ARCHIVES FOR JUNE 02 2008
Welcome to our ARCHIVES
CONTACT
Editor-in-Chief
News Editor
Sports Editor
Webmaster
TOP STORY

Delta flies in to CARIFESTA X welcome
By Tajeram Mohabir
AIRLINE giant, Delta Air Lines Inc. made its inaugural flight into the Cheddi Jagan International Airport yesterday morning, to a warm reception hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, and the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA).


Minister Prashad, fifth from left, with the Delta crew.
The airline’s 181 passengers, who travelled non-stop from the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York to Guyana, were treated to a cultural display from the CARIFESTA X Performing Arts Committee as they filed past Tourism Minister Manniram Prashad and his delegation to book in their arrival.

They were also given snacks and CARIFESTA X brochures with information about the August extravaganza, compliments of the two tourism agencies.

Speaking to reporters at the airport at Timehri, East Bank Demerara, Minister Prashad disclosed that Delta will begin with three flights per week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, and this will be increased to five per week from July 1.

Sky Service is also expected to come on board from July 1.

“To have an international airline like Delta coming to Guyana will only do well for tourism and that’s why we are very upbeat about its arrival,” Prashad said.


Passengers deplane from the Delta Airlines inaugural flight into CJIA yesterday morning, to a stilt dancers performance. ( Pix by Cullen Bess-Nelson)
Prashad expects an increase in the number of tourists from New York visiting Guyana since the flights will be hassle-free, non-stop from JFK to CCJ and back to JFK.

Last year there was a 36 per cent increase in visitors’ arrivals over 2006, and it is estimated that arrivals for CARIFESTA X will be much higher than those for Cricket World Cup last year.

Delta District Sales Manager in Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and St. Lucia, Ms. Raquel Chandleur, told the media that the airline had decided to invest here nearly a year ago; and while there will be some initial challenges, every effort will be made to ensure Guyanese are offered a service that is second to none.

Captain of the airline which has expanded its operation to 25 new destinations in the past two years, James Stava, presented Minister Prashad with a text of the company’s history and said he looks forward to working in Guyana.

Delta Air Lines over the past two years has added more international capacity than any major U.S. airline and is the leader across the Atlantic with some 38 trans-Atlantic markets.

Delta offers more than 478 weekly flights to 58 destinations in the Caribbean and Latin America, and through its marketing alliances, customers can earn and redeem SkyMiles on nearly 16,409 flights offered by Sky Team and other partners.

Delta, a founding member of Sky Team, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services, along with other partners, offers flights to 474 worldwide destinations in 104 countries.

“Our bullish expansion in South America continues with this new flight between Georgetown and New York City, opening opportunities for Guyanese travellers to connect to a variety of worldwide destinations Delta offers via JFK,” Delta Vice President of Sales and Governance Affairs for Latin America and the Caribbean, Christophe Didier, said in a release.

Intermittent rainfall expected during the next 72 hours
- Prompt response to minimise effects of heavy rainfall on low-lying regions
The Ministry of Agriculture yesterday said that in the past 24 hours about 4 to 6.6 inches of rainfall have been recorded along the coast and in some other areas including parts of Regions 2, 5 and 6.

According to a release, the Ministry, through the National Drainage and

Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary/ Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA), along with the regional administrations, immediately mobilised to minimise flooding in certain communities in Region 2, 5 and 6.

The release said in Region 2, there was some accumulation of water at Golden Fleece but it has since receded, due to the low tide. In Region 5, Blairmont was mostly affected and the situation was further exacerbated by a coffer-dam built across the main canal for the construction of a bridge which has been under construction by the Region for the last six months.

But Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud has directed that the coffer-dam be removed immediately and a MMA/ADA pump be installed to accelerate drainage, the statement said.

In Region 6, water accumulated in several communities but moreso in Canefield, Canje, which is gradually receding due to gravity drainage at the Pepper Sluice, and the installation of a mobile drainage pump by the regional administration and Guysuco at the sluice to continue draining the area during the high tide.

The Region Six Chairman, Mr. Zulfikar Mustapha, and other technical officers, have visited several low lying communities and discussed possible interventions, the ministry noted, and pointed out that Persaud has also directed Guysuco to support the agencies and regional administrations to bring urgent relief to the situation.

