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ARCHIVES FOR AUGUST 22, 2009

Three GDF soldiers confess to strangling Bartica resident
- After robbing him of $17M in cash
By Michel Outridge
Relatives accompanied by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard were combing
the murky waters in the Essequibo River up to press time yesterday in search of the body of missing Bartica resident Dweive Kant Ramdass.

Ramdass is the victim of a robbery by three members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) who have since confessed to his murder.

Two Privates and a Lance Corporal who were manning the Coast Guard RC 12 motor
boat in the Essequibo River told investigators shortly after their arrest that they strangled Ramdass, took the money he was carrying and threw his body overboard in the Essequibo River, in the vicinity of Bonasika Creek.

The soldiers made off with $17M in cash which Ramdass was carrying in a box to Bartica for his employer, Baksh, who is based in the city and operates a gold and diamond business.

Ramdass’s brother, Vasu Ramdass, told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday
that his sibling left home shortly after 14:00h with a quantity of gold for Parika and was on his way to Bartica with the money on Thursday afternoon when he was intercepted by the members of the GDF Coast Guard and forced into their boat at the Parika Beach, East Bank Essequibo.

He explained that his brother had made similar trips and had been working in the business for several months.

Ramdass, 24, of 95 Third Avenue, Bartica, attempted to solicit help by using his cellular phone but was prevented when he realised he was in danger.

Vasu Ramdass stated that his sibling is single, has nine other siblings and was trying to make a living like everybody else when he was murdered.

He condemned the brutal killing of his brother by the GDF ranks and asked that the authorities look into the matter vigorously.

The GDF members took away Ramdass in their boat, relieved him of the cash, murdered him and returned to the Parika Stelling where a woman was waiting for them.

She is the sister of one of the ranks and was given $5.7M in cash to hold. She too was arrested at Parika Stelling and unconfirmed reports stated that another portion of the money was recovered by the police during a roadblock exercise.

The ranks reportedly split the money in three portions after they killed Ramdass.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) condemns in the strongest possible terms the criminal action of its Coast Guard ranks stationed at Fort Island.

A press release said yesterday said their actions in no way represent the ethos and character of the GDF.

“It is reprehensible and will be met with the full force of the law. At present the ranks implicated are in Police custody,” the release said.

The document added that the GDF has since launched a full inquiry into the circumstances that led to the murder.

It added that it is clear from initial reports that there was a breakdown in the command and leadership structure at this unit, for which strong administrative action will be taken.

The Coast Guard will lead and continue the search until the missing businessman is located.

“The GDF wishes to assure citizens, the fishing community, fishermen, small boat and other vessel operators that the Defence Force subscribes to the highest of professional standards and will continue to discharge its mandate notwithstanding this unsavoury incident,” the released explained.

The Force also expresses its regrets to the family of the missing businessman for the pain they may be enduring.

Queen’s College produces the pick of the crop at CSEC
By Tajeram Mohabir
Queen’s College (QC) has again produced the “pick of the crop” among this year’s top performers at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

The results of the examinations were yesterday released at a press briefing hosted by Minister within the Education Ministry Dr. Desrey Fox, Permanent Secretary Mr. Phulander Kandhi and NCERD Director Mr. Mohandatt Goolsarran at the National Centre for Educational Research Development (NCERD), Battery Road, Kingston, Georgetown.

Kandhi reported that 27 students from QC obtained grade one passes in eight or more subjects at the May/June examinations from a national list of 97 candidates.

Also, he said, seven students from QC secured 11 grade ones from a roll of 14 candidates in the country who gained 11 grade ones and more.

From the preliminary register of the country’s top students, Kia Persaud and Padminee Roshundatte, both of QC, each obtained 14 grade ones.

Their colleagues, Roberta Ferguson gained 13 grade ones and Davendra Singh 12 grade ones and two twos.

Jasodra Davi Boodhoo of St. Rose’s High scored 12 grade ones and one grade two, followed by Esha Homenauth of QC with 12 grade ones.

Arifa Mohamed of Anna Regina Multilateral secured 11 grade ones, three grade twos and one grade three.

Dianne Natasha Narine of QC and Tajram Dhanraj of Bishop’s High each gained 11 grade ones and two grade twos.

Tiffany Clementson, also from QC, gained 11 grade ones and two grade twos, while Jaikeshan Takchandra of West Demerara Secondary acquired 11 grade ones and one grade two.

Joshua Bhudial of J.C Chandisingh, Rajiv Nandalal of Saraswati Vidya Nikitan, and Davendradat Doodnauth of Tagore Memorial, all secured 11 grade ones.

The individual results of the candidates who sat the examinations were distributed to their respective schools yesterday and from all indications, they will receive their grades on Monday.

Apart from QC, several schools produced students with eight subjects and more.

Top schools
These are Anna Regina Multilateral and Abram’s Zuil Secondary of Region Two,with eight and two students respectively.

