Guyana Focus
The PPP/C was last out of the gate in naming the party's General Secretary, Donald Ramotar as its Presidential candidate earlier this week to replace outgoing President Bharat Jagdeo, who is constitutionally ineligible for re-election.
Late last year, the Alliance for Change (AFC) surprisingly named Khemraj Ramjattan, former PPP/C Member of Parliament and executive committee member as its candidate, replacing Donald Trotman who was the candidate in the 2006 elections. In February, the PNC/R named former army chief, David Granger as its candidate in a close, controversial vote.
Arguably, all three leading parties have had challenges coming up with a candidate. In the case of the AFC, Ramjattan was apparently chosen over the more charismatic Trotman after reportedly criticizing his colleague in public in the midst of friction between the two founding members that stemmed from disagreements to honor a rotation agreement which would have seen Ramjattan take over as the AFC leader from Trotman. In the end, Ramjattan's backers had the upper hand and Trotman even refused to accept nomination as Prime Ministerial candidate.
But selecting the PNC/R presidential candidate was much more colorful. Granger defeated former Minister of Finance, Carl Greenidge by a narrow 15 vote margin, following three recounts of a total of 666 votes cast. His victory was marred by allegations of ballot rigging and other irregularities, creating the potential for internal strife within the party. Incidentally, Greenidge was initially announced the winner, only to be replaced by Granger after the recounts.
Granger's nomination was supported by former Presidential candidate and party leader, Robert Corbin who chose not to run for the office. Incidentally, Corbin who led the PNC to a poor performance in the 2006 elections is popular among the party's grass-root membership but is less favored by its urban, middle class members whom Granger supposedly represents. Three other candidates, attorneys-at-law Basil Williams and James Bond, and educator Dr. Faith Harding, vied unsuccessfully for the position.
When it comes to the PPP/C, the choice of Ramotar was not a surprise, although his selection has been extremely challenging for the party. For several months prior, there has been intense speculation and lobbying by five possible candidates, including current Speaker of the House Ralph Ramkarran; the party's general secretary Donald Ramotar; former MP Moses Nagamootoo, current Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud; and current Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee vying for the position. However, Nagamootoo did not make the final nomination list, while the other candidates withdrew from the race to allow the unanimous selection of Ramotar.
Arguably, this allowed the PPP/C as a party to come out unscathed in the public's eye but concerns over the nomination process, which has been in the limelight over the past year, remain haunting. Allegations of influence peddling and dictatorial mandating of the chosen candidate have persisted among some competing candidates and party members. Unlike the other parties which elect the Presidential candidate through the delegate voting process, the PPP/C's candidate is chosen through secret ballot by the party's 35-member Central Committee.
Earlier press reports indicated that Nagamootoo would have liked the selection process to be more democratic, involving rank and file party members, whereas Ramotar did not object to the current method; while Ramkarran would have preferred secret rather than open voting. Persaud, a relative of Jagdeo, apparently did not have a stance and was lucky to be injected into the nomination process as a wildcard candidate.
Interest in the PPP/C candidate has been greatest because Jagdeo's replacement would most likely come from this party. Under the country's constitution, the party that secures the most votes at the general elections gets to name the President. It is hard to envision that the PPP/C would not get the most votes – even if it does not form the government, which is another unlikely scenario.
With the election on the horizon, the focus of the opposition will most likely be on defeating the PPP/C through a coalition of opposition parties. The PNC/R has indicated that it remains committed to a broad opposition coalition and Granger has signaled his willingness to lead a coalition into the upcoming general elections. Whether the PNC/R can influence a significant coalition is doubtful but politics breeds strange bedfellows. The main task that Granger would have is to defend his role, if any, in the army's seizure of the ballot boxes during the violent 1973 elections.
Although coalition talks are not yet known, there were several developments last year. Then, four parties – the PNC/R, the Working People's Alliance, the Guyana Action Party and the National Front Alliance – announced the formation of the Joint Opposition Political Parties (JOPP).
The AFC, which at one time was leaning towards the formation of a People's Partnership, refused to join ranks with the JOPP. This party, which believes it can win the elections on its own, evidently does not want to taint its agenda by aligning itself with previously failed parties. On the other hand, the AFC indicated that it would consider a coalition platform that includes various opposition parties, members of economic, labour and civil society groups and defectors from the PPP/C.
