Thursday, April 16, 2009

PNCR on the Van Beek shooting

The People’s National Congress Reform has received the shocking news of the shooting of Ms. Maria Van Beek this morning on Lombard Street, in the vicinity of the Public Buildings.


Whether it was an attempted robbery or for other reasons, the Party unreservedly condemns this criminal act and would urge the Commissioner of Police and the Jagdeo Administration to act with dispatch to ensure that the perpetrator(s) are caught and placed before the courts.


The Party has learnt, with some relief, that Ms.Van Beek is in a stable condition in a hospital in Georgetown.

The PNCR wishes her a speedy and full recovery.

More news on Van Beek

Further to this AP story, it is being reported that Van Beek was shot twice in the chest area.

Breaking News: Van Beek esecapes execution attempt

A gunman shot a Guyana official in charge of dissolving a failed insurance company as she drove to work Thursday, police said.

Insurance commissioner Maria Van Beek, who was hospitalized with a wound in her abdomen, has gained a high profile through the liquidation of Colonial Life Insurance Co. The company has 15,000 clients in this South American country.

The motive for the shooting was unclear, assistant police commander Ivan Daniels said.

"We are investigating exactly what happened," he said.

The collapse of Clico has left many policyholders and pension fund contributors in Guyana anxious about the company's ability to honor its commitments. Earlier this week, Van Beek filed a report saying the company's liabilities of more than $60 million far exceed its assets.

Guyana seized Clico after its parent company in Trinidad, CL Financial Ltd., received a government bailout. CL Financial suffered huge losses in real estate investments and could not borrow enough money on credit markets paralyzed by the global financial crisis.

President Bharrat Jagdeo's administration has said it will borrow from the Treasury to pay Clico policyholders, but payment could drag out over a 10-year period.

The bailout of the investment holding company — whose interests include manufacturing, health services, spirits, real estate and energy — sent shock waves across the 15-nation Caribbean Community bloc, where CL Financial is the largest business group.

Regulators in other countries including the Bahamas and Belize are moving to liquidate local Clico subsidiaries to protect depositors.

Who is a cool-aid drinker?

In Guyana politics, the phrase 'soup drinker' has been used time and time again to describe individuals closely associated with the Governing PPP/C regime, who are willing to sell their souls just to be recognised by the Government.

Perhaps that is putting it lightly when one considers what these persons are giving up. Hence, going foward, this blog will recognise such individuals as cool-aid drinkers.

The likes of Kwame McKoy and Bishop Juan Edghill will be known as cool-aid drinkers.

The former Attorney General, Doodnaught Singh became a soup drinker during the 1997 elections and even declared...'that was good'

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Jagdeo goes begging again!

President Jagdeo leaves for Summit today with HIGH HOPES
- says President Obama’s presence at the Summit brings an ‘enlightened approach’ to several crucial issues up for discussion

By Mark Ramotar

PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo will today leave for the high-profile and much-talked-about Fifth Summit of the Americas to be held in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, where he has high expectations that at least ‘a few dollars or initiatives’ can emerge out of the long list of pledges currently on the draft declaration to be finalised by the some 33 Heads of State and Government that will be attending the Summit, including the highly popular United States President Barrack Obama. (Imran Khan/media critic should note length of sentence)


President Jagdeo, speaking at a news conference yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat in Georgetown, said he will be joining fellow leaders of CARICOM in a series of begging engagements before the formal opening of the summit tomorrow, in an effort to “concretise positions” that the regional leaders may wish to pursue at the Summit.


A wide-ranging declaration will be issued upon the conclusion of the summit on Sunday, entitled ‘Securing our citizens future by promoting human prosperity, energy security and environmental sustainability’.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Glenn's generousity

Meanwhile, Managing Director and Publisher of Kaieteur News Mr. Glenn Lall yesterday expressed concern on seeing the burnt shack in which the family had lived.

“That is extreme poverty. I can’t believe that a family could live under those conditions,” he said.

“These are the kinds of people who need cheap house-lots.”Mr. Lall has promised to assist the family financially and has invited Mr. Munroe to meet him at Kaieteur News on Tuesday.

