Apologies: Persaud was in the picture after L-11

Guyana360: We apologise to Minister Persaud and his (untrained) public relations team, who promptly corrected us on the previous post that he was not present immediately after the L-11 slaying. They also sent us a GINA story as evidence from an email (lucy_marks), which seems to be one of those used by the GINA ghost writers. Notice they did not try to justify Persaud's failings in Buxton.

Those who try to justify Lusignan killing are as heartless as criminals

1. Agriculture Minister tells Lusignan mourners

Georgetown, GINA, January 30, 2008.

Attempts by some individuals and groups to justify the killing of 11 Lusignan residents including five children on January 26, have received strong public condemnation by many, including Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud.
During his remarks at an inter-faith ‘Wake’ held last evening at the homes of the slain residents, Minister Persaud made reference to “unambiguous statements by some individuals including the Mayor of Georgetown, the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) and well known anti-Government commentators who seemingly attempt to rationalise the massacre, rather than unambiguously expressing sympathy and condemnation of the killings.”
“When you try to justify what took place at these homes, you can be considered as heartless as the criminals who committed the massacre. This type of behaviour questions your care for life and humanity,” the Minister added.

PPP poster boy upstaged in Buxton

This must be the joke of all the happenings in the aftermath of L-11. As we pointed out in a previous post, the PPP/C poster boy, Robert Persaud is sweeping through the East Coast as a father giver of some sorts.

Well, he ventured into Buxton (Friendship to be exact) to meet with farmers on a compensation plan. While there at the Friendship (Buxton) Community High School, located next to the burial ground, the honorable Minister of Agriculture attempted to defend the President.

It turned out to be a total joke and goes to show that Persaud must step out of the shadows of the President.

The farmers were sure that the President accused all farmers of being criminals. Persaud denied the claim and they angrily walked out. the result no splash in tomorrow's newspaper. Poor fella. He was very ambitious to travel to the Buxton/Freindship area, where gunmen launch attacks from bushes and even tombs.

While one of our contributors was there, she spoke with some of the farmers, who were adamant that they needed to be consulted first.

"They just come and mash up we land...We should have sit down first and say look so much money per acre. Now what ever money they offering we got to take it...dem high-pass black people. This cannot go down like this," one farmer said.

Another was concerned as to what will happen when the vegetation begins its natural regrowth process and why there are no criminals, guns and the likes being found right now.

"I thought by now dem woulda find war tanks and some mass grave at the back deh. By time next month all dem grass grow back. This is laugh. They could not come to clear the land and put in proper drainage for the farmers at the back here. Since 11 people get kill meh now see Minister Persaud, is where he been all da time" another farmer related.

The government had told the farmers to report to a desk at the Police Headquarters, but the farmers realising that this was a yet another trap to capture them and torture them as in the case in the past, have shunned the police desk.

However, a senior Government official a few moments ago said the plan to clear the land is part of a wider PPP propaganda plan, to appease farmers in Buxton by putting in drainage and upgrading the land.

"We got a plan," the official said with a chuckle.

Monkey see Monkey do: Corbin writes the Presidnet first, the others copy

February 4, 2008

His Excellency the President

Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo

Office of the President

New Garden Street,

Georgetown.

Dear Mr. President,

Our country is entering into a dangerous state of crisis such that we believe could spiral us out of control and into eventual failure and collapse if there are not some urgent and decisive interventions made immediately. We believe that the responsibility rests on all leaders to avoid such an outcome but rests most on your shoulders. It is obvious that a group of Guyanese or non-state actors have decided to defy the authority of the State and are prepared to unleash unprecedented mayhem in our society as witnessed on Saturday January 26, 2007 in Lusignan, East Coast Demerara. This is a serious problem that has serious consequences for the national security, cohesiveness, and viability of the State of Guyana and cannot be left unattended. The recent events cannot be dismissed as mere criminal activity coming from any particular enclave of our society.