In Region Three, West Demerara Secondary, Zeeburg Secondary and Saraswati Vidya Nikitan each produced three students.

President’s College and Annandale Secondary of Region Four also produced out one student each.

In Region Six, New Amsterdam Multilateral had three students; Skeldon Line Path Secondary, seven; Tagore Memorial, three; and Berbice High, J.C. Chandisingh Secondary and Corentyne Comprehensive one student each.

In Georgetown, which is counted as a separate region, Bishops’ High produced 18 students; St. Stanislaus College one; Marian Academy two; St. Rose’s High five; St. Joseph High six; and Isa Islamic School one student.

On the whole, students’ obtaining passes in grades one to three at the CSEC general and technical proficiencies examinations this year have increased over previous years.

This year, some 63.7 students attained passes in grades one to three in comparison to 57 per cent last year.

Passes in grades one to four this year also increased to 83.25 per cent from 78. 67 per cent the previous year.

Also this yearmore students wrote the examinations and did more subjects compared to last year; but the performance of the private schools in comparison with the public schools was not disclosed. Some 38per cent private candidates sat the examinations.

Kandhi said of the 10,243 candidates who wrote the May/June examinations which offered 36 subject areas, excellent performances have been recorded in 17 subjects.

Improvement
The areas where grades one to three passes exceeded 75 per cent are Agriculture Science(Double Award), Agriculture Science (Single Award), Chemistry, Clothing and Textile, Information Technology, Food and Nutrition, Home Economics Management, Human and Social Biology, Music, Integrated Science, Physics, Principles of Business, Social Studies, Typewriting, Threatre Arts, Electronics Document Preparation and Management and Physical Education and Sport.

Satisfactory performances or grades one to three passes exceeding 50 per cent were recorded in Biology, Economics, English A, French, Office Administration, Principles of Accounts, Religious Education, Spanish, Technical Drawing, Visual Arts, Building Technology (construction), Building Technology (woods), and Mechanical Engineering Technology.

But overall, the performances in grades one to three in six subjects were below 50 per cent and deemed unsatisfactory.

These areas are Caribbean History 43.76 per cent; English B 38.4 per cent; Geography 44.75 per cent; Information Technology (General) 12.50 per cent; Mathematics 31.46 per cent and Electrical and Electronic Technology 49.81 per cent.

English A
Notably, grades one to three passes in English A improved significantly from last year, moving from 27.97 per cent last year to 50.29 per cent this year.

Grades one to four passes in this subject also increased from 57.94 per cent last year to 78.86 per cent this year.

Kandhi, who did not mention figures, reported too that the performance in Mathematics, taking into account grades one to three, increased slightly from last year but was still regarded as unsatisfactory.

He said even though the performance in Biology was satisfactory, it was lower when compared to last year.

The results for Electrical and Electronic Technology declined from a satisfactory position of 64.15 per cent last year to 49.81 per cent this year.

In the Modern Languages subjects, satisfactory performance of 59.9 per cent in grades one to three were registered in Spanish, but this showing too represented a decline for last year pass rate of 62.75 per cent.

Passes in grades one to three in French was 72.47 per cent, Human and Social Biology 81.1 per cent (an increase from last year’s 76.7 per cent) while 100 per cent pass rates were recorded in Music and Threatre Arts.

Fruitful investments
Minister within the Education Minister, Dr. Desrey Fox, told the Guyana Chronicle that generally she is satisfied with the results which have indicated that the Government’s significant investments in the sector are bearing fruits.

Meanwhile, the minister took the opportunity to remind parents that schools will be opened on September 1, 2009.

She said too that the conditions of the various schools are being assessed and parents will be informed of the situation before they re-open.

Ministry deplores PNCR threat to Police Force
THE Home Affairs Ministry has deplored a recent threat by the opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) to Police Commissioner Henry Greene and other senior officers of the force.

In a statement it said the threat was “unwarranted and unjustifiable”.

The PNCR said that unless a probe was undertaken “with dispatch into the deaths of more than 200 persons, mostly Afro-Guyanese, the integrity of the Commissioner of Police and some of his senior officers will be on the line”.

The ministry argued that what the main opposition party was seeking to have done today “is essentially what they sought to accomplish in 2003, with the establishment of the Disciplined Forces Commission.”

The mandate of that commission, it noted, was “to examine any matter relating to Public Welfare, Public Safety, Public Order, Defense or Security, including the structure and composition of the Disciplined Forces, and make recommendations generally with a view to promoting their greater efficiency, and giving effect to the need in the public interest that the composition of the Disciplined Forces take account of the ethnic constituents of the population”.

According to the ministry, at pages 35 and 36 of the Report of the Commission, it is stated: “The Commission has been made aware of the alleged existence of a so-called Phantom Squad (or even squads). It has not been possible for us to determine if any such body exists, although there is considerable anecdotal evidence suggesting that there is a practice of ‘organized killings’ underway. Some allege that these killings are totally unrelated to the police, and are simply the result of organized crime. Others suggest that the failures in policing to tackle serious and violent organized crime have facilitated (and would argue, necessitated) the emergence of an alternative form of deterrence. Yet others allege that these killings have the connivance of, and may even be organized, by the authorities themselves, by way of off-duty or unidentified members of the `Black Clothes’ squad.”