In the meantime, he will also assist them with their funeral expenses.Mr. Lall said he would also appeal to his other business colleagues to assist the family.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Refreshing, stunning , compelling and certainly brave

It's not the Guyana Media Critic, but this certainly eases the pain. So long pro-government neophytes over at Liveinguyana.

Guyana Times editor praises govt.

Our financial system is soundI AM convinced that the financial system is sound in Guyana. Another of Guyana’s many banks, Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), has achieved a profit of some $940M even as the world is going through a financial crisis.


What is even more interesting is that the bank has invested some $2.6B for building a head office which will be completed by the end of this year. I have also noticed that there was a significant increase in the bank’s loan portfolio which has increased by a rate of $31.6%.


I sure hope that the critics of the financial system are taking note of this development. Isn’t this evidence that Guyana’s financial system is sound? Even after the financial downturn began last year, GBTI was still able to open another outlet at Diamond/Grove.


Some may wish to argue that the CLICO debacle has shown how vulnerable Guyanese are but the truth is that we are not much affected compared to some other countries.


I do believe that the financial crisis that is being experienced in other parts of the world could in fact be of advantage to us in Guyana because of our vast resources such as our agricultural base. On the contrary, Guyana could yet again emerge as the “Breadbasket of the Caribbean” because of this crisis!



NIGEL WILLIAMS

Jagdeo's child play

Head of State Bharrat Jagdeo says that he will agree to an investigation into what transpired at Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICO) Guyana only if there is a corresponding investigation into the affairs of Globe Trust and Investment Company Limited (GTICL). [Link]

Saturday, April 11, 2009

While RP was blogging...

Chairman of the No. 66 Fish Port Complex Pravinchandra Deodat has told Stabroek Business that irresponsible harvesting has contributed to a reduction in catch by as much as 40 per cent over the past two years and that there was indeed a need for the Ministry of Agriculture to put even stronger measures in place to protect the fishing industry. [Link]

Van West Charles returns to Guyana

Dr. Richard Van West- Charles, former Senior Minister of Health and PAHO/WHO Senior Manager and Special Advisor on Partnership with the International Financial Institutions for almost two decades has tendered his resignation and will return to his home, by the end of April, to continue his contribution to his native land and to strengthen the role of the People’s National Congress in creating a cohesive nation with equal opportunity for all its citizens regardless of race, color or creed.

Over the years, Dr.Van West-Charles visited anually and maintained contact with his homeland, and was invited to be President of a not-for-profit organization – Partnering and Networking for the Development of Guyana (PNDG) - dedicated to poverty alleviation and capacity building. The motto of the Guyana not-for-profit organization is “Safeguarding our future and protecting the vulnerable.”


In his capacity as President of the PNDG, Dr. Van West-Charles has established a network of concerned Guyanese, at home and abroad, and together they are working to bring relief to many families and a number of Guyanese communities. The organization, under its capacity building program, has donated computers to churches and schools.


As Senior Minister of Health, Water, Housing and Environment in the Guyana Government during the period 1980 – 1985, and later as Minister of Medical Education, Food Policy and Environment, Dr. Van West- Charles within his portfolio of Medical Education, led the team which established Guyana’s First School of Medicine at the University of Guyana (UG).


Dr. Van- West Charles, also served as a Member of Parliament, and was engaged in many CARICOM, Commonwealth and Non-Aligned Summits and initiatives. He also served as Guyana’s representative to the Governing Bodies of PAHO/WHO and the Executive Board of WHO.


Dr. Van-West’s service as a Minister of Health prepared him for the several capacities in which he later served PAHO/WHO. During his service to both organizations, he was the PAHO/WHO Representative to Jamaica; Cayman Islands; Bermuda; The Commonwealth of The Bahamas ; Turks and Caicos and was also responsible for the technical cooperation for the Eastern Caribbean. He also was appointed as Area Manager for Information and Knowledge Management and acted as the Deputy Director of PAHO/WHO.


During his tenure, he travelled extensively and met with top Government officials of Latin America and the Caribbean, participated in many global and regional conferences which have shaped his vision and strengthened his capacity to make a significant contribution to the development of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. He was also immersed, in addition to health matters, in public administration, project management and implementation, politics, international affairs and diplomacy.


