October 18, 2016

Archives for September 15, 2016

BaiShanLin gold mining, other operations unaffected

BaiShanLin gold mining, other operations unaffected

BaiShanLin International Forest Developers Inc and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) are preparing to have a high-level meeting this week with a view to determining exactly how the tax agency came up with a $1.5 billion figure it claims it is now owed.
According to reliable sources, the company is also disputing the GRA’s claim that it has in fact breached the Investment Agreement with the GRA and is adamant that the seizure of its logging equipment was unlawful.
The company’s executives have indicated that the meeting is expected to field lawyers between the two entities.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Some of the materials that the GRA seized from BaiShanLin over the weekend

Some of the materials that the GRA seized from BaiShanLin over the weekend

The Revenue Authority over the weekend swooped down on BaiShanLin’s Coomacka Linden operation where it seized a number of logging equipment, but according to the company’s officials, none of its other operations have been targeted by the GRA, including its gold mining, transportation and real estate ventures.
BaiShanLin – under controversial circumstances had also acquired a 20-kilometre river gold mining concession, in addition to a five kilometers construction area for a Guyana-China Timber Industry Economic and Trading Cooperation Park and acres of land for real estate development.
BK International had also under questionable circumstances sold a 100-acre plot of land to BaiShanLin in Providence, East Bank Demerara, for the construction of the massive real estate project – a project that is currently at a standstill.
The logging company reportedly offered US$9 million for the 100-acres plot but still owes a substantial amount.
During the GuyExpo 2014 trade fair at the Sophia Exhibition Center, BaiShanLin had announced the gated community called “New Life” with a huge display. Prices for homes were from $50 million and reaching over $100 million.

Why destroy business?
Meanwhile, former President Bharrat Jagdeo, under whose administration the Chinese company had been brought into Guyana, has broken his silence on the matter and has since called for Government to release the Investment Agreement to the public.
Jagdeo is of the view that the GRA was acting on direction, “or a pre-conceived notion that somehow they have to take back all of these lands from this company.”
He pointed to the recent commitment on the part of the coalition A Partnership for National Unity, Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government to set aside some two million hectares of land for conservation.
This he suggested has led to Government now looking to “take back lands from people.” Jagdeo said he is of the view that BaiShanLin must honour its obligations made under the Investment Agreement and that the State has a right to enforce the provisions of that document but, “this goes beyond the agreement.”
He used the opportunity to also point to the increased hardships that would obtain as a result of the actions on the part of GRA and the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and questions “why do you have to destroy business at a time when the economy is already faltering.”
He was speaking to the fact that BaiShanLin had been purchasing logs extracted by local small operators particularly from Ituni and Kwakwani in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
“All of that is gone now,” said Jagdeo as he pointed to BaiShanLin’s request for another two years to complete its wood processing plant.
“Why not give them but watch them carefully whilst they are paying their fair share of the taxes,” the former President, now Opposition Leader questioned.

Breached agreement
The GRA had earlier this year launched an investigation into the operations of the logging company and had determined that it had in fact breached its Investment Agreement.
According to the GRA missive addressed to Managing Director of BaiShanLin, Chu Hongbo, it had found that the company had breached the terms and conditions under which tax exemptions were granted as outlined in the Investment Agreement.
According to the Revenue Authority, BaiShanLin failed to undertake the activities of the project specified in the Investment Agreement with regard to the setting up of a modernised wood processing facility in Linden.
The tax collection body also found that BaiShanLin had also failed to create and sustain employment for 150 persons over three years.
It found too that the company also failed to procure and provide all the investment and other financing required by the undertaking, in the estimated sum of US$150 million over a three-year period from the time of signing of the Investment Agreement.
It was subsequently determined that BaiShanLin breached its covenant with Government in its Investment Agreement “for which the penalty is termination of the Agreement”.
As such, “the residual customs duty and taxes are now due and payable on machinery, equipment and motor vehicles” in the amount of just over $1.5 billion ($1,584,047,052).

Gunmen storm 3 homes in Eccles

Different groups of bandits on Wednesday invaded three homes in the Young Professional Housing Scheme in Eccles, East Bank of Demerara (EBD).
Registrar of Deeds, Azeena Baksh, was terrorised by two armed bandits at about 13:30h. Baksh explained that the bandits entered the yard and held up her security guard along with several workmen before entering the house, where she was alone at the time.
“They tied the guard up, they tied the contractor up. Then they pointed the gun to the guard and told him to call up to me to ask for water. So I came downstairs to give him the water and that’s how they came into the house,” she told Guyana Times.
The men held her at gunpoint and demanded jewellery and other valuables, but after being robbed last year, she had none at home.

