GECOM Had Reviewed Draft Electoral Bill Sent To PNCR - HPS
The Government had circulated to the opposition PNCR the draft Electoral Amendment Bill 2005 which was discussed by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). This is contrary to the claim by the PNCR Leader Robert Corbin that the Bill sent to his party was not seen by the Commission.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, had on July 6th sent a covering letter with the draft Bill to the PNCR General Secretary Oscar Clarke. However, due to a typographical error the letter was dated July 1.

The PNCR has suggested that the Government has sinister motives for sending the draft Bill before it was discussed by GECOM and was using the date error to substantiate its claim.

The HPS, in a letter dated July 7, told the PNCR General Secretary that this could not be so. The letter was delivered to the PNCR on July 6 and the draft Bill contained the amendments which were made by GECOM Commissioners at their meeting of July 5, 2005.

According to Dr. Luncheon’s letter to Mr. Clarke: “However, had you inquired of the Chairman of GECOM, Dr. S. Surujbally, the Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Mr. Cecil Dhurjon and the GECOM Commissioners, you would have been assured that the Bill I sent you on July 6,, 2005 was not agreed on until Tuesday, 5th July, 2005, subsequent to which, the Attorney General appended his signature.”

“In essence, the version of the Bill that was signed by the Attorney General and sent to you was not in existence on July 1st, 2005. The July 1st date (on the covering letter) was then obviously an error,” pointed out Dr. Luncheon.

Mr. Corbin, at the PNCR’s Thursday media briefing, said that his party “is concerned over this latest, sinister move by the Government to confuse the nation and railroad the election process by rushing legislation for continuous registration through Parliament without settling essential issues such as Voter List verification as a pre-requisite to the commencement of any registration.”

A political observer noted that the latest statements by the PNCR leader and his Party’s attempt to deceive the public is once again aimed at confusing issues surrounding preparations for the timely holding of the 2006 elections.

The draft Bill will allow for the process of continuous registration to start which will provide for the preparation of a clean voters’ list. Already, various international and local experts have ruled that the current database is a sound basis for the preparation of the 2006 voters list. Without any justification, the PNCR has been calling for the scrapping of the database and the introduction of additional biometrics features. Many observers see these positions as attempt to stall preparations.

Volunteer Youth Corps receive US $6,000 cheque
The Volunteer Youth Corps (VYC), a non-governmental organisation, was the recipient of a US$6,000 cheque from the Commomwealth Youth Project Caribbean Center (CYPCC) yesterday.

The cheque was presented to project coordinator of theVYC's Guyana Information Youth Project (GIYP) Mr Darren Thortington by CYPCC Regional Director Mr. Armstrong Alexis at the CYPCC headquarters on Homestretch Avenue, in Georgetown.

Alexis said the cheque will be used to assist three young people to establish businesses in Guyana. He said the move demonstrates the CYPs commitment to giving youths opportunities to earn a sustainable living.

He noted that the organisation has contributed about US$77,000 to 163 businesses operated by youths in Berbice, on the West Bank Demerara and at Linden.

Before the establishment of these businesses, many of the young people were unemployed. Now they are doing so well that they in turn can employ others.

He added that the ventures provide meaningful occupations for youths who might otherwise be idle and subsequently engage in high risk behaviour, including promiscuity and crime.

Alexis also expressed condolences to the Commonwealth's Host Nation, the United Kingdom, on the recent bombings in London.

Thortington, recieving the cheque, said the gesture by the CYPCC is an example of its belief in entrepreneurship among young people. He urged other institutions to follow suit and make more contributions to youth development in Guyana.

CYPCC Regional Director Mr. Armstrong Alexis handing over the cheque to Volunteer Youth Corps (VYC) representative Mr. Darren Thortington in the presence of CYPCC and VYC staff.

Minister Bisnauth is unaware of investigations at NOC
MINISTER of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Dale Bisnauth yesterday told the National Assembly that his ministry is unaware of the nature of police investigations ongoing at the New Opportunity Corps (NOC).

He was replying to questions from Guyana Action Party/Working People’s Alliance (GAP/WPA), Mrs. Sheila Holder, who claimed that concerned citizens, parents and guardians of inmates have complained about sexual abuse at the NOC over the years.

Mrs. Holder also enquired whether Bisnauth was aware of allegations pertaining to an illicit arrangement that is, or was, in place at the institution for the sale of sexual favours from females by staff members to businessmen operating in the NOC vicinity.

But Dr. Bisnauth said the issue does not fall under his Ministry and as such, he is unaware of any investigation.

