Guyanese in Canada rally to help Police here
THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) whose members in recent times have been the target of criminals, yesterday benefited from a `most timely gesture' - the donation of protective gear valued some $2M, compliments of Med M Systems of Ottawa, Canada and the Guyanese community in Canada.

Guyana's High Commissioner to Canada, Mr. Rajnarine Singh, in handing over the gift to Commissioner of Police, Mr. Floyd McDonald, at a simple ceremony at the Officers' Mess, Eve Leary, Georgetown, said Guyanese living in Canada have been following the events here very closely and are extremely alarmed over the rising crime situation in this country.

As a result, they have resolved to do their utmost by assisting in whatever way possible to bring the situation under control, he said.

Remarking that the gift is a joint effort by Med M Systems, which deals with protective gear generally, and the Guyanese community, he expressed the hope that the gear will be put to good use and bring relief to members of the force who are constantly exposed to the dangers posed by criminals in the society.

Commissioner McDonald, in expressing appreciation on behalf of the Force to the donors, also thanked High Commissioner Singh who he said was instrumental in acquiring the equipment.

Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Ronald Gajraj was also credited for his role in ensuring that the equipment was brought to Guyana, and according to the Commissioner he was advised that more donations are forthcoming.

The Police Force, the Commissioner noted, is grateful for the donation that will make it more proficient in dealing with violent encounters and riotous and other types of behaviour.

He said too that the acquisition of protective gear is in the forefront of the efforts by the Force, as it is considered that the safety of the ranks should be of paramount importance to make them feel more comfortable and be in a better position to confront the level of violence now facing the country.

Remarking that the Police over the past few months have been making efforts to ensure that more equipment is acquired for its members, McDonald said these efforts would be accelerated with the departure overseas this weekend by some officers to acquire protective wear.

The business visit is in keeping with a directive by President Bharrat Jagdeo for the Force to acquire protective gear and weapons, as a priority.

President Jagdeo at a news conference Wednesday had said he was disappointed that the acquisition of protective gear, contained in a set of initiatives he had announced on June 7 to tackle the escalating crime wave, had not yet been completed.

The President met with the top brass of the Police and heads of the various units on Wednesday just hours after the latest attack by criminals on a Police Impact Patrol unit, mere yards from the Brickdam Station.

Commissioner McDonald also urged the proper use of the gear.

Minister Gajraj, who also expressed thanks to those responsible for the donation, used the occasion to exhort members of the public to come out and show "some courage" and be of assistance to the Police in their quest to bring an end to the criminal activities.

The Laparkan Group of Companies was thanked for bringing the gear into Guyana with minimum delay, and according to the minister, other areas of the Force, including the Forensic Laboratory, will shortly benefit from added assistance.

The Police have to date expended millions for the acquisition of kit and equipment for the GPF, with some US$1M spent this year towards buying motor vehicles and water transport.

A further US$1M will be spent on protective gear, hardware and software, Gajraj said.

He said the Police are faced with a new dispensation of criminal activities and while there may be many local operatives, "we have very good reason to believe that some of the expertise which we are experiencing have been imported into this country."

But he assured, "be it as it is, the Force remains resolved to fight against all forms of criminal activities and all types of criminals and the Government of Guyana remains equally committed to give every possible support to the Guyana Police Force in its quest to maintain law and order in the country and to ensure breaches of the peace are not provoked."

"We stand firm in our position to give the best possible protection to the citizens of this country from all strata of the society. We have within recent times noted an increase in certain kinds of criminal activity and very often the Police are there to deal with these situations, while sometimes not with the degree as all might have liked.

"From the time the increase in crime started to now, we are much closer to putting a closure on that kind of activity," the Home Affairs Minister said.

The Commissioner, senior and junior officers, in particular the other ranks of the Force, were all commended by the minister for having stood up against tremendous odds at times, and despite what appears to be the valiant efforts of some to adversely affect the morale of the Police, have displayed much stamina and resilience and a commitment to redouble their efforts in order to discharge their responsibilities. (WENDELLA DAVIDSON)

Positive response to President's meeting with Guyanese in St. Lucia
- pledges of support for Government initiatives
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday evening met the Guyanese community in St. Lucia and updated them on several issues, including the local crime and security situation, the Government's programme for 2002 and its plans for taking Guyana forward.

The President is there to chair the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government meeting on the state of the regional economies.

The meeting, which was attended by more than 200 Guyanese, was held at the Indies Conference Centre, St. Lucia.

In his address to Guyanese, President Jagdeo spoke about the local crime and security situation and the initiatives being taken by Government to fight crime and maintain law and order, adding that his Administration is committed to the task.

The Guyanese Head of State also briefed the gathering on the challenges facing Guyana and the region as a whole. Other issues of prime importance and the Government's vision for Guyana as laid out in its national programme, was also explained at the meeting.

The President entertained questions and Guyanese were given a chance to express their views to him.

The encounter was well received and those who participated felt that the meeting was beneficial.

In turn, they pledged support for the Government's initiative in dealing with the crime and security situation at present and for the execution of the Government's programmes aimed at enhancing the quality of life for all Guyanese.

The Guyanese community also pledged support for President Jagdeo during his tenure as Chairman of CARICOM. (Government Information Agency - GINA)

Armed gang in shootout with Police in city
By Jaime Hall and Yelena Ramautar
THE East Ruimveldt, Georgetown community was yesterday morning awakened by the sound of heavy gunfire in a shootout between heavily armed bandits and Policemen tracking the suspicious-looking men who were in a white motorcar.

Residents said the shooting began around 05:35 hrs while a Police vehicle was on a high speed chase along Pineapple Street, East Ruimveldt in an effort to apprehend the men.

Police said no one was reported wounded in the shootout that residents estimated lasted some 20 minutes.

Two mini-buses and a motorcar belonging to residents of Pineapple Street were damaged during the shootout.
Mini-bus GEE 3928 had its front and rear windscreens shattered by a single bullet which went through the front and exited through the back, while a single bullet also passed through the lower front of mini-bus BDD 2856, damaging stereo equipment that was in the bus.

The motorcar, a dark green Toyota Marino, HA 9972 belonging to Kevin Gibson, had two bullet holes in the area of the trunk.

During the chase, the driver of the Police vehicle apparently lost control of it after a bullet reportedly hit a tyre and the Land Cruiser crashed into an electricity power line pole on the street.

The bandits then began to open fire on the patrol.

Members of the squad disembarked the stalled vehicle and took cover behind it and in a nearby trench, a resident said.

She also reported that the Policemen were forced to take cover near a home nearby.

That was followed by several short, but rapid bursts of gunshots, they said.

After a pause, there were then several single shots, not sounding as explosive as those from the bandits, they reported.

