Govt to award VPs and 27 Ministers 100%+ salary increases

Government mulls salary hike for Cabinet Members

….while Public Servants may get 10%

…“reallocation of resources, APNU/AFC style” says PPP

 

The A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) administration, despite having protested the “enormous” and “unreasonable” salary of previous government officials, is now about to announce massive salary increases for government officials.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan confirmed the assertion that had been swirling of social media to the Guyana Times. He said the matter is currently under consideration by the administration and the increase also extends to Members of Parliament (MPs) and basically all individuals who have a role in the House of Assembly. “The increase in Ministers salary is under consideration. All people that concern the House of Assembly, so that will include Chief Whip, the Opposition, Ministers, and Vice Presidents and so on,” he said.

Guyana Times understands that the increase would see the Prime Minister and First Vice President Moses Nagamootoo earning some $1.7M monthly an increase of over $200,000 monthly plus vacation benefits and perks that total more than another $500,000.The three other Vice Presidents – positions not existing under the previous administration – Sydney Alicock, Carl Greenidge, and Khemraj Ramjattan will earn some $1.3M more than double the $579,000 they would have earned as ministers. The vacations and other benefits are also one $500,000.

The fifteen Senior Ministers will earn now earn $1M -an increase of over $400,000 or 74% monthly. The 12 Junior Ministers will each earn $700,000 monthly and like senior Ministers will be entitled to the $500,000 benefits. Therefore all the ministers- all 27 of them will also receive a duty allowance, an entertainment allowance, $45,000, housing allowance; chauffeur allowance of over $100,000 and annual vacation allowance of $420,000.The APNU and AFC, when in Opposition, had vigorously spoken out against the “abuse” of taxpayers’ money to fill the pockets of the “greedy” government officials and Carl Greenidge then shadow finance minister had written a letter in the Stabroek News just before the elections, complaining about the “lifestyle” of PPP/C ministers. He complained, “ PPP ministers have always paid themselves higher salaries than existed prior to their assumption of office…By 2014 the Minister of Finance was receiving $579,951,and today the PPP ministers’ vacation allowance at $420,000 is ten times the minimum wage.”

Meanwhile, contacted on the issue, former Housing Minister, Irfaan Ali confirmed that all ministers under the PPP/C received smaller salaries including benefits. . Other Members of Parliament, who were not Ministers and of the Opposition, received a monthly salary of $166, 000 and a $20,000 Committee allowance. At this time, Guyana Times was unable to receive precise numbers for the increase in ordinary MP”/ salaried , excepting that it would be in the range of at least a 100% increase.

 

Public servants to get increase

Meanwhile, contrary to reports emanating from the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Opposition, Jordan said government is sticking to its promise to grant public servants’ salary increases, pension increases and VAT reductions. “I never said public servants salary increases will be put on hold. Public servants will be granted salary increase. It is in the budget, pensioners and public servants, there will be a VAT reduction in some consumer items,” he stated. However, it is unsure whether or not these increases will take effect this year or what will be the rate of increase. During the elections campaign the coalition had promised a 20 percent salary hike for all law enforcement officers and “significant” increase for public servants in the first year. This, the coalition said then was aimed at cracking down on white collar crime. The starting salary of police constables is around $60,000.

However, when it assumed office Finance Minister, Winston Jordan had said that the new government was looking to increase public servants’ salaries by 10% who had also said that the administration also has to work on tempering expectations. Jordan said while it sounds good to have a 10% payout, it makes no sense if you have to spend more and “end up in a deeper hole.” He had said that although the figure is not definitive, he was working with his staff to come up with scenarios and costs for the achievement of the coalition’s 100-day plan. Jordan had said that people had the notion that whenever there is talk of an increase, “you have to find the money from doing something that will cost an increase in maybe inflation but no, it doesn’t have to be that all the way. There is a concept called reallocation of resources.” Former Minister of Tourism Ali, commented, “it is clear that the APNU-AFc government intends to ‘reallocate’ the country’s resources into the pockets of their bloated Ministerial portfolios. Even while stiffing the ordinary wage earners.”

The 12 Junior Ministers will each earn $700,000 monthly and like senior Ministers will be entitled to the $500,000 benefits. Therefore all the ministers- all 27 of them will also receive a duty allowance, an entertainment allowance, $45,000, housing allowance; chauffeur allowance of over $100,000 and annual vacation allowance of $420,000.

The APNU and AFC, when in Opposition, had vigorously spoken out against the “abuse” of taxpayers’ money to fill the pockets of the “greedy” government officials

The APNU and AFC, when in Opposition, had vigorously spoken out against the “abuse” of taxpayers’ money to fill the pockets of the “greedy” government officials

Now we are seeing the APNU/AFC as the "greedy government officials"

Can Guyana afford such extravagance?

Govt pilloried over ethnic, gender imbalance

Outrage over composition of State Boards

The David Granger-led Administration has been trenchantly criticised for alleged ethnic and gender imbalance in the composition of the recently announced State Boards. The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration has also been criticised for failing to consult adequately with the main Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), breaching an agreement brokered by the late Opposition Leader Desmond Hoyte and then President Bharrat Jagdeo back in 2003.

