Is Jagdeo a target?

Which one of these will create history? Cde. Jagdeo seems to point to the answer

So the mighty "Fineman" wants to create history if is girlfriend is not returned in the next few days. We are sure that the security forces are taking this threat as nothing. But, being the people we are, we will piece together the next target.

Here in Guyana we have had many killings, but we never had had an assassination of a President.

We have had a Minister killed

A dog

A pastor

A rising political party leader

Bandits in all forms

Children of all ages

Pressmen

Mothers

Fathers

Sons

Drug pushers

But, we never lost a President. Is he next?

Will he make it on the pages of "Fineman's" history book?

We hope this does not stir any anxiety among the President's camp. We call it how we see it.

Mass protest stopped...Rumors continue

Police fired tear gas to break up a peaceful march making its way to the city this morning. Police in full battle gear, fired at the crowd which included women, children and members of the media corps. Police also fired shots in the air, but it is unclear if live rounds were used.

At least 7 persons were injured during the incident.

The march started off from Annandale, just outside the troubled village of Buxton sometime after 10 this morning. The protesters only made it as far as BV.

There are lots of rumors being peddled across Guyana even at this time, 3:20 p.m, there are reports that bandits are holed up in South Ruimveldt in a shootout with police. Subsequent checks proved this to be a hoax.

Then there was another rumor today that sent shivers down the spine of many..."Fineman" girl was found dead. Her body was picked up along the Linden Highway. Police said this was just another hoax similar to another , which stated that the girl's body was found was found in the Botanical Gardens.

More Rumors...There is also another report which stated that "Fineman" is planning a revenge attack for a talk show host who was gunned down on January 31. We cannot confirm this as a hoax since tomorrow is actually January 31. We will wait and see.

CARICOM CONDEMNS LUSIGNAN KILLINGS

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater, Georgetown , Guyana ) CARICOM Secretary-General His Excellency Edwin Carrington has expressed the hope that calm would soon return to the “traumatised communities and to the nation at large” following the slaying of 11 people in Lusignan , Guyana last Saturday.

In a note to the President of Guyana, His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo, condemning the murders the Secretary-General said the “appalling crime…demonstrated a singular disregard for human life and …has reverberated throughout the Community and beyond.”

Following is the full text of the note:

“The Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community and Staff of the Secretariat are shocked and horrified at the brutal killings which occurred in Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, Guyana , on Saturday, 26 January during which eleven innocent men, women and children were murdered in cold blood by an armed gang.

The Secretary-General and the Staff, some of whom are directly affected by the tragedy, strongly condemn this appalling crime which demonstrated a singular disregard for human life and which has reverberated throughout the Community and beyond.

In expressing heartfelt condolences to the families of those slain, the Secretary-General and Staff urge that the security forces move swiftly to bring to justice, those responsible for such an atrocious and traumatic act. We express the hope that calm will soon return to the traumatized communities and to the nation at large.”

Stop Guyanese Refugees

Suriname tightens security after massacre in Guyana
Published on Wednesday, January 30, 2008
By Ivan Cairo Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent Email: ivan@caribbeannetnews.com PARAMARIBO, Suriname: Security forces in Suriname are in a state of alert after the gruesome murder of eleven people in Lusignan in neighbouring Guyana, security officials here disclosed. The Suriname Police Force and the National Army have increased patrols in Nickerie along the border with Guyana, Nickerie police chief inspector Kenneth Bruining and police spokesman under-inspector Humphrey Naarden told reporters. According to Naarden, police stations received instruction from police headquarters to be more vigilant. Patrols on the Corantyne River and the so-called backtrack route on the Nickerie River have been increased, while according to eyewitnesses inspection of passengers travelling this route from Guyana to Suriname is also being done more thoroughly. Police say however that there is no indication that the perpetrators of the attacks in Lusignan crossed the border. “In close cooperation with the National Army we are keeping a close eye on the developments in Guyana and its possible outfall,” said Bruining. Meanwhile the Surinamese embassy in Georgetown is appealing to Surinamese nationals travelling to Guyana to be very cautious. “Especially on the East Coast Demerara the situation was very explosive the past days,” Charlo Doedel, Counsellor at the embassy told ‘de Ware Tijd’ newspapers in an invited comment. He insisted that all individuals travelling to Guyana do so through the legal point of entry to avoid being arrested for illegal entry, since police are checking vehicles travelling along the East Coast. “All vehicles, including buses carrying passengers from Suriname, are being checked and illegal passengers risk a fine of US$125 and several weeks in jail,” said Doedel. He further noted that the embassy so far has not received reports from Surinamese who might have been molested by protesters on the East Coast. Doedel also disclosed that as standard procedure in cases of riots and disturbances in countries where Suriname has an embassy Surinamese nationals are being urged to report regularly at the mission.

Mail Trail...PPP responsibility

My condolences goes out to the families of the 11 slain Lusignan residents that were brutally killed. Eventhough shocking, the incident was somehow not surprising. For sometime now, political opinionators have sounded the alarm that Guyana was sitting on a powder-cake. They expressed concern that unless the Government addressed the strong perception of disenfranchisement by certain segment of the population and a slew of social injustices, a revolt was very eminent.

The PPP since coming into office has consistently manipulated race relations for political mileage and shamelessly seized upon the deaths of the Lusignan residents to inject racial and political strife. It was extremely disapointing to see President Jagdeo take the path of the divider instead of uniting the nation during this horific event. True to his character, the president on national airways made slanderous and baseless comments with the intention of impugning the character of a recently retired GDF top brass. This type of malicious behaviour has come to be a trademark of President Jagdeo and is unbecoming of a head of state.

The PPP has been implicated in a number of scandalous activities and some argue that their involvement in the killings of the Lusignan residents to cast blame on the opposition should not be ruled out. The motive would be to distract attention from the torture allegations that the party is facing and to put the spot-light on the opposition party.

Berkeley Van Bowen

Hidden Agenda!