Committee appointed to improve ferry service at Berbice crossing
The newly appointed Berbice Ferry Management Board Committee has set as its primary goal the improvement of the ferry service offered at the New Amsterdam to Rosignol crossing.

There has been a number of complaints against the service, most importantly that of commuters being stranded for long hours, awaiting crossing on either side of the Berbice river.

The eight-member Committee comprising members from the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD), Regional Administration of Regions Five and Six, Superintendent of T&HD, Berbice, and the Berbice Chamber of Commerce met in Berbice yesterday for the inaugural meeting to discuss plans and arrangements for making the service effective.

T&HD’s General Manager William Joseph said the committee is fully geared for its role of examining the existing operational system and making recommendations for the overall improvement of the ferry service.

The Committee would also serve as a liaison between commuters and the T&HD, as the operations would affect them mostly. “It is a Community Development Committee and will represent the views of the people, ” said Joseph.

It includes community members who would be asked to identity the shortcomings and make recommendations to the T&HD.

The Committee is merely an advisory body that would serve for an initial period of one year, after which time it would be re-appointed. The previous Board’s service ended earlier this year and President Bharrat Jagdeo requested that the T&HD re-appoint another Committee to serve. The first Management Committee was established in 1997.

At present there are three vessels operating at the Berbice ferry crossing; the MV Torani, the MV Mokouria and the MV Baramani.

With regard to the ferry service in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) the T&HD is closely monitoring the development of the region and would act promptly, if necessary, to the call for services to be provided in addition to Thursdays and Saturday, according to Joseph.

The T&HD in 2002 was forced to discontinue the Monday operation of the Bartica ferry due to losses experienced at that time. Joseph said, “The service was not utilised to the maximum.” The decision to end the service on Mondays was taken after consultations with the regional officials and residents of that region.

The General Manager pointed out that the T&HD has been working collaboratively with the regional administration to ensure that residents of Region Seven are served efficiently by the ferry’s operation He said the current fare structures of T&HD vessels are grossly inadequate.

To make the T&HD operations more cost-effective, the General Manager said for that reason the vessel operating the Parika, East Bank Essequibo to Adventure, Essequibo Coast route has also been involved in providing services to the islands of Wakenaam and Leguan.

At present the MV Malali is operating the Essequibo crossing, and its service is expected to be complemented later this month with another vessel.

Month long activities for Probation 60 th anniversary continues…
Unveiling of scroll next in line
The Probation and Family Welfare Department of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security will on Tuesday, July 12, unveil a scroll to honour the longest serving and retired probation officers.

The activities are among the many planned for the observances of the 60th anniversary of the Probation Services in Guyana. The programmes commenced on June 19 and will conclude on July 19. Activities started with a Church Service held at the St. George’s Cathedral.

According to out going Chief Probation and Family Welfare Officer, Ann Greene the service was attended by a wide cross section of people. She said that during the years, the department concentrated on promoting care and protecting and rehabilitating juveniles. Greene, will be retiring at the conclusion of the activities, after serving the Probation department for over 20 years.

The month of activities is being observed under the theme, “Promoting Care, Protection and Rehabilitation in Juvenile Justice.” Activities also include a Community Outreach programme by Probation Officers and various television and radio programmes.

These programmes are aimed at educating members of the public on issues of child abuse and juvenile delinquency. Discussions on good parenting skills were done in all 10 administrative regions.

Greene added that Guyanese are now more aware of the services provided by the department and they are responding positively. Also on the list of activities was the launching of a project aimed at upgrading the juvenile holding facility in Ruimveldt and East La Penitence, Georgetown.

Probation services officially started in Guyana in 1945. “We are very proud of the services being in operation for that time and there are many persons out there who can attest to the help and the direction they got from the probation service, in terms of steering them in the right path,” Greene said.

Over the years the Probation and Family Welfare Department has been very instrumental in guiding young offenders and adults.

Greene said over the years the Probation and Family Welfare Department has been very instrumental in guiding the young offenders in the country, adding that the department also had responsibilities for the New Opportunity Corp (NOC). Then, Greene said, Probation Officers had to deal with matters of family welfare and the job became even more challenging.

Among the statutory functions of the department are matrimonial counselling and reconciliation, preventing family breakdowns, assisting the courts with juvenile and adult cases, individual Counselling and assisting and guiding young people in society. Activities for the month will conclude with a family fun day at the National Park.

National Assembly approves motion to meet expenditure for fiscal year ‘05
THE National Assembly yesterday passed a motion put forward by Minister of Finance, Mr. Saisnarine Kowlessar, seeking over $3billion to meet expenditures in the General Administration, Economic Service, Infrastructure and Social Services Sectors.