The ministry said all the recommendations of the commission are before a Special Select Committee of the National Assembly and it is to present a final report to that body by November 30, 2009.

It added that this Special Select Committee was to have presented its report to the National Assembly in January 2008, but did not and has since requested three extensions of its life to enable it to submit its report by November 30, 2009.

The ministry said it fully supports the view of the commission that: “if its recommendations in this Report about better investigative techniques, tighter disciplinary systems, and greater accountability are endorsed and implemented, any such Phantom Squads should disappear”.

The Police Force “has come a far way since those remarks were made. Police reform and modernisation are currently taking place. The force has improved considerably its investigative capacity as exemplified in recent breakthroughs in several serious crimes. And the force’s disciplinary and accountability systems have been made more demanding and stringent”, the ministry said.

It also noted that between 2008 and July this year, 145 ranks of the Guyana Police Force were interdicted for various reasons associated with bringing the force into disrepute.

“It is an established fact that the Guyana Police Force is the sole law enforcement agency in Guyana tasked with the responsibility to maintain peace and good order throughout Guyana. It is precisely because of this exclusive mandate that the force’s efforts to ensure that there is no breach of the peace must be supported by the people of Guyana.

“Moreover, it is the Joint Services comprising the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Prison Service and the Guyana Fire Service that constitute the legitimate agencies who, according to the Laws of Guyana, are entrusted with the responsibility to enforce laws relevant to their organizations, namely the Police Act, the Defence Act, the Prison Act and the Fire Service Act.

“In respect of the Police Act, the Ministry of Home Affairs supports the stand by the Commissioner of Police when he emphasised that the said Act is as relevant today just as it was when the PNC was in office between 1964 and 1992. However, now that the PNC is in the Opposition, it appears that that party has a problem with the application of the same Police Act vis-à-vis the role of the Commissioner of Police.

“Clearly, the PNCR’s comments cannot be taken seriously. It is critical that the Police Force be supported at all times to avoid and to facilitate any backsliding that would result in the emergence of any other illegal force that would seek to carry out actions which the Police Force is mandated by law to do”, the ministry said.

It recalled that during 2003, thirty police ranks were brutally killed by criminal elements and said no mention is ever made about this fact save by the Police and the Ministry of Home Affairs every year at a commemoration ceremony at Force Headquarters.

“It is important that these events be remembered lest we forget the past and face the peril of having them repeat themselves in the future”, it said.

Conservation International supportive of LCDS
A team from Conservation International, led by Dr David Singh, Executive Director, Guyana, South American Field Division, visited Head of State Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday at the Office of the President to express their support for Government’s efforts to develop a low-carbon economy and to discuss areas where they can work together.

The other members of the Conservation International team were Lisa Famolare, Vice President – Strategic Projects, Guyana and Suriname, South American Field Division; Dr Johan Busch, Post-Doctoral Fellow on the economics of climate change and biodiversity; and Rob McNeil, International Media Director.

After the meeting, Dr Singh stressed the inter-related nature of Government efforts with that of Conservation International.

“We realise how important, at present, the whole Low-Carbon Development Strategy is and we realise that this is a very important part of the work of Conservation International as well,” he stated.

“We see a strong relationship between the work we have done historically and the work we’re seeing unfolding in front of us.”

Conservation International and the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development have joined forces to register their input to the ongoing multi-stakeholder consultation on the Low Carbon Development Strategy. The first of a series of dialogues was held Thursday.

According to Dr Singh, the objectives of the dialogue series are:
1. To provide focused and informed contributions to support the refinement of the LCDS;

2. To support and complement Government’s national consultation process on the LCDS; and

3. To contribute to a deeper understanding of the content and implications of the LCDS in specific areas.

Conservational International, which was established in 1987, seeks to build upon a strong foundation of science, partnership and field demonstration, to empower societies to responsibly and sustainably care for nature for the well-being of humanity.

It has over 900 employees and more than 30 offices around the world, and is partnered by more than 1,000 other organisations. (GINA)

As PNCR Congress opens
Corbin expresses hope for an end to disunity
By Wendella Davidson

Leader Robert Corbin addressing the Congress

A crucial two-day 16th Biennial Delegates Congress of the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), which sets the platform on which the party will chart its future and into the 2011 national elections, opened yesterday at the party’s Sophia headquarters with much fanfare.

Incumbent leader Robert Corbin, who along with his wife Carol, were heralded on arrival by tassa drumming and prancing supporters waving copies of his portrait, in his address called for unity within the party, which in recent times has seen its fair share of disunity within the ranks.

To this end, Corbin expressed the hope that at the conclusion of the two days of deliberations, a united party would emerge.

