ARCHIVES FOR JUNE 15 2008
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No sign yet
of the elusive ‘Fine Man’ and his marauding gang
UP to late yesterday, the search was still on for wanted man, Rondell ‘Fine Man’ Rawlins, and his gang of loyal foot soldiers some nine days after he managed to evade a Joint Services dragnet and escape deep into the jungle of the Upper Berbice River.

Sources however speculate that the men may have grown tired by now and might well have fallen sick, after having trekked through the thick and desolate malaria-ridden jungle for days.

Up to press time, there was no word about the gang’s location, except that the Joint Services team was still hard on their heels.

Meanwhile, the Lethem woman, who is still in police custody, reportedly told investigators that she had lent her phone to a soldier whom she has since identified. Her phone numbers were found in Rawlins’ diary and she was subsequently arrested for questioning.

It was also reported that two men, believed to be Rawlins’ cohorts, were spotted in the jungle ahead of the Joint Services search party, and were said to be armed to the teeth.

The ranks found part of a weapon which was left behind by the notorious wanted men who sources said are still hiding out in the jungle in the Upper Berbice River.

A well-placed source said that a list of telephone numbers found in Rawlins’ diary turned out to be “very revealing” and is still being processed, but that the authorities are still tight-lipped about the other contents of the diary.

Rawlins has admitted responsibility for the Bartica and Lusignan murders through documented details in the diary discovered two Fridays ago during a surprise visit to Christmas Falls, some 300 miles up Berbice River.

During the confrontation, one of Rawlins’ accomplices was shot dead, and has since been identified as 21-year-old Otis Fifee, aka ‘Mud Up’ of Buxton, on the East Coast Demerara.

A Joint Service press release issued two Saturday nights ago said that at about 07:00h the day before, a patrol in the Christmas Falls area encountered a gang of about six persons.

The patrol immediately came under fire and returned fire killing one of the gang members who has been identified.

The other gang members, including Rawlins; Richard Ramcharran called ‘Uncle Willie’; another called ‘Magic’; and one ‘Chung Boy’ escaped down a slope and disappeared into the jungle, leaving a trail of blood in their wake, suggesting that one or more of them were injured.

The gang was housed at a location with four buildings in a desolate area in the jungle and had foodstuff to last several weeks in a large kitchen, which also had a gas stove, a generator and solar energy.

In addition, there were six portable tents, four hammocks, three mattresses, a mini-stereo system, a DVD player, a cell phone, a hand-held radio set, items of clothing, medical supplies, and a Bible, all of which were abandoned by the gang in their haste to escape.

Also found were three FN rifles; four shotguns, one .32 revolver; two AK47 magazines; seven FN rifle magazines, along with 1,159 rounds of 7.62 x 39 ammunition; 143 rounds of 7.62 x 51 ammunition; 10 rounds of .38 ammunition; one round of .32 ammunition; and 36 12-gauge cartridges.

The Joint Services ranks also unearthed a diary which provided incontrovertible evidence of Rawlins’ planning and execution of the killings at Lusignan and Bartica, a vow to take vengeance for the death of his sister, and a number of telephone numbers.

Further, checks done have confirmed that the three FN Rifles in the cache left behind by the gang were stolen from the Bartica Police Station during the armed attack on that community on February 17; and that the .32 revolver and two of the shotguns belong Chunilall Babulall, a miner, whose home at First Avenue, Bartica was attacked and robbed during that incident. (Michel Outridge)

Essequibo gets its own legal aid clinic
YESTERDAY saw the official opening of the first ever Legal Aid Clinic on the Essequibo Coast by Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Ms Priya Manickchand.


Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Ms. Priya Manickchand, speaking to the gathering during the launch of the Guyana Legal Aid Clinic at Essequibo.
The clinic is being housed in the compound of the Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) at Anna Regina and will deal with both criminal and civil matters. The Managing Attorney-at-law is Mr. Sunil Scarce.

In the feature address Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Guyana Legal Aid Clinic, Mr. Ashton Chase, said that legal aid is intended for persons in the community who are too poor to afford the legal fees for the services of a lawyer. He said plans are afoot by the Government of Guyana to assist persons in these positions.

“The principle behind this launching of the clinic,” he said, “is that all persons should be treated as being equal before the law, and should be able to get representation to make us all equal before the law.”

