PNC/R must account for $100M provided for scrutineers
-- President Jagdeo
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo has made it clear that the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) will have to account for the $100M provided by government for the payment of scrutineers for that party.

The Head of State who expressed grave concern over the issue, told the media at State House on Saturday in an informal press brief that the government will not allow this matter to rest.

“Clearly the money has been misappropriated and misused. They have not accounted for a single cent as yet and from what I gathered there are some scrutineers that have fictitious names receiving payment, I have gathered also that some of the scrutineers are not receiving the full amount of money…We intend to get to the bottom of this, they will have to account for every cent of the resources transferred to them,” the President emphasized.

On May 8, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon indicated that information has been provided that the main Opposition Party received $100M from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to pay Opposition party scrutineers and has not accounted for the money over the past four months.

President Jagdeo said that the Ministry of Finance which is charged with the responsibility of such matters has since instructed GECOM not to make further payments until a detailed report from the party is provided on the period in question.

“From what I gather there is no report so far. The reports will be audited by the Auditor General. So if they put fictitious names there, we are going to find the fictitious people, we are going to ask them if they received money and how much they received and we are going to hold the people who signed that return responsible,” Mr. Jagdeo declared.

Since the statement by the government’s spokesman, PNCR Leader Robert Corbin has rejected the charges saying that the government’s intention is to divert attention from the real issues which relate to the rising cost of living. He said he knew nothing of the government’s claim adding that the matter might be one for GECOM and the Ministry of Finance.

President Jagdeo charged: “He (Corbin) should not try to shift the issue over to the Chief Scrutineer (Amna Ali) who just collected the cheque on behalf of the PNC. So when Corbin says that the PNC did not receive any money and that it is the Chief Scrutineer, she has collected the money on behalf of the PNC.”

The Head of State also lamented that government may have been in retrospect wrong by not allowing the other opposition parties to receive money for their scrutineers pointing to the Alliance for Change (AFC) who had been calling for such.

“We should have known better that anytime you put state money into the hands of the PNC they would misuse it, spend it other than for the intended purposes,” the President contended.

The government through Dr, Luncheon has been registering its concerns about the slow pace of the National Registration exercise and the various problems being encountered by citizens when they attempt to get registered. Registration has been ongoing in preparation for the country’s Local Government Elections.         

The President pointed out that Guyana is one of the few countries that provides funds for opposition parties to pay their scrutineers but noted that this was done mainly because the government wanted a clean and clear registration process.

“Let me make it clear that we decided to give this large sum of money to the scrutineers because we wanted a clean voters’ list and we didn’t want the PNC to make the excuse that they did not have adequate personnel on the ground… without that money I doubt whether the PNC could have been able to organize a better protest because they are just bankrupt of ideas,” the President declared. (GINA)

Government’s relief flour programme underway
By Priya Nauth
RESIDENTS of Diamond and other neighbouring communities on the East Bank of Demerara were able to purchase flour at a reduced price from a mobile unit last Saturday, as a result of government’s decision to cushion the effect of global price increases for food.

The exercise was conducted at the entrance of the Diamond New Scheme, and according to Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud who dropped by to have a first hand look at the process, which mainly targets the vulnerable.

The move is seen as a temporary one because it has been predicted that the price of wheat is likely to decline over the next three or four months.

Recalling that the President had announced a $200M programme aimed at reducing the burden on the local consumers as much as possible, Persaud said:

This exercise has two aspects: There is an arrangement the President worked out with the bakers whereby they don’t have to pass on the cost of the wheat that they use and secondly this here is where the trucks are going across the country to vulnerable communities whereby flour is being reduced,” Persaud explained.

The programme is being executed by the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (New GMC).

The minister said that there is a similar initiative which started since January for rice and now the government has brought on flour temporarily, adding that the rice programme will continue.

This will be in all regions and I want persons to look out for that and to benefit from this… we hope to distribute at the end of the exercise close to 150,000 packets of the one kilogramme flour,” he encouraged.

It is temporarily and we hope by which time there will be some stabilization in the price globally so that the consumer can go back at getting the prices at a level that they can all afford,” he pointed out.

Persaud noted that this is just part of a number of initiatives that the government has undertaken.

I think it is significant…the issue of wheat and flour is very important because a lot of people use that for their staple,” he asserted.

The minister noted that the government cannot control the price, hence they are using their resources to work with the National Milling Company Guyana (NAMILCO) and bring these trucks out to the consuming public.