The Minister, presenting the motion, said the sum of $3,630,883,201 out of the Consolidated Fund, is necessary to meet expenditure for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005.

Authorisation is in accordance with article 219 of the Constitution and sections 24 and 41 of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act 2003 and may be cited as an Act of Supplementary Appropriation (No.2) Act 2005, he told Parliamentarians.

Kowlessar explained that every sum set out in the schedule is appropriated for the purpose specified, which includes $600M to the Ministry of Finance and $5M to the Public Service Ministry.

Replying to questions from People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R), Mr. James McAllister, Kowlessar said $200M will be utilised to pay bills to agencies that provided relief after last January’s floods.

Mr. Satyadeow Sawh, whose ministry – Ministry of Agriculture-- is also included, said money will also go towards paying for the expenses caused by additional infrastructure repairs that had to be done after the floods.

In the Education Sector, Minister Dr. Henry Jeffrey said some money will be allotted to an educational facility in Berbice, scheduled to open in September, with all modern conveniences and catering for 280 students and two dozen teaching staff.

Meanwhile, Minister of Public Works and Communication, Mr. Anthony Xavier said road works will be catered for as well as payment to consultants for a feasibility study conducted on the Berbice River Bridge, construction of which will begin before year end. (Renu Raghubir)

Ineffective Responses to Crime in Jamaica
• Crime in Jamaica has reached Brobdingnagian proportions; 845 people have been gunned down since the start of the year.

• The Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ) is challenging the government’s commitment to fighting crime.

• The State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report accuses Jamaica of taking insufficient action to combat human trafficking.

• Prime Minister P.J. Patterson’s attempts to stem the crescendo of violence on the island are ineffectual.

• The 2000 Bail Act must be revised so that those who are soberly accused of shootings and murder, only to be capriciously released on bail are stayed from becoming free to kill again.

The island of Jamaica has been plagued by an unprecedented wave of violent crimes in the past few years. In 2004, 1,417 Jamaicans were murdered and since January of this year more than 845 people, 115 in the month of June alone, already have fallen victim to violence. Frustrated by the government’s apparent lack of concern for this disturbing trend and its failure to emphasize the importance of curbing crime on the island, the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ) called for a nationwide protest against the Patterson administration. The three-day initiative began on May 25, with major businesses closing at 1:00 p.m. and prayer vigils held in many areas of the country. In Kingston, PSOJ President Beverly Lopez, made public the 2005 Declaration of Emancipation Park, in which she pleaded for Jamaican parliamentarians to break all ties with criminals. The document contains 13 ultimatums, nine of which were directed at the government and four that involved the initiatives of private Jamaican citizens.

History of Crime
Throughout its short history, Jamaican society has been marred by an unrelenting violence at the hands of political factions associated with the country’s major political parties. However, the origin of the crime surge in recent years goes beyond the nation’s traditional political strife. In 2001, under increasing public pressure to seriously address the crime problem, the government set up the National Committee on Crime and Violence. The committee was established to formulate strategies to lower Jamaica’s high crime rate in a manner “that would foster wide public confidence and support” among Jamaicans and to counteract frightening off visitors to the island attracted by Jamaica’s all-important tourist industry.

Apart from offering 15 recommendations for dealing with crime, the committee also identified 16 factors believed to be the source of the burgeoning violence in the country. Among the root causes that the committee identified were economic instability, the high availability of firearms and other weapons, the criminals deported by the U.S. to Jamaica, the drug culture and political tribalism. The report also outlined the 12 deleterious effects that crime and violence have had on the island, including the polarization of communities into warring factions, the loss of investment opportunities, economic instability, loss of personal and business income, the political and social disengagement of Jamaica’s citizenry and the harm done to the tourist industry’s income.

In its list of recommendations, the committee failed to offer any profound solutions to the nation’s problems and today crime remains a grave and persistent issue. However, all of the committee’s suggestions emphasized that reducing the level of crime necessitates a cooperative effort among the government, the private sector and the public, though the government bears the primary responsibility. Dissatisfied with inaction on the part of Jamaican authorities, the PSOJ has focused on drawing attention to the negative social and political effects that crime has on the island’s cohesion and its economic viability. The last straw for the PSOJ came on May 16, when businessman and Clarendon Justice of the Peace Maurice Azan, along with his stepson, Lloyd Phang, were murdered by gunmen at Azan’s workplace. In response to the murder of one of their fellow business owners, the PSOJ has in recent weeks stepped up the intensity of its call for the government to stem the tide of violence that threatens to envelop the country.