Urging those who could afford a lawyer not to take advantage of the situation, Mr. Chase said: “I appeal to the people of Essequibo to give cooperation and full support and ensure that the objectives of the clinic are carried out.”

The clinic is totally dependent on local funding and in 2007, the government increased its subvention to the Guyana Legal Aid Clinic by $32M so that legal aid services could be provided countrywide before the end of 2008.


A section of the gathering of the launching of the Guyana Legal Aid Clinic in Anna Regina Essequibo Coast.
In addition to Georgetown and the Essequibo Coast, legal aid services would now be available for the first time to residents of Regions Three, Five, Six, Seven, and Ten. Minister Manickchand announced that before the end of August, the other clinics will have been launched. She noted that the government is giving to the people of Guyana ways in which they can enforce their rights to improve their livelihood. She further stated: “The Government of Guyana has made no secret of the fact that it is committed to providing quality services to all the people of Guyana. We have done more than talk; we have shown persons that Guyana… has improved. It is up to you the people of Guyana to access the services that the Government is currently providing.”

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Ms. Priya Manickchand and The Chairman, Board of Directors of the Guyana Legal Aid Clinic cutting the ribbon for the first legal aid clinic to be establish in Region 2, while Regional Chairman, Mr. Ali Baksh and other officials look on.
Regional Chairman, Mr. Ali Baksh pointed out that the establishment of a legal aid clinic in the Essequibo Region is vital in many ways, while Ms Juliet Coonjah, Vice Chairperson for the Regional Women’s Affairs Committee observed that before the establishment of such an entity in the region there was no probation and welfare service; that only temporary services were provided.

“For years I have been hammering the ministry for this, and finally, today, it has become a reality,” she said.

Residents in the area also commended the efforts and hard work of the minister in establishing the clinic in the region, which will efficiently assist vulnerable residents.

Apart from the launching of the legal aid clinic, integrated social services will also be conducted at the same office, and the new probation social services department will provide family counselling, old age pension and public assistance in addition to a special child friendly space.

The purpose of the legal aid clinic is to provide free legal services to the vulnerable, once the person qualifies for the service. The clinic can give advice about any legal matter, and can represent one in any court in Essequibo in any civil matter except in the case of libel and slander and applications for prescriptive title.

In any criminal matter, the clinic can also refer persons to either Georgetown, Berbice, or Linden, while in the case of social problems, the clinic can refer persons to an agency that can help. Special assistance for victims of domestic violence is also being offered at the clinic.

Present at the launching were several ministers of the government and Attorneys-at-law among other special invitees. (Nathalene DeFreitas)

The demolition of derelict Hadfield Street building
Minister takes issue with reportage
By Nathalene DeFreitas
MINISTER of Human Services and Social Security, Ms Priya Manickchand yesterday expressed deep disappointment with a news article carried in two other dailies on the demolishing by the relevant authorities of a derelict building on down-town Hadfield Street.

The minister pointed out that both news items, which appeared in yesterday’s edition of the two newspapers, are fraught with inaccuracies and warned that in the future both dailies would be held accountable for their indiscretion when reporting on issues of this nature.

“I am disappointed that the two newspapers can be so careless and not check with us to clarify the issues. The articles of the newspapers are not reflective of government’s inability or unwillingness to help; they’re reflective of the persons there wanting to stay on the land and squat in the middle of Georgetown, which we are not going to permit. It is going to breach all the health regulations and all the other regulations,” the minister said.

She said that while she understands the frustration of the residents, yet at the same time they are not being entirely honest. She noted that since the first derelict building on the said street caved in last Saturday, staff at her ministry have done all they can to assist those persons who formerly resided there.

After the building collapsed, the ministry not only deployed heavy-duty equipment to remove the ensuing debris so that the former occupants could retrieve their belongings, but also laid on transportation to help take them and their possessions wherever they wished to go, and facilitated the allocation of house lots to those desirous of acquiring one.

According to Minister Manickchand, of the 40-odd persons rendered homeless following the collapse of the building, only three applied for, and were given, house lots. The rest, she said, were not interested because of the distance of available land from the city.

“I explained to the persons there that they need to apply for house lots and that the ministry will assist. Some of them did not want the lots at Tuschen; they wanted house lots in Georgetown, which is not possible because there are no house lots in Georgetown. We explained to those persons who applied for house lots that there is a process to go through first, but that we will speed it up,” the minister said, adding that even if it were possible to provide both land and house, it could not be achieved in one day, which meant that the immediate concern for those affected was finding somewhere to stay in the interim, whether it was at a relative or at the government-run night shelter.