Once the official elections date is announced, any number of fringe parties can emerge as potential coalition partners. In 2006, some 34 fringe parties mushroomed around election time. Among the confusing array of the more popular party acronyms were WPA, ROAR, GAP, JFAP, UP, VG, GGG, TUF, PDM, NFA and NDM. The WPA, ROAR and TUF are the only parties that previously held parliamentary seats but their roles have been insignificant.
By the time elections came around, only 10 parties were left - the AFC, the Guyana Action Party-Rise Organise and Rebuild (GAP-ROAR alliance), the Guyana National Congress (GNC), the Justice For All Party (JFAP), the Liberal Democrats (LD), the National Democratic Front (NDF), the PNC/R, the PPP/C, the People's Republic Party (PRP) and The United Force (TUF).
Whatever the number of fringe parties or potential coalition partners that emerge, the PPP/C which earlier appeared weaker may have acquired renewed strength in the absence of formidable opposition. Plus, given the history of elections in Guyana since the return of democracy in 1992, the cards have been stacked in favour of the PPP/C, in spite of a declining number of traditional East Indian supporters; a strong underground anti-PPP/C movement with international connections; and a concerted effort by joint opposition forces to threaten the dominance of the party.
For now, Guyanese will have to wait and see. There is no doubt that all of the significant political parties have engineered discontent and internal rifts that could weaken their position. The question will be: can any of the parties secure a majority of the votes to form a government? The answer is probably yes, in favor of the PPP/C.
presidential candidate
Georgetown — Donald Ramotar, PPP General Secretary, has been elected by consensus to be the presidential candidate to lead the ruling PPPC into the upcoming general elections.
According to media reports this was officially confirmed last Monday at a news briefing following a meeting of the party's Central Committee (CC) at Freedom House. The decision of the CC will be formally endorsed by three county conferences.
Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon, who chairs the party's selection process, said Ramotar was unanimously identified as the presidential candidate, demerarawaves.com reported. Luncheon said "This consensual choice reflects the party leadership's commitment." He pointed out that no voting was required because the other three other candidates, Gail Teixeira, Clement Rohee and Ralph Ramkarran withdrew. According to Dr. Luncheon, they would have gone the route of secret balloting if there had been a contest. He added that all three recommitted to work for victory at the polls.
"The magnanimity and astuteness of the candidates who withdrew was hailed. There was a full and unimpeded opportunity for the candidates to reach out and make their case," Luncheon said.
Ramotar's victory was not unexpected as it seemed he had gained the support of President Bharat Jagdeo and was accompanying the president on his recent overseas trips. Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran was also widely touted and it is felt in some quarters that he would have triumphed if the party had gone the route of secret balloting to identify its candidate.
Ramotar has been serving in the political arena for more than four decades and has been the General Secretary of the party since March 29, 1997, succeeding Cheddi Jagan, who had died earlier in the month. At the PPP's 29th Congress, he was re-elected to its Central Committee, on August 2, 2008, receiving the fourth highest number of votes. Following the Congress, he was re-elected by the Central Committee as General Secretary on August 12, 2008, without opposition.
Ramotar's election is almost certain to mark the commencement of Guyana's general election campaign. The main opposition Peoples National Congress Reform has elected retired army Brigadier David Granger as its presidential candidate, while the Alliance For Change was the first to identify its presidential candidate, lawyer Khemraj Ramjattan.
major deposit found at Aurora
Georgetown — Guyana Goldfields Inc., a Canadian company which has been conducting explorations in Guyana since 1996, announced that it has come across significant gold deposits at its Aurora site and will be plugging almost US$150M into the country over the next 20 years. This was disclosed by its President and Chief Operations Officer, Claude Lemasson, during a presentation at the Pegasus hotel on March 24 last. The company executive said that the latest studies, have estimated more than six million ounces of high grade gold at Aurora, an area in Cuyuni in the north western region of Guyana, known for mining activities.
The company stated that its capital outlay will represent the largest single investment in the gold mining industry in Guyana, and the expected output will surpass that of Omai Gold Mines, a large scale gold mining company which shut down its Guyana operations several years ago. The project is expected to generate almost 500 jobs and will see the introduction of underground mining locally. A small hydro project is also on the cards to meet the electricity needs of the project. This is expected to provide 100% of the power needs for the Aurora Gold Mine, in keeping with Guyana's Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). The 15MW hydro electric facility, named the Julian Ross/Itabu Hydro Project, has been proposed to be built along the Cuyuni River.