Doctor Van West-Charles will be accompanied by his wife Roxanne (nee Burnham) on his return to Guyana.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Lloyd King's 50 greatest hits

1) Why did Brindley Benn leave the PPP? Was it for ideological or real estate issues?

2) Was it true that at a PPP congress, Ranji Chandisingh had the highest votes over the Jagans?

3) As a Head of State, why was Dr. Cheddi Jagan's will not made public to show what were his personal possessions as distinct from gifts he had received in his capacity as President and Minority/Opposition Leader, in keeping with precedents in some countries?

4) Who are the policyholders in the PPP's commercial arm, GIMPEX? How this party practices Marxism-Leninism but runs the party like a corporate entity?

5) Is it true that the PPP owns a number of buildings and lands around the country including the East Bank of Demerara?

6) Who is the PPP's political leader? Janet Jagan or someone else?

7) What was the role of the House of Israel in Guyana? Was Rabbi Edward Washington really a religious leader or a political thug for the PNC?

8) Why did Fr. Andrew Morrison S.J allow the Reverend Jim Jones to use the Sacred Heart Church for Jones to perform his first quasi-faith-healing scam in Guyana?

9) What was the connection between the PNC and the Peoples Temple? Was Viola Burnham really a member of the Peoples Temple?

10) Is it true that the GDF's Frontline Band was Jim Jones' band instruments and where did all of Jones' financial resources disappear to?

11) If Burnham was this intellectual Titan, how come he never wrote a single book chronicling political developments in Guyana from his perspective?

12) Was Forbes Burnham truly the fifth richest Black man in the world and did he have large amounts of investments in Africa, especially in Zambia?

13) Who really is the author of the book 'From Pain to Peace'? Was it Hamilton Green or Rovin Deodat?

14) What was the role of Jack Kelshall in Guyana and was he Dr. Jagan's private secretary or a Soviet agent planted to overseer the running of Guyana?

15) What was the purpose of the X-13 Plan and why LFS Burnham had appointed Cde. Van Genderen known as 'Old Man' to report to him and gave instructions that military training must be carried out to Cde. I. Thomas? Is there a modern X-13 Plan still in existence in Guyana?

16) Is it true that Forbes Burnham had a hyphenated name Sampson-Burnham and why is it the never used hyphen?

17) Why was Sydney King expelled from the PNC? Was it because of his strong Afro-centric views or because Burnham supported Jagan for independence? Or is it because he had dropped a 'bombshell' on the PNC by contesting as an independent against Burnham?

18) How did the PPP's heroine, Kowsilla, die on March 6,1964 at Plantation Leonora? Did she run in front of the tractor or the driver drive through the protesting squatters? How, then, the driver was never charged with murder?

19) Who threw the bomb into the bus at Lusignan, killing 13 year old Godfrey Texiera and 11 other children?

20) Was the Home Affairs Minister, Janet Jagan correct to say that the Commissioner of Police, Peter Owen should not use the Volunteer Forces but the British soldiers since the Volunteer Forces and the rioters were the same. Was this statement a parallel to Hoyte's "kith and kin" in relation to the army and police?

21) Was the former Minister of Information and Chairman of CASWIG, Shirley Field-Ridley a rising star in the PNC and even capable of replacing Forbes Burnham?

22) Who instructed that the Sun Chapman boat be bombed while plying the Georgetown- Mackenzie route?

23) Why did Hugh Desmond Hoyte mysteriously deviate from Forbes Burnham's political and economic directions of how the party must go, dismantling all the party structures that will keep him in power?

24) How did the body of Donna Mc Kinnon end up on the vacant lot adjacent to Freedom House and no one could have detected how it was placed there although there were guards on a 24 hour basis there?

25) Was Bilal Ato the real killer of Fr. Darke or another House of Israel?

26) Does the PPP really have a wing called the Red Army and what is its purpose?

27) Was Forbes Burnham really assassinated by the Cubans? Did he really refuse the valuable advice by his son-in-law, Dr. Richard Van-West Charles to go to Cuba?

28) What was the Del Conte road scandal? Is it true that large sums of money were siphoned off from this project during the PPP-led administration in the 1960s?