The theme chosen for this year’s congress is “People’s victory through local democracy”, and on several occasions Corbin punctuated his address by reminding the party’s membership of the need to sacrifice.

“There is no glory without sacrifice”, he said, as he reminded that the greatest challenge facing the PNCR is not who will lead the party, but how the PNC can provide leadership to the people of this country in this time of crisis.

Corbin’s statement was in direct reference to a main activity today, where the membership will choose between him and former chairman Mr Winston Murray who is challenging him for the top position.

The incumbent leader, who reminded that only recently due to illness some persons thought he would not have been part of the activity, publicly thanked God for his well-being.

He reminded those present, including members of the Diplomatic Corps, observers and delegates from overseas charters, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and CARICOM , members of the Central Executive of the party and local delegates including those from several hinterland regions, of the numerous achievements of the PNC which was founded some 52 years ago by the late Forbes Sampson.

Corbin boasted that the contributions by the party to this country could never be erased.

Corbin, in a scathing criticism of the present administration spoke of the grave situation facing crime and security in this country, and of the continuous efforts to destroy some projects initiated by the party such as President’s College and the Critchlow Labour College.

The incumbent leader, who took the opportunity to explain to the party’s membership his rationale for protesting on the streets, reminded that it was only as a result of such action that some concerns of the party were acted upon.

And, according to him, the protests would continue to bring resolve to a number of others concerns.

Corbin, who cautioned against arm-chair or internet generals seeking to hoodwink the membership, reiterated that success in this country would not be achieved by the PNCR.

Vice Chairman of the Party, Attorney –at-law Basil Williams, in his welcome and opening remarks, said the congress is being held at a time when the peoples of the country are suffering as a result of numerous violations by the present administration, including the absence of local government elections.

And touching on the affairs of the PNCR , Williams said it is under siege and its business taking on the act of a soap opera, adding that the solution is one of unity.

The programme was chaired by PNCR youth members Ryan Belgrave and Amelia Benjamin. Miriam Williams offered a fitting religious rendition of 𠇍on’t Give Up’, the veteran Yoruba Singers sang `Oh Beautiful Guyana and there was interpretative dancing, classic Indian dancing and the singing of the Congress theme song composed by Mr Malcom Corrica.

MRM assurance augurs well for farmers

The assurance by Mahaicony Rice Mills (MRM) that it will make outstanding payments to rice farmers immediately is indeed a healthy sign.

What is unfortunate though is the fact that the company allowed the matter to drag on for so long thereby forcing ministerial intervention to resolve the issue. In the first place why didn’t the company reach out to the affected farmers and hold a dialogue with them and explain the difficulties they may have been experiencing.

General Secretary of the Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA) Seeraj said he was pleased to get MRM to meet with the GRDB and the RPA, but noted this happened after Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud intervened in the issue of outstanding payments to farmers.

More often than not people are receptive to proper, satisfactory and timely explanations. Ignoring them sends a message of disdain for them and is a breeding ground for the development of distrust and suspicions of ill intentions. This in turn adversely affects business relations between stakeholders which obviously is harmful to the industry.

MRM has also said that the global economic slowdown is affecting the ability of some of its buyers to make timely payments. There is no reason to doubt the company’s contention because it is a fact that the global financial crisis is severely affecting many companies around the world. But here again the question that arises is whether this communicated effectively and in a timely manner to the affected farmers.

The minister correctly emphasised his concerns about the current situation because farmers have to undertake significant investment and resources for this year’s second crop.

He pointed out that the company has indicated to him that it had to “tidy up” internal issues and will now have a better reputation in terms of paying farmers.

“At the end of the day, we want farmers to be treated fairly and millers and exporters to be in a position to carry out their activities,” Persaud said.

These are extremely pertinent and legitimate observations by the minister and in addition to finding funds to invest for the second crop many farmers have to service bank loans. It is a question of bread and butter for farmers and their families.

He said the issue of MRM giving farmers’ fertiliser in lieu of cash payments and claims from some farmers that the price fixed by the company is higher than the market price for the commodity will be looked at with the view to putting some form of regulations in place to address the situation.

On that score, Persaud said the role of the GRDB is not to be punitive but rather to facilitate growth and development within the industry and to ensure there is fair play in all business operations.

Seeraj contended that the company is the largest operator in the sector, the industry cannot do without the operation, and it has been taking advantage of this situation. This certainly is not a healthy development

But the RPA General Secretary correctly pointed out that regardless of its size, MRM has to operate within the regulations of the industry and his organisation demands nothing less.

He also underlined that the steps made by the company over the past two months to meet its financial obligations to farmers is a testimony to its preparedness to work in the interest of the industry.

Unfortunately, in Guyana sometimes the reactive rather than the preventative approach seems to be preferred way in dealing with issues and it is time now that we realise that the latter is the better way to deal with problems.

Specifically with respect to the rice industry the millers should recognise that there is a symbiotic relationship between themselves and rice farmers who are the primary producers and therefore the success of the entire industry is heavily dependent on a spirit of cooperation, trust and goodwill among all stakeholders.

