Guyana Focus
Questions of power sharing, marginalization of the black segment of the population and racial equality are being posed in an effort to foster resistance to a democratically elected single-party government. In all likelihood, the single party that might very well emerge victorious at the general elections due later this year is the PPP/C.
Arguably, if the cards were in favor of a black-dominated party, one wonders whether similar concerns would have been raised. In fact, Indian-marginalization for more than a quarter of century under the rule of the PNC was an acceptable norm.
So what's different now? Evidently, the chances of the black-dominated PNC being elected to power has waned with the return of democracy to the electoral process. Therefore, in an effort to at least participate in the governance of the country, talks of power sharing have emerged. Racial equality is a natural evolution from this process.
Whether black marginalization is real in Guyana is doubtful. The public sector, the police force and the army are weighted in favor of Blacks. This has historically been the case, one which was engineered by pre-Independence British divide and rule strategies.
On the other hand, the private sector is dominated by Indians, as a matter of choice – not by gaining favors of any ruling party. In fact, they have suffered immensely at the hands of criminals and paid with their lives for choosing to remain in the private sector.
The truth is: Guyana deserves a government that is elected by the majority of the electorate, which has nothing to do with the racial orientation of the party. Power sharing – based on the racial mix of the population is not necessarily a panacea that would solve the ills of the country.
The struggle for power, which is typically driven by racial motivations, undoubtedly impacts economic and social conditions. It is therefore naïve to assume that a multi-racial solution to governing the country will invoke prosperity.
That's because the problems in Guyana are not based only on racial orientations but are more or less due to perceived economic mismanagement, corruption, weaknesses in the administrative and governance structure, poor strategic planning, a lack of capital to finance development, and an opaque decision-making process.
But in many cases, the perception of the underlying problems is overblown. Given the performance of the economy, there is little credence in allegations about the magnitude of the problems.
Typically, election time spurs racial thinking. But on a daily basis, Guyanese - Blacks and Indians – co-exist peacefully. Under normal circumstances, when economic conditions are good, the population does not have much to complain about, and consequently, racial tensions are lessened.
However, when economic conditions deteriorate, racial tensions become more pronounced, and the racial hand is dealt to the detriment of the party in power.
In addition, when economic conditions and consequently social conditions are poor, as they were under the former PNC administration, racial tensions escalate. The hate that developed for the PNC during its 1968-1992 reign was not due to the racial composition of the party but more so because of the deterioration of living conditions.
Arguably, from a historical perspective, racial tensions have heightened both pre- and post-elections, with the PNC apparently guilty in the past of leading the charge in its quest to disrupt the country, show its strength, and in an effort to get a hold on power. However, it is unquestionable that racial tensions are directly correlated to poor economic performance of the party in power and not only due to inherent racial hate.
With the idea of power sharing gaining foothold, the question that begs to be asked is whether a multi-racial party, or any party that can break the PPP/C and PNC/R stranglehold, will form a more effective government. The answer in most likely "not a chance in hell" since race has nothing to do with economic performance which in turn is the precursor to social well-being.
This puts any party that will rule Guyana following the next general elections in a tenuous position since it will have to deal with the task of putting the country on a path to sustainable development - a reality that has more teeth than a paper tiger. Failure to do so will only result in the cyclical pattern of censure, and consequently dissatisfaction among the population.
The ruling party must have the resources and wherewithal to deal with the real issues in the country such as the growing debt burden; poverty alleviation; entrenched corruption; the burgeoning drug trade; escalating crime; and attracting viable foreign investment, among other issues. Essentially racial disharmony has been an output of these weaknesses.
To give the parties some credit, campaigning is not currently focused on racial hatred. Rather, each party is attempting to take a multi-racial stance in their attempts to woo voters from all ethnic groups.
In reality, the overtones in the current racial debate are rather sober. Openly pitting Indians against Blacks, as has been the case during past election campaigns, has not yet reared its ugly head. But one wonders if it is only a matter of time before this happens, especially as the general elections draw closer.
At the end of the day, as much as it appears to foster racial equality, power sharing is not necessarily the solution to Guyana's political or racial problems. On the other hand, the issue of marginalization of Blacks is questionable.
Georgetown - Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and US investor Lloyd Johnson, President of the Dream Hole Mining Company officially cut the ribbon last Monday at Aricheng in the Upper Mazaruni, to officially launch the Upper Mazaruni Road Project.