According to the Ministry's Hydrometeorological Service, the amount of rainfall recorded between 8:00hours on 31st May and 8:00 hours on 1st June ranged from 4.0 millimeters to 160.0 millimeters, along coastal and near inland locations.

East Berbice and some areas in West Berbice recorded in excess of 3.5 inches of rainfall during the same period.

It added that data available indicated that D'Edward Village in Region 5 recorded 6.28 inches of rainfall in 24 hours. However, the average recorded countrywide 1.12inches).

The hydromet service explains that Guyana's current rainy season intensified because of the presence of a tropical wave in our environs which interacted with the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).

It said that the weather system was strongest over Region 6 and some areas in Region 5.

The weather agency disclosed that intermittent rainfall is expected during the next 72 hours, with occasional moderate to heavy downpours very likely in extreme southern locations and Region 2, 6 and 10.

In addition, the hydromet service has registered reasonably high probabilities of above average rainfall during June and July 2008.

“This means that intense and short duration episodic rainfall events are very likely to occur in June and July, thus necessary precautions should be exercised during this period,” it warned.

The Ministry of Agriculture has been constantly monitoring the situation and because of early preparedness and investment in drainage and irrigation, wide-scale flooding was prevented despite the high levels of rainfall.

Persaud yesterday departed Guyana for a Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) high level meeting on World Food Security in Rome, but has instructed that the strict monitoring routine continues.

The NDIA, the regional administrations and other agencies are closely monitoring the situation to undertake possible interventions to reduce the accumulation of water in residential and farming communities.

Meanwhile, the Ministry would like to encourage the general public and local government bodies to cooperate with the NDIA and other agencies to ensure all drainage canals are kept clear and to report anyone found tampering with government's D&I structures and dams, to the Guyana Police Force and the Ministry hotline at Telephone Numbers: 225-8310, 227-5049, and text messaging at 691-0000.

SELA forum: Guyana urges special fund to aid agriculture
In the light of the current global food crisis, Guyana renewed its call for the establishment of a special fund to provide support for access to appropriate technology, new varieties, and training for small-scale agricultural producers, at the regional high level meeting on food security in Caracas on May 30.

The call was made by Ambassador Odeen Ishmael who also urged the international financial institutions to provide concessionary term credit for small agricultural producers to assist them in overcoming the high cost of restarting after losses due to floods, pests or other natural phenomena.

The meeting attended by representatives of the 26-member Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA), as well as international and regional organisations, drew up a list of recommendations to send to the Latin American and Caribbean Group accredited in Rome to international organisations. This list will reinforce the Group’s position during the discussions there at the up-coming “High-Level Conference on World Food Security and Challenges posed by Climate Change and Bioenergy”.

Among the recommendations is the promotion of the establishment “in any regional financial institution, of a special fund to assist countries with their food emergency programmes.”

The meeting also recommended that SELA should help in establishing a regional cooperation programme on food security in Latin America and the Caribbean, and lend its support to existing sub-regional cooperation programmes on food security, such as that of Caricom.

Ishmael, in his address to the meeting, referred to specific actions taken by the Guyana government to alleviate the problems in the cost of living caused by the escalating food prices. He explained that these include a 5 percent increase in pay for Government workers, retroactive to last January; an increase in the tax free allowance for low income workers; a reduction from 17 percent to 7 percent of the tax on fuel; and the distribution of seeds, fertilisers and pesticides to farmers aimed at increasing food production, which is part of a “Grow More Food” campaign initiated countrywide.

The Guyanese ambassador also provided information on the response of Caricom governments in the face of this changing situation.

He pointed out that even before the food situation took on global proportions, the Heads of Government of Caricom already began to address the impact of the food situation, and agreed that, as a priority, they have to increase agricultural production in order to meet the needs of the region.

He emphasised the significance of this response since there are eight Caricom nations dependent on agriculture with 10 to 40 percent of their GDP being attributed to this sector.

The strategic importance of agriculture in Caricom, he noted, was emphasised by President Bharrat Jagdeo of Guyana since 2004 when he developed a strategy to reposition Caribbean agriculture in the economic development of the region.