A resident said he saw a speeding white car drive out from Pineapple Street and stop at the corner of the East Ruimveldt Front Road.

The four men were heavily armed, all wearing black `topes' (caps) and full camouflage military combat gear, including bullet proof vests, and with guns and magazines strapped on them.

The eyewitness, who said he has military training, said he recognised the guns they were carrying as M70 rifles.

He showed this newspaper a spent shell he picked up from the scene of the shooting. He estimated that more than 100 shots were fired by the bandits.

He said that the Policemen were so cornered they could not have returned fire while the bandits were shooting.

He said that after the hail of bullets in the direction of the Policemen, the bandits walked back to their car and drove off in the direction of South Ruimveldt.

A resident of Pineapple Street said he was getting ready to go jogging when he heard a car speeding down the road.

Another resident said he and his wife were awakened by the sound of gunfire in front of their house.

He showed a window that was shattered by bullets while Policemen took cover in front of his home to avoid the shots from the bandits.

Police in a press release said the bandits opened fire on a mobile patrol on Pineapple Street, resulting in extensive damage to the Police vehicle.

The release said the Police patrol was proceeding on Mandela Avenue in response to a report when the patrol observed a white motorcar with four suspicious looking men inside and proceeded to follow the car which turned north into Pineapple Street.

The Police patrol was just turning into the same street when the occupants of the car opened fire, the release said.

The Police adopted tactical manoeuvres and returned fire, it said.
Police said the vehicle got stuck in mud at the side of the road.
Seventeen bullet holes are evident on the Police vehicle, the release said.
A number of spent shells of various calibres were found at the scene of the shooting.

Recruitment of teachers by U.S.:
Ministry does not expect major problem in new school year
WITH the beginning of the new school year just three weeks away the Chronicle has been reliably informed that several schools will be without their full complement of teachers, because many who were recruited earlier this year have already left for the United States to meet an August 5 orientation there.

However, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mr. Hydar Ally when contacted said the ministry was unaware of this development.

He said if there was such a situation it will not pose a major difficulty because of the intensified teacher training programme under which about 600 trained teachers graduate every year.

Ally said that in the past the ministry was able to cope with such difficulties, noting the situation when a large number of teachers left for Botswana.

He noted too that teacher migration is not only a problem for Guyana, pointing out that 600 teachers will be leaving the Jamaican school system for U.S. schools in the new school year in September.

He also assured that the placement process for nursery and secondary schools was progressing smoothly and did not foresee any major difficulty with placements in the new school year.

He observed though that there may be slight difficulties at the Campbellville Secondary School in Georgetown where some renovations would have to be done to accommodate those students who did not obtain a place in the mainstream secondary school system.

Earlier this year a large number of teachers attended a recruitment meeting at Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown which was conducted by U.S. educational authorities.

General Secretary of the Guyana Teachers' Union (GTU), Mr. Lance Baptiste in response to the recruitment exercise at Le Meridien, told the Chronicle then that the migration of teachers "did not start now".

"It started many years ago during the previous government, when a lot of our teachers migrated to Caribbean countries", he said.

He said the union, recognising the escalating problem, had urged the Ministry of Education to implement measures to rectify the situation.

Among the proposals the GTU put forward were the provision of low cost housing, favourable loan facilities at the banks, duty free concessions for cars and discount facilities at business enterprises.

With respect to the latter, Baptiste said the union on its own initiative had been able to get such a facility at a few businesses enterprises, among them the Laparkan Group of Companies and Nigel's Supermarket in Georgetown.

He declared that teachers need to live with dignity and a comfortable living standard so that they feel appreciated and wanted.

Most of the teachers do not really want to leave but they take a chance because they see others go and come back in two or three years time and are able to buy a house and or a car and live a comfortable life, he said.

"Something which most teachers after 30 or more years in the profession cannot afford," Baptiste added.

In response to the position of paying salaries in accordance with what the national economy can afford, he said that when the teachers go to the business place to buy, that factor is not taken into consideration.

"They have to pay the same prices as everybody else," he contended. (CHAMANLALL NAIPAUL)

No evidence of child labour in Guyana
- Ministry of Labour
THE Ministry of Labour says it has found no evidence of child labour to support claims of this nature.

Acting Chief Labour Officer, Mr. Dhanraj Sookdeo told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that a study was done some time ago by former University of Guyana Lecturer and Sociologist, Dr. Ken Danns but the focus was too narrow.

The sample taken for the report, Sookdeo said, was concentrated in communities which were likely to have children working during the afternoons and weekends at what would be considered household chores.

Sookdeo said that for such a study, it should have had a wider scope and because of this it did not bring out an informative conclusion.

He added that the ministry has done inspections and has not seen any evidence of child labour as that report wants to suggest.

"Apart from that, the employable age is 15 years and I think that survey reflected child labour as between 15 and 18 years", Sookdeo said.

According Sookdeo, the Labour laws do not consider a 15-year-old as a child but as someone capable of working.

He said that some people view children doing household chores or working in the family's business as child labour.

He added that at the time of Danns' study, the author may have not been aware of the workable age in the legislation.

Sookdeo said he feels strongly that child labour would have to be a serious exploitation of a child under age 15 who has to work in excess of four hours.

"I can't see a parent exploiting a child if he (or she) is doing chores", he added.

In relation to the exploitation of Amerindians, he said the Ministry of Labour has had reports of this especially in the mining and forestry sectors.

He said that because these are informal areas, no proper records are kept.

"There are loose arrangements regarding contracts of employment", he noted.

He said the Labour Ministry had received reports that some Amerindian employees were not paid by someone operating a logging company, "but it is difficult to access these areas and the extent of exploitation is very difficult to determine."

"This is because the ministry has no means of transportation. But it is not that evident," Sookdeo pointed out.

Enquiries about complaints from far-flung areas are made through the post or if the employer has an office or happens to be in the city, investigations are done to resolve the matter, he explained.

He also noted that there are not many complaints of this nature in the restaurant or domestic sector "or even if it is evident, it is not reported".

Over the last year the Labour Ministry has had approximately 445 complaints of which about 30 were from interior locations. (Government Information Agency - GINA)

Hoyte stresses need for change at PNC/R Congress opening
THE main Opposition People's National Congress Reform (PNC/R) opened its 13th Biennial Congress late yesterday afternoon with party leader, Mr. Desmond Hoyte setting out clear guidelines for the membership to approach its agenda.

And high on the list of priorities, is the need for "change", he said, adding: "Change is as necessary a part of politics as it is a part of life. Those who do not change become dinosaurs, irrelevant and eventually extinct."

