‘I don’t need to create any smokescreen’
- Ramotar insists PNC must come clean on Army weapons
By Neil Marks
GENERAL Secretary of the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Mr. Donald Ramotar, yesterday repeated his charge for the People’s National Congress (PNC) to come clean about weapons which he insists the Army gave the PNC during their time in office.

Current PNC leader, Mr. Robert Corbin, once headed the Ministry of Mobilisation and National Development, which the Army said was issued an M-72 rifle and a Beretta 9mm machine gun in 1976 and 1979, respectively. The Army last week said the weapons, which were recovered by the Police after a shootout with three men at Mahaicony last Wednesday, were never returned.

Corbin’s office yesterday said a press statement was likely on the issue, but none came at press time.

Corbin has been quoted in the Stabroek News and Kaieteur News as denying that Army weapons were handed to the PNC, and he accused Ramotar of trying to create a diversion away from the torture charges being brought against the Army.

But Ramotar shot back yesterday.

“I don’t need to create any smokescreen for anything. The PNC must account for the weapons”, Ramotar emphasised.

Secretary to the Defence Board, Dr Roger Luncheon, last week said the Board would meet to discuss the torture claims by the end of the month.

Corbin told the Stabroek News that the transfer of the guns from the Army to the government Ministry was a government transaction, and was not issued to the party. But Ramotar said that’s just Corbin “splitting hairs” and “trying to be technical”.

Ramotar said the Ministry of Mobilisation and National Development was “the PNC’s head office…a PNC outfit”. Mr. Ramotar said in the days of the PNC, which controlled the seat of government for 28 years, ending in October 1992, party structures were “militarised” in keeping with the philosophy of party paramountcy over government.

Ramotar said the PNC needs to say where the weapons are, because they have been used in high profile attacks and need to be returned to the military’s armoury.

The PPP General Secretary restated his call for the government to commission an inquiry into the incident.

Ramotar posited that there was no need for his party to try to divert from the torture claims facing the military, but insisted that the questions of how many weapons were issued to the PNC and where they are now must be answered.

He reiterated that the PPP’s is opposed to torture and has already said it would support any inquiry into such claims.

TWO of the three weapons recently discovered by the police in Mahaicony belong to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and were issued to the then Ministry of Mobilisation and National Development in 1976 and 1979 and were never returned.

These were the M-72 and the Beretta sub-machine guns.

Police acting on information received, unearthed two high powered guns, ammunition and other equipment in a boat in the Zeskendren, Mahaicony drainage canal area.

Upon arrival in the area the police said they saw three men aboard a boat. The men opened fire on the police who returned fire.  The men, however, abandoned the boat and escaped into some thick bushes north of the canal.

Observers have found it baffling how the weapons moved from the Ministry into the hands of criminals.

On opening…
New Diamond Secondary touted as East Bank ‘QC’
By Tajeram Mohabir
THE $368M state-of-the-art Diamond Secondary School building, officially opened its doors yesterday to primary tops students in the catchment area between Providence and Craig, also on East Bank Demerara.

Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica) Education Committee Chairman, Mr. Kwame McKoy, said Government has a vision to make the new school the Queen’s College (QC) of the East Bank Demerara corridor.

He said it is part of the strategic plan to have secondary schools in all catchment areas.

Assistant Chief Education Officer (Secondary Schools), Ms. Melcita Bovell, said Diamond will boost comprehensive programmes for both the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Basic Competency Certificate Programme (BCCP) students.

She explained that the primary tops will be targeted for the BCCP while secondary school students within Diamond/Grove Housing Scheme and its environs will pursue the CSEC examinations.

Bovell said primary school pupils who secured more than 475 marks at the last National Grade Six Assessment Examinations or secondary school students who gained more than 60 per cent marks at the last Christmas term test will qualify for entry at Diamond.

She explained that pupils of primary tops and secondary schools will be taught separately because their learning ability is different but high performers in the primary tops will be allowed to sit the CSEC test.

Bovell said children living within the Diamond/Grove Housing Scheme who attend private schools and are desirous of attending Diamond Secondary would be required to sit an entry examination this Friday at 09:00 h at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) in Georgetown.

Region Four District Education Officer, Mr. Ragunaught Odho, pointed out that Diamond will only accommodate forms one, two and three this year and successful third form students will be promoted to fourth form next year.

