About two weeks ago, Tourism Minister Manniram Prashad proudly announced that he was hosting a major tourism conference. He forgot to mention that it was yet another talk shop and in deed it could have been worst, save the appeal by President Bharrat Jagdeo that the event should not go through debating things already identified as needed.
As someone that has witnessed the blue waters of the Caribbean and the awesome Disney rides in Orlando, I feel compelled to bark at the tourism nonsense occurring in Guyana.
The debate about miniature interventions such as casino gambling should not be. There is need for the Government to make major interventions.
President Jagdeo we implore that you abolish the post of Tourism Minister and appoint a Presidential advisor, someone who had the experience of serving one of the islands in the Caribbean.
We applaud Manzoor Nadir, the former Tourism Minister. At least he seemed to have a head on his shoulder. The present Minister appears to be running around like a headless chicken. Until the President could appoint a workaholic like Robert Persaud or someone firm like Mosses Nagamootoo, the position should be abolished.
Wake up! There is no significant Tourism taking place here, hence there is no need for a Minister. It is a waste of taxpayers’ money. I could hardly wait for your much promised Cabinet reshuffle Mr. President.
Ignore the skeptics Mr. President, once you build it they will come. Jamaica and Trinidad has crime, yep tourists and celebrities flock there. It appears that from the unrealistic monies budgeted to advertise the product, that the Government is not serious about Tourism.
We understand the thinking behind it. While the monies will flow into the private sector, I am sure that with greater circulation the masses will be contented. Guyana could capitalize on the negative press that was bestowed during the last three weeks since that terror plot was uncovered. As part of defending Guyana’s image and the Muslim community, the President should have stitched in the fact that Guyana remains a beautiful place to visit, forever welcoming to Americans.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Ripple effectFriday, June 15, 2007
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Mail Trail...
This is swinging on the grapevine.
The newly appointed GINA Director was caught with his pants down in his office on Homestretch Avenue. This happened yesterday, April 16, 2007. A female staff member was also in the room in the vicinity of the dropped pants. There are reports that this new Director is a huge fan of Internet Porn and specialises in the viewing of animal/human pornography. I am quite sure the GINA Director wants to get to the bottom, and behind the naked truth.
Hats off....er Pants off to the GINA Director
TATA
The newly appointed GINA Director was caught with his pants down in his office on Homestretch Avenue. This happened yesterday, April 16, 2007. A female staff member was also in the room in the vicinity of the dropped pants. There are reports that this new Director is a huge fan of Internet Porn and specialises in the viewing of animal/human pornography. I am quite sure the GINA Director wants to get to the bottom, and behind the naked truth.
Hats off....er Pants off to the GINA Director
TATA
Have a laugh!!!
Another day, another deadly plot by freelance Muslim radicals foiled. Oh, sorry. That’s the plot to blow up JFK airport I’m talking about. Many of you may barely remember given that it’s been over a week now and given the mainstream media’s lackadaisical coverage of it and given said media’s overwhelming wall-to-wall coverage of the far more compelling Paris Hilton saga.
Anyway, this latest plot, coming on the heels of the foiled Fort Dix Six plot, sounds like it would have been a real doozy had it come to fruition. The idea was to plant explosives on jet fuel arteries at John F. Kennedy International Airport, set off a chain reaction that would blow up all the many jet fuel holding tanks and obliterate the entire airport and everybody in it. It would have been one big orgy of flaming destruction and mass murder. Allahu akbar!
But as fate would have it, Russell Defreitas, the alleged plot originator, befriended an FBI informant and thus began the unraveling of another intended wanton act of jihad. Defreitas, by the way, is an American citizen originally from Guyana and a Muslim convert. He also happens to be a former JFK air cargo employee who knows the airport like the back of his hand. Also arrested were Abdul Kadir, a Muslim and former member of Parliament in Guyana, and Kareem Ibrahim, a citizen of Trinidad.
Trinidad? Guyana? What the heck is going on? I thought Trinidad was a place where the locals languorously while away the sultry hours entertaining loud-shirted tourists by playing steel drums and doing the limbo. But here’s an interesting factoid: Trinidad is the Caribbean’s leading producer and exporter of oil. Another interesting factoid: Trinidad has a small but significant Muslim population.
Hmm . . . Muslims, oil . . . Sounds like a sure-fire recipe for trouble. In fact, did you know that in 1990 a radical Islamic group known as Jamaat al Muslimeen staged a coup attempt in Trinidad during which the prime minister and others were taken hostage? Fortunately, the coup was unsuccessful, but it’s highly doubtful that Trinidad has seen the last of its Islam-related problems.
As for Guyana, it’s located on the northern coast of South America not far from the island of Trinidad. It has no oil, but guess what it does have. That’s right, Muslims, approximately 10 percent of the population. And as we have learned in recent times, wherever Muslims go in any significant numbers, trouble and/or jihad is almost certain to follow.
So, getting back to the JFK plot, it was a pretty big story and you’d think the New York Times would have been all over it like white on rice. But one day after the news came out, its coverage was buried on page 37, while featured on the front page was (surprise, surprise) yet another story about those poor Club Gitmo detainees.
Well, hey, the Times seemed to be saying, what’s all the fuss about? After all, JFK “was never in imminent danger because the plot was only in a preliminary phase and the conspirators had yet to lay out detailed plans or obtain financing or explosives.” And anyway, “safety shut-off valves would almost assuredly have prevented an exploding airport fuel tank from igniting all or even part of the network.” In other words, the whole thing was a crackpot scheme by a bunch of bumbling losers that was still in the planning stages and probably had a next to zero chance of ever being pulled off. So why get the public all worked up over nothing?
Well, what about the people’s cherished “right to know,” which the Times so often cites when publicizing information that damages the Bush administration and its fight against terrorism (see endless NYT stories about Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, secret Bush program to monitor terrorist financial transactions, etc., etc.)? Even if it’s true that this particular plot had little chance of succeeding — and we don’t know that for certain — it rates front page coverage because it provides profound evidence that the psychosis of radical Islam continues to spread around the globe with the ferocity of a biblical plague.
Even the Caribbean, which most of us thought of as an innocuous playground for vacationers, appears to be seriously infected.
If the New York Times’ standard for newsworthiness when it comes to terror plots is to be inextricably linked to their apparent plausibility, then to what back page would the 9/11 plot have been relegated had it been foiled ahead of time? Arabs in flight schools learning how to fly, but not to take off or land, were going to commandeer commercial airliners with box cutters? And they were going to take out both World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon and possibly the White House or the Capitol? Come off it! This story belongs on the funny pages.
John Edwards recently said that the global war on terror was nothing more than a “bumper sticker” slogan used by Bush to justify everything from abuses at Abu Ghraib to the invasion of Iraq. The New York Times is in wholehearted agreement and believes that when it comes to foiled or alleged terror plots, it’s all inconsequential silliness and BushCo scaremongering. At least, it is until the next time thousands are slaughtered. Then, you can count on page one headlines screaming about intelligence failures and demanding to know why Bush didn‘t protect us.
Anyway, this latest plot, coming on the heels of the foiled Fort Dix Six plot, sounds like it would have been a real doozy had it come to fruition. The idea was to plant explosives on jet fuel arteries at John F. Kennedy International Airport, set off a chain reaction that would blow up all the many jet fuel holding tanks and obliterate the entire airport and everybody in it. It would have been one big orgy of flaming destruction and mass murder. Allahu akbar!
But as fate would have it, Russell Defreitas, the alleged plot originator, befriended an FBI informant and thus began the unraveling of another intended wanton act of jihad. Defreitas, by the way, is an American citizen originally from Guyana and a Muslim convert. He also happens to be a former JFK air cargo employee who knows the airport like the back of his hand. Also arrested were Abdul Kadir, a Muslim and former member of Parliament in Guyana, and Kareem Ibrahim, a citizen of Trinidad.
Trinidad? Guyana? What the heck is going on? I thought Trinidad was a place where the locals languorously while away the sultry hours entertaining loud-shirted tourists by playing steel drums and doing the limbo. But here’s an interesting factoid: Trinidad is the Caribbean’s leading producer and exporter of oil. Another interesting factoid: Trinidad has a small but significant Muslim population.
Hmm . . . Muslims, oil . . . Sounds like a sure-fire recipe for trouble. In fact, did you know that in 1990 a radical Islamic group known as Jamaat al Muslimeen staged a coup attempt in Trinidad during which the prime minister and others were taken hostage? Fortunately, the coup was unsuccessful, but it’s highly doubtful that Trinidad has seen the last of its Islam-related problems.
As for Guyana, it’s located on the northern coast of South America not far from the island of Trinidad. It has no oil, but guess what it does have. That’s right, Muslims, approximately 10 percent of the population. And as we have learned in recent times, wherever Muslims go in any significant numbers, trouble and/or jihad is almost certain to follow.
So, getting back to the JFK plot, it was a pretty big story and you’d think the New York Times would have been all over it like white on rice. But one day after the news came out, its coverage was buried on page 37, while featured on the front page was (surprise, surprise) yet another story about those poor Club Gitmo detainees.
Well, hey, the Times seemed to be saying, what’s all the fuss about? After all, JFK “was never in imminent danger because the plot was only in a preliminary phase and the conspirators had yet to lay out detailed plans or obtain financing or explosives.” And anyway, “safety shut-off valves would almost assuredly have prevented an exploding airport fuel tank from igniting all or even part of the network.” In other words, the whole thing was a crackpot scheme by a bunch of bumbling losers that was still in the planning stages and probably had a next to zero chance of ever being pulled off. So why get the public all worked up over nothing?
Well, what about the people’s cherished “right to know,” which the Times so often cites when publicizing information that damages the Bush administration and its fight against terrorism (see endless NYT stories about Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, secret Bush program to monitor terrorist financial transactions, etc., etc.)? Even if it’s true that this particular plot had little chance of succeeding — and we don’t know that for certain — it rates front page coverage because it provides profound evidence that the psychosis of radical Islam continues to spread around the globe with the ferocity of a biblical plague.
Even the Caribbean, which most of us thought of as an innocuous playground for vacationers, appears to be seriously infected.
If the New York Times’ standard for newsworthiness when it comes to terror plots is to be inextricably linked to their apparent plausibility, then to what back page would the 9/11 plot have been relegated had it been foiled ahead of time? Arabs in flight schools learning how to fly, but not to take off or land, were going to commandeer commercial airliners with box cutters? And they were going to take out both World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon and possibly the White House or the Capitol? Come off it! This story belongs on the funny pages.
John Edwards recently said that the global war on terror was nothing more than a “bumper sticker” slogan used by Bush to justify everything from abuses at Abu Ghraib to the invasion of Iraq. The New York Times is in wholehearted agreement and believes that when it comes to foiled or alleged terror plots, it’s all inconsequential silliness and BushCo scaremongering. At least, it is until the next time thousands are slaughtered. Then, you can count on page one headlines screaming about intelligence failures and demanding to know why Bush didn‘t protect us.
Guyanese looked to be Bailed out
A judge denied bail for three suspects accused of plotting to bomb New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, ordering them to remain in jail until a hearing on a U.S. request for their extradition.The three men _ Kareem Ibrahim, Abdul Kadir and Abdel Nur _ smiled and waved to about 20 supporters and family members in the courtroom on Monday but did not speak. A son of Kadir said FBI agents had questioned relatives over the weekend.
Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicols said he was denying bail «given the nature and the seriousness of the offense, and ordered them to remain in jail until an Aug. 2 hearing on a U.S. extradition request.
The suspects, arrested this month in the twin-island Caribbean nation, are accused of participating in a Muslim terror cell that planned to blow up a jet fuel artery that runs through residential neighborhoods and feeds Kennedy airport.The alleged mastermind of the plot, U.S. citizen Russell Defreitas, 63, is a Guyana native who worked as a cargo handler at the airport until 1995.
He is in custody in New York.U.S. authorities claim the alleged plotters unsuccessfully sought support in Trinidad from Jamaat al Muslimeen, a radical Islamic group that staged a deadly coup attempt here in 1990.Rajiv Persad, an attorney for Kadir and Ibrahim, argued for their release on bail, noting they do not have criminal records and that Kadir served until last year as an opposition legislator in Guyana's parliament.
There is no evidence that these men would abscond, given that they are solid members of their communities,» Persad said.Defense attorneys said Kadir and Nur, who are from Guyana, have relatives in Trinidad they could stay with if granted bail. Ibrahim is from Trinidad.Relatives and acquaintances of the suspects have expressed skepticism that they would be capable of organizing an international plot.
We know that the allegations are all fabricated,» said Talibah Ali, a member of the mosque where Ibrahim is a Shiite cleric.But Israel Khan, an attorney who represented the U.S. government at the bail hearing, said, You cannot look at a person and say that he looks like a terrorist or not. They come in all fashions.
There is evidence of conversations of them plotting to carry out this offense,» he added.In court, Khan handed defense attorneys pictures that he said depicted Kadir and his family carrying semiautomatic weapons and handguns. He offered to show them to the judge, who replied, «I don't need to see them at this stage.
Over the weekend, agents from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation accompanied by local police interviewed two children of Abdul Kadir in Guyana, his son Salim Kadir told The Associated Press on Monday.
«We were questioned by about four FBI agents but we have nothing to hide,» he said, adding that documents were seized from the family's home, though he did not provide specifics.
Abdul Kadir, 55, a former mayor of Linden, Guyana, was taken off a plane in Trinidad and arrested as he prepared to fly to Iran through Venezuela to attend an international Islamic conference.
Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicols said he was denying bail «given the nature and the seriousness of the offense, and ordered them to remain in jail until an Aug. 2 hearing on a U.S. extradition request.
The suspects, arrested this month in the twin-island Caribbean nation, are accused of participating in a Muslim terror cell that planned to blow up a jet fuel artery that runs through residential neighborhoods and feeds Kennedy airport.The alleged mastermind of the plot, U.S. citizen Russell Defreitas, 63, is a Guyana native who worked as a cargo handler at the airport until 1995.
He is in custody in New York.U.S. authorities claim the alleged plotters unsuccessfully sought support in Trinidad from Jamaat al Muslimeen, a radical Islamic group that staged a deadly coup attempt here in 1990.Rajiv Persad, an attorney for Kadir and Ibrahim, argued for their release on bail, noting they do not have criminal records and that Kadir served until last year as an opposition legislator in Guyana's parliament.
There is no evidence that these men would abscond, given that they are solid members of their communities,» Persad said.Defense attorneys said Kadir and Nur, who are from Guyana, have relatives in Trinidad they could stay with if granted bail. Ibrahim is from Trinidad.Relatives and acquaintances of the suspects have expressed skepticism that they would be capable of organizing an international plot.
We know that the allegations are all fabricated,» said Talibah Ali, a member of the mosque where Ibrahim is a Shiite cleric.But Israel Khan, an attorney who represented the U.S. government at the bail hearing, said, You cannot look at a person and say that he looks like a terrorist or not. They come in all fashions.
There is evidence of conversations of them plotting to carry out this offense,» he added.In court, Khan handed defense attorneys pictures that he said depicted Kadir and his family carrying semiautomatic weapons and handguns. He offered to show them to the judge, who replied, «I don't need to see them at this stage.
Over the weekend, agents from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation accompanied by local police interviewed two children of Abdul Kadir in Guyana, his son Salim Kadir told The Associated Press on Monday.
«We were questioned by about four FBI agents but we have nothing to hide,» he said, adding that documents were seized from the family's home, though he did not provide specifics.