The Dream Hole Mining Company will embark on the construction of a 35 mile stretch of road from Aricheng to the top of the Kurupung Mountain. According to Lloyd Johnson the project will be done at an estimated cost of US $1M and is expected to be completed within the next three months utilizing the most modern road construction equipment. Once the road would have been completed, Johnson said that mining for both diamond and gold is expected to begin by year end.
While the gold market is very lucrative at the moment, the diamond market is somewhat depressed but Johnson is optimistic about the operation stating that the diamond market is coming back. Johnson added that the company has been conducting all works in keeping with the code of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Geology and Mines Commission. He said that this monumental project will benefit both Guyana and his company since they will be tapping into an untouched area that has lots of potential. Johnson said the company currently has a staff of 20, most of whom are Guyanese.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds commended Dream Hole Mining for the brave move and moreso for having faith in Guyana's economy. He said that Guyana welcomes such investments since it will generate more for the country. The company was also commended for its safe mining practices which will tie in with the Government's Low Carbon Development Strategy.
Over the next few years Dream Hole Mining will be operating on about 800 acres of land exploring for gold and diamond. Already the company has set up camps en route to the Kurupung mountain. All of the operations are powered by solar panels.
PSC will not endorse any
presidential candidate: Chairman
Georgetown - The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has said that, while it appreciates the willingness of the presidential candidates to engage the business community and outline their future polices that will impact the membership, it will not be endorsing any of them. The PSC will also not be making public any of the internal discussions and analyses of the presentations by the politicians. This was disclosed by PSC Chairman, Mr. Ramesh Dookhoo last Wednesday after Mr. Donald Ramotar, representing the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) outlined his campaign strategy at a luncheon at the Pegasus Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown.
Ramotar was the last of the Presidential Candidates appearing before business leaders in interactive sessions to unveil plans for the private sector if he is elected President. Mr Khemraj Ramjattan, of the Alliance For Change, and Brigadier David Granger of the People's National Congress Reform, had previously presented their detailed plans to the PSC.
Mr Dookhoo, an executive at beverage giant, Banks DIH Limited, said that the sessions will provide the private sector with some insight into the policy directions and priorities of the three candidates. He noted that the sessions will provide a window through which other citizens, corporate and individual would have been able to hear the views of candidates.
"We believe in the concept of a strong and constructive opposition as a major issue for the balancing of democracy in our country," Mr Dookhoo said. According to him, the private sector's needs include political and regime stability, a stable exchange rate, security and the absence of crime, clarity and fairness of laws and regulations, public service efficiency, investment protection, anti-monopoly practices, favourable attitude to foreign direct investment, the opening of an export promotion zone and better access to local financing.
He also advocated better labour relations, more availability of skilled and unskilled labour as well as technicians, cheaper telecommunication services and air transport, reliable power and water supplies and improved roads in the interior.
Dookhoo said the private sector is looking forward to an "exciting political season" and encouraged all Guyanese to participate in the electoral process but reject empty political promises. The PSC Chairman said that the organisation recognizes the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) and would be lending support to it until the end of elections. He also said the PSC supports the work of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and that the local business community will not support any form of non-electoral power initiatives.
Mr Ramotar said that the next government of the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), under his presidency, will work to establish a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team to tackle crime and review the Value-Added Tax (VAT). He said that under his administration he would not be unwilling to allow his minister more autonomy to make decisions to move Guyana forward.
Questioned on whether he would consider power sharing, Mr Ramotar made it clear that past experiences did not work and his government in all likelihood would not consider this again.
'abuses by the administration'
Georgetown - Raphael Trotman, Alliance for Change Member of the Parliamentary committee on National Security, has resigned from the committee following the arrest and detention last week of Nation of Islam's Minister, Akbar Muhammad, and two companions. Muhammad, Guyana-born Canadian citizen, Philip Simon, and East Coast Demerara resident Tyrone Seymour, were arrested two Thursdays ago by the police who claimed that the three men were wanted in connection with terrorist acts and drug trafficking. They were released the following day with no charges brought against them.
Reading from an AFC statement on the arrest of Mr Akbar Muhammad and two companions, Mr Trotman described the incident as 'personally painful and nationally embarrassing', and said these arrests have implications for preservation and protection of the rule of law and human rights.
"This nation has gone through episodes of oppression, and relative freedom, but the continuing propensity of this PPP regime to target, stain and even destroy good citizens of Guyana, and now even foreigners, without a hint of remorse, or conscience, is a sure sign that we have returned to a dark period of repression."
The committee from which Mr Trotman announced his resignation was established to oversee national security and threats to the country.