Joseph Harmon

Over the past few days, views have been expressed on the paltry number of women selected on these boards, as well as those appointed to chair them. Additionally, persons have expressed dismay at the ethic imbalance reflected in the new appointees, stating that only a meagre number of Indo-Guyanese were included.  On Wednesday, the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) flayed the APNU/AFC Administration’s actions, deeming it an affront to women, referring to the unbalanced representation of females on the State Boards. “All Government functionaries responsible should feel ashamed over today’s announcement that only three (9.4 per cent) of the new Chairs of the 32 State Boards in the Finance Sector are females,” the organisation said in a release. According to the GHRA, while the full membership of only 20 out of the 32 boards were disclosed so far, only 18 per cent are females, that is, 22 persons out of a possible 125 as it relates to Boards in the Finance Sector with only one woman named a member on three boards and another woman on two boards.

Turning to the agriculture sector, the GHRA pointed out that out of the 13 new members gazetted on the Guyana Rice Development Board, only one female is named. The organisation also underscored the fact the only three females were named as chairs of the various revamped State Boards. “That the appointments could be released without any attempt to explain or excuse this affront to women, suggests that gender parity had not been a consideration… Whether this insult to women is a one-off thoughtless act or more institutionally determined… is a matter for continuous monitoring,” the GHRA remarked.

Also commenting on the issue of gender imbalance, Chairperson of the Guyana’s Women and Gender Equality Commission (WGEC) Indra Chandarpal, posited that women should not only be included in politics but in all decision-making aspect of society. She noted that there should be a one-third representation of females on all the boards.  Furthermore, Chandarpal urged all sectors to channel their thinking in this direction. “I want the Private Sector, trade unions and other parties that have to appoint additional members to these boards, to consider the fact that the Constitution Reform Process provides for women’s involvement (in all sectors),” the WGEC head stated.

Contacted on Thursday for a comment on these concerns raised, Minister of Social Cohesion Amna Ally, said she is not aware of these issues and has not had a chance to examine the list of the gazetted members, which Cabinet, of which she is a member, had approved. “I don’t know… I can’t really comment because I didn’t go through (the list) with a fine tooth comb,” Ally, who is Government’s point person on racial harmony told this newspaper.

Racial discrimination Meanwhile, on the issue of ethnic imbalance, Businessman and Civil Society Activist Clairmont Lye who in 2007 had returned his National Award owing to what he declared then was “the deterioration of democracy in Guyana” in a letter in another section of the media stated that he was expecting persons to be selected based “purely” on their qualifications and not ethnicity, however he was disappointed. Lye, a former Cacique Crown of Honour awardee and one of the founders of the Electoral Assistance Bureau said: “I was full of expectation that this new Government would have been the first to establish this new political culture. However, I couldn’t help noticing that 80 per cent of the recently announced 35 chairmanship positions to State Boards have been filled by non-Indo-Guyanese,” he stated.

According to Lye, these State Board appointments were preceded by the recent list of national awardees, which causes one to revisit the promise of “inclusivity and promotion of racial unity”. He pointed out that while the Government may not have deliberately set out on such a divisive course, the situation only serves to lend credence to the PPP/C’s pre-election warning of race politics by APNU/AFC.  “Our Government ought to realise that in politics, perception is reality. And whether supporters or not, we need to keep them mindful of that,” he noted.

In addition, another letter writer, Gordon Forte, outlined that of the 35 persons announced as chairs of state-appointed boards, only seven have “Indian-sounding” names. “I find it intensely painful that in my country ? indeed in my world ? qualifications of personal worth and potential contribution have to include racial division, and that responsible people would actually make a count like that,” he declared.

Forte stated that the country’s recent history forces Guyanese to use concepts like inclusiveness and racial unity. He explained “Perceived discrimination on grounds of race seems more offensive to Guyanese than that on grounds of gender, ability or performance record. So I am dragged into a nasty arena, to say to the Cabinet (though we know they’re not listening), “Ow, man, look bad… look so bad…” Moreover, the man said that while many rational arguments can be put forward for the choices made, even idealists have to face up to the degrading nature of the local political environment. He reminded of the power of “filthy racialism” and the long road Guyanese have taken towards its elimination.

Former President and Executive Member of the PPP Donald Ramotar, on Wednesday said that there was no consultation between the present Administration and his Party as it relates to the composition of the various recently announced State Boards. Ramotar, in a telephone interview with Guyana Times acknowledged that the Government has said that it would offer a few seats on specific boards to the PPP. However, the Opposition party is far from satisfied with such actions by the APNU/AFC Government. “When I was the President, we had offered them seats on more Boards in comparison to what they are offering us. There were no consultations this time about the seats being offered to us. We had given them a lot of membership and it is not being reciprocated,” stated Ramotar.

He said that because of the lack of consultation and also the limit to the Boards in which the PPP/C was being given membership, there would be need for talks with the Government. According to Ramotar, he expects this issue to be discussed soon, and it is unclear as to whether the PPP/C will accept the seats that are presently offered to them before the discussions with the Administration take place.