Abdul Kadir, 55, a former mayor of Linden, Guyana, was taken off a plane in Trinidad and arrested as he prepared to fly to Iran through Venezuela to attend an international Islamic conference.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Hats off to Sarwan
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, April 29 (Reuters)
Ramnaresh Sarwan has been appointed as the new captain of West Indies following the retirement of Brian Lara, Caribbean media reported on Sunday.
CMC Sport said that Sarwan had been given the job at a meeting of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) on Sunday.
The WICB were not immediately reachable for confirmation.
The 26-year-old right-handed batsmen from Guyana had been widely tipped to take the job for the upcoming tour of England. The first test is on May 17.
Sarwan, who was Lara's vice-captain, has played in 65 test matches and 124 one-day internationals.
Ramnaresh Sarwan has been appointed as the new captain of West Indies following the retirement of Brian Lara, Caribbean media reported on Sunday.
CMC Sport said that Sarwan had been given the job at a meeting of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) on Sunday.
The WICB were not immediately reachable for confirmation.
The 26-year-old right-handed batsmen from Guyana had been widely tipped to take the job for the upcoming tour of England. The first test is on May 17.
Sarwan, who was Lara's vice-captain, has played in 65 test matches and 124 one-day internationals.
Unethical Andrea!
Andrea is a sassy looking floor manager for NCN's Guyana Today show but she needs to be thought a lesson or two on etiquette or the dos and don'ts of being on television. She is used to being so much behind the scenes that now when she is allowed to be in front of the cameras she literally wants to gobble up all the attention.
Some nerve you have Andrea that you stick your spoon in every food of container at the Indian Trade Fair and then stick it in your mouth repeatedly. Container after container, the same spoon you stick in your mouth. Shameful and disgusting! These are the same containers of food that we will have to eat from if we turned up at the same stall you were advertising.
Couldn’t you just allow some one to take out a bit from each bowl and place it into a saucer of some sorts, than to have you just dipping one spoon in each container? Gee we wonder how much they pay you. You need to make a public apology sister.
This is what Guy TV has become. Schuuups!
Some nerve you have Andrea that you stick your spoon in every food of container at the Indian Trade Fair and then stick it in your mouth repeatedly. Container after container, the same spoon you stick in your mouth. Shameful and disgusting! These are the same containers of food that we will have to eat from if we turned up at the same stall you were advertising.
Couldn’t you just allow some one to take out a bit from each bowl and place it into a saucer of some sorts, than to have you just dipping one spoon in each container? Gee we wonder how much they pay you. You need to make a public apology sister.
This is what Guy TV has become. Schuuups!
Ole Higue!!!
Who ever said that Guyanese culture is not alive must be bloody dead by now. It came across to us as shocking and bizarre, that killing of a guyanese woman in Bare Root on Saturday for reasons best known to the creator.
Residents are clearly sying that the woman had to be killed because she appeared to be a blood sucking spirit , some sort of vampire. They call them Ole Higues in Guyana.
We don't know much about these evil spirits...But here is bit of history if your are ignorant like us.
Ole-Higue
Also known as "Fire Rass", she is the Guyanese equivalent of a vampire. Ole-Higue is always female. She sucks the blood of unsuspecting victims as they sleep. Her favorite victims are young children.
The Ole-Higue's distinguishing feature is the fact that during the day she lives among other Guyanese as a somewhat introverted and quietly old lady, maybe you know one… she possibly lives at the edge of your village.
At night this seemingly harmless old woman removes her skin, places it gently in a calabash and travel across the sky as a ball of fire heading to the home of her intended victim. To enter the home she shrinks herself and enters through the keyhole.
Guyanese believe that there are 3 ways to catch an Ole-Higue:
*To turn the key while she is trying to get through the key hole. As a result even today many Guyanese lock their doors and then turn their key to a horizontal position to allow an Ole-Higue to make it part way into the hole. The rustling of the key should wake the tenant who can then turn the key fully and crush the Ole-Higue. The next morning one should see a pile of bones on the doorstep.
*To find the skin of the Ole-Higue in the Calabash and put hot peppers in the skin, an Ole-Higue who tries to wear this skin will be burned by the pepper and then sing a well know song…Lawd skin yuh ing kno me?… why yuh bite me?
*Since the Ole-Higue is of Dutch and Afro-Guyanese heritage the Dutch side makes her miserly. The easiest way to catch her is to spill rice grains on the floor in front of your front door. As the Ole-Higue enters your house she will be compelled to count every rice grain.
A smart Guyanese will make sure there a large helping of rice on the floor and no bags in sight. As a result the Ole-Higue will have to pick up the grains with her right hand and place counted grains in her left hand.
As is to be expected her hands can only hold so many rice grains and it is only a matter of time before the grains begin to fall back to the ground and the process begins again. When the home owner awakes the next morning he/she should find a very tired and incredibly distressed Ole-Higue counting rice. At this point in time a smart Guyanese will beat the woman to death with a special anti-Ole-Higue broom.
Residents are clearly sying that the woman had to be killed because she appeared to be a blood sucking spirit , some sort of vampire. They call them Ole Higues in Guyana.
We don't know much about these evil spirits...But here is bit of history if your are ignorant like us.
Ole-Higue
Also known as "Fire Rass", she is the Guyanese equivalent of a vampire. Ole-Higue is always female. She sucks the blood of unsuspecting victims as they sleep. Her favorite victims are young children.
The Ole-Higue's distinguishing feature is the fact that during the day she lives among other Guyanese as a somewhat introverted and quietly old lady, maybe you know one… she possibly lives at the edge of your village.
At night this seemingly harmless old woman removes her skin, places it gently in a calabash and travel across the sky as a ball of fire heading to the home of her intended victim. To enter the home she shrinks herself and enters through the keyhole.
Guyanese believe that there are 3 ways to catch an Ole-Higue:
*To turn the key while she is trying to get through the key hole. As a result even today many Guyanese lock their doors and then turn their key to a horizontal position to allow an Ole-Higue to make it part way into the hole. The rustling of the key should wake the tenant who can then turn the key fully and crush the Ole-Higue. The next morning one should see a pile of bones on the doorstep.
*To find the skin of the Ole-Higue in the Calabash and put hot peppers in the skin, an Ole-Higue who tries to wear this skin will be burned by the pepper and then sing a well know song…Lawd skin yuh ing kno me?… why yuh bite me?
*Since the Ole-Higue is of Dutch and Afro-Guyanese heritage the Dutch side makes her miserly. The easiest way to catch her is to spill rice grains on the floor in front of your front door. As the Ole-Higue enters your house she will be compelled to count every rice grain.
A smart Guyanese will make sure there a large helping of rice on the floor and no bags in sight. As a result the Ole-Higue will have to pick up the grains with her right hand and place counted grains in her left hand.
As is to be expected her hands can only hold so many rice grains and it is only a matter of time before the grains begin to fall back to the ground and the process begins again. When the home owner awakes the next morning he/she should find a very tired and incredibly distressed Ole-Higue counting rice. At this point in time a smart Guyanese will beat the woman to death with a special anti-Ole-Higue broom.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
We're back!!!
We’re back and so is heeeh haaah, heeeh haaah.
It feels as if we have awoken in the middle of a movie by the horror master himself, Steven King. Like Morgan Freeman in Dream Catcher we have been plunged into a horrifying struggle with a creature from another world.
That creature is Guyana, one of the more picturesque places one would surely like to call home, but for most of the times, its hell on earth.
A good friend of ours would remind us regularly that God had plans for Guyana, but like his pastor would say, the man above works in mysterious ways, even those who claim to have a good relationship with the Supreme Being sometime marvel at his works.
Our Friend is head-strong in his belief that God has plans to make Guyana the hell’s pit.
He said look around, there is plenty space and more leaving, even the donkey that end up at the Cheddie Jagan International Airport, Sharma said wants to leave.. But its more like Only a donkey would want to come here.
Now that’s another talking point.
We never wanted to put Guyana in disrepute as soon as we returned to the super highway.
Nonetheless, that donkey some of us saw at the CJIA, is now a popular beast, after many tourists who were in Guyana for cricket took photos of him, one appeared on KN’s front page today.
Its not that the donkey is trying to leave, but he is actually just landed and was waiting to be picked up like many overseas based Guyanese, who relatives sometimes leave stranded despite the little Uncle Sam dollar they send back.
But as one lady who sat two rows in front of us on our flight said, that donkey is part of the hospitable welcome at the CJIA. She said what struck her is that the darn beast just stood there and said nothing and, didn’t even offer her a garland.
Guyana’s Tourism is “Giddying Up.” And we are happy to be in Guyana and we will Giddy Up on this heeee heee heee blog.
It feels as if we have awoken in the middle of a movie by the horror master himself, Steven King. Like Morgan Freeman in Dream Catcher we have been plunged into a horrifying struggle with a creature from another world.That creature is Guyana, one of the more picturesque places one would surely like to call home, but for most of the times, its hell on earth.
A good friend of ours would remind us regularly that God had plans for Guyana, but like his pastor would say, the man above works in mysterious ways, even those who claim to have a good relationship with the Supreme Being sometime marvel at his works.
Our Friend is head-strong in his belief that God has plans to make Guyana the hell’s pit.
He said look around, there is plenty space and more leaving, even the donkey that end up at the Cheddie Jagan International Airport, Sharma said wants to leave.. But its more like Only a donkey would want to come here.
Now that’s another talking point.
We never wanted to put Guyana in disrepute as soon as we returned to the super highway.
Nonetheless, that donkey some of us saw at the CJIA, is now a popular beast, after many tourists who were in Guyana for cricket took photos of him, one appeared on KN’s front page today.
Its not that the donkey is trying to leave, but he is actually just landed and was waiting to be picked up like many overseas based Guyanese, who relatives sometimes leave stranded despite the little Uncle Sam dollar they send back.
But as one lady who sat two rows in front of us on our flight said, that donkey is part of the hospitable welcome at the CJIA. She said what struck her is that the darn beast just stood there and said nothing and, didn’t even offer her a garland.
Guyana’s Tourism is “Giddying Up.” And we are happy to be in Guyana and we will Giddy Up on this heeee heee heee blog.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
All aboard!
Tell it as is...
We spoke before on what competition does for a country and it came to pass. The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company should have in its coffers enough money to spring an advertising blitz on new entrant Digicel. They should have, after all they raped the pockets of innocent Guyanese for years, reaping huge amounts of money.
Surely, one retired Major General, who now heads the GT&T operations must be hitting himself in the head for taking up the appointment when it was offered. Not only him, those sorry-ass entertainers which include Hits&Jams, Sterosonics, and the two divas of local music, Tamika and Celeste must also be drooling.
Ramnaresh Sarwan, who once advertised for GT&T has now switched, partly because Digicel sponsors the West Indies team. For more than one reason, 'Ronnie' we know is happy. We spoke to him about it at the Digicel VIP Party which was held at the Pegasus. (More on that at a subsequent date).
The best that GT&T has done so far, is to play on the minds of those same innocent Guyanese by telling them that GT&T is a Guyanese company. Nonsense! GT&T is a subsidary of Atlantic Tele-Network (ATN), a US-based entity.
Instead of being honest with consumers, they continue to peddle lies in the media even though a full-page advertisement that mimic Digicel's countdown ad. According to Digicel folks, "They are here to stay."
Say goodbye to GT&T, Digicel has awoken a tired, hungry, giant size consumer population.
We spoke before on what competition does for a country and it came to pass. The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company should have in its coffers enough money to spring an advertising blitz on new entrant Digicel. They should have, after all they raped the pockets of innocent Guyanese for years, reaping huge amounts of money.
Surely, one retired Major General, who now heads the GT&T operations must be hitting himself in the head for taking up the appointment when it was offered. Not only him, those sorry-ass entertainers which include Hits&Jams, Sterosonics, and the two divas of local music, Tamika and Celeste must also be drooling.
Ramnaresh Sarwan, who once advertised for GT&T has now switched, partly because Digicel sponsors the West Indies team. For more than one reason, 'Ronnie' we know is happy. We spoke to him about it at the Digicel VIP Party which was held at the Pegasus. (More on that at a subsequent date).
The best that GT&T has done so far, is to play on the minds of those same innocent Guyanese by telling them that GT&T is a Guyanese company. Nonsense! GT&T is a subsidary of Atlantic Tele-Network (ATN), a US-based entity.
GT&T has boasted of having more customers while at the same time neglecting to update their platform to effectively handle the high volumes of calls that accompany increased customers.
Instead of being honest with consumers, they continue to peddle lies in the media even though a full-page advertisement that mimic Digicel's countdown ad. According to Digicel folks, "They are here to stay."
Say goodbye to GT&T, Digicel has awoken a tired, hungry, giant size consumer population.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Press Freedom? #4
Reporters Without Borders condemns Guyana government
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
PARIS, France: Reporters Without Borders has condemned the Guyanese government's withdrawal of virtually all state advertising from the Stabroek News, the country's leading privately-owned daily, and its refusal to respond to the initiatives taken by the newspaper in response to this discriminatory measure.
"Governments must not allocate advertising to some news media as a reward, and withdraw it from others as a punishment - this is spelled out in the Chapultepec Declaration, which Guyanese President Bharrat Jagdeo himself signed," Reporters Without Borders said.
"Unfortunately, the government's silence in the face of the Stabroek News' legitimate demands suggests that the newspaper is being financially penalised because of its editorial positions," the press freedom organisation added.
"The government must provide an explanation and if it is slow to do so, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights should instruct it to provide one."The Stabroek News, which is critical of the Jagdeo government, said its earnings from state advertising (government announcements, ministerial press releases etc) had declined sharply since November, three months after Jagdeo's reelection as president.
The Guyana Press Association and the Stabroek News accused Nanda Gopaul, permanent secretary at the office of the president, of ordering the Government Information Agency (GINA) not to assign any more advertising to the newspaper.
The GINA subsequently confirmed that only Guyana Revenue Authority advertisements were henceforth to be placed with the Stabroek News.The newspaper's editor, David de Caires, said he never received any reply to his request for a meeting with GINA director Prem Misir.
De Caires wrote to Misir on 3 January claiming that the Stabroek News was being directly attacked "for political reasons," in violation of the March 1994 Chapultepec Declaration on freedom of information and expression, which Jagdeo signed.
Karen Persaud, the person in charge of advertising at GINA, told De Caires on 9 January that his request "has been taken into account but has not yet been examined by the department concerned." De Caires wrote back the next day complaining about this "unclear and unsatisfactory" reply.
He has heard nothing more since then.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
PARIS, France: Reporters Without Borders has condemned the Guyanese government's withdrawal of virtually all state advertising from the Stabroek News, the country's leading privately-owned daily, and its refusal to respond to the initiatives taken by the newspaper in response to this discriminatory measure.
"Governments must not allocate advertising to some news media as a reward, and withdraw it from others as a punishment - this is spelled out in the Chapultepec Declaration, which Guyanese President Bharrat Jagdeo himself signed," Reporters Without Borders said.
"Unfortunately, the government's silence in the face of the Stabroek News' legitimate demands suggests that the newspaper is being financially penalised because of its editorial positions," the press freedom organisation added.
"The government must provide an explanation and if it is slow to do so, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights should instruct it to provide one."The Stabroek News, which is critical of the Jagdeo government, said its earnings from state advertising (government announcements, ministerial press releases etc) had declined sharply since November, three months after Jagdeo's reelection as president.
