If we are to use historical voting patterns as a guide, Guyana's November 28th general elections should provide no major surprises - in spite of the apparent challenges faced by the incumbent ruling party.
From all indications, the PPP/C would be returned to power, maybe with a reduced majority. However, the apparently weakened main opposition, the PNC/R - now re-branded as A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) - could find itself in a face-off with the upstart Alliance for Change (AFC). To put this analysis in perspective - barring massive electoral rigging, as was the

case between 1968 and 1992 – which allowed the PNC/R to illegitimately hold on to power for 28 years - the voting pattern in Guyana has always favored the PPP/C.

Arguably, this view is not only based on the fact that Guyanese have always voted along racial lines, which incidentally benefits the PPP/C because of a larger Indian population base, but also because the PPP/C has a proven track compared to its rivals, albeit marred with allegations of corruption.
This is not to say that PNC/R, which has a worse track record than the PPP/C, has not also benefited from racially motivated voting. The truth is: blind loyalty based on ethnicity has been the sole determinant of which party gets into power. Effectively, two major races, two major parties.
However, the 2011 elections could trigger a change in voting patterns. This is because of a myriad of shifting allegiances among the parties which could initiate a split of the votes, if voters choose to follow the defectors to their new parties. At least that is what the beneficiaries of the shifts in allegiances are hoping for, although history shows that such moves have been fruitless.

Evidently, the shifts in allegiances are not racially motivated, with all parties downplaying the importance of race in the voting process – although each major party has benefitted from defectors of different racial backgrounds than its base support. Essentially, this trend should facilitate the appearance of multi-racial support – real or not, giving false credence to claims of non-racial voting.
Notwithstanding, the underlying question that begs to be asked is: Can the desire for political change in certain segments of the population and the furtive quest for power among the dark horses change the outcome of the 2011 elections?

During the 2006 elections, the AFC which is largely a party of defectors emerged as the most successful third force since 1964, winning five seats – largely at the expense of the PNC/R. As in 2006, the AFC is once again snapping at the heels of power on the back of mounting pressure to liberate the country from the stranglehold of the two major parties which have dominated the political scene for the last half of a century.
Arguably, if we are to take the political temperature of the population today, we may find that it is the same as it was in 1980 when the Working Peoples Alliance (WPA) – now part of APNU - made Guyanese aware that their suffering must come to an end. Then, they appeared to be ready for change and they seem to be in a similar mood today – although Guyanese are hardly suffering today to the same extent as they were in 1980.
Whether the desire for change will translate into a change in voting patterns when there are no better alternatives to the ruling party, however, remains questionable. Incidentally, the sentiments surrounding change were no different in 2006 when the PPP/C realized its largest majority ever - winning 36 of the 65 available seats. The PNC/R won 22 seats, the AFC 5 and The United Force (TUF) and GAP/ROAR one seat each.
Incidentally, the 2006 elections had the lowest voter turnout ever at 69%, compared to 97% in 1964, 92% in 2001, 88% in 1997 and 80% in 1992 (See Chart 1). A significant increase in voter turnout could change the outcome of the elections in any party's favor, eroding the PPP/C's gain in popularity seen in 2006 (See Chart 2).
Expectations for a change in power or at the very best a minority government would however require a dramatic change in voter sentiments in favour of either APNU or the AFC. In spite of low voter turnout, the PPP/C defeated its closest challenger, the PNC/R, by 69,000 votes and the AFC by 156,000 votes. All the fringe parties combined, including GAP/ROAR and the TUF which each secured one seat each, only managed to get 12,000 votes.
In terms of percentage votes, in 2006 the PPP/C received 55% of total votes cast, the PNC/R 34%, the AFC 8.4%, and the remaining seven parties 2.6% - giving all the fringe parties, including the AFC a total of 11% of total votes cast (See Chart 3). Only in 1964, when the TUF was a much stronger party did a third force receive a greater percentage, 13%, of the total votes.
Given that the three main contenders, the PPP/C, APNU and the AFC will each benefit from a switch in party allegiances, and in the absence of any compelling evidence why voters will move in mass to either APNU or the AFC, it is difficult to see why the PPP/C would not be re-elected to power.
At the end of the day, Guyanese should vote for a party that can deliver real, tangible benefits. It is necessary to evaluate the promises and plans of the parties contesting the elections as well as the track record of the contestants. Blindly deciding on whom to vote for on pure ethnic grounds or acting on emotional sentiments alone are recipes for failure.