In 2010, the latter group will enter fifth form, provided they maintain their performance, he said.

Some parents became disgruntled over the registration process but classroom work commenced yesterday.

Odho said the teaching staff participated last week, in a sensitisation exercise on key aspects of managing secondary school classes but are not a full complement and the most senior teacher is performing the duties of Principal temporarily.

He said the school’s administration will finalise registration and other administrative issues later this week.

However, the school will be preparing candidates for the Caribbean Secondary Certificate Examination (CSEC) and the (BCCP), which has been piloted in 12 schools countrywide.

He said the new school is equipped with tools for the BCCP and, although it does not have the necessary human resources, he remains optimistic the situation will be addressed before the term ends.

Odho said arrangements are being made to accommodate students seeking transfers from private schools within the Diamond/Grove area and secondary schools in Georgetown.

He assured that, despite the hiccups, students would have encountered in adjusting to their new classrooms, they will sit the National Third Form Examination.

Odho disclosed, too, that form one students who will be sitting the 2008 National Grade Six Examination must score at least 475 marks for entry to the new school.

He said they are lobbying private enterprises, such as Guyana Beverages Incorporated, Demerara Oxygen Company Limited (DOCOL) and Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) to provide refuse bins.

Ms. Ingrid Lucius, parent of a new student, acknowledged that the school is a dream realised and will ease the “hustling and bustling” of children within Diamond/Grove Housing Scheme experience to get to school.

Another parent, Ms. Indira Rampersaud, told the Guyana Chronicle she would have to bear less transportation costs for her child and a third parent, Ms. Gloria Gonsalves, was confident students would get quality education without parents having to pay high fees to private schools.

Former pupil of Diamond primary, Tiffini Lawrence, who is aspiring to become a lawyer, said the new school will broaden her horizons and set the stage for her dreams to become reality.

Alvin Mckenley, formerly of Grove Primary and Onika Layne, who previously attended Craig Primary, expressed similar sentiments.

Diamond Secondary School was constructed under the Basic Education Access Management Support (BEAMS) programme with joint funding by the Government and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The edifice can house 1,000 students and has facilities to teach welding, soldering, metalwork, woodwork and home economics and is catering for a computer laboratory and library.

Five held in airport drug bust
POLICE have detained five men following a drug bust at Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, East Bank Demerara, on Sunday night.

Schoolboy struck by another in September dies

Dead: Delwin McQueen

FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD Delwyn McQueen, of Lot 58 Howes Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, who was struck on the head with a piece of spiked wood last September 21, died on Friday.

After apparently convalescing for four months, his condition took a turn for the worse and he was pronounced dead on arrival when rushed to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital.

The third form student of South Ruimveldt Secondary School, also in the city, succumbed to an abscess on the brain, a post mortem examination revealed yesterday.

On the ill-fated day, he had just left home to join a bus on his way to school when, at the corner of Lyng and Howes Streets, he was accosted by another Charlestown lad and an argument ensued between them.

Witnesses said the other boy chucked McQueen who walked away but was followed by his assailant and hit with the piece of wood from which nails protruded.

McQueen struggled a few paces and relatives who witnessed the incident alerted his mother, Loverne Smith.

The woman took her son to Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) where he was admitted to the High Dependency Unit (HDU).

The patient remained in the HDU for four days and about one week in the open ward for persons with head injuries.

During that time, he suffered paralysis of the right hand and foot and was unable to move those limbs.

On being discharged from GPH, he was registered with the Physiotherapy Clinic and put on nine months medication.

His distraught father, Kelvin McQueen, who arrived in Guyana from Curacao on a planned visit the same day his son was injured, said he and the lad’s mother did everything in their power to ensure Delwin was well taken care of during his illness.

They ensured he got whatever treatment or therapy was ordered and the father gave up his job in Curacao and returned home.

Delwin never missed a clinic appointment, the last of which was on January 3 and the next was scheduled for March 6, his father said.

Meantime, on advice from the occupational therapist, the elder McQueen took his son for regular morning walks and the teen looked better and reported feeling that way.

However, last Friday, on their return home, Delwin informed that he was sleepy and developed a temperature.

His father said he tried applying first aid but, by 15:00 h, Delwin was not responding favourably and began convulsing.

That led to him being hurried to St. Joseph where his demise was recorded.

