President clears the air on Oliver Hinckson issue
- says his name was never mentioned at Jan 26 press conference
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo, yesterday, in countering a recent statement issued by the main opposition PNCR, made it pellucidly clear that he never mentioned the name Oliver Hinckson during a press conference he hosted on January 26 this year.

The PNCR statement claimed that it was the President’s reference to former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Lieutenant Oliver Hinckson during a January 26 Press Conference following the Lusignan massacre, which led to his (Hinckson’s) arrest recently.   

But the Guyanese Head of State pointed out that during the Press Conference he hosted at State House on the day of the Lusignan Massacre, he never mentioned Oliver Hinckson’s name.

“I spoke about a criminal. I didn’t mention a name. So, they said he was charged because I mentioned his name there; I never mentioned his name at that press conference,” President Jagdeo told reporters.

Mr. Jagdeo said he spoke about a criminal as he responded to a question raised by a media representative.

“Now it could be many people who are criminals but Hinckson sought to respond because he felt it was him although I didn’t mention his name and the PNCR has misled people again saying I mentioned Hinckson,” President Jagdeo contended.

Alluding to some statements raised by Opposition Leader, Mr. Robert Corbin, during the national stakeholders meeting that the police have been arresting several individuals, President Jagdeo stated that he queried then, what it is that the Opposition Leader wants.

“From the time the police go after someone, even before they have started questioning the person, the PNC issues a release and they show up at the police station. Now clearly, if you believe in professionalism, you should allow the police to act. They (the PNCR) are judge and they are jury. They already know who is guilty and who is innocent.”

He pointed out that the main Opposition Party has always been saying that the Government (the Executive) should not interfere with the police, yet whenever the police make arrests, the PNCR, without knowing the circumstances surrounding the arrests and the information the police receive or whether the individuals are criminals, declares them innocent.  

“I asked Mr. Corbin about that. I asked him, how is it that you know? Did you find out from the police what evidence they have before you made the statement? He said, “Oh, we don’t have a problem with the police doing it but, we have a problem about the manner in which they do it.”  

President Jagdeo then concluded that if the Party has a problem with the way the police are doing their work then this is what should be said, and not that the arrested person is innocent.

“I would urge them to stay away from the fiction and the rhetoric…if we really want to cooperate on these issues and not pump people up with rhetoric, we should stick to the facts and I’m urging the PNC to do that,” the President underscored.

As it relates to the murder of the sister of Guyana’s most wanted - Rondell ‘Fine Man’ Rawlins’, President Jagdeo stated that the act was reprehensible and that she should not have paid for her brother’s crime.

“He’s a criminal and we have to hunt him down with all the forces that we have, but no person should be killed because their brother or any member of their family is a criminal in this country,” the Head of State asserted.

He said it seems as though the PNCR knows who the killer is since they have been making statements to this effect.

“The PNCR knows already. They should tell the police,” Mr. Jagdeo urged.  

Licences granted for short-term chicken importation --Minister Prashad
--local supply to stabilise next month
MINISTER of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad, on Thursday disclosed that Government has already taken steps to address the chicken shortage being experienced as frozen chicken is already on its way into Guyana.

“Government will not be taking any chances. We want to make sure that chicken is on the market and the prices are relatively stable, so we have decided to intervene and give licences to bring in foreign chicken in the short-term to alleviate the shortage,” Minister Prashad said.

He noted that a meeting was held with members of the Guyana Poultry Producers Association and representatives of the Guyana Stockfeed Limited, hatcheries  and other stakeholders  and  the assurance has been given  that there will be an adequate supply of chicken by  the middle of next month.

Minister Prashad recalled that during the Christmas holidays the ministry had kept its promise to the consumers that there would have been an adequate supply of chicken and eggs and that there would have been no price increases.

He stated that the current shortage of chicken is as a result of the three-week late shipment of hatching eggs due to flight problems which led to one importer returning his consignment. 

Additionally, DIDCO one of the largest producers of chicken has been experiencing problems and as a result has ceased production.