The Guyana Press Association and the Stabroek News accused Nanda Gopaul, permanent secretary at the office of the president, of ordering the Government Information Agency (GINA) not to assign any more advertising to the newspaper.
The GINA subsequently confirmed that only Guyana Revenue Authority advertisements were henceforth to be placed with the Stabroek News.The newspaper's editor, David de Caires, said he never received any reply to his request for a meeting with GINA director Prem Misir.
De Caires wrote to Misir on 3 January claiming that the Stabroek News was being directly attacked "for political reasons," in violation of the March 1994 Chapultepec Declaration on freedom of information and expression, which Jagdeo signed.
Karen Persaud, the person in charge of advertising at GINA, told De Caires on 9 January that his request "has been taken into account but has not yet been examined by the department concerned." De Caires wrote back the next day complaining about this "unclear and unsatisfactory" reply.
He has heard nothing more since then.
Press Fredom ? # 3...Media vs. State
Information about the government’s decision to pull the plug on state advertising in the Stabroek News marks the dawn of a new era in Guyana’s history.
We have seen what has happened in many communist countries, where governments have sought to suppress media that dare to oppose its policies.
Fundamentally, a free press is important in a democracy, but as late the government has sought to chastise the Stabroek News, the only media house known for sound and solid reporting.
Reporters in Guyana have allowed the administration to run a mock of the profession, simply because of disunity that exists even at the Guyana Press Association (GPA).
The Guyana Chronicle and the Kaieteur News live tainted press lives. We have no apologies about that. Some reporters must be blamed also, since many of them are literally in bed with the politicians and can be called upon to report a good story about any of them.
With the exception of Stabroek News and Capitol News, no other media house has taken a stance on an issue without a hidden agenda. At one time the Kaieteur News appeared to be taken a firm position against pornographic pictures of young girls.
Though this is unacceptable, those in high society know why they went after the sons of a popular city business.
There are so many young girls and boys that have been terrorized by serving government ministers, yet no reporter has gone after these people.
Female ministers have trashed males, yet nothing has been reported.
The reporters attend their Christmas parties and yes, snack away at their media conferences.
The media has been bought, so the government is now moving to buy the only independent media house left, the Stabroek News.
Just take a look around and see what eventually happens when one refuses to say all good things about the Jagdeo government…
Roger Moore, gone!
Basil Bradshaw, tamed!
Mark Benschop, jailed!
Clem David, insignificant!
Final word!
We have seen what has happened in many communist countries, where governments have sought to suppress media that dare to oppose its policies.
Fundamentally, a free press is important in a democracy, but as late the government has sought to chastise the Stabroek News, the only media house known for sound and solid reporting.
Reporters in Guyana have allowed the administration to run a mock of the profession, simply because of disunity that exists even at the Guyana Press Association (GPA).
The Guyana Chronicle and the Kaieteur News live tainted press lives. We have no apologies about that. Some reporters must be blamed also, since many of them are literally in bed with the politicians and can be called upon to report a good story about any of them.
With the exception of Stabroek News and Capitol News, no other media house has taken a stance on an issue without a hidden agenda. At one time the Kaieteur News appeared to be taken a firm position against pornographic pictures of young girls.
Though this is unacceptable, those in high society know why they went after the sons of a popular city business.
There are so many young girls and boys that have been terrorized by serving government ministers, yet no reporter has gone after these people.
Female ministers have trashed males, yet nothing has been reported.
The reporters attend their Christmas parties and yes, snack away at their media conferences.
The media has been bought, so the government is now moving to buy the only independent media house left, the Stabroek News.
Just take a look around and see what eventually happens when one refuses to say all good things about the Jagdeo government…
Roger Moore, gone!
Basil Bradshaw, tamed!
Mark Benschop, jailed!
Clem David, insignificant!
Final word!
Press Freedom? #2
The Guyana Press Association (GPA) notes with deep concern the apparent decision by the Guyana Government to withdraw most advertisements from the privately-owned Stabroek News newspaper.
While, in the context of the Inter American Press Association's (IAPA) Declaration of Chapultepec; it appears that move could be regarded as a dastardly attack on press freedom; the GPA stands ready to play a meaningful role in having the matter resolved.
The GPA is always mindful of such instances whenever they emerge, having regard to pre-1992 when the then administration had severely curtailed access not only to the State Media by its critics but suffocated the importation of newsprint by newspapers that it had considered virtually enemies of the State.
In this context, we trust that there is no relationship between the alleged decision to cease the placement of most government advertisements in Stabroek News and criticisms by the Head of State, President Bharrat Jagdeo and the governing Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) in recent months.
The GPA states unequivocally that the occupants of the corridors of power and national decision-making are often under greater scrutiny by the media--the Fourth Estate-- but should not be punished or appear to be punished for it.
Again, having regard to our not so recent past as a country, the GPA is remains vigilant against cowardly acts by governments that seek to use State resources as a weapon against media that are critical of its policies, views and decisions on matters.
The GPA trusts that, as a signatory to the Inter American Press Association's (IAPA) Declaration of Chapultepec, the government would take every necessary step to revisit its position.
The GPA has already informed the umbrella Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM). The Stabroek News' statement and the GPA's initial reaction have been also communicated to Reporters San Frontiers (Reporters Without Borders). An executive meeting of the association would be held very shortly to decide on additional courses of action.
The GPA restates its position that it is prepared to play any meaningful role in acquiring a greater understanding of the government's decision while at the same time ensuring that the viability of the media is preserved and media-freedom is a hall-mark of our evolving democracy.
While, in the context of the Inter American Press Association's (IAPA) Declaration of Chapultepec; it appears that move could be regarded as a dastardly attack on press freedom; the GPA stands ready to play a meaningful role in having the matter resolved.
The GPA is always mindful of such instances whenever they emerge, having regard to pre-1992 when the then administration had severely curtailed access not only to the State Media by its critics but suffocated the importation of newsprint by newspapers that it had considered virtually enemies of the State.
In this context, we trust that there is no relationship between the alleged decision to cease the placement of most government advertisements in Stabroek News and criticisms by the Head of State, President Bharrat Jagdeo and the governing Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) in recent months.
The GPA states unequivocally that the occupants of the corridors of power and national decision-making are often under greater scrutiny by the media--the Fourth Estate-- but should not be punished or appear to be punished for it.
Again, having regard to our not so recent past as a country, the GPA is remains vigilant against cowardly acts by governments that seek to use State resources as a weapon against media that are critical of its policies, views and decisions on matters.
The GPA trusts that, as a signatory to the Inter American Press Association's (IAPA) Declaration of Chapultepec, the government would take every necessary step to revisit its position.
The GPA has already informed the umbrella Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM). The Stabroek News' statement and the GPA's initial reaction have been also communicated to Reporters San Frontiers (Reporters Without Borders). An executive meeting of the association would be held very shortly to decide on additional courses of action.
The GPA restates its position that it is prepared to play any meaningful role in acquiring a greater understanding of the government's decision while at the same time ensuring that the viability of the media is preserved and media-freedom is a hall-mark of our evolving democracy.
Press Freedom? #1
The Government Information Agency (GINA) has withdrawn advertisements from Stabroek News on the instructions of Dr Nanda Gopaul, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President.
David de Caires, Editor-in-Chief of the Stabroek News, said today that since the beginning of November 2006, the Advertising Manager Ms P. Cumbermack reported a significant reduction in the booking of advertisements from this agency which handles all the ads of government ministries. Indeed, she later advised that except for advertisements from the Guyana Revenue Authority dealing with the impending Value Added Tax no other bookings were being received from GINA.
Several efforts were made to contact Dr Prem Misir, the Director of GINA, to discuss this matter but he did not accept nor return any telephone calls.
On the 3rd January, 2007 de Caires wrote Dr Misir referring to the cessation of advertisements which had resulted directly from a political directive and stated that this was a direct attack on the newspaper for political reasons and was completely unacceptable. He noted that President Bharrat Jagdeo had signed the declaration of Chapultepec, a famous declaration of free press principles adopted by the Inter American Press Association in Mexico City on March 11, 1994. Clause 7 of that declaration states explicitly that “the granting or withdrawal of government advertising may not be used to reward or punish the media or individual journalists”.
De Caires requested Dr Misir to “urgently review this new discriminatory policy and that you let me have your written assurance that you will not persist with it.”
On the 9th January, 2007 , a reply was received from Ms Karen Persaud, Advertising Coordinator of the GINA Advertising Unit which referred to the letter and stated that “the issues raised have been acknowledged and have now been presented to the relevant department for review”. On the 10th January, 2007 , de Caires responded as follows: “Your statement that “the issues raised have been acknowledged and have now been presented to the relevant department for review” is unclear and unsatisfactory. We must assume it to mean that Dr Gopaul’s directive to cut off all ministry ads from our newspaper has been withdrawn and that we will now receive an appropriate proportion of these advertisements.
Since that day no ministry advertisements have been received from GINA though several have appeared in the other newspapers. It seems clear there has been no change in policy.
De Caires stated that this decision by the government to withdraw ads constituted an apparent reversal of its policy of respect for freedom of expression and constituted an attack on the free press. He expressed regret that this Government which had when in opposition suffered from restrictions on press freedom had seen it fit to behave in this manner.
He said copies of this release are being be sent to all the local media, the Caribbean newspapers and the International Press Institute, the Commonwealth Press Union and the Inter American Press Association, three organizations dedicated to the preservation of press freedom and of which Stabroek News is a member.
David de Caires, Editor-in-Chief of the Stabroek News, said today that since the beginning of November 2006, the Advertising Manager Ms P. Cumbermack reported a significant reduction in the booking of advertisements from this agency which handles all the ads of government ministries. Indeed, she later advised that except for advertisements from the Guyana Revenue Authority dealing with the impending Value Added Tax no other bookings were being received from GINA.
Several efforts were made to contact Dr Prem Misir, the Director of GINA, to discuss this matter but he did not accept nor return any telephone calls.
On the 3rd January, 2007 de Caires wrote Dr Misir referring to the cessation of advertisements which had resulted directly from a political directive and stated that this was a direct attack on the newspaper for political reasons and was completely unacceptable. He noted that President Bharrat Jagdeo had signed the declaration of Chapultepec, a famous declaration of free press principles adopted by the Inter American Press Association in Mexico City on March 11, 1994. Clause 7 of that declaration states explicitly that “the granting or withdrawal of government advertising may not be used to reward or punish the media or individual journalists”.
De Caires requested Dr Misir to “urgently review this new discriminatory policy and that you let me have your written assurance that you will not persist with it.”
On the 9th January, 2007 , a reply was received from Ms Karen Persaud, Advertising Coordinator of the GINA Advertising Unit which referred to the letter and stated that “the issues raised have been acknowledged and have now been presented to the relevant department for review”. On the 10th January, 2007 , de Caires responded as follows: “Your statement that “the issues raised have been acknowledged and have now been presented to the relevant department for review” is unclear and unsatisfactory. We must assume it to mean that Dr Gopaul’s directive to cut off all ministry ads from our newspaper has been withdrawn and that we will now receive an appropriate proportion of these advertisements.
Since that day no ministry advertisements have been received from GINA though several have appeared in the other newspapers. It seems clear there has been no change in policy.
De Caires stated that this decision by the government to withdraw ads constituted an apparent reversal of its policy of respect for freedom of expression and constituted an attack on the free press. He expressed regret that this Government which had when in opposition suffered from restrictions on press freedom had seen it fit to behave in this manner.
He said copies of this release are being be sent to all the local media, the Caribbean newspapers and the International Press Institute, the Commonwealth Press Union and the Inter American Press Association, three organizations dedicated to the preservation of press freedom and of which Stabroek News is a member.
VAT woes...
VAT…VAT…and more VAT.
Since January 2, Guyana has gone VAT crazy and consumers may soon run crazy with all those high prices attributed to the new tax system.
Puri has gone from $80 to $100. Most beverages now cost $20 more. So where is the much talked about and promised reduction in prices? Its somewhere out there, very invisible.
The Government and its “Tax pit bull”, Khursid Sattaur has lied to this nation, choosing instead to cast blame on unscrupulous businesses for the skyrocketing prices. It is true that Guyana, with one of the highest inflation rate in the Caribbean, also has the highest VAT rate of 16 %.
A weaken opposition, unions that have been bought and spineless Guyanese have allowed this administration to persists along this devious path.
CN Sharma seems to be the only one effectively opposing the entire façade. Opposition Leader Robert Corbin has become so insignificant that he has now forced to weigh-in on Sharma’s justice scale by joining a March organized by CN. The march on Saturday did little to drive home the point that Guyanese are vexed about VAT, but another March, this Thursday and Friday will test the strength of the PNCR-1G.
Sharma has shown his worth by using his television station to force the Tax pit bull to scurry down to CNS studios to rebut claims by Sharma about VAT.
Fact is the government said that VAT would replace eight existing Taxes. Instead it has replaced only six. Then they said that VAT will result in massive price reductions…The Mighty Rebel put it best when he said: “All of that was lie…pon de radio and television they telling lies.”
President Bharrat Jagdeo a week before the implementation of the new system announced that there will be some teething problems, but did not say that consumers would have been the ones left with those teeth marks.
Why did he wait so late to express concerns about the implementation of VAT, where were these concerns all the time.
The administration said that VAT was not designed to increase the administration’s coffers. Lie again. If this was true, why not extend the period of stock relief beyond December so that consumers would not have to pay double TAX. The fact is that businesses have to charge VAT, and no businessman in his right senses would remove a Tax that he has already paid from the mark-up price.
There are so many unanswered questions, yet the President seeks to play hide and seek.
Where is the captain of the ship, which has sprung a leak?
Hope he is not off to one of those casinos already?
Consumers are sinking…they are paying the price of a government that has failed to utilize the policing mechanisms in place to collect revenue and stop the smuggling of goods.
Total failure!
Since January 2, Guyana has gone VAT crazy and consumers may soon run crazy with all those high prices attributed to the new tax system.
Puri has gone from $80 to $100. Most beverages now cost $20 more. So where is the much talked about and promised reduction in prices? Its somewhere out there, very invisible.
The Government and its “Tax pit bull”, Khursid Sattaur has lied to this nation, choosing instead to cast blame on unscrupulous businesses for the skyrocketing prices. It is true that Guyana, with one of the highest inflation rate in the Caribbean, also has the highest VAT rate of 16 %.
A weaken opposition, unions that have been bought and spineless Guyanese have allowed this administration to persists along this devious path.
CN Sharma seems to be the only one effectively opposing the entire façade. Opposition Leader Robert Corbin has become so insignificant that he has now forced to weigh-in on Sharma’s justice scale by joining a March organized by CN. The march on Saturday did little to drive home the point that Guyanese are vexed about VAT, but another March, this Thursday and Friday will test the strength of the PNCR-1G.
Sharma has shown his worth by using his television station to force the Tax pit bull to scurry down to CNS studios to rebut claims by Sharma about VAT.
Fact is the government said that VAT would replace eight existing Taxes. Instead it has replaced only six. Then they said that VAT will result in massive price reductions…The Mighty Rebel put it best when he said: “All of that was lie…pon de radio and television they telling lies.”
President Bharrat Jagdeo a week before the implementation of the new system announced that there will be some teething problems, but did not say that consumers would have been the ones left with those teeth marks.
Why did he wait so late to express concerns about the implementation of VAT, where were these concerns all the time.