The lad accused of wounding Delwin was arrested, charged and placed on $75,000 bail, pending another Court appearance on January 24.

Delwin also leaves to mourn one sister, Keyola McQueen and three brothers, Odel, Dwayne and Dickwon Smith.

GT&T makes $5M donation to NAPS
- part of giving back to the community
By Nathalene DeFreitas

From left, Director of NAPS Dr. Shanty Singh, GT&T Director of Marketing and Sales, Mr. Wystan Robertson, Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy and Ms. Nafeza Ally, Social Services Coordinator NAPS, at the presentation ceremony.

THE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T), yesterday presented $5M to the National Aids Programme Secretariat (NAPS) to enhance the lives of children. The funds were made possible through a percentage of total sales of GT&T cell phone pre-paid cards for the month of December 2007.

During the Christmas season in the spirit of goodwill and compassion the company embarked on the “You top up and we give” promotion for orphans, vulnerable children and children living with HIV/AIDS or affected by the disease.

At the presentation the Director of (NAPS), Dr. Shanti Singh, welcomed the initiative by GT&T and noted that the initiative has shown leadership by the company. She also assured the gathering that the money donated towards the programme will be well expended.

GT&T Director of Marketing and Sales, Mr. Wystan Robertson, said that the company wanted to give back to the community and the most important was donating to the vulnerable children.

“We donated 1% of the top up during the period of December and leave the door open for other persons who wanted to make contributions outside of the promotion. It was very well received. We had an overwhelming response from the promotion. GT&T have always been interested in ensuring that our contribution to the society is more than just technology, that we assist is the overall development of the country and that we make input in relevant sectors, health being one of those. It has been a lot of pride and gratitude that we were able to get this off and make the contribution,” Mr. Robertson declared.

Present at the ceremony was Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, who expressed his gratitude to GT&T for the major contribution. He said it is another concrete example of the very productive relationship between the Ministry of Health and GT&T.

“Anytime you place money in children’s welfare, it is money that is well spent and I am very happy that GT&T has chosen this. I can’t underline more boldly the fact that our children are our future and therefore we must do whatever it takes so that they can grow up to be productive adults and be children that are happy,” said the minister.

Dr. Ramsammy pointed out that this is not the first collaboration between the two entities in promoting better health and in uplifting social development of Guyanese. He noted the long history of collaboration between the entities, which include two very important flagship programmes of the Ministry, one on children living with HIV/AIDS and affected by the disease and the other being on an adequate of safe blood supply to the public.

“We will not turn our back on our children; our private sector partnership is growing in terms of ensuring that we take care of our children. Approximately 137 children are living with HIV and are being treated. For a small country like Guyana it is important to realise that all of our HIV/AIDS infected children receive anti-retroviral treatment free of cost. As minister of health I will ensure that no child regardless of circumstances is left without treatment,” Dr. Ramsammy noted.

The minister also highlighted the collaboration between the Ministries of Health and Human Services and Social Security, to ensure the establishment of acceptable standards for the operation of orphanages. The Ministries will be moving towards a stage to introduce licence and accreditation for orphanages. This is to have orphanages operate at a qualitative level.

One of the programmes that will benefit from the donation is the programme that is currently being operated by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security. Currently, there are 38 children who were all street children, hosed in a home provided by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.

Dr. Ramsammy said that the government’s intension is not to keep building orphanages and homes. He added that government believes that orphanages and homes must be transition sites and every child should have a family. Therefore the government’s vision to take care of children is to have a foundation programme of a foster care system.

The minister announced that the foster care programme will be further pursued during this year and legislation will have to be enacted support this.

Heightened focus on marketing information to boost exports
HEIGHTENED emphasis is being placed on the development of more strategies that will provide farmers with better marketing information to increase production, productivity and agricultural exports from Guyana.

At present, efforts are being made to establish and upgrade a Farmers’ Database at the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) that will better inform the agency on the types of crops available, amount and locations.

This, according to GMC’s General Manager Nizam Hassan, will enable the Corporation to better advise buyers and create more market linkages with farmers and other producers. Technical officers from the GMC, Ministry of Agriculture’s Extension Services Unit and the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) are currently soliciting necessary information from farmers to set up the system.