Community involvement in policing needs strengthening – Presidential Adviser on Governance

Georgetown , GINA, January 29, 2008

Strengthening the fight against crime in Guyana and imbuing confidence in Guyana ’s security capacity call for more participation at the community level. This is the view of the Presidential Adviser on Governance Gail Teixeira who was speaking on the Lusignan murders and its implications for Guyana during a television programme on the National Communications Network (NCN).
“The Community Policing groups whilst there have been many attempts in the past to resuscitate them by providing vehicles, uniforms and boats in some cases, the system has to be much stronger than it is right now,” Teixeira noted.
Following the call by Head of State President Jagdeo in 2006 for community policing groups, Teixeira who was then Minister of Home Affairs was part of a countrywide recruitment campaign for community police officers.
She noted that the response from other communities, such as Essequibo and Berbice, was encouraging but for the East Coast of Demerara it was comparatively low.
She added that those who were successfully established benefited from training and have been active in their campaign to date. She made reference to the Annandale policing group which has played a significant role in the community since its formation two years ago.
“We have to fall back on the community and be more vigilant and organised, either through policing groups or community development councils, to be able to monitor strangers and strange activities in their communities,” Teixeira explained.
President Bharrat Jagdeo during his meeting with East Coast Demerara residents on January 27 stressed the need for more community involvement to boost security.
In 2006 over $8B was spent on the security forces. That year there was also collaboration with the British Government and the establishment of the Security Sector Reform Plan which came out of consultations with the wide cross section of society including Parliamentary Opposition parties.
The plan which highlights the long-term interventions to improve capacity of the army and police was recently tabled in Parliament and will be placed before a special select committee.
Teixeira also alluded to several community concerns such as the high demand for police stations in every village.
“Physically it is almost impossible, especially with the resources we have available. We have to look for other methods and until we are able to come up with new ideas, the community policing groups are still the alternative… they are the eyes and ears of the community,” Teixeira said.
Calls have also been made by government for more recruitment in the Guyana Police Force (GPF) force which is crucial to the protection of society.

End.

Thoughts: Ever so often the government through its mouthpiece, would seek to root its hidden agenda. There is no doubt that the Government lacks confidence in the security forces to hunt down the crimminals, but why not confront the problem? They are not. Instead, they continue to push the formation of and arming of policing groups which are being established mainly in Indo-Guyanese communities. So its more guns , and more guns in the society. The PPP/C is doing exactly what the PNCR did when it faced threats to national security...that is to arm their supporters. It is hardly likely that any policing group would have prevented the massacre at Lusignan. The Government has provided weak leadership to the security forces and that is the problem. Comprehend!

PPP/C playing politics with lives

Freddie Kissoon column

Symbols of power, symbols of failure

At the time of writing, there are tyre-burning and road barricade activities at Bath Settlement at West Berbice. I have been informed that a large crowd of protestors, agitated over the Lusignan massacre, are highly incensed. The police have fired rubber bullets and tear gas at them. Political commentators should not rush to judgment but should wait until the ashes are dried to make their analyses.
Something does not look right here. Why did the movement skip dozens and dozens of villages in region 4 and 5, and settle in a hot bed of PPP support, Bath? Is it possible there are machinations being cooked up to divert attention from the failure that will accompany the pursuit of the perpetrators of the Lusignan mayhem?
If the fires keep raging then the Government has an excuse for their inability to provide security along the corridor of death, the name I gave five years ago to that troubled part of the lower East Coast.
Before I move into the main point of this essay, I want to go on record of showing my disapproval at the President’s inference about an ex-army officer. It was not hard to find out who he was referring to. There is a danger in what the President did. If you speak about a UG lecturer that writes a daily column in one of the newspapers, even a fool would know it is Frederick Kissoon you have in mind. Likewise, most Guyanese that follow the news would know the identity of this very well known former officer of the GDF that the President pointed fingers at. The man is entitled to protection from the society in which he lives.
The kind of accusation the President made against him is extremely troubling. He insinuated that this guy is into violent activities in Buxton and arming marauders there. I may not agree with you but I will defend your right to have your freedom respected.
I took that stand with Benschop. I know in my own heart if Hoyte or Burnham had said that about one of my WPA colleagues then the opposition at that time, including the PPP, would have lashed out.
My deeply felt opinion on what the President said is that it may endanger the life of this man. That cannot be accepted in a country where the rule of law reigns. Does it in Guyana? There is only one type of reign in Guyana, if you know what I mean.
Despite the cascading events in West Berbice and what the President said about the former officer of the GDF, political commentators need to assess the rough treatment the ruling elites got from the East Coast residents on Saturday. The Lusignan massacre brought into view how the angry residents of Mon Repos, Good Hope, Lusignan and Annandale felt about the PPP leadership.
For those foreigners who are not familiar with local parlance or the lingo on the streets, we Guyanese have something we call “eyepass.” In universal terminology, it connotes a type of behaviour where there is the combination of being used and abused. Not only were you hurt by your enemy but the perpetrator has the gall to tell you that they sympathize with you.
There was Priya Manickchand holding the arm of one of the victim’s relatives. There was Clement Rohee going inside one of the besieged homes. There was PM Hinds walking about the area where the crimes took place. Robeson Benn, Shaik Baksh, Ronnie Nawbatt and Neil Kumar also put in an appearance. All of them were humiliated and assaulted. I am going to break with media protocol here and say that though I do not condone violence, I will refrain from condemning the mistreatment of some of these ministers. Baksh and Benn were assaulted. All the others were hounded down. What were they doing there?
Any moron could have seen the anger in those people’s expression. They didn’t want to see the people who controlled the government. So why did these high opportunists go anyway? Because at the Freudian level, they have nothing but disrespect for these supporters.
Some of these villagers are foolish people. On Sunday at a gathering, the President asked them if they want the PNC back. Instead of shouting him down to tell him that the issue was not the PNC, they idiotically yelled out no, much to the delight of Mr. Jagdeo. They couldn’t see in exposing themselves so tragically, they were courting more danger.
The PPP mandarins, princesses and monarchs went up to Lusignan on Saturday because they know they could fool those people. They know they could up the racial ante and the people will buy it. President Jagdeo may be incompetent as a president but he knows the psyches of those villagers. They respond in Pavlovian ways to subtle and not so subtle hints of racial demagoguery.
The President keeps preserving the link between the old, rusty guns that went missing before Noah built his ark, and the Lusignan butchery. There is no connection. This writer does not accept the theory that gunmen with savage intention bestially ripped apart eleven people including five innocent children all because it was a stratagem to side-track an inquiry into gun-running in the seventies. It is not just plain nonsense. It is nasty, ugly nonsense.
Things fell apart on Saturday. The slumbering giants of Lusignan woke up. The queens and kings of New Garden Street and Freedom House were given a good cussing out. Some said it was “Licks like peas.” Shaik Baksh, the busiest minister the world has ever known, found time to be in Lusignan. He narrowly missed a mauling. The intention was to send the new face girl, Priya and the just arrived kid, Robeson. Both were greeted with a scatological vocabulary that must have sent both Priya and Robeson to the detergent shop to wash their faces and to the ENT specialist to clean their ears.
Mr. High and Mighty, the Hon Minister that does not see torture in Guyana as a serious thing got some adjectives that almost lacerated his visage. Not to be left out was Ronnie Nawbatt who just missed being spat upon. I was told the saliva would have caught him flush in the eyes but the Atlantic breeze, originating from a SIMAP project he supervised when he headed that organization, came to his rescue. The most silent Prime Minister in the world went up to Lusignan too.
He got his share of verbal abuse. The title of Woman of 2008 will have to go to the lady that made a garland out of the newspaper sheet with the victim’s faces and insisted that the President hang it around his neck. What a brave woman. I hope I can meet her this week to show my admiration.
The failed kings and queens were raced out of Lusignan on Saturday and Sunday because the villagers know that their presence symbolized power but power that has failed this country so tragically.