The AFC parliamentarian said that his resignation was symbolic of dissatisfaction with abuses by the administration in the name of security. "It's an act of protest … we are not encouraged that we will be seeing any change soon."
At its weekly media briefing held last Wednesday, the AFC also expressed support for descendants of the original Victoria residents' quest for recognition of the historic contribution to Guyana by their ancestors; commented on 'spiraling crime'; condemned the arrest of a visiting American Islamic cleric; and expressed further concern with the Guyana Elections Commission
Commenting on the effectiveness of him quitting the committee, Trotman said, "The fact that one person could stand up, some persons could stand up, it would make a difference."
at polls than in 2006: Granger
Georgetown - The Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR) has confirmed that it will go into the next election with three other political parties under a new name and symbol. This was announced by PNCR presidential candidate, David Granger, recently while he addressed the General Council of his party that ratified the decision. The other parties in the coalition are the Working Peoples Alliance (WPA), the Guyana Action Party (GAP) and the National Front Alliance (NFA).
Granger urged delegates not question the strength of the other coalition members - "Do not point your finger… and ask them how much members they have," he said. They are to contest with a one name, one symbol, one manifesto and one campaign led by one presidential candidate.
Granger, at the General Council, said the door remains open to the Alliance For Change (AFC) and the Guyana Peoples Partnership (GPP). He said the alliance would also welcome JFAP as well as civil society and trade unions.
The PNCR has already established a Fundraising Committee that would be jointly chaired by partly leader, Robert Corbin and Granger. According to demerarawaves.com some knowledgeable sources say the opposition needs at least US$5 million to run an effective campaign.
Granger noted that the opposition would need to do better than it did in at the 2006 general election when the PNCR had polled 114,608 votes. In that election the AFC had polled 28,366 votes, the Guyana Action Party/Rise Organise and Rebuild (GAP/ROAR) 4,249 votes and the Justice For All Party (JFAP) 2,571. Meanwhile in 2006 the PPPC got 183,867 votes.
In the 2001 elections, the National Front Alliance (NFA) - one of the four coalition partners - had picked up 417 votes and the Guyana Action Party- Working Peoples Alliance (GAP-WPA) got 9,451 votes which earned them two seats in parliament.
Georgetown - Leader of The United Force (TUF) Manzoor Nadir, who is also a government minister, has resigned from the leadership of the party and Ms Valerie Garrido-Lowe was unanimously elected new leader during a conference held last Sunday at party headquarters in New Garden Street, Georgetown.
Ms Garrido-Lowe will also be her party's presidential candidate at the upcoming elections while the prime ministerial candidate will be Mr. Ismail Muhammad, who is also party chairman. Nadir still retains membership within that party and represents its interests in government and parliament.
At a press conference last Monday Ms Garrido-Lowe said that the party has re-discovered very vibrant Amerindian support, its traditional constituent base, which has remained loyal to TUF, so it will be contesting the elections with a platform to improve the lives of the Amerindian communities, because successive administrations have neglected Guyana's first peoples.
Georgetown - The World Bank through a grant will be plugging US$4.2M which will be directed towards reforming the delivery of teacher education programmes. According to World Bank Representative Dr Chingboon Lee, this support will be critical to the successful implementation of the recently launched Guyana Improving Teacher Education Project (GITEP).
The total cost of the project is US$5.12M.
"Our expectations are that the project will provide the professional growth opportunities for the dedicated group of individuals who strive to train the new and existing teachers in Guyana whom I think are the future of the country," Dr Lee said.
She stated that the project could not have materialised without the input of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and the University of Guyana School of Education and Humanities. According to Dr Lee, the effective collaboration of the two bodies during the preparation of the project served as a means which works well for the future, as these two important institutions can sustain working together to address the challenges facing teacher education in the country, Kaieteur News (KN) reported.
She acknowledged that in the past few years, Guyana has made large strides towards improving access to primary education, which she attributed to Government's commitment to education as a national priority, stating: "This is a nation that has put most of its resources of the International Development Agency Association into education…So it is really walking the talk."
Through the evident commitment on the part of Government, Dr Lee observed that there have been particularly significant gains in primary enrolment in the remote hinterland areas. This development, she said, is very important as it addresses equity of access to education, inclusive of the admirable objective of achieving universal secondary education
Georgetown — A nephew of Mrs. Sharanie Doobay has been in custody since last Saturday after he reportedly told detectives that he and another man had visited his aunt on the same day that she was clubbed to death in her home.