In addition, farmers are being encouraged to take-on a more market-driven approach with regard to production so that there will be guaranteed markets for their crops. They are also being urged to explore the cultivation of other crops especially those which are in high demand on the local and international markets. Under the Poor Rural Communities Support Project (PRCSSP), NARI has worked with farmers to introduce several crops being demanded on the markets such as pineapples, plantains and pumpkins.

Through agencies such as the NARI, various departments of the Agriculture Ministry and GMC, training programmes have been conducted to increase farmers’ knowledge.

These initiatives are in keeping with Government’s thrust to boost the agricultural sector so that farmers can enjoy more benefits and improve their livelihood, while the economy will continue to grow.

Last year, the GMC launched its Marketing Information Centre which facilitates and coordinates development of non-traditional agricultural produce for export. It has made market information and contact more accessible to guide clients on current market trends and demand at the global level.

At the Centre, market agents provide guidance for possible linkages between farmers and prospective buyers/exporters. This approach contributes directly to Government’s goal to achieve optimum production in the country’s non-traditional agricultural sector and to make the agri-business sector more efficient.    

GMC plays an instrumental role in the export of non-traditional produce to Barbados, Antigua and St. Lucia. The corporation is currently working to develop a similar link with Trinidad and Tobago. It was through the GMC, that market linkages were formed with different buyers from the United States of America for peppers, plantain and corn flour.

Exports of non-traditional produce for 2007 recorded a 25 percent increase in fresh produce when compared to the previous year. The two leading crops exported were watermelons and plantains. (GINA)

Original birth certificate, valid passport needed for registration
IN order for Guyanese who will be 14 years and older, on or before June 30, 2008, to be registered for the upcoming Local Government Elections, they must present the original copies of documents as required by the registration clerks.

Public Relations Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Vishnu Persaud, said that the Commission’s public awareness campaign started two weeks prior to the commencement of the registration exercise advising of the supporting source documents that would be accepted as proof of identity. The registration clerks will only accept the documents stated.

Large numbers gathered yesterday to apply for their Tax Identification Numbers (TIN). (Photo by Cullen Bess-Nelson)

The acceptable source documents are; an original birth certificate or a valid passport and if there was a name change due to marriage or by deed poll, the original deed poll or marriage certificate must be presented along with the original birth certificate. Naturalised citizens will have to present the original naturalisation certificate and an original birth certificate or valid passport.

GECOM is advising that the following are not acceptable as proof of identity; baptismal certificates, expired passports, photocopies of birth and marriage certificates or deed poll, identification cards from previous registration exercises, documents from priest, elders, head teachers Village Captains/Toshaos and Justices of the Peace.

Political parties had questioned the accuracy of the lists used for previous elections claiming that multiple registrations resulted from accepting documents other than those that are required this year.  

Persons eligible to register but not in possession of the relevant documents are urged to take immediate steps to acquire the necessary documents to facilitate their registration. The registration exercise commenced on January 7 and is scheduled to conclude on July 4. (GINA

An historic year for culture, youth and sport  
A GINA Feature

Mash revelers on the streets of Georgetown

THE year 2007 was a very historic and successful one for the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport as it marked the period when Guyana hosted major activities in the sport and cultural arena.

The year began with a resolve to preserve Guyana’s rich heritage and to establish a broad-based programme for youth development.

Culture
The Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) X was launched in October with the theme ‘One Caribbean, One Purpose, Our Culture, Our Life’ and logo unveiled.

An estimated 100 cultural events will be showcased in Guyana by more than 35 territories within the Caribbean region during CARIFESTA X from August 22 to 31. It will feature a calendar of events in the visual, literary, performing and culinary arts, community festivals, fashion focus, grand market, and symposia on youth and indigenous people.

Guyana joined the Caribbean and the rest of the world in commemorating the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in the British colonies. The bicentennial event was marked by 12 months of activities with participation of Government and other officials from South America and the Caribbean region.

After years of neglect, the Court of Policy building on Fort Island in the Essequibo River, established by Dutch colonial rulers in the early 18th Century was rehabilitated and is now a heritage museum.

Mashramani
Hundreds of Guyanese adorned with their colourful costumes, and several floats took, to the streets of Georgetown on February 23 during Guyana’s 37th Republic Day celebration.

One of the World Cup Cricket matches played at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Mashramani held under the theme “A cultural invasion in 2007” was hosted in al the administrative regions for the first time.