Lemasson pointed out that since starting exploration operations in Guyana some 15 years ago, the company has already invested US$86M.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who is performing the duties of President, and Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Francois Montour, were among several high profile invitees to the presentation including other diplomats, mining officials and bankers.
According to Lemasson, the investments, when taken in the context of the Economic Value to the Nation (EVN) of US dollar per hectare, will easily eclipse the Norway deal which gives US$250M over a five-year period for Guyana to leave its forest standing, Kaieteur News (KN) reported. Lemasson stressed that the company is mindful of its corporate responsibility already doling out $50M to various projects, including water wells and Bartica Commemoration Monument, KN reported.
Guyana Goldfields has over four sites covering 500,000 acres which were all being explored. In addition to Aurora, there are operations at Aranka, Peters Mine and Arakaka. Another site, the Sulphur Rose deposit, located not far from the Cuyuni River, is estimated to yield around 460,000 ounces of gold.
Lemasson stated that his company has a recovery rate of extracting gold at 96% and is geared to stay in line with the country's LCDS.
Currently, the company employs 250 persons and contractors as it moves from exploration at the Aurora site to developmental mode. For this year, Guyana Goldfields will be spending around US$40M for exploration and pre-development. During 2012-2013, the focus will be on surface development and more construction, with some US$325M being spent. Between 2014 and 2015, attention will be paid to constructing the underground mines for which an estimated US$175M is earmarked. Over US$40M will be spent for operational costs and ongoing explorations in the following years.
Guyana Goldfields Inc is traded on the TSX.
Luncheon defends 'thank you
gift' from Chinese company
Georgetown — Facing criticisms for the government receiving a 'gift' from Chinese business entity, Huawei Technologies Company Limited, Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon defended the administration's affiliation with the company stating that the two shared a working relationship long before the One Laptop Per Family Project.
Luncheon said that some sections of the media in their recent criticisms of a gift of US$50,000 received from the company had exposed "reckless hostility". He added that the administration will not be deterred by critics and will remain steadfast in its pursuit.
Luncheon told media operatives that under the project some 50,000 families will receive laptops this year and the remaining will be distributed over a three-year period. He further stressed that the gift was used to provide a benefit for many persons across the country.
He pointed out that the Government and the company have been working for a long time now in the delivery of an improved information and communication technologies (ICT) sector in Guyana as well as improvement of bandwidth. He also described Huawei Technologies as a top ranking company in its field.
The US$50,000 "thank you gift" from Huawei Technologies to the Guyana Government after being awarded a US$14 million contract to lay fibre-optic cables here, had raised questions about the propriety of such transactions.
Guyana's produce
Georgetown — Trinidad and Tobago is interested in buying copra and constructing a coconut oil mill in Guyana as well as purchasing beef and mutton from Guyana.
This was announced recently by the Ministry of Agriculture which also stated that Minister Robert Persaud had met with Trinidad and Tobago's Minister of Food Production, Land and Marine Affairs, Vasant Bharath, in Port of Spain two Fridays ago. The release added that among the issues discussed was greater access to that market by Guyana's produce including the supply of rice and other agricultural produce from Guyana.
"He also met with importers of rice and other agricultural produce. During the meeting with the importers issues such as the request by the Trinidadian authorities for the removal of pineapple crowns from pineapples and the stems from peppers before they are shipped to Trinidad were raised. Removal of the crowns and stems from these products shorten their shelf lives, and makes them deteriorate faster. The Trinidadian authorities have given a commitment to address these issues," the ministry disclosed in a statement.
Concerning the interest shown by the Trinidadian businessmen for beef and mutton from Guyana, the ministry reported that "Minister Persaud told the businessmen that these two products are part of Guyana's agricultural diversification programme. He informed the meeting that Guyana was certified Free of Foot and Mouth Disease (without vaccination) from the OIE (International Office of Epizootics) and that Guyana is ready to export beef and mutton to Trinidad."
Guyana has facilitated three teams from Trinidad and Tobago to visit and inspect the facilities here since 2006. In December that year, Minister Persaud had written to then Trinidadian Agriculture Minister, Jarrett Narine, seeking greater access to the Trinidadian market. "As a result of subsequent interventions by Minister Persaud, the list of admissible produce from Guyana to Trinidad increased from 6 to 22 (inclusive of rice, rice products and wood)," the ministry noted.