She said that the local charity, Food for the Poor Guyana Inc. has already indicated their interest in building the houses for those persons who have acquired their house lots.

Noting that she is not without sympathy but just trying to do what’s best for everyone, Minister Manickchand said: “I understand how someone can become emotionally attached to where they grew up and live, but when it becomes unhealthy and unsafe, it becomes the responsibility of the government to remove those persons from there. The Mayor and City Council does not go around condemning houses just like that; if your house has been condemned by the Council, then you need to move.”

She posited that the media should be advocating for persons to remove from buildings that have been condemned rather than feeding the public with inaccurate information.

Bigger, better Berbice Expo in the works
IN THE absence of GUYEXPO this year, the organisers of the Berbice Exposition, the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (CCCC), plan to make the event, now in its fourth year, the biggest and best ever to date.

GUYEXPO, usually held in the city at the Sophia Exhibition Site, will not be held this year due to the extensive planning for, and the large amounts of resources being put into, the hosting of the Caribbean Festival of the Creative Arts (CARIFESTA) X.

Explaining the situation during the launching last Wednesday of Berbice Expo 2008, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Mr. Manniram Prashad said: “Instead of GUYEXPO, we will be concentrating on CARIFESTA X for 10 days and the National Exhibition Centre in Sophia will be one of the key venues. And all our craft producers that would normally be involved in GUYEXPO will throw their full weight into CARIFESTA.”

What this means for Berbice, he went on to say, “is that we have to gear ourselves for the economic take-off … the completion of the [Berbice] bridge ushers in a new era of development and growth which Berbicans and all Guyanese should seize.”

The exposition will run from July 25-28, and is now scheduled to be held every year in the last week of July. According to the minister, this pre-arranged scheduling of the event will be of great help to exhibitors, investors and patrons alike since it will enable all parties to include it in their plans for the year ahead.

The theme this year is ‘Pioneering the Agri Revolution’, which Minister Prashad noted is quite fitting, in that it is in keeping with the Ministry of Agriculture’s ‘Grow More’ campaign.

Guyana is currently the only Caribbean country that is a net exporter of food. According to Minister Prashad: “We do not have a food crisis in Guyana; we have an opportunity to grow more and to export more to the benefit of our farmers.”

As for the immense potential he foresees for the Berbice region with the opening of the Berbice Bridge, Minister Prashad said: “The Bridge coming on stream this year can only mean well for the economic development of Berbice and the country as a whole.”

Minister Prashad noted that the region’s farmers will greatly benefit as a result of the opportunities that it will open up, since they will be able to better access local markets. Spoilage will be reduced and the long wait at the wharf will be reduced.

It was also noted that some of the ‘middle-men’ will be eliminated, and that farmers as well as consumers will benefit from this, since there will be a reduction in the price of the goods.

The ultra-modern Skeldon Factory will provide the region with new power generation and the private sector drive through the CCCC.

Meanwhile, President of the CCCC, Mr. Poonai Bhigrooj noted that all the booth space for the exposition has already been taken up, and that international participants from Brazil, Venezuela and India will take part in the event.

“People know the importance… and they see the activities in Berbice and that is why they are coming out in full force to support the Expo,” Minister Prashad noted. The Berbice Expo is a success story, and the CCCC must be congratulated for taking on this massive project, Minister Prashad said. He noted that they are well organised and have done an excellent job of managing their affairs. They have brought a new kind of activity into the county that Berbicans can be proud of, he said.

The Ministry has been assisting and providing support to the Chamber of Commerce from the inception, and this will continue in an advisory manner.

“I know [that] come next year, the Berbice Expo will probably give GUYEXPO a run for its money; competition is good; this is what competition is all about; it brings out the best, and we welcome that and the hard work of the committee,” he said.

GUYEXPO is a national event, and forms part of the Ministry of Tourism Industry and Commerce’s annual calendar of events. It was first held in 1995 as a biennial event, but this was changed in 2004 when it became an annual event.

Fathers need to take a stand
- show they’re made of sterner stuff
AN interview with Executive Director of the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA), Mr. Frederick Cox on his thoughts on Fathers Day this year and on the thorny issue of parenting today. For the sake of convenience, the author, Clifford Stanley, will hereinafter be referred to as CS, and Mr. Cox as FC.
By Clifford Stanley
CS: WHAT would you say is the single biggest quarrel you have with the subject of male parenting in Guyana today?

