Main GDF batch off to Grenada
THE main batch of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) soldiers flew out to Grenada yesterday morning to help in reconstruction on the hurricane-devastated island.

The group of 70, headed by Major Brian Bristol, left to join some 30 others already in Grenada.

An initial batch of 22 left Guyana two Saturdays ago on the GDFS Essequibo after being addressed by Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bharrat Jagdeo.

The Guyana contingent is under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Lovell and will help rebuild infrastructure destroyed and damaged when Hurricane Ivan struck the island on September 7.

Guyana is among Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries helping in the reconstruction on the island.

The tiny southern Caribbean island, with about 90 per cent of its housing stock damaged and the vital tourism and agriculture sectors devastated by Ivan the Terrible, is coming out of the relief phase and is into the crucial rebuilding stage, according to military and government officials.

Col. George Robinson, head of some 200 Trinidad and Tobago military deployed on the island, said the Caribbean Support Group Grenada (CSGG) with forces from Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Belize, will back up the recovery programme on the island.

They are helping local authorities restore law and order and distribute relief items, and restoring power, water and other supplies.

He said the acquisition of building materials is the greatest challenge and Grenada needs the help of the Caribbean to restore normalcy.

The need for shelter is urgent as people are trying to rebuild their houses, he told Guyanese journalists visiting the island recently.

The GDF contingent in Grenada includes 66 masons, carpenters, electricians, welders and plumbers.

The Guyana Government is also coordinating relief through the Civil Defence Commission with the Private Sector Commission and the joint response has seen the provision of humanitarian aid to Grenada by air and sea.

Religious and other groups have collected donations for Grenadians in need.

Some 26 containers with about 300 tons of supplies from Guyana have been shipped to the island.

A central figure in the critical reconstruction programme in Grenada, Mr. Timothy Antoine, Permanent Secretary in the Finance and Planning Ministry, said at least 6,000 low income houses would have to be built to boost the housing stock and the government is trying to raise US$27M to clear and clean land and get agriculture back on track, to provide domestic security and income for farmers.

Some 2,000 people have been laid off in the tourism industry with many hotels seriously damaged in the storm and Antoine estimates that rebuilding the sector can take about three years.

He said the relief effort is going “quite well” and the focus now was on economic reconstruction.

A government official involved in the relief effort said the government faces “a really great problem” and squatting can become a critical issue with the loss of houses.

Teen shot during birthday celebration
DOUGLAS Tika, 15, of Lot 227 Forbes Street, Enterprise, East Coast Demerara, was shot and seriously wounded Sunday night at the home of a friend in the same village.

Up to last night, Tika was still in critical condition in the High Dependency Unit (HDU) of Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPH) with injuries to his face.

His father, Devanand Tika said his son was reportedly on the computer he was invited to use when a young man shot him at close range on the premises where a birthday party was in progress.

According to the parent, he was told the gunman, who calls his son ‘Fat Boy’, asked him if he wanted to be blasted and pulled the trigger of a shotgun in the upper flat of the house.

The father was preaching at Christian Life Centre Church, next door to where he lives, when he heard of the shooting in Jagan Street.

The pastor, also a medex who operates a private clinic at his residence, said he has since gone to the hospital several times to see his son and the boy is conscious.

However, yesterday the Central Demerara Academy third form student was in tremendous pain. His entire face was bandaged, with blood oozing from the wound.

Many villagers who also visited the patient expressed anger at the incident and some had tears in their eyes.

The boy’s father said a doctor told him it would take six months for his son to heal as both his eyes and nose were damaged by the shotgun blast.

Police reported yesterday that the shotgun owner and his son were in custody and the weapon has been seized.

Police said the suspect’s father, 46, a businessman and a licenced firearm holder returned home from hunting at about 17:25 hours and handed his 12 gauge shotgun and a quantity of cartridges to his son to be secured.

Police said it is alleged that the son loaded the gun and fired it in the direction of the victim hitting him to his right side face.

Stabbed man dies after calling for help
POLICE were up to last night trying to identify a man who died shortly after screaming for help and saying that he had been robbed of his car.

In a press release, police said that residents on Quamina Road, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, heard a man calling for help at about 21:00 hours Sunday.

They checked and found a man of East Indian descent with blood stains on his body who said that he had been stabbed and robbed of his car. He then collapsed, police said.

Four persons were seen running from the scene to a waiting dark coloured car which they boarded and subsequently drove away, police said.

The man was stabbed nine times, police said, adding that he was wearing a white jersey, blue jeans, brown belt and brown boots.

He was about 5' 11'' tall, brown in complexion and between 35 and 40 years old.

Police said the corpse is at a city morgue awaiting a post mortem examination.

Anyone with information which could lead to the identification of the body and the possible solving of the murder is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 229-2289, 229-2700, 229-2557 or 220-2222.

NBS pursues `good corporate citizen’ role
By Clifford Stanley
THE New Building Society (NBS) has handed over two new structures to the University of Guyana at Tain and the Guyanese Women in Development (GUYWID) in Berbice.

The buildings, in a complex at Anchorville, Port Mourant, were handed over Saturday to the two agencies by the NBS, whose management recently completed construction of both at a cost of $40M.

At the ceremony, NBS Chairman, Mr. Ramdial Bhookmohan said the company undertook the construction and subsequent handing over in pursuit of its role as “a good corporate citizen”, but moreso, because of a perceived need to enhance the work of the two institutions in Berbice.

One of the flat concrete structures will be used by the Tain Campus for the expansion of its Social Work Programme, while the other will be used by GUYWID for counselling persons affected by social problems such as alcoholism, suicide, HIV/AIDS, and domestic violence.

Among the gathering at the ceremony were NBS Vice-Chairman, Mr. Leon Rockcliffe; NBS Directors Mr. Moen McDoom, Dr. Nanda Kishore Gopaul and Mr. Steve Bovell; Professor Parsram Thakur, Director of the University of Guyana Berbice Campus; Dr. Rishi Thakur, Assistant Director; Mrs. Pamela Bacchus, Executive Committee member of GUYWID, and other senior officials of the three agencies.

In a brief address, Bhookmohan said NBS had conceived the project to assist the two Berbice-based organisations in 2000 during its 60th anniversary celebrations.

Senior officials had been particularly concerned about the high rate of suicides as well as issues arising out of alcoholism, domestic violence and other social problems in East Berbice, he said. They had approved of the two structures being built to assist the work of organisations grappling with these issues.

Bhookmohan said the current contribution to the University of Guyana by NBS was not an isolated event. The NBS, he said, had recently constructed a $40M Hall of Residence on the campus of the University of Guyana at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara.

The latest contribution has brought NBS donations to the work of the university over the past seven years to a total of $80M, he pointed out. The NBS building at Anchorville had been originally intended to house a counselling centre to treat with depressed persons in East Berbice.

Subsequently, the Berbice Campus submitted a proposal for combined use to include parts of its Social Works programme - teaching, research and counselling. The building will now be a multi-purpose facility, which will house sections of the Social Work Programme of the university as well as the GUYWID Programme in the community.

The buildings were erected by Guyadeen Constructions and were completed a few weeks ago.