Coconut water is currently being bottled in the Pomeroon by a Trinidadian firm for the Trinidad and Tobago Agri-Business Association (TTABA). Guyana also currently exports beef to Grenada, another CARICOM country.
General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board, Jagnarine Singh accompanied the Minister on the trip.
Georgetown — A mining agreement geared at reopening manganese mining at Matthews Ridge was signed two Thursdays ago by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Major General (rtd) Joe Singh, who is the new Chairman for the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, and Executive Chairman of Reunion Manganese Incorporated, David Fennel at the Office of the Prime Minister.
The 25-year agreement for the mining operation is deemed to be on a small scale at this time but the Prime Minister said that it is hopeful that enough reserve of the mineral is found to expand operations, Kaieteur News (KN) reported.
Fennel noted that the company has been in negotiations with the Guyana Government ever since last year. He said that the company will adhere to regulations and intends to be a good corporate citizen, adding that the company intends to utilize modern technology to extract the mineral. He said he is confident that the venture will see the best days for mining for manganese at Matthews Ridge are still ahead.
Last September, the company obtained four prospecting licenses (PLs) to conduct exploration and development activities for manganese in the North West District of Guyana. The PLs cover an area of 45,729 acres and are centered in and around the abandoned manganese mine at Matthews Ridge and Pipiani which was operated by a subsidiary of Union Carbide Corporation from 1962 to 1968.
That company had closed its operations in 1968 mainly due to the large fall in the price of manganese at that time. During its operations the company had shipped in excess of 1.66 million tonnes of manganese concentrate from the mine site. At the time of the termination of mining activities in 1968, the known resources base was reported to be approximately 1 million tonnes of recoverable concentrate at 37 per cent Manganese. This amount was further increased to 3.6 million tonnes of 33.4 percent manganese recoverable concentrate, based on exploration studies conducted by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), and by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in 1985, who drilled five additional holes totaling 326 meters.
Georgetown — Six men, two armed with shotguns and the others with handguns, invaded Guyana Stockfeeds Limited at Farm, East Bank Demerara, last Thursday and made off with some $10.6M, along with personal cash, cell phones and other valuables from the employees, and a handgun.
The men made their way into the business premises at around 1:15 pm and held up Lorraine Adams, the private security guard on duty, relieving her of her service revolver, a .38 Taurus. They then proceeded to the main office where they held accounts clerk Seepaul Khaloo and seven other employees at gunpoint demanding that they hand over the money that was in the office.
The bandits were reportedly handed six deposit bags containing a total of $10,582,600 which had been prepared to be taken to a bank. The attackers also grabbed several personal items of the staffers before escaping by jumping through a small opening at the top of a door.
However, quick action by the police who set up road blocks led to the arrest nine persons in connection with the robbery. Two of the men were in the process of splitting the booty and going their separate ways when the police moved in. The men were found with almost $2M as they were heading towards the Diamond Sea Dam, where according to police, four suspects were arrested. A woman was also arrested at Grove Housing Scheme, EBD and her vehicle detained by the police, who arrested two other men at Grove Housing Scheme.
The police later recovered another sum of money in a yard at Cinema Street, Diamond, and arrested two more men who were found hiding among some bush in a swampy area at Diamond. The motor car suspected to have been used by the perpetrators in their getaway after the robbery, was found abandoned on the roadway at School Street, Diamond Housing Scheme. A 12-gauge pump action shotgun along with four matching cartridges and a laptop computer were recovered by the police in the vehicle. It is believed that the mastermind of the robbery made good his escape with the bulk of the booty.
Georgetown — The police shot Kevin Maloney, 27, of Kitty last Sunday. Maloney, according to the police is wanted in connection with the murder of Police Constable 20740 Vickram Singh. He is also suspected to be involved in last Thursday's robbery on the Guyana Stockfeeds Limited.
Maloney was shot once to the hip and to his right arm, by the police at around 3:00 pm at a creek on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital for treatment.
The police are alleging that Maloney was the "trigger man", who killed police recruit Constable Singh, last year July at the Joint Service Scheme.
However, Maloney's relatives are denying his involvement in any crime, claiming the police have been harassing him.
He was shot by the police in the shoulder almost two years ago after they accused him of attacking one of the lawmen with a knife.