He explained: “This approach which is called the ‘Jagdeo Initiative’ seeks to re-position the agricultural sector to ensure food security, rural development and further wealth in the Caribbean. It is also an exercise to identify and define critical and binding constraints to agricultural repositioning and development in the Caribbean region. Thus, it proposes the implementation of targeted, focused and practical interventions at both the regional and national levels to alleviate these constraints.”

Ishmael also stated that in the endeavour to boost agricultural production, “the Guyana government is offering other Caribbean countries which have a serious shortage of suitable land, the opportunity to invest in agricultural production in Guyana in order to expand the region’s food supply and increase their agricultural exports.”
NEWS

Second Conference on the Caribbean for New York this month
THE second Conference on the Caribbean (CoC) will take place in New York , USA on June 19 and 20.

The Conference, which coincides with events to mark Caribbean-American Heritage Month in the United States, will focus primarily on education and investment, as well as facilitate engagement with the Caribbean Diaspora.

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government, at their Twenty-Eighth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in Barbados last year, had agreed to a dedicated visit to New York City in 2008. Congressman Charles Rangel, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee of the United States House of Representatives, with whom the Heads met in Washington DC during the first Conference on the Caribbean in June 2007, was a special guest at the Heads of Government Meeting. Congressman Rangel is also a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

The highly acclaimed first Conference on the Caribbean was held under the theme ‘Conference on the Caribbean: A 2020 Vision’, and its highpoint was a CARICOM-US summit when CARICOM Heads of State and US President George W. Bush held talks on 20 June, 2007, at the US Department of State.

The Conference represented the first time that policy-makers, the International Financial Institutions, the academic community, private sector and the people of the Caribbean and the United States interfaced in one Conference to examine the growth and development of the Caribbean Community from a regional perspective.

The United States is the Region’s closest developed country neighbour, its major trading partner and home to the largest number of migrants from the Caribbean. ( CARICOM Secretariat)

World Challenge Day observed in Guyana
Students from several city primary schools Friday participated in the World Challenge Day health-walk from the Ministry of Health to the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Homestretch Avenue.


The World Challenge Day parade moves along Homestretch Avenue
The primary schools that participated included the West Ruimveldt, South Ruimveldt Park, Enterprise, St. Pius, St. Thomas More, St. Sidwell’s and Tucville.

Minister within the Ministry of Education Dr. Desrey Fox said that it is important for Guyanese to participate in World Challenge Day as it helps to develop an attitude towards physical education in communities.

Minister Fox told the children how important they are to the development of the nation.

“I think this is a very good initiative as it relates to our children, because they are the foundation for the development of this nation and I think that we are more and more realizing that our nation is not that healthy,” the Minister said.

She encouraged the children to inculcate healthy lifestyle habits by eating a balanced diet and exercising daily.


Primary school children at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
“You have to eat properly if you are going to be healthy; exercise is also important for you because it helps you to think faster, it makes you more alert in school,” Minister Fox said.

She encouraged the students to also be competitive, whether in a game or in their work at school, always aiming for the best.

World Challenge Day is an event in which communities compete with each other in sports activities lasting 15 minutes or more. It began is Saskatchewan, Canada, in 1983. Since then it gradually spread across Canada and is now observed in over 30 countries.

Technical vocational education should meet challenges of globalization -- Minister Baksh
MINISTER of Education Shaik Baksh has emphasised the need for Technical Vocational Institutions in Guyana to review their curriculum to meet the challenges of globalization. He was at the time addressing the gathering at the fiftieth anniversary celebrations of the Linden Technical Institute at the Institute’s Compound, Linden, on Friday.

He said that there was a need for the institution to harness the human resources that had passed through the institution and for collaboration with the business sector in the community.


Education Minister Shaik Baksh delivers his feature address at the Linden Technical Institute’s fiftieth anniversary
Minister Baksh said that the Education Ministry’s new strategic plan will address the need for additional resources to be allocated for technical vocational education. The need to include training in Information Technology, Tourism, Agriculture and Agro-processing was highlighted during the Minister’s address.