Bharrat must step aside!

KN-PAGE ONE COMMENT

This newspaper understands the anger and concern being vented by ordinary citizens in predominantly East Indian communities of the East Coast following the massacre of last Saturday. The people’s hurt is genuine.
However, this newspaper is convinced that political elements aligned to the ruling party have also been instigating some of these protests. The people of the East Coast and further afield should not allow themselves to be manipulated by political instigators who wish to dabble in gimmickry so as to divert attention from the inadequacies of the Government in confronting the security threat now facing the country. It is not only politically irresponsible but smacks of the worst type of moral reprehensibility the human mind can comprehend.
We reiterate for emphasis -- political opportunists and immoral spin doctors from the ruling establishment have devised a strategy to prolong the tyre-burning protest in order to deflect the concentration of the Guyanese people from demanding that the Government of Guyana, which won an election mandate to direct the affairs of this nation, put an end to bestial savagery and uncivilized violence from animalistic gunmen who are presently terrorizing an entire country.
It says nothing good for the Government of Guyana when citizens tune in to NCN and see a running strip urging the entire Guyanese population to be on guard. Is this country in a state of civil war? It is not. So the point is that a band of terrorist criminals, numbering about thirty, can force the Government of a country to warn the entire land to be on the lookout. We say most emphatically that this is a dereliction of duty on the part of the political elite that is in charge of this nation.

The political hands instigating these protests desperately want to take the rap off the Government for its consistent failure to bring peace to Guyana because the Government has been exposed for its incredible incompetence. We ask, in all sincerity, how will protests such as what took place over the weekend into yesterday solve the dilemma of the East Indian community, who for too long have borne the brunt of acts of violence and terror?
Will these protests force those that slaughtered the Lusignan 11 to surrender?
The real issue is not about protesting by blocking the main roadways and by committing damage to private property. These may bring attention to the need for justice, but we believe it is diverting attention from the need to go after those responsible for Saturday’s slaughter of eleven innocent citizens and the killing of a member of the military’s elite unit, the Special Forces. This is unacceptable. The Guyanese people should reject this ugly descent into political opportunism of the worst type.
Those guilty of these crimes will be brought to justice and the threat they represent neutralized only if there is the requisite will at the highest levels of this government. We are not satisfied this exists.
Instead of protesting by blocking the roadways and damaging public property, the people should therefore be calling on their leaders to retreat from band-aid solutions and be forceful and resolute in confronting this challenge. If the leaders do not have what it takes to get the job done, they should step aside and make way for those with leadership fortitude and courage. We urge that the entire Guyanese population join us in this call. The time has come for all of us to ditch diplomatic language and speak to the Guyana Government for forceful changes.
The Government must demonstrate that it is prepared to confront the forces of evil. The President of Guyana should issue the appropriate instructions, and he must be prepared to act if these are not followed or results not forthcoming in a timely manner.
The time for pussyfooting is over. It is now time to deal with this threat; to root it out once and for all so that all Guyanese can live in safety. We end with the belief that if, in the present circumstances, the present leaders cannot show this nation results, then we they should give way to others who are prepared to show leadership qualities so that Guyana can be saved.
Peace be upon Guyana!

No faggot can do the job

Only a man will look into the mirror and say: "I have made a mistake".

If President Bharrat Jagdeo has balls, he would declare a state of emergency ASAP and then face the Guyanese people and say: "My Government has failed to rescue the nation and protect the lives of those who voted for us."

After all, he sits in an air conditioned office, devorced his wife, and has no freaking children. He just can't understand the apin and anguish. Mr. President, you are right about the men that excuted those 11 people...they were cowards, but the people at Lusignan are also right about you Mr. President...you are gay! Yes we said it. Only a man can execute the job that is needed to restore Guyana. SASOD can go to hell.

This fuckery that is unfolding is about to explode. Indian villages are rising up. Tensions are high and the security forces are stretched thin.

Blood shed everywhere, the Caribbean pauses to inhale the fumes of disaster, while locally, citizens inhale the fumes of dangerous tire smoke and blood soaked rooms.

What next? we ask as night falls on beloved Guyana.

Those that are gone are now safe. The few that remain now live in fear. As we prepare to take our beds, may God be with every rural citizen as they out their flambeau lamps and retire in their one-room shack.

Some of us are hitting the roads to bring back the heat from the streets. We will keep you posted on the latest.

Meanwhile, Guyana's 20/20 team will begin its campaign to retain the trophy. They will play as a team and represnt a country that is deeply polarized. When night falls, they would have accomplished what the Politicians have failed to do, that is to unite a nation in support of their effort.

