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FM
Former Member

Many of these people voted PNC hoping for a different set of results post 1992. Now they bear the brunt of PNC incompetency.

 

Parents protest deplorable conditions at Ituni Primary School

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− reopening delayed

Parents of students attending Ituni Primary School in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) staged a protest at the school on Monday morning, citing the deplorable conditions within the learning institution.

Armed with their placards, parents and students protested outside the school’s compound, highlighting their concerns. Given the situation, the Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) decided not to have the school reopened until the issues were resolved. A parent and member of the school’s PTA, Kim Edwards, told this publication that the issues were not new to the school and ranged from malfunctioning and limited washroom facilities to lack of potable water and faulty infrastructure.

“This is not today, but it’s (been ongoing since) about three years ago. We’ve been asking for a sanitary block, for them to look after our sanitary block. One toilet is in use. The children, both male and female, using one toilet. Our corridors – all the wood falling off. The steps: we have to choose where to walk. Only one step is functioning. The other one, they have to choose where to walk,” Edwards stated.

She added that although officials from the Education Ministry and the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) were aware of the situation, the issues remained unaddressed.

The PTA member said too that concerned residents had spoken to regional

Sections of the school building is falling apart making it unsafe for students
Sections of the school building is falling apart making it unsafe for students

officials regarding the situation, but received no assistance. Edwards added that officials visited the school once and had advised them to block off the school’s problematic steps, which had been done; however, she noted that the pressure remained on the other steps.

“Nobody came. We need somebody to come and see what is happening. It’s not a word of mouth thing. They have to see. The toilet is filled to the top with filth (as a result of the lack of water),” she lamented.

Edwards pointed out that students who have to sit the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations would be affected by the situation.

“It’s in a terrible state. Real terrible state. Then we have children who have to write the National Grade Six examination. You know they will just bring the contracts and engineers and they will just assess the building and then that’s it. They gone, and they leave us like that,” the parent noted. Recently, Councillors had highlighted the deplorable conditions which were unearthed during a visit to several schools in riverine areas in the Region. Regional Chairman Renis Morian, during a RDC meeting last week, presented a document titled “Year of Results-based Management” which includes plans for the Region’s education sector, among other areas, for 2017. The document outlined plans to be facilitated in collaboration with the Education Department for the upgrading of schools and compounds, the establishing of a working relationship with schools’ PTAs and the monitoring of education delivery in the Region.

“We’ve talked a lot in 2016 and I don’t want a talk shop… this has been a sore point for us. We want to see school compounds look better,” Morian had stated during the meeting.

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While PNC gave themselves 50% raises and support fat cats in cushy govt jobs, the nation's infrastructure continues to fall apart.

Drivers strike over state of Coomacka access road, bridges

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– will not work until situation is rectified

Drivers operating in several mining areas across Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) on Monday morning staged a strike to highlight the deplorable condition of the Coomacka access road.

They were joined by schoolchildren and residents from areas including Coomacka, Three Friends, Nottinghamshire, Old England and Yaribo, at Coomacka where their issues were brought to the fore.

A minibus navigates the almost impassable road
A minibus navigates the almost impassable road

Residents also voiced their concerns with regard to the dilapidated state of the road and bridges (one at Coomacka and two at Three Friends). They alleged that they were being neglected by Government, as their concerns have been raised in the media and raised by a Councillor at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), and despite this, the situation remained unchanged.

They also spoke about the school bus that was gifted to the community under the President’s 5Bs initiative, which has not been operable since it was handed over a few months ago.

Many are also casting blame on the RDC, as they claim representatives inspected the road a few times and nothing tangible resulted. One driver, David Adams explained that it was very costly to conduct repairs to his vehicle, given the state of the roadway. He opined that since the road has been neglected by Government and regional authorities, monies for rehab work should be handed over to members of the community to conduct repairs.

“If the Government don’t want to do it, then give us the money and we will elect a body to look after our road. We are getting the short end of the development…,” Adams stated.

Many persons pointed to the high cost for repairs and vowed not to use the road until the RDC or Government rectified the situation.

“As the owner of a private vehicle it cost me $120,000 just to fix my bottom end last week, and this is ridiculous. It is forcing people to move out of the community. And I know it have other private owners that are suffering same way like I do. I know this is one of the things that the Government is going to want to bring up – that we have issues with land and everything else. But that doesn’t mean that a road coming from Linden directly to Coomacka where we have the first Coomacka School, we can have it up to there [cannot be done], as well as going to Yaribo, Three Friends because those are the areas that we have to go to,” Adams continued.

Minibus operator Robert Gentle also expressed frustration over the state of the road.

“The reason for this action here this morning is as a direct result of the road. One hundred years of bauxite mining in this country since last year. Now after one hundred years of bauxite mining, persons who are affected by the extraction of this mineral have no modern convenience. Our road is so terrible that it takes an hour and odd minutes to meet to Linden,” he noted.

Speaking with this publication, one resident explained that some of the affected schoolchildren are preparing to sit the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Examinations, while some have School Based Assessments (SBAs) to submit this week. Drivers plan to continue with the strike action today.

FM

The jackasses praised the PNC govt for flood abatement efforts but the people still suffering. But they suffer in pleasure as they voted for the PNC. 

Pomeroon farmland under water

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Region 2 flooding

Large acreages of farmland located in the Pomeroon River, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) are currently inundated with six to eight inches of floodwater caused by excessive rainfall and poor drainage.
Many farmers who spoke with this publication related that their lands were currently submerged and the floodwaters were not receding.

Farmers using sand bags to stop breaches
Farmers using sand bags to stop breaches

Farmers living in both lower and upper Pomeroon are affected and are counting their losses. Currently, cash crops such as pepper, pumpkin, plantain, lettuce, and cucumber are underwater. As such, farmers are forced daily to fill sand bags in an effort to prevent minor breaches along the riverbank.
According to Rose Benn from Marlborough, Lower Pomeroon, her land has been under water for some time now and she has lost a large quantity of cash crops such as cucumbers, watermelons, bora and pumpkins. When asked what may be the main contributing factor to the flooding, Benn said excessive rainfall coupled with poor drainage.
“The high tide did not affect us much this year; however, the continuous rainfall did – water kept accumulating on the lands and those who have poor empolders are facing problems,” Benn related.
The farmer further added that many residents in the Marlborough area were forced to stay indoors during the holidays on account of the flooding. She reported the lower flat of her home was inundated given the intermittent rainfall.
Another large-scale farmer, Vilma Da Silva also reported farmers’ lands were under water. She said many of her colleagues remained under water and their livelihoods were affected.
Cash crop farmers in the Friendship, Hacney, Martindale, and Grant Pomeroon areas are also affected. Most persons living in riverine areas survive on farming.
Farmers related that the trenches, canals and River are swollen. They reported that because of poor drainage water continued to flow into their lands.
This publication understands that pumping is presently ongoing at the Dawa Pump Station. Meanwhile, on the Essequibo coastland, water is receding at a slow pace.
Rice lands are currently under stress given the high accumulation of water. Eight pumps are currently in operation along the coast.
The pump at Charity remains inoperable. Almost every village in Region Two was flooded owing to the excessive rainfall and overtopping. Many persons, especially poultry farmers, have lost thousands of dollars in stock. (Indrawattie Natram)

FM

The people who help to install this government are in hiding with shame on their faces. On GNI, they left one by one from two weeks ago. They have nothing to offer and nothing to brag about this incompetent government. I hope they are not contemplating suicide for their lack of good judgement. 

FM
Prince posted:

The people who help to install this government are in hiding with shame on their faces. On GNI, they left one by one from two weeks ago. They have nothing to offer and nothing to brag about this incompetent government. I hope they are not contemplating suicide for their lack of good judgement. 

They quitting GNI.  Some now coming and admitting BJ and the PPP is the best thing.  These people have no shame!

FM
ba$eman posted:

They quitting GNI.  Some now coming and admitting BJ and the PPP is the best thing.  These people have no shame!

Who is this "some" you think you heard say this?

cain
Last edited by cain
cain posted:
ba$eman posted:

They quitting GNI.  Some now coming and admitting BJ and the PPP is the best thing.  These people have no shame!

Who is this "some" you think you heard say this?

You must shut you rass when big man talk. You must watch, listen and observe to see the guilt falling from their faces. You (Cain) is one of them. The reason you're still here is because you bareface. Time will catch up with you soon. 

FM
ba$eman posted:
Prince posted:

The people who help to install this government are in hiding with shame on their faces. On GNI, they left one by one from two weeks ago. They have nothing to offer and nothing to brag about this incompetent government. I hope they are not contemplating suicide for their lack of good judgement. 

They quitting GNI.  Some now coming and admitting BJ and the PPP is the best thing.  These people have no shame!

They are in hiding and quitting GNI and many are now crawling on their bellies begging King Bharat to save Guyana from the new Afro Dictator.

FM
Cobra posted:
cain posted:
ba$eman posted:

They quitting GNI.  Some now coming and admitting BJ and the PPP is the best thing.  These people have no shame!

Who is this "some" you think you heard say this?

You must shut you rass when big man talk. You must watch, listen and observe to see the guilt falling from their faces. You (Cain) is one of them. The reason you're still here is because you bareface. Time will catch up with you soon. 

Thou speaketh shiteth!

cain
yuji22 posted:
ba$eman posted:
Prince posted:

The people who help to install this government are in hiding with shame on their faces. On GNI, they left one by one from two weeks ago. They have nothing to offer and nothing to brag about this incompetent government. I hope they are not contemplating suicide for their lack of good judgement. 

They quitting GNI.  Some now coming and admitting BJ and the PPP is the best thing.  These people have no shame!

They are in hiding and quitting GNI and many are now crawling on their bellies begging King Bharat to save Guyana from the new Afro Dictator.

Thou also speaketh shiteth.

cain

More incompetence from the PNC, back in PPP time there would have been solutions for these types of situations.

Scores left stranded as bus drivers continue strike at Coomacka


 

By Jacquey Bourne

As minibus drivers at Coomacka yesterday went on the second day of their strike action, school children, teachers and other class of workers were left stranded in the community and other outlying areas.

Some of the school children stranded on Monday.