“The NBS is proud to be able to make such a major contribution to the work of the University of Guyana Campus and GUYWID, two reputable organisations of Berbice,” Bhookmohan said.

Thanking NBS on behalf of the university, Professor Parsram Thakur said the donation was extremely significant.

He noted that the university in Berbice has been growing rapidly since its beginning, and that the building, which will serve as an extension will enable it to grow with the needs of the community.

Receiving the keys on behalf of the university was Bursar, Mr. John Seeram, while Mrs. Bacchus accepted the keys for GUYWID.

Bacchus said GUYWID will shortly publicise a schedule of services, which will be available at the centre so that persons in both East and West Berbice, who are affected by social problems can visit and receive counselling, as well as physical and moral support.

Gopaul said he was primarily concerned that the land surrounding the buildings would not be occupied to the extent that the environment becomes crowded.

“Universities need space, to grow and develop and not get hemmed in. I sincerely hope that this will be allowed to happen at this complex,” he said.

Also thanking NBS for its “marvellous gesture”, Gopaul hoped that access to the two buildings will be improved to eliminate the roundabout route that is now used.

Other elements of the hour-long programme included a dance by youthful Miss Madhumatti Harilall.

Giving the Vote of Thanks was Ms Natalie Nelson, Finance Officer of the Berbice Campus.

Cell phone service row
THE Consumer Affairs Division of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce yesterday rapped the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) for “incredibly poor” cellular service over the weekend.

But the phone company accused the ministry of an “unfortunate generalisation” and said its checks did not support the poor service conclusion.

The ministry, in a press release, said it was “extremely disappointed” with the cell phone service, adding that a “high percentage” of attempts to use it over the weekend failed.

“This disservice presents a level of insensitivity towards cellular phone users, especially those who needed to make emergency calls,” it said.

The Consumer Affairs Division reminded GT&T that all consumers who have invested by purchasing cellular phones are entitled to efficient service.

“Any compromise in quality is gravely unbecoming of an essential public utility”, it stated.

It said it looked forward to a “prompt remedying of unreliable cellular phone service by GT&T”.

But in a statement, the phone company rejected the suggestion by the ministry of poor cellular service over the weekend.

“We have received no such reports on our cellular service over the weekend”, it said.

“While we cannot doubt that there might have been isolated cases of failure to complete calls, we consider the charges in the ministry’s release an unfortunate generalisation.”

GT&T said it is unsure about the measurements used by the division to determine the “high percentage” of attempts made to use the service proved futile.

Checks with company staff and other consumers of the service do not support the ministry’s conclusion, it said.

GT&T acknowledged that there have been periods during which customers are inconvenienced by problems in the system, but said that on every occasion it is reflected in reports to the company.

The company said it fully appreciates its responsibility to deliver an efficient service and continues to invest in equipment and technology to ensure that every customer receives good value for money invested in its service.

Gunmen rob pastor
A PASTOR, who is also a goldsmith, was attacked and robbed by gunmen at his home on the West Demerara early yesterday morning.

Police said the robbery on the 37-year-old pastor at De Willem, was carried out at about 03:00 hours by five men armed with guns.

He told police he was awakened by a strange noise and upon investigating saw a man removing the louvre panes from a window.

An alarm was raised but the gang broke into the house, fired a round and assaulted the pastor and his wife, demanding cash and jewellery, police said.

They forced opened a wardrobe, stealing G$250,000, US$1,500, raw gold and jewellery valued at G$300,000 and escaped, police said.

Police probe death of Suriname carpenter
POLICE yesterday said they were investigating the death of a Suriname carpenter on the East Coast Demerara.

Bisnauth Roopnarine, 39, arrived here last Friday to visit relatives and was staying at an aunt at Lusignan, police said.

At about 05:00 hours on Saturday, he was found in a yard at Lusignan, on the embankment road with his intestines protruding.

Police said he was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation for medical attention and was admitted there.

He died at about 01:00 hours yesterday.

Police said they have held two persons and investigations are continuing.

Stakeholders zero in on marine turtle conservation
THE seventh in the series of symposia on marine turtle conservation in the Guianas began here yesterday, with representatives of Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and Trinidad and Tobago acknowledging progress in the drive.

The two-day meeting, of environmental conservationists concerned about the threat to marine turtles, is to share scientific information and harmonise policies.

Taking place at Emba-sea Courtyard, in Pere Street, Kitty, Georgetown, the forum has gathered a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including decision makers, researchers, academics, conservation practitioners and field workers, for sharing information and practical experiences about marine turtles, their habitats and their interaction with humans.

The aim is to identify policies and strategies that can be adopted and implemented across the region in support of marine turtle conservation.

Hosting the caucus is Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society (GMTCS), in collaboration with World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF-Guianas) and the local Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Director of WWF-Guianas, Dr. Michelet Fontaine said they have come a long way since each country’s management authority considered its sea turtle aggregate to be separate national populations.

“Our increasing understanding of the biology and migratory patterns of these turtle species, as well as the threats facing them, has guided the level of cooperation among the three Guianas,” he reported.

Fontaine said WWF is pleased to have facilitated and contributed to the maintenance of such regional cooperation and declared that the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed recently, by the management authorities of the three Guianas for the exchange of marine turtle monitoring data and information, is a good example.

He deliberated on the theme for the discussions ‘Marine Turtle Conservation: Our Vision, Targets and Milestones - Towards Closing the Gap’ and urged the key players to take a good look at the past years’ efforts, build on the successes, correct the mistakes and set the course for the way ahead.

WWF representative in Guyana, Dr. Patrick Williams recalled that, seven years ago, when the inaugural marine turtle symposium was held in Suriname, many became aware, for the first time, of the dangers posed to marine turtles.

He reflected on the achievements to date, pointing to beach patrols across the region, establishment of nurseries, protection of eggs, tagging of turtles, taking of blood samples for scientific research, education and awareness campaigns.

Agreements and protocols were also inked by countries of the Guianas, Williams said.

He added that the prevalence of turtle eggs and meat in our markets has been greatly reduced. However, after several years of diligent work, there are still some grim reminders that the thrust towards marine turtle conservation is far from over, as reports of the sale of turtle meat and eggs occasionally filter through and pictures of dead turtles appear in the press.

Williams said WWF-Guianas respects the view that there is a cultural relationship between indigenous communities and the consumption of turtle eggs and meat and, in this regard, “firmly supports the notion that indigenous peoples should be an integral part of the resources management.”

Delivering the feature address, Deputy Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Mr. Hydar Ally said the Government of Guyana “recognises that conserving and utilising our biodiversity and natural resources is essential in maintaining a well balanced and long lasting society.”

He said, after four decades of history on turtle research and conservation, much information has been generated in the areas of nesting patterns, beach and turtle movements and population dynamics.

Ally praised Dr. Peter Pritchard for his influence on the formation of GMTCS, one of the prominent non-govermental organisations involved in turtle conservation locally.

Youngster shoots teen at birthday party
POLICE are investigating an incident at Enterprise Sunday afternoon in which a youngster shot a 15-year-old student at a birthday party in the East Coast Demerara village.