2009 Music festival launched
Musicians both local and international graced an evening of music at the National Cultural Centre on October 17 for the launching of the Guyana Music Festival 2009.

Youth
Early in 2007, representatives from various youth groups, in Guyana met to decide on a plan for development and empowerment.

Entitled the ‘Youth Development and Empowerment Programme’ (YDEP) considerations were given to the creation of opportunities for employment, education and skills training, health, volunteerism or community service, environment, social protection, Information Technology (IT), family, gender and conflict resolution.

In May, the Ministry facilitated a career guidance workshop at the Lusignan Community Centre where scores of youths from various schools in Region Four were guided in career paths.

Youth development was also the central focus at the sixteenth COHSOD meeting on October 10, held under the theme ‘Realising the Potential of Youth and Culture in the Development of the Community’.

Over 140 early school leavers completed the Youth Entrepreneurial Skills Training (YEST) programme at the Kuru Kuru Training centre equipped with employable skills. The programme’s success is symbolic of another fulfilment of Government’s plan to provide technical and other training opportunities for several of Guyana’s youths, who for various reasons neglected early education.

Promoting youth development in 2007 also took into account a $50M rehabilitation project for youths of the New Opportunity Corps at Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast.

Sport
Representatives from all sport associations in Guyana met Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, in the early part of the year to consult on the establishment of a five-year plan that is intended for the establishment of sport to be used as a platform for national development.

The plan will coincide with a project being piloted by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Guyana, Haiti and Paraguay.

Cricket World Cup
Guyana’s intense preparations for Cricket World Cup were given the thumbs up by Venue Development Director of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Don Lockerbie during a final inspection in February.

March 2007 will forever be a red letter day for sports in Guyana as it marked the hosting of Cricket World Cup matches. Guyana came through with shining colours at the much awaited inaugural match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at the landmark, Guyana National Stadium at Providence, built at a cost of more than US$125M. It hosted a sold out crowd on April 1 when the West Indies took on Sri Lanka.

On May 7 Guyana was host to the annual West Indies Full-bore Shooting Championships which attracted participants from Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados. The championships coincide with the 140th Anniversary of the Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA).

Sport is seen as a platform for social cohesion and the Ministry engaged in a series of interactive events using sports to bring people and communities together. The events were successfully hosted in Linden, Blairmont, Mahaicony, Hopetown and Lusignan.

The Ministry also reinvigorated Guyanese interest in chess by establishing a committee that embarked on a campaign to develop the game at various levels, including the school system where it is felt that this can contribute significantly to the development of young minds.

Inter Guiana Games
The second leg of the Inter-Guiana Games kicked off on in October at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall with intense competition among youths from Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana with Suriname emerging the overall champion. The games have been a major unifying event among the three adjoining nations.

The Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the National Sports Commission and the National Cycling Federation successfully hosted a five-stage cycle race that covered 226 square miles.

Development Thrusts
The Government is committed to Democracy.

This is demonstrated through:
- Constitutional Amendments expanding inclusivity in governance, e.g, creating the commissions; Parliamentary standing committee for constitutional reform; Parliamentary Sectoral Committee
- An independent Guyana Elections Commission
- Free and fair elections every five years
... And there is more.

The Economy
- The economy registered a 5% growth rate in 2007.
- The current overall fiscal deficit after grants is expected to improve by 18.8%.
- Average inflation rate is about 6% over the last 15 years.
- Annual tax threshold: G$48,000 (US $380) in 1992 to G$420,000 (US$2,100) in 2008.
.... And there is more.

Police deny beating theft suspect, 10
THE Police have denied that the 10-year-old boy, recently hospitalised in New Amsterdam, suffered injuries from a beating while in custody.

A senior officer, at Central Police Station in the town, said the child is an asthmatic.

The boy had been detained last week following the report by a neighbour that he had stolen $6,000.

The Police spokesman said the lad is in the habit of stealing cash from people in the neighbourhood at Sisters, East Bank Berbice and that was the fifth such complaint.

However, the boy has since been released from hospital after a brief stay for treatment of his health condition.

Police said he had confessed to the theft and ranks at Sisters and New Amsterdam “disciplined him”.

“…but I can assure you he was not beaten. He developed a wheezing and it was observed that he had problems breathing and was conveyed to New Amsterdam Hospital,” the officer told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday.

