{"id":2648,"date":"2008-01-06T16:18:28","date_gmt":"2008-01-06T21:18:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/?p=2648"},"modified":"2008-01-06T16:18:28","modified_gmt":"2008-01-06T21:18:28","slug":"latest-news-2008-1-6-to-2009-11-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/?p=2648","title":{"rendered":"Latest News 2008-1-6 to 2009-11-19"},"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=&#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 content=\"Microsoft Word 11\"><\/p>\n<link rel=File-List 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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<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-1-6: An Increasing<\/p>\n<p>De-democratisation by Khemraj Ramjattan <\/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'>Before I proceed to deal with the matters I<\/p>\n<p>wish to raise, let me wish each and everyone of my countrymen a happy new year.<\/p>\n<p>Of course it will not be easy. Major price hikes in almost everything from food<\/p>\n<p>items and electricity bills and transportation costs will be the order of the<\/p>\n<p>day. And quite true it will also be a busy year with Local Government Elections<\/p>\n<p>billed to take place. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>These major occurrences apart I want to<\/p>\n<p>address two matters at hand which reveal the galloping de-democratisation of<\/p>\n<p>Guyana that is, the precariousness and reversibility of our democracy recently.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The first is the almost disrespectful manner<\/p>\n<p>in which the Guyana Elections Commission is treating a recent ruling of the<\/p>\n<p>High Court which ruled that there be a proportionate allocation of monies to<\/p>\n<p>the respective combined Parliamentary Opposition parties concerning the<\/p>\n<p>house-to-house registration exercise set to commence tomorrow. The Judge having<\/p>\n<p>so ruled, it was expected that the normal courtesies would have been extended<\/p>\n<p>to invite the parties which comprise the combined Parliamentary Opposition to<\/p>\n<p>work out to proceed in view of the ruling. Ignominiously this has not been<\/p>\n<p>done. Not a word has emanated from that body which is the referee in all<\/p>\n<p>matters electoral, inclusive of national registration and strutineering<\/p>\n<p>activities. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>True it is that an appeal has been filed<\/p>\n<p>against the Order of the Judge. But an appeal does not in any way stay the<\/p>\n<p>effect of the Judge&#8217;s order. That there must be a proportionate<\/p>\n<p>allocation of finances to the AFC is in no way halted by GECOM&#8217;s appeal.<\/p>\n<p>Yet rather than getting a call from GECOM, the AFC had to hear from the press<\/p>\n<p>that GECOM will proceed with the house-to-house registration as if the Court<\/p>\n<p>Order does not matter. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Prior to this Court Order, GECOM was of<\/p>\n<p>opinion that it had no authority to proportionately allocate finances for<\/p>\n<p>scrutineers. Its Chairman and Chief Elections Officer use to tell the AFC that<\/p>\n<p>if there is such authority given to it, then it will distribute finances on<\/p>\n<p>such a <i>pro rata basis to the AFC for its scrutineers. Now a Court rules that<\/p>\n<p>there is such authority for GECOM to do just that! And what does GECOM do? It<\/p>\n<p>appeals! Seems like GECOM deliberately does not want the AFC to directly get<\/p>\n<p>from it any finances for its scrutineering activities, and so squeezing the AFC<\/p>\n<p>out of the process. <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The second matter has to do with the<\/p>\n<p>electricity increases which ranges from 6% to 20%. This sector has been in a<\/p>\n<p>constant state of crisis since the Jagdeo Presidency. And largely due to a<\/p>\n<p>rather visionless and rudderless approach, especially at the policy level. The<\/p>\n<p>most recent tarnishing of Ronald Ally&#8217;s character by the President in<\/p>\n<p>unceremoniously dumping him reveals how much nonsense prevails. Rather than<\/p>\n<p>listen and deliberate on the hard decisions which Ally and O&#8217;Lall have<\/p>\n<p>been advocating for some time, the President&#8217;s political posture predominates.<\/p>\n<p>He makes them scapegoats, and has gone around giving the impression that these<\/p>\n<p>fall-guys are to be blamed. Not himself and his Prime Minister! Mr. Ally and<\/p>\n<p>O&#8217;Lall should publicly speak out on this issue and defend themselves.<\/p>\n<p>Forthrightness and fearlessness are what is needed at this stage. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Many may not know that GPL is a utility which<\/p>\n<p>does not want to subscribe to scrutiny by a public process adjudicated by the<\/p>\n<p>Public Utilities Commission. GPL has constantly argued that it operates through<\/p>\n<p>a licence granted in October 1999 which licence specifically excludes scrutiny<\/p>\n<p>from the PUC. But this licence regime was for attracting the foreign investor<\/p>\n<p>which has since abandoned GPL. Now it is wholly Government owned, yet it<\/p>\n<p>desires no scrutiny from an institution the PPP\/C boasted about when it was<\/p>\n<p>established. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Moreover, a lot of people do not know that<\/p>\n<p>GPL is breaching almost every term of its licence when it comes to Performance<\/p>\n<p>Targets and Customer Services. A big component in its lists of Performance<\/p>\n<p>Targets is its obligation to reduce commercial and technical losses from some<\/p>\n<p>40% in 1999 to 16% in 2005. Instead of meeting this obligation GPL now sees<\/p>\n<p>losses in these two areas to the tune of 40% in 2008; the same when it started<\/p>\n<p>under the licence. What this means is that when $100B is spent on generating<\/p>\n<p>electricity at the one end, the value by the time it gets to the consumer is<\/p>\n<p>only $60B. $40B is wasted through seepages, line losses, bad transformers, and<\/p>\n<p>so on. Who pays for this? Consumers, of course. If GPL manages to reduce this<\/p>\n<p>40% losses, there will be no need for any increases. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance For Change, notwithstanding the<\/p>\n<p>complex nature of litigation in such matters, will soon institute legal<\/p>\n<p>proceedings to realize scrutiny from the Courts and pronounce on the illegality<\/p>\n<p>of these increases which effectively is rewarding GPL for its inefficiencies. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-1-8: Not Presidential<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; arrogance and authoritarianism <\/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 unjustified and puerile attack directed<\/p>\n<p>at Honourable Justice Jainaraine Singh, and by extension the whole Judiciary,<\/p>\n<p>by President Jagdeo constitute an outrage which must be denounced as such. The<\/p>\n<p>President was of course attacking the recent ruling of Justice Singh which<\/p>\n<p>compelled a proportionate allocation of finances to the combined Parliamentary<\/p>\n<p>Opposition parties. This ruling meant that the AFC ought to get approximately<\/p>\n<p>$12M out of the $100M, (confirmed now by the President himself), which was<\/p>\n<p>taken out of the Consolidated Fund by Minister Ashni Singh and given to GECOM<\/p>\n<p>for scrutineering activities. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The statement attributed to the President<\/p>\n<p>that <b>-&#8220;The decision would not stand anywhere, I don&#8217;t know what<\/p>\n<p>is happening to some of these judges. I don&#8217;t know&#8230;&#8221; &#8211;<\/b>tempts<\/p>\n<p>one to observe that being President or Head of Government is no guarantee of<\/p>\n<p>comprehension of the Rule of Law or the Constitution which he took an oath to<\/p>\n<p>uphold. It suggests a minimalist, if not an ignoramus&#8217;s, understanding of<\/p>\n<p>the Judiciary, and the decorum needed from one so high to avoid scandalizing<\/p>\n<p>it. But then again this President of recent times has been scandalizing<\/p>\n<p>everything which ought to be treated respectfully -press freedom, the private<\/p>\n<p>sector, Janet Jagan, and even his own marriage, among so many others. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>More dangerously, this ludicrous outburst is<\/p>\n<p>fraught with an undoubted insinuation that Justice Singh&#8217;s decision being<\/p>\n<p>wrong must now be corrected by the Court of Appeal! There is nothing hidden<\/p>\n<p>about President Jagdeo&#8217;s utterances here. It is something tantamount to a<\/p>\n<p>Presidential direction to the Court of Appeal to the effect: &#8220;Get this<\/p>\n<p>ridiculous ruling reversed&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There is also a subliminal message sent out<\/p>\n<p>to Judges that unless their decisions find favour with him, he will go on an<\/p>\n<p>all out attack against such Judges, caring not whether it is warranted or not.<\/p>\n<p>This is brute intimidation of Judges. Protection and promotion of the<\/p>\n<p>Independence of the Judiciary must not be nurtured. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Jagdeo&#8217;s manner of dealing with the<\/p>\n<p>Judiciary has obviously deteriorated. This is bad enough. But it is made worse<\/p>\n<p>because it never was on a high threshold at any time. Remember how vexed he was<\/p>\n<p>when that investor from Trinidad, Mr. Duprey and his company could not<\/p>\n<p>discharge an injunction obtained by Mr. Yesu Persaud and DDL concerning<\/p>\n<p>molasses from Berbice? He then chastised the Judiciary for granting injunctions<\/p>\n<p>willy nilly. I always wondered what about the molasses that could have so<\/p>\n<p>sweetened him to support Trini and Company as against one of his own Judges. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Remember how he slighted Justice<\/p>\n<p>Ramlal&#8217;s recent &#8220;no-one-man-for-two-offices&#8221; decision by<\/p>\n<p>saying that the Judge ought to have taken into consideration that himself as<\/p>\n<p>President and the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Corbin, were on the verge of<\/p>\n<p>working out an agreement. Imagine, he wanted the Judge to wait on him and<\/p>\n<p>Corbin! They who had been going at it for over two years! What is wrong with<\/p>\n<p>this President? Why is he so frequently out of place? So often putting his foot<\/p>\n<p>in his mouth? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What is so untenable amidst all of this is<\/p>\n<p>that instead of GECOM making complaints, or Ramoutar or Corbin, the other<\/p>\n<p>parties in the proceedings, the President complains and lambastes. What are his<\/p>\n<p>interests in not wanting the AFC to be a beneficiary of taxpayers monies? His<\/p>\n<p>benevolence must only be shared with Corbin! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Yet this was the Presidential candidate who<\/p>\n<p>was telling his supporters, <b>&#8220;a vote for the AFC is a vote for the<\/p>\n<p>PNC&#8221;. <\/b>Well who dancing with the PNC\/R now? Who working out recall<\/p>\n<p>legislation together, and how money for scrutineers, $100M, must share? Is who?<\/p>\n<p>Bharrat and Robert. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But that minor diversion aside, does the<\/p>\n<p>President realize how dumb a thing it was for him to say that &#8220;the<\/p>\n<p>scrutineering exercise is not GECOM&#8217;s mandate&#8221;? Obviously he never<\/p>\n<p>properly advised himself of section 8(1) of the Elections Law Amendment Act &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>No. 15 of 2000, which explicitly speaks of remuneration of scrutineers and<\/p>\n<p>GECOM&#8217;s role therein. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Dumber still was his rhetorical <i>ratio:<\/i><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;How could the Court tell GECOM to spend money that Ashni Singh provides<\/p>\n<p>on a discretionary basis, or who to give to?&#8221; Wow! From where did we find<\/p>\n<p>this legal luminary? Oh, what brilliance he would have exhibited had GECOM<\/p>\n<p>retained him to argue! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The President ought to know, at least by now,<\/p>\n<p>that the Courts have an inherent supervisory jurisdiction to scrutinize matters<\/p>\n<p>concerning all public finances. Additionally, he ought to know by now that<\/p>\n<p>Judges have a jurisdiction to give meaning to statutory provisions such as the<\/p>\n<p>one under contention in this case, i.e <b>&#8220;half of the monies provided by<\/p>\n<p>Parliament is for the combined Parliamentary Opposition parties&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Moreover, the equality and non-discrimination<\/p>\n<p>articles of our Constitution can be invoked by these Courts to ensure fairness<\/p>\n<p>in distribution of such finances, notwithstanding the discretionary powers of<\/p>\n<p>Ashni Singh. This is quite apart from the well known reasonableness principles<\/p>\n<p>which form part of our administrative law; principles whose purpose is to curb<\/p>\n<p>exactly the wide discretionary powers of public officers &#8211; like a Minister of<\/p>\n<p>Finance. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I have always been of the opinion that<\/p>\n<p>President Jagdeo does not listen to his legal advisor, the Attorney General,<\/p>\n<p>because more often than not the advice is not what he wants to hear. He prefers<\/p>\n<p>the firm of &#8220;Luncheon and Associates&#8221;. This firm knows what he<\/p>\n<p>wants to hear, and delivers unadulterated. Which mean that the President will<\/p>\n<p>perform as he did recently &#8211; with venom, and disgracefully. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Khemraj Ramjattan <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Attorney<\/p>\n<p>at Law <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-1-13: CLAIMS OF TORTURE<\/p>\n<p>MUST BE INVESTIGATED \/ AFC Demands Fair Treatment for Political Parties For<\/p>\n<p>Free and Fair Elections <\/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><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>CLAIMS OF TORTURE MUST BE INVESTIGATED <\/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'>The Alliance For Change is strongly against<\/p>\n<p>the use of torture by the security forces to solicit information in the pursuit<\/p>\n<p>of criminal investigations, and calls for a swift, investigation into recent<\/p>\n<p>allegations made by residents of Buxton, and enlisted ranks of the Guyana<\/p>\n<p>Defence Force that they were tortured for information. The AFC had warned that<\/p>\n<p>the use of the military to perform civilian authority functions such as<\/p>\n<p>investigations, searches, and crime fighting generally would have had<\/p>\n<p>devastating results and now the chickens are coming home to roost. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the year 2008 of the new millennium, it is<\/p>\n<p>beyond comprehension that the nation&#8217;s security forces could be employing<\/p>\n<p>unconstitutional, illegal, and barbaric techniques to illicit information from<\/p>\n<p>persons suspected in the theft of weapons from the Guyana Defence Force. The<\/p>\n<p>call for an independent enquiry must be heeded by the Government and the AFC<\/p>\n<p>calls on citizen&#8217;s groups to carry out the function of launching an enquiry<\/p>\n<p>if the government shirks its responsibility to do so. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Recent statements do not engender hope and<\/p>\n<p>confidence that the PPP\/C administration is aware of the seriousness of these<\/p>\n<p>allegations, or of the public&#8217;s outrage about this very disturbing trend.<\/p>\n<p>Have the President and his Minister of Home Affairs not heard of a Constitution<\/p>\n<p>and International Conventions, let alone concepts of morality and decency. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A nation that is ignominiously known for its<\/p>\n<p>phantom killings and claims of state sponsored exterminations, allegations of<\/p>\n<p>corruption in high offices, and the presence of characteristics of being a<\/p>\n<p>narco-state, can hardly now afford to acquire the dubious distinction of being<\/p>\n<p>a place where torture is an approved method of investigation. There are many<\/p>\n<p>approved and available methods of conducting successful investigations without<\/p>\n<p>the use of force and torture. The security forces and their civilian policy<\/p>\n<p>makers in the Office of the President and the Ministry of Home Affairs would do<\/p>\n<p>well to invest in proper training and equipment to ensure that the main<\/p>\n<p>investigative tool in the hands of the law enforcement personnel is not<\/p>\n<p>barbarism. There must be an immediate end to the further descent of the<\/p>\n<p>reputation and credibility of the security forces into nothingness. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;AFC Demands Fair Treatment for<\/p>\n<p>Political Parties For Free and Fair Elections&quot; <\/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'>The Alliance for Change, the AFC, wishes to<\/p>\n<p>advise all citizens and particularly its members and supporters that in the<\/p>\n<p>face of the order of the Honourable Justice Jainarayan Singh made on the 17<sup>th<\/p>\n<p><\/sup>December, 2007 that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has failed<\/p>\n<p>and\/or refused to abide by the Order or to give an explanation or otherwise as<\/p>\n<p>to why they have failed to do so. As a result, the AFC at this time has been<\/p>\n<p>shut out of the process and is unable to participate in the scrutinizing the<\/p>\n<p>House to House exercise currently underway. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In June 2007 representatives of the AFC,<\/p>\n<p>other parliamentary parties and members of the diplomatic and donor community<\/p>\n<p>all signed an agreement in good faith, which made it possible for the holding<\/p>\n<p>of the House to House Registration exercise as a precursor to elections that<\/p>\n<p>can pass national and international scrutiny and be deemed clean and<\/p>\n<p>transparent. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Inexplicably, when the time came to give<\/p>\n<p>effect to the terms of the agreement by allowing the combined opposition<\/p>\n<p>parties to scrutinize the process to ensure transparency GECOM, the Government,<\/p>\n<p>and the PNCR, took a different view as to who, or what, comprised the<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;combined opposition&#8221; such that GECOM took the position that the<\/p>\n<p>PNCR was the representative of the combined opposition and it alone would<\/p>\n<p>benefit from financial outlays. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC deems the conduct of GECOM, the<\/p>\n<p>Government, and the PNCR to be deliberately intended to deny the smaller opposition<\/p>\n<p>parties an opportunity to participate. This smacks of collusion and does not<\/p>\n<p>bode well for harmonious relations in the future whilst doing nothing for the<\/p>\n<p>credibility of GECOM to discharge its constitutional mandate in a fair and<\/p>\n<p>impartial manner. GECOM cannot be accepted as a legitimate organ of democracy<\/p>\n<p>as long as it continues to ignore this High Court order. GECOM has lost all<\/p>\n<p>credibility by its failure to ensure the implementation of this High Court<\/p>\n<p>order. Any registration process now carried out by GECOM may in the future be<\/p>\n<p>deemed to be flawed, and any voters&#8217; list derived from such a process may<\/p>\n<p>consequently be unacceptable for the purposes of free and fair elections. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>For GECOM to spend hundreds of millions of<\/p>\n<p>tax payers&#8217; dollars on a process that will not produce a voters&#8217; list that is<\/p>\n<p>acceptable to all the political parties is irresponsible. If $50 million has<\/p>\n<p>indeed been allocated to the combined opposition political parties for purposes<\/p>\n<p>related to the voter registration exercise then it is the duty of GECOM to<\/p>\n<p>ensure that this money is not spent in a way that compromises the integrity of<\/p>\n<p>the registration process. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We expect that the people of Guyana will be<\/p>\n<p>vigilant and be our eyes and ears to ensure that those who have hijacked the<\/p>\n<p>process and will be spending over 100 million of your tax payers&#8217; money<\/p>\n<p>will in fact deliver a National Register of Registrants that shall be without<\/p>\n<p>blemish and controversy so as to produce the nation&#8217;s first truly<\/p>\n<p>acceptable electoral list of which we can be all proud. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-1-20: AFC Kaieteur News<\/p>\n<p>column-Debunking the Untruths Being Peddled About the AFC <\/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'>We didn&#8217;t expect it would be easy to<\/p>\n<p>make political inroads in Guyana given the nature of Guyana&#8217;s racially<\/p>\n<p>divisive politics; but collaboration between Robert Corbin, Leader of the PNCR<\/p>\n<p>and President Jagdeo representing the PPPC speaks volumes about the impact the<\/p>\n<p>AFC is making and can make in the future. So we shouldn&#8217;t be surprised<\/p>\n<p>about the untruths being peddled by them and their mouth pieces. Today we deal<\/p>\n<p>with some of these untruths. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>That the AFC forced the PNCR into<\/p>\n<p>contesting the last National Elections <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This is untrue since no leader of the AFC at<\/p>\n<p>any meeting or at any time discussed with the combined opposition parties<\/p>\n<p>individually or collectively of boycotting the August 2006 General and Regional<\/p>\n<p>Elections. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The truth is the PNCR illogically put itself<\/p>\n<p>into a corner with its campaigned position &#8220;NO verification NO<\/p>\n<p>elections&#8217; then backed off and contested the elections even though no<\/p>\n<p>verification was done. To those who peddle this untruth we say if indeed the<\/p>\n<p>AFC wielded such influence over the PNCR we would have willingly extended more<\/p>\n<p>prudent advice to them. Indeed, the PNC&#8217;s illogical position not only<\/p>\n<p>confused the electorate but more especially their members and supporters. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>That The AFC Broke-Up the Third Force<\/p>\n<p>Platform <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Nailing the lie! The Third Force platform<\/p>\n<p>broke up because some players were clandestinely meeting with the PNCR in a<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Big Tent&#8217; initiative unknown to, and without the approval of, the<\/p>\n<p>other players of this loose grouping. The subsequent exposure of this<\/p>\n<p>information, and the hypocrisy of some in that group, created distrust causing<\/p>\n<p>the leaders of GAP and ROAR to withdraw their support for the idea. The meeting<\/p>\n<p>planned between the AFC and the Third Force Platform thereafter, was cancelled.<\/p>\n<p>The collapse of the Third Force platform was announced several weeks following<\/p>\n<p>the meeting at which this revelation was made. The AFC was always willing to<\/p>\n<p>come to a working arrangement with the Third Force platform players and was<\/p>\n<p>disappointed when the initiative collapsed. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What GECOM is doing is quite likely<\/p>\n<p>unconstitutional <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>GECOM&#8217;s decision only to accept birth<\/p>\n<p>certificates and passports from registrants is causing massive confusion. Many<\/p>\n<p>persons are not being registered thereby defeating the purpose of the<\/p>\n<p>registration exercise as thousands of Guyanese have neither of these documents.<\/p>\n<p>If GECOM distrusts the legitimacy of its ID cards then they should have put<\/p>\n<p>systems in place with the registrar of Births and Deaths and the Passport<\/p>\n<p>Office to facilitate persons not in possession of the required documents to be<\/p>\n<p>issued with them expeditiously. Free and fair elections are not an elections<\/p>\n<p>day event but one that starts with registration. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>GECOM would do well to re-read the decision<\/p>\n<p>of Justice Singh in <b>Esther Perreira v Chief Elections Officer et al <\/b>of<\/p>\n<p>2001. Voter ID cards which were agreed to by the PNC\/R to entitle one to vote, was<\/p>\n<p>held to be an unconstitutional prohibition to the right to vote. In accordance<\/p>\n<p>with the Constitution, for one to vote one only had to be 18 years, a citizen<\/p>\n<p>of Guyana, and registered. The introduction of a prohibition or qualification<\/p>\n<p>to get registered must consequentially be unconstitutional. Hence, the<\/p>\n<p>criticism that GECOM is wrong not to accept the authentic ID cards which almost<\/p>\n<p>everyone has, is an argument wholly consistent with Justice Singh&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>ruling. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But of course the Office of the President and<\/p>\n<p>the PPP\/C would not listen to such valid concerns and logic of the AFC. Rather,<\/p>\n<p>as was expected, they have now responded that the AFC has &#8220;an ulterior<\/p>\n<p>motive&#8221;. A legal response obviously out of the firm of &#8220;Luncheon<\/p>\n<p>and Associates&#8221; again! This firm should be prepared to defend against<\/p>\n<p>another Esther Perreira-type Petition seeking a declaration of annulment of the<\/p>\n<p>2011 General Elections on the ground that there were requirements<\/p>\n<p>unconstitutionally set which prevented people from registering, and as a result,<\/p>\n<p>from voting. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Response to Ravi Dev&#8217;s call for the<\/p>\n<p>AFC to elaborate on its rejection of the existence of Ethnic Interests <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC recognizes that there exists in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana sections of our society that embraces the concept of ethnic interests.<\/p>\n<p>We, however, have opted to be inclusive in encouraging and attracting all<\/p>\n<p>racial groups to join our party, and to articulate those interests with a view<\/p>\n<p>to creating racial harmony and peaceful co-existence in our country as we<\/p>\n<p>strive, through our diverse cultures, to fulfill the objective of<\/p>\n<p>Guyana&#8217;s motto &#8211; one people, one nation with one destiny. We reject the<\/p>\n<p>idea that only Guyanese of African descent could represent the interests of the<\/p>\n<p>group, or that only East Indians and Amerindians could adequately represent the<\/p>\n<p>interests of their race group. In fact Mr. Dev himself, through his writings<\/p>\n<p>over the years, has proven this to be true, as the civil rights movement in the<\/p>\n<p>USA discovered in the early days of struggle. The AFC continues to promote<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Healing and Reconciliation&#8217; among Guyanese of all racial or ethnic<\/p>\n<p>groups. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In addressing the history of first, second<\/p>\n<p>and third generation litigation cases by the civil rights movement in the USA,<\/p>\n<p>civil rights lawyer, Lani Guinier examined &#8216;black&#8217; minority<\/p>\n<p>political exclusion in great dept and the remedies applied by the courts during<\/p>\n<p>those times. She argued creatively that, once disempowerment was properly<\/p>\n<p>identified, it should be met with changes to electoral voting rules as well as<\/p>\n<p>to legislative decisional rules. We recommend Guinier&#8217;s book &#8216;The<\/p>\n<p>Tyranny of the Majority&#8217; to anyone who cares about race and democracy. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC recognizes the importance of<\/p>\n<p>implementing remedies and measures to correct the racial imbalances and<\/p>\n<p>injustices (perceived and real) afflicting our society. However, it is obvious<\/p>\n<p>to us that the PPPC Government has no interest in such remedies because they<\/p>\n<p>have benefited at elections time from an environment of racial strife and<\/p>\n<p>disunity. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Maintaining the Status Quo <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Observe the funding that the Bharrat Jagdeo<\/p>\n<p>PPPC governments have provided, in particular to the PNCR under the leadership<\/p>\n<p>of Robert Corbin, and one cannot help but see this as a calculated attempt to<\/p>\n<p>prop-up the remnants of an era which PPPC supporters are determined to prevent<\/p>\n<p>returning to power. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img width=4 height=35 id=\"_x0000_i1026\"<\/p>\n<p>src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_32.jpg&#8221; border=0>President Jagdeo gave G$16M to the<\/p>\n<p>PNCR for campaigning purposes during the 2006 General and Regional Elections,<\/p>\n<p>supposedly for opposition parties but the AFC got none. Now he&#8217;s giving<\/p>\n<p>G$50M for opposition Scrutineers for the current House to House registration<\/p>\n<p>exercise, none of which the AFC will see even though the Court ordered GECOM to<\/p>\n<p>provide the AFC with the portion to which it is entitled. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Given these facts, statements made by<\/p>\n<p>President Jagdeo about his benevolence and that of the Finance Minister, with<\/p>\n<p>taxpayers&#8217; money, in allocating Scrutineers&#8217; funds are alarming. He<\/p>\n<p>persists on emphasizing that the G$100M funds allocated for party Scrutineering<\/p>\n<p>activities during the House to House registration process did not receive<\/p>\n<p>parliamentary approval. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr.<\/p>\n<p>Roger Luncheon, in attempting to assure the public that these funds will<\/p>\n<p>eventually receive, or have received, parliamentary approval, was roundly over<\/p>\n<p>ruled in a statement issued by the Office of the President. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Advice by Dr. Luncheon insincere <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Under these circumstances, advice from the<\/p>\n<p>Head of the Presidential Secretariat urging greater collaboration between the<\/p>\n<p>AFC and the PNCR as opposition parties in order for the AFC to receive its<\/p>\n<p>entitlement to a portion of these state funds must be viewed with cynicism,<\/p>\n<p>especially when it was the PPPC that peddled the untruth that the AFC was<\/p>\n<p>collaborating with the PNCR during the last elections campaign. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Power Sharing Talk <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Given these experiences, the distrust,<\/p>\n<p>disrespect, inequality and indecency in our politics, why would <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>the<\/p>\n<p>AFC want to share power with either the PPPC or the PNCR? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img width=4 height=8<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1027&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_33.jpg&#8221; border=0><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-1-22: The Alliance<\/p>\n<p>supported the PNCR&#8217;s Bill for an African Lands Commission and had called for a<\/p>\n<p>Truth and Reconciliation Commission <\/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 Editors, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Stabroek News &amp; Kaieteur News <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Via Email <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A letter written by Eric Phillips (published<\/p>\n<p>by Kaieteur News) and captioned &#8220;Politicians think Alike&#8221; has<\/p>\n<p>caught my attention. Ordinarily, Mr. Phillips makes some thought provoking<\/p>\n<p>points, but as I have had to point out in the past that there are some grave<\/p>\n<p>errors and misconceptions about the AFC which I have had to write to clear up,<\/p>\n<p>and quite regrettably, have to do so again. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC&#8217;s call for a Truth and<\/p>\n<p>Reconciliation Commission was stated before the 2006 elections, and was<\/p>\n<p>reiterated recently, when the sordid issue of the unaccounted for weapons<\/p>\n<p>surfaced. The AFC&#8217;s request was repeated in 2008 not because we are<\/p>\n<p>courting young votes who were unaware of the past as has been wrongly stated,<\/p>\n<p>or because we sadistically desire to see a colossal fight between other<\/p>\n<p>parties, but because, like him, we have an aching desire to see genuine healing<\/p>\n<p>and reconciliation in Guyana. In fact all the major political parties of Guyana<\/p>\n<p>at one time or another endorsed the view that the truth of what happened in the<\/p>\n<p>past must be brought to light and given closure to. Eusi Kwayana&#8217;s now<\/p>\n<p>famous statement &#8220;No guilty race&#8221; comes to mind. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Another untruth is that the AFC has no<\/p>\n<p>history before the 2006 and therefore will not be subjected to a Truth<\/p>\n<p>Commission. I have to underscore the fact that the principals of the AFC all<\/p>\n<p>came from the upper echelons of the major parties of this country and that is a<\/p>\n<p>past we cannot deny. In fact, so aware were we of it, that prior to the 2006<\/p>\n<p>elections we published a full page advertisement in which we stated our sincere<\/p>\n<p>apologies for pain caused and for nationwide atonement. Some of what was<\/p>\n<p>published is worthy of repetition: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;The AFC mourns every life lost, and<\/p>\n<p>shares the pain of those who have suffered from these acts. We feel strongly<\/p>\n<p>that we must acknowledge that we have all contributed to the present situation<\/p>\n<p>either by our actions or by our failure to act, either by our words or by our<\/p>\n<p>failure to speak out&#8230;We admit that at one time or another, we have made<\/p>\n<p>statements that were divisive and caused pain to our Guyanese brothers and<\/p>\n<p>sisters, or failed our fellow citizens by our actions or failure to<\/p>\n<p>act&#8230;We invite all Guyanese to join us in this process of self examination<\/p>\n<p>and atonement and help us to move toward a non-violent change and a new culture<\/p>\n<p>of forgiveness, civility, and ethnic security.&#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'>More details of what we proposed under the<\/p>\n<p>rubric of <u>Healing and Reconciliation<\/u> can be viewed on our website (<u><a<\/p>\n<p>href=&#8221;http:\/\/afcguyana.com\/&#8221;> http:\/\/afcguyana.com<\/a><\/u><\/span><u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;> <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>)<\/p>\n<p>as part of our Action Plan. Mr. Phillips would be pleased to know that of the<\/p>\n<p>numerous suggestions made, two are relevant in my reply to him. These are: <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_i1028&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_34.jpg&#8221;>The establishment of<\/p>\n<p>community peace and reconciliation programmes for settling disputes and<\/p>\n<p>differences by peaceful means; and Addressing issues of &#8220;ancestral<\/p>\n<p>lands&#8221; and Indigenous Peoples land rights. Incidentally, a Motion brought<\/p>\n<p>to the National Assembly by PNCR-1G MP, Mrs. Deborah J. Backer for the<\/p>\n<p>establishment of an African Lands Commission, was wholly and unconditionally<\/p>\n<p>supported by the AFC. Unfortunately it was diluted by the PPP\/C to the point<\/p>\n<p>where its character and content changed dramatically. At present there is no<\/p>\n<p>other Bill or Motion on this, or a similar subject, before the House and indeed<\/p>\n<p>the Rules of the National Assembly (Ord. 11.7) categorically state that a<\/p>\n<p>question\/issue which has been proposed, debated and decided cannot be<\/p>\n<p>resubmitted in the session. This means that <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>for the life of the 9<sup>th<\/sup> Parliament<\/p>\n<p>we are not likely to see the issue being presented again. This I hope will<\/p>\n<p>address another untruth being peddled about the AFC not supporting an<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Ancestral Lands&#8221; Bill currently before the National Assembly. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Interestingly, having been in the PNCR for<\/p>\n<p>over a decade and a being member of its Dialogue Team with the PPP in the<\/p>\n<p>1998-2001 CARICOM facilitated Dialogue; traveling to Northern Ireland to take part<\/p>\n<p>in a Study Mission on peace, reconciliation, and power sharing with other<\/p>\n<p>eminent leaders; my studies of warfare and ethnic and religious low intensity<\/p>\n<p>conflicts; and my own experiences as a Guyanese and political leader, I formed<\/p>\n<p>the opinion that the call for some form of catharsis being made by others long<\/p>\n<p>before I came unto the political scene, must be supported and could best come<\/p>\n<p>through a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Phillips believes that such a Commission<\/p>\n<p>must come after, and not before, constitution reform and he may be very well<\/p>\n<p>right, but at least we agree that the healing must come. Another error I wish<\/p>\n<p>to correct is that it is stated that the AFC favours the South African model<\/p>\n<p>which in fact is not true. All the experts say, and Mr. Eric Phillips should be<\/p>\n<p>the first to agree, that every country has to fashion its own model based on<\/p>\n<p>what transpired, and on what is to be achieved. A case in point is Grenada<\/p>\n<p>where my own father, Justice Donald Trotman, recently chaired such a Commission,<\/p>\n<p>which was constituted not after a power sharing arrangement being enshrined in<\/p>\n<p>the Constitution, but after a tumultuous past that was characterized by much<\/p>\n<p>bloodshed, betrayal and bitterness. His report is recommended reading. In<\/p>\n<p>short, a Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Power Sharing are not mutually<\/p>\n<p>exclusive. Too much time is spent on tearing down than on building each other<\/p>\n<p>up and this all the more reason why the truth must be revealed. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Sincerely, <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'>2008-1-27: THE AFC CONDEMS<\/p>\n<p>VIOLENCE IN ALL ITS FORMS <\/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'>Over the last two years the Alliance For<\/p>\n<p>Change has recognized and publicly condemned in the strongest possible terms<\/p>\n<p>and through several press releases, press conference and discussions that there<\/p>\n<p>has been a marked increase in violent and organised crime which is<\/p>\n<p>multi-faceted, but which is visibly related to the country&#8217;s longstanding<\/p>\n<p>racial divisions. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Today the Alliance For Change grieves with<\/p>\n<p>ALL Guyanese for we are &#8220;All effected and will all be consumed&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>unless immediate control of the ineffective security systems that currently<\/p>\n<p>exist in Guyana are overhauled. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Once again our nation has been plunged into<\/p>\n<p>violence, blood shed and despair with little hope in sight. The killing of 11<\/p>\n<p>helpless and defenceless residents of Lusignan, and morose that of 5 children,<\/p>\n<p>is the lowest for of human behaviour that this country has witnessed in several<\/p>\n<p>decades. The AFC strongly condemns this heinous act and extend our sincerest<\/p>\n<p>and deepest sympathies are extended to the relatives of those who were gunned<\/p>\n<p>down in their homes and we implore them to remain strong and keep the faith<\/p>\n<p>that there will be in this land, justice and a new beginning. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The increase in violence has affected<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese of all races and socio-economic backgrounds. As brutal murders,<\/p>\n<p>robberies, narcotrafficking with its attendant executions, home invasions and<\/p>\n<p>other serious crimes continue with virtual impunity, rape, sexual assault, and<\/p>\n<p>the brutalization of women and children have become and continue to be a<\/p>\n<p>central element. It is clear too that in the past three years the Government<\/p>\n<p>has failed to take control of this epidemic and inaction continues to be the<\/p>\n<p>activity of the day! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Prior to the elections of 2006, The AFC<\/p>\n<p>condemned violence in all its forms and stated that were are prepared to be<\/p>\n<p>part of a national response on crime but felt that a response that is perceived<\/p>\n<p>to be a &#8220;government&#8221; response or an &#8220;opposition&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>response, or one that does not include civil society in a meaningful way would<\/p>\n<p>be ineffective. We once again call on all political parties to publicly endorse<\/p>\n<p>a zero-tolerance policy on violence and crime regardless of the perpetrator and<\/p>\n<p>regardless of the nature and extent of the crime. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>At that time the AFC offered the following as<\/p>\n<p>important considerations in its Action Plan on Crime and Security for Guyana.<\/p>\n<p>Today it is frightening to note how relevant these recommendations still are. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC Action Plan on Crime and Security<\/p>\n<p>( First published in 2006) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;The Alliance For Change believes that<\/p>\n<p>we have sufficient ranks within the police force for our population size<\/p>\n<p>however we recognize that almost half of our police force are involved in<\/p>\n<p>administrative and other duties that should be contracted out to independent<\/p>\n<p>agencies through a series of transparent bidding processes or transferred to<\/p>\n<p>other Government Agencies freeing police officers to fight crime. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We propose an increase in salary for police<\/p>\n<p>and military by 50% over a period of three years starting with 20% in year 1<\/p>\n<p>(2006) and 30% by July, 2009. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We support the development of an amnesty<\/p>\n<p>programme for the surrender of illegal weapons which will be backed by<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;buy-back&#8221; and similar schemes, and the introduction of draconian<\/p>\n<p>legislation denying bail to persons found in possession of illegal firearms,<\/p>\n<p>and increasing the term of imprisonment from one (1) to three (3) years<\/p>\n<p>mandatory upon conviction. Licensing procedures will be responsible,<\/p>\n<p>transparent and open. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Amnesty programme will be accompanied by<\/p>\n<p>a special fund to provide alternative supported opportunities for training,<\/p>\n<p>development of income generating projects, credit etc. for youth at risk and<\/p>\n<p>sports, scouting, and other cadet-like schemes for youth in schools and<\/p>\n<p>churches. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Appointment of a Special Crime Unit (SCU)<\/p>\n<p>comprising GDF and GPF personnel to be headed by a GDF officer on secondment<\/p>\n<p>and based in Camp Ayangana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Appointment of a Drug Enforcement Chief to<\/p>\n<p>coordinate and execute drug enforcement policy and programme only and to<\/p>\n<p>implement in tandem with the assistance of the DEA and other supporting<\/p>\n<p>security forces. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Furnish police with the tools to fight crime<\/p>\n<p>including weapons, mobile communications, transportation, a forensic<\/p>\n<p>laboratory, Fingerprint\/criminal behavioural database, weaponry, and other<\/p>\n<p>necessary materiel. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>International support to police and law<\/p>\n<p>enforcement in investigating homicides, narco-trafficking, human-trafficking,<\/p>\n<p>gun smuggling, and other serious crimes. International agencies will provide<\/p>\n<p>technical assistance and training in 21st-century crime-fighting techniques<\/p>\n<p>including intelligence gathering, and prosecution, and training to deal with<\/p>\n<p>victims of crimes involving violence against women and children. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Introduce legislation to legitimise and<\/p>\n<p>regulate Community Policing and the formation of Citizens Protection Units<\/p>\n<p>(CPUs) in keeping with best practices in the USA and Europe. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Appoint Special Prosecutors and Magistrates<\/p>\n<p>for selected categories of offences. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Complete the implementation of<\/p>\n<p>recommendations of the Disciplined Forces Commission, Symonds Group Report, and<\/p>\n<p>CARICOM Task Force on Crime &amp; Security Report. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Construct a modern prison within three (3)<\/p>\n<p>years of taking office and also new, appropriate and humane facilities for<\/p>\n<p>women and children, and a re-designate the Camp Street jail as a remand centre.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC recognizes that improved<\/p>\n<p>community\/police relations will be critical to the success any crime strategy.<\/p>\n<p>Even a well equipped and disciplined police force will not be able to function<\/p>\n<p>effectively without the full cooperation of the general public. To this end, we<\/p>\n<p>will embark on a public awareness program to educate the public as to their<\/p>\n<p>responsibilities to society and inform them as to the penalties if laws are<\/p>\n<p>transgressed. &#8220; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We believe that the nation is owed an update<\/p>\n<p>and explanation on the investigations into the several violent murders that<\/p>\n<p>have plagued our society since 2000. Justice delayed is justice denied. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Once again the leadership and members of the<\/p>\n<p>AFC state that this is a time for Healing and Reconciliation &#8211; the mantra<\/p>\n<p>of our party. We continue to be deeply concerned about the level of violence,<\/p>\n<p>unwarranted loss of life and acts of criminality that have been stalking our<\/p>\n<p>dear land of Guyana <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC mourns every life lost and shares the<\/p>\n<p>pain of those who have suffered, particularly where those acts have been<\/p>\n<p>motivated by race, ethnicity, religion, gender or political persuasion. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We feel strongly that for Guyana to emerge<\/p>\n<p>from this darkness we must first acknowledge that we have all contributed in<\/p>\n<p>some way to the present situation in our country; either by our actions or our<\/p>\n<p>failure to act, either by our words or by our failure to speak out. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Change for this nation starts with each one<\/p>\n<p>of us when we acknowledge our human failures and agree that we ought to forgive<\/p>\n<p>ourselves and each other and offer one another love and respect regardless of<\/p>\n<p>race, colour, class or creed. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC wants to be among the first to<\/p>\n<p>acknowledge our past mistakes and seeks the support of every Guyanese in moving<\/p>\n<p>toward a new culture of forgiveness, civility, ethnic security, openness,<\/p>\n<p>transparency and accountability <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We ask you to join with us to reject violence<\/p>\n<p>as a means to achieve change and a chance to live as &#8220;One people, One<\/p>\n<p>Nation One Destiny&#8221;. <b>Break with the past. <o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It&#8217;s time for change in Guyana! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-2-10:Cut the Crap &#8211; It<\/p>\n<p>would have been Money well spent! <\/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'>Earlier this week Leadership teams of the<\/p>\n<p>Alliance For Change (AFC) and the Guyana Action Party (GAP) visited the Buxton<\/p>\n<p>community to conduct a fact finding mission on claims of excess use of force in<\/p>\n<p>the village as apart of &#8220;Operation Restore Order&#8221;. The group was<\/p>\n<p>able to interact with residents and farmers most of whom expressed disgust and<\/p>\n<p>disappointment at the manner in which the GDF in particular was conducting its<\/p>\n<p>operations. The teams were able to view first hand some evidence of destruction<\/p>\n<p>of property and expect that promises of compensation and restoration will be<\/p>\n<p>fulfilled. In one instance, the teams were taken to a house where the stairway<\/p>\n<p>was allegedly removed by members of the security forces and which had infants<\/p>\n<p>precariously standing on the landing and unable to descend into the yard. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We considered this to be a dangerous<\/p>\n<p>situation and have put immediate steps in place to have the stairway rebuilt.<\/p>\n<p>This is being done without expectation of compensation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Farmers remained justifiably concerned about<\/p>\n<p>their livelihood being disrupted by the bulldozing of their farms, and the<\/p>\n<p>conflicting statements being made by the Minister of Agriculture, Office of the<\/p>\n<p>President, and the Joint Services have not done much to assuage the<\/p>\n<p>difficulties. There still remains tremendous doubt in the minds of the farmers<\/p>\n<p>whether they will be compensated for present and future losses; allowed to farm<\/p>\n<p>again or paid to not farm; or whether the backlands will be converted into a<\/p>\n<p>military garrison for all time. Although some of these questions have been<\/p>\n<p>answered, many must be answered definitively and immediately and it is mind<\/p>\n<p>boggling why the authorities did not seek to inform the residents and farmers<\/p>\n<p>through available mediums of what their operations will entail. Would not a<\/p>\n<p>visit to the community by the persons in authority with the answers to these<\/p>\n<p>questions been a better approach instead of asking 400 plus farmers to visit<\/p>\n<p>the police station to get information! The simultaneous launch of a<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Hearts and Minds&#8221; campaign to win trust and support for<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Operation Restore Order&#8221; would have been beneficial to everyone.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, the moment may have passed for its introduction and a brief<\/p>\n<p>reflection will remind us all that for several years we have not adequate dealt<\/p>\n<p>with the Buxton situation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Time has shown that there is no doubt that<\/p>\n<p>criminals have infiltrated sections of the Buxton community, but that is<\/p>\n<p>exactly why we have a Police Force and an Army &#8211; to investigate, to bring<\/p>\n<p>the criminals to our courts, to protect the innocent. These are the<\/p>\n<p>fundamentals of any democracy but in Guyana the approach has been &#8220;an eye<\/p>\n<p>for an eye&#8221; and now we are all consumed, blinded by bitterness and the<\/p>\n<p>rapidly emerging strains of race hate. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Young black men have been shot by the police,<\/p>\n<p>black women collecting their children from gunned down and still no<\/p>\n<p>investigations, no answers. Similarly the communities of Annandale and Lusignan<\/p>\n<p>have faced horrific massacres and today all Guyanese are drowning in pain and<\/p>\n<p>grief. When will it end! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The worrying thing is that it may not since<\/p>\n<p>the approach of our government has not changed in the last two year but the<\/p>\n<p>number of innocent Guyanese slaughtered continues to rise rapidly. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Prior to his death, Former President Hoyte<\/p>\n<p>presented a bold (and controversial to some) proposal to the Government<\/p>\n<p>requesting an injection of capital into the Buxton community which in several<\/p>\n<p>parts today still does not even have a regular water supply like so many other<\/p>\n<p>communities. The question is what does the state of Guyana do for its people<\/p>\n<p>who struggle every day? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Hoyte proposal was outright rejected and<\/p>\n<p>then we saw an outlandish, outrageous display of the politics of hate. The<\/p>\n<p>total absence of accommodation or magnanimity, coming as it did from the<\/p>\n<p>President was very deliberate and clever. The President&#8217;s pronouncement<\/p>\n<p>was that the proposed plan to expend approximately $1m (U.S.) in war-torn<\/p>\n<p>violence-strewn Buxton was a ransom demand and could be nothing else! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He further argued in a characteristically<\/p>\n<p>bumbling and unconvincing style that to have expended this sum on Buxton would<\/p>\n<p>have resulted in one hundred more Buxtons. In one grand sweep, President Jagdeo<\/p>\n<p>had criminalised all Buxtonians. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The question is what made the President think<\/p>\n<p>then, that a hurting community like Buxton did not deserve development<\/p>\n<p>assistance of some $200m (Guy)? What is so hopelessly wrong, Mr. President,<\/p>\n<p>about an Opposition suggestion that monies of this amount be spent in such a<\/p>\n<p>community? Such a broadside as the President delivered then comes not from a<\/p>\n<p>crass political adversarialism, but from an inner prejudice which has infected<\/p>\n<p>a whole lot of us &#8211; leaders and ordinary citizens &#8211; in this country. Through<\/p>\n<p>some process akin to an insidious osmosis, our minds, our entire beings, get<\/p>\n<p>enveloped in this prejudice, especially when an Election is near. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What was said on that occasion was intended<\/p>\n<p>purely to provoke within East Indian minds that the President was strong, that<\/p>\n<p>he could tell Blacks in Buxtons &#8211; &#8220;you will not be rewarded for<\/p>\n<p>your criminality&#8221;. It was motivated by a desire to procure applause and<\/p>\n<p>plaudits from the Indo-Guyanese community for so holding out against the<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;rascals&#8221; in Buxton. This was devious, and deliberately corrupting!<\/p>\n<p>Time has shown us where we are today. Not much has changed and we have all lost<\/p>\n<p>as a nation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This is the simple and well known mechanism<\/p>\n<p>of creating and exploiting fear. To the frightened East Indian ears it was so<\/p>\n<p>good to hear what the President had proclaimed. It gave a feeling of strength,<\/p>\n<p>and a satisfaction that Buxtonians can be hit back at. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We all know that the Police Force as yet<\/p>\n<p>cannot identify the handful of culprits in Buxton creating the mayhem, a rather<\/p>\n<p>disgraceful performance to date. But from this fear and anxiety represented by<\/p>\n<p>the unknown, there has been created through the mutterings of government<\/p>\n<p>political leaders who know and want to exploit it, a known enemy &#8211; all<\/p>\n<p>Buxtonians. And, of course, this means Afro-Guyanese! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>You see, the President could easily have<\/p>\n<p>extended a conciliatory tone and counter-proposed one of a number of packages.<\/p>\n<p>Why could <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>he not have said: &#8220;$200m is too high a<\/p>\n<p>sum. How about $100m or less?&#8221; <i>or &#8220;How about $100m for Buxton<\/p>\n<p>and $100m for the surrounding villages, say Annandale and others!&#8221; <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But no! This kind of responsible leadership<\/p>\n<p>will not bring rancour and abuse and division. And that is what the politics of<\/p>\n<p>today is all about! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Let us all step back and take stock. Let us<\/p>\n<p>not forget there was righteous condemnation when the Police Force was being<\/p>\n<p>sidelined and a Phantom Force was being justified on grounds of necessity, when<\/p>\n<p>vigilante law replaced the laws of Guyana. Let there be no more inaction, but<\/p>\n<p>guarantees by the state that 11 more will not perish, and that we can all feel<\/p>\n<p>safe. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Who in their right senses would deny that<\/p>\n<p>what is needed to resolve the Buxton crisis is a combination of really tough<\/p>\n<p>crime-fighting measures, and structured developmental works. The AFC believes<\/p>\n<p>that this is a golden opportunity for a bi-partisan team to be established to<\/p>\n<p>oversee the reconstruction of the backlands of the villages not only for<\/p>\n<p>Buxton, but along the entire East Coast of Demerara. In this way, we feel that<\/p>\n<p>not only the fears and anxieties brought on by crime and insecurity will be<\/p>\n<p>addressed, but it will also lead to economic empowerment, and a significant<\/p>\n<p>reduction of the grave threat posed by flooding. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And if this costs $ 200m (Guy), it would be<\/p>\n<p>money well spent! Just in case there is need for confirmation of this, ask the<\/p>\n<p>relatives of those who have died needlessly&#8230;whether they be Indian or<\/p>\n<p>Black. So we must not all sit and say nothing. We must stand up and say<\/p>\n<p>something and ensure that the recommendations of all citizens of this<\/p>\n<p>potentially great nation will be received. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-2-13: Delay in asking<\/p>\n<p>for international help&#8230; Govt. afraid of unearthing skeletons in the closet<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Ramjattan <\/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'>Attorney-at-Law and Alliance For Change (AFC)<\/p>\n<p>Member of Parliament (MP) Khemraj Ramjattan is of the opinion that Government<\/p>\n<p>is unwilling to access international help in tackling the current crime<\/p>\n<p>situation for fear of skeletons being unearthed. Ramjattan said that the<\/p>\n<p>administration is afraid, given that a precondition of the international<\/p>\n<p>community could be a full scale forensic audit of the institutions responsible<\/p>\n<p>for national security. Ramjattan raised the sentiment during a joint AFC\/<\/p>\n<p>Guyana Action Party (GAP) press briefing yesterday. &#8220;They are afraid that<\/p>\n<p>more skeletons in their closets would be unearthed than that of aback<\/p>\n<p>Buxton,&#8221; said Ramjattan. He added that the Auditor General&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>reports over the years have suggested that there might be a lot of,<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;nastiness going on.&#8221; &#8220;The fact of the matter is that a lot<\/p>\n<p>of AK- 47s have gone missing, and monies have been spent for ammunition that we<\/p>\n<p>don&#8217;t have.&#8221; He posited that Guyana has entered a new realm that<\/p>\n<p>requires international assistance. &#8220;But we will have GINA (Government<\/p>\n<p>Information Agency), Dr Roger Luncheon and President Bharrat Jagdeo indicating<\/p>\n<p>that the Government can handle the situation. &#8220;It seems that there is a<\/p>\n<p>motive as to why international assistance is not being requested.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Following the Lusignan massacre, the international community (US, UK, Canada)<\/p>\n<p>announced that they were willing to assist Guyana in dealing with its crime<\/p>\n<p>situation, if asked. Regarding the idea of having foreigners assume the<\/p>\n<p>leadership roles of entities such as the Joint Services, AFC Leader Raphael<\/p>\n<p>Trotman posited that the country possesses the necessary skills needed to<\/p>\n<p>effectively do the task, but having advisors would not hurt. However, he said,<\/p>\n<p>Government lacked the &#8220;political will to engage, and are just talking the<\/p>\n<p>talk but not walking the walk.&#8221; With the exception of investigations into<\/p>\n<p>former Home Affairs Minister Ronald Gajraj&#8217;s links to an alleged<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Phantom Death Squad,&#8217; Trotman noted that he was not aware of any<\/p>\n<p>other formal investigation into links between criminals and politicians. He<\/p>\n<p>posited that one would expect the police, particularly the Special Branch,<\/p>\n<p>would be monitoring the current situation in Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-2-17: BUDGET 2008: WHAT<\/p>\n<p>THE PEOPLE WANT <\/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'>Two issues defined the year 2007, and from<\/p>\n<p>all appearances, these two will be even more critical in 2008. The first issue<\/p>\n<p>is taxation, more specifically, the Value Added Tax, and the second national<\/p>\n<p>security. At this point in time, the people of Guyana are interested in few<\/p>\n<p>things and would be overjoyed to hear the good news that the VAT is about to<\/p>\n<p>disappear or will be lowered significantly, that they can sleep safely in their<\/p>\n<p>homes, earn a decent living, and that there is a government operating out of<\/p>\n<p>the Office of the President that is doing far more than just saying that it is<\/p>\n<p>interested in the welfare of all Guyanese. When this good news is received then<\/p>\n<p>they can feel comfortable and safe enough to venture out to and begin building<\/p>\n<p>a prosperous life for themselves. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Tomorrow, Monday, February 18, the Minister<\/p>\n<p>of Finance will stroll into the National Assembly with his brief case in hand<\/p>\n<p>and present the PPP\/C government&#8217;s budget. The &#8220;Loyal<\/p>\n<p>Opposition&#8221; is then expected to debate the Motion presenting the<\/p>\n<p>estimates, and as always, the Government is expected to win the debate. This is<\/p>\n<p>the modern practice of democracy in a broken, divided, and heterogeneous society<\/p>\n<p>that is Guyana. Quite frankly we have to say that we have not seen or heard one<\/p>\n<p>word of the 2008 budget, but we are already disappointed. We know that it will<\/p>\n<p>not include a reduction in VAT even though thousands and thousands are being<\/p>\n<p>burdened by it; it will say nothing new about crime and security because the<\/p>\n<p>Ministers have all already been paraded like marionettes on NCN to say what a<\/p>\n<p>marvelous crime plan we have and that it is working even though people are<\/p>\n<p>being massacred, abducted, tortured, bulldozed, robbed, and raped at an<\/p>\n<p>alarming rate. The budget will also not address critical issues relating to the<\/p>\n<p>governance and management of the State of Guyana as was intended by the framers<\/p>\n<p>of the Constitution so that we can begin to give real meaning to article 13 of the<\/p>\n<p>Constitution which states: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;13. The principal objective of the<\/p>\n<p>political system of the State is to establish an inclusionary democracy by<\/p>\n<p>providing increasing opportunities for the participation of citizens, and their<\/p>\n<p>organisations in the management and decision-making processes of the State,<\/p>\n<p>with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that directly affect<\/p>\n<p>their well-being.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This budget will be like every other budget<\/p>\n<p>presented over the last decade-a sham that is designed in a nice cover and a<\/p>\n<p>catchy title such as 2007&#8217;s &#8220;Building a Modern Prosperous<\/p>\n<p>Guyana&#8221;. These recent budgets have flattered to deceive and have not hit<\/p>\n<p>the expected mark so much so that larger and larger sections within the society<\/p>\n<p>are becoming marginalized and impoverished, and have no hope or fight left in<\/p>\n<p>them. The people are being fooled into believing that Guyana is going places<\/p>\n<p>and that all those saying that we have problems are lying and are unpatriotic.<\/p>\n<p>It will be the kind of budget that allows a government to find money for a<\/p>\n<p>bulldozing operation, but not a cent to holistically develop the backlands of<\/p>\n<p>the lower East Coast of Demerara and at the same time, confront the perennial<\/p>\n<p>problem of flooding which affects farmers and residents from West Coast Berbice<\/p>\n<p>to Sophia every year. It will be the kind of budget that allows Parliament in<\/p>\n<p>one year to vote and make into law, the payment of a subvention to the<\/p>\n<p>Critchlow Labour College, but yet allows the Minister of Education to decide to<\/p>\n<p>illegally overrule the Parliament and not issue the subvention because, in his<\/p>\n<p>opinion, the governing union bodies are not getting along so the best way to<\/p>\n<p>stop them fighting is to punish the children. What ever happened to the pledge<\/p>\n<p>and oath taken to take care of our young people and provide them with a sound<\/p>\n<p>education? The donor community should use this same yardstick to deny funding<\/p>\n<p>and financing for government projects where there are clear breaches of ethics<\/p>\n<p>and the law by government officials. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This budget should set out the policy<\/p>\n<p>framework that meets the emerging threats and challenges of internal political<\/p>\n<p>conflict in Guyana as &#8220;domestic terrorists&#8221; stalk the land. In the<\/p>\n<p>AFC 2006 &#8220;Action Plan&#8221; for the development of Guyana we set out<\/p>\n<p>several initiatives on Crime and Security which were developed with the aid of<\/p>\n<p>local and international security experts. One of those was that we should<\/p>\n<p>establish a Ministry of Justice and National Security to coordinate all aspects<\/p>\n<p>of public safety and security. The idea was scoffed at and today after Agricola<\/p>\n<p>and Lusignan, where are we? Another idea proposed by the AFC and rejected by<\/p>\n<p>the government was that there be a move to construct a modern prison and new<\/p>\n<p>humane facilities for women and children. When the Minister of Home Affairs was<\/p>\n<p>asked in Parliament whether the government intends to establish a new prison<\/p>\n<p>outside of Georgetown the curt answer was no; the current facilities are<\/p>\n<p>adequate! Yet we have escape after escape, outbreaks of violence, inconvenience<\/p>\n<p>to traffic and businesses in the area (see recent letter by Mr. John Singh of<\/p>\n<p>the Guyana Variety Store and Nut Centre), but just like the fancy security<\/p>\n<p>plan, the drug strategy master plan, the prison system is functioning<\/p>\n<p>excellently according to the government. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We therefore challenge the Minister of<\/p>\n<p>Finance to bedazzle and surprise us by giving us a &#8220;shock and awe&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>budget that truly caters to the people&#8217;s needs; that introduces a bare<\/p>\n<p>minimum wage of $50,000; that raises the income tax threshold to $50,000; that<\/p>\n<p>reduces VAT; that attaches disbursements of scarce resources to deliverables so<\/p>\n<p>that no Minister is rewarded or receives moneys from the Consolidated Fund for<\/p>\n<p>non-performance; that says that money allocated each year for the offices of an<\/p>\n<p>Ombudsman and for a Public Service Appellate Tribunal will actually be earned<\/p>\n<p>by persons occupying those offices; and that provides for an affirmative action<\/p>\n<p>programme to be introduced that ensures skills training and employment for<\/p>\n<p>willing men and women, so that for works being carried out by central and<\/p>\n<p>regional governments, a minimum of half of the labour force will come from the<\/p>\n<p>Region where these works are being carried out. Anything short of these will be<\/p>\n<p>very, very disappointing. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>During the debate on the budget estimates the<\/p>\n<p>AFC in conjunction with GAP-ROAR will present sound alternatives to those which<\/p>\n<p>the PPP\/C is about to dredge up. Let the people choose whether to accept the<\/p>\n<p>same old song and dance, or whether they believe that something new and different<\/p>\n<p>is possible and can be enjoyed by them. The people need to know the truth that<\/p>\n<p>dozens and dozens of big companies in Guyana are receiving VAT exemptions,<\/p>\n<p>whilst the ordinary man and woman does not; they need to be reminded that there<\/p>\n<p>are billions of dollars of Lotto revenue which have to be put into the<\/p>\n<p>Consolidated Fund and spent on worthwhile developmental projects rather than on<\/p>\n<p>the whims and fancies of the Office of the President. We the people don&#8217;t<\/p>\n<p>have to accept every bad thing offered to us. It is time to start taking<\/p>\n<p>control by standing up and saying we have had enough and we demand something<\/p>\n<p>new and different. We want a budget that satisfies all the people of Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-2-24: AFC Column &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>AGAINST THE STATE by Khemraj Ramjattan <\/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'>I have been tutored over the years &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>first, by my father, then by my political and legal elders, and thirdly by life<\/p>\n<p>itself &#8211; that there is nothing to match the satisfaction of understanding<\/p>\n<p>the great questions and issues of the day into which one gets absorbed and out<\/p>\n<p>of which one wants to emerge the wiser. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>One big question today is why are so many<\/p>\n<p>disobeying the State? And by the State I mean that impersonal legal and<\/p>\n<p>constitutional order which has capacities to administer and control our<\/p>\n<p>territory, centralise finance, regulate and legislate behaviour. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Why is this disobedience so violent? Is there<\/p>\n<p>not a more appropriate and civil way of showing disagreement or discontent with<\/p>\n<p>the functioning of the State? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>My pursuit to obtain an understanding of<\/p>\n<p>this, took me through many heavy pages and interminably long hours of reading.<\/p>\n<p>Many wondrous insights, however I have discovered. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What I found myself immersed in was a history<\/p>\n<p>of political thought &#8211; something I once touched on at my political science<\/p>\n<p>classes at U.G. some 20 (twenty) years ago &#8211; which has as its underlying<\/p>\n<p>question over the centuries: &#8220;Why should any one obey the State?&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Moreover, I discovered that throughout the<\/p>\n<p>ages this question was constantly asked. It is not new. All forms of States &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>big and small, democratic and autocratic, whether law governed or whimsically<\/p>\n<p>commandist &#8211; have been opposed from within by oppositionists ranging from the<\/p>\n<p>single philosopher like Socrates in Athens, to movements with masses of people<\/p>\n<p>like the Bolshevik revolutionaries of Russia, to the terrorist gang of our own<\/p>\n<p>East Coast. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>My attention however became more focused on<\/p>\n<p>the pages which dealt with the question : Why do people take up terrorism? And<\/p>\n<p>I was quite startled with what I learnt. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I had known, and anyone could have guessed,<\/p>\n<p>that this category of persons who are against the State organises and operates<\/p>\n<p>clandestinely with deliberately very public actions and with a variety of<\/p>\n<p>motives ranging from political, religious, ethnic and with a purpose to<\/p>\n<p>frighten a society, to shock and paralyse its population. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What however I soon became aware of, for the<\/p>\n<p>first time, was the following:<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:l0 level1 lfo15;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;>The source of terrorists is located in the <b>&#8220;disaffected<\/p>\n<p>intelligentsia, comprised of ambitious idealists without a creative ruling<\/p>\n<p>class to follow or a rebellious lower class to lead&#8221;<\/b>. When there is<\/p>\n<p>no militant mass party to win the allegiance of this intelligentsia, they turn<\/p>\n<p>to violence in a desperate attempt to reconnect with the masses. <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:l0 level1 lfo15;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;>Terrorists cannot survive for any length of time in<\/p>\n<p>authoritarian regimes like that of Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia. Nor can<\/p>\n<p>they survive in a truly democratic society which creates space for all voices.<\/p>\n<p>Such a democracy enables dissenting voices to believe activities of theirs will<\/p>\n<p>be taken into account and relevant changes made to accommodate them. The type<\/p>\n<p>of regime where terrorism flourishes is the democratic one which, however,<\/p>\n<p>offers people few opportunities to work for significant improvement. The lethal<\/p>\n<p>combination of political disappointment as a result of people whose<\/p>\n<p>expectations have not been met, and an unaccommodating politics-as-usual<\/p>\n<p>mentality of the State and its officialdom create fertile ground for a tendency<\/p>\n<p>towards terrorism. Some become directly involved in outright terrorist<\/p>\n<p>activities, and a larger extended section may constitute a support group. <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:l0 level1 lfo15;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;>Terrorists can draw sustenance from a larger public<\/p>\n<p>sentiment which accords with their cause, or their national message which<\/p>\n<p>strikes a chord with members of the society. This sustenance quickly wanes<\/p>\n<p>though when disproportionate violence for a certain purpose or message is<\/p>\n<p>executed. The terrorists, as it were, undermine their own cause and forfeit any<\/p>\n<p>nobility in the minds of their supporters because the levels of violence become<\/p>\n<p>unacceptable and against the conscience of such supporters. <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:l0 level1 lfo15;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;>The state&#8217;s response is never an easy thing. To<\/p>\n<p>counter with massive doses of police powers to the exclusion of political<\/p>\n<p>initiatives can be destructive of the legitimacy of the State itself. This can<\/p>\n<p>play straight into the hands of the terrorists. Martyrs can be produced out of<\/p>\n<p>this counter-measure, and give a new lease of life to the cause. The answer<\/p>\n<p>always, apart from taking the law seriously, lies in politics rather than<\/p>\n<p>military retaliation. There must be space for a reconnection of these elements<\/p>\n<p>by involving them in movements for change within the national polity. Any<\/p>\n<p>genuine self-scrutiny by the leadership of the State and its public as to why<\/p>\n<p>these people do these things will generally prove some reality or justified<\/p>\n<p>perception of alienation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Guyana is a fledgling democracy. But it must<\/p>\n<p>quickly learn, least it perishes. In terrible times like these our public must<\/p>\n<p>be educated on what the risks are, why our policing must be more intelligence<\/p>\n<p>oriented, why a better security may mean some loss of privacy and liberty, and<\/p>\n<p>why there must be participation by all to solve this problem in being more<\/p>\n<p>accommodating, respectful, civil, law-abiding, even tolerant of scrutiny, and,<\/p>\n<p>especially for our leaders, willing to lead the examined life &#8211; a most<\/p>\n<p>noble Socratic precept. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-2-24: If these are the<\/p>\n<p>first signs of an insurgency we have a serious problem and cannot avoid<\/p>\n<p>addressing the causes that gave rise to it (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'>There has been much noise made about the true<\/p>\n<p>intent of the marauding band that has caused mayhem and destruction and great<\/p>\n<p>fear across Guyana in the last few weeks. Guyana is by no means unique in<\/p>\n<p>having armed groups causing mayhem as the last two decades have seen a<\/p>\n<p>proliferation of terrorists, insurgents, militias, and criminal organizations<\/p>\n<p>all over the world. This is the anarchy that Robert Kaplan wrote of in his<\/p>\n<p>bestseller The Coming Anarchy. These groups present serious security challenges<\/p>\n<p>to nation states. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Most Guyanese had chosen to forget the<\/p>\n<p>exhibition of force and precision that was witnessed by the residents of<\/p>\n<p>Agricola and lower East Bank of Demerara in 2006. What label do we put to the<\/p>\n<p>persons in this group(s) especially when they themselves have not communicated<\/p>\n<p>with anyone as to their true intentions? Many descriptions have been used<\/p>\n<p>interchangeably in the last few weeks: criminals, terrorists, sycophants,<\/p>\n<p>animals, murderers, gunmen, and insurgents. There is no doubt in the minds of<\/p>\n<p>anyone that there is a group of men, and possibly women, engaged in high<\/p>\n<p>profile criminal activity which includes murders of innocents and robbery. But<\/p>\n<p>is there a larger agenda at work here? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>These men from all accounts wear camouflage<\/p>\n<p>uniforms, are very adept in the use of military assault weapons and have access<\/p>\n<p>to other military grade materiel, move and act with military discipline, have<\/p>\n<p>confronted the security forces on several occasions including attacking police<\/p>\n<p>headquarters and other stations, and have the ability to disperse and melt into<\/p>\n<p>the environment at will and lie undetected for weeks and months on end. These<\/p>\n<p>activities certainly bear the characteristics of organized criminals as well as<\/p>\n<p>that of guerrilla warriors. The authors Douglas Blaufarb and George Tanham<\/p>\n<p>describe the activities of guerrillas as such: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&quot;Guerrillas strive to fight only at<\/p>\n<p>times and places of their choosing. These naturally, will be calculated to<\/p>\n<p>achieve surprise and thus to improve the odds. It follows that the guerrilla<\/p>\n<p>will rely on stealth, on disguise, and deception. Moreover, if attacked, he<\/p>\n<p>will not stand and fight but has the ability to disperse when being pursued and<\/p>\n<p>then to reassemble and strike a surprise blow when the pressure is off.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Activities are divided into three phases. &quot;These are, first, development<\/p>\n<p>of an organizational base, second, the launching of the armed struggle in the<\/p>\n<p>form of guerrilla warfare (in an urban and\/or rural setting), and third the<\/p>\n<p>climactic phase, which sees a shift from the guerrilla to aggressive, mobile<\/p>\n<p>warfare with the insurgents seeking to confront their enemies in a conventional<\/p>\n<p>way.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To date however they have never declared that<\/p>\n<p>they are pursuing a political agenda though their activities which partly<\/p>\n<p>resemble those of a guerrilla force certainly shout to us loudly that they are.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We should however remember that escapee<\/p>\n<p>Andrew Douglas had appeared on national television and declared himself a<\/p>\n<p>&quot;freedom fighter&quot;. It is important therefore to establish whether<\/p>\n<p>this group is an off-shoot of the Douglas gang even though the major players<\/p>\n<p>are now dead, and whether &quot;Fineman&quot; has also adopted Douglas&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>ideology. In dealing with this type of activity there are two useful and<\/p>\n<p>important adages that everyone should bear in mind. The first is that &quot;one<\/p>\n<p>man&#8217;s terrorist is another man&#8217;s freedom fighter.&quot; The second is that<\/p>\n<p>&quot;It takes a terrorist to catch a terrorist&quot;. We are not going to have<\/p>\n<p>easy times ahead. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We therefore have to be very careful in ascribing<\/p>\n<p>labels to a group especially where they themselves have not given themselves a<\/p>\n<p>name. This point was forcefully driven home in Somalia in 1993 when the United<\/p>\n<p>States military underestimated the strength and importance of Farrah Aideed by<\/p>\n<p>calling him a &quot;war lord&quot; and placing a US$25,000 bounty on his head.<\/p>\n<p>In doing so they failed to respect the facts that he was a former Ambassador of<\/p>\n<p>Somalia to India, was the author of several books, and had been appointed war<\/p>\n<p>chief by his tribe to face the imminent threat that was perceived. The US<\/p>\n<p>Special Forces paid a heavy price. It is for this reason that it is difficult<\/p>\n<p>to prescribe the types of strategies and tactics to deploy in the absence of an<\/p>\n<p>objective assessment of what the government and nation face. It is easy to call<\/p>\n<p>for helicopters and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) or specialist weapns and<\/p>\n<p>more troops, but these will mean nothing in the absence of an objective<\/p>\n<p>assessment and the political will to fashion an appropriate strategy. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Insurgencies take root and thrive where there<\/p>\n<p>are governments that are deemed incompetent and corrupt, and place continued<\/p>\n<p>enjoyment of power ahead of making changes and reforms that would negate the<\/p>\n<p>insurgent&#8217;s appeal. Most experts agree that a viable insurgency has three<\/p>\n<p>defining 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:l25 level1 lfo16;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:l25 level1 lfo16;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:l25 level1 lfo16;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'>There is no doubt that the state of Guyana is<\/p>\n<p>in a much weakened condition; perhaps the weakest it has ever been since<\/p>\n<p>Independence in 1966. In the seminal work The State, War, and the State of War<\/p>\n<p>Kalevi J. Holsti has identified three structural characteristics of weak<\/p>\n<p>states: <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:l14 level1 lfo17;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;>The absence of vertical legitimacy, meaning that<\/p>\n<p>substantial &quot;segments of the state do not accord the state, or its rulers,<\/p>\n<p>authority. <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:l14 level1 lfo17;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 absence of horizontal legitimacy. Communities<\/p>\n<p>within states have no formal and complementary relationship with each other.<\/p>\n<p>Rather, these communities largely autonomous shape the &quot;nature of politics<\/p>\n<p>and authority structures&quot; of the state. Therefore, dominant communities<\/p>\n<p>have a greater say at the expense of other communities. <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:l14 level1 lfo17;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 over personalization of the state around a person,<\/p>\n<p>party, or house of royalty. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>If it is the first signs of an insurgency<\/p>\n<p>that we face then we have a serious problem and cannot avoid addressing the<\/p>\n<p>socio-political causes that gave rise to it. If in fact we are lucky not to<\/p>\n<p>have to deal with an emerging insurgent force then we need to seize the<\/p>\n<p>opportunity and address frontally the socio-political situation including a<\/p>\n<p>review of the system of governance under which we are organized. We simply do<\/p>\n<p>not have choices either way. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The problem therefore cannot be solved if<\/p>\n<p>there is a refusal by stakeholders to address the larger issue of the system of<\/p>\n<p>governance under which we are organized and managed, and vice versa, by stakeholders<\/p>\n<p>seeking to string together a raft of recommendations which skirt around the<\/p>\n<p>central issue of governance by calling for piecemeal reforms. What we have to<\/p>\n<p>admit is that this constitutional construct under which we all function, has<\/p>\n<p>failed Guyana and to the extent that we politicians and civil society stake<\/p>\n<p>holders continue to tinker and pretend, then we will continue to fail and will<\/p>\n<p>be left with no alternative but to apologise to the citizenry for our failure<\/p>\n<p>over the last five decades. <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'>Raphael Trotman <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;>2008-3-2: The AFC Column-WILL WE AS A NATION WALK THE WALK OR JUST<\/p>\n<p>TALK THE TALK? <\/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 AFC and GAP-ROAR participated in the<\/p>\n<p>Stakeholders Meeting held at the Office of the President on Wednesday, February<\/p>\n<p>28, 2008, and reserve our opinion as to its successes as time will judge<\/p>\n<p>whether as a nation we are committed to making REAL headway or just talking. We<\/p>\n<p>can say, however, that we were pleased that the President agreed to the request<\/p>\n<p>to convene such a meeting in the face of a deteriorating security situation and<\/p>\n<p>that there are definite signs of promise. It is the opinion of the parties that<\/p>\n<p>the problems lie not in plans that exist to fight crime but in the level of<\/p>\n<p>implementation. It is our considered opinion that Guyana remains no safer than<\/p>\n<p>it was at the end of January and while we urge the security forces to redouble<\/p>\n<p>their efforts to capture the perpetrators of the recent massacres, we urge the<\/p>\n<p>government, fellow opposition parties and the erudite members of civil society<\/p>\n<p>to begin examining the socio-economic and socio-political factors including the<\/p>\n<p>governance and organization of the State in the quest to find solutions. We<\/p>\n<p>recognize that there is a breakdown of law and order in Guyana as is evident by<\/p>\n<p>these killings, as well as in the several instances where the rule of law and<\/p>\n<p>respect for the constitution are not observed. This is most visible in the<\/p>\n<p>non-appointment of constitutional officers and the non establishment of<\/p>\n<p>Constitutional Commissions which are intended to address the concerns of the<\/p>\n<p>various stakeholders in our society. These failures must be tackled immediately<\/p>\n<p>and in the same earnest manner as in those who commit crimes against the<\/p>\n<p>person. We look forward to the formalization and institutionalization of the<\/p>\n<p>Stakeholder engagement in the context of establishing an inclusive democracy<\/p>\n<p>with the hope that the decision making process in Guyana will become<\/p>\n<p>broad-based and productive. To this end, the parties listed below submitted to<\/p>\n<p>the stakeholders meeting the following proposal for urgent implementation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Preamble The AFC\/GAP-ROAR, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Recognizing the need to continuously examine<\/p>\n<p>the contributing factors that have influenced the current escalation of<\/p>\n<p>criminal acts and general lawlessness, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mindful that the root causes that trigger and<\/p>\n<p>drive political, social and economic instability must as an urgency be included<\/p>\n<p>as issues to be immediately addressed, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Cognizant of the efforts of all Stakeholders<\/p>\n<p>that these engagements must be conducted in an environment characterized by good<\/p>\n<p>faith, sincerity, mutual respect and commitment which is required to achieve<\/p>\n<p>long lasting solutions to the problems of national security and governance, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC and GAP respectfully, and, with<\/p>\n<p>legitimate expectation hereby submit the following proposals for the<\/p>\n<p>consideration and adoption by the National Stakeholder Engagement. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Security Matters &middot; Immediately<\/p>\n<p>establish a Parliamentary Standing Committee on National Security as<\/p>\n<p>recommended by The Border\/National Security Report, The CARICOM Task Force on Crime<\/p>\n<p>and Security Report, The Disciplined Forces Report and The Security Sector<\/p>\n<p>Reform Action Plan. &middot; Review and implement recommendations of the<\/p>\n<p>Border\/National Security Committee Report, The CARICOM Task Force on Crime and<\/p>\n<p>Security Report, The Disciplined Forces Report and The Security Sector Reform<\/p>\n<p>Action Plan. Administrative Structure Establish a well equipped and staffed<\/p>\n<p>Secretariat to facilitate a collaborative framework for the continuous and<\/p>\n<p>effective work of this Parliamentary Standing Committee. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Contract both local and external expertise to<\/p>\n<p>study the internal and external threats, assist in executing, monitoring and<\/p>\n<p>evaluating the security plans and National Security Strategy, and appoint a<\/p>\n<p>national security advisor. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Short Term Security Actions &middot; Ensure<\/p>\n<p>that the Disciplined Forces act within the legal and constitutional framework<\/p>\n<p>in conducting searches, arrest and detention and the laying of charges against<\/p>\n<p>Citizens. Concern is being expressed as to the deployment and activities of the<\/p>\n<p>Disciplined Forces in the absence of a declared State of Emergency (limited or<\/p>\n<p>otherwise) as approved by the National Assembly. &middot; Confirm all acting<\/p>\n<p>appointments within the Judiciary and Disciplined Forces. (Immediate) &middot;<\/p>\n<p>Increase salaries and review of the Conditions of Service of the members of the<\/p>\n<p>Disciplined Forces. (Immediate) &middot; Restructure the Guyana Police Force to<\/p>\n<p>assign certain functions and responsibilities to civilians. (Immediate)<\/p>\n<p>&middot; Divisional Commanders to be given more autonomy in structuring and<\/p>\n<p>organizing the Force under their jurisdiction including recruitment.<\/p>\n<p>(Immediate) &middot; Immediately establish a Witness Protection Programme.<\/p>\n<p>&middot; Re-establish People&#8217;s Militia in each Administrative Region. &middot;<\/p>\n<p>Establishment of a National Youth Development Corps. Narcotic Trafficking<\/p>\n<p>&middot; Accelerated implementation of the National Drug Strategy Master Plan.<\/p>\n<p>&middot; Establish new and support for existing rehabilitation centres<\/p>\n<p>countrywide. &middot; Enforce mandatory testing within the Disciplined Forces<\/p>\n<p>and all security related posts\/employment. &middot; Fast track the<\/p>\n<p>establishment of a Financial Intelligence Unit. General Governance Issues <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&middot; Parliamentary Constitution Review<\/p>\n<p>Committee to examine and give meaning to &#8220;Inclusive Democracy&#8221; as<\/p>\n<p>set out in Article 13 of <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Constitution. (Timeframe &#8211; within 180 days.)<\/p>\n<p>&middot; Parliament to debate and approve a Freedom of Information Bill.<\/p>\n<p>(Timeframe &#8211; within 180 days.) &middot; Parliament to debate and approve the<\/p>\n<p>Passage of Broadcast legislation. (Timeframe &#8211; within 180 days.) &middot;<\/p>\n<p>Parliamentary Opposition Parties and other Stakeholders to be granted immediate<\/p>\n<p>and equitable access to the State Media (NCN). &middot; The Constitutional<\/p>\n<p>offices and Commissions listed below to be constituted and positions filled: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>i. The Office of the Director of Public<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutions (DPP), <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>ii. The Office of the Ombudsman, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>iii. The Public Service Appellate Tribunal, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>iv. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The<\/p>\n<p>Procurement Commission, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>v. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The<\/p>\n<p>Human Rights Commission, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>vi. The Women and Gender Equity Commission, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>vii. The Indigenous Peoples Commission, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>viii. The Rights of the Child Commission, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>ix. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The<\/p>\n<p>Ethnic Relations Commission, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>x. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The<\/p>\n<p>Local Government Commission. &middot; Review the operational procedures,<\/p>\n<p>functions and appointments to State Boards and Committees to create and ensure<\/p>\n<p>balance between the Government, Parliamentary Opposition Parties and Civil<\/p>\n<p>Society &middot; Lotto funds to be immediately transferred and included in the<\/p>\n<p>Consolidated Fund. &middot; All subventions approved by Parliament to schools<\/p>\n<p>and other educational institutions to be disbursed immediately. &middot;<\/p>\n<p>Government contracts approved for execution in Administrative Regions must<\/p>\n<p>stipulate that as a minimum 75% of all labour and other services must originate<\/p>\n<p>within the specific region once available. Only with the implementation of<\/p>\n<p>these recommendations will Guyana begin to fix all that is wrong in our nation<\/p>\n<p>and commence the process of healing and reconstruction. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-3-7: The Protest Rally:<\/p>\n<p>The Richmond Hill Report by Paul Sanders Caribbean Daylight NY <\/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><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Message to President Bharrat Jagdeo: How<\/p>\n<p>many sleepless nights have you had had regarding the security breakdown and the<\/p>\n<p>loss of lives in Guyana since the Lusignan and Bartica massacres? <\/span><\/i><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Signed, Tara. <\/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'>No, not that old geezer who&#8217;s retailing<\/p>\n<p>the PPP filth in the East Indian communities in Richmond Hill and New Jersey.<\/p>\n<p>This Tara &#8211; the one with fire in her belly. Cousin Tara Jagdeo. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Bet your bottom dollar, if Tara Jagdeo was a<\/p>\n<p>Sleepys saleswoman, by now President Jagdeo&#8217;s sleep number would have<\/p>\n<p>been a piece of national treasure. But Tara is least popular for telling<\/p>\n<p>bedtime stories. She&#8217;s constructing a fast-track reputation for infecting<\/p>\n<p>people with sleep disorders; she knows how to keep certain people awake with<\/p>\n<p>Restless Legs Syndrome. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Tara Jagdeo is smart. She knows the nature of<\/p>\n<p>the beast. She also knows the kind of dirty, fabled, racial propagandistic<\/p>\n<p>materials the PPP and their overseas supporters would invent to keep the heat<\/p>\n<p>off President Jagdeo and his PPP\/Civic&#8217;s skin. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And all her energies are focused on exposing<\/p>\n<p>the hypocritical leadership of the PPP and the government. Fearless, unabashed,<\/p>\n<p>Ms. Jagdeo spoke the power and the language of the ordinary Guyanese. No<\/p>\n<p>ideology, no racist insinuation, no regrets, Ms. Jagdeo was the real thing. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This warrior woman was sharp; she pointed<\/p>\n<p>fingers at President Bharrat Jagdeo for the messy situation that Guyana is in<\/p>\n<p>today. She got to the very core of the matter; dissecting the evasive<\/p>\n<p>ideological gymnastics that many PPP apologists are famous for. She let the<\/p>\n<p>audience know that it is the president who is ultimately responsible for the<\/p>\n<p>crisis. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>She also knew a thing or two about<\/p>\n<p>insensitivity. She was point blank when she called names. Either President<\/p>\n<p>Jagdeo is crude, callous and cold or he was &#8220;bedding-in&#8221; with the<\/p>\n<p>Jezebels of the nation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Hence the question about President Jagdeo&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>sleeping habits. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Who would have thought about bringing to<\/p>\n<p>roost the question of the president&#8217;s conscience? Definitely, Ms. Tara<\/p>\n<p>was on to something extraordinary about presidential bed bugs and mites. Did<\/p>\n<p>her question have something in relation with President Jagdeo&#8217;s private<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;sleep-over&#8221; at a JFK hotel on the weekend of the Bartica massacre?<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And she wasn&#8217;t done there either. She<\/p>\n<p>went after the other Tara &#8211; Dr. Tara Singh, a PPP patsy -for being an<\/p>\n<p>opportunist in calling other people opportunists. And it was everyone&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>second guess what she would have done with the old man, had he been there at<\/p>\n<p>the rally: a good spanking, a no-nonsense command to take a bedtime pee and a<\/p>\n<p>nice &#8220;night, night&#8221; tuck into bed. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Now that is one power-puff girl. But here is<\/p>\n<p>another message that is promised to be broadcasted on the airwaves. And it is<\/p>\n<p>coming from an old timer. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Haji Zakir made a rare observation that was<\/p>\n<p>only mentioned once in the letter column of the Stabroek News. He lamented<\/p>\n<p>about the disrespectful manner in which the corpses of the Bartica victims were<\/p>\n<p>handled. A man, strong with religious convictions, Haji was incensed; pointing<\/p>\n<p>out that none of the major religions had approved of the method. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He described the desecration of the bodies at<\/p>\n<p>Bartica; the way they were dumped; like lumber in the back of a 4 x 4 and into<\/p>\n<p>a boat. He wanted us to roll those images around in our heads. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Haji also thought that President Jagdeo, his<\/p>\n<p>cohorts in the PPP and the public officials who were responsible for this type of<\/p>\n<p>depravity are all jerks. But he thought more than that &#8211; more in terms of<\/p>\n<p>direct action. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Haji Zakir&#8217;s campaign has a new twist;<\/p>\n<p>that is to run President Jagdeo and all his ministers out of town; the sleazy<\/p>\n<p>bums who come to Richmond Hill to eat &#8220;Duck Curry;&#8221; to talk trash<\/p>\n<p>and to collect alms. Hagi&#8217;s pronouncement was a serious condemnation; and<\/p>\n<p>he was going to wing it on the radio show. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He did. On Sunday, he spoke from the heart.<\/p>\n<p>The Haji Zakir morning show slammed the airwaves with materials that&#8217;d<\/p>\n<p>make the PPP-ites squirm like cows on roller skates. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Now that is more of a breakthrough; it is a<\/p>\n<p>make over. Haji Zakir is one of those &#8220;Must-See&#8221; personalities the<\/p>\n<p>PPP\/Civic seeks out on their stump visit in the Richmond Hill area. His<\/p>\n<p>political inclination as a sympathizer to the PPP is no cloak and dagger<\/p>\n<p>business. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Yet he combines moderation and a bit of<\/p>\n<p>humanity in his championship of second chances. Bottom line: he always prefers<\/p>\n<p>to give President Jagdeo&#8217;s Administration the benefit of the doubt. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Not anymore. To have struggled for 28 years<\/p>\n<p>under the PNC; and to have endured 15 years of the scam artistry defined as<\/p>\n<p>government, is have one&#8217;s patience and tolerance worn thin. Haji zakir<\/p>\n<p>has had enough. Haji&#8217;s voyage to this heroic position has not been easy;<\/p>\n<p>but it is worthy of recognition. And it spells a major fallout for the PPP. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC&#8217;s entourage was a box-office<\/p>\n<p>hit. They grabbed the spotlight by embodying the freshness and change that the<\/p>\n<p>downtrodden Guyanese had been praying for. An elitist force with perfect<\/p>\n<p>timing, they crept up on the Richmond Hill establishment like a thief in the<\/p>\n<p>night. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Their entry into this rally &#8211; and the<\/p>\n<p>PPP&#8217;s stronghold, is something like an invasion of the Persian army. They<\/p>\n<p>were direct, deliberate and ready to go to war. They were the chief spokesmen<\/p>\n<p>for the signal political phenomenon of today: the loudest voice for change. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Even without the opportunity to share the<\/p>\n<p>platform, the AFC&#8217;s group vibrancy spoke of defiance to the<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;politics as usual&#8221; approach to the Guyana tragedy. They were an<\/p>\n<p>enormous influence, a cavalry unique in both spirit and muscular strength. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>These folks were colorful &#8211; and<\/p>\n<p>plentiful; waving placards, banners and chanting some of the most blasphemous<\/p>\n<p>things against the demigods of the PPP. They hounded; they screeched; they<\/p>\n<p>charged -valiantly for answers, not just mere talk; but for a drastic change<\/p>\n<p>that had all the cosmetic works of a new Guyana, including the resignation of<\/p>\n<p>President Jagdeo and the removal of the PPP\/Civic. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC is the new kid on the block. And they<\/p>\n<p>seemed to possess a tough quality of activism and zeal to disarm the power fuse<\/p>\n<p>of the racial time bomb that awaits Guyana. They held out on their position,<\/p>\n<p>and they weren&#8217;t taking &#8216;No&#8221; for an answer. They were running<\/p>\n<p>on one big idea: change that many Guyanese are quietly wishing for. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But this group came out with another warrant.<\/p>\n<p>That is to serve the PPP due notice that East Indians are longer in the mood to<\/p>\n<p>be charmed or moonstruck by the poisonous &#8220;apaan-jhaat&#8221; theology,<\/p>\n<p>or the racist filth of the ACG in this neighborhood. They were there to promote<\/p>\n<p>an alternative: the change that affects and unify the two ethnic groups of the<\/p>\n<p>nation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Change is their hymn. And it&#8217;s turning<\/p>\n<p>out to be in tune with the mood of the people. This East Indian town, known for<\/p>\n<p>its adamant traditional pro-PPP stance is making a huge improvement; if not a<\/p>\n<p>quantum leap in the direction of what these folks could have done all these<\/p>\n<p>years but didn&#8217;t. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Now if there was anyone who needed to panic<\/p>\n<p>at the display, it had to be the PPP. And their crawlers performed predictably<\/p>\n<p>as the screenplay demanded. There they were a handful of agents on a<\/p>\n<p>reconnaissance mission, reporting &#8220;live&#8221; to their nervous masters<\/p>\n<p>by cell phone. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And there&#8217;s more reason to that than<\/p>\n<p>the nice write up the AFC deserves. Popular unionist Chuck Mohan made his<\/p>\n<p>position clear that he&#8217;s no longer an admirer of President Jagdeo and the<\/p>\n<p>PPP. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>That&#8217;s heavy stuff coming from a man<\/p>\n<p>whose range reaches both the Indo and Afro Guyanese communities in Queens and<\/p>\n<p>Brooklyn. Chuck spoke like a giant; unequivocally declaring his disgust at the<\/p>\n<p>way the PPP\/Civic mangled the nation&#8217;s security. But he&#8217;s not the<\/p>\n<p>only bad news for the PPP. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>TV Broadcaster Tanuja Raghoo made a stunning<\/p>\n<p>remark, adding candor and intensity to the issue of bad governance which is<\/p>\n<p>already a reference maxim of the Jagdeo clique. Ms. Raghoo pointed out that<\/p>\n<p>while the PPP\/Civic has begun to do the right thing by holding the<\/p>\n<p>stakeholders&#8217; meeting, it is still just talk. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Just talk. No action. The kind of thing<\/p>\n<p>that&#8217;s pissing people off. Amazing, but in just one stroke, one sentence,<\/p>\n<p>Ms. Raghoo penetrated the very center of the PPP&#8217;s mindset. And she<\/p>\n<p>wasn&#8217;t apologetic; she knew poor ordinary people at the bottom were<\/p>\n<p>getting smacked, and she knew it was a recipe for real danger to the Jagdeo<\/p>\n<p>Administration. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So it wasn&#8217;t surprising either to hear<\/p>\n<p>new voices of dissent on the platform. Economist Dr. Rudy Jadopat made the case<\/p>\n<p>of the government&#8217;s use of tax payers&#8217; money to buy arms for the<\/p>\n<p>nation&#8217;s security; but which are ending up in the hands of criminals who<\/p>\n<p>are sending tax payers&#8217; returns with bullets. He directed his sting on<\/p>\n<p>President Jagdeo and the PPP\/Civic. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It was difficult not to see the anger<\/p>\n<p>explode. Dr. Randy Persaud, a well known PPP advocate, was keenly cognizant<\/p>\n<p>that the rally was run over by the strong anti Jagdeo sentiments. He was<\/p>\n<p>cautious, subtle and pragmatic; expounding his theory on insurgency which he<\/p>\n<p>claimed was endorsed by AFC&#8217;s Raphael Trotman. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The protest rally was in many ways a more<\/p>\n<p>compelling drama than most reality shows in this neighborhood, with its<\/p>\n<p>fascinating cast of characters like community activist Albert Baldeo who<\/p>\n<p>initiated a signature push for the American Congress to give voice to the crime<\/p>\n<p>situation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Businessman Frank Singh rendered his piece<\/p>\n<p>urging a unified approach; and even the quixotic George Correia made his<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;straight up, not made up&#8221; rendition. The various religious leaders<\/p>\n<p>elucidated their positions too. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As added variety a lone anti Corbin\/PNC\/R placard<\/p>\n<p>was held hand high planted by a scruffy PPP stray. A few Islanders from<\/p>\n<p>Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Haiti watched on with interest. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The downside of this event is that it was<\/p>\n<p>poorly attended. The weather was frigid. And no more than 200 people were<\/p>\n<p>present. The anticipated contingency from the Afro Guyanese in Brooklyn did not<\/p>\n<p>materialize. The program was, in part, somewhat unfocused and the long<\/p>\n<p>windedness of some speakers dragged things along. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In spite of that, the rally &#8211; as is the<\/p>\n<p>in-your-face talk of the town variety &#8211; is a symbol of the changing<\/p>\n<p>attitudes in this East Indian town. It was, quite possibly, one of the most<\/p>\n<p>assertive, surprising and rebellious acts to come out of Richmond Hill. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The task now is to sustain the pressure. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=center style='text-align:center'><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><a<\/p>\n<p>href=&#8221;..\/html\/photo___video_gallery.html&#8221;><b>Rally Photos <\/b><\/a><\/span><\/u><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-3-23: AFC Kaieteurnews<\/p>\n<p>Column, &#8220;Voices of its Principles&#8221; By AFC Vice-Chair, Sheila<\/p>\n<p>Holder, MP For Easter Sunday <\/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'>Easter reminds us about the death and<\/p>\n<p>resurrection of Jesus Christ, The King; but even though the Jews had waited for<\/p>\n<p>the Massiah to deliver them from the oppression of Rome they tragically failed<\/p>\n<p>to recognize Him when he came because His kingship was not what they expected. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The true purpose of God&#8217;s anointed<\/p>\n<p>deliverer, Jesus Christ, was to die for all people to free them from<\/p>\n<p>sin&#8217;s oppression. Sin&#8217;s oppression, as manifested in unprecedented<\/p>\n<p>numbers of brutal massacres in the first few months of this year, is consuming<\/p>\n<p>our beloved country as we celebrate Jesus&#8217; triumph over death this<\/p>\n<p>Easter. Fear stalks the land following the Lusignan and Bartica brutal and<\/p>\n<p>cold-blooded murders of men, women and children many of whom were sleeping<\/p>\n<p>peacefully in their beds; but even more so since the execution type killing of<\/p>\n<p>Marcyn King, the sister of &#8216;Fineman&#8217; Rawlins, Guyana&#8217;s most<\/p>\n<p>wanted criminal. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Fear, born out of the frightening levels of<\/p>\n<p>crime being experienced in the country, is causing the economy and the society<\/p>\n<p>to lose a great deal. Evidence of contraction is taking place in some business<\/p>\n<p>areas e. g. in the entertainment sector, prospective investments, it has caused<\/p>\n<p>escalating migration, increased levels of stress and stress related illnesses,<\/p>\n<p>just to mention a few. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Since, it is the responsibility of government<\/p>\n<p>to provide for the safety and protection of citizens, this state of affairs<\/p>\n<p>points to failure on the part of government. The Guyanese people are not<\/p>\n<p>interested in who is to be blamed for this frightening state of affairs they<\/p>\n<p>want to feel safe in their homes, places of business and pleasure. They are<\/p>\n<p>sick and tired of the divisive politics and reckless utterances intended to<\/p>\n<p>impress them, such as that made by President Jagdeo recently at Babu John,<\/p>\n<p>Corentyne on the occasion of the observation of the death anniversary of former<\/p>\n<p>President Cheddie Jagan when he declared that the Police should hunt down the<\/p>\n<p>criminals and kill them. What example is the President setting when he advised<\/p>\n<p>the police to break the law? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The main interest of the society at the<\/p>\n<p>moment is &#8211; What should we be doing (and what we should not be doing) to<\/p>\n<p>improve the country&#8217;s security situation to provide for a satisfactory<\/p>\n<p>level of public safety for Guyanese? To answer this question I refer to some<\/p>\n<p>revelations made, and the conclusions reached at a recent workshop on <b><i>&#8216;Small<\/p>\n<p>Arms Proliferation and Misuse: Towards a Caribbean Plan of Action&#8217;<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p>which I attended in Port of Spain on the 4-5 March, 2008. The workshop was<\/p>\n<p>sponsored by the Women&#8217;s Institute for Alternative Development (WINAD) in<\/p>\n<p>Trinidad &amp; Tobago and funded by the government of Canada through the<\/p>\n<p>ecumenical peace centre&#8217;s NGO Project Ploughshares, arm of the Canadian<\/p>\n<p>Council of Churches. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What we should be doing and why? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Reduce the culture of violence <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There&#8217;s a heated debate about the<\/p>\n<p>extent to which the media, in particular the television and some video games<\/p>\n<p>influence violence. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics by the time<\/p>\n<p>they turn 18, the youths in the USA have already seen an average of 200,000<\/p>\n<p>violent acts on TV, which they argue, can have a &#8216;strong influence on<\/p>\n<p>children and youth&#8217;. Four decades ago Martin Luther King pointed to the<\/p>\n<p>role of the media in developing a culture of violence; <b><i>&#8220;By our<\/p>\n<p>readiness to allow arms to be purchased at will and fired at whim; by allowing<\/p>\n<p>our movies and television screens to teach our children that the hero is one<\/p>\n<p>who masters the art of shooting and the technique of killing&#8230;.we have<\/p>\n<p>created an atmosphere in which violence and hatred have become popular<\/p>\n<p>past-times&#8221;. <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Cultural Attitudes, Education &amp;<\/p>\n<p>Violence <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There&#8217;s a persistent mentality in our<\/p>\n<p>society that embraces the retrograde belief that the wife and children are the<\/p>\n<p>property of the man in the family. This brings about an acceptance of the<\/p>\n<p>imposition of fear as a means of achieving obedience that develops the desire<\/p>\n<p>for revenge. It teaches children to resolve conflicts by imposing their will<\/p>\n<p>and to get over their frustrations by using violent means. This is carried over<\/p>\n<p>into their adult lives. As the Catholic Church in Brazil has said, <b><i>&#8220;Those<\/p>\n<p>who hit to teach are teaching to hit.&#8221; <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Making the Political Connection <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Similarly, our society tolerates the<\/p>\n<p>development of the national personality, among our two major race groups that<\/p>\n<p>accepts the imposition of fear as a legitimate means by which political support<\/p>\n<p>is earned. Thereafter, such support leads to submission of one race by another<\/p>\n<p>which has become entrenched in our national politics of fear for generations,<\/p>\n<p>instead of political parties and politicians working to gain support by conviction<\/p>\n<p>based on policies and performance. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Gun Control <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is argued that since it is the television<\/p>\n<p>media that encouraged violence by exalting it, it should be this medium that<\/p>\n<p>helps to reverse this trend by building a more peaceful society through providing<\/p>\n<p>opportunities for advancing democratic and peaceful values as a way of<\/p>\n<p>resolving conflicts through massive informational campaigns. This has worked<\/p>\n<p>successfully in Brazil, where TV Globo, for instance, has successfully exposed<\/p>\n<p>the risks associated with using guns. Another is the Brazilian soap opera,<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Women in Love&#8217;, that developed the theme in support of gun control<\/p>\n<p>in its plot, taking the debate to millions of homes. The actors and actresses<\/p>\n<p>even participated in a real-life successful march for a Gun Free Brazil that<\/p>\n<p>was organized by Viva Rio. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Guns Use in History Support the Prognosis<\/p>\n<p>that Violence Breeds Violence <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It has been noted in studies that<\/p>\n<p>militaristic behaviour, such as those that took place in Latin America, or in<\/p>\n<p>Africa and in Middle Eastern countries, shape violent behaviour in those<\/p>\n<p>societies. Violent processes of political change, such as revolutions and<\/p>\n<p>insurgencies, can therefore lead to guns being used as instruments of freedom<\/p>\n<p>which often become tools of social and individual oppression under the new<\/p>\n<p>regime. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It has also been found that the incidence of<\/p>\n<p>suicide and domestic violence with guns is greater among professionals who use<\/p>\n<p>guns in conflict resolution situations, such as the police and military, than<\/p>\n<p>the total population. A 1995 study found a rate of 29 suicides per 100,000 for<\/p>\n<p>the New York City Police Department, compared to 12 per 100,000 for the general<\/p>\n<p>population. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Of the thirteen most violent countries in the<\/p>\n<p>world, twelve are to be found in Latin America and the Caribbean, which has not<\/p>\n<p>been traditionally a peaceful or socially stable region with a homicide rate of<\/p>\n<p>15.5 per 100,000. On the other hand Costa Rica is the exception since that<\/p>\n<p>country abolished their armed forces in 1948, invested massively in public<\/p>\n<p>education, peace culture, and as a result has a very low gun homicide rate of<\/p>\n<p>3.3 homicides per 100,000 residents in 1998. In Guyana for the first 83 days of<\/p>\n<p>this year there have been 51 persons murdered. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>These are some of the facts we must digest in<\/p>\n<p>order to understand the culture of violent crimes that has consumed our society<\/p>\n<p>these past few months with the illegal proliferation of small arms and light<\/p>\n<p>weapons. In my next article, I will undertake to examine what we in Guyana<\/p>\n<p>could do to reverse this terrifyingly violent crime situation based on the<\/p>\n<p>experiences of other countries. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-3-26: ALLIANCE FOR<\/p>\n<p>CHANGE MAKES DONATION OF COMPUTER TO LEGUAN MANDIR YOUTH GROUP <\/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'>Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan and Vice Chair Ms.<\/p>\n<p>Sheila Holder of the Alliance For Change yesterday handed over a complete<\/p>\n<p>computer set inclusive of printer, battery back up and surge protector to Ms.<\/p>\n<p>Nalini Samaroo of Maryville Mandir Youth Section of Leguan. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This resulted after a request was made from<\/p>\n<p>the youth section some months ago. The young people wanted the equipment for<\/p>\n<p>purposes of training themselves and others in the community to become computer<\/p>\n<p>literate. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Ms. Holder urged that the equipment be cared<\/p>\n<p>for and used for the benefit of all young people in that community so that they<\/p>\n<p>could be diverted from idle activities and into more purposeful and meaningful<\/p>\n<p>ones. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Ramjattan indicated that the AFC is hard<\/p>\n<p>at work to get the other project which he wants to see successful this year<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; the establishment of a chicken farm at Phoenix. Already a local<\/p>\n<p>businessman had donated a piece of land for the project and the necessary<\/p>\n<p>estimates for the pens are being worked on so that monies for the construction<\/p>\n<p>could be garnered. &#8220;Businessmen who generally support and bankroll these<\/p>\n<p>projects for the AFC in its community out reach have been indicating that<\/p>\n<p>finances are not as plentiful as before. But we are patient and will definitely<\/p>\n<p>see the poultry farm completed this year&#8221;, he said. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Ms. Nalini Samaroo thanked the AFC for<\/p>\n<p>keeping its commitment, and promised to ensure that the youths of the area<\/p>\n<p>benefit from this wonderful donation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-4-6: The AFC Article by<\/p>\n<p>Sheila Holder &#8211; &#8220;Voices of Its Principles&#8221;-The National Assembly of<\/p>\n<p>the Parliament of Guyana, like the country itself is at the cross roads. <\/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 National Assembly of the Parliament of<\/p>\n<p>Guyana, like the country itself is at the cross roads. While at one level<\/p>\n<p>genuine efforts are being made to attain for this institution the premiere<\/p>\n<p>place the Constitution assigns it, insecure forces within the PPP\/C are at work<\/p>\n<p>retarding those efforts. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Regrettably, in the eyes of citizens this<\/p>\n<p>situation has courted not only the belief that the National Assembly is a waste<\/p>\n<p>of time but also that efforts made by Members of Parliament generally are of<\/p>\n<p>little benefit to them. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Given this perception it should come as no<\/p>\n<p>surprise that the AFC has been accused from time to time by various letter<\/p>\n<p>writers and columnists of investing too much time in the National Assembly, of<\/p>\n<p>failing to understand the political reality that little or nothing could be<\/p>\n<p>achieved in the National Assembly given the majoritarian attitude of the<\/p>\n<p>governing party, thus warning the AFC was heading for the road of oblivion<\/p>\n<p>traversed by other third parties before it; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And more recently, the AFC was accused of betraying<\/p>\n<p>the National Stakeholder&#8217;s Agreement by walking out of parliament because<\/p>\n<p>the Government refused to incorporate in the Motion Article 13 of the<\/p>\n<p>Constitution and which item 3 &amp; 4 of the Stakeholder&#8217;s agreement with<\/p>\n<p>President Jagdeo spoke to &#8211; namely: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=31<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1029&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_35.jpg&#8221;>Item (3) Convene and<\/p>\n<p>activate the Parliamentary Constitutional Reform Committee to address issues<\/p>\n<p>presently before it and to examine further areas for constitutional reform;<\/p>\n<p>Item (4) Ensure meaningful and effective participation of civil society in<\/p>\n<p>these parliamentary processes. How could the AFC be accused of betraying the<\/p>\n<p>stakeholder&#8217;s when, along with the other opposition parliamentary parties,<\/p>\n<p>we responded to the invitation of the Prime Minister to propose amendments to<\/p>\n<p>the National Stakeholder&#8217;s Motion standing in his name and proposed that<\/p>\n<p>which items (3) &amp; (4) of the Stakeholder&#8217;s statement with President<\/p>\n<p>Jagdeo encapsulated in their press release. And when our Representatives,<\/p>\n<p>Messrs David Patterson and Everall Franklyn, proposed in discussions with Ms<\/p>\n<p>Gail Teixeira on the matter that we go back to the stakeholders for their<\/p>\n<p>concurrence with the inclusions we proposed and that were being rejected by the<\/p>\n<p>Government? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The reality is there&#8217;s a nexus between<\/p>\n<p>these Constitutional governance issues we proposed and the public safety and<\/p>\n<p>security issues which the stakeholder&#8217;s want addressed. A 2007 World Bank<\/p>\n<p>study on gun violence stated that with a reduction in crime rates, the Caricom<\/p>\n<p>region would see a 5.4% rise in their economy. Given these realities it was<\/p>\n<p>incumbent on the AFC as a responsible parliamentary opposition party to jolt<\/p>\n<p>the PPPC Government into understanding that the continued misuse of the State<\/p>\n<p>media and their refusal to activate Article 13 of the Constitution was<\/p>\n<p>thwarting the Constitution, the democratic process and putting us all at<\/p>\n<p>further risk. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As a responsible parliamentary party it is<\/p>\n<p>also incumbent on us to enlighten Mr. Kenneth Joseph, the General Secretary of<\/p>\n<p>FITUG, and citizens who desire to see Guyana take the road to some semblance of<\/p>\n<p>democratic stability to ensure that the PPPC Government they elected maintain<\/p>\n<p>its part of the social compact to exercise fairly and responsibly, the<\/p>\n<p>temporary use of governmental powers which was given to them. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The expression of displeasure with the AFC<\/p>\n<p>for &#8216;walking out of Parliament&#8217; highlights that it is incumbent on<\/p>\n<p>civil society to ascertain the truth and not fall prey to the propagandistic<\/p>\n<p>misuse of the State media by the PPPC in misrepresenting the facts while acting<\/p>\n<p>tyrannically in the National Assembly to give cause for such action; and<\/p>\n<p>perhaps others which leaders such as Dr. Cheddie Jagan took when in anger and<\/p>\n<p>frustration he threw down the law books and the Mace, a symbol of the<\/p>\n<p>Speaker&#8217;s authority. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What has FITUG and those who criticized the<\/p>\n<p>AFC have to say about the disregard demonstrated for the authority of the<\/p>\n<p>Speaker when recently in the National Assembly Ministers Clement Rohee, MP and<\/p>\n<p>Ashni Singh, MP challenged his authority? When last Wednesday, March 26 Prime<\/p>\n<p>Minister Sam Hinds brazenly vocalized contempt for the National Assembly held<\/p>\n<p>by the PPPC Government in their decision to arbitrarily overturn the decision<\/p>\n<p>of the National Assembly as per Resolution No. 69 which was passed in the<\/p>\n<p>National Assembly two and a half years ago calling for a full and impartial<\/p>\n<p>investigation into the death of Dr. Walter Rodney. And further, when he as<\/p>\n<p>Prime Minister misrepresented Dr. Patricia Rodney and her children&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>position on their desire for Dr. Walter Rodney&#8217;s death to be<\/p>\n<p>investigated. Now let the &#8216;Peeping Tom&#8217; and FITUG tell us who is<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;sending the wrong message&#8217; and &#8216;who should apologise to the<\/p>\n<p>Stakeholders&#8217;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As stated in all of its press releases on the<\/p>\n<p>matter, the AFC stands firmly committed to honouring the Stakeholder&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>Agreement and expect implementation of its specific terms and all consequential<\/p>\n<p>matters thereon and remains ready and willing to proceed on the basis of sincerity,<\/p>\n<p>trust and respect. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-4-13: WHY IS THE<\/p>\n<p>GOVERNMENT UPSET WITH VENEZUELA? 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'>Of all the things that the Government of<\/p>\n<p>Guyana could be expressing outrage at, they have decided to register a protest<\/p>\n<p>over Venezuela&#8217;s decision to donate food and supplies to the people of<\/p>\n<p>Buxton. Once again these goodly people of Buxton are caught up in a political<\/p>\n<p>game which they did not invite on themselves. Once before they were caught in a<\/p>\n<p>tense diplomatic incident which almost led to the deployment of US troops in<\/p>\n<p>the village when the US Embassy&#8217;s Regional Security Officer was kidnapped<\/p>\n<p>in what was dubbed the &#8220;Lesniak affair&#8221;. Today it is the food<\/p>\n<p>affair. The donation by the Venezuelan Embassy was of food stuff and targeted<\/p>\n<p>specifically at displaced Buxton farmers who are unable to access their farm<\/p>\n<p>lands. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There is hypocrisy on all sides. This is the<\/p>\n<p>same government that has recently misled the nation regarding the facts<\/p>\n<p>surrounding the purchase of helicopters; that has declared Buxton to be the<\/p>\n<p>venomous nest of all the criminals in Guyana and has failed to deliver any<\/p>\n<p>criminals after launching Operation Restore Order; that has shielded Ministers<\/p>\n<p>of the Government from prosecution for public disorder; that has been less than<\/p>\n<p>honest about the reason why there has been no enquiry into the death of Walter<\/p>\n<p>Rodney; that has proclaimed that there is no evidence of corruption or<\/p>\n<p>discrimination and marginalization in Guyana; and that has proclaimed that GPL<\/p>\n<p>is in good shape and is not in need of an investigation. This is the pot<\/p>\n<p>calling the kettle black. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of<\/p>\n<p>Venezuela was obviously insensitive, and deliberately provocative, in making a<\/p>\n<p>donation to the people of Buxton without first informing the Ministry of<\/p>\n<p>Foreign Affairs. This is so because of the known security complexities that<\/p>\n<p>exists both between our two states, and with regard to Buxton itself. But was<\/p>\n<p>this gift such a serious breach of protocol after all, or is it that the<\/p>\n<p>Government of Guyana is more embarrassed that a foreign government is providing<\/p>\n<p>aid which it refuses to offer to its own citizens? Venezuela has been doling<\/p>\n<p>out aid and assistance all over South America and even in the United States<\/p>\n<p>where it has run a successful programme through the Venezuelan State owned oil<\/p>\n<p>company CITGO, which provides heating fuel to underprivileged people of America<\/p>\n<p>every winter. In fact, after r<\/span><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#2D2D2D'>ampant<\/p>\n<p>poverty and social inequality were exposed by Hurricane Katrina there is<\/p>\n<p>absolutely nothing that the US government can and will do to stop the<\/p>\n<p>programme. <\/span><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>An elderly African-American<\/p>\n<p>woman who benefited from the CITGO programme says in a testimonial on their<\/p>\n<p>website &#8220;<\/span><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#2D2D2D'>Until<\/p>\n<p>this program came along, I was using my gas stove and oven to heat my house.<\/p>\n<p>The fuel oil I&#8217;ll get through CITGO and Catholic Charities will be a big<\/p>\n<p>savings. It&#8217;ll tide me over for the rest of the winter.&quot; <\/span><\/i><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:#2D2D2D&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Where there are underprivileged people with<\/p>\n<p>real needs, others will step in either with purely altruistic motives, or with<\/p>\n<p>some hidden agenda. Every day, I see different Embassies and their associated<\/p>\n<p>agencies giving aid and assistance to NGOs, individuals, and to Government<\/p>\n<p>agencies without a murmur from our Government. Foreign governments are helping<\/p>\n<p>with the reintegration of deportees to society, the making of traffic signs,<\/p>\n<p>and the establishment of cold storage facilities for big businesses without any<\/p>\n<p>fuss from the Guyana government. The big question then to be asked is what is<\/p>\n<p>it about the Venezuelan gift that has so upset the Jagdeo government? It must<\/p>\n<p>be that this gift will highlight the suffering of the Buxtonian people in an<\/p>\n<p>international way that will drive home the point that Guyana&#8217;s security<\/p>\n<p>dilemma is caught up in poverty, ethnic cleavages and insecurities, a bad<\/p>\n<p>system of governance that allows the perpetuation of these, and of bad<\/p>\n<p>governance itself. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Anyone who has walked the streets and dams of<\/p>\n<p>Buxton would know what a besieged community feels like. On a recent visit I<\/p>\n<p>remarked that it is the closest that I personally have come to a community that<\/p>\n<p>is subdued and lifeless. There was dead quiet, no dogs barking, no children<\/p>\n<p>playing in the streets, no music or cricket on the radio to be heard- just<\/p>\n<p>silence and an army vehicle with ranks filming every step members of our team<\/p>\n<p>took. Can you image meeting a 32 year old resident of the community, whose<\/p>\n<p>house was no more than a twenty minute walk from the railway embankment road<\/p>\n<p>and he has never had running water in the home he grew up in and still lives in<\/p>\n<p>today! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The people of Buxton deserve far more than handouts<\/p>\n<p>of food and if some friends come along and offer it to them, they are quite<\/p>\n<p>entitled to accept the relief. This intervention by the Venezuelan government<\/p>\n<p>has embarrassed the Government of Guyana because it has exposed several facts<\/p>\n<p>including, that there is a genuine need within the Buxton\/Friendship<\/p>\n<p>communities, and that the heavy presence of the military and the bulldozing of<\/p>\n<p>the backlands and the compensation of a few hundred dollars for bearing plants<\/p>\n<p>is suffocating the lives of the people there. What the Government is doing is<\/p>\n<p>killing the spirit of a proud, capable, and strong community. Instead of<\/p>\n<p>complaining, they should be embarrassed into leading the way. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Venezuelan government puts up no pretense<\/p>\n<p>of its obvious intentions to displace the United States&#8217; influence in<\/p>\n<p>this Hemisphere, and we all have to guard against receiving &#8220;gift<\/p>\n<p>horses&#8221; from any nation that could someday come alive and run rampant<\/p>\n<p>through our state. The cold war may be over but there is the growing influence<\/p>\n<p>of Venezuela seeking to act as a countervailing force against the United States<\/p>\n<p>of America. I have often cautioned that if we are ignored by the Western States<\/p>\n<p>for meeting our security and social needs then others will quickly fill the<\/p>\n<p>vacuum. The words of the Venezuelan Ambassador as reported in one newspaper<\/p>\n<p>sums up his Government&#8217;s intentions thus: &#8220;Our support does not<\/p>\n<p>always have to be food, we can provide things to help you produce and help in<\/p>\n<p>the social development of the people&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Our advantage of being the only English<\/p>\n<p>Speaking nation with a small population occupying natural wealth of<\/p>\n<p>immeasurable value, will make us a pawn in this latest battle for influence and<\/p>\n<p>control of scarce resources such as oil and water. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>However, because we have no discernable<\/p>\n<p>Foreign Policy doctrine governing our relations with Venezuela and other<\/p>\n<p>neighbours, this government has left itself exposed for these interventions to<\/p>\n<p>be made. For many years members of the Opposition have been pressing the<\/p>\n<p>Government of Guyana to adumbrate in precise terms what is the official policy<\/p>\n<p>towards Venezuela. We seem to prefer to operate in a holding pattern by not<\/p>\n<p>wanting to enrage our neighbour even in the face of serious transgressions such<\/p>\n<p>as when Persram Persaud was shot in the Cuyuni River two years ago and two<\/p>\n<p>dredges were recently blown up. It is always one of playing things down. This<\/p>\n<p>may explain for example why no official claim was made for compensation for the<\/p>\n<p>family of Persram Persaud or the dredge owners. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I for one am very suspicious of Venezuela&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>motives and conduct towards Guyana and do not regard that government as<\/p>\n<p>Guyana&#8217;s best friend, but today, I have to say thank you not only for the<\/p>\n<p>gifts, but also for exposing the unmet needs of one of many communities. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Government of Guyana was better off<\/p>\n<p>making a quiet protest to the Venezuelan Ambassador rather than embarrassing<\/p>\n<p>itself and the citizens further by making it public. Unfortunately, the new<\/p>\n<p>Minister of Foreign Affairs had to get her hands burnt on the first day of the<\/p>\n<p>job over the ineptitude and mismanagement of other government ministries and<\/p>\n<p>agencies. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In closing, I wish to congratulate the new<\/p>\n<p>Minister of Foreign Affairs Mrs. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, and her successor<\/p>\n<p>at the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs Ms. Pauline Campbell-Sukhai. I have<\/p>\n<p>worked in Parliament with these women for many years and found them to be hard<\/p>\n<p>working and dedicated to Guyana even though we don&#8217;t see eye to eye on<\/p>\n<p>many matters. All women in Guyana should be proud. For Carolyn Rodrigues in<\/p>\n<p>particular, I wish to say that I hold her in high esteem and would be less than<\/p>\n<p>honest if I did not express my view that I harbour strong reservations as to<\/p>\n<p>her capacity to discharge the duties required of this office especially for a<\/p>\n<p>small, vulnerable, and sometimes threatened state such as Guyana. I hope she is<\/p>\n<p>up to the challenges and snares of foreign affairs and foreign policy<\/p>\n<p>management especially when other members of the cabinet will make her job<\/p>\n<p>increasingly impossible to complete. Nevertheless I say to her good luck and<\/p>\n<p>best wishes and I look forward to engaging her in the parliamentary arena. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-4-20: Sharma<\/p>\n<p>now&#8230;.who next ? <\/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'>Guyana once again bleeds. This time not from<\/p>\n<p>marauding gunmen wantonly shooting at innocent civilians, but from an assault<\/p>\n<p>on the tenets of natural justice by the President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo.<\/p>\n<p>His unilateral decision to sit in judgment in a matter for which he was the<\/p>\n<p>subject of the complaint demonstrates a blatant disregard for fairness and<\/p>\n<p>equal treatment before the law. The Alliance For Change strongly condemns this<\/p>\n<p>disregard for the rule of law and this threat to the basic principles of<\/p>\n<p>democracy. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Strict adherence to the Rule of Law, Natural<\/p>\n<p>Justice and Fairness is the lifeblood of any democracy. It stands as the most<\/p>\n<p>important right in any community of men and women. It is that right which<\/p>\n<p>establishes and enhances the dignity of all people. The Government&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>action was clearly intended to remove all forms of independent expression. This<\/p>\n<p>continues with access to our &#8220;national TV station&#8221; paid for by all<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese taxpayers, denied to opposition political parties and ordinary<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese. This continues in communities like Linden where choice is limited to<\/p>\n<p>the government TV station and where independent TV stations are repeatedly prevented<\/p>\n<p>from providing a service to this area. This censorship continues in<\/p>\n<p>government&#8217;s refusal to allow freedom of expression through the issuing<\/p>\n<p>of radio licenses. Where else in the Caribbean will you find one state run<\/p>\n<p>radio station in this age of communication!. Are the PPP afraid of competition?<\/p>\n<p>Is the right to different views and freedom of information not the basis of any<\/p>\n<p>true democracy? Such action by any Government therefore must be condemned and<\/p>\n<p>denounced. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This event is the latest on a long list of<\/p>\n<p>incidents that demonstrate the abuse of power and corrupt practices which have<\/p>\n<p>taken place in Guyana within the last week. These including the recent<\/p>\n<p>Fidelity\/GRA fiasco and the helicopter scam which has seen the questionable<\/p>\n<p>expenditure of $300 Million of hard earned Guyanese taxpayer dollars. This is<\/p>\n<p>but a vindication of what the AFC has been saying namely that the PPP Jagdeo<\/p>\n<p>Government is on a slide back into dictatorship reminiscent of the worst days<\/p>\n<p>of the PNC Government. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance For Change maintains that the<\/p>\n<p>President is the one who contravened the Rule of Law when he usurped the<\/p>\n<p>function of the ACB, acted contrary to Regulation 10 of 2001 of the Telegraphy<\/p>\n<p>Regulations, and then decided to be a Judge in his own cause. It is as shameful<\/p>\n<p>as it is unlawful. The Alliance For Change sees this closure not only as an<\/p>\n<p>exhibition of unlawfulness and arrogance, and with the purpose to drive fear in<\/p>\n<p>the minds of critics, but also to divert attention from the rampant corruption<\/p>\n<p>and security crises which rage in our unhappy country. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-4-27: Our Local<\/p>\n<p>Democratic System fails the people of Guyana. By Michael Carrington &#8211; AFC<\/p>\n<p>Region 4 Councillor <\/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'>In Guyana, power greedy politicians have<\/p>\n<p>ensured the continued failure of the state to implement an inclusionary<\/p>\n<p>democracy, as is stated and required in Article 13 of our constitution. This<\/p>\n<p>failure is visible every day in the operation of our local neighbourhood<\/p>\n<p>democratic organ across Guyana which cannot mange themselves properly. The<\/p>\n<p>government has refused to truly implement local democracy, which would give the<\/p>\n<p>people full power to manage themselves. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Our constitution in words decentralizes the<\/p>\n<p>system of governance, by giving the local democratic neighbourhood councils the<\/p>\n<p>power to manage designated regions, towns and villages. The government is the<\/p>\n<p>one who continues to refuse to make these local democratic organs financially<\/p>\n<p>independent and therefore viable. It is clear that our country will not be<\/p>\n<p>managed properly if government continues to be greedy and refuses to<\/p>\n<p>financially empower these local democratic organs. Today our system is not<\/p>\n<p>working and it is the people of Guyana who are shortchanged and continue to<\/p>\n<p>suffer. This PPP Government are so consumed by this power that they are now<\/p>\n<p>attempting to make laws which will remove the Regional Executive Officer from<\/p>\n<p>being appointed by the Local Government Commission, which would be a violation<\/p>\n<p>of our constitution. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Government has also deliberately refused<\/p>\n<p>to establish the Local Government Commission so that they can employ their<\/p>\n<p>party members as REO&#8217;s and have control over the financial resources of<\/p>\n<p>the Region. Parliament&#8217;s inability to establish this commission and to<\/p>\n<p>entrust the Regional Democratic Councils, who were elected by the people to<\/p>\n<p>manage the region is another serious failure which hinders the system. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The RDC&#8217;s must be charged with the<\/p>\n<p>power to employ, discipline or dismiss and the Courts must also have the power<\/p>\n<p>to reinstate any person who is dismissed wrongfully. The current trend that allows<\/p>\n<p>the Minister to hold power and dictate the operation of the commission is<\/p>\n<p>undemocratic. The old laws which give the Minister the power over these organs<\/p>\n<p>are now invalid given the amendment of the Constitution which made our local<\/p>\n<p>democratic organs autonomous. These organs are accountable to the people and<\/p>\n<p>the State and only the people through their representatives have the power over<\/p>\n<p>these organs, so let the people exercise it! When the Council fails in this<\/p>\n<p>regard the system must follow the laws of our land and ensure that our<\/p>\n<p>constitution is not violated. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>For these organs to function properly the<\/p>\n<p>State must treat their Councillors with respect and as a paid servant of the<\/p>\n<p>state. The present Chairman of the NDC gets $5000 a month and the RDC Councillor<\/p>\n<p>gets $10,000. Most of these committees are not working because they are no<\/p>\n<p>incentives to work. A committed Councillor working hard to make a change cannot<\/p>\n<p>even get back his or her own money when you invest it to do RDC work in a<\/p>\n<p>timely manner, you are forced to wait for month. I had to move a motion for a<\/p>\n<p>better financial incentive for Councillor to work which was passed by the RDC<\/p>\n<p>of Region 4 on the 19 of December 2007, but they is no reply by the government.<\/p>\n<p>If these committees do not work, then the RDC cannot function properly as it is<\/p>\n<p>these committees, who do all checks and balances and report to the RDC. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We do not and should not have to wait until<\/p>\n<p>Local Government elections to put good systems in place. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Looking at crime I must say to my fellow Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>that it is a sad time for our people. Evil seems to be spreading in the minds<\/p>\n<p>of our people and our leaders in Government just don&#8217;t know what to do. What<\/p>\n<p>they don&#8217;t understand is that crime begins in the mind and it is only the mind<\/p>\n<p>that can stop the crime and poverty. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This is the essence of crime, crime starts in<\/p>\n<p>the home when they is no food to eat and fathers and mothers are not around to<\/p>\n<p>guide their children in the right direction, because both of them have to work,<\/p>\n<p>or they themselves do not have the knowledge and skills to guide they children<\/p>\n<p>in the right direction. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Most of our people are not educated to work<\/p>\n<p>in our current environment. Our education system does not look at our natural<\/p>\n<p>resources and educate person along those lines. Many of our young people out of<\/p>\n<p>school just don&#8217;t know what to do because they come out of school with just the<\/p>\n<p>academic qualifications, lacking the skills to create jobs for themselves. They<\/p>\n<p>are too dependent on the state to create job for them. They find themselves<\/p>\n<p>waiting for years to find the perfect job creating a financial liability for<\/p>\n<p>the family in the process. Thousands of self employment opportunities exist,<\/p>\n<p>but these job opportunities are in the area of skilled trades, in which<\/p>\n<p>whatever you produce as long as the product is good, it will sell. Our main<\/p>\n<p>problem is the skills trade and marketing. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We need to educate our people in this<\/p>\n<p>direction. Our people also have to understand that when they get a job with a<\/p>\n<p>firm or company it is their duty to work to develop it because they earn from<\/p>\n<p>it. The business may not be yours but you still have to treat it as if it is.<\/p>\n<p>If the business fails then you have no job so any place we work it is our duty<\/p>\n<p>to see thing go aright. The only way out of poverty is to work so let us create<\/p>\n<p>people power for the development of our country. Do not allow the Government to<\/p>\n<p>do as they feel. Know your rights. Fight them in the Courts, the Court must<\/p>\n<p>work some times. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-5-18: <i>The AFC Column<\/i><\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Voices of Its Principles-What about a polygraph test, Mr. President? By<\/p>\n<p>Khemraj Ramjattan <\/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 recent surge of demonstrations sponsored<\/p>\n<p>by the PNC, especially coming so soon after being paid $100 million, did not<\/p>\n<p>surprise me. And surely it did not surprise the President and the PPP. Being<\/p>\n<p>once an insider in Jagdeo&#8217;s PPP, and being discerning enough to<\/p>\n<p>comprehend the sometimes muddled machinations from its calculating cabal, has<\/p>\n<p>taught me that the PPP&#8217;s giving is always an investment, and its tears<\/p>\n<p>are very often crocodile. So the President will behave as if he is surprised<\/p>\n<p>that the PNC has taken to the streets so irresponsibly after his big handout to<\/p>\n<p>that party. And he will shed some crocodile tears pretending that he means what<\/p>\n<p>he says when he says: &#8220;It would have been better had we supported the AFC<\/p>\n<p>in getting a proportion of the scrutineers&#8217; monies.&#8221; When His<\/p>\n<p>Excellency was putting his best face forward on these matters at his press<\/p>\n<p>conference, I was shouting loudly: &#8220;How about a polygraph test Mr.<\/p>\n<p>President; to test whether you really mean what you&#8217;re publicly<\/p>\n<p>pronouncing?&#8221; You may have noticed that I deleted the expletives. I am<\/p>\n<p>aware of a couple of instances where this President would have failed a<\/p>\n<p>polygraph test. One such was the occasion when he said in front of my face at a<\/p>\n<p>PPP Central Committee meeting that I was a carrier of information to the<\/p>\n<p>American Embassy and the Press; and, later denied ever saying so. He even got<\/p>\n<p>29 signatures to toe his line. Thank God there was a Moses who heard him<\/p>\n<p>distinctly saying so. Moses Nagamootoo has since been paying the penalty for<\/p>\n<p>hearing, and not being the 30th signatory. I hope this brings an end to the<\/p>\n<p>debate on polygraph tests ever being used to qualify persons for public office.<\/p>\n<p>The top brass of the PPP knows very well that this Government is taking a licking<\/p>\n<p>from even its own members. There is a massive vexation about the high food<\/p>\n<p>prices, the unbearable criminality in every category &#8211; against the<\/p>\n<p>person, against property and even against the State, the rapid impoverishment<\/p>\n<p>of large sections of our communities, and the arrogance and ignorance exhibited<\/p>\n<p>by Senior Government Officials in coming to grips with all this. A diversion is<\/p>\n<p>needed to take the PPP&#8217;s members and supporters&#8217; minds off these<\/p>\n<p>hardships. The wranglings and rumblings within its own rank and file were<\/p>\n<p>occurring recently at Port Mourant, Rose Hall, Canje, Bath Settlement, Lusignan<\/p>\n<p>and New Amsterdam, as is well known. Persons protesting a multitude of<\/p>\n<p>grievances in PPP strongholds were being fired on with shots and teargas.<\/p>\n<p>Unbelievable you would think. Moreover, some were being violently arrested and<\/p>\n<p>locked up and charged. What does the PPP do? Create a diversion. What better<\/p>\n<p>diversion could there be to neutralize such internal crises, and such disunity<\/p>\n<p>within the PPP&#8217;s ranks and strongholds, than to see the PNC marchers<\/p>\n<p>breaking police barriers, causing a shut down at Parliament, and burning<\/p>\n<p>effigies in front of Parliament. How could this be done? Pay the PNC leaders<\/p>\n<p>some monies &#8211; a lil $100M. And as a leading insider would say: &#8220;Comrade<\/p>\n<p>you gon see how this payout gon payoff.&#8221; And it did. $100M of<\/p>\n<p>taxpayers&#8217; monies was invested through the so called benevolence of the<\/p>\n<p>Jagdeo Government, intended for scrutineers, but cleverly to procure PNC antics<\/p>\n<p>in Georgetown&#8217;s main streets. Once the monies were paid out, the PPP well<\/p>\n<p>knew that this was going to happen, like night follows day. The PPP told its<\/p>\n<p>NCN camera-men to be prepared for it. These cameras from NCN were in full force<\/p>\n<p>taping and recording every detail. And later NCN was thereafter in full blast,<\/p>\n<p>broadcasting right up to 2 am especially in Berbice and Essequibo how PNC<\/p>\n<p>attacked Parliament. Yes &#8211; it twisted the story a little for the rural people.<\/p>\n<p>This happened for most of the prime time for the next three nights in Berbice<\/p>\n<p>and Essequibo particularly, and even in Demerara. And as was predicted, the<\/p>\n<p>priorities of the Babulalls and Beharrys got tangential if not wholly askew.<\/p>\n<p>The PPP is brilliant in doing what they do &#8211; spend the State&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>money and get political mileage even though such a spending is obscene as this.<\/p>\n<p>The PNC cannot be restrained from doing what they do &#8211; march straight<\/p>\n<p>into the PPP&#8217;s trap and get burnt. Then the cussdown starts &#8211; Luncheon<\/p>\n<p>versus Aubrey Norton, Jagdeo versus Corbin. This will go on for another month.<\/p>\n<p>In the meantime, the Babulalls and Beharrys abandon any further deliberation on<\/p>\n<p>how rotten the PPP Government is as fear drives them back into camp, having<\/p>\n<p>seen the PNC&#8217;s outbursts live in the safety of their homes. This will go<\/p>\n<p>on until both the members and supporters of the PPP and PNC realize that there<\/p>\n<p>is every need for a politics of change. Liberation in Guyana will now mean a<\/p>\n<p>breaking of the shackles from the PNC and PPP. A blind fanaticism driven<\/p>\n<p>largely by fear must yield to reason. Only when reason prevails will there be a<\/p>\n<p>genuine democracy. Such a democracy includes not only free and fair elections,<\/p>\n<p>but also good governance and the rule of law. This kind of PPP politics which<\/p>\n<p>is played out in Guyana today has deleterious effects on senior officials who<\/p>\n<p>are to referee the system. They too get taken in by these obscenities, these<\/p>\n<p>deformities. This happened to the officials at GECOM. Remember how GECOM,<\/p>\n<p>through Mr. Boodhoo, said GECOM is not involved in the distribution of monies<\/p>\n<p>for scrutineers, much less to apportion it proportionately. &#8220;We have no<\/p>\n<p>mandate to deal with these money issues&#8221; was what Mr. Boodhoo was telling<\/p>\n<p>us in the AFC, even in the face of a court order. Ask Patterson and Franklin.<\/p>\n<p>Today from all the reports and statements from President Jagdeo and Roger<\/p>\n<p>Luncheon and even Robert Corbin it was GECOM which approved the payment of<\/p>\n<p>$100M each to the PPP and PNC Chief Scrutineers. It does appear that GECOM<\/p>\n<p>officials too may not be able to pass a polygraph test. GECOM miscounted, in<\/p>\n<p>the last general elections, the votes of the AFC in Region 10 to deny us our<\/p>\n<p>sixth seat in Parliament. It now has misconstrued its legal authority causing<\/p>\n<p>the AFC to be denied approximately $21M. It would not be out of place to mount<\/p>\n<p>a campaign to demand locally, regionally and internationally the resignation of<\/p>\n<p>these jagabats in GECOM. They, it seems at least to the AFC, are neither<\/p>\n<p>numerate nor literate. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#009964'>2008-6-6: ALLIANCE FOR<\/p>\n<p>CHANGE &amp; PARTNERS &#8211; SEEDS OF CHANGE <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Global Food Crisis &amp; Guyana <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As the UN World Food Programme (WPF)<\/p>\n<p>identifies the scarcity of food as &#8220;the biggest crisis looming for the<\/p>\n<p>world&#8221;, the World Bank has released figures showing that global food prices<\/p>\n<p>have risen by 75% since 2000, while wheat prices have increased by 200%! The UN<\/p>\n<p>further states that the increasing cost of grains is leading to an increase in<\/p>\n<p>the price of meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products. And there is no indication<\/p>\n<p>that food prices will stabilize anytime soon. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The shortage of food does not discriminate as<\/p>\n<p>it is affecting persons in both rural and urban communities for the first time.<\/p>\n<p>Food prices are predicted to become so prohibitive that certain food items will<\/p>\n<p>become unaffordable or they will disappear from supermarket shelves requiring a<\/p>\n<p>reliance on seasonal indigenous vegetables. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>World Bank President Robert Zoellick calls<\/p>\n<p>tackling hunger a &quot;forgotten&quot; UN millennium development goal and<\/p>\n<p>cautions that &#8220;increased food prices and their threat -not only to people<\/p>\n<p>but also to political stability &#8211; have made it a matter of urgency&quot;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Food Crisis in Guyana <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The crisis is already being experienced in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana as we see the prices of basic items like rice, flour, milk and meat<\/p>\n<p>going up almost daily. In fact since the introduction of VAT in January 2007,<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese have been grappling with the rising cost of living. Between January,<\/p>\n<p>2007 to January, 2008, the average cost of food in Guyana has risen<\/p>\n<p>astronomically. The global food shortage is making an already bad situation<\/p>\n<p>worse. More recently there have been street protests in Georgetown and Berbice<\/p>\n<p>over the rising cost of living. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>An analysis by national women&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>organization &#8220;Red Thread&#8221; published in a letter to the Stabroek<\/p>\n<p>News on April 27, 2008, shows that it now costs over G$2000.00 a day to feed a<\/p>\n<p>family of four (2 adults, 2 children). This cost was calculated based on a<\/p>\n<p>breakfast of tea, bread and an egg each, lunch of a pound of chicken with bora<\/p>\n<p>and rice, a snack of fruit and biscuits for the children at school and bread<\/p>\n<p>and tea in the evening. To feed a family this menu for a month would cost<\/p>\n<p>G$60,000. Other costs such as rent, electricity, water and transportation costs<\/p>\n<p>have not yet been included. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>With a minimum wage of between G$18,000<\/p>\n<p>(private sector) and G$28,000 (public sector) per month it is increasingly<\/p>\n<p>difficult for many families to make ends meet. Many families are in crisis and<\/p>\n<p>find themselves facing, poverty, hunger and malnutrition. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It has become clear that easing the burden of<\/p>\n<p>food prices to ordinary people must become an immediate priority. What can we<\/p>\n<p>do? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Seeds of Change <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC has long advocated for easing the<\/p>\n<p>financial burden on Guyanese by lowering the VAT rate and restructuring the<\/p>\n<p>personal and corporate tax systems and will continue to be vocal on these and<\/p>\n<p>other issues of importance to our citizens. However, while we wait for the<\/p>\n<p>government to respond to the voices of the poor, we cannot sit idly by and do<\/p>\n<p>nothing. In the short-term the plight of ordinary people struggling to feed<\/p>\n<p>their families and make ends meet cannot be ignored. The initiative of the AFC<\/p>\n<p>will be to support families in lowering their food costs and improving<\/p>\n<p>nutrition by offering practical assistance to allow them to grow their own<\/p>\n<p>vegetables and legumes. Working with farmers who have committed to supplying<\/p>\n<p>plants and seeds at a minimal cost, the AFC will arrange for their distribution<\/p>\n<p>to needy families. We believe that this initiative will stimulate every<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese to appreciate the value of our blessed country by returning to the<\/p>\n<p>land for sustenance. We hold dear to the Chinese proverb which says <b><i>&#8220;Give<\/p>\n<p>a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him<\/p>\n<p>for a lifetime.&#8221; <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In this venture, the AFC will partner with<\/p>\n<p>organizations that share a similar vision and strong desire to bring relief to<\/p>\n<p>people in need. These partners include the Guyana Action Party (GAP), Pastors<\/p>\n<p>and members of the Full Gospel Fellowship of Guyana (with a network of hundreds<\/p>\n<p>of churches throughout Guyana), and Guyanese in the Diaspora. In the long-term,<\/p>\n<p>the project is expected to raise the standard of living of the poorest of the<\/p>\n<p>poor and restore a sense of pride in Guyana and being Guyanese. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Objective <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To deliver a minimum of 25,000 vegetable<\/p>\n<p>plants and seeds to needy households throughout the length and breadth of the<\/p>\n<p>country. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Time Frame <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>May &#8211; August 2008. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Methodology <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC&#8217;s Regional administrative<\/p>\n<p>structures and those of its partners will ensure the timely and smooth<\/p>\n<p>distribution of the plants. Executive members of the AFC will be actively<\/p>\n<p>involved in the distribution exercise. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Project Management &amp; Implementation <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The project will require a minimum of<\/p>\n<p>supervision as the plants will be grown on site at established plant nurseries.<\/p>\n<p>Central plant nurseries will be set up in the most populous Regions and distribution<\/p>\n<p>will be carried out by the AFC and its partners. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>CO-ORDINATOR-<\/p>\n<p>MR. DESMOND MOSES <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Interested persons and communities can<\/p>\n<p>contact Desmond Moses on 693-5131 or 227-5202 for Arrangements to be made for<\/p>\n<p>Delivery. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-6-8:The AFC Column &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>Why so much disrespect and disdain? By Khemraj Ramjattan <\/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'>Jagdeo&#8217;s PPP\/C Government is at it<\/p>\n<p>again. By now, people in this country must realize that the scorpion will<\/p>\n<p>always sting and the skunk will always smell. They will never evolve. They,<\/p>\n<p>like the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park will remain that way. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Until, of course, Jurassic Park suffers one<\/p>\n<p>big implosion and a new era sets in. And so shall it be with the PPP and its<\/p>\n<p>cabal. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A constructive comment was made by Mike<\/p>\n<p>Correia, Chairman of the Private Sector Commission sometime ago and our<\/p>\n<p>President, with the blessings of his Party, did an uppercut that floored him<\/p>\n<p>flat. Verbally, of course! Correia&#8217;s comments had to do with making an<\/p>\n<p>argument for more support for the Private Sector by the government. This was in<\/p>\n<p>consonance with a World Bank Report which indicated that businessmen face<\/p>\n<p>massive difficulties to open up and sustain businesses here in Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A pit-bull attitude was taken against a<\/p>\n<p>former United Nations Resident Representative, Mr. Sorensen. He made a remark<\/p>\n<p>at the Georgetown Club that the government must do more to enhance good<\/p>\n<p>governance and accountability. Who told him to say that? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A United Nations Resident Representative must<\/p>\n<p>only bring in monies to fund projects which will ameliorate matters the government<\/p>\n<p>sees fit. He must, however, shut up on negatives and wrongs he perceives being<\/p>\n<p>committed. So what does the almighty President do? Sends him back from where he<\/p>\n<p>came. To speak out, even diplomatically, is rude behaviour. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I had always admired Mr. Sorensen. He was<\/p>\n<p>brave and forthright. International diplomats must not cower in the face of a<\/p>\n<p>combination of authoritarianism and arrogance. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This was what the PPP used to ask of such<\/p>\n<p>diplomatic personnel within such international circles when it was in opposition.<\/p>\n<p>Remember how PPP leaders used to be vexed when even diplomatic language, much<\/p>\n<p>less harsh words, were not being used to chastise the PNC when that party used<\/p>\n<p>to steal the entire country through massively rigged election? When Carter came<\/p>\n<p>and demanded of Hoyte and the PNC certain conditions that literally erased all<\/p>\n<p>the logistical nightmares for fair and free elections, the PPP applauded him.<\/p>\n<p>What a great man, indeed! Bestow the highest honour unto him. Notice now how<\/p>\n<p>the Jagdeo Administration has shunned him and his ideas since being installed. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This Jagdeo Government sees no value in the<\/p>\n<p>well known wisdom: &#8220;Silence is golden!&#8221; Not even sometimes. So His<\/p>\n<p>Excellency, again with the blessings of his Party &#8211; this I say because I<\/p>\n<p>am aware that senior party officials mentioned that if &#8220;Yesu talk,<\/p>\n<p>Bharrat must pelt a lash pun he&#8221; &#8211; right-crossed and uppercut Yesu<\/p>\n<p>Persaud when he pleaded for equality of concessions and rebates across the<\/p>\n<p>board for the business community; and not a discriminatory selection. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The President, if you were not discerning<\/p>\n<p>enough to spot the direct innuendo, was telling this doyen of the private<\/p>\n<p>sector and all present at the occasion Thursday last at Le Meridian, that he,<\/p>\n<p>Yesu Persaud, is a flip ignoramus. In almost actual words &#8211; &#8220;you<\/p>\n<p>either read and understand the law or shut up&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Yet when Justice Ramlall ruled on the<\/p>\n<p>Chancellor\/Chief Justice issue and Justice Jainarayan Singh ruled on the<\/p>\n<p>proportionate allocation of scrutineers&#8217; funds, this same President<\/p>\n<p>insinuated that these Judges were legal ignoramuses to rule as they did.<\/p>\n<p>Silence is never golden; only Bharrat is! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This slam-down again occurred when the Office<\/p>\n<p>of the President, and to my surprise the Prime Minister, fired back at experts<\/p>\n<p>such as Toby Mendel of Canada, who wrote a book on Freedom of Information, and<\/p>\n<p>the experience of a former UK Minister, Baroness Amos, Parsanlall a present<\/p>\n<p>Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, John Barritt and Dame Jennifer Smith,<\/p>\n<p>MP&#8217;s of Bermuda, among others, who merely recommended, with support from<\/p>\n<p>the delegates present, that &#8220;Guyana should enact Freedom of Information<\/p>\n<p>legislation within a clear time frame and should thereafter make efforts to<\/p>\n<p>implement it fully&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It was just disgusting to see Roger Luncheon<\/p>\n<p>with utter disdain and sarcasm denouncing these well meaning personages as the<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Enlightened who must not come here to implant noble ideas on us poor<\/p>\n<p>natives, arrogantly implying that whatever is good for them is good for<\/p>\n<p>us.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And he flagrantly misrepresented the<\/p>\n<p>Enlightened. Where and how did Luncheon come by the idea that the Enlightened<\/p>\n<p>was suggesting that a Freedom of Information Act is the be all and end all?<\/p>\n<p>These people of expertise and experience sent here by the Commonwealth<\/p>\n<p>Parliamentary Association never at anytime suggested anything of the sort! I<\/p>\n<p>was there at the seminar and so was Allan Fenty who I am certain will pass a<\/p>\n<p>polygraph test as to what went on and what did not. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is this disrespect that the PPP\/C, its<\/p>\n<p>President, and its Government exhibit in an increasingly greater number of<\/p>\n<p>occasions, on all manner of issues, directed to all who seek to voice some<\/p>\n<p>opinion, be they high or low, which will result in a rivening asunder of this<\/p>\n<p>beautiful land. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-6-15:THE GOVERNMENT OF<\/p>\n<p>GUYANA AND ROGER KHAN ARE BOTH ON TRIAL 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'>The <b>Alliance For Change<\/b> continues to<\/p>\n<p>follow with great consternation along with the people of Guyana, the reported<\/p>\n<p>ongoing revelations coming out of the trial of Roger Khan taking place in the<\/p>\n<p>United States of America. These almost daily revelations read like a suspense<\/p>\n<p>novel, but the people of Guyana know only too well that this is no fiction, but<\/p>\n<p>pure facts now being revealed about a period that many of us are still to get<\/p>\n<p>the whole truth on. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Just prior to his arrest in Suriname, Roger<\/p>\n<p>Khan began enlightening the Guyanese public about his role and involvement with<\/p>\n<p>the Government in hunting &#8220;criminals&#8221; and insurgents. He claimed in<\/p>\n<p>full-page newspaper advertisements that he played a pivotal role in support of<\/p>\n<p>the PPP\/C regime in suppressing a plot to destabalise and overthrow the<\/p>\n<p>government. Back then, the leading figures at the Office of the President and<\/p>\n<p>Freedom House chose to remain silent and to wash their hands like Pilate of the<\/p>\n<p>whole matter by pretending that they didn&#8217;t know who he was as Dr.<\/p>\n<p>Luncheon did when put under pressure at a news conference. This was the first<\/p>\n<p>time they denied him. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Now for the second time the Government and<\/p>\n<p>the PPP\/C have disowned the man who has documented proof of his heavy<\/p>\n<p>involvement with them. They claim ignorance of a certain laptop computer<\/p>\n<p>crammed with hi-tech software that was used in a seek and destroy operation.<\/p>\n<p>This type of software which allows precise triangulation and location of cell<\/p>\n<p>phone users and also with the capacity to carry out voice recognition and<\/p>\n<p>recording can only be obtained by Law Enforcement agencies in a Government to<\/p>\n<p>Government transfer. How then did Roger Khan obtain this equipment if he was a<\/p>\n<p>private citizen if not through some official channel? Someone is lying through<\/p>\n<p>their teeth here. The obvious question is why at this grim stage in his life,<\/p>\n<p>when he faces possible life imprisonment, would Roger Khan make false<\/p>\n<p>statements to influence a Federal Judge of the US Federal Court knowing that he<\/p>\n<p>risks further jeopardising his situation if caught lying? He must be extremely<\/p>\n<p>stupid, or extremely honest. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We in the AFC believe Roger Khan when he says<\/p>\n<p>that he was engaged by the Government of Guyana to fight criminals and we<\/p>\n<p>believe him when he says that he was outfitted and equipped to do the nasty job<\/p>\n<p>he was mobilised to do with governmental authority. Roger Khan must now be<\/p>\n<p>holding his head and screaming to the Government of Guyana &#8220;Why have you<\/p>\n<p>forsaken me?&#8221; In fact President Jagdeo in a very recent statement has<\/p>\n<p>exclaimed that he should feel the full force of the law if convicted! We urge<\/p>\n<p>Khan to save himself before they deny him for the third time and to stop<\/p>\n<p>protecting those intellectual authors of that heinous period when murder and<\/p>\n<p>mayhem were the order of the day. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We renew the call for the holding of an<\/p>\n<p>urgent and immediate enquiry into the truth of the information coming out of<\/p>\n<p>this trial concerning the loss of life of hundreds of Guyanese, known and<\/p>\n<p>unknown and the purchase, entry into Guyana through customs, operation, and<\/p>\n<p>location of this sophisticated spy equipment .The killings of persons outside<\/p>\n<p>of the rule of law, if carried out with the constructive knowledge of<\/p>\n<p>Government and security officials, amounts to genocide as the use of such<\/p>\n<p>equipment is a breach of the natural law and constitutional rights of the<\/p>\n<p>citizens of Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Finally, thanks to these reports, many<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese cold cases can be solved and some families will finally have at least<\/p>\n<p>an explanation. However, persons in and out of Government and the law<\/p>\n<p>enforcement Agencies who have knowledge of this appointed genocide, Khan-style,<\/p>\n<p>and did nothing, should do the honourable thing and resign. If they say now, as<\/p>\n<p>they have already begun to do, that they had no knowledge of what was taking<\/p>\n<p>place, which facts obviously have been within the knowledge of foreign security<\/p>\n<p>officials, this highlights the ineptitude of the security forces and<\/p>\n<p>responsible Government officials. These persons should now offer the Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>people their resignation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Therefore the AFC is calling on the United<\/p>\n<p>Nations, and a letter will be written to this effect to immediately convene a<\/p>\n<p>Commission of Enquiry to enquire into the circumstances of the activities of<\/p>\n<p>Roger Khan and his acolytes, and associations during the period 2001-2006. It<\/p>\n<p>is no use asking the Government itself to conduct the investigation because we<\/p>\n<p>already know that our request will be met with a strong refusal. These<\/p>\n<p>appointed Commissioners should be empowered to visit the United States and meet<\/p>\n<p>with the American security officials including Attorneys involved in the Roger<\/p>\n<p>Khan trial. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This is the only way that the truth can be<\/p>\n<p>confirmed, as Government&#8217;s chorus of denials of information which they<\/p>\n<p>can easily obtain, but which we believe is already in its possession, is<\/p>\n<p>unacceptable to the people of Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-6-22: AFC SAYS RAISING<\/p>\n<p>ELECTRICITY TARIFFS IN REGION 10 IS UNCONSCIONABLE -Supports the Right to<\/p>\n<p>Peaceful Protest. <\/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 remains totally<\/p>\n<p>against the Government&#8217;s decision to impose higher tariffs for electricity<\/p>\n<p>for residents and businesses in Region 10. The ad hoc and arbitrary manner in<\/p>\n<p>which the PPP\/C regime is approaching a very sensitive issue that affects the<\/p>\n<p>lives of thousands of distressed persons is nothing short of unconscionable. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>When Bauxite attracted high export earnings<\/p>\n<p>for Guyana, the people of Linden and all Guyanese shared in the prosperity. Now<\/p>\n<p>that the fortunes of the bauxite industry are bleak we expect the government to<\/p>\n<p>cut the Lindeners some slack. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The years of economic decline of the<\/p>\n<p>industry, the resulting high levels of unemployment, the social and economic<\/p>\n<p>hardship that is being experienced by the Citizens of this mining town, the<\/p>\n<p>inability of LEAP to live up to expectations to bring improvement to the<\/p>\n<p>overall quality of life to the Linden community, have all had an accumulative<\/p>\n<p>affect on the socio-economic fabric of its citizens. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Under normal circumstances the people of<\/p>\n<p>Linden would not have reacted in this desperate manner over an increase in<\/p>\n<p>charges for electricity services. But times have drastically changed and no<\/p>\n<p>caring government would think of imposing such steep charges for electricity on<\/p>\n<p>a socio-economically battered community like Linden at this time. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>How much more do we expect the people of<\/p>\n<p>Linden to take without raising their united voices? How much more does this<\/p>\n<p>uncaring government expect all Guyanese to meekly accept without seeking relief<\/p>\n<p>from such economic torment? The AFC supports the peaceful protest action of the<\/p>\n<p>citizens of the Mining Town of Linden and calls on all Guyana to support their<\/p>\n<p>just claim for relief in their time of need. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>End <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>For more information contact: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>AFC PR <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-6-29: The AFC column &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>A MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT <\/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'>A delegation representing the AFC and<\/p>\n<p>comprising the Leader, Mr. Raphael Trotman, M.P., Clayton Hall, General<\/p>\n<p>Secretary, and David Patterson, M.P. met with President Bharrat Jagdeo on<\/p>\n<p>Friday last at the Office of the President. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The meeting was prompted by a letter written<\/p>\n<p>by party leader Raphael Trotman urging the President to appoint a Commission of<\/p>\n<p>Inquiry under the provisions of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, Chapter 19:03<\/p>\n<p>to conduct a forensic investigation into the killings of eight miners at Lindo<\/p>\n<p>Creek Camp, Berbice River. The discussions were cordial. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>At the meeting the AFC delegation reinforced<\/p>\n<p>its strong conviction that an inquiry was imperative given the growing public<\/p>\n<p>opinion that the security forces were involved in the incident and the<\/p>\n<p>implication this could have for the rule of law, the protection of human rights<\/p>\n<p>in Guyana and the general conduct and operations of the security forces. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC leader also stressed that this latest<\/p>\n<p>act of gruesome killings should not be co-mingled with those of Lusignan and<\/p>\n<p>Bartica, the reason being that the specific allegation of security force<\/p>\n<p>involvement was never leveled at the Police Force or Guyana Defence Force<\/p>\n<p>following the incidents in Lusignan and Bartica. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The appropriateness of having an early<\/p>\n<p>closure for the families who need to be given answers, and to intern the remains<\/p>\n<p>of their deceased relatives, was also pressed by the AFC. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The President indicated that he was keeping<\/p>\n<p>his options open and first wanted an interim report from a forensic pathologist<\/p>\n<p>before proceeding with any option including that of a Commission of Inquiry<\/p>\n<p>into the killings. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The need to have separate and distinct<\/p>\n<p>processes to review past criminal activity and this most recent incident at<\/p>\n<p>Lindo Creek was accepted in principle by the President and so too the<\/p>\n<p>AFC&#8217;s representation that the talks should be broadened to include all<\/p>\n<p>opposition parliamentary parties and strategic members of civil society. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT June 23, 2008 <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>H.E. Bharrat Jagdeo Executive President<\/p>\n<p>Co-operative Republic of Guyana <\/span><\/i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Office of the President New Garden Street<\/p>\n<p>Georgetown Guyana. <\/span><\/i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Dear Excellency, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Leadership and members of the Alliance<\/p>\n<p>For Change presents its compliments to His Excellency and wish to express a<\/p>\n<p>deep sense of horror on learning the details in the newspapers of Sunday June<\/p>\n<p>22, 2008, of the killing of eight miners at Lindo&#8217;s Camp, Berbice River. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Apart from these details, anecdotal<\/p>\n<p>information received from persons resident in the Berbice River, and elsewhere,<\/p>\n<p>raises many questions as to the identity of those responsible for this<\/p>\n<p>atrocity. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Some, as may have been brought to your<\/p>\n<p>attention, and as appearing in the newspapers of Monday June 23, 2008, have<\/p>\n<p>even suggested an involvement by the security forces. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Such an accusation is most unwarranted at<\/p>\n<p>this time, and if not addressed at the highest level, could have dire<\/p>\n<p>consequences and implications for the rule of law, the use of the military in<\/p>\n<p>civilian law and order operations, the displacement of trust and confidence by<\/p>\n<p>the citizenry in the professionalism and integrity of the disciplined forces and<\/p>\n<p>above all, the undermining of the foundation of Democracy and Human Rights in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Coming in the aftermath of the most recent<\/p>\n<p>massacres at Lusignan and Bartica, coupled with the need to validate and give<\/p>\n<p>due recognition to the role and dedication of the Joint Services and more<\/p>\n<p>particularly the Guyana Defence Force during these testing times, I write to<\/p>\n<p>urge you to appoint a Commission of Inquiry under the Commissions of Inquiry<\/p>\n<p>Act, Chapter 19:03 of the Laws of Guyana, to conduct a forensic investigation<\/p>\n<p>into the killings of these miners at Lindo&#8217;s Camp. Nothing short, in the<\/p>\n<p>opinion of the AFC, would suffice. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC implores you to take this request<\/p>\n<p>seriously, and in so doing, to consult the parliamentary opposition parties on<\/p>\n<p>your decision to identify and name Commissioners to this Commission. It would<\/p>\n<p>also be expected that the services of a forensic pathologist, preferably from<\/p>\n<p>outside of Guyana, be made available to this Commission. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This matter is urgent and requires your<\/p>\n<p>immediate attention. <b><i>Yours respectfully, Sgd. Raphael Trotman, M.P.<\/p>\n<p>Leader <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4<\/p>\n<p>height=9 id=&#8221;_x0000_i1030&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_36.jpg&#8221;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-7-6:AFC Column &#8211; The<\/p>\n<p>impact of global food price increases <\/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'>The Alliance For Change continues to play<\/p>\n<p>an important role in helping Guyanese prepare for the pending Global Food<\/p>\n<p>Crisis through their &#8220;Seeds of Change&#8221; programme. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This week in Parliament, AFC Member of<\/p>\n<p>Parliament Latchmin Punalall examined another aspect of this situation and made<\/p>\n<p>the following presentation on the motion &#8220;The Impact of Global Food Price<\/p>\n<p>Increases&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Mr. Speaker, I stand to speak on<\/p>\n<p>the motion the &#8220;Impact of global food price increases&#8221; presented to<\/p>\n<p>this honourable assembly by the Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Robert<\/p>\n<p>Persaud. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the first whereas clause he outlines<\/p>\n<p>four factors to be responsible for global food price increases:Increase in the<\/p>\n<p>price of fossil fuel; effects of climate change; increase in production of<\/p>\n<p>bio-fuels; a growing demand for food in large emerging economies. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Speaker, these are not factors which<\/p>\n<p>have come upon us overnight. Over the past many years scientists and other<\/p>\n<p>academics including the Holy Bible have been warning us of these situations.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, these warnings were not taken too seriously nationally and<\/p>\n<p>regionally. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Had these forewarnings being heeded, which<\/p>\n<p>were intended to prepare us for these difficulties, there would have been<\/p>\n<p>preparations along the way and we would not have to be in a state of alarm<\/p>\n<p>today. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Speaker, On May 30, 2008 when<\/p>\n<p>Ambassador Odeen Ishmael spoke at the meeting of Food Security in Latin America<\/p>\n<p>and the Caribbean he referred to the &#8220;Jagdeo Initiative&#8221; which<\/p>\n<p>identified ten major constraints affecting agriculture in the Caribbean<\/p>\n<p>region:The second constraint listed in this initiative was &#8220;outdated and<\/p>\n<p>insufficient agricultural health and food safety systems&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The third constraint listed in this<\/p>\n<p>initiative was &#8220;inadequate research and development&#8221; The seventh<\/p>\n<p>constraint listed in this initiative was &#8220;inadequate transportation<\/p>\n<p>systems&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The tenth constraint listed in this<\/p>\n<p>initiative was &#8220;lack of skilled and quality human resources&#8221; Mr.<\/p>\n<p>Speaker, these constraints, and all the others, have been lingering in our<\/p>\n<p>agricultural and fishing sector for some time. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Speaker, after speaking about these<\/p>\n<p>constraints the Government needs to put measures in place to deal with these<\/p>\n<p>constraints. If not what we speak and write will remain as abstracts and our<\/p>\n<p>people will not be helped. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Speaker, whilst it seems a bright idea<\/p>\n<p>to call on farmers to grow more there must be a balance to understand among<\/p>\n<p>other things, the psychosocial consequences of this call. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It will entail farmers spending more<\/p>\n<p>working hours in their farms. In some cases it will mean both parents being<\/p>\n<p>away from their children for longer hours. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We have seen family life crumbling in our<\/p>\n<p>society because of many pressures. The manifestation of this is a generation of<\/p>\n<p>delinquent youths who go so far as to challenge us with high powered rifles. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Speaker, while it is important for us<\/p>\n<p>to optimize food production it should not be at the cost of the already<\/p>\n<p>pressured family unit. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Speaker, the fifth whereas clause<\/p>\n<p>speaks of an Inter-Ministerial committee on food prices tasked with monitoring<\/p>\n<p>this emerging situation on a constant basis &#8220;and to make recommendations<\/p>\n<p>on action that may be needed to be taken to cushion the impact on the Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>population, especially the poor and vulnerable&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The government has trucks that go to<\/p>\n<p>certain locations and sell flour at a subsidized rate but this help does not<\/p>\n<p>get to the poor in deep village areas. A typical example is Good Hope South on<\/p>\n<p>the ECD. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Villagers here will have to pay $200.00 to<\/p>\n<p>travel to this truck which sells at Mon Repos&#8217; market. They will purchase<\/p>\n<p>a 4 kg packet for $300.00 from this truck. However, the shops in the village<\/p>\n<p>sell the same flour for $440.00, a difference of $140.00. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This means that when the $200.00 passage<\/p>\n<p>is added to the flour price it ends up more costly than what the shop next door<\/p>\n<p>sells it for. This is the prevailing situation in most other villages where<\/p>\n<p>villagers who are more vulnerable, especially where the poor live in the back<\/p>\n<p>areas and need to travel to these trucks. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On Fri April 25, 2008 when Minister of<\/p>\n<p>Tourism, Industry and Commerce met with food importers and flour distributors<\/p>\n<p>he was told that a level playing field was needed if everyone is to benefit<\/p>\n<p>from Government&#8217;s intervention. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>One flour distributor, Hardeo Balram said<\/p>\n<p>to him at that meeting &#8220;We are asking for a level playing field from the<\/p>\n<p>flour mill, everybody gets flour at one price, and we assure the public that it<\/p>\n<p>will reach them at a cheaper price than they are getting now&#8221;. This would<\/p>\n<p>have been a more equitable approach for the government to adopt. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Speaker, if farmers are called upon to<\/p>\n<p>produce more they must be guaranteed of lucrative and available markets. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I draw this Assembly&#8217;s attention to<\/p>\n<p>Black Bush Polder in Region SIX which was once described as having the<\/p>\n<p>potential of feeding the Caribbean. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There was a time when mangoes were<\/p>\n<p>produced there in large quantities but because of bad roads and lack of markets<\/p>\n<p>most of the crop had to be dumped. During the mango season one could have gone<\/p>\n<p>there and seen heaps of mangoes rotting in farms. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It was the same situation with tomatoes.<\/p>\n<p>One farmer from the Soesdyke\/Linden Highway told me recently that a few months<\/p>\n<p>ago they were getting $500.00\/lb for peppers. Since the &#8220;Grow More<\/p>\n<p>Food&#8221; campaign started they are now getting peppers for $120.00\/lb. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Residents at Paramacatoi plant cabbage,<\/p>\n<p>onions, Irish potatoes, carrots and many other foods which we import. One can<\/p>\n<p>grow all there organically where the cabbage weighs 10 lbs. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>However, because of the absence of<\/p>\n<p>infrastructure, processing and storage facilities, production is stagnated in<\/p>\n<p>Paramacatoi and other areas in the hinterland. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Speaker we need to promote the<\/p>\n<p>establishment of agro industries to take off farmers produce if we expect them<\/p>\n<p>to produce. Rather than more factories being established we have seen a<\/p>\n<p>dwindling away of factories. We had thirteen functioning sugar factories at<\/p>\n<p>nationalization. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Today there are only eight and they are in<\/p>\n<p>the red. Cane cultivation areas were converted into residential areas and there<\/p>\n<p>has been no cultivation of virgin lands to cushion this. Little islands such as<\/p>\n<p>Barbados and Trinidad have surpassed us in agricultural processing from where a<\/p>\n<p>lot of importation is done. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Speaker, Mr. Ambrose Evans-Pitchard,<\/p>\n<p>International Business Editor, writing in the Telegraph (UK) said &#8220;The UN<\/p>\n<p>says it takes 232 kg of corn to fill up a 50 liter car tank with petrol<\/p>\n<p>(ethanol). <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>That is enough to feed a child for a year.<\/p>\n<p>100 million people are tipping over the survival line&#8221;. Some of those who<\/p>\n<p>make up this 100 million are right here in Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>They are our next door neighbours, uncles<\/p>\n<p>and aunts, brothers and sisters. Some of these folks only see a few thousand,<\/p>\n<p>maybe as little as $5,000.00 per week. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A small household of two adult parents and<\/p>\n<p>two children below ten years need at least $1,000.00\/day for basic food such as<\/p>\n<p>rice, vegetables, bread or flour, and a little stew or curry. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This does not include any significant<\/p>\n<p>portion of fish or meat, and does not involve preparation by use of a gas stove.<\/p>\n<p>Of course we know that there are many larger families. How do they survive? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>They don&#8217;t. They merely exist,<\/p>\n<p>sometimes by drinking only water and having a very sparing meal. Red Thread, in<\/p>\n<p>a paper published on Feb, 2008 setting out the monthly expenses for a family of<\/p>\n<p>ten needs $81,257.66. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This sum does not include medical<\/p>\n<p>expenses, recreation or emergencies. Mr. Speaker, Guyanese have been a people<\/p>\n<p>who consume comparatively little compared to other nations, yet we work very<\/p>\n<p>hard and are a contented people. We boil a little rice and eat it with whatever<\/p>\n<p>little is available. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We are not folks who look out for a<\/p>\n<p>quarter pound of meat or fish in every meal. We are not the kind of folks that<\/p>\n<p>look forward to a three or four course meal thrice daily. However, the little<\/p>\n<p>that we are accustomed to exist on is very hard to acquire. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We are calling for the authorities to give<\/p>\n<p>us a better deal where food prices are concerned and we know that the<\/p>\n<p>government has the capability to do more and should do more for the people of<\/p>\n<p>Guyana. We are also asking the Government to drop the VAT. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Speaker, Guyana, unlike many other<\/p>\n<p>nations, is still blessed with many natural resources which are beneficial for<\/p>\n<p>food production. We still have fertile lands, many fresh water rivers, sunshine<\/p>\n<p>and rain. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>However it is one thing for us to have the<\/p>\n<p>potential to produce and quite another thing for us to actually produce. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Speaker the AFC supports the motion in<\/p>\n<p>principle and would expect support for the amendment proposed by AFC member<\/p>\n<p>Honourable Mr. Raphael Trotman. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Speaker Ps145:15-16 declares<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The eyes of all wait upon thee (Almighty God); and thou givest them<\/p>\n<p>their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfieth the desire of<\/p>\n<p>every living thing&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>May all the members of this honourable<\/p>\n<p>house join hearts and hands to work within this divine plan for Guyana and the<\/p>\n<p>development of food security in the Region. May Almighty God Bless Guyana to<\/p>\n<p>become the breadbasket of the Caribbean.&#8221; <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_i1031&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_37.jpg&#8221;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-7-13: GECOM \/ LINDO<\/p>\n<p>CREEK \/ NATIONAL ECECUTIVE COMMITTEE UPDATES <\/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'>AFC PARTICIPATES IN GECOM MEETING<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;WITHOUT PREJUDICE&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Despite the ongoing strained relationship between<\/p>\n<p>the AFC and GECOM surrounding the Region 10 seat and the scrutineers&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>money, the AFC decided to participate in a meeting called by GECOM Chairman for<\/p>\n<p>the parliamentary parties to be given an update as to what transpired during<\/p>\n<p>the House to House Registration exercise. We attended &#8220;without<\/p>\n<p>prejudice&#8221; to our right to denounce the entire exercise as flawed because<\/p>\n<p>of our inability to participate in the scrutiny of it. We took a conscious<\/p>\n<p>decision to observe rather than participate. Below is a summary of what took<\/p>\n<p>place at that meeting. This is meant to let the nation know that the exercise<\/p>\n<p>had limited success, and is now being challenged by the PPP\/C. Was this money<\/p>\n<p>well spent? We don&#8217;t believe so. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>REPORT <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The meeting was held at GECOM Office on<\/p>\n<p>Tuesday, July 08, 2008 and 13.00hrs<\/span><\/b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>.<\/p>\n<p>Chaired by GECOM Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally, with Mr. Gocool Boodhoo and<\/p>\n<p>other officials were present. Parliamentary Political Parties present PPP\/C,<\/p>\n<p>PNCR\/1G, AFC and TUF. Dr. Surujbally reported on the following: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=119<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1032&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_38.jpg&#8221;>&middot; The House &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>House Registration Exercise concluded on the 4th July 2008 and that there would<\/p>\n<p>be no extension of time. &middot; That there were approximately 433000 individuals<\/p>\n<p>who completed registration transactions between Jan 7th &#8211; July 4th 2008.<\/p>\n<p>&middot; These transactions were now subject to internal scrutiny, cross<\/p>\n<p>matching and a verification process to confirm their validation. &middot; The<\/p>\n<p>validated list would then become the New National List of Registrants. &middot;<\/p>\n<p>This New National List of Registrants would be the base document of reference<\/p>\n<p>for the beginning of the Continual Registration <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>process. &middot; The Continual Registration<\/p>\n<p>Process was not expected to start before mid October 2008. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&middot; During the recently concluded House<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; House Registration Exercise: n Approximately 36000 individuals were<\/p>\n<p>recorded as not being in possession of Valid Birth Certificates, Deed Poll or<\/p>\n<p>Marriage Certificates in order to be registered. n 24813 additional individuals<\/p>\n<p>had applied for Birth Certificates but were yet to receive them from the<\/p>\n<p>General Registrar&#8217;s Office, so that they could complete their<\/p>\n<p>Registration process. n Another 1905 individuals refused to register or submit<\/p>\n<p>to be fingerprinted in order to complete the registration process. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The difficulty experienced by individuals to<\/p>\n<p>obtain Birth Certificates or access to Public Notaries, was highlighted by Dr.<\/p>\n<p>Surujbally. Although several meetings were held with Government officials and<\/p>\n<p>the General Registrar&#8217;s Office no headway was made to alleviate this<\/p>\n<p>situation. He reiterated the need for Government to find ways to resolve this<\/p>\n<p>situation so these remaining individuals could be registered. Further there<\/p>\n<p>were hundreds of Birth Certificates that were being challenged by GECOM<\/p>\n<p>Officials because of inaccurate information. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Dr Surujbally undertook to provide<\/p>\n<p>Parliamentary Political Parties with a detailed list of all recorded<\/p>\n<p>unregistered individuals. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The PPP\/C requested and received the support<\/p>\n<p>of the TUF for: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>1) GECOM to approve the use of the 2001 Green<\/p>\n<p>ID Card to be used as a valid source document for this registration process. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>2) That the House &#8211; House Registration<\/p>\n<p>Exercise was separate from the electoral process. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>3) That there ought not to be a delay in the<\/p>\n<p>Continual Registration Process. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The PNCR\/1G objected to any use of the 2001<\/p>\n<p>Green ID Card as a source document for the purpose of registration and<\/p>\n<p>supported GECOM&#8217;s request for the Government to find a way of resolving<\/p>\n<p>any bottlenecks at the General Registrar&#8217;s Office. ( The AFC supports<\/p>\n<p>this position) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>GECOM Commissioners pointed out that from the<\/p>\n<p>inception a decision was taken not to make any reference to any previous process<\/p>\n<p>or source document as the basis for this current registration process. That a<\/p>\n<p>new National List of Registrants that has the confidence and approval of all<\/p>\n<p>stakeholders is of utmost importance as this would be the base document for<\/p>\n<p>preparing the National list of Electors for the purpose of holding Local<\/p>\n<p>Government Elections and all subsequent General and Regional Elections. As of<\/p>\n<p>now the AFC is not convinced that we are anywhere near there. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>THE LINDO CREEK MASSACRE <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Government has quite mysteriously chosen<\/p>\n<p>not to take up the offer of having a world-renowned forensic team travel from<\/p>\n<p>the United Kingdom to conduct a proper forensic investigation as to what has<\/p>\n<p>happened at Lindo Creek. Instead it has chosen to invest in finding an<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;eyewitness&#8221; who saw everything and claims to have lived through<\/p>\n<p>the ordeal, and to have Trinidad &amp; Tobago and Jamaican experts come<\/p>\n<p>instead. Again this is money badly spent. We still maintain that this whole<\/p>\n<p>affair stinks to high heaven and some things are not being revealed. Why is the<\/p>\n<p>government paying for the Trinidad &amp; Tobago and Jamaican teams, but<\/p>\n<p>refusing to do the same for the UK team? Why if there is a reliable eyewitness<\/p>\n<p>haven&#8217;t charges been laid as was the case after the massacres in Lusignan<\/p>\n<p>and Bartica? There is an old saying that you can fool some of the people some<\/p>\n<p>of the time but you can&#8217;t fool all of the people all of the time. Who is<\/p>\n<p>the Government hoping to fool with this charade, which is an insult to the<\/p>\n<p>relatives of the victims. They, and all Guyanese, deserve better. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>At this stage no one is likely to accept the<\/p>\n<p>findings of any &#8220;carry on&#8221; team that can&#8217;t even find the<\/p>\n<p>location of the massacre. Guyana needs a government that is caring, decisive,<\/p>\n<p>and honourable. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>AFC NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (NEC) ON REG.<\/p>\n<p>10 OUTREACH VISIT <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The NEC of the Alliance For Change is holding<\/p>\n<p>its 3rd Quarterly Meeting in Region 10 during the weekend of Friday 11-Sunday<\/p>\n<p>13 July, 2008. During the visit to the Region, the Executive will be engaged in<\/p>\n<p>a town meting with residents of Linden to discuss issues of concern with them<\/p>\n<p>such as the proposed hike in electricity rates which we have already deemed<\/p>\n<p>unconscionable. The Seeds of Change project will also be unveiled in Wismar<\/p>\n<p>where several thousand vegetable seedlings will be distributed free of cost to<\/p>\n<p>residents in need. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Executive&#8217;s meting will be held on<\/p>\n<p>Saturday 12th July and at this meeting past decisions will be reviewed and the<\/p>\n<p>programme for the next quarter settled. On Sunday 13th visits will be<\/p>\n<p>undertaken in the Ituni and Kwakwani co <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-7-20: The AFC Column &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>TRANSCENDING ETHNIC GRAVITATIONS WILL DETER ELECTED DICTATORSHIPS By Khemraj<\/p>\n<p>Ramjattan <\/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'>Ravi Dev&#8217;s &#8220;Elected<\/p>\n<p>Dictatorship?&#8221; article last week was critical of Eusi Kwayana&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>description of the present PPP\/C Government as an elected dictatorship. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I, like so many others, have described this<\/p>\n<p>Government exactly in such terms for sometime now although another<\/p>\n<p>characterisation &#8211; &#8220;control-freakism&#8221; &#8211; is more well-known in<\/p>\n<p>Parliamentary circles. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>More significantly, whilst still a member of<\/p>\n<p>the PPP\/C, I had begun arguing that unless this &#8220;creeping dictatorship<\/p>\n<p>under Jagdeo&#8217;s Presidency&#8221; was halted, difficult times lay ahead.<\/p>\n<p>This more than anything else hastened my expulsion by a core group of &#8230;yes&#8230;internal<\/p>\n<p>party dictators. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I want to urge that there is nothing<\/p>\n<p>un-intellectual about Kwayana&#8217;s description. Indeed, the PPP\/C was duly<\/p>\n<p>elected; and, indeed its behaviour is dictatorial. So elected dictatorship is<\/p>\n<p>apt because it is an honest, truthful description as one can get. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>That Ravi feels such a description will<\/p>\n<p>justify confrontational and violent tactics and hence his basis for the<\/p>\n<p>rejection of such a description is what may be regarded as un-intellectual. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Let us assume for one moment that such a<\/p>\n<p>description is deleted from Guyana&#8217;s political radar. With all the<\/p>\n<p>arrogance, corruption, authoritarianism which runs riot in our political<\/p>\n<p>landscape, would we still not have seen confrontational violent politics<\/p>\n<p>emerging today? Most certainly! This Government&#8217;s behaviour in office<\/p>\n<p>inevitably causes massive frustration and alienation which then give reason<\/p>\n<p>especially to the disaffected intelligentsia to fight against the State. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So whether we hide this description of<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;elected dictatorship&#8221; from our political lexicon and\/or use its<\/p>\n<p>equivalent &#8220;the tyranny of the majority&#8221;, the dangers of<\/p>\n<p>confrontation and violent politics will surely arise to attempt a counter of<\/p>\n<p>the Government&#8217;s political misbehaviour. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But what causes this elected dictatorship or<\/p>\n<p>tyranny of the majority in a political community such as ours? It is,<\/p>\n<p>primarily, bad leadership, and secondarily, an unreasoning followership. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I seriously doubt that an elected<\/p>\n<p>dictatorship, such as the one that exists in Guyana today, can be prevented<\/p>\n<p>from coming into existence through the mechanism of a written constitution. No<\/p>\n<p>matter how perfectly drafted, such a constitution cannot exclude this<\/p>\n<p>possibility because men are not angels. Even in homogenous societies this can<\/p>\n<p>happen, as has happened when their political leadership begins to rot. One<\/p>\n<p>cannot legislate against bad leadership. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Ravi, however, makes the argument that this<\/p>\n<p>tyranny of the majority, this elected dictatorship which results in<\/p>\n<p>confrontational and violent politics can go away: firstly, in the short run by<\/p>\n<p>a temporary shared Executive; and, secondly, in the long run by federalism.<\/p>\n<p>These two solutions comprise the more peaceful, fruitful avenues available.<\/p>\n<p>This we all know has been his argument from the inception. It is premised, he<\/p>\n<p>argues, on the fact that Guyana has an intractable problem &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;ethnic\/racial factions, a twin Ethnic security dilemma precipitated by<\/p>\n<p>our particular constellation of demographics and power resources&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So no matter what we in Guyana seek to do,<\/p>\n<p>this intractable ethnic\/racial problem will remain with us unless and until, as<\/p>\n<p>he posits, a federalist constitution is established. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Thus he steers his argument into federalism.<\/p>\n<p>He even chastises the political actors &#8211; Government and Opposition<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; for not walking this federalist course in 2000. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But should an effort into a federalist<\/p>\n<p>project again be renewed? I think not. There is hardly any support for it. Like<\/p>\n<p>the PPP\/C&#8217;s socialist construct which it will resurrect and restate at<\/p>\n<p>its next Congress but will never care to attend to because its commanding cabal<\/p>\n<p>loves the bourgeoisie lifestyles. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Federalism&#8221;, as some of its main<\/p>\n<p>intellectual proponents have conceded, &#8220;is not cheap. It involves<\/p>\n<p>duplication of facilities, functions, personal and infrastructure.&#8221; Often<\/p>\n<p>it entails jurisdictional disputes which brings on the question of how will the<\/p>\n<p>demarcation lines be drawn up? Who will do so? It would be semi-partition of<\/p>\n<p>Guyana in my forecast. And how are we so certain we will not have the tyranny<\/p>\n<p>of the majority within each State so subdivided? We are too small and too poor.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, as has happened, our local political actors did not support it. And I<\/p>\n<p>have grave doubts whether the main external influencers will. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I have argued that our present constitution<\/p>\n<p>may not be perfect (surely none will ever be), but the wrongs of our society<\/p>\n<p>must not be placed on our 2000 Constitution. The wrongs must squarely be<\/p>\n<p>situated in the laps of the PPP\/C Government&#8217;s bad governance and immoral<\/p>\n<p>and corrupt leadership which began since the demise of Dr. Jagan in 1997. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This decline has been permitted to continue<\/p>\n<p>up to today because of an unreasoning followership made up of largely an East<\/p>\n<p>Indian voting block which persists with its support for the PPP\/C in the face<\/p>\n<p>of these indicting ills mentioned. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Party&#8217;s mantra at elections time,<\/p>\n<p>especially at bottom houses, also inflames passions towards this result &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>the mantra being: &#8220;Alyou want blackman deh?&#8221; Many right thinking<\/p>\n<p>East Indians get persuaded with this illogic and fall prey to it. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This was exactly the approach (and even worse)<\/p>\n<p>used by the PNC when in office in getting Afro Guyanese from not quitting its<\/p>\n<p>camp notwithstanding that Party&#8217;s leadership committing excesses which<\/p>\n<p>passed certain thresholds to reach the even more despicable level of<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;unelected dictatorship&#8221;. Today the PNC makes the subtle ethnic<\/p>\n<p>plea to a somewhat less numerically but still strong unreasoning followership<\/p>\n<p>in the Afro Guyanese block with the mantra: &#8220;Come back<\/p>\n<p>home&#8230;&#8230;. you all see who bad now?&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>These tactics resonate, and politicians<\/p>\n<p>invoke them at elections campaign. But will it always be so? Could there not be<\/p>\n<p>a transcending of ethnic gravitations? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To these two questions my answer is: &#8220;I<\/p>\n<p>believe that it will not always be so. And indeed there can be a transcendence<\/p>\n<p>of ethnic gravitations in Guyana.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Our turbulent political history may falsely<\/p>\n<p>suggest that ethnic conflict is inevitable. But it is not inevitable! Moreover,<\/p>\n<p>I have learnt that when races cannot or seem not to want to live together they<\/p>\n<p>continue to live together. There is no visceral hatred for each other in our<\/p>\n<p>races\/ethnicities here in Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So what is needed is a deconstruction of the<\/p>\n<p>unreasoning follower to a construction of the reasoning subject. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This is our modern day challenge and will be realised<\/p>\n<p>with hard experiences which educate the unreasoning on both sides of the<\/p>\n<p>divide. Such a platform too will launch good leadership and will penalize bad<\/p>\n<p>leadership. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This is an aspect of the AFC&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>reconciliation and healing project which we carry around the country.<\/p>\n<p>Intellects like Ravi Dev must push for an education of the masses in this<\/p>\n<p>direction for it will be far more peaceful and acceptable an alternative. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Let us give that a try. This way we will<\/p>\n<p>solve tomorrow what appears to be today&#8217;s intractable problem. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2007-7-27: AFC Column &#8211; THE<\/p>\n<p>EROSION OF JURY SUPREMACY &#8211; A RECIPE FOR DISASTER-An edited address in<\/p>\n<p>the National Assembly 24<\/span><\/u><\/b><b><s><sup><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;>th<\/span><\/sup><\/s><\/b><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;> July 2008 by K Ramjattan (AFC Chairman)re Debate on the Court of<\/p>\n<p>Appeal Amendment Bill 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><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Sometime ago in this Assembly, I had argued<\/p>\n<p>the case that there must be in place a Law Reform Commission. Expert advice on<\/p>\n<p>the need and priority for changes in our law, expert advice on what changes<\/p>\n<p>have been occurring around the common law world from which we can extract as we<\/p>\n<p>see fit, expert advice as to what may be appealing but troublesome so as to<\/p>\n<p>avoid an unmeritorious adoption thereof, could have been forthcoming from such<\/p>\n<p>a Law Reform Commission. But &#8220;No!&#8221; said the A.G. and the Government<\/p>\n<p>he represents. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Setting up such an institution which is<\/p>\n<p>necessary to archive the reasons why we pass the laws we do, so that we can<\/p>\n<p>have institutional memory to fall back on, would have been a great credit to<\/p>\n<p>this country especially in this important field of criminal law and criminal justice.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Our criminal law and criminal justice system<\/p>\n<p>are in a mess. And one of the methods to clean up such a mess is through the<\/p>\n<p>efforts of a Law Reform Commission. Research, at a serious level, on points of<\/p>\n<p>policy and principle, on points of pros and cons of a law can be done by such a<\/p>\n<p>Commission before a deliberation occurs here, before we legislate in this<\/p>\n<p>National Assembly. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This Amendment Bill introduced with the<\/p>\n<p>purpose of continuing Government&#8217;s criminal justice reform would have<\/p>\n<p>been found by such a Commission as only adding to that mess and being a recipe<\/p>\n<p>for disaster. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Speaker, this Government feels that<\/p>\n<p>because that mandate has been granted to it to legislate then it must only<\/p>\n<p>legislate to further fortify the position of the State. It fails to appreciate<\/p>\n<p>that the other obligation is to pass laws which must improve the lives and lot<\/p>\n<p>of its citizens, and to fortify the system which will give a greater justice to<\/p>\n<p>such citizens. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This Amendment which seeks to provide for<\/p>\n<p>appeals by the D.P.P. to the Court of Appeal and thereafter as of right to the<\/p>\n<p>C.C.J., against the acquittal of an accused will not improve the lives of a<\/p>\n<p>whole lot of citizens. The lot of the accused will be made more horrible. So,<\/p>\n<p>too, the lot of all those involved in the trial process -witnesses, the Police,<\/p>\n<p>the jury, the Judge, and even the entire system, because of the inundation<\/p>\n<p>these appeals will have on it. This is readily foreseeable. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So why bring this Amendment? This Government<\/p>\n<p>will argue that since the accused has the right to appeal his conviction, then<\/p>\n<p>the State should have the right to appeal an accused acquittal. The acquittals<\/p>\n<p>rate these days are soaring but that is not due to the fact that the State does<\/p>\n<p>not have such a right of appeal. And now that the State will be given that<\/p>\n<p>right to appeal, I warn that it would be foolhardy to conclude that there will<\/p>\n<p>be, from now on, more convictions and less acquittals. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>More convictions will only happen when there<\/p>\n<p>is an improved quality of the investigation of crime, and a high quality<\/p>\n<p>prosecution at the trial thereafter. Both these phases require a sustained<\/p>\n<p>effort at training the personnel, keeping abreast and advancing with the<\/p>\n<p>technologies which assist in detection, and having advocates at a trial process<\/p>\n<p>who apart from articulating in a manner to convince a jury, must also be sharp<\/p>\n<p>enough to counter the stumbling blocks any good Defence Counsel will<\/p>\n<p>legitimately mount. Just like our AG used to do and my colleague, former AG,<\/p>\n<p>Mr. De Santos still does. Improving and strengthening the three P&#8217;s &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>policemen, prosecutors and prisons will realize what this Government strives<\/p>\n<p>for and what the citizens want &#8211; a fair criminal law justice system. This is<\/p>\n<p>the way forward. Not what we have here in the provisions of this Bill! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There are several very dangerous themes<\/p>\n<p>running through this legislation which must give cause for major concern. I<\/p>\n<p>shall address them in due course. But I must state certain realities why we<\/p>\n<p>have the existing s<i>tatus quo in which acquittals by the jury <\/i>in trials on<\/p>\n<p>indictment were never subject to appeals. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In a hundred and more years of the common law<\/p>\n<p>jurisprudence, time immemorial as we would say, the settled position, the<\/p>\n<p>bed-rock foundation of our criminal justice system has been that a jury&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>verdict of acquittal represented the limit of the power of the State to impose<\/p>\n<p>punishment upon the citizen. This was the perfect balance and counter-balance<\/p>\n<p>between the powers and resources of the State and the relative weaknesses of<\/p>\n<p>the ordinary subject within a democratic society. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Right up to recently, our Court of Appeal<\/p>\n<p>could only hear appeals from persons convicted. The prosecution had no right of<\/p>\n<p>redress, however strongly it held the view that an accused was wrongly<\/p>\n<p>acquitted. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Indeed, in 1978, by Court of Appeal Amendment<\/p>\n<p>Act 21 of 1978, only a DPP&#8217;s Reference to the Court of Appeal on a point<\/p>\n<p>of law following an acquittal on indictment was permitted. And in such a<\/p>\n<p>Reference nothing adverse could happen to the accused who was acquitted,<\/p>\n<p>pending the outcome of that Reference. He was a free man. The Reference only<\/p>\n<p>illuminated the point of law for a better application by the Judges on Assizes.<\/p>\n<p>So the historic axis, that a jury&#8217;s verdict of acquittal remained in<\/p>\n<p>place, never shifted as a result of this 1978 Amendment. The legitimate<\/p>\n<p>delicate balance between State and the individual was intact as regards the<\/p>\n<p>finality of the acquittal at a trial. This DPP&#8217;s reference of 1978 could<\/p>\n<p>not be said to have impugned the supremacy of the jury or in any way limit the<\/p>\n<p>accused&#8217;s right to appeal if he was convicted. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This Bill before this House, however, Mr.<\/p>\n<p>Speaker, seeks a blatant erosion of jury supremacy! But more than that it<\/p>\n<p>affects other venerated legal safeguards which are the hallmark of our system<\/p>\n<p>of criminal law and criminal justice such as the presumption of innocence, such<\/p>\n<p>as the rule against double jeopardy, and even in my opinion the independence of<\/p>\n<p>Judges and hence the doctrine of separation of powers. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This Bill is frightening and in the words of<\/p>\n<p>a famous Barrister, John Cooper, (concerning an Amendment not too dissimilar<\/p>\n<p>put up by PM Blair&#8217;s Labour Administration in England in 2003) .. &#8230;<b>&#8220;Parliament<\/p>\n<p>by eroding this jury supremacy is effectively breaking that unwritten pact<\/p>\n<p>between the State and citizen that the State would never challenge the<\/p>\n<p>judgement of the people.&#8221; As he pointed out, there must be a recognition<\/p>\n<p>of the reality &#8220;which should underpin any democratic criminal justice<\/p>\n<p>system, that the State is more powerful than the individual, that the criminal<\/p>\n<p>law, from summary to appellate justice, should recognize that imbalance and<\/p>\n<p>that if the State with all those powers transgresses to such a serious degree,<\/p>\n<p>then the criminal law will intervene on behalf of the weaker party.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is this reasoning which grounds why certain<\/p>\n<p><u>rights<\/u> are given to accused persons and <u>duties<\/u> obligated to the<\/p>\n<p>State. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Amendment in England in 2003 was duly<\/p>\n<p>passed because in England Parliament is supreme. That is the constitutional<\/p>\n<p>principle which governs England. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We have the Supremacy of the Constitution and<\/p>\n<p>in various provisions of our written constitution sacrosanct principles like<\/p>\n<p>the rule against double jeopardy, the presumption of innocence, separation of<\/p>\n<p>powers are all explicitly, if not implicitly, enshrined therein. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I want also to mention what we all learn at<\/p>\n<p>Law School about juries and their importance. Juries, as we know, and those<\/p>\n<p>over there should know from the Arnold Rampersaud trials, is that serious<\/p>\n<p>stumbling block which every Government hates when such Governments begin to act<\/p>\n<p>dictatorially elected or unelected. It is that juries are a bulwark of liberty.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Lord Devlin in his classic book <b>&#8220;Trial<\/p>\n<p>by Jury&#8221; made a comment therein that must resonate resoundingly in Guyana<\/p>\n<p>now, and which gives a guide to unveiling some sinister purpose behind this<\/p>\n<p>Bill. That comment goes thus: &#8220;the first object of any tyrant in<\/p>\n<p>Whitehall would be to make Parliament utterly subservient to his will; and the<\/p>\n<p>next would be to overthrow or diminish trial by jury, for no tyrant could<\/p>\n<p>afford to leave a subject&#8217;s freedom in the hands of twelve of his<\/p>\n<p>countrymen. So that trial by jury is more than an instrument of justice and<\/p>\n<p>more than one wheel of the constitution: it is the lamp that shows freedom<\/p>\n<p>lives<\/b>.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This Bill seeks to do away with that<\/p>\n<p>particular constitutional balance between a puny citizen and a powerful State;<\/p>\n<p>it seeks to out that lamp which shows that freedom lives! And all because of<\/p>\n<p>some unpalatable outcomes at the Assizes over the years! To walk away from this<\/p>\n<p>balance, and to replace it with the provisions of this Bill is a monumental<\/p>\n<p>mis-step. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This Government by its nature, and its<\/p>\n<p>exhibition and public expression here of its nature, feels that it knows best.<\/p>\n<p>However, it knows not what it is playing with! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>How do the Bill&#8217;s provisions breach<\/p>\n<p>some of the fundamental doctrines? An illustration comes very readily at hand.<\/p>\n<p>An accused is charged with any one of the offences mentioned in 34 C (5), say<\/p>\n<p>murder. The main evidence is a confession statement as is so peculiar here in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana. As is normally the case, this confession is objected to at the trial.<\/p>\n<p>The Judge conducts a <i>voire dire and rules that the confession is<\/p>\n<p>involuntarily obtained. He throws the confession statement out. A no-case<\/p>\n<p>submission is made by Defence Counsel. It is upheld and the Judge directs that<\/p>\n<p>the jury brings in a not guilty verdict. <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The DPP will now, unlike before, have the<\/p>\n<p>right to appeal the Judge&#8217;s decision to exclude that confession. This is<\/p>\n<p>what Clause 34 B (1) (a) (iii) is saying. The Judge&#8217;s discretion in<\/p>\n<p>holding evidence inadmissible is now appealable, at the behest of the DPP. It<\/p>\n<p>is true that before only the Judge&#8217;s discretion to hold evidence<\/p>\n<p>admissible could have been questioned on appeal by a convicted appellant. Now<\/p>\n<p>this whole balance is being shifted. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But more than that, the accused has to remain<\/p>\n<p>in the lockups pending the determination of this appeal by our C.A. Moreover,<\/p>\n<p>that may not be the end of the wait because if the C.A. rules that the<\/p>\n<p>DPP&#8217;s appeal was unmeritorious, the DPP as of right can appeal to the<\/p>\n<p>C.C.J. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In similar terms, even if the Judge in the<\/p>\n<p>said case had ruled admissible the confession. And the matter is sent to the<\/p>\n<p>jury and the jury comes out with a not guilty verdict which presently would<\/p>\n<p>entitle the accused to go free, the DPP has powers to hold the accused in the<\/p>\n<p>lockups -(although a jury has acquitted him, mind you) &#8211; and tell the accused: <b>&#8220;Wait<\/p>\n<p>there till the C.C.J ratifies the Judge&#8217;s summation because I did not<\/p>\n<p>like how the Judge summed up.&#8221; Worse than that, if the Judge&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>summation is found wanting by the C.C.J<\/b>, say 5-6 years after the acquittal,<\/p>\n<p>the poor accused has to go back and face a brand new trial before another jury<\/p>\n<p>and Judge! Will this not mean a contravention of the right to a trial within a<\/p>\n<p>reasonable time? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Clause 34 B (1) expressly is getting at<\/p>\n<p>Judge&#8217;s whose rulings at trials the DPP does not like. These rulings in a<\/p>\n<p>large measure will depend on foundation facts led by the Prosecution and tested<\/p>\n<p>by cross-examination. To want to appeal a Judge&#8217;s discretion to exclude<\/p>\n<p>is tantamount to the State pouring scorn over its own Judges in it pursuit of a<\/p>\n<p>conviction at a trial. It smacks definitely of an erosion of the independence<\/p>\n<p>of a Judge&#8217;s adjudication in the criminal justice system, which as I have<\/p>\n<p>said, has this preferential balance in favour of the accused, in view of the<\/p>\n<p>power of the State and weakness of the citizen. Now if it is the Judges that<\/p>\n<p>the Government is getting at, then better equip them. And ensure better<\/p>\n<p>appointments. Don&#8217;t damage our well-known criminal justice architecture!<\/p>\n<p>Don&#8217;t shift this longstanding balance. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Moreover, the double jeopardy rule as I know<\/p>\n<p>it will be encroached upon. When a jury finds a citizen not guilty after a<\/p>\n<p>Judge&#8217;s summation and a jury deliberation, then that should be the end of<\/p>\n<p>the matter. To devise an appellate procedure which will now realise a second<\/p>\n<p>trial after a first acquittal is but an abolition of this double jeopardy rule.<\/p>\n<p>I needn&#8217;t go further and say that the presumption of innocence is also<\/p>\n<p>flung through the door. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Now it may be argued that the DPP may not<\/p>\n<p>abuse her right of appeal. It will only be sparingly used. Such an expectation<\/p>\n<p>must be unacceptable. This power in the hands of the DPP, who in the<\/p>\n<p>constitutional construct as we know it is a member of the Executive branch of<\/p>\n<p>Government, can be exercised to the detriment of accused persons. The<\/p>\n<p>manifestation will be an elongated period in prison, or the Sword of Damocles<\/p>\n<p>hanging over your head if lucky to be put on bail, as the finality of the<\/p>\n<p>process is being determined by inordinate appeals. This can constitute<\/p>\n<p>oppressiveness if not downright torture. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The effects, need I say, will be massive<\/p>\n<p>backlog and more frustration in the Court system. Policemen and witnesses will<\/p>\n<p>become frustrated having to duplicate their testimony in another trial. All of<\/p>\n<p>this will undermine an already sorry system. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This Bill must not be supported! Neither here<\/p>\n<p>in this National Assembly nor in any Select Committee stage. The AFC will only<\/p>\n<p>support its total withdrawal! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-8-3: The AFC<\/p>\n<p>Column&#8230;MEDALS, DIPLOMACY &amp; VENEZUELA? By Raphael Trotman, AFC Leader <\/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 Guyanese public was recently treated to a<\/p>\n<p>most interesting sight of the Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force,<\/p>\n<p>Commodore Gary Best, being bestowed with the Medal Star of Carabobo, on the<\/p>\n<p>24th July, 2008, by the Ambassador of the Venezuela. The medal itself given in<\/p>\n<p>honour of the triumphs of Simon Bolivar is a prestigious one and is to be<\/p>\n<p>considered of very high standing. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>However, there was something about this<\/p>\n<p>ceremony that set me thinking and in fact left me uncomfortable. I am sure that<\/p>\n<p>Commodore Best is very deserving of all medals coming his way, but whether it<\/p>\n<p>was prudent for the Government of Guyana to permit such a medal to be awarded<\/p>\n<p>is a question which remains unanswered. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Looked at conversely, would President Chavez<\/p>\n<p>have allowed his top General to be given a medal by our Ambassador in Caracas,<\/p>\n<p>knowing the intricacies and complexities surrounding our border controversy? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I wondered immediately about the incidents in<\/p>\n<p>October, 2006 when Guyanese Parasram Persaud was killed by the Venezuelan<\/p>\n<p>military at Eteringbang, and in November, 2007, when two Guyanese dredges were<\/p>\n<p>blown to smithereens by the Venezuelan military in a show of force. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To date, the family of Persaud and the owners<\/p>\n<p>of the dredges have not been compensated, and the expected reports following<\/p>\n<p>investigations were never delivered. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In accepting military honours and medals we<\/p>\n<p>must be able to reconcile these latest incidents, and those over the years, of<\/p>\n<p>which Ankoko should be a constant reminder. I therefore am forced to ask<\/p>\n<p>whether this new energy we are seeing in Venezuelan diplomatic activity is part<\/p>\n<p>of a plan to lead to a negotiated settlement, or to an entrenchment of the<\/p>\n<p>claim to Essequibo. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I am all for the settlement of our<\/p>\n<p>controversy and welcome the signs of progress that we see since Hugo<\/p>\n<p>Chavez&#8217;s ascension to the presidency. Commencing with his visit to Guyana<\/p>\n<p>in 2004 and followed by his pronouncements that he wished to see the matter<\/p>\n<p>resolved. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Only recently, we have had the small but<\/p>\n<p>profoundly powerful contribution made to the distressed farmers of Buxton<\/p>\n<p>following the destruction of their farmlands. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I thought that this gesture made a powerful<\/p>\n<p>political statement given the trivial and &#8220;cass cass&#8221; manner that<\/p>\n<p>our Government was dealing with the issue of depravation following the razing<\/p>\n<p>of the backlands. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Since then we have the announcements that the<\/p>\n<p>Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is proposing the installation<\/p>\n<p>of an oil pipeline in Guyana for our benefit, the reiteration of the intention<\/p>\n<p>to build a road linking the two countries, and the &#8220;no objection&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>offered to Guyana&#8217;s proposal to have a British organisation develop<\/p>\n<p>environmental programmes in a large portion of the Essequibo in exchange for<\/p>\n<p>financial aid. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>These are very welcome and promising<\/p>\n<p>developments that show a ray of hope that our long and debilitating controversy<\/p>\n<p>may be resolved during my lifetime. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Past incidents and the ongoing geo-political<\/p>\n<p>maneuverings, however, necessitate that I temper my expectations and make<\/p>\n<p>caution my watchword. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A report on what are Venezuela&#8217;s true<\/p>\n<p>intentions sheds light on the issues and the contradictions that Guyana can<\/p>\n<p>find itself in if not careful, and I believe that certain extracts are worthy<\/p>\n<p>of publication in the interest of freedom of information: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>PIPELINE <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Laying the pipeline would provide economic<\/p>\n<p>benefits to Guyana. It would create jobs for Guyanese in land preparation and<\/p>\n<p>the construction process. It would also create jobs for the security and<\/p>\n<p>maintenance of the pipeline. Concomitantly, oil supplies by Venezuela to Guyana<\/p>\n<p>to fuel its industrial sector, would be ready and swift. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The problem is, what will be<\/p>\n<p>Venezuela&#8217;s share of the employment, during and after. Is it likely that<\/p>\n<p>some or many of the before may be likely to remain in Guyana as a deliberate<\/p>\n<p>strategy? How many Venezuelans would be employed after, and would the plan to<\/p>\n<p>maintain security of the pipeline be Venezuelans in the main? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Would they be members of the Venezuelan<\/p>\n<p>National Guard, fully armed with weapons from Venezuela? What modern military<\/p>\n<p>weapons and patrol vehicles would they place in Guyana? There is an even graver<\/p>\n<p>concern. Intervention in sovereign countries to protect investment and nationals<\/p>\n<p>has been a pattern of U.S. foreign policy in Latin America. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>History is replete with examples, one of the<\/p>\n<p>latest being the U.S. military invasion of Grenada on the pretext of protecting<\/p>\n<p>its investment and U.S. citizens there when in fact, the real reason was the<\/p>\n<p>overthrow of the socialist\/communist government on the island. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Venezuela could always manufacture a pretext<\/p>\n<p>to intervene in Guyana to protect its pipeline and to thereby seize and occupy<\/p>\n<p>Essequibo, the territory of Guyana it is spuriously claiming. Beware of the<\/p>\n<p>Greeks bearing gifts. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>HIGHWAY <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The proposed highway from Venezuela to Guyana<\/p>\n<p>would benefit Guyana in many ways. It would open the vast western hinterland to<\/p>\n<p>farming, fisheries, forestry and mineral development. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Given Guyana&#8217;s small population and<\/p>\n<p>lack of capital, it would be obvious to conclude that Venezuela would be the<\/p>\n<p>major, if not only, beneficiary of the highway, given the size of its<\/p>\n<p>population and its enormous treasury of oil revenue. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Very few Guyanese would want to live in the<\/p>\n<p>interior. The majority would want to migrate to North America and greener<\/p>\n<p>pastures, and even to Venezuela itself. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Venezuela would no doubt offer sotto voce<\/p>\n<p>citizenship to Guyanese in the Essequibo on the basis that they are by<\/p>\n<p>geography de facto citizens. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The reality is that many Venezuelans,<\/p>\n<p>ordinary and corporate citizens, would be crossing over to Essequibo, while<\/p>\n<p>many Guyanese would be hoofing it to Venezuela, become Venezuelan citizens and<\/p>\n<p>then be encouraged to return to the Essequibo to re-settle as dual citizens,<\/p>\n<p>but supporting Venezuela. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The reality also is that Guyana does not have<\/p>\n<p>the administrative and security capacity to fully monitor movements of people<\/p>\n<p>and material from Venezuela into Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>At the same time, Venezuela is also noticing<\/p>\n<p>the plethora of Brazilians who are crossing from Brazil into Guyana via the<\/p>\n<p>porous, unsecured and unguarded southern border. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There are an estimated 60,000 Brazilians in<\/p>\n<p>the southern and mid-area of Guyana involved in mining and other activities. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The newly opened bridge across the Takatu<\/p>\n<p>River connecting Brazil to Guyana is increasing the flow of Brazilians. The<\/p>\n<p>Venezuelans want to take a page out of Brazil&#8217;s land grab and legally or<\/p>\n<p>illegally occupy the east with its own citizens while Brazil aggrandises itself<\/p>\n<p>in the south. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Brazil has a population of some 200 million<\/p>\n<p>and Venezuela, some 25 million. Guyana has about 850,000. Slowly but surely,<\/p>\n<p>while Guyana is looking north and not south or west, Brazil is looking north at<\/p>\n<p>Guyana&#8217;s land and resources and is moving in. Venezuela is looking east<\/p>\n<p>at Essequibo and also wants to move in. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Venezuela&#8217;s master plan seems to be to<\/p>\n<p>occupy the Essequibo in a civilian way as opposed to a military <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>posture. The highway is the foundation of the<\/p>\n<p>plan. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Beware of the Greeks bearing<\/p>\n<p>gifts.&#8221; This report makes much sense and leads me to conclude that before<\/p>\n<p>any road or pipeline is allowed to pass through Guyana there must be a<\/p>\n<p>renunciation of the claim to two-thirds of Guyana&#8217;s land in a formal<\/p>\n<p>manner both at the level of the Venezuelan Government, and internationally. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Jagdeo Government had better not make any<\/p>\n<p>fatal mistakes. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-8-10: Remarks by<\/p>\n<p>Raphael Trotman, M.P. on the Motion Honouring Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham,<\/p>\n<p>O.E., S.C. <\/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'>Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, O.E, S.C., was<\/p>\n<p>an enigma. There is no escaping or denying that fact. To many he was a<\/p>\n<p>visionary and an extraordinary statesman, and yet also, to just as many as well<\/p>\n<p>he was the villain who took Guyana to its nadir. No matter what we do, or say,<\/p>\n<p>that is the history of our country and we have to recognize and accept it.<\/p>\n<p>Burnham was undoubtedly, an outstanding student, great orator, gifted lawyer,<\/p>\n<p>visionary, and wise and wily politician. That we are debating him now after twenty-three<\/p>\n<p>years since his demise is testament to the influence that he had on Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>No other Guyanese has made such an imprint on<\/p>\n<p>Guyana, and the Caribbean Region, as he did. In fact I hasten to say that no<\/p>\n<p>other person, or President, in the foreseeable future, is likely to have an<\/p>\n<p>impact on Guyana and things Guyanese as he has. The name Burnham became<\/p>\n<p>synonymous with Guyana, and we were all weighed and measured by this fact. His<\/p>\n<p>benefits and his burdens became our benefits and our burdens. Twenty-three<\/p>\n<p>years since his demise, and still the unmistakable impression of his footprint<\/p>\n<p>remains. Whether it is to be found in towns and streets named in his honour, in<\/p>\n<p>the roads, housing schemes and bridges which we still frequent, or the frequent<\/p>\n<p>references to rigged elections, and failed policies, the name Burnham stays on,<\/p>\n<p>almost hauntingly, never really having been put into a proper place of eternal<\/p>\n<p>rest. Can we do so today? I wonder\/ <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Speaker I won&#8217;t pretend to know<\/p>\n<p>everything about the politics of Burnham or about the inner workings of his<\/p>\n<p>cabinet and policies as others here undoubtedly can justifiably boast. My<\/p>\n<p>introduction, and knowledge of him, came through his wife and former first lady<\/p>\n<p>Viola, the quintessential lady in every regard, and his children and<\/p>\n<p>grand-children with whom I maintain a very close relationship today. Mr.<\/p>\n<p>Speaker, I feel compelled to say that despite whatever may be said about the<\/p>\n<p>man Burnham, that in the many years that I have known the family, I have found<\/p>\n<p>no evidence of extravagance, of arrogance, or even a hint of performance in<\/p>\n<p>them. In many respects they were just as affected and bothered as the next<\/p>\n<p>person was by the happenings of his time. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As I said before, there were many benefits<\/p>\n<p>and many burdens that resulted from his presence in Guyana, and it is not my<\/p>\n<p>intention to tabulate and calculate these as if to place them in a scale of<\/p>\n<p>judgment to measure right and wrong, but to say that no objective assessment of<\/p>\n<p>the man can be complete if we attempt to airbrush away his blemishes, and to<\/p>\n<p>buff his accomplishments. The same is true in the reverse were we to seek to<\/p>\n<p>diminish his many accomplishments and dredge to the fore his mistakes and<\/p>\n<p>blemishes as if these were the only defining characteristics of his life. We<\/p>\n<p>cannot escape that reality. Burnham&#8217;s life was inextricably linked with<\/p>\n<p>that of another former President Cheddie Jagan and if we if continue to deny<\/p>\n<p>the reality of the impact of their individual and collective lives on the state<\/p>\n<p>and psyche of the people then we will be guilty of being false not only to<\/p>\n<p>ourselves, but also to the generations past, and yet to come. There is a<\/p>\n<p>certain irony in us having motions coming in successive order to honour two men<\/p>\n<p>whose lives were shaped and defined by each other. Perhaps our purposes would<\/p>\n<p>have been better served if we had taken them together and in that way have a<\/p>\n<p>more objective, definitive, and constructive discussion on their lives, and<\/p>\n<p>contributions. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The whole cycle of patting each other on the<\/p>\n<p>back and then engaging in fights while Guyana continues to bleed has been<\/p>\n<p>described by some to be pathetic, self-serving, and useless. Interestingly, the<\/p>\n<p>actions, failures, and even cooperation of these two men, Jagan and Burnham,<\/p>\n<p>have left us with many good memories and memorials, but yet still<\/p>\n<p>unfortunately, as a divided nation and a destroyed and displaced people.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the meaningful and measurable contributions that were made the critical<\/p>\n<p>question of whether we are better off today is left unanswered. We speak of<\/p>\n<p>legacy, but have we done anything to critically assess the legacies of those we<\/p>\n<p>wish to honour and thereby ensure that we move forward with the wholesome, and<\/p>\n<p>discard the unwanted, or are we just pretending to be constantly advancing the<\/p>\n<p>legacies of those we wish to honour? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Speaker the lives of Forbes Burnham, and<\/p>\n<p>that of his sometimes colleague, and sometimes opponent Cheddie Jagan, must be<\/p>\n<p>viewed in the context of the happenings of their era when the cold-war brought<\/p>\n<p>its freezing grip to Guyana and determined and influenced many of the decisions<\/p>\n<p>taken by our leaders of the day. Guyana fell victim to the war, and remains,<\/p>\n<p>unto today, a badly wounded casualty. We have experimented; critically<\/p>\n<p>supported; condemned; killed; and defamed each other; sometimes not realizing<\/p>\n<p>that we were acting out a script handed to us by colonial masters and<\/p>\n<p>superpowers. Where are we today when reliable estimates say that there are as<\/p>\n<p>many as 700,000 Guyanese scattered like homeless people across the globe and<\/p>\n<p>making profound and worthwhile contributions to other societies &#8211;yet<\/p>\n<p>unable to grasp the opportunity to remain home, and to do the same for their<\/p>\n<p>motherland. Should we really be celebrating at all? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Speaker when the AFC was alerted that<\/p>\n<p>there was going to be a Motion to honour the contribution of the late President<\/p>\n<p>LFS Burnham, we agreed in principle to participate in this event for the<\/p>\n<p>primary reason that it is time that we as Guyanese, and particularly Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>leaders, bring both amplification and closure to a past that was both glorious<\/p>\n<p>and many times sordid. The story of Guyana is a story of unending contradiction<\/p>\n<p>of the type that even Marx and Engels could not unravel. Our presence here<\/p>\n<p>today is not to indulge in hero worshipping, but to say that in our leaders,<\/p>\n<p>both past and present, we can find good and bad. We in the AFC believe that we<\/p>\n<p>cannot move forward unless we confront our ambivalent past; not by conflating<\/p>\n<p>it and pretending that the good and bad were fused to produce a perfect state,<\/p>\n<p>but rather, by disaggregating that past and separating the ignominious from the<\/p>\n<p>honourable. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There is no doubt that events such as this<\/p>\n<p>are a clumsy attempt at best to give recognition to the works of past leaders,<\/p>\n<p>but they nevertheless constitute a valiant start to healing which we support.<\/p>\n<p>It would have been so much better Mr. Speaker if this country had a Committee<\/p>\n<p>or Commission made up of eminent citizens, including, those who rose to high<\/p>\n<p>status such as past and serving Presidents, who met and decided on the manner<\/p>\n<p>of honouring of citizens and from whom from time to time recommendations could<\/p>\n<p>be made to this National Assembly for honours to be bestowed through<\/p>\n<p>Parliamentary Motions and otherwise. What we have is a situation of &#8220;your<\/p>\n<p>heroes and my heroes.&#8221; You exalt yours, and I will exalt mine. Within the<\/p>\n<p>region Jamaica stands out as the closest example of a country with a bitter<\/p>\n<p>past that has dealt with the issue of &#8220;my hero&#8221; &#8220;your<\/p>\n<p>hero&#8221; successfully. Perhaps we may wish to look there for good example. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Speaker we cannot bring healing and<\/p>\n<p>reconciliation if we do not move to the place where we honour heroes nationally<\/p>\n<p>and not in a partisan way. We are being forced and encouraged to bring<\/p>\n<p>individual motions to celebrate, venerate, and exalt our own heroes in a kind<\/p>\n<p>of one for me and one for you syndrome. Under the current system for the award<\/p>\n<p>of national honours if you&#8217;re not one of the chosen few then you have<\/p>\n<p>nothing to get. The President of Guyana is the Chancellor of the Orders of<\/p>\n<p>Guyana, and is advised by an Advisory Council which comprises the Chancellor of<\/p>\n<p>the Judiciary, four persons appointed by the President after consultation with<\/p>\n<p>the Prime Minister, one member appointed after consultation with the Leader of<\/p>\n<p>Opposition, one member by the President, and one other member who holds an O.E.<\/p>\n<p>There is little wonder why then there has been no investiture ceremony in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana for the past six years. This, for a country that calls itself a modern<\/p>\n<p>and inclusive democracy. This has to change. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In this regard the AFC recommends that the<\/p>\n<p>process of honouring of citizens of Guyana be de-politicised and that a<\/p>\n<p>non-partisan committee be established to craft new and transparent criteria,<\/p>\n<p>and to decide on the award of national honours. This committee must not operate<\/p>\n<p>like the one which arbitrarily issues national awards such as was the case when<\/p>\n<p>Shivnarine Chandrapaul was recently honoured. Quite frankly, the man deserves<\/p>\n<p>far more than an AA because what he has achieved for Guyana, and the Region, is<\/p>\n<p>vastly superior to the contribution of many in this Chamber. South Africa did<\/p>\n<p>it successfully by reforming its system of national orders to meaningfully<\/p>\n<p>embrace their new democracy, and &#8220;to reflect the spirit of a non-racial,<\/p>\n<p>non-sexist democracy where a culture of human rights prevails.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I end Mr. Speaker, not only by hailing the<\/p>\n<p>exploits and accomplishments of Forbes Burnham, but by holding out the<\/p>\n<p>expectation for a better Guyana after today. It is significant that CARIFESTA<\/p>\n<p>is to be held in Guyana in a few days time and there can be no better tribute<\/p>\n<p>to Forbes Burnham than to have a successful and glorious event that serves not<\/p>\n<p>only to showcase the talents of the Caribbean, but moreover, to fuse our<\/p>\n<p>cultures, our experiences, and our destiny. If it takes this event to bring<\/p>\n<p>closure to our bitter past then I am happy and hope that this was not an<\/p>\n<p>exercise to feather one&#8217;s ego and score points in an unending game with no<\/p>\n<p>winners, but that by tomorrow there will be a new epoch of cooperation, and<\/p>\n<p>understanding, and an end to the ignorance and the prejudice which it breeds.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps the symbolism of the bridging of two of Guyana&#8217;s rivers will not<\/p>\n<p>be lost as we reach out not just to river banks, but to each other. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-8-24: AFC Column-When<\/p>\n<p>Ministers are not held responsible, expect a static democracy BY KHEMRAJ RAMJATTAN<\/p>\n<p>\/ Chairman of AFC <\/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'>No matter how exhaustive and well formulated<\/p>\n<p>the constitutional provisions in a democracy are, that democracy will suffer<\/p>\n<p>irreparably when there is not an understanding by its political actors that<\/p>\n<p>there is something called unwritten conventions, which bolster and buttress<\/p>\n<p>such written provisions, and which ought to be adhered to so as to create<\/p>\n<p>confidence and efficacy to the system. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Political actors who master only the art of<\/p>\n<p>democratic centralism and party paramountcy will perhaps hardly know anything<\/p>\n<p>about the convention of ministerial responsibility. Nor will they ever care to<\/p>\n<p>know. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>From all appearances, it is either the<\/p>\n<p>absolute ignorance of this convention, or an unabashed arrogance towards it,<\/p>\n<p>which may be the reason why thus far into the Jagdeo Administration there has<\/p>\n<p>not been a sacking of or a resignation by any Minister, despite instances of<\/p>\n<p>Ministerial misconduct which ranges from the boldly bawdy to the<\/p>\n<p>incomprehensibly incompetent. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>All those Ministers, falling within this<\/p>\n<p>range, are very close friends and colleagues of mine. But they are well aware<\/p>\n<p>that I will be a severe critic when criticism is necessary, and involve matters<\/p>\n<p>of principle &#8211; especially principles which touch and concern the rule of<\/p>\n<p>law and constitutional propriety. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To criticise for such reason does not mean to<\/p>\n<p>hate or to have a political agenda, as is so often mischievously<\/p>\n<p>misinterpreted. It is simply for the sake of our country, for our fledgling<\/p>\n<p>democracy. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The convention of individual ministerial responsibility<\/p>\n<p>fixes blame on a Minister for all failure of policy and administration whether<\/p>\n<p>the Minister himself is at fault or not, or if the failure resulted from<\/p>\n<p>departmental maladministration. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In other words, a Minister must take the<\/p>\n<p>praise for the successes of his department and the blame for its failures. This<\/p>\n<p>is responsible Ministerial government which we must strive to perfect, or come<\/p>\n<p>close to. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Now when the blame is grave enough, being<\/p>\n<p>directly as a result of an error or misjudgement or wanton unlawful conduct on<\/p>\n<p>the part of the Minister, such an errant Minister must be fired by the<\/p>\n<p>President or tender his resignation voluntarily. Otherwise, the entire system<\/p>\n<p>becomes undermined; and a dangerous precedent set. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>President Jagdeo was the beneficiary of the<\/p>\n<p>status of Senior Minister of Finance in 1994 when the then Minister of Finance,<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Asgar Ally, resigned suddenly and in some stealth for (what was speculated<\/p>\n<p>at the time) committing an act which in the eyes of Dr. Jagan ought not to have<\/p>\n<p>been committed. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So President Jagdeo must be aware of this<\/p>\n<p>convention and the consequences for serious contraventions thereof. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Recently there have been instances of grave<\/p>\n<p>maladministration which in any decent democracy would have resulted in firings<\/p>\n<p>by the Head of Government or resignations from the Ministers themselves. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But this democracy is not now decent; that<\/p>\n<p>died with Jagan. This indecency has realized a democratic rollback. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Evidence of these instances is in the Auditor<\/p>\n<p>General&#8217;s latest report. The abject poverty in the quality of management<\/p>\n<p>of our financial affairs within the various Ministries is simply unimaginable! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Unreconciled bank accounts, overpayment to<\/p>\n<p>contractors, non-compliance of stores regulations, complete reversals in<\/p>\n<p>procurement processes and failure to adhere to Tender Board regulations<\/p>\n<p>constitute only a small fraction of the list of irregularities. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Minister of Health admits that his<\/p>\n<p>Ministry breached tender procedures and regulations in procuring almost $1B of<\/p>\n<p>medical supplies from the New GPC. Not even a wrap on the wrist. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Why? Because as we now know the President<\/p>\n<p>approved it himself! &#8220;There is a 2003 no-objection Cabinet<\/p>\n<p>approval&#8221;, is his justification. Why then should we have laws if they are<\/p>\n<p>going to be bent and broken in this fashion? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And even when there are no laws under which<\/p>\n<p>tax holidays and concessions could be granted, the Minister of Finance makes<\/p>\n<p>his grant to QAII &#8211; speculatively worth in excess of $3B &#8211; only to have<\/p>\n<p>to rush back to Parliament to pass a law to legalise this illegality! No one is<\/p>\n<p>held accountable for this fiasco. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Neither is there that national outrage which<\/p>\n<p>ought to be exhibited by our right-thinking members in society; nor even within<\/p>\n<p>the backbenches of the Government. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I recollected that a man found himself in the<\/p>\n<p>Queen&#8217;s bedroom some decades ago. The U.K. Minister in charge duly and<\/p>\n<p>with a certain ring of honour and dignity resigned, because somebody has to be<\/p>\n<p>responsible. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This may have been an extreme instance of<\/p>\n<p>individual ministerial responsibility; but it emphasizes the political culture.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I can boast that even whilst a member of the<\/p>\n<p>PPP when I noticed grave errors and misjudgements of my own Ministers, I<\/p>\n<p>fearlessly spoke out. I remember all too clearly a biting commentary against<\/p>\n<p>Minster Feroze Mohamed in 1994. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Instead of a rectification of the problem,<\/p>\n<p>establishing civilian oversight of our Police Force then under the stewardship<\/p>\n<p>of Laurie Lewis, disciplinary proceedings were instituted against me by the<\/p>\n<p>PPP&#8217;s internal inquisition. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>My plea to Dr. Jagan may have relieved me of<\/p>\n<p>serious party penalties&#8230;.to the displeasure of Luncheon, Reepu, and Nokta<\/p>\n<p>who wanted to sit in judgement. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Another more infamous instance in which the<\/p>\n<p>call was made that this convention of ministerial responsibility applies, was<\/p>\n<p>in relation to the &#8220;Gajraj issue&#8221; where I publicly dissented on the<\/p>\n<p>issue of this Minister&#8217;s re-instatement in a piece titled &#8220;The<\/p>\n<p>shame is greater than the exoneration&#8221;. Though I have lost friends in<\/p>\n<p>doing as I did, I have had no regrets because it was the right thing to do. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Ministerial responsibility as a convention<\/p>\n<p>was never nurtured in our abnormal politics. And this is the other unmitigated<\/p>\n<p>disaster of this country. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We have an opposition, PNC, which hardly has<\/p>\n<p>left any moral authority, or winsome appeal on grounds of integrity and<\/p>\n<p>credibility to criticise the PPP\/C. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>All this Government has to rebut with is:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You did similarly, and you did it even worse. You did not even allow<\/p>\n<p>Auditor General&#8217;s Reports.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Though formidable for partisan propaganda purposes,<\/p>\n<p>this is just not legitimate. Guyana&#8217;s fragile democracy and its<\/p>\n<p>undeveloped political culture will never see forward movement if arguments like<\/p>\n<p>these continue to be advocated by these parties which have brought us here. An<\/p>\n<p>alliance with and for change is the only way forward! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-8-31: AFC Column<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Everyday the goodness of people around the world is recorded in some way<\/p>\n<p>or another&#8221; by 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'>Everyday the goodness of people around the<\/p>\n<p>world is recorded in some way or another. As the events of the Democratic<\/p>\n<p>National Convention taking place in the USA unfolds this week the world looks<\/p>\n<p>on mesmerised by the capacity of the American people to embrace change from the<\/p>\n<p>bottom up. The courage being displayed by white Democrats in electing Barack Obama<\/p>\n<p>the first black American as leader of the Democratic Party and their candidate<\/p>\n<p>for President of the most powerful country of the world is what will restore<\/p>\n<p>America&#8217;s leadership on the world stage. Are the Guyanese people capable<\/p>\n<p>of doing the same, rising above their racial fears to look to the future with<\/p>\n<p>new leaders of integrity and hope for a better Guyana? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>With the Guyanese people experiencing<\/p>\n<p>political fatigue and disappointment in the way things have turned out<\/p>\n<p>generally under successive PPPC governments and indeed over the last five<\/p>\n<p>decades it is easy to overlook the fact that we too have our share of goodness<\/p>\n<p>as a people. Distrust, deceit, disappointment, dishonesty and anger dominate<\/p>\n<p>our political exchanges which have seen the country mired in social and<\/p>\n<p>political instability and economic stagnation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Some analysis, have determined that there is<\/p>\n<p>benefit to be derived from the race-based politics of Guyana. Take for example<\/p>\n<p>the comments made by Donald Ramotar, MP and General Secretary of the People&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) recently at their biannual congress about the<\/p>\n<p>AFC. It is no accident that he sought to position AFC leader Raphael Trotman,<\/p>\n<p>MP as he did &#8211; having something to do with violence somewhere at sometime &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>thereby attempting to paint him with the brush that best emits fear, which the<\/p>\n<p>PPPC has used as a tool rather successfully in retaining their East Indian<\/p>\n<p>support base. Why else would he do this if his objective was nation building<\/p>\n<p>and the attainment of peace and harmony among our people? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Whether our religious beliefs are Christian,<\/p>\n<p>Hindu or Muslim we are required to practice the proactive &#8216;Golden<\/p>\n<p>Rule&#8217; which the principals of the AFC embrace. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=85<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1033&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_39.jpg&#8221;>Christianity tells us in<\/p>\n<p>Matthew 7: V 12, &#8220;Whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to<\/p>\n<p>them&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Hinduism tells us in Mahabharata, Anusasana<\/p>\n<p>Pava 113: 8, &#8220;One should not behave towards others <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>in a way which is disagreeable to oneself.<\/p>\n<p>This is the essence of morality. All other activity is due <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>to self desire.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Islam teachings tell us, &#8220;Not one of<\/p>\n<p>you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>for himself&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The fact that our country is where it is<\/p>\n<p>today &#8211; in the doldrums -is testimony that collectively Guyanese have<\/p>\n<p>disregarded these crucial principles of reciprocity. Therefore, collectively we<\/p>\n<p>all have to strive to turn things around by bringing out the goodness that is<\/p>\n<p>within the Guyanese ethos. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Without exception every political party in<\/p>\n<p>and out of the National Assembly has claimed to have as their objective peace<\/p>\n<p>and harmony among our people and national development for all; yet there has<\/p>\n<p>been little evidence that we&#8217;re any closer to achieving these laudable<\/p>\n<p>objectives. Instead the political rhetoric on both the governing and opposition<\/p>\n<p>sides has maintained a high level of stridency. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Transient calculations of the effect this has<\/p>\n<p>had on our struggling economy suggest it to be devastating to say the least.<\/p>\n<p>Examples are there for all to see in the large numbers who are unemployed, our<\/p>\n<p>graduates, expertise and artisans who are leaving at an accelerating rate even<\/p>\n<p>though they are likely to be exposed to xenophobia for seeking to thrive in<\/p>\n<p>another man&#8217;s land. Are we prepared to do what it takes to turn things<\/p>\n<p>around and provide for our people at home? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Unlike many of our compatriots it is the<\/p>\n<p>belief of the members and principals of the AFC that the ability to change the<\/p>\n<p>current hostile political status quo exists among sufficient numbers of the<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese people. So, despite the insults and hostilities directed at us for<\/p>\n<p>choosing such a path the AFC maintains its message of change, healing and<\/p>\n<p>reconciliation that neither of the parties that governed the country over the<\/p>\n<p>last fifty years is willing to advance in order to create an enabling political<\/p>\n<p>environment upon which progress depends. We in the AFC base our choice of<\/p>\n<p>methodology on the amazing human capacity for goodness that resides<\/p>\n<p>instinctively in the conscience of our people and reinforced by the power of<\/p>\n<p>the teachings of Christianity, Hinduism and Islam.that is the basis of our<\/p>\n<p>hope. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>28<sup>th<\/sup> August 2008 <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-9-7: AFC Column &#8211;<\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;>TIME TO RE-FOCUS by Raphael Trotman <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Now that the hype and revelry of Carifesta<\/p>\n<p>and the Beijing Olympics are over we need to re-focus our attention to the<\/p>\n<p>numerous problems and issues which continue to beset out nation. Carifesta<\/p>\n<p>provided a much needed refrain and distraction from the stress and hopelessness<\/p>\n<p>that accompanies day-to-day life in Guyana. Undoubtedly, Carifesta was a<\/p>\n<p>fantastic and profoundly significant event and the Guyanese people must be<\/p>\n<p>commended for their unprecedented support for the numerous activities which<\/p>\n<p>ensued, and for playing such gracious hosts to our Caribbean brothers and<\/p>\n<p>sisters and those from further afield. I would be remiss if I failed to<\/p>\n<p>acknowledge the efforts of the legion of organizers and coordinators, led by<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Paloma Mohamed, who made us feel proud. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC had taken the obvious decision not to<\/p>\n<p>call for a boycott of Carifesta because it accepted that the impact of this<\/p>\n<p>event was beyond the geographical parameters of Guyana, and moreover that<\/p>\n<p>Carifesta, was not just about music, dance, and drama, but just as importantly,<\/p>\n<p>about the advancement of the diverse and evolving concept that we call<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Caribbean Culture&#8221;. The majority of the people of Guyana<\/p>\n<p>recognised this. Ultimately, the art of politics is about the ability to read the<\/p>\n<p>mood of the people; about seeing the direction in which they are headed; and<\/p>\n<p>about keeping apace with them. We chose to go with the people. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Despite recent successes the national<\/p>\n<p>security situation remains tenuous and the AFC is particularly concerned about<\/p>\n<p>the government&#8217;s preoccupation with the operational side of security<\/p>\n<p>management; which preoccupation is being done at the expense of addressing the<\/p>\n<p>fundamental weaknesses, flaws, fissures remaining in our society. It is these,<\/p>\n<p>and the prolonged failure to confront them, that spawn cycles and waves of<\/p>\n<p>violent crime every few years. In this regard, the thesis put forward by Tacuma<\/p>\n<p>Ogunseye, and others, about the fight of freedom fighters involved in a<\/p>\n<p>political struggle cannot be ignored even if a few dead bodies are stacked up<\/p>\n<p>every now and then. These are the so called &#8220;root causes&#8221; that have<\/p>\n<p>to be identified as a priority and tackled nationally by all stakeholders. It<\/p>\n<p>was disappointing to say the least that after the encouraging commencement made<\/p>\n<p>at the Stakeholders Consultation at the Office of the President earlier in the<\/p>\n<p>year that the PPP reverted to its old ways by castigating the opposition<\/p>\n<p>parties, the media, and other members of civil society, as being supportive of<\/p>\n<p>criminality in Guyana. This in itself is laughable when we recall what Roger<\/p>\n<p>Khan has been saying about what he did for them, but when viewed seriously, and<\/p>\n<p>in the context of what has been happening within the past few months, show a<\/p>\n<p>clear and definite plan to turn Guyana into a police state. These statements<\/p>\n<p>and actions which seek to demonise and ignore those who voice opposition are<\/p>\n<p>deliberately intended to reinforce the pall of fear, and to prevent the healing<\/p>\n<p>and reconciliation which the people of our country so desperately need. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the past months we have seen a of refusal<\/p>\n<p>to address the issue of the Lindo Creek massacre, the refusal to publish the<\/p>\n<p>report on allegations of torture by the security forces, the deaths of<\/p>\n<p>prisoners in the state&#8217;s custody Edwin Niles and Nolan Noble, the<\/p>\n<p>introduction of autocratic laws which will give the state the right of appeal<\/p>\n<p>in criminal matters (thus breaking the sacred and sacrosanct function of trial<\/p>\n<p>by a jury of one&#8217;s peers), and the ability to nefariously eavesdrop on<\/p>\n<p>private conversations of citizens, the refusal to respect a decision of the<\/p>\n<p>Chief Magistrate (ag) in granting Oliver Hinckson bail, the attempts to<\/p>\n<p>decimate the free press, and most recently, the staunch refusal to address the<\/p>\n<p>unhealthy issue of the functioning of the substantive Chief Magistrate Mrs.<\/p>\n<p>Juliet Holder-Allen. When viewed individually, or cumulatively, the intent to<\/p>\n<p>re-write democratic norms and principles is evident, and I daresay frightening.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There are those in power who are not<\/p>\n<p>interested in settling the real issues of Guyana. The real interest lies in<\/p>\n<p>dominance at every level of society. A dominance which is established by<\/p>\n<p>driving fear into people&#8217;s hearts and minds. The Guyanese must be weary<\/p>\n<p>of gimmicks and fluff which is meant to create the impression that all is well<\/p>\n<p>and we are all one happy people. Today, as I write, the issue of the Economic<\/p>\n<p>Partnership Agreement is being ventilated at the Convention Centre.<\/p>\n<p>Consultations are good, but at this rate, represent an almost futile attempt to<\/p>\n<p>bolt the stable door after the horse has fled. My bet is that despite the noise<\/p>\n<p>being made that the President will sign the agreement. It is not that he has<\/p>\n<p>many other options, but there is an element of doubt being created to suggest<\/p>\n<p>that Guyana will not be a signatory to the agreement. Again, we are engaged in<\/p>\n<p>another distracting exercise. In an email sent to me recently the following<\/p>\n<p>truism was expressed: &#8220;If you had to identify, in one word, the reason<\/p>\n<p>why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential,<\/p>\n<p>that word would be &quot;meetings.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>When all the consultations are over with the<\/p>\n<p>real issues still have to be confronted. That tens of millions were spent on<\/p>\n<p>Carifesta preparations and events, and yet little Tanesha De Souza from Santa<\/p>\n<p>Rosa could fall into a pit latrine and die on her first day of school tells us<\/p>\n<p>that what we are being told is good and effective governance is really a sham<\/p>\n<p>that has to be exposed for what it is. The government should be ashamed that<\/p>\n<p>the commencement of the Amerindian Heritage celebrations were heralded by a<\/p>\n<p>series of deaths firstly of this child, and then by the fiery and horrible<\/p>\n<p>deaths of three students at the Waramadong who were housed in a dormitory<\/p>\n<p>without electricity. Government propaganda tells us that every Amerindian<\/p>\n<p>community is well taken care of and all modern facilities are provided; better<\/p>\n<p>than ever before in history. Prove that you are upholding the heritage of our<\/p>\n<p>indigenous brothers and sisters by protecting the little ones from fire, from<\/p>\n<p>pit latrines; and from unscrupulous persons who rob them of their innocence<\/p>\n<p>every day. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Lastly, I have observed the rhetoric growing<\/p>\n<p>over Local Government elections. The government is again trying to create<\/p>\n<p>another distraction to take our minds away from the madness that Guyana has<\/p>\n<p>become by pretending that we are moving into a state of readiness. The AFC<\/p>\n<p>maintains its position that we reserve the right to challenge and impugn the<\/p>\n<p>List of Electors for any future elections because we were deliberately shut out<\/p>\n<p>by the machinations of those who now fight over misspent money and improper<\/p>\n<p>processes. The more things change in Guyana the more they remain the same. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We cannot proceed to have local government<\/p>\n<p>and national elections in the future unless we have fundamental and far-reaching<\/p>\n<p>reforms of our electoral and political systems. The manner in which we organize<\/p>\n<p>and manage the State of Guyana has to be transformed from the bottom up. We<\/p>\n<p>cannot demand and expect executive power-sharing at Cabinet level if the local<\/p>\n<p>government system is broken and still allows a Minister of Government, and not<\/p>\n<p>the village elders, to determine whether a bridge is to be built over a village<\/p>\n<p>canal. The power of choice and decision making has to be restored to the people<\/p>\n<p>at their level. Proceeding to hold these elections with no reforms is a recipe<\/p>\n<p>for disaster and catastrophe. Similarly, if we proceed to pass a few laws and<\/p>\n<p>take no time to have the people understand what they really mean, we will end<\/p>\n<p>up just as we did after the Constitution Reform process ended, with a raft of<\/p>\n<p>enacted reforms which are observed by no one; and the people who were to have<\/p>\n<p>benefited, are left holding the nasty end of the stick once again. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The other parties have refused to have the<\/p>\n<p>AFC and GAP-ROAR participate in the Local Government Reform Committee and we<\/p>\n<p>warn the Guyanese people that whatever is hatched behind closed doors does not<\/p>\n<p>have to be accepted by them. We are demanding accountability, transparency, and<\/p>\n<p>inclusivity. After all, Article 13 of the Constitution says that it must be so.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-9-21: AFC Column<\/p>\n<p>-Voices of its Principles- &#8220;Our Society Has Become Numb&#8221; by Sheila<\/p>\n<p>Holder <\/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'>Tolerance Levels <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It has struck me that as a people we are<\/p>\n<p>behaving very much like the laboratory frog in the experiment in which<\/p>\n<p>scientists placed a frog in water that they heated up slowly until it reached<\/p>\n<p>boiling point. Amazingly, the frog became so acclimatized to the rising<\/p>\n<p>temperature it became unaware of the growing danger as it stood comfortably in<\/p>\n<p>the water that killed it. This is the scenario Guyanese seem to find themselves<\/p>\n<p>in and, as a result, many have lost sight of the substance of what a free and<\/p>\n<p>democratic people would consider to be the keys to successful living. Take for<\/p>\n<p>instance the revelations about the VAT rate made by Christopher Ram on July 15<\/p>\n<p>last to wit, that a very senior political functionary had confided in him that<\/p>\n<p>the Government had discovered a significant error in the computation of the<\/p>\n<p>rate of the VAT resulting in it being higher than it should have been. So numb<\/p>\n<p>has the society become that virtually nothing has been done about this amazing<\/p>\n<p>revelation by a people who had been clamouring for a reduction in the VAT rate<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; a people for whom the IMF Board in their 2007 Article IV consultations with<\/p>\n<p>Government called for, &#8220;well-targeted assistance to the poor to achieve<\/p>\n<p>faster progress toward the Millennium Development Goals.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>People&#8217;s Spending Ability Very Low <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So preoccupied are the majority of our people<\/p>\n<p>in eking out a living or keeping their heads above water in (legitimate)<\/p>\n<p>businesses and trying to avoid courting the wrath of &#8216;El<\/p>\n<p>Pr&eacute;sidente&#8217;, that little or no time has been speared to<\/p>\n<p>contemplate that behind most of Guyana&#8217;s economic woes is an economy that<\/p>\n<p>had stopped dead in its tracks since 1998 after hundreds of millions of dollars<\/p>\n<p>had been pumped into it by the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) over<\/p>\n<p>the period. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Stagnation of the Local Economy being<\/p>\n<p>Ignored <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>When compared with other countries in the<\/p>\n<p>region, the primary conclusion being drawn by the IFIs about Guyana&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>economic stagnation is the substantial decline in the share of net foreign and<\/p>\n<p>private domestic investment we&#8217;ve been able to attract, a decline in our<\/p>\n<p>labour force and an unstable political and industrial environment. Yet, little<\/p>\n<p>or no effort is being made by the Jagdeo administration to attain some level of<\/p>\n<p>rapprochement with parliamentary opposition parties and the labour movement,<\/p>\n<p>address the constant exodus of large numbers of skilled Guyanese or, indeed,<\/p>\n<p>come to grips with the skyrocketing unemployment rate confronting the country,<\/p>\n<p>which no doubt is fuelling crime at unprecedented levels and people&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>concerns about their physical security. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Among the other matters, the IMF in its 2007<\/p>\n<p>Article IV Board consultations noted was that, &#8220;macroeconomic stability<\/p>\n<p>and growth are key to ameliorating poverty&#8221; and urged Government in their<\/p>\n<p>usual paternalistic style, to address the high cost of electricity, develop a<\/p>\n<p>reform programme for the NIS, improve governance while noting that domestic and<\/p>\n<p>external imbalances remain large and that the economy continues to be<\/p>\n<p>vulnerable to shocks. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trust in our Justice System Low <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As if adding insult to injury, we have to<\/p>\n<p>operate with a government that doles out largesse to a select few; a legal system<\/p>\n<p>that cries out for justice to be dispensed equitably and fairly <b><i>(two<\/p>\n<p>years after filing an elections petition, the PM continues to squat on the AFC<\/p>\n<p>Region No. 10 parliamentary seat that GECOM&#8217;s Statements of Poll say that<\/p>\n<p>we won); <\/i><\/b>corruption that has reached alarming levels while the<\/p>\n<p>state&#8217;s revenue machinery is being shamelessly misused to harass opposing<\/p>\n<p>voices &#8211; to list a few of the predicaments we face politically. At the<\/p>\n<p>bottom of it all is a populace that has opted out of an intractable political<\/p>\n<p>situation even as their personal social and economic situation deteriorates. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>People must be more Civic-minded <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But of similar concern to the society also<\/p>\n<p>must be the glaring signs of apparent indifference, ineffectiveness, sloth,<\/p>\n<p>outright failure of many functionaries operating outside of the ambit of<\/p>\n<p>government; the signs that citizens are falling short on their duty and<\/p>\n<p>responsibilities to family, community, country and their places of work. Take<\/p>\n<p>for instance the fact that for the last three years residents living around the<\/p>\n<p>Mandela dump site have been crying out in vain against the deleterious effect<\/p>\n<p>of obnoxious and suffocating fumes emanating from that site. Look at the piles<\/p>\n<p>of garbage that are an eye sore building up again now that Carifesta has ended,<\/p>\n<p>which citizens must be held accountable for in and around our schools, canals,<\/p>\n<p>places of business, roads, sea wall, public parapets, the lewd and loud music<\/p>\n<p>that continue to bellow from mini busses even after legislation has been passed<\/p>\n<p>prohibiting this. Worthy of special mention is the disgraceful sight left<\/p>\n<p>behind on the seawall following the weekend recreational activities enjoyed by<\/p>\n<p>thousands of citizens. Shame on the adults who don&#8217;t get it that it is<\/p>\n<p>their duty to dispose of their garbage properly and not drop it on the seawall<\/p>\n<p>grass parapet to be picked up by City Council workers next day! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Misuse of State Media Continues <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It now seems clear that it will only be after<\/p>\n<p>the PPP government is removed from office that the state media will be used<\/p>\n<p>more responsibly to educate citizens on such matters and make them aware of<\/p>\n<p>what democracy entails rather than provide Guyanese with incessant doses of<\/p>\n<p>propaganda and over exposure of governing political personalities. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>AFC Aims to Rebuild Trust in Politics<\/p>\n<p>&amp; Politicians <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Next month end will be three years since the<\/p>\n<p>AFC was launched with its raison d&#8217;&ecirc;tre and rallying cry one of &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;change&#8217;. We recognized since then that any paradigm shift that<\/p>\n<p>would lead to the kinds of socio\/eco\/political changes desirable in our<\/p>\n<p>circumstances would have to be principled centred in the way we participate<\/p>\n<p>politically, based on truth and courage; and fuelled by the people themselves.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Change is inevitable. Change is constant&#8217;, Benjamin Disraeli informed<\/p>\n<p>us. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:#0031FF'>2008-9-28: AFC Column &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>WHAT IS JUSTICE? by Raphael Trotman, MP <\/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 last I sat amongst a small<\/p>\n<p>gathering of family and friends as my father launched his book aptly entitled<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Waiting For Justice&#8221;. Apt, because at this time in Guyana, the<\/p>\n<p>Region, and wider world, justice is becoming a rare and precious commodity that<\/p>\n<p>is escaping the grasp of the poor in particular. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As I sat in the room listening to<\/p>\n<p>distinguished panelists extolling the virtues of rights and justice I found<\/p>\n<p>myself asking the question &#8220;What is justice?&#8221; I had not long ago<\/p>\n<p>had an interesting, and if I may add distressing, excursion into the<\/p>\n<p>Magistrates&#8217; Courts of Guyana. Having become engrossed in the politics of<\/p>\n<p>the day I find myself less in court than I would want to be and perhaps it has<\/p>\n<p>helped me to be insulated from the travails of those who go to court seeking<\/p>\n<p>justice and still waiting for it, but on the other hand has hidden from my eyes<\/p>\n<p>the many injustices that ordinary men and women endure daily. I am bemused at<\/p>\n<p>what passes for justice on a daily basis. Persons who should never be charged<\/p>\n<p>are hauled before the courts and punished with severe bail amounts and remands<\/p>\n<p>and those who should be locked away whisper somewhere and are let go. I am told<\/p>\n<p>of a case where a youth stole a bicycle and perhaps had a change of heart and<\/p>\n<p>returned it to its owner. Yet this youth was taken before the court and<\/p>\n<p>sentenced to four years imprisonment. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>My father as a human rights activist has<\/p>\n<p>spent his life criss-crossing the globe helping ordinary people, governments<\/p>\n<p>and to find justice. I, when I chose law as a career imagined that with each<\/p>\n<p>passing year at the bar, I would see in my lifetime less people accessing the<\/p>\n<p>courts&#8217; corridors because we would evolve into a more civilized and<\/p>\n<p>rights based society. This has not turned out to be what I expected. Over the<\/p>\n<p>years rights and freedoms are less respected than when I was first called to<\/p>\n<p>the bar. Most recently, I. have seen legislation introduced that gives the<\/p>\n<p>Director of Public Prosecutions the right to appeal a jury&#8217;s acquittal of<\/p>\n<p>an accused person. This I described in Parliament as the greatest abomination<\/p>\n<p>of my time both as a lawyer and as a parliamentarian because it undermines the<\/p>\n<p>very core of our justice system which presumes a person innocent and to be<\/p>\n<p>protected from the abuses of the state. Nowhere else in the so-called free<\/p>\n<p>world could I find anything similar. What is frightening is that this power can<\/p>\n<p>be abused. Because we are not all saints, such power should never be placed in<\/p>\n<p>the hands of any one person. Thus is why a jury of twelve peers should<\/p>\n<p>determine guilt or innocence and that determination should be final. It is<\/p>\n<p>always better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As we make quantum leaps into the arms of<\/p>\n<p>globalization, democracy, and modernity, we would expect that more people would<\/p>\n<p>be better off today and their rights respected even without them having to go<\/p>\n<p>to court to protect seeking to protect them. In Guyana, we have a Constitution<\/p>\n<p>that enshrines individual rights and freedoms, but too many people, more than<\/p>\n<p>ever before in the history of Guyana, are approaching the High Court seeking<\/p>\n<p>relief and protection for some violation or the other. As I see it those who<\/p>\n<p>are not running to court for relief are being dragged there for every minor<\/p>\n<p>transgression imaginable. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is now money and power that buy justice in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana. People can literally commit murder and walk away without being charged<\/p>\n<p>at all while the man with 3 grams of marijuana has to languish in prison for three<\/p>\n<p>years; leaving behind his wife and children to be preyed upon by sycophants.<\/p>\n<p>Why should this man who is without might and strength be jailed and even<\/p>\n<p>possibly lose his life from disease or assault whilst the man with connections<\/p>\n<p>walks free to sin again? Edwin Niles was such a person who was convicted of<\/p>\n<p>being in possession of marijuana, was paying his debt to society, but never<\/p>\n<p>lived to walk through the prison gate as a free man. Next year I plan to seek a<\/p>\n<p>review of the draconian law that severely punishes persons for having small<\/p>\n<p>amounts of marijuana in their possession. It is too draconian a law and is out<\/p>\n<p>of sync with society. In fact, the law in itself is destroying more families,<\/p>\n<p>and ultimately our society, by sending fathers to jail when they could pay<\/p>\n<p>their debt in a less harsh way. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As I left the court last week I came across a<\/p>\n<p>group of women calling on the Almighty to intervene and &#8220;deliver&#8221; a<\/p>\n<p>certain Magistrate from insanity because the bail that had been granted to<\/p>\n<p>their sons was in an amount that no poor struggling family could ever afford.<\/p>\n<p>For them this was as good as a sentence to prison. It is their lamentations<\/p>\n<p>that set me thinking about this protean concept we call &#8220;justice&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>I think of Leonard Arokium who continues to dwell in the dark as to what force<\/p>\n<p>of evil killed his son and workmen at Lindo Creek, and of the very Learned<\/p>\n<p>Magistrate whose hallowed Chambers were recently searched by police ranks and<\/p>\n<p>wonder what justice is there for them and many, many others like them who have<\/p>\n<p>no hope of justice. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Every society should have justice standing<\/p>\n<p>straight and tall as its beacon. The justice system, which includes, the police<\/p>\n<p>and prison services should work in tandem, to produce a safe and orderly<\/p>\n<p>society. In Guyana today the pre-occupation of the day is with guns and bullets<\/p>\n<p>and on little else. Without laws which are enforceable, and enforceable blindly<\/p>\n<p>and equally, there is no society. This is why Guyana despite all the<\/p>\n<p>decorations and adornments that are put up to make it appear pretty and palatable<\/p>\n<p>will continue to be rated the second most corrupt state in the hemisphere.<\/p>\n<p>Money, power and political influence have now contaminated and corrupted almost<\/p>\n<p>every facet of our society; if not all. We pretend to have justice here but too<\/p>\n<p>many, and invariably, only the poor are shut out completely. My comments are<\/p>\n<p>not meant to chastise those who administer justice in Guyana but to speak on a<\/p>\n<p>matter that is on every one&#8217;s lips. As Lord Atkin stated in Ambard<\/p>\n<p>&#8211;vs-the Attorney General of Trinidad &amp; Tobago &#8220;Justice is not a<\/p>\n<p>cloistered virtue, she must be allowed to suffer the scrutiny and respectful,<\/p>\n<p>even though outspoken, comments of ordinary men.&#8221; If people lose a sense<\/p>\n<p>that there is no justice for them of that there is one system for some and<\/p>\n<p>another for them, they will resort to other means to gain attention and to<\/p>\n<p>settle their disputes. This is what we see every time a person arms himself<\/p>\n<p>with an AK-47 and what we are beginning to hear in the lyrics of the resistance<\/p>\n<p>music that is now standard. Unfortunately, these realities are unknown or<\/p>\n<p>forgotten by the present administration and it is becoming nigh near impossible<\/p>\n<p>to convince them otherwise. The job of the next government has to be to restore<\/p>\n<p>order and the rule of law in Guyana as priority number one. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-10-5: AFC Column &#8211; IS<\/p>\n<p>IT SCRUTINY YOUR CASE AGAINST SIGNING THE EPA, MR. PRESIDENT? By Khemraj<\/p>\n<p>Ramjattan, AFC Chairman <\/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'>Guyana Government&#8217;s sudden hesitation<\/p>\n<p>to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union is<\/p>\n<p>evidence that it does not appreciate the need to change gears to meet the<\/p>\n<p>current changing conditions of the world&#8217;s economic and trading<\/p>\n<p>realities. It smacks of a great na&iuml;vete which will lead to our isolation<\/p>\n<p>in a liberalized, globalised world. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The effects of this eleventh hour<\/p>\n<p>vacillation, when just under a year ago the Agreement was initialed by our<\/p>\n<p>Government, has caused <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>most in the Caribbean to laugh at us.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to some senior diplomats and some concerned Guyanese recently, the<\/p>\n<p>message was clear that our President&#8217;s approach to this EPA is exactly<\/p>\n<p>like Minister Baksh&#8217;s approach to the AFC&#8217;s donation of toilet<\/p>\n<p>bowls to the PTA of Santa Rosa Mission School &#8211; an exhibition of a pit<\/p>\n<p>latrine mentality, pure and simple! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This Government which comes from a Party that<\/p>\n<p>espouses a centralised, Leninist approach must know that international capital<\/p>\n<p>has <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>become increasingly footloose and will go to<\/p>\n<p>countries where it can make the highest rate of return. And in doing so, such<\/p>\n<p>capital will cause nation-states to lower their regulatory standards &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>such as labour conditions and wages, environmental thresholds, taxation levels<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; so as to attract such capital. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We have literally lived this experience in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana. Just consider the cases of Barama and Omai. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To neutralize the effect of this kind of<\/p>\n<p>capital can only come from the creation and generation of capital from within<\/p>\n<p>Guyana itself &#8211; a sort of local patriotic capital. However, that must<\/p>\n<p>mean the creation and generation of local capitalists. And capitalists,<\/p>\n<p>excepting for the favoured few who are given <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>the &#8220;Sanata treatment&#8221;, are not a<\/p>\n<p>good thing for the longevity of the PPP\/C. Independence of pocket is created by<\/p>\n<p>the generation of wealth, and this leads generally to independence of mind. And<\/p>\n<p>as we all know from the school of life, independence of mind inexorably leads<\/p>\n<p>to a questioning of the status quo. This PPP\/C Government prefers that no one<\/p>\n<p>questions its status quo. Notice how it is the only Government, out of 180,<\/p>\n<p>which cried foul <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>when Transparency International reported that<\/p>\n<p>Guyana is one of the most corrupt countries in the world! Notice, too, how<\/p>\n<p>independent minds, like Mr. Yesu Persaud, are put down as ignoramuses when they<\/p>\n<p>dare voice their concerns! But this hard choice of wanting a continuation of<\/p>\n<p>the existing power structure, and yet desiring a greater wealth of the nation,<\/p>\n<p>is <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>putting a great strain on our President and<\/p>\n<p>Government. His option at the moment it seems is to continue the existing<\/p>\n<p>status quo. &#8220;Let the other 14 countries of the Caribbean go their way. I<\/p>\n<p>will go mine. I will never allow my sovereignty to be trampled upon by the EPA<\/p>\n<p>and its regulatory framework,&#8221; is his determined <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>stance. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The point is that Guyana must start meeting<\/p>\n<p>and dealing with a globalised world. Recoiling into our shell, like a turtle,<\/p>\n<p>will never create the condition for our evolution from our primitive economic<\/p>\n<p>state. We are all affected now, or soon will be, by labour standards fixed by<\/p>\n<p>ILO, Environmental regulations agreed to in treaties, Consumer <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Health and Safety standards, international<\/p>\n<p>competition policy, intellectual property rights, and so many other<\/p>\n<p>extra-territorial issues, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>like all other countries. Hence, the<\/p>\n<p>regulation of our economy like that of the global economy is intrinsically<\/p>\n<p>important. Markets rely on rules, customs, and institutions to function<\/p>\n<p>properly. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And so there is need that these rules and<\/p>\n<p>institutions work efficiently. To shun away from these rules will mean our<\/p>\n<p>demise. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The EPA is undoubtedly a reaching out towards<\/p>\n<p>establishing a trade and developmental partnership with probably the most<\/p>\n<p>economically powerful trading bloc in the world, and which will promote our<\/p>\n<p>gradual integration into the world economy. My reading of this EPA, (and I will<\/p>\n<p>only refer to the Services section as distinct from the Goods section because<\/p>\n<p>it is this Services section <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>that seems to be problematic for our<\/p>\n<p>President), informs me that regional integration will be promoted through the<\/p>\n<p>very significant <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>assistance that will be given to cover our<\/p>\n<p>regional needs &#8211; a total of some 165 million Euros. The services and investment<\/p>\n<p>provisions which call for reciprocity are tempered to cater for the gradual and<\/p>\n<p>effective market opening, consistent with WTO rules, so that disadvantaged<\/p>\n<p>economies such as Guyana can be taken into account. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And this through bilateral safeguards like a<\/p>\n<p>longer transition period of implementation of measures and protection of infant<\/p>\n<p>industries. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>My reading of this section leaves me in no<\/p>\n<p>doubt that trading with Europe under an EPA regime will see the setting up of<\/p>\n<p>simplified, modernized customs procedures with a harmonised system for<\/p>\n<p>classification of products and transparency of customs legislation, together<\/p>\n<p>with clear disciplines on customs fees and valuations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I am left with the happy understanding that<\/p>\n<p>on procurement issues, the EPA seeks to support a more efficient use of public<\/p>\n<p>budgets when authorities want to buy products or services on the market. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This is promoted through the setting up of<\/p>\n<p>certain transparency rules that procuring entities should respect when<\/p>\n<p>tendering. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Now tell me, would this not improve<\/p>\n<p>accountability of public spending and prospects for economic development,<\/p>\n<p>rather than the waste and corruption our Auditor General spoke about recently? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Moreover, to service and maintain, as it<\/p>\n<p>were, the terms and provisions of this EPA machinery, to oversee the<\/p>\n<p>implementation, and to monitor whether the individual parties are adhering to<\/p>\n<p>its letter and spirit, the said Agreement provides for the establishment of<\/p>\n<p>four institutions, the functions of each being specifically stated. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I am especially delighted to see the<\/p>\n<p>Parliamentary Committee which can request information from the top body &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>the Joint Ministerial Council &#8211; and which can make recommendations to<\/p>\n<p>this Council. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Especially welcome, too, is the Consultative<\/p>\n<p>Committee, a progressive innovation reflective of an approach of inclusiveness.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This Consultative Committee is meant to<\/p>\n<p>promote dialogue with civil society and seek out a broad participation of<\/p>\n<p>stakeholders. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What all this means is that the governance<\/p>\n<p>structures of the Agreement offer great promise of hope, far more than I see in<\/p>\n<p>our national polity. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>With all this and lots more in the EPA, the<\/p>\n<p>President must sign up, or suffer the consequences of an unhappy isolation<\/p>\n<p>which will be a disaster tenfold worse than the floods of 2005! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Our President, too, must be direct and<\/p>\n<p>specific in pointing out which sections or which paragraphs or which words he<\/p>\n<p>finds offensive to his conscience, resulting in him not wanting to sign. He and<\/p>\n<p>his GINA propagandists have utterly failed in this regard. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>They must not mischievously create monsters<\/p>\n<p>in the air so as to hoodwink Guyanese into believing that the EPA is wholly<\/p>\n<p>rotten; and to divert the public&#8217;s gaze from the true motive in not wanting<\/p>\n<p>to sign up, that is, an avoidance of the scrutiny which the Agreement&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>regulatory framework demands. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-10-8: AFC\/Continental<\/p>\n<p>Cycle Club\/Max &amp; Marlis Memorial Meet&#8230;Tyrone Hamilton out sprints<\/p>\n<p>Alonzo Greaves to win feature race By Franklin Wilson <\/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 was a fitting finish to the Second Annual<\/p>\n<p>Max Pereira and Marlis Archer Memorial Race Meet, Tyrone Hamilton signaled that<\/p>\n<p>he is back to full fitness and will be a serious threat to current number one<\/p>\n<p>rider Alonzo Greaves by out sprinting Greaves by half a bicycle length to win<\/p>\n<p>the feature ten-lap race. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I&#8217;VE DONE IT!!! Tyrone Hamilton caught<\/p>\n<p>winning the Second Max Pereira and Marlis Archer Memorial Race ahead of Alonzo<\/p>\n<p>Greaves, yesterday. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The event which was sponsored by the Alliance<\/p>\n<p>for Change for the second year and organised by the Continental Cycle Club saw<\/p>\n<p>some ten events being contested on the outer circuit of the National Park. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But the feature race which saw 26 riders<\/p>\n<p>facing the starting line was the fitting climax to a hot an exciting day of cycling.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The only unfortunate incident of the day<\/p>\n<p>occurred about 50 meters to the finish line in the feature race when on the<\/p>\n<p>sprint to the line, veteran rider Raymond Newton who was matching Hamilton and<\/p>\n<p>Greaves pedal for pedal, pulled to the corner to get the advantage and suffered<\/p>\n<p>a slip which sent him and his cycle sprawling into the near by National Park<\/p>\n<p>trench. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He suffered a few bruises but no major<\/p>\n<p>injury. But by the time he emerged from the trench, the race was over and<\/p>\n<p>unfortunately for him he had to settle for the lone prime he had won during the<\/p>\n<p>race. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But Newton proved that age is just a number<\/p>\n<p>as he matched his younger counterparts and was destined for at least third were<\/p>\n<p>it not for that incident. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The race however was effectively over on lap two<\/p>\n<p>with Newton, Greaves, Hamilton and Lear Nunes, who placed third, opened a gap<\/p>\n<p>of almost one minute over the next pack, an advantage they never relinquished. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Christopher Holder took the fourth spot with<\/p>\n<p>Ian Jackson fifth and Tony Simon, sixth. Earlier, in the category 1, 2, 3 &amp;<\/p>\n<p>4 seven-lap race, Greaves took the top spot ahead of Junior Niles who had led<\/p>\n<p>for the first four laps before being hauled in. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Five of the 17 riders who faced the starting line<\/p>\n<p>in this event fell on lap 5 while digging in on the J.B. Singh Highway.<\/p>\n<p>Hamilton, who started this event, opted out to save his energy for the feature<\/p>\n<p>race. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Niles rallied to take the runner up position<\/p>\n<p>with Robin Persaud, Lear Nunes and Ossie Edwards taking third, fourth and<\/p>\n<p>fifth. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Enzo Matthews was the top junior rider<\/p>\n<p>followed by Geron Williams and Daniel Ramchurejee while Christopher Holder took<\/p>\n<p>the number one spot among the juveniles, Jason Pollydore (second) and Johnathan<\/p>\n<p>Fagundes (third). Both the junior and juvenile races were contested over<\/p>\n<p>5-laps. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>TOP PERFORMERS ZONE!!! Executive Members of<\/p>\n<p>the AFC and Race Officials pose with the winners of the Second Annual Max<\/p>\n<p>Pereira and Marlis Archer Memorial Race Meet which was hosted yesterday on the outer<\/p>\n<p>circuit of the National Park. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On his debut as an under-50 competitor,<\/p>\n<p>Newton outclassed the opposition to win the 3-lap contest way ahead of Ian<\/p>\n<p>Jackson and Linden Blackman. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The over-50 equivalent was won by Aubrey<\/p>\n<p>Springer who out lasted Compton Persaud and Walter Isaacs in that order. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Kester Croal sprinted home ahead of Jamal<\/p>\n<p>Bentley in the mountain bike clash, Steven Roberts placing third. Raymond Perez<\/p>\n<p>was once more unstoppable in the BMX 6-9 battle winning ahead of Crystal<\/p>\n<p>Blackman and Steven Roberts. This race started from the Guyana Defence Force<\/p>\n<p>bridge on Carifesta Avenue to the finish line just past the NIS ground. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The 9-12, one-lap contest saw Olandio King<\/p>\n<p>taking first followed by Tariq Baksh and Teon Joseph. Ozia McCually, Kevin<\/p>\n<p>Edwards and Russell were the top three in the 12-14 duel while in the girls<\/p>\n<p>clash, Naiomi Singh turned the tables on her Berbician counterpart Marcia Dick<\/p>\n<p>to take the top spot. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The top brass of the AFC were on hand to<\/p>\n<p>assist in the presentation of prizes. All the top performers received cash<\/p>\n<p>incentives. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-10-12: AFC News column<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Too Many Top Elected Officials hold Landed Immigrant Visas&#8221; by<\/p>\n<p>Sheila Holder for Sunday October 12, 2008 <\/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'>Too Many Top Elected Officials hold Landed<\/p>\n<p>Immigrant Visas <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>At last reckoning it was gauged that far too<\/p>\n<p>many of the top brass in the PPPC currently serving as sitting Members of<\/p>\n<p>Parliament and in the Central Committee of the party possess either a US,<\/p>\n<p>Canadian or British landed immigrant visa card or passport. This is also true of<\/p>\n<p>some among the very top leadership and prominent members of the PNCR executive.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>AFC Principals have no Immigrant Visas<\/p>\n<p>Cards or Foreign Passports <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In contrast none in the leadership of the<\/p>\n<p>Alliance For Change (AFC) &#8211; not leader Raphael Trotman! Not the Chairman<\/p>\n<p>Khemraj Ramjattan! Or I possess either an immigrant visa card or a passport for<\/p>\n<p>any foreign country. We, therefore, share with the large majority of the<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese people the fact of having no exit plan that would allow us to run from<\/p>\n<p>Guyana if the going gets too hot. The imperative being <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>-we either sink or swim with the people. This<\/p>\n<p>is the powerful impetus that has served the AFC well, over the three years of<\/p>\n<p>its existence in withstanding the treachery, and the discriminatory and<\/p>\n<p>exclusionary tactics being collaboratively applied against the party by the<\/p>\n<p>PPPC and the PNCR and others. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Article 155(1) (a) of the Constitution of<\/p>\n<p>Guyana on the disqualification for election as members of Parliament states as<\/p>\n<p>follows: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>1. &#8220;No person shall be qualified for election<\/p>\n<p>as a member of the National Assembly who &#8211; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>(a) is, by virtue of his own act, under any<\/p>\n<p>acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience to a foreign power or state; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Without getting into the constitutional<\/p>\n<p>ramifications <i>vis a vis<\/i> those Members of Parliament who hold foreign<\/p>\n<p>passports in light of this constitutional provision, I believe the principals<\/p>\n<p>of the AFC, as partners in the local political process could be justified in<\/p>\n<p>expressing apprehension in elected politicians who have one foot in Guyana and the<\/p>\n<p>other in some other part of the world. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Similar Constitutional Provision<\/p>\n<p>Disqualified Jamaican Members of Parliament <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It may be recalled that in Jamaica, not so<\/p>\n<p>long ago, a similar constitutional provision led to a High Court ruling on the<\/p>\n<p>eligibility of such Members of Parliament to serve in the Jamaican legislature.<\/p>\n<p>The fact that in Jamaica this revelation caused the resignation of several MPs<\/p>\n<p>from the government benches, thereby seriously eroding the Jamaican<\/p>\n<p>government&#8217;s parliamentary majority is testimony of how this situation<\/p>\n<p>could impact both the PPPC and the PNCR were we a more law abiding and<\/p>\n<p>litigious people. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In view of this, and despite globalization<\/p>\n<p>which tends to deemphasize nationalism, the AFC can boldly claim to be more<\/p>\n<p>nationalistic and committed to this country than many leading lights in both<\/p>\n<p>the PPPC and the PNCR. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A Loss of Confidence in Guyana <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The argument could be rightly advanced that,<\/p>\n<p>if some political leaders situated in the government and in the main opposition<\/p>\n<p>party have gotten to the point where they believe they need to take up<\/p>\n<p>residency and put down roots in a foreign country, clearly they are signalling<\/p>\n<p>a loss of confidence in the future of Guyana or at the least a future not as<\/p>\n<p>bright as the other country of choice. And if as major political players<\/p>\n<p>holding constitutional office they consider the future of Guyana thus, surely<\/p>\n<p>the people they profess to represent have grounds to question their commitment.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Call to Build Trust Rings Hollow <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It was the leadership of the PPPC who have<\/p>\n<p>been speaking about the need to build trust. What trust are they demonstrating<\/p>\n<p>in the future of this country when many among them have one foot in and the<\/p>\n<p>other foot out of Guyana? And what trust should the Guyanese people repose in<\/p>\n<p>their government and main opposition party that embrace leading figures,<\/p>\n<p>appointing them to strategic positions in government and in their party when<\/p>\n<p>they are half committed to this country? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Perhaps this explains the lack of political<\/p>\n<p>will to do what is necessary to move this country out of the doldrums that is<\/p>\n<p>so often evident in the local political environment. Perhaps, therein lies the<\/p>\n<p>basis for the self interested prism through which successive Guyana governments<\/p>\n<p>have viewed the needs of the people and the problems of the country. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As the avaricious financial meltdown in the<\/p>\n<p>USA spreads to other parts of the world, it might be appropriate for Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>politicians and indeed the Guyanese people to contemplate the words of that<\/p>\n<p>famous national song, &#8220;My Native Land&#8221; by M.A. Cossou. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Oh I care not that others rave over fair<\/p>\n<p>lands afar, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Where silvern lakes and placid streams mirror<\/p>\n<p>the evening star; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I care not though their wealth be great,<\/p>\n<p>their scenery be grand, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>For none so fair as can compare with my own native<\/p>\n<p>Land. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Their sylvan vales and rippling brooks may<\/p>\n<p>charm me when I roam, But what of that? No brooks and vales can steal my love<\/p>\n<p>of home; Where I in childhood used to play, and where the old folks rest Must<\/p>\n<p>be to me, where&#8217;er I be, the dearest and the best. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And though I rove o&#8217;er hill and dale<\/p>\n<p>and brave old Neptune&#8217;s foam, O&#8217;er crags and rocks and mossy dells,<\/p>\n<p>I still will turn me home; For when at length I come to die, I want no gilded<\/p>\n<p>tomb, Just let me rest within thy breast, where thy sweet flowers bloom, Where<\/p>\n<p>thy sweet flowers bloom. <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_i1034&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_40.jpg&#8221;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-10-19: AFC Column &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>ADDRESS TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BY RAPHAEL G.C. TROTMAN, M.P. ON THE<\/p>\n<p>INTERCEPTION OF COMMUNICATION (WIRETAPPING) BILL NO. 19\/2008-October 17, 2008 <\/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><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&quot;They had come to a time when no<\/p>\n<p>one dared speak his mind, when fierce, growling dogs roamed everywhere, and<\/p>\n<p>when you had to watch your comrades torn to pieces after confessing to shocking<\/p>\n<p>crimes.&quot;<\/span><\/i><\/b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'> (Animal Farm,<\/p>\n<p>Chapter 7) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The &#8220;they&#8221; Mr. Speaker were the<\/p>\n<p>animals on Orwell&#8217;s famed Animal Farm who thought they were living in an<\/p>\n<p>egalitarian society. The &#8220;they&#8221; to whom I refer Mr. Speaker could<\/p>\n<p>very well be you, or me&#8230;or even the female newspaper journalist sitting<\/p>\n<p>in the Chamber today. For those who can understand what I am saying, and Mr.<\/p>\n<p>Speaker I am minded to believe that you are one of those, then I remind you<\/p>\n<p>that the book Animal Farm itself had only 10 Chapters. The establishment and<\/p>\n<p>collapse of the farm was a relatively short affair. Knowing that you are<\/p>\n<p>familiar with the work Mr. Speaker, I know you will remember that the time of<\/p>\n<p>the fierce dogs did not last forever. Mr. Speaker, my own objection, and that<\/p>\n<p>of the AFC to this Bill are now a matter of public record. We are against the<\/p>\n<p>bill not because we are against efforts to suppress crime. We are very aware of<\/p>\n<p>the new and emerging challenges and threats to national security and believe<\/p>\n<p>that they must be met with strong action. We are against it because we are<\/p>\n<p>afraid, yes afraid, that this bill shall be abused and that the constitutional<\/p>\n<p>rights of ordinary, and not so ordinary, Guyanese will be threatened and<\/p>\n<p>violated at a rate far beyond that which presently obtains. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We have come to that time when people, and<\/p>\n<p>their leaders, will be afraid to speak their mind; where fierce growling dogs<\/p>\n<p>known as &#8220;designated officers&#8221; will roam everywhere; and where<\/p>\n<p>people we know will be torn to pieces after being accused of, and forced to<\/p>\n<p>confess, to shocking crimes. I cannot in all good conscience, and in the<\/p>\n<p>absence of any discernable presence of a willingness of the administration to<\/p>\n<p>cede political space; to share; to engage; to include; and to understand the<\/p>\n<p>plight, suffering, and the hopelessness of hundreds of thousands, agree to the<\/p>\n<p>passage of this legislation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The genesis of this Bill (and No. 18 of 2008)<\/p>\n<p>is said to lie in a certain CARICOM Heads of Government summit in Trinidad and<\/p>\n<p>Tobago in April, 2008. Following that high level summit, a menu of measures<\/p>\n<p>were agreed and these were meant to introduce short, medium, and long term<\/p>\n<p>measures to curb high levels of crime in the Region. Some of the areas of<\/p>\n<p>concern included: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=105<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1035&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_41.jpg&#8221;>&middot; Maritime and<\/p>\n<p>Airspace Cooperation &amp; Sharing of Assets &middot; Intelligence &amp;<\/p>\n<p>Information Sharing <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&middot; Rapid Deployment Units to be<\/p>\n<p>developed <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&middot; Drug Trafficking <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&middot; Murder <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&middot; Gang &amp; Youth Related Violence <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&middot; Deportees <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the area of wiretapping it was agreed that<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;common wiretapping legislation is to be developed&#8221;. The operative<\/p>\n<p>word here is &#8220;common&#8221;. What I believe that this house needs to be<\/p>\n<p>appraised of is that this bill was not generated by CARICOM or its agencies, or<\/p>\n<p>with the assistance of any other CARICOM nation. The common approach intended<\/p>\n<p>after the April 2008 Summit of Heads of Government has been thrown aside and<\/p>\n<p>replaced with plain &#8220;commonness&#8221;- if I can, with your permission<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Speaker, adopt a Guyanese colloquialism. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As a result some Regionalists have grown<\/p>\n<p>quite weary and uncomfortable with Guyana &#8217;s evolving brand of diplomacy<\/p>\n<p>and approach to regional integration and cooperation. What we are seeing now is<\/p>\n<p>just another recent display of brinkmanship and unilateralism by the Government<\/p>\n<p>of Guyana; acting at variance with CARICOM positions and policies. The first<\/p>\n<p>such situation was of course the stance taken by Guyana vis-&agrave;-vis the<\/p>\n<p>European Partnership Agreement. Some say that after all the palavering we will<\/p>\n<p>have to eat humble pie in a few days time when we sign the agreement. Here<\/p>\n<p>again Guyana is going out on a limb alone- now this time with legislation that<\/p>\n<p>clearly has serious implications for the constitutional rights and civil<\/p>\n<p>liberties of Guyanese and CARICOM citizens. What is the reason for the haste<\/p>\n<p>and speed? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Speaker I am advised by several<\/p>\n<p>government officials within the region, and verily believe, that considerations<\/p>\n<p>regarding the individual provisions within the constitutions of the various<\/p>\n<p>member states, and the CARICOM Charter on Civil Society are uppermost in their<\/p>\n<p>minds and that they will not proceed to pass wiretapping legislation unless and<\/p>\n<p>until there is widespread consultation and involvement of all stakeholders. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Article 146 (1) of the Guyana Constitution<\/p>\n<p>states clearly that: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Except with his own consent, no<\/p>\n<p>person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of expression, that is<\/p>\n<p>to say, freedom to old opinions without interference, freedom to communicate<\/p>\n<p>ideas and information without interference and freedom from interference with<\/p>\n<p>his correspondence.&#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'>The CARICOM Charter of Civil Society to which<\/p>\n<p>Guyana is a party also recognizes a similar right in Article VIII: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220; Every person shall have the right to<\/p>\n<p>to the enjoyment of freedom of expression including the right to: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>(a) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>hold<\/p>\n<p>opinions and to receive and communicate ideas and inflrmation without<\/p>\n<p>interference and freely to send or receive communications by correspondence or<\/p>\n<p>other means; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>(b) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>seek,<\/p>\n<p>distribute or disseminate to other persons and the public information,<\/p>\n<p>opinions, and ideas in any form whatever.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We as a legislators have a fiduciary duty to<\/p>\n<p>uphold the law and constitution and rights enshrined therein. When we are going<\/p>\n<p>to abridge, curtail, or even expand those rights we have a duty to consult with<\/p>\n<p>the people, and when we do consult, we still should not interfere with rights<\/p>\n<p>except in rare cases and only for good and substantial reasons. We are not the<\/p>\n<p>law, only the guardians of it. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It would have been more palatable to the AFC<\/p>\n<p>if this bill was being introduced simultaneously in the various CARICOM<\/p>\n<p>territories so that we could gauge the mood of the people across the region and<\/p>\n<p>adapt and refine our legislative approach accordingly. It is dangerous in our<\/p>\n<p>opinion for one CARICOM territory to state that it is operating under the aegis<\/p>\n<p>of the Regional body, and then arrogate to itself the right to abrogate the<\/p>\n<p>rights of citizens in one territory without there being a corresponding<\/p>\n<p>adjustment in all. This does not auger well for good neighbourly relations, and<\/p>\n<p>for the treatment of Guyanese abroad. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>One appreciates that crime must be<\/p>\n<p>suppressed; one appreciates that modern technological methods must be employed<\/p>\n<p>to curb crime; one appreciates that there have to be mechanisms put in place,<\/p>\n<p>but these have to be carefully balanced against invading people&#8217;s private<\/p>\n<p>rights which must stand supreme over the whims and fancies of government. This<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Speaker is the &#8220;social contract&#8221; concept first identified and<\/p>\n<p>developed by Thomas Hobbes in his 17<sup>th<\/sup> Century book<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Leviathan&#8221;. The responsibility and relationship of, and between<\/p>\n<p>the citizen and the state has not changed since then. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Speaker to bolster the argument that the<\/p>\n<p>concerns of possible violations of rights of privacy are more than imaginary, I<\/p>\n<p>will refer to a few jurisdictions where wiretapping is ongoing and state some<\/p>\n<p>of the effects this practice is having. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>UGANDA <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In September, 2008, Amnesty<\/p>\n<p>International&#8217;s expressed concern that the Regulation of Communications<\/p>\n<p>Bill of Uganda could significantly hamper the general exercise of the right of<\/p>\n<p>freedom of expression and not just the rights of individuals whose<\/p>\n<p>communications are intercepted. The Bill was deemed to be incompatible with international<\/p>\n<p>human rights standards especially the International Covenant on Civil and<\/p>\n<p>Political Rights. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>ZIMBABWE <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Amnesty International recently commented on<\/p>\n<p>Zimbabwe &#8217;s Interception of Communications Bill 2007 which it is<\/p>\n<p>contended will restrict freedom of expression. &#8220;It would allow<\/p>\n<p>authorities to intercept both telecommunications and mail, raised fears that<\/p>\n<p>the government would use it to spy on the activities of human rights<\/p>\n<p>organizations and the political opposition.&#8221; Opposition spokesperson<\/p>\n<p>Arthur Mutambara called it the &#8220;final straw to the curtailment to the<\/p>\n<p>liberties of Zimbabweans.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>VENEZUELA <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A BBC News report of June, 2008 is headlined<\/p>\n<p>&#8220; Venezuela &#8217;s new &#8220;spy&#8221; law draws protest.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Human rights activists and opposition members charge that the law is<\/p>\n<p>threatening their civil liberties. One egregious aspect of the bill is that the<\/p>\n<p>requirement that officials cooperate and facilitate with the request to allow<\/p>\n<p>the wiretapping, in essence is turning all these persons, including judges, are<\/p>\n<p>being turned into spies. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>USA <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A June 9, 2008 article on the website<\/p>\n<p>ww.techdirt.com\/articles has an article headlined &#8220;NSA Abused Wiretap<\/p>\n<p>Rights: Intercepted, Shared, Private Calls of Americans.&#8221; The constant<\/p>\n<p>abuse of the power by recording and sharing citizens private and intimate<\/p>\n<p>conversations and communications is set out. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A recent article appearing in the Los Angeles<\/p>\n<p>Times and written by Julian Sanchez in March, 2008 and entitled &#8220;<b><i>Wiretapping&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>True Danger<\/i><\/b>&#8221; chronicles the widespread abuses of wiretapping<\/p>\n<p>powers by US federal and other officials- &#8220;for decades, intelligence<\/p>\n<p>analysts&#8212; and the presidents they served&#8212;have spied on the letters<\/p>\n<p>and phone conversations of union chiefs, civil rights leaders, journalists,<\/p>\n<p>antiwar activists, lobbyists, members of congress, Supreme Court<\/p>\n<p>justices.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>INDIA <\/span><\/b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>13.5pt&#8217;>(www.privacyinternational.com) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Wiretapping is regulated under the<\/p>\n<p>Telegraph Act of 1885. There have been numerous phone tap scandals in India ,<\/p>\n<p>resulting in a 1996 decision by the Supreme Court which ruled that wiretaps are<\/p>\n<p>a &quot;serious invasion of an individual&#8217;s privacy&quot; The Supreme Court<\/p>\n<p>recognized the fact that the right of privacy is an integral part of the<\/p>\n<p>fundamental right to life enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Court also laid out guidelines for wiretapping<\/p>\n<p>by the government. The guidelines define who can tap phones and under what<\/p>\n<p>circumstances. Only the Union Home Secretary, or his counterpart in the states,<\/p>\n<p>can issue an order for a tap. The government is also required to show that the<\/p>\n<p>information sought cannot to be obtained through any other means. The Court<\/p>\n<p>mandated the development of a high-level committee to review the legality of<\/p>\n<p>each wiretap. Tapped phone calls are not accepted as primary evidence in Indian<\/p>\n<p>courts. However, as is the case with most laws in India , there continues to be<\/p>\n<p>a gap between the law and its enforcement. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In March 2002 the Indian Parliament, in a<\/p>\n<p>rare joint session, passed the Prevention Of Terrorism Act (POTA) over the<\/p>\n<p>objections of several Opposition parties and in the face of considerable public<\/p>\n<p>criticism. The National Human Rights Commission, an independent government<\/p>\n<p>entity, criticized the measure finding that the existing laws were sufficient<\/p>\n<p>to combat terrorism. The law codifies the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance<\/p>\n<p>that in turn builds on the repealed Terrorists And Disruptive Activities<\/p>\n<p>(Prevention) Act (TADA). It gives law enforcement sweeping powers to arrest<\/p>\n<p>suspected terrorists, intercept communications, and curtail free expression.<\/p>\n<p>Critics argue that the experience shows that the power was often misused for<\/p>\n<p>political ends by authorities and that POTA does little to curb those excesses.<\/p>\n<p>Chapter V of POTA deals with the interception of electronic communications,<\/p>\n<p>which also creates an audit mechanism that includes some provision for judicial<\/p>\n<p>review and parliamentary oversight; however, it remains to be seen how<\/p>\n<p>effective such mechanisms will be in practice.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I have just traversed just a few of the<\/p>\n<p>countries that have this legislation and established how all of them have<\/p>\n<p>serious issues and concerns regarding the protection of human rights and civil<\/p>\n<p>liberties. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I have already indicated that we are<\/p>\n<p>concerned that if this the product of a CARICOM initiative then it should look<\/p>\n<p>like, smell like, and feel like a CARICOM product such as was must certainly<\/p>\n<p>the case when we dealt with legislation for Cricket World Cup in 2007. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>That apart, we believe that the apparatus to<\/p>\n<p>monitor and implement the Act in the fullest is absent and thus there will be<\/p>\n<p>tremendous problems. By the apparatus itself we are warning that not only state<\/p>\n<p>actors, but also non-state actors have to be taken account of. The case of the<\/p>\n<p>recording of the telephone conversations of two state actors, one of whom is a<\/p>\n<p>retired Commissioner of Police and the other a member of this Assembly, by a<\/p>\n<p>non-state actor, is well known. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is an irrefutable fact that public<\/p>\n<p>confidence and trust in the security forces and state agencies is at an all<\/p>\n<p>time low. Who then is going to police the police to ensure that they will not<\/p>\n<p>allow themselves to be politically directed, and alternatively, not compromise<\/p>\n<p>their professionalism and integrity for filthy lucre by selling the<\/p>\n<p>confidential information of citizens. In the context of Guyana and the history<\/p>\n<p>of political recrimination and targeting, I am prepared to say that this Bill<\/p>\n<p>shall, not may, be used against political opponents. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Rick Falkvinge, a political leader in<\/p>\n<p>Sweden in June of 2008 made a profound statement on wiretapping and<\/p>\n<p>intercepting of communication. <\/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'>&#8220;Democracy is reliant on the<\/p>\n<p>transparency of power, not the transparency of citizens. All places where the<\/p>\n<p>opposite has been the case &#8211; where it has been impossible to examine the powers<\/p>\n<p>that be, while citizens lack any right to a private life &#8211; have been really<\/p>\n<p>nasty places to live.&#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'>The Alliance For Change cannot support this<\/p>\n<p>bill as it offends the constitiution of Guyana, offends the citizens&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>right to privacy<b><i>, <\/i><\/b>and it will be used as a political tool to<\/p>\n<p>smother opposition and dissent. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-10-26: AFC Column &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>Consultation &#8211; an act of futility By Khemraj Ramjattan, Chairman AFC <\/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'>This Jagdeo administration pays lip-service<\/p>\n<p>(and probably less than that) to consultation, thereby giving this political<\/p>\n<p>practice a hollow ring. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>His administration has abandoned the good<\/p>\n<p>attributes we all thought would have been attached to this practical<\/p>\n<p>convention; and, which would have moved us on to a new political dispensation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Crude political practices worsen when<\/p>\n<p>consultation is absent. And here in Guyana we have some of the crudest<\/p>\n<p>political practices; and, a next to negligible amount of consultation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>One such crude political practice is lying,<\/p>\n<p>speaking falsely, in the open public. Being unapologetic thereafter, after being<\/p>\n<p>shown the error of your utterance, is even worse. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I will always remember how the President and<\/p>\n<p>the entirety of the PPP&#8217;s Central Committee then present (excepting Moses<\/p>\n<p>Nagamootoo) relied on a bald-faced untruth to save face for the President, as<\/p>\n<p>some privately told me afterwards, when they denied that the President ever<\/p>\n<p>said to me in my face &#8211; &#8220;You Ramjattan, you take internal party matters<\/p>\n<p>to the Press and the American Embassy.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It must never be forgotten also that after<\/p>\n<p>being proven how ignorant His Excellency was on matters pertaining to tax<\/p>\n<p>holidays and concessions on the Queens Atlantic deal, His Excellency has not<\/p>\n<p>seen it fit to apologise to Mr. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Yesu Persaud for unjustifiably uttering words<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; &#8220;Top business people like Persaud are ignorant of the tax laws<\/p>\n<p>and I will have to arrange a seminar to educate them.&#8221; No apologies! Not<\/p>\n<p>yet, not ever! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But now a deficiency of consultation at<\/p>\n<p>almost all levels of our politics has doubly aggravated the situation. The few<\/p>\n<p>occasions of consultation, like the one with civil society after the massacres<\/p>\n<p>earlier this year, and the Economic Partnership Agreement recently, were wholly<\/p>\n<p>opportunistic. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I have seen at the legislative level the<\/p>\n<p>worst practice of consultation. And this was never supposed to be so. Dr. Jagan<\/p>\n<p>in his Presidential Address to the National Assembly made it quite clear that<\/p>\n<p>the Assembly must be genuinely consultative, where deliberations must be mature<\/p>\n<p>and the views of all be given space and consideration. To a large extent Dr.<\/p>\n<p>Jagan ensured a consideration of the views of others during his term in office,<\/p>\n<p>1992 &#8211; 1997. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Not so under the Jagdeo administration. This<\/p>\n<p>leadership has given a new meaning to the concept. It has been emptied of that<\/p>\n<p>desirable fullness and effectiveness, and has become replete with formality and<\/p>\n<p>unproductiveness. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Consultation under the Jagdeo regime has a<\/p>\n<p>manifestation of outright rejection of everything said by the Opposition, and a<\/p>\n<p>total ignoring of anything of a dissenting, even though powerful, view. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Having experienced the modus operandi of both<\/p>\n<p>Presidents and appreciating what distinguished them, I want the distinction to<\/p>\n<p>be understood. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In Dr. Jagan&#8217;s case, consultation meant<\/p>\n<p>a genuine seeking out of views and a consideration of them in the final<\/p>\n<p>product, be it a Policy, Bill, Motion or Amendment. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On those occasions where the views of the<\/p>\n<p>consulted were ignored, reasons had to be found to rationalize why they were<\/p>\n<p>ignored. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Not so under Jagdeo. Consultation under his<\/p>\n<p>regime means seeking views, but unless these views coincide exactly with his,<\/p>\n<p>there is no obligation to consider or much less follow them. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Consultation here embraces no more than the<\/p>\n<p>opportunity to express a view. Beyond that it matters nothing at all. You<\/p>\n<p>simply have to haul your ass! No consideration so as to accommodate; no ground<\/p>\n<p>for a synthesis. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This approach at the legislative level is<\/p>\n<p>most dangerous. It constitutes a rapid retrogression and a noticeable<\/p>\n<p>democratic rollback which somehow must be halted at the national level. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I must warn here that Opposition<\/p>\n<p>Parliamentarians and, vicariously, their constituencies, will be forced to<\/p>\n<p>conjure up extra- parliamentary methods of struggle when the Parliamentary<\/p>\n<p>option becomes meaningless and unproductive. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Even constituencies which supported the<\/p>\n<p>Government will adopt such methods when they see nothing productive and useful<\/p>\n<p>coming out of the institution that is substantially there to take care of their<\/p>\n<p>problems and ensure their happiness &#8211; our Parliament. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Notice how within strongholds of the PPP<\/p>\n<p>there have been spontaneous rebellious outbursts and road demonstrations. Even<\/p>\n<p>now as I write this, there are angry demonstrations because of no water and<\/p>\n<p>light in West Coast Berbice. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But the crude leadership style and no<\/p>\n<p>consultation gets even worse when they are used as tools to pass legislation<\/p>\n<p>seriously encroaching on the civil liberties of Guyanese. This is exactly what<\/p>\n<p>has been happening in the recent past. Here are two most recent examples. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Evidence Amendment Bill which seeks to<\/p>\n<p>deny an accused the right to be in Court with his lawyer, and the right to<\/p>\n<p>confront his accuser is passed, notwithstanding sound cogent arguments as to<\/p>\n<p>its unconstitutionality. The AFC pointed out to the National Assembly how this<\/p>\n<p>is so. But its act was one in futility. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The fundamental human rights provision which<\/p>\n<p>will be contravened will be Article 144 (2) where in two separate passages it<\/p>\n<p>is stipulated that an accused person &#8220;shall be permitted to defend<\/p>\n<p>himself before the Court in person or by a legal representative of his choice&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>and &#8220;except with his consent, the trial shall not take place in his<\/p>\n<p>absence unless the accused so conducts himself as to render the continuances of<\/p>\n<p>the proceedings impracticable&#8230;&#8230;.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the most draconian Wire Tapping Bill<\/p>\n<p>called the Interception of Communication Bill, the State, through the<\/p>\n<p>Commissioner of Police, the Commissioner of Revenue, the Head of the Army, with<\/p>\n<p>warrants from a Judge and through the auspices of the Minister of Home Affairs<\/p>\n<p>without a warrant from a Judge, can ransack your privacy rights and interfere<\/p>\n<p>with your freedom of expression rights. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Through these designated officers, the State<\/p>\n<p>can surveil your telephone calls, your computer and order all the contents<\/p>\n<p>therein. The Bill compels telecommunication providers to spend huge sums in<\/p>\n<p>equipment, personnel and paperwork to meet compliance requirements to get<\/p>\n<p>information for the State. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This obviously gives rise to property rights<\/p>\n<p>challenges. Moreover, the deeming of these requirements as part of the licence,<\/p>\n<p>(which if for financial incapacity cannot be complied with), will mean a breach<\/p>\n<p>of the said licence. Any good lawyer can foresee a retrospective application of<\/p>\n<p>penal provisions here. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Both the AFC and the PNC pointed out these<\/p>\n<p>various grounds why this Bill may suffer from a deficiency of<\/p>\n<p>constitutionality. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But all this effort was to no avail. It was<\/p>\n<p>not even sent to a Select Committee so that more thought and mature<\/p>\n<p>deliberation could be had of its provisions. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>One of Jagdeo&#8217;s instrumentality, Ms.<\/p>\n<p>Indra Chandrapaul, is now saying the opposition parties had enough time on this<\/p>\n<p>Bill &#8211; the recess over the months of August and September 2008. Other<\/p>\n<p>proponents argued that Jamaica has a somewhat similar Bill. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Indeed, but in Jamaica the Manley Government<\/p>\n<p>proposed it in a White Paper called Ministry Paper No. 76 and tabled same in<\/p>\n<p>Parliament since 1990. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Consultation was wide and Manley&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>administration listened to especially the Jamaican Bar Association, and Human<\/p>\n<p>Rights activists and even the Director of Public Prosecutions. It became an Act<\/p>\n<p>of Parliament in 2002, some 12 years after, with important procedural oversight<\/p>\n<p>inclusions. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Jagdeo&#8217;s Wire Tapping Bill will from<\/p>\n<p>the time of tabling to time of becoming law take some 12 weeks! What<\/p>\n<p>consultation is that, Indra! As a &#8220;child&#8221; of Dr. Jagan, do you<\/p>\n<p>think you make him proud? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-11-2: AFC Column-The<\/p>\n<p>leadership of the AFC had as much to lose &#8211; or to gain &#8211; from whatever<\/p>\n<p>transpires in Guyana by Sheila Holder <\/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'>In my last article in this column I made the point<\/p>\n<p>that, unlike many persons in the top echelons of the PPPC and to a lesser<\/p>\n<p>extent in the PNCR, none in the AFC leadership or, indeed, any of our<\/p>\n<p>parliamentarians, possess either landed immigrant status or a passport for any<\/p>\n<p>foreign country. This was not intended to be an idle boast; but to point out<\/p>\n<p>that the leadership of the AFC had as much to lose &#8211; or to gain &#8211; from whatever<\/p>\n<p>transpires in Guyana. It is, therefore, in our best interest to work for<\/p>\n<p>national reconciliation and a stable social and political environment that<\/p>\n<p>would lead to racial harmony, while fulfilling our people&#8217;s desire for<\/p>\n<p>economic empowerment. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Were President Jagdeo and his Government to<\/p>\n<p>deliver on these essentials, the leadership of the AFC would have no need to<\/p>\n<p>pursue political activities for the purpose of opposing, exposing and deposing<\/p>\n<p>them in the expectation of better governance and management of the affairs of<\/p>\n<p>this State. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Regrettable, neither he nor his colleagues<\/p>\n<p>have demonstrated a willingness to put country above party and self interests.<\/p>\n<p>Regrettable, the leaders of the PPPC do not appear to understand that<\/p>\n<p>leadership is not about brinkmanship, vindictiveness or assigning favoured<\/p>\n<p>treatment to some, but rather about being principled and doing the right things<\/p>\n<p>like upholding the laws of Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As Head of State, President Jagdeo has a duty<\/p>\n<p>to be the standard bearer for the Constitution which he has sworn to honour,<\/p>\n<p>uphold and preserve without fear or favour, affection or ill will but has he? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>One example that readily comes to mind and<\/p>\n<p>which has been given prominence in the press is his failure to uphold Article<\/p>\n<p>170 of the Constitution that addresses the process by which legislation is<\/p>\n<p>enacted. Article 170 (2 &amp; 3) stipulates that when a Bill is presented to<\/p>\n<p>the President for assent he shall signify whether he assents or withholds his<\/p>\n<p>assent; in which case the bill is sent back to the National Assembly for the<\/p>\n<p>members to reconsider it. Thereafter, he is required to return the bill to the<\/p>\n<p>Speaker within 21 days of the date when it was presented to him with a message<\/p>\n<p>stating his reasons for not giving his assent. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Having failed to do so, President Jagdeo has<\/p>\n<p>actually opened himself to possible impeachment proceedings; but has no fear of<\/p>\n<p>such a likelihood since greater loyalty for party than for the Constitution or,<\/p>\n<p>indeed, for the Guyanese people is the operating paradigm among PPPC<\/p>\n<p>parliamentarians. Furthermore, within the National Assembly there are several<\/p>\n<p>members who are themselves in breach of Article 155 (1)(a) of the Constitution,<\/p>\n<p>and are, therefore, disqualified for election as members of the National<\/p>\n<p>Assembly having sworn allegiance to a foreign state. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is this cavalier attitude to the<\/p>\n<p>Constitution, the highest law of this land, which is being displayed by this<\/p>\n<p>administration that is cause for serious national concern; and what has led the<\/p>\n<p>AFC&#8217;s parliamentary team to take the signal action of boycotting the<\/p>\n<p>sitting of the National Assembly on Thursday October 30, 2008. In this case it<\/p>\n<p>was the contempt the PPPC Government displayed for the Parliamentary Standing<\/p>\n<p>Orders (SO) and the agreements reached with the parliamentary opposition. In<\/p>\n<p>the opinion of the AFC, such conduct could have destructive consequences for<\/p>\n<p>Guyana&#8217;s fledgling parliamentary democracy. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Parliamentary (SO) rules state in No. 24<\/p>\n<p>(2) that: &#8216;<b><i>Subject to the provisions of these Standing Orders,<\/p>\n<p>Government Business shall have precedence on every <u>day except Wednesdays <\/u>when<\/p>\n<p>Private Members&#8217; (that is, opposition) Business shall have<\/p>\n<p>precedence&#8217;.<\/i><\/b> Also, by agreement reached in December 2007 in the<\/p>\n<p>Parliamentary Management Committee (PMC), it was agreed that: <b><i>&#8216;every<\/p>\n<p>fourth sitting of the National Assembly will be held on a Wednesday&#8217;. <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>By this agreement, therefore, the fourth<\/p>\n<p>sitting of the National Assembly, following the resumption after the<\/p>\n<p>parliamentary recess, should have been held on Wednesday 29<sup>th<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>October, 2008. Yet, Prime Minister Sam Hinds, whom the Speaker assured me he<\/p>\n<p>would remind about this PMC agreement, went ahead and ordered a sitting for<\/p>\n<p>Thursday 30<sup>th<\/sup> October 2008. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The fact that I had written the Speaker a<\/p>\n<p>week earlier requesting that my Motion (dealing with the violation of the<\/p>\n<p>rights of the people of Linden to access the televised media other than the<\/p>\n<p>State-owned television) be assigned for Wednesday 29<sup>th <\/sup>October 2008,<\/p>\n<p>made no difference to the PM, the PPPC Chief Whip &amp; President<\/p>\n<p>Jagdeo&#8217;s Governance Advisor, thereby knowingly flouting the SO rules and<\/p>\n<p>the PMC agreement. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As leader of the National Assembly, it is the<\/p>\n<p>PM and his Government who decide on when the National Assembly meets, not the<\/p>\n<p>Opposition. It is these rules that stipulate, at the minimum, that everyday<\/p>\n<p>Government&#8217;s business gets precedence <u>except once a month, on<\/p>\n<p>Wednesdays, when Opposition business is entitled to be dealt with first. <\/u>Yet,<\/p>\n<p>instead of assigning Member, Aubrey Norton&#8217;s, Torture Motion to a<\/p>\n<p>Wednesday sitting, it was put last on the Government&#8217;s agenda that saw<\/p>\n<p>the debate extending past midnight on Monday October 29, 2008. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In our opinion, this is because Government is<\/p>\n<p>attempting to devalue the contributions of the minority parties in the National<\/p>\n<p>Assembly. Such tactics have already been institutionalized in the state media<\/p>\n<p>as experienced by the Linden community, the AFC during the last elections and<\/p>\n<p>others. By now it should also have been observed that the State media never<\/p>\n<p>airs any parliamentary presentations by AFC Chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan, MP and<\/p>\n<p>the evidence is mounting that all AFC parliamentarians are being relegated<\/p>\n<p>similar treatment. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC wants its growing membership and the<\/p>\n<p>public to know that these attempts will not deter the party from its role as a<\/p>\n<p>Parliamentary party committed to oppose, expose and depose this Administration<\/p>\n<p>that has failed to govern with integrity, transparency and accountability. The words<\/p>\n<p>of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi come to mind when he was engaged in fighting the<\/p>\n<p>British Empire: &#8220;In the times to come the people will not judge us by the<\/p>\n<p>creed we profess, or the label we wear, or the slogans we shout, but by our<\/p>\n<p>work, industry, sacrifice, honesty and purity of character.&#8221; <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_42.jpg&#8221;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-11-9: BARACK<\/p>\n<p>OBAMA&#8217;s &#8220;CHANGE&#8221; and the ALLIANCE FOR CHANGE&#8230;&#8220;A<\/p>\n<p>VISION SHARED&#8221; By Raphael Trotman, Leader of the Alliance For Change <\/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'>This week the word &#8220;change&#8221; took<\/p>\n<p>on a whole new meaning for the people of the world. Amazingly, it appeared to<\/p>\n<p>have resonated in Guyana as much as it did in the United States. People here<\/p>\n<p>seem to have been filled with euphoria and a renewed sense of hope that the<\/p>\n<p>change in America can also be possible here in Guyana. Why, after all,<\/p>\n<p>can&#8217;t we have a washing away of the old, and the establishment of a new<\/p>\n<p>order that sees the peoples of Guyana working together with a shared vision and<\/p>\n<p>agenda? One commentator had expressed the view that there is perhaps no other<\/p>\n<p>country in the world where the society is so integrated in that our children go<\/p>\n<p>to school together, we worship together, play together, do business together,<\/p>\n<p>but yet are so politically polarized to the point that every five years we go<\/p>\n<p>at each other&#8217;s throats. It used to be believed that racism was so<\/p>\n<p>entrenched in the United States to the point that no minority, or person of<\/p>\n<p>colour, could ever emerge as its leader. The question is whether the<\/p>\n<p>polarization that is perceived to exist in the Guyana far exceeds that in the<\/p>\n<p>US; thus suggesting that Obama&#8217;s task was relatively easier than similar<\/p>\n<p>attempts made, and to be made, here? I refuse to accept that our country is<\/p>\n<p>doomed to an eternal life of strife, hatred, and bitterness. If anything the<\/p>\n<p>Obama victory proved, was that the seemingly impossible is indeed very<\/p>\n<p>possible, and that is the message of hope that we in Guyana need to take with<\/p>\n<p>us across the length and breath of our beloved country in the months ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Those who vote along racial lines have got to acknowledge that they are doing<\/p>\n<p>so to the detriment of themselves and future generations, and resolve to choose<\/p>\n<p>the best party and candidates on the basis of what is in theirs and the<\/p>\n<p>country&#8217;s best interest. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The election of Barack Hussein Obama to the<\/p>\n<p>Presidency of the United States of America cannot by any means be described<\/p>\n<p>simply as historic. This is so because there is nothing with which to compare<\/p>\n<p>his election. By winning the elections and becoming the 44<sup>th<\/sup> US<\/p>\n<p>President he has achieved something never done before by a &#8220;black&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>person, but what takes this out of the realms of the simply historic, is how it<\/p>\n<p>was done. In a sense his victory can best be described as revolutionary in that<\/p>\n<p>it broke the old established template on which all past elections in the US<\/p>\n<p>were run. Predictably, Obama&#8217;s victory will have a transformational<\/p>\n<p>effect on the world taking us all, in a manner of speaking, into a new sphere<\/p>\n<p>of existence and organization. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>When President Elect of the US Barack Obama<\/p>\n<p>first burst unto the scene fours ago as a virtual unknown, people began to take<\/p>\n<p>notice of the first time Senator. His slogan of &#8220;change&#8221; used in<\/p>\n<p>the just concluded elections took on a wholly different meaning than ever<\/p>\n<p>before in his homeland. It was not that there was expected too be a routine<\/p>\n<p>change from the Republicans to the Democrats, but a change in the way the<\/p>\n<p>political and economic systems were to be re-configured and how America itself<\/p>\n<p>was to be reorganized and managed. This change was intended to address the<\/p>\n<p>issues and concerns of the hundreds of millions of America&#8217;s different<\/p>\n<p>peoples, and just as importantly, there is an expectation that there will be<\/p>\n<p>spill over benefits for rest of the world. This was the vision that captivated<\/p>\n<p>the people not only of America, but of the world. It has to be accepted that in<\/p>\n<p>many regards people in, and out of America, were tired of the policies of the<\/p>\n<p>Bush White House and this led to a shift in their voting patterns. This however<\/p>\n<p>cannot diminish the fact that Obama&#8217;s persona and message made the<\/p>\n<p>difference. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Change that we could believe in for<\/p>\n<p>Guyana is the one that looks beyond race and to country. One that sees a higher<\/p>\n<p>objective than merely replacing one party and transplanting another. In 2006 we<\/p>\n<p>saw the opportunity to present change as a vote against racial politics and for<\/p>\n<p>an acceptance of the concept of mutual respect, shared vision, and cooperation<\/p>\n<p>and consensus in decision making. Most hailed our accomplishment as being<\/p>\n<p>historic in the context of what we went up against. The AFC&#8217;s 6 seats<\/p>\n<p>were not an overnight success, but came from the support of the thousands who<\/p>\n<p>have already embraced the message of change, and also was built on the<\/p>\n<p>foundation set by those who had toiled many years before to change our<\/p>\n<p>political culture and landscape. They were the ones who dared to be different<\/p>\n<p>and whose heroic contributions remain unsung and unrecognized. One such person<\/p>\n<p>was David DeCaries who passed recently. We owe it to them to continue the<\/p>\n<p>struggle for change. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Here in Guyana it was ironic that those who<\/p>\n<p>are the most resistant to change were the first to run to endorse, and then to<\/p>\n<p>embrace the victory as being historic, and expressing a willingness to work<\/p>\n<p>with the Obama administration. The AFC and Barack Obama are not the discoverers<\/p>\n<p>of the word &#8220;change&#8221; but we do have a shared vision for a better<\/p>\n<p>life for our respective peoples. From time immemorial men and women have been<\/p>\n<p>in search of that higher and better life, and when he or she is dissatisfied,<\/p>\n<p>they go in search of change. In Obama&#8217;s case, he successfully re-branded<\/p>\n<p>the Democratic party into the &#8216;Change&#8221; party, and the people<\/p>\n<p>responded to the message. The task is now ours to complete the work begun three<\/p>\n<p>years ago at the Ocean View Convention Centre when the AFC was launched, by<\/p>\n<p>bringing real change to Guyana. We congratulate Barack Obama on his victory,<\/p>\n<p>and the people of America for giving him their trust and support. We call on<\/p>\n<p>the people of Guyana to wake up, stand up, look up and &#8220;Choose<\/p>\n<p>Change&#8230;it&#8217;s time.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-11-16: Towards a new<\/p>\n<p>political culture: Shaping systemic democracy for substantive democracy By<\/p>\n<p>Lin-Jay Harry-Voglezon <\/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'>In following the American process of arriving<\/p>\n<p>at its next President, one would recognise Guyana as a primordial democracy.<\/p>\n<p>For instance, the quality of media investigations, range of reviews,<\/p>\n<p>interpretations, and quality of political activism reflect not only the level<\/p>\n<p>of intellectuality of the society but also the significant contributions of the<\/p>\n<p>American middle\/professional classes to the maintenance of high-level values.<\/p>\n<p>Further, the American media, not withstanding their ideological varieties and<\/p>\n<p>other interests, have not generally allowed political actors, within or without<\/p>\n<p>the media to traffic misinformation. Scrutiny is high. Compare that to what<\/p>\n<p>passes as journalism in Guyana. Political actors wreak havoc with lies and<\/p>\n<p>distortions since the media is inadequately investigative and challenging. The<\/p>\n<p>media, in several instances here, have even diluted if not hidden authentic<\/p>\n<p>evidence to protect advertising and other special interests. Channel 11 (NCN),<\/p>\n<p>for instance, functions as a Public Relations government outfit with those many<\/p>\n<p>disgusting and childish interviews of state officials, instead of putting the<\/p>\n<p>officials in a position to be accountable to the people. The American level of<\/p>\n<p>democratic media development is substantially a product of its systemic<\/p>\n<p>democracy. That is the political structure, laws, rules, regulation, rewards,<\/p>\n<p>sanctions, and processes of decision making. Democracy is never finite in scope<\/p>\n<p>and content, but it is the quality of its structures and processes of making<\/p>\n<p>decisions and doing things that essentially shape its substance, the relative<\/p>\n<p>political culture, and quality of democratic minds. The minds in turn shape the<\/p>\n<p>political culture, structures and processes. There are fundamental lessons to<\/p>\n<p>be learnt from American politics that could instruct a new political culture in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana. In shaping their systemic democracy the American politicians at<\/p>\n<p>independence recognized that neither a democratic nor republican system in its<\/p>\n<p>own right could have served their society well. They argued that the democratic<\/p>\n<p>system makes politicians employees of the people, accountable to them, and no<\/p>\n<p>lords of the society. Thus, from the Head of State to the ordinary man must be<\/p>\n<p>equal before the law. However, that system tends to allow the &#8220;reign of<\/p>\n<p>passion&#8221; rather than the &#8220;reign of reason&#8221;, to the extent<\/p>\n<p>that he who wins an election may not be wise enough for office. Thus American<\/p>\n<p>politicians integrated principles of Democracy and Republicanism in the<\/p>\n<p>construct of their system of governance. The security of tenure within the<\/p>\n<p>judicial system, the way that the system is structured and its personnel<\/p>\n<p>scrutinized before appointment, and its extent of insulation from the<\/p>\n<p>legislature and executive, are some of the best manifestations of Republicanism<\/p>\n<p>which requires a system of governance based on objective and rational<\/p>\n<p>standards, managed by objective and rational people. We observe for instance<\/p>\n<p>that while democratic principles facilitated the thriving of white racist<\/p>\n<p>ideology and racial segregation, the principles of Republicanism became<\/p>\n<p>constraints and validated the dreams of Martin Luther King and the civil rights<\/p>\n<p>movement. And it is that validation that has given space for the likes of<\/p>\n<p>Barack Obama, Condoleezza Rice, and Colin Powell to rise. It was adherence to<\/p>\n<p>those principles that checked the subversion of the State by Richard Nixon,<\/p>\n<p>induced his impeachment, and also nearly caused the impeachment of Ronald<\/p>\n<p>Reagan and Bill Clinton. In essence, the admixture of Republican and Democratic<\/p>\n<p>principles in the formation of the American State has not only held the society<\/p>\n<p>together but prevents it from degenerating into sustainable extremes. But in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana there is no such deep thinking involved in shaping the system of<\/p>\n<p>governance. So the aspirations of the Guyanese people as embodied singularly<\/p>\n<p>and collectively in its symbols of nationhood delivered at independence (its<\/p>\n<p>flag, coat of arms, pledge, anthem) remain frustrated. Why? Because<\/p>\n<p>historically the politics of Guyana has been: 1) predominantly the politics of<\/p>\n<p>class conflict; 2) competition for ethnic hegemony of the state; and 3) the<\/p>\n<p>fact that neither the constituency nor proportional representation system has<\/p>\n<p>ever served the nation well. Firstly, the two major parties, PPP and PNC, in<\/p>\n<p>and out of office, in the name of working class revolution\/domination have<\/p>\n<p>historically found ways of undermining the checks and balance tenets of<\/p>\n<p>governance. In office they have subverted the professionalism or independence<\/p>\n<p>of most state institutions by conveniently creating or circumventing laws,<\/p>\n<p>rules and regulations, and or by promoting weak and or vulnerable, or partisan<\/p>\n<p>personnel to high offices. Further, from among that body of personnel are<\/p>\n<p>persons selected for cross appointments in the party, state institutions and<\/p>\n<p>other organisations. For example, a party executive may be appointed as a<\/p>\n<p>Permanent Secretary and\/or to several Statutory Boards at the same time. And<\/p>\n<p>where there is resistance, at least attempts are made to destabilise, create<\/p>\n<p>parallel organisations, or vertically or horizontally merge offices. Recently,<\/p>\n<p>we witnessed attempts by the PPP administration to interlock the offices of<\/p>\n<p>Chief Justice and Chancellor in one person, by a method of administrative<\/p>\n<p>convolution. Further, not withstanding legitimate questions about financial<\/p>\n<p>accountability within trade unions, the suspension of subventions for the<\/p>\n<p>Critchlow Labour College, the termination of the check-off system for the<\/p>\n<p>Public Service Union, and the factionalisation within the Trade Union Congress,<\/p>\n<p>are not as politically innocent as might appear. Neither is the occasional<\/p>\n<p>caustic party response to high level personnel of the Catholic and Anglican<\/p>\n<p>churches. What is frightening if not dangerous about Guyana is that the<\/p>\n<p>environment has been producing an army of democratic pretenders, ambitious,<\/p>\n<p>opportunistic people, disingenuously socialised with a &#8216;suckingup&#8217; mentality.<\/p>\n<p>These pretenders are generally concerned with fraternising and striking deals<\/p>\n<p>for themselves, family and friends. When it comes to the parties, they are more<\/p>\n<p>concerned with their strategic positioning and advantages against each other<\/p>\n<p>rather than ensuring that political, social and economic space is development<\/p>\n<p>enabling. The challenge therefore is for Guyanese to seriously discuss and<\/p>\n<p>arrive at a set of enforceable values and ethics which should inform a new<\/p>\n<p>political culture. We have to start with the political structures and<\/p>\n<p>processes. An admixture of the principles of republicanism, proportional and<\/p>\n<p>constituency representation seem appropriate. It is imperative that whatever is<\/p>\n<p>accepted must be based on an intent to 1) minimise ethnic cartelisation of<\/p>\n<p>State and its resources; 2) enable all forms of accountability; 3) generate<\/p>\n<p>efficiencies in time use; and 4) cultivate integrity. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-11-22: AFC Column &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Bungling our Divorce Laws will be disastrous especially for our women<\/p>\n<p>and children&#8221; Khemraj Ramjattan, AFC Chairman <\/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'>I rather like the quest of Ms. Manickchand,<\/p>\n<p>our bustling Minister of Human Affairs, to force a debate on the state of our<\/p>\n<p>divorce laws in Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It has been suggested that highlighting this<\/p>\n<p>onto the political agenda at this time is to attenuate the spike in anti-PPP<\/p>\n<p>sentiment which emerged as a result of the bungling by the President on the EPA<\/p>\n<p>issue, and the even greater bungling by His favourite, Mr. R. Persaud, on the<\/p>\n<p>torture issue. These were among some of the minor and major fiascos this<\/p>\n<p>PPP\/Government got roughed up on recently. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This throwing of a cat among the pigeons may<\/p>\n<p>not have created the diversion that the Government intended. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In any event, the fact that it is on the<\/p>\n<p>political agenda means that it must be addressed. I have noticed that a number<\/p>\n<p>of analysts, columnists and interested persons sharing their views one way or<\/p>\n<p>the other. I am happy that they have. I will be even happier still if the state<\/p>\n<p>of our Freedom of Information laws can be nationally debated! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On most issues I have a rather liberal<\/p>\n<p>approach. Not so, however, on issues relating to family, marriage and divorce.<\/p>\n<p>I am very much conservative here, and will willingly accept the consequences<\/p>\n<p>which will follow. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The family has been and will forever be that substantial<\/p>\n<p>cornerstone of human interaction and of civilized community which is a major<\/p>\n<p>source of social cohesion. And one of its foundational pre-requisite is<\/p>\n<p>marriage. By this I mean marriage of the formal legal type. Indeed, I will not<\/p>\n<p>be blind to the fact that there can be a family without a marriage of this<\/p>\n<p>formal legal type. We have many in our country. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But when there is a strengthening of the<\/p>\n<p>institution of marriage, there are stronger families and a healthier happier<\/p>\n<p>community. In my book this is a truth that I need not prove empirically. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Since man and woman who comprise the marriage<\/p>\n<p>union are not angels, it is inevitable that a number of marriages may become<\/p>\n<p>dysfunctional. Dissolving such a failed marriage is thus necessary. Our legal<\/p>\n<p>system in its wisdom made provisions for this, and we call them our divorce<\/p>\n<p>laws. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Our divorce laws, as Ms. Manickchand rightly<\/p>\n<p>points out, are based on the &#8220;Fault&#8221; principle. To obtain a divorce<\/p>\n<p>in this country one party has to prove to the satisfaction of the High Court<\/p>\n<p>one or a combination of these: -cruelty, adultery, or malicious desertion.<\/p>\n<p>These categories each have their special meanings with malicious desertion<\/p>\n<p>being extremely wide in application. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This Fault principle has worked very well for<\/p>\n<p>us, notwithstanding its imperfections. Which legal regime covering the<\/p>\n<p>matrimonial relationship (and especially divorce) will ever be perfect?<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, I know of no recent popular sentiment within any circles &#8211; much<\/p>\n<p>less influential circles &#8211; in our society which have called for a paradigm<\/p>\n<p>shift as is proposed by Ms. Manickchand. But even if I have missed such a<\/p>\n<p>national sentiment, I wish to voice this opinion &#8211; <b>No-fault divorces<\/p>\n<p>will have an extremely adverse impact on marriages and especially women and<\/p>\n<p>children in our society! <o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>When there is a quick-fix by having an easy<\/p>\n<p>exit, the party opting out will not want to give it that extra effort to make<\/p>\n<p>the marriage work and last. The easy exit will cause him\/her to walk in that<\/p>\n<p>direction. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I want to emphasise, further, a point which I<\/p>\n<p>think is being made <i>de minimis by the proponents. No-fault divorce as<\/p>\n<p>proposed in the consultation paper is something of a misnomer. It does not<\/p>\n<p>transfer to the couple the right to determine when a divorce is justified. This<\/p>\n<p>no-fault principle transfers that right to one of the spouses in the union,<\/p>\n<p>that one who wants to go! A more accurate term then to describe what is being<\/p>\n<p>proposed would be &#8211;&#8220;unilateral divorce on demand&#8221;. <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This unilateralism dilutes the institution of<\/p>\n<p>marriage and is a retrograde step. It cheapens and lay to waste the sanctity<\/p>\n<p>and sacredness of marriage. This is unlike fault-divorce which in my view<\/p>\n<p>uphold and lend more respect and responsibility to the institution of marriage,<\/p>\n<p>and consequently discourage the idea of and propensity to divorce. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Moreover, a no-fault divorce will empower the<\/p>\n<p>spouse who wishes to leave the marriage (generally the male here in Guyana);<\/p>\n<p>and, will make powerless the spouse who is being left (generally the female<\/p>\n<p>here in Guyana). This latter will be crushed, made helpless and become<\/p>\n<p>overwhelmned. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There is an erroneous pre-supposition of<\/p>\n<p>equality between husbands and wives, by Ms. Manickchand and those in support of<\/p>\n<p>her, which has no basis in the Guyanese reality. So I want to warn that<\/p>\n<p>no-fault divorce will have our women and their dependents in a disastrously<\/p>\n<p>disadvantaged position. Experience has taught me, even in our existing regime<\/p>\n<p>of Fault divorce, that men&#8217;s standards of living rise after a divorce,<\/p>\n<p>whereas the women&#8217;s plummets. This is simply because women find it<\/p>\n<p>difficult in the job market which they have been out of for years, or never use<\/p>\n<p>to be in because of &#8216;minding the children&#8217; or &#8216;keeping the<\/p>\n<p>house&#8217;. Divorcing husbands end up almost always in an improved financial<\/p>\n<p>situation, while the divorced wives poorer for the divorce. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>President of the Bar Association, Mr. Teny<\/p>\n<p>Housty, has circulated a Research Brief which speaks to the question of how the<\/p>\n<p>divorce rates increase in all countries which have implemented the<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;No-fault divorce&#8221;. It is quite an eye-opener. In Great Britain it<\/p>\n<p>went up by 43%! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Finally, I want to leave with this point.<\/p>\n<p>Children are the greatest sufferers in a divorce, whether it is a Fault or<\/p>\n<p>No-fault divorce! Why then go to No-fault when more children will suffer? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-11-30: AFC Column &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese who depend on monetary assistance-Interview with Dr. Rohan Somar (New<\/p>\n<p>Jersey, USA) President of New York\/New Jersey chapter of the AFC <\/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'>&#8220;Lots of serious effects will follow<\/p>\n<p>the ordinary Guyanese whose dependence, monetarily and otherwise, on relatives<\/p>\n<p>and friends in the Diaspora (especially USA) is very substantial&#8221;. So<\/p>\n<p>said Dr. Rohan Somar in a recent interview when asked a question about the<\/p>\n<p>implications of the global financial crisis on Guyana. &#8220;The serious effects<\/p>\n<p>will arise directly by a drying up of the remittances sent back home to Guyana.<\/p>\n<p>This is so because of the additional burdens of Guyanese in the USA to make<\/p>\n<p>ends meet, and job-layoffs many are suffering from. I foresee literally a 50%<\/p>\n<p>reduction of remittances,&#8221; he said. Dr. Somar, who is the CEO of Saint<\/p>\n<p>Clares Hospital in New Jersey, added that, &#8220;Moreover, there will be a<\/p>\n<p>decrease in aid and debt-relief granted to poorer countries like Guyana because<\/p>\n<p>of the priority of the developed countries to concentrate on their respective<\/p>\n<p>internal economies. This emphasis on a stabilization of their economics will<\/p>\n<p>result in a de-emphasis on economies like Guyana. So debt relief and<\/p>\n<p>development assistance will lessen. There might even be a demand by richer<\/p>\n<p>countries in crisis to demand that poorer countries pay up on outstanding<\/p>\n<p>commitments which will become due soon.&#8221; A major organizer for the Obama<\/p>\n<p>campaign in the New Jersey area, Dr. Somar mentioned, &#8220;Thirdly, this huge<\/p>\n<p>financial shake up will more likely result in a shake down where prices of<\/p>\n<p>food, medicines and specialized services imported into Guyana will skyrocket,<\/p>\n<p>where our exports to these countries primary products will go downwards. What<\/p>\n<p>Guyana must demand is an explanation from the Minister of Finance as to whether<\/p>\n<p>the global financial meltdown will impact Guyanese Banks and how deeply? What<\/p>\n<p>are the Banking regulations controlling capital? Would Government buy out debts<\/p>\n<p>to help avoid a collapse? What protection measures are in place to keep solvent<\/p>\n<p>these Banks so that Depositors&#8217; accounts are not affected? Further it is<\/p>\n<p>important that even if there are no Regulations on this score, how will<\/p>\n<p>Government protect or plan for the protection of especially farmers and<\/p>\n<p>businessmen?&#8221; These questions will be taken by our MPs in Parliament. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-12-7: AFC Column &#8211; In<\/p>\n<p>defence of Sheila&#8230; and in deference to the Diaspora By Khemraj Ramjattan<\/p>\n<p>AFC Chairman <\/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'>I<\/span><\/b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In<\/p>\n<p>politics, the perfect combination of being strategic and principled is what<\/p>\n<p>appeals to the right-thinking community. But working out a formula to get this<\/p>\n<p>perfect combination is so difficult in an ever-changing, dynamic environment. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Some lady-luck, plenty of hard work, and a<\/p>\n<p>heavyweight intellect all help. Obama&#8217;s leadership and his campaign team<\/p>\n<p>got straight &#8216;A&#8217;s on all of the above, and it led to victory. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The best efforts of some, on the other hand,<\/p>\n<p>to get this balance of strategy and principle right can lead to the utterly<\/p>\n<p>unexpected. This oftentimes happens as a result of the mischievous machinations<\/p>\n<p>from quarters least anticipated. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Sheila Holder, one of the principals of the<\/p>\n<p>AFC, some Sundays ago in this column emphasized a point that was most<\/p>\n<p>principled &#8211; there must be adherence to the Rule of Law and to our<\/p>\n<p>Constitution. She then accurately pointed out several Presidential contraventions,<\/p>\n<p>and even one by certain Parliamentarians. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This latter is where our National Assembly is<\/p>\n<p>being seated with disqualified members, they having what is popularly called<\/p>\n<p>dual citizenship. I can think of several PPP\/C Parliamentarians she had in<\/p>\n<p>mind. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>No doubt the topicality of this issue out of<\/p>\n<p>a recent Jamaican case, following an older Trinidadian decision, obviously<\/p>\n<p>sparked her to make mention of it. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Totally valid an issue you may think. Almost<\/p>\n<p>all the Guyanese to whom I spoke, and they were many, said the issue she raised<\/p>\n<p>was a worthy one. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But not so for Mr. Peter Ramsaroop who, to<\/p>\n<p>begin with, ascribed to Sheila a statement that she never made in her column<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; &#8220;anyone with dual citizenship is not allowed to serve in<\/p>\n<p>Government or Parliament&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He then, in my interpretation, chastised her<\/p>\n<p>for bringing to the public domain a breach of the Rule of Law, and proceeds to<\/p>\n<p>advise that &#8220;she cease from pushing the agenda to stop dual citizens from<\/p>\n<p>serving their nation in government&#8221;. Now nowhere in Sheila&#8217;s column<\/p>\n<p>of 2nd November 2008 did I see her pushing any such agenda. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>You see Peter wants her to shut up on the<\/p>\n<p>issue because this disqualification will come back to personally haunt him<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; (now that there are rulings out of T&amp;T and Jamaica as to the interpretation<\/p>\n<p>to be put on article 155(1) (a)) &#8211; in his obvious ambition of wanting to run<\/p>\n<p>for President. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I do understand his concern. But he must not<\/p>\n<p>give it that spin which has spread all over the Diaspora, as a result of his<\/p>\n<p>networking, that the AFC is not inclusive enough to accommodate and court our<\/p>\n<p>overseas based Guyanese. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Of course the AFC has as a top priority the<\/p>\n<p>return of the willing within the Diaspora, and the remitting of their capital<\/p>\n<p>in all forms, (human, financial, and intellectual), to rebuild this destroyed<\/p>\n<p>land. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I made this quite clear, as did Raphael<\/p>\n<p>Trotman and Sheila Holder, on the several overseas fundraisers and meetings.<\/p>\n<p>The AFC, too, is the only political party whose constitution permits overseas<\/p>\n<p>members to contest for seats in its National Executive. We have such a member<\/p>\n<p>presently. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I have been asked the question sometime back,<\/p>\n<p>by a Diaspora member who knows of this disqualification, as to whether the AFC<\/p>\n<p>will lobby for a change to delete this disqualification. I must confess that it<\/p>\n<p>left me uncomfortable. This is the truth. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I recall that my reply to him then was:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Do you think it strategic to raise as an issue now? Lots of local<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese on nationalist grounds may want its retention. It may very well require<\/p>\n<p>a 2\/3 majority plus a referendum.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>His response: &#8220;Oh y&#8217;all want we<\/p>\n<p>money, but not we candidacy!&#8221; Exactly what Peter was not so subtly<\/p>\n<p>daubing on Sheila and the AFC last week. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I struggled back with: &#8220;There are lots<\/p>\n<p>of implications. Logically the claim can be made that overseas voting should be<\/p>\n<p>re-instated.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He was blunt: &#8220;So what wrong with<\/p>\n<p>dat?&#8221; This member turned out to be one of the AFC&#8217;s major<\/p>\n<p>contributors. He still is. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Let me point out that this disqualification<\/p>\n<p>has historical groundings. Former Chief Justice Sharma of T&amp;T set its<\/p>\n<p>origins in 1962 when &#8220;upon attaining Independence nationalist feelings<\/p>\n<p>were high and feelings of patriotism fervent&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Nelson J.A. pointed out the jurisprudential<\/p>\n<p>underpinnings thus: &#8220;the provision was designed to ensure that MPs did<\/p>\n<p>not have a split allegiance and were not, as far as possible, subject to any<\/p>\n<p>improper influence from foreign governments&#8230;The purpose is to prevent<\/p>\n<p>persons with foreign loyalties or obligations from being MPs.&#8221; Michael De<\/p>\n<p>La Bastide C.J. ruled similarly: &#8220;Dual citizenship may create split<\/p>\n<p>loyalties and the potential for a conflict of interest, which are better<\/p>\n<p>avoided in the case of an MP even though acceptable in the case of an ordinary<\/p>\n<p>citizen&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>These dicta will apply to Guyana whose constitutional<\/p>\n<p>provision is almost in exact terms with T.T. and Jamaica. This is thus our law!<\/p>\n<p>When it is contravened, should someone who wants to pick it up and run with not<\/p>\n<p>say so? Sheila felt so and ran with it; and, that is principled. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Peter Ramsaroop felt differently, obviously<\/p>\n<p>for strategic reasons. He wants to be the runaway champion of the Diaspora, and<\/p>\n<p>to leave on the ground Sheila and the AFC as the villains who are not<\/p>\n<p>inclusionary! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He has failed on both fronts! It is rather<\/p>\n<p>surprising to see an apology at this late hour. But it is more surprising to<\/p>\n<p>now learn, from his apology, that one who is in the politics of Guyana for<\/p>\n<p>sometime now was so totally ignorant of this disqualificatory provision &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>Art. 155. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So what is to be done? Should sleeping dogs<\/p>\n<p>lie or should the issue be confronted and resolved satisfactorily? I am<\/p>\n<p>supportive of the latter &#8211; it is both principled and strategic. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And these are my proposals. Firstly, as a<\/p>\n<p>matter of urgency, legal proceedings to settle the meaning of our Art. 155 (1)<\/p>\n<p>should be instituted in our High Court. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And if our Court&#8217;s ruling is similar to<\/p>\n<p>T&amp;T and Jamaica, which undoubtedly is my forecast, it will mean that those<\/p>\n<p>with dual citizenship will be disqualified from our National Assembly. Unless,<\/p>\n<p>of course, they renounce their overseas allegiances. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Secondly, propose a Motion that there be a<\/p>\n<p>deletion of this Art. 155 (1) disqualification, on ground that there is no<\/p>\n<p>longer any patriotic fervour nor nationalistic sentiments these days in Guyana,<\/p>\n<p>like there was in 1966 when the provision had its origins. Guyanese now dream<\/p>\n<p>of leaving the motherland. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Moreover, a President or an MP does not have<\/p>\n<p>to have a dual citizenship to come under the improper influence from foreign<\/p>\n<p>governments. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Those with single citizenship can be as<\/p>\n<p>treasonous, selling out to USA or Russia or China or some such other country.<\/p>\n<p>So the logic, on jurisprudential and historical grounds, that justified the<\/p>\n<p>article&#8217;s existence no longer prevails. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This will specifically address the<\/p>\n<p>Diaspora&#8217;s concerns, especially those who dream of coming back home and<\/p>\n<p>wanting to be candidates for our august Assembly or even the Presidency. I will<\/p>\n<p>have to expect the PPP&#8217;s and PNC&#8217;s support on this one to make it<\/p>\n<p>happen. I doubt it though. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>These parties&#8217; governing cabals will<\/p>\n<p>not want their respective territories to be invaded by overseas interlopers.<\/p>\n<p>How about that for starters, Peter? I rather suspect that you may not care so<\/p>\n<p>much for the first one. <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_i1037&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_43.jpg&#8221;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-12-14: AFC Column &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>Opening Presentation On the Motion &#8220;Access to local and external<\/p>\n<p>television channels, other than NCN channel, at Linden&#8221; by Sheila Holder,<\/p>\n<p>MP <\/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'>Bad Omen <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is a bad omen for all the Guyanese people<\/p>\n<p>when the need has arisen for me to come to the National Assembly to urge Govt<\/p>\n<p>to respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of the people in Linden.<\/p>\n<p>Regrettably, these are the testing times we live in so I have no choice but to<\/p>\n<p>move that: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Whereas Article 146 (1) of the<\/p>\n<p>Constitution of the Republic of Guyana provides for the protection of<\/p>\n<p>fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens and is the supreme law of the land<\/p>\n<p>and directs: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Except with his consent, no person<\/p>\n<p>shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of expression, that is to<\/p>\n<p>say, freedom to hold opinions without interference, freedom to receive ideas<\/p>\n<p>and information without interference, freedom to communicate ideas and<\/p>\n<p>information without interference and freedom from interference with his<\/p>\n<p>correspondence.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;AND WHEREAS the people of Linden and<\/p>\n<p>Wismar have expressed to the leadership of the Alliance For Change their<\/p>\n<p>frustration and anger at being denied the right to access local and external<\/p>\n<p>television channels other than NCN channels 11 and 8 operated by the State,<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;BE IT RESOLED: That the National Assembly endorses the fundamental<\/p>\n<p>rights of these citizens to receive ideas and information without interference<\/p>\n<p>via television media other than those which are provided by NCN. &#8220; BE IT<\/p>\n<p>FURTHER RESOLVED: That the National Assembly calls on the Government of Guyana<\/p>\n<p>and its National Frequency Management Unit to permit operators of private<\/p>\n<p>television channels in Guyana the right to relay and beam their channels in<\/p>\n<p>Linden and Wismar without having to attain addition licences and pay additional<\/p>\n<p>fees. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>(Notice Paper No. 264 (M77 Opp22) <\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>published in the name of Sheila Holder, MP on<\/p>\n<p>2008-07-31 <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>PPPC Government Violates Constitution and<\/p>\n<p>Basic Consumer Protection Rights <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Speaker, apart from Article 146 (1) of<\/p>\n<p>the constitution that enshrines these rights, the right to choose is a basic<\/p>\n<p>consumer protection right that had been fought for, and won, decades ago. What<\/p>\n<p>is even more troubling about this situation is that citizens of Georgetown and,<\/p>\n<p>indeed, citizens of Regions 3, 4, 5, 6 &amp; 9 generally, have access to<\/p>\n<p>several private and foreign television channels as well as the state media<\/p>\n<p>where possible. So to deny the citizens of Linden these same rights when<\/p>\n<p>investors in there are willing to provide such a service; and when licensed<\/p>\n<p>operators of private television stations have expressed a willingness to extend<\/p>\n<p>their services to Region 10, is unlawful, discriminatory and also in breach of<\/p>\n<p>Article 34 of the Constitution, which places the duty on the State to enhance<\/p>\n<p>the cohesiveness of the society by eliminating discriminatory distinctions<\/p>\n<p>between classes, between town and country and between mental and physical<\/p>\n<p>labour. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Constitutional Violations Will Retard<\/p>\n<p>Democratic Development <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But worse than that is the greater cause for<\/p>\n<p>concern which this situation presents in the context of developing our<\/p>\n<p>fledgling democracy since, along with transparency and accountability, freedom<\/p>\n<p>of thought and expression form the very rationale needed for constructing a<\/p>\n<p>democratic society. It was the Commonwealth Law Ministers who declared in 2002<\/p>\n<p>that <b><i>&#8220;The right to access information is an important aspect of<\/p>\n<p>democratic accountability and promotes transparency and encourages full<\/p>\n<p>participation of citizens in the democratic process&#8221;. <\/i><\/b>With the<\/p>\n<p>current policy of monopoly control of the television airwaves in Region 10,<\/p>\n<p>Government has disallowed these citizens from fully participating in the<\/p>\n<p>affairs of their town and country. Therefore, I have no choice but to conclude<\/p>\n<p>that the intent of the Government is to deny citizens of this region the right<\/p>\n<p>to entertain a wide cross section of views emanating from local and foreign<\/p>\n<p>sources in the areas of social, economic, political and cultural spheres; but<\/p>\n<p>more specifically I must conclude that the intent is to foist on the people of<\/p>\n<p>Linden and region No. 10 views emanating only from the Government. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>PPPC Government Discriminates Against<\/p>\n<p>Lindeners And Other Region No. 10 Communities <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This imposition demonstrates beyond a shadow<\/p>\n<p>of doubt that this administration has targeted these citizens for punishment<\/p>\n<p>and is prepared to violate the supreme law of the land to carry out a sort of<\/p>\n<p>vendetta against them. What could have ruffled this PPPC Government to such an<\/p>\n<p>extent? I suggest that the people&#8217;s preference for the AFC over that of<\/p>\n<p>the PPPC, as demonstrated at the last elections is the cause for such<\/p>\n<p>reprehensible behaviour by Government. It is therefore, an act of punishment<\/p>\n<p>being directed at this region. If the intention is to spread fear among the<\/p>\n<p>people; history should tell this Government that they are tangling with the<\/p>\n<p>wrong people because the people of this region are strong willed and spirited<\/p>\n<p>in their independence. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Some in Guyana following<\/p>\n<p>Government&#8217;s Disregard for the Law <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>When a Govt acts as unfairly as this one has<\/p>\n<p>done, it is usually a sign that the end is near; but in the meantime such<\/p>\n<p>vindictiveness has far reaching consequences for the rest of the society. The<\/p>\n<p>evidence of it is all around for us to see in the disregard for the law being<\/p>\n<p>exhibited by the population at large; by the daily display of uncivil and<\/p>\n<p>uncaring behaviour among our people; by the propensity for, and tolerance of,<\/p>\n<p>all sorts of criminal behaviour thereby threatening the very democratic<\/p>\n<p>foundations of the country that, as the Government, they should be attacking<\/p>\n<p>and by their conduct setting the example for the people to follow. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>NCN Angers Berbicians As Well <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Quite frankly, Mr. Speaker, this motion was<\/p>\n<p>brought to the National Assembly because I was alarmed by the anger and strong<\/p>\n<p>feelings expressed by the people in Linden about the quality and standard of<\/p>\n<p>the programmes being aired by NCN television station, while Government has<\/p>\n<p>refused to license other television providers. I see the Berbicians are also<\/p>\n<p>raising their voices against the censorship and bias programming in favour of<\/p>\n<p>the governing political party and directorate. They consider this imposition an<\/p>\n<p>insult to their intelligence. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>NCN Also Treated AFC Unfairly <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We in the AFC understand their anger, because<\/p>\n<p>we have also suffered injustices at the hands of the Government controlled NCN<\/p>\n<p>television and radio during the 2006 elections campaign. The AFC had cause then<\/p>\n<p>to issue a press release dated July 14, 2006 condemning the refusal of the<\/p>\n<p>state&#8217;s media to air our political advertisements on its Voice of Guyana<\/p>\n<p>98.1 FM radio station and our 15 minute TV infomercial programme<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Alliance in the Move&#8221; on their Linden television channel even<\/p>\n<p>though bookings for them had been accepted and paid for. For four weeks NCN<\/p>\n<p>accepted the AFC programmes which were transported to Linden at a cost to AFC<\/p>\n<p>but which NCN, without notification, never aired. When an explanation was<\/p>\n<p>demanded the state media informed us that they had taken the decision not to<\/p>\n<p>air any political Ads until after nomination day. Meanwhile the rates to the<\/p>\n<p>AFC skyrocket by 300%. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Government Violates Human Rights<\/p>\n<p>Conventions by Denying Linden &amp; Region No. 10 Access to Local Television <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>By denying the AFC access to Govt&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>monopoly controlled NCN radio &amp; TV stations this Government violated<\/p>\n<p>several conventions to which it is obligated. Today these violations are<\/p>\n<p>targeting citizens in Linden and Berbice, so I bring to the attention of the<\/p>\n<p>House <b>Article 19 <\/b>of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights that<\/p>\n<p>states: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Everyone has the right to freedom<\/p>\n<p>of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without<\/p>\n<p>interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any<\/p>\n<p>media and regardless of frontiers.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Similarly, Article 19 of the International<\/p>\n<p>Convention on Political &amp; Civil Rights states: <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:l19 level1 lfo18;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><i><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without<\/p>\n<p>interference. <\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><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:l19 level1 lfo18;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;>Everyone shall have the right to freedom of<\/p>\n<p>expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart<\/p>\n<p>information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in<\/p>\n<p>writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his<\/p>\n<p>choice.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The fact that the PPPC party, which fought<\/p>\n<p>for decades to end the trampling of its political rights, should think nothing<\/p>\n<p>of trampling the political rights of others, in particular the Region 10<\/p>\n<p>community, serves greatly to destroy trust in our political process, trust in<\/p>\n<p>the Government and erodes their legitimacy to govern. For what it&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>worth, I urge members on the Government to allow the people of Linden access to<\/p>\n<p>TV channels other than those provided by NCN. I also urge them to show respect<\/p>\n<p>for our constitution and the many international conventions to which Guyana is<\/p>\n<p>obligated. During a recent sitting of the National Assembly we were regaled by<\/p>\n<p>Members Nandalall and Lumumba that this Government&#8217;s aim was to be fair<\/p>\n<p>and lawful. Well, gentlemen you and your Government are being put to the test<\/p>\n<p>and the people are watching to see what you will do. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In closing, Mr. Speaker I&#8217;m proposing<\/p>\n<p>an amendment to the motion standing in my name to include the words &#8216;and<\/p>\n<p>other communities in Region No 10&#8217; in the two relevant clauses of the<\/p>\n<p>motion as requested by residents of Kwakwani and the other Region 10<\/p>\n<p>communities. I close with the words of Ignacio Alvarez, Special Rapporteur for<\/p>\n<p>freedom of Expression, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;&#8230;we are currently<\/p>\n<p>confronted by another failure: &#8220;indirect restrictions&#8221;, the<\/p>\n<p>apparent guise of legality to administratively deny or restrict the freedom of<\/p>\n<p>expression. It is the cosmetics of State demeanour&#8230;&#8221; <\/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'>2008-12-21: AFC Column<\/p>\n<p>-&#8220;VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN&#8221; A presentation to Parliament by AFC<\/p>\n<p>Member of Parliament Mrs.Latchmin Punalall <\/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'>INTRODUCTION: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The motion before the national and highest<\/p>\n<p>legislative body of our dear land recently was &#8220;Violence Against Women In<\/p>\n<p>Observance Of Nov 25<sup>Th<\/sup> International Day For The Elimination Of<\/p>\n<p>Violence Against Women&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It was brought for deliberation by the<\/p>\n<p>Honourable Minister of Human Services &amp; Social Security Ms. Priya<\/p>\n<p>Manickchand. I congratulate her for her bold effort. The AFC stands opposed to<\/p>\n<p>all forms of violence against any category of our citizens, whether it is man<\/p>\n<p>or woman, boy or girl, old or young. In its recently issued statement on the<\/p>\n<p>occasion of the International Day For The Elimination of Violence Against Women<\/p>\n<p>the AFC bemoaned the fact that here in Guyana we have to accept that despite<\/p>\n<p>tremendous strides made, women are still vulnerable to abuse, sexual assault,<\/p>\n<p>discrimination and other forms of abuse which keep them relegated, for the most<\/p>\n<p>part, as second class citizens. Much more has to be done. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>LOOKING BACK: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the motion presented reference is made to<\/p>\n<p>the United Nations Convention Against The Elimination Of All Forms Of<\/p>\n<p>Discrimination Against Women. This is a very historic document which Guyana<\/p>\n<p>signed and ratified on July 17, 1980. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This document was adopted in 1979 by the<\/p>\n<p>United Nations General Assembly and came into force on Sept 3, 1981. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is described as an international bill of<\/p>\n<p>rights for women. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This convention defines discrimination<\/p>\n<p>against women as &#8220;any distinction, exclusion, or restriction made on the<\/p>\n<p>basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the<\/p>\n<p>recognition, enjoyment, or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital<\/p>\n<p>status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and<\/p>\n<p>fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any<\/p>\n<p>other field&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Countries ratifying this convention were<\/p>\n<p>required to enshrine gender equality into their domestic legislation and enact<\/p>\n<p>new laws to guard against discrimination against women. They were also expected<\/p>\n<p>to establish tribunals and public institutions to guarantee women effective<\/p>\n<p>protection from individuals, organizations and enterprises. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>GUYANA&#8217;S RECORD ON VIOLENCE AGAINST<\/p>\n<p>WOMEN: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Guyana has an extremely poor record when it<\/p>\n<p>comes to violence against women and we need to act with great urgency to<\/p>\n<p>improve this record. This record will not be improved by the mere deliberation<\/p>\n<p>and passage of this motion. We desperately need to match our words with action<\/p>\n<p>in this country if we are to move forward. Thus far we have been going<\/p>\n<p>backwards and other countries have come from behind and surpassed us. Laws that<\/p>\n<p>just sit on paper neither worth even the paper they sit upon or the ink with<\/p>\n<p>which they are printed. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>According to statistics released by the<\/p>\n<p>Guyana government on June 12, 2008 there were 3,600 cases of domestic violence<\/p>\n<p>reported in 2007 compared to 1,708 the previous year. This information was<\/p>\n<p>carried in the Guyana Chronicle and the Stabroek News of June 12<sup>th<\/sup>,<\/p>\n<p>2008. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>If we take the hypothetical figure of 1000<\/p>\n<p>cases per year between 1980 when Guyana signed this Convention, and 2005<\/p>\n<p>mathematically it is 25,000 cases. Added to the cases for 2006 and 2007 it will<\/p>\n<p>mean 30,508 cases. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What is more appalling is the fact that many<\/p>\n<p>cases go unreported and unrecorded. Many suffer silently in their homes without<\/p>\n<p>telling anyone. It is like an iceberg which has its major portion submerged. It<\/p>\n<p>is there but it is unseen. This problem is many times more serious than what it<\/p>\n<p>reported to be. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>According to the US Country Reports on Human<\/p>\n<p>Rights Practices for year 2007 domestic violence in Guyana is widespread. At<\/p>\n<p>least one in three Guyanese women has been a victim of domestic violence. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>WISDOM OF INTELLECTUALS IGNORED: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=61<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1038&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_44.jpg&#8221;>One of the reasons why we<\/p>\n<p>have so many cases of domestic violence in this beautiful country is because we<\/p>\n<p>have closed our hearts to the wisdom of the intellectuals. We seem to have lost<\/p>\n<p>important values. Values are like maps in our lives. When we <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>don&#8217;t have them we go astray. Let us<\/p>\n<p>look at what some of our intellectuals of yesteryear had to say on violence:<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mahatma Ghandi, Peace Advocate said<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is<\/p>\n<p>momentary&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Julius K. Nyerere, Politician and first<\/p>\n<p>president of Tanzania said &#8220;Violence is unnecessary and costly. Peace is<\/p>\n<p>the only way&#8221;. <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_i1039&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_45.jpg&#8221;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=48<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1040&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_46.jpg&#8221;>Martin Luther, Religious<\/p>\n<p>Leader said &#8220;Nothing good ever comes out of violence&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Albert Einstein, Scientist said<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Degeneracy follows every autocratic system of violence, for violence<\/p>\n<p>inevitably attracts moral <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>inferiors. Time has proven that illustrious<\/p>\n<p>tyrants are succeeded by scoundrels&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Ralph Waldo Emerson, Philosopher said<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;All violence, all that is dreary and repels, is not power but the<\/p>\n<p>absence of power&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>EXAMPLES OF ABUSED WOMEN: <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_i1041&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_47.jpg&#8221;>I will refer to just three<\/p>\n<p>cases where women were abused into the grave. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Do we remember the name Sade Stoby? In Nov,<\/p>\n<p>2007 this nine year old child was returning from school but never got home <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>alive. She lived at Mocha, EBD. She was<\/p>\n<p>attacked, raped and murdered. Villagers say that young men on drugs would often<\/p>\n<p>climb <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>the mango trees and pounce upon innocent<\/p>\n<p>women as they pass by. Sometimes they will be successful in fighting them off.<\/p>\n<p>Little <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Sade Stoby was certainly no match for three<\/p>\n<p>young men. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Do we remember the name Nafeeza Khan? This 22<\/p>\n<p>year old mother of three was knifed to death on Oct 13, 2008 by her 34 year <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>old reputed husband. She lived at Goed<\/p>\n<p>Fortuin Squatting Area, WBD. Neighbours related that she was often abused by<\/p>\n<p>her <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>husband who was a heavy drinker. They related<\/p>\n<p>that just prior to her demise they went to the welfare department at Vreed-en-<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Hoop and were told that the department does<\/p>\n<p>not have a vehicle and thus could not help them. <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_i1042&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_48.jpg&#8221;>Do you remember the name<\/p>\n<p>Creavorne Thorne? On Thu Nov 27, 2008 her bloated, partly decomposed, half nude<\/p>\n<p>body was fished out of a trench at Thomas Lands in the vicinity of the National<\/p>\n<p>Park. Her body was spotted by a cattle farmer who was grazing <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>his cows near to the trench. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There are many more disturbing cases, the<\/p>\n<p>newspaper tells these real life stories of violence against women daily. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>OUR FUTURE COURSE: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>If our aim is to eliminate violence against<\/p>\n<p>women we must do certain practical things. Unless we can take a course of<\/p>\n<p>positive action this motion, which will was recently passed and many other pieces<\/p>\n<p>of legislation which may already be in existence, will not benefit one single<\/p>\n<p>woman in Guyana. My purpose in mentioning the three foregoing cases is to bring<\/p>\n<p>us to these practical steps:<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Those of us who are considered to be leaders<\/p>\n<p>in our country need to set an example worth emulating. I mean some of us who<\/p>\n<p>even sit in this assembly. Too many of us live by the foolish proverb &#8220;Do<\/p>\n<p>as I say but don&#8217;t do as I do &#8220;. If almighty God was to flash our<\/p>\n<p>life across a screen what will He see? Will He see some of our men here as a<\/p>\n<p>women abusers, heavy drinkers, irresponsible husbands, men who sleep around? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There must be a concerted effort to curb<\/p>\n<p>alcohol consumption in this land. Young Nafeeza was killed by a drunken<\/p>\n<p>husband. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Every effort must be made to end the sale and<\/p>\n<p>consumption of mind damaging and mind controlling drugs such as cocaine,<\/p>\n<p>marijuana etc. Why is it that almost every village in Guyana has a drug yard?<\/p>\n<p>Sade Stoby and many others like her lost their lives to men who were known to<\/p>\n<p>be on drugs. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>CONCLUSION: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The first resolve clause on page 3 calls on<\/p>\n<p>the national assembly (1) to condemn such behaviour as socially and culturally<\/p>\n<p>unacceptable in our society (2) to assist victims to seek help (3) to<\/p>\n<p>consciously develop programmes. It does not require resources to condemn.<\/p>\n<p>Anyone can do this. However to assist victims, and to develop and execute<\/p>\n<p>programmes call for human and financial resources. Is the government of the day<\/p>\n<p>prepared to spend in this area? Will shelters be built to help victims? When the<\/p>\n<p>government signed this convention it committed itself to establish tribunals<\/p>\n<p>and public institutions which can protect women against domestic violence.<\/p>\n<p>After more than two decades of the signing of this Convention our innocent<\/p>\n<p>women are still languishing in bloodshed, murders and other forms of brutality.<\/p>\n<p>Will we see some concrete measures taken to lift our country out of this state<\/p>\n<p>of disrepute and achieve some state of respectability? Success in this area<\/p>\n<p>cannot and will not come if we only speak, and write about this matter. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>My most important submission is reserved for<\/p>\n<p>the last. According to Biblical teaching one of the most heinous sins man can<\/p>\n<p>commit is the shedding of human blood, worse yet the blood of women. Ro 3:15-18<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their<\/p>\n<p>ways; And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before<\/p>\n<p>their eyes&#8221;. When men lack the fear of God they will not think twice to<\/p>\n<p>shed the blood of innocent women. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2008-12-28: Towards a new<\/p>\n<p>political culture: Purification of the State &#8211; an imperative for<\/p>\n<p>democratic reconstruction <\/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'>If we consider the gossips at the rum tables,<\/p>\n<p>samples of private conversations, and the range of complaints and comments in<\/p>\n<p>the media, two things are certain. There are low levels of confidence in the<\/p>\n<p>institutions of governance and the people who manage them. Even personnel<\/p>\n<p>within the systems tend to be cynical. And in regional and international<\/p>\n<p>circles there are pockets of derision of the State. Up to a few days ago, a<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese who represented Guyana at an international forum recently was<\/p>\n<p>narrating that as soon as she entered the forum as a Guyanese to submit her<\/p>\n<p>presentation, sections of the audience were sneering. Further, the very fact<\/p>\n<p>that the President is criticized for direct involvement in different projects<\/p>\n<p>and activities which are responsibilities of other officers of State may not be<\/p>\n<p>an indication of his possible tendencies of personalization and insecurity, or<\/p>\n<p>deficiencies in administrative\/management skills and knowledge, but a<\/p>\n<p>reflection of the character of the State. At least, it seems that not even the<\/p>\n<p>President trusts the State. Wherever a State cannot be trusted within nor<\/p>\n<p>without its ranks, high rates of violence, vigilantisms and disrespect for authority<\/p>\n<p>and individual rights tend to become the predominant modes of conflict<\/p>\n<p>resolution, may it be social, political or economic. In the short-run or<\/p>\n<p>long-run, the violence by the State, against the State, between personalities<\/p>\n<p>or groups, reaches a point where the society becomes tired of the costs so it<\/p>\n<p>explodes. The outcomes are unpredictable, much like the convergence of<\/p>\n<p>circumstances that would determine the scale and intensity of the explosion. In<\/p>\n<p>the case of Haiti, it remained at a low-level cycle of underdevelopment ever<\/p>\n<p>since the revolutionary leaders decimated all the European administrators<\/p>\n<p>within the State in response to the French&#8217;s counter-revolutionary<\/p>\n<p>attempt. Ethiopia is in a similar cycle. The Republic of Congo is quickly<\/p>\n<p>heading there. We see Yugoslavia like the Soviet Union disintegrated into<\/p>\n<p>ethnic territories. But we could also example 15th century England, a most<\/p>\n<p>corrupt, vicious and bankrupt society, which Henry VII stabilized, disciplined,<\/p>\n<p>and set the foundation for the consolidation and development of the United<\/p>\n<p>Kingdom, through reshaping the State, especially the judiciary and the<\/p>\n<p>treasury. We could see significance too in the USA, which held its states<\/p>\n<p>together through processes of transparency and accountability. The crisis of<\/p>\n<p>confidence in the post-colonial Guyanese State is a direct outcome of its<\/p>\n<p>culture of subversive politics, which breeds interpersonal, inter-party, and<\/p>\n<p>inter-group distrust, insecurity, and hypocrisy. Consequently, industrial<\/p>\n<p>relations within the State are characterized by inter-ethnic and inter-party<\/p>\n<p>rivalries, uncertainties, habits of pettiness, resistance and negligence, in<\/p>\n<p>addition to depreciation in ethics, principles and morals. The accumulated<\/p>\n<p>effect of this on the standard of living and quality of life of the society may<\/p>\n<p>not be easily quantified and thus underestimated. But when basic transactions<\/p>\n<p>within the State for an individual which should cost only about $1,000 in time<\/p>\n<p>and money ends up costing let&#8217;s say $20,000, imagine the total cost when<\/p>\n<p>several persons are involved. Time wasted could have been alternatively used.<\/p>\n<p>Money wasted could have been saved. Imagine the psychic cost and industrial<\/p>\n<p>relations environment when a Minister of Government would empower his office<\/p>\n<p>assistant to call up very senior personnel to enquire of their location and<\/p>\n<p>with whom they are with, as if they should report to him. Imagine the impact on<\/p>\n<p>the private sector. It should be realized that the rate of efficiency of the<\/p>\n<p>State directly impacts on the rate of efficiency of the private sector. The<\/p>\n<p>private sector, which is expected to be the engine of economic growth, depends<\/p>\n<p>on the State to process critical elements of its activities. The pace at which<\/p>\n<p>the State conducts its affairs would determine the pace at which the private sector<\/p>\n<p>could function. And that has implications for the business person, such as the<\/p>\n<p>timely satisfying of demand or supply markets. The performance of the State<\/p>\n<p>could also encourage or discourage investment. Several potential investors have<\/p>\n<p>aborted their inclination to invest in Guyana because of transaction costs,<\/p>\n<p>which include time and corruption. In a real way, those decisions have cost<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese employment, income, enhanced Gross National Product (GNP), and the<\/p>\n<p>State a broadened tax base. Further, consider the recurrent cost for<\/p>\n<p>infrastructural works. Roads, for example, which have to be rebuilt<\/p>\n<p>approximately every six months due to deficiencies in design and quality<\/p>\n<p>control. Consider the number of other roads which could have been built.<\/p>\n<p>Purification of the State therefore must be seen as an imperative to (a)<\/p>\n<p>improve economic performance, (b) achieve multi-party respect and support for<\/p>\n<p>the institutions of governance, (c) attract and keep people of integrity as a<\/p>\n<p>means of restoring institutional prestige, reputation, continuity and public<\/p>\n<p>trust, (d) manage and preserve a viable multi-racial democracy that is<\/p>\n<p>socially, politically and economically equitable, and (e) shape the society<\/p>\n<p>into a strong nation state. Purification means (a) shedding the State of its<\/p>\n<p>low-life characteristics, (b) promoting managers\/administrators who could<\/p>\n<p>withstand professional and public scrutiny, (c) promoting strong personalities<\/p>\n<p>and critical thinkers to the helm of the State, to enhance the forecasting,<\/p>\n<p>evaluative and negotiating capacity of the State, and (d) unlearning the<\/p>\n<p>subversive propensities by promoting the high level aspirations of the nation.<\/p>\n<p>On entering the State system one should be relatively certain that by<\/p>\n<p>professional diligence, efficiency and continuous education, he could attain<\/p>\n<p>the pinnacle of his profession, rather than mastering the art of hypocrisy and<\/p>\n<p>opportunism. At a minimum, the system must be such that irrespective of<\/p>\n<p>one&#8217;s prejudices he is constrained to function according to best<\/p>\n<p>practices. Take for instance, changes in the arena of public transportation.<\/p>\n<p>There are documented cases of chauffeurs conducting their businesses according<\/p>\n<p>to ethnic\/racial bias. However, with increased competition among transportation<\/p>\n<p>suppliers across ethnic lines, the focus has become optimization of earnings by<\/p>\n<p>any passenger necessary. This kind of outcome does not only reduce inter-ethnic<\/p>\n<p>resentment, but enhance economic efficiencies through faster transaction rates,<\/p>\n<p>movement of people, and reduced average production cost of services.<\/p>\n<p>Purification must begin with the process of appointments. No longer must<\/p>\n<p>appointments to the commissions, etc., be outcomes of backdoor discussions<\/p>\n<p>between leaders of the government and opposition. A process of openness must be<\/p>\n<p>introduced, where nomination is publicly known and debated and finally approved<\/p>\n<p>by at least 2\/3 of Parliament. Such a process would not only add legitimacy and<\/p>\n<p>credibility to the offices but generate public trust and create an environment<\/p>\n<p>for the ambitious to construct their ambitions on the basis of high level<\/p>\n<p>values. Actions must be taken to let this happen at the earliest since a State<\/p>\n<p>deficient in integrity cannot protect its people. The nation must be mobilized;<\/p>\n<p>the outcomes may be revolutionary or reformative. It&#8217;s time. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-1-11: AFC Column &#8211; An<\/p>\n<p>Opinion on the debate in the National Assembly on the &#8216;Childcare &amp;<\/p>\n<p>Protection Agency&#8217; Bill No 26 of 2008 by AFC Vice-Chair Sheila Holder, MP<\/p>\n<p>Thursday, January 08, 2009 <\/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'>Establishment of a Child Care Protection<\/p>\n<p>Agency by Minister conflicts with Constitutional Provisions <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>If one were to look at the &#8216;Child Care<\/p>\n<p>&amp; Protection Agency&#8217; bill proposed by Priya Manickchand Minister of<\/p>\n<p>Human Service &amp; Social Security (MHSSS) as a stand alone piece of<\/p>\n<p>legislation, one could hardly find fault with it. However, we in the AFC are in<\/p>\n<p>no position to do so since the Constitution directs otherwise via Articles 212U<\/p>\n<p>&amp; V. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>When you examine these articles on The<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Rights of the Child Commission&#8217; (RoCC), you will observe that it<\/p>\n<p>is this Commission that has the mandate to promote initiatives to enhance the<\/p>\n<p>well-being of children as well as provide oversight for their implementation<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; not the Minister of HSSS in spite of all her good intentions. It is<\/p>\n<p>this Commission that should have had a say, and made recommendations on, bill<\/p>\n<p>No. 26 of 2008 since the Constitution directs the format for devising childcare<\/p>\n<p>policy should be broad based, reflect the views of entities in the NGO sector,<\/p>\n<p>religious community among others, and comprise persons possessing expertise in<\/p>\n<p>issues affecting children. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Articles 212U &amp; V provide for an input<\/p>\n<p>from the State in matters pertaining to the care and protection of children<\/p>\n<p>through the Ministry of Education; but it does not provide for unilateral or<\/p>\n<p>autocratic action on the part of the HSSS Minister. The enactment of this bill<\/p>\n<p>is therefore particularly distasteful, especially since the HSSS Minister is a<\/p>\n<p>member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee responsible for appointing<\/p>\n<p>members to Commissions and has not persuaded her PPPC colleagues serving on<\/p>\n<p>this Committee to abandon their stance of holding out against the position of<\/p>\n<p>the PNCR-1G. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>PPPC\/PNCR1G Parliamentary Impasse holding<\/p>\n<p>Back Establishment of ERC and Four Rights Commissions <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>For several years the PPPC and the PNCR have<\/p>\n<p>disagreed regarding the right of the Inter-religious Organisation (IRO) to be<\/p>\n<p>one of over 150 civil society entities determined by the National Assembly to<\/p>\n<p>be consulted by a consensual mechanism in order to get established the Ethnic<\/p>\n<p>Relations Commission and the four Rights Commissions; the latter being the<\/p>\n<p>Human Rights Commission, the Women &amp; Gender Equality Commission, the<\/p>\n<p>Indigenous Peoples&#8217; Commission and the Rights of the Child Commission. As<\/p>\n<p>a consequence these constitutional Commissions, which are mandated to promote<\/p>\n<p>and enhance fundamental Rights and the rule of law in Guyana, have not been<\/p>\n<p>established. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Government Not Upholding Tenets of<\/p>\n<p>Constitution <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To state the obvious, the Government has a<\/p>\n<p>duty to uphold the tenets of our Constitution, the principal political<\/p>\n<p>objective of which has been laid down in Article 13 placing the duty on the<\/p>\n<p>State for establishing an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing<\/p>\n<p>opportunities for the participation of citizens, and their organisations, in<\/p>\n<p>the management and decision-making processes of the State. This bill failed to<\/p>\n<p>meet the standard for its formulation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As an aside, it seems to me that Article 13<\/p>\n<p>and its objectives have been virtually abandoned by civil society having failed<\/p>\n<p>to persuade successive PPPC governments to uphold its principles since<\/p>\n<p>enactment in 2001. From time to time I have publicly blamed the PNCR for its<\/p>\n<p>stand on the IRO; but the responsibility resides with the Government for<\/p>\n<p>establishing the ERC and the Rights Commissions as the &#8216;buck stops with<\/p>\n<p>the PPPC&#8217;. Far more troubling to the AFC is the fact that this Government<\/p>\n<p>is habitually breaching the constitution. Under these circumstances, the AFC<\/p>\n<p>cannot be complicit with such autocratic conduct on the part of the HSSS<\/p>\n<p>Minister or we too would be failing in our duty to the people. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Majoritarian Form of Governance not in<\/p>\n<p>Accord with Article 13 <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is obvious to me that this Government<\/p>\n<p>embraces an unenlightened majoritarian form of governance rather than the<\/p>\n<p>consensus model that is more in keeping with parliamentary democracy considered<\/p>\n<p>to be closest to &#8220;Government by the people and for the people&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>This is the model that Article 13 of our Constitution directs us to embrace.