RPA outraged at absence of “nominees” from State Boards

July 31, 2015 2:42 pm Category: latest news A+ / A-

By Jomo Paul

RPA President Laekah Rambrich (center) flanked by other RPA Members. [iNews’ Photo]

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Guyana’s Rice Producers Association (RPA) is outraged at the a decision taken by the APNU+AFC government to exclude its nominees from being Directors on the Boards for the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA).

 

Guyana’s laws stipulate that the two Boards will consist of members from the RPA given the nexus to the rice sector. It states that the GRDB shall consist of three members from the RPA and the NDIA would have two representatives from the Body.

However, according to RPA President, Laekah Rambrich, the Body submitted names to Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder but was surprised the nominees were not selected.

“The RPA was shocked when the names of the Directors of the GRDB and the NDIA were made public and not a single member nominee put forward by the association was included on any of the two boards,” said Rambrich.

According to Rambrich, the move collides with Guyana’s laws and essentially leaves rice producers out in the cold from critical participation.

He said “what is most troubling is that this decision is clearly a deliberate attempt to marginalize and discriminate against the hundreds of rice farmers who are members of the RPA.”

Rambrich says that policy makers should see the reversal of this decision or at the very least, some alterations. A thorough perusal of the Directors of the Boards revealed that there were three representatives from the rice industry on the GRDB Board.

Those three include Rambrich, Jinnah Rahaman and Naith Ram. Both Rahaman and Ram are representatives of two different associations representing the interests of those in the rice sector.

However, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority Board was bereft of any representatives from the rice industry.

RPA outraged at absence of “nominees” from State Boards

JOBS FOR THE BOYS:

“I cannot pay you to do nothing” – Harmon justifies sacking of OLPF employees

July 25, 2015 6:09 am Category: latest news A+ / A-

By Jomo Paul

Minister Harmon addresses the PNCR Meeting. [iNews’ Photo]

[www.inewsguyana.com] –

Burglars hit MMZ house; Leonora Police took hours to respond

July 26, 2015 7:22 am Category: latest news A+ / A-

By Fareeza Haniff

Part of the ransacked house.

[www.inewsguyana.com] – A Meten – Meer – Zorg (MMZ), West Coast Demerara family is now counting their losses after burglars broke into their house and carted off with approximately $2M in cash and other valuables on Saturday night, July 25.

The family was not at home at the time of the incident but upon their return to the Lot 7 Kastev, Meten Meer Zorg house, Geeta Nadiram noticed that the locks to her door were broken; as a matter of fact she believes that the burglars were still in the house when she and her Canadian based daughter returned home around midnight.

Nadiram told iNews that the burglars even locked her out of her own house by activating the lower bolt on the front door. With the help of neighbours, they managed to force opened the door with a crow bar.

Nadiram and her daughter, who is visiting Guyana for a family event, were greeted with a ransacked home; the perpetrators managed to cart of with approximately $600,000 including Canadian currency, four iPads and jewellery.

But what was even more shocking to the family is the fact that the Leonora Police Station, when contacted, revealed to the victims that there was no vehicle to transport officers to the crime scene.

 

One of the ransacked bedrooms.

The family then decided to send a vehicle for the policemen but upon arrival at the station, there were no ranks available; they were told that the Inspector [name provided] went home to sleep and that the patrol was on the road dealing with other issues.

It should be noted that the Leonora Police Station is located approximately 10 minutes from Meten – Meer – Zorg but the police arrived at the scene three and a half hours after being contacted.

This is an example of the type or Police Protection that the Indo Community can expect from the APNU/AFC Government.

all the votes of y'all 'newly minted' PPP race men will not make this silly fantasy of the criminal cabal cleaning up at LGE a reality

lol

your not-so-opaque campaign for return of the gangster cabal riding the race divide is noted

Redux ......Asj is free to state his view.

Anyone can Say.....

AFC-APNU will lose local Govt Elections.....

I hear the local govt (LG) elections

is a Hot topic in the Local Rum Shop up to 2 AM....

Former Advisor to the President.....Kellawan Lall

think Banks DIH & DDL should rebrand their Cheap Rum

to "De LG SPECIAL".... so the PPP boys could forget

their licks and keep focused on "De LG SPECIAL"

First..... I do not think anyone in their right senses can tell us PPP will win the Local Govt Elections.....

or at least not The PPP with Jagdeo, Jenny & Brrri Berri.

So let us hear

which party will defeat the AFC- APNU now...

first, please show me where i even imply that ASJ is not "free to state his view"

but wait, wait . . . apparently, MY criticism of his D-G'esque spamming of the BB with GuyanaTimes race campaign material is now an abridgement of ASJ's free speech rights?

huh?

Redux....Kellawan has another Brilliant Idea ...

He claim since them PPP Boys and Girls only in the news everyday for the wrong reason.

Banks DIH & DDL should put dem picture on " De LG SPECIAL" Rum Bottle...

Kellowan claim..... the PPP need to do something to get back all them Sagiwang who now have to stop drinking at 2 AM.

bai, lang now i missing de killaman

but bheri best stepping up nicely

I believe Kellawan idea of the Pictures on "De LG SPECIAL" became a heated debate at de rum shop .......at 2AM no decision was made.....PPP Parliament Debate continues today.