Minister Prashad said Government will continue to monitor the situation as it does not intend to have a surplus of foreign chicken on the market.

However, the prices are not expected to come down to the level of 2007 because of the rise in international prices in essential items such as stock feed as the production cost has increased tremendously.

Minister Prashad indicated that local producers will be encouraged to expand production; however, if they are unable to satisfy the local demand, the Ministry reserves the right to intervene and issue licences for the importation of chicken.

Government has taken certain steps to reduce the effects of rising prices on the consumers. In the 2008 budget, the Government zero-rated hatching eggs in order to keep the prices of chicken down.

GHRA practicing bad governance - President Jagdeo
RESPONDING to a question by a reporter on the issue of the Guyana Human Rights Association’s (GHRA) request that Government withdraw the sedition charge against former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Lieutenant Oliver Hinckson, the President said that the body is practicing bad governance.

“I think this was adequately answered by the Ministry of Home Affairs, so I am not going to get involved in that. Again, the GHRA needs to first of all find out if there is any merit to the charge,” the Guyanese Leader said.

The President stated that the GHRA seems to be taking the place of judge and jury in the matter and noted that organisations as such usually say they wish to promote good governance even when they are not examining both sides of an issue.

“The case hasn’t been presented as yet and they’ve already come to a conclusion. That’s an example of bad governance and the GHRA is practicing bad governance,” the Head of State opined.

The GHRA, in a statement issued on March 12 called for the sedition charge against Hinckson to be withdrawn. It said that the act was ‘mean spirited’.

Responding, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a statement in which it expressed its shock and disappointment over the statement, stating that the GHRA is unfair and clearly misinformed over the details surrounding the issues.

The Ministry said that it was only after police investigations and after having sought the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) that the charge of sedition was laid against Hinckson. (GINA)

LOW GRADE FOR NASSAU SUMMIT
- more meetings, less results
Analysis by RICKEY SINGH
AS Inter-Sessional Meetings of Caribbean Community Heads of Government go, the nineteenth one that was concluded last Saturday in The Bahamas could qualify for no more than a B-minus grade for decisions reached on important issues facing the region's economic integration movement.

You do not have to be a critic of CARICOM, now in its 35th year of existence, to come to this conclusion after a careful reading of the 12-page communiqué released at the end of two-day meeting in Nassau.

That event itself was preceded by a series of technical and ministerial meetings, starting in Georgetown and ending in Nassau, with a whole lot of paper-chasing and wide range of recommendations/suggestions for decisions by the Heads.

Yet, for all the pre-Nassau breast-beatings, ringing rhetoric and media posturings that came from various Heads of Government about the need for "urgent action" on issues of "critical importance" to the people of the Community, the end results may well reinforce a lingering perception that CARICOM has slipped into a slow-march mood on advancing major policies and programmes.

Ahead of their Nassau summit, I had noted my own disappointment that within recent years successive annual Heads of Government Conferences and Inter-Sessional Meetings had spawned a decision-making syndrome of raising hopes for significant advancement, or conclusive action, only when they meet again.

Consequently, I suggested that expectations should, realistically, be kept low, since neither the "old" nor "new" leaders (three of the latter thrown up by recent general elections) were known to have gone to Nassau with any set of specific proposals of their own that could have made a significant difference to the outcome of their deliberations.

CRIME AND SECURITY
If they did offer some such proposals, they should at least let their own national public know. For instance, on crime and security, on which we have been advised, there is now to be a "special summit" next month in Port-of-Spain to "agree" on a "Strategy and Action Plan to stem the tide of violent criminality".

As Head of Government with lead responsibility in CARICOM for Crime and Security, what new, for example, Prime Minister Patrick Manning had to offer that could have resulted in a statement to excite the imagination, or ease the apprehension of the region's people about the current crime epidemic?

What would be different from this mooted "action plan" from the ideas and recommendations that have been available to our leaders since the creation of a Regional Task Force on Crime and Security plus what they have acquired by  consensual arrangements flowing from Cricket World Cup 2007?