Georgetown — Chrisendat Kalandawell, 41, of No 79 Village, Corentyne was stabbed to death last Sunday at around 6:30 pm by a man known in the area to be a trouble maker. His body had wounds to the neck, hand and foot. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Skeldon Hospital where he was taken. The suspect was captured in a nearby house and is in police custody pending charges.
Shortly before the stabbing the suspect was directing abusive language at Chrisendat in front of his home. Chrisendat left his home to purchase a Guiness when he was stabbed.
Georgetown — Three armed, masked bandits invaded the home of Shoba Jagdharry and robbed her at gunpoint of $80,000 in cash and $1.5M in jewellery last Saturday morning. The woman lived with her husband and son in their Corentyne home.
The robbery took place at around 2:00 am at Kilmarnack, Corentyne when Shobha Jagdharry, 46, was in the lower flat in her kitchen making roti. The bandits reportedly entered through an eastern door which was left open. Two of the men were armed with cutlasses while the other carried a gun. The men ordered Shobha to remain silent which she did, and demanded cash and jewellery. At the same time her husband, Azad Sakawat, a contractor, came downstairs through an internal stairway and was promptly confronted by the bandits who placed him to lie on the ground.
Two of the men then led the woman upstairs into her bedroom where they removed the jewellery from a black handbag. They then brought her back downstairs where they took the cash from a cupboard in the kitchen.
The bandits then took the woman and her husband to the back of the yard where they placed them to lie in a storeroom before making good their escape.
Georgetown — Police said that they recovered two firearms along with ammunition and spent shells that were left behind by the bandits who had earlier robbed 58-year old businessman, Godfrey Scipio, after beating him about his head and body with their guns causing him to be hospitalised.
Scipio, police said, had just parked his motor vehicle in front of his residence at around 9:30 pm last Friday when four armed men drove up alongside in a white Toyota Raum motor car. One of the men discharged a round in Scipio's direction after which they took away his personal jewellery and an undisclosed sum of cash and escaped in their vehicle. The police anti-crime patrols were alerted and intercepted the getaway vehicle on the Cummings Lodge Public Road, East Coast Demerara.
According to the police the men opened fire on them and one of their bullets passed through the front windscreen of the police patrol vehicle and lodged in the back seat. The police returned fire and the men jumped out and ran in the direction of the UG bus park. The police believe that they have wounded one of the men. It is believed the three men escaped by swimming across the canal aback of the University of Guyana into Sophia.
However, police arrested the driver of their getaway car and also detained the vehicle. The driver claimed he was kidnapped by the other men but police do not believe his story.
Georgetown — Three Guyanese are among five men who were arrested and charged in Barbados last Thursday with having over $13 million worth of cocaine.
It was one of the largest drug busts on the island in recent times. According to the Barbados Nation, a sting operation conducted by the Drug Squad at a Sunset Crest, St James residence last Thursday uncovered the drugs, which was concealed in a number of wooden pallets. The cocaine in powder form was estimated to weigh 94 pounds (42.8 kilos).
The Guyanese charged were Andrew McHennon, 30, of Georgetown; Surain Persad, 44, of West Bank Demerara; and Davanand Outar, 34, of East Bank Essequibo, while the Barbadians were Michael Forde, 30, unemployed, of Cemetery Lane, Road View, St Peter; Ryan Noel, 38, a security supervisor of Wavell Avenue, Black Rock, St Michael.
The five were expected to appear in the District "A" Magistrates' Court last Monday to answer charges of cocaine possession, trafficking and trafficking with intent to supply.
for Guyana gets approval
Georgetown — The second tranche of US$40 million under the agreement with Norway would be paid to Guyana because the country has kept within the limits of deforestation.
This was confirmed last Thursday night by Norway's Environment and International Development Minister, Erik Solheim during a press conference he shared with President Bharrat Jagdeo. This brings the total amount of money available to Guyana under the agreement signed between the two countries in November 2009, to US$70M as the first tranche of US$30 million has been already deposited into a special fund and is awaiting disbursement after projects would have been approved by a special committee formed for that purpose.
Under the agreement Guyana would receive a total of US$250M over a five year period from 2010 to 2015 if it keeps its deforestation levels under control.
Meanwhile the parliamentary opposition parties met with Norway's Environment Minister Erik Solheim and his team last Friday to air their concerns about the processes in place to ensure that the government utilises the funds in a transparent manner. Leader of the opposition, Robert Corbin, concluded that while they received no assurances from the Minister, they were satisfied with venting their feelings and would await to see how the World Bank carries out its stewardship. And AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan in a brief comment said that they had a "very fruitful" session where the party also mentioned a number of its concerns. He added that the Norwegian officials indicated that the World Bank, the IDB and the UNDP are the agents being utilised in Guyana since they did not wish to be "too involved politically."