Thank you all and stay tuned.

Oh yea!

Today's Guyana Chronicle took Persaud's name to a whole new level

Headless chickens

MARAD to further enhance port safety

Georgetown, GINA, January 21, 2008.

More investments will be made to carry out activities that will improve the country’s ships’ channel, navigation systems and enhance safety in the port sector through the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD).
This year, extensive dredging of the ships’ channel will continue while emphasis will be placed on improvement of navigation aids in the Demerara channel and navigation system at the Lighthouse. In addition, both flag and port state inspections will continue while efforts will be made to maintain a 24-hour per day pilotage.

Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn said while these activities are planned, greater attention will be given to enhancing safety since there is need for this, particularly as it relates to operations of vessels such as trawlers and fishing boats...Blah, blah, blah...

Guyana 360: We just cannot understand the thinking of government officials. We agree with the dredging, but will the channel be ready to accept those larger cruise ships? Fising boats and freight vessels are too small a economic turnover that Guyana so desperately needs. We ought to be able toattract tourists by the hundreds. When we can attact the cruise ships, we will finally actually see those hundreds of tourists visiting our shores that the tourism minister so often boasts about. The dredging of the channel to accomodate cruise ships, has been a talking point for the current administration and is similiar to other talking points like the national drug master plan, hydro-power, wind generation and the list continues...

Tales from Minister Killaman

This is not a fairy tale, but the photo was plucked from the folks over at the Providence Stadium blog without permission.

Solidarity websites

Something is fishy when this website is upgarded and begins looking like this site.

Mail box: Guyana Media tortured

After weeks of effective coverage of issues of torture by Guyana's military, the media got a spicy taste of just how vicious the army can get, when they were kicked out of covering the annual Officers' Conference. Luckily, no one was injured during the verbal exchange of words, reports suggest.

However, the GPA Executive body made up of representatives from across the media spectrum has fired back, issuing the following press statement calling its members to arms.

While some editors have suppressed their reporters by banning them from reading the GPA statement, we have taken time out to republish it here in full just for their enlightenment and the education of the wider world.

PRESS STATEMENT

Jan 17, 2008

Press Association urges boycott of army and gov't events- calls on international community to take note.

In the wake of media representatives being evicted from Camp Ayanganna from covering the opening session of the 2008 Guyana Defence Force(GDF) Annual Officers' Conference on Thursday January 17; the GuyanaPress Association (GPA) is urging its members and media houses to boycott all activities of the army while seriously reviewing the coverage we provide to the Office of the President and other government agencies.

The GPA believes that it is absolutely no accident that media workers were asked to leave. Instead, that act was deliberately hatched in the hope that our eviction would be featured in the media rather than the recent alleged torture of civilians and soldiers. We note that this tactic was first used in 2006 at the height of the disappearance of 30AK-47 assault rifles and five hand-guns from a bond at Camp Ayanganna. Last year, when we were allowed to cover the conference opening, he used the opportunity to again divert attention by lambasting theUnited States (US) on its narcotics record and viciously attacking the media as "lazy."

The latest decision to exclude journalists from covering the opening ceremony of the GDF's Officers' conference has not been taken lightly. It is nothing more than a form of censorship and an excuse for controlling the press. All freedom-loving and respected military and civilian organisations in this Hemisphere and other parts of the world must take note that the media- a key pillar of democracy,good governance and transparency-- is now the target of the GDF at the behest of the Government of Guyana which is on the verge of surpassingpast atrocities against the media dating back to the 1970s and 1980s in Guyana.

When the Commander-in-chief, His Excellency President Bharrat Jagdeo, wants to proffer his views; we oblige and attend his press conferences without grumbling, even if we have to wait long periods, as was the case Monday when we sat for 45 minutes over the due start time.

His utterance that a question on torture was a "waste of time" juxtaposed with today's occurrence is reflective of attempts to manipulate and control the media in ways similar and increasingly worse than what had obtained prior to the winds of glasnost and perestroika. In this context, your association urges all media workers to continue to 'dig' into those torture claims being allegedly committed by the army, as well as the many other issues plaguing Guyanese, while at the same time not losing sight of any achievements being made in all spheres ranging from the ordinary man to large institutions and the country as a whole.

At the same time, we call on the international community to take note of the misuse of human and financial resources at the disposal of the Government of Guyana as a result of loans and debt write-offs that have been provided to the State. It continues to baffle us that these important public events, which were once fully covered by the media, are now being kept out of the public eyes.

What is also baffling is that nothing classified is being said at these events based upon the previous occasions when the media was banned. We can only view this latest move as another attempt to muzzle the free press and for this we condemn both the army and the President Bharrat Jagdeo administration. The facts of Thursdays occurrence are as follows: The army and the Office of the President dispatched media advisories on Wednesday inviting media houses to 'cover the first session of the Guyana Defence Force 2008 Annual Officers' Conference". The GDF advisory further advised the media to report to base Camp Ayanganna by 09:30 hours for a briefing before the scheduled 09:50 opening of the conference.

The Office of the President, on the other hand, in itsadvisory said that the media was invited to cover the address of Jagdeo. As expected, media representatives showed up this morning for the assignment and while some of our colleagues were setting-up their equipment they were informed by Major Daniels who said that he was now the officer in charge of Public Relations that they could only take pictures of the President posing with his officers. He further advised that we were not being allowed to cover the President's address and as such we should leave the compound soon after taking pictures. With such instructions, the entire media corps, save for the National Communications Network (NCN) opted to leave without taking any photograph of Jagdeo posing with his officers.

It should be noted that it is not the first time media representativeshad been ejected from covering similar events by the military. In2006, members of the media were ejected from covering Jagdeo's address to Police Officers and in that same year a similar posture was adopted by the GDF, although the latter subsequently sent copies of the then Chief-of-Staff, Edward Collins' address and the Government Information Agency (GINA) provided copies of the President's speech.

