But here we see the "swiftness" of the law as called for by the Mirror; the incident occurred on Friday July 22nd, and this excerpt is from a story in Thursday's paper (July 28th):

"Police are yet to take action against any of those accused of the assault. Crime Chief Seelall Persaud when contacted on two occasions, the last being on Tuesday (July 26th) had said that he was unaware of the incident. He had also stressed that threats and assault are handled at the level of the police station.

This newspaper was told that since the incident, efforts have not been made to contact the businessman who is constructing a Housing Scheme at New Providence, East Bank Demerara. It is at this location that the incident occurred."

Source

Here are the first signs that the investigation will be a "swift" one:

"A source close to the NIS told Stabroek News yesterday that the team members were terrified as a result of the incident. The source also emphasised the failure of police to act on the report that was lodged. “Could you imagine that the officers were at the police station for more than an hour and nothing happened?” the source said, while adding that investigators had not even visited the scene to investigate the report. The source stressed that the inspectors were traumatised as they had been sandwiched by two heavy-duty vehicles, before men who “one could have seen was armed to their teeth under their shirts” opened the vehicle doors and took away documents. The source said that at this point the inspectors were physically assaulted by the men.

It was explained that the district inspector, who is female, was to have gone alone to the location but it was decided that the others would accompany her since the area was vast. “Could you imagine what could have happened to her if she had gone alone?” the source asked. The source told this newspaper that usually inspectors “have to make their own way” using public transport or their own vehicles.

The visibly upset source said too the incident occurred since last Friday and yet the NIS Board had to wait until a board meeting yesterday (July 25th) to discuss the incident. “This is ridiculous,” the source stressed. This newspaper was further told that the inspectors turned up at the board meeting for an audience with the board. They waited for almost three hours until the meeting had ended but were unsuccessful as they had not followed protocol, which required them to put in a request."

“This was simply an attempt to get their attention,” the source explained, while noting that this is the first incident of such magnitude in recent times.

Source

At least up the Mirror story on Friday July 29th, there has been no ACTION in the wake of the "investigations". Should we continue to hold our breath?

No one is above the law. The PPP-C government has to stamp its foot on the wrongdoings of its so-called "friends" who are a source of great embarrassment.

Just curious. What were NIS inspectors doing on a work site?

quote:

Originally posted by Bookman:
No one is above the law. The PPP-C government has to stamp its foot on the wrongdoings of its so-called "friends" who are a source of great embarrassment.

If you are part of the corruption, how could yoy then enforce the law. The PPP and it's senior officers are compromised and hands are tied. Look how the tiop man taking freed goods from an alleged corrupt businessman. Too many favours going both ways.

quote:

Originally posted by Mad Max:
Just curious. What were NIS inspectors doing on a work site?

Mad Max, as a friend of some ex-NIS inspectors, I can tell you it is their job to visit places of employment to verify by physical head count the number of employees any given business firm has on the payroll, and to question any business owner or employee whether they pay NIS premiums. NIS inspectors operate mostly "in the field."

quote:

Originally posted by Bookman:

quote:

Originally posted by Mad Max:
Just curious. What were NIS inspectors doing on a work site?

Mad Max, as a friend of some ex-NIS inspectors, I can tell you it is their job to visit places of employment to verify by physical head count the number of employees any given business firm has on the payroll, and to question any business owner or employee whether they pay NIS premiums. NIS inspectors operate mostly "in the field."

Uncle Trotsky:

it is unfortunate that your PPP meeting drawing so few people these days and it is all because of the lawlessness of the PPP.

Check out - cane grow, the sling shat Minista - the local guvment chap - get chased out with anil.

AFC meeting 250 people.

rosignol at danar battam house - th fat lady young minister - maniac-chan and the duck - 15 people, afc meeting 500.

another meeting in an indian dominated village and Khemraj was not even there. Sheila went for a bottom house meeting and the villages forced her into a street corner meeting putting her on a platform because too many people to fit in the bottom house.

the wave is coming and the people know who is the leader. It is not granger/corbin and it certainly is not donald. Maybe if you chaps bring Moses into the campaign you will strike some luck.

quote:

Originally posted by Sase Singh:

quote:

Originally posted by Bookman:

quote:

Originally posted by Mad Max:
Just curious. What were NIS inspectors doing on a work site?