Police are acting on information that the 58-year-old woman's murder may have stemmed from a dispute over assets. According to Kaieteur News (KN) police have also impounded a car suspected to have transported the killer or killers to and from the scene.
The 38 year-old nephew reportedly revealed that he and a friend had visited Mrs. Doobay around 2:00 pm on the day she was killed and drank water and beverages while there. The nephew identified the friend by name and is said to have disclosed that his aunt was still alive when he and the friend left, KN reported.
He is the second relative of Mrs. Doobay's who has been detained since the investigation began. A brother of the slain woman was twice taken into custody. A maid was also detained briefly. Police have taken hair samples from the 58-year-old woman's husband, Dr. Ramsundar Doobay after finding strands of human hair in her right hand. They also checked his car for bloodstains and collected some of his clothing. However, Dr Doobay was never detained.
The body of Mrs Doobay was found lying in a pool of blood near the kitchen of the two-storey Echilibar Villas, Campbellville residence two Tuesdays ago. She had been repeatedly struck in the head with a blunt instrument. Investigators believe that she was killed about two and a half hours before she was found.
Georgetown — Police have arrested one person following a daring robbery last Saturday night when six armed men clad in military gear invaded a grocery store at Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara.
The gunmen escaped with over $8M in cash and jewellery from businesswoman Indranie Bisram and her husband Deonauth Judistry.
Indranie Bisram had told Kaieteur News (KN) that the bandits struck at around 8:00 pm. She said her husband was sitting outside in the shop when the gunmen walked in and jumped onto a counter. Three of the men went inside of the shop and forced her nephew and another employee to lie on the floor; two were in the yard with some customers while another was outside as a lookout.
The couple's 10-year-old daughter, who had fled to the upper flat of the building, was beaten in the head and face by the gunmen.
The armed men stripped the businesswoman of the jewellery she was wearing at the time and also emptied a drawer containing an estimated $100,000. They also took all five of the family's cell phones which were charging at the time and a number of cheques, the value of which is still to be determined.
KN reported that the bandits took US$11,621 and a quantity of Guyana currency which was not counted from the drawer. The men ransacked the bedrooms and removed a quantity of gold jewellery among other valuables in the room estimated to be valued over $2M.
Georgetown — The charred remains of 31-year-old taxi driver, Curtis Texwayne Duncan, of Silvertown Wismar, was discovered in his burnt out car in a clump of bushes at South Amelia's Ward hilltop, more than 12 hours after he had been shot and burnt alive last weekend.
Duncan had reportedly picked up two men and a woman along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, in the vicinity of the 'Crease,' a nightspot in South Amelia's Ward. Duncan took the back road and had stopped to drop off the trio when he was reportedly shot. According to an eyewitness after Duncan was shot he reversed the car into the bushes but it apparently got stuck in the bushes. The car later exploded, while the man's 'passengers' made good their escape.
Georgetown — Seema Singh, 30, succumbed at the Georgetown Hospital last Sunday, hours after she was reportedly stabbed nine times by her reputed husband at Helena Number One, Mahaica.
The man, a habitual resident of the Camp Street Prison, was arrested by police shortly after the incident.
According to Kaieteur News (KN) the stabbing stems from a visit the woman made to her two children a few days ago, which angered her reputed husband, Rupert Brown, when she did not return at the expected time.
Seema Singh, who hails from Essequibo, had left for a few days last week to visit her children. However, when she did not return on the stipulated time this angered her reputed husband who went in search of her. He found her in the city where he physically abused her in public.
Singh returned to Mahaica but sought refuge at her reputed husband's relatives' home which angered him even more. Brown went to his relatives' home to demand his wife's return when he became enraged and grabbed Singh and began stabbing her.
Meanwhile, 38 year-old Susilla Latchman of Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara, was brutally chopped to death by her husband, 45-year-old Satchitanand Latchman. The couple had been having domestic problems and the man had accused his wife of infidelity. After chopping his wife, the man then ingested a poisonous substance and set fire to their two-storeyed home. He subsequently died at hospital.
Georgetown — A man who reportedly admitted to setting fire to a heritage building in the Mahaica area last Saturday was arrested hours after the fire damaged a portion of the building that houses the Rohan Auto Sales at Good Hope, Mahaica.
Police are also investigating the man, an ex-employee of the establishment, for break and enter and larceny.
It has been reported that the man is a disgruntled employee who was fired from his job a month ago. He had reportedly promised to "get even" with his former employer.