29) Why was Ronald Waddel shot in his foot in Buxton prior to his execution and who really executed him?

30) Is Eusi Kwayana's formula for partition of Guyana on the basis of race part of the solution to the country's problems?

31) Who was responsible for placing the bomb at Freedom House that killed Michael Forde and the one at GIMPEX that killed Eddie Griffith? Why wasn't Eddi Griffith immortalised like Michael Forde?

31) Why was the Dr.Jagan-Clive Thomas formula as a slate did not materialise just prior to the 1992 elections?

32) Which leading WPA member returned home and described the slate as "too left:" and worked to destroy it?

33) What was David Hinds doing with guns concealed in a false-bottom suitcase at the airport?

34) If Dr. Jagan was extremely sick at the Walter Reed Army Medical Centre, how was it that he could have written that his wife should take over?

35) Why was Michael X brought into Guyana and hidden clandestinely on the Highway? Was it to kill Eusi Kwayana?

36) Is it true that Moses Nagamootoo, Reepu Daman Persaud, Feroze Mohammed had contemplated joining the PNC in 1983, following in the footsteps of Ranji Chandisingh and Vincent Teekah. Is it true that Nagamootoo et al had been given keys to a car PCC 151 to go to Congress Place?

37) Who really killed Vincent Teekah, who was the political author behind his death and what was the reason?

38) Did Brother Walter Rodney engage in a failed revolution when he met his death and GDF Sgt. 4141 Gregory Smith aka Cyril Johnson an agent of Burnham?

39) Who shot Peter Taylor, the owner of the Evening Post, since he represented big business and not the working class?

40) Why the police sources were unable to say how the high-powered GDF rifles had come into the possession of WPA activist Brother Ohene Koama?

41) Who really killed Security Guard, James Henry, at the newly built No.63 toll station on the Corentyne? Did Arnold Rampersaud really have any knowledge of this killing?

42) Who burnt down TUF activist and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Hydraulics, Arthur Abraham's home on Hadfield Street and killed him and most of the members of his family?

43) Who killed PPP Home Affairs Minister Claude Christian? Was he stabbed with an old umbrella or did he die from a heart attack?

44) Was Dick La Borde removed from his post in Berbice by Forbes Burnham? Was it because he refused to carry out racial orders given by Forbes Burnham or because earlier in Burnham's legal career, La Borde working as a court orderly firmly insisted that Burnham must remove from the court's door, resulting in Burnham being embarrassed?

45) Where were the 23,000 members derived from to attend the Pincer's last congress and how manage they cannot muster 23 persons for a simple picket line outside parliament?

46) Was the Buxton gunmen really Freedom Fighters, as dubbed by certain sections of the society, or were they criminals who operated 'guns for hire'?

47) Who burnt down the PNC's headquarters on Camp Street? Was it a Machiavellian tactic to blame the WPA or was it really the enemies of the PNC?

48) Why did Eusi Kwayana chase Ronald Wadell from the 'Lessons Place' in Buxton? Was Wadell preaching hate messages?

49) Why was Khemraj Ramjattan disciplined and expelled from the PPP? Is it that he was a rising star in the PPP's executive and a beacon of democracy or he really divulged information to the Americans? Did Moses Nagamootoo sell out on Khemraj Ramjattan at the last moment?

50) Is it true that all members of the PPP's Central Executive and Cabinet members must sign an un-dated resignation in the event that anyone of them deviates, in keeping with a communist culture?

If these questions should be answered truthfully, the political culture would be much healthier for one to exist and practice in and the process of healing and reconciliation will be evident or serve as political fertiliser for the tree of progress in Guyana.

The high-tech bill

The tabling of the Bill comes just shy of three months after a furore at the start of the year over President Bharrat Jagdeo’s alleged treatment of former First Lady Varshnie Singh, who said the Office of the First Lady was a “myth.”

Singh went public in January with complaints that she did not receive proper maintenance or care during their nine-year union. Singh, who revealed that the two were never legally married, also accused the head of state of, among other things, psychological domestic violence and using his authority to sideline her work for her sick children’s charity, the Kids First Fund. [link]

Twisted SN

When Stabroek News had visited Cox at the hospital on Wednesday, he could barely mumble a few words.