In fact, we give back the consumers everyday close to $1.8M using the trucks,” he revealed.

Alluding to the response to the intervention, he said nearly every truck has been sold out and in some cases, additional supplies were needed.

The minister pointed out that the trucks are in the communities at a specific time and this scheme intends to benefit the consuming public by bringing some savings by reducing the prices.

?ut regarding against persons buying and reselling, everyone will not be allowed to purchase more than four kg…that is the maximum because it is intended to get to the most vulnerable group,” Persaud pointed out.

…no one can come and buy wholesale and then go back and have the flour resold at a higher price,” he exhorted.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Chronicle spoke to some of the residents of the community who expressed their support and appreciation towards the initiative taken by the government to help alleviate the growing prices.

One consumer said that “this is helping out the poor people a lot and I am thankful to the government for this initiative”.

Another resident of the Diamond New Scheme said “this is wonderful…from what I know the way the economy is going, it is not just that everything is left to the government…it is just world prices that dictate how things go and there is a demand for food.

…it is not the government fault but it is nice to see they can do something to alleviate the suffering of the average working man and the government is taking the initiative to bring ease and that is wonderful,” the resident noted.

Another customer also noted that the people in the community regard the step taken by the government as a good idea which can help ease on the pocket.

This initiative is very good and it is helping out a lot of people and people are depending on it…up to this morning there was a big crowd here,” the resident observed.

Given escalating food prices, the government announced plans to absorb the increase in the price of flour and to stave off increases in the price of bread, biscuits, and pastries where the government will bear the price increase in flour sold to 22 bakeries which control about 95% of the market.

In addition, the government has also bought 200,000 one kilogramme packets of flour for sale (minus the price increase) to vulnerable groups which will be carried out by the New GMC.

Also, other measures to fight the rising food prices is a programme under the "Grow More" food campaign, which promotes increased production by commercial and subsistence farmers, chemicals and fertilizers, along with some 600,000 packages of vegetable seeds, will be distributed across all ten regions of Guyana at a cost of approximately $20 million.

A $4,000 cost of living ‘adjustment’ and a 5% pay hike to public sector workers will be implemented and the $4,000 tax-free cost of living adjustment will go towards government workers, teachers, soldiers, policemen, firemen and prison officers whose basic salaries are below $50, 000. The 5% salary increase will be retroactive to January this year.

The cost of living adjustment will be added to the salaries of government workers until the end of the year, following which there will be a review.

Vending on government’s reserves will not be allowed
MINISTER of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn last Saturday visited the Mon Repos/La Reconnaisance Market, where he informed vendors who were selling along the road sides and on other government reserves that they have to remove and occupy the area north of the market which was prepared at their request.

Some vendors were reluctant to move to the new area which has been prepared to accommodate meat, vegetable, fruit and haberdashery vendors.

Benn said this type of behaviour is affecting the flow of traffic, stressing that vending on government’s property will not be allowed and serious action will be taken against persons who do not respect the law.

The minister also advised the poultry and other meat vendors that they should not be killing the animals on the location.

“This is a location for persons to sell on the weekends and persons do not need a large space to build a big stand. This is just a short-term place to accommodate persons who are not selling in the market but along the road ways,” Benn explained.

The Minister also inspected maintenance work of roads in Golden Grove and reconstruction of roads in several communities along the East Coast including the Lusignan Main Access road, which is completed. The Clonbrook Cross Street was constructed at the cost of $5.5M and 6th Street Clonbrook Section C at the cost of $4M.

In North Greenfield Housing Scheme five roads were constructed at the cost $15M. Residents in these communities expressed satisfaction since they now have easier access to their homes. (GINA)

Persaud exhorts crucial sectors to contribute towards disaster management
By Tajeram Mohabir
AGRICULTURE Minister Robert Persaud is exhorting all crucial sectors of society to play a critical role in addressing issues of disaster management.

He made the appeal at a recent symposium on climate change and flood management on the coast of Guyana held at the Regency Suites Hotel, Hadfield Street, Georgetown.

The three hour discussion organized by the National Climate Unit (NCU) and the National Climate Committee (NCC) sought to raise awareness and increase national capacity to deal with the global natural phenomenon.

Persaud offered that some of the basic measures to minimise the impact of the problem include the building of homes higher above ground, keeping the environment, especially the water ways clean and strict adherence to the drainage and irrigation schedules in farming communities.