It is alleged that the man had scaled the fence surrounding the property, secreted himself and waited for an opportunity to carry out his plan. The man was reportedly seen by another employee at around 3:00 pm last Saturday throwing a flammable object through a bottom flat window that was left open.
Quick action by nearby farmers saved the famous landmark from destruction by fire.
The suspect, who has reportedly admitted to the crime, is expected to be placed before the courts soon. Police have also indicated that other persons were implicated and they too could be arraigned.
Georgetown — Four men who were caught on surveillance camera during a robbery appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sew-narine-Beharry last Monday to answer charges of break and enter and larceny.
The men, Ramesh Kanhai, Paul Waterman, Jerrick D'Agrella and Leon Gibbings have been remanded to prison and are expected to make their next court appearance on June 3.
The defendants, on May 23, last, allegedly broke and entered Riaz Computer Centre in Regents Street, Georgetown and stole two Nintendo games, 30 laptops, one LCD flat screen television, 40 flash drives, 20 memory cards, five music boxes, 25 digital cameras, one Samsung music set, four computer monitors, two Ipods, two DVD players, and three Xbox 360 all valued at approximately $6.6 million.
Store owner Rafiek Khan had returned to the store after receiving a phone call that the door was open. Checking his surveillance camera he saw the images of the thieves. He reported the matter and the men were subsequently arrested.
complete training program at UG
Georgetown - Thirty public health professionals completed a six-month Basic Epidemiology Course at the University of Guyana (UG), last week. The continuing professional development course was made possible through a partnership with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), the Centre for Disease and Control (CDC) and the University of Guyana.
According to Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy the addition of these health professionals to a national epidemiology team will strengthen the local health systems. The minister added that the graduates will work to improve the health sector's response to public health problems – another move to improve the quality of health care delivered to the Guyanese people.
Epidemiology, the study of health-event patterns in a society, is considered the cornerstone method of public health research which helps inform evidence-based medicine in identifying risk factors for disease and determining optimal treatment approaches to clinical practice and for preventive medicine.
"Epidemiology is the most important part of the health system because once we recognise where the problems are, we can respond to them. With a good epidemiology team we will have better surveillance," Dr Ramsammy said.
The minister acknowledged that the Epidemiology Unit in the past had been a weak link in the health system. He pointed out that because of this weakness, there was no proper epidemiological data to indicate how much of a problem HIV/AIDS was in the 1980's. He added that it was only until the 1990's that proper response programmes were put in place.
According to him, each trained person will return to his or her region, thereby ensuring that each region has epidemiology officers limiting dependence on the central ministry.
enhancing Guyana's electoral process
Georgetown - USAID/Guyana through its Governance Enhancement Project (GEP) awarded two grants of US$18,082 and US$17,353 to the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD) and to Merundoi Incorporated, respectively as "a contribution to the election process in Guyana...aimed at increasing participation in elections, targeting different audiences through the provision of information and encouragement of a peaceful process," a release from the US Embassy stated.
The release further stated that the GCOPD will utilize its money to provide persons with disabilities and their families with the tools to improve their ability to participate in national elections. The release noted that the grant is also intended to enable the Council to mobilise its 19-member affiliates to encourage persons with disabilities to ensure that they are on the voters' list, obtain their new national ID card and also inform those persons with disabilities of the various ways they can effectively exercise their right to vote in the upcoming General and Regional elections.
Georgetown - Guyana will benefit from a Cdn$20M grant under the CARICOM Education For Employment (C-EFE) programme designed to advance its Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) agendas. The five-year initiative, funded by the CIDA, is being executed by the Association for Caribbean Community Colleges (ACCC).
According to a release from the ACCC, recently a delegation from ACCC, including representatives from the Caribbean Association of National Training Agencies (CANTA), met Education Minister Shaik Baksh and updated him on the status of the exercise and was informed about Guyana's readiness to be a beneficiary, with the focus on addressing key areas of TVET need.
The release said those needs, among other things, include, the retooling of TVET centres which were not included in the present programme design, development of a labour market strategy for information sharing, support for training of teachers in TVET, quality assurance, accreditation and certification, open and distance learning and the integration of technology in the teaching and learning process.
The C-EFE is geared to support Caribbean educational and training institutions to move from a generally more traditional, academic, supply driven system to a more responsive, applied, demand driven system that equips learners with skills for jobs of the future. The ultimate outcome is increased economic growth through a more competitive, productive and gender equitable workforce in the Caribbean.