Mad Max, as a friend of some ex-NIS inspectors, I can tell you it is their job to visit places of employment to verify by physical head count the number of employees any given business firm has on the payroll, and to question any business owner or employee whether they pay NIS premiums. NIS inspectors operate mostly "in the field."

Uncle Trotsky:

it is unfortunate that your PPP meeting drawing so few people these days and it is all because of the lawlessness of the PPP.

Check out - cane grow, the sling shat Minista - the local guvment chap - get chased out with anil.

AFC meeting 250 people.

rosignol at danar battam house - th fat lady young minister - maniac-chan and the duck - 15 people, afc meeting 500.

another meeting in an indian dominated village and Khemraj was not even there. Sheila went for a bottom house meeting and the villages forced her into a street corner meeting putting her on a platform because too many people to fit in the bottom house.

the wave is coming and the people know who is the leader. It is not granger/corbin and it certainly is not donald. Maybe if you chaps bring Moses into the campaign you will strike some luck.

It's early days yet, Sase.
When our indomitable President Bharrat Jagdeo is ready to sound the big gong and announce the elections date, you will witness the biggest turnout at PPP-C public meetings.
By then the AFC will run out of steam.

quote:

Originally posted by Bookman:
No one is above the law. The PPP-C government has to stamp its foot on the wrongdoings of its so-called "friends" who are a source of great embarrassment.

He apparently is...

quote:

Originally posted by Sase Singh:

quote:

Originally posted by Bookman:

quote:

Originally posted by Mad Max:
Just curious. What were NIS inspectors doing on a work site?

Mad Max, as a friend of some ex-NIS inspectors, I can tell you it is their job to visit places of employment to verify by physical head count the number of employees any given business firm has on the payroll, and to question any business owner or employee whether they pay NIS premiums. NIS inspectors operate mostly "in the field."

Uncle Trotsky:

it is unfortunate that your PPP meeting drawing so few people these days and it is all because of the lawlessness of the PPP.

Check out - cane grow, the sling shat Minista - the local guvment chap - get chased out with anil.

AFC meeting 250 people.

rosignol at danar battam house - th fat lady young minister - maniac-chan and the duck - 15 people, afc meeting 500.

another meeting in an indian dominated village and Khemraj was not even there. Sheila went for a bottom house meeting and the villages forced her into a street corner meeting putting her on a platform because too many people to fit in the bottom house.

the wave is coming and the people know who is the leader. It is not granger/corbin and it certainly is not donald. Maybe if you chaps bring Moses into the campaign you will strike some luck.

Easy Sase, easy...watch the name calling...remember we are a fresh wind...

quote:

Originally posted by Bookman:

quote:

Originally posted by Mad Max:
Just curious. What were NIS inspectors doing on a work site?

Mad Max, as a friend of some ex-NIS inspectors, I can tell you it is their job to visit places of employment to verify by physical head count the number of employees any given business firm has on the payroll, and to question any business owner or employee whether they pay NIS premiums. NIS inspectors operate mostly "in the field."

Thank you Cde Bookman, your penchant for fairness does not escape me, and I know you are hurting

quote:

Originally posted by Bookman:
No one is above the law. The PPP-C government has to stamp its foot on the wrongdoings of its so-called "friends" who are a source of great embarrassment.

Bookman we all know whats going on. Thank God for men of integrity like Navin and Komal.

quote:

Originally posted by Gerhard Ramsaroop:
Easy Sase, easy...watch the name calling...remember we are a fresh wind...

Sase, please let's stick to te issues, leave personalities out.

quote:

Originally posted by Bookman:

quote:

Originally posted by Sase Singh:

quote:

Originally posted by Bookman:

quote:

Originally posted by Mad Max:
Just curious. What were NIS inspectors doing on a work site?