In view of this recurrent posture of the government and the GDF, theexecutive of the GPA may at a subsequent time engage the high command of the GDF to iron out how we will partner as two professional bodies, but for now we are calling on our members to boycott all activities of the army and also ignore their press statements unless the matter being addressed is of urgent national importance. It is our view that the continued disrespect and contempt being shown to the media by no less an institution than the Office of the President has certainly trickled down and has now reached the GDF, which at onetime was viewed as one of the most professional and disciplined organizations in this country.

Today's eviction of mediarepresentatives who were duly invited to cover the opening session ofthe GDF Annual Officers' conference is another frightening sign thatthe army is now following the lead of its Commander-in-Chief who hasrepeatedly treated the media here with disdain.

The GPA is not unaware of the negative media coverage the army had been receiving over the past two years due to its negligence in losing 30 AK-47 rifles and the horrendous revelations that officers of the MilitaryCriminal Investigation allegedly tortured several of its ranks over the loss of another AK-47 rifle last year November.

The media in Guyana will not be dictated by a government and an armywho believe in 'hiding' negative stories to suit their own narrow agenda; rather our duty, as professionals, is first to serve thepublic.

Besides, both the President and Chief-of-staff, Commodore,Gary Best should know that the truly independent and serious news agencies here are not interested in photo-opportunities and political grandstanding. These agencies are not public relations units for the government and the army and as such if it was the intention not to let the media in at the conference then an invitation should not have been sent in the first place or it should have indicated that only a photographic opportunity would be permitted.

Moreover, one would have hoped that with a new command structure, which had promised so much, media relations with the military would have improved, but this is far from reality. As a professional body the GPA would be reviewing its almost non-existent relationship with the army which has also stopped placing advertisements in the StabroekNews-another example of the organization following the miscued and baseless argument being proffered by Jagdeo that the newspaper's circulation has dwindled. It is left for the public to judge how much professionalism, dignity and independence this organization has retained.

ENDS/GPA/2007

CONTACT PERSONS:

Secretary, Nigel Williams-- 609-7442
President, Denis Chabrol--623-5430

This one cracked us up

This was emailed to us, but after some research we found it was actually pulled from the Providence Stadium blog. (Good one guys!)

Presidential Mug

Photo taken from outside MTV on Regent Street

Some say if you want to be President you have to start looking, dressing and generally, behaving like a President. And one Cabinet member is certainly reading the script correctly.

We have observed that Robert Montgomery Persaud MBA, the Minister of Agriculture has been mimicking President Bharrat Jagdeo in a very pronounced manner. A plot he hopes will catapult him to the Presidency.

Is he serious? Maybe it has something to do with his marriage to the President’s niece.

Over the past few weeks Guyana has been flooded with speculation about the new PPP/C presidential candidate, but this senior PPP/C Central Executive Committee Member has been thrown out the fray and he is not too bothered because his eyes are set on the 2016 or 2021 presidential race.

The Stabroek News and Kaieteur News have speculated extensively that the race for the candidacy is down to the big three: Moses Nagamootoo, Ralph Ramkarran and Donald Ramotar. We have our own views on this matter which we will share in a subsequent post.

Persaud has silently slipped under the radar with his presidential antics. He is only one of three Ministers with a Public Relations unit at his office. President Jagdeo has a smaller PR unit and relies on GINA for coverage.

Unlike his two ministerial colleagues, Persaud has outdone the President by setting up his media unit. Persaud’s office features a communications specialist (so they say), a cameraman for both TV and print, and a video-editor. Their responsibility is just to keep Persaud’s name flying in the media.

Then there are his two secretaries, one that has been by his side since his days at OP.

We believe that the President has just one secretary. It seems as if Persaud is growing a dynasty over at the Ministry of Agriculture.

It gets even sweeter. Persaud has a ADC aide de camp just as the President. Both the President and Persaud have their Aide, who are Afro-Guyanese men carrying their bags, speeches and other items be it long boots, rain coat or umbrella.

However, other Ministers including the Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy with his triple bypass surgery is made to carry their own ministerial contraption.

To cup it all off, Persaud has finally found a mug that is of the same ilk of the President’s. President Jagdeo has one of those shiny mugs with a cover. Some refer to them as cups. Whatever they are, the President uses one at most press conferences, sipping away whenever he gets the chance.

Several of the cups/mugs can be seen selling on the pave along Regent Street, but we heard that Persaud stole one of the Presidennt’s cups…sad and true.

Even in Parliament where water is provided, Persaud calls on his assistant who then scurries with the shiny mug.

We wonder what next for Persaud? Probably divorce his wife and take away her vehicle?

That’s one to follow, Robert.

Mail Trail...Guyana Bar Association concerns

The Guyana Bar Association (GBA) wishes to record its grave concern over the manner in which recent allegations involving torture as well as alleged misconduct on the part of a government minister have been and continue to be addressed.

The GBA has hitherto withheld comment on these matters since it was felt that a fair opportunity should be given for the investigations that were launched to be conducted and concluded in a timely manner.

However more than ample time and opportunity has elapsed with no discernable conclusions in sight to these erstwhile probes. Meanwhile more allegations and evidence of torture have surfaced raising more questions on top of those that are still unanswered. It is also now a matter of public record that the minister has admitted to discharging a firearm in a public place, whilst seeking to proffer a justification. These and other developments suggest that there is now more than enough information upon which charges can be properly laid.

Taken against the backdrop of the current campaign against violence, it seems inconsistent that whilst violence against women and children is condemned, and rightly so, other incidences of violence are treated with less priority and concern and made to seem somehow tolerable, a notion that is repugnant and in contradiction to the maintenance of the rule of law in our society.

Allegations of torture as well as incidences of alleged misconduct on the part of government officials are not trivial matters and if not addressed in a timely and proper manner, cast a dark and unsavoury shadow over the entire policing and justice system since an Orwellian impression can be created that some are more equal than others.

The GBA therefore urges that these investigations be concluded without further delay and that all those found culpable be made to face the consequences.

Essential justice demands no less.

COMMON SENSE

My parents told me about Mr. Common Sense early in my life and told me I would do well to call on him when making decisions. It seems he was always around in my early years but less and less as time passed by.

Today I read his obituary. Please join me for a moment of silence in remembrance. For Common Sense had served us all so well for so many generations.