Police say the youngster, a 20-year-old student of the Georgetown Technical Institute (G.T.I) and of Jagan Street, Enterprise, committed the act on Douglas Teeka, 15, of Forbes Street, Enterprise about 17:30hrs Sunday.

Teeka, called ‘Baba’, was rushed to hospital in serious condition.

Police understand that the victim was at the suspect’s home along with other persons drinking alcohol in celebration of a birth anniversary.

It is alleged that the suspect’s father, a 46-year-old businessman and licensed firearm holder, returned home from hunting at about 17:25hrs and handed his 12-gauge shotgun and a quantity of cartridges to his son to be secured.

But instead of obeying his father, the suspect allegedly loaded the gun and fired it in Teeka’s direction, hitting the 15-year-old student in the right of his face.

The victim was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation for medical attention, where he was admitted in a serious condition, police said.

The suspect and his father have since been arrested and the firearm lodged in police custody.

The Dr Balwant Singh Hospital opens
‘(The new facility)…will serve as an impetus for the private sector to continue its efforts in modernising the local hospital services’
---Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy
MEDICAL care in Guyana recently received a further boost through private sector investment with the opening of the newest private hospital, the Dr. Balwant Singh Hospital on East Street.

Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, who visited the facility last Thursday, congratulated the operators, Dr. Madhu Singh and Dr. Balwant Singh, and said he is very impressed with the new hospital, which will provide obstetric and gynaecology services. A new Intensive Care Unit (ICU) has also been developed, and the management plans to introduce an orthopaedic service at the hospital.

Dr Ramsammy also expressed the hope that the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital will serve as an impetus for the private sector to continue its efforts in modernising the local hospital services.

The Minister noted the increasing contribution of the private sector towards the provision of a comprehensive health care service in Guyana, adding that the new hospital is only one of the several new initiatives in health care by the private sector. He pointed out that recently, the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital introduced the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) service.

In addition, the Minister observed that several medical institutions, including public and private ones, now possess ultrasound facilities, mammography and CT scanning.

Dr Ramsammy also alluded to the establishment of the 5G Dialysis Service, which opened its doors last Saturday. He disclosed that a second dialysis facility, the Guyana Renal Care, is about to be opened at its Lamaha Street location.

“The Ministry has been working feverishly with a number of private sector entities to develop dialysis and we are delighted that 5G has been able to open its facilities,” Dr. Ramsammy offered. He added that the public sector and private sector mix is working well in Guyana to ensure a comprehensive package of services is delivered to the Guyanese people.

The Health Minister asserted that both services are initially relying on the technical expertise of well-qualified nephrologists and this should assure Guyanese a high quality of medical service.

Boy, nine, hospitalised briefly after incident with schoolmate
From Jeune Bailey Van-Keric
A level four pupil of St Aloysius Primary School in Berbice, has alleged that another pupil pushed his head into a concrete wall causing him to be admitted to the New Amsterdam Hospital on Thursday last.

Nine-year-old Stefon Nelson told the Chronicle that following an altercation with a schoolgirl outside the classroom, he was slammed into the structure. The impact of being pushed suddenly against the concrete wall caused him to cry because of the intense pain.

The child said that whilst in their classroom, some minutes later, the schoolgirl pounded his left hand with hers and he retaliated by taking the teacher's book and hitting his attacker.

According to the boy, when he complained to the teacher, she “finger-pointed” his head before flogging him with a whip and ordering him to sit.

Just about this time, the child said, he began to bleed from his nose, Thereupon the teacher gave him a tissue to wipe away the blood, which he did. The boy said that after leaving the classroom, he reported the incident to his mother, who vends outside the learning institution at Garrison Road, New Amsterdam.

Mrs Corrine Nelson, the boy’s mother, told the Chronicle that at around15:00 hours on the said day, she observed her son approaching her with the forehead and nose swollen. When he got nearer, he said, “Mommy, bad new, bad news."

The mother said on questioning the child, she was informed of the incident. She subsequently applied a cold compress to her son’s face before taking him to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the New Amsterdam Hospital. Stefon was examined by a doctor and later admitted to the institution where he was kept for two days.

Ms Nelson said that she reported the incident to the class teacher who claimed to be unaware of the occurrence, although she recalled giving the student a tissue to wipe his nose.

The woman recalled that another pupil interjected, saying, “Miss ... (the other child 's name) hit Stefon on his head.”

At that point, Mrs Nelson said, the pupil was rebuked by the teacher, and ordered to sit.

The teacher, she said, subsequently reported that she had flogged Stefon because he threw her book down, but denied that the schoolgirl pushed his head into the wall, claiming instead, that Stefon ran into the wall.

Ms Nelson is appealing to officials of the Ministry of Education to investigate the incident.

Annan to announce measures for stronger United Nations
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Coordinator here, Mr. Jan Sand Sorensen, has said that because of the United Nations’ (UN) role as guarantor of peace, and a rapidly changing world, UN Secretary General Mr Kofi Annan will be announcing shortly a package of measures aimed at strengthening the machinery of the world body.

Mr. Sorensen made this disclosure yesterday during a ceremony held at the UNDP offices on Brickdam in observance of UN World Day.

He said that Mr. Annan has invited a team of distinguished persons from academic, religious and other social organisations to help put together the package aimed at strengthening the UN machinery.

He noted that in its 59 years of existence, the United Nations has had a mixed record of achievements, but in recent times the world body has faced a deep crisis in light of one of the members of its Security Council taking unilateral action on the Iraqi issue.

However, Mr. Sorensen emphasised that the UN has played a major role in averting a third world war.

Despite the UN being fundamentally an organisation made up of representatives from governments throughout the world, Sorensen said it has increasingly recognised the interests of individuals in terms of their aspirations for peace and justice to be represented. Therefore, it has become necessary to look at new and innovative ways of interaction among the peoples of the world, he added.

One of the more recent important achievements of the UN identified by Sorensen was the setting of the Millennium Goals, which are achievable with the resources available in the world. However, the political will, allocation of revenue and the mobilisation of people are essential if these goals are to be achieved, Sorensen offered.

The UNDP Coordinator noted that one of the major challenges being faced today in the face of a globalised world is the growing gap between the rich and the poor. However, he asserted that since the Monterrey conference there has been recognition of the need for a partnership between the donor community and recipients.

But there is need for recipients to undergo the necessary reforms and to effectively utilise the aid being provided, while on the other hand the donor community needs to be more accountable.

President of the United Nations Association of Guyana (UNAG), Mr. Donald Trotman, said that the activities of his organisation constitute a reaffirmation of faith in the UN in the continued efforts to bring peace and human justice, and to settle conflicts by peaceful means.

He contended that the achievement of peace and justice cannot be left merely to disagreeing politicians but must come from the people at the community level.

In furtherance of the work of the goals of the UN, Trotman informed the gathering that since its formation in September 1970, the UNAG has been able to establish active Peace Councils throughout Guyana.

At the ceremony yesterday, Mr. Newton Profitt and Mrs Dorothy Ramjewan were honoured by UNAG for their outstanding contributions towards the furtherance of peace and education in Guyana. (Chamanlall Naipaul)

New Attorney-at-law hopes to advance the cause of the poor, the weak and the innocent
By George Barclay
RECENTLY-graduated Attorney-at-law Ms Shannon Rameshwar was admitted to the Guyana Bar last Friday by Justice Winston Moore, and is therefore now competent to practise her profession in the Courts of this country.