PSOJ Challenges Government
The PSOJ declaration stated that the Jamaican government was not doing enough to protect its citizens or to punish the perpetrators of crime in accordance with the Constitution. Richard Azan, Member of Parliament (MP) for Northwest Clarendon and cousin of murdered businessman Maurice Azan, has been the most vocal opponent of signing any agreement with the PSOJ. In a 2005-2006 sectoral debate on May 31, Azan accused the May 25 protest of being an insincere display of public solidarity as most businesses in the corporate area normally close at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. He also requested that members of the PSOJ publish the names of the people to whom they pay extortion, as he believed that these payments for vigilante protection add to the climate of lawlessness that has the island in its grip.

Despite protests from a few MPs, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson encouraged parliamentarians to sign the PSOJ’s document and break all criminal ties. Patterson also sought to establish another committee in order to examine the effects of crime. Nevertheless, it would be fair to say that the prime minister has no viable solution to Jamaica’s crime problem, since his only strategy has been to create committees and then make a half-hearted attempt to follow the least offensive of their recommendations.

Scope of Crime
In November 2002, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime released a report on “Crime Trends in the Caribbean and Responses” noting that the Jamaican drug culture has been a contributed factor to the increasing crime rate. Cocaine originating from Latin American cultivation centers is transported to North America by various routes, many of which pass through the Caribbean islands, including Jamaica. The boom in transnational narcotics networks resulted in an explosive expansion of drug-related crime in Jamaica and the evolution of more sophisticated “white collar” crimes such as money laundering and computer-assisted fraud. The report also concludes that a strong correlation exists between narcotrafficking and the spike in the homicide rate.

According to the U.S. State Department’s 2005 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, Jamaica’s crime problems go beyond drug smuggling, money laundering and even homicide; the country was accused of violating international laws on human trafficking. The report placed Jamaica in Tier 3—the report’s worst ranking—alongside countries with “governments [that] do not fully comply with the minimum standards and are not making a significant effort to do so.” Even though the TIP report was not able to accurately account for the number of minors that are involved in Jamaica’s sex trade, it is evident that the problem is larger than the Patterson administration is willing to acknowledge. Although the prime minister’s cabinet pushed passage of the Child Care and Protection Act, the State Department report concluded that implementation of the Act has been less than satisfactory as “government commitment is hampered by resource constraints and a lack of political will.”

Patterson: The Right Man for the Job?
However, even if the report does not accomplish its high-minded goal of assisting in the elimination of human trafficking in the countries of the developing world, it will hopefully urge Patterson to realize that the endemic crime in his country is now attracting widespread attention. Human trafficking is a grave offense under international law and could result in a ban on non-humanitarian and non-trade related financial assistance from Washington.

Most Jamaicans agree that corruption has visibly increased during Patterson’s 13-year stint as prime minister. Countless attempts to curb criminal activity, even within the public sector, have arrantly failed. Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas, confirmed suspicions that members of his force have helped to transport, load and conceal drug shipments destined for North America. Drug smugglers, according to the Commissioner, have been apprehended carrying police-issued ammunition.

The Commission for the Prevention of Corruption, charged with investigating allegations of corruption in the civil service, has had virtually no impact on the prevalent dishonesty that plagues the public sector. Many argue that Patterson needs to completely overhaul the outdated criminal justice system in order to guarantee that those accused of corruption are vigorously prosecuted. Of foremost importance to any transformation of the judicial branch is revision of the Bail Act of 2000, which Scotland Yard Police Deputy Commissioner Mark Shields insists is a major contributing factor to Jamaica’s crime problem. Under the current bail system, many accused of serious offenses such as murder and armed assault are released on bail, only to be arrested later for committing a repeat offense.

The Crime Trends report claimed that while few countries have not experienced long periods of steady increases in their homicide rates, it is possible to effectively control this problem through sound policy measures. Despite all the scandals that have rocked the island, Patterson has remained disturbingly complacent, hoping that creating commissions and signing agreements will miraculously end the waves of crime that have swept the country. At this point, many argue that Jamaica needs a comprehensive renovation of the criminal justice system in order to hold police, parliamentarians, and other members of the public sector responsible for their actions.

Poverty, Joblessness and Crime
The PSOJ hopes that its brief show of solidarity with the Jamaican public as well as its draft resolution calling for government accountability will attract attention to the government’s shortcomings and possibly distract from its own contribution to the problem. In truth, MP Azan does have a valid point in claiming that members of the business community exacerbate what already is a bad problem by making extortion payments to criminal factions in exchange for protection.