Noting that Congress is an emotional, important occasion for the party, Mr. Hoyte urged delegates and observers to recommit themselves to the service of the party, its policies and programmes, and to the grander objective of promoting the development of the country in conditions of peace, security and prosperity.

Delivering the feature address at the Congress, he reminded the membership in the packed Conference Hall at the party's Sophia, Georgetown headquarters, that Congress provides a forum at which they can engage in open discussion, debate and analyse issues rigorously, and make clear cut decisions.

"We therefore must approach its agenda in a mood of creativity and innovation and a spirit of enquiry that allows us to question our methods, strategies, policies and programmes with the full understanding that, in our party, there are no sacred cows or immutable traditions."

"In other words, we must approach Congress in a revolutionary vein," he affirmed.
He urged the membership to adapt to new circumstances, new challenges, and new responsibilities.
"If we do not adapt...we cannot survive, muchless overcome," he said.
The opening ceremony ran into last night.

Linden Power Company makes US$2M demand on LINMINE
THE Linden Power Company (LPC) is demanding that the Linden Mining Enterprise (LINMINE), or the Government through its subsidy programme for the bauxite company, deposit US$2M into the established Escrow account by September 1.

Republic Bank of Trinidad has foreclosed on LPC.

According to a press release from LPC, based on LINMINE's failure to pay outstanding invoices, LPC has advised Republic Bank to draw on an existing Escrow account in the amount of US$702,000 to bring the amount owed to Republic Bank current.

LPC stated that the Government's failure to make regular subsidy payments to LINMINE for invoiced electricity generation and power capacity due LPC had forced Republic Bank on August 6 to name a Receiver/Manager in the debenture between the bank and LPC.

In addition, LPC said it has formally noticed LINMINE and the Government that because outstanding invoices exceed 60 days and have reached over US$2M, an additional deposit of the said amount must be made into an Escrow account in Trinidad by September 1.

The release stated that members of the LPC American staff traveled to Guyana at the end of July to negotiate with the President and Prime Minister in an attempt to reach an accord and settle the outstanding debt and avoid the need for the bank to become involved in the collection of money owed LPC by the Government and the bauxite company.

According to the release, while there was an oral agreement reached with the President to seek postponement of the bank's action, LPC was informed that LINMINE's American based lawyers precluded the Prime Minister from executing the document that was to be delivered to the bank in Trinidad the same week to forestall the bank taking control and selling the encumbered property in whole or in part, commencing with the naming of the Receiver/Manager.

In addition to the power plant, LPC said it has invested substantially in the Linden community, making almost 100 contributions in cash or personal property.

Rice Producers Association accuses PNC/R of `economic sabotage'
THE Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA) has accused the main Opposition People's National Congress Reform (PNC/R) of "shedding crocodile tears" about the state of the rice industry and peddling falsehood through a propaganda package in the international community in an effort to block Guyana's rice from entering the Jamaican market.

In a press release the RPA stated: "At home, the PNC/R has been shedding crocodile about its concerns about the state of the rice industry, an industry destroyed during its reign.

"But overseas the PNC/R has been peddling the falsehood (contained in a propaganda package being circulated in the international community) of 12 Afro-Guyanese farmers/millers, who are in financial problems, were discriminated against.

"However, the PNC failed to mention that 1,200 other rice farmers/millers, mainly Indo-Guyanese who are experiencing similar difficulties."

The release added: "Not only is it just spreading lies, but also it is using these as part of a devious campaign to block Guyana's rice from entering the Jamaican market.

"This is economic sabotage of the worst kind since it endangers not only the livelihood of all rice farmers and millers but also the economic well being of the nation."

The RPA said in this time of declining international prices, unfavourable weather and other threats, it notes with trepidation the devious attempt of the PNC/R to "stab the industry in the back at a time when feverish efforts are under way to avoid an erosion of the Jamaican rice market."

"We condemn this attempt to harm the rice industry and the country. The RPA stands ready to represent the interest of all farmers/millers," the release concluded.

LATE FLASH
Police, armed men in standoff
AS WE were going to press there were reports that the Police and a gang of armed men were engaged in a standoff in South Ruimveldt Park, Georgetown.

According to the reports, a Police patrol trailed a car and its occupants to Cane View Avenue where the bandits made an unsuccessful bid to hijack another car in their attempt to escape.

The bandits subsequently entered the home of a woman and her children holding them hostage, as the standoff continued, sources said.

Police in an appeal on the radio last night called on residents of the area for their cooperation.

Aishalton school Principal awarded scholarship at British university
A SECONDARY school Principal from Aishalton, Rupununi, has become the first Amerindian to be granted a scholarship to pursue post-graduate studies at a British university.

This announcement was made at a press briefing Thursday by outgoing British High Commissioner, Mr. Edward Glover at his Bel Air Gardens, Georgetown residence.

Mr. Glover said that Mr. Adrian Gomes, Principal of the Aishalton Secondary School, will be pursuing a Master's Degree at Leeds University in the Teaching of English as a Second Language to Young Learners.

He said the cost of the scholarship is 17,000 pounds Sterling, but explained that a considerable proportion of this sum has been borne by several local companies including Banks DIH Ltd, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL), John Fernandes Ltd (JFL), Mazda Mining Company Ltd (MMCL) and the National Bank of Industry and Commerce (NBIC).

High Commission Glover said that he was most pleased with the response of the local companies when he approached them on helping to sponsor Gomes.

"They have risen to the challenge," he remarked.

The High Commissioner related that the whole idea of the scholarship began last December when he visited Aishalton for the first time and held discussions with Gomes on his plans for the future.

Glover said he became deeply impressed with the ambitions of the high school Principal.

According to the High Commissioner, the British Government grants about four to five scholarships annually to Guyanese to pursue studies at educational institutions in the UK. Beside Gomes, four other persons have been granted scholarships to pursue studies in the fields of banking, law and public administration. He said that Gomes' case is unique.

Gomes, who became Principal of the school in 1998 when it became the first secondary institution in Aishalton, said he discovered that the children who entered the school at the first form level did not have the required literacy skill and this posed a problem in the development of their English Language skills.

Consequently, over a period of time, Gomes said, he analysed the problem and found that it originated from the primary school level, and to a lesser extent, the nursery level, where the children are exposed mainly to their indigenous language of Wapishana.

Gomes said to rectify the problem he started a bi-lingual project and his studies in the UK would be geared to enhancing his skills to make the project a successful one.

Representatives of the local companies, which are contributing to the cost of Gomes' training, said that the scholarship could be a gateway for further educational development in the community, where many opportunities for employment will be created with the completion of the roadway linking Guyana and Brazil.