The drivers have insisted they will continue their strike action until the road is fixed.
According to one driver and minibus owner Robert Gentle, the reason for their decision to strike is a direct result of the condition of the access road and bridges joining the four communities (Nottinghamshire, Siberian/Old England, Coomacka, Three Friends/Yaribo) commonly known as the ‘mines’.
“We celebrated 100 years of bauxite mining in this country just last year; now after 100 years of bauxite mining the persons who are affected by the extraction of this bauxite mineral have no modern convenience. Our road is so terrible that it takes one hour and odd minutes to meet to Linden. If we are to continue to work under this condition it means one of two things will have to happen.”
Gentle noted that a bus was donated to the community to transport school children but opined that this is the second term of the school year and the bus is still not operational.
“The Government gave us a bus and it make one attempt at a trip in six months. Why? Because the road is bad and when the bus came and stick up and had to get pull out, the bus went and never came back. Now the Region and the Regional Chairman know that this road is in a terrible state because they never send back de bus; but they expect private operators to continue to work under this condition. This is the worse Christmas road in ten years. Now we got a body who says they are going to provide a better life, nothing is better about what is going on in the mines.”
Due to the condition of the roads some children had to repeat a class because they were late and couldn’t write some of the end of term examinations. One female New Silver City Secondary School student said that she wants to go to school but she is forced to stay at home because of the condition of the road and the drivers’ decision to strike. A male fifth former of the same school said he is very upset that he cannot go to school.
“The road has really deteriorated and I am a CXC student and it is very hard when you get to school late. I want the road fixed because I am writing CXC in a couple of months and I have to get to school.”
BRIDGES
In response to the residents’ complaints in front of the Regional Democratic Council yesterday, Regional Chairman Renis Morian said that there are two initiatives in place. He claimed he took photographs of the erosion of the river, the bridges and the road and sent them with letters to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Civil Defence Commission and Maritime Administration Department.
In relation to the road, the Regional Chairman said he had talks with engineers and a hydraulic engineer, based on the volume of water that is flowing through the Coomacka and the Three Friends area.
“…Hence I’m aware that plans are afoot to do work on the road, but what we would have done at the level of the Regional Democratic Council in the short term to alleviate in terms of getting the children to school… there is a contractor who is on the road right now working while we wait the intervention of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. So right now as it is, Mr. Bella is on the road working.”
At that juncture the residents intervened in unison ‘no, nobody ent wukking deh, we just come from deh’. The Chairman continued, saying the contractor left Linden, and again he was interrupted by the residents. However, he concluded by disclosing that the man “got the contract to do the road.”
The Regional Chairman then bluntly refused to answer questions from this reporter.
In the meantime, children are still stranded unless they travel with the BOSAI workers’ bus.

FM

Now that they take over the country, they still trying to blame the PPP for PNC incompetency.

Standoff over outstanding payments…Chinese construction workers squatting in Marriott’s unfinished casino


 

From the balcony, there is a breathtaking sight of the Atlantic Ocean with ships passing and of the sunlight hitting the crashing waves. It is almost the same sight from about half of the rooms of Marriott Hotel, Kingston. But the view yesterday from the balcony was not from the hotel rooms. Rather, it was from an incomplete shell, adjoining the hotel.
That shell was intended to be converted into a world-class entertainment facility to house a casino and other facilities. The casino was supposed to boost the revenues for the entire facility and allow, based on projections, the hotel to pay the more than US$50M it owes to banks and others. However, almost two years since the hotel was opened, very little has been done to develop the adjacent section.
A new administration, under the Coalition Government, is in place, with a new Board of Directors and management for Atlantic Hotel Inc. (AHI), which owns the hotel, installed in 2015.
That unfinished section is now facing another major problem that has the potential of developing into an embarrassing situation.
A number of Chinese nationals, who came here to work on the hotel’s construction, have moved in and are refusing to leave until their company – Shanghai Construction Group (SCG) – is paid a large sum of monies that they are owed for work done.
The standoff has been ongoing for a number of months now with the Chinese construction workers warned to leave, but to no avail. The matter had been kept quiet, until now.
Yesterday, Horace James, Officer-in-Charge of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), confirmed that the workers are in the annex “illegally”.
NICIL is the state-owned company overseeing investments and owns AHI, the company that owns and put together the deal to build the hotel.
Responding to a number of emailed questions, the official said that he is aware that SCG is owed and that it is for aboutUS$800,000 ($160M). However, SCG officials are reportedly claiming that they are owed between US$4-5M ($800M-$1B).
“They (the workers) were requested to cease their illegal occupation of the site on several occasions. They also received notice from the Chief Fire Officer that their occupation constitutes a fire hazard,” James wrote in response to questions from Kaieteur News.
The official made it clear that no one gave permission for the men, said to be numbering under 10, to move in.
“SCG occupies the site in breach of the contract,” the response from NICIL said.
James also disclosed that he is aware that negotiations to settle the matter have been ongoing.
With the life of the Board of Directors, under Chairperson, Beverly Harper, expiring in December last, Government is moving to put together another one.
In the meantime the Marriott Manager continues to be in charge of the hotel’s operations.
Yesterday, Kaieteur News visited the annex and saw at least four persons in the section that would have housed the casino. There are at least four storeys that have been left unfinished. The area outside of the annex is scattered with construction material and overgrown with bushes.
A number of air-conditioned makeshift rooms were converted to bedrooms for the Chinese workers.
The area has electricity. And there was even, in one corner, a hot water tank and wash sinks.
There were several construction overalls hanging in a corner with the breeze from the Atlantic Ocean coming through an open door leading to the balcony drying them.
Kaieteur News was told that SCG had been applying pressure for the monies, even visiting the East Coast Demerara office of Ansa McAl where Harper had been stationed, to press home their demands.
Since the April 2015 completion of the hotel, SCG would have been obligated to stick around for a year to correct any defects. That period has long since elapsed, in April 2016.
It was reported that former AHI head, Winston Brassington, had ordered monies withheld because of the quality of work.
A hotel worker has disclosed that a section of a wall at the hotel recently collapsed forcing emergency works. Several of the marble tiles have cracked in places, largely because it is of poor quality.
The hotel was heavily pushed by the successive government of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to improve the quality of accommodation in Guyana.
However, the financing structure saw the hotel, in terms of square foot, becoming one of the most expensive in the world.
While the Government of Guyana spent almost US$30M, it is last on the list to receive any returns or profits.
There have been questions to claims by some officials whether the hotel is breaking even.
Government has been hosting a number of events there, but without the casino in operation, officials have been arguing that it will be impossible to pay bills.
Already, Government is in talks with the local banks to hold off collecting outstanding payments.

FM
Chief posted:

Mahatma Moss Nagamootoo is trying, one must remember that the people  rejected and vote the corrupt PPP out of office.

When the recount is done in an honest way and the results are published, you can say that the PPP was voted out of office. Suruj Gadha Ki Lar and Gay Fat Boy prevented a fair and free election in Guyana

FM
Chief posted:

Mahatma Moss Nagamootoo is trying, one must remember that the people  rejected and vote the corrupt PPP out of office.

You folks continue to scream corrupt PPP, however I am still waiting for the jailing of PPP and recovery of state assets stolen by PPP as evidence of this corruption. So far Zero is the count. 

FM

They voted PNC now they get PNC toilet treatment.

Parents protest deplorable state of Ituni Primary School

 

– selective pupils being taught elsewhere

On Monday, the parents from the small logging community, Ituni, staged a protest over the deplorable state of the primary school in the area.
The school is the Howell Wilson Primary School, but it is more commonly referred

A toilet at the Howell Wilson Primary School.

to as the Ituni Primary School.
On Wednesday, Regional Education Officer, Marcia Paddy, met with the parents and teachers and they reached an agreement, where only the students that would be sitting examinations in the coming months, namely Grades two, four and six would attend school.
The students are being taught in the Ituni Community Library and the Ituni Small Loggers Association building, while the community awaits word of the commencement of the rehabilitation of the school.
The protest on Monday lasted for about seven hours, as parents and some of their children stood in front of the school with placards, some of which read, “Our children are playing hopscotch to climb the stairs, Help!” and “No repair, no school”, among many others.
There have reportedly been countless reports to the Ministry of Education relating to the school being in a deplorable state. However, no response has been given.
Keisha Griffith, the Community’s Development Officer said that the last time repairs were done to the school was about two years ago. She said that this included repainting the school and repairing light bulbs. And although many other issues were raised, nothing was done about it by the Regional Democratic Council, who had repainted and replaced the lighting.
Griffith said that the corridor in front of the school and classrooms is rotten, while the three stairs leading up to the building are all shaking. The toilet facilities remain a huge health concern for parents with only one functioning washroom for an entire school population.
The parents said that complaints were made a year ago about the condition of the school and also before school closed in December 2016, but they did not get any favourable response. The parents said that they have reached a point where protesting seemed their best option.
Chairman for Region Ten, Renis Morian, said that he received reports that the school “walkway” was not stable and has since sent the Region’s Engineer, along with representatives from the Region and the Ministry of Education, and also a contractor to investigate the issues with the school.
Morian also said that the schools were all budgeted for repairs this year especially those schools in the riverine areas like Ituni, Aroaima and Kwakwani. According to him comprehensive works are to be done.

FM

The jackasses in the PNC/AFC bringing Guyana back to the Burnham days of severe foreign currency shortage. Businesses will now suffer. Many business men voted for pnc, now they get their dhall. 

Local banks repeat foreign currency shortage claims

 

…but Central Bank insists otherwise
Even though the Government and the Central Bank have said since last year that there is no shortage of foreign currency, consumers continue to experience a different reality.

Central Bank Governor, Dr. Gobind Ganga

Up to yesterday, local banks informed some businessmen that they are unable to do transactions ranging from US$80,000 to even US$5,000. The excuse given is that there is a shortage of foreign currency within the system.
Inquiries made by this newspaper also showed that the situation remains the same. Some banks are proffering the explanation that they sell the USA currency based on what is brought in by their customers. Such is the case with Republic Bank.
When Kaieteur News made contact with the Camp Street branch, it was told that a transaction of US$30,000 or even US$2,000 could not be done. A supervisor subsequently stated that there is a shortage and that checks should be made at the Republic Bank branch at Water Street. But this too was not successful. Representatives at the branch stated that the amount was not available and that “there seems to be a shortage for some time now.”
The official told this newspaper that checks should be made at a later date.
In other cases, some banks are stating that customers would have to go on a waiting list and the time for their request to be facilitated is not guaranteed. They insist that they cannot guarantee that the waiting list process would result in the transaction being effected within two or three days.
Kaieteur News contacted Central Bank Governor, Dr. Gobind Ganga yesterday about the situation. He insists however that the banks have foreign currency.
“I don’t know what they are going on with, but listen, there is no shortage. All the banks have money. What is happening is that some of them are just holding on to their money. The foreign currency situation has even improved significantly from last year to now!” Dr. Ganga stated emphatically
Another senior banking official at the Central Bank asserted that, “All the banks can provide foreign currency to the consumers, but they are trying to be difficult. Some of them are keeping the money so they can send it to their other branches in the region.”
In addition, Dr. Ganga stressed that there was no reason for concern.
“There is no foreign currency crisis looming in Guyana. The fact is we have a net supply of foreign currency in the system, so there should be no depreciation of the currency by any significant amount. It is not a situation where there is a piling up of demand for foreign exchange at the commercial banks,” Dr. Ganga said.
He even provided details which illustrate that the current foreign exchange reserves held by the Bank of Guyana and the commercial banks were in excess of the 2015 figures.
“Commercial banks have increased their foreign exchange holdings. In 2015 they had a gross holding of US$357M, as of September 2016 it was US$388.4M, and we are expecting the commercial banks to hold approximately US$403M by the end of the year,” Dr. Ganga revealed.
He said, “The (commercial) banks have money… and they have quite a lot, it is not a small amount. The Bank of Guyana had US$598M at the end of 2015, currently we are holding close to US$625M which is much more than last year. You can see therefore that there is an increase in foreign exchange availability from the holdings.”
The BOG Governor said that an increase in the circulation of Trinidad and Tobago and Barbadian dollars in the Guyanese economy has been noticed, and that this indicates that these currencies are being converted into Guyana dollars then used to purchase US currency.