Nevertheless, the roots of crime in Jamaica spread beyond the corrupt public sector. The Crime Trends report identified poverty as a primary cause of gang violence, since low family income may lead to the separation of children from their loved ones. Poverty also lures children to work as sex slaves in the island’s tourism centers, where they can earn comparatively large sums of money. It also may be responsible for juveniles transporting drugs on behalf of South American cartels. Overall, poverty increases the vulnerability of both children and adults to criminal activity.

Even though the report lists economic disparities as another root cause of crime and violence in Jamaica, the Gini coefficient, a measure used to calculate income inequality, tells a different story. On the Gini scale, zero represents perfect income distribution and 100 represents completely unequal distribution where one person controls all of the country’s income. Jamaica has a coefficient of approximately 38 compared to the U.S.’s figure of 40. Hence the island enjoys an income distribution that is even more equitable than its self-proclaimed middle-class neighbor.

On the other hand, joblessness is a major contributing factor to the crisis, as Jamaica has an unemployment rate of approximately 15 percent – one of the highest in the Caribbean. Unemployment coupled with poverty results in large numbers of students dropping out of high school making them prone to joining criminal gangs, which are often associated with South American narcotics traffickers.

Can the Crisis be Resolved?
The fact that the island is a major trans-shipment zone for cocaine and a significant exporter of marijuana in its own right, has not aided it in reversing Jamaica’s spiral into lawlessness. A worst-case scenario for Jamaica would be if its inability to maintain its borders against the movement of drug smugglers causes a descent into anarchy, which could eventually result in a failed state.

The prime minister would be wise to push for a legislative revision of the Bail Act of 2000 so that persons accused of violent crimes are not released on bail. Corruption in the police force must also be rooted out to ensure that police officers actively engage in the eradication of the drug trade. Patterson should take steps to drastically reform the police force, including increasing their wages after the bad apples are removed from the crop, making the benefits of participation in the drug trade less attractive, while also more vigorously punishing those found guilty of this offense. Although the administration’s attempt to modernize the police force by infusing the top ranks with foreign senior officers is laudable, it is unclear whether such efforts will prove successful. More effective measures would be to increase police officers’ wages and more vigorously prosecute those found guilty of corruption.

In addition the heavy workload shouldered by the Jamaican Constabulary Force hinders its ability to effectively address the crime problem. The Jamaica Gleaner reported that in a recent study conducted by the Police Executive Research Forum, as many as 99.2 percent of the Jamaican Constabulary Force worked more than forty hours per week, irrespective of rank, service or type of duty performed. Thus methods of officer recruitment must be revised so that more members of the public are encouraged to join the force, alleviating the problem of overworked officers.

Finding a solution to the crime problem is one of the most troubling unanswered questions for any Jamaican. It is difficult to identify exactly when the crime plague began, but it is obvious that crime is a serious problem threatening to destroy the country’s vulnerable tourism industry, which is dependent on the perhaps erroneous idyllic perception of the island held by many Americans and Europeans. As the PSOJ’s short-lived uproar has indicated, solutions must be found quickly as more and more Jamaicans as well as outsiders have become increasingly frustrated with the government and its inability to respond effectively to the serious threats crime poses to the general public.

Pillion rider in Felicity smash-up dies
Ashwin Persaud, 21, of Lot 67 Second Street, Mon Repos North, East Coast Demerara died Wednesday at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).

Persaud died while a patient in the High Dependency Unit (HDU).

He suffered severe injuries when the motorcycle he was driving slammed head-on into a mini bus on the Felicity Public Road, East Coast Demerara on Monday.

Pillion rider, Winston Jhagdat, 17, of Lot 17 First Street, Mon Repos died on the spot.

The Police said about 15:45 h Monday, mini bus driver, Clive Pellew, 28, of Lot 3035 North Ruimveldt was heading east along the northern side of the road when the motorcycle, proceeding west along the southern side of the road, collided with the mini bus.

The driver said he swerved, but could not avoid the smash-up.

Upon impact the motorcycle broke into two pieces while the mini bus front wheel on the driver’s side was severed from the vehicle.

The driver is in Police custody pending investigations.

Police probe four robberies, murder
The Police are investigating four armed robberies in Georgetown and a murder at Annandale.

In the first incident, the ‘D’ Division, West Demerara Police are investigating a robbery under arms committed on Jai Sankar, a taxi driver of Patentia at 21:05 h on Tuesday by three men armed with knives.

The police blotter said that Sankar was driving along the Phoenix Park Public Road when the men stopped and entered his car.

While in the vicinity of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, one of the men requested to come off.

The two others who were in the back seat stuck up the

driver, robbed him of $5,000 and drove away in his vehicle which was later found abandoned at Unity Street, La Grange, with the music set missing.

