Guyana Focus
election scene
With less than a month left for Guyana's much anticipated general elections, scheduled for November 28, the political scene is dotted with an unusually high volume of cross-party traffic, albeit at a late stage in the campaign process.
It is hardly likely that voters would follow the traffic and shift their allegiances from one party to another in a country where defectors are often viewed as "soup-drinkers", opportunists, power seekers, or in the words of a 2011 defector who chided all other defectors in 2006 - neemak haraams (ungratefuls).
To be fair, some defectors might be quite genuine in their intentions when
choosing to support a new party but the underlying truth is that they are disenchanted for one reason or another with their original party – which goes beyond what is publicly proclaimed.
Arguably, some of the defections, re-alignments or public endorsements are immaterial and are simply a ruse by politically powerless individuals craving for attention by openly expressing support for a political party; or some party trying to gain mileage by being able to say it has attracted a recognizable individual, whether by name or association.
A case in point is the public endorsement of the Alliance for Change (AFC) by Bob Persaud, brother-in-law of the PPP/C's late Minister of Agriculture, Sash Sawh. Persaud (not intentionally singled out by this writer), reportedly claims he has never been associated with any political party; yet the AFC chose to highlight his endorsement, which theoretically is equivalent to any man-in-the street joining the party.
Other defections, whether opportunistic or antagonistic, have a little more weight. Incidentally, apparent internal problems within A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), which is essentially a re-constituted PNC/R, seems to have triggered several defections to the PPP/C. Among them are Joseph Hamilton, former executive member of the PNC/R; Gillian Burton, former President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress and a known PNC/R supporter; and Frederick McWilfred, another PNC/R supporter with deep connections in Region 7.
It can be surmised that defections by former PNC/R supporters stem from fractures in the party following the manner in which the leadership vote was conducted at the PNC/R general council, prior to the formation of APNU.
According to press reports, the victory of APNU's leader, David Granger as presidential candidate, was marred by allegations of ballot rigging and other irregularities, creating internal strife within the party. Granger defeated former Minister of Finance, Carl Greenidge by a narrow 15-vote margin, following three recounts of a total of 666 votes cast. 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.
But APNU has also benefitted from cross-party traffic. Rishee Thakur, left the AFC to become a member of APNU's leadership team; and C.N. Sharma, the leader of the fringe Justice for All Party, which is not contesting the 2011 elections, declared his support for APNU.
The AFC, which is widely considered a party of defectors, has been the primary beneficiary of shifting allegiances. Both its Presidential and Prime Ministerial candidates are former PPP/C and PNC/R parliamentarians, respectively. It now houses a myriad of individuals who are disgruntled with their past political affiliations.
The party, which was the most successful fringe party in the 2006 elections, attracted Richard Van West-Charles, former Minister of Health under the PNC and the son-in-law of the late Forbes Burnham, who said it was time to move away from the ideologies of the PNC. Rajendra Bisessar, a longstanding former member of the PPP Central Committee, also crossed over to the AFC platform on the grounds he was tired of corruption and mismanagement in the ruling party. And Valerie Garrido-Lowe's leadership spat with Manzoor Nadir of the United Force ended with her deciding to join the AFC.
But the AFC's most important opportunistic catch is Moses Nagamootoo, former Member of Parliament and wannabe Presidential candidate for the 2011 elections, whose on-off support for the PPP/C has been marred by his inability to make inroads into the halls of power. During the run-up to the selection of the Presidential candidate for the PPP/C, Nagamootoo indicated that he would like the selection process to be more democratic, involving rank and file party members, as opposed to long-standing party procedures. He lost out.
It goes without saying that Nagamotoo's life-long association with PPP/C comes to a paradoxical climax. He has grassroots support in the heart of Region 6, the PPP/C's stronghold. He will be expected to fill the role which Khemraj Ramjattan, the AFC's Presidential candidate, failed to fulfill in 2006.
Whether he will be seen as a "traitor" or a genuine candidate is anyone's guess. It was Nagamootoo who in a passionate pre-election campaign speech in August 2006 said: "For me, the PPP is not only my political party. It is my extended family – the family of Cheddi Jagan. And though we have differences, and we occasionally quarreled, and sometimes walk away – the PPP is always home. A son may walk away from home, but he always returns. I have refused to join others to betray you or to destroy this home. I refused to be a neemak haram." Obviously, the voters will decide whether Nagamootoo is a traitor and do the AFC more harm than good.
To use Nagamootoo's analogy that a son always returns home, the PPP/C may end up seeing the return of the volatile Joey Jagan, son of the late Cheddi Jagan. The younger Jagan has been a serious critic of the party his father founded and ended up forming his own Unity Party but recently announced his support for Donald Ramotar, the PPP/C's Presidential candidate.