Minister Baksh said that it is Government’s intention to retool all technical vocational institutions in Guyana to enable them to provide life skills to young Guyanese. The process has started with an allocation of $60M this year to retool secondary schools, enabling them to provide technical vocational training. Additionally government will be embarking on a programme to prepare teachers to deliver technical vocational training at the secondary level and collaborate with other agencies and Ministries offering training.

He also referred to the ‘fast track initiative’ literacy programme recently launched by the Ministry and the intention to establish the programme in all technical vocational institutions to improve the marketability of graduates.

Principal of the Linden Technical Institute Michael Turner, in his remarks, said the future of the institution is assured because of the commitment of the persons heading the local education sector. The institution has provided education to hundreds of persons who now are leaders in industry around the world, he said.

The institution, which started as a trade school for the bauxite industry, was brought under the management of the Ministry of Education in 1996.

The fiftieth anniversary celebrations commenced on May 26, with a fun-day and barbecue, a special anniversary church service on May 27 and a career fair at the institute on May 28.(GINA)

GBCHA awards five for HIV/AIDS contribution
By Wendella Davidson
THE Guyana Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GBCHA) has recognised five companies/organisations for their valuable contribution in response to HIV/AIDS, at an impressive ceremony dubbed 2008 Awards of Business Excellence on HIV/AIDS in the Workplace.

The event hosted Thursday evening was the second awards event to be staged by the GBCHA in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the venue, the Rupununi Room, Le Meridien, Pegasus, was appropriately decorated in the signature red and white synonymous with the HIV/AIDS fight .


The audience at the Guyana Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GBCHA 2008 Awards ceremony).

The recipients, Scotia Bank adjudged the Workplace winner; Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) – Core Competency Award; Youth Challenge Guyana, the Community /Media Award; Merundoi Inc., the National Action Award; John Fernandes Limited, and the award for HIV Counselling and Testing, Care and Treatment, and Support for Employees Living with HIV/AIDS, were presented with individual plaques.

Receiving Honorary Mention Award for Advocacy and Individual Leadership and also receiving plaques were Mr. Jagnarine Singh and Ms. Patricia Issacs both of the GRDB.

Presenting the awards were Prime Minister Sam Hinds; Dr Frank Anthony, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport; Mr. Robert Corbin, Leader of the Opposition; Director PANCAP, Dr Carl Brown; Dr Reuben Del Prado, Head of UNAIDS, Guyana and Suriname; and Dr Shanti Singh, Director, National AIDS Programme Secretariat.

As part of the Thursday evening event, 10 companies signed a workplace policies agreement which makes them part of the USAID/GHARP’s Private Sector Partnership Programme, having committed to help protect employees in the workplace through training and other activities designed to prevent and reduce HIV/AIDS.

The companies were Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), Kaieteur News, Neal and Massey (Guyana), Continental Group of Companies, CARICOM Rice Mills, Citizens Bank, City Council, Grace Kennedy Remittances(Guyana), John Fernandes Limited and Habitat for Humanity.

Among others present were Sir George Alleyne, United Nations Secretary General Special Envoy on HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean who delivered the keynote address; Dr Leslie Ramsammy, Minister of Health; Mr. Terrence Holder, Vice Chairman and Head of the Awards Subcommittee; Mr. Kwame Asiedu, Chief of Party and Ms Sylvia Delafield, Private Sector Adviser, United States Agency for International Development /Guyana HIV/AIDS Prevention and Reduction Project (USAID/GHARP); Ms. Gwen King, Workplace Programme Officer, USAID/GHARP and Ms Carol Ayoung, Chairperson, Pan Caribbean Business Coalition against HIV/AIDS and Chief Executive Officer, CAIC and members of the diplomatic corps.

Sir George, in his address, reminded the gathering of the ever present danger which HIV/AIDS poses to all of us.

According to him, “HIV/AIDS is ever-present to all of us. Everyone of us is at risk, no one is really safe from the virus,” which has claimed the lives of 1600 Guyanese between 2002 and 2005. He added that up until 2005, more than 30, 000 cases of AIDS had been reported to CAREC, while noting the disease is still the commonest cause of death in persons between the ages of 25 and 44.

The emergence of Business Coalitions in the tackling of AIDS is seen an effective platform for the private sector response to the epidemic, Sir George added.