Obituary: Common Sense

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons
as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn't always fair, and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.

Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they themselves failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer Aspirin, sun lotion or a sticky plaster to a student; but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches
became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't legally defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar can sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by three stepbrothers; I Know my Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I'm a Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so
few realized he was gone.

If you still remember him send us a mail.

Life after Pageants

Life after for most Guyanese pageant ladies is a drag. The girl on the left of Mr. football is Lashana, a contestant in last year's Miss Guyana World. Being paraded as sex objects when companies hold events. Sad but true, they got to hustle to make bread.

From the press release party

PRESIDENT FUNCTIONING AS COURT OF APPEAL

The AFC has noted with grave concern the viscous attack on the judiciary in general and the Honourable Justice Jainarayan Singh in particular by the President after the decision of the Honourable Justice Jainarayan Singh delivered on 17th December, 2007.

The statement attributed to the President “The decision would not stand anywhere, I don’t know what is happening to some of these judges. I don’t know” suggests that not only has the President assumed the position of an appellate Court Judge and delivered an ex tempore judgment before the appeal has been heard but more dangerously indicates that the Head of the Executive arm of the State has considered acceptable to launch an attack on the judiciary.

One of the primary functions of the Judiciary is to protect the rights of the citizen against the power of the State.
The fact that the head of State chose intemperate language to express his dissatisfaction with the decision of a High Court Judge rather than await the decision of the Court of Appeal highlights the growing disrespect and contempt the President harbours for the concept of independence of the Judiciary.

The AFC is keenly aware that the constraints of judicial ethics and decorum restrict the ability of members of the Judiciary from responding in public to unwarranted attacks on their character particularly by persons who enjoy immunity from suit.

It is our hope that the Chancellor of the Judiciary will not overlook this assault on the independence of the Judiciary which he leads and may wish to consider assuaging the public’s fears about its independence particularly in the light of the severity of the attempted assault by the Head of State.

Further, statements purportedly made by the President regarding the benevolence of the executive to pay for sucrutineers, also reveal another frightening feature of undemocratic rule in that like cricket, football, electricity supply for Christmas, and now, matters electoral, the President is under the mistaken belief that his altruism and benevolence are responsible for these events taking place. The President must be reminded that the money being spent, all of it, is taxpayers’ money over which he has no responsibility except to ensure that it is spent prudently and according to law.

Lastly, the President, in the opinion of the AFC, should refrain from proffering legal advice and opinions and obtain proper legal counsel before making ill-informed utterances especially where as in the case in issue, the law as embodied in Election Laws (Amendment) Act 2000- No. 15 of 2000 makes specific provision for the payment of party scrutineers during the house to house registration and related exercises. This is a far cry from a benevolent grant.

A Court of the Republic of Guyana has issued a ruling that the AFC and GAP-ROAR must share proportionately in all financial outlays for the scrutiny of the House-to- House Registration process, and that ruling must be obeyed until set aside or stayed.

Guyana360: The AFC leaders have done nothing more than sit in fancy air conditioned offices and write press releases, jumping on every issue like a leap frog on eddoe leaf. They have not dealt with one issue properly and they scamper on another. The AFC needs to be more vibrant in their political thinking and stop the current lunacy, which at times look, sound and feel like they are operating from a small office over at Congress Place.

Mail trail: Guyana under fire

DEATH PENALTY GROUPS TURNS ITS FIRE ON GUYANA

Anti death penalty group Death Watch International this month turns its attention to Guyana. Guyana is the only country in South America to retain the death penalty. Five people were sentenced to death there in 2007 - bringing the total on Guyana’s death row to over 20. And the country voted against a recent United Nations' resolution calling for a worldwide moratorium on the death penalty.

Death Watch International has asked its supporters to write to Guyana’s UN Ambassador, His Excellency Dr. Samuel R. Insanally, calling on the country to abandon the death penalty - and encouraged them to underline their point by adding some trash to their message.

Death Watch International’s Director, Simon Shepherd, explained:

“As our campaign seeks to highlight, the death penalty is an outdated and barbaric practice which belongs in the trashcan of history. In retaining the death penalty Guyana finds itself in an increasingly small minority. We hope Guyana will join its South American neighbours in abandoning the practice altogether.”

Guyana360: We still have the death penality on our statutes but there has been no hangings for years. Does this group turn fire on Governments that torture? Because we do not have torture on our statutes, yet it is openly practiced. Infact our Home Affairs Minister, Clement "Black Cat" Rohee says it is an accepted form of punishment since Guyanese are more concerened about issues of bread and roof over head. In other words, the skuntry is so hard that people nah gat time with other people punishment.

Always Reactive

The Hydrometeorological Service of the Ministry of Agriculture will benefit from G$7.2-million in training for four Meteorological Technicians in weather forecasting.
The eighteen-month course will commence on January 11, 2007 at the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology in Barbados . This course is also followed by
three months of on-the-job training.

So after dem ef up de rainfall figure for Mahaica we now know dem want training. Reactive Government, that's what they are.

Roshan Khan's claim to fame

I have not applied to be Police CommissionerI will be grateful if you could publish in your prestigious newspapers this fact.

I, Roshan Khan, Chief Executive Officer/Founder of RK’s National Security Network, Ambassador of Peace (UPF) and President of the Guyana Association of Private Security Organisations have not applied to the Government to be appointed as Commissioner of Police, nor have I been offered the position.

There are serious rumors circulating on this.

The Guyana Police Force is blessed with experienced and capable officers who sacrificed and
worked through the ranks. They are the ones deserving of such appointment.

I pledge to work with the Police Force and the Ministry of Home Affairs, through various voluntary portfolios and my capacities.

Hope this clear the air.
ROSHAN KHAN
Chief Executive Officer/Founder (1979)
RK’s National Security Network

Guyana360: Funny thing is, Roshan Khan acted as the Commissioner of Police in Rainbow Raani where he got his first 15 minutes of fame. De man now want another 15 minutes of fame. So he pens a letter about the same Commissioner of Police post. Which right-thinking Guyanese will believe that you will serve as Commissioner. Not even de rum shop lovers and your sleeping guards would buy that. You just want 15 minutes more of fame so you decide to write a letter.