The perpetrators who were captured by the Police

The perpetrators who were captured by the Police

After realising that there were no valuables in the home, Baksh reported that the gunmen threatened to kill or kidnap her if she does not hand over something valuable.

At this point, her brother-in-law arrived at the home and this startled the bandits, who fled the scene empty-handed.

The window through which the bandits gained entry into Attorney Paula Nicholson’s home

The window through which the bandits gained entry into Attorney Paula Nicholson’s home

Registrar of Deeds, Azeena Baksh

Registrar of Deeds, Azeena Baksh

captured
“I think they got scared and they jumped the back fence. By then, my sister called the Police to come… the bandits had already gotten away by the time they arrived,” she stated.
Another group of bandits stormed the home of Attorney Paula Nicholson.
Prompt response from the Police resulted in the perpetrators being captured as they were ransacking the house. Speaking to Guyana Times, the Attorney explained that her daughter was at home alone when she noticed that two armed men were attempting to break into the house.
“I got a call from my daughter and she said that there were some suspicious activities taking place at the back of the fence. I told her if she believes she’s under threat to secure herself in a room, which she did. In addition to doing that, she called 911 and the Police responded immediately,” she related.
Nicholson said when the Police arrived at the home, the bandits attempted to flee the scene but were apprehended. The Attorney expressed gratitude to the Police for their quick response.
Guyana Times was reliably informed that another house in the area was robbed. In July, the Vice Chairman of the Community Policing Group, as well as his neighbour, was robbed by armed bandits.
Just last week, thieves gained entry into another resident’s home by drilling a hole through the wall.

UG student loans repayment slashed by 75%

The Government of Guyana has opted to grant a further reprieve to indebted students of the University of Guyana (UG), by slashing accumulated arrears by as much as 75 per cent if the monies in full are repaid by the end of next month.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Finance Ministry, which indicated that the decision came about as a result of a Cabinet decision made on Tuesday last.

Student Loan Agency

Student Loan Agency

According to the Finance Ministry, the extension of the waivers has been approved for those indebted, but currently with payment schedules for their student loans.
Persons who wish to bring their accounts up-to-date will be granted a 50 per cent reduction in the accumulated arrears of interest, “If their accounts are brought up-to-date by October 31, 2016.”
The Ministry has cautioned “if, however, a borrower defaults, subsequently, the interest waived will be restored in full to the account”. The Ministry said borrowers whose accounts were current for at least three years at July 31, 2016 will benefit from a 50 per cent reduction on all future interest once the account does not go into arrears, but cautioned too that in this instance “if the account lapses into arrears, all interest waived will be restored”.
According to a missive issued by the Ministry’s Public Relations Office, “borrowers whose accounts were current for at least two years at July 31, 2016, will receive a 50 per cent reduction on the interest accumulated prior to the repayment due date of the loan.”
This reduction, however, will be given in the form of a monthly credit against future payments, but, “if however, the account goes into arrears, all interest waived will be restored to the account”.
The move to provide a reprieve for UG students in arrears was first raised in the context of Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary when Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman had indicated before the Independence anniversary, “we are hoping that we can be generous in the Jubilee year… to students and waive interest and so forth…So, there are considerations for passing or excusing or not insisting on payments for some things, but I would prefer the Minister of Finance to make those announcements”.
The reduction was recommended by an audit of the UG Student Loan Agency among other interventions, “to streamline the agency and set clear conditions for loan applications guarantees and repayment”.

AG tells Private Sector to stop playing politics

SARA Bill consultations 

…says PSC had its chance to contribute, dismisses concerns

 

Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams has dismissed the overwhelming concerns expressed by the Private Sector Commission (PSC) in relation to the “heavily flawed” State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) Bill.

