PPP can survive even if the CCJ rules against the third term concept
Dear Editor,I must advise at the outset that even though the PPP is still run by an Executive Committee in between Congresses, it is my observed view that the post-1992 PPP leaders have no desire to take Guyana to any communist or socialist system. So what is it that they are trying to promote? It is my observed view that they are hell bent on completing the hundreds of necessary deals to uplift the lives of the Guyanese people economically after failing under the Ramotar term.Deals like completing the hydro-electric project (AFHP); the transportation link to Brazil, the deep water harbour; the restructuring of the productive sectors to take them up the value chain to the point where they can become more productive; creating greater value and more jobs for the people; and, of course, that specialty hospital, among other things.This is what distinguishes them from the current PNC-led Granger government. This Granger government has exposed its stripes as the same old PNC that is focused on form rather than substance, and pageantry rather than human progress.What this Granger government is focused on is reviving Burnham’s words as issued in the Sophia Declaration in the 1970s. This Granger government is a political force still stuck in the past, and does not know how to build the future.The PPP losing power in 2015 was necessary, because it caused two things:1. It created the memories of their political humiliation that took them back to their core – Jaganism, (lean, clean and mean administration).2. It has created the opportunity for the great purge, where the party apparatchiks who served for generations but who are still stuck in the old world are moved out to create room for more youths who are living in the present moment. The PPP in 2020 is expected to have almost all its candidates under 60 years of age, with the majority in their 30s and 40s. That said, history has taught us that the PPP has a natural political strength of about 190,000 solid votes come rain or storm. The PNC, on the other hand, has about 160,000 of those. But the winning force needs 205,000 votes.The mathematics reveals that the PNC has to hunt for 45,000 votes for victory, which I believe is unachievable with a record like what they have today. The PNC leadership appears lethargic and incompetent, and logged off from the people’s problems. They seem more focused on self-enrichment, with two AFC ministers being reputed to have become billionaires already, and one PNC minister in the Ministry of the Presidency also in that elite group. Additionally, the AFC and WPA are more focused today on fighting each other for the political crumbs, and thus are of no help to the PNC politically. The one thing that is driving the PPP today is “no more humiliation for the PPP”, and thus they were forced by the people to clean up their act. But they cannot be seen to be clean with people like Donald Ramotar and Clement Rohee on the list, and this is their challenge. But where does this leave Bharrat Jagdeo? Well, he was the creator of Ramotar, and must share the blame for the mess the PPP is in today. But what we must never discount is that among the rank and file of that 190,000 voters who are considered at the natural strength of the PPP, he is almost like a demi-god. These 190,000 people know only a Jagdeo can beat a Granger in 2020. Though he has much baggage, he is the most capable of the entire Executive Committee.But that does not mean that if the CCJ rejects the third-term case, the PPP is finished. They have two other very capable members of the Executive Committee who have the talent and experience to do this job under the guidance of Jagdeo — Gail Teixeira and Anil Nandlall. Frank Anthony is a nice fellow, but he is a political mook when it comes to the national stage. He is seen as a shallow politician who does not have a position on most matters, and that projects him as one with no charisma. Therefore he does not have what it takes to combat in the ring with candidate Granger. Maybe in 10 years’ time. Respectfully,Albert Allen
Dear Editor,Are we to believe that profitability was the only criterion used by the coalition government to callously close the sugar estates? If this was so, then the so-called downsizing or ‘right-sizing’ should have never taken place since there were more compelling reasons why they should not have been shuttered.There were some who supported the closure since they saw taxpayers’ dollars going down a ‘dark hole’. Even a few pseudo-economists could have only seen that these monies could have been better diverted in providing other public services and given wage increases to public servants. This was adamantly echoed by a visionless AFC leader. These myopic visionaries could not have seen that closing sugar estates would spell the doom for a grossly mismanaged economy where corruption has become endemic.They reasoned that once a business is no longer profitable then it should be closed. That false premise appealed to some who are ignorant of economics. Moreover, with oil coming as early as 2020, why hold on to a ‘bloodsucking entity’? Oil will be the panacea for all our social and economic ills, they reasoned, oblivious of the ‘oil curse’! Whether this will be so is now very much doubtful given the wholesale give away of our oil resources from corrupt deals brokered by the coalition government. The pre-contract costs, the insignificant royalties, and the lop-sided production sharing agreements are just a few.Furthermore, the Government, as another of its deceitful elections campaign tactic, is hotly debating how to spend the ‘tons’ of illusory cash; whilst one faction wants to give ‘fishes’, another faction wants to teach ‘fishing’. But what is certain is that the Agriculture sector is faced with imminent extermination. This is a sector which holds the key to our sustained social and economic development. Only a fool will deny that GuySuCo provided numerous benefits to the economy even though it was a loss-making entity. It provided employment both directly and indirectly; it earned scarce foreign exchange which helped to stabilise the exchange rate. It provided medical services to poor people and provided drainage and irrigation services both to residents and farmers. Moreover, all the surrounding communities benefited from the wages and salaries earned by the sugar workers. The closing of Wales, Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon estates negatively affected these communities and the domino effect was devastating. These communities are yet unable to cope with the resulting social and economic fallouts. The subsidies given to this entity were well-spent!It is now the stark reality that it was never the intention of this Government to save sugar but instead it came to be used as another avenue to ferment the many forms of corrupt practices unleashed on this nation and to wreak vengeance for supporting the PPP. It could be recalled that when the $30 billion bond was secured, it was meant to upgrade the remaining estates and to invest in plantain white sugar and co-generation plants. However, after spending more than $17 billion, none of these materialised. In fact, the estates continue to suffer from factory breakdowns, inputs for field operations, and impassable dams resulting in GuySuCo being nearly 35% behind their schedule. This is a fall short by 12,023 tonnes. In the first crop also, GuySuCo had also failed to achieve its first crop target. This is a direct result of the SPU starving the entity of much needed funds to carry out its capital works and maintenance. The old adage still holds true: Too many cooks spoil the broth! The foisting of the SPU on the hapless GuySuCo seems to have one purpose and that is to bring the remaining three estates to such a deplorable and unproductive state that closure becomes the only option. I fully empathise with the management of GuySuCo!In the meantime, the $30 billion ‘largesse’ is meant to ensure that the fat cats are well-fed and the monies are squandered, filling the pockets of those in the SPU and by extension some in the Government. It must be painfully recalled that even though GuySuCo was given an average annual subsidy of $5 billion, all the estates were operational, foreign exchange in excess of US $100 million was garnered from exports, jobs were saved and workers were enjoying a reasonable standard of living, communities were thriving, and the US dollar was stabilised. In addition, there was little flooding, residents were getting assistance from GuySuCo but today, the resources-starved entity could hardly help itself. Now the NIS contribution has dwindled, thereby, resulting in the entity being unable to meet its financial obligations.The CoI saw these benefits to the economy and advised against any closure!However, the economy and the people of Guyana can be deemed collateral damage! These should have been the foremost criteria for any Government worth its salt!Yours sincerely,Haseef Yusuf
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Cllr. Cephus, Deputy Agriculture Minister for Regional Development, Research and Extension.Cllr. Sayma Syrenius Cephus, Deputy Agriculture Minister for Regional Development, Research and Extension and Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin, Monsterrado County Attorney-designate, all qualified lawyers, on Thursday escaped possible contempt charges after making an unconditional apology to justices of the Supreme Court.Cephus and Martin were said to have disrespected the court when they instructed a non-lawyer secretary to inform the justices through a letter about their absence from the hearing of an appeal they had filed before the Supreme Court.The appeal was against a judgment of Judge Boima Kontoe of the Civil Law Court ‘A’ at the Temple of Justice in the case of the True Whig Party (TWP) and the Republic of Liberia over the legitimate ownership of the E.J. Roye building.Kontoe had earlier ruled in favor of the government, declaring that it is the legitimate owner of the E.J. Roye building. The ownership has been in dispute for years.At Thursday’s contempt proceedings hearing, Cllr. Cephus, who spoke on behalf of the two, repeatedly begged the court for mercy over their action.“We were out of the country and could not attend our appeal hearing; this was why we decided to ask our office secretary to write you justices telling you about our inability to be at the hearing,” Deputy Minister Cephus said. “We have nothing to defend, but to offer our unconditional apology to the court.”Those who are convicted of contempt of court face fines and potential jail terms, but that did not happen in the case of the two government officials, whose appeal was accepted by the court, with a warning to them to desist from said disobedience to the court.Chief Justice Francis Korkpor, who responded on behalf of his colleagues, said that the action of Cephus and Martin was “legally wrong and contemptuous, but we have to accept the apology.”But following that apology, the two lawyers pleaded with the court about their intention to discontinue their services as lawyers for the TWP for further hearing of the appeal, because they were now government officials and could not plead a case against the very institution they were part of. That request was also accepted by the court, which later gave the TWP the opportunity to bring forward names of other lawyers to represent them during the appeal hearing.