He added that the neighbour complainant requested no further action because the boy’s grandmother agreed to repay the money.

According to the officer, the child is troubled as a result of his upbringing by alcoholic parents.

Speaking from his hospital bed in the presence of his mother and other relatives last week, the boy had said, after the January 1 allegation against him, while being questioned, a ‘pointer broom’ was used to beat him after he gave conflicting answers.

He had also alleged that, wearing only his underwear and handcuffed, he was dealt several lashes about the body with a tamarind whip and a belt, causing him to bear scars.

The primary school pupil said, as well, that he was made to kneel and four large books were put on his head, with the warning that, if any fell, he would suffer more blows.

His grandmother said she was present when that happened.

DOWN TO THE WIRE TODAY IN B'DOS
More hope than certainty by two 'power' contestants
By RICKEY SINGH
(Bridgetown, Barbados)
IT'S DOWN to the wire for today's general election in Barbados, with both major contestants for state power and the two opinion polls seemingly more hopeful than certain about the verdict of the electorate after two weeks of intense campaigning.  

At stake are 30 parliamentary seats in the House of Assembly with Prime Minister Owen Arthur optimistic for a fourth consecutive victory for his Barbados Labour Party (BLP:), while leader of the opposition Democratic Labour Party (DLP) David Thompson, is confidently predicting "a change in government with a clear working majority..."

Both the established Caribbean Development Research Services (CADRES) poll and the new Cave Hill Associates Polling Organisation (CHAPO) have pointed to five percent swing either way.

However, while CADRES forecast a landslide 20-30 majority and no less than 18-12 for the opposition DLP, CHAPO points to a return to power by the incumbent BLP, which it has tipped to capture no less than 16 of the constituencies. 

Such conflicting assessments have never been previously made for a pot-independence general election in this Eastern Caribbean state.

Social commentators and media pundits have, consequently, been left to speculate on the final outcome. This should be known before midnight tonight, with the first declared result expected for the City of  Bridgetown between 9.30 and 10 o'clock.

The verdict on today's election will come from an eligible electorate of 233,475--an increase of some 15,000 over that of the May 2003 poll at which the incumbent BLP secured its third consecutive term with a landside 23-7 victory.

Crucial to today's outcome for both contestants that have been alternatively heading governments since independence in 1966, would be the extent of their capacity to mobilise a significant percentage of the 43 percent of voters who had boycotted the last election.

Also, their success in influencing, as of last night's (Monday) closing mass rallies, about two miles apart in Greater Georgetown, sufficient support among an estimated 34 percent of "undecided" voters of those polled.

Prime Minister Arthur, who has been vigorously campaigning on "leadership matters....leadership you can trust", has within the past week been pushed on the defensive by the DLP's leader, Thompson with questions on "personal integrity" and lack of transparency in fiscal management.

On the other hand, Thompson has been left to defend in high profile advertisements,  persistent allegation by Arthur of "going to bed" with Taiwan to secure financing for the final phase of the DLP's election campaign.

Taiwan has specifically denied any such funding attempt and Thompson has dismissed it as “a red-herring” by the “desperate Bees” to maintain power.

This would be the third occasion, following a break at the last 2003 poll, that Thompson is leading the DLP into a new election" 

His previous efforts have been unsuccessful. Now he is exuding confidence that "the time for change has come", a claim Arthur's BLP contemptuously dismiss.

Surveillance programme essential to curb bird flu
- Dr. Ramsammy
MINISTER of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, yesterday announced that Guyana’s efforts to combat Bird Flu, if any eventualities occur, is to ensure that there is a surveillance programme on the disease.

He said this is the closest the disease has come to Guyana.

Dr. Ramsammy stated that Guyana cannot do anything to prevent birds migrating into Guyana. However, there are surveillances that can detect when an eventuality does occur.

“The surveillance system we have in place right now is monitoring all dead birds not only domestic birds but also birds in the wild,” Dr. Ramsammy assured.

He said that apart from the Ministry of Agriculture, there are other rangers on alert to inform authorities of any eventualities, so that the necessary tests can be performed. In this way an early alert can be made, he added.

“These measures are not now being planned, they are currently in place. Guyana took that decision two years ago that we must not wait for bird flu to emerge. We must have the necessary plans in place so that when it does come, we can respond immediately,” Dr. Ramsammy exhorted.