Attorney General Basil Williams

Attorney General Basil Williams

Williams maintained that the Bill is in accordance with the provisions outlined by the International Convention against Corruption and that there is no need for the document to be re-examined as petitioned by the Private Sector organisation.
“The provisions were not pulled out from somebody’s back pocket. The last regime had signed on to the convention against corruption and never implemented them… So all provisions in the SARA Bill are taken out of the convention against corruption,” he told journalists at a press conference on Wednesday morning.
He also explained that consultations on the SARA Bill were extensive and indicated that Government is not to be held responsible if the Private Sector representatives failed to participate in the forum.
“The PSC was specifically invited. The Private Sector must stop playing politics. We are using taxpayers’ money to hold these consultations. When we don’t hold consultations, they made a lot of noise. Now we are holding consultations and they are not going, they not attending… The PSC, they must stop disrespecting the Guyanese public,” Williams insisted.
Furthermore, the AG posited that the Government is not obligated to observe the inputs by those who participated in the consultations.
“We take all considerations on board (but) there is nothing to say because a submission was made by party A that we are bound to include that in the Bill,” he affirmed.
In a stern warning release last week, the local Private Sector umbrella body urged Government to re-examine the Bill, saying that it provides for harassment and political victimisation in its current form.
The PSC said the Bill is not a good signal to investors who will require access to State resources such as land, licences, access rights, etc, as the Bill provides opportunities for legitimate investors to be harassed and politically victimised.
According to the PSC, the Bill is also inconsistent with many of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of Guyana.
“The Bill has been drafted from the perspective that the Government of Guyana does not know what it owns or what the State has lost over the years and as such, it provides all encompassing investigative and surveillance powers to the Director and staff of the Agency to snoop around into private accounts and financial records of citizens to determine what assets of the State were lost and need to be recovered,” the body stated.
Furthermore, the PSC raised concerns about the magnitude of powers provided to the Director of SARA, who is currently Dr Clive Thomas.
“(It) will blur the lines of separation of functions of the Executive and the Judiciary,” the PSC said.
The PSC also believes that the SARA Bill is premature and redundant since many of the intelligence gathering mechanisms have already been enacted in the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism legislation and included in the mandate of the Integrity Commission; both of which have not been fully functional to date.

Retroactive
The concerns expressed by the Private Sector body echoes that of many other civil society bodies, as well as the parliamentary Opposition, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).
Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall was among those to question the provisions of the Bill since in its current construct, it “creates an environment that encourages the violation of individuals’ constitutional rights and undermines the rule of law since it confers powers 10 times greater than those of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on a sole individual – the Director of the Agency”.
Responding to these concerns, Minister Williams presumed that the Opposition is fearful for the SARA Bill to come into operation since it will expose the corruption that prevailed under their rule.
“We have news for them. This Government intends to root out corruption. They should be afraid, perhaps it might be a good reason for them to stay out of public office because this practice of extracting private wealth from State assets which was practiced by the last regime must be addressed,” he stated.
But Nandlall had previously pointed out that the SARA Bill, if passed and accented by President David Granger, cannot be used to target former Government Ministers since the law cannot be retroactive.

Belle Vue beat St Cuthbert’s Mission by 4 wickets

Belle Vue Sports Club journeyed to the Amerindian settlement of St. Cuthbert’s Mission and beat the hosts by four wickets in a hard fought 25-overs a-side match on Indigenous Heritage Day 2016.

The match was specially arranged by the Rockaway Group of Companies whose Chairman, Hafeez Ali has adopted Belle Vue Sports Club and has a sporting interest in the Indigenous community of St. Cuthbert’s Mission.

Ali and his family were special guests of the community on the auspicious day and celebrated the occasion with the feature cricket match and donations to the community where all visitors were given a meal while being entertained.

Players from the Belle Vue Sports Club and St Cuthbert’s Mission Cricket Team pose with Hafeez and Floretta Ali at the presentation ceremony

Players from the Belle Vue Sports Club and St Cuthbert’s Mission Cricket Team pose with Hafeez and Floretta Ali at the presentation ceremony

Timothy Andrews (right) making the presentation on behalf of St Cuthbert’s Mission to the Alis of Rockaway Group of Companies

Timothy Andrews (right) making the presentation on behalf of St Cuthbert’s Mission to the Alis of Rockaway Group of Companies

The day started in brilliant sunshine with the visitors winning the toss and bowling. St Cuthbert’s began cautiously on the two paced track and heavy outfield which was sandy and lacked grass for most parts. In the fifth over with the score on 23, Julio Ferriera was caught at mid-on off Dyal Rajpat for four. Rayon Ganpath came at number three and immediately stamped his authority by blasting two sixes and two fours in an attacking 26 to give the innings some momentum. He witnessed opening batsman Stallone Simon, who is a school teacher in the village, bowled by the lanky Royston Austin for 15 at 45/2 at the end of the eight over.