They also urged Gomes to ensure that he returns after his studies to impart the knowledge and skills he would have acquired to members of his community so that its developmental process will be enhanced.
(CHAMANLALL NAIPAUL)

Man mistakenly shot by GDF leaves hospital
--Damaged vehicle repaired
THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF) said yesterday that Mr. Ronald Hetsberger, who was shot by an Army Patrol at Buxton on Tuesday August 6, 2002, was discharged from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on August 10.

A press release from Camp Ayanganna, Thomas Lands, said that during his period of hospitalisation, Mr. Hetsberger was assisted by the Army in the administration of medical care. Since his discharge, he has been the recipient of follow up and rehabilitative care from the Guyana Defence Force.

Yesterday, Mr. Hetsberger met with senior officials of the GDF and there was an amicable resolution arrived at by the parties.

The car that was driven by Hetsberger at the time of the shooting, and which is owned by Ms. Vanessa Collison, was damaged, as a result of the encounter. The vehicle has since been repaired, GDF said.


At Indigenous women's caucus --
Exploitation of Amerindians blamed on lack of jobs, opportunities
By Shirley Thomas
PROGRAMME Administrator of the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA), Ms. Jean La Rose, has expressed concern that the lack of job and educational opportunities for Amerindian peoples, and in particular their women and 'girl children', may be responsible for much of the exploitation levelled against them.

In Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine, for example, a recent study showed that the incidence of rape and other forms of abuse levelled against Amerindian women and girls in areas where mining activities were taking place was found to be appalling, she said.

The APA official called for urgent action, including the empowerment of Amerindian women, to be taken to address these and other problems affecting the indigenous peoples.

"We must not rest until the fundamental rights section of the Constitution is assented to, and until the Indigenous Peoples Commission is set up to the satisfaction of the communities," she affirmed.

Ms. La Rose made these remarks as she addressed the opening ceremony of the National Amerindian Women's Conference on Thursday at the Ocean View Convention Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.

These findings, she said, were contained in a recent study done by the APA in conjunction with the North South Institute of Canada.

"It is my feeling that these forms of abuse are not only related to mining, but happen, perhaps in varying degrees, in other sectors. And we feel that a concerted effort must be taken to address these issues."

La Rose said that while it must be acknowledged that there have been some improvements over the years in these areas, a lot of work still needs to be done to make a real difference.

"Many of our women still do not have the opportunity to pursue a higher level of education than the primary level, and even if we do, how many of our communities can absorb us back to utilise our speciality?" she asked.

La Rose said that there is need for specialised training, for scholarship opportunities to reach the communities, and for the communities to be able to utilise the expertise of trained personnel, while providing the incentive to do so.

She stressed the need for an approach to sustainable utilisation of their forests, which process should incorporate the knowledge passed down by their indigenous forefathers.

"This is one area where it may be that our women can play a vital role in becoming more self-sufficient, and therefore less reliant on others," La Rose suggested.

On the issue of health care for the Amerindian peoples, the APA official expressed concern that despite Guyana's status as being one of the countries with the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS, it is still not known how, and to what extent, the Amerindian population is affected.

She contended that many of the illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria affecting Amerindian communities have a direct relationship to the economic opportunities available to them.

Other issues addressed were the review of the Amerindian Act; the National Development Strategy (NDS); Amerindian cultural values and norms in the light of serious concerns about the erosion of values, and the threat to their languages.

And in relation to legislative and policy issues, La Rose noted that there is yet a lot of work to be done in this regard.

"While I sat on the Constitution Reform Commission and made some recommendations for the way the Constitution must address Amerindian issues, most of these issues were not taken on board," she lamented.

Albeit, all is not lost, she said, since two provisions dealing specifically with Amerindians are set to address a few of these issues. These include the provision in the fundamental rights section addressing Amerindian ways of life, and the establishment of the Indigenous People's Commission.

In closing her presentation, La Rose charged the delegates: "In all aspects of our lives, it is important that at all levels of the decision making process, whether it is at the community, regional, national and international levels, we must be part of, and influence the decision-making processes that affect our lives. This is therefore the charge that I leave you with."

The three-day conference, which brings together Amerindian women from all the regions of Guyana, is to endl today.

Resource persons include: Ms. Vanda Radzik of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA); Ms. Joanna Simmons, Staff Lawyer, APA; Ms. Yvonne Pearson, Vice-President, APA and Tauchao of Mainstay/Whyaka; Attorney-at-Law, Ms. Anande Trotman; Mr. Vidyartha Kissoon of Help and Shelter and Ms. Karen De Souza of the Working People's Alliance party.

Trinidad re-thinks aid to Dominica at economic summit
By Rickey Singh
CASTRIES -- Dominica's hope for any early bilateral aid from Trinidad and Tobago has been dashed because of an existing court battle over that Windward Island's failure to honour a debt payment to the leading commercial bank in the twin-island state -- RBTT Merchant Bank.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning indicated to Dominica's Prime Minister, Pierre Charles, yesterday that it would be difficult for any direct bilateral financial aid at this time in view of that country's default on a loan payment of some US$35M to RBTT Merchant Bank.

However, Manning assured yesterday's one-day special CARICOM Economic Summit that his government was committed to contributing to the creation of a multilateral Regional Stabilisation Fund, expected to be operated by the Caribbean Development Bank, to help cash-strapped economies, among them Dominica.

Manning was huddled in a closed-door session up to last night with other CARICOM (Caribbean Community) leaders and could not be reached for a comment on the precise position of Trinidad and Tobago on financial aid to Community partners.

But conference sources said that the Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister reaffirmed his government's plan for a proposed piped natural gas project between his country and various CARICOM states.

He first spoke of this project when he addressed last month's regular annual CARICOM Summit in Guyana.

While the Community leaders were focused during yesterday's meeting on the need for new approaches to deal with immediate and longer term fiscal and economic problems, there were disagreements over a lengthy draft agenda of some 15 pages.

This contributed to a further delay and the conclusion of the meeting was likely to clash with a dinner reception arranged for the leaders for around 8 o'clock last night.

With only Suriname unrepresented at heads level among the 15-member Community, and Haiti represented by its Foreign Minister, the leaders also discussed how best to mobilise support for the international community to release frozen economic aid to Haiti.

The Bahamas Prime Minister spoke of his immediate concern in checking the flow of illegal Haitians to his country that was proving a drain on Bahamian financial and human resources in caring for them and arranging their repatriation.

He also reportedly told the summit that some of the issues being discussed could have been left to the Community's Finance Ministers, prompting some unofficial remarks about him reflecting the position of "a new boy on the block" having only recently come to office.

Presiding over the summit was CARICOM's current Chairman, Bharrat Jagdeo, President of Guyana. A communique was promised for release late last night.