There is doubt that cross-party defections will have any significant impact on the outcome of the elections. The major beneficiary of shifting allegiances could very well be the AFC but not sufficient to change the balance of power. The PPP/C, which is under attack on all fronts, stands to lose the most, especially if its traditional votes are split. If that does happen, which is unlikely, considering historical voting patterns, then Guyana could end up with a coalition government,
As Guyanese head to the polls, they will have the opportunity to vote for four parties. According to the Guyana Elections Commission, 32 political parties had earlier indicated their interest in contesting the National and Regional Elections but on Nomination Day, October 27, only seven parties ended up submitting their list of candidates but only the following four have been accredited: A Partner for National Unity (APNU), the Alliance for Change (AFC), the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and The United Force (TUF). The East Berbice Development Association (EBDA) will be contesting only regional elections.
(William Doyle-Marshall pix)
By William Doyle-Marshall
Creating a stable economy, a functional society without corruption, re-establishing the work ethic and rebuilding the concept of being a Guyanese by putting an end to the race issue were among the proposals advanced when members of the Alliance For Change (AFC) held a public meeting here on Friday, October 21, at Destiny Banquet Hall, Woodbridge.
The AFC 12-point Foundation for Development emphasizes the importance of the 700,000 Guyanese in the Diaspora as a most important pool of financial resources, skills and talents. The AFC promises to implement incentives to infuse the Diasporic talent, wealth and representation within the country.
Khemraj Ramjattan, the party's Presidential Candidate, advised the gathering that Guyana needs the support of its Diaspora members for a variety of reasons. The changes the AFC wants to see happen back home cannot occur unless the Diaspora finds the time and effort to ensure that it takes place.
"There is an extremely important element I must mention that has to do with your capacity to influence back home. Guyanese today have this attitude and probably you could be regarded as some of the cause for it, of wanting to be very laid back and to a certain extent have a negative work ethic because of the $200, $300 in the barrels which you send back home. It has affected the work ethic.
"We have to put that thing right through your effort of ensuring that Guyana today starts regaining a work ethic by your influencing them that wealth only comes from hard work," Ramjattan continued. As he appealed for restoration of the work ethic, the aspiring President emphasized "that's a primary function that I think our Diaspora would have to see happen otherwise we are not going to get to the right places."
The AFC Presidential candidate noted that Guyanese are not willing to honestly analyze the country's real situation and this practice must stop in order to find solutions. He described Guyana as being in a 'very fragile state' that could be called an elected dictatorship. He also co-opted a term 'sultanist' from a U.S. scholar as an apt description of his country.
Raphael Trotman, Leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC) and its Prime Ministerial candidate told Guyanese here that he has been driven by a desire not to simply see a change of government but to see the establishment of a new political order in Guyana.
"It will be one in which, whether Guyanese are in the Diaspora or at home can be proud of and would become involved in," he assured. Trotman anticipates a system where he could see the good in others even though they might be his political opponents because he recognizes each has an equal right to serve their country even though they may see things differently.
"This new order needed for the establishment of a new republic has to be established on four main foundational pillars – a stable and growing economy; a safe and secure society; a well governed democracy and ethnic reconciliation followed by social cohesion."
Each of the pillars the Prime Ministerial candidate said are inextricably bound and woven together. "Simply pumping billions into an unstable, divided, unsafe society would not give economic progress but see the growth of large, hegemonic gangs and groups constructed around political, criminal and racial bastions," he counselled.
"What we have had for the last 50 years is really racial competition that does not even pretend that it is all about national development. The result has been a country that has been a grand paradox brimming with wealth, patriotic and hard working people and full of potential but yet occupying the lowest levels of economic success in the western hemisphere and having 89% of its best minds living and working in a developed nation."
Trotman was perturbed that Guyana has failed and will continue to fail if the country continues the practice of politics in the same old fashion, confrontational and divisive manner as it has been doing for the past 50 years. "Change is imperative," he advised.
The AFC Prime Ministerial candidate said for the past five years he and his colleague entered into Guyanese politics to make it better, to make it different; to make it friendlier and more servant like. "It has not been easy. We have stumbled a few times but thankfully we have not abandoned or forsaken each other," Trotman assured.
Observing that the practice of politics is an arduous and uncomplimentary and often challenging vocation but however distasteful, disgusting and even distressing it might be, it is as necessary as our police officer who gives us peace and protection; it is as important as a nurse and a doctor who saves lives and the teacher who unlocks our minds.
Former diplomat Dr. Richard Van-West Charles referred to a recent incident where a young man was imprisoned for two weeks because he gestured with his finger to President Jagdeo. He said the incident shows the lack of the family values that permeates Guyanese society today. But we can make the change, he advised.