Since "violent criminality", to quote the communiqué, has been so much the experience of the region's people, and known to ALL governments, why the CARICOM leaders could not have extended the Nassau summit by at least half a day to discuss the challenging problem, instead of agreeing to spend time and money to be in Port-of-Spain next month to "fully explore"...what?

The decision to follow through on adjustments made to the Community's Common External Tariff (CET) to help reduce prices on imported consumer commodities was no big surprise.

It was inevitable, based on the "special meeting" of Heads of Government in Guyana last December. Then, they at least discussed the escalating cost of living in the context of plans for poverty reduction and enhancing food security.

CET tinkering
Tinkering with the CET and creating a false impression about its value in arresting the rising cost of living could come to be a politically haunting short-term measure - unless they can be perceived to be moving with imagination and vigour in agricultural expansion and modernisation--a sector that holds opportunities for poverty reduction, food security and job creation.

Quite surprisingly, the Nassau meeting also failed to come forward with anything new on another burning issue of regional importance-- air and sea transportation.

At least better judgment, to avoid embarrassment, prevented the inclusion of even a single sentence on regional air and sea transportation in the released communiqué.

The leaders, however, thought it necessary to state in a three-line paragraph to hold a "special session on tourism", (another of those "special" events), during the coming 29th annual summit in July in Antigua.

Needless to say that the tourism sector has been the subject of previous "special" sessions by CARICOM ministers and leaders.

Further, amid increasing negative signals on a slow down in effective preparatory arrangements for inauguration of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) in 2015--seven years away--the Nassau summit could not offer anything new either on the free movement of skilled nationals. Indeed, the deficit factors remain.

Nor did the leaders go beyond a meaningless expression of "support" for the dissemination for wide discussion of the "Report on Governance of West Indies Cricket" submitted to the West Indies Cricket Board by the three-member committee headed by former Jamaica Prime Minister P.J. Patterson.

They could at least have expressed concern over the evident inaction by the WICB management on this report in their possession since October last year. Or even signal a willingness to utilise their own information/communication systems to help sensitise their respective public on the body of ideas and core recommendations of the 'Patterson Report" on our most popular sport.

PPP welcomes consensus on crime reached by stakeholders
THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has welcomed the decision to establish a standing Parliamentary Committee on Security.

In a release, it said it is satisfied with the high level of consensus reached at the two meetings of stakeholders that were convened by President Bharrat Jagdeo.

The PPP recorded its satisfaction, too, that the special nature of that body was also recognised, in that it was agreed unanimously, that Government Ministers would be included.

The release noted that the law enforcement agencies were also given the support by the whole nation, in their fight against crime in the country.

“That all the legitimate forces in the country expressed their outrage at the horrendous crimes that have recently occurred shows the great unity by our society on this issue,” the release said.

The party said it believes this is the proper mechanism to deal with issues that can enhance the capacity of the forces and the fact that the public would be able to make presentations to this body is also very important and will, no doubt, involve civil society, as never before, in the process of governance.

The PPP said it is heartened by the consensus that was reached to have all the right committees established within ninety days and remarked that the results of the encounter went far beyond fighting crimes; has tremendous potential for further entrenching democracy and deepening and broadening its content and enhancing inclusivity in the governance process.

“We are confident that our united people will frustrate the criminal enterprise that has caused so much human sufferings and harm in our country and we firmly believe that a people united can never be defeated,” it declared.

Hinckson to continue quest for bail Tuesday
By George Barclay
EMBATTLED ex-Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Lieutenant Oliver Hinckson did not succeed in his quest for bail yesterday but his bid will continue on Tuesday before Justice Jainarayan Singh.

Charged with sedition and conspiracy to commit a terrorist act, the remanded prisoner approached the judge yesterday, through attorney-at-law Mr. Nigel Hughes, but the hearing was put off to Tuesday.

Meantime, Justice Singh granted counsel for the respondents, Mr. Naresh Harnanan, from the Attorney General's Chambers, seven days within which to file an affidavit in answer to the motion.

The lawyers on both sides agreed to begin discussing the application on Tuesday and decide a date for dealing with the original motion later.

