{"id":2643,"date":"2005-11-19T14:16:01","date_gmt":"2005-11-19T19:16:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/?p=2643"},"modified":"2005-11-19T14:16:01","modified_gmt":"2005-11-19T19:16:01","slug":"latest-news-2005-11-19-to-2009-11-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/?p=2643","title":{"rendered":"Latest News 2005-11-19 to 2007-12-30"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><html xmlns:v=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml\"<\/p>\n<p>xmlns:o=&#8221;urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>xmlns:w=&#8221;urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>xmlns:st1=&#8221;urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>xmlns=&#8221;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40&#8243;><\/p>\n<p><head><\/p>\n<p><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content=\"text\/html; charset=us-ascii\"><\/p>\n<p><meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document><\/p>\n<p><meta name=Generator content=\"Microsoft Word 11\"><\/p>\n<p><meta name=Originator 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5.4pt;\n\n\tmso-para-margin:0in;\n\n\tmso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;\n\n\tmso-pagination:widow-orphan;\n\n\tfont-size:10.0pt;\n\n\tfont-family:\"Times New Roman\";\n\n\tmso-ansi-language:#0400;\n\n\tmso-fareast-language:#0400;\n\n\tmso-bidi-language:#0400;}\n\n<\/style>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><![endif]--><\/p>\n<p><meta name=dc.title content=\"Latest News\"><\/p>\n<p><meta name=dc.date content=\"2010-08-26T14:08:35-04:00\"><\/p>\n<p><meta name=dc.date.modified content=\"2010-08-26T14:09:15-04:00\"><\/p>\n<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml><br \/>\n\n <o:shapedefaults v:ext=\"edit\" spidmax=\"3074\"\/><br \/>\n\n<\/xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml><br \/>\n\n <o:shapelayout v:ext=\"edit\"><br \/>\n\n  <o:idmap v:ext=\"edit\" data=\"1\"\/><br \/>\n\n <\/o:shapelayout><\/xml><![endif]--><\/p>\n<p><\/head><\/p>\n<p><body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='tab-interval:.5in'<\/p>\n<p>alink=fushia><\/p>\n<div class=Section1>\n<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>\n<hr size=2 width=\"100%\" align=center>\n<\/div>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF'>2005-11-19: <a<\/p>\n<p>href=&#8221;2005-11-19.htm&#8221;>Our eventual withdrawal will be on our terms<\/a><\/span><\/u><u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;> <\/span><\/u><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:#0031FF&#8217;>&#8230; <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>By Raphael Trotman Saturday, November 19th<\/p>\n<p>2005 <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Since the launch of the AFC in October, there<\/p>\n<p>has been a heavy and sustained attack on the movement from all angles and for<\/p>\n<p>all sorts of reasons. However, these attacks have not been able to penetrate<\/p>\n<p>the wall of support for the AFC that has emerged since its launching. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There is widespread speculation as to the<\/p>\n<p>possible relationships, if any, with other political parties, and in<\/p>\n<p>particular, with the self-styled &quot;Guyana Third Force Platform&quot; (GTF).<\/p>\n<p>The relationship between the AFC and the GTF is one of the beachheads which<\/p>\n<p>have been opened up by agent provocateurs to ensure that we are divided and<\/p>\n<p>therefore easily conquerable. The AFC is on record to have stated that it<\/p>\n<p>wanted to launch itself formally as a movement before entering into<\/p>\n<p>deliberations with others. This was made pellucid at the now famous Le Meridien<\/p>\n<p>gathering and was whole-heartedly accepted by all. To do otherwise would have<\/p>\n<p>been to enter into an asymmetrical situation that any student of strategy would<\/p>\n<p>have cautioned against. This would not have augured well for the building of<\/p>\n<p>alliances or partnerships which the AFC has accepted as essential to achieving<\/p>\n<p>a new political dispensation for <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:country-region<\/p>\n<p> w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;>Guyana<\/st1:country-region><\/st1:place>. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Since those discussions, there has been much<\/p>\n<p>ado about nothing as we parried over websites, personalities and seating<\/p>\n<p>arrangements. At the end of the day, the AFC does not view the others with any<\/p>\n<p>less respect than it does itself. Some misguided souls have apparently<\/p>\n<p>quarrelled about the seating arrangements put in place for the leaders of the<\/p>\n<p>GTF umbrella at the launch, and others complained most ridiculously, about the<\/p>\n<p>fact that the AFC went ahead to name it&#8217;s Presidential and Prime Ministerial<\/p>\n<p>candidates. It must be considered a personal affront for anyone to try to<\/p>\n<p>dictate to the AFC, what it should or should not do regarding its own internal<\/p>\n<p>arrangements and structures. The reality is that if one were to ask Joe and Jane<\/p>\n<p>Public who are the presidential candidates of GAP, WPA, ROAR, Unity Party,<\/p>\n<p>JFAP, the answer would have been unhesitatingly provided. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What we need to do is move away from petty<\/p>\n<p>political posturing and earnestly address the core issue that most Guyanese want<\/p>\n<p>dealt with: &#8211; Will there be a coming together between the AFC and the GTF? Or<\/p>\n<p>between the AFC and parts of what now constitutes the GTF? Trust and a basic<\/p>\n<p>platform of common principles and understanding are what are needed in any<\/p>\n<p>situation in which more than two persons are expected to work together. We need<\/p>\n<p>for example to define specifically what it is we are pursuing: &#8211; Is it for<\/p>\n<p>example an end to instability leading to a new democratic process? Or is it to<\/p>\n<p>promote another period of crisis, confusion and chaos? The AFC would not have<\/p>\n<p>any part to play in promoting such situations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC remains ready, willing, and able to<\/p>\n<p>meet any group, provided that the necessary preparatory work for the meeting<\/p>\n<p>takes place and there is an agreed agenda. The last thing the AFC wishes to see<\/p>\n<p>happen, is to disappoint the nation with a failed process resembling the PPP\/C<\/p>\n<p>and PNCR dialogue, which ended with the infamous &quot;you are not my<\/p>\n<p>equal&quot; utterance. To act otherwise would be to stage a &quot;pappy show&quot;.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC cannot subscribe to any attempt to<\/p>\n<p>avoid the holding of free, fair, fearless, and transparent elections in 2006.<\/p>\n<p>There is a widely held belief that there is a plan afoot to subvert the holding<\/p>\n<p>of elections next year and to bring things to a point where an interim government<\/p>\n<p>will have to be installed. In the view of the AFC, such an outcome would impose<\/p>\n<p>further pain and suffering on our beloved <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place<\/p>\n<p> w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;>Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>, perhaps even leading to<\/p>\n<p>complete socio-economic paralysis. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Promoting a National Front Government could<\/p>\n<p>only gain credibility and acceptance if all the important players and<\/p>\n<p>stakeholders voluntarily accept this as the best alternative. Forcing, or<\/p>\n<p>imposing, such an ad hoc arrangement will not work. Already, the AFC&#8217;s name has<\/p>\n<p>come up as being a member of a high-profiled team that travelled to <st1:State<\/p>\n<p>w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Washington<\/st1:place><\/st1:State> recently to<\/p>\n<p>promote this very point of view. The AFC categorically and publicly<\/p>\n<p>disassociates itself from any such points of view and associations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Then there is the issue of the seats of<\/p>\n<p>Parliament, where to date, the only member of the GTF that has taken a position<\/p>\n<p>is the WPA because it is the one directly involved in this now interesting and<\/p>\n<p>unprecedented matter. It is beyond any shadow of doubt that there is no legal<\/p>\n<p>and\/or constitutional provision that can see the removal of the so-called<\/p>\n<p>&quot;rebel&quot; MP&#8217;s. What is left is the moral issue being trumpeted by all<\/p>\n<p>and sundry; some of whom if we are to call a spade a spade, have serious moral<\/p>\n<p>issues of their own. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The notion of democracy has come a far way<\/p>\n<p>since the promulgation of the Magna Carta in 1215, and the declaration of our<\/p>\n<p>own <st1:City w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Independence<\/st1:place><\/st1:City><\/p>\n<p>in 1966. Many have heard of the &quot;Separation of Powers&quot; but few,<\/p>\n<p>especially those in office today, really care to endorse and promote its true<\/p>\n<p>meaning. The latest indecent assault on democracy is being witnessed with the<\/p>\n<p>introduction of the proposed High Court (Amendment) Bill which seeks to denude<\/p>\n<p>and degut the hallowed office of Chief Justice by the executive. Yet, there are<\/p>\n<p>those who are prepared to argue its uprightness whilst not seeing the argument<\/p>\n<p>about three parliamentary seats. Where is the separation if our judges and<\/p>\n<p>elected representatives cannot be insulated from executive and party control<\/p>\n<p>and manipulation? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In 2003 at the Commonwealth Heads of<\/p>\n<p>Government Meeting in <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\">Nigeria<\/st1:country-region><\/p>\n<p>at which <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region><\/p>\n<p>was amply represented, the &quot;Latimer House Principles&quot; were adopted as<\/p>\n<p>being the standard by which democracy shall be measured and judged throughout<\/p>\n<p>the length and breadth of the Commonwealth and amongst its 1.8 billion citizens<\/p>\n<p>in the 53 territories. At the time of their adoption, His Excellency, the Right<\/p>\n<p>Honourable Don McKinnon, the Commonwealth Secretary General was moved to<\/p>\n<p>expressing the sanguine expectation of the Commonwealth&#8217;s citizens and their<\/p>\n<p>political representatives: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&quot;What we now wish to see is the sharing<\/p>\n<p>of best practices and dissemination of agreed values and principles. This will<\/p>\n<p>enable member countries to move to that optimum state of governance which is<\/p>\n<p>predicated on the rule of law in our Commonwealth member states.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Interestingly, at the Nigeria Summit the<\/p>\n<p>Heads of State including ours thought it important to address the vexed and<\/p>\n<p>important question of the independence of Members of Parliament and included in<\/p>\n<p>the declaration the following text: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l16 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>Article 9 of the Bill of Rights 1688 is reaffirmed.<\/p>\n<p>This article provides: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l16 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>Security of members during their parliamentary term is<\/p>\n<p>fundamental to parliamentary independence and therefore: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&quot;That the Freedom of Speech and Debates<\/p>\n<p>or Proceedings in Parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any<\/p>\n<p>court or place out of Parliament.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>a) The expulsion of members from parliament<\/p>\n<p>as a penalty for leaving their parties (crossing the floor) should be viewed as<\/p>\n<p>a possible infringement of members&#8217; independence; anti-defection measures may<\/p>\n<p>be necessary in some jurisdictions to deal with corrupt practices; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>b) Laws allowing for the recall of members<\/p>\n<p>during their elected term should be viewed with caution, as a potential threat<\/p>\n<p>to the independence of members; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>c) The cessation of membership of a political<\/p>\n<p>party of itself should not lead to the loss of a member&#8217;s seat.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The above then sets out the new democratic<\/p>\n<p>governance principles that this, and all other governments within the<\/p>\n<p>Commonwealth, except of course those under suspension, have endorsed and<\/p>\n<p>committed themselves to observing and preserving. The issue of the independence<\/p>\n<p>of Members of Parliament is on trial as much here in <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place<\/p>\n<p> w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;>Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>, as it is in every other<\/p>\n<p>Commonwealth territory. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>How this matter ends, or is resolved, will<\/p>\n<p>have far-reaching consequences to the democratic edifice everywhere. The<\/p>\n<p>&quot;rebels&quot; of Guyana and interestingly enough, those as well in the<\/p>\n<p>twin-Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, who are fighting the over forty<\/p>\n<p>years of established party dominance, are now being viewed with interest, as<\/p>\n<p>their fate will become a watershed for the people&#8217;s representatives the world<\/p>\n<p>over, and most importantly, in countries with repressive governments and<\/p>\n<p>suffocating political parties. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The people of <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place<\/p>\n<p> w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;>Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> have been so poisoned with<\/p>\n<p>the bile of party paramountcy and democratic centralism that it is now<\/p>\n<p>difficult to separate a Member of Parliament from a political party. The<\/p>\n<p>people&#8217;s best interests as envisioned in the Latimer House Principles are what<\/p>\n<p>we in the AFC are being asked to surrender. It is understandable why even the<\/p>\n<p>most ardent supporters of the AFC want to see us purified through the act of<\/p>\n<p>quitting. In a sense therefore, members of Parliament associated with the AFC<\/p>\n<p>are faced with a difficult decision of taking the prophylactic walking pill, or<\/p>\n<p>of staying and building up enough anti-bodies to fight the fever itself. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>That said, it must be accepted that the AFC&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>and its supporters&#8217; interests must be catered for. In this light, the populace<\/p>\n<p>can rest assured that the right decision will be taken at the right time. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The decisions regarding the parliamentary<\/p>\n<p>seats will be taken not based on issues of legality or tenuous moral arguments,<\/p>\n<p>but on practical political reasoning. At this time, I for reasons more to do<\/p>\n<p>with getting the work of the AFC moving in time for the events of 2006 will be<\/p>\n<p>making preparations for my departure in the not too distant future. Having<\/p>\n<p>committed myself to resign, I will be doing so long before the elections, but<\/p>\n<p>it has to be recognized that despite my silence in the House there is<\/p>\n<p>unfinished business particularly in preparing the Freedom of Information Bill<\/p>\n<p>and it would have been unwise to bend simply to the unreasonable demands of<\/p>\n<p>those whom we are likely to encounter on the battlefield in a few short months.<\/p>\n<p>Our eventual withdrawal will be on our terms, on our time, and on our own<\/p>\n<p>supporters&#8217; accord. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I posit that most third party initiatives in <st1:country-region<\/p>\n<p>w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>, and<\/p>\n<p>elsewhere failed, not because the giants crushed them, but rather because of<\/p>\n<p>the crab-in-abarrel mentality and mischievousness, which did the destruction<\/p>\n<p>from within, coming from persons sometimes posing as closest supporters and<\/p>\n<p>admirers. I say, let&#8217;s give working together a try in <st1:country-region<\/p>\n<p>w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>&#8216;s best<\/p>\n<p>interest, and stop the promotion of divisiveness. Instead of carrying on a<\/p>\n<p>debate on morality and legality, let us engage in a discussion on matters of<\/p>\n<p>practicality as Bernard Ramsay and others have suggested on what is in the<\/p>\n<p>AFC&#8217;s best interest. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF'>2005-11-15: An expelled AFC<\/p>\n<p>member could keep his parliamentary seat&#8230; <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>13.5pt;color:#0031FF&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>By Khemraj Ramjattan Tuesday, November<\/p>\n<p>15th 2005 <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr Raymond Gaskin, my very good friend, the<\/p>\n<p>answer to your question is obvious. (SN, 10.11.05 &#8216;Will a member of the AFC who<\/p>\n<p>is expelled be able to keep his seat?&#8217;) Absolutely! An expelled AFC member or<\/p>\n<p>one who dissociates will be able to keep his seat. No AFC leader or organ will<\/p>\n<p>be in any position to disqualify such a dissenting MP. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>You see Raymond, it is like having picked your<\/p>\n<p>11 best players to play in a Test Match, expecting all to perform well. In<\/p>\n<p>mid-match one does not. He drops 5 simple catches and gets bowled for a duck<\/p>\n<p>first innings. The selectors cannot drop him and put in another player for the<\/p>\n<p>second innings; he has to play through the entire Test. And this would be the<\/p>\n<p>case, of course, until there is a change of the rules of the game. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In identical terms, the present arrangement<\/p>\n<p>under <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>&#8216;s<\/p>\n<p>Constitution and all relevant laws on this issue cannot realise a disqualification<\/p>\n<p>on any MP on such a ground that the electors do not like him any more. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Such a dissenting, dissociating MP must be<\/p>\n<p>permitted to serve out his constitutional period, unless, of course, he decides<\/p>\n<p>to vacate earlier. If a change of this scenario is required, then like in the<\/p>\n<p>cricket analogy, the rules governing Parliamentary disqualification must be<\/p>\n<p>amended. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To begin with, who should make the call that<\/p>\n<p>such dissenting MP should be disqualified? The Leader of the List? This will be<\/p>\n<p>most objectionable, and would be legalising party-leader paramountcy. Why<\/p>\n<p>should he have such a power when the electors may very well find favour with<\/p>\n<p>such a rebellious MP? Should not the ultimate power of recall be with electors?<\/p>\n<p>Quite frankly this is where I believe it should reside. But in a PR electoral<\/p>\n<p>system, it would be almost impossible to effectuate. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And it is precisely because such amended<\/p>\n<p>rules will be very difficult to implement in the context of a Proportional<\/p>\n<p>Representational electoral system, that the fall-back position in the<\/p>\n<p>constitutional reform process was article 156(3). And what is this article<\/p>\n<p>saying? It is emphatically asserting that it is the MP, and he alone, who has<\/p>\n<p>the power to disqualify himself! Any reading of that article 156(3) must mean<\/p>\n<p>that the final decision as to vacating the seat rests on the MP. This was where<\/p>\n<p>the constitutional reform process rested it, in view of the difficulty of<\/p>\n<p>resting it elsewhere. And which MP, if he does not want to vacate his seat,<\/p>\n<p>will ever declare in the prescribed manner? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr Ramotar gives the impression that it is a<\/p>\n<p>technicality that the form of this declaration has not yet been drafted. It is<\/p>\n<p>the meaninglessness of whatever form the declaration takes, and the easy escape<\/p>\n<p>route from its application that it has not yet been drafted! But even if it<\/p>\n<p>were, any sensible MP who wants to keep his seat will avoid such a declaration.<\/p>\n<p>This is all he has to do &#8211; avoid it. If he wants to vacate, he makes the<\/p>\n<p>prescribed declaration and says goodbye. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Let me say this. All these arguments were<\/p>\n<p>gone through with Mr Ramotar when consideration was being given to the question<\/p>\n<p>of whether Mr Nadir should cross over or not. Mr Nadir and the TUF, unlike the<\/p>\n<p>AFC, had a list in accordance with article 156(3). Changing his seat over with<\/p>\n<p>the PPP can be regarded as conduct tantamount to supporting another list. Yet<\/p>\n<p>Mr Ramotar never found Mr Nadir&#8217;s conduct unconstitutional or immoral. What<\/p>\n<p>hypocrisy! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Finally, I want Mr Ramotar to know that his<\/p>\n<p>use of Rosa Parks and the apartheid-system instances to buttress his timid,<\/p>\n<p>flawed argumentation against my stand on the Parliamen-tary issue was wholly<\/p>\n<p>out of place, and without logical relevance. Rosa Parks and Mandela are heroes<\/p>\n<p>of mine. They fought against systems purporting to be lawful and moral, but<\/p>\n<p>which were wholly unlawful and immoral. My sitting in Parliament is totally<\/p>\n<p>lawful. Neither you nor anyone else can shift me from there! My fight to keep<\/p>\n<p>my seat may just be that spark to give the impetus to destroy party paramountcy<\/p>\n<p>and democratic centralism. Try to make sense next time, Donald, and don&#8217;t<\/p>\n<p>attempt a Stella! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF'>2005-11-13: <a<\/p>\n<p>href=&#8221;2005-11-13.htm&#8221;>Govt tables bill to weaken post of Chief Justice <\/a>(Stabroek<\/p>\n<p>News) <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<h6><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Sunday, November 13th 2005 <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The government has proposed amendments to the<\/p>\n<p>laws to relieve the Chief Justice of a number of duties, including the<\/p>\n<p>allocation of all court business, in what some see as a move that will weaken<\/p>\n<p>the office and could lead to administrative problems. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The High Court (Amendment) Bill 2005 which<\/p>\n<p>was tabled on Thursday would, if passed, remove a number of the administrative<\/p>\n<p>duties from the Chief Justice in whom they have been long vested and give them<\/p>\n<p>to the Chancellor. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Stabroek News was unable to get a comment<\/p>\n<p>from Attorney General Doodnauth Singh (in whose name the bill was tabled) on<\/p>\n<p>the reasons behind it, and already there is speculation as to the government&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>motives, particularly in the light of the current impasse on the Chancellor&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>appointment. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The bill seeks to confer the powers vested in<\/p>\n<p>the Chief Justice under Sections 66, 76 and 77 of the High Court Act on the<\/p>\n<p>Chancellor. According to the bill&#8217;s explanatory memorandum, these powers are to<\/p>\n<p>determine the distribution of the business before the court; to assign any<\/p>\n<p>judicial duty to any judge; to direct the sitting of the full court in more<\/p>\n<p>than one division; and to assign a third judge to sit on a hearing by the full<\/p>\n<p>court on appeal, where the Chancellor thinks there are any special grounds that<\/p>\n<p>the full court should be composed of three judges. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Guyana Bar Association (GBA) council will<\/p>\n<p>be meeting on Tuesday to come up with its official position on the matter, GBA<\/p>\n<p>President Joseph Harmon said yesterday. He said he only learnt of the bill when<\/p>\n<p>a member of parliament brought it to his attention on Friday, the day after it<\/p>\n<p>was tabled in the House and there was no opportunity for members to make their<\/p>\n<p>positions clear. His initial reaction to the bill, however, was to see it as an<\/p>\n<p>attempt to consolidate in the hands of one person what is really the powers of<\/p>\n<p>two people. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But former Bar President and MP Khemraj<\/p>\n<p>Ramjattan did not mince words on the amendment, which he said ought to be<\/p>\n<p>withdrawn. He saw it as &quot;a ruthless attempt to take away the powers of the<\/p>\n<p>Chief Justice and to give it to someone else who the government feels<\/p>\n<p>comfortable with.&quot; More than that, he also thought the amendment would<\/p>\n<p>impinge on the constitution, which sets out certain duties for both the Chief<\/p>\n<p>Justice and the Chancellor. Ramjattan said &quot;to denude&#8230; the Chief<\/p>\n<p>Justice&#8217;s powers is literally to make the Chief Justice a puisne judge in<\/p>\n<p>effect.&quot; He went further to say that the bill would in essence<\/p>\n<p>&quot;abolish&quot; the office of the Chief Justice. &quot;What is a Chief<\/p>\n<p>Justice if not the person who allocates the matters&#8230;?&quot; he asked rhetorically.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Ramjattan said his initial feelings on the<\/p>\n<p>bill were that it was improperly motivated and in some respects<\/p>\n<p>unconstitutional. He said &quot;it smacks of interference with the independence<\/p>\n<p>of the judiciary,&quot; and as both lawyer and MP he hoped that all<\/p>\n<p>parliamentarians would adhere to the doctrine of separation of powers &quot;and<\/p>\n<p>not allow partisan party politics to pass this bill.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Another attorney and MP, Basil Williams, also<\/p>\n<p>thought the amendment would reduce the Chief Justice&#8217;s post to nothing more than<\/p>\n<p>a ceremonial title, and could be a move towards doing away with the office.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;What is to happen to the office of the Chief Justice? It becomes<\/p>\n<p>impotent,&quot; he noted, while also taking the view that holders of the post<\/p>\n<p>would in essence be just regular judges. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Also, having considered the implications of<\/p>\n<p>the proposed amendment he did not see how it would serve the already<\/p>\n<p>overburdened judiciary by placing the entire administrative workload on the<\/p>\n<p>shoulders of just one office holder. &quot;It doesn&#8217;t make sense to me. Right<\/p>\n<p>now, with the Chief Justice alone, we have had a lot of problems and people are<\/p>\n<p>dissatisfied with the way things are and now you will take all the<\/p>\n<p>administrative power to one office?&quot; he said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Like Ramjattan, Williams also felt that the<\/p>\n<p>amendment was not in keeping with the spirit and intent of the constitution<\/p>\n<p>given the role envisaged by its drafters. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Williams noted too that the amendment had<\/p>\n<p>implications for the current consultations between the President and the<\/p>\n<p>Opposition Leader for the appointment of a Chancellor and Chief Justice. In<\/p>\n<p>this regard, he said, the amendment would amount to &quot;a shifting the<\/p>\n<p>goalposts&quot; during the talks. Indeed, the tabling of the bill comes as the<\/p>\n<p>consultations between President Bharrat Jagdeo and Opposi-tion Leader Robert<\/p>\n<p>Corbin remain open after more than six months. Since their first meeting Jagdeo<\/p>\n<p>has publicly stated that Chief Justice Carl Singh is his candidate to fill the<\/p>\n<p>Chancellor&#8217;s vacancy but he has not scheduled a follow-up meeting with Corbin,<\/p>\n<p>saying that a committee is searching for an ideal Chief Justice candidate.<\/p>\n<p>Justice Claudette Singh, who was passed over for the post of Chief Justice the<\/p>\n<p>last time it fell vacant, has been named among the leading candidates for it<\/p>\n<p>now. Observers suspect that the amendment is intended to dilute the powers of<\/p>\n<p>the Chief Justice in the event that Chief Justice Carl Singh is appointed<\/p>\n<p>Chancellor, along with a Chief Justice that the government does not look<\/p>\n<p>favourably on. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Under the revised constitution, neither of<\/p>\n<p>the appointments can be made unless the Opposition Leader agrees. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF'>2005-11-05: Exposing a<\/p>\n<p>benign paramountcy in the National Assembly &#8211; another national tragedy <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>By Khemraj Ramjattan Saturday, November<\/p>\n<p>5th 2005 <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>(MPs Khemraj Ramjattan and Raphael Trotman do<\/p>\n<p>monthly columns for Stabroek News on a topic of their choice) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In my address at the launch of the AFC last<\/p>\n<p>Saturday I argued the case that the continued presence in the National Assembly<\/p>\n<p>of Trotman, Holder and myself, until such time as we individually decide to<\/p>\n<p>leave, if ever we so decide, is wholly constitutional and moral. The Telfords<\/p>\n<p>and Stellas and Bakrs disagreed. I respect their position and will fight to the<\/p>\n<p>very end to safeguard their right to so express their opinion. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>My position on the constitutionality and<\/p>\n<p>legality of our present status cannot be questioned. It is supported by the<\/p>\n<p>Speaker of the House who ruled that he has no jurisdiction to throw out Raphael<\/p>\n<p>upon Mr. Corbin&#8217;s application to have him disqualified. Earlier, when the PPP<\/p>\n<p>after my expulsion wanted me out, he had similarly ruled. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Moreover, the Learned Chief Justice Carl<\/p>\n<p>Singh in an application to disqualify Manzoor Nadir, who crossed the floor from<\/p>\n<p>The United Force to the PPP\/C, ruled that there is nothing unconstitutional about<\/p>\n<p>such conduct and dismissed the application. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Legal opinion sought by the President from a<\/p>\n<p>famous Guyanese lawyer, who straddles the highest courts in the <st1:place<\/p>\n<p>w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;>Caribbean<\/st1:place> and the Privy Council of London, supports this<\/p>\n<p>position. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Now if such a position as ours in the AFC is<\/p>\n<p>legal and no way constitutionally improper how can it be immoral? Legal<\/p>\n<p>propriety is generally synonymous with morality. I suppose the argument will<\/p>\n<p>just get down to a subjectivist realm. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There needs to be a re-emphasis of certain<\/p>\n<p>points I made at the launch, and an emphasis of an additional few. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Firstly, the concept of Parliamentary<\/p>\n<p>democracy which is at the foundation of the electoral system focuses on<\/p>\n<p>peoples&#8217; power and peoples&#8217; interest; not party&#8217;s power and party&#8217;s interest. A<\/p>\n<p>party is simply the vehicle to getting worthy members through a list system<\/p>\n<p>into that destination called the National Assembly. Once that destination is<\/p>\n<p>reached, through a combination of election &#8211; by the electorate, and selection &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>by the leader of the list, such members of the National Assembly become<\/p>\n<p>representatives of the people and defenders of the constitution and the<\/p>\n<p>national interest. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Members of the National Assembly who<\/p>\n<p>understand this will ensure a greater efficacy of the Assembly. It is because<\/p>\n<p>on vital issues, on matters that really matter, members see themselves not as<\/p>\n<p>the peoples&#8217; representatives, but as puppets of a party, that that authentic<\/p>\n<p>Parliamentary culture we want in our country is devastated. This is why those<\/p>\n<p>who make the call do not realise that they are unconsciously subscribers to the<\/p>\n<p>doctrines of party paramountcy and democratic centralism. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Additionally, members of the National<\/p>\n<p>Assembly have constitutional rights which do not fade into oblivion upon entry<\/p>\n<p>into that august body. My appointment as an MP never entailed a restriction or<\/p>\n<p>subjugation of my right to associate, which includes my right to dissociate, or<\/p>\n<p>my right to express dissenting views. Service in the National Assembly is not<\/p>\n<p>and cannot be premised on the deprivation of or restriction on my fundamental<\/p>\n<p>rights to freely express myself and to freely associate\/disassociate. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Consequently, the call by party leaders,<\/p>\n<p>columnists and letter writers for us to vacate our seats clearly demonstrates<\/p>\n<p>what contempt they have for our constitutional rights to disassociate and<\/p>\n<p>dissent. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Paradoxically, in taking the stance we have,<\/p>\n<p>we are defending not only our individual fundamental rights but also those of<\/p>\n<p>each and every member of the National Assembly extracted from their respective<\/p>\n<p>party&#8217;s lists. It is the sacred duty of each and every Member of the Assembly<\/p>\n<p>to stand with us in defence of the constitutional right of each and every<\/p>\n<p>member to freedom of association and to free _expression. If they are unwilling<\/p>\n<p>to defend their own interest, they hardly can be expected to defend the public<\/p>\n<p>interest and the constitutional rights of the ordinary citizens. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Much more than the skirts of the PNC and the<\/p>\n<p>PPP is being revealed. The extent to which these parties have subjugated, or<\/p>\n<p>are seeking to subjugate, constitutional rights of Parliamentarians to narrow<\/p>\n<p>party interests is now being exposed. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Having exercised our freedom to dissociate<\/p>\n<p>and dissent from our respective parties, and to associate with and express<\/p>\n<p>support for the AFC, can never mean that our vote in the National Assembly on<\/p>\n<p>whatever issue will not be one in the national interest. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Standing up for fundamental rights, and<\/p>\n<p>sacrificing the party&#8217;s interest for the national interest, can hardly be<\/p>\n<p>classified as politically immoral. Party sycophancy is antithetical to<\/p>\n<p>political morality. But it may just be that party sycophancy has cultivated its<\/p>\n<p>own peculiar moral values in its conscious or unconscious adherents. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>By the way, is not this exactly what Manzoor<\/p>\n<p>Nadir did? Was he immoral? Was the PPP\/C aiding and abetting immorality when<\/p>\n<p>they took him on board? Why this moral outrage from the PNC now when it<\/p>\n<p>benefited from similar cross-overs by Parliamentarians like Teekah and<\/p>\n<p>Chandisingh? Wilbert Telford, was the PNC immoral when it caused so many<\/p>\n<p>PPPites to cross over to its side of the House? Or is it moral only when<\/p>\n<p>Parliamen-starians come into these parties&#8217; fold; but not when Parliamentarians<\/p>\n<p>abandon such parties to form their own? What hypocrisy! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Finally, let me say that all the recommendations<\/p>\n<p>of the various experts will mean nothing, absolutely nothing, if an<\/p>\n<p>appreciation of this approach to Parliamentary democracy is missed by<\/p>\n<p>Parliamentarians. They will remain stultified in their growth as defenders and<\/p>\n<p>promoters of the national interest; they will remain just as their parties&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>controlling cabals want them to be, mere glorifiers of party interests. This<\/p>\n<p>was the genesis of Burnhamism. We must prevent a reincarnation of this<\/p>\n<p>despicable system <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So my message to my colleagues in the<\/p>\n<p>National Assembly will go something like this: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&quot;Parliamentarians unite &#8211; you have only<\/p>\n<p>your Party shackles to lose&quot;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF'>2005-11-03: The messages<\/p>\n<p>delivered at the launching were impressive <\/span><\/u><u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;>(Stabroek News) <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>By Haemwattie Ragnauth Thursday, November<\/p>\n<p>3rd 2005 <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Dear Editor, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I happened to attend the inauguration of the<\/p>\n<p>Alliance For Change (AFC) at the Ocean View Convention Centre on October 29,<\/p>\n<p>2005. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The launching of this new political movement<\/p>\n<p>has created political history in <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place<\/p>\n<p> w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;>Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>. There was not only a packed<\/p>\n<p>auditorium but a mixture of races including members of the diplomatic<\/p>\n<p>community, businessmen and women, academicians and people from various walks of<\/p>\n<p>life. The messages delivered by the co-leaders of the AFC, Raphael Trotman and<\/p>\n<p>Khemraj Ramjattan were very comprehensive and impressive. The other members of<\/p>\n<p>the steering committee are all persons of integrity and moral values. I have no<\/p>\n<p>doubt these distinguished characters will bring about a change to the politics<\/p>\n<p>of <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Many persons at the launching including myself<\/p>\n<p>were impressed when the audience was introduced to the team of the AFC steering<\/p>\n<p>committee. I have no doubt that after its launching, shock-waves must have gone<\/p>\n<p>through the spine of the two major political parties. For more than forty years<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese were taught only to be loyal to their respective parties and leaders<\/p>\n<p>and not to their country and citizens. As a result of this, their very<\/p>\n<p>existence has been shattered. The time has now come when Guyanese are conscious<\/p>\n<p>and they reflect how they have been kept in bondage by the two major political<\/p>\n<p>parties whose mottos are the same, divide and rule. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It&#8217;s time for change. Change is the key to<\/p>\n<p>success and prosperity of this land. So let&#8217;s do it now. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Yours faithfully, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Haemwattie Ragnauth <\/span><u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF&#8217;>2005-11-02: These two young men should<\/p>\n<p>be protected <\/span><\/u><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>(Stabroek<\/p>\n<p>News) <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>By Rakesh Rampertab Wednesday, November<\/p>\n<p>2nd 2005 <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Dear Editor, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Now that the AFC is a political party, I wish<\/p>\n<p>to say something that is appropriate and very important: Mr. Raphael Trotman<\/p>\n<p>and Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan must be protected. To the entire group of people<\/p>\n<p>surrounding them, one would hope that you are security-conscious at all times.<\/p>\n<p>The WPA was warned to &#8216;guard Rodney from assassination&#8217; by many people<\/p>\n<p>including CLR James. Obviously, they failed. Obviously, <st1:country-region<\/p>\n<p>w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region><\/p>\n<p>failed&#8230;and <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>we all paid dearly, including the<\/p>\n<p>accomplished hangmen who killed him. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So let me say it again, the people of <st1:country-region<\/p>\n<p>w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> must<\/p>\n<p>protect these two young men. The hangmen may have changed their ugly masks, but<\/p>\n<p>the rope is still the same. Yours faithfully, Rakesh Rampertab <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF'>2005-10-31: Retain your<\/p>\n<p>seats so you can serve Guyanese in Parliament <\/span><\/u><u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;>(Stabroek News) <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6>Monday, October 31st 2005 <\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Dear Editor, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I do hope that the new thinking and the new<\/p>\n<p>way of doing things promised by the <st1:City w:st=\"on\">Alliance<\/st1:City> for<\/p>\n<p>Change will, at all times and in all places, seek to espouse the paramountcy of<\/p>\n<p><st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region><\/p>\n<p>over and above the paramountcy of the party, be it the PNC\/R or PPP\/C. We ought<\/p>\n<p>to remember that parliamentarians have sworn allegiance to the Para-mountcy of<\/p>\n<p>the Constitution of Guyana and this must supersede and override the narrower<\/p>\n<p>concept of the paramountcy of the party. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Messrs. Khemraj Ramjattan and Raphael<\/p>\n<p>Trotman, please do not give up your seats in The National Assembly. You must<\/p>\n<p>retain your seats so that you may continue to serve all <st1:country-region<\/p>\n<p>w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> in the<\/p>\n<p>highest decision making forum, where decisions that affect the lives of all<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese, even the unborn are made. By doing so you will have demonstrated that<\/p>\n<p>you have placed service to <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region><\/p>\n<p>and all Guyanese over and above the paramountcy of the party thus giving us<\/p>\n<p>reason to hope for improved social conditions and brighter futures. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The old way of thinking (for example, the<\/p>\n<p>paramountcy of the party, democratic centralism, benevolent dictatorship, etc)<\/p>\n<p>which has gotten us into our present economic, political and social<\/p>\n<p>predicaments, has never served <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region><\/p>\n<p>and Guyanese well. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The quality of life in <st1:country-region<\/p>\n<p>w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> is,<\/p>\n<p>inevitably, affected by the moral character of our political institutions. If<\/p>\n<p>the system of national governance is dealing unjustly, with some of its<\/p>\n<p>citizens, they are not the only ones to suffer. The quality of life for all<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese is degraded (today&#8217;s reality). A system of national governance that<\/p>\n<p>privileges some citizens over others is giving the &#8216;privileged citizens&quot; a<\/p>\n<p>corrupted view of democracy even if it gives them a social or economic<\/p>\n<p>advantage. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>You, Sirs, have had the courage to take up<\/p>\n<p>the mantle of Guyanese leadership and have affected a change to a higher and<\/p>\n<p>more sophisticated type or level of thinking &#8211; from the traditional either\/or<\/p>\n<p>(e.g. democratic centralism) with its inherent limitations to the more<\/p>\n<p>encompassing and futuristic both\/and. The former tends to be divisive and to<\/p>\n<p>exclude new thinking and new ideas. This is undemocratic. The latter is more<\/p>\n<p>inclusive and synergistic. It encourages new thinking, new ideas and as a<\/p>\n<p>consequence is far more enduring and democratic &#8211; all Guyanese are important. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We have to realize that running a national<\/p>\n<p>government is a country&#8217;s biggest business. No other organization in that<\/p>\n<p>country handles the vast sums of money the national government does. The manner<\/p>\n<p>in which this business is run affects every other business within the country.<\/p>\n<p>It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for institutions and<\/p>\n<p>organizations to be truly effective if the system of national governance is<\/p>\n<p>ineffective. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Climb every mountain, &quot;young Sirs&quot;.<\/p>\n<p>Encourage all Guyanese to put <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region><\/p>\n<p>first and always. The only question we need to ask is: &quot;What is best<\/p>\n<p>(using public criteria) for <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>The answer is: &quot;Support Change&quot; &quot;Support the <st1:City w:st=\"on\"><st1:place<\/p>\n<p> w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;>Alliance<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> for Change&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Yours faithfully, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>(name and address supplied) <\/span><u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF&#8217;>2005-10-18: Applications flowing in for <st1:City<\/p>\n<p>w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Alliance<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> For Change<\/p>\n<p>membership <\/span><\/u><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>(Stabroek<\/p>\n<p>News) <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6>Tuesday, October 18th 2005 <\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance For Change (AFC) has received<\/p>\n<p>some 1,000 applications for party membership over the two weeks since the forms<\/p>\n<p>were made available to the public, joint leader of the new movement Raphael<\/p>\n<p>Trotman said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Asked to comment on developments within the<\/p>\n<p>party and preparations for the October 29 launch of the AFC, Trotman said that<\/p>\n<p>since the forms were made available the response had been heartening. The<\/p>\n<p>number of applicants was probably more than some of the established parties<\/p>\n<p>could boast about, he added. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Membership to the AFC requires a fee of $200.<\/p>\n<p>The sum was based on recommendations the leadership of the movement received<\/p>\n<p>during their interactions with the public. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman said over the last few weeks the<\/p>\n<p>party worked on developing and refining its vision, mission statement, and<\/p>\n<p>strategic plan among other things, which both himself and joint leader Khemraj<\/p>\n<p>Ramjattan would present at the launching. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Local and foreign experts including<\/p>\n<p>overseas-based Guyanese are assisting in crafting the strategic plan, he said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He said that the party was focusing on a<\/p>\n<p>strategic plan and was shying away from the word manifesto in presenting its<\/p>\n<p>philosophy, objectives and plan of action. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The strategic plan, he said, covers a broad<\/p>\n<p>spectrum including the adoption of the National Development Strategy in which<\/p>\n<p>some of the strategies would be updated. Issues of crime, regional development<\/p>\n<p>(including a devolution of political and economic control) and moving the<\/p>\n<p>regions away from a number system to giving them names and personalities of<\/p>\n<p>their own are also being looked at, he said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He said the main principals of the AFC<\/p>\n<p>included WPA MP Sheila Holder and television station owner Anthony Vieira, but<\/p>\n<p>there were other personalities giving support to the movement and they would<\/p>\n<p>associate themselves publicly with the party after it has been launched. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>During a walkabout on Water Street on<\/p>\n<p>Saturday with the other principals, he said, one of the frequently asked<\/p>\n<p>questions was whether or not they believed in God which gave an indication that<\/p>\n<p>people were looking for divine intervention in the governance of the country.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, regarding the launching of the Guyana Third Force, Trotman said the<\/p>\n<p>AFC was not perturbed about the grouping but observed that it was unfortunate<\/p>\n<p>there has been some confusion about the identity of the two entities. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC, he said, was not out to pick fights<\/p>\n<p>with persons competing to get followers but rather to keep focused on the task<\/p>\n<p>ahead which was to ensure that the ruling party in government did not get a<\/p>\n<p>majority at the next elections. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><a href=\"2005-09-20.htm\">2005-09-20:<\/p>\n<p>Sheila Holder&#8217;s Response to Robert Persaud <\/a><\/span><\/u><u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;>(Stabroek News) <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>By Sheila Holder 20th September 2005 <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Dear Sir, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Sunday September 18 edition of the<\/p>\n<p>Kaieteur News carried a viewpoint by Information Liaison Officer to the<\/p>\n<p>President, Robert Persaud that was dedicated to the &#8216;Third Force&#8217;,<\/p>\n<p>recently named &#8216;Alliance For Change&#8217; (AFC) by winner of the<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Name the Third Force Competition&#8217;, Corentyne resident, Jagdeo<\/p>\n<p>Kishon. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Attempts were made in the viewpoint to defame<\/p>\n<p>the AFC by suggesting it was a hoax when in fact it was the PPPC that are the<\/p>\n<p>experts at playing many a hoax on the Guyanese people. For instance, during the<\/p>\n<p>last elections campaign when they promised to create thousands of jobs for the<\/p>\n<p>desperate jobless that never materialised. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC assures its supporters and the public<\/p>\n<p>at large that the AFC exists and has a vision that embodies the elements of servant<\/p>\n<p>leadership that recognises God as omniscient, consensus politics as a means to<\/p>\n<p>political stability, a meritorious reward system based on equal treatment and<\/p>\n<p>equal opportunity for all irrespective of race, colour, class or creed. We<\/p>\n<p>believe that when these basic principles are embraced, peace and harmony among<\/p>\n<p>our diverse peoples will follow and regency shall be given to the reform<\/p>\n<p>measures promulgated in our Constitution, which enshrines independence to the<\/p>\n<p>three arms of the state and other institutions so defined. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As the mouth piece for the PPP\/C government<\/p>\n<p>that undemocratically monopolises and controls the only radio station in the<\/p>\n<p>country, the state media comprising the people- owned NCN television stations<\/p>\n<p>in Demerara, Essequibo, Berbice &amp; Linden and the Guyana Chronicle<\/p>\n<p>newspaper, to the exclusion of the political opposition generally and other<\/p>\n<p>critics in the society specifically, Robert Persaud presumptuously inferred<\/p>\n<p>that what the PPPC Government does in monopolising the state media is alright<\/p>\n<p>but when it comes to sections of the private media exercising their right to<\/p>\n<p>give political coverage as they see fit, he declares it does not bode well for<\/p>\n<p>the journalistic profession. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He grumbled about the large number of letters<\/p>\n<p>in the print media calling for the establishment of a &#8216;Third Force&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>that featured AFC principals; about the various attacks coming from the<\/p>\n<p>political and non-political sections of the society and the Diaspora critical<\/p>\n<p>of the poor performance of the Jagdeo government. The manner in which he did<\/p>\n<p>this suggested that somehow critics had a hand in the unholy state of affairs<\/p>\n<p>brought upon this nation by successive PPPC governments over the last thirteen<\/p>\n<p>years. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It was they who made no secret of their<\/p>\n<p>self-interested policies by habitually using their simple parliamentary<\/p>\n<p>majority tyrannically even when it became blatantly obvious that such practices<\/p>\n<p>were to the detriment of the body politic and to the nation as a whole. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>One such example is their refusal to hold an<\/p>\n<p>enquiry into the devastating coastal floods which affected some one third of<\/p>\n<p>the population after eight long months. Persistent calls by the parliamentary<\/p>\n<p>opposition and civil society to ascertain the causes of the floods continue to<\/p>\n<p>be spurned. Compare this stance with the current situation in <st1:City w:st=\"on\"><st1:place<\/p>\n<p> w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;>New Orleans<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> where the Bush administration has<\/p>\n<p>already moved to establish several enquires into the devastation wroth by<\/p>\n<p>hurricane Katrina. Another example of their self-serving attitude is the<\/p>\n<p>refusal to release the population census after three years thereby denying the<\/p>\n<p>society access to essential public data while utilizing same for their own<\/p>\n<p>partisan purposes, what bigger hoax than that has been played on the Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>people by any other political group in the country? Witness their refusal to<\/p>\n<p>grant the indigenous people their wish to be described as<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Indigenous&#8217; rather than &#8216;Amerindian&#8217; while daring to<\/p>\n<p>claim that the Government&#8217;s consultation process is working. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Robert Persaud and The PPPC government are in<\/p>\n<p>no position to cast aspersions on sections of the private media or the<\/p>\n<p>political opposition. Their practice of double standards must be brought to an<\/p>\n<p>end by the electorate in order that democratic values might prevail in <st1:country-region<\/p>\n<p>w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>. It is<\/p>\n<p>only when such values become entrenched in our country that the debilitating<\/p>\n<p>issues of joblessness and poverty; underdevelopment and crime would be<\/p>\n<p>overcome. We urge the Guyanese people to choose change at the next general<\/p>\n<p>elections because change is the &#8216;key&#8217; &#8211; the symbol of the AFC designed<\/p>\n<p>by Marlon Williams, winner of the AFC logo competition. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Regards, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Sheila Holder, MP <u><a href=\"2005-06-26.htm\">2005-06-26:<\/p>\n<p>Ramjattan\/Trotman breakaway is sign of maturity <\/a><\/u><\/span><u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;>(Stabroek News) <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>By Miranda La Rose Sunday, June 26th 2005 <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The desire of Khemraj Ramjattan and Raphael<\/p>\n<p>Trotman &quot;to bridge the racial divide that has developed due to the<\/p>\n<p>dominance of the two major political forces&#8230; could only be a good thing and<\/p>\n<p>people like me have an obligation to support it and that is what I am<\/p>\n<p>doing.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So said WPA Member of Parliament Sheila<\/p>\n<p>Holder in an interview with Stabroek News on Friday when she stated that she<\/p>\n<p>makes, &quot;no secret of [her] enthusiasm for the combination dubbed the Third<\/p>\n<p>Force. I believe that Khemraj Ramjattan and Raphael Trotman breaking away from<\/p>\n<p>the two major political parties is a significant event in this country [at a<\/p>\n<p>time when] MPs, feel that they are locked into their parties, that they are<\/p>\n<p>owned and controlled by their parties, that breaking away is quite a traumatic<\/p>\n<p>experience and that the fear associated with it is almost as if they have to<\/p>\n<p>get permission.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>They have signalled by the breakaway &quot;a<\/p>\n<p>maturity to branch off on their own. That is what someone does when he or she<\/p>\n<p>reaches the age of maturity whether it is in the political or the human<\/p>\n<p>sphere,&quot; she said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Noting the country&#8217;s need for new leadership<\/p>\n<p>and the support for it, she said, the movers behind the Third Force are<\/p>\n<p>signalling that, &quot;They&#8217;re concerned about the racial insecurities in this<\/p>\n<p>country; that they have a desire to bridge the racial divide that has developed<\/p>\n<p>due to the dominance of the two major political forces in this country.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Holder sees the Third Force having an impact<\/p>\n<p>on the upcoming elections particularly with the support of the young people.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;I see evidence of young people likely to break away from the traditional<\/p>\n<p>positions taken by the parents. They are the ones driving the Third<\/p>\n<p>Force.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>She has no illusions, however, that the Third<\/p>\n<p>Force would be able to wipe out the PPP\/C and the PNCR but, &quot;Young people<\/p>\n<p>have come to realise they can craft out a niche for this Third Force [until<\/p>\n<p>they can find a name] that would give them an opportunity to play a crucial<\/p>\n<p>role in the future of this country.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>She is aware that there are die-hard<\/p>\n<p>supporters of the PPP\/C and the PNCR who would never change. &quot;They don&#8217;t<\/p>\n<p>care what the PNC or PPP do they would stick with them come what may. They are<\/p>\n<p>not going to shift on any arguments even if you presented them with evidence<\/p>\n<p>that from my perspective would be substantial to make anybody shift. They<\/p>\n<p>represent an older generation [who are] so locked into the old mindset of the<\/p>\n<p>PPP and the PNC that they do not even get to the point of being prepared to<\/p>\n<p>acknowledge that it has been detrimental to their own well-being.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Holder said the Third Force was operating in<\/p>\n<p>a kind of political environment where threats are to be anticipated.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;We&#8217;re not in a political environment where morality prevails&#8230; Any new<\/p>\n<p>political entity has to be aware that the current political environment is<\/p>\n<p>hostile; that it does not play fair; and that the political environment in<\/p>\n<p>which we are operating puts them at a disadvantage. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&quot;If they [Trotman and Ramjattan] start<\/p>\n<p>off from that position, they are informed and can design their strategies<\/p>\n<p>sensibly. To believe that you can change this political environment based on<\/p>\n<p>some preconceived notions of morality in sheep&#8217;s clothing, you are putting<\/p>\n<p>yourself at a disadvantage and you&#8217;re doomed to failure. I&#8217;m not going to fall<\/p>\n<p>for that trap. One has to be wise and to recognise politics for what politics<\/p>\n<p>is worth in this country.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On the question of whether many now<\/p>\n<p>supporting the Third Force would on elections day return to the two major<\/p>\n<p>ethnically based parties, Holder said, &quot;It is not for me to believe it.<\/p>\n<p>People get the government they deserve. If people do that they deserve what<\/p>\n<p>they get from the PPP if they put the PPP back in office. It is not within my<\/p>\n<p>power to predict how people behave but it is my responsibility to ensure that<\/p>\n<p>people are properly informed about the consequences of their behaviour. If they<\/p>\n<p>choose to vote race they have no leg to stand on when at a later date they<\/p>\n<p>themselves are subjected to racist treatment and racist behaviour. You must<\/p>\n<p>understand that this society is what it is because of how we the people behave.<\/p>\n<p>This society has not become as decadent as it has because of the PPP or the<\/p>\n<p>PNC. It is so because the people have allowed it and have embraced this kind of<\/p>\n<p>lawlessness and vulgarity.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Taking a stand <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>She feels it is time <st1:country-region<\/p>\n<p>w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;>Guyana<\/st1:country-region> &quot;takes a stand against [voting race]<\/p>\n<p>instead of running like cowards out of this country to the <st1:country-region<\/p>\n<p>w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;><st1:place w:st=\"on\">United States of America<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region><\/p>\n<p>and every other country under the sun&#8230; What the Third Force is doing is<\/p>\n<p>giving people the opportunity to take that stand. That&#8217;s all we can do. The<\/p>\n<p>decision rests with the people. If the people choose to take the stand we have<\/p>\n<p>as those who offer ourselves for service the burden to deliver. If we don&#8217;t<\/p>\n<p>deliver, the people are obligated to get rid of us as well. People must<\/p>\n<p>understand that if they don&#8217;t want to execute their responsibility to<\/p>\n<p>themselves no one can help them.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Asked how the WPA viewed her support for the<\/p>\n<p>Third Force, Holder said, &quot;My personal view is that the WPA would be part<\/p>\n<p>of this new thing, if not the WPA, individual members of the WPA.&quot; She<\/p>\n<p>said many people who at one time or the other were associated with the WPA were<\/p>\n<p>now encouraging her to take the move forward with the Third Force. Some in the<\/p>\n<p>country and some residing overseas have indicated to her that they welcome the<\/p>\n<p>new force. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Both Trotman and Ramjattan have been talking<\/p>\n<p>with the various political parties, including the WPA, and those discussions<\/p>\n<p>are ongoing, she said, adding, &quot;I don&#8217;t intend to comment on those as I<\/p>\n<p>don&#8217;t want to jeopardise that. The WPA would have to make that decision to be<\/p>\n<p>or not to be a part of the Third Force. I would hope they would.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Asked about giving up her seat in the<\/p>\n<p>National Assembly, Holder said some journalists have asked her about rumours<\/p>\n<p>that she has been given an ultimatum to give up her seat in parliament because<\/p>\n<p>of her public expression of support for the Ramjattan\/Trotman combination.<\/p>\n<p>However, she said that there has been no such request from the executive of the<\/p>\n<p>WPA and any such request would be premature on the part of the WPA since there<\/p>\n<p>was no new political entity to which she was aligned even though she has<\/p>\n<p>expressed public support for the combination. Additionally, she represents an<\/p>\n<p>alliance and any request for her to give up the seat in parliament would have<\/p>\n<p>to come from the GAP\/WPA alliance. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Her relationship with the WPA was &quot;an<\/p>\n<p>interesting one,&quot; she explained. She joined the GAP\/WPA alliance under a<\/p>\n<p>citizens&#8217; component and was never a WPA member. &quot;Many who were part and<\/p>\n<p>parcel of that initiative kept their eyes on me, kept in touch with me and let<\/p>\n<p>me know how they feel on issues, particularly on my public utterances and my<\/p>\n<p>work in the National Assembly,&quot; she said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Before entering parliament on the WPA ticket,<\/p>\n<p>she was involved in the non-governmental organisation (NGO) sector spending 30 years<\/p>\n<p>working pro bono. &quot;I am concerned about the welfare of our people or I<\/p>\n<p>would not have given so much of my life to that service; and my enthusiasm<\/p>\n<p>about moving in this direction is what I consider is needed in this country to<\/p>\n<p>lift our people out of the quagmire that we find ourselves in. I don&#8217;t need to<\/p>\n<p>be apologetic about that,&quot; she said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Parliament <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Asked whether she was satisfied with her work<\/p>\n<p>in the opposition, Holder said, &quot;Sir Michael has hit the nail on the head.<\/p>\n<p>I am pleased that I resisted initial attempts made by some with whom I was<\/p>\n<p>associated to de-emphasise the importance of the National Assembly. There were<\/p>\n<p>people within [opposition parties], who think that the parliamentary work<\/p>\n<p>amounted to nothing much. They did not think that the environment was conducive<\/p>\n<p>to delivering what they thought needed to be delivered and therefore attempts<\/p>\n<p>were made to pull me out of the National Assembly but I resisted it and I<\/p>\n<p>stayed.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>She added that, &quot;Because disillusionment<\/p>\n<p>of the parliament existed and there is that element of disillusionment within<\/p>\n<p>the WPA itself, attempts were made at times to persuade me that I was wasting<\/p>\n<p>my time in the National Assembly. I didn&#8217;t buy into that because I believed the<\/p>\n<p>only way the system could improve was to put it to the test&#8230; That is what I<\/p>\n<p>did and I thought it delivered some measurable benefits eventually. Had I not<\/p>\n<p>done so, the status quo would have remained the same.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Even though she was representing the WPA component<\/p>\n<p>of the GAP\/WPA alliance, Holder said basically, she was on her own in the<\/p>\n<p>National Assembly for the four years she was there. &quot;One person who has<\/p>\n<p>given me a great deal of advice, whenever I requested it, was Brother Eusi<\/p>\n<p>Kwayana even though he is out of the country.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The WPA in her opinion has a very liberal<\/p>\n<p>view on issues, which she benefited from because of the free rein to do as she<\/p>\n<p>saw necessary in the National Assembly. &quot;Except on one occasion when I was<\/p>\n<p>asked to withdraw a motion to enquire into the [Ronald] Gajraj accusations<\/p>\n<p>about the death squad, which I withdrew, the WPA has never asked me to do<\/p>\n<p>anything instinctively that I found objectionable.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On what has been her disappointment with<\/p>\n<p>parliament, she said, &quot;the unwillingness of the PPP\/C administration to be<\/p>\n<p>futuristic and to understand that the gains they had been able to bring to the<\/p>\n<p>parliament are insufficient. The PPP has a preoccupation with the past, a<\/p>\n<p>preoccupation with wallowing in their achievements as if that&#8217;s the be all and<\/p>\n<p>end all.&quot; Achievements, she said were measurable and if measured with the<\/p>\n<p>needs of the society; the performance of parliament and oversight functions,<\/p>\n<p>such as scrutinizing the executive; and keeping the parliament separate and<\/p>\n<p>distance from the executive, the government was still procrastinating and has<\/p>\n<p>not moved in that direction. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Principles <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To say they answer questions when in the<\/p>\n<p>previous administration questions would be dumped in a waste paper basket does<\/p>\n<p>not advance the cause of society or make it more accountable and transparent. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On her own political future, Holder said she<\/p>\n<p>started her political career very late but any political future for her will<\/p>\n<p>&quot;be hinged to the needs of the society and we have to educate the people<\/p>\n<p>to play a far bigger role than they have played so far in the administration of<\/p>\n<p>this country whether it is at the civil society or political level.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>While she does not consider herself as having<\/p>\n<p>any special political gift, she declared that she lives her life on the basis<\/p>\n<p>of some fundamental principles in keeping with the Ten Commandments. She said<\/p>\n<p>she would not bear false witness against anyone. If that position benefits the<\/p>\n<p>PPP\/C or the PNCR &quot;so be it.&quot; Stating, too, that one should not kill,<\/p>\n<p>she said that she was not taking the revisionist view which would suggest that<\/p>\n<p>you must not kill an animal or a tree, she said, &quot;God gave us dominion<\/p>\n<p>over the trees and the creatures of this earth and &#8216;Thou shall not kill&#8217; means<\/p>\n<p>that we mustn&#8217;t kill our brothers and sisters whatever race they may be.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Quite frankly, she said, the people who share<\/p>\n<p>this view &quot;would recognise that the Lord Almighty has not prescribed any<\/p>\n<p>political party to deliver our people from the injustices to which our people<\/p>\n<p>have been subjected to over the umpteenth decades. All the other forces have<\/p>\n<p>tried and they have not brought us peace and harmony; they have not brought us<\/p>\n<p>economic development and prosperity, but instead have forced people to leave<\/p>\n<p>these shores in large numbers.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>She said that <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place<\/p>\n<p> w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;>Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> as a nation was going to be<\/p>\n<p>40 years at the independence anniversary next year. &quot;That has a great deal<\/p>\n<p>of biblical significance for those of us who believe in God Almighty. I believe<\/p>\n<p>that our people have grown up sufficiently to embrace that coming of age, that<\/p>\n<p>epoch, and that new movement waiting to take this nation out of the wilderness<\/p>\n<p>which we found ourselves in the last 40 years.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF'>2006-01-10: AFC EMBARKS ON<\/p>\n<p>OUTREACH PROGRAMME <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The leadership and activists of the Alliance For<\/p>\n<p>Change (AFC) working in teams have commenced an intensive programme of outreach<\/p>\n<p>activities throughout the nation. The outreach work is meant to introduce the<\/p>\n<p>movement to communities and persons in areas not previously visited during the<\/p>\n<p>pre-launch listening tour. Visits have been planned and targeted based on<\/p>\n<p>requests received from members of these communities for the AFC to come and to<\/p>\n<p>interact with members of the public and supporters. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The teams are led by members of the Steering<\/p>\n<p>Committee and will interface with members of the public to unveil the<\/p>\n<p>AFC&#8217;s platform for elections, to hear of issues confronting communities,<\/p>\n<p>and to work with leaders in the communities to find solutions to the problems<\/p>\n<p>being encountered. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Since the commencement of the new year, areas<\/p>\n<p>visited include <st1:City w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Linden<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>,<\/p>\n<p>Maichony Creek to address concerns arising out of the flood, and West Coast<\/p>\n<p>Berbice. In the coming weeks, teams will fan out to cover the East Coast of<\/p>\n<p>Demerara, The Soesdyke\/Linden Highway communities, Rupununi, Pomeroon, Mahadia,<\/p>\n<p>Kurupung, and <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:PlaceName w:st=\"on\">Matthews<\/st1:PlaceName><\/p>\n<p> <st1:PlaceName w:st=\"on\">Ridge<\/st1:PlaceName><\/st1:place> and other<\/p>\n<p>communities in Region 1 (Barima\/Waini). <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC intends to field candidates in each<\/p>\n<p>of the electoral Regions, and will also be seeking to identify candidates to<\/p>\n<p>represent the movement both at the National and as well as Regional levels. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Reports and photographs will be posted at the<\/p>\n<p>conclusion of each visit. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>January, 10, 2006 <\/span><u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;>2006-01-09: Mahaicony Creek Flooding Some<\/p>\n<p>farmers consider pulling out of area &#8230;AFC distributes hampers (Kaiteur<\/p>\n<p>News) <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Some farmers of flood-hit Mahaicony Creek are<\/p>\n<p>contemplating leaving the area, while others fear that their properties may be<\/p>\n<p>seized by lending agencies because they are unable <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>to repay their loans. The farmers expressed<\/p>\n<p>these fears on Saturday when Executive Members of the <st1:City w:st=\"on\"><st1:place<\/p>\n<p> w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;>Alliance<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> for Change (AFC), Mr. Khemraj<\/p>\n<p>Ramjattan, Mrs. Sheila Holder and Mrs. Gaumatie Singh, visited the community to<\/p>\n<p>distribute flood relief hampers and to have a firsthand look at the crisis. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>According to some farmers, flooding in the<\/p>\n<p>community has worsened during the past 10 or 12 years. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>They said that as soon as they try to recover<\/p>\n<p>by taking loans to replant, the area would be flooded again. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Many of us have properties that are at<\/p>\n<p>very high risk of being seized by the bank and lending agencies, and the<\/p>\n<p>government did not even make a move to help us to come to some <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>reasonable solution to get out of this<\/p>\n<p>mess,&#8221; one farmer said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;I don&#8217;t believe that all the flooding<\/p>\n<p>we have in this area came from the rainfall. Some is due to the negligence of officials<\/p>\n<p>and these persons must be held responsible for some of our losses and<\/p>\n<p>punishment.&#8221; Another farmer said that over 50 acres of his rice is<\/p>\n<p>completely destroyed and he already utilized more than 1,000 gallons of fuel in<\/p>\n<p>an effort to save the rest. He believes that even though some crops might be<\/p>\n<p>saved, they will not make any profit because so much is spent on trying to save<\/p>\n<p>them. &#8220;I will try and save some of my crops but what about those persons<\/p>\n<p>who don&#8217;t have millions left to invest in saving theirs?&#8221; he asked.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think that after this flooding a serious change will be experienced in<\/p>\n<p>this area, either many farmers will leave or they will be forced to leave<\/p>\n<p>knowing that they don&#8217;t have the <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>finances to replant their crops. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;The contribution and visit by AFC has<\/p>\n<p>helped because listening to the plight of the people and helping them to find<\/p>\n<p>solutions to their problems has restored some hope in us today.&#8221; Yet<\/p>\n<p>another farmer who has lost millions due to the floods said many of the cattle,<\/p>\n<p>especially the calves, are stranded on small areas of land surrounded by flood<\/p>\n<p>waters and as a <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>result they will die. He said over 50 acres<\/p>\n<p>of his crops are already destroyed and over 30 calves died. He anticipates more<\/p>\n<p>losses in a few more days. &#8220;This is serious suffering the people in this<\/p>\n<p>area are going through. It will be very difficult to pull ourselves out of this<\/p>\n<p>disaster. I have to spend over $1,500 a day just to send my <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>child to a secondary school. &#8220;Tell me<\/p>\n<p>how we can manage this when so very often our livelihoods are destroyed by the<\/p>\n<p>floods. I think a lot more can be done by the government to prevent this<\/p>\n<p>flooding or even reduce it to an extent and I also think that they can do much<\/p>\n<p>more to help us at this point in <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>time.&#8221; They alleged that only once have<\/p>\n<p>officials from the Government visited the area since the floods began. They<\/p>\n<p>were reportedly given $100,000 which they think is inadequate, considering<\/p>\n<p>their losses amount to millions. &#8220;The $100,000 compensation cannot even<\/p>\n<p>help us save our crops much less to help us replant or get back on<\/p>\n<p>track,&#8221; one man said. &#8220;At the moment we are concerned with having<\/p>\n<p>the water drained out of the area and none of that was discussed by the<\/p>\n<p>government official who visited. &#8220;They just come in and try to fool us by<\/p>\n<p>giving the money but they should have estimated our losses and then come<\/p>\n<p>in&#8221; one farmer said. The residents thanked the AFC executive members for<\/p>\n<p>the hampers and some remarked that at least somebody has their concerns in<\/p>\n<p>mind. Farmers are also complaining about the poorly maintained drainage systems<\/p>\n<p>in the area and additional water which they think was drained into the area<\/p>\n<p>from another area or <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>possibly the conservancy. &#8220;The members<\/p>\n<p>of AFC really impressed us&#8230;they don&#8217;t have the resources and finances<\/p>\n<p>that are available to the government and yet they can come and help us.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The residents said they are also encountering several other problems in the<\/p>\n<p>area. AFC Executive Member Khemraj Ramjattan said the AFC will be following the<\/p>\n<p>flood closely and immediate arrangements will be made to distribute more relief<\/p>\n<p>to the residents who <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>are severely affected. He pointed out that<\/p>\n<p>the AFC will also be visiting the area again since the interest and concerns of<\/p>\n<p>the people of <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region><\/p>\n<p>are a first priority. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF'>2006-01-28: The AFC has been<\/p>\n<p>engaged in meaningful dialogue with most of the opposition parties An open<\/p>\n<p>letter to Br. David Hinds <\/span><\/u><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;>(Stabroek News) <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Dear David, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Thank you for your interest in the future<\/p>\n<p>well being of the AFC and promoting the movement as having creditability and<\/p>\n<p>influence to change the political culture and landscape of <st1:country-region<\/p>\n<p>w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>At last count according to GECOM, some<\/p>\n<p>thirty-one political parties had registered their intention to face the<\/p>\n<p>electorate at the upcoming General and Regional Elections. Except for the two<\/p>\n<p>dinosaurs and a couple of others, you seem by your ommission, to have dismissed<\/p>\n<p>the other parties from sharing the political space, and being part of a<\/p>\n<p>possible National Unity Government that you are so eloquently promoting. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>For the records since last year the AFC has<\/p>\n<p>been engaged in meaningful dialogue with most of those opposition political<\/p>\n<p>parties that you identified in your letter of Jan. 25, 2006 (SN). Unfortunately<\/p>\n<p>the WPA though invited did not display any measure of good faith and\/or<\/p>\n<p>commitment, and opted not to be part of these engagements giving the seat issue<\/p>\n<p>as the basis for non-engagement. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC leadership did not set any terms or<\/p>\n<p>preconditions for current engagements with other parties. Fortunately for the<\/p>\n<p>process, every representative who participated, rejected outright the terms and<\/p>\n<p>conditions for participating, which had been proposed by the WPA &#8211; What Irony! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The critical issue is not the political<\/p>\n<p>posturing of the WPA and you, as their mouthpiece, on a Government of National<\/p>\n<p>Unity, which you have so justifiably presented as the only hope for <st1:country-region<\/p>\n<p>w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>. It is<\/p>\n<p>that unity of oneness and committment to <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\">Guyana<\/st1:country-region>&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>ethnic security, social and economic advancement, which the Guyanese electorate<\/p>\n<p>and those in the Diaspora are expecting from all parties occupying the<\/p>\n<p>political space in <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Incidentally, it is well known that the AFC<\/p>\n<p>has never shied away from a discussion on the issue of a Government of National<\/p>\n<p>Unity and has repeatedly stated its commitment to work towards the<\/p>\n<p>establishment of the framework of such a government. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC has listened, and Guyanese at home<\/p>\n<p>and abroad are of one voice which is that &#8211; It is Time for Change! Most agree<\/p>\n<p>that the two monoliths have had their chance and both failed miserably. That is<\/p>\n<p>why the space was created for you and the WPA starting almost three decades ago<\/p>\n<p>and now for the AFC and a few others. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The last thing anyone wishes to see at this<\/p>\n<p>crucial time is a crab-in-a-barrel mentality. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This is not the vision of the AFC and its<\/p>\n<p>Agenda For Change. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC avails itself to continue meaningful<\/p>\n<p>dialogue with the other political parties and looks forward to the WPA<\/p>\n<p>participating even at this stage, it is never too late. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Youre faithfully, Steering Committee Alliance<\/p>\n<p>For Change <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF'>2005-10-30: <st1:City w:st=\"on\"><st1:place<\/p>\n<p> w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;>Alliance<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> For Change Launched <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<h6><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Ramjattan leader and chairman, Trotman<\/p>\n<p>presidential candidate <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>By Miranda La Rose (Stabroek News) Sunday,<\/p>\n<p>October 30th 2005 <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Khemraj Ramjattan is the Leader and Chairman<\/p>\n<p>of the newly-launched Alliance For Change (AFC), while his colleague Raphael<\/p>\n<p>Trotman, is the party&#8217;s presidential candidate. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The announcements were made at the official<\/p>\n<p>launching of the party at the Ocean View Hotel and Convention Centre,<\/p>\n<p>Liliendaal yesterday morning. Trotman, who along with Ramjattan outlined the<\/p>\n<p>party&#8217;s vision, said the ceremony was not the launching of a political party<\/p>\n<p>but the birth of a movement of consciousness that says the people have had<\/p>\n<p>enough and want their due of respect, equality, prosperity and security. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>WPA MP Sheila Holder, who worked with the AFC<\/p>\n<p>in its establishment, chaired the programme which included prayers by the three<\/p>\n<p>major religious groups, Christian, Hindu and Muslim. The packed auditorium<\/p>\n<p>included special invitees, members of the diplomatic community and members of<\/p>\n<p>the AFC from various parts of the country. The auditorium was decorated in the<\/p>\n<p>party&#8217;s green and gold colours. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Twenty-two year-old Ryan Samuels gave his<\/p>\n<p>perspective on the AFC, saying he had felt &quot;left out&quot; of the older<\/p>\n<p>political parties and as such had opted to join the AFC instead. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC&#8217;s leadership style would see its<\/p>\n<p>prime ministerial and presidential candidates, if successful in their bid to<\/p>\n<p>form a government, each hold office for half a term. After that they would<\/p>\n<p>switch posts. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Similarly, Ramjattan said, if the presidential<\/p>\n<p>candidate were only to be elected opposition leader, that office too would be<\/p>\n<p>held by the presidential candidate for half the term and thereafter be<\/p>\n<p>transferred to the prime ministerial candidate. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He said the party took this position<\/p>\n<p>conscious that unless innovation in political procedure and arrangements was<\/p>\n<p>created, the racial and ethnic divide would persist. These decisions, he said,<\/p>\n<p>were agreed to by the party&#8217;s steering committee and were to be ratified by the<\/p>\n<p>party&#8217;s membership. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Apart from Holder, Ramjattan and Trotman, the<\/p>\n<p>party&#8217;s steering committee includes attorney-at-law, Gaumattie Singh;<\/p>\n<p>television station owner, Anthony Vieira; administrator, Chantalle Smith and<\/p>\n<p>economist and former finance minister in the PPP\/C administration, Asgar Ally. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Strategic goals <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Outlining the party&#8217;s strategic goals,<\/p>\n<p>Ramjattan listed one of them as being improving the living standards of<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese from US$600 per capita to US$6,000 per capita within ten years. This<\/p>\n<p>was to be done through the introduction of information technology and market<\/p>\n<p>linkages, and then through high productivity. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The party intends to achieve balanced and<\/p>\n<p>sustainable development of all regions and all people as far as possible;<\/p>\n<p>ensure an economically just society in which there is fair and equitable<\/p>\n<p>distribution of the wealth of the nation and full partnership in economic<\/p>\n<p>progress; and substantial investment in education and human resources to<\/p>\n<p>support the needs of the changing society and a competitive economy. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The party also intends to restore<\/p>\n<p>independence, confidence and integrity to the existing government and state<\/p>\n<p>institutions and to establish new and appropriate institutions to protect and<\/p>\n<p>advance the constitutional rights and freedoms of all Guyanese. It also aims to<\/p>\n<p>reconfigure and strengthen the processes and institutions which would enhance<\/p>\n<p>and guarantee the people&#8217;s representation; and bring respectability to the<\/p>\n<p>judicial process and the rule of law by the timely dispensation of justice. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Ramjattan said an action plan along with mechanisms<\/p>\n<p>and processes to realize these strategic goals was far from complete, but a<\/p>\n<p>major effort was ongoing to ensure completion within a couple of months. The<\/p>\n<p>AFC would conduct a public consultation with major stakeholders in determining<\/p>\n<p>its final action plan in relation to its economic, social and political<\/p>\n<p>platform. This was mandatory in view of the demand for a new dispensation in <st1:country-region<\/p>\n<p>w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>&#8216;s<\/p>\n<p>politics, he said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Referring to the view held by some that they<\/p>\n<p>had been sluggish, Ramjattan assured the audience that they had actually been<\/p>\n<p>hard at work, understanding and formulating a cluster of strategic goals to<\/p>\n<p>make <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region><\/p>\n<p>develop as a nation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He addressed the issue of a diversified<\/p>\n<p>agricultural sector and industrialisation in relation to the AFC economic platform,<\/p>\n<p>which, he said, was based largely on private sector enterprise with the state<\/p>\n<p>being the facilitator. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Noting that the National Development Strategy<\/p>\n<p>was still a useful document, he said the basic building blocks and guiding<\/p>\n<p>principles on which the strategy had been based no longer existed, and there<\/p>\n<p>was need to revise its strategies and policies. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Noting that funds were available to achieve<\/p>\n<p>the party&#8217;s strategic goals, Ramjattan said an analysis of the state&#8217;s finances<\/p>\n<p>revealed that $.2 billion per month was lost through ill-advised and<\/p>\n<p>misconceived enforcement procedures at almost every revenue-collecting<\/p>\n<p>institution, the biggest being the Guyana Revenue Authority. With the political<\/p>\n<p>will, he said, this situation could be corrected. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Additionally, the Guyanese diaspora&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>contribution through remittances was another source to tap for nation building.<\/p>\n<p>The adoption of innovative methods to &quot;fund ourselves out of poverty&quot;<\/p>\n<p>was not being done by the government at present, though the head of the Poverty<\/p>\n<p>Alleviation Committee was paid the sum of about $2.6 million per month. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Vision <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Apologising for levelling accusations at the<\/p>\n<p>PNCR over the attacks on his home recently, Trotman said: &quot;We have become<\/p>\n<p>impatient and intemperate making utterances that are hurtful and unnecessary,<\/p>\n<p>as even I have regrettably done quite recently. Like a spent arrow, the spoken<\/p>\n<p>word could never be recalled but one should be able to say sorry.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Addressing concerns and discussions about his<\/p>\n<p>continued involvement in the affairs of the National Assembly, Trotman said<\/p>\n<p>that as Speaker Ralph Ramkarran had given his ruling on the matter of his<\/p>\n<p>disqualification, he believed the time was propitious for Leader of the PNCR<\/p>\n<p>Robert Corbin and himself to meet, &quot;as he recently proposed, to discuss and<\/p>\n<p>decide as mature and responsible representatives of our respective<\/p>\n<p>constituencies, my resignation from the Assembly. I hope that he would keep his<\/p>\n<p>promise to meet and speak.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>While he awaits that information, he said he<\/p>\n<p>intended to keep himself gainfully occupied with the people&#8217;s business by<\/p>\n<p>advancing the cause of public access to information, accountability and<\/p>\n<p>transparency in government. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He spoke too of the crime situation in <st1:country-region<\/p>\n<p>w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;>Guyana<\/st1:country-region> and the need to mount a strong and united<\/p>\n<p>defence against it; the need for indigenous peoples to be recognized and<\/p>\n<p>accepted as the first peoples of <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place<\/p>\n<p> w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;>Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> entitled to recognition and<\/p>\n<p>respect and not handouts and prescriptions; and of a tiredness with the old<\/p>\n<p>politics. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He outlined the party&#8217;s vision which he said<\/p>\n<p>was no different from that of Martin Luther King Jnr&#8217;s dream for the betterment<\/p>\n<p>of the people. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Noting that in recent times, he and Ramjattan<\/p>\n<p>had been described as &quot;wish-wash rejects&quot; and would be accused of<\/p>\n<p>every possible crime and vice, he said that if there were believers, Psalm 118<\/p>\n<p>reminded us that &quot;the stone which the builder refused is to become the<\/p>\n<p>headstone of the corner.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He said that having walked the country and<\/p>\n<p>listened to the voices of the people, the AFC believed that Guyanese wanted the<\/p>\n<p>emergence of a new political consciousness and a wholesome form of government<\/p>\n<p>which would peel away the layers of old hatreds and old wrongs, political<\/p>\n<p>recrimination, finger-pointing, killings, corruption, mismanagement and<\/p>\n<p>lawlessness. The AFC, he said, intends to bring this vision into reality. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Interest of the people <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Also addressing the issue of seats in<\/p>\n<p>Parliament, Ramjattan said when they were elected members of the National<\/p>\n<p>Assembly, their respective parties regarded them as worthy representatives of<\/p>\n<p>the people. &quot;Surely it cannot be presumed that we were selected into the<\/p>\n<p>National Assembly to represent our respective party&#8217;s interest over and above<\/p>\n<p>the people&#8217;s interest or the national interest. This is precisely why the party<\/p>\n<p>which selected us cannot terminate our duty to represent the people and the<\/p>\n<p>national interest in the National Assembly on the ground of party<\/p>\n<p>disaffiliation.&quot; He added that the constitution did not give power of<\/p>\n<p>removal to political parties. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He said there was constitutional recognition<\/p>\n<p>of the fact that in the National Assembly the interest of the people was<\/p>\n<p>greater than the interest of the party. That was why there was no prohibition<\/p>\n<p>against any member of the National Assembly voting inconsistently with the<\/p>\n<p>party&#8217;s other members, or refraining from voting consistently with them. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He argued those MPs who perceived themselves<\/p>\n<p>as representatives of their respective parties rather than representatives of<\/p>\n<p>the people were subscribers to the concept of party paramountcy and the<\/p>\n<p>democratic centralist doctrine, and were corroding and eroding the essence of<\/p>\n<p>parliamentary democracy. As such, he said, the call for himself and Trotman to<\/p>\n<p>vacate their seats on the narrow grounds of disaffiliation from parties was<\/p>\n<p>misconceived. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He gave the assurance that they would<\/p>\n<p>continue to occupy their seats in Parliament until such time as they<\/p>\n<p>individually decided to vacate, &quot;if ever we so decide.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He said that because of old contorted<\/p>\n<p>politics, national interest was being subverted for partisan party interests.<\/p>\n<p>For that reason, the Procurement Commission was not constituted or operational<\/p>\n<p>so that awards of contracts were not scrutinised, among other reasons. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The launching ceremony also featured a number<\/p>\n<p>of greetings from friends and well-wishers in <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\">India<\/st1:country-region>,<\/p>\n<p><st1:country-region w:st=\"on\">Italy<\/st1:country-region>, the <st1:country-region<\/p>\n<p>w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;>United Kingdom<\/st1:country-region>, the <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\">USA<\/st1:country-region>,<\/p>\n<p><st1:country-region w:st=\"on\">Canada<\/st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region<\/p>\n<p>w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;>Grenada<\/st1:country-region>, the Cayman Islands, <st1:country-region<\/p>\n<p>w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;>Finland<\/st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place<\/p>\n<p> w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;>Denmark<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There was also a video documentary of<\/p>\n<p>greetings from the local constituency from various parts of the country and a<\/p>\n<p>Hilton Hemerding song sung by Sharon Archer with musical accompaniment by<\/p>\n<p>Trevor John. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=center style='text-align:center'><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;>2006-2-02: The AFC will be a catalyst for change (Stabroek News) <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-1-3:A<a<\/p>\n<p>href=&#8221;2006-01-03.htm&#8221;> lliance aims high <\/a><\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>by Shaun Michael Samaroo December <st1:City<\/p>\n<p>w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;>Issue<\/st1:City>, <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\">Guyana<\/st1:country-region><\/p>\n<p>Free Press (<st1:City w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Toronto<\/st1:place><\/st1:City><\/p>\n<p>Edition) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><st1:City w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\"><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>ALLIANCE<\/span><\/b><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;> for change? Popular and passionate, a helpless cry<\/p>\n<p>rises in protest among young Guyanese, wanting urgent reform &#8211; deep change<\/p>\n<p>within the nation&#8217;s political culture <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Elections come next year. And the old<\/p>\n<p>habits of the old parties live on &#8211; divisive ethnic voting patterns. The<\/p>\n<p>incumbent Party, the People&#8217;s Progressive Party, and the main Opposition,<\/p>\n<p>the People&#8217;s National Congress, defend the system as it suits them, it<\/p>\n<p>seems, changing rules only to preserve themselves in power <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This forms the impression of the young Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>today &#8211; a disdain apathy towards the political culture that has stifled<\/p>\n<p>the glorious talent of a creative and powerful people. The nation from all<\/p>\n<p>economic indicators continues to sink. Crime fills the national media with gory<\/p>\n<p>stories every day <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Corruption and brutality and bad manners<\/p>\n<p>and a sickening slide in public morals sink the ship of state into a state of<\/p>\n<p>pathetic beggarliness <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Along comes two young men with ideals and<\/p>\n<p>ideas and plans on how to fix things <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>They approach their seniors in the ranks<\/p>\n<p>into which they had decided to serve, and expressed revolutionary ideas of<\/p>\n<p>reforming the dreaded political culture <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But, alas, new thought does not find a<\/p>\n<p>welcome mat at the doorstep of the <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place<\/p>\n<p> w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;>Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> status quo. So the same wall<\/p>\n<p>that drives 87 percent of <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>skilled citizens to &#8220;better pastures&#8221; overseas blocked any progress<\/p>\n<p>they planned <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But these two young men fight for what<\/p>\n<p>they believe in. Raphael Trotman decides to stand on his own independent feet<\/p>\n<p>against his political superiors at <st1:Street w:st=\"on\"><st1:address w:st=\"on\">Congress<\/p>\n<p>  Place<\/st1:address><\/st1:Street>. And as if fate has deemed it time for <st1:country-region<\/p>\n<p>w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> to<\/p>\n<p>experience a revolution, Khemraj Ramjattan decides to toll some bells at<\/p>\n<p>Freedom House <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Neither Trotman nor Ramjattan found<\/p>\n<p>dancers for their tunes. Instead, they both got unceremoniously kicked out. The<\/p>\n<p>unimaginative, uncreative, stifling bureaucratic monster reared its head and<\/p>\n<p>sternly rebuked these young reformers for even daring to speak up against the<\/p>\n<p>stultifying system <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But a nation&#8217;s cry rang in the ears<\/p>\n<p>of these two young men. So they joined forces, almost two strange bedfellows,<\/p>\n<p>and decided to form an <st1:City w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Alliance<\/st1:place><\/st1:City><\/p>\n<p>For Change. Finding strong support among the people whose cries they had<\/p>\n<p>answered, Trotman and Ramjattan launched the <st1:City w:st=\"on\"><st1:place<\/p>\n<p> w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;>Alliance<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> For Change political party to<\/p>\n<p>challenge the old horses at next year&#8217;s elections <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>They have started with gutsy courage,<\/p>\n<p>enterprising enthusiasm and lively faith <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>They believe with passion that they will<\/p>\n<p>make a change and steer <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\"><st1:place w:st=\"on\">Guyana<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region><\/p>\n<p>into a future of bright hope <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Joining them on this mission, a band of<\/p>\n<p>likeminded leaders pledged to support them every step of the way. Sheila<\/p>\n<p>Holder, a veteran advocate for consumers&#8217; rights in Guyana, and an<\/p>\n<p>excellent parliamentarian for another opposition party herself, joined the band<\/p>\n<p>that trooped over to the Alliance For Change camp <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Holder, Ramjattan and Trotman became<\/p>\n<p>household names overnight, largely because they refused to give up their<\/p>\n<p>parliamentary seats. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>They had won these seats under the banner<\/p>\n<p>of the old parties, and those parties wanted back those seats <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman gave his up last week. Ramjattan<\/p>\n<p>and Holder are holding on to theirs, &#8220;for now&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A nation&#8217;s destiny lies outside<\/p>\n<p>deliberate plans. And Guyana&#8217;s destiny may very well have reached a<\/p>\n<p>tipping point when Holder, Trotman and Ramjattan found themselves companions on<\/p>\n<p>a 36- hour flight from Guyana to Finland. The three ended up together because<\/p>\n<p>they &#8220;were picked&#8221; to represent Guyana at a seminar dealing with<\/p>\n<p>parliament and poverty <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;We were in the first class section<\/p>\n<p>of the plane for a very long flight. And so we ended up talking. And here were<\/p>\n<p>three Members of Parliament, from three opposing parties, saying exactly the<\/p>\n<p>same thing about Guyana&#8217;s problems. We found we were agreeing on what<\/p>\n<p>needs to be done,&#8221; Holder said <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Holder talks with great animation about<\/p>\n<p>the Alliance. She believes in its purpose heart and soul <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>She was on a whirlwind tour of Toronto<\/p>\n<p>recently to set up initial contacts for the three of them to officially visit<\/p>\n<p>Toronto and spread their message, sometime early next year <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>She graciously granted an exclusive interview<\/p>\n<p>to Guyana Free Press, after Canadian-Guyanese community leader Derek Kowlessar<\/p>\n<p>talked to her <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Holder said that the Finland trip caused<\/p>\n<p>herself, Ramjattan and Trotman to work together, and their alliance on that<\/p>\n<p>mission forged them together. They found that their ideas were similar, and<\/p>\n<p>they wanted the same things for their nation <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Our aim is for the alliance to<\/p>\n<p>bridge the ethnic divide that has afflicted this nation,&#8221; Holder said She<\/p>\n<p>said people are responding to the Alliance in its early days with enthusiasm<\/p>\n<p>and hope. &#8220;The Movement has given people a lot of hope. I believe that we<\/p>\n<p>have a realistic chance of winning the elections&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Holder said that &#8220;parliament has<\/p>\n<p>been dysfunctional&#8221; and this system of representation must change<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In parliament, issues are voted on based on party position, not to<\/p>\n<p>affect the best interest of the people,&#8221; she said Holder, a staunch<\/p>\n<p>member of the Working People&#8217;s Alliance before she joined the Alliance<\/p>\n<p>For Change, said this is a different time than <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>when Walter Rodney tried to initiate<\/p>\n<p>similar changes in Guyana&#8217;s political culture. Rodney was killed in a<\/p>\n<p>political assassination &#8220;This is a new chance and people recognize that<\/p>\n<p>We have been given a new chance to get our house in order,&#8221; she said The<\/p>\n<p>trio believe so much in their mission that they journeyed last month to the US<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; to meet with noted figures in Washington. They <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>met with the International Monetary Fund,<\/p>\n<p>the World Bank, State Department officials and members of the overseas Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>community in New York and Washington <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;We saw extraordinary success in<\/p>\n<p>those meetings,&#8221; Holder said Holder believes that &#8220;Guyana as a<\/p>\n<p>society is at the point of failure. Crime and corruption pose the biggest<\/p>\n<p>problems facing us. We need to see a God-fearing, honest, decent government manage<\/p>\n<p>the affairs of the nation,&#8221; she said <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;It saddens me to see what has<\/p>\n<p>become of my country. I have served for 30 years in voluntary work And I wanted<\/p>\n<p>to see the country achieve good things. It breaks my heart to see where we are<\/p>\n<p>as a people today&#8221; But Holder refuses to give up. Just like she did under<\/p>\n<p>Rodney&#8217;s leadership, she has agreed to throw her weight behind the<\/p>\n<p>Alliance For <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Change to heal the gapping wounds<\/p>\n<p>crippling a nation that can achieve so much if the right leadership can govern.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-1-23: Letter to<\/p>\n<p>Commissioner of Police after visit to Fort Island, Essequibo <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Commissioner of Polic<\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>e Mr. Winston Felix, DSM Police Headquarters, Eve<\/p>\n<p>Leary, Georgetown. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Dear Sir, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On behalf of the Executive and members of the<\/p>\n<p>Alliance For Change, I bring you belated New Year&#8217;s Greetings and a<\/p>\n<p>pledge of support for your work in the months ahead. This year will test the<\/p>\n<p>mettle and character of most of us and we have every confidence that you, your<\/p>\n<p>officers and ranks, will discharge your duties in the highest professional<\/p>\n<p>manner. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Our particular purpose for writing is to<\/p>\n<p>address the issue of the besieging of Fort Island, Essequibo River on December,<\/p>\n<p>23, 2005, and the horrific crimes which were committed there. No doubt you are<\/p>\n<p>familiar with this event. Having visited the island recently, we undertook to<\/p>\n<p>bring to your attention the following issues on behalf of victims and members<\/p>\n<p>of the community: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Residents remain traumatized and<\/p>\n<p>insufficiently advised as to the state of the investigation and prosecution of<\/p>\n<p>the perpetrator apprehended thus far. There needs to be an update as to the<\/p>\n<p>progress of the investigation. We suggest for your consideration, that a team<\/p>\n<p>visits the island on a confidence building exercise. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Articles recovered to date including,<\/p>\n<p>outboard motors and cell phones, have not been returned and are desperately<\/p>\n<p>needed. We suggest that you consider issuing an instruction that the articles<\/p>\n<p>be returned forthwith, after being photographed and the necessary markings<\/p>\n<p>placed thereon. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>That consideration is given to the placement<\/p>\n<p>of an outpost on the Island, or for an increase in river patrols to assure the<\/p>\n<p>residents that there is a measure of security in place. A complaint was made<\/p>\n<p>that on the night of the incident a call placed to the Parika Police Station<\/p>\n<p>revealed that only one rank was on duty and he expressed helplessness at being<\/p>\n<p>able to respond. Fort Island houses historical structures and sites which have<\/p>\n<p>been declared national monuments. A police presence on the island would be very<\/p>\n<p>reassuring to tourists and residents alike. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=33<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1026&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_0.jpg&#8221;>That the idea of a<\/p>\n<p>community policing group be given serious consideration including, assistance<\/p>\n<p>in its formation and training of members. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Those suitable members of the community are<\/p>\n<p>identified for the granting of firearm licences. It is our information that<\/p>\n<p>some members have already forwarded applications. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We trust that you will interpret these issues<\/p>\n<p>raised in the helpful context in which they are intended. We offer our<\/p>\n<p>assistance in any way that you may find useful for addressing them, or any<\/p>\n<p>other matters that may arise. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Yours Respectfully, Mr. Raphael Trotman<\/p>\n<p>Alliance For Change <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4<\/p>\n<p>height=1 id=&#8221;_x0000_i1027&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_1.jpg&#8221; align=&#8221;&#8221;><img<\/p>\n<p>border=0 width=4 height=1 id=&#8221;_x0000_i1028&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_2.jpg&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>align=&#8221;&#8221;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='color:blue'>2006-2-11: The AFC did make a statement on the<\/p>\n<p>Waddell murder (Stabroek News) <\/span><\/u><span style='color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Dear Editor, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In my letter published on Thursday, February<\/p>\n<p>9, I said the following: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&quot;It is indeed &#8216;unfortunate&#8217; that after<\/p>\n<p>hearing so much about the Alliance for Change, we haven&#8217;t heard them take a<\/p>\n<p>public stand on the execution of Ronald Waddell in this, an election year. I am<\/p>\n<p>willing to retract this if indeed I missed it in the newspaper reports or if<\/p>\n<p>they did issue a statement and it wasn&#8217;t reported.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I have since received the following from<\/p>\n<p>Sheila Holder of the AFC: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&quot;Please be advised that as leader of the<\/p>\n<p>AFC, Khemraj did issue an immediate public statement of condemnation of<\/p>\n<p>Waddell&#8217;s murder on the electronic media. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&quot;It appeared on a newscast the night<\/p>\n<p>after the murder became known and was broadcast in full on the AFC programme, &#8216;Alliance<\/p>\n<p>On The Move&#8217; a couple days later. Raphael and others were out of the country on<\/p>\n<p>business during this period. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&quot;Khemraj Ramjattan in fact called for<\/p>\n<p>the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to move quickly to solve this brutal murder and<\/p>\n<p>not allow this one in particular go the route of the others that were left<\/p>\n<p>unsolved but to bring the perpetrators to justice to give some level of<\/p>\n<p>satisfaction to Waddell&#8217;s grieving family and supporters. He expressed sympathy<\/p>\n<p>to them and also called on Waddell&#8217;s supporters to use restraint and not to<\/p>\n<p>retaliate as an eye for an eye would leave us all blind; but allow the GPF to<\/p>\n<p>do the job that was expected of them. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&quot;He also asked that the GPF increase<\/p>\n<p>their presence in East Coast villages in order to deter any wanton acts of recrimination.<\/p>\n<p>Of course you know Noel and I attended the funeral to represent the<\/p>\n<p>AFC&#8230;&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I would like to publicly acknowledge this<\/p>\n<p>response. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Yours faithfully, Alissa Trotz <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF'>2<b>006-2-1<\/b><\/span><\/u><b><u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;>7: The leaders of the Alliance have been on<\/p>\n<p>the road since the launch introducing themselves to Guyanese at home and in the<\/p>\n<p>Diaspora (<\/span><\/u><\/b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>Stabroek<\/p>\n<p>News) <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Dear Editor, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The heightened interest being displayed in<\/p>\n<p>the activities of the Alliance For Change (AFC) is indeed refreshing. Such interest<\/p>\n<p>can only serve to energize and propel us further. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC has recognized contributions to the<\/p>\n<p>daily newspapers by Bro. Dr. David Hinds, an uncharacteristically benevolent<\/p>\n<p>article by Stella Ramsaroop, the concerns of Dr. Alissa Trotz following the<\/p>\n<p>slaying of Ronald Waddell, and recently, the more expansive review by F.<\/p>\n<p>Skinner now being supported by Paul Ramsaroop. As an aside, I have to concede<\/p>\n<p>that it is beginning to appear that the Ramsaroop family&#8217;s concern for the<\/p>\n<p>survival of the AFC is genuine. We view these interests and the sometimes<\/p>\n<p>stinging criticisms as actual displays of genuine concern and support for the<\/p>\n<p>AFC, as we are undoubtedly and expectedly being held to a higher standard than<\/p>\n<p>is required by all others. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I hope Stella would not be offended if I<\/p>\n<p>borrow from her article in the Kaieteur News of Feb. 5, 2006, when she quite<\/p>\n<p>aptly stated of the AFC &quot;&#8230;the people&#8217;s third force alternative lies<\/p>\n<p>squarely on your shoulders now.