Mad Max, as a friend of some ex-NIS inspectors, I can tell you it is their job to visit places of employment to verify by physical head count the number of employees any given business firm has on the payroll, and to question any business owner or employee whether they pay NIS premiums. NIS inspectors operate mostly "in the field."

Uncle Trotsky:

it is unfortunate that your PPP meeting drawing so few people these days and it is all because of the lawlessness of the PPP.

Check out - cane grow, the sling shat Minista - the local guvment chap - get chased out with anil.

AFC meeting 250 people.

rosignol at danar battam house - th fat lady young minister - maniac-chan and the duck - 15 people, afc meeting 500.

another meeting in an indian dominated village and Khemraj was not even there. Sheila went for a bottom house meeting and the villages forced her into a street corner meeting putting her on a platform because too many people to fit in the bottom house.

the wave is coming and the people know who is the leader. It is not granger/corbin and it certainly is not donald. Maybe if you chaps bring Moses into the campaign you will strike some luck.

It's early days yet, Sase.
When our indomitable President Bharrat Jagdeo is ready to sound the big gong and announce the elections date, you will witness the biggest turnout at PPP-C public meetings.
By then the AFC will run out of steam.

Indians are noted to love punishment, more the punishment the nobler they pride themselves.

Poor souls, they can never believe that life is meant to be enjoyable.

A curse inherited back in India and played to the hilt by Cheddie Beret Jagan when he displayed a caring persona at the funeral of Enmore Rebels(the indian version of Quamina Gladstone and the Demerara Rebels.

Indian ppl have a generational curse upon them, they need to have those demons removed and send to where they came from-straight back to Freedom House.

Police accused of delay in NIS attack probe - Buddy Shivraj, workers still to be questioned
By STABROEK STAFF | LOCAL | TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

Police are yet to question businessman Omprakash ‘Buddy’ Shivraj and several of his workers who have been accused of threatening and physically assaulting a group of National Insurance Scheme (NIS) inspectors more than two weeks ago. This newspaper was reliably informed that police visited the NIS sometime last week and took statements from the inspectors. A source, however, added that no attempt was made by the police to hold the businessman or his workers over the very serious allegations. The source added that the NIS is still to get back the records they had attempted to seize from the businessman, which allegedly incited the attack on the group.

Meanwhile, this newspaper was unable to reach Police Commissioner Henry Greene for a comment on the investigation, while other senior police officials were unable to provide information. The NIS, in a press release issued several days after the incident, had said that the inspection team, which was headed by Senior Inspector Nicholas Yearwood and included Inspectors Regan Baxter, Carolyn Peters and Leslie Allen, who were accompanied by driver Horace Richards, “came under attack” while visiting the construction site at New Providence. The officers, it said, were conducting routine exercises and visited the site to execute a full compliance check.

During the visit, the officers impounded for inspection three wages records and time sheets. As a result, the NIS said, they were surrounded by Shivraj and several of his employees, who prevented them from leaving the property. “Mr Shivraj and his employees held the officers hostage whilst using threats and force in demanding the return of the impounded documents which were forcefully wrenched from the hands of Inspector Regan Baxter,” it added. The release said that the matter was later reported to the Providence Police Station but it did not say what action was taken by the police. A source later informed this newspaper that the inspectors were at the station for more than an hour but left after the ranks failed to act on the report that was given.

From the accounts of the source, the inspectors were sandwiched by two heavy-duty vehicles, before men who “one could have seen was armed to their teeth under their shirts” opened the vehicle doors and took away documents. The source said that at this point the inspectors were physically assaulted by the men. Shivraj, when contacted, had dismissed the allegations as lies before saying that it was the NIS employees who were the aggressors. He had said too that it was unreasonable for his records to be seized, when he was paying his workers the following day.

Dr. Roger Luncheon told reporters at a post cabinet press briefing last week that the NIS was working to put measures in place to protect its employees from such situations. Dr. Luncheon is the chairman of the NIS Board.

Source

How long ago did the alleged attack place? 19 days ago! Almost 3 weeks!!