We are disturbed that the emphasis appears now to be on blame throwing amongst political leaders while people continue to feel pain and insecurity. In these circumstances, we call on you to present to the nation a new national security plan with clear deliverables and timeframes for implementation by Friday 8^th February, 2008, which addresses, in addition to the other ills in our society, the phenomenon of an emerging insurgency and other security maladies. This plan needs to be unveiled as a matter of urgency. Secondly, as a natural sequence of events, we believe it important that the Government facilitates the convening of a conference on Governance and the Transformation of the State within one month’s time by bringing together national stake-holders who will be aided by trained facilitators, to commence the discussion. This issue cannot be postponed any longer.

We remain ready, willing and able to assist the Government and all people of Guyana and we feel that our assistance can best be effected through the processes outlined above. We will avail ourselves to meet with your Government along with others, to settle the modalities of our request and expect that these requests will not be treated with scant regard.

Sincerely,

Raphael Trotman Paul Hardy

Leader-Alliance For Change Leader-Guyana Action Party

President pleases his friend Buddy Shivraj

Fuelling crime

SN, Tuesday, February 5th 2008

While the two-and-a-half-year trial of Mr Omprakash 'Buddy' Shivraj plodded on ever so ponderously before magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Providence court, it was surprising to learn that the chief witness, Mr Joseph O'Lall, had been removed from his post as chief executive officer of the Guyana Energy Agency with effect from December 31 2007. Mr O'Lall had been instrumental in bringing charges against Mr Shivraj for storing a quantity of petroleum on his property on the East Bank Demerara in September 2005 without a licence issued by the Guyana Energy Agency. Mr Anil Nandlall was appointed special prosecutor and Mr O'Lall's evidence, expertise and experience were seen as essential in a crucial case concerning contraband commerce in this country. Would Mr O'Lall's sudden dismissal affect the outcome? The administration has consistently expressed its intention to eradicate the pernicious practice of smuggling. As far back as September 2003, the cabinet had commissioned an inquiry into fuel smuggling. At that time, President Bharrat Jagdeo announced that existing laws were adequate to deal with the crime and no new legislation would be necessary. He did say, however, that "the problems we had recently had nothing to do with law. You had a bunch of corrupt people…and, hopefully, we can find those people involved and take action against them." According to the president, stronger policing of illegal activities was needed to solve the problem of fuel smuggling which cost the state about $6 billion annually in revenue. The Guyana Energy Agency, strangely, has hardly been made stronger by being given the human and material resources to enforce the law. Staffed with fewer than a dozen underpaid inspectors most of whom work for paltry wages, and equipped with only three SUVs and not a single maritime vessel for the entire country, is it any wonder that the GEA has found itself incapable of uprooting fuel smuggling? Mr O'Lall had told this newspaper in an earlier interview that fuel smuggling was taking place across the country especially in the mining areas and that "almost every day" officers attached to the GEA's enforcement section were called to respond to fresh cases. He revealed that fuel smuggling was rampant in the hinterland ? mostly in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni Region ? where the mining sector was the largest consumer of contraband fuel. "They using it [sic] like there is no tomorrow," Mr O'Lall had said at that time. In the absence of effective enforcement by the Guyana Revenue Authority's Customs and Trade Administration; the Guyana Defence Force's Coast Guard; the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Energy Agency itself ? all of which have been starved of sufficient staff and surveillance, maritime and aviation resources ? the illegal importation of fuel has continued undiminished. Contraband fuel has now seeped into the engineering, construction and fishing industries although it has not yet come into common circulation in commercial vehicles and motorcars. One crime tends to cause another, especially in this booming billion-dollar business. Evidence was once unearthed that the marker used to ensure that legally shipped fuel could be tested accurately had been sold by GEA staffers to smugglers who would mark their fuel so as to avoid detection and prosecution. Indeed, it is too easy for rich crooks to prey on poorly-paid public servants. Bought cheaply from towns such as San Felix on the Orinoco River in Venezuela, fuel is brought to Guyana in modified fishing trawlers and transferred to smaller vessels in the numerous creeks and inlets along the Pomeroon and Essequibo Rivers ? chiefly Aliki, Lanaballi and Morasi. It is then taken to buyers in the mining and fishing industries. The state hardly interferes in this common commerce although the sources, routes, carriers, and customers are no secret. Fuel smuggling will not cease of its own accord. It continues to be highly profitable because of the low cost of the commodity in Venezuela and the low level of official enforcement in Guyana. The greater danger to the state, however, is not merely the loss of revenue; it is the opening of the floodgates for other more serious crimes. If criminals can smuggle such huge volumes of illegal fuel across international borders almost continuously to keep certain industries running, what is there to prevent them from trafficking in narcotics, another contraband commodity, that brings in billions more dollars? While managing to avoid effectively equipping enforcement agencies such as the GEA, GRA, GDF and GPF to enable them to stop smuggling, the administration has contrived to establish the impotent Fuel and Goods Smuggling Task Force within the Ministry of Home Affairs under a police pensioner. In these circumstances, is it not to be expected that fuel smuggling and the crimes they foster will continue to flourish?