Today there will be two separate meetings of the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committees on the Caribbean Single Market and External Negotiations, presided over respectively by the Prime Ministers of Barbados and Jamaica.

Special summit on region's economies:
-CDB, EC Central Bank representatives make presentations
THE Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government meeting in St. Lucia on the state of the regional economies began yesterday.

President of the Caribbean Development Bank, (CDB) Dr. Compton Bourne and Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, Mr. Dwight Venner, opened the meeting with presentations.

Presentations were made to the Heads while discussions were held on the state of the economies of Dominica and Barbados.

The meetings in St Lucia come at time when there is a risk of a meltdown in Caribbean economies.

This has been precipitated first of all, by the loss of income due to low commodity prices, and secondly, with special reference to the small islands in the Eastern Caribbean and their loss of the preferential banana market.

The mainstay of the economies of the Eastern Caribbean territories is bananas.

Some time ago the United States had taken the banana issue to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), contending that the European banana import regime was unfair to U.S. banana exporters and that it breached WTO rules.

The WTO ruled in favour of the Americans, and consequently, since that time the banana industry in the Caribbean countries has been experiencing grave difficulties.

Another main plank of Caribbean economies is tourism. Almost all Caribbean countries pride themselves about their sun, sea and sand.

However, since the September 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S. last year, the tourism industry in the Caribbean has suffered tremendously. There has been a drop-off in tourist arrivals, and this has also affected the airline industry in the region.

As a result, many workers lost their jobs in the islands and this had a negative effect on the economy of the region.

There have been other factors contributing to the downturn in the regional economy.

According to President Bharrat Jagdeo, the external factors have not been helpful since many decisions affecting the Caribbean are made in foreign boardrooms, where Caribbean concerns are hardly ever featured.

Many Caribbean countries are now at the stage where Guyana was 10 years ago - very low capital accumulation.

However, due to prudent fiscal management, the Guyana economy has met all its mid-year targets.

It has been successful with further debt reduction. The revenue base has also expanded.

Barbados is slipping into recession while in Trinidad and Tobago, the budget deficit is a whopping TT$1.7 B. In The Bahamas the downturn in the tourism sector has hit the economy and there are signs that the economy may contract this year.

Even in the U.S., the economy has been experiencing a double recession.

Corporate failures and low consumer spending, indicating weak consumer confidence in the economy, are an illustration of this second recession.

One of the topics on the agenda of this weekend's CARICOM meeting is the establishment of a Regional Stabilisation Fund.

While Guyana is facing some challenges, it is one of two countries that recorded a positive growth rate last year. The other is Jamaica.

Many of the countries today face the problem that Guyana faced about 10 years ago, when their wages and salaries and debt service accounted for all of the revenue.

In Guyana's case, the debt servicing took 94 per cent of the revenue and wages and salaries another 20 per cent - representing 114 per cent of revenue.

The Government had to borrow to finance debts and wages and salaries.

Many CARICOM countries are bordering that kind of situation, because they have been running fiscal deficits for the last four years and they have had to engage in commercial debts to finance the deficits. This raised the debt servicing payments because they are very short and the next year's budget becomes problematic.

The countries need cash injection and the multilateral financial institutions are not going to put that money in unless there are some tough decisions made, which will require a lot of sacrifice by the people of those countries.

Even if the financial institutions decide to do that it is not going to come soon, as the processes take a long period.

The ongoing meeting in St. Lucia will also examine ways to deal with the crisis.

In Guyana's case, the situation is much better in terms of cash flow and financing deficits, because the Government does not borrow on commercial terms, or the domestic market to finance deficit.

Expenditure is financed from revenue, grants and soft loans with 40 years repayment and some of them at less than one per cent interest.

St. Lucia is one of the countries that have been drastically affected by the drop in banana exports. The recent changes in the European Union import preference regime and the increased competition from Latin American bananas, have made economic diversification increasingly important in St. Lucia.

Improvement in the construction sector and growth of the tourism industry, helped to expand the GDP in 1998-99. The agriculture sector registered its fifth year of decline in 1997 primarily because of a severe decline in banana production.

The manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean, and the government is beginning to develop regulations for the small offshore financial sector.

The country's GDP composition by sector is agriculture, industry and services. (Government Information Agency - GINA)

Woman beaten by bandits
MRS. Carole Braithwaite of 419 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was Thursday night assaulted by bandits because she did not have any money at home, she said yesterday.

She said she and her grandson were home alone while her husband, a cambio dealer, was out.

She said a dark green car, licence plate HA 9688, pulled up in front of the house, two men came out and jumped the fence into her front yard.
She related that she saw a man in her yard and thought that it was her husband, when the man pushed her half open door and entered the home demanding cash and jewellery.

The man who entered her home pulled her wedding and engagement rings off her finger, while a second man followed with a small handgun, she said.

One of the men then closed the front door and took her upstairs with her grandson to locate all the money and jewellery, she said.

Braithwaite said the two men searched and tumbled the two bedrooms upstairs searching for money, asking her "where is the f...... money?"

She recalled that the two men kept saying they know she had money because her husband is a small business cambio dealer on America Street, Georgetown.

When she said she had no money at home, the two bandits began to beat her, cuffing her in the mouth and stomach and pushing the gun down her mouth, Braithwaite said.

They also talked about killing her, she told the Chronicle.

Braithwaite recounted that about 10 minutes into the robbery, one of the men told the other to "hurry up, we have to go."

She said that all the bandits took were her rings, a cell phone and a pair of earrings.

Fortunately, on this occasion there was no Police fatality or serious injuries.

However, the terror and fear generated is obvious bearing in mind that in the last six months eight members of the Guyana Police Force have been brutally killed at the hands of the bandits, and that is in addition to the number of citizens and private security guards killed or wounded.

The number of Policemen killed in the last six months is more than the total number killed while on duty in the last 25 years, according to Police statistics.

The East Ruimveldt incident demonstrated the overwhelming superiority in firepower by the bandits, with reports saying they totally outgunned the Police during the daring shootout.

The crime spree currently being experienced in this country is not a simple, straight forward situation.

It is complex and intricate with interconnected factors encompassing drugs dealings, arms smuggling and political intrigues.

And from the manner in which the recent crimes have been executed it is logical and evident that the masterminds and executors of these crimes are intelligent, well versed in military type combat, experts in weapons and explosives and, very importantly, seem determined and dedicated to the task of carrying out their objectives.

And while it is true that a solution to the crime is not the easiest of things to find, what is worrying to the average Guyanese is the apparent lack of urgency on the part of the authorities to implement decisive anti-crime measures.

