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Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Valerie Garrido-Lowe addressing Corriverton residents at a public meeting

Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Valerie Garrido-Lowe addressing Corriverton residents at a public meeting

August 17 2019

Source

Minister within the Minis-try of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Valerie Garrido-Lowe last evening told a handful of Corriverton residents that based on information from President David Granger, general elections will be held this year.

“Elections will be this year, according to president. Elections will be this year,” Garrido-Lowe stressed during a public meeting at Corriverton.

Her comments were made even as the president himself has maintained that he cannot set a date for the polls, which are due as a result of the passage of a no-confidence motion that was passed since last December, and that it is the Guyana Elections Com-mission (GECOM) that is responsible for the process.

Attendees at the meeting

The opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has called repeatedly on President Granger to set a date for the elections and for Cabinet to resign in keeping with the provisions of Article 106(6) and 106(7) of the Constitution. Government, however, has said that while it accepts its interim status, the Cabinet would keep functioning.

After a meeting with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo last week Friday, President Granger had expressed the hope that newly appointed GECOM Chairperson Justice Claudette Singh would communicate the Com-mission’s position within a week’s time.  “I made it clear that it is impossible if not impractical for me, even though in the final analysis I have to proclaim a date, I could not do so without the advice of the Elections Commission,” he said after the meeting, before adding that “We are looking to hear something, maybe in a week’s time.”

Although GECOM met on Thursday, no decision was taken on polls.

As it has continued to do since the passage of the no-confidence motion against it, the government yesterday held outreaches throughout Region Six, with ministers heading to East Canje, Crabwood Creek, Fyrish Village, Corentyne, Rose Hall and Black bush Polder.

PPP supporters protesting the meeting

The PPP protested all of yesterday’s outreaches.

At the Corriverton outreach, over 150 persons gathered to protest Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who was due to attend. After he was a no-show, Zamal Hussain, PPP Regional Supervisor, pointed out that there were more protesters present to protest than those in attendance at the meeting.

He also said, that they were protesting to let the government officials know that are calling for an elections date before Septem-ber 18, as well as for the Cabinet to resign.

During her speech, Garrido-Lowe called on those gathered to choose a respectable leader. “Elections will be here and you need people… a leader of integrity, a leader who cares, an honest person, a courageous person, a visionary person to be that leader when the oil revenue comes,” she said. 

Garrido-Lowe then stated that the leader she was describing is President David

Granger. “Understand that we will have a lot of money coming into our country and we need an honest leader, we need a leader who cares to ensure that money is being utilised properly for our peoples benefit and to save for our children’s future,” she added, while telling residents to think about that and not about promises made by the PPP/C.

Garrido-Lowe did not call his name but alluded to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo’s failed marriage and his treatment of the former First Lady. “What can you women expect from a man like that?” she questioned.

The minister also spoke of newly commissioned radio stations across Guyana and employment opportunities which she pointed out were created in Georgetown.She also spoke of sugar workers and the closure of sugar estates, while noting that the former workers have received severance payments already. She said it is now time for them to sit and think about the future.

Meanwhile, Stabroek News tried to ascertain from APNU+AFC regional officials present why the Prime Minister was not present but they could not say.

He also said, that they were protesting to let the government officials know that are calling for an elections date before September 18, as well as for the Cabinet to resign.

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AG Williams engages opposition protestors, addresses their issues

AG Williams engages opposition protestors, addresses their issues

DPI, Guyana, Friday, August 16, 2019

Source

A protest organised by the opposition at Zambia, Mibicuri on the Corentyne Berbice turned out to be an engagement session with Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Hon. Basil Williams, SC.

The small group showed up with placards, but soon relented and raised some issues with the Attorney General.

Among them was the condition of the roads, streetlights and the drainage situation in the village. The Attorney General also took the opportunity to explain the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on the no-confidence motion. He further explained the most recent High Court ruling on the challenge to the House-to-House Registration by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

AG Williams, along with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Dr. Karen Cummings visited the community today as part of the region-wide government outreach.

As a rice farming community, the demonstrators were concerned about the main drainage canal, which they said is not being looked after. The farmers said the officials responsible for the community’s drainage seem to be shifting blame, leaving them to suffer in the process.

