Trotman named as AFC’s Prime Ministerial candidate

Following the withdrawal of Shiela Holder as the party’s Prime Ministerial candidate for health reasons last week, the AFC recently announced Rapheal Trotman as a replacement.
Trotman along with executive member Cathy Hughes had been nominated to replace Holder prompting the `party’s National Executive Committee to meet. Hughes subsequently withdrew at Saturday’s meeting and threw her support behind a Ramjattan/Trotman ticket, the party said.
“I was really very happy and proud to be nominated and to be considered. During the course of our deliberations and through the process we went through this morning I did decide to withdraw my nomination and I decided that my contributions would be best served putting them behind the very capable Khemraj and Raphael who I’ve worked very closely with over the last six to seven years,” Hughes told reporters following the meeting.

Trotman had previously indicated that he was not in a position to be the PM candidate because of health reasons. However, On Saturday he indicated that those issues have since been resolved.
“Last October I was in a place where I had some medical concerns of my own; I have since had doctors here and abroad examine me and again, perhaps miraculously, I have been given a good and clean bill of health,” the AFC Leader stated
Meanwhile, a statement from the party said there was unanimous support from the executive members for Trotman as PM candidate.
Shiela Holder, 65, announced her withdrawal on September 9 stating that it was medical reasons and that she would require “urgent medical treatment” overseas for the next few months.
She had been hospitalised locally in recent months. She is currently in the US where she sought advanced care and treatment with the expectation of making a full recovery.

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.