The administration said that VAT was not designed to increase the administration’s coffers. Lie again. If this was true, why not extend the period of stock relief beyond December so that consumers would not have to pay double TAX. The fact is that businesses have to charge VAT, and no businessman in his right senses would remove a Tax that he has already paid from the mark-up price.
There are so many unanswered questions, yet the President seeks to play hide and seek.
Where is the captain of the ship, which has sprung a leak?
Hope he is not off to one of those casinos already?
Consumers are sinking…they are paying the price of a government that has failed to utilize the policing mechanisms in place to collect revenue and stop the smuggling of goods.
Total failure!
Luncheon OK!
Reports suggest that Dr. Luncheon is resting comfortably at home.
However, the PPP/C point man on Local Government Reform, Clinton Collymore has fallen ill.
Who is next?
However, the PPP/C point man on Local Government Reform, Clinton Collymore has fallen ill.
Who is next?
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Cat fight or VAT fight
Khurshid Sattaur VS. Gerry Gouveia over the implementation of the Value-Added Tax (VAT)
Any bets?
Dr. Luncheon "falls" ill
It is now 10:00 hrs in Guyana and word is that Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon has been admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after having to seek urgent medical attention at a private hospital.
Luncheon, who had to be hospitalised in the United States for several weeks last year, was rushed t ot the private hospital this morning after he collapsed at home.
Officials say that the government henchman's condition was stabalised and he was later transferred to the GPHC where he is resting comfortably...
More details in a few.
Luncheon, who had to be hospitalised in the United States for several weeks last year, was rushed t ot the private hospital this morning after he collapsed at home.
Officials say that the government henchman's condition was stabalised and he was later transferred to the GPHC where he is resting comfortably...
More details in a few.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
2007??? Already???
Where will Guyana be at the end of 2007? That is the question of the day...mail your thoughts to: guyana360@gmail.com
Tonight we home sipping on Grey Goose and vodka and just happen to be flipping though television stations only to find President Bharrat Jagdeo and Robert Corbin, Opposition Leader, jostling for our attention.
Who you think grabbed our attention?
Corbin of course.
There was no need to listen to the President’s New Year’s address for the obvious reason…For a President he has a bunch of lazy speech writers who simply tap into his inauguration speech and extract some high points and then butter it up nicely.
Don’t just take our word for it, listen to the speech that was presented to the Parliament.
Corbin on the other hand was worth the pound of salt, for two main reasons; An Opposition Leader is expected to flip the shiny side of the rock to reveal the damp, dark truth about the entire unit. The second reason stemmed from the obvious fact that the PNCR-1G (1 more Greedy man in Parliament) lost ground at the 2006 elections and it would have been interesting to hear about the party’s future.
Corbin…
“Beneath the thin layer of window dressing that passes for normalcy lie tensions, uncertainties and a sense of anxiety as to where the winds of fortune will take us next.
Our people have long ceased to be distracted by frequent pronouncements about progress and development. Quite simply, they are far too preoccupied with the reality of their own difficult circumstances. Those circumstances make a mockery of the ceaseless declarations that Guyana is “going places’. The crisis that is afflicting our country cannot be wished away by colourful propaganda and elaborate “spin”. It is real for all to see.
Every Guyanese is aware that poverty and hard times persist, that crime and corruption have become uncontrollable cancers and that, as a people, we are divided. Every Guyanese is aware of the relentless flight of skills from our country and of the sense of frustration among our young people who cannot satisfy their aspirations. Every Guyanese is aware of that sense of apprehension about what lies ahead for our country. These concerns and anxieties cannot be glossed over by hollow-sounding pronouncements about progress. They hang like the proverbial sword of Damocles over our heads. As the late, great musical genius Bob Marley put it - “he, who feels it, knows it”. The façade of progress which the Government is seeking so desperately to sustain continues to be exposed for what it is – a mere chimera.”
On the party…
“I believe that it is fitting at this time that the People’s National Congress Reform provides its members and supporters with renewed expressions of our concern for issues that affect their lives and the lives of all of the people of this country. In the days, weeks and months ahead you will see greater evidence of a vigorous and constructive agenda in our approach to tackling our responsibilities with respect to representation of your issues and concerns.”
Tonight we home sipping on Grey Goose and vodka and just happen to be flipping though television stations only to find President Bharrat Jagdeo and Robert Corbin, Opposition Leader, jostling for our attention.
Who you think grabbed our attention?
Corbin of course.
There was no need to listen to the President’s New Year’s address for the obvious reason…For a President he has a bunch of lazy speech writers who simply tap into his inauguration speech and extract some high points and then butter it up nicely.
Don’t just take our word for it, listen to the speech that was presented to the Parliament.
Corbin on the other hand was worth the pound of salt, for two main reasons; An Opposition Leader is expected to flip the shiny side of the rock to reveal the damp, dark truth about the entire unit. The second reason stemmed from the obvious fact that the PNCR-1G (1 more Greedy man in Parliament) lost ground at the 2006 elections and it would have been interesting to hear about the party’s future.
Corbin…
“Beneath the thin layer of window dressing that passes for normalcy lie tensions, uncertainties and a sense of anxiety as to where the winds of fortune will take us next.
Our people have long ceased to be distracted by frequent pronouncements about progress and development. Quite simply, they are far too preoccupied with the reality of their own difficult circumstances. Those circumstances make a mockery of the ceaseless declarations that Guyana is “going places’. The crisis that is afflicting our country cannot be wished away by colourful propaganda and elaborate “spin”. It is real for all to see.
Every Guyanese is aware that poverty and hard times persist, that crime and corruption have become uncontrollable cancers and that, as a people, we are divided. Every Guyanese is aware of the relentless flight of skills from our country and of the sense of frustration among our young people who cannot satisfy their aspirations. Every Guyanese is aware of that sense of apprehension about what lies ahead for our country. These concerns and anxieties cannot be glossed over by hollow-sounding pronouncements about progress. They hang like the proverbial sword of Damocles over our heads. As the late, great musical genius Bob Marley put it - “he, who feels it, knows it”. The façade of progress which the Government is seeking so desperately to sustain continues to be exposed for what it is – a mere chimera.”
On the party…
“I believe that it is fitting at this time that the People’s National Congress Reform provides its members and supporters with renewed expressions of our concern for issues that affect their lives and the lives of all of the people of this country. In the days, weeks and months ahead you will see greater evidence of a vigorous and constructive agenda in our approach to tackling our responsibilities with respect to representation of your issues and concerns.”
Reflections!
Almost a year sine we at Guyana 360 entered the blogging spectrum and it seems as if it is yesterday. We have seen and heard a lot about Guyana and undoubtedly many of our readers still question the minds and hands behind it all.
And yes some of our critics have axed innocent Guyanese like our dormant friends over at the Demerara Light House who recently ridiculed a local journalist for running this blog and for associating with Freedom House.
For our readers, this blog is owned and controlled by three foreigners based in Guyana or islanders as Guyanese would say. We are backed by a team of contributors, who give of their time and energy which we appreciate.
During 2007, we intend to seek out more contributors and expand our base to other Caribbean nations. We have had some high points during last year, but similarly we have been stung by our share of bugbears.
Recently our business travels have taken us to various parts of the Caribbean and over the coming weeks, we intend to share our photographic experiences.
Running a blog is nothing easy, less of course you are Imran Khan (‘im Khan run nuff blogs), who runs multiple blogs and is one of the best local bloggers, probably second only to Guyana gal.
Happy 2007 to all...
And yes some of our critics have axed innocent Guyanese like our dormant friends over at the Demerara Light House who recently ridiculed a local journalist for running this blog and for associating with Freedom House.
For our readers, this blog is owned and controlled by three foreigners based in Guyana or islanders as Guyanese would say. We are backed by a team of contributors, who give of their time and energy which we appreciate.
During 2007, we intend to seek out more contributors and expand our base to other Caribbean nations. We have had some high points during last year, but similarly we have been stung by our share of bugbears.
Recently our business travels have taken us to various parts of the Caribbean and over the coming weeks, we intend to share our photographic experiences.
Running a blog is nothing easy, less of course you are Imran Khan (‘im Khan run nuff blogs), who runs multiple blogs and is one of the best local bloggers, probably second only to Guyana gal.
Happy 2007 to all...
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Georgetown All-Ready Fuh-Cup
Remnants of a fridge left on the pave along High Street, Kingston.Some say the city will all be ready for Cricket World Cup, but we say that by next year the City will be "All-Ready Fuh-Cup.
Competition...
There should always be pulsating competition within our service industries, especially those that ordinary Guyanese rely on daily.
Here in Guyana not too many companies, local or foreign, brave the sometimes thorny consumer market to create the type of competition that can benefit consumers, especially in the areas of water, electricity and telephone. These are considered essential services.
The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) basically supplies electricity to a large percentage of the populist. Then there is the monopoly on water supplied by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), which is managed by the Irish firm, Severn Trent. And of course the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Ltd. (GT&T) which enjoys a monopoly on the provision of land line telephone service.
The Government gave a commitment that after it penetrated GT&T’s monopoly on the provision of cellular service, it would pursue any possible course of action to sever the company’s monopoly as stipulated in an agreement signed with the then PNCR administration.
Now that the aggressive Caribbean mobile company Digicel has acquired Celstar, one can only imagine that consumers will be the greatest benefactor and not the Government.
Celstar was the Government’s straw to break the huge market share enjoyed by GT&T in the mobile industry but, that was not to be. Digicel is an aggressive company that has worked its way through the Caribbean and now seeks to march through the South American markets. They have shown in the last three years that they have the capacity to do so and will be tested by the Guyana market.
It is most welcoming to know that finally a company can challenge GT&T in some aspect of its service. But what about the other companies, those providing the essential services such as water and electricity? There has been no move by the Government to break those monopolies. Probably the answer lies in the fact that Government is a major shareholder at GPL and GWI.
However, GPL is not the only company that provides electricity to Guyanese. There are other companies that do so in the inland regions. The services offered by GPL and GWI are described as distasteful and unfriendly to consumers. The majority of consumers that receive bills from these two companies feel insure about the amounts they receive on their bills.
It is no wonder that GPL looses approximately US$50 Bln annually to electricity theft. The majority of consumers that opt to steal electricity are those who have been connected legally and not those who are living in low income housing areas which are yet to receive the service. This was a predestined thought before GPL announced recently that a survey showed that prominent businesses are stealing electricity despite having the service. Generally it is felt that GPL cannot be trusted and theories abound to support this fear.
The ordinary man could tell tales that GPL has over billed them at some period over the last six months. That is a common complaint by consumers who find it difficult to make ends meet. It is hard to imagine that in the technology and information age, GPL still gives a consumer an average bill based on a reading done every three to four months.
If averages were the way to go then charges could not be too far away from the charge prepared when the meter reading took place. Think again. GPL sometimes bills a pensioner for millions when that same pensioner would have received a bill the previous month for less than $20,000. GPL continues to fleece consumers, but the Government which should be safeguarding its citizens, turns a blind eye. Instead, the Government backed Power Company recently moved to disconnect the city council for millions of dollars it owed.
In the same vein the company owes the City Council millions of dollars too. Instead of arriving at an agreement, GPL disconnects the power as a tactic to bring pressure on those managing the affairs of the city. The Government believes that the City Council should be replaced by an Interim Management Committee (IMC) and not through Local Government Elections.
Local Government Minister Kellawan Lall moved a Motion in the National Assembly last Thursday to postpone the elections for 2006. If the Government’s sinister plot to replace the Council was not clear enough, President Bharrat Jagdeo himself made it clear that the Government was taking over in managing the clean up exercise in the city for Cricket World Cup. This was another avenue to embarrass the council.
If that was not enough, the Guyana Labour Union (GLU) which is led by a man that joined the PPP/C ring is leading workers on a strike action. Some of those workers have called for an IMC.
The Government should know better. An IMC in Georgetown will never happen. Georgetown should become a competitive arena where political parties can present the best plan to the electorate and have them decide. If the Government feels that it could serve well then it should have no problem competing in a competitive election race for control of the capital.
Similarly, consumers should be given an opportunity to be faced with an array of choices when it comes to the provision of essential services.
GWI with is poor billing process and almost empty pipelines, GT&T’s slow rate of expansion of the landline service and GPL treacherous billing system would all be replaced if there was vibrant competition.
Evidence is there to be seen that competition prompts good changes for the consumer and for the company. One just needed to look at GT&T’s GSM system which was non-existent before Government announced Celstar’s entrance into the market.
The Government should seriously consider liberating the water and electricity sectors and maybe they will start using the phrase: “getting better all the time.”
Here in Guyana not too many companies, local or foreign, brave the sometimes thorny consumer market to create the type of competition that can benefit consumers, especially in the areas of water, electricity and telephone. These are considered essential services.
The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) basically supplies electricity to a large percentage of the populist. Then there is the monopoly on water supplied by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), which is managed by the Irish firm, Severn Trent. And of course the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Ltd. (GT&T) which enjoys a monopoly on the provision of land line telephone service.
The Government gave a commitment that after it penetrated GT&T’s monopoly on the provision of cellular service, it would pursue any possible course of action to sever the company’s monopoly as stipulated in an agreement signed with the then PNCR administration.
Now that the aggressive Caribbean mobile company Digicel has acquired Celstar, one can only imagine that consumers will be the greatest benefactor and not the Government.
Celstar was the Government’s straw to break the huge market share enjoyed by GT&T in the mobile industry but, that was not to be. Digicel is an aggressive company that has worked its way through the Caribbean and now seeks to march through the South American markets. They have shown in the last three years that they have the capacity to do so and will be tested by the Guyana market.
It is most welcoming to know that finally a company can challenge GT&T in some aspect of its service. But what about the other companies, those providing the essential services such as water and electricity? There has been no move by the Government to break those monopolies. Probably the answer lies in the fact that Government is a major shareholder at GPL and GWI.
However, GPL is not the only company that provides electricity to Guyanese. There are other companies that do so in the inland regions. The services offered by GPL and GWI are described as distasteful and unfriendly to consumers. The majority of consumers that receive bills from these two companies feel insure about the amounts they receive on their bills.
It is no wonder that GPL looses approximately US$50 Bln annually to electricity theft. The majority of consumers that opt to steal electricity are those who have been connected legally and not those who are living in low income housing areas which are yet to receive the service. This was a predestined thought before GPL announced recently that a survey showed that prominent businesses are stealing electricity despite having the service. Generally it is felt that GPL cannot be trusted and theories abound to support this fear.
The ordinary man could tell tales that GPL has over billed them at some period over the last six months. That is a common complaint by consumers who find it difficult to make ends meet. It is hard to imagine that in the technology and information age, GPL still gives a consumer an average bill based on a reading done every three to four months.
If averages were the way to go then charges could not be too far away from the charge prepared when the meter reading took place. Think again. GPL sometimes bills a pensioner for millions when that same pensioner would have received a bill the previous month for less than $20,000. GPL continues to fleece consumers, but the Government which should be safeguarding its citizens, turns a blind eye. Instead, the Government backed Power Company recently moved to disconnect the city council for millions of dollars it owed.
In the same vein the company owes the City Council millions of dollars too. Instead of arriving at an agreement, GPL disconnects the power as a tactic to bring pressure on those managing the affairs of the city. The Government believes that the City Council should be replaced by an Interim Management Committee (IMC) and not through Local Government Elections.