“The prime importance of the D&I [drainage and irrigation] canal is the NDIA, and they sublet it to the region. When we get flooded, the water rises in the backland, and we have to burst it with a hymac, since last year May it had no maintenance,” one of the men told the Attorney General.

After listening to their concerns, the Attorney General reminded the protesters that the local authorities are required by law, to address such issues in communities. He said, however, that he was happy to listen to their concerns.

“I am here on a government outreach to learn and understand what problems you have,” the Attorney General told them.

Meanwhile, Minister Cummings told the meeting that the government has embarked on transformational initiatives for all Guyanese. Monies, she said, is being spent on infrastructure, health, and security, along with increases in salaries and old age pension.

Django

Streetlights for Crabwood Creek

– NDC, residents urged to play their role to maintain same

DPI, Guyana, Friday, August 16, 2019

Source

Minister of Public Security, Hon. Khemraj Ramjattan interacting with residents of Crabwood Creek

Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Hon. Jaipaul Sharma.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Hon. Jaipaul Sharma interacting with residents of Crabwood Creek.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Hon. Jaipaul Sharma interacting with residents of Crabwood Creek.

Ameer Ally.

Ameer Ally

Chandrashekhar Bisnauth.

Chandrashekhar Bisnauth

The streets of Crabwood Creek in Region 6 will soon be brightly lit following the instalment of several streetlights. This was the commitment made by Minister of Public Security, Hon. Khemraj Ramjattan to improve security in the community.

The pledge was made to the residents during a meeting at the local community ground. During the engagement, residents explained that several streets in the community are “pitch black” at nights, and criminals use the opportunity to commit small robberies. The installation of the lights, the residents believe, will deter criminal behaviour.

Chandrashekhar Bisnauth and Ameer Ally, both residents Crabwood Creek, welcomed the initiative and opined that it will bring relief to the residents.

Bisnauth said “sometimes you in the dark, and they [thieves] just wait for you, so the streetlights are really needed in Crabwood Creek.”

Ally shared similar sentiments stating that “putting up the light for the people is a good thing to do… it can avoid crime and make it safe for people coming home at night.”

Minister Ramjattan said that even though the light will be installed, the Neighborhood Democratic Council (NDC) and residents need to play their role to maintain the lights. He noted that the NDC would be required to pay a small fee of $300 per streetlight to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) to keep the lights on.

“If the NDC can take the responsibility to pay for streetlights as is the law, that is what they are supposed to pay for and then take the money from the citizen, it would be a wonderful country and that would help to deter crime,” the minister underscored.

Security for Guyanese has been a priority for the government since taking office. The Ministry of Public Security has taken several steps to improve security and build the capacity of the Guyana Police Force (GPF). The efforts have borne fruit as there is a 3.2% decrease in serious crimes for the first half of 2019.

Also present at the meeting was Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Hon. Jaipaul Sharma. Minister Sharma was able to listen to the concerns of the residents and pledged to return with engineers who will able to address their concerns and provide answers to burning questions.

Django
Django posted:

Streetlights for Crabwood Creek

– NDC, residents urged to play their role to maintain same

DPI, Guyana, Friday, August 16, 2019

Source

Minister of Public Security, Hon. Khemraj Ramjattan interacting with residents of Crabwood Creek

Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Hon. Jaipaul Sharma.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Hon. Jaipaul Sharma interacting with residents of Crabwood Creek.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Hon. Jaipaul Sharma interacting with residents of Crabwood Creek.

Ameer Ally.

Ameer Ally

Chandrashekhar Bisnauth.

Chandrashekhar Bisnauth

The streets of Crabwood Creek in Region 6 will soon be brightly lit following the instalment of several streetlights. This was the commitment made by Minister of Public Security, Hon. Khemraj Ramjattan to improve security in the community.

The pledge was made to the residents during a meeting at the local community ground. During the engagement, residents explained that several streets in the community are “pitch black” at nights, and criminals use the opportunity to commit small robberies. The installation of the lights, the residents believe, will deter criminal behaviour.

Chandrashekhar Bisnauth and Ameer Ally, both residents Crabwood Creek, welcomed the initiative and opined that it will bring relief to the residents.

Bisnauth said “sometimes you in the dark, and they [thieves] just wait for you, so the streetlights are really needed in Crabwood Creek.”

Ally shared similar sentiments stating that “putting up the light for the people is a good thing to do… it can avoid crime and make it safe for people coming home at night.”