Meanwhile, ‘A’ Division police in Georgetown are investigating three armed robberies on a taxi driver, an Essequibo businessman and the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC). These were all committed by gunmen Tuesday.

Joseph Lees; a taxi driver of West Ruimveldt, was robbed of his motorcar by two gunmen about 21:40 h on Tuesday.

The Police say Lees stopped to pick up a passenger at Alexander and the passenger requested that he be put off at a Bel Air. At the stop the passenger was joined by another man. He then held Lees at the point of a gun, then he and his accomplice tied up the driver. One of the men drove the vehicle to Beterverwagting on the East Coast Demerara, where they threw Lees out.

Lees subsequently freed himself and reported the matter.

The motorcar has no yet been found.

Harry Persaud called “Son Son” of Better Success, Essequibo, was also robbed on Tuesday about 12:45 h by two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun on Avenue of the Republic.

The Police said Persaud was standing in the vicinity of Central Garage when the men stuck him up and ran away with his bag.

The robbers joined a taxi, a Police patrol was alerted and pursued them.

The taxi was intercepted at Church and Carmicheal Streets and the bandits were arrested and taken into custody.

One .38 Taurus revolver with five matching rounds were recovered, together with the stolen property.

Charges will be laid shortly.

And the Police have arrested a suspect in the armed robbery Tuesday at the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) on Robb and Alexander Streets armed robbery.

About 08:45 h two men armed with handguns went to the office and stuck up the employees and demanded money.

They pointed a gun at the cashier, Christine Kissoon, who handed over a night bag with $263,643. the robbers escaped on a motorcycle.

The Police have also reported that the assailant who reportedly killed his friend during a fishing trip at Annandale foreshore on Tuesday has confessed to the crime and will be charged shortly.

The battered body of Mohan Roopnarine called “Boyo,” 20, of Phase II Good Hope was discovered about 13:00 h at the Annandale Sand Reef.

A postmortem Wednesday found that the cause of death was as asphyxiation due to manual strangulation and submersion.

Raising the bar
In an editorial published two years ago, published in Guyana Chronicle of March 13, 2003, the writer noted that:

All the while, faced with the new gospel of the universality of education and in a desperate effort to increase the annual revenue base, the University extended its minimum entry requirement thereby attracting a lesser-qualified number of students unto its roll. This initiative created a debilitating conjunction which currently bedevils the institution.”

That debilitating conjunction? The output of graduates from University degree and diploma programmes whose on-the-job performance left a bitter taste in the mouth of those local businesses which chose to employ them. That editorial was written a little less than a month after a leading businessman, Chairman in fact one of Guyana’s largest companies, made the comment that `One gets the impression that mediocrity is the standard by which success is now measured [at the University of Guyana]'. His comments, delivered at the UG’s 2003 Open/Career Day no less, reflected a sentiment that was finding increasing credence within the local business community.

As of this academic year, 2005-6 university has reviewed entry requirements for students seeking an education at the institution. Under the new requirements, basic admission requires five O-levels or CSEC subjects at one sitting or six at two sittings. These must include English, Math for some programmes, and a subject relevant to the course the applicant intends to pursue as a major. Some departments and faculties will have specific requirements tailored to entry into their programmes; and there will be other requirements regarding A-levels or CAPE qualifications. Before, the basic minimum requirement was five subjects but with no specification to how many sittings.

This coming academic year will also see the reintroduction of the Open Entrance Exam. The OPE is for a students who do not have those particular requirements but who have other entry requirements, and who have five at no specific number of sittings. Also there are other categories of students with other qualifications who will be eligible to sit the Exam. It seems the University has decided to raise the bar again.

Raising the bar for entry can do nothing but good for the institution, the inevitable shortfall of revenue notwithstanding. To use a parallel in computing, there is a basic tenet of programming called TITO – the acronym for Trash In, Trash Out. Lowering the academic bar for admissions in any tertiary institution is investing in a TITO paradigm, something that always works counter to even the best and most honourable of intentions.

True democratisation of tertiary education, especially in a third world economy such as ours, has to do far more with the cost of education, and less about the compromise of quality. Herein lies another dilemma. The relative paucity of the institution dependent on a state – its main source of income – is something that the University of Guyana faces along with most Third World institutions of higher learning.

Maybe this is where the business community can come in. If the University of Guyana has found it fit to raise the bar – with the concerns of the private sector being part of the overall impetus to do so – then maybe private enterprise can begin to reward the initiative, not from a “post-production” perspective but in a more pro-active investment-oriented outlook. In short, don’t wait until the University starts putting out better graduates, but strive to increase patronage of the institution so that you can be part of the process ensuring the reign of mediocrity comes to an end. That way, everyone benefits.