He said while Guyana is not a gross contributor to the phenomenon it expected to undergo major adaptive changes including temperature rise, intense periods of rainfall, longer dry periods, and sea level rise of more than one foot by the end of the century as the extreme weather events unfold.

The minister explained that these will negatively affect the bio-physical environment, health, economy and people’s life style.

“We are currently experiencing an increased global food demand coupled with high prices and extreme climate events account for a significant reduction of agricultural food production,” Persaud stressed.

He pointed out that flooding is one of the telling effects of the unseasonable weather pattern because the local drainage and irrigation system which was built more than 100 years was not designed to cope with the rapid evolving threat of climate change.

The drainage system discharges about 1.5 to 2 inches of rainfall in 24hrs against some days when as much as four to six inches have been recorded.

“The flooding events in 2005 and 2006 demonstrated the urgent need to

re-examine the existing drainage system with the aim of improving its infrastructure to cope with the negative impacts of climate change,” he said.

Current interventions
Persaud disclosed that his Ministry’s Drainage Master Plan takes into full account the effects of the global phenomenon. That initiative, he pointed out includes the allocation of considerable resources as well as changes in the way farmers and others handle D&I Infrastructures.

Government this year will be spending in excess of $ 2.8B in the D&I sector to widen key drainage relief canals, improvement of water flow systems within conservancies, construction of additional drainage pump stations and continuous dredging of canals and outfall channels to ensure the system functions at maximum capacity.

According to Persaud work will also be done to expand the drainage system to cope with the increase in agricultural activities.

He said that some of the major activities within the drainage & irrigation sector to address the phenomenon are:

* the implementation of the Conservancy Adaptation Project (CAP) financed under the Global Environmental Fund which will see significant improvement in the operation and implementation of the flood control structures within the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC);

* the construction of additional drainage outlets at Westbury and Golden Fleece financed under the European Union (EU) Rice Competitiveness Project to increase drainage capacity from 1.5 to three inches per day. Also, the rehabilitation of the Dawa Pump Station which will ensure irrigation requirements are met for approximately 50,000 acres of farmland within Annandale/Cozier in Region 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam);

* major rehabilitation of 516 miles of canals and drains including pump stations, structures and drainage outlets in Regions 3, 4 and 6 financed by Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) under the Agriculture Support Services Programme (ASSP) to further improve discharge flows and

* negotiations are with the Japanese Government and Donor Agencies to finance new D&I infrastructure within the conservancies and Mahaica/Mahaicony areas commonly referred to as the MMA 2 project. He said negotiations are ongoing and that initiative will not only mitigate the negative impacts of climate change, but will open-up a vast amount of arable lands.

The minister said, in addition to these measures, government has recognized the importance of an early warning system and the following programmes are being implemented in this regard.

(1) The installation of the Doppler Weather Radar. He pointed out that the construction of the tower is progressing smoothly and will be in operation by the end of 2008. The Doppler weather radar will allow weather forecasters within the Ministry to:

* increase precision in defining the areas where severe weather is likely to form;

* identify the characteristic patterns indicating a high Probability of severe thunderstorms;

* improve accuracy in forecasting the time, intensity and location of heavy rainfall.

2. The expansion of the Hydrometeorological monitoring network to improve weather and climate prediction as well as scientific research.

3. The training of weather forecasters and hydrological technicians in the Hydrometeorological discipline. According to Persaud a group is being trained at the World Meteorological Organization Regional training centre in Barbados.

“Training of Staff to cope with these realities is essential. This is not only needed for flood prevention but also for flood management and

effective water controls. We will continue to link with international parties for support, he assured.

Persaud underscored that strategies are also being examined to take care of damages caused by the sometimes inevitable reality -- flooding in low-lying areas. This he emphasized is most necessary given the rising food prices and shortages in some countries.

Flood insurance
The minister said that Guyana is now demanding that floods be covered under the Caribbean Catastrophe Insurance. He pointed out that the feasibility study for that initiative started in March and will be completed by next month.

“This will we hope assist in covering the costs of damage faced by farmers and others,” he underlined.

Meanwhile, Persaud stressed that climate change will be exacerbated by other stresses arising from poverty, food insecurity, incidence of diseases among other.