FM

This man got the govt he deserve, the Indian business man build and the pnc destroy.

M&CC demolishes sections of Sherriff Street business

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The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) on Thursday afternoon demolished a section of a multicomplex building on Sheriff Street, citing an illegal extension at the southern end of the building.

Town Clerk Royston King led the demolition exercise of the Sheriff Street building, which houses Electronics City and fashion stores, along with several other fast-food outlets.

M&CC workers tore down the “illegal” extension on this Sheriff Street business on Thursday
M&CC workers tore down the “illegal” extension on this Sheriff Street business on Thursday

The officers also removed a container, which the Council said was illegally placed at the head of Fifth Avenue, Subryanville, and left for several years.

According to the Supervisor of Building Inspection (acting), Marlon Harris, the extension of the building at the head of Fifth Avenue, Subryanville, was constructed without the permission of the City Council.

He explained that “Notices were served several times to the developer and owner of the property here but they never complied. So the City, in an effort to rectify all the breaches throughout the length and breadth of (Georgetown) has moved to remove the illegal construction there.”

Meanwhile, the Town Clerk and the city officers also highlighted another breach on the northern side of the building, where an extension was built several inches off the ground, to facilitate an outdoor sitting area for the food outlets. However, it was noted that the extension is sitting on the Council’s drainage reserve.

The City workers pointed out excess fat in the drainage system, which they noted is owing to the fact that the grease trap of the building may not be functioning. Harris noted that an inspection will have to be carried out to determine the cause.

Nevertheless, the Town Clerk informed the owner of the building, Shareef Ahmad, that he should take steps to remove the extension. “We would need back this space here… We don’t want to disrupt your nice work so I’m asking you to arrange for your own work people to come here within 24 hours and remove this,” King indicated to the businessman.

However, Ahmad told reporters that he is being victimised. “It is clearly victimising… because what goes to one supposed to go for all; if you drive around the city you will see how many places way over built and they’re not taking any actions,” the businessman stated.

FM

They voted PNC now they get PNC treatment. Back in PPP time this would have incited a riot and protest by afc/pnc operative. Now these jackasses quiet.

M&CC dismantles stalls at Merriman Mall

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… no notice was ever given – vendors

Several vendors who operate at the Merriman Mall were left in a state of shock, as they arrived on Thursday morning to find their stalls, located between Cummings Street and North Road completely destroyed.
The dismantling operation, which reportedly occurred on Wednesday evening at approximately 22:30h (long after the vendors had finished working for the day), was carried out by a team of City Constables led by Town Clerk Royston King.

Vendors stand inside the shell of one of the structures
Vendors stand inside the shell of one of the structures

The vendors, who were all adamant that no notice was given to them prior to the dismantling exercise, denounced the clandestine nature of the operation. They questioned their next move, as for many, this was their only source of income.
“No one came with a formal notice to us,” one vendor, who was identified as Abby, lamented. “(They took) us off of the streets, bringing us here and then giving us empty promises that they are going to build, eventually.”
“Now they are saying that we are not maintaining the spots but we were maintaining our areas. If it was a case where the place is being looked after they could have told us and put persons in spots that are not being looked after.”
Abby denounced the actions of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), describing it as a“deception”. She explained that she just came and met her dismantled stall on the road.
George Adolph, another vendor, claimed that contrary to what Mayor Patricia Chase-Green had said in a televised interview on Wednesday, no notice was given for them to move.

The strip where the cosmetologists and barbers once plied their trade
The strip where the cosmetologists and barbers once plied their trade

“Last night nobody ain’t know what going on. I listened the news and I heard her saying she gave us a month’s notice. Nobody here ain’t got any notice. I am appealing to the President to come and look into this situation,” the man related.
According to Adolph, they were told that the Council could not build anything before the Jubilee as the time was too short. He claimed that they were promised a more permanent structure afterwards. The vendor questioned the manner in which self-employed persons, who are already struggling to make a living, are being treated by the municipal Council, which they helped to elect.
He said, “It appears as though these people bullying poor people. And in any country poor people are the electorate. Before these people become Mayor and Town Clerk, these people come out on the road and tell us we know where to put our X.”
“They give us all assurances that they will help us. And this is what they turn out to (be). After we finish vote and they get what they want, they turn their back on us,” he said. “The people in this country ain’t got rights. They bringing foreign people who benefiting more than us.”
President of the Guyana Vendors Union (GVU) and former M&CC Councillor Eon Andrews, was on hand to weigh in on the issue. He called for a sit down with the authorities in order to reach an amicable solution.
“We would like to have discussions on the way forward, as it relates to vending,” he said. “To prevent these kinds of embarrassments and draconian attitudes, (so it) does not occur.When they had the crisis in town they just dumped them here, so as to ease the pressure on them. A lot of things about this spot is not really conducive to this kind of business. So if you are going to bring people here, you must put proper infrastructure so that they can operate,” Andrews said.
He questioned where the vendors would go now. The GVU President also echoed the sentiments of other vendors who pointed out that, with the sluggish performance of the economy, adding more persons to the breadline would be detrimental.
“The President (Granger) is speaking about self-employment. They are trying to be employed. All they need is a bit of help from City Council. That’s why if they could sit with us, where they could sit on one side of the table and (us on the other, this can be resolved),” Andrews stated.
Several of the irate vendors brandished receipts showing that their payments each week to City Council were up to date. One single parent of three children was rendered speechless at the sight of her wrecked stall.
Last year, the vendors were moved from their previous location as part of the clean-up campaign for the Jubilee celebrations. Some of the vendors went to Parliament View, so named for the location opposite Parliament Building.
And in the case of barbers and cosmetologists, some went to the Cummings Street and North Road location. When questioned on Thursday, Town Clerk Royston King confirmed that the operation occurred on Wednesday night. However, he emphasised that the decision was taken because of the unsanitary conditions of the Merriman Mall strip.

FM

"They voted PNC now they get PNC treatment. Back in PPP time this would have incited a riot and protest by afc/pnc operative. Now these jackasses quiet."


 

Is this what you learn at  St. Stanislaus College,Guyana,S.A.??

my nephew,neice,son and few villagers who grace the halls of that institution have moved on to do great things,

what have you become,a RACIST who peddles trash in cyberworld. 

Django
Last edited by Django
Django posted:

"They voted PNC now they get PNC treatment. Back in PPP time this would have incited a riot and protest by afc/pnc operative. Now these jackasses quiet."


 

Is this what you learn at  St. Stanislaus College,Guyana,S.A.??

my nephew,neice,son and few villagers who grace the halls of that institution have moved on to do great things,

what have you become,a RACIST who peddles trash in cyberworld. 

The truth always hurt. When you criticize the PNC, you are a racist. What do you call the black people in America who criticize Donald Trump? Martin Luther King?

FM
Django posted:

"They voted PNC now they get PNC treatment. Back in PPP time this would have incited a riot and protest by afc/pnc operative. Now these jackasses quiet."


 

Is this what you learn at  St. Stanislaus College,Guyana,S.A.??

my nephew,neice,son and few villagers who grace the halls of that institution have moved on to do great things,

what have you become,a RACIST who peddles trash in cyberworld. 

Who the cap fit draw the string. The truth always hurt, back in PPP time you folks were gleefully blaming the PPP if a black stump his toe. Now take criticizm and urge your govt to do a better job. You want to stifle the voice of dissent, but who will keep the PNC in check if we as a collective don't speak out?  After all you are just concerned with posting that everything is all flowery and good with this administration. There has to be balance and that is where our voices come in.

FM
skeldon_man posted:
Django posted:

"They voted PNC now they get PNC treatment. Back in PPP time this would have incited a riot and protest by afc/pnc operative. Now these jackasses quiet."


 

Is this what you learn at  St. Stanislaus College,Guyana,S.A.??

my nephew,neice,son and few villagers who grace the halls of that institution have moved on to do great things,

what have you become,a RACIST who peddles trash in cyberworld. 

The truth always hurt. When you criticize the PNC, you are a racist. What do you call the black people in America who criticize Donald Trump? Martin Luther King?

Is that like when someone moves away from the corrupted PPP they are called #igger Indians?

cain
Last edited by cain
cain posted:. 

The truth always hurt. When you criticize the PNC, you are a racist. What do you call the black people in America who criticize Donald Trump? Martin Luther King?

Is that like when someone moves away from the corrupted PPP they are called #igger Indians?

So far zero PPP jailed for corruption and zero state assets allegedly stolen recovered.

FM
cain posted:
skeldon_man posted:
Django posted:

"They voted PNC now they get PNC treatment. Back in PPP time this would have incited a riot and protest by afc/pnc operative. Now these jackasses quiet."


 

Is this what you learn at  St. Stanislaus College,Guyana,S.A.??

my nephew,neice,son and few villagers who grace the halls of that institution have moved on to do great things,

what have you become,a RACIST who peddles trash in cyberworld. 

The truth always hurt. When you criticize the PNC, you are a racist. What do you call the black people in America who criticize Donald Trump? Martin Luther King?

Is that like when someone moves away from the corrupted PPP they are called #igger Indians?

How soon you forget.

FM

Yall remember this? The govt making moves and you fellas start bitching and complaining obviously you people got connections to these people and their corrupt ways. What's gonna happen when some a dem get thrown into prison or made to repay money owed, you guys gonna turn blue?

SARU conducting inventory of high-rise buildings in Guyana

Jan 08, 2017 News, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....buildings-in-guyana/

cain
skeldon_man posted:
cain posted

Is that like when someone moves away from the corrupted PPP they are called #igger Indians?

How soon you forget.

Forget what, you guys calling decent law abiding people names, nahh I didn't?

cain
cain posted:

Yall remember this? The govt making moves and you fellas start bitching and complaining obviously you people got connections to these people and their corrupt ways. What's gonna happen when some a dem get thrown into prison or made to repay money owed, you guys gonna turn blue?

SARU conducting inventory of high-rise buildings in Guyana

Jan 08, 2017 News, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....buildings-in-guyana/

Look like you and saru fishing. They taking inventory?  Let see what they will do with this inventory. 

FM
Drugb posted:

This man got the govt he deserve, the Indian business man build and the pnc destroy.

M&CC demolishes sections of Sherriff Street business

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The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) on Thursday afternoon demolished a section of a multicomplex building on Sheriff Street, citing an illegal extension at the southern end of the building.

Town Clerk Royston King led the demolition exercise of the Sheriff Street building, which houses Electronics City and fashion stores, along with several other fast-food outlets.

M&CC workers tore down the “illegal” extension on this Sheriff Street business on Thursday
M&CC workers tore down the “illegal” extension on this Sheriff Street business on Thursday

The officers also removed a container, which the Council said was illegally placed at the head of Fifth Avenue, Subryanville, and left for several years.

According to the Supervisor of Building Inspection (acting), Marlon Harris, the extension of the building at the head of Fifth Avenue, Subryanville, was constructed without the permission of the City Council.

He explained that “Notices were served several times to the developer and owner of the property here but they never complied. So the City, in an effort to rectify all the breaches throughout the length and breadth of (Georgetown) has moved to remove the illegal construction there.”