Seated, Prime Minister Sam Hinds (centre) with GGMC Chairman Joe Singh (left) and Chairman of the Board of Sandspring Resources Ltd. John Adams after the signing of the agreement. Standing are acting Commissioner of Mines, Karen Livans, Sir Shridath Ramphal, PPP/C General Secretary Donald Ramotar, President Bharrat Jagdeo, and local mining
businessman Alfro Alphonso.

Georgetown — The Government of Guyana and ETK Inc./Sandspring Resources Ltd signed an agreement that could see the commencement of a gold mining operation by 2015 comparable to Omai Gold Mines Limited in the early 1990s.
The signing of the Mineral Agreement for the Toroparu mine took place at the Office of the President, in the presence of President Bharrat Jagdeo on November 9th last. Signing on behalf of the government were Prime Minister Sam Hinds and Chairman of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Major General retired, Joe Singh while signing on behalf of ETK Inc./Sandspring Resources Ltd. was John Adams, Chairman of the Board of Sandspring Resources Ltd and ETK Inc., the Guyanese company that is affiliated to Sandspring Resources Ltd.
The mine, located between the Cuyuni and Mazaruni rivers, is anticipated to have an annual production of between 250,000 and 300,000 ounces of gold, and 20 million pounds of copper, with a mine life of 15 years. The Toroparu Gold-Copper Deposit was discovered in 2007 on Sandspring's 100% controlled Upper Puruni Property, a highly prospective area of contiguous mining claims located in the Upper Puruni River area of western Guyana. Sandspring continues to explore its properties for additional multi-million ounce gold deposits. The overall investment is expected to be in the vicinity of US$700 million and is expected to provide employment for over 1,000 Guyanese workers.
Adams said that the completion of this mineral agreement between ETK Inc./Sandspring and the Government of Guyana "sends a clear message to the international mining community" that Guyana is a good place to do business.
"Government welcomes the development of its natural resources, when carried out in an economically fair and environmentally responsible fashion," said Adams.
"Sandspring believes that it is a fair agreement for both sides that can serve as a model for future mineral agreements," he added.
According to Adams, the highlight of the agreement is a change in the royalty payments. He said government has required an increase in the gold royalty from 5 percent to 8 percent, when the gold price is above US$1,000 per ounce.
"In light of the current price of gold, we understand their point of view," he said. At the current gold prices, the mine is expected to contribute approximately US$550 million annually to Guyana's GDP.
Adams said too that the Government also requires that Sandspring follow stringent environmental standards which meet or exceed those that exist in the U.S. and Canada.
He said that ETK has been in Guyana working on the development of "this world class mine" for the past 12 months.

 