He cautioned: “We must also remember that the ability of the country to adapt to climate change is intimately connected to social and economic development and the effects of climate change are unevenly distributed across and within societies,” Guyana’s position

NCC Chairman Mr. Shyam Nokta said that the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change

(IPCC) has projected an 11 to 17 inches rise in sea levels by the end of the 21st century and in Guyana’s case it could be higher.

He disclosed that there will be more intense periods of rainfall and longer dry periods with an overall drop in annual average rainfall.

Mr. Nokta pointed out that Guyana is very vulnerable to this situation because 90 percent of its population reside on the coastal zone which is 0.8 to 1.2 metres below sea level.

However, he said government has embarked on strengthening its sea and river defences -- both mangrove protection and infrastructure, drainage and irrigation, planning and response measures and has upgraded the settlement and land use policy to address the problem.

The NCC Chairman also called for a collaborative approach to address the phenomenon because all sectors will be affected and pledged to continue raising awareness through public discussions and the mass media.

During the symposium head of the Sea Defence Department Mrs. Agnes Dalrymple delivered an overview of the sea defenses while acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Mr. Lionel Wordsworth did a similar presentation on the drainage and irrigation system.

Guyana Lands and Survey Commission, Surveys Division Manager Mr. Rene Duesbury also spoke on flood mapping in the vulnerable regions of the coast.

Trying to score political points
Guyanese have not reached the food situation which is being experienced by other countries, yet the PNCR is agitating.  The reason for the so-called “march” against the rising cost of living organised by the Opposition is not really about food, it’s about resuscitating the image of the PNCR which has no credibility and whose followers are waning. 

Everyone at this time should be fully aware of what is happening in the world, especially in light of climate change, demand for oil and food shortages.  These factors are contributing to the rising cost of living worldwide. 

Again, it should be remembered that although every country is being affected, it is recognised that Third world countries are facing the brunt of the situation. 

The demonstration was certainly uncalled for. I wonder how many of the ‘scrutineers’ were in the picket line?  The march was clearly not to seek betterment for workers.  It was to score political points.
INDRA LALL

Sick and tired of nasty politics 
As an ordinary citizen who is sick and tired of the nasty politicking that goes on in this country, I am greatly disappointed with the behaviour of the executive members of the main opposition party. Firstly, their absenteeism from Parliament when important matters are put before the house including anti-piracy and rising food prices is clearly a representation of their lack of ability to serve their purpose. 

Guyanese, no matter which political party they support are all faced with effects of the rising food prices and while the ruling party is doing its bit to help us all, the PNC top members are using the situation to gain political points.

The recent protest actions and absenteeism from Parliament are just plain wickedness because it appears that they are just using their supporters as scapegoats to get into power. Imagine, Mr. Corbin telling his people Jagdeo is causing the food price increases and VAT is killing poor people?

The world over is facing severe hike in food prices and while we are lucky to be able to access food no matter how high the costs are, others in countries like Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago and India are almost killing each other to get food.

The prices for nearly all items particularly rice, flour, milk, potatoes and meat have all sky-rocketed yet Guyanese are buying these items on a daily basis. Any sensible citizen who reads the newspapers and watches the television can see that the increase in food prices is not a Guyana thing, it’s a global crisis.

It is rather appalling that the PNCR executives decided to protest and call for the government to address the food price situation just a day after President Jagdeo announced additional actions to cushion the impact on Guyanese. I would like to know if Mr. Corbin and his members are given power today, what would be their plan(s) to ‘address’ the food price increase and stop Guyanese from suffering? 

Guyanese need to rise above the politicking and work to achieve what we really want as individuals and citizens of this land. 
A. WONG 

Govt not the cause of high prices
I would like to inform the Leader of the PNCR, Mr. Robert Corbin, that information coming out of CNN has indicated that the price for oil has hit record high of US$126 per barrel.

Corbin should sensitise his supporters on these things before he encourages them to protest. Let them know that it is not this government that is causing the price for food to go up.

As is evident, the situation is getting worse and the most this government can do is make the necessary interventions which are being done.
MICHELLE JONES

A national disgrace
MY son, I bore you for nine months in which I spent sleepless nights tossing and turning in bed. I winched in pain as I breast fed you every few hours. I held your hands and walked with you on your first day at school. I hugged you and whispered in your ear don’t cry son, ‘Mama will be back after school to take you home.’ With all the love I give to you at least you could have put some flowers on my grave.