Local Government Minister Kellawan Lall moved a Motion in the National Assembly last Thursday to postpone the elections for 2006. If the Government’s sinister plot to replace the Council was not clear enough, President Bharrat Jagdeo himself made it clear that the Government was taking over in managing the clean up exercise in the city for Cricket World Cup. This was another avenue to embarrass the council.
If that was not enough, the Guyana Labour Union (GLU) which is led by a man that joined the PPP/C ring is leading workers on a strike action. Some of those workers have called for an IMC.
The Government should know better. An IMC in Georgetown will never happen. Georgetown should become a competitive arena where political parties can present the best plan to the electorate and have them decide. If the Government feels that it could serve well then it should have no problem competing in a competitive election race for control of the capital.
Similarly, consumers should be given an opportunity to be faced with an array of choices when it comes to the provision of essential services.
GWI with is poor billing process and almost empty pipelines, GT&T’s slow rate of expansion of the landline service and GPL treacherous billing system would all be replaced if there was vibrant competition.
Evidence is there to be seen that competition prompts good changes for the consumer and for the company. One just needed to look at GT&T’s GSM system which was non-existent before Government announced Celstar’s entrance into the market.
The Government should seriously consider liberating the water and electricity sectors and maybe they will start using the phrase: “getting better all the time.”
Monday, November 27, 2006
Funny Mail Found on Trail...
Mail Trail:
Word out that Mr. Neaz Subhan will or might succeed Terry Holder as Deputy GM, Communications @ GTT.
Neaz can get over US$3,000.00 plus perks for this position. Any bets?
J
Guyana360: Funny!!! Thats the best joke since the President announced plans to have children after this year's elections.
We bet US$1.00 against Mr. Subhan, a washed up Sharmanite, an anchor at nights who is really an actor and not a playwright.
Word out that Mr. Neaz Subhan will or might succeed Terry Holder as Deputy GM, Communications @ GTT.
Neaz can get over US$3,000.00 plus perks for this position. Any bets?
J
Guyana360: Funny!!! Thats the best joke since the President announced plans to have children after this year's elections.
We bet US$1.00 against Mr. Subhan, a washed up Sharmanite, an anchor at nights who is really an actor and not a playwright.
Welcome One,Welcome All to Guyana
Welcome to the first in a series of publication on Guyana's readiness for CWC 2007, which is expected to attract over 30,000 visitors.
As any one of the over 30,000 arrive at the overhauled CJIA, they will recieve an official tribal welcome. A group of Guyanese showed a German just how hospitable we are as a people...
The police in Georgetown are investigating a robbery under arms that was committed on German National Rita Ghunter, 63 years, and her husband at about 2130h. on Friday November 24, 2006 at Sheriff and Canje Streets, Campbellville.
Investigations revealed that the victims had earlier arrived into the country through the CJIA and travelled to Campbellville by way of taxi. Upon arrival at their destination and while disembarking from the vehicle they were attacked by two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun. The men lashed them about their bodies with pieces of wood and took away Rita Ghunter’s handbag which contained $3,000.00 US; 300 Euros, a watch, jewellery and documents and escaped on foot.
Guyana360: Welcome to Guyana, a nation on the tip of the South American Continent.
As any one of the over 30,000 arrive at the overhauled CJIA, they will recieve an official tribal welcome. A group of Guyanese showed a German just how hospitable we are as a people...
The police in Georgetown are investigating a robbery under arms that was committed on German National Rita Ghunter, 63 years, and her husband at about 2130h. on Friday November 24, 2006 at Sheriff and Canje Streets, Campbellville.
Investigations revealed that the victims had earlier arrived into the country through the CJIA and travelled to Campbellville by way of taxi. Upon arrival at their destination and while disembarking from the vehicle they were attacked by two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun. The men lashed them about their bodies with pieces of wood and took away Rita Ghunter’s handbag which contained $3,000.00 US; 300 Euros, a watch, jewellery and documents and escaped on foot.
Guyana360: Welcome to Guyana, a nation on the tip of the South American Continent.
We ready fuh rain or are we?
The drainage and irrigation system on the East Coast Demerara (ECD) is working well and in anticipation of expected heavy rainfall during the November-December rainy season, further improvement works are ongoing.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud today (Saturday) inspected critical D&I structures on the ECD and pronounced on their efficiency even though it was raining heavily. He was accompanied by Region Four Chairman Clement Corlette and Senior Engineer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Lionel Wordsworth.
Following visits to Plaisance, Montrose, Lusignan, Buxton, Belfield, Craig Milne, Hope, Strathavon and the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC), Minister Persaud expressed satisfaction with the present status of the D&I system in terms of its preparedness.
“Based on our assessment, we are satisfied that the units are working and that necessary plans are in place. We have identified some additional work that the Region and the NDIA will have to undertake,” he said.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud today (Saturday) inspected critical D&I structures on the ECD and pronounced on their efficiency even though it was raining heavily. He was accompanied by Region Four Chairman Clement Corlette and Senior Engineer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Lionel Wordsworth.
Following visits to Plaisance, Montrose, Lusignan, Buxton, Belfield, Craig Milne, Hope, Strathavon and the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC), Minister Persaud expressed satisfaction with the present status of the D&I system in terms of its preparedness.
“Based on our assessment, we are satisfied that the units are working and that necessary plans are in place. We have identified some additional work that the Region and the NDIA will have to undertake,” he said.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
What’s buzzing…? Sharma won a seat
Breaking News: Post elections controversy brewing…
We have just learnt through the grapevine that there are major errors in GECOM’s results.
Now that some bright person has come up with the correct final results, it shows that the great, yet small mitta Sharma may have won a seat in Parliament and is now eligible to create ruckus in the National Assembly.
But for po’ Sharma to get that seat the AFC must relinquish one of its National Top up seats bec-aurse the right tabulation of the results clearly shows that Sharma won a seat.
Opposition Leader and PNCR-1G Leader Robert Corbin has made this case to GECOM.
It is ironic that the AFC was calling on the PPP/C to do the decent thing and give up the Region 10 seat since the PPP/C was given the seat courtesy of a tabulation error by GECOM.
Will the AFC give Sharma his seat?
If it does and it gains that Region 10 seat from the PPP/C, it means that the AFC will remain with 5 seats, but Sharma will gain a seat, while the PPP/C would loose one of its 36 seats.
Another cracking joke is that the seat that the PPP/C is holding on to in Region 10, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds occupies it. If they give it up, what will happen to the Prime Minister, who has been appointed the Head of Parlaiament for the first time since 1992.
There is also controversy surrounding the time in which the official results were declared, which could render it null and void, but for now the political directorate have ignored this fact. We’ll keep you posted as it develops…
The most peaceful election according to International Observers is turning out to have the most comical finishes and all the International Observers are gone!!!
What’s buzzing…?
So many questions about what is really buzzing in Guyana. Readers sent in very interesting mails about politics, sports, entertainment and of course crime in anticipation of what we might reveal as buzzing…We hate to disappoint the news-cravings.
E-Buzz is buzzing in Guyana. It is a free entertainment magazine-Guyanese could do with some free merchandise for a change-that presents an entertaining, less bloody and less political side of Guyana.
It is exactly what the doctor ordered with Cricket World Cup 2007 on the horizon (hopefully the sun rises on December 31 and Guyana is given the green light by the ICC to host CWC matches).
Under the stewardship of Mondale Smith as Editor-in-Chief, the magazine in its first few issues has produced some stunning work.
It also brings to the fore, sharp, yet humorous stories. Take for instance; one front page story featured Cricket enthusiast and sports writer Sean Devers who said that he wanted to be God for a day. Intriguing start...
While we love the general idea of the new feel good E-Buzz publication, we must say how disappointed we were in the first issue that had quite a few errors, including an article with text so small that it gave new meaning to the phrase, an eye-popping story.
First impression always counts and the newspaper failed miserably.
Eric Phillips and Leslie Bonnar will obviously provide some stability to the publication and they will have to also provide a balancing act to the ever unstable Mondale Smith, who just loves hopping from TV to print, media house to media house.
He started the Extra newspaper, another publication that seeks to highlight a better side of Guyana, but he left before his days in the sun by the car park selling Extra could pay off.
The print quality of E-Buzz is also debatable.
It looks cheap and stiff and lacks that whole feel good nature to the pages.
However, E-Buzz has good strong content and no one could deny the team E-Bragging rights.
E-Buzz is buzzing in Guyana. It is a free entertainment magazine-Guyanese could do with some free merchandise for a change-that presents an entertaining, less bloody and less political side of Guyana.
It is exactly what the doctor ordered with Cricket World Cup 2007 on the horizon (hopefully the sun rises on December 31 and Guyana is given the green light by the ICC to host CWC matches).
Under the stewardship of Mondale Smith as Editor-in-Chief, the magazine in its first few issues has produced some stunning work.
It also brings to the fore, sharp, yet humorous stories. Take for instance; one front page story featured Cricket enthusiast and sports writer Sean Devers who said that he wanted to be God for a day. Intriguing start...
While we love the general idea of the new feel good E-Buzz publication, we must say how disappointed we were in the first issue that had quite a few errors, including an article with text so small that it gave new meaning to the phrase, an eye-popping story.
First impression always counts and the newspaper failed miserably.
Eric Phillips and Leslie Bonnar will obviously provide some stability to the publication and they will have to also provide a balancing act to the ever unstable Mondale Smith, who just loves hopping from TV to print, media house to media house.
He started the Extra newspaper, another publication that seeks to highlight a better side of Guyana, but he left before his days in the sun by the car park selling Extra could pay off.
The print quality of E-Buzz is also debatable.
It looks cheap and stiff and lacks that whole feel good nature to the pages.
However, E-Buzz has good strong content and no one could deny the team E-Bragging rights.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Flaming
The Flame & The Ribbon
National Cultural Centre
Candle Lighting from 7 pm
Broken Promise from 8 pm
Broken Promise from 8 pm
Written & Directed by Desiree Edghill
Get your tickets early
Get your tickets early
Call 225-5112 for details and ticket info
Friday, November 17, 2006
Mail...Trail
A frequent reader sent us a mail describing U.S. moves to gain a foot hold in these parts...enjoy....Its an International assessment.
Washington Looks to Cement its Military Presence in Central America
The U.S. Military Presence
The U.S. has had a lasting presence in modern Honduras, primarily at the Soto Cano airbase, which has witnessed scores of human rights abuses during the 1980s. The American troops now stationed in Honduras are known as Joint Task Force Bravo (JTF-Bravo), a component of the
U.S. Southern Command (Southcom), which was formed in 1983 under the original name of Joint Task Force 11. At that time, handsomely bribed Honduran officials closed their eyes to the fact that U.S.-backed insurgents were staging sorties into Nicaragua from Honduran territory, while Tegucigalpa concomitantly refused to acknowledge the covert ventures. It is not entirely clear how many U.S. troops were stationed at Soto Cano and other Honduran-based military installations during the 1980s.
Conservative estimates place that number at anywhere between 2,000 to 5,000 troops, who were there as part of a training mission.
Today, Soto Cano houses between 350 to 500 U.S. troops belonging to the 612th Air Base Squadron and the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment. Since the closing of the American facilities in Panama over the last decade, the U.S. has relied more and more on smaller bases across the hemisphere.
These include Manta in Ecuador, Comalapa in El Salvador, as well as a comparable base in the island of Aruba. Still, Honduras’ Soto Cano continues to be the pillar of the U.S.’s Central American military presence. With the departure of the U.S. Army’s 228th Aviation Battalion from Fort Kobbe, Panama, many aviation assets of U.S. Army South (USARSO), Southcom’s army component, were moved to Soto Cano.
These include a command and control element, CH-47 “Chinook” helicopters, as well as UH-60 “Blackhawk” and “Medevac” helicopters. Since the end of the 1980s, the troops serving at Soto Cano have often been used for disaster relief operations. A Joint Force Quarterly article proudly cited how JTF-Bravo aided the populations of Guatemala and Honduras after last year’s Hurricane Stan and Tropical Storms Beta and Gamma hit the region. The base has always been on Washington’s radar, as exemplified by President Clinton’s trip to the facility in March 1999, and the recent Bush-Zelaya discussions on its future.
The Future of Soto Cano and the MosquitiaGeneral Romeo Vázquez, chairman of the Honduran joint general staff, declared on July 15 that Honduras would be building, with U.S. assistance, a new military installation in the province of Gracias a Dios. According to Vázquez, the proposed base would house aircraft and fuel supplying systems.
While Washington defense officials see Caracas as a potential security threat to its neighbors, some would argue that the same accusations can be made by Venezuelan officials regarding Rumsfeld’s actions in the region. Under Rumsfeld, the U.S. significantly expanded its military presence and ties throughout the hemisphere.
On August 2005, he was the first U.S. Defense Secretary to visit Paraguay. The trip was widely regarded as connected to the ongoing U.S. military exercises (13 in total from July 2005 to the present). It has been widely speculated that these talks may have involved the consideration of permanent bases that could signify a more permanent American military presence in Paraguay. Rumsfeld later visited Peru during his South American tour in order to court then-president Alejandro Toledo. Rumsfeld also was after gaining more support for the ill-reputed, Brazilian-led MINUSTAH mission in Haiti.
An Expansive Rumsfeld“I can’t imagine why Venezuela needs 100,000 AK-47s,” Rumsfeld told reporters in Brasilia during a March 2005 joint news conference, in regards to the proposed Venezuelan purchase of rifles from the Kremlin.
Rumsfeld may have grounds to criticize such a transaction, but he lacked consistency when he neglected to comment on the numerous Chilean military purchases. These have led to the beginning of what may well be a multinational arms race, raising already mounting security concerns in Lima and La Paz.
On October 22, the Chilean daily El Mercurio reported the first batch of 100 Humvee all-terrain vehicles had arrived, purchased by Santiago as part of its aggressive military modernization campaign. According to the report, the Chilean army plans to buy over 200 Humvees and upgrade them with 106mm guns and a battlefield missile system. Chile also purchased a squadron of Lockheed F-16s raising concerns regarding its growing air force. If Rumsfeld was so concerned with the de-stabilizing effects of aggressive weapon purchases by a western hemisphere nation, he could have used the same language to object to Chile’s recent purchases with equal justification.
Rumsfeld is known to be a strong supporter of maintaining a U.S. presence in Soto Cano, and would have probably advocated moving Palmolera’s operations to the Mosquitia site if necessary. With his resignation, it is not entirely clear if Washington will continue to prioritize the maintenance of a noticeable footprint in the area, especially if it serves, apart from responding to natural disasters with relief assistance, very little purpose. Former officials such as Uribe point out that there is little need for the U.S. to maintain a presence at Soto Cano in the post-Cold War world.
Washington Looks to Cement its Military Presence in Central America
The U.S. Military Presence
The U.S. has had a lasting presence in modern Honduras, primarily at the Soto Cano airbase, which has witnessed scores of human rights abuses during the 1980s. The American troops now stationed in Honduras are known as Joint Task Force Bravo (JTF-Bravo), a component of the
U.S. Southern Command (Southcom), which was formed in 1983 under the original name of Joint Task Force 11. At that time, handsomely bribed Honduran officials closed their eyes to the fact that U.S.-backed insurgents were staging sorties into Nicaragua from Honduran territory, while Tegucigalpa concomitantly refused to acknowledge the covert ventures. It is not entirely clear how many U.S. troops were stationed at Soto Cano and other Honduran-based military installations during the 1980s.
Conservative estimates place that number at anywhere between 2,000 to 5,000 troops, who were there as part of a training mission.
