Gender Based Violence and Guyana’s Judicial System


The scourge of domestic violence has been plaguing Guyana’s shores for years, but of recent, it has become more prevalent with our women, being several battered and even dying at the hands of their husbands, boyfriends or lovers, with little or no justice being meted-out.

Lack of sufficient evidence to prosecute, and corruption, have been two of the main factors which have seen little or no cases of Gender Based Violence victims/families receiving Justice in Guyana’s Judicial System.

While looking at a locally air television commentary, on the June 10 airing of the Walter Rodney Groundings, Dr. David Hinds underscored that the: “Country’s Judicial System is not doing enough to protect our women.”

 Despite not agreeing with many of the arguments posited by Dr. Hinds, I must say that I support this particular point , since it relates to the violation of a women’s human rights and has now become an endemic and universal problem. Unfortunately, not much is being done to halt this scourge.

Putting aside politics, Guyanese must come together and look at ways in which more can be done to address Gender-Based Violence that is widespread in Guyana, as Politicians and Political Activist lie or sometimes play games with the truth of the critical issue, and while they are busy doing the latter, women worldwide continues to die at the hands of their spouse, with the gruesome details flashed across our dailies almost everyday, making it a lot worst for the sanity of our future generation.

Of the majority of cases I have read of victims and their situation, I happened to feel most attached to Sharon Howell who was stabbed and hammered by her lover, Aubrey Peters on May 27.

 Recalling the gruesome tragedy, Howell’s brother, Wickliffe Halley stated that his sister who was stabbed multiple times about the body was also hammered in the head with the claw of the hammer which Peters used to carry out his attack.

Reportedly, the mother of 10 has since been discharged and is on the road to recovery, BUT what society can only hope and pray for, is that the victim does not return in the arms of her attacker, with impenetrable hopes that he will change for the better.

Being a Journalist for a number of years, I am familiar with some of the most logical, amazing and unintelligent answers from some of the survivors of Gender-Based Violence: …..whether I love him…it is the first time he has ever hit me or he was under the influence and as such, his actions can be justified….

Come on ladies……no one can deny that Gender-Based Violence is among  the nation’s most critical ills….but we must join the forces and assist the decisions makers and other organisations which have rallied towards the issue, whether in the form of public awareness or sensitization programmes, to see the ratio of women dying at the hands of their lovers reduced, and in the near future eliminated.

However, while much can be done and is being done to remedy the situation, Guyana’s Judicial System needs to up-the-ante with respect to prosecution as it has been doing rather poorly over the years, as many of these same attackers have walked out of the court system as free men and available to readily prey on their next victim.

The authorities also need to revamp the system, as there is also a huge backlog of cases awaiting to be heard in the courts…..Judicial actions must be swift….

Treason accused freed

The three persons accused of treason was today freed of charges, despite special prosecutor, Vic Puran’s assertion that the matter is “far from over’.
Those freed are Major Bruce Munroe, his wife Carol and a former Reserve Officer, Leonard Wharton, after a decision of insufficient evidence to face trail by a judge and jury was ruled out by Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine Beharry .
The trio who were accused between December 1, 2009 adnd December 16, 2010, of intending to step a war aimed at forcing the President out of his office, in order to compel the Guyana Government to change its measures, were arrested in 2010.
Major Munroe and Wharton both credited his legal victory to the Almighty according to a source from Demerara Waves online.

Photo complements of Demerara Waves online


Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry agreed with the Defence's no-case submissions and she cited precedents in other countries to disagree with the prosecution's application for the particulars of the charge to be amended to include reference to an overt act.
The matter to re open the Preliminary Inquiry in the case is now left to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Hack.

Two-month old baby dies after being struck in the head

A two month old baby boy, succumbed on Tuesday afternoon, after he was reportedly hit in the head with a utensil, during a “fight” between his parents. The inclident occurred at their Lot 78 Le Resouvenir, East Coast Demerara home.

According to reports, reaching Erika’s newspost, the couple, who are know alcoholics, were involved in a squabble around 1:30pm, when the child’s father while attempting to strike the mother with a kitchen utensil ‘accidentally’ hit the child who was in his mother’s arms.

According to sources after the child was hit in the head, he was dropped from the mother’s hands, since she too received blows with the utensil.