When the attacking Ganpath was adjudged LBW to medium pacer Krishna Singh at 67/3 in the 10th over, Belle Vue were back in the game and put the brakes on the home team. Another school teacher, Avenash Poonsammy became Austin’s second victim at 77/4 in the 12th over. Captain Timothy Andrews came and stabilized the middle order but found the going tough and was soaking up deliveries and not scoring freely due to tight bowling. At the other end, Clinton Wong (02) and Alfiaz Dundas (0) were removed in the 17th over which was bowled by seamer Sarfraz Baksh with the score on 88/6 before a sharp shower sent the players off for about an hour.

Upon the resumption, Belle Vue wrapped up the hosts tail with only Andrews, 11 showing fight. Anand Persaud bowled after the rain to claim 3/7 from two overs and five balls to see the home team limited to 105 from 22.5 overs. Persaud was well supported by Singh with 3/10, Austin 2/10 and Baksh 2/20 with Rajpat claiming one.

The eventual victors were made to work hard for their runs as the home team showed great fight in defending the runs on the board and their home territory. Belle Vue eventually scrapped home with four wickets and 11 balls to spare as St Cuthbert’s used six bowlers smartly with Andrews returning to take 2/12 with his medium pace while there was one each for Alfiaz Dundas (1/10), Ronnie Simon (1/14), Julio Ferriera (1/18) and Avenash Poonsammy (1/20).

It took a brave innings of 36 not out from Man of the Match Kerwin Benntte to guide Belle Vue home after they were struggling at 30/4 in the ninth over with Rockaway boss Hafeez Ali (0), Sahadeo Hardaiow (3), Colin Boucher (6) and Krishna Singh (2) all back in the hut. Dyal Rajpat (14) and Bennette added a crucial 26 for the fifth wicket from 35 balls to put the run chase back on track. When Rajpat was dismissed at 56/5 in the 14th over Imran Khan stroked 10 and added 40 runs with Bennette in eight overs before Royston Austin came and blasted a maximum to seal the deal after it was getting too close for comfort.

At the presentation ceremony that followed, Bennette received a cricket bat for his efforts while Persaud was named best bowler and collected a trophy. The Rockaway Group of Companies presented cricket gears and uniforms to the male team from St. Cuthbert’s while the female team got uniforms and four softball bats. Hafeez Ali also presented the St. Cuthbert’s football and volleyball teams with uniforms and balls while the Belle Vue Sports Club received tee-shirts.

The St. Cuthbert’s community through their male cricket captain, Timothy Andrews, presented the Chairman of the Rockaway Group of Companies, Hafeez Ali with a hand carved ornament in the shape of a bird while Mrs. Floretta Ali was presented with handmade jewellery and a knitted shoulder bag. Andrews thanked their special guests for the memorable day while an emotional Ali (Hafeez) thanked the wonderful hosts for the opportunity and said the day’s event will not be the last.

 

Woman robbed at gunpoint on Regent St

A woman was on Wednesday robbed at gunpoint outside Hanson Trading on Regent Street, Georgetown.
In the midst of a bustling day, two armed bandits jumped out at the woman as she was exiting the store and demanded she hand over her belongings.
She handed over her handbag which contained an undisclosed amount of cash and other valuables.
The bandits then escaped in a white vehicle with registration number PJJ 1106.
The woman, who asked to remain unidentified, is pleading with the public to help her in recovering her important documents.
Specifically, she needs her record books entitled “Marcia Flight Services”, which contain important data. She can be contacted on 699-1300.

Changing coaches is not the answer

Dear Editor,
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has made yet another change when it fired Phil Simmons after only 18 months on the job. It seems that the Trinidadian was an excellent coach, but he had difficulties with his employers when he criticised the manner of the selection of the players.
The WICB has changed more than 15 coaches within the past two decades from Rohan Kanhai, Andy Roberts, Clive Lloyd, Malcolm Marshal, Roger Harper, et al – all outstanding cricketers and good coaches. They even tried Australian Bennett King, who never played first class cricket and who failed to deliver to a failing West Indies team. He resigned after three years on the job, mainly because he had a difficult relationship with the players. Ramnaresh Sarwan, who was captain, said he was aggressive and vocally abusive to certain players to the point where he even threatened them.
West Indies cricket is now at rock bottom – now ranking 8th in Test and 9th in ODIs, but second in T20s, from the leading team in the world between the mid-1970s to early 1990s. It is not only a large number coaches it has changed, but captains as well – from 1928 Carl Nunes to 2016 Jason Holder – it recorded 36 captains, including Clive Lloyd the most successful captain, Rohan Kanhai, Carl Hooper, Alvin Kalicharan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and Sarwan among them.
The selectors constantly change the players so much so, that fans like me hardly remember the names of the players as compared to yesteryear in the like of the three Ws; Worrel, Weekes, Walcott, Wesley Hall, Charlie Griffith, Lance Gibbs, Brian Lara, Gordon Greenidge, Malcolm Marshall, Vivian Richards, Andy Roberts, Courtney Walsh, Curtley Ambrose and others. A large number of fans have lost interest in the game – especially Test cricket, and the WICB and its affiliates have to work out ways and means to improve the summer game which was once a job to hundreds of thousands.