FC: Dead-beat dads. Good-for-nothing dads. The absence of fathers from homes. There are too many single-parent families in Guyana. The absence of fathers from their homes puts the children at a severe disadvantage. The boys have no role model, and the girls can get no firm idea as to the kind of male they should develop a relationship with. Sooner or later, many boys in single-parent homes get involved in deviant behaviour. But we were not like this all the time. Time was when a mother would tell her son: ‘Boy, you mean not to behave yourself; wait till yuh father come home!’ The father was seen as the disciplinarian in the home; the boy could not stay out too late at night because the father would say: ‘There is only one man in this house, and if you can’t hear, you will

feel!’ If fathers remain in their homes and help their wives and reputed wives in bringing up their children, there would be less instability; less crime in this society.

CS: What about those children who pressure their parents for material things they can ill afford, and how do you think fathers should react to this type of behaviour?

FC: Yes! This problem does exist in some homes. We read some years ago about the teenager who committed suicide because her parents could not afford to buy a brand name track boots for her. Many children put this kind of pressure on their parents because of what is happening with their peers; what they see on television and so on. Some fathers react to this kind of pressure by running away. As fathers, we have got to stand up and show we are made of sterner stuff; we need to sit down with the child and explain that the purchase of what they need is not possible at the particular point in time, and get them to understand this. Too many parents do not talk with their children; they are too busy or too tired, and sooner or later, the child begins to listen to someone else and by the time the parents realise this, it is too late to regain any sort of influence over a child who may be headed down the wrong path.

CS: Is the difference in educational achievement a contributory factor to the discord in some homes between father and mother?

FC: Yes! There are many cases in which many boys drop out of the education system early, while the females persist right through to tertiary educational levels. The females who are educated are then better equipped to assert themselves on almost any issue in the home. Because the male did not get very far in his education, he cannot bring to bear the kind of discourse which could resolve the issue at an intellectual level. He then falls back on his ‘maleness’; his physical strength; sometimes with fatal consequences.

CS: In that case, what can be done to help reduce this type of response by some males who find themselves in such a situation?

FC: The answer lies in the willingness of the male to improve his educational level. Many males should be counselled or educated on acceptable forms of conflict resolution because, it is generally the case where most males see physical violence as the only

means of resolving conflict within the home. There is an unacceptably high level of domestic violence and abuse because of the unwillingness, or inability, of one or both partners to sit down and talk their way to a resolution of whatever the problem may be.

CS: Do good fathers have a role to play in the wider community?

FC: Yes! A good father is not only a father to his own children but to all the children within his community. If a good father sees a child in the community doing something undesirable, he should not hesitate to speak to that child, albeit in a very tactful manner. He should also practice good neighbourliness; if he can assist members of his community with transportation, give them a lift when necessary, etc … he will be seen as different from the run-of-the-mill in that community. He should be part of the organisation of Village Days, Community Days etc… he should be involved in Parents Teachers Associations (PTAs) and other such organisations. Too many times, it is mainly the women who find time to be involved in PTAs and other such organisations. Fathers need to find time for these activities and see such involvement as an integral part of their role in male parenting; we need to go back to those days when we saw each family as an integral part of the community.

CS: With respect to parenting, many times parents strive to retain control of children who have become adults. When should they back off?

FC: Generally, a parent, male or female, is a parent for life. But a child becomes an adult at the age of eighteen. At this age, he or she takes on full legal responsibility for their actions. Parents still have the option of talking to these young adults, but they have to make sure that they do not treat them as if they are little children. If you see that they are going down the wrong path, you can still talk to them; you can still have an input; but you need to give them that degree of respect when they reach the age of adulthood.

CS: There are broken homes in which one parent, or both parents, try to demonise the other; try to poison the minds of their children in order to win their affection. How should a parent react to this type of tactic by his or her partner?

FC: First of all, children suffer the most in these situations. Parents who do this put the child in a difficult situation. The child thinks: ‘How come she, or he, is blaming each other as the culprit. I thought both of them were. Who am I to believe?’ This runs through the child’s mind many times and creates confusion. I, however, sometimes refer to my religious beliefs to find resolutions to such problems. When one parent does that, he or she is putting herself, or himself, up and putting the other party down. But we are all equal in the sight of God; we should not judge each other bad because of our limited vision of right and wrong. That is the responsibility of God; that is His prerogative. As the Bible says: ‘Judge not that ye not be judged.’ But yet at the same time, these problems can be resolved with communication, involving both parents and the children too.