Ms Rameshwar told the Court, "I intend to represent and advance the cause of the poor, the weak and the innocent in our country and in the region."

Senior Counsel (SC) Mr. Edward Luckhoo, who presented her petition, referred to her excellent educational record as well as her social background.

Following her admission, Ms Rameshwar thanked the Almighty God for making the moment a reality, pointing out that were it not for divine intervention and pious guidance in every step of life, she would not have been standing in the Court that day.

She was also grateful to the Judge for having accepted her humble petition. “I feel a great sense of pride and privilege, honour and gratitude that you have deemed me fit to join this esteemed profession and I herein declare once again that I will faithfully strive to serve and upkeep the standards of this noble profession,” the new attorney pledged before the Court.

Ms Rameshwar showered praise on Professor Mr Aubrey Bishop of the Law Faculty of the University of Guyana.

"Your honour, it would be unforgivable if I should fail to pay gratitude to Professor Aubrey Bishop, who unfortunately cannot be here today but who I regard as my mentor in my study of the law.

"Professor Bishop's wealth of knowledge made me fall ‘head over heels’ in love with the law. In his unique and distinct method of teaching, Professor Bishop made the most boring courses come to life. I am extremely thankful that he saw from early, my many deficiencies in my approach to my studies and he saw it fit and fair to correct and guide me along the way,” Ms Rameshwar stated.

Iwokrama hosts course for environment project managers
THE Iwokrama International Centre has completed an induction course for representatives of the Caribbean Regional Environment Programme (CREP) to the Iwokrama Forest.

A press release from the centre said Project Managers from 13 countries were here for the just concluded programme. The course was conducted in the newly constructed training and meeting room in the Fred Allicock Training Centre of the Iwokrama Forest Field Station.

The session was opened by Iwokrama’s Director General, Dr. Graham Watkins and Ms. Simone Mangal, Technical Officer responsible for CREP.

The centre said the community-based project management component was led by Ms. Vanda Radzik, who previously served as Community Development Advisor for Iwokrama. Other facilitators were Dr. David Singh, Director of Resource Management and Training for Iwokrama, Ms. Leanne Harrison, Focal Point Coordinator at CREP, and Ms. Afira Approo, a University of West Indies intern with CREP.

The first half of the course was on practical methods for working together with stakeholders. During the course, participants benefitted from lessons learned through Iwokrama’s partnerships with its frontline stakeholders – the communities of the North Rupununi District, the centre said.

The second half of the course focussed on operating systems and procedures for implementing the CREP.

The Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation is an autonomous non-profit institution established by Guyana and the Commonwealth. The centre manages the nearly one million acre (371,000 hectare) Iwokrama Forest in central Guyana to show how tropical forests can be conserved and sustainably used for ecological, social and economic benefits for local, national and international communities.

From 1995, Iwokrama and the local communities have worked together to build collaborative management systems for the Iwokrama Forest and surrounding ecosystem.

The centre said a milestone achievement has been the establishment of the community-based North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB). The board, a forum for village leaders, women and young people from the local communities has, since 1996, established small enterprises and conducted detailed biological and social research.

This is a national and international model for local community development, the centre said.

The Iwokrama International Centre is the only functioning protected area in Guyana and has been identified as a critical institution for training for the Guyana Protected Areas System. Iwokrama says it enjoys an excellent relationship with local communities, and is internationally recognised for involvement of local communities in management and decision making.

According to the press release, it uses the principle of collaborative management, which recognises the shared responsibilities, rights and rewards related to the management and sustainable use of the rain forest. Iwokrama was selected through a competitive bidding process because of its comparative advantage in this area.

Mangal said the lessons learned at Iwokrama “are of tremendous value to the rest of the Caribbean region. Through this opportunity, CREP Project Managers will be able to learn about the practical aspects of working with local communities, and importantly, to do so first-hand through testimonials from community representatives.”

“This is an excellent opportunity for [the participants] to understand issues of a continental nature, see a functioning protected area, and build relationships that are the foundations of regional integration.”

CREP is a €9.1 Million Programme funded by the European Union (EU) and authorised by CARIFORUM, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) entity that deals with trade and aid with Europe.

CREP arose out of the recognition that communities and policy makers in the Caribbean region are not sufficiently alarmed about the rate of the degradation of the environment and how this impairs future development opportunities for the region. The programme aims to build awareness and develop skills to incorporate environmental and local community participation into policy making, Iwokrama said.

The Project Managers who were on the course are responsible for projects intended to demonstrate that communities can make a living by protecting their resources and that local people, non-governmental organisations, governments and the private sector can work together to achieve this.

Ultimately, CREP seeks to demonstrate an alternative development model that places ecology, social cohesiveness and culture in the forefront of considerations in the determination of economic growth, the centre explained.

At the opening, Watkins said, “Iwokrama welcomes this partnership as it speaks to the crux of why Iwokrama was established – to generate and share lessons on how to use resources for national development without destroying them.”

Singh said the new conference facility “offers yet another opportunity for Iwokrama to showcase its work and offers a beautiful setting with excellent facilities for hosting educational, scientific, and other training sessions and meetings.”

Constructed in September, the facility is air-conditioned, wired for digital equipment such as computers and LCD projectors, and can accommodate up to 20 persons. It is available to local, regional and international groups for conferences, retreats and other events, as are all the accommodations at the Field Station.

Interested parties should contact Iwokrama at 225-1504 for booking information, and may refer to the Iwokrama web site for information on event facilities, accommodations, and other details (http://www.iwokrama.org/ecotours/).

Participants were from Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

CFATF awards Ronald Sanders
LONDON -- The Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) has expressed its appreciation to its former chairman, Sir Ronald Sanders for the services rendered to the hemispheric organisation during his period as a career diplomat of Antigua and Barbuda.

CFATF is an organisation of some 30 Caribbean and Central American states, established to counter drug trafficking, money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

In a ceremony Sunday in London, Executive Director of the CFATF, Calvin Wilson, presented Sir Ronald with a certificate of appreciation as mandated by the recently-concluded 11th ministerial meeting of the organisation in Panama.

Noting that the award to Sanders, Antigua and Barbuda's former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom under the long administration of the then Antigua Labour Party, was “well-deserved”, Wilson commended the ex-diplomat for giving what he said was both a "strong voice" and "vision" to the work of the CFATF in negotiations with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

In accepting the award, Sanders urged member states of the CFATF to devote "necessary resources" to make it both "a vibrant contributor to combating drug trafficking as well as the financing of terrorism", as the organisation continues its work as a "forceful advocate" of the right of the Caribbean-Central American region to compete in the global financial market.

Road works commence in Tucville
PREPARATORY works have begun on Critchlow Square, Tucville, Georgetown, one of the roads that President Bharrat Jagdeo and Minister of Public Works Anthony Xavier looked at when they visited the area August last.

The project is estimated to cost $15.9M and the contractor is Compustruct Engineering, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported yesterday. It said this is part of the government's programme to enhance living conditions of residents in that community.