“Oh Mama” you know that I always love you. The day you departed you tore my heart. Please forgive me mama for not placing any flowers on your grave. Instead I had to throw dozens of flowers into the Princes Street Canal after failing to locate your grave in the middle of the Jungle”.

The Le Repentir cemetery has now become a national disgrace thanks to the City Council. I am now left to wonder if our Mayor is planning to promote our City as the only capital with a jungle in its centre. Now is the time for the Mayor to start acting as if ants are in his pants and do something what has now become an eye-sore. Could somebody please tell me what is preventing City Council from clearing the cemetery.

As the son says “Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame on you”
MERVYN MAJOR

United States also hard hit
THE increasing cost of food items is hitting us all very hard and while I see the PNCR supporters marching and complaining about the high cost of living, we should consider ourselves very fortunate as compared to other countries including the mighty United States.

On May 9, I came across a video report from CNN on the internet that gave a clear picture of the crisis facing New Yorkers, and I wish it could have been broadcast on local television for Guyanese to see. Can you imagine the middle-class of the ‘Big Apple’ is unable to ‘make ends meet,’ as the reporter stated?

In fact, the situation has become so drastic in the City that the children driving to school in BMWs and having Ipods and other luxuries are returning home to no-food since their parents cannot afford to provide this basic necessity. Surely, if this is so, we in Guyana are not really having a crisis. Yes, the cost of food had increased significantly, but at least we have access to supplies and can afford to make the purchases.

According to the CNN report, the main food bank serving New York has seen a 73 percent increase in the number of full time workers who need help because a fuel price increase of just 5 percent is contributing further to the situation. The problem has grown so much so that the food banks are running out of food and people are being turned away by empty shelves.

As I recall the reporter’s words ‘How can America the land of plenty get to this point?’ I wonder if Guyanese will ever be appreciative of our position with the abundance of food and resources to produce more.
J. MORTAGUE

60 Years of Israeli brutality
THE world’s most power leaders, U.S. President, George W. Bush, Germany’s Angela Merkel, France’s Nicholas Sarkozy, and England’s former Prime Minister, Tony Blair will gather in Jerusalem next week to celebrate Israel’s 60th birthday. “A state built on blood, murder, theft and lies.” Their presence in occupied-Jerusalem signals to the world and especially to the Arabs their support of Israel’s subjugation, humiliation and terror against the Palestinians. Only recently Israel recognized the existence of Palestinians. Its founders were all members of terrorist organizations -- Ben Gurion, Golda Meir and Yitzhak Shamir, Moshe Dayan, among others, refused to acknowledge that Palestinians existed, and after 60 years of a brutal occupation, the Zionists quest to eliminate the Palestinians from their homeland continues unabatedly, but Palestinians refuse to disappear.

It’s no secret that Israel was founded by a terror network led by terrorists groups such as Irgun, Haganah, and Stern Gangs. A reference to encyclopedias of the 40s-60s will confirm that. By 1948, and before the UN recognition of Israel, the Zionists amassed the financial and military support to occupy Palestine. They terrorized the British who abruptly left Palestine to Zionist fanatics from Europe. “There is no doubt that many sexual atrocities were committed by the attacking Jews. Many young (Arab) girls were raped and later slaughtered. Old women were also molested.” (General Richard Catling, British Army Assistant Inspector after interrogating several female survivors). 

Zionist terror started as early as 1937, but the younger generation today is unaware of it. Between 1937-1939 Zionist terrorists attacked Palestinian buses resulting in 24 deaths. In 1939 Haganah blew up the Iraqi oil pipeline near Haifa. Then in 1940 Stern Gang assassinated the British Minister, Lord Moyne, in Cairo. As well as, on 25th November 1940, the S.S. Patria was blown up by Zionist terrorists in Haifa Harbour, killing 268 illegal Jewish immigrants aimed at drawing sympathy and to force the British to allow Jews to migrate to Palestine. In 1946 they blew up the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, both Haganah and Irgun Gang were involved. As well, in 1946 Irgun Gang bombed the British Embassy in Rome, and in 1947 a postal bomb exploded in the British War office. The British squarely blamed the terror on Irgun and Stern Gangs (The Sunday Times, Sept. 24, 1972), p. 8.