Present in Court yesterday, as well, was the Attorney General, Mr. Doodnauth Singh, S.C., who is one of the respondents.

The courtroom was full with more lawyers occupying every available place, including the benches for spectators, the jury area and some seats for reporters.

Recently pardoned treason accused Mark Benchop was also in Court.

Long before the case was called, several placard bearing persons, mostly women, demonstrated outside the Victoria Law Courts building, with slogans such as ‘A Govt. of the Bankrupt’,

‘Rohee must go’, ‘Why victimise Buxton?’, ‘Gajraj and Rohee same people, different names’, ‘PPP/C laid thousands of gun on the road’ and ‘Stop public persecution’.

Representing Hinckson, too, are Mr. Stephen Fraser, Mr. Gregory Gaskin, Mr. Vic Puran, Mr. Mark Waldron, Mr. Ronald Burch-Smith, Mr. Leslie Sobers and Mr. Llewellyn John.

Among other things, Hinckson said, in his petition for pre-trial freedom, that he suffers from glaucoma, severe hypertension and health complications which are aggravated by his age may have fatal consequences, if he is not admitted to bail.

He said he intends to abide by any condition which the Court may be willing to impose and attend on each and every day fixed for continuation of the hearing of the charges against him.

GECOM says registration exercise will be completed by July 4 
THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) yesterday said it is convinced the house-to-house registration exercise will be completed by the July 4 date, given the current pace of the exercise.

GECOM, in a statement yesterday, said its conclusion was based on its examination of its Registration Transaction Report for the week ending Friday, March, 7.

The Commission said this report showed that 227,851 transactions had been completed in 62 days, covering the period January 1-March 7, 2008.

This figure, GECOM said, represents 39% of the estimated total of 591,297 persons who would be 14 years or older by June 30, 2008, under this house-to-house registration which is earmarked to be completed in 180 days.  

The 227,851 Registration transactions represent the total number of persons who have met the eligibility criteria, and for whom application for registration forms have been filled out by registration teams working in all of the 23 Registration Areas across Guyana, the Commission stated in a press release.

GECOM said it was able to accomplish this level of success despite the teething problems encountered at the commencement of the exercise, inclement weather patterns and the national impacts of the tragic occurrences at Lusignan and Bartica. 

While there was a steady climb in the weekly number of completed transactions since the commencement of the exercise on January 7, 2008, GECOM said the national state of tension resulting from the killings at Lusignan and Bartica resulted in a significant dip in the number of registration transactions conducted during the 7th week.

However, the number of Registration transactions rose again during the 8th week.  The slight decrease during the 9th week, was due to the non receipt of reports on the number of Registration transactions that were conducted in far flung areas for this week, GECOM stated.

In developing its Work Plan for House-to-House Registration, GECOM’s Secretariat had estimated the number of persons to be registered by upping the number of persons included on the 2006 Official List of Electors (OLE) by 20% to cater for the capture of persons 14 years old or over who would have never been registered.

GECOM said it remains optimistic that, notwithstanding the persistent experiences of inclement weather and based on the existing levels of progress, the House-to-House Registration exercise should conclude by the gazetted end date.

On a related matter, the Commission acknowledged the approval of $300 million by the Government for the payment of Scrutineers as a move which guarantees that House-to-House Registration will continue to be carried out under the watchful eyes of persons appointed as Scrutineers. 

“This represents an additional pillar to support the integrity of the new National Register of Registrants (NRR) that is to be created from the exercise,” GECOM stated.

“GECOM takes the opportunity, once again, to assure all Political Parties and other stakeholders that it remains committed to working towards the successful and satisfactory completion of the House-to-House Registration exercise, and to note that the cooperation of all Political Parties, civic and business organizations and all other stakeholders will contribute significantly to the achievement of this primary objective.”

Mormons Relief Society celebrating
166th anniversary today
THE Relief Society Organisation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) will be celebrating its 166th anniversary today at the Georgetown Chapel, Ganges Street, Prashad Nagar.