Corbin wasting time and energy by writing President Jagdeo

4 February 2008

His Excellency Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo

President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana

Office of the President

Vlissengen Road & New Garden Streets

Georgetown

Your Excellency,

The People’s National Congress Reform and I have already publicly condemned the atrocity at Lusignan and expressed our support for the Security Forces doing what is necessary to bring the perpetrators to justice.

I wish, however, to bring to your attention the wanton destruction of property that is taking place while the Security Forces conduct their exercise to find the criminals who carried out the gruesome murders, as well as the harsh treatment of some residents, particularly youth, by the Security Forces.

On Saturday last, February 2, after receiving continuous phone calls from angry residents of Buxton, I visited that village to verify the accuracy of the allegations being made. Words are difficult to describe what I observed. The video footage during my visit provides accurate evidence of what took place and I am willing to make this available to you.

Several homes that I visited were torn apart, property and furniture damaged, food items strewn across the floor and the scenes quite lamentable. In one village shop, I observed most of the items for sale dumped on the floor with the smell of kerosene oil quite evident.

I am not questioning the need for searches by the Security Forces. However, in the absence of any further explanation being given to these residents that are victims of this wanton destruction, there is need for a government guarantee that compensation will be provided to those persons whose property have been damaged. I have advised all residents to prepare a proper list of the damage suffered and would wish to be advised what procedures will be followed to ensure speedy compensation.

I also wish to bring to your attention that there are bona fide farmers who, because of unpleasant past experiences during such operations, are fearful and/or unable to attend their farms during this period. No one has shown the respect for them and thought it necessary to meet and/or brief them about the present exercise that is adversely affecting their lives and livelihood.

Today, Monday 4^th February, I received several telephone calls from residents of the village that bulldozers have arrived there and the information, unofficially obtained by them, is that these machines are intended to bulldoze and clear the entire back-lands. No information has been provided about this intended destruction of their private property and possible destruction of their farms and only means of livelihood.

While we support the Security Forces in their fight against crime, I cannot and will not condone any action that is contrary to the law and perceived by most as vindictive. The only conclusion is that a determined effort is being made by some to undermine the security effort by alienating, rather than endearing, the members of the community that can possibly be of support to the Security Forces at this crucial time.

The logic of “removing all the vegetation” from the backlands as a security measure boggles my mind. The farmers have been crying out in vain for years for assistance in drainage and irrigation and the repair of infrastructure to maximize the productive capacity of the lands and improve their livelihood. The Government has turned a deaf ear over this period but could now find resources in millions of dollars to destroy fruit trees planted by their ancestors and for which there could never be adequate compensation.

I am sure that, with a little imagination and discussion with the stakeholders, a plan for the proper use of those resources to rehabilitate the farmlands can be devised: A plan that would fulfill security goals while at the same time ensuring the improvement of the livelihood of residents of the area. I am prepared to make such a plan, prepared several years ago, available to you.

I am copying this letter to the Chief of Staff and the Commissioner of Police (ag) who may be in a better position to give some justification of the need for this type of exercise being conducted and the manner in which it is being done. I urge them to carry out their mandate in a responsible and professional manner in the interest of social cohesion and progress.