The child was rushed to the Georgetown Public hospital by a villager and died just after 5pm the said day.
The woman was later arrested after she went into hiding , while police continue to hunt for the infant’s father who is also on the run.

2012 National Budget to be presented on March 30

The 2012 National Budget will be presented to the National Assembly on Friday March 30, according Prime Minister Samuel Hinds

During a sitting of parliament on Wednesday, Mr Hinds moved a motion for the house to meet on March 30, when the estimates will be presented by Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh.
Earlier, the Government’s spokesman Dr Roger Luncheon told a news conference that cabinet was assured by the finance minister that all plans were in place for the month-end presentation of the annual financial estimates.

“Cabinet was advised about the readiness the, [and] preparedness of the finance minister and his technical teams, who have been finalizing preparations that begun administratively since August of 2011, with the issuance of the budget circular,” Luncheon said.
According to Luncheon, budget is constitutionally due within 90 days of the commencement of the fiscal year.

The National Budget which was usually presented by the end of February every year, was delayed after the Opposition political parties of A Partnership for national Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) who holds a one-seat majority in parliament, called for consultation on the estimates to ensure that their contributions to the estimates are considered.

Gunned down businessman linked to discovery of cocaine at airport

A businessman was gunned down, execution style on Friday evening, while imbibing at a popular nightspot in Eccles, East Bank Demerara.
Dead is Leonard Mahadeo of Third Street, Diamond, East Bank Demerara, who was killed by masked men who invaded the nightspot with AK47s and riddled Mahadeo with bullets. The Gunmen, reportedly left in what some eyewitnesses say was a grey Premio car, which wore no license number plate.
The Police has since acknowledged that the businessman who have been fingered in several drug busts, but were released after poor evidence; might have been linked to the botched export of several kilogrammes of cocaine that were found on the tarmac of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

“Two men armed with firearms exited from a motor car and discharged several rounds at Mahadeo which struck him about his body. The men escaped in the motor vehicle,” police PRO, Ivelaw Whittaker said in a statement.
Several persons have since been questioned in relations to the murder.
According to the police, Mahadeo was one of several persons who had been charged in 1996 following a joint probe by Guyanese police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, but was never convicted.
In 2008, Mahadeo narrowly escaped execution when a gunman discharged several rounds at him as he had been leaving the Bahama Breeze Nightspot.

Father and son charged with piracy

Dawanand Jagdai, a Leguan resident and has three sons have been arrested and charged with hijacking and piracy, after a fisherman positively identified an outboard engine as his property.
A press release from the Police Public Relations Office, Ivelaw Whittaker confirmed that the man and his three sons, Parmanand Jagdai, 25 years; Suresh Jagdai, 24 years; and Narendra Jagdai, 17 years, appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Suddie Magistrates’ Court on March 16 and were remanded to prison until April 30.

“One of the fishermen who was a victim of the recent pirate attacks at the mouth of the Pomeroon River positively identified one of the engines to be his property that was stolen during the incident,” the statement said.
Police officers conducted a search to the home, on March 3 and found two 15 horsepower outboard engines. However, Jagdai was unable to produce a receipt for one of the engines and the receipt for the other appeared to be forged.
They were then charged for unlawful possession of the engines.
Since the commencement of the year, several fishermen were victims of piracy, and have called on the Government to put mechanism in place to safeguard their livelihoods.
Subsequent to this, Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon announced that mechanism have been put in place, to which the Coast Guards have collaborated with the Ministries of Agriculture and Home Affairs to ‘beef up’ communication at sea.

Many families have lost their loved-ones as a result of piracy, a trade (fishing sector), which contributes approximately 3 percent to the national GDP with a growth of 7.4 percent from 2009 to 2011, according to the Fisheries Department.

Shortage of PVC 13 Vaccine in Guyana


There is currently a shortage of the new PVC 13 vaccine, which was launched in January 2011 in Guyana, and several mothers are complaining that the shortage will some-what put their infants life at risk.

Despite the Health Ministry’s advocacy to promote family health through the improvement of maternal and child health, there still remains a shortage of the vaccine which protects infant and, toddlers against 13 strains of pneumococcal infections

When contacted for a comment, the Ministry of Health’s spokesperson denied such allegation, claiming that there are currently enough PVC 13 vaccines in stock.