After much thought Dr. Charles decided to throw his support towards the AFC because "it is talking about the future of young people. We've got to be willing to include people, to listen to people and give young people a voice and that is what I have observed with the AFC. You've got to be able to be fearless in representing peoples' issues," he said.
The Toronto meeting was one of three on a North American tour by party leaders which took place over the weekend.
Georgetown — Parmanand Bacchus, a 45-year old fisherman from Non Pariel, East Coast Demerara was shot to his head at close range by one of two gunmen last Friday. Up to press time he was battling for his life at the Georgetown Public Hospital
According to reports Bacchus was shot at around 10:00 am at the Strathspey Seawall, East Coast Demerara. It was reported that Bacchus was about to go home when he was confronted by two men, one of whom pulled out a gun and fired four shots at him. He was shot to the back of the head and then thrown into a canal, Kaieteur News (KN) reported. He swam out of the canal and sought assistance and was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
According to the police, a female has since been arrested and is assisting with investigations. Relatives of the injured man said that the woman who was arrested has been making death threats to him, KN noted.
Georgetown — Mark Cornelius, 23, a gold miner, was stabbed and killed during an altercation at Barlow Landing, Enachu, two Tuesdays ago.
According to police, Cornelius and another man were imbibing at a shop around 11:30 pm when an argument developed between them during which he was fatally stabbed to the abdomen.
Up to press time police were still looking for the perpetrator.
Killings during altercations and armed robberies have become commonplace in Guyana's interior. Police and government have linked the upsurge in those crimes to the attraction of undesirable persons to the interior because the price of gold has skyrocketed on the international market.
CANU nets 30 kg cocaine
Georgetown — The Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) made its largest cocaine haul within recent times when they recovered some 30 kilogrammes of cocaine two Sundays ago at Number 73 Village Koker, East Berbice. Two men have been arrested while two of their accomplices escaped.
According to Kaieteur News (KN) ranks from CANU, acting on intelligence received, went to the location where they saw two large buckets with the illicit drug hidden in the bushes near to the koker. It is believed that two men were waiting to load the buckets into a boat which was close by, but when CANU ranks showed up the men sped away in the boat. Based on information, the illegal substance was headed to Suriname.
Head of the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit, James Singh, in an invited comment on the incident said that this bust goes to show the unit's continuous effort to combat the drug trade, KN reported. Singh stated that the Unit has been working and monitoring those persons for close to two weeks. He added that the local body has been working closely with their counterparts in Suriname.
Georgetown — A Guyana Defence Force Warrant Officer has been detained in connection with a failed plot to steal grenades from the military training base at Tacama.
"Investigations have also revealed a deliberate plan to steal grenades from the facility," the army said in a statement. The GDF said that on Friday, October 21, several grenades were reported missing or unaccounted for at the Colonel John Clarke Military School, Tacama. The GDF assured that all of the 40 grenades issued to the training base have been accounted for.
"The grenades, totaling forty (40) in number, were found in two boxes aback of the accommodation housing the senior training staff, contrary to Force regulations which prescribe that, grenades not in use are to be kept in the arms and ammunition stores," the army added.
Military investigators are trying to ascertain if there are other perpetrators and what Standard Operating Procedures were breached, the GDF added.
Back in February 2006, at least 30 AK-47 rifles and five handguns were stolen from an armoury at the GDF's Camp Ayanganna Headquarters. So far 20 of the rifles have been recovered from the hands of heavily armed gunmen, most of whom had been ensconced in the East Coast Demerara village of Buxton, according to demwaves.com.
Georgetown — Mohabir Sugrim, 56, of Blygezight Gardens, Campbellville, was attacked and beaten in his home by three bandits almost a week ago.
Sugrim had retired to bed after viewing the Deepavali motorcade and was awakened when his attackers used a shirt to choke him. He was severely beaten, losing three teeth and receiving stab wounds to both hands during the attack. Sugrim's daughter told Stabroek News (SN) that her father fell unconscious after the beating and the bandits duct-taped his face and hands and placed a plastic bag over his head.
The men escaped with a video camera, a G-Shock watch and a hat. They also ransacked the home, taking valuables and an undisclosed amount of money.
Georgetown — Jaiprakash Basdeo, 35, of West Coast Demerara, was attacked and robbed by two men who were armed with a handgun and a knife, two Mondays ago, at his Meten-Meer-Zorg business place.
"Investigations revealed that Jaiprakash Basdeo was in the Saver's Choice Store when the perpetrators entered and held him up. They took away his personal jewellery valued at $800,000.00, $600.00 US, $320,000.00 [cash], two computers and a number of cell phones and escaped in a waiting motor car," police spokesman Whittaker said.