Kwame McCoy never stole ballot boxes
I am shocked that Hamilton Green, the Mayor of Georgetown, and a man who previously held other high offices in this land would stoop so low as to insinuate that Kwame McCoy is a Crab Dog. Green, of all people in this country, should stay silent when it comes to the issue of competence. Just look at the garbage in city of Georgetown and ask yourself if this Mayor has any right to speak.

Kwame McCoy is held in high regard by the Office of the President, and all his colleagues. He does not need to hear from someone who helped to preside over 28 years of staggeringly incompetent leadership in Guyana. And just think about it this way – Kwame McCoy never rigged an election.

The Mayor of Georgetown, Hamilton Green, is unquestionably the most incompetent public official in this country.
RANDY PERSAUD

Kissoon and gang dissipating foundation for 'Best Practices' journalism
Mr. FREDDIE Kissoon in his daily column in the Kaieteur News on August 20, 2009 attempts to spin my letter titled ‘Columnists presenting unverified information,’ in the Kaieteur Newspaper on August 14, 2009 for his purposes, but once again fails. Kissoon is totally out of context and totally out of order as an academic and as a journalist, and I would advise him to box the pages of a few journalistic texts to apprise himself of the rules and principles of good journalism. In my letter, I mentioned Freddie Kissoon and other critics, not ‘Freddie Kissoon’ solely.

I intended to explicate and impugn in my letter the travesty of poor journalism; with regard to these, my penned remarks, whoever the cap fits, let them wear it, included Freddie Kissoon. Compliance with the elementals of good journalism, i.e., fundamental fairness, objectivity, balance, sensitivity, etc., is mandatory, non-debatable, and non-negotiable.

In Guyana, there are many journalists whether they are pro-government or anti-government, who portray themselves to be professionals, but from their writings we can tell the level of unprofessionalism they possess by the amount of ‘gibberish’ they produce. However, I still hold the view that Freddie Kissoon’s career as an academic implies the execution of a ‘role-modeling’ responsibility that should prominently be invasive in his columns; but that kind of responsibility is consistently missing; his columns seem to exhibit a strong ‘hear say’ characteristic.

Kissoon is no threat to this government, but his columns could endanger the sagging journalism in Guyana; his writings convey, too, wrong and superfluous messages, especially to gullible Guyanese.

Compliance with the fundamental media code of conduct is serious business. Look what is happening in Guyana and this is why I spoke about ‘other critics’ in addition to Freddie Kissoon. There is a daily eruption of fog facts in the news, where useful information systematically fades away through opinioned newscasts; the result is a paralysis of analysis of the information; the newscasts are supposed to inform, but as Schechter (2005) aptly asserts: “…much of the news often misinforms, distorts and deceives.” The British newspaper the Guardian demonstrates the growing trepidation against newscasts when in a recent news quiz it published, one of the questions asked: “Who accidentally sent an e-mail to the BBC that read: “Now f**k off and cover something important you twats?”

There is still another side to these media distortions; excessive usage of ‘Reports suggest’; ‘Reliable reports state’; ‘this newspaper understands’ may in some cases conceal non-compliance with the verification principle. Journalists do not have to reveal their sources; but given the existing sensitivities in some stories, editors have to exercise greater vigilance where clearly excesses are being committed in the ‘reliable reports state’ reportage.

At any rate, presenting distortions allows media houses to advance their own political agenda; invariably, the newscasts read as political broadcasts. Incontrovertibly, some media houses drive particular political lines, affording tacit support for suspecting political candidates. Anyway, media houses consider the distorted news items as important; but viewers and readers may see these news items as of no great concern, further increasing people’s misgivings with the media. And so that is why some parts of the media now carry the label of ‘new opposition’.

Many private media houses also are not fulfilling their public interest responsibilities, and really do not deserve the label ‘independent’; and many violate the principles of the free press as objectivity, accuracy, and fundamental fairness. About 200 hundred years ago, President Jefferson said: “The only security of all is in a free press.” And in 1823, he said: “The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted freely to be expressed. The agitation it produces must be submitted to…” Today, in Guyana, these statements could be re-written as: “The only danger of all is in a false media. The force of its false opinion must be rejected when permitted freely to be expressed. The agitation it produces must be refuted.”
Today, some critics including Freddie Kissoon continue to make allegations against the government, that Guyana is an elected dictatorship; that Guyana is not free; that Guyana has no democracy; that Guyana has little economic development; that Guyana marginalises Africans; etc.

Their writings seem to portray the government as one that has never accomplished any positive gains for Guyana. When will these critics make comments on the transition to democracy that came in 1992 after 24 years of authoritarianism; when no institution made the government accountable to its people; an age of coercion where PNC rulers saw no limits to their authority and regulated all social life.