However, on February 15, Cabinet gave the ‘green light’ to a US$93,685 contract for the Procurement of Vaccines for the Maternal Child Health programme, of which the PVC 13 is present.

President’s accusation of rigged 2011 elections can be justified
-Dr. Luncheon

There is justification for the comments uttered by President Donald Ramotar on the recent elections results, notwithstanding, the reports and conclusions which arose from the scrutiny of the elections by Observers, Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon told media representatives on Wednesday.
On February 12, President Ramotar in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle spoke of incidents which occurred at several polling stations, where PPP/C polling agents were barred from entering.
The article also stated that actions by the Opposition threatened the peace in the country, and as a result forced many to depart from executing their constitutional rights and Opposition Leader David Granger has since come out calling for the statement to be retracted.
According to Dr. Luncheon, the comments by the Opposition leader did not in any case question the constitutionality of the decision made by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), but however, were centered on the Government’s comments, on the issue of mischief when counting the votes and manipulation which severely robbed the PPP of votes.
“I don’t believe that the statement in any way could be construed to be a reflection or to have an impact on the legitimacy of the Government, saving except that you might be speaking about the Government and the plurality, this was exactly what the president was alluding to,” the Cabinet Secretary said.
“However, while the Government was successful in the general elections, the combined opposition enjoyed the plurality, and has obtained more seats in the Parliament notwithstanding the fact that the PPP had more seats than any other party in the (National) Assembly,” he said.
“You might know that the PPP was the only contending party at the General Elections, which lodged an objection within the stipulated timeframe. You might know also that after discussions the PPP withdrew those objections primarily in Regions Three and Four,” he said.
The basis for the withdrawal of the objections by the ruling party, Dr. Luncheon said still exists and continues to exist.
“In the very first instance, President Ramotar repeatedly offered for us to do a forensic audit and go to the courts as we did before. The fact that that has not happened may very well be the basis which encouraged the other participants to explain, but certainly I felt that there wasn’t a consensus among the three parties to so do,” he said.

UG community changed design on how aspects of World Bank loan should be used- HPS

The decision on how the component of the World Bank loan that addresses the University of Guyana UG) and its facilities, is not one that is made by neither the institution nor any of its officials Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon said at his weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President.
He was at the time responding to a question as to when the mechanisms will be put in place to facilitate UG accessing the World Bank loan.
Last month, UG’s Vice Chancellor Professor Lawrence Carrington in his address to staff members said that the loan to the Guyana Government has not yet been activated because the Finance Minister is still to sign a crucial loan document.
The HPS said that he had personally invited Professor Carrington to be involved in a body which included Dr. Paulette Bynoe from the School of Environmental and Earth Sciences and others, to devise a structure on how best the funds could be used.
He explained that what actually happened since, is that the University community revised and changed that design to utilise the $8.4M to support various aspects of the institution’s recapitalisation.
“I am not aware that those specific elements await the Minister of Finance or any subordinate approval,” he said.
The World Bank loan is aimed at certain broad areas, such as the rehabilitation and refurbishment of the Science and Technology Laboratory facilities in four of the university’s faculties at Turkeyen; the review and reform of UG’s Science curriculum; and support for research towards low-carbon themes.

As Guyana prepares to host national elections 2011…..

Being a journalist does not mean I do not have my own opinions. The trade demands that a practitioner be as unbalanced/balance as possible (depending on which entity you work for), and to write the facts. However, my blog is my avenue to deal with issues that seem to be revolving, but not being solved.

Let’s start with National Elections which has last evening been announced for November 28, 2011, forcing political contenders to ‘up-the-ante’ with respect to their winning strategy and how convincing their story of development for Guyana would be, once elected.

This is where one would will see scores of candidates/party workers from respective political parties reaching out to residents in various villages, especially remote communities to talk about development, what would be given to them if their party is to be elected and that history, (be it under the PPP or PNC/R regime), would not be repeated under their tenure.

But if I am to have my way, many of these exact persons never ever visited these communities, and would never have if it wasn’t for garnering votes. To give credit to my article, take remote, isolated Amerindian communities especially in the Deep South; indigenous people who occupy their rough terrains never knew some of these politicians existed, not until now.