Guest speakers at the service, beginning 15:00 h, will include Mr. Donald Mentis, of Guyana Relief Council (GRC; Ms. Dawn Hunte, of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security and People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Parliamentarian, Ms. Volda Lawrence.

A release said the society was organised in Nauvoo, Illinois, United States (U.S.), on March 17, 1842, with its main objectives being to search out and help feed, clothe and house the needy.

The members also strengthen each other spiritually and, today, those goals remain the motto ‘Charity never faileth’, which is a testament of their work, the release said.

It said the organisation, now one of the largest of women in the world, has a membership of more than six million in 120 countries, providing charitable work worldwide, whenever the need arises, regardless of religion, creed or race.

“We believe that we are all children of a Heavenly Father,” the celebrating group said, adding that the society and the church as a whole are always first to respond in times of floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, starvation and whenever natural disasters occur.

“We cannot afford to overlook the experience, wisdom, sensitivity and insight women bring to the development of solutions to the difficult problems confronting the people of Guyana,” the statement said.

Students lauded at Region Three science fair
SCHOOLS in Region Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands) are upbeat about their preparations for the National Finals of the Science, Mathematics and Technology Fair, scheduled for April 1 to 3 in Linden.

Acting Regional Education Officer Cheryl Chase said so, while declaring open the fair in that region Thursday at West Demerara Secondary School.

A release said, alluding to the theme ‘Science, Mathematics and Technology-- the foundation for national and global development’, she noted that one of its aims is to build students’ confidence in applying science for industrial and technological innovations.

Ms. Chase also congratulated the schools for their excellent innovations and encouraged them to remain focused as they seek to bring glory to the region.

Regional Chairman Julius Faerber, in his remarks, said the world is moving apace both scientifically and technologically.

“We cannot sit back and allow others to pass us…we have talent, all we have to do is to harness the resources and get down to the task or building our own confidence,” he enthused.

Faerber said the students have shown a very high degree of creativity and dexterity which augur well for the future development of this society.

The Coordinator, Ms. Annesta Douglas announced that the winners would be judged in three areas, oral and written presentations and physical exhibits.

She assured that the region would be fully represented at all levels (Nursery, Primary and Secondary) in each category of the finals.

Malaria, typhoid alert in Pomeroon
MEMBER of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Mr. Rudolph Garraway has reported outbreaks of malaria and typhoid in lower Pomeroon.

He told the March statutory meeting, on Tuesday, that children who became ill were rushed by boat to Charity Hospital for medical attention.

As a result, Regional Chairman, Mr. Alli Baksh instructed Health Sub-Committee Chairman, Mrs. Juliet Coonjah, to quickly send a team into the affected areas to treat patients there.

However, Administrator of Charity Hospital, Mr. Christopher Persaud told the Guyana Chronicle medical personnel from that institution are working in lower and upper Pomeroon, to collect malaria smears and do on the spot treatment.

He also informed that treated mosquito nets are being distributed to Pomeroon residents and two places already visited were Hackney and Karawah.

School patrols being reintroduced
CHAIRMAN of the Education Sub-Committee of the Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) Regional Democratic Council (RDC), Mr. Toolsie Narine has announced that school patrols will be reintroduced.

He told the statutory meeting, Tuesday, that the Police Traffic Department will assist with the resumption, by visiting schools and giving talks on safety.

Hindu Dharmic Sabha details Essequibo
Phagwah programme
THE Essequibo Praant of Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha will stage a grand colourful mela on Sunday, March 23, at Anna Regina Community Centre Ground.

A release said it would include a cultural show featuring musical renditions, dances and chowtals and should gather together devotees, relatives and friends from different places across the region, to celebrate Phagwah in love, togetherness and happiness.

The release said alcohol will not be allowed at the Essequibo Coast venue but meals would be served free of cost, also under the sponsorship of Shri Parmal Singh of New York.

The burning of Holika will be done Friday evening, March 21, at 20:00 h and Holi will be celebrated on Saturday, March 22, the release detailed.

It said services will be conducted at all mandirs on Essequibo Coast and in Pomeroon.