Govt to award VPs and 27 Ministers 100%+ salary increases

August 1, 2015  By GuyanaTimes 

Government mulls salary hike for Cabinet Members

….while Public Servants may get 10%

…“reallocation of resources, APNU/AFC style” says PPP

 

The A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) administration, despite having protested the “enormous” and “unreasonable” salary of previous government officials, is now about to announce massive salary increases for government officials.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan confirmed the assertion that had been swirling of social media to the Guyana Times. He said the matter is currently under consideration by the administration and the increase also extends to Members of Parliament (MPs) and basically all individuals who have a role in the House of Assembly. “The increase in Ministers salary is under consideration. All people that concern the House of Assembly, so that will include Chief Whip, the Opposition, Ministers, and Vice Presidents and so on,” he said.

Guyana Times understands that the increase would see the Prime Minister and First Vice President Moses Nagamootoo earning some $1.7M monthly an increase of over $200,000 monthly plus vacation benefits and perks that total more than another $500,000.The three other Vice Presidents – positions not existing under the previous administration – Sydney Alicock, Carl Greenidge, and Khemraj Ramjattan will earn some $1.3M more than double the $579,000 they would have earned as ministers. The vacations and other benefits are also one $500,000.

The fifteen Senior Ministers will earn now earn $1M -an increase of over $400,000 or 74% monthly. The 12 Junior Ministers will each earn $700,000 monthly and like senior Ministers will be entitled to the $500,000 benefits. Therefore all the ministers- all 27 of them will also receive a duty allowance, an entertainment allowance, $45,000, housing allowance; chauffeur allowance of over $100,000 and annual vacation allowance of $420,000.The APNU and AFC, when in Opposition, had vigorously spoken out against the “abuse” of taxpayers’ money to fill the pockets of the “greedy” government officials and Carl Greenidge then shadow finance minister had written a letter in the Stabroek News just before the elections, complaining about the “lifestyle” of PPP/C ministers. He complained, “ PPP ministers have always paid themselves higher salaries than existed prior to their assumption of office…By 2014 the Minister of Finance was receiving $579,951,and today the PPP ministers’ vacation allowance at $420,000 is ten times the minimum wage.”

Meanwhile, contacted on the issue, former Housing Minister, Irfaan Ali confirmed that all ministers under the PPP/C received smaller salaries including benefits. . Other Members of Parliament, who were not Ministers and of the Opposition, received a monthly salary of $166, 000 and a $20,000 Committee allowance. At this time, Guyana Times was unable to receive precise numbers for the increase in ordinary MP”/ salaried , excepting that it would be in the range of at least a 100% increase.

 

Public servants to get increase

Meanwhile, contrary to reports emanating from the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Opposition, Jordan said government is sticking to its promise to grant public servants’ salary increases, pension increases and VAT reductions. “I never said public servants salary increases will be put on hold. Public servants will be granted salary increase. It is in the budget, pensioners and public servants, there will be a VAT reduction in some consumer items,” he stated. However, it is unsure whether or not these increases will take effect this year or what will be the rate of increase. During the elections campaign the coalition had promised a 20 percent salary hike for all law enforcement officers and “significant” increase for public servants in the first year. This, the coalition said then was aimed at cracking down on white collar crime. The starting salary of police constables is around $60,000.

However, when it assumed office Finance Minister, Winston Jordan had said that the new government was looking to increase public servants’ salaries by 10% who had also said that the administration also has to work on tempering expectations. Jordan said while it sounds good to have a 10% payout, it makes no sense if you have to spend more and “end up in a deeper hole.” He had said that although the figure is not definitive, he was working with his staff to come up with scenarios and costs for the achievement of the coalition’s 100-day plan. Jordan had said that people had the notion that whenever there is talk of an increase, “you have to find the money from doing something that will cost an increase in maybe inflation but no, it doesn’t have to be that all the way. There is a concept called reallocation of resources.” Former Minister of Tourism Ali, commented, “it is clear that the APNU-AFc government intends to ‘reallocate’ the country’s resources into the pockets of their bloated Ministerial portfolios. Even while stiffing the ordinary wage earners.”

OLD PNC is back in full swing.

Originally Posted by asj:

Govt to award VPs and 27 Ministers 100%+ salary increases

August 1, 2015  By GuyanaTimes 

Government mulls salary hike for Cabinet Members

….while Public Servants may get 10%

…“reallocation of resources, APNU/AFC style” says PPP

 

The A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) administration, despite having protested the “enormous” and “unreasonable” salary of previous government officials, is now about to announce massive salary increases for government officials.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan confirmed the assertion that had been swirling of social media to the Guyana Times. He said the matter is currently under consideration by the administration and the increase also extends to Members of Parliament (MPs) and basically all individuals who have a role in the House of Assembly. “The increase in Ministers salary is under consideration. All people that concern the House of Assembly, so that will include Chief Whip, the Opposition, Ministers, and Vice Presidents and so on,” he said.

Guyana Times understands that the increase would see the Prime Minister and First Vice President Moses Nagamootoo earning some $1.7M monthly an increase of over $200,000 monthly plus vacation benefits and perks that total more than another $500,000.The three other Vice Presidents – positions not existing under the previous administration – Sydney Alicock, Carl Greenidge, and Khemraj Ramjattan will earn some $1.3M more than double the $579,000 they would have earned as ministers. The vacations and other benefits are also one $500,000.