CS: Despite your perception about the large numbers of ‘dead-beat dads’ or ‘good-for-nothing dads’ in our society, have you encountered any you consider to be role models?

FC: Yes! There are many dads who are aware of their role and responsibilities in parenting. I wish to commend these guys for carrying through with their responsibilities. I salute them on this occasion of Father’s Day 2008.
NEWS

Drug treatment, rehabilitation centre to be established
- National Oversight Committee convenes first meeting
AS part of the Ministry of Health’s continuous efforts to expand the services offered to the drug addicted sections of the population an out-patient Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre will be established in the compound of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

The Ministry of Health said it will provide the technical support for the centre, while medical services will be provided by the GPHC. However, the Social Work component (including Motivational Therapy) of the service will be delivered through collaborative work with civil society groups.


Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy and PAHO Representative Dr. Kathalene Israel at head table with members Oversight Committee for the Ministry’s Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Programme (GINA photo)

A Health Ministry release noted that the treatment programme aims include providing an alcoholic anonymous alternative to substance rehabilitation; promoting abstinence from alcohol and other substances; promoting a productive life without reliance on mood altering drugs; and providing alternatives to addiction.

In order to establish this service, the Ministry of Health has recently trained 50 primary health care providers from Regions 2 3, 4, 6 and 10 doctors, medex, nurses, counsellors, social workers, and school welfare officers in motivational interviewing.

The treatment and rehabilitation centre will add to existing services offered by two non-governmental organisations namely the Phoenix Recovery Project and the Salvation Army. It will not only function at the GPHC, but will be extended into the Guyana Prisons Service.

The facilities of the treatment and rehabilitation centre will be launched on June 26 in observance of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

The centre will be developed with assistance from Dalhousie University, Canada through funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO).

Meanwhile, the first meeting of the National Oversight Committee for the Ministry’s Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Programme convened today, chaired by Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy.

The committee aims to ensure that the established treatment and rehabilitation programme serves as an alternative to incarceration for some persons who face the courts, and ensure that a course in motivational interviewing is implemented as part of the University of Guyana ’s curriculum for social work students.

Three tasks forces were created with responsibility for coordinating activities within the treatment centre at the GPHC; drafting the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health and the University of Guyana ; and ensuring the successful implementation of the treatment and rehabilitation programme in the prisons

The committee is responsible for steering, coordinating, and monitoring the Ministry of Health’s Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation efforts.

The committee consists of representatives from the Ministries of Health, Education, Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Home Affairs, GPHC, Guyana Prisons Service, University of Guyana , Guyana Association of Professional Social Workers, Phoenix Recovery Project, Salvation Army’s Men’s Social Service, and Pan American Health Organization.

Further, in observance of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the Ministry of Health’s Drug Demand Reduction Programme will be hosting a week of activities. On June 23 to 27 the Ministry will be offering the public one week of free counselling for drug addicts in the new treatment and rehabilitation centre; an exhibition themed “Drug Free is the Way to Be” will be held in the City Mall on June 28; and the Ministry will be staging a drug awareness walk on June 29. (GINA)

Operation CARE launched at Timehri
THE Ministry of Education’s Schools Welfare Services Department continued its Operation CARE programme yesterday in the East Bank village of Timehri and saw several children being picked up for truancy.

Operation CARE concentrates on several areas of the child’s welfare including Care, Assessment, Respect and Education.


Welfare officers from the Ministry of Education, and probation officers from the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security during the course of yesterday’s campaign in Timehri.

The campaign is a collaborative effort among several agencies as welfare officers from the Ministry of Education, probation officers from the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, Police officers and trained volunteers are involved.

Members of the campaign focused their campaign on specific areas in Timehri, including Hill Top, and around the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and the prison.

Several children were picked up on the streets, while some were picked up during home visits where children were found to be alone.

The children were taken to the Timehri Primary School where the triaging process was done to garner information about them and the reasons why they were not attending school.

The officers left flyers and messages with neighbours to inform the parents or guardians that they should report to the Timehri Primary School to uplift their children.