I am also requesting that the Government provides adequate details on its proposed plans for compensation and again urge you to seriously consider the matters that I have now brought to your attention.

Yours sincerely

Robert H O Corbin, MP

Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform &

Leader of the Opposition

c.c. Mr. Henry Greene, DSM

Commissioner of Police (ag)

Commodore Gary Best

Chief of Staff

Guyana Defence Force

Hurricane Robert

After the storm is certainly the calm and out comes the PPP/C pretty boy, Robert Montgomery Persaud, who was absent throughout the L-11 ordeal. Absent during the storm when his colleagues were being spat at and his leader was being told to resign, Robert Persaud's name sneaks back into the media during a period of calm by distributing land for the Lusignan policing group. Wow! instead of building an outpost for the folks, they give them land -basket to carry water.

And by the way, the Minister of Agriculture seems reluctant to address the agriculture needs of Annandale, Buxton and Friendship.

There are huge fertile lands at the back of these villages, yet there is poor infrastructure. Its no small wonder the men in those communities are robbing, shooting and killing. Where is the GMC and NARI. How come bull nose peppers can grow in Parika and not Afro-Guyanese communities along the East Coast. How come sluices are repaired and new ones are installed in Berbice and Essequibo?

It's no small wonder, Guyana is now facing a major security crisis that threatens to wipe out the minute developments achieved under the Jagdeo-led administartion. Its pretty simple, economic development goes hand in glove with low crime rates. Poor economic development triggers high crime. Sad, but true. The evidence points to poor economic planning by a regime that is led by an economist that boasts to be sound on economic polices. Oh yea, he can't even manage his own personal house.

Someone should ask the former first lady for her views on the L-11 killings, especially since her organisation - Kids First Fund - champions children's health care.

Panic calls

Over the last 24 hours, there has been a series of panic calls across Guyana, but particularly, in Georgetown. Schools, among them Mae's and Queen's College. One would recognise that these are the schools where the children of the rich and politically famous attend.

Police are being kept on their toes to investigate all the reports, since failure to move against one can be deathblow.

Everyone calling now saying they are "Fineman".

However, so far most of the calls suggesting that bombs were planted, have been nothing but pranks. Thank God! Pranksters need to desist from their evil plan and allow the police to continue to sit in their offices while the soldiers continue to hunt the criminals.

Fineman Lotto!

Wanted Bulletin

Rondell Rawlins called “Fineman” of Buxton, East Coast Demerara and Agricola, East Bank Demerara, is wanted by the police for a series of murders and robberies under arms.

In view of the number of matters of a serious nature to which he is linked and the amount of damage caused, the police have reconsidered the amount of money being offered for information that may lead to the arrest of Rondell Rawlins.

A reward of $50 million (fifty million) is now being offered for information that may lead to the arrest of Rondell Rawlins.

Anyone with such information is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 225-6411, 226-6978, 225-8196, 225-2227, 225-3650, 225-7625, or 911 or the nearest police station.

All information will be treated with the strictest confidence.