Meanwhile, the Town Clerk and the city officers also highlighted another breach on the northern side of the building, where an extension was built several inches off the ground, to facilitate an outdoor sitting area for the food outlets. However, it was noted that the extension is sitting on the Council’s drainage reserve.

The City workers pointed out excess fat in the drainage system, which they noted is owing to the fact that the grease trap of the building may not be functioning. Harris noted that an inspection will have to be carried out to determine the cause.

Nevertheless, the Town Clerk informed the owner of the building, Shareef Ahmad, that he should take steps to remove the extension. “We would need back this space here… We don’t want to disrupt your nice work so I’m asking you to arrange for your own work people to come here within 24 hours and remove this,” King indicated to the businessman.

However, Ahmad told reporters that he is being victimised. “It is clearly victimising… because what goes to one supposed to go for all; if you drive around the city you will see how many places way over built and they’re not taking any actions,” the businessman stated.

Someone did not pay a bribe?

Prashad
Last edited by Prashad
Drugb posted:
cain posted:

Yall remember this? The govt making moves and you fellas start bitching and complaining obviously you people got connections to these people and their corrupt ways. What's gonna happen when some a dem get thrown into prison or made to repay money owed, you guys gonna turn blue?

SARU conducting inventory of high-rise buildings in Guyana

Jan 08, 2017 News, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....buildings-in-guyana/

Look like you and saru fishing. They taking inventory?  Let see what they will do with this inventory. 

The purpose of the Big House inventory, is to seize and distribute to them PNC Brothers. Them son of a B*t*H don't want to work, just want to rob hard working Indians. In Guyana the lazy people always wonder how others get rich, the first thing comes to their mind is them ah thief or do drugs, I remember in Uitvlugt, the Blacks were always smartly dressed, shine shoes, nice pants and shirt, they dressed up to go to dance and party, while the Indians stayed at home with their old clothes and drink their flattie, But the Indians always have a clean yard, well painted house, lovely flower and vegetable garden, on the other hand the Blacks had old broken down houses, yard with over grown bushes. So, today when the Indians have BIG Houses and businesses the Black government want to Nationalize and take it away. Time is not late, I say close shop and leave the DAM country.

K

These same folks voted in Granger, now they are surprised at how quickly he abandoned them to fill his pockets from the nations coffers with 50% raises and who knows what else from presidential perks and expensive overseas travel.

Days later, drivers, residents remain persistent

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Coomacka strike

Five days after commencing strike action over the deplorable state of the main access road, drivers operating in several mining areas across Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) are continuing their strike until their expectations are met.

Residents continue their protest action over the deplorable state of the main access road
Residents continue their protest action over the deplorable state of the main access road

The road users who traverse the Coomacka access road are adamant that they will not resume operations until the regional officials complete rehabilitation work from Coomacka to Yaribo. Works should also include the rehabilitation of collapsed bridges in several affected communities, they added.

According to information reaching Guyana Times, Engineers from the Public Infrastructure Ministry and Regional Chairman Renis Morian are expected to meet with protesting residents and drivers on Monday.

Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland, met with drivers and supporting members of the community on Thursday and promised to assist, through dialogue with the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), as well as to provide assistance with drainage in the community of Old England.

Scores of residents, including school children from Three Friends, Coomacka, Nottinghamshire, Old England and Yaribo were left stranded over the course of almost a week due to the strike action. A resident of Coomacka told this publication that as a result, private vehicles are now being used to transport school children to school, however, only a few students were attending school.

Meanwhile, The RDC and the Education Ministry have provided transportation for teachers residing in the affected areas. Although the community was gifted a school bus via the President’s 5B’s initiative, it remains grounded due to the state of the community’s access road.

“Just a few children going down to Mackenzie (Linden) with private vehicles. Other passengers are going down the same way, but not much,” one resident told Guyana Times.

“I’m not sure about the attendance at the primary and nursery today (Friday), but yesterday it was just a few children at both schools, mainly from our village (Coomacka),” the resident added.

On Tuesday, a large group consisting of residents, drivers and school children met with the Regional Chairman in front of the office of the RDC in Linden, where they vented their frustration regarding the issue.

According to the Regional Chairman, while work has commenced, the time frame for completion is uncertain.

 

FM

During Jagdeo time they ply their trade for free, now they battie biting. Vote PNC.

 

More expenses for vendors

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… to now pay vending registration fee

In light of the notice that the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) will now be charging street vendors a registration fee of $3000 to ply their trade in the city, many

The broken stalls at Merriman Mall

vendors on Friday have denounced this move.

Speaking with Guyana Times on this new fee, one vendor, who identified herself as “Carol”, said while this is not the first time vendors have had to register; this is the first occurrence of vendors being obligated to pay a fee.

“I have been a vendor for a long, long time on these streets, and a long time back we had to register to ply our trade, and we got a lil ID card. But never have we had to pay anything! Not a dime!” she said.

The broken stalls at Merriman Mall
The broken stalls at Merriman Mall

Another vendor along Water Street, Georgetown, said that this is now an additional burden for her since she has a family to maintain and she is the sole breadwinner. According to the mother of five, as a street vendor, she is required to provide a weekly fee of $1500 to City Constabulary workers already.

“I done gotta pay $1500 a week to the M&CC and now they want $3000 more! That’s two weeks’ pay from me and my children mouth!”

Other vendors voiced that they are being bullied by the Town Clerk Royston King into complying with his “ridiculous commands” and they are prepared to fight it. However, they did not elaborate as to how they plan to take action.

Efforts to make contact with Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and Town Clerk Royston King on this new fee proved futile.

Meanwhile, last year, Mayor Chase-Green and Town Clerk Royston King had announced that vendors will not be allowed to ply their trade on the corners of the road, and many persons had been fined for this offence.

Now, the M&CC has indicated the vendors need to register in order to be able to sell on the road.

Moreover, the M&CC has implemented many measures which have had devastating impacts on persons vending in Georgetown.

Additionally, space in the capital city is limited to relocate vendors, as was indicated when the merchants who were moved from the Stabroek Market Square to a temporary location South of Parliament Building, and more recently were relocated back to market area.

At the time of moving the vendors, Mayor Chase-Green had stated that “no one will be allowed to ply their trade on the Stabroek Market Square,” as they [M&CC] sought to execute their clean-up campaign.

Only two days ago, the M&CC sought to demolish many stalls in the Merriman Mall, claiming that they were in deplorable conditions.

FM

Jackass Granger's concept of an ambulance, the back of a pickup truck. They got the govt they deserve.

 

Rape accused suffers seizure, hearing postponed

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A 33-year-old Michael Williams of Wismar, Linden, who allegedly sexually assaulted an eight-year-old, was scheduled to appear before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan; however, as he made his way to the court room, he suffered a seizure.

An officer attempted to revive the accused, but this proved futile and the man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital. His hearing was postponed to a further

Michael Williams
Michael Williams

date.

According to information reaching Guyana Times, the eight-year-old girl decided to speak out one day after school was dismissed.

She reportedly walked into the probation office a few days ago and confided in the probation officer, who took her to the hospital where doctors verified that she had indeed been sexually molested.

Family members also confirmed that the young child has been experiencing physical and sexual abuse.

FM

More PNC que que running of the country.  They PPP build and these jackasses destroy.

‘Burial Ground Road’ a nightmare

 
 

The stretch of road in between Le Repentir Cemetery, between Sussex and Princes Streets

FOR some time now, the stretch of road inside Le Repentir Cemetery between Sussex and

Princes Streets, commonly called the “Burial Ground Road,” has been repaired and is in more frequent use by motorists and pedestrians.

The road is a continuation of Louisa

The M&CC has recently contributed to the dumping by placing the dismantled Merriman Mall stalls alongside this road

Row on which sits the relatively new crematorium.

Although many are appreciative of the road, which serves as a key link out of the Albouystown community, some motorists are concerned about the many speed bumps that it features.

The social rejects (junkies) and other questionable characters are also frequent users of this road and hence, having to cross the bumps can put motorists in danger of being robbed.

The opening of the road has also seen some residents creating new mini- dumpsites, contributing to an ugly sight and a stench that one has to endure while passing though.

In fact, for the past few days, some have been wondering whether a corpse has been dumped somewhere outside a tomb.

The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) contributed to the dumping when the workers dismantled the Merriman Mall stalls on Wednesday and placed all of the stuff alongside the said road.

In the past, when the road was seldom in use, the Chronicle had observed the skeleton of a human face alongside the road, and others reported that they would often see bones and other parts of the body at the same location.

FM

More PNC incompetency. They can't even properly build a road in their hero's Burnham's name.

Structural faults detected along Burnham Drive road

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Shortly after repairs were conducted on a collapsed section of the Burnham Drive Road at Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), other structural faults have been detected. Only recently, a contract was handed over to Bella’s construction, which carried out repair works to a section of the roadway, which serves as one of the main thoroughfares in the Wismar community. However, according to Regional Chairman Renis Morian, there are issues with other parts of the road. He said sea defence, Government Ministers as well as officials from the Regional Works Committee have already been alerted of the situation.

Work being carried out to the collapsed section of Burnham Drive road in late last year
Work being carried out to the collapsed section of Burnham Drive road in late last year

“Burnham Drive got structural faults. I outlined it to them, based on the increase in vehicular traffic on Burnham Drive, the rise in high tide, we have a sink hole there, we have a depression by the tar road. Nothing has been done. I have also written to other agencies, sent letters to Ministers and (I am) awaiting response,” Morian said.

Additionally, he said the culvert situated approximately 25 yards from McNabb corner, Wismar, had also collapsed which led to a backlog of water in areas such as Canvas City, Half Mile, One Mile and Block 22. As a result, Morian said the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) had to be summoned, while he noted that he will conduct a follow-up to the situation on the ground.

“I ain’t get a word as to what next, but I’m going to be following up to know what next, what is to be done.”

Following the collapse at Burnham Drive, the Regional Chairman had made calls for a study to be conducted of the said road, which is situated a short distance away from the Demerara River. Morian also disclosed that there are even more structural faults along the thoroughfare which also leads to the Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge.

“As soon as you come off the bridge, about a hundred yards, the road is collapsing there. When you come to about 250 yards where we’re working right now, that collapsed. When you come at the cinema (former Palm Tree cinema), there’s a huge hole. There’s erosion from the river right through… It’s not a case where you have a piecemeal, you have to do a study to know if there will be a disaster. One day the whole road might collapse with people because we don’t know what is happening,” Morian further stated.

He also pointed out that there is a “drop” and an “indentation” to other sections of the Burnham Drive road. About five other areas, the Regional Chairman said, also faces the same threat. He therefore made a call for hydraulics engineers from the Public Infrastructure Ministry to visit the location to provide advice on the way forward. The Ministry, he disclosed, is responsible for servicing the thoroughfare.

FM

They voted PNC now they living in Venice.  They jackasses in power claimed they had the answers to flooding, but they are impotent when it comes to implementing their solutions. 

Serious erosion reported at Coomacka

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…almost half of community’s river rendered impassable – Chairman

The remote farming community of Coomacka, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) continues to be affected by intense erosion. The community, which has also been prone to serious flooding, is now being affected due to erosion of its river. Regional Chairman Renis Morian asserted that as a result of the erosion

Flooding at Coomacka late last year
Flooding at Coomacka late last year

which was undoubtedly caused by heavy rains, the situation has become worse, with approximately half of the river becoming impassable.