In an apparent effort to tighten the accountability process a revised Joint Concept Note between Guyana and Norway calls for the government to establish a dedicated website to track all funds to be received and spent in connection with the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF).
"Information concerning all expenditures, both planned and implemented, will be publicly available on the relevant website of the Government of Guyana, and through national systems of public disclosure, including to the National Assembly," the Note outlines. It further states that the Guyana government will "by the end of April 2011 establish a dedicated website, containing an overview of all committed international funding for activities relevant to REDD+ and LCDS efforts in Guyana."
This will ensure easy access to transparent information on contributors to Guyana's REDD+ and LCDS efforts, the Note says, adding that the website will track pledges of funding, commitments of funding, and actual disbursements.
Meanwhile a group of 22 persons had sent letter to the Norway Minister prior to his visit asking him to delay the delivery of the funds under the MOU charging that there is a lack of transparency and inadequate verification.The Office of Climate Change (OCC) has responded that the letter is clearly written with the express intention of undermining the joint commitments of the governments of Norway and Guyana to an international effort to combat climate change through the funding of a Low Carbon Development Strategy. The OCC stated that "the letter is woefully short on facts and long on political rhetoric and, sadly, reveals a fundamental ignorance of the REDD+ model and its mechanisms." The OCC said the letter was sent by a group of persons known for their anti-government and destructive politics. The signatories to the letter include Khemraj Ramjattan, Janette Bulkan, Christopher Ram and Tarron Khemraj among others.
to build Amaila Hydro plant
Georgetown — Senior Vice President of Sithe Global, Rafael Herz, has reaffirmed that his company can successfully build the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Plant.
According to Kaieteur News (KN) Herz was responding to the fact that "Sithe Global" has never completed a hydropower plant and its only hydro electric project is the controversial Bujagali plant in Uganda. However, Herz pointed out that Sithe has existed since the early 1980s, but has gone through many mergers, acquisitions and name changes. He said that the immediate predecessor of Sithe Global was called Sithe Energies, which has completed a very challenging hydroelectric plant in the Philippines. He added that a colleague of his, who has worked with him on the Amaila Falls Plant, was project manager for the construction of the plant in the Philippines.
Herz went on to say that Sithe Energies has completed several smaller hydro electric plants in the US and added that the CEO of Sithe started his career by building and developing such facilities in that country.
Herz was previously Senior Vice President of Sithe Energies, with responsibility for the development, financing and acquisition of major gas and solid fuel electric generating facilities in Latin America.
Concerning the controversial Bujugali project, Herz insisted that that project will be finished soon, and "at some point, maybe the next time, we can maybe bring you some videos and show you the advancement of that project …it is a project that will be finalised," KN reported.
According to KN Sithe Global has two projects under construction – the controversial Bujagali Hydroelectric in Uganda, and the Mariveles Station, which is a 600 MW station on the Bataan Peninsula, on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. The Mariveles project, according to the company "will consist of two identical 300 MW power blocks using proven Pulverized Coal Combustion technology," KN reported.
The KN report added that apart from the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project the company has several projects "In Development" and none of them are Hydro Electric Projects. Listed are: Desert Rock Energy Project, Live Oaks Project, Meerwind Project, SG Sustainable Oils, Southdown Station Project, Teramo Project and the Toquop Project.
hands over assets to MOH
Georgetown — The International Training and Education Centre for Health (I-TECH) handed over its operational assets to the Ministry of Health two Fridays ago at the end of its training session which was designed to help improve the availability of information on HIV and AIDS as well as the quality and coordination of training for health care workers.
The handing over ceremony was done at the Canadian International Development Agency office. I-TECH officially closed its operation here in Guyana last Wednesday.
Dr Wallis Best-Plummer, I-TECH's Country Director, said that I-TECH, formerly the International Training and Education Center on HIV, was founded in 2002 by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the United States Government in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She noted that I-TECH saw life as an international model of the US Domestic AIDS Education and Training Centers. It was designed to work with the Ministry of Health to increase human and institutional capacity for care and treatment and also partners with other agencies such as universities, non-governmental organizations, and medical facilities, she added.