Sincerely,
Oscar Ramjeet

Golden Jaguars’ squad for CFU 3rd round games announced

Head Coach of the Men’s National Team (Golden Jaguars), Jamaal Shabazz has announced a provisional list to face Suriname and Jamaica in the 3rd Round of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) 2016 Scotiabank Caribbean Men’s Cup Championship on October 8 and 11 respectively.

The squad consists of 55 players including 19 over-seas from various countries including Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, England, Finland, USA and Australia.

Gregory richardson

Gregory richardson

Jamaal Shabas

Jamaal Shabas

The national team will commence weekly training on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 16:00h to 18:00h and on Saturdays, 09:00h to 11:00h at venues to be announced. However, the first training session was held on Wednesday at the GDF Ground, Camp Ayanganna.

Guyana will face Suriname in Suriname and the Jamaica game is scheduled for Guyana but due to the unavailability of the Guyana National Stadium on the date of the match, the National Track and Field Facility is being considered. A CFU team of inspectors is scheduled to visit Guyana to certify the National Track and Field Facility.

The Third Round commences on October 5 and in addition to the Guyana match, the other matches to be played on that day are: Haiti vs French Guiana at the Stade Sylvio Cator Stadium (Haiti); Curacao vs Antigua and Barbuda at Ergilio Hato Stadium (Curacao) and Trinidad and Tobago vs Dominican Republic at a venue to be announced.

Fifth Place playoff will be held from November 7 – 15 and the Final Round in May 2017. The top three of this tournament will qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Guyana Provisional Squad; Guyana based players – Andrew Murray (Alpha United FC), King Solomon Austin (Alpha United FC), Richie Richards (Alpha United FC), Kester Jacobs (Slingerz FC), Eon Alleyne (Fruta Conquerors FC), Vernon Mills (Slingerz FC), Gregory Richardson (Pele FC), Devon Millington (Slingerz FC), Daniel Wilson (Alpha United FC), Dwight Peters (Alpha United FC), Quincy Adams (Slingerz FC), Trayon Bobb (Slingerz FC), Dellon Lanferman (Alpha United FC), Colin Nelson (Alpha United FC), Dwain Jacobs (Alpha United FC), Tichard Joseph (Slingerz FC), Pernell Schultz (Alpha United FC) and Hubert Pedro (GFC).

Overseas based players – Akel Clarke (Central Couva FC), Walter Moore (FF Jaro FC), Samuel Cox (Wealdstone FC), Christopher Nurse (Puerto Rico FC), Sheldon Hiolder (Caledonia AIA FC), Neil Danns (Bury FC), Brandon Beresford (Rhoster Rhinos), Anthony Whyte (Sigma FC), Kadel Daniels (Dulwich Hamlet), Marcel Barrington (Margate FC), Jake Newton (Walton and Hersham FC), Shaquille Agard (Durham United FC), Julien Edwards, Adrian Butters (York Region Shooters), Amos Ramsay (Caledonia AIA FC), Kai Mc Kenzie-Lyle (Barnet FC), Warren Creavalle (Philadelphia Union FC), Sherif El-Masri and Corey Thomas.