Georgetown — Guyana's entertainment sector received a boost with the launching of Movie Towne Guyana.
Present at the launching of the G$5.7B venture at the Georgetown Club on November 8 last were President Bharrat Jagdeo, presidential candidate for the People's Progressive Party/Civic Donald Ramotar, Chairman of Multi-Cinema's Guyana Inc., Derek Chin, and other officials of the Trinidad and Tobago-based parent company, Movie Towne.
Movie Towne Guyana is expected to construct a cinema complex on a plot of land at Turkeyen, which is the subject of a litigation process involving local conglomerate Toolsie Persaud Limited, the original owners of the land. The sod-turning process which was scheduled to take place a few months ago, was halted following the filing of an injunction by Toolsie Persaud Limited.
Guyanese Derek Chin, Chairman and founder of the Trinidad-based Multicinemas, which owns Movie Towne said that the entertainment hotspot, which will comprise eight movie theatres, restaurants, and other state-of-the art facilities, will cost in excess of TT$180M (approx.G$5.7B). This figure however does not include the cost of the Turkeyen land. Chin declared that the land was bought some time ago at market value. When in operation the project is expected to provide employment for between 500-800 Guyanese nationals.
MovieTowne Guyana is expected to transform the face of local entertainment and leisure in Guyana. Chin said that Movie Towne has become the number one destination for clean entertainment in Trinidad, nine years after its introduction to that country and the same is expected to take place here in Guyana.
The MovieTowne franchise currently serves over 1.5 million movie customers per year throughout three locations in Trinidad and Tobago and is fast approaching the TT$1B mark in assets.
The development expects to begin construction in 2012 employing contractors from the local construction industry, with project management, design and engineering support coming from Trinidad. The entire project is expected to be completed by 2013. Pleasure seekers and shoppers in Guyana will get an opportunity to enjoy visiting an entertainment complex combined with a shopping mall, which will offer 30 local regional and international stores including a 40,000 sq. ft. anchor supermarket HiLo, Trinidad's leading franchise supermarket chain, three premium dining restaurants, a bank, live entertainment indoor space and parking for over 700 cars, Chin said.
According to Chin, Movie Towne Guyana was born out of an invitation from President Bharat Jagdeo who invited him to come and take a look at Guyana.

 

Georgetown — Members of the Disciplined Services, including the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Police Force, and the Guyana Prison Service, will cast their vote next Monday, November 21, 2011 one week before the national poll scheduled to be held on November 28.
A statement from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), last Monday, said the list of locations of the 70 places which will be established throughout Guyana for the members of the Disciplined Forces to cast their ballots are accessible on the GECOM Website: www.gecom.org.gy
The hours of voting by members of the Disciplined Services would be from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.
GECOM has also given the assurance that the "Secrecy of the Votes of Members of the Discipline Services who vote on Monday, November 21, 2011 is guaranteed". GECOM pointed out that the votes that will be cast by members of the Disciplined Services will be sent directly to the Chief Elections Officer in individual envelopes sealed by the members themselves immediately after voting.
The Chief Election Officer, or his duly appointed representative, will sort the envelopes with the ballots and place each envelope in the appropriate packet to be sent through the respective Returning Officers for the votes to be cast, at the relevant Polling Stations in the District where they live, before the close of poll on Election Day.
"Before the close of the poll on Election Day, in the presence of the Polling Agents present, the Presiding Officer will verify the number of envelopes, and inform the Polling Agents of his/her proposed action to intermix the Disciplined Services ballots with the ordinary ballots cast at the Polling Station," GECOM stated.
The Presiding Officer will then open each envelope with the marked ballots without exposing the secrecy of the ballots, stamp them with the official six digit number for that Polling Station at the top section for General Election and at the bottom section for Regional Election, and insert the folded ballot paper into the Ballot Box in the full view of all present.
Ranks who voted will then be deemed to have cast their votes in the District in which the relevant Polling Stations are situated, GECOM explained.
Meanwhile, GECOM said it has taken note of misleading information published in sections of the media that persons will not be allowed to vote if they are not in possession of their ID cards.
The Commission made it clear that the National Identification Card (or valid Passports) will be used to verify the identity of electors who are listed in the 2011 Official List of Electors.

 

Georgetown — Guyanese Civil Society Organizations (CSO) are now each eligible to receive up to US$1.5M of funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to help reduce poverty. This was disclosed by the bank two Tuesdays ago.
CSOs and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) working with low income communities and vulnerable groups can submit project proposals for poverty reduction and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean, the IDB stated. The program is being done with support from the Japanese Poverty Alleviation fund and is expected to focus on projects that address the provision of basic social services such as health, nutrition, early childhood development, education and social programs for vulnerable groups, the bank added.
The call for documents has been posted on the IDB website and in the weekend newspapers. The IDB is looking for proposals that promote and contribute to sustainable poverty reduction. The call closes on Dec. 31, 2011. Projects must qualify for technical cooperation funds from the Japan Special Fund for Poverty Reduction, which is managed by the Bank and the IDB Country Office in Guyana.
The IDB says it will hold a briefing session at the end of November for those civil society organisations in Guyana wishing to submit proposals.