Today, Soto Cano houses between 350 to 500 U.S. troops belonging to the 612th Air Base Squadron and the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment. Since the closing of the American facilities in Panama over the last decade, the U.S. has relied more and more on smaller bases across the hemisphere.
These include Manta in Ecuador, Comalapa in El Salvador, as well as a comparable base in the island of Aruba. Still, Honduras’ Soto Cano continues to be the pillar of the U.S.’s Central American military presence. With the departure of the U.S. Army’s 228th Aviation Battalion from Fort Kobbe, Panama, many aviation assets of U.S. Army South (USARSO), Southcom’s army component, were moved to Soto Cano.
These include a command and control element, CH-47 “Chinook” helicopters, as well as UH-60 “Blackhawk” and “Medevac” helicopters. Since the end of the 1980s, the troops serving at Soto Cano have often been used for disaster relief operations. A Joint Force Quarterly article proudly cited how JTF-Bravo aided the populations of Guatemala and Honduras after last year’s Hurricane Stan and Tropical Storms Beta and Gamma hit the region. The base has always been on Washington’s radar, as exemplified by President Clinton’s trip to the facility in March 1999, and the recent Bush-Zelaya discussions on its future.
The Future of Soto Cano and the MosquitiaGeneral Romeo Vázquez, chairman of the Honduran joint general staff, declared on July 15 that Honduras would be building, with U.S. assistance, a new military installation in the province of Gracias a Dios. According to Vázquez, the proposed base would house aircraft and fuel supplying systems.
While Washington defense officials see Caracas as a potential security threat to its neighbors, some would argue that the same accusations can be made by Venezuelan officials regarding Rumsfeld’s actions in the region. Under Rumsfeld, the U.S. significantly expanded its military presence and ties throughout the hemisphere.
On August 2005, he was the first U.S. Defense Secretary to visit Paraguay. The trip was widely regarded as connected to the ongoing U.S. military exercises (13 in total from July 2005 to the present). It has been widely speculated that these talks may have involved the consideration of permanent bases that could signify a more permanent American military presence in Paraguay. Rumsfeld later visited Peru during his South American tour in order to court then-president Alejandro Toledo. Rumsfeld also was after gaining more support for the ill-reputed, Brazilian-led MINUSTAH mission in Haiti.
An Expansive Rumsfeld“I can’t imagine why Venezuela needs 100,000 AK-47s,” Rumsfeld told reporters in Brasilia during a March 2005 joint news conference, in regards to the proposed Venezuelan purchase of rifles from the Kremlin.
Rumsfeld may have grounds to criticize such a transaction, but he lacked consistency when he neglected to comment on the numerous Chilean military purchases. These have led to the beginning of what may well be a multinational arms race, raising already mounting security concerns in Lima and La Paz.
On October 22, the Chilean daily El Mercurio reported the first batch of 100 Humvee all-terrain vehicles had arrived, purchased by Santiago as part of its aggressive military modernization campaign. According to the report, the Chilean army plans to buy over 200 Humvees and upgrade them with 106mm guns and a battlefield missile system. Chile also purchased a squadron of Lockheed F-16s raising concerns regarding its growing air force. If Rumsfeld was so concerned with the de-stabilizing effects of aggressive weapon purchases by a western hemisphere nation, he could have used the same language to object to Chile’s recent purchases with equal justification.
Rumsfeld is known to be a strong supporter of maintaining a U.S. presence in Soto Cano, and would have probably advocated moving Palmolera’s operations to the Mosquitia site if necessary. With his resignation, it is not entirely clear if Washington will continue to prioritize the maintenance of a noticeable footprint in the area, especially if it serves, apart from responding to natural disasters with relief assistance, very little purpose. Former officials such as Uribe point out that there is little need for the U.S. to maintain a presence at Soto Cano in the post-Cold War world.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
More Police Successes in “Greene” Land of Guyana
Fresh on the heels of the major drug and gun bust on Friday last, police today shot and killed a gun man on the East Coast of Demerara after he tried to engage joint services ranks using an AK-47 rifle.
Reports suggest that the man was acquited of attempted murder earlier this year.
Details later...
Reports suggest that the man was acquited of attempted murder earlier this year.
Details later...
Mail...Trail
Hi,
I'm a U.S. shortwave listener & was listening to theVoice of Guyana last night for a few hours. This morning, I did a little searching around on the Internet for more station info and I found your blogabout the destruction of the radio archives from the station.
Wow, so sorry to hear about the lack ofgovernment interest in your station's history (bothfrom a historic and cultural prospective).
I wish I could just scoop up a couple of armloads of tapes &record them to CDs for archival.
I guess those are thehazards of the Internet--in some ways, the world is avery small place, yet in others it's just as big asever.Anyway, thank you very much for the fascinatingreading & have a great day!
Andrew
I'm a U.S. shortwave listener & was listening to theVoice of Guyana last night for a few hours. This morning, I did a little searching around on the Internet for more station info and I found your blogabout the destruction of the radio archives from the station.
Wow, so sorry to hear about the lack ofgovernment interest in your station's history (bothfrom a historic and cultural prospective).
I wish I could just scoop up a couple of armloads of tapes &record them to CDs for archival.
I guess those are thehazards of the Internet--in some ways, the world is avery small place, yet in others it's just as big asever.Anyway, thank you very much for the fascinatingreading & have a great day!
Andrew
Guyana at its best.
This is the latest issue of Gem Magazine, an astonishing work of of Guyanese art. The publisher of this bi-monthly magazine must be given credit for showcasing Guyana through rays of good light, in a sea crowed with screaming front page newspaper headlines of all the ill things about this "Greene" land.The cover photo of Gerry Gouveia taken at the Ogle airstrip by Dwayne Hackett is astonishing.
We await the next issue of Gem, since the August/September issue was a drag, especially that front page portrait of a popular celeb' news anchor.
More Mail on da Trail...
For those of you in the NYC area, we are sharing this invitation with you, pop by and get to meet some of our staffers. Where ever you see rum you'll find our two technical support employees...Note the dress code.
This Friday, November 17th
Sholay Productions & Curry Club NYC invite you to break out those leopardprint hotpants and join us for a wild time atDesilicious Bollywood Jungle!
Get ready for two floors of Bollywood, Bhangra, Soca, Chutney and Tribal beatswith Ashu Rai, Bobby, Suraj, and Raj. Plus, look out for some wild new dragsters prowling the dancefloor!
Desilicious: Bollywood JungleFriday, November 17th
Doors open 10pm PEPPER95 Leonard Street @ BroadwayA/C/E to Canal 1 to Franklin St.Music: Downstairs Ashu Rai & Bobby Upstairs: Suraj & RajBig Screen Bollwood Visuals, Drink Specials.
Dress code: animal prints, loin cloths, and faux fur!
Cover: $15 http://www.sholayevents.com/
This Friday, November 17th
Sholay Productions & Curry Club NYC invite you to break out those leopardprint hotpants and join us for a wild time atDesilicious Bollywood Jungle!
Get ready for two floors of Bollywood, Bhangra, Soca, Chutney and Tribal beatswith Ashu Rai, Bobby, Suraj, and Raj. Plus, look out for some wild new dragsters prowling the dancefloor!
Desilicious: Bollywood JungleFriday, November 17th
Doors open 10pm PEPPER95 Leonard Street @ BroadwayA/C/E to Canal 1 to Franklin St.Music: Downstairs Ashu Rai & Bobby Upstairs: Suraj & RajBig Screen Bollwood Visuals, Drink Specials.
Dress code: animal prints, loin cloths, and faux fur!
Cover: $15 http://www.sholayevents.com/
Mail Trail...
A frequent vistor to our blog sent this...
At 10.51 pm Guyana Time
been tring to access Living Guyana Blog & the Guyana 360 blog
cant access none. Any reasons?
Who deleted the Demerara Light house Blog?
Whats happening Guys
J
Guyana360: J, at 10:52 Livinguyana, Guyana360 was up and running, maybe its your ole' computer that you have stuck on dial up. Demerara Light House Blog has been touched by an angel and now it is gone. As the name suggests, it was once a blog of archieves serving a similar status as the real Demerara Light House...i.e eh eh eh!!! no purpose.
At 10.51 pm Guyana Time
been tring to access Living Guyana Blog & the Guyana 360 blog
cant access none. Any reasons?
Who deleted the Demerara Light house Blog?
Whats happening Guys
J
Guyana360: J, at 10:52 Livinguyana, Guyana360 was up and running, maybe its your ole' computer that you have stuck on dial up. Demerara Light House Blog has been touched by an angel and now it is gone. As the name suggests, it was once a blog of archieves serving a similar status as the real Demerara Light House...i.e eh eh eh!!! no purpose.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Linkin' up:Beauty and the Beast
Mrs. South America may be innocent since we understand that the man caught with her, Sean Hinds was actually a bodyguard during the pageant. Perhaps he was to remain guarding the queen, who knows???
Hinds (far right) is seen here posing with some of the girls from the pageant.
Mrs. South America held with guns
Carolan Lynch crowned Mrs. South America last month
Remember that large arms cache found by the police on Friday.
It turned out that one of the persons held is the queen above.
Word from the street is that she was out to take out some "Bitch"
that messed with her. We just have one question to ask her,
are you foolish girl, you had so much going for you.
And after what happened to Mya Rahaman...Why????????
??????????????????????????????
?????????????????????????????????
??????????????????????????????????
??????????????????????????????????
?????????????????
???????????????????????
?????????????????????????
?????????????????????????
????????????
?????????????????????????????????????
????????????????????????????????????????????????
W-A-R in "Greene" Guyana
Items siezied from an early morning raid on Friday by the Guyana Police...We just cannot help but notice that since Henry Greene, DSM took over the helm of the force, the amount of success he snapped up under his belt.
Greene has a huge, santa clause looking tummy, so he does have space for some more successes under his belt.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
India Revealed
India is one of the world's most populated country, where children are forced to sllep on streets and perform daily to make a living.
Yet we rely on India's economy.
Here is the true India. The side you will not hear about. a side that the media has tried to hide over the years.
Yet we rely on India's economy.
Here is the true India. The side you will not hear about. a side that the media has tried to hide over the years.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
New Cabinet, Same ole' Behaviour.
The 10 new smiley faces within the Cabinet may be new but the ole' addage states: one good appale spoils the bunch. A good example that this saying still holds true was evident in the recent protest by residents of La Grange over the poor water supply in their area.
Their protest promted a visit from the Minister of Housing and Water- A Minister long spoiled by the bad apple (Ask AFC member Boyo Ramsaroop).
GINA describes the visit:
Residents of La Grange to get adequate water supply
-New well being installed
Minister of Housing and Water Harry Narine Nawbatt today visited several areas on the West Bank of Demerara where he interacted with residents who complained of poor water supply.
Residents of La Grange who have been receiving inadequate water supply will soon get a normal supply as a new well is being constructed in the area.
“We would hope that the entire situation on the West Bank be sorted out long before Christmas,” the Minister said.
Guyana360: The Minister should be ordering GWI to fix the problem before Christmas, not just hoping that it be fixed. Too many hopes in one mind, leads to hopelessness and there are many Guyanese dabbling in dreams. Minister Nawbatt and the Jagdeo Governmnet must know that a reactive government may be good for PR and helping to gain popularity among the masses but a proactive government will always be respected as a force of authority. Castro, Chavez and Bush are all proactive leaders; President Bharrat Jagdeo? Well we need not say much more.
Their protest promted a visit from the Minister of Housing and Water- A Minister long spoiled by the bad apple (Ask AFC member Boyo Ramsaroop).
GINA describes the visit:
Residents of La Grange to get adequate water supply
-New well being installed
Minister of Housing and Water Harry Narine Nawbatt today visited several areas on the West Bank of Demerara where he interacted with residents who complained of poor water supply.
Residents of La Grange who have been receiving inadequate water supply will soon get a normal supply as a new well is being constructed in the area.
“We would hope that the entire situation on the West Bank be sorted out long before Christmas,” the Minister said.
Guyana360: The Minister should be ordering GWI to fix the problem before Christmas, not just hoping that it be fixed. Too many hopes in one mind, leads to hopelessness and there are many Guyanese dabbling in dreams. Minister Nawbatt and the Jagdeo Governmnet must know that a reactive government may be good for PR and helping to gain popularity among the masses but a proactive government will always be respected as a force of authority. Castro, Chavez and Bush are all proactive leaders; President Bharrat Jagdeo? Well we need not say much more.
GuyEpo 2k6…Ring, Ring
GuyEpo 2006 was yet another missed opportunity for local businesses to effectively widen their market base.
Entrepreneurs from across the length and breath of this land choked into the olden structures at Exhibition Site Sophia under sweltering heat to promote their businesses, many of them still managed a smile from behind harden faces of disappointments.
Guyana’s epitome of a large fair trade and exposition was nothing but a large fair and dance attracting several entertainment starved youths.
Organisors promised that the event would not been used as an entertainment attraction, even though better sense prevailed since persisting along with the non-entertainment tune would have certainly set GuyExpo on the wrong chord.
The largest crowd was experienced on Sunday, jamming the walkways and the tarmac but few ever ventured to look around at the booths, judging from the instantly recognisable ease at which those who remembered it was a trade fair were able to enjoy the booths.
Overwhelmed by the large crowds on Sunday the organisors tried desperately to sustain their high level of preparedness and security, but like the Berlin wall, systems collapsed.
At the ticket booths, patrons became uneasy; at the gates, thugs, chic-chic board operators, firearm holders-some members of our team included, slipped (strolled) by easily without a whisper from security officials for a check.
NO Checks!!! No patting-down of the women by male security personnel (As was done last year), even metal detectors failed on that particular night. All of this under the watchful eye of ICC/CWC officials, since GuyExpo was used as one of two venues to test Guyana’s security plan for CWC 2007.
Monday evening presented a similar situation in relation to security, but this time more patrons ensured they visited the booths.
Without having to wait for an official assessment, we could safely pronounce that security was a partial failure. Partial because the almighty allowed for a rather incident free exposition
Without having to wait six months for the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce to provide an assessment, we could safely say that GT&T and its cellular phone vendors rang out as the company with the best marketing initiative.
Those trade-in offers were magnet to patrons. Other companies such as Courts Guyana Inc. also did well to attract interest and create excitement at GuyExpo. In General companies that gave away prizes managed good support from visitors.
Overall GuyExpo was a big sham
The worst booth has definitely SAFECO Group of Companies, the parent company of Guyflag.
Entrepreneurs from across the length and breath of this land choked into the olden structures at Exhibition Site Sophia under sweltering heat to promote their businesses, many of them still managed a smile from behind harden faces of disappointments.
Guyana’s epitome of a large fair trade and exposition was nothing but a large fair and dance attracting several entertainment starved youths.
Organisors promised that the event would not been used as an entertainment attraction, even though better sense prevailed since persisting along with the non-entertainment tune would have certainly set GuyExpo on the wrong chord.
The largest crowd was experienced on Sunday, jamming the walkways and the tarmac but few ever ventured to look around at the booths, judging from the instantly recognisable ease at which those who remembered it was a trade fair were able to enjoy the booths.
Overwhelmed by the large crowds on Sunday the organisors tried desperately to sustain their high level of preparedness and security, but like the Berlin wall, systems collapsed.
At the ticket booths, patrons became uneasy; at the gates, thugs, chic-chic board operators, firearm holders-some members of our team included, slipped (strolled) by easily without a whisper from security officials for a check.