Minister Ramjattan said that even though the light will be installed, the Neighborhood Democratic Council (NDC) and residents need to play their role to maintain the lights. He noted that the NDC would be required to pay a small fee of $300 per streetlight to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) to keep the lights on.

“If the NDC can take the responsibility to pay for streetlights as is the law, that is what they are supposed to pay for and then take the money from the citizen, it would be a wonderful country and that would help to deter crime,” the minister underscored.

Security for Guyanese has been a priority for the government since taking office. The Ministry of Public Security has taken several steps to improve security and build the capacity of the Guyana Police Force (GPF). The efforts have borne fruit as there is a 3.2% decrease in serious crimes for the first half of 2019.

Also present at the meeting was Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Hon. Jaipaul Sharma. Minister Sharma was able to listen to the concerns of the residents and pledged to return with engineers who will able to address their concerns and provide answers to burning questions.

They took away the street lights when they got into government and reinstalled them in Linden.. now they are running back with a fail promise, because GPL is disputing the dollar amount to spend on providing electricity. 

See below. 

FM

Patterson asked to clear air on street lights for NDCs

 







Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson has come in for heavy criticism over statements he made that Guyana Power and Light (GPL) will be providing street lights in several Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) areas at a cost of $300 each.

Public Infrastructure Minster David Patterson

However, when the Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) met on Thursday, it was disclosed that the cost for the installation of street lights is higher, and that there were many other charges that are attached.
When the issue was discussed at the July meeting, Councillor Devin Sookraj told the RDC that through Government, street lights were being installed at a cost of $300 each. He explained that it was the Minister who had made a public statement that NDCs and Municipalities will benefit from the offer.
Sookraj further stated that the NDC could have one hundred street lights for $300,000, and according to him, that was part of the Government’s street lighting programme.
While some councillors disagreed that was the case, Regional Chairman David Armogan said the RDC supports the street lighting initiative but challenged NDC’s to verify if the statement made by the Minister were true.
“I am encouraging all the eighteen NDCs and the three Municipalities to go to GPL and take advantage of this,” Armogan said last month.
However, Chairperson of the Canefield Enterprise NDC, Sherriann Beharry, said that she would have visited GPL’s office after the Minister made the disclosure on a local Alliance for Change (AFC) televised programme and found that the supply of electricity will be great.
Yusif Hafeez, who heads the Kilcoy-Chesney NDC, expressed similar sentiments, while Ishwar Narinesammy, who heads the Johns-Port Mourant NDC provided a letter indicating that the Minister’s utterances were misleading.
In fact, Narinesammy said officials of GPL told him that they will even have to pay for the electricity the NDC used after the installation of the lights.
At the end of the meeting, Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) Regional Supervisor, who is also one of the Councillors who was critical of the Ministers utterances told Guyana Times that the party has information that several NDC Chairpersons visited GPL in relation to the Minister’s statements.
“When they went to GPL, they were told that nothing of that sort was directed to them from any Minister. They had gone in with written submissions to grab the opportunity of paying the $300 or $300,000 for a hundred street lights. They were written to by GPL and told that they have to pay a sum of $3,648 for every light to be installed in the NDC area”.
He explained that GPL has also detailed that a fee will be charged for the usages of the electricity used by the lights. The RDC also questioned the disappearance of the street lights that were removed when the coalition took office.





 
FM

Looks like there were more demonstrators than PNC invited and paid attendees. As for street lights, not going to happen in CWC. Only election time these monkeys jumping on the high branches and trying to put on an acrobatic show. Since when negroes in Guyana care for the welfare of Indians? If they did, they would not rob and kill them and get pardoned.

FM
Dave posted:
 

They took away the street lights when they got into government and reinstalled them in Linden..

now they are running back with a fail promise, because GPL is disputing the dollar amount to spend on providing electricity.

Not true !!

Django
Last edited by Django
Django posted:

AG Williams engages opposition protestors, addresses their issues

AG Williams engages opposition protestors, addresses their issues

DPI, Guyana, Friday, August 16, 2019

Source

A protest organised by the opposition at Zambia, Mibicuri on the Corentyne Berbice turned out to be an engagement session with Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Hon. Basil Williams, SC.

The small group showed up with placards, but soon relented and raised some issues with the Attorney General.