 

Georgetown — Representatives of the political parties contesting the November 28 general and regional elections signed the declaration of the Rights of the Child Commission (RCC) at the Umana Yana, in Kingston, Georgetown last Monday.
According to the declaration all children have the right to survival and development, protection and participation as enshrined in the Convention of the RCC and the Guyana Constitution. By signing, each candidate has pledged his party, at all times, be it in or out of government, to ensure the strong progressive realisation of the rights of all children in Guyana. This includes, inter alia, upholding the best interest of the child's principles through action; ensuring that children are prioritised in the national development agenda with a special focus on ensuring equity for all children in all spheres of development; supporting and catalyzing efforts that are child-sensitive; and budgeting for children.
The forum was organized by the Rights of the Child Commission (RCC) and the United Nations Children's Fund against the backdrop of the upcoming general and regional elections, under the theme, "Guyana's commitment: Making Children Visible."
Signing on behalf of their parties were TUF's Roy Van Tholl, PPP/C's Samuel Hinds, APNU's Cheryl Sampson, and AFC's Khemraj Ramjattan.
Also giving brief remarks was Chairperson for the RCC, Ms Aleema Nasir, who reminded that the commission promotes the initiatives that enhance the well-being and rights of children. It also promotes respect for the views of children, ensuring that their interests are taken into account by government and other bodies.

Georgetown — Police have detained four men in connection with the robbery of two medical doctors last Friday night.
A police release stated that around 7.30 pm Drs. Kalai Rajan, 24, and Ragharendra Balakrishnan, also 24, were on their way home along First Street, Cummings Lodge, when they were attacked and held at gunpoint by four men, one of whom was armed.
"The perpetrators took away two cell phones and a wallet from the victims and escaped. An alarm was raised and an off-duty policeman and residents gave chase during which one of the suspects was arrested," police spokesman Ivelaw Whittaker said.
He added that subsequent investigations led to the arrest of three other suspects and the recovery of the two cell phones and the wallet. A toy pistol was also recovered at the scene.

 

Georgetown — Armed bandits attacked and robbed a Chinese restaurant in New Amsterdam of $60,000 last Thursday.
Two masked men, one of whom was armed with a gun and the other with a chopper, showed up at the restaurant and demanded that everyone lie on the floor. One of the men hit the cashier, Alicia Ramdass, in her head and took away $60,000 while the other robbed two customers who were in the restaurant at the time.
Before escaping one of the men hit the owner, Chinese restaurateur, Wah Lin, in his head with the gun.

 

Georgetown — Kenneth Joaquin, a gold miner of Arakaka, North West District, was shot and robbed of some G$5M two Tuesdays ago.
Guyana Police Force spokesman Ivelaw Whittaker in a release said that the miner was in a motor car which had stopped at the traffic light at Hunter Street and Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, at around 9 am when he was held up by a man armed with a firearm.
"The man took away a bag with $5M during which Joaquin was shot to his left thigh, after which the perpetrator escaped on a motor cycle driven by an accomplice" Whittaker said.

 

Georgetown — Lalta Persaud Nagasar, 69, a pensioner and Jairam Samaroo, 61, a contractor of No. 71 Village, Corentyne were beaten and robbed in their homes by five gunmen who escaped with a total of G$157,000 two Mondays ago.
Investigators said they were told that Nagasar was standing in front of his yard around 6 pm when he was confronted by the perpetrators who dealt him several lashes about his body and relieved him of $30,000.00.
The bandits then proceeded next door to Samaroo, who was under his house wounding him on his right ear with a knife and relieving him of $127,000. The perpetrators discharged several rounds into the air while escaping.
Three live rounds and two spent shells were found at the scene by the police.

 

Georgetown — A Linden woman was robbed of two gold necklaces two Tuesdays ago by a bandit who thrust a gun into her abdomen as she was about to enter her yard. The bandit reportedly fired two shots in the air after the woman started screaming.
The woman, of Kara Kara, an employee of the Linden Mayor and Town Council said that she is so traumatized that she has not slept since the ordeal, and reported for work the next day despite her head being busted by the bandit.
This is the latest in a series of robberies in the Linden area and has raised the ire of residents, some of whom have suggested a curfew be established in the community. They are also suggesting that police up their patrols in desolate areas and intercept and search suspicious looking individuals.