NO Checks!!! No patting-down of the women by male security personnel (As was done last year), even metal detectors failed on that particular night. All of this under the watchful eye of ICC/CWC officials, since GuyExpo was used as one of two venues to test Guyana’s security plan for CWC 2007.
Monday evening presented a similar situation in relation to security, but this time more patrons ensured they visited the booths.
Without having to wait for an official assessment, we could safely pronounce that security was a partial failure. Partial because the almighty allowed for a rather incident free exposition
Without having to wait six months for the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce to provide an assessment, we could safely say that GT&T and its cellular phone vendors rang out as the company with the best marketing initiative.
Those trade-in offers were magnet to patrons. Other companies such as Courts Guyana Inc. also did well to attract interest and create excitement at GuyExpo. In General companies that gave away prizes managed good support from visitors.
Overall GuyExpo was a big sham
The worst booth has definitely SAFECO Group of Companies, the parent company of Guyflag.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
U.S evanglist has cure to HIV/AIDS
Does this man hold the key to unlock a cure to HIV/AIDS that kills thousands globally each year?
Guess not...No cure says the Health Ministry.
This U.S. evanglist does look a bit suspicious, but his presence in Guyana created a difference in the minibus culture. Almost every minibus driver along route 45 was blasting gospel music, a much welcome and soothing sound to the ear.
Could this HIV/AIDS curing, suspicious looking, toupee wearing, some say blaspheming, preaching, U.S. evanglist stay a while longer because he will learn that he is right at home with all the corrpution.
Welcome to the land of corruption where many other doctors who claim to have the cure to HIV/AIDS are allowed to practice at free will.
Welcome to the land where a pastor dictates that every member must sow a seed and out of which will spring a car, house and land for the preacher to continue his work for the higher calling.
Welcome to the land where the higher calling means that they are elevated above all other church members and they pass in their fancy cars and toot their horns at you while the soul of your feet slam against the tar pitched roads.
Welcome home Sir. Come for the church stay for the corrupt officials if you were not corrupted before you are bound to get a life changing experience.
Guess not...No cure says the Health Ministry.
This U.S. evanglist does look a bit suspicious, but his presence in Guyana created a difference in the minibus culture. Almost every minibus driver along route 45 was blasting gospel music, a much welcome and soothing sound to the ear.
Could this HIV/AIDS curing, suspicious looking, toupee wearing, some say blaspheming, preaching, U.S. evanglist stay a while longer because he will learn that he is right at home with all the corrpution.
Welcome to the land of corruption where many other doctors who claim to have the cure to HIV/AIDS are allowed to practice at free will.
Welcome to the land where a pastor dictates that every member must sow a seed and out of which will spring a car, house and land for the preacher to continue his work for the higher calling.
Welcome to the land where the higher calling means that they are elevated above all other church members and they pass in their fancy cars and toot their horns at you while the soul of your feet slam against the tar pitched roads.
Welcome home Sir. Come for the church stay for the corrupt officials if you were not corrupted before you are bound to get a life changing experience.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Slowly but Surely
Slow going…
Not much has been happening in the bloggers world lately, based on my jog through the arena.
Livinguyana is about to embark on its annual awards presentation for Guyanese journalists. Question is apart from naming reporters to individual categories, will they actually recieve insentives? Lately, many of our local reporters have been receiving both local and overseas awards for good reporting. Kudos to the media!!!
There is still no light over at the Demerara Light House as the bloggers there have been unable to post in several weeks.
Sharon over at the Voice over blog makes the point about large and small companies…Don’t worry all of her criticisms are channeled at promoting her marketing business.
Guyana gyal is still enthralled by an ole’ school friend.
Keep Blogging folks...
Not much has been happening in the bloggers world lately, based on my jog through the arena.
Livinguyana is about to embark on its annual awards presentation for Guyanese journalists. Question is apart from naming reporters to individual categories, will they actually recieve insentives? Lately, many of our local reporters have been receiving both local and overseas awards for good reporting. Kudos to the media!!!
There is still no light over at the Demerara Light House as the bloggers there have been unable to post in several weeks.
Sharon over at the Voice over blog makes the point about large and small companies…Don’t worry all of her criticisms are channeled at promoting her marketing business.
Guyana gyal is still enthralled by an ole’ school friend.
Keep Blogging folks...
NCN doing the “Wacky Dip”
The state-owned National Communications Network (NCN) in its usual haphazard way sought to make a bold statement by banning Passa Passa music from its programming.
Good for them, but the management must now be asked; what is Passa Passa music?
NCN with its fuzzy (no pun intended) policies seems confused as the rest of Guyana about this new Jamaican thing.
I say thing because most Guyanese seem not to know that Passa Passa started out as a dance in Jamaica on Ash Wednesday, 2003 and has now progressed as a culture.
Passa Passa incorporates, dance, music, fashion and colloquialism, making it the most successful fad to date in the history of dancehall.
Its spread has touched the shores of Japan and Europe and Guyana being the sponge of cultural identities has adopted everything that comes with Passa Passa.
Unlike some Caribbean countries, our Government has turned a blind eye to the staging of events that resembles the lewd Jamaican version of Passa Passa street jams.
NCN is trying to do what the Government has failed to do and that is to address the issue, especially since photographs published sometime ago by Kaieteur News show school-age children turning up at some of these events.
Those Afro-Guyanese based groups have also turned a blind eye to these developments although mostly Afro-Guyanese are seen in the environment where you have young girls and boys, provocatively dressed, partying late at nights in an arena that rewards lawless, licentious and lascivious behavior.
But, NCN needs to firstly understand that Passa Passa incorporates dancehall and reggae music. Are these genres banned from local radio?
Will NCN refuse to air, “Out and Bad” by Elephant man or “Ghetto Story” by Baby Cham in preference for R. Kelly’s “Slow Wine”?
There are other songs coming from the North that are just as bad as some of those dancehall lyrics and they are played repeatedly on NCN.
I am not advocating that all dancehall songs are for public consumption, but if NCN must conduct their censorship, it must be based on merit and not because a few people hop on a band wagon to express concern.
Some of these very people have their own misguided reasons.
NCN should focus more on important issues, like balancing its broadcast to incorporate African movies and more exposure of Afro-Guyanese celebrations to mirror those of Indo-Guyanese as was done during the recent festival of lights.NCN appears to be stepping to the “left and dipping” in its policies.
Good for them, but the management must now be asked; what is Passa Passa music?
NCN with its fuzzy (no pun intended) policies seems confused as the rest of Guyana about this new Jamaican thing.
I say thing because most Guyanese seem not to know that Passa Passa started out as a dance in Jamaica on Ash Wednesday, 2003 and has now progressed as a culture.
Passa Passa incorporates, dance, music, fashion and colloquialism, making it the most successful fad to date in the history of dancehall.
Its spread has touched the shores of Japan and Europe and Guyana being the sponge of cultural identities has adopted everything that comes with Passa Passa.
Unlike some Caribbean countries, our Government has turned a blind eye to the staging of events that resembles the lewd Jamaican version of Passa Passa street jams.
NCN is trying to do what the Government has failed to do and that is to address the issue, especially since photographs published sometime ago by Kaieteur News show school-age children turning up at some of these events.
Those Afro-Guyanese based groups have also turned a blind eye to these developments although mostly Afro-Guyanese are seen in the environment where you have young girls and boys, provocatively dressed, partying late at nights in an arena that rewards lawless, licentious and lascivious behavior.
But, NCN needs to firstly understand that Passa Passa incorporates dancehall and reggae music. Are these genres banned from local radio?
Will NCN refuse to air, “Out and Bad” by Elephant man or “Ghetto Story” by Baby Cham in preference for R. Kelly’s “Slow Wine”?
There are other songs coming from the North that are just as bad as some of those dancehall lyrics and they are played repeatedly on NCN.
I am not advocating that all dancehall songs are for public consumption, but if NCN must conduct their censorship, it must be based on merit and not because a few people hop on a band wagon to express concern.
Some of these very people have their own misguided reasons.
NCN should focus more on important issues, like balancing its broadcast to incorporate African movies and more exposure of Afro-Guyanese celebrations to mirror those of Indo-Guyanese as was done during the recent festival of lights.NCN appears to be stepping to the “left and dipping” in its policies.
Mail Trail...Speak your Mind
Mail Trail...A mail from a male who visited Guyana twice...
Your article and picture of visitors with the Water Street DemicoHouse in the background reminds me of the TWO visits made by my wife and I.
first with some trepidation in December 2003, since it was our first visitsince we married in Guyana in June 1963 - 40 years earlier, and again inSeptember 2005.
On both occasions we stayed with my sister-in-law in Croal Street, whoput herself and her family out for us, we walked about the city ofGeorgetown perfectly hapoily, despite the warnings about crime that we hadheard; we met a lot of very pleasant and friendly people who made us feelthat we HAD COME HOME and we even went for a boat trip up the Demerara fromLinden to visit my wife's old home.
The photograph (The Photograph was never sent) shows us and our boat behind us just after we had returnedto Linden. Yes there is crime in Guyana but there is far more where we are livingnow in England.
Thank you to all our Guyanaese family and friends for making our visitsso happy and welcoming.
Donald Robinson.
Email us your views and news at guyana360@gmail.com
Your article and picture of visitors with the Water Street DemicoHouse in the background reminds me of the TWO visits made by my wife and I.
first with some trepidation in December 2003, since it was our first visitsince we married in Guyana in June 1963 - 40 years earlier, and again inSeptember 2005.
On both occasions we stayed with my sister-in-law in Croal Street, whoput herself and her family out for us, we walked about the city ofGeorgetown perfectly hapoily, despite the warnings about crime that we hadheard; we met a lot of very pleasant and friendly people who made us feelthat we HAD COME HOME and we even went for a boat trip up the Demerara fromLinden to visit my wife's old home.
The photograph (The Photograph was never sent) shows us and our boat behind us just after we had returnedto Linden. Yes there is crime in Guyana but there is far more where we are livingnow in England.
Thank you to all our Guyanaese family and friends for making our visitsso happy and welcoming.
Donald Robinson.
Email us your views and news at guyana360@gmail.com
Fraud Alert...
Peter Fischer pfischer53@yahoo.co.uk
Oct 11
Dear Sir,
Please permit me to introduce myself to you. I am PETER FISCHER, AnAccountant in London, United Kingdom. I got your contact from theBritish Council, and I have decided to contact you so that we cancarry out this mutually beneficial business transaction.
My late Client (A National of your COUNTRY) until his death aboard anAERO FLIGHT 801 in 2001 deposited a total of USD$5.5M with THAMES BANK,UNITED KINGDOM.
He gave me the custody of the deposit documents, and as such entrustedme with the Legal Rights to transfer and execute this deposit to anyNext of Kin after his demise.
I have since tried to locate any Next ofKin without success, hence I decided to contact you so that you canrightfully stand as the next of kin to inherit the deposited sum byvirtue of the fact you share the same SURNAME as my late CLIENT.
I am writing you confidentialy because you will be able to claim thisDEPOSIT because you have the same SURNAME as my Late CLIENT.You will be entitled to 30% of the total sum should you be willing toassist me in this business transaction, 10% will be earmarked fortaxation expense and I will get the remaining 60%.I will prepare a formal agreement to guide us in this transaction foraccountability purpose as soon as I get a response from you.
Yours truly,
Peter Fischer42 Campshill Road, London United Kingdom.Tel: +44 701 112 8957Email: pfischer53@yahoo.co.uk
Guyana360: These F^&#ing, "bleep", people are just trying to get your email and/or computer IP address to send you junk mails. Guyanese be warned, do not fall prey for these get-rich-quick schemes, they are all fraud.
Guyana is hard but get rich schemes on the Internet are never true and you will never win a free car or mobile phone.
And just one way of proving these schemes are fraud. Mr. Peter Fisher says that his now dead client and Guyana 360 share the same surname. Unless his client's surname is 360, then its a BIG OLE' FRAUD.
Oct 11
Dear Sir,
Please permit me to introduce myself to you. I am PETER FISCHER, AnAccountant in London, United Kingdom. I got your contact from theBritish Council, and I have decided to contact you so that we cancarry out this mutually beneficial business transaction.
My late Client (A National of your COUNTRY) until his death aboard anAERO FLIGHT 801 in 2001 deposited a total of USD$5.5M with THAMES BANK,UNITED KINGDOM.
He gave me the custody of the deposit documents, and as such entrustedme with the Legal Rights to transfer and execute this deposit to anyNext of Kin after his demise.
I have since tried to locate any Next ofKin without success, hence I decided to contact you so that you canrightfully stand as the next of kin to inherit the deposited sum byvirtue of the fact you share the same SURNAME as my late CLIENT.
I am writing you confidentialy because you will be able to claim thisDEPOSIT because you have the same SURNAME as my Late CLIENT.You will be entitled to 30% of the total sum should you be willing toassist me in this business transaction, 10% will be earmarked fortaxation expense and I will get the remaining 60%.I will prepare a formal agreement to guide us in this transaction foraccountability purpose as soon as I get a response from you.
Yours truly,
Peter Fischer42 Campshill Road, London United Kingdom.Tel: +44 701 112 8957Email: pfischer53@yahoo.co.uk
Guyana360: These F^&#ing, "bleep", people are just trying to get your email and/or computer IP address to send you junk mails. Guyanese be warned, do not fall prey for these get-rich-quick schemes, they are all fraud.
Guyana is hard but get rich schemes on the Internet are never true and you will never win a free car or mobile phone.
And just one way of proving these schemes are fraud. Mr. Peter Fisher says that his now dead client and Guyana 360 share the same surname. Unless his client's surname is 360, then its a BIG OLE' FRAUD.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Minister of the Year...
If there is ever a Minister of the Year Award we would like to nominate the Hon. Robert Montgomery Persaud,(MBA) Minister of Agriculture. He seems to be doing more work than any other Minister. Or so it appears in the media. Take a look at some of the activties over the last few days that was reported in the press...
Monday October 9:
Government to ensure reactivation of drainage reserve at Providence
Sunday October 8:
Agriculture Minister meets Wakenaam rice farmers
Monday October 9:
Government to ensure reactivation of drainage reserve at Providence
Government will be taking steps to initiate action against persons occupying and utilising culverts, causing damage and blockage of drainage systems.
This is according to Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, other Crops and Livestock, Robert Persaud, who visited Providence, East Bank Demerara today, following reports from residents and the business community, of a blocked drainage reserve/trench.
Sunday October 8:
Agriculture Minister meets Wakenaam rice farmers
Same Sunday...
Agri Ministry threatens action for breach of Rice Factories Act
Rice millers and farmers can be prosecuted for agreeing to any condition that is not in adherence to the Rice Factories Act. This is according to a release from the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Rice Factories Act states that ‘No person shall sell, purchase or receive paddy for the manufacture of rice except at a price calculated on a bag of 143 pounds net or such other weight as may be prescribed by the Minister by order.’
Saturday October 7:
CARICOM Agri. Ministers resuscitate Jagdeo Initiative
Governments of the Caribbean States have agreed that there is need for more focus to be placed on the constraints facing agriculture in the region. This is according to Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud, who recently returned from the conference of Caribbean Agriculture Ministers, which was held in The Bahamas.
Guyanese Killed by Venezuela Army in Guyana waters
Guyana 360: When Venezuelan's could open fire in Guyana waters, then diplomacy must be a last resort.