One man army

Many soldiers were upset by the President's remarks

Tuesday, January 29th 2008

Dear Editor, Those who suffered the ordeal of listening to the leader of this nation on the media on January 26 must have been left stunned. Many ex-soldiers, some old, some quite young, called me to express their displeasure and distaste. Unfortunate incidents occurred in the wee hours of that Saturday morning. Our condolences go out to the bereaved families. And it is tragic that our once peaceful, and beloved, nation has been coming to this tragic pass with indecent haste over time. When this nation's leader ventures to make snide remarks and invidious innuendos against other leaders, he is virtually telling hotheads and cranks to go out there and exact revenge, albeit without a shred of evidence that the ex military were tacitly involved in the commission of this heinous act. It is indeed sad that eleven people did lose their lives at the hands of assassins. Instead of attempting to pour oil on troubled waters, Mr Jagdeo in his customary "know all" mode raves and, in reality, makes insipid statements against former military personnel, which could be construed ultimately as veiled threats. The aspersions cast by Mr Jagdeo in his press conference fits the heads of many military and all, for sure, will be taking umbrage at this. The question is, will there be any type of response? I honestly doubt it. What needs to be made abundantly clear - and I say it with the firmest conviction - is that we were soldiers with the highest nobility and courage in this dear land unlike the cowardly phantom death squads. Soldiers of our ilk do not wage war on civilians, much less on children. The military has been used, and is still being used, contrary to established norms, to supplant the police in their crime-fighting role. This is simply not done. The police are 5,000 strong. Unfortunately, the Commander-in-Chief has never looked back at the retired servicemen; some of whom are walking the streets destitute. Some are wallowing in the filth and stench of the Dharm Shala; others are simply foraging for morsels of food in garbage bins. What level of loyalty can be expected from those rather hapless young ex-service men who are running away from the army in countless droves, tired of neglect and even torture by KGB /Gestapo-type elements within the establishment, all under the stewardship of their beloved Commander-in-Chief? Quite unexpectedly and luckily they haven't turned to crime as happened after the American Civil War and the Vietnam War. It is clear that such an insipid and incendiary statement cannot only plant the seeds of dissension amongst the populace but spur those that follow him to acts of folly. The President did not experience the atrocities of 1962 and 1964: he was a mere boy, a babe in arms. However, his perceived actions through the former Minister of Home Affairs and infamous phantom squads can only lead this nation down a path that will leave far too many reaping the grapes of wrath. I suggest as Commander-in-Chief, the President should put on his battle dress and lead from the front into the backlands of the mid East Coast. The time has come for the President to face reality. Coming after Burnham and Cheddi, he had the greatest opportunity to be a fine leader, and he blew it! Yours faithfully, Oliver Hinckson

Jagdeo should really go

President Jagdeo has failed and should resign

Friday, February 1st 2008

Dear Editor, In a letter captioned "Many soldiers were upset by the President's remarks" Mr. Oliver Hinckson referred to the President making "snide remarks" about soldiers. He also stated that the President thinks he knows it all in his words "Mr. Jagdeo in his customary"know all"mode." These remarks are true and are the reason why Bharrat Jagdeo should never have been elevated to the Presidency. In fact he was an unknown until he was made a minister of government. It was then he contested the elections to the central committee of the PPP and he got in because of the popularity gained by being a minister. His leap to the Presidency went to his head and he became arrogant and convinced of his high intelligence and intellect and so he simply does not listen. I want to make it clear that while there may be some ex soldiers, and also some police and soldiers who have been misled to use crime against the government, the majority of these categories are decent, law abiding citizens and to lump them into one negative category by snide remarks was absolutely wrong. If the President has any sense of decency he should apologise. While the criminals are roaming freely in the backlands the President seems to be satisfied with road blocks along the East Coast and East Bank road and the finding of a few small weapons. The President should resign as he is incompetent. He travels around the country handing out government money as if it is his own. This is what he does best. He is not a healer and his statements are often divisive. The PPP should look out and the members should note that since Bharatt became president the face of the PPP is changing. The committed are being shunted aside and a new breed is taking over. The new breed have no ideology and no commitment to party and people only to themselves. These in turn bring in their friends and family and so the PPP is now barely recognized. One can recall how Moses Nagamootoo with one of the highest votes at congress was not elected by the Central committee to the executive committee. That is why if the PPP members are interested in maintaining the PPP and Cheddi's principles the Presidential candidate should be chosen at the PPP congress. With regards to Hinckson's reference to the customary role of the army I can only say that times are changing. Other countries have been forced to use the army in the fight against crime. In Guyana crime was bordering on terror and recent events seem to confirm this. With regards to the "phantom squad" and Hinckson referring to them as cowards the "soldiers with the highest nobility" and the police could not contain the criminals and so the "the cowardly Phantoms" were forced to do so and successfully. Had they done their job there would have been no need for the Phantom squad. The country is awaiting the actions of the army and police. If they fail the people have a right to defend themselves. Yours faithfully, Jairam Persaud

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