The PPP/C Government reinstated human rights in this country; it has a historic track record since 1953 of promoting equality before the law for all persons; and making discrimination against all people unlawful through the Prevention of Discrimination Act 1997; and this Administration endorsed the Optional Protocol on the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; the previous PNC regime was not a signatory.

In fact, the international-based Freedom House has deemed Guyana ‘free’ with regard to political rights and civil liberties since 1993. Guyana is free.

‘Guyana is not a democracy’ is another unproven onslaught on the integrity of this Administration. Let’s explore this critique.

Democracy is more than casting ballots at election times. Karl (1990) refers to this as a ‘fallacy of electoralism’. Goldstone et al (2005) in their study of transitions to and from democracy analyzed about 1,300 political, demographic, economic, social, and environmental variables for all countries globally with populations greater than 500,000 through 1955-2003.

They concluded that democracy has to do with ‘election competitiveness’ and ‘inclusiveness’; and democracy can be measured through (1) and (2): (1) executive recruitment - how is the President elected and the frequency and competitiveness of elections? Note the limits on the President through Articles 90, 180, and 182 of the Guyana Constitution. The issue here is whether elections are free and have at least two parties contesting elections. Note that the 1992, 1997, and 2001 elections were free, fair, and transparent, and endorsed by international observers; note, too, the independent Guyana Elections Commission. (2) Competitiveness of political participation – the issue here is whether this government limits political participation.

More countries today are less of a democracy not because of the quality of their elections, but more because of the quality of their political participation. Among other factors, absence of a Party from Parliament reduces quality participation, as evidenced by the PNCR in the last Parliamentary Session.

It is time the Guyanese people distinguish among the good, the bad, and the ugly journalists. And clearly Freddie Kissoon, and the usual suspects, may have a lot to answer for, in dissipating the foundation for ‘best practices’ journalism in Guyana.
PREM MISIR

Green is suffering from attention-deficit disorder (MUST GO)
I have long come to the conclusion that Mayor Hamilton Green is suffering from attention-deficit disorder (ADD), a condition that causes him to seek constant reassurance that he may be important.

Green’s condition is at an advanced stage which forces him to resort to the pages of the newspapers or 15-second inserts on TV, out of necessity, to get attention.

For people like Green, their search for attention generally serves as a compensation for unconscious emotional hunger. It is quite logical therefore that in his deprived state, like a ‘’junkie who needs a fix’’ he would do anything to feed his attention-deficit disorder. Oh! Oh! Oh! Jenny why yuh leave an go?

Green’s anxiety is part of his desperation for attention understandably so because all the GGG members joyfully deserted him, including Jenny. Desmond Hoyte dumped him and he disconnected himself from the City of Georgetown as Mayor.

I am magnanimous enough to extend my generosity to Green for whom I have already enrolled in a crash course, all expenses on me, on ‘’Managing Senility’’ – lessons for geriatrics.

The course outline includes a test on ‘’deeds’’- your role in atrocities of the past’’ as a qualifier of the core subject.
KWAME McCOY

Democratic change at Soesdyke NDC
BOTH Stabroek News of August 16, 2009 and Kaieteur News of July 29, 2009 carried bilious reports on the internal elections that were held in the Soesdyke-Huis t’Coverden Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) on July 27, 2009. Those elections saw a change at the leadership level of the NDC and were the first to be held since 1994.

Incumbent Chairman Mr. Leslie Glasgow who was in office since 1994, was voted out of office. He was replaced by Mr. Aaron Grant-Stuart, who was the Deputy Chairman since 1994. The contest for a new Deputy Chairman was won by Mr. Michael Persaud.

The elections which were by secret ballot saw a change in management from Soesdyke/ Coverden Community Development Council to the People’s Progressive Party-Civic. Mr Aaron Grant-Stuart and Mr. Michael Persaud are members of the PPP-Civic team on the NDC, while Mr Leslie Glasgow and his team represent Soesdyke/Coverden Community Development Council.

Performing duties of returning officer was the Overseer, Ms Diane Hamilton. Observers at the election included a senior official from the Ministry of Local Government.

AFC Councillor in RDC # 4 Mr Michael Carrington in launching an attack on Minister Kellawan Lall, charged on August 16 in Stabroek News that: “Chairman of the Soesdyke NDC Leslie Glasgow was voted out of office by four PPP-C Councillors and five public servants who had been appointed NDC Councillors by Lall”. He deemed this event as a move to facilitate the ruling party gaining control of the NDC. Mr Carrington is naïve.

Minister Lall in his capacity of Local Government Minister is by the very nature of his office, already in full control of every single NDC in Guyana. He doesn’t need to make any special manoeuvre to control Soesdyke NDC. This total control is by virtue of laws passed by the dictatorial PNC regime in the 1969-1973 period when Burnham ruled.