Those dogs that u promised to take care of need more of your time than you jumping up to write imaginary letters in the local press.

Ungrateful pickney

Some people aint got thanks in dem mouth. Yuh help loose dem and dem tun round and cuss yuh. Ole people seh ungrateful pickney always does tun pon yuh. Corbin aint learn nunn since he tek over the PNC. We hear he nah die in office but we bet de last coin we collect from a VAT transaction that corbin will die the only PNCR leader that never run de country. Ahhhhhhhhh

Corbin can do better on the Kellawan Lall issue

Dear Editor,

President Bharrat Jagdeo, the PPP and Opposition Leader Robert Corbin continue to shield the trigger-happy Kellawan Lall. Your newspaper quoted PPP General Secretary Donald Ramotar (who now wants to be president) as saying, "Kellawan Lall was spoken to very seriously about this issue by the party."

I want Mr Ramotar to know that this is not enough. Kellawan Lall must be removed as a minister of government; he is a disgrace to the entire nation. Really, I am not surprised at all by Jagdeo and Ramotar's utterances, however, I am shocked that Robert Corbin has decided to sit on the sidelines and observe the situation while suggesting that the people would have to censure Kellawan Lall.

Come on Mr Corbin, you can do better; after all, you are the Opposition Leader and it is the PNCR's duty to ensure that Lall be removed.

Take the lead (for once) Robert, and the people of Guyana will follow. The time for pussy-footing is over. Kellawan Lall must go.

Yours faithfully,
Mark Benschop (ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh)

Top ten reggae singles

1. TAURRUS RILEY- ROYAL

2. JAH CURE - TO YOUR ARMS (OF LOVE)

3. MUNGA- TAKE MY PLACE

4. MUNGA - EARTHQUAKE

5. BEENIE MAN - BACK IT UP

6. BABY CHAM- CONSCIOUSNESS

7. BUSY SIGNAL - THESE ARE THE DAYS

8. ETANA - ROOTS

9. QUEEN IFRIKA - BELOW THE WAIST

10. TAMI CHIN - OVER AND OVER AGAIN

Source: Jason WalkerHost of Caribbean Runnings1227 Kern CoveMcDonough Ga30253404 533 1248
Contributor: Jamaica Gleaner, Carib Life Central Carib Voice Atl

Gayle on winning...

The best performance I've been part of

Wavell Hinds, Marlon Samuels and Chris Gayle



What a great feeling to finally be talking about a Test match victory again. It was a hard fought win in Port Elizabeth but everyone contributed and we got what we deserved.

Waking up the morning after the game, which should have been the fifth day, was a damn good feeling knowing we had gone 1-0 up. I can’t argue at all about the start we have made to this series in South Africa. It’s brilliant that the whole of the Caribbean will be on a high because of what we did. I hope we can keep them smiling for the rest of the series.

It was definitely the best performance I have been part of by a West Indies team because West Indies has never won a Test on South African soil before so it’s always special to be the first. And the fact South Africa are ranked the second best team in the world also makes it a sweet victory because teams don’t come here and have it easy.

There have been many statistics mentioned about what we have achieved but maybe the best one is that not only is it our first win in Test cricket since June 2005 but it’s also our first win in a Test overseas against a major team since beating England in Birmingham in 2000.

Unfortunately, after winning that match at Edgbaston, though, West Indies went on to lose the series 3-1 so we will certainly be aware of that and try to make sure we don’t get too far ahead of ourselves.


I wouldn’t say though that we will be learning from what happened in 2000 because not enough of the current team were around then - it’s too far back. We have a different set of players now and it’s a fresh start and it’s the first time I have been in this position.

We celebrated our win as it meant a lot to us but we knew at the same time that the second Test was only a few days away so although we are on a high the job is not done yet. South Africa are going to come hard at us in Cape Town and we have to be ready.

I spoke before the series about winning sessions and one thing that gives us confidence for Cape Town is that we only lost one or two sessions in Port Elizabeth so we will learn from the times we let ourselves down and keep trying to improve.


As for me and the captaincy I am enjoying it but I am not going to put any added pressure on myself. I’m just going to be the same person and same player. I want us all to help each other and work together as a team. Our injured skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan called me after we won the Test and congratulated us and that was a nice touch by him. We all hope he can recover from his injury soon, though I don’t know when that will be; maybe in time for the one-day series.


New Year’s Eve will be quiet with the second Test so close, but it’s another opportunity for the guys to spend time together. On Christmas Day we had a team lunch and team dinner and exchanged gifts and had a few laughs amongst ourselves so that was a nice build-up to the first Test. We haven’t got any family out here with us so we are one big family as a squad.


Guyan360: Just wondering what's going through Gayle's mind after he batted with a broken finger. Now he feels the pain of captaincy once experienced by the great Sir Charles. Without support, a Captain cannot win it alone. There have been gossips across the region that Gayle is one of four players that withdrew their support under Lara's captaincy. What goes around, comes around in this West Indies team.

Now Gayle is bawling for help....check this out Gayle is calling for Sarwan when Lara's bat is firing. Can anyone explain why is the West Indies captain playing regional cricket when his side is badly lacking human resources on tour in South Africa? Brainless WI administartors. Hopefully Imran Khan, the team's media guy can put all of this in perspective for us.

Guyana360: Great blogging in 2008

Our will be done

Some people have wish lists and New Year resolutions but we have a will for 2008. After you read our will please feel free to email us your will.



Will Robert Montgomery Persaud (MBA) stop imitating President Jagdeo?

Will Ramnaresh Sarwan remain captain of the West Indies Team?

Will Natasha Waldron get her promised Government post?

Will Gordon Moesely make it to CBS?

Will West Indies win a test match this year?

Will the church robberies cease?

Will Roger Khan come home for Christmas?

Will torture stop or will bread and roof over head continue to be of concern?

Will NCN continue to show African movies?

Will Peter Ramsaroop self-destruct?

Will Hamilton Greene, Roger Luncheon and Janet Jagan see the end of the year?