Six months after the dramatic upsurge of violent criminal activities following the daring February 23 escape from the Georgetown Prison of five dangerous criminals, the security forces should have been provided with enough safety gear, the firepower and other equipment to deal with the dangerous forces arrayed against them.

This is an issue that should have triggered much quicker reaction than has been apparent and the authorities have to move with urgency now to address these growing concerns.

While it may be correctly argued that there is a crime wave throughout the Caribbean, at the same time it must be appreciated that in many of those countries there was a gradual and incremental increase in violent crimes.

In Guyana, it has been a dramatic jump in six months of unprecedented types of crime.

And with a population as small as ours the effects are magnified.

The impact has become even greater since the security forces now have to battle forces of the kind they had not encountered before over such a prolonged period.

It is also pertinent to point out when making comparisons to what is happening in other countries in the Caribbean, that the peoples there have over the years have had much to cheer about - enjoying a democratic tradition since independence and thriving economies, unlike Guyanese who are continuing to endure threats to the consolidation of democracy and a host of attendant difficulties.

Having thrown off the yolk of 28 years of fraudulent elections, economic hardship and food shortages and prolonged blackouts, there was great hope when this country enjoyed a brief period of peace and calm between 1992-1997.

But ever since then it has been post-election violence, violent protests and to crown it all now, a ruthless and murderous crime rampage.

This rampage has to be brought to an end and those in the forefront of the fight, in the first instance, have to be well equipped to carry the fight to the bandits.

Bacchus denied all the charges and was remanded to prison until Thursday, when the matter will be heard at the Springlands Magistrate's Court, Berbice.

The Court heard that Bacchus had in his possession on August 11, 2002, one blank Surinamese passport numbered R 544414 and a Netherlands passport numbered N 30182642 in favour of Ricardo Bisnauth. The items were believed to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained.

Police said that on the same day without lawful authority, Bacchus also had in his possession two Surinamese immigration stamps.

The particulars to the charges of harbouring illegal immigrants, stated that on August 11 without lawful authority or excuse, Bacchus knowingly harboured or concealed Soekha Yohan, a Surinamese national and Yohan's Brazilian girlfriend, Amanda Suli Dos Svale.

Another Guyanese, Mohamed Shahuruddin, alias 'Plantain' of 168 Albert Street, Corriverton, pleaded not guilty to two counts of simple larceny and was also remanded to prison.

Shahuruddin is char

Shahuruddin is also charged with stealing an M-70 rifle worth $760,000, the property of the GDF between August 2 and August 9. He will return to Court Nine on August 21.

The Police said that a joint Army and Police operation carried out a search on the homes of Bacchus and Shahuruddin in Berbice on the day in question.

In Bacchus' home, the Police said they unearthed the two passports, two stamps, several hand-held radios and other communications, a navigator map, a pair of high intensity binoculars and cell phones.

Police said Bacchus claimed that the items were for use on a ship, which he had purchased. He was arrested.

When the home of Shahuruddin was searched, nothing was unearthed. But Police said, he claimed that he had bought two rifles, which were delivered to Bacchus.

Surinamese trader jailed for one month; Brazilian girlfriend, one week
-- Both to be deported at end of sentences
A SURINAMESE trader was yesterday jailed for one month, and his Brazilian girlfriend imprisoned for one week, when they appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen on charges of entering Guyana illegally.

Brazilian Amanda Suli Dos Svale, who trades between Suriname and Brazil, was charged with entering Guyana by sea except at a port of entry on August 12.

Through an interpreter from the Brazilian Embassy, Dos Svale pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one week in jail. She will be deported at the end of her sentence.

Surinamese Soekha Yohan was also charged with entering Guyana by sea except a port of entry on August 12.

He admitted committing the offence through an interpreter from the Surinamese Embassy. He was sentenced to one month in prison and ordered deported when his sentence expires.

The Police said that the two prisoners were seen coming out of the Line Path D, Corriverton yard of Salim Bacchus. When questioned by Police, they replied in foreign languages.

Their documents were examined and it was discovered that there were no entry stamps on their passports. They were arrested and charged.

This is a ratio of about 50,000 law-abiding persons to one of them.
What are we doing about this?

My suggestion is that the Government set up close circuit cameras with time-lapse recorders at various points in the city and road intersections that lead out of the town? There are not much of these!

There are a lot of citizens that will allow these pieces of equipment to be installed at their premises, with the understanding that the powers that be do not allow this information to be leaked to the criminals and make the "helpers" another Chester family.

Banks, stores, Gas Stations and cambios must install and place surveillance cameras with time-lapse recorders inside and outside these
business places. Intelligence as to who done it will be garnered. We need faces to be linked to crimes. We want these persons dead or barely alive.

Citizens must realise these criminals will take out anyone at anytime.
They are not your friends!

The business community could do more than ten million dollars as rewards.

It was published in the media that a businessman purchased an AK-47! We empathise with him and understand his train of thought, it is better to be judged by 12 jurors than be carried dead in a casket by 6 of his friends. He was frustrated and wanted to defend himself, Law abiding citizens hope the Law will be tempered with some understanding, although the act was criminal, it was not purchased with criminal intent but to defend himself and family.

We are fed up with the ratio of criminals dead to law enforcement personnel! Change this ratio!

I wish the Police and the Army all the best and may the supreme being make our law enforcement personnel's aim be true and turn all the criminals into Cyclopes!
Security Consultant

PNC takes over WPA
It is perhaps nice to know that I have a more distinguished namesake at UG, but I sincerely apologise for any discomfiture to you Ma'am.

Now it is heartening to know that the WPA is expressing concern about the crime situation in the country. However, the party again strangulates itself by refusing to acknowledge the real cause of criminal activity now sweeping the country. First of all the WPA says, "the government should forthwith summon the opposition parties," as if the government can force the Opposition parties to the table. Puerile reasoning!

But was the WPA asleep when for all these months the Government was calling on the PNC/R to resume the Dialogue, thereby bringing whatever concerns the PNC/R has to the table? Now the WPA awakes and suddenly discovers the need for dialogue on this issue. Is it so coincidental that the WPA call comes a few days after the PNC/R made a similar call? Strange indeed!

But the WPA sinks to a contemptible level when it suggests, "the PPP/C is benefiting or intends to benefit from the present situation." Convoluted reasoning, we must admit! The PPP/C barely escaped a mass assassination of its top leadership at its Congress in Berbice, getting off "relatively light" when only one of its cadres was killed. The President of the Republic was the target of another assassination attempt when the Office of the President was invaded. Is the WPA suggesting that that incident was stage-managed by the PPP/C? More tortuous reasoning on the part of the WPA!

The overwhelming majority of the victims of the present crime wave are PPP/C supporters, in PPP/C stronghholds. The Government has come in for severe criticisms for failing to protect its supporters. Now the WPA suggests that this might be a PPP/C plot to improve its support! This party has surely thrown sanity to the wind!