Controversial E.J. Roye BuildingUntil the 1980 coup that toppled the government of the late President William R. Tolbert, the E. J. Roye Building was the headquarters of the TWP, which was then the ruling party, but the building was later claimed by the People’s Redemption Council (PRC) on behalf of the Liberian government.Reginald Goodridge, TWP national chairman, has sought to have his party’s rights declared, claiming that the property was confiscated by the PRC government under Decree #11 in 1980, following the overthrow of the Tolbert government.Government lawyers have, however, argued that by virtue of the confiscation, the ownership power of the Building should immediately be turned over to the government. “Article 97 expressly legitimatized Decree #11 promulgated by the PRC government and mandated that no executive, legislative and judicial or administrative actions be taken against those involved in the coup,” they argued.The article, they added, was intended to give amnesty to the coup makers from any prosecution and acknowledged that the court has jurisdiction over matters related to the declaratory judgment; but it lacks the power to question the decree or to give orders or grant any remedy or relief in respect to what the TWP wants the court to do.“If the PRC’s decree is wrong and other acts committed by the military junta were wrong as claimed by Goodridge, it remains a historical wrong which the court is powerless to correct,” they said.According to state lawyers, a referendum on the constitution was held on July 3, 1984, and subsequently approved by 98.6 percent of voters with a turnout of 82 percent. “The people of Liberia consciously decided to keep moving and to put the past behind them, and said that the action taken by the military junta pursuant to any of its decrees shall not be questioned in any courts or proceedings of whatsoever name within the country, the people’s decision is mandatory and not discretion; and we must abide by it,” state lawyers said.In counter-argument, Goodridge’s lawyer said the article does not cover real property like the E. J. Roye Building. “It goes without saying that the confiscation of a real property by the junta on April 12, 1980, was transitory in possession and did not convey any title deed to a third party, which is why in May 1984, through an Executive Order, all properties were returned to their original owners,” the lawyer contended. He argued that if the Building was confiscated and remained the property of the government, “What was the legal basis for them to request for the original warranty deed from the TWP in a so-called MOU agreement?”Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) are set to conduct the first standards informational ‘road show’ for the construction sector in Guyana, on June 7-8.ASTM is an international standards organisation which develops and publishes voluntary technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services.GNBS Director Candelle Walcott-Bostwick said the aim of the road show “is to inform academic institutions, Government agencies and practitioners on the construction sector and the standards that are available within the sector that can be utilised.”Director of GNBS, Candelle Walcott-Bostwick“The road show is basically promoting standards for the construction sector. I am aware that a number of our local contractors utilise ASTM standards, as well as our students at the University of Guyana and other technical institutions,” Walcott-Bostwick is quoted by the Department of Public Information (DPI) as saying.Walcott-Bostwick pointed out that local manufacturers and practitioners benefitting from the activity will also be given the opportunity, to demonstrate the use of ASTM standards on products manufactured locally, and to share their experiences in using ASTM standards.She noted the sessions would be interactive, since the ASTM officials will also share their experiences on available standards for the construction sector.In October 2011, the GNBS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ASTM to strengthen its collaboration with the US standards institution.The GNBS has also signed on to a total of 19 technical committees with ASTM which allows the agency to be in agreement with a number of standards being developed and participate in their development for a number of areas.Some of the areas include fuels and lubricants, textiles, water, waste management, solar, occupational safety and health, and environmental assessment.
– one brother killed, two others injuredBy Lakhram BhagiratWhat was supposed to be a time for reflection and reunion for the Saheed family of East La Penitence, Georgetown turned out to be a nightmare when bandits barged into their Lot 194 Freeman Street home and fired bullets indiscriminately, killing one of the brothers while injuring two others.Injured: Tallim SaheedFifty-eight-year-old Fazal Saheed of 18 Albion, Corentyne was killed during the ordeal, while his two other brothers — Tallim Saheed, 50, of Toronto, Canada and Shalim Saheed, 53, of the United States of America — received multiple gunshot wounds and are warded at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC).According to the Police, two masked men carried out the attack, and one was armed with a handgun. Investigations have so far revealed that the bandits gained access into the house via a door that was left open, and they surprised their victims, who were in the living room area. They then relieved them of their jewellery, and discharged several rounds at the brothers before fleeing the scene.Injured: Shalim SaheedThe Police were then alerted, and the victims were rushed to the GPH, where Fazal was pronounced dead on arrival, Talim was treated and warded, while Shalim had to undergo emergency surgery, and is listed as critical.The Police retrieved several spent shells at the scene, and have since taken one suspect from the East La Penitence area into custody. The suspect is said to be assisting with investigations.When the Guyana Times visited the home of the Saheeds, the trio’s eldest brother, Raymond, said there were approximately six relatives who arrived from the US and Canada for his late father’s first anniversary memorial service.He related that the family was in the process of preparing for the service, which was supposed to be on Sunday, when the attack happened.“My mom, sister-in-law and sister (were) in the kitchen after (midnight) when the bandits allegedly came through the front door, which was partially open. The gate was padlocked but they did not see how these guys came in; but apparently they jumped the fence and came in. When they came in, they probably had an altercation and the fellows fired the shots,” Raymond explained.He said he was just preparing to retire to bed at his Subryanville home when he received a call at around 12:55am, from his sister, informing him that his brothers were shot.“I enquired where my brothers are, and my sister indicated to me that they gone to the East La Penitence Police Station. I drove there and (persons there) told me that they are at the Georgetown Public Hospital, and I went there. I barged in to the triage room, and what I saw there I froze,” he said.Relatives and friends gathered at the Saheed’s homeHe told this publication that he saw his brothers lying side by side, with Fazal being already declared dead.“He (Fazal) had between 3 and 4 gunshot wounds. The gunshot wound that caught my attention was the one that pierced his heart directly, and I believe that is what killed him almost instantly,” Raymond said.The distraught man further explained that Tallim was shot in the shoulder, with the bullet exiting under his armpit. He was very conscious at that time, while his other brother, Shalim, had several gunshot wounds to his stomach. The doctors related that Shalim would require emergency surgery, since he was in a semi-conscious and critical state. The surgery was performed, but Shalim is still listed as critical, and is warded in the Intensive Care Unit of the GPHC.Raymond took the time to bash 911 operators, since the family had reportedly called the number several times but there was no answer. On the other hand, he said Divisional Commander Marlon Chapman visited the family, promising to ensure that a proper and swift investigation is conducted and justice is served.Fazal had been a businessman who manufactured sauces and spices. He leaves to mourn his son and wife.