Did you see this, Cde Bookman?

quote:

Originally posted by Gerhard Ramsaroop:
Did you see this, Cde Bookman?

NIS should back off from harassing Buddy Shivraj this man is key to the major housing boom being experienced in Guyana why is the govt harassing this man?

Seriously!

.

NIS team was held captive until Buddy Shivraj arrived at site - source
By STABROEK STAFF | LOCAL | THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2011

Members of a National Insurance Scheme (NIS) inspection team say they were held captive by almost two dozen men for about 20 minutes until businessman Omprakash ‘Buddy’ Shivraj arrived at the New Providence, East Bank housing development site, a source said yesterday. Almost two weeks have passed and the police are yet to act on the allegations of threats and physical assault made against Shivraj and his employees by the members of the team. The source, who is close to the team but did not want to be identified for safety concerns, told Stabroek News that the inspectors are still rattled by the incident but are still managing to execute their duties.

When contacted, Shivraj had denied the allegations saying that they were all lies. He said too that it was the NIS employees who were the aggressors and when he arrived at the location he had a peaceful discussion with them before they left. He had said too that it was unreasonable for his records to be seized, when he was paying his workers the following day.

Detailing what transpired on the day of the incident, the source said that the group, comprising Senior Inspector Nicholas Yearwood, inspectors Regan Baxter, Carolyn Peters and Leslie Allen, along with driver Horace Richards, arrived at the location around 10 am. It was quickly pointed out that prior to its arrival the group did not know that the site, where a housing scheme is being constructed, belonged to Shivraj. The source said that the inspectors were met by workers who refused to provide information about the identity of the owner, although the inspectors identified themselves and outlined the purpose of their visit.

As a result of the uncooperative attitude of the workers, the inspectors decided to walk around the property “to see what evidence they could find,” the source said. While walking around, Senior Inspector Yearwood found wage records and time sheets in what appeared to be a workers’ changing room. “After they were not giving [any] information, they decide that they will impound the books,” the source said, while explaining that under the law, inspectors have such authority but are required to give a receipt when the seizure is made.

It was at this point that trouble for the group started. The source said that suddenly a red car pulled up and a man holding a cell phone jumped out. According to the source, the man handed Yearwood the phone, saying that Shivraj wanted to have a word with him. During the short conversation between the two men, it is being alleged that Yearwood was verbally abused by the businessman, which resulted in the inspector handing the phone back to the worker.

Thereafter, the source explained, the inspectors got into the NIS vehicle with a view of leaving the property, but about twenty workers flocked around. Two bobcats, loaded with steel rods, were used to sandwich the vehicle. The source added that the vehicle’s buckets were elevated further, preventing the inspectors from making an attempt to get to safety. According to the source, as the group sat in the vehicle, contact was made with superiors, including the Chief Inspector, who was briefed on what was transpiring. Stabroek News was told that the frightened inspectors were left there for 20 minutes until the businessman arrived with four men.

Shivraj, based on the account of the source, had a brief discussion with Yearwood before signalling to his workers to go to the NIS vehicle and retrieve the seized books. Yearwood, during the conversation, would have identified himself and outlined the reason for the visit, which was to ensure that the employer was registered and was making payments to the Scheme, this newspaper was told. The source said that payment to the NIS was last made in 2004 for this operation.

The source said that the men opened the door and forcibly took the books, which were in the possession of Baxter. When the men bent over, guns could be seen sticking out of their pants’ waist, the source added. During the commotion, Stabroek News was told, one of the businessman’s employees started taking photographs of the inspectors and threatened that they will “get them at their homes.” The chief inspector, along with about 10 to 12 persons, later arrived at the location and accompanied the inspectors to the Providence Police Station.

According to the source, members of the group spent about 30 minutes at the police station and not over an hour as has been reported. This newspaper was told that although the report was made, no attempt was made by the ranks to visit the site, something the source said came as no surprise. The source told Stabroek News that there was a fruitful meeting between the group and Chairman of NIS Dr. Roger Luncheon, four days after the incident occurred. The source pointed out that while commitments have been made to put measures in place, including providing inspectors with vehicles, security and better means of communication, they are all waiting to see what will be the outcome of the matter.