The WPA has diagnosed the cause of the present criminal activity as due to the tactics of the Black Clothes (BC) police which "in no small measure contributed to the present situation." It seems to the WPA that when the roads were being dug up from last year that the people were protesting against the BC police.

And when the five prisoners made good their escape, it was the BC police who facilitated their escape. And when the Opposition called for the overthrow of the Government, it was because of the BC police. I need not quote more examples because the point has already been established that the WPA is not in its right sense.

But suddenly we are being presented with the real cause of the crime spree.

It is not about marginalisation, nor discrimination, etc. It, according to the WPA, is protesting the actions of the BC police. Thank God, the crime wave has nothing to do with race. Indians in this country will be really comforted by this disclosure from the WPA!

More enlightening is that the WPA has not mentioned even one word connecting the PNC/R with the present crime situation, even though the PNC/R has openly called for the overthrow of the Government, and that party has embraced the criminals, who, if we are to believe the WPA, are actually working for the PPP/C. See how the poor, peaceful and innocent PNC/R has been outwitted by the Government.

That is why the WPA must now speak for, and on behalf of the PNC/R, when it says, "the WPA and the PNC/R have already suggested a course of action." I seem to remember that there was a sort of marriage between the WPA and GAP, not between the WPA and the PNC/R. It does seem now that these two opposition parties have reached some kind of bonding. We can perhaps expect to see the WPA given full delegates credentials at this weekend's PNC/R conference.

If anyone had any lingering doubt that the PNC/R has skillfully taken over control of the WPA, then these doubts have been amply dispelled.
MELISSA IFILL.

get rid of the bandits
It appears that with the spate of robberies, the police are either incapable or incompetent in dealing with the criminals. In the meanwhile, the brutality and brazen thefts against Indo Guyanese and their property continue unabated. looking at the faces of some of the victims on TV and in the newspapers one can see frustration and hopelessness. There was a time when people were happy when the headline news reads bandits shot and killed. Then citizens of this country became blighted when the PNC shouted extra judicial killings and the police hibernated. Then like a plague these parasites emerged and are now emboldened and nurtured by talk show hosts and slick lawyers.

The citizens of this country especially Indo Guyanese should take example from the family at West Demerara who fought back when bandits attacked them. Guns did not deter those people from fighting back. Bandits are like cockroaches and should be destroyed by means irrespective of whether they are white, black or brown.

Establish communication links in communities by telephone, drums, squibs or any other means to alert the community and ensure that once they are caught they are snuffed out like rodents. Only when these parasites are completely eliminated will there be peace in this country.
D. SINGH

Anil Singh must make contact
I refer to a letter captioned "Only Blacks are included," which was published on August 2,2002, and signed by Mr. Anil Singh, who purported to be a student in the International Relations degree programme in the Department of Government and International Affairs, University of Guyana.

After a thorough perusal of the records of the faculty of Social Sciences and the University's central records, and as far as can be ascertained, it has been noted that there has never been nor is there currently a student registered under the name Anil Singh in the programme in International Relations or in any other programme in the Department.

I write to request that Mr. Anil Singh identify and contact the Officer of the Dean, faculty of Social Sciences, University of Guyana by telephone # 222-2112 or 222-4927 at his earliest convenience.
MARK KIRTON.

Clear up
I wish to clear up the controversy over Dr Clive Thomas' appearance on the GAP-WPA platform during the 2001 election campaign. I shared the platform with DR Thomas, Edwin Glen and Stanley Humphrey at a GAP-WPA meeting held at the Dutchie Boat Landing in Linden on the evening of March 17, 2001. Mr. Humphrey chaired the meeting, and Mr. Glen, this writer and Dr Thomas spoke in that order. As a member of the GAP-WPA campaign management team I was responsible for making the arrangements with Dr Thomas to speak at this particular meeting. I am also aware of Dr Thomas' full support for the GAP-WPA slate although he was not a candidate.
David Hinds

Freddi retracts statement
I hereby retract the statement I made in one of my letters to the press that Professor Clive Thomas did not speak on behalf of the GAP/WPA during the 2001 election campaign. I apologise to anyone who felt embarrassed, discomforted and/or hurt by that statement. David Hinds said Dr. Thomas spoke with him, and I accept that; I see no reason to question David's integrity. However, I want to state most definitively that I am sticking most inflexibly to my position that based on what I heard at UG about members of a certain party seeking Dr. Thomas' advice, I spoke to Tacuma Ogunseye about the issue.

This took place outside my home and I swear on my parents' graves that such a conversation took place. I believe all Guyanese should be grateful to Dr. Thomas and Mr. Ogunseye for the role they played in fighting for democratic restoration in their country. But I humbly suggest to these two gentlemen that many Guyanese, including myself, believe they have moved away from the political culture of the WPA. This I find personally sad. One Kaieteur News columnist wrote last Sunday that Dr. Thomas appeared on a PNC/Reform program during the election. Today, David Hinds more represents the culture of the WPA as I knew it when we were both, with Dr. Thomas and Brother Ogunseye, very active in the WPA.

It has not been easy for me to publicly criticise Brother Ogunseye. We shared a very close friendship as young men in the struggle. I knew his parents, he knew mine. There are very powerful memories of struggle together. During our public exchange I visited him twice at his work place. In one of those meetings he told me he resented me calling him a racist. I sense that he is hurt by that, I will give Tacuma the benefit of the doubt. I never called him a racist but he feels that I did, I apologise. At the end of the last visit, we shook hands, and he told me he will always extend a protective hand to me. I appreciate that. But I do not live in fear. I never did and never will. I am no hero but I will never close my mouth and put down my pen for what I believe in. This runs in my blood. I close with some strong fraternal advice to Tacuma. Guyanese people are tired with ethnic politics, please move away from organisations that have ethnic names and ethnic agendas. These organisations tend to be part of the problem rather than the solution. It would be nice to see Tacuma once again fighting for all the Guyanese people in a multi-racial organisation. This is the Tacuma I knew. This was the Tacuma that was my friend.

Finally, I request that Dr. Clive Thomas's wife apologise to me for saying that I wrote half-truths and other inaccuracies about her husband. I resent that accusation.
Frederick Kissoon

PNC must address leadership problem
The PNC/R Congress is to address its leadership problem.

I’ve noticed that the PPP Congress has elected a new Central Committee, which has in turn elected a new leadership body - the Executive Committee.