Here are the facts:
In the 1994 local government elections, there was a tie between the PPP-Civic and the Independent Group mentioned above. PPP-Civic won 9 out of the 18 seats, while the Group won the other 9 seats. Following a deal, it was agreed that the team which got the most votes at the elections, would take the Chairmanship, while the PPP-C would get the Deputy Chairmanship. Contrary to what happens elsewhere, where a tie occurred, there was subsequently no rotation of the Chairmanship. The same partisan selfishness has occurred in Georgetown.

Internal elections could not be held due to the Local Authorities (Postponement of Elections) Act 1997, which stipulated that no internal elections should be held. This changed in December 2008, when the said Act was amended to permit internal elections, that the PNCR was demanding for over a decade in the National Assembly. These elections are held where they are requested by the Council and where the Minister in his own deliberate judgment, issues an order for them to be held. In the case of the Soesdyke NDC, there was a vote on this matter at a statutory meeting and it was agreed by the Councillors that internal elections should be held.

In a letter to Minister Lall, dated January 28, 2009, Mr. L. Glasgow the Chairman said:

“With reference to your correspondence dated December 30th, 2008 please find attached resolution passed by the Soesdyke Huis t’ Coverden Neighbourhood Democratic Council at our statutory meeting dated 28-01-2009 for Chairman and Vice chairman.”

The resolution attached stated:
“Be it resolved that the Soesdyke Huis t’Coverden Neighbourhood Democratic Council hold its internal election for Chairman and Vice Chairman in accordance with Section 3 of the Local Authority (Elections) (Amendment) Act 2008.” That motion bore the signature of Mr Ramroop and Mr. Grant Stuart as mover and seconder.

Upon receipt of those correspondences the Minister instructed that the elections proceed in keeping with the provisions of the Local Government Act, chapter 28:02, at Section 28 (1), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) and (8). Subsection (2) of that Section is inoperable, due to the specific nature of the 2008 postponement Act.

The NDC duly went ahead and fixed July 27, 2009 as the date for the internal elections.

Filling Vacancies in Council
Many weeks before the election date it was observed that the Council stood as follows: Soesdyke-Coverden Community Council 6 People’s Progressive Party-Civic 3

While the Independent Group still had persons available on its 1994 candidates list, the PPP-Civic had only one person, a Mr Khemraj Singh. Application was made to the Hon. Minister for him to exercise his authority under Section 35 of the Local Government Act and appoint several persons to the Council. Such appointees are deemed Councillors of an NDC as if they were elected. The Act does not say they can’t vote. So they voted, as appointees do elsewhere in other NDCs to which similar appointments have been made.

Several days before the election date, one of the appointees a Ms Shelly Ann Baya who was appointed on April 23, 2009, and who taught at a government school, lost her status as a public servant, in that she became a teacher at a private school. This meant that she had to be replaced. This was communicated to the Minister who revoked her appointment by letter dated July 23, 2009 and appointed in her stead, a Ms Nadia Hussein on July 24.

All appointments were copied to Mr Glasgow and RDC Chairman Mr. Corlette. So was the revocation of Ms Baya’s appointment. Similarly, all appointments made by the Chief Election Officer Mr Gocool Boodhoo, are copied to the Minister of Local Government. .

The record reveals as follows:
The Chief Election Officer, acting on a request from PPP-Civic appointed Mr Khemraj Singh to fill the vacancy created on the NDC by Mr Sewahnand Persaud. With that appointment dated June 8, 2009 the PPP-Civic candidates list was completely exhausted.

The Chief Election Officer acting on requests from the Soesdyke-Coverden Community Council, made the following appointments, all dated June 8, 2009:

* Mr. Stephen Solomon to replace Mr. Emrol Amsterdam
* Mr Ewart W Fernandes to replace Mr Lindsay Cush
* Mr Aubrey Williams to replace Mr Leroy Meertins

On Monday July 27, 2009 at 8.00 a.m. the election took place. Mr Glasgow meantime, had augmented his team to the maximum 9 members, by utilizing his candidates list via the Chief Election Officer. Appointments from the public service are the preserve of the Minister of Local Government. Contrary to speculation by Mr Glasgow in Kaieteur News of July 29, 2009, neither GECOM nor the RDC has any locus standi where Section 35 of the Local Government Act is concerned.

Under the Act and its By-Laws, a vote can be done by show of hands and by secret ballot. The secret ballot was opted for by the Councillors and implemented by the Overseer.

The results of the election for Chairman were:
Aaron Grant Stuart 9 votes
Leslie Glasgow 8 votes

The results of the election for Deputy Chairman were:
Michael Persaud 9 votes
Leslie Glasgow 8 votes

One member of the Soesdyke-Coverden Community Council team had left Guyana for holiday overseas some days before. Had Ms Baya not been replaced there would have been a tie. In such a case, the Minister has options within which to break the deadlock.
CLINTON COLLYMORE
Ministerial Adviser
Ministry of Local Government & Regional Development

New Amsterdam Hospital nursing personnel need better training
PLEASE allow me space in your newspaper to voice my displeasure at my recent visit to the New Amsterdam hospital on Sunday. August 16.

