.5 per cent and 15.8 per cent in production and exports for the sector in 2015. The decline the report stated was directly related to depressed markets locally and internationally.
It said the main markets for forest products, specifically India and China, have contracted their demand following economic slowdown in both countries. Log export volume reportedly decreased by some 20 per cent over the corresponding annual 2014 volume total. Also notable was the trend in Dressed Sawn wood export value for 2015, which increased by close to 5 per cent, representing higher overall prices for this product category.
According to the report, total production of Timber (Logs, Primary Lumber, Roundwood, Fuel wood, and Split wood) for the period January to December 2015 was recorded at 452,954m3 and together with Veneer and Plywood, recorded a total of 483,702m3. This compares to 530,864m3 and 572,236m3 respectively, recorded in 2014. Overall, total production reflects a 14.7 per cent decrease in 2015 compared to the year 2014.
Total Log Production for 2015 was 331,195m3 as compared to 406,433m3 in 2014. This was a decrease of approximately 19 per cent. Total Primary Lumber production recorded a notable increase of 6 per cent in 2015 with a production level of 70,952m3 as compared to 67,147m3 in 2014.
In the Roundwood Category, Greenheart Piles and Wallaba Poles were the leading products in terms of production volume. Total Plywood and Veneer production was recorded at 30,748m3 in 2015, as compared to 41,372m3 in 2014.
Revenue collected for 2015 was $1,372,137,000 while Expenses totalled $1,173,762,000, with a surplus of $198,375,000.
Meanwhile, the Sector continued to provide direct employment to over 23,000 persons, inclusive of residents of hinterland communities.
The report said oversight of the sector was provided by the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) through policy guidance by the GFC board of directors and the Ministry of Natural Resources.
The GFC satisfactorily completed its 2015 operational Work Plan activities through the combined effort of some 408 staff and the support of the Forest Products Development and Marketing Council (FPDMC), and Forestry Training Centre Inc (FTCI), the report stated.
Other key activities that were undertaken in 2015 included: Training and capacity building of GFC and sector personnel in various aspects of forest management; Preparation of a draft revised Guyana Timber Grading Rules; Interagency collaboration on Community Forestry; Preparation of national reports on Forest Sector Information; Preparation of a draft revised National Log Export Policy; among others.
Commissioner of Forest James Singh said the sector plays an important role in national development. He related that it contributes in excess of 3 per cent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) based on primary production.
“This sector provides direct employment to approximately 23,000 persons. It also helps to sustain the local construction industry through the supply of timber resources. Contribution of foreign exchange earnings is approximately US$45M annually, as well as the provision of livelihood opportunities to many forest-based communities, and ecosystem services to the global environment,” Singh said in his report.
In 2015, the GFC finalised Codes of Practice for Timber Harvesting specific to State Forest Permissions, Agricultural and Mining Leases. These Codes were accompanied by extension training, stakeholder awareness and capacity building.
With donor support, GFC collaborated with the Forestry Training Centre Inc (FTCI) and the Forest Products Development and Marketing Council (FPDMC) to continue engagements, such as capacity building and extension training of community forestry association employees, TSA/WCL/SFP concession employees as well as GFC staff.
The GFC satisfactorily completed its 2015 deliverables, especially those relating to the activities on REDD+ and MRVS, the initiative on EU FLEGT and forest legality.
The year 5 (2014) forest area assessment recorded a deforestation rate of 0.065% (0.079% in 2012; 0.068% in 2013), Singh said.
“The sector performed below expectations in 2015. Production decreased by approximately 14.7% (453,000 m3 in 2015 compared to 531,000 m3 in 2014).
Export of forest produce for 2015 was US$45.6 million; a decrease of 15.8 per cent compared to 2014. The main export destinations continued to be Asia/Pacific for Roundwood, Europe and the Caribbean for Sawn timber, while the main export market for Plywood was North America, Latin American and the Caribbean.
The domestic and external markets both contracted in 2015; this was a major reason for the decline in production and in exports,” the Commissioner concluded.

Solid waste in Mabaruma posing health hazard – Regional Chairman

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.

Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley; EPA Board Member, Dr Latchmin Punalall; and Senior Environmental Officer of the EPA Odessa Duncan, visit the Kansville dump site at Mabaruma

Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley; EPA Board Member, Dr Latchmin Punalall; and Senior Environmental Officer of the EPA Odessa Duncan, visit the Kansville dump site at Mabaruma

“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

Armed bandits on Saturday morning attacked and robbed a Rose Hall Market fish vendor after breaking into Sathrohanhis 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

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.

A section of wharf

A section of wharf

Parika Post office

Parika Post office

Parika's Police Station

Parika’s Police Station

S&R Parking Lot and Taxi Service

S&R Parking Lot and Taxi Service

Parika's Health Centre

Parika’s Health Centre

One of the banks in Parika

One of the banks in Parika

A section of the market

A section of the market

What’s in a name…

…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

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.

Dead: Kowsal Persaud

Dead: Kowsal Persaud

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

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