The fifteen Senior Ministers will earn now earn $1M -an increase of over $400,000 or 74% monthly. The 12 Junior Ministers will each earn $700,000 monthly and like senior Ministers will be entitled to the $500,000 benefits. Therefore all the ministers- all 27 of them will also receive a duty allowance, an entertainment allowance, $45,000, housing allowance; chauffeur allowance of over $100,000 and annual vacation allowance of $420,000.The APNU and AFC, when in Opposition, had vigorously spoken out against the “abuse” of taxpayers’ money to fill the pockets of the “greedy” government officials and Carl Greenidge then shadow finance minister had written a letter in the Stabroek News just before the elections, complaining about the “lifestyle” of PPP/C ministers. He complained, “ PPP ministers have always paid themselves higher salaries than existed prior to their assumption of office…By 2014 the Minister of Finance was receiving $579,951,and today the PPP ministers’ vacation allowance at $420,000 is ten times the minimum wage.”

Meanwhile, contacted on the issue, former Housing Minister, Irfaan Ali confirmed that all ministers under the PPP/C received smaller salaries including benefits. . Other Members of Parliament, who were not Ministers and of the Opposition, received a monthly salary of $166, 000 and a $20,000 Committee allowance. At this time, Guyana Times was unable to receive precise numbers for the increase in ordinary MP”/ salaried , excepting that it would be in the range of at least a 100% increase.

 

Public servants to get increase

Meanwhile, contrary to reports emanating from the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Opposition, Jordan said government is sticking to its promise to grant public servants’ salary increases, pension increases and VAT reductions. “I never said public servants salary increases will be put on hold. Public servants will be granted salary increase. It is in the budget, pensioners and public servants, there will be a VAT reduction in some consumer items,” he stated. However, it is unsure whether or not these increases will take effect this year or what will be the rate of increase. During the elections campaign the coalition had promised a 20 percent salary hike for all law enforcement officers and “significant” increase for public servants in the first year. This, the coalition said then was aimed at cracking down on white collar crime. The starting salary of police constables is around $60,000.

However, when it assumed office Finance Minister, Winston Jordan had said that the new government was looking to increase public servants’ salaries by 10% who had also said that the administration also has to work on tempering expectations. Jordan said while it sounds good to have a 10% payout, it makes no sense if you have to spend more and “end up in a deeper hole.” He had said that although the figure is not definitive, he was working with his staff to come up with scenarios and costs for the achievement of the coalition’s 100-day plan. Jordan had said that people had the notion that whenever there is talk of an increase, “you have to find the money from doing something that will cost an increase in maybe inflation but no, it doesn’t have to be that all the way. There is a concept called reallocation of resources.” Former Minister of Tourism Ali, commented, “it is clear that the APNU-AFc government intends to ‘reallocate’ the country’s resources into the pockets of their bloated Ministerial portfolios. Even while stiffing the ordinary wage earners.”

OLD PNC is back in full swing.

Aw me mama! Guyana gaan fuh channa. Dem coolie ah cry blood now. Prepare fuh jain food line again! Where is Warria and the non resident Guyanese buckman?

IS RAMJHATTAN WARMING UP HIS SEAT IN PARLIAMENT? SEEMS LIKE HE IS ONLY A FIGUREHEAD IN THE APNU/AFC COALITION

HE USED TO CUSS ROHEE MORNING NOON AND NIGHT, AND NOW HE IS LIKE A PHUTUK IN DOING THE SAME JOB

Granny found murdered in house

August 1, 2015 2:31 pm Category: latest news A+ / A-

By Leroy Smith

The house in which the woman’s body was found.

[www.inewsguyana.com]- Seventy –six –year – old Carmine Ganesh of Mont Rose, East Coast Demerara was found dead in a pool of blood on her kitchen floor on Saturday, August 01 in what appeared to be a robbery/ murder.

The woman’s body was discovered with a cloth tied around her neck and a gaping wound to the back of the head. iNews understands that the mother of six lived alone but had several security cameras monitoring the activities of the premises, which she has been taking care of over the years for friends of the family.

iNews was told that the woman was last seen on Friday, July 31 after she completed her daily chores, which included cleaning the yard; however she was not spotted this morning, prompting neighbours to inform her relatives.

When relatives showed up at the house and called for the woman, they got no response, forcing a family member to scale the fence when the gruesome discovery was made.

Police are now reviewing the footage from the security cameras in an effort to capture the perpetrator (s).

Almost every day some Indo Guyanese is being murdered, yet this Namakharaam himself a Home Affairs Minister seems impotent to do anything,

Ram give up the job if you cannot function.

Oh rass Cobra tief asj handle.

if you were serious in your concern, you would be calling for Seelall Persaud's head

but u have both feet in this invidious race campaign by the PPP that is all about dividing the people along ethnic lines, so ("impotent") Ramjattan as "Namakharaam" is your target in the mortification strategy ginned up in the bowels of the tiefman Sanata complex

u choose your words well ASJ . . . it is important for us all to pay attention

as you soldier on without shame  . . . making sure that your posts are all about "Indian" victim to the exclusion of everyone else

uh huh

No.  Just another angry AFC Indo who thought that he could take over the PNC with his 2% votes.