 

Georgetown — Rawle Blackman, who allegedly snatched a gold chain from a young woman at the junction of Main and Quamina Streets last Sunday, reportedly died after riding into the path of an approaching vehicle in his bid to escape.
Blackman succumbed at the Georgetown Hospital, shortly after 3 pm last Sunday, about two hours after being struck down by a car on Wellington Street. The driver of the vehicle that struck him down was taken into custody by the police but subsequently released.
Police sources told Kaieteur News (KN) that Blackman, 36, of Albouystown, had a chequered background, with multiple 'run ins' with the police. However, there are conflicting reports surrounding the circumstances of his death and angry relatives urged the police to properly investigate the incident, since they believe that it was a deliberate act.

 

Georgetown — Paul Mortimer, a 54-year-old man shot his 33-year-old wife Rita King-Mortimer, dead,a before shooting himself to death, last Wednesday in the Cuyuni/Mazaruni community of Kaikan.
A police release said that a firearm was recovered at the scene.
Kaieteur News (KN) reported that the slain woman had operated a shop in the hinterland community and that the motive for her murder stemmed from allegations of infidelity.
The E and F Division has recorded some 40 murders for the year, which is more than what occurred in the hinterland division during the entire 2009 and 2010, KN noted. Close to 75 percent of these murders have occurred in mining communities, KN added.

 

Georgetown — Elton Alfred, a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) soldier, who was performing security duties at the GDF Air Corps, Timehri was shot in the leg last Friday shortly before midnight. The soldier has been admitted as a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), nursing a "flesh wound."
According to a press statement from the GDF the rank was shot around 11:40 pm and they are investigating the circumstances. While military sources have not provided much details about the incident there is a strong suspicion that the perpetrators might have been would-be intruders.
The civilian police have been informed but no arrests have been made. "We don't know the full circumstances," the officer said.
All weapons have been accounted for.

 

Georgetown — Guyana has been ranked at 117 out of 187 countries in the 2011 United Nations Human Development Report titled 'Sustainability and Equity: A better future for all', which was launched internationally on November 2 last in Copenhagen.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Officer-in-Charge, Mr. Carlos del Castillo, presented the report to Guyana's Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh last Thursday at special program at the local launching of the 2011 Human Development Report (HDR). Dr. Ashni Singh, who received the document on behalf of the Government of Guyana, described it as a tool to help guide policy-making processes. Dr. Singh said that Guyana has been able to make, and continues to make, an extraordinary contribution to the global fight against climate change, not the least through the preservation of the standing forest.
The HDR, Mr Castillo said, is an independent publication commissioned by the UNDP and is recognized as an independent intellectual exercise and an important tool for raising awareness about human development around the world. The HDR is translated into more than a dozen languages and launched in more than 100 countries annually.
"The 2011 HDR focuses on the challenge of sustainable and equitable progress, human development which is about expanding people's choices, builds on shared natural resources," del Castillo pointed out, while noting that this is aimed at addressing sustainability locally, regionally and globally. This, he said can, and will be done in ways that are empowering.
Each year since 1990 the Human Development Report has published the Human Development Index (HDI) which was introduced as an alternative to conventional measures of national development, such as level of income and the rate of economic growth. The HDI represents a push for a broader definition of well-being and provides a composite measure of three basic dimensions of human development: health, education and income. Guyana's HDI is 0.633, which gives the country a rank of 117 out of 187 countries with comparable data. The HDI of Latin America and the Caribbean as a region increased from 0.582 in 1980 to 0.731 today, placing Guyana below the regional average. The HDI trends tell an important story both at the national and regional level and highlight the very large gaps in well-being and life chances that continue to divide our interconnected world.
Speaking at last Thursday's forum which was designed to provide further details as it relates to Guyana in terms of the human development index program, Deputy Resident Representative of the UNDP, Ms. Chisa Mikami said the Report highlights Guyana as a country where environmental rights exist alongside the work of the nation as it relates to the rights of indigenous people.
With visual illustrations, she emphasised the importance of funding needed to help address the issue of climate change, low carbon energy as well as water and sanitation, even as the huge funding gaps that exist were highlighted. She also made reference to the need for the inclusion of innovative financial avenues, including the need for public/private partnership.
Mikami's address preceded the formal presentation of the report to Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh.