&quot; Certainly, when the AFC was launched in<\/p>\n<p>October, 2005 those who participated in the ceremony and were in attendance<\/p>\n<p>felt the weight of responsibility that had been transferred from the shoulders<\/p>\n<p>of those who had been battling for a breakthrough for decades, to the shoulders<\/p>\n<p>of those of us in the AFC, and other parties, who have taken up the cause<\/p>\n<p>because we believe that Guyana can only survive if administered a strong<\/p>\n<p>injection of a healing serum. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC has never doubted for one moment the<\/p>\n<p>significance and magnitude of the task, and quite frankly we have found it to<\/p>\n<p>be a humbling and at times an intimidating experience; yet we are persevering<\/p>\n<p>nevertheless. Today, some months on, the AFC remains intact despite every<\/p>\n<p>attempt to disturb and destroy it. We have thankfully remained on friendly<\/p>\n<p>terms with all parties which formed the now defunct GTF platform and resolve<\/p>\n<p>not to allow our relations with any party to disintegrate into open hostility<\/p>\n<p>though the provocations will be ever present. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The principals and other leaders of the<\/p>\n<p>movement have been on the road since its launch, introducing ourselves to<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese at home and in the Diaspora, and have commenced the arduous task of<\/p>\n<p>raising finance to fund our activities. We have been busy engaging and<\/p>\n<p>attempting to recruit the best minds and abilities to support and enable us to<\/p>\n<p>discharge the burden of responsibility that has been placed squarely on our<\/p>\n<p>shoulders. One truism which we accept is that we cannot do it alone, and it was<\/p>\n<p>to our great disappointment when the GTF platform went &quot;caput,&quot; as<\/p>\n<p>Stella described its unfortunate downfall. Despite differences in approach, the<\/p>\n<p>AFC intends to continue to engage all the former members of the GTF and others,<\/p>\n<p>in our quest to do what is best in Guyana&#8217;s interest. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Admittedly, we have not been doing enough to<\/p>\n<p>give prominence to publicly communicate our position on issues and are taking<\/p>\n<p>steps to remedy this situation. However, we have made various pronouncements<\/p>\n<p>included in the speeches at our Launch, released information to the media, and<\/p>\n<p>distributed materials. Unfortunately, because many persons living abroad feed<\/p>\n<p>on the material placed on the online versions of the newspapers, and on second<\/p>\n<p>and third hand information provided from friends and relatives, they are most<\/p>\n<p>likely to miss the facts as they are, as was recently the case with my sister<\/p>\n<p>Alissa a week ago. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As patriotic and caring Guyanese we in the<\/p>\n<p>AFC are concerned about crime and security, the economy and job creation, and<\/p>\n<p>good governance as being the issues occupying the minds of our brothers and sisters.<\/p>\n<p>To this end, the AFC is studying and refining every useful comment and<\/p>\n<p>recommendation on the above and more, that has been made by all stake holders<\/p>\n<p>whether they be in, or out, of Guyana. We have stated the AFC&#8217;s position<\/p>\n<p>against the call for an electoral boycott, long before others expressed their<\/p>\n<p>views. We have condemned violence in all its forms, and at every available<\/p>\n<p>opportunity so much so that on a recent visit to Buxton, the AFC was invited to<\/p>\n<p>help mend relations with neighbouring communities; and have now publicly called<\/p>\n<p>for national healing and reconciliation in a recently published advertisement<\/p>\n<p>(SN &amp; KN of Sun. Feb. 12, 2006). <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Representatives of the AFC have travelled<\/p>\n<p>literally from Corriverton to the borders of Venezuela and Brazil and have<\/p>\n<p>entered villages and towns not because we wanted to share footballs and<\/p>\n<p>trophies, but because we were invited by the people to hear from them their<\/p>\n<p>anguish about how they feel about the decay that has set in on the body of our<\/p>\n<p>motherland, and of their sanguine expressions of hope for a change. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We acknowledge that all questions raised must<\/p>\n<p>be answered. Our commitment to the notion of servant leadership has compelled<\/p>\n<p>us to adopt a bottom- up approach for inputs to influence and contribute to<\/p>\n<p>designing an action- plan for change and development. We must listen to the<\/p>\n<p>voices of those who have experienced and suffered the most from the degradation<\/p>\n<p>that has taken place over the decades. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We recognize the need for expert advice from<\/p>\n<p>those at home and just as importantly, from those abroad and this is where the<\/p>\n<p>Stellas, Alissas, Davids, Skinners and Pauls, will prove invaluable if they<\/p>\n<p>decide to put their shoulders to the wheel. With the AFC putting its best foot<\/p>\n<p>forward, and with their invaluable assistance, we would be able to provide all<\/p>\n<p>the answers to the questions and more in the most reasonable timeframe. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC therefore urges all those who believe<\/p>\n<p>in the inevitability of change and transformation not to snipe at it, but to<\/p>\n<p>blow wind into its sails by offering encouragement, objective criticism and<\/p>\n<p>tangible support. With the right attitude, support, faith, and timing, all<\/p>\n<p>things are possible. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Individuals who have an interest in the AFC<\/p>\n<p>and its activities may contact us directly at our offices at 354 Cummings<\/p>\n<p>Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown, Guyana; telephone (592) &#8211; 225 &#8211; 0452 or<\/p>\n<p>225 &#8211; 0455, or by email at alliance4change @yahoo.com; or by visiting our<\/p>\n<p>website www.afcguyana.com; or securing a copy of our monthly publication The<\/p>\n<p>Key. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Remember, Choose Change &#8230;It&#8217;s Time! Yours<\/p>\n<p>faithfully, Raphael Trotman Chairman <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='color:#0031FF'>2<\/span><\/u><u><span style='color:blue'>006-2-27:<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/u><span style='color:blue'>Freedom of Information bill is the priority<\/p>\n<p>now &#8211; Trotman By Miranda La Rose (Stabroek News) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Alliance for Change Chairman Raphael Trotman<\/p>\n<p>is passionate about Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation and a bill that<\/p>\n<p>seeks to bring this about, a labour of love for the AFC, is to be tabled as a<\/p>\n<p>private member&#8217;s bill. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&quot;Our main duty is to bring this bill to<\/p>\n<p>the place of the peoples&#8217; representatives and we would like to see how the<\/p>\n<p>peoples&#8217; representatives react to a bill that is going to open up press<\/p>\n<p>freedoms and so on,&quot; Trotman said in an interview with Stabroek News on<\/p>\n<p>Monday. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan has presented<\/p>\n<p>the bill to the Clerk of the National Assembly. Ramjattan, who was expelled<\/p>\n<p>from the PPP\/C and another AFC principal Sheila Holder, who formerly<\/p>\n<p>represented GAP\/WPA, have refused to give up their seats in Parliament. And<\/p>\n<p>while Trotman acknowledged that it was an issue, which was not going to go away<\/p>\n<p>completely, he said the AFC was continuing to review it. &quot;We continue to<\/p>\n<p>act in what we think is best for the movement and what the people want,&quot;<\/p>\n<p>he said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>While Ramjattan&#8217;s absence is noticeable in<\/p>\n<p>Parliament at many sittings, Trotman said he was pressing forward &quot;with<\/p>\n<p>the work that we have committed to; he is seeing it [the FOI bill] through.<\/p>\n<p>That bill is before the Clerk&#8217;s office to be sent to the Chief Parliamentary<\/p>\n<p>Counsel Office for review.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman, who had resigned from the PNCR, had<\/p>\n<p>also held on to his seat in the House for a while before withdrawing as he had<\/p>\n<p>promised he would do. He said the withdrawal of the others would be in keeping<\/p>\n<p>with their internal arrangements to pilot the bill through Parliament and in<\/p>\n<p>time they would follow suit. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Told that there were other MPs in Parliament<\/p>\n<p>and within the opposition who could have piloted the FOI bill, such as ROAR MP<\/p>\n<p>Ravi Dev, who some feel the government and the main opposition would have been<\/p>\n<p>more inclined to support, Trotman said that argument was &quot;disingenuous&quot;.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He said no other MP had ever proposed,<\/p>\n<p>offered to draft, or had been involved in drafting such a bill. &quot;This is<\/p>\n<p>our labour. We have also received assistance from the Human Rights Initiative.<\/p>\n<p>They are in contact with us two or three times a week. So we have a commitment.<\/p>\n<p>It is a private member&#8217;s bill. It is something we feel strongly about. While we<\/p>\n<p>feel others would take it through we recognise that the others have never in<\/p>\n<p>the past identified it as an issue that they wanted,&quot; he said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Asked whether he thought an &quot;AFC&quot;<\/p>\n<p>bill would get the required support for enactment, Trotman said, &quot;I&#8217;ll<\/p>\n<p>tell you what is important. What is important is that a FOI bill sees the light<\/p>\n<p>of day in Guyana. If the government is as backward enough to shoot it down&#8230;well<\/p>\n<p>then it just adds another nail in its coffin.&quot; If the main opposition went<\/p>\n<p>the same route, he said, in 2006 when the cries of corruption, nepotism and<\/p>\n<p>cronyism are so alive and rampant, then, its members too, would have to give an<\/p>\n<p>account of themselves. Asked whether the AFC drafters consulted other MPs,<\/p>\n<p>Trotman said some of them behaved as though the FOI bill was not needed. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman added: &quot;We have shown it to some<\/p>\n<p>stakeholders in civil society. It is posted on our website. When we get a<\/p>\n<p>signal from the Speaker that it is ready, we intend to hold public symposia on<\/p>\n<p>the issue. We are going through the various stages.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Elections <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Asked whether the AFC would support the call<\/p>\n<p>for a boycott of the general elections due by August 4 this year, he noted that<\/p>\n<p>the party had already said it was not in favour of a boycott based on ethnic<\/p>\n<p>grounds which appealed to one ethnic group in society only. &quot;That would<\/p>\n<p>only reinforce the division rather than help the situation,&quot; he said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He said the African Cultural Development<\/p>\n<p>Association (ACDA), which put forward the notion in the first instance, should<\/p>\n<p>have called for a national boycott, which would have given it credibility,<\/p>\n<p>rather than appeal to a section of society. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>While he could appreciate where ACDA was<\/p>\n<p>coming from and the frustration it was expressing given the fact that after<\/p>\n<p>three successive elections the lot of Guyanese of African descent has not<\/p>\n<p>improved, he said there was a growing sense that the utility of political<\/p>\n<p>parties and elections was lost and what was played out at elections was an<\/p>\n<p>ethnic census. &quot;We share ACDA&#8217;s concerns and sympathise but believe that<\/p>\n<p>true power could be shown at the elections rather than staying away from<\/p>\n<p>it,&quot; he added. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Asked about alliances and why the AFC was not<\/p>\n<p>part of the Guyana Third Force Platform, Trotman said the platform was launched<\/p>\n<p>before the AFC was, so it could not have been part of the initial process.<\/p>\n<p>However, he said, after the AFC was launched a series of meetings were held<\/p>\n<p>between the AFC and the GTF; the last one was in December when the GTF members<\/p>\n<p>asked for a postponement of the talks because of an internal issue they wanted<\/p>\n<p>to resolve. He believed the internal issue had to do with GAP Leader Paul Hardy<\/p>\n<p>leaving the platform. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He said when he last spoke with Vision Guyana<\/p>\n<p>Leader and member of the GTF platform Peter Ramsaroop at a Miami airport,<\/p>\n<p>Ramsaroop confirmed there would be no further meetings between the GTF and the<\/p>\n<p>AFC since the notion of what the GTF stood for was lost. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Alliances <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman said it was not a case where the AFC<\/p>\n<p>refused to be a part of the GTF and while some had objections to the AFC coming<\/p>\n<p>on board until Ramjattan and Holder had left Parliament, it was not seen as a<\/p>\n<p>stumbling block to discussions. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But since the GTF platform has more or less<\/p>\n<p>collapsed, Trotman said, the AFC has been making itself available for political<\/p>\n<p>unions or collaborative efforts. The AFC has had talks with the Justice For All<\/p>\n<p>Party (JFAP), GAP, ROAR and the Unity Party. &quot;All are led by persons and<\/p>\n<p>have persons within who are making or could make a contribution to<\/p>\n<p>Guyana,&quot; he said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Asked whether the AFC was courting these<\/p>\n<p>political parties to join the movement, he said the ideal was to have everybody<\/p>\n<p>under one banner but barring that the next best thing would be to have a<\/p>\n<p>working relationship for a common purpose with a preagreed agenda should they<\/p>\n<p>get into Parliament. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But isn&#8217;t that going back to the GTF platform<\/p>\n<p>set up? Trotman replied that even though the third force concept came from<\/p>\n<p>Ramjattan and himself about two years &quot;predating Peter Ramsaroop&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>platform&quot; they never claimed ownership of it. &quot;We don&#8217;t say we have<\/p>\n<p>copyright for it. At the end of the day, the most important thing is a working<\/p>\n<p>relationship of third, middle, or, centrist parties, which do not cleave to the<\/p>\n<p>two major parties.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He said all the political parties that stand<\/p>\n<p>in the middle and are prepared to offer themselves as an alternative to the<\/p>\n<p>PPP\/C and the PNCR would be friends of the AFC in the preelections period. In<\/p>\n<p>the postelections scenario, he said, the AFC would have to work with them all. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&quot;We are not out to destroy the PPP or<\/p>\n<p>the PNCR,&quot; he said. &quot;We are out to change the political system so<\/p>\n<p>much so that if at the end of this exercise the PNCR and the PPP\/C collate, or start<\/p>\n<p>to speak to each other, we would have been successful. We intend to create<\/p>\n<p>space between them. It is for the people to decide how wide that space would be<\/p>\n<p>in terms of how many seats they are going to give us. Both parties have people<\/p>\n<p>who are quite worthy.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On current engagements, he said the AFC was<\/p>\n<p>enthused with the way discussions were going and were moving to formal talks.<\/p>\n<p>However, he said the fight was not for one group only and they could either go<\/p>\n<p>as a union or as groups within a given set of rules. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In terms of preparations for the elections,<\/p>\n<p>he said that apart from administrative matters, the AFC was benefiting from the<\/p>\n<p>advice of some external campaign strategists. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To date, he said, outreach programmes have<\/p>\n<p>had positive results and have penetrated traditional PPP\/C or PNC strongholds.<\/p>\n<p>These include some support in the Corentyne, West Coast Berbice and sections of<\/p>\n<p>the community in Essequibo, Pomeroon, Port Kaituma, Mabaruma and the North<\/p>\n<p>Rupununi. He said the support was encouraging but there was need to consolidate<\/p>\n<p>it. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On the remarks by PPP General Secretary<\/p>\n<p>Donald Ramotar that the upcoming elections would be a contest between the PPP\/C<\/p>\n<p>and the PNCR with no space for the smaller parties as they have created no<\/p>\n<p>impact, Trotman said he disagreed based on surveys and meeting with the people.<\/p>\n<p>He said people would either reject the third force change concept or accept it<\/p>\n<p>all together. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Stating that Ramotar would be proven wrong,<\/p>\n<p>he said he was aware that the PPP\/C continued to pay keen interest to the AFC&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>activities and was worried. Even the Bisram opinion poll showed that the PPP\/C<\/p>\n<p>was not likely to get the 51% of votes required to form the government, he<\/p>\n<p>said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To charges that the AFC was bringing nothing<\/p>\n<p>new to the political stage, Trotman said the AFC was going to push the issue of<\/p>\n<p>healing and reconciliation, atonement and forgiveness and call on the people to<\/p>\n<p>do likewise and put aside grievances and race hate. Already, he said, leaders<\/p>\n<p>in Buxton have asked the AFC to help heal relationships with Annandale and the<\/p>\n<p>process has begun. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-3-17: Sheila Holder has<\/p>\n<p>provided yeoman service as a Member of Parliament (Stabroek News) <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Dear Editor, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I am aware that Mrs. Sheila Holder, GAP-WPA<\/p>\n<p>MP and the WPA whose women leaders identified her as a likely MP, are now at<\/p>\n<p>variance. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This letter will steer clear of that issue<\/p>\n<p>and of reports of what her new platform thinks of the WPA. I simply wish to<\/p>\n<p>make sure that the contribution of persons who do good work in any area be not<\/p>\n<p>clouded by issues that arise later. Her breach with the WPA does not erase the<\/p>\n<p>work that she did. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I did not know Mrs. Holder well before she<\/p>\n<p>became politically active. I wish to say some things about her, as a newcomer<\/p>\n<p>to national politics. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As an MP Sheila Holder has been zealous, hardworking,<\/p>\n<p>alert and competent. She reads every official document and always has a living<\/p>\n<p>grasp of the issues. She reads the Auditor General&#8217;s Reports and seeks out and<\/p>\n<p>obtains information relating to the work of the National Assembly, and the<\/p>\n<p>welfare of the country. She is not shy of economic, financial or budgetary<\/p>\n<p>issues, memoranda of understanding, documents from the multilateral or<\/p>\n<p>international financial agencies, and of procedure; she has harried the<\/p>\n<p>Ministers with questions and has been always articulate in communicating. I<\/p>\n<p>know of her efforts along with a few other MPs to implement the changes to the<\/p>\n<p>constitution made by the CRC. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>When I was in the Rodney House as general<\/p>\n<p>political handyman and co-opted member of the Executive, we visited several<\/p>\n<p>villages, often with Desmond Trotman, the Centre Manager and my fellow office<\/p>\n<p>jumbie. We even began trying to make young people in three West Coast Berbice<\/p>\n<p>villages aware of the threat of HIV and AIDS. She drove us there, as we had no<\/p>\n<p>other transport. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>With a public-spirited supporter of the<\/p>\n<p>GAP-WPA, Richard Finemesser, a non-member, she followed the WPA tradition of<\/p>\n<p>ongoing service to the remote Pakaraimas, Region Eight, and assisted in the<\/p>\n<p>formation of an empowering local organisation among the residents. She<\/p>\n<p>frequently lamented the failure of the Parliament Office to serve her fellow MP<\/p>\n<p>from the Rupununi. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Her request for office space at parliament<\/p>\n<p>building, refused by the Speaker on suspicion, showed the narrow concept of the<\/p>\n<p>rights of MPs and thus of the people they are seen as representing. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I know nothing of her early, formal<\/p>\n<p>preparation. From the news she has been known as a consumer activist, an area<\/p>\n<p>also occupying the talents and competence of an exceptional Guyanese resource,<\/p>\n<p>Ms Eileen Cox, Mr. Pat Dyal and others. This pursuit seemed to penetrate every<\/p>\n<p>aspect of public life often involving the thorny and complicated issues of<\/p>\n<p>utility regulation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It will be no exaggeration to say that,<\/p>\n<p>because of the decision of the main opposition to boycott most sittings of the<\/p>\n<p>Assembly in line with their view of things, for much of the time a handful of<\/p>\n<p>MPs often one, carried much of the weight and brunt of the attempts in the<\/p>\n<p>National Assembly to make the government accountable. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Since no one else may be willing in these<\/p>\n<p>circumstances to speak of Mrs Holder&#8217;s service to the country I do it, aware<\/p>\n<p>that the politics of the letter may be misunderstood. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Elsewhere I have regretted that MP Mrs<\/p>\n<p>Backer&#8217;s most ingenious motion on the conduct of the Guyana Police Force has never<\/p>\n<p>been debated, first because of the government&#8217;s stubborn refusal for about a<\/p>\n<p>year to bring it forward and next because of her own party&#8217;s boycott of the<\/p>\n<p>Assembly. A timely debate on that issue would certainly have made a difference.<\/p>\n<p>Two years of negative developments might have been avoided or might have taken<\/p>\n<p>place in quite another context. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I suspect that some of the personalities<\/p>\n<p>named in this letter might not have chosen to be read on the same page as<\/p>\n<p>others. I have not spoken of similar persons, but of persons whose service may<\/p>\n<p>have gone unnoticed. I hope that this qualifies it as a non-partisan or<\/p>\n<p>politically neutral letter. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The PPP also has resourceful women, but they<\/p>\n<p>have been too cramped until recently with democratic centralism, as we were reminded<\/p>\n<p>by Dr. Luncheon. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Yours faithfully, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Eusi Kwayana <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-3-19: The Alliance For<\/p>\n<p>Change is willing to assist in crafting a strategy to stave off anarchy<\/p>\n<p>(Stabroek News<\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Dear Editor, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>If one is to take President Jagdeo&#8217;s recent<\/p>\n<p>fulminations on crime, security, and politics at the sacred Babu John Memorial<\/p>\n<p>site seriously, one would believe that there is no government and leadership in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana. The President&#8217;s analysis is that the real power is growing out of the<\/p>\n<p>barrels of guns held in the hands of a guerrilla force operating under the<\/p>\n<p>auspices of the opposition parties of Guyana. The nation expects that the<\/p>\n<p>Head-of-State and Commander in-Chief will display greater strength in times of<\/p>\n<p>national upheaval and not be given to irresponsible and unsubstantiated<\/p>\n<p>outbursts. To date, there are approximately thirty opposition parties intending<\/p>\n<p>to contest the upcoming elections. To believe that one or more of them may be<\/p>\n<p>involved in unlawful, insurrectionist activities is a serious charge which must<\/p>\n<p>be fully investigated and proven, failing which, an apology should be issued<\/p>\n<p>forthwith. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Certainly, in Guyana we have seen a<\/p>\n<p>remarkable increase in the level and frequencies of crimes all of which have<\/p>\n<p>certain common features namely, the use of force and the use of weapons,<\/p>\n<p>including the lethal AK-47 assault rifle. The question is whether these crimes,<\/p>\n<p>as they are still described, have a political motive or edge to them. In<\/p>\n<p>October, 2004, the Commissioner of Police made remarks to suggest that the<\/p>\n<p>criminal elements on the East Coast had a political agenda. This sentiment is<\/p>\n<p>now being echoed by the President. If what they say is true then we are in<\/p>\n<p>serious trouble and something must be done urgently and immediately to avert<\/p>\n<p>the coming anarchy. Insurgencies take root and thrive where there are<\/p>\n<p>governments that are incompetent, corrupt, and place continued enjoyment of<\/p>\n<p>power ahead of making changes and reforms that would negate the insurgent&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>appeal. Most experts agree that a viable insurgency has three defining<\/p>\n<p>characteristics: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>It is organized as seen from signs of planning, a<\/p>\n<p>hierarchy of command, and a distribution of function within its ranks. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>It relies on armed force to advance its cause. This<\/p>\n<p>armed force is usually deployed in the countryside. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>3.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>The activity is not a brief affair, but lasts for<\/p>\n<p>years. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A cursory examination of Guyana&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>circumstances establishes the presence of one or more of these characteristics.<\/p>\n<p>This in itself does not point to any political agenda to remove the existing<\/p>\n<p>government, or to re-arrange the political status quo. Experts have been<\/p>\n<p>careful to point to the fact that criminal gangs involved in kidnappings,<\/p>\n<p>narco-trafficking, and robbery are just as organized, and can also have the<\/p>\n<p>self same characteristics as an insurgent force. However, where we are, and<\/p>\n<p>what we are to do about it, are matters that should concern all of Guyana&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>leaders. Rather than repeating unsubstantiated generalizations we need an<\/p>\n<p>intelligence led operation to ascertain and analyse what is taking place in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>With the daring and spectacular assault on<\/p>\n<p>the East Bank seen in conjunction with the disappearance of 33 AK-47&#8217;s and an<\/p>\n<p>assortment of handguns, the fear that grips Guyana is palpable and can be felt<\/p>\n<p>everywhere. Of all the weapons most feared, is the AK-47 which is often<\/p>\n<p>described as the world&#8217;s most popular assault rifle capable of indiscriminately<\/p>\n<p>firing 600 rounds per minute. One realistic observation put forward as to the<\/p>\n<p>AK&#8217;s awesomeness is: &quot;There it is, the AK-47. When you absolutely, positively,<\/p>\n<p>have to kill every single person in the room, accept no substitute.&quot; The<\/p>\n<p>military has a lot of explaining to do and seems oddly enough more interested<\/p>\n<p>in who on the outside could have moved the weapons, than on those on the<\/p>\n<p>inside, who must have assisted in carrying out the crime of the millennium.<\/p>\n<p>Since the disclosure of the loss we have seen photographs published and heard<\/p>\n<p>of DNA testing of heaps of human waste, but little else as to the serial<\/p>\n<p>numbers of the weapons, and the names, ranks, and photographs of the persons<\/p>\n<p>within the military who ought to be persons of interest. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The continued presence of these weapons on<\/p>\n<p>the streets of Guyana is a matter of grave concern as we witness the steady<\/p>\n<p>drift into lawlessness and anarchy. Every person, every organization, and every<\/p>\n<p>leader, has a duty to stand united against those who would bring our country<\/p>\n<p>into chaos. The Alliance For Change extends its support to the security forces<\/p>\n<p>in their fight and remains ready, willing, and able to assist in crafting a<\/p>\n<p>strategy to stave off the coming anarchy. It would be remiss and irresponsible<\/p>\n<p>of us if we did not take the opportunity to point out that systems have been<\/p>\n<p>too lax and someone must be held responsible. This situation if left alone<\/p>\n<p>without drastic intervention has the potential to plunge this country into an<\/p>\n<p>unprecedented dark and dangerous period. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Yours faithfully, Raphael Trotman <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-3-31: The Alliance for<\/p>\n<p>Change and the fine art of sales By Paul Sanders (Caribbean Daylight) <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Oh my gosh! We have found a new gig that<\/p>\n<p>pitches tasty foods, delightful drinks and a great company of men and women who<\/p>\n<p>are just party animals. The &#8220;party&#8221; part is more important than the<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;animals&#8221; part. There&#8217;s a reason for that. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Last weekend, the Mangoville Lounge was jamming<\/p>\n<p>with Caribbean rhythms and brimming over with a colorful cast of Indo and Afro<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese folks celebrating change. Lots of changes too! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The food was strictly Indian with a marvelous<\/p>\n<p>touch of authentic Indo-Afro Guyanese blend, fusing tradition and technique. It<\/p>\n<p>was one of those &#8220;home-grown&#8221; flavors that is a huge departure and<\/p>\n<p>a fascinating time-out from the rum-shop\/cookshop &#8220;authentic Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>cuisine&#8221; that clutter the Richmond Hill &#8211; and some neighborhoods in<\/p>\n<p>Brooklyn -areas. Well, that&#8217;s a good change. Celebration, c&#8217;mon! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But one thing remains unchanged in these<\/p>\n<p>get-togethers. The bar is literally a watering hole for real party animals.<\/p>\n<p>Like desert creatures anticipating a long, scorching trip in the sun, the guys<\/p>\n<p>were guzzling up drinks and stockpiling them in their body reservoir for the<\/p>\n<p>long haul. In a sense, the bar was an oasis, and no one was moving until they<\/p>\n<p>were completely replenished. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The fundraising dinner that benefited the<\/p>\n<p>Alliance for Change was in many ways a grand event &#8211; and a great adventure<\/p>\n<p>in exploring Indo-Afro relations. Like the aroma of curry and the different<\/p>\n<p>flavors of true Guyanese ingredients, Indo and Afro Guyanese were participating<\/p>\n<p>with each other, exchanging notes, toasting and working together on a formula<\/p>\n<p>to get rid of the disease that&#8217;s eating Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So how is it possible that folks were writing<\/p>\n<p>out checks much bigger than their week&#8217;s salary? Because people were<\/p>\n<p>investing into the future of Guyana&#8217;s politics. Like the futures market,<\/p>\n<p>folks were convinced that a down payment today would earn great dividends<\/p>\n<p>tomorrow &#8211; or next week. They were absolutely sure that they were<\/p>\n<p>qualified investors and shareholders in Guyana&#8217;s future prosperity. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And how big is this market? As big as Guyana<\/p>\n<p>itself. And the actual market segment is the totality of the voters list. And<\/p>\n<p>if PPP outcast Khemraj Ramjattan is to be taken seriously, this market for his<\/p>\n<p>political vision is enlightened by the madness that is developing in the Guyana<\/p>\n<p>equation. His political premise is simple: The diffuse, fast moving threat of<\/p>\n<p>social, economic and political collapse requires a fast, moving response. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To put it another way: there is a huge<\/p>\n<p>windfall given the PPP\/Civic&#8217;s ineffectualness and the PNC\/R&#8217;s lack<\/p>\n<p>of credibility to run an efficient government as an alternative. And anyone<\/p>\n<p>with a sense of Guyana&#8217;s turmoil today will easily gravitate toward the<\/p>\n<p>politics of change as a radical alternative. At least that&#8217;s what the<\/p>\n<p>brokers are saying. But this is going to be a different ball game than the<\/p>\n<p>commodities trading market. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance for Change believes that they<\/p>\n<p>have just run into a political bonanza. Strange how they seem to detect<\/p>\n<p>opportunities in a minefield of corruption, racism and brutal violence in the<\/p>\n<p>land they call &#8220;home.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So when pitchman Khemraj Ramjattan and<\/p>\n<p>colleague Sheila Holder arrived in town last week to provide impetus to the<\/p>\n<p>marketing strategy they were both aware of the political season. Both speakers<\/p>\n<p>worked the floor, shaking hands, greeting people and extending personal<\/p>\n<p>invitations while revving up interest in the audience. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In his discourse, Ramjattan started things<\/p>\n<p>off by explaining the current position of the PPP and the PNC\/R in relation to<\/p>\n<p>the growing influence of the Alliance for Change. He warned that it<\/p>\n<p>wasn&#8217;t going to be a walk in the park. He continued to reiterate the<\/p>\n<p>differences he had with the PPP while he was with them; he also shared the<\/p>\n<p>positions of Sheila Holder and Raphael Trotman who subsequently left their<\/p>\n<p>respective base. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Ramjattan stated that the trading will get<\/p>\n<p>rough (meaning hot clashes with PPP and PNC\/R hoodlums); hard times will be<\/p>\n<p>ahead but the payoff will be magnificent. &#8220;Panic,&#8221; he assured the<\/p>\n<p>audience, &#8220;both parties are showing signs of nervousness at the sway of<\/p>\n<p>the Alliance of Change. We are digging roots in the villages across the<\/p>\n<p>regions.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Damn right. The anxiety has already rippled<\/p>\n<p>outside Guyana. The PPP support group in New York had deployed their<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;crashers&#8221; Saturday night on a recon mission to evaluate, access<\/p>\n<p>the progress at the Mangoville meeting. Confident that they were incognito, the<\/p>\n<p>dumb, rookie spies misunderstood their welcome even though the ghost whisperers<\/p>\n<p>had snickered satirical cordiality at their entry. And their &#8220;next<\/p>\n<p>day&#8221; delivery of the bad news was leading story in their session. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the crowded hall, Ramjattan quickly went<\/p>\n<p>over the relationship of both the PPP and the PNC\/R pointing out the evolution<\/p>\n<p>of Guyana&#8217;s disaster. A &#8220;symbiotic&#8221; relationship he<\/p>\n<p>synthesized, recalling some history to illustrate the point. In dismissing their<\/p>\n<p>importance, he referred to both parties as &#8220;dinosaurs.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There&#8217;s always something majestic in a<\/p>\n<p>stranger who&#8217;d stop by to detail to you what you&#8217;ve always felt and<\/p>\n<p>known. Guest speaker David Cosada, an ex-employee of the U.S. State Department<\/p>\n<p>and currently a writer, gave a synopsis on the Carroll Thomas case. Remember<\/p>\n<p>the visa scandal in Georgetown a few years ago? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>David Casavis was an investigator in that<\/p>\n<p>matter which required him to stay in Guyana for a while. According to him, his<\/p>\n<p>inquiry was limited to the embassy case but the tour offered him a first hand<\/p>\n<p>look at the rot and decay at the carcasses of Guyana&#8217;s body politics -and<\/p>\n<p>the ever burgeoning corrupt bureaucracy in the PPP\/Civic&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>administration. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To the supporters of the Alliance for Change,<\/p>\n<p>David Cosada hit stardom that evening. His speech gave credence and bolster<\/p>\n<p>confidence in the struggle to free up Guyana from the clutches of the<\/p>\n<p>PPP\/Civic. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>By the time the speeches and photo-ops were<\/p>\n<p>finished, people were throwing away money in this project. One man showed up<\/p>\n<p>with $50,000. Others were happily casting their envelopes in the tithe basket. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Yup, big money. Big business. Big ambitions.<\/p>\n<p>Ramjattan was right; nothing can be achieved without pumping lots of money into<\/p>\n<p>it. People were authorizing contributions as if an explorer had just stumbled<\/p>\n<p>upon the Golden City of El Dorado. Call it risky financial and political<\/p>\n<p>behavior, but the dollar amount was enormous. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Whatever it is the Alliance for Change has<\/p>\n<p>tripped up upon in New York, it seems to be working with an infectious appeal.<\/p>\n<p>So deep the Alliance for Change has plunged into so-called PPP\/PNC territory,<\/p>\n<p>some say, even a few PPP folks were selling tickets in Queens for the<\/p>\n<p>fundraiser. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The folks at Freedom House ought to feel a heart<\/p>\n<p>attack coming on. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF'>2006-4-17: More information<\/p>\n<p>on poll issues needed from GECOM &#8211; AFC says (Stabroek News) <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Guyana Elections Com-mission (GECOM)<\/p>\n<p>needs to inform the public about the issues that ought to be addressed in<\/p>\n<p>relation to the upcoming elections, the Alliance For Change (AFC) said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>At a press conference held at its Cummings<\/p>\n<p>Street headquarters on Wednesday, the AFC said GECOM needs to reveal the<\/p>\n<p>process by which an acceptable list of electors would be compiled for the<\/p>\n<p>elections and how, when and through what process recruitment and training of<\/p>\n<p>the some 15,000 electoral officials needed for the conduct of elections would<\/p>\n<p>be accomplished. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The press conference, according to AFC<\/p>\n<p>Vice-Chairman Sheila Holder, was the first in what is expected to be a regular<\/p>\n<p>feature for the party. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC said GECOM needs to say how and when<\/p>\n<p>the 2,000-odd polling places, adequately provisioned with sanitary facilities<\/p>\n<p>and electricity would be identified; when and through what procedure the<\/p>\n<p>printing and placement of the Preliminary Voters List (PVL) for the<\/p>\n<p>distribution around the country would be done; and what tested system is in<\/p>\n<p>place for communicating results of the elections in the various divisions<\/p>\n<p>within a reasonable time (by the end of polling) given the collapse of the<\/p>\n<p>cellular phone system in the last elections and the protests, confusion and<\/p>\n<p>violence that ensued when announcement of the elections results was extensively<\/p>\n<p>delayed. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>GECOM also needs to say what options it is<\/p>\n<p>considering to deal with the various forms of multi-registrants if these are<\/p>\n<p>found at the conclusion of the Jamaican Biometrics System, which has been<\/p>\n<p>employed for that purpose. It also needs to say when, how and where ballots<\/p>\n<p>would be printed for the elections. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, said GECOM is<\/p>\n<p>not doing the best of jobs as regards these issues and needs to be more<\/p>\n<p>forthcoming to give the electorate some confidence in the process. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>GECOM has since advised President Bharrat<\/p>\n<p>Jagdeo that elections will not be possible until after August 30, 2006. The<\/p>\n<p>constitutional deadline is August 4. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC also suggested that GECOM and its<\/p>\n<p>secretariat, under the control of the Chief Election Officer, ensure that on<\/p>\n<p>elections day every voter would be able to cast a secret ballot in circumstances<\/p>\n<p>free from fear and intimidation. The party also called for respect for the<\/p>\n<p>meaning of Article 161B of the Constitution, which limits the role of political<\/p>\n<p>parties and their nominees in the conduct of elections, and which specifically<\/p>\n<p>precludes them from any form of active management of the electoral process.<\/p>\n<p>GECOM should uphold firmly the principle of equality among political parties,<\/p>\n<p>which must of necessity mean the dismissal of the categorisation being peddled<\/p>\n<p>in some quarters and which seeks to differentiate between parliamentary parties<\/p>\n<p>and non-parliamentary parties as if the former possessed more entitlements than<\/p>\n<p>the latter in an elections race, the AFC said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Elections must be delivered under the<\/p>\n<p>principle of &#8216;one man, one vote&#8217;, the party said, since GECOM must ensure that<\/p>\n<p>disenfranchisement of eligible voters is a thing of the past and that there is<\/p>\n<p>no multiple voting or potential for stuffing of ballot boxes after the close of<\/p>\n<p>poll. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>With regard to a delay in the holding of the<\/p>\n<p>elections, AFC Chairman and presidential candidate Raphael Trotman said the<\/p>\n<p>party would not mind if there was a reasonable delay of probably three to four<\/p>\n<p>months but it did not want there to be a caretaker government in the interim. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Speaking of the code of conduct for political<\/p>\n<p>parties and candidates, which the AFC drafted and invited other political<\/p>\n<p>parties to sign on to Trotman said they were disappointed at the negative<\/p>\n<p>response of the other political parties. He said the AFC had sent copies of the<\/p>\n<p>code to all the political parties and was surprised that some parties said that<\/p>\n<p>they had not seen it. Unofficial discussions were also held on the code as<\/p>\n<p>well. However, he said, the AFC would abide by the code and the party was also<\/p>\n<p>prepared to sign onto any prepared by GECOM, the Inter-Religious Organisation<\/p>\n<p>or others once it was in keeping with best practices. Ramjattan was of the view<\/p>\n<p>that the other political parties were not appreciative of the code because they<\/p>\n<p>felt &quot;the AFC had stolen their thunder.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4<\/p>\n<p>height=1 id=&#8221;_x0000_i1029&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_3.jpg&#8221;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF'>2006-4-12: A STATEMENT FROM<\/p>\n<p>THE ALLIANCE FOR CHANGE <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC, as one of the contesting political<\/p>\n<p>parties in the upcoming General and Regional Elections, holds the view that<\/p>\n<p>free and fair elections require adoption of the following by GECOM and its<\/p>\n<p>Secretariat under the control of the Chief Elections Officer (CEO): <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The ability of every voter on elections day<\/p>\n<p>to be able to cast a secret ballot in circumstances free from fear and<\/p>\n<p>intimidation. The CEO and his staff, in keeping with the Constitution and the<\/p>\n<p>relevant electoral laws shoulder the responsibility for making arrangements for<\/p>\n<p>efficient polling, counting of ballots, tabulating of votes and declaring the<\/p>\n<p>results. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Respect for the meaning of article 161B of<\/p>\n<p>the Constitution which limits the role of political parties and their nominees<\/p>\n<p>in the conduct of elections, and which specifically precludes them from any<\/p>\n<p>form of active management of the electoral process. Contesting political<\/p>\n<p>parties must not be allowed to undertake responsibilities legally assigned to<\/p>\n<p>the Chief Election Officer who is required to create a level playing field for<\/p>\n<p>all contesting political parties without interference or coercion. Such<\/p>\n<p>interference has to date undermined the electoral process, and created<\/p>\n<p>unnecessary tension, fear and distrust. Our history of a divided politics which<\/p>\n<p>generally permits unscrupulous politicians to play on elections-time emotions<\/p>\n<p>and fears in furtherance of their own interests will only derail free and fair<\/p>\n<p>elections. It is the objective of the AFC to prevent this. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Upholding firmly the principle of equality<\/p>\n<p>among contesting political parties must by necessity mean the dismissal of the<\/p>\n<p>categorization being peddled I some quarters and which seeks to differentiate<\/p>\n<p>between &#8220;parliamentary parties&#8221; and &#8220;non-parliamentary<\/p>\n<p>parties&#8221; as if the former possessed more entitlements than the latter in<\/p>\n<p>an elections race. Equal treatment of all contesting parties therefore; require<\/p>\n<p>that no party be seen to have an advantage over any other. All Contesting<\/p>\n<p>parties should have equitable access to the state-owned mass media and all<\/p>\n<p>other media outlets and should agree on an Electoral Code that sets agreed<\/p>\n<p>standards for mobilising financial and other resources; should adopt standards<\/p>\n<p>of behaviour for candidates; should meet all existing legal post-elections<\/p>\n<p>reporting requirements and that should determine specific consequences for<\/p>\n<p>violating all agreed standards <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The delivery by GECOM of elections where the<\/p>\n<p>principle of &#8220;one man, one vote&#8221; is truly a reality; where<\/p>\n<p>disenfranchisement of eligible voters is a thing of the past and where there is<\/p>\n<p>no multiple voting or potential for stuffing of ballot boxes after the close of<\/p>\n<p>poll. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is therefore, on the basis of these<\/p>\n<p>principles that the AFC sees the verification of the Official List of Electors<\/p>\n<p>(OLE) as a tool, exclusively in the hands of the CEO and his technical<\/p>\n<p>personnel in the GECOM Secretariat to be used for the purpose of delivering an<\/p>\n<p>acceptable Preliminary Voters List so certified by him. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Based on the Guyanese elections experience<\/p>\n<p>and those in other countries, the contesting parties need to have a frank<\/p>\n<p>discussion on the ways in which the vote can be manipulated; then the GECOM<\/p>\n<p>Secretariat should be asked to indicate how these will be dealt with to ensure<\/p>\n<p>one man, one vote. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC feels that all fears and concerns<\/p>\n<p>surrounding elections could be allayed through negotiation between GECOM and<\/p>\n<p>the contesting parties and therefore recommends the use of facilitation by an<\/p>\n<p>institution such as the OAS or any other credible institution to settle this<\/p>\n<p>issue. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC reserves the right to express<\/p>\n<p>legitimate concerns as regards the slippages which have occurred to<\/p>\n<p>GECOM&#8217;s timelines and opines that the public needs to know why this<\/p>\n<p>happened and what is being done to remedy the situation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the meantime, other important questions<\/p>\n<p>pertaining to the state of readiness of GECOM and its Secretariat ought to be<\/p>\n<p>addressed and the public be informed about. These questions include the<\/p>\n<p>following: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=1<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1030&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_4.jpg&#8221;>What is the process by<\/p>\n<p>which an acceptable list of electors will be compiled for the elections? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=1<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1031&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_5.jpg&#8221;>How, when and through what<\/p>\n<p>process will recruitment and training of approximately 15,000 electoral<\/p>\n<p>officials needed for the conduct of elections be accomplished? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l9 level1 lfo3;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>a.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>How and when will the identification of the 2,000-odd<\/p>\n<p>polling places needed to be found that are adequately provisioned with sanitary<\/p>\n<p>facilities, electricity, etc. be accomplished? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l9 level1 lfo3;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>b.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>When and through what procedure will the printing and placement<\/p>\n<p>of the PVL for distribution around the country be accomplished? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l9 level2 lfo3;tab-stops:list 1.0in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>What tested system is in place for communicating<\/p>\n<p>results of the elections in the various divisions within a reasonable time (by<\/p>\n<p>the day&#8217;s end of poll) given the <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l9 level2 lfo3;tab-stops:list 1.0in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>collapse of the cellular phone system in the last<\/p>\n<p>elections and the protests, confusion, violence that ensued when announcement<\/p>\n<p>of the elections results were extensively delayed in the previous elections? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l9 level1 lfo3;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>c.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>What options are being considered by GECOM to deal<\/p>\n<p>with the various forms of multi-registrants if found at the conclusion of the<\/p>\n<p>Jamaican Biometrics System being employed for that purpose? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=1<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1032&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_6.jpg&#8221;>When, how and where will<\/p>\n<p>ballots be printed for the elections? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4<\/p>\n<p>height=1 id=&#8221;_x0000_i1033&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_7.jpg&#8221; align=&#8221;&#8221;><img<\/p>\n<p>border=0 width=4 height=1 id=&#8221;_x0000_i1034&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_8.jpg&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>align=&#8221;&#8221;><img border=0 width=4 height=1 id=\"_x0000_i1035\"<\/p>\n<p>src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_9.jpg&#8221; align=&#8221;&#8221;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-5-1: More inclusiveness<\/p>\n<p>needed to avoid constitutional crisis &#8211; Raphael Trotman &#8211;says PPP\/C,<\/p>\n<p>PNCR cannot solve problems alone (Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Chairman of the Alliance For Change (AFC),<\/p>\n<p>Raphael Trotman has stated that a constitutional crisis in Guyana could be<\/p>\n<p>avoided during the run-up to elections if involvement in the solution is<\/p>\n<p>widened to include major stakeholders such as civil society and contesting<\/p>\n<p>parties in the 2006 polls. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman described the stage after the due<\/p>\n<p>date for the dissolution of Parliament on May 4 as a &#8220;period of<\/p>\n<p>constitutional unorthodoxy.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He stated that the AFC accepts that the<\/p>\n<p>country has to be governed until general elections are held and, as such,<\/p>\n<p>supports the continuance of the current executive at the helm, providing that<\/p>\n<p>the executive is prepared to abide by certain conditions. These conditions<\/p>\n<p>include the acceptance that there is no longer a government and opposition but<\/p>\n<p>parties contesting the elections. The PPP\/C will be acting as the trustee or<\/p>\n<p>custodian of the State and is expected to manage the affairs of the State<\/p>\n<p>responsibly. Trotman said this means not abusing State resources, not<\/p>\n<p>suppressing the political fortunes of other political parties and not utilising<\/p>\n<p>State resources in select constituencies in a <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>discriminatory manner. &#8220;We believe that<\/p>\n<p>the use of all State resources, including but not limited to the State media,<\/p>\n<p>should be available to all contesting parties to ensure a level playing<\/p>\n<p>field.&#8221; Trotman also suggested that police protection should be provided<\/p>\n<p>to candidates of all parties contesting the elections, as what obtains in<\/p>\n<p>Jamaica . Speaking on the current impasse in the Guyana Elections Commission<\/p>\n<p>(GECOM) where the opposition-nominated have withdrawn from the Commission, the<\/p>\n<p>AFC Chairman said he <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>shared the disappointment of the nation that<\/p>\n<p>six competent men cannot &#8216;get it right&#8217;. He mused that maybe if a female<\/p>\n<p>was involved in the process at the GECOM level then elections probably would<\/p>\n<p>have been held by the August 4, 2006 constitutionally due date. &#8220;The<\/p>\n<p>image of GECOM is of a broken, disjointed, and disunited group made up of<\/p>\n<p>individuals, each clinging to narrow political and partisan interests,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>he said. &#8220;They may all very <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>well be right and they may all very well be<\/p>\n<p>wrong but unfortunately the debate as to correctness is past and what we are<\/p>\n<p>most interested in is a solution as to how to extricate ourselves from this<\/p>\n<p>looming disaster.&#8221; Trotman stated that if no elections are held in the<\/p>\n<p>near future, the country will continue to spiral out of control and collapse<\/p>\n<p>will hasten. He pointed out that Guyana is faced with a possible constitutional<\/p>\n<p>crisis because GECOM has failed to deliver elections by the August 4 date. The<\/p>\n<p>functioning of the Legislative and Executive branches of the State will proceed<\/p>\n<p>into an unprecedented and unwelcome mode of unorthodoxy,&#8221; he said. He<\/p>\n<p>noted that such a situation last occurred in 1990 under the Hoyte<\/p>\n<p>administration when the PNC used its two-thirds majority to extend the life of<\/p>\n<p>Parliament. The ruling PPP\/C has only 51% control of Parliament. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman said every effort should be made to<\/p>\n<p>avoid a constitutional crisis. He noted that President Bharrat Jagdeo and<\/p>\n<p>Opposition Leader Robert Corbin have met to begin addressing the problems but<\/p>\n<p>he reminded of the track record of talks between the two sides which he said is<\/p>\n<p>less than encouraging. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Once the rules of engagement are<\/p>\n<p>accepted that the PPP\/C and the PNCR alone cannot be depended upon to pull us<\/p>\n<p>back from the brink, then we can begin in earnest to engage in serious<\/p>\n<p>negotiations as to the several viable options presenting themselves, including<\/p>\n<p>an extension of the life of the incumbent government with<\/p>\n<p>conditionalities.&#8221; Trotman underscored his party&#8217;s position that<\/p>\n<p>verification of the 2001 Official List of Electors is a must for the upcoming<\/p>\n<p>elections to be conducted in a free and fair manner. He said GECOM has to<\/p>\n<p>identify the form of verification to be used, since house-to-house verification<\/p>\n<p>is just one form. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;GECOM needs to deal with the burning<\/p>\n<p>issue that the list could be padded and identify the best way to deal with it<\/p>\n<p>on elections day to ensure one vote &#8211; one person,&#8221; he said. Trotman is of<\/p>\n<p>the view that there will not be a total absence of fear surrounding the<\/p>\n<p>upcoming elections, in the wake of Agriculture Minister Satyadeow Sawh&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>assassination and given the fact that there have been disruptions at previous<\/p>\n<p>elections. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;It is for the police and the Guyana<\/p>\n<p>Defence Force to assure the nation that they could take care of the security<\/p>\n<p>concerns,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We expect that they will be honest with the <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>nation and indicate if they are unable to do<\/p>\n<p>so and, if so, seek assistance from the CARICOM security forces in the same way<\/p>\n<p>we provided support to others in the time of need.&#8221; Asked about a report<\/p>\n<p>that a recent poll conducted by US expert, Dr. Frank Luntz, which shows that<\/p>\n<p>AFC could garner 25% of the votes if elections were held now, Trotman offered<\/p>\n<p>no comment. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Dr. Luntz is an experienced pollster whose<\/p>\n<p>company operates out of the US . Kaieteur News was reliably informed that the<\/p>\n<p>recently commissioned poll showed that the AFC could win the equivalent of 16<\/p>\n<p>seats on Parliament. This means that the vote in Parliament could split at<\/p>\n<p>least three ways, with the PPP\/C and the PNCR taking up the majority of the<\/p>\n<p>other votes. Trotman refused to say if he is aware of the poll or who<\/p>\n<p>commissioned it. But he did indicate that the AFC will soon take on board the<\/p>\n<p>services of an experienced overseas-based campaign manager. (Andrew Richards) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF'>2006-5-5: <\/span><\/u><u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;>Clinton &#8216;s campaign manager to head AFC<\/p>\n<p>elections charge <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A former campaign manager of US President<\/p>\n<p>Bill Clinton will be in Guyana next week under the auspices of the Alliance For<\/p>\n<p>Change (AFC). The AFC intends to recruit him to head the party&#8217;s campaign for<\/p>\n<p>the 2006 general elections. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>When contacted yesterday, AFC Chairman<\/p>\n<p>Raphael Trotman confirmed that Dick Morris will head the AFC&#8217;s campaign team.<\/p>\n<p>Trotman did not elaborate but said Morris worked with Mexico &#8216;s President<\/p>\n<p>Vincente Fox, and also in the United Kingdom , Argentina and Japan . Morris<\/p>\n<p>will now be bringing his skills to the AFC in an effort to boost the party&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>chances at the elections slated to be held no later than September 3, 2006.<\/p>\n<p>Trotman said that Morris will hold a press conference during his visit to<\/p>\n<p>Guyana to give a more detailed outlook on how he intends to work with the AFC.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Wikipedia Encyclopedia, Morris was born in New York City and<\/p>\n<p>is a political author and commentator who was once a successful pollster and<\/p>\n<p>campaign consultant. Morris is best known for managing Bill Clinton&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>successful 1996 bid for re-election to the office of President of the United<\/p>\n<p>States . Morris has since turned his focus to media <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>commentary. He now writes a weekly column for<\/p>\n<p>the New York Post and appears regularly on the Fox News Channel. The Wikipedia<\/p>\n<p>Encyclopedia said Morris has emerged as a harsh critic of the Clintons and has<\/p>\n<p>written several books that criticize them, including Rewriting History &#8212; a<\/p>\n<p>rebuttal to <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Senator Hillary Clinton&#8217;s Living History.<\/p>\n<p>Morris first worked with Bill and Hillary Clinton during Bill Clinton&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>successful 1978 bid for Governor of Arkansas. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Though he did not work on Bill Clinton&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>unsuccessful re-election campaign in 1980, Morris helped him win back the<\/p>\n<p>governor&#8217;s office in 1982 and continued to work with him in subsequent<\/p>\n<p>campaigns. Morris did not have a role in Clinton &#8216;s successful 1992<\/p>\n<p>presidential campaign, which instead was headed by James Carville and Paul<\/p>\n<p>Begala. After the 1994 mid-term election where Republicans took control of both<\/p>\n<p>houses of Congress and gained considerable power in the states, Clinton once<\/p>\n<p>again sought Morris&#8217;s help to <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>prepare for the 1996 presidential election. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It was Morris who proposed a strategy of<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;triangulation&#8221;, where Bill Clinton would appeal to a diverse group<\/p>\n<p>of voters by distancing himself from both the Democratic and Republican<\/p>\n<p>parties. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-5-10: AFC&#8217;s consultant Dick<\/p>\n<p>Morris to launch party&#8217;s poll today(Stabroek News) <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In its bid for political office the Alliance<\/p>\n<p>For Change (AFC) has brought on board American political consultant Dick Morris<\/p>\n<p>who is expected to reveal today details of a poll commissioned by the party in<\/p>\n<p>which it is showing 25% support from the electorate. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Morris, who is credited with piloting former<\/p>\n<p>Ameri-can President, Bill Clinton to a comeback re-election victory in 1996<\/p>\n<p>after the he had lost Congress to the Republicans two years before, was expected<\/p>\n<p>in the country last night and is expected to hold a press conference at Le<\/p>\n<p>Meridien Pegasus this afternoon. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>AFC Presidential Candidate Raphael Trotman<\/p>\n<p>told Stabroek News on Monday that Morris has been working with the party since<\/p>\n<p>January. Describing him as a specialist in detecting electoral fraud, who would<\/p>\n<p>no doubt be able to detect it and root it out if and when he finds it, Trotman<\/p>\n<p>said this was one of the reasons why the AFC had welcomed him. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Morris&#8217;s association with Clinton began in<\/p>\n<p>1977 when he handled his successful campaign to become the Governor of Arkansas<\/p>\n<p>and the youngest in the nation. He did not work on his campaign for re-election<\/p>\n<p>in 1980 when he was defeated but oversaw his comeback victory in 1982 and his<\/p>\n<p>re-election in 1984, 1986 and 1990.He has worked with other senators and<\/p>\n<p>governors and for Mexican President Vicente Fox. Speaking briefly about the<\/p>\n<p>most recent poll conducted on the AFC&#8217;s behalf which is some 300 pages long,<\/p>\n<p>the party&#8217;s leader Khemraj Ramjattan said that it was the third the AFC had<\/p>\n<p>commissioned and it showed an increase in support for the party for the<\/p>\n<p>upcoming general and regional elections. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>While he noted that the previous poll showed<\/p>\n<p>17% support for the AFC he did not say what were the results of the first poll commissioned.<\/p>\n<p>However, he did indicate that the support base is mainly in the younger age<\/p>\n<p>group but said that Mr Morris would reveal who had done the poll and answer<\/p>\n<p>questions on it at today&#8217;s press conference. This, Ramjattan said, would also<\/p>\n<p>set the party in campaign mode for the elections. The party&#8217;s campaign manager<\/p>\n<p>is Clayton Hall. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC has also begun the production of its<\/p>\n<p>official organ, The Key, which is published every two months and so far is<\/p>\n<p>being circulated free of cost. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-5-11: Poll shows Trotman<\/p>\n<p>with 21% of the vote &#8211; US pollster <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>If general elections were held today,<\/p>\n<p>President Bharrat Jagdeo would win 40% of the vote; PNCR Leader, Robert Corbin,<\/p>\n<p>36% and the Alliance For Change (AFC) presidential candidate Raphael Trotman,<\/p>\n<p>21%; while the smaller political parties would get 3%. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So said American pollster and elections<\/p>\n<p>campaign strategist, Dick Morris who is currently serving as a consultant to<\/p>\n<p>the AFC. Morris feels that the AFC as a party and Trotman as its presidential<\/p>\n<p>candidate have an excellent chance of winning the upcoming general elections,<\/p>\n<p>taking a number of seats in parliament and ending voting along racial lines. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Morris made these statements at a press<\/p>\n<p>conference at Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel yesterday while giving a sketch of the<\/p>\n<p>results of the survey he conducted in March along with Republican pollster<\/p>\n<p>American Frank Lunz. A total of 1,063 eligible voters were interviewed<\/p>\n<p>throughout the country, which he said meant that about one out of every 750<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese was sampled. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The methodology of the survey was not<\/p>\n<p>disclosed. There was no mention at the press conference of how many votes<\/p>\n<p>smaller parties such as the GAP\/ROAR alliance, the Justice For All Party headed<\/p>\n<p>by television owner CN Sharma or the WPA would gather. There was also no mention<\/p>\n<p>of how the question was framed and whether respondents were given the names of<\/p>\n<p>leaders and asked who they supported. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Also at the press conference were Trotman;<\/p>\n<p>AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan; Vice Chairman, Sheila Holder; media consultant,<\/p>\n<p>Frank Barath and political consultant Luiz Morales. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The survey is said to have a 95% accuracy<\/p>\n<p>rate and if every person in the country was interviewed the results would be<\/p>\n<p>the same plus or minus 3%, Morris said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Morris said that among mixed voters the<\/p>\n<p>results were 43% for Corbin; 33% for Trotman; 22% for Jagdeo; and 2% for the<\/p>\n<p>others. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The poll, Morris said could have the tipping<\/p>\n<p>point that would be a revolution to shake Guyanese politics to its foundation<\/p>\n<p>and &quot;if there is any country&#8217;s politics that needs to be shook&quot; it<\/p>\n<p>was Guyana&#8217;s. He believes that Trotman and the AFC could get at least 30% of<\/p>\n<p>the votes at the elections which would effectively make it a three-way tie. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Two months ago Trotman and the AFC polled 17%<\/p>\n<p>of the votes according to a poll the AFC had commissioned. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Stating that most voters believe that the<\/p>\n<p>government was corrupt; drug dealers out of control; economic development<\/p>\n<p>lagging badly and the party in government was probably the only<\/p>\n<p>pseudo-communist Marxist\/Leninist party in power in the world except for Cuba<\/p>\n<p>and North Korea, he said that the AFC offers the chance to assuage the fears of<\/p>\n<p>the other racial groups sufficiently so that change becomes possible. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Among Afro-Guyanese, Corbin polled 64% of the<\/p>\n<p>votes; Trotman, 27%, Jagdeo, 6% and others 3%. Among the Indo-Guyanese voters<\/p>\n<p>where Jagdeo got 80% of the votes; Trotman got 12% and Corbin 6%, indicating,<\/p>\n<p>he said, that Trotman was demonstrating an ability to pull from both sides of<\/p>\n<p>the ethnic divide. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Earlier in his introductory remarks, Morris<\/p>\n<p>said that he could not think of another country in the world that has a fully<\/p>\n<p>integrated civil society like Guyanese where Indo and Afro Guyanese go to<\/p>\n<p>school together, play together, work for each other in business together and<\/p>\n<p>even inter-marry, but could not get along in politics. To see political<\/p>\n<p>polarization along a racial line was unique in the world. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Morris said when they probed further about<\/p>\n<p>the political parties in the country, they found there was huge discontent from<\/p>\n<p>a quarter to a third from the Indo-Guyanese voters with the PPP, while half of<\/p>\n<p>the Afro Guyanese voters were discontented with the PNCR. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Among the Indo Guyanese, half said there was<\/p>\n<p>too much corruption in the PPP; 38% of Indo-Guyanese voters said the PPP had<\/p>\n<p>&quot;let drug dealers get too much power;&quot; 25% of Indo-Guyanese voters<\/p>\n<p>said the PPP had been in power for too long; 27% said the PPP &quot;does not do<\/p>\n<p>a good job of addressing the real needs of the Indian community;&quot; 46% of<\/p>\n<p>Indo-Guyanese voters said the PPP keeps power &quot;only because Indian voters<\/p>\n<p>feel it is the only way to avoid the repression which we experienced in the 70s<\/p>\n<p>and the 80s&quot;; and 35% of Indo Guyanese voters say it would be better to<\/p>\n<p>replace the PPP with &quot;an ethnically balanced party.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>These numbers, he said, gave the impression that<\/p>\n<p>it was possible for the AFC to peel off about a quarter or a third of the<\/p>\n<p>Indo-Guyanese votes if there is a genuine bi-racial multi-ethnic alternative<\/p>\n<p>party to vote for. The reason for hanging on and voting for the PPP is because<\/p>\n<p>they are scared to death of what would happen if the PNCR ever took office.<\/p>\n<p>Most of them do not believe that the PNCR could change; that Corbin could grow<\/p>\n<p>new spots; and they continue to vote for a party they do not like much but feel<\/p>\n<p>they need because the alternative would be to surrender the role of governing<\/p>\n<p>to a group of politicians they do not trust. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Among Afro-Guyanese voters, 37% said the PNCR<\/p>\n<p>has not really &quot;changed since the days of repression and has not learnt<\/p>\n<p>its lesson;&quot; 45% said it would be better to replace the PNCR with an<\/p>\n<p>ethnically balanced party;&quot; which gives an indication that there was a<\/p>\n<p>real recognition among Afro-Guyanese that the PNCR cannot win the elections, he<\/p>\n<p>said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Forty-nine to thirty-five mixed voters<\/p>\n<p>believe that the PNCR &quot;keeps losing elections because of its past;&quot;<\/p>\n<p>and 40 to 38 agree that &quot;Indian voters and those of mixed or Indigenous<\/p>\n<p>ancestry will not vote for the PNCR because of its past.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Noting that the polls focused on Indo and<\/p>\n<p>Afro Guyanese and did not take into account the views of the Indigenous peoples<\/p>\n<p>who represent 10% of the country&#8217;s population and how they would affect the<\/p>\n<p>polls, Morris said that he thought that the Indigenous peoples would be<\/p>\n<p>supportive of the AFC. &quot;But I don&#8217;t know that because we had too few in<\/p>\n<p>our polls for a statistically significant amount. We polled 1,000 people. We<\/p>\n<p>had about 80 or 90 who were Indigenous, which is what it should be, but it was<\/p>\n<p>too small a group to be able to analyse the data. So for technical reasons I<\/p>\n<p>did not comment on it. But I bet my bottom dollar they would be heavily<\/p>\n<p>involved with the AFC.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Asked how much he was being paid to assist in<\/p>\n<p>the AFC campaign, Morris said he decides every elections cycle that he would do<\/p>\n<p>one campaign pro bono where he would be reimbursed for travel, accommodation<\/p>\n<p>and polling but an actual fee, &quot;I wouldn&#8217;t charge one.&quot; He added that<\/p>\n<p>Guyana couldn&#8217;t pay a fee even if he charged one and even if the AFC won it<\/p>\n<p>wouldn&#8217;t be able to pay him. &quot;So, it&#8217;s no great loss,&quot; he said. His<\/p>\n<p>previous free service offered was in the Ukraine and Mexico. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Asked about his history of losses, he said he<\/p>\n<p>has made about 100 mistakes but did predict a number of victories, which he<\/p>\n<p>assisted in. These included President Bill Clinton&#8217;s reelection; Vicente Fox in<\/p>\n<p>Mexico; and others that ended years and decades of political domination in<\/p>\n<p>Argentina, Taiwan, Japan, Ukraine and Romania. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On the detection of electoral fraud, Morris<\/p>\n<p>said that in Guyana &quot;we are going to do an exit poll on election day, which<\/p>\n<p>is going to be an extensive poll and very expensive poll that would predict the<\/p>\n<p>results of the elections extraordinarily accurately and the government wouldn&#8217;t<\/p>\n<p>have a chance to monkey with the numbers because the exit poll results would be<\/p>\n<p>released five minutes after the polls closed.&quot; He said that a similar<\/p>\n<p>exercise was done in Mexico and the government did not have a chance to adjust<\/p>\n<p>the numbers. The exit poll showed a victory by seven points and four million<\/p>\n<p>people in Mexico City demonstrated that night and the government could not come<\/p>\n<p>out three days later with the results. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>Times for airing of &#8220;AFC<\/p>\n<p>On the Move&#8221; <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>HBTV Ch 9. Tuesdays 9:30 &#8211; 9:45 pm CNS<\/p>\n<p>CH. 6 Sundays 8:30 &#8211; 8-45 pm LRTVS CH. 10 Sundays 5:00 &#8211; 5:15 pm RCA Ch.<\/p>\n<p>8 Thursdays 7:45 &#8211; 8:00 pm NCN LINDEN Saturdays 8:00 &#8211; 8:15 pm<\/p>\n<p>TARZIE BARTICA Fridays 7:00 &#8211; 7:15 pm VCT CH. 28 Tuesday 6:30 &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>7:00 pm <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-6-15: Can the AFC<\/p>\n<p>deliver? (Stella Ramsaroop &#8211; Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There are times in life when you might get an<\/p>\n<p>unexpected surprise. Those unguarded moments make life interesting because we<\/p>\n<p>never truly know what lies around the next corner. Just such an occurrence<\/p>\n<p>happened to me this week. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I was reading an Internet forum for Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>on Tuesday where one conversation remarked that the AFC is picking up a lot of<\/p>\n<p>support with the younger generation. Although this makes perfect sense, the<\/p>\n<p>remark still took me completely by surprise. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is difficult to gauge any progress the AFC<\/p>\n<p>is making because they are not in the news on a daily basis embroiled in one<\/p>\n<p>political battle or another, like the PPP and the PNC. Thus, it is sometimes<\/p>\n<p>easy to mark such an entity off as out of sight, out of mind. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>However, this does not seem to be the case<\/p>\n<p>with the AFC after all. One Guyanese on this forum said, &quot;I keep hearing<\/p>\n<p>people and I mean lots of people saying, &#8216; Alliance boy, the Alliance . I&#8217;m<\/p>\n<p>giving the Alliance my vote&#8217;.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>If this is the case, the very first question<\/p>\n<p>I am forced to ask myself is whether the AFC can deliver for Guyana . If we are<\/p>\n<p>to be honest with ourselves, it would be irresponsible to vote for such a<\/p>\n<p>drastic change without first determining whether this baby party is up for the<\/p>\n<p>job. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It seems that when Guyana achieved its<\/p>\n<p>independence, those who were entrusted with governing the nation were not ready<\/p>\n<p>for the task at hand. This was the case with many of the colonies when they<\/p>\n<p>were granted their independence. It is difficult enough to learn how to govern<\/p>\n<p>a nation when it is young and just forming. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But to take over the leadership of an already<\/p>\n<p>established nation, with previously established problems, is a task that is<\/p>\n<p>most times beyond even the most well-intentioned leaders. The good intentions<\/p>\n<p>of early leaders never really got to mature and many of these nations have<\/p>\n<p>floundered about for decades. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So what makes the AFC any different from the<\/p>\n<p>PPP or the PNC? Does this new party finally have the right type of leaders to<\/p>\n<p>help Guyana recover from a long history of problematic leadership? Maybe. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To start with, the AFC has Raphael Trotman,<\/p>\n<p>Khemraj Ramjattan and Sheila Holder &#8211; all of whom are seasoned leaders.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, these leaders have somehow found a way to work together long enough<\/p>\n<p>to make this party gel. This is a tremendous feat in Guyana . <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>How many other politicians have attempted an<\/p>\n<p>alliance of this magnitude and failed? It is utterly frustrating to watch<\/p>\n<p>supposed mature and intelligent leaders bicker and posture over minor<\/p>\n<p>territorial issues when the real focus should be the best interests of the<\/p>\n<p>people. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Could it be that Guyana does have some leaders<\/p>\n<p>who can see the big picture and work together for the good of the country? I<\/p>\n<p>must say that it is impressive just to see the AFC come this far without<\/p>\n<p>imploding like many of the other &quot;third party&quot; hopefuls. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What this means to me is that there must be<\/p>\n<p>an overarching attitude of compromise from within the party. If so, this in<\/p>\n<p>itself is very positive news. If they can work with each other, regardless of<\/p>\n<p>their differences, then perhaps they have what it takes to govern a country<\/p>\n<p>like Guyana, where the people have spent so much time focusing on their<\/p>\n<p>differences that they have forgotten there are some very advantageous<\/p>\n<p>commonalties. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>However, seasoned leadership and the ability<\/p>\n<p>to build a cohesive team from a diverse group of individuals do not exempt the<\/p>\n<p>AFC from the temptation of corruption. I truly believe that when an upright and<\/p>\n<p>conscientious government finds its way into office in Guyana , it would be the<\/p>\n<p>day when the people will start enjoying a far better standard of living. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>When all foreign aid goes to its assigned<\/p>\n<p>purpose, when bribes and kickbacks to government officials are absolutely<\/p>\n<p>forbidden, when there is a government who will openly account for the money it<\/p>\n<p>spends, when there are leaders who know how to facilitate economic growth<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; this is when Guyana will be better off. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Can the AFC do this? Can they pull off such<\/p>\n<p>an enormous task when historic precedence is pressing down on them to be as<\/p>\n<p>corrupt as the last two parties? I cannot answer that question. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>However, I can say with confidence that<\/p>\n<p>neither of the last two parties have been able to create an effective<\/p>\n<p>government that would produce a thriving country. And neither party has found a<\/p>\n<p>way to work together for the good of the people. At least the AFC has done this<\/p>\n<p>much. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As the PPP and the PNC do everything within<\/p>\n<p>their power to divide the nation by race in the next few months leading up to<\/p>\n<p>the election, it will be interesting to see if the AFC will find a way to bring<\/p>\n<p>their spirit of compromise into Guyanese politics at large. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-6-18: GECOM must<\/p>\n<p>pronounce on voters list sanitisation &#8211; Trotman (Stabroek News) <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance For Change (AFC) will not be<\/p>\n<p>comfortable with the Preliminary Voters&#8217; List (PVL) until the Guyana Elections<\/p>\n<p>Commission (GECOM) can say what the claims and objections process has achieved,<\/p>\n<p>including expunging the names of the deceased and of persons not residing<\/p>\n<p>permanently in Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>GECOM needs also to say how the PVL would be<\/p>\n<p>verified to the satisfaction and comfort levels of all political parties, AFC<\/p>\n<p>Chairman and presidential candidate Raphael Trotman told Stabroek News in a<\/p>\n<p>telephone interview on Friday. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman said GECOM and other stakeholders<\/p>\n<p>need to ensure that the PVL meets international standards. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The upcoming general elections, he said,<\/p>\n<p>&quot;are not a club elections and the process by whichever party is elected to<\/p>\n<p>run the government should stand the scrutiny of Guya-nese as well as the<\/p>\n<p>international community. So where do we stand? We believe that the list should<\/p>\n<p>be sanitised, that there should be verification.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Asked how the party felt about house-to-house<\/p>\n<p>verification, which is currently a bone of contention between the PPP\/C and the<\/p>\n<p>PNCR, Trotman said that as one of the parties contesting the upcoming<\/p>\n<p>elections, the AFC wants the list to be as sanitized as it could ever be, to<\/p>\n<p>meet &quot;&#8230;our comfort and&#8230; the comfort levels of all the contesting<\/p>\n<p>parties and other stakeholders.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC believes GECOM needs to say to the<\/p>\n<p>nation how the list would be verified to the satisfaction of all. &quot;We will<\/p>\n<p>not go into a position of comfort or satisfaction until we know, for example,<\/p>\n<p>what is happening with the fingerprinting exercise being done by the Jamaican<\/p>\n<p>electoral office.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Stating that GECOM needs to allay the fears<\/p>\n<p>and concerns of everyone at this stage, he said the AFC could not say whether<\/p>\n<p>it was satisfied with elections preparations until it knows what safeguards<\/p>\n<p>were in place to ensure &quot;one person, one vote&quot; on polling day. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The party, he said, was aware of the stuffing<\/p>\n<p>of ballot boxes and what could happen if the names of the dead or those who<\/p>\n<p>live outside Guyana permanently remain on the Official List of Electors (OLE). <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Asked about the party&#8217;s silence on the issue<\/p>\n<p>of the house-to-house verification, Trotman said the AFC did not subscribe to<\/p>\n<p>the view that it must enter into destructive politics characterised by the<\/p>\n<p>&quot;shouting matches&quot; mainly between the PPP\/C and the PNCR. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In a letter to this newspaper, G Nurse had<\/p>\n<p>said the party&#8217;s silence on certain issues was a sign of weakness and<\/p>\n<p>deviousness in competitive politics. But Trotman said the AFC had no intention<\/p>\n<p>of becoming involved in &quot;a big shouting match in which no one gets<\/p>\n<p>heard.&quot; Rather, he said, the AFC would continue to pick the issues on<\/p>\n<p>which it felt statements should be made and do so at the appropriate time. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In addition, he said the AFC&#8217;s opinion is<\/p>\n<p>that there was no longer anything like competitive politics in Guyana. &quot;We<\/p>\n<p>have destructive politics, where you go out not to compete based on issues or<\/p>\n<p>personalities. You are literally sent out on the front line to deliberately<\/p>\n<p>destroy the leadership and the ranks of the other camp. So the practice of<\/p>\n<p>politics in Guyana does not fit the standard mode of competitive politics where<\/p>\n<p>the more deserving or best candidate wins based on issues and a good<\/p>\n<p>programme,&quot; he said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Claiming G. Nurse was a pen name of a very<\/p>\n<p>senior official of a political party, whom he knows, Trotman said the letter<\/p>\n<p>was meant to appear to come from an impartial onlooker. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He said the shouting match between the PPP\/C<\/p>\n<p>and the PNCR was quite normal and it took place every five years. &quot;Those<\/p>\n<p>who could remember would recall when Joseph Hamilton was skilfully able to have<\/p>\n<p>thousands of names removed from the list. The PPP\/C made the same counter arguments,<\/p>\n<p>so this is not new. It is part of the cut and thrust of elections preparations<\/p>\n<p>in Guyana.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Public meetings <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Asked about public open-air meetings, Trotman<\/p>\n<p>said once the campaign season was official, the AFC intended to hold public<\/p>\n<p>meetings, but he was not sure about &quot;whether we would hold mass<\/p>\n<p>rallies.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC anticipates a difference in this<\/p>\n<p>election campaign and that there might be less emphasis on public meetings<\/p>\n<p>given the blanket of fear that exists with regard to crime. &quot;Many people<\/p>\n<p>may not be persuaded to come out for public meetings that go late into the<\/p>\n<p>night but that does not say that they are not with you,&quot; he added. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He said the AFC anticipates that parties may<\/p>\n<p>have to tailor their campaigns to deal with the issue of insecurity, especially<\/p>\n<p>where persons are threatened or are afraid to come out on their own. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But the AFC has already begun holding public<\/p>\n<p>outdoor meetings and has held one in at Port Kaituma in Region One<\/p>\n<p>(Barima\/Waini) where several hundred people attended, he said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The traditional politicking would continue in<\/p>\n<p>bottom houses and public indoor meetings. In preparation for the outdoors,<\/p>\n<p>Trotman said, overseas supporters have donated public address systems,<\/p>\n<p>generators and lighting systems. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Noting the support that the AFC has been receiving<\/p>\n<p>countrywide and overseas, Trot-man said that the party was due to open branch<\/p>\n<p>offices at the end of this month at Golden Grove on the East Coast Demerara;<\/p>\n<p>Dundee, Mahaicony; D&#8217;Edward, West Coast Berbice and Leonora, West Coast<\/p>\n<p>Demerara. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Donations in cash and kind had been<\/p>\n<p>&quot;coming in&quot; from local and overseas-based supporters, Trotman said,<\/p>\n<p>though he could not give a total figure, as he did not have it available at the<\/p>\n<p>time of the interview. He said the donations were helping to meet the heavy<\/p>\n<p>administrative expenses of maintaining ten offices and staff. &quot;So we have<\/p>\n<p>been getting enough to meet our operational expenses,&quot; he said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Stating that the AFC&#8217;s campaign was<\/p>\n<p>proceeding according to its own deliberate judgment and based on advice from<\/p>\n<p>its campaign strategists and others, Trotman said that the AFC was waiting on<\/p>\n<p>GECOM to signal exactly when elections would be held. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Coming as the underdog in the elections, he<\/p>\n<p>said, it would be unwise not to be in a state of readiness. &quot;We just hope<\/p>\n<p>that when the elections are finally announced that we can all go at it as<\/p>\n<p>competitors and respect each other&#8217;s positions and respect the outcome as well.<\/p>\n<p>If there is to be a delay, we would deal with that then, but as of now we are<\/p>\n<p>preparing for elections to be held in September,&quot; he said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On talks with other political parties and on<\/p>\n<p>public opinion, which appears to favour an AFC\/GAP alliance, Trotman said at<\/p>\n<p>present there are no official talks, but the AFC has not closed the doors to<\/p>\n<p>other opposition political parties. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Noting an opinion piece which said that the<\/p>\n<p>third force ideology is still kicking and in effect, he said the AFC&#8217;s policy<\/p>\n<p>is to treat all of the third parties as allies, equals and as friends in the<\/p>\n<p>field and on the campaign trail even if there is no official or formalised<\/p>\n<p>coming together. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On the number of political parties that would<\/p>\n<p>contest the elections, Trotman said he felt the 30-something parties would<\/p>\n<p>eventually whittle down to about 12. And while he refrained from commenting on<\/p>\n<p>how the other parties would fare, he was confident that the AFC would make an<\/p>\n<p>impact. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Icons <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Asked how he felt about the current issue of<\/p>\n<p>the controversial tapes which purport to implicate Commissioner of Police<\/p>\n<p>Winston Felix in illegal actions, Trotman said it was &quot;of course being<\/p>\n<p>politicised because we are in the political season. As I said, we are no longer<\/p>\n<p>in competitive politics but in destructive politics. So each group or the major<\/p>\n<p>parties have icons that they have to preserve and protect. Any attempt to knock<\/p>\n<p>any of the icons off the pedestal is defended, and so you are in a constant<\/p>\n<p>battle to gain prominence and to deny prominence.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And with regard to the government trying to<\/p>\n<p>investigate or interdict the Police Commissioner, Trotman said that without the<\/p>\n<p>voices on the tape being authenticated that was tantamount to putting the cart<\/p>\n<p>before the horse. All those who made great mileage over what was said would not<\/p>\n<p>be able to use it as evidence in keeping with law and procedure, he said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>With regard to Roger Khan, he said his arrest<\/p>\n<p>would bring an end to the daily exchange of statements, counterstatements and<\/p>\n<p>accusations in the media. &quot;It was an unhealthy situation of having this<\/p>\n<p>conversation going on in the press every day. I didn&#8217;t feel that it helped the<\/p>\n<p>country&#8217;s image or that it augured well for the national security situation. I<\/p>\n<p>read the papers with interest on Friday morning about his arrest and I am<\/p>\n<p>surprised at the ease and simplicity in the way he was apprehended in another<\/p>\n<p>country.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-6: The Alliance for Change&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>infectious money drive by Paul Sanders Caribbean Daylight <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Besides the American strategist Dick Morris,<\/p>\n<p>the Alliance for Change has deployed yet another of it&#8217;s most formidable<\/p>\n<p>long range missiles capable of hitting Guyana&#8217;s mainland last weekend in<\/p>\n<p>the Bronx. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It was a successful test mission that<\/p>\n<p>validated all planned parameters. And those who were itching for war were quite<\/p>\n<p>comfortable with the results: the threat to the PPP Civic and the PNC\/R is most<\/p>\n<p>imminent. This missile is called &#8220;politics through arts and<\/p>\n<p>entertainment.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It&#8217;s an irresistible compulsion: pump<\/p>\n<p>up the volume, bring in the dancers, loose the comedians, and throw in a few<\/p>\n<p>singing acts, fix the drinks, spice up the dinner and &#8230; hallelujah! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>People were showing up with wads of cash<\/p>\n<p>flaunting jingoism by the dollars. It&#8217;s the kind of patriot game, this<\/p>\n<p>ritual self interrogation that tuned out the discouraging news about gas prices<\/p>\n<p>and Middle East politics and bad weekend weather. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What in Heaven would that be? Here&#8217;s a<\/p>\n<p>hint. Take international dancer Dheeraj and his troupe, for example. His piece<\/p>\n<p>was small; yet no way inferior in a setting that was gorgeous and was best<\/p>\n<p>appreciated seen up close. Against the infectious sound style of Anand<\/p>\n<p>Yankaran, Dheeraj presented a wide-ranging piece with imagination and intricate<\/p>\n<p>construction. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So was Jumping Jack who was a delightful<\/p>\n<p>scene in which he invented himself as something between Johnny Walker and John<\/p>\n<p>Travolta. His Bollywood act was an unusually lavish piece bringing vibrancy in his<\/p>\n<p>comedic art form. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trevolta Karran hit gold poking fun at corny<\/p>\n<p>old creole telephone talk. His act was a cheery, self-mocking inventiveness<\/p>\n<p>that was consistently fresh, tuneful and organic to the plot of a Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>nephew panhandling his U.S. uncle on the phone. He even threw in a few<\/p>\n<p>improvisional punch lines in a sort of ostentatious crudeness, reinvigorating<\/p>\n<p>the AFC apart from &#8220;dat KFC fowl business.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Now, what does this has to do with politics?<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re a PPP dialectician, and you haven&#8217;t picked up on that as<\/p>\n<p>yet, tell yourself you&#8217;re stupid. This is what you call a new act of<\/p>\n<p>revolutionary creativity, and PPP&#8217;s reprobate politician Khemraj<\/p>\n<p>Ramjattan &#8211; a one time disillusioned young Central Executive Committee<\/p>\n<p>member of the PPP, whose loud mouth openness about his party&#8217;s dirtiness<\/p>\n<p>that has provoked some of the most dramatic showdowns in the press &#8211; is at it<\/p>\n<p>again. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The dinner and dance in the Bronx was<\/p>\n<p>something very new. And it is not just a long way from the ideals of stomping<\/p>\n<p>for support. It is the very antithesis. It represents a romantic break-away<\/p>\n<p>from the usual &#8220;begging bowl&#8221; approach, an escape from the act of<\/p>\n<p>belittling oneself and the freedom of reaching into one&#8217;s check book and<\/p>\n<p>happily fill out the Payee&#8217;s line. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is the power of the gospel according to<\/p>\n<p>the AFC&#8217;s approach to fundraising. Nothing too strange here, but under<\/p>\n<p>examination, you can find certain parallels with the Baptist church&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>method of evangelism. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is here where the AFC has cleverly tapped<\/p>\n<p>into: the reservoir of common people searching for a break from the everyday<\/p>\n<p>drudgery of mediocre politics; where music, dance and food and wine act as an<\/p>\n<p>ice breaker to forge newer friendships while strengthening existing ones. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Think about it. Nothing new. Really. But the<\/p>\n<p>AFC has played this hand marvelously last weekend, bringing a sizeable audience<\/p>\n<p>into a &#8220;concert&#8221; setting and appealing to their better<\/p>\n<p>sensibilities. And it worked. The meeting represented the fury of many Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>people desperate to escape the marginality imposed on them by the twisted<\/p>\n<p>politics of Democratic Centralism and the wretched tactics of armed resistance.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>No one could have said it better. Ramjattan<\/p>\n<p>spoke with conviction inciting interest in Guyana&#8217;s deteriorating<\/p>\n<p>politics and the hypocrisy inherent in the two monoliths. In fact, he submitted<\/p>\n<p>that the tribal politics of both the PPP and the PNC\/R is spiraling Guyana into<\/p>\n<p>a lower part of hell. The atmosphere he presided felt distinctly different, the<\/p>\n<p>concept of racial war more ominous. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The solution he proposed was the risky<\/p>\n<p>business of departing from the Coolieman\/Blackman syndrome in which both races<\/p>\n<p>distrust each other under the leadership of their respective racial leaders. It<\/p>\n<p>was a powerfully simple speech, and many people thought that his words stand as<\/p>\n<p>an example of substance and music of politics in its grandest form and highest<\/p>\n<p>purpose &#8211; to heal, to educate, to lead. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He challenged his supporters to demonstrate<\/p>\n<p>Guyana&#8217;s healing by being a living example of neighborliness and<\/p>\n<p>friendship. In other words, compassion, love and generosity that would jump<\/p>\n<p>mathematics and race. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Pure Gospel. In the age of the politics of<\/p>\n<p>the damned where the nasty new turn of events has characterized Guyana as a<\/p>\n<p>place where mafia politics and gangsta violence are the feed of endless bad<\/p>\n<p>news. You just can&#8217;t make this stuff up. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Now that sounded like this man is the brother<\/p>\n<p>of Billy Graham. He was predictable and most influential. But he was also<\/p>\n<p>firing away at what he called the curse of the &#8220;visa&#8221; mentality.<\/p>\n<p>Ramjattan knocked a lot of sense into his audience, explaining that a sense of<\/p>\n<p>malaise has become so pervasive that the Guyanese fighting spirit is fading<\/p>\n<p>away and that everyone is hoping someday for a visa to leave the country. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Then add the pathetic &#8220;send some<\/p>\n<p>money&#8221; pitch that has underscored the laziness that is rampant in some<\/p>\n<p>areas in the country. Well, Ramjattan taught some serious fiscal<\/p>\n<p>responsibilities to the overseas diaspora: the power of No. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And he connected that to the problem of a<\/p>\n<p>shameless dependency among Guyanese at home, and its place as a part of a<\/p>\n<p>national problem. He pointed out the little kitchen garden in the countryside<\/p>\n<p>is fast becoming a relic of the past. People are so demoralized and despondent<\/p>\n<p>that they are losing a sense of history. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>That kind of talk provided Khemraj Ramjattan<\/p>\n<p>a political windfall. And by continuing to bash the PPP civic on the issue of<\/p>\n<p>crime and corruption, one got a glimpse of a man who is hell bent on dissing<\/p>\n<p>his former colleagues. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Far fetched? Not really, when you consider<\/p>\n<p>the kind of financial commitment people are willing to make in seeking an<\/p>\n<p>alternative to the PPP\/Civic and the PNC\/R. And it is here where the AFC has<\/p>\n<p>developed a sleek marketing strategy in mobilizing Guyanese for a genuine<\/p>\n<p>change. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>From Charity to Lethem to Crabwood Creek to<\/p>\n<p>Linden, the theme is for change. Ramjattan pointed out that the ultimate goal<\/p>\n<p>is to dismantle the monopoly that the PPP and the PNC\/R have on their<\/p>\n<p>respective race. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And he was selling dreams: that Guyanese can<\/p>\n<p>remain optimistic; that it is possible the country has not receded entirely<\/p>\n<p>into the mists of history. That all Guyanese &#8211; East Indians and blacks<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; together can find common ground in a common struggle for a common<\/p>\n<p>future. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Now that&#8217;s marksmanship. People<\/p>\n<p>actually believed in it. Cha-Jing! The money poured in; folks were registering<\/p>\n<p>to be new recruits in this new pursuit. And so the movement of the AFC has<\/p>\n<p>proven that it has a few smart bombs in its arsenal of political weaponry. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So while the PPP and the PNC\/R continue to<\/p>\n<p>wrestle with the messy business of the voters&#8217; lists, the AFC has been<\/p>\n<p>tactfully insinuating its presence in their strongholds, quietly tearing away<\/p>\n<p>at their support and building up mass power for what can be a season of change.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Say what you will about the outcomes, but the<\/p>\n<p>enthusiasm at the meeting was quite glorious: defiant, courageous, romantic<\/p>\n<p>against all that is fixed and immovable and oppressive in Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>That makes perfect sense. With a faltering<\/p>\n<p>economy fueling social and political turmoil; and with the PPP and the PNC\/R<\/p>\n<p>putting their own political survival ahead of the country&#8217;s economic<\/p>\n<p>survival, and &#8211; with no sign that the trend is moderating &#8211; the AFC is<\/p>\n<p>playing a powerful hand in the game. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But history will have the bottom line. Either<\/p>\n<p>the AFC&#8217;s program is one crazy idea or the greatest idea we&#8217;ve have<\/p>\n<p>heard in recent times. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-6-24: AFC Essequibo rep.<\/p>\n<p>proposes value-added agri policy (Stabroek news) <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Alliance For Change (AFC) representative in<\/p>\n<p>Essequibo, Talesh Jaffar has said that a new policy in agriculture is needed to<\/p>\n<p>have added value to farm produce. In Essequibo, he said, a population of some<\/p>\n<p>58,000 cannot survive on the rice industry and therefore employment, a high<\/p>\n<p>cost of living and migration are plaguing the region. According to the AFC<\/p>\n<p>politician, the one-sided development of the national economy has led to<\/p>\n<p>disruption in the social and economic life of the people. Charity, he said,<\/p>\n<p>should be a port of exit so that rice and other farm produce can be exported<\/p>\n<p>while as a port of entry, imports such as cement, fuel, fertilizers and other <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>commodities from the Caribbean could come in.<\/p>\n<p>Jaffar said his party will definitely develop a new and meaningful policy for<\/p>\n<p>the nation, while farmers and other producers would have more to earn. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-6-25: The Inflexibility<\/p>\n<p>of the PPP: Its re-assertion of Communism in these times By Khemraj Ramjattan<\/p>\n<p>(Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Communism has collapsed; it has not<\/p>\n<p>been smothered. This collapse has dented the dream of our world for a better<\/p>\n<p>life. But we will dream on; because liberal and neo-liberal paths to<\/p>\n<p>development cannot provide solutions.&#8221; Almost to a letter, the words just<\/p>\n<p>quoted have constantly found themselves in every major document of the PPP<\/p>\n<p>since communism&#8217;s collapse in the 1980&#8217;s. Most recently they were restated and<\/p>\n<p>emphasised in the Party Programme&#8217;s newest edition &#8211; 2005 to 2008. Could<\/p>\n<p>you imagine! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Prior to its collapse in the 1980&#8217;s, the<\/p>\n<p>Party&#8217;s message on communism was most emphatically encapsulated in the words of<\/p>\n<p>one of its early stalwarts, Brindley Benn: &#8220;You can stop tomorrow, but<\/p>\n<p>you cannot stop communism!&#8221; Brindley Benn, after experiencing the harsh<\/p>\n<p>treatment which flowed upon any dissension with the Jagans, later was to deem<\/p>\n<p>both Jagans, Cheddie and Janet, the &#8220;running dogs of Soviet Imperialism&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As a youth leader in the 80&#8217;s and early 90&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>within the Party&#8217;s ranks, I too became troubled when millions of Eastern<\/p>\n<p>Europeans were venting their spleen on their leaders, burning and pulling down posters<\/p>\n<p>and statues of Lenin and the lot. That kind of future flashing across over<\/p>\n<p>television screens we were never prepared for. Our propaganda czars at Freedom<\/p>\n<p>House simply could not reply to and rebut the questions which came in torrents<\/p>\n<p>from the more questioning amongst us. One ideologue, who up to then was highly<\/p>\n<p>regarded, would simply pluck out one by one the hairs on his eyebrow. This was<\/p>\n<p>most inadequate a response. His other response, which was even worse, was:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t believe everything you see on television, that is the work of<\/p>\n<p>imperialists! And you comrades, especially you Cde. Prak, stop reading all that<\/p>\n<p>revisionist\/liberal trash.&#8221; I heard him; but I never listened to him. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This actual experience of seeing the grand<\/p>\n<p>communist edifice crumble, which edifice PPP&#8217;s propaganda used to tell us is<\/p>\n<p>indestructible, is what I think more than anything else made me the<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;deliberative democrat&#8221; that I became. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I thus began treading cautiously, questioning<\/p>\n<p>things more, deliberating on them rather than accepting wholesale &#8211; even<\/p>\n<p>if they came from Ma and Pa. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And guess what happened? This questioning,<\/p>\n<p>enquiring approach soon was not going down well with the czars and czarinas<\/p>\n<p>within the PPP. I had always distrusted the principle of democratic centralism,<\/p>\n<p>which was the organisational principle being thrown at me to counter my<\/p>\n<p>approach and style. And so a fierce battle commenced. This fight got fiercer<\/p>\n<p>when, at the Enterprise Congress of the PYO in 1995, the words Marxism<\/p>\n<p>Lennism\/Socialism\/Communism were deleted from the PYO&#8217;s constitution. This was<\/p>\n<p>a major victory for the &#8220;deliberative democrats&#8221; who were growing<\/p>\n<p>within the ranks of the youth section of the PPP. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Of course, I was badly battered in 2002 at<\/p>\n<p>the Port Mourant Congress of the PPP. The attempts I led through the Section K<\/p>\n<p>Campbellville Group to delete these identical hard-core concepts, on very good<\/p>\n<p>geo-political grounds, all failed. But so much for my experiences. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What I have come to realise of greater<\/p>\n<p>gravity is the insincere double-speak of the Executive Committee of the PPP.<\/p>\n<p>These Comrades would preach the gospel of communism in the Party and the<\/p>\n<p>Congress and decry liberalism and neo-liberalism, yet apply at the level of its<\/p>\n<p>Government every aspect of liberalism and neo-liberalism. What hypocrisy! This<\/p>\n<p>is probably the most obscene aspect of PPP&#8217;s politics. It preaches one thing,<\/p>\n<p>and practises another. And it goes about its business as if nothing is abnormal<\/p>\n<p>or disturbing about this gross inconsistency. The farce and fa&ccedil;ade of<\/p>\n<p>this two-facedness, a sort of Jekyll and Hyde scenario, is used to beguile its<\/p>\n<p>members and supporters on the one hand, and the donor community on the other.<\/p>\n<p>At the group meetings and Regional Conferences, the Communist preachers tell<\/p>\n<p>the congregation: &#8220;It is no fault of ours that you remain poor. The fault<\/p>\n<p>lies in the blood-sucking local capitalist class, and the international cartels<\/p>\n<p>in association with the IMF\/World Bank. They pauperise you. Not us! We are<\/p>\n<p>trying our best for you.&#8221; At the high-powered meetings with the donor community<\/p>\n<p>and financiers of various programmes, the language is spoken of how truly free<\/p>\n<p>market and liberal oriented the government is. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This big lie, this monstrous insincerity must<\/p>\n<p>come to a halt. If this kind of double-speak can be perpetuated at this level,<\/p>\n<p>by the leaders of the governing Party, why then could it not be perpetuated at<\/p>\n<p>every other level? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is exactly for this reason why these days,<\/p>\n<p>when this PPP leadership says that it wants Parliament to be truly functional,<\/p>\n<p>the ordinary people know, like Sir Michael Davies found out, that such an<\/p>\n<p>assertion from such a leadership may not be functionally true. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is obvious double-speak, too, when the<\/p>\n<p>PPP, who used to decry the PNC&#8217;s shameless abuse, dominance and monopolisation<\/p>\n<p>of the State media when the PNC was in power, does nothing to shed such abuse,<\/p>\n<p>dominance and monopolisation now that the PPP is in power. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Whoever in their right mind will want to<\/p>\n<p>conduct business with this PPP Government when it promises to honour its<\/p>\n<p>financial obligations, and then most arrogantly breaches them, as is evidenced<\/p>\n<p>in the most recent debacle of the bonds issue with Citizens Bank. This concrete<\/p>\n<p>example of another double-speak, if not remedied satisfactorily, will destroy<\/p>\n<p>all investor confidence in this country! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is exactly for this same reason why nobody<\/p>\n<p>will believe any utterances coming from some PPP leaders concerning a desire to<\/p>\n<p>work along with progressive alliances, when in the same breath other PPP<\/p>\n<p>leaders cuss down and denigrate every organisation and individual potentially<\/p>\n<p>capable of constituting such a &#8220;progressive alliance&#8221;. But what do<\/p>\n<p>you expect from a leadership which suffers from an infantile disorder? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This whole exercise of re-emphasing its<\/p>\n<p>commitment to communism in the period of the Party&#8217;s life 2005 &#8211; 2008, is<\/p>\n<p>a deception by the leaders of the PPP to shift the gaze of its grumbling cadres<\/p>\n<p>and members away from these leaders&#8217; corruption, mismanagement, and<\/p>\n<p>incompetence. But there are limitations to this organised deception which<\/p>\n<p>sooner than later will be exposed. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6 align=center style='text-align:center'><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;>2006-6-27: Ramjattan&#8217;s column has raised the standard of Guyana &#8216;s<\/p>\n<p>politics ( Stella Ramsaroop Column -Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This past Sunday I read a column by a<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese politician that was exactly what I have been waiting to see for a very<\/p>\n<p>long time. It was honest and brilliant. There was more power in this one piece<\/p>\n<p>of writing than I have seen in all of the last year put together from the PPP<\/p>\n<p>(or any other politician for that matter). <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Khemraj Ramjattan has moved up ten rungs on<\/p>\n<p>my ladder of respect this week. His Sunday column entitled,<u><a<\/p>\n<p>href=&#8221;http:\/\/www.afcguyana.com\/html\/latest_news_35.html&#8221;> &quot;The<\/p>\n<p>Inflexibility of the PPP: Its re-assertion of Communism in these <\/a><\/u><\/span><u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><a<\/p>\n<p>href=&#8221;http:\/\/www.afcguyana.com\/html\/latest_news_35.html&#8221;>times,&quot;<\/a> <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>captured the struggle of all Guyanese as he detailed<\/p>\n<p>his desire to be true to his communist leaders and, at the same time, live with<\/p>\n<p>the reality of the collapse of communism. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I have so much going on in my life right now<\/p>\n<p>that I did not read this column until late Sunday evening. My family is about<\/p>\n<p>three or four weeks from relocating from the DC area to a much warmer climate<\/p>\n<p>in Southern Texas. Consequently, we are in Texas for a couple of days this week<\/p>\n<p>making some of the necessary arrangements for the move. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>However, when I finally got the chance to<\/p>\n<p>read the AFC leader&#8217;s column, I covered my face and told Paul that this is what<\/p>\n<p>I have been waiting for &#8211; honesty and pragmatism. It seems like so much<\/p>\n<p>of Guyana&#8217;s politics are played in the realm of the unreal with a vivid<\/p>\n<p>imagination being the most valued attribute of the communications staff of the<\/p>\n<p>ruling party. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I cannot begin to count the number of times<\/p>\n<p>the PPP has needed a good reality check because they have produced yet one more<\/p>\n<p>piece of propaganda that was closer to being a make-believe story than<\/p>\n<p>actuality. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In fact, there have been many a time when I<\/p>\n<p>have had to give myself a reality check because it is far easier to get lost in<\/p>\n<p>their make-believe land than to live with the murders, rapes, poverty, crime<\/p>\n<p>and corruption that plague Guyana every single day. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And then there is the childish blame game<\/p>\n<p>where no one accepts the responsibility for the state of the nation. And there<\/p>\n<p>is the racial divide, which is constantly perpetuated by the two established<\/p>\n<p>parties in so many ways every single week in their feeble attempt to secure<\/p>\n<p>what little hope they have of acquiring a vote from Guyanese who may gladly<\/p>\n<p>live in their land of make-believe. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is difficult to keep a firm grasp on<\/p>\n<p>reality when lies and half-truths float around your head on a constant basis.<\/p>\n<p>However, Guyana cannot continue on in its make-believe reverie if it ever hopes<\/p>\n<p>to rid itself of those ugly aspects that everyone would rather pretend did not<\/p>\n<p>exist. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This is why Khemraj Ramjattan&#8217;s column so<\/p>\n<p>impressed me. He did not play the games. He did not curtsy to the long<\/p>\n<p>established notions of pretending like communism was still a viable option for<\/p>\n<p>a developing country in the 21st century. In the process, he allowed anyone<\/p>\n<p>else in the country who has been fighting to escape from the realm of the<\/p>\n<p>unreal to firmly plant their feet in reality, once and for all. Since the PPP<\/p>\n<p>relies on their make-believe world to maintain their position as the nation&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>ruling party (because they could never explain their paltry performance in the<\/p>\n<p>real world), Ramjattan&#8217;s column has effectively brought the PPP to the brink of<\/p>\n<p>utter and complete ruin. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I know this is very cynical of me, but I have<\/p>\n<p>to admit that at times I have wondered if Ramjattan was still secretly loyal to<\/p>\n<p>the PPP and was just playing a game with the AFC to disrupt the baby party at<\/p>\n<p>one of its most crucial moments. However, his column has proven that he is<\/p>\n<p>indeed a man of the people and holds no wistful longing for his former party at<\/p>\n<p>all. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I am so excited about this new development of<\/p>\n<p>honest and real politics that I cannot wait to see how other politicians will<\/p>\n<p>respond to it. Will they pretend it never happened? Will they respond with more<\/p>\n<p>lies and half-truths (which the whole nation knows is lies and half-truths)? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Will they colour a pretty version of their<\/p>\n<p>side of the story and spread their propaganda on sweet and thick? Will they<\/p>\n<p>invoke the memories of yesteryear&#8217;s beloved politicians and play the<\/p>\n<p>heartstrings of the people in an attempt to divert the nation&#8217;s attention from<\/p>\n<p>the real issue at hand (again)? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Ramjattan has brought this election season<\/p>\n<p>into a whole new dimension now, and I cannot wait to see if the PPP can keep<\/p>\n<p>up. After all, it is not exactly known for its honesty, and does not seem to<\/p>\n<p>deal with reality all that well either. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What I hope to see is a response that is on<\/p>\n<p>the same level of Ramjattan&#8217;s honesty. This is exactly what Guyana needs<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; a real election with real politicians who live in the real world. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC has raised the standard of Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>politics with just one simple column and I am waiting expectantly to see if the<\/p>\n<p>rest of the politicians can rise to the occasion. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Most of all, I am on pins and needles in<\/p>\n<p>anxious anticipation to see how Smart and Sharp Robert Persaud will respond to Ramjattan&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>column. We will finally get to see if that MBA can do something else besides<\/p>\n<p>write fictional pieces. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Email: StellaSays@gmail.com <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-7-2: Alliance for Change<\/p>\n<p>(AFC) Column &#8211; Voices of Principles Women could play a key role in politics By<\/p>\n<p>Sheila Holder (Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This piece is addressed to women across the<\/p>\n<p>political spectrum. We, more than any other group in Guyana , have the<\/p>\n<p>electoral power to bring to an end the deleterious impact of the political<\/p>\n<p>fracture in our society as mainstream politicians make all kinds of excuses not<\/p>\n<p>to do the right thing by making paramount the welfare of all Guyanese. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Apart from arranging for Constitutional<\/p>\n<p>reform, sustained dialogue between the PPP\/C and the PNCR, etc., the<\/p>\n<p>Herdmanston Accord measures were to have been introduced &#8216;for the<\/p>\n<p>improvement of race relations in Guyana, including the contribution which equal<\/p>\n<p>opportunity legislation and concepts drawn from the CARICOM Charter of Civil<\/p>\n<p>Society can contribute to the cause of justice, equity and progress in Guyana&#8217;.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Failure to address these crucial issues by<\/p>\n<p>successive PPP\/C administrations have brought our country into disrepute, and<\/p>\n<p>caused our people to continue to flee these shores in large numbers to be<\/p>\n<p>scattered around the world and subjected to inhospitable treatment in some<\/p>\n<p>instances. Clearly, politics as has been practised by these dominant political<\/p>\n<p>forces, the PPP\/C and the PNCR have failed us. So what could we as women do in<\/p>\n<p>view of the fact that the 2006 elections are upon us? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Women across the political spectrum should<\/p>\n<p>mobilise, as other women have done elsewhere in the world, to impress upon the<\/p>\n<p>major political players that we desire an end be brought to the political<\/p>\n<p>bickering they have engaged in for generations; to end the misuse of state resources<\/p>\n<p>and institutions by the current PPP\/C government to allow for truly free and<\/p>\n<p>fair elections; and for peace and harmony among our people to prevail during<\/p>\n<p>this elections period. Women should position themselves between the old<\/p>\n<p>political forces to prevent the realisation of the predictions by the prophets<\/p>\n<p>of doom, so that an environment of political stability could develop in order<\/p>\n<p>to bring in the dawn of a new era to end the physical deprivations of our<\/p>\n<p>people and the mental shackles of racial politics. Women must debunk the myth<\/p>\n<p>that the PPP\/C owns East Indians voters and the PNCR owns voters of African<\/p>\n<p>descent. This political and mental slavery must end because it is the root of<\/p>\n<p>all Guyana &#8216;s problems. To continue to accept it is to accept the generational<\/p>\n<p>sentence of political irresponsibility and disregard for our people&#8217;s desire<\/p>\n<p>for peace, harmony, physical safety, justice and socio\/economic development. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A little noticed statement made some time ago<\/p>\n<p>by the First Lady, Varshni Jagdeo, is deserving of public attention, since it<\/p>\n<p>provides one of the keys for general societal action that could lead us down<\/p>\n<p>the road to achieving that which we all crave but have eluded us. The First<\/p>\n<p>Lady said that the most important ingredient she found to be missing in our<\/p>\n<p>public, social and political commentaries is patriotism. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We must understand that the political process<\/p>\n<p>in a democratic environment is expected to enable the achievement of some basic<\/p>\n<p>characteristics such as: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<ul type=disc>\n<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>     mso-list:l15 level1 lfo4;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A<\/p>\n<p>     government elected by the people to serve all the people in a manner to<\/p>\n<p>     evince a general feeling of equal treatment and equal opportunity. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>     mso-list:l15 level1 lfo4;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A<\/p>\n<p>     government that exercises power with the understanding that it has a duty<\/p>\n<p>     and the responsibility to protect citizens&#8217; rights to life and safety<\/p>\n<p>     denied us in recent times. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>     mso-list:l15 level1 lfo4;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In<\/p>\n<p>     turn the citizens grant government temporary power to make decisions on<\/p>\n<p>     their behalf through a process of participation in the life and governance<\/p>\n<p>     of the society. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>\n<h6>Definition of a Democratic Government <\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The democratic system of government should be<\/p>\n<p>organised in such a way as to prevent an individual or one group or one<\/p>\n<p>institution from becoming too powerful and prevailing over others on issues.<\/p>\n<p>Thus, the adoption generally around the world of the principle of separation of<\/p>\n<p>powers into different branches of government &#8211; legislative, executive and<\/p>\n<p>judicial which is perceived to have been eroded in Guyana. By dividing these<\/p>\n<p>responsibilities, and placing checks on power and influence, a democratic<\/p>\n<p>society limits government abuses and helps ensure the rights of individuals. A<\/p>\n<p>democratic government is therefore inclined, organisationally and procedurally,<\/p>\n<p>to make decisions that benefit the society as a whole, rather than a particular<\/p>\n<p>interest group &#8211; a signal failure of successive governments in Guyana . <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Prior to the formation of the Alliance For<\/p>\n<p>Change (AFC) there was developing among the Guyanese society a perception that<\/p>\n<p>it was more virtuous to be a member of a civil society organisation (CSO) than<\/p>\n<p>a member of a political party, so discredited had politicians and political<\/p>\n<p>parties become. Today, just after seven months of existence, the AFC has<\/p>\n<p>attracted thousands of members from all ten regions of the country. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In a publication titled &#8216;Democracy out<\/p>\n<p>of Balance&#8217;, Ivan Doherty, one time General Secretary of Ireland&#8217;s Fein Gael<\/p>\n<p>Party, said that: <b>&#8220;Without strong political parties and political<\/p>\n<p>institutions that are accountable and effective, that can negotiate and<\/p>\n<p>articulate compromises to respond to conflicting demands, the door is<\/p>\n<p>effectively open to those populist leaders who will seek to bypass the<\/p>\n<p>institutions of government, especially any system of checks and balances, and<\/p>\n<p>the rule of law.&#8221; <\/b>He could be speaking of Guyana today. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In an NDI National survey on Increasing<\/p>\n<p>Women&#8217;s Political Participation that comprised a population sample of 446<\/p>\n<p>women, representative of the 10 administrative regions of the country based on<\/p>\n<p>the population distribution by administrative regions, ethnic and religious<\/p>\n<p>samples in proportion to the country&#8217;s social, religious and ethnic<\/p>\n<p>demographics, it was revealed that: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<ul type=disc>\n<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>     mso-list:l24 level1 lfo5;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>68%<\/p>\n<p>     of women surveyed felt that they could make a major difference in their<\/p>\n<p>     community if new and honest approaches were the style adopted by the<\/p>\n<p>     political leadership. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>     mso-list:l24 level1 lfo5;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Many<\/p>\n<p>     held the view that politics was too &#8216;dirty and ugly&#8217;, while others<\/p>\n<p>     perceived Guyanese politics with the two major contenders the PPP\/C and<\/p>\n<p>     the PNCR as confrontational. Women felt that these parties were<\/p>\n<p>     contributing and benefiting from the social and political fracture in the<\/p>\n<p>     society, and stated that changing the political culture in Guyana was a<\/p>\n<p>     fundamental prerequisite to their future participation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>     mso-list:l24 level1 lfo5;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The<\/p>\n<p>     survey asked if women thought there would be any benefit of a network of<\/p>\n<p>     women politicians from all political parties in Guyana . The general view<\/p>\n<p>     was that networking was desirable but difficult, because women politicians<\/p>\n<p>     would have competing claims on their loyalty. In the words of a woman<\/p>\n<p>     interviewed: &#8220;the leaders at the top must approve of this approach,<\/p>\n<p>     otherwise no benefits will occur.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>     mso-list:l24 level1 lfo5;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Overall<\/p>\n<p>     the women interviewed felt that the issues affecting women would be better<\/p>\n<p>     dealt with if there were more women in parliament. As much as 86% felt<\/p>\n<p>     hopeful about the impact of increased numbers of women MPs, even though<\/p>\n<p>     general dissatisfaction with the aggression and assertiveness of the<\/p>\n<p>     current political culture was expressed. Women felt that issues related to<\/p>\n<p>     crime and unemployment, were accorded insufficient attention by the last<\/p>\n<p>     parliament. On the other hand, women felt that an equal distribution of<\/p>\n<p>     men and women in the Parliament would allow women&#8217;s issues fairer<\/p>\n<p>     attention and treatment. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It should be pointed out that in our<\/p>\n<p>electoral process the electorate don&#8217;t vote to elect individual candidates,<\/p>\n<p>they vote for a party list. As a consequence, the decision rests with the party<\/p>\n<p>leader who has control of the list who should enter the National Assembly. The<\/p>\n<p>AFC is committed to changing this and returning to the people the right to<\/p>\n<p>directly elect Members of Parliament as was distinctly expressed during the<\/p>\n<p>Constitutional Reform Process in 1999 that would allow for more direct<\/p>\n<p>accountability. The Alliance For Change is also committed to revising the<\/p>\n<p>Guyana Constitution to allow for a re-distribution of presidential powers. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6>Some Factors Impinging on National Development and Progress <\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is instructive that some of the women<\/p>\n<p>interviewed in the NDI survey held the view that benefits in the form of<\/p>\n<p>electoral support accrue to the political forces that advance insecurity among<\/p>\n<p>their supporters. &#8216;Better the devil you know than the one you don&#8217;t&#8217; best<\/p>\n<p>exemplifies the argument usually advanced by people who willingly fall prey to<\/p>\n<p>this illogic, come national elections time. The fact that such an unethical<\/p>\n<p>proposition has gained mileage among large sections of the Guyanese electorate<\/p>\n<p>tells us either about the gullibility of the Guyanese people or about their<\/p>\n<p>unabashed double standards. It is said most succinctly that a people get the<\/p>\n<p>government they deserve. Whatever the reason, the result that is evident in<\/p>\n<p>this country has exacted a commensurate punishment on the Guyanese people in<\/p>\n<p>the form of half a century of protracted political unrest, social and economic<\/p>\n<p>stagnation and the reason for half of the population opting to flee the<\/p>\n<p>country. In closing, I return to the First Lady&#8217;s comments mentioned earlier<\/p>\n<p>about the absence of patriotism in the local political discourse. and call on<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese women to join in the effort of nation-building by getting involved<\/p>\n<p>politically. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-7-7: Multi-millionaire to<\/p>\n<p>tackle poverty through AFC &#8226; says education and health key factors for<\/p>\n<p>development (Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance For Change (AFC), with its<\/p>\n<p>belief that a change is imperative if Guyana is to move forward, has attracted<\/p>\n<p>the attention of several overseas investors from the Guyanese Diaspora, the<\/p>\n<p>most recent being Canadian businessman David Singh. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Speaking to Kaieteur News from his Queen<\/p>\n<p>Elizabeth Suite at Le Meridien Pegasus yesterday, Singh said that an educated, healthy<\/p>\n<p>and united people are the key to a prosperous <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>nation, and he believes that the AFC has the<\/p>\n<p>right approach to garnering such results. He said that after chatting with<\/p>\n<p>party leaders Raphael Trotman and Khemraj Ramjattan at a recent meeting in<\/p>\n<p>Toronto, he became motivated to travel to Guyana to render his support, hence<\/p>\n<p>his arrival on Wednesday. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Born and raised in Guyana , Singh departed<\/p>\n<p>Guyana some 32 years ago to successfully establish a line of businesses. He is<\/p>\n<p>currently the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Destiny Group of<\/p>\n<p>Companies in Canada . <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Singh said that he has embarked on numerous<\/p>\n<p>ventures in many countries to provide and foster education and health with the<\/p>\n<p>aim of reducing poverty. As a great reader, Singh said that he was driven to<\/p>\n<p>counter poverty after reading an ingenious book: &#8216; <i>The Fortune at the<\/p>\n<p>Bottom of the Pyramid. Eradicating Poverty through profits&#8217; <\/i>, written by C.<\/p>\n<p>K. Prahalad. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>With the knowledge acquired from that book,<\/p>\n<p>Singh said that he developed a great passion to help people deemed to be at the<\/p>\n<p>bottom of the pyramid, or less fortunate. &#8220;Ninety <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>per cent of the world&#8217;s population just want<\/p>\n<p>food and a little money to take care of themselves and families, and to be able<\/p>\n<p>to have some dignity.&#8221; He observed that the most successful countries do<\/p>\n<p>not care for the bottom stratum of people, and they are therefore neglected,<\/p>\n<p>thus setting the precedent for crime, racial hatred and other associated<\/p>\n<p>upheavals, Guyana being no exception. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This, Singh related, could only be rectified<\/p>\n<p>if people are educated and healthy, and are given a chance to uncover<\/p>\n<p>sustainable means of earning. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He disclosed that, while he had attempted in<\/p>\n<p>the past to embark on initiatives to combat the poverty situation in Guyana ,<\/p>\n<p>his efforts were not readily accepted. But with the AFC&#8217;s stated endeavours,<\/p>\n<p>Singh said that he knows that the time is right to render the assistance he can<\/p>\n<p>afford to the land of his birth. While his efforts will not be associated with<\/p>\n<p>the AFC&#8217;s campaign intents, Singh said that he will be standing in the party&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>corner and fully supports the party&#8217;s way forward. &#8220;I like the AFC<\/p>\n<p>platform, ideas and strategies and I embrace them wholly,&#8221; he disclosed.<\/p>\n<p>He said that he intends to work closely with the AFC, and would take cues and<\/p>\n<p>feedback <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>from the AFC leaders on what areas the<\/p>\n<p>greatest help is needed in the various regions in Guyana . As early as next<\/p>\n<p>week Singh said that he will tackle the education sector with a donation of<\/p>\n<p>computers, starting with his alma mater, West Demerara Secondary School . He<\/p>\n<p>said that it is his belief that computer literacy is not very predominant in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana when compared to Barbados , where he has rendered much assistance. The<\/p>\n<p>health sector is also <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>high on the agenda of assistance, Singh<\/p>\n<p>revealed. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He said that he has streamlined plans to<\/p>\n<p>donate a significant amount of antiretroviral to the local health sector in an<\/p>\n<p>attempt to assist the fight against HIV\/AIDS, since Guyana accounts for the<\/p>\n<p>second highest incidence of the disease in the Caribbean . Singh, who is also<\/p>\n<p>the owner of a Bank, said that he is prepared to supply people with small loans<\/p>\n<p>to create small businesses geared at providing them with a means of providing<\/p>\n<p>for <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>their families. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>While the assistance to be rendered has not<\/p>\n<p>yet been quantified, Singh said that, with the assistance of other business<\/p>\n<p>owners, fundraisers will be held to garner the necessary funding. Singh noted,<\/p>\n<p>though, that while the initiative will serve to initiate a needful change, he<\/p>\n<p>intends to stay on board to ensure that the change is sustainable. AFC Vice<\/p>\n<p>Chairman Sheila <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Holder described Singh as &#8216;God-sent&#8217;,<\/p>\n<p>adding that there have been lots of misconceptions of the party&#8217;s source of<\/p>\n<p>funding. &#8220;We have kept far from illicit or dirty money&#8230;the Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>Diaspora in Canada has responded tremendously, and similar support was<\/p>\n<p>forthcoming from New York ,&#8221; Holder related. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8226; <b>She said the AFC recognises the<\/p>\n<p>significance and quality of the support it has gained, and is determined to put<\/p>\n<p>such expertise to work, not merely to raise funds, to build a reformed Guyana .<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-7-8: AFC claims&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>PPP cabinet outreach is &#8216;vulgar attempt&#8217; to disguise elections<\/p>\n<p>campaigning -believes Jagdeo preparing to announce elections date (Kaieteur<\/p>\n<p>News) <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance For Change (AFC) believes that<\/p>\n<p>the on-going Cabinet outreaches that have been initiated by the Government<\/p>\n<p>sends a clear signal that President Bharrat Jagdeo may be <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>ready to call elections while opposition<\/p>\n<p>parties are distracted from preparing for the upcoming polls by issues<\/p>\n<p>surrounding the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). In an interview with<\/p>\n<p>Kaieteur News, AFC&#8217;s Presidential Candidate Raphael Trotman said this is just<\/p>\n<p>another sinister plot that the AFC has ignored and has set about with its own<\/p>\n<p>campaign strategy. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;We believe that it is a bit of mischief<\/p>\n<p>on the part of the PPP and a trap that we want to avoid falling into,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Trotman said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He posited that the recent Cabinet outreach<\/p>\n<p>is really a vulgar attempt to disguise blatant campaigning and an attempt by<\/p>\n<p>the government to steal a march on the rest of the contesting parties.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It is obvious that tax payers&#8217; monies are being used to campaign. I<\/p>\n<p>don&#8217;t know how a cabinet could be going into outreach when parliament has<\/p>\n<p>ended. You are more or less a <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>caretaker-type situation so no cabinet could<\/p>\n<p>be settling down to work out any programmes; they are really in a caretaker<\/p>\n<p>mode since parliament has been dissolved. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;The outreach programmes and the fact<\/p>\n<p>that the President has not traveled to the CARICOM Heads of Government<\/p>\n<p>Conference and other indicators tell us that the President is about to announce<\/p>\n<p>elections.&#8221; In an invited comment, Information Liaison to the President<\/p>\n<p>Robert Persaud noted that the Cabinet outreach programme is a new format of the<\/p>\n<p>PPP which was started by President <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Jagdeo in 1999. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;We have no apology for extending<\/p>\n<p>development in all the regions. The opposition parties would like to see the<\/p>\n<p>government not do this so that they could use the lack of action to<\/p>\n<p>campaign,&#8221; Persaud posited. He added that the government still has to &#8220;serve<\/p>\n<p>the people&#8221; even as parliament is dissolved. &#8220;Cabinet outreaches<\/p>\n<p>have no link to elections,&#8221; Persaud said. He said the Cabinet outreaches<\/p>\n<p>were really an opportunity to allow the people on the ground to interact with<\/p>\n<p>Government Ministers. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<h6>Poll preparations <\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman posited that the AFC is concerned<\/p>\n<p>about the issues surrounding poll preparations but will not be pulled into a<\/p>\n<p>debate since the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has set about preparing<\/p>\n<p>for the hosting of elections despite the various concerns about the voters&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>list. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;We are concerned about elections and<\/p>\n<p>we are just as deeply concerned about making sure we are prepared ourselves. We<\/p>\n<p>believe that the PPP is deliberately stoking the coals of these burning issues<\/p>\n<p>so as to create distractions, so that when you would have awoken sometime<\/p>\n<p>mid-July you hear that the President has announced nomination day, leaving you<\/p>\n<p>flat-footed,&#8221; Trotman stated. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Persaud debunked these claims, stating that<\/p>\n<p>the President will only call elections once he had gotten the go-ahead from<\/p>\n<p>GECOM. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman contends that the AFC had to make a<\/p>\n<p>decision whether they were going to meet the PPP mischief head-on or divert<\/p>\n<p>attention elsewhere to matters which are being discussed by the other parties. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;We don&#8217;t have the institutional capacity<\/p>\n<p>of the PNCR to wage two or three battles at the same time. We choose the battle<\/p>\n<p>that we could fight best and that is to prepare for the elections,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Trotman said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As it relates to the ongoing debate over<\/p>\n<p>residency requirements for voters, Trotman posited that the opposition parties<\/p>\n<p>needed to accept that the Government and GECOM is prepared to go ahead with<\/p>\n<p>elections and the recent stance taken by the donor community is also an<\/p>\n<p>indication that several burning issues will not be addressed in time for<\/p>\n<p>elections. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;You can either settle down or go with<\/p>\n<p>what is happening&#8230;or you can take a decision not to engage at all, but<\/p>\n<p>for such a decision to have an effect it has to be a collective decision of all<\/p>\n<p>opposition parties. For so long as two accept that they would not accept the<\/p>\n<p>rules of engagement and six decide that they are, then it will make a<\/p>\n<p>mockery,&#8221; Trotman stated. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He further called for a meeting of all the<\/p>\n<p>contesting parties, including the PPP, to sit with GECOM so that all the<\/p>\n<p>burning issues could be ironed out and for contestants to decide if they will<\/p>\n<p>continue. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman noted that GECOM has been tasked with<\/p>\n<p>delivering free and fair elections and the AFC expects this to happen. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-7-9:AFC insists: No<\/p>\n<p>coalition with PNCR, PPP ahead of elections (Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance For Change (AFC) reiterates its<\/p>\n<p>position that a coalition with either the People&#8217;s National Congress Reform<\/p>\n<p>(PNCR) or the People&#8217;s Progressive Party (PPP) will defeat its objectives of<\/p>\n<p>bringing an end to race-based voting and creating a balance of power between<\/p>\n<p>the two major parties. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>AFC&#8217;s Presidential Candidate Raphael Trotman<\/p>\n<p>made this disclosure in an interview with Kaieteur News. He posited that while<\/p>\n<p>the AFC remains committed to working with all political parties to ensure peace<\/p>\n<p>and stability, the party will not move to form a political union with the PPP<\/p>\n<p>or the PNCR. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;We believe that by our very name, the<\/p>\n<p>alliance has to be a coming together of different political forces. We have not<\/p>\n<p>ruled out a coming together. We believe in the Third Force concept right<\/p>\n<p>now,&#8221; Trotman stated. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He noted that before the AFC was launched,<\/p>\n<p>AFC leaders had discussions with Joey Jagan, CN Sharma, Rupert Roopnarine, Paul<\/p>\n<p>Hardy, Ravi Dev and Keith Scott. &#8220;The rationale for us coming into being is<\/p>\n<p>to separate the PPP and PNC from the death embrace that they found themselves<\/p>\n<p>locked into over the last 40 years. So to join one to defeat the other would be<\/p>\n<p>that we have taken a side and that would be contrary to the basic principle of<\/p>\n<p>our existence,&#8221; Trotman noted. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He stated that the party is willing to work<\/p>\n<p>with other parties to bring an end to race based violence. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Party Leader Khemraj Ramjattan told Kaieteur<\/p>\n<p>News that the AFC has tried in the past to bring on board other opposition<\/p>\n<p>parties that share their concept but they have failed to achieve this despite<\/p>\n<p>their best efforts. He posited that with elections now close, the party has<\/p>\n<p>shifted its focus to preparations thus ruling out any major drive for a<\/p>\n<p>coalition with the smaller parties. &#8220;If the AFC wins the elections, we<\/p>\n<p>will welcome the PPP, PNCR and other political parties willing to work with us<\/p>\n<p>so we can form a government of national unity,&#8221; Ramjattan noted. The AFC,<\/p>\n<p>according to Ramjattan, is bent on winning enough votes to enter Parliament to<\/p>\n<p>create the balance of power in the national assembly. &#8220;If we are not<\/p>\n<p>elected at the next polls, whoever forms the government, we intend to support<\/p>\n<p>them when they initiate development strategies but we intend to equally oppose <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>them when they do not,&#8221; Ramjattan<\/p>\n<p>stated. (Gordon French) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-7-9:Alliance for Change<\/p>\n<p>Column: Strangers to the truth By AFC Presidential Candidate\/Chairman, Raphael<\/p>\n<p>Trotman (Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Last year at the PPP&#8217;s Congress held in<\/p>\n<p>Essequibo , the General Secretary of that party described the leadership of the<\/p>\n<p>AFC as &#8220;wishy-washy rejects&#8221; who would burn out in a few weeks. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Well, eight months after formation we are<\/p>\n<p>still here and growing stronger, taller, faster and bigger by the day. To date<\/p>\n<p>we have opened 10 offices and the trends are that we will continue to grow from<\/p>\n<p>strength to strength, despite all of the attacks and negativity directed<\/p>\n<p>towards us. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>When I read Robert Persaud, MBA, suggesting<\/p>\n<p>that we should be investigated by the Ethnic Relations Commission for spreading<\/p>\n<p>race politics in Guyana , I was beside myself with laughter, and quickly had to<\/p>\n<p>be reminded that the more serious side of politics compelled him to say<\/p>\n<p>something in the face of serious challenge. The AFC has come to be recognised<\/p>\n<p>as a serious threat, not only to the PNC and PPP as such, but to the<\/p>\n<p>establishment that has flourished by the backwardness for decades. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is not only politicians who benefit from<\/p>\n<p>this madness and instability, but big business, state corporation executives<\/p>\n<p>and drug barons. Dismantling the establishment founded on race, reward and<\/p>\n<p>revenge will not be easy. It has to start with an acknowledgement that indeed<\/p>\n<p>race politics has caused Guyana to go backwards for the last forty years,<\/p>\n<p>followed by a healing and a closure of the past. To pretend that the reign of<\/p>\n<p>the PNC was excellent and could have been perfect, were it not for the PPP, is<\/p>\n<p>disingenuous; and so too, for the PPP to champion and proclaim its own<\/p>\n<p>achievements and forget the past good accomplished by the PNC is to be stupid<\/p>\n<p>and shortsighted. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So it was that when the second blow of the<\/p>\n<p>two-punch combination attack came from the PNCR Chairman, and described the AFC<\/p>\n<p>as a &#8220;Johnny Come Lately Party&#8221; and me, in particular, as a<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;stranger to the truth&#8221; and a hypocrite, I knew that we had arrived<\/p>\n<p>and were now being seen as a serious contender. This was a signal that the<\/p>\n<p>battle had been joined. In the immortal words of Lord Han in the Bruce Lee<\/p>\n<p>classic, &#8216;Enter the Dragon&#8217;, I say: &#8220;Gentlemen, let the tournament<\/p>\n<p>begin.&#8221; This is the reality of politics and it is apparently going to be<\/p>\n<p>a bruising campaign. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As a young Guyanese growing up in the 1970&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>and 1980&#8217;s I witnessed first hand the declining state of affairs of our<\/p>\n<p>country. Perhaps too young to understand why, but not too young to see the<\/p>\n<p>declining standards that we were suffering, relative to our Caribbean sisters<\/p>\n<p>and brothers. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This was the Guyana I knew. I admired Mr.<\/p>\n<p>Burnham&#8217;s speeches and sophistication and Dr. Jagan&#8217;s tenacity and political<\/p>\n<p>longevity, whilst anxiously awaiting the next instalment of the Dayclean<\/p>\n<p>faithfully delivered by Nigel Westmaas. I was fortunate in a sense to know all<\/p>\n<p>worlds, and had awakened to the understanding and acceptance that race politics<\/p>\n<p>had not only begun to halt our national development, but was anchoring us into<\/p>\n<p>the mud. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>For me to say therefore that the practice of<\/p>\n<p>politics has taken us backwards rather than forwards is the truth. We may have<\/p>\n<p>had hundreds of miles of paved roads, hundreds of scholarships, hundreds of new<\/p>\n<p>schools built, but no one cares to mention the damage done to the soul and body<\/p>\n<p>of Guyana . Who could deny that there were infrastructural and other<\/p>\n<p>accomplishments under successive PPP and PNC administrations over the past<\/p>\n<p>forty years? One such achievement which moulded me as a young man was my stint<\/p>\n<p>as a pioneer in the National Service. A brilliant idea which until today<\/p>\n<p>remains misunderstood, vilified and, in many respects, badly implemented.<\/p>\n<p>However, the net result of the achievements relative to the destruction we<\/p>\n<p>witnessed is negative or backward movement. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I challenge every citizen and every leader,<\/p>\n<p>whether political or civic, to ask and answer the questions: Do I feel better<\/p>\n<p>off as a citizen today? Have I accomplished the growth and development I<\/p>\n<p>dreamed I would have? Are my children and the people of Guyana any better off<\/p>\n<p>today than they were in May of 1966? Was I, or my associates and predecessors,<\/p>\n<p>in any way responsible for this failure? Well, let me set out some other truths<\/p>\n<p>that we cannot escape today and, moreover, couldn&#8217;t have just appeared a few<\/p>\n<p>years ago. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We remain the second poorest country in the<\/p>\n<p>Western Hemisphere and have been for decades. (worldbank.org) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l11 level1 lfo6;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>We have the highest rate in the world of migration of<\/p>\n<p>skilled labour to the developed countries (source: imf.org). <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l11 level1 lfo6;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>We have removed hope from young people, and 85% of<\/p>\n<p>them would leave the country permanently if given the chance to do so. (source:<\/p>\n<p>ROC Express Yourself Survey). <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l11 level1 lfo6;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>3.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>We have an incidence of HIV\/AIDS and the suffering it<\/p>\n<p>brings, second only to Haiti in this hemisphere. (source:<\/p>\n<p>globalhealthreporting.org). <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l11 level1 lfo6;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>4.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>We are the most economically, socially, and<\/p>\n<p>politically unstable Caribbean country after Haiti . (source: &#8220;The Wars<\/p>\n<p>of the West Indies-A Comparative Study of State Failure in Guyana , Trinidad<\/p>\n<p>&amp; Tobago and Jamaica &#8221;). <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Desmond Hoyte constantly reminded me that<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;there are lies, damn lies, and then there are statistics.&#8221; The<\/p>\n<p>statistics on Guyana tell the true story. He once remarked to me that being in<\/p>\n<p>opposition, after serving as President, allowed him to see firsthand, and for<\/p>\n<p>the first time, the true state of suffering of the people and it was his desire<\/p>\n<p>to give them the life they deserved. He died trying to do so and thankfully had<\/p>\n<p>acknowledged the truth. Undoubtedly, we have each made tremendous achievements,<\/p>\n<p>and each of us, as leaders and as citizens, has been responsible for erasing<\/p>\n<p>those achievements. This was vividly brought home to me recently in the simple<\/p>\n<p>language of a Guyanese resident abroad. He said: &#8220;They took a jewel and smashed<\/p>\n<p>it.&#8221; The AFC leadership, recognising this, published its statement on<\/p>\n<p>healing and reconciliation in February, 2006, and some of its words are worth<\/p>\n<p>repeating: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;We strongly feel that for Guyana<\/p>\n<p>to emerge from the darkness and despair after forty years of wasted political<\/p>\n<p>independence, we must first acknowledge that we have all contributed, in some<\/p>\n<p>way or the other, to the present situation that exists in the country, either<\/p>\n<p>by our actions or by our failure to act, either by our words, or by our failure<\/p>\n<p>to speak out.&#8221; <\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I will not set about making enemies, but<\/p>\n<p>accept that enemies will be made for me. Those who are offended by the<\/p>\n<p>statement that for the past forty years Guyana has been going backwards, should<\/p>\n<p>ask the approx. 700,000 Guyanese living in the US, Canada, England, Barbados,<\/p>\n<p>Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, Venezuela, Suriname, Antigua, St. Vincent,<\/p>\n<p>Dominica, St. Kitts, Finland, Italy and perhaps even Timbuktu, how they weep at<\/p>\n<p>the mention of Guyana and why they ran and left. Visit the alleyways in Linden and<\/p>\n<p>Albouystown, the red brick roads of Berbice and the people will tell you the<\/p>\n<p>truth about their backward development. Walk the streets or the savannahs to<\/p>\n<p>see firsthand the depravation, starvation and frustration our people<\/p>\n<p>experience. If afterwards you still can&#8217;t accept the reality, then we are all<\/p>\n<p>hypocrites alike. The words of Imam Baksh, the young winner of our Independence<\/p>\n<p>Essay competition, should sum it up for us all: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;It might seem strange that this<\/p>\n<p>essay about the Guyana of tomorrow has focused on the seemingly minor and<\/p>\n<p>technical issue of our current voting system. Yet that system enables our<\/p>\n<p>problems to steer us into folly and nothing positive will happen until we<\/p>\n<p>discard it. Guyanese love Guyana and they love each other. If they can be released<\/p>\n<p>from a system which forces them to consider their fears and insecurities,<\/p>\n<p>rather than their goals and desires, then all those old clich&eacute;s will<\/p>\n<p>shine with the light of reality. We will have racial harmony. We will be one<\/p>\n<p>people, one nation, one destiny.&#8221; <\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-7-16: The Alliance for<\/p>\n<p>Change Column-Towards a better state:the need for public sector REFORM By K.<\/p>\n<p>Ramjattan (Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>When I was some 20 years younger and in<\/p>\n<p>company with my University colleagues &#8211; both from UG and UWI &#8211; we would<\/p>\n<p>argue passionately and with that great enthusiasm, which is associated with<\/p>\n<p>young academics. We would be loud and boisterous, with expletives and all. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The issues of debate largely used to touch<\/p>\n<p>and concern heady philosophical concepts. One such topic we dealt with very<\/p>\n<p>frequently was the State. There were vigorous vociferous verbal battles over<\/p>\n<p>almost everything about the State &#8211; how it came about, what purpose and<\/p>\n<p>function it performed and in whose interest, how and when will it wither away. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>When I entered the world of work as a State<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutor, a new realisation dawned on me. The State will not wither away!<\/p>\n<p>Over the years I have become fortified in this view. If anything, the State<\/p>\n<p>will grow in influence, because the vital public functions of formulating policy,<\/p>\n<p>implementing policy, and supervising the implementation and execution of such<\/p>\n<p>policy will remain exclusively in the State. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>These apart, however, there are other roles<\/p>\n<p>the State plays and will continue to play which will ensure its existence long<\/p>\n<p>into the future. Just think about its role in the maintenance of law and order,<\/p>\n<p>in providing security from internal and external sources of attack, providing<\/p>\n<p>for a judicial system, a public education and a public health system, the<\/p>\n<p>conduct of foreign relations and so on, and it will at once become evident that<\/p>\n<p>the State is here to stay. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This being so, the big question now must be<\/p>\n<p>how should the State better perform its functions and play its roles so that a<\/p>\n<p>greater happiness is spread over this beautiful land. Guyanese will be a<\/p>\n<p>happier people still when every aspect of the delivery of State services, or as<\/p>\n<p>more popularly called &#8211; &#8216;public services&#8217; &#8211; improve. Though certain<\/p>\n<p>services have improved over the last decade many others have remained pathetic<\/p>\n<p>and have even grown woefully worse. Great expectations have been dashed in the<\/p>\n<p>area of the judicial system. There is massive disenchantment with the<\/p>\n<p>procurement process. Policing services remain, for very many, within the<\/p>\n<p>category of appalling. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There are many reasons, historical and<\/p>\n<p>political, for this quandary. And an understanding of these reasons will make<\/p>\n<p>us better appreciate why there must be a massive overhaul of our Public Service<\/p>\n<p>as promised through the much-touted Public Sector Modernisation Plan. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The best analysis yet that I have seen on the<\/p>\n<p>reasons for this disastrous state of affairs of our Public Service is from<\/p>\n<p>Tyrone Ferguson in his book: &#8220;Structural Adjustment and Good Governance &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>the case of Guyana&#8221;. More particularly in his chapter 6, when discussing<\/p>\n<p>reform of the Public Service during the period 1970 to 1990, this passage<\/p>\n<p>caught my eye. I am impressed by its honesty and a fearlessness to say it as it<\/p>\n<p>is. At page 178, this very erudite Guyanese wrote: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Ministerial dominance of the Public<\/p>\n<p>Service became the order of the day. Ministers over time usurped control of the<\/p>\n<p>day-to-day operational tasks of administration from Permanent Secretaries and<\/p>\n<p>other Senior officials. The extant regulatory infrastructure and procedures of<\/p>\n<p>administration were ignored on the basis of an alleged inappropriateness in the<\/p>\n<p>prevailing context &#8230;&#8230; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<div>\n<h6>Accountability of public agents was thus destroyed. Political imperatives<\/p>\n<p>came to imbue administrative decision-making. <\/h6>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>These features of an increasingly<\/p>\n<p>politicised public bureaucracy entailed the eventual blurring of the<\/p>\n<p>professional and political lines of operational demarcation and functional<\/p>\n<p>responsibilities. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6>A bureaucracy that had evolved a tradition of professionalism, in time with<\/p>\n<p>its Westminster lineage, was soon floundering under the stifling hold of an<\/p>\n<p>authoritarian polity.&#8221; <\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He had earlier argued, quoting from one Evans<\/p>\n<p>that: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;What is often overlooked is that<\/p>\n<p>the public sector too requires an enabling environment. To be effective, public<\/p>\n<p>service must be endowed with dignity and enjoy social recognition. Putting<\/p>\n<p>private enterprise on a pedestal tends to lead to the denigration of public<\/p>\n<p>service, making it difficult to recruit qualified personnel for the bureaucracy<\/p>\n<p>and impairing the efficiency of the State&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Public Sector Modernisation Plan, in its<\/p>\n<p>diagnostics of the existing state of affairs as at 2003, reported the damning<\/p>\n<p>but true findings that vital elements of governance, namely a committed<\/p>\n<p>national leadership, active citizen participation, and transparency, <b>&#8220;appear<\/p>\n<p>to have become dysfunctional in whole or in part, others simply have never<\/p>\n<p>existed, while others have not evolved, collectively serving to impede efforts<\/p>\n<p>to improve the quality, timeliness and effectiveness of programming&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6>Additionally, when it comes to programme structures, they are<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;illogical in the sense that they do not link resources to results and<\/p>\n<p>are not organised around citizen service&#8221;. <\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A further finding which catches the eye is<\/p>\n<p>the present managerial culture which is aptly described as <b>&#8220;a command<\/p>\n<p>and control management culture which imposes successive levels of sign-offs and<\/p>\n<p>inhibits managerial delegation.&#8221; <\/b>These characteristics reflect the<\/p>\n<p>centralism of the PPP\/C Government. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So what Ferguson was talking about in earlier<\/p>\n<p>decades remains largely extant today. To these truths, we must not flinch; but<\/p>\n<p>continue to confront so that a modern Public Service could be created. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Guyanese, especially its young academics,<\/p>\n<p>must embrace and honestly debate and discuss these topics, issues and matters<\/p>\n<p>of the State. Deliberations on matters like these are very relevant. Let us be<\/p>\n<p>loud, passionate and boisterous on these matters, expletives excluded. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-7-17: AFC Davids facing<\/p>\n<p>the Goliaths (Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Dear Editor, In response to that article<\/p>\n<p>which was captioned: &#8220;Stella says can the AFC deliver?&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>(Kaieteur News 15-06-06). <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Well, Stella (first, it&#8217;s nice meeting<\/p>\n<p>you) a pregnant woman would have to allow a midwife to deliver her in order to know<\/p>\n<p>whether that midwife can deliver. Deliver is used equivocally or in a double<\/p>\n<p>meaning. Anyway, to deliver is to deliver. The AFC has the key to deliver and<\/p>\n<p>two meanings of key are: (1) means of advance, access, etc. (2) solution, which<\/p>\n<p>means solving or means of <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>solving a problem<\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>. The AFC has noted the continuous problems of Guyana<\/p>\n<p>, which the two major parties have been struggling and are still trying to<\/p>\n<p>solve over the years. Out of this the AFC has put together potentially workable<\/p>\n<p>solutions. The writer cautioned against rashly putting the AFC into power<\/p>\n<p>without first determining whether that baby party (as she conceived it) was up<\/p>\n<p>for the job. The job is big, but appropriately I wish to recall the biblical<\/p>\n<p>fact of little David, a mere baby in contrast to Goliath, who aimed and struck<\/p>\n<p>him at the right place with a stone from <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>his sling, and Goliath toppled! The AFC is<\/p>\n<p>aiming at the right spots of the social, racial, political and economic &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>to name a few &#8211; problems of Guyana in order to solve them. In addition,<\/p>\n<p>little Boy Blue can blow a big horn, but he has to know how. The baby party may<\/p>\n<p>know how to deliver for Guyana , evidently impregnated with problems. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;But to take over the leadership of an<\/p>\n<p>already established nation, with previous problems, is a task that is most<\/p>\n<p>times beyond even the well intentioned leaders.&#8221; Positively and<\/p>\n<p>optimistically these established problems are a task within the ability of the<\/p>\n<p>young energetic leaders of the AFC, coupled with their intelligence. The AFC<\/p>\n<p>would take the bull by its horns. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Does the new party finally have the<\/p>\n<p>right type of leaders to help Guyana recover from a long history of problematic<\/p>\n<p>leadership?&#8221; the writer queried. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Problematic leadership arises from how<\/p>\n<p>leaders lead. If the leaders of the new party are not (a) egoistic; (b) not<\/p>\n<p>bent towards achieving personal ambitions; (c) not inclined towards<\/p>\n<p>self-aggrandisement, not scape-goating fellow leaders; (d) not tending to<\/p>\n<p>monopolise authority; (e) leading by example; (f) not indulging in double<\/p>\n<p>standards; (g) respecting fellow leaders; (h) not inefficient, then they can<\/p>\n<p>help Guyana recover from a long history of problematic leadership. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>George Carrington <\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-7-20: AFC says new poll<\/p>\n<p>shows Trotman closing gap on Jagdeo, Corbin (Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Alliance For Change (AFC) Presidential<\/p>\n<p>Candidate Raphael Trotman has moved seven points up on his closest rivals,<\/p>\n<p>President Bharrat Jagdeo and Opposition Leader Robert Corbin, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>statistically tying the PNCR and sharply<\/p>\n<p>closing the gap with the PPP\/C. This is according to results from the latest<\/p>\n<p>polls conducted in July by Arcorp, a Mexican survey research firm that worked<\/p>\n<p>with Mexican President Felipe Calderon in his latest victory. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The survey shows that if elections were held<\/p>\n<p>today, President Bharrat Jagdeo would get 35 percent of the votes, Corbin 30<\/p>\n<p>percent, Trotman 28 percent, while the other smaller party leaders would gain<\/p>\n<p>seven percent. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The survey commissioned by the AFC sought<\/p>\n<p>in-person interviews of 600 likely voters, with the results containing a margin<\/p>\n<p>of error of plus or minus 4 percent. AFC Campaign Strategist, Dick Morris, at a<\/p>\n<p>hurriedly called press conference last night, said the polls showed both the<\/p>\n<p>PPP\/C and the PNCR losing an even amount of points when compared to an earlier<\/p>\n<p>survey conducted in March of this year. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;The AFC has increased its vote from 21<\/p>\n<p>percent to 28 percent, while at the same time the PPP has dropped from 40<\/p>\n<p>percent to 35 percent and the PNCR has dropped from 36 percent to 30<\/p>\n<p>percent,&#8221; Morris told the media. He said the survey really shows that the<\/p>\n<p>AFC has the capacity to draw not only from the African Guyanese base but the<\/p>\n<p>Indian Guyanese base and the mixed race families as well. He said too that the<\/p>\n<p>AFC gained enormously from every single ethnic group but could not say how the<\/p>\n<p>Amerindian votes were split since the population was not large enough. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;I understand the elections are going<\/p>\n<p>to be called soon and the AFC goes into the elections with an excellent chance<\/p>\n<p>of winning,&#8221; Morris alluded. Giving reasons for the good showing by the<\/p>\n<p>AFC, Morris said when there is a government as bad as the PPP\/C that allows<\/p>\n<p>drug lords to live freely, it is not surprising that people should flock a<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;real&#8221; alternative. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Speaking of the results of the polls and the<\/p>\n<p>party&#8217;s success, Trotman said the fact that AFC is cutting across the racial<\/p>\n<p>divide means that the reasons for the party&#8217;s formation has so <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>far been vindicated. &#8220;Our appeal that<\/p>\n<p>racial politics is coming to an end in Guyana and also our appeal for stronger<\/p>\n<p>state and the establishment of the rule of law has resulted in the<\/p>\n<p>increase,&#8221; Trotman stated. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As was previously done at the release of its<\/p>\n<p>first polls, the AFC declined to divulge the methodology and the questions used<\/p>\n<p>to conduct the July poll. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Every single area in the country was<\/p>\n<p>represented in this sample; it&#8217;s a statistically balanced sample of the entire<\/p>\n<p>country. There was no community where there was not at least one<\/p>\n<p>interview,&#8221; Morris said, responding to questions posed by the media. He<\/p>\n<p>stated seven parties were identified and the main question was simple:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;If elections were held today, who would you vote for?&#8221; Morris<\/p>\n<p>noted that the poll is the party&#8217;s in-house document that will be used to win<\/p>\n<p>the elections and would not be released for the other parties to know the AFC&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>campaign <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>strategy. Vouching for the credibility of the<\/p>\n<p>two polls, the party posited that Guyana does not have a political culture of<\/p>\n<p>polls. When asked if the party will release the questions contained in the<\/p>\n<p>survey, Trotman sought to draw a parallel with the polls conducted by Vishnu<\/p>\n<p>Bisram. &#8220;Whenever next Mr. Bisram does a survey and releases his results,<\/p>\n<p>you are not likely to see Mr. Bisram release the results and the questions as<\/p>\n<p>well; that is the norm with the <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>profession,&#8221; Trotman stated. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='color:blue'>2006-7-23: Alliance for Change Column&#8211;Voices<\/p>\n<p>of its Principles: AFC looks to women to spearhead change by Sheila Holder<\/p>\n<p>(Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><span style='color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I have already established in my previous<\/p>\n<p>submission in this column that, from surveys conducted locally, the majority of<\/p>\n<p>women eschew the manner in which politics is conducted in Guyana . <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It was noted in the surveys I quoted that,<\/p>\n<p>even though we functioned in various ways within the country&#8217;s political<\/p>\n<p>system, we have stoutly expressed abhorrence for the political environment<\/p>\n<p>where the erosion of civility and reasonableness pervades. In this piece, I<\/p>\n<p>venture to examine one aspect of our politics which I believe is deserving of<\/p>\n<p>our attention as the first step towards empowering us, as women, to become the<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Agents for Change&#8221; in this dear land of ours. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>With the loss of civility and reasonableness<\/p>\n<p>in our political culture, there has developed a self-interested politics that<\/p>\n<p>violates core tenets contained in the preamble of our Constitution, namely to <i>&#8220;Forge<\/p>\n<p>a system of governance that promotes concerted effort and broad-based<\/p>\n<p>participation in national decision-making in order to develop a viable economy<\/p>\n<p>and a harmonious community based on democratic values, social justice,<\/p>\n<p>fundamental human rights, and the rule of law.&#8221; <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Examples abound around the country which we<\/p>\n<p>as women have experienced to suggest that many a politician had made a<\/p>\n<p>conscious and deliberate decision to abandon these tenets following their<\/p>\n<p>experiences of diminishing electoral returns from those villages or sections of<\/p>\n<p>our society known to be supportive of the other side of the political divide. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>For instance, it was only recently that some<\/p>\n<p>villagers were expressing displeasure at the action of President Jagdeo when he<\/p>\n<p>bypassed their community during one of his recent campaign visits (disguised as<\/p>\n<p>cabinet outreach exercises), only to stop at the contiguous community to listen<\/p>\n<p>to those villagers problems and concerns. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>That the Head of State could be undeterred by<\/p>\n<p>the obvious discriminatory conclusions that would be drawn from a selective<\/p>\n<p>scheduling of his visits speaks volumes about the nature of our politics of<\/p>\n<p>race that we have ignored for half a century to our national detriment. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Given the circumstances of the homogeneous<\/p>\n<p>ethnic make-up of some of our villages, such an outcry automatically brought<\/p>\n<p>forth condemnatory pronouncements. However, from my perspective, it is<\/p>\n<p>insufficient to do so without recognising the unnatural and unrewarding nature<\/p>\n<p>of our politics that fuels such behaviour. Behaviour which &#8216;we the<\/p>\n<p>people&#8217; helped spawn and which, undoubtedly, has become a root cause of most of<\/p>\n<p>our country&#8217;s problems and failures. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Clearly, what such behaviour has done is to<\/p>\n<p>allow for the people&#8217;s demands and expectations to remain unfulfilled since, in<\/p>\n<p>the mindset of the administration, these villages, because of their<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;ethnicity&#8217;, are perceived not to be supporters; and, by extension<\/p>\n<p>unlikely to reward them at the polls given the traditional nature of our<\/p>\n<p>race-based behaviour at the polls. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Unfortunately, even in those locales that are<\/p>\n<p>perceived as being supporters of the incumbent administration there is<\/p>\n<p>diminished necessity for them to work towards a commensurate reward being made<\/p>\n<p>at the polls, or for that matter good political conduct generally or for the<\/p>\n<p>observance of our constitutional tenets on the part of politicians who are<\/p>\n<p>elected to public office, since the evil of racial voting ensures their<\/p>\n<p>survival without any &#8216;performance appraisal&#8217;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It should be generally accepted that, when<\/p>\n<p>there is failure by a government to adequately address the people&#8217;s concerns<\/p>\n<p>and problems and to &#8216; <i>develop a viable economy and a harmonious<\/p>\n<p>community based on democratic values, social justice, fundamental human rights<\/p>\n<p>and the rule of law&#8217; <\/i>as mandated by our Constitution, the people have a<\/p>\n<p>sacred duty to preserve these constitutional ideals by their rejection at the<\/p>\n<p>polls of an administration that has failed so to do. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To the extent that we the Guyanese people<\/p>\n<p>fail to do so, we cause ourselves to suffer the deleterious consequences of<\/p>\n<p>crime and violence; growth of the illicit drug trade and the corruption it<\/p>\n<p>engenders; joblessness and poverty as a consequence of economic stagnation and<\/p>\n<p>all the other negative spin offs we have been experiencing in our country &#8211; a<\/p>\n<p>clear sign that our political system has reached a point of diminishing<\/p>\n<p>returns. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is in this context that the AFC has set<\/p>\n<p>itself the target of engendering a new political culture to generate positive<\/p>\n<p>transformations. The movement, therefore, looks to women to play an integral<\/p>\n<p>part in spearheading this change for the better. In order to achieve this, we<\/p>\n<p>need to identify and understand the problematic elements of our political<\/p>\n<p>culture in order to devise and shape appropriate solutions. This is but one.<\/p>\n<p>Choose change with the AFC that offers a viable opportunity for positive<\/p>\n<p>solutions to the aberrations in our political culture. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-7-25: AFC encourages the<\/p>\n<p>ongoing debate (Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<div>\n<h6><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Dear Editor, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is becoming increasingly apparent that<\/p>\n<p>appeal of the Alliance For Change (AFC) as an alternative to the politics of<\/p>\n<p>the last 40 years is having an impact on the voting population. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Every intelligent voter is beginning to ask<\/p>\n<p>themselves serious questions about their alliances of the past and the<\/p>\n<p>necessity of holding on to them. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Political analysts, staunch party members of<\/p>\n<p>the leading political movements are making public their positions and coming on<\/p>\n<p>board with the AFC, and people on the streets are beginning to feel a new sense<\/p>\n<p>of hope that there can be change; that they do have a role to play in that<\/p>\n<p>change and that the AFC is the only party that has the possibility of making<\/p>\n<p>the change a reality. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the letter columns and articles in the<\/p>\n<p>local newspapers, we are beginning to get the sense that the debate is having a<\/p>\n<p>profound effect on the psyches of the old, archaic ways of thinking and it is<\/p>\n<p>evident that the response to this will be mud slinging and pitiable attempts to<\/p>\n<p>hold with the old guard. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC wants to make clear that this is just<\/p>\n<p>what we need to change in Guyana politics, and we want to use the media to<\/p>\n<p>dispel the idea that we are incapable of defending our position. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We want to acknowledge the comments of<\/p>\n<p>Charles Sugrim, Emile Mervin, Rawle Small, and Jonathan Bratt of the<\/p>\n<p>Mittelholzer Foundation that point to the positive approaches some are taking<\/p>\n<p>as we present our positions on the way forward and we know that they are<\/p>\n<p>representative of a significant number of readers and we would like to respond<\/p>\n<p>to some other comments that were made that suggest that we are reneging our<\/p>\n<p>responsibility to our constituents, the people of Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>First, the comments of Mr. Braithwaite in the<\/p>\n<p>Monday 24th issue of the SN. Mr. Braithwaite is suggesting that our ambitions<\/p>\n<p>are less than altruistic because we have evidenced support for the voters&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>list. Please sir, we have made quite clear our position on the list. We are of<\/p>\n<p>the opinion that while there may still be irregularities with the current list,<\/p>\n<p>we don&#8217;t feel there is enough evidence in this regard that this should<\/p>\n<p>forestall the holding of elections at this time. We are at a crucial time in<\/p>\n<p>our country&#8217;s history and the people must speak with a united voice about the<\/p>\n<p>issues that are affecting them. Even if there are flaws in the list, once<\/p>\n<p>enough people realise the need to get away from the two old divisive forces of<\/p>\n<p>the PPP and the PNC, we will have enough votes to change the direction in which<\/p>\n<p>this country is headed. It is our aim at the AFC to get them to come to this<\/p>\n<p>realisation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In response to Mr. Murtland Williams&#8217; letter<\/p>\n<p>claiming that we are playing mind games, let us assure you sir that we are<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;rejects&#8221; because we chose to stand up and dared to be different to<\/p>\n<p>some of the decisions and attitudes of some within those parties to which we<\/p>\n<p>respectively belonged, to try to institute change within those single-minded<\/p>\n<p>monoliths and found that it was impossible. We chose to be<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;rejects&#8221; because they have no intention of changing, and while<\/p>\n<p>they serve different constituents, they both have shown the similarity of their<\/p>\n<p>attitude while in government. The AFC has always been open to any individual or<\/p>\n<p>group that shares our vision and passion for a brighter Guyana , and that can<\/p>\n<p>tear itself away from the past and reach for a future where we can realise our<\/p>\n<p>true potential. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And getting back to the question of polls,<\/p>\n<p>there is suddenly a spate of polls that show different results from those<\/p>\n<p>provided by the AFC. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We have no intention of challenging these<\/p>\n<p>efforts since the polls we carried out were done for use as an internal<\/p>\n<p>mechanism for defining strategy and to give the general public an understanding<\/p>\n<p>of how much they as a group are looking for an alternative to the old ways<\/p>\n<p>which have been so destructive to our society. The final judgment will be the<\/p>\n<p>election that will be held on August 28. This will be supported by an exit poll<\/p>\n<p>that will be done by one of the most reputable pollsters in the Western<\/p>\n<p>Hemisphere . <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Every Guyanese of every race, class,<\/p>\n<p>colour or creed has the opportunity to come to their conclusions based on what<\/p>\n<p>they have seen over the last years and we know that in the end they will make<\/p>\n<p>the choice that will give them a chance for a better future&#8230;we can take<\/p>\n<p>no more of the divisive politics of the past. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Sheila Holder <\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-7-30: The PPP has<\/p>\n<p>already been campaigning for some time through the misuse of state media and<\/p>\n<p>state resources (Cabinet Outreach) (Stabroek News) <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Dear Editor, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>With the exception of a few public meetings,<\/p>\n<p>the PPP&#8217;s campaign is virtually complete at this stage of the race. Voters have<\/p>\n<p>already heard the PPP&#8217;s message thanks largely to the misuse of state media<\/p>\n<p>(through GINA) and state resources (Cabinet Outreach), and so there remains<\/p>\n<p>nothing more of substance that the PPP can add. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The PPP&#8217;s support will further decline<\/p>\n<p>because of their puerile and reactive nature, as evidenced by their behaviour<\/p>\n<p>on Nomination Day, the Berbice Expo incident, and their attempts at character<\/p>\n<p>assassination. After uncle Cheddi&#8217;s death, I had struggled to reconcile what<\/p>\n<p>the party had become with who I am, and their behaviour now has only served to<\/p>\n<p>enhance my own sense of liberation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the Berbice Expo incident, the PPP<\/p>\n<p>attempted to separate itself from the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce,<\/p>\n<p>just as they pathetically try to argue that they are separate from GINA. The<\/p>\n<p>party can argue all it likes, with Adrian Anamayah on the PPP list (his reward<\/p>\n<p>for having dismantled our booth?), and the saturation ad nauseam of the public<\/p>\n<p>media by GINA, there are very few Guyanese that can be convinced otherwise. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC did not have a rent-a-crowd on<\/p>\n<p>Nomination Day, nor fancy flags and banners, or a &#8216;big set&#8217;. Our movement is a<\/p>\n<p>peoples&#8217; movement with a life of its own. This makes the threats my father<\/p>\n<p>(Boyo Ramsaroop) and I have received utterly meaningless. I also rather face<\/p>\n<p>the risk of death than be a second class citizen in another country &#8211; in any<\/p>\n<p>case, I am guided by Hindu philosophy and so I am not afraid. What was seen on<\/p>\n<p>Nomination Day was the unfettered desire of our people. That cannot ever be<\/p>\n<p>killed. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Sadly, the achievements of this present PPP<\/p>\n<p>administration have been overshadowed by corruption and crime. No doubt our<\/p>\n<p>President is hard working, but unfortunately is surrounded by woefully inept<\/p>\n<p>ministers and officials. Clearly, it is either a case of competent people<\/p>\n<p>unwilling to serve him, or where he has chosen to be surrounded by those not so<\/p>\n<p>competent (or good people ill-positioned, like Gail Texeira and Bibi Shaddick)<\/p>\n<p>so he would have to constantly intervene and save the day and can conveniently<\/p>\n<p>cast blame. Let us not be fooled, the President has shown time and time again<\/p>\n<p>that he is in control, and not Freedom House. Whatever the case, we the<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese people have suffered undeservedly. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This disastrous rule has caused the PPP to<\/p>\n<p>lose its majority today; no matter which poll you subscribe to. Guyana&#8217;s political<\/p>\n<p>landscape has now forever been changed. Gone are the days when the PPP and PNC<\/p>\n<p>can dominate the way they have for over fifty years. I would strongly urge that<\/p>\n<p>they both use the four weeks they have left to uplift themselves in preparation<\/p>\n<p>for a new Guyana. The AFC has delivered to the Guyanese people, or rather, I<\/p>\n<p>should say, the Guyanese people have delivered unto themselves. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Yours faithfully, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Gerhard Ramsaroop <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-7-30: Trotman vows:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;No retreat, no surrender&#8221; as AFC kick starts campaign &#8226; <i>says<\/p>\n<p>hundreds abroad ready to return once right Government in place <\/i>By Gordon<\/p>\n<p>French (Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Presidential Candidate of the Alliance For<\/p>\n<p>Change (AFC) Raphael Trotman has pledged to forge ahead onto victory at the<\/p>\n<p>August 28 poll. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Speaking at the launch of the party&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>elections campaign at the Parade Ground on Friday night, Trotman told the<\/p>\n<p>gathering that while the party has managed to attract many supporters locally,<\/p>\n<p>there are hundreds abroad ready and willing to help develop Guyana once the<\/p>\n<p>right government is in place. A night that should have been a big one for the<\/p>\n<p>party was marred as the make-shift stage set up for the rally collapsed with<\/p>\n<p>party leaders. It wasn&#8217;t long before a decision was taken that allowed the<\/p>\n<p>rally to proceed as speakers mounted the back of a pickup truck to articulate<\/p>\n<p>the party&#8217;s message, much to the <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>appreciation of the crowd that gathered on<\/p>\n<p>Burnham Court and over-spilled onto Middle Street . &#8220;This movement once<\/p>\n<p>begun must not falter, it must not be turned back, there will be no retreat<\/p>\n<p>there will be no surrender,&#8221; Trotman said to loud applause. Trotman said<\/p>\n<p>the party has a plan to address the critical areas of public concerns of crime<\/p>\n<p>and security, healing and reconciliation and jobs. &#8220;We believe in a stronger<\/p>\n<p>and independent police force, not one rocked by scandal and corruption. We<\/p>\n<p>believe in fighting crime viciously and equally as well as the causes of crime <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>such as poverty and ignorance,&#8221; Trotman<\/p>\n<p>posited He said the AFC believes in a strong and sovereign state with the means<\/p>\n<p>to protect itself from external and internal aggression. &#8220;We believe in<\/p>\n<p>ensuring that the hatred, suspicion and animosity that have been played up by<\/p>\n<p>politicians in the past can be rolled back if we celebrate our unique diversity<\/p>\n<p>and <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>togetherness. We believe in the truth and we<\/p>\n<p>believe in reconciliation. We believe in protecting the minds of the young from<\/p>\n<p>people of the world who want to sow evil within them <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>and exploit them for their own<\/p>\n<p>pleasures,&#8221; Trotman outlined. On investment, Trotman said the AFC<\/p>\n<p>believes in providing opportunities for people to thrive in a wholesome<\/p>\n<p>atmosphere where there are investments and development taking place within the<\/p>\n<p>country and where there is trade in CARICOM and with our neighbours in the<\/p>\n<p>south. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He said the leaders of the party have tried<\/p>\n<p>to initiate change within their former parties but with no success. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;We stand on the threshold of history<\/p>\n<p>and change and we are about to do something that has never been done. We stand<\/p>\n<p>in the alliance for change against racism and bigotry, we stand against poverty<\/p>\n<p>and backwardness and we stand against corruption and lawlessness&#8230;with you<\/p>\n<p>we are ready to make a change,&#8221; Trotman implored. He told the gathering<\/p>\n<p>that the road ahead will be difficult while warning of attempts to destroy the<\/p>\n<p>movement so that it could miss its disappointment with destiny. Referring to<\/p>\n<p>the 40 th Anniversary symbolically, Trotman said the party believes that life<\/p>\n<p>can begin at 40. Trotman posited that the party&#8217;s list of candidates is sound<\/p>\n<p>and will realise a new beginning and a new Guyana after August 28. &#8220;There<\/p>\n<p>are hundreds more abroad who are ready, willing and able to bring their skills,<\/p>\n<p>their wealth, their ideas and their love and passion but first the right<\/p>\n<p>government must be in <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>place. We intend to be that government come<\/p>\n<p>August 29,&#8221; Trotman said, pumping his fist in the air. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He said the AFC reaffirms its commitment to<\/p>\n<p>work with all groups and all individuals who are prepared to work for this<\/p>\n<p>wholesome change, noting that things are bad and much work has to be done.<\/p>\n<p>Trotman implored the gathering not to vote race but vote for change. AFC<\/p>\n<p>Chairman Sheila Holder, who took the microphone first after the stage<\/p>\n<p>collapsed, urged that the spirit of God be invoked since there is fight raging<\/p>\n<p>with an evil force. &#8220;In the days to come we are going to be tested far<\/p>\n<p>more than we have been before,&#8221; Holder said, referring to the collapsed<\/p>\n<p>stage. She stated the AFC has good cause to save the country from the racial<\/p>\n<p>politics that has ruined Guyana for forty years. &#8220;The Alliance For Change<\/p>\n<p>has a major task to break the evil back of racial politics that we the people<\/p>\n<p>of this country have allowed to survive for forty years&#8230;We in the<\/p>\n<p>Alliance For <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Change are the vehicle to bring us out of<\/p>\n<p>this,&#8221; Holder said. Party Leader Khemraj Ramjattan was also optimistic<\/p>\n<p>about bringing an end to race-based voting. He believes that racial politics<\/p>\n<p>must be purged and Guyanese must be able to see each other as brothers and<\/p>\n<p>sisters &#8220;We have to realise that is Chanderpaul and Hooper who have to<\/p>\n<p>score the runs for us; if we don&#8217;t realise that, we will be the failed state<\/p>\n<p>that this PPP government is driving us <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>towards,&#8221; Ramjattan stated. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He described the Government as a group of<\/p>\n<p>people who make promises and deliver scams. They cited the milk scam, the duty<\/p>\n<p>free scam, the dolphin scam and the Roger Khan scam. &#8220;That is not good<\/p>\n<p>government, that is not character, that is corruption. This is going to be the<\/p>\n<p>movement [AFC] that is going to replace corruption and bring back character.<\/p>\n<p>This is <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>the movement that will remove promise and<\/p>\n<p>bring back principle because that is what we stand for,&#8221; Ramjattan<\/p>\n<p>stated. He said the AFC realises that a country needs to have a private sector<\/p>\n<p>wanting to stay to invest. &#8220;This country&#8217;s private sector because of what<\/p>\n<p>this government does, all want to send their monies overseas; they all want to<\/p>\n<p>send their children overseas,&#8221; Ramjattan concluded. He cited that the AFC<\/p>\n<p>intends to break down the bureaucracy and cut the red tape that is associated with<\/p>\n<p>Guyana &#8216;s investment climate. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4<\/p>\n<p>height=8 id=&#8221;_x0000_i1036&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_10.jpg&#8221;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6 align=center style='text-align:center'><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;>2006-8-6: The Alliance for Change Column &#8211; Voices of its<\/p>\n<p>Principles: STANDING UP (Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Forty years ago, a nation was born. This<\/p>\n<p>nation, as a child, was said to be full of promise and potential. She grew<\/p>\n<p>quickly and was smart, but then started to show signs of illness. A deformity<\/p>\n<p>soon became evident, and that was that her right foot and left foot always<\/p>\n<p>became entangled with each other so that whenever one made a step forward the<\/p>\n<p>other got in the way and tripped it down. Soon, the other limbs and organs<\/p>\n<p>began to fail, as each found itself working independently and selfishly. The<\/p>\n<p>result is that we now have a fortyyear-old nation that is underdeveloped and<\/p>\n<p>abused and has found its progress retarded. We no longer can boast of having a<\/p>\n<p>nation of one people striving for one destiny, but rather a collection of<\/p>\n<p>peoples calling themselves indo and afro, indigenous, and mixed, with the<\/p>\n<p>others being almost forgotten. Many have even been forced to renounce or deny<\/p>\n<p>their Guyanese heritage because of the harassment and victimisation they<\/p>\n<p>experience abroad. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This was not the Guyana that our foreparents<\/p>\n<p>endured horror and hardship for, and shed their blood, sweat and tears for<\/p>\n<p>centuries ago. This is not the El Dorado that Guyana has the potential to<\/p>\n<p>become. Where did we go wrong? What did we do wrong? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We know what the problem is. The AFC has the<\/p>\n<p>medicine to fix this aliment. This is going to be a bitter medicine that many<\/p>\n<p>will refuse to drink and will even try to destroy. Some say get more financing<\/p>\n<p>and reduce our debt and then all will be well, others point out that we need<\/p>\n<p>healing and reconciliation and then the funds will come. Well, we in the AFC<\/p>\n<p>believe that there can be no progress without healing and no healing without<\/p>\n<p>progress. We have left this task to the responsibility of others, and despite<\/p>\n<p>their best efforts they have been unable to get the job done. God knows we<\/p>\n<p>ourselves tried from within to make a difference, and God knows as well that it<\/p>\n<p>was not His desire for us to do so in our former parties. I, and the other<\/p>\n<p>leaders within the AFC, have acknowledged our own responsibility to this grave<\/p>\n<p>state of affairs that we find ourselves in, and having recognized where we<\/p>\n<p>erred, we now ask for an opportunity to make it right. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Today, we stand on the threshold of time and<\/p>\n<p>change ready to begin to confront the evils that have affected and retarded us.<\/p>\n<p>We stand against racism and bigotry, we stand against poverty and backwardness,<\/p>\n<p>and we stand against corruption and lawlessness. Today, with you, we stand<\/p>\n<p>ready to make a change. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The number 40 is symbolic in many religions<\/p>\n<p>and in many cultures. Today, we claim the symbolism of the forty and say that<\/p>\n<p>life can begin again at 40. It is time for change. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The road ahead is going to be difficult.<\/p>\n<p>There will be every attempt to destroy this movement so that it misses its<\/p>\n<p>appointment with destiny. We are not going to let that happen. Brother will be<\/p>\n<p>put against brother and sister against sister, but we assure you that we will<\/p>\n<p>prevail. Rumour and lies will be sent up, and possibly even the weapon of fear<\/p>\n<p>and intimidation, but they will not prevail, because we know with certainty,<\/p>\n<p>however, that no weapon formed against us shall prosper. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Today, we pledge to remain steadfast and to<\/p>\n<p>do our duty to the end, even if it means death, for a brighter and better<\/p>\n<p>Guyana . This movement, once begun, must not falter and must not be turned<\/p>\n<p>back. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The journey, begun nine months ago when we<\/p>\n<p>launched our movement in the face of ridicule and skepticism, saw us days ago<\/p>\n<p>presenting our lists of candidates, and for not one, but for all ten regions of<\/p>\n<p>Guyana . The good and gracious gentleman who sought to describe us as<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;wishy-washy rejects&#8221; found himself rejected when, in a moment of<\/p>\n<p>infamy and disgrace, he tried to muscle past us to steal the glory at City<\/p>\n<p>Hall. Then, they sank so low when they claimed that they will get more votes of<\/p>\n<p>Afro-Guyanese than we do altogether. The AFC is not about Indo and Afro or<\/p>\n<p>black and Indian, yellow or brown, we are about Guyana . We don&#8217;t count our<\/p>\n<p>votes by colour but by numbers, and right now the numbers are in the tens of<\/p>\n<p>thousands. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There is a higher force at work. The PPP<\/p>\n<p>sought to challenge us with a larger crowd and they lost; they tried to bore<\/p>\n<p>past us and they lost; they tried to attack us and they lost. People of Guyana<\/p>\n<p>, gather your belongings, for the long wait in the wilderness of despair and<\/p>\n<p>hopelessness is coming to an end. Come August 29 th the sun will rise in the<\/p>\n<p>East and bring with it a new dawn, a new beginning, a new energy and a new<\/p>\n<p>Guyana . It is time. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We ask you to enlist in our army for change.<\/p>\n<p>Our cause is a just cause, and your reward will be great and immeasurable. In<\/p>\n<p>the days ahead, remain steadfast, stand your ground, do your duty, pass the<\/p>\n<p>word and gather in Guyanese of every walk of life. No one is to be excluded. It<\/p>\n<p>is gathering time. In your thousands, you are called upon to rise up peacefully<\/p>\n<p>and retake this country. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The people of Guyana have identified some<\/p>\n<p>critical areas of concern, including crime and security and racial healing and,<\/p>\n<p>of course, jobs! The AFC has a plan for all these, as you would have seen in<\/p>\n<p>the publication of our Action Plan in the newspapers. We have decided against<\/p>\n<p>publishing a traditional manifesto, which no one remembers after the day of<\/p>\n<p>voting is over. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We believe in a stronger and independent<\/p>\n<p>police force, not one rocked by scandal and corruption; we believe in fighting<\/p>\n<p>crime viciously; and equally as well, the cause of crimes such as poverty and<\/p>\n<p>ignorance; we believe in a strong and sovereign state with the means to protect<\/p>\n<p>itself from external and internal aggression; and we believe in ensuring that<\/p>\n<p>the hatred, suspicions and animosities, which have been played up by<\/p>\n<p>politicians in the past, can be rolled back if we celebrate our unique<\/p>\n<p>diversity and togetherness rather than keep highlighting our differences.We<\/p>\n<p>believe in the truth and we believe in reconciliation. We believe in protecting<\/p>\n<p>the minds of our young from people who would want to sow evil within and<\/p>\n<p>exploit them for sadistic pleasures and banquets; and we believe in providing<\/p>\n<p>opportunities for our people to thrive in a wholesome atmosphere where there<\/p>\n<p>are investments and development taking place within the country, and trade with<\/p>\n<p>our Caricom and South American friends. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We believe in a better tomorrow. That is why<\/p>\n<p>all care and attention have been put into ensuring the right and the best people<\/p>\n<p>were placed into positions on our lists of candidates, and that the best minds<\/p>\n<p>have been recruited to craft our programmes for reform and restoration. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We caution that the task ahead is not just<\/p>\n<p>about voting but, just as importantly, the period beyond is critical. In this<\/p>\n<p>regard, the AFC pledges and reaffirms its commitment to work with all groups<\/p>\n<p>and individuals who are prepared to work for Change. We welcome the objective<\/p>\n<p>criticisms of others, and invite them as well to join us to complete the tasks<\/p>\n<p>ahead. We know that we will not get everything right every time we set out to<\/p>\n<p>do so, but we will learn from each experience as we get better and better. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We in the AFC are honoured that you have<\/p>\n<p>chosen us to take you into the future. We will not disappoint you&#8230;IT IS<\/p>\n<p>TIME&#8230;DON&#8217;T VOTE RACE, VOTE CHANGE! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We ask for your prayers and support and for<\/p>\n<p>your guidance and protection, and yes, we ask as well for your votes. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-8-7: AFC attracts large<\/p>\n<p>turnout in NA <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>NEW AMSTERDAM, BERBICE &#8211; People of all<\/p>\n<p>races turned up at Main Street and Shoe Lane on Friday evening when the<\/p>\n<p>Alliance For Change (AFC) held its rally in New Amsterdam . <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There were screams of delight, chants and a<\/p>\n<p>festive atmosphere as they got a glimpse of the party&#8217;s leaders. By the time<\/p>\n<p>the main speakers took the podium, the crowd had reached thousands. &#8220;Stop<\/p>\n<p>voting for race and vote for issues. Vote according to what you know is right;<\/p>\n<p>not because your aunty, uncle, momma and papa voted one way means you have to<\/p>\n<p>do it,&#8221; exhorted Presidential Candidate Raphael Trotman. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The party&#8217;s Prime Ministerial Candidate,<\/p>\n<p>Khemraj Ramjattan, told the crowd of what he described as efforts to stifle the<\/p>\n<p>small man who attempts to attain a plot of land for an investment, &#8220;How<\/p>\n<p>can we move as a nation? We cannot!&#8221; He spoke too of corruption.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;And you know how we will cut it? We have to start with a leadership that<\/p>\n<p>has some integrity.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He called on persons to free up their minds<\/p>\n<p>of radicalised politics. Mr. Trotman urged his supporters to read their action<\/p>\n<p>plan. He said that he is at home in Berbice to defend his title and responded<\/p>\n<p>to a statement made by one of his contenders at a political rally on the<\/p>\n<p>Corentyne recently. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;I am told that he referred to me as a<\/p>\n<p>jackass. Is it true?&#8221; At this point the crowd went wild and his<\/p>\n<p>supporters shouted, &#8220;Yes!&#8221; He assured them, &#8220;But the AFC is a<\/p>\n<p>dignified party&#8230;We are a civilized party&#8230;&#8221; He cited a song by<\/p>\n<p>Dave Martins and the Trade Winds then said, &#8220;You can&#8217;t put a bridge at<\/p>\n<p>the mouth <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>of a fast flowing river and hope it would stay&#8230;You<\/p>\n<p>can&#8217;t build something and call it a health centre and people still got to go to<\/p>\n<p>Georgetown for treatment&#8230;Who civilised and who&#8217;s the jackass?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>According to him, the 2004\/2005 US annual report on Drug Control was a shameful<\/p>\n<p>piece on Guyana . He said that cocaine was concealed in almost every type of<\/p>\n<p>product to be <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>exported from these shores. He pointed<\/p>\n<p>fingers at the government of the day when he acknowledged that none of his<\/p>\n<p>members ever had a visa revoked. Vice Chair Sheila Holder said that the Alliance<\/p>\n<p>For Change is no different from parties but the principle under which it<\/p>\n<p>operates is committed to decency, honesty and integrity. The meeting was<\/p>\n<p>punctuated by a number of cultural items. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-8-11: AFC LEADERS TO MEET<\/p>\n<p>GUYANESE IN CANADA <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Prime Ministerial Candidate of the Alliance<\/p>\n<p>For Change Party Khemraj Ramjattan and Vice Chairman Sheila Holder left Guyana<\/p>\n<p>today for Toronto Canada where they will meet members of the Guyanese Diaspora<\/p>\n<p>living in Canada. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The two Leaders will be in Canada until<\/p>\n<p>Thursday when they will return to Guyana. While in Toronto they will speak at a<\/p>\n<p>major Fund Raising Dinner organized by the AFC members in Canada. The fund<\/p>\n<p>Raising Dinner which is scheduled to be held on Wednesday Evening is expected<\/p>\n<p>to attract Guyanese Businessmen and women and other AFC supporters living in<\/p>\n<p>Canada. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Ramjattan and Mrs. Holder will present<\/p>\n<p>the party&#8217;s plans and proposals for moving Guyana forward. In addition<\/p>\n<p>they will present a status report on the preparations for General Elections in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana and other aspects of the over all plan. Inclusive will be the<\/p>\n<p>anticipated role of the Guyanese Diaspora in effecting the necessary change to<\/p>\n<p>return progress and dignity to Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>REGIONAL WALK AROUND <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Regional Representatives of the Alliance For<\/p>\n<p>Change party will meet with residents of Coomaka, Three Friends and old England<\/p>\n<p>in Region 10 Linden and Upper Demerara in what is termed a Walk Around. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Regional Representatives will walk around<\/p>\n<p>these communities meeting residents and sharing with them the AFC vision and<\/p>\n<p>plans for a better Guyana. In addition the Regional Representatives will<\/p>\n<p>organize and hold video shows and conduct Road side discussions with residents.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>THE AFC SPARKS BUZZ AND ENTHUSIASM <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It has been close to two weeks now since<\/p>\n<p>President Bharrat Jagdeo announced Nomination Day in Guyana. This announcement<\/p>\n<p>officially launched the election campaign period in Guyana running up to<\/p>\n<p>General Elections scheduled for August 28, 2006. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The battle lines have been drawn and the<\/p>\n<p>major political parties in Parliament have begun their campaigning. However,<\/p>\n<p>the newest party in the race in the Alliance for Change led by Raphael Trotman,<\/p>\n<p>Presidential Candidate; Khemraj Ramjattan, Prime Ministerial Candidate and<\/p>\n<p>Sheila Holder vice Chairman of the party. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Despite criticism from certain quarters that<\/p>\n<p>the party is childish, fly by night and other choice campaign slugs the AFC has<\/p>\n<p>demonstrated that it is a force to be reckoned with. That it has presented<\/p>\n<p>itself as a Third Force in the tapestry of Guyanese politics is no idle boast<\/p>\n<p>and contrary to Prem Misir&#8217;s contention that there is no real Third Force<\/p>\n<p>in Guyana the AFC has been able to create quite a buzz and whipped up<\/p>\n<p>enthusiasm among Guyanese young and old. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>AFC is on the agenda and every where<\/p>\n<p>discussions of which party will form the next government are not without the<\/p>\n<p>AFC being regarded as a strong contender. Thousands of young Guyanese are<\/p>\n<p>rallying around the AFC. Guyanese are coming out in their numbers to listen to<\/p>\n<p>the AFC Leadership outline the party&#8217;s plans for a better Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>At every rum-shop, beer garden, market place<\/p>\n<p>or public meeting place the debate among peers is that it time for a change in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana. Change from the old political structure with its inherent anachronisms.<\/p>\n<p>Of course there are those who are afraid or are led to be afraid of change and<\/p>\n<p>would feel comfortable with the status quo remaining as it is. There are<\/p>\n<p>others, however, who contend that the AFC will bring about the required change<\/p>\n<p>in Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The ruling People&#8217;s Progressive<\/p>\n<p>Party\/Civic (PPP\/C) has declared that it will win and presumptuously advertised<\/p>\n<p>its most recent rally at the Kitty Market Square as a victory rally. The<\/p>\n<p>People&#8217;s National Congress Reform One Guyana (PNC\/R OG) is also confident<\/p>\n<p>that it too will win. All three parties, however, have attracted thousands of<\/p>\n<p>persons at their rallies. The two major Political parties took to their strong<\/p>\n<p>holds to launch the campaigns while the &#8220;new kid on the block&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>without a traditional stronghold took to the city and kicked off with a rally<\/p>\n<p>that attracted more than six thousand persons. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The fact that President Jagdeo, singled out<\/p>\n<p>the AFC for scathing criticism at the launching of the PPP\/C campaign at<\/p>\n<p>Albion, Berbice, indicates that he sees the AFC as a threat, at least so the<\/p>\n<p>people feel. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>However, in spite of the rhetoric and regular<\/p>\n<p>election promises from both the PPP\/C and the PNC\/R OG the people of Guyana are<\/p>\n<p>balancing their chances of seeing real change in Guyana against the backdrop of<\/p>\n<p>42 years of rule by the PNC and the PPP. Guyanese have not forgotten that the<\/p>\n<p>economy of its country is now driven by the transshipment of drugs, mothers and<\/p>\n<p>wives are terrified that their sons and husbands may not return home at nights.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Corruption is rife in Guyana, young people<\/p>\n<p>are losing faith daily some commit suicide, murder and other serious offenses<\/p>\n<p>are on the increase, hopelessness and joblessness dominate. However the PPP\/C<\/p>\n<p>believes Guyana is doing well and that public servants should be happy and<\/p>\n<p>content with a minimum wage of $125.00 US per month. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What are the chances of the AFC winning the<\/p>\n<p>General Elections? Well one can take a cue from the buzz and enthusiasm the AFC<\/p>\n<p>has created in the country. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-8-11: AFC MEETING AT<\/p>\n<p>BOURDA <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>More than 300 persons comprising stall holders<\/p>\n<p>and shoppers took time off from their usual Thursday afternoon shopping for<\/p>\n<p>vegetable at Merriman Mall Bourda Green to listen to AFC speakers Desmond<\/p>\n<p>Moses, Boyo Ramsaroop, Fahzeela Mohames and Trevor Millington. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The speakers touched on many issues facing<\/p>\n<p>the Guyanese society and encouraged the listeners to give the AFC the well<\/p>\n<p>deserved chance to return hope to Guyana and bring about the change every one<\/p>\n<p>is so eagerly expecting. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Youngest speaker Ms Mohamed pointed out<\/p>\n<p>the wanton waste of vegetables and also hinted to the fact that Guyana can feed<\/p>\n<p>itself and others. She noted the need for food processing plants and canning<\/p>\n<p>industries which would not only provide job opportunities for Guyanese but<\/p>\n<p>would create skills and allow Guyana to present its natural capital to the rest<\/p>\n<p>of the world. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Indeed it is time that Guyana gets the<\/p>\n<p>opportunity to present its uniqueness to the rest of the world but this can<\/p>\n<p>only become possible with political leadership that goes beyond petty personal<\/p>\n<p>gain and self aggrandizement. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC in its meetings has been pointing<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese to some of the areas to which the party will pay attention in creating<\/p>\n<p>and returning pride and dignity to our country. Among these are health,<\/p>\n<p>security, job opportunities, investment opportunities, education, foreign<\/p>\n<p>relations, creation of wealth, and equitable access to opportunities for all<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese based on abilities personal will and not on race or racial<\/p>\n<p>considerations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC continues to create interest and<\/p>\n<p>raise enthusiasm among Guyanese of all walks of life and the party is still<\/p>\n<p>high on the agenda of the people and is a talking point in almost every<\/p>\n<p>discussion on politics. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>One pollster (NACTA Polls conducted by<\/p>\n<p>Mr.Vishnu Bisram operating out of New York) claims that the AFC with a possible<\/p>\n<p>15% chance at the General Elections while the PPP\/C has 45 % and the PNC\/R 28%.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>His Poll suggests that out of a sample of 1,<\/p>\n<p>238 respondents; the AFC moved from 13 % in July to 15 % in August while the<\/p>\n<p>PPP\/C moved from 42 % to 45 % and the PNC\/R decreased from 29 % to 28 %. It<\/p>\n<p>must be noted, however, that the NACTA poll sampled 569 Indians which accounts<\/p>\n<p>for 45 or 46 % of the sample whereas other polls show that the present<\/p>\n<p>population of Indians in Guyana is about 40 %. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>MORE MAYHEM IN GUYANA <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Reports from the ancient county of Berbice<\/p>\n<p>have indicated that heavily robbers attacked and robbed two commercial banks at<\/p>\n<p>Rose Hall Corentyne Coast East Berbice and injured at least one person. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It has not yet been confirmed whether only<\/p>\n<p>one person was injured and how much money was stolen from the banks. Reports<\/p>\n<p>are sketchy; but what is clear is that something is amiss. What is more evident<\/p>\n<p>is that the PPP\/C government is incapable of protecting Guyanese in and out of<\/p>\n<p>Guyana. They have no control of the crime spree and the people are losing<\/p>\n<p>confidence if they have not yet lost it, in the Police, the National Security<\/p>\n<p>Forces and the ability of the government to curb crime. Many Guyanese are of<\/p>\n<p>the view that a government cannot be mate to drug lords and try to master crime<\/p>\n<p>at the same time, drugs and crime are inextricably intertwined. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-8-12: PRESIDENT WANTS<\/p>\n<p>DIRECT CONTROL OF POLICE OFFICERS APPOINTMENT <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Peoples&#8217; Progressive Party\/Civic is<\/p>\n<p>running true to form and continues to advocate a desire to exercise control of<\/p>\n<p>the public service ultra vires the Laws Guyana. More Particularly President<\/p>\n<p>Bharrat Jagdeo has been promising that one of his post elections plan is to<\/p>\n<p>revamp the Guyana Police Force. To give credence to this promise or as another<\/p>\n<p>elections gimmick the government has contracted the services of Ex- New York<\/p>\n<p>Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik to assist in the revamping of the Police<\/p>\n<p>Force. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It was made clear by the President that he is<\/p>\n<p>dissatisfied with the present constitutional protection of Senior Ranks of the<\/p>\n<p>Police Force. At the moment the Constitution provides for the appointment of<\/p>\n<p>Officers of the Police Force to be made by the Police Service Commission. As<\/p>\n<p>such the President cannot unilaterally install nor remove any such officers, although<\/p>\n<p>it is he who appoints the Commissioner of Police. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Last Thursday August 10, 2006 the President<\/p>\n<p>publicly stated that he should be able to appoint persons to the joint services<\/p>\n<p>and be able to remove them but that at the moment his hands are tied. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The operative word here is &#8220;I.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The President by his own admission wants to be able to personally appoint<\/p>\n<p>Officers whereas at the moment Officers of the police Force are provided<\/p>\n<p>constitutional protection, which the President regards as uncomfortable<\/p>\n<p>restrictions. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This could only lead to persons being<\/p>\n<p>appointed who have partisan interests rather than interest in the fair and<\/p>\n<p>professional execution of their duties. The appointment and removal of Senior<\/p>\n<p>Officers, by the Police Service Commission provides the checks and balances<\/p>\n<p>against such anomalies. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>THE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>At Leonora West Coast Demerara a community<\/p>\n<p>once known as a PPP\/C stronghold the PPP\/C and the PNC\/R at their recent public<\/p>\n<p>meetings in that community could only attract crowds of less than 100 persons<\/p>\n<p>while the AFC at its public meeting last evening Friday August 11, 2006 amassed<\/p>\n<p>a crowd of more than 500 persons in that community. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The crowd was jubilant and cheered with vigor<\/p>\n<p>as they listened to Raphael Trotman, Khemraj Ramjattan, Sheila Holder, and Boyo<\/p>\n<p>Ramsaroop deliver the party&#8217;s message and plans. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Boyo Ramsaroop was a well known PPP\/C<\/p>\n<p>Activist with more than 20 years service to the PPP. He has become dissatisfied<\/p>\n<p>with the hypocrisy and failed policies of the PPP\/C and has moved to the AFC,<\/p>\n<p>he provides a wealth of experience and is a tower of strength. When compared<\/p>\n<p>with the attendance of at the PPP\/C and the PNC\/R meetings the turn out of<\/p>\n<p>people at the AFC meetings and their responses provide reasonable indication of<\/p>\n<p>the continued fervor among Guyanese in their quest for change. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>More so the PPP\/C cannot find fault I the AFC<\/p>\n<p>because party comes with clean hands to the people in the absence, therefore,<\/p>\n<p>of political impediments the PPP\/C has sunken to attacking not the ideas and policies<\/p>\n<p>of the AFC for which they can find no fault, but the physical appearance of the<\/p>\n<p>AFC Leaders. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC on the other hand is maintaining its<\/p>\n<p>dignity and decency and not allowing itself to be drawn into argumentum ad<\/p>\n<p>homenim. It is not surprising that the PPP\/C would resort to such tactics for<\/p>\n<p>what can they tell the Guyanese People when amid all the noise and clamor<\/p>\n<p>criminals are bold facedly carrying their murderous acts of terror with<\/p>\n<p>impunity in spite of the PPP\/C gimmicks and promises. To convince an electorate<\/p>\n<p>takes more than rhetoric, taunts and stand up comedy; it requires a delivery<\/p>\n<p>with substance and that is lacking what the PPP\/c speakers had to offer the<\/p>\n<p>people at their meetings on the West Coast Demerara. Why would the PPP\/c garner<\/p>\n<p>only 50 persons at a public meeting at Leonora their one time stronghold?<\/p>\n<p>Simple they did not bus in supporters as is the trend in their rent a crowd<\/p>\n<p>tactics and because <i>out of nothing cometh nothing. <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-8-12: CALL FOR END TO<\/p>\n<p>RACIAL POILTICS <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The afternoon sun set gently in the community<\/p>\n<p>of Grove East Bank Demerara as technicians test their equipment in preparation<\/p>\n<p>for the AFC public meeting. The sound of the powerful loud speakers brought out<\/p>\n<p>hundreds of residents as they converged at the cross roads. Hundreds of others<\/p>\n<p>stood at their gates and from their verandahs listened to the introductory<\/p>\n<p>speakers. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>For as far as 300 yards along the two<\/p>\n<p>intersecting streets men, women, and children stood listening to the powerful<\/p>\n<p>and dynamic presentations of Boya Ramsaroop, Neilson McKenzie, Miguel Singh<\/p>\n<p>among others. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Prime Ministerial Candidate Khemraj Ramjattan<\/p>\n<p>was the main speaker. Like Boyo Ramsaroop, he told the residents of deceitful<\/p>\n<p>nature of the PPP\/C and their intention to keep Guyana where it is. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Ramjattan emphasized the dangers of<\/p>\n<p>racial politics and racial voting. Ho noted that both the PPP\/C and the PNC\/R<\/p>\n<p>are pedaling falsehoods about the AFC because both parties are bent on<\/p>\n<p>continuing racial politics and on creating a false image of the AFC. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Ramjattan declared emphatically that the AFC<\/p>\n<p>is an independent party and has no intention of joining forces with either the<\/p>\n<p>PPP\/C or the PNC\/R. He said the AFC will give its votes to neither of the two<\/p>\n<p>because to get into bed with either of them is to be just like them. Birds of<\/p>\n<p>Feather flock together and the AFC is not of the feather of PPP\/C or PNC\/R it<\/p>\n<p>is a party after its own making with a vision to carry Guyana forward, bring an<\/p>\n<p>end to fear, racial politics, racial insecurity, and ensure equitable distribution<\/p>\n<p>of resources to all Guyanese. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He chided the PPP\/C for its inability to<\/p>\n<p>accept new ideas and the PNC\/R for turning a blind eye to the truth. Referring<\/p>\n<p>to the partly constructed roads, which indicate a hurried attempt to impress<\/p>\n<p>the residents of Grove Ramjattan noted that it a tactic of the PPP\/C to rush<\/p>\n<p>into villages just before elections commence infrastructural works when they<\/p>\n<p>had 5 years before to do it in an attempt to beguile the people into believing<\/p>\n<p>that they are doing something for them. But as the youthful Miguel Singh had<\/p>\n<p>earlier put it, the construction of roads and drainage are not favours being<\/p>\n<p>done by the government; it is their duty and a duty that should have been<\/p>\n<p>carried out long before. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>All the speakers called for unity and oneness<\/p>\n<p>on mind that is to turn Guyana around the AFC must be given the chance. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-8-12: What will the AFC<\/p>\n<p>do for the Youth in Guyana? <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><img border=0 width=4<\/p>\n<p>height=105 id=&#8221;_x0000_i1037&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_11.jpg&#8221;><\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>Jobs? Housing? Education? Sports? Scholarship?<\/p>\n<p>Entrepreneurial Opportunities? Loans? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<h6>JOBS? <\/h6>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=80<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1038&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_12.jpg&#8221;><\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>Introduce a national skills training scheme to train<\/p>\n<p>young people for jobs. Recruit professional qualified teachers by providing an<\/p>\n<p>incentive package for primary and secondary teachers that better reflects the<\/p>\n<p>worth of their work to society and <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>includes special arrangement to assist<\/p>\n<p>teachers in owning a home. An Employment Insurance programme that provides job<\/p>\n<p>training and self employment assistance. Train women in non &#8211; traditional<\/p>\n<p>sectors. Provide the opportunity of finding alternative means of employment. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6>EDUCATION? <\/h6>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=72<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1039&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_13.jpg&#8221;><\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>A comprehensive view of the education system from<\/p>\n<p>Nursery to University to ensure that educational and management methods are<\/p>\n<p>effective and relevant for students in all regions, include subjects that will<\/p>\n<p>lead to a better understanding and appreciation of our religions, and civic<\/p>\n<p>responsibilities in the national curriculum. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Distance and open learning education<\/p>\n<p>programmes for Indigenous Peoples and people living in the hinterland areas.<\/p>\n<p>Train teachers to use teaching methods that recognize that they are many ways<\/p>\n<p>of defining intelligence and that each child has a special intelligence and<\/p>\n<p>motivation which teachers, parents and others working with children have an<\/p>\n<p>obligation to discover and build upon. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Provide school uniforms and text books to the<\/p>\n<p>most vulnerable as defined by a means test. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6>WORKSHOPS? <\/h6>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=63<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1040&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_14.jpg&#8221;><\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>A youth volunteer service programme that allows young<\/p>\n<p>people to travel in &#8211; country to work on volunteer community projects<\/p>\n<p>while acquiring skills and deepening their love for the country. Social<\/p>\n<p>Assistance that provides opportunities for unemployed persons to be trained<\/p>\n<p>while receiving benefits. Provide on going opportunities and incentives for<\/p>\n<p>training and skills building. Embark on a public awareness campaign to educate<\/p>\n<p>the youths about their responsibilities and to be law abiding citizens. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6>SPORTS? <\/h6>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=52<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1041&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_15.jpg&#8221;><\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>Increase recreational and sporting facilities and<\/p>\n<p>activities for youth. Introduce quality out of school sporting, recreational,<\/p>\n<p>cultural, entrepreneurial and other programmes from primary to secondary<\/p>\n<p>school. Create and strengthen initiatives such as a national orchestra, a<\/p>\n<p>national dance company and prizes for literature and the performing arts.<\/p>\n<p>Festivals for the celebration of the performing and literary arts. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6>ENTERPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITIES? <\/h6>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=53<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1042&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_16.jpg&#8221;><\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>Access to low interest loans and business training for<\/p>\n<p>vulnerable groups. Programmes to use the skills and experience of retired<\/p>\n<p>professionals to train youths for job opportunities. Introduce quality out of<\/p>\n<p>school entrepreneurial and other programmes from Primary to Secondary. Training<\/p>\n<p>programmes to teach youths to use computers as a tool for enchancing their job<\/p>\n<p>skills. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>SCHOLARSHIPS? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4<\/p>\n<p>height=1 id=&#8221;_x0000_i1043&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_17.jpg&#8221;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=36<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1044&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_18.jpg&#8221;><\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>Re-introduction of a scholarship scheme to reward the<\/p>\n<p>brightest and the best with the opportunity to realize their dreams. Reform the<\/p>\n<p>system for granting National Awards to the youths for outstanding achievement.