He was unable to open his eyes and the affected areas were severely swollen and black, while the skin on his chest was peeling.

Yesterday, his condition seemed improved. He was able to open his eyes and was more alert and responsive. In addition, his speech was clearer and relatively intelligible. Read the rest if you dare

Guyana360: Don't beat up on Sn for reporting this. They actually omitted the gruesome parts. The fact that the man's ear was hanging by the skin, his right side balls had swollen, his eyes had fallen in and his rib cage was visible through the skin. Thank you SN for omitting the most sickening parts.

Surprise

Did they did what?

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Political smoke screen

An official smoke screen.

Guyana no longer a sweet country

KINGSTON, Jamaica, April 9, 2009 - Despite setbacks in its sugar industry Jamaica led production in February among Sugar Association of the Caribbean (SAC) member states.
A release from the SAC says that in February, Jamaica produced 26,038 tonnes of sugar, compared to Belize's 10,503 tonnes; Guyana's 7,928 tonnes; and Barbados' 1,072 tonnes, following its late start on February 24.

Only four countries in the English-speaking region continue to export sugar. Trinidad and Tobago ceased production about two years ago. Total output by the four countries in February was 45,541 tonnes, with year-to-date production being 86,581.

However, Chairman of the SAC and General Manager of Jamaica Cane Product Sales, Karl James, said it is too early to say whether Jamaica will meets its target of 139,000 tonnes for the 2008/2009 crop.

"This reaping season has been one of the best ever, in recent times. It is taking fewer canes to produce the sugar, but it is early days yet. I think the end of March figures will give us a better indication, but those figures won't be ready until probably next week," he said.

According to the SAC, the region exported 35,054 tonnes of sugar to the European Union (EU) in February, bringing total sugar export to the EU to 155,296 tonnes. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) received 216 tonnes. Cumulative exports, including Complementary Quantities, United States and world market exports, added up to 163,720, of which 118,000 tonnes were from Guyana.

Jamaica has been trying to divest its five factories since moving to transform the industry, following the European Union's decision to reform its sugar regime in 2005/2006.
The huge debt burden of the Sugar Company of Jamaica (SCJ), which manages the government-owned factories, is also a major factor. The government has been looking for other private sector investors, since negotiations with Brazilian firm, Infinity Bio-Energy, fell through in January.

(JIS Story)

Friday, April 03, 2009

Konfuse us KN

After stealing a video camera, biting a police sergeant and assaulting two other ranks, an 18-year-old Berbician begged Magistrate Chandra Sohan for a chance to bargain with the court.But the magistrate was not prepared to enter into any agreement with Aubrey Mc Lennon and sentenced him to a total of nine years, three months in jail, on seven different charges. Earlier, McLennon had identified himself as Abdool Melaram.

and later in the story...

However, Magistrate Sohan was in no mood to entertain any suggestion from Mc Lennon. He sentenced the convict to three years in jail on the larceny charge, and 18 months each on the unlawful wounding charges, 12 months on each of the resisting arrest charges, and a further three months on the assault charge.The sentences are to run concurrently.

Get your cup ready BJ

As expected, the G20 won’t produce any big coordinated fiscal boost. Or at least not the kind that both British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and U.S. President Barack Obama had hoped.

But sources involved in the negotiations say it could provide as much as $1 trillion to the global economy through a combination of measures such as increased funding for the International Monetary Fund and a trade credit package.

British Minister Mark Malloch-Brown, the Prime Minister’s official envoy to the negotiations, says the aim is to bolster the economies of poorer countries. It’s providing “stimulus support for those parts of the globe that can’t do it on their own.”

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Yes...BJ should apologise

During an emotional eulogy at yesterday’s state funeral for former President of Guyana Janet Jagan, Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee broke down in tears and he called for an apology to the late president from those guilty of heinous acts perpetrated against her between 1997 and 1998 in the wake of the December 1997 polls.

The state funeral, which was held at Public Buildings, was well attended by individuals from every stratum of the social sphere, from diplomats to the ordinary man in the street who came out to pay respects to the fallen ‘freedom fighter’. (Link)