"The President and I could not believe that was considered a road, it was in such a deplorable state," said Minister Xavier who visited Tucville and West Ruimveldt on Friday last.

Several other major roadways have been repaired and others are to be looked at, GINA said. It added that this is another initiative by the government, after President Jagdeo had expressed concern about the condition of major thoroughfares in the city.

Some of these thoroughfares have already been worked on, including Carmichael, Middle and Church streets.

"We are also concerned, and I mean if you drive around the city, most of the roads have potholes. So the President has asked me to work in collaboration with the Mayor and City Council to have these roads patched," Xavier said.

Other roads and streets to be patched are in areas such as Alberttown, Queenstown, Kitty and Campbellville.

GUYSUCO, GAWU agree pay increases, incentives
GUYANA Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) and Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) yesterday signed two agreements for pay increases to thousands of workers.

One of the two pacts guaranteed a five per cent pay hike from January to December 2004.

The other sets out the parameters for the Annual Production Incentive (API) that will now provide for a 19.45 per cent tax free award for every 8,950 tonnes of sugar produced and those who qualify are to get an additional day's pay.

Signatories to the agreements were GAWU President, Mr. Komal Chand and GUYSUCO Industrial Relations Officer, Mr. Francis Carryl. They signed in the presence of Chief Labour Officer, Mr. Mohamed Akeel, at La Bonne Intention (LBI) Community Centre, East Coast Demerara.

A gathering of field and factory workers from Skeldon, Albion, Rose Hall and Blairmont in Berbice and Wales, Uitvlugt, Enmore and LBI/Diamond in Demerara, also witnessed the signing.

Chand said the agreements provide for a number of adjustments to allowances and working conditions, negotiated at 14 meetings at the bilateral level and one at conciliation.

He said other accords reached between them since 1976 were updated and included in the current.

Carryl said he was especially happy with the maturity displayed by the negotiators in the process.

Referring to the proposed European Union (EU) 37 per cent cut in prices for exports scheduled for June/July 2005 implementation, he expressed gratitude for the support shown GUYSUCO by the union, as they both acknowledge the move would deal a serious blow to the local industry and economy.

Carryl said it could result in 9,000 employees being jobless and they hope representatives of all sugar producing African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries would work together to see that does not happen.

Reaching out through counselling
THE need for the rest of society to reach out more to the vulnerable through counselling, has been stressed following the fatal shooting of a teenager who had fallen in with the vicious criminal gang operating out of Buxton on the East Coast Demerara.

Coordinator of the non-governmental organisation, Help and Shelter, Ms. Margaret Kertzious, feels that the life of Jermaine Peters, 15, could have been framed by his traumatic violent experience when he was six, and growing up in a community in which violence has become a lifestyle over recent years. (When he was six, he saw a drug addict on a deadly rampage kill his younger brother.)

“Children learn what they live...not only did he witness the killing of his baby brother, but also had a continued experience of violence in the community in which he lived," the counsellor pointed out.

She said the effect of him being traumatised by what he saw 10 years ago, coupled with the fact that he did not talk much about it, meant he was silently suffering.

She said a child growing up in an environment in which he witnesses constant abuse will be affected either positively or negatively, but in the case in question, the child was negatively affected, especially because of the lack of counselling by professionals in the field.

"Counselling is very important...that child was never counselled...He didn't know how to deal with the issue...”

She feels all the children living in the Buxton/Friendship community and surrounding areas should be counselled, reiterating that counselling can save a child in situations like those from following the footsteps of criminals, who overshadow the good citizens of Buxton and present themselves as role models for the community's children.

The case underscores the need for more attention to be paid to providing counselling, especially to young children who are victims of violence or who witness terrible tragedies.

Counselling is an essential follow through for survivors and others of deadly and violent incidents in some other countries to help them overcome the trauma so that they can return to living normal lives.

The scars left on particularly the young can cause irreparable harm without professional help and all those concerned have to help develop a better response programme for Guyana, in the face of the violent crimes that have emerged in recent years.

We commend the New Building Society (NBS) for its initiative in helping in related social work in Berbice.

It last Saturday formally handed over two new structures to the University of Guyana at Tain and the Guyanese Women in Development (GUYWID) in Berbice.

The buildings, in a complex at Anchorville, Port Mourant, are to be used by the Tain Campus for the expansion of its Social Work Programme, while the other will be used by GUYWID for counselling persons affected by social problems such as alcoholism, suicide, HIV/AIDS, and domestic violence.

NBS Chairman, Mr. Ramdial Bhookmohan said senior officials of the company had been particularly concerned about the high rate of suicides as well as issues arising out of alcoholism, domestic violence and other social problems in East Berbice.

There is need for more such foresight if we are to try to avoid the terrible tragedies that can befall the traumatised and the uncounselled.

Fuel prices in Guyana vulnerable to external forces
A GINA feature
By Lloyda Nicholas
AT THE end of last year fuel prices were US$37 per barrel. Today fuel prices have jumped to as high as US$54 per barrel. Poor and developing countries have been gripped in the whirlwind of spiraling oil prices.

After meeting with major stakeholders in Guyana’s production sector, President Bharrat Jagdeo ordered the reduction of the consumption tax on diesel from 35 percent to 10 percent to bring immediate relief to the affected sectors.

This relief follows a reduction of the consumption tax on gasoline and cooking gas and the removal of such tax from kerosene.

The manufacturing sector has welcomed this reduction. The Executive Director, Mr. Edward Shield of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association, said the sector welcomes the reduction in consumption tax for diesel, since its members were operating at a loss and might have been forced to cease operations.

The point to note is that the Government of Guyana has put this reduction in place, even though it represents a loss of $500M per quarter in revenue to the Administration.

The Guyana Government is also continuing to pursue other avenues to bring more long term relief for Guyana.

These include the development of renewable energy sources such as hydropower and the Petro Caribe approach, which is to bring together the petroleum related assets and facilities of all the Caribbean countries, with some coordinated arrangements and operations to minimize the cost to persons using fuel in the Caribbean area.

According to Mr. Joseph O'Lall, Energy Coordinator of the Guyana Energy Agency, "Guyana is vulnerable to the vagaries of prices on the world market. The prices at the pump have nothing to do with the Guyana Government." He pointed out that prices are fixed according to OPEC (the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) and market and political forces.

Some of the forces that are acting to push fuel prices up include the growth of China as a major manufacturing force in the world. Mr. O'Lall noted that the consumption per capita of fuel in any country is a reflection of its standard of living.

He said continued economic growth in China has caused a high demand for fuel and it is sucking up all the excess fuel on the world market.

The ongoing war in Iraq is another factor that is contributing to the fuel shortage. Production levels on the world market are suffering because this major oil source has been severely affected.

Continuing political tensions in oil rich Venezuela have played a role in increasing supply fears and driving up fuel prices. Industrial disputes in Norway and a general strike in Nigeria have also bolstered price gains.

Fears of limited supplies of winter fuel is another factor pushing fuel prices up. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, European distillate stocks stood at 3.4 percent below last year’s stock for the same period. Heating oil inventories and kerosene supplies are significantly lower than last year’s.