While initially focused on the achievement of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR Phase 1), the organization has evolved in parallel with the shifting focus of PEPFAR Phase 2 and President Obama's Global Health Initiative, Best-Plummer said. At present I-TECH is working in four continents as well as in the Caribbean, she noted.
Apart from its major grant from HRSA, I-TECH had also received funding through grants from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US Department of Defense and other organizations.
I-TECH, she said, started its work in Guyana as a sub-grantee of the Francois-Bagnoud-Xavier (FXB) center of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. The programme brought its repertoire of skills and resources for HIV Education, training and curriculum development to augment the FXB Care and Treatment Programme that was existent in Guyana, Best-Plummer said.
the first three months of 2011
Georgetown — Thirty-four people, including eight women, have been murdered within the past three months, with most of the victims being slain in disputes.
According to statistics compiled by Kaieteur News, 23 of the victims were killed during disputes with associates or family members. Nine of those slain were victims of robberies, with six of them being shot, one stabbed, and two strangled. There was one suspected execution-style killing.
KN reported that six of the women killed appeared to have been victims of "crimes of passion", while two were apparently slain by robbers who broke into their homes. Three of these cases remain unsolved, KN noted.
Twenty-one year-old school teacher, Saleema Mohan, was stabbed to death by her common-law husband on January 3, but he hanged himself before police could arrest him. Nursery school teacher Shaunell Warwick, died on January 31, following a brutal cutlass beating, allegedly at the hands of her reputed husband. Natalie Loncke, 41, another nursery school teacher, was stabbed to death by her partner during a quarrel at her Norton Street, Wortmanville home.
The other victims were Ramdarrie Rajpattie, 57, of Laluni, on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, who was beaten to death by her reputed husband; Farida Ramdeen, 21, who was allegedly slain by her lover and dumped in a canal on the Houston Estate; Sonobia James, who was stabbed to death outside the Red Dragon nightspot during a dispute with another woman; and Special Constable Neibert Issacs-Bacon, who was beaten to death and dumped in a canal in 'D' Field, Sophia.
The two women who died at the hands of robbers were Prampattie Ramsundar 68, called 'Auntie Daro', who was slain in her home at Enmore, East Coast Demerara, and Khirul Najidam, 74, called Babloo Saddick, whose bound and gagged body was found in a store room located in the lower flat of her home, which was ransacked.
Of the 34 murder victims, eight died from gunshot wounds, with six being slain by robbers. A seventh, who was found in a shallow grave, is suspected to have been killed during a dispute, while the eighth gunshot victim, businessman Carlos Persaud, whose body was found in Le Repentir Cemetery with four gunshot wounds, is suspected to have been the victim of an execution-style killing. His body was discovered shortly after he was reported missing by worried family members.
Statistics compiled by KN also indicate a rise in the murder rate in 'E' and 'F 'Division. Eight murders have occurred there for the year, with one of the victims (Linden businessman Albert Joseph, called 'Bolo') being killed during a robbery and six others being slain during disputes. The motive in the slaying of the eighth victim remains unclear.
to protect democracy: Persaud
Georgetown — Business magnate Dr Yesu Persaud on Tuesday bemoaned the migration of entrepreneurs he helped breed through the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED). He also said that the political directorate needs to ensure security and allow free speech.
Speaking at a celebration of IPED's 25th anniversary last evening, Persaud spoke of the need for Guyanese to be secured in their homes and for them to enjoy the same security when they walk on the streets.
He added that all must have the ability to express themselves whenever they want to and not fear the repercussions if they do.
"These days as soon as you say something, it goes back and you're castigated or you're called names," Persaud told a gathering that included Prime Minister Samuel Hinds at the Pegasus Hotel.
"You must have the ability to express yourself when you want to; you shouldn't be walking and turning behind your back to see who's going to be listening to take it back," Persaud said.
"That's not how you build a nation, Sir," he said to the Prime Minister. "You build a nation by getting the people to work with you, not against you."
Persaud said that this sort of fear is "not what some of us fought for" in the period running up to the restoration of democracy in 1992 and said he hoped the Prime Minister had not forgotten those years.
Persaud chronicled the life of IPED, pointing out that in its 25 years it has produced successful entrepreneurs, some of whom have migrated after finding success.
Over the years, he said that IPED has disbursed 78,134 loans with a total value of $16.8 billion. This, he said, has resulted in the start up of more than 30,000 micro and small businesses.