Police blunder cited…
Remaining defendants freed in arms cache case
THE two remaining defendants in the Bel Air arms cache case were freed yesterday when Magistrate Adrian Thompson found 2002 ‘Best Cop’ Paul Rodrigues and civilian Raul Gulliver not guilty of illegal possession of guns and ammunition.

It means that, with the previous freeing of the other civilian, Dennis Ousbourne, all three the men charged after the arms and ammo find at Master Touch Carpet Cleaning and Construction Company premises, are now free.

They all faced separate and joint charges following the Police raid at Lot 16 Bel Air, Georgetown, last September 1.

Rodrigues and Gulliver, who were represented by attorneys-at-law Mr Glenn Hanoman and Mr Vic Puran had the cases against them dismissed because the magistrate said the Police did not mark the exhibits upon seizure and before lodging them at Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters.

Instead, the markings were put on some days after the items had passed through many channels and the nexus was broken.

Magistrate Thompson observed that the search party failed to follow the normal procedures for marking confiscated articles and, on that basis, he ruled in favour of the defendants.

He said, in the case of Gulliver, who was charged separately with illegal possession of a gun, when it was tendered for identification, there was no Police seal on it and the wrapping was “a shabby piece of paper” which exposed most of the firearm.

Mr Thompson said, even though the weapon was tendered to be identified and not as an exhibit, because of its condition, in essence there was no gun.

The magistrate said the evidence against Rodrigues, presented by Assistant Superintendent of Police Richard Lowe, prosecuting, was not strong.

Mr Thompson cited the testimony of Police Special Constabulary Senior Superintendent Frederick Caesar, who headed the search party and said the witness did not mark the weapons himself and, under cross-examination, admitted he did not know which exhibit was in which package.

Another cop, who was involved in the search, testified that he had put Caesar’s initials on the exhibits and that was not permissible.

Osbourne, the third defendant in the trial which was prolonged over several months, secured his freedom two weeks ago after Lowe conceded there was no evidence to link that defendant to a gun and ammo he allegedly had in his possession.

Among the other things seized from the Bel Air address were a female police uniform and wig, a flashlight, computers, communication equipment and a number of motor vehicles. (Delana Isles)

Two granted bail on robbery, carnal knowledge charges
KOZIE Nelson was granted $20,000 bail yesterday, after he pleaded not guilty to robbery with violence before Magistrate Maxwell Edwards.

Particulars of the offence said the defendant used personal violence against Nicola Tony to rob her of gold jewellery valued $81,000 last June 17.

Nelson will make his next Court appearance on August 4, in another Court to which his case has been transferred.

Also before Magistrate Edwards yesterday, eighteen-year-old Travis Glasgow was charged indictably with carnal knowledge.

The accused was put on $15,000 bail until July 15.

It is alleged that he committed the crime on a 15-year-old girl on July 2.

I am quite aware of the Misra Commission
I refer to the piece ‘Propanalysis’ in the Kaieteur News of July 6, 2005.

I am quite aware of the work of the Misra Commission and the others mentioned here.

My reference to the Misra Commission merely was intended to indicate that the word ‘assassination’ remained in the terms of reference, notwithstanding that it was a post-primary inquiry. All the more reason to show why post-primary inquiries are important; because the word ‘assassination’ showed sustainability and meaningfulness in driving the investigative parameters of those inquiries, well after primary ‘assassination’ inquiries were administered.

My focus was not to do any comprehensive analysis of this or any of the other Commissions’ work. However, continued usage of ‘assassination’ here did not generate outcries of ‘prejudicial outcome’, even in a couple of the other primary commissions referenced in my piece. Talk of ‘prejudicial outcome’ is irrelevant if the elements of assassination are satisfied for a victim of assassination.

The word ‘assassination’ being inserted in the Misra Commission’s mandate provided the lens for its investigative framework. Given that the Misra Commission was not directly mandated to investigate former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination, any investigative report pertaining to the violence following the assassination through direct observations, follow-up with witnesses, documents, statements, etc., would produce a greater maturation in the findings for interpretative purposes, for both primary and post-primary inquiries.

The piece in Kaieteur News itself describes part of the Misra Commission’s terms of reference as: “1) to inquire into the allegations in regard to the incidents of organized violence which took place in Delhi following the assassination of the late Prime Minister, Smt. Indira Gandhi.” The important point is that the Misra and Jain Commissions as starting points had to acknowledge that Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were assassinated. Any other starting point would not produce the truth.