These factors have worked together to reduce the supply of fuel on the world market and push prices skyward.

This sustained rise in fuel prices has been a key factor in the performance of the global economy. A rise in fuel prices boosts the economy of oil producing countries but the effect on oil-dependent countries’ economies is always greater than the effect on oil producing countries.

According to the International Energy Agency Report (IEA) for May 2004, “the growth of the world economy has always fallen sharply in the wake of each major run up in oil prices”.

The economic impact of higher fuel prices on poor and indebted countries are extremely harsh. Guyana and other developing countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are dependent on imported oil to drive their economies.

A large share of these countries’ GDP is dependent on energy-intensive manufacturing. The sugar, rice and mining industries are examples of industries in Guyana that have a significant share of the country’s GDP.

This increases the oil intensity of the country along with the fact that in many developing countries, modern fuels are replacing traditional fuels in the household sectors and increased motorization continues in the transportation sector.

The more oil dependent developing countries become, the stronger the effect on their economies.

Increased prices immediately push the oil import bill up and increase the demand for foreign exchange. The IEA report makes it clear that an increase in the oil-import bill tends to destabilize the trade balance and drive up inflation. The deterioration in developing countries terms of trade is often magnified by sharp currency depreciations and raises the cost of servicing external debt.

In these conditions, the investor environment weakens and inflation rises. Developing countries are made even more vulnerable because they lack the ability to switch to alternative fuel sources.

Industries within developing countries are particularly vulnerable. According to GEA figures, Guyana’s fuel bill to date is $74M. Projections for the year end figure are high when compared to last year’s total energy bill, which was $100.3M.

Guyana Power and Light Incorporated is the largest energy consumer in the country and a fuel shortage or increase in prices significantly affects its operations. This company is facing an additional monthly cost of $260M.

The IEA report points out that Government policy cannot eliminate the adverse impact on the economy and industries.

It is a continuing challenge for developing countries to find alternative sources of energy so that they are less dependent on oil rich countries.

Britisher on rape charge secures bail grant
DAVID Bullent, the expatriate employee of J.P Knights Shipping, previously refused bail on a rape charge, was granted yesterday.

The grant by Magistrate Kim Kyte, at New Amsterdam Court in Berbice, followed a renewed application by Defence Counsel Murselene Bacchus, who also surrendered the Britisher’s passport.

Bacchus said the accused is a logistics officer who was specially trained for his job that has to do with the timely export of bauxite from Guyana.

The lawyer said Bullent has been working here for seven years and, if he is not allowed pre-trial liberty, it would take the firm several months to recruit someone else with the similar skill.

The accused, 58, is charged with having carnal knowledge of a 13-year-old girl without her consent twice, last October 8 and 9.

He is now free on a $500,000 bond and has to be back in Court on November 8.

CD players larceny case November 15
TROY Allen also known as Troy Douglas, 32, is on $50,000 bail, pending a November 15 trial for simple larceny.

He appeared before Magistrate Krishendat Persaud at New Amsterdam Court in Berbice, yesterday, accused of stealing three compact disc (CD) players valued $60,000, property of Premchand Rajaram.

Police said the appliances were stolen from J&N Supermarket at Main and Trinity Streets, New Amsterdam, on October 23.

Duo charged after Army ammo find granted bail
THE two Jacobs men charged after a recent ammunition find appeared before Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen on separate charges.

Ex-soldier Odarie Jacobs is accused of having, between last August 5 and 20, at Tacama, Berbice River, stolen three M70 magazines, twenty 7.62 x 39 blank rounds and one ammunition canister, all valued $39,550, property of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

Another allegation against the same defendant said, during that period, at Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara, he was in possession of the ammunition reasonably suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained.

He pleaded not guilty to both charges and was granted $30,000 bail until November 22, when he will make his next Court appearance in New Amsterdam, Berbice.

The other defendant, Wendell Jacobs (no address given either) is charged with being in joint possession of the same cache, at Uitvlugt too, between October 20 and 23.

He was allowed pre-trial freedom on a $25,000 recognisance and that case was transferred to Leonora Court, also on West Coast Demerara, for November 9.

Guinness Bar part owner on joint assault charge
TROY Mendonza, part owner of Guinness Bar on D’Urban Street, Lodge and Club Avalanche on Sheriff Street, both in Georgetown, is on a joint assault charge.

Mendonza, of Lot 7 Bent Street, Werk-en-Rust and Jeffrey Phillips, of Lot 42 D’Urban Street, Lodge, appeared before Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen yesterday.

The co-defendants were each put on $7,000 bail after pleading not guilty to assaulting Trevor Kellman and causing him actual bodily harm last September 10.

They will be back in Court on November 17.

Bus driver accused of assaulting schoolchild
A SCHOOL bus driver appeared in Court yesterday charged with assaulting a pupil of St Margaret’s Primary.

Ester Merville, 49, of Lot 3161 Congress Drive, South Ruimveldt Park, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was put on $10,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen.

Particulars of the offence said Merville assaulted the child to cause actual bodily harm last Thursday, October 21.

Police said he was transporting them to school when he dealt the virtual complainant several lashes about the body with a ruler after receiving a complaint from another child.

The case has been transferred to another Court for tomorrow.

Shoplifter fined, other defendant denies jewel larceny
ASIF Ali was yesterday fined $3,000 with the alternative of one month imprisonment for shoplifting.

The 32-year-old defendant admitted that, last Friday, he stole toothpaste and soap valued $949 from a Bounty Farm supermarket in Georgetown.

Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen, who imposed the monetary penalty, was told a security guard arrested him as he was leaving the premises, after Ali could not give a reasonable explanation as to how he came into possession of the items.

Meanwhile, in the same Court, Winston George (no address given either) pleaded not guilty to larceny of a $10,000 gold band belonging to Savitrie Persaud.

The woman was at the junction of Regent Street and Avenue of the Republic, in the city, when the defendant snatched the jewel and ran away last Saturday but was apprehended by a cop, Police said.

George is on $10,000 bail until November 16.

Jury empanelled in the Martin Rodrigues murder trial
By George Barclay
A jury panel was struck yesterday for the trial of Martin Rodrigues before Justice Jainarayan Singh for the alleged murder of Wilfred Laurando on October 23, 2000.

Lawyer Ms Simone Morris, associated with new attorney-at-law Ms Melissa Yearwood, is prosecuting. Mr. Clefrin Broomes is defending.

Following the selection of the jury, Prosecutor Morris told the Court that her main witnesses were from the interior and that they were not expected in the City before midday yesterday.

And since she would require time to interview those witnesses, Ms Morris applied to the Court for an adjournment to tomorrow, Wednesday.

Objecting to the adjournment, Mr. Broomes said he saw no reason why the Prosecution could not have interviewed the witnesses on Monday afternoon and continue the case this morning.

Reacting to the defence's objection, Justice Singh observed that it is normal for witnesses to be expected one afternoon, and not turn up until the following day.

Mr. Broomes, on hearing this, withdrew his objection. The application by the Prosecutor was granted.

Ms Morris is expected to deliver her opening address to the jury tomorrow morning.

Lessening the impact
THE President has once again intervened to lessen the impact on consumers and on the economy of rising world prices for fuel.