The final straw that broke the backs of poor, helpless, and salary starved Guyanese that can be considered as slave wages:

PPP appalled at pending salary increase for Gov’t Ministers, others

August 2, 2015 6:03 am Category: latest news A+ / A-

General Secretary of the PPP, Clement Rohee

[www.inewsguyana.com] – The Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) says it is appalled that the David Granger led administration is actively considering pay increases, for its Ministers, Vice Presidents, advisors and Parliamentarians.

iNews had reported that Finance Minister, Winston Jordan confirmed that the salaries for Government Ministers, Presidential Advisors and Members of Parliament maybe increased pending the outcome of considerations.

Jordan told iNews on August 01, that the salaries for these officials were “under active consideration;” however the Finance Minister did not state what amount the increases would be since according to him, it is being considered.

But the PPP in a statement resisted this move by the new government.

“The PPP condemns this act of excessive generosity to the satraps of the Granger Administration. As is establishing a bloated is not enough, the Granger Administration is now planning to rub salt in the wounds of Guyanese, by “ fixing up the boys and girls” with big pay increases.”

According to the PPP, “This is same administration which had claimed there is no money in the treasury to continue the School Uniform Voucher Programme and to give public servants a promised 20% pay increase. Moreover, the APNU+AFC, while in opposition, had accused the PPP/Civic government of excessive spending. Clearly, the Granger Administration is more concerned with living extravagant lifestyles and earning big bucks, while the population suffers, it is meat for the boys and bones for the rest of the nation.”

The final straw that broke the backs of poor, helpless, and salary starved Guyanese that can be considered as slave wages:

 

PPP appalled at pending salary increase for Gov’t Ministers, others

August 2, 2015 6:03 am Category: latest news A+ / A-

General Secretary of the PPP, Clement Rohee

[www.inewsguyana.com] – The Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) says it is appalled that the David Granger led administration is actively considering pay increases, for its Ministers, Vice Presidents, advisors and Parliamentarians.

iNews had reported that Finance Minister, Winston Jordan confirmed that the salaries for Government Ministers, Presidential Advisors and Members of Parliament maybe increased pending the outcome of considerations.

Jordan told iNews on August 01, that the salaries for these officials were “under active consideration;” however the Finance Minister did not state what amount the increases would be since according to him, it is being considered.

But the PPP in a statement resisted this move by the new government.

“The PPP condemns this act of excessive generosity to the satraps of the Granger Administration. As is establishing a bloated is not enough, the Granger Administration is now planning to rub salt in the wounds of Guyanese, by “ fixing up the boys and girls” with big pay increases.”

According to the PPP, “This is same administration which had claimed there is no money in the treasury to continue the School Uniform Voucher Programme and to give public servants a promised 20% pay increase. Moreover, the APNU+AFC, while in opposition, had accused the PPP/Civic government of excessive spending. Clearly, the Granger Administration is more concerned with living extravagant lifestyles and earning big bucks, while the population suffers, it is meat for the boys and bones for the rest of the nation.”

ASJ, why are you pushing this blantant lie?

Bai KB, we do not know that it is a lie, I am just the messenger, plying the trade with many messages.

If the Government does not provide information, then it leaves others to speculate, and then

Jordan told iNews on August 01, that the salaries for these officials were “under active consideration;” however the Finance Minister did not state what amount the increases would be since according to him, it is being considered.

And this would have been the perfect time for Jordan, Granger, or Nagamootoo to rubbish the claims being made by the PPP, but they said nothing to dispute the "facts" being spread.

Saying nothing gives the PPP freedom to seize control of the issue.  IT also makes them look like being caught with their dirty hands in the cookie jar, and not knowing what to say.

They probably figure people aren't dumb enough to read and go with any trash being reported by those crappy newsrags.

That's akin to reading one of Cobra's threads and agreeing with him.

The PPP spend the past few years installing IMCs all over the country and not one of you folks who are their supporters and now find fault with Granger ever uttered a squeak. Local elections cannot be held using the prevailing schemes. we need to reconstitute these offices and the districts to represent who we are our the same yapping about indians vs blacks in office squatting on positions depending who will will be be the cacophony in the air.

President says salary increases are meant to “differentiate” levels

August 3, 2015 6:00 am Category: latest news A+ / A-

By Jomo Paul

President of Guyana, David Granger

[www.inewsguyana.com] – With scathing criticisms coming in from the political opposition and sections of society about considerations being made for salary increases to Presidential Advisors, Ministers and Members of Parliament; President David Granger has provided some clarity on the issue.

He told iNews during a very brief comment on Sunday August 02 that the considerations being made to the salary increases are meant to establish a pay grade.

The President explained that this will “differentiate” between Presidential Advisors, Ministers, Junior Ministers, Members of Parliament, and other persons who will be affected.

The President would not speak further on the issue. iNews had reported that Finance Minister, Winston Jordan confirmed that the salaries may be increased pending the outcome of considerations.

Jordan told iNews on August 01, that the salaries for these officials were “under active consideration;” however the Finance Minister did not state what amount the increases would be since according to him, it is being considered.