Once there, they make promises beyond the skies just for a vote come elections day. But my point remains the same, do these politicians really have the interest of Guyanese at heart and my conclusion is NO! For me, it is another scheme to fill their pockets, and then the remainder would be given for substandard work, be it in the education, social, agriculture, infrastructure or political sectors.

To give a little more weight to my point, check development under the once PNC/R Government as well as the PPP/C Government. While there was a lot of progress made during the tenure of each party in Government, there were however, equal disappointments with regards to development and laying a future for youths of Guyana to ‘grab on to’.

As I peruse the various speeches made by politicians via newspapers, television, internet or radio I can’t help but notice that my conclusions are clearer then crystal. While many are trying to give the best winning speech, none of the three main parties are really explaining what they will implement to better the lives of Guyanese, once elected.

Rather they are wasting time assailing each other’s governance, than taking time to present a future that will see more youths not only being gainfully employed, but with decent paying salaries. Foreign Direct Investments (FDI), which comes directly from investment in trading, should also be boosted, giving the Guyanese dollar value. These are some of the problems that politicians should be looking into, rather than attacking each other.

As elections draws near, come-on Mr. and Mrs. Politicians do something for the Guyanese people, we have been suffering for years; it is time for a better Guyana, or migration rate will continue to increase.

Guyana on its way to realising full potential…
-Private Sector more equipped to become engine of economic growth-Minister Prashad

Government/Private Sector collaboration has over the year’s been fruitful as several policy initiative have been successfully formulised with the aim of increasing national competitiveness while promoting economic growth.
The National Competitiveness Summit 2011 which is being held under the theme, “Partnering to promote economic growth and development,” today kicked off attracting scores of private sector bodies and Government officials.
The event which was held at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC), saw several priority areas for development being discussed including trade strategy, infrastructure to promote competitiveness, agro-processing, forestry, development, export promotion zones, manufacturing technology, alternate energy and small business development.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Manniram Prashad in delivering the opening remarks, said that the summit which is a structured public/private sector partnership seeks to build a competitive advantage for Guyana.
Since the successful host of the 2010 summit, institutional arrangements were put in place to support ongoing formulation and implementation of the National Competitiveness Strategy through the establishment of a National Competitiveness Council and Strategy Unit.
“The evaluation of the impact of the thematic areas should be undertaken in tamdem with the foundation of the National Competitiveness Strategy which was built for realising the eight growth areas identified,” he said.
Among the many growth sub-sector areas identified under the National Competitiveness Strategy include;- agriculture and agro-processing, sea food and aquaculture, forest products, information technology and tourism.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), was also inked between the Guyana Government and the Private Sector for the creation of the 12-membert National Competitiveness Council.
“We are happy to report that Five-years later, not only do we continue to have private sector involvement at the highest level of the NCC, but many of the public/private sub-committees that were formed to take charge of implementation of specific group of actions which are also chaired by the private sector,” Minister Prashad highlighted.
Minister Prashad while stating that Government and the Private Sector can today confidently deliberate on partnering to promote economic growth and development in the economy, said that an evaluation report was also implemented by independent experts who described the results as ‘impressive’.
“For an economy to grow and to be competitive the correct enabling environment must first be created. It is with this vision in mind that the Government of Guyana developed the NCS as a roadmap to achieving sustainable economic growth,” he said.

Over the years, Government has been embarking on bold steps to promote an environment that supports competitiveness to further enhancing growth and development.
Legislative and other reforms have also been embarked upon while investment in human resources continues to escalate.
President of FITUG, Carvil Duncan who spoke on the development of human resource in a globally competitive environment, said that as the economy advances there must be a balance for everyone in society to benefit, especially the working class.
Duncan also called on members of the private sector to adjust their requirements so as to ensure that employers are more comfortable in the working environment.
“Today, modern society and in the midst of a complex environment, the world economy and the markets are quickly developing. In analysing these competitive factors it is the basis from which everything begins and on which everything depends on human resource,” he said.
Ramesh Dookhoo Chairman of the Private Sector Commission said that while there must be a total diversification of existing sectors, developing countries continue to be challenge in the globalised economy, due to increasing of technological changes.
While speaking on the many initiatives implemented to boost business development, Dookhoo said that a small business development act was also passed to better facilitate the private sector and farmers making research more relevant; corporate taxes were reduced; trade opportunities expanded and infrastructure created to facilitate trade.
“In 2010/11, Guyana ranked at 110 and it is expected that with the competitiveness policy implemented the country’s ranking will continue to increase. So for my friends in the private sector who deemed this meeting as political you are dead wrong, these meetings have been taking place since 1994,” he said.
While noting that the private sector has now been given an opportunity to enhance government policy, he urged the members to use the opportunity constructively to ensure that meaningful contribution is made.
The National Competitiveness Strategy which was launched in May 2006 at the Presidential Summit on Private Sector Development, following an extensive collaboration partnership between the Government and the Private Sector, acts as a central point for policy leadership to ensure ongoing strategy development and implementation.