Will Varshnie Jagdeo be seen seated at the back of a rusty Enmore minibus on her way to see family?

Will GINA Ghost writers stop filling Guyana Chronicle letter pages?

Will Hits and Jams TV return to a proper TV station?

Will the radio monopoly end?

Will the $400 million home for street people be built?

Will Stanley Ming join the AFC?

Will Deborah Backer and James McAllister remain MPs?

Will GMC add some life to his dreary blog?

Will Timeka Marshall record her first album?

Will real tourists ever come to Guyana?

Will KN revamp its website?

Will Minister Killaman Lall tell the truth?

Will Stabroek News reclaim Government ads?

Will Minister Manniram Prashad stop quoting from the President’s speech made at the opening of Parliament?

Will the President hold a media dinner anytime soon?

Will SASOD take to the streets demanding legalization of homosexuality?

Will Robert Corbin cross the floor?

Will President Jagdeo announce a third term plan?

Will Guyana get another world boxing champion?

Will the mayhem on our roads stop?

Will Adam Harris return to the Guyana Chronicle?

Will the WPA rise from the ashes?

Will the PNCR take to the streets as promised last year?

Will Bernard Kerik return to Guyana?

Will President Jagdeo admit to the nation his affair with numerous young women, his continued pursuits and his love for a former television personality?

Will Sam Hinds resign and move with his wife to the United States?

Will Odinga live to walk properly and continue his molestation of Pageant contestants?

Will Buxton be freed of criminal elements?

Will Robert Persaud stay out the media for one day?

Will some Guyanese lady bring home a Miss. World or Universe crown?

Will Odinga pay his performers without having to pawn his vehicle?

Will the AFC die a natural death?

Will First Born produce another album without any remixed track?

Will one Guyanese think of not migrating?

Will the cow jump over the moon?

Will Mark Benschop continue the struggle as promised?

Will CN Sharma pronounce “because” properly?

Will Moses Nagamootoo be chosen to lead his party to a promised victory at the polls?

Will Minister Rohee make any sense during debates in Parliament this year?

Will Enrico Woolford get to stop reporting that there have been no major drug arrests here?

Will any of these things happen? Who knows….?

Guyana360: Great blogging in 2008

Agro – Tourism

Hear he, here he, hear he…

Ladies and Gentlemen, Kings, Queens and In-betweens lend me your ears…

Today it gives me extreme pleasure to introduce the newest addition to our tourism calendar. Our industry is growing and we have seen plenty tours in our capital…I just saw a tour bus of about 300 park up at campsite with a flat tire. It looks as if those touring our garbage capital were from some Primary school in Corentyne.

But let us not get too excited with our tourism prospects just yet because the event I will unveil shortly will rattle the tourism industry regionally and will have far reaching implications for our residents along the backlands who will have to prepare for the large influx of tourists.

All hi5, yahoo and face book experts brace your self.

During 2008, sometime around December we plan to have a large expedition as part of efforts to diversify our tourism sector.

Some countries boast of blue-water tourism, others bask in sandy beaches, but we will introduce Agro-tourism.

Yes folks!!! Every year we will arrange a tour to accompany Minister Robert Montgomery Persaud to the East Demerara Water Conservancy.

Timing is important and all depends on the slightest drizzle.

Minister Persaud has been making the trips with a few reporters just to check the water level. There was no need for that…it was a waste of financial resources, so we in the tourism sector had to find a valid reason for Persaud’s expensive trips to the EDWC. So we assembled this tourism package.

Whilst there tourists can take a pontoon ride up the EDWC or take a ride in one of the hymacs specially used by the Minister for photo opportunities.

Tourists can also interact with the locals and learn about life on the EDWC…we have more plans. Stay tuned.

Guyana 360: Great blogging in 2008.

Killaman Lies

Cool Photo borrowed from somewhere

It took Minister Killaman Lall six weeks to concoct this deadly dose of poison and then spew it to the gullible Guyana Chronicle and Kaieteur News, but withheld it from the Stabroek News.

In his over-exaggerated response which is obviously riddled with lies, the Minister sought to berate Stabroek News for its coverage of the controversy and in essence praised the Kaieteur News and Chronicle for its coverage. More pissing filth!!!

It was the KN that broke the news to the nation, and never reported another line until the President spoke on the matter. The SN published that they were seeking a response and that the Minister had promised to talk after his name was published. He never did even after he was named by SN after he was first named here. Now he is attacking the SN, how foolish.

We need not insult the Minister’s intelligence, he does a wonderful job at it in the Parliamentary seat he now barely holds by half of a buttock. One of the worst speakers in the house of Assembly, he often faces correction from the goodly Speaker, who on more than one occasion told the Minister “We understand what you mean Minister”.

Poor intelligence = poor management of any crisis and that is what this little episode has shown. How could a Minister that can’t manage a personal dilemma clean up the piles of problems in his Ministry?

Perhaps he needs a dose of laxative to help him remove the piles…This is share shit nonsense.

The police expound enormous energies to issue statements in almost every incident, yet they have not done so in this case.

In his response, the Minister portrays himself as the hero instead of the desperado character he has adopted in the eyes of the public. So he intervened in an argument then whipped out his firearm and fired one shot. But why then settle the matter if you were so right, Minister Killaman Lall?

If you are so correct Minister, then the KN and SN need to explain how their police sources contradicts your late fairy tale.

Perhaps you were stale drunk again when u wrote your statement.

Guyana 360: Great blogging in 2008

Some PPP/C Crony

So the chronicle went around the office soliciting comments from its staff who then pretended to be the man/woman/gay in the street. Hippy! Here is a glorious example of propaganda at work.

Mark King (Ramoutar) - Self employed

"I must say that last year was a productive year we saw a lot of development in the country and I am looking forward for more development in this year and in the other years to come. What I would really like to see is a reduction in the crime wave and road fatalities, these are two critical areas. The police therefore have to step up and do more especially with the number of accidents we had for last year. We can definitely have a reduction in road fatalities if the police clam down more seriously. Too many people are being killed by the hands of bandits and by road accidents and something must be done about it. I wish to see all Guyanese live in harmony and try to make the best out of everyday."