Among them was the condition of the roads, streetlights and the drainage situation in the village. The Attorney General also took the opportunity to explain the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on the no-confidence motion. He further explained the most recent High Court ruling on the challenge to the House-to-House Registration by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

AG Williams, along with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Dr. Karen Cummings visited the community today as part of the region-wide government outreach.

As a rice farming community, the demonstrators were concerned about the main drainage canal, which they said is not being looked after. The farmers said the officials responsible for the community’s drainage seem to be shifting blame, leaving them to suffer in the process.

“The prime importance of the D&I [drainage and irrigation] canal is the NDIA, and they sublet it to the region. When we get flooded, the water rises in the backland, and we have to burst it with a hymac, since last year May it had no maintenance,” one of the men told the Attorney General.

After listening to their concerns, the Attorney General reminded the protesters that the local authorities are required by law, to address such issues in communities. He said, however, that he was happy to listen to their concerns.

“I am here on a government outreach to learn and understand what problems you have,” the Attorney General told them.

Meanwhile, Minister Cummings told the meeting that the government has embarked on transformational initiatives for all Guyanese. Monies, she said, is being spent on infrastructure, health, and security, along with increases in salaries and old age pension.

The only problem the people have is the failure of the PNC to address t heir problems from Day one. The AG Is stupid but not sufficiently so that he does not know this government is in office solely by virtue of it finding novel ways to squat in office for 9 months now. Elections are due and when it was due is not at the ministers discretion but per constitutional imperative.

Were they transformational we would have known it day one from their behavior. Since that time it has always been insular, dictatorial and without regards for process or for the people.

FM
Django posted:
Dave posted:
 

They took away the street lights when they got into government and reinstalled them in Linden..

now they are running back with a fail promise, because GPL is disputing the dollar amount to spend on providing electricity.

Not true !!

Django, this is all election vote-getting promises. People in Region 6 have been burnt by closing the sugar estates. PNC/AFC kark duck. They'll be lucky if the people don't chase them out if they go there and campaign. But then again, the PNC is notorious for their election violence.

FM
Labba posted:

Hey hey hey...dem bais doin eleckshun next year. Dem bais gat to show Jagdoe who gat de powah...hey hey hey.

Could you imagine if Jagdeo was not the face of the PPP? Imagine a young face there with fire in his soul and speaking to an electorate of the same age and with no baggage.

The PPP as they exist is a criminal cartel with Jagdeo as the head of that Mafia.  They are not a party that is about the concerns of the country. They see it only as loot potential.

They have no moral center and if one were not convinced that the PNC were going to be more horrible one would see hope. Without the third parties gaining a few seats we are screwed completely.

FM
Django posted:
Dave posted:
 

They took away the street lights when they got into government and reinstalled them in Linden..

now they are running back with a fail promise, because GPL is disputing the dollar amount to spend on providing electricity.

Not true !!

Who pays for Linden electricity.

Bath Settlement residents protest removal of street lights

34
Some of the residents during the protest.

 

 

 

 

 

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Residents of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice are calling on the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) cease the removal of street lights from their community.

The picketing exercise commenced on Tuesday, October 27 and saw the participation of sugar workers, children and women. The residents are concerned that the removal of the lights will increase criminal activities in the community.

When contacted by iNews on Thursday, October 29, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson shed some light on the issue, explaining that the former PPP government had promised the residents during the election period that they will receive free street lights.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson
Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson

As such, the lights were being powered for free. Minister Patterson further explained that the Region Five Private Sector had asked for 30 days to come up with a plan in order to sort out payment for the street lights, but the time expired and as such, the lights were removed.

Minister Patterson made it clear that it is the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) that is responsible for paying the bill and that was not done in Bath Settlement.

According to the Minister, GPL cannot afford to subsidize the cost but if an arrangement is made with the NDC for payment, then the lights will be reinstalled.

 

 

 
FM
Stormborn posted:
Labba posted:

Hey hey hey...dem bais doin eleckshun next year. Dem bais gat to show Jagdoe who gat de powah...hey hey hey.

Could you imagine if Jagdeo was not the face of the PPP? Imagine a young face there with fire in his soul and speaking to an electorate of the same age and with no baggage.

The PPP as they exist is a criminal cartel with Jagdeo as the head of that Mafia.  They are not a party that is about the concerns of the country. They see it only as loot potential.