Committee appointed to review applicants for radio licencing

President Bharrat Jagdeo has taken a decision to constitute the Committee to commence reviewing applications for radio licencing, according to Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon.
The move by Government comes in accordance with a commitment made by the President and with the recent enactment of the Broadcasting Legislation.
The long-awaited Broadcasting Bill which make provision for the establishment of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority was passed into Law on July 28.
The Authority will be responsible for the regulation, supervision and development of the National Broadcasting System which will provide for the licencing of broadcasting agencies and the production and broadcasting of television and radio programmes.
The Act shall also be construed and applied in a manner that is consistent with the right to freedom of expression and journalistic ethics, the provision and production of quality and balanced information for the Guyanese public.
The Bill which will enhance transparency in Government and the promotion of freedom of expression, will introduce a new regime for regulating and facilitating enterprise in the broadcasting sector, while at the same time ensure that all radio and television stations continue to play their traditional role of educating, informing as well as entertaining the community.

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Full staff complement to man GECOM’s elections preparations by mid-October -HPS


The Guyana Government has recently been re-assured by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), that constraints with respect to securing staffing for electoral and polling day activities, have since been addressed and a full-staff complement is expected on board by mid-October.
Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon who made this announcement on Wednesday during a post-Cabinet briefing at the Office of the President, noted that thus far, two overseas observer missions from CARICOM and the Organization of American States (OAS) have since confirmed their participation.
The Commonwealth Secretariat would also commission a feasibility mission subsequent to which a decision is expected to be made.
“The other invitees offered various explanations for not participating in the electoral observer mission for the 2011 elections. The public announcement by GECOM that was made that November 14 was its earliest ready date, from all intentions, the president would not be expected to set a polling date prior to this,” he said.
Contracts for the procurement of polling day equipment, tools and materials were also presented and approved by Cabinet and according to Dr. Luncheon, GECOM has assured that thus far, no ‘hiccups’ have been recorded as preparations are proceeding as planned.
“A revised list of electors has since been circulated to 17 political parties which have indicated their intention to participate, while GECOM has advised that an official list would be made available within one week’s time,” the HPS said.

PPP/C Gov’t to host massive rally in October

The ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), have announced its intention to host a massive elections campaign on October 2, 2011.
The campaign rally which will be held at the Albion Road (Sports Complex), Berbice, Region Six is expected to see top local artiest performing.

APNU unclear whether free University education will be priority once in Government

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), has promised free eduation frin nursery to secondary once in Government. However the party appears reluctant when it comes to the fate of free University Education.
During a recently held symposium, APNU’s Presidential Candidate, David Granger assured that education from nursery to secondary will remain free, while university being offered free of cost remained an area to be discussed as he noted that the party would first have to look at books to ascertain that of the institutions finances.

While noting that local and international sources would have to first be identified to revive the ailing university, he said that the facility is currently beset by several constraints including underpaid lecturers, poor research facility and dilapidated laboratories.
“Its standard has been compromised by the cheap attitude of the Peoples Progressive party, which have aided in the strangulation of the facility,” he said.
Granger promised that an APNU-led government would provide free school transportation, free meals and free uniforms to ensure that children attend school. Steps would be taken, he said, to pay teachers more and increase the retirement age.

