Guyana Focus
Election tension is heating up in Guyana as the country prepares for general elections later this year, probably some time in November.
This time around, the incumbent PPP/C faces its biggest challenge ever – albeit not formidable - from A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), which in reality is a joint opposition force comprising its arch rival the PNC/R, the Working Peoples Alliance (WPA), the Guyana Action Party and the National Front Alliance. What this means is that for the first time the main opposition party, the PNC, will not be contesting the general elections on its own slate.
Led by former army head, David Granger, whom the PPP/C has accused of supporting the seizure of ballot boxes during the rigged 1973 elections, APNU claims that it is not a political party but an association of political parties, Guyanese organizations and citizens that share a common desire to ensure a bright future for the country and its citizens, guided by its Statement of Principles.
Launched earlier this month, APNU's main goal is to unseat the PPP/C which has been in power since 1992. It hopes to court other organizations and individuals, as well as religious, civic, trade union, and youth movements to join its ranks and strengthen its position.
The party has expressed commitment to create a Government of National Unity, led by Granger, should it win the elections. Whether this implies shared governance which has been on the PNC/R agenda for many years remains unclear.
In a statement issued by Robert Corbin, leader of the PNC, and its Reform and One Guyana alliances, at the launch of APNU earlier this month, he is reported saying: "There is general acceptance that our system of governance, since 1953, has failed to provide for the meaningful involvement and full participation of our citizens in matters that affect their existence." Ironically, Corbin was part of the PNC which perpetuated the party's demagogic and dictatorial 28-year reign prior to free elections which catapulted the PPP/C to power in 1992.
While APNU presents a more formidable opposition, the PPP/C has been nonchalant about the challenge it poses. And perhaps it is right in doing so, although it cannot be too complacent in ignoring APNU's potential threat. The truth is, APNU is no different from the PNC in disguise. Its alliances are fringe parties which are unlikely to make a significant difference at the polls compared to the PNC/R contesting the elections on its own slate.
Guyanese will most likely see through the disguise and recall the horrors of PNC rule, regardless of how the party repositions itself. On the other hand, the PPP/C faces a myriad of allegations, which include corruption, nepotism, a lack of transparency and accountability, and mismanagement, among other things, increasing the desire to remove it from power among the general population.
However, the PPP/C, in spite of its apparent problems, has performed exceptionally well compared to the PNC when it was in power. In reality, economic and social conditions have improved significantly under its administration, although many weaknesses remain.
Yet, an increasing number of its traditional East Indian supporters; a strong underground anti-PPP/C movement with international connections; and a concerted effort by joint opposition forces to remove the PPP/C from power can provide a serious threat to its dominance.
The formation of APNU, contrary to its stated objectives, is in reality one designed to get the PNC into power – not necessarily one that would serve the country better. Arguably, in 2006 when the last general elections were held, the focus was on liberating the country from the stranglehold of the two major political parties – the PPP/C and the PNC/R - which have dominated the political scene for more than half of a century. Then the Alliance for Change (AFC), the most successful of all fringe parties, led the charge. Incidentally, the AFC has not joined forces with APNU, choosing to stay away from the negativity attached to the PNC.
Now, the focus is on defeating the PPP/C through a coalition of opposition parties, a strategy that is largely similar to that which was successfully deployed in Trinidad & Tobago last year when the People's Partnership resoundingly defeated Patrick Manning's People's National Movement.
At the end of the day, in spite of all the hype surrounding unification of the races, Guyanese will continue to vote largely along racial lines. History attests to this sobering truth. More important, however, is that there is yet to emerge a real alternative to the PPP/C or for the PNC that would challenge their hegemony.
Consequently, with the exception of an insignificant number of individuals, voting would continue along racial lines. Somehow, the perception has been created that the PPP/C is the only beneficiary of racial voting. But in reality, this might be more true of the PNC, with the APNU coalition providing marginal inter-racial voting benefits.
Incidentally, during the last general elections in 2006, in spite of the emergence of the AFC as a genuine contender, the incumbent PPP/C coasted to victory in its best showing ever at the polls, winning 36 of the 65 available seats – two more seats than it did in the 2001 elections. The main opposition party PNCR-1G, on the other hand, recorded its' worst ever performance in winning 22 seats, while the AFC became the first fringe party since 1964 to make an impact on the electoral process by winning five seats. The two remaining seats were shared by GAP-ROAR and TUF.
Therein lies the reason for the formation of APNU. The PNC was a dying party that needed to rejuvenate itself through alliances.
Probably one of the most disappointing aspects of the elections was that almost 30% of the 492,369 registered voters did not vote. Compared to the 2001 elections when 92% of registered voters exercised their franchise and an average of 89% over the previous three elections, only 69% of voters cast their ballots in the 2006 elections. Whether this is due to confusion or a loss of interest in the electoral process is not known but is certainly uncharacteristic of Guyanese who are typically highly politically mobilized.