The release also cautioned persons celebrating Phagwah to use abeer, abrak and powder but not water or unhealthy substances.

Holi is described in Sanskrit literature as ‘vasant utsav’ or Spring festival and is the loveliest of all the Hindu festivals, celebrated in an atmosphere of absolute equality, the statement said.

Anthony details CARIFESTA plans, as
Venezuela delegation arrives
By Tajeram Mohabir
DELEGATIONS from participating countries have begun arriving in Guyana to discuss plans for the tenth Caribbean Festival of Creative Arts (CARIFESTA X).

The first to arrive, from Venezuela, called on Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, yesterday and he said others will come before the August 22 start of the grand cultural explosion.

Led by Ambassador Dario Morondy, the Venezuelans were with the minister when he briefed the media at the CARIFESTA Secretariat in Main Street, Georgetown.

Present, too, when Anthony unveiled a countdown billboard on Main Street Avenue, that indicates another 160 days remain before the mega event, was head of the Literary Arts Committee, Mr. Petamber Persaud.

Next month, the Interim Festival Directorate, which is overseeing the CARIFESTA operations, will hold a meeting here, Anthony disclosed.

He said his ministry has already met with several stakeholders, including his interaction with the Arts Committee, that was the most successful to date.

Anthony said some 50 artists participated in that meeting and the ministry will be having frequent follow-ups with the group, to determine the scope and areas of participation, as well as other forms of support.

According to him, his ministry will initiate similar meetings with other stakeholders like musicians, folklorists, writers, poets, storytellers, cooks, fashion designers, dramatists and performing artistes.

Anthony said the objective is to ascertain their level of involvement in CARIFESTA X and devise a database of persons to draw from for similar future events.

He said more such meetings will be held with regional officials of Regions Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands), Four (Demerara/Mahaica), Five (Mahaica/Berbice), Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) and Ten (Upper Demerara/Berbice), where CARIFESTA activities are scheduled to take place.

“The purpose of these meetings would be to sensitise the regional officials and the people within the regions of the plans for the event and identify the talents in those regions to participate in CARIFESTA,” Minister Anthony clarified.

He said Government has allocated $305M in the Capital Budget for CARIFESTA preparations and works have already started in several areas.

Anthony said these include the ongoing installation of night lights at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara and, by next month, the light mass, fixtures and other equipment, for that project, will be delivered.

He said a contract to repair two of the stands in the National Park has been awarded and that will commence shortly, while another, for the third stand, is being evaluated and would also be given out shortly. Meantime, the tarmac is listed for upgrading.

Anthony said the National Park will be the site for the ‘Youth Village’ and Burrowes School of Art, which is an arm’s length from there, will accommodate the ‘Art Village’.

The Sophia Exhibition Complex will be the place for siting the grand market of fashion shows, booths for designers and display, cultural performances and a culinary festival, he stated.

Anthony said the pavilion at the complex will be upgraded and more exits and convenient parking facilities created.

The award of a contract for the construction of an Amerindian village will also be done soon, he revealed.

“We also would start work at the gymnasium by the end of April and this includes sprucing up the place, general cleaning, painting and installation of new lighting fixtures. The same will be done at Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, at the end of April, too,” Anthony said.

He said the roof and toilet facilities at the Umana Yana, in Kingston, will be repaired and story telling, poetry recitation and other events will be done there.

The minister said repairs will be undertaken on all the museums and emphasis placed on training people as support staff.

“We have resuscitated the Guyana volunteers of Cricket World Cup (some 1,500 persons) and we are also making the call for regional volunteers … these persons will be trained and assigned to various areas of work for CARIFESTA,” he related.

In addition, the minister said, next week, a media advertisement will seek to attract 250 young people who are interested in drama.

They would be trained in a number of areas, among them theatre appreciation, lighting, sound, stage and front house management, set design and construction, managing costumes, make-up and production, he said.

These courses, the minister said, will start at the end of this month, with local and international professionals as tutors.

He expressed optimism that these persons will not only boost CARIFESTA but help to resuscitate drama.

Police deny allegations in Kaieteur robbery report