<\/p>\n<p>Certificates in youth participation <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>HOUSING? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Guarantee every citizen a home by providing<\/p>\n<p>funds for rental and mortgage supplements and incentives to banks to extend<\/p>\n<p>mortgage loans at reduced interest rates. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-8-14: ANXIETY AT THE<\/p>\n<p>GEORGETOWN PRISONS <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Citizens of Georgetown today were forced to<\/p>\n<p>make a detour around the Georgetown Prisons as Police, Soldiers and the Fire<\/p>\n<p>Service ranks cordoned off the area around the Prisons. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There has been much ado about the conditions<\/p>\n<p>in the prisons particularly the remand section. Over the past few days inmates<\/p>\n<p>have been behaving riotous damaging sections of the prison and causing anxiety<\/p>\n<p>and fears of a planned jail break. The city is tense after the senseless<\/p>\n<p>killing of the four staffers of the Kaiteur Newspaper Printery. Over the<\/p>\n<p>weekend the fifth employee of Kaiteur News Newspaper Printery <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>succumbed to the gun shot injuries he<\/p>\n<p>received. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Yesterday three of the suspected bank robbers<\/p>\n<p>who carted off millions of dollars from the Republic Bank and Demerara Bank at<\/p>\n<p>Rose Hall on the Corentyne Coast, Berbice were killed by Police and millions of<\/p>\n<p>dollars along with two AK 47 Assault Rifles were recovered. The Guyana Defence<\/p>\n<p>Force has announced that the weapons were from the set stolen from its<\/p>\n<p>Headquarters at Thomas Lands a few months ago. The Army and Police continue to <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>have a strong presence in the Buxton\/Victoria<\/p>\n<p>Backlands. The three suspects, however, were killed deep in the backlands<\/p>\n<p>somewhere near Brotherson, Canje Creek, Berbice. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>However even as major unrest exists at the<\/p>\n<p>Georgetown prison Magistrates today were still remanding persons accused of<\/p>\n<p>bailable offences as if to add to the chaos and confusion at the Prison. The<\/p>\n<p>conditions at the Georgeotwn Prison are below human standards, as rancid air<\/p>\n<p>reeking with the stench of human sweat, feaeces and urine replaces oxygen. Men<\/p>\n<p>sleep huddled <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>together in much the same manner as human<\/p>\n<p>slaves were stacked in the holds of ships from Africa to the West Indies. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Today on remand who are on the self-support<\/p>\n<p>plan had to go without meals as relatives could not get close to the prison to<\/p>\n<p>deliver meals. Many returned home while other waited for hours in the broiling<\/p>\n<p>sun, until the food they brought became spoiled and then left with the hope<\/p>\n<p>that by this evening they may be able to take dinner for their relatives. In<\/p>\n<p>the meanwhile the PPP\/C government turns a blind eye to the human suffering at<\/p>\n<p>the Prisons and the violation of Article 141 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana,<\/p>\n<p>which states that <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<h6>&#8220;No person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading<\/p>\n<p>punishment or other treatment.&#8221; <\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Many Guyanese are expressing shock at the age<\/p>\n<p>of the persons committing crimes in Guyana many of them are as young as 11<\/p>\n<p>years of age. One 19 year old youth nicknamed &#8220;skinny&#8221; along with<\/p>\n<p>three others, was arrested over the weekend by Police. He is suspected to be<\/p>\n<p>the brain behind the murder of Kaiteur Newspaper Printery Staff. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is noteworthy that these young-men were<\/p>\n<p>toddlers in1992 when the PPP\/C took hold of the reins of power. They have since<\/p>\n<p>been the victims of, joblessness and hopelessness and have lived all their<\/p>\n<p>lives in abject poverty, their parents themselves victims of the same<\/p>\n<p>pernicious state of affairs. Meanwhile the only solution the PPP\/C offers to<\/p>\n<p>solve the social problem of poverty and crime is to kill the victim cum<\/p>\n<p>perpetrator. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6>RISING ANXIETY LEVELS IN GEORGETOWN <\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>With the upcoming elections foremost in the<\/p>\n<p>minds of most Guyanese, the citizens of Georgetown are reeling from one<\/p>\n<p>shocking crime to another. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The city is tense after the senseless killing<\/p>\n<p>of the four staffers at the Kaiteur Newspaper Printery. Over the weekend, we<\/p>\n<p>have learnt that the fifth employee of Kaiteur News Newspaper Printery, has<\/p>\n<p>succumbed to the gun shot injuries he received during the brazen and utterly<\/p>\n<p>lawless attack. Yesterday three of the suspected bank robbers who carted off<\/p>\n<p>millions of dollars from the Republic Bank and the Demerara Bank at Rose Hall<\/p>\n<p>on the Corentyne, Berbice were killed <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>by Police and millions of dollars along with<\/p>\n<p>two AK 47 Assault Rifles were recovered. Officials from the Guyana Defense<\/p>\n<p>Force have confirmed that the weapons were from the set stolen from its<\/p>\n<p>Headquarters at Thomas Lands a few months ago. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Meanwhile, the Army and Police continue to<\/p>\n<p>have a strong presence in the Buxton\/Victoria Backlands to deter any further<\/p>\n<p>violence. Amidst all of this, citizens of Georgetown were today forced to make<\/p>\n<p>a detour around the Georgetown Prisons as Police, Soldiers and the Fire Service<\/p>\n<p>ranks cordoned off the area causing anxiety and fears of a planned jailbreak.<\/p>\n<p>Over the past few days, inmates at this facility have been rioting and have<\/p>\n<p>damaged several sections of the jail, which is located within Georgetown. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It has been reported that the conditions at<\/p>\n<p>the Georgetown Prison are below human standards, as rancid air reeking with the<\/p>\n<p>stench of human sweat, faeces and urine replaces oxygen. Men sleep huddled<\/p>\n<p>together in much the same manner, as human slaves were stacked in the holds of<\/p>\n<p>ships from Africa to the West Indies. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>If this was not enough, Magistrates are still<\/p>\n<p>remanding persons accused of bailable offences thus adding to the chaos and<\/p>\n<p>confusion at the already overcrowded and festering Prison. While the ruling<\/p>\n<p>government appears to be turning a blind eye to the human suffering at the<\/p>\n<p>Prisons, most Guyanese are expressing shock at the age of the persons<\/p>\n<p>committing crimes in Guyana. Many of these offenders are as young as 11 years<\/p>\n<p>of age. One 19-year-old youth nicknamed &#8220;skinny&#8221; along with three<\/p>\n<p>others, was arrested over the weekend by Police. He is suspected of being the<\/p>\n<p>brain behind the murders at Kaiteur Newspaper. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is argued these youths are themselves<\/p>\n<p>victims of joblessness and hopelessness and have lived all their lives in<\/p>\n<p>abject poverty. Their parents themselves are victims of the same pernicious<\/p>\n<p>state of affairs. It would appear that the social fabric of Georgetown has<\/p>\n<p>degenerated to that of a cesspool and that citizens are bracing themselves<\/p>\n<p>since the worse is yet to come if significant changes are not made. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As more news becomes available, this hotline<\/p>\n<p>will be updated. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>If you are at all concerned with the state of<\/p>\n<p>affairs in Guyana, please help spread the word. Have your friends and family<\/p>\n<p>call this toll free hotline so that they too can listen to the message of hope<\/p>\n<p>and begin to exert the change that is necessary to lift our once proud homeland<\/p>\n<p>up from the bottom of the barrel. We would also love to hear from you. You can<\/p>\n<p>press the # sign on your touch-tone phone to leave us a message. Meanwhile, do<\/p>\n<p>your part. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Spread the word. Be a catalyst for change.<\/p>\n<p>God bless you and God bless Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-8-15: TENSION CONTINUES<\/p>\n<p>AT GEORGETOWN PRISONS AND NOW IN THE MAGISTRACY <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Unrest continued top prevail today at the<\/p>\n<p>Georgetown Prisons as inmates continued to behave riotously in protest against<\/p>\n<p>the inhumane conditions they are made to dwell in. It has been revealed that<\/p>\n<p>persons on remand for narcotics are also housed in the Capital Block<\/p>\n<p>irrespective of whether the allegation relates to a minor quantity. In Guyana<\/p>\n<p>the <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>presumption of innocence does not apply to<\/p>\n<p>persons on Narcotics charges as such a person accused of being in possession of<\/p>\n<p>6 grams or Marijuana or as little as &frac12; gram of cocaine will be remanded<\/p>\n<p>without bail. It has become so ridiculous that one accused on remand has been<\/p>\n<p>there for 9 months on a charge of Larceny and he has not been afforded a trial<\/p>\n<p>date, another person was <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>yesterday remanded by a Magistrate on an<\/p>\n<p>accusation of depriving a woman of a gold chain, while yet another person is on<\/p>\n<p>remand for Assault. These are all bailable offences. Magistrates have been<\/p>\n<p>indicating that they are being instructed by the Chief Justice as to how, when<\/p>\n<p>and in what circumstances to grant or refuse bail. In other cases bail is being<\/p>\n<p>used as a punishment and is set beyond the affordability of defendants thus<\/p>\n<p>leaving them to be incarcerated. The Chief Justice is acting Chancellor of the<\/p>\n<p>Judiciary, while still the incumbent Chief Justice a situation that is rife<\/p>\n<p>with political considerations and clearly against the <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Constitution of Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It appears that for questionable reasons the<\/p>\n<p>Chief is interfering with or fettering the discretion of Magistrates as it<\/p>\n<p>relates to bail and to how they should execute their duties as such the prison<\/p>\n<p>is unacceptably overcrowded and unhealthy. There has been a recent out break of<\/p>\n<p>chicken pox in the remand sections of the prison the medical needs of inmates<\/p>\n<p>are catered for by a Medics and not a full time Doctor. The Prison authorities<\/p>\n<p>have complained to the Minister of Home Affairs but the situation remains the<\/p>\n<p>same. Meanwhile the same Minister of Home Affairs Gail Texeira recently<\/p>\n<p>announced that the government that is the PPP\/C government wants armed<\/p>\n<p>criminals and gang members who <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>have been terrorizing villages dead or alive<\/p>\n<p>but more particularly dead. In the circumstances there seems to be no concern<\/p>\n<p>for such perpetrators to be brought to justice so that the <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>courts could be possessed of all the facts<\/p>\n<p>surrounding the activities of these persons. Many questions remain unanswered<\/p>\n<p>as to how these bands or armed youths acquired high powered assault rifles, who<\/p>\n<p>is financing their operations, where the 30 Rifles (AK 47) stolen from the<\/p>\n<p>Guyana Defence Force are located these and several other questions will remain<\/p>\n<p>unanswered if these men are killed on sight as seems to be the interest of the<\/p>\n<p>PPP\/C government and like so many other questions and missing persons and<\/p>\n<p>sponsored murders there will be no answers and no trials. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>One Magistrate in protest yesterday adjourned<\/p>\n<p>all cases indefinitely and walked off the bench. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-8-17:Power has to be<\/p>\n<p>given back to the people &#8211; Trotman (by Miranda LaRose -Stabroek News) <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>AFC presidential candidate Raphael Trotman<\/p>\n<p>says that power has to be given back to the people starting with the Office of<\/p>\n<p>the President. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In an interview with Stabroek News, he said the<\/p>\n<p>Alliance For Change (AFC) has been campaigning in strongholds of the PPP\/C and<\/p>\n<p>PNCR and is aiming to secure at the minimum, 34 parliamentary seats. &quot;If<\/p>\n<p>the AFC treats these areas as strongholds of other political parties, that<\/p>\n<p>would daunt our spirits, and make us apprehensive and fearful, but we are<\/p>\n<p>confident,&quot; he said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On the campaign trail in known PPP\/C or PNCR<\/p>\n<p>strongholds there has been no open or naked hostility, he said, noting that the<\/p>\n<p>complaint they get is that people need to hear more from the AFC on the need to<\/p>\n<p>end racial politics and violence. He noted that the party&#8217;s message on the need<\/p>\n<p>for development that sees all Guyanese working together has been well received.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Asked to comment on remarks that he and prime<\/p>\n<p>ministerial candidate Khemraj Ramjattan were not electable because of their<\/p>\n<p>past association with the PNCR and PPP\/C, Trotman said that &quot;people who<\/p>\n<p>are bitter&quot; would make those statements. He said that the voters recognise<\/p>\n<p>that the leadership of the AFC is different and that the alliance is making<\/p>\n<p>inroads in &quot;so-called strongholds.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He cited as unacceptable the outburst on<\/p>\n<p>Nomination Day by PPP\/C&#8217;s presidential candidate Bharrat Jagdeo, that the PPP\/C<\/p>\n<p>would gather more Afro Guyanese votes than all of the AFC&#8217;s votes together. The<\/p>\n<p>AFC, Trotman said, does not go around seeking support by colour but its support<\/p>\n<p>is coming from Guyanese from all walks of life. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Noting too that some disparaging personal<\/p>\n<p>remarks were made against the AFCs leadership at the PPP\/C rally at Albion, he<\/p>\n<p>said that based on all he has read, heard and seen on television, all the<\/p>\n<p>contesting parties, with the exception of the PPP\/C, were trying to address<\/p>\n<p>issue-based politics but the PPP\/C was behaving as though they were characters<\/p>\n<p>in a comic strip by making references to cock-eyed policies in evoking laughter<\/p>\n<p>and trying to ridicule. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Issue-based campaign <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&quot;The PPP\/C cannot speak to crime issues<\/p>\n<p>because the crime rate has increased a hundred fold over the last five years.<\/p>\n<p>They have failed in crime, infrastructure, health, and in terms of the economy.<\/p>\n<p>They cannot come with an issue-based campaign. In their campaign, they would<\/p>\n<p>have to personalise the attacks on the leaders of other parties,&quot; he said.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On the alliance&#8217;s governance plan, Trotman<\/p>\n<p>said the AFC believes that power has to be given back to the people starting<\/p>\n<p>with the devolution of power from the Office of the President and reshaping the<\/p>\n<p>regional system to be more involved in the decision-making and implementation<\/p>\n<p>processes. The AFC believes that the Regional Executive Officer should be an<\/p>\n<p>elected official as it has found that the REO&#8217;s position has become very<\/p>\n<p>political. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He thinks that &quot;the traditional notion<\/p>\n<p>of public servants being insulated from political interference and influence<\/p>\n<p>has been shattered in Guyana. One has to only look at the PPP\/C list of<\/p>\n<p>candidates and find that there are two permanent secretaries on the list of<\/p>\n<p>candidates&#8230; We have found in all the regions that the persons appointed REOs<\/p>\n<p>invariably have been persons who operate at the displeasure of the citizenry<\/p>\n<p>but based in part on the diktat of the party to benefit supporters and their<\/p>\n<p>family members while the poor struggle to eke out a living.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He feels that as obtains in other countries,<\/p>\n<p>where municipalities are treated like corporations, the chief accounting<\/p>\n<p>officers for the administrative regions should be elected. If they cannot<\/p>\n<p>perform then they should be removed from office in local government elections.<\/p>\n<p>And apart from the mayors, town clerks too should be elected. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He said it was agreed generally that the<\/p>\n<p>winner-take-all system was not working for Guyana so that on taking office the<\/p>\n<p>AFC would offer 50% of cabinet offices to other parties and technocrats.<\/p>\n<p>Because the winner-take-all system has failed he said the AFC would initiate some<\/p>\n<p>constitutional engineering to start the process of change in governance. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Asked what the AFC&#8217;s main priority or concern<\/p>\n<p>is, Trotman said crime and security in keeping with the views of the Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>people, and the AFC has drawn up plans with the help of security experts in and<\/p>\n<p>out of Guyana. To highlight this issue, he related that on Wednesday an<\/p>\n<p>Indo-Guyanese woman made him her &#8216;rakhi&#8217; brother. As she was doing so at the<\/p>\n<p>AFC&#8217;s office in Cummings Street, he said, she said she was doing so on behalf<\/p>\n<p>of Hindu women who were living in fear. &quot;She was literally trembling and<\/p>\n<p>moved to tears as she spoke. She said it was their belief that the AFC could<\/p>\n<p>protect them and asked me to do so,&quot; he said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Ministry of <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>National Security <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>One of the planks of the security plan is to<\/p>\n<p>form a ministry of national security. &quot;We intend to transform and transfer<\/p>\n<p>the functions of the ministry of home affairs. We intend to build a new prison<\/p>\n<p>outside of Georgetown, resuscitate a special squad to respond to vicious crime<\/p>\n<p>and criminals, consolidate and reform all criminal law legislation looking at<\/p>\n<p>the entire process from investigation to prosecution, sentencing and<\/p>\n<p>punishment, and to appoint special categories of prosecutors for special<\/p>\n<p>categories of crimes such as drugs and those in which guns are used.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman said that transforming the economy<\/p>\n<p>would be difficult but the party has its strategic plan, which was put together<\/p>\n<p>with local and international planners and economists, for wealth generation and<\/p>\n<p>job creation. It includes excerpts from the National Development Strategy<\/p>\n<p>document which was pulled together by a number of local experts. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Campaign financing <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Speaking about the AFC campaign financing,<\/p>\n<p>Trotman said that contrary to popular belief that the party was overflowing<\/p>\n<p>with money, the AFC has struggled. He said one of the advantages of joining the<\/p>\n<p>race late was that the AFC did not have to sustain a party over a period of<\/p>\n<p>time so they put all the resources into campaigning &quot;but we have begun to<\/p>\n<p>look beyond campaigning for the long term.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC has benefited from contributions from<\/p>\n<p>persons in the diaspora, particularly London, New York, Atlanta, Washington and<\/p>\n<p>Toronto. Locals involved in business and commerce have also assisted. &quot;The<\/p>\n<p>talk of millions coming from different governments is as mythical as Raleigh&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>El Dorado. We have not received any funding from any foreign government or any<\/p>\n<p>foreign government-funded institution in Canada, England or the USA. It has not<\/p>\n<p>happened. It will never happen and the AFC would not accept even if<\/p>\n<p>offered,&quot; he said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He understands that one political party rang<\/p>\n<p>the US-based National Democratic Institute (NDI) to find out whether the AFC<\/p>\n<p>had received any funding from them. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Talking about the elections, Trotman said<\/p>\n<p>that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has gone ahead with poll<\/p>\n<p>preparations for August 28 but the AFC was still concerned about GECOM&#8217;s lack<\/p>\n<p>of communication on elections security before, during and after polls, the<\/p>\n<p>transmission of results from the place of poll to GECOM, the manner of the<\/p>\n<p>declaration of results given past instances where a statement of poll reflected<\/p>\n<p>a certain number of votes for a certain party but by the time it reached GECOM<\/p>\n<p>the results had changed. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC is also concerned about the printing<\/p>\n<p>and the sanctity and integrity of ballot papers during and after poll. &quot;It<\/p>\n<p>would appear that the devil goes to work after six in the Guyana<\/p>\n<p>elections,&quot; Trotman said noting that activities after that hour need to be<\/p>\n<p>carefully scrutinised. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Exit poll Even though international and local<\/p>\n<p>observers monitored the elections in the past, he said there have been<\/p>\n<p>complaints that the majority did not witness the count of ballots leaving room<\/p>\n<p>for electoral fraud and as such the AFC has decided to do exit polling using a<\/p>\n<p>reputable firm. The Gallup Poll organisation is likely to conduct the exit poll<\/p>\n<p>so that by nine at night on the day of elections, the AFC would know what to<\/p>\n<p>expect. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman said that one of the complaints about<\/p>\n<p>the international observers is that they leave the next day or at the close of<\/p>\n<p>polls without witnessing the count of ballots. He believes that the elections<\/p>\n<p>are conducted in four parts &#8211; registration, polling day, the declaration of<\/p>\n<p>results and the swearing-in. The observers need to be on the ground throughout<\/p>\n<p>the entire period, he said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And as GECOM has given assurances that<\/p>\n<p>credible elections could be held within a limited time frame given<\/p>\n<p>constitutional dilemmas, Trotman said the commission would have to accept the<\/p>\n<p>consequences of failure, which would be dire if the elections are badly<\/p>\n<p>handled. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He said the AFC has also written to the<\/p>\n<p>Chairman of GECOM, Dr Steve Surujbally, expressing the AFC&#8217;s displeasure at the<\/p>\n<p>meeting convened only for the government and the PNCR1G platform which sends a<\/p>\n<p>message across the board that preferential treatment was being given to the two<\/p>\n<p>against the other eight contesting parties. GECOM should have held individual<\/p>\n<p>meetings or collectively with all ten contesting parties, he said. The AFC has<\/p>\n<p>had no response since. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The fact that the AFC was in the race coming<\/p>\n<p>only months after the party&#8217;s launch and being able to garner support and<\/p>\n<p>candidates in all ten regions to contest the presidential, national<\/p>\n<p>parliamentary and regional elections, was a tremendous achievement, he said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He is urging that on the eve of elections<\/p>\n<p>day, all AFC candidates, members and supporters spend the day in prayer and<\/p>\n<p>reflection. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-8-18: AFC ATTRACTS LARGER<\/p>\n<p>CROWDS <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance For Change continues to draw larger<\/p>\n<p>crowds at its public meetings than the PPP\/C and the PNC\/R 1 Guyana. Last<\/p>\n<p>evening August 17, 2006 the AFC held a meeting at Festival City Entrance<\/p>\n<p>Georgetown where it amassed a sizeable crowd. Many persons returning home from<\/p>\n<p>work stopped to listen while others came out of their homes. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The meeting was punctuated with recorded<\/p>\n<p>music much to the delight of the audience, which numbered about 150 persons. It<\/p>\n<p>was reported that in the same area the PPP\/C only managed to attract about ten<\/p>\n<p>persons. This has been the trend from the commencement of the elections<\/p>\n<p>campaign. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Prime Ministerial Candidate Khemraj<\/p>\n<p>Ramjattan, and Vice Chair Sheila Holder were the main speakers. The crowd<\/p>\n<p>cheered and shouted in agreement as the dynamic leaders outlined the<\/p>\n<p>party&#8217;s position on crime, job opportunities and as they debunked the<\/p>\n<p>PPP\/C statements and advertisements. Also adding to the enthusiasm were<\/p>\n<p>Attorney-at-Law Gomattie Singh and <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>At the AFC meetings people are also coming<\/p>\n<p>forward and seeking membership on the spot at the moment the AFC membership has<\/p>\n<p>risen to well over 7,000 persons a frightening position for the both the PPP\/C<\/p>\n<p>and the PNC\/R 1G <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>MORE SUSPECTED BANK ROBBERS KILLED IN BERBICE<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Reports from New Amsterdam Berbice have<\/p>\n<p>indicated that during last night or the wee hours to this morning security<\/p>\n<p>forced killed two more suspected bank robbers and wounded another thus<\/p>\n<p>accounting for eight persons killed so far. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The wounded suspect up to this morning was in<\/p>\n<p>police custody and it was unclear whether he was taken to the hospital for<\/p>\n<p>medical attention. Three other suspects in the bank robberies were arraigned<\/p>\n<p>before the Georgetown Magistrate&#8217;s Court on indictments and were not<\/p>\n<p>required to plead. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Persons continue to air concerns over what<\/p>\n<p>seems to be a deliberate plan to wipe out the suspected bank robbers. In the<\/p>\n<p>meantime the Guyana Defence Force claims that the AK 47 rifles recovered from<\/p>\n<p>the bank robbers were from the set stolen from its Headquarters in Georgetown. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>PPP\/C NEW AMSTERDAM TURN OUT DISAPPOINTING <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Presidential Candidate for the PPP\/C has been<\/p>\n<p>in Berbice over the past two days on the campaign trail. That party attracted<\/p>\n<p>fair crowds on the Corentyne Coast albeit smaller than in the past. Thousands<\/p>\n<p>of Guyanese from the Corentyne dubbed a PPP\/C stronghold had migrated out of<\/p>\n<p>dissatisfaction. The young people on the other hand are clamourng for a change<\/p>\n<p>and a chance to see their country stand among respected nations in the world. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The PPP\/C meeting which was held over the<\/p>\n<p>past two days in New Amsterdam attracted a disappointingly small crowd of some<\/p>\n<p>50 persons though the main speaker was the party&#8217;s Presidential Candidate<\/p>\n<p>and the incumbent President. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is believed that the PPP\/C miscalculated<\/p>\n<p>its impact in New Amsterdam based on the recent hurried infrastructural works<\/p>\n<p>commenced in that township. The AFC rally in New Amsterdam at the intersection<\/p>\n<p>of Main Road and Shoe Lane had attracted thousands of supporters and residents.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-8-21: Arcop polls put AFC<\/p>\n<p>as direct challenger to PPP\/C (Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance For Change (AFC) continues to<\/p>\n<p>remain optimistic about the upcoming Regional and General Elections slated for<\/p>\n<p>next Monday. Through the expert advice of Party Adviser Dick Morris, the AFC<\/p>\n<p>had retained the services of a polling company, Arcop, which according to<\/p>\n<p>reports is one of Mexico&#8217;s best. At a press conference Friday at the party&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>Cummings Street office, Morris said that it was observed that, based on recent<\/p>\n<p>polls, the AFC has surged past the PNCR-1G and now holds <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>a firm second place while the PPP\/C remains<\/p>\n<p>in the lead. According to the Arcop poll, the PPP\/C is in first place with 36<\/p>\n<p>per cent of the votes, the AFC in second with 27 per cent and the PNCR-1G in<\/p>\n<p>third with 19 per cent. &#8220;It is now clear that the real opponent of the<\/p>\n<p>PPP\/C is the AFC,&#8221; Morris declared, adding that the PNCR-1G is no longer<\/p>\n<p>the opposition. He pointed out that the PNCR-1G&#8217;s assertion that a vote for the<\/p>\n<p>AFC is a wasted vote is totally wrong since the AFC is the only party which<\/p>\n<p>stands a chance at beating the PPP\/C. The sampling design for the polls was<\/p>\n<p>based on the construction of a sampling frame that combines the information of<\/p>\n<p>the list of voters by districts of Guyana from the Guyana <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Elections Commission internet website. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>According to polling specialist Fidel<\/p>\n<p>Gimenez, all of the people involved in carrying out interviews were properly<\/p>\n<p>trained and supervised and were not affiliated with any other parties. Polls<\/p>\n<p>were conducted in all ten administrative regions and Gimenez said that it was<\/p>\n<p>not the size of the sample that mattered but rather the quality of the sample<\/p>\n<p>where it unveiled <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>the issues to be addressed in a particular<\/p>\n<p>area. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>According a release from the AFC, in the<\/p>\n<p>survey pollsters asked those who did not vote for the PPP\/C &#8220;which party<\/p>\n<p>has the better chance of defeating the PPP\/C: the PNCR-1G and Corbin or the AFC<\/p>\n<p>and Trotman?&#8221; Voters said that the AFC and Trotman had a better chance of<\/p>\n<p>winning by 48 per cent to 33 per cent, while in a previous poll on August 8<\/p>\n<p>when the same question was asked the <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>PNCR was favoured as having the best chance<\/p>\n<p>of defeating the PPP\/C by 38 to 28 per cent. This was regarded as<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;&#8221;The Tipping Effect&#8221; by Morris who predicted that the AFC is<\/p>\n<p>now poised to make a run at the PPP\/C. He predicted, too, that the all of those<\/p>\n<p>races who are disappointed at the record of crime, corruption, sheltering of<\/p>\n<p>drug dealers and violence that the current PPP\/C Government <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>has brought to Guyana will now rally behind<\/p>\n<p>the AFC and propel it to victory. The polls also addressed which party people<\/p>\n<p>think would do a more effective job at promoting jobs and helping the economy;<\/p>\n<p>fighting crime and drugs; and ending racial politics. The polling result for<\/p>\n<p>August 16 showed that the PPP\/C garnered 34, 28, and 28 per cent in each<\/p>\n<p>respective category, the PNCR-1G with 21, 20 and 18 per cent while the AFC <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>acquired 29, 31 and 34 per cent. And the<\/p>\n<p>Kaieteur News killings were among the subjects addressed by the polls. Thirty-<\/p>\n<p>nine per cent of the sample believes that the killings were politically<\/p>\n<p>motivated while 32 per cent believe that it is very likely that the killers<\/p>\n<p>wanted to sabotage the elections by creating a climate of fear. As such the<\/p>\n<p>question of which party (AFC or PNCR-1G) will be the best party to bring fresh,<\/p>\n<p>new ideas to Government, and attract young voters, the AFC was unchallenged by<\/p>\n<p>the <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>PNCR-1G according to the results of the poll<\/p>\n<p>with 57 and 59 in each respective category compared to the PNCR-1G&#8217;s 25 and 26<\/p>\n<p>per cent. Regarding Arcop as one of the most accurate polling companies,<\/p>\n<p>Polling Specialist Fidel Gimenez told Kaieteur News that Arcop has conducted<\/p>\n<p>three polls for the AFC. These were completed on July 8, August 8 and August 16<\/p>\n<p>which showed the AFC constantly building momentum in its acquisition of votes<\/p>\n<p>and according to another Polling Specialist, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Luis Rosales, the &#8216;tipping effect&#8217; is<\/p>\n<p>likely to continue. And while no poll can guarantee a party&#8217;s victory, Luis<\/p>\n<p>Rosales, also of Arcop, said that the purpose was intended to help the party<\/p>\n<p>derive strategies for its campaign. He said that although the AFC is already<\/p>\n<p>quite a sophisticated party it still needs a scientific way to determine<\/p>\n<p>exactly where it stands in terms in votes. He pointed out though that there<\/p>\n<p>could be some disadvantages to the polling system since it could be used by<\/p>\n<p>corrupt sects to defraud the electoral process thus making the need <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>for exit polls imperative. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF'>2006-8-28 7:00pm Campaign<\/p>\n<p>Mgr&#8217;s unofficial assessment by Mr. Oma Sewhdat <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h4><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#00CC00'>This assessment is made by the<\/p>\n<p>AFC&#8217;s Campaign Manager, Mr. Oma Sewhdat and <u>does not reflect the<\/p>\n<p>official statement by the AFC<\/u>. Please stay tuned. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h4>\n<div>\n<h6><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Here is what happened so far: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We started getting calls around 5:30 am<\/p>\n<p>saying that the AFC polling agents were being shut out from polling stations<\/p>\n<p>across the country this am. The Returning Officers were demanding a &#8216;letter<\/p>\n<p>of appointment&#8217; in addition to ID cards. This letter was never a<\/p>\n<p>requirement, and this was later confirmed by the Chairman of GECOMM Dr.<\/p>\n<p>Surujbally. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The strange thing was that both the PPP and PNC<\/p>\n<p>agents apparently had the requested letter in hand when they showed up and were<\/p>\n<p>allowed in. So this illegal request by the Returning Officers was of obviously<\/p>\n<p>known to the PPP and PNC ahead of time and all the Returning Officers across<\/p>\n<p>the country were trained to ask for it&#8230;. But it was not a requirement and<\/p>\n<p>the request was illegal. How do you explain that? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In addition those of our AFC agents who were<\/p>\n<p>let in and those who were let in later after we protested, find themselves not<\/p>\n<p>being given a list of voters for verification, while other agents are given<\/p>\n<p>lists to be used for verification. How weird is that? For the lists, our agents<\/p>\n<p>will try to verify with other agents&#8217; lists, but they will have a hard<\/p>\n<p>time. We are asking them to write down each person&#8217;s name who votes in<\/p>\n<p>case we need it later. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>GECOMM chair Dr. Surujbally was on TV about<\/p>\n<p>11 am to clarify that this was wrong. He said that he instructed the Ret<\/p>\n<p>Officers to let our people in based on their ID. He also contacted the<\/p>\n<p>Commissioner of police asking him to not let the police stop our people who<\/p>\n<p>have cards. So they both instructed the Ret officers to let the people in based<\/p>\n<p>on their IDs, because that&#8217;s the law. Problem is &#8211; we only got into the<\/p>\n<p>polling places around 11 am on average, and we do not know what was done, given<\/p>\n<p>what I described above. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We have alerted all the observer orgs and<\/p>\n<p>they are fanning out to go make their own assessments. We are trying to think<\/p>\n<p>ahead about what will happen and what other surprise will happen when the polls<\/p>\n<p>close. We are now getting reports from Berbice that our people are now being<\/p>\n<p>told that without the &#8216;illegal&#8217; letter, they will not be able to<\/p>\n<p>observe the count. We have our lawyers working on that <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6>My assessment: <\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This is all very irregular and smells of<\/p>\n<p>mischief. It cannot be a coincidence that the Returning Officers are asking<\/p>\n<p>illegally for a letter which was never a requirement, and the PPP and PNC<\/p>\n<p>agents turn up with prepared letters when they showed up this morning.. you be<\/p>\n<p>the judge. On the matter of the lists, it is inconceivable to me that our<\/p>\n<p>people will noit be given lists. I spoke with the EU and other bodies who said<\/p>\n<p>that they inquired about this.. are there enough lists and will all agents and<\/p>\n<p>observers get copies. They were told yes. They also said that they were at<\/p>\n<p>GECOMM today and that there were piles of lists there.. so you figure that<\/p>\n<p>out.. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It&#8217;s totally ridiculous, but we have<\/p>\n<p>regrouped and will stay the course. We are not sure what tricks they will pull<\/p>\n<p>after the polls close, but we are lining up people and lawyers where available<\/p>\n<p>across the country to get engaged if reports of mischief start coming through. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h4><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#00CC00'>Unofficial Update by Mr. Oma<\/p>\n<p>Sewhdat AFC Campaign Manager <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-9-1: To the People of<\/p>\n<p>Guyana <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To the People of Guyana <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As we await the results of the election the<\/p>\n<p>Alliance for Change would like to say to all Guyanese how much we have<\/p>\n<p>appreciated your support since we started this movement to fundamentally change<\/p>\n<p>our country. Even if you did not vote for us we want to engage you in the continuing<\/p>\n<p>process of healing and reconciliation. At this juncture as we consider the<\/p>\n<p>results of the election we want to thank all those who gave of themselves and<\/p>\n<p>their resources and for the warmth and encouragement with which <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>we were greeted in every region and in every<\/p>\n<p>home that we visited. We respect everyone&#8217;s choice and now that the<\/p>\n<p>election is over we expect people to move forward together as <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Guyanese to help in the reconstruction of<\/p>\n<p>this nation. The AFC entered this election race with the intention of ending<\/p>\n<p>the racial divide and stopping the cycle of post election violence and it is<\/p>\n<p>our expectation that all Guyanese now realize that we are mature enough to<\/p>\n<p>conduct an election just like we go about life from day to day, sharing our<\/p>\n<p>space together and living like brothers and sisters. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC entered this election to deny any<\/p>\n<p>single party a majority in parliament so that our parliamentary system for the<\/p>\n<p>first time could better articulate the needs and aspirations <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>of a wider section of the Guyanese society,<\/p>\n<p>and be more accountable as a society. The AFC entered this election to be the<\/p>\n<p>conscience of the nation, to ensure inclusiveness and to provide representation<\/p>\n<p>for the people in parliament in a responsible and constructive way. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We are willing to work with all the parties<\/p>\n<p>and the people of Guyana in taking this country forward and stand unwavering in<\/p>\n<p>our quest for full accountability and transparency in the <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>affairs of this nation to the people of<\/p>\n<p>Guyana. To Guyanese in the diaspora we would like to say how much we value your<\/p>\n<p>contributions to our efforts, the opening of your hearts, and your promise of<\/p>\n<p>continuing support in the journey ahead. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We will create a better Guyana if we continue<\/p>\n<p>to shed the weight of racial division and utilize the skills and energy of all,<\/p>\n<p>for the benefit of all. The struggle continues. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-9-2: AFC will continue<\/p>\n<p>to be a force to be reckoned with &#8211; &#8211; Ramjattan -Sees sixth seat in the offing <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance for Change (AFC) has pledged to<\/p>\n<p>continually be a force to be reckoned with, and assured its supporters that the<\/p>\n<p>party will be around for the next elections. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Speaking yesterday at a press conference at<\/p>\n<p>the party&#8217;s Lime and Bent Streets office, AFC Leader Raphael Trotman said its<\/p>\n<p>contributors are elated at the party&#8217;s performance, and <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>many more Guyanese will gradually begin to<\/p>\n<p>view the movement in a new light. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;&#8230;there will be more who see<\/p>\n<p>things the way we do. Guyana will continue to grow and the AFC will be part of<\/p>\n<p>that process,&#8221; Trotman said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He stated that some Guyanese have already<\/p>\n<p>decided to eschew racial voting and forge a new path towards unity. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>According to Trotman, the AFC&#8217;s only regret<\/p>\n<p>is that it did not prevent a single party from amassing a majority. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>However, he said this is overshadowed by the<\/p>\n<p>significant breakthrough in the pattern of voter trends in Guyana . <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He noted that the party is still finalising<\/p>\n<p>arrangements to fill the five seats in parliament even though there might be a<\/p>\n<p>sixth seat to fill. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman explained that five ballot boxes from<\/p>\n<p>Linden are still to be counted and the party has information that it has won an<\/p>\n<p>additional seat in parliament. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;We feel that we are entitled to a<\/p>\n<p>sixth seat and we are checking to see in terms of transparency&#8230;We have<\/p>\n<p>asked GECOM to count the remaining ballots,&#8221; Trotman disclosed. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He said the argument that AFC has split the<\/p>\n<p>PNC&#8217;s votes is without merit, since a combination of the votes would not have<\/p>\n<p>made a difference. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman said that accepting offers to join the<\/p>\n<p>government is not on the party&#8217;s agenda, but AFC is willing to work along with<\/p>\n<p>all parliamentary bodies. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;But we do have our own programme of<\/p>\n<p>minimum works that we expect to see the government deliver,&#8221; AFC Chairman<\/p>\n<p>Sheila Holder remarked. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Holder said there has not been a level<\/p>\n<p>playing field and legislation should be put in place to ensure that funds spent<\/p>\n<p>on campaign trails are legitimate. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>According to Trotman, the winner-take-all<\/p>\n<p>system has long stifled Guyana and the party is anticipating significant<\/p>\n<p>political reforms. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He stated that the party has received gifts<\/p>\n<p>and loans in the form of vehicles and computers that have assisted in their<\/p>\n<p>success. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman stated that the AFC polls were a<\/p>\n<p>major contributor and the party has kept in daily contact with Dick Morris. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He noted that the low voter turnout might be<\/p>\n<p>a signal that the electorate has rejected the proposals of the respective<\/p>\n<p>parties. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Commenting on the low support from Region<\/p>\n<p>Six, Khemraj Ramjattan said the people were led by the PPP to believe that a<\/p>\n<p>vote for the AFC is a vote for the PNC. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Ramjattan said this was improper on the part<\/p>\n<p>of the PPP. He noted that the party has not been without its share of<\/p>\n<p>campaigning terror, and had to deal with the detainment of one of its activists<\/p>\n<p>in the bank robbery, the spray painting of a supporter&#8217;s temple and the firing<\/p>\n<p>of another supporter. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>However, the party said it is not daunted by<\/p>\n<p>the harsh devices and will continue to grow from each experience. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-9-17: The Alliance for<\/p>\n<p>Change Column &#8226; Voices of its principles-Why so much arrogance so<\/p>\n<p>early?(Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There must always be an ever-present<\/p>\n<p>adherence to the rule of law and constitutional governance by the political<\/p>\n<p>leadership of a democracy. Such an adherence is what makes a democracy alive,<\/p>\n<p>and what keeps it sustained. And this is largely so because, as a form of<\/p>\n<p>government and a method of governance, democracy is indeed very fragile, moreso<\/p>\n<p>when those underlying cultures of tolerance and transparency, respect and<\/p>\n<p>responsibility have not as yet found firm foundation in the minds of the<\/p>\n<p>citizens who live in that democracy. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Guyana &#8216;s democracy is indeed fragile. But<\/p>\n<p>our countrymen and political leadership, right up to the swearing in of the<\/p>\n<p>President on 31 st August 2006, proved that we have gone that further mile in<\/p>\n<p>strengthening it. We must thank God for this development; and, of course,<\/p>\n<p>ourselves. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But I have this lurking suspicion that an<\/p>\n<p>arrogance, especially forthcoming from the President, is seeping in; and this<\/p>\n<p>can do harm to this fragile democracy. There have been certain instances over<\/p>\n<p>the past few days which have raised this red flag. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Firstly, the President well knew that after<\/p>\n<p>his swearing-in ceremony on 31 st August 2006 the September 3rd nd 2006<\/p>\n<p>constitutional deadline for the convening of Parliament was quickly rushing<\/p>\n<p>upon him. He ought to know that constitutional deadlines should be met; after<\/p>\n<p>all, the Constitution is far more supreme than his Executive Presidency. But<\/p>\n<p>what was his response to meeting this deadline &#8211; a deadline which, by the way,<\/p>\n<p>could have easily been met by him making the Proclamation immediately after his<\/p>\n<p>swearing-in that Parliament shall be convened on 2 nd September 2006? Instead,<\/p>\n<p>his response has resulted in a flagrant violation of an important constitutional<\/p>\n<p>timeline. The notoriety of his ill-advised assertion, &#8220; <b><i>I will not<\/p>\n<p>be rushed!&#8221; <\/i><\/b>, will come back to haunt him. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This misconduct on President Jagdeo&#8217;s part in<\/p>\n<p>2006 is the equivalent to the notorious flinging over her shoulder of the Court<\/p>\n<p>documents by another PPP\/C President, Ms. Jagan, in 1997. &#8220; <b><i>I will<\/p>\n<p>not be rushed&#8221; <\/i><\/b>, is tantamount to President Jagdeo flinging the<\/p>\n<p>Constitution over his shoulder. Ms. Jagan apologised for her misconduct shortly<\/p>\n<p>afterwards in 1997. I doubt whether President Jagdeo ever will. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Secondly, whilst the President was not<\/p>\n<p>rushing to perform his constitutional function of convening Parliament within<\/p>\n<p>the timeline, he was rushing to appoint Cabinet members out of persons who had<\/p>\n<p>not yet reached the status of elected Members of Parliament. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is my legal opinion that this status is<\/p>\n<p>only reached when the Representative of the PPP\/C List has extracted the 36<\/p>\n<p>names for seats in the National Assembly, and conveyed same to GECOM! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Any other interpretation would be a strained<\/p>\n<p>one. All the more reason for the significance of the AFC&#8217;s originating<\/p>\n<p>litigation brought before the High Court, which will settle these issues once<\/p>\n<p>and for all. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>All these ministers, excepting four who can<\/p>\n<p>be non-elected members, may very well have to suffer the embarrassment of<\/p>\n<p>having to go through the swearing-in process a second time because of the<\/p>\n<p>President&#8217;s non-adherence to the Rule of Law. By way of an aside at this point,<\/p>\n<p>such a pliant selection, Nagamootoo being so violently and visibly absent, will<\/p>\n<p>also not encourage strong debates and deliberations, which are good for<\/p>\n<p>governance generally. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Thirdly, the contracting, notwithstanding all<\/p>\n<p>the criticisms directed at him, of the services of Mr. Kerik to advise the<\/p>\n<p>beleaguered Police Force, is an indication that our President does not care to<\/p>\n<p>consider the views of Guyanese. A healthy democracy will have an officialdom<\/p>\n<p>praising the efforts of its people who have scrutinised the background of<\/p>\n<p>advisors and consultants and discovered major defects and antecedents, as were found<\/p>\n<p>in Mr. Kerik. But our democracy sees its President telling his people very<\/p>\n<p>directly, and the IDB very indirectly, that, &#8220;You all can haul your ?\/\/?.<\/p>\n<p>I will do what I want!&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Why this show of arrogance so early? It will<\/p>\n<p>do our fledgling democracy no good. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-9-20: Stop the petty<\/p>\n<p>squabbling (Guyana Chronicle) <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>MOST of us have experienced apprehension,<\/p>\n<p>excitement, fear and relief on the events of the 2006 Guyana elections. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Some of us have found ourselves caught up in<\/p>\n<p>the tailspin and hope that the last elections would have also brought about a<\/p>\n<p>change of Government from the two dominant parties, PNC-G1 and PPP\/Civic. The<\/p>\n<p>Alliance for Change (AFC) promoted a multi-race party, which stressed the need<\/p>\n<p>for Guyanese to stop voting race, unite as one people and vote for change in<\/p>\n<p>our present <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>society. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In many ways, the AFC did win a victory in<\/p>\n<p>that it offered many Guyanese an alternative, to the historical race voting<\/p>\n<p>issues and an opportunity to move Guyana forward away from the perpetual<\/p>\n<p>policies of the old parties, As a Guyanese, I am disturbed by the recent<\/p>\n<p>actions by one of the now resigned AFC secretaries Mrs. Gaumattie Singh against<\/p>\n<p>her party, after not being given a seat in Parliament. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Her actions against the party leader clearly<\/p>\n<p>indicate, in my view, that Mrs. Singh did not join the party for change in the<\/p>\n<p>political and domestic arena. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The leaders of the AFC party made a choice to<\/p>\n<p>appoint two individuals who they felt would represent the people in those regions.<\/p>\n<p>On the AFC action plan for change one of the candidates listed is the sister of<\/p>\n<p>the Leader of the party, a Mrs. Avril Anande Trotman who was also not offered a<\/p>\n<p>seat. In my view, the party&#8217;s decision was not one of preferential<\/p>\n<p>treatment and favouritism, but practicality. Mrs. Singh needs to be reminded<\/p>\n<p>that there are many like herself who worked tirelessly as well and were not<\/p>\n<p>afforded a seat in Parliament. So how can anyone measure one&#8217;s work <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>and support over another? Whether the AFC had<\/p>\n<p>won four seats or 64 seats, there are many competent and hard working<\/p>\n<p>supporters who assisted the party in its attempt to reach its goals. It is not<\/p>\n<p>a measure of who worked hardest or contributed the most funds but one who can<\/p>\n<p>best represent the people and be most effective in doing so in Parliament. The<\/p>\n<p>decision of who to appoint would rest with the executive and the leadership for<\/p>\n<p>those who would best represent the electorate. This decision becomes more<\/p>\n<p>difficult with a <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>small poll of seats. To ensure one can afford<\/p>\n<p>a seat, one needs to stay focused and assist the AFC party to win more<\/p>\n<p>supporters over. We, the overseas Guyanese people, are quite a displaced race.<\/p>\n<p>Some of us are treated like second-class citizens in many lands. Many of us<\/p>\n<p>dream of coming home, so to you individuals who want to get involved with the<\/p>\n<p>good governance of the people of Guyana, please remember our Motto, &#8220;One<\/p>\n<p>People, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>One Nation, One Destiny&#8221; and please<\/p>\n<p>let&#8217;s stop this petty squabbling. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>CANDY HARRISON <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-9-24: Alliance for<\/p>\n<p>Change Column Voices of its Principles -The Ms. Gaumatie Singh fallout<\/p>\n<p>(Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The General and Regional elections have come<\/p>\n<p>and gone and one could not help but notice that the various local, regional and<\/p>\n<p>international observer groups scrupulously avoided pronouncing the process<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;fair&#8217;. They opted instead to focus on commending the Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>people, the contesting political parties and GECOM on the peaceful and orderly<\/p>\n<p>path that the electoral process took. The reason being that the PPPC had taken to<\/p>\n<p>new heights the authoritarian notion that &#8216;no smart government should<\/p>\n<p>loose an elections&#8217;. Their blatant abuse of incumbency privileges is now<\/p>\n<p>legendary. The Cabinet outreach exercises is but one such, the doling out of<\/p>\n<p>gifts and buying votes from an uninformed and deprived electorate were displays<\/p>\n<p>of gross indiscretions that will further sully the image of the PPPC as a<\/p>\n<p>government steeped in corruption. Regrettably, the image of Guyana will also<\/p>\n<p>suffer further damage as a consequence. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Talking about damage, one can hardly fail to<\/p>\n<p>notice the great lengths to which Ms Gaumatie Singh has gone to damage the<\/p>\n<p>image of the Alliance For Change (AFC) because, from her point of view, she was<\/p>\n<p>entitled to an AFC Parliamentary seat based on promise(s) she perceived were<\/p>\n<p>made to her by the leadership of the AFC. The AFC is unaware of any such<\/p>\n<p>promise being made<b>. <\/b>She argues that, since this promise was not<\/p>\n<p>fulfilled by one or the other in the AFC leadership, the AFC and all that its<\/p>\n<p>thousands of members worked hard and diligently to build over the last ten<\/p>\n<p>months of its existence, is deserving of her destructive wrath. Well, several<\/p>\n<p>thousands of AFC members disagree. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The object of Ms. Gaumatie Singh&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>wrath and those who have jumped on the bandwagon seem to be one of destruction<\/p>\n<p>of the AFC. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Her objective in this regard first came to<\/p>\n<p>the AFC&#8217;s attention weeks before the elections. The occasion was the<\/p>\n<p>publication of the list of candidates for the AFC which she mistakenly<\/p>\n<p>concluded was published in order of priority. Threats to &#8216;break-up&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>the AFC followed if corrective action was not taken to elevate her name on the<\/p>\n<p>list. It was patiently pointed out to her then that the electoral laws did not<\/p>\n<p>require the AFC to list their candidates&#8217; name in order of priority and<\/p>\n<p>if she were to look at the list more carefully she would have noticed that the<\/p>\n<p>names of the AFC presidential and prime ministerial candidates were positioned<\/p>\n<p>below hers. This threat to &#8216;break-up the AFC&#8217; signalled that Ms.<\/p>\n<p>Gaumatie Singh was unworthy to represent the AFC in the National Assembly and<\/p>\n<p>thank God the Representative of the list did not select her. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is important to note that this threat<\/p>\n<p>first came not after names of candidates were extracted from the AFC&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>list for the National Assembly but a few weeks before the elections were even<\/p>\n<p>run off August 28, 2006. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A meeting of the AFC Steering Committee was<\/p>\n<p>called for the purpose of deciding on the selection of candidates for the<\/p>\n<p>National Assembly. Ten members of the AFC Steering Committee, one of whom was<\/p>\n<p>Ms Singh attended, devised the criteria for selection of candidates, and<\/p>\n<p>provided the representative of the list with a short list that included Ms.<\/p>\n<p>Singh&#8217;s name. By so doing the Steering Committee gave the representative<\/p>\n<p>of the list the right to make the final selection of the two candidates. The<\/p>\n<p>Committee had agreed unanimously on the three principals. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What followed thereafter in email<\/p>\n<p>communications between AFC Chairman, Mr. Raphael Trotman, and Ms. Gaumatie<\/p>\n<p>Singh highlighted the poor judgement on the part of Mr. Trotman in attempting<\/p>\n<p>to calm her ranting and raving threats to do grievous harm to the body politic<\/p>\n<p>of the AFC. The method he employed left a lot to be desired in that it<\/p>\n<p>unjustifiably belittled Ms. Chantalle Smith&#8217;s qualifications (she has a<\/p>\n<p>degree from a well-known Canadian university and a history of credible work<\/p>\n<p>experiences in Canada and Guyana) for selection to serve AFC supporters in the<\/p>\n<p>National Assembly. He has paid a dear price for such poor judgement, but his<\/p>\n<p>saving grace resided in the fact that what he did was done in an effort to save<\/p>\n<p>the AFC from the fallout it has since suffered. He has done the decent thing by<\/p>\n<p>publicly apologising to Ms. Smith for the injury he caused her to suffer and in<\/p>\n<p>the process strengthened the bonds in the leadership. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Many others from among the membership of the<\/p>\n<p>AFC tried valiantly, to no avail, to steer Ms. Gaumatie Singh from the path of<\/p>\n<p>rancour she had chosen. In this regard, a strong delegation from the membership<\/p>\n<p>of the AFC Georgetown group intervened by hastily arranging a meeting with the<\/p>\n<p>AFC leadership to resolve the discontent she had revealed to them she harboured<\/p>\n<p>as a result of her non selection to represent the AFC in the National Assembly.<\/p>\n<p>She failed to show up at that meeting which was held between AFC leader, Mr.<\/p>\n<p>Khemraj Ramjattan, Vice-Chairperson Sheila Holder and the AFC group. As the<\/p>\n<p>meeting was in progress, the group received word that Ms. Gaumatie Singh had<\/p>\n<p>reneged on her promise to them not to publicise the matter until they would<\/p>\n<p>have met with us. Thereupon, they terminated the meeting and apologised for<\/p>\n<p>having wasted our time. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This sordid affair reveals one major<\/p>\n<p>deficiency in our electoral system that reposes the choice of parliamentary<\/p>\n<p>representatives in the hands of the representative of a political party&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>list. As the principals of the AFC have been saying since forming the AFC, this<\/p>\n<p>choice should properly and democratically reside with the people. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is clear that other political forces<\/p>\n<p>antagonistic to the AFC have seized on a perceived weakness to try to destroy<\/p>\n<p>the AFC by keeping the issue alive. They should be told that already Ms.<\/p>\n<p>Singh&#8217;s threat to persuade supporters to withdraw their membership has<\/p>\n<p>fallen on deaf ears. No one has resigned but her. In fact members throughout<\/p>\n<p>Guyana have remained in solidarity with the leadership on this issue and<\/p>\n<p>support its decisions. The AFC will survive this storm in a teacup because the<\/p>\n<p>membership has deemed that it must. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-9-26: The Alliance For<\/p>\n<p>Change (Stabroek News Editorial) <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance For Change did not get the<\/p>\n<p>number of votes many had hoped it would and indeed the polls had predicted.<\/p>\n<p>Possibly as election day approached there was that hardening of traditional<\/p>\n<p>ethnic support that many had predicted. Be that as it may the Alliance since<\/p>\n<p>its formation has had an entirely beneficial effect on local politics. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the first place, it brought into the<\/p>\n<p>political arena a substantial number of younger, well educated people who had<\/p>\n<p>previously steered clear of political involvement of any kind. Though lacking<\/p>\n<p>experience they brought to public life a higher level of discourse and, above<\/p>\n<p>all, were relatively free of the ethnic insecurities and hatreds of the older<\/p>\n<p>politicians. It also had, to some extent, the effect of making the political<\/p>\n<p>campaign less virulent and uncompromising than it usually is. There was, one<\/p>\n<p>might say, a softening of the traditional harshness. Indeed, as one writer has<\/p>\n<p>perceptively noted, it was seen by its most dedicated supporters to be aiming<\/p>\n<p>essentially at nothing less than a new political culture which sought to<\/p>\n<p>transcend ethnic loyalties and insecurities and to replace them with a more<\/p>\n<p>modern, imaginative and progressive outlook. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>That, at least, was the dream of a new Guyana<\/p>\n<p>man emancipated from tribal loyalties and it must not and should not fade. The<\/p>\n<p>alliance has a substantial presence in parliament. Its primary priority,<\/p>\n<p>surely, is to continue to articulate that vision which moved so many younger<\/p>\n<p>people and at least temporarily took their minds off emigration and lessened their<\/p>\n<p>despair. Its duty is to let its actions be clearly informed by this broader<\/p>\n<p>vision. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Raphael Trotman, Khemraj Ramjattan and Sheila<\/p>\n<p>Holder showed courage and energy by casting adrift from their own moorings and<\/p>\n<p>trying to chart a new course. They did well. They now face the hard grind of<\/p>\n<p>keeping the party going and building an organisational structure that will<\/p>\n<p>last. Perhaps some of those who offered their support will continue to keep the<\/p>\n<p>faith, not only because of the longer term possibilities but more immediately<\/p>\n<p>because of the contribution these independent younger politicians can now make<\/p>\n<p>to the political life of this country. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-9-27: AFC will not go<\/p>\n<p>into &#8220;hibernation&#8221; &#8212;Sheila Holder &#8211; Party sets up mentoring<\/p>\n<p>scheme for youths(Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance For Change (AFC) is moving in<\/p>\n<p>the direction of solidifying the structure of the party and its Chairman,<\/p>\n<p>Sheila Holder, vows that the party will not &#8220;go into hibernation&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>as is the case with several small political<\/p>\n<p>parties after an election. Holder, in an interview with Kaieteur News, said<\/p>\n<p>that one of the new initiatives of the party is to allow its Parliamentary<\/p>\n<p>representatives to provide mentorship to youths within its ranks. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;No other party has done this, but this<\/p>\n<p>mentorship programme will see the youths becoming attached to our five<\/p>\n<p>Parliamentary representatives. This will allow the youths to become <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>aware of the functioning of Parliament and<\/p>\n<p>will gear them to someday take up a place in the National Assembly,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Holder stated. According to Holder, traditionally in Guyana , the business<\/p>\n<p>community will only contribute financially at Elections and many of the smaller<\/p>\n<p>parties tend to go into a state of hibernation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;We have to avoid this so we are<\/p>\n<p>focused to ensure that this does not happen, while grappling with the<\/p>\n<p>constitutional issues in Parliament,&#8221; Holder added. She said based on<\/p>\n<p>some analyses of the results of the elections, it would appear that the party<\/p>\n<p>has to spread its message and principles to the grass root level. &#8220;The<\/p>\n<p>results signal to us that we need to do more work at the grass roots level on<\/p>\n<p>what our principles are and the only way we can do this is to strengthen our<\/p>\n<p>internal structure,&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Holder acknowledged. She noted that because<\/p>\n<p>of the closeness of the elections and the party&#8217;s launch, much work could not<\/p>\n<p>have been done on improving the party&#8217;s structure. &#8220;We were thrown into<\/p>\n<p>elections soon after our launch, but now we have time to get down to the real<\/p>\n<p>business of building a movement and mobilising people. We will not just fade <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>into the light as some would want us to<\/p>\n<p>do,&#8221; Holder stated. According to Holder, members of the party are<\/p>\n<p>preoccupied with the process of electing representatives to sit on the regional<\/p>\n<p>councils. She described the process as an extensive one, which serves as an eye-opener<\/p>\n<p>for the leadership of the party since the hierarchy was never involved in the<\/p>\n<p>process of extracting <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>names from a List of Candidates. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Recently, the party&#8217;s hierarchy was involved in<\/p>\n<p>a bitter row with Gaumatie Singh, who resigned her position in the party after<\/p>\n<p>being promised a seat in Parliament that would later be withdrawn. Holder<\/p>\n<p>related that the party&#8217;s membership has held steady despite the ensuing<\/p>\n<p>controversy over its Parliamentary representatives. &#8220;A number of<\/p>\n<p>political forces antagonistic to the AFC would like to keep the Gaumatie Singh<\/p>\n<p>issue alive, but there are more pressing issues before the party and we will<\/p>\n<p>not change <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>our position on the issue,&#8221; Holder<\/p>\n<p>said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Holder noted that she has always argued<\/p>\n<p>against presenting &#8220;racial tokens&#8221; to represent the party and<\/p>\n<p>affirmed that people who have established a credible record must always be<\/p>\n<p>selected to represent the party. She posited that the AFC intends to continue a<\/p>\n<p>selection trend which will see appointments based on criteria and not race. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-10-15: AFC to approach<\/p>\n<p>elections commission about another seat -owing to miscalculation in votes<\/p>\n<p>(Stabroek News) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance For Change (AFC) intends to<\/p>\n<p>approach the Guyana Elections Commiss-ion (GECOM) over the next few days about<\/p>\n<p>a geographic seat for Region Ten because the party believes that there was a<\/p>\n<p>miscalculation in the votes at the August 28 General and Regional Elections. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In an interview with the Stabroek News on the<\/p>\n<p>way forward with the AFC now that most of the dust from the elections had<\/p>\n<p>settled, AFC Leader Raphael Trotman said that based on statements of poll which<\/p>\n<p>GECOM finally supplied last week and based on the AFC&#8217;s documents, the<\/p>\n<p>comparisons showed that the AFC had won another seat. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&quot;We got our best support in<\/p>\n<p>Linden,&quot; he said, adding, &quot;We are now considering moving to ask GECOM<\/p>\n<p>to correct that anomaly.&quot; Trotman was not inclined to give more<\/p>\n<p>information on this issue when pressed but asked that we await the AFC&#8217;s request<\/p>\n<p>and GECOM&#8217;s response. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He said that at present the AFC was looking<\/p>\n<p>at a number of proposals to showcase its wide array of leaders and at the<\/p>\n<p>possibility of rotating Members of Parliament in the lower tiers. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And while the movement had been reading criticism<\/p>\n<p>about its leadership not being willing to enter into coalition with other<\/p>\n<p>groups, he said that the priority was for the party to define itself in a<\/p>\n<p>better way, delineate what it stands for and spell out its objectives. &quot;We<\/p>\n<p>now have an opportunity to build a political movement throughout Guyana by<\/p>\n<p>having elected bodies in all ten regions with representatives. The intention is<\/p>\n<p>to go to the next elections as a good and strong alternative.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Having to establish a whole new political<\/p>\n<p>entity and campaign for national elections in the ten administrative regions in<\/p>\n<p>under one year was a very tall order, and campaigning became a priority for the<\/p>\n<p>duration. With the elections over, establishing strong identifiable structures<\/p>\n<p>throughout the country and assessing the strengths and weaknesses were<\/p>\n<p>important for the movement to move forward in a more structured and deliberate<\/p>\n<p>way. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Noting, too, that local government elections<\/p>\n<p>were due, Trotman said that as a political movement, the AFC would have to make<\/p>\n<p>decisions about whether it should compete. &quot;We are in a sense anticipating<\/p>\n<p>the election and would likely make a decision to participate, except that a<\/p>\n<p>nice proposal is put&acirc;&#8364;&brvbar; for us to throw our weight behind<\/p>\n<p>another group that shares the same ideals that we do,&quot; he said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He expressed the view that local government<\/p>\n<p>elections were an important part of democracy because they removed the<\/p>\n<p>perception that everything resided in an Office of the President or in a<\/p>\n<p>parliament, and demonstrated that there were more important tiers of democracy.<\/p>\n<p>Once they were held in a timely manner they acted as a referendum on how<\/p>\n<p>political parties were functioning. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman said that the AFC would continue to<\/p>\n<p>engage persons who assisted financially and gave of their time and service, as<\/p>\n<p>well as attempt to be more self-sustaining through projects that brought an<\/p>\n<p>income. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>By and large, he said, the AFC was<\/p>\n<p>comfortable that once it presented its new programmes, the movement would<\/p>\n<p>garner enough support which was not necessarily financial but in the form of<\/p>\n<p>volunteers and advice. The programmes and projects would be based on the six<\/p>\n<p>themes the party had identified in its electioneering action plan and they<\/p>\n<p>included issues of crime and security, healing and reconciliation, good<\/p>\n<p>governance and education. &quot;Although we are not the government we believe<\/p>\n<p>that things can be done in each of these areas to continue our political<\/p>\n<p>work,&quot; he said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Asked about his assessment of the AFC&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>performance at the elections, Trotman said that they had not done as well as<\/p>\n<p>they expected, since they had hoped to secure a minimum of ten seats in<\/p>\n<p>parliament, but at the same time the fact that they had gained 30,000 votes was<\/p>\n<p>an achievement. &quot;We are now in fact analysing the different factors which<\/p>\n<p>influenced the final results and voting patterns. We are listening to ordinary<\/p>\n<p>people, to social commentators and people who are far more experienced than us<\/p>\n<p>in trying to get a sense of what happened and why,&quot; he said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As to preliminary findings, he said that<\/p>\n<p>there was a general belief that the actions of the PPP\/C and the PNCR had<\/p>\n<p>pulled back a lot of support from the AFC once they had put their machines into<\/p>\n<p>top gear. In addition, operating on an uneven playing field had placed the AFC<\/p>\n<p>at a disadvantage, although &quot;by the same token, we obviously could have<\/p>\n<p>done better to counter some of what was coming against us. We accept some of<\/p>\n<p>the responsibility for that.&quot; He maintained, too, that there was voting<\/p>\n<p>along racial lines. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC does not subscribe to the popular<\/p>\n<p>point of view that it took votes from the PNCR. Trotman said: &quot;We were all<\/p>\n<p>competing in an open arena. Any vote that came to us did not belong to anyone<\/p>\n<p>else. We got our best results out of Region Ten. We picked up votes across the<\/p>\n<p>country. We are disappointed that we did not do better in Region Four, which is<\/p>\n<p>a PNCR stronghold. It is safe to say that we got votes throughout the country<\/p>\n<p>and I do not subscribe to the view that votes are owned by any political<\/p>\n<p>party.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Asked for reasons why the ruling PPP\/C would<\/p>\n<p>have won the elections with 27,000 votes less than in the last <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>elections, he said that the list was inflated<\/p>\n<p>going into the elections and was not in tune with the high rate of migration<\/p>\n<p>out of Guyana not only to the USA and Canada but to neighbouring countries and<\/p>\n<p>other Caribbean territories. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There was also an element of voters&#8217; apathy<\/p>\n<p>as regards the PPP\/C. He said, &quot;It could be that people preferred not to<\/p>\n<p>vote at all than continue to support the PPP\/C. At the end of the day when we,<\/p>\n<p>not only the AFC, but other political parties, all complete our analyses we&#8217;ll<\/p>\n<p>get a better picture of what happened there.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Asked how he felt about the Dick Morris polls<\/p>\n<p>which showed the AFC would secure more votes than it did, Trotman said that,<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Certainly the polls did show that we would have done better. Even the<\/p>\n<p>Bisram polls had us doing better than we did. In the last week there was a<\/p>\n<p>congealing in the racial camps. Many people throughout the country thought we<\/p>\n<p>would have done better. Outside of the polls there was a momentum. I think we<\/p>\n<p>should focus on what happened to stifle that momentum. But there was a momentum<\/p>\n<p>that showed us certain far beyond the eight per cent that we settled down with.<\/p>\n<p>I wouldn&#8217;t discredit the Dick Morris polls. They are meant to guide at the same<\/p>\n<p>time.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On the results of the exit polls conducted at<\/p>\n<p>the elections, he said that the AFC had taken a decision a long time before not<\/p>\n<p>to share the results with the media or to use it to grandstand but to compare<\/p>\n<p>it with their election results&#8217; gathering. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On the commissioning of other polls, Trotman<\/p>\n<p>said that they were becoming more scientific and were a standard feature of<\/p>\n<p>modern politics. He agreed with pollster Vishnu Bisram who has argued that more<\/p>\n<p>polls would lead to a credible body or data base of information being<\/p>\n<p>established from which all could draw. Apart from the political standings,<\/p>\n<p>polls identified issues that no political party could shy away from, he said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Noting the controversy that surrounded the<\/p>\n<p>selection of the AFC Members of Parliament, Trotman said that the criteria used<\/p>\n<p>when the selection of MPs was discussed at a meeting of the movement&#8217;s steering<\/p>\n<p>committee was that they were not going to use race, age or gender but instead<\/p>\n<p>competence and capability. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He said, &quot;If we carried a campaign that<\/p>\n<p>said don&#8217;t vote race, vote change and end up configuring ourselves based on<\/p>\n<p>race and culture then we would have fallen victim to the very trap that we were<\/p>\n<p>asking people not to jump into. We would have started to behave like other<\/p>\n<p>parties by having token representatives and that would have in our view<\/p>\n<p>defeated the purpose of our being. If it comes to that we might as well go the<\/p>\n<p>way of Suriname and have parties representing particular ethnic blocks or we<\/p>\n<p>not&acirc;&#8364;&brvbar; have elections at all and instead determine by census<\/p>\n<p>or some other counting measure the various ethnic blocks and have a parliament<\/p>\n<p>and a government based on numerical standings of different races rather than<\/p>\n<p>hold elections. It is a debate that would continue. In my view, if we continue<\/p>\n<p>running on ethnic make-up and looking good only and revert to the very things<\/p>\n<p>we are trying to escape then we are in trouble. Certainly we have decided that<\/p>\n<p>we don&#8217;t want to fall back into the racial camps because that is what is<\/p>\n<p>killing this country.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>While he thought that the absence of violence<\/p>\n<p>at the elections could be attributed to a number of factors including peace<\/p>\n<p>messages being played, the presence of international observers and the<\/p>\n<p>professionalism of the disciplined services, he said, &quot;We at the AFC also<\/p>\n<p>like to think that our mere presence in this race helped to contain some of the<\/p>\n<p>sentiments or factors that could have propelled us into violence. In a way we<\/p>\n<p>tried to set the tone for something different. In the main we resisted<\/p>\n<p>responding in like manner to the personal attacks that came against us as<\/p>\n<p>individuals. I think our presence helped to raise the standard of campaigning<\/p>\n<p>and it did ultimately have a positive impact along with other contributing<\/p>\n<p>factors in not seeing us tip over into violence which was widely predicted and<\/p>\n<p>accepted as coming.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He concluded by saying that while the AFC was<\/p>\n<p>trying to move the nation away from racially-based voting, the movement was<\/p>\n<p>cognisant of the fact that it would not be an easy task since people would have<\/p>\n<p>to be weaned off &#8216;protectionist&#8217; type behaviour, which was innate in groupings.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-10-20: AFC Column<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Voices of its Principles&#8221; for the Kaieteur News Paper by Sheila<\/p>\n<p>Holder <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So the electoral wrong-doing meted out to the<\/p>\n<p>AFC in Region Ten (Upper Demerara\/Upper Berbice) is in the hands of the Guyana<\/p>\n<p>Elections Commission (GECOM) that is in no hurry to correct the wrong. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC has written the Chief Elections<\/p>\n<p>Officer (CEO), Gocool Boodhoo, requesting a meeting with him but the word is<\/p>\n<p>that GECOM is moving to officially publish the results of the August 28 General<\/p>\n<p>and Regional election by this weekend. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>By so doing GECOM, like Pilate, will be<\/p>\n<p>washing its hands of the wrong committed under its watch and placing it in the<\/p>\n<p>hands of the Courts which has earned a reputation for not dealing with<\/p>\n<p>electoral matters expeditiously. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>GECOM is essentially forcing the AFC to go<\/p>\n<p>via the route of an elections petition to argue its case and have the<\/p>\n<p>wrong-doing overturned, even though the Commission has already corrected its<\/p>\n<p>own error observed in the first declaration of the August 28 elections results.<\/p>\n<p>So we have had the first official result corrected so why the hesitancy to<\/p>\n<p>correct the wrong-doing to the AFC in Region Ten? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is unfortunate that these elections,<\/p>\n<p>described by many as one of the best in recent times, have thrown up some<\/p>\n<p>serious flaws. The AFC spotted very early that something was amiss with the<\/p>\n<p>Region Ten results and immediately notified the CEO of this. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The day after the elections results were<\/p>\n<p>announced, Khemraj Ramjattan and I met with the CEO and pointed out his failure<\/p>\n<p>to include in the results of several divisions from the (Upper Demerara\/Upper<\/p>\n<p>Berbice) Region and at the same time requested copies of GECOM&#8217;s Statements<\/p>\n<p>of Poll (SOP) for the purpose of comparing them with those in the possession of<\/p>\n<p>the AFC. Week before the last GECOM delivered to the AFC electronic copies of<\/p>\n<p>their SOP. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The SOPs from GECOM confirmed what the AFC<\/p>\n<p>had deduced, that we had been robbed of a Region Ten Geographical seat which<\/p>\n<p>went to the PPPC and is now occupied by Prime Minister Sam Hinds. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The pertinent questions to be asked are; when<\/p>\n<p>are the elections results required by law to be declared? And considering that<\/p>\n<p>the August 28, 2006 elections results have not been officially declared, as of<\/p>\n<p>writing this piece, what are the legal consequences for all the actions that<\/p>\n<p>flowed since the CEO declared Bharrat Jagdeo President and the PPPC winner of<\/p>\n<p>the elections? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is necessary to note here that, in their<\/p>\n<p>recent 2006 elections report by the Commonwealth Elections Observer Group the<\/p>\n<p>observers urged the administration to move with haste to reconfigure the<\/p>\n<p>composition of GECOM to allow it to take on a non-political character because<\/p>\n<p>of deadlock on many key issues and the delays caused in putting in place<\/p>\n<p>electoral arrangements. This is not the first time that this recommendation is<\/p>\n<p>being made by the Commonwealth. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC agrees with the recommendation but it<\/p>\n<p>must be pointed out that I had occasion to raise this matter and the indefinite<\/p>\n<p>term of the GECOM commissioners during a debate in the National Assembly a few<\/p>\n<p>years ago and was supported by the leader of the opposition on this stance but<\/p>\n<p>to date the status quo at GECOM remains the same. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-10-29: The Alliance for<\/p>\n<p>Change Column-LET US DEVELOP THIS DEMOCRACY&#8230;IT CAN STILL SHINE for the<\/p>\n<p>Kaieteur News By Khemraj Ramjattan <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>My thoughts on Guyana&#8217;s democracy in a piece<\/p>\n<p>two weeks ago where I argued that the political elites of ethnic-based parties<\/p>\n<p>should be blamed for our unhappy state of affairs, rather than our<\/p>\n<p>Constitution, obviously created some stir. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I got calls from various quarters. Almost all<\/p>\n<p>of those calls had an underlying message that ethnic gravitations at elections<\/p>\n<p>time by the two major ethnicities in Guyana is the source of our troubles. I<\/p>\n<p>could not disagree. But many callers illogically argued thereon, that democracy<\/p>\n<p>has failed us. Democracy, they asserted, in places like Guyana is not a good<\/p>\n<p>thing. Forget elections, just share power! Some even said that military rule<\/p>\n<p>should be the thing. Imagine that! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>My rebuttal to them was that we have failed<\/p>\n<p>our democracy. Further, I want to maintain my submission that rather than get<\/p>\n<p>esoteric and get into the realm of the impracticable and impractical, good<\/p>\n<p>governance concepts and precepts should be primary on the agenda to see this<\/p>\n<p>country move forward. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What then is to be done? The below-stated<\/p>\n<p>list is not exhaustive but is direly needed. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>(1) <b>Cultivate a national democratic<\/p>\n<p>culture <o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Though this may sound trite, the first and<\/p>\n<p>most fundamental step is the restoration of a national democratic culture into<\/p>\n<p>the Guyanese psyche. This can only be obtained through periodic elections which<\/p>\n<p>are free and fair, and free from fear. This more or less has been obtained to<\/p>\n<p>date; and must be consolidated. But there must be genuine democracy. By this I<\/p>\n<p>mean that we must never allow through the fall-off process of democracy, the<\/p>\n<p>precipitation of a majoritarian dictatorship. It must be remembered that <b>&quot;even<\/p>\n<p>well developed forms of direct and representative democracy cannot escape the<\/p>\n<p>fact that, in some circumstances, the pressures of established majorities may<\/p>\n<p>prevent certain minority opinions, demands and claims from being heard,<\/p>\n<p>realised and taken seriously&quot;. <\/b>Important minorities have been known to<\/p>\n<p>go largely unheard of in a democratic and pluralist system. The consequences of<\/p>\n<p>this can be problematic and violent. Conflicts may very well reign. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>(2) <b>Enshrine and enforce citizens&#8217; human<\/p>\n<p>rights <o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To quell at the embryonic stages then, the<\/p>\n<p>potential for any sort of conflict will require as a corollary the genuine<\/p>\n<p>entrenchment and expansion of basic human rights, the most important of which<\/p>\n<p>for me is the freedom of expression. Democratic decision-making can be realised<\/p>\n<p>only when the citizenry expresses itself individually, or has the unrestricted<\/p>\n<p>ability to do so. Hence, opinions must be encouraged through active and passive<\/p>\n<p>access to the mass media and to authentic information. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The voices of the minorities must be sought<\/p>\n<p>and heard even if only through its leaflet, a protest march, or the concealed<\/p>\n<p>expressions of an artist or critical lyrics of a calypso. No matter, how<\/p>\n<p>unconventional the opinions, they must be heard. The strange must never be<\/p>\n<p>estranged. It must be considered and taken into account. This genuine<\/p>\n<p>democratic decision-making process coming out of an exercise of one&#8217;s human<\/p>\n<p>rights can be a second step towards realising the Guyana we all so desire. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8226; <b>An enhanced local democracy <o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Democracy to be genuine must also not be overly<\/p>\n<p>top-directed; it must actively be participated in and directed from the bottom.<\/p>\n<p>This grassroots democracy has a peculiarly significant relevance in Guyana by<\/p>\n<p>virtue of the demographic enclaves to be found therein. Hence, a strengthening<\/p>\n<p>of the Local Government system with an expansion of powers to it, with<\/p>\n<p>proportionate Central Government support, will go a far way in promoting<\/p>\n<p>cooperation within an <i>inter <\/i>and <i>intra <\/i>ethnic setting in Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>(4) A responsible media <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Media can be a potent force in disseminating<\/p>\n<p>damaging prejudices which can give rise to sharp tensions within ethnic<\/p>\n<p>groupings. Man live in ideas. Through ideas and images we seek to comprehend<\/p>\n<p>our world. And through images we sometimes seek to dominate others. Images<\/p>\n<p>influence people; it can avail false perceptions. Hence, it is necessary that<\/p>\n<p>programmes within all sections of the media, T.V, radio, and other press,<\/p>\n<p>contribute towards a liberating of the mind of false perceptions. Let new<\/p>\n<p>images be created by our producers and directors, which can exorcise this demon<\/p>\n<p>which sometimes unconsciously lurks in us. This will require a highly<\/p>\n<p>sophisticated and intellectual set of media experts, but we can do it.<\/p>\n<p>Necessity will demand that we find programmes which extol the virtues of being<\/p>\n<p>judged by the content of our character rather than the colour of our skin. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>(5) Better influences from religious<\/p>\n<p>organisations and their leaderships <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>These organisations have deep-felt influences<\/p>\n<p>on ordinary Guyanese. Their leadership can do, because of the immediacy of<\/p>\n<p>their contacts with large sections of people, a great lot to make minimal, if<\/p>\n<p>not to erase totally, from their congregations the vices of being ethnically<\/p>\n<p>prejudiced. Statements of condemnations against racist fanatics, or potential<\/p>\n<p>ethnic prejudices can instil the necessary ostracism which can deter the<\/p>\n<p>development of such prejudices. One only has to remember the explicit and tacit<\/p>\n<p>support religious organisations and leaders gave to Burnham. Similarly, today<\/p>\n<p>it is quite staggering how silent they remain when so much corruption and<\/p>\n<p>incompetence and arrogance is exhibited by our political leaders. Religious<\/p>\n<p>leaders should not hide behind religion by simply saying politics and religion<\/p>\n<p>should not mix. Their silence to national wrong-doing can be tantamount to<\/p>\n<p>condonation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>(6) More relevant education policies <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Our system of education and the curricula<\/p>\n<p>involved within it must indulge in a harmonisation process, of inculcating<\/p>\n<p>values and precepts which shed the mind of superior\/inferior status of ethnic groupings.<\/p>\n<p>Ethnic stereotypes and prejudiced images are absorbed by the very young during<\/p>\n<p>early stages of adolescence and even earlier. An education system and policy<\/p>\n<p>which is scrutinised properly to ensure there be no fertilisation of prejudices<\/p>\n<p>based on skin colour or straightness\/kinkiness of hair must be implemented.<\/p>\n<p>Teaching personnel who unconsciously suffer from prejudices, and they are many<\/p>\n<p>of them, can cause their pupils to imbibe these prejudices. They must be<\/p>\n<p>spotted and counselled by specialists. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>(7) Fair employment practices legislation <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Getting the economy right is one solid<\/p>\n<p>measure which can go a far way into curing racial\/ethnic animosity. Meeting<\/p>\n<p>one&#8217;s economic needs by having a job strikes at the root of the problem. Men who<\/p>\n<p>are dissatisfied with their lot are the men who largely riot and cause<\/p>\n<p>troubles. An economic policy which defuses the ordinary tensions and uneasiness<\/p>\n<p>must be formulated and implemented. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But ensuring that there is no discrimination<\/p>\n<p>at the job levels based on race\/ethnic grounds can be strengthened through Fair<\/p>\n<p>Employment Practices laws. This requires responsible non-discriminatory<\/p>\n<p>behaviour from all employers &#8211; private and public. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-11-10: CALLING A SPADE A<\/p>\n<p>SPADE <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The hypocrisy of the practice of politics in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana prevails as GECOM remains silent after a week of refusing to address<\/p>\n<p>publicly, or in private, the overwhelming evidence presented to it by the AFC<\/p>\n<p>with respect to the Region 10 seat. From appearances, GECOM has instead chosen<\/p>\n<p>to speak through its spokesperson Donald Ramotar, (or he for the Commission).<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Ramotar has been quite vocal on the issue, vowing that the PPP\/C will not<\/p>\n<p>surrender the seat even though the popular will of the people says otherwise<\/p>\n<p>and is being flouted. That Donald Ramotar has spoken and not GECOM is nothing<\/p>\n<p>short of disgraceful. By the day, GECOM&#8217;s ability to maintain a veneer of<\/p>\n<p>thoroughness, impartiality and professionalism is crumbling. The time is ripe<\/p>\n<p>for a complete overhaul of the laws and practices of GECOM so that political<\/p>\n<p>interference and unprofessionalism are things of the past. The AFC will not let<\/p>\n<p>this matter fade away as some would have us do. GECOM has egg on its face and<\/p>\n<p>its starting to smell! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Recently, in a lengthy treatise by Eric<\/p>\n<p>Phillips, the AFC was singled out for examination and attack. A short response<\/p>\n<p>to the ridiculousness published in that letter would be to repeat the oft<\/p>\n<p>quoted title of the Guyanese comedy &#8220;if Wishes Were Horses&#8230;&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>However, a short response will not suffice in this instance. Now, the enemy of<\/p>\n<p>the PNCR-I Guyana, and by extension, the African population has been identified<\/p>\n<p>as the AFC. What poppycock! Simple mathematics would establish that even if the<\/p>\n<p>AFC&#8217;s votes were added to the PNC&#8217;s the result would be the same<\/p>\n<p>for the PNC and for the collective opposition. Polls and surveys aside, not<\/p>\n<p>even PNCR supporters believed that that party was on the verge of a historic<\/p>\n<p>victory. Perhaps the PNC and all other parties should have heeded ACDA&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>call for a boycott of the elections. The PNC itself had championed the call of<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;No verification, no election&#8221; yet its strategists must have<\/p>\n<p>advised that it should go into the election as it did. Then we had the<\/p>\n<p>collapsing of the &#8220;big tent&#8221; with Ramsaroop, Roopnarine and Jagan<\/p>\n<p>mysteriously walking away at the latest hour. The already apathetic African<\/p>\n<p>mind must have been really confused by ACDA, the PNC, the collapsing &#8220;big<\/p>\n<p>tent&#8221; and of course Trotman and Ramjattan. It is scape goat season and an<\/p>\n<p>attempt is being made here to blame the AFC for all of the PNC&#8217;s woes.<\/p>\n<p>This is pitiful. Not even the PNC would make such a claim. Many things confused<\/p>\n<p>the African mind before the elections and many things led to the PNC&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>showing at the last elections which they are aware of, not forgetting those<\/p>\n<p>already raised by Jerome Khan and Aubrey Norton in their Stabroek News<\/p>\n<p>interview. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Phillips, both before, and during, the<\/p>\n<p>2006 campaign offered valuable insight and advice to the leadership of the AFC<\/p>\n<p>and even attended a meeting of the AFC Chapter in New York; making what was<\/p>\n<p>considered then, to be a valuable contribution as to how we should proceed. In<\/p>\n<p>fact, in his own words, he set out the AFC&#8217;s approach, which we tried to<\/p>\n<p>follow as best as possible in a document entitled: <b>&#8220;Guyana Politics-A<\/p>\n<p>Third Force in Guyana&#8221; 2005 .His words which are set out below are our<\/p>\n<p>best answer to his conspiracy theory of a plot to undermine African Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>and the PNC<\/b>R. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Guyana&#8217;s historic racial,<\/p>\n<p>political, economic and social problems can only be solved by the development<\/p>\n<p>of a strong viable &#8220;Third Force&#8221; Movement. This is not a new idea<\/p>\n<p>as the WPA was indeed a &#8220;Third Force&#8221; Party in the 1980s and<\/p>\n<p>leading into the 1992 elections. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What is new in the equation is the ever<\/p>\n<p>growing mass dissatisfaction among Guyanese of all races at home and abroad,<\/p>\n<p>with the state of racial politics and underdevelopment in Guyana as a result of<\/p>\n<p>irreconcilable differences between the PPPC and PNCR. The rampant crimes wave<\/p>\n<p>intermixed with drug smuggling activities and death squads have all added<\/p>\n<p>momentum to the general dissatisfaction. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>At this critical moment in time, just prior<\/p>\n<p>to the 2006 General Election, the nurturing, strengthening and strategic<\/p>\n<p>orchestration of a consolidated &#8220;Third Force&#8221; Movement is more<\/p>\n<p>viable than at any other time in Guyana&#8217;s history. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Such a &#8220;Third Force&#8221; will however<\/p>\n<p>need to take a long term view that is enabled by a structured and<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;process driven&#8221; approach, stretching over the next two elections<\/p>\n<p>in 2006 and 2011, for maximum short term impact and long term sustainability. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The announcement of the planned creation of a<\/p>\n<p>new Political Party by Raphael Trotman and Khemraj Ramjattan has caught the<\/p>\n<p>imagination of the Public. This momentum provides a great opportunity to build<\/p>\n<p>a coherent &#8220;Third Force&#8221; Movement&#8230;A strong &#8220;Third<\/p>\n<p>Force&#8221; Movement is needed to change the balance of power in Guyana<\/p>\n<p>beginning with the 2006 elections. Although it is highly unlikely in 2006 that<\/p>\n<p>a &#8220;Third Force&#8221; Movement can win the elections, a well orchestrated<\/p>\n<p>and focused Third Force Movement can prevent the PPPC from obtaining more that<\/p>\n<p>50% majority at the polls. For the &#8220;Third Force&#8221; to be equipped to<\/p>\n<p>deal with the cunning and organization capabilities of both the PPPC and<\/p>\n<p>PNCR&#8230;&#8221; (Eric Phillips) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We share Mr. Phillips&#8217; call for an<\/p>\n<p>African Renaissance, but caution that it will not succeed if it is meant to<\/p>\n<p>commence through hostile means against other political and ethnic groupings. We<\/p>\n<p>wish Mr. Phillips, who we regard as a bright, upstanding and respected citizen,<\/p>\n<p>well in his upcoming political endeavours. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-11-23: This is an edited<\/p>\n<p>version of an Article on Freedom of Information (FOI) written by Sheila Holder,<\/p>\n<p>Vice-Chair of the Alliance For Change (AFC) first published by the UN Human<\/p>\n<p>Rights Institute in India <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Guyana has to deepen its democratic and electoral<\/p>\n<p>processes to ensure that democracy works to help empower citizens and improve<\/p>\n<p>the competitiveness of the country by facilitating the free flow of<\/p>\n<p>information. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>For the last forty years since independence<\/p>\n<p>from British Colonial rule, Guyana has floundered socially, economically and<\/p>\n<p>politically because of race-based politics. Partisan political interests by the<\/p>\n<p>two monolithic parties that governed Guyana since independence, the<\/p>\n<p>People&#8217;s Progressive Party\/Civic (PPP\/C) and the People&#8217;s National<\/p>\n<p>Congress\/Reform (PNC\/R) have been given precedence over the National welfare. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It would, therefore, come as no surprise that<\/p>\n<p>a Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill, submitted to the Clerk of the Eighth<\/p>\n<p>National Assembly of Guyana by Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan on behalf of his colleague<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Raphael Trotman has not seen the light of day. The Guyana Government failed<\/p>\n<p>to even publish or circulate the private Member&#8217;s Bill which, I was told,<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>had been sent to the Attorney General&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>Chambers for scrutiny several months ago. Mr. Raphael Trotman on Friday,<\/p>\n<p>November 24<sup>th<\/sup>, 2006 re-submitted to the 9<sup>th <\/sup>Parliament,<\/p>\n<p>the Freedom of Information Bill 2006 and we now have five years to see how the<\/p>\n<p>government will deal with it. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC is of the view that a FOI Act is an<\/p>\n<p>important first step in steering the country in the direction of transparency<\/p>\n<p>and accountability and curtailing the levels of corruption currently being<\/p>\n<p>experienced in the country. It has, therefore, given a commitment to the<\/p>\n<p>electorate to ensure that the FOI Bill is resubmitted and put on the order<\/p>\n<p>Paper to be debated, strengthened if necessary and passed into law. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Over the last forty years since independence<\/p>\n<p>and during the tenure of successive Governments, citizens have experienced<\/p>\n<p>victimization based on the expression of their political viewpoints. This has<\/p>\n<p>had the effect of limiting how citizens of all strata of society express<\/p>\n<p>themselves. It has also deterred citizens from requesting information from the<\/p>\n<p>state and public entities. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This is especially so as regards to the free<\/p>\n<p>expression of one&#8217;s political viewpoint to the extent that Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>really need a Freedom of Information Act. The Act should spell out exactly what<\/p>\n<p>information, on government&#8217;s operations especially, citizens are entitled<\/p>\n<p>to access. With this knowledge in hand citizens, could then know for sure how<\/p>\n<p>to approach getting information on those aspects of government&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>operations that are of most interest to them at any particular point in time.<\/p>\n<p>It is desirable that the Freedom of Information Act should also cover some<\/p>\n<p>aspects of the operations of publicly traded private sector entities. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>With access to information enshrined into<\/p>\n<p>law, Guyanese citizens could be empowered to scrutinise and investigate<\/p>\n<p>government and their public operations and come to their own conclusions as to<\/p>\n<p>how government is really serving them. Guyanese are mobile internationally, as<\/p>\n<p>it is estimated that some 700,000 live in foreign lands and many others have<\/p>\n<p>relatives residing in countries all around the world. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>These facts serve to make Guyanese very aware<\/p>\n<p>about how the media ought to operate in a country in which the government<\/p>\n<p>routinely keeps information classified while claiming to be democratic. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A major part of the problem of poor access to<\/p>\n<p>information in Guyana, apart from the passage of the Freedom of Information<\/p>\n<p>Bill, is the fact that the current government has refused to open the broadcast<\/p>\n<p>space for FM and AM radio transmissions. There is reasonable choice with<\/p>\n<p>regards to broadcast television in some parts of the country, though there is<\/p>\n<p>copyright infringement by the operators generally. However, government&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>control of frequency management with the intention of denying choice to<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese citizens means that in some Guyanese communities such as in Linden<\/p>\n<p>(Region 10) citizens&#8217; are fed a constant diet of government propaganda<\/p>\n<p>only. While, in hinterland regions, citizens are without access to either local<\/p>\n<p>radio or television broadcast even though private operators are willing and<\/p>\n<p>able to offer radio and television broadcast to these Guyanese citizens. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>With a freedom of information act in place<\/p>\n<p>buttressed by a modernized and democratized Broadcast Act, Guyanese can get<\/p>\n<p>innovative radio and TV programming that reflects their tastes and desires to<\/p>\n<p>actively participate in the country&#8217;s fledgling democracy. For example,<\/p>\n<p>in daytime radio in Guyana there is currently no programming where views on the<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese reality can be freely expressed from all points of view. If one wants<\/p>\n<p>to get the government&#8217;s spin on any issue that is easy. However, Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>need to also be able to use the Freedom of Information Act to get information<\/p>\n<p>on government operations, then use that information in talk shows to oppose<\/p>\n<p>government policy or, in the case of supporters, provide reasons as to why<\/p>\n<p>current government policy and action is good for Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>If a Freedom of Information Act is passed<\/p>\n<p>along with government&#8217;s divesting itself from media operations except for<\/p>\n<p>the government information and news agency (GINA), then Guyanese would see an<\/p>\n<p>explosion of radio and more responsibly operated television stations that will<\/p>\n<p>in all likelihood take Guyana to where citizens in the other neighbouring<\/p>\n<p>countries have been for some time. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Regrettably, the PPP\/C party in government<\/p>\n<p>still retains a philosophy that the central government has to control all<\/p>\n<p>levels of power in the country. With such a philosophy there is no urgency to<\/p>\n<p>allow the citizens to access more government information, as the more<\/p>\n<p>information citizens have, the more empowered they become and that challenges<\/p>\n<p>government functionaries as empowered citizens are harder to manipulate and<\/p>\n<p>oppress. The Present PPP\/C government in Guyana has gone to the extent of not<\/p>\n<p>allowing the Alliance For Change party to air its political advertisements even<\/p>\n<p>though they were submitted and higher than normal fees demanded and paid in<\/p>\n<p>accordance with the guideline of its so-called National Communications Network.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Guyana, therefore, needs a government that<\/p>\n<p>empowers the people through a sensible Freedom of Information Act that will<\/p>\n<p>give them the right to request information from the government and publicly<\/p>\n<p>traded companies. With this power citizens can make informed decisions and hold<\/p>\n<p>their elected representatives to account and keep officers of public companies<\/p>\n<p>honest. Such elements serve to help advance Guyana&#8217;s fledgling democracy<\/p>\n<p>and thus improve the lives of its people. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Pending questions to Ministers published<\/p>\n<p>in Parliamentary Notice Paper No. 2 &#8211; 6 Question No. (Q1 Opp1 &#8211; Q5 Opp5) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Member Asking: Sheila Holder, MP <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Minister Answering: Ministers of Transport<\/p>\n<p>&amp; Hydraulics &amp; Home Affairs <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Question: Action taken on Resolution No.16 of<\/p>\n<p>2002 <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=72<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1045&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_19.jpg&#8221;>Will the Ministers state<\/p>\n<p>individually what action their respective ministries have taken since being<\/p>\n<p>notified by the Clerk of the National Assembly on 13<sup>th <\/sup>August 2002<\/p>\n<p>about Resolution No. 16 of the First Sessions (2001-2002) of the Eighth<\/p>\n<p>Parliament of Guyana: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8216;that the National Assembly<\/p>\n<p>recognised the need for a policy to be crafted and appropriate regulations<\/p>\n<p>instituted in consultation with operators in the Minibus sector, consumers and<\/p>\n<p>other stakeholders to introduce best practices and systems for the safe,<\/p>\n<p>efficient and fair operation of the sector&#8217;? <\/span><\/i><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Will the Ministers state specifically which<\/p>\n<p>policies were developed by their ministries and the best practices introduced<\/p>\n<p>for the safety of mini-bus commuters since 2002? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Have the Ministries of Transport &amp;<\/p>\n<p>Hydraulics and Home Affairs held any consultation exercises with operators of<\/p>\n<p>the Mini-bus sector, commuters and other stakeholders with a view of improving<\/p>\n<p>safety, efficiencies and fairness in how Mini-buses operate? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4<\/p>\n<p>height=1 id=&#8221;_x0000_i1046&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_20.jpg&#8221;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Oral question to be answered by the Prime<\/p>\n<p>Minister <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What is the policy of the Government of<\/p>\n<p>Guyana in regards to the use of state property by the governing political party<\/p>\n<p>for election campaigns and other political activity? Answer scheduled for Order<\/p>\n<p>Paper on 9<sup>th<\/sup> November, 2006 (not yet answered) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-12-3: New Opportunities <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As the final month of the year 2006 begins we<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese have much to reflect on. This has been a year which saw an intense<\/p>\n<p>political campaign ending with the re-election of the PPP\/C government. Despite<\/p>\n<p>the excitement of the August campaign, the observation is made that things have<\/p>\n<p>remained placid and Guyana, and Guyanese, appear to have sunk back into a state<\/p>\n<p>of malaise. Except for the debate on an African Renaissance and the imminent<\/p>\n<p>introduction of VAT, nothing else is causing the populace much discomfort or<\/p>\n<p>excitement. This by no means is a sign that the state is at peace. Most persons<\/p>\n<p>with whom we interact express a sense of failure and hopelessness. Nothing for<\/p>\n<p>them makes good sense or gives a feeling of wellbeing and hope. Proof of this<\/p>\n<p>can be found in the long lines which continue unabated at the passport Office,<\/p>\n<p>and in the number of persons applying for refugee status abroad. Every<\/p>\n<p>available opportunity is being taken to leave the shores to join the hundreds<\/p>\n<p>of thousands that have already left. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>For most Guyanese, there is a feeling that<\/p>\n<p>there is no hope left. Crime and Security remain serious concerns as we witness<\/p>\n<p>the ease with which murders and other serious crimes are being committed with<\/p>\n<p>impunity. It is as if the serious felon knows that capture and successful<\/p>\n<p>prosecution are things of a bygone era. For example, recently released<\/p>\n<p>statistics regarding the incidence of prosecution and conviction in cases of<\/p>\n<p>rape are frightening to say the least when one considers that there is an<\/p>\n<p>obvious increase in sexual assault and abuse particularly against children. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the opinion of the AFC, all is not lost.<\/p>\n<p>The Presidential initiative of engaging the leadership of the Parliamentary<\/p>\n<p>opposition to arrive at consensus positions on issues of nationhood is a sign<\/p>\n<p>that there is something new and different that can be added to the manner of<\/p>\n<p>political engagement. This in a sense can be regarded as a harbinger to<\/p>\n<p>inclusive or shared governance. Thus far, many issues have been raised, but the<\/p>\n<p>point already made by others that this provides a golden opportunity for nation<\/p>\n<p>building and visionary leadership is well taken. We have advised ourselves<\/p>\n<p>therefore that rather than be confined to issues only of Local Government<\/p>\n<p>Elections; raising the profile and status of politicians, and enacting recall<\/p>\n<p>legislation, that we should seize the moment to begin fashioning a new political<\/p>\n<p>culture. We refer to a culture that takes into account, not as a courtesy, but<\/p>\n<p>as of right, the views, issues, pains and aspirations of all others. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The PPP\/C must understand that those who<\/p>\n<p>oppose do so because they yearn for a better life and once provided they will<\/p>\n<p>be content. The <i>status quo <\/i>does not provide that better life for all<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese and unless mechanisms are put in place to give redress to the<\/p>\n<p>asymmetries in our society, we will remain a fractured, underdeveloped and<\/p>\n<p>unfulfilled nation and people. The recent acceptance of the Minister of Finance<\/p>\n<p>of the justifiable pleas made by non-governmental forces for the zero-rating of<\/p>\n<p>essential food items and supplies is a sterling example of what an objective<\/p>\n<p>and open-minded approach can achieve. Previously, any advice or request once<\/p>\n<p>made by groups not loyal to the governing party was ignored. The Minister<\/p>\n<p>however must go a bit further by zero-rating for example not only split peas,<\/p>\n<p>but also black-eyed and pigeon peas which are considered staple and essential<\/p>\n<p>in the diet of African Guyanese. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Undoubtedly, many issues remain unsettled<\/p>\n<p>such as crafting our continental destiny; arresting the pervasive moral decline<\/p>\n<p>and decay; building a strong economy, and guaranteeing a strong and secure<\/p>\n<p>Guyana for the thousands graduating from school each year. We challenge the<\/p>\n<p>President and leadership of all political parties to make this latest<\/p>\n<p>engagement work for Guyana. Regrettably, since the last encounter, there has<\/p>\n<p>been little action except a detailed report or what transpired in a Dr.<\/p>\n<p>Luncheon press conference. It is time for action. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Following Are Questions Submitted<\/p>\n<p>By Mr. R. Trotman, MP for Answer By Ministers of Government <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A) For the Minister of Foreign Affairs <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=91<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1047&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_21.jpg&#8221;>Can the Hon. Minister of<\/p>\n<p>Foreign Affairs say whether the Government of Guyana is satisfied with the<\/p>\n<p>response of the Government of the <st1:PlaceName w:st=\"on\">Bolivarian<\/st1:PlaceName><\/p>\n<p><st1:PlaceType w:st=\"on\">Republic<\/st1:PlaceType> of <st1:country-region w:st=\"on\">Venezuela<\/st1:country-region><\/p>\n<p>surrounding the shooting incident on Friday, October 6, 2006, in the <st1:place<\/p>\n<p>w:st=&#8221;on&#8221;><st1:PlaceName w:st=\"on\">Cuyuni<\/st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st=\"on\">River<\/st1:PlaceType><\/st1:place>,<\/p>\n<p>which claimed the life of Parasram Persaud? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Can the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs say<\/p>\n<p>what initiatives the Government of Guyana is pursuing to ensure that the family<\/p>\n<p>of Parasram Persaud receives compensation for the death? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What action is the Government of Guyana<\/p>\n<p>pursuing with respect to this incident? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What is the Government of Guyana&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>policy regarding the protection of the rights of Guyanese citizens living in<\/p>\n<p>sister CARICOM States? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>For the period January 1, 2005 to October 30,<\/p>\n<p>2006, how many complaints of unfair and\/or unlawful treatment have been<\/p>\n<p>received from Guyanese living in CARICOM states by the Ministry of Foreign<\/p>\n<p>Affairs and what has been the response and action taken in each case? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>B) For the Prime Minister <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=44<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1048&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_22.jpg&#8221;>Is the Government in<\/p>\n<p>receipt of a report on the weapons which the GDF claimed were lost in February,<\/p>\n<p>2006 and if yes, is the government satisfied with the report? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Will the Government commission an independent<\/p>\n<p>enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the missing weapons, and to receive<\/p>\n<p>sound recommendations as to how such an occurrence can be eliminated in the<\/p>\n<p>future? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Following the shooting incident in the Cuyuni<\/p>\n<p>River on Friday, October 6, 2006, have measures been put in place to strengthen<\/p>\n<p>border security in general and that with our neighbour Venezuela, in<\/p>\n<p>particular? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>C) For the Minister of Home Affairs <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=17<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1049&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_23.jpg&#8221;>Can the Minister say<\/p>\n<p>whether the Government is prepared to introduce legislation to define and<\/p>\n<p>regulate the concept of community policing? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What, if any, are the plans to construct a<\/p>\n<p>new prison away from the centre of the City of Georgetown? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-12-10:The Alliance For<\/p>\n<p>Change Column Let Us Be Bound By Our Contracts By Khemraj Ramjattan (Kaieteur<\/p>\n<p>News) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is indeed an act of hypocrisy and an indulgence<\/p>\n<p>in double standards when a political party, whether in Government or<\/p>\n<p>Opposition, says one thing, and when put to the test, does not do what it says.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Exceptionally, it is understandable that a<\/p>\n<p>change of circumstances can realise a review of an earlier decision, resulting<\/p>\n<p>in a legitimate overturning or reversal of that earlier position. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>However, on a matter of fundamental<\/p>\n<p>principle, no one should countenance such reversals. And whenever such reneging<\/p>\n<p>of an earlier position occurs, everyone should roundly criticise it. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Both the PPP\/C and the PNCR must be<\/p>\n<p>criticised for not supporting the abolition of corporal punishment in schools<\/p>\n<p>when the Chantalle Smith Motion, resolving that it be abolished, came up for<\/p>\n<p>debate on December 7, 2006. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>These parties negotiated successfully to<\/p>\n<p>defer the Motion for a period of 6 (six) months for further consultation with<\/p>\n<p>stakeholders. This they did through respective proposed amendments which<\/p>\n<p>diluted the essence of AFC&#8217;s Chantalle Smith&#8217;s Motion and which would have delayed<\/p>\n<p>its effective support. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Both these parties, however, supported the<\/p>\n<p>United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child when in 1991 Guyana<\/p>\n<p>ratified and became a signatory thereto. Article 19 of that Convention makes it<\/p>\n<p>clear that signatories must take legislative and administrative measures to<\/p>\n<p>protect children from all forms of physical or mental violence. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There is a proposal that Guyana needs a new<\/p>\n<p>Education Act. The old one of 1939 made express provisions for corporal<\/p>\n<p>punishment. What Ms. Smith&#8217;s Motion was seeking to achieve is that in the new<\/p>\n<p>Act there must be an express provision for the abolition of corporal<\/p>\n<p>punishment, and, additionally, administrative arrangements throughout all<\/p>\n<p>schools must enforce this new regime. This is the direct consequence of<\/p>\n<p>supporting the Motion. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But what do the PPP\/C and PNCR say?<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Hold on! Wait awhile! Let us hear what the stakeholders will say!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>A good pretext used from time immemorial in Parliament for not giving support<\/p>\n<p>to some proposal or the other. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I wish to ask these parties if they ever<\/p>\n<p>consulted or listened to stakeholders when they supported Guyana being a<\/p>\n<p>signatory in 1991 to this Convention. They did not. Both supported the<\/p>\n<p>Convention because it was the right thing to do. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But now both want to play politics with the<\/p>\n<p>issue, being fully aware that a substantial percentage of Guyanese parents may<\/p>\n<p>very well still want to support corporal punishment on seemingly irrational<\/p>\n<p>grounds &#8211; probably because of unawareness of the arguments against, or embedded<\/p>\n<p>archaic instructional and cultural attitudes. This is an approach reminiscent<\/p>\n<p>of the recent irrationality, which resulted in the continued racial patterns of<\/p>\n<p>voting last elections. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>When there is a signing on to international<\/p>\n<p>Conventions and Treaties, there must be an adherence and an abiding conformity<\/p>\n<p>with their terms. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I remember all too well the obscene<\/p>\n<p>inconsistency and outright hypocrisy of the leaders of the PPP\/C as regards the<\/p>\n<p>denunciation of the right to life provision after acceding to the Optional Protocol<\/p>\n<p>to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Signing on to this Protocol in 1993 by the<\/p>\n<p>then Cheddi Jagan administration was one of the proudest moments in my life. It<\/p>\n<p>was walking the talk as it were. Remember the PNC never wanted to accede to<\/p>\n<p>this Protocol, which entitled ordinary Guyanese to take their complaints of<\/p>\n<p>human rights violations to this august body, the United Nations Human Rights<\/p>\n<p>Commission. This is what I wrote then &#8211;<b>&#8220;Our country&#8217;s accession is<\/p>\n<p>proof of how seriously human-rights oriented and democratic our PPP\/C<\/p>\n<p>Government is; how the Government will allow scrutiny by dispassionate referees<\/p>\n<p>of international standing without any local biases in accordance with, and upon<\/p>\n<p>application of, universal standards. We have imprinted our commitment, by this<\/p>\n<p>accession, to be part of a community of just States by sanctioning certain<\/p>\n<p>moral standards, which claim universal validity beyond our own legal community.<\/p>\n<p>This is indeed glorious and noble.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But then the notorious convicted murderers,<\/p>\n<p>Yasseen and Thomas, tested this commitment by taking their complaints to this<\/p>\n<p>august body, complaining about human rights violations. And the Committee<\/p>\n<p>recommended that the nation should free them, in view of the Committee&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>findings that the violations of their human rights were severe and fundamental!<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What resulted shamed me beyond imagination.<\/p>\n<p>The PPP\/C Government proceeded to denounce the right to life provision of the<\/p>\n<p>Protocol. This backtracking occurred through a Clement Rohee Motion in Parliament<\/p>\n<p>in1998. At the behest of the Janet Jagan administration, he had argued that<\/p>\n<p>these conventions and treaties were not binding because Guyana was a sovereign<\/p>\n<p>state. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I have lengthy notes on this episode. A<\/p>\n<p>passage caught my eye, and I think it useful to share it at this point<\/p>\n<p>&#8212;&#8220; <i>This false sovereignty argument, which avers a convenient<\/p>\n<p>nonbinding attitude whenever it suits us because we are a sovereign country,<\/p>\n<p>must not be used to suffer us to depart from our agreements with the larger<\/p>\n<p>world, especially when the consequence will be to disengage ourselves from the<\/p>\n<p>obligations we have to third parties, like Yasseen and Thomas, who were the<\/p>\n<p>intended beneficiaries of these agreements. Rather, our sovereignty should<\/p>\n<p>operate to bind our consciences, as far as they can be bound, to a true and<\/p>\n<p>literal performance of our agreements.&#8221; <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Yasseen and Thomas were third parties who<\/p>\n<p>never benefited from our agreements with the larger world because of our<\/p>\n<p>failure to perform our obligations under them. Please let this not happen to<\/p>\n<p>our schoolchildren. Let us be bound by our contracts! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-12-17:Alliance For<\/p>\n<p>Change Column-<i>Freedom of Information Act&#8230; <\/i>Bolstering transparency<\/p>\n<p>and accountability by AFC Vice-Chair Sheila Holder, MP <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is often said that the Donor Community and<\/p>\n<p>the International Financial Institutions go through phases where they latch on<\/p>\n<p>to some consensus or the other. For a long period it was the Washington<\/p>\n<p>Consensus that was thought to be the panacea to jump start the economies of<\/p>\n<p>developing countries structured by colonists for their own benefit. More<\/p>\n<p>recently it was trade liberalization, good governance and parliamentary reform.<\/p>\n<p>These days the Right to Information (RTI), the preferred term used in India or<\/p>\n<p>Freedom of Information (FOI) has become the international consensus deemed to<\/p>\n<p>be the fillip needed to bolster transparency and accountability to curtail<\/p>\n<p>corruption and raise the standards of governance in developing countries<\/p>\n<p>struggling to alleviate poverty. Is the RTI or FOI international lobby to be<\/p>\n<p>another buzz word likely to be of no effect for the purposes intended? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the opinion of RTI Project Director,<\/p>\n<p>Vankatesh Nayak of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) in New<\/p>\n<p>Delhi, India when people are given the right to know they are empowered to demand<\/p>\n<p>transparency and accountability from their governments. This in turn improves<\/p>\n<p>the manner in which governments conduct the peoples&#8217; business. At the FOI<\/p>\n<p>Workshop I attended in Dominica July 27 &#8211; December 01, 2006, he declared<\/p>\n<p>enthusiastically that it was working in India and predicted it will work in the<\/p>\n<p>CARICOM region just as well. Listening to Vankatesh Nayak one couldn&#8217;t<\/p>\n<p>help but deduce that he is engaged in a crusade to spread the word about the<\/p>\n<p>benefits of RTI or FOI legislation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In his view the RTI, the preferred term used<\/p>\n<p>in India, has proven to be an important pillar of good governance. He believes<\/p>\n<p>fervently that it is a process for removing the shackles of poverty since its<\/p>\n<p>utilization requires not only State responsiveness to the people at the lowest<\/p>\n<p>village level but also brings about responsible, accountable and transparent<\/p>\n<p>behaviour by public officials. He sited examples of how its use by the poor in<\/p>\n<p>India brought corrupt officials&#8217; activities to an end. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This participation by the people he rates as<\/p>\n<p>liberating and empowering, therefore, rejects the argument often made by<\/p>\n<p>Government officials that RTI or FOI legislation doesn&#8217;t put food on the<\/p>\n<p>table so should be put on the legislative back burner. In fact, he argues that<\/p>\n<p>the reality is the other way round since there is an abundance of evidence that<\/p>\n<p>shows access to information is crucial to sustainable development, building a<\/p>\n<p>democratic society and attaining the principles enshrined in Article 19 of the<\/p>\n<p>Universal Declaration of Human Rights which most countries in the world have<\/p>\n<p>ratified. The universal declaration states, <b><i>&#8216;Everyone has the right<\/p>\n<p>to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold<\/p>\n<p>opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and<\/p>\n<p>ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers&#8217;. <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Other FOI mandates and covenants applicable<\/p>\n<p>to our region are to be found in: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Article 19: International Covenant on Civil<\/p>\n<p>and Political Rights <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Article 13: Freedom of Expression: American<\/p>\n<p>Convention on Human Rights. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Article 4: Inter-American Democratic Charter <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Article II: Inter-American Convention Against<\/p>\n<p>Corruption and Follow-up Mechanism for the Implementation of the Inter-American<\/p>\n<p>Covenant Against Corruption. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Inter-American Democratic Charter; and <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Article VIII: Freedom of Expression and<\/p>\n<p>Access to Information CARICOM Charter of Civil Society. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What the RTI\/FOI does is effectively overturn<\/p>\n<p>the culture of secrecy that pervades state institutions generally in many jurisdictions<\/p>\n<p>often requiring the repeal of some secrecy laws on the statute books. In<\/p>\n<p>drafting RIT\/FOI legislation it is imperative to include sections to ensure<\/p>\n<p>respect for and protection of the rights and reputations of others, protection<\/p>\n<p>of national security, public order, public health and morals. Generally, a<\/p>\n<p>paradigm shift from a culture of secrecy to one of openness must be adopted by<\/p>\n<p>State officials. Also exemptions contained in FOI legislation are often<\/p>\n<p>restricted to specific sections of documents rather than whole documents that<\/p>\n<p>would have previously been classified as secret. The basic international<\/p>\n<p>standards for RTI\/FOI legislation require the following: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=35<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1050&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_24.jpg&#8221;>That access to information<\/p>\n<p>costs not be a deterrent. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>That no <i>locus standi<\/i> be required to be<\/p>\n<p>established. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>That an appeals process be defined. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The FOI private member&#8217;s Bill submitted<\/p>\n<p>to the National Assembly a few short weeks ago by AFC Chairman and Member of<\/p>\n<p>Parliament, Raphael Trotman has been promptly put on the Order Paper this time<\/p>\n<p>round. It is based on the Trinidadian model which some FOI advocates consider<\/p>\n<p>to be restrictive and not necessarily as liberal as some FOI advocates would like.<\/p>\n<p>However, Trinidad &amp; Tobago Minister of Security, Fitzgerald Hinds who once<\/p>\n<p>had responsibility for implementing the FOI law while Minister of Public<\/p>\n<p>Administration and Information disagreed vigorously and reassured this writer<\/p>\n<p>that it has served its purpose in the West Indian twin island State. In<\/p>\n<p>recognition of International Right to Know Day last September 28, Jamaican<\/p>\n<p>Minister of Information, Senator Colin Campbell stated that, <i>&#8220;It is<\/p>\n<p>accepted that successful Assess to Information regimes promotes efficiency and<\/p>\n<p>effectiveness in Government and ultimately build public trust and<\/p>\n<p>partnerships.&#8221; <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>At Thursday December 14 sitting of the<\/p>\n<p>National Assembly AFC Chairman Raphael Trotman MP took steps to have the bill<\/p>\n<p>deferred in order to save it from being thrown out during the stage of its<\/p>\n<p>first reading. The objective is to allow Government time for study and<\/p>\n<p>assessment of the administrative implications of the bill. Should the Guyana<\/p>\n<p>Government support the passage of the bill, Guyana will join some sixty other countries<\/p>\n<p>in this hemisphere which have enacted FOI legislation. Sweden being the oldest<\/p>\n<p>country to adopt a RTI law having done so two hundred and forty years ago in<\/p>\n<p>the year 1766. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY<\/p>\n<p>MR. RAPHAEL TROTMAN TO BE ANSWERED BY THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFIARS <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l17 level1 lfo7;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>Has Mr. Bernard Kerik and\/or his company been hired or<\/p>\n<p>contracted in any capacity as a consultant, or otherwise to advise, or be<\/p>\n<p>involved in law enforcement in Guyana ? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l17 level1 lfo7;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>If Mr. Kerik has been, or is likely to be retained,<\/p>\n<p>what is the remuneration and benefits to be offered to him and his associates<\/p>\n<p>by the Government of Guyana? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l17 level1 lfo7;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>3.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>Can the Minister of Home Affairs say what the total<\/p>\n<p>number of persons imprisoned in Guyana as of December 1, 2006 is? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l17 level1 lfo7;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>4.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>Can the Minister provide a detailed breakdown of the<\/p>\n<p>categories and numbers of each offence for which persons are incarcerated? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l17 level1 lfo7;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>5.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>What is the total number of persons arrested for<\/p>\n<p>offences related to marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) for the period 2005-2006? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l17 level1 lfo7;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>6.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>What is the total number of persons successfully<\/p>\n<p>prosecuted for being in possession of marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) during the<\/p>\n<p>period 20052006? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l17 level1 lfo7;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>7.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>What is the average cost to prosecute each such case? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l17 level1 lfo7;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>8.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>What is the current number of persons on remand, or<\/p>\n<p>serving sentences, for being in possession of marijuana (cannabis sativa)? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l17 level1 lfo7;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>9.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>How many of these persons are females and males? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l17 level1 lfo7;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>10.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;> <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>Does the Government of Guyana have any immediate plans<\/p>\n<p>to establish a Rehabilitation Centre or Centres as provided for the in the<\/p>\n<p>Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1988? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-12-22: Alliance For<\/p>\n<p>Change Christmas Message <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance For Change wishes Guyanese at<\/p>\n<p>home and abroad and especially members of the Christian community a joyous<\/p>\n<p>Christmas. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Christmas is the celebration of the birth of<\/p>\n<p>Jesus Christ, the son of God. This is the season when we focus on the child in<\/p>\n<p>our midst and on the family that nurtures that child. Let us resolve to be<\/p>\n<p>particularly caring of our nation&#8217;s most precious resource: its children and<\/p>\n<p>young people. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Christmas is also the time to be happy; a<\/p>\n<p>time of joy and of mirth. A time of cleaning up, painting up, dressing-up,<\/p>\n<p>lighting-up, the playing of music, dancing and the eating of seasonal<\/p>\n<p>favourites like pepperpot, black cake and the drinking of ginger beer. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As we celebrate this season of giving with<\/p>\n<p>our families it is important that we reflect on those less fortunate in our<\/p>\n<p>society, for Christmas is for sharing and for expressing good will to our<\/p>\n<p>fellow men. In the universal spirit of Christmas we wish that all Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>would use this time to renew and strengthen the foundation of the Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>family and that as a people we demonstrate in practical ways, goodwill towards<\/p>\n<p>each other and resolve to make Guyana a land of which we can be proud. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance For Change bids a special welcome<\/p>\n<p>to all Guyanese who have come home to reunite with their families and friends<\/p>\n<p>at this time to experience a true Guyanese Christmas. Because the goodwill of<\/p>\n<p>those we serve is the foundation of our success, it gives us joy at this<\/p>\n<p>holiday time to also say &#8220;Thank You&#8221;. As we enter into 2007 we wish<\/p>\n<p>you and you loved ones peace, happiness and prosperity. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A Merry Christmas to all Guyanese. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>EAB<\/p>\n<p>Recent Findings <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC notes with satisfaction the recent<\/p>\n<p>findings of the Electoral Assistance Bureau (EAB) regarding the results of the<\/p>\n<p>elections for the geographical constituency seat of Region <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>10. These findings, quite apart from<\/p>\n<p>vindicating an already established position, now add further credibility to the<\/p>\n<p>AFC&#8217;s claims for redress and justice. The EAB being a highly respected<\/p>\n<p>and independent body, which was given accreditation as an elections observer by<\/p>\n<p>GECOM for the 2006 elections, is to be commended for pursuing these issues<\/p>\n<p>vigorously and fearlessly. The AFC however urges the EAB to continue its probe<\/p>\n<p>into all aspects of the conduct of the 2006 General and regional elections so<\/p>\n<p>as to ensure that no other political party has been short-changed in similar<\/p>\n<p>fashion to that in which the AFC has been denied its seat. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC, and all Guyana for that matter, now<\/p>\n<p>await the High Court to state when the process to commence the hearing of its<\/p>\n<p>Election Petition will commence. To date, the AFC has seen no active step taken<\/p>\n<p>in this regard by those charged with the responsibility. The AFC notes that the<\/p>\n<p>PPP\/C can however perform the honourable act of conceding the obvious which<\/p>\n<p>should allow GECOM to take the necessary steps to remedy the injustice. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>ORAL<\/p>\n<p>QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE FOR THE NINTH PARLIAMENT OF GUYANA PRESENTED BY AFC<\/p>\n<p>MEMBER DAVID PATTERSON <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>December 18, 2006 To the Honourable<\/p>\n<p>Minister of Works and Hydraulics <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>1<\/span><\/b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>.<\/p>\n<p>Can the Hon. Minister of Works and Hydraulics say what provisions are in place<\/p>\n<p>to ensure that the outstanding works on the East Bank Four Lane Highway shall<\/p>\n<p>be completed, in light of the fact that the Defects liability Period of the<\/p>\n<p>Contract expires on December 31, 2006? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>For the Honourable Prime Minister <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>1. Can the Hon. Prime Minister say if all the<\/p>\n<p>necessary emergency spares are in place for the Christmas Season for all GPL<\/p>\n<p>generating plants at Versailles and Garden of Eden? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>QUESTIONS<\/p>\n<p>FOR THE NINTH PARLIAMENT OF GUYANA PRESENTED BY AFC MEMBER DAVID PATTERSON <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>December 18, 2006 To the Honourable<\/p>\n<p>Minister of Works and Hydraulics <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l8 level1 lfo8;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><![endif]><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>Can the Hon. Minister of Works and Hydraulics say what<\/p>\n<p>notice was provided to the private sector before the removal of signs and<\/p>\n<p>billboards legally erected on the Timehri to Georgetown highway? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l8 level1 lfo8;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><![endif]><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>Has the private sector been afforded the opportunity<\/p>\n<p>to reclaim signs and billboards that were dismantled? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>For the Honourable Prime Minister <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l10 level1 lfo9;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><![endif]><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>What is the Government&#8217;s selection policy for<\/p>\n<p>travel agencies to provide services for government officials airline travels? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l10 level1 lfo9;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><![endif]><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>Does the Government have any intentions of obtaining<\/p>\n<p>competitive tenders for the provision of these services in the near future? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l10 level1 lfo9;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>3.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><![endif]><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>Can the Hon. Prime Minister say at what cost vehicles<\/p>\n<p>were purchased this year for managers and directors of GPL? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l10 level1 lfo9;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>4.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><![endif]><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>Can the Hon. Prime Minister give update and account<\/p>\n<p>for the free bulbs\/lamps donated by Cuba to Guyana for consumers? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l10 level1 lfo9;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>5.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><![endif]><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>Can the Hon. Prime Minister say if the exercise is<\/p>\n<p>finished? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2006-12-31: AFC New Year<\/p>\n<p>Message <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>During this Christmas Season we witnessed<\/p>\n<p>an abundance of goodwill that warmed our hearts with the many expressions of love<\/p>\n<p>and kindness for the less fortunate among us. May the New Year bring with it<\/p>\n<p>continued expressions of love and kindness among our people and new prospects<\/p>\n<p>for hope and new opportunities for all Guyanese. This will demand that we take<\/p>\n<p>careful stock of our achievements and strive to strengthen our weakest links.<\/p>\n<p>The AFC urges Guyanese not to loose hope but to exercise their important role<\/p>\n<p>as citizen of Guyana vested with the Constitutional mandate to participate<\/p>\n<p>meaningfully and responsibly in the social, political and economic activities<\/p>\n<p>of our country. It is your right &#8211; grasp it! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Every country has its own set of<\/p>\n<p>challenges and no one can deny that during the past year, our mettle was well<\/p>\n<p>tested in the face of rising levels of crime and violence, continued hardships<\/p>\n<p>for the working poor as the economy remained sluggish. We in the AFC believe<\/p>\n<p>that until greater emphasis is placed on the disadvantaged among us<\/p>\n<p>Guyana&#8217;s wealth will remain hidden so we urge that the needs of the poor<\/p>\n<p>be addressed in a meaningful way in the New Year. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As we bid farewell to the old year, let us<\/p>\n<p>begin this new one with a prayer of thanksgiving, for, like many, we have<\/p>\n<p>survived as a party despite great odds. It is not immodesty but a fact &#8211; the<\/p>\n<p>AFC made history in the 2006 Regional and General Elections in Guyana by<\/p>\n<p>winning five seats (we believe we&#8217; re entitled to a sixth) in parliament<\/p>\n<p>after having been in existence for less than a year. This is something that no<\/p>\n<p>other political party has managed to accomplish in the history of Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A happy new year to all Guyanese. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>End of year Parliamentary Review for<\/p>\n<p>publication <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As we witness the end of this year the<\/p>\n<p>executive and members of the AFC should be proud of its parliamentary<\/p>\n<p>representation. We have led the way with questions and motions. Mr. David<\/p>\n<p>Patterson has the distinction of being the first Member of Parliament to invoke<\/p>\n<p>the new Standing Orders rule regarding the asking oral questions without<\/p>\n<p>notice. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mrs. Sheila Holder was the first Member to<\/p>\n<p>submit questions to the ninth Parliament while also utilizing the parliamentary<\/p>\n<p>questions for debate process to seek to examine the issue of the<\/p>\n<p>Government&#8217;s intention to introduce Casino Gambling. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Raphael Trotman has achieved the<\/p>\n<p>distinction of laying in the National Assembly a private member&#8217;s bill to<\/p>\n<p>overturn the culture of secrecy and introduce greater transparency and<\/p>\n<p>accountability by introducing legislation dealing with Freedom of Information. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Ms Chantalle Smith in a parliamentary Motion<\/p>\n<p>has challenged the impropriety of the PPPC Government with respect to the UN<\/p>\n<p>Convention on the Rights of the Child which was signed by former President Mrs<\/p>\n<p>Janet Jagan, without reservation, while successive PPPC Governments have<\/p>\n<p>refused to uphold obligations under the Convention. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan contributed<\/p>\n<p>significantly in the &#8216;Sun-set&#8217; legislation debate thereby<\/p>\n<p>contributing to the achievement of 100% representation by all AFC<\/p>\n<p>Parliamentarians in the sense that every AFC Member of Parliament has addressed<\/p>\n<p>the Assembly within the few short months of existence of the ninth Parliament.<\/p>\n<p>No other party came even close to this record! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-1-13: Article by AFC<\/p>\n<p>Vice-Chair Sheila Holder, MP for the AFC Column &#8220;Voices of its<\/p>\n<p>Principles&#8221; (Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There is reason to believe that the<\/p>\n<p>intention to introduce casino gambling is likely to mark the future<\/p>\n<p>relationship between the Guyana government and the religious community in ways<\/p>\n<p>that will not be immediately evident. For a country tired of political<\/p>\n<p>contention the issue of casino gambling has become very contentious for a<\/p>\n<p>number of reasons. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The fact that government has published<\/p>\n<p>Bill No. 30 of 2006 seeking to amend the Gambling Prevention Act (Cap. 9:02) to<\/p>\n<p>allow for the licensing of Casinos appear designed to favour Buddy&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>hotel that has already earned a substantial loan from the Treasury, to operate<\/p>\n<p>a casino in time for World Cup Cricket. This has clearly troubled many sections<\/p>\n<p>of the religious community that either claimed not to have been consulted or<\/p>\n<p>consider the consultation to have been cursory and of no importance in spite of<\/p>\n<p>their voiced objections. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>According to the 2002 census, the<\/p>\n<p>Christian, Hindu and Moslem communities in Guyana combined command a membership<\/p>\n<p>of over 90% of the population. Yet from all intent and purposes the comments<\/p>\n<p>made by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee and Dr. Desrey Fox, Minister in the<\/p>\n<p>Ministry of Education, on Thursday night, in the National Assembly during the<\/p>\n<p>debate on the Casino Gambling Motion, were shockingly contemptuous and intended<\/p>\n<p>to ridicule sections of the religious community. These comments being made as<\/p>\n<p>they were, in the presence of religious leaders like Bishop Allen, Al-Hajj<\/p>\n<p>Fazeel Ferouz and Rev Porter, President of the Guyana Council of Churches, and<\/p>\n<p>others. It would appear that the government Ministers have concluded that the<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese religious communities have no teeth so they are unable to command<\/p>\n<p>greater respect from the government. This does not auger well for a favourable<\/p>\n<p>government response to the Petition signed by three Christian leaders, Rev<\/p>\n<p>Raphael Massiah, Rev Alphonso Porter and Pastor Lloyd Stewart, which was<\/p>\n<p>presented to the National Assembly last Thursday opposing the reading,<\/p>\n<p>consideration and passage of the Gambling Prevention (Amendment) Bill. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Guyana Constitution accorded the<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese people rights which are proclaimed in article 13 and also in the<\/p>\n<p>preamble to <i>&#8216;forge a system of governance that promotes concerted<\/p>\n<p>effort and broad-based participation in National decision-making in order to<\/p>\n<p>develop a viable economy and a harmonious community&#8217;. <\/i>The petition is<\/p>\n<p>the first to signal the determination of the Christian leadership to voice<\/p>\n<p>concerns about casino gambling on behalf of their flock. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is generally accepted that since government<\/p>\n<p>gained a majority in the recent national elections, it is entitled to devise<\/p>\n<p>its legislative agenda; however, when that right clashes with those the<\/p>\n<p>accorded the people by the Constitution, government has a duty to heed the<\/p>\n<p>warnings of the people and their religious leaders on matters that will affect<\/p>\n<p>their lives in predictable ways. Contrary to the views expressed here, it is<\/p>\n<p>the opinion of Minister Rohee that religions, which base their doctrine on<\/p>\n<p>certain principles, have no place in the business of government. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The President&#8217;s new cabinet<\/p>\n<p>appointments were perceived by most as a breath of fresh air; but his apparent<\/p>\n<p>unwillingness to heed the unease with which the society has greeted his<\/p>\n<p>announcement to introduce licensed gambling, threatens the cordial relations<\/p>\n<p>between his government and the religious community. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To introduce Casino gambling in a society<\/p>\n<p>already teetering on the brink of unencumbered money laundering in a framework<\/p>\n<p>of inadequate regulations and policing resources, leaves one in no doubt about<\/p>\n<p>the lack of the government&#8217;s political resolve to tackle money laundering<\/p>\n<p>as a serious crime. We see government proceeding to carry this nation down a<\/p>\n<p>road which requires, for the avoidance of significant social problems, that<\/p>\n<p>which is missing in Guyana; a well equipped and trained police force to contain<\/p>\n<p>gun related crimes, a well paid and motivated public service to withstand<\/p>\n<p>corruption in regulating casinos, and a well established social infrastructure<\/p>\n<p>to manage the inevitable fallout that is bound to accompany the gaming<\/p>\n<p>industry. This being done at a time when Guyana has been described by the<\/p>\n<p>Bureau for International Narcotics and Law enforcement Affairs as having <i>&#8216;the<\/p>\n<p>scale of money laundering thought to be large relative to the size of the<\/p>\n<p>economy, with some experts estimating that the informal economy is forty to<\/p>\n<p>sixty percent of the size of the formal sector. Money laundering has been<\/p>\n<p>linked to trafficking in drugs, firearms and persons, as well as corruption and<\/p>\n<p>fraud. Drug trafficking and money laundering appear to be propping up the<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese economy&#8221;. <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The argument has been advanced in some<\/p>\n<p>quarters that Guyana benefits from money laundering in such areas as currency<\/p>\n<p>stability, justifying turning an official blind eye to it. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In a worldwide World Bank governance and<\/p>\n<p>anti-corruption indicator measuring six components of good governance, Guyana<\/p>\n<p>compared to other sister CARICOM countries -measured way below the regional<\/p>\n<p>average in all areas, namely Political stability\/non violence, Government<\/p>\n<p>effectiveness, Regulatory quality, Rule of law and Control of corruption. So<\/p>\n<p>what is the Guyana government thinking about when it proceeds steadfastly down<\/p>\n<p>the road towards introducing casino gambling without the benefit of an informed<\/p>\n<p>impact study as proposed in my motion that the University of Guyana be asked to<\/p>\n<p>conduct? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We have the eagerly awaited World Cup<\/p>\n<p>Cricket (WCC) scheduled for March 2007 that is expected to do that which<\/p>\n<p>President Jagdeo claims casino gambling will do for the economy, so what&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>the reason for the rush? Representatives of the government have said that<\/p>\n<p>gambling is not a factor for consideration during WCC. Clearly then the<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese public is entitled to its government acting in a more responsible<\/p>\n<p>manner and, I dare say with greater respect for the views of the people whom<\/p>\n<p>they have sworn to serve faithfully as they uphold and preserve the<\/p>\n<p>Constitution of Guyana, rather than rushing to satisfy some alien agenda that<\/p>\n<p>ignores such a significant constituency as the collective views of the major<\/p>\n<p>religions in the country. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-1-21: Alliance for<\/p>\n<p>Change Column &#8211; Release the VAT <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance For Change&#8217;s request, made<\/p>\n<p>through Mr. Raphael Trotman, to have an urgent debate on the Value Added Tax<\/p>\n<p>(VAT) was disallowed by the Deputy Speaker on the basis that the matter cannot<\/p>\n<p>be deemed an urgent matter for discussion. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Speaker reasoned that, because VAT has<\/p>\n<p>been introduced since January 1, a motion to debate its effects should have<\/p>\n<p>been considered for the Parliamentary sitting on January <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>11. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In addition, the fact that the government<\/p>\n<p>introduced the Value Added (Amendment) Bill means that some of the concerns<\/p>\n<p>deemed urgent and critical by members of the public wil<\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>l likely be addressed. The AFC respects the ruling of<\/p>\n<p>the Hon. Deputy Speaker, Mrs. Clarissa Riehl, but had hoped that a different<\/p>\n<p>view would have been taken, especially in light of the fact that new <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>issues and difficulties are emerging by the<\/p>\n<p>hour regarding VAT. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC continues to believe that the<\/p>\n<p>application of VAT will be a cause for concern, and notwithstanding the ruling<\/p>\n<p>in the National Assembly, will continue to press for an amelioration of the<\/p>\n<p>harsh conditions ordinary Guyanese now face. As we are all aware, VAT has been<\/p>\n<p>introduced, and in the weeks since its introduction, there has been a climate<\/p>\n<p>of confusion and alarm among consumers. Confusion because there was not<\/p>\n<p>sufficient consumer education prior to the introduction of the tax, and alarm<\/p>\n<p>because consumers find themselves faced with what appears to be a <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>16 per cent cost of living increase as of<\/p>\n<p>January 1, of this year. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>These issues include the fact that there is<\/p>\n<p>no provision in the VAT regulations to prevent businesses from adding VAT to<\/p>\n<p>existing prices or increasing current prices before applying the tax. Stock<\/p>\n<p>relief is being granted only to importers and manufacturers, and not to<\/p>\n<p>retailers. Further, businesses are not being granted stock relief for stock<\/p>\n<p>purchased before December <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>last year, and they have only until March to<\/p>\n<p>dispose of their December stock in order to benefit from stock relief. This<\/p>\n<p>means that many businesses will face losses on unsold December stock, and for<\/p>\n<p>stock purchased before December, if they were to lower prices immediately. It<\/p>\n<p>is the nature of business that they must do what they have to do to minimise<\/p>\n<p>losses, and unfortunately, this means higher prices for the consumer. The<\/p>\n<p>source said that in the immediate term, consumers will therefore continue to<\/p>\n<p>feel the effects of these types of problems, since they cannot pass on the<\/p>\n<p>additional charges <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>associated with the new tax. The ordinary<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese is at the end of the line as usual. As this realisation dawns, the<\/p>\n<p>consuming public is rightly becoming more and more alarmed. In December of<\/p>\n<p>2005, the Private Sector Commission pointed out that Guyana has the highest<\/p>\n<p>personal and corporate tax rates in the Caribbean, and opined that the<\/p>\n<p>introduction of <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>VAT at a rate of 16 per cent and a threshold<\/p>\n<p>set at $10M would place an enormous tax burden on the Guyanese consumer and a<\/p>\n<p>terrible strain on the country&#8217;s manufacturing, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>business, tourism, and export sectors. The<\/p>\n<p>Private Sector Commission stated that VAT must be introduced in conjunction<\/p>\n<p>with a reform of the existing tax system. They further stated that the tax in<\/p>\n<p>its present form would result in a significant increase in the cost of living<\/p>\n<p>to the average consumer. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Red Thread is a civil society organisation<\/p>\n<p>that speaks for women around the country. It has also expressed concerns with<\/p>\n<p>respect to the likely effects of VAT on Guyanese people in <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>general, and more specifically on unwaged<\/p>\n<p>housewives, low-waged workers, unemployed women and men, and pensioners. Their<\/p>\n<p>concerns have also now come to pass. They have expressed concern about prices<\/p>\n<p>that have increased on items that previously had no consumption tax, or<\/p>\n<p>consumption tax lower than 16 per cent, but are now subject to VAT. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>They also called for basic food items that<\/p>\n<p>are now subject to VAT to be zero rated, saying that applying VAT to these<\/p>\n<p>items is an extreme burden to the poor. These items include salt, flour,<\/p>\n<p>biscuits, margarine, eggs, beef, pork, fish, black eye peas, pigeon peas,<\/p>\n<p>channa, jam and jelly, matches, soap, school clothes, and telephone calls.<\/p>\n<p>Other items that should not be subject to VAT include toothpaste, sanitary<\/p>\n<p>napkins, and tampons. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The President and the GRA have given<\/p>\n<p>assurances that VAT should not result in a higher cost of living. Consumers and<\/p>\n<p>civil society organisations are clear that they are feeling the <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>pinch since the introduction of VAT. In a country<\/p>\n<p>where many people are already forced to work more than one job, or to rely on<\/p>\n<p>remittances from relatives who live abroad, it is imperative that we recognise<\/p>\n<p>that the consumer is being further burdened. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It would therefore seem appropriate that, as suggested<\/p>\n<p>in the press and by organisations and individuals, the government revisits the<\/p>\n<p>basic goods and services that are purchased primarily by the lower income<\/p>\n<p>consumer, and ensure that they are zero rated. This will give some relief to<\/p>\n<p>housewives, low wage earners, unemployed and underemployed people, and<\/p>\n<p>pensioners. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It would also seem appropriate that the<\/p>\n<p>government undertake a survey of pre and post-VAT prices to determine whether<\/p>\n<p>VAT has resulted in a significant cost of living increase. If this is found to<\/p>\n<p>be so, then it is only right that the VAT Rate be adjusted, or that the<\/p>\n<p>government provides tax relief in some other form to ease the burden on<\/p>\n<p>consumers. The Guyanese people deserve no less. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>QUESTIONS SUBMITTED FOR ANSWER BY MINISTER<\/p>\n<p>OF HOME AFFAIRS: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l12 level1 lfo10;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>Will the Hon. Minister of Home Affairs state the<\/p>\n<p>circumstances surrounding the prison break at the Mazaruni Prison on Friday,<\/p>\n<p>January 12, 2007, and which led to the escape of 9 prisoners? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l12 level1 lfo10;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>What measures have been put in place to address safety<\/p>\n<p>and security generally at all prisons in Guyana and to prevent jail breaks in<\/p>\n<p>particular? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l12 level1 lfo10;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>3.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>Can the Honourable Minister state specifically what<\/p>\n<p>recommendations, if any, of past Commissions of Enquiry into jail breaks within<\/p>\n<p>the last ten years have been implemented? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l12 level1 lfo10;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>4.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><![endif]><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>In light of the recent jail break at the Mazaruni<\/p>\n<p>prison, is the Minister of Home Affairs willing to seek a reconsideration of<\/p>\n<p>his government&#8217;s decision not to construct a new maximum security prison? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-1-28: The Alliance for<\/p>\n<p>Change Column-Either a grand deception or an unconstitutionality (Kaieteur<\/p>\n<p>News) <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Madam Speaker, it is clear from the<\/p>\n<p>Government&#8217;s side, and an emphatic admission on its part, that this Government<\/p>\n<p>is tied to gambling because of the enormous revenues derived from gambling.<\/p>\n<p>This PPP Government is perhaps the most heavily addicted party in the gambling<\/p>\n<p>arena now. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Its main economic argument revolves<\/p>\n<p>principally around two factors: revenues and job creation. The revenues<\/p>\n<p>obtained, they say, will be transferred into general revenues, which are much<\/p>\n<p>needed to achieve the Government&#8217;s fiscal objective &#8211; I suppose deficit<\/p>\n<p>reduction, and fiscal stabilisation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>With citizens revolting against further<\/p>\n<p>taxation, it is consequently difficult for the Government to resist the<\/p>\n<p>temptation to join the gambling bandwagon. In this fashion, this PPP Government<\/p>\n<p>would be able to avoid raising further taxes to meet their fiscal objectives.<\/p>\n<p>And then they will spend and allocate these revenues with minimal public<\/p>\n<p>scrutiny a la the Lotto Funds which, as you know, never can find its rightful<\/p>\n<p>destination: the Consolidated Fund. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Well, I have three objections against these<\/p>\n<p>arguments, which I feel should be emphasised. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Firstly, Government being such an active<\/p>\n<p>participant in the gambling industry, is serving in two capacities, one as a<\/p>\n<p>beneficiary and the other as a regulator, an awkward duality. There is<\/p>\n<p>absolutely no separation of these two functions in the Bill that we<\/p>\n<p>Parliamentarians can see and debate on. It is hidden away under this new-found<\/p>\n<p>method of governance <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8211; future Ministerial regulation-making,<\/p>\n<p>something very dangerous to Parliamentary democracy. To be both a beneficiary<\/p>\n<p>and regulator is like the fox watching the chicken coop. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Secondly, this so-called working class<\/p>\n<p>Government &#8212; and this is the indignity of it all &#8212; is trading on Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>hopes that casino gambling offers a chance to improve their lives; that this<\/p>\n<p>hardcore variety of gambling is a good habit to indulge in, and will finance<\/p>\n<p>society&#8217;s needs and priorities! That is the image being set by this Government<\/p>\n<p>on gambling! Could you believe this, Madam Speaker? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Thirdly, all the Government speakers have<\/p>\n<p>quoted studies which show the glamour and glitz of this business. None thus far<\/p>\n<p>has been decent enough to appreciate the huge negatives this industry can have<\/p>\n<p>for a poor, ill-institutioned country as ours. These ills have been explicitly<\/p>\n<p>stated in the speeches of Chantalle Smith and David Patterson, my esteemed AFC<\/p>\n<p>colleagues. I will not repeat them. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Neither were any of the Government speakers<\/p>\n<p>discerning enough to realise that these studies which show up the positives are<\/p>\n<p>generally done by casino proponents, who paint an optimistic picture. These<\/p>\n<p>studies are generally done by the gambling industry itself, and are<\/p>\n<p>self-serving and biased. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Only last week, the Shiela Holder Motion to<\/p>\n<p>have a study done by a neutral local body was thrown out by this Government.<\/p>\n<p>Why? Because this Government is becoming an instrument of gambling-entrenched<\/p>\n<p>interests which manipulate public opinion about these activities, and which<\/p>\n<p>have more to do with their agendas than they do with the public interest. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Honourable Member Mr. Odinga quotes the<\/p>\n<p>billions gambling bring in for Las Vegas . Mr. Irfan Ali glows in the examples<\/p>\n<p>of Asian countries benefiting from the wealth casino gambling brings in.<\/p>\n<p>Honourable Maniram Prashad quoted the case of Macau . Well, Madam Speaker, I<\/p>\n<p>want to say that is one big bird they are giving us. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Clement Rohee and Dr. Fox do not like the<\/p>\n<p>Biblical\/religious arguments against gambling. I can appreciate their<\/p>\n<p>preference for the more secular argument. But even when we address gambling on<\/p>\n<p>a secular platform, we still have to ensure we do not breach the prohibitions<\/p>\n<p>of our secular Bible, if I may so call it, that is, the Constitution of Guyana.<\/p>\n<p>What does this Book say on the issue? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But just before I quote Article 149 of that<\/p>\n<p>Bible, I wish to mention what the President told the Religious Leaders:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Guyanese, unless they are casino workers, or paid guests in these<\/p>\n<p>hotels, will not be allowed into these casinos. Only foreigners and only those<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese who have citizenship or residency status for some other country will<\/p>\n<p>be permitted.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I notice grumbling on the Government benches.<\/p>\n<p>Are you saying this is not what the President said? Well, what then did he tell<\/p>\n<p>the Religious Leaders? I hope there is no deception or misrepresentation on<\/p>\n<p>Your Excellency&#8217;s part. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This is the effect and spirit, if not the<\/p>\n<p>exact terms, what the President said. &#8220;Guyanese living here will be<\/p>\n<p>excluded from accessing the casinos&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Now what does Article 149 say? It says:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;No law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself<\/p>\n<p>or in its effect&#8221;. And discriminatory means &#8220;affording different<\/p>\n<p>treatment to different persons attributable wholly or mainly to<\/p>\n<p>their&#8230;&#8230; race, political opinion, colour, creed, age, gender, or<\/p>\n<p>place of origin&#8221;. To exclude me or, say, my good friend Bishop Juan<\/p>\n<p>Edghill because we are Guyanese not reaching the status of casino worker or<\/p>\n<p>paid guests is discriminatory on grounds of place of origin, just like it would<\/p>\n<p>have been if we were excluded because we were brown and black! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This Bill is wholly unconstitutional! To<\/p>\n<p>ensure that it becomes constitutional, a constitutional amendment to Article<\/p>\n<p>149 must first be passed to accommodate this abominable &#8220;Guyanese&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>exclusion, this &#8220;place of origin&#8221; restriction. Any good lawyer<\/p>\n<p>could successfully move such a constitutional motion in our High Court. I can<\/p>\n<p>foresee that an enterprising lawyer may even make out a case for Le Meridien<\/p>\n<p>Pegasus moving a motion for discrimination on grounds of age in the context of<\/p>\n<p>being excluded by virtue of being &#8220;old&#8221; as against Buddy&#8217;s Hotel,<\/p>\n<p>which is &#8220;new&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>[An abridged version, with minor<\/p>\n<p>modifications, of speech delivered on the Casino Gambling Bill in the National<\/p>\n<p>Assembly on Monday 22nd January, 2007 by KHEMRAJ RAMJATTAN, AFC Leader.] <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-2-4: Alliance For<\/p>\n<p>Change Column-Our legislative process:More frankness less arrogance needed<\/p>\n<p>(Keieteur News) <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The primary function of legislators in our National<\/p>\n<p>Assembly is the making of laws for the peace, order and good government of<\/p>\n<p>Guyana . <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The quality of this law-making process,<\/p>\n<p>however, depends on a number of circumstances. One such significant<\/p>\n<p>circumstance is the frankness of the proposers and movers of Bills, who, in our<\/p>\n<p>Westminster model, are Ministers of Government who are all present and engaged<\/p>\n<p>in the National Assembly. This frankness has to do with being lucid,<\/p>\n<p>unequivocal and principled as regards the policy behind the Bill so that the<\/p>\n<p>deficiency of the existing law is made clear to all, and the <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>remedying of this deficiency is made<\/p>\n<p>intelligible to all. Hence, such frankness entails consequential proscriptions<\/p>\n<p>which must necessarily be followed by such Ministers. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A Minister must never overload a Bill,<\/p>\n<p>whether substantive or amending, with verbiage which obscures the policy behind<\/p>\n<p>it and which clouds its intention. A Minister must never seek to misrepresent<\/p>\n<p>or deceive the Assembly as regards the true source and origin of a Bill, and<\/p>\n<p>the real purpose behind its provisions. A Minister must ensure that a Bill in<\/p>\n<p>his name satisfies the constitutionality test; or, at the very minimum,<\/p>\n<p>seriously give consideration to avoid the Bill being held unconstitutional <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>by our High Court on ground that it contravenes<\/p>\n<p>fundamental rights or basic doctrines or any provision of the constitution for<\/p>\n<p>that matter. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A Minister must never seek to arrogate unto<\/p>\n<p>himself the law-making process by the powerful device of empowering himself<\/p>\n<p>with sweeping powers through Ministerial regulations- making in all and sundry<\/p>\n<p>matters pertaining to the Bill. This can diminish the efficacy of the National<\/p>\n<p>Assembly and do serious damage to our democracy since deliberation and scrutiny<\/p>\n<p>of regulations, more properly termed subsidiary <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>legislation, is usually negligible, if not<\/p>\n<p>non-existent. Debates on subsidiary legislation, unlike primary legislation,<\/p>\n<p>are never guaranteed. In this my 16th year as a Parliamentarian, I cannot<\/p>\n<p>recall one instance where there has been a debate on subsidiary legislation.<\/p>\n<p>Parliamentarians, both in Government and Opposition, must be alert and<\/p>\n<p>perceptive to identify the undermining of these proscriptions by the Executive<\/p>\n<p>arm collectively and <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Ministers individually. This is our bounden<\/p>\n<p>duty and obligation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Moreover, once we identify such undermining,<\/p>\n<p>we must be courageous enough to stand up and show, at the very least, a<\/p>\n<p>righteous indignation against such impropriety which, if not nipped in the bud,<\/p>\n<p>generally result in authoritarianism. Since the commencement of our 9th<\/p>\n<p>Parliament after the 2006 Elections, a majority of the Bills presented in the<\/p>\n<p>House thus far have succumbed to a breach, in one way or the <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>other, of one or more of these proscriptions.<\/p>\n<p>This is not a nice start. What makes it uglier is oftentimes the arrogance<\/p>\n<p>exhibited by Ministers in attempting to rebut exposures of <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>theses instances. The most glaring example to<\/p>\n<p>date is the instance of the Casino Gambling Bill. Another recent example which<\/p>\n<p>exhibited a dogmatic attitude on Government&#8217;s part was when the AFC objected to<\/p>\n<p>the passage of the Custom&#8217;s Amendment Bill 8 of 2007, only last week. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC&#8217;s objections were on good grounds.<\/p>\n<p>Firstly, this Bill, purported as being a piece of sunset legislation, did not<\/p>\n<p>have any expiry date. Nor did the Minister indicate that its duration was going<\/p>\n<p>to be only for World Cup Cricket, like the other Minister did, in most explicit<\/p>\n<p>terms, in relation to the three other pieces of sunset legislation, namely<\/p>\n<p>Bills 5, 6 and 7 of 2007. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Secondly, it was shamelessly bad drafting,<\/p>\n<p>which shrouded the intent and purpose of its provisions, and gave the portfolio<\/p>\n<p>Minister huge powers at regulations-making. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Thirdly, the provisions were duplicitous as<\/p>\n<p>what they pretended to remedy were already taken care of by the Immigration<\/p>\n<p>Amendment Bill and the existing provisions of the Customs Act. Why then this<\/p>\n<p>Bill? Why not a clause for an expiry date, say 1st June 2007, like the other<\/p>\n<p>Bills? Why did the Government refuse the inclusion of an expiry date moved by<\/p>\n<p>the AFC? As I argued in the House, there is a sinister motive behind this Bill.<\/p>\n<p>It is not cricket when you are going to use cricket to get at boat owners who<\/p>\n<p>the Government feels are <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>smugglers! Here is the Bill in its full<\/p>\n<p>terms: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8221; 67A. (1) Without prejudice to<\/p>\n<p>section 67, the Minister may make regulations requiring any master of an<\/p>\n<p>aircraft or ship expected to arrive in Guyana to furnish advance information<\/p>\n<p>relating to any passenger or cargo or both on board of such aircraft or ship in<\/p>\n<p>the form and manner as may be provided in the regulations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>(2) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Where<\/p>\n<p>a master of an aircraft or ship who is required to furnish any advance<\/p>\n<p>information under the regulations made under subsection (1) &#8211; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>(a) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>intentionally<\/p>\n<p>fails to furnish the advance information; or <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>(b) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>recklessly<\/p>\n<p>furnishes incomplete or false advance information, he shall be liable to a fine<\/p>\n<p>not exceeding twenty million dollars as may be prescribed in the<\/p>\n<p>regulations.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Minister indicated in rebuttal to my<\/p>\n<p>objections to this Bill that it came from the Caricom drafters, as if to say<\/p>\n<p>that the Government had nothing to do with it. I made contact with officials<\/p>\n<p>there. I will forever keep their confidences. Suffice to say, they were<\/p>\n<p>flabbergasted! Khemraj Ramjattan Leader AFC <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-2-11: Alliance For<\/p>\n<p>Change column An edited version of the Presentation made by Sheila Holder, MP<\/p>\n<p>on the 2007 Budget (Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I have to confess that it took a great<\/p>\n<p>effort on my part to muster some semblance of interest in the presentation of<\/p>\n<p>the 2007 budget because were the truth to be told this exercise has lost its<\/p>\n<p>true meaning for a substantial number of people in the country. Not that I have<\/p>\n<p>no confidence in the ability of the recently appointed Finance Minister but<\/p>\n<p>believe, like that being experienced by the AFC party, he&#8217;s come into an<\/p>\n<p>environment that has already been sullied by what has transpired over the<\/p>\n<p>years. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Back to basics <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We need to get back to basics and<\/p>\n<p>understand the purpose of a budget which ought to be an exercise in<\/p>\n<p>stock-taking of the social, political and economic problems facing the country.<\/p>\n<p>The fiscal and economic measures proposed thereafter should seek to ameliorate<\/p>\n<p>those problems. A budget that doesn&#8217;t pass this test is therefore a budget of<\/p>\n<p>futility. This is the litmus test I will use to assess the 2007 budget. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Social, political and economic problems<\/p>\n<p>facing our country <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>From my perspective the pivotal social,<\/p>\n<p>economic and political problems facing our country are, a national economy that<\/p>\n<p>has been in recession close to a decade, a Government that has failed to grasp<\/p>\n<p>that economic development could only occur within an enabling environment where<\/p>\n<p>a culture of investor friendliness exists, where local professionals are<\/p>\n<p>motivated to contribute their skills, workers receive a fair day&#8217;s pay for a<\/p>\n<p>fair day&#8217;s work, where the judicial system is perceived to be timely in<\/p>\n<p>dispensing justice, where crime is under control, where the education system<\/p>\n<p>produces a workforce with the skills that are needed and where politically<\/p>\n<p>there is stability, governmental responsiveness to the views of the society and<\/p>\n<p>transparency and accountability. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In looking at how the 2007 budget proposes<\/p>\n<p>to deal with these issues it is my intention to focus broadly on the areas I<\/p>\n<p>have been assigned, namely the health sector, the Tourism, sugar &amp; bauxite<\/p>\n<p>and public utilities. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Let me say at the outset that it was<\/p>\n<p>heartening to hear the new Minister of Finance locate Government&#8217;s vision<\/p>\n<p>within a process of &#8216;modernising the economy, utilising the tools and<\/p>\n<p>techniques that are best suited and adaptable to our local situation.&#8217; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>May I remind the minister that it was only<\/p>\n<p>a week before his budget presentation that Government ignored these very<\/p>\n<p>objectives when it forced upon the nation the introduction of casino gambling<\/p>\n<p>without even an offer of an opinion from the Tourism &amp; Hospitality<\/p>\n<p>Association of Guyana (THAG). <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Meanwhile, Government in making the claim<\/p>\n<p>that legalised gambling will enhance tourism and boost the economy refused to<\/p>\n<p>offer one iota of supporting data of how, when, where and why this would<\/p>\n<p>materialise. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In fact the Finance Minister in his budget<\/p>\n<p>presentation made absolutely no mention of the projected economic targets<\/p>\n<p>envisaged will accrue from legalised gambling. It is such anomalies that betray<\/p>\n<p>the very trust the minister said he hopes to secure in building a modern and<\/p>\n<p>prosperous Guyana. Instead tourism is hinged to stronger growth of the economy<\/p>\n<p>and placing greater emphasis on promotion which has been allocated $65.6M to<\/p>\n<p>execute the development of a recognisable image of Guyana as a unique destination.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On page 27 of his presentation the<\/p>\n<p>Minister describes development of the sector as one &#8220;that combines<\/p>\n<p>business with tourism products such as leisure, events and sports tourism and<\/p>\n<p>nature-based tourism.&#8221; Meanwhile countries like Belize and Costa Rica,<\/p>\n<p>little know destinations up to a few years ago forge ahead of Guyana in<\/p>\n<p>cornering the eco-tourist market. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Misuse of Government&#8217;s Resources to punish<\/p>\n<p>those who oppose it <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I want to make the point here that<\/p>\n<p>successive PPPC Governments have earned a reputation for excluding expertise<\/p>\n<p>that is perceived to be politically non-supportive. This is by no means<\/p>\n<p>peculiar to PPPC Governments, but has nonetheless been very detrimental to the<\/p>\n<p>Government&#8217;s stated development objectives as the practice has been very discouraging<\/p>\n<p>to their stated nation-building efforts. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>No amount of complaints about the practice<\/p>\n<p>of sidelining professionals not closely aligned to the governing party and<\/p>\n<p>indeed outright blacklisting of many have brought an end to this intimidatory<\/p>\n<p>practice. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Today we&#8217;re witnessing the claim by<\/p>\n<p>Stabroek News that government is misusing taxpayers&#8217; funds in an effort to<\/p>\n<p>suppress the newspaper. International opinion is fast building against them,<\/p>\n<p>leading one to believe that one day soon the pin will drop and Government will<\/p>\n<p>come to realise that it is foolhardy to pursue such a policy in light of the<\/p>\n<p>fact that it rebounds to their detriment given the fact that economic growth<\/p>\n<p>targeted over the period of the President Jagdeo&#8217;s management of the economy<\/p>\n<p>have not been achieved. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>GUYSUCO <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Take for instance GUYSUCO that has a<\/p>\n<p>Booker Tate management contract &#8211; there has been a systematic programme of<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;laying off&#8217; experienced Guyanese field and factory professionals. Some<\/p>\n<p>we are told have been laid off supposedly because they have reached retirement<\/p>\n<p>age yet they are quickly replaced by highly paid expatriates contracted by<\/p>\n<p>Booker Tate. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is now becoming evident that<\/p>\n<p>government&#8217;s negotiators of the GUYSUCO\/Booker Tate contract have undermined<\/p>\n<p>local professional expertise in the sugar industry by providing opportunity for<\/p>\n<p>the contractor to benefit financially from sidelining locals. In these<\/p>\n<p>circumstances little effort is being made to retain young professionals in the<\/p>\n<p>industry. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>For an administration that claims to be<\/p>\n<p>interested in the welfare of Guyanese this state of affairs is reprehensible.<\/p>\n<p>Be warned, the AFC is taking a close look at developments in the Skeldon<\/p>\n<p>project to see whether this trend will continue. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Meanwhile it was noted that the minister<\/p>\n<p>made no mention of the situation with the Demerara estates which continue to be<\/p>\n<p>a drain on the industry. How does he plan to deal with the loss making estates<\/p>\n<p>is an explanation he owes the National Assembly. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Bauxite <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>With respect to bauxite we are hopeful<\/p>\n<p>that the investment initiatives currently developing will accrue to the benefit<\/p>\n<p>of the long term viability of the industry and for the hundreds of workers who<\/p>\n<p>earn their living from bauxite production. The AFC would like to see Government<\/p>\n<p>investigating the possibility of economic opportunities in the mined out areas.<\/p>\n<p>For example can the lakes that were created where bauxite was once mined<\/p>\n<p>possibly be used for aquaculture and swimming for recreational purposes? If so,<\/p>\n<p>will the fish reared in those lakes be fit for human consumption? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We would like to see the Government<\/p>\n<p>encouraging the University of Guyana to get involved in such scientific<\/p>\n<p>investigations in order to alleviate the unemployment and encourage local<\/p>\n<p>entrepreneurs in depressed bauxite areas. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Health <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Let me say categorically that there have<\/p>\n<p>been improvements for which the Minister of Health and his staff should be<\/p>\n<p>complemented. We urge them to pursue to successful conclusion the strategies<\/p>\n<p>being devised to retain our doctors and nurses within the public health system<\/p>\n<p>throughout the ten administrative regions. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We are pleased to learn of plans to<\/p>\n<p>modernise the regulatory framework within which health institutions and workers<\/p>\n<p>currently operate. We trust that in so doing the baby is not thrown out with<\/p>\n<p>the bath water but that appropriate regulatory space is made available for the<\/p>\n<p>practice of alternative medicine. It is however noted a correlation between the<\/p>\n<p>poor performance of the economy and the deteriorating nutrition of children and<\/p>\n<p>pregnant mothers. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I look forward to hearing from the Health<\/p>\n<p>Minister by what time he envisages the disparity gap between the rich and the<\/p>\n<p>poor in accessing life-saving and sight-saving treatments will be closed. I<\/p>\n<p>also look forward to the Minister enlightening us about the manufacture and<\/p>\n<p>distribution of nutritional sprinkles to reduce morbidity and mortality in the<\/p>\n<p>target groups. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In regard to other health issues we<\/p>\n<p>welcome the stated intention to build multi-purpose sports complexes in each<\/p>\n<p>county, invest in sports equipment and the construction of an Olympic-size<\/p>\n<p>swimming pool since they will go a far way in opening up opportunities for our<\/p>\n<p>young people to truly unlock their potential in the sport of their choice. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Public Utilities <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Turning my attention now to public<\/p>\n<p>utilities, it was noted that while speaking about power generation the Finance<\/p>\n<p>Minister said Government&#8217;s stated objective was to bring affordable and<\/p>\n<p>reliable electricity to all Guyanese. This is welcome news because the IDB has<\/p>\n<p>halted the disbursement of funds for the un-served areas electrification<\/p>\n<p>programme because of the poor uptake of the service. It is obvious that the<\/p>\n<p>high rate of stealing of electricity in those areas point to the question of<\/p>\n<p>affordability. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I&#8217;ll like to hear from the Prime Minister<\/p>\n<p>how he proposes to deal with this problem given that there is now an awareness<\/p>\n<p>on the part of policy makers and regulators around the world that a good gauge<\/p>\n<p>of how democratic a country is could be calculated by the degree of access its<\/p>\n<p>citizens had to essential basic public utility services such as water,<\/p>\n<p>telephones and electricity. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Telecommunication <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Under the CSME Treaty, competition policy<\/p>\n<p>requires Caricom countries to regulate anti -competitive behavior within trade and<\/p>\n<p>services. It, however, does not address market structure but enshrines<\/p>\n<p>obligations for liberalisation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In Guyana the telecommunications sector is<\/p>\n<p>opening up tentatively but needs further examination and appropriate laws<\/p>\n<p>enacted in order to achieve CSME standards of competitiveness which in turn<\/p>\n<p>will go a far way in satisfying the public&#8217;s demand for telephone services in<\/p>\n<p>un-served areas around the country. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Water <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>For a country as well endowed with water,<\/p>\n<p>a scarce resource in many countries, it is disappointing that the GWI has not<\/p>\n<p>been able to deliver a service that is characterised by efficiency, reliability<\/p>\n<p>and distribution of safe potable water to citizens. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In closing, I&#8217;ll like to assure the<\/p>\n<p>Minister that we in the AFC concur with his concluding comments that for<\/p>\n<p>Government&#8217;s 2007 budget to be successfully implemented will require a<\/p>\n<p>favourable international and domestic environment. That while they do not<\/p>\n<p>control the external environment, as the Government they certainly can put in<\/p>\n<p>place mechanisms and measures to grasp available opportunities and limit<\/p>\n<p>negative effects so that collectively we can shape events for our benefit and<\/p>\n<p>for the benefit of generations to come. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We wish him well even as we put him on<\/p>\n<p>notice we will be watching to see how he responds to the concerns we have<\/p>\n<p>raised. Like him we are willing to promote Guyana&#8217;s interest in an atmosphere<\/p>\n<p>of peace, understanding, and trust and by working hard and together. Happy<\/p>\n<p>Birthday to you, Minister of Finance. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-4-1: AFC Article-The<\/p>\n<p>value of the right to access information (Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Cricket, glorious cricket is generally<\/p>\n<p>occupying the minds of Guyanese now that the Cricket World Cup Super 8 matches<\/p>\n<p>are being played in Guyana. The spanking new Providence Stadium has provided<\/p>\n<p>opportunity for Guyanese to display national pride worthy of the outward beauty<\/p>\n<p>which the Providence Stadium presents. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As we approach today&#8217;s match between<\/p>\n<p>the West Indies and Sri Lanka, with apprehension, the Alliance For Change (AFC)<\/p>\n<p>craves your attention on a matter of grave importance for the strengthening of<\/p>\n<p>our fledgling democracy &#8211; the right to access information. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Presented below are arguments of<\/p>\n<p>importance to Guyana about the value of the right to access information which<\/p>\n<p>was sent to the AFC for circulation by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative<\/p>\n<p>(CHRI), an NGO in special consultative status with the Economic &amp; Social<\/p>\n<p>Council of the United Nations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It strengthens democracy: <\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The right to access information gives<\/p>\n<p>practical meaning to the principles of participatory democracy. The underlying<\/p>\n<p>foundation of the democratic tradition rests on the premise of an informed<\/p>\n<p>constituency that is able to thoughtfully choose its representatives on the<\/p>\n<p>basis of the strength of their record and that is able to hold their government<\/p>\n<p>accountable for the policies and decisions it promulgates. The right to<\/p>\n<p>information has a crucial role in ensuring that citizens are better informed<\/p>\n<p>about the people they are electing and their activities while in government.<\/p>\n<p>Democracy is enhanced when people meaningfully engage with their institutions<\/p>\n<p>of governance and form their judgments on the basis of facts and evidence,<\/p>\n<p>rather than just empty promises and meaningless political slogans. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It supports participatory development: <\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Much of the failure of development<\/p>\n<p>strategies to date is attributable to the fact that, for years, they were<\/p>\n<p>designed and implemented in a closed environment -between governments and<\/p>\n<p>donors and without the involvement of people. If governments are obligated to<\/p>\n<p>provide information, people can be empowered to more meaningfully determine<\/p>\n<p>their own development destinies. They can assess for themselves why development<\/p>\n<p>strategies have gone askew and press for changes to put development back on<\/p>\n<p>track. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is a proven anti-corruption tool: <\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In 2006, of the nine countries scoring<\/p>\n<p>best in Transparency International&#8217;s annual Corruption Perceptions Index,<\/p>\n<p>no fewer than eight had effective legislation enabling the public to see<\/p>\n<p>government files. In contrast, of the ten countries perceived to be the worst<\/p>\n<p>in terms of corruption, only one had a functioning access to information<\/p>\n<p>regime. The right to information increases transparency by opening up public<\/p>\n<p>and private decision-making processes to scrutiny. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It supports economic development: <\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The right to information provides crucial<\/p>\n<p>support to the market-friendly, good governance principles of transparency and<\/p>\n<p>accountability. Markets, like governments, do not function well in secret.<\/p>\n<p>Openness encourages a political and economic environment more conducive to the<\/p>\n<p>free market tenets of &#8216;perfect information&#8217; and &#8216;perfect<\/p>\n<p>competition&#8217;. In turn, this results in greater growth, not least because<\/p>\n<p>it encourages greater investor confidence. Economic equality is also conditional<\/p>\n<p>upon freely accessible information because a <i>right to information ensures<\/p>\n<p>that information itself does not become just another commodity that is<\/p>\n<p>corralled and cornered by the few for their sole benefit. <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It helps to reduce conflict: <\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Democracy and national stability are enhanced<\/p>\n<p>by policies of openness which engender greater public trust in their<\/p>\n<p>representatives. Importantly, enhancing people&#8217;s trust in their<\/p>\n<p>government goes some way to minimizing the likelihood of conflict. Openness and<\/p>\n<p>information-sharing contribute to national stability by establishing a two-way<\/p>\n<p>dialogue between citizens and the state, reducing distance between government<\/p>\n<p>and people and thereby combating feelings of alienation. Systems that enable<\/p>\n<p>people to be part of, and personally scrutinise, decision-making processes<\/p>\n<p>reduce citizens&#8217; feelings of powerlessness and weakens perceptions of<\/p>\n<p>exclusion from opportunity or unfair advantage of one group over another. The<\/p>\n<p>AFC&#8217;s Freedom Of Information (FOI) Bill No. 26 of 2006 could be viewed on<\/p>\n<p>its website: <u><a href=\"http:\/\/www.afcguyana.com\/\">www.afcguyana.com<\/a><\/u><\/span><\/b><b><u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;> <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>13.5pt&#8217;>A critique of the Bill and for additional information see the website<\/p>\n<p>of the CHRI: http:\/\/www.humanrightsinitiative.org <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In seeking to access information about the<\/p>\n<p>measures government intends to take to address the issue of safety and to<\/p>\n<p>prevent jail breaks in particular, AFC Chairman, Mr. Raphael Trotman, MP<\/p>\n<p>received this response from the Minister of Home Affairs to his questions posed<\/p>\n<p>in Parliamentary Notice Paper No. 61. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=135<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1051&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_25.jpg&#8221;>Increase surveillance and<\/p>\n<p>monitoring capabilities at prison locations in order to prevent and reduce the<\/p>\n<p>element of surprise by prisoners and support staff in maintaining the security<\/p>\n<p>integrity of those locations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Create more opportunity for staff to<\/p>\n<p>develop core competence and skills, from strategic courses done in-house,<\/p>\n<p>external institutions, Joint Services training and overseas exposures. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Review staff establishment and increase<\/p>\n<p>staff strength to adequately supervise inmates. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Fortify existing structures to safely<\/p>\n<p>house inmates. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Develop and maintain Joint Services&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>operational response drills to emergencies occurring within the prison<\/p>\n<p>facilities in Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Establish monitoring teams to audit\/review<\/p>\n<p>the security and management of prison locations in terms of structural<\/p>\n<p>capabilities, compliance with security procedures and generally the efficiency<\/p>\n<p>of prison locations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Provide a comprehensive retraining regime<\/p>\n<p>that will provide prisoners with a sense of hope and incentives to conduct<\/p>\n<p>themselves positively in the prison environment. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-5: An Open Letter to<\/p>\n<p>the Guyanese Diaspora and shared with those living the reality at home.. <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I am writing to you as one of your peers &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>an ordinary Guyanese torn from our homeland many years ago. Whether you live in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana or in the Diaspora, I believe that in terms of our homeland, we share<\/p>\n<p>many of the same fears, pain, frustration, love, hope and passion. I believe<\/p>\n<p>that given the right opportunity and environment, we would want to work<\/p>\n<p>together to do what we must as a generation, to bring the dawn of a new era to<\/p>\n<p>Guyana. I ask that you take the time to read these few pages, and after you<\/p>\n<p>have, search your conscience. Ask yourself like I did: &#8216;If not us, Who?<\/p>\n<p>And if not now, When?&#8217; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I am asking you to join with thousands at<\/p>\n<p>home and around the world, who are on the move to break the shackles in which<\/p>\n<p>we find ourselves as a nation. Join with us to create the environment needed to<\/p>\n<p>unleash the energy, creativity, ingenuity, fairness and goodwill that we know<\/p>\n<p>we have, so that we can see Guyana become what we know she can be &#8211; a<\/p>\n<p>proud, glorious, prosperous and richly diverse beacon in our part of the world.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Even though I left Guyana in 1976, deep<\/p>\n<p>inside, like many of us, Guyana never left me. Guyana has always been, and will<\/p>\n<p>continue to be home. I have been involved socially an<\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>d politically all along in one way or the other,<\/p>\n<p>sometimes more intensely than others. Like many of us, I am happily settled in<\/p>\n<p>my adopted country, in my case, Canada, but I have looked on from a distance,<\/p>\n<p>in sadness, as the Guyanese dream became a nightmare. In Canada, I grew<\/p>\n<p>personally and professionally, raised my family and saw reward for my hard<\/p>\n<p>work. In many ways, I cannot imagine how it would have been spending the past<\/p>\n<p>30+ years in Guyana instead of Canada. Looking at it as one of the hundreds of<\/p>\n<p>thousands of us who left, at many levels, I think we are better off for having<\/p>\n<p>left when we did. I believe that we have had opportunities for growth<\/p>\n<p>personally and professionally that we may not have had. I also think we are<\/p>\n<p>probably more tolerant and appreciative of each other, and can look at<\/p>\n<p>ourselves and our homeland differently. I think we are in a great position to<\/p>\n<p>use some or all of these assets and gifts to help our homeland in really<\/p>\n<p>significant ways. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I will always hold Canada close to my heart,<\/p>\n<p>but it will always be &#8216;home away from home&#8217; for me. I always felt<\/p>\n<p>that this was temporary, and that one day, I will go back to the land where I<\/p>\n<p>was born; to walk where I used to run, and to be able to be part of a rebirth<\/p>\n<p>in Guyana. I saw for Guyana a place where there would be hope, safety,<\/p>\n<p>fairness, mutual respect among people as people, and enjoyment of each other as<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese. For 30+ years, like many others, I tried to help support change but<\/p>\n<p>what needed to happen has not happened yet. There have been changes, of course,<\/p>\n<p>and some positive ones as well, but as a whole, I see Guyana sadly stagnant in<\/p>\n<p>many ways, sliding backwards in others and taking on new troubling<\/p>\n<p>characteristics that in my view will hasten its underdevelopment and<\/p>\n<p>instability in the future. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There is enough for all in Guyana, but I<\/p>\n<p>believe that the opportunity to harness the abundance of the land and the generosity<\/p>\n<p>and spirit and of her people has been squandered. Guyana has become the blight<\/p>\n<p>in the Caribbean; her people ridiculed, unwanted and stigmatized; their<\/p>\n<p>individual and collective pride and will seriously damaged. Despite our renown<\/p>\n<p>for being innovative, bright, hard working, peace loving, law abiding and<\/p>\n<p>generous, it is sad to watch the unnatural character that has found its way<\/p>\n<p>into the plod and grind of daily living in Guyana. People do what they have to<\/p>\n<p>do to survive; and having had to do it for so long, it&#8217;s hard to remember<\/p>\n<p>that these same people were once the brain and bread basket of the Caribbean,<\/p>\n<p>generous to a fault, and able to see life through a wit, laughter and gaiety<\/p>\n<p>that infected everyone who came close. After 40+ years of independence, institutional<\/p>\n<p>racism, neglect, greed, corruption and a culture of entitlement has engulfed<\/p>\n<p>the country is strangling it. The Guyanese people have had to pay an<\/p>\n<p>unforgivable price over the past 40+ years: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We paid being discriminated against,<\/p>\n<p>intimidated and marginalized in our own country; We paid with the youth we<\/p>\n<p>lost, escaping in the 60&#8217;s, 70&#8217;s, and 80&#8217;s and to today; We<\/p>\n<p>paid with the breakup and dispersal of families all over the globe, many of us<\/p>\n<p>losing ourselves and our way; We paid with the dreams and the heritage that we<\/p>\n<p>lost; We paid with the humiliation we felt just for being Guyanese during and<\/p>\n<p>following the national destruction of the Burnham years; We paid by having to<\/p>\n<p>accept racism, underemployment and loss of identity in our scramble to survive<\/p>\n<p>out of Guyana; We paid as we watched from a distance as parents and loved ones<\/p>\n<p>suffer and grow old &#8211; wanting, disenfranchised, intimidated for their beliefs<\/p>\n<p>or for being born a certain race; And above all, some who did not leave, paid,<\/p>\n<p>and continue to pay with their blood and their lives. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What is disturbing about all this in my view,<\/p>\n<p>is that all that all of this seems to have been for nothing! Sure, there were<\/p>\n<p>some improvements, but in many ways, and by many measures, the country and the<\/p>\n<p>people are worse off than they were before independence; and at current course<\/p>\n<p>and speed, we are headed for the bottom!! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>For Guyana to prosper, every citizen MUST<\/p>\n<p>have the opportunity as a person in his or her own right; to dream and create<\/p>\n<p>dreams; to succeed and help others to succeed; to fulfill and be fulfilled; to<\/p>\n<p>live and let live; to respect and be respected; to hope and give hope; to have<\/p>\n<p>and defend true freedom &#8211; free from fear, racism, discrimination and political<\/p>\n<p>victimization. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I know that many of us have enjoyed some of<\/p>\n<p>these rights in our adopted countries and are keenly aware that we had to leave<\/p>\n<p>Guyana to enjoy them. I also know that many of us feel robbed of many of the<\/p>\n<p>other dimensions of life and living because we had to leave when we did. We are<\/p>\n<p>scattered, away from our families, relatives, friends and communities, with<\/p>\n<p>gaps and voids in our being that we think about and feel forced to live with in<\/p>\n<p>sadness, silence, despair and sometimes in denial and anger. Whether we choose<\/p>\n<p>to try to forget or to avoid this, it is there, familiar to many of us in the<\/p>\n<p>Diaspora, and I believe it will always be there. As we continue the rhythm of<\/p>\n<p>life in our adopted countries, there will always be a conversation, reflection<\/p>\n<p>or some event taking place in Guyana or affecting Guyana that will stir these<\/p>\n<p>emotions with different levels of intensity. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Despite all of this, many of us continue to<\/p>\n<p>help in many ways, and will continue to do so because we care about our<\/p>\n<p>friends, family, people and homeland. Help in whatever form it is given, is<\/p>\n<p>needed in Guyana, and I know that it is both deeply appreciated and sometimes<\/p>\n<p>abused. Despite our best efforts, I believe that the need goes much deeper than<\/p>\n<p>the help we are able to give individually. Because of what was unleashed<\/p>\n<p>institutionally on the people of Guyana over the past 40+ years, there have<\/p>\n<p>been deep negative changes to the value system among many Guyanese living at<\/p>\n<p>home, depending on how their circumstances unfolded. Work ethic, personal<\/p>\n<p>responsibility, self sufficiency, fair play and basic honesty are some of the<\/p>\n<p>qualities which defined us as a people before, but have eroded over the past<\/p>\n<p>40+ years. This is not to lay blame; it is just to openly recognize the reality<\/p>\n<p>as a place from where to start. There are many reasons for the character<\/p>\n<p>changes that have afflicted Guyana, and I believe that lack of leadership, bad<\/p>\n<p>government, racism, corruption, greed, mismanagement and lack of opportunity<\/p>\n<p>were at the root of what happened. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>At this point in the history of the country,<\/p>\n<p>I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s useful or helpful to try to pinpoint which<\/p>\n<p>political parties, personalities or organizations were responsible for what.<\/p>\n<p>There is enough to go around to those who had a hand in what went on; and<\/p>\n<p>besides that, I believe that we all know more or less how we got to where are<\/p>\n<p>as a nation. We may have soft spots for certain players and want to be less<\/p>\n<p>harsh on them than others, but it is my view that the whole pack of them failed<\/p>\n<p>the country. They do not deserve to be in office; do not collectively have the<\/p>\n<p>skills to do what&#8217;s needed; and are too inward looking and &#8216;small<\/p>\n<p>minded&#8217; for a job that needs to be done. There are lots of &#8216;small<\/p>\n<p>men&#8217; who have become &#8216;real men&#8217; in Guyana and many of them<\/p>\n<p>are not deserving. So rather than rant about this, I just wanted to make that<\/p>\n<p>point as a basis for what I would like to ask of you; as Guyanese in the<\/p>\n<p>Diaspora. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I believe that the Diaspora is probably one<\/p>\n<p>of Guyana&#8217;s most valuable, most abused, least respected and<\/p>\n<p>under-utilized strategic resources. By some counts, including the current<\/p>\n<p>government&#8217;s estimates, there are about 960,000 of us out here when you<\/p>\n<p>include our descendants. That is bigger than the current population of Guyana<\/p>\n<p>based on the last census!! Many countries making quantum leaps in development<\/p>\n<p>have realized this; India and China are the leaders in tapping into their<\/p>\n<p>Diaspora. The PPP and PNC have abused the Diaspora, keeping them at bay and<\/p>\n<p>tapping into their bank accounts at election time every 4-5 years. They also<\/p>\n<p>know that the Diaspora, being decent and caring Guyanese will continue to pour<\/p>\n<p>in the US$300+ million a year into the country to help their loved ones,<\/p>\n<p>neighbours, schools, churches, etc. You will probably hear the words<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Money Transfer&#8217; in presentations coming from the current<\/p>\n<p>government to the Diaspora. That&#8217;s right! That&#8217;s what they see as<\/p>\n<p>our major role!! While we do this, many of those in power continue to squander<\/p>\n<p>the resources of the country and wallow in malaise. The truth is: the<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;powers&#8217; in Guyana cannot handle the Diaspora. They cannot handle<\/p>\n<p>their candor; intellect; skills; experience; work ethic; demand for quality;<\/p>\n<p>progressive attitude; and impatience with the malaise and dysfunction that<\/p>\n<p>seems to be the accepted norm across most parts of the Guyanese society. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So what do we do? is this something that<\/p>\n<p>people in the Diaspora want to spend their time and money fixing? and for those<\/p>\n<p>who want to get involved, how can we get involved with assurance that our<\/p>\n<p>contribution is welcome and put to the intended use? These are difficult questions.<\/p>\n<p>Some people who have tried in the past have found it very frustrating and<\/p>\n<p>aggravating. This can turn you off and send you away, determined never to do it<\/p>\n<p>again. At the same time, we know that the opposite is also true. Many times,<\/p>\n<p>the dept of fulfillment and satisfaction of helping our homeland and our people<\/p>\n<p>can be very profound; almost spiritual. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Looking at the state of the country today and<\/p>\n<p>how the future is set to unfold, I have concluded that in addition to all the<\/p>\n<p>good work individuals and organizations do at social, religious and other<\/p>\n<p>levels; unless we, as a generation, tackle the cancer of race based politics;<\/p>\n<p>the endemic greed, corruption, incompetence, mismanagement and malaise; we will<\/p>\n<p>never go beyond tinkering with the symptoms; we will never get to and remove<\/p>\n<p>the root causes, and we will never see Guyana start to achieve her potential of<\/p>\n<p>abundance. We will continue to see &#8216;petty people&#8217; strut around the<\/p>\n<p>capital and the country with their arrogance and &#8216;entitlement mentality&#8217;,<\/p>\n<p>oblivious to the continuing decay and Guyana&#8217;s race to the bottom of the<\/p>\n<p>list of nations. Guyana will continue to be known for borrowing more than it<\/p>\n<p>can afford, and begging for relief. She will have a hard time starting to be a<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;developing&#8217; nation in the true sense; and whatever it meant to be<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese over the past 60 years will be a distant memory in the next 10-15<\/p>\n<p>years. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I know that dotted around in this landscape<\/p>\n<p>are good, well meaning people struggling to do their part both inside and<\/p>\n<p>outside of Guyana; but it is not enough; and has not been <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>enough for 40+ years. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I believe that there needs to be a<\/p>\n<p>fundamental change in how the country sees itself and thinks about itself if<\/p>\n<p>there is to be real change. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I believe that while the generosity or the<\/p>\n<p>Diaspora will continue to be a survival kit for Guyana, if that is all the<\/p>\n<p>Diaspora does, it would have misunderstood its role; its power and its<\/p>\n<p>responsibility. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I believe that the Guyanese Diaspora has the<\/p>\n<p>maturity, wisdom, means and ability to collectively take on and significantly<\/p>\n<p>influence the task of the rebirth and remaking Guyana in our lifetime, in<\/p>\n<p>partnership with those at home. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I believe that it is up to our generation to<\/p>\n<p>do this. We are probably the generation who has gotten the most out of Guyana;<\/p>\n<p>and I think we have a collective responsibility to help her in her hour of<\/p>\n<p>need; and that hour is now. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We have it within us as Guyanese; for our<\/p>\n<p>homeland: to care more than others think is wise; to risk more than others<\/p>\n<p>think is safe; to dream more than others think is practical; and to expect more<\/p>\n<p>than others think is possible. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>My view is that the rebirth and remaking<\/p>\n<p>Guyana can only happen if it starts with the remaking and refocusing of the<\/p>\n<p>political culture. What does this mean? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It has to become a culture that condemns<\/p>\n<p>racism, not one that denies it, or silently allows leaders to be racist in all<\/p>\n<p>but their words. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It has to become a culture where those who<\/p>\n<p>want to be in Government must be prepared to serve the people, not join<\/p>\n<p>government so that they can get people to serve them. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It has to become a culture in which privilege<\/p>\n<p>is given to the people, not one where political office is used to accumulate<\/p>\n<p>privilege for those in power, their functionaries, friends, family and campaign<\/p>\n<p>contributors. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It has to become a culture where<\/p>\n<p>accountability and transparency is expected, practiced and demanded from top to<\/p>\n<p>bottom; not something that &#8216;other people do&#8217;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It has to become a culture where<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;meritocracy&#8217; is the new watch word. Merit not bribery, merit not<\/p>\n<p>connection; merit not party affiliation; merit not family name; merit not race;<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So what am I asking you to do? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I am asking you to consider that for this<\/p>\n<p>change to have the impact needed and to have institutional longevity, it needs<\/p>\n<p>to start and take hold at the political level. Take a hard honest look at the<\/p>\n<p>political landscape in Guyana. I am suggesting that both the PPP and the PNC<\/p>\n<p>are too tainted, institutionally dysfunctional and incompetent to do what is<\/p>\n<p>needed. They have too much baggage, too many skeletons in the closet, and are<\/p>\n<p>too tied to their past. They spend too much time looking in the rear view<\/p>\n<p>mirror of the car to be able to drive it and navigate the difficult and<\/p>\n<p>dangerous roads; yet see, seize and create the opportunities ahead. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I believe that early in the history of our<\/p>\n<p>nation, the PPP and PNC and their leaders served Guyana well in some very<\/p>\n<p>important areas. Through this work they were able to successfully take the<\/p>\n<p>country to the brink of independence. Unfortunately I think they have been<\/p>\n<p>failing the country ever since. They did not have the stature, grace,<\/p>\n<p>generosity of spirit and courage to compromise, all of which were required to<\/p>\n<p>take Guyana into independence and onward to an explosive era of glory that she<\/p>\n<p>was poised to enter. They had all the ingredients: a learned, skilled,<\/p>\n<p>innovative and industrious population that was the envy of the Caribbean; a<\/p>\n<p>country laden with riches, again, the envy of the Caribbean; a time in the<\/p>\n<p>country&#8217;s life which was ripe for growing up, taking charge, and making<\/p>\n<p>home the way we wanted our home to be. Instead, they let ideology, ego, envy,<\/p>\n<p>and &#8216;power for the sake of power&#8217; cause them to squander what was<\/p>\n<p>possible and along with it, the lives of close to 750,000 people at that time.<\/p>\n<p>The rest, as they say, is history. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Learning from history, it takes different<\/p>\n<p>people, dynamics, skills, discipline, processes, etc. to take families, people,<\/p>\n<p>companies, organizations and countries from stage to stage in their<\/p>\n<p>development. Some leaders provide what is needed to recognize the need and<\/p>\n<p>spark and organize the change; but in most cases they needed others to finish<\/p>\n<p>the job. Those who failed to recognize this and yield to it, ended up<\/p>\n<p>sacrificing the same causes which they spent their lives working to change. Those<\/p>\n<p>who recognized it and had the wisdom, grace and courage to pass the torch,<\/p>\n<p>truly saw their life&#8217;s work fulfilled; and history is kind to them. Look<\/p>\n<p>at a few examples: Moses freed the people from Egypt, led them for 40 years<\/p>\n<p>through and out of the wilderness, but had to pass the baton to Joshua to<\/p>\n<p>finish the job. The Mahatma brought India from domination to independence then<\/p>\n<p>passed the torch to Nehru and others to take her into and beyond independence.<\/p>\n<p>Mandela dismantled segregation and stabilized South Africa, the passed the<\/p>\n<p>torch to the next generation in the ANC to tackle the task of building<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;one South Africa&#8217;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I will leave it to you to think about<\/p>\n<p>examples of our leaders who led and made great changes, but were unable to grow<\/p>\n<p>big enough, wise enough, strong enough and generous enough to fully serve the<\/p>\n<p>people, the cause or the movement that called them in the first place. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Leaders have to have the insight and courage<\/p>\n<p>to put the good of the people and the country first. Sometimes blind loyalties,<\/p>\n<p>ideologies, political ambition and egos have to give way. Leaders must be able<\/p>\n<p>to let the collective interest of the nation take precedence over persons and<\/p>\n<p>organizations. I have thought about this since I was a young man, watching and<\/p>\n<p>studying the ebb and flow of events around us in Guyana. Some things made sense<\/p>\n<p>and some didn&#8217;t, but I felt even then, that many of the basic things that<\/p>\n<p>were wrong started at the top, with the leadership. It didn&#8217;t matter<\/p>\n<p>whether it was the church, church organization, a sports club, a council, a<\/p>\n<p>political party or the government. To me, even as a boy, the pattern was the<\/p>\n<p>same; and I always thought it could be so much better if;&#8230; just if the<\/p>\n<p>leaders served the interest of the people and organizations rather than their own.<\/p>\n<p>I guess being very young, I had the freedom to be honest and na&iuml;ve with<\/p>\n<p>myself and my own thoughts. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>After these many years, I am convinced that<\/p>\n<p>Guyana needs a new breadth of life into its predictable and stagnant politics<\/p>\n<p>if it is to wake up and stop lumbering along the road to the bottom. We in the<\/p>\n<p>Diaspora have a significant role to play and we need to use our skills and<\/p>\n<p>bring our collective strength to bear on the need for fundamental changes in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana. Coming fresh off the spectacle of cricket, this may be a good time for<\/p>\n<p>us to do what&#8217;s needed, as it provides a good case study. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Like those at home, many of us in the<\/p>\n<p>Diaspora are bombarded with news, reports and opinions on the state of affairs<\/p>\n<p>in Guyana. The government has already claimed a major cricket success by their<\/p>\n<p>measures, and while they are doing that, the calls for full disclosure of the<\/p>\n<p>facts have not yet been answered. Those of us who went home for the events<\/p>\n<p>would have come away with a wide range of impressions depending on who you were<\/p>\n<p>with, what you did, who you talked with and what you were looking for. I do not<\/p>\n<p>want to get into the pros and cons of the whole cricket and stadium discussion<\/p>\n<p>here. That requires its own separate focus, but it gives us a good opportunity<\/p>\n<p>to look closer. I want to ask you to ask questions and seek unemotional answers<\/p>\n<p>when you do. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Having been in and out of Guyana regularly,<\/p>\n<p>and based on my views about the overall health of the country, the cricket<\/p>\n<p>spectacle reminded me of encountering nice people with hair well combed and<\/p>\n<p>clothes bright and neat, yet as you get closer you realize that behind the<\/p>\n<p>outward veneer, are the realities of bad breadth, smelly arm pits and bad body<\/p>\n<p>odor that cause you to take a few steps back. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I am sure that the government will try to use<\/p>\n<p>the cricket veneer to come out to the Diaspora with all kinds of rosy<\/p>\n<p>investment proposals and other ideas aimed at getting us to continue to fund<\/p>\n<p>the economy, and mask the lack of real progress in political reform, job<\/p>\n<p>creation and economic development. I am all for investment and job creation in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana, but we need to go beyond the nice hair and clothes and check out the<\/p>\n<p>smells. Ask questions and get the facts. Go beyond the hype, and talk about<\/p>\n<p>what changes are needed as preconditions for investment. I am talking about all<\/p>\n<p>the things I discussed earlier &#8211; race based politics; endemic greed,<\/p>\n<p>accountability, corruption, incompetence, mismanagement, malaise and so on. We<\/p>\n<p>cannot let the government continue to seek our help and abuse our goodwill<\/p>\n<p>while they flounder and fail to recognize the major problems in the country<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; both politically and economically. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Based on my own search and deliberations, I<\/p>\n<p>believe that at this stage in Guyana&#8217;s political life, the new Alliance<\/p>\n<p>For Change (the AFC) is the best thing that has happened to the political scene<\/p>\n<p>in the past 30 years, and I am asking you consider this with an open mind. I am<\/p>\n<p>also asking you to consider helping; give this movement the strength and oxygen<\/p>\n<p>it needs to embark on what will be a marathon to change the country. It will<\/p>\n<p>not be easy, and victory is hard to predict, but every race begins with a<\/p>\n<p>single step; and I asking you to consider taking that step with the thousands<\/p>\n<p>of others who have. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I don&#8217;t think we have another 30 years<\/p>\n<p>to look for another such movement to be born. The last time there was a window<\/p>\n<p>of opportunity such as this, was with Walter Rodney, Rupert Roopnarine and the<\/p>\n<p>WPA; and we all know what happened. This time, it is Raphael Trotman, Khemraj<\/p>\n<p>Ramjattan, Sheila Holder and the AFC. The early days of the AFC has shown great<\/p>\n<p>promise. I know from first hand experience as the Campaign Director for the<\/p>\n<p>August 2006 campaign, that the AFC made a significant difference to the<\/p>\n<p>political debate and landscape in the short 9 months that the party existed<\/p>\n<p>before the elections. It helped set a different tone before, during and after<\/p>\n<p>the campaign and I believe the AFC&#8217;s positions contributed in significant<\/p>\n<p>measure to the reduced racist rancor and violence that punctuated prior<\/p>\n<p>elections. Overall, the young AFC accounted for itself very well. The momentum<\/p>\n<p>and energy was palpable. Everyone expected better results, but in the end, even<\/p>\n<p>though the party had hoped for more, the results were accepted and the AFC team<\/p>\n<p>is now serving like they should in the parliament, trying to work for the<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese people. They are trying to open up and lift the horizons that seem so<\/p>\n<p>low and narrow. Emerging <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>from the elections with 6 seats has put the<\/p>\n<p>AFC in a good place to prepare for the 2011 elections. Like any new organization,<\/p>\n<p>with a set of people coming together in a short time, to try to tackle problems<\/p>\n<p>as big as the ones the AFC tackled, there was bound to be mistakes; and there<\/p>\n<p>were. There will continue to be growing pains, but the time is right and good<\/p>\n<p>things can happen when people of goodwill and good intentions get together to<\/p>\n<p>serve. Our cause is good; we are committed to it, and we are constantly amazed<\/p>\n<p>at where new energy comes from when needed, but maybe we should not be<\/p>\n<p>surprised. To quote from the Alchemist by Paulo Coelho<b> &#8216;<\/b>If you<\/p>\n<p>want something badly enough, the whole universe conspires to help you get<\/p>\n<p>it.&#8217; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As in the WPA era, there are those in the<\/p>\n<p>country who feel threatened and want to see the AFC wiped out before the 2011<\/p>\n<p>elections. They are worried that the Guyanese people at home and abroad might<\/p>\n<p>wake up and realize that this is the team for the future. They are afraid that<\/p>\n<p>people may realize that they don&#8217;t HAVE to continue to take what the PPP<\/p>\n<p>and PNC dish out. They are afraid that people may realize that they have<\/p>\n<p>options and that they have the power to exercise those options. They are afraid<\/p>\n<p>that the people will realize that the lies heaped on the AFC during the last<\/p>\n<p>election we just that- lies &#8211; that the AFC was not a front for either the PPP<\/p>\n<p>or PNC as they wanted the people to believe. They are afraid that people will<\/p>\n<p>realized that the AFC has shown and will continue to show that it is &#8216;the<\/p>\n<p>people&#8217;s front&#8217;; no more and no less. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC&#8217;s agenda is to condemn and root<\/p>\n<p>out the scourge of race based politics of the past 40+ years; to stand firmly<\/p>\n<p>against endemic greed, corruption, incompetence and mismanagement that pervades<\/p>\n<p>the status quo, and to work to create the environment and implement policies<\/p>\n<p>and programs needed for the rebirth and remaking of Guyana. The AFC&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>policy is to attract and embrace the Diaspora, so that they have ways to bring<\/p>\n<p>the power of their skills, expertise, goodwill, finances, and entrepreneurial<\/p>\n<p>spirit to bear in rebuilding our homeland in partnership with those at home. This<\/p>\n<p>is what the AFC is founded on, and this is what it will do. It needs your help<\/p>\n<p>between now and the 2011 elections to become the people&#8217;s choice for<\/p>\n<p>Government and to be ready to govern. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Call to Action: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So I am asking you; having read these few<\/p>\n<p>pages; to consider joining with the AFC forces of change. Thousands of your<\/p>\n<p>fellow Guyanese are on the move. Join us! I am asking you to support this<\/p>\n<p>movement and its leaders. Get informed, get connected, ask for clarifications,<\/p>\n<p>contribute your perceptions, perspectives and ideas, help financially; and seek<\/p>\n<p>out others to do the same. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The teams in Guyana, Toronto, New York, New<\/p>\n<p>Jersey, Atlanta, London and the Caribbean will welcome you aboard. Join them,<\/p>\n<p>hear what they are doing, learn more and get involved. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I look forward to hearing from you. Let me<\/p>\n<p>know which AFC chapter you would like to work with and I will make the<\/p>\n<p>connection, or email the chapters directly. They will be happy to connect with<\/p>\n<p>you. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Fraternally, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Oma Sewhdat<\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>: <\/span><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>oma.sewhdat@hotmail.com<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Web site <u><a<\/p>\n<p>href=&#8221;http:\/\/www.afcguyana.com\/&#8221;><b>http:\/\/www.afcguyana.com <\/b><\/a><\/u><\/span><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Email addresses: Guyana <b>:<\/p>\n<p>alliance4changegy@yahoo.com <\/b>Canada <b>: afccanada2005@yahoo.ca <\/b>New York<\/p>\n<p><b>: allianceforchange@yahoo.com <\/b>Atlanta <b>: dr_wilson@bellsouth.net <\/b>or<b><\/p>\n<p>roxann.thompson@eds.com <\/b>London <b>: afclondon@tiscali.co.uk <\/b>Caribbean <b>:<\/p>\n<p><\/b><\/span><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:navy'>afccaribbean@yahoo.com <\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>Barbados <b>: <\/b><\/span><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>13.5pt;color:navy&#8217;>afcbarbados@yahoo.com <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Oma Sewhdat, FCCA (U.K.) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Oma is currently a Vice President at a<\/p>\n<p>leading University in the United States. Prior to this, he spent 30 years in<\/p>\n<p>IBM in various management positions, including Finance, Manufacturing and<\/p>\n<p>Software Development, Marketing, and Technical Consulting. He also worked on<\/p>\n<p>special assignment in IBM&#8217;s Corporate Headquarters in NY for 3 &#8719;?<\/p>\n<p>years, leading the development and deployment of IBM&#8217;s Financial Systems<\/p>\n<p>for Italy, Germany, France, UK, Japan and Canada. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Over the last 8 years, Oma was a Senior<\/p>\n<p>Manager in IBM&#8217;s Software Group, leading IBM&#8217;s world wide Education<\/p>\n<p>and Certification strategies and initiatives with special focus on emerging markets<\/p>\n<p>like China and India. During that time, he served for 5 years as President of<\/p>\n<p>jCert &#8211; an industry technology certification body sponsored by high tech<\/p>\n<p>companies like IBM, SUN, Oracle, BEA, etc. Oma holds a Professional Accounting<\/p>\n<p>degree from the Association of Certified and Chartered Accountants (ACCA), UK. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-5-27: AFC Column &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>TAKING DECISIONS IN THE NATIONAL INTEREST <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On Friday, May 18, 2007 representatives of<\/p>\n<p>the AFC sat and had meaningful discussions with members of the Parliamentary<\/p>\n<p>Opposition to discuss critical issues regarding the Local Government Elections.<\/p>\n<p>It is believed that there are mischievous efforts afoot to cause the Guyana<\/p>\n<p>Elections Commission (GECOM) to revisit its decision taken earlier in the year<\/p>\n<p>not to proceed with those elections in the absence of House-to-House<\/p>\n<p>registration. Coming out of the meeting, five decisions were arrived at. These<\/p>\n<p>are: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo11;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>That the parliamentary opposition parties support<\/p>\n<p>GECOM&#8217;s decision not to proceed to hold Local Government Elections without a<\/p>\n<p>House-to-House Registration exercise being completed; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo11;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>The Local Government Reforms as agreed by the Local<\/p>\n<p>Government Task Force including, the reform of the local government system, the<\/p>\n<p>implementation of a system of fiscal transfers to ensure the viability of the<\/p>\n<p>Municipalities and NDCs and the establishment of the Local Government<\/p>\n<p>Commission be implemented before any elections. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo11;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>3.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>That the Task Force be allowed to fulfill its mandate<\/p>\n<p>of settling the draft of the necessary and enabling legislation; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo11;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>4.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>That a meeting be held urgently with the GECOM<\/p>\n<p>Chairman and members to settle the issue; and <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo11;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>5.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>That the donor and international community be engaged<\/p>\n<p>so as to convey our concern and seek their views accordingly. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Guyana Elections Commission is a constitutional<\/p>\n<p>agency charged with the responsibility of conducting national and local<\/p>\n<p>government elections in Guyana . Like a Court of Law it has to make decisions<\/p>\n<p>without having to be concerned about who is offended and whether there is<\/p>\n<p>sufficient money to discharge its constitutional mandate. The duty of the<\/p>\n<p>Government of Guyana is to facilitate the work of GECOM, and so statements that<\/p>\n<p>the government has no money to conduct a House-to-House verification should not<\/p>\n<p>scare GECOM into believing that it has to change its decision to suit the<\/p>\n<p>government. It is the government that has to comply with the wishes of GECOM. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Chairman and members of the Commission<\/p>\n<p>were not nominated and sworn in with the expectation that they would become<\/p>\n<p>cowards and weaklings. In this regard, we stand with GECOM in its decision to<\/p>\n<p>have a House-to-House registration conducted before the holding of any new<\/p>\n<p>elections in Guyana . <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The political parties have said it must<\/p>\n<p>happen; the donor community has said that it must happen; and GECOM has said<\/p>\n<p>that it must happen. What logical, constitutional and politically sound<\/p>\n<p>argument could be mounted to say otherwise? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On another note, it was especially refreshing<\/p>\n<p>to be engaged in discussions with the other opposition parties devoid of the<\/p>\n<p>suspicions, misunderstandings, and rancour, which characterised the<\/p>\n<p>relationship in the lead up to the 2006 elections. Hopefully, this will be a<\/p>\n<p>precursor of better days to come. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The decisions arrived at between the parties<\/p>\n<p>regarding the local government elections, the AFC feels it can comfortably<\/p>\n<p>publicise and support, because they were arrived at in a respectful and sober<\/p>\n<p>minded manner. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is unfortunate, however, that some of the<\/p>\n<p>misconceptions and misunderstandings which gained ground in 2006 still linger,<\/p>\n<p>such as the one unfortunately released by Mrs. Deborah Backer a few weeks ago,<\/p>\n<p>to the effect that I had behaved dishonourably in agreeing not to proceed to<\/p>\n<p>elections, and then days later, went back on my word. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I have had an opportunity to point out to<\/p>\n<p>Mrs. Backer the error, and feel comfortable saying publicly now that no such<\/p>\n<p>decision was ever taken in my presence. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Contrary to accusations coming primarily from<\/p>\n<p>the PPP\/C that the AFC was in bed with the PNCR, there was never any formal<\/p>\n<p>contact or contract between the two parties and the relationship can at best be<\/p>\n<p>described as acrimonious. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Interestingly, the PNCR also made the same<\/p>\n<p>accusations relative to the PPP\/C and again, during the run up to the elections<\/p>\n<p>there was not a single meeting between the AFC and the PPP\/C, though we were<\/p>\n<p>aware of other meetings between the two taking place at Le Meridien, Pegasus. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On one occasion only was there a gathering of<\/p>\n<p>representatives of several opposition parties to discuss the elections, and<\/p>\n<p>that was at a meeting held at the Georgetown Club. As the AFC&#8217;c representative<\/p>\n<p>I listened and participated, but had to leave early because of another pressing<\/p>\n<p>engagement. Up until the time I left, no decision was arrived at that no party<\/p>\n<p>would approach the elections unless there was house-to-house verification. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In fact, I would have been extremely<\/p>\n<p>surprised if that was the case because the information and intelligence<\/p>\n<p>available to the AFC told us that the PNCR, in particular, was heading to the<\/p>\n<p>starting line despite public posturing to suggest otherwise. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In retrospect, it would have been best if all<\/p>\n<p>the Parties, including the PPP\/C, individually and collectively, had met and<\/p>\n<p>worked out these issues so as to establish the ground rules and terms of<\/p>\n<p>engagement. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I had the benefit of speaking to other<\/p>\n<p>colleagues present at the meeting and reference to my own verbatim notes, and<\/p>\n<p>nowhere was it recorded that such a fundamental and serious decision was taken.<\/p>\n<p>If it was, I certainly was not present. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Decisions which affect the lives of hundreds<\/p>\n<p>of thousands and are being made by major national stakeholders should be<\/p>\n<p>properly recorded, verified and approved as was the case when Mr. E. Lance<\/p>\n<p>Carberry, M.P., efficiently got the job done after the parties met to discuss<\/p>\n<p>the local government elections issue. This is the only way to avoid the<\/p>\n<p>occurrences of blaming others for things which were not settled or agreed. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Now that we have met initially and formally,<\/p>\n<p>we hope that the issues on which we can unite do not in the end serve to divide<\/p>\n<p>us. Many posited that there should have been a united opposition to face the<\/p>\n<p>PPP\/C in 2006. Many facts and circumstances militated against such a union and<\/p>\n<p>each of the contesting parties has been blamed for the failure. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Each party can rationalise its failures, successes<\/p>\n<p>and decisions in this regard and the AFC remains comfortable with its decisions<\/p>\n<p>based on information at hand and advice received that the unitary opposition<\/p>\n<p>force could not be possible in time for August 2006. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Would we have preferred a more formalised<\/p>\n<p>relationship with the other opposition parties, of course. With rumours of<\/p>\n<p>close linkages between government and opposition, we hope that the people will<\/p>\n<p>not be fooled and that this struggle once begun will not be compromised or<\/p>\n<p>abandoned. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Raphael Trotman <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-6-3: AFC Column- The<\/p>\n<p>idea of a third force has gained currency in Guyana <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>If there was any doubt that politically the<\/p>\n<p>idea of a third force has gained currency in Guyana, the AFC has dispelled it.<\/p>\n<p>The task before us now is to keep alive the idea of a third political party<\/p>\n<p>being capable of rescuing this country from imminent failure. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As is to be expected it has not been an easy<\/p>\n<p>ride jostling the two established parties for political space to display our<\/p>\n<p>brand of politics which is essentially to break the curse of racial politics<\/p>\n<p>that they have created; and to function in the best interest of the nation as a<\/p>\n<p>whole rather than perpetuate the old divisive, partisan, zero sum, game they<\/p>\n<p>delivered to Guyanese over the last half century. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>You would think that for a party that has<\/p>\n<p>achieved more than &#8216;left over votes&#8217;, (to use a favourite phrase<\/p>\n<p>bandied about disparagingly by the PPPC over the years of their tenure in<\/p>\n<p>office) that the need to include the AFC in the local government task force<\/p>\n<p>would have been automatic. But no such luck &#8211; the discussions between the two<\/p>\n<p>warring parties continue apace to the exclusion of the AFC as local government<\/p>\n<p>elections have not been held for some ten years now. If the PPPC and the PNCR<\/p>\n<p>were serious about rescuing citizens from the current dysfunctional local<\/p>\n<p>government system, they would give membership to GAP-ROAR and the AFC because,<\/p>\n<p>by doing so, they would introduce the possibility of breaking the dead-lock<\/p>\n<p>that has ensued between them since the committee was established many years<\/p>\n<p>ago. But that will rob them of their self-imposed right to hold the country<\/p>\n<p>back! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I feel confident about making such a<\/p>\n<p>statement, because those two parties have demonstrated manifestly, over the<\/p>\n<p>years that they are about self-interested politics. Recently, we&#8217;ve come<\/p>\n<p>to realise how well entrenched is the practice in the society generally. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Witness how the PPPC, the PNCR, the WPA, the<\/p>\n<p>man-in-the-street and some others from civil society got trapped into paving<\/p>\n<p>the way for the drafting of the draconian constitution amendment Bill No. 17 of<\/p>\n<p>2007 to recall members of parliament. All because of the trio&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>defection, namely Raphael Trotman, Khemraj Ramjattan and myself, from the PNCR,<\/p>\n<p>the PPPC and the WPA, respectively, to establish the AFC. These political<\/p>\n<p>players tell us they consider it unethical for us to have retained our seats in<\/p>\n<p>the last Parliament even though the law allowed us to do so. They say it is<\/p>\n<p>degeneracy of our political culture. Yet they all did this same thing at one<\/p>\n<p>time or the other historically. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>History tells us that during the time in<\/p>\n<p>government of the PNC, that party engaged in deliberate poaching of PPP<\/p>\n<p>parliamentarians. Moses Bhagwan who helped form the WPA also remained in the<\/p>\n<p>Parliament after leaving the PPP. More recently, as you know, the PPPC happily<\/p>\n<p>persuaded the TUF Member, Manzoor Nadir, to cross the floor to their side while<\/p>\n<p>retaining his seat in the National Assembly. So from my perspective when these<\/p>\n<p>political players accuse the AFC principals of being unethical they are all<\/p>\n<p>speaking with &#8216;forked tongues&#8217;, with the one desire to place the<\/p>\n<p>idea of a new movement at a disadvantage. We didn&#8217;t fall for their advice<\/p>\n<p>to &#8216;do as we say, not as we do&#8217;! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The inherent difficulties of recalling a member<\/p>\n<p>of Parliament was recognised by the legal drafters involved in the reform of<\/p>\n<p>the Guyana Constitution especially in the context of article 9 of the<\/p>\n<p>Constitution that enshrines the political principle that &#8216;Sovereignty<\/p>\n<p>belongs to the people, who exercise it through their representatives&#8217;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Persons who support the principle of recall<\/p>\n<p>claim they do so in the context of Guyana&#8217;s unique Proportional<\/p>\n<p>Representation (PR) alphabetical list system. They argue absurdly that our PR<\/p>\n<p>electoral system leads logically to the loss of a Parliamentarian&#8217;s seat<\/p>\n<p>if they exercise their right enshrined in Article 147 of our Constitution, <i>&#8216;to<\/p>\n<p>associate with other persons and in particular to form or belong to political<\/p>\n<p>parties, trade unions or other associations for the protection of his or her<\/p>\n<p>interests&#8221;. <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>All over the democratic world elected members<\/p>\n<p>of Parliament change political allegiances and either remain in Parliament as<\/p>\n<p>independents or cross the floor. I take the position that if these political<\/p>\n<p>players want to introduce legislation to recall a Member of Parliament they<\/p>\n<p>should first change the electoral system. This should have been done since 2001<\/p>\n<p>anyway, to allow the electorate to decide in a referendum if the member should<\/p>\n<p>be recalled based on his or her performance. This would have given life to the<\/p>\n<p>principle that &#8216;sovereignty belongs to the people&#8217;, as is the case<\/p>\n<p>in other jurisdictions. Not as has happened in the Recall Bill that places all<\/p>\n<p>the power and judgement in the hands of one person, the representative of the<\/p>\n<p>list. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>When confronted with the June 1998 Latimer<\/p>\n<p>House Principles, which were devised by representatives of the Commonwealth<\/p>\n<p>Parliamentary Association, the Commonwealth Lawyers&#8217; Association, the<\/p>\n<p>Commonwealth Judges&#8217; and Magistrates&#8217; Association and the<\/p>\n<p>Commonwealth Legal Education Association, these persons in the PPPC, the PNCR<\/p>\n<p>and the WPA take the position that the standards therein are irrelevant to our<\/p>\n<p>political system given Guyana&#8217;s unique PR alphabetical list system. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Yet President Jagdeo endorsed them at the<\/p>\n<p>2003 Heads of Government Meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, after many CARICOM Law<\/p>\n<p>Ministers, and no doubt our own included, gave detailed consideration to the<\/p>\n<p>standards in St. Vincent &amp; the Grenadines in November 2002 and recommended<\/p>\n<p>them for ratification by their Heads of Governments. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What the Latimer House standards aim to<\/p>\n<p>achieve is not only the preservation of the independence of parliamentarians,<\/p>\n<p>but also guaranteeing their security of tenure during their parliamentary term;<\/p>\n<p>and, for good reasons. These standards are also against the expulsion of<\/p>\n<p>members of Parliament for leaving his or her party and crossing the floor. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The wisdom of the Commonwealth Latimer House<\/p>\n<p>standards has become self-evident in our National Assembly, especially during<\/p>\n<p>the heavy work load now being carried by the new parliamentary committees.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ve observed that, after deliberating and arriving at decisions, some<\/p>\n<p>members are at times made to renege on decisions taken on the instigation of<\/p>\n<p>their parties, thereby retarding &#8211; and at time sabotaging &#8211; the work of the<\/p>\n<p>committees. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>If such influence is already being wielded by<\/p>\n<p>maximum party leaders in the absence of the enactment of recall legislation,<\/p>\n<p>the introduction of such legislation would bring forth &#8216;lame-duck&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>Parliamentarians and a most ineffective National Assembly, thereby reversing<\/p>\n<p>all the many gains so often boasted about by the Guyana government. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>One telling example of its effect is Mr. Anil<\/p>\n<p>Nandalall. Now that this bill hangs over his head like the Sword of Damocles,<\/p>\n<p>he has indicated to his Party&#8217;s List Representative, Cde. Donald Ramoutar<\/p>\n<p>that unlike Khemraj Ramjattan, he will never ever, take on a narcotics case<\/p>\n<p>again &#8211; opting to hand over on a platter his professional independence rather<\/p>\n<p>than earn the wrath of the PPPC Representative of the List. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>By Sheila Holder <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-6-10: The Alliance For<\/p>\n<p>Change Column-These Archdukes of Unprincipledom &#8230; being out to control,<\/p>\n<p>are out of control <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is, indeed, an act of hypocrisy and an<\/p>\n<p>indulgence in double standards when a political party whether in Government or<\/p>\n<p>Opposition says one thing, and when put to the test, does not do what it says. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Exceptionally, it is understandable that a<\/p>\n<p>change of circumstances can realize a review of an earlier decision, resulting<\/p>\n<p>in a legitimate overturning or reversal of an earlier position taken. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>However, on a matter of fundamental principle<\/p>\n<p>hardly should such reversals be countenanced. And whenever such reneging of an<\/p>\n<p>earlier position is taken, it should be roundly criticized. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Both the PPP\/C and the PNC\/R must be<\/p>\n<p>criticized for not supporting the abolition of corporal punishment in schools<\/p>\n<p>when Chantalle Smith&#8217;s Motion resolving that it be abolished in schools came up<\/p>\n<p>for debate last Thursday. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Both these parties had initially negotiated<\/p>\n<p>successfully that the Motion of 22nd November 2006 be deferred for a period of<\/p>\n<p>6 (six) months for further consultation with stakeholders. Ms. Smith and the<\/p>\n<p>AFC Parliamentarians agreed to this deferral in a climate of compromise and an<\/p>\n<p>attempt at consensus. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On 7th June 2007, a PNC amendment supported<\/p>\n<p>by the PPP\/C was passed. This amendment to the Motion was to further defer<\/p>\n<p>determination of the issue until the Task Force on Education meets stakeholders<\/p>\n<p>and report back to Parliament. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Both these parties however supported the<\/p>\n<p>United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991 when Guyana<\/p>\n<p>ratified and became a signatory thereto. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Article 19 of that Convention makes it clear<\/p>\n<p>that signatories must take legislative and administrative measures to protect<\/p>\n<p>children from all forms of physical or mental violence, which includes corporal<\/p>\n<p>punishment. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A new Education Act is being proposed for<\/p>\n<p>Guyana . The old one of 1939 made express provisions for corporal punishment.<\/p>\n<p>What Ms. Smith&#8217;s Motion was seeking to effectuate is that in the new Act there<\/p>\n<p>must be an express provision for the abolition of corporal punishment and,<\/p>\n<p>additionally, administrative arrangements must be made throughout all schools<\/p>\n<p>to enforce this new regime. This is the direct consequence of supporting the<\/p>\n<p>Motion. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But what does the PPP\/C and PNC\/R say?<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Hold on! Wait awhile longer! Let us hear what the stakeholders will<\/p>\n<p>say!&quot; A good pretext to use for not supporting this change, which is<\/p>\n<p>consistent with being a signatory to the Convention! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Minister of Education rebutted this by<\/p>\n<p>arguing, &quot;We always prefer to consult with the people.&quot; He was<\/p>\n<p>noticeably embarrassed when he was heckled by an AFC member who aptly reminded<\/p>\n<p>him: &quot;Then why you didn&#8217;t take VAT and Casino gambling to the people?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>His Government conveniently consults. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Did the PNC and the PPP ever listen to the<\/p>\n<p>people when they supported the signing on in 1991 to the Convention? They did<\/p>\n<p>not. Both supported the Convention because it was the right thing to do. I<\/p>\n<p>wholeheartedly commended them at the time for so doing because my readings<\/p>\n<p>since then supported the view that corporal punishment leads to increased<\/p>\n<p>violence in society. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But now both parties want to play politics<\/p>\n<p>with the issue, being aware that there is a percentage of Guyanese parents,<\/p>\n<p>substantial perhaps, who support corporal punishment in schools. These parents&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>support, I want to suspect, is based on an unawareness of all the arguments<\/p>\n<p>against it, and an embedded instructive and cultural attitude which wrongly<\/p>\n<p>associates corporal punishment with propriety and discipline. An approach and<\/p>\n<p>logic akin and parallel as to why there exists support for racial\/ethnic voting<\/p>\n<p>in our country. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>However, there is another profoundly<\/p>\n<p>undemocratic characteristic that can be discerned from all that transpired in<\/p>\n<p>Parliament on June 7th 2007. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The PPP\/C Government is exhibiting an<\/p>\n<p>unprincipled inconsistency when it comes to meeting its international<\/p>\n<p>obligations under the Conventions it signs up to. Especially, when these<\/p>\n<p>obligations seek to give a benefit to third parties they were intended for<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; ordinary Guyanese. In the case of the Rights of the Child Convention,<\/p>\n<p>our children at school are the beneficiaries &#8211; not to be corporally punished.<\/p>\n<p>The PPP\/C Government, like its companion in arms the PNC\/R, has retracted from<\/p>\n<p>granting this benefit to our school children. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This Government proudly accedes to all manner<\/p>\n<p>of Conventions and Protocols and Treaties to boast about how seriously<\/p>\n<p>human-rights oriented and democratic it is; how it will allow scrutiny, by dispassionate<\/p>\n<p>referees and monitoring units of international standing without any local<\/p>\n<p>biases, in accordance with and upon application of universal standards. It goes<\/p>\n<p>about acceding so as to show-off its commitment to be part of a community of<\/p>\n<p>just States by sanctioning certain moral standards which claim universal<\/p>\n<p>validity beyond Guyana &#8216;s own legal community. Oh, indeed how glorious and<\/p>\n<p>noble! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But then the contempt this same PPP\/C<\/p>\n<p>Government treats the sacrosanct provisions of these Conventions and Protocols<\/p>\n<p>when tested reveals its increasing authoritarianism and disdain for democracy<\/p>\n<p>and the rule of law. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Take another example, the Optional Protocol<\/p>\n<p>of the United Nations Human Rights Committee. The PPP\/C struggled so hard,<\/p>\n<p>whilst in Opposition, to get Guyana to become a signatory. The PNC refused.<\/p>\n<p>This Protocol allowed Guyanese to have access to the reputable UN Human Rights<\/p>\n<p>Committee so that Guyanese can petition for redress upon violations of their<\/p>\n<p>human rights. As soon as he became President, Dr Jagan signed on. Immediately<\/p>\n<p>thereafter, two Guyanese who were convicted for murder argued successfully that<\/p>\n<p>their rights were violated when their trials were not conducted fairly by the<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese courts. The UN Committee after a comprehensive review of the process<\/p>\n<p>in 1998 recommended that the Government of Guyana free the men, and that they<\/p>\n<p>be compensated for their long years of incarceration. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What was the Government&#8217;s response? &quot;The<\/p>\n<p>UN Committee could haul its &#8230; tail. We are a sovereign country and not bound<\/p>\n<p>by the Committee&#8217;s ruling.&quot; Further, and shockingly, the Government<\/p>\n<p>proceeded in Parliament to denounce the right to life provision of the Optional<\/p>\n<p>Protocol. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Before this denunciation, and being so<\/p>\n<p>outraged by the Government&#8217;s response, I declared that I would dissent in<\/p>\n<p>Parliament. I was then forthwith hauled before a Special Committee in Freedom<\/p>\n<p>House. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Notwithstanding providing cogent and<\/p>\n<p>compelling reasons why the PPP\/C must not denounce and why there should be a<\/p>\n<p>vote of conscience on the issue, the Special Committee ordered: &quot;1) there<\/p>\n<p>shall be no vote of conscience; 2) Ramjattan will not be allowed to publicly<\/p>\n<p>dissent in the National Assembly.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In view of the ruling, I stayed out of the<\/p>\n<p>debate. History and Hansard will thus never reflect my thoughts and feelings on<\/p>\n<p>the issue, a great shame. I later broadcast a viewpoint on GBC on this matter.<\/p>\n<p>Not unexpectedly, I found myself off the list of GBC Viewpointers almost<\/p>\n<p>immediately thereafter. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Yet another example is Government&#8217;s signing<\/p>\n<p>on to the Latimer House Principles, a Commonwealth Convention which seeks an<\/p>\n<p>adherence by Commonwealth Governments to the doctrine of separation of powers<\/p>\n<p>and the upholding of the rule of law. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>An aspect of these Principles under the<\/p>\n<p>subhead &quot;Parliament&quot; speaks to the independence of Parliamentarians<\/p>\n<p>and cautions that expulsion from a political party cannot result in being<\/p>\n<p>disqualified as a Parliamentarian. The provisions of the Recall Bill of the<\/p>\n<p>PPP\/C, which is supported by the PNC\/R, flies in the face of this prohibition<\/p>\n<p>signed on to by the Jagdeo Administration. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What is the Government&#8217;s response when this<\/p>\n<p>double standard is pointed out? It is that the Latimer House Principles on this<\/p>\n<p>issue applies only to first-pass-the-post elected Governments; not PR<\/p>\n<p>Governments. Wow! How ludicrous it can go in justifying the unjustifiable. By<\/p>\n<p>the way the PNC\/R fully supports this rationale. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And of course, this PPP\/C Government went to<\/p>\n<p>a place called Chapultepec . And proudly signed on to an OAS-sponsored<\/p>\n<p>Convention which seeks to urge Government-signatories thereto to enhance and<\/p>\n<p>facilitate a greater freedom of the Press. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The beneficiaries intended here were<\/p>\n<p>journalists, printers, broadcasters, publishers, etc. The Government comes back<\/p>\n<p>home and takes away advertisements from Stabroek News to deny it an economic<\/p>\n<p>existence, something explicitly prohibited by the Convention. How does the<\/p>\n<p>Government reply in view of this <i>volte faus <\/i>? By a ridiculous assertion<\/p>\n<p>that goes thus &#8211; &quot;The Government must be allowed to exercise its<\/p>\n<p>commercial independence. And if you want to know more about this democratic<\/p>\n<p>principle which has its origins on a Ramoutarian dialectic, contact Prem Misir<\/p>\n<p>of GINA!&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We must be bound by our contracts. We must<\/p>\n<p>not use whimsical and fanciful arguments like sovereignty or commercial<\/p>\n<p>independence or delaying tactics to depart from our agreements with the larger<\/p>\n<p>world, especially when the consequence will be to disengage ourselves from the<\/p>\n<p>obligations we have to third parties, be they children, parliamentarians,<\/p>\n<p>pressmen or even convicted murderers, who were and are the intended<\/p>\n<p>beneficiaries of these agreements. Rather we should use democratic concepts<\/p>\n<p>like transparency, responsibility and justice to bind our consciences, as far<\/p>\n<p>as they can be bound, to a true and literal performance of our agreements. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So we must not only talk the walk; we must<\/p>\n<p>walk the talk. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Khemraj Ramjattan <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Leader AFC <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-6-17: The Alliance For<\/p>\n<p>Change Column-AN EMERGING BURNHAMISM &#8211; NO DOUBT ABOUT IT <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On the 7<sup>th<\/sup> June 2007 Mr. Raphael<\/p>\n<p>Trotman sought to obtain the Speaker&#8217;s leave to allow a discussion on a<\/p>\n<p>matter which the AFC, and a cross-section of Guyanese here and in the Diaspora,<\/p>\n<p>felt was a matter of urgent public importance. Quite frankly, the AFC and a<\/p>\n<p>number of Parliamentarians across party lines viewed the matter as one of<\/p>\n<p>gravest importance, having implications which touch on national security<\/p>\n<p>issues, and a growing international misperception that Guyana may be a breeding<\/p>\n<p>ground for terrorists. These Parliamentarians felt, too, that the subject ought<\/p>\n<p>to be deliberated as a matter of urgency. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The matter had to do with the allegations of<\/p>\n<p>a terrorist plot targeting the facilities of the John F. Kennedy International<\/p>\n<p>Airport in New York, United States of America. Below is a minimally edited<\/p>\n<p>reproduction of the plea and arguments, articulated so persuasively, by Mr.<\/p>\n<p>Trotman. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Since seeing the international news<\/p>\n<p>televised on Saturday, June 2, 2007, of the alleged plot, not a day has gone by<\/p>\n<p>without myself and colleagues being inundated by Guyanese and foreigners alike<\/p>\n<p>for explanations and clarification, or to express concern for our dear nation<\/p>\n<p>and its peoples dispersed throughout the world. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;To us in Guyana, and particularly<\/p>\n<p>in the National Assembly, we know that the likelihood of mainstream Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>opinion becoming anti-American is so infinitesimal as not even to be considered<\/p>\n<p>rare; yet there are views and opinions to the contrary being formed which, if<\/p>\n<p>left unchecked, can develop the indelible impression that the small nation of<\/p>\n<p>Guyana is a bedrock for extremism and religious and ethnic fanaticism <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Mr. Speaker, Guyana suffers from<\/p>\n<p>many of the afflictions of other poor nations -lack of opportunities,<\/p>\n<p>discrimination, marginalization, underemployment, poverty, high crime, and<\/p>\n<p>pervasive hopelessness. Where we differ from many, however, is that ninety per<\/p>\n<p>cent of Guyanese see the opportunity to alleviate their perilous condition is<\/p>\n<p>migration to North America, or benefiting from the largesse of Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>resident there. Guyanese see the United States not as the source of our<\/p>\n<p>problems, but as the provider of our wants. Therefore to harm it would be<\/p>\n<p>non-sensical and suicidal. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;On yet another occasion, Guyana<\/p>\n<p>faces an international credibility crisis such that the Government despite its<\/p>\n<p>best intentions, I make bold to say, will alone be unable to repair. In our<\/p>\n<p>short life as an independent nation, we have gained the ignominious reputation<\/p>\n<p>as being a place where there were rigged elections, the Jonestown Tragedy,<\/p>\n<p>death squads, narco- trafficking, and, now, terrorism. This is another label<\/p>\n<p>that we can very well do without. This, when coupled with the facts that three<\/p>\n<p>of the accused are Guyanese by birth, and moreover, that Mr. Abdul Kadir who<\/p>\n<p>served as a Member of this still very Honourable Assembly is one of those<\/p>\n<p>accused, we in the Alliance For Change are firmly of the view that as an<\/p>\n<p>Assembly we have to play our part in correcting any misconceptions that may<\/p>\n<p>have already arisen, and are likely to arise, with respect to our work as the<\/p>\n<p>people&#8217;s representatives. The consequences of saying or doing nothing are<\/p>\n<p>already dire for Guyanese whether resident in Guyana, or scattered throughout<\/p>\n<p>the Diaspora. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Whilst these remain only<\/p>\n<p>allegations at this time and therefore presumes the accused persons to be<\/p>\n<p>innocent until proven guilty, nevertheless we are duty bound to urge that<\/p>\n<p>investigations are thorough, professional and transparent such that those<\/p>\n<p>accused, when tried, will receive a fair and impartial hearing in the United<\/p>\n<p>States justice system, free of all political, religious, emotional or ethnic<\/p>\n<p>considerations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Terrorism in any shape or form is<\/p>\n<p>vile, despicable, and abhorrent, and must always be condemned. Those making the<\/p>\n<p>accusation therefore must be cognizant that these charges carry the gravest<\/p>\n<p>penalties and can and will affect the world&#8217;s view of Guyanese. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;The point must be made as well Mr.<\/p>\n<p>Speaker that if ever there was a need for the Government of Guyana to recognize<\/p>\n<p>that the national security of this country is constantly being undermined it is<\/p>\n<p>now, and so the many recommendations spanning the Disciplined Forces Commission<\/p>\n<p>Report, the Border\/National Security Committee Report, the Symonds Group<\/p>\n<p>Report, The Caricom Task Force on Crime &amp; Security Report and a host of<\/p>\n<p>other worthwhile recommendations, need to be put in place now. Even today<\/p>\n<p>Guyana remains without a National Security Strategy. This situation knows no<\/p>\n<p>partisan boundaries and affects us all regardless of political affiliation. The<\/p>\n<p>solution therefore must come through a national all&#8211;party response spearheaded<\/p>\n<p>by the Government to address the root causes of our continuous socio-economic<\/p>\n<p>and socio-political problems which continue to present national security<\/p>\n<p>threats and challenges. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;This Parliament through its<\/p>\n<p>constituent parties must collectively therefore condemn terrorism and reassure<\/p>\n<p>the nation, and our friends and relatives in the Diaspora, and indeed the<\/p>\n<p>brotherhood of free and right thinking nations, that Guyana and its peoples,<\/p>\n<p>are peace loving. We have no interest whatsoever in waging war, causing death<\/p>\n<p>and destruction, or striking fear into the hearts of anyone or any nation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Guyana has always celebrated<\/p>\n<p>religious freedom. We together celebrate and share each other&#8217;s religious<\/p>\n<p>events and culture. Guyanese in general, and Muslims in particular, are not<\/p>\n<p>purveyors of hate, nor war-mongers. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;We must urge the world not to view<\/p>\n<p>us through jaundiced lens as being a threat to anyone. Let us resolve therefore<\/p>\n<p>to proclaim to the world that we condemn terrorism and pledge our eternal<\/p>\n<p>support to the fight against hatred, bigotry, and evil here in Guyana and<\/p>\n<p>worldwide.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC was most disappointed with the<\/p>\n<p>Speaker&#8217;s ruling that this matter did not qualify as a matter of urgent<\/p>\n<p>public importance so as to result in the suspension of the Standing Orders so<\/p>\n<p>that a discussion could have been held, and a strong statement issued by<\/p>\n<p>Guyana&#8217;s National Assembly. The AFC finds unimpressive the rationale used<\/p>\n<p>by the Speaker to base his determination, namely, that this issue\/subject<\/p>\n<p>matter never arose out of or resulted from <i>&#8220;fault on the part of the<\/p>\n<p>Administration or Government, nor the breaching of some law by the<\/p>\n<p>Administration or Government&#8221;. <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC finds consolation in the fact,<\/p>\n<p>however, that the Honourable Speaker did allow Mr. Trotman to read, thus<\/p>\n<p>placing on the record, his above statement on the matter. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mention must be made of another significantly<\/p>\n<p>disconcerting development concerning our National Assembly which the AFC wishes<\/p>\n<p>to bring to the public&#8217;s attention. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The principle of separation of powers, a fundamental<\/p>\n<p>of our constitution, is violated with impunity by the PPP\/C Government. Its<\/p>\n<p>Executive arm just loves to control and impose its will on the Legislature and<\/p>\n<p>the Judiciary. Its modus operandi for doing so is well known &#8211; the withholding<\/p>\n<p>of fiscal disbursements to permit the Legislature and Judiciary to carry out<\/p>\n<p>their desired projects. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The latest example of this flagrant violation<\/p>\n<p>is being used to register the Government&#8217;s angst against the UK branch of<\/p>\n<p>the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). Why? Simply because the<\/p>\n<p>UK\/CPA extended invitations to the Government and Opposition benches, the<\/p>\n<p>selection process of which the Jagdeo administration could not control. From<\/p>\n<p>the perspective of the Jagdeo&#8217;s Executive, the UK\/CPA branch erred in<\/p>\n<p>extending an invitation to the National Assembly on an equitable basis of three<\/p>\n<p>Government members and three Opposition members, instead of recognising his<\/p>\n<p>Government&#8217;s entitlement to field a majority of parliamentarians on the<\/p>\n<p>delegation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So what does His Excellency do? He orders his<\/p>\n<p>Cabinet to pronounce its disapproval of the visit by refusing to provide funds<\/p>\n<p>to cover the travelling costs to England, thereby cancelling the visit even<\/p>\n<p>though the Legislature, through its Parliamentary Management Committee, unanimously<\/p>\n<p>approved of this work-study visit to the House of Commons to give valuable<\/p>\n<p>exposure and experience to six Guyanese parliamentarians to the workings of<\/p>\n<p>this the mother of all Parliaments. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC roundly condemns this act of gross<\/p>\n<p>disregard for the National Assembly by the Cabinet and extends apologies to the<\/p>\n<p>UK\/CPA branch that has worked assiduously to arrange the work-study visit,<\/p>\n<p>paying special attention to specific areas of interest to each member of the<\/p>\n<p>Guyana delegation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Shame on the Government of Guyana! Does look<\/p>\n<p>like an emerging Burnhamism all over again! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF'>2007-6-24: The Alliance<\/p>\n<p>For Change Column-PARTNERSHIPS NEEDED TO STOP CRIME BY: Raphael G. C. Trotman <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Despite the boasts of crime being managed and<\/p>\n<p>statistics showing certain crimes on the decrease, the stories in the news<\/p>\n<p>testify to a different story. It is a story of anguish and pain accompanying<\/p>\n<p>the mayhem of gun-totting criminals, reckless drivers, and monster rapists.<\/p>\n<p>Within recent times we have seen father killing child, husbands maiming and<\/p>\n<p>murdering their spouses, rapes, perverse sexual acts with animals, and the most<\/p>\n<p>heinous of crimes being committed with absolute impunity. To me the crimes of<\/p>\n<p>the week which really had a chilling effect were shocking details of children<\/p>\n<p>being electrocuted in separate incidents by electrical current. Some<\/p>\n<p>commentators have sought to blame the children and their parents for being<\/p>\n<p>involved in theft of electricity from GPL, but few have stopped to consider the<\/p>\n<p>circumstances that could lead a family to play with literal fire by stealing<\/p>\n<p>electrical current from the national grid. The truth is that these children<\/p>\n<p>were victims all of their lives first in poverty, and secondly, in death.<\/p>\n<p>Something has to be terribly wrong for thousands to find themselves stealing<\/p>\n<p>electricity in a country blessed with solar energy, wind energy, hydro energy,<\/p>\n<p>and undoubtedly petroleum. This in itself is a horrendous crime that has to be<\/p>\n<p>investigated because thousands are forced each day to become engaged in<\/p>\n<p>electricity theft. The AFC will definitely be addressing this in the near<\/p>\n<p>future. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>For a number of years various stakeholders<\/p>\n<p>and agencies have been suggesting that there be a more broad-based and<\/p>\n<p>inclusive response to crime and security in Guyana. While the big ones continue<\/p>\n<p>to point fingers at each other as to who is the bigger bandit, the real<\/p>\n<p>culprits are laughing and getting bolder. In my attempt to discuss the matter<\/p>\n<p>of the alleged terrorist plot in the National Assembly a few weeks ago, I<\/p>\n<p>indicated in the letter written to the Speaker of the Assembly that if ever<\/p>\n<p>there was a time to endorse and implement the recommendations of the countless<\/p>\n<p>reports on crime and security in Guyana, it was now. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We already appear to have runaway lawlessness<\/p>\n<p>and to that we need to add the growing dimensions of trans-national crime in<\/p>\n<p>the form of drug and weapons smuggling, trafficking in persons and regional and<\/p>\n<p>international terrorism. It may be troubling to read me say this, but in truth<\/p>\n<p>of fact, the PPP\/C government alone and any other of the parliamentary <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>political parties on their own be it the<\/p>\n<p>PNCR, GAP_ROAR, or the AFC cannot single-handedly tackle the complex and myriad<\/p>\n<p>aspects of the 21<sup>st <\/sup>Century global criminal enterprise. The reality<\/p>\n<p>then is that we either cooperate for Guyana, or we behave foolishly by refusing<\/p>\n<p>to do so and see our country further defamed, destroyed and desecrated by all<\/p>\n<p>sorts of criminal vermin. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In this regard therefore I am re-introducing<\/p>\n<p>a pet topic of mine and that is the establishment of a parliamentary committee<\/p>\n<p>on National Security. Countless reports have recommended that there be an<\/p>\n<p>oversight committee to address security policy matters and the world is replete<\/p>\n<p>with good examples of where opposites have joined together to address national<\/p>\n<p>issues. In a multi-cultural and suspicion-driven society such as ours such an<\/p>\n<p>approach is absolutely necessary. There has been no good reason advanced as to<\/p>\n<p>why this committee has not as yet been established. In past presentations of<\/p>\n<p>PPP\/C Ministers the idea was floated and like many other proposals we waited in<\/p>\n<p>anticipation, and in vain. There have been whispers about the<\/p>\n<p>government&#8217;s reluctance to broaden the responsibility for national<\/p>\n<p>security being an issue of confidentiality and secrecy. How can the government<\/p>\n<p>trust a member of the opposition with details of operations, plans and<\/p>\n<p>programmes such that national security will not be compromised and that if<\/p>\n<p>things don&#8217;t work out, that this will not be thrown back into the face of<\/p>\n<p>the government. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>At the outset it needs to be restated that<\/p>\n<p>the opposition members are not the enemy but are just as patriotic as members<\/p>\n<p>of the government who see things differently. These members have no interest in<\/p>\n<p>compromising national security. I recall when as a member of the Border\/national<\/p>\n<p>Security Committee co-chaired by Speaker Ramkarran and Retired Brig. General<\/p>\n<p>David Granger we completed our work and submitted our report without<\/p>\n<p>difficulty. Interestingly, despite recent claims of success by other committees<\/p>\n<p>ours was the only committee of the set constituted after the 2001 elections<\/p>\n<p>that completed its work in the time-frame set. To date, there has never, I<\/p>\n<p>repeat never, been any public outburst or publication of any details shared and<\/p>\n<p>discussed in those meetings. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The CARICOM Task Force on Crime and Security<\/p>\n<p>Report which was endorsed by this Government recommends the establishment of<\/p>\n<p>the committee. The almost forgotten Disciplined Forces Commission Report also<\/p>\n<p>endorsed the view that parliamentary oversight of the security sector was necessary,<\/p>\n<p>ad as far back as 1998 the GDF in its submissions to the Constitution Reform<\/p>\n<p>Commission also called for a bi-partisan committee to review and oversee its<\/p>\n<p>functions. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It was with a sense of honour therefore that<\/p>\n<p>I readily agreed to lend my support to a motion moved by Mr. Everall Franklin,<\/p>\n<p>M.P. of GAP-ROAR to see the introduction of this long-overdue committee. I<\/p>\n<p>remain hopeful that there are enough right thinking members of parliament left<\/p>\n<p>in the National Assembly to give this Motion the majority support it requires.<\/p>\n<p>For the benefit of the public I set out the contents of the Motion and am<\/p>\n<p>hopeful that there is going to be support both within and outside the National<\/p>\n<p>Assembly for it. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>MOTION: NATIONAL SECURITY COMMITTEE <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>WHEREAS the frequency, sophistication and<\/p>\n<p>violence prevalent in the incidences of criminal acts are definitely increasing<\/p>\n<p>and constantly changing in character in Guyana and is consuming society at all<\/p>\n<p>levels; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>AND WHEREAS crime has been evolving and<\/p>\n<p>becoming more complex and unmanageable as witnessed by the emergence of<\/p>\n<p>transnational crimes such as narco-trafficking, trafficking in persons, the<\/p>\n<p>proliferation in the movement and use of firearms, terrorism, and kidnappings<\/p>\n<p>to name a few, such that the people of Guyana have expressed outrage, and are<\/p>\n<p>suffering; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>AND WHEREAS all national stakeholders<\/p>\n<p>including, the Government, and Opposition parties, have all expressed a desire<\/p>\n<p>to work together to address the threats and challenges of crime and security in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana and must assume responsibility for the safety and integrity of Guyana<\/p>\n<p>and its citizens; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>AND WHEREAS various studies and reports<\/p>\n<p>including the Border\/National Security Committee Report; the Disciplined Forces<\/p>\n<p>Commission Report and the CARICOM Task Force on Crime and Security Report have<\/p>\n<p>all recommended the establishment of a Standing Parliamentary Committee on<\/p>\n<p>National Security to provide an oversight function to review all aspects of<\/p>\n<p>security and national security including, but not limited to, review of<\/p>\n<p>policies and reforms, budgetary allocations and expenditures and a national<\/p>\n<p>security strategy and doctrine; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>BE IT RESOLVED THAT <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo12;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>a.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>The National Assembly agrees to the establishment of a<\/p>\n<p>Standing Committee on National Security to review all aspects of national<\/p>\n<p>security including, but not limited to, the review of policies and reforms,<\/p>\n<p>budgetary allocations and expenditures and the implementation of a national<\/p>\n<p>security strategy and doctrine; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo12;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>b.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>The Standing Committee on National Security deliver to<\/p>\n<p>the National Assembly bi-annual reports of its work including progress made in<\/p>\n<p>the implementation of policies and reforms. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo12;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>c.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>The Members of the National Assembly identified to be<\/p>\n<p>members of the National Security Committee be subject to and be bound by the<\/p>\n<p>provisions of the Official Secrets Act. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Submitted By: Mr. Everall Franklin, M.P.<\/p>\n<p>GAP-ROAR <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Seconded By: Mr. Raphael Trotman, M.P. AFC <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF'>2007-7-1: The Alliance<\/p>\n<p>For Change Column-&#8230; the Jagdeo government balks at forming partnerships with<\/p>\n<p>the parliamentary opposition to establish a broad-based inclusive response to<\/p>\n<p>crime and security.by Sheila Holder <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>13.5pt;color:#0031FF&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In spite of the promises made and, I dare<\/p>\n<p>say, the best intentions of PPP\/C governments since they took over the reins of<\/p>\n<p>government in 1992, things have not turned out very well. The suggestion,<\/p>\n<p>propagated by some in the ranks of the governing party that the criticisms and<\/p>\n<p>dissatisfaction voiced by opposition personalities are based on their desire to<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;get into power through the back door&#8217;, is fast losing effectiveness<\/p>\n<p>as social and economic conditions continue to deteriorate even in their own<\/p>\n<p>constiuency. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As things currently stand, Guyanese of every<\/p>\n<p>walk of life and of every race are extremely worried about their safety and<\/p>\n<p>security as a result of the rise in crime and banditry that display a<\/p>\n<p>terrifying disregard for the sanctity of life in virtually every region of the<\/p>\n<p>country. It is said that the primary role of a government is to protect its<\/p>\n<p>citizens. Failure to do so, can lead to dire consequences not only for its citizens,<\/p>\n<p>but also for the government. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The other preoccupation in the society is<\/p>\n<p>with the inability of successive PPP\/C governments to tackle the hardships<\/p>\n<p>associated with a high level of joblessness, underemployment, insufficient disposable<\/p>\n<p>income to allow for comfortable living &#8211; the result of the long stagnation of<\/p>\n<p>the economy. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Yet the Jagdeo government balks at forming<\/p>\n<p>partnerships with the parliamentary opposition to establish a broad-based<\/p>\n<p>inclusive response to crime and security. His government persists in excluding<\/p>\n<p>some of the best and brightest technical, economic and financial brains, which<\/p>\n<p>they perceive to be supportive of one or other opposition party, in<\/p>\n<p>contravention of the tenets of our Constitution. This policy has retarded their<\/p>\n<p>own development programmes over the years, as it has disregarded those<\/p>\n<p>persons&#8217; professionalism and their human, civil and political rights. It<\/p>\n<p>would appear that the government&#8217;s distrust and urge to punish, have<\/p>\n<p>proven to be greater than the diminishing returns being experienced by the<\/p>\n<p>society as a consequence. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the age of the information super highway<\/p>\n<p>of the Internet, and in the face of electoral promises they made to the nation<\/p>\n<p>to end radio monopoly, this government recently, through the mouth piece of<\/p>\n<p>Prime Minister Sam Hinds indicated its intension to persist in monopolising<\/p>\n<p>radio. The commandeering of the State&#8217;s print media, the Chronicle, and<\/p>\n<p>the NCN television airwaves continue apace with some of the most uninspiring<\/p>\n<p>propaganda that challenge people&#8217;s credulity. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As ethnic insecurities mount in the society,<\/p>\n<p>the PPP\/C government appears paralysed to respond appropriately and<\/p>\n<p>responsibly. Such failures allow claims of victimization and inequity to fester<\/p>\n<p>in the society thereby maintaining an environment of political instability and<\/p>\n<p>ethnic militancy, which errodes the government&#8217;s ability to govern<\/p>\n<p>effectively. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>International and local reports, such as<\/p>\n<p>those which highlight human rights violations, fiscal anomalies, the high<\/p>\n<p>exodus rate of Guyana&#8217;s professionals and other skills, are met with<\/p>\n<p>passivity from top government leaders, thereby reinforcing the perception that<\/p>\n<p>their&#8217;s is a deliberate mission to rid the country of its intellegentia<\/p>\n<p>in order to provide government with an easy ride on the road to self-interested<\/p>\n<p>governance and deep-seated corruption in the corridors of power. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I could go on and on listing the failings of<\/p>\n<p>successive PPP\/C governments, but that will only provide them with the<\/p>\n<p>ammunition to claim that people like me in the political opposition, with our<\/p>\n<p>negativity, are responsible for creating the difficulties they experience in<\/p>\n<p>correcting the governance deficiencies mentioned herein. So I take the position<\/p>\n<p>that as a people, we need to begin the process of turning things around for<\/p>\n<p>ourselves, while leaving the designs of our failing government to our Lord<\/p>\n<p>Jesus Christ, who warned in the Scriptures of the apostle Luke, in chapter 12<\/p>\n<p>verses 48, <b><i>&#8220;From everyone who has been given much, much will be<\/p>\n<p>demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be<\/p>\n<p>asked.&#8221; <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>For a start we, the people, could become<\/p>\n<p>better stewards in our homes and in our communities, in our places of<\/p>\n<p>employment and especially with the national patrimony of our state<\/p>\n<p>institutions. I believe that, for far too long, people have looked to the<\/p>\n<p>political directorate to lead the way towards such a paradigm shift.<\/p>\n<p>Regrettably, it has not happened, because the people continue to abdicate their<\/p>\n<p>duties as citizens to hold the government accountable for their performance and<\/p>\n<p>electoral promises made to the nation, preferring to hide behind the guise of<\/p>\n<p>so-called &#8220;racial security&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So I urge you, the next time you see a busted<\/p>\n<p>water pipe &#8211; report it, the next time you see suspicious activity in your<\/p>\n<p>neighbourhood -do something about it. Take note of the description and number<\/p>\n<p>of the vehicle and those who occupy it and tell somebody about it. The next<\/p>\n<p>time you witness someone being treated unjustly because of race &#8211; voice your<\/p>\n<p>disapproval and refuse to be the pervader of racial discrimination. Make a<\/p>\n<p>point of <b><i>&#8216;doing onto others that which we would have them do to<\/p>\n<p>us&#8217;<\/i><\/b>. This principle alone will go a far way in easing the ethnic<\/p>\n<p>tensions and injustices eating away at our society and causing our people to<\/p>\n<p>flee these shores. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF'>2007-7-8: The Alliance<\/p>\n<p>For Change Column -Let us not Politicise our Judiciary; Let us Judicialise our<\/p>\n<p>Politics! [An AFC position-statement on the High Court Amendment Bill 2007] <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We live in a Westminster-model government<\/p>\n<p>system which rest on the principles of popular sovereignty, the rule of law,<\/p>\n<p>and checked and balanced by the separation of powers doctrine which keeps<\/p>\n<p>within certain fixed territory the Legislature, Executive and especially an<\/p>\n<p>independent Judiciary. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Free and fair elections remain a mighty<\/p>\n<p>pillar upon which rests this model of government. But it is only one pillar.<\/p>\n<p>There are many other pillars which we must not turn a blind eye to. Another is<\/p>\n<p>the rule of law. And essential to the rule of law is the creation and maintenance<\/p>\n<p>of an independent judiciary. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>An independent judiciary has a certain<\/p>\n<p>dimension to it that is sacrosanct. There must never be any attempt to make it<\/p>\n<p>dependent, or any attempt to control or influence it. Such attempts from the<\/p>\n<p>other branches of State, namely the Legislature or the Executive, or from any<\/p>\n<p>powerful force, such as for example, the media, big business, or pressure<\/p>\n<p>groups, will constitute efforts at interference which must be condemned. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The independence of the Judiciary, if it is<\/p>\n<p>to have any meaning to our countrymen, must mean that the Judiciary, in its<\/p>\n<p>collective capacity or in its individual judges and office holders must not see<\/p>\n<p>any contrivance being flagrantly or subtly imposed which affect, or has the<\/p>\n<p>potential to affect, the outcomes of its adjudicative process. These Government<\/p>\n<p>and non-governmental forces must not be allowed to encroach on the autonomy of<\/p>\n<p>the Judiciary, whether on it as a collective or on its individual judges. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Judiciaries in all democracies are<\/p>\n<p>vulnerable in varying degrees to the power of Legislatures to create, modify<\/p>\n<p>and destroy judicial structures, as well as to alter the systems of appointing,<\/p>\n<p>removing, or remunerating Judges, and\/or controlling their internal structures.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Thus there is legislative leeway to change<\/p>\n<p>the Judicature. Our Constitution provisions themselves are subject to<\/p>\n<p>modification by non-judicial forces. Parliamentarians can do so! But they must<\/p>\n<p>tread cautiously, with the purest of motives, and always in accordance with the<\/p>\n<p>prescribed formula &#8211; lay a constitutional amendment in the National Assembly<\/p>\n<p>and get the required support for it. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I want to emphasise that these changes to our<\/p>\n<p>Judiciary&#8217;s architecture ought to reside, and accountably so, in<\/p>\n<p>Parliamentarians because they are the representatives of the people. There is a<\/p>\n<p>place then where the principle of democratic accountability can take precedence<\/p>\n<p>over judicial independence. It is a balancing act and a responsible Parliament<\/p>\n<p>and responsible Parliamentarians will know the equilibrium point and the<\/p>\n<p>moment. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Judicial independence is at risk, however,<\/p>\n<p>when the political branches use or threaten to use their control over structure<\/p>\n<p>to shape adjudicative outcomes i.e. the decisions of the courts. It is at this<\/p>\n<p>point that outside control becomes improper and unconstitutional, and<\/p>\n<p>independence becomes threatened. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The management of courts and judges&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>work is clearly an area in which the principle of democratic accountability and<\/p>\n<p>judicial independence needs to be carefully balanced. But democratic accountability<\/p>\n<p>ought not to be taken to the point where political authorities (who may be<\/p>\n<p>party to cases coming before the courts) also control vital aspects of the<\/p>\n<p>administration of the court system which can impact on adjudication! When this<\/p>\n<p>happens judicial independence can be seriously undermined. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And it is in this contextual background that<\/p>\n<p>the AFC finds the High Court Amendment Bill (2007) so unacceptable. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Clearly there are strong democratic arguments<\/p>\n<p>for allowing the PPP\/C Government to implement policies for which it was<\/p>\n<p>elected. The present Government, however, never made it a campaign issue that<\/p>\n<p>it wanted a change in the constitutional offices of Chancellor and Chief<\/p>\n<p>Justice. As a matter of fact it quietly withdrew its 2005 attempt at a similar<\/p>\n<p>High Court Amendment Bill into the backburner during the campaign of 2006. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Additionally, it should be noted that in the<\/p>\n<p>Constitutional Reform Process of 1999 nowhere is anything said or discussed<\/p>\n<p>about taking away the powers from the Chief Justice and placing them with the<\/p>\n<p>Chancellor, or even abolishing either one or other of these offices! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The President is positing that he wants to<\/p>\n<p>harmonise our Judicature with that of the Caribbean. Why now? Quite frankly,<\/p>\n<p>the fact that it is coming from His Excellency at this time means that it has a<\/p>\n<p>sinister motive and is dangerous to our democracy. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Why does he not dump the Executive Presidency<\/p>\n<p>to bring Guyana in harmony with other Caribbean countries? The dumping of the<\/p>\n<p>powers of the Executive Presidency was something campaigned for by his Party<\/p>\n<p>when it was in Opposition! And I bet that doing away with the powers of an<\/p>\n<p>Executive Presidency will be supported ten-fold more than the alteration to the<\/p>\n<p>Chief Justice&#8217;s powers, if it were put to a referendum. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We must constantly be on our guard to prevent<\/p>\n<p>an erosion of judicial independence. While all Governments publicly endorse the<\/p>\n<p>principle, some quietly work to undermine it. It thus behoves all<\/p>\n<p>Parliamentarians, especially independent-thinking Parliamentarians, and for the<\/p>\n<p>sake of our citizens, and survival of constitutionalism, and the justice and<\/p>\n<p>liberty Guyanese strive for, that we guard against any such erosion of judicial<\/p>\n<p>independence. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Our Guyana needs a greater effort from its<\/p>\n<p>leaders and influencing minds to create a society based on principles of<\/p>\n<p>constitutionalism and the rule of law. Who better, at this trying hour, to<\/p>\n<p>shoulder that effort than us Parliamentarians! Let us live up to that honour<\/p>\n<p>and nobility. Let us not politicise our Judiciary by passing ugly amendments to<\/p>\n<p>the High Court Act. Rather, let us judicialise our politics by having the<\/p>\n<p>President and the Opposition Leader singing in harmony the obvious appointments<\/p>\n<p>to the offices of Chancellor and Chief Justice. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>KHEMRAJ RAMJATTAN <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Leader of AFC <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>July 2007. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4<\/p>\n<p>height=1 id=&#8221;_x0000_i1052&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_26.jpg&#8221;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF'>2007-7-22:The Alliance<\/p>\n<p>For Change Column -United For Change By Raphael Trotman <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On Saturday, July 28, 2007, history will be made<\/p>\n<p>when the Alliance For Change holds it first ever Delegates&#8217; Conference under<\/p>\n<p>the carefully chosen theme of &quot;United For Change&quot;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This conference, which was originally<\/p>\n<p>scheduled for March of this year, was postponed to allow for the passage of<\/p>\n<p>World Cup cricket and other national events. Now, after much work and<\/p>\n<p>sacrifice, the important gathering will be attended by hundreds of delegates,<\/p>\n<p>observers and special invitees. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Already, there is keen interest and<\/p>\n<p>excitement as delegates and observers are preparing to travel to Georgetown to<\/p>\n<p>participate and to fraternize with their comrades and friends. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>At the time of the launch in October 2005,<\/p>\n<p>there was the expressed understanding that as soon as reasonably practicable<\/p>\n<p>after the 2006 General Elections, a conference would be held to confirm the<\/p>\n<p>birth and sustainability of the AFC. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Steering Committee led by the triumvirate<\/p>\n<p>of Ramjattan, Trotman and Holder was only a caretaker body charged with the<\/p>\n<p>responsibility of steering the ship safely towards its destination of the<\/p>\n<p>conference. Despite all that our detractors would want to say, and despite our<\/p>\n<p>stumbling from time to time, we have surpassed all expectations. It has been an<\/p>\n<p>honour and a pleasure to have served as Chairman of the Steering Committee<\/p>\n<p>during these crucial formative months. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Our movement though unique experiences, in<\/p>\n<p>many respects, still has many features of political and social organizations<\/p>\n<p>the world over. One such feature is the holding of the National Conference to<\/p>\n<p>ensure that the democracy we demand nationally is in place internally. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The agenda, as mandated by the framers of the<\/p>\n<p>constitution is to: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=71<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1053&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_27.jpg&#8221;>&middot; Receive the<\/p>\n<p>reports of the CEO and Campaign Manager; &middot; Receive Motions and<\/p>\n<p>Questions; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&middot; Ratify and validate the work of the<\/p>\n<p>Interim Committee from October 2005 to present; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&middot; Ratify the draft Constitution; and <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&middot; To elect National Executive of the<\/p>\n<p>movement. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As we approach this important milestone it is<\/p>\n<p>appropriate to mention the names of those who were instrumental in the<\/p>\n<p>formative stages. Some of these persons are no longer <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>active or involved in the business of the<\/p>\n<p>AFC, but nevertheless, it is our duty as the carriers of the torch to ensure<\/p>\n<p>that in the annals of history, their contribution is in no way <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>diminished. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>These persons include Mr. Chrisptoher Ram,<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Tony Vieira, Mr. Ramon Gaskin, Vanessa Singh, Mr. Stephen Fraser, and yes,<\/p>\n<p>Ms. Gaumattie Singh. Many others of course were instrumental in ensuring that<\/p>\n<p>in a few short months we were able to move from an idea, to an electioneering<\/p>\n<p>machine. Time and space do not permit me to mention their names but their<\/p>\n<p>places in history are guaranteed. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Conference will provide, in a manner of speaking,<\/p>\n<p>an opportunity for the members and supporters of the AFC to recommit to the<\/p>\n<p>values and vision that were embraced and espoused not so long ago during the<\/p>\n<p>campaign, and to be re-fuelled and re-energized by the support of persons<\/p>\n<p>coming from throughout the length and breadth of Guyana and the Diaspora. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The movement&#8217;s name by itself defines its<\/p>\n<p>role and responsibility to ensure that we develop a more cohesive society. In<\/p>\n<p>this regard the new executive is expected to pay as much attention to ensure<\/p>\n<p>that alliances and partnerships develop and flourish within the movement as<\/p>\n<p>well as outside. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>An imperative task therefore will be to seek<\/p>\n<p>meaningful alliances and partnerships with persons and groups around who share<\/p>\n<p>the vision for a better and less divisive Guyana . Events and posturing since<\/p>\n<p>the August 2006 elections reinforce the view that the struggle for change is<\/p>\n<p>far from over. We have seen spiraling cost of living since the introduction of<\/p>\n<p>VAT, unbridled crime and lawlessness, executive high-handedness,<\/p>\n<p>narrow-mindedness and callousness, and the never-ending cycle of hug and fight<\/p>\n<p>between the PPP\/C and PNCR. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Undeniably, there is more than sufficient<\/p>\n<p>reason for the third-force initiative to be kept alive. We are grateful for the<\/p>\n<p>support of those who didn&#8217;t jump ship at the first sign of distress and who by<\/p>\n<p>their sacrifice and commitment will ensure that the name of the Alliance For<\/p>\n<p>Change will live on for many, many more conferences to come. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF'>2007-7-26: AFC picking<\/p>\n<p>delegates by &#8216;electoral college&#8217; system (Stabroek News) <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance for Change (AFC) has adopted an<\/p>\n<p>electoral college system to identify 255 delegates with voting rights for its<\/p>\n<p>inaugural conference this Saturday at which its first executive committee to<\/p>\n<p>serve for the next biennium will be elected. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The electoral college system is utilized in<\/p>\n<p>the US elections and assigns electors in proportion to the number of<\/p>\n<p>congressional representatives each state has. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>At a press conference held at the party&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>headquarters at Lime and Hadfield streets yesterday, AFC Chairman Raphael<\/p>\n<p>Trotman said the party adopted the electoral college system to avoid the recent<\/p>\n<p>bad experiences of other political parties. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>According to the system employed, the number<\/p>\n<p>of delegates with voting rights is based on the size and the support of the<\/p>\n<p>membership of groups in each region and those in the diaspora. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As a result, ten delegates are slated to<\/p>\n<p>attend and vote from Region One (Barima\/ Waini); 20 delegates from Region Two<\/p>\n<p>(Pomeroon\/ Supenaam); 15 from Region Three (West Demerara\/ Essequibo Islands);<\/p>\n<p>75 from Region Four (Demerara\/ Mahaica); 20 from Region Five (Mahaica\/ West<\/p>\n<p>Berbice); 40 from Region Six (East Berbice\/ Corentyne); ten from Region Seven<\/p>\n<p>(Cuyuni\/Mazaruni); ten from Region Eight (Potaro\/ Siparuni); ten from Region Nine<\/p>\n<p>(Upper Takutu\/ Upper Essequibo); and 20 from Region Ten (Upper Demerara\/Upper<\/p>\n<p>Berbice). The diaspora has been allocated 25 delegates. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman said the AFC was not using a<\/p>\n<p>member-to-delegate ratio to determine the number of delegates. In addition, he<\/p>\n<p>said, there was a deadline for the application and renewal of membership, after<\/p>\n<p>which there was a blackout period for the issuance and distribution of<\/p>\n<p>membership cards. So even though acceptance of new applications was ongoing, he<\/p>\n<p>explained that membership cards would not be issued until after the conference.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The electoral college system, he said, was<\/p>\n<p>adopted to avoid problems of verification of the membership that could arise<\/p>\n<p>with an influx of new members just before a major meeting as was seen elsewhere<\/p>\n<p>just recently. He said the current membership of the AFC stood at just below<\/p>\n<p>6,000 including about 500 from the diaspora. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC&#8217;s press statement, read by Vice<\/p>\n<p>Chairman Sheila Holder said, &quot;Confer-ence organisers will be especially<\/p>\n<p>interested in the manner in which the system is implemented and how it works as<\/p>\n<p>a gauge for its future use at other conferences and caucuses.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Asked about nominations for the various<\/p>\n<p>leadership posts and whether the current leader, chairman and vice chairman were<\/p>\n<p>contesting the top leadership posts, Trotman said nominations were ongoing and<\/p>\n<p>as far as he knew, they had not been nominated as yet. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He said that the AFC Steering Committee,<\/p>\n<p>which has been managing the affairs of the party since it was launched in October<\/p>\n<p>2005, would not be in charge of the elections of the party&#8217;s executive. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He said the elections and the electoral<\/p>\n<p>process would be handed over to an independent body and would be open to<\/p>\n<p>scrutiny by the delegates. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Contending that the process would be<\/p>\n<p>transparent, he said, &quot;The steering committee would in no way be in<\/p>\n<p>charge.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan said nominations<\/p>\n<p>would close at midday on Saturday to allow for late arrivals from the far-flung<\/p>\n<p>areas of the country. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Delegates have begun arriving including<\/p>\n<p>groups from the hinterland regions. At present, the AFC is catering for a total<\/p>\n<p>of 500 delegates and observers with current costs running in excess of $2.3<\/p>\n<p>million. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Among the important matters to be discussed<\/p>\n<p>is the &#8216;Way Forward&#8217; document, which would include recommendations for the<\/p>\n<p>development of a programme for the party. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This document would be presented by Trotman<\/p>\n<p>and would be discussed in the plenary and it is expected that it would be<\/p>\n<p>adopted as well. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The conference is also expected to receive<\/p>\n<p>the reports of the Chief Executive Officer, and former campaign director;<\/p>\n<p>consider important motions and questions including the ratification of work<\/p>\n<p>done by the steering committee and of the draft constitution; the acquisition<\/p>\n<p>of a building to be used as the movement&#8217;s headquarters; a youth programme;<\/p>\n<p>proposed amendments to be included in the constitution; and the elections.<\/p>\n<p>(Miranda La Rose) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-8-5: <i>AFC Column-<\/i>Nothing<\/p>\n<p>short of remarkable and extraordinary &#8211; ADDRESS BY RAPHAEL TROTMAN AT ALLIANCE<\/p>\n<p>FOR CHANGE 1st NATIONAL CONFERENCE (kaieteur News) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Welcome to the 1stt ever National<\/p>\n<p>Conference held by the Alliance For Change. Today, July 28, is a historic day<\/p>\n<p>for us in the AFC. That we have arrived atthis next milestone is nothing short<\/p>\n<p>of remarkable and extraordinary. Thanks to the dedication, support, sacrifice<\/p>\n<p>and hard work of many throughout Guyanaand abroad, we have arrived here. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Today, in the midst of all that is happening,<\/p>\n<p>and has happened, I also recognize the wonderful and mysterious work of God in<\/p>\n<p>all that we do and have accomplished. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In my moments of despair, and disappointment<\/p>\n<p>I have been reminded of the Lord&#8217;s refrain to us in Psalm 46 when he said: <i>&#8220;Be<\/p>\n<p>Still and Know that I Am God&#8221; <\/i>Less than two years ago we gathered at<\/p>\n<p>the Ocean View Convention Centre to proclaim our intention to contest the 2006<\/p>\n<p>elections. Some of those who were present then are no longer with us, and some<\/p>\n<p>who we never expected to join the cause, have come on board. That is the nature<\/p>\n<p>of politics. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To those who helped shape and guide the<\/p>\n<p>process we say thank you. To those who panicked and jumped ship we say a fond<\/p>\n<p>farewell, but ask to be given the opportunity to win you back. To those who<\/p>\n<p>stayed the course we salute you and say you are true Guyanese patriots. You are<\/p>\n<p>the substance that makes the AFC whole. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Many have distilled and debated the inner<\/p>\n<p>workings of the AFC over the months. Many of these have no idea what the AFC is<\/p>\n<p>about, why we were formed and what <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>we must achieve, and seek to supplant their<\/p>\n<p>own doctrine on us. They have sought to examine its failings, its fervour, its<\/p>\n<p>fortunes, and its future. Some of it has spilled over into the press. Much has<\/p>\n<p>happened indeed. Many said we slowed down and have lost sight of our vision and<\/p>\n<p>destination. Those of us who had the responsibility to guide you must admit<\/p>\n<p>that we were less than active and should have done better. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As T.D. Jakes preached a few weeks ago, these<\/p>\n<p>are but &#8220;potholes on the road to destiny.&#8221; We accept that in life<\/p>\n<p>we hit encumbrances, potholes and resistance, but <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>we keep ourselves going. We caution however<\/p>\n<p>that the AFC cannot be compared to the other parties in Guyana . We are not<\/p>\n<p>like them, do not want to behave like them, and do not want to become them. We<\/p>\n<p>however welcome any of members of those parties who wish to join us. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Many expect the pre-election momentum and<\/p>\n<p>euphoria to continue, but of necessity and common sense it cannot. Our mission<\/p>\n<p>now is to keep the notion of change <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>alive and to make it the dominant culture in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana . We need a metamorphosis that will not come by street protests, but<\/p>\n<p>must start within each individual. I hasten to add as well that many who<\/p>\n<p>criticize do so not because they desire to help, but instead to destroy for<\/p>\n<p>they offer nothing other than mere words. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Napoleon Bonaparte once remarked, and rightly<\/p>\n<p>so, that an army marches on its stomach. That is to say that without resources;<\/p>\n<p>financial, human and otherwise we <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>will grind to a halt. A political army<\/p>\n<p>likewise must be fuelled by money, by human effort, and by ideas. To those<\/p>\n<p>therefore who say what are you doing, I say in response what have you done<\/p>\n<p>yourselves, and if you do not give selflessly of yourself, do not expect to see<\/p>\n<p>anything in return. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Because we are different I will not traverse<\/p>\n<p>the individual criticisms leveled against us of late but say that other<\/p>\n<p>political parties no longer relevant in Guyana should <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>stay silent and fade quietly into oblivion.<\/p>\n<p>Constructive criticism is good and must be encouraged. Criticism however<\/p>\n<p>designed to capture public attention without first being ventilated and<\/p>\n<p>exhausted within the confines of the movement, is unhelpful, and will lead to<\/p>\n<p>disarray and destruction. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This is the age of information driven by<\/p>\n<p>email and blackberries. Nothing is confidential, sacred or secure, and as a<\/p>\n<p>former statesman admonished me and I now <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>admonish you; if you want to keep a secret in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana , don&#8217;t even tell yourself. We, starting with me, have to become more<\/p>\n<p>discreet and circumspect. The course of events from October 2005 to today has<\/p>\n<p>been a fantastic journey for me. Being the Chairman and Presidential candidate<\/p>\n<p>of and for the AFC has been spiritually uplifting and life changing. I know<\/p>\n<p>that at times I have fallen short but I am human. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Nelson Mandela the world&#8217;s statesman has<\/p>\n<p>recognized his own human foibles when he was given to remark to a gathering:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising<\/p>\n<p>every time we fall.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Today the AFC rises before you asking for a<\/p>\n<p>renewed mandate to proceed. The experience has allowed me to see the Guyana in<\/p>\n<p>its true glory and majesty. To meet people of all persuasions and walks of<\/p>\n<p>life, and to understand better, their dreams and aspirations, insecurities, and<\/p>\n<p>expectations of their leaders. Again I thank all those who made my experience a<\/p>\n<p>humbling and enjoyable one. I will not allow myself to name persons less by<\/p>\n<p>omission I err. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What I can say is that the core of the<\/p>\n<p>strength of the AFC lies not in the urban centres of Georgetown and New<\/p>\n<p>Amsterdam, but in quiet communities such as <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mabaruma, Bartica, Kwakwani, Orealla, Annai,<\/p>\n<p>and of course Kwakwani, where I had an experience that I can only describe as<\/p>\n<p>heavenly. Those who were there will understand what I mean. I am forever<\/p>\n<p>committed to the AFC, its ideals, and most of all, to the people who make it<\/p>\n<p>the best political alternative in Guyana . <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I pledge to serve the AFC with my life in any<\/p>\n<p>capacity be it top, middle or bottom, not because I first dreamt of this new<\/p>\n<p>movement, but because I believe that this is what God has called me to do and<\/p>\n<p>is what the people expect of me. There is no higher calling than to be in<\/p>\n<p>service of people. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Like Rabindranauth Tagore I can say: &#8220;I<\/p>\n<p>slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I<\/p>\n<p>acted and behold, service was joy.&#8221; Things have not all been bad for the<\/p>\n<p>AFC. Many are singing our praises and I ask that we not allow ourselves to<\/p>\n<p>become demoralised and succumb to the pressures and persecution of those who<\/p>\n<p>resist change and wish to cling hopelessly to the anachronistic political<\/p>\n<p>culture. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Two recent publications should give you hope.<\/p>\n<p>Firstly, The Economist Magazine publishing its Economic Intelligence Report<\/p>\n<p>writes about the AFC: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;The recently formed Alliance For<\/p>\n<p>Change is the strongest &#8220;third force&#8221; in Guyana since 1964, and has<\/p>\n<p>a fair chance of gaining further strength in the next election.&#8221; <\/span><\/i><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Secondly, the just released report authored<\/p>\n<p>entitled: From Violent to Peaceful Elections: An Assessment by Terrence Simmons<\/p>\n<p>and Roxanne Myers states: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Changing dynamics within political<\/p>\n<p>parties in particular the opposition parties, and the splits which give rise to<\/p>\n<p>the emergence of the Alliance For Change (AFC) on the political scene, had a<\/p>\n<p>decisive impact on the way the two entrenched political parties approached the<\/p>\n<p>elections. AFC promoted itself as a departure from the past and<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;unlocking the future&#8221; and promoted the concept of change. Several<\/p>\n<p>apolitical citizens heeded the AFC&#8217;s message of peace, a just society,<\/p>\n<p>equality, racial harmony, non-violence and an end to ethnic voting&#8230;The AFC<\/p>\n<p>raised the bar on election rhetoric and set the general tone of political<\/p>\n<p>messages.&#8221; <\/span><\/i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In parliament we have led the way with<\/p>\n<p>questions, motions and agitation for good governance. In the Regional<\/p>\n<p>Democratic Councils we continue to provide the best representation we can, in<\/p>\n<p>the face of a combined and incestuous deal struck in the dark of night between<\/p>\n<p>the other two parties to shut us out. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the fields, we have continued with very<\/p>\n<p>limited resources to meet people in their communities and to agitate on their<\/p>\n<p>behalf. After this 1st Conference we, and not the executive alone, but all of<\/p>\n<p>us, expect to do much, much more. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Our relations with other political parties,<\/p>\n<p>save and except one, have not been good because we are challenging the status<\/p>\n<p>quo and they are expectedly not happy. We will however strive for recognition,<\/p>\n<p>and equality and to be a responsible opposition party and change agent in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana , while we prepare for the next elections. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Socio-Political Environment: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance For Change was born at a time of<\/p>\n<p>great distress and despair in Guyana . Our relevance despite the holding of<\/p>\n<p>national elections remains potent. Within the past 12 months we have seen the<\/p>\n<p>introduction of VAT, rising unemployment, greater levels of migration, and<\/p>\n<p>changing crime as the grip of the drug lords slackens whilst another type of<\/p>\n<p>criminal is burgeoning. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Racial tension is at an all-time high. When<\/p>\n<p>we can dedicate rows and rows of column space to discovering which racial group<\/p>\n<p>brought to Guyana the head kerchief while women and children continue to endure<\/p>\n<p>the most heinous of abuses then something is wrong within our society. There is<\/p>\n<p>a place for the AFC. When the nation&#8217;s governmental leaders can ignore the<\/p>\n<p>suffering of thousands of households who are forced to steal electricity from<\/p>\n<p>the national grid and seek instead to prosecute them even as little children<\/p>\n<p>are dying, tells us that something is wrong and there is a place for the AFC. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Today, even as we speak there are so many<\/p>\n<p>ills that are being glossed over. I referred to some of them recently in the<\/p>\n<p>National Assembly and because there has <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>been no positive change, I reiterate them<\/p>\n<p>today. &Oslash; The Non-Appointment Of Important Constitutional Commissions:<\/p>\n<p>The Office of Ombudsman; the Procurement, Human Rights, Indigenous Peoples,<\/p>\n<p>Rights of the Child, Integrity, and other important Commissions; and the Public<\/p>\n<p>Service Appellate Tribunal, to name a few. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&Oslash; Non-Consultation with stakeholders<\/p>\n<p>for Casino gambling, other important legislation and policy implementation.<\/p>\n<p>&Oslash; The withdrawal of advertisement from Stabroek News as a political<\/p>\n<p>weapon. &Oslash; The Abandonment of the National Development Strategy process<\/p>\n<p>&Oslash; The Continued Incarceration without trial of Mark Benschop, which can<\/p>\n<p>now be considered as being cruel and inhumane punishment. &Oslash; The<\/p>\n<p>withholding of the proceedings of the Lotto Funds without depositing them in<\/p>\n<p>the Consolidated Fund &Oslash; Failure to announce or bestow National Awards<\/p>\n<p>for the past five years. This is not a discretion bestowed in a government. It<\/p>\n<p>is the people&#8217;s awards, which must be <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>given with due regularity and certainty. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&Oslash; The irregular and extraordinary<\/p>\n<p>functioning of senior legal and constitutional officers such as:<\/p>\n<p>Chancellor\/Chief Justice, Chief Magistrate, DPP, Police Commissioner, and<\/p>\n<p>Judges of the High Court. &Oslash; The mis-handling and man-handling of The<\/p>\n<p>Region 10 Seat Issue. &Oslash; The suspension of the process of inter-party<\/p>\n<p>dialogue under an enhanced framework for cooperation. &Oslash; The Non-Assent<\/p>\n<p>of 12 Bills passed by the 8th Parliament and the misinterpretation and misuse<\/p>\n<p>of the veto power bestowed by the Constitution of Guyana. The barbarity of<\/p>\n<p>offences committed in Agricola and elsewhere, the murder of journalist Ronald<\/p>\n<p>Waddell and of Minister Sawh, the relative youthfulness of the <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>perpetrators and perhaps most disturbing, the<\/p>\n<p>seeming indifference as reflected in their eyes and attitude to the concept of<\/p>\n<p>right and wrong, are frightening indicators which should be addressed not<\/p>\n<p>simply with more guns and boots but through better research, intelligence<\/p>\n<p>gathering and analysis at institutions of higher learning. The AFC&#8217;s voice must<\/p>\n<p>be heard in the midst of the madness. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The deliberations today will focus on the way<\/p>\n<p>forward. We have examined and know our strengths and weaknesses, and where our<\/p>\n<p>opportunities challenges lie. If you believe in the cause don&#8217;t demoralize us,<\/p>\n<p>but give us firm encouragement and support. We never expected this to be easy<\/p>\n<p>and it is not. After today, we separate the talkers from the doers, the true<\/p>\n<p>change agents from the agents provocateur, and the froth from the substance. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Themes to guide our discussions have already<\/p>\n<p>been identified and will cover general areas such as: &middot; Party<\/p>\n<p>Organization and Discipline &middot; Raising Finances to Carry Out the Work<\/p>\n<p>&middot; Enhancing and Solidifying Relations With the Diaspora &middot;<\/p>\n<p>Political Issues and Ways of Raising and Agitating For Change &middot;<\/p>\n<p>Preparations for Local Government &middot; Building Alliances With Like Minded<\/p>\n<p>Organisations <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We don&#8217;t hope today to be successful. We<\/p>\n<p>know we will be successful. The Alliance For Change will live on for eternity.<\/p>\n<p>The true supporters of the AFC willshoulder the responsibility of carrying the<\/p>\n<p>message into every town, village, and mountain top. We will meet the criticism,<\/p>\n<p>attacks, ridicule, and persecution,and continue to defy the odds. We will regroup,<\/p>\n<p>replenish, and re-commence the fight. Long live the people of Guyana , long<\/p>\n<p>live the AFC, and long live the cry for change. Thank you and may God bless<\/p>\n<p>you. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<div>\n<h6><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-8-6: This negative brand of<\/p>\n<p>propaganda has lost its potency (Stabroek News) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Dear Sir, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Given the fractured political environment in<\/p>\n<p>which we operate, it ought to come as no surprise that the successful first<\/p>\n<p>National Conference of the Alliance For Change (AFC) would throw up a political<\/p>\n<p>comment or two in an attempt to blemish that sheen of success. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Nonetheless, one cannot help but notice the<\/p>\n<p>role being played by the letter writer using the name &#8216;Leila Ram&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>since it is one primarily in defense of the PPP\/C and the Guyana government. It<\/p>\n<p>also seems to me that this role has neither escaped the notice of the Stabroek<\/p>\n<p>News editor nor other letter writers from the attention they have given to<\/p>\n<p>rebutting and correcting the propaganda and inaccuracies being peddled by<\/p>\n<p>whoever is using the name &#8216;Leila Ram&#8217;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I happen to know two persons by that name and<\/p>\n<p>can attest to the gentleness and decency of both women who would loathe being<\/p>\n<p>engaged in the kind of sycophantic writings being foisted on the reading public<\/p>\n<p>by those using the name &#8216;Leila Ram&#8217;. Apart from the evident prime<\/p>\n<p>characteristic of this writer to defend, come what may, the Government of<\/p>\n<p>Guyana, Ministers of the Government and their policies, &#8216;Leila<\/p>\n<p>Ram&#8217;s&#8217; letters are distinctly of PPP\/C origin in view of the<\/p>\n<p>reminiscences and skewed analyses intended to keep alive the fear and distrust<\/p>\n<p>of opposition parties like the AFC, which that party has habitually propagated<\/p>\n<p>within its constituency. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Thus, the most recent &#8216;Leila Ram&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>offering which targeted the Alliance For Change (AFC) as the rapidly growing<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;third force&#8217;, sought to peddle distrust of the AFC by linking the<\/p>\n<p>party to Peter D&#8217;Aguair&#8217;s United Force and the so-called<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;D&#8217;Aguair betrayal&#8217; the PPP\/C claimed it suffered at his<\/p>\n<p>hands and that of the PNC in 1964. Meanwhile, Leila Ram has avoided mentioning<\/p>\n<p>the important fact that the PPP\/C has enticed The United Force party&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>only Member of Parliament to join their government. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The other objective of the &#8216;Leila<\/p>\n<p>Ram&#8217; letter, captioned &#8216;Beware of the so-called &#8216;Third<\/p>\n<p>Force&#8217;, published in the Kaieteur News on Thursday August 2, 2007, was to<\/p>\n<p>somehow try to connect the AFC as the new &#8216;Third Force&#8217; with such<\/p>\n<p>betrayal. It will not succeed! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I can comfortably state that this negative<\/p>\n<p>brand of dishonest propaganda has lost potency among the Guyanese people, given<\/p>\n<p>the reality of the information age in which we now live and the continuous<\/p>\n<p>failures of each successive PPP\/C government to fulfill its basic role of<\/p>\n<p>providing adequate security for our people in their homes, businesses and<\/p>\n<p>places of leisure; given the VAT that has brutally gobbled up what little<\/p>\n<p>disposable income the hard working men and worme of this country had before its<\/p>\n<p>introduction at the unconscionably high rate of 16% without any meaningful ease<\/p>\n<p>in the income tax burden; given the economic failures of successive PPP\/C<\/p>\n<p>governments to provide jobs for our people. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As &#8216;Leila Ram&#8217; writes piffle<\/p>\n<p>about the AFC, I cannot help but observe the betrayal of the Guyanese people<\/p>\n<p>and the institution of the National Assembly of the Parliament of Guyana in the<\/p>\n<p>collaboration taking place between the PPP\/C and the PNCR-1G in their drafting<\/p>\n<p>the &#8216;recall&#8217; bill guaranteed to further erode the independence of<\/p>\n<p>Members of Parliament. Now tell me, who are the betrayers of the Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>people? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Respectfully, Sheila Holder, MP AFC,<\/p>\n<p>Vice-Chairperson <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6><span style='color:blue'>2007-8-12: Trotman to accelerate consultations on<\/p>\n<p>Freedom of Information Act (Kaieteur News) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Alliance For Change (AFC) Member of<\/p>\n<p>Parliament, Raphael Trotman has plans to galvanise support on a proposed<\/p>\n<p>Freedom of Information Act during the two-month Parliamentary recess and is<\/p>\n<p>optimistic that the Bill will be tabled before the end of the year. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Last year, Trotman tabled the Freedom of<\/p>\n<p>Information Act, 2006, and on December 14 took steps to have the Bill deferred<\/p>\n<p>in order to save it from being thrown out during the second and third stages of<\/p>\n<p>the presentation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He later told reporters that this was done to<\/p>\n<p>allow Government time for study and assessment of the administrative<\/p>\n<p>implications of the Bill and to allow for broadbased consultations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Speaking on his plans to forge ahead with the<\/p>\n<p>Bill, Trotman stated that he intends to engage stakeholders, including the<\/p>\n<p>Guyana Press Association (GPA), the Guyana Bar Association (GBA), the Guyana<\/p>\n<p>Human Rights Association (GHRA) and the government. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman said that he had written the two<\/p>\n<p>major political parties, the People&#8217;s Progressive Party and the People&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>National Congress Reform, to solicit their views on the legislation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A compromise with the government will be<\/p>\n<p>crucial if the Bill is to see the light of day by year end as planned, he<\/p>\n<p>added. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Bill proposed by Trotman is based on the<\/p>\n<p>Trinidadian model which some advocates consider to be restrictive and not<\/p>\n<p>necessarily as liberal as some would like. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman expressed the hope that even without<\/p>\n<p>full support the Bill can be tabled and sent to a Special Select Committee<\/p>\n<p>where it can be refined before passage in the National Assembly. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman has already indicated that the<\/p>\n<p>passage of legislation to allow access to information is more important than<\/p>\n<p>personal endeavours, and indicated his willingness to step aside and allow the<\/p>\n<p>government to take up the initiative. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC believes that once Government<\/p>\n<p>supports the passage of the Bill, Guyana will join some 60 other countries in<\/p>\n<p>this hemisphere which have enacted freedom of information legislation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Party notes that freedom of information<\/p>\n<p>has become the international consensus deemed to be the fillip needed to<\/p>\n<p>bolster transparency and accountability to curtail corruption and raise the<\/p>\n<p>standards of governance in developing countries struggling to alleviate<\/p>\n<p>poverty. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The call for Freedom of Information<\/p>\n<p>legislation has been wide, more resoundingly from the media corps, which find<\/p>\n<p>difficultly in accessing information related to Government&#8217;s business. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Bill being proposed by Trotman clearly<\/p>\n<p>stipulates that the objective is to extend the right of members of the public<\/p>\n<p>access to information in the possession of public authorities by making<\/p>\n<p>available to the public information about the operations of public authorities.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In particular, the Bill holds public<\/p>\n<p>officials to ensuring that the authorisations, policies, rules and practices<\/p>\n<p>affecting members of the public in their dealings with public authorities are<\/p>\n<p>readily available to persons affected by those authorisations, policies, rules<\/p>\n<p>and practices. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>While the Bill generally states the right of<\/p>\n<p>access to information in documentary form in the possession of public<\/p>\n<p>authorities, it also states that such documents could be withheld for the<\/p>\n<p>protection of essential public interests and the private and business affairs<\/p>\n<p>of persons in respect of whom information is collected and held by public<\/p>\n<p>authorities. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To protect Guyana &#8216;s territorial integrity,<\/p>\n<p>the Bill states that documents could be withheld on the grounds that the<\/p>\n<p>release of such information would prejudice relations between the Government of<\/p>\n<p>Guyana and the government of any other State. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Bill also states that documents could be<\/p>\n<p>withheld if it would prejudice relations between the government and an international<\/p>\n<p>organization of States. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>If documents would divulge information or<\/p>\n<p>matter communicated in confidence or on behalf of the government of another<\/p>\n<p>State to the Government of Guyana or to a person receiving a communication on<\/p>\n<p>behalf of the government of that State, then the Bill allows for those<\/p>\n<p>documents to be withheld. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Bill states that documents that would<\/p>\n<p>disclose matter in the nature of opinion, advise or recommendation prepared by<\/p>\n<p>an officer or Minister of Government, could be withheld. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Bill also allows a person to seek legal<\/p>\n<p>action against documents that are withheld by public officials. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But, the Bill states that no action for<\/p>\n<p>defamation, breach of confidence or infringement of copyright may be brought<\/p>\n<p>against the public authority or against the responsible Minister, or an officer<\/p>\n<p>or employee of the public authority as a result of providing personal<\/p>\n<p>information of someone who subsequently claims it to be inaccurate. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Bill states that a person who willfully<\/p>\n<p>destroys or damages a record or document required to be maintained and<\/p>\n<p>preserved, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of<\/p>\n<p>$5,000 and imprisonment for six months. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>However, if a person knowingly destroys or<\/p>\n<p>damages a record or document which is required to be maintained and preserved<\/p>\n<p>while a request for access to the document is pending commits an offence and is<\/p>\n<p>liable on summary conviction to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for two<\/p>\n<p>years. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Easy access to information to documents<\/p>\n<p>will come at a price to the public as the Bill sets out clearly, that documents<\/p>\n<p>will have to bought from respective agencies. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h6 align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='color:blue'>2007-8-12:<\/p>\n<p>The destruction of deliberative democracy (Kaieteur News) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The passing of the Constitution Amendment Bill<\/p>\n<p>2007, which now permits the Representative of the List to indicate to the<\/p>\n<p>Speaker that a Parliamentarian be recalled, is a massive assault on<\/p>\n<p>conscience-voting and a smothering of independent thinking and free debate in<\/p>\n<p>our National Assembly. It is power to curb and coral elected parliamentarians<\/p>\n<p>within the safe perimeters of the List of Representative&#8217;s, or his<\/p>\n<p>cabal&#8217;s, confidence. It will commandeer National Assembly members never<\/p>\n<p>to vote according to the dictates of conscience or reason but according to the<\/p>\n<p>instructions of party whips. The debates on the floor of the House will be a<\/p>\n<p>mere formality, everything having already been agreed to at party headquarters.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The reprehensible portion of this approved<\/p>\n<p>version (it being amended since) goes thus: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;A member of the National Assembly<\/p>\n<p>shall cease to be a member if: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>c) &#8220;the Representative of the List from<\/p>\n<p>which his or her name was extracted, indicates in writing to the Speaker that<\/p>\n<p>after meaningful consultation with the Party or Parties that make up the List,<\/p>\n<p>that the Party or Parties have lost confidence in that member, and the<\/p>\n<p>Representative of the List issue a written notice of recall to that member and<\/p>\n<p>forwards a copy of that notice to the Speaker&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Immediately it should be noted that this<\/p>\n<p>amended version talks of &#8220;meaningful consultation&#8221;. As if that<\/p>\n<p>constitutes any safeguard to the member who will be a victim of recall! Knowing<\/p>\n<p>the undemocratic culture of both major political entities this is just an<\/p>\n<p>empty, farcical attempt to placate the draconian nature of the recall process. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Additionally, no definition or any<\/p>\n<p>clarification is given as to when &#8220;confidence is lost&#8221;. PNC\/R<\/p>\n<p>members Debbie Backer and James Mc Allister abstained from voting for the Bill<\/p>\n<p>on Thursday last. Does this constitute loss of confidence? I suppose, like the<\/p>\n<p>Honourable Attorney General suggested, we just have to wait and see. Very many<\/p>\n<p>members of the PPP\/C did not turn up for the debate which is in a sense<\/p>\n<p>abstaining. Will this be regarded as loss of confidence, so as to cause Donald<\/p>\n<p>Ramotar to recall them? One hopes not. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This very sweeping power of the List<\/p>\n<p>Representative to recall goes against the grain of an authentic democratic<\/p>\n<p>process. It sidesteps the input of the voters. It is through an electoral<\/p>\n<p>process that these Parliamentarians were elected. And if they are to be<\/p>\n<p>recalled the electorate must be similarly involved. The electors have the power<\/p>\n<p>to elect and the power to un-elect. If logistical nightmares are going to be<\/p>\n<p>created in having the electors involved, then do not arrogate from the<\/p>\n<p>electorate this power, and shift it to the List Representative! This is crux of<\/p>\n<p>the of the AFC&#8217;s opposition to the Bill. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Moreover, a Parliamentarian must be given a<\/p>\n<p>security of tenure for that five year period he was duly elected to serve.<\/p>\n<p>Apart from disqualification grounds stipulated in the Constitution, Judges are<\/p>\n<p>given security of tenure until the lawful age of retirement. Judges interpret<\/p>\n<p>the law. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Similarly, Parliamentarians can be<\/p>\n<p>disqualified on grounds stipulated by the Constitution. But what this Bill does<\/p>\n<p>now is add a further highly arbitrary, unreasonable and vague disqualification<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; loss of confidence in the eyes of the Representative of the List. A<\/p>\n<p>Parliamentarian&#8217;s security of tenure is thus further undermined. And what<\/p>\n<p>Parliamentarians do? They make the law! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The advice given by well-known Dr. Selwyn<\/p>\n<p>Ryan must be acted upon here. He had stated at a 2001 Wilton Park Conference on<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Democracy, a Caribbean Perspective&#8221; that small societies to<\/p>\n<p>broaden Parliamentary democracy have to surmount two damning problems. <b>&#8220;Firstly,<\/p>\n<p>procure resources to get adequate staffing and personnel within government and<\/p>\n<p>opposition ranks. Secondly, there need to be a loosening up of party discipline<\/p>\n<p>to allow and even encourage occasional dissent by members in all parties on<\/p>\n<p>various issues, without the risk of reprisals or accusations of disloyalty.<\/p>\n<p>Tolerance of criticisms, while difficult to engender in small parliaments, is<\/p>\n<p>needed to allow for a wider range of views to be aired on issues. Experience suggests<\/p>\n<p>that good government requires consistent testing from both outside and within<\/p>\n<p>its structure, to ensure that the best paths are being followed.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Another finding at this seminar, and it is a<\/p>\n<p>truth because I have heard it come from both the PPP\/C and PNC\/R back benchers<\/p>\n<p>alike, is the effect of this stultifying thing called party discipline. It is<\/p>\n<p>encapsulated best in these words. <b>&#8220;One of the most common reasons<\/p>\n<p>cited by members of Parliament in many countries for their lack of a meaningful<\/p>\n<p>role relates to the high level of party discipline to which they are subjected.<\/p>\n<p>Members who are consistently bound by party solidarity to vote with their party<\/p>\n<p>on every issue, regardless of their personal views or the wishes of their<\/p>\n<p>constituents, will often feel totally powerless.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This was an aspect of my fight whilst in the<\/p>\n<p>P.P.P. That its leadership allows members to decide more issues without the<\/p>\n<p>party whips imposing the decision on them. This would restore the stature and<\/p>\n<p>the relevance of the individual member. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Guyana needs a deliberative democratic<\/p>\n<p>political culture. The benefits from discussion and deliberation lies in the<\/p>\n<p>fact that even leading legislators and party officials are limited in knowledge<\/p>\n<p>and the ability to reason. No one of them knows everything. A diffusion of<\/p>\n<p>views thus leads to a better reason. We all know that when like-minded people<\/p>\n<p>meet regularly, without sustained exposure to competing views extreme movements<\/p>\n<p>are the result. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Unfortunately, this deliberative culture is<\/p>\n<p>not what happens in the PPP\/C and the PNC\/R. I hope this never rears its ugly<\/p>\n<p>head in the AFC. This suppression of views leads to a polarization which then<\/p>\n<p>leads to members becoming reluctant to bring up items of information they have<\/p>\n<p>on certain subject which might contradict the leading cabal&#8217;s position.<\/p>\n<p>This results in a biased discussion in which the group has no opportunity to<\/p>\n<p>consider all the facts because the members are not bringing them up. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The effect and repercussion of this Recall<\/p>\n<p>Bill will result in and reinforce just that. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Khemraj Ramjattan August 2007 <\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<h6><u><span style='color:blue'>2007-8-19: AFC Column &#8220;Voices of its<\/p>\n<p>Principles&#8221; by Oma Sewhdat (Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As a representative of the Diaspora who<\/p>\n<p>attended the recent AFC conference, I am writing to share my perspective of the<\/p>\n<p>event. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In a few words, I think that the conference<\/p>\n<p>was a great success: well organized, well attended; well executed; open;<\/p>\n<p>energetic; positive; clean; and I would say in the overall spirit and character<\/p>\n<p>of what is becoming the culture of the AFC. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There were about 400 people in attendance,<\/p>\n<p>all members, from each of the 10 regions and overseas. About 200 were delegates<\/p>\n<p>and the rest were member-observers. The strong showing and participation from<\/p>\n<p>the regions was very reassuring. A number of good motions were passed, the<\/p>\n<p>constitution adopted and reports were received. There were 7 breakout work<\/p>\n<p>sessions, very well run and attended in which attendees focused on specific<\/p>\n<p>subjects for actions going forward. People were asked to self select for the<\/p>\n<p>sessions; so it was totally voluntary!! Every session was full and the<\/p>\n<p>discussions were very meaningful, lively, and rich in content, providing a good<\/p>\n<p>base for action going forward. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The election of the leaders was very rousing.<\/p>\n<p>The newly elected national executive is very impressive in their commitment,<\/p>\n<p>passion and qualifications. One of the motions that was passed, differentiates<\/p>\n<p>the AFC, recognizes the importance of the Diaspora in Guyana&#8217;s future and<\/p>\n<p>brings their voice, ideas and vote to the party&#8217;s highest decision making<\/p>\n<p>body. To net it out, the delegates unanimously approved assigning 4 National<\/p>\n<p>Executive seats to the Diaspora, with one each going to the EU, USA, Canada and<\/p>\n<p>the Caribbean. These people are to be selected by their respective chapters. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The expectations and hopes of the AFC from<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese continue to be very high. It was so from the inception, during the<\/p>\n<p>last elections, and continues to today. Even if it is, maybe too high for the<\/p>\n<p>AFC to deliver right away; it is refreshing none the less. This has a lot to do<\/p>\n<p>with the cry for hope, for racial healing and for a better Guyana for all. It<\/p>\n<p>was clear at the conference that the leaders, the new executive, delegates and<\/p>\n<p>member observers are willing and ready to risk their own positions and security<\/p>\n<p>to challenge the status quo in a way that it has not been done before. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It was clear that more and more, Guyanese are<\/p>\n<p>ready to choose Guyana and our collective future over &#8216;self&#8217;. The<\/p>\n<p>delegates and member-observers from all over Guyana, who know what is<\/p>\n<p>happening; who feel the daily pain; have re-commit themselves to strive for a<\/p>\n<p>better Guyana. Like I said in my open letter to the Guyanese Diaspora a while<\/p>\n<p>ago, &#8220;If not now, when? And of not us, who?&#8221; Well; the regional<\/p>\n<p>conference has decided that the time is NOW! And that it is up to<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;US&#8217;! All of us !! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I think that the AFC got the rejuvenation it<\/p>\n<p>needed in this conference; but it will not do what it needs to do without help.<\/p>\n<p>To grab the essence of what Cathy Hughes said, speaking as a delegate at the<\/p>\n<p>conference, &#8220;Everyone wants the AFC to take up the battle on many fronts<\/p>\n<p>at the same time; be visible, fight in Parliament; be in the press; be on the<\/p>\n<p>ground in each region; be internationally connected; publish; communicate with<\/p>\n<p>the Diaspora; be the hope that Guyana needs; but to do all of this we need more<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese to come forward to say &#8220;how can I help you, the AFC, to do what<\/p>\n<p>is needed for all of Guyana&#8221;. Many people are helping, but the challenge<\/p>\n<p>before us is monumental and deep down, we all know that. After all, the leaders<\/p>\n<p>and executive are people like you and me &#8211; who have to live like we do; earn a<\/p>\n<p>living like we do, provide for families like we do; get sick like we do; worry<\/p>\n<p>like we do. In leading the AFC they have to also deal with the balance of<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;self&#8217; and &#8216;service&#8217;. For them to continue and succeed,<\/p>\n<p>they need help. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC needs everyone who wants something<\/p>\n<p>done to be prepared to make small sacrifices: to give support in kind; to work<\/p>\n<p>silently or publicly; bring ideas forward and to give financially. There is no<\/p>\n<p>easy way out, and no silver bullet. It will be either, our collective blood,<\/p>\n<p>sweat and tears, OR IT WILL NOT BE. That is the truth my fellow Guyanese. Only<\/p>\n<p>our actions will finally set us free and give birth to a proud and deserving<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese nation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So we have a successful conference behind us.<\/p>\n<p>The leaders and executive are energized and have identified a lot of<\/p>\n<p>initiatives including future elections. Where to from here? The AFC leaders and<\/p>\n<p>the current executive are committed. They are taking serious risks with family<\/p>\n<p>and personal safety and are doing this because it must be done, not for<\/p>\n<p>personal gain. Mistakes made were made and acknowledged; but the AFC will get<\/p>\n<p>better, stronger and wiser as the days and years unfold; for we must. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Let us help the leaders, the executive and<\/p>\n<p>Guyana; let us show that we are willing and able to do our part while they are<\/p>\n<p>on the front line. It is time to act: call; email; speak out; give your skills,<\/p>\n<p>ideas and time; give strength and give financially. The AFC will be as strong<\/p>\n<p>as we make it. It is finally up to each and every one of us. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We have it within us as Guyanese; for our<\/p>\n<p>homeland: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>to care more than others think is wise; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>to risk more than others think is safe; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>to dream more than others think is practical;<\/p>\n<p>and <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>to expect more than others think is possible.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>God Bless the dawning of a new era for<\/p>\n<p>Guyana!!! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-8-26: AFC Column<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;He is a creature of a party apparatus whose main aim is to hold on to<\/p>\n<p>power so that a selected few can plunder Guyana for their own economic<\/p>\n<p>gain.&#8221; by Sheila Holder ( Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There are some contributors to the letter<\/p>\n<p>columns in the two independent daily newspapers that are of note. Dennis<\/p>\n<p>Wiggins is one such. His recent piece about the press paying insufficient<\/p>\n<p>attention to critically analyzing President Jagdeo&#8217;s performance caught<\/p>\n<p>my attention as it did Freddie Kissoon who beat me to the punch by proffering<\/p>\n<p>his opinion, in his usual inimitable style, last Thursday in his Kaieteur News<\/p>\n<p>column. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Freddie has distanced himself from Wiggins&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>accusation stating that on countless occasions he has done a balance sheet on<\/p>\n<p>President Jagdeo whom he describes as a micro manager; but Wiggins is right to<\/p>\n<p>try and focus our attention on the important role President Jagdeo plays in the<\/p>\n<p>shaping of Guyana, and consequently the need for his actions to be critically<\/p>\n<p>analyzed. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Perhaps, one of the reasons for the lack of<\/p>\n<p>direct attacks on President Jagdeo&#8217;s performance by the media could<\/p>\n<p>possibly reside in the fact that he is only the face of a very centralized<\/p>\n<p>political party where major decisions are really part of a group think process<\/p>\n<p>therefore analyzing his performance in office will result in false analyses.<\/p>\n<p>However, some in the society believe that President Jagdeo has become a<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;run away&#8217; president indifferent to the views of the party. Which<\/p>\n<p>one is it really? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We would like to hope that President Jagdeo<\/p>\n<p>is his own man inspired by the need to attend to the welfare of the people and<\/p>\n<p>the development of a truly vibrant Guyanese nation state; but his actions<\/p>\n<p>reflect otherwise -that he&#8217;s not prepared to allow the development of a<\/p>\n<p>deliberative National Assembly nor allow to develop independent national<\/p>\n<p>institutions and members of parliament. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He is a creature of a party apparatus whose<\/p>\n<p>main aim is to hold on to power so that a selected few can plunder Guyana for<\/p>\n<p>their own economic gain. There is a vociferous view in the society that holds<\/p>\n<p>firmly to the belief that this is cynically portrayed as national development<\/p>\n<p>when in fact it is an enduring &#8220;tyranny of the majority&#8221; in<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese politics. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Without doubt there needs to be critical<\/p>\n<p>analysis of the Jagdeo presidency. However, that should not detract form the<\/p>\n<p>need to critically analyze the PPP administration as a whole as it is the<\/p>\n<p>policies which this administration is implementing that are retarding<\/p>\n<p>Guyana&#8217;s development. There have been no resignations of Ministers of<\/p>\n<p>Government or any of the many political appointees in any of the Jagdeo<\/p>\n<p>administrations so Jagdeo should be seen as the voice of the administration.<\/p>\n<p>When he goes, another body would be put forward to act as spokesperson for the<\/p>\n<p>PPP\/Civic in its project of plundering Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>How should the AFC respond to this in order<\/p>\n<p>to effectively capture the interest of the people in an environment where Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>are tired, nay disgusted, with politics and with politicians who have so often<\/p>\n<p>fallen short of their expectations generation after generation? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In a rare and truthful response to<\/p>\n<p>Freddie&#8217;s soul searching piece published on the 22<sup>nd <\/sup>death<\/p>\n<p>anniversary of her father, Ulele Burnham (Stabroek News August 20) offered a<\/p>\n<p>genesis of an answer thus about the Burnham period that surely has relevance<\/p>\n<p>for Jagdeo and the PPP today: &#8220;<b><i>By way of example, I remember a time<\/p>\n<p>when students at St. Roses High School took to the streets in revolt against<\/p>\n<p>the transfer of Sister Hazel Campayne to Eteringbang. For what seemed like the<\/p>\n<p>first time, I began to feel a real sense of confusion rather than rage. The man<\/p>\n<p>who presided over Sister Hazel&#8217;s transfer was the man who, with my mother, had<\/p>\n<p>taught me about integrity, about the value of national self-determination, the<\/p>\n<p>abject immorality of colonialism, the havoc it wreaked on the psyche of the<\/p>\n<p>colonised and the disenfranchisement of the colonial subject denied a voice.<\/p>\n<p>Yet he appeared impervious to the voices of those who spoke, angrily, against<\/p>\n<p>him. I was, at first, angry at those who protested for failing to understand<\/p>\n<p>what he had so carefully sought to explain to me about the Western powers&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>commitment to destabilising left-wing regimes in the South. But later I could<\/p>\n<p>no longer feel secure that he was right, that what he did or oversaw was right.<\/p>\n<p>The voices of dissent were too loud and too close. My idol did have feet of<\/p>\n<p>clay.&#8221; <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC is convinced that it is only a matter<\/p>\n<p>of time when PPP supporters will come to realize that President Jagdeo and<\/p>\n<p>others within the PPP have feet of clay. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The task rests with the AFC to galvanize<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese to see beyond Jagdeo and to understand the need to make the PPP and<\/p>\n<p>PNC style of political behavior a thing of history in terms of a viable model<\/p>\n<p>for winning elections in Guyana. When the people reclaim Guyana from the<\/p>\n<p>hegemony of the PPP, then the pent up energies of the Guyanese can be unleashed<\/p>\n<p>to propel sustainable development in Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>If Guyanese do not agitate for change<\/p>\n<p>collectively, then the mismanagement of the country would continue. A few would<\/p>\n<p>flourish, but the majority of the Guyanese still living in Guyana would<\/p>\n<p>continue to seek to leave in search of a better lifestyle. President Jagdeo by<\/p>\n<p>himself is not retarding Guyana. He has the whole PPP party structure behind<\/p>\n<p>him. Thus we have to continue to protest both the messenger (Jagdeo) and the<\/p>\n<p>machinery (PPP) which is generating his message. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-9-2: <i>AFC Column-<\/i>WHITHER<\/p>\n<p>POLITICAL COOPERATION? By Raphael Trotman (Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On September, 2006, His Excellency the<\/p>\n<p>President addressed the opening session of the ninth Parliament of Guyana and<\/p>\n<p>made what many considered a brilliant speech to the newly elected members. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Many promises were contained in the speech<\/p>\n<p>and the AFC took the position during the debate on a Motion on its adoption<\/p>\n<p>that time will be the judge of whether the President&#8217;s vision and promises were<\/p>\n<p>worthy of being endorsed then or should be analysed over a given period of time.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What remained to be seen is whether that<\/p>\n<p>brilliant sophistry would be matched in substance. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The aspect of the President&#8217;s speech that<\/p>\n<p>those of us in the AFC held on to was a contained section on Governance and in<\/p>\n<p>which was introduced the concept of &#8220;enhanced framework for<\/p>\n<p>cooperation.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I have already signaled my intention to join<\/p>\n<p>forces with the political opposition and find innovative ways to work together<\/p>\n<p>to solve our problems. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This will be pursued within an enhanced<\/p>\n<p>framework for political cooperation encompassing the principles of increased<\/p>\n<p>meaningful contacts, the identification and implementation of an agreed agenda<\/p>\n<p>of national issues and greater scope for the participation of civil society in<\/p>\n<p>the decision-making process.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>September, 2007, is a good time within which<\/p>\n<p>to do a comparative analysis of what was said as against what was achieved. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In November, 2006, at the invitation of His<\/p>\n<p>Excellency, the President, the combined Opposition gathered at the Office of<\/p>\n<p>the President to consider and discuss ways in which there can be functional<\/p>\n<p>cooperation between the elected representatives of Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>That was the last time that there was ever<\/p>\n<p>such a meeting as the process was abandoned as quickly as it was convened. Once<\/p>\n<p>again, the words of the President were honoured in the breach. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Each of the parties proposed agenda items. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Recall legislation, and a resolution of the<\/p>\n<p>Chief Justice\/Chancellor dilemma were high up on the list for the PPP\/C and the<\/p>\n<p>PNCR. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Other issues such as preparations for World Cup<\/p>\n<p>Cricket, Local Government reform, raising the profile of political<\/p>\n<p>representatives, and the sending of joint delegations abroad to attract<\/p>\n<p>investment made up the list of agreed items to be included in an agenda for<\/p>\n<p>discussion. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC proposed that the Benschop<\/p>\n<p>incarceration be added to the list for resolution. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To date, three of the matters on the list<\/p>\n<p>have been addressed. Recall legislation, the High Court (Amendment) Bill, and<\/p>\n<p>Benschop. Much more however remains to be done. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC gets the distinct impression that<\/p>\n<p>there is a deliberate and calculated move afoot at the Office of the President<\/p>\n<p>to jettison the process by entering into deals and arrangements with Congress<\/p>\n<p>Place thereby shutting out the other parliamentary parties AFC and GAP-ROAR from<\/p>\n<p>the discussions. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Rumour has it that the issue of an amendment<\/p>\n<p>to the Constitution to allow President Jagdeo to run for a third term is now a<\/p>\n<p>matter of discussion between the government and PNCR. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>If that be the case then the AFC would prefer<\/p>\n<p>to be left out of the discussions indeed. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The President needs to be commended for<\/p>\n<p>achieving the settlement of some of those issues we agreed for the agenda,<\/p>\n<p>especially, the Benschop issue which we welcome, but as stated before, felt<\/p>\n<p>that the approach was all wrong. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I would be remiss if I did not point out that<\/p>\n<p>his failure to adhere to his commitment of establishing an enhanced framework<\/p>\n<p>for enhanced cooperation will spell trouble in the near future. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Already, the two primary concerns of the<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese people &#8211;the Value Added Tax and brazen acts of criminality are<\/p>\n<p>proving too much for the government alone to answer. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The enhanced framework (inclusive of civil<\/p>\n<p>society) would have been an ideal forum to discuss and craft a collective<\/p>\n<p>response to these issues. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>One has to agree that the Minister of Home<\/p>\n<p>Affairs seems to be trying his best to get on top of the crime situation but<\/p>\n<p>his efforts and those of the police top brass are proving futile as we are<\/p>\n<p>unable to get further than matching weapons to crimes through ballistic testing.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Given the emergence of the &#8220;new&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>criminals emboldened by technology, television, and terror tactics there has to<\/p>\n<p>be a re-think of the entire national security doctrine and architecture. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This can only be achieved by a collective<\/p>\n<p>approach of those of us charged with the responsibility of being<\/p>\n<p>decision-makers. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In so far as VAT is concerned it is beyond<\/p>\n<p>obvious that it has failed to achieve the revenue neutrality that was expected<\/p>\n<p>and that more revenue is coming into the public coffers than was anticipated. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This may be good news for a cash-strapped<\/p>\n<p>government, but extremely bad news for the poor citizens. A united decision to<\/p>\n<p>adjust the VAT rate, or Income Tax rate, at this time would be in everyone&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>best interest. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>No IMF or World Bank official would be able<\/p>\n<p>to challenge the authority of the nation&#8217;s stakeholders to make the adjustment.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>When one considers that over 80% of Guyana&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>best talent now resides and works in a developed country it means that the less<\/p>\n<p>than 20% of us left to manage the affairs of state cannot do so unless we work<\/p>\n<p>together, and reach into the Diaspora for support. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Necessity demands that there be an<\/p>\n<p>enhanced framework for political cooperation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-9-16: AFC Column-Meet<\/p>\n<p>David Patterson &#8211; Member of Parliament and National Executive Committee<\/p>\n<p>member of the AFC (Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>At the recently concluded first AFC National<\/p>\n<p>Party Conference, a National Executive Committee was elected by delegates to<\/p>\n<p>represent the party&#8217;s members for the next two years. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Most of the newly elected committee members<\/p>\n<p>are new to politics and collectively bring with them fresh impetus to help the<\/p>\n<p>party expand on the phenomenal success achieved one year ago when they stood up<\/p>\n<p>to the two major political parties who have dominated Guyanese politics for the<\/p>\n<p>last half of a century. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Equally refreshing is the diversity of the<\/p>\n<p>individuals who, from a variety of geographical, educational, ethnic and<\/p>\n<p>religious backgrounds have all come together to make a change. In a political<\/p>\n<p>climate that insists that all party members &quot;tow the line&quot;, it is<\/p>\n<p>surely a welcome change that a party embraces freedom of speech and respects<\/p>\n<p>members&#8217; rights to express differing views. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This variety is a valuable resource for the<\/p>\n<p>new National Executive Committee in its attempt to focus on the varying needs<\/p>\n<p>of a diverse population. The individual profiles of the members are an attempt<\/p>\n<p>to illustrate the broad spectrum of personalities that make up the new National<\/p>\n<p>Executive. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Meet David Patterson &#8211; Member of<\/p>\n<p>Parliament and National Executive Committee member of the AFC <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Who are you? (Describe yourself, your<\/p>\n<p>background; influences in your life) <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I was born in Georgetown, where I grew up in<\/p>\n<p>Lodge. I attended St Gabriel&#8217;s Primary, then St Stanislaus&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>College, where I became Head Boy during my years in Sixth Form. I went on to<\/p>\n<p>the University of Greenwich, London where I did my degree in Quantity<\/p>\n<p>Surveying. I am a Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and of<\/p>\n<p>the Chartered Institute of Builders. I have worked in ten countries since graduating<\/p>\n<p>from university, and now run my own consultancy. I married Coleen in 1996, and<\/p>\n<p>we have two children. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Professionally, I was influenced by my<\/p>\n<p>father, who was himself a Chartered Surveyor but I would say that the person I<\/p>\n<p>am today is grounded in the experience of University in England. To begin with,<\/p>\n<p>I was living abroad, away from family; but until then, I had never taken notice<\/p>\n<p>of class structure and social divisions. Society in England drives that home.<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese don&#8217;t realise how fortunate they are: we think we have problems;<\/p>\n<p>but step out of Guyana and you see the problems that exist in other countries.<\/p>\n<p>After growing up here, interacting with other people with no emphasis on class,<\/p>\n<p>England was a real shock: an eye-opener for me. That experience was a great<\/p>\n<p>influence on the beliefs I now hold. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In total, I stayed out of Guyana for seven<\/p>\n<p>years, for study and work, and returned to Guyana in 1992. I have always<\/p>\n<p>considered myself to be nomadic, but I always intended to come back home. I<\/p>\n<p>spent the &#8216;Burnham years&#8217; under my parents&#8217; care, and though<\/p>\n<p>my return coincided with the &#8216;new democracy&#8217; and my working years<\/p>\n<p>were in a Guyana ruled by the PPP, I don&#8217;t see myself as having been<\/p>\n<p>affected by politics in Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Why did you become involved in politics,<\/p>\n<p>and specifically, the AFC? <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I became politically inclined because I<\/p>\n<p>disliked the direction in which the country was going. I spent two years in<\/p>\n<p>Barbados during 2003-2005 &#8211; another eye-opener for me, to see how Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>live and are thought of in the islands; to go to these countries to be looked<\/p>\n<p>upon as less than equal to other Caribbean persons, when these countries had<\/p>\n<p>depended heavily on Guyana years ago! When I returned to Guyana I made a<\/p>\n<p>conscious effort to do whatever I could to get this country back to a position<\/p>\n<p>of respect among Caribbean nations first, then among the rest of the world. In<\/p>\n<p>the 1960s and &#8216;70s, we were among the top five countries in the West<\/p>\n<p>Indies, developmentally. I would like to see us get back to that level. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I joined the AFC purely because they are not<\/p>\n<p>grounded in old traditional Guyanese politics, and represented a new thinking.<\/p>\n<p>The &#8216;Maximum Leader syndrome&#8217; which exists in the two traditionally<\/p>\n<p>dominant political parties is something I totally disagree with. Yes, there is<\/p>\n<p>a chain of command, but within an organisation, everyone should be able to air<\/p>\n<p>and share views and be accorded equal respect. I see the AFC as the only<\/p>\n<p>meaningful hope, the party that can actually implement the policies that need<\/p>\n<p>to be implemented; and these policies will be implemented based on merit, where<\/p>\n<p>other parties execute policies which benefit their support base rather than the<\/p>\n<p>country as a whole. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What do you think is the AFC&#8217;s key<\/p>\n<p>to the future of this country, and what do you see as your role? What do you<\/p>\n<p>hope to achieve? <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I have long held the belief that as a country<\/p>\n<p>we continue to practice racial politics. People generally tend to vote<\/p>\n<p>primarily for economics but also security. For example, in Trinidad I have seen<\/p>\n<p>that people who are comfortably off are more inclined to vote to maintain the<\/p>\n<p>security of their lifestyles and those of their children; they vote to maintain<\/p>\n<p>economic stability and growth. In Guyana voting patterns are racially skewed. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I hope to achieve an all-inclusive government<\/p>\n<p>in the end, with a Parliament where any policy is proposed and carried forward<\/p>\n<p>on its merit; as opposed to the current situation where the policies of the<\/p>\n<p>majority party are the policies of the country, irrespective of opposing views<\/p>\n<p>or merit. My goal is to have a Parliament that reflects the people of Guyana,<\/p>\n<p>and responds to the wishes of the people. My strengths are organisational and<\/p>\n<p>that is what I bring to the AFC. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As a Parliamentarian, you are involved in<\/p>\n<p>the shaping of Guyana&#8217;s laws and policies. What are your own focal<\/p>\n<p>issues\/priorities? <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Particularly, I would like to see changes in<\/p>\n<p>the rule of law, so that every man and woman gets the impression that his or<\/p>\n<p>her voice is heard. I would like to see confidence in a system of redress in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana &#8211; where you don&#8217;t have to be a party supporter to get<\/p>\n<p>justice. If the AFC can achieve that, I think that as a whole, people will be<\/p>\n<p>happier to be Guyanese and to live in Guyana. Also, I am particularly<\/p>\n<p>interested in the equitable distribution and allocation of our natural<\/p>\n<p>resources. What about value for taxpayers money????? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What change do you want for Guyana? <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I would like Guyana to move off the bottom<\/p>\n<p>rung of the developmental ladder. We have every asset except human resources since<\/p>\n<p>we are vastly under-populated &#8211; but we should develop policies that<\/p>\n<p>encourage investment to the benefit of the Guyanese nation. I acknowledge that<\/p>\n<p>much of our under-population is a result of migration. If Guyana has a period<\/p>\n<p>of at least three to four years of positive growth I am sure we will see a<\/p>\n<p>reversal of this flight. Guyanese living in the Caribbean will return. This was<\/p>\n<p>proven in the period 1988 through 1994, when a lot of persons re-migrated<\/p>\n<p>because they could see opportunity. I think migration of skilled Guyanese would<\/p>\n<p>be stemmed &#8211; people would think hard before leaving to go to other<\/p>\n<p>Caribbean countries &#8211; if they knew that working in Guyana would pay them<\/p>\n<p>and allow them opportunities to do the things they want to: buy a home and<\/p>\n<p>support their children; have a disposable income. The option of leaving would<\/p>\n<p>become less attractive. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We need policies which give people incentives<\/p>\n<p>to remain, such as tax concessions and rebated mortgages for teachers. We do<\/p>\n<p>need to attract people to our country: Guyanese to return; foreigners to invest<\/p>\n<p>and visit. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-9-23: AFC Column-OF<\/p>\n<p>PRESIDENTS AND PARDONS By Khemraj Ramjattan (Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I have had<\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;> two experiences of requesting Presidents to grant<\/p>\n<p>pardons. My first request was to Dr. Jagan in 1993. A number of persons were<\/p>\n<p>charged with treason. They, the allegation was, wanted to overthrow the Desmond<\/p>\n<p>Hoyte administration and were conducting exercises since 1989 in the jungles of<\/p>\n<p>Suriname, training men and obtaining material to execute this enterprise. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Memory fades with time, but I can still<\/p>\n<p>remember the names of some of those charged &#8211; Balram, Chicken Rohan,<\/p>\n<p>Persaud, and Sanasie &#8211; in his absence, he having escaped custody. These men<\/p>\n<p>denied the allegations most vehemently, stoutly contending that the charges<\/p>\n<p>were fabrications. Their Preliminary Inquiries were going no where as even<\/p>\n<p>police witnesses were not interested in testifying. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Their relatives were pleading that since I<\/p>\n<p>was the lawyer closest to President Jagan, I should urge him to use his powers<\/p>\n<p>under the Constitution to free these treason accused. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A note was conveyed to the President and<\/p>\n<p>thereafter I was summoned to an informal meeting with him at Freedom House. He<\/p>\n<p>wanted to know how he could pardon without convictions. I pointed out article<\/p>\n<p>188 which applied not only to convicted persons but those &#8220;concerned<\/p>\n<p>in&#8221; any offence. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I tried persuading him from all angles<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; hardships whilst awaiting preliminary inquiries for almost two years,<\/p>\n<p>trumped up charges, the mischief of the PNC and its police, the families were<\/p>\n<p>all PPP supporters, among others. He remained unmoved. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He wanted my opinion on how the PNC will<\/p>\n<p>react if he freed the men. I indicated of course that the PNC will make a big<\/p>\n<p>hue and cry. He then wanted to know what were some of the other options<\/p>\n<p>available. I informed him of the Magistrate discharging the men, an unlikely<\/p>\n<p>happening; or the DPP proffering a nolle prosequi, a more likely event. He<\/p>\n<p>pondered. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I pressed on with statistics from the USA<\/p>\n<p>about how over 2000 pardons were granted by Presidents Kennedy, Johnson and<\/p>\n<p>Nixon in their terms. He wanted to know how many preceded convictions. Indeed<\/p>\n<p>this number was miniscule &#8211; only three out of the 2000 plus pardons. I<\/p>\n<p>told him of the precedent of President Nixon himself being pardoned by President<\/p>\n<p>Ford before even being charged. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He remained unmoved. &#8220;Comrade Prak, I<\/p>\n<p>don&#8217;t want to be seen to be interfering with the court system and showing<\/p>\n<p>favouritism to any body. Plus the PNC going to make a lot of unnecessary noise.<\/p>\n<p>You have to try the other options.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I was so disappointed. When I communicated<\/p>\n<p>this to the relatives and the accused they were not impressed; and a whole lot<\/p>\n<p>of expletives were the result. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>However, I did urge successfully the other<\/p>\n<p>option after the prosecution was not getting witnesses to testify. After<\/p>\n<p>several callings, thereafter, Mr. Ian Chang, the DPP, nolle prosequied the<\/p>\n<p>matters. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Then Sanasie turned up from hiding in<\/p>\n<p>Venezuela. The DPP dropped the treason charge against him and proferred an<\/p>\n<p>escape from custody charge to which he pleaded guilty and was fined by Chief<\/p>\n<p>Magistrate Mr. Juman Yassin. I am hoping that this ending be the identical fate<\/p>\n<p>of Mr. Phillip Bynoe, in view of the President insinuating that he will not<\/p>\n<p>grant Bynoe a pardon. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I regard my other experience as a famous<\/p>\n<p>achievement. One very close to me was sentenced to an eight-year term whilst on<\/p>\n<p>a PYO scholarship in Moscow, USSR. I had asked our then Foreign Affairs<\/p>\n<p>Minister, Mr. Rohee, to make representations to have him sent back to Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This young man had served about three years;<\/p>\n<p>and five years still pended. &#8220;Comrade, you want put me in trouble. You<\/p>\n<p>want me to interfere with Soviet jurisprudence&#8221;, was his response which I<\/p>\n<p>clearly remembered. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;But Clement is it not that is why you<\/p>\n<p>were elected and appointed as a Minister &#8211; to represent citizens of Guyana<\/p>\n<p>wheresoever they be?&#8221; He apparently did not understand his role. I must<\/p>\n<p>say that these days he has better equipped and asserted himself, and now<\/p>\n<p>understands his role. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What did I do? You have to believe this. I<\/p>\n<p>wrote a lengthy petition to the President of Russia, Mr. Boris Yeltsin,<\/p>\n<p>pleading the case of how my relative acted in self-defence, how he did not have<\/p>\n<p>a fair trial not having a good Defence Attorney, how three years of punishment<\/p>\n<p>was enough, how he was of good behavior since in prison, how his relatives<\/p>\n<p>missed him and prayed for his early return home, and ending it with a quotation<\/p>\n<p>of the Russian law which provided for Presidential pardons. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>My learned friend, Neville Bissember Jr. had<\/p>\n<p>assisted me in the latter. I managed to post the petition to the correct<\/p>\n<p>address through assistance I obtained from Mr. John Hutson, a Guyanese foreign<\/p>\n<p>officer who had worked in Moscow. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Shortly, thereafter, I got a call from Moscow<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; from an official who dealt with these matters. &#8220;Pardon granted,<\/p>\n<p>the only requirement was to send a plane ticket to Moscow from Guyana.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Boy was I delighted. Shortly after his arrival in Guyana, I took him straight<\/p>\n<p>to Minister Rohee. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>These experiences obviously forced me to<\/p>\n<p>research Presidential pardons. And the best known work I have read is K. D.<\/p>\n<p>Moore&#8217;s &#8220;Pardons &#8211; Justice, Mercy and the Public Interest&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>from which the following lessons were discerned. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The power of the President is unlimited, and unreviewable.<\/p>\n<p>But this does not mean that it should be left to a President&#8217;s whim. In the<\/p>\n<p>matter of pardons, the President must be accountable to the people. Pardons are<\/p>\n<p>potentially too dangerous, too destructive of trust and justice to be left to a<\/p>\n<p>whimsical President who cares not to account to the people. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Secondly, since a Presidential pardon stands<\/p>\n<p>ready to protect people from punishment they do not deserve &#8211; either because of<\/p>\n<p>extraordinary circumstances surrounding the case or because laws can never be<\/p>\n<p>specific enough to resolve all cases satisfactorily &#8211; it must mean that pardons<\/p>\n<p>must only come after courts have tried to achieve justice and have failed, i.e.<\/p>\n<p>after trial, conviction and sentence. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Thirdly, since a pardon is only to be granted<\/p>\n<p>or denied for good reason, any pardon and any refusal to pardon should be<\/p>\n<p>accompanied by a written account of the reasons for the decision. As it stands<\/p>\n<p>now, persons petitioning for Presidential pardons, and I daresay the public at<\/p>\n<p>large, do not know why their petitions are rejected or why they are approved. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And if a President is to honour the basic<\/p>\n<p>principle of justice, then he cannot grant pardons for reasons of being of the<\/p>\n<p>view that the beneficiary &#8220;has learnt his lessons&#8221;; or for reasons<\/p>\n<p>of political advantages to be gained by the President or his political party;<\/p>\n<p>or for reasons of a worked-out deal with some other person or political party. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Hence, there should be a public debate about<\/p>\n<p>what kinds of reasons are good reasons, and legislate such a list. This should<\/p>\n<p>occur before the nation is subjected to another controversial pardon. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-10-4: PNCR will support<\/p>\n<p>Freedom of Info bill (Stabroek News) <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The PNCR says it will support the Freedom of<\/p>\n<p>Information (FOI) bill tabled in Parliament by the Alliance For Change (AFC). <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In a press release yesterday, the PNCR also<\/p>\n<p>sparked controversy by saying that <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>the tabling of the FOI Bill by the AFC was<\/p>\n<p>work that it had started by assigning the task of drafting such a bill to then<\/p>\n<p>PNCR executive member Raphael Trotman, now leader of the AFC. Trotman yesterday<\/p>\n<p>denied the claim. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the release, the PNCR said that the<\/p>\n<p>October 1, 2007 editorial of the Stabroek News does not reflect the history and<\/p>\n<p>the facts surrounding the bill&#8217;s preparation. The party in giving its version<\/p>\n<p>of the background to the bill said that although it was tabled by the AFC, it<\/p>\n<p>would support it because it had its origins in the PNCR. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&quot;The PNCR wishes to make it clear that<\/p>\n<p>the leadership and the party continue to be in support of Freedom of<\/p>\n<p>Information legislation,&quot; the release said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The PNCR took issue with the Stabroek News<\/p>\n<p>editorial which said that &quot;neither of the two major parties seems to have<\/p>\n<p>the appetite for it (the FOI bill).&quot; The PNCR stated that the bill had its<\/p>\n<p>origins &quot;in a decision taken by the late Leader, Mr. Hugh Desmond Hoyte,<\/p>\n<p>and the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the PNCR to assign a team, led by<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Raphael Trotman, the responsibility for drafting such a bill. The intention<\/p>\n<p>of the party, based on the draft from Mr. Trotman and his team, was to place<\/p>\n<p>such a bill before the National Assembly.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The PNCR said that Trotman then changed his<\/p>\n<p>political affiliation, and in co-founding the AFC, tabled the bill in the name<\/p>\n<p>of his new party. It was tabled twice and is still awaiting consideration. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The release said that &quot;Stabroek News<\/p>\n<p>would appreciate, therefore, that even though the bill was tabled by the AFC<\/p>\n<p>the PNCR would support it. It is quite possible that the Stabroek News is<\/p>\n<p>unaware of these prior developments, or, perhaps its penchant for ascribing<\/p>\n<p>negative motives to the PNCR has led it into the error of asserting that the<\/p>\n<p>party is not supportive of this piece of legislation.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The PNCR said it was important to note that<\/p>\n<p>it has been demanding that the Parliamentary Management Committee, which<\/p>\n<p>includes an AFC representative, be allowed to exercise its responsibility for<\/p>\n<p>the business of the National Assembly, including the scheduling of its<\/p>\n<p>sittings. &quot;Unfortunately, this situation does not yet obtain and<\/p>\n<p>opposition bills, such as the (FOI Bill), remain casualties (of) the<\/p>\n<p>government&#8217;s manipulation of the sittings of the National Assembly.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Asked to comment on the PNCR&#8217;s release last<\/p>\n<p>evening, Trotman told Stabroek News that &quot;The PNCR has now agreed to<\/p>\n<p>publicly state its support for the bill after having been written to about it<\/p>\n<p>since 2006.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman tabled the bill in November 2006. It<\/p>\n<p>was first tabled during the eighth parliament by then expelled PPP member and<\/p>\n<p>PPP\/C MP Khemraj Ramjattan but it died a natural death on the dissolution of<\/p>\n<p>parliament in May 2006 to make way for the August 2006 general and regional<\/p>\n<p>elections. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Stabroek News on August 9, 2007 had reported<\/p>\n<p>Trotman as saying that when the bill was tabled in November last year it was<\/p>\n<p>put on hold because when it was scheduled to come up for debate the PPP\/C had<\/p>\n<p>indicated that their MPs were not going to support it. He had said that he had<\/p>\n<p>written letters to Leader of the Opposition and PNCR Leader Robert Corbin and<\/p>\n<p>PPP General Secretary Donald Ramotar &quot;several months ago seeking their<\/p>\n<p>support for the bill, however, he had not had a reply from either of<\/p>\n<p>them.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Yesterday, he told Stabroek News that he<\/p>\n<p>still had had no reply from Ramotar and yesterday&#8217;s statement from the PNCR was<\/p>\n<p>the first public response supporting the bill in the AFC name that he has<\/p>\n<p>heard. He said that he intends to bring the bill to the fore when parliament<\/p>\n<p>resumes on October 10. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Addressing the PNCR&#8217;s claims, Trotman said<\/p>\n<p>that based on the minutes of the Central Executive Committee meetings that he<\/p>\n<p>has since he was a member &quot;there is no reference of me ever being given<\/p>\n<p>such a high appointment. I challenge them to produce the record. I find it<\/p>\n<p>incredulous that this petty claim would be made right now.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He recalled that around 1998 there had been a<\/p>\n<p>discussion between then leader Desmond Hoyte and PNCR CEC member Deryck Bernard<\/p>\n<p>on FOI legislation but it was never pursued with him. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He said, &quot;I was never the head of any<\/p>\n<p>group charged with the responsibility of preparing such a bill and never<\/p>\n<p>therefore took with me any draft or a draft of any other bill which had been<\/p>\n<p>prepared. I also now openly request that the party publishes the minutes of the<\/p>\n<p>party&#8217;s Central Executive Committee meeting where it would show, when, or, if<\/p>\n<p>at all, this issue was discussed and decided on.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It was important to note, Trotman said, that<\/p>\n<p>the FOI bill, which was laid in parliament in the eighth and current parliament<\/p>\n<p>was done with the help of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative<\/p>\n<p>headquartered in India. He said, &quot;They made available their lawyers and<\/p>\n<p>they were the ones who worked with me and the AFC. To hear the PNCR claiming it<\/p>\n<p>is amazing.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative has<\/p>\n<p>written letters to President Bharrat Jagdeo, Prime Minister Sam Hinds and<\/p>\n<p>members of parliament seeking their support for the bill which Trotman said he<\/p>\n<p>has circulated. The letters also asked for a conscience vote. The bill was<\/p>\n<p>patterned on India&#8217;s Freedom of Information Act. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4<\/p>\n<p>height=8 id=&#8221;_x0000_i1054&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_28.jpg&#8221;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=center style='text-align:center'><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;>2007-10-7:AFC OBSERVES 2<\/span><\/u><\/b><b><s><sup><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;>ND<\/span><\/sup><\/s><\/b><b><u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;> ANNIVERSARY: &#8220;Keeping The Dream<\/p>\n<p>Alive&#8221; <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On the 29<sup>th<\/sup> October, 2007, the<\/p>\n<p>Alliance For Change will mark the occasion of its second anniversary as a<\/p>\n<p>political party. Everyone will recall the spirited and exciting launching of<\/p>\n<p>the AFC in October, 2005, as a movement to contest the 2006 elections. The<\/p>\n<p>results of those elections have confirmed that the suffering people of Guyana<\/p>\n<p>have begun to accept the change that the AFC has been privileged to spearhead.<\/p>\n<p>In two years, viewed objectively, the party has grown in leaps and bounds from<\/p>\n<p>being an idea to a full-fledged national organization with parliamentary and<\/p>\n<p>regional democratic council seats and overseas chapters. The membership of the<\/p>\n<p>party continues to increase steadily and new groups are being formed as more<\/p>\n<p>and more people are recognizing that the status quo, which sees the suffocating<\/p>\n<p>presence of other parties as being destructive and debilitating to the national<\/p>\n<p>good. The AFC takes the opportunity to thank those who have remained committed<\/p>\n<p>along the journey and invites all Guyanese to lend support to the cause of<\/p>\n<p>changing the political and economic landscape of Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The focus of the party will be to solidify<\/p>\n<p>the gains and to keep the dream of a better Guyana alive. The party has planned<\/p>\n<p>a series of activities beginning on the 7<sup>th<\/sup> October, 2007, with the<\/p>\n<p>sponsoring of the Continental Cycle Club&#8217;s race in honour of former AFC<\/p>\n<p>candidate and friend Marlis Archer and Maxie Perreira, to an inter-faith<\/p>\n<p>service and first quarterly meeting of the newly elected National Executive<\/p>\n<p>Committee on November 3, 2007. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Other events planned include the launch of<\/p>\n<p>the Marlis Archer Bursary Award which has been several months in planning and preparation<\/p>\n<p>to assist students with their educational needs; a contribution to the national<\/p>\n<p>blood drive; a community clean-up exercise; and a dominoes competition and BBQ.<\/p>\n<p>All AFC supporters and the general public are invited to participate and<\/p>\n<p>support these activities which will be further publicized in detail. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>AFC&#8217;s New National Executive<\/p>\n<p>Committee <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>At the AFC&#8217;s first National Party<\/p>\n<p>Conference, a National Executive Committee was elected by delegates to<\/p>\n<p>represent the party&#8217;s members for the next two years. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Most of the newly elected committee members<\/p>\n<p>are new to politics and collectively bring with them fresh impetus to help the<\/p>\n<p>party expand on the phenomenal success achieved one year ago when they stood up<\/p>\n<p>to the two major political parties who have dominated Guyanese politics for the<\/p>\n<p>last half of a century. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Equally refreshing is the diversity of the<\/p>\n<p>individuals who, from a variety of geographical, educational, ethnic and<\/p>\n<p>religious backgrounds have all come together to make a change. In a political<\/p>\n<p>climate that insists that all party members &quot;toe the line&quot;, it is<\/p>\n<p>surely a welcome change that a party embraces freedom of speech and respects<\/p>\n<p>members&#8217; rights to express differing views. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This variety is a valuable resource for the<\/p>\n<p>new National Executive Committee in its attempt to focus on the varying needs<\/p>\n<p>of a diverse population. The individual profiles of the members are an attempt<\/p>\n<p>to illustrate the broad spectrum of personalities that make up the new National<\/p>\n<p>Executive. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Meet Latchmin Budhan-Punalall &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>Member of Parliament and National Executive Committee member of the AFC <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Who are you? (Describe yourself, your<\/p>\n<p>background, influences in your life.) <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I was born at Bara Bara, Mahaicony River, a<\/p>\n<p>mainly farming community where my parents operated a sawmill and farmed cash<\/p>\n<p>crops. I attended the Karamat Government Primary School, then I went to live in<\/p>\n<p>Annandale with my eldest sister and her husband&#8211; who were both teachers<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; and attended the Annandale Secondary School. After leaving school I was<\/p>\n<p>married, and widowed after ten years. I realised that I had to take control of<\/p>\n<p>my life and to improve myself in order to survive. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I completed a certificate, then a diploma, in<\/p>\n<p>cosmetology in 1991; and then did a course in Practical Salon Management. After<\/p>\n<p>teaching and managing a salon in Georgetown, in 1998 I opened my own small<\/p>\n<p>salon. I joined the Small Business Association, where I was nominated for a<\/p>\n<p>scholarship to the National Institute of Small Industry Extension Training in<\/p>\n<p>Hyderabad, India to study &#8216;Empowerment of Women through<\/p>\n<p>Enterprises&#8217; and information technology courses. During the year I spent<\/p>\n<p>in India (1999-2000), I did some extra cosmetology and body care-related<\/p>\n<p>courses, which I paid for myself. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>After returning, I went back to Mahaicony,<\/p>\n<p>settled at Dundee and started my own business there, as a cosmetologist and a<\/p>\n<p>seamstress as well. I did some teaching, focussing on skills to empower women<\/p>\n<p>to earn money for themselves, like sewing. It is very satisfying to see a woman<\/p>\n<p>who was afraid to touch the sewing machine grow to a position where she can<\/p>\n<p>earn money through that sewing machine. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The things I have experienced in my life have<\/p>\n<p>made me stronger, made me realise that I have to be positive, and to stand up<\/p>\n<p>for myself and for other women as well. Also, the changes I have gone through,<\/p>\n<p>being a &#8216;country girl&#8217; who has moved to city and lived abroad,<\/p>\n<p>developing myself all the time, have strengthened me. I could go back to where<\/p>\n<p>I came from, without pride and arrogance &#8211; and knowing that if I make a<\/p>\n<p>mistake, God could take it away from me. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I converted to Christianity in 1994, and<\/p>\n<p>remarried in 2002. I would say that my faith and my husband, and the people who<\/p>\n<p>were around me at this time were great influences. I have done some study in<\/p>\n<p>the field of Religious Education, and I am now an informal Counsellor within<\/p>\n<p>the Sovereign Grace Baptist Fellowship where my husband is Senior Pastor. I am<\/p>\n<p>currently working toward a Bachelors Degree in Professional Counselling,<\/p>\n<p>through distance learning. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Why did you become involved in politics,<\/p>\n<p>and specifically, the AFC? <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I have a strong love for my country, which<\/p>\n<p>became even stronger when I was in India. While I was away I developed a hunger<\/p>\n<p>and a thirst to come back home; and when on my return trip home I looked out of<\/p>\n<p>the airplane window and saw this velvet green of Guyana, it was a big moment of<\/p>\n<p>awareness for me. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In 2002 I went to Mahdia &#8211; in what is<\/p>\n<p>probably the geographical heart of Guyana &#8211; just to spend some time<\/p>\n<p>there. But it was during this time that I developed a political awareness, and<\/p>\n<p>the desire to take an active role &#8211; to <i>do something. I love my country<\/p>\n<p>and I am honoured to serve it. <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The two major political parties have<\/p>\n<p>monopolised politics, but as a patriotic Guyanese I place my support behind the<\/p>\n<p>AFC, which has projected itself as a political party which is serious about<\/p>\n<p>change in Guyana, and has demonstrated this locally and internationally. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What do you think is the AFC&#8217;s key<\/p>\n<p>to the future of this country, and what do you see as your role? What do you<\/p>\n<p>hope to achieve? <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The motto of our country is &#8220;One<\/p>\n<p>people, one nation, one destiny&#8221; but division has marred our beautiful<\/p>\n<p>land. By maintaining a racial divide both major political parties have stayed<\/p>\n<p>in power for extended durations. The single greatest need of our country is to<\/p>\n<p>bring the people together, and if I can personally contribute to the<\/p>\n<p>realization of this goal I believe I will worth my Guyanese nationality. I<\/p>\n<p>think that the AFC are the key for change in our multicultural society. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I see my own part in this as serving people<\/p>\n<p>and showing how to practice and find inner peace; and in this, helping to<\/p>\n<p>remove conflict. My role is personal &#8211; that of interrelating with people,<\/p>\n<p>and this is why I am doing my Bachelor&#8217;s in Counselling. It teaches how<\/p>\n<p>to relate to people, how to listen and how to communicate in a non-violent way.<\/p>\n<p>I listen to the way people around me interact, and it seems that people no<\/p>\n<p>longer speak to each other or treat each other with respect . The way people<\/p>\n<p>speak to each other &#8211; even politicians and public figures in Guyana<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; leads to conflict rather than peace. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>You are a new Parliamentarian, and a<\/p>\n<p>relative unknown in Guyanese politics. What do you bring to the table? <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I want to raise people out of poverty. I know<\/p>\n<p>what it is to be poor, I know what it is to live a normal, contented, life and<\/p>\n<p>I want everybody to be able to live at this level &#8211; to have the things<\/p>\n<p>that they need to live at peace and harmony, with love for each other. I will<\/p>\n<p>agitate for the enactment of policies or laws aimed at improving living<\/p>\n<p>standards across Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What change do you want for Guyana? <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I would certainly like to see poverty reduced<\/p>\n<p>and a decent standard of living reintroduced. I believe that Guyana is too rich<\/p>\n<p>a country to have so much poverty, and serious efforts will have to be made to<\/p>\n<p>have the people benefit from the resources in our country. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I would also like to see the restoration of<\/p>\n<p>the rule of law. In dealing with the crime and violence in our society, we need<\/p>\n<p>to address the causes and not the symptoms; and learn to respect life from the<\/p>\n<p>womb to the tomb and turn away from senseless crime. There is no justice in the<\/p>\n<p>shedding of innocent blood. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Our country&#8217;s background is one of<\/p>\n<p>conflict &#8211; even our Independence was achieved in an atmosphere of<\/p>\n<p>conflict which again arose in the disturbances of the 1960s. Even today there<\/p>\n<p>is ethnic division and conflict arising from this. The change we need is to<\/p>\n<p>think of ourselves as Guyanese first. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Marlis &amp; Maxi &#8211; no longer<\/p>\n<p>with us <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Marlis Archer and Maximillian<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Maxi&#8217; Pereira died a year ago, on 1<sup>st<\/sup> October 2006,<\/p>\n<p>after being shot outside their home by a gunman who simply rode away on a<\/p>\n<p>motorcycle driven by an accomplice. The crime is still unsolved. They were 43<\/p>\n<p>and 63, respectively. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Both members of the Alliance for Change<\/p>\n<p>(AFC), Marlis was a Candidate for Region 4 on the party&#8217;s electoral<\/p>\n<p>platform. AFC National Executive Member and Parliamentarian David Patterson<\/p>\n<p>reminisces: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;I remember them as a very fun-loving, energetic<\/p>\n<p>couple. I met them about 10 to 12 years ago. Maxi <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>took voluntary retirement from the London<\/p>\n<p>Borough of Tower Hamlets to return to Guyana. He celebrated his 50<sup>th<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>birthday here. He was an architect, and I actually shared office space in the<\/p>\n<p>building where they worked and lived, and then died. Myself, Maxi and Marlis<\/p>\n<p>worked together on many community projects among people in the area; and on a<\/p>\n<p>personal level we were very good friends and socialised together. They formed<\/p>\n<p>the Continental Cycle club to engage the youth they came into contact with and<\/p>\n<p>to get them involved in an activity &#8211; Maxi remained the driving force<\/p>\n<p>behind it. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;They were always very concerned about<\/p>\n<p>the state of Guyana, and were among the very first persons involved in the AFC.<\/p>\n<p>Maxi even proposed a logo for the party in 2005. Marlis was even more involved<\/p>\n<p>as she wanted to actively participate; her focus was on youth. She was a<\/p>\n<p>candidate for Region 4, but as a recruiter, she actually brought about 50<\/p>\n<p>members into the party, canvassing door-to-door in the Kitty-Campbellville<\/p>\n<p>neighbourhoods. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;They were good people. Maxi was always<\/p>\n<p>jovial, and a reservoir of jokes; and Marlis was a diligent, supportive person<\/p>\n<p>who did everything wholeheartedly &#8211; whether it was the office or cycling<\/p>\n<p>or the AFC.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The cycling community, architecture, the AFC<\/p>\n<p>and Guyana lost two great citizens on that tragic day. Such a dastardly act can<\/p>\n<p>never eradicate the beneficence and contribution that Maxi and Marlis gave us<\/p>\n<p>in life, but can only inspire us to emulate them in memory. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-10-14:<i>AFC Column &#8211;<\/i>Failure<\/p>\n<p>to plan, prepare in a disciplined and visionary way will produce chaos and<\/p>\n<p>failure <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>An Address By Raphael Trotman to Senior<\/p>\n<p>Officers of the Guyana Defence Force on September, 12, 2007 <\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On behalf of the executive and members of the<\/p>\n<p>Alliance For Change, I am pleased, and particularly honoured, to respond to an<\/p>\n<p>invitation to be able to share some insights as to how we in the AFC view and<\/p>\n<p>interpret the role of the Guyana Defence Force. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The military thinker Carl Von Clausewitz once<\/p>\n<p>posited that war is a continuation of politics by another means. If taken to a<\/p>\n<p>logical conclusion it means that the business of the GDF should simply be<\/p>\n<p>preparing for war whether from internal or external threats. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I believe however that a modern day military<\/p>\n<p>force such as the GDF must be much more than an army that wages war, or extends<\/p>\n<p>itself simply as the continuation of a political cause; but rather, is one that<\/p>\n<p>must be able to represent itself, its principles, ideals and above all else,<\/p>\n<p>the people in all spheres of activity and endeavour that they are engaged in. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In this mode, it must as of necessity, be<\/p>\n<p>able to take itself through cycles of change and transformation, which ensure<\/p>\n<p>that it is contemporary with societal developments; not when they arise, but<\/p>\n<p>before they arise. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The legal and constitutional role of the GDF<\/p>\n<p>is defined in the Defence Act, Chapter 15:01, section 5, which states: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;The force shall be charged with the <b>defence<\/p>\n<p>of and maintenance of order in Guyana <\/b>and with such other duties as may<\/p>\n<p>from time to time be defined by the Defence Board.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>By definition therefore, there is an<\/p>\n<p>expectation that you are required not only to protect the nation&#8217;s sanctity and<\/p>\n<p>resources from violation by external threats, but more importantly, the<\/p>\n<p>Constitution, laws, and people of Guyana. You are and should always consider<\/p>\n<p>yourselves to be the people&#8217;s army and not someone&#8217;s private militia. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Thankfully, military doctrine has transposed<\/p>\n<p>itself into more modern thinking and as a result, modern militaries are now<\/p>\n<p>expected to assume much more diverse roles and responsibilities such as in<\/p>\n<p>Search and Rescue (SAR), and humanitarian operations during times of natural or<\/p>\n<p>other disasters. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In this regard, the GDF has conducted itself<\/p>\n<p>competently in these areas in the recent past. However, the principal role must<\/p>\n<p>ever be to be ready and to act at a moment&#8217;s notice to defend and maintain the<\/p>\n<p>order in and of Guyana . <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the Alliance For Change we respect and<\/p>\n<p>uphold the basic tenets governing civil-military relations. We recognize that<\/p>\n<p>in the maintenance and development of the relationship that there is a trinity<\/p>\n<p>of purpose and organization that must be maintained: that of the people; the<\/p>\n<p>commander and his army; and the government. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The task of the nation&#8217;s policy-makers is to<\/p>\n<p>keep this balance without allowing any one of the three to become overbalanced,<\/p>\n<p>under balanced, overcompensated or under compensated. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;These three tendencies are like three<\/p>\n<p>different codes of law, deep-rooted in their subject and yet variable in their<\/p>\n<p>relationship to one another. A theory that ignores any one of them or seeks to<\/p>\n<p>fix an arbitrary relationship between them would conflict with reality.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In a Stabroek News editorial of August, 2007,<\/p>\n<p>there was a statement that is worth exploring: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Civil-military relations are a<\/p>\n<p>two-way street. They embody not only the manner in which the civil<\/p>\n<p>administration formulates defence policy but also the military means employed<\/p>\n<p>by the Defence Force to meet emergent threats. The objective of harmonious<\/p>\n<p>civil-military relations should be to provide the best defence for the country<\/p>\n<p>at the least social cost. In so doing, the Defence Force has always been<\/p>\n<p>obedient to civil authority and it must remain so. At any cost.&#8221; SN<\/p>\n<p>August 22, 2007.&#8221; <\/span><\/i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC has no difficulty in principle with<\/p>\n<p>this statement, but wishes to add that respect for, and obedience to the civil<\/p>\n<p>authority, also places a corresponding duty on the civil authority itself to<\/p>\n<p>respect and obey the laws and constitution of the state and this includes its<\/p>\n<p>institutions such as the GDF. It cannot be a one-sided affair that allows for<\/p>\n<p>flagrant violations of the constitution, laws, norms, practices, and customs<\/p>\n<p>whilst maintaining an expectation of blind allegiance in the face of all this. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is important to note that there is nothing<\/p>\n<p>in the definition of the GDF&#8217;s role that demands, or expects, any degree of<\/p>\n<p>servitude to any person or government except that they be respected, honoured,<\/p>\n<p>and served as per the Constitution. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Unfortunately, there is no clear and<\/p>\n<p>definable strategy and doctrine governing the organization and deployment of<\/p>\n<p>military resources in Guyana . <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The question must be asked why? I have often<\/p>\n<p>wondered whether the non-identification of a strategy is not in itself a<\/p>\n<p>strategy, which allows the policy-makers to keep changing the rules of<\/p>\n<p>engagement as situations change. This form of plan-as-you-go strategy is not as<\/p>\n<p>we know a strategy that should inform military and security planning. It leads<\/p>\n<p>to pain and confusion, and ultimately, failure. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC Proposes the Formation of A New<\/p>\n<p>Security Architecture based on: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&sect; The creation of a National Security<\/p>\n<p>Doctrine and Strategy <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&sect; The establishment of a Ministry of<\/p>\n<p>Justice and National Security <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&sect; The establishment of a Parliamentary<\/p>\n<p>Oversight Committee on Law Enforcement and National Security <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&sect; Improved and better co-coordinated<\/p>\n<p>military\/police relations and operations <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&sect; Re-defining the role of the GDF<\/p>\n<p>vis-&agrave;-vis territorial integrity, internal security threats against the<\/p>\n<p>state, natural disasters, and joint operations and command. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A failure to plan and prepare in a<\/p>\n<p>disciplined and visionary way will produce chaos and failure. Those who make<\/p>\n<p>policy must understand the character of the forces at their command. The<\/p>\n<p>ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu spoke of a ruler bringing grief to<\/p>\n<p>his army in five ways&#8230;one of them seems eerily relevant, and is worthy of<\/p>\n<p>repetition: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;to interfere in the administration of<\/p>\n<p>the army while being ignorant of its internal affairs will confuse officers and<\/p>\n<p>soldiers alike.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>THE GUNS AND BUTTER DEBATE: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The 2007 budget identifies $9.3 billion for<\/p>\n<p>the security and defence sector. Much of this projected allocation is for<\/p>\n<p>policing operations signaling the government of the day&#8217;s outlook that internal<\/p>\n<p>security is the greatest threat. Correspondingly, and interestingly, we also<\/p>\n<p>have statements from the government that a least four companies will commence<\/p>\n<p>drilling for oil and gas in off-shore fields. This in itself shows that the<\/p>\n<p>spending is skewed. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Apart from the sound decision taken a few<\/p>\n<p>years ago to acquire the GDF Essequibo there appears to be no discernable plan<\/p>\n<p>or thought to acquire materiel for the road ahead. I hope that as capable and<\/p>\n<p>informed officers that you will not lose the initiative by waiting for another<\/p>\n<p>occurrence to arise and that will be prepared even as you await the<\/p>\n<p>policy-makers to find their step. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I urge you therefore, as you consider and<\/p>\n<p>analyse old, new, and emerging threats and challenges to use technology as a<\/p>\n<p>force maximizer. We must demonstrate that we may be small in stature, but<\/p>\n<p>gigantic in heart and capability. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Former US General Norman Schwarzkopf once<\/p>\n<p>spoke of character as he addressed a group of officers. In his words: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;I admire men of character, and I judge<\/p>\n<p>character not by how men deal with their superiors, but mostly how they deal<\/p>\n<p>with their subordinates, and that, to me, is where you find out what the<\/p>\n<p>character of a man is&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The spirit and character of the GDF has to be<\/p>\n<p>found embodied within the inner sanctum of the officer corps. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I have no doubt that within the body of the<\/p>\n<p>officer corps of the Guyana Defence Force there exist such men and women who<\/p>\n<p>are true patriots; defenders of the constitution; and a true representation of<\/p>\n<p>the hopes and aspirations of the people for a better Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I urge you therefore to display strength of<\/p>\n<p>character even in times of extreme provocation, and misunderstanding by proudly<\/p>\n<p>reminding Guyana , and the world, that you represent the Guyana Defence Force&#8230;the<\/p>\n<p>toughest little army in the Hemisphere. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I conclude with the adage &#8220;Strength<\/p>\n<p>does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Continue to display that will. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-10-21: <i>AFC Column <\/i>Our<\/p>\n<p>National Executive Committee &#8211; a broad spectrum of personalities-Meet<\/p>\n<p>Allison Mohamed (Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Meet Allison Mohamed <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Allison Mohamed is a newly elected<\/p>\n<p>committee member of the Alliance For Change reflecting the diversity of the<\/p>\n<p>individuals who, from a variety of geographical, educational, ethnic and<\/p>\n<p>religious backgrounds have all come together to make a change. <\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In a political climate that insists<\/p>\n<p>that all party members &#8220;toe the line&#8221;, it is surely a welcome<\/p>\n<p>change that a party embraces freedom of speech and respects members&#8217; rights to express<\/p>\n<p>differing views. <\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This variety is a valuable resource for<\/p>\n<p>the new National Executive Committee in its attempt to focus on the varying<\/p>\n<p>needs of a diverse population. The individual profiles of the members are an<\/p>\n<p>attempt to illustrate the broad spectrum of personalities that make up the new<\/p>\n<p>National Executive. <\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Who are you? (Describe yourself, your<\/p>\n<p>background; influences in your life) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Though I am very reserved, I am a happy<\/p>\n<p>person. I think I am emotionally and physically strong; I honour my promises and<\/p>\n<p>commitments. But I never expected to be where I am today. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I was born in Bartica, where I lived until I<\/p>\n<p>was eight; then my family moved to Better Hope, ECD &#8211; my father was from<\/p>\n<p>there, and my mother was a Bartician. We lived there for six years, my parents<\/p>\n<p>separated; and when I was 16, I moved to Kitty to live with my mother. After<\/p>\n<p>school, I had worked as a Stores Clerk at Beepat &amp; Sons, and did<\/p>\n<p>secretarial courses in the evenings. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I was working as Secretary to Assistant<\/p>\n<p>Commissioner Thompson of the Guyana Police Force, when a friend convinced me to<\/p>\n<p>take up a position at Red Thread &#8211; it paid a little more, but the real<\/p>\n<p>importance of this move is that I became exposed to women who had problems. You<\/p>\n<p>see, though there are incidences of abuse in my own childhood, it is an area I<\/p>\n<p>had &#8216;blocked out&#8217; &#8211; maybe because I had no-one to talk to; never<\/p>\n<p>felt there was someone at my side. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But with the realisation that it was not just<\/p>\n<p>me, I found a role for myself: to get involved and to use my own experience to<\/p>\n<p>help someone in that situation; and from this, I developed an interest in<\/p>\n<p>working with women. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This phase in my life was a really big<\/p>\n<p>influence. My experience at Red Thread (1989-94) has formed the choices I made<\/p>\n<p>since, and the person that I am now. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I then worked at SIMAP, as an Administrative<\/p>\n<p>Secretary, then in an acting capacity as Executive Secretary to Mr Nawbatt and<\/p>\n<p>Board Secretary. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Here was another concern for me: though my<\/p>\n<p>performance was sufficient to perform at a high level, I was told that because<\/p>\n<p>I was not qualified I could not be permanently appointed to a higher post. Now<\/p>\n<p>because my circumstances did not allow me to further my studies, and I didn&#8217;t<\/p>\n<p>have this &#8216;piece of paper&#8217;, does not mean I was unable to perform. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It happens all the time, and I think people<\/p>\n<p>should be paid according to their work and their performance, and not according<\/p>\n<p>to the certificates they have. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I left SIMAP after three years. Because my<\/p>\n<p>husband&#8217;s job kept him away for up to six months at a time, I thought that I had<\/p>\n<p>to give my sons the stable home environment that I did not really have. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I wanted my own children to say, &#8216;my<\/p>\n<p>mother was there for me&#8217;, and what I did not want was to become my own parents.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Why did you become involved in politics,<\/p>\n<p>and specifically, the AFC? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I have never really been involved in politics<\/p>\n<p>in the past, though I have supported the WPA. There is a lot of negative<\/p>\n<p>connotation in the way &#8216;politics&#8217; is used, and I don&#8217;t like the word. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I initially began working with the AFC before<\/p>\n<p>the last elections because I was asked to help &#8211; and then I decided that<\/p>\n<p>I just was fed up with a lot of what was wrong in this society. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As a Guyanese I have never wanted to live<\/p>\n<p>anywhere else, and I decided that I had to do something. People in this<\/p>\n<p>country, and I mean politicians, too, don&#8217;t seem to care about the grassroots<\/p>\n<p>people &#8211; and these are the people who vote. A lot of the time, we only<\/p>\n<p>see politicians when they are campaigning for elections. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The way I see it, the government running a<\/p>\n<p>country should be like the parents in a home &#8211; they are responsible for<\/p>\n<p>the care of its people. And I don&#8217;t see that care. I see young people working<\/p>\n<p>hard in school and at UG, and at the end of it there is no work for them. They<\/p>\n<p>need to be given a chance, and if no-one gives them a chance they will never<\/p>\n<p>get experience. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is easier for young people to get into<\/p>\n<p>drugs, where the money is easier, or to leave, and join all the other bright,<\/p>\n<p>talented Guyanese in the Caribbean and North America. And when I look at the<\/p>\n<p>point-ofview of the homemaker, I see my sons growing up into this society. I<\/p>\n<p>say, &#8220;let&#8217;s have a change.&#8221; I don&#8217;t want them to grow up thinking,<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I must vote for this party because my mother and my grandmother voted<\/p>\n<p>for the same party.&#8221; Time for a change. And I tell you too, that if the<\/p>\n<p>AFC can&#8217;t make it work, then they should change. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>With the AFC, I was involved in community<\/p>\n<p>action and I got caught up, and I was nominated to the Executive Committee. So<\/p>\n<p>although there is so much that is negative about politics, I don&#8217;t back down<\/p>\n<p>from a challenge. I may not know where I&#8217;m going, but I do have some ideas and<\/p>\n<p>I would rather do something than nothing. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What do you think is the AFC&#8217;s key to the<\/p>\n<p>future of this country, and what do you see as your role? What do you hope to<\/p>\n<p>achieve? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I would like to see myself playing a role in<\/p>\n<p>the Welfare Committee of the AFC. My interest is in women and children, and I<\/p>\n<p>see my input in that area &#8211; assisting women to grow, to understand<\/p>\n<p>themselves and to be strong. I think women need to think of themselves<\/p>\n<p>positively; then they will be better parents, and in turn, there will not be so<\/p>\n<p>much abused children or children on the streets. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We know what is happening right now and it is<\/p>\n<p>not working. I think the AFC can change this, definitely. If I didn&#8217;t think so,<\/p>\n<p>I wouldn&#8217;t be here. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>You have done a lot of work with women and<\/p>\n<p>children. Obviously this is a concern of yours. Do you see yourself making<\/p>\n<p>changes in this area? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Yes. My involvement in women&#8217;s issues began<\/p>\n<p>in the early 1990s, when I worked with Red Thread. My sons are now 15 and 6, so<\/p>\n<p>with the younger one in school I decided last year to volunteer my time to Help<\/p>\n<p>and Shelter. As a volunteer, I talk to women and children who have experienced<\/p>\n<p>or been exposed to various forms of abuse. I am also a facilitator for<\/p>\n<p>discussions with young people at the Fourth and Fifth Form levels, or in youth<\/p>\n<p>groups, on issues such as sexual and other forms of abuse, the effects of drugs<\/p>\n<p>and alcohol, and so on. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I do mean to continue the work I am doing<\/p>\n<p>now, as I think that I can achieve a great deal at the personal level, as I am<\/p>\n<p>now. Then through my involvement with the AFC I hope to influence others to get<\/p>\n<p>involved. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I am compelled by the fact that there are so<\/p>\n<p>many people out there who need so much help, have so many problems &#8211; and<\/p>\n<p>who don&#8217;t have anybody to talk to. I really feel strongly about helping abused<\/p>\n<p>women, as I was one in childhood. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What change do you want for Guyana? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>First I think we must realise that whatever<\/p>\n<p>happens in this country affects all of us, not just one race. That division<\/p>\n<p>causes a lot of our problems. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>If we could hold together regardless of the<\/p>\n<p>colour of our skin, we will start to make a change for the better in this<\/p>\n<p>country. That would be a wonderful start. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I remember that even during the last election<\/p>\n<p>there were Indo-Guyanese people opposed to Raphael and Afro-Guyanese opposed to<\/p>\n<p>Khemraj &#8211; it struck me that people still think in terms of who is black<\/p>\n<p>and who is Indian. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So if you are mixed, where do you fit in? I<\/p>\n<p>believe we should look to the next election and all say to each other: it is<\/p>\n<p>time for a change. If it doesn&#8217;t work , then we can vote them out. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>You have to let people know you care, whether<\/p>\n<p>it is elections time or not. The AFC has continued to work in various<\/p>\n<p>communities, and I think people will remember that. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC asks key questions on<\/p>\n<p>&#8230;..???? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>House-to-house registration <\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>- Does GECOM seriously intend to spend half a billion<\/p>\n<p>dollars to pay scrutineers chosen only by the PPP and the PNC? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Organised Crime <\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>- If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, does<\/p>\n<p>it have to be convicted of being a duck for the PPP to notice the water flowing<\/p>\n<p>off its back? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Education <\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>- Can the Minister of Education say when the final<\/p>\n<p>version of the guidelines for the functioning of School Boards will be<\/p>\n<p>released? Is he surprised that in the absence of such guidelines there are<\/p>\n<p>problems with many School Boards? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Traffic <\/span><\/b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>13.5pt&#8217;>- Is it possible that traffic lights on Sheriff Street and on Carifesta<\/p>\n<p>Avenue were switched off during the recent Commonwealth Finance Ministers<\/p>\n<p>conference to prevent traffic congestion? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Minibus madness <\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>- If the problem of persons illegally operating<\/p>\n<p>brightly coloured buses on public roadways is proving too difficult for the<\/p>\n<p>Minister to handle, what makes him think he can tackle the more professional<\/p>\n<p>and sinister criminals out there? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Billboards <\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>- Is it that the President only likes to welcome every<\/p>\n<p>Tom, Dick and Beharry on a billboard or that he didn&#8217;t deserve the<\/p>\n<p>congratulations for the Guyana\/Suriname decision on that particular sign? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-10-24: AFC seeking its<\/p>\n<p>own chief scrutineer (Stabroek News) <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance For Change (AFC) is seeking its<\/p>\n<p>own chief scrutineer for the upcoming voter registration and it is still a matter<\/p>\n<p>to be discussed with the main opposition PNCR. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>AFC MP David Patterson, who has been<\/p>\n<p>representing the AFC in its meetings among opposition political parties with<\/p>\n<p>the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) recently, told Stabroek News when<\/p>\n<p>contacted that the AFC has made its proposal for the payment of fees to the<\/p>\n<p>parliamentary opposition scrutineers based on the allocation of seats. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He said that the AFC was also against the<\/p>\n<p>joint opposition having only one chief scrutineer because &quot;it was<\/p>\n<p>uncomfortable with endorsing a process where the opposition chief scrutineer<\/p>\n<p>would be a PNCR person.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>According to the Elections Laws (Amendment)<\/p>\n<p>Act of 2000, the government is entitled to one chief scrutineer and the joint<\/p>\n<p>parliamentary opposition, one, who would be appointed by the Leader of the<\/p>\n<p>Opposition. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A senior PNCR official who did not wish to be<\/p>\n<p>quoted told Stabroek News that the payment of scrutineers came about based on<\/p>\n<p>representation by PNCR Leader Robert Corbin who was then a GECOM commissioner<\/p>\n<p>and who argued that government should not have all the advantage in the<\/p>\n<p>scrutineering process because of its incumbency and having the advantage of<\/p>\n<p>securing money to pay its scrutineers while the opposition would be<\/p>\n<p>disadvantaged in this regard. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It was agreed that there would be scrutineers<\/p>\n<p>on both sides. However, there are now three parliamentary opposition parties. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>According to the PNCR official, the question<\/p>\n<p>is not that the opposition parties&#8217; scrutineers would not be paid, the question<\/p>\n<p>was how they were going to allocate the resources among the opposition parties.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;The PNCR has not objected to meeting with the AFC since the AFC has<\/p>\n<p>written requesting a meeting on this matter,&quot; he said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The PNCR official said that they have not met<\/p>\n<p>as yet because the PNCR leader and its deputy leader were both out of the<\/p>\n<p>country. They both returned a few days ago, he said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Patterson said that one of the concerns of<\/p>\n<p>the AFC was that on June 14, 2007, the government and parliamentary parties<\/p>\n<p>agreed to undertake a house-to-house registration process for all citizens<\/p>\n<p>above 14 years. On that occasion, he said, they agreed that at the end of the<\/p>\n<p>process and come municipal and local government elections and the 2011 general<\/p>\n<p>and regional elections no party should claim that the list was flawed. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>However, Patterson said that the AFC was not<\/p>\n<p>comfortable with endorsing a process in which the chief scrutineer for the<\/p>\n<p>parliamentary opposition would be a PNCR candidate. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He noted, too, that the AFC and GAP\/ROAR have<\/p>\n<p>combined forces to tackle the issue of scrutineers. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Meanwhile, the AFC is also contending that<\/p>\n<p>based on constitutional provisions the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) does<\/p>\n<p>have a legal responsibility to take part in the appointment of scrutineers and<\/p>\n<p>to be associated with their apportioning among the opposition parliamentary<\/p>\n<p>political parties. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Patterson told Stabroek News that GECOM was<\/p>\n<p>abdicating its legal mandate by saying that it had no legal responsibility to<\/p>\n<p>take part in the appointment of scrutineers when in fact Article 161 (B) of the<\/p>\n<p>Constitution states that &quot;it is hereby declared that the role of political<\/p>\n<p>parties and their nominees in the conduct of elections by the Elections<\/p>\n<p>Commission shall be limited to their participation in determining policy,<\/p>\n<p>monitoring the electoral process and the conduct of the elections, but does not<\/p>\n<p>include active management of the electoral process.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He noted, too, that 162 (1) (b) of the<\/p>\n<p>Constitution also states that GECOM shall have such functions connected with or<\/p>\n<p>relating to the registration of electors or the conduct of elections as are<\/p>\n<p>conferred upon it by or under this constitution or, subject thereto, any act of<\/p>\n<p>parliament; and or subject to the provisions or this constitution, the<\/p>\n<p>Commission &acirc;&#8364;&brvbar; shall issue such instructions and take such<\/p>\n<p>actions as appear to it necessary or expedient to ensure impartiality, fairness<\/p>\n<p>and compliance with the provisions of this constitution or of any act of<\/p>\n<p>parliament on the part of persons exercising powers or performing duties<\/p>\n<p>connected with or relating to the matters aforesaid.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Chief Election Officer Gocool Boodhoo in<\/p>\n<p>correspondence dated October 2, 2007 informed the AFC that based on Section 8<\/p>\n<p>of the Election Laws (Amendment Act) No.15 of 2000 which deals specifically<\/p>\n<p>with the matter of the appointment of scrutineers that there was nothing in the<\/p>\n<p>act that confers on it any legal or other responsibility regarding the said<\/p>\n<p>appointments. (Miranda La Rose) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-10-28: AFC Column-Our<\/p>\n<p>National Executive Committee &#8211; a broad spectrum of personalities Meet Sixtus<\/p>\n<p>Edwards <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Who are you? (Tell me a little about<\/p>\n<p>yourself, your background; how would you describe yourself?) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I was born in St Lucia in 1946, the fourth of<\/p>\n<p>six children. I attended Roman Catholic boys&#8217; primary and secondary schools,<\/p>\n<p>then teachers&#8217; training college. I was a teacher for 4 years in St Lucia, then<\/p>\n<p>I came to Guyana in the 1960s. At the time, both my parents were working with<\/p>\n<p>the Demerara Bauxite Company. In fact, I have two sisters who were born in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana. I joined the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), and stayed in the army for 27<\/p>\n<p>years, leaving with the rank of Warrant Officer Class II. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I completed a degree in Political Studies<\/p>\n<p>from Cuba in 1972, whilst in the army. My military honours include a State<\/p>\n<p>Warrant in 1970, Border Defence Medal in 1974, Military Efficiency Medal in<\/p>\n<p>1980, and a Military Commemoration Medal in 1990. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>At the Government Technical Institute, I<\/p>\n<p>attained a Certificate in Electrical Installation in 1984, and a Certificate in<\/p>\n<p>Refrigeration Services in 1986. I currently hold an Electrical Contractor&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>Licence. In addition, I completed a Certificate in Conflict Resolution, by<\/p>\n<p>distance learning, from the American University of Peace Studies in 2006, I am<\/p>\n<p>about to complete a Diploma in Counselling, and I am enrolled for a degree in Strategic<\/p>\n<p>Management, to begin in January. I am self-employed, and work in both the<\/p>\n<p>refrigeration and security fields. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I would say that I am a man with great<\/p>\n<p>ambition, and I like to take an example from people around me who are<\/p>\n<p>successful, and who have high self esteem. I manage myself well under pressure.<\/p>\n<p>But my greatest motivation is my family. I am committed to maintaining a strong<\/p>\n<p>family and family values, and to my Christian faith. I am active at my church,<\/p>\n<p>the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Brickdam. I am married, with four<\/p>\n<p>children. My parents returned to St Lucia in their retirement. But apart from<\/p>\n<p>my immediate family, I have to think of whoever is around me. There are people<\/p>\n<p>out there suffering. We have to see them as our greater family, and help them<\/p>\n<p>when we can. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Why did you become involved in the AFC? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In my understanding, politics is everyday<\/p>\n<p>life, so it is impossible to <i>not <\/i>be involved in politics. Before I<\/p>\n<p>joined the AFC I was Chairman of district #43 of the PNC; in fact, after retirement<\/p>\n<p>from the GDF, I was employed by the People&#8217;s National Congress (PNC) as Senior<\/p>\n<p>Administrative Officer responsible for Security until retiring two years ago. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I joined the Alliance for Change (AFC) at its<\/p>\n<p>inception. For a long time, I have been involved in politics in Guyana, and<\/p>\n<p>having spent many years looking at the type of politics that is practiced, and<\/p>\n<p>seeing no change, I saw a chance with the AFC. Here I saw a party of young<\/p>\n<p>people who were on a path of change. So I joined the AFC because I could see<\/p>\n<p>that its culture would be different, and that it focused on change, and making<\/p>\n<p>a difference. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As a member of the AFC, I was Chairman for<\/p>\n<p>Region Four as well as Campaign Manager for Region Four up to the last National<\/p>\n<p>Elections; but at the party&#8217;s first National Conference in July I was elected<\/p>\n<p>to National Executive. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What do you think is the AFC&#8217;s key to the<\/p>\n<p>future of this country? What do you see as your role? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I would like to see a lot of things happen.<\/p>\n<p>Within the AFC we have an Action Plan which looks at crime and security,<\/p>\n<p>education, job creation, social security, empowerment, and youth development.<\/p>\n<p>These areas are vital to the development of this nation, and we have recognised<\/p>\n<p>that. There has been a very visible increase of violence and organised crime in<\/p>\n<p>this country. Racial division is also affecting the Guyanese people &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>very badly. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We want to establish the creation of wealth<\/p>\n<p>for everybody, including a look at tax laws, which make things very difficult<\/p>\n<p>for the average man; some people have not yet understood what the VAT is all<\/p>\n<p>about. Look at our social security: we have to put programmes in place. We have<\/p>\n<p>to empower agencies and institutions to perform more effectively. We also have<\/p>\n<p>to look at our legislation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We must have good governance at all levels,<\/p>\n<p>and constitutional reform; but most importantly, the youth must have proper<\/p>\n<p>programmes at national levels. I see myself having a personal role and part to<\/p>\n<p>play in education and employment for poor and vulnerable groups. We have to see<\/p>\n<p>ourselves investing more money in education, which is vital. And not only<\/p>\n<p>education, but the quality of education, is important. We have to remember that<\/p>\n<p>the young people are the investment in our future. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>You do a great deal of work with people in<\/p>\n<p>so-called &#8216;underdeveloped&#8217; or poorer areas. What do you hope to<\/p>\n<p>accomplish? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This is indeed a priority of mine. I have<\/p>\n<p>been forming groups in different areas, trying to educate people in different<\/p>\n<p>processes and see how they can co-operate to help themselves, developmentally<\/p>\n<p>and even financially. I believe in empowering action rather than handouts <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8211; to teach them to help themselves and<\/p>\n<p>each other. Though I realise that in these groups I can only come into contact<\/p>\n<p>with a few people at a time, I see it having a greater influence, though any<\/p>\n<p>influence at all is good. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Within the AFC, I have always seen the entire<\/p>\n<p>Region Four, from Mahaica to Moblissa on the Linden Highway, as my<\/p>\n<p>responsibility &#8211; now shared with Sheila Holder. It is vital that we go to<\/p>\n<p>into communities, working with old and young people, to help in whatever way we<\/p>\n<p>can. There is no leadership there otherwise, to help to improve these people&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>lives; and I don&#8217;t feel that there is another party that can do that better<\/p>\n<p>than the AFC. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What change do you want for Guyana? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I would like to see Guyana as a country with<\/p>\n<p>equality, freedom, dignity and the well-being of every citizen of Guyana. Some<\/p>\n<p>would say we already have these things, but I do not agree that every single<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese has all these things right now. We need more. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Khemraj Ramjattan on GECOM&#8217;s failure to<\/p>\n<p>properly address the issue of payment for scrutineers <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance For Change takes issue with<\/p>\n<p>GECOM&#8217;s recent statements which seek to confuse the matter of how that body<\/p>\n<p>should deal with the issue of allocation of finances to pay for scrutineering<\/p>\n<p>activities, as against the issue of the appointment of scrutineers. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As it stands GECOM indeed has no authority to<\/p>\n<p>appoint scrutineers for the various political parties who wish to participate<\/p>\n<p>in the scrutineering activities of the new house- to -house registration<\/p>\n<p>exercise. No legal authority can be gleaned, whether explicitly or impliedly,<\/p>\n<p>from any reading or construction of the relevant statutes. That mandate resides<\/p>\n<p>in the respective political parties. And the Alliance For Change is very well<\/p>\n<p>aware of this. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>However, on the issue of remuneration to the<\/p>\n<p>various parties which will participate in the exercise, the Alliance For Change<\/p>\n<p>strongly feels that GECOM has the mandate and authority to so deal with. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Amongst the many matters that section 8(1) of<\/p>\n<p>the Election Laws (Amendment) Act No. 15 of 2000 speaks of, (and it is<\/p>\n<p>troubling that GECOM nor its lawyers are able to see this), is the remuneration<\/p>\n<p>of scrutineers. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This section explicitly states that one<\/p>\n<p>scrutineer in each registration division appointed by the majority party (in<\/p>\n<p>this case the PPP\/C), and one scrutineer appointed by the combined minority<\/p>\n<p>parties in the National Assembly, (collectively this is PNC, AFC and GAP\/ROAR),<\/p>\n<p>shall be paid such remuneration by, and as may be determined by, the<\/p>\n<p>Commission. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The practical application of this means that<\/p>\n<p>whatever Parliament will allocate for scrutineers, a sum in excess of $20m from<\/p>\n<p>all indications, must firstly be divided equally by GECOM between the PPP\/C, on<\/p>\n<p>the one hand, and the combined minority parties in Parliament, on the other. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The problem, however, is the distribution of<\/p>\n<p>the allocated sum amongst the combined minority parties in Parliament. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance For Change, in association with<\/p>\n<p>GAP\/ROAR, is arguing for equity and proportionality on the basis of the<\/p>\n<p>percentage it has in the combined minority in Parliament. This percentage is<\/p>\n<p>21%; and, hence, the Alliance For Change is urging GECOM that 21% of the amount<\/p>\n<p>allocated to the combined opposition be given to it directly, and not through<\/p>\n<p>the PNC\/R. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What is wrong with GECOM adopting this<\/p>\n<p>proportionality principle as one of its policies? After all, the Constitution<\/p>\n<p>makes provision in articles 161 B and 162 for exactly these matters when<\/p>\n<p>mention is made therein that GECOM and its party nominees must participate<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;in determining policy&#8221;, and must take action &#8220;as appear to<\/p>\n<p>it necessary to ensure impartiality, fairness and compliance&#8221; with our<\/p>\n<p>Election laws. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC in this regard welcomes the<\/p>\n<p>acknowledgement by the PNC\/R&#8217;s leader, Mr. Robert Corbin, at his Party&#8217;s Press<\/p>\n<p>Conference of 11th October 2007 that scrutineers of the other combined<\/p>\n<p>opposition parties be remunerated on a pro rata basis as that is the only just<\/p>\n<p>thing to do in the circumstances. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC asks key questions<\/p>\n<p>on&#8230;&#8230;????? <\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Traffic <\/span><\/b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>13.5pt&#8217;>- What&#8217;s wrong with naming a driver for minibus insurance, so bad<\/p>\n<p>drivers would not move from one bus to another after an accident? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Traffic lights <\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>&#8211; Multiple choice question: -Was it <b>a) <\/b>a<\/p>\n<p>town planner, <b>b) <\/b>a road engineer, <b>c) <\/b>an interior decorator or <b>d)<\/p>\n<p><\/b>an electrician without &#8220;road sense&#8221;, who decided where they<\/p>\n<p>should be placed and with what time settings? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Education <\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>- Is poor education a factor in the recent horrific<\/p>\n<p>road accidents? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Economy <\/span><\/b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>13.5pt&#8217;>&#8211; Chicken and egg type question &#8211; Is it possible to create a work<\/p>\n<p>ethic in the absence of jobs? Can we attract foreign investment without a<\/p>\n<p>national work ethic? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Official corruption <\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>- Is this when corrupt officials are allowed to<\/p>\n<p>operate freely while those in charge chant &#8220;show us the proof, show us<\/p>\n<p>the proof&#8221;? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Lotto fund <\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>- Has the Government ever accounted for the Lotto<\/p>\n<p>funds, or is that a lottery where the numbers never come up? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>V.A.T. <\/span><\/b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>13.5pt&#8217;>- Does anyone remember those wonderful jingles that were being aired a<\/p>\n<p>year ago promising that the cost of living would come down with the<\/p>\n<p>introduction of V.A.T.? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Basket case <\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>- Can someone tell us what is in the basket of goods<\/p>\n<p>that Mr. Sattaur buys, as his is the only basket that seems to have reduced in<\/p>\n<p>price? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Minister of Agriculture <\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>&#8211; News maker or TV Screen-saver? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-13-4: Profile of AFC<\/p>\n<p>National Executive Committee member Martin Cheong <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Who are you? (Tell me about yourself, your<\/p>\n<p>background.) <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I was born on 11<sup>th<\/sup> September 1966 at<\/p>\n<p>Aratack Mission on Kamuni Creek, Demerara River, one mile from Santa Mission<\/p>\n<p>and the only Amerindian community in Region 3. I was the tenth in a huge family<\/p>\n<p>of 13 children: eight girls and five boys. Aratack is a very small community,<\/p>\n<p>originally Amerindian, but it became mixed. In fact, my paternal grandfather<\/p>\n<p>was pure Chinese, from a small settlement at the head of the Kamuni Creek, and<\/p>\n<p>my mother&#8217;s family is mixed as well. The main economic activity is<\/p>\n<p>subsistence farming, while generally males go out of community to work in<\/p>\n<p>forestry or mining, and return periodically. As a child I thought woodcutting<\/p>\n<p>work was too hard &#8211; I hated the idea. As I saw it, the only alternative<\/p>\n<p>was teaching, so I told myself I would be a teacher. In 1978 I wrote the Common<\/p>\n<p>Entrance and secured a place at the McKenzie High School. While my father was<\/p>\n<p>arranging for me to go there, we got a letter saying I had been awarded a<\/p>\n<p>government scholarship, with all living expenses, to North Georgetown Secondary<\/p>\n<p>School. I boarded at Station St, Kitty, with two other boys. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>That first week &#8211; doing nothing before<\/p>\n<p>school started &#8211; was traumatic. We found ourselves now the guests of<\/p>\n<p>strangers who were not genuinely caring, who called us names, who looked at us<\/p>\n<p>and saw $75 a month. It was a radical change that shook my thinking and my<\/p>\n<p>whole mental state. I had visited the city before, but coming to live in<\/p>\n<p>Georgetown was a shock. I was torn away from my community, society, family,<\/p>\n<p>even customs and play. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I did CXC\/GCE in 1983 then went back home.<\/p>\n<p>There was no teaching vacancy, so I helped my father out on his nut farm, and<\/p>\n<p>got involved in the Pentecostal Church. After two years I came back to<\/p>\n<p>Georgetown and studied theology. From 1985 I worked at Guyana<\/p>\n<p>Telecommunications Corporation for five years, then at the Inland Revenue Dept<\/p>\n<p>for five years, then at the National Frequency Management Unit for another five<\/p>\n<p>years. In 1995 I did a course at the Institute of Distance and Continuing<\/p>\n<p>Education, then a Diploma in Marketing at UG during 1996-1998. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I became interested in the Amerindian<\/p>\n<p>People&#8217;s Association (APA) after I saw a television interview with its<\/p>\n<p>President, David James. The objectives and goals impressed me because this NGO<\/p>\n<p>was trying to represent the social and economic rights of indigenous peoples. I<\/p>\n<p>met David shortly afterward, and indicated my interest to him. I accepted the<\/p>\n<p>organisation&#8217;s invitation to be a Trustee &#8211; a voluntary post<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; in 1997. In 2000 the APA formed the Centre for Amerindian Rights and<\/p>\n<p>Environmental Law, which was incorporated as a department of the APA in 2001<\/p>\n<p>and renamed the Amerindian Legal Services Centre. I was appointed its Head,<\/p>\n<p>with the general responsibility of addressing all the legal issues that affect<\/p>\n<p>Amerindians in Guyana: the rights of Amerindian communities, which tended to be<\/p>\n<p>land issues, among other things. We also conducted capacity-building activities<\/p>\n<p>such as planning and facilitating workshops in various Amerindian communities,<\/p>\n<p>training in basic administration, and discussing rights under the various laws<\/p>\n<p>that deal with Amerindians, and the forestry and mining sectors; and more<\/p>\n<p>recently the Amerindian Protection Act. Through the APA, I trained in conflict<\/p>\n<p>resolution, negotiation and human rights. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Because of the APA&#8217;s association with<\/p>\n<p>other international organisations, I have been to conferences in different<\/p>\n<p>parts of South and Central America and the Caribbean. On behalf of South and<\/p>\n<p>Latin America, I made a presentation on Land and Conflict at the ECOSOC forum<\/p>\n<p>in 2005, and also made a presentation on the Amerindian situation in Guyana to<\/p>\n<p>the Commonwealth, in Geneva. In 2006, myself and David James went on a<\/p>\n<p>Caribbean lecture tour sponsored by Oxfam, to sensitise indigenous peoples in<\/p>\n<p>the region to our experiences in Guyana regarding the then recently passed Amerindian<\/p>\n<p>Act. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I was part of the group of representatives of<\/p>\n<p>the APA, The Amerindian Action Movement of Guyana (TAAMOG) and the Guyana<\/p>\n<p>Organisation of Indigenous Peoples (GOIP) which, after consultation with<\/p>\n<p>communities, worked on the draft new Amerindian Act; and I also made<\/p>\n<p>presentations to the Parliamentary Select Committee individually and on behalf<\/p>\n<p>of the APA. I was also involved in the establishment of the Shell Beach<\/p>\n<p>Protected Area, worked with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the<\/p>\n<p>establishment of protected areas in Guyana, and I&#8217;ve also worked with the<\/p>\n<p>Forestry Commission on issues related to Amerindian lands and lifestyle. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Why did you become involved in the AFC? <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I was never closely affiliated to any party<\/p>\n<p>before. I really started to follow politics in 1992 after the government<\/p>\n<p>changed. I initially supported the PNC because I thought they were the better<\/p>\n<p>of two evils <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8211; but I also thought both of the main<\/p>\n<p>parties were very radical and partial, and neither ever looked for common<\/p>\n<p>ground with the other. Then I heard of the AFC. After looking into it, I was<\/p>\n<p>attracted to that party because they seemed interested in sharing. I met the<\/p>\n<p>leaders, and after I read their manifesto, I was happy that they shared the<\/p>\n<p>concerns of indigenous people. I joined the party prior to last elections<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; I had left the APA in June 2006. At the party&#8217;s Congress, I was<\/p>\n<p>elected to the National Executive; and part of my function within the AFC is to<\/p>\n<p>advise on hinterland and indigenous affairs. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I think the AFC plays a very strong and very<\/p>\n<p>healthy role in Guyana&#8217;s politics. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What do you think is the AFC&#8217;s key<\/p>\n<p>to the future of this country? What do you see as your role? <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I believe that AFC is the political<\/p>\n<p>alternative to the two larger parties in Guyana. And while we magnify our<\/p>\n<p>differences from the other parties, we also have to work toward inclusion of<\/p>\n<p>people who have different backgrounds and beliefs. I think the AFC is needed in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana, and I think the reason we did not do better in the last elections is<\/p>\n<p>because we did not meet or reach everyone. The key is to spread our wings, to<\/p>\n<p>find the niches that we had not found before. I think I can play a very strong<\/p>\n<p>role in this because of my familiarity with the hinterland, though I would not<\/p>\n<p>like to be limited to this. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>You have, through the APA, campaigned for<\/p>\n<p>the rights of indigenous peoples in Guyana. Does your current political<\/p>\n<p>activity help or hinder this cause? <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It helps. The AFC has a lot of support from<\/p>\n<p>voters in the interior, and I think it is this support which gave us<\/p>\n<p>Parliamentary seats. I think the Amerindian people, whose rights I represented,<\/p>\n<p>know that I will take their interests with me. The values I have always had are<\/p>\n<p>now incorporated into the party. On the other hand, although I am no longer in<\/p>\n<p>the APA, my political activity does help bring attention to Amerindian rights.<\/p>\n<p>I think that through the party, my work in this regard can cover wider social<\/p>\n<p>and economic aspects. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What change do you want for Guyana? <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I want to see a government that is a<\/p>\n<p>government for the people. I think both the PNC and PPP have policies that are<\/p>\n<p>oriented toward their supporters; and I want a ruling party that will treat<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese equitably. We should erode the walls of party, gender and race; we<\/p>\n<p>must employ people based on merit, and regardless of party association &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>support good performance, and punish bad. I want to see a ruling party that<\/p>\n<p>will attract investment and be able to bring opposition parties on board<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; a Parliament that will consider the views of opposing parties. We must<\/p>\n<p>be able to find compromise and fairness. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Change is cheap <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A senior police officer this week remarked<\/p>\n<p>that most drivers are good road users. If this statement is true, and it may<\/p>\n<p>well be then it would suggest the existence of an unruly and undisciplined minority<\/p>\n<p>who are terrorizing our roadways. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It can also be said that most Guyanese are<\/p>\n<p>not criminals and that here again a minority, this time armed and dangerous, is<\/p>\n<p>being allowed to terrorize the entire nation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A few questions immediately come to mind. Is this<\/p>\n<p>a static or a growing minority, and if indeed it is a growing minority, how can<\/p>\n<p>the growth be reversed? Why has this minority been allowed to make life so<\/p>\n<p>unbearable for the majority of Guyanese, and what can be done at this stage to<\/p>\n<p>rectify this abnormality? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There is every indication that these<\/p>\n<p>destructive minorities are growing in number, and therefore the need to find a<\/p>\n<p>solution should be seen as an urgent one. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC recognizes that no one political<\/p>\n<p>party can solve the traffic problem or the crime problem or for that matter any<\/p>\n<p>of this nation&#8217;s many problems. It also recognizes the need for unity in<\/p>\n<p>times of crises. Bringing order to our roadways can be the first of a series of<\/p>\n<p>collective efforts in which the needs of our nation can be placed above the<\/p>\n<p>needs of our political parties. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is also more than likely that mixed<\/p>\n<p>messages from, and poor cooperation between the two major political forces have<\/p>\n<p>created the institutional indifference under which traffic violators and other<\/p>\n<p>antisocial individuals can operate freely. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A single, strong and unambiguous message<\/p>\n<p>aimed at the perpetrators, delivered by all our political leaders and echoed by<\/p>\n<p>the leaders of our national institutions could spark the attitudinal change<\/p>\n<p>that is so desperately required to prevent a civil collapse. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The price-tag on this is a big fat zero. At<\/p>\n<p>the most it calls for some amount of sincerity on the part of our leaders. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Unless those in charge can demonstrate to the<\/p>\n<p>public that they are actually serious about change, individuals in society will<\/p>\n<p>remain reluctant to stand up, speak out or cooperate with the authorities due<\/p>\n<p>to the prevailing perception of indifference at the next level upwards in the<\/p>\n<p>chain of command. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>All the traffic lights and security plans in<\/p>\n<p>the world will have no effect unless there is a concurrent change in attitude<\/p>\n<p>throughout our society and all of its institutions. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The recent spate of tragedies on our roads<\/p>\n<p>should have already convinced most of us that it&#8217;s time for a change. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>KEY Questions????? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Garbage<\/span><\/b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>13.5pt&#8217;> &#8211; No garbage collection for almost a week, yet did the city look any<\/p>\n<p>different from usual? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Tragic &#8211; What will become of the<\/p>\n<p>children of the brutally murdered <\/span><\/b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Kamal<\/p>\n<p>Doonwah of Bladen Hall? Whose responsibility is it to make sure that they do not<\/p>\n<p>grow up to lead lives similar to those of their parents? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Zero tolerance &#8211; Does anyone see the<\/p>\n<p>tragic irony in the two headlines on adjacent pages<\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>: &quot;zero tolerance&#8230;.Traffic chief Neil Semple<\/p>\n<p>said that he is satisfied with the campaign&quot; and &quot;Schoolboy killed<\/p>\n<p>near pedestrian crossing&quot;? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Zero degrees &#8211; How long must this<\/p>\n<p>year&#8217;s graduands wait while the <\/span><\/b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>UG<\/p>\n<p>Academic Board and Council bicker and play politics? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Traffic lights &#8211; Has the traffic<\/p>\n<p>department invented the device that makes a car horn honk as soon as the lights<\/p>\n<p>change? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>V.A.T. &#8211; If all those business men are as<\/p>\n<p>unscrupulous as Mr. Sattaur thinks, why turn them into tax collectors? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And then there were three &#8211; One judge<\/p>\n<p>joins a special project to improve the justice system, <\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>leaving the Court of Appeal two Justices short.<\/p>\n<p>Isn&#8217;t it ironic? <b>Link Show 25 &#8211; <\/b>The missing link? Or will<\/p>\n<p>they stage it next year instead? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF'>2007-11-11: An Open<\/p>\n<p>Letter to President Jagdeo regarding the VAT <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>His Excellency Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo President<\/p>\n<p>of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana Office of the President New Garden<\/p>\n<p>Street, Georgetown. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Dear Sir, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Recognising that the Value Added Tax Act of<\/p>\n<p>2005, was passed unanimously in the National Assembly, and assented to by you<\/p>\n<p>at time when the AFC was not yet a Parliamentary Party, our supporters and<\/p>\n<p>members nevertheless comprise ordinary citizens of Guyana; and besides being<\/p>\n<p>severely affected ourselves are inundated on a daily basis by calls for some<\/p>\n<p>relief to be implemented to reduce the harshness that VAT brings. We therefore<\/p>\n<p>feel it is our civic and political duty to engage you on the issue of VAT. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In my considered opinion several inescapable<\/p>\n<p>truths must be accepted as arising since the implementation of VAT, and these<\/p>\n<p>are that: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=101<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1055&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_29.jpg&#8221;>The cost of living and<\/p>\n<p>rate of inflation have risen to almost unlivable levels. That prices for<\/p>\n<p>zero-rated items have increased as a result of price gouging and the globalised<\/p>\n<p>pricing system That Guyanese are not responding well to the payment of VAT.<\/p>\n<p>That most people seem prepared to pay taxes, but are crying out against, and<\/p>\n<p>literally begging for, relief from a 16% VAT. That there have been no<\/p>\n<p>commensurate adjustments made to the Income Tax threshold since the<\/p>\n<p>introduction of VAT on January <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>1, 2007. That the mid year financial reports<\/p>\n<p>and assessments to be provided by the Hon. Minister of Finance have not been<\/p>\n<p>forthcoming so as to disprove these truisms. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We are firmly of the belief that the<\/p>\n<p>Executive, working in conjunction with the National Assembly, has the authority<\/p>\n<p>to adapt, amend, abolish, ameliorate, and assuage the application of VAT<\/p>\n<p>notwithstanding what any International Financial Institution may say. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Rest assured that if we display a collective<\/p>\n<p>and unanimous stand for the reduction of the VAT rate we will also display a<\/p>\n<p>sense of national strength and character such that no one may gainsay the<\/p>\n<p>removal of the rate of 16%. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I urge you therefore to choose the path of<\/p>\n<p>benevolence by answering the multitude of cries coming from thousands of<\/p>\n<p>citizens and from their representatives such as Mr. C.N. Sharma, the PNCR, The<\/p>\n<p>Roop Group, Consumer and Labour Associations to name a few for a abolition of<\/p>\n<p>the tax altogether at best, or a lowering of the percentage rate at least. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I, as Leader of the AFC, say that we are<\/p>\n<p>ready, willing, and able to join with your Government, and all groups or<\/p>\n<p>organizations which seek to usher in this relief to what in the opinion of many<\/p>\n<p>is a draconian, unpopular, and devastating tax. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Sincerely and Respectfully, Raphael Trotman <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Cc. Mr. Robert Corbin, M.P.-Leader of the<\/p>\n<p>Opposition Mr. Paul Hardy-Leader of the Guyana Action Party Mr. C.N.<\/p>\n<p>Sharma-Leader of the Justice For All Party Mr. Peter Ramsaroop-Chairman of the<\/p>\n<p>Roop Group Ms. Gillian Burton-TUC President Ms. Elieen Cox-Consumer Advocate<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Komal Chand-GAWU President Mr. Patrick Yarde-PSU President Mr. Grantley<\/p>\n<p>Culbard- FITUG President <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-11-11: AFC seeks<\/p>\n<p>alliance in renewed attempt to address VAT issues <i>&#8230;collective effort<\/p>\n<p>would see success &#8211;<\/i> Trotman (Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance For Change (AFC), under the<\/p>\n<p>leadership of Raphael Trotman, is seeking an alliance with other stakeholders<\/p>\n<p>to tackle issues coming out of the implementation of the Value Added Tax (VAT).<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman made the first step towards<\/p>\n<p>addressing the issue in a letter dated November 10, addressed to Head of State,<\/p>\n<p>President Bharrat Jagdeo, and copied to several of the main stakeholders in the<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;struggle,&#8221; such as Robert Corbin, leader of the main opposition<\/p>\n<p>party; Paul Hardy, leader of the Guyana Action Party; C.N. Sharma, leader of<\/p>\n<p>the Justice For All Party; Peter Ramsaroop, Chairman of the Roop Group; Gillian<\/p>\n<p>Burton, TUC President; Eileen Cox, consumer advocate; Komal Chand, GAWU<\/p>\n<p>President; Patrick Yarde, President of the Guyana Public Service Union; and<\/p>\n<p>Grantley Culbard, FITUG President. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Kaieteur News managed to obtain a copy of the<\/p>\n<p>letter, in which Trotman acknowledges that the VAT Act of 2005 was passed the<\/p>\n<p>National Assembly when the AFC was not yet a Parliamentary Party, but, he says,<\/p>\n<p>its supporters and members, nevertheless, comprise ordinary citizens of Guyana;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;and besides being severely affected ourselves, are inundated on a daily<\/p>\n<p>basis by calls for some relief to be implemented to reduce the harshness that VAT<\/p>\n<p>brings.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He added that the party therefore feels that<\/p>\n<p>it is its civic and political duty to engage the administration on the issue of<\/p>\n<p>VAT. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;In my considered opinion, several<\/p>\n<p>inescapable truths must be accepted as arising since the implementation of VAT.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>According to the letter, the cost of living<\/p>\n<p>and rate of inflation have risen to almost unlivable levels, prices for<\/p>\n<p>zero-rated items have increased as a result of price gouging and the globalised<\/p>\n<p>pricing system, and Guyanese are not responding well to the payment of VAT. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It also noted that most people seem prepared<\/p>\n<p>to pay taxes but are crying out against, and literally begging for relief from,<\/p>\n<p>the 16 per cent VAT. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The letter also pointed out that there have been<\/p>\n<p>no commensurate adjustments made to the Income Tax threshold since the<\/p>\n<p>introduction of VAT on January 1, 2007, and further, the mid-year financial<\/p>\n<p>reports and assessments to be provided by the Minister of Finance have not been<\/p>\n<p>forthcoming, so as to disprove these truisms. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman fervently advocates that the<\/p>\n<p>Administration, working in conjunction with the National Assembly, has the<\/p>\n<p>authority to adapt, amend, abolish, ameliorate, and assuage the application of<\/p>\n<p>VAT notwithstanding what any International Financial Institution may say. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In his appeal, Trotman indicated that they<\/p>\n<p>can be assured that if, &#8220;We display a collective and unanimous stand for<\/p>\n<p>the reduction of the VAT rate, we will also display a sense of national<\/p>\n<p>strength and character such that no one may be against the removal of the rate<\/p>\n<p>of 16 per cent.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman urged the Head of State to choose the<\/p>\n<p>path of &#8220;benevolence by answering the multitude of cries coming from<\/p>\n<p>thousands of citizens and from their representatives.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman, during a recent press conference,<\/p>\n<p>said that the current move is intended to &#8216;raise the ante,&#8217; given that<\/p>\n<p>all and sundry are currently adversely affected by VAT. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He also noted that what was of grave concern<\/p>\n<p>was the non-declaration of the revenue earned from VAT. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>According to Trotman, based on calculations<\/p>\n<p>done by the AFC, the revenue earned from VAT was an exorbitant amount and was<\/p>\n<p>in no way ever intended to be neutral and reap the same as the taxes it<\/p>\n<p>replaced. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;The government is reaping a<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;windfall,&#8217; they are collecting far more than they expected.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman posited that, given the &#8216;wind<\/p>\n<p>fall,&#8217; the level of 16 per cent could be reduced to a bearable rate, or some<\/p>\n<p>form of relief can be instituted from taxes such as PAYE. He added that what<\/p>\n<p>was being done with the money was also a mystery. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;VAT must be removed totally until it<\/p>\n<p>can be implemented properly, or reduced to give people a chance to live.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman expressed confidence that collective<\/p>\n<p>action would be effective in attracting the attention of the administration. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-11-11: AFC Column-Our<\/p>\n<p>National Executive Committee &#8211; a broad spectrum of personalities-Meet<\/p>\n<p>Dominic Gaskin (Kaieteur News) <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Who are you? (Describe yourself, your<\/p>\n<p>background.) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I was brought to Guyana as a four-year-old in<\/p>\n<p>1966 by my parents who were anxious to raise their new family in<\/p>\n<p>newly-independent Guyana. My father was Guyanese and my mother German. They met<\/p>\n<p>in London where they got married and where my brother and I were born. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I attended Sacred Heart Primary School,<\/p>\n<p>Queen&#8217;s College and finally St. Roses High School. I was aware, growing up,<\/p>\n<p>that separate cultures existed within my family, but it was always a positive<\/p>\n<p>rather than negative awareness. This is probably what has shaped my attitude to<\/p>\n<p>other cultures &#8211; I have always thought, &#8216;The more, the merrier,&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>and sought to broaden my own experiences. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I&#8217;m a jeweller by trade. It&#8217;s a trade I<\/p>\n<p>learnt as a kid from being around my father who was also a jeweller. I spent a<\/p>\n<p>number of years abroad working in the industry and learning various aspects of<\/p>\n<p>the trade such as working with precious stones and designing. I left home at<\/p>\n<p>19, and remained abroad for 10 years, living in Germany, England and America. I<\/p>\n<p>learnt what it was like to survive without the social and financial safety net<\/p>\n<p>that I always took for granted when I lived in my parents&#8217; home. I learnt,<\/p>\n<p>also, that most problems in life can be overcome by positive thinking; by<\/p>\n<p>focusing on solutions rather than becoming comfortable with the problem. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I would say that I returned to Guyana<\/p>\n<p>stronger and more independent than when I left, but also not very understanding<\/p>\n<p>or appreciative of the structures which I found made up Guyanese society.<\/p>\n<p>People generally &#8216;knew their place&#8217; and allowed themselves to be defined<\/p>\n<p>by a social system which made no sense to me; and this was new to me &#8211; or<\/p>\n<p>maybe I was blind to it before. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Now, as I have grown older, gotten married,<\/p>\n<p>built a house and business, and had two kids, I find myself becoming less<\/p>\n<p>critical of this system and I sometimes have to remind myself just how ridiculous<\/p>\n<p>the whole system is. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Why did you become involved in the AFC? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I became involved in the AFC after attending<\/p>\n<p>the launching of the movement two years ago. I thought then and still think now<\/p>\n<p>that Guyana needs a new political culture that is not directed by persons or<\/p>\n<p>groups who refuse to move on from the bad experiences of the past. I saw the<\/p>\n<p>AFC as a new political entity capable of attracting younger Guyanese and<\/p>\n<p>getting them interested in a different kind of politics where issues of<\/p>\n<p>national importance are not subject to race, party and other selfish<\/p>\n<p>considerations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What do you think is the AFC&#8217;s key to the<\/p>\n<p>future of this country? What do you see as your role? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Ironically, I think the AFC&#8217;s key to the<\/p>\n<p>future is its lack of a past. If the entire nation could develop spontaneous<\/p>\n<p>amnesia, Guyana would finally move forward. I think too that the AFC represents<\/p>\n<p>independent thinking and this is what will keep the party interesting and<\/p>\n<p>attractive to persons who can appreciate the positive potential of a diverse<\/p>\n<p>population. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>For my part I can try to work as hard as<\/p>\n<p>possible to assist with the numerous tasks that lie ahead for the AFC. As a<\/p>\n<p>member of the party&#8217;s National Executive, I shall use my best judgment and not<\/p>\n<p>compromise my integrity in helping to build on what has already been achieved. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What I would like the AFC to achieve is wider<\/p>\n<p>membership and more votes in the next election. What I would like for Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>is that we have more credible options at elections. Elections ought not to be<\/p>\n<p>an exercise where we simply choose between the lesser of two evils. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Considering your quite sudden entry into<\/p>\n<p>politics, and the fact that you have twice lived outside of Guyana for extended<\/p>\n<p>periods, do you think you are in touch with the <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>needs of most Guyanese? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>No, but then who is? What I can tell you is<\/p>\n<p>that I see a problem in the way in which people&#8217;s needs are addressed. I see a<\/p>\n<p>big problem with access to even the most basic services. Our citizens are not<\/p>\n<p>treated with the respect they deserve when they interact with many of our<\/p>\n<p>institutions &#8211; both government and private. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>You don&#8217;t have to be in politics to observe<\/p>\n<p>this, and you definitely don&#8217;t have to have lived here all your life to notice<\/p>\n<p>it. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What change do you want for Guyana? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I would like us to be more confident as a<\/p>\n<p>people: confident that we have the power to vote out any government that<\/p>\n<p>doesn&#8217;t deliver what we expect; confident that we can vote them back in<\/p>\n<p>whenever we feel like. I think the systems are finally in place that allow for<\/p>\n<p>this. It is now up to us as a people to test the system. We can only test it if<\/p>\n<p>we are prepared to join together and this means letting go of those perceptions<\/p>\n<p>that keep us divided. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>key Questions????? <\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>2006 elections <\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>- If the AFC won six parliamentary seats at the last<\/p>\n<p>election why are there only five AFC parliamentarians in the National Assembly?<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Shameless <\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>&#8211; Why won&#8217;t the PPP give up its region ten<\/p>\n<p>parliamentary seat which it knows it did not win? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Reckless <\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>- How much money does GECOM intend to hand over to the<\/p>\n<p>PNC to fund the combined opposition scrutineers for the house-tohouse<\/p>\n<p>registration exercise? <b>Lawless <\/b>&#8211; Is the Minister of Finance not in<\/p>\n<p>breach of the law for failing to present his half yearly report? <b>Crime <\/b>&#8211;<\/p>\n<p>Does anyone worry about the fact that there are very few convictions relative<\/p>\n<p>to the amount of very violent crimes taking <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>place? Is a sound beating a substitute for a<\/p>\n<p>conviction? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Great escape <\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>&#8211; If members of our disciplined forces don&#8217;t<\/p>\n<p>have the discipline to travel from Georgetown to New Amsterdam without stopping<\/p>\n<p>for refreshments what hope is there for any security plan? <b>Traffic fines <\/b>&#8211;<\/p>\n<p>Minibus kills ten, no public protest. Minibus operator gets fined, big protest.<\/p>\n<p>Ignorance or frustration? <b>VAT <\/b>&#8211; Does the right to tax citizens come<\/p>\n<p>with any responsibilities? What do we the people get in return for this burden?<\/p>\n<p><b>AFC PROPOSED PARLIAMENTARY AGENDA 2007-2011 <o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC intends to vigorously pursue a<\/p>\n<p>range of initiatives in the Legislative Assembly and elsewhere during the<\/p>\n<p>period that it has been elected to serve. Some of these initiatives have<\/p>\n<p>commenced, and the public is invited to support their progress through the<\/p>\n<p>National Assembly. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Additionally, these initiatives will have<\/p>\n<p>to be supported by actions outside of the parliament and from time to time<\/p>\n<p>members, supporters, and the general public will be invited to present their<\/p>\n<p>views and opinions and to participate in activities intended to win support for<\/p>\n<p>the programme. The range of planned initiatives include:<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<ul type=disc>\n<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>     mso-list:l21 level1 lfo13;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>     13.5pt&#8217;>Freedom of Information Bill <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>     mso-list:l21 level1 lfo13;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>     13.5pt&#8217;>A Motion on GPL&#8217;s objectionable service <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>     mso-list:l21 level1 lfo13;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>     13.5pt&#8217;>Constitution and Parliamentary Reform on issues pertaining to the<\/p>\n<p>     election of Members of Parliament; Inclusive Democracy; and the<\/p>\n<p>     independent functioning of MPs, and the uplift of their status. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>     mso-list:l21 level1 lfo13;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>     13.5pt&#8217;>A Motion to Reform Administration of Estates Laws <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>     mso-list:l21 level1 lfo13;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>     13.5pt&#8217;>Motion or legislation to Update Copyright Laws <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>     mso-list:l21 level1 lfo13;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>     13.5pt&#8217;>Motion for the Increase of the age of retirement <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>     mso-list:l21 level1 lfo13;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>     13.5pt&#8217;>Draft\/Amend elections legislation to level the playing field<\/p>\n<p>     during the campaign period for National &amp; Regional elections to curtail<\/p>\n<p>     government&#8217;s misuse of state resources. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>     mso-list:l21 level1 lfo13;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>     13.5pt&#8217;>Draft\/Amend legislation to introduce political party financing for<\/p>\n<p>     administrative purposes as well as for campaigning for National &amp;<\/p>\n<p>     Regional elections <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>     mso-list:l21 level1 lfo13;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>     13.5pt&#8217;>Present Equal Opportunities legislation as recommended by the<\/p>\n<p>     Caricom Heads since 1998 <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>     mso-list:l21 level1 lfo13;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>     13.5pt&#8217;>Pilot a parliamentary Motion calling on the government to fulfill<\/p>\n<p>     its responsibility as recommended by the Constitution Reform Commission to<\/p>\n<p>     publish the Guyana Constitution and circulate widely to the populace <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>     mso-list:l21 level1 lfo13;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>     13.5pt&#8217;>A parliamentary Motion calling on the PPPC and the PNCR to account<\/p>\n<p>     to the nation for their failure to appoint the Procurement Commission <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>     mso-list:l21 level1 lfo13;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>     13.5pt&#8217;>A parliamentary Motion calling for the adoption of the Caricom<\/p>\n<p>     Civil Society Charter <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>     mso-list:l21 level1 lfo13;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>     13.5pt&#8217;>Challenge the Government&#8217;s Radio monopoly <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>     mso-list:l21 level1 lfo13;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>     13.5pt&#8217;>Introduce Whistle Blower&#8217;s legislation <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>     mso-list:l21 level1 lfo13;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>     13.5pt&#8217;>Introduce a Motion to re-activate the Law Revision Commission to<\/p>\n<p>     have updated edition of laws of Guyana <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>     mso-list:l21 level1 lfo13;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>     13.5pt&#8217;>A review of the Termination of Pregnancy Act <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>     mso-list:l21 level1 lfo13;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>     13.5pt&#8217;>Establishment of sub committee to review and implement existing<\/p>\n<p>     building codes.&#8226; Review and Updating of Traffic regulations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>     mso-list:l21 level1 lfo13;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>     13.5pt&#8217;>Improving the functioning of Municipal Day care centers and health<\/p>\n<p>     centers. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>     mso-list:l21 level1 lfo13;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>     13.5pt&#8217;>Educational access for 5th formers who are desirous of repeating,<\/p>\n<p>     and gaining access to sixth form. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>VAT legislation review &#8211; including<\/p>\n<p>forcing the disclosure of VAT revenues and working towards an abolition of the<\/p>\n<p>tax, or reduction of the rate of 16% <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF'>2007-11-11: Tain Erupts<\/p>\n<p>Over Traffic Fine s- Khemraj Ramjattan annd AFC Respond <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Dear all, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Upon requests of some AFC supporters in<\/p>\n<p>Corentyne, and friends\/relatives of incarcerated protesters, I went to Berbice<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Tain yesterday. I took a cameraman. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A deep sense of frustration in simply<\/p>\n<p>surviving, was immediately noticed. The crowd of about 500, (the day before was<\/p>\n<p>very large), was just vexed about everything &#8211; VAT, high transportation costs,<\/p>\n<p>food items, police brutality <i>re<\/i> firing teargas into a crowd and beating<\/p>\n<p>of innocent people who were only milling around if not actively protesting,<\/p>\n<p>among a whole host of other problems. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I had to ask for some order, and managed<\/p>\n<p>after some effort to get spokespersons on behalf of the drivers&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>association to articulate their grievances. Dr Ramaya was of tremendous help. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The prime grievance is the upping of<\/p>\n<p>fines, without consultation of an important stakeholder &#8211;the minibus\/<\/p>\n<p>hire car drivers. The previous fines for minor and summary offences were $150<\/p>\n<p>to $200. It has increased to $5000. Personally this is a more realistic figure.<\/p>\n<p>And very many of the drivers are of that opinion, too. What they are<\/p>\n<p>unanimously offended by is the utterly ridiculous application of the law all of<\/p>\n<p>a sudden. For example, over 69 hire cars\/ minibuses were hauled in last weekend<\/p>\n<p>for extremely minor defects which were there all the time, but for which they<\/p>\n<p>were not hauled in previously. They claim that at the minimum a warning should<\/p>\n<p>be given for them to rectify. This sudden rigid enforcement angered them<\/p>\n<p>because they were led to think by the police conduct that they were in order.<\/p>\n<p>One case was where mud spattered on the minibus number plate, and it was hauled<\/p>\n<p>in for the offence of an &#8220; obscure number plate&#8221;- an offence hidden<\/p>\n<p>away and not used for decades as far as my memory can recall. Another is not<\/p>\n<p>exhibiting the fitness document on the windscreen, although the driver had it<\/p>\n<p>in his car pocket and immediately showed it to the requesting officer. Having<\/p>\n<p>to pay $5000 in these circumstances really riled them. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>From other drivers, the claim is that with<\/p>\n<p>the increased fines, policemen are stopping them and, through all manner of<\/p>\n<p>artifices, indicating that a ticket would not be given for the $5000 if they<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;size down&#8221; i.e leave $1000 or $2000. This, these drivers claim,<\/p>\n<p>has cut deep into their incomes. An extreme example which illustrate this is<\/p>\n<p>from one who was very explicit when he said that &#8220;I use to bribe them 1<\/p>\n<p>bill, now ah got fuh gie 10 bill&#8221;. This does not strike me as abnormal,<\/p>\n<p>as corruption like this is very well known in the Traffic section of the Force.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Moreover, they all claim that they charge<\/p>\n<p>half-price for schoolchildren in the morning to school and afternoon from<\/p>\n<p>school. This self-imposed subsidy as it were is most helpful to poor families.<\/p>\n<p>In view of the police new attitude of fining for just an extra school child in<\/p>\n<p>a vehicle, they are forced to charge the full price. This was a very popular<\/p>\n<p>argument which resonated with the parents of school children who have to travel<\/p>\n<p>on buses and cars. Lots of the protesters included these persons. The benefit<\/p>\n<p>of this subsidy is now gone and these parents are left with a greater financial<\/p>\n<p>burden. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The increased fines have thus directly<\/p>\n<p>affected the lives and incomes of the drivers\/owners and all other passengers<\/p>\n<p>who have to pay more. This was what motivated them to protest and make calls<\/p>\n<p>for a reduction of the fines and a more lenient approach by the Traffic cops.<\/p>\n<p>The cops rigid enforcement should be on speeding, recklessness on the roads,<\/p>\n<p>and the more serious offenders. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Having decided to stage a peaceful<\/p>\n<p>demonstration, and expecting a dialogue on the issue with senior Govt<\/p>\n<p>officials, they instead got tear-gassed and beaten, arrested and charged. They<\/p>\n<p>were particularly vexed when Min Rohee tried to speak to them on the evening of<\/p>\n<p>6<sup>th<\/sup>. He went into a rumshop looking for some of the &#8216;main<\/p>\n<p>men&#8217; as he called them and made some particularly harsh remarks which<\/p>\n<p>were overheard. Moreover, Min Robert Persaud&#8217;s attempt at an intervention<\/p>\n<p>on the next day to calm them after the previous day&#8217;s teargassing, was<\/p>\n<p>badly received. He was chased away! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Whilst taking the complaint, I was<\/p>\n<p>informed that all the persons arrested on the 6<sup>th<\/sup> were to be charged<\/p>\n<p>before the No 51 Magistrate Court. I went there and pleaded with the Magistrate<\/p>\n<p>who then placed all 11 defendants on self bail to return next Monday to Whim<\/p>\n<p>Magistrate Court for Mr. Sohan to determine the cases on 12<sup>th<\/sup> . At<\/p>\n<p>the No 51 Mag. Court, all the defendants pleaded not guilty to charges ranging<\/p>\n<p>from disorderly behavior, to throwing missiles at police officers, and<\/p>\n<p>obstructing traffic. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I then returned to Tain and continued<\/p>\n<p>talking to the protesters on planning a way forward. I proposed that as a<\/p>\n<p>Parliamentarian I will, with other members of the AFC in Parliament, do my best<\/p>\n<p>to lobby for a reduction of the fines. I also proposed talking to the<\/p>\n<p>Commissioner and Berbice Traffic boss to be more humane in their approach to<\/p>\n<p>enforcement as regards minor defects and schoolchildren overloading. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I was told then that Asst. Commander of<\/p>\n<p>Berbice was with the group of Police who were on the road keeping the peace. I<\/p>\n<p>went over to him. It was very cordial as Balram Persaud was one of the treason<\/p>\n<p>accused I had represented in the PNC days, and who remains a good friend. I<\/p>\n<p>immediately denounced his ordering of the use of teargas and the force used on<\/p>\n<p>a number of protesters. He indicated that the mob behavior of the crowd forced<\/p>\n<p>him to take certain drastic actions. I told him of the concerns of the<\/p>\n<p>protesters and he along with Senior Officer West indicated that indeed these<\/p>\n<p>issues ought to dialogued on and resolved at a meeting with Representatives of<\/p>\n<p>the Drivers&#8217; association. I then asked Dr. Ramaya if he could help in<\/p>\n<p>this regard and he said yes. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Both myself and Dr Ramaya then proposed<\/p>\n<p>that the protest be discontinued until further advised. The police was very<\/p>\n<p>happy with our approach. The crowd then left. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I managed to capture all of this on<\/p>\n<p>camera, having arranged a cameraman to go with me. He will be giving me the<\/p>\n<p>original tape with discs today. I want Cathy to have them. I have managed to<\/p>\n<p>make new contacts and renew old ones as a result of this exercise. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Berbicians are quickly becoming<\/p>\n<p>disgruntled with an arrogant PPP\/C. They just could not believe that Port<\/p>\n<p>Moranters could be teargassed under a PPP\/C administration.. I was forced to<\/p>\n<p>tell them &#8220; But you gon run back straight into PPP\/C camp when elections<\/p>\n<p>come&#8221;. Their resounding response was: &#8220; NO! We going AFC now&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>. I only hope that is so. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Khemraj <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-11-18: The Alliance For<\/p>\n<p>Change Column-Our National Executive Committee &#8211; a broad spectrum of<\/p>\n<p>personalities:Meet Gavin Hope <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Who are you? (Talk about yourself, your<\/p>\n<p>background, and the influences in your life.) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I grew up in Greenheart Street, South<\/p>\n<p>Ruimveldt Gardens, the elder of two children. It was a small family, and very<\/p>\n<p>close. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As both of our parents had a military<\/p>\n<p>background, discipline in the home was fairly high. I think this helped me<\/p>\n<p>generally, and positively contributed to my personality and in my life. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I was taught the importance of being<\/p>\n<p>disciplined, and of being committed, and this carried over into anything I was<\/p>\n<p>involved in, from sport to work to family and friends. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Really, living in the community where I<\/p>\n<p>grew up was itself an advantage. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Most of my very close friends, who were my<\/p>\n<p>neighbours, had parents with military backgrounds &#8211; and this was a part<\/p>\n<p>of the relationship which kept us together: our households all had the same<\/p>\n<p>structures, the same standards. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The people in the area who influenced us<\/p>\n<p>were all fairly senior in the Police Force or the Army. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>They helped to ensure that we had planned<\/p>\n<p>activities as a group, and were instrumental in us forming our own hockey team,<\/p>\n<p>Old Fort, which remains one of the best in the country, and of which I was<\/p>\n<p>Captain at one time. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And the thing is everyone in that hockey<\/p>\n<p>team was from two streets: Greenheart Street and Sunflower Close. We were so<\/p>\n<p>tight &#8211; we went out together, played together, literally lived in each<\/p>\n<p>other&#8217;s houses &#8211; that we lived and worked as a team. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I went to Enterprise Primary School at Robb<\/p>\n<p>and Albert Streets; Bishops&#8217; High School for one year, and then Queens College<\/p>\n<p>. I represented Guyana at hockey at the CAC Games, the Goodwill Games, and<\/p>\n<p>other tournaments. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In athletics I was a two-time junior<\/p>\n<p>champion at the Nationals, and I represented Guyana at the CARIFTA Games in<\/p>\n<p>1985. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I began working at the Guyana Airways<\/p>\n<p>Corporation as a Customer Service Representative in July 1985, two days after<\/p>\n<p>writing my last GCE O-Level exam, and eventually became Senior Supervisor,<\/p>\n<p>Customer Services, remaining at GAC until the last day of its existence. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Then I worked as a Probation and Family<\/p>\n<p>Welfare Officer with the Ministry of Labour and Human Services (20002004); then<\/p>\n<p>I moved to U-Mobile, now Digicel, where I am Consumer Sales Support Supervisor.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I depended a lot on my parents. They were<\/p>\n<p>everything to me. All the values that I have came from my parents, so I would<\/p>\n<p>say that they were my main influence, and everything else that I am is acquired<\/p>\n<p>on the foundation that they built. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Why did you become involved in politics,<\/p>\n<p>and particularly, the AFC? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I think that naturally, we are all<\/p>\n<p>politicians. There is politics in every home. As long as I have been conscious<\/p>\n<p>of it, I have had family members involved in politics in Guyana . <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>My uncles Frank Hope and Kenneth Short,<\/p>\n<p>and before that, my grandfather J.R. Hope, were all involved in politics. Also,<\/p>\n<p>my parents associated with politicians; so I grew up always very aware of<\/p>\n<p>different public and social issues, and of politics. I think that because I was<\/p>\n<p>very active outside of the home, in sport, and because I was always outgoing, I<\/p>\n<p>gained exposure that I may not otherwise have. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>When I worked in the social services<\/p>\n<p>sector, it was reinforced to me that there are serious continuing social issues<\/p>\n<p>that need to be addressed. I realised that the best forum to address these is<\/p>\n<p>through politics &#8211; mainly because there is so much we cannot solve as<\/p>\n<p>individuals, which we could address, and effect changes, coming together as a<\/p>\n<p>party or as a group. That is my main motivation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I am fed up of this country being<\/p>\n<p>dominated by two parties and consumed by those two parties&#8217; issues with each<\/p>\n<p>other. I honestly believe that we as young people need a change, and we need<\/p>\n<p>leaders who are more creditable. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I figured at the time that if I were to<\/p>\n<p>become involved in politics, it should be with leaders who are creditable and<\/p>\n<p>have a good track record of clean, honest politics &#8211; and this inspired me<\/p>\n<p>to join the AFC. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I didn&#8217;t expect to be moving through the<\/p>\n<p>ranks so fast, but through my involvement I was elected to the party&#8217;s National<\/p>\n<p>Executive. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What do you think is the AFC&#8217;s key to the<\/p>\n<p>future of this country? What do you see as your role, and what do you hope to<\/p>\n<p>achieve? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I believe that the key lies in the party&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>leadership &#8211; their credibility, honesty and commitment to effect change.<\/p>\n<p>As well, the members of the party are people who see that what is needed is<\/p>\n<p>change, and clean politics, and the will to make a difference. Given the<\/p>\n<p>opportunity, we can make Guyana a better place. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>My involvement with the AFC and in<\/p>\n<p>politics is not about what Gavin wants to achieve. It is about a society where<\/p>\n<p>everybody can have a reasonable standard of living, where we all live in a<\/p>\n<p>harmonious way. It is not about what a single person wants, it is about what<\/p>\n<p>all Guyanese deserve. I am in it to help to achieve the goal of a better Guyana<\/p>\n<p>for everyone. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What change do you want for Guyana ? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We should have a society where everyone<\/p>\n<p>can expect a certain quality of life. Yes, there will be issues and problems <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8211; we are all individuals &#8211; but<\/p>\n<p>at the same time we are all Guyanese. We have to live together and create a<\/p>\n<p>society where everyone has a little more respect for their neighbours. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>All of your professional life and your<\/p>\n<p>personal involvement in sport have entailed interacting with people in a mainly<\/p>\n<p>urban setting. How does this affect your current political work? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It has actually given me the foundation to<\/p>\n<p>deal with issues across the board and to be comfortable dealing with people<\/p>\n<p>from all strata in society. From the societal point-of-view, working as a<\/p>\n<p>Probation Officer gave me a lot of experience dealing with people at what would<\/p>\n<p>be called the &#8216;grassroots&#8217; level, and it gave me an understanding of what<\/p>\n<p>their needs are. Now, at Digicel, I am dealing with people at a different<\/p>\n<p>level, and who have different needs. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>All these years of dealing with people of<\/p>\n<p>all different backgrounds and expectations has only benefited me, and improved<\/p>\n<p>my view of life. I can communicate with anybody regardless of their status, and<\/p>\n<p>in fact without status or background having to be an issue at all. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I pride myself on being a people person. I<\/p>\n<p>think I am a better person from all my experiences. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To be an effective politician you need to<\/p>\n<p>be able to understand and relate to anybody. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>All my life I have played a lot of team<\/p>\n<p>sports, so I understand what it is to have to work together and rely on each<\/p>\n<p>other as a team. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This is not about Gavin Hope, this is not<\/p>\n<p>about the AFC, this is about Guyana ; and we all have to work together as a<\/p>\n<p>team. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Key Questions????? <\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Crime &#8211; Why does the Government feel<\/p>\n<p>so threatened by the Brigadier&#8217;s assessment of the impact of fuel and narcotics<\/p>\n<p>smuggling on the country? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Drug money &#8211; Apart from the President,<\/p>\n<p>does anyone else in Guyana not recognize that the Nation&#8217;s economy i<\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>s <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>floating on illegal money? Perhaps Dr.<\/p>\n<p>Luncheon? Bernard Kerik &#8211; Apart from the President, did anyone else think that<\/p>\n<p>Bernard Kerik was just the right man to help fight crime in their country? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>GPL &#8211; Would it be unreasonable to ask GPL to credit<\/p>\n<p>every paying consumer with $100 each time they are <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>inconvenienced by a blackout? Tourism &#8211; Does<\/p>\n<p>our Government not know that tourists (even eco ones) generally do not flock to<\/p>\n<p>locations where there is a dubious electricity supply? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Or is there some sort of niche market that<\/p>\n<p>the rest of us are unaware of? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Niche market &#8211; Does this niche market also<\/p>\n<p>consist of those who see no need for proper public transportation when in a<\/p>\n<p>strange land? VAT &#8211; Which genius took one look at all the misery and squalor in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana and figured: what these people need are <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>more taxes? Guyana &#8216;s Rainforest &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>Shouldn&#8217;t everyone have a house lot before we start pledging away our<\/p>\n<p>rainforest? Cheap toys for Christmas &#8211; Just where will all those Chinese<\/p>\n<p>manufactured toys from the massive recall in the USA <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>end up? Any bets? Double speak &#8211; Would<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Luncheon tell us whether the &#8220;fairly acute deterioration&#8221; in<\/p>\n<p>power supply which he is noticing has anything to do with a lack of fuel? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-11-24: The AFC is being<\/p>\n<p>continuously frustrated by the powers that be. <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Editor <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Stabroek News <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Dear Mr. Editor <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Despite numerous attempts to gain<\/p>\n<p>representation, AFC Parliamentary Representative Mr. David Patterson is not a<\/p>\n<p>member of the Joint Task Force on Local Government Reform as was erroneously<\/p>\n<p>stated in the Stabroek News article: &#8220;<b><i>Parliamentary opposition<\/p>\n<p>wants urgent meeting with GECOM&#8221; <\/i><\/b>dateline Tuesday, November 20th<\/p>\n<p>2007. This Committee was formed in 2001; the AFC only entered Parliament in<\/p>\n<p>October 2006. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Notwithstanding; it is now obvious to most<\/p>\n<p>that the AFC is being continuously frustrated by the powers that be in its<\/p>\n<p>efforts to be included and to participate in decision making process that<\/p>\n<p>reinforces transparency and good governance in a democracy. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Above all, the powers that be in Guyana must<\/p>\n<p>recognise the need to not only to speak about inclusive and participatory<\/p>\n<p>politics for good governance. They should immediately replace their current<\/p>\n<p>exclusionary practices, by ensuring that an enabling environment is created<\/p>\n<p>which promotes and support consensus building and not confrontation. Where not<\/p>\n<p>only the AFC, but where appropriate civil society, the private sector and non<\/p>\n<p>governmental organisations be accorded representation on national committees,<\/p>\n<p>the boards of state agencies and other institutions, where decisions are taken<\/p>\n<p>that have a direct impact on and affect the daily lives of every Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>citizen. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Office of the Chief Executive Officer <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>AFC <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-11-24: CLIMATE CHANGE<\/p>\n<p>IS A NATIONAL ISSUE- THE DELEGATION ATTENDING THE BALI CONFERENCE ON CLIMATE<\/p>\n<p>CHANGE SHOULD INCLUDE ALL STAKEHOLDERS: BY RAPHAEL TROTMAN<\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;>. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>November 10, 2006, marked exactly one year<\/p>\n<p>since His Excellency, the President hosted the Parliamentary Opposition parties<\/p>\n<p>at his office for discussions under the &#8220;Enhanced Framework for Political<\/p>\n<p>Cooperation&#8221; as adumbrated in his address to the National Assembly on the<\/p>\n<p>occasion of the Opening of the 9<sup>th<\/sup> Parliament of Guyana in<\/p>\n<p>September, 2006. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is well known that at the November, 2006<\/p>\n<p>meeting many worthwhile proposals were canvassed and agreed upon to be pursued.<\/p>\n<p>Mysteriously, and disappointingly, this &#8220;enhanced framework&#8221; was<\/p>\n<p>dismantled weeks later only to be replaced by more personal one-and-one talks<\/p>\n<p>between the President and Leader of the Opposition. In passing, it is apposite<\/p>\n<p>to note that to date the nation is unsure of what exactly is produced by these<\/p>\n<p>private discourses as nothing worthwhile has emerged. The judiciary remains in<\/p>\n<p>disarray; the cost of living is spiraling; crime and sexual violence are now<\/p>\n<p>the order of the day; Local Government Reforms are nil; and the Constitutional<\/p>\n<p>Commissions remain unconstituted or dysfunctional. The list of issues discussed<\/p>\n<p>and agreed at the November 10, 2007 meeting was long and included matters such<\/p>\n<p>as the formal meetings between the Cabinet and Opposition, Identifying and<\/p>\n<p>Meeting Communities&#8217; Needs, Reform of the Integrity and Elections<\/p>\n<p>Commissions, Establishment of the Procurement Commission, and Local Government<\/p>\n<p>Reform to name a few. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>One of the matters put on the table by His<\/p>\n<p>Excellency himself, was that of &#8220;joint representation on overseas<\/p>\n<p>delegations&#8221;. It is this matter that I wish to develop by calling on the<\/p>\n<p>President to honour his word, and to do so in time for the upcoming Bali<\/p>\n<p>Conference on Climate Change which is scheduled for December, 2007. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The issue of Climate Change, if it is<\/p>\n<p>accepted as true, represents the greatest threat to mankind since the cold war.<\/p>\n<p>It is a universal issue that affects every one of the world&#8217;s six and a<\/p>\n<p>half billion people. It is here being argued that no single government,<\/p>\n<p>opposition party, NGO, or citizen, can capably tackle the problem alone, and<\/p>\n<p>hence a concerted effort should be the way we go. No one has forgotten the<\/p>\n<p>floods of 2005 and 2006, and the fallout which followed. For Guyana, global<\/p>\n<p>warming and climate change are to be taken as constituting serious threats and<\/p>\n<p>challenges for which the swiftest action and best solutions have to be<\/p>\n<p>implemented. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance For Change believes that the<\/p>\n<p>PPP\/C administration needs to display magnanimity, fairness, and common sense<\/p>\n<p>by ensuring that the delegation representing Guyana in Bali, Indonesia, is made<\/p>\n<p>up of a good cross-section of parliamentarians, technocrats, and other<\/p>\n<p>interested civil society stakeholders, who, upon their return, can bond into a<\/p>\n<p>working committee to advise the Government. I am not denigrating the existing<\/p>\n<p>committee chaired by the Minister of Agriculture, or its members, but a quick<\/p>\n<p>scan of the names tells us that it is not as broad-based as it should be.<\/p>\n<p>Guyana has much more to offer. There is simply too much at stake to risk our<\/p>\n<p>future by holding to pointless party positions on this issue. The nation is<\/p>\n<p>watching, and waiting. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-11-25:Our National<\/p>\n<p>Executive Committee &#8211; a broad spectrum of personalities Meet Francis<\/p>\n<p>Darchiville <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Who are you? (Tell me a little about<\/p>\n<p>yourself, and your background.) <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I was born 3<sup>rd<\/sup> November 1942 at<\/p>\n<p>Hague Backdam, West Coast Demerara, but then my family moved to Anna Catherina,<\/p>\n<p>where I grew up. I attended St John&#8217;s Anglican School at Edinburgh, which<\/p>\n<p>is a small village between Anna Catherina and Leonora. My father was from St<\/p>\n<p>Lucia and my mother was a second-generation Indian &#8211; in that her<\/p>\n<p>grandparents had come as indentured servants. She spoke Hindi with her family<\/p>\n<p>and friends, and my father spoke French patois with <i>his<\/i> family and<\/p>\n<p>friends &#8211; but I learnt to speak neither, because in the home they only<\/p>\n<p>spoke English to us and to each other. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>My parents were very strict, so as soon as I<\/p>\n<p>left school I decided I wanted to make my own money and I moved to Linden where<\/p>\n<p>I had some relatives on my father&#8217;s side. A lot of people came to Guyana<\/p>\n<p>from St Lucia to seek their fortune &#8211; my father came as a pork knocker<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; and those who didn&#8217;t make it in the diamond fields ended up in<\/p>\n<p>Linden because the bauxite company paid the most. It was around 1959-60 and I<\/p>\n<p>was 17-18. I worked for [Demerara Bauxite Company] DEMBA at first as a mechanic<\/p>\n<p>helper, then eventually First Class Mechanic. The money was good but McKenzie<\/p>\n<p>was a bit wild then &#8211; the proverbial &#8216;mining town&#8217; &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>and my mother decided it was not for her only son, so she came and literally<\/p>\n<p>extracted me: put me in a ferry boat and took me home. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I studied mechanics at the Georgetown<\/p>\n<p>Technical Institute, but I was too restless and I left to go and work at the<\/p>\n<p>Public Works Department in Kingston, Georgetown. I stayed there for 2 years<\/p>\n<p>then I went to work at First Federation Life Insurance Company in August 1965.<\/p>\n<p>(I had gotten married in July of that year; we have three children.) After<\/p>\n<p>being an Agent for nine months, I was appointed Sales Promotion Manager. It was<\/p>\n<p>then that I started travelling within Guyana and abroad. I would say the<\/p>\n<p>experiences of travelling &#8211; together with reading &#8211; are the sources<\/p>\n<p>of a lot of knowledge for me, and the best things for a person&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>development. Eventually I became Area Manager, with oversight of our offices in<\/p>\n<p>Georgetown, Vreed-en-Hoop, Linden, Corriverton and New Amsterdam. Through the<\/p>\n<p>company I attended conventions and managers&#8217; conferences in London, and<\/p>\n<p>the Latin America\/Caribbean region. I was with First Federation for 15 yrs in<\/p>\n<p>all, then I migrated to Tampa, Florida, where I was Warehouse Manager and then<\/p>\n<p>Vice-President of Shipping at Sahlman Seafoods (the former parent company of<\/p>\n<p>Georgetown Seafoods). Again I was fortunate in that I travelled to St Maarten,<\/p>\n<p>St Lucia, Grenada, Guyane. After five years in Florida, I transferred to the<\/p>\n<p>post of General Manager of Georgetown Seafoods, Providence EBD, where I stayed<\/p>\n<p>for two years. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I left Guyana and embarked on my own<\/p>\n<p>import-export company out of Tampa, Florida; shipping to and from Guyana, St<\/p>\n<p>Vincent, Grenada and Dominica. I remained self-employed until my retirement<\/p>\n<p>seven years ago when I turned 60. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The thing that influenced me the most was my<\/p>\n<p>desire to achieve. A lot of people have motivated me &#8211; given me very good<\/p>\n<p>advice. As a poor kid, when you are ambitious there is nothing to stop you, and<\/p>\n<p>you just bulldoze yourself through life to what you want. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I am a member of the Masonic Lodge; and I<\/p>\n<p>have been a member of the Rotary Club of Georgetown and the Lions Club of West<\/p>\n<p>Coast Demerara. During my time in Florida I was President of my Rotary Club,<\/p>\n<p>Vice-President of the Caribbean-American Club, and on the Board of the Tampa<\/p>\n<p>Bay Propellor Club, which represents the Maritime Industry. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I live in Plantation Evergreen, Essequibo<\/p>\n<p>Coast with my wife Jennifer. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Why did you become involved in<\/p>\n<p>politics, and in the AFC? <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>When I returned from the US to settle here I<\/p>\n<p>had no intention of doing anything but walking around my garden and sitting in<\/p>\n<p>the shade. But every time I read the papers or look at the TV I see so much<\/p>\n<p>corruption, so much abuse of power, that I could not in all conscience sit and<\/p>\n<p>do nothing. I have known Mr Ramjattan for a while, and I have long been<\/p>\n<p>acquainted with Mr Trotman&#8217;s parents, so I thought very positively of the<\/p>\n<p>party from the first. And through what I know of them now &#8211; of Khemraj<\/p>\n<p>Ramjattan, Raphael Trotman and Sheila Holder , I am satisfied and impressed<\/p>\n<p>with their leadership, and convinced that they are the right persons to move<\/p>\n<p>Guyana forward. I have seen how the United States has remained stuck in a<\/p>\n<p>two-party system of the Republicans and Democrats because people do not want<\/p>\n<p>change, just as some people do not want change in Guy, but we are a small<\/p>\n<p>country and it is easier for us to make this change. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I look around every day and I see children<\/p>\n<p>waiting on the road to go to school &#8211; their parents fork out money to<\/p>\n<p>send them every day &#8211; the transportation, the uniforms, the books &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>and at the end of it there is nothing down the road for them. What are all<\/p>\n<p>these kids going to do when they come out of school with six or eight subjects?<\/p>\n<p>Sell shave ice? There is nothing for them here. Their only options are to run:<\/p>\n<p>to North America, the Caribbean islands, to Brazil or to Venezuela. We need to<\/p>\n<p>work to make something for them, to show them they can stay here and make lives<\/p>\n<p>for themselves. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What do you think is the AFC&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>key to the future of this country? What do you see as your role? <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As I see it, you have to have unity first of<\/p>\n<p>all. Among the diaspora of the party, we can foster this and attract others to<\/p>\n<p>come on board and take the country toward real unity. The sad fact is that we<\/p>\n<p>have a history of race voting in Guyana which the two larger parties capitalise<\/p>\n<p>on, and we need to break that pattern. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Since I came here to live on the Essequibo<\/p>\n<p>Coast, I have been able to set an example to a lot of people, by maintaining<\/p>\n<p>good relationships everywhere. It&#8217;s amazing the amount of people who stop<\/p>\n<p>me every day, everywhere, to congratulate me on what we are doing on the RDC,<\/p>\n<p>and who bring their problems to me. Our work is building inroads in the Region.<\/p>\n<p>People don&#8217;t know where to go for help: they get pushed around at every<\/p>\n<p>turn. So as long as we are sincere in what we do we are going to have the<\/p>\n<p>support of the people. The VAT, for example, is an injustice to the people in<\/p>\n<p>this country &#8211; not the actual tax so much as the way it was shoved down<\/p>\n<p>people&#8217;s throats. Everything is more expensive, there is no denying that;<\/p>\n<p>but what the farmers are getting is very little. Do you know, there is produce<\/p>\n<p>being left on the ground to rot here in Essequibo, because it is not worth it<\/p>\n<p>for the farmers to pay for it to be picked and transported to Charity. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As an AFC Councillor on the Region 2 RDC,<\/p>\n<p>you are able to work directly for your community. Do you feel that you are<\/p>\n<p>defined or even confined by this? <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>No, no, no. Whatever I do, I do in the name<\/p>\n<p>of the AFC and I have good relationships with everybody regardless of what<\/p>\n<p>Party they belong to. My relationships with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman are<\/p>\n<p>all excellent. We cannot agree on everything, of course, but we have to come to<\/p>\n<p>some level of agreement because unless we work together nothing will come of<\/p>\n<p>our efforts. The enmity and backbiting, the fear of be seen in company with<\/p>\n<p>certain people, has to go. There should be no place in Guyana&#8217;s politics<\/p>\n<p>for that kind of hostility and fear. People should feel that they are free to<\/p>\n<p>speak, providing it is the truth, of course. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I live on the Essequibo Coast and I consider<\/p>\n<p>this to be my home. Mr Cordis and I work hard to look after the interests of<\/p>\n<p>the people in the Region and to make sure things are done. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I do think the party should spend a little<\/p>\n<p>more time in Essequibo. They should try to develop a rapport with people here,<\/p>\n<p>because they do have problems. You cannot sit in Georgetown and know what ails<\/p>\n<p>the rest of the country. As Ghandi wrote, you have to take care of the roots of<\/p>\n<p>the country or the tree will die. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What change do you want for Guyana? <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I would like to see a decrease in crime, a<\/p>\n<p>decrease in corruption, child abuse, domestic violence; a reduction in road<\/p>\n<p>accidents and some kind of censorship of the sex and profanity on the<\/p>\n<p>television in movies and other programmes &#8211; the level we have now is<\/p>\n<p>appalling, disgusting. There should also be better monitoring and control of<\/p>\n<p>the type of music on the radio &#8211; there is a lot of vulgarity in the<\/p>\n<p>lyrics. I also feel that if the voting age is 18 then the age of consent should<\/p>\n<p>be 18. I don&#8217;t see how we can think a young person is not old enough to<\/p>\n<p>vote but capable of agreeing to have sex. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I would also like to see better employment<\/p>\n<p>opportunities for children coming out of school, because as it is, there is not<\/p>\n<p>much future for them. Something that is prevalent here on the Essequibo Coast<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; and maybe countrywide &#8211; is the sale of alcohol to children. That,<\/p>\n<p>I think, contributes to some of the problems we have with youth: you start with<\/p>\n<p>alcohol and this leads to drug use. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I believe in democracy, freedom, respect and<\/p>\n<p>justice for all people. We are a good country with good people. All we need to<\/p>\n<p>do is to learn to love and respect one another; and to treat each other as we<\/p>\n<p>expect to be treated. We should work as one, and see ourselves as one and not<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;coolie&#8217; or &#8216;black&#8217; or &#8216; buck&#8217;. We do need<\/p>\n<p>this unity. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>My sincerest wish is that Guyana be restored<\/p>\n<p>to its people; to be a place where we can live in peace, harmony and with<\/p>\n<p>dignity &#8211; and not be terrorised by criminals and afraid to say what we<\/p>\n<p>think for fear of being victimised. We should be able to free ourselves of that<\/p>\n<p>fear. I think the AFC is the answer. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Since the launch of the AFC in October, there<\/p>\n<p>has been a heavy and sustained attack on the movement from all angles and for<\/p>\n<p>all sorts of reasons. However, these attacks have not been able to penetrate<\/p>\n<p>the wall of support for the AFC that has emerged since its launching. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There is widespread speculation as to the<\/p>\n<p>possible relationships, if any, with other political parties, and in<\/p>\n<p>particular, with the self-styled &quot;Guyana Third Force Platform&quot; (GTF).<\/p>\n<p>The relationship between the AFC and the GTF is one of the beachheads which<\/p>\n<p>have been opened up by agent provocateurs to ensure that we are divided and<\/p>\n<p>therefore easily conquerable. The AFC is on record to have stated that it<\/p>\n<p>wanted to launch itself formally as a movement before entering into<\/p>\n<p>deliberations with others. This was made pellucid at the now famous Le Meridien<\/p>\n<p>gathering and was whole-heartedly accepted by all. To do otherwise would have<\/p>\n<p>been to enter into an asymmetrical situation that any student of strategy would<\/p>\n<p>have cautioned against. This would not have augured well for the building of<\/p>\n<p>alliances or partnerships which the AFC has accepted as essential to achieving<\/p>\n<p>a new political dispensation for Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Since those discussions, there has been much<\/p>\n<p>ado about nothing as we parried over websites, personalities and seating<\/p>\n<p>arrangements. At the end of the day, the AFC does not view the others with any<\/p>\n<p>less respect than it does itself. Some misguided souls have apparently<\/p>\n<p>quarrelled about the seating arrangements put in place for the leaders of the<\/p>\n<p>GTF umbrella at the launch, and others complained most ridiculously, about the<\/p>\n<p>fact that the AFC went ahead to name it&#8217;s Presidential and Prime Ministerial<\/p>\n<p>candidates. It must be considered a personal affront for anyone to try to<\/p>\n<p>dictate to the AFC, what it should or should not do regarding its own internal<\/p>\n<p>arrangements and structures. The reality is that if one were to ask Joe and<\/p>\n<p>Jane Public who are the presidential candidates of GAP, WPA, ROAR, Unity Party,<\/p>\n<p>JFAP, the answer would have been unhesitatingly provided. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What we need to do is move away from petty<\/p>\n<p>political posturing and earnestly address the core issue that most Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>want dealt with: &#8211; Will there be a coming together between the AFC and the GTF?<\/p>\n<p>Or between the AFC and parts of what now constitutes the GTF? Trust and a basic<\/p>\n<p>platform of common principles and understanding are what are needed in any<\/p>\n<p>situation in which more than two persons are expected to work together. We need<\/p>\n<p>for example to define specifically what it is we are pursuing: &#8211; Is it for<\/p>\n<p>example an end to instability leading to a new democratic process? Or is it to<\/p>\n<p>promote another period of crisis, confusion and chaos? The AFC would not have<\/p>\n<p>any part to play in promoting such situations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC remains ready, willing, and able to<\/p>\n<p>meet any group, provided that the necessary preparatory work for the meeting<\/p>\n<p>takes place and there is an agreed agenda. The last thing the AFC wishes to see<\/p>\n<p>happen, is to disappoint the nation with a failed process resembling the PPP\/C<\/p>\n<p>and PNCR dialogue, which ended with the infamous &quot;you are not my<\/p>\n<p>equal&quot; utterance. To act otherwise would be to stage a &quot;pappy<\/p>\n<p>show&quot;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC cannot subscribe to any attempt to<\/p>\n<p>avoid the holding of free, fair, fearless, and transparent elections in 2006.<\/p>\n<p>There is a widely held belief that there is a plan afoot to subvert the holding<\/p>\n<p>of elections next year and to bring things to a point where an interim<\/p>\n<p>government will have to be installed. In the view of the AFC, such an outcome<\/p>\n<p>would impose further pain and suffering on our beloved Guyana, perhaps even<\/p>\n<p>leading to complete socio-economic paralysis. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Promoting a National Front Government could<\/p>\n<p>only gain credibility and acceptance if all the important players and<\/p>\n<p>stakeholders voluntarily accept this as the best alternative. Forcing, or<\/p>\n<p>imposing, such an ad hoc arrangement will not work. Already, the AFC&#8217;s name has<\/p>\n<p>come up as being a member of a high-profiled team that travelled to Washington<\/p>\n<p>recently to promote this very point of view. The AFC categorically and publicly<\/p>\n<p>disassociates itself from any such points of view and associations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Then there is the issue of the seats of<\/p>\n<p>Parliament, where to date, the only member of the GTF that has taken a position<\/p>\n<p>is the WPA because it is the one directly involved in this now interesting and<\/p>\n<p>unprecedented matter. It is beyond any shadow of doubt that there is no legal<\/p>\n<p>and\/or constitutional provision that can see the removal of the so-called<\/p>\n<p>&quot;rebel&quot; MP&#8217;s. What is left is the moral issue being trumpeted by all<\/p>\n<p>and sundry; some of whom if we are to call a spade a spade, have serious moral<\/p>\n<p>issues of their own. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The notion of democracy has come a far way<\/p>\n<p>since the promulgation of the Magna Carta in 1215, and the declaration of our<\/p>\n<p>own Independence in 1966. Many have heard of the &quot;Separation of<\/p>\n<p>Powers&quot; but few, especially those in office today, really care to endorse<\/p>\n<p>and promote its true meaning. The latest indecent assault on democracy is being<\/p>\n<p>witnessed with the introduction of the proposed High Court (Amendment) Bill<\/p>\n<p>which seeks to denude and degut the hallowed office of Chief Justice by the<\/p>\n<p>executive. Yet, there are those who are prepared to argue its uprightness<\/p>\n<p>whilst not seeing the argument about three parliamentary seats. Where is the<\/p>\n<p>separation if our judges and elected representatives cannot be insulated from<\/p>\n<p>executive and party control and manipulation? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In 2003 at the Commonwealth Heads of<\/p>\n<p>Government Meeting in Nigeria at which Guyana was amply represented, the<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Latimer House Principles&quot; were adopted as being the standard by<\/p>\n<p>which democracy shall be measured and judged throughout the length and breadth<\/p>\n<p>of the Commonwealth and amongst its 1.8 billion citizens in the 53 territories.<\/p>\n<p>At the time of their adoption, His Excellency, the Right Honourable Don<\/p>\n<p>McKinnon, the Commonwealth Secretary General was moved to expressing the<\/p>\n<p>sanguine expectation of the Commonwealth&#8217;s citizens and their political<\/p>\n<p>representatives: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&quot;What we now wish to see is the sharing<\/p>\n<p>of best practices and dissemination of agreed values and principles. This will<\/p>\n<p>enable member countries to move to that optimum state of governance which is<\/p>\n<p>predicated on the rule of law in our Commonwealth member states.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Interestingly, at the Nigeria Summit the<\/p>\n<p>Heads of State including ours thought it important to address the vexed and<\/p>\n<p>important question of the independence of Members of Parliament and included in<\/p>\n<p>the declaration the following text: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l18 level1 lfo14;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>Article 9 of the Bill of Rights 1688 is reaffirmed.<\/p>\n<p>This article provides: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;\n<p>margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l18 level1 lfo14;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>Security of members during their parliamentary term is<\/p>\n<p>fundamental to parliamentary independence and therefore: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&quot;That the Freedom of Speech and Debates<\/p>\n<p>or Proceedings in Parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any<\/p>\n<p>court or place out of Parliament.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>a) The expulsion of members from parliament<\/p>\n<p>as a penalty for leaving their parties (crossing the floor) should be viewed as<\/p>\n<p>a possible infringement of members&#8217; independence; anti-defection measures may<\/p>\n<p>be necessary in some jurisdictions to deal with corrupt practices; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>b) Laws allowing for the recall of members<\/p>\n<p>during their elected term should be viewed with caution, as a potential threat<\/p>\n<p>to the independence of members; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>c) The cessation of membership of a political<\/p>\n<p>party of itself should not lead to the loss of a member&#8217;s seat.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The above then sets out the new democratic<\/p>\n<p>governance principles that this, and all other governments within the<\/p>\n<p>Commonwealth, except of course those under suspension, have endorsed and<\/p>\n<p>committed themselves to observing and preserving. The issue of the independence<\/p>\n<p>of Members of Parliament is on trial as much here in Guyana, as it is in every<\/p>\n<p>other Commonwealth territory. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>How this matter ends, or is resolved, will<\/p>\n<p>have far-reaching consequences to the democratic edifice everywhere. The<\/p>\n<p>&quot;rebels&quot; of Guyana and interestingly enough, those as well in the<\/p>\n<p>twin-Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, who are fighting the over forty<\/p>\n<p>years of established party dominance, are now being viewed with interest, as<\/p>\n<p>their fate will become a watershed for the people&#8217;s representatives the world<\/p>\n<p>over, and most importantly, in countries with repressive governments and<\/p>\n<p>suffocating political parties. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The people of Guyana have been so poisoned<\/p>\n<p>with the bile of party paramountcy and democratic centralism that it is now<\/p>\n<p>difficult to separate a Member of Parliament from a political party. The<\/p>\n<p>people&#8217;s best interests as envisioned in the Latimer House Principles are what<\/p>\n<p>we in the AFC are being asked to surrender. It is understandable why even the most<\/p>\n<p>ardent supporters of the AFC want to see us purified through the act of<\/p>\n<p>quitting. In a sense therefore, members of Parliament associated with the AFC<\/p>\n<p>are faced with a difficult decision of taking the prophylactic walking pill, or<\/p>\n<p>of staying and building up enough anti-bodies to fight the fever itself. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>That said, it must be accepted that the AFC&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>and its supporters&#8217; interests must be catered for. In this light, the populace<\/p>\n<p>can rest assured that the right decision will be taken at the right time. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The decisions regarding the parliamentary<\/p>\n<p>seats will be taken not based on issues of legality or tenuous moral arguments,<\/p>\n<p>but on practical political reasoning. At this time, I for reasons more to do<\/p>\n<p>with getting the work of the AFC moving in time for the events of 2006 will be<\/p>\n<p>making preparations for my departure in the not too distant future. Having<\/p>\n<p>committed myself to resign, I will be doing so long before the elections, but<\/p>\n<p>it has to be recognized that despite my silence in the House there is<\/p>\n<p>unfinished business particularly in preparing the Freedom of Information Bill<\/p>\n<p>and it would have been unwise to bend simply to the unreasonable demands of<\/p>\n<p>those whom we are likely to encounter on the battlefield in a few short months.<\/p>\n<p>Our eventual withdrawal will be on our terms, on our time, and on our own<\/p>\n<p>supporters&#8217; accord. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I posit that most third party initiatives in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana, and elsewhere failed, not because the giants crushed them, but rather<\/p>\n<p>because of the crab-in-abarrel mentality and mischievousness, which did the destruction<\/p>\n<p>from within, coming from persons sometimes posing as closest supporters and<\/p>\n<p>admirers. I say, let&#8217;s give working together a try in Guyana&#8217;s best interest,<\/p>\n<p>and stop the promotion of divisiveness. Instead of carrying on a debate on<\/p>\n<p>morality and legality, let us engage in a discussion on matters of practicality<\/p>\n<p>as Bernard Ramsay and others have suggested on what is in the AFC&#8217;s best<\/p>\n<p>interest. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-12-9: Will we be safe<\/p>\n<p>over the holiday season? &amp; The GPL situation <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Will we be safe over the holiday season? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Festive Season is upon us once again and<\/p>\n<p>the AFC is concerned about the public safety, well being, and general security<\/p>\n<p>of Guyanese and of all who visit our shores at this time of the year. There are<\/p>\n<p>too many reports of unsolved crimes especially robberies in which the<\/p>\n<p>perpetrators disappear leaving no trace that could lead to their arrest and<\/p>\n<p>conviction. By this time last year, the Police Commissioner had already briefed<\/p>\n<p>the nation as to special arrangements put in place to satisfy the business<\/p>\n<p>community, shoppers and householders. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Unlike last year; this year&#8217;s security<\/p>\n<p>programme, if there is one, seems to lack leadership and focus. The level of<\/p>\n<p>communication through radio, television and print, the security advice and the<\/p>\n<p>opportunity for public interaction which was so commendable last year, is<\/p>\n<p>virtually non existent this time around. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On a related note, the AFC is reliably<\/p>\n<p>informed that the investigation into Snr. Superintendent Merai was advanced<\/p>\n<p>recently in that an integral witness was interviewed by the Police. We believe<\/p>\n<p>that the nation is owed an update and explanation as to why the matter of the<\/p>\n<p>investigation into alleged misconduct as announced by the Commissioner of<\/p>\n<p>Police is unduly dragging on after several months. The rule of law must be<\/p>\n<p>applied equally as to the ordinary citizen as it does to officers of the Guyana<\/p>\n<p>Police Force, for justice delayed is justice denied. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The GPL situation <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the face of growing blackouts and<\/p>\n<p>haphazard service from the GPL nationwide, the Leader of the Alliance For<\/p>\n<p>Change, Mr. Raphael Trotman, MP, had on Tuesday, December 4, 2007, requested<\/p>\n<p>that Parliament examine the functioning of the Guyana Power &amp; Light Company<\/p>\n<p>by appointing a Special Select Committee to inquire into its service to<\/p>\n<p>customers. The Motion, was published on the Parliamentary Order Paper,<\/p>\n<p>requested that the Committee conducting the investigation, be permitted to<\/p>\n<p>receive evidence from the Public Utilities Commission, individual consumers,<\/p>\n<p>other members of the public, non governmental organisations including Consumer<\/p>\n<p>Associations, the Private Sector and civil society organizations working with<\/p>\n<p>affected communities and groups. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC has received unending complaints of<\/p>\n<p>irregular service, strange billings, unlawful disconnections, and claims of<\/p>\n<p>discriminatory practices and has therefore decided to trigger the conducting of<\/p>\n<p>this investigation, especially in light of the recent shake-up of the Company<\/p>\n<p>with the removal of the Chairman of the Board and the head of the Guyana Energy<\/p>\n<p>Agency. The party expects that the other parliamentary parties, particularly<\/p>\n<p>the PPP\/C will not hinder or block this much-needed investigation from<\/p>\n<p>proceeding. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC invites all Guyanese who have issues<\/p>\n<p>with the manner in which GPL operates, to send <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>letters or complaints to its office at 56<\/p>\n<p>Hadfield Street and Chalmers Place, or to any of the executive members so that<\/p>\n<p>they may be presented to the Parliament when the debate and investigation take<\/p>\n<p>place in a few weeks time. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-12-16: Profile of AFC<\/p>\n<p>National Executive Committee member Clayton Hall <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Who are you? (Tell me a little about<\/p>\n<p>yourself, your background; how would you describe yourself?) <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I was born in Georgetown, where my father was<\/p>\n<p>a schoolteacher. When he became an Agriculture Field Assistant he was assigned to<\/p>\n<p>various locations out of town, and we all followed him; so we lived for on and<\/p>\n<p>off in West Demerara, in the Essequibo River area, and in the Essequibo<\/p>\n<p>Islands. When we returned to Georgetown, we lived in Charlestown. We were poor,<\/p>\n<p>so I am accustomed to living a very ordinary life. I was educated at St<\/p>\n<p>Mary&#8217;s RC School and then St Stanislaus, both in Georgetown. My first job<\/p>\n<p>was at Central Garage, where I eventually became Workshop Manager. Following<\/p>\n<p>this I was Manager of the Guyana National Engineering Corporation (GNEC), then<\/p>\n<p>I was Manager of the Bel-Lu Claybrick and Tile Factory during 1979-82. I had<\/p>\n<p>completed a Diploma in Public Administration at the University of Guyana, but<\/p>\n<p>as you know, as a government officer one was often redeployed, and this is how<\/p>\n<p>I ended up in the forestry sector. Eventually I went to the UK to do a BSc in<\/p>\n<p>Wood Science and Technology, followed by an MSc in Forestry, specialising in<\/p>\n<p>Forest Industries Development, from the University of Wales. I am a former<\/p>\n<p>Commissioner of Forests at the Guyana Forestry Commission. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I would say that in my early life the Roman<\/p>\n<p>Catholic church had an influence on me. The other great influences came after I<\/p>\n<p>began to work. In the private sector, people like John Simon DeFreitas set an<\/p>\n<p>example of work ethic and commitment. In my government posts, at GNEC former<\/p>\n<p>Divisional Manager Burchell Forde and former Executive Directors Pat Carmichael<\/p>\n<p>and then Claude Saul taught me a great deal as well as encouraged me in the<\/p>\n<p>development of my career path. Later in life I was also influenced by John<\/p>\n<p>Douglas, former Advisor on Forestry and Dr Kenneth King, former FAO Director. I<\/p>\n<p>would say that at each phase of my life I was fortunate to have such persons<\/p>\n<p>guiding me, and advising me; allowing me to develop and bloom. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Why did you become involved in the AFC? <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Back in 2005 I was completing a stint as<\/p>\n<p>Programme Director of Conservation International, when I was approached by<\/p>\n<p>Raphael Trotman, Khemraj Ramjattan and Sheila Holder with their idea of forming<\/p>\n<p>a political party. I was involved in several discussions on this issue, during<\/p>\n<p>which I made some recommendations; but the end result was that I was prepared<\/p>\n<p>to support them and to be a part of this, and the AFC was launched. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I had never been overtly involved in politics<\/p>\n<p>before this, but I have to say that what was said to me by Raphael, Khemraj and<\/p>\n<p>Sheila stirred me; and having had so many experiences &#8211; working for the<\/p>\n<p>government and being subject to political whims &#8211; I thought it was time<\/p>\n<p>to take a stand and made a contribution to my country in this area. I never <i>planned<\/i><\/p>\n<p>to become involved in politics, but I guess you could say the time had come. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I&#8217;d like to state that I am also an<\/p>\n<p>environmentalist and conservationist, in essence, and I remain very concerned with<\/p>\n<p>this area. I thought the Alliance for Change created an opportunity for a new<\/p>\n<p>dispensation of politics in Guyana. Politics for us in Guyana has always been<\/p>\n<p>confrontational &#8211; based on race and ethnicity. The AFC&#8217;s message:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;don&#8217;t vote race, vote change&#8221; was a new approach and new<\/p>\n<p>political culture for Guyana, that is not confrontational. This change is<\/p>\n<p>fundamental to a new Guyana, and it captured not only my imagination but also<\/p>\n<p>those of other people. Most people are suspicious of politicians and it takes<\/p>\n<p>some time to give trust, but what the AFC offers is a new way of cultivating<\/p>\n<p>pride and giving hope for the future of Guyana. This positive approach, I<\/p>\n<p>think, has made many people besides myself prepared to stake their future in<\/p>\n<p>politics in a way never seen before in Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What do you think is the AFC&#8217;s key<\/p>\n<p>to the future of this country? <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I think we should go back to our Agenda For<\/p>\n<p>Change which speaks clearly of the kind of government we would like to offer:<\/p>\n<p>the creation of a rule of law which would be upheld. People tend to be cautious<\/p>\n<p>in their dealings with the law, and lack confidence in the justice system at<\/p>\n<p>the moment. There are too many discriminatory practices, and a lack of basic<\/p>\n<p>human rights. We need to develop a new culture of trust, respect for each other<\/p>\n<p>and institutions of government. Unless we are able to separate the judicial and<\/p>\n<p>the bureaucratic arms of government, people will always be concerned about<\/p>\n<p>whether they are being fairly treated. I feel too that we must ensure that<\/p>\n<p>qualified and professional and competent people are allowed to carry out their<\/p>\n<p>duties and functions and not be influenced in any way in the discharge of the<\/p>\n<p>work they are given to do. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I think that we have helped to engender a<\/p>\n<p>more enabling political environment in this country, which can be seen in the<\/p>\n<p>way that everyone is looking forward to the Local Government elections. We have<\/p>\n<p>to ensure that this prevails so that citizens can feel confident in electing<\/p>\n<p>the representatives they want for their communities; and through this, improve<\/p>\n<p>representation and leadership at all levels. A long time ago, when Guyana was a<\/p>\n<p>young republic and we were all proud of being Guyanese, we spoke of<\/p>\n<p>self-reliance, but we lost that will. Now, Caricom leaders are meeting to see<\/p>\n<p>how we can achieve some of this self-reliance to alleviate the poverty of our<\/p>\n<p>people. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>You hold the post of Chief Executive<\/p>\n<p>Officer of the AFC. Does this fit in with what you hope to achieve on the<\/p>\n<p>Party&#8217;s behalf? <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is an elected office, so the appointment<\/p>\n<p>is political as well as administrative. I think that initially we were trying<\/p>\n<p>to create a different type of movement, then as we developed into a<\/p>\n<p>full-fledged political party we found that the role had changed. The office is<\/p>\n<p>in transition, and it is now not a CEO&#8217;s role so much as a General<\/p>\n<p>Secretary&#8217;s &#8211; I think this will be adjusted at our next Delegates<\/p>\n<p>Conference in two years&#8217; time. Right now, the office coordinates<\/p>\n<p>administrative, management and political function. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I think my role is one of service. There is<\/p>\n<p>an old saying: &#8220;Blessed is he who has no expectations, for he is never<\/p>\n<p>disappointed.&#8221; I&#8217;ve run my race. I have reached the highest levels<\/p>\n<p>of my profession, I am a grandfather of 5. Whatever experiences I have gained I<\/p>\n<p>am prepared to share. I am prepared to take on whatever is required. But one<\/p>\n<p>has to be mindful of the fact that in the harsh realities of this world one has<\/p>\n<p>to satisfy basic needs and obligations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Do you think that your long involvement in<\/p>\n<p>the forestry sector has defined you? Does this affect you politically? <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I think what I have is name recognition. I<\/p>\n<p>don&#8217;t know if the effect is positive or negative, but in politics any<\/p>\n<p>news is good news. I think if people know us and what we stand for &#8211; and<\/p>\n<p>perceive us to have a high level of rectitude, integrity and professionalism,<\/p>\n<p>and to be trustworthy &#8211; they tend to be confident that here are people we<\/p>\n<p>could follow in the political arena. Sometimes politicians take a bum rap when<\/p>\n<p>it comes to judgement of their character, but it&#8217;s all par for the<\/p>\n<p>course. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What change do you want for Guyana? <\/span><\/u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I would like to see an environment in which<\/p>\n<p>we recognise and respect the rule of law, and the institutions of government;<\/p>\n<p>recognise and hold sacred the fundamental rights of all citizens. I would like<\/p>\n<p>to see the implementation of the recommendations of the Constitutional Reform<\/p>\n<p>Commission as well as the recommendations of many of the review commissions we<\/p>\n<p>have had in this country that would allow the participation of all citizens in<\/p>\n<p>the decision-making processes that affect their lives and the happiness and<\/p>\n<p>prosperity of all Guyanese. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-12-23: <i>The AFC<\/p>\n<p>column &#8211;<\/i>AFC WILL CONTINUE TO WORK IN EARNEST By Raphael Trotman <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Once again, we face the end of one year and the<\/p>\n<p>beginning of yet another important one. The leadership and executive of the<\/p>\n<p>Alliance For Change would like to personally thank all Guyanese and<\/p>\n<p>particularly, the members and supporters, for their support and dedication<\/p>\n<p>displayed throughout the year. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We are especially pleased that we achieved<\/p>\n<p>several important milestones this year, which will further help to further<\/p>\n<p>define the AFC and reinforce the conviction that the politics of Guyana has<\/p>\n<p>finally begun to swing towards the positive. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Notable features of our work this year<\/p>\n<p>included visits to the Regions and interaction with members and supporters in<\/p>\n<p>almost all ten Regions; the successful holding of our first National Conference<\/p>\n<p>in July, the election of Office-Bearers which followed; exemplary leadership in<\/p>\n<p>the National Assembly and Regional Democratic Councils; the retirement of one<\/p>\n<p>MP and welcome of another; welfare assistance and outreach to victims of<\/p>\n<p>tragedy and to the needy through our Welfare Committee; and greater<\/p>\n<p>administrative efficiency through the work of our Chief Executive Officer. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Of particular pride to us was that we were<\/p>\n<p>able to render assistance to scores of persons throughout the length and<\/p>\n<p>breadth of Guyana who were desirous of assistance for micro-projects, legal<\/p>\n<p>problems, or victims of tragic circumstances such as fire, traffic accidents,<\/p>\n<p>piracy, and poverty. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the area of academic achievement, we were<\/p>\n<p>honoured to be able to present Ms. Abike Amsterdam of Buxton with cash prizes<\/p>\n<p>and a trophy in recognition of her outstanding performance at the SSEE<\/p>\n<p>examinations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Before the end of 2007, we hope to make the<\/p>\n<p>inaugural presentations to two youth recipients with awards from the AFC\/Marlis<\/p>\n<p>Archer Memorial Fund towards meeting their academic needs and supplies. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Additionally, a young amputee from Region 2<\/p>\n<p>in the Sand Pit, Onderneeming, Essequibo , was given assistance towards<\/p>\n<p>acquiring a prosthetic leg after an accident in 2004 caused his lower right leg<\/p>\n<p>to be amputated. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The list of our daily activities and outreach<\/p>\n<p>is endless and too numerous to mention here. For those who are interested in<\/p>\n<p>knowing more you may visit our website at www.afcguyana.com. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>At present, the leadership is focused on<\/p>\n<p>building the capacity of the AFC as a strong, credible and organized political<\/p>\n<p>force as we prepare for local government elections and all future elections.<\/p>\n<p>Our primary focus at this time is the campaign to force the government to ease<\/p>\n<p>the pressure being exerted by the imposition of VAT. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Because we believe the Guyana Revenue<\/p>\n<p>Authority was ill prepared for its introduction, and because there has been no<\/p>\n<p>adjustment to income tax and other impacting taxes, the cost of living has<\/p>\n<p>skyrocketed. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We have unveiled a programme for change<\/p>\n<p>through a series of cartoons, banners, letters and activities intended to influence<\/p>\n<p>the government to do the right thing for the people of Guyana . <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We ask you to agitate in every town, village<\/p>\n<p>or area that you find yourselves in against the inequitable imposition of this<\/p>\n<p>tax. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As our work and value gain strength, you can<\/p>\n<p>expect that the attacks against the AFC will intensify and will be directed<\/p>\n<p>through personal smear campaigns against the leadership; psychological attacks<\/p>\n<p>proclaiming that the AFC does nothing, or that if indeed we are doing<\/p>\n<p>something, it is only for one race of people and not the others. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Remember that the AFC&#8217;s platform is that it<\/p>\n<p>is a non-racial, all-embracing political entity that wants to CHANGE the<\/p>\n<p>present racial construct that seeks to determine every being of our existence<\/p>\n<p>and is crippling this country. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Those who voted for the AFC in 2006 knew that<\/p>\n<p>they were voting for a party that would not represent racial groups, but all<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is this strong message that saw the party<\/p>\n<p>gain an unprecedented six seats in the National Assembly, and representation on<\/p>\n<p>all 10 Regional Democratic Councils. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>You have to understand that the attacks are<\/p>\n<p>coming against the AFC because it is seen as a significant threat. Consider<\/p>\n<p>which other political parties are being targeted, and you will realise that the<\/p>\n<p>answer is none. Ask yourselves then, why this is so. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>These attacks are well coordinated and<\/p>\n<p>financed, and mean that the AFC has to rise to meet the challenge. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Our information is that the goal of our enemies<\/p>\n<p>is to destroy and demoralize the AFC and its supporters by the time of Local<\/p>\n<p>Government Elections, which are scheduled for 2008. We must defend the party,<\/p>\n<p>fight for its survival and well-being, and resist the onslaught of demoralizing<\/p>\n<p>attacks. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Those who despise us will continue to attack;<\/p>\n<p>and we likewise, will continue our work in earnest and with God&#8217;s guidance as<\/p>\n<p>He watches us with His eyes as we go, and help us to be wise in times when we<\/p>\n<p>don&#8217;t know. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As smart and astute citizens, you would also<\/p>\n<p>notice that there are collaborative efforts between other parties to suddenly<\/p>\n<p>work together <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>to<\/p>\n<p>shut out the AFC from participating in the mainstream of political life. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This is most glaring in the stubborn decision<\/p>\n<p>being taken to deny the AFC access to resources to monitor the upcoming<\/p>\n<p>House-to-House Registration exercise. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Thankfully, the rule of law has again<\/p>\n<p>prevailed and the High Court has vindicated our position in ruling that all<\/p>\n<p>parliamentary parties should share equitably in the State&#8217;s resources for the<\/p>\n<p>scrutinisation of the House-to-House registration process and beyond. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We have also been denied representation on<\/p>\n<p>State Boards, Committees and Commissions even though a new and enlightened<\/p>\n<p>culture was promised by the other parties in their manifestos. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The much vaunted &#8220;enhanced framework<\/p>\n<p>for cooperation&#8221; between government, opposition, and other stakeholders<\/p>\n<p>has been abandoned before it could have resulted in something positive; we are<\/p>\n<p>happy though that some issues which we raised at the initial stages including,<\/p>\n<p>Mark Benschop&#8217;s treason charge, have been addressed. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Yet at this joyous time of the year we will<\/p>\n<p>try to bring Christmas greetings and cheer to as many of our members,<\/p>\n<p>supporters, and to all Guyanese, as possible. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A number of Christmas parties for needy<\/p>\n<p>children have been organized in Georgetown , Linden , Essequibo, New Amsterdam,<\/p>\n<p>and Corentyne, and we publicly thank all those in Guyana and the Diaspora who<\/p>\n<p>made these a success. Gifts are also being distributed to deserving children in<\/p>\n<p>the Rupununi, West Coast Berbice and Kwakwani. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Additionally, on Christmas Day, lunches will<\/p>\n<p>be shared by the AFC to persons without food or shelter in the Breda and<\/p>\n<p>Leopold Streets communities as we commemorate the birth of the Christ child,<\/p>\n<p>and follow the example of giving, extending forgiveness, renewing our faith and<\/p>\n<p>commitment, and changing the social and political landscape of Guyana . <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>For the new year you can expect increased<\/p>\n<p>activism as we continue to reach out and to organize for Local Government Elections,<\/p>\n<p>and to highlight and treat with the needs of people. We know we can count on<\/p>\n<p>your support and that you will not falter. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Merry Christmas, and may God Bless you and<\/p>\n<p>your families, and give you health, strength, and happiness in 2008 to be able<\/p>\n<p>to push the Agenda For Change even further and higher. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-12-23: <i>THE AFC AT<\/p>\n<p>CHRISTMAS <\/i>By Sheila Holder <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Is politics really a full-time, year-round<\/p>\n<p>career or do politicians relax a little during the Christmas season? Are there<\/p>\n<p>seasonal political issues and if so are there any issues particularly<\/p>\n<p>associated with Christmas? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>AFC Vice-Chairman Sheila Holder shares her<\/p>\n<p>views on what Christmas means for politics and politicians. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>For me Christmas is always about the true<\/p>\n<p>meaning of Christianity. Incomparable love &#8211; that God sent His only begotten<\/p>\n<p>son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins that we might be saved. The birth of<\/p>\n<p>Christ, therefore, opened up the possibility for the attainment of peace and<\/p>\n<p>goodwill among mankind. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As a politician, I have come to a greater understanding<\/p>\n<p>of the needs of others, especially the children who exemplify the true meaning<\/p>\n<p>of Christmas. Thanks to my colleagues and supporters of the AFC, the party has<\/p>\n<p>been able to focus on providing moments of Christmas cheer and happiness for<\/p>\n<p>hundreds of children on the Essequibo Coast , Linden , New Amsterdam, Corentyne<\/p>\n<p>and in Georgetown . <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>At one of the children&#8217;s Christmas parties<\/p>\n<p>hosted by the AFC&#8217;s Regional Councilor, Francis D&#8217;Archiville, and his wife on<\/p>\n<p>the Essequibo Coast , it was an occasion of joy to witness the children&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>excitement at the sight of Santa. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Each child stood orderly in line and waited<\/p>\n<p>patiently for his\/her turn to be given a hug and a gift from Santa. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Later, after Santa had left, one little girl<\/p>\n<p>reported in tears that she had misplaced her gift. To pacify her she was given<\/p>\n<p>a replacement. Lo and behold moments later, the child returned the second gift<\/p>\n<p>stating that she had found the one Santa had given her. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is such child-like attitudes of honesty,<\/p>\n<p>decency and trust that Jesus Christ wants us to display in contrast to the lack<\/p>\n<p>of faith and the double standards we often display after acquiring<\/p>\n<p>sophistication in adulthood. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>These days I see a great need for such<\/p>\n<p>child-like honesty and decency to be displayed both among our people and at the<\/p>\n<p>level of our government. In fact, I now firmly believe that because there is an<\/p>\n<p>absence of moral guidance at the leadership level in the affairs of state,<\/p>\n<p>those of us who profess to be Christians have a duty to lead by example.<\/p>\n<p>Regrettably, many have fallen short of this standard! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>From my perspective, all those persons in our<\/p>\n<p>society who desire members of the PPP\/C government to rule with evenhandedness<\/p>\n<p>and honesty will achieve their desire only when they themselves practice those<\/p>\n<p>traits in their spheres of activity. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So, until then, there can be no relaxation<\/p>\n<p>for AFC leaders, parliamentarians, activists and members. Let us therefore,<\/p>\n<p>remember the Christ in Christmas and reflect His love, which is in each of us. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-12-30: AFC RESOLVES TO<\/p>\n<p>FIGHT FOR CHANGE IN 2008 <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A<\/p>\n<p>message for the New Year <\/span><\/i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance For Change takes the opportunity<\/p>\n<p>to extend best wishes to all Guyanese in 2008. The previous year has been an<\/p>\n<p>interesting one which has been dominated by rising prices largely due to the introduction<\/p>\n<p>of the very unpopular Value Added Tax, and uncontrollable crime. However, as<\/p>\n<p>true Guyanese we have been resilient and have managed to survive by organizing<\/p>\n<p>ourselves to meet the escalating cost of living and social degradation that is<\/p>\n<p>unfolding. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Concerns of crime, extra judicial killings,<\/p>\n<p>torture, sexual abuse and domestic violence, inadequate road safety mechanisms,<\/p>\n<p>administrative lawlessness, and failing systems overall, will be features we<\/p>\n<p>unfortunately carry into 2008. I urge you all to consider your situation<\/p>\n<p>carefully and be aware that those who fail to embrace and apply new remedies<\/p>\n<p>must expect new evils in their midst. This is the time for change. We all have<\/p>\n<p>choices to make and new roads to travel, and as we do so, let us ensure that our<\/p>\n<p>decisions are not predicated on racial and political considerations but on<\/p>\n<p>those which hold this dear country and all its peoples as first and most<\/p>\n<p>important. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance For Change offers itself as a<\/p>\n<p>true alternative to the &#8220;old boys club&#8221; politics that we are<\/p>\n<p>witnessing today where leaders compromise their ethics and principles in<\/p>\n<p>pursuit of the maintenance of the <i>status quo which keeps them in office<\/p>\n<p>while the masses are made to suffer. Let 2008 see the continuance of the<\/p>\n<p>emergence of a change from the backward political culture; the respect for, and<\/p>\n<p>upholding of the rule of law; the strengthening of the democratic process; and<\/p>\n<p>the recognition of the equal rights and responsibilities of all Guyanese. <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is the AFC&#8217;s wish that this new year<\/p>\n<p>will bring fresh economic opportunities, equitable distribution of the national<\/p>\n<p>wealth, a resurgence of national pride and international respect for our<\/p>\n<p>sovereign state, the return to democracy with the holding of local government<\/p>\n<p>elections on a level playing field, and overall, the new wholesome beginning<\/p>\n<p>that we the people so passionately need. The AFC resolves to do all within its<\/p>\n<p>power to make this wish a reality and asks for your support, encouragement, and<\/p>\n<p>prayers. God&#8217;s richest blessings in 2008! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What a year it has been <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As the year comes to an end Guyanese remain<\/p>\n<p>troubled about many things. The rampant crime that is now plaguing virtually<\/p>\n<p>every community has caused many to be afraid to venture out at nights so they<\/p>\n<p>seek refuge in their homes in the hope that the devilish bandits would spare<\/p>\n<p>them the horrific experience of their cold blooded brutality. While some<\/p>\n<p>harbour these fears, the society is witnessing an unprecedented number of women<\/p>\n<p>and children who have experienced a brutality of another kind &#8211; violent<\/p>\n<p>battering and rape in their homes and places of work, by those who ought to<\/p>\n<p>love, care and protect them. Clearly, the society has lost its rudder and the<\/p>\n<p>religious community the influence it once had. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Official Misconduct <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Government officials like the Minister of<\/p>\n<p>Local Government, who ought to be setting the example of proper public conduct,<\/p>\n<p>have, regrettably, demonstrated palpably the aberration of a growing disregard<\/p>\n<p>for the concept of public responsibility among members of the present PPP\/Civic<\/p>\n<p>administration. The culture of collective responsibility has been clearly<\/p>\n<p>misunderstood in that it was intended to mean that the individual Minister had<\/p>\n<p>to act in a way to retain support of his colleagues, or risk either exposure in<\/p>\n<p>Parliament or removal from office by the Head of State. It is now evident that<\/p>\n<p>neither his colleagues, nor the Head of State comprehend this concept. As a<\/p>\n<p>consequence, any motion by the AFC calling for the censure (or perhaps it<\/p>\n<p>should be the removal) of the Local government Minister is likely to be<\/p>\n<p>defeated under the circumstances. Nonetheless, failure by the AFC to do so will<\/p>\n<p>also see the party being accused of condoning public disregard to the law and<\/p>\n<p>order! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Drop de VAT! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Apart from the increased levels of violence<\/p>\n<p>and the improper behaviour of the Minister of Local Government that has become<\/p>\n<p>the silent shame of our society; the Value Added Tax (VAT) has caused much pain<\/p>\n<p>and aggravation to all strata of the society but particularly to the most<\/p>\n<p>vulnerable in our midst -the working poor, women and children. I, therefore,<\/p>\n<p>consider it appropriate for the AFC to explain its position on VAT in some<\/p>\n<p>depth. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC&#8217;s Position on VAT <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In response to our members and the wider<\/p>\n<p>society, the AFC has been distributing a flyer poignantly explained by several<\/p>\n<p>expressive cartoons. We posit that, as currently administered, the VAT is the<\/p>\n<p>wrong medicine for the following reasons: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=29<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1056&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_30.jpg&#8221;>The implementation of VAT<\/p>\n<p>requires trained and professional human resources which this government has<\/p>\n<p>made no effort to retain over the last fifteen years they have steered the ship<\/p>\n<p>of state. Had the government any semblance of fairness and equity, they would<\/p>\n<p>have reduced the PAYE rate simultaneously with the <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>introduction of VAT to cushion the burden on<\/p>\n<p>the already heavily taxed -as was recommended by reputable Guyanese economists<\/p>\n<p>and as was done in other countries. The VAT rate should be reduced and the<\/p>\n<p>income and corporate tax structure reformed to ensure the tax burden is better<\/p>\n<p>distributed. Guyana is uncompetitive with its current high rate of taxation<\/p>\n<p>which has led to many noteworthy attempts at tax evasion. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4<\/p>\n<p>height=29 id=&#8221;_x0000_i1057&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_31.jpg&#8221;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As a result of government&#8217;s failure to<\/p>\n<p>implement the above recommendations, the implementation of VAT has led to<\/p>\n<p>higher inflation and a greater burden on the poor and the working classes. The<\/p>\n<p>adoption of these measures will also serve to enhance the country&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>competitiveness and attract investment. The AFC hopes the government could<\/p>\n<p>muster the maturity to do what needs to be done. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/body><\/p>\n<p><\/html><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>2005-11-19: Our eventual withdrawal will be on our terms 1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Article 9 of the Bill of Rights 1688 is reaffirmed. This article provides: 13.5pt;color:#0031FF&#8217;> By Khemraj Ramjattan Tuesday, November 15th 2005 Mr Raymond Gaskin, my very good friend, the answer to your question is obvious. (SN, 10.11.05 &#8216;Will a member of the AFC who is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7134,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2643","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-documents"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/image001-2.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4F7T1-GD","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2643"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7134"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2643"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2643"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2643"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}