Health Ministry encourages East Bank residents to adopt healthy eating habits

To encourage more persons to improve their lifestyle activities, a health fair was held on Thursday at the Diamond Community Centre Ground. The initiative is in keeping with Nutrition Awareness Week which is being held under the theme “Healthy eating and active living.”
Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy in addressing the gathering, said that in order for one to be healthy so as to live longer, the right approach must be taken in food choices, noting that poor food choices and persons being less active has contributed to the increased rate in diabetes, hypertension, obesity and other chronic diseases.
In line with this, the ministry will also be promote the importance of breastfeeding during this Nutrition Awareness Week, as Minister Ramsammy stated that, breast milk contains all the nutrients a baby needs until ready for complementary feeding.
He also urged Guyanese to follow the seven food based guidelines so that their life expectancy can increase including eating foods that are low in fat, using less salt, make physical activity and exercising daily.
The focus of Nutrition Awareness Week this Year is to encourage Guyanese to make wise food choices and to be physically active through a variety of leisure- time, occupational and household activities.

National Registration (Amendment) Bill passed in National Assembly
-paves way for unregistered Guyanese to be in possession of source documents

As Guyana prepares to host the upcoming 2011 national elections, the National Assembly last evening, passed into Law the National Registration (Amendment), Bill No. 14 of 2011 after a rigorous debate of the Bill clause by clause.
The Bill which was presented to the House to be read for the first time for subsequent passage by Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee, makes provision for eligible Guyanese who were unable to register owing to circumstances beyond their control, to be added to the list of registrants.
Members of the Opposition, however, had other views and the Amendment was then subjected to a lengthy discussion after which proposed amendments were added to the Bill, before it was read for a second time and debated.
Minister Rohee in defending the Bill, said that the amendments put in place mechanisms which both sides of the House would like to see implemented, and which would address the issue of disenfranchisement of eligible Guyanese.
“Madam Speaker, we would all agree that it is in the interest of all of the political parties, to have as many persons as possible registered as voters, something which Guyanese as a whole fought for in the past decades, to exercise their franchise,” he said.
While noting that the intention of the Bill, is not to favour one political party but for the benefit of all Guyanese, Minister Rohee said that the decision by GECOM to reopen the claims and objections exercise also coincides with the interest of the political parties to have their constituents registered.
Over the past weeks, similar calls were made by several parties for GECOM to formulate options which would result in the said persons becoming eligible to apply for registration, hence the formulation of the amendment to the Bill.
Approximately, 7000 persons are without their source documents, and as such, efforts are being put in place to ensure that the situation is rectified and according to Minister Rohee, it will in the end see a ‘win-win’ situation being developed.
“So let us bury the hatchet and smoke the peace pipe on this matter, and let us move forward as one trying over the next 13 days to encourage those who we know, to get registered, so that we will have a process that is so transparent so that in the end everyone is satisfied fully,” he said.
Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform, Robert Corbin stated that although the Bill is necessary, the manner in which the Government approached the Bill clearly shows lack of consultation.
He added that the amendments to clause 14A(II) which seek to have the commissioner to make available the names of eligible electors to registered political parties, would safeguard the interest of the Opposition.
Alliance for Change Member of Parliament Khemraj Ramjattan while supporting claims made by the PNCR Leader, accused the Government of having a motive behind backing the decision, to have the exercise re-opened.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony in support of the Bill,said that it will allow for the thousands of persons who are not on the list of electors to be registered, alluding to the fact that after the recent claims and objections period, 16,900 persons were registered in just one month.
“The decision of GECOM Commissioners to re-open the process is for people to have an opportunity to be registered. It is one which will in the end benefit all Guyanese and as such, the PPP and Opposition scrutineers should oversee the process,” he said.
Meanwhile, PPP’s Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar while noting the Government has no intention of extending its period of mandate, beyond the time, said that the party can boast of fighting for free and fair elections, over the years.
“The same people who have been asking for an extension on the very eve of the claims and objections period, when they now are granted position, we hear that they are now objecting to it,” he said.
GECOM on Monday announced that it would re-open the claims and objections period beginning July 25 and lasting for 13 days, to give persons who are now in possession of source document the opportunity to register.

Economic Partnership agreement (EPA) and Services
By Clinton Urling

NOTE: This article, a first in a series presented by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), will examine some aspects of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) between the European Union (EU) and the CARIFORUM (CARICOM plus the Dominican Republic) nations.

Negotiated during an intensely dynamic period for the global economy, the EPAs that member nations of CARIFORUM signed in 2008 with the European Union (EU) were heralded in some quarters as a major breakthrough in trade relations. The agreements were constructed to facilitate open and reciprocal trade relations, in goods and services as well as development coordination, so that key leverage gained in one area or sector could be employed in others. While the EPAs replaced various aspects of the older Cotonoupreferential trade arrangement that existed among member nations of the African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) group, the new agreements also sought to enhance many of the privileges that were part of the Cotonou protocol, particularly with regard to having a strong development objective.