Dominican Republic health officials recently culled 115 chickens which tested positive for avian flu in an effort to contain the virus.

The rare outbreak in the town of Higuey was discovered last month when fighting roosters awaiting export to Colombia were tested and found to carry the H5N2 strain of avian flu, government livestock director Angel Faxas was reported as saying.

H5N2 is not a danger to humans, but has produced outbreaks across Asia and prompted the culling of more than five million birds in Japan alone since 2005. The more virulent H5N1 strain has infected humans, killing more than 120 people in Asia.

LIES, DAMNED LIES AND OPINION POLLS
By Hydar Ally
The recent US primaries in the state of New Hampshire have demonstrated that opinion polls may not be an accurate reflection of people’s preferences, in particular voting preferences. Most of the polls placed Democratic contender Barack Obama ahead of Democratic front runner Hilary Clinton by as much as 10-12% percentage points. The actual results put Hilary Clinton ahead of Obama by some three percentage points which must be of some embarrassment to the polling houses including that of CNN and Zogby.

A similar situation obtained in the recent elections in Trinidad and Tobago in which one polling entity put the newly formed Congress of the People (COP) headed by Winston Deokaran, a former UNC Cabinet member, as the front runner in the elections. This poll was conducted by a well known pollster Selwyn Ryan whose credentials as a pollster is widely recognised. As it turned out, the COP failed to win any constituency seat. The PNM led by Patrick Manning was returned to power having benefitted from the split in the UNC leading to political rivalry and bitterness between the two factions led by Basdeo Panday and Winston Deokaran representing the UNC and COP respectively. The election results showed unmistakably that the combined votes of the UNC and the COP would have outstripped that of the PNM.

Here in Guyana we have had the case of the famous “Dick Morris Poll” which put the newly formed Alliance For Change, in a position of either winning the elections outright or holding the balance of power and therefore be in a position to be the power broker. This failed to materialise with the PPP/C retaining its majority support and in the process winning the elections outright with an increased majority.

The fact is that most polls are done by people and polling entities who are not completely devoid of biases. Quite a few have their own political agendas and therefore seek to prejudice public opinion in a predetermined way. The “Dick Morris” poll in Guyana is a good example. Dick Morris was commissioned by the AFC to conduct a poll and he therefore felt obliged to produce an outcome that would give an advantage to his paymaster, in this case the AFC.

Yet, polls if conducted professionally and with scientific rigour could generate useful and accurate data in terms of voting behaviour and other behavioural manifestations. The key to any successful polling is the extent to which the sample size is representative of the entire population in terms of population characteristics. In the case of the New Hampshire polls, such characteristics should include social class, race, gender and education attainment levels.

Working people, especially those at the lower rung of the social ladder are much more inclined to vote for a Hilary especially given her record as a leading figure in the fight for health care reforms than any of the other candidates. Her conviction and resolve of the need to provide a safety valve for the working poor and the unemployed resonated with a not insignificant proportion of the American society who are today reeling under the burden of high cost for health care. Immigrants and those who do not have adequate insurance coverage are much more likely to support a Democratic candidate, more particularly Hilary whose stance on the question of universal health care coverage is well known.

A major electoral plank for Hilary Clinton would be her advocacy for universal health care and greater social welfare programmes for the American people. Her status as the wife of a charismatic former US President and the fact of her becoming potentially the first woman President of the United States certainly has an appeal. The New Hampshire primary showed that gender can be a deciding factor in the race to the White House.

As I mentioned before, Hilary Clinton enjoyed the support of most of the immigrant population, Guyanese including. A sizeable majority of the immigrant population do not take the trouble of casting their ballot under the mistaken belief that life for them could hardly get any better regardless of which from among the two parties get into the seat of power. This perception is gradually changing as more people are becoming politically conscious of the need to, as it were, “stand up and be counted”.

It remains to be seen how the remaining primaries would go. It is still a bit too early to draw any firm conclusion as to which from among the candidates from both sides would emerge as front runners. One thing seems clear and that is that opinion polls need not be an accurate barometer of voting behaviour as the New Hampshire so clearly demonstrated.

One is reminded of the popular saying of ‘lies, damned lies and statistics.’ Opinion polls, especially if not scientifically done could be as unreliable and manipulative as statistics are.