But the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in a statement resisted this move by the new government insisting it was nothing more than “meat for the boys and bones,” for Guyana.

“This is same administration which had claimed there is no money in the treasury to continue the School Uniform Voucher Programme and to give public servants a promised 20% pay increase. Moreover, the APNU+AFC, while in opposition, had accused the PPP/Civic government of excessive spending. Clearly, the Granger Administration is more concerned with living extravagant lifestyles and earning big bucks, while the population suffers, it is meat for the boys and bones for the rest of the nation.”

SO what?  How does that change the price of cheese in Guyana?

I don't believe that the Indians will not turn out to vote as Local district elections are not their cup of tea.  Before 1964 the villages were well developed and control by afros.  The Indians controlled the economy.  I enjoyed living in the village then.  We had no problems until those two Jackasses went into politics.

Shot, hacked, burnt, beheaded, strangled…20 women murdered in six months

…as homicides reach 94  

Shot, hacked, beheaded, burnt, strangled. That’s been the fate of 20 women within the past seven months, according to recently-compiled murder statistics by Kaieteur News. The figures also show that least 94 people have been murdered between January, 2015 and the first day of August, with six being slain last week. Most of the slain women were victims of “crimes of passion.” But 77-year-old Carmen Ganesh, slain last Saturday, appears to be the victim of a brutal and puzzling home invasion. She was clubbed with a large spanner, kicked, stomped and strangled by a young man, who had concealed himself in the woman’s Montrose, East Coast Demerara home. Afterwards, the young killer casually left the scene with his victim’s pension and a few pieces of jewellery. She is the third elderly woman, who lived alone, to be murdered this year. The others are 67-year-old Ramdai Mohabir, called ‘Aunty Elsie’, who was raped and strangled on February 9 in her Lot 665 Topo, Albion, Corentyne, Berbice, and Suroogpattie Ramlakan, 73, called Auntie Carmen, of Richmond Village, Essequibo. She was found lying on the floor of her two-bedroom home. Her night dress was pulled above her knees and her neck bore lacerations. A post mortem revealed that she was struck on the head and strangled. But the postmortem also showed that Ramlakan’s killer had inflicted injuries on the pensioner to apparently trick investigators into believing that she was raped. Their killers remain at large. A fiery domestic dispute was behind the murder last Tuesday, of Ormowatie Chammawattie, 74, and her 54-year-old daughter, Caustury Chammawattie-Persaud.

Janice Paul

Ormowatie Chammawattie

Caustury Chammawattie-Persaud

Carmen Ganesh

They were burnt to death in their Huis’t Diren, Essequibo Coast home after a man, identified as Sarwan Darshan, threw a lighted stove at them. Darshan, the elder woman’s son-in-law, has been charged with murder. On June 3, the badly chopped corpse of Parbatie Vijrauren, 37,  along with the body of her lover, Ramdat Persaud, 56, was found Tain Village, Corentyne. Police subsequently arrested and charged Vijrauren’s husband, 26-year-old Ian Boodhoo, with the double murder. Also the victim of an angry man was Miranda Shako, who was chopped with an axe during an argument with her common-law husband at Yarrowkabra, off the Soesdyke/Linden highway. Then there was shopkeeper Janice Paul. On a rainy night in mid July, Mrs. Paul and her husband, Eusi Paul, were heading to their D Field, Turkeyen home when a cutlass-wielding man, identified as Jerry Dalrymple, chopped Mrs. Paul to death and wounded her husband.

Alicia Ali

Parbattie Vijrauren

Donessa Barker

Police appear to still baffled by the ‘seawall murders’ of two women, which occurred earlier this year. In early June, the nude body of 14-year-old Campbellville Secondary School student Alicia Ali was found on the seawall at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara. She was reportedly last seen alive by her mother, Maylene Williams, when she left her home to go to a nearby shop. Police had initially suspected that Alicia had taken her own life, after finding what appeared to be a suicide note in her bedroom. But a pathologist who conducted a postmortem on the teen’s remains yesterday gave the cause of death as asphyxia due to drowning, compounded by compression injury to the neck and blunt trauma to the head. The pathologist found no evidence of sexual assault. Then on April 11, the decomposing body of Devkumarie Ramadhar, 17, of Bella Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, was found on the foreshore at La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara. She had been reported missing on April 04, 2015. Last week’s six murder victims include miner Morvin James, 40, who was stabbed to death on July 27 at Baramita, North West District, during an argument with another man; Rasharda Dusrah, 29,  who was found in an abandoned mining pit at Oku Backdam, Puruni last Tuesday, with a gaping wound to his neck. There was also Pooran Saroop, 57, found dead under a house at Berbice with a chop wound to the head, and seaman Davonan Sookram, 37, was body was found with two gunshot wounds to his head on Friday, at Ruby, East Bank Essequibo.

Ramjattan and his APNU/AFC is still sleeping, sleep bai, sleep.