Earlier, he had applauded the private sector companies that have made a public commitment to preventing and controlling HIV/AIDS by establishing new workplace policies that will help to reduce stigma and discrimination and help protect the rights of workers.

Noting the tremendous amount of work put in previously, Sir George recalled that during the past three years, USAID/GHARP, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), has helped to engage 43 private sector partners in workplace programmes and activities, reaching an estimated 66,000 workers and their families in the country.

This, Sir George remarked, is no mean feat, and he noted the response by the private sector organisations in providing support to the tune of some $US206, 000 in financial and in-kind resources.

Ms Ayoung, who introduced Sir George, referred to the activities of Pan Caribbean Business Coalition and added that it has been successful in keeping HIV/AIDS high on the agenda of policy and decision makers, and had too, coordinated and strengthened the regional response through joint action.

Earlier, Minister of Heath Dr Ramsammy also joined in congratulating the coalition, and expressed optimism that they will give leadership to the Caribbean coalition and will be a vital part in the global business initiative in the fight against the dreaded disease.

The evening, he said, was one to celebrate the entry of more private sector brothers and sisters into the fight and he called on those involved to reaffirm and commit themselves to the fight, while urging that they be bold and see only victory.

In a joint presentation, Mr. Asiedu and Ms Delafield recalled that two and a half years ago, at the same venue, there was celebration for the first set of 11 private sector agencies, while now the figure stands at 43. They expressed gratitude to USAID and the Ministry of Health for their support and guidance.

In a brief history about the GBC alliance, Mr. Holder said it was established on December 18, 2005, in the same Savannah Suite, when 22 private sector companies signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with USAID/GHRAP to support, encourage and enhance Guyana’s response.

Each company which signed the MOC with then US Ambassador Roland Bullen, had as a partner committed to help protect employees in the workplace through a variety of education and training initiatives, designed to prevent and reduce HIV/AIDS, as well as to several initiatives intended to meet employee and community needs.

Lending some flair to the occasion, which also featured a sumptuous dinner, were two excellent renditions in song by Edward Neblett and Jessica Xavier respectively, a dance by a representative group from the CARIFESTA X Secretariat and the drawing of five door prizes.

The prizes were a dinner for two, compliments of Cara lodge, a MP3 player by Scotia Bank, a Stihl Bag and a mini First Aid kit donated by Farfan and Mendes; a large hamper from the Beharry Group of Companies and a crystal set from Citizens Bank Guyana Inc.

Guyana joins in observing World Environment Week
Guyana yesterday joined the rest of the world in observing World Environment Week (June 1-7), under the theme “Kick the Carbon Habit!-Promoting Energy Conservation in Guyana.”One of the activities to mark this occasion was a “Green Walk” from the Umana

Yana, Kingston, to the Botanical Gardens, Vlissengen Road, from 7 hrs. Among participants were Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Presidential Adviser on Environment, Navin Chandarpal, representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), University of Guyana and secondary school students.


Prime Minister Samuel Hinds during his address at the Botanical Gardens.

The walk was organised by the Environmental Protection Agency as an activity to start the beginning of Guyana’s Environment Week.

In an address, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds said there is a global demand to reduce carbon emissions to decrease the rate of climate change in the future.

He noted that this year’s theme brings attention to the need to give priority to reducing fossil fuels by investing in the development and use of alternative energy such as wind, solar and hydro-electric energy.

The theme focuses on heightening awareness of the use of tropical forest in the removal of atmospheric carbon dioxide and slowing the rate of climate change. In addition, it emphasises conservation, improving efficiency in energy transportation, transmission, and the use and investment in technologies that result in the reduction of carbon emissions, the Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Hinds pointed out that evidence has shown that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased dramatically and is constantly increasing, which shows a direct link between the increase of carbon dioxide and the increase in temperature of the atmosphere.


Students of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Guyana.

Alluding to the many opportunities towards a low carbon economy in Guyana, Prime Minister Hinds noted that the need for kicking the carbon habit can provide impetus for innovation, new business and industries and employment opportunities across the developed and developing world.