“There was always erosion going on in Coomacka, affecting the river. During the rains that we have right now, almost half the river is impassable because of erosion,” Morian stated.

He added that officials from the Drainage and Irrigation (D&I) were expected to commence work soon, but noted that during a recent visit, the team could not have ascertained the source of the erosion. The Regional Chairman said however that egional officials had spoken with local residents as a means of ascertaining the source of the situation.

“I’ve engaged the D&I, who would intervene. I’ve met with some folks…,” Morian said. A resident disclosed to this publication that presently the river is being desilted.

Last August, severe downpours had led to the collapse of revetment works, which were carried out on the Coomacka access bridge, causing intense erosion and flooding in the community. The erosion also caused main pipelines to be exposed. Councillor within the Regional Democratic Council and Chairman of the Coomacka Development Council (CDC) Dexter Harding said it was the third time that the bridge had collapsed and pointed to faulty work by the contractor as the main cause. Another possible cause highlighted by the CDC Chairman was the suspected over- topping of ponds/reservoirs in the community belonging to bauxite company Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Incorporated (BMGGI).

FM
Drugb posted:

Jackass Granger's concept of an ambulance, the back of a pickup truck. They got the govt they deserve.

 

Rape accused suffers seizure, hearing postponed

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A 33-year-old Michael Williams of Wismar, Linden, who allegedly sexually assaulted an eight-year-old, was scheduled to appear before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan; however, as he made his way to the court room, he suffered a seizure.

An officer attempted to revive the accused, but this proved futile and the man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital. His hearing was postponed to a furthe
Michael Williams

date.

According to information reaching Guyana Times, the eight-year-old girl decided to speak out one day after school was dismissed.

She reportedly walked into the probation office a few days ago and confided in the probation officer, who took her to the hospital where doctors verified that she had indeed been sexually molested.

Family members also confirmed that the young child has been experiencing physical and sexual abuse.

First. Where are the so called ambulances from PPP time you think they had any?

Second. That prick lying in the back should have been lying under the wheels.

cain
cain posted:

First. Where are the so called ambulances from PPP time you think they had any?

Second. That prick lying in the back should have been lying under the wheels.

PNC in charge now, they made sure they got 50% raises before addressing any other issue in Guyana. Don't know about PPP time and ambulances but I never saw a sick person on being transported to hospital in the back of a pickup as though it was a war zone in an African nation. 

As for the defendant, innocent until proven guilty, I assume you heard of this saying before?

FM
Drugb posted:
cain posted:

First. Where are the so called ambulances from PPP time you think they had any?

Second. That prick lying in the back should have been lying under the wheels.

PNC in charge now, they made sure they got 50% raises before addressing any other issue in Guyana. Don't know about PPP time and ambulances but I never saw a sick person on being transported to hospital in the back of a pickup as though it was a war zone in an African nation. 

We never saw anyone transported, probably never were, but we did read of people found propped up dead for days.

As for the defendant, innocent until proven guilty, I assume you heard of this saying before?

Banna look rest yo rass yeh. So just to make an argument you have become a champion for blacks, especially those accused of rape?

 

cain

The PNC boys ignoring the Ombudsman. They got the govt they deserve.

20 months later…No action taken by Govt. on damning Ombudsman reports


 

“The appointment of an Ombudsman is only part of the task. We must ensure that the office is effective.” Those words were spoken by a national leader and staunch anticorruption advocate.  In fact, the former head of the political opposition was one who fought aggressively for the operationalization of the office of the Ombudsman, a constitutional office that was non-functioning for more than seven years.
That same man and even members of his team spoke at length about the worrying findings coming from the two damning reports prepared by that office. They said that the reports show injustice, vindictiveness, grave wrong doing and the financial treachery of the PPP administration.
Twenty months later, many are disappointed that the David Granger administration has not taken a single action on those two damning reports, which were prepared by Justice Winston Moore, before he passed away September last. Moore was appointed to serve in that office by the Ramotar administration in January 2014.

FREDDIE KISSOON
One report deals with the issue of Kaieteur News columnist Freddie Kissoon being wrongfully dismissed from the University of Guyana.
Kissoon was on a contract with the University of Guyana but it was terminated by the tertiary institution in January 18, 2012. This was in spite of the fact that Kissoon’s contract had five months remaining, at the end of which, he would have reached the age of retirement.
Rather than the story that he was dismissed, the University had said that it merely ended the contract earlier, eight months before the contract expired. The contract stipulated that it could be terminated and three months’ salary paid in lieu of notice.
Kissoon did not hear from the University despite several efforts for a reason for why his contract was terminated prematurely.
Following a complaint lodged with the Office of the Ombudsman, UG was notified that the newspaper columnist’s contract being terminated in such a manner breached UG’s regulations. The report on the issue said that he should be compensated.
Since the Ombudsman made this pronouncement in January 6, 2015 no action has been by the institution to compensate Kissoon.

THE NBS REPORT  
The late Ombudsman Moore had also ruled on another controversial matter relating to the New Building Society (NBS).
The Office of the Ombudsman concluded in November 2014 that police wrongfully charged the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and two of his managers of a massive $69M fraud at the New Building Society, in 2006.
The explosive document by the public complaint office was based on complaints by Maurice Arjoon, the former CEO. Arjoon, in his complaint, said he and two managers, Kissoon Baldeo, and Kent Vincent, were deliberately and maliciously charged by police for a $69M scam.

President David Granger

The late Ombudsman,
Winston Moore

Arjoon said that he believed that the trumped-up fraud charges, later dismissed in the Magistrates’ Court, stemmed from his refusal to lend $2B for the construction of the Berbice River Bridge.
The former Government had been seeking financing for the project. Arjoon reportedly told his Board of Directors that the regulations barred the institution from lending that much. NBS voted to invest $350M in the project.
Arjoon claimed that his refusal to illegally lend the $2B angered former President Bharrat Jagdeo, who was in power at that time.
Arjoon, who has been insisting his innocence from day one, said in his complaints that over seven years were taken away from his life.
The late Justice Moore, who had sweeping powers to investigate abuse by public officers, hired former Deputy Commissioner of Police, Henry Chester, DSM, who, in reviewing a copy of the police files, found that based on the evidence, there was no way that the three men could have been charged. It was also found that the police files did not include a key exhibit.
Arjoon had filed a high court action to overturn the decision of NBS to dismiss him, saying that he lost his benefits as a result.
The explosive report raised serious questions about the rush by the police to lay charges; the role of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the role played by the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana.
Since the report was laid in the National Assembly, nothing has happened.

UNACCEPTABLE
If no action on the reports of the Ombudsman is taken, then what is the point of having one? This sums up the position put forward by Presidential advisor on Sustainable Development, Dr. Clive Thomas.
He said that it has been over a year since the late Ombudsman, Winston Moore released two damning reports on various injustices which occurred under the People’s Progressive Party administration and no action has been taken by the institutions involved or the state.

Kaieteur columnist,
Freddie Kissoon

Former NBS CEO,
Maurice Arjoon

Thomas emphasized that it is important for the findings and recommendations of Moore’s reports to be dealt with, as further procrastination would only serve to undermine efforts for good governance at various levels.
The Presidential Advisor said that the Ombudsman’s office is one that should be respected, and failure to act on his findings represents “total disregard for the people, for his office as well as the importance of ensuring justice is served.”
The nation’s Presidential Advisor on Sustainable Development says that this is just totally unacceptable and action should not be delayed any longer.
He emphasized that any democratic government practicing good governance would take the reports as an indication of the type of action that needs to be undertaken if it requires such by the state or institutions within the state.
The economist continued, “It is imperative that we pay attention and act expeditiously when the Ombudsman’s office highlights when injustices have occurred. The powerful principle upon which his office was established was to be the protector of the citizen’s rights. We have to ensure that his recommendations are enforced at all times and in whatever ways we can. We cannot appear to equivocate in the face of the rulings otherwise, what is the real purpose of his office and having him there?”

NEW OMBUDSMAN
The Government had said that a new Ombudsman would be appointed on or before January 1. But it was amended to being done by March.
An Ombudsman is an official usually appointed by the government or by Parliament but with a significant degree of independence. One such official is charged with representing the interests of the public by investigating and addressing complaints of maladministration or violation of rights.
The typical duties of an Ombudsman are to investigate complaints and attempt to resolve them. Ombudsmen in some instances, also aim to identify systemic issues leading to poor service or breaches of people’s rights.

FM

They got their 50% raises but they neglect to fix the roads.

 

Anna Regina residents complain about substandard road works

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Residents living close to Station Street in Anna Regina, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam)  are complaining about the poor, sub-standard and sloppy works executed there by a contractor they describe as “inexperienced”, who  was hired by the Regional Administration,  through its Regional Tender Board (RTB) system.

The past condition of Station Street
The past condition of Station Street
The pot holes that riddle the recently-rehabilitated road in Anna Regina
The pot holes that riddle the recently-rehabilitated road in Anna Regina

According to the residents, from the initial stages of the project, there have been several requests to halt the works; however, the concerns raised were disregarded by the engineers in charge, and instead the road was completed.
They are claiming that the road shoulders were made with mud instead of the standard materials, with many saying that they witnessed the contractor removing the mud from a nearby trench. According to the residents, a report was made to a senior regional official; however, the contractor continued with the project.
“We spoke out on numerous occasions, it’s taxpayers money building roads; as such, we have every right to speak out: the work done on the street was sloppy and lacked proper supervision by those who were put in charge,” residents explained.
Although the road was recently rehabilitated, it is currently riddled with pot holes and residents are predicting that within a few months’ time, millions of dollars more will have to be expended for rehabilitation works.
On numerous occasions, the matter engaged the attention of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC). Government Councillor Naitram had initially raised concerns about the contractor, and made calls for the works to be redone or the contractor held accountable by the RTB, for the defective works.
Alluding to the next steps, Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt pointed out that the matter involved the RDC and suggestions, as well as findings, were forwarded to the clerk of the RDC, Regional Executive Officer (REO) Rupert Hopkinson for attention.
He said the position of the RDC was the defaulting contractor should face disciplinary action. In addition, Ramdatt said based on feedback, the contractor did not follow the bill of quantity for the project, and the project was slowly executed. The Chairman urged members of the RTB to launch an investigation into the matter and to ensure there was greater scrutiny of the said contractor in the future.

FM

Even the PNC supporters are feeling the squeeze as the govt they elected neglect them and instead spend money on sporting and overseas trips. 