Ministers’ salary increase

Dear Editor, If what I read in the news is true that the VP’s and Ministers are going to receive hefty pay increase, then I am truly disappointed with the new APNU + AFC government. I thought their priority would have been to fulfill the 100 day promise they made to the Guyanese people. As I understand it, many of those promises have not been kept and they are now making sure they receive “fat cat” salaries and feathering their own nests. People had a lot of hope on David and Moses to run a lean and clean government, to bring more money to the people instead of more money to themselves. In this very first budget, they are stacking up their own coffers instead of stacking the meagre salaries of police, public servants, nurses etc, etc. Are these people going to get the crumbs that fall from the masters’ table? There is no money to give parents $10,000 for their school kids, yet there is money to give VP’s and Ministers! Where is the change that Guyanese expected and voted for? Seems like all politicians are the same, make the world of promises to get a vote and then it is the “good life” for themselves. Unless this government delivers to the people what was promised, I see them in the Opposition in 2020. Ameer Bacchus

BJ an Ramtar?

All horseshit.

UG students found guilty of $8M armed robbery… Duo sentenced to community service, counselling

Guilty: Darion Bess

Two University of Guyana students, found guilty of an $8M armed robbery, two weeks ago, have been given sentences of community service by City Magistrate Judy Latchman after they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts yesterday. Darion Bess, 20, of Lot 429 Guyhoc Park, Georgetown and Joel De Mendonca, 21, of Lot 17 Providence, East Bank Demerara, were both found guilty of robbing Golyn and Sons Fashion, on Regent Street, of a quantity of cell phones worth $8,968,000 on July 25, 2014. The convicts were order to perform six hours of community service for the next twenty-five Mondays. In addition, they were also sentenced to a maximum period of counselling, as deemed fit by a probation officer. Failure to complete the sentences will result in them being imprisoned for 48 months. Magistrate Latchman, before handing her verdict, considered all mitigating factors. She took into consideration the fact that the men had no negative antecedents and that the probation report that was tendered in their favour. De Mendonca was instructed to perform his community service at the National Library, while Bess will be doing his at the Palms. The men were found guilty of the offence last month. Morris Gibson, 22, of Lot 334 East Street, South Cummingsburg, had also been charged with the duo. However, the charge was dismissed against him earlier on in the trial. The Magistrate had based her ruling on the sworn testimonies given by the defendants and store clerk, Mohanlall Narine. Police Inspector Vishnu Hunt presented the prosecution’s case. The court had heard that on the day in question, around 09:00hrs, Gibson approached the store clerk, inquiring about the prices of various cellular phones and a fan. Whilst he was doing so, Bess entered the store, approached the store clerk and pointed a gun to his head then ordered him to pack all of the cell phones. The store clerk complied. Bess then left the store and joined a waiting car on King Street and escaped. The matter was reported to the Brickdam Police Station. About an hour after the report, ranks who received information about the robbery, dashed to Peters Hall, East Bank Demerara, and intercepted Bess and Gibson. At the time Bess was carrying a haversack on his back, which when checked by the ranks revealed a quantity of cellular phones. Both students were arrested and through police interrogation they led ranks to the home of De Mendonca in Providence. When the house was searched, four cellular phones were found. De Mendonca had confessed to being the driver of the motor car, which fled the scene with Bess and Gibson. Even though all the cell phones were not recovered, the ones retrieved were identified by Narine as items belonging to the store. Bess and De Mendonca first appeared before Former Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and denied the allegation. They were represented by Attorneys Adrian Thompson and Peter Hugh respectively.

“That is totally wrong” – Fmr Chancellor reacts to youths being given ‘light’ sentence for armed robbery

August 4, 2015 10:38 am Category: latest news A+ / A-

By Jomo Paul

Former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Cecil Kennard

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Cecil Kennard does not believe that the recent sentencing of two youths to 150 hours of Community service should not go unchallenged, given the fact that they were charged with the offence of armed robbery.

Magistrate Judy Latchman ordered that 20 – year – old Darien Best and 21 – year – old Joel De Mendonca to perform six hours of community service for the next twenty-five Mondays along with a maximum period of counselling, as deemed fit by a probation officer.

De Mendonca was instructed to perform his community service at the National Library, while Best will be doing his at the Palms.

Failure to complete the sentences will result in them being imprisoned for 48 months. The two youngsters were charged and found guilty of robbing Golyn and Sons Fashion, on Regent Street, of a quantity of cell phones worth $8,968,000 on July 25, 2014.

The sentencing has already sparked a debate on social media with some persons questioning the rationale behind such a move, given that the charge is a serious one.

It should be noted that the maximum penalty for such an offence is life imprisonment. Many believe that the Magistrate passed down a light sentence to the duo, when it is known that she has imposed harsher sentences for similar offences.

Darien Best

Kennard, in an invited comment to iNews, made it clear that the Police Prosecutors should not accept this sentencing and should approach their seniors and the Director of Public Prosecutions to challenge it.

“The Prosecutors should speak to their seniors and their senior should speak to the DPP…that’s the best course,” said Kennard.

He further noted, “that is totally wrong” referring to the sentence handed to the two University of Guyana students.

On social media Best said that “I was honestly surprised at the sentence.” In July, Magistrate Latchman sentenced 19-year-old Ron Collins to 56 months in prison after he pleaded not guilty to armed robbery of a pair of sunglasses and a Blackberry smartphone collectively valued $166,000.