Again, both the Verma and Jain Commissions, by probing the conspiracy aspect and the security lapses, during the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, had to use the ‘assassination’ construct in their frame of reference to conduct their investigations. Did this prejudice their outcomes?

Assassinations and other forms of life expiration may very well throw up different parameters for investigative purposes and perhaps cast a new reality on what really occurred. Constructs other than one to do with ‘assassination’ in the current context could drive the investigator into other directions, directions not appropriate, or even false. Use and acknowledgement of the word ‘assassination’ in the post-primary inquiries in the case of the Misra and Jain’s, is to start from a premise of truth; Use and acknowledgement of any word other than ‘assassination’ in the Rodney tragedy is to start from a premise of falsehood; and indeed, this falsehood would prejudice the outcome.

Dr. Walter Rodney was assassinated; this was a political murder. Any inquiry, therefore, must use the term ‘assassination’. Refer to the elements of assassination mentioned in my piece. In this context, whatever the inquiry, and this is a primary one, the bottom line is that we need to know whether Rodney’s murder satisfies the elements of assassination; I have no doubt that it does.

And why a mention of the PPP here?
Prem Misir

Stakeholders meeting on crime partnership is welcome
Dear Editor,
The meeting of Home Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry {GCCI} and the Commissioner of Police held at the Chamber’s boardroom to explore and develop partnerships in crime fighting was a very welcome development.

Crime is on the upswing again, and it is clear that the Police alone cannot deal with it, there must be many partnerships and levels of cooperation.

The violent crimes are a deterrent to business and development, and normal social life, as many people are believed to be refraining from going out because of fears of random attacks.

We can and will build the Berbice Bridge, but if there is a problem in passing Buxton, both ways, this will be a hindrance to the expected commercial development.

The East Coast road is an important corridor, and must be kept free of armed criminals, traffic both ways must be trouble free and must be guaranteed.

The public looks forward to rapid positive developments in the enhancing of crime-fighting, and improvements in the levels of safety and security for all citizens in all areas.

Yours faithfully,
Gregory Williams

TT Prime Minister must remember benefits flowed both ways
Dear Editor,
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson of Jamaica may not have any problem with Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister’s speech at the ceremonial opening Sunday night of the 26 th Caricom Heads of Government regular meeting, but a lot of people in Guyana have a big problem.

The high cost of petroleum products and fuel is a nightmare for Guyana, as with many other Caricom countries, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with us seeking out all opportunities to get concessionary terms, loans or aid in dealing with this problem.

Through its oil and gas plus its pitch lake, TT has become very highly developed and can out trade its Caricom partners. While, as he says that his country has provided much assistance to sister territories, it must not be seen that TT has not benefited in other ways.

With Guyana alone, Trinidad enjoys a 70% trade balance, through free trade, much to the benefit of their businesses.

Also, when Burnham had banned essential foodstuffs in Guyana, this gave rise to the suitcase trade, where everyday Guyanese traders descended on Trinidad to purchase these goods and bring them back to sell to the populace, bribing the Customs and other officials.

This suitcase trade, increased the GDP and prosperity of Trinidadians, in all sectors of the economy, including airfares, hotels and guesthouses.

Trinidad investments in Guyana have also reaped rich returns through our open door policies and Mr. Manning has to be reminded that the benefits flowed two ways and was not a one-way street.

Yours faithfully,
Daniel Cummings

Government is concerned about rising oil prices
Dear Editor,
The government is greatly concerned over the effects on consumers of the sharply rising oil and fuel prices and are studying how this can be cushioned.

We can mainly be affected through our light bills, and here the Prime Minister and Acting President Sam Hinds’ call on all consumers to reduce their use of power as far as possible is very timely and important.

We could also be affected by transportation costs, again affecting a large number of consumers and all possible and practical steps have to be taken to prepare for this.

We all have to put our heads together to deal with this further threat.

Yours faithfully,
Dennis Rampersaud

Task Force should be lauded for the works so far
RECENTLY, I learnt that the emergency works at the Conservancy Dams are almost completed.

It is amazing that the Task Force completed so many works in such limited time. Let us not forget the contactors who also played an important role in meeting he deadlines.

I know that the Task Force has extended its deadlines but the works are progressing at a rapid pace.

As a resident, I am quite satisfied with the progress the Government has made so far for the remedial works to the drainage systems. I know that many works are yet to be completed but we must understand that everything takes time.

I have been saying to my colleagues that we must help before we criticise. Criticism takes us nowhere, let us cooperate and certainly there are great possibilities for moving forward.
ALEX HILTON