But, when you face a monster in the likes of Hugo Chavez, diplomacy becomes the best viable option...Do we still support Venezuela for the temporary UN Secuity Council Seat?
Here is the full story as printed in today's KAIETEUR NEWS....
Venezuelan Coast Guard reportedly opened fire in Guyanese waters
Survivors of Friday's shooting incident at Eteringbang are alleging that Venezuelan Coast Guard ranks opened fire on their vessel while they were in Guyana waters.
Police have identified the victim as Paul Singh, a 35-year-old dredge operator, of El Dorado Village, West Coast Berbice.
Singh was shot in the region of the heart and on the left arm when the Venezuelan ranks shot at a Guyanese vessel that was travelling in the Cuyuni River.
According to statements received by local investigators, Singh and two other men had bought 25 drums of diesel fuel in Venezuela for their dredge, which is located in the Cuyuni backdam.
The party was returning to their camp via the Cuyuni River on Friday, when they were allegedly apprehended by ranks from the Venezuela Coast Guard.
One of the ranks remained to guard the crew while the others left.
Kaieteur News understands that after the other ranks had departed, the Guyanese crew decided to escape.
They resumed their journey, and had entered Guyanese waters when the Venezuelan Coast Guards, who had pursued the fleeing crew, opened fire, mortally wounding Singh.
The survivors were apparently allowed to continue on their journey, and they reported the incident to army ranks stationed at Eteringbang.
Police said that Singh's body has been transported out of the interior.
Efforts to reach senior army officials for a comment on the shooting were unsuccessful.
Dennis Chabrol again...Oh
The BBC writes...
For the second time in two years Dennis Chabrol has been elected President of the Guyana Press Association (GPA) while Capitol News's Gordon Moseley was elected his vice-president at yesterday's Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the Chronicle Sports Club.
Chabrol, 40, got the nod from 24 out of the 48 eligible voters who attended the meeting. Moseley, who also contested that position, received 15 votes and NCN's Martin Goolsaran trailed with nine. The meeting was not without its controversy, as outgoing President Julia Johnson stated in her farewell speech that she would not support Chabrol for president which caused some concern for Chabrol's Guyana Media Uniters (GMU) which was contesting the presidency, vice-presidency, secretary, treasurer, assistant secretary and two committee member positions.
In the end the GMU took five of the seven positions on the executive. In addition to Chabrol who secured the presidency, Nigel Williams of the Stabroek News was elected secretary; Shonette Moore of News 2, assistant secretary; and Oluatoyin Alleyne and Neil Marks of the Stabroek News and the Guyana Chronicle respectively, committee members. The other two positions that had been contested by the GMU were the vice-presidency, which Moseley won after a coin was flipped when he and the GMU's Frank Wilson of Kaieteur News each received 24 votes; and the post of treasurer, won by Nazima Ragubir of Prime News who beat the GMU's Christopher Yaw of Stabroek News by one vote.
Others voted in as committee members were Enrico Woolford of Capitol News and Paul McAdam of the Evening News. The GMU had been campaigning weeks before the election and had garnered support from many media workers outside Georgetown who were unable to attend the meeting. The GMU had hoped that members could have voted for their absent supporters by way of proxy, however, all 18 of the proxy forms were rejected because they were not on a form issued by the GPA and they were not in the handwriting of the person who had issued them.
Chabrol, the new president, has been a media practitioner all his working life, having entered radio on a work-study attachment at the now defunct Guyana Broadcasting Corporation in 1984. He began his media career as an Audio Control Operator and later got involved in on-air, news and current affairs productions before leaving to work as Chief of the Caribbean News Agency's (CANA) (now the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) Bureaus in Georgetown and in Antigua for the Leeward Islands. Currently, he is the correspondent for Agence France Presse and one of the local contributors to the Caribbean Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Guyana 360: Congrats there Mr. Dennis and We look forward to a more vibrant media that will be more investigative and dish out more intellegent stories
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
A strange story
Who would have guessed that somewhere in Guyana, a television personality the likes of Mr. Gordon Moseley (one of the best reporters in the fraternity) would be mistaken for another or former media personality.
After appearing on the cover of GEM (Guyana’s Everything else but entertainment Magazine), the aspiring GPA President is mistaken for Duane Fowler (Where in the world is he though) a promising television anchor that loves to take gambles…Took too many gambles at too many media houses so he left.
But how could one natty down at Vizion Sound make such a slip-up?…Jah Rasta, de man “Fowl-up”
I guess Moseley is Fowler’s doppelganger though he may beg to differ…
After appearing on the cover of GEM (Guyana’s Everything else but entertainment Magazine), the aspiring GPA President is mistaken for Duane Fowler (Where in the world is he though) a promising television anchor that loves to take gambles…Took too many gambles at too many media houses so he left.
But how could one natty down at Vizion Sound make such a slip-up?…Jah Rasta, de man “Fowl-up”
I guess Moseley is Fowler’s doppelganger though he may beg to differ…
My heart bleeds
Who are these hooligans and why are they on our roads?…Why did they flee the accident scene? Guyanese need answers.
Something needs to be done to ensure that our roads are safer and it has to start with the police, the guardians of life and property. But first they need to clean up their internal act before they even budge to clean up the roads.
We urge that they stop selling bogus driver's licenses for $40,000...is that the price Guyanese must pay as the police get richer at the expense of innocent lives?
Ref: A friend of ours said her husband paid a police friend $40,000 and he was able to acquire his driver's license without taking a single test.
In Guyana any and everything is on sale... no wonder the Barbadian Chief Immigration Officer was so critical of our passport system.
Something needs to be done to ensure that our roads are safer and it has to start with the police, the guardians of life and property. But first they need to clean up their internal act before they even budge to clean up the roads.
We urge that they stop selling bogus driver's licenses for $40,000...is that the price Guyanese must pay as the police get richer at the expense of innocent lives?
Ref: A friend of ours said her husband paid a police friend $40,000 and he was able to acquire his driver's license without taking a single test.
In Guyana any and everything is on sale... no wonder the Barbadian Chief Immigration Officer was so critical of our passport system.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Kudos to Mike Charles!!!
Finally some good news...
Mike Charles, the GDF’s wonder pilot has done well with his new release, “Guyana Yours to Discover, Visit Guyana 2007 Edition” which showcases Guyana as a major tourist destination. Good work el Captain.
Here is what one of our fans, Vanita had to say...
First I want to say Bravo to Mike Charles Production for your work on putting that DVD together it was a job well done.
Secondly i am writing from Canada, and for me showing that DVD to friends that never visited Guyana before highlights the fact that Guyana is not that developed, as most of the highlights were on the Amerindians and their ways of life which is good. However having a DVD on the more conventional side of Guyana will be nice also.
Companies like Banks DIH, Chico , the Bauxite Mining, the light house, Coffee Monument etc i think these places will make for an interesting combination, i'm sure alot of our North American Family will appreciate the sentiment. Some of Guyana's resorts and water parks can also be a highlite. Before i close this email also i would like to say that i really enjoyed the songs played on the 2007 DVD.
Keep up the good work and God Bless Our Nation
Vnita
Canada !!!
Mike Charles, the GDF’s wonder pilot has done well with his new release, “Guyana Yours to Discover, Visit Guyana 2007 Edition” which showcases Guyana as a major tourist destination. Good work el Captain.
Here is what one of our fans, Vanita had to say...
First I want to say Bravo to Mike Charles Production for your work on putting that DVD together it was a job well done.
Secondly i am writing from Canada, and for me showing that DVD to friends that never visited Guyana before highlights the fact that Guyana is not that developed, as most of the highlights were on the Amerindians and their ways of life which is good. However having a DVD on the more conventional side of Guyana will be nice also.
Companies like Banks DIH, Chico , the Bauxite Mining, the light house, Coffee Monument etc i think these places will make for an interesting combination, i'm sure alot of our North American Family will appreciate the sentiment. Some of Guyana's resorts and water parks can also be a highlite. Before i close this email also i would like to say that i really enjoyed the songs played on the 2007 DVD.
Keep up the good work and God Bless Our Nation
Vnita
Canada !!!
Kudos for Mike Charles!!!
Finally some good news...
Mike Charles, the GDF’s wonder pilot has done well with his new release, “Guyana Yours to Discover, Visit Guyana 2007 Edition” which showcases Guyana as a major tourist destination. Good work el Captain.
Here is what one of our fans, Vanita had to say...
First I want to say Bravo to Mike Charles Production for your work on putting that DVD together it was a job well done.
Secondly i am writing from Canada, and for me showing that DVD to friends that never visited Guyana before highlights the fact that Guyana is not that developed, as most of the highlights were on the Amerindians and their ways of life which is good. However having a DVD on the more conventional side of Guyana will be nice also.
Companies like Banks DIH, Chico , the Bauxite Mining, the light house, Coffee Monument etc i think these places will make for an interesting combination, i'm sure alot of our North American Family will appreciate the sentiment. Some of Guyana's resorts and water parks can also be a highlite. Before i close this email also i would like to say that i really enjoyed the songs played on the 2007 DVD.
Keep up the good work and God Bless Our Nation
Vnita
Canada !!!
Mike Charles, the GDF’s wonder pilot has done well with his new release, “Guyana Yours to Discover, Visit Guyana 2007 Edition” which showcases Guyana as a major tourist destination. Good work el Captain.
Here is what one of our fans, Vanita had to say...
First I want to say Bravo to Mike Charles Production for your work on putting that DVD together it was a job well done.
Secondly i am writing from Canada, and for me showing that DVD to friends that never visited Guyana before highlights the fact that Guyana is not that developed, as most of the highlights were on the Amerindians and their ways of life which is good. However having a DVD on the more conventional side of Guyana will be nice also.
Companies like Banks DIH, Chico , the Bauxite Mining, the light house, Coffee Monument etc i think these places will make for an interesting combination, i'm sure alot of our North American Family will appreciate the sentiment. Some of Guyana's resorts and water parks can also be a highlite. Before i close this email also i would like to say that i really enjoyed the songs played on the 2007 DVD.
Keep up the good work and God Bless Our Nation
Vnita
Canada !!!
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Kerick the Bugger
Is this the same person that Mr. President wants to hire?
Not sure but this is a man called Bernard Kerick, a former NYC city Police Commissioner heading the force during the turbulent 9-11 bombings…Here is what the Foreign press has been saying lately of him, Click the highlighted words below...
Mr. Kerick is at it again
Guyana360:
Mr. Kerick is a Bugger, (Please don’t add or subtract any letters to the word) the same man that Mr. President is keen on hiring. So let’s have a Bugger reformer the Guyana Police Force and have a host of Buggers walking the streets. You know, how about a force full of Buggers?
Recently we have been rocked by the tapping of the phone line of Commissioner of Police Winston Felix. The Question is: was Kerick involved? He has admitted to accepting gifts from companies known to be involved in illigal activities.
Not sure but this is a man called Bernard Kerick, a former NYC city Police Commissioner heading the force during the turbulent 9-11 bombings…Here is what the Foreign press has been saying lately of him, Click the highlighted words below...
Mr. Kerick is at it again
Guyana360:
Mr. Kerick is a Bugger, (Please don’t add or subtract any letters to the word) the same man that Mr. President is keen on hiring. So let’s have a Bugger reformer the Guyana Police Force and have a host of Buggers walking the streets. You know, how about a force full of Buggers?
Recently we have been rocked by the tapping of the phone line of Commissioner of Police Winston Felix. The Question is: was Kerick involved? He has admitted to accepting gifts from companies known to be involved in illigal activities.
International Presidential Disrespect...
Saturday night was International Bar at the Thirst Park Ground but, there was nothing International there for as far as we could see. Guyana has its own cultural identity but it is being trampled upon and bypassed for more vulgar Caribbean and North American customs.
The event hosted by the Rotary Club should have been called Guyana Bar since Guyana being a multi-racial society represents many of the so-called products that were on sale.
The only addition was the Brazilian stall with those Brazilian girls with their sexy Spanish twang. Just hope they are not working a second job as strippers because the police will take them before the court once they are caught.
The night was dull, the performance was static and boring and the host, Mr. Mondale Smith seems to have lost his elegance and jovial style.
Mr. President was in attendance, so too was his close friend (just ask the people over the Demerara River) and Minister of Tourism Manniram Persaud. They were joined by Odinga and several body guards…quite frankly the entire entourage looked worn-out.
The President just stood there as if he was glued to the ground, any move and a sharp shooter would have had him in his grasp.
The fact that a dance group danced to a tune called: “Duty Wine” which incorporated several expletives (too much to repeat here) at earshot distance to numerous children did not even make the President and his team budge.
The Passa Passa dancers trilled the crowd and the host for the night seems to have taken a liking to the Passa Passa craze. Just to let him know the words in Jamaican dialect means to gather and not talk name as he alluded.
Passa Passa must go and the President had a first hand view and hearing of what this Passa Passa craze has done to Guyana.
Enough of it! The President should have felt disrespected when that Dutty wine song was played and should have left the event. It’s a pity that he stayed and supported the event despite the expletives that were belted out over the Thirst Park plains.
Except for a sprinkle of “Chinee” food that tasted like creolese cuisine and a few Coors Beer that could never stand the test with the locally produced Banks Beer, the International Bar could only be described as a money making deceitful show.
I recalled standing for an hour to buy one Banks Beer, having to wait just five minutes to buy a Carib Beer for a close friend and having to wait for a mere minute to buy an American beer.
All of this means something that the organizers must take on board for next year’s International Bar.
Lets have more local products and dub the event, “Guyana Bar” and ban that Jamaican Passa Passa nonsense.
The event hosted by the Rotary Club should have been called Guyana Bar since Guyana being a multi-racial society represents many of the so-called products that were on sale.
The only addition was the Brazilian stall with those Brazilian girls with their sexy Spanish twang. Just hope they are not working a second job as strippers because the police will take them before the court once they are caught.
The night was dull, the performance was static and boring and the host, Mr. Mondale Smith seems to have lost his elegance and jovial style.
Mr. President was in attendance, so too was his close friend (just ask the people over the Demerara River) and Minister of Tourism Manniram Persaud. They were joined by Odinga and several body guards…quite frankly the entire entourage looked worn-out.
The President just stood there as if he was glued to the ground, any move and a sharp shooter would have had him in his grasp.
The fact that a dance group danced to a tune called: “Duty Wine” which incorporated several expletives (too much to repeat here) at earshot distance to numerous children did not even make the President and his team budge.
The Passa Passa dancers trilled the crowd and the host for the night seems to have taken a liking to the Passa Passa craze. Just to let him know the words in Jamaican dialect means to gather and not talk name as he alluded.
Passa Passa must go and the President had a first hand view and hearing of what this Passa Passa craze has done to Guyana.
Enough of it! The President should have felt disrespected when that Dutty wine song was played and should have left the event. It’s a pity that he stayed and supported the event despite the expletives that were belted out over the Thirst Park plains.
Except for a sprinkle of “Chinee” food that tasted like creolese cuisine and a few Coors Beer that could never stand the test with the locally produced Banks Beer, the International Bar could only be described as a money making deceitful show.
I recalled standing for an hour to buy one Banks Beer, having to wait just five minutes to buy a Carib Beer for a close friend and having to wait for a mere minute to buy an American beer.
All of this means something that the organizers must take on board for next year’s International Bar.
Lets have more local products and dub the event, “Guyana Bar” and ban that Jamaican Passa Passa nonsense.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