POUCE COUPE, B.C. – The Pouce Coupe Fire Department and the Dawson Creek Fire Department responded to a fire at the old Peace River Haven Seniors facility in Pouce Coupe late Wednesday.According to posts on Facebook, the fire started late Wednesday. The Peace River Haven Seniors Facility closed in 2012 and was put up for sale by Northern Health. Over the years several groups have tried to buy the facility with one proposing to open a drug and alcohol treatment centre. Those proposals never moved forward, and the facility has been left vacant since 2012.Fire crews remain on the scene, and we will update this story as we get more information from local fire departments.- Advertisement -If you have any video or photos to share, email news@moosefm.ca
Peace River Haven burns in Pouce Coupe – Facebook
Peace River Haven burns in Pouce Coupe – FacebookAdvertisement
And with Unai Emery under pressure with the Gunners in sixth position, Keown reckons Arsenal should think about appointing Pochettino.“There’s no need to panic at Arsenal but we are getting close to panic,” Keown told the Daily Mail.“We’re not having the best of seasons. The powers that be at the top of the club should be seriously considering Pochettino.“I have a lot of admiration for what he did at Tottenham, the way he nurtured those young players and he didn’t spend a great deal of money. I don’t think Tottenham spent enough.”On Spurs’ decision to sack Pochettino, Keown added: “I would have stayed with Pochettino; I think he deserved that. I think it’s a hugely significant sacking. You’re going to have managers now looking over their shoulders.“I know the poor record he has recently, I know it all but I still would have given him another chance. I don’t like the way Tottenham have done it.“There will be a lot of chairmen looking at him now. Manchester United wanted him this time last year. I think Arsenal would have to be interested if they want to take a step forward.”0Shares0000(Visited 26 times, 1 visits today) 0Shares0000Keown: Pochettino would be a step forward for Arsenal. Photo/TEAMTALK MEDIALONDON, United Kingdom, Nov 21 – Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown believes it would be a good move for the Gunners to consider hiring Mauricio Pochettino following his Tottenham exit.Pochettino was given the boot at Spurs on Tuesday evening with Jose Mourinho coming in to replace him after a poor start to the season.
Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Amos has extended his loan at Bolton by one month.The Englishman moved to the Macron Stadium on loan towards the end of January, to provide competition for Andy Lonergan after Adam Bogdan suffered an ankle injury.The arrival of Victor Valdes has also moved Amos down the pecking order at Old Trafford and a loan move to Bolton was seen as an ideal solution.And now the Championship side have extended Amos’ loan for a further month after the 24-year-old impressed the club’s coaching staff.The goalkeeper originally started on the bench for Neil Lennon’s side after making the switch, but he has started their last two league games. 1 Ben Amos in action for Manchester United 
ENTERTAINMENT: There will be an Autism Friendly screening of Alice Through The Looking Glass at Eclipse Cinemas this Saturday at 3pm. New Films This Week: Kids Club Sat & Sun @ 12noon(Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th )All tickets €1.80 Films this week are: Kung Fu Panda 3, Zootropolis & Robinson Crusoe Over 50’s Wednesday – Tickets €5.00 Check out all our listings @ www.eclipsecinemas.comFilms available this week include: Gift Cards and Loyalty Cards available to purchase!AUTISM FRIENDLY SCREENING OF ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS AT ECLIPSE CINEMAS was last modified: June 10th, 2016 by Mark ForkerShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)