Rock Stone road threatened by erosion

a build up of water at the corridor of the road as a result of the blocked koker
 

-residents concerned also about dilapidated bridges

The main access road heading to the small fishing community of Rock Stone in Region 10 is currently virtually impassible as a result of erosion. Sections of the clay road have been completely eroded by the water running from a nearby creek coupled with the heavy downpours. There is a buildup of water on the right corridor of the road and with the blocked koker the water has been channeling its way on the road with extreme pressure thus causing it to be washed away.

an eroded hole in another section of the road

When Guyana Chronicle visited the road on Saturday, it was as if there was a stream running across the road and vehicles and pedestrians were experiencing extreme difficulty passing. The residents made a call to the regional authorities to have the situation fixed and the Regional Works Committee visited the community on Saturday and described the situation as an emergency. Calls were made to have the koker cleared earliest and to construct a proper revetment work so that the water will be correctly drained off. “We are moving from here and we are going and secure a mini excavator and we want to bring two tubes here and build a revetment, build up the shoulder so that we could channel this water over that side because with the buildup over here and the continuous rain fall, the whole road would wash off so this is another emergency we dealing with here,” Regional Chairman Renis Morian said.
In addition to the drains, the main access bridge in the fishing community is in need of urgent repairs as residents fear that very soon, one of the lumber trucks that traverse over it daily may fall in. One resident explained to this publication that the support base for the bridge is the sand and that has separated from the foundation of the bridge. “Something is moving the foundation from the sand so you find that about three feet of the bridge is exposed and this means that this bridge can break and collapse any time,” the resident said.
A similar situation is occurring at the Paramakushi Bridge that is located over the

a section of the road that is virtually impassible due to erosion

Paramakushi Creek that runs through the community. Residents are claiming that the large volume of water running under the bridge, coupled with the impact of the lumber trucks may be the cause of its dilapidated state. Given the fact that the nearest hospital is in Linden, which is approximately 18 miles away, residents are afraid that if the public infrastructures are not fixed earliest, there may be loss of life and limb. They were promised by the Regional Authorities that repairs will commence as soon as possible.

FM

They voted pnc and got their dhall, good thing pnc won. 

PROBLEMS ‘GALORE’ IN HASLINGTON NEW SCHEME

 

“WE ALL WANTED CHANGE AND NOW WE GET IT, LOOK AT THE CONDITION OF IT”

BY BRUSHELL BLACKMAN

The Haslington New scheme is located on the East Coast of Demerara, aback of Haslington village. It’s sandwiched between Enmore village to the east and Golden Grove to its west. The Scheme was formed more than ten years ago and still lacks some very basic facilities. It is bedevilled by a long list of problems.

Potholes
The residents of this community, which at an estimate has about 1000 households, say that they have been forgotten for more than a decade and no one from the Ministry of Housing has visited during that period to listen to their plight, let alone to resolve them.
One of the major issues affecting this community is the potholes. There are ten cross streets and each has at least six huge potholes. Travis Luke, a resident, said that he can only recall the roads being repaired once in the ten years that he is living there. “They come one time and put some sand and stone on the road and that didn’t even last a month.”
Because of where the scheme is situated most resident use taxis to get in and out and the taxi drivers are complaining about the damage being done to their vehicles. One driver, who is also a resident of the community, said he spends money weekly replacing damaged and bent tyre.
The man said they now have to choose which streets to traverse based on their state. This, he recognised, is not fair to the residents who will still need to walk some distance despite paying a $200 fare.

Water and Street Lights
The quality of the water leaves much to be desired. Residents complained that a clear flow of tap water is like a lottery and they have to be lucky to have it. This newspaper was shown the evidence of the rust-saturated water. It’s so bad it has left a permanent stain in one resident’s yard.
The few street lights that are there is as a result of the community pooling its resources to mount those. Most are no longer working and residents are now reluctant to have them fixed. One woman said she always tries to get home before darkness falls in fear of being attacked.

Drainage and Garbage collection
There is street after street with drains that are choking with weed and built up silt, one of the reasons residents say contributes to constant flooding whenever it rains even in increments.
The disgruntled community explained that reptiles have now taken up residence among them. “Alligator and snake live over there,” one woman said, pointing to one of the many empty plots inundated with water.
Additionally, some residents have resorted to burning their garbage in the streets since they cannot afford the $2,000 charge for the service. One shop owner said the situation is getting from bad to worse and there needs to be urgent action.
“WE all wanted change and now we get it, look at the condition of it.”

Recreational Facilities
The plot of land that is supposed to house the playground is infested with weed and vegetation and is now a grazing ground for cattle in the community. Some residents are even dumping their garbage there. The young men in the community are now left to play their game of football on the same street that the taxis traverse, sometimes much to the displeasure of drivers.
Jamal Mansfield, a youth residing there said they are sometimes forced to go to other communities to play any form of sports. “We does go to the other village to play football.”
It should be noted that there isn’t a single community centre or a youth club to engage youths who have free time.
The Ministry of Housing was not sure who was responsible for the scheme. An employee there told me that the scheme is under the purview of the NDC. When she was told that this was not the case this reporter was directed to another department where the people were not sure themselves.
The Grove Haslington Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) admitted that it does not do anything in the scheme. The woman who refused to give her name said that the residents don’t pay tax since the scheme was not handed over by the Housing Ministry to the NDC.
The woman explained that it will be unfair to use taxpayers’ money to do work in the community.

FM

A financial crisis is looming in the banking sector. The people got the govt they deserved, good thing pnc won.

Guyanese failure to repay loans skyrockets by 36%

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…rise of bad debts a salient feature of financial crisis – former AFC exec

The Guyana economy has been in freefall post 2015 and the plummeting ability of its citizenry to repay loans to banks and similar institutions now threatens even more bankruptcy in companies, especially small businesses – a salient feature of a financial crisis.
This is the stark warning of former Alliance For Change (AFC) Executive Sasenarine Singh, who in a recent analysis found that Non-Performing Loans – commonly called bad debts – “have multiplied by some 36 per cent, since the (David) Granger Administration came to power”.

Sasenarine Singh
For Change AFC Executive Sasenarine Singh

According to Singh, “In simple language, the size of the bad debt portfolio is clearly going in the wrong direction.”

Suffering
The former AFC Executive, in a letter to the editor, posits: “After a relatively calm decade, the Guyanese banking system is suffering under (Finance) Minister Winston Jordan.”

Finance Minister Winston Jordan
Finance Minister
Winston Jordan

On the matter of the declining ability of Guyanese to repay their debts, Singh deduced from information supplied by the Finance Ministry and the Bank of Guyana that bad debt in the local banking sector have moved from 8.3 per cent of all loans in June 2015 (at the end of the PPP’s tenure) to 11.3 per cent in September 2016.
“I was reliably advised that at the end of 2016, the rate of bad debt is now some 11.5 per cent of the total loan portfolio…This data clearly indicates the predictable adverse economic trajectory.”
He has since posited that the rise of bad debts was a salient feature of a financial crisis and suggested that “for the banks, delays in debt repayment make obtaining further credit more difficult, which often leads to a second round of debt default and even more bankruptcy in companies, especially small businesses”.
He suggested that any sensible banking leader plagued with a high stock of bad debt was likely to focus on internal consolidation and improving asset quality rather than providing new credit.

Ruling elite
According to Singh, “any serious Government would have done some strategising around this issue from day one, but it is now clear that the life of ordinary people has little meaning for the ruling elite in the Granger Government.”
Singh suggests that from its public actions, the ruling A Partnership for National Unity, Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition has reduced the most complex issues into sweeping political generalities which resulted in regular people suffering because of the intellectual deficit in the Granger Administration.
Taking a swipe at Finance Minister Jordan, Singh recalled that with three successive budgets, he “has not once but twice proven to be one big amusing entertainer who does not have the awareness of the needs of the economy to be able to deliver the required policy actions to get Guyana back on track”.
Singh is of the view “this mentality of taxing a flat economic cake, frustrating the productive sectors and spending recklessly on projects like the D’Urban Park parade ground is clearly an intellectually bankrupt economic strategy”.
He opined that Jordan’s “saving grace is hoping for oil before 2020…But that is exactly that  ‘hope’, because oil will not flow until 2021/2022 at the earliest based on information I saw”.
Singh’s publicly stated position comes on the heels of statements made in a recent interview with Guyana Times by Economic Adviser to the Opposition Leader, Dr Peter Ramsaroop, who had also warned of imminent dire economic straits as a result of policies being pursued by the current Administration.

FM

The teachers vote PNC, squeeze they rass to support fat cat Granger and Prak who collect their 50% wage increase and take expensive trips overseas.

Parking meters at schools an additional burden on teachers – GTU

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By now everyone has felt the arrival of the parking meters in Georgetown, but the presence of two in front of the Bishops’ High School and one by the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre is not going down well with the Guyana Teacher’s Union (GTU).
According to GTU’s General Secretary Coretta McDonald, this represents an additional burden on teachers and generally anyone else who will be affected by the fees which have been imposed. At present the rate is $50, plus Value Added Tax (VAT), for every 15 minutes. This adds up to at least $200 an hour.

The sign indicating the proximity of parking meters
The sign indicating the proximity of parking meters

“Teachers are quite upset because this is an additional financial burden,” McDonald said, in an interview on Monday. “Any additional financial burden will be cause for concern. Teachers are no different.”
McDonald was critical of the fact that neither Smart City Solutions Incorporated (SCSI), the company responsible for the parking meters, nor the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), saw having consultations with the union representing Guyana’s teachers as important.
“What I would like to say to the M&CC or the entity, is that before you roll anything out (which affects the life of the populace), consultations are important.”
According to McDonald, she has written to Mayor Patricia Chase-Green in order to seek a meeting. One of her expectations is for a reduction for teachers and any workers who will be affected.
After being signed in November 2015, the manner in which the 49-year parking meter contract was arranged with National Parking Solutions/SCSI has attracted heavy scrutiny in the press.

The sign indicating the proximity of parking meters
The sign indicating the proximity of parking meters

This was not helped when the Mayor, Town Clerk Royston King and City Councillors Oscar Clark and Junior Garrett, left on a trip to Mexico to inspect the product- seven months after the agreement was inked.
Subsequently, the Finance Ministry and the Attorney General’s Chambers conducted reviews of the contract to determine its practicality and legality. In its reviews, the glaring absence of any financial analysis or feasibility study by the M&CC had been noted.
One of the observations of the Finance Ministry had been that “the contract has given complete monopoly power to SCSI over parking within Georgetown. This control could lead to exploitation of consumers as SCSI has the power to change fees arbitrarily and determine zones.”
The fees amount to at least $200 an hour. The minimum time a motorist can purchase is 15 minutes. The meters work by the user inputting the number of their parking space, the time they need and then presenting a prepaid card which they would have purchased, to a card reader on the meters.
Metered hours are Monday to Saturday, from 07:00h to 19:00h. There is a ‘honeymoon’ period in effect, which ends on January 23, where motorists will not have to pay for parking. According to the company, this is to allow motorists to get “accustomed”.

Penalties
Afterwards, however, any vehicle which has either not paid for parking or has exceeded their paid time will have their vehicle incapacitated by a tire booting device. This can be done whether the vehicle owner is present or not.
If the owner was not there, they will be greeted by the sight of their incapacitated vehicle and a sticker in their driver’s side window upon their return. In cases whereby the parked vehicle may obstruct the flow of traffic, they may return to an empty space as the vehicle will be immediately towed.
A fine of $8000 plus VAT will have to be paid in order to unlock the vehicle. If the fine is not paid within two hours, the vehicle will be towed to an impound lot. The fine would then be $12,000 plus any VAT applicable.
It was pointed out by the Finance Ministry review that SCSI sought “absolute right” to determine the space, number of meters and the location boundaries.