“Our resolve to gradually move towards a low carbon economy would not necessarily imply starting over from scratch…Already there are many policies and technological options available to facilitate the transition. Under the Kyoto Protocol, many initiatives are being undertaken by both developed and developing countries toward lower carbon emissions…countries such as China, India and Brazil are investing significantly in renewable energy and many more countries have set targets for such investments,” he added .

The Prime Minister further stated that Guyana, as a developing nation, has been placing major emphasis on lowering carbon in the economy and he referred to the hydro electricity project which will be implemented to shift electricity supply from petroleum-based fuels.

He said the inclusion of the Reduced Emission from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) in the climate change convention meeting has opened up the opportunity for Guyana to benefit economically from its standing forest.

However, he said it would only become possible if the rest of the world would be willing to provide Guyana with fair economic and technological compensation to support the country’s development.

World Environment Day is commemorated each year on June, 5. The United Nations uses this day to stimulate awareness of the environment and enhance political attention and action.

World Environment Day will highlight resources and initiatives that will promote low carbon economies and life-styles, such as improved energy efficiency, alternative energy sources,forest conservation and eco-friendly consumption.
EDITORIAL

Hats off to Food for the Poor!
OVER the years, several non-governmental organizations have been operating in Guyana. While their activities vary widely, they more or less have one common goal. For these organizations, some of which are foreign affiliated, the human factor is the key to their activities and their primary aim is to help the less fortunate in society.

Not to under-play the scores of non-governmental organizations which have been doing yeoman service to the people of this country in their own way, and for which they deserve every degree of commendation, the Food for the Poor (Guyana) Inc. deserves a special place in the hearts of every Guyanese for the outstanding work it has done for the seventeen years it has been here.

Guyanese, especially recipients of that organisation’s generosity, are all in high praise for the help it has extended to people in despair throughout the country, breaking all barriers, whether be it political, racial, religious, or class, in its humanitarian mission to alleviate poverty and empower the poor throughout the length and breadth of this country.

Food for the Poor has over the years, been involved in many facets of human development of our people, and we would be remiss if we do not mention its role in the areas of housing, education and agriculture, among the several other areas in which it made valuable contributions.

Taken one by one, the organisation’s work in providing homes for the homeless would seem in the eyes of some people to be nothing to shout about, but when one looks at its contribution all together in his sector, one would better appreciate the gargantuan efforts it made over the years in this sector.

The people acknowledge and deeply appreciate the fact that between 2004 to the present time, Food for the Poor built 852 houses in various regions across Guyana, at a cost of some $508 million.

We recognise that the organisation’s activities in this area are multi-faceted. This, we believe, is good for the development of any country or society, for apart from providing houses for those persons who are unable to do so on their own, Food for the Poor also helps to create employment for contractors and their labour force, while the business sector also gets its share through supplying building materials, particularly lumber for the construction of the houses.

We are obliged to make mention of the organisation’s activities in the agriculture sector, especially at a time when global warming and climate change have sparked a rise in food prices and shortages on the world market. These world phenomena have been compounded by the fact that China and India, the world’s two largest populations, have increased their food imports.

The organisation’s assistance in the agriculture sector also fits into the call by the country’s Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud to grow more food.

We note that many projects have been undertaken and spearheaded by Food for the Poor. It is only too fitting that mention must be made about its Vegetable Expansion Project, Poultry Expansion Project, Pig Expansion Project at the New Opportunity Corps, Bethany Poultry Project, Prison’s Poultry Project and Lusignan Fruit and Vegetable Project.

Worthy of note is the organisation’s role in providing meals for many school children on a daily basis, leading to a marked improvement in the children’s attendance and their ability to learn in the absence of hunger.

Guyanese note the good works of Food for the Poor, and are grateful for its considerable efforts to alleviate poverty and empower the people of Guyana.
Hats off to Food for the Poor!
FEATURES

IN-THE-COURTS

LETTERS

Time for commuters to take action
I WOULD like to ask, how safe are people who travel in mini-buses? Everyday, you read in the newspapers that there is an accident caused by a mini-bus and other vehicles. I don’t think these inexperienced drivers value people’s lives because of their reckless driving and lawlessness.

Passengers are packed like “sardines” and still are forced to pay an increased fare by some conductors. Sometimes more that six persons are sitting in a seat that is meant for four persons.