They have no moral center and if one were not convinced that the PNC were going to be more horrible one would see hope. Without the third parties gaining a few seats we are screwed completely.

Yea...Frank or dat Ramson bai can win de eleckshun easy...nuff, nuff peopkle not voting foh puppy Irfaan...

FM

The Coalition Government fund street lights in Linden 

 

Linden benefits from streetlights

 

he Government announced that 84 streetlights were recently installed and activated between Burnham Drive, McKenzie and the Wismar section in Linden, Region 10.

Kester Hinds, Senior Project Engineer within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure with responsibility for maintenance, traffic and safety, has indicated that the government expended $13M to improve safety and security within those areas.

He said the scope of works included the installation of 84 lights on wallaba poles along with the running of interconnecting cables.

Hinds, according to a GINA report, noted that whilst persons would have varying responses to the longevity of the wallaba poles, the ministry uses them because they are procured at an affordable cost, thereby allowing for more installations to be done.

It is expected that 2016 will see the continued installation of streetlights countrywide, along with the maintenance of lights in other areas.

FM

Bhai Dave, you haven't proved street lights was removed from East Indian neighborhood and installed in Linden.

https://www.stabroeknews.com/2...e-illegal-patterson/

Street lights removed from Bath Settlement were illegal -Patterson

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson says the recent removal of street lamps from some sections of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, was part of a move to regularise connections to the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) network in the area.

Patterson told Stabroek News that the responsibility for the street lamps is that of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC). However, Region Five Chairman Vickchand Ramphal said the RDC does not budget for street lamps, which he maintained are the responsibility of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

Patterson noted that GPL’s officials met with the Region Five Regional Executive Officer (REO) and his engineer in August to determine the contractual agreement for the lamps, which were connected to GPL’s poles and network in the area. The REO confirmed his responsibility for 11 of 263 street lamps installed and said the remainder was the responsibility of the residents, Patterson added.

According to Patterson, GPL has suffered significant losses over the illegal connection of lamps and he noted that there were no records to prove the claim of some residents that they had of GPL’s approval to install the lamps.

Nevertheless, the minister noted that a 30-day stay on the removal of the lamps was granted by GPL’s Interim CEO, based on a request by residents, and during that time 51 of them established contracts with GPL for power for the street lamps. After the expiration of the stay, Patterson said GPL proceeded to remove the lamps, which were deemed illegal or for which there was no contractual agreement with GPL.

The lamps which were removed, he added, are being stored at GPL’s bond in New Amsterdam and will be returned to residents with the presentation of a receipt of purchase.

While GPL remains aware of the need for street lights, Patterson said it will only accommodate a request for the supply of power to lamps within the bounds of a contractual agreement as provided for in the amended Third Schedule to Electricity Sector Reform Act (ESRA).

He said that a recommendation was made for residents to purchase energy saving lamps, which will result in lower charges but he noted that many residents did not comply.

According to him, the monthly charge for a 65 watt street light is approximately $1, 266, a 120 watt will see a charge of $2, 434. That charge would have been shared by the homes benefiting from the service and in many instances would include about four homes.

It was noted that in response to an increase in the crime rate, the ESRA was amended in October of 2010 to accommodate residents desirous of street lights. Regulation 4 of the Third Schedule to the ESRA was amended to accommodate consumers desirous of a supply of electricity for street or security lighting.

Ramphal said since the lamps were removed there has been an upsurge of crimes in the community owing to darkened areas that had been previously lit. “For the last twelve days, there were about eight robberies, one of which was committed directly where a lamp was removed,” Ramphal said.

Ramphal added that he is calling on the Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan to urgently address the security of residents of the community.

Residents had staged a protest about two weeks ago after several street lamps were removed from the community.

Django
Last edited by Django
skeldon_man posted:
Django posted:
Dave posted:
 

They took away the street lights when they got into government and reinstalled them in Linden..

now they are running back with a fail promise, because GPL is disputing the dollar amount to spend on providing electricity.

Not true !!

Django, this is all election vote-getting promises. People in Region 6 have been burnt by closing the sugar estates. PNC/AFC kark duck.

They'll be lucky if the people don't chase them out if they go there and campaign. But then again, the PNC is notorious for their election violence.

 Region 6 is PPP stronghold, so boycotting and chase out are expected.

Django

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