FM

What sounds too good to be true, is too good to be true. True to typical PNC form, they make a big deal about restoring Kitty market, now a couple of years later it is still to be finished with the usual money issues. PNC boys sport today and pay tomorrow. 

Kitty Market yet to be completed and reopened


 

At the final statutory meeting held by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) last year December, the Mayor, Patricia Chase-Green said that, while the Council would have achieved a number of their goals, they still have not been able to complete one major goal, which is the re-opening of the Kitty Market.
Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan recently told Kaieteur News that he is unsure of the new reopening date for the market. Duncan said that up until December last, only 30 percent of rehabilitation work was completed. This was also the same stage at which the market was in April 2016.

Only 30 percent of the Kitty Market completed so far

FM

More signs of infrastructure deterioration and ko ko beh governance by the pnc/afc crooks in office. 

GPL ignoring pleas to remove rotting pole

 

Little Diamond, East Bank Demerara resident, Lilian Bryan, is alarmed at the presence of a

The rotting pole.

rotting electrical pole that is leaning on her fence.
Aside from the danger it poses, she is even more concerned that Guyana Power and Light (GPL) has failed to respond to pleas to have the pole removed.
She said that the utility pole, which is rotted at the base, began leaning two Saturdays ago. She said that a GPL crew eventually came after she made several calls.
But instead of replacing the pole, the GPL workers tied a rope around the pole and attached the other end of the rope to a wooden fence.
She said that recent heavy rains have weakened the pole further. She believes that only the presence of her fence is preventing it from falling.
The woman’s husband said he contacted a GPL official yesterday, who promised to “look it after.” However, no one came.
“The post rotting and just bracing by the fence,” Mrs. Bryan said yesterday.
“That is the main post that giving us light. It dangerous.”

FM

Lindeners decry high unemployment rate

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…call for reopening of call centre

 

While the Linden Call Centre in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) remains closed, two years after workers were sent home, several companies and individuals have since expressed interest in conducting business there, however the building which is termed “State property” has since remained inaccessible.
This continues to be a cause for concern for both residents and officials in the community noted for its high unemployment rate. Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland recently joined the rest of the community in making calls for the centre to be reopened, citing the unemployment rate within the community.
“The call centre at Kara Kara needs to be reopened, and I’m making this call to those who are directly responsible… to release the call centre to the people of Linden so that we can employ at least 500 of our young people who are looking for jobs. There are several persons who’ve signalled their interest and I’m still waiting to hear what’s the hold up,” the Mayor said.
During a recent ministerial outreach in Linden, officials expressed these concerns to Finance Minister Winston Jordan. Municipal Councillor Neola Rogers, who first spoke of the issue, noted that the call centre had provided employment for many young women in the community and served as an excellent entry requirement into the world of work, while she stressed difficulty in accessing the building which remains closed since 2015.
“…several call centres want to return to Linden but the building is locked. It’s deteriorating as it is right now…” Rogers lamented. Representative of the Linden Chamber of Commerce Industry and Development, Staydon Payne, also said the issue lies with Government providing access to the State asset, as he sought to find out how access can be gained for a company that wishes to expand and employ approximately 100 young people within the community by December.
In response, Minister Jordan noted that the building is supposedly owned by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL). However, Chief Executive officer (CEO) of NICIL, Horace James, who also spoke at the outreach, explained that following an application, the building was privileged to be handed over the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN); however, he asked for the Finance Ministry’s intervention in terms of payment necessary for acquiring the building.
After years of being in operation, St Kitts-based company Toucan Connection shut down its operations through the call centre two years ago. As a result, over 90 people, mainly women in the community, lost their jobs.
Since then, officials have tried to have the operation up and running again to provide much needed employment to Lindeners.
The Linden call centre, which was closed in September 2015, was opened under the previous Administration to create jobs for Lindeners. The closure sent a hard blow for to the community as a result of scarcity of jobs.

FM

Families to take protest action to President’s, CHPA offices

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Sophia squatting area

 

Families in Sophia, Georgetown whose houses were either demolished or are expected to be demolished are strongly contending that they are not in receipt of any notice of eviction.
An unemployed mother of two said she has been home every day for the past three months, and never received notice to relocate. She said she has no alternative accommodation for herself and children, aged 5 and 9.
“We don’t have anywhere else to go. After that day, we just started searching to see if we get vacant land, so we trying. This is so terrifying,” she told this publication on Saturday.
Another resident, Mark Norton, said he is counting his losses, since he was unable to save any of the groceries he had stored in the shop he operated. He said he has four children all under the age of twelve, and his only source of income was the shop he was operating. Norton further noted that he’s currently looking for new ways and means of surviving. Norton was made aware of the demolition process after he received a telephone call from a relative.
“Before Granger go in power, he said that we must occupy the land, cause the country got nuff. Now all of a sudden he saying something else. I don’t think these people got families,” an irate Zizzy Daphness told this publication.
Sophia residents say they will be staging protest activities on Monday at the Housing Ministry and at the President’s Office, where they will be requesting an audience with the Head of State.
On Thursday last, several families were left homeless and numerous others were left contemplating their next move as the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s (CH&PA) Anti-Squatting Task Force commenced operations in Sophia.
The Task Force members were accompanied by demolition workers, representatives from the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) and the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), as well as ranks of the Guyana Police Force. The Task Force saw to the demolition of several homes and businesses that were on Government reserve lands in ‘A’ Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

FM

Sophia squatters picket CH&PA, demand alternative housing

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Scores of Sophia, Greater Georgetown squatters who were affected by the recent demolition exercise executed by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) on Monday, picketed the Housing Ministry calling for more time before their forced removal and more importantly, alternative housing arrangements.

A Sophia squatter carried this placard during the picketing exercise

Representing the residents of Sophia squatting area was Clayton Jarvis who came into agreement with the CEO of Central Housing and Planning Authority, Lelon Saul, to extend the time given to the Sophia squatters to be removed.
Jarvis, a squatter himself, made arrangements to work together with the CH&PA and the Anti-Squatting Task Force of Constituencies five and six to remove squatters who are owners of house lots but continue to squat nevertheless. He also agreed to police the reserves to ensure that no new structures are erected on the reserves, to provide status updates on applications submitted by squatters and to also facilitate the registration of new applicants who are squatting on the reserves in the two constituencies.
The meeting was called after irate squatters picketed the Ministry demanding answers. According to Saul, persons were given notices of eviction and the Ministry will not tolerate squatting since it’s illegal. Jarvis stated that all he wants is for the authority to find alternatives for the residents.

Sophia squatters affected by the recent demolition exercise executed by the Central Housing and Planning Authority, on Monday picketed the CH&PA calling for more time before their forced removal and for alternative housing arrangements

Squatters whose houses were ripped down and soon to be demolished were heard venting their frustrations as they stood on the parapets in front of the Ministry.
According to representatives of the housing authority, squatting is impeding the progress in the community of Sophia and as such, a task force was set up to address the issue.
Guyana Times understands that notice boards were erected on A,B,C and D fields Sophia informing persons to desist from squatting since it is illegal. Also ads were placed on the television to notify squatters of the demolition exercise; however, residents refute claims that they were ever in receipt of eviction notices. (Yanalla Dalrymple)

FM
Drugb posted:

More signs of infrastructure deterioration and ko ko beh governance by the pnc/afc crooks in office. 

GPL ignoring pleas to remove rotting pole

 

Little Diamond, East Bank Demerara resident, Lilian Bryan, is alarmed at the presence of a

The rotting pole.

rotting electrical pole that is leaning on her fence.
Aside from the danger it poses, she is even more concerned that Guyana Power and Light (GPL) has failed to respond to pleas to have the pole removed.
She said that the utility pole, which is rotted at the base, began leaning two Saturdays ago. She said that a GPL crew eventually came after she made several calls.

But instead of replacing the pole, the GPL workers tied a rope around the pole and attached the other end of the rope to a wooden fence.

She said that recent heavy rains have weakened the pole further. She believes that only the presence of her fence is preventing it from falling.
The woman’s husband said he contacted a GPL official yesterday, who promised to “look it after.” However, no one came.
“The post rotting and just bracing by the fence,” Mrs. Bryan said yesterday.
“That is the main post that giving us light. It dangerous.”

"Work of significant experienced staff" of GPL, most likely, under the expert guidance and leadership of the PNC/AFC.

FM

Sophia squatters protest after CH&PA gives 14-day ultimatum

Tackling the squatting situation
…Minister extends deadline to January 2018

By Lakhram Bhagirat

A resident displaying the notice

Just last week, officials from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) promised squatters at Sophia, Greater Georgetown that they would not evacuate them until they were issued with lands but the housing body is now back-pedalling on their word and have since issued the squatters with a notice to remove by November 2.
Over 50 squatters of Sophia who were affected by the recent demolition exercise executed by the CH&PA on Monday, picketed the Housing Ministry calling for more time before their forced removal and more importantly, alternative housing arrangements.
The residents said they received a letter from the CH&PA on Friday indicating that they would have to remove their homes and all their belongings by November 2. The notice informed that failure to comply would result in legal proceedings against them.

Councillor Akeem Peter addressing the protesters

“My reason for being out here is these people just come and served us notice [for] the 2nd November and we have approximately two weeks to move. Now if we are squatting on the reserve it means that we have nowhere to go and now when you come and serve us this notice for two weeks, where are we going to go. If we had places to go then we would have never been on the Government reserves,” squatter Lorianne Alexander said.
Another resident, Nickela Mc Lennon, said she has been living in Sophia for a number of years and has an application for a house lot in the system but is getting the royal runaround by the authority.
Addressing the concerns of the squatters was People’s National Congress Councillor Akeem Peter who tried to get the squatters to protest in a non-confrontational manner.

Housing Minister Valarie Yearwood

“Your voices have been here and the Ministers and the Government knows that it is people they are dealing with. I am going into them with the application forms… we cannot be confrontational. Persons have long associated squatters with violence and rowdy behaviour. The first move when people hear squatters are gathering is that they call the Police,” he told the vocal group of protesters.
“The notices are going to be one of the issues we will be discussing immediately with the Minister. The reason why we are here is to get the attention of the Minister and we have gotten it, so the next thing is for me to submit the applications to the Minister so she can fast track the process,” Councillor Peter added.

Deadline extended
Meanwhile, Housing Minister Valerie Yearwood and Chief Executive Officer of the CH&PA, Lelon Saul, called a press conference later in the day to address the concerns. The Minister told the media that the squatters would have until the end of January 2018 to remove or be removed. She said that every time the Government announces a new strategy to deal with the squatting situation, the number of squatters increases.
“As of May (2017) we had 543 squatters and I can assure you that the number is well above that number. Every night new apartments are being erected,” she said.
Yearwood said the squatters are costing the utility companies since they are stealing electricity and tampering with water mains.
She said to date, 266 notices have been served to the squatters so they are all informed of the consequences should they continue to squat. The Minister added that the extension is to facilitate the development of a plot of land at Industry to have the squatters relocated there.
“We are targeting squatters who have allocations, the unoccupied buildings and our team went in and identified those buildings and the representatives from Sophia asked them to demolish those buildings because people are using them to gamble and rape girls and a lot of things,” Yearwood said.
Saul said the Housing Authority would not condone squatting since it is illegal.