The government continues to cushion the gasoline prices and yet we are forced by the scandalous conductors everyday to pay an unnecessary increase. I see very poor elders are being bombarded to pay the increase as well which speaks about the operators we have today on buses.

We saw several bus operators protesting for increased fares and who refused to work causing passengers to suffer on those days. I think passengers should now strike against the bus operators. They must reduce their fares. Passengers must refuse to travel in a packed bus and drivers must cease all indecent and loud music.

Recently, the excise tax on gasoline was reduced to 7%. What more do these people want? Not only Guyana is facing these strains but almost every country. As citizens we should all co-operate to make our brothers and sisters comfortable.
MICHELLE NIGEL
=======================
Shocked at acid attack
I AM totally shocked and repulsed by the attack on Ms Gomattie Singh two days ago. This attack is another example of the inhumanity of some persons in our society. I wish to express my heartfelt sympathy to her family and trust that she has a speedy recovery.

It is unfortunate that the Alliance For Change (AFC) should use this occasion to score political points. There is crime in every society, the presence of crime is not an indication that the Government has failed, were that the case then every state would have been considered a failed state.

The fact that the AFC would choose this incident to promote its own personal agenda after the way Singh was treated by the party is shameless.

Mr. Trotman and others know that it is impossible for any government to guarantee the protection of all its citizens from attacks especially when they are personal. The ‘blame the Government syndrome’ seems to have taken a hold of them while they, in another breath fight to free the same individuals.

It is as if a section of our society is legally profiting from the crimes. They campaign for government to institute stricter sanctions for crimes then spend their time fighting to thwart the legislation.

They criticize the Ministers for commenting on decisions made in the courts when the whole of Guyana is asking the same questions.

How could Guyanese be protected when criminals are allowed to walk free despite the fact that the charges they face are for non bailable offences? The security services are being hounded and accused for anything and every thing by the Opposition creating confusion in the land.

They call on the people to take to the streets to protest for things that the Government cannot change, create a situation of insecurity and then blame the government. When would we learn?
ALBERT JACOBS
=======================
Dr. Thomas’ Obsession with the VAT factor
I HAVE been following the responses arising from Dr Clive Thomas’ article published in last Sunday’s Stabroek News, dealing with the menu of measures provided by Government to cushion the effects of the increases in food prices.

Singh argues that Misir was premature in replying to Thomas’ article and should have waited for the conclusion of the series of articles before replying.

Singh should know that each in the series of articles is complete in itself and should be able to stand up to criticisms. Misir’s reply dealt with the evidence or analysis of Dr Thomas which, had he waited, would have loss its effect therefore an immediate response was necessary.

Thomas’ argument as presented seems to give the impression that the rising prices on the world market and the menu of measures instituted by government are just propaganda and they are not real. Maybe Dr Thomas should compare the measures taken by the Guyana Government and that of other Governments in the Region to give Guyanese a better perspective as to what the world situation is.

Dr Thomas, a respected economist, would understand better than I would, the effects these measures could have on Guyana’s economic development given our limited resources.

It will cost approximately $25B to realise the measures as announced. How could Government be expected to provide relief to the vulnerable while reducing the revenue of the state? Where or how could Government provide more disposable income to Guyanese? There are some things that are outside the powers of our government.

Governments garner revenue through taxes which are used to develop the country. To simply look at the increase in earnings through income tax to say that a person’s disposable income is reduced is simplistic since the same argument could be used to say that a person’s disposable income has increased.

What I find alarming is that Dr Thomas in a discussion on food price increases would introduce the ‘VAT factor’. So misused is the argument surrounding this tax that Singh totally misunderstands Thomas’ point and criticized it for not being revenue neutral thereby increasing the tax burden.

It was therefore understandable why Dr Misir would have responded so promptly to Dr Thomas’ article.

I, unlike Singh will not take sides in the debate but will read and learn.
JEAN RAMROOP
=======================
Unfair to the police
I WAS disappointment when I opened the daily newspapers and saw that the Guyana Bar Association has lashed out at the government for criticizing some aspects of the work of the judiciary.

I wonder if any family member of members of the association has ever been a victim of robbery at the hands of gunmen and then become the victim of the judiciary where the gunmen are granted bail and no justice is served.