From 1947 to 1948 thousands of Palestinians were killed by Zionist terror and 700,000-800,000 were uprooted from their ancestral home, Palestine. These facts are all well documented, and I will discuss only a few because of limited space to chronicle them all. In December 1947, six Palestinians were killed when bombs were thrown from Jewish trucks at Arab houses in Haifa; 12 Palestinians were killed in a village near Haifa. On the 13 December 1947, Zionist terrorists believed to be members of Irgun Zevi Leumi murdered 18 Palestinian civilians in Jerusalem, Jaffa and Lud areas. In Jerusalem, they bombed Arab market-places near the Damascus Gate; in Jaffa bombs were thrown into an Arab café; and in the Arab village near Lud, 12 Arabs were killed in an attack with mortars and automatic weapons.

In 1948 Haganah blew up the Sarai in Jaffa killing 40 and on January 5 they bombed the Semiramis Hotel in Jerusalem, among the dead was the Spanish Consul. From December 13, 1947 to February 10, 1948, they blew up 9 Palestinian buses and attacked passenger trains four times killing 93, as well, cafes and markets were bombed, killing 138 people. The Salam building in Haifa, a seven-story building of apartments and stores was bombed on March 22, 1948 by Stern Gang, and between April 25, 1948- May 13, 1948 Jaffa was looted and destroyed by Irgun and Haganah terrorists. And let’s not forget that on 17 September 1948, Count Folke Berndadotte, UN Mediator in Palestine was assassinated by members of the Stern Gang. 

And adding fuel to the fire, the United Nations in 1947 with 56 members was not a democratic body that represented the world when it voted to divide Palestine, and of the 56 members, only 58% supported the division of Palestine. In 1947, most of Africa, Asia and the Caribbean were under the imperial power of France, England, Holland, Spain and Portugal. Thus, it’s a myth that the UN created Israel. These European powers held back independence of their colonies because they conspired to create Israel and knew that it would have never happen if Africa, Asia and the Caribbean were free from European chains. Some brave nations that voted against the partition were, Afghanistan, Cuba, Egypt, Greece, India, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, and Yemen.

Another myth is that Israel is a beacon of freedom and democracy; on the contrary it is a religious state that affords only Jews freedom and democracy. The entire Jewish world is awarded Israeli citizenship, a despicable act, and an affront to the millions of Palestinians who live under Israel’s brutal-military occupation and those whose properties were confiscated and uprooted out of their land of birth and can’t return today yet the world Jewry are welcome there and awarded Israeli citizenship. Bush, Merkel and Sarkozy will toast to this.

Today Israel is feeding fear into the minds of people in its campaign to demonize the Palestinian liberation struggle as terrorism and parading itself as the eternal victim. Israel lectures the world that she is the defender of Western civilization and values against a barbaric enemy. This fear benefits the Jewish state. The same European nations that for hundreds of years tried to exterminate the Jewish are today its biggest consumer of this “fear tactic.” France, the United States, Germany and England have all armed Israel since its illegitimate founding in 1948. The Zionists were bent in occupying more Arab land, naturally their eyes were set on the West Bank and the Golan Heights, and thus it’s a fallacy to assert that the Arab attack on Israel led to the lost of these territories. And today the facts are staring us in the face. Israeli is not serious about peace, it continues to steal more Palestinian land, kill and terrorize. The West Bank is occupied and Gaza is under siege. People are deprived of healthcare, food and water, and in this backdrop, Merkel, Sarkozy, Blair and Bush are cheerleaders of Israel’s brutal 60-year occupation of Palestine. Israel can only celebrate its military might, “but in terms of justice, morality and humanity, one struggles to name a country on earth that so openly practices oppression and racism. As such Israel, on its 60th birthday, remains what it was when born six decades ago: a state built on blood, murder, theft and lies.” (Al Ahram)
R CHICKERY

The naughty boy who screamed fire
THERE was a naughty little boy who ran into a building and screamed "FIRE!" As the people scrambled to run out onto the street, he hid and laughed at the peoples’ calamity as they pushed and shoved each other to get out of harm’s way.

The next day this naughty little boy ran into another building and screamed "FIRE!" Again, the peoples' calamity was a source of amusement to him as they again struggled to get out of harm’s way.

Next day, the little boy saw smoke coming out of the building, so he went and investigated and saw there was a raging fire. So he rushed hurriedly into the building and screamed at the top of his lungs "FIRE!" The people just looked at him and laughed as the fire engulfed the whole building.

Some people learn and some people do not.  