FM

CH&PA continues demolition exercise


 

…To clear EDWC of unoccupied illegal structures

The Central Housing and Planning Authority, (CH&PA) is moving ahead with efforts to clear the Lama Conservancy of squatting and other activities that have been deemed illegal and unhealthy to the environment.

Squatters

During a media tour to the area yesterday, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CH&PA, Lelon Saul, unveiled a plan to clear the conservancy.
The Lama Water Conservancy / East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) supplies water to households across the various wards of Georgetown.
Saul explained that in addition to the squatting, the conservancy has been the receptacle for garbage, human waste and other foreign objects.
The CEO explained further that in addition to the dumping, squatters had even chosen to engage in commercial and agriculture activities in the vicinity of the conservancy. A pen used for rearing pigs is located right in the heart of the EDWC.
Speaking to media operatives yesterday, Saul said that the CH&PA has a zero tolerance policy for illegal activities along the conservancy.
Lamenting the fact that water from the conservancy is used by residents of Georgetown for cooking, bathing and other household purposes, the CEO noted that CH&PA is moving to put a stop to the activities.
He explained that the Housing Ministry is working with persons living along the conservancy to have them relocated to more suitable living accommodations.
The CH&PA had committed to a January 2018 deadline to allow the squatters suitable time to relocate from the area.
Saul said that efforts are underway to remove the unoccupied structures, some of which are under construction along the dam. “We can start as early as (today),” Saul stated.
Squatting has a long history with residents of Sophia /Cummings Lodge.
On Monday, Minister within the Ministry of Communities with the responsibility for Housing, Valerie Patterson-Yearwood told the media that over 300 illegal structures have been erected along the reserves in a matter of months.
“Last year, there were approximately 300 squatters. That number increased to 534 in May and it has been increasing.”
The Minister warned that any building seen being erected on the reserves will be demolished. Patterson-Yearwood said CH&PA will also continue to dismantle those unoccupied structures.
“Squatting is an illegal act and the government will not permit it any longer.”
The Minister noted that CH&PA has been encouraging those persons who have not yet applied for land to do so at the earliest time.
She explained that the CH&PA is in the process of implementing a plan that will offer house lots to those persons who can afford to build.
“For those unable to construct a dwelling, the government is seeking funding to build core homes. The Industry community was identified as the area where the homes will be constructed.”
“We don’t just want to give them a house lot because we know if they can’t afford to build. They are going to put a shack and all we are doing is moving one shanty town from one area to another. That is not what we want, as we relocate, we are going to upgrade,” Minister Patterson stressed.
The Minister disclosed that over 200 notices were served to persons squatting on government’s reserve in Sophia. Additionally, several billboards had also installed along Dennis Street, urging persons to desist from squatting.
On October 12, the CH&PA in collaboration with the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI), Ministry of Public Infrastructure and the Guyana Police Force, commenced the regularisation process in Section A and B Pattensen.
The activity resulted in demolition of the homes of several persons squatting on the government reserves. The CH&PA targeted unoccupied buildings, buildings under construction and persons who were allocated house lots.
The exercise was temporarily suspended, following outcries by the residents.

FM

Lindeners contend with lesser evil

 
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bauxite being loaded into the ship

— even as respiratory diseases increase since installation of dust collectors

STATISTICS from the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) are showing the daunting fact that despite the installation of two dust-collectors at the bauxite company Bosai’s Minerals Group Guyana ( BMGG), residents of the mining town of Linden continue to suffer from respiratory diseases.

While other factors should not be disregarded, the daily inhalation of the thick chemical-filled dust particles being emitted from the processing chimneys called kilns at the bauxite plant located in Mackenzie, has been proven to be one of the main reasons for this medical phenomenon that has been plaguing Lindeners for many decades.

Linden pharmacy owner Dennis Muhammad

Prior to the installation of two dust-collectors in 2012 on kilns 13 and 14, which cost the Chinese expatriate company $8M U.S., residents of Linden were exposed to the emission of bauxite dust into the atmosphere from three kilns: 10, 13 and 14. This environmental hazard resulted in an overwhelming number of Lindeners suffering from respiratory diseases ranging from respiratory tract infection, bronchial asthma and bronchopneumonia.

OPPOSITE RESULTS
It had been expected that after 2012, the situation would have improved, but hospital statistics are showing the opposite.
According to the LHC, there is an increase of both in and out-patients being treated for respiratory tract infections, bronchial asthma and bronchopneumonia after 2012.
According to medical research, bauxite dust inhalation often causes the aforementioned diseases as a result of the chemicals found in the minerals.

RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS INPATIENTS/    
INFECTIONS20102011201220132014201520162017Total
          
Respiratory Tract Infection5210950425410012453584
Bronchial Asthma3210552626210125
Bronchopneumonia82055074144218231
          
          
          
 

 

 

RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS OUTPATIENTS

    
INFECTIONS20102011201220132014201520162017Total
          
Respiratory Tract Infection   2267214825132299134710574
Bronchopneumonia35122771348624546448
           

 

The information also shows that many of those patients live in communities in proximity to the bauxite plant such as West Watooka, Silver Town and Central Mackenzie.
One of those patients is Cynthia George, a resident of West Watooka who has been suffering from asthma since she migrated to Linden at the age of six.
Cynthia’s father moved to Linden to seek employment at the bauxite company in 2000. She did not suffer from the disease while living on the West Coast of Berbice, but after the move, she began to have shortness of breath and was later diagnosed with asthma.
“We came up here in 2000 and I was just six, it started with me getting a steady cold and then it moved to shortness of breath and it kept getting worse. My parents run from this doctor to that doctor and nothing didn’t help. They finally said that is the bauxite dust causing it and I should return to Berbice, but that was hard for me because I had already built life here,” George related.

PNEUMONIA TWICE
Another resident of West Watooka, Norman Paul, said he had pneumonia twice because of inhaling the bauxite dust which is evident on his windows, stairway rails and furniture.
“Especially in the night, the dust does come in here thick, thick; it don’t be easy and they have schools around here, even the children does be affected… but it is something we were living in and we get accustom to it,” Paul revealed.
Currently, there is no dust-collector installed on kiln 10, which is the lowest of the three kilns and which also serves as the dryer for the bauxite when it is being processed.
Veteran bauxite worker and regional councillor Charles Sampson had voiced his opinion on the matter and the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) had even moved a no-confidence motion against the company in an effort to allow its management to prioritise installation of the dust-collector for kiln 10.
Sampson explained that the current dust-collectors are not able to trap the micronised dust being released into the atmosphere during bauxite production.
Sampson, who worked in the company’s laboratory for decades, said the dryer emits the most dust into the atmosphere and communities such as West Watooka, Retrieve and Silver Town will continue to be affected.
In addition to the dust-collectors, the RDC has also bemoaned the process that is used to load the bauxite into the ships.

 

NO COVER
There is no cover to keep the dust particles that are permeated from the bauxite and so residents residing in the surrounding communities are exposed to this massive pollution which takes place at least once per week.
In 2016, the LHC installed a spirometer unit with a brand new spirometer machine which is used to accurately test and diagnose patients with respiratory diseases.

According to the Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr. Steve Mark, the installation of this unit was very timely given the overwhelming amount of patients visiting the hospital with respiratory problems.
The machine accurately tests asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), bronchitis and much more. The LHC was the first regional hospital to be equipped with this unit which is the second in the country.
A medical doctor attached to the LHC who was trained to operate the spirometer machine told the Guyana Chronicle that operation of the machine is currently being stymied by shortage of staff.
In addition to this, the machine cannot be used on children below the age of six, adults above the age of 60 and pregnant women in their last trimester.
“It is not effectively functioning because of the workload, but we are trying our best to make it work for Linden,” the doctor said. When the tests are done, he said the patients are either referred or managed, based on the diagnosis.

SALES HIGH
In addition to the figures received from the LHC, the Guyana Chronicle also interviewed pharmacy owners in Linden and it was revealed that on a daily basis, sales for medication relating the respiratory illnesses, especially asthma are relatively high. One pharmacist shared that these medications are high on his restock list, ranging from cold medicines to prescription drugs.
Dennis Muhammad, owner of Right Care Pharmacy located on the Mackenzie shore related that his worry is that many persons coming for medication do not realise how serious their illness may be, rather than taking it for a common cold. He said that many Lindeners are also suffering from sinusitis as a result of the daily inhalation of the bauxite dust. Muhammad said that he too has contracted the respiratory disease.
“The first surgery I did, the Dr. explained to me that if I had left it to another year or two it could have gone to the bone, and in that way, nothing could have been done…. I did three surgeries and am I still suffering? Yes, because I have to inhale that dust on a daily basis and I still have to be using vitamins,” Muhammad affirmed.
The pharmacy owner protested that the sad thing is that Linden is not equipped with a specialist to deal with these respiratory problems and Lindeners just have to continue living in the dust without a choice.

Linden pharmacy owner Dennis Muhammad

It has been 101 years since bauxite is being mined in Linden. With over six companies manning the industry since 1916, the current BMGG is the only company that installed dust-collectors to the kilns. Calls are however being made for the company to install a dust-collector on kiln 10 and to put systems in place to cover the bauxite when it is being loaded into the ship.

Technical Services Coordinator of BMGG, Wainewright Betune, had told the Guyana Chronicle however that it would not be feasible to install a dust-collector on dryer 10 as the minimum moisture retained during production is five per cent. He explained that the drying is producing almost the same results as the dust- collectors and is used for 20 minutes to half an hour the most. Betune posited that the process is entirely different prior to when there was no dust-collector and it would take close to US$8M to install a dust-collector on dryer 10.

“Why are you going to install something that is not working regular, the dryer just works as required, it’s not like kiln 13 and 14 that works all the time,” he argued.
BMGG Public Relations Officer Vanessa Davis also posited when questioned on the matter that the emissions have been significantly reduced since the degree of the emission is distinct, since there is no dust from the two kilns as previously and there is no knowing from outside of the bauxite plant whether the plant is in operation or not.
Bauxite dust, she said, was never considered a threat to the Linden community but as a pillar, since the economy of Linden was built on bauxite mining.
“In terms of the environmental practices compared to that of the previous mining practices exercised in the olden days, it is realised that mining is done in a safer manner making the environs more environmentally-friendly. Persons can reside close to the mining proximity and hardly be affected,” Davis opined.

Residents, however, remain adamant that the Government and the relevant authorities such as the Environmental Protection Agency should view the situation more seriously since the health of Lindeners continues to be at stake.

Lindeners protesting the dust emission

Lindeners have to make the choice between being unemployed or being affected by the dust, since the bauxite company is the major employer in the mining town.
Currently, there are approximately 600 employed at BMGG and if the company should shut shop, many mouths in Linden will be hungry. It is a case of choosing between the lesser evils and in this case Lindeners prefer to be fed.
The government has been subsidising electricity for the mining town for decades as a result of the environmental issues resulting from bauxite mining. In 2012, the former administration made a decision to cut the subsidy and this resulted in a deadly protest which cost the lives of three Lindeners. Residents continue to hold the unanimous position that they should be compensated in some way for inhaling bauxite dust daily, thus being exposed to respiratory diseases.

FM

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