It has been too long now that some Magistrates grant bail to persons who are charged with robberies under arms and other crucial offences.

The government, whilst it did a good thing by pointing out the shortcomings should have done this a long time ago and worked on ways to reform the justice sector.

The issue of men who are caught with unlicenced guns and carrying out daring robberies are granted bail is definitely not what should be happening.

On the other hand, when someone is caught with a small amount of marijuana he is not given bail. There is also the problem of the prison being overcrowded because many persons on remand are still awaiting trials.

I want to also point out that the Bar Association seems to only come out on chosen occasions; I didn’t hear from them when the PNC/R kicked up a storm over the ruling by the then Chief Justice Carl Singh, that the swearing-in of Ministers by the President was not unconstitutional and that he can go ahead and open the Ninth Parliament.

I also didn’t hear the Bar Association, when the PNC/R, publicly said that Justice Winston Moore (who presided over the Mark Benschop treason trial) should have thrown the case out, since the defence lawyers had submitted a no-case submission.

Like many Guyanese, I believe that it’s unfair to the Police who try their outmost to apprehend these criminals only to learn that their efforts are fruitless and when the Police don’t apprehend the men there are all kinds of criticisms.
LLOYD EDWARDS
=======================
Culture of recklessness continues
THE mini-bus culture of recklessness, disregard for traffic rules and the rights of commuters, loud music and endangering of innocent lives has once again resurfaced on our roadways.

The consequences of drag-racing along the congested Camp Street or along any street for that matter, is no surprise and I feel more is yet to come unless more-than-harsh penalties are put on mini-bus operators who obviously care less about law and order.

I am eagerly awaiting a public condemnation by members of the mini-bus association who are quick to raise their voices when mini-bus operators feel unjustly treated by law enforcement officials.

There was a big outcry by mini-bus operators when government tried to implement measures to maintain decency.

I think not much should be said about mini-bus operators since their present attitude towards road use is inevitable. I am more concerned about innocent commuters whose lives are at risk every time they enter a mini-bus.
ALICIA GRIFFITH
=======================
Witnessing a Pit Bull attack
MY part-time volunteer work is rescuing animals, mainly dogs, off the streets of Georgetown. Over ten years of witnessing man’s cruelty to animals I thought I had seen it all: dogs starved to death; dogs covered with mange and ticks; dogs hacked nearly to death with eyes protruding; and some dogs with all the above. Well all this pales in comparison to the horror of seeing three Pit Bulls attacking a man.

Some might say the dogs are just getting their revenge but unfortunately the ones who get killed, maimed or just frightened are normally innocent bystanders; for example, the North Ruimveldt jogger, the two Tucville residents, the two employees of GSPCA, the security guard at Ogle, the Goedverwagting, ECD, housewife, two pupils at the Eccles Nursery School, and just last week, a 20-year old trying to earn a few dollars picking mangoes in a vacant lot. In fact, the next victim could be your mother, your child, your boyfriend or just someone you know. It could even be a minister of parliament out for a Sunday stroll.

On Tuesday, May 20, 2008, I had just arrived home. Upon entering my house I heard the particular bark of Pit Bulls. This was not strange since my neighbour has many Pit Bulls and I know their sound, but I was thinking: Why are they all barking so loudly at this time of day? Sensing something was not right, I ran upstairs to the kitchen and looked out the window. I saw three Pit bulls going after something and my heart began to beat fast.

My first thought was they had trapped a stray dog, but then I saw human arms and legs up in the air, above the tall grass. My heart started beating faster and I prayed it wasn’t true; then I heard his screams; my own screams seemed to drown out his. One of the Pit Bulls paused for a second and looked up; his white face was covered in blood. I ran into my partner’s office, told him what was happening, called the owner of the Pit Bulls (on his cell phone) then I called the police.

I felt helpless, thinking the man could die at any moment. All I could hear were the man’s screams as I kept hoping someone with a gun would arrive in time. I called back the police who soon arrived, a few minutes after the owner of the Pit Bulls came. I must admit the owner showed courage running into the empty lot and separating Rawle Ramsaywack from the three attacking dogs. He then half carried/walked