It was further explained that inspectors are there “to see that people uphold the act… and that payments are up to date as well as to look for employees and self employed persons.” Inspectors are in the fields every day and their work also involved making queries and investigating industrial issues. “There are some very difficult employers but you issue them a warning and thereafter take them to court for no compliance”, the source said. The source stressed that while the incident was scary, the inspectors will not allow it to daunt their spirits but at the same time, a speedy investigation into the matter is needed.

Source

quote:

eply

These people are trying to embarrass his excellency first they start with his friend Edul Ahmad now dem gone pun Buddy Shivraj, it seems like all friends of the president are becoming targets, this is not right gerald.

quote:

Originally posted by Horse Man:

quote:

eply

These people are trying to embarrass his excellency first they start with his friend Edul Ahmad now dem gone pun Buddy Shivraj, it seems like all friends of the president are becoming targets, this is not right gerald.

Just maybe, Edul sent the tonnage through state house for buddy's house constructions. escaped VAT and other taxes. more profits for the devious.

This story ain't finished yet. Expect some shame and scandal in the family of the gang of 8

Our Little Caesars and their political minders
By STABROEK STAFF | EDITORIAL | TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2011

Media accounts of the recent shocking episode of the bullying and intimidation of a team of NIS officers by a prominent businessman and his employees suggest that the act was as crude as it was barefaced. One of the more disturbing things about the incident is that it appeared to matter little to the perpetrators that they were unlawfully and forcefully menacing and impeding public servants pursuing their legitimate duties as officials of the state. By disregarding the authority on which the NIS team was acting, the people who harassed, intimidated and impounded them sent a clear and unmistakable signal that they possessed the clout to fly in the face of the highest authority in the land and get away with it.

And after the state had been challenged to respond to the affront to its authority by actions that would provide reassurance that no one is above the law, it appeared to act in a manner that leaves us to wonder whether, in fact, it is not the reverse that is true, whether some amongst us are not empowered to go around ‘playing God.’

In the immediate aftermath of the incident the police, we are told, performed their duties indifferently, to say the least. Even now, almost three weeks after the occurrence they appear to be behaving with considerable dilatoriness. We are told, too, that the Board of the NIS, which is chaired by the Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon, acted with less than the warranted haste in engaging the abused officers.

Given what we are told about the ‘connections’ of the businessman who was allegedly responsible for the intimidation and impounding of the NIS officers, this incident appears to be one of those now familiar situations in which political influence supersedes accountability under the law. These days, official assurances of equality under the law are frequently undermined by evidence to the contrary, so that we have now come to regard such ‘assurances’ as no more than intermittent official interventions that seek to provide us with a measure of comic relief.

What is also troubling is that even an occurrence as outrageous as this one and, for that matter, the failure of the authorities to throw the proverbial book at the transgressors, have attracted more-or-less muted public reaction. That, in itself is an unflattering commentary on our indifference to the wrongs committed by the seemingly politically protected Little Caesars in our society. Not only have we, it seems, resigned ourselves to such obscenities but each time they occur we unfailing tender the collective knee-jerk response that “nothing will come out of that.”

It is just this kind of response which, in effect, gives credence to the notion that might is right. In sum, it is a cynical pronouncement on our complete loss of faith in the blindness of justice, at which point we take up residence in a fool’s paradise, clad in a cloak of make-believe normalcy that cannot conceal the nakedness of the real and shameful truths that we wish away. It is an Orwellian domain from which vantage point we are reduced to protracted and meaningless discussion and debate on our dilemma; and when we emerge from our frustrating exertions we are really no better off save and except that we are perhaps possessed of a greater measure of resolve to grin and bear it.

The ruling party made a public pronouncement on the NIS incident though the significance of its pronouncement must surely be set against the fact that those who seek to flout the law without fear of consequence often do so in anticipation of its political protection. From the ruling party’s standpoint, therefore, the value of its verbal condemnation of the “incident” has to be measured against the concrete action it takes to publicly demonstrate that it provides no sanctuary for those who seek to live above the law. The same, of course, applies to the Jagdeo administration.