<\/p>\n<p>Regrettaby, this is not being upheld in the way the country is being governed.<\/p>\n<p>The consequences of which to the Guyanese society are manifested in the<\/p>\n<p>inability of Government to deliver better governance, economic development,<\/p>\n<p>poverty reduction and accountability to the people for the decisions and<\/p>\n<p>actions taken in their name. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But this will soon change, I believe, because<\/p>\n<p>the eyes of the people are being painfully pried opened as a result of the<\/p>\n<p>deleterious consequences they are being made to suffer as a result of the kind<\/p>\n<p>of insular approach to problem solving and autocratic conduct that this bill<\/p>\n<p>represents. Let me make it clear institutionalizing an agency for the care and<\/p>\n<p>protection of children will always be welcomed by the AFC; but we doubt that<\/p>\n<p>such an agency will achieve the buy-in necessary for the institution&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>successful implementation of its mandate in its current form falling as it<\/p>\n<p>does, outside the constitutional framework envisaged by the framers and<\/p>\n<p>provided for in sections (f) of Article 212V, that clearly defines the<\/p>\n<p>functions of the Rights of the Child Commission thus: &#8211;<i>&#8220;To monitor,<\/p>\n<p>evaluate and make recommendations on policies, procedures and practices of<\/p>\n<p>organisations, bodies and institutions in order to promote the rights of the<\/p>\n<p>child&#8221;. <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Minister Usurping Role of Rights of the<\/p>\n<p>Child Commission <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In several sections of this bill the Minister<\/p>\n<p>is positioned as a one-woman &#8216;Rights of the Child Commission&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>taking upon herself the functions of this Commission. In responding to my<\/p>\n<p>submission, Minister Priya Manickchand placed my comments out of context<\/p>\n<p>claiming my expectations were that the &#8216;Rights of the Child<\/p>\n<p>Commission&#8217; should perform the functions she proposed for the Child Care<\/p>\n<p>and Protection agency. I did so such thing; rather I sought to highlight her<\/p>\n<p>usurpation of the role of the &#8216;Rights of the Child Commission&#8217; and<\/p>\n<p>the propensity of the PPPC to behave in an exclusionary and autocratic manner. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Call for Reintroduction of Income Tax<\/p>\n<p>Allowances for Children <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In closing, I advised Minister Manickchand<\/p>\n<p>that if she really wanted to make a significant and favourable impact on the<\/p>\n<p>welfare of children in Guyana she should persuade her Government to reintroduce<\/p>\n<p>income tax allowances for children to ease the burden on parents struggling to<\/p>\n<p>raise their children on starvation wages. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-1-18: AFC Column &#8211; Executive<\/p>\n<p>lawlessness is the order of the day By Khemraj Ramjattan AFC Chairman <\/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 Trade Union Recognition (Amendment) Bill<\/p>\n<p>No. 25 of 2008 was the source of much controversy in Parliament recently. The<\/p>\n<p>Government&#8217;s entire motive of wanting a quick passage was to degut the<\/p>\n<p>Trade Union Congress of its powers to appoint nominees on the Recognition and<\/p>\n<p>Certification Board. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This Board must be stacked, in accordance<\/p>\n<p>with the gospel of Freedom House&#8217;s democratic centralism, with loyalists.<\/p>\n<p>Loyalists will be nominated by FITUG; not the TUC. So get rid of the TUC by<\/p>\n<p>changing the law. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What is the change? Effectively, it is<\/p>\n<p>deleting the words &#8211; &#8220;such associations as in the Minister&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>opinion are the most representative associations of trade unions&#8221; and replacing<\/p>\n<p>with the words &#8211; &#8220;the most representative organizations of<\/p>\n<p>workers.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC has always been dissatisfied with the<\/p>\n<p>state of disunity of the labour movement. The source of this disunity falls<\/p>\n<p>straight into the laps of the divisive power-politics of the PNC then, and the<\/p>\n<p>PPP\/C now. We are happy to see movement towards unity under President Gillian<\/p>\n<p>Burton&#8217;s stewardship of the TUC &#8211; though same is excruciatingly<\/p>\n<p>slow. She has been identifying and being constructively critical of the personality<\/p>\n<p>hurdles which must be crossed before resolution of this perennial problem. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It was for this reason that the AFC proposed<\/p>\n<p>an amendment to the Bill no. 25 of 2008 to include both &#8220;the<\/p>\n<p>representative association of trade unions&#8221; and &#8220;the representative<\/p>\n<p>organizations of workers.&#8221; Effectively, our position was that nominees<\/p>\n<p>must come from the Minister after consultation with both TUC and FITUG. This<\/p>\n<p>was far more inclusionary than just having singularly FITUG or the TUC naming<\/p>\n<p>the nominees. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But &#8220;No!&#8221; to such an amendment,<\/p>\n<p>said the Government. The PPP\/C does not give an inch. Its siege-mentality which<\/p>\n<p>results in either its way or no other way is going to consume us all. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Additionally, a proposal to defer the Bill to<\/p>\n<p>allow consultation with the TUC was argued for. This was so, also, in view of<\/p>\n<p>the TUC&#8217;s intended ousting from its status quo, and in view of the known<\/p>\n<p>fact that consultation with the TUC as regards this particular Bill was in<\/p>\n<p>serious deficit. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The propaganda of Minister Manzoor Nadir must<\/p>\n<p>be taken with a pinch of salt &#8211; epsom salt. This specific Bill was only<\/p>\n<p>laid in Parliament on 18th December, 2008, the very heart of the holiday<\/p>\n<p>season. Yet he argues that consultation was had since 2006. Mr. Nadir must<\/p>\n<p>realize that that was another Bill with major variance from this; although, I<\/p>\n<p>will concede, with the identical motive as this one of 2008. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Consultation with stakeholders in a matter<\/p>\n<p>which affects or impacts them has been provided for in our Constitution. Mr.<\/p>\n<p>Chase SC, Mr. Ramson and Mr V. Persaud in 1987 representing Mohamed Allie, (and<\/p>\n<p>if I may say so, the entire PPP, GAWU, NAACIE, and CCWU), realized one of our<\/p>\n<p>Court of Appeal&#8217;s finest rulings in its entire history in the case of<\/p>\n<p>Attorney General v M. Allie (1989) LRC [Const] 478 when they successfully argued<\/p>\n<p>that the constitutional principle of consultation was justifiable. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Let me just remind what was the Court&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>ruling. &#8220;The words &#8220;trade unions&#8230;.are entitled to participate<\/p>\n<p>in the decision-making processes of the State&#8221; provide a manifest and<\/p>\n<p>unequivocal grant of a clearly defined right which was enjoyable at present,<\/p>\n<p>and it was the Court&#8217;s duty to consider the relevance of Article 11, [now<\/p>\n<p>article 149C], when determining the validity or invalidity of legislation that<\/p>\n<p>directly affected the consultative role of trade unions.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Chancellor Keith Massiah was at his best when<\/p>\n<p>he said: &#8220;the consultative role assigned to trade unions and other<\/p>\n<p>organizations under Article 11 is an exemplification of the political theory<\/p>\n<p>that considers the involvement of the people in national affairs to be a sine<\/p>\n<p>qua non of a democracy.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And then again when he came down to his<\/p>\n<p>determination: &#8220;The Minister caused Parliament to be in breach of the<\/p>\n<p>Constitution when he denied the trade unions the right to which they are<\/p>\n<p>entitled there under [i.e. consultation] in relation to important matters that<\/p>\n<p>relate to one of their fundamental objectives &#8211; collective<\/p>\n<p>bargaining.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This jurisprudence remains with us up to<\/p>\n<p>today and ought to be until eternity. But notwithstanding quoting these passages<\/p>\n<p>in the Assembly and referring the case to the Speaker of the House, the PPP\/C<\/p>\n<p>members booed and said through the heckling of Neil Kumar and, just imagine,<\/p>\n<p>Komal Chand and Donald Ramotar, that: &#8220;Duh don&#8217;t apply now!&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I fought against this inconsistent double-speak<\/p>\n<p>and outrageous hypocrisy while within the PPP\/C&#8217;s ranks &#8211; and was<\/p>\n<p>expelled as a result. But those left in there continue this abysmally reckless<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;groupthink&#8221;, as Ian Mc Donald so wonderfully describes it in a<\/p>\n<p>recent column. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In 1992, at the Institute of Advanced Legal<\/p>\n<p>Studies, University of London, I was so full of pride upon hearing Mr. Peter E.<\/p>\n<p>Slinn and Professor James Read, General Editors of the Law Reports of the<\/p>\n<p>Commonwealth, both paying tribute to the work of the advocates and especially the<\/p>\n<p>brilliant judgement of Chancellor Massiah in this case. Mr. Slinn mentioned<\/p>\n<p>that it was one of the finest judgements from the Commonwealth with a high<\/p>\n<p>class articulation and an impeccable reasoning. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But quoting passages from this landmark case<\/p>\n<p>to the PPP\/C Parliamentarians was like casting pearls to pigs! To further<\/p>\n<p>entrench the justifiability of consultation as a governance principle, the last<\/p>\n<p>constitutional reform process made sure that it was given a definition in<\/p>\n<p>Article 232. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There must be an affording of a reasonable<\/p>\n<p>opportunity for the persons or entities consulted to express a considered<\/p>\n<p>opinion on the matter; and the preparation and archiving of a written record of<\/p>\n<p>the consultation; and a circulation of this to the persons or entities <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>consulted. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Nadir did none of these things! His<\/p>\n<p>conduct was thus unconstitutional; and, will result in the Bill being so<\/p>\n<p>declared. This illegality comes so close after the fiasco of giving away<\/p>\n<p>concessions to Queens Atlantic when there was in place no law to do so. The<\/p>\n<p>Minister of Finance had to pass legislation to legalise this illegality. Now<\/p>\n<p>who in their right minds would want to deny that executive lawlessness is<\/p>\n<p>indeed the order of the day? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-1-25: AFC Column<\/p>\n<p>-IT&#8217;S ABOUT TIME THAT THE TRUTH BE TOLD <\/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 SUGAR INDUSTRY: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is about time that the truth be told as to<\/p>\n<p>the status of Guyana&#8217;s sugar industry and the reasons for its rapid<\/p>\n<p>downward slide in recent months. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC was belligerently chastised by the<\/p>\n<p>Government and Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) some months ago when it<\/p>\n<p>brought the public&#8217;s attention to the huge problems facing the new<\/p>\n<p>Skeldon Factory, and the sugar workers&#8217; miserable working conditions. But<\/p>\n<p>it feels vindicated now that there have been admissions forced out of the<\/p>\n<p>Minister of Agriculture and GuySuCo officials that huge problems exist, so much<\/p>\n<p>so that the entire Board has had to be overhauled. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC believes that the measures being<\/p>\n<p>taken by the Government are indicative of its absolute controlling demeanour.<\/p>\n<p>It was the controlling demeanour that got the industry into the problems in the<\/p>\n<p>first place. The Government does not want to cultivate collegial deliberation,<\/p>\n<p>genuine debate as to where the industry should go, and professionalism within<\/p>\n<p>the upper eschelons of GuySuCo&#8217;s Board and Management. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It wants only to direct and give<\/p>\n<p>instructions. This approach will realize the demise of this great industry.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, to cover up Government&#8217;s visionless leadership of the industry<\/p>\n<p>by blaming the past Board members some of whom were sinecures, in Donald<\/p>\n<p>Ramotar, Komal Chand, Badri Persaud and Dr. Raj Singh, all PPP big wigs, will<\/p>\n<p>not mean any forward movement for the industry. The root causes for<\/p>\n<p>sugar&#8217;s decline will not be identified, much less targeted by such<\/p>\n<p>artifices. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The time is now when a full, frank, fearless<\/p>\n<p>and robust examination of the ills of the industry should be done; and, when<\/p>\n<p>honest recommendations as to what should be done to remedy this precarious<\/p>\n<p>situation. But this, the AFC believes, will not happen. Such an examination<\/p>\n<p>will expose grave incompetence and mediocrity of leadership and management by<\/p>\n<p>the PPP\/C Government &#8211; directly and vicariously. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Such an examination may spill the beans on<\/p>\n<p>the issue as to who made the decision, (and why it was made), to grant the<\/p>\n<p>Chinese consortium the contract to build the new factory, changing from the<\/p>\n<p>solid and dependable Indian firm which has built several factories before in a<\/p>\n<p>number of countries. Such an examination may result in shocking revelations of<\/p>\n<p>corruption, such as under pricing to some regional markets. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>THE AFC&#8217;S ELECTION PETITION &#8211; REGION<\/p>\n<p>10 SEAT: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The present logjam in the High Court is being<\/p>\n<p>given as the reason why no movement forward is being made with the election<\/p>\n<p>Petition instituted by Walter Melville on behalf of the AFC concerning the<\/p>\n<p>Region 10 Parliamentary Seat. This seat is presently being occupied by Prime<\/p>\n<p>Minister Sam Hinds of the PPP\/C. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The case which got stuck after certain<\/p>\n<p>preliminary submissions by GECOM and PPP\/C lawyers, (bent on not wanting to get<\/p>\n<p>on with the substantive issues), when it was before Chief Justice Carl Singh,<\/p>\n<p>got further stuck when the Chief Justice became Acting Chancellor. This was as<\/p>\n<p>a result of a ruling of Justice Ramlall who held that the Acting Chancellor<\/p>\n<p>cannot step down from the Court of Appeal to preside over High Court matters. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The case will have to be re-heard all over<\/p>\n<p>again by a High Court Judge who is either going to be Acting Chief Justice Ian<\/p>\n<p>Chang or someone assigned by him. Mr. Chang recently indicated that a date will<\/p>\n<p>soon be set. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Acting Chief Justice&#8217;s difficulty<\/p>\n<p>in fixing an early date is understandable. There is a deficiency of Judges in<\/p>\n<p>the High Court. This deficiency, the AFC feels, is being deliberately prolonged<\/p>\n<p>by the President because in the face of several recommendations for judgeships<\/p>\n<p>made some months now by the Judicial Service Commission, the President has not<\/p>\n<p>seen it fit to appoint or swear in those recommended. Hopefully, this will<\/p>\n<p>happen very soon. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>DISCRIMINATION BY GUYOIL: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Several independent gas station owners in<\/p>\n<p>Corentyne, Berbice, have complained to the AFC that Guyoil recently has stopped<\/p>\n<p>distributing kerosene to their gas stations. Guyoil, however, continues to<\/p>\n<p>distribute dieseline and gasoline. Guyoil tankers are only distributing<\/p>\n<p>kerosene to designated Guyoil gas stations which amount to seven and which are<\/p>\n<p>situated at Canje, Fyrish, Belvedere, Port Mourant, Wellington Park and No. 50<\/p>\n<p>Village. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Consumers not living close to these Guyoil<\/p>\n<p>gas stations have to pay an additional transportation cost to get their<\/p>\n<p>kerosene. And some have resorted to using dieselene with salt on their stoves. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>These independent gas station owners who also<\/p>\n<p>have tankers which could transport kerosene from the New Amsterdam Guyoil<\/p>\n<p>Terminal are also not being sold any kerosene at the New Amsterdam Terminal,<\/p>\n<p>only dieseline and gasoline. When these owners attempt to transport the<\/p>\n<p>kerosene from Georgetown to the Corentyne, they are stopped from crossing the<\/p>\n<p>Transport and Harbours Ferry at Rosignol. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This bottleneck in the distribution of<\/p>\n<p>kerosene has seen long lines at Guyoil Stations and frustration by Berbicians.<\/p>\n<p>The independent gas stations owners feel Guyoil is playing politics with<\/p>\n<p>kerosene and are indeed very inflamed by this patent discriminatory practice of<\/p>\n<p>Guyoil. The AFC calls on Guyoil, the Government owned oil distributing company,<\/p>\n<p>to bring a halt to such discrimination. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>THE AFC CALLS FOR LOWERING OF BERBICE<\/p>\n<p>BRIDGE FARES: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Alliance For Change, after careful study,<\/p>\n<p>has concluded that the fare structure in place for the Berbice Bridge is unduly<\/p>\n<p>and unjustifiably high and therefore prohibitive for commuters. In March 10,<\/p>\n<p>2006, in a GINA release, it was stated that Head of the Privatisation Unit,<\/p>\n<p>Winston Brassington, had indicated that the tolls for traversing the Berbice<\/p>\n<p>River Bridge, starting from 2008, will not be substantially different from the<\/p>\n<p>ferry fares. To quote Mr. Brassington and the release: &#8220;In terms of the<\/p>\n<p>total amount that they (passengers) pay to cross the bridge, on average, we<\/p>\n<p>don&#8217;t expect that this amount will be substantially different from that<\/p>\n<p>which they are paying to use the ferry,&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The release went on to state that Mr.<\/p>\n<p>Brassington was of the considered opinion that comparably, the two fares, that of<\/p>\n<p>the current ferry operation and the fares set for the Berbice Bridge, the<\/p>\n<p>amount vehicles pay in addition to the fares of the passengers in the vehicle,<\/p>\n<p>would be almost the same as the one fare that will be charged to cross the<\/p>\n<p>Bridge. It was publicly stated that the project is structured on the projection<\/p>\n<p>of traffic and it is expected that the fare would go down in time. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Did Mr. Brassington lie to the nation then?<\/p>\n<p>He is called upon to explain and clarify his statements in view of what has<\/p>\n<p>happened now. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is therefore mind-boggling that there have<\/p>\n<p>been astronomical hikes in the fares and the Government owes the people an<\/p>\n<p>explanation as to why this is so. Simply dismissing the calls for a reduction<\/p>\n<p>as the President recently did, is contemptuous of the people and of the norms<\/p>\n<p>of good business planning. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The public is left to believe that the<\/p>\n<p>Government is deliberately charging a rate which is far in excess of an<\/p>\n<p>allowable rate of return on the investment. In this regard, the AFC supports<\/p>\n<p>the call for the rate-setting functions of the bridge to be subject to the<\/p>\n<p>regulation of the Public Utilities Commission Act. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The demand for the payment of very high fares<\/p>\n<p>is unconscionable when taken alongside the illegal decision to ban the carriage<\/p>\n<p>of small vehicles by the Transport &amp; Harbours Department Rosignol\/NA Ferry<\/p>\n<p>Service. The decision to place a ban on small vehicles is obviously intended to<\/p>\n<p>compel persons to use the bridge to ensure high profits, and has robbed<\/p>\n<p>thousands of Guyanese of the freedom of choice. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This Governmental intervention of forcing a<\/p>\n<p>market to deal with a monopoly, which it can exploit through high rates, is<\/p>\n<p>favouritism towards a friendly monopoly. This favouritism was not part of the<\/p>\n<p>deal when the contract to build was signed. To allow such high rates is thus<\/p>\n<p>tantamount to a form of taxation on the backs of bridge-users. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC strongly believes that citizens have<\/p>\n<p>a constitutional right to use any public service being offered. No Government<\/p>\n<p>has the legal authority to dissuade or compel persons to use or not use a<\/p>\n<p>service which is a public one. The AFC will seek advice and support for a Court<\/p>\n<p>challenge to this ban on the basis that it is discriminatory, and<\/p>\n<p>unconstitutional. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>THE COASTAL FLOODING: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The recent suffering experienced again by thousands<\/p>\n<p>of farmers and villagers on our coastlands, as a result of prolonged flooding<\/p>\n<p>in several regions, has pointed to Governmental incompetence in managing the<\/p>\n<p>country&#8217;s drainage system. Further, it highlights the weaknesses in our<\/p>\n<p>governance and electoral systems to hold the Government accountable. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Over the years Government has opted to expend<\/p>\n<p>hundreds of millions of dollars on non-essential events intended, no doubt to<\/p>\n<p>serve as an opiate for the people instead of pumping the required funds into<\/p>\n<p>maintaining and\/or increasing the retention capacity of village canals and<\/p>\n<p>de-silting outfalls to avoid flooding given evidence of climate change. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The fact that a significant number of the<\/p>\n<p>people affected over the years, has opted to re-elect this Government, correlates<\/p>\n<p>with the latter&#8217;s disincentive to utilize required public funds to attend<\/p>\n<p>to the country&#8217;s drainage and irrigation problems. We call for optimal<\/p>\n<p>use of available local technical human resources to help in strategizing the<\/p>\n<p>best possible solutions in alleviating such disasters. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-2-1: AFC Column &#8211; Our<\/p>\n<p>MPs are answerable only to the Integrity Commission <\/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 AFC has sought, and obtained, independent<\/p>\n<p>legal advice on the Integrity Commission Act of 1997, and the powers if any<\/p>\n<p>that the President of Guyana has over the Commission and &#8220;public<\/p>\n<p>officials&#8221; as defined in the Act. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We have been advised that the Commission was<\/p>\n<p>intended to operate independently from the influence of any person, including<\/p>\n<p>the President of the Republic. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This is clearly stated in Section 8 (3) of<\/p>\n<p>the Act, which makes it pellucid that &#8220;in the exercise and discharge of<\/p>\n<p>its functions, the Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control<\/p>\n<p>of any other person or authority.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Section 13 of the Act creates the statutory<\/p>\n<p>obligation for public officials, including Members of Parliament, to file<\/p>\n<p>declarations of their assets. It is this Section which delineates the functions<\/p>\n<p>of the Commission, and that of the President of the Republic. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Section 13 states that public officials shall<\/p>\n<p>file with the Commission a declaration&#8230;and each of the Members of the<\/p>\n<p>Commission shall file with the President similar declarations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Therefore, it is clear that the President has<\/p>\n<p>jurisdiction, or legal authority, only over members of the Commission. His<\/p>\n<p>authority is limited to them only. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;(1) every person who is a person in<\/p>\n<p>public life, not being a member of the Commission, shall-<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>a) each year, on or before on or before such<\/p>\n<p>date as may be specified by the Commission with reference to that year; and <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>b) where such person ceases to be a person in<\/p>\n<p>public life, within thirty days from the date on which the person ceases to be<\/p>\n<p>a person in public life, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>file with the Commission a declaration containing<\/p>\n<p>the particulars referred to in subsection (4) with reference to the relevant<\/p>\n<p>date; and each of the members of the Commission shall file with the President<\/p>\n<p>similar declarations on or before the dates on which such declarations are<\/p>\n<p>required by other persons in public life.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The wording of Section 18 which speaks of<\/p>\n<p>requests reinforces this point when it states &#8220;The Commission or<\/p>\n<p>President, as the case may be, may request a declarant to furnish such further<\/p>\n<p>particulars&#8230;&#8221; The words &#8220;as the case may be&#8221; are<\/p>\n<p>intended to mean that if the public officials fail to provide their<\/p>\n<p>information, then the Commission may request that they do, and if the<\/p>\n<p>Commissioners themselves fail to file then the President is the person who may<\/p>\n<p>require them to make their declarations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The President, and Government of Guyana, are<\/p>\n<p>well aware that the functioning of the Integrity Commission was in crisis years<\/p>\n<p>ago and that a study was commissioned to make recommendations. The<\/p>\n<p>understanding was that the Commission was broken beyond repair and had to be<\/p>\n<p>reinvented. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The New Zealand consultancy firm Bradford<\/p>\n<p>&amp; Associates submitted 11 specific recommendations, which the Government of<\/p>\n<p>Guyana indicated to the World Bank it would adopt, and went as far as<\/p>\n<p>submitting an Action Plan for implementation of these recommendations in 2006.<\/p>\n<p>The recommendations made in 2006, and which remain unimplemented, 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:l4 level1 lfo19;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;>There should be a move to a disclosure regime that<\/p>\n<p>requires collection of personal asset financial data, plus a declaration of<\/p>\n<p>personal interest. <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:l4 level1 lfo19;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;>Publication of Personal Interest Information on an<\/p>\n<p>annual basis but not financial details of assets. <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:l4 level1 lfo19;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;>Reduce the number of public office holders that are<\/p>\n<p>required to submit returns. <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:l4 level1 lfo19;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;>The disclosure regime of MPs should be managed by a<\/p>\n<p>registrar in the Clerk of Parliament&#8217;s Office. <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:l4 level1 lfo19;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;>It should be agreed that the disclosure regime of<\/p>\n<p>public servants, office holders of State agencies, and key executives of RDCs<\/p>\n<p>be managed by the Integrity Commission. <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:l4 level1 lfo19;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;>The Commission should be expanded along the lines of<\/p>\n<p>the Trinidad &amp; Tobago Commission to take on four roles: Prevention,<\/p>\n<p>Investigation, Enforcement and Enlistment of Public Support. <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:l4 level1 lfo19;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;>A new group of four Commissioners should be appointed<\/p>\n<p>with experience in chartered accountancy, judicial office, governmental<\/p>\n<p>administration and business management. <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:l4 level1 lfo19;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;>The appointment of the Commissioners should be carried<\/p>\n<p>out by the Parliamentary Appointments Committee. <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:l4 level1 lfo19;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;>On appointment, the new Chair should spend time with<\/p>\n<p>the Trinidad &amp; Tobago Commission to understand their systems, their<\/p>\n<p>education programmes and the business plan that it has prepared. <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:l4 level1 lfo19;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;>The Office of the Auditor General should be nominated<\/p>\n<p>as the liaison agency for the Integrity Commission. <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:l4 level1 lfo19;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>11.<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;>That the responsibility for funding the Commission be<\/p>\n<p>consistent with it being treated as an independent oversight agency of<\/p>\n<p>Parliament and not an agency of the Office of the President.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is now for the Government to state to the<\/p>\n<p>nation why after agreeing to these 11 changes it has failed and\/or refused to<\/p>\n<p>implement them since 2006. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC continues to maintain that its<\/p>\n<p>Members of Parliament are answerable only to the Integrity Commission and not<\/p>\n<p>to the President who has no legal authority to compel, or threaten the<\/p>\n<p>institution of charges against any public official other than the Commissioners<\/p>\n<p>themselves. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As of Wednesday, January 28, 2009, AFC<\/p>\n<p>Members of Parliament begun receiving packages from the Integrity Commission in<\/p>\n<p>the proper manner, and as before, we will be submitting our declarations<\/p>\n<p>accordingly. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Our only expectation is that the information<\/p>\n<p>we submit will be treated with the strictest confidentiality and not become<\/p>\n<p>part of an ongoing political witch-hunt by the Office of the President and<\/p>\n<p>other state agencies. <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_i1043&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_49.jpg&#8221;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-2-8: AFC Column &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>Protecting our children! The Childcare and Protection Agency Bill of 2008 by<\/p>\n<p>Mrs. Latchmin Budhan &#8211; Punalall &#8211; 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'>Anyone reading the newspapers over the last<\/p>\n<p>two weeks would have been horrified at the numerous incidents in which<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;our children our most precious resource&#8221; we say, have perished<\/p>\n<p>under tragic and horrific circumstances! Can you imagine standing on a pavement<\/p>\n<p>and being crushed by a vehicle as was Shaneis Henriques, or another unnecessary<\/p>\n<p>car accident which snuffed out the life of a vibrant <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>U.G student, Fizal Hussein. The plight of<\/p>\n<p>Malaki Osbourne who it is said fell on a wine glass and died or that tragic<\/p>\n<p>fire that claimed the lives of Melissa &amp; Armaan Persaud. In most of these<\/p>\n<p>cases, with a little more care taken by the wider society, especially by<\/p>\n<p>parents and the reckless drivers on our roads, these incidents could have been<\/p>\n<p>prevented. When do we begin to truly value a life! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Unfortunately the children of Guyana have not<\/p>\n<p>been receiving the love, care, attention, and guidance or even legal protection<\/p>\n<p>which they justly deserve. The fact that we are now seeking to pass this<\/p>\n<p>legislation the Childcare and Protection Agency Bill of 2008 <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>affirms this. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The children of Guyana receive pressure from<\/p>\n<p>many sides: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=61<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1044&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_50.jpg&#8221;>Economic pressure as<\/p>\n<p>rising costs brings hardship to their parents and guardians. In such situations<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;our children&#8221; are the first to feel the brunt of society&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>frustrations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Social pressure as they deal with neglect<\/p>\n<p>from parents and elders, absent or unsupportive fathers. Or the recent high<\/p>\n<p>prevalence <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>in of parents who have left Guyana promising to<\/p>\n<p>send for the them&#8230;..usually decades later. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The pressure to acquire a decent education<\/p>\n<p>with today is heavily dependent on whether you have money or not, can afford a <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>private school or not. Those who can then go<\/p>\n<p>from early morning to late evening grappling with the &#8220;extra<\/p>\n<p>lessons&#8221; offered to <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>supplement the little offered during the<\/p>\n<p>regular school hours. How many of our children are getting a basic education in<\/p>\n<p>these <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>difficult times? <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_i1045&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_51.jpg&#8221;>There is also emotional<\/p>\n<p>pressure as they look forward to the scarcity of job opportunities that awaits<\/p>\n<p>them regardless of how less <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>they have done. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>If we are honest we will also acknowledge the<\/p>\n<p>pressure of living in a racially polarized society and the possible impact of<\/p>\n<p>this on <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>our children. We need to work very diligently<\/p>\n<p>to remove these pressures from the minds and backs of our young people. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Our children will be the men and women of<\/p>\n<p>tomorrow and if we need a better tomorrow we must begin to work with our<\/p>\n<p>children today. No child grows up automatically to be a resourceful and<\/p>\n<p>professional adult of tomorrow unless we make inputs into their lives. While<\/p>\n<p>this is the primary responsibility of parents and guardians we must recognize<\/p>\n<p>that others in society, including the government has a central role to play. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>GUYANA&#8217;S TRACK RECORD <\/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'>The image of our country internationally is<\/p>\n<p>not very good one when it comes to our juvenile population. For example, the<\/p>\n<p>Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa reported<\/p>\n<p>that &#8220;physical and sexual child abuse is &quot;common&quot; in Guyana,<\/p>\n<p>but that it is also largely under-reported&#8221;. (6 March 2007). The United<\/p>\n<p>Nations (UN) Committee on the Rights of the Child has expressed concern that<\/p>\n<p>children in Guyana live in a &quot;generally violent environment&quot; and that<\/p>\n<p>&quot;ill-treatment,&quot; child abuse and sexual abuse has been increasingly<\/p>\n<p>reported (UN 26 Feb. 2004). Local non-governmental organizations report that<\/p>\n<p>Guyana&#8217;s law is unclear with respect to the physical and emotional abuse of<\/p>\n<p>children as well as neglect (Help and Shelter.n.d.b 2). This is problematic for<\/p>\n<p>the police who must judge each situation, sometimes against their own<\/p>\n<p>preconceptions about how children should be treated or disciplined. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The United States Department of State reports<\/p>\n<p>that in some cases, police officers and magistrates are susceptible to<\/p>\n<p>accepting money in return for making a case of child abuse disappear (US 6 Mar.<\/p>\n<p>2007, Sec. 5). Families who have pressed charges on behalf of an abused child<\/p>\n<p>often accept out of court monetary settlements.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>UNICEF which has entering into a new <b>Programme<\/p>\n<p>of Cooperation with the Government of Guyana from 1st January, 2006 to 31st<\/p>\n<p>December, 2010 reported &#8220;<\/b>Children and young people in Guyana face<\/p>\n<p>many challenges, but mainly poverty and lack of opportunities cause them to<\/p>\n<p>lack confidence in the future. Further, while there has been slow progress in<\/p>\n<p>Constitutional and legislative reform, weak data collection and analyses hamper<\/p>\n<p>the monitoring of any progress made&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Guyana Streetkid News <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Tuesday, April 24th 2007 filed the following<\/p>\n<p>report:<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;A city magistrate was at his<\/p>\n<p>wit&#8217;s end recently to decide what to do with a 10-year-old boy who had<\/p>\n<p>been charged for robbery with an offensive weapon. Posing as beggars, the boy<\/p>\n<p>and his 13-and 15-year-old partners approached an unsuspecting victim,<\/p>\n<p>threatening her with an ice pick, and robbing her of her valuables. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Unrepresented in court, clad in filthy<\/p>\n<p>garments and of no fixed place of abode &#8211; the boy was a member of one of the<\/p>\n<p>several groups who now live on the street and who seem to have come from<\/p>\n<p>nowhere and to be going nowhere. Uneducated, unwashed and uncared for, street<\/p>\n<p>children live in a catch-as-catch-can world around fast-food restaurants and supermarkets<\/p>\n<p>in the central business district by day, outside night clubs and bars in the<\/p>\n<p>entertainment circuit at night and sleeping on makeshift cardboard cots on the<\/p>\n<p>city&#8217;s pavements and parapets. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>These children survive by begging, gambling,<\/p>\n<p>stealing and working at odd jobs. They are usually victims of sexual<\/p>\n<p>molestation by men; bullying; fighting; stealing, and drug use and abuse.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond the care of adults, many juveniles are increasingly being seduced into<\/p>\n<p>criminal activity by their peers and older boys. Most boys must have started<\/p>\n<p>out from homes but they have now made the streets including alleyways, derelict<\/p>\n<p>buildings, sidewalks and open spaces &#8211; their habitual abode and source of<\/p>\n<p>livelihood. Guyana&#8217;s growing army of street children needs continuous<\/p>\n<p>care services administered by a cadre of compassionate, committed and qualified<\/p>\n<p>professionals&#8221;. This is our appalling image. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>CHILD LABOUR : <\/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'>The United States Department of Labour in<\/p>\n<p>2007 found 26.3 % working children aged 5-14 years. This report said further<\/p>\n<p>that &#8220;Children in Guyana work as porters, domestic servants, street<\/p>\n<p>vendors, and wait staff in bars and restaurants. Some are found working in<\/p>\n<p>sawmills and markets. Children are known to work in mining and the illicit drug<\/p>\n<p>trade. There are reports of sexual exploitation of children in Guyana,<\/p>\n<p>including prostitution.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS: <\/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'>Part II 5. (1) The Honourable Minister lists<\/p>\n<p>18 functions that this Agency will perform. This range includes the provision<\/p>\n<p>and maintenance of child care centers to the recommendations of laws relating<\/p>\n<p>to children&#8217;s welfare. In order to execute these manifold functions her<\/p>\n<p>ministry will need professional personnel who are adequately remunerated. Her<\/p>\n<p>ministry will definitely need the co-operation of other Ministries, especially<\/p>\n<p>the Ministry of Home Affairs and will also need the co-operation of NGOs and<\/p>\n<p>other political parties. Unfortunately we do not see this level of cohesion in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana. Rather there is always a spirit of competition as opposed to one of<\/p>\n<p>humility and one that is complimentary in nature. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In order for us to practically tackle the<\/p>\n<p>issue of adequate childcare and protection we must address the following:<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=139<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1046&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_52.jpg&#8221;>We must work at improving<\/p>\n<p>the economy. If parents are not earning enough they will invariably send their<\/p>\n<p>children to work to supplement their meager income. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We must work to rid our society of the<\/p>\n<p>lucrative but very destructive narcotic trade and other damaging drugs which<\/p>\n<p>has <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>bewitched so many of our young citizens,<\/p>\n<p>damaging their body and mind. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We must work at expanding job opportunities<\/p>\n<p>so that our youths can have the assurance of gainful employment when they <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>complete their education. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We must work to eliminate the production and<\/p>\n<p>sale of pornographic material which has become so easily accessible to<\/p>\n<p>children. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We must work with dysfunctional families so<\/p>\n<p>that they can once again execute their parental responsibilities to inculcate<\/p>\n<p>moral <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>values in the lives of our young people both<\/p>\n<p>by word and example. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Services outside the capital are scarce; the<\/p>\n<p>government must provide care and protection for all 10 administrative regions <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>especially in hinterland communities where<\/p>\n<p>children are deprived. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>CONCLUSION: <\/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'>The Holy Bible has not left us ignorant when<\/p>\n<p>it comes to our responsibility to children. A notable verse is Ps 127:3<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is<\/p>\n<p>His reward&#8221;. Christian academic <i>Charles Spurgeon <\/i>shared these wise<\/p>\n<p>words on this subject <i>&#8220;God gives us children, not as a penalty or as a<\/p>\n<p>burden, but as a favour. They are a token of good if man knows how to receive<\/p>\n<p>them, and educate them. They are doubtful blessings only because we are<\/p>\n<p>doubtful persons. Where society is rightly ordered children are regarded, not<\/p>\n<p>as an encumbrance, but as an inheritance; and they are received, not with<\/p>\n<p>regret, but as a reward&#8221;. <\/i>This is the best guideline mankind can<\/p>\n<p>follow. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC will support any bill which seeks to<\/p>\n<p>purge our society of social injustices especially our children. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-2-15: AFC Column &#8211; IN<\/p>\n<p>FAITH By Raphael Trotman-MP <\/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'>On Thursday, February 5<sup>th<\/sup> , 2009 I<\/p>\n<p>had the honour of attending the 57<sup>th<\/sup> National Prayer Breakfast as a<\/p>\n<p>guest of the United States Congress, in Washington, D.C. To have been present,<\/p>\n<p>and moreover to be able to attend, and be in the presence of many world<\/p>\n<p>leaders, foremost amongst whom was the President of the United States, Barack<\/p>\n<p>Obama, was a signal privilege and honour for me. The stated purpose of this<\/p>\n<p>annual event is to bring together political, social and business leaders of the<\/p>\n<p>world in a single event and to build relationships which might not otherwise be<\/p>\n<p>possible. By inviting leaders from around the world, I believe we were meant to<\/p>\n<p>witness the strength of unity, and the power of faith. To see a nation&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>leaders united across political lines and in prayer was simply monumental. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Attending the breakfast was refreshing and<\/p>\n<p>stimulating in that it set me to thinking about the deep divisions that exist<\/p>\n<p>in Guyana; not only along political lines but also ethnical, and to a lesser<\/p>\n<p>degree, religious. I was compelled to confront my own beliefs, and the faith<\/p>\n<p>and strength that these provide me. What is patently clear is that we in Guyana<\/p>\n<p>need to spend less time on converting each other to &#8220;our way&#8221; and<\/p>\n<p>to respect, recognize, and strengthen our own faiths, both individually, and<\/p>\n<p>collectively. Only then can we be truly united as Guyanese. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The two addresses at the Breakfast were given<\/p>\n<p>by President Barack Obama and the Right Honourable Tony Blair, former Prime<\/p>\n<p>Minister of the United Kingdom. It was the strength of these leaders in their<\/p>\n<p>faith that enthralled all those present, and their outstanding words are worthy<\/p>\n<p>of lengthy repetition- unapologetically, and unabashedly. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>By President Obama we were told: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;&#8230;far too often, we have<\/p>\n<p>seen faith wielded as a tool to divide us from one another -as an excuse for<\/p>\n<p>prejudice and intolerance. Wars have been waged. Innocents have been<\/p>\n<p>slaughtered. For centuries, entire religions have been persecuted, all in the<\/p>\n<p>name of perceived righteousness. <\/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'>There is no doubt that the very nature<\/p>\n<p>of faith means that some of our beliefs will never be the same. We read from<\/p>\n<p>different texts. We follow different edicts. We subscribe to different accounts<\/p>\n<p>of how we came to be here and where we&#8217;re going next and some subscribe<\/p>\n<p>to no faith at all. <\/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'>But no matter what we choose to<\/p>\n<p>believe, let us remember that there is in religion whose central tenet is hate.<\/p>\n<p>This much we know.&#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'>Most impressive was Tony Blair&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>affirmation of his own faith in his God: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Today, religion is under attack<\/p>\n<p>from without and from within. From within, it is corroded by extremists who use<\/p>\n<p>their faith as a means of excluding the other. I am what I am in opposition to you.<\/p>\n<p>If you do not believe as I believe, you are a lesser human being. <\/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'>From without, religious faith is<\/p>\n<p>assailed by an increasingly aggressive secularism, which derides faith as<\/p>\n<p>contrary to reason and defines faith by conflict. Thus do the extreme believers<\/p>\n<p>and the aggressive non-believers come together in unholy alliance. <\/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'>And yet, faith will not be so easily<\/p>\n<p>cast. For billions of people, faith motivates, galvanises, compels and<\/p>\n<p>inspires, not to exclude but to embrace; not to provoke conflict but to try to<\/p>\n<p>do good. This is faith in action. You can see it in countless local communities<\/p>\n<p>where those from churches, mosques, synagogues and temples, tend the sick, care<\/p>\n<p>for the afflicted, work long hours in bad conditions to bring hope to the<\/p>\n<p>despairing and salvation to the lost. <\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There are a million good deeds done<\/p>\n<p>every day by people of faith. These are those for whom, in the parable of the<\/p>\n<p>sower, the seed fell on good soil and yielded sixty or a hundredfold. What inspires<\/p>\n<p>such people? Ritual or doctrine or the finer points of theology? No. <\/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'>And in surrendering to God, we become<\/p>\n<p>instruments of that love. <\/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'>As the Qur&#8217;an states: &quot;if anyone<\/p>\n<p>saves a person it will be as if he has saved the whole of humanity&quot;. Faith<\/p>\n<p>is not discovered in acting according to ritual but acting according to God&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>will and God&#8217;s will is love. <\/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'>We might also talk of the Hindu<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Living beyond the reach of I and mine&quot; or the words of the Buddha<\/p>\n<p>&quot;after practising enlightenment you must go back to practise<\/p>\n<p>compassion&quot; or the Sikh scripture: &quot;God&#8217;s bounties are common to all.<\/p>\n<p>It is we who have created divisions.&quot; <\/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'>Each faith has its beliefs. Each is<\/p>\n<p>different. Yet at a certain point each is in communion with the other. <\/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'>But as someone of faith, this is not<\/p>\n<p>enough. I believe restoring religious faith to its rightful place, as the guide<\/p>\n<p>to our world and its future, is itself of the essence. The 21st Century will be<\/p>\n<p>poorer in spirit, meaner in ambition, less disciplined in conscience, if it is<\/p>\n<p>not under the guardianship of faith in God. <\/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'>Neither do I decry the work of<\/p>\n<p>humanists, who give gladly of themselves for others and who can often shame the<\/p>\n<p>avowedly religious. Those who do God&#8217;s work are God&#8217;s people. <\/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'>I only say that there are limits to<\/p>\n<p>humanism and beyond those limits God and only God can work. The phrase<\/p>\n<p>&quot;fear of God&quot; conjures up the vengeful God of parts of the Old<\/p>\n<p>Testament. But &quot;fear of God&quot; means really obedience to God; humility<\/p>\n<p>before God; acceptance through God that there is something bigger, better and<\/p>\n<p>more important than you. It is that humbling of man&#8217;s vanity, that stirring of<\/p>\n<p>conscience through God&#8217;s prompting, that recognition of our limitations, that<\/p>\n<p>faith alone can bestow. <\/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'>We can perform acts of mercy, but only God<\/p>\n<p>can lend them dignity. We can forgive, but only God forgives completely in the<\/p>\n<p>full knowledge of our sin. <\/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'>It is to be in our natural state &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>which is one of nagging doubt, imperfect knowledge, and uncertain prediction &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>and to be prepared nonetheless to put on the mantle of responsibility and to<\/p>\n<p>stand up in full view of the world, to step out when others step back, to<\/p>\n<p>assume the loneliness of the final decision-maker, not sure of success but<\/p>\n<p>unsure of it. And it is in that &quot;not knowing&quot; that the courage lies.<\/p>\n<p>And when in that state, our courage fails, our faith can support it, lift it<\/p>\n<p>up, keep it from stumbling.&#8221; <\/span><\/i><\/b><b><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As leader of the AFC I earnestly hope that<\/p>\n<p>all of Guyana&#8217;s leaders, particularly us, its political leaders, will<\/p>\n<p>have the strength of our convictions and the belief in whomever we pay<\/p>\n<p>obeisance to as God, to do the right thing for the people of Guyana and thereby<\/p>\n<p>shunt aside race, revenge, and retreat from responsibility. These vices and<\/p>\n<p>failings, unless cast aside, that will keep us welded to the past like a<\/p>\n<p>generational curse; bonded and subjugated. The curse has to be broken and it is<\/p>\n<p>from our respective faiths that we must draw the strength and courage to do so.<\/p>\n<p>May God bless and guide us all despite our imperfections. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-2-21: The AFC Column,<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t solve a problem from the same consciousness that created<\/p>\n<p>it&#8230;&#8221; by Sheila Holder, MP <\/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'>As I sat through the gruelling hours of the<\/p>\n<p>parliamentary debates on the 2009 budget it dawned on me that the long boring<\/p>\n<p>hours I had to endure night after night might be seen as poetic justice for the<\/p>\n<p>traffic inconveniences members of the public had to put up with during sittings<\/p>\n<p>of the National Assembly. It seems to me that the only interest Guyanese had in<\/p>\n<p>the business of the National Assembly related to their annoyance of the<\/p>\n<p>blocking off of traffic along Brickdam and Avenue of the Republic within the<\/p>\n<p>vicinity of the Parliament Building. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>However, inside the National Assembly I<\/p>\n<p>became brutally aware of the advantages, and I dare say disadvantages, of internet<\/p>\n<p>technology as I received instantaneous messages on my PDA from persons in<\/p>\n<p>distant countries expressing their critical opinions about what was being said<\/p>\n<p>in the National Assembly. This was as a result of the Guyana Press<\/p>\n<p>Association&#8217;s daily audio transmissions being beamed around the world via<\/p>\n<p>their website &#8211;<u><a href=\"http:\/\/www.demerarawaves.com\/\"><\/p>\n<p>www.demerarawaves.com<\/a><\/u><\/span><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;<\/p>\n<p>color:blue&#8217;> <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8211; on the 2009 budgetary<\/p>\n<p>estimates that had been presented by the Finance Minister two weeks ago. I<\/p>\n<p>predict that this innovation will have far reaching political implications for<\/p>\n<p>the government as well as Members of Parliament who have so far gotten away<\/p>\n<p>with a lack lustre parliamentary culture. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The tenor of the parliamentary debate led me<\/p>\n<p>to believe that Members of Parliament on the Government side were somehow<\/p>\n<p>operating under the belief that they, were in some material way, different from<\/p>\n<p>those of us who sat on the opposition side; perhaps because they were the ones<\/p>\n<p>wielding power. So it was necessary to make the point that no one side was more<\/p>\n<p>loyal to the Guyanese people, and their developmental aspirations, than the<\/p>\n<p>other. We in the AFC hold the view that no one party has a monopoly on ideas<\/p>\n<p>and talent, and <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I. therefore, submitted for contemplation by<\/p>\n<p>members in the Assembly these less known but thought provoking words of Martin<\/p>\n<p>Luther King Jr: <b><i>&#8220;We have learnt to fly the sky like birds, swim the<\/p>\n<p>seas like fishes, but we are yet to learn the simple way of walking the earth<\/p>\n<p>like brothers&#8221;. <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In expressing an opinion on the 2009 Budget,<\/p>\n<p>the Kaieteur Newspaper editorial of Saturday February 14 stated: <b><i>&#8220;Our<\/p>\n<p>Govt has before it <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8211; in living colour, so to speak,<\/p>\n<p>through the magic of 24\/7 all-news TV &#8211; the evidence of Governments of<\/p>\n<p>all stripes and ideologies, from the communist Chinese to the capitalist<\/p>\n<p>Americans, unveiling various and sundry economic &#8220;stimulus&#8221; plans,<\/p>\n<p>yet we have chosen to merely plod along in a singularly pedestrian<\/p>\n<p>fashion.&#8221; <\/span><\/i><\/b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I found this<\/p>\n<p>description of the 2009 budget most apt; and given the economic realities we<\/p>\n<p>have been facing in Guyana over the last decade; and the impending impact of<\/p>\n<p>the global financial meltdown, it was indeed problematic for members of the<\/p>\n<p>opposition to get a handle on what really the Government had in mind when it<\/p>\n<p>presented the 2009 budget. A budget that was singularly pedestrian in its<\/p>\n<p>fashioning! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Unfortunately this budget has fooled no one<\/p>\n<p>with any rudimentary understanding of the state of Guyana&#8217;s economy; but<\/p>\n<p>I was surprised to learn that -even though Kaieteur News has been covering the<\/p>\n<p>proceedings in the National Assembly for several years &#8211; their editorial writer<\/p>\n<p>did not understand that, realistically, it was not possible for elected<\/p>\n<p>representatives of the opposition to influence the Government to make changes<\/p>\n<p>to the 2009 budget after it had been presented. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The reason, being that the PPPC Government<\/p>\n<p>habitually applies their parliamentary majority to approve all their budgetary<\/p>\n<p>estimates without so much as altering one word proposed by the members of the<\/p>\n<p>opposition. Regrettably, the Guyanese people -including many among the<\/p>\n<p>professional classes -have been deceived by PPPC propaganda that the<\/p>\n<p>opposition&#8217;s propensity is for criticising rather than making<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;alternative proposals&#8217;. Clearly, people fell for this yarn or they<\/p>\n<p>would have understood the limitations which the budgetary process affords<\/p>\n<p>opposition Members of Parliament during the debates. Any input would have had<\/p>\n<p>to be made prior to the presentation of the budget thereby emphasising the<\/p>\n<p>importance of consultation with various stakeholders. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It has been my experience over the last eight<\/p>\n<p>years serving in the National Assembly that there has never been a budget<\/p>\n<p>debate when one word or one bit of advice offered in good faith by members of<\/p>\n<p>the opposition benches has ever been taken on board by a PPPC Government. Quite<\/p>\n<p>likely this has been traditionally so, perhaps even from time immemorial during<\/p>\n<p>the earlier tenure of other PPPC and PNC Governments. Under these circumstances<\/p>\n<p>the deliberative process that ought to flow from a democratic parliamentary<\/p>\n<p>system is being undermined and partisan political action accelerated instead. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The fact that this flaw in itself is a cause<\/p>\n<p>for fractures in our country&#8217;s social, political and economic environment<\/p>\n<p>is one thing; but that it has been allowed to be perpetuated says a lot about<\/p>\n<p>why more rapid development evades this country. One thing we know is that this<\/p>\n<p>situation is not conducive to Guyana&#8217;s development and is why the AFC has<\/p>\n<p>accepted the challenge to provide the leadership necessary to change it. The great<\/p>\n<p>mind of scientist Albert Einstein devised the way for this to be achieved with<\/p>\n<p>this profound thought: <b><i>&#8220;You can&#8217;t solve a problem from the<\/p>\n<p>same consciousness that created it. You must learn to see the world<\/p>\n<p>anew.&#8221; <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-3-1: AFC Column<\/p>\n<p>-Extracts of the Presentation on the 2009 Made 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'>Mr. Speaker, this is the season of sophistry<\/p>\n<p>and of eloquence; of empty rhetoric and boundless arrogance and ignorance. This<\/p>\n<p>is budget season! That annual pantomime to which we willingly submit ourselves<\/p>\n<p>by pretending that all is well, and at the same time that nothing good had<\/p>\n<p>transpired since we last gathered. This is the time when we gloat of miniscule<\/p>\n<p>achievements as if they were gargantuan accomplishments, and diminish that<\/p>\n<p>which were worthy of our acclaim. It is the season of promoting illogical<\/p>\n<p>fiscal policies and programmes that have resulted from over active<\/p>\n<p>imaginations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I wonder why we keep coming back for more and<\/p>\n<p>wonder every year, and every day; whether it is duty that compels us, or<\/p>\n<p>stupidity that commits us, to be here? I am reminded of Shakespeare&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>words: &#8220;All the world&#8217;s a stage, And all the men and women merely<\/p>\n<p>players; They have their exits and their entrances.&#8221; In the eyes of the<\/p>\n<p>people out there we have become mere actors and actresses performing in this<\/p>\n<p>annual pantomime. Nonetheless, I have been advised that for the time being we<\/p>\n<p>have to hold sacred to this tradition of budget presentation and debates, and<\/p>\n<p>have the patience of Job if we are to bring about change for which all Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>crave. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This year&#8217;s budget Mr. Speaker falls<\/p>\n<p>dangerously close to being described as pedestrian. There is simply no vision<\/p>\n<p>and nothing exciting that offers hope for improving the quality of life this<\/p>\n<p>year, and beyond. I hope that the Minister is not offended, but nothing jumps<\/p>\n<p>out at us to create that &#8216;wow&#8221; or &#8220;yes&#8221; effect. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Governance: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Speaker, we in the AFC reiterate that no<\/p>\n<p>budget, whether described as the largest or smallest, will adequately address<\/p>\n<p>the nation&#8217;s myriad difficulties and complexities, unless, and until, we<\/p>\n<p>solve our problem of governance. Mr. Speaker there are many terms being bandied<\/p>\n<p>about including &#8220;inclusive governance&#8221; shared governance, and power<\/p>\n<p>sharing, and participatory governance. This in itself tells us that what we<\/p>\n<p>have is not working. We in the AFC believe that there has to be a devolution of<\/p>\n<p>power away from the centralized system where people in their villages, towns,<\/p>\n<p>and in the city can become masters and commanders of their own affairs. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There is a certain distasteful presence of<\/p>\n<p>arrogance which is being displayed by this Government. It is harmful to good<\/p>\n<p>relations if indeed the achievement of good relations is the desire of the<\/p>\n<p>government at all. We see it in the back-handed dismissal of public servants<\/p>\n<p>and the threat of dismissal dangled over the heads of the Air Traffic<\/p>\n<p>controllers if they had only dared to picket &#8220;His Excellency, the<\/p>\n<p>President.&#8221; We witness it in the threats of arrest and prosecution of<\/p>\n<p>Honourable Members of this Assembly, and we live it every time we come here and<\/p>\n<p>our good advice is unceremoniously dismissed and rejected as was<\/p>\n<p>unsophisticatedly done yesterday at the GDF Annual Officers&#8217; Conference. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I am confident however that our body politic<\/p>\n<p>is undergoing a transformation; not perhaps at the rate at which most of us<\/p>\n<p>would want it to go, but a transformation none the less. We have to adapt if we<\/p>\n<p>expect to survive. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the months ahead we dedicate ourselves to<\/p>\n<p>work with all groups to bring change and betterment to Guyana. From our<\/p>\n<p>parliamentary perspective we will in addition to the numerous expected<\/p>\n<p>engagements, be seeking to advance five critical causes this year: <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:l7 level1 lfo20;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;>The advancement of Freedom of Information legislation,<\/p>\n<p><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:l7 level1 lfo20;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 adoption of Constitutional Amendments to address<\/p>\n<p>the Electoral and Party List Systems, <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:l7 level1 lfo20;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 Free and widespread distribution of the<\/p>\n<p>Constitution of Guyana to every citizen, <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:l7 level1 lfo20;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;>The vexed issue of campaign financing and political<\/p>\n<p>party responsibilities at election time; 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:l7 level1 lfo20;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;>A review of the Termination of Pregnancy Act. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We expect to work to win the support of all<\/p>\n<p>parties in the advancement of our agenda even as we are expected to support the<\/p>\n<p>agenda of others. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To us in the AFC Mr. Speaker we strongly and<\/p>\n<p>passionately believe in the cause of bringing freedom to the people. Most<\/p>\n<p>important to us at this time is the freedom of the citizenry to have<\/p>\n<p>information that will impact their lives; information that will allow them to<\/p>\n<p>make informed decisions. We hope in the not too distant future to announce to<\/p>\n<p>the nation that we have managed to arrive at a <i>modus vivendi with the PPP\/C<\/p>\n<p>government that will see the <\/i>Bill before the house moving off from its<\/p>\n<p>stationery position unto a faster track for action and implementation. More of<\/p>\n<p>that will be forthcoming. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We know that this budget will be passed by a<\/p>\n<p>simple majority of this house because this is the established practice of our<\/p>\n<p>democracy as practiced in this Assembly. It is not the very essence, but the<\/p>\n<p>bitterest bile of the type of democracy we practice here in Guyana. It is the<\/p>\n<p>type of democracy where despite our inherited and inherent differences as<\/p>\n<p>peoples comprising the nation state, those who meet the threshold of 51% are<\/p>\n<p>given the sacred right and duty to govern for all. While those who number 49%<\/p>\n<p>are kept out and away from the decision making process. We engage in a dance of<\/p>\n<p>semantics and obfuscation about being inclusive and progressive as manifested<\/p>\n<p>in committee meetings, meaningless consultations, and regular and long sittings<\/p>\n<p>of parliament. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Courage is what it takes to<\/p>\n<p>stand up and speak, courage is also what it takes to sit down and<\/p>\n<p>listen.&#8221; <\/span><\/i><\/b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>(Winston<\/p>\n<p>Churchill). There is no shortage of courage in this house on either side. The<\/p>\n<p>people want us to sit down and to speak. We have to have the courage to engage<\/p>\n<p>in a wider discussion on governance not the type that sees just two people in<\/p>\n<p>an incestuous embrace, feathering their personal nests, but the type that<\/p>\n<p>reaches out to all people, to all their representatives-along secular,<\/p>\n<p>religious, social, and religious lines. Any approach other than the<\/p>\n<p>people&#8217;s one Mr. Speaker, will not receive the approbation and acceptance<\/p>\n<p>of the people and will be strenuously resisted. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-3-15:AFC<\/p>\n<p>Column-Extracts of the Presentation on 2009 Budget made by AFC MP, David<\/p>\n<p>Patterson <\/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'>Mr. Speaker, this year&#8217;s budget comes<\/p>\n<p>at a time when the global economy is experiencing an unprecedented downturn;<\/p>\n<p>the full effects are still becoming apparent. Indeed the financial institutions<\/p>\n<p>in some countries have completely collapsed, while in other more robust economies,<\/p>\n<p>their Governments are in the process of implementing economic recovery packages<\/p>\n<p>to avert certain collapse for some of their ailing institutions. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Based on this backdrop, we, the citizens of<\/p>\n<p>Guyana eagerly awaited the presentation of this year&#8217;s budget, so that we<\/p>\n<p>would be able to gain an insight as to how this Government proposes to charter<\/p>\n<p>our economic course through the turbulent waters of 2009 and beyond. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Speaker, the general reaction to this<\/p>\n<p>year&#8217;s budget has been disappointment, there has been no reduction to<\/p>\n<p>personal or corporate taxes, no new incentives to create jobs, what we got<\/p>\n<p>instead is a &#8220;people powered&#8221; budget, a budget funded almost<\/p>\n<p>exclusively by the continued high taxation of the citizenry. The notion of<\/p>\n<p>disposable income, the dream of &#8220;saving for a rainy day&#8221; has all<\/p>\n<p>been washed away forever by this year&#8217;s budget. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>INFLATION: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Speaker, our country continues to be<\/p>\n<p>plagued with rising prices for almost every conceivable commodity, yet it has<\/p>\n<p>been reported in this year&#8217;s budget that the inflation rate for 2008 has<\/p>\n<p>been pegged at 6.4%. If this is correct, then it is nothing short of a<\/p>\n<p>remarkable achievement since other countries in our region with more robust and<\/p>\n<p>diversified economies recorded higher levels of inflation, Trinidad&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>inflation rate for 2008 was around 11%, Barbados&#8217;s was approximately 9%<\/p>\n<p>and Suriname&#8217;s was 9.5%. As we have stated on several occasions before,<\/p>\n<p>our method of inflation computation requires revision. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>LOCAL GOVERNMENT: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC continues to be denied our rightful<\/p>\n<p>place as a member of the local government task force by the Government. In<\/p>\n<p>denying us membership they hide behind such shallow reasoning that any<\/p>\n<p>expansion of this task force would further delay this six years and counting<\/p>\n<p>process. May I remind everyone that it was this same Government, when the EPA<\/p>\n<p>issues arose last year were clamoring and pleading for &#8220;expanded<\/p>\n<p>stakeholders&#8221; participation. When it suits this government, when their<\/p>\n<p>backs are against a wall they open their arms, beg you to support their agenda.<\/p>\n<p>However on any other occasion, on other important national issues, they are as<\/p>\n<p>inflexible as an old dying guava tree. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Speaker, nowhere in this year&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>budget presentation have we received any updates on the status of the recently<\/p>\n<p>concluded Urban Development Programme, what is the status of the revaluation of<\/p>\n<p>the municipalities? What is the status on the proposal for the expansion of the<\/p>\n<p>townships? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Included in this Ministry&#8217;s Capital<\/p>\n<p>Works budget is the rehabilitation and expansion of the Mandela Landfill. Does<\/p>\n<p>the Government intend to make this landfill a multi storey complex since this<\/p>\n<p>site has long reached its capacity. The residents around this site will be very<\/p>\n<p>interested in this proposed expansion. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>HOUSING AND WATER: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Speaker, I welcome the new Minister of<\/p>\n<p>Housing and Water, and ask him to immediately address the rising cost of house<\/p>\n<p>construction, by making representation to his colleagues to zero rate certain<\/p>\n<p>key construction materials, such as cement, steel and roof sheeting. Such a simple<\/p>\n<p>measure would make constructing a home far more affordable to the average<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>By approving the New Building Society&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>request to raise their lending ceiling was an acknowledgement by the Government<\/p>\n<p>of the rising cost of home construction. No longer can the average middle<\/p>\n<p>income house be constructed under the old NBS lending limit, the thirty percent<\/p>\n<p>increase is an accurate reflection of the rising construction costs over the<\/p>\n<p>last three years. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The new minister should closely examine the<\/p>\n<p>working of GWI, investigate the numerous complaints about low staff morale, and<\/p>\n<p>ascertain the reasons why previously proven personnel are leaving the company<\/p>\n<p>or being transferred to remote locations for no apparent reasons. Review the<\/p>\n<p>cases of subversions granted to Old Person Homes in the country for water<\/p>\n<p>usage, to ensure that these pensioners are not saddled with extremely high<\/p>\n<p>monthly water bills. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We would be grateful if the Minister can give<\/p>\n<p>this National Assembly his undertaking that GWI will no longer continue to<\/p>\n<p>award contracts for wells to companies that have no experience in drilling<\/p>\n<p>water wells, to contractors that previously executed contracts and delivered<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;dry wells&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>SPORTS: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Speaker, in both my 2007 and 2008 budget<\/p>\n<p>presentations, I questioned the approach by the Ministry of Youth and Sports on<\/p>\n<p>the construction of the proposed Olympic Swimming Pool, their haste in awarding<\/p>\n<p>a contract for a pool without suitable designs, with little or no consultation<\/p>\n<p>with the relevant end users. As a result two years later, with more than<\/p>\n<p>seventy million dollars of taxpayers monies expended; we have the<\/p>\n<p>region&#8217;s first Olympic Fish Pond. In most other countries, the persons<\/p>\n<p>responsible for such a farce would have lost their jobs, sadly our Government<\/p>\n<p>does not subscribe to such high standards. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>PUBLIC PROCUREMENT COMMISSION <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Following the Stakeholder&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>consultations last year, it was agreed that a Public Procurement Commission<\/p>\n<p>would be established within ninety days of the agreement; we in the AFC have<\/p>\n<p>already submitted our nominees for this commission, as was done by the PNC\/R<\/p>\n<p>and have indicated our willingness to discuss and conclude this matter. To<\/p>\n<p>date, the Government has not seen it fit to even submit its list of nominees,<\/p>\n<p>thus stalling this process indefinitely. One can only wonder what is the<\/p>\n<p>Government&#8217;s fear in establishing this commission? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Perhaps they want to maintain the ability to<\/p>\n<p>manoeuvre around tender procedures as appeared to be the case with the award of<\/p>\n<p>the new Ministry of Labour office. This contract was awarded through<\/p>\n<p>negotiations with a contractor other than the lowest bidder. This contractor<\/p>\n<p>was then awarded the contract and advanced a whopping forty percent of the four<\/p>\n<p>hundred million contract sum. It did not end there. From the already healthy<\/p>\n<p>advance, the contractor was required to pay seventy million dollars to persons<\/p>\n<p>or projects unrelated to this project. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Hence we now have a project which had a one<\/p>\n<p>year contract period; which was slated to be completed at the end on March<\/p>\n<p>2009, only thirty percent completed (despite the fact that the contractor<\/p>\n<p>having been paid almost two hundred million dollars). Would anyone be<\/p>\n<p>interested in a Public Procurement Commission when the absence of such a<\/p>\n<p>commission allows for innovative project financing? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-3-22:AFC Column &#8211; NOW<\/p>\n<p>THE PEPPER BUNNIN&#8230;TIME FOR AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION. <\/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'>Two weeks ago the AFC was accused of having<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;pepper sauce&#8221; links. Two weeks later, the President and Government<\/p>\n<p>of Guyana are fighting a rear-guard and futile battle to fend off allegations<\/p>\n<p>of being knowledgeable and involved in the activities of Roger Khan. This is<\/p>\n<p>what is called poetic justice. Now that the bouncers are flying right, left,<\/p>\n<p>and centre, there is an unbelievable attempt to duck, fend off, and play these<\/p>\n<p>bouncers that are being pelted at the Jagdeo administration by the revelations<\/p>\n<p>coming from the US Court&#8217;s filed documents. No one is impressed. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As was explained when the pepper sauce was<\/p>\n<p>thrown at us, we believed that it was part of grand scheme to bamboozle the<\/p>\n<p>people of Guyana, and distract them from what was happening at CLICO, the<\/p>\n<p>threat of losing thousands of workers&#8217; pensions and benefits, and the<\/p>\n<p>very precarious financial situation facing the nation. The President even said<\/p>\n<p>he had &#8220;a good laugh&#8221; at the AFC, but I wonder now who is doing the<\/p>\n<p>laughing and who is doing the running to Syria and all over. What in fact is<\/p>\n<p>laughable is that the PPP does not know what to say about the AFC. When we were<\/p>\n<p>just formed we were accused of being an off shoot of the CIA and MI5 and the<\/p>\n<p>claims were made that we received moneys from them to enable us to launch and<\/p>\n<p>sustain our campaign. That was an absolute lie. Now the tune is changing to<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;pepper sauce&#8221;. This too is an outright lie. The PPP needs to make<\/p>\n<p>up its mind and to stop flip flopping. When the utterances were made at Babu<\/p>\n<p>John it was known that certain developments were about to occur in the Roger<\/p>\n<p>Khan matter. Those who know what really happened know that one computer was<\/p>\n<p>exchanged for another. The information on the real computer which, is obviously<\/p>\n<p>already being downloaded and transcribed, no doubt will be damning for many. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>One gets a sense that things have begun to unravel<\/p>\n<p>in our dear land. Only a few months ago, the government boasted that Guyana was<\/p>\n<p>so unique that it was insulated from the shocks and tremors of the global<\/p>\n<p>financial crisis. Now, just a few months later, we see CLICO in serious and<\/p>\n<p>irreparable trouble, the NIS in jeopardy because of the exposure of billions of<\/p>\n<p>dollars set aside to meet claims, and employees losing their jobs as industry<\/p>\n<p>after industry begin to wobble from the shocks. Added to this are the recently<\/p>\n<p>released report by the UN Expert on Minority Rights Issues Ms. Gay McDougal<\/p>\n<p>which is very critical of the government, the Al Jazeera story on<\/p>\n<p>narcotrafficking, and the refusal to have the head of CANU attend an important<\/p>\n<p>regional meeting of Drug Tsars. There is little or no credibility left in the<\/p>\n<p>government in what it says and does. Even die hard PPP supporters are now<\/p>\n<p>confessing that this is &#8220;government gone mad&#8221; and that all of us,<\/p>\n<p>no matter what we may look like and what our surnames sound like, are in deep<\/p>\n<p>peril. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In Guyana, there is need for an immediate<\/p>\n<p>independent investigation into the Roger Khan affair. If indeed Khan was acting<\/p>\n<p>as agent for the government of Guyana, we need to know. Was Khan led to believe<\/p>\n<p>that he had an unbridled warrant from the Government of Guyana to do all things<\/p>\n<p>necessary to prevent an insurrection or coup d&#8217; etat? Would he make up<\/p>\n<p>such a story, or is there even a grain of truth in what he says? Can we believe<\/p>\n<p>the President when he says he had no personal contact with Khan? Or is there at<\/p>\n<p>least one person in Guyana, or abroad, who can prove otherwise? Guyana is being<\/p>\n<p>damned by these allegations in the eyes of the international community. As was<\/p>\n<p>explained to me a few days ago, there was a time when Guyana stood tall over<\/p>\n<p>little breadfruit republics, today we now look like minions beneath them. We<\/p>\n<p>have lost our regional and international stature which undoubtedly had been<\/p>\n<p>built up after 1992. It may be all well and good for the government to pretend<\/p>\n<p>to hide behind a fig leaf when most things are already in the open. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>However, for the rest of us, who number in<\/p>\n<p>the hundreds of thousands, we want to see a proper and dignified end to this<\/p>\n<p>sordid affair. The daily newspapers reported the President as saying at the<\/p>\n<p>Police Force&#8217;s conference &#8220;The Commissioner has to solve murders<\/p>\n<p>here. That&#8217;s his job. If he reads the papers and sees that anyone has<\/p>\n<p>information on an unsolved murder he has an obligation to seek further<\/p>\n<p>information because that&#8217;s part of his job It can&#8217;t be just Jagdeo.<\/p>\n<p>I think that he should be dealing with these issues.&#8221; Nice attempt to<\/p>\n<p>play the ball away, but certainly this information was coming out years ago. I<\/p>\n<p>have to say most respectfully, this seems quite shallow. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In this regard, an independent investigation<\/p>\n<p>is the only way out for the Jagdeo administration. The AFC wishes to suggest<\/p>\n<p>that the International Commission of Jurists, or other similar institution<\/p>\n<p>attached to the United Nations or Organisation of American States, should be<\/p>\n<p>approached to spearhead the investigation. All of these organizations have done<\/p>\n<p>work of a similar nature in other countries around the world and the ICJ was in<\/p>\n<p>fact invited here under the Burnham administration to examine the police force<\/p>\n<p>and did an excellent job. The AFC and all of its executive members will<\/p>\n<p>willingly participate in the investigation including, taking a lie detector<\/p>\n<p>test if called upon. The President&#8217;s call for the Police Commissioner to<\/p>\n<p>conduct an investigation three years after the situation unfolded is a little<\/p>\n<p>said much too late. No disrespect meant but obviously this is way beyond the<\/p>\n<p>capacities of the local force and may very well involve some of its members. An<\/p>\n<p>independent investigation is the only proper way to go. The question is, will<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Jagdeo and his colleagues agree and submit themselves fully to one. The<\/p>\n<p>nation waits. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-3-25: Jagdeo<\/p>\n<p>Compromising International Alliances with Donor Community and Caricom &amp;<\/p>\n<p>Other News <\/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'>Jagdeo Compromising International<\/p>\n<p>Alliances with Donor Community and Caricom <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC is growing increasingly concerned<\/p>\n<p>about the pathway being taken by the president of Guyana as he explores<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;new frontiers&#8221; for investment and opportunities with countries in<\/p>\n<p>the Middle East and elsewhere. The AFC has no difficulty in Guyana establishing<\/p>\n<p>relations with countries such as Syria, and in fact will encourage it, but<\/p>\n<p>takes issue with the glaring disparity between the President&#8217;s new<\/p>\n<p>outlook and his apparent isolationist policy being pursued with regards to<\/p>\n<p>CARICOM and our traditional Western allies. The government is unable to fully<\/p>\n<p>and properly provide diplomatic services in the few places where we have<\/p>\n<p>embassies and consulates established and thus we should fix our house in a<\/p>\n<p>purposeful and strategic manner before turning to far flung places. As it is,<\/p>\n<p>little is said about these weekly visits including the cost on taxpayers versus<\/p>\n<p>the returns. Jagdeo needs to account for his activities and set out the<\/p>\n<p>expected risks and benefits for Guyana.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Closer to home, the party is reliably<\/p>\n<p>informed that President Jagdeo is at odds with many Caribbean leaders over the<\/p>\n<p>approach on regional issues and more particularly, the recent issue of the<\/p>\n<p>Regional Negotiating Machinery. Guyana is increasingly assuming a selfish and<\/p>\n<p>unilateral approach to diplomacy and statecraft.<\/span><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>13.5pt;color:red&#8217;>.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The President should match words with action<\/p>\n<p>even as he lectures the United States administration on its lack of assistance<\/p>\n<p>in the drug fight. Guyana will continue not to enjoy favourable relations with<\/p>\n<p>the US unless and until it demonstrates that it is ready indeed to be a true<\/p>\n<p>partner. The foot dragging for the establishment of a DEA office, the<\/p>\n<p>non-implementation of the Drug Strategy Master Plan, and the most recent<\/p>\n<p>decision not to send the Head of CANU to a Regional Drug Conference, have only<\/p>\n<p>served to increase the tension between Washington and Georgetown. This is poor<\/p>\n<p>judgment which could not only jeopardize our national security, but also our<\/p>\n<p>strategic alliances. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Guyana&#8217;s Delegation to Summit of Americas<\/p>\n<p>Should Be Representative Of Parliamentary Parties And Civil Society <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In April 2009 the Summit of the Americas will<\/p>\n<p>be convened in host nation Trinidad &amp; Tobago and the AFC believes that the<\/p>\n<p>issues to be discussed are of far reaching importance and as such the Guyana<\/p>\n<p>delegation to attend must be truly representative of the socio-political fabric<\/p>\n<p>of Guyana. In this regard, we call on the Government to be transparent by<\/p>\n<p>firstly publishing details of the Agenda for the Summit so that other National<\/p>\n<p>Stakeholders may be given the opportunity in formulating the Guyana position,<\/p>\n<p>and secondly inclusive, that the delegation slated to attend the Summit be<\/p>\n<p>comprised of representatives of the Parliamentary parties and Civil Society. We<\/p>\n<p>challenge the President to make good on his promise to &#8220;join forces with<\/p>\n<p>the political opposition and find innovative ways to work together to solve our<\/p>\n<p>problems&#8221; to be &#8220;pursued within an enhanced framework for political<\/p>\n<p>cooperation encompassing the principles of increased meaningful contacts, the<\/p>\n<p>identification and implementation of an agreed agenda of national issues and<\/p>\n<p>greater scope for the participation of civil society in the decision-making<\/p>\n<p>process.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>CLICO &amp; NIS <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The pain and agony caused by greed,<\/p>\n<p>corruption, and mismanagement continue to be felt by hundreds as the full<\/p>\n<p>impact of the CLICO debacle unfolds. Despite assurances that government&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>actions were being taken in the best interest of the workers and policy holders<\/p>\n<p>of CLICO, persons are losing their jobs and remain without salary since<\/p>\n<p>January. The Judicial Management process to date has not been reassuring as to<\/p>\n<p>the fate of thousands of persons whose pension, health schemes and other<\/p>\n<p>investments are caught in this trap. The AFC empathizes with all those who are<\/p>\n<p>in jeopardy and will continue to monitor the situation closely and render<\/p>\n<p>assistance wherever and whenever necessary. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>With regard to the National Insurance Scheme<\/p>\n<p>we simply call on the Chairman of the Board the illustrious Dr. Luncheon to do<\/p>\n<p>less talking and do get about retrieving the billions that he allowed to leave<\/p>\n<p>these shores in a failed investment. It is amazing that he is still insisting,<\/p>\n<p>after overseeing this catastrophe, that it was a good and lucrative investment.<\/p>\n<p>How much more preposterous and outrageous can he get! Dr. Luncheon should heed<\/p>\n<p>his own advice and do the decent and honorable thing by resigning as the<\/p>\n<p>Chairman of the NIS Board <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Local Government Elections <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Once again we hear another call for Local<\/p>\n<p>Government elections to be held sometime in this year 2009. The AFC has always<\/p>\n<p>encouraged the holding of these elections as they are an essential component of<\/p>\n<p>a democratic system which is palpably absent in Guyana. The Task Force on Local<\/p>\n<p>Government has failed to issue a report on its work but we are advised that<\/p>\n<p>draft legislation is in circulation and will be brought to the National Assembly<\/p>\n<p>shortly. The AFC believes that the context of this legislation should be fully<\/p>\n<p>set out and explained and that all proposed reforms should be presented as a<\/p>\n<p>package rather than in a piece-meal manner. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The party is strong in its conviction that<\/p>\n<p>the holding of local government elections in the absence of meaningful reforms<\/p>\n<p>that will devolve power and authority to the people, would only result in<\/p>\n<p>another meaningless exercise and be a waste of scarce tax payers&#8217; money. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There has been some chatter that the elections<\/p>\n<p>may be held for the ulterior and sinister purpose of attaching a referendum to<\/p>\n<p>it for a Constitutional amendment for the presidential term limit to be<\/p>\n<p>abolished, as was recently the case in Venezuela. Guyanese are aware that the<\/p>\n<p>constitution restricts any person from serving for more than two terms as<\/p>\n<p>president. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>AFC Leadership Concludes Successful US<\/p>\n<p>Visit <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The leadership of the party recently<\/p>\n<p>concluded a successful visit to the United States to meet with members of the<\/p>\n<p>Diaspora Chapters and with supporters. The party acknowledges the importance of<\/p>\n<p>the Diaspora by having four (4) seats on the National Executive Committee set<\/p>\n<p>aside for elected members from North America, Europe, and the Caribbean. This<\/p>\n<p>is in consonance with the belief that Guyana can never enjoy peace and<\/p>\n<p>prosperity if we do not harness the potential of the Diaspora and have them<\/p>\n<p>work with those of us in Guyana as equals.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The meetings and engagements held proved to<\/p>\n<p>be very successful as it allowed the members of the National Executive to<\/p>\n<p>discuss and decide pertinent business relating to the party&#8217;s management<\/p>\n<p>and its approach to upcoming elections. The leaders were heartened by the<\/p>\n<p>response of Guyanese in the Diaspora towards the AFC message, and very<\/p>\n<p>appreciative of the efforts put in by many to ensure a successful visit. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>2nd Phase Of Seeds Of Change To Be<\/p>\n<p>Launched <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The 2nd phase of the Seeds of Change project<\/p>\n<p>is scheduled to be launched at the beginning of April. In Phase one over 30,000<\/p>\n<p>seedlings were freely distributed nation wide to grateful citizens. In the<\/p>\n<p>coming months we will be targeting households affected by the December\/January<\/p>\n<p>floods in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, and 10. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The programme seeks to bring relief in a time<\/p>\n<p>of hardship and scarcity and hopes to encourage an embracing of the basic<\/p>\n<p>philosophy that we must return to the earth for our sustenance. The AFC will<\/p>\n<p>continue to partner with other persons and agencies as before and all Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>are invited to make requests for seedlings and to help promote the project by sending<\/p>\n<p>ideas, suggestions, and of course cash. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>AFC Congratulates The West Indies Cricket<\/p>\n<p>Team And Shivnarine Chanderpaul And Calls For Restoration Of Investiture<\/p>\n<p>Ceremonies <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC congratulates the players and<\/p>\n<p>management of the West Indies cricket team for their recent performances<\/p>\n<p>against England and wish them every success in the future as they continue to<\/p>\n<p>regain their prestigious place as world champions. We also congratulate<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese and West Indies Cricketing star Shivnarine Chanderpaul on the recent bestowal<\/p>\n<p>on him of the national award, the Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH). This award was<\/p>\n<p>long overdue and well deserving for a batsman who stands like a giant amongst<\/p>\n<p>all cricketers in the world. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In December, 2008, AFC Leader, Raphael<\/p>\n<p>Trotman, had written President Jagdeo specifically requesting that a high award<\/p>\n<p>be bestowed on the cricketer, and the party is pleased that the President has<\/p>\n<p>answered the call. In the letter Raphael Trotman had stated: &#8220;I wish to<\/p>\n<p>bring to your attention, the outstanding performances of Shivnarine Chanderpaul<\/p>\n<p>on whom you bestowed the Arrow of Achievement earlier in the year. I, on behalf<\/p>\n<p>of the AFC, have been on record as saying as recently as September, 2008, that<\/p>\n<p>he is deserving of a much higher award. I am certain that you will agree with<\/p>\n<p>me, and with the hundreds of thousands of Guyanese and cricket loving people<\/p>\n<p>throughout the world, that no other Guyanese has achieved the same records as<\/p>\n<p>he has in international cricket, and this feat should be recognised. We all<\/p>\n<p>believe that he is deserving of the highest commendation from the Government<\/p>\n<p>and people of Guyana.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC also calls on President Jagdeo to<\/p>\n<p>restore the annual ceremony of bestowing the Orders of Guyana on deserving<\/p>\n<p>citizens. The President of Guyana, as Chancellor of the Orders of Guyana,<\/p>\n<p>should accept that a system of recognizing and honouring the outstanding<\/p>\n<p>contribution of citizens is a fundamental feature and symbol of a well<\/p>\n<p>organized society. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-4-5: AFC Column &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>JUDICIARY NOT AN AUXILLIARY OF HOME AFFAIRS MINISTRY by Khemraj Ramjattan <\/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 Ministry of Home Affairs has an executive<\/p>\n<p>responsibility to provide assistance to the Police. But the Judiciary is not<\/p>\n<p>the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is highly unfortunate that the Ministry of Home<\/p>\n<p>Affairs has made such a public complaint against the Judiciary. This complaint<\/p>\n<p>seems to imply that the Police Force needs co-operative help from the Judiciary<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; help which the Judiciary cannot provide if it is to maintain its<\/p>\n<p>impartiality in matters criminal and its duty to apply the law. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Ministry has attacked the High Court on<\/p>\n<p>the ground that the High Court has granted bail to two Jamaican Defendants who<\/p>\n<p>are summarily charged with the offence of Trafficking in Narcotics, without<\/p>\n<p>there being special reasons to be recorded in writing. The Ministry has even<\/p>\n<p>quoted a section of the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act<\/p>\n<p>which the Ministry has perceived to be relevant. The perception is erroneous.<\/p>\n<p>It is obvious that the Ministry has not carefully read the provisions of the<\/p>\n<p>Act; or, has been legally misadvised. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In that Act, there is a distinction between<\/p>\n<p>Court (spelt with a capital C) and court (spelt with a common c). Court spelt<\/p>\n<p>with a capital C means the High Court and court spelt with a common c means the<\/p>\n<p>Magistrate court. It is the Magistrate who has no jurisdiction to grant bail<\/p>\n<p>for certain narcotic offences in the absence of special reasons &#8211; not the<\/p>\n<p>High Court. The provision quoted by the Ministry of Home Affairs applies only<\/p>\n<p>to Magistrates and not to the High Court Judges. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Magistrate Court is a creature of statute<\/p>\n<p>and therefore its jurisdiction can be limited by statute. Not so with the High<\/p>\n<p>Court! The High Court is a creature of the Constitution and therefore its<\/p>\n<p>jurisdiction in relation to core functions cannot be limited by ordinary<\/p>\n<p>statute. It can be limited only by the Constitution itself. The liberty of the<\/p>\n<p>subject falls within those core functions. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In this case referred to by the Ministry of<\/p>\n<p>Home Affairs purporting to show that the High Court exceeded its jurisdiction,<\/p>\n<p>the circumstances do appear to justify the grant of bail. The Defendants on a<\/p>\n<p>summary charge of Trafficking in Narcotics were denied pretrial liberty without<\/p>\n<p>commencement of the hearing, as I am informed, after several months. In the<\/p>\n<p>light of the Constitutional right of a presumption of innocence and the right<\/p>\n<p>to be tried within a reasonable time, the High Court appears to have acted<\/p>\n<p>quite properly in granting bail. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The complaint made by the Ministry of Home<\/p>\n<p>Affairs is obviously based on an ignorance of the doctrine of separation of<\/p>\n<p>powers and the role of the judiciary, one being a philosophical and the other<\/p>\n<p>an institutional pillar respectively of a normal democracy. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This complaint can only come from democratic-centralist<\/p>\n<p>upbringing which does not permit an understanding that the Judiciary must never<\/p>\n<p>be an auxiliary of the most coercive organ of State &#8211; its Ministry of<\/p>\n<p>Home Affairs. A democratic-centralist, commandist approach is the tradition of<\/p>\n<p>authoritarian regimes, especially of the ilk of the former Soviet Union, which<\/p>\n<p>preached &#8220;socialist legality&#8221; as against the &#8220;rule of<\/p>\n<p>law&#8221; of liberal democracies. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I have noticed dangerous trends recently<\/p>\n<p>which bespeaks of this democratic backslide and a rollback of the rule of law.<\/p>\n<p>Torture by the coercive arm of the State these days is said to be just<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;roughing up&#8221;. So says a leading Minister who has impressed us all<\/p>\n<p>with, more than anything else, his desire of wanting to be the next<\/p>\n<p>Presidential Candidate. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But another recent statement, from a quarter<\/p>\n<p>I least expected, The Honourable Attorney General, indicating that instructions<\/p>\n<p>from him as chief legal adviser to the Government can be given to the Director<\/p>\n<p>of Public Prosecutions, is far graver. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I just hope that the DPP smiled away<\/p>\n<p>dismissively at this. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-4-12: AFC Column &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>POWER TO THE PEOPLE 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'>At this time of Easter when we reflect on the<\/p>\n<p>ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made to ensure the salvation of all those who<\/p>\n<p>believe in his Gospel, let us examine whether those who claim the right to rule<\/p>\n<p>over us have any desire to truly serve, or instead want to be served. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Jesus of Nazareth was indeed one of the<\/p>\n<p>greatest revolutionaries of all time as he spoke the language of the people,<\/p>\n<p>came from the people, and served the people. Today, as we survey the local<\/p>\n<p>political scene, we find too many of the players involved in a game of<\/p>\n<p>one-upmanship, particularly as it relates to local government reform and the<\/p>\n<p>elections that were meant to follow. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Once again the process is mired in<\/p>\n<p>controversy and difficulty; failing in a sense to undergo that ultimate<\/p>\n<p>sacrifice for the people by placing into their hands the powers of knowledge<\/p>\n<p>and governance. Instead we see GECOM hiring and training staff for elections<\/p>\n<p>when the long awaited reform process is not over. GECOM obviously knows<\/p>\n<p>something the rest of us don&#8217;t because as yet, no laws have been passed<\/p>\n<p>to say how the new electoral system is going to be designed, how the people are<\/p>\n<p>meant to participate and to benefit, how revenue is going to be raised, and how<\/p>\n<p>the stranglehold of central government is going to be broken. What a farce! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>For eight years, the people have waited for<\/p>\n<p>the Local Government Task Force, comprising representatives of the PPP\/C and<\/p>\n<p>PNCR, to conclude their agenda. This agenda was intended to deliver a promise<\/p>\n<p>made to them of a new system; a new dispensation of local governance that would<\/p>\n<p>see ordinary people taking control of their affairs in a truly democratic and<\/p>\n<p>transparent manner. It is the kind of shift in the balance of power that I have<\/p>\n<p>described as the replacement of the influence of a few with the power of the<\/p>\n<p>multitude. In the past I said &#8220;We in the AFC believe that simply having<\/p>\n<p>Local Government, and later National Elections, without fundamental changes<\/p>\n<p>will keep us tied to the past. This is the kind of change that the people of<\/p>\n<p>Guyana have to demand.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Those who were involved in crafting the 2001<\/p>\n<p>Jagdeo\/Hoyte Accord understood that in this country, dogged by political<\/p>\n<p>tensions, distrust, claims of discrimination and underdevelopment, that there<\/p>\n<p>had to be a devolution of power from the centralist system of having political<\/p>\n<p>parties and a Minister of Local Government making decisions, to a new system<\/p>\n<p>where the people would make the decisions for themselves as to what schools<\/p>\n<p>would be repaired, and how much money would be spent on roads. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The overarching intention of President Jagdeo<\/p>\n<p>and former President Hoyte, at the time of signing their Communiqu&eacute; in<\/p>\n<p>2001, was the reconstruction of the local government system so that whenever<\/p>\n<p>the elections were held it would provide the foundation for a new dispensation<\/p>\n<p>of peace, harmony, and development in our communities. This dispensation of<\/p>\n<p>peace, harmony, and development would hopefully eliminate, or keep to a<\/p>\n<p>minimum, the traditional bitterness and squabbling, confusion, and manipulation<\/p>\n<p>of local affairs as practiced by government. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Among the stated terms of reference of the<\/p>\n<p>Task Force are: to ensure the conclusion of the constitutional reform process<\/p>\n<p>and give effect to the new constitutional provisions regarding local democracy;<\/p>\n<p>to monitor and guide the drafting, passing and implementation of legislation to<\/p>\n<p>give greater autonomy to local government bodies, including the establishment<\/p>\n<p>of the local government commission, and the formulation and implementation of<\/p>\n<p>objective criteria for the purpose of the allocation of resources by local<\/p>\n<p>democratic organs. Once again we learn that the process is being terminated<\/p>\n<p>unilaterally by the PPP\/C. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Today, eight years later, the people continue<\/p>\n<p>to be shafted by a series of games being played by those who place little value<\/p>\n<p>on their lives, and more on their personal advancement. As I listen to those<\/p>\n<p>who say &#8220;there will be local government elections in 2009&#8221;, I am<\/p>\n<p>reminded of the admonition that Jesus gave to the people: &#8220;Beware of the<\/p>\n<p>scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets,<\/p>\n<p>and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What is important is not simply the holding<\/p>\n<p>of local government elections, but elections that deliver to the people real<\/p>\n<p>change from the system that has paralysed them for the past four decades.<\/p>\n<p>Without a doubt, the delays are the direct result of the parties trying to gain<\/p>\n<p>the upper hand on each other so that when the gun is fired for the race to<\/p>\n<p>begin, they will enjoy a greater advantage. This is the political game that<\/p>\n<p>defines politics all over the world, and has been seen recently in the U.S.,<\/p>\n<p>the people have started the long, but necessary, trek towards regaining control<\/p>\n<p>over their lives. Why should a community in Bath Settlement, Berbice, or the<\/p>\n<p>people in Bartica be denied greater autonomy simply because some group of<\/p>\n<p>persons in Georgetown can&#8217;t stop fighting? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Last Monday, I read a very interesting, and<\/p>\n<p>certainly stimulating, letter written by Eric Phillips about a people&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>exercise that took place in Agricola on Palm Sunday. It was most refreshing to<\/p>\n<p>read that the people of Agricola decided that enough was enough and that they<\/p>\n<p>would not wait on politicians to begin their re-birth. I read that &#8220;While<\/p>\n<p>some dutifully celebrated Palm Sunday in the traditional manner, Agricola<\/p>\n<p>residents of all races, creeds, colours, ages, and shapes took to the streets<\/p>\n<p>to clean up their community. Over 800 residents participated in the cleansing<\/p>\n<p>exercise.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This was achieved with the help of corporate<\/p>\n<p>support from Namilco, Sol, Caribbean Containers, and Two Brothers, and from<\/p>\n<p>institutions such as ACDA, Food for the Poor, the Georgetown City Council and<\/p>\n<p>even the Guyana Defence Force. What was most remarkable and refreshing was that<\/p>\n<p>there were no politicians present jostling for attention and votes. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Eric Phillips urged that the spirit of<\/p>\n<p>Agricola should spread like wildfire throughout the nation. I hope that in<\/p>\n<p>every community that the spirit of Agricola takes over, and that beginning in<\/p>\n<p>every yard, street, village, community and town, the people say that the time<\/p>\n<p>has come for the old political way to be cast off and that those who serve them<\/p>\n<p>are people of their choice and not placed over them to demand respect and<\/p>\n<p>reverence. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It has become quite clear that the PPP\/C<\/p>\n<p>intends to hold local government elections without far-reaching and meaningful<\/p>\n<p>reforms. It appears that to the PPP\/C the ancient mindset that says that people<\/p>\n<p>must be governed and not be involved in governance remains intact. This is 2009<\/p>\n<p>and not 1919. It will be for the people ultimately to decide whether they want<\/p>\n<p>control of their lives, or remain to under the control of others from birth to<\/p>\n<p>death; a form of bondage as it were. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Whenever local government elections are held<\/p>\n<p>in Guyana they must not be held simply to meet someone&#8217;s notion that<\/p>\n<p>elections are the beginning and ending of democracy, but they must be held to<\/p>\n<p>bring empowerment. I too join the call for people to organize themselves and to<\/p>\n<p>let their voices be heard saying that the reforms must come before any<\/p>\n<p>elections are held in Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Happy Easter to all Guyanese! <\/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'>2009-4-19: AFC Column &#8211; The<\/p>\n<p>5<\/span><\/u><\/b><b><s><sup><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>th<\/span><\/sup><\/s><\/b><b><u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;> Summit of the Americas,,,,, <\/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'>&#8220;We will not be prisoners of the<\/p>\n<p>past! I&#8217;m here to talk about the Future!&#8221; President Barack Obama in<\/p>\n<p>Trinidad, April 17, 2009. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There is no doubt that Trinidad and<\/p>\n<p>Tobago&#8217;s hosting of the 5<sup>th<\/sup> Summit of the Americas is a<\/p>\n<p>monumental event for the entire Caribbean. It&#8217;s unique historical<\/p>\n<p>opportunity for the region to place on the agenda of the Americas the special<\/p>\n<p>challenges that confront small nations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The tone of the summit was set by that<\/p>\n<p>transformational figure, United States President Barack Obama who said in his keynote<\/p>\n<p>address at the opening of the summit, &#8221;<i>We will not be prisoners of the<\/p>\n<p>past! I&#8217;m here to talk about the Future!&#8221; <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So let us for a moment escape the shackles of<\/p>\n<p>our past, examine our present and see if we can create a better way to shape<\/p>\n<p>our future. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What is the reality of where we are, in this<\/p>\n<p>the tenth year of a new century. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Communication and the ability to exchange<\/p>\n<p>ideas in information driven competitive world economy is vital to the economic<\/p>\n<p>sustainability and future of any country. In Guyana, a country of some 83,000<\/p>\n<p>square miles there is one ONE radio station. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Is it really acceptable as an explanation,<\/p>\n<p>after 43 years of independence that we cannot draft and implement broadcast<\/p>\n<p>legislation which would address and protect the interest of all stakeholders.<\/p>\n<p>Further in this technology driven global interconnected environment, is it<\/p>\n<p>acceptable to limit choice and access to information. To force a community as<\/p>\n<p>happens in Region 10, to watch only one TV station and an entire nation to have<\/p>\n<p>just one radio station &#8211; a stark contrast to Trinidad&#8217;s 17. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And worse, is it acceptable that what should<\/p>\n<p>be a national television station, which should inform and education all of our<\/p>\n<p>peoples, encourage debate with a view to finding meaningful solutions to a<\/p>\n<p>myriad of challenges, should operate solely as a government propaganda<\/p>\n<p>machinery under the control of a few seek to dominate the many. When will our<\/p>\n<p>taxpayer dollars be used to fund our own equivalent of the BBC, committed to<\/p>\n<p>giving access and representation to all? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The problem is that in Guyana now we have<\/p>\n<p>lived with the abnormal for so long, we are unable to recognize how abnormal we<\/p>\n<p>have become in a world that is leaving us behind. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Race continues to infect our society,<\/p>\n<p>spreading its cancerous tentacles over every national institution. Fear and<\/p>\n<p>insecurity whether physical or economic pervade our daily life, &#8220;creating<\/p>\n<p>separate and conflicting narratives.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The only aspect of national activity which<\/p>\n<p>has escaped the pollution of race is migration. The national consciousness is a<\/p>\n<p>permanent resident of the departure lounge at Cheddi Jagan International<\/p>\n<p>Airport, Timehri. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Our ability to constructively contribute to<\/p>\n<p>national debate continues to be stymied and frustrated by the lack of access to<\/p>\n<p>national data and information. There is no Freedom of Information Act. However<\/p>\n<p>translated, the Government has access to all the information and you have none.<\/p>\n<p>In functioning democracies you can go online and access the most basic of data.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So how do we go forward and what can the future<\/p>\n<p>hold for Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>President<\/p>\n<p>Obama speaking on Democracy in France on April 3, 2009 said <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;That<\/p>\n<p>we will open up our markets to trade from poor countries, That we will also<\/p>\n<p>insist that there is good governance and rule of law, And other critical factors<\/p>\n<p>to make these countries work&#8230;&#8230;. A well functioning society does not<\/p>\n<p>just depend on going to the ballot box.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>For Guyana to begin to realize anything near<\/p>\n<p>to its true potential, it must create equal opportunity for all its young<\/p>\n<p>citizens to realize their true potential. Fundamentally this must start by<\/p>\n<p>addressing the deficiencies in our education system. You simply cannot have the<\/p>\n<p>national average pass mark for English and mathematics hovering around 30%.<\/p>\n<p>This means that every year we are sending our youth into the workforce with<\/p>\n<p>severe challenges and disadvantages which can only adversely impact on national<\/p>\n<p>productivity. What&#8217;s the point of building brand new spanking schools<\/p>\n<p>when there is no teacher to teach in them and little or no money spent on the maintenance<\/p>\n<p>of the old ones? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC believes that the continued<\/p>\n<p>insularity of the Government and their refusal to address these issues will<\/p>\n<p>irreparably damage Guyana. We believe that global attention must be drawn to<\/p>\n<p>these severe weaknesses in our national development. We ask you not to cower to<\/p>\n<p>fear but to stand up and speak up for what is right, fair and just! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Change<\/p>\n<p>will not come if we wait for some other person <\/span><\/i><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Or<\/p>\n<p>some other time <\/span><\/i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We<\/p>\n<p>are the ones we have been waiting for We are the change that we seek.&#8221; <\/span><\/i><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8211;<\/p>\n<p>Barack Obama <\/span><\/i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-4-26: AFC Column &#8211; Let<\/p>\n<p>us preserve the dignity of the legislative process and the justice of our<\/p>\n<p>jurisprudence by Khemraj Ramjattan, AFC Chairman <\/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'>What transpired in the National Assembly on<\/p>\n<p>23<sup>rd<\/sup> April, 2009 when the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill 2009 came<\/p>\n<p>up for deliberation is indicative of the parlous state of affairs that our<\/p>\n<p>legislative process is in. This bad state is wholly as a result of the hapless<\/p>\n<p>undemocratic culture of the Government&#8217;s leading legislative cabal. Their<\/p>\n<p>Parliamentary behavior and strategy range from sheer recklessness to outright<\/p>\n<p>deception. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Now I do appreciate that the volume and<\/p>\n<p>complexity of legislation put up by the Government presents a very serious<\/p>\n<p>challenge in view of the limited skills and expertise. Moreso, when those two<\/p>\n<p>hallmarks of good legislation are demanded &#8211; clarity and certainty. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So Government lawmakers, to be true to their<\/p>\n<p>oath, must with intellectual honesty and thorough care proceed to inform<\/p>\n<p>themselves first, and then the National Assembly as to the state of the<\/p>\n<p>existing law, its defects if any, and the rationale as to why the legislation<\/p>\n<p>is required. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Sad to say, the PPP\/C Government proved that<\/p>\n<p>once again these thresholds were not reached. Worse still was that the PNC\/R<\/p>\n<p>was involved in the co-piloting of this Amendment. This political combination<\/p>\n<p>as is wont, caused a dramatic crash-landing of the Bill in the Assembly thereby<\/p>\n<p>creating the necessary loud noises and fireworks, resulting in the end with an<\/p>\n<p>outrageous regression of our law. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The original section 8 of the Election Laws<\/p>\n<p>(Amendment) Act 2000 had made provision for the remuneration of one scrutineer<\/p>\n<p>within each registration division who was appointed by the majority party, and<\/p>\n<p>one appointed from the combined minority parties. The remuneration would be<\/p>\n<p>such as may be determined by the Election Commission. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Election Commission in its wisdom, or<\/p>\n<p>absence thereof, had decided that whatever remunerations will be paid for the<\/p>\n<p>recent 2007\/8 registration exercise, half of it will go to the PPP\/C and the<\/p>\n<p>other half to the PNC\/R. The AFC did not like this distribution as the combined<\/p>\n<p>minority parties could not mean the PNC\/R. That party was only one constituent<\/p>\n<p>thereof. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As is now known, the AFC took the matter to<\/p>\n<p>the High Court for a resolution. Justice Jainarine Singh ruled that scrutineers<\/p>\n<p>appointed by the combined minority parties were to be paid by the Election<\/p>\n<p>Commission in a manner that was fair, reasonable and just, and this meant an<\/p>\n<p>allocation of money to the combined minority parties proportionate to their<\/p>\n<p>numerical strength in the National Assembly. Since the AFC had 21% of the<\/p>\n<p>numerical strength within the opposition in the Assembly, this meant that its<\/p>\n<p>allocation out of the $100M for the combined minority parties would have<\/p>\n<p>realized for it the sum of $21M upon the appointment and work of its<\/p>\n<p>scrutineers. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The PPP\/C and PNC\/R which dominates the<\/p>\n<p>Election Commission, did not like this obviously fair ruling. Both these<\/p>\n<p>parties for different reasons detest the AFC being on the Guyanese political<\/p>\n<p>landscape. The Elections Commission thus appealed this decision to the Court of<\/p>\n<p>Appeal. The Court of Appeal through a distinguished judgement of Chancellor<\/p>\n<p>Carl Singh affirmed Justice Jainarine Singh in every respect. Mr. Ashton Chase&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>argument on behalf of the Elections Commission &#8211; &#8220;But how could the<\/p>\n<p>lower Court rule so if the Statute section 8 did not expressly state so?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; was answered by the Appellate Court thus: &#8220;The answer to this<\/p>\n<p>question is in treating the Elections Commission as having the power<\/p>\n<p>inferentially to effect payment proportionately to the combined minority<\/p>\n<p>parties in the National Assembly and thereby achieving the desirable standards<\/p>\n<p>of reasonableness and fairness.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mr. Robert Corbin had said to the media after<\/p>\n<p>this decision that he did not mind at all if the remuneration to scrutineers is<\/p>\n<p>done equitably and proportionately, and that a situation meeting this standard<\/p>\n<p>should be provided for. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Of course the entire world knows that the<\/p>\n<p>Elections Commission did not bother with either of these decisions of these<\/p>\n<p>Courts. The AFC was left out in the cold. It was not allowed to appoint its 21%<\/p>\n<p>of the scrutineers and hence did not get 21% of the remuneration. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Amendment Bill of 2009, which came up for<\/p>\n<p>debate on Thursday last, was therefore to have given effect to the spirit of<\/p>\n<p>the decision of the Court of Appeal and High Court. &#8220;It was what inspired<\/p>\n<p>this Amendment,&#8221; boasted the Honourable Attorney General. So too, said<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Khellawan Lall, Neil Kumar and Amna Ally, and a very irritable Mr. Corbin,<\/p>\n<p>who not being billed to speak spoke very lengthily. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But the contents of the Bill, which was<\/p>\n<p>passed in the National Assembly by the PPP\/C and PNC\/R, were as far removed<\/p>\n<p>from what these Courts ruled as like the North Pole is from the South. The<\/p>\n<p>entirety of the Amendment was to reverse the proportionality principle that the<\/p>\n<p>Courts of our land held! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What these two parties co-piloted was but the<\/p>\n<p>restoration of the status quo just before Justice Jainarine Singh&#8217;s High<\/p>\n<p>Court ruling, that is that one half of the remuneration will go to the<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;governing party&#8221; (meaning PPP\/C); and, the other half to the<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;the combined opposition parties&#8221; (meaning the PNC\/R). To make<\/p>\n<p>doubly sure that the Elections Commission does not allocate on a proportionality<\/p>\n<p>model as the Courts ruled, the said Amendment Bill provided: &#8220;<b>The list<\/p>\n<p>of scrutineers of the combined opposition of the National Assembly to be<\/p>\n<p>remunerated shall be submitted by the <u>Leader of the Opposition<\/u> after<\/p>\n<p>meaningful consultation with the other opposition parties in the National<\/p>\n<p>Assembly.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>How could this be an effectuation of the<\/p>\n<p>proportionality principle of the High Court and Court of Appeal? This Amendment<\/p>\n<p>ensures that the AFC is left out, and that the proportionality principle is<\/p>\n<p>thrown through the window. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So all the talk about this Bill being the<\/p>\n<p>effectuation of what the Courts ruled was either recklessness or an attempt at<\/p>\n<p>deception! And if it was neither, it was definitely political vulgarity &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>dominant in an era I thought long gone. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What happened here reminded me of the days<\/p>\n<p>when a Forbes Burnham National Assembly had similarly &#8220;reversed&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>the then Court of Appeal&#8217;s judgement in <b><i><u>Guysuco v Teemal <\/u><\/i><\/b>(1983),<\/p>\n<p>a case which dealt with remuneration to workers, by passing legislation called<\/p>\n<p>the Labour Amendment Act 1984. I remembered the hue and cry made by the PPP,<\/p>\n<p>GAWU and even one Mr. C.R Ramson he being one of the lawyers who argued<\/p>\n<p>successfully for Teemal in both the High Court and Court of Appeal. And you<\/p>\n<p>know how he can get on! I use to hear him and enjoy hearing him as I was just<\/p>\n<p>out of Law School. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What Forbes Burnham did then, this PPP\/C<\/p>\n<p>Government has no qualms in doing today &#8211; with Mr. C.R. Ramson SC on this<\/p>\n<p>occasion at its law-making helm. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Honourable Attorney General in opening<\/p>\n<p>this debate literally mocked at Justice Jainarine Singh and had the audacity to<\/p>\n<p>erroneously assert about the Court of Appeal that &#8220;no written reason was<\/p>\n<p>advanced for its affirmation of the High Court Judge.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What colossal ignorance! The very erudite<\/p>\n<p>reasoning of Chancellor Carl Singh is in Volume 72 West Indian Law Reports<\/p>\n<p>pages 258 to <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>269. The Elections Commission indicated it<\/p>\n<p>would appeal to the CCJ, but did not as a result of better sense prevailing.<\/p>\n<p>Just to add, the Elections Commission to date has not even paid the costs it<\/p>\n<p>was ordered to pay after having lost the case. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Exhibit some more care Honourable Attorney<\/p>\n<p>General. I learnt you later sincerely apologized for your <i>mea culpa <\/i>in ascribing<\/p>\n<p>to the Court of Appeal no written reasoning. This is a good sign, a hopeful<\/p>\n<p>sign. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-5-3: AFC Column &#8211; Our<\/p>\n<p>Presidents and Politicians must chase after their passion, not after their<\/p>\n<p>pension By Khemraj Ramjatta, MP <\/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'>It<\/span><\/b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><\/p>\n<p>has been some time now that President Jagdeo has been taking a walloping from<\/p>\n<p>the media, the Opposition, and even his bretheren from the Caribbean. This<\/p>\n<p>torrid period has seen him having to sign on to the EPA when his initial stance<\/p>\n<p>was that he would not. It has seen him being the greatest defender of<\/p>\n<p>DuPrey&#8217;s CLICO when this entire empire has collapsed. It has seen him<\/p>\n<p>covering vast distances in the Middle East yet with his begging bowl, after all<\/p>\n<p>that effort, being empty at the end of it. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Indeed His Excellency&#8217;s stewardship in<\/p>\n<p>many a matter since the beginning of the year &#8211; ranging from issues financial<\/p>\n<p>to law and order, and even his appointment of Mc Koy to the Child Commission<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; has been taking a serious battering. It reached its zenith when the<\/p>\n<p>AFC&#8217;s advertisement in the Express of T&amp;T in the middle of the Summit<\/p>\n<p>of Americas rocked him. He obviously became depressed. And this was showing<\/p>\n<p>quite distinctly. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>His anti-bourgeousie, pro-working class<\/p>\n<p>PPP\/C&#8217;s senior leadership had to come to his assistance. They had to find<\/p>\n<p>a quick prescription for this depression. It came up with Bill No. 12 of 2009,<\/p>\n<p>Former Presidents (Benefits and other Facilities) Bill. It has been reported<\/p>\n<p>that he has been all smiles since the passing of this Bill in the Assembly. The<\/p>\n<p>depression is no more. And we must expect a lightning-paced Presidential Assent<\/p>\n<p>and gazetting so that it becomes law. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This Bill is reflective of a massive<\/p>\n<p>departure from what we used to be taught in the PPP under the Jagans. And what<\/p>\n<p>were these values and standards? Service without self-aggrandizement; struggle<\/p>\n<p>even if it comes at no or little remuneration; give of your self, even if it<\/p>\n<p>means the ultimate sacrifice, for the working people. These are the traits of<\/p>\n<p>true revolutionaries and moral leadership both Jagans use to inculcate in their<\/p>\n<p>cadres. To a large extent, both Jagans lived these ideals. They were never<\/p>\n<p>greedy for material things. They detested extravagance, and chastised spending<\/p>\n<p>on meretricious ornamentations. Not so with their lieutenants they have left in<\/p>\n<p>charge, it seems! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I wonder what Cde. Cheddi or Janet would have<\/p>\n<p>said if such a Bill No. 12 had come their way. I believe that Cde. Janet would<\/p>\n<p>have given it her patented over-the- shoulder treatment like she did with the<\/p>\n<p>Summons and Court order. Cde Cheddi would have shouted &#8211; &#8220;Is wha wrong<\/p>\n<p>with you people? You can&#8217;t find anything less idle to propose? Come here<\/p>\n<p>Donald. Whose idea was this?&#8221; I could see Donald meekly whispering;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Is Cde. Bharrat idea. And I told him it was not a good idea, but he<\/p>\n<p>would not listen!&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is significant that last Thursday in the<\/p>\n<p>Assembly not a single PPP leader\/member spoke in support of the Bill. They were<\/p>\n<p>all ashamed of having their utterances recorded for Hansard. Instead they<\/p>\n<p>allowed Odinga, Manzoor, Ashni, and PM Sam Hinds, a beneficiary himself, to toe<\/p>\n<p>the line. But when the Division was called, they were all forced to say yes to<\/p>\n<p>the Bill. Their hypocrisy will have to be rationalized by some other dialectic<\/p>\n<p>which they will discover in the future. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is obvious that the Bill is all the more<\/p>\n<p>unacceptable because of its untimely presentation. Firstly, Guyanese are all<\/p>\n<p>feeling the financial squeeze. Yet our Chief Citizen wants an open-ended set of<\/p>\n<p>facilities and benefits, to be made enjoyable two years hitherto &#8211; upon<\/p>\n<p>him demitting office in 2011. Secondly, Janet Jagan&#8217;s ashes have not as<\/p>\n<p>yet turned cold and yet the PPP\/C Government now wants to freeze into law and<\/p>\n<p>time in futuro benefits and facilities for His Excellency. The untimeliness is<\/p>\n<p>abhorrent for a third reason. It comes so immediately after His<\/p>\n<p>Excellency&#8217;s explicit statement for the very first time in Trinidad that<\/p>\n<p>he would not seek a third term as President. What I discern from all of this is<\/p>\n<p>that the leaders of the PPP have ceased chasing after their passion; they now chase<\/p>\n<p>after their pension. And this has given a new meaning to the abbreviation PPP.<\/p>\n<p>It now stands for Perks, Privileges and Power. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Just for the information of those who are<\/p>\n<p>unaware of these ex-presidential benefits and facilities, (especially the sugar<\/p>\n<p>workers who asked for 14% increase and did not get it, and farmers who asked<\/p>\n<p>for a reduction of the VAT and did not get it), they include until death the<\/p>\n<p>payment by the State for the following: A) all water, telephone, and<\/p>\n<p>electricity bills; B) services of personal and household staff, including an<\/p>\n<p>attendant and a gardener; C) services of clerical and technical staff; D) all<\/p>\n<p>medical expenses incurred for himself and dependants; E) full-time personal<\/p>\n<p>security services, and for his residence; F) motor vehicles owned and<\/p>\n<p>maintained by the State; G) toll-free transportation; H) value of two first<\/p>\n<p>class return airfares to England every year as a vacation allowance; I)<\/p>\n<p>tax&#8211;free salary which in 2011 will be approximately $1m per month. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-5-4: OUTREACH TO NOVAR,<\/p>\n<p>MAHAICONY &amp; VIRGINIA, CANE GROVE &#8211; May 3,2009. <\/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 Sun May 3, 2009 the AFC had a successful<\/p>\n<p>outreach to Novar village in Mahaicony and Virginia Village in Cane Grove. The<\/p>\n<p>AFC team was made up of Members of Parliament Sheila Holder and Latchmin<\/p>\n<p>Punalall and also Sewnauth and Leah Punalall. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>At Novar village we visited a Christian<\/p>\n<p>church called Christ for the Nation under the pastorate of Pastor Fidel Prince.<\/p>\n<p>Both of our MPs were given the opportunity to speak on the objectives,<\/p>\n<p>leadership and work of the AFC while Pastor Sewnauth Punalall spoke from the<\/p>\n<p>Bible on the subject &#8220;The Christian &amp; Politics&#8221;. During our<\/p>\n<p>interaction with members after the close of the service we learnt of a few<\/p>\n<p>problems facing the people there. One related to a five year old boy who was<\/p>\n<p>infected with a debilitating skin infection soon after birth. From what was<\/p>\n<p>related to us this child needs better medical attention and we will bring this<\/p>\n<p>case to the attention of the minister of health. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>At Virginia village, Cane Grove we met a<\/p>\n<p>number of struggling residents who once received public assistance from the<\/p>\n<p>government but were cut off. They included widows, disabled, and the sick. One<\/p>\n<p>case was of a man who was struck down by a mini-bus several years ago and being<\/p>\n<p>made a cripple. He received zero compensation from the owner and the matter was<\/p>\n<p>swept under the carpet. Another case was of a man whose feet were entangled by<\/p>\n<p>the rope from a wild horse roaming the streets. He was dragged by the animal<\/p>\n<p>and is now an amputee. These are cases that will be brought before the minister<\/p>\n<p>of human services and social security. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Each outreach which we undertake requires<\/p>\n<p>time, efforts and finance. As we continue to reach out to communities we look<\/p>\n<p>forward for assistance in this threefold area so that we can reach the masses<\/p>\n<p>with AFC&#8217;s message of hope and change. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-5-10: <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;>AFC Column &#8220;Voices of its<\/p>\n<p>Principles&#8221; by Sheila Holder, MP and AFC Vice-Chair <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>One can detect that the level of frustration<\/p>\n<p>being experienced in the society is fast approaching its zenith with the political<\/p>\n<p>indiscretions being displayed by the governing political party. A prominent<\/p>\n<p>businessman recently expressed to me the view, in all seriousness, that the<\/p>\n<p>biggest and most destructive industry in Guyana was &#8216;Politics&#8217; due<\/p>\n<p>to the damage it has spawned in virtually every facet of life in the country. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There is cause for concern in the AFC camp<\/p>\n<p>when persons, expressing their frustrations with the dysfunctional state of<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese politics, lump politicians generically together in one disparaging<\/p>\n<p>whole. I say this for the simple reason that the some sections of the<\/p>\n<p>electorate have to share some of the responsibility for the state of politics<\/p>\n<p>in Guyana because it was they who fell for the trap of rewarding governments<\/p>\n<p>with their votes based <u>not on performance but on race<\/u>. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the practice of politics, we ought to<\/p>\n<p>recognise that <b><i>&#8216;justice and peace in any society are closely<\/p>\n<p>related to the distribution of benefits. Policies that create wide disparities<\/p>\n<p>of wealth and opportunity run counter to the well-being of the people as a<\/p>\n<p>whole.&#8217; <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>-a quotation taken from page 34 of the book<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Seeds of Peace&#8217; by Sulak Sivaraksa. Guyanese are paying the price<\/p>\n<p>for years of dysfunctional racial politics, which some in the society seem to<\/p>\n<p>believe is their right, given the natural human need to gravitate to comfort<\/p>\n<p>zones. If racism is wrong in principle, it cannot be right in politics. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Recently, the AFC has been getting<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;under the skin&#8217; of President Jagdeo who seems compelled to lash<\/p>\n<p>out at the party in a rather unstatesmanlike manner with unsubstantiated<\/p>\n<p>statements. One such comment appears to have been made in the hope of painting<\/p>\n<p>the AFC with the same tarnished brush with which the PPPC has been painted. It<\/p>\n<p>is, therefore, necessary that I state that during the 2006 National Elections<\/p>\n<p>campaign great care was taken by the AFC to ensure that no donations from those<\/p>\n<p>known to be involved in the illicit trade of trafficking in narcotics found<\/p>\n<p>their way into the party&#8217;s campaign financing coffers. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So concerned are we about this occurrence in<\/p>\n<p>the financing of political parties generally and their elections campaigns<\/p>\n<p>specifically, that the AFC took the decision immediately after the 2006<\/p>\n<p>National Elections to commit to introducing revised campaign financing<\/p>\n<p>legislation as a prominent feature in our five year parliamentary agenda for<\/p>\n<p>the ninth Parliament. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Failing in<\/p>\n<p>Statutory Duty <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It should be noted that Guyana has elections<\/p>\n<p>campaign expenditure limits laid down in the Representation of the People Act<\/p>\n<p>chapter <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>1:03 which the CEO is responsible for<\/p>\n<p>monitoring and enforcing, but he has never done so. The most obvious reasons<\/p>\n<p>being that, in the first place, he takes his instructions from the politically<\/p>\n<p>controlled PPPC &amp; PNCR Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and, secondly,<\/p>\n<p>that the members of GECOM recognise that nearly all candidates, and mostly all<\/p>\n<p>contesting parties, violate the limits by leaps and bounds thereby providing<\/p>\n<p>the rationale for their tacit collusion in breaching the law. Part XIII section<\/p>\n<p>116 (2) of the Act requires of contesting parties submission of elections<\/p>\n<p>expenses returns to the CEO accompanied by a declaration not later than the 35<sup>th<\/p>\n<p><\/sup>day after the declaration of the elections results. Similarly, GECOM is<\/p>\n<p>also in breach of its statutory duty to submit reports on the conduct of<\/p>\n<p>elections to the National Assembly since it has never done so. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Political Party Campaign Limits <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>According to the Representation of the People<\/p>\n<p>Act, a candidate in the National and Regional elections is limited to a maximum<\/p>\n<p>expenditure of $25,000; while the limit placed on political party expenses is<\/p>\n<p>$50,000: -multiplied by the number of candidates -not exceeding 53 &#8211; on the<\/p>\n<p>list of 65 candidates on a party&#8217;s parliamentary list. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Having had my sense of political propriety honed<\/p>\n<p>in the WPA, this Law is one that I feel strongly should have been reformed by<\/p>\n<p>President Jagdeo&#8217;s Government prior to the 2006 National and Regional<\/p>\n<p>elections to allow for transparency, accountability and equitable treatment of<\/p>\n<p>contesting parties. In fact, I believe the Working People&#8217;s Alliance is<\/p>\n<p>the only political party that ever filed returns on their campaign expenditure<\/p>\n<p>as required by the Act that was last amended in 1990 during President Desmond<\/p>\n<p>Hoyte&#8217;s administration. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Following the August 19, 2004 visit to Guyana<\/p>\n<p>by Nobel Laureate and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, the Carter Center<\/p>\n<p>released a statement following his meeting with President Jagdeo from which<\/p>\n<p>this comment was extracted. <b><i>&#8216;He (President Jagdeo) would like the<\/p>\n<p>Carter Center to send an expert to help draft comprehensive legislation<\/p>\n<p>requiring full disclosure of all contributions made to political parties and<\/p>\n<p>how funds are expended. He (President Jagdeo) also wishes assistance in the<\/p>\n<p>drafting of an access to information law similar to what we have done in<\/p>\n<p>Jamaica and Ecuador. We will pursue this&#8221;. <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To date, five years later neither commitment<\/p>\n<p>has been kept by President Jagdeo. Therefore, any concern he expresses about<\/p>\n<p>the source of the AFC&#8217;s financial contributions rings hollow and is<\/p>\n<p>without substance. As is generally known, three years ago Raphael Trotman, MP<\/p>\n<p>Leader of the AFC, had laid in the National Assembly a Freedom of Information<\/p>\n<p>bill No. 12\/2006 which has not received PPPC support for its passing into law.<\/p>\n<p>Given these truths, do you believe that the AFC will receive the support of<\/p>\n<p>President Jagdeo and his government when we seek to enact a comprehensive<\/p>\n<p>revision of the Representation of the People&#8217;s Act to ensure compliance? <b>&#8216;Good<\/p>\n<p>laws that have the consent and support of the people can be administered with<\/p>\n<p>little difficulty.&#8217; <\/b>quoted from Sulak Sivaraksa&#8217;s book<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Seeds of Peace&#8217;. When that time comes it will become crystal clear<\/p>\n<p>who wishes to be transparent who does not! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>FREEDOM OF INFORMATION &amp; YOU <\/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'>With the recent announcement by His<\/p>\n<p>Excellency, President Jagdeo that the government will soon be introducing a<\/p>\n<p>Freedom of Information Bill, the AFC is overjoyed. We however wish to remind<\/p>\n<p>government of the existence in the National Assembly of a Bill of the same<\/p>\n<p>name, which was tabled with the same intention as that stated by the President.<\/p>\n<p>The AFC&#8217;s Freedom of Information Bill was submitted to the National<\/p>\n<p>Assembly on the 24<sup>th <\/sup>November, 2006 by Raphael Trotman, M.P. It is<\/p>\n<p>modeled after similar legislation that has been enacted and is operating in<\/p>\n<p>Trinidad &amp; Tobago. Our Bill had the benefit of a review and upgrade by the<\/p>\n<p>New Delhi, India, based institution, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative. The<\/p>\n<p>AFC proposes that the current Bill be reviewed and adapted rather than<\/p>\n<p>altogether new legislation having to be drafted. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What is Freedom of Information Legislation?<\/p>\n<p>It is really a set of rules set out in legislation on how citizens and other<\/p>\n<p>interested parties can access information held by government bodies. Over the<\/p>\n<p>next few months the AFC will seek to explain and highlight the benefits of this<\/p>\n<p>legislation and to educate the public as to what to expect when the government<\/p>\n<p>makes its move to support the legislation. We will examine what features to be<\/p>\n<p>on the look out for, and how the legislation can be used as tool to ensure<\/p>\n<p>greater government transparency and efficiency. President Jimmy Carter explains<\/p>\n<p>that <b><i>&#8220;Public access to government-held information allows<\/p>\n<p>individuals to better understand the role of government and the decisions being<\/p>\n<p>made on their behalf. With an informed citizenry, governments can be held<\/p>\n<p>accountable for their policies, and citizens can more effectively choose their<\/p>\n<p>representatives. Equally important, access to information laws can be used to<\/p>\n<p>improve the lives of people as they request information relating to health<\/p>\n<p>care, education, and other public services.&#8221; <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Bill before the National Assembly,<\/p>\n<p>awaiting debate and approval, has five (5) parts and covers important areas<\/p>\n<p>including, the Publication of Documents and Information, Right to Access to<\/p>\n<p>Information, and Documents Exempt From Publication. Beginning next week,<\/p>\n<p>aspects of the various clauses of the Bill will be set out with explanations<\/p>\n<p>provided for what they are meant to achieve. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This is the people&#8217;s legislation so<\/p>\n<p>let&#8217;s claim it and promote it! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:navy'>2009-5-17: AFC Column &#8211; THE<\/p>\n<p>DE-COMMISSIONING OF THE COMISSIONER OF INSURANCE By Khemraj Ramjattan, AFC<\/p>\n<p>Chairman <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:navy'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The present debacle at CLICO has some<\/p>\n<p>seriously frightening proportions about it. This conclusion is discernible from<\/p>\n<p>a number of closely associated developments over the past weeks. The first<\/p>\n<p>development is the PPP\/C Government&#8217;s absolute reluctance to have an<\/p>\n<p>independent investigation done. One aspect evidencing this is His<\/p>\n<p>Excellency&#8217;s conditionality that there must be a joint investigation<\/p>\n<p>concerning Globe Trust. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This is rank diversion and circuity which<\/p>\n<p>ensures absolutely no such CLICO investigation. The other is PPP iron lady, Ms.<\/p>\n<p>Gail Teixeira, who chairs the Economic Services Sector Committee, slamming shut<\/p>\n<p>a Parliamentary investigation through her fanciful, erroneous application of<\/p>\n<p>the sub-judice rule. Her view is that judicial managership means a complete<\/p>\n<p>shut down of Parliamentary oversight and scrutiny. This is so outrageous a<\/p>\n<p>perspective. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The second development is the shooting of the<\/p>\n<p>Commissioner of Insurance, Ms. Maria van Beek. Thirdly is the<\/p>\n<p>lighting&#8211;quick passage of the transfer of powers and functions of the<\/p>\n<p>Office of Commissioner of Insurance to the Bank of Guyana. The big question<\/p>\n<p>behind each of these developments is: WHY? Why no investigation? Why the<\/p>\n<p>shooting? Why the swift transfer of powers and functions from the Office of<\/p>\n<p>Commissioner of Insurance onto the Bank of Guyana in 2009, a complete volte fas<\/p>\n<p>from Government&#8217;s previous stance in 1998? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This PPP\/C Government, and especially its<\/p>\n<p>President, has a lot to answer for on these questions. Not wanting an<\/p>\n<p>investigation proves circumstantially that there are embarrassing improprieties<\/p>\n<p>and illegalities senior Government officials were involved in. Moreover, there<\/p>\n<p>is every probability that the insurance sector became vulnerable to various<\/p>\n<p>forms of manipulation and abuse. On this latter score there is credible, cogent<\/p>\n<p>evidence which I am aware of that senior government functionaries, and the Bank<\/p>\n<p>of Guyana were all aware of CLICO moving out approximately US $34M (thirty four<\/p>\n<p>million United States dollars), in breach of the Insurance Act, to a foreign<\/p>\n<p>country since 2006. This breach of the law was discovered through the<\/p>\n<p>investigative work of the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Worse still is that the Office of the<\/p>\n<p>Commissioner of Insurance was prevented in 2007 from prosecuting CLICO, which<\/p>\n<p>action would have ensured that CLICO bring this sum back home into Guyana. This<\/p>\n<p>was long before the crash of Duprey&#8217;s CLICO empire. On the score of why<\/p>\n<p>the transfer of powers and functions from the Office of Commissioner of<\/p>\n<p>Insurance to the Bank of Guyana, there again convincing information has emerged<\/p>\n<p>that this transfer has nothing to do with what Mr. Ashni Singh said in the<\/p>\n<p>National Assembly recently. His argument that times have changed since 1998,<\/p>\n<p>and there is need now for one monopoly regulator, the Bank of Guyana, to<\/p>\n<p>scutinise the financial sector &#8211; as against a plurality of regulators<\/p>\n<p>such as one in the Insurance sector, all watching each other, as Finance<\/p>\n<p>Minister Jagdeo had argued for in 1998 &#8211; is a specious ploy to cover up<\/p>\n<p>the true rationale behind the transfer. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Rather, it all has to do with the power of<\/p>\n<p>the granting of insurance licences. This power under the Insurance Act of 1998<\/p>\n<p>resided in the Commissioner of Insurance. This has now been transferred to Bank<\/p>\n<p>of Guyana. Now please understand the context here. The Office of Commissioner<\/p>\n<p>of Insurance refused and revoked the Safeco Group of Companies&#8217; insurance<\/p>\n<p>licences because of its growing notoriety in a multiplicity of matters. These<\/p>\n<p>companies included Safeco, Caricom Insurance formerly Guyflag, Fidelity, Kong,<\/p>\n<p>amongst others. It was almost certain that the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance<\/p>\n<p>under Ms. van Beek would never have given any of these associated companies an<\/p>\n<p>insurance licence. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The President on several occasions intervened<\/p>\n<p>on behalf of this group of companies to no avail. The Office of the<\/p>\n<p>Commissioner of Insurance stood its ground. Safeco&#8217;s empire has tried<\/p>\n<p>everything, even recently appointing Mr. Doodnauth Singh former Attorney<\/p>\n<p>General as Chairman of its Board. The Board already had Sase Kowlessar and Ms.<\/p>\n<p>Shaddick former Ministers of the PPP Government and the President&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>loyalists. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Safeco&#8217;s group of companies has raised<\/p>\n<p>the hopes of the President that the public purse need not be the source of<\/p>\n<p>guarantee to CLICO&#8217;s battered policy holders. It has argued the case and<\/p>\n<p>dangled the carrot that it could take over the virtually collapsed CLICO once<\/p>\n<p>it gets an insurance licence. This it will surely procure from the Bank of<\/p>\n<p>Guyana when the just recent Transfer of Functions Bill comes into operation<\/p>\n<p>soon. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Wait, watch and wonder! And this is the<\/p>\n<p>reason why as against the Commissioner of Insurance who obviously stumbled when<\/p>\n<p>she did not prosecute CLICO in 2007, she is by far superior to the toothless<\/p>\n<p>poodle Bank of Guyana will prove to be when it makes the grant to one of<\/p>\n<p>Safeco&#8217;s group of companies. It has all been worked out. And finally I<\/p>\n<p>come to the score as to why the shooting of Ms. van Beek. Oh come on &#8211; do<\/p>\n<p>I need to bother you on why she was shot. I don&#8217;t think so! And since the<\/p>\n<p>President would exhort &#8211; &#8220;Bring the evidence!&#8221; &#8211; let us<\/p>\n<p>just wait a while for his investigation to clear up everything. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL 2006 &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>PART 1 <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Part One (1) of the Bill has 6 clauses which<\/p>\n<p>set out the purpose of the Bill and give interpretations and definitions of terms<\/p>\n<p>used within the Bill so that they could be understood. If the law is to be<\/p>\n<p>successfully applied, it has to be understood by everyone. Clause 4 gives the<\/p>\n<p>definitions of words and terms used and for example: &#8220;document&#8221; is<\/p>\n<p>described as &#8220;information recorded in any form, whether printed or on<\/p>\n<p>tape or film or by electronic means or otherwise and includes any map, diagram,<\/p>\n<p>photograph, film, microfilm,, video-tape, sound recording, or machine-readable<\/p>\n<p>record or any record which is capable of being, produced, from a<\/p>\n<p>machine-readable record by means of equipment or a programme (or a combination<\/p>\n<p>of both) which is used for that purpose by the public authority which holds the<\/p>\n<p>record&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Public Authorities that collect documents,<\/p>\n<p>and which will be required to make them available include to members of the<\/p>\n<p>public on request: the National Assembly, Courts of Law, Cabinet, Ministries,<\/p>\n<p>Municipalities and other local government bodies, regional health authorities,<\/p>\n<p>statutory bodies such as the Public Utilities Commission, Service Commissions,<\/p>\n<p>and public corporations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Any member of the public shall have the right<\/p>\n<p>to approach one of the bodies referred to above and request information on any<\/p>\n<p>matter that has been, or is being addressed by them. There are certain<\/p>\n<p>documents that are exempted from being produced because of national security<\/p>\n<p>and other concerns. Next week we will begin to examine the documents which for<\/p>\n<p>various reasons including, national security, cannot be made available to the<\/p>\n<p>public. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-5-24: AFC Column &#8211; DEATH<\/p>\n<p>AND DISHONOUR \/ THE AFC&#8217;S FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL OF 2006 -Documents<\/p>\n<p>Exempted From Disclosure <\/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'>DEATH AND DISHONOUR <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The abominable and disgraceful state of the<\/p>\n<p>Le Repentir cemetery has finally received the serious attention of the<\/p>\n<p>Georgetown City Council; but for how long? It is a matter of grave concern to<\/p>\n<p>every resident of Georgetown that the cemetery, in which the remains of their<\/p>\n<p>loved ones are interred, has now become an impregnable jungle. That this has<\/p>\n<p>been allowed to happen is nothing short of tragic and disgraceful. With this in<\/p>\n<p>mind it is difficult to commend the belated efforts of the Georgetown City<\/p>\n<p>Council in their hastily convened meeting held on Tuesday last when it was<\/p>\n<p>decided that a plan for the restoration of the cemetery was being put into<\/p>\n<p>place. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The current Georgetown City Council has been<\/p>\n<p>around since 1994. Then, like many of those present, I became a Councillor of<\/p>\n<p>that &#8220;august&#8221; body that was greatly expected to lead the re-birth<\/p>\n<p>of local government democracy, and the modern management of city<\/p>\n<p>administration. Today it is fifteen years old and desperately in need of an<\/p>\n<p>overhaul and reorientation. It would appear that despite the valiant efforts of<\/p>\n<p>the Mayor and Councillors that the spirit of the City Council has come to an<\/p>\n<p>end. It has become extinguished by a combination of time, and circumstances and<\/p>\n<p>nothing can be done to breathe new life into it except to ensure that local<\/p>\n<p>government elections are held under a system of true and meaningful reforms. I<\/p>\n<p>really commend my erstwhile comrades who have remained, but believe that it is<\/p>\n<p>my entitlement to speak to them as I do now. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>No where else is this extinguishment of life<\/p>\n<p>and responsibility more evident than at the physical point which I will<\/p>\n<p>deliberately and maliciously call the &#8220;the confluence&#8221; where the<\/p>\n<p>Mandela dump site meets the jungle once known as the Le Repentir Cemetery.<\/p>\n<p>Sometime ago, one of the daily newspapers showed a photo of a family burying<\/p>\n<p>their relative in the background of the dumpsite. In that photo is the display<\/p>\n<p>of the graphic and symbolic display of the obvious facts that two of the<\/p>\n<p>city&#8217;s two main functions of maintaining environmental cleanliness, and<\/p>\n<p>providing a place for dignified burials, had come to an end, and that the city<\/p>\n<p>fathers and mothers had themselves come to their last point. There is no<\/p>\n<p>further place to go for the cemetery, the Mandela Dump Site, and\/or for the<\/p>\n<p>Mayor &amp; Councillors of Georgetown. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In many respects, the expansion of these two<\/p>\n<p>municipal nightmares, into national disgraces, epitomizes the collapse of the<\/p>\n<p>City Government, and the total disregard of the PPP government for standards,<\/p>\n<p>for tradition, and for the respect for, and honour of the dead. There is a<\/p>\n<p>saying that &#8220;in the democracy of the dead all men at last are equal.<\/p>\n<p>There is neither rank nor station nor prerogative in the republic of the<\/p>\n<p>grave.&#8221; Absolutely, and obviously, even in death, there is no democracy<\/p>\n<p>here in Guyana, and especially, for those whose religion prescribes burial<\/p>\n<p>rather than cremation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I am convinced that the PPP government has<\/p>\n<p>deliberately starved the City Council of much needed funds and reforms so as to<\/p>\n<p>bring about its inevitable collapse. This is what the central government has<\/p>\n<p>worked for and now it is happening. By not holding local government, by not<\/p>\n<p>agreeing to reforms to have the city raise its own taxes, or to share in the<\/p>\n<p>revenues from road licenses for example, by giving monies grudgingly, and by<\/p>\n<p>always ensuring that there was tension between City Hall and the Ministry of<\/p>\n<p>Local Government, the PPP\/C government has ensured that Georgetown, the Capitol<\/p>\n<p>City, stinks. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is beyond disgraceful that the place where<\/p>\n<p>people are supposed to be interred for their &#8220;eternal rest&#8221; is now<\/p>\n<p>a literal jungle. Trees as high as 25 feet are growing out of, around, and<\/p>\n<p>trough tombs. Swarms of bees, caiman, anacondas and maybe even a few unknown<\/p>\n<p>species now make the place their natural habitat &#8230;thus challenging the<\/p>\n<p>Georgetown Zoo for the distinction as being the place to go to see the animals<\/p>\n<p>of Guyana. This situation didn&#8217;t happen overnight. It has been in the<\/p>\n<p>making for years. The system was just allowed to collapse in the full view of<\/p>\n<p>all. There was total abdication and capitulation on the parts of both the City<\/p>\n<p>Council and Central Government. There is little wonder that the Barbadian<\/p>\n<p>investor took one look at the Le Repentir, and asked when was the next flight<\/p>\n<p>out. It is my view that he was afraid not only at what appeared before him, but<\/p>\n<p>more because he realised that the people who allowed the cemetery to get to its<\/p>\n<p>present state are nothing short of being barbarians and it was these very<\/p>\n<p>barbarians he would have to do business with as he unfolded the layers of his<\/p>\n<p>investment. That prospect more than likely sickened him and chased him. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>At this stage we need to move to addressing<\/p>\n<p>the problem immediately. No self respecting government in the world should sit<\/p>\n<p>by and see its primary, and in a sense national cemetery, become over-run and<\/p>\n<p>destroyed in this manner. Some people have suggested that it is because those<\/p>\n<p>in authority are not very interested in burials that this is happening. The<\/p>\n<p>government&#8217;s silence and inaction only serve to reinforce this belief. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The following recommendations are being<\/p>\n<p>offered out of concern and with the hope that they will be factored into the<\/p>\n<p>menu of other recommendations being formulated: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=109<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1047&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_53.jpg&#8221;>The identification and<\/p>\n<p>preparation of a new cemetery on the outskirts of the city. This new cemetery<\/p>\n<p>should be privatized and managed like a business. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The granting by the Public Health authorities<\/p>\n<p>for permission to be given to citizens to conduct burials at private sites<\/p>\n<p>provided <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>that all public health standards are met. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The cleaning up of the current site to be<\/p>\n<p>paid for by the stakeholders-Government of Guyana, City Hall, and the parlours<\/p>\n<p>that <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>are benefiting financially. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Churches, associations such as THAG and<\/p>\n<p>citizens should be invited to assist in clearing and restoring the Le Repentir.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The life of the Le Repentir should be<\/p>\n<p>considered over within the next twelve months and its maintenance should be the<\/p>\n<p>responsibility of the City and the National Trust of Guyana with the<\/p>\n<p>involvement of the Tourism Association of Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Our relatives are being dishonoured in death.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>THE AFC&#8217;S FREEDOM OF INFORMATION<\/p>\n<p>BILL OF 2006 <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Documents Exempted From Disclosure <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As part of the AFC&#8217;s continuing process<\/p>\n<p>of educating the citizens on the benefits of Freedom of Information<\/p>\n<p>legislation, and of the specific contents of the Bill that has been presented<\/p>\n<p>to the National Assembly, we present an overview of the documents that are<\/p>\n<p>exempted from being accessed by citizens. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Part 4 of the Bill addresses documents that<\/p>\n<p>are not exempted, for different reasons, from being made public. This is a<\/p>\n<p>normal feature of legislation of this type and citizens will agree that not<\/p>\n<p>every single document must be publicized because of the reasons stated below.<\/p>\n<p>However, if a request for a copy of a document is refused for one of the legal<\/p>\n<p>reasons, then those reasons are expected to be set out in a form. The person<\/p>\n<p>making the request may challenge the refusal. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Clause 24-34 of the draft Bill gives the<\/p>\n<p>various categories of documents that are exempted. These include: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=108<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1048&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_54.jpg&#8221;>Cabinet documents<\/p>\n<p>including, documents prepared by a Minister of Government, or for a Minister of<\/p>\n<p>Government to be used in Cabinet. This restriction shall last for no more than<\/p>\n<p>ten (10) years. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Documents that contain information which<\/p>\n<p>could affect the defence and national security of Guyana, and those which could<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>interfere with the lawful activities of the<\/p>\n<p>security and intelligence services. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Documents that should not, in the public interest,<\/p>\n<p>be publicized because publication would interfere with relations between <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Guyana and another State; Guyana and an<\/p>\n<p>international organisation such as CARICOM or the UN; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The internal working documents of government<\/p>\n<p>officers and Ministers of Government. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Documents which if publicized could affect<\/p>\n<p>the fairness of the administration of justice and the right of a citizen to a<\/p>\n<p>fair trial. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>These, generally, are the documents that are<\/p>\n<p>exempted from being publicised. However, government officials cannot simply<\/p>\n<p>claim that they will not provide the information sought. The reason for the<\/p>\n<p>refusal must be given to the person seeking the information, and that refusal<\/p>\n<p>is challengeable in a court of law by the person seeking the information. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-5-31: AFC Column &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>Government&#8217;s failure to implement Security Sector Reform disturbing <\/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 AFC is extremely disturbed by the report<\/p>\n<p>that the Government of Guyana has signaled its unwillingness to proceed with the<\/p>\n<p>implementation of the Security Sector Reform Action Plan (SSRAP) in partnership<\/p>\n<p>with the British Government. This plan was developed in 2006 and was to be<\/p>\n<p>implemented in the period 2006-2008; together with a three-year capacity<\/p>\n<p>building plan for a National Security Committee in the National Assembly<\/p>\n<p>between 2007-2009. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Parliamentary Oversight was described by the<\/p>\n<p>plan as being at the core of democratic governance and management of the<\/p>\n<p>security sector, and key to the success of the programme. Security Sector<\/p>\n<p>Reform was seen as a critical component for the attainment of good and<\/p>\n<p>democratic governance and was twinned with the Commonwealth Secretariat&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>sponsorship of the needs assessment of the National Assembly conducted by Sir<\/p>\n<p>Michael Davies and the recommendations, which flowed there from in 2005. The<\/p>\n<p>inextricable link between governance and security was recognised, assessed, and<\/p>\n<p>addressed through the recommendations made. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the SSRAP it was highlighted that<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Guyana remains dangerously close to tipping point. The consequences of<\/p>\n<p>failure &#8211; of the various stakeholders to seize the moment, to engage and<\/p>\n<p>initiate decisive action &#8211; may well be the transformation of Guyana into a<\/p>\n<p>failed state and\/or haven for international criminality, with all the regional and<\/p>\n<p>international implications that this may entail. This is a development that<\/p>\n<p>should be avoided at all costs and will entail some give and take and<\/p>\n<p>flexibility on all sides, in the interests of the long suffering people of<\/p>\n<p>Guyana.&#8221; The Jagdeo Administration&#8217;s pretense that it agreed and<\/p>\n<p>supported the recommendations led to the mobilization of funding; the<\/p>\n<p>identification an utilization of experts, and the activation of the National<\/p>\n<p>Assembly to pass Bills and Motions. Was this all meant to be a joke? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is apposite to note that the Plan itself<\/p>\n<p>identified the risks to its successful outcomes. These are very instructive and<\/p>\n<p>worthy of repetition, and include: <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:l22 level1 lfo21;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>     13.5pt&#8217;>A selective approach to reform and reluctance to pursue reforms<\/p>\n<p>     beyond policing; <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:l22 level1 lfo21;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>     13.5pt&#8217;>Pursuing operational without concomitant governance (or justice)<\/p>\n<p>     reforms (it would be dangerous to further capacitate the police without<\/p>\n<p>     rule of law and appropriate oversight); <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:l22 level1 lfo21;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>     13.5pt&#8217;>An overly controlled process and lack of inclusiveness, bolstered<\/p>\n<p>     by the government&#8217;s recent elections victory; <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:l22 level1 lfo21;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>     13.5pt&#8217;>Lack of political will to break the perceived linkages between<\/p>\n<p>     crime and politics (there is a belief on both sides that certain political<\/p>\n<p>     interests are manipulating the violence for their own purposes); <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:l22 level1 lfo21;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>     13.5pt&#8217;>Ensuring appropriate levels of funding through the budgetary<\/p>\n<p>     process to sustain the institutional and organizational reforms<\/p>\n<p>     implemented. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>During the National Stakeholder consultations<\/p>\n<p>held at the Office of the President in the aftermath of the Lusignan and<\/p>\n<p>Bartica massacres, the President of Guyana extolled the virtues of the action<\/p>\n<p>plan as being the panacea of the ills within the sector. Today we witness the<\/p>\n<p>government&#8217;s chief pretender and obstructionist, Dr. Luncheon, saying<\/p>\n<p>that the plan will not be implemented because of &#8220;ulterior motives&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>on the part of the British Government. The AFC had long suspected that the<\/p>\n<p>Jagdeo administration was not interested in genuine, comprehensive and<\/p>\n<p>transparent reform of the sector that has been for too long characterized by<\/p>\n<p>failure and ineptitude. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Only recently, the Leader of the Party,<\/p>\n<p>Raphael Trotman, indicated that there was a disconnect between the Office of<\/p>\n<p>the President and the Parliamentary oversight mechanisms put in place to<\/p>\n<p>oversee implementation and policy development of, and within, the security<\/p>\n<p>sector. This disconnects in our opinion, and we say so without fear of<\/p>\n<p>successful contradiction, is deliberate. There has been a continuous pattern of<\/p>\n<p>obfuscation, frustration, and circumlocution. This all indicate a deep<\/p>\n<p>reluctance on the part of the administration to implement reform measures, and<\/p>\n<p>is coupled with their total lack of knowledge of the security perils that our<\/p>\n<p>country faces, and the consequences that will follow. We in the AFC are<\/p>\n<p>convinced that the government uses these engagements with national and<\/p>\n<p>international stakeholders and friends as pressure valves to be opened and<\/p>\n<p>utilized when there are crises; but once these subside, it is back to business<\/p>\n<p>as usual. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Additionally, this security sector reform<\/p>\n<p>programme was specifically designed to go beyond the operational aspects of<\/p>\n<p>reform by examining root causes, and the socio-political aspects of the<\/p>\n<p>security dilemmas we face. In this regard, many national stakeholders, other<\/p>\n<p>than the government, were expected to play their part. These include Members of<\/p>\n<p>Parliament, and civil society. The Government of Guyana was intended only to be<\/p>\n<p>the vehicle through which the reform process would be facilitated, but this<\/p>\n<p>desired outcome has not materialized. The Jagdeo administration is reminded<\/p>\n<p>that there is far more at stake nationally, other than the protection of its<\/p>\n<p>petty, partisan, and puerile interests. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC reminds the nation of the Jagdeo<\/p>\n<p>administration&#8217;s refusal and\/or failure to implement the worthwhile<\/p>\n<p>recommendations of: the National Security Strategy Organising Committee 2000,<\/p>\n<p>the Border\/National Security Committee 2001, the Disciplined Forces Commission<\/p>\n<p>2003, and of the National Drug Strategy Master Plan 2005-2009. The pattern is<\/p>\n<p>pellucid and unmistakable. This refusal to participate and implement wherever,<\/p>\n<p>and whenever, the need for comprehensive reform is identified within<\/p>\n<p>institutions that touch on governance, clearly demonstrates, that the Jagdeo<\/p>\n<p>administration predictably frustrates the process to achieve its objective of<\/p>\n<p>ensuring minimal or no governance reforms. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The PPP and the Jagdeo administration have<\/p>\n<p>refused to practice inclusive and participatory governance and are taking<\/p>\n<p>Guyana down a dark and dangerous road of repression, on which fear and the use<\/p>\n<p>of brute force, and torture will be used to govern and subjugate us Guyanese.<\/p>\n<p>The PPP administration has begun to circle the wagons to protect their<\/p>\n<p>narrow-minded interests. Those of us who want inclusive and democratic<\/p>\n<p>governance will continue the fight for justice and our security. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-6-7: AFC Column &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>SOVREIGNITY &amp; SECURITY by Raphael Trotman, 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'>Recently, the issue of sovereignty and the<\/p>\n<p>right to self determination became focal points for discussion arising out of<\/p>\n<p>the issues of Guyana&#8217;s failure to receive 6 million euros from the<\/p>\n<p>European Commission as a consequence of its failure to submit a Sugar Action<\/p>\n<p>Plan, and the second issue was the rejection of the British Government funded<\/p>\n<p>Security Sector Reform Programme by Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr.<\/p>\n<p>Roger Luncheon. In both instances, the AFC was very strident in its criticism<\/p>\n<p>of the government, and on both occasions, and quite predictably, the government<\/p>\n<p>responded with its own attacks on the AFC. What was surprising and<\/p>\n<p>disappointing was that instead of saying to the Guyanese people what were the<\/p>\n<p>precise reasons why we failed to benefit from the disbursement of much needed<\/p>\n<p>money to help cushion the fall of the sugar industry, and more particularly,<\/p>\n<p>its workers, and why the British funded security reform programme was &#8220;offensive&#8221;,<\/p>\n<p>the government attacked the AFC as being &#8220;colonial&#8221; in its<\/p>\n<p>mentality. The PPP should not attack the messenger, but look at the messages<\/p>\n<p>and realize that something that it is doing is causing it to lose out on much<\/p>\n<p>needed support from international friends and allies. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We were disappointed in the responses because<\/p>\n<p>we expected that at least for once the debate would have been a mature and<\/p>\n<p>responsible one; not filled with red herrings and ridiculous statements. Most<\/p>\n<p>disappointing and disturbing of all was the incredulous claim that the AFC is<\/p>\n<p>pushing for a return to colonialism. I invite the apologists, spin doctors, and<\/p>\n<p>AFC bashers to look around at the spectrum of AFC Leaders, members, and<\/p>\n<p>supporters and they will realise immediately that we attract a younger<\/p>\n<p>demographic comprising persons who have little, or no, attachment to the<\/p>\n<p>pre-independence era, and who have no interest whatsoever in going back there.<\/p>\n<p>No one in the leadership of the AFC during the period of its formation, and<\/p>\n<p>after, has ever even hinted at us going back to the colonial days, but what we<\/p>\n<p>will continue to call for is better governance and transparency based on<\/p>\n<p>international best practices. There is no denying that there are some in Guyana<\/p>\n<p>who wished we were back under dominion rule. Recently, an elderly couple from<\/p>\n<p>Port Mourant remarked to me that they wish that they were living under<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;de white man&#8221; again now that they have seen the ignominious glory<\/p>\n<p>of the PPP in government. That&#8217;s living testimony from former PPP<\/p>\n<p>supporters. Rest assured that we&#8217;ve since given them hope that change is<\/p>\n<p>coming and they are now safely and happily with the AFC. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We believe that Guyana&#8217;s independence<\/p>\n<p>is sacrosanct and that no one or no government has the right to interfere with<\/p>\n<p>it. That said however, we believe that Guyana has to see itself as being a<\/p>\n<p>member of a regularly organized international society that promotes democracy,<\/p>\n<p>good governance, embraces sound macro-economic fundamentals, and places a high<\/p>\n<p>premium on the security, wellbeing, and individual rights and freedoms of its<\/p>\n<p>citizens. Guyana then cannot simply proclaim itself independent, but then enter<\/p>\n<p>into arrangements, sign numerous Memoranda of Understanding and Treaties and<\/p>\n<p>then when these are invoked, immaturely pick up its bat and ball and say<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I done play&#8221;. The political reality does not allow for it. If we<\/p>\n<p>fail to abide by the international rules, that we say we accept, we will become<\/p>\n<p>a pariah state and find ourselves isolated and scorned, and our people<\/p>\n<p>discriminated as they travel and seek refuge elsewhere. So I say don&#8217;t<\/p>\n<p>raise the independence flag at me. Prove to me that you are independent, and<\/p>\n<p>pragmatic, wise, and understanding. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In a recent attack on the AFC by the PPP<\/p>\n<p>apologist who writes the weekly column &#8220;Blame It On The Government&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>these words were used: &#8220;<b><u>The people of Guyana must take note, that<\/p>\n<p>the Alliance For Change which presents itself as a party for the people of<\/p>\n<p>Guyana, is at the forefront of its plan to have Guyana abrogate its<\/p>\n<p>sovereignty. It is among the foremost critics of the government for every<\/p>\n<p>little thing and people must understand why. This party depends on money from<\/p>\n<p>foreign governments. Its leaders lied when they said that the advertisements<\/p>\n<p>placed in foreign papers were funded by disgruntled PPP supporters<\/u>.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Our first answer to this poppycock is<\/p>\n<p>actually to say thank you for dedicating so much column space and air time to<\/p>\n<p>the AFC. It tells me that we are effective, that you are threatened, and that<\/p>\n<p>we are growing as the force. In fact I wonder why the PPP is not attacking the<\/p>\n<p>other opposition party like it is the AFC. Secondly, nowhere have we ever<\/p>\n<p>called on this government to abrogate our sovreignity in fact we have<\/p>\n<p>challenged this government to stand up to Suriname and Venezuela when our<\/p>\n<p>territorial integrity has been threatened. We have demanded greater agitation<\/p>\n<p>and advocacy for Guyanese when they are harassed and discriminated in sister<\/p>\n<p>CARICOM countries, and we have played our part in ensuring that the sovereignty<\/p>\n<p>of Guyana remains secure and independent. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In fact, it was the PPP government which<\/p>\n<p>proudly presented the British funded plan to the National Stakeholders in<\/p>\n<p>April, 2008 as being the National Security Plan with 11 components. It was not<\/p>\n<p>the AFC that signed the agreement with the British Government when the country<\/p>\n<p>needed help. It was the PPP. So who is really surrendering the nation&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>sovereignty? It is laughable that we are the ones being accused of wanting a<\/p>\n<p>return to colonialism when it was the PPP administration that went cap in had<\/p>\n<p>to the mother country begging for help. Tell me how come the British<\/p>\n<p>Government, which was so kind and good when &#8220;fineman&#8221; was running<\/p>\n<p>rampant, is now so bad. Tell me how come? Now that &#8220;Fineman&#8221; is<\/p>\n<p>dead the pundits believe that the other salient aspects of the reform are not<\/p>\n<p>necessary and so they chose to pick a fight. The issue of sovreignity was not<\/p>\n<p>raised because it is the cause of the war it but rather because it is being<\/p>\n<p>used as the occasion for the war. The government&#8217;s antics have been<\/p>\n<p>revealed as a classic example of the <i>casus belli. <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Thirdly, and just because I believe that I<\/p>\n<p>have the right to say &#8220;I told you so&#8221;, I have to remark that the<\/p>\n<p>PPP has once again flip-flopped and given up the &#8220;pepper sauce&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>line about AFC financing and gone back to the old whipping horse about foreign<\/p>\n<p>governments. We have never received a red cent from any government and will<\/p>\n<p>never do so. Under our Freedom of Information legislation we will ask the<\/p>\n<p>question-how much did the PPP and its affiliates and associate unions and<\/p>\n<p>organisations received from Russia in the time when it was in opposition, and<\/p>\n<p>who collected, and how was it spent? I did predict that because of the<\/p>\n<p>maliciousness and wickedness of the PPP that it would soon have to give up the<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;pepper sauce&#8221; allegations. It is now clutching at straws. The<\/p>\n<p>Bible reminds us that &#8220;whom God bless no man curse&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We in the AFC and the rest of Guyana were<\/p>\n<p>encouraged by the PPP to support the reform programme over a year ago now we are<\/p>\n<p>being told to stop supporting it. We believe the programme is a good one for<\/p>\n<p>Guyana. It has several modern and acceptable features which can be found in<\/p>\n<p>reform programmes implemented throughout the world. These include: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Multi-stakeholder involvement and<\/p>\n<p>parliamentary oversight (These are a far cry from abrogating sovreignity and in<\/p>\n<p>fact ensure <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_i1049&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_55.jpg&#8221;><img border=0<\/p>\n<p>width=4 height=1 id=&#8221;_x0000_i1050&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_56.jpg&#8221;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>greater national ownership) Total Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>ownership in the staffing of the implementation unit. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is not uncommon for funding agencies to<\/p>\n<p>retain an involvement in projects which are being financed by them whether they<\/p>\n<p>be for road building, education, and yes, even security. Where is the paranoia<\/p>\n<p>coming from? I argue that this reform programme is too important for this<\/p>\n<p>country to lose and if we continue to quibble and fight over flags and<\/p>\n<p>sovreignity the Guyanese people will again be the ultimate sufferers when the<\/p>\n<p>criminals strike again. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In closing I am happily driven to endorse,<\/p>\n<p>borrow, and restate the words of US President Barack Obama made recently in<\/p>\n<p>Egypt: &#8220;<b>No system of government can or should be imposed by one nation<\/p>\n<p>by any other. Each nation gives life to this principle in its own way, grounded<\/p>\n<p>in the traditions of its own people&#8230; But I do have an unyielding belief<\/p>\n<p>that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and<\/p>\n<p>have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the rule of law and the equal<\/p>\n<p>administration of justice; government that is transparent and doesn&#8217;t<\/p>\n<p>steal from the people; the freedom to live as you choose. These are not just<\/p>\n<p>American ideas; they are human rights.&#8221; We Guyanese expect no less than<\/p>\n<p>do the other people of the world. <o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Therefore, in the interest of peace,<\/p>\n<p>stability and development and on behalf of every citizen who has been a victim<\/p>\n<p>of crime, I urge the President of Guyana, as Commander-in-Chief, and the High<\/p>\n<p>Commissioner of the United Kingdom to return to the negotiating table and to<\/p>\n<p>agree on a way forward. Security remains one of the greatest challenges to the<\/p>\n<p>development of Guyana. It cannot be managed and achieved through unilateral<\/p>\n<p>governmental action, and unless there is both widespread and international<\/p>\n<p>support. I believe that there is no problem that cannot be surmounted by well<\/p>\n<p>intentioned negotiations. Security, sovreignity and good sense are not mutually<\/p>\n<p>exclusive and irreconcilable. We do not have to surrender our sovreignity to<\/p>\n<p>achieve peace, security and stability. <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;>2009-6-14: AFC Column &#8211; MINISTERIAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND<\/p>\n<p>RESPONSIBILITY by Khenraj Ramjattan, 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'>The Westminster democratic system of<\/p>\n<p>government, with whatever imperfections it may have, is still as good as any<\/p>\n<p>that can possibly be had. Difficulties and challenges will abound in any<\/p>\n<p>community of men as to how that community should be organized and ordered.<\/p>\n<p>Because men are not angels! In a community which is heterogeneous and plural as<\/p>\n<p>Guyana, the challenges are multiplied. But in the end the realisation will dawn<\/p>\n<p>upon the discerning and right-thinking that the Westminster system of<\/p>\n<p>government is more preferable and desirable as against all other workable<\/p>\n<p>options available. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Many of its critics turn a blind eye to one<\/p>\n<p>of its greatest hallmark &#8211; the convention of individual ministerial<\/p>\n<p>responsibility. Much emphasis is given to periodic free and fair elections, the<\/p>\n<p>rule of law and fundamental human rights. And, rightly so! But in the absence<\/p>\n<p>of this convention of individual ministerial responsibility, the quality of our<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Westminster&#8217; democracy will remain substandard. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I had cause earlier to write about this in<\/p>\n<p>2005 in a piece titled the &#8220;Shame is greater that the Exoneration&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>when President Jagdeo&#8217;s Cabinet decided unanimously that controversial<\/p>\n<p>Minister Gajraj resume duties at his Ministry after an investigation was<\/p>\n<p>carried out into what was then known as the &#8220;Gajraj Affair&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The convention of individual ministerial<\/p>\n<p>responsibility fixes blame on a Minister for all failure of policy and<\/p>\n<p>administration whether the Minister himself is at fault or not; and, harsh as<\/p>\n<p>it may sound, even if the failure resulted from departmental maladministration.<\/p>\n<p>A Minister must take praise for success of his department, and blame for its<\/p>\n<p>failures. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Moreover, a Minister is required to provide<\/p>\n<p>full and accurate information to Parliament; must behave himself with frankness<\/p>\n<p>and condour; and, must not mislead Parliament knowingly. This is in addition to<\/p>\n<p>not using public resources for his personal purposes. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What this important convention is directed<\/p>\n<p>towards is the observance by Government Ministers of the highest standards of<\/p>\n<p>constitutional propriety and personal conduct. Ministers are expected to be<\/p>\n<p>their own conscience. That is primarily why there is no policing mechanism<\/p>\n<p>created to oversee and penalize ministerial misconduct. But it is exactly why<\/p>\n<p>it is politically correct and mandatory for resignations to follow when it<\/p>\n<p>emerges that Ministers have been found errant of the standards this convention<\/p>\n<p>entails. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I recall the incident where a man found<\/p>\n<p>himself in the Queen&#8217;s bedroom. Sparrow made a famous calypso out of it.<\/p>\n<p>The U.K&#8217;s National Security Minister then in charge, duly and with a<\/p>\n<p>certain ring of honour and dignity, resigned because somebody had to be<\/p>\n<p>responsible. This was an extreme instance of individual ministerial<\/p>\n<p>responsibility, but it emphasizes what political culture must exist and subsist<\/p>\n<p>in a Westminster democratic tradition. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In England, Ministers largely live this<\/p>\n<p>tradition -over 65 Ministers resigned in the half century period [1945 to 1995]<\/p>\n<p>for cases ranging from sex scandals, financial mis-dealings, failure in office,<\/p>\n<p>national security scandals, and other major and minor misconduct in public office.<\/p>\n<p>Recently the Brown Cabinet has been shaken by a number of such resignations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Our Ministers in Guyana love to live up the<\/p>\n<p>power and privileges side of a Westminster tradition. But they fail miserably<\/p>\n<p>to honour and to live up to the accountability and responsibility side. This<\/p>\n<p>deficit in the quality of our political leadership very often times is<\/p>\n<p>misapplied to assert a deficit in the Westminster system of government. This<\/p>\n<p>preposterous illogic has propelled some to call for the Westminster model&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>replacement. Now if the pilot is no good, you do not start condemning the<\/p>\n<p>plane. What must happen is a vigorous call for a change in the pilot. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Recently in the National Assembly Minister<\/p>\n<p>Robert Persaud was caught red handed breaching the standards so well known that<\/p>\n<p>only full and accurate information must be provided, with frankness and<\/p>\n<p>condour, so that Parliamentarians are not misled. Somehow the matter never got<\/p>\n<p>the publicity it deserved. I only noticed a Sunday Kaieteur editorial<\/p>\n<p>chastising me for being a &#8220;cavilling M.P.&#8221; for criticising the<\/p>\n<p>Minister. I just hope that the writer is not losing his passion now that he has<\/p>\n<p>gotten his pension. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Our Agriculture Minister was under serious<\/p>\n<p>scrutiny by members of the Economic Services Committee of Parliament on the 11<sup>th<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>July, 2008 concerning the status quo of Guysuco and its long term future. He<\/p>\n<p>painted a rather rosy picture of the sugar industry. Several weeks thereafter<\/p>\n<p>we were all floored when he announced a massive overhaul of the Board at<\/p>\n<p>Guysuco. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>But that aside, there was another matter that<\/p>\n<p>now has enraged me totally. He was asked by me as to the availability of<\/p>\n<p>Guysuco&#8217;s Business Plan. I understood his answers at the time to be that<\/p>\n<p>the Business Plan was not available because it was not finalized. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I quote verbatim from Hansard: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;<b>Ramjattan: Are we going to get<\/p>\n<p>these documents? They are so important that we get them! <o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Persaud: <\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>No, the documents will be provided once we complete<\/p>\n<p>the various &#8230;.. we are <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>engaged in discussions with the EU and some<\/p>\n<p>other stakeholders in finalizing &#8230;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Ramjattan: How early? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Persaud: I do not want to tell. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Ramjattan: Give us a projection. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Persaud: I would say some time in the last<\/p>\n<p>quarter of 2008&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Yet when the bubble burst recently concerning<\/p>\n<p>the loss of over $1.6 B to Guysuco as a result of the non-delivery of the<\/p>\n<p>Business Plan to the European Union by the March 2008 extended deadline, this<\/p>\n<p>same Minister in defence stated that the Business Plan was indeed completed and<\/p>\n<p>was in Cabinet as of March 2008 and was given to the EU as of June 2008. This,<\/p>\n<p>after the Minister had told us in the Economic Services Committee on 11<sup>th<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>July 2008, when he was being questioned, that the Business Plan was not<\/p>\n<p>completed! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This Minister was not being truthful, frank<\/p>\n<p>nor candid to us in the Economic Services Committee. He was bloody lieing! His<\/p>\n<p>latter position was irreconcilable and contradictory to the one he shared with<\/p>\n<p>us in the Economic Services Committee. For this alone he should resign! The<\/p>\n<p>loss of that massive sum of $1.6 B under his stewardship in itself is a<\/p>\n<p>sufficient other ground. But he would not. He wants to stay a couple more years<\/p>\n<p>at what I know as Herdmanston Annexe at the State&#8217;s expense ($3,000.00<\/p>\n<p>U.S. per month to NICIL) in these dire economic times, after selling his house<\/p>\n<p>at Eccles for millions. This is yet another ground for his resignation &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>using the public&#8217;s resources for his personal purposes. In any other<\/p>\n<p>democracy, the uncovering of these facts will have seen such a miscreant Minister<\/p>\n<p>calling it a day. In Guyana, under the present PPP, this kind of misconduct may<\/p>\n<p>very well realize for this Minister a promotion, the Presidential candidacy.<\/p>\n<p>Goodness me. What have we come to? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-6-21: AFC Column &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Some things that bother me&#8221; By Sheila Holder, MP and AFC<\/p>\n<p>Vice-Chair <\/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'>A SELF-INTERESTED GUYANESE CULTURE <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Guyanese have inculcated a culture of finding<\/p>\n<p>individual solutions to the myriad national problems we face. Take for instance<\/p>\n<p>the national grid. GPL has been falling terribly short of providing a reliable<\/p>\n<p>supply of electricity for decades but instead of devising a national solution<\/p>\n<p>to this economically and socially debilitating situation householders and<\/p>\n<p>businesses, who can afford it, come up with individual solutions by purchasing<\/p>\n<p>their own generators. This they do with the encouragement of government. When<\/p>\n<p>you consider it, the accumulative funds expended individually over the decades<\/p>\n<p>we have been grappling with how to secure a more cost effective, safe and<\/p>\n<p>reliable electricity system, we the people could have invested in upgrading the<\/p>\n<p>national grid by now. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A PALL OF FEAR STALKS THE LAND <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Fear stalks the land in various forms such as<\/p>\n<p>in the misuse of political power to favour friends and to intimidate others,<\/p>\n<p>since the principle of equal treatment and equal opportunity is not embraced by<\/p>\n<p>the powers that be. Fear has taken a stronger hold on the society since the<\/p>\n<p>advent of the phantom force as it is believed that a real possibility exists<\/p>\n<p>that &#8216;death squads&#8217; might come knocking at anyone&#8217;s door<\/p>\n<p>either because of mistaken identity, involvement in some illicit affairs gone<\/p>\n<p>wrong, or because of profiling of one kind or another. So people choose either<\/p>\n<p>to operate generally under the radar, or opt out of engaging in activity they<\/p>\n<p>consider hazardous; but such activity would, as a matter of course, be deemed<\/p>\n<p>normal for citizens in most democracies. Yet, the governing political<\/p>\n<p>directorate boasts that they have returned democracy to Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A SCARCITY OF VOICES AGAINST THE ILLS OF<\/p>\n<p>SOCIETY <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There are fewer voices being raised against<\/p>\n<p>the injustices, the suffering of the people and wrongdoing taking place in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana than previously experienced, and what is even more disturbing is the<\/p>\n<p>fact that many in the Diaspora capable of articulating and advocating on behalf<\/p>\n<p>of the long suffering Guyanese people choose to remain silent while actively<\/p>\n<p>working the email circuit. What are they afraid of? Why aren&#8217;t more<\/p>\n<p>people in the Diaspora standing up and being counted? Surely they are not<\/p>\n<p>afraid of losing their jobs, or afraid that their businesses will be targeted<\/p>\n<p>for &#8216;special&#8217; treatment by &#8216;the powers that be&#8217;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>GHOST WRITERS HAVE LICENCE <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Ghost writers have received licence to<\/p>\n<p>operate generally by some sections of the print media that demand contact<\/p>\n<p>details from the public before publishing letters to the editor. From their<\/p>\n<p>writings I know them, and you know them, yet they are allowed to slip through<\/p>\n<p>the cracks. To think that such writers are being paid from the treasury is<\/p>\n<p>really irksome. Thank goodness they fool few people if any! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>MEN URINATING IN PUBLIC <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I confess that I&#8217;ve reached a point in<\/p>\n<p>life where I no longer &#8216;sweat the small things&#8217; but nonetheless I<\/p>\n<p>find it infuriating to see men urinating against a post in full sight of all<\/p>\n<p>and sundry in the manner of dogs. Whenever I happen upon such a sight, I am<\/p>\n<p>struck by the fact that women manage to solve this natural human need in a more<\/p>\n<p>socially acceptable way. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>POLITICIANS <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We live in a society, indeed in a world,<\/p>\n<p>where politicians are the butt of the most disparaging jokes reflecting the<\/p>\n<p>general opinion of the people who make up the electorate. Yet, the fact that<\/p>\n<p>the people elect politicians who are so disparaged, seem to escape all and<\/p>\n<p>sundry who chuckle gleefully at such jokes. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>LAWYERS <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Like Politicians, lawyers are generally<\/p>\n<p>poorly rated. Many among them give a bad name to the profession when they take<\/p>\n<p>fees from clients but expend insufficient effort to represent them adequately.<\/p>\n<p>Stories abound about those lawyers who thrive on dishonest practices in a<\/p>\n<p>system that allows them to escape without being disciplined. There is need for<\/p>\n<p>a code of practice which the public should demand and a more effective<\/p>\n<p>disciplinary committee of the Bar Association. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>THE JUSTICE SYSTEM <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Judges and Magistrates all know that<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;justice delayed is justice denied&#8217; yet it appears that without<\/p>\n<p>giving much consideration to this edict, they routinely grant postponements of<\/p>\n<p>cases merely because lawyers make such requests. In many of these cases the<\/p>\n<p>litigants have to wait years before they get their day in Court and in many<\/p>\n<p>instances, when that day comes, it is too late for many to receive true justice<\/p>\n<p>because they had suffered direly, emotionally and financially. How much longer<\/p>\n<p>will our society continue to tolerate this? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>NOISE NUISANCE <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I&#8217;ve come to realise that some people<\/p>\n<p>have an unusually high tolerance level for noise as becomes evident when they<\/p>\n<p>play their boom boxes so loudly as to cause pictures on the walls nearby to<\/p>\n<p>rattle. Either these people don&#8217;t care or they do not understand the agony<\/p>\n<p>that others who are sensitive to noise have to endure, or how infuriating and<\/p>\n<p>nerve racking it is to their neighbours who desire peace and quiet. There is no<\/p>\n<p>need to argue the case of why the authorities need to devise an effective<\/p>\n<p>strategy to deal with noise nuisance. It has to be done! The question is when,<\/p>\n<p>given their failures to do so up to now. I would like to challenge the<\/p>\n<p>lecturers and students of the University of Guyana to take this up as an<\/p>\n<p>academic study to lead the way in easing the suffering of the society. These<\/p>\n<p>things bother me, only because they are so many things that I love about<\/p>\n<p>Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>**********************************************************************<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>THE AFC&#8217;S FREEDOM OF INFORMATION<\/p>\n<p>BILL 2006 <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The deadline set by the President for the introduction<\/p>\n<p>of Freedom of Information legislation has expired, and there is no sign of any<\/p>\n<p>draft legislation on the horizon. Another promise has been broken. This time<\/p>\n<p>the international community has taken note because of the time and place that<\/p>\n<p>the promise was made at the 5th Summit of the Americas. Instead of giving us<\/p>\n<p>the truth, the PPP\/C General Secretary, who has nothing to do with the<\/p>\n<p>Government&#8217;s legislative agenda, is claiming that the problem lies with<\/p>\n<p>an inefficient Attorney-General&#8217;s Chambers. This as we all know is<\/p>\n<p>balderdash. Not even a school child believes this to be the reason why the<\/p>\n<p>legislation has not been presented. In fact, we are now convinced that His<\/p>\n<p>Excellency, the President, finding himself cornered by his colleagues and the<\/p>\n<p>international press corps in Trinidad &amp; Tobago, made the statement to<\/p>\n<p>relieve the pressure from the AFC&#8217;s advertisement and the barrage of<\/p>\n<p>questions that were coming his way. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Nevertheless, despite the refusal by this<\/p>\n<p>government to strengthen our democracy, the AFC will continue to press ahead<\/p>\n<p>with the cause for Freedom of Information legislation because we believe that<\/p>\n<p>the failing democracy in Guyana needs legislation such as this to address<\/p>\n<p>corruption, mismanagement, and bad governance. No modern thinking politician<\/p>\n<p>and leader could have an objection to this legislation if the claim to<\/p>\n<p>governing for the benefit of the people is true. We urge the people of Guyana<\/p>\n<p>to support the necessity for this legislation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Below, we set out some more aspects of the<\/p>\n<p>AFC&#8217;s Freedom of Information Bill that is presently before the National<\/p>\n<p>Assembly and awaiting approval. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Clause 42-Preservation of Records <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>(1) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;A<\/p>\n<p>public authority shall maintain and preserve records in relation to its<\/p>\n<p>functions and a copy of all official documents which are created by it or which<\/p>\n<p>come at any time into its possession, custody or power. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>(2) <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A<\/p>\n<p>person who willfully destroys or damages a record or document required to be<\/p>\n<p>maintained and preserved under subsection (1), commits an offence and is liable<\/p>\n<p>on summary conviction to a fine of five thousand dollars and imprisonment for<\/p>\n<p>six months.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-6-28: AFC Column &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;An Amerindian Affair&#8221; <\/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 PPP\/C activists are busy at spreading a<\/p>\n<p>ridiculous rumour that the AFC intends to close the Ministry of Amerindian<\/p>\n<p>Affairs when it gets into government. However, as our leaders and activists<\/p>\n<p>move through these communities we learn that the rumour is ineffective and we<\/p>\n<p>learn as well of the real suffering of the indigenous people that the<\/p>\n<p>government does not want the world to know about. Where did this rumour<\/p>\n<p>emanate? It most likely had to do to with a stated AFC position that the<\/p>\n<p>current thrust of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs seems simply to keep the<\/p>\n<p>Amerindian communities quiet and placated, rather than staying true to its<\/p>\n<p>mission of uplifting the lives of the Amerindian people, socially, culturally,<\/p>\n<p>and economically. Little has been done on the economic front in the past 17<\/p>\n<p>years of PPP governance. We challenge the government to name any new programme<\/p>\n<p>or project in any Amerindian community that will bring major development and<\/p>\n<p>jobs. A visit into any part of the interior will reveal scores of disgruntled<\/p>\n<p>youth who anxious for employment, and disappointed that they are unable to<\/p>\n<p>access birth certificates to give them an identity, and jobs and opportunities<\/p>\n<p>that give them a sense of pride, purpose and accomplishment. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I make bold to say that there is absolutely<\/p>\n<p>no aspect of development involved in the work of the Ministry, and so<\/p>\n<p>successive Ministers of Amerindian Affairs have just been given enough<\/p>\n<p>resources to manage the various constituent tribal communities. Just enough to<\/p>\n<p>keep them intact and voting for the PPP, but insufficient to lift their lives<\/p>\n<p>into the realm of prosperity. Nowhere is there any fundamental development<\/p>\n<p>taking place in any one of the Amerindian Communities in Guyana. In fact, the<\/p>\n<p>complaint is the same throughout, that is, of abandonment and hopelessness.<\/p>\n<p>Residents of all the communities complain of having no markets for their<\/p>\n<p>produce, if they do manage to farm, and of the inability to be able to exist<\/p>\n<p>above a subsistence level. Many residents also question the role of the<\/p>\n<p>Ministry of Amerindian Affairs as being only to take care of cultural<\/p>\n<p>activities. One resident of Orealla, whilst in the City to fight for the right<\/p>\n<p>to elect a Toshao of his choice, remarked that what we have is not a Ministry<\/p>\n<p>of Amerindian Affairs that is steadily uplifting the standards of the<\/p>\n<p>indigenous people as is its mandate, but an &#8220;Amerindian Affair&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>that focuses on ensuring that village days are observed, and Heritage Month<\/p>\n<p>celebrations are colourful; no doubt as they should be. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The most recent dismissal of the Amerindian<\/p>\n<p>communities by the Office of the President&#8217;s spokesperson who said that<\/p>\n<p>Amerindian communities will not benefit from any &#8220;special&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>treatment in the consultations on the Government&#8217;s Low Carbon Development<\/p>\n<p>Strategy (LCDS) clearly established the government&#8217;s mindset that<\/p>\n<p>Amerindians are an appendage not to be taken too seriously. In fact, and kudos<\/p>\n<p>to her, it took the very brave Amerindian Affairs Minister- Pauline<\/p>\n<p>Campbell-Sukhai, M.P. to jump to her people&#8217;s defence by declaring that<\/p>\n<p>it was the government&#8217;s duty &#8220;to provide the Amerindian people with<\/p>\n<p>enough information and with enough capacity to understand what the strategy<\/p>\n<p>holds for us as a nation and also the benefits that may be accruing from<\/p>\n<p>pursuing such a development strategy.&#8221; Consultations were then hurriedly<\/p>\n<p>put together by her Ministry for Regions 9, 1, 8, 7, 8, and 1 to try to explain<\/p>\n<p>what exactly is a Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), and what it means for<\/p>\n<p>the Amerindian people. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The government has once again put the cart<\/p>\n<p>before the horse by formulating its strategy and then going with it to the<\/p>\n<p>communities that will be most affected. It would have been infinitely better<\/p>\n<p>for the consultations to have taken place before with the Amerindian community<\/p>\n<p>as to what its concept of &#8220;standing forest&#8221; is and how these<\/p>\n<p>forests which have provided sustenance and shelter for centuries can best be<\/p>\n<p>preserved whilst being used to uplift their standard of living. Whilst it is<\/p>\n<p>recognised that the Amerindians are said to have a right of &#8220;free, prior<\/p>\n<p>and informed consent&#8221; before any governmental initiative is taken that<\/p>\n<p>affects them, one gets the impression that the LCDS is another &#8220;take it<\/p>\n<p>or leave it&#8221; proposal. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The correct approach on consultations was<\/p>\n<p>taken by the team that consulted on the National Development Strategy before<\/p>\n<p>writing up their findings and recommendations. The recommendations of the NDS remain<\/p>\n<p>relevant today as they were then and to the AFC, it is this document, with some<\/p>\n<p>modification, that has to be used as the overarching strategy for<\/p>\n<p>Guyana&#8217;s development. Four primary concerns have been expressed by the<\/p>\n<p>Amerindian community to the framers of the National Development Strategy, and<\/p>\n<p>these remain revenant today as these communities are being asked to consider<\/p>\n<p>the LCDS. They 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:l2 level1 lfo22;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;>The resolution of the land issue through granting of<\/p>\n<p>titles; <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:l2 level1 lfo22;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;>Resolution of the problem of sub-soil mineral rights; <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:l2 level1 lfo22;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;>Regulation of the process of the leasing or granting<\/p>\n<p>to developers lands that were traditionally used by Amerindians without<\/p>\n<p>consulting their communities; 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:l2 level1 lfo22;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;>Development of rules for compensation of Amerindian<\/p>\n<p>communities for the exploitation of natural resources contained on lands to<\/p>\n<p>which they lay claim. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The questions being asked in every Amerindian<\/p>\n<p>community is to what extent if any, will the Low Carbon Development Strategy<\/p>\n<p>provide a direct financial benefit to them, and will they have to give up or<\/p>\n<p>surrender their traditional practices and customs with regard to the lands<\/p>\n<p>which they occupy. Billions of dollars are said to be potentially realisable<\/p>\n<p>from this strategy, but there is absolute silence on the degree of targeting<\/p>\n<p>that will see direct cash transfers to the Amerindian communities if we are<\/p>\n<p>paid for keeping our forests standing. In the absence of any development policy<\/p>\n<p>that will see our Amerindian brothers and sisters being able to exploit the<\/p>\n<p>natural resources of our land, what then will be in place to ensure that their<\/p>\n<p>lives are far more than an annual cultural event and that they are finally and<\/p>\n<p>fully integrated into Guyanese society; taking their rightful place and being<\/p>\n<p>recognised as the first peoples on this land. Sadly, there is little hope of<\/p>\n<p>this reality whilst this Government remains in office. I say, we have to move<\/p>\n<p>from simply having a Ministry of Amerindian Affairs to a Ministry of Amerindian<\/p>\n<p>Affairs and Hinterland Development. <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;>2009-7-5: AFC Column &#8211; &#8220;DOMESTIC VIOLENCE&#8221; By Pastor Sewnauth<\/p>\n<p>Punalall, AFC Executive Member <\/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 continuing rise of domestic violence<\/p>\n<p>across Guyana is of grave concern to the Alliance For Change as a political<\/p>\n<p>party which views the human resource of our country as our most valuable asset.<\/p>\n<p>We believe that Guyanese of all walks of life, whether resident here or abroad,<\/p>\n<p>should be treated with love and respect and cared for in the most humane way.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately domestic violence robs victims of their fundamental rights to be<\/p>\n<p>happy and to maintain control over their own lives. Individuals who are abused<\/p>\n<p>live in fear and isolation in the one place they should always feel safe, and<\/p>\n<p>that is their own home. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>One of the goals of the AFC, as articulated<\/p>\n<p>in our August, 2006 manifesto is &#8220;to restore national pride and dignity<\/p>\n<p>to the people of Guyana&#8221;. In pursuit of this goal we call on the<\/p>\n<p>government and civil society to team with us as we recognize that domestic<\/p>\n<p>violence has grown to be a national problem arising out of complex causes.<\/p>\n<p>Whilst we should implement appropriate legislation and punish offenders guilty<\/p>\n<p>of this crime we need to look at its causes and work in collaboration to root<\/p>\n<p>out these causes. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The causes of domestic violence are very<\/p>\n<p>obvious in our society. One does not need to be an expert to know this. Actually<\/p>\n<p>we are bombarded by it from the media. Hardly a day passes and we do not hear<\/p>\n<p>of some form of emotional, physical or sexual abuse, some serious injury,<\/p>\n<p>hospitalization or even death. What makes the situation more pathetic is the<\/p>\n<p>fact that most victims are women and girls, the very ones who ought to be<\/p>\n<p>treated with warmth, tenderness and compassion. In most cases these poor women<\/p>\n<p>are harassed to the point where they are isolated from their friends, family,<\/p>\n<p>and neighbours and even lose their network of social and economic support. We<\/p>\n<p>read of cases where masculine domination reigns in the hearts of ungodly men<\/p>\n<p>who traditionally believe that they have a right to control women even if it<\/p>\n<p>involves humiliation or hurt. We learn daily of others who out of unwarranted<\/p>\n<p>jealousy will hurt the opposite sex, who have no desire to regulate their anger<\/p>\n<p>or strong emotions, who suffer from low self esteem and abuse women who have a<\/p>\n<p>better education or socio-economic background. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Then there are the more serious cases which<\/p>\n<p>involve perpetrators who are on alcohol or other chemical substances which<\/p>\n<p>contribute to violent behaviour. We all know that a drunk or a high person will<\/p>\n<p>be less likely to control his or her violent impulses. This means that the<\/p>\n<p>authorities of the day must make a more determined effort to curb the sale of<\/p>\n<p>alcohol and drugs in our land. Of course this will be met with great opposition<\/p>\n<p>from those who gain easy wealth from such businesses. Therefore we who are<\/p>\n<p>God-fearing and value righteous standards must firmly demand that this be done.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We must also recognize that many instances of<\/p>\n<p>domestic violence arise out of the complexities of triangular and extra-marital<\/p>\n<p>affairs and sexual perversions. The Bible warns that those who sow to the flesh<\/p>\n<p>shall of the flesh reap corruption. Too many of our people have abandoned life<\/p>\n<p>transforming truths and are following the broad way that leads to destruction.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;&#8230; <i>It is good for a man not to touch a woman. <\/i><u><a<\/p>\n<p>href=&#8221;http:\/\/www.searchgodsword.org\/desk\/?query=1co+7:2&amp;sr=1&amp;t=kjv&#8221;>2<\/a><\/u><\/span><u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;> <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Nevertheless,<\/p>\n<p><i>to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman<\/p>\n<p>have her own husband. <\/i><u><a<\/p>\n<p>href=&#8221;http:\/\/www.searchgodsword.org\/desk\/?query=1co+7:3&amp;sr=1&amp;t=kjv&#8221;>3<\/a><\/u><\/span><u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;> <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Let<\/p>\n<p>the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife<\/p>\n<p>unto the husband.&#8221; 1 Corinthians 7:1-3. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>How does domestic violence affect children?<\/p>\n<p>In the year 2000 Dr. Sturge and Dr. Glaser submitted a report to the advisory<\/p>\n<p>board on Family Law in England. Their research findings showed that<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;threats to the guardian on whom the children are dependant have more<\/p>\n<p>serious psychological consequences for children than attacks on children<\/p>\n<p>themselves&#8230;Violence, whether experienced by children as observer or a<\/p>\n<p>direct victims, causes immense long-term harm. Children may suffer<\/p>\n<p>post-traumatic anxieties or symptoms, including persistent memories of the<\/p>\n<p>violence&#8221;. Another research done by Dr. Toby D. Goldsmith found that<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;children who witness or are the victims of violence may learn to believe<\/p>\n<p>that violence is a reasonable way to resolve conflict&#8221;. These truths<\/p>\n<p>affirm that immense damage is done to our children who we depend on to be the<\/p>\n<p>men and women of tomorrow. We have had recent cases in our country involving<\/p>\n<p>very young teens who took up assault weapons and committed deadly crimes. If we<\/p>\n<p>fail to act in a corrective way now we may very well see more of this type of<\/p>\n<p>destruction in our already fragile society. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, on Sept 8, 2003<\/p>\n<p>recommended to the judiciary of England and Wales the following three-fold<\/p>\n<p>approach aimed at promoting safety and justice for victims of domestic<\/p>\n<p>violence:<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=4 height=36<\/p>\n<p>id=&#8221;_x0000_i1051&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_57.jpg&#8221;><i>Prevention<\/i> through<\/p>\n<p>changing deep-seated social attitudes. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Protection and justice<\/span><\/i><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;> by the better administration of justice. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Support <\/span><\/i><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>13.5pt&#8217;>such as the removal of the victim from the environment of abuse to safe<\/p>\n<p>houses or centers and medical, financial and emotional support. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Violence within the family is no longer<\/p>\n<p>purely a &#8216;domestic&#8217; issue. It is a problem which belongs to society<\/p>\n<p>as a whole, not just a legal problem, a health problem or a policing problem.<\/p>\n<p>This being the case the AFC is calling on Guyanese of all walks of life to<\/p>\n<p>unite with us as we work together to rid our country of the evils of domestic<\/p>\n<p>violence. Our first effort in this direction will be a call for a national day<\/p>\n<p>of prayer and fasting which date will soon be published. We solicit your co-operation,<\/p>\n<p>comments and suggestions. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-7-12: AFC<\/p>\n<p>Column-CARICOM ON TRIAL-Extracts of the Presentation Made By Leader of the AFC<\/p>\n<p>Raphael Trotman, M.P. to the National Assembly on Thursday, July 9, 2009, on a<\/p>\n<p>Motion Seeking the Protection of Guyanese in the Caribbean Community. <\/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'>Mr. Speaker, Much has been stated about<\/p>\n<p>CARICOM and its future over the past week. We of the AFC consider it our duty<\/p>\n<p>to add our voices on the general issue of Regional integration, and in particular,<\/p>\n<p>on the issue of the treatment of CARICOM citizens in the Region, and<\/p>\n<p>especially, Guyanese citizens. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As a child growing up, my world view was<\/p>\n<p>shaped in large part by the words of my father Donald Trotman -inscribed in a<\/p>\n<p>book that he had written in 1973. I knew little about world peace and conflict<\/p>\n<p>but was drawn to his words of dedication to his children: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;To my children hoping that they<\/p>\n<p>will live to see a world in which conflict is replaced by Peace, iniquity by<\/p>\n<p>Justice and prejudice by Understanding.&#8221; <\/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'>His words gave me a sense of comfort and<\/p>\n<p>security that I was growing up into a better more tranquil world, and<\/p>\n<p>especially so for us who have chosen to remain and reside in the West Indies.<\/p>\n<p>This was the world that those of us in the Caribbean thought we had. But as we<\/p>\n<p>grew as nations we realised that we are not insulated from the evils of the<\/p>\n<p>world. We therefore quite wisely prepared and strengthen ourselves for those<\/p>\n<p>external threats and challenges. CARICOM was designed and intended to be our battle<\/p>\n<p>armour as we developed our newly independent nations and protected ourselves<\/p>\n<p>from the outside. What we never bargained for was the rise of insularity and<\/p>\n<p>discord within that armour. Now, not the words of my father, but those of the<\/p>\n<p>St. Lucian poet Kendel Hippolyte&#8217;s &#8220;The Air Between Us (For an<\/p>\n<p>Expatriate)&#8221;, more aptly describe the cold treatment that many West<\/p>\n<p>Indian citizens now experience at the hands of their brothers and sisters: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;The air between us is like glass<\/p>\n<p>when we speak, our words frost <\/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'>As meanings mist over, I hear you far<\/p>\n<p>off and muffled <\/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'>I realise that you were shouting <\/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'>When you walked past you were shouting <\/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'>Your head bent was a scream&#8221; <\/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'>For the avoidance of all doubt I wish to<\/p>\n<p>establish unequivocally three fundamentals truths: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>1-That when this Motion was drafted and<\/p>\n<p>presented for debate I had no intention of creating &#8220;public<\/p>\n<p>hysteria&#8221; or using the immigration issue for political purposes as has<\/p>\n<p>been suggested by the Guyana Head of State-How myopic that point of view is; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>2-That this Motion is about Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>everywhere and has nothing to do with the racial element of Guyanese who may be<\/p>\n<p>targeted for discrimination. I don&#8217;t care about the colour of skin of the<\/p>\n<p>person in peril, or about their voting choices. I am, as we all should be,<\/p>\n<p>concerned about their rights as a citizens of Guyana. Punta Finale! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>3-That intrinsic to, and as expressly set out<\/p>\n<p>within the body of the Treaty of Chagaramus, there is the right of the exercise<\/p>\n<p>of individual sovereignty within each state&#8230;the right demanded and<\/p>\n<p>recognised within each state to make and enforce its own laws as its sees best.<\/p>\n<p>But I posit that there is a higher moral law of humanity that says that there<\/p>\n<p>must be a basic modicum of respect for the rights of citizens of any state when<\/p>\n<p>they are within the boundaries of another state? If I had the right to place a<\/p>\n<p>footnote on the Treaty of Chagaramus it would be to say that this insistence on<\/p>\n<p>safeguarding our individually sovereignty is not only incongruent with the<\/p>\n<p>spirit of togetherness, but has led, and continues to lead, to the unraveling<\/p>\n<p>and disintegration of CARICOM. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On the occasion of the signing of that<\/p>\n<p>Treaty, Guyana in 1972, hosted the first CARIFESTA celebration and again hosted<\/p>\n<p>the 10<sup>th<\/sup> such event magnificently in 2008. Then, as we continue to<\/p>\n<p>do now, we have welcomed with arms wide open, our brothers and sisters from<\/p>\n<p>Trinidad &amp; Tobago, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada, St. Kitts &amp; Nevis,<\/p>\n<p>Montserrat, The Bahamas, Antigua &amp; Barbuda, Jamaica, Belize, Dominica,<\/p>\n<p>Haiti, Suriname, and yes even Barbados. There is no bench on which they are<\/p>\n<p>placed to sit on arrival. I ask: What has happened, and where did we go wrong<\/p>\n<p>that this ignominy and disgrace can be heaped on our citizens when we are still<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;basking&#8221; in the celebrated sunlight of our &#8220;oneness&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>in culture and history just one year ago? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Even today, it is Shivnarine Chanderpaul and<\/p>\n<p>Ramnaresh Sarwan who continue to anchor the West Indies cricket team to bring<\/p>\n<p>victory after victory, and with each victory, pride and exaltation for the<\/p>\n<p>Region. Before I forget may I remind the government and people of Barbados that<\/p>\n<p>two of their most celebrated achievements could not have been possible without<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese migration. I refer to the 2000 Olympic feat of Obadele Thompson whose<\/p>\n<p>father is Guyanese and to the mega star Rihanna Fenty whose mother is Guyanese.<\/p>\n<p>This is what integration has brought to Barbados. Their first Olympic medal and<\/p>\n<p>their first Grammy Award. Yet they pretend not to know. Ironically, for us<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese, it is as Barbadian poet Edward Braithwaite says <b><i>&#8220;Our<\/p>\n<p>colour beats a restless drum but only the bitter come.&#8221; <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This is the story of Kavita; a young Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>woman who hails from a village on the East Coast of Demerara, Unity to be<\/p>\n<p>precise, home of famous Guyanese. Kavita is the single mother of two who tells<\/p>\n<p>me that she has suffered abuse from her spouse and from her leaders. No job and<\/p>\n<p>no protection from abuse. She traveled to Barbados; where after two weeks she<\/p>\n<p>found a job as a domestic. And then her world is shattered by the heavy knock<\/p>\n<p>on the door at 5 am and she is carted off and placed into a bus, her life is<\/p>\n<p>shattered, her possessions lost, her security torn apart. She begs for a<\/p>\n<p>chance, begs for an opportunity to call a friend or lawyer, she is mocked,<\/p>\n<p>scoffed at, and told that she has no rights. She is deported and moves from<\/p>\n<p>being a West Indian to being just a Guyanese. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>She is Guyanese, West Indian- a citizen of<\/p>\n<p>CARICOM. She is discriminated against not because of her name, gender,<\/p>\n<p>ethnicity, or religion, but because of her nationality. This Motion is for<\/p>\n<p>Kavita&#8217;s and the hundreds like her who are, and are likely to be,<\/p>\n<p>affected unless we stand up. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Prescriptions For An Ailing Soul <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We are the smallest economic union in the<\/p>\n<p>world whilst being the most threatened by transnational crime, financial crises,<\/p>\n<p>and climate change. Inexplicably, and ironically, we have ignored the<\/p>\n<p>imperative for true and deep integration and have instead held up our sovereign<\/p>\n<p>shields with pomp and ceremony. Our leaders have made us into caricatures for<\/p>\n<p>amusement and ridicule. Dr. Vaughn Lewis asks the poignant question: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Why do these situations of heads<\/p>\n<p>of government&#8217;s announcements of initiatives followed by the rejection of<\/p>\n<p>recommendations, or hesitations in pursuit of decisions relating to paths<\/p>\n<p>towards enhancement of the integration process, recur so often? <\/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'>Despite the travails, the trials, and the<\/p>\n<p>tribulations we face, we remain integrationists at heart and see this Motion as<\/p>\n<p>part of the reinforcing exercise that is underway. I hope that one day, and not<\/p>\n<p>too far in the distant future, that the views and questions recently posed by<\/p>\n<p>of my sister Dr. Alissa Trotz can be reversed and answered. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We have a duty to ensure that the most useful<\/p>\n<p>outcome of the 30<sup>th<\/sup> Heads of Government Conference was not the Order<\/p>\n<p>of the Caribbean Community conferred on the Most Hon. Mr. Percival J.<\/p>\n<p>Patterson, ON, OCC, PC, QC, former Prime Minister of Jamaica. Therefore, we<\/p>\n<p>have to do some introspection, and as a matter of urgency, make some urgent,<\/p>\n<p>critical, and decisive decisions. <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:l23 level1 lfo23;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 to decide whether we want to be separate and<\/p>\n<p>apart or integrated and interconnected; <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:l23 level1 lfo23;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 to decide whether we are citizens with equal<\/p>\n<p>rights and responsibilities or separate and unequal; <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:l23 level1 lfo23;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 to decide whether we will resolve to<\/p>\n<p>strengthen CARICOM by agreeing to implement fully all of our agreements and<\/p>\n<p>treaties, or we turn elsewhere to a place where we are wanted and welcome. We<\/p>\n<p>keep making the same fancy declarations and issuing eloquently written<\/p>\n<p>communiqu&eacute;s but not implementing them; 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:l23 level1 lfo23;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 have to decide whether we want to toy endlessly<\/p>\n<p>with the idea of an economic union or shed our pretended cloaks of sovereignty<\/p>\n<p>and progress into a formidable political union as Europe has successfully done.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-7-14: New Economic<\/p>\n<p>Zones = New Jobs By Peter Ramsaroop <\/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'>Introduction: In a few months we will be in a<\/p>\n<p>new decade. Hundreds of Guyanese participated in developing the 2001-2010<\/p>\n<p>National Development Strategy. The goal of that plan was &#8220;Eradicating<\/p>\n<p>Poverty and Unifying Guyana&#8221;. It is sad that after almost ten years, the<\/p>\n<p>government is yet to embrace the plan and failed to implement numerous<\/p>\n<p>recommendations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Between 1998 and 2003, another study<\/p>\n<p>identified areas most suitable for future development on a sustainable, environmentally<\/p>\n<p>sound basis and also suitable for the expansion of the country&#8217;s economic<\/p>\n<p>base. Mr Hamley Case, one of Guyana&#8217;s prominent business experts wrote an<\/p>\n<p>essay on this subject emphasising the need to follow the recommendations of this<\/p>\n<p>study mainly because of the presence and abundance of natural resources within<\/p>\n<p>the area which consist mainly Region 10 but also incorporating parts of Regions<\/p>\n<p>3 and 7. This huge area included towns and settlements such as Ituni, Linden,<\/p>\n<p>Christiansburg, Wismar, Moblissa, Rockstone, Anarika, Wineperu, Sherima, Monkey<\/p>\n<p>Jump, Baganara, Bartica, among other areas. This study was conducted by a top<\/p>\n<p>German company. In an essay I wrote &#8212; &#8220;Rain and Relocate&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; on May 10, 2009, I suggested that we look at alternative areas for relocation<\/p>\n<p>of the coastal plains given the Global Climate change patterns and economic<\/p>\n<p>necessity. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We continue to waste money on the drainage<\/p>\n<p>and building of the Hope Canal when we can use these limited funds to look at<\/p>\n<p>alternative areas right here in our beautiful nation. In addition to the above<\/p>\n<p>proposed economic zones, we have also recommended Lethem be a new hub for<\/p>\n<p>economic free zone activity. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Brazil connection: We cannot forget why<\/p>\n<p>this proposed economic zone is even more critical today for us. We are sitting<\/p>\n<p>next to many new economic initiatives that are happening in the areas discussed<\/p>\n<p>in my introduction. Linden will become a critical town as these new economic<\/p>\n<p>zones are created. The Governor of Roraima signed an agreement with the<\/p>\n<p>president of Brazilian Telecom Company on May 27, 2009, in Boa Vista, Roraima,<\/p>\n<p>and by August of this year, Roraima State will have bandwidth internet with an<\/p>\n<p>optic fibre link from Venezuela up to the south of Roraima, and after some<\/p>\n<p>months, the optic fibre bandwidth will link Manaus in Amazon state. The<\/p>\n<p>international agreement was signed by both presidents (Brazil and Venezuela) on<\/p>\n<p>May 27, 2009 also. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>So, as you can see, things are really<\/p>\n<p>happening in Roraima State, and more recently many new international agreements<\/p>\n<p>with Brazil and Venezuela were signed on May 27, 2009 including the abolishment<\/p>\n<p>of passports for both Brazil and Venezuela and only needing to show an ID Photo<\/p>\n<p>Card. Guyana must be integrated in the MERCOSUR. South America must create a<\/p>\n<p>strong and potential Economic Bloc, as well as happen with the European Union,<\/p>\n<p>NAFTA, etc. One Brazilian colleague told me that it is time for Guyana to pay<\/p>\n<p>attention to our backyard and make Lethem a major town, ready to negotiate with<\/p>\n<p>our strong neighbours. Roraima has already two free commerce areas (Boa Vista<\/p>\n<p>and Bonfim cities), and one new Brazilian Federal Law was approved recently<\/p>\n<p>where Boa Vista will have an exportation processing zone. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is time to stop ignoring Brazil&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>potential economic force and it is time to create new commercial links with the<\/p>\n<p>state of Roraima, Brazil. Our foreign trade policy is non-existent. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>2011-2021 There is a need great need to<\/p>\n<p>relook at the 2001 NDS and update it for 2011-2021. A civil group and a<\/p>\n<p>political body t have taken the lead on this project. The goal is to develop a<\/p>\n<p>plan that focuses on but not limited to: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Economic efficiency Sustainable use of<\/p>\n<p>resources Environmental protection Social equity Diversification Social<\/p>\n<p>acceptance\/benefits Creation of employment To identify value-added products<\/p>\n<p>Improvement of living conditions for the local population To make the best use<\/p>\n<p>of existing potentials in key areas of our nation <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Conclusion: We must consider a new National<\/p>\n<p>Development Strategy of utmost importance to the future development of our<\/p>\n<p>nation. This government has run our nation on an ad hoc, unplanned development<\/p>\n<p>and has placed Guyana at the bottom of the league of developing nations in the<\/p>\n<p>hemisphere. The Low Carbon Development Strategy has been developed in isolation<\/p>\n<p>of the NDS. As proposed before, consideration will be given to the allocation<\/p>\n<p>of homesteads for &#8220;Land for Youth&#8221; 18 to 35 years old along the<\/p>\n<p>Linden\/Lethem road. Naturally a new government will put in the basic<\/p>\n<p>physical\/economic and social infrastructure to make the homestead areas<\/p>\n<p>habitable. These homestead lands will be in the region of 3-5 acres each and<\/p>\n<p>ownership (transport) will only be granted after an agreed period of beneficial<\/p>\n<p>use as determined by the homestead communities with a minimal Central<\/p>\n<p>Government representation. Diaspora Guyanese who fall into the same age range<\/p>\n<p>will be included in a proposed free land for youth programme. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There is a need again for a well thought out<\/p>\n<p>plan for the development of our nation that will create jobs and economic<\/p>\n<p>prosperity for all versus the corruption and incompetency we have experienced. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Until next time &#8220;Roop&#8221; Send your<\/p>\n<p>comments to peter.ramsaroop@gmail.com <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_i1052&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_58.jpg&#8221;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-7-18: Letter to<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese re: Health Misistry Fire <\/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 Editors <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Stabroek News and Kaieteur News <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Dear Sirs, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On Friday last the people of Guyana lost yet<\/p>\n<p>another historical and important building. This time, it was the building<\/p>\n<p>housing the Ministry of Health. On behalf of the executive and members of the<\/p>\n<p>of the Alliance For Change I condemn this latest act of destruction. Equally of<\/p>\n<p>importance, was the fact that a government Ministry, together with all the<\/p>\n<p>important records it stored, and the functions it performed, were consumed by<\/p>\n<p>the fire. Looking at the remains I could not help but wonder- what a loss or<\/p>\n<p>precious resources. The state of Guyana has been weakened further by this<\/p>\n<p>dastardly act. During the last budget debate, I publicly praised Dr. Ramsammy,<\/p>\n<p>and his Ministry officials, because I believe that notwithstanding recent<\/p>\n<p>allegations of &#8220;phantom&#8221; involvement and corruption in his sector,<\/p>\n<p>his Ministry is one of the better functioning ones. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Already, there is widespread speculation that<\/p>\n<p>the motive was political. The photographs of Molotov cocktails reinforce this.<\/p>\n<p>The &#8220;who&#8221; is what is beyond us now and in the absence of an<\/p>\n<p>independent and professional investigation all should refrain from the usual<\/p>\n<p>blame throwing. Depending on who you speak to, one person will say it was the<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;opposition&#8221; forces, and another will say it was the government<\/p>\n<p>looking for sympathy. People have already begun to link the unlawful arrest of<\/p>\n<p>Benschop, Lewis and Witter to this act whilst others suggest that ongoing<\/p>\n<p>tension between the Minister of Health and the Office of the President and the<\/p>\n<p>Minister&#8217;s own woes relating to the infamous laptop computer, are the<\/p>\n<p>real reasons behind the fire. There must be an urgent investigation, but<\/p>\n<p>concurrently, we need to look beyond the immediacy of this latest inferno and<\/p>\n<p>into aetiological causes of these events. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the Caribbean, no other country has lost<\/p>\n<p>so many government buildings to arson and this is the real point that I wish to<\/p>\n<p>emphasise. The fact that this saga continues, including the blame throwing,<\/p>\n<p>just serves to confirm that Guyana&#8217;s politics is highly unorthodox, and<\/p>\n<p>on many occasions, dangerous. Those of us who dress up and attend parliament<\/p>\n<p>every week are not necessarily helping to solve our problems by debating and<\/p>\n<p>passing Bills and Motions, but are exacerbating them by pretending that<\/p>\n<p>everything is normal. Guyana is disintegrating and becoming a failed state. A<\/p>\n<p>school child can tell you that the system of governance we practice in Guyana<\/p>\n<p>is not working in the people&#8217;s best interest because it continues to<\/p>\n<p>place us on the &#8220;razor&#8217;s edge&#8221; to use the words of V.V.<\/p>\n<p>Puran. That someone could conceive and carry through with such a destructive<\/p>\n<p>plan, whether or not he or she is a supporter of the government, tells us that<\/p>\n<p>things are not regular in Guyana and will continue to be so year after year<\/p>\n<p>unless we find the courage to confront the issue of the inclusive governance of<\/p>\n<p>our country. President Barack Obama frontally addressed the twin issues of<\/p>\n<p>governance and democracy in the developing world in his recent address to the<\/p>\n<p>Ghanaian Parliament when he said <b><i>&#8221;This is about more than holding<\/p>\n<p>elections &#8211; it&#8217;s also about what happens between them&#8230;each nation gives<\/p>\n<p>life to democracy in its own way, and in line with its own traditions. But history<\/p>\n<p>offers a clear verdict: governments that respect the will of their own people<\/p>\n<p>are more prosperous, more stable, and more successful than governments that do<\/p>\n<p>not.&#8221; <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC once again implores the political<\/p>\n<p>leaders to heed the voices of the people of Guyana, both at home and in the<\/p>\n<p>Diaspora, and agree to commence a dialogue on governance so that we can put our<\/p>\n<p>problems to rest once and for all. There is no outside help coming from<\/p>\n<p>overseas. We have to solve this problem ourselves if not we will wake up one<\/p>\n<p>day and find that every thing has been consumed by fire in the unending<\/p>\n<p>action\/reaction cycle of tit for tat politics. It is the type of politics that<\/p>\n<p>will eventually leave only ashes to oversee. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Sincerely, <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'>2009-7-19: AFC Column &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>Intellectual superiority or intellectual dishonesty?By Khemraj Ramjattan, AFC<\/p>\n<p>Chairman <\/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'>An astronomical amount of accolades is being<\/p>\n<p>bestowed on President Jagdeo for what is being dubbed his brainchild &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>this Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). Obviously His Excellency ought to<\/p>\n<p>be given whatsoever credit is due. But surely not the exaggerated kudos his<\/p>\n<p>cabal of cronies wants to disproportionately grant unto him. This is what is<\/p>\n<p>happening in the massive political outreach which is being passed off as consultations.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Now, not even the most extraordinarily<\/p>\n<p>brilliant mind can pluck out from the air some earth-shattering idea or<\/p>\n<p>concept. The impression however is given, from what I see on the State Media<\/p>\n<p>(radio, newspapers and television), that our President did just that when it<\/p>\n<p>comes to this LCDS. I want to set the record straight. This idea of a LCDS for<\/p>\n<p>Guyana had its origins a long time ago, but more particularly in the latter<\/p>\n<p>part of President Cheddi Jagan&#8217;s years. It was better articulated later<\/p>\n<p>under what became known as the proposal for a Guyana Rain Forest Foundation<\/p>\n<p>(GRFF) prepared by consultant Doreen E. Crompton from the Carter Center. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>An accurate telling of the story will reveal<\/p>\n<p>that this LCDS started taking shape here in Guyana under the National<\/p>\n<p>Development Strategy (NDS) document in 1993 which got assistance from the<\/p>\n<p>Carter Center. Dr. Jagan in 1996 in Atlanta then made this statement to ensure<\/p>\n<p>an advancement of the idea: &#8220;The National Development Strategy lays out a<\/p>\n<p>very vigorous programme of strengthening our sustainable management of natural<\/p>\n<p>resources. This is the only way to guarantee to future generations of Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>the opportunities that are being offered to the present generation. We are<\/p>\n<p>concerned to establish ways to make economic development compatible with sound<\/p>\n<p>management of natural resources. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In this regard, we would like to call your<\/p>\n<p>attention to the proposal to establish a Guyana Rain Forest Foundation. Such a<\/p>\n<p>Foundation would play a major role in promoting sustainable management of our<\/p>\n<p>unique heritage of extensive rainforest. It would finance and manage non-timber<\/p>\n<p>concessions in the forest &#8230; We feel this is a most promising avenue to<\/p>\n<p>pursue, for other countries as well, because it combines the need for<\/p>\n<p>development finance with the environmental aims for tropical forests. A<\/p>\n<p>proposal for the Foundation is now being drafted, and we hope to interest<\/p>\n<p>donors, including bilateral official donors, international NGOs and<\/p>\n<p>corporations.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The great man then died. But his proposal for<\/p>\n<p>the Foundation did not. President Carter who was endeared to the idea, assisted<\/p>\n<p>through the expertise of Ms. Crompton, with two volumes of brilliant work<\/p>\n<p>covering all and even more than what is now being pushed as the Jagdeo<\/p>\n<p>Initiative. This is how she succinctly put it when dealing with the rationale<\/p>\n<p>for the Foundation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;The GRFF proposal is based on a simple<\/p>\n<p>trade-off. Guyana will conserve forest tracts that retain soil cover and<\/p>\n<p>protect water supply for itself and the region, and that sequester carbon and<\/p>\n<p>prevent emissions of greenhouse gases, conserve biodiversity and ensure the<\/p>\n<p>continued existence of a unique area of great beauty. By doing so, Guyana will<\/p>\n<p>forego revenues from commercial logging operations in sensitive forest areas.<\/p>\n<p>The GRFF will ensure that Guyana receives full compensation for the logging<\/p>\n<p>benefits foregone. As a result, Guyana will be enabled to maintain its<\/p>\n<p>development objectives of raising incomes and employment level now, while<\/p>\n<p>simultaneously conserving its forests for future generations and the benefit of<\/p>\n<p>the world at large.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Since there was no precedent for a<\/p>\n<p>conservation programme of this size there was uncertainty as to the value to be<\/p>\n<p>put to our forest. This is where President Jagdeo&#8217;s input must be given<\/p>\n<p>credit. He argued that indeed it could not mean only the foregone revenues from<\/p>\n<p>commercial logging operations, but rather the whole gamut of downstream<\/p>\n<p>activities which are a consequence of commercial logging. I had agreed with him<\/p>\n<p>totally, having stumbled into an association through the Guyana Forestry<\/p>\n<p>Commission (GFC) with these issues at certain meetings. Mr. Navin Chandarpal<\/p>\n<p>also was of similar ilk and quite frankly I admired his significant inputs, far<\/p>\n<p>more worthy than the President&#8217;s, on these matters. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Ms. Crompton who was no expert on the<\/p>\n<p>compensation mechanism had determined that this should be dependent on the<\/p>\n<p>Guyana Government&#8217;s case studies which the Carter Center assisted in<\/p>\n<p>financing. This was all done in 2001 March. This proposal of a Guyana Rain<\/p>\n<p>Forest Foundation was then shut down by President Jagdeo before the &#8220;Next<\/p>\n<p>Steps&#8221; could be taken. The &#8220;Next Steps&#8221; included.&#8230;.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;getting data to calculate the compensation mechanism. And parallel with<\/p>\n<p>this was discussing all aspects of this Foundation with civil society, forest<\/p>\n<p>dwellers, traditional donors and lending institutions, non-government<\/p>\n<p>organizations, potential investors and the media. Once the consultative process<\/p>\n<p>is concluded &#8230;&#8230;. the Carter Center will assist the Government to<\/p>\n<p>launch the proposal to interested parties worldwide&#8221; Why it was shut down<\/p>\n<p>for over 8 (eight) years and all of a sudden is being given the pomp and<\/p>\n<p>ceremony under the caption Low Carbon Development Strategy can only be answered<\/p>\n<p>by the President. I wish to proffer two reasons for this. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Firstly, knowing His Excellency&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>domineering, commandist attitude, I rather suspect he was not enamoured with<\/p>\n<p>the administering entity being separate and independent of the Office of the<\/p>\n<p>President. In the case with his present initiative, everything comes under<\/p>\n<p>control of the O.P. Moreover, the administering entity, (i.e. an<\/p>\n<p>internationally respected Foundation), was conceptualised as having an<\/p>\n<p>international board of trustees comprising representatives of Government,<\/p>\n<p>external donors, the local and international private profit and non-profit<\/p>\n<p>sectors, and technical organizations. Not so with his present initiative. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Secondly, legacy. President Jagdeo&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>term in office has been marked by a number of monumental failures all of which<\/p>\n<p>he will be remembered by. To neutralize this negative legacy he had to search<\/p>\n<p>for something grandiose and inherently laudable. The Norwegians obliged by<\/p>\n<p>providing him with the occasion to jump on board on this Low Carbon Development<\/p>\n<p>Strategy. We Guyanese, however, must with caution watch how we jump on<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Jagdeo&#8217;s Initiative&#8221; least we jump overboard. What would<\/p>\n<p>have been best was for the Guyana Rain Forest Foundation proposal (and maybe<\/p>\n<p>other models) to be shared with the public. Not only the LCDS! Why should our<\/p>\n<p>gaze be narrowed to what only the President wants us to see? <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_i1053&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_59.jpg&#8221;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-7-17: AFC Sponsors<\/p>\n<p>Successful Telethon <\/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'>Former PNCR fundraiser, Hamley Case organised<\/p>\n<p>on behalf of the AFC, for the benefit of Nalini Shivram, a Telethon on<\/p>\n<p>Wednesday night to raise G$2M to pay for her life-saving Dialysis treatments.<\/p>\n<p>Nalini was in kidney failure and needed the funds after she and her husband had<\/p>\n<p>sold all their worldly possessions to meet the cost of her Dialysis treatments.<\/p>\n<p>The Telethon raised $4.2M on Wednesday night and donations continued to pour in<\/p>\n<p>yesterday signalling that funds would also be available to pay the cost of a<\/p>\n<p>transplant as well. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Nalini and her husband had picketed the<\/p>\n<p>opening of the Caricom Heads of Government Conference pleading for assistance<\/p>\n<p>without success. Earlier in the week I arranged with the privately owned<\/p>\n<p>Dialysis Center to resume treating her with the promise we&#8217;ll raise funds via<\/p>\n<p>the Telethon so thank God she started Dialysis early yesterday morning. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Ministry of Health had provided payment<\/p>\n<p>for 20 treatments and informed her they could help do no more as their policy<\/p>\n<p>was to fund 10 treatments per patient. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Ron Robinson, Alex Graham and his PR girls did<\/p>\n<p>well in volunteering their talents and working way into the night to bring in<\/p>\n<p>donations. Dr. Wilson of the privately operated Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI)<\/p>\n<p>in the G\/town Public Hospital appeared on the programme and gave a medical<\/p>\n<p>perspective of kidney failure, Dialysis treatments, kidney transplants, etc<\/p>\n<p>which are now available in Guyana but at a cost. Two persons called in to<\/p>\n<p>donate one of their kidneys while I was on the programme. It was good that I<\/p>\n<p>turned up near the last part of the programme having gotten back late from an<\/p>\n<p>out of town trip to avoid an overly political overtone impacting the effort. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Donations continued to come in yesterday so I<\/p>\n<p>had to rush to open a savings account at Citizens Bank. It&#8217;s in the name of<\/p>\n<p>Ahalia Panday and or Sheila Holder in trust for Nalini Shivram. Bank info is<\/p>\n<p>(S\/A #218554437). I must express appreciation to the bank for facilitating this<\/p>\n<p>as quickly as they did. Nalini&#8217;s husband donated $1M as did Alfo Alphonso from<\/p>\n<p>Essequibo. On the programme I indicated that the AFC was covering the cost of<\/p>\n<p>the programme and would donate $100,000: I also expressed the hope that Hamley<\/p>\n<p>would reveal his identity as organiser of the Telethon when he gets back from<\/p>\n<p>London. I&#8217;ve also sent him a report and made provision for him to be the other<\/p>\n<p>signatory on the account when he gets back; and secured Accountant Chris Ram&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>(Ram &amp; Mc Rae Chartered Accountants Co.) support to ensure the account is<\/p>\n<p>managed in a transparent way for the purpose intended. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I&#8217;ve arranged with the owner of the Dialysis<\/p>\n<p>Center to continue to give Nalini thrice weekly treatments (at a reduced cost)<\/p>\n<p>until a transplant is possible and we put in place arrangements to pay the<\/p>\n<p>Centre. The Center is US certified and cost $US175 per treatment. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I spoke to Nalini early this morning and she<\/p>\n<p>said the US based transplant surgeons are expected in the country next month<\/p>\n<p>and if she could find a donor she could get the place that was earmarked for<\/p>\n<p>another patient who died suddently. She told me she watched the programme and<\/p>\n<p>was in trears at the out pouring of people&#8217;s generosity. She expressed<\/p>\n<p>gratitude to the AFC and indicated that a cousin has expressed a willingness to<\/p>\n<p>go through the process to see if he&#8217;s a match to donate one of his kidneys to<\/p>\n<p>her. It seems like the donations are heading for the $5M mark. There&#8217;s hope for<\/p>\n<p>Guyana yet! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-7-21: Low Carbon<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Measuring the economic impact By Peter R. Ramsaroop <\/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'>Introduction: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I have visited many areas that will be<\/p>\n<p>affected by the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). Many residents felt<\/p>\n<p>like they were told what the strategy was versus being engaged in<\/p>\n<p>consultations. The sad part is many are being told Guyana will get all this<\/p>\n<p>money from some donor country and they in turn will benefit. From 2007 to<\/p>\n<p>present all reports indicates that the government collected over 60% more in<\/p>\n<p>VAT revenues than was estimated. I can tell you my visit to Kwakwani last<\/p>\n<p>weekend proved that none of that extra money got to them, same as my visit to<\/p>\n<p>Moruka. I am not sure why we should believe that any new monies coming into<\/p>\n<p>Guyana would create a better economy for us. We are all in support of<\/p>\n<p>protecting our environment, but this must be balanced with sound economics and<\/p>\n<p>good governance, in other words we need sustainable economic development. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The European Union recently significantly<\/p>\n<p>reduced sugar subsidies after many years. The impact on Guyana was severe. What<\/p>\n<p>if we make such a commitment to protect our forest and after a year Norway<\/p>\n<p>policies changes and we are then left holding the bag with no new industries as<\/p>\n<p>we are today? Then our people are more out of jobs. We must have a balanced<\/p>\n<p>approach to Guyana&#8217;s development. Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud<\/p>\n<p>said last Monday that, the draft LCDS seeks to help Guyana take care of its own<\/p>\n<p>needs. He also said &#8220;How long do we want to be with our hats and our caps<\/p>\n<p>in hand seeking and begging for money?&#8221; Isn&#8217;t this what we are<\/p>\n<p>doing with the LCDS strategy as currently being rolled out by the Office of the<\/p>\n<p>President? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A grave mistake in the development of this<\/p>\n<p>plan is that it excluded the National Development Strategy (NDS) and major<\/p>\n<p>economic plans such as the Guyana 21. Guyana is going to be better off pursuing<\/p>\n<p>a LCDS in its own self-interest. Two immediate reasons are that Guyana is a net<\/p>\n<p>importer of fossil fuel and its coast line is vulnerable to sea level rise<\/p>\n<p>occasioned by global warming. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>LCDS is not new: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We should give an award to the hundreds of<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese who developed this plan in 2001 that the President is taking credit<\/p>\n<p>for now. The following are some short excerpts from the 2001-2010 NDS that was<\/p>\n<p>never implemented. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>5.IV.12 Given the fiscal constraints which<\/p>\n<p>the country faces in its quest for economic improvement, and the fact that the<\/p>\n<p>conservation of our forest ecosystem brings benefits not only to Guyana but<\/p>\n<p>also to the entire world, mechanisms will be put in place to finance the<\/p>\n<p>non-timber uses of the forests. Put in another way, a scheme will be devised<\/p>\n<p>and implemented to compensate Guyana for any decision it makes not to exploit<\/p>\n<p>its forests for the production of timber and timber products. A special<\/p>\n<p>foundation, which may be known tentatively as the Guyana Rainforest Foundation,<\/p>\n<p>that will mobilise funding from international NGOs, corporations, and bilateral<\/p>\n<p>governmental donors, will be established. This foundation will set up an<\/p>\n<p>endowment fund to receive donations and will apply the earnings from the<\/p>\n<p>endowment to the payment of royalties and fees which will compensate the people<\/p>\n<p>of Guyana for the opportunity costs that will be incurred from not utilising a<\/p>\n<p>proportion of their forest resources. These fees and payments will be assessed<\/p>\n<p>to cover and will include the loss of taxes and royalties, job opportunities,<\/p>\n<p>technological advancement and industrial processes, among other things. <\/span><\/i><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>5.IV.13 The proposed Guyana Rainforest<\/p>\n<p>Foundation will also seek to promote ecotourism, the medicinal uses of the<\/p>\n<p>forest, and other income-generating activities which do not entail the felling<\/p>\n<p>of trees for commercial purposes. It will also promote international agreements<\/p>\n<p>on carbon offset (for industrial pollution in developed countries), as another<\/p>\n<p>source of compensation to Guyana for setting aside part of its natural resource<\/p>\n<p>base. <\/span><\/i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Economic impact: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Value propositions in the sectors like<\/p>\n<p>ethanol, co-generation, and rural power transmission are just some examples of<\/p>\n<p>what is needed. The Ethanol Plant proposed in 2004 is yet to take shape. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The fact that citizens are told they will get<\/p>\n<p>free money if they support the LCDS takes away from putting in incentives to<\/p>\n<p>entrepreneurship. The LCDS as rolled out by OP spends all the money on projects<\/p>\n<p>approved by a government body. In the AFC working group document we added a<\/p>\n<p>component for Guyanese to directly benefit from Guyana&#8217;s resources<\/p>\n<p>without the government deciding. There can be educational campaigns to<\/p>\n<p>encourage folks to invest and not just spend. Some people might be in a<\/p>\n<p>situation where spending on immediate needs is the best investment. For others<\/p>\n<p>that money can well be seed money for some investment scheme. The real key is<\/p>\n<p>government policy hence the need for a new government. While we sleep, a group<\/p>\n<p>of Chinese entrepreneurs will install in Boa Vista a distribution centre for<\/p>\n<p>products imported from China. All this is due to the new Brazilian Federal law,<\/p>\n<p>which created Boa Vista and Bonfim as Free Commerce Areas, and therefore the<\/p>\n<p>local entrepreneurs in Boa Vista and Bonfim do not have to pay importation<\/p>\n<p>taxes. While it is happening, this administration is going to Lethem and Region<\/p>\n<p>9 talking about LCDS with no immediate plans to compete and engage in<\/p>\n<p>cross-border economic progress. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We also need to answer, for example, what<\/p>\n<p>rate of deforestation will be compatible with a Guyanese LCDS? If it is zero,<\/p>\n<p>then it could mean that Guyanese would not have access to 60% to 70% of the<\/p>\n<p>national territory. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Conclusion: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As the former Guyanese Inter-American<\/p>\n<p>Development Bank official, Clarence Ellis recently said, &#8220;We must avoid<\/p>\n<p>these top-down approaches to development. We have to develop from the bottom<\/p>\n<p>up. Bottom-up approaches will depend on more knowledge than we have now.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A sustainable LCDS for Guyana needs to be<\/p>\n<p>driven by a governance process that is inclusive, transparent, incorporates a<\/p>\n<p>lead role for private sector investment, and a government that acts as a<\/p>\n<p>facilitator of entrepreneurship and investment. Guyana is a nation that needs<\/p>\n<p>to come together and focus on creating opportunity for all its people.<\/p>\n<p>Historically Governments of Guyana have used the resources available to them to<\/p>\n<p>divide the country. This is why a comprehensive LCDS must minimize the role of<\/p>\n<p>government to those essential functions which only government can provide and<\/p>\n<p>allow the private sector, NGOs, and the wider civil society within a framework<\/p>\n<p>of the effective rule of law to maximize employment and economic activity. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Thus Guyana needs to retool its LCDS to fit<\/p>\n<p>with a national consensus on a development strategy developed with the<\/p>\n<p>involvement of all stakeholders, and incorporating additional input such as the<\/p>\n<p>Guyana 21 framework. In this way Guyanese would make a real contribution to<\/p>\n<p>reducing global carbon emissions rather than just serving as a tool for third<\/p>\n<p>party symbolism on global warming. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Until next time &#8220;Roop&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>peter.ramsaroop@gmail.com <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-7-24: AFC will not be<\/p>\n<p>&#8216; watchdog party&#8217; \/ transformation to rest of four pillars &#8230; <\/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'>Leader of the Alliance for Change Raphael<\/p>\n<p>Trotman on Friday evening outlined his party&#8217;s programme for the next two<\/p>\n<p>years at the opening of its second Delegates Convention, which was held under<\/p>\n<p>the theme: &#8220; From Third Force to First Choice.&#8221; Trotman stated that<\/p>\n<p>the party was at a point where they needed to see whether they were on the<\/p>\n<p>right road and that they were not disconnected from their members and<\/p>\n<p>supporters. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>According to the AFC leader, it was not their<\/p>\n<p>intention to be a &#8220; watchdog party&#8221;, but one looking to promote<\/p>\n<p>change from within government. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220; To do so however, we know that we<\/p>\n<p>must become more efficient, more vibrant, more civil and more<\/p>\n<p>transformational.&#8221; To this end, he said the party&#8217;s structure would<\/p>\n<p>rest on four pillars. The first of these were building strategic alliances and<\/p>\n<p>partnerships since they recognised they could not do it alone, Trotman said. He<\/p>\n<p>added that work has already begun in this area. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>He noted that the second pillar would be maximising<\/p>\n<p>the involvement of the diaspora and that the party had gone as far setting<\/p>\n<p>aside four seats on its executive committee for the diaspora representatives<\/p>\n<p>from the Caribbean, North America and the United Kingdom. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220; We cannot only go to the diaspora and<\/p>\n<p>ask for money for elections and our different projects; we must also accept<\/p>\n<p>their full and unfettered participation in the decision- making processes in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana.&#8221; The third pillar as related by Trotman was organisation and<\/p>\n<p>discipline and he went on to add that it has been a difficult task mobilising<\/p>\n<p>support, but while they had some ways to go there was encouraging signs. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The last pillar was the party&#8217;s message<\/p>\n<p>and communication. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220; This is the new age of information<\/p>\n<p>technology and we accept that as a modern party seeking the support especially<\/p>\n<p>of youths and disgruntled voters we must transform and adapt; if not we will<\/p>\n<p>remain static and become irrelevant.&#8221; According to Trotman, their core<\/p>\n<p>values will remain the same but the methodology must necessarily transform. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Earlier, party chairman Khemraj Ramjattan<\/p>\n<p>stated that the progress from a third force to the &#8220; first choice&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>in the local arena had been made difficult by the other political parties which<\/p>\n<p>had seen them as competition. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220; But democracy means literally<\/p>\n<p>competition for po- litical space; but it is how we&#8217;re going to ensure<\/p>\n<p>that that space be taken in constitutional, legal and very proper<\/p>\n<p>manner.&#8221; The AFC, he said, has been ensuring that if they have to do the<\/p>\n<p>things necessary to acquire that political space from the governing party that<\/p>\n<p>it was going to happen &#8220; within the constitutional realm of this<\/p>\n<p>country.&#8221; &#8220; We have never preached violence, we will never preach<\/p>\n<p>violence,&#8221; he declared. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Other speakers at the opening included the<\/p>\n<p>par ty&#8217;s Chief Executive Officer Peter Ramsaroop; Dr Rohan Somar of the<\/p>\n<p>AFC&#8217;s New York Chapter and Jenna Rahaman who represented a group of rice<\/p>\n<p>farmers. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The plenary sessions of the delegates&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>convention will be held on Saturday and Sunday. <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;>2009-7-26:AFC Column &#8211; From third force to First Choice By Raphael<\/p>\n<p>Trotman, AFC Leader <\/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'>This weekend the Delegates, Observers,<\/p>\n<p>guests, well wishers and supporters gathered to share in the historic moment of<\/p>\n<p>the 2nd Delegates&#8217; Convention of the Alliance For Change. The theme for<\/p>\n<p>the Convention is &#8220;From third force to First Choice.&#8221; This<\/p>\n<p>Convention was held at a most unique time in Guyana&#8217;s history. The<\/p>\n<p>economy is still reeling from the effects of the world financial crisis, the<\/p>\n<p>damage caused by the criminality that surrounded the CLICO and NIS that placed<\/p>\n<p>thousands into financial ruins and jeopardy; the revelations of Roger Khan, and<\/p>\n<p>the general decline of the political currency of the ruling party. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Simultaneously, the unraveling of other<\/p>\n<p>opposition forces compels us to seize the moment, not for the attainment of<\/p>\n<p>power for power&#8217;s sake, but to be able to seize the opportunity to<\/p>\n<p>present the AFC as being the best alternative for safe, steady and secure<\/p>\n<p>government in these troubled times. We have no option, but to take up the responsibility<\/p>\n<p>that continues to be placed on us daily by the large numbers of persons seeking<\/p>\n<p>membership and a closer association with us. Since 1966 the people have been<\/p>\n<p>able to see &#8220;government&#8221; in all its ugly forms and manifestations,<\/p>\n<p>and now, there is an opportunity to make a real break with the past and to<\/p>\n<p>bring change to Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Today, the name AFC continues to spread into<\/p>\n<p>the hills and byways of this country and abroad. We know that the work is<\/p>\n<p>ongoing and has not been perfect, and that we must keep our feet to the ground<\/p>\n<p>at all times, lest we become entrapped by the vice of conceit that leads to<\/p>\n<p>inflated and unearned feelings of superiority. It is for you our members and<\/p>\n<p>supporters to remind us that we are placed in positions of trust and influence<\/p>\n<p>to serve, and not to be served. In the midst of the madness, the AFC has been<\/p>\n<p>steadily and surely building its base as is reflected in the numbers of<\/p>\n<p>Delegates and Observers who participated, and the huge Diaspora representation<\/p>\n<p>that was in attendance this year. Apart from the urban centres of Georgetown,<\/p>\n<p>New Amsterdam, and Linden, Delegates and Observers have come from as far away<\/p>\n<p>as Aishalton, Orealla, Port Kaituma, Moruca, Kwakwani, New York, Canada and the<\/p>\n<p>United Kingdom to ensure that our Convention was successful, but more<\/p>\n<p>importantly, that the Party is positioned to assume the reins of Government in<\/p>\n<p>two years&#8217; time. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We have continued, with limited resources,<\/p>\n<p>but yet fueled by our passion for change, and the expectations of the people,<\/p>\n<p>to reach out across communities of every shape and size, to spread our message<\/p>\n<p>of hope, and this message has been well received. The AFC has no Roger Khan,<\/p>\n<p>CLICO, NIS, road contractor, or medical supplier to keep it going, only the<\/p>\n<p>small contributions and goodwill of ordinary people. We are proud of what we<\/p>\n<p>have, and grateful for what we have received honestly. The AFC has a tremendous<\/p>\n<p>role to play. &#8220;It may appear as though it is confusion but it is the work<\/p>\n<p>of God&#8221; is one message that was told to me and I believe it. We are<\/p>\n<p>reminded of Shakespeare&#8217;s admonition regarding greatness and centuries<\/p>\n<p>later, it remains just as true and relevant for the AFC. I say to you<\/p>\n<p>therefore, &#8220;Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve<\/p>\n<p>greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC was born to be great, is destined to<\/p>\n<p>achieve greatness, and has had greatness thrust on it by the people of Guyana.<\/p>\n<p>With this in mind, we have to accept that we all have our individual roles and<\/p>\n<p>responsibilities to play and perform. No person is too small or too big for the<\/p>\n<p>task at hand. If you don&#8217;t believe that in the few short years of its<\/p>\n<p>existence that the AFC is well on its way to achieving greatness, just ask<\/p>\n<p>President Jagdeo, he agrees, in fact every time he opens his mouth its AFC, AFC,<\/p>\n<p>Trotman, Ramjattan and the AFC. He is our best advocate as he has ensured that<\/p>\n<p>the world knows about the AFC, and that with its partners and allies, will be<\/p>\n<p>the next government of Guyana. The AFC with its five seats and its thousands of<\/p>\n<p>supporters has achieved much in the past two years since the last convention<\/p>\n<p>was held. We have shared thousands of seedling plants to citizens across the<\/p>\n<p>country; we have given aid and relief to hundreds after fires, to the homeless<\/p>\n<p>and destitute, and we have quietly ensured that dozens have been educated. We<\/p>\n<p>have done this all on behalf of and with the people. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We have persevered against the odds and<\/p>\n<p>established a brand, we have taken the fight not only to the government but to<\/p>\n<p>the establishment that supports weak government bent on disrespecting the<\/p>\n<p>rights of citizens, and enriching itself whilst the majority starves and pleads<\/p>\n<p>for relief. Our objective is to see the restoration of the respect for the rule<\/p>\n<p>of law and the institutions of state, and the redistribution and devolution of<\/p>\n<p>power to ensure that the constitutional mandate of the practice of inclusive<\/p>\n<p>governance is achieved. In this way we will establish a happy and harmonious<\/p>\n<p>society. I conclude with two messages. One for our detractors and attackers,<\/p>\n<p>and another for our faithful supporters. To the dark and disturbed group that<\/p>\n<p>wishes us destroyed, I say that we will stand up to the attacks, we will defend<\/p>\n<p>ourselves, and we will prevail at the end of this battle. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Our strength and courage is beyond the<\/p>\n<p>individual leaders of the AFC and is to be found in the beautiful hearts of the<\/p>\n<p>tireless women of Ituni, the simple people of Moruca, the vendors and shoppers<\/p>\n<p>on Bourda green and the proud and powerful people of Linden. Ours is a just<\/p>\n<p>battle that will be won. Psalm 91 tells us that &#8220;He that dwelleth in the<\/p>\n<p>secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the almighty. I<\/p>\n<p>will say of the Lord he is my refuge and my fortress. In him will I<\/p>\n<p>trust.&#8221; To the people of Guyana from where we draw our support and sustenance,<\/p>\n<p>we say prepare, and be ready to take up the responsibility to bring change to<\/p>\n<p>Guyana. Overcome your fear as this is the only weapon left in the hands of the<\/p>\n<p>enemy, and you have power to defeat it if you just decide to. Change is at<\/p>\n<p>hand; it is in your hands to deliver. You can do it. Long live the Alliance For<\/p>\n<p>Change! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-7-26: <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;>&middot; <u><a<\/p>\n<p>href=&#8221;http:\/\/www.stabroeknews.com\/2009\/news\/local\/07\/26\/trotman-ramjattan-holder-returned-unopposed\/&#8221;>Trotman,<\/p>\n<p>Ramjattan, Holder returned unopposed<\/a> by Stabroek News <\/u><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8211; five new faces on AFC executive<\/p>\n<p>committee <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Raphael Trotman has been re-elected unopposed<\/p>\n<p>as leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), which has pledged to work for the<\/p>\n<p>creation of a united front for the next general elections. Trotman was<\/p>\n<p>re-elected before the AFC&#8217;s Second Delegates&#8217; Convention wrapped up<\/p>\n<p>yesterday at the Ocean View Convention Centre, at Liliendaal. The convention,<\/p>\n<p>which was held under the theme &#8216;From Third Force to First Choice&#8217;,<\/p>\n<p>emphasised the gains made by the party since it was launched four years ago, on<\/p>\n<p>the eve of the last general elections. The theme was reiterated throughout the<\/p>\n<p>ceremony by the party leaders, who suggested that both the governing PPP\/C and<\/p>\n<p>main opposition PNCR have been compromised and discredited as vehicles to build<\/p>\n<p>a new Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In addition to Trotman, Khemraj Ramjattan was<\/p>\n<p>also returned as party Chairman, while Sheila Holder was returned as<\/p>\n<p>vice-Chairperson of the party; Sixtus Edwards has been elected General<\/p>\n<p>Secretary. Other members elected to of the AFC&#8217;s National Executive<\/p>\n<p>Commit-tee are Catherine Hughes, David Patterson, Dominic Gaskin, Martin<\/p>\n<p>Cheong, Latchmin Budhan-Punalall, Clayton Hall, Fitz Ralph, Gerhard Ramsaroop,<\/p>\n<p>Michael Carrington, Mark Atkinson, Vibert Welch and Pastor Sewnauth Punalall.<\/p>\n<p>The AFC also has four seats on its committee for representatives appointed by<\/p>\n<p>its four Diaspora regions, the USA, Canada, the UK and the Caribbean. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Signalling its transformation into a viable<\/p>\n<p>alternative to the government, Trotman announced during his feature address at<\/p>\n<p>the opening ceremony on Friday evening that the AFC has started pursuing<\/p>\n<p>strategic partnerships to build a united front to contest upcoming elections.<\/p>\n<p>He said forging partnerships and alliances with individuals and groups from the<\/p>\n<p>body politic and civil society is one of the main pillars upon which the party<\/p>\n<p>would be structured. He noted that work towards this end has started in earnest<\/p>\n<p>and underscored that it is a matter of necessity. &#8220;We recognise that we<\/p>\n<p>cannot go it alone [and] to hold a contrary opinion is not only egotistic but<\/p>\n<p>also futile and reckless,&#8221; Trotman said, adding, &#8220;By the date of<\/p>\n<p>the next elections, whether they be local or general, we will be standing<\/p>\n<p>strong and together with others in a united front. There is no other way but this<\/p>\n<p>way.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Raphael Trotman, Khemraj Ramjattan and Sheila<\/p>\n<p>Holder <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman, who said the party had moved closer<\/p>\n<p>from conception to being the next government, emphasised that it is not the<\/p>\n<p>AFC&#8217;s intention to be merely &#8220;a watchdog party,&#8221; nipping at<\/p>\n<p>the heels of government. &#8220;We believe we can bring change to this country<\/p>\n<p>and so together with others we hope to form and be the next government,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>he declared, while impressing the importance of the party becoming more<\/p>\n<p>efficient, vibrant, capable and transformational in pursuit of this goal. He<\/p>\n<p>asked that the party not be held up against the template designed over 50 years<\/p>\n<p>ago, saying that it is time for a new way, for a new Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Trotman outlined a work plan for the party, explaining<\/p>\n<p>that its structure would rest on four pillars. In addition to building<\/p>\n<p>strategic alliances and partnerships it would also seek to maximise the<\/p>\n<p>Diasporic involvement and optimise its resource base, ensuring organisation and<\/p>\n<p>discipline and the efficient communication of its message. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>With more than 80% of the country&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>skilled labour living overseas, Trotman said it is an<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;impossibility&#8221; for the remainder to build the country alone.<\/p>\n<p>Further, he said, the party could not go to the Diaspora and ask for money for<\/p>\n<p>its various projects but must also accept its full and unfettered participation<\/p>\n<p>in the decision-making process in the country. In recognition of this reality,<\/p>\n<p>he noted that since the last convention the party has set aside four seats on<\/p>\n<p>its executive committee for Diaspora representatives from the Caribbean, the<\/p>\n<p>USA, Canada and the UK. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Admitting that it was a clich&eacute; to say<\/p>\n<p>that the strength of a political party is its ability to organise and mobilise,<\/p>\n<p>he said building a party in the present &#8220;poisonous atmosphere&#8221; has<\/p>\n<p>been very difficult. &#8220;I will not stand here and pretend that managing<\/p>\n<p>this party in a plural society, compounded by a weak economy and an autocratic<\/p>\n<p>government has been easy. It has been anything but easy,&#8221; he pointed out.<\/p>\n<p>However, he also trumpeted the fact that the party has been able to hold its<\/p>\n<p>second convention within the constitutionally mandated time as evidence that<\/p>\n<p>while it still has some way to go, it is not creeping its way there. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Also, Trotman said that while it would be all<\/p>\n<p>well and good to have an organised party, its message must be consistent,<\/p>\n<p>easily understood and delivered in a manner that ensures it is effectively<\/p>\n<p>received. In this vein, he noted that the world has entered a new age of<\/p>\n<p>information technology and as a modern party seeking the support of youth and<\/p>\n<p>disgruntled voters, the AFC must transform and adapt or risk becoming static<\/p>\n<p>and irrelevant. &#8220;Our core values and principles remain the same but our<\/p>\n<p>methodology for transmitting them must as a matter of necessity transform, a<\/p>\n<p>challenge which we have embraced and I tell you the results are<\/p>\n<p>exciting,&#8221; he added. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Meanwhile, Trotman reiterated the warnings by<\/p>\n<p>other speakers of the danger of leaders failing to address the country&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>problems, noting that the people would fix it themselves. &#8220;And heaven<\/p>\n<p>help us for that day,&#8221; he said, adding that he was recently cautioned<\/p>\n<p>about &#8220;the little people who matter&#8221; and the &#8220;big parties<\/p>\n<p>that should be representing them and are failing to do so.&#8221; He agreed<\/p>\n<p>that both must be pursued, developed and protected simultaneously and<\/p>\n<p>concertedly. &#8220;The little people need political representation and in the<\/p>\n<p>absence of anarchy it is only through the political party that that<\/p>\n<p>representation should come so we both have responsibilities to each<\/p>\n<p>other,&#8221; he said, later issuing a call to the citizenry to stand up and<\/p>\n<p>slip off the bonds of the past and embrace a new culture of tolerance and<\/p>\n<p>inclusivity. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Provocation AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan<\/p>\n<p>said while the party was regarded as underwhelming to other political parties<\/p>\n<p>at its inception, it is now overwhelming them. &#8220;This is no small party<\/p>\n<p>anymore,&#8221; he said, while adding that the party&#8217;s journey to be<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;first choice&#8221; was not an easy one and is not concluded as yet. He<\/p>\n<p>said the other political parties feel &#8220;offended&#8221; by losing<\/p>\n<p>political space, but this was the essence of democracy and he affirmed the<\/p>\n<p>party&#8217;s belief in ensuring that space is taken in the<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;constitutional, legal and proper&#8221; manner. &#8220;It must not be<\/p>\n<p>the ousting in an illegitimate, illegal, criminalistic manner,&#8221; he said,<\/p>\n<p>noting that the party would seek victory over the PPP\/C and PNCR within the<\/p>\n<p>constitutional realm. &#8220;We have never preached violence. We will never<\/p>\n<p>preach violence.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>However, Ramjattan said violence is now being<\/p>\n<p>provoked, citing the burning down of the Health Ministry, the torture of men<\/p>\n<p>and the repression of recent public protesting. &#8220;That is not the<\/p>\n<p>democracy that I fought for and that is not the democracy that you and your<\/p>\n<p>sisters and brothers want for this country,&#8221; he added, noting the need<\/p>\n<p>for people who will not fear the system, which perpetuates divisiveness,<\/p>\n<p>corruption and mediocrity up to the highest level. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Ramjattan lamented what he called a<\/p>\n<p>self-imposed fear and said the fact that many see the option of leaving the<\/p>\n<p>country as better is a dangerous development. Referring to attendance at the<\/p>\n<p>opening of the convention, he said that businessmen who had indicated they<\/p>\n<p>would attend did not turn up; explaining that their businesses would suffer if<\/p>\n<p>they were associated with the party. He blamed leadership, noting that the<\/p>\n<p>country has gone from the sublime to the ridiculous and said the AFC would work<\/p>\n<p>to transform fearfulness into fearlessness to create a dynamic democracy. He<\/p>\n<p>urged a new political culture but underscored the point that it would only<\/p>\n<p>happen when national outrage is expressed by those who see outrageous things<\/p>\n<p>happening and demand a stop to them. He said it has not been forthcoming but<\/p>\n<p>emphasised the need for institutional strengthening, including in civil<\/p>\n<p>society, to ensure a better equipped electorate. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8216;A new vision&#8217; Party CEO Peter<\/p>\n<p>Ramsaroop said the country has suffered from 40 years of failed leadership, and<\/p>\n<p>emphasised the need to build a &#8220;substantial and viable legacy&#8221; that<\/p>\n<p>would give hope to the nation&#8217;s children. &#8220;Our predecessors and<\/p>\n<p>current leaders have failed us and left us with a legacy of racism, dictatorial<\/p>\n<p>governance, and poverty,&#8221; he said, while adding that the issues that<\/p>\n<p>plague the country have been analysed to death. &#8220;We have debated, debunked<\/p>\n<p>and declared, but we are still defunct, debased and defeated in the eyes of the<\/p>\n<p>rest of the world. We need a new vision,&#8221; he noted. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>According to Ramsaroop, now is a strategic<\/p>\n<p>time that requires initiative, hard work and change, channelled in a collective<\/p>\n<p>effort. &#8220;The change cannot be in just one or two Guyanese; it must be the<\/p>\n<p>entire nation&#8211;one strong voice demanding progress and reform,&#8221; he<\/p>\n<p>said. Ramsaroop added, &#8220;We sit idly by as the government runs our country<\/p>\n<p>to their liking with total disregard for what is best for us and what we want.<\/p>\n<p>If we are serious about leaving a pleasing legacy for our children, then we<\/p>\n<p>need to start by demanding change right now. There is no more time to wait<\/p>\n<p>around for the government to change; they have made it abundantly clear that<\/p>\n<p>they see no reason to change at all. But you and I see the reason every single<\/p>\n<p>day.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-8-4: The Brazilians are<\/p>\n<p>coming by Peter Ramsaroop <\/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'>Introduction: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Over the last few days our nation has been<\/p>\n<p>bombarded with information that ultimately will have a negative impact on our<\/p>\n<p>economy. When evidence about officials in our government can be presented in a<\/p>\n<p>court of law with such magnitude on killings, deception, drugs and corruption,<\/p>\n<p>both local and foreign investors feel the shock waves and this puts future<\/p>\n<p>investments at risk. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>At the end of the day, each of us is feeling<\/p>\n<p>the pain as the cost of living continues to be on the rise. At no time during<\/p>\n<p>the last three years since the inception of the VAT has the government showed<\/p>\n<p>any sign of reducing the taxes to the 10% that by all indications should be the<\/p>\n<p>right number. Business owners still have to buy revenue stamps to paste on our<\/p>\n<p>receipts when we purchase items in addition to the VAT. These costs are passed<\/p>\n<p>back to us the citizens thus making the cost of the item sometimes beyond our<\/p>\n<p>reach. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Judging from the performance of<\/p>\n<p>Guyana&#8217;s economy since independence, it would be a contradiction to use<\/p>\n<p>the term economic recovery as what is needed. After all, a strong economy was<\/p>\n<p>never built, meaning that there is nothing to recover from. A unique blend of<\/p>\n<p>micro and macro-economics especially tailored for Guyana is necessary. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Last week the Government of Guyana finally<\/p>\n<p>allowed traffic to cross between Brazil and Guyana. This was all done in<\/p>\n<p>isolation to any economic strategy for Lethem or the road to Georgetown. I<\/p>\n<p>noted in previous columns that the PPP administration has failed to even create<\/p>\n<p>one economic free zone when the Brazilian Government already has designated Bon<\/p>\n<p>Fin a free economic zone. This will be one neutralizing factor in our economic<\/p>\n<p>development if we manage it properly by designating Lethem as an economic zone.<\/p>\n<p>I am a big proponent of looking south for economic infusion. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The road <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Finally, we may now see the start of economic<\/p>\n<p>activity with the opening of the bridge between Brazil and Guyana. I have<\/p>\n<p>written about this many times but given the resurgence of the concept coming to<\/p>\n<p>reality, it is important that we conceptualize the magnitude of such activity<\/p>\n<p>and the benefits it can have on our population. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As was stated in the Guyana 21 Plan, new<\/p>\n<p>villages will be formed and other financial opportunities will naturally become<\/p>\n<p>available with this connection with Brazil. Immediate jobs created by this<\/p>\n<p>project would include jobs needed for the construction of a major highway and<\/p>\n<p>transportation jobs for drivers of large 24-wheeler trucks. Those trucks would<\/p>\n<p>be coming with goods for shipment out of our harbours and will then go back<\/p>\n<p>filled with our own products to sell to the rest of the continent. It is of<\/p>\n<p>great importance that we create economic free zones as an aspect that must also<\/p>\n<p>be part of any initiative. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Under this plan, customs and immigration jobs<\/p>\n<p>would also be created to manage border traffic and to collect appropriate fees<\/p>\n<p>from vehicles. Border management jobs would be created since we must open up<\/p>\n<p>the country thereby necessitating the strategic management of Guyana&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>borders against drug trafficking and smuggling. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Guyanese could become owners of<\/p>\n<p>transportation companies instead of just driving mini buses. Computer related<\/p>\n<p>jobs would serve as the backbone of a sophisticated, well-run freight hauling<\/p>\n<p>and logistics management industry. There would also be a need for hospitality<\/p>\n<p>management and service related jobs associated with increased economic activity<\/p>\n<p>along the roads such as gas stations, hotels, motels, restaurants,<\/p>\n<p>entertainment, etc. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>New villages would spring up along the<\/p>\n<p>highway, which will create new community jobs to support agricultural and<\/p>\n<p>tourism opportunities. A sustained market in tourism and eco-tourism would<\/p>\n<p>develop quickly and produce jobs since Guyana would be open and find it easier<\/p>\n<p>to attract international tourists to appreciate Guyana&#8217;s landmarks and<\/p>\n<p>biodiversity. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>By paving the road to Brazil, we could be<\/p>\n<p>creating a whole new economic road for Guyana &#8211; one that could mean the<\/p>\n<p>end to the overwhelming state of poverty and lack that has besieged the nation.<\/p>\n<p>In the quest for sound economic decisions, it makes sense to focus our energy<\/p>\n<p>and finances on this project that promises a bright future for Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Conclusion: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We must create national strength and purpose<\/p>\n<p>when it comes to our economy. We should encourage thriving innovation clusters<\/p>\n<p>across the country that can successfully come together and help reshape our<\/p>\n<p>village economies. Our workers and our businesses can benefit enormously from<\/p>\n<p>an economic boom &#8211; if we follow the right policies. This government has<\/p>\n<p>demonstrated its unwillingness to work towards a closer integration of the<\/p>\n<p>national economies of the region, particularly through trade, capital and<\/p>\n<p>financial currents. We are cognizant of the fact that many people in developing<\/p>\n<p>vulnerable countries (such as ours) fear for their jobs and for their<\/p>\n<p>environment when faced with the prospect of globalisation or regionalisation,<\/p>\n<p>however, a strong democratic governance and modernised institutions would<\/p>\n<p>prepare the citizens of our country to seize the advantages of regional markets<\/p>\n<p>and competition. We must embrace the connection to one of the world&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>largest economy &#8211; Brazil. We must welcome the Brazilians and work on<\/p>\n<p>creating valuable trade agreements that can benefit both nations. Export led<\/p>\n<p>development strategies are familiar to economists and developing world experts<\/p>\n<p>yet Guyana&#8217;s government has been slow to embrace the idea. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We must get on with the business of creating<\/p>\n<p>a real economy in our nation, one that will get you and I jobs, one that will<\/p>\n<p>see us getting pay raises, able to purchase a house and a car and take better<\/p>\n<p>care of our children. Let us lobby for our government to stop stagnating our<\/p>\n<p>progress and embrace policies that will help all of us create wealth, pay less<\/p>\n<p>taxes and see our children properly educated. Until next time<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Roop&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-8-11: Agriculture gone<\/p>\n<p>bad farmers suffer By Peter R. Ramsaroop, MBA <\/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'>Over view: I refer to the future of our<\/p>\n<p>nation&#8217;s agricultural opportunities as the &#8220;Green Anchor&#8221; of<\/p>\n<p>the region and the fact that we continue to have stagnation in this key sector<\/p>\n<p>is alarming. The complaints from farmers across our country are mounting. There<\/p>\n<p>is great media attention on the misuse of taxpayers&#8217; money on pumps and<\/p>\n<p>drainage. The minister responsible for this sector said recently that he was<\/p>\n<p>not concerned at the money spent only on the results. One just has to visit<\/p>\n<p>areas such as West Berbice to see the condition of the drainage and whether or<\/p>\n<p>not the multi-million dollar pump is working. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In addition, my visit to West Berbice this<\/p>\n<p>last week was filled with complaints about the Chairman of the Mahaica,<\/p>\n<p>Mahaicony, Abary-Agricultural Development Authority (MMA). It seems like this<\/p>\n<p>one individual can authorize which rice canal is cleaned and which ones are<\/p>\n<p>left alone. I visited many of these canals and saw for myself the ones next to<\/p>\n<p>an MMA official&#8217;s rice farm was in perfect condition but others were in<\/p>\n<p>such bad shape that one farmer said he went from 34 bags of paddy per acre to<\/p>\n<p>22 bags per acre due to the lack of maintenance of the drainage system. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The following is a summary of issues directly<\/p>\n<p>from the farmers of West Berbice: Most of the canals were blocked, are not<\/p>\n<p>being cleaned and the high cost farmers have to pay to drain their own fields<\/p>\n<p>with pumps. Rate and taxes are paid for drainage yet farmers have to use other<\/p>\n<p>expensive methods to drain their lands <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>If farmers do not pay rates and taxes their<\/p>\n<p>land is taken away from them , these rates and taxes are to provide services<\/p>\n<p>which included proper drainage to protect the land from floods which destroy<\/p>\n<p>rice crops every year. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Lands are taken away and are given to the<\/p>\n<p>friends of Government officials who do not plant the land, many lands that are<\/p>\n<p>taken away are given to overseas persons. The reason that we must have better<\/p>\n<p>agriculture policies and implementation strategies is that over 72% of our population<\/p>\n<p>is classified as rural, specializing mainly in agriculture. Our country is<\/p>\n<p>highly vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters. Our losses in one<\/p>\n<p>year amounted to US$465 million or 59% of our GDP. This makes drainage and<\/p>\n<p>irrigation of utmost importance and as such the mismanagement from the top to<\/p>\n<p>the bottom affects the farmers and families the most. This also in turn<\/p>\n<p>increases the price of produce for the citizens. The drainage system is over<\/p>\n<p>100 years old and really is not designed to deal with the incompetence of<\/p>\n<p>individuals designated to maintain such systems in the farming communities. We<\/p>\n<p>keep hearing about the Jagdeo Initiative that describes a strategic framework<\/p>\n<p>for the sector but little is said about how we will ensure our farmers&#8217; success.<\/p>\n<p>We have great slogans such as &#8220;food security&#8221; yet when farmers try<\/p>\n<p>to access lands and seeds or financing, they are met with red tape. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Labour Laws It has become clear that the time<\/p>\n<p>has come to reconsider our labour laws to ensure that farm workers are treated<\/p>\n<p>fairly. We have to ensure that there are laws against unfair practices and<\/p>\n<p>better working conditions. We have to stop the workers from cutting cane with a<\/p>\n<p>cutlass and move them to driving machines that make their work more efficient<\/p>\n<p>and gain skills for other industries. These are basic protections for these<\/p>\n<p>workers and we shouldn&#8217;t leave these workers unprotected. Key Steps for<\/p>\n<p>Government to take: Towards being a more diversified &#8220;Green Anchor&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Country. Support the World Bank Proposal on Agricultural Insurance: We need to<\/p>\n<p>increase agricultural competitiveness and these instruments could provide a<\/p>\n<p>sustainable market mechanism. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Micro loans for the construction of green<\/p>\n<p>houses for cash crop farming Upgrade our Markets to more Farmer&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>Markets: All the venues where our farmers have to sell their produce such as<\/p>\n<p>Bourda, Mon Repos and others are in deplorable state with substandard<\/p>\n<p>facilities even though government has awarded contracts in some of these areas.<\/p>\n<p>The produce we have to buy are not in clean environments yet we the consumers<\/p>\n<p>must still purchase from the farmers who have worked hard to get their produce<\/p>\n<p>to the market. Contract with farmers to maintain the canals next to their farms<\/p>\n<p>especially the rice industry canals. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Conclusion: Food security is one of the main<\/p>\n<p>topics in Caricom. Our government officials talk a lot about agriculture<\/p>\n<p>Initiatives but they clearly lack focus on how to improve the farmers&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>environment. We have the means to be the green anchor of the region but must<\/p>\n<p>first take care of our own. We cannot allow our farmers to be poor and to have<\/p>\n<p>to protest in order get their drains clean. For us to get to the point where we<\/p>\n<p>can be the bread basket of the Caribbean, we must first put in initiatives to<\/p>\n<p>improve the welfare of our farmers. The new economy of agricultural foodstuff<\/p>\n<p>production is upon us in the region, we must choose the path to re-invent from<\/p>\n<p>traditional crops to truly becoming the &#8220;Green Anchor&#8221; of the<\/p>\n<p>Caribbean. Until next time &#8220;Roop&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Reply to Peter.ramsaroop@gmail.com <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-8-16: AFC Column &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>GUYANA 2009 &#8211; A DEMOCRAZY! by Khemraj Ramjattan, AFC Chairman <\/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'>A few weeks ago I sought to elucidate as best<\/p>\n<p>as I can the importance of Ministerial responsibility and accountability in a<\/p>\n<p>piece by that name. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The criticism made then was that our<\/p>\n<p>Ministers in Guyana love to live up the power and privileges side of a<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Westminster&#8221; Government tradition, but fail miserably to live up<\/p>\n<p>the accountability and responsibility side. The example I dealt with there was<\/p>\n<p>Minister Robert Persaud&#8217;s breach of his duty of frankness and candor to<\/p>\n<p>Parliament. He had literally lied to the Economic Services Committee about the<\/p>\n<p>non -availability of Guysuco&#8217;s Business Plan in July 2008. He later was<\/p>\n<p>forced to contradict this by admitting that Guysuco&#8217;s Business Plan was<\/p>\n<p>given to the European Union in June 2008 after it was sent to Cabinet in March<\/p>\n<p>2008 for approval. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The late delivery to the EU cost our sugar<\/p>\n<p>industry $1.6B. Such impropriety and inept stewardship in any other democracy<\/p>\n<p>would have realized the prompt resignation or dismissal from Government of the<\/p>\n<p>Minister. Not here under the PPP\/C. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The attitude of the Ministers and high<\/p>\n<p>Government officials since then has worsened. It is firmly my view now that it<\/p>\n<p>is delusional to think that we will see any exhibition of democratic value from<\/p>\n<p>any of them. We, thus, have evolved from a <b><i>fledgling democracy<\/i><\/b> in<\/p>\n<p>1990&#8217;s to a <b>bloody democrazy<\/b> in 2009. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Let us take Dr. Leslie Ramsammy. No doubt he<\/p>\n<p>is a bright spot in a lack-lustre Cabinet, at least up to the time of the<\/p>\n<p>revelations and the conflagration at his Ministry. But to now see him denying<\/p>\n<p>his way out of the revelations from the Simel&#8217;s trial is torturous for<\/p>\n<p>me. This is a very serious matter, which anywhere else would have already seen<\/p>\n<p>a resignation and a demand by the Minister that an independent enquiry be held<\/p>\n<p>to clear his good name. But not here in Guyana! To a large extent this variety<\/p>\n<p>of political culture is what has put us in this quagmire. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Our Home Affairs Minister Mr. Clement Rohee,<\/p>\n<p>like a suspect &#8211; (or some may argue like an intellectual author) &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>takes cover under his right to remain silent when asked what he had to say in<\/p>\n<p>connection with Simel&#8217;s testimony that he met with him here in Guyana.<\/p>\n<p>You would think the reporters were interrogators who had just read the<\/p>\n<p>Honourable Minister his Miranda rights. &#8220;I will never ever make any<\/p>\n<p>comment&#8230;&#8221; is his response. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Guyanese have a right to know whether our<\/p>\n<p>Minister spoke to the Attorney for Roger Khan and what about! Why should one as<\/p>\n<p>loudmouth as he about the Ministry of Health fire, be so tightlipped about his<\/p>\n<p>transient association with Simels? Unless what they spoke about was a matter of<\/p>\n<p>State, which it surely was not, a senior functionary like a Home Affairs<\/p>\n<p>Minister should not clam up like that. All manner of unenlightened speculation<\/p>\n<p>can be the consequence of the Minister&#8217;s silence. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The one I like best, however, is the Most<\/p>\n<p>High Ms. Gail Texeria denouncing the Ambassador and High Commissioners of<\/p>\n<p>America, Britain, and Canada for writing a joint letter to the Minister of<\/p>\n<p>Local Government urging that legislation, concerning the long awaited Local<\/p>\n<p>Government Reform, reflect the agreed diminution of the Minister&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>discretion and powers. Honourable Minister Khellawan Lall, the portfolio<\/p>\n<p>Minister, says nothing. But Gail gets on like a hurricane. &#8220;This is<\/p>\n<p>interference in the internal affairs of Guyana,&#8221; she lambastes most<\/p>\n<p>undiplomatically. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This attitude can frustrate and damage<\/p>\n<p>external cooperation and can be met with responses which can affect us<\/p>\n<p>adversely. But nothing will happen to Gail&#8230;.not a reprimand, a slap on<\/p>\n<p>the wrist, or a courteous third-party apology. Rather, Ministers and senior<\/p>\n<p>officials are generally rewarded for irresponsibility under this regime. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This ever- increasing misbehavior in high<\/p>\n<p>places will get us nowhere. Worse still when added to such misbehavior is the<\/p>\n<p>application of the defence of governmental sovereignty. I can put it no better<\/p>\n<p>than Paul Collier, Professor at Oxford, in his latest book &#8220;<b>Wars, Guns<\/p>\n<p>and Votes&#8220; when he writes &#8220;&#8230; a fake democracy protected by<\/p>\n<p>the sanctity of sovereignty is a cul de sac.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This acclaimed author of &#8220;The Bottom<\/p>\n<p>Billion&#8221; was making the argument that public goods of all varieties are in<\/p>\n<p>short supply in poor countries like Guyana. What can bring them out of the<\/p>\n<p>bottom is a supply of such goods from the rich nations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Accountability of government is one such<\/p>\n<p>important public good. Security is another. And the consumable tangibles like<\/p>\n<p>vaccines for malaria, anteretrovirals for AIDS, loans for infrastructural<\/p>\n<p>works, and so on, is the third. However, when rich countries send the<\/p>\n<p>tangibles, the Gails&#8217; of the bottom billion countries never shout:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Sovereignty&#8230;..this is interference in our countries<\/p>\n<p>affairs!&#8221; Actually they lap these tangibles up. When, however, rich<\/p>\n<p>countries merely suggest the giving of the two other public goods, the<\/p>\n<p>Gails&#8217; of the poor countries make one big hue and cry. These public goods<\/p>\n<p>they do not want! <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Yes, I think we have reached a cul de sac at<\/p>\n<p>this juncture of our history that makes us not a <b>democra<\/b><u>c<\/u>y but a<\/p>\n<p>democra<u>z<\/u>y. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-8-23: AFC Column: AFC<\/p>\n<p>STANDING STRONG AND READY <\/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 AFC&#8217;s Lleaders have been the focus<\/p>\n<p>of phantom picketers for the past week as a strange and confused group<\/p>\n<p>continues to stage daily picketing exercises outside of the offices of the<\/p>\n<p>Leader Mr. Raphael Trotman, and Chairman of the Party, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The group of misguided young people, and a<\/p>\n<p>few helpless senior citizens, most of whom hid their faces from the public when<\/p>\n<p>approached, and were unsure what was required of them, was organized by Kwame<\/p>\n<p>Mc Koy who operates out of the Office of the President. They exhibited placards<\/p>\n<p>that reflected slogans that were recognized as being part of the PPP&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>fear and smear campaign against the AFC. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The point must be made that the behavior of<\/p>\n<p>some in the group was vulgar and aggressive. Nevertheless, the AFC leadership<\/p>\n<p>notes the increased attacks on the Party as proof that the AFC is the primary<\/p>\n<p>source of worry as we approach the 2011 elections. The Party has been reliably<\/p>\n<p>informed that more protests of the same kind are planned against its leaders,<\/p>\n<p>and that the exercise is being financed by tax payers&#8217; money being<\/p>\n<p>disbursed by the Office of the President. It is said, that who the gods want to<\/p>\n<p>destroy, they first make mad. We are witnessing the madness that is descending<\/p>\n<p>on our dear land daily. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>If ever there was confirmation that the AFC<\/p>\n<p>has become the thorn in the side of the regime, and is posing a serious threat<\/p>\n<p>to its dominance of the political space and its ability to form the next<\/p>\n<p>government, it is confirmed by these ridiculous protests. We say ridiculous<\/p>\n<p>because in conversation with one of the protesters, he gleefully said that he<\/p>\n<p>was able to demand, and receive, $10,000 for the day&#8217;s exercise from the<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;intellectual authors&#8221; to do the mischief whilst the others settled<\/p>\n<p>for a mere $5,000 a day. The AFC is neither impressed nor intimidated by the<\/p>\n<p>shenanigans of the PPP, and will relentlessly continue to expose the<\/p>\n<p>corruption, bad governance, and lawlessness of this regime. It is important to<\/p>\n<p>note that these privileged picketers were not arrested for not wearing arm<\/p>\n<p>bands, and for the noise they make, whilst others such as Mark Benschop,<\/p>\n<p>Lincoln Lewis, and Norris Witter, were hauled away, detained in filthy lockups,<\/p>\n<p>and charged for unlawful protests. The people are looking on. We know we are in<\/p>\n<p>for a rough fight, but nothing good comes easy and we shall persevere. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The people of Guyana will be the ultimate<\/p>\n<p>victors as we see the backs of the PPP\/C in 2011. We are moving from third<\/p>\n<p>force to first choice and onward to victory. It may appear as though it is<\/p>\n<p>confusion but it is not. Guyanese are urged to stand strong and in faith, and<\/p>\n<p>to believe that this country will be divinely directed and is destined for<\/p>\n<p>greatness. It is time to assert ourselves as citizens and take our country<\/p>\n<p>back. The strength is in our combined efforts and in our individual convictions<\/p>\n<p>of our . <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Below are the photographs of the building from<\/p>\n<p>which the Paid, Pitiful Protesters (PPP) are operating at the corner of<\/p>\n<p>Oronoque and Regent Streets (Office of the Guyana Youth Development<\/p>\n<p>Association), and the mini bus BLL 5308 that transports them from venue to<\/p>\n<p>venue. It is a Guyanese secret which Office of the President minion controls<\/p>\n<p>the building. It is a pity that instead of developing the youth of Guyana<\/p>\n<p>towards a better life, they are being hired to protesters. The AFC will ensure<\/p>\n<p>that our youth are respected, educated, and provided with wholesome<\/p>\n<p>opportunities for their personal development. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><a href=\"http:\/\/www.afcguyana.com\/\">www.afcguyana.com<\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><a<\/p>\n<p>href=&#8221;mailto:alliance4changegy@yahoo.com&#8221;>alliance4changegy@yahoo.com <\/a><\/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'>Tel. 226-0181 <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><img border=0 width=5<\/p>\n<p>height=60 id=&#8221;_x0000_i1054&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_60.jpg&#8221;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-8-30: AFC Column:- The<\/p>\n<p>Administration must be held accountable for the atrocities committed against<\/p>\n<p>the people by the security forces <\/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'>For many years the opinion leaders in our<\/p>\n<p>society have been forewarning of the impending disintegration within the<\/p>\n<p>security forces. These organisations, which are established to offer protection<\/p>\n<p>and service to the people, have become enemies of the people, and this administration<\/p>\n<p>is guilty of turning a blind eye to the countless atrocities that have been<\/p>\n<p>committed against our people, especially the ordinary people, by rogue elements<\/p>\n<p>within the security forces. The most recent incident involving the murder of<\/p>\n<p>Dweive Kant Ramdass, and the brazen theft of 17 million dollars, really<\/p>\n<p>highlights the fact that the security forces have become a law unto themselves.<\/p>\n<p>Murder, terror, and robbery have become commonplace. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>These are the President&#8217;s men who are<\/p>\n<p>wreaking havoc. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The people cried out for relief and no one in<\/p>\n<p>authority listened. Instead, there have been cover-ups and excuses made. When<\/p>\n<p>the AFC leadership spoke against these atrocities, we were accused of being<\/p>\n<p>soft on criminals, of even supporting criminals, and of demoralizing the<\/p>\n<p>security forces. We gave praise where it was due, but continued to point out<\/p>\n<p>the complete overhaul and transformation of the security forces needed to be<\/p>\n<p>accomplished. The Disciplined Forces Commission of 2004 was meant to provide<\/p>\n<p>that new beginning, but yet, in 2009, the review and approval of its<\/p>\n<p>Recommendations is not yet done by the National Assembly. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Security Sector Reform programme, funded<\/p>\n<p>by the British government, has been halted as soon as &#8216;Fineman&#8217; and<\/p>\n<p>his gang have been rooted out and the administration pretended that all was<\/p>\n<p>well. May we remind this administration that the criminals are not only on the<\/p>\n<p>streets, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>they are also in billets and barracks. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC warns that the monster that has been<\/p>\n<p>created by Jagdeo has become a Frankenstein and after devouring the people,<\/p>\n<p>will inevitably turn on its creator &#8211; as it has already begun to do. The words<\/p>\n<p>of Ashok Ramdass, the uncle of murdered Dweive Kant Ramdass, illustrate the<\/p>\n<p>complete break down of law, order, justice, and the plight of the people of<\/p>\n<p>Guyana. &#8220;Today no one knows the functions of the army and police. No<\/p>\n<p>matter what they say to us today, this will always be on our minds.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC feels that if Commodore Best expects<\/p>\n<p>his intended pleas for forgiveness to be meaningfully accepted, then he has to<\/p>\n<p>demonstrate more than just words, that under his command, the Guyana Defence<\/p>\n<p>Force will return to its glory days as being a people&#8217;s army, and not as<\/p>\n<p>it has become today, the people&#8217;s enemy. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Fortuitously, on Friday August 21, I published<\/p>\n<p>an open message to the officers and ranks of the Disciplined Forces in which I<\/p>\n<p>called on them to recognise what they had become in the eyes of the people and<\/p>\n<p>to change their course. The AFC extends its deepest sympathies to the relatives<\/p>\n<p>of Dweive Ramdass, and the people like them who wait in vain for justice. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Government Minister Boasts of<\/p>\n<p>Re-Opening the Illegal backtrack Route! <\/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'>This Has to Be A Joke. The GINA news release<\/p>\n<p>that Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud had met with his Surinamese counterpart<\/p>\n<p>to beg for the re-opening of the illegal route across the Corentyne River, and<\/p>\n<p>that the latter had agreed, is either a big joke, or a sign of perverted<\/p>\n<p>government. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A law abiding government cannot deem the<\/p>\n<p>crossing illegal and proceed to prosecute citizens for using it, but when it is<\/p>\n<p>expedient to ensure trade of agricultural products, hold high-level Ministerial<\/p>\n<p>meetings to beg for its re-opening. What example is the administration setting<\/p>\n<p>in terms of the rule of law? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The better thing for the Ministers to have<\/p>\n<p>met and agreed on was the declaring of the Springlands\/Nickerie crossing to be<\/p>\n<p>an official port of exit and entry respectively. No Minister of Government<\/p>\n<p>should be heard publicly declaring that he had secured the opening of an<\/p>\n<p>illegal crossing that his government officially refuses to recognise as a legal<\/p>\n<p>crossing. How ludicrous can this administration get? Back door diplomacy should<\/p>\n<p>have settled this matter without the trumpeting of one&#8217;s own cause.<\/p>\n<p>Should Minister Persaud be prosecuted for enabling illegal activity?<\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s the question to be asked. This latest diplomatic and legal gaffe<\/p>\n<p>is amusing as it is distressing to say the least because just less that one<\/p>\n<p>year ago when six persons died using the infamous backtrack route, in the<\/p>\n<p>National Assembly, as recorded in the Hansard, the administration, through<\/p>\n<p>Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, intimated that there was no duty to<\/p>\n<p>provide search and rescue facilities because of the illegal nature of the<\/p>\n<p>crossing. Ironically, agricultural trade was deemed important enough to warrant<\/p>\n<p>a Ministerial meeting to re-open the illegal crossing, but last year when six<\/p>\n<p>people perished, no police, or coast guard assistance was rendered to the<\/p>\n<p>persons whose boat capsized. The administration has to stop flip-flopping and<\/p>\n<p>take the lives of citizens seriously. The AFC implores the government to do<\/p>\n<p>some meaningful diplomatic work to have the crossing from Springlands to<\/p>\n<p>Nickerie designated an official place of exit and entry so as to relieve those<\/p>\n<p>who use the crossing of the agony of being deemed criminals, and ensure their<\/p>\n<p>safety and wellbeing. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Guyana Power &amp; Light Co. (GPL) <\/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'>When will the curse of GPL Blackouts, the<\/p>\n<p>curse of wrongful disconnections, estimated billing, power surges, and low<\/p>\n<p>voltage that cause consumers to suffer incalculable losses be lifted off the<\/p>\n<p>backs of the long suffering Guyanese people? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The PPPC government has been managing the<\/p>\n<p>affairs of GPL for the last seventeen years and must therefore absorb the blame<\/p>\n<p>for the failures of this monopoly service provider to deliver, at the minimum,<\/p>\n<p>a safe, reliable and affordable service. That they have failed to do so is<\/p>\n<p>indicative of other failures in the realm of governance and PUC regulation<\/p>\n<p>since the recent public forum has not brought relief from the frequency of<\/p>\n<p>unscheduled blackouts and other areas of non performance by GPL. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The silence of the subject Minister, Mr.<\/p>\n<p>Samuel Hinds given the upsurge of problems at GPL highlights the culture of<\/p>\n<p>opaqueness of this government as well as their indifference to the social and<\/p>\n<p>economic consequences of GPL&#8217;s non performance. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>INFORMATION OUT OF SIMELS TRIAL AND<\/p>\n<p>LUDICROUS REACTIONS <\/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'>The AFC wishes to maintain that the evidence<\/p>\n<p>which was led in the Simels trial in a New York Federal Court have that cogent<\/p>\n<p>and compelling attribute to give it the status as &#8220;probative<\/p>\n<p>information&#8221; which ought to lead to a Commission of Inquiry. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As have already been argued by the AFC, such<\/p>\n<p>evidence out of this trial which links senior members of Government to narco<\/p>\n<p>dealers was forthcoming from the Prosecution witnesses, and even the Defence.<\/p>\n<p>Even the independent witness, Mr. Myers out of England, who made the spy<\/p>\n<p>equipment, also implicated the Government through his testimony that it was the<\/p>\n<p>Government of Guyana who authorized the purchase thereof. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To be dismissive of this evidence as the<\/p>\n<p>Chairman of the Private Sector Commission and, worse still, the Honourable<\/p>\n<p>Attorney General have been recently doing, is wholly outrageous. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This dismissive attitude will not bring<\/p>\n<p>closure to the families of all those who died in relation to political\/criminal<\/p>\n<p>episode from 2002 to 2006, whichever side of the political divide their<\/p>\n<p>loyalties may lay. Moreover, lessons from this era which will elucidate as to<\/p>\n<p>how the security sector must be administered and , conversely how it must not<\/p>\n<p>be administered, will not be learnt if the truth about this sordid episode is<\/p>\n<p>not searched for by an internationally reputable body of personages bereft of<\/p>\n<p>the partisanship which may come from Guyanese nationals. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This dismissive attitude may promote a cycle<\/p>\n<p>of violence. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Everall Franklin &#8211; Guyana Action<\/p>\n<p>Party <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Economic murder, widespread crime and a<\/p>\n<p>battered populace <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the midst of our sugar workers demanding<\/p>\n<p>fair pay for work along with civil servants calling for a living wage we are<\/p>\n<p>seeing in the most graphic ways how the wealth of this nation is divided among<\/p>\n<p>a selected few. Our nurses and teachers are overworked and underpaid and the<\/p>\n<p>most experienced leave these shores to secure their family&#8217;s future. Constantly<\/p>\n<p>we are told by this government that there is no way that the wages and salaries<\/p>\n<p>can be bettered and in the midst of &#8216;squandermania&#8217;, we organize<\/p>\n<p>telethons, fundraisers and beg to finance medical care for our sick children<\/p>\n<p>and other persons in dire need. Our villages in the hinterland are visited with<\/p>\n<p>hunger and disease and we pretend that all is well in this our dear land. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We are insulted constantly by the sheer<\/p>\n<p>outrageousness of corrupt practices being perpetrated against us the people of this<\/p>\n<p>country. The recent exposure of a few contracts, which left many people shaking<\/p>\n<p>their heads in bewilderment, is but a small portion of the uncontrolled<\/p>\n<p>mismanagement meted out to the Guyanese population. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A small pump house which, less than 15<\/p>\n<p>gallons of paint (less than seventy thousand dollars) could give more than six<\/p>\n<p>coats to that size building, cost this nation one million seven hundred<\/p>\n<p>thousand dollars (with labour included), indeed very expensive labour. This<\/p>\n<p>example just shows the scale of the &#8220;runnings&#8221; being executed in<\/p>\n<p>our name. With these prices being paid for fences and paint by this government,<\/p>\n<p>the Hon. Minister of Finance must surely revise the amounts provided in the<\/p>\n<p>proposed revolving fund for mortgages. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The now famous Stanleytown pump for which 61<\/p>\n<p>million was thrown after was shown to cost less than 12 million for acquisition<\/p>\n<p>and 49 million to install which would also include profit. If this is not a<\/p>\n<p>case for the Auditor General nothing else will ever be. I would not repeat the<\/p>\n<p>Minister of Finance&#8217;s uncharacteristically uneducated response on this<\/p>\n<p>matter but would say that either the engineers sent to monitor these projects<\/p>\n<p>most likely absent, incompetent or corrupt take your pick. Only a government<\/p>\n<p>which benefits from corruption will keep still. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This is how the people&#8217;s wealth is<\/p>\n<p>being squandered. If we continue to bury our heads in the muck which is now<\/p>\n<p>evident, we leave exposed the most vulnerable parts of our anatomy for further<\/p>\n<p>violation and abuse. This cannot be allowed to continue, we all have to raise<\/p>\n<p>our voices in condemnation with the aim to stop this rape of our resources. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-9-13: AFC Column- The<\/p>\n<p>Hardship and Deprivation of our People must be stoppedby Sheila Holder, MP and<\/p>\n<p>AFC Vice-Chair <\/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'>Guyanese people have a way of tactfully<\/p>\n<p>hiding the hardship and deprivation they experience as a result of poverty. It<\/p>\n<p>is a quiet dignity that is part of our culture which leads many to hide the<\/p>\n<p>fact that the cost of living has outrun their disposable income. Based on<\/p>\n<p>current levels of salaries for university graduates and professionals in the<\/p>\n<p>public service, the earning ability of artisans and unskilled workers, many<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese find themselves in poverty or close to the poverty line. Hidden from<\/p>\n<p>our eyes is the fact that too many of our people could hardly muster one meal a<\/p>\n<p>day and on some days in some areas children go hungry in spite of the efforts<\/p>\n<p>of some in the religious community. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Is poverty a state of mind? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is said that poverty is a state of mind.<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, this might be true to a certain extent in the case of Guyana given the<\/p>\n<p>society&#8217;s complexities of racial politics, the spawning of ethnic<\/p>\n<p>insecurities, and the failure of the electorate to hold elected officials<\/p>\n<p>accountable for the poor standards of governance that fuels corruption and<\/p>\n<p>inequities in the society. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The poor is always with us <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To say that the poor will always be with us<\/p>\n<p>is to use this truism as an excuse to do nothing about poverty in our society;<\/p>\n<p>but more importantly to turn our backs on the poor is to court the wrath of God<\/p>\n<p>as we are told by all the major faiths in Guyana (Hindu, Moslem, B&#8217;hai,<\/p>\n<p>Christian, etc.). The tenets of all these faiths emphasise our obligation to<\/p>\n<p>the poor individually and collectively. In any case, this does not absolve the<\/p>\n<p>Guyana government from its responsibility to reduce levels of poverty as<\/p>\n<p>mandated by our Constitution, the government&#8217;s commitment with respect to<\/p>\n<p>the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), and their own Poverty Reduction<\/p>\n<p>Strategy Papers (PRSP). <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The importance of tackling poverty <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Tackling poverty is also a <i>sine qua non<\/i><\/p>\n<p>for social stability. Therefore, the non availability of reliable data on<\/p>\n<p>poverty, unemployment and under employment levels in Guyana is indicative of a<\/p>\n<p>less than ardent approach by this government to tackling the scourge of poverty<\/p>\n<p>in our country. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Why harp about Corruption <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC was recently urged by one, who would<\/p>\n<p>be described in our society as a successful businessman, to get off the<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;corruption flogging horse&#8217; because corruption exists all over the world.<\/p>\n<p>This attitude has become evident in our society based on the belief that<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;oiling the palm&#8217; of those in authority is the only way to get<\/p>\n<p>one&#8217;s business accomplished. Therefore, for the AFC to be frequently<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;harping&#8217; about corruption is to be a hindrance to business<\/p>\n<p>interests. There are several reasons why we must tackle corruption. The most<\/p>\n<p>striking one was revealed by the World Bank (WB) in one of their publications a<\/p>\n<p>few years ago that stated 15% of the cost of government&#8217;s contracts is<\/p>\n<p>lost to corruption. In a World Bank study titled, <i>&#8216;Governance,<\/p>\n<p>Corruption and Poverty: Analytical and Empirical approaches&#8217;<\/i> a nexus<\/p>\n<p>was drawn between poverty and corruption. The study revealed that<\/p>\n<p>disproportionally, bribes had a greater negative impact on the poor and on<\/p>\n<p>small businesses than they had on high and medium income earners and<\/p>\n<p>businesses. The study further showed that corruption was a regressive tax on<\/p>\n<p>households because of the percentage of bribes reportedly paid by end users of<\/p>\n<p>public services. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>World Bank (WB) Recommendations to Curtail<\/p>\n<p>Corruption <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>How do we reduce corruption? First of all<\/p>\n<p>government must possess the political will to deal with corruption by<\/p>\n<p>introducing public procurement and budgetary reforms; by reforming the<\/p>\n<p>judiciary to be more accessible and responsive to the poor; by reforming the<\/p>\n<p>Civil Service; by establishing accountability principles in the police force;<\/p>\n<p>and, last but not least, by the collective action of a broad coalition of civil<\/p>\n<p>society and accountable political leadership. It would be interesting to note<\/p>\n<p>that the WB survey also concluded that when meritocracy was applied in hiring<\/p>\n<p>and promotions in the Public Service it helped to reduce corruption<\/p>\n<p>significantly. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>More on the WB Study <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The WB study went on to reveal that, more<\/p>\n<p>often than not, corruption is accompanied by policies of centralized power;<\/p>\n<p>where leaders are not accountable to those they serve; where rewards are given<\/p>\n<p>to political supporters by various means which could not stand public scrutiny<\/p>\n<p>(Kaieteurnews has been highlighting such cases) and; more directly, corruption<\/p>\n<p>inhibits development. Guyana is an ideal example of these conditions. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC&#8217;s Contention <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The data in these studies provide a rational<\/p>\n<p>basis for the AFC&#8217;s position which posits that dealing substantially with<\/p>\n<p>corruption will make available significant amounts of revenues lost to<\/p>\n<p>corruption, not only to pay better wages and salaries to civil servants, but<\/p>\n<p>also to fulfil some development aspirations of the Guyanese people. This in<\/p>\n<p>turn, we believe, will significantly reduce the astonishing 85% attrition rate<\/p>\n<p>of UG graduates; encourage investment; reduce the hopelessness hanging over the<\/p>\n<p>society, and impact positively on the galloping distrust and disrespect<\/p>\n<p>overshadowing our government, public officials and State institutions. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Another reason for a citizens&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>initiative to tackle Corruption <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The economic intelligence forecast on Guyana<\/p>\n<p>for 2008\/9 states that talented Guyanese will continue to leave the country;<\/p>\n<p>that because our political system is driven by race it will continue to retard<\/p>\n<p>the attainment of better governance; that the Guyanese public has no confidence<\/p>\n<p>in the institutions of State; and that the absence of checks and balances in<\/p>\n<p>our political system has led to unbridled misuse of executive power. In this<\/p>\n<p>vein of un-enlightened governance, the report warned potential investors that<\/p>\n<p>the governance factor has been at the root of Guyana&#8217;s problems since<\/p>\n<p>independence. It observed that the current Government&#8217;s decision making<\/p>\n<p>process was slow and opaque and that an extra-ordinary number of issues were<\/p>\n<p>resolved in Cabinet or in the Office of the President, a process that is not<\/p>\n<p>open to public scrutiny. Given these distressing realities, I urge that a broad<\/p>\n<p>based citizens&#8217; initiative be launched to tackle the scourge of<\/p>\n<p>corruption. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-9-20: AFC Column &#8211; Low<\/p>\n<p>Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) &#8211; Clarifying Fears and Concerns by Raphael<\/p>\n<p>Trotman, MP <\/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 LCDS if viewed as a Conceptual Framework<\/p>\n<p>Document as part of a National Development Strategy (NDS) is worth every<\/p>\n<p>consideration as we strive towards achieving national consensus. Fortunately,<\/p>\n<p>Guyana already crafted a NDS that had found national agreement. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The NDS as a development blueprint<\/p>\n<p>incorporated Government of Guyana (GOG) sectoral policy documents including: <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:l5 level1 lfo24;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 Forest Policy that identified Production<\/p>\n<p>Forests for sustainable management and industries development, Protection<\/p>\n<p>Forests for landscape, watershed management , biodiversity conservation<\/p>\n<p>management and other ecosystem services and Conversion Forests for agriculture,<\/p>\n<p>human settlement and other industrial activities. <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:l5 level1 lfo24;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;>An Environmental Policy and programmes that would<\/p>\n<p>secure the health and welfare of all Guyanese especially in our hinterland<\/p>\n<p>communities. <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:l5 level1 lfo24;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;>A Mining Policy that would ensure good environmental<\/p>\n<p>management practices. 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:l5 level1 lfo24;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>d.<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;>Proposals toward for a National Land Use Policy that<\/p>\n<p>would provide for effective land management and development. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Unfortunately the NDS was never truly implemented.<\/p>\n<p>What we may need to first decide as a nation is whether there is not a need to<\/p>\n<p>conduct a review and update of the NDS and incorporate it into the LCDS, which<\/p>\n<p>now seem to be the main pillar of Guyana&#8217;s future social and economic<\/p>\n<p>development. To totally ignore the NDS would be an insult to those talented<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese, some of whom have passed to the great beyond, and who unselfishly<\/p>\n<p>dedicated more than two years to the production of this landmark document. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What is verifiable at this time is that this<\/p>\n<p>Government has yet to present to Parliament for approval a National Land Use<\/p>\n<p>Policy that would provide the blue print for land management , especially<\/p>\n<p>securing our Indigenous people land rights and hence social and economic<\/p>\n<p>development for Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Advances in sustainable forest management and<\/p>\n<p>industries development have been stifled by the GOG&#8217;s failure to have<\/p>\n<p>Parliament approve new and enlightened Forest Act Cap 67.01 Laws of Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Despite many initiatives towards improving<\/p>\n<p>practices in the Mining Sector, our indigenous brothers and sisters continue to<\/p>\n<p>suffer from the accumulative affect of poor enforcement of the regulations<\/p>\n<p>under the Mining Act by the GGMC. This has resulted in environmental<\/p>\n<p>degradation of land, water pollution, mercury contamination and health problems<\/p>\n<p>associated with poor mining practices. It has been suggested that a recent<\/p>\n<p>occurrence in the Barama River may be an expression of the fears and<\/p>\n<p>frustrations of Guyanese living in that area. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The EPA is yet to be professionally staffed<\/p>\n<p>and equipped to enforce the 1996 Environmental Protection Act and its<\/p>\n<p>regulations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The fears and frustrations of most Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>is not the promotion of new ideas and concepts. It is not motivation for us to<\/p>\n<p>follow the leader. It is the corruption and nepotism, the lack of access to<\/p>\n<p>information for effective decision making, it is the lack of transparency and<\/p>\n<p>accountability, it is the political interference in management across the<\/p>\n<p>public sector, especially in the Natural Resource Sectoral Agencies and Environmental<\/p>\n<p>Management Enforcement. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>After more than a decade, the successful<\/p>\n<p>outcome of foreign funded programmes to develop a National System of Protected<\/p>\n<p>Areas, including the protection of Natural Wetlands which would have resulted<\/p>\n<p>in social and economic development, including benefit sharing schemes for<\/p>\n<p>hinterland communities&#8217; especially indigenous communities is yet to be<\/p>\n<p>realized. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Concept of Sustainable Forest Management<\/p>\n<p>(SFM), Standards for Forest Certification, achieving a National System of Protected<\/p>\n<p>Areas, developing corridors to link Protected Areas for biodiversity<\/p>\n<p>conservation has never been fully understood and realized especially here in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>After more than fifteen years this Government<\/p>\n<p>has still to get it right, but is now attempting to once again raise the<\/p>\n<p>expectations of Guyanese, by trying to promote and convince this nation that<\/p>\n<p>the newly found enlightenment of its leader for a LCDS would ensure and<\/p>\n<p>guarantee Guyana&#8217;s future prosperity. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Selective consultation, spending<\/p>\n<p>taxpayers&#8217; money on high gloss TV adds is perceived by many Guyanese to<\/p>\n<p>be the same old expectations and empty promises wrapped up in a new<\/p>\n<p>presentation package. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On the international scene the Kyoto Protocol<\/p>\n<p>never considered standing tropical forests, The Clean Development Mechanism<\/p>\n<p>provided funds for reforestation and a forestation projects; especially for the<\/p>\n<p>development of plantation forestry. Previous attempts to have the Principle of<\/p>\n<p>Polluter Pay Schemes implemented, have received lukewarm worldwide responses from<\/p>\n<p>the rich developed countries and were usually tied to conditionality, many of<\/p>\n<p>which were not enthusiastically embraced by the governments of beneficiary<\/p>\n<p>states. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>There have been a number of articles in a<\/p>\n<p>recent publication by the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO<\/p>\n<p>Forest Update VOL. 18 No. 4). One such article <b>Tropical Forests Absorb More<\/p>\n<p>Carbon than Thought <\/b>concluded that the removal of nearly five billion tons<\/p>\n<p>of carbon-dioxide from the atmosphere by intact tropical forests, based on realistic<\/p>\n<p>prices for a ton of carbon, should be valued at around US$26.0 Billion per<\/p>\n<p>year.&#8221; The article went on to state that &#8220; Tropical Forest trees<\/p>\n<p>are absorbing about 18 percent of the CO2 added to the atmosphere each year<\/p>\n<p>from burning fossil fuels, substantially buffering the rate of climate change.<\/p>\n<p>However, the study noted that tree growth will not continue indefinitely even<\/p>\n<p>if tropical forests are preserved, so the size of this sink can&#8217;t last<\/p>\n<p>for ever. The reason<i> proffered <\/i>why tropical forests are absorbing more<\/p>\n<p>carbon than previously estimated is unclear. A leading suspect is the extra CO2<\/p>\n<p>in the atmosphere itself, which may be acting like a fertilizer.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Another Article: -Climate Aid is Hot Air? <\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>Highlighted in the UK&#8217;s Guardian newspaper which<\/p>\n<p>published a report showing that, &#8220;a substantial amount of funding slated<\/p>\n<p>for developing countries from rich countries to help climate change mitigation<\/p>\n<p>efforts has not yet been delivered. Although upwards of US$18.0 Billion had<\/p>\n<p>been pledged for such purposes over the past seven years, less than US$900.0<\/p>\n<p>million has actually been released. The analysis found that the poorest<\/p>\n<p>countries have received the least help from the rich.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A third Article: &#8211; EC Carbon Price Slump<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; <\/span><\/b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This stated that the<b><\/p>\n<p>&#8220; <\/b><\/span><\/i><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>International Centre for<\/p>\n<p>Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) reported that the European Union<\/p>\n<p>(EC)will not prop up Europe&#8217;s carbon market, despite plummeting prices,<\/p>\n<p>which are primarily linked to the global financial crisis&#8230;. Low prices<\/p>\n<p>will discourage developers of new projects, reducing the prospects for such<\/p>\n<p>projects to contribute to emissions reduction\/mitigation and clean technology<\/p>\n<p>transfer in the developing world. The problems in the EU market have also<\/p>\n<p>caused other countries like Australia to review plans to establish carbon<\/p>\n<p>markets. &#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Though the Government of Norway must be<\/p>\n<p>commended for their support we must recognize the Norway cannot solve<\/p>\n<p>Guyana&#8217;s social and economic problems. Further Guyanese must never ever<\/p>\n<p>pin their hopes and depend on other nations to provide u this nation with<\/p>\n<p>financial largesse for our survival. We must together solve our problems; we<\/p>\n<p>must educate our people and provide them with the skills for national<\/p>\n<p>development. We must produce or perish. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This nation was presented with the Draft LCDS<\/p>\n<p>document. This Government must reach out and this nation would have to agree on<\/p>\n<p>the ground rules for engagement and consultation, for access to information and<\/p>\n<p>transparency if future negotiations toward decision making, And when the time<\/p>\n<p>comes for implementation, the type systems and bodies to agree on programmes,<\/p>\n<p>projects and monitoring, evaluation and verification of performance standards,<\/p>\n<p>and equitable benefit sharing. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>At this time as part of the communicating and<\/p>\n<p>engaging process the GOG must clarify the following: <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:l13 level1 lfo25;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;>Did the formula used to calculate Guyana&#8217;s EVN<\/p>\n<p>consider this recent finding on absorption by tropical forest trees? <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:l13 level1 lfo25;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;>Would there be an opportunity to review these values? <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:l13 level1 lfo25;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;>How would the fluctuation in the carbon market prices<\/p>\n<p>affect the successful realization of Guyana&#8217;s LCDS? <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:l13 level1 lfo25;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>d.<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;>Would there be bilateral negotiations with Norway or<\/p>\n<p>the disbursement of funds be subjected to approval of other institutions. <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:l13 level1 lfo25;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>e.<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 further conditionality could be expected? <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:l13 level1 lfo25;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>f.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>What percentage of pledged funds to Guyana would be<\/p>\n<p>allocated to administrative costs? <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:l13 level1 lfo25;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>g.<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 guarantee would Guyana have that pledged funds<\/p>\n<p>would be transferred in a timely fashion to move development? <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:l13 level1 lfo25;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>h.<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 would make the embracing and implementation of<\/p>\n<p>this LCDS result in anything that is different from that of past experiences? <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:l13 level1 lfo25;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>i.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Is Guyana&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>future development to be base on the establishment of service industries only? <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:l13 level1 lfo25;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>j.<span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font:7.0pt &#8220;Times New Roman&#8221;&#8216;>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/span><![endif]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>How can the fear of national development stagnation be<\/p>\n<p>assuaged? <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:l13 level1 lfo25;tab-stops:list .5in&#8217;><![if !supportLists]><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>k.<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 can equitable benefit sharing for human development,<\/p>\n<p>poverty alleviation within this nation be guaranteed? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-9-27: AFC Column &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Moral Decay in Guyana&#8221; by 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><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Moral decay in Guyana <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The recent scandal of an under age boy and a<\/p>\n<p>high ranking government official demonstrates once again that members of the<\/p>\n<p>Jagdeo government have no regard for boundaries &#8211; be they of decency, the law,<\/p>\n<p>or that which is acceptable conduct for public officials. As has come to be<\/p>\n<p>expected, the standard operating response for government officials caught breaching<\/p>\n<p>the law is to deny all in the face of convincing evidence. How our nation has<\/p>\n<p>arrived at this terrible stage requires an in-depth examination, but the more<\/p>\n<p>pertinent question for us today is: what could be done, and by whom, to halt<\/p>\n<p>this apparent decline into immorality that has become so evident? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The role of the Religious Community in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana&#8217;s Moral Decline <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Instinctively, and naturally, we are inclined<\/p>\n<p>to look to the religious community to be the rudder on morality, explained in<\/p>\n<p>the Webster dictionary as <i>&#8216;the rightness or wrongness of an<\/p>\n<p>action&#8217;<\/i>; but surely, the justification for doing so becomes<\/p>\n<p>questionable if, as a multi-religious society where people enjoy freedom of<\/p>\n<p>worship, we have reached such a low ebb morally. Confirmation of this decline<\/p>\n<p>in morality is evident in the conduct of numerous persons across the religious,<\/p>\n<p>social and political spectrum whose character one would have expected to be in<\/p>\n<p>accord with the principles and standards of right conduct. Surely the religious<\/p>\n<p>community ought to begin a process of self examination as, indeed, should civil<\/p>\n<p>society as well as the political players, of the role we all played &#8211; or failed<\/p>\n<p>to play thus leading many in the country to throw out ethical principles and<\/p>\n<p>good conduct resulting in our country getting to the sorry state it is in<\/p>\n<p>today. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Way of Moral Decay <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is the elite in any country who are<\/p>\n<p>expected to set the example for acceptable standards of morality. However, in<\/p>\n<p>Guyana, as a group this class has been inclined more towards the embodiment of<\/p>\n<p>the negative aspects of our social norms. The &#8216;fear factor&#8217;, it<\/p>\n<p>could be assumed, is one such hindrance responsible for the silence of elite<\/p>\n<p>voices in the face of the manifest excesses and immoralities taking place in<\/p>\n<p>our country. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Indeed, the serenity prayer could be<\/p>\n<p>presented in their defence as we ask God to grant us serenity to accept the<\/p>\n<p>things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can and the wisdom<\/p>\n<p>to know the difference. But, we are warned in Ephesians 6 V 12 <b><i>&#8220;For<\/p>\n<p>we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against<\/p>\n<p>powers, against the rulers of the darkness of the world, against spiritual<\/p>\n<p>wickedness in high places.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> So, as believers raising our voices<\/p>\n<p>against immorality, injustices and wrong-doing of all kinds isn&#8217;t a<\/p>\n<p>choice but an imperative especially for the leaders in the religious community.<\/p>\n<p>As the Scriptures in Matthew 7 V12 states <b><i>&#8220;So in everything do unto<\/p>\n<p>others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the law of the<\/p>\n<p>prophets.&#8221;<\/i><\/b> In this regard, the state&#8217;s recent treatment of<\/p>\n<p>the Mormons should be a lesson for us all in the context of Pastor Martin<\/p>\n<p>Niem&ouml;ller&#8217;s warning made first in Germany many years ago. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>They<\/p>\n<p>first came for the Communists, and I didn&#8217;t speak up because I wasn&#8217;t a Communist.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Then<\/p>\n<p>they came for the Jews, and I didn&#8217;t speak up because I wasn&#8217;t a Jew. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Then<\/p>\n<p>they came for the trade unionists, and I didn&#8217;t speak up because I wasn&#8217;t a<\/p>\n<p>trade unionist. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Then<\/p>\n<p>they came for the Catholics, and I didn&#8217;t speak up because I was a Protestant. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Then<\/p>\n<p>they came for me &#8212; and by that time no one was left to speak up. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Religious Tolerance <\/span><\/b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>In the Book of the Mormons<b>, Alma 26.32 (Latter-day<\/p>\n<p>Saints)<\/b> I submit this quotation with the intention of encouraging greater<\/p>\n<p>religious tolerance, <b><i>&#8220;For behold, they had rather sacrifice their<\/p>\n<p>lives than even to take the life of their enemy; and<\/i><\/b><i> they have<\/p>\n<p>buried their weapons of war deep into the earth, because of their love towards<\/p>\n<p>their brothers.&#8221; <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>To err is human! So for guidance on which<\/p>\n<p>path of correction we should take, we look to the irrefutable omniscience of<\/p>\n<p>Hindu, Moslem, Baha&#8217;i and Christian Scriptures from which we have all<\/p>\n<p>strayed and must return for guidance. From Hinduism &#8211; Mahabharata, Udyoga Parva<\/p>\n<p>95: <b><i>In order that, O Bharata, peace maybe established between the Kuru<\/p>\n<p>and the Pandavas without a slaughter of the heroes, I have come hither. Besides<\/p>\n<p>this, O king, I have no other beneficial words to utter&#8230;Know, O thou of<\/p>\n<p>Kuru&#8217;s race, that those wicked sons of thine, headed by Duryodhana,<\/p>\n<p>abandoning both virtue and profit, disregarding morality, and deprived of their<\/p>\n<p>senses by avarice, are now acting most unrighteously towards their foremost<\/p>\n<p>kinsmen&#8221;&#8230;. &#8220;If you become indifferent to it, it will then<\/p>\n<p>produce a universal slaughter.&#8221; <\/i><o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>From the Qu&#8217;ran 89.6-14 <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Have you not seen how the Lord<\/p>\n<p>dealt with the people of Ad,<\/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'>With the city of Iram, with lofty<\/p>\n<p>pillars, <\/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'>The like of which were not produced in<\/p>\n<p>all the <\/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'>Land? <\/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'>And with the people of Thamud, who cut<\/p>\n<p>out huge rocks in the valley? <\/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'>And with Pharaoh, Lord of Stakes? <\/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'>All these transgressed beyond bounds in<\/p>\n<p>the lands <\/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'>And heaped therein mischief on<\/p>\n<p>mischief. <\/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'>Therefore did your Lord not pour them a<\/p>\n<p><\/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'>Scourge of diverse chastisements: <\/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'>For you Lord is as a guardian on a<\/p>\n<p>watchtower&#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'>More on this theme from the writings of<\/p>\n<p>Baha&#8217;u&#8217;llah 110: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Our hope is that the<\/p>\n<p>world&#8217;s religious leaders and the rulers thereof will unitedly arise for<\/p>\n<p>the reformation of this age and the rehabilitation of its fortunes. Let them,<\/p>\n<p>after meditating on its needs, take counsel together and, through anxious and<\/p>\n<p>full deliberation, administer to a diseased and sorely afflicted world the<\/p>\n<p>remedy it requires.&#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'>From the Bible in Jeremiah 18 V 11 in the Old<\/p>\n<p>Testament<b>: <o:p><\/o:p><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&#8220;Thus said the Lord; Behold, I<\/p>\n<p>frame evil against you, and devise a device against you; return ye now every<\/p>\n<p>one from his evil ways, and make your ways and your doings good.&#8221; <\/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'>2006-3-25: Commissioner of<\/p>\n<p>Police has jeopardised esteem in which he is held &#8211; AFC (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'>The Alliance For Change (AFC) reacting to the<\/p>\n<p>airing of a controversial tape allegedly of Police Commissioner Winston Felix<\/p>\n<p>and PNCR executive Basil Williams, said the <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>commissioner has jeopardised the esteem with<\/p>\n<p>which he is held. &quot;These reckless statements of this public officer raise<\/p>\n<p>serious doubts as to his professionalism and further bring into question his<\/p>\n<p>integrity, credibility and ability to lead the Guyana Police Force,&quot; the<\/p>\n<p>AFC said in a release yesterday. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The party said further that consistent with<\/p>\n<p>its call for higher standards in public life, it is exhorting all public<\/p>\n<p>officials, including parliamentarians, to avoid insensitive expressions about<\/p>\n<p>any ethnic grouping whether in public or private conversation. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>&quot;Many of us,&quot; the party said,<\/p>\n<p>&quot;may have transgressed in this regard, but it is an impropriety for which<\/p>\n<p>we at the very least must apologise when caught.&quot; The AFC said that it has<\/p>\n<p>already gone in that direction in its &quot;Time for Healing and<\/p>\n<p>Reconciliation&quot; declaration, and would urge the Commissioner of Police to<\/p>\n<p>walk in that path so as to maintain the dignity of the office. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The tape contained racial remarks and<\/p>\n<p>expletives. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The party is urging the Government and the<\/p>\n<p>Guyana Police Force to reassure every citizen that mechanisms have been put in<\/p>\n<p>place to detect telephone tapping, and prevent the recurrence of such<\/p>\n<p>incidents, so that national security is guaranteed. Further, this is a<\/p>\n<p>necessary step to safeguard the security, protection, dignity and privacy of<\/p>\n<p>every citizen, the AFC said. The party stated that the incident &quot;has no<\/p>\n<p>doubt directly, and by implication, threatened our national security, and<\/p>\n<p>breached the confidentiality infrastructure which ought to be the <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>hallmark of a professional police force and a<\/p>\n<p>secure society.&quot; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC expressed alarm at the ease with<\/p>\n<p>which such &quot;unrestricted and uncontrolled access can be had of phone calls<\/p>\n<p>of public officials, and from all appearances and by obvious extension, of all<\/p>\n<p>Guyanese.&quot; According to the AFC, &quot;this kind of kick-down-the-door<\/p>\n<p>capacity of some on the privacy entitlements of Guyanese is most<\/p>\n<p>reprehensible.&quot; But matters are made worse on this issue, the AFC said, by<\/p>\n<p>the assertion of the PPP\/C that such improper tapping of telephones is nothing<\/p>\n<p>new in Guyana. &quot;What has it as a party <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>in Government done to make it a thing of the<\/p>\n<p>past? Nothing! Similarly, the consequential non-response, if not lame-duck<\/p>\n<p>reaction, of a President and a Government, who and which are so loud-mouthed on<\/p>\n<p>other issues of lesser significance, is a revelation of their ineptitude.&quot;<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-10-11: AFC Column &#8211; A<\/p>\n<p>CALL TO OUR MEN <\/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'>In view of the focus being placed on the<\/p>\n<p>circumstances of Guyanese men as exemplified by the group &#8216;Men<\/p>\n<p>Empowerment Network&#8217; who organised a workshop for men last Friday in<\/p>\n<p>collaboration with the Ministry of Human Services &amp; Social Security and<\/p>\n<p>UNFPA, we publish this piece by Pastor Punalall and his wife Latchmin Punalall,<\/p>\n<p>MP who are both elected members of the National Executive of the Alliance For<\/p>\n<p>Change. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>PURPOSE <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is vital for the men of our society to<\/p>\n<p>know their purpose and faithfully discharge their responsibilities. No man can<\/p>\n<p>measure his life beyond the success of his family. If a man wants to administer<\/p>\n<p>God&#8217;s house, community or a country he must first know how to manage his<\/p>\n<p>own house. The head of a country must know how to manage his own country before<\/p>\n<p>he can seek to be a partner in international matters. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>FAMILY <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:<\/p>\n<p>13.5pt&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The most important responsibility of the male<\/p>\n<p>is that of fatherhood and family life. The family is the building block of<\/p>\n<p>society. It is people coming together in closeness, work, recreation, worship<\/p>\n<p>and so many other things. The family unit is so important that it was<\/p>\n<p>established by Almighty God before government, church, military, educational,<\/p>\n<p>recreational or many other institutions. Societies advance when families<\/p>\n<p>advance. Societies crumble when families crumble. The family unit in Guyana has<\/p>\n<p>been under attack from many sides and this has resulted in the moral downslide<\/p>\n<p>of our beloved land. This should be a concern to all of us especially the men<\/p>\n<p>of our land. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy defines morality as<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;a code of conduct that is put forward by society that is accepted as a<\/p>\n<p>guide to the behavior by its members&#8221;. The first ones to embrace the<\/p>\n<p>moral code in our country should be our men, especially if they expect to be<\/p>\n<p>commendable role models of younger men. In 1987 Harvard professors James Wilson<\/p>\n<p>and Richard Herrnstein concluded in their book Crime and Human Nature<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;the cause of crime is lack of proper moral training among young people<\/p>\n<p>during the morally formative years, particularly ages one to six&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>FOUNDATION <\/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'>The foundation of a human family is the male.<\/p>\n<p>According to CIA World Fact Book there are about 6.6 billion people on earth.<\/p>\n<p>With Guyana&#8217;s population being what it is we comprise a small percentage<\/p>\n<p>of the earth&#8217;s total population. Yet we are faced daily with a myriad of<\/p>\n<p>social and other problems. We have to deal with such evils as murder, robbery,<\/p>\n<p>rape, incest, teenage pregnancy, sodomy and other forms of sexual perversions,<\/p>\n<p>drugs, just to name a few. Most of these crimes are committed by men, and<\/p>\n<p>sometimes by men who hold high administrative positions in our country.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately the victims are often women and children. We need to recognize<\/p>\n<p>the crucial fact that when a community loses its value base there is a rise in<\/p>\n<p>suicide, violence, and mental illnesses. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The role of women integrated into society<\/p>\n<p>have not changed God&#8217;s role for men to be the leader of the family.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Biblical account of creation the male Adam was created first<\/p>\n<p>and then the female Eve. The male is therefore God&#8217;s chosen foundation<\/p>\n<p>for the human family. Almighty God sets the male at the base as foundation and<\/p>\n<p>he is supposed to carry the weight of the family and societal responsibilities.<\/p>\n<p>We need our men not only to have physical and economic strength but also moral<\/p>\n<p>strength. It is only in this way the Guyanese society will leave its moral<\/p>\n<p>bankruptcy behind and move on to that which is just and honourable in the sight<\/p>\n<p>of Almighty God and men. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>One of the goals of the AFC, as set out in<\/p>\n<p>its August 2006 manifesto is &#8220;to confront organized crime and redress the<\/p>\n<p>breakdown of law and order&#8221;. If the disclosures in the US court on the<\/p>\n<p>Roger Khan case be true then organized crime is carried out here. This is a<\/p>\n<p>fearful reality that faces us and it is a monster that must be eradicated very<\/p>\n<p>quickly. Then there is our shambled justice system which is so often<\/p>\n<p>circumvented by those who wield financial and political might. The AFC<\/p>\n<p>recognizes that every citizen is entitled to justice and a peaceful life and<\/p>\n<p>therefore &#8220;will create a special office within the Chambers of the<\/p>\n<p>Director of Public Prosecutions for the use of special Prosecutors to prosecute<\/p>\n<p>persons accused of certain categories of offences&#8221;. This means that high<\/p>\n<p>folks who solicit sex from little school boys will face the consequences of<\/p>\n<p>their immoral actions very swiftly. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>All God fearing men need to speak out against<\/p>\n<p>the rise of immorality, corruption and wickedness. President George Washington<\/p>\n<p>once said &#8220;Religion and morality are essential pillars of civil<\/p>\n<p>society&#8221;. This is a profound truth simply stated. The righteous must<\/p>\n<p>declare that of all the various dimensions of moral life it is love that is<\/p>\n<p>central to morality. We must admit that love is on the decrease and hatred on<\/p>\n<p>the increase here. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Five decades ago Omar Bradley said &#8220;The<\/p>\n<p>world has achieved brilliance without wisdom, and power without conscience.<\/p>\n<p>Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants&#8221;. The time has come<\/p>\n<p>in Guyana when we must combine our brilliance with wisdom, morality, decency<\/p>\n<p>and integrity. Genuine men need to stay morally strong and stand on a godly<\/p>\n<p>foundation so that they can fulfil the purpose for which they were created.<\/p>\n<p>Godly men and women need to unite for the moral uplifting of our society so<\/p>\n<p>that we can once again be respected as a nation of integrity. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-10-18: AFC Column &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>LIVING BY THE RULES by Raphael Trotman, 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'>There is no perfect place in the world and by<\/p>\n<p>no means can we say that Guyana is inhabited by perfect human beings. As like<\/p>\n<p>elsewhere, where there are also imperfections, we have a constitution, laws,<\/p>\n<p>regulations, rules, customs and practices which under gird our society to keep<\/p>\n<p>it in the shape that we desire and on the path that we have identified. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We in the AFC don&#8217;t advance an argument<\/p>\n<p>that every opinion we hold is absolutely right, or that everything done by the<\/p>\n<p>governing party is absolutely wrong. We both see things through different eyes<\/p>\n<p>and therefore the outcomes of our thinking processes will be different. We<\/p>\n<p>however believe that we can agree, that even as we disagree, that there are<\/p>\n<p>certain expectations and outcomes that we accept to be fundamental to the<\/p>\n<p>functioning of our society. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Thankfully, the majority can still discern<\/p>\n<p>right from wrong; but for a large and increasing number the distinction of<\/p>\n<p>right from wrong has become blurred or erased altogether. I was recently<\/p>\n<p>introduced to a thought provoking work of Nobel laureate Amartya Sen in his<\/p>\n<p>book: &#8220;The Theory of Justice&#8221; in which he argues that mainstream<\/p>\n<p>thinking on justice is flawed as it places too much emphasis on establishing<\/p>\n<p>perfectly just societies and not enough effort on understanding and accepting<\/p>\n<p>individuals&#8217; and communities&#8217; different perceptions of justice and<\/p>\n<p>how through their eyes they see and perceive justice. Sen, uses a classic<\/p>\n<p>Victorian reference from the Dickens&#8217; Great Expectations to describe<\/p>\n<p>society&#8217;s outrage at those things that are patently wrong in the eyes of<\/p>\n<p>that society-&#8220;there is nothing so finely perceived and finely felt as<\/p>\n<p>injustice.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Today, that perception and feeling of<\/p>\n<p>injustice abounds in Guyana. At the outset I have to state that it would be<\/p>\n<p>unfair to lay the blame squarely at the feet of the government as undoubtedly<\/p>\n<p>our society is influenced by other factors that are outside the direct purview<\/p>\n<p>and control of government, such as television and music to name just two. What<\/p>\n<p>government however has to do is to provide the legal compass steers society as<\/p>\n<p>best as possible on a course towards prosperity and peace and away from<\/p>\n<p>self-destruction. It is for this reason that I have always felt that the<\/p>\n<p>Government must be the greatest example of the observance of our laws and<\/p>\n<p>customs and practices. Recently, there have been several situations arising<\/p>\n<p>which are disturbing to say the least and if allowed to continue in this vein<\/p>\n<p>will lead us to the emergence of a &#8220;free society&#8221; where everyone<\/p>\n<p>sees himself or herself as their own private government and free to do whatever<\/p>\n<p>without regard to rules, laws, and to their neighbours. Recently, there were<\/p>\n<p>highlighted a few instances of a society drifting from its moorings. . <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>1. The Continuous Failure to Bestow<\/p>\n<p>Annually National Awards <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As I sat at the 50<sup>th<\/sup> Anniversary<\/p>\n<p>observances of John Fernandes Ltd and listened to speeches and congratulatory<\/p>\n<p>greetings being extended to the family that has built a company into a national<\/p>\n<p>icon, I wondered why it was that this nation could not bestow a national award<\/p>\n<p>on the company. Few people recognise that we have gone seven straight years<\/p>\n<p>without national awards being granted except for an isolated few recently.<\/p>\n<p>Surely, there are good and deserving people and institutions out there who make<\/p>\n<p>a contribution to the lives of others and nationally. We read recently of a<\/p>\n<p>young man Christopher Perkins who saved animals during the Regent Street fire<\/p>\n<p>and then returned to help the fire service battle the flames resulting in<\/p>\n<p>injury to himself. There are many, many more like him who deserve to be<\/p>\n<p>recognised. Healthy societies need a system that recognises outstanding effort<\/p>\n<p>and contribution. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>2. Former Attorney-general Suing for his<\/p>\n<p>Gratuity <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>How in the name of justice could we have<\/p>\n<p>allowed the former Attorney General of Guyana to have to sue for his gratuity and<\/p>\n<p>pension after serving the government. All citizens whether they support this<\/p>\n<p>government or not have to recognise that such a situation should not ever have<\/p>\n<p>arisen and that he should have received his just rewards without having to go<\/p>\n<p>to court. At the same time we wonder about the countless others like him who<\/p>\n<p>have turned to the legal system for similar relief and are still<\/p>\n<p>waiting&#8230;waiting for justice. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>3. TCL-V-Guyana <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the case recently brought by Trinidad<\/p>\n<p>Cement Limited and determined by the Caribbean Court of Justice, the government<\/p>\n<p>of Guyana conceded in the Court that it had breached it&#8217;s treaty<\/p>\n<p>obligations under the Treaty of Chagaramus and damages were awarded against it.<\/p>\n<p>This is our final court. Now after accepting blameworthiness, and seeking to<\/p>\n<p>mitigate the amount of damages awarded, we are bewildered by the logic that<\/p>\n<p>informs the decision to seek a stay of the Order of Court, and of the raising,<\/p>\n<p>for the first time, the issue of bias. To say the least this position is<\/p>\n<p>nonsensical and will damage Guyana in the eyes of our CARICOM business<\/p>\n<p>community, and our sister CARICOM governments. Apart from bringing the CCJ into<\/p>\n<p>disrepute, it also impugns the very foundation on which the court was<\/p>\n<p>established and financed (with Guyana&#8217;s knowledge and approval), appears<\/p>\n<p>as a desperate gamble, and is embarrassing Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>4. Parliament <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>And then there is the National Assembly. The<\/p>\n<p>place where we elected officials go to make decisions in favor of the people<\/p>\n<p>and the national interest. Acceptably, a government must be given a right to<\/p>\n<p>govern and the opposition must be heard in the decision-making process. In the<\/p>\n<p>case of Guyana however, the balance is now tilted towards just ratifying all<\/p>\n<p>that the government wants and when and how it wants it done. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC&#8217;s decision not to be present at<\/p>\n<p>the first sitting of the National Assembly was intended to provoke the<\/p>\n<p>responses that we have received; both in favour and against. Accepting that<\/p>\n<p>there is the necessity for a National Assembly, one of our primary objectives<\/p>\n<p>is to stimulate a national conversation on the usefulness of that assembly in<\/p>\n<p>the face of what members of our society both perceive, and feel, to be justice<\/p>\n<p>and injustice. Our decision not to return on the first sitting after the recess<\/p>\n<p>has started that conversation and this we believe will help to re-focus and<\/p>\n<p>re-align the attention to the Assembly as being the place where we not only<\/p>\n<p>debate Bills and motions but also make important decisions that benefit the<\/p>\n<p>people and more particularly, the ordinary people. The AFC is seeking to<\/p>\n<p>highlight the anguish and concerns of ordinary people who believe that we<\/p>\n<p>parliamentarians are unmindful of them as we sit in a cloistered room, while<\/p>\n<p>the city is re-arranged for us every Thursday and traffic and commerce is<\/p>\n<p>affected. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I began by saying that Guyana is no perfect<\/p>\n<p>place and all of its citizens both here and resident abroad accept this.<\/p>\n<p>However, to the last man, woman and child we collectively believe that things<\/p>\n<p>can be infinitely better. We have to do better at observe the rules that guide<\/p>\n<p>and regulate our conduct if we want to pride ourselves as a rule based society<\/p>\n<p>and an accepted member of the international society of nations. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-10-20: Initiatives for<\/p>\n<p>the city by Peter R. Ramsaroop, MBA <\/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'>Introduction: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This is an updated column from a year ago<\/p>\n<p>given this issue was once again raised by the Mayor of Georgetown and the need<\/p>\n<p>for new revenues in order to improve the city. The fact that the Government<\/p>\n<p>does not pay their share of taxes to the city on time and holds the city hostage<\/p>\n<p>is sinister. Withholding our taxpaying dollars from the city and other<\/p>\n<p>institutions such as Critchlow Labour College is a blatant disregard for the<\/p>\n<p>well-being of the citizens. In addition, a methodology needs to be established<\/p>\n<p>to share national tax revenues with local bodies such as some percentage of the<\/p>\n<p>VAT which we all know is excessive and needs to be reduced. With increased<\/p>\n<p>revenues, the city can meet the needs of Georgetown and work on other<\/p>\n<p>improvements such as beautification. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The need to invest in new technologies in<\/p>\n<p>order to improve public service efficiency and increase revenues is needed.<\/p>\n<p>There are a few systems that are standard in the developed world that would fit<\/p>\n<p>practical improvements, if implemented in Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Parking Meters: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It has been over two years since the Deputy<\/p>\n<p>Mayor Robert Williams announced that they were introducing a parking meter<\/p>\n<p>system in Georgetown only for this initiative to be squashed by the government.<\/p>\n<p>With the influx of so many vehicles in the 1990&#8217;s to present, if not<\/p>\n<p>parking meters they could have instituted some formal parking system. As it is<\/p>\n<p>today vehicles are parked where their owners feel like parking them and they<\/p>\n<p>are few legal parameters as to how people should park. With a parking meter<\/p>\n<p>system and a legal framework of how we in the city should park, we can address<\/p>\n<p>a few issues: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Issues Congestion <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Regular congestion, parking-induced<\/p>\n<p>congestion (congestion due to an ill equipped parking system) that allows cars<\/p>\n<p>to over congregate in the main commercial areas resulting in crowding and<\/p>\n<p>stagnation on city streets. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Pollution <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Pollution; with the ever increasing flow of<\/p>\n<p>traffic into Georgetown, deleterious effects have resulted from the CO2<\/p>\n<p>emissions from trucking, minibuses, taxis and private cars. With this system<\/p>\n<p>the society can be encouraged to get back to the bicycle revolution like what<\/p>\n<p>is taking place in Paris and around the world. We can create safe zones and<\/p>\n<p>secure zones for people riding into the city to park or lock their bicycles.<\/p>\n<p>This will also contribute to our health fitness. A structured parking system<\/p>\n<p>can also help us lower our carbon footprints due to the fact that once you<\/p>\n<p>institute a structured parking system, more motorists will consider paying the<\/p>\n<p>$60 fare against looking an hour for parking. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Public Transport System <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>With an introduction of a system of this<\/p>\n<p>magnitude, we can foster a better public transportation system. In most cities<\/p>\n<p>that developed a structured parking system there are improvements to the public<\/p>\n<p>transport sector, and that sector is better utilized. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Increase in business traffic <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In many case studies when structured parking<\/p>\n<p>is implemented, there is a direct correlation between the increase of business<\/p>\n<p>traffic to the specific area as a result of parking restrictions or paying to<\/p>\n<p>park. The argument is that there will be an increase of vehicles in and out of<\/p>\n<p>the structured parking zones. Motorists will pay to park, transact their<\/p>\n<p>business in a timely manner and leave. That movement will allow more motorists<\/p>\n<p>to do the same. Motorists will park at a specific time all day and not allowing<\/p>\n<p>more customers to the area. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Civil Citation System <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>From this system we can use the same backend<\/p>\n<p>software and hardware to enforce all city by laws where the city can issue a citation<\/p>\n<p>or a warning. In the current system there are no checks and balances and no<\/p>\n<p>backing up of citation data for easy retrieval. Thus, the system is<\/p>\n<p>underutilized or not functioning at the moment. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Cost <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The implementation of such a system would<\/p>\n<p>require some form of technology (organization of knowledge, people and things<\/p>\n<p>to accomplish practical goals) It would also require some major investment in<\/p>\n<p>equipment and with the council strapped for money, the Government will need to<\/p>\n<p>pay up their taxes in order for the city to accomplish this goal. Many would<\/p>\n<p>support such a plan for a structured parking system and some parking meters<\/p>\n<p>within the city. It is something we need. With the upfront outlay of money to<\/p>\n<p>implement the system, it will definitely pay for itself over the years. There<\/p>\n<p>are two types of technology that the city can use to accommodate this. 1) Park<\/p>\n<p>and Display systems are used in many countries. This technology is simple, and<\/p>\n<p>instead of having one meter for every car, they can have one meter to cover a<\/p>\n<p>wide area. Motorists will then pay at a station bay (Pay and Display Meters),<\/p>\n<p>receive a receipt and display this receipt inside the front windscreen of their<\/p>\n<p>vehicles and go ahead and park within the area marked as a pay to park. One of<\/p>\n<p>these meters cost US$8,000 &#8211; US $10,000 and with a few sprinkled around<\/p>\n<p>Georgetown it would be good enough to collect revenue to justify its existence.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>2) The second technology is what they call<\/p>\n<p>park by phone. This is an easier and far cheaper to operate technology. This<\/p>\n<p>technology will allow drivers to pay for their parking via their mobile phones.<\/p>\n<p>They can either have it engineered here locally by GT&amp;T and Digicel or let<\/p>\n<p>a developer\/third party carry out the task. If we have the local phone<\/p>\n<p>companies engineer the system, they will be paid from a percentage of the<\/p>\n<p>parking fees that are collected via their systems. If we start by using ten of<\/p>\n<p>these meters(US$100,000), park by phone system(US$65,000) and a good<\/p>\n<p>citation\/ticket writing system(US$90,000) a total investment in equipment of<\/p>\n<p>US$255,000. I know that there are enough cars parks within this city every day<\/p>\n<p>to have revenue totaling that and over within two years. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Conclusion:<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>This is a basic automated system that should<\/p>\n<p>be fully supported and will be useful for a developing society like Guyana. As<\/p>\n<p>usual, we tend to take a very long time to implement any proposed plans<\/p>\n<p>especially if it wasn&#8217;t the central government idea. I believe the city<\/p>\n<p>already has a proposal on the parking meter system ready to go. With all the noise<\/p>\n<p>from the council that they are strapped for cash, I would think that they would<\/p>\n<p>vigorously seek to implement this project. They will be able to raise some<\/p>\n<p>funds and get some credit for bringing some form of order to the city that is<\/p>\n<p>desperately needed. This system will employ many young people, broaden the<\/p>\n<p>technological scope of Guyana and provide a much needed infrastructure that can<\/p>\n<p>be built upon and improved for the overall betterment of society. Until next<\/p>\n<p>time &#8220;Roop&#8221;. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Send responses to <u><a<\/p>\n<p>href=&#8221;mailto:peter.ramsaroop@gmail.com&#8221;>peter.ramsaroop@gmail.com <\/a><\/u><\/span><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'><img border=0<\/p>\n<p>width=4 height=1 id=&#8221;_x0000_i1055&#8243; src=&#8221;images\/LatestNews_img_61.jpg&#8221;><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-10-25: AFC Column &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>Blackout Nation <\/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'>We all have been experiencing blackouts almost<\/p>\n<p>daily in Guyana. We are becoming known as the &#8220;Blackout Nation&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>Many have complained that even with good internal wiring surge protectors and<\/p>\n<p>other protective equipment, our properties are still being destroyed, from TVs,<\/p>\n<p>to Computers, other assorted electrical powered appliances and equipment, at<\/p>\n<p>our businesses and homes. Not to mention the horrific spate of fires &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>which according to some eye witnesses were the result of burning electrical<\/p>\n<p>wires on utility posts. We pay our electricity bill every month as a contract<\/p>\n<p>that GPL must provide electricity for us on demand 24 * 7. How many of you have<\/p>\n<p>experienced this, how many of you have lost major appliances due to the power<\/p>\n<p>surges?? How many businesses loose customers? Those of you who can afford it have<\/p>\n<p>to buy generators and fuel to supplement, really replace GPL. We are not<\/p>\n<p>compensated for this and the fuel adjustment clause in our bill only works in<\/p>\n<p>one direction, that is, upwards, even though fuel prices have dropped<\/p>\n<p>significantly. The GPL spent millions renting generators from friends, now the<\/p>\n<p>company claims it has no money to upgrade its systems in a timely manner. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A few months ago, GPL paid GUYSUCO over $100M<\/p>\n<p>for providing electricity to the grid. There has been no public transparency on<\/p>\n<p>this transaction. How is this transaction documented? What is GUYSUCO charging<\/p>\n<p>GPL? Who is making a profit on this transaction between two Government owned<\/p>\n<p>entities? Are there any cost savings which should be passed on to customers<\/p>\n<p>based on this transaction? This is a high number to be floating between two<\/p>\n<p>government run entities without any accountability. Money is being spent in<\/p>\n<p>areas of training at GPL in excess of $40M in a manner that is not justified by<\/p>\n<p>the electric power industry best practice numbers. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Alternative Energy &#8211; Why the<\/p>\n<p>Failure by Our Government? <\/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'>The PPP Administration has failed miserably<\/p>\n<p>in developing a viable energy program for our nation. We all pay the price<\/p>\n<p>everyday with the high cost of electricity and fuel prices. One would think<\/p>\n<p>that developing a comprehensive energy plan for Guyana would have been a<\/p>\n<p>priority item instead of the President globetrotting seeking to constrain<\/p>\n<p>Guyana&#8217;s development under a low carbon strategy that is not integrated<\/p>\n<p>with Guyana&#8217;s national development strategy, and whose implications have not<\/p>\n<p>been discussed by a wide cross-section of the Guyanese society as is necessary<\/p>\n<p>in this major initiative. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>A comprehensive energy plan for Guyana would<\/p>\n<p>focus on an increased role for renewable energy in Guyana&#8217;s energy mix, with<\/p>\n<p>hydro power being considered to be a renewable energy source. An energy plan<\/p>\n<p>for Guyana also has to consider the importation of hydro power from our<\/p>\n<p>neighbors, as well as the role of ethanol. A major driver of decisions on<\/p>\n<p>Guyana&#8217;s energy future has to be a focus on low carbon which is good for<\/p>\n<p>Guyana. However the low carbon perspective must be driven by Guyana&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>self interest first and maintaining our right to choose our sustainable<\/p>\n<p>development path. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Thus an essential component of an energy plan<\/p>\n<p>for Guyana is the role of renewable energy. In this area technologies using<\/p>\n<p>wind and solar power are immediately applicable to Guyana. The lack of an<\/p>\n<p>interconnection policy by GPL for net metering is an indication of the slow<\/p>\n<p>pace at which the government is moving in relation to encouraging investment in<\/p>\n<p>wind turbines and solar panels for generating electricity. Guyanese<\/p>\n<p>entrepreneurs and citizens nevertheless are going forward with renewable energy<\/p>\n<p>projects to supplement the intermittent electricity supply. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The high price to customers of electric power<\/p>\n<p>supplied by GPL makes renewable sources of electricity very viable in Guyana.<\/p>\n<p>However even with lowered prices renewable energy would still be a viable<\/p>\n<p>option. With an interconnection protocol established customers should be able<\/p>\n<p>to sell their excess renewable energy to the GPL to supplement its output. Also<\/p>\n<p>these renewable sources are ideal for some of the dispersed communities and<\/p>\n<p>individuals in Guyana&#8217;s interior. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Guyana can also seek to develop large scale<\/p>\n<p>hydro power which is also seen by us as a renewable source of electricity. The<\/p>\n<p>challenge for the project which would change Guyana is the flooding, and<\/p>\n<p>possible population relocation that would be necessary. Guyana would also need<\/p>\n<p>to develop a national grid to distribute the power generated to current<\/p>\n<p>population concentrations as well as to potential population concentrations. As<\/p>\n<p>the grid is built out and the dam is being constructed we might be able to<\/p>\n<p>negotiate agreements to get hydro power from Brazil. Given Venezuela&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>territorial claim getting hydro power from that country seems a long shot and<\/p>\n<p>not currently in Guyana&#8217;s best interest. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In relation to Wind Power the option of<\/p>\n<p>having turbines off shore needs to be examined carefully. Off shore wind power<\/p>\n<p>can help especially in the context of supplying power at peak times. This is<\/p>\n<p>one of the options for Guyana to explore in relation to decentralized<\/p>\n<p>electricity generation. Offshore wind has the potential to deliver substantial<\/p>\n<p>quantities of energy at a price that is cheaper than most of the other<\/p>\n<p>renewable energies. The bottom line is that this must be one of our immediate<\/p>\n<p>energy policy initiatives to supply power before large scale hydro power comes<\/p>\n<p>online. Development of our renewable energy sources is also insurance against<\/p>\n<p>future rises in the prices of hydrocarbon, reduces foreign exchange outlays in<\/p>\n<p>the absence of domestic supply of fossil fuel, and fosters energy independence.<\/p>\n<p><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>What really does this PPP administration do<\/p>\n<p>for a living? <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The AFC proposes a 10 point Energy Plan<\/span><\/i><\/b><i><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt&#8217;>: <\/span><\/i><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As discussed above, Guyana&#8217;s Energy<\/p>\n<p>Plan has to be underpinned by investment in climate-friendly energy development<\/p>\n<p>and deployment. We understand as has been recognized in many countries that<\/p>\n<p>Guyana needs to rely on green technologies to help solve the critical energy<\/p>\n<p>and environmental problems facing the country. The AFC sees these as the Key<\/p>\n<p>elements of Guyana&#8217;s energy plan <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Help create new green jobs by strategic<\/p>\n<p>policy choices to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future.<\/p>\n<p>Within 10 years reduce oil imports by 50%. Encourage use of fuel efficient cars<\/p>\n<p>for Guyana, including prohibiting the import of cars older than eight years.<\/p>\n<p>Ensure 10 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2013, and<\/p>\n<p>25 percent by 2015. If oil and gas is found in Guyana&#8217;s territory have a<\/p>\n<p>national discussion on whether Guyana&#8217;s best interests will be served by<\/p>\n<p>the development of a Guyanese oil and gas industry. Promote all renewable<\/p>\n<p>energy sources. The promotion of ethanol production<\/span><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:#3F3F3F&#8217;>. Development of a smart grid linking<\/p>\n<p>the major population centers of the countr<\/span><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>y<\/p>\n<p>Prioritize a feasibility study of the option of developing large hydro<\/p>\n<p>facilities in Guyana as against importing electricity generated from hydro<\/p>\n<p>power from our neighbours Encourage energy efficiency; including the<\/p>\n<p>establishment of green building standards for Guyana to help Guyanese reduce<\/p>\n<p>energy use in their homes and businesses. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>For more information on the AFC visit: <u><a<\/p>\n<p>href=&#8221;http:\/\/www.afcguyana.com\/&#8221;>www.afcguyana.com<\/a><\/u><\/span><u><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;> <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>or<\/p>\n<p>call 226-0181. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-11-1: AFC Column &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;WE ARE HARD PRESSED&#8217; 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'>On October 29, 2009 of this year the Alliance<\/p>\n<p>For Change celebrated its fourth Anniversary as a political party. To us, it is<\/p>\n<p>a tremendous milestone to arrive at, yet we accept that we are just four years<\/p>\n<p>old and growing. There is much to learn and in reflecting on the past four<\/p>\n<p>years, we can say that they have not been easy but they have been very<\/p>\n<p>rewarding. With each passing year the significance of our accomplishments and<\/p>\n<p>experiences become better understood and easier to manage. Words borrowed from<\/p>\n<p>Paul at a time when a small group of people were getting together to form a<\/p>\n<p>movement that has made an impact on the world best sum up the AFC&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>journey over the past four years: &#8220;We are hard pressed on every side, yet<\/p>\n<p>not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not<\/p>\n<p>forsaken; cast down but not destroyed.&#8221; <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>We have every reason to rejoice and to be<\/p>\n<p>grateful for all that we have encountered, faced, and received from the people<\/p>\n<p>of Guyana. Nowhere has the pressure and persecution been evident than in the<\/p>\n<p>Region 10 seat debacle. Yet, we have not been forsaken by the people of Linden<\/p>\n<p>and other parts of Region 10 who cry out for justice and to have their elected<\/p>\n<p>representative to sit in the National Assembly. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Recently, after a slumber of three years the<\/p>\n<p>PPP woke up to clarify its &#8220;occupation&#8221; of the Region 10 seat, and<\/p>\n<p>even went as far as to suggest that I, a lawyer, and member of Parliament,<\/p>\n<p>should be reprimanded or punished for calling for justice. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is important that the accepted facts are<\/p>\n<p>set out: <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:l20 level1 lfo26;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;>On the night of August 28, 2006 the AFC observed an<\/p>\n<p>anomaly with respect to the results coming out of Region 10 and in particular in<\/p>\n<p>Kwakwani. <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:l20 level1 lfo26;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;>Contact was made by our officials with GECOM officials<\/p>\n<p>and we were advised to await the final count, and official declaration. <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:l20 level1 lfo26;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;>A series of letters were exchanged between the AFC and<\/p>\n<p>GECOM on this issue. <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:l20 level1 lfo26;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;>An Elections Petition No. 464-P was filed on the 17<sup>th<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>November, 2006 (within the statutory period for doing so) after it was realised<\/p>\n<p>that the anomaly would not be rectified. <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:l20 level1 lfo26;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;>The Petition relies on the Certified copies of the<\/p>\n<p>Statements of Poll and not some &#8220;defaced&#8221; document as claimed by the<\/p>\n<p>PPP\/C. <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:l20 level1 lfo26;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;>The Certified Statements of Poll show that the AFC won<\/p>\n<p>the seat. <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:l20 level1 lfo26;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;>At a meeting held on January 12, 2007 with the<\/p>\n<p>Chairman of GECOM and Mr. Calvin Benn (who was acting as Chief Election<\/p>\n<p>Officer) at which an explanation was provided as to how the seat was wrongly<\/p>\n<p>declared in favour of the PPP\/C. <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:l20 level1 lfo26;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;>The matter has not been determined since. <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:l20 level1 lfo26;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;>The Electoral Assistance Bureau and other Observers<\/p>\n<p>have accepted, and noted the error made. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>It is disturbing that after filing every<\/p>\n<p>conceivable application in Court to have the Petition thrown out, the PPP\/C has<\/p>\n<p>finally decided to break its silence on this issue with a response that is<\/p>\n<p>riddled with half truths. We are prepared to exhibit the Statements of Poll<\/p>\n<p>that were certified by the Chief Elections Officer and which we are using to<\/p>\n<p>establish and prove beyond a shadow of all doubt that the people of Region 10<\/p>\n<p>chose the AFC and not the PPP\/C to represent them in the National Assembly.<\/p>\n<p>These are not fabrications. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>As to The PPP being appalled that I, a lawyer<\/p>\n<p>by profession, made statements about &#8220;seat squatting&#8221; while the<\/p>\n<p>matter is in Court&#8221; my response is that I am neither impressed nor<\/p>\n<p>intimidated, and am prepared to be jailed if necessary in pursuit of the truth<\/p>\n<p>and justice. Incidentally, is this the same PPP\/C that condemned the ruling on<\/p>\n<p>a <i>voir dire of an East Coast Magistrate <\/i><u>before<\/u> the matter was<\/p>\n<p>concluded? We will continue to fight for justice and fairness. We are<\/p>\n<p>persecuted but not forsaken; cast down but not destroyed. It has been four<\/p>\n<p>years of hard fighting and persecution, but we are confident that we will not<\/p>\n<p>be forsaken and that our reward will be great. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-11-8: AFC Column &#8211; THE<\/p>\n<p>AWAKENING OF CIVIL SOCIETY IS A CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION! bu Raphael Trotman, 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'>As the week ended on the latest revelations<\/p>\n<p>of torture committed against the Leonora youth and others held at that station,<\/p>\n<p>we have seen a flurry of activity on the government side, with the usual<\/p>\n<p>grandstanding and platitudes about &#8220;full force of the law&#8221; to be<\/p>\n<p>applied etc. The PPP General Secretary, true to form, linked the recent<\/p>\n<p>guerrilla type attack on police stations, the High Court and a High School to<\/p>\n<p>Opposition and media pressure which he claims has emboldened the criminals. We<\/p>\n<p>know Mr. Ramotar to be a reasonably intelligent man, and have to say, that even<\/p>\n<p>he must be surprised and shocked at this balderdash coming from his mouth. But,<\/p>\n<p>this is Guyana and the usual blame throwing and name calling will start, and<\/p>\n<p>the people, who are suffering, will be ignored by the administration, and there<\/p>\n<p>will be photo opportunities and threats to use &#8220;lethal force&#8221; and<\/p>\n<p>routing out &#8220;terrorists&#8221; so as to calm the frightened and confused<\/p>\n<p>people and to convince the Norwegians that Guyana is a stable and thriving<\/p>\n<p>democratic state. The administration itself has done a good job of creating the<\/p>\n<p>madness and mayhem and the images seen internationally of Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Most heartening for the week was the various<\/p>\n<p>initiatives taken by members of civil society; some of whom have started to<\/p>\n<p>find their voices and legs, while others remain in hiding even in the face of<\/p>\n<p>this atrocity. The AFC therefore hails the work of the Guyana Bar Association,<\/p>\n<p>the Catholic Church, the Private Sector Commission, Red Thread and other<\/p>\n<p>organizers of the Friday vigil outside the Public Hospital, and the scores of<\/p>\n<p>organisations and decent citizens who put pen to paper and vented their outrage<\/p>\n<p>at the assault of a child, and have called for a change in the way this country<\/p>\n<p>is governed. The struggle continues, and the AFC will join and give support to the<\/p>\n<p>struggle as it has done in the past when atrocities have been committed against<\/p>\n<p>the citizens of Guyana. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Extracts of a letter written by Party Leader,<\/p>\n<p>Raphael Trotman, calling on civil society to speak out against the<\/p>\n<p>victimization of citizens and the disregard for the rule of law by this<\/p>\n<p>administration are set out for emphasis and from all reports, has been well<\/p>\n<p>received and is being responded to: <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>AFC SAYS RECENT TORTURE INCIDENT CREATS A<\/p>\n<p>DEFINING MOMENT FOR CIVIL SOCIETY <\/span><\/u><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Recent revelations of the barbaric torture of<\/p>\n<p>a child by ranks of the Guyana Police Force have had a chilling and devastating<\/p>\n<p>effect on the minds of most Guyanese, yet there remains an eerie silence from<\/p>\n<p>the non-political leaders in our society. Those, who we would have expected to<\/p>\n<p>speak out and stand up against the continuous brutalization of citizens by<\/p>\n<p>members of the coercive arm of the state. In the past, when details of similar<\/p>\n<p>tortures against citizens:-Leander, Wilson, Sumner, Robertson, Jones, Dunn and<\/p>\n<p>Edwin Niles (who died after being similarly burnt and tortured) were revealed<\/p>\n<p>to the public, &#8220;civil society&#8221; sat back, and for the most part,<\/p>\n<p>remained silent. The AFC believes that we cannot achieve change and<\/p>\n<p>transformation if only the political parties, the GHRA, Red Thread, and a few<\/p>\n<p>voices remain the only ones being heard on these issues. This silence of the<\/p>\n<p>religious organisations and their priests, pastors, pundits, and imams, the<\/p>\n<p>social organisations, youth clubs and organisations, the United Nations<\/p>\n<p>Association of Guyana, the ex-police officers association, and ex-members of<\/p>\n<p>the disciplined services, other associations of business and manufacturing, and<\/p>\n<p>leading citizens in our society, is what makes this administration, and these<\/p>\n<p>psychopaths who are state actors, bold and brazen enough to do what they do to<\/p>\n<p>other human beings who are Guyanese. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The getting together of a few dozen lawyers<\/p>\n<p>to protest the torture and general denial of rights of persons held for<\/p>\n<p>questioning, is a good start, but this start must proceed in the beginning,<\/p>\n<p>without the usual high-pitched political screams for justice and the respect<\/p>\n<p>for the basic human rights of citizens coming from just the political parties<\/p>\n<p>to whom the brunt of protest has been shunted. Speaking for the AFC, we will<\/p>\n<p>support any people&#8217;s initiative that stands up to confront and defeats<\/p>\n<p>this scourge. We want to see how the rest of society reacts and responds in the<\/p>\n<p>main. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The torture of this teenager, followed by the<\/p>\n<p>silence of so-called &#8216;civil society&#8217;, is a defining moment for<\/p>\n<p>them. The Oxford Dictionary describes this condition as<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;sufferance&#8221; where silence can be interpreted to mean &#8220;tacit<\/p>\n<p>consent&#8221; or &#8220;toleration&#8221;. Everyone wants to wash their hands<\/p>\n<p>and pass the responsibility to the politicians by asking &#8220;What are you<\/p>\n<p>going to do about this&#8221;. I believe that we are all involved and are going<\/p>\n<p>to be consumed at this rate, and that it is cowardice that keeps those who have<\/p>\n<p>a moral duty to speak out, silent. So I, and the AFC, are now asking<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;civil society&#8217; what have you to say and what will you be doing<\/p>\n<p>about this latest atrocity? I reiterate some of the words that I recently<\/p>\n<p>addressed to the heads of the disciplined forces, and which I had borrowed from<\/p>\n<p>a former US President: &#8220;there comes a time in the affairs of men (and<\/p>\n<p>women) when they must prepare to defend not their homes alone but the tenets of<\/p>\n<p>faith and humanity on which their churches, their governments, and their very<\/p>\n<p>civilization are founded.&#8221; I say that that time is now. We are waiting to<\/p>\n<p>see whether the Guyana Bar Association and other professional associations will<\/p>\n<p>take this matter further and whether for once, the initiative will not have to<\/p>\n<p>be begun and sustained by the political opposition, but rather, will see us all<\/p>\n<p>standing side, by side, as we confront and defeat the evil within our society. <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><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-11-15: AFC Column &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>Uncanny Similarities between Mozambique and Guyana by Sheila Holder, MP <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Purpose of my visit to Mozambique <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>During the last few weeks I was in Mozambique<\/p>\n<p>at the invitation of the Commonwealth Secretary General, Mr. Kamalesh Sharma,<\/p>\n<p>to observe the October 28, 2009 National and Provincial elections. The<\/p>\n<p>Commonwealth Observer Group, of which I was a member was asked to determine in<\/p>\n<p>our own judgement whether the elections were conducted according to the<\/p>\n<p>democratic standards to which the country had committed itself. More on this<\/p>\n<p>will be said at a later time. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Africa Is Awe Inspiring <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I had heard it said many times but could now<\/p>\n<p>attest to its truth having visited the continent of Africa twice &#8211; Africa<\/p>\n<p>is awe inspiring. The first thing that struck me as the Mozambican airline<\/p>\n<p>approached Maputo, the capital city, was the symmetry of the green foliage tops<\/p>\n<p>of thousands of huge majestic trees that commanded one&#8217;s attention from<\/p>\n<p>the air. What trees could those be, I wondered, and soon found out they were<\/p>\n<p>the familiar mangoes trees. The mango tree must be indigenous to Mozambique<\/p>\n<p>because they dominate the landscape, and are the largest and the healthiest<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ve seen anywhere in the world. Most all of the trees were laden with<\/p>\n<p>thousands of green mango fruits. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Next to every house in the cities I visited<\/p>\n<p>mango trees stood like sentinels watching over them. In every rural village I<\/p>\n<p>visited mangoes trees were too numerous to count scattered around magnificently<\/p>\n<p>in large open communal spots and next to every homestead that was constructed<\/p>\n<p>predominantly with high peeked grass roofs on top of traditional mud-brick<\/p>\n<p>houses from an era I thought had long disappeared. It is the way millions of<\/p>\n<p>Mozambicans live even as concrete skyscrapers are surprisingly the main<\/p>\n<p>accommodation for people and businesses in the cities. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Mozambique was colonised by the Portuguese<\/p>\n<p>who left their architectural mark throughout this mountainous &#8216;red<\/p>\n<p>loam&#8217; land of 799, 380 sq km. The road design of main thoroughfares is<\/p>\n<p>distinctive for their future growth potential of wide streets and avenues that<\/p>\n<p>would have been constructed during the period of colonization. The population<\/p>\n<p>size is approximately twenty-three million with a literacy rate about 55%. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Uncanny Similarities between Mozambique<\/p>\n<p>and Guyana <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>I couldn&#8217;t help but observe that there<\/p>\n<p>were a few uncanny similarities between Mozambique and Guyana from the social,<\/p>\n<p>political and administrative perspectives. For instance, the once orderly municipal<\/p>\n<p>designs of their cities is being overrun by haphazard construction creating<\/p>\n<p>problems for the development of internal community roadways and the<\/p>\n<p>installation of utility services. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Even though the economy of Mozambique has<\/p>\n<p>shown resilience in the face of the global economic down turn, and boasts a<\/p>\n<p>strong macro economic stability record with real average GDP of 7.6% for the<\/p>\n<p>last four years, in the city of Nampula &#8211; where I travelled extensively there<\/p>\n<p>was evidence of poor governance. There were no fire hydrants, and inadequate<\/p>\n<p>fire fighting equipment so people stand and look on helplessly while their<\/p>\n<p>homes and businesses burn to the ground. Garbage littered the place wherever I<\/p>\n<p>went indicating the need for civic education of the people and a more efficient<\/p>\n<p>solid waste disposal system. I also noticed that there was limited access to<\/p>\n<p>potable water for the three million people living in the province of Nampula,<\/p>\n<p>most of whom exist way below the poverty margin. In discussion with the General<\/p>\n<p>Secretary of the ruling party, he acknowledged this was indeed one of the<\/p>\n<p>challenges facing his government. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The Two Main Political Parties Were At War<\/p>\n<p>For Decades <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The domestic politics of Mozambique have been<\/p>\n<p>dominated by the ruling party Frente de Libertacao (Frelimo) and the opposition<\/p>\n<p>party called Resistencia Nacional de Mozambique (Renamo) since the peace accord<\/p>\n<p>in Rome on the 4<sup>th<\/sup> October 1992. The latter is in disarray and<\/p>\n<p>appears destined to be eclipsed by the six month old challenger named Movimento<\/p>\n<p>Democratico de Mozambique (MDM). The MDM is being seen as providing much needed<\/p>\n<p>direction and dynamism to Mozambique&#8217;s political culture and has been<\/p>\n<p>welcomed by the people. However; a concerted effort is being made to thwart its<\/p>\n<p>political efforts in an environment of declining voter turnout as a result of<\/p>\n<p>the people&#8217;s withdrawal from the political process that has failed them<\/p>\n<p>since the introduction of a multi party system. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Significant Observation by Commonwealth<\/p>\n<p>Observer Group <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>The observer group was comprised of eleven<\/p>\n<p>eminent persons mainly from Africa but also one each from Malaysia, Bangladesh,<\/p>\n<p>the UK and Jamaica in the field of academia, experts in elections, members of<\/p>\n<p>civil society engaged in advocacy for democracy, a youth activist, and two<\/p>\n<p>politicians, one from Africa and yours truly. The group was led by Dr. Ahmad<\/p>\n<p>Kabbah, former President of Sierra Leone. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the recently concluded National and<\/p>\n<p>Provincial Assembly elections that were run off on the proportional<\/p>\n<p>Representation (PR) system, the National Elections Commission (CNE)<\/p>\n<p>disqualified the fledgling party MDM from participating in the Presidential<\/p>\n<p>race as well as several other parties from participating in the provincial<\/p>\n<p>elections. This being so even though several of them had successfully met the<\/p>\n<p>electoral requirements in previous multi party national elections. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>In the Interim statement issued on October<\/p>\n<p>30, 2009 by Dr. Kabbah, Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group, it was<\/p>\n<p>pointed out that the impact of the limited choices offered to voters for both<\/p>\n<p>the National and Provincial Assembly elections was <b><i>&#8216;most acutely<\/p>\n<p>illustrated by the fact that Frelimo, the ruling party, was unopposed in more<\/p>\n<p>than 60 of the 141 constituencies for the 10 Provincial Assemblies&#8217;. <\/i><\/b>The<\/p>\n<p>ruling party, Frelimo, is expected to win the elections, the results of which<\/p>\n<p>have not been declared so far. However, legally, CNE has as much as 23 days to<\/p>\n<p>tabulate and declare the results. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>GECOM Must Be Watched More Carefully <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Having witnessed such a development, I<\/p>\n<p>believe it would be remiss of me not to remind readers, that here at home, the<\/p>\n<p>Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) remains heavily politicized. According to<\/p>\n<p>the Carter\/Price formula, GECOM ought to have been composed of Commissioners<\/p>\n<p>proposed by parties in the National Assembly but it does not. Even though the<\/p>\n<p>Guyana Constitution mandates that the Commissioners be independent, the<\/p>\n<p>evidence suggests otherwise. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>Given the difficulties the AFC has<\/p>\n<p>experienced in getting GECOM to adhere to a High Court ruling on<\/p>\n<p>Scrutineer&#8217;s funds; to treat with the AFC as an entity in its own right;<\/p>\n<p>given it took three years for GECOM to put into effect the replacement<\/p>\n<p>AFC&#8217;s Region No. 8 Councillor who had resigned; and given the error GECOM<\/p>\n<p>made (according to its own Statements of Poll) in tabulating the votes in<\/p>\n<p>Region No 10, a more watchful eye must be placed on GECOM &#8211; perhaps more<\/p>\n<p>now than ever before. In closing I urge you to fulfil your civic duty and<\/p>\n<p>collect your ID card as soon as possible. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-11-22: AFC Column &#8211;<\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;>To take care of our children is to take<\/p>\n<p>care of our future By Pastor Sewnauth Punalall (MBS) Executive Member AFC <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On November 19, a special day was observed<\/p>\n<p>internationally. It was World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse and the 19th<\/p>\n<p>Anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child. The World Health<\/p>\n<p>Organisation&#8217;s Violence &amp; Injury Team defines child abuse as<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;causing or permitting any harmful or offensive contact on a<\/p>\n<p>child&#8217;s body; and, any communication or transaction of any kind which<\/p>\n<p>humiliates, shames or frightens the child&#8221;. UNICEF&#8217;s fact sheet<\/p>\n<p>describes the terms of the Convention of the Rights of the Child in the<\/p>\n<p>following words &#8220;The Convention on the Rights of the Child is an<\/p>\n<p>international treaty that recognizes the human rights of children, defined as<\/p>\n<p>persons up to the age of 18 years. The Convention establishes in international<\/p>\n<p>law that States Parties must ensure that all children&#8212;without<\/p>\n<p>discrimination in any form&#8212; benefit from special protection measures and<\/p>\n<p>assistance; have access to services such as education and health care; can<\/p>\n<p>develop their personalities, abilities and talents to the fullest potential;<\/p>\n<p>grow up in an environment of happiness, love and understanding; and are<\/p>\n<p>informed about and participate in, achieving their rights in an accessible and<\/p>\n<p>active manner&#8221;. From this description one can see that this treaty seeks<\/p>\n<p>to ensure the child&#8217;s wellbeing in almost every way. It is crucial to<\/p>\n<p>note also that the foregoing contents were not hurriedly put together by the<\/p>\n<p>uneducated or unconcerned. Rather UNICEF&#8217;s fact sheet enlightens us on<\/p>\n<p>the genesis of the foregoing standards in these clear words, &#8220;The<\/p>\n<p>standards in the Convention on the Rights of the Child were negotiated by<\/p>\n<p>governments, non-governmental organizations, human rights advocates, lawyers,<\/p>\n<p>health specialists, social workers, educators, child development experts and<\/p>\n<p>religious leaders from all over the world, over a 10-year period&#8221;. Guyana<\/p>\n<p>became a signatory to this treaty on Sept 30, 1990, and is therefore required<\/p>\n<p>by international law to abide by its terms. On Oct 31 the Guyanese public awoke<\/p>\n<p>to the sordid news that a 14-year-old was burnt around his lower abdomen and<\/p>\n<p>genitals whilst in police custody at the Leonora Police Station. A graphic<\/p>\n<p>picture carried on the front page of Kaieteur News told the story. The teen was<\/p>\n<p>held there as part of a probe into a murder and in their effort to extract<\/p>\n<p>information from this lad it is alleged that the police committed this act of<\/p>\n<p>torture. It looks like they were acting as the judge, jury and the executioner.<\/p>\n<p>Not so long ago a tape recording surfaced where it is alleged that a well known<\/p>\n<p>employee of the president&#8217;s office was soliciting sex from a minor. These<\/p>\n<p>and other examples of child abuse have not helped the image or the citizens of<\/p>\n<p>our country. There are those who try to rationalise such abuses by saying that<\/p>\n<p>the &#8220;child will grow it out&#8221; or &#8220;time will heal the<\/p>\n<p>situation&#8221; or &#8220;this is all part of growing up&#8221;. We wish if it<\/p>\n<p>were this easy but unfortunately it is a much more complex situation. Child<\/p>\n<p>development experts hold the scholarly view that an abused child will be more<\/p>\n<p>inclined to lie, resent, fear and retaliate instead of being loving, trusting<\/p>\n<p>and listening. An abused child has a lower self esteem. An abused child&#8217;s<\/p>\n<p>psychological development is affected. An abused child can grow up to be an<\/p>\n<p>abuser or a recluse. It follows from these learned observations that an abused<\/p>\n<p>child can be severely damaged, especially when one considers the various types<\/p>\n<p>of abuse which a child can endure. There is emotional abuse which takes the<\/p>\n<p>shape of verbal, mental or psychological maltreatment. There is physical abuse<\/p>\n<p>which is the inflicting of physical injury upon a child. There is sexual abuse<\/p>\n<p>which is engaging the child in inappropriate sexual behaviour. There is neglect<\/p>\n<p>which is failure to provide for the child&#8217;s basic needs. In many<\/p>\n<p>instances children suffer from a combination of these various types of abuses.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore to simply brush this problem under the carpet is not the answer. The<\/p>\n<p>AFC recognizes that our human resource is of extreme importance to<\/p>\n<p>Guyana&#8217;s development and that our children will be the men and women of<\/p>\n<p>tomorrow. Therefore we need today to invest in them educationally, morally,<\/p>\n<p>culturally and nutritionally. There are numerous poor and vulnerable communities<\/p>\n<p>across our country where children become easy victims of abuse. We call on the<\/p>\n<p>authorities of the day to do more to reduce poverty across our land. The<\/p>\n<p>Poverty Reduction Strategy Programme (PRSP) came and is now something of the<\/p>\n<p>past but there is more poverty now than the pre-PRSP days. We all know that<\/p>\n<p>parental and situational factors contribute to a child&#8217;s development. A<\/p>\n<p>child spends time at home, at school, in travelling, in recreational<\/p>\n<p>organisations, in religious organisations and many other places. The AFC<\/p>\n<p>urgently calls on every adult to strive to create an environment of happiness,<\/p>\n<p>love and understanding for all the children of Guyana for &#8220;Lo, children<\/p>\n<p>are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb&#8230;&#8221; To take<\/p>\n<p>care of our children is to take care of our future. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><u><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>2009-11-09: <\/span><\/u><\/b><b><span<\/p>\n<p>style=&#8217;font-size:13.5pt;color:blue&#8217;>AFC Delegation meets with The US State<\/p>\n<p>Department <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>On November 20, 2009 members of the NY\/NJ-<\/p>\n<p>AFC met with the US State Dept. During the meeting several very important<\/p>\n<p>issues affecting the Guyanese people and the Guyana-USA relationship were<\/p>\n<p>discussed. These included crime, security, drug trafficking, governmental<\/p>\n<p>corruption, human rights violations (the dossier on torture was presented as<\/p>\n<p>well as other relevant documents). The meeting went very well and similar<\/p>\n<p>meetings are planned with other officials and agencies. <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>2008-1-6: An Increasing De-democratisation by Khemraj Ramjattan Before I proceed to deal with the matters I wish to raise, let me wish each and everyone of my countrymen a happy new year. Of course it will not be easy. Major price hikes in almost everything from food items and electricity bills and transportation costs will [&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-2648","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-GI","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2648","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=2648"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2648\/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=2648"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2648"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/afcguyana.com\/afcnew\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2648"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}