It would certainly be worth the while for both the AFC and APNU to try to capture the interest of those who did not vote in 2006.
If the last elections were to be used as a benchmark, an alliance with fringe parties, as APNU has formed, has little chance of success in unseating the PPP/C. The alliance would have to hope that they can garner sufficient votes to leave the PPP/C in a minority position, thereby forming a coalition government. In this case, the AFC can be the wild card. It is doubtful whether APNU can win a majority as did the Peoples Partnership coalition in Trinidad & Tobago.
For now, election tensions are now beginning to heat up. The PPP/C has been relatively silent so far. When it begins campaigning seriously, tensions will probably escalate or catch afire, just like recent fires in Georgetown.
Georgetown - A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), a grouping of the main opposition party, PNCR and several other smaller parties, was formally launched last Friday at the Convention Centre of the Ocean View International Hotel with the beat of African and Indian drums and dance. It was announced that there would be additional "regional launchings" on July 22 in Linden and July 23 in New Amsterdam.
The partnership, which will be contesting the national and regional elections under one banner, was announced on June 24, with retired Brigadier David Granger as its Presidential Candidate. At that time it was made up of the People`s National Congress, PNCR, the Working People`s Alliance, WPA, the National Front Alliance, NFA and the Guyana Action Party (GAP). It has now been joined by the Guyana Democratic Congress, and the Guyana Association of Local Authorities. The Guyana's People Partnership, led by Peter Ramsaroop was named as a formal partner. While the presidential candidate has been announced, the Prime Ministerial Candidate is yet to be announced.
The coalition set its main goal as national reconciliation, and said if it attains the seat of government it would share ministerial portfolios with its political opponents to demonstrate that it practises what it preaches.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Rupert Roopnarine, of the WPA, said APNU was not a political party but a movement that has as its priority national reconciliation. He said that the APNU differs from all other coalitions in the country's history as it represents an open partnership that is genuinely inclusive.
Carl Greenidge, of the PNCR, who also spoke at the launch, said if APNU gets into power it would reconvene the Constitutional Reform Commission to devise a constitution that provides for the separation of powers, checks and balances, accountability and whatever provisions people need.
Georgetown - The Claims and Objections period to allow several thousand persons with source documents to be registered in order to vote later this year will be reopened for a limited period. This was announced last Monday following the 3-2 voting in favour of the reopening by the Commissioners of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
"The proposed date for the reopening of the exercise is July 25th 2011 for a duration of 13 days with the Claims aspect running for 10 days," GECOM Chairman Dr. Surujbally announced at news briefing Monday afternoon.
The exercise will be conducted countrywide with the re-establisment of temporary offices; rehiring of temporary staff; the deployment of mobile registration units to far-flung areas; the accreditation of scrutineers; and a media campaign to alert the public that it has been reopened.
While a figure of 2,237 people was quoted as the number of persons who were not in possession of source documents at the end of the initial period on June 9, Dr. Surujbally said this figure is likely to be much higher.
The chairman said they were informed by Chief Election Officer Gocool Boodoo that the exercise could be reopened without affecting the holding of election by its constitutionally due date of December 28, 2011
"At the level of the Commission, the deliberations continued at the 331st Statutory Meeting, with the Chief Election Officer pointing out that adequate funds were available for the conduct of a new round of the Claims and Objections exercise and that the Secretariat had determined that such an exercise could be conducted without pushing the elections beyond the constitutional deadline," the chairman said.
The proposal to reopen the period had been made by one of the PPP appointed Commissioners.
Georgetown — Dr. Vishwamintra Persaud, the Guyanese doctor, who was barred from practising in the country last November by the Guyana Medical Council, is now alleged to have had "penetrative sex" with his 13-year old female cousin.
However, the doctor's defence lawyer, Joel Persid-Edmond, stated that his client is being targeted by greedy relatives who are after the doctor's money. Dr Persaud, 41, is alleged to have committed the offence in February, 2011 at Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice.
The doctor was denied bail by Magistrate Roby Benn when he appeared in court last Monday. His next court date has been set for August 3, 2011 at the Fort Wellington Court.
Mother-in-law in robbery plot
Georgetown — The mother-in-law of the robbery victim, businessman Malcolm Panday, was among seven persons charged following an armed robbery at Panday's residence at Bel Air.
Those charged were Mr. Panday's mother-in-law, Chandrada Rampersaud; Hardat Kumar, 23, of Kitty; ex-policeman Sean Hinds, 40, of East Ruimveldt; Jermaine Mitchell, 20, of La Penitence, a porter at the Continental Company; Rabindra Seemangal, 20, of Sheriff Street; Aubrey Simon, 21, of Princes Street, final year student of the University of Guyana; and Rayon Jones of Hardina Street, Wortmanville. Absent from the proceedings was Kevin Maloney who was arrested minutes after the robbery.