In this particular instance we need to remind ourselves, again, that the victims, the NIS officers, were acting as agents of the state, the very authority which, up until now, has proffered an enfeebled response to the wrongs that have been visited upon them; so that in doing so we begin to see more clearly the grotesque anomalies in the manner in which justice sometimes appears to be administered. For surely, if the state declines to sanction the perpetrators of an offence of such gravity against its own commissioned functionaries, citizens possessed of no such commission have good grounds for feeling doubly vulnerable to un-righted wrongs at the hands of our tin gods.

Nor can Dr Luncheon be unaware of the utter meaninglessness of his promise of protection for NIS officers from such occurrences in the future in the face of the extant evidence that his promise will probably not apply in instances where, numbered among the wrongdoers, are those who seem to enjoy political protection.

Source

No response to NIS inspectors request for charges against Shivraj, workers - after alleged attack on team
By STABROEK STAFF | LOCAL | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2011

Calls by National Insurance Scheme (NIS) inspectors, for charges to be laid against businessman Omprakash ‘Buddy’ Shivraj and workers accused of holding an inspection team captive and assaulting them, have been ignored. A month since the alleged attack, a source close to the investigations told Stabroek News recently that the last word from the police was that the matter was with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The source questioned how this could be so when neither Shivraj nor any of the implicated employees were ever arrested or questioned “We were unsure before but we are sure now that nothing will come out of this matter. It will be allowed to run its course and then die a natural death,” the source said, while adding that it is a clear case where Shivraj was untouchable and above the law.

It was noted in that days after the July 22 incident, a senior NIS officer had told the affected inspectors that “they have to ride the wave of popularity that will be generated from the case.” The officer reportedly went on to say that it must be noted that if they target the “untouchable” Shivraj, then it means they can go after anyone. Asked about the mindset of the affected inspectors, the source said that four of them were directly affected by the incident. “They are the ones who are really under the weather and who are really threatened by the future,” it was noted. The source pointed out that while what was done was wrong and should have been dealt with in the appropriate manner “people are more concerned about bread and butter issues.”

The source told Stabroek News that Chairman of the NIS Board Dr. Roger Luncheon promised a number of things relating to improved transportation and communication systems but up to now nothing has been done. “While I expect nothing to be done, I didn’t expect totally nothing. I expected at least a bluff,” the source stressed. Stabroek News was told that several inspectors had asked the Board to consider retaining an attorney to file charges against Shivraj under chapter 36:01 of the NIS Act. This section of the Act, it was explained, states that failure to produce documents on request by a NIS inspector who is on duty is an offence. That offence carries a fine of $100,000 for the obstruction of the inspector’s course of duty.

The source pointed out that there are at least three offences that Shivraj could be cited for under the law. It was noted that an inspector is empowered to prosecute cases but it was due to the fact that Shivraj could have hired “competent attorneys who could run rings around the NIS prosecutor” that the request for legal representation was made. Shivraj has denied the incident, saying that “I wasn’t even there. It’s all lies.”

In a statement, NIS had explained that the inspection team, which was headed by Senior Inspector Nicholas Yearwood, and included Inspectors Regan Baxter, Carolyn Peters and Leslie Allen, who were accompanied by driver Horace Richards, “came under attack” while visiting the construction site at New Providence, East Bank Demerara. The officers, it said, were conducting routine exercises and visited the site to execute a full compliance check.

During the visit, the officers impounded three wages record and time sheets for inspection. As a result, NIS said, they were surrounded by Shivraj and several of his employees, who prevented them from leaving the property. Shivraj and his employees allegedly held the officers hostage whilst using threats and force in demanding the return of the impounded documents which were forcefully wrenched from the hands of Inspector Regan Baxter, it added. The release said that the matter was later reported to the Providence Police Station. Ranks from there failed to visit the scene of the incident conduct investigations.

Source