The consumption tax has been reduced on dieseline, representing a significant loss to government revenues.

The reduction will take effect when new shipments arrive as the tax has already been paid on stocks previously imported.

The Guyana Revenue Authority will be monitoring the situation to ensure that the generous reduction given by the President will be passed on to the consumers at the pumps and which will depend to a large extent on the integrity of the petrol dealers.

It is, of course, expected that if the world prices should come down, the reduction on the consumption tax will revert to original levels.
MELANIE WATSON

Uncalled for tactics
I HAVE seen some newspapers in reporting on the sitting of the National Assembly on October 21, 2004, stating that the Speaker of the Assembly, Honourable Ralph Ramkarran disallowed Mr. Corbin's motion.

One report talked about the Speaker denying Mr. Corbin's motion.

What the reporters did not say is that the motion did not quality to be considered as matters of "urgent, public importance".

To have a motion debated under that head requires certain qualifications, which the PNCR motions hardly ever have.

That does not mean that those motions cannot be put through the normal process and be debated, as the Speaker informed Mr. Corbin.

What is clear, though, is that the PNCR and its Leader, in particular, are bent on doing all they can to disrupt the smooth functioning of the Parliament.

I say this because he is a very experienced Parliamentarian. He knows the rules but constantly seek to undermine these.

His antics at almost all the parliamentary sessions, since he became leader of his party, are marked by attempts to bring ridiculous motions at the beginning of almost every Parliamentary sitting and try to have these debated as matters of "urgent national importance".

That kind of tactics of the PNCR should be condemned as trivial and uncalled for.

Instead of the press misrepresenting the actions of the Speaker, he should be congratulated for his tolerance.

In all other democratic parliaments Mr. Corbin would have had his motions thrown out before they reach the floor.
DONALD RAMOTAR, MP GENERAL SECRETARY
PEOPLE’S PROGRESSIVE PARTY

Deportee selling drugs
A DEPORTEE is selling drugs to men and boys in Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, and when residents object, he and his gang members threaten them.

Several reports have been made to the Leonora Police Station but he is released after he is arrested.

One victim had to go to police headquarters at Eve Leary, Georgetown, to report this man because the people have no confidence in the police at the Leonora station.

He shot a woman in the leg but is on the road again and is a menace to everyone in the village.

The higher authorities should treat this matter seriously, especially the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU).
CONCERNED VILLAGER

A great national icon
I READ the letter from Ameer Bacchus with some incredulity and not a little concern (Stabroek News, October 22, 2004).

He called for the removal of the statue of Cuffy from its position of prominence. While it is not for me to judge his motives or reasoning capabilities, I would like to think he knows something about the history of this great national icon.

Cuffy believed in freedom, justice and equality. He was not a black power advocate, nor did he willingly take up the armed resistance.

His instincts were to give peace a chance. Indeed this was potentially his undoing.

The conditions on the plantations were horrific all across Guyana; Africans suffered an unparalleled, systematic and total process of abuse which taken over time represents the singular most heinous of all crimes against humanity in this country.

Indentured workers had not yet arrived on these shores but had they been here, their cause would surely have been his.

Now let us follow Ameer’s reasoning to its logical conclusion. Mahatma Gandhi never went to Guyana; he never embraced Africans as his brothers.

Should we not, by the same token, remove his statue from the Promenade Gardens and ‘return’ it to India?
COLIN BASCOM

Get to the children early
YOUR recent editorial did not go far enough to inform the masses about HIV/AIDS.

Your paper should do a full page information package on the many ways to prevent one from contracting this deadly disease.

It is becoming an epidemic in Guyana with such a small population and the masses should be educated.

Health Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy is starting a good thing by taking it personally with his ground-breaking announcement with the children.

I would like to see the minister start this campaign by introducing it through the schools right across the country.

Get to the children early before they start to experiment with sex. Children will be children, teens will be experimental.

Adults will tango.

All the information a person needs about AIDS could be found on the Internet.

AIDS is a global disease.
Safe sex lessons should be introduced in the schools.
MOHAMED NIZAM ALLI

Implement the plans speedily
IT IS quite ironic that the Ministry of Education has finally arrived at the conclusion that there is an urgent need to provide for vocational and other (positive) training for the youths of the nation (re your editorial yesterday).

This move I applaud and will be looking forward to seeing these plans being implemented speedily.

I hope that this will not be another facade to cover up for the level of ineptitude and selfishness that has been exercised by some.

As I travel around the world I can still encounter scores of Guyanese citizens who are today still expressing gratitude for being afforded various opportunities through the advent of the National Service.

In their opinion, they never regretted the time they spent at Kimbia and other centres because they have been able to capitalise on all that they learnt during those years.

Plans to harness the energies of the lost souls of the nation (not by accident, but by design) will be a great start to salvage that which we have lost, but I do hope that this will be done in a manner that will eventually pay dividends and restore lost hope. 

I am looking forward eagerly to seeing the first moves and to analyse them on their merits.
EUSTACE PUNCH

Strengthen parent/teachers associations
FORMER U.S. Vice-President, Al Gore, is credited with the "re-invention of government" during the presidency of Mr. Bill Clinton.

He did a good job in streamlining the federal bureaucracy in the services offered to American citizens.

Sadly, I cannot say that the Government in Guyana needs to be reinvented along similar lines. This is so because Guyanese have had a government only since October, 1992.

Prior to that, Guyanese had a regime foisted on their shoulders beginning from December, 1964.

I am happy that the PNCR has come around to recognising the need for accountability, good governance, transparency and democracy, etc.

These factors were noticeably absent during the regime of the PNC.

I wish to add that so far the PPP/C has made great strides towards the attainment of these lofty ideals since 1992.

Unlike Mr. Gore, there is nothing worthy of reinventing in Guyana from the days of the PNC.

The characteristics of the PNC regime have all been wisely cast off by the PPP/C government.

The PPP/C had and continues to blaze a new trail in the murky political terrain of Guyana.

The easy thing was to have followed in the footsteps of the PNC.

But thanks to the visionary and legendary Dr. Cheddi Jagan, Guyana is on the right path to a civilised society and nation.

It is obvious, with no good points of reference from the previous PNC regime, that human errors will be a factor of life. Whatever errors may have been experienced in Guyana, I can understand that the intentions were grounded in good faith actions, which were quite unlike the ill-tempered and ill-conceived policies of the PNC.

The PPP/C government has done a magnificent job of repairing and building new schools all across Guyana. This is one of the best approaches to nation building and growth for any country.

In order to accelerate the social and economic development of Guyana, I wish to propose the following:

** that the Ministry of Education mandates the functioning of a Parent/Teachers Association in each school through the offices of the District Education Officer and the Principal, Headmaster/Headmistress. This should be regarded as the first step in national development. It should become an unwritten law that all government employees, especially those at the senior levels, participate in the Parent/Teachers Association where they reside.

This participation should particularly apply to those in the higher ranks of the security forces. This action of community bonding and problem solving augurs well for the nation. No one should live in isolation from the rest of the community and the nation at large.