The EPAs indicate that CARIFORUM nations have up to 25 years to implement arrangements that reduce tariffs and allow up to 86.9 percent of EU goods to enter the respective markets without added trade barriers – otherwise known as trade liberalization. Likewise, the EU is obligated to allow all products and services from CARIFORUM nations to enter its markets as agreement provisions are enacted fully.

The EPA is comprehensive for including not only trade-specific issues but also “all areas relevant to trade.” In order to gather a clear understanding of the issues surrounding trade liberalization and the implications involved with the EPA, each article in this series will focus on a single dimension. This week, EPA issues relating to the services sector comprise the focus.

Unquestionably the largest generator for revenue and employment, the services industry sector has emerged as principally essential to the economies of the CARIFORUM members. Guyana is no exception and the services sector represents the highest potential growth area for the immediate future. In 2010, according to governmental budget figures, the services sector recorded impressive annual growth across many industry sectors of the economy. The construction sector grew by 10.8 percent, followed closely by the financial and insurance services sector that registered a 9.3 percent expansion. Service-related economic activity expanded in the information and communication sector by 7 percent, transportation and storage sector by 6.4 percent, and the other services sector, which includes tourism, by 6 percent.

As the Caribbean also is the only ACP region that is a net exporter of services, agreements for that sector carry extra significance to member nations such as Guyana. The nation’s private sector, led by the sister organisation of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), has stepped up its efforts vigorously to enhance the profile and mandate of the Guyana Coalition of Services Providers (GCSP) to ensure that the sector is positioned at the forefront of economic development initiatives.

Likewise, the CARIFORUM-EU agreement contains carries far-reaching elements for the services sector. The EU has granted market access and temporary entry in 29 sectors (for example, allowing stays of up to six months per calendar year) for employees in firms categorised as Contractual Service Suppliers. These sector industries include accounting and bookkeeping; architectural; medical, dental and veterinary; computer and related services; advertising; fashion, and entertainment.

Additionally, the EU has opened up 11 sectors for temporary entry by Independent Professionals (IPs) or self-employed individuals. Service sector job functions would include translation and interpretation services; market research and opinion polling; engineering services, and computer and related services.

There are no limits on the numbers of service providers that can benefit from this arrangement. However, there are some qualifying conditions. Service suppliers and professionals applying to travel to the EU must satisfy requirements regarding their nationality and residency in the CARIFORUM area. Furthermore, qualified applicants will need to meet requirements for professional certification as well as an Economic Needs Test.

For Contractual Service Suppliers (CSS) to move forward a contract must have been signed within the past 12 months and the individual(s) identified by the local CSS must be employed for at least one year before the application is made. Qualified service vendors also must possess at least three years of professional experience. The prerequisites for IPs are similar to those of CSS participants except that the self-employed applicant must have at least six years of professional experience at the time of application.

While representatives of Guyana’s private sector are enthusiastic about EPA opportunities for the services industry sectors, many are still uncertain when EPA provisions will come into force and what will be the eventual procedural requirements. The process of establishing the institutional infrastructure for EPA provisions is ongoing. However, it would be in the best mutual interests for all parties if local and regional authorities, working in collaboration with the EU, would do more to publicise the progress of the work being carried out by the joint CARIFORUM-EC EPA Council.

Nonetheless, the provisions outlined in the EPA will be realised in the near future. Therefore, local private industry organisations representing the services sector should not delay in engaging the government to establish the necessary regulatory frameworks that will ensure Guyana’s firms and career professionals can take full advantage of the EPA opportunities.

Region Eight women latest WOW beneficiaries

Since its official launch in June 2010, the Women of Worth (WOW) micro-credit scheme has significantly changed the lives of countless single mothers in Guyana, providing them with the necessary wherewithal so that they could elevate their economic circumstances, and improve the lives of their children and by extension add to the advancement of Guyana.