Parents who came to collect their children were informed of the consequences of deliberately keeping the child away from school. Parents are also being targeted in this campaign, since it is against the law to prevent children from attending schools.

According to the Education Act Chapter 39:01 Paragraph 13: “It shall be the duty of the parents of every child to cause the child to receive efficient instruction in reading, writing and arithmetic, and if a parent fails to perform that duty, he shall be liable to the orders and penalties provided by that said Act.”

The parents were also advised that if they cannot maintain their children, there are government-run programmes to assist them.

Such programmes include the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Difficult Circumstances programme; Probation Welfare Services; Public Assistance whereby children are given a voucher every month; the School Uniform Programme; and the recently launched Single Parent Assistance Fund.

The Schools Welfare Department conducts home and school visits after the children are returned home, so as to ensure that the parents send the child to school.

Children who do not have a home are taken to the Child Protection Unit where they are taken care of and sent to school until the agency finds a suitable guardian for them.

After the campaign is carried out, the ministry has a ‘referral system’ where cases of children who are abused are handed over to the police. Those who need care are provided for.

The programme began in 2001 and has since proven to be successful as more children are taken off the streets and are attending school. (GINA
EDITORIAL

POLICING PRESSURES
By Rickey Singh
IN A NUMBER of Caribbean Community States, most notably Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and St Lucia, there have been, and continue to be, problems over appointments to the high command of their police service, and specifically that of the Commissioners.

Problems have been aggravated when non-CARICOM nationals have been sought to fill either the number one or number two posts in the face of much disquiet among ranks and, on the other hand, with the public at large traumatised by spiralling rates of murder and criminality in general, as well as having to contend with the disturbing reports of rogue cops' involvement in various criminal acts.

Currently, controversy rages in St Lucia over operations of the country's Police Force, which remains under the control of a former British police officer, John Broughton. He was appointed to act following the December 2006 general election that resulted in a change in government and the subsequent hasty move to retire the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner -- both St Lucian nationals. In addition to Broughton, there are some five other ex-British cops in the local Force.

In Jamaica, where there is, as in Trinidad and Tobago, runaway murder rates, gang violence and armed robberies, retired Rear Admiral of the Jamaica Defence Force, Hardley Lewin was recruited to head the Jamaica Constabulary Force in December last year following the sudden resignation of Commissioner Lucius Thomas, after some 18 months on the job, due to reported tension with the new Jamaica Labour Party government.

But Lewin himself shockingly tendered his own resignation earlier this month, only to withdraw it within 48 hours, following assurances about misrepresentations of a critical comment by Prime Minister Bruce Golding in relation to the Commissioner's strained relationship with ranks of the Constabulary.

Across in Trinidad and Tobago, after repeated efforts, since last year, to find a successor to retiring Police Commissioner Trevor Paul, there came the unexpected development just a few days ago of the Police Service Commission's recommended choice, Senior Superintendent Stephen Williams, being opposed by both Prime Minister Patrick Manning's administration and the main opposition, United National Congress-Alliance (UNC-A) of Basdeo Panday.

While the UNC-A said they have nothing personal against Williams but insist on the right to engage in "further due diligence work," the Manning administration is known to have, all along, been in favour, first, of a retired American cop, Louis Vega, former New York Department Police Captain; and secondly, Deputy Police Commissioner James Philbert, a national of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Force.

Amid media reports of hostility to having a foreigner to head the local force, Vega did what former New York police chief Bernard Kerik did back in April 2007 -- withdraw his interest in being the new Police Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago.

In Kerik's case, he terminated negotiations for consultancy contracts with the Guyana Government and also in Trinidad and Tobago. He said, then, that he wished to avoid "tainting the image" of both countries, as he was still defending himself against spreading corruption allegations.

At present, in Trinidad and Tobago, the clamour from various stakeholders, including parliamentary opposition, private sector and civic society organisations, for the expeditious appointment of a new Police Commissioner has now been expanded to strident calls for the replacement of National Security Minister, Senator Martin Joseph, whose unpopularity grows amid skyrocketing murders, kidnappings, vicious cases of rape and armed robberies.

Commissioner Greene
Here in Guyana, where neither the governing nor main parliamentary opposition party can risk making the politically incorrect call for a foreigner to head the local Police Force, the time seems overdue for confirmation of Henry Greene as Commissioner of the GPF, the post in which he has been acting since July 2006.