 

Impasse in Region 3 needs to end for the good of the citizens

Dear Editor,
Kindly permit me a space in your daily newspaper to respond finally to the issue captioned ‘The real story behind the Region 3 Regional Democratic Walkout’ published in the letter column of the Kaieteur News, dated September 10, 2016.
Firstly, I wish to state that the writer is fictitious, uncouth, wicked and naïve in his writings. He should be bold enough to put his name so that he could be identified and should not write as a concerned citizen or a People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Councillor. No PPP Councillor would write such a baseless article.
Secondly, the Regional Executive Officer (REO) is the Clerk of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and by law he is mandated to give pertinent information as requested by the Council. At the July 2016 meeting of the RDC, he was mandated to request from the Business Minister, a copy of the report on a survey which he had reported at a subsequent meeting which was done by the Business Ministry.
Please note that at no time was any report sent to the RDC from the Business Minister as was stated by the malicious writer.
Thirdly, the REO when asked to respond to the issue under “matters arising” pertaining to the letter to the Business Minister, requesting a copy of the report as was stated in a previous meeting, he stood up and said that he had nothing to say since a perpetrator was on the television the night before speaking about the issue. I subsequently asked the REO to respond to the specific issue that was before the Council. He again mentioned that he had nothing to say then he picked up his books and walked brazenly to the leader of the APNU/AFC Councillors and told her to leave the meeting with her team. He then went to the Heads of Department who were seated at the back of the room and instructed them to leave also.
According to Public Service rules, the REO is the head public servant inside of any region and should not take political sides when dealing with issues inside of any region.
Mr Denis Jaikarran has been practicing political biasness since his appointment as the REO of Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), on October 1, 2015. He would have openly said to me that he is not here to work with the Regional Chairman of Region Three and had also instructed all Heads of departments to stay away from the Chairman’s monthly meetings, and for them not to submit any reports to the Regional Chairman.
The Government is promoting social cohesion and the REO is not propagating this at the administrative level of the region. He continues to carry out the duties and function of the Chairman without his knowledge. Many letters have been written to the President, Minister of State and the Communities Minister on all the issues affecting the Regional Chairman.
To date, all the promises made by Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan to visit the region and to deal with the issues have proven futile.
I am publicly appealing to the Honourable President of Guyana, Mr David Granger to make an early intervention into this matter so that Region Three can move forward for the betterment of all its citizens.
I must bring to the attention of the public that this month is designated ‘Education Month’ and the Regional Chairman is not aware of the activities planned for the region, since the Heads of Department are afraid of the REO and hence, no reports have been forthcoming from them.
All Heads of Departments are mandated by the Local Government Act, Chapter 28:09, to report to the Regional Chairman so that policy issues can be addressed in a timely manner. This is not happening in Region Three but is happening in other regions in Guyana.
Is this the person the writer compares to God, who is denying the Regional Chairman from his roles and responsibilities as mandated by Region Three?
Fourthly, the writer stated that if the clerk leaves the meeting, there should be no official meeting. I wish to tell the fictitious writer that he knows nothing about conducting a meeting. When the Clerk/Secretary is unavoidable absent from the meeting for some reason or the other, the meeting can decide to continue as long as there is a quorum. The writer should equip himself with the necessary knowledge before he attempts to write on issues he is ignorant about.
Fifthly, The REO never asked to leave the meeting as the writer stated. He left in a haste saying “I have nothing to report on, to anyone”.
In closing, I wish to state that everything that was mentioned, I have supporting evidence to substantiate. As the Regional Chairman for three consecutive terms, I am willing to work in the best interest of all the citizens of Region Three and the country at large, but, Mr Denis Jaikarran is not allowing me to fulfil my obligations.

Julius Oliver Faerber
Regional Chairman
Region Three

Where is the transparency, accountability we were promised?

Dear Editor,
As a citizen and rate paying resident of Georgetown, I would like to be shown under which by-laws or statutes the Town Clerk of Georgetown, Royston King, has the fiscal or legal authority to be expending the revenues earned from property owners, to pay the expenses of a former Mayor.
Recently, in an unlawful and dissolute motion moved by Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and seconded by Councillor Heston Bostwick, it was proposed to have the services of the City Constabulary Department extended to former Mayor Hamilton Green, with the provision of security guards at his residence.
This is unprecedented as no former Mayor ever, nor does currently enjoy such a facility.
But that is just the beginning, as the Council also provides a motor vehicle, provides unlimited fuel for it, a chauffeur, a gardener, 24-hour body guards, among other benefits.
How could a municipality that says it is constantly broke and cannot pay its debtors, spend so lavishly on a former Mayor. Where is the transparency and accountability we were promised and deserve? Is there need for a City Assets Recovery Unit (CARU) or a Special Municipal Crimes Unit (SMCU) to be set up to go after the citizens’ money?

Yours faithfully,
Debra Gibson