This scheme, which is the result of an agreement made between the Government through the Finance Ministry and the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), was today extended to Region Eight.
Addressing the women at launching ceremony at the Mahdia Community Center, Minister of Labour, Manzoor Nadir said that the introduction of a single parent assistance programme and the development of a micro-credit scheme was a promise by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in 2006.
The led to the development of single parent database of about 33,000 people, primarily women who registered in 2008.
These persons requested different forms of assistance; 1100 working single parents were beneficiaries of daycare vouchers, 1800 women requested to be trained in various disciplines of which 800 were recipients of such training by the end of 2010 and this micro-credit scheme which has seen the disbursement of 813 loans (a total value of $164M) thus far.
In 2010, Government passed the Fiscal Enactment (Amendment) Bill which amended the Income Tax Act and the Corporation Tax Act, to give effect to a waiver of tax on income of a designated small business lending company derived from loans provided to a small business in a manner specified by agreement.
It allows for the establishment for small business lending programmes with designated small business lending companies (licensed financial institutions) and permits the exemption of income tax or corporation tax from the income that is earned from the lending companies on the loans granted under the programme.
As a result, GBTI can now offer this loan plan at a low rate of interest of a mere six percent per annum and, for sums over $200,000 there is a six-month moratorium of repayments and sums under $200,000 a three-month moratorium on repayment will be granted.
The maximum period for repayment is 24 months and no collateral is required for the access to WOW financing.

“This is how we thought we could make a greater contribution towards you realising your dreams and there is not a woman in Guyana who cannot achieve what she sets out to do,” Minister Nadir posited.
He stated that the Ministry has the capacity to assist the various women’s group in the region with regards to training in Information Technology, cosmetology, and catering among others. He explained the possibility of having trainers from the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute (GWLI) visit the region to work with them.
GBTI Credit Manager, Sheliza Shaw said that the WOW loan provides a medium through which the bank is able to assist single parent mothers in overcoming the difficulties they face in their daily lives in raising their families and in elevating themselves out of poverty. GBTI is targeting over 5000 women under this programme.
“No equity is required on your part and the bank provides 100 percent of the amount you need to establish, upgrade or expand your small business,” Shaw said.
Business Development Manager, WOW Secretariat, Wemyss de Florimonte, explained that the scheme is extended to single women who have children (biological or otherwise) and are between the ages of 18 and 58 years.
Regional Chairman, Region Eight, Senor Bell urged the women to make full use of the opportunity and pledged the support of the regional administration to ensure that the programme is successfully implemented.
Since the bank does not have a branch in Region Eight, it will be partnering with the Post Office so as to facilitate the repayment process.
Additionally, GBTI will be working out ways and means through which women from remote areas in the region can benefit from the programme.

Kaieteur News report on Amaila Falls misleading
-Prime Minister

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds on Friday defended the Government’s position with respect to the statements made by the Kaieteur News about the sale of the Amaila Falls Hydropower project by Fip Motilall to Sithe Global.
Mr. Hinds added that the action by the newspaper is one aimed at harming the people of Guyana with its inuendos, as it relates to corruption and the development of Guyana.
“They wanted to create corruption and to be really flippant about it and I felt that this was really harmful to our people because many of them do not have the experience in these sorts of matters on how large projects get done,” he said.
He added that while it was Government’s aim to clarify the misconception in Thursday’s edition of both the Kaieteur and Stabroek News, the papers seem to still have gone out of their way to distort and mislead the public since they were bent on creating mischief as the article boast varying errors.
Among the errors was a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which showed that the contracts between the said parties were inked in 2006, when according to Mr. Hinds this was only signed in 1998 when Mr. Motilall began work on the study for the development of the Amaila Falls project.
Government has been over the years implementing measures aimed at improving the electricity situation in Guyana and one such, initiative was to resort to Independent Power Produce (IPP), to increase generation.
This however, did not materialize, according to the Prime Minister, as the many proposals brought forward by companies were costly.
“So you see the 2006 MOU was for the IPP which did not materialise. But the Kaieteur News either they don’t understand anything that is not simple or they purposely set out to distort and mislead the public,” Prime Minister Hinds said.
Since the mid 1980s, the Amaila Falls project has been recognized as an interest site for development and as such, Motilall and his partner SYNERGY continued to proceed to refine the project.
The Prime Minister however, indicated that efforts are apace to close the project before the end of 2011, since a lot of finance is involved and is regarded as the largest one in Guyana’s history.