Perhaps, now that the outstanding appointment of a new chairman for the Police Service Commission (PSC) has been approved, attention could be focused on treating as a priority the confirmation of Green as Police Commissioner, following required consultation between President Bharrat Jagdeo and Opposition Leader Robert Corbin.

It would be quite interesting to learn of the PNCR leader's response to Greene's confirmation. He was known to be quite anxious to support the appointment of Greene's predecessor, Felix Austin, whose 2006 retirement had followed controversies over illegally taped conversations. A former Crime Chief, Greene has to his credit some 33 years of service with the GPF.

Perhaps, the time is overdue for serious consideration to be given for new approaches in general for appointments to the top and middle-level administrative structures of the Police Force of all Member States of CARICOM.

There are police chiefs and officials of local police associations who are willing to help foster discussions for the police high command in CARICOM States comprising national and non-local Community nationals as well as foreign (non-Caribbean) officers, with one very important exception: That is, the post of Police Commissioner which, it is felt, must at all times be held by a national of the particular country in the interest of morale boosting with a sense of national pride and dignity.

The Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police should, if they have not already done so, encourage dialogue on such an approach, in consultation with local bodies representing police ranks.

Also, the Association should inspire discussion on the related issue of structured periodic exchanges of officers among the Police Forces of CARICOM as part of the new thinking in collaborative initiatives for strengthening security arrangements and enhancing the battle against the current criminal rampage of epidemic proportions in too many of our Community States.
FEATURES

CARICOM'S NEW YORK JOURNEY
- plans and expectations for Conference on Caribbean
By Rickey Singh
IT IS not clear at this stage how many Caribbean Community Heads of Government will be travelling to New York for the "Second Conference on the Caribbean" starting on Thursday (June 19) to coincide with this year's "Caribbean American Heritage Month".

Nor is it known, as arrangements are being finalised for the two-day event, precisely what progress has been achieved in fulfillment of pledges/commitments made at last year's inaugural 'Conference on the Caribbean' when a full-house of CARICOM leaders showed up in Washington for the June 20 summit with President George W Bush.

A three-page "Joint Statement" released from the meeting between the US President and the Caribbean leaders, placed an emphasis on issues known to have a priority for the Bush administration--such as cooperation against "threats of terrorism and crime" and "the benefits of democracy".

Whatever policy differences may exist between the USA and the Caribbean--or, more specifically CARICOM (over Cuba for instance)--the Bush administration can hardly be unaware of the reality that our post-independence region is distinguished by its recognised commitment to democratic values and willingness to cooperate against the forces of evil identified with terrorism and crime.

In contrast, various Washington administrations--Democrats and Republicans--have exposed their inconsistencies when it comes to delivering on commitments, including dealing with terrorists funded by American intelligence, who have caused much grief to our region.

The name of the Cuban emigre Luis Posada, implicated in the Cubana bombing tragedy that killed all 75 people on board off Barbados in 1976, comes readily to mind. Strangely, having earlier commendably called on US authorities to bring Posada to justice, no mention was made in the released "joint statement" about this terrorist still being sheltered in the USA.

Now, for this week's New York Conference, it would be surprising if either the Prime Ministers of Jamaica (Bruce Golding) or Trinidad and Tobago (Patrick Manning), or Guyana's President Bharrat Jagdeo will show up.

Having previously failed to respond to an invitation from President Bush earlier in the year to join three other CARICOM Prime Ministers (Barbados' David Thompson; The Bahamas' Hubert Ingraham and Belize's Dean Barrow) for a White House meeting, it is doubtful that Golding may make the journey, faced as he is with current domestic pressures.

And both Manning and Jagdeo, who last week represented CARICOM at the mini Special Commonwealth Summit in London, are also likely to excuse themselves, unless either could successfully be prevailed upon to be present.

One of the proposed political initiatives for this week's conference is to have separate bilateral meetings with the Democratic and Republican 2008 presidential candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain, respectively, to assess their positions on US-Caribbean relations. No confirmation could have been obtained at the time of writing if this effort will be realised, it being dependent on the campaign agendas of both candidates.

However, as it was for last year's "Washington Conference on the Caribbean" so it will be for this week's "New York Conference on the Caribbean"--a central focus on bolstering trade and investment for our region's social and economic advancement, coupled with special emphasis on deepening encounters with the 'Caribbean diaspora" in the USA.