The mother-in-law was once employed at the home as a house keeper, but was fired and subsequently told a cousin about the monies the Pandays kept in the house. The suspects, armed with guns, forced their way into the premises at around 11:30 am on July 12, and proceeded to rob Anne Ramsood. Malcolm Panday slipped away from the home and called the police who responded quickly. They spotted the "getaway" car and gave chase cornering it in the Ocean Spray Hotel compound where they arrested the defendants.
It was alleged that the group robbed Anne Ramsood, wife of Malcolm Panday, of $7.4M; one Blackberry curve cell phone valued at $47,000 and $380,000 cash. Aubrey Simon was also charged with possession eight rounds of 9mm ammunition and one unlicensed 9mm pistol.
Georgetown — The autopsy on the bodies of an apparent murder/suicide revealed that four year-old, Shiva Persaud and his two year-old sister, Vivya Persaud died from drowning while their father, Ranveer Persaud, 25, died from hanging.
Ranveer's body was discovered hanging from a mango tree aback of Adventure at around 5:30 am last Wednesday by his father, Poorashpan Persaud. The bodies of the children were subsequently discovered lying face down in a pond, some 200 metres from Ranveer.
Close family members reported that Randy and his wife, Shavanie Anauge, had a heated argument the night before the bodies were discovered. It is believed that Ranveer killed his children before taking his own life.
Georgetown — An autopsy on the remains of Ravindra Persaud, 17, whose body was found with his skull bashed in last Tuesday, revealed that he died from a fractured skull.
Persaud's body was discovered a few metres away from a wedding house at No. 10 Village, Mahaica, ECD, where he was present. Investigators believe that Persaud was struck in the head by someone with a blunt object. Investigators have ruled out robbery since Persaud's cellular phone and $2000 were found in his pocket and his gold stud earring was still in his ear when his body was discovered. Hit and run has also been dismissed as no signs of a vehicular accident was observed anywhere near the scene.
Georgetown — Charles Roberts, an Assistant Superintendent attached to the New Amsterdam Constabulary, was placed on $400,000 bail when he appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrate's court last Friday, charged with aiding and abetting the release of a convicted criminal. It was alleged that on Saturday June 4, last, at Penitentiary Walk, New Amsterdam, Roberts aided and abetted convicted prisoner and former businessman, Krisha Paul Doerga to escape from the New Amsterdam Prison.
Roberts was detained after investigators garnered that he was in the vehicle which transported Prison Officer Orlando Jaundoo, and escapee, Krishna Paul Doerga, from New Amsterdam to Skeldon.
Doerga, 52, who was serving a three-year sentence for fraud, left the New Amsterdam Prison with Jaundoo under the pretext of repairing a sewing machine at the Prison Officers Recreational Hall next door but the two men ended up in Nickerie, where they were arrested by the Suriname police.
Georgetown — Kevin 'Long Hair' Narine, a convict who escaped from the New Amsterdam Prison with three others last month, has been arrested in Suriname.
According to GFC Nieuws, Narine who has been linked to a spate of pirate attacks off the coasts of Guyana and Suriname, was arrested in Paramaribo North last Thursday night. Narine was serving a nine-year sentence in the New Amsterdam prison for armed robbery on the high seas, when he and three others escaped prison in early June. The other escapees were murder accused Rickford La Fleur,35; Vinood Gopaul, 19; and Vijay Seenarine, 33, who was awaiting trial on a charge of carnal knowledge.
Vijay Seenarine, was recaptured last month at Rose Hall, Corentyne, Berbice. The four criminals were suspected of involvement in the recent high seas robberies on at least 15 small fishing boats. During one of those attacks a fisherman was shot in the shoulder.
A Commission of Inquiry headed by Retired Major General Norman McLean has been set up to examine the circumstances of the escape.
Georgetown — Investigations into the fraud at the Accountant General's Department have revealed that a total of $196 million in post-retirement benefits were paid to 54 fictitious persons, who were acting under the pretext that they were pensioners.
Lawrence Dundas, a supervisor within the department, has been charged along with two of the persons who collected the fraudulent cheques.
The money was disbursed in 75 cheques, with at least 14 repeat transactions taking place. Investigators have so far identified all the persons who encashed cheques.
The fraud was uncovered in early March this year and the Ministry of Finance called in the audit office and the Guyana Police Fore to conduct an investigation, which is still under way.
Georgetown — A truck driver who left $2M in his vehicle (GLL 3783) parked outside of the Providence Police Station compound returned to find the money missing after he appeared at the Providence Magistrates Court two Mondays ago.
"Dwayne", of Berbice, attended the court for a traffic offence and had left the money in the truck. But on returning to his truck around 1:00 pm, he discovered that his truck door was broken into and his $2M was missing. The police ranks of the said station were notified of the incident and the porter working on the truck was said to be in police custody. The porter was not scheduled to work that day but called the truck driver to allow him to come to work.