I am a surgeon visiting from the United States and went the New Amsterdam Hospital to visit my relative who has a very serious circulatory problem to the extent of necessitating removal of one of her legs. Even though the hospital was physically new as compared to what was in place at old buildings in Alexander Street, the attitude of the nurses left much to be desired. They could provide me with no information about the patient; nor could they refer me to the doctor responsible; were totally unhelpful with a rather rude attitude even though I informed them that I was a doctor myself; and also left the patient there suffering in much pain and agony not willing to provide any relief even though implored! They kept telling me that they could do nothing until the following morning when the doctor made his rounds and had no way of contacting him!

It is congratulatory that there is a new hospital in New Amsterdam at last, but the nursing personnel needs better training in dealing primarily with the patients, their families, and in their level of competence - I was really not impressed with this latter!

I myself did a stint as Resident Surgeon at New Amsterdam Hospital in the old days and certainly would not have tolerated this!

Please address this problem.
FRANCIS R. WILLIAMS MD

Felix and Merritt cop gold but U.S. relay team out
By Mitch Phillips
BERLIN, Germany (Reuters) - Allyson Felix completed a hat-trick of women's 200 metres world titles yesterday but fellow American Jeremy Wariner's bid to match her in the men's 400 failed when he lost again to compatriot LaShawn Merritt.

Smooth-striding Felix triumphed in 22.02 seconds to beat double Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica while Merritt's success completed a personal double after he beat Wariner having already taken his Olympic title last year.

The victories took the U.S. back above Jamaica to the top of the medals table with six gold but the night turned sour for them when their men's 4x100 relay team were disqualified.

Russia's Yaroslav Rybakov won the men's high jump, Australian Dani Samuels the women's discus while Sergey Kirdyapkin won the 50km walk to give Russia a walking clean sweep after they also took the men's and women's 20k gold.

Felix, twice an Olympic silver medallist, delivered a smooth run on a track sodden by a thunderstorm.

"I've worked so hard and I've defended my title - I cannot ask for more," she said.

Campbell-Brown was second in 22.35 ahead of Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie of the Bahamas (22.41).

DOUBLY DEPOSED
While Felix still reigns, Wariner has been doubly deposed as the one-lap king by his one-time lieutenant.

Merritt emerged from Wariner's shadow in Beijing when he won the Olympic title and he ran a similarly patient race yesterday, coming strong in the last 100 after Wariner had gone out hard.

Merritt finished in 44.06 seconds to the 44.60 of his rival, with Rennie Quow of Trinidad & Tobago third in 45.02.

"It was all about putting it from my head to the track as I had already won the race in my heart," Merritt said. "At 350 I knew I had won."

In the sprint relay Olympic champions and world record holders Jamaica, without Usain Bolt or Asafa Powell, qualified second in their heat behind Italy.

The United States, without Tyson Gay, won their heat impressively in 37.97 seconds, having dropped the baton in the Olympic semi-finals.

However the U.S., who also messed up in the 1995, 1997 and 2005 worlds, were then disqualified for a changeover outside the box. A U.S. appeal against the decision was rejected.

Rybakov won an exciting high jump final on the countback after the top four all cleared 2.32 metres. Kyriakos Ioannou took a rare silver for Cyprus while Sylwester Bednarek of Poland and Germany's Raul Spank shared bronze.

SURPRISE WINNER
Samuels, 21, was a surprise discus winner as she pulled out a big personal best 65.44-metre effort in the fifth round to overhaul Cuba's Yarelis Barrios (65.31) and veteran Romanian Nicoleta Grasu (65.20).

Yusuf Saad Kamel, Bahrain's newly-crowned 1500 champion, qualified fastest (1:45.01) for tomorrow's 800 final.

It was a bad race for Sudan though as Abubaker Kaki, fastest over the distance in the world this year, tripped early in his semi-final and failed to progress while Olympic silver medallist Ismail Ahmed Ismail dropped out at the bell in his heat.

Olympic and defending champion Maryam Yusuf Jamal was fastest into the women's 1500 final but Olympic silver medallist Iryna Lishchynska dropped out during her semi.

Bolt continued to expand his reputation as not only the most impressive but also the most popular man in the sport as he took time out on his 23rd birthday to sign hundreds of autographs for delighted fans in a 40-minute stadium walkabout.

He was then on the receiving end of a chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’ from the crowd after receiving his 200 metres gold.

Both sprint relays are the highlight of today's programme, along with the finals of the women's 5 000 and hammer and men's pole vault and long jump.

There’s controversy in the men’s 4x100 relay heats. There’s a problem with the handover from Shawn Crawford to Darvis Palton and the US are disqualified.

Felix and Merritt cop gold but U.S. relay team out
By Mitch Phillips
BERLIN, Germany (Reuters) - Allyson Felix completed a hat-trick of women's 200 metres world titles yesterday but fellow American Jeremy Wariner's bid to match her in the men's 400 failed when he lost again to compatriot LaShawn Merritt.