Compared with last year's high profile event, this week's Conference seems heading for a more modest programme of engagements with, among others, some key US Congressmen--including the veteran Charles Rangel--old "friend of the Caribbean". Special attention is to be given this time to discussing with representatives of the diaspora how to expand cooperation between educational institutions in CARICOM and those of North America.
Skills Bank
Strengthening the dialogue with Community nationals of the diaspora located across the USA, especially in major centres like New York and Washington, undoubtedly holds promise for mutual benefits, particularly, it is felt, if pursued within the context of clearly defined policies and programmes. This may require having some basic data on the size, talents and resources of the disapora community.

Question is, for all the "ole talk" by CARICOM gvovernment leaders and Community officials about the importance of the Caribbean diaspora--not just in America but also Canada and the United Kingdom--to tap their skills and potential as partners in the region's sustained development, there is an absence of evidence that any concrete initiative has been undertaken to establish what is recognised to be a valuable tool---skills data bank.

The argument by advocates of a skills data bank to include valuable human resource located among nationals of the Caribbean diasporas in North America and the UK is that it is essential to better mobilise much needed skills in, for example, the health and education sectors in the member states of our 15-member Community.

In announcing arrangements for the June 19-20 New York Conference on the Caribbean, the CARICOM Secretariat said that the Heads of Government, Ministers of Education and leading education authorities will gather on the first day (Thursday) for a symposium at Medgar Evers College with the theme "Strengthening Collaborative ties between New York and CARICOM Higher Education Institutions".

Other planned activities include a 'Diaspora Forum' at York College in Queens on Friday (June 20) that will involve public participation.

Let us hope that though unlikely to have wide participation among Heads of Government making the journey, along with private sector representatives and those of the academic community and financial institutions, will return home with a degree of satisfaction to support keen interest for the 2009 Conference on the Caribbean.

Review of Between Father and Son
Family letters by V.S. Naipaul: Edited by Gillon Aitken New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2000
By Prem Misir
THE Nobel Prize for Literature 2001 was awarded to Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul, “for having united perceptive narrative and incorruptible scrutiny in works that compel us to see the presence of suppressed histories”. The Nobel citation pulled out his book “The Enigma of Arrival” (1987) for special acclaim, referring to it as “an unrelenting image of the placid collapse of the old colonial ruling culture and the decline of European neighbourhoods”.

But the Nobel Prize for Literature had eluded V.S. Naipaul for several years. Internationally acclaimed as a literary force in this century, the following attest to the sweep of his works:

* "A Tolstoyan spirit...The so-called Third World has produced no more brilliant literary artist."......John "for having united perceptive narrative and incorruptible scrutiny in works that compel us to see the presence of suppressed histories". Updike, The New Yorker

"He is our Conrad."......John Leonard, New York Times

* "The best novelist now writing in England."......Karl Miller, New York Review of Books

* "The sweep of Naipaul's imagination, the brilliant fictional frame that expresses it, are in my view without equal today."......Elizabeth Hardwick, New York Times Book Review

“Naipaul’s writing is clean and beautiful, and he has a great eye for nuance.”–The Atlantic Monthly

* One of the few contemporary writers of whom we can speak in terms of greatness."......Mel Gussow, Newsday

The book `Between Father And Son: Family Letters’, V.S. Naipaul, edited by Gillon Aitken on V.S. Naipaul, portrays an incisive dedication of father to son and son to father, through their letters.

The letters embrace just over three years, beginning from V.S. Naipaul's trip to University College, Oxford, on a Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) Government scholarship in 1950, culminating at the point at which he completed his studies.

This book must be penetratingly nostalgic for foreign students studying abroad, particularly in England, at a time when migrant infrastructures were not yet as established as they are today. The book will connect them to their early years in England.

Some problematic, but quite typical scenarios for them then, might have included: reluctance, both subtle and overt, of fellow homelanders to receive them as lodgers during short holiday periods when little money might have been available; the yearning to return home periodically during severe bouts of homesickness; and the daily impact of a dramatic physical, albeit, superficial separation from loving and caring extended families in the home country.

Also, some of these foreign students, at that time, might have found an affinity with a particular element of Naipaul's experience, when his father amicably mandated him to write every week, and/or to reply to each letter immediately.

Some foreign students' parents, possibly fathers, might have insisted on weekly letters, and these fathers possibly even ensured that that task was effected through the tone of their letters. In any case, many