According to him, quick response by the police resulted in the interception of a motor car which was suspected to be the getaway vehicle at Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo.
28 CSEC awards
Georgetown — Guyanese students who participated in the recent Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) will collect 16 of the 28 awards that will be given out to top performers in the region who wrote the examination.
Anuradha Dev, of Queen's College, will take away the award for the overall top student in the Caribbean. This is the fifth time in six years that Guyana has won the top award.
Anuradha also won the top student award in science. By winning the Best Science award in the Caribbean. Miss Dev has ensured that Guyana has won the coveted prize for the sixth consecutive year.
Mariesa Jagnanan, also of Queen's College has copped the best business student award while Nathan Benjamin Indarsingh, another Queen's College student has won the award for the Best Short Story in the English A examination.
Nathan's short story was in response to the stimulus in Question five – "A cold hand grasped his wrist as he slumped to his knees". The story is set in the deep rainforests of South America, where a group of prospectors are seeking gold.
According to a Ministry of Education statement Guyana has won all the five awards in the sciences and business, and two awards in the area of technical and vocational education.
The awards were approved last Thursday at the meeting of the Sub-Committee of the School Examinations Committee in Barbados.
The awardees will receive their prizes at a ceremony scheduled for the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Trinidad and Tobago on December 1. The prize package includes a full scholarship to the University of the West Indies, monetary prizes, plaques and books.
Education Minister Shaik Baksh said that these achievements undoubtedly have enabled Guyana to maintain its rightful place in the Caribbean and speaks of an education sector that has been making commendable progress over the years. In its 2007/2008 United Nations Human Development report, Guyana has been ranked among the highest developing countries in the education index. Guyana was placed 37th in the world, third in the Caribbean after Cuba and Barbados, and second in South America after Argentina.
Georgetown — Lawyers for television station owners, Chandranarine Sharma and Savitree Singh, have moved to the High Court against the Advisory Committee on Broadcasting (ACB), to have the four-month suspension against CNS TV Channel 6 quashed.
According to Kaieteur News (KN) the Order of Nisi of Certiorari which states that the ACB should show cause why a Writ or Order of Certiorari should not be issued to bring up to the Honourable Court and quash firstly, its findings that the applicants were in breach of Regulation 23A of the Wireless Telegraphy Amendment, was granted against the ACB by Chief Justice Ian Chang. The writ is asking the ACB to show if it was lawfully constituted as is required by regulation 23B.
The writ is claiming that the ACB lacked legal authority and its decisions were unfair, unreasonable, unlawful, irrational, and procedurally improper, in breach of natural justice, ultra vires, null and void and of no legal effect.
This matter is returnable for November 4, before the Chief Justice.
The suspension of Sharma's CNS Channel 6 TV arose from advice given to President Bharat Jagdeo by the Advisory Committee on Broadcasting regarding a commentary made by Anthony Vieira, which was aired on the television station on May 4, last.
The ACB had originally recommended an eight-month suspension, Sharma said, but President Bharrat Jagdeo said that he was being "lenient" by cutting the recommended suspension time in half, KN noted.
President Jagdeo holds the portfolio of Minister of Information. The Head of State in mid-July said that the broadcast in question contained statements which were reprehensible to the constitution.
Kaieteur News said it understands that the ACB had determined that Sharma's licence should be suspended after the station aired the Vieira commentary which made certain allegations that Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission, Bishop Juan Edghill, found disturbing.
The television owner had apologised, but Edghill, nevertheless, filed a motion against both Sharma and Vieira, seeking more than $50M in damages.
Lawyers for Edghill, Anil Nandlall, Euclin Gomes, and Manoj Narayan, in their motion had stated that their client had suffered "tremendous embarrassment, distress and ridicule" by the commentary, KN reported.
4-lane expansion
The construction of the first segment is being undertaken by Falcon Transportation and Construction Services to a tune of $468,214,760 while the second segment which costs $671,623,054 is being executed by Dipcon Engineering Services.
The scope of the work entails: clearing of the right of way; placing of white sand base; construction of re-enforce concrete drains to either side of the road; and the construction of temporary timber bridges to facilitate access during the construction period.
Clarke noted that to prevent dust hazards, the Ministry plans to do a cement stabilize surface.
He said that during construction, utility services (Guyana Water Incorporated, Guyana Power and Light and Guyana Telephone and Telegraph) will be relocated where necessary.
"The preparatory works will be to the left and right sides of the road. The idea is to widen the East Coast Demerara Public Road into four-lanes. When the works are completed and the design for whatever reason is incomplete, the shoulders will not be used until the design is complete," Clarke stated.
He noted that the Kuwaiti Government gave the Government of Guyana US$900,000 to prepare the design for that section of the road. He revealed that the Ministry advertised for requests for the proposals in August 2011.