 

Georgetown — The Brazilian Embassy has given the assurance that Governor José de Anchieta Junior's address at Sunday's campaign rally by the incumbent Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) did not amount to interference in Guyana's internal affairs.
"The Brazilian Government understands that Guyana -as well as any country- is entitled to choose their representatives in an independent, free and transparent way. Following this principle, the presence of a Brazilian authority to salute the communities at the above-mentioned meeting should not be construed as a support for any of the political parties contesting the forthcoming elections," the embassy here said in a statement.
The embassy added that the Brazilian Government expresses its total neutrality and impartiality in the development of the electoral process in Guyana and expresses its best wishes and confidence in a successful outcome, as by all expected.
Also in its statement, the Brazilian embassy clarified that Governor de Anchieta Junior, learned about President Jagdeo's visit to Lethem and took the opportunity to visit him in order to discuss subjects related to the border as well as the integration between Roraima and Guyana.
Governor Anchieta also had the chance to meet Donald Ramotar at a courtesy meeting, the embassy said. "The Governor took the initiative to salute the community attending the meeting, residents of both Lethem and Bonfim."
The response follows protests by the two major opposition political parties, APNU and AFC which staged a picketing exercise outside the Brazilian embassy in Georgetown two Tuesdays ago alleging political interference in the internal affairs of Guyana by the Governor of Brazil's Roraima State, who spoke at a PPPC rally recently at a time when the country is in the heat of a general election campaign.
The opposition coalition- A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) met separately with Brazil's Ambassador to Guyana, Luiz Gilberto Seixas de Andrade expressing grave concern about Governor de Anchieta Junior's appearance at the PPPC's campaign event in Lethem, a southern Guyanese township near the border with Bon Fim, Brazil.
AFC presidential candidate, Khemraj Ramjattan told reporters from a picket-line outside the Brazilian embassy here that he would also lodge a complaint with the Assistant Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Albert Ramdin on Wednesday.
Ramjattan accused the Roraima State Governor of breaching international norms and best practices at a time when Guyana is campaigning for the November 28 general election. He suggested that Anchieta Junior has interests in Guyana's rice and gold mining.

 

Georgetown — The Office of the President has released information on the salaries received by Former Presidents and First Ladies. This comes at a time when the opposition parties have been focussing on what they described as the scandalous pension that outgoing President Bharrat Jagdeo will be receiving when he leaves office following the November 28 polls. The political parties have made this a major point in their campaign running up to the polls.
The list states that in December 3, 2004, Mrs. Joyce Hoyte (wife of former President Desmond Hoyte) received $87,143. Following the passage of the Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Act Mrs. Hoyte received $347,395 from 2006. In 2007, she received $378,660; in 2008, $489,468; and in November 2010, she got $543,543.
The Office of the President said Mrs. Janet Jagan received $125,867 per month in 2000. From October 1, 2006 she received $729,529 per month. In addition, the Office of the President said she received a salary of $137,938 in March 2009 as legislator, and ex-president $876,692.
Former President Arthur Chung received, from October 1, 2006 $729,529 per month, with the last amount being paid in June 2008 to the tune of $1,085,427 per month.
His widow, Mrs Chung, received a widow's pension of $542,714 up to August 2009, the Office of the President said.
The Office added that they were also entitled to motor vehicles and drivers, a gardener, payment of utilities bills (electricity/telephone/water), payment for security at the residence or the provision of security personnel, payment of maids, payment for medical expenditures, payment of an Annual Vacation Allowance for Ex-President and Spouse, and duty-free concession for motor vehicles.
However, according to Kaieteur News (KN) the list omits Varshnie Jagdeo, who served as First Lady while married to Jagdeo and Mrs Yvonne Hinds, the wife of Prime Minister Samuel Hinds who served as First Lady from March-December, 1997 when he served as President.

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