Let Robert Corbin hold his street protests as the rest of the whole world grapple with rising food prices. You can fool some of the people some of the time, but not all the people all of the time. Even countries that are faring worst than Guyana are still able to make ends meet. 

We are sorry to inconvenience you, Robert Corbin, and the GPSU by the rising price of food. But I believe that the cost is likely to rise more since some Unions (who were not protesting about the poor people missing meals before) are pushing up the cost of living with their demand for 25% rise in salaries. We all know why. So that their political allies can get into power so they making FIRE!

If you are a fool, you're a fool and can't help it. But if you want to play the fool that is your problem, FIREBOY!
SEAN ADAMS/SEAN BRIGNANDAN

Misrepresentation of facts
The Rice Producers Association (RPA) would be very appreciative if reporters would make an effort to verify facts before publication of articles relating to the rice industry, especially when reference is being made to the RPA.

Editorials even more so, since the column is the yardstick by which the credibility of the publication is measured; and I make special mention of the Kaieteur News editorial of Sunday 4th May 2008, which attempted to address the issue of high prices.

I reiterate that the author of the editorial attempted to address the issue, but I venture to say that this was a failed attempt because the information and skewed analysis contained therein did not in any way reflect empirical data, which are easily accessible, as are personnel in the rice industry, including RPA executives.

While not disputing the importance of maintaining the affordability of this vital staple to the local consuming public, which the Government is addressing, recognition has to be given to the fact that external dynamics and imperatives, which severely impacted the cost of inputs that sustain the industry, were the primary contributory factors that drove the cost of rice to escalate appreciably.

Why only Guyana? Newscom reports that rice prices in some of the most prolific rice-growing areas in the world have surged to record heights. According to the publication , Asian rice prices have almost trebled this year and the prices from the Chicago Board of Trade have risen to more than 80 percent.

The Kaieteur News editorial goes on to state that authorities claim that rice supplies have dwindled in the local food chain. But the credibility factor of this editorial comes into question here, because easily available statistics indicate otherwise; so the editors need to identify the authorities from which they obtained this entirely erroneous information.

Rice production has increased dramatically and lands that had been abandoned for decades are being reclaimed and cultivated. Also the Government is making available large tracts of land for farming, so productivity is increasing rather than declining, as it is stated in the editorial, which posits that “there is a move that would see land being used for food being used to cultivate grains for bio-fuel.”

The Government’s “Grow More Food” campaign debunks this contention, and the RPA is fully supportive of and involved in this initiative. One is forced to speculate that there is a sinister agenda behind the several negative inferences and, outright misrepresentation of facts in the editorial, especially since the authorities have been consistent in categorically refuting these very allegations. There seems to be, in Shakespearean terminology, “mischief afoot”.

The contentious allegation that the appreciation in prices has not benefited the farmers in any way, and that millers are the only stakeholders who are benefitting, is entirely fallacious, because a cursory study would indicate that paddy prices have spiraled from a best price of $2,800 in 2007 to between $4,500 - $5,700 – and climbing, in 2008.

Smuggling is a criminal activity and anyone with information regarding this crime is duty-bound, by law, to report such breaches to the proper authorities, so instead of making wild assumptions, then editorializing on the analyses created there from, reporters should provide instances of proof or else they degrade the noble profession of journalism, which should be pursued by basing stories on facts and not wild speculations.

One remembers that when Stabroek News broke the story on thallium poisoning it rocked the nation because they backed it with proof that generated changes within the system. Unsubstantiated allegations, with vague references to phantom “authorities”, and with scant or no basis of facts, only serve to make suspect the credibility of the publication and, consequently, its authors.

Therefore, unless the author of the editorial can prove that there is smuggling of rice across our borders which could contribute to shortage on the local market, then one can only surmise that there is a mischievous agenda behind this, as well as the contention that the RPA has said nothing about spiraling prices of the staple.

The RPA has spoken ad nauseum on the various ramifications of this phenomenon at the relevant fora. We have also addressed it in our quarterly publication, the Farmer, complimentary copies of which were made available to the Kaieteur News.

Our organisation has made representation at the highest level for relief for our farmers, as a result of which several government interventions were made, which resulted in tax and other relief measures being accorded the sector. These are well-documented, even in the media.

Our executives and extension officers work indefatigably with individual farmers, as well as the farming community as a collective, in educational and experimental initiatives in efforts to enhance the best practice factors in cultivation and production of rice so as to sustain the imperative viability of this very vital sector in the nation’s economy.