Based on media report, there are a few features coming out of the PPP leadership election I wish to highlight and hope that they would in some way influence the PNC Congress.

a) CENTRAL COMMITTEE

There was solid and united support for President Bharrat Jagdeo as he topped the list of persons elected to the Central Committee
There were a number of new faces on the Central Committee, thus reflecting new blood and ideas in the party. E.g. Desmond Morian, Zulphikar Mustapha, F. Jaffarally, Anupattie Veeren, among others Persons of various ethnic groups, spanning the country were elected to serve in that Party’s Central Committee

b) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The election of members of the Executive Committee showed solid support for the leadership of the PartyThere was full confidence in Mr. Donald Ramotar as General Secretary since he was returned un opposed There were changes. A number of new persons elected to the Executive Committee. E.g. Robert Persaud and Ulric Ramanah, among others The PPP Executive Committee is also composed of persons from all ethnic groups

What the PPP Congress demonstrated was a vibrant democracy with representatives of the groups being free to elect person of their choice through secret ballots.

As an observer of Guyanese politics I wish that the same would be allowed at the PNC Congress this weekend in spirit of enhancing and democratizing our political culture.
Peter Whyte

The Big Question Is?
Others and I are being asked if we think the criminals will shoot up the area over this weekend where the PNC Congress is being held.

Our unequivocal answer is of course not. Why? Because it is the feeling that many of the criminals will be attending the Congress as delegates and observers and will be seeking to make their input for Amnesty and for the provision of free house lots and farmlands as has from time to time been suggested by one of their erstwhile spokesmen, although it is doubtful if he will still want to speak on their behalf.

So, although I am not the Baccoo, I predict that there will be no shooting up at the PNC Congress.
Natasha Ragubir

Demonising police and idolising criminals
It is not correct for Jerome Khan to say that this government seems to be reluctant to have meaningful engagement with stakeholders on the issue of crime prevention and to listen to some of their inputs.

The government and the President himself had made it clear and still do that the inputs of all in the country, Civil society, political parties, churches and other religious organizations are necessary and important to help in the fight against crime.

What many people have been and are worried about is the behaviour of Khan’s PNC/Reform in their rabid campaign of demonising the Police Force and idolising the criminals and of providing safe havens for criminals at their headquarters and strongholds such as Buxton.

The PNC has continued to demonstrate its predilection for violence and reluctance to obey the laws of Guyana and to engage in activities such as rallies and marches which have and are long associated with widespread violence on peaceful citizens of Guyana.

They continue their use of language which incites racial violence particularly through their talk show hosts and their political actions have resulted in arson and the burning down of many business places and homes and crimes against women and murders.

They have an image of violence and lawlessness and the best thing they can do at their Congress is to correct their behaviour and adopt a different attitude one that is more intelligent and responsible.
Michael Mendonza

Business of government going on
The editor of the Stabroek News will expect responses to his editorial of 16thAugust, 2002 “All the help it can get” and I would like to contribute one.

All Guyanese are alarmed over the sudden spate of violent crimes, murders and robberies on an almost daily basis by gangs of heavily armed criminals and are concerned that adequate steps be taken and measures be put in place to deal with this situation in the short, medium and long-term.

It is however ridiculous for the editorial to hint or suggest that the government has not and is not taking this matter very seriously and is not taking all necessary steps to deal with this comparatively recent upsurge in violent crimes following the Mash Day jail break out of five dangerous criminals.

We know, as does the Stabroek News which played no small part in the propaganda, that the main opposition party spearheaded an intensive campaign to demonize the Police Force and idolize the criminals as part of their menu of measures of active non-cooperation with the lawful administration, walking out and staying out of Parliament, and putting the dialogue process on hold and extra-parliamentary actions.

All these steps and actions and others prepared the climate and laid the foundation for the criminals to feel that the time was right to carry out their rampages.

In addition there is great suspicion that the PNC/R has and is providing safe havens for some of these criminals and providing them with logistical support, intelligence and communications networks which they clearly demonstrated they have during and after election campaigns.

The government has and is doing all that can possibly be done in this unprecedented campaign of violent crimes by criminals armed with high-powered guns, with their network of intelligence, communications and other logistical support and with the acquiescence of the main opposition party/reform.

As tragic as the crimes are, with the obvious objective once again of trying to close the country down and make it ungovernable, the business of government must go on and is going on while all steps are taken to deal with the unusual crime situation.
Melissa Isaacs,

Another power-sharing ploy?
The war against the recent unusual escalation of violent crimes and robberies has to be dealt with in the short term, medium and long terms.

It is not a war that can be dealt with only by the Government but as they made clear early every section of the population must come together and help in every possible way in this fight, but some decided to remain silent or were otherwise non-cooperative or seemingly even sympathetic to the criminals.

Certain sections of the media have even turned the commission of violent crimes into “ a legitimate subject for debate” instead of roundly condemning it and we are left to wonder what is their real agenda.

They seem to have adopted a partisan approach to the subject of violent crime as is evident by their editorials in attacking the government’s efforts to combat crime and the inordinate attention they are giving to the recent, ambiguous call by the PNC/R for “ a national dialogue and consensus” on the crime wave, noticeably after violent attacks and robberies committed on Afro-Guyanese.

Ambiguous, because this party withdrew from the Dialogue process between President Jagdeo and Leader of the Opposition Mr. Hoyte which had been making considerable progress in some areas of concern, such as local government reform, border and national security issues, distribution of land and house lots, resuscitation of the bauxite industry, depressed communities needs, and radio monopoly and non-partisan Boards of Directors.

They withdrew from the dialogue, walked out of Parliament, and announced engagement in extra-parliamentary actions and active non-cooperation with the lawful administration shortly after the breakout of the jailhouse five. A very anti-national and disruptive attitude.

What, however cannot escape attention is the lack of response by certain sections of the media to the government’s efforts to deal with the unusual and unprecedented upsurge in violent crimes and the lukewarm or hostile response to the PPP’s call for political parties, civil society, religious organisations and others to join in national rallies and marches against crime and the present lauding of the unprecedented call by the PNC/Reform for national dialogue and consensus when up to now they have not yet issued an unequivocal condemnation against violent crimes.

We have to wonder if this is another attempt by the media to continue pushing for power-sharing.
John Da Silva

Hooper leads Guyana to comfortable 28-run win
By Ezra Stuart
CASTRIES, St Lucia - Captain Carl Hooper hit a polished 40 and grabbed two wickets for 31 runs to lead defending champions Guyana to a comfortable 28-run victory over Canada in their Red Stripe Bowl Zone B limited overs cricket match at the Beausejour Cricket Ground here yesterday

After being restricted to 188 for nine in their 50 overs with makeshift opener Ramnaresh Sarwan also making 40, Guyana dismissed Canada for 160 in 47.5 overs to start their title defence on a winning note.
</