Non-attendance of PTA meetings shall be reported to the superiors and recorded in employees file at the place of work and the Ministry of Education's Social Development department. Explanations will be in order. This will factor in when promotions/demotions, transfers, dismissals, scholarships for self and children, etc. are in order.

I also suggest that students who are offered government scholarships to the local or overseas universities, be required to participate in an approved community activity, for example, community policing or work relevant to the field of study for a year.

This real life engagement will ensure a better prepared and more confident student with an enhanced outlook on the future.
BALWANT PRASAD

Missed opportunity 
I WAS in Aruba last week for a Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) meeting and was afforded an opportunity to feel extremely proud at being Guyanese when 11 year-old Roshan Morris from Guyana copped the top prize in the "My Caribbean Essay Competition" sponsored by Conde Nast.

Even before the results of the competition were announced, it was clear that Roshan Morris would be among the winners. Her essay was well written, addressed the assigned topic clearly and offered readers a virtual tour of Guyana's majestic Kaieteur Falls.

When it was announced that she had won the competition, Roshan burst into tears as did most of the handful of Guyanese in the audience.
There were even more tears of joy and pride as this young lady put forward an exemplary display of Guyanese talent, when with aplomb, clarity of diction and passion she read her essay about Kaieteur Falls to an audience of some 700 delegates, amidst flashing cameras and the bright lights of television videography.

This was indeed a proud moment.

But this pride and joy were somewhat diminished by the fact that there was no Guyanese official on hand to join Roshan in accepting the congratulations of government ministers, CTO executives, travel agents and other well-wishers, as well as ensure that she was made available to the press for interviews.

The runners-up along with their government officials did not waste any time in taking advantage of the international media on hand.

However, the New York-based Guyanese media posse including Annand Boodram, Bobby Vieira and Walter Green took steps to ensure that Guyana did not lose out on this fine moment in its history by making arrangements for Roshan and her mom to be interviewed by other sections of the media.

I was also impressed by the fact that my friend, the Hon. Edison Briesen, Minister of Tourism of Aruba, the host country, took time out of his busy schedule as host, to arrange a photo opportunity with Roshan and her mom during which he congratulated her on her achievement.

I am not quite sure why Guyana was not represented by both government and private sector officials from the tourism sector at this conference.

It would have been an ideal opportunity for Guyana to promote Kaieteur and other aspects of its eco-tourism product and moreso to seek investment, technical assistance and advice on developing our tourism potential.

I firmly believe that foreign investment is critical to Guyana's future. Testimony to this belief is clearly demonstrated by the role I continue to play in ensuring the success of the Cel*Star cellular project which finally will offer service to the Guyanese consumer within weeks, thereby bringing much needed competition and improved service to the nation's telecommunications sector, not to mention the creation of scores of jobs.

The potential of Guyana's eco-tourism sector is great.

Tourism is a relatively new industry for Guyana and we should use every opportunity to learn more about its trends, dynamics and product development while at the same time seeking to highlight our special features not only as a eco-destination but as an investment location as well.
WESLEY KIRTON

Long time acting
WHILE doing some research, I stumbled on some information about acting appointments within the governmental system.

The one that stuck out, like a sore thumb, is the acting appointment of the Governor of our Central Bank, Ms. Singh.

What struck me most is that this person has been acting for a number of years.

This appears to be inappropriate as I hold the view that if someone is competent to hold an acting position for so long, then that person should be confirmed in the position.

I take this opportunity to make public this view so that this apparent oversight can be corrected.
HAMILTON GREEN
MAYOR

Violence against children
CORPORAL punishment is an institutionalised form of violence against children.

Calling it “an approved and regulated form of reprimanding offenders” does not mitigate its barbarity and primitiveness. Slavery, dueling, child sacrifice, paedophilia, ritual rape, witch-burning and wife-beating were once approved and regulated practices deemed necessary for the well-being of men and society.

Corporal punishment is the first step in the short trip toward child abuse, as well as other human rights abuses. Many parents and teachers, in their fit of anger, do not know when to stop beating children as I can very well testify from my infamous child-beating days.

Some parents believe that the right to punish children includes the right to injure them seriously, even fatally. Telling parents and caregivers to ‘beat children but don’t beat them too hard’ is giving them a loophole to commit more severe abuses.

I am not the one spuriously tendering child abuse as corporal punishment. Many caregivers do that. They believe that the punishment is not severe enough if welts, cuts and bruises do not show. They think that the child must be physically scarred for life.

Many paedophiles use corporal punishment or the threat thereof to silence children whom they sexually abuse. Even if a child brings a complaint of sexual molestation against an adult, the child runs the risk of being beaten by his/her parents (whether or not they are the abuser) for daring to accuse the molester.

According to a recent Stabroek News report (October 20), a 13-yr-old girl, who was sexually assaulted by her stepfather, “reported the molestation to her mother who beat her saying she was lying.” The sexually traumatised child was further traumatised by corporal punishment.

It has been said that in the USA, 50 per cent of schoolchildren over 13 are sexually active, not to mention their generous contribution to the HIV statistics. This is not surprising, given that the most accurate scientific U.S. studies report that 30 per cent of men and 40 per cent of women remember being sexually molested during childhood.

About half of these are incestuous, the other half being with neighbours.

These molestations occurred at much earlier ages than had been previously assumed, with 81 per cent occurring before puberty and an astonishing 42 per cent under age seven.

As high as these molestation rates seem, however, they represent only a portion of the true rates because only conscious memories were counted, and the earliest molestations of children are almost never remembered except during psychotherapy.

Adjusting statistically for what is known about these additional factors, the real sexual abuse rate for America is 60 per cent for girls and 45 per cent for boys, about half incestuous.

Populations that have been shown to have extremely high rates are criminals, prostitutes, juveniles in shelters, psychotics, etc. (Lloyd deMause, The History of Child Abuse, http://www.nospank.net/demause1.htm). It is not hard to conclude that childhood sexual abuse often leads to teenage sexual promiscuity.

At an education workshop I attended two years ago, Dr. Faith Harding said that one out of every four to five Guyanese were sexually abused as children.

One wonders what the real figures for Guyana are, given that parents of certain cultures masturbate their infant children, their daughters to make them sleep well and their sons to make them manly.

A few months ago I was told of two very young Guyanese children miming the sex act. Obviously, they either saw it on the television or, more likely, in their parents’ bed.

With kids and parents co-sleeping, what else happens in the conjugal bed may not be honourable at all.

Then there are trusted religious men who fondle young girls. Among the 76 sexual assault cases in the new High Court sessions are six incest cases. Tip of the iceberg?

That 21st century children contribute generously to the HIV/AIDS statistics is also not surprising. Where did they get the virus from? Adults.

According to psychohistorian de Mause, “British doctors in the nineteenth century regularly found when visiting men who had venereal disease that their children also had the same disease -- on their mouths, anuses or genitals.” Adults still molest children.

“What has been done to you, poor child?” - Sigmund Freud, letter to Wilhelm Fliess, Dec. 22, 1897, citing Goethe, after relating his patient's memory of having been raped by her father at age two. Freud himself recalled having been sexually molested as a little boy by his nurse, who